The UK government’s new definition of extremism, unveiled with the noble intention of combating intolerance and hate, has raised serious concerns among civil liberties advocates, activists, and members of targeted communities who fear it could have severe unintended consequences for free speech and democratic dissent. The definition’s vague and broad nature risks encompassing a wide…… Continue reading Dissent at Risk: UK’s New Extremism Definition
Category: Opinion
Pakistan Plunged into Post-Election Turmoil
The recently concluded 2024 general elections in Pakistan have left the country in a state of uncertainty and chaos. With no clear mandate delivered, allegations of rigging flying thick and fast, and violence claiming over a dozen lives, the hope for political stability and economic recovery remains elusive. The results took everyone by surprise. Pre-poll…… Continue reading Pakistan Plunged into Post-Election Turmoil
The Long Shadow of Imran Khan Darkens Pakistan’s Elections
The controversies surrounding the dramatic rise and fall of former Prime Minister Imran Khan are obscuring Pakistan’s preparations for crucial general elections on 8 February. Though barred from running himself, Khan’s enduring popularity and allegations of a “foreign conspiracy” to unseat him have left the nuclear-armed nation’s already fragile democracy on uncertain ground. A Legend…… Continue reading The Long Shadow of Imran Khan Darkens Pakistan’s Elections
Inequality, Conflict, and Hope: Reviewing a Turbulent 2023
As 2023 draws to a close, I provide a reflection on the turbulence and conflicts that have emerged over the past year. Ranging from economic instability and widening inequality to geopolitical tensions heightened by the war in Ukraine and the flare-up of violence between Israel and Palestine, these crises have exacerbated polarisation, radicalisation, and ethno-religious…… Continue reading Inequality, Conflict, and Hope: Reviewing a Turbulent 2023
The Calculated Nationalism of Suella Braverman: A Disturbing Lurch Towards Xenophobia
Last week, Home Secretary Suella Braverman delivered a speech that sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Britain. In her address, she unleashed an incendiary diatribe against immigration and multiculturalism, stirring outrage and alarm across the entire political spectrum. As a cabinet minister responsible for security and integration policy, her words carried profound weight and…… Continue reading The Calculated Nationalism of Suella Braverman: A Disturbing Lurch Towards Xenophobia
Edward Said’s Orientalism and Its Insights on Radicalisation Discourses
On 25 September 2023, it will be the twentieth anniversary of the passing of the great scholar Edward Said, a Palestinian-Christian-American literary theorist who dedicated his scholarly endeavours to examining the phenomenon of marginalisation and the portrayal of the “other” in various contexts. In his seminal work published in 1978, entitled Orientalism, the author critically…… Continue reading Edward Said’s Orientalism and Its Insights on Radicalisation Discourses
End Spying on Dutch Muslims
The recent disclosure of covert investigations conducted by the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs targeting Muslims and mosques has raised significant concerns. According to NOS News, the ministry monitored mosques, gathered personal information, and surveilled members of the Muslim community, all without a valid legal justification. Furthermore, Minister Karien van Gennip has recently acknowledged in…… Continue reading End Spying on Dutch Muslims
The Andrew Tate Model: Exploring Misogyny, Hypermasculinity, and the Dawa Hustle
Andrew Tate, a figure who has become increasingly divisive, has managed to amass a substantial following, particularly among the younger demographic of Muslim males. Although his extravagant demonstrations of affluence and the purported “dawa hustle” may appeal to certain individuals, a more thorough examination of his ideology exposes a disconcerting narrative that contradicts Islamic principles.…… Continue reading The Andrew Tate Model: Exploring Misogyny, Hypermasculinity, and the Dawa Hustle
Sweden’s Quran Burnings: Echoes of Societal Crisis
Amidst a backdrop of sanctioned Quran burnings within Sweden, driven by the nation’s freedom of expression laws, a sequence of events has been set in motion. These events carry far-reaching implications that extend beyond the confines of this Nordic land. As the government responds by elevating the terror threat level, a paradox emerges. The legislation designed to protect personal freedoms now reveals its unintended consequence: a potential compromise to the very security it aims to uphold.
France’s Wake-Up Call: Confronting Racial Disparities in the Aftermath of Recent Riots
The recent riots that have taken place in France were sparked by widespread public anger over the police killing of a 17-year-old teenager of Algerian and Moroccan descent during a routine traffic stop. These riots have unfolded across major cities, including Marseille, Lyon, Pau, Toulouse, and Lille. Protesters in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre, where…… Continue reading France’s Wake-Up Call: Confronting Racial Disparities in the Aftermath of Recent Riots