Taliban Oil

The little-known story of secret negotiations between the Taliban and the US to build a pipeline through Afghanistan. Read more...

How to Cuddle the Russian Bear

Since the start of this year, Iran and Russia have exchanged no fewer than 40 high-level official visits including some at ministerial and presidential levels. There have also been exchanges at various levels of the two nations’ top brass, albeit without a formal pattern emerging. Read more...

Hasan al-Turabi and Contemporary Islam

Turabi’s passing marks the end of important eras of modern Muslim history.It is the end of the era of Political Islam. Read more...

Converts: The rise of white, intellectual Muslim scholars

Meet some Muslim converts who aren’t afforded the headlines but are hugely influential. Read more...

Iran’s death rows and protestations!

Executions in Iran have increased since President Hassan Rouhani took over in 2013. Most executed were members of ethnic and religious minorities who have been convicted on charges of “anti-God” or “spreading corruption on earth.” They included politicians, Kurds and Sunni Muslims. Read more...

Why does Daesh recruit women?

Regardless of how chauvinistic a totalitarian theocracy can be toward women, they cannot live without them because of women’s obvious role in reproduction and the domestic support. Read more...

We should see refugees as permanent residents

With an urgent, comprehensive and realistic plan, Syrians should be swiftly integrated into Turkish society. Read more...

The rights and wrongs of the Saudi-Iran rift

The new (Post-Revolution) Iran was not a threat because of its sectarianism; on the contrary, the non-sectarian message of the revolutionaries was considered a threat. Read more...

(Mis)understanding the sociology of ISIL

What explains ISIL’s attacks in Turkey resulting in over 100 deaths in a span of three months? Read more...

The Islamic Wars of Religion

Has everybody in the Middle East taken leave of their senses? Read more...

The dawn of a new Iran


None of its regional adversaries are a match for the Iranian version of soft and smart power. Read more...

Multiculturalism: An idea gone sour

Multiculturalism has become the new white man's burden. Read more...

Once upon a Saudi King

A peek into what Saudi Arabia might have been if King Faisal was still alive. Read more...