Ramadan news stories on Newser

56 Killed in Blasts Across Iraq

Matt Cantor — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 06:15:10 CDT

Bombs struck more than a dozen Iraqi cities this morning, killing 56 and wounding dozens more. The coordinated explosions mark the first major violence in a comparatively peaceful month of Ramadan, the AP notes; the violence comes as as officials debate whether to maintain a US presence in the country...

Whole Foods Dishes Up Ramadan Tempest

Mary Papenfuss — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:57:48 CDT

Whole Foods has ended up with egg on its face after first touting Ramadan then running scared. The company decided to promote some of its halal foods for the Muslim holy month—then backed off when it was ripped by anti-Muslim bloggers. "Ramadan is fast approaching, and I'm getting my...

Assad Forces Kill at Least 31 in Continued Crackdown

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 09:34:58 CDT

Two Syrian rights groups say government forces have killed at least 31 people in the latest phase of their crackdown on dissent, and the toll for the day could rise to 69. Today's casualties were mainly in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour and the central city of Houleh. "Human...

Somali Militants Launch Ramadan Offensive

Mark Russell — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 04:19:00 CDT

For the fifth straight year, Islamic militant group al-Shabab used the start of Ramadan to launch attacks in Somalia, reports CNN . Despite one of the worst famines in 60 years , al-Shabab fighters attacked African Union forces in northeastern Mogadishu yesterday with suicide bombers, guns, and mortars. "In the midst of...

Amid Clashes, Egypt Troops Clear Tahrir Square

Tim Karan — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:02:44 CDT

Swarms of Egyptian soldiers, riot police, and armored vehicles rolled into Cairo today to clear the last remaining protesters from Tahrir Square. Troops fired shots into the air and reportedly used clubs and electrified batons on activists demanding justice for the 850 protesters killed during the uprising in February, reports...

Woman Spares Man Who Blinded Her With Acid

Evann Gastaldo — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:44:05 CDT

As Ramadan begins in the Islamic world this week, a remarkable story of forgiveness out of Iran: Ameneh Bahrami halted the "eye for an eye" blinding of Majid Movahedi, who blinded and disfigured her seven years ago when he dumped a bucket of acid on her. Movahedi was minutes away...

Syria Kills 62 in Pre-Ramadan Crackdown

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:56:13 CDT

The Syrian army raided cities across the country before dawn today, killing at least 62 people—most of them in the flashpoint city of Hama where a barrage of shelling and gunfire left bodies scattered in the streets, activists and residents said. The government is escalating its crackdown ahead of...

Iran May Release Hikers: Lawyer

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:31:49 CDT

The lawyer for two Americans jailed in Iran on charges of espionage says his clients could be released after a court hearing slated for tomorrow. Masoud Shafiei said today the fact that the session in the trial of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal would coincide with the second anniversary of...

Limbaugh: Obama Wants Deal in Time for Ramadan

Kevin Spak — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:50:05 CDT

Rush Limbaugh couldn’t resist pushing the envelope a bit today with a crack implying that Barack Obama is Muslim. In a segment on the debt ceiling spotted by Mediaite , Rush said, “So Obama’s out there pushing this magic Aug. 2 deadline to get this thing done. That’s because Ramadan starts...