Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
Turkey: Algerian and Egyptian Scenarios Failed. A Turkish model that today excelled to end demo-ctatorship mentality, and establish a working democracy in Turkey — ironically led by an Islamist president… By Abdennour Toumi Turks cast their last democratic ballots in November, 2015 under an overcast political sky and the smell of bombs in the southern cities,…
Read More “Turkey: Algerian and Egyptian scenarios failed” »
Many people associate a mosque with terrorism and question whether mosques are safe or are actually brainwashing young Muslims to become urban Jihadists By Abdennour Toumi Hearing the negative discourse about Arabs and Muslims that has been increasing in French society, many people associate mosques with terrorism and question whether mosques are safe or are…
Read More “Focus on Substance: Here’s what’s happening at Mosque” »
It Has All Become Clear, President Erdoğan “Gets” It. This attack came as a brutal shock and underscores the increasing tension in the region to which Turkey is no longer immune. By Abdennour Toumi The Istanbul attacks on Tuesday night at Ataturk Airport rank as the fifth deadliest terrorist attack in the last six months. This…
Read More “It Has All Become Clear, President Erdoğan “Gets” It” »
Anti-EU leaders driven by anti-Muslim, anti-immigration racism in Europe join push to leave EU. “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him, but for my own part, it was Greek to me.” In politics, making a populist decision that politicians might think it is a big deal, though the domino effect may be drastic for…
UEFA Euro 2016: Fraternity, Unity and Diversity. France’s squad footballers cultural and ethnic origin, particularly for second and third generation football stars immigrants are victims of institutionalized racism. By Abdennour Toumi The UEFA Euro 2016 championship edition is one of world soccer’s most watched events. France is the hosting country and the most favored to win…
Read More “UEFA Euro 2016: Fraternity, Unity and Diversity” »
Unlike the first-generation immigrants, their children are in a process to create new societal roles for themselves at the intellectual, social and political level. Imposing new paradigm working their ways of integrating Europe sociocultural stance By Abdennour Toumi Mayor-elect Sadiq Khan’s victory in the London mayoral elections was read as a successful story across the…
Read More “The European Dream: Being Muslim, prominent politician & European” »
There are three elements in the power structure of the Algerian state: oil, religion and politics — these elements are to maintain the intra-clan interests, social order and keep the institutions functioning. By Abdennour Toumi These days in Algeria the regime’s machine is busy paving the road to el-Mouradia Palace for the former Energy Minister…
Read More “Hi, my name is Chekib Khelil, and I am running for President” »
Over the course of decade since the law has passed, the discourse surrounding it has become increasingly centered on the hijab, the Muslim veil representing religion and womanhood, which covers the head and neck. Suggestions arose that the hijab is imposed upon Muslim women by their male family members, and that these women required liberation….
Brussels terrorism and Edjteehad in the West. Culture is another contested area in the history of Islam-West relations. The influence of Islamic culture and civilization on the West is sociologically decisive and irreversible. By Abdennour Toumi The Brussels attacks are but one act in a series of serious threats posed by “homegrown” radicalism from young…
The Sykes-Picot Agreement symbolizes the secrecy by which France and Britain decided to carve up the Middle East based on their economic and power issues and not on the interests of the people of the Middle East. And while the agreement was never realized, it set the stage for the turmoil that has plagued the…
Ideas of democracy and political liberalization have recently become central to political debate within and about the Middle East. Is Algeria able to respond to the challenge and be a unique case in North Africa? By Abdennour Toumi Algeria’s first pluralist Constitution emerged as a real imperative of change in the country and eventually in…
The elimination of the banlieusards provokes effectively the revolt of the banlieue subculture and confirms the rebous (Arabs’) political message of resistance and existence. It is also a statement of identity, the reality is, there is a constant influx, don’t assimilate and acculturate. By Abdennour Toumi All these manners of speaking appropriate foreign language can…
Read More “Oral Language: Social exclusion & identity affirmation” »
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy losing popularity as he pursues a possible return in 2017, but his book (France for Life) is topping the popularity charts. Sarkozy just cannot stay away from the “limelight” of politics — but he certainly stands to make some money from this book! By Abdennour Toumi Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy…
Algeria — Political systems that demagogically restrict ethnic politics to a single dimension destabilize democracy in the long run, whereas systems that enrich multiple dimensions of ethnic identity can sustain it By Abdennour Toumi After years of political discussion, President Bouteflika and his team laid their cards on the table during a press conference led…
Read More “Algeria, Ethnic Parties and Political Stability” »
France racism at Arabs grows. Growing racism climate in the continent that earns Corsica nationalism, worried the French authorities By Abdennour Toumi The ugliness of anti-Arab sentiment on the continent has overflowed to the Island of Beauty, Corsica. Last weekend anti-Arab protests broke out in Ajaccio following an ambush of firefighters and police by hooded youth…
The passing of Da al-Hocine poses a new challenge for the regime. Real opposition continues to be a major political imperative in shaping the country’s political pluralis. The last Algerian WL hero and leader, Ait Ahmed, who was for my generation a father and a teacher of how to stand to tyranny. His ideas and…
Complications of French politics continue. Muslims continue to be a major factor in defining the nation’s political face By Abdennour Toumi Shock was the reaction most clearly expressed on the front page of Le Figaro and l’Huma, two daily papers diametrically opposed ideologically. France’ s political establishment found itself cornered and “shocked” as the right…
Terrorism and the rise of anti-Muslim sentiment is changing France and fueling extremism like the Le Pen political movement By Abdennour Toumi The Le Pens’ political ascension in French mainstream politics and societal-change behavior has been exponentially increased since the Battle of Paris, attacks on Muslims and anti-immigrant sentiment. The National Front extremist-right party has…