Terrorism in India: Mumbai madness

The attack by gunmen on Mumbai’s hotels and landmarks brings to mind past violence between Hindus and Muslims in the world’s largest democracy. These attacks never help their purported causes, but remain stubbornly ubiquitous nonetheless.

Film "The Kite Runner": A scene too far?

An acclaimed new film set in Afghanistan, The Kite Runner, is testing the cultural differences between East and West with an inference of child rape.

Shias in Mecca: Unwelcome pilgrims

For many Shias, an attack on Shia umrah pilgrims two weeks ago recalls a painful history of abuse in Mecca, and shatters hopes for a more inclusive and tolerant pilgrimage experience

War with Iran: America’s “single-country challenge”

Shirin Saeidi, of the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII), speaks to us about the prospects of war with Iran and how we underestimate the complexity of Iranian society

Iranian dissent: Behind Iran’s new hostage diplomacy

For Iran’s hardliners, under pressure from the West to abandon a fledgling nuclear programme, the detentions of foreigners and dual-nationals raises the stakes

Author Daveed Gartenstein-Ross: Fueling islamophobia or building bridges?

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross converted to Islam and worked with a charity allegedly linked to al-Qaida. Is his new book cashing in on the experience, or does he have something constructive to say?

Five Years After Gujarat: Truth trickles out

Some have accused assessments by anti-communalism activists of what transpired in Gujarat as being excessively sentimental. This indeed may be the case, but it is not without reason.

Comedian Dean Obeidallah: “We can use comedy to foster understanding”

Comedian Dean Obeidallah, co-creator of Comedy Central’s “The Watch List”, explains just how to tell your parents you would rather be a comedian than a doctor.

Rapper Lupe Fiasco: Muslim rapper “walks” to the top of the charts

A street-smart Muslim kid from Chicago finds himself skating to the top of the charts – but not forgetting where he came from or who he is.

Social worker Hussein Yusuf: What lies ahead for Somalia?

alt.muslim interviews Somali social worker Hussein Yusuf (himself a refugee) in order to help put the current conflict in Somalia into perspective.