This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews). Published in Khaleej Times, September 1, 2011. Last year, during a raging controversy over the building of an Islamic center in Lower Manhattan, Time Magazine ran a cover story titled, “Is America Islamophobic?” Shortly thereafter, a poll released by Time showed nearly six in ten...

Published in Turkey’s Today’s Zaman, May 3, 2011. Also on Huffington Post. An edited version appears in the Florida Times Union. MEMO TO OSAMA BIN LADEN, NOW DEAD Parvez Ahmed Although rejoicing death is not part of the religious traditions of Muslims, Christians or Jews, I cannot help but feel a sense of joyful relief now that you are no longer capable...

Published in the Gainesville Sun, Tallahassee Democrat. Other newspapers around the state are also likely to publish this. Ahmed, Romberg and Schlakman: Rep. King’s unAmerican hearings Published: Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 1:46 p.m. Before assuming the chairmanship of the House Homeland Security Committee in January, U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-NY) announced his...

Today’s Zaman (Turkey). Feb 21, 2011 Abuse of Women is Sadly Endemic Parvez Ahmed Amidst all the euphoria about Egypt’s peaceful revolution, the news of CBS news reporter Lara Logan being sexually assaulted hits like a ton of bricks. The people of Egypt, especially its youth, have been such an inspiration that any hint of deviant behavior understandably...

Today’s Zaman, Feb 3, 2011 We are all Egyptians now I am mesmerized by the peaceful popular uprisings calling for the end of three decades of dictatorial rule in Egypt. Often the news from the Muslim world is depressing. Not today. The impact of this is still unknown. But one thing is unmistakably clear: We are all Egyptians now. The young voices from Egypt...