Thursday, April 23, 2009 14:28 - GMT

Nicholas D. Kristof - The New York Times

Nicholas D. Kristof writes that the Taliban in Afghanistan and its treatment of women has damaged the image of Islam worldwide. On the other hand, there is a new intellectual movement that is currenting underway as presented at the international conference that was held this week at the University of Notre Dame. Kristof argues that 'If the Islamic world is going to enjoy a revival, if fundamentalists are to be tamed, if women are to be employed more productively, then moderate interpretations of the Koran will have to gain ascendancy.'

Sunday, April 19, 2009 19:30 - GMT

Nader Nadery and Haseeb Humayoon - The New York Times

Nader Nadery, a member of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, and Haseeb Humayoon, a student at Middlebury College, write that Afghanistan needs its allies now as much as before. Afghanis fear that the U.S. and the country’s supporters would abandon them now; a critical time as violence continues to escalate, the Taliban remains significant and the country’s second elections just outside the door. The female school students of Kandahar who continue to fight for their education have not given up. The U.S. should not abandon them now.

Sunday, April 19, 2009 14:40 - GMT

Nader Nadery and Haseeb Humayoon - The New York Times

Nader Nadery and Haseeb Humayoon argue that the recent demonstrations by women in Afghanistan against a new law that restricts their rights shows that the women are not getting support from the rest of the world. They point to Obama's speech on Afghanistan-Pakistan policy that failed to note the importance of democracy in Afghanistan whilst encouarging it for Pakistan. According to Nadery and Humayoon, 'to defeat the forces of oppression, Washington must promote and protect the ideals of democracy and human rights.'

Friday, April 17, 2009 18:27 - GMT

Mona Eltahawy - MetroNews Canada

Following the murder of Afghani women’s rights activist Sitara Achakzai, Egyptian-born journalist Mona Eltahawy explains the dire situation that many girls and women in Afghanistan continue to face today, even after the fall of the Taliban rule. Eltahawy blames this situation not only on those extremists who killed Achakzai and high-ranking female police officer Malalai Kakar, but also on those politicians and clerics that give inequality and injustice a free pass.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009 03:06 - GMT

Sana Khorshid - Middle East Times

Sara Khorshid speaks out against the pre-conceived associations of her background and identity as an Arab woman. She explains that she is often ‘subjected to the same list of topics and questions concerning religion and culture’ such as polygamy, domestic violence, female circumcision and women’s oppression. She also states that ‘I am sick of Muslims being put in a position that compels them to apologize for their own value system, whether or not they condemn the practice.’

Nicholas D. Kristof writes that the Taliban in Afghanistan and its treatment of women has damaged the image of Islam worldwide. On the other hand, there is a new intellectual movement that is currenting underway as presented at the international conference that was held this week at the University of Notre Dame. Kristof argues that 'If the Islamic world is going to enjoy a revival, if fundamentalists are to be tamed, if women are to be employed more productively, then moderate interpretations of the Koran will have to gain ascendancy.'