Somali rebels force men to grow beards
Somalia's Islamist al-Shabaab rebels on Saturday ordered men to grow long beards, shave their moustaches and wear their trousers above the ankle.
A thousand Muslims storm a Church near Jakarta
The building was near completion and was to be used for Christmas Mass. Local Catholics are afraid that more attacks could take place during the festive season. Police and local authorities urge Catholics to celebrate the service
Muslim revival brings polygamy, camels to Chechnya
Adam, 52, keeps his three wives in different towns to stop them squabbling, but the white-bearded Chechen adds he might soon take a fourth.
Funding for jihad troubling, scholar says
More than 35 percent of Egyptians and Saudis interviewed in a recent survey considered it their duty to back regional mujahedin financially, a scholar notes.
Iraq on alert over Christian Christmas threats
The Iraqi army has been put on alert because of threats against the country's Christian minority over the coming Christmas holidays, the defense ministry spokesman said on Friday.
French halal restaurants try gourmet cuisine
In a stylishly decorated restaurant in the heart of Paris, tucked between Bastille and Place de la Nation, Sophia Tabet is perusing a typical French menu, including foie gras, beef fillet and duck confit.
Egypt's Gaza barrier a “sovereign right”
A state-owned Cairo daily confirmed on Thursday that Egypt is building an underground barrier with Gaza and said it was a "sovereign right" that would increase pressure on the enclave's Hamas rulers.
Muslim penetration Even At The Pentagoncy
The internal threat from Muslim extremists in the military extends to high-level Defense Department aides who have undermined military policy. In fact, one top Muslim adviser pushed out an intelligence analyst who warned of the sudden jihad syndrome that led to the Fort Hood terrorist attack.
Egypt paper promotes polygamy for women
An article promoting polygamy for women published in an independent Egyptian newspaper has caused a stir as one MP filed a lawsuit calling for a trial and several lawyers lobby the government to ban a television series about the same topic.
Iran: New centrifuges being developed
Iran's nuclear chief said Friday the country has started making more efficient centrifuge models that it plans to put in use by early 2011 - a statement that underscores Teheran's defiance and adds to international concerns over its nuclear ambitions.