Islam

Saudis Use AI, Drones and Thousands of Cameras to Keep Hajj Pilgrims Safe

In Mecca, a large-scale technological system operates around the clock during the Hajj. With more than 15,000 smart cameras, drones, and AI-powered software, authorities monitor crowd movements and coordinate the transport of 1.6 million pilgrims in real time using over 23,000 buses. The goal is to prevent incidents, avoid human bottlenecks, and ...

Million-Plus Pilgrims Begin Hajj Under Blazing Sun

More than a million pilgrims joined Islam's most important rite under a beating sun on Wednesday, as the hajj kicked off with the Saudi hosts scrambling to avoid last year's 1,000-plus deaths in sweltering heat. With temperatures expected to top 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), robed pilgrims slowly circled the Kaaba -- the black cube ...

Saudi Readies for 'Worst Case Scenario' in Sweltering Hajj

Near a sprawling tent city outside Mecca, Saudi hospital staff are preparing for a flood of heat-related cases as Muslim pilgrims begin hajj this week in sweltering summer temperatures. The Mina Emergency Hospital is one of 15 such facilities operating just a few weeks a year around the annual pilgrimage to Islam's holiest sites, which in 2024 ...

Abi Al-Muna Warns of Sectarian Provocations Following Deadly Clashes in Syria

Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Muna, the Sheikh Akl (spiritual leader) of the Druze community in Lebanon, strongly condemned recent violence in the Syrian town of Jaramana, describing it as “a deliberate attempt to provoke sectarian strife,” triggered by an incendiary audio recording deemed insulting to the Prophet Muhammad. In a statement issued ...

Social Reforms in Saudi Arabia: Navigating Modernity and Internal Resistance

Since 2015, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Saudi Arabia has undergone a significant shift in its social and economic policies. Women's rights, the opening of certain cultural sectors and the management of internal resistance have been central to this transformation. While MBS has positioned himself as a leader ...

Detained ‘Islamists:’ Towards a Solution or a New Problem?

“Islamist” detainees in Lebanon who were arrested following the “Arab Spring” movement in 2011 represent a dormant case that is being readdressed today after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s rule on December 8, 2024. Mediator and head of a sectarian conflict resolution group Lea Baroudi raised the concern, revealing that “there are ...

The Poisoned Chalice of Political Islam

For as long as I can remember, my identity as a Muslim has been a source of both pride and fear. Growing up in a post-9/11 world, I have lived under the shadow of suspicion, my faith often seen through the lens of terrorism, extremism, and political turmoil. From news headlines to Hollywood narratives, the image of Islam has been relentlessly ...

Alarm in France over fate of prize-winning French-Algerian writer

French President Emmanuel Macron is concerned about the "disappearance" of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, his office said, after reports that the prize-winning novelist had been arrested in Algeria. Sansal, a major figure in francophone modern literature, is known for his strong stances against both authoritarianism and Islamism as well ...

Danish Parliament Passes Law Banning Quran Desecration

Denmark's parliament on Thursday passed legislation that makes the "improper treatment" of religious texts illegal, thereby prohibiting the burning of the Quran. This move comes in response to a series of incidents involving the desecration of Islam's sacred book, which stirred outrage in Muslim nations during the summer. Denmark's parliament on ...