Colombo, 31 August 2013 Good morning, and thank you for coming. As is customary at the end of official missions such as this, I would like to make some observations concerning the human rights situation in the country. During my seven-day visit, I have held discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and senior members of the Government. These included the Ministers …

The spread of hate speech and campaign against Muslims is not something novel in history. We have witnessed this happening in our very own Sri Lanka in the recent past, in direct terms as well as in forms of manipulative sugarcoated speech. An important issue that is directed against Muslims is against the dress – Abaya worn by Muslim women. …

Remembering My Shahadah Before Maghrib Prayer, I told my friend Golam, "There's lots of peace in knowing that I only have to worship one God. I don't worship money, wealth, or any of that. I don't have to please the world." Golam nodded. "Recently," he stated, "Look at the Americans. They have all kinds of freedom. You would think everyone …

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 4 2013 (IPS) – The United States, which is preparing to launch a military strike on Syria, is being cautioned by several former world leaders and Nobel Peace laureates to seek a political solution to the ongoing crisis – and forego armed intervention in the beleaguered Middle Eastern nation. Former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan argues that there is …

The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), an OIC affiliate university, is offering a range of undergraduate, post-graduate and Ph.D. scholarships to students from OIC member states under the Educational Exchange Program (EEP). The university is also offering placement in its post-doctoral program, where students can engage in research and other activities. The participation of the IIUM in the OIC–EEP bodes …

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has repeatedly said that the Syrian crisis can be solved only politically. Credit: IPS UNITED NATIONS, Aug 30 2013 (IPS) – If and when the United States launches a military attack on Syria, one of the biggest political losers would be the United Nations. The administration of President Barack Obama will not only bypass the Security Council, …