religion

Samba dancers too risqué for southern Lebanon

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:46:42 +0200

Photo posted on Facebok by Toni Yammine .

A Samba street party on its way to a town in south Lebanon was stopped in its tracks after a group of religious dignitaries labelled it "pornographic" and "against Muslim beliefs". According to one of our Lebanese Observers, the decision is a disgrace to the country.

The Brazilian dancers landed in the country on September 23 and had already put on four performances in central Beirut and the cities of Zahle (central Lebanon) and Batroun (east coast), all of them majority Christian areas.

In the hope of appeasing the largely Muslim population of the southern city of Tyre, Brazil's ambassador in Beirut suggested toning down the performance by donning the dancers in a bit more than is traditional.

His efforts however, were in vain. In the eyes of around 50 religious dignitaries, even a censored version of the show was too indecent for the residents of Tyre, and it was officially given the no-go by one of the group, Sheik Ali Yassine.

Ukraine Christ sighting: miracle or mould?

Team Observers — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:18:50 +0200

Hundreds of people flocked to a small town in western Ukraine to pray before a mysterious mark that appeared on a wall last July. For some, it’s a sign from heaven. For others, it’s urban legends.

A miracle. For several months now, the town of Velyky Berezny has seen dozens of visitors come to pray every day before the indisputable evidence of God’s existence. The "sign" causing such commotion? A trace of mildew on a humid factory wall, its sihouette somewhat resembling that of Jesus as portrayed in Orthodox Christian tradition. Fervent Orthodox faithful come to leave flowers, kiss or touch the sign on the wall, turned into a de facto improvised chapel.

These stories bring to mind the 2004 episode in which a Florida woman sold a sacred relic... On a piece of burnt toast on which the Virgin Mary's face could be made out. The lucky relic was sold for the whopping price of $28,000 (€19,000).

Photo published on the site kp.ua.

What’s Ramadan like in your country?

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:08:03 +0200

Posted on Flickr by Raaid.

The month of Ramadan starts tomorrow (22 August). We asked our Observers from Algeria to Iraq to tell us what goes on in their country.

Ramadan is a month of fasting for Muslims. That means that between sunrise and sunset, you can't drink, you can't eat, and you can't have sex. Fasting is an exercise in purification. It's a demonstration of obedience to god, and a way of heightening your piety by following the ways of the prophets. Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the profession of faith, praying, giving to charity and making the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Certain aspects of the celebration are found in most Muslim countries, for example, breaking the fast by eating dates. But there are also traditions that come with the event specific to each country. A few of our Observers tell us about their own Ramadan.

You can also tell us about Ramadan in your country. Firstly register on the site (here's an example of a profile page), and then post your comment. It will appear alongside a photo of yourself.

If you’re not religious, you’re not welcome at Denny’s

Sophie Team Observers — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:30:14 +0200

Image: Bee Racasa on Flickr.

A Texas branch of American diner chain Denny's has come under fire for offering a 10% discount to church-going customers. Web user Jeff Wagg came across the following poster in a Denny's restaurant in Texas, photographed it and posted the image online, condemning the company for religious discrimination.

There are over 2,500 branches of Denny's worldwide, including in Canada, Jamaica and New Zealand. The fast food chain has been operating since the first branch opened in California in 1953. In the early 1990s the company was involved in several lawsuits following accusations from racial minorities who suffered discriminatory service.

Talk openly about sex and risk jail

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:52:58 +0200

A 32-year-old Saudi man could face court for debauchery, premarital sex and for breaking the Islamic code after he was interviewed by a Lebanese channel about his sex life.

If found guilty, divorced father of four Mazen Abdul Jawad will face either 20 years in jail or between 13,000 and 20,000 strikes by horsewhip. It was his revelations on the Lebanese talkshow, "The Red Line" that have left the airline employee facing prosecution. Aired on July 15 on Lebanese channel LBC, his declarations about foreplay, sex toys and frigidity left the conservative Saudi population quite frankly stunned.

Around 100 of the most outraged of these people filed complaints about his actions to the court in Jeddah. Many also contacted his employer, Saudi Arabian Airlines, demanding that he be sacked.

In an interview with daily newspaper Okaz on Saturday, Abdul Jawad begged for forgiveness of the Saudi people, and blamed the incident on the channel. It was them, he said, that supplied the sex toys, and then aired the programme without blurring his face. LBC refutes the allegations, but itself has become a target for the conservatives, who call for it to be banned in the kingdom.

Haredim, the ultra Ultra-Orthodox Jews fighting the state

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:54:59 +0200

Image © "odedgal" on Flickr.

Extremist Ultra-Orthodox Jews have been rioting for three days after social services took a woman's child away from her for alleged starvation.

Known as the Haredi community, the majority of Israel's extremist Ultra Orthodox Jews live in the Mea Shearim neighbourhood. It was here that a three-year-old, weighing seven kilos, was removed from his mother on Tuesday after social services were warned that she was starving him. The mother was detained.

Extremists from the community took to the streets in defence of the mother, burning litter bins, vandalising state property, and attacking civil servants, from policeman to cleaners. They initially claimed that the boy was not sick, and then insisted that he was ill because he suffered from cancer. The hospital he is being treated in, however, deny the claims, saying that his ill-health is a result of malnutrition, and that his mother has a psychiatric disorder called Munchausen-by-proxy - which entails abusing someone in order to generate sympathy.

On Friday (July 17) the mother was bailed, following concerns that protestors would become even more dangerous if she remained in custody during the Shabbat, which begins at sundown on Fridays in the Jewish calendar. She is to be tried later.

Harley Davidson trying to cause offence?

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:10:07 +0200

One of our Observers in Japan, Lee Chapman, photographed this motorbike, complete with Swastika-shaped spokes, outside a Harley Davidson shop in Tokyo. Depending on how you look at it, it could represent the ancient Buddhist symbol for universal harmony, the infamous emblem of Nazi Germany, or, as Lee tells us, simply being "cool".

Lee has been living in Tokyo for ten years. He posted the photos on his blog, Tokyo Times, on Monday.

Since posting this on my blog a few people have left comments saying that it's actually the Buddhist symbol the manji rather than the Nazi swastika. The idea doesn't really work though as it appears on a motorbike wheel. For one, to see the manji you could only look at it from the left side, and secondly, I don't think many Buddhist priests drive Harley Davidsons.

I do think there's nothing nasty in it however. Although it would indeed be found extremely offensive in many other parts of the world, here it's just seen as something cool; Hell's Angels' style from the ‘60s. My boss drives a Harley Davidson and when I told him about the bike he replied ‘Yeh, I've seen them around'. Nothing along the lines of ‘I know, isn't that terrible?'!"

“Nobody forces me to wear the full veil, it’s my choice”

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:57:38 +0200

Posted on Flickr by "The Art Of Veiling".

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.

Oum Abdallah (not her real name) lives in Marseille. She's worn the sitar for 10 years.

I'm French, I'm not of Arab origin. The rest of my family is either atheist or agnostic; none of them are Muslim. I decided to convert to Islam well before getting married. Until my wedding day I wore a headscarf but didn't cover my face, and from my wedding day onwards I've worn the sitar. I would have done so earlier but my parents disallowed it while I was still living at home.

I wear the full veil because it's what my religion wants. I dress like the prophet's wives; they're my role models. My husband didn't order me to do this, not at all. He leaves those decisions up to me, even if he does like that I cover up.

"People say that the women aren't respected in Islam, when in fact the religion is based on the well-being of women"

People say that the women aren't respected by Islam, when in fact the religion is based on the well-being of women - at home, as a wife and mother. How many Western women are victims of domestic violence in France today? The sitar is certainly not there to hide black eyes, like some stupid people think! It simply hides the beauty of a woman, which shows how highly they are regarded by Muslim men.

When I'm at home with my husband and my son I dress as I want. When my friends come over (most of whom wear the full veil too), I wear only a veil that covers my body. When I go out or am in the presence of men however, I always wear the sitar.

There's no problem at home. When we have friends over, my husband eats with the men and me with the women in another room... I pass him the plates to serve his guests. He's never seen my friends. Outside however, it can be tricky. People give me funny looks, sometimes insulting me. I leave the house as little as possible; only for things like going to the doctor, admin stuff etc.

"I miss swimming"

Life in France is not easy for a woman who wears the sitar and I dream of leaving. In Muslim countries, there are some beaches and parks especially for women. Of course I miss being able to swim. One of my friends goes to the sea sometimes. But she has to find a completely deserted beach and she swims fully dressed. That's no life. I know very well that in my case it's me who chose to adopt this way of living in France and not the other way round, but that's why I'd like to move to a Muslim country. It's not easy though - my husband would have to find a job first.

"We've talked a lot about if the burqa is banned"

We've talked a lot about if the burqa or the full veil is banned after Sarkozy hinted on it. We're really worried. That would mean that I couldn't leave the house at all! I've just been to get a new ID card, so I'm ok for the next ten years in that sense. But how would I go to the doctor?"

Obama tackles the French on the hijab

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:08:14 +0200

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...

The French government's decision to ban pupils from wearing "ostentatious religious symbols" caused a ruckus with hijab-wearers in the country when it was first enforced. Although the law remains in place five years on, Obama's highly critical comments on the subject come as a slap in the face for the French model. Our Observers who wear, or have worn the hijab, give us their opinion.

The statements in question:

The United States government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab and to punish those who would deny it.

It is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practising religion as they see fit -- for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.

I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality.

The armed Shia group that’s cracking the Lebanese up

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:24:34 +0200

Videos of an obscure armed group are circulating on the net. The "Islamic Arab Resistance" present themselves as the Shia rival to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Watching their training footage however, it doesn't seem to hold true...