The New York Times, by Anthony Shadid (Tunis, Feb. 18, 2012) — The epiphany of Said Ferjani came after his poor childhood in a pious town in Tunisia, after a religious renaissance a generation ago awakened his intellect, after he plotted a coup and a torturer broke his back, and after he fled to Britain [...]
Archive | Religious Tolerance RSS feed for this archive
New Morocco, Tunisia leaders defend Arab democracy, need for inclusion, jobs at Davos
Washington Post/Associated Press (World Economic Forum – Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 27, 2012) — Newly empowered Islamist leaders stood up for Arab democracy Friday, saying extremists need to be brought into the fold and chiding the West for objectifying women and income inequalities. The prime ministers of Tunisia and Morocco, brought to office by elections prompted by region-wide [...]
In Morocco, Islamists Learn To Work With A King – National Public Radio
National Public Radio/Weekend Edition, by Deborah Amos (Jan. 22, 2012) — An Islamist party heads Morocco’s newly elected government, part of a wave of Islamist election victories following uprisings across North Africa. But Morocco’s case is a bit different. King Mohammed VI responded quickly to a pro-democracy movement last year with a new constitution and snap [...]
Continuity in the Kingdom: Morocco’s New Islamist Ruling Party Takes Moderate Approach
The PJD tells Think Africa Press that it is a “political party with a religious reference.” It is unlikely to bring much change to Moroccan politics. THINK AFRICA PRESS, by James Asfa (Dec. 5, 2011) — Morocco’s legislative elections, that took place a year early following constitutional changes as part of the kingdom’s response to [...]
Obama Should Praise Not Shun Morocco’s Elections
FOXNews.com, by Ahmed Charai (Casablanca, Dec. 1, 2011) – The strangest thing about Morocco’s multi-party elections this past Friday is America’s coolness toward them. While much of the Arab world is mired in bloody repression (Syria, Yemen), stalled transition (Egypt, Libya), and reform efforts lacking in credibility (Bahrain, Kuwait), a record number of Moroccan voters [...]
First Jewish female candidate highlights Morocco’s tolerance, diversity
MENA FN/dpa-McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (Rabat/Tel Aviv, Nov. 23, 2011) — Marie-Yvonne ‘Maguy’ Kakon would be just another candidate contesting Morocco’s parliamentary elections on Friday – if it were not for one detail. The 57-year-old real estate consultant is the only Jew among a total of more than 7,000 candidates in the staunchly Muslim country. Jewish [...]
Morocco’s Islamists may bolster next government after elections
Washington Post/Associated Press (RABAT, Nov. 22, 2011) — Once seen as a threat to this North African kingdom, Morocco’s Islamist party may now be key to the government’s credibility. The opposition Islamist Justice and Development Party is poised for a strong showing in Friday’s legislative elections — the second elections prompted by Arab world uprisings this year. [...]
New York Times: Distinctive Mission for Muslims’ Conference: Remembering the Holocaust
New York Times – On Religion Distinctive Mission for Muslims’ Conference: Remembering the Holocaust By SAMUEL G. FREEDMAN Published: September 23, 2011 One afternoon this week, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran addressed the United Nations General Assembly, once again casting doubt that the Holocaust had occurred. Almost exactly 24 hours earlier, an otherwise obscure college [...]
