Sharia, or Islamic law, is increasingly in the spotlight as its political and economic role expands in the Muslim world and even in the West.

Yasmine El Rashidi examines why many Egyptians consider the violence surrounding the "Bloody Sunday" Coptic march as a dark turning point in the country's bid to build an inclusive democratic society.

The weekend's military crackdown on Coptic Christian demonstrations in Cairo underscores Egypt's sectarian problems, the entrenched power of the military, and the weakness of the country's economy.

To understand the Brotherhood's prospects in Egypt's upcoming elections, one has to understand the organization itself.

A decade after 9/11, U.S. Muslims grapple with their place in American society in the face of concerns about homegrown terrorism and questions by non-Muslims over the threat they might pose.

Mohamad Bazzi reviews Robin Wright's Rock the Casbah.

While U.S. efforts to forge a better relationship with the Muslim world are important, it will also take leadership within that world to challenge the myths that lead to anger and disapproval toward the United States.

Arab world pro-democracy movements raise questions about how much Islam will figure into the political calculus in emerging governments in Tunisia and Egypt, as well as new ones that might arise elsewhere, says religion expert Ebrahim Moosa.

Karim Sadjadpour writes in the Washington Post that by accentuating the country's internal rifts and breaking previously sacred taboos -- such as challenging the supreme leader -- Ahmadinejad has become an unlikely, unwitting ally of Iran's democracy movement.

A rise in Iraq's violence and sectarian tensions--and the highest U.S. monthly combat deaths since 2008--come amid mounting concerns over the government's role and questions about the U.S. troop presence, says expert Sean Kane.

Olivier Roy's new book argues that religion and culture are disengaging from each other thanks to globalization.

In his piece for Foreign Policy, Vali Nasr explores Iran's main political fissure, specifically how Ahmadinejad is a threat to clerical supremacy, but without him, Khomeinism is even more vulnerable to reformist challengers.

John Campbell and Asch Harwood discuss the challenges facing Nigeria's newly elected president, Goodluck Jonathan.

Suzanne Maloney and Ray Takeyh say Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is being sidelined by religious fundamentalists in Iran, and it's bad news for American officials seeking to halt Iran's nuclear program.

Experts examine myths regarding American Muslims and address fears of Islam in the United States.

Experts examine myths regarding American Muslims and address fears of Islam in the United States.

Ed Husain says the videos of Osama bin Laden might actually bolster bin Laden's Islamic appeal.

In this Huffington Post piece, Sharmine Narwari, a Senior Associate at St. Anthony's College, Oxford University, argues that given the current geopolitical standpoint, the "political spat" between Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is, for now at least, much ado about nothing.

Pakistan is bracing for more turbulence in the wake of Osama bin Laden's killing. This Backgrounder looks at how state support for Islamist militants has led to growing religious intolerance in society.

The killing of Osama bin Laden has led to both elation and anger in Muslim countries around the world, raising questions about what his death means for Arab democracy and stability in Pakistan.