S. B. Zaki: Arab women before and after Islam. Opening the door of pre-Islamic Arabian history

First posted June 19, 2016 “Islamic civilization developed a construct of history that labeled the pre-Islamic period the Age of Ignorance and projected Islam as the sole source of all that was civilized – and used that construct so effectively in its rewriting of history that the peoples of Middle East lost all knowledge of… Read More S. B. Zaki: Arab women before and after Islam. Opening the door of pre-Islamic Arabian history

Two upstarts

Kejriwal’s political choices make him an interesting retail politician; Mamdani’s choices have the potential of making his project a precedent for Democratic politics Mukul Kesavan As I watch from a great distance Zohran Mamdani’s extraordinary campaign for the mayoralty of New York, it is instructive to think about the similarities and differences between the electoral… Read More Two upstarts

Palestine Action proscription: Criminalising effectiveness

The proposed ban, rooted in colonial counter-insurgency law, could end up demystifying direct action and increasing public resolve A Palestinian man carries away the body of a relative killed in the Israeli strike on al-Baqa cafe. Photograph: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images The State isn’t only targeting disruption. It’s trying to discipline public consciousness. Palestine Action has become… Read More Palestine Action proscription: Criminalising effectiveness

Prophecy, not politics, may also shape America’s clash with Iran

NB: America’s religious fanatics have converted the Old Testament into a title deed; Jesus into a bloodthirsty warrior; Christianity into an instrument of the arms industry; and compassion for humanity into obscurantist nationalism and narcissism. To assist them in this endeavour, the US Supreme Court is functioning as a Catholic theocracy. In a word, religion… Read More Prophecy, not politics, may also shape America’s clash with Iran

Too late for Israel to escape its genocidal demons

Buildings may crumble but infamy is forever: Criminal Intent; S3 E1 NB: This is today’s slaughter list: Israeli strikes kill more than 60 people in Gaza, health officials say By Yorgos Mitralias After twenty months of daily massacres of civilians—especially women and children—and acts of unspeakable deadly sadism, including the organized starvation of the inhabitants… Read More Too late for Israel to escape its genocidal demons