Shi’a cleric’s election win puts Iran to the test in Iraq

May 15th, 20180 BAGHDAD — Already pressured by the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran faces a major test in managing Shi'a cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, a formidable opponent who beat Tehran’s longtime allies to achieve a shock victory in Iraq’s parliamentary election. But If Tehran overplays its hand by squeezing Sadr out of a coalition...

Lebanese cleric’s piano playing strikes wrong note for some

March 30th, 20180 BEIRUT — A Muslim cleric has been expelled from his seminary in Lebanon after a video of his piano playing, posted online, drew criticism from conservatives who felt it was undignified behavior for a man of the cloth, he said. Shi'a Muslim Sayed Hussein al-Husseini, 38, a keen pianist and amateur poet, posted the footage to...