Mulled Whine

Written by Karima Hamdan

Christmas this year seems to have arrived with a bitter sort of edge to it. Perhaps it is the generally stressful feeling transmitted by so many people struggling, in this age of cuts and recession, to ignore the perilous economic climate and spending well outside their means. Perhaps it is the grim-faced, frost-bitten, "Scott of the Antarctic" determination of legions of shoppers who, after realising that their many online purchases will now not be delivered, have faced sub-zero temperatures, traffic pandemonium and icy pavements to buy themselves some Yuletide joy.

Willing Accomplices

Written by Karima Hamdan

I have always found a quote from the iconic 1980s BBC political comedy "Yes Prime Minister" quite insightful of the psychology that pervaded the upper echelons of the British government. It was uttered when one senior civil servant was quizzing another about the failure of a supervising authority to pick up on the corruption and incompetence of a colleague. After a bit of spluttering and bluster, his colleague answered:

"Decent chaps don't check up on decent chaps to see that they're behaving like decent chaps."

The Re-Butt-al

Written by Karima Hamdan

I wished to respond to a number of comments in order to clarify some issues that have been presented but I first would like to thank everyone who has taken the trouble and time to write their opinions on this article (even if we don't quite see eye to eye). Please keep reading and offering your ideas and thoughts.

1432 - time for a change

Approximately 1432 years ago, in the month of Muharram, Allah (exalted is He) ordered our dear Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and his followers to emigrate from Makkah to Madinah. This order came 13 years after the beginning of Prophethood and marked a new chapter in the history of the Muslims.

EDL - the writing on the wall

Written by Karima Hamdan

Another weekend, another EDL protest in a city in England. This time it is Peterborough and early reports suggests that despite the heavy police presence, the 500 plus tattooed protesters screaming out anti-Muslim invective engaged in several acts of violence and there were several arrests.

Equality for All?

Written by Ali Ashraf

Britain, a country that values the principles of equality. A country which believes no person should be discriminated against on the basis of factors such as gender and race. This view of Britain is purported by many as reality, from the Prime Minister and the media, through to the local school teacher. Yet recent events are making more and more parts of society stop to consider if these principles are for export only.

Halal Hysteria

Written by Karima Hamdan

There has been a great deal of white noise regarding halal meat slaughter bandied around in the media lately. The story usually revolves around how halal (and by definition kosher...but this is hardly ever mentioned with any vigour) is barbaric and cruel because the animal remains "unstunned" until death, unlike modern slaughter techniques in which the animal is stunned.

Sleep tight, don't let the...

Written by Sulaiman Awan

...bed bugs bite!

So goes the old adage but the city of New York has recently been besieged by an invasion of bed bugs. The little critters have taken over the city and many of its residents have been reduced to panic.