Though it doesn’t get much news coverage , there are millions of atheists throughout the Middle East, even in places like Saudi Arabia and Iran, where Islam supposedly pervades every aspect of daily life. Though they mostly stay quiet , the region’s non-believers are more numerous than most people imagine. Here are 7 surprising facts about atheism and agnosticism in the Middle East that may change the way you think about the region.

The US House of Re presentatives last week approved legislation that would stall America's program for accepting refugees, demanding stricter security provisions on the screening of Iraqi and Syrian refugees. To date, 32 American governors (out of 50) have issued statements saying they would bar Syrian refugees from settling in their states, citing risk of violent extremism, fears fanned by the recent Paris terror events . (Symbolic, as they lack rights to do so.) The US vetting process for Middle Eastern refugees is perhaps the most stringent on the planet ...

Friday's Paris terror attacks prompted a flood of negative commentary against Islam even before ISIS claimed responsibility. Professional pundits and amateur gasbags cite the killing spree as proof that Islam promotes violence. If Islam is a peaceful religion, why aren't Muslims outraged by ISIS ? T he answer riffs on the old adage, if a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound? Just because Muslim voices condemning terror are under-reported doesn't mean they are silent. Here are Muslim leaders who loudly decry terror. Let's counter fear with ...

Libya's starting eleven pose for a picture ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying football match between Libya and Rwanda on November 13, 2015, at the Sousse Olympic stadium. AFP PHOTO / SALAH LAHBIBI

At least eight extremists perpetrated six terror attacks on Friday night in central Paris that left at least 127 people dead and another 350 wounded, many critically. The apparently coordinated assault is being called the worst violence France has experienced since World War II. But amidst the almost overwhelmingly sad news were dozens of acts of selflessness and generosity on the part of regular people who dropped everything to lend a hand to those in need.

What does a week in the life of a celebrity look like, you ask? Your imagination might fail you, that's why we’ve stalked the social media profiles of the top Arab artists to see what they've been up to the past few days. We’ve rangled up some highlights of the lifestyles of the rich and famous, and we're sharing that roundup with you. Now we can all live vicariously through their recording sessions, international tours, and exotic vacays in this superstar slideshow. Want to imagine life as Arabia's sweetheart songstress ...

Fans of the Palestinian national team wave the national flag and the traditional chequerred keffiyeh during the AFC qualifying football match for the 2018 FIFA World Cup between Palestine and Saudi Arabia on November 9, 2015, at the Amman International Stadium in the Jordanian capital. AFP PHOTO / KHALIL MAZRAAWI