Planet.Syriamirror.net - Blogging from Syria

Layers of Belief

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 16:36:41 +0300

Dome over the shrine of Habil, the Biblical Abel, forty-five minutes west of Damascus in Zabadani. This Old Testament son of Adam is considered a prophet in orthodox Islam, the first wasiyy or Successor amongst the Shiites, and the very manifestation of the light divine according to the Druze sect who administer this holy site.

Hitler, Hitler Everywhere

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 10:48:39 +0300

Nazism has become the most convenient and abused metaphor applied to the baddies we don't like. Remember Rush Limbaugh's term 'feminazi' which he popularized in the 90s? As if university feminists were clandestinely stacking gassed bodies of males, heterosexuals, and Christians in the basements of America's colleges.

Wide Load

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 07:26:18 +0300

All Dressed Up

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 00:36:37 +0300

Hamidiyyeh Souk, the famous traditional market in Old Damascus, is all dressed up for the Mawlid al-Nabawi, the Birthday of the Prophet Muhammed. For the next couple months, mosques and private residents will be sponsoring commemorations of the Prophet's birth in which they recite the Qur'an, devotional poems and other religious works.

And...

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 20:43:27 +0300

There are, of course, other reasons why I find living in Doha frustrating. I think there needs to be a debate about whether citizens who are well-provided for but don't live under democratic rule can be truly happy.

reason number 1

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 20:35:26 +0300

Reason number 1 why I don't like living in Doha is because it's not a pedestrian/non-car owner friendly place. I know it's poor form to complain about a city I've only recently moved to, but tough.

The Judas of Islam

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:14:35 +0300

In religion news, the Gospel of Judas has appeared on the scene, one of the many original Gnostic gospels that didn't make the cut for the actual Bible. For centuries, Judas has played the role of the reviled betrayer whose evil deeds led to the death of Jesus. A similar role is played in Shiite Islam by Muwawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, who fought against Imam Ali and created the first irreparable rift in Islam. This is the resting place of Muwawiyah in Bab al-Saghir Cemetary in Damascus. Locals try to keep the location secret for fear that Shiites will vandalize his grave. You can't see it in this picture, but the word 'Lanat', or damnation, is spray-painted in large letters to the left of the door.

Dr. Sultan's Fifteen Minutes

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 11:51:33 +0300

A number of American news outlets have been cheering Dr. Wafa Sultan's feisty appearance on Al-Jazeera a couple weeks back. The show featured Sultan opposite one Ibrahim Khouly, lecturer at the famous Egyptian Islamic university, Al-Azhar. Sultan characterized Islam as a medieval ideology pretending to compete with modern civilization. In America's imaginary Middle East, Sultan's performance caused a major disturbance in the Islamosphere. In the actual Middle East, it was barely noticed.

Even more children of Syria

Fri, 7 Apr 2006 22:23:17 +0300

Mohammed al-Maghout

Thu, 6 Apr 2006 13:50:13 +0300

DAMAS, 5 avr 2006 (AFP) – 05/04/2006 12h53 – L’écrivain et poète syrien Mohammed al-Maghout, 72 ans, considéré comme le pionnier de la poésie arabe contemporaine et décédé lundi à Damas à la suite d’une longue maladie, a été inhumé mercredi dans son village natal de Salamya, à 210 km au nord de la [...]

Abdul Salam Oujaili

Thu, 6 Apr 2006 08:35:12 +0300

Abdul Salam Oujaili, l’un des plus importants écrivains syriens du siècle, est né en 1918 à Raqqa et est décédé hier. Il avait donc 88 ans.  Il a étudié la médecine à  l’université de Damas et  a été élu député en 1947. Il a été plusieurs fois ministre de la culture, [...]

More children of Syria

Wed, 5 Apr 2006 20:30:16 +0300

All the Ancient World in One Convenient Location

Wed, 5 Apr 2006 10:52:32 +0300

True to its reputation, Dubai is showcasing another of its over-the-top projects, the Ibn Battuta Mall, 'The World Under One Roof'. The mall includes six sections based on various destinations in the 14th century Ibn Battuta's travels: China, India, Persia, Egypt, Tunisia, and Andalusia. Maybe we should have a Marco Polo Mall or a Daniel Boone Mall?

Economic News (April 4 2006)

Tue, 4 Apr 2006 03:58:20 +0300

On the economic front, the new issue of The Syria Report has come out. As usual it is excellent and well worth the small price.

"New Year, Old Problems for Kurds in Syria," by Denselow and Taa'i

Mon, 3 Apr 2006 08:45:19 +0300

James Denselow and Abdallah Taa'i have written an article for "Syria Comment" about the recent Nawruz demonstration of the Kurds in Syria and its suppression. BBC writes about the ongoing violence in Turkey which has cost 12 Kurds their lives in recent days.