Usaid (Muneeb) Siddiqui

Bio

Completed my MA in International Relations from University of Sussex and a BSc from University of Toronto. Interested in Current Affairs with a focus on Pakistan, the Middle East and Religion. Currently living in Toronto, Canada. Follow me on Twitter @UsaidMuneeb16
In 2007, in the war-torn nation of Afghanistan, Oliver Percovich was inspired to start a skateboarding school that today helps Afghan children "use skateboarding as a tool for empowering youth, to create new opportunities and the potential for…
Between debates over the skin color of Jesus and Santa Claus to renewed "War on Christmas" allegations, this Christmas has seen more than it's fair share of controversy.  To set the record straight, I sat with renowned author and scholar Reza Aslan,…
Earlier this month, two associations representing private schools in Pakistan announced that they would be banning Malala Yousafzai's book, I Am Malala, in their affiliated institutions. Representatives of the All Pakistan Private Schools…
"Nihilistic," "angry," "empty," "selfish." These are some of the words the students of Harvard humanist chaplain Chris Stedman associate with atheists, and they underline the importance of the message in Stedman's recently released book, Faithiest:…
Ever since the War on Terror began over 10 years ago, the term “national security” has been so overused it has lost its value. Defense attorneys for five detainees at Guantanamo Bay have requested that the Guantánamo war crimes tribunal allow the…
Will the end of the Taliban make Malala’s dream come true? The past week presented itself to bewas a disappointment for those hoping Malala Yousafzai would win the Nobel Peace Prize. The 16- year- old Pakistani girl, who was shot by the local…
A fresh outbreak of violence in the troubled Rakhine state of Myanmar claimed the lives of five Muslims in the town of Thandwe earlier this month. In addition to that, nearly a thousand Buddhist protestors torched nearly 50 homes of belonging to…
A recent report was published by the Council of American Islamic Relation (CAIR), titled “Legislating Fear: Islamophobia and its Impact in the United States," providing an in-depth insight into groups and individuals that have thrived monetarily…
The political class in Britain has once again floated the niqab, a veil worn by Muslim women, as an issue that is “a good topic for national debate.” These were the words of Conservative MP Jeremy Browne, a Home Office minister in the current…
The memory of the September 11 attacks is one of the strongest uniting forces for millions of Americans, regardless of their respective political stripes and affiliations. This was evident as many stood at Ground Zero in Manhattan Wednesday to…
It's no surprise Syria has gripped all mainstream media outlets for the past two weeks. Undoubtedly, a nerve gas attack anywhere is a frightening thought, let alone catastrophic. The political orchestra (intriguing, but mostly hypocritical) that has…
From Miley Cyrus’s controversial performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, to the worrying prospect of the use of chemical weapons in Syria, a lot has been covered in the past few weeks by the mainstream media. Nevertheless, significant stories…
Earlier this month, Richard Dawkins stirred a huge controversy by tweeting that Trinity College at Cambridge University has had more Nobel Prize winners than the entire Muslim world. Prominent columnists and academics such as Owen Jones and Nathan…
On Monday, pro-Mohamed Morsi supporters marched to the intelligence headquarters of the army in Egypt, despite a warning from the military command that all army installations were off limits. Before thousands could reach their destination, the march…
Farea al-Muslimi, a Yemeni citizen, recently gained attention when he testified at a congressional hearing, denouncing and relaying his sadness at the massacre of dozens of Yemeni citizens who are casualties of ongoing U.S. drone attacks. The loss…
Malala Yousefzai’s July 12 speech on at the United Nations , on her 16th birthday, declared as Malala Day by the UN, was nothing less than inspiring. It was lauded around the world as leaders, activists, and celebrities praised her for advocating…
In 2012 at the Equality Forum in Philadelphia, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, proclaimed proudly that his country’s record on LGBT rights was commendable, stating: “Israel’s LGBT community is part of the fabric of…
In just over a year, Egypt’s democracy has become shambles. Thousands if not millions protested in the legendary Tahrir Square in Cairo, denouncing the (now former) president, Mohammed Morsi. When the 48-hour deadline set by the Army expired…
On June 14 the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad era of controversy and polarizing rhetoric came to an end. Thousands of supporters of President-Elect Hassan Rouhani chanted “Ahmadi, bye bye” throughout Iran as a sense of guarded optimism swept through the…
The demonstrations at Taksim Square over the building of a mall over Gezi Park, one of the last public parks in Istanbul, has enraged many amongst the residents of the city. An objection that was initiated by a small group of environmentalists has…