Meeting the In-Laws – bridging the cultural divide
It's no surprise that the first time I traveled to Edinburgh to visit K's parents I was incredibly nervous. No-one would deny that meeting their in-laws for the first time is stressful; they're probably the only other set of parents that you'll hope to impress and please as much as your own.
A Matter of Faith
I remember the furore about Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses", and the apoplexy over the Danish newspaper cartoon depictions of the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). When the Monty Python film “Life of Brian” was released it was shunned by the big broadcasting corporations and banned by borough councils around Britain. But is making it illegal to criticise religion the way to go?
Truth, Justice and the Canadian Way – on the end of the Shafia trial
Yesterday, Canada sent a strong message to immigrants who think they can import illegal practices from their home country and expect to be treated leniently by the law. A trial conducted simultaneously in English, Farsi and Darsi, that heard testimonies from experts in Afghan cultural beliefs and practices, finally reached its conclusion as the jury returned a guilty verdict.
A Merry Muslim Christmas
This year, we had our first Ashraf Christmas dinner - halal turkey with all the trimmings! In England, whenever we were home over Christmas, we would put up our tree and enjoy the sparkly beauty of the tinsel and lights, and the festive, feel-good vibe. Usually though, the Christmas holiday period would be an opportunity to visit my husband's family in Edinburgh, where there would be no tree, or gifts or Christmas dinner...
Has anyone seen the moon?
Well, it seems it doesn't matter what country you're in, there is the same confusion over when the muslim festival of Eid-ul-Fitr falls...
