author - oman observer

The international community marks the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations on June 10 each year. While civilisations themselves do not engage in dialogue, they embody the values around...

Religious thought, across traditions and sects, tends to frame the relationship between self and the “other” within three broad circles. The first is a narrow, exclusive circle defined by rigid...

In today’s world, it is all too easy to become an activist with a barrage of tweets, articles, or videos, eavesdropping here and there, inciting people to wage ill-conceived wars that claim innocent...

I refer the readers at the outset to two earlier articles published in Oman newspaper: “Zionism and the Question of the State: From Secularism to Religious Fundamentalism” and “The Rise of...

Not long ago, during a visit to Colombo—the capital of Sri Lanka, once known to Arabs as Serendib—I wandered through its streets and countryside on my way to its green havens, Kandy and Nuwara...

It is truly unfortunate that entering a place of worship can make one feel uneasy or unsafe due to heightened security checks. These measures have become common in recent decades, especially following...

For decades, the causes of underdevelopment have often been summed up in a familiar trio: ignorance, disease and poverty. Many countries continue to suffer from these afflictions, exacerbated by civil...

As the holy month of Ramadhan approaches, fasting becomes a fundamental practice for Muslims, as stated in the Holy Quran: “And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the...

More than seven decades have passed, yet the memory of the Nakba of 1948 remains vivid. The events that led up to that fateful day — plans for settlement, mass displacement, and the subsequent...

When Donald Trump’s presidency ended on 20 January 2021, many in the Arab world rejoiced. He was seen as reckless and unfit to lead, while Joe Biden’s victory sparked hope for a better future....

In the wake of Syria’s recent upheaval and regime change, harrowing images and accounts from Sednaya Prison have emerged. Established in 1987 as a military facility for detaining political prisoners...

No one can reconcile to the horrors of genocide nor can we allow ourselves to be consumed by sectarian divisions while such atrocities unfold. This is not a time for division but for unity in...

The abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate in 1922 marked the end of the Caliphate and the beginning of the nation-state era. The concept of the modern state, particularly in its territorial, national,...

Nadine defines culture as 'the complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, law, customs, and other capabilities and habits acquired by man and not as a member of it.' This shows...

The author is a writer focused on reconciliation and understanding, and the author of ‘The Jurisprudence of Extremism’ In a recent solidarity event for Gaza, I heard the chant ‘Down with...

Religions converge through our shared humanity, and from this shared humanity, the concept of citizenship emerges. Citizenship honours a person's right to choose their faith and practice their...

The year 1979 was pivotal in the region's history, marked by the the Grand Mosque seizure in Saudi Arabia led by Juhayman al Otaibi, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, and the onset of the...

In a tragic incident that drew international sympathy, a helicopter crash resulted in the deaths of President Ibrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir Hossein Abdullahian, the Friday Imam of Tabriz...

As the world marks the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE) as and when Conducive to Terrorism on February 12, a day recognised by the United Nations since 2016, the world...

As sorrowful events transpire in Gaza wrapping the entire world in darkness without distinction between day and night, those living in peace and safety away from the events with their daily food...