links for 2009-06-25

• BBC NEWS | Europe | France sets up burka commission
  (tags: veil france islamophobia islam muslim women)
• BBC NEWS | Middle East | Jazzing up the abaya
  (tags: uae fashion arab women muslim veil)
• The Arabs’ Forlorn Envy of Iranians – Tehran Bureau
  Arab regimes and leaders have worked themselves into a lose-lose situation whereby they would be unhappy if the Iranian regime stayed in power, and unhappy if it were removed through popular challenge. The same awkwardness defines the perspectives of Arab citizens. Most Arabs do not want to live in an Iranian-style political system that blends theocracy with autocracy; but many were pleased to see the pro-American Shah overthrown by Quran-carrying demonstrators. They would also be unhappy to see the Iranian regime overthrown because they enjoy its defiance of the United States, Israel and the UN in particular, along with its development of a nuclear capability.
  (tags: iran politics arab MiddleEast IranElections2009)
• Let's stop sneering at fantasy readers | Books | guardian.co.uk
  new fantasy award
  (tags: books)
• News Release
  Retired U.S. Diplomat Named to AUC Board of Trustees
  (tags: auc politics egypt united-states israel)
• Daily News Egypt – Full Article
  (tags: youth education development)
• Well – How the Food Makers Captured Our Brains – NYTimes.com
  (tags: food health brain books)
• Atheo News: Beating and Torturing Children
  the IDF, that is
  (tags: child humanrights israel gaza military)