Medium • 28th May 2026

Bloodbath takes place every Eid and no one bats an eye. I ask why?

Streets full of blood, intestines, body organs and stench everywhere. Animals in distress waiting to be slaughtered, one by one. Animals watching the massacre unfold right in front of their very eyes, visibly uneasy and shaken, seeing their peers getting suppressed to death. Small kids are made accustomed to the environment, sometimes even asked to participate, like it is normal. Devoid of any empathy, or frankly any humanity, butchers surrounded by male figures of the households forcefully push...

Paradigm Shift • 8th June 2025

Is India Losing its Standing as a Respected Global Power? - Paradigm Shift

Written by Allia Bukhari• June 8, 2025•
6:32 pm•
Articles, Pakistan, Published Content

Much to Delhi’s chagrin, its accusations of Pakistani meddling in Kashmir received little to no support from neighbours and Western capitals during recent tensions. Is India losing its standing as a respected global power?


It did not take long for India’s ruling BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resort to drastic measures and downgrade the already fragile ties with Pakis...

Middle East Monitor • 9th December 2023

Germany’s Muslims fear rise in Islamophobia amidst war in Gaza

When Hamas massacred 1,200 Israelis on 7 October in the biggest attack on the Jewish community since the Holocaust, Germany showed unflinching solidarity with the State of Israel, supporting its “inalienable” right to self-defence. It rightly condemned the loss of lives and capture of hostages while calling for the latter’s immediate safe return. Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate was illuminated in the colours of the Israeli flag and a rally was organised the next day in the capital, attended by several

The new Arab • 19th January 2024

A Palestinian musician’s ode to his homeland amid war

For 27-year-old Jalal I. Akel Jr, a Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem, music became a source of respite and personal exploration amid the repeated phases of violence and unrest against his community growing up.

Jalal recently released an album under his artist name Jahlayal in dedication to his Palestinian roots and spirituality with the hopes of spreading “healing” in the middle of Israel's brutal war in Gaza that has killed more than 24,000 Palestinians.

He presents music in a tranquil,

The new Arab • 15th March 2024

Meet the Palestinian chef feeding ancient veganism to Europe

For 38-year-old Jerusalemite Izzeldin Bukhari, Palestinian food is always on his mind. First a tour guide now a chef, Izzeldin's passion for Palestinian culinary history prompted him to set up , a supper club-cum-cooking class in Jerusalem's Old City. Now he's taking it on tour to Europe.

"My main goal is to share Palestinian food, especially vegan and vegetarian food," Izzeldin tells "I speak a lot about food history in what I do. It's important to teach my guests how dishes are created. Falaf

Middle East Monitor • 23rd July 2024

As Pakistan labels Israel’s PM a ‘terrorist’ it must keep its own extreme elements under control

The Pakistani government has officially decided to recognise Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “terrorist”, stating that Tel Aviv is an “entity committing war crimes.” Urging the international community to do the same, Islamabad cited the mass civilian casualties in Gaza, made up mainly of women and children, since October last year.
The move came after the radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan Party (TLP) held protests in the country, with activists protesting in the twin cities of Is...

Middle East Monitor • 30th May 2024

Is Germany changing course on Israel after its Rafah offensive?

Recent remarks from German officials backing the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and showing concern about Palestinian casualties in Rafah serve as a face-saving balancing act. For Palestinians in Germany, though, this is too little, too late.

“Now is the time, more than ever, to stand up to hate and talk about our hostages,” a middle-aged visitor to Berlin’s newly inaugurated Hostages Square told me when I arrived there. Const

7th September 2024

In Germany, far right threatens Jews and Muslims alike

Many in Germany watched the regional elections in the eastern states of Saxony and Thuringia with bated breath last weekend as the far-right, anti-immigration and Eurosceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) party made pivotal electoral gains. The AfD won the vote with a 32.8 percent margin in Thuringia — where it is designated as right-wing extremist and its regional leader considered a fascist — becoming the first far-right party to succeed in a state election in the country since the Nazis were...

27th November 2021

Violence by way of silence | The Express Tribune

On October 22, Israel designated six Palestinian human rights organisations as terrorist groups alleging that these NGOs, under the cover of civil society organisations, belonged and constituted an arm of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP] leadership, a leftist political faction with an armed group, in a statement issued by the country’s Defense Ministry. The designation two weeks later was extended to the West Bank. The move was widely criticised by human rights groups and

Medium • 14th February 2026

I lost goodwill for people who abuse animals and stay silent about it

In the Muslim world where I come from and in a country like Pakistan where I spent my formative years, dogs, especially strays, are hated, ridiculed, abused and poisoned. They are seen as “unclean” and “impure” and a lot of it has to do with the twisted religious upbringing which portrays them as such. This hostile attitude is not just restricted to some distorted long-held beliefs, it also transforms into vile systemic abuse against dogs every waking day on the streets. Stray dogs get bullied b...

The Diplomat • 12th February 2022

Challenging South Asia’s Toxic Patriarchy Through Podcasts

When Kainath Merchant started her podcast “Brown and Bold,” her aim was to foster a virtual space that would address the “traumatic, raw, and uncomfortable” realities of South Asian culture, which often do not receive consistent attention in the digital arena. Given how South Asian families and societies directly and indirectly intimidate women through many of their established sociocultural norms, the journey to self-acceptance and self-love for many girls is not an easy one. Where both women a

RAPPLER • 2nd May 2021

[OPINION] Racist rhetoric or free speech? Where does media ethics stand in the face of crisis?

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

In January 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, Denmark’s newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a cartoon featuring China’s flag with virus-like illustrations in place of stars. The Chinese embassy in Denmark, in response, called the Danish newspaper’s satire “a humiliation to China and Chinese people,” saying that it showed no sympathy and empathy.

Denmark, on the other hand, refuse

Média IKSŽ • 22nd April 2022

Red No More: Russians in Prague turn to a new flag to show solidarity with Ukraine

“Our old flag had red on it and we want to wash off that colour. This (white and blue) is our new flag and we’re saying as Russians that we do not want war in Ukraine,” said a Russian activist and member of Prague’s Russian Anti War Committee, on the condition of anonymity, at a benefit concert for Ukraine in Letná Park.

“We fully support the Ukrainians and we stand with them together,” he added, as a large number of people attended the concert on Sunday (April 3) which was organised by the Ukr

The Diplomat • 17th August 2021

Taliban’s Return Has Afghan Women Living in Fear

Internally displaced Afghan women from northern provinces, who fled their home due to fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel, receive medical care in a public park in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021.

When the United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001, safeguarding the rights of women and children was one of its supposed prime objectives, alongside eliminating al-Qaida for its role in the 9/11 attacks. Then-U.S. President George W. Bush pledged funds to support the

The Copenhagen Post • 10th April 2021

Deciphering ‘gender-equal’ Denmark’s unconventional relationship with feminism

Denmark serves as a role model for the rest of the world with its social democratic welfare, narrow gender pay gap, generous parental leave and noteworthy female representation in the government and political sphere. It even has a feminist political party!

The country has made tremendous strides for women’s rights since 1915 – when it officially granted them the right to vote – and today they legally enjoy fundamental freedoms and opportunities.

Denmark is regularly ranked among the best count

26th November 2024

Over 1,000 days of war in Ukraine and security challenges mount

“North Korean forces injected into the battle and now quite literally in combat demand and will get a firm response,” warned US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a visit to Brussels a few days ago as he appeared for a press briefing with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Blinken stressed efforts to ensure money, munitions, and mobilized forces in order to assist the Ukrainian forces effectively in their fight against Russia while making it possible for Kyiv to negotiate peace from a “positio...

The Diplomat • 28th January 2021

How Have Women Leaders Shaped South Asia’s Politics?

South Asia has elected its share of prominent women politicians. But what has that meant for gender equality and women’s rights on the ground?

With Kamala Harris assuming office as the United States’ first female vice president this month, conversations have been renewed over the role of women leaders in politics – particularly in South Asia, given Harris’ Indian heritage. South Asia has seen many female politicians and even elected them as heads of government, from Indira Gandhi – the first an

The Jerusalem Post • 19th December 2020

As a Pakistani I want to visit Israel, but my passport would not let me

As the war against Hamas unfolds, our unwavering newsroom remains committed to covering Israel's most profound crisis.

Sign up for our newsletter to get real-time news and in-depth analysis from our top reporters.

The Express Tribune • 29th November 2020

In Denmark, rights activists bemoan Poland's ‘anti-women’ ruling

“Let women decide for themselves!” This was a popular chant reverberating in a mass demonstration against Poland’s anti-abortion law in Aarhus, Denmark with a great number of attendees pressing on the need to safeguard women’s rights in a predominantly catholic country.

Women’s rights activists in Denmark took out rallies in major cities to protest the ruling by Poland’s top court that nearly banned all abortions. Although its implementation has now been delayed, the decision has become a major

The Diplomat • 7th July 2021

Madrassa Sex Abuse Case Shocks Pakistan

More and more cases have been coming to light in the past years. Who will take on the country’s powerful clerics?

For over a year, Sabir Shah, a madrassa student, was sexually abused by an influential religious cleric in Pakistan’s populous city of Lahore. In a video spread on social media and filmed by Shah himself, Mufti Azizur Rehman – a religious leader belonging to the conservative Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party, who confessed to his crime – could be seen involved in inappropriate

5th April 2024

BRICS: A much needed counterweight to Western dominance?

“We value the interest of other countries in building a partnership with BRICS. We have tasked our Foreign Ministers to further develop the BRICS partner country model and a list of prospective partner countries and report by the next Summit,” said South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa during the BRICS meeting as his country hosted the three-day summit in Johannesburg last month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin notably skipped the much anticipated gathering of the BRICS leaders and attended

Middle East Monitor • 21st February 2024

How the Gaza war has polarised the Global North and South

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the subsequent events widened the global divide in the international community towards major powers and solidified many of the developing countries’ geopolitical presence under the BRICS. With the ongoing war in Gaza, these fissures are being put to the test again.

From the beginning of the latest spike in the Israel-Palestine conflict, starting 7 October with Hamas’s attacks in Israel, the United States has remained firm in its support for the Jewish State

25th April 2026

Israel and the BRICS: A tightrope to walk

The BRICS bloc of developing economies welcomed five new members as the world entered 2024. The countries joining the group, which is dominated by China and, to some extent, Russia, include heavyweights from the Middle East like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — both countries that were normalizing ties with Israel in the not so distant past in a United States-brokered peace process. Other new members include Iran, a key player from the region, as well as Egypt and Ethiopia.  Argentina...

Foreign Policy News • 2nd June 2021

Why Muslim countries need to talk about antisemitism

The recent escalation in the perennial Israeli-Palestinian conflict drew attention from around the world. The conflict saw a polarised international response with some Western countries and the United States expressing support for Israel and its right to self defence while others condemning the Jewish state for the killing of civilian Palestinians. In Pakistan, as always and as expected, a pro-Palestine sentiment was widespread and social media feeds were flooded with posts in favour of the Pale