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A Turkish court has formally charged an internationally known Turkish pianist and composer with insulting Islamic religious values in comments he made on Twitter.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, founder of the Cordoba Initiative and the American Society for Muslim Advancement, talks about his new book, Moving the Mountain: Beyond Ground Zero to a New Vision of Islam in America.

Some 1400 years after the Prophet Muhammad first articulated God’s law—the shari‘a—its earthly interpreters are still arguing about what it means. Legal historian and human rights lawyer Sadakat Kadri clarifies what Islamic law is and is not. In Heaven on Earth: A Journey Through Shari'a Law from the Deserts of Ancient Arabia to the Streets of the Modern Muslim World, he describes his search for the facts behind the myths.

In the news, Sharia law is frequently depicted as a system that condones women being stoned. In the movies, it’s the reason why petty thieves find their hands on the chopping block. But what, exactly, is Sharia law all about? Sadakat Kadri, author of "Heaven on Earth," a history of Sharia law and its many interpretations, explains.

Despite an apology from President Obama, protests and violence following the destruction of several Korans and other religious artifacts by U.S. troops have continued in Afghanistan and Pakistan. 30 people have been killed thus far, including four U.S. troops. As one of the most offensive possible acts, the unrest over this burning shows no signs of stopping.

In Afghanistan this morning more than 1,000 protesters are gathering to protest the burning of Korans and Islamic holy books at the Bagram military base. This has triggered a second day of anti-American demonstrations. Crowds clashed with security forces furious about the way Islamic holy books at the base were destroyed.

Navina Haidar, curator in the department of Islamic Art, talks about the Metropolitan Museum’s new renovated Galleries for the Art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and Later South Asia. The greatly enlarged, freshly conceived, and renovated galleries house the museum’s collection of Islamic art—one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of this material in the world.

Award-winning investigative journalist Eliza Griswold talks about the tenth parallel—the line of latitude 700 miles north of the equator—the geographical and ideological front line where Christianity and Islam collide. In The Tenth Parallel Griswold looks at Nigeria, the Sudan, Somalia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines—places where religious conflicts are also conflicts about land, water, oil, and other natural resources, and where local and tribal issues are often shaped by religious ideas.

A satirical music video by the pop rock band Beygairat Brigade which openly mocks the military, nationalist politicians, and religious conservatism in Pakistan has become an internet sensation with more than 400,000 views in a few short weeks. “Aalu Anday,” which means “Potatoes and Eggs,” encourages open thought and a repeal of the country's anti-blasphemy laws. 

The office of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo was firebomed early Wednesday, apparently in retaliation for publishing an issue "guest edited" by the Prophet Muhammad. The magazine, known for its irreverence and skewering of all cultural institutions, had published a special edition earlier in the day to "honor" the victory of the Islamist Ennahda party in Tunisian elections under the name "Charia Hebdo," a reference to Sharia Law. Hugh Schofield, correspondent for the BBC, reports on the latest.

Steve Inskeep, co-host of NPR’s Morning Edition, discusses how migration of the past few decades has transformed Karachi, Pakistan, the largest city whose stability is a vital security concern of the United States. Instant City: Life and Death in Karachi looks at the perils and possibilities of rapidly growing metropolises all around the world.

Sharif El-Gamal, the developer of the Park51 project, talks about the passionate national debate that was sparked last year when the Islamic Community Center and mosque was proposed. Yesterday, Park51 opened its doors.

Frontline tells the story of Sharif El-Gamal and the story of the Ground Zero Mosque controversy. “The Man Behind the Mosque” airs Tuesday, September 27, at 9 pm on PBS.

Bangladeshi novelist Tahmima Anam discusses second novel, The Good Muslim. It tells the story about the rise of Islamic radicalism in Bangladesh, seen through the intimate lens of a family, set at a time when religious fundamentalism is on the rise.

Over the last decade since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, America's standing in the world has volleyed sympathetic, after the attacks, to war mongering villain to perhaps something in between since the election of Barack Obama. As the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Ros Atkins, host of the BBC's World Have Your Say — which reaches 45 million people around the globe — has been talking to people all over the world to gauge foreign opinion of the U.S.

Coming up, we talk to two Muslim Americans about a recent poll that says Muslim Americans are happier with this country than the rest of the population.

Muslims begin celebrating Eid ul-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, on Tuesday. Traditionally, that means eating something sweet as soon as you wake up to acknowledge that the month of fasting is over. To commemorate this festive three-day holiday, here's a slideshow of sweet foods to eat during Eid.

Historically speaking, when we think of revolutions we think of youth. And in the case of the Arab spring, this is certainly true — one half of the Islamic world is people under thirty, and they are at the forefront of sweeping change. How are their values and religious beliefs similar to (and different from) their elders? And what do they want the future to look like?

Last night, during the holy month of Ramadan, Libyan rebel forces flooded into the capital of Tripoli, battling with Col. Moammar Gadhafi loyalists and capturing two of Gadhafi's sons. Civilians were celebrating in the streets over what may be the end of Gadhafi's 42 years in power of Libya. Fighting during the holy month is considered particularly offensive. Are there exceptions for revolutions such as this one?

Award-winning investigative journalist Eliza Griswold talks about the tenth parallel—the line of latitude 700 miles north of the equator—the geographical and ideological front line where Christianity and Islam collide. In The Tenth Parallel Griswold looks at Nigeria, the Sudan, Somalia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines—places where religious conflicts are also conflicts about land, water, oil, and other natural resources, and where local and tribal issues are often shaped by religious ideas.

Today is the fifth day of Ramadan — the holiest month on the Islamic calendar during which, typically, life in the Middle East slows down. Businesses close early, and families and communities gather every night to break their fast. But this year has been strikingly different. The Syrian government has used the holy month to intensify its violent crackdown on protesters, with tanks entering the town Hama every day since the weekend. Meanwhile in Egypt, hundreds of armed troops stormed Cairo’s Tahrir Square earlier in the week, beating protesters with electric batons.