Edna Fernandes - Journalist, Author on religion, politics, foreign affairs

Tunisia: what now for the birthplace of the Arab Spring revolution?

admin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:18:14 +0000

As pro-democracy revolution spreads across the Middle East, the birthplace of the so-called “Arab Spring” — Tunisia — seeks to drive forward change. But the problems it faces — riots, political vacuum and an immigration wave to Europe — shows the battle for democratic change is far from complete. Yet again, what happens here could be indicative of what may follow in other Arab countries now in turmoil. Read my piece in the Mail on Sunday review

War and Peace: the confessions of General Butt Naked

edna — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 10:44:49 +0000

During Liberia’s civil war, General Butt Naked won notoriety as one of Africa’s most brutal warlords. Claiming responsibility for 20,000 deaths, a self-confessed sacrificer of children and a cannibal, he underwent a transformation in 1996 when he claimed he had an “epiphany” on the battlefield which changed his life forever. Today he is an evangelical preacher. In this interview with me, he openly discusses his past war crimes and says he is willing to go to The Hague to be tried. As he seeks redemption, his story provokes the question: are some sins too great to be atoned for? It is a question he asks himself.

Read his story here. I would welcome your comments on ednamailbox@gmail.com

The search for medicine’s holy grail: exclusive report on world first in stem cell human trial

edna — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:18:12 +0000

A small British company prepares for the world’s first human trial for foetal stem cell therapy to cure strokes. If it succeeds this could be the beginning of the end of the search for medicine’s holy grail, opening the way for a treatment that could eventually be applied to killer diseases such as Alzheimers and heart attacks. Will this result in an undreamed of healing power or risk horrific results? See link

Read my special report on “The Eton of Islam”

edna — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:03:52 +0000

For the first time one of Britain’s increasingly infulential Deobandi madrassas allows a journalist access inside its school. It is a school founded in the ideology that inspired the Taliban, a strict proponent of sharia law and its influence in Britain is growing. Read my exclusive report for the Mail on Sunday Review which gives a unique insight into these schools which aim to educate the global Muslim leadership of the future. See Link.

Indian Summer Literary Festival on terror threat

edna — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:39:21 +0000

On 31 July, I joined a panel of speakers at the Indian Summer Literary Festival in Somerset which kicked off with a discussion on Afghanistan and the terror threat emanating from the wider South Asia region. The discussion, chaired by historian Charles Allen (author of the must-read “God’s Terrorists”), was led by General Sir Michael Rose, LSE Professor Emeritus Lord Meghnad Desai and author Pankaj Mishra. The result was a sobre and chilling insight into the regional threat the Taliban poses as well as the spread of their ideology beyond the Indo Af-Pak region and even as far as Britain itself. The day’s events included discussions with authors Kishwar Desai on her new thriller and Nancy Shields giving an entertaining presentation on English society lady Henrietta Clive’s journey around India in the 1790s, with readings from the “Four Weddings” actress Anna Chancellor. The event was organised by Lady Theresa Waugh for the Gardners’ Memorial School Trust in India.

Mail on Sunday special report on Greece’s economic meltdown

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 08:48:40 +0000

Read my special report from Athens on the riots against economic reform as Greece seeks to avoid defaulting on its national debt — a crisis which threatens the entire Eurozone. See link

Post-Fidel Cuba experiments with economic reforms

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 08:43:39 +0000

As Cubans seek change and the country faces its toughest time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the post Fidel-Castro Cuban government is experimenting with economic reforms including capitalist-style bonus payments and desperately seeking foreign investment. See link

Talk at Jewish Historical Society: May 25 2010

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:22:07 +0000

I’ll be giving a talk to the Jewish Historical Society in London on May 25 2010 at 7pm. Details to be posted shortly. This is part of an ongoing programme of talks on “The Last Jews of Kerala” to Jewish institutions including the Society and the Association of Jewish Refugees, which represents Holocaust survivors in Britain.

Holy Warriors included in list of best books on Asia of last decade

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:13:40 +0000

Adrienne Loftus Parkins, former head of Asia House’s Literary Festival, organiser of the National Portrait Gallery’s Contemporary Literary Festival and head of Asia Word gives her best books on Asia from the last decade, including my first book, Holy Warriors. Some of my favourites on the list include Silk Road by Colin Thubron, Descent into Chaos by Ahmed Rashid, Maximum City by Suketu Mehta and The Glass Palace by Amithav Ghosh. See link

Talk at National Portrait Gallery Lit Festival: 15 March 2010

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:59:28 +0000

I’ll be giving a talk on my book “The Last Jews of Kerala” at the National Portrait Gallery’s Contemporary Literary Festival on 15 March 2010 at 7pm in the Ondaatje Wing Theatre. Do take a look at the line-up which is focusing on Asian literature this year. See the link