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Currently there is a plethora of research literature which constructs obesity as an alarming new global pandemic associated with a multitude of acute and chronic diseases rooted in lifestyle factors. Although most of these claims related to obesity are well accepted in the research community, some challenges remain. For instance, lifestyle factors only partially explain the risks of developing obesity. In this paper, I advocated for greater caution in interpreting some of the medical claims of obesity due to the epistemological and methodological assumptions that inform certain groups of obesity researchers. While most of the literature has reported lifestyle factors and behavior modification as the major mechanisms to achieving health and wellbeing, a few scholars have raised issues about structural factors.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer an historical perspective on Islamic modesty and discuss its implications for female employment in Muslim majority countries (MMCs).Design/methodology/approachFirst the paper explores the textual roots of modesty as enshrined in the Quran and the hadith and the historical and socio‐cultural contexts within which the concept was introduced and subsequently transformed. It then discusses implications of Islamic modesty for female employment in MMCs.FindingsThe paper argues that the originally protective provisions for women in the principal sources of Islam were gradually transformed in the subsequent periods into strict patriarchal institutions of female seclusion and gender segregation. This shift was incorporated into Islam by way of the exegesis of the Quran and other religious narratives, resulting in an extremely restrictive concept of female modesty.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper argues that in its current form the concept of Islamic modesty poses significant social, physical and emotional challenges for working women; unless these challenges are understood and addressed in their historical and socio‐cultural contexts, it will remain difficult to achieve gender equality at work in MMCs.Practical implicationsThe orthodox (patriarchal) perspective on modesty does not grant women a role in a nation's economy, resulting in an inefficient utilisation of human resources. A possible way forward is to engage in critical reinterpretation of religion to reform gender relations in MMCs, including with respect to gender equality at work.Originality/valueThere has been relatively little research on Islam and gender equality in the context of employment. The usual radical feminist position is to view Islam and gender discrimination as intertwined, a union which would invariably result in female disadvantage in the workplace. This article contributes to this debate by offering an historical, socio‐cultural perspective on Islamic female modesty and considering its implications for female employment.

Constitutionalism dictates that the government must only act within the four walls of the constitution. While adherence to this fundamental doctrine is proven to be difficult, it becomes more complicated when the walls are unclear. For decades, Malaysians struggle to ascertain the actual legal value of religion, particularly Islam, in its Federal Constitution and the impact of religion to the Malaysian legal system. Some opined that secularism is a basic structure of the Malaysian Federal Constitution and in the name of constitutionalism, religious laws cannot be the basis for administration of public law and must be confined to personal law matters. On the other hand, some opined that Islam constitutes a salient feature of the Constitution and the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation implies Malaysia as an Islamic state. This paper analyses the conflicting views, via qualitative studies of constitutional provisions which have religious element in the light of their history, together with relevant case laws which interpreted them. The analysis is done with a view to determine whether the Malaysian Federal Constitution is a secular instrument creating a secular state or a religious document establishing a theocratic state. From such analysis, the author presents that the Malaysian Federal Constitution, albeit giving special preference to Islam, is a religion-neutral document which is receptive to both religious and secular laws. This is based on the fact that the Constitution upholds the validity of both secular and religious laws for as long as they are enacted according to procedural laws required by the Constitution.

Introduction -- The colonial state of security -- The post-colonial state of security -- The Anti-Terrorism Act, ATA (1997) -- Expansion and entrenchment of the legal regime of security -- Security and the absolute right to life: critical reflections on the revival of capital punishment -- Aliens, identity, and legal regime of security on the border -- Epilogue: Kharotabad killings: security and political responsibility

Employees bring their beliefs and religious values to work, and this can be a source of either positive performance or negative conflict. Social conflicts around religion impact more than societies and communities. They also impact organizations. 'Anti-religion' sentiments tend to be based on the perception that religion can be neatly separated from the 'more acceptable/palatable' spirituality, but this ignores the fact that - for most people - the two are intimately intertwined and inseparable. As religious identity is salient for a majority of the world's population, it is thus an important aspect of organizations - particularly those with a large and diverse body of employees. This handbook provides a timely and necessary analysis of religious diversity in organizations, investigating the role of national context, the intersections of religion with ethnicity and gender, and approaches to diversity management.

Endorsements -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- Editors' and Contributors' Biographies -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Chapter 1: Introduction: An Alternative Discourse on Religious Militancy -- Key Questions -- Organization and Overview of Chapters -- Unique Features -- Audience of the Book -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 2: Could Pakistan Have Remained Pluralistic? -- Pluralism in Islamic History -- Can Islamic Doctrine Accommodate Pluralism? -- Modernist Interpretations -- Islamic State: An Imagined Compulsion -- Pakistan: Early Beginnings -- Pakistan After Zia

List of charts -- List of tables -- Acknowledgements -- Foreword -- Chapter1: Introduction -- Chapter 2: Some Demographic Trends in Atlantic Canada: Potential Consequences and Policy Response -- Chapter 3: Immigration Trends in Atlantic Canada -- Chapter 4: Immigrants in the Labour Force of Atlantic Canada -- Chapter 5: International Students in Atlantic Canada -- Chapter 6: Summary and Policy Recommendations -- List of References

The concept and definition of investment -- Investment in agriculture for increased production and productivity -- Empirical measurement of investment in agriculture: the evidence from available data and information -- Who invests for farm level capital formation? -- Drivers of investment in agriculture for increased production and productivity -- Promoting investment for increased agricultural production and productivity

Plural societies all over the world are facing the challenge of integrating minorities into mainstream polity and society. India is a land of many languages, cultures and religions. It is an ideal place where one can see minorities in their different dimensions. It is home to the second largest Muslim population in the world and their integration into mainstream politics has remained a challenge to the secular polity of India. The present work, Muslim Minorities and the National Commission f