Middle East

Links, Links, Links! 13th October 2014

There is a lot of interesting stuff on the internet.  Here are a few of the articles that caught my eye this week...

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1. A completely different perspective to one that is usually told: The niqab makes me feel liberated, and no law will stop me from wearing it

"I’ve always been the sort of person who loved to experiment, but I never expected that wearing the niqab would be something I’d try."

 

2. How ignorant commentary on Sharia law increases discrimination

 

3. Is it fair to blame the West for trouble in the Middle East?

"In his book A Fundamental Fear: Eurocentrism and the emergence of Islamism, Dr S. Sayyid describes five arguments that explain the spread of what is commonly called Islamic fundamentalism, Islamism or militant Islamism."

4. The Myth of Religious Violence

 

5. An alternative perspective on the Emma - Wassim interview on #Lateline that even the PM lauded...

But Alberici’s own responses to Doureihi’s questions reinforced Doureihi’s claims that some kind of underlying narrative was at play. She was becoming flustered by a phenomenon — an interviewee answering her question in a manner he wished — that she should be well used to. Heck, politicians do this all the time. HT is a political party. Doureihi is a Muslim politician wannabe.

6. Is Islam a Violent Text?

This is SO good. Read it.

 

Channel Ten's new show. What do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3U4f6lsp4E

 

Oh and in case you missed it, have a listen to Ian Hanke, Jane Gilmore and I on Outsiders for Radio National with Jonathan Green.  On the Sunday morning show we are talking the Lateline Interview (Emma-Wassim) and the current state of play in Australia...

 

Five Alternative News Sources on the Middle East

A quick service announcement...

censorship

Listening to an Economist Podcast the other day, I was disturbed to find myself vehemently disagreeing with a few facts reported.  The way they were presented I felt distorted and misrepresented parts of the situation in Iraq. It was a reminder that no news is perfect! Therefore, I set about ensuring my sources were diversified enough to help me find some semblance of truth within it all...

Here are some suggestions for good (alternative) places to go for news and opinion on the Middle East (in English):

1. Al Jazeera English

Need I say any more?

A trusted news source, although some say it has started showing signs of taking sides since the Egyptian revolution.  Nonetheless, still a solid place to go for news and opinion.

2. Al Arabiya

Dad's second favourite channel, Saudi owned and Dubai based, this is another good source of news straight of the horse's mouth.

So fresh you can smell the grass...

3. Midori House

A podcast I found by absolute accident that does a good daily show. A little light on detail sometimes but they bring good guests in for discussion, and it usually provides a good overview of current global events

4. Informed Comment

Juan Cole is an American Professor (gasp!) but his blog is often thought out and not at all crazy-right-wing.  I find his analysis always rings true and is often fact checked beyond what mainstream media will offer

5. Jadaliyya

More newspaper than news source, this is a mix mash of English and Arabic news, analysis and investigation.  I don't always read it all but find it does set the scene and provide background information you may not find elsewhere.

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That's where I find my non BBC/Economist/Age/Australian/AFR/Crikey news, where do you get yours?