Category Archives: Religion

How The Middle East Became Another Planet

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Samira Ahmed

From Flash Gordon’s Ming the Merciless with his harem and his war rocket Ajax, to Frank Herbert’s prophecy-obsessed desert tribes in Dune battling over a valuable resource, the Middle East has always been another planet to western science fiction creators. … Continue reading →

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No Children of Ours: Rochdale and conveyor belt grooming

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Samira Ahmed

Posted 2012 15 years ago the renowned filmmaker Peter Kosminsky made No Child of Mine, a controversial drama about a teenage girl in care who’d ended up being passed around by men for sex. The phenomenon was called “conveyor belt … Continue reading →

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Halal wine and other spiritual dilemmas

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Samira Ahmed

There is a fabulous Moroccan cafe called La Provence round the corner from my old office, on Grays Inn Road in London, where my Dad would come and take me for lunch sometimes. My Dad’s an observant Muslim and would tend … Continue reading →

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St Paul’s can hear the alarm bells ringing.

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

1pm GMT The latest statement from St Paul’s confirming that they are NOT going to take legal action against the protest camp. St Paul’s Suspends Legal Action Against Protest Camp St Paul’s, 1 November 2011 (All Saints Day) The Chapter … Continue reading →

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A very English coup at St Paul’s Cathedral?

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

Do we have some kind of South American style regime change in St Paul’s Cathedral? The governing Chapter of St Paul’s put out this “clarifying” statement this morning, to distance themselves from the announcement by the Corporation of London that … Continue reading →

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1951 then and now: Britain Mended, Britain on the Make

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

If you want to know what Britain was like before The Festival of Britain you should watch the masterful 1950 film noir, Night And The City. It features a chase around the industrial chimneys and postwar rubble of what was … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics/graphic novels, Culture, Design, Film, Religion, Science, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Second World War and 9/11

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

Something happened to Time and our concept of War over the past decade. The Second World War, which still fascinates children today, saw global power shift one way and then the other; a clear victory over Axis (of Evil) power. … Continue reading →

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Privilege: Lessons from the Swinging 60s and the Swingeing (cuts) 80s

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

This has been superceded by the longer post above which is the full comment piece on how far we really are re-living aspects of the 1980s: major strikes, job cuts, recession, Two Nations. Since the Royal wedding in April I’ve … Continue reading →

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Prevention in Pakistan: Cameron’s new strategy?

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

This is my post for Channel 4 News about David Cameron’s announcement of £650 million in education aid.  Amid all the fuss about Libya, has the Coalition Government’s smartest foreign policy decision been made quietly  and efficiently? The Prime Minister’s visit … Continue reading →

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Whose Bible is it anyway? A discussion on the King James version

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Samira Ahmed

After all the celebrations for the poetry and power of the King James Version, I chaired a rather more revisionist public panel discussion for the Royal Shakespeare Company on March 9th. In the atmospheric setting of the Stationers’ Hall, off Ludgate … Continue reading →

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