The traditional skills of the Kingdomās matchmakers have survived many changes, and they are confident that amid rapid social changes among the younger generation and a technological revolution they can continue to ply their trade. As men and women enjoy opportunities to mingle and meet and attitudes across the country …
Read More »Court supports Hagia Sophia decision, Pompeo objects
President Tayyip Erdogan declared Istanbulās Hagia Sophia open to Muslim prayer as a mosque on Friday after a top court ruled that the buildingās conversion to a museum by modern Turkeyās founding statesman was illegal. Erdogan made his announcement just an hour after the court ruling was revealed, brushing aside …
Read More »US approves polygamy for Mormons
The Utah state Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday effectively to decriminalize polygamy among consenting adults, reducing penalties for a practice with deep religious roots in the predominantly Mormon state. The bill, which would treat the offense of plural marriage as a simple infraction on par with a parking ticket, now …
Read More »Mark Sedgwick on the Use and Abuse of Sufism
The Levant News Exclusive – By Emad El-Din Aysha | Mark Sedgwick is Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies at Aarhus University, and Chair of the Nordic Society for Middle Eastern Studies. He studied history at Oxford University, did his PhD at the University of Bergen, and taught for many …
Read More »Beirut’s Year of Tolerance Session under UAE patronage
The “Year of Tolerance Session” is being held in Beirut, through a grant from the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, and under the direct supervision of the Humanitarian and Developmental Affairs AttachĆ© at the UAE Embassy in Lebanon. Hamad Saeed Sultan Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Lebanon, visited the …
Read More »Tashkent ā one of the most amazing cities of Central Asia
Uzbekistan is the land of legends, fresh fruits, bright sunshine and cheery friendly people. In the last few years, the tourism potential at the region was improved with some new facilities and attractions. Also, Uzbek cuisine – perhaps most known national and developed aspect of the Uzbekistan culture and Uzbekistan …
Read More »SAUDI ARABIA ARRESTS WOMENāS RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO VIOLATED DRIVING BAN, WATCHDOG SAYS
Three womenās rights activists were arrested in Saudi Arabia Thursday, allegedly because of their work as advocates for human rights, an organization that monitors arbitrary arrests in the Sunni Muslim Kingdom claimed. Loujain al-Hathloul, a 28-year-old social media figure, Aziza Al-Yousef, a 60-year-old mother of five, and Eman Al-Nafjan, a …
Read More »No plans to introduce gambling: Dubai Tourism chief
There is no move to legalise gambling in Dubai, despite the imminent arrival of three of the worldās most famous hotel casino brands, according to the emirateās most senior tourism official. The MGM Grand, the Bellagio, and as of last week Caesars Palace, are all heading for Dubai, with the …
Read More »Social media misused to spread extremism, security experts say
Extremists misuse social media platforms to spread false ideologies and hatred, which go against the true message of Islam, security experts said in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. They were speaking at a conference on āTolerance, Moderation and Dialogue in Countering Terrorismā organised by the Ministry of Interior at Abu Dhabi …
Read More »Tolerance is in UAEās DNA and being celebrated daily
āThe UAE celebrates tolerance every day of the year because tolerance distinguishes the DNA of our country,ā a top official said here on Friday evening. āTolerance is a necessary element in our vision for the present and for the future. That vision is a global vision because our country is …
Read More »Will Yemen kick-off the ‘War of the two Blocs?’
By Sharmine Narwani* for RT– There is media confusion about what is going on in Yemen and the broader Middle East. Pundits are pointing out that the US is looking schizophrenic with policies that back opposite sides of the fight against al-Qaeda-style extremism in Iraq and in Yemen. But it …
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