[fund] general

USA: The role of religion in the Deep South

Religious belief has always been an important part of American life, but has it seeped into parts of the nation which should be kept secular?

Iraq: Iraqi barbers in the firing line as fanatics target Western symbols

In Iraq a barber works in a dangerous trade. Many have been murdered, beaten or forced to close their businesses by Islamic fanatics who accuse them of shaving off beards or giving Western-style haircuts.

Afghanistan: Afghan protest against the US becomes violent

UN, human rights and aid organisations were attacked along with the offices of the Women's Affairs Ministry.

Mondial: Quelques timides avancées, mais rien n'est gagné pour les musulmanes

Dans de nombreux pays musulmans, au nom de certains préceptes coraniques, les femmes sont mises à l'écart de la place publique.

International: Angry young men, veiled young women: constructing a new population threat

Current public and policy debates about "terrorism" often set up a sharp divide between East and West.

South East Asia: Muslim role model?

South East Asia's modernising Muslim societies still have some tough problems to solve.

UPDATE - Iraq: Giuliana Sgrena has been released

Bangladesh: Bangladesh and Islamic militants

Bangladesh's government has recently banned two fringe Islamic political organisations, accusing them of being behind a recent spate of bomb explosions.

Iraq: Urgent call for solidarity for kidnapped feminist journalist Guiliana Sgrena

UK: The dictator, the saint and the minister

After weeks of speculation, the education secretary Ruth Kelly admitted this week that she receives 'spiritual support' from the secretive Catholic sect Opus Dei.