The Taliban’s harsh new vice and virtue laws are a throwback to the oppression of the 1990s

Kambaiz Rafi Until the collapse of Afghanistan’s US-backed government in August 2021, few knew clearly what the Taliban wanted once they had returned to power. Some western officials and observers hoped for a big change from the regime, which had governed the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate in the 1990s. This time, they hoped, a more sophisticated and pragmatic vision might… Read More The Taliban’s harsh new vice and virtue laws are a throwback to the oppression of the 1990s

From the Arsenal of Democracy to an Arsenal of Genocide / Six UNRWA workers among 18 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza school

During the presidential debate, Kamala Harris was asked to explain what she would do about Israel’s war on Gaza, and she said, “Let’s understand how we got here. On October 7, Hamas, a terrorist organization, slaughtered 1,200 Israelis.” This is false. As anyone with a basic working knowledge of the conflict knows, this war is… Read More From the Arsenal of Democracy to an Arsenal of Genocide / Six UNRWA workers among 18 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza school

Georgia’s Emory University called ‘thuggish’ over unilateral protest rules

Timothy Pratt Atlanta’s Emory University began the new school year last week with the president Gregory Fenves unilaterally announcing a new policy prohibiting tents on campus, “building occupations and/or takeovers” and protests after midnight – in violation of the school’s shared governance policy, according to faculty members in positions of leadership who spoke to the… Read More Georgia’s Emory University called ‘thuggish’ over unilateral protest rules

Israeli Society Has Truly Fallen to Cruelty, Violence and Apathy. Just Look at Us

Gideon Levy On Friday, 11 funerals were held in the Jenin refugee camp. Eight of the deceased were camp residents who were killed by the Israeli army; three died of natural causes. None of them could be buried during the 10 preceding days, on account of the brutal Israel Defense Forces operation in the camp.… Read More Israeli Society Has Truly Fallen to Cruelty, Violence and Apathy. Just Look at Us

Gets under the skin

The last decade, defined by Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial tenure, has seen a concerted bid to make the rhetoric of Hindu supremacy normal. From the prime minister to the sangh parivar’s social media trolls, to frothing film stars, the right to be publicly hostile to minorities, particularly Muslims, has been energetically exercised. I notice that public… Read More Gets under the skin

An artist made scathing sculptures of Mao over a decade ago. Now, he’s detained for slandering China’s heroes, family says

Under Xi, the ruling Communist Party has vowed to eradicate “historical nihilism” — or any views that question or challenge its official version of history, including glorified images of sanctified national heroes.China passed a law in 2018 banning any insult or slander of national “heroes and martyrs,” including military personnel. The offense was added to… Read More An artist made scathing sculptures of Mao over a decade ago. Now, he’s detained for slandering China’s heroes, family says

Harris wants to bring ‘joy, joy, joy’ to Americans. And more bombs for Palestinians

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the Democratic convention have been met with stony faces, jeers – and violence GAZA casualties, live statistics NB: What does it mean, when tens of thousands of Palestinian corpses and mutilated children mean less to you than Israel’s so-called right to commit genocide? What kind of peace will descend upon Palestinians who… Read More Harris wants to bring ‘joy, joy, joy’ to Americans. And more bombs for Palestinians