Political Islam

Turkish drama

Culture

Ramadan opens in Turkey as secular-conservative divide resurfaces

Ramadan began in Turkey amid a fresh flare-up of secular-conservative tensions, fueled by a controversial TV series and renewed concerns over secularism.

Mansour Abbas, head of Israel's conservative Islamic Raam party, speaks to the press before casting his ballot at a polling station in the northern Israeli village of Maghar on November 1, 2022. - Israelis began voting in their fifth election in less than four years, with veteran leader Benjamin Netanyahu campaigning for a comeback alongside far-right allies. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Trump’s Muslim Brotherhood move reignites Israel’s battle over Raam

Israeli officials hailed the decision by President Donald Trump to start the designation process of Muslim Brotherhood chapters, though the move risks generating havoc within Israeli politics.

Rina Bassist

By Rina Bassist

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

Bassam Hammoud the vice president of the Jamaa Islamiya in Lebanon, brandishes a rifle as he delivers a speech during a demonstration in Sidon in southern Lebanon on July 19, 2024, a day after an Israeli strike in the Bekaa region killed Mohammed Hamed Jabara, the commander of the Hamas-allied group in Lebanon. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP) (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Lebanon's Jamaa Islamiya in spotlight as US moves to designate Muslim Brotherhood

The Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, is a major Sunni political party in the country. But its armed wing has repeatedly attacked Israel during the war with Hezbollah, putting the group under US scrutiny.

Beatrice Farhat

By Beatrice Farhat

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

An Israel Air Force F-35 fighter lands during the "Blue Flag" multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of Eilat, Israel, Oct. 24, 2021.

Analysis

Trump’s Saudi F-35 deal jolts Israel’s security elite, weakens Netanyahu

The expected sale to Saudi Arabia of American stealth F-35 jets, as well as their sale to Turkey, deeply worries Israel’s security apparatus.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Latest News

Saudi Arabia, Muslim world mourn passing of grand mufti

Saudi's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh (C) leads prayer at the funeral on Feb. 6, 2008, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Jordan summons suspects accused of holding Muslim Brotherhood assets: What to know

Flags of Jordan and the Muslim Brotherhood are waved with other protest signs denouncing the US-led Middle East economic conference in Bahrain, in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on June 21, 2019.

Jordan targets charities for alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties: What to know

Supporters of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood take part in a protest in the village of Sweimeh.

Syria’s Sharaa in UAE seeking investments amid Israel talks push

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received His Excellency Ahmad Al-Sharaa, President of the Syrian Arab Republic, who is on a working visit to the country.

United Arab Emirates

iranian weapons afghanistan 1998

Grand ayatollah warns against Iran's Taliban approach

The rare criticism came as the Iranian establishment is accused of attempting to canonize the Taliban amid shifting regional dynamics.

Muhammad Hussein Yaqoub

Cairo cracks down on Salafist preachers

The Egyptian state and its institutions have been waging a fierce campaign against the preachers of Egypt’s Salafi movement over ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Mohseni Ejei

Meet Iran's US-sanctioned new judiciary chief

Fears are growing among rights activists that the appointment of Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei may usher in a new reign of terror for Iran's already stifled civil society.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with the head of the judiciary, president-elect Ebrahim Raisi, and other Judiciary officials in Tehran, June 28, 2021.

Khamenei defends Iran’s 'epic' elections

Iran's supreme leader in a speech Monday defended the latest presidential elections, which saw the lowest voter turnout in the Islamic Republic's history.

Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi attends his first press conference after winning the election in Tehran, Iran, on June 21, 2021.

Raisi's election brings rise of Iran's Hezbollahis

The election of Ebrahim Raisi as president of Iran reflects a more revolutionary turn under the direction of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Faruk Ugur waits for customers while selling hot wine at the entrance to his closed restaurant in the Kadikoy district on February 23, 2021 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Critics say Erdogan used pandemic to kill Turkey’s nightlife

Many out-of-work veterans of Turkey's once thriving entertainment world suspect the ruling party of using COVID-19 restrictions to enforce a more conservative lifestyle.

Members of Egypt's banned Muslim Brotherhood are seen inside a glass dock during their trial in the capital Cairo on July 28, 2018.

Egypt's top court upholds death sentences of 12 Brotherhood figures

The defendants were part of a mass trial of supporters of former President Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Ebrahim Raisi

Who is Ebrahim Raisi, the front-runner in Iran's presidential race?

Here’s what you need to know about Ebrahim Raisi, the conservative cleric seen as the heavy favorite to replace outgoing President Hassan Rouhani.

Ebrahim Raisi campaign poster in Tehran

Iran reconsidering list of disqualified presidential candidates

Iran's powerful Guardian Council said it would review the decision to bar certain candidates from running in this month's presidential election.

Raisi and Larijani

Raisi, Larijani likely top candidates for Iran's presidential election

Iran's Guardian Council, an unelected body that gets to decide a final list of candidates, is winnowing down the number of candidates allowed to run in the June 18 election.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Erdogan’s midnight decrees give Turkey nightmares

The overnight decrees increasingly governing Turkey have become a source of livid satire and agony for millions of Turks.

Raisi and Ghalibaf seen on poster

Iranian presidential election market opens on PredictIt

Users of the popular prediction exchange website can now place bets on Iran’s upcoming elections in addition to bets on Israeli politics.