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The Obama administration promised a new era with the Islamic world based on mutual respect and common interests. The US and the Islamic world must work together to end deadly extremism and dislocating suspicions. The global relations can be balanced when each side of the equation is also balanced. While the US administration must respect Read more
Continue ReadingWhere should Muslims build mosques? – The Daily Iowan Where should Muslims build mosques? – GUEST OPINION | AUGUST 25, 2010 7:20 AM The Muslim-American community is growing, and with growth comes the need for community centers, mosques, and a public presence. Every state in the United States contains at least one mosque, according to Read more
Continue ReadingSource: International Affairs President Barack Obama delivering his State of the Union address on Captitol Hill, Jan. 27, 2010. AP Photo/Charles Dharapak Given the economic hardships that we–as a nation–are facing, it is understandable if the president dedicates more than ninety percent of his state of the union address to domestic issues. But if he Read more
Continue ReadingBy Ahmed E. Souaiaia* October 19, 2009 War is very destructive. However, despite the human and economic costs, war also creates new opportunities and ends oppressive political and administrative stagnation. The human cost of the Iraq war could be mitigated by the economic and political return of the reshuffling of the cards in the Middle Read more
Continue Readingby Ahmed Souaiaia In a speech given at the 2009 O’Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing conference, while attempting to highlight the advances in print and press technology, Jason Epstein, declared: “Retrograde Islam banned Gutenberg’s technology as satanic, confining its followers within a single book.” Granted, Mr. Epstein is a successful business person with a Read more
Continue Readingby Ahmed E. Souaiaia President Nicolas Sarkozy of France has become the most vocal supporter of the ban on religious symbols worn by people in public (government) institutions; specifically, the ban on the headscarf worn by Muslim women. His foundation for this argument is this: France is for French and anyone wishing to live in Read more
Continue ReadingPolitics of nuclear arms issue complex By Jacob Maxson For the Press-Citizen This week’s Q&A is with Dr. A. E. Souaiaia. He is a professor of Modern Religious Thought at the University of Iowa. He teaches and researches on the subjects of Islamic ethics and moral philosophy, Islamic law, human rights, and religion and politics. Read more
Continue ReadingIowa City Press-Citizen Q&A with Professor A. E. SOUAIAIA 1) Why is there a taboo against any visual depictions of the prophet? Western media has been reporting that Muslims’ reaction to the depiction of the Messenger Muhammad stems from the Islamic prohibition of visual representation of prophets. Such prohibition is couched in the explicit Qur’ānic Read more
Continue ReadingMuslims condemn cartoon-sparked violence By LYNN CAMPBELL AND SHIRLEY RAGSDALE REGISTER STAFF WRITERS February 7, 2006 Offensive cartoons of the prophet Muhammad tempt outrage, Iowa Muslims said Monday, but the religious leaders condemned the violence that continued Monday in protests around the world… Read full story on Des Moines Register ——————————————————————————— Transcripts of the Question Read more
Continue ReadingSunday, October 17, 2004 Afghanistan election raises questions By Jeffrey Charis-CarlsonFor the Press-Citizen This week’s Q & A is with Ahmed Souaiaia, assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Iowa. Q: Earlier this month, Afghanistan held its first presidential elections since the Soviet invasion more than 20 years ago. U.N. officials have reported Read more
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