SHAFAQNA

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Shafaqna was pleased to conduct an interview with Dr. Adrew Rippin, professor of Islamic history at the University of Victoria.  He is a specialist in the Qur'an and the history of its interpretation. Here is what he had to say. Shafaqna: How is it that in this age of the internet, do you think people have such prejudice against the Muslim faith even though so much information is so easily available? Dr. Rippin: The Internet by…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) - Shafaqna recently had a chance to speak with Dr. Linda Clarke, professor at Concordia University in Montreal Canada.  Her areas of expertise are Shiism, women and Islam, Islamic Law and Islam in the west.  Here is how she answered two of our questions. The firs1t question is, do you think that the Islamic studies program at Concordia helps to enlighten those enrolled about Islam in a fair enough way to well portray the community as a whole?…

  SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — Most of the countries in South Asia underwent cataclysmic changes because of changing socio-economic and political landscape. The dynamics of South Asian politics are more shaped by their internal socio-economic and political interests rather than enforced by the forces outside their territorial boundaries. Although South Asia witnessed a great diversification on political, social and economic fronts, governance remained at the lowest ebb in a more than half century old history of this region. It…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) —Later in his speech Jon Snow talked about the present day politics and Obama’s foreign policies. Being critical about the US policies in the Middle East and Obama’s promises and approaches, Jon said: “And if you cut to the present day and you see the extended hand of friendship from Barack Obama in Cairo, if you're one like me, a naive hack, and you hear those words you think, my God he understands the open…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) —At this point in his speech Jon went on expressing his feelings about the lack of activities on the diplomatic front. “I thought, this is ridiculous! Why doesn't CyrusVance come here? Nobody came. Nobody came. And this terrible stand-off went on and on and on. There's been duplicity on all sides ever since and the thing has been fermented and the rest of it. Since then, who have we had? I think we've had Kerry,…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) —At this point Jon Snow turned his attention to diplomatic relation between West and Iran. He mentioned in his speech that compared with Britain the ties between US and Iran was very short in terms of time. According to Jon, American diplomatic relation with Iran lasted only 25 years but with Britain it was nearly 300 years. And then he went on about the diplomatic problems between US and Iran at the start of the…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association)- Shafaqna recently had a chance to interview Dr. Karen Ruffle, Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Toronto.   She is an expert on Islam and specializes in South Asian Shi’ism.  She agreed to answer a few questions for us. First Question:  How do you think the events that happened in Libya and Egypt recently when the embassy's where raided will affect Muslims living in the western part of the world like the United States and…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — And then Jon Snow explained what happened next. “I said, yes, yes, come in if you must. Its 4:00, but there it is. He said, we have information that you may have been to the early warning station and filmed some material that we believe might be a little sensitive. I said, well, I can't confirm that, I'm afraid. But you know if that's what you've been told, you can live with it. He…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) Shafaqna journalist spoke to Dr. Omid Safi, professor of Islamic Studies at the University of North Carolina, who agreed to answer two of our questions regarding Islam and Muslim community in America. First question: how is the Muslim community in the US reacting to US policies in the Middle East? Professor Safi:  I would say that the response of the Muslim community is both deep frustration and a commitment to long-term organizing.   Today most American…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — Jon Snow’s speech continued with a trip to the recent past, in 1970’s. “Recent history in Iran tells you a great deal about why we're in the mess we're in now. I was sent to Iran, only because somebody came into the newsroom and said, ‘Is there anybody who has ever been to Iran? And I put my hand up, because I'd been on the hippie trail in 1970.” He continued about his memories…