On Masked Men, Hijackings, And Nightmares
It was the same dream for years: sitting with a travel magazine on an international flight when masked men take over the plane in a hijacking that seemed oh-so-1980s. The nightmare had consumed me throughout my days in the U.S. government. In my dreams, men with dark eyes wore black masks and wielded sharp weapons. […]
The BBC Television Drama Sensationalizes the Muslim Female Terrorist
The new BBC television drama called “The Bodyguard” sensationalizes the Muslim female terrorist. The hit-drama that drew in millions of viewers opens with a nervous, scared and seemingly innocent female bomber–yes, she wears a suicide belt with a trigger in her hand–on a busy train. Anjli Mohindra played Nadai in the drama–the finale which was watched […]
The Rise of Far-Right Extremism In America Is A Worrisome Trend
The rise of far-right extremism in America is a worrisome trend and some experts blame divisive politics. These days, domestic terrorism consists of a kaleidoscope of groups with varying agendas anMd ambitions. The data proves this. In an informative news hour program by PBS, the United States will experience violent attacks by far right extremists every year. Why is […]
Muslim Superheros Are an Alternative to ISIS and Terrorists
For Muslim children in the Arab world, ISIS can be an attractive alternative and viewed as the heroes of the Islamic world fighting against the oppressive Assad regime in Syria. For decades, these children lacked a “good” hero to ward off evil, until the creation of superheroes by one remarkable innovator. A Man With a Vision Suleiman Bakhit is a […]
How To Stop Girls From Joining the Islamic State (ISIS)
It’s not that simple. A lesson on the true principles of Islam can help counter some vulnerable girls /women, but it’s not enough. Girls need more than a lecture on Islam. They need love, support, family, and confidence-building measures. As one Muslim mother told me, “We need to empower our daughters.” I have been doing […]
One Mother Tells A Story About Her Son Joining ISIS
I received a personal note from England to share this harrowing story of a mother whose son joined ISIS from England. At first, I was startled to watch the documentary and learn that the mother, a Muslim convert, was anything but ignorant about the faith or her profession. She converted to Islam at a young […]
How Many People Have To Die?
In a recent TV interview, I was asked this horrible question: How many people have to die before the world community acts? What is the number of dead that leads to global action? In the past 30 years, at least 100,000 people have died in the Kashmir conflict. In other conflicts around the world, there […]
The Forever War in Kashmir Is Marked By Shame And Trauma
The Kashmir conflict has become the forever war, a place where suffering is increasingly psychological and people marked by shame, fear, alienation, anguish, stress, trauma and unimaginable loneliness. It is here in “paradise on earth” that I discovered the most memorable women. I’m often amazed at how meeting one person at one time in one […]
Why Write About Kashmir?
Since the release of my new books on the Kashmir valley, I have been asked repeatedly: Why write about Kashmir? While the answer is obvious to me, it is not so obvious to those who view Kashmir as a distant and distinct conflict. Questions from recent interviews with various podcasts are included below. Kashmir Is Changing Writing […]
72 Virgins in Heaven: Fact or Fiction?
Are there 72 virgins in heaven? Is the male martyr waiting for Persian-eyed, fair skinned women? Can it be true? I’ve done my research and consulted with Islamic scholars. The 72 virgins in Heaven is a myth. What is the Meaning of Martyrdom? To understand martyrdom, it’s important to first define jihad. This simple Venn […]
