Latest update: 07/04/2011

- Islam - Israel - Jerusalem - Jews - Middle East - Muslims

Jerusalem's 'new Wailing Wall' causes tensions in the Old City

Israel has widened worshippers' access to a revered Jewish site in the heart of the Jerusalem Old City's Muslim Quarter. The move threatens to inflame tensions at one of the world's most contested religious sites. The small courtyard lies less than 100m from the Wailing Wall, one of Judaism's most sacred places; but its proximity to the Al Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, makes the site sensitive to both religions.

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23/05/2012 - CANADA

Students in Quebec march against tuition fee hike

Student protests in the Canadian province Quebec are into their fourth month. Hundreds were arrested at marches to mark 100 days since the protests began. Students are demonstrating against an 80 percent rise in tuition fees in Quebec, the Canadian province that has until now enjoyed the country's lowest rates for higher education.

23/05/2012 - EGYPT

Egyptians head to the polls

Egyptians go to the polls in the country's first truly contested presidential election on Wednesday. With an array of candidates to choose from, voters will decide who's the best man to lead them through the last phase of the country's troubled democratic transition that began with Egypt's revolution in January last year. Cairo correspondents Kathryn Stapley and Sonia Dridi talked to some of the activists whose protests in Tahrir Square changed the course of Egypt's history.

22/05/2012 - EGYPT

A troubling time for Egypt's Coptic Christians

Egyptians go to the polls tomorrow to vote for a new president for the first time since Hosni Mubarak was ousted during the revolution last year. Two of the front-runners in the presidential race with a realistic chance of winning are devout Islamists, which is troubling for Egypt's Coptic Christians. They are Egypt's largest religious minority and many of them don't think any of the candidates are capable of protecting them from the religious violence that has been steadily increasing.

22/05/2012 - WEST BANK

'The Battle of the Empty Stomachs'

Palestinians nicknamed it "the battle of the empty stomachs". For weeks, 1,600 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails refused food and drink in what became the longest ever mass hunger strike. Israel finally capitulated and a deal was reached, allowing those in isolation back onto the general wards, and visas for those family members wishing to visit from Gaza. In exchange, prisoners agreed not to carry out "security activities" such as recruiting for terrorist missions.

21/05/2012 - SERBIA

Serbia's new president - nationalist or not?

Serbia has elected a new president - and it's not the one that most people were expecting. Tomislav Nikolic has unseated Boris Tadic, the man in power since 2004. Observers are worried about the new head of state, who used to be part of the ultra-nationalist Radical Party. He once said he would prefer to be allied with Russia than join the EU, but he has since toned down the rhetoric, saying he will take Serbia to Europe after all.

Comments (3)

What Bullying?

by Anonyme - 18/08/2011 - 01:17

I didn't see anyone bullying anybody else in this report. I only saw about 20 people coming in one afternoon per week for a couple of hours to pray. What's the big deal?

You know Muslims, Christians, Baha'is, etc can now all practice their religions in Israel--now that the Jews are in charge. It was never that way when the Muslims had control.

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freedom of worship by bullying

by Anonyme - 07/04/2011 - 22:33

I'd like to see the Palestinians going into Jewish courtyards and saying their prayers. What are the chances of them having the same freedom to incite?

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So opening up an area for freedom of worship is "controversial"?

by Anonyme - 05/04/2011 - 15:33

The scaffolding there never actually held anyhting up, I have seen it myself, there was a small gap between it and the building below.

Freedom of Worship is an important value in Israeli Society, for Jews and for Muslims and it is fantastic that where Muslims are praying a few feet away, so too Jews can pray at this holy site.

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