Islam
Sex according to Oum Mohammad
A sexologist like no other is causing a stir in the Arab world. She may wear a niqab but Oum Mohammad has no qualms about giving her views on fellatio (entirely normal) and sodomy (absolutely no way!). Read more and see her in action...
“Nobody forces me to wear the full veil, it’s my choice”
The French parliament has launched an inquiry into how many women wear head-to-toe Islamic veils in France. President Nicolas Sarkozy used the occasion to spell out that "the burqa is not welcome in France", leading to concerns that he would ban it in public places. A French Muslim explains to us why she chooses to wear the sitar - the Saudi full-face cover - and why Sarkozy's comments frighten her. Read more...
Time Out upsets both Muslim and LGBT communities
A cover from Israel's Time Out magazine, showcased at last week's Gay Pride parade, has caused quite a scandal. The image is a photograph, taken from behind, of Muslims kneeling to pray, along with the title "You see here a threat, we see here an opportunity" (we decided not to publish it, you can see it here). Have they gone a step too far? Read more...
Obama tackles the French on the hijab
When Obama said that Western countries should avoid "dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear", it could have been perceived as a personal attack in France. The hijab, along with all religious symbols, was banned in French schools in 2004. Read more...
Saudi religious police pick on Shiite women
A video posted on the Internet has aroused the wrath of Saudi Arabia's Shiite community. In the footage, a member of the religious police, a mutawa, can be seen filming women on a pilgrimage in Medina - an insulting gesture that has sparked demos and riots in several cities. Read more...
Hijab blogger lays claim to style
Talk about the Islamic headscarf has long been the preserve of acrimonious debates over fundamentalism, women’s rights and freedom of expression. Blasting intolerance on all sides, Jana Kossaibati presses her right to dress as she pleases – and to do so hijab style. Read more…
The "Jewberry" and the "Muslim mobile" – making a business out of religious handsets
One of our Observers in Indonesia has alerted us to the launch of Hidaya, a Muslim-certified mobile phone. Meanwhile, over in the US, the "Jewberry" - a Blackberry on which you can read the Torah - is selling like hotcakes. Read more...
"Afghan justice is under the influence of fundamentalists"
An Afghan student has been condemned to 20 years in prison for having downloaded and handed out a text, found on an Iranian blog, about sexual inequality in the Koran. Read more...
Noor, the soap that breaks up couples
Everyone's talking about Noor this summer. The Turkish series has caused such a storm in the Middle East, it's even been blamed for breaking up marriages and causing suicides. Read more...
Hassan Nasrallah, superstar in Nigeria
These photos were taken during a Shia procession in the north of Nigeria last summer. Showing the glorification of Hezbollah and the Islamic revolution, the images suggest a shift towards the extreme in Islamic support in Sub-Saharan Africa. Read more and see the photos...
