The memory of Caliph Bin Al-Khattab

JARAAD writes about religious tolerance - of how although his father has a Masters degree in Islamic studies from Egypt, and how his grandfather was a Mufti in the Arab Legion, he was still sent to a Christian school… ‘to learn something worthwhile’. He writes about growing up with friends with names like ‘Peter’ and ‘Paul’, how Christians in the Middle East are ‘poor, middle class and rich’ and repeats the story of the Caliph Omar Bin Al-Khattab, who refused to pray in a Christian chuch after being invited because it would set a precedent for ‘future generations of Muslims to forcibly convert Church’s into Mosques’.

QUNFUZ looks at the Church bombing in Egypt from a regional and historical perspective, with the key passage as follows:

“But, as the great Egyptian columnist Hani Shukrullah argues in this piece, the people themselves must also take responsibility. The so-called Islamic ‘revival’ certainly has some positive aspects (such as Turkey’s ruling party, and Lebanon’s Hizbullah) but it has been accompanied by a popular upsurge of sectarian hatred, mixed-up religio-nationalist chauvinism, and plenty of plain stupidity. Far too many Arabs are falling into the trap of blaming their neighbours for their leaders’ crimes, and of retreating from analysis into creaky myths. The Arab world is experiencing the politics of civilisational failure, the politics of despair.”

360EAST points to an advert on facebook in Jordan which reads “We spare you the effort of your graduation project,” says the ad’s slogan in Arabic.”

The business has a phone number - so 'its not hush hush'. According to the blog post many professors say this is a regular thing.

THE MIRROR scratches beneath the surface of the ‘Tunisian success story’, and argues that despite the clean streets of Hammamet, Tunis and Monastir, things aren’t quite what they seem:

“My friend then explained in great length why, despite what happened to his father, he thought Ben Ali’s regime was good for his country and how repression, cronyism, plutocracy, corruption, lack of freedom were small prices to pay considering the prosperity, stability and Western support the country was enjoying”

OURMANINBERIUT lists the ’13 types of Lebanese Facebook Profile’. Highlights include the three-quarter turn for the Lebanese fashionista, the wedding, the 'photoshopper', the ‘monochrome intellectual’ and the ‘Tech tard”.
Very funny.