| Islamic World News | |
| 31 Oct 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com | |
| India reaches out to Muslim clerics for anti-terror campaign: Home Minister to address Deoband Ulema Conference | |
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Xinjiang violence: Views from China Quran doesn't justify crime, Muslims say Islam, the imperative of global peace, security Muslim Woman Tries to Kill Husband; Claims He Fed Her Pork, Liquor Female cartoonist's provocative work challenges Saudi society Serbia's mixed feelings on trial of Karadzic, allegedly responsible for killing tens of thousands of Muslims Missing: British Girl of 14 who found Islam Hillary Clinton says Pakistan does not really want to stop al-Qaeda Clinton opposes Islamic 'defamation of religions' push Taliban, Qaida disown blast in Peshawar Peshawar: Terror unlimited Beyonce causing controversy in Egypt Saudis Try to Head Off Swine Flu Fears Before Hajj The state of occupied Iraq In Military Campaign, Pakistan Finds Hint of 9/11 Commentary: Stop religious persecution in Iran Muslim women film series dispels stereotypes Islamist leader seeks to turn Buckingham Palace into mosque 61 security force members held over Baghdad bombs: Army spokesman UN re-evaluates Afghan mission after attack Detroit mosque leader killed in shootout with FBI Sikhs ignore advisory, 165 leave for Pak 'Terrorists sending coded messages in blog rants' FBI: Islamic group leader killed in shootout Iran - Young scholars boost hope for better future Italy: Al-Qaeda linked terror suspects go on trial Pen Season on Jews: Two Men Shot At Prayer in Los Angeles Muslim women's sports foundation score with football grant Smooth rifts with Indonesians: expert Compiled by Syed Asadullah URL: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamWarOnTerror_1.aspx?ArticleID=2023 --------
UPA reaches out to Muslim clerics for anti-terror campaign: Home Minister to address Deoband Ulema Conference 30 October 2009 NEW DELHI: Realising that the war on terror needs to be fought as much on the ground as inside the mind, the UPA regime has sought to reach out to Muslim clerics and opinion makers as part of a strategy. Home minister P Chidambaram will address a massive gathering of clerics and followers of the Deoband seminary at the Islamic institute on November 3. Though the organisers of the gathering, Jamiat-Ulema-i-Hind, has invited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi as well, sources on Thursday confirmed that the two would not travel to Deoband in western Uttar Pradesh. A Jamiat spokesman said this would be the first annual meeting of the organisation being held at Deoband. While 10,000 clerics and Islamic scholars are expected to attend the session, the turnout of Deobandi Muslims can cross the five-lakh mark, he said. The presence of the home minister at the gathering clearly assumes significance. Many see the gesture as indicative of the government's effort to reach out to Muslim religious leaders and seek their support in the war against the shadowy jihadis. The Jamiat meet is taking place in the backdrop of a series of conferences of Islamic scholars of different schools and activists explaining why Islam and terror of the jihadi brand were mutually exclusive. After Sufi scholars offered their philosophy and worldview at a recent seminar as an instrument to counter terrorism, eminent Muslim personalities at a conference earlier this week deliberated whether it was possible to announce a religious edict against suicide bombers. ----- October 30, 2009 Ethnic Uighur Journalist Detained in China BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese police have jailed an outspoken Uighur journalist for allegedly endangering national security, a colleague said Friday, adding to the scores of detentions reported in the restive Xinjiang region since deadly ethnic rioting erupted there four months ago. Well-known academic Ilham Tohti said Hailaite Niyazi, the former manager of his Web site, was taken from his home in the regional capital of Urumqi on Oct. 1. He said Niyazi's family was informed Oct. 4 that he was suspected of endangering national security. Tohti said Niyazi's wife believes the allegation is linked to interviews Niyazi gave to foreign media following the riots that broke out July 5. Uighurs are a Turkic Muslim ethnic group linguistically and culturally distinct from China's majority Han. The July riots, in which Uighurs (WEE'-gurs) attacked Han, who then launched revenge attacks days later, killed nearly 200 people in China's worst ethnic unrest in decades. Hundreds of people have been rounded up since and the government has smothered much of Xinjiang with security. Xinjiang's High Court on Friday upheld death penalties for nine people convicted earlier this month of committing murder and other crimes during the riots, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The decisions still require a Supreme Court review. China blames the rioting on overseas-based groups agitating for greater Uighur rights in Xinjiang, but has presented no direct evidence. One of those figures blamed by Beijing, exiled Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer, said Friday during a visit to Tokyo that there should be an independent investigation into the treatment of Uighurs since the riots. She denounced the death sentences handed down so far, saying the accused have been denied due legal process. ''The international community must investigate what has been happening since July 5 in Uighur areas,'' she said in a speech to the Foreign Correspondent's Club. Kadeer has also condemned as unfair reports of a closed eight-hour trial in Xinjiang's remote Yili city last week where 19 Uighur men were convicted of endangering state security for planning a protest in Yili the day after the Urumqi riots. The men allegedly bought gasoline and clocks with the intention of making explosives, state media said last week. Although they abandoned the plan due to the high level of security in Yili, they alleged leader of the group was sentenced to life in prison while the other men were sentenced to between three and 15 years in jail, the Yili News Net report said. Endangering state security is a vaguely worded charge often used in China to silence dissident voices. A woman with the Xinjiang Public Security Department said she was unable to confirm the journalist, Niyazi, had been detained and refused to give her name. During an interview with The Associated Press on July 9, Niyazi was cautiously critical of the regional government's inability to tolerate dissent. ''In China, sometimes even if you are just defending human rights, if you say something a little bit extreme, you'll be in trouble,'' he said. Tohti said he didn't publicize the detention earlier because he thought it would damage his friend's case. Niyazi, 50, was a manager and editor for Tohti's Uighurbiz Web site until June of this year and has also worked for the state-run newspapers Xinjiang Legal News and the Xinjiang Economic Daily. Tohti, a Beijing-based economics professor, was himself detained after the riots for more than a month of questioning by secret police but not charged. Web sites such as Tohti's were accused by the government of whipping up Uighur fury and organizing the July unrest. Internet service in Xinjiang was shut down shortly after the riots and the region remains largely offline, to the frustration of many residents and businesses. Along with Tohti's Uighurbiz, authorities also targeted Diyarim.com, whose manager Dilixiati Paerhati was taken from his apartment on Aug. 7 by unidentified men and has not been heard from since, according to an Amnesty International statement last week that cited his older brother. ''He only edits a Web site, he hasn't done anything wrong,'' Dilixiati Paerhati's brother, Dilimulati, a student in England, was quoted as saying by the group. ''There has been trouble in Xinjiang but my brother wasn't part of it,'' he said. Associated Press writer Malcolm Foster in Tokyo contributed to this report. ---- Xinjiang violence: Views from China As the situation in Xinjiang calms down, people from across China discuss the cause of the unrest and the impact it might have on social stability in the future. Harry He, tradesman, Xian I used to work for a travel company, so I've travelled to Xinjiang a lot. I was totally shocked when I heard what happened there. Uighurs believe this is their land, and it is. But Han Chinese have been settling down there since the Tang dynasty, when the Silk Route opened up new cities and new opportunities. Maybe the Chinese did rule Xinjiang with an iron first. But we are learning the lesson Things have already got better for ethnic minorities. In some ways, they enjoy more privileges. For example I have to study really hard to get into university while it's easier for Uighurs, as there is a reserved quota for them regardless of how well they've performed. Uighurs have a bad reputation in the rest of China. They get involved in criminal activities. They also don't speak Mandarin well. That's why many Han Chinese have little respect for them and some even hate them. Urumqi is a wealthy, modern city. Twenty years ago you couldn't see such prosperity. All this wealth goes back into their education and social welfare. I've been reading blogs and I know that so many people want to talk about it. But I also know that if I post a comment, it will disappear in two minutes. The government is controlling the information in order to contain the violence. Information should be released step by step, not at once. If they let people comment freely, anger and hatred will spread quickly and some Han Chinese might want to retaliate against Uighurs. I am confident that my government is doing the right thing to bring harmony. Kalder, IT engineer, Beijing, originally from Urumqi I belong to the Hui minority group. Back in Urumqi I've got friends from the Hui, Han and Uighur groups. Relations between us have always been fine, that's why I was totally shocked when I heard what happened earlier in the week. "The most important thing for the stability of Xinjiang is economic prosperity benefiting everyone" I don't think the rioters represent the Uighur minority. Most of the Uighurs are good people and they don't want such things to happen. I feel that both Uighurs and Hui people are supported by the government. It's easier for us to get into university and there are more opportunities. It's true that many Han people have come to Xinjiang in the last few years and that more Han Chinese live in Urumqi than Uighurs. But I don't mind that. If I can come to Beijing, why can't Han Chinese go to Urumqi? I don't feel anybody is looking down on me here because I am from the Hui ethnic group. But I know that Han Chinese look down on Uighurs, because some Uighurs do bad things, like stealing, so they attract bad feelings. The situation in Xinjiang is getting better and better. People earn more money, their life style is better than before and they are happier. The visitors from other parts of China create more, not less, opportunities. So I think that the most important thing for the future stability of Xinjiang is economic prosperity benefiting everyone. I am a little bit worried about stability in the short term. My parents told me that they feel much safer now that the army is there. So I think that the army should stay there for a few months at least to ensure the safety of the people there. Uighur migrant worker, Dongguan, Guangdong province This Uighur man, who has been working in Guangdong province for five years, wanted to remain anonymous. I was shocked to hear about the recent unrest in Xinjiang. Violence is wrong, from whichever side. It's obvious that just a handful of people took part in the rioting. My friends told me that they didn't recognise any of the guys that they saw in the TV reports - where were they from? Attacking people and ransacking shops is definitely wrong, because it undermines national unity. I have many classmates and friends from many nationalities, and we all enjoy good relationships. We cannot really tell what's happening from the reports on TV. We don't know what's going on behind the scenes. It must have been premeditated; otherwise, how come there were so many people? I have many friends in Urumqi, but I haven't heard about these reports of large numbers of people at train stations and airports trying to leave. July and August have always been popular with travellers, and people come and go. It is always difficult to get tickets during these months, and transport terminals are busy when things are normal. Wang Bin, student, Chongqing, originally from Ningxia I believe in what the government is saying - that the riots are caused by the World Uighur Congress, which used the Guangdong factory incident to fuel anger among Uighurs. I think that Uighurs are angry because of the failure of the government's ethnic policy. China has given many privileges to minority groups. When Uighurs break the law, for example, they don't get punished as heavily as Han Chinese would. "I think that Uighurs can benefit more from the prosperity of Xinjiang" Wang Bin But these privileges fail to bring true benefits to the Uighur people. As the economy develops, the gap between poor and rich within the Uighur ethnic group has become very big, just like anywhere else in China. And some of them feel that they have been marginalised. I think this is the fundamental reason for the unrest. In addition, it's true that there are many Han Chinese who went to Xinjiang in the last few years and in some industries there are more Han Chinese than Uighurs. So I think that Uighurs can benefit more from the prosperity of Xinjiang. I think that the government should start treating all ethnic groups equally. There shouldn't be any preferential treatment for anyone, so that all ethnicities can live together in harmony. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/8143107.stm ----=-- Quran doesn't justify crime, Muslims say Niraj Warikoo Oct. 30, 2009 According to a criminal complaint, Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah said that stories from the Quran and the life of the prophet Muhammad "justified stealing, robbing and other illegal acts, as long as they profit Islam." But other local Muslims say -- assuming the allegations against Abdullah are true -- his interpretation is wrong. "The Quran patently forbids things like stealing," said Nadir Muhsin, who teaches Islam at Wayne County Community College. Someone who would use the Quran to justify criminal activity "would actually be putting words in the Quran" that are not there. Victor Ghalib Begg, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, cited a hadith, a saying of Muhammad, in which he said that even if his daughter stole, it wouldn't be excused under Islam. He also quoted a verse from the Quran that says: "If you have killed one person unjustly, it is as though you killed the entire world." ----- Islam, the imperative of global peace, security By Afis Oladosu October 30, 2009 In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the world. We testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah and that the prophet Muhammad (SAW) is His last messenger. ON the 8th of October, the Norwegian Committee in charge of Nobel Awards decided to award the 2009 Prize for Peace to Mr. Barrack Obama, the President of the United States (U.S.). Obama was awarded the Prize in appreciation of the change which he has brought to the world, the improved cooperation among nations, the unprecedented multilateral efforts to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms which the U.S. now leads, the new positive rapprochement between the U.S. and the Moslem world and the new American initiative and interest to, in league with the United Nations, combat global warming. The award immediately generated reactions from across the world, some positive and others extremely negative. It was applauded by those who are entranced and enchanted by the Obama-"magic" - men and women in the East and the West who are suffering from "Obamamania"; it was dismissed by critics and pundits in the North and the South most of whom love to hate the first black-American president - men and women who are held hostage, as it were, in "Obamaphobia". The first group celebrated the award not only because it spoke to their vision and perception of the persona of Obama but equally for setting a new record as the first American President to receive such a global award even as he is yet to complete his first year in office; the second considered the award as premature, extremely patronising and totally misplaced. "America is still in Afghanistan promoting violence and here is Mr. Obama being given an award for promoting global peace...what type of peace is this?" the other group queried. ----- Muslim Woman Tries to Kill Husband; Claims He Fed Her Pork, Liquor By Roy Edroso Oct. 30 2009 Rabia Sarwar says she thought she was marrying a devout Muslim who, even though he taught in a godless Western high school on Staten Island, had traditional values. After all, it was a good old-fashioned arranged marriage -- what could go wrong? She, or whatever village elders arranged the union, seems somehow to have missed that her new husband, Sheik Nassem, was a Unitarian (!), had been married twice before to non-observant-Muslim women, and had, the New York Post tells us, "a taste for barbecued ribs." Alas, soon after their May wedding, Sarwar claims Nassem was pressuring her to do sacrilegious things -- such as, according to a source, "eating pork, drinking alcohol, wearing short clothes," etc. So, Wednesday morning, Sarwar tried to cut his throat while he was sleeping. Cops say she also yelled, "It's time for you to die!" (Unconfirmed reports have her yelling "AIEEE!" as well.) Her lawyer, perhaps cognizant of the fact that religious unorthodoxy is not at present a credible defense for attempted murder in Western countries, adds that Nassem "literally threatened to have her parents mutilated." Sarwar, who has in the past been treated for depression, is charged with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. Source: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/10/muslim_woman_tr.php ----- Female cartoonist's provocative work challenges Saudi society By Olivia Sterns, CNN LONDON, England (CNN) -- For Saudi Arabia's lone female cartoonist drawing is more than just satire, it's "a duty." "I think men have put women in an unfavourable position in this part of the world. They've put women in an oppressive situation," said Hana Hajjar, who works for the English-language newspaper Arab News. "I feel it is my duty towards women to speak out on their behalf, because I have the tools and venue to do so," she told CNN. Hajjar's drawings both challenge gender roles and critique political policy, often depicting inequality between the sexes and support for the Palestinian people, but she is careful not to push too far. "I like to draw thought-provoking and argument-provoking caricatures. I like to see how much I can push people to think, but am mindful never to cross societal red lines," she said. For a woman in the conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be dealing with such issues represents a significant break in cultural convention. "The general attitude in Saudi about caricaturists is that women don't have the stamina and inspiration to last long in this field, unlike their male counterparts," Hajjar explained, adding that luckily her parents had always been supportive of her career. "Caricature is regarded as a man's profession, which has discouraged women in the past from entering the field but I hope my presence is a dent in that armor and will open up the path for others." Over the past five years, Saudi society has made some modest progress toward greater gender equality. There are now a handful of prominent women sitting in the Chamber of Commerce, working in the media and there is even a woman in government, the Deputy Minister of Education. Hajjar has one female colleague at the newspaper where she works. Nonetheless social change is slow and resistance is strong. The opening of an elite new university in September caused uproar for offering mixed-gender classes and allowing women to drive on the campus. Full Report at: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/10/27/hajjar.female.cartoonist/index.html ---- Karadzic: Serbia's mixed feelings Mark Lowen October 29, 2009 In the Luda Kuca bar — or "mad house" — in New Belgrade, life has slowly returned to normal. Just over a year ago, this cramped, shack-like place was invaded by a world media desperate to find out more about the elaborate double-life of Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader now on trial in The Hague for war crimes. For years one of Europe's most wanted men had regularly come here to enjoy a glass of red wine. All the time Mr. Karadzic was hidden behind a heavy beard, high pony tail and thick-rimmed glasses, presenting himself as an alternative healer, Dragan "David" Dabic. He had sat beneath the photos of Serb strongmen that adorn the walls of the bar: the former Serbian President, Slobodan Milosevic — himself tried at The Hague — the former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic, and pictures of Karadzic himself. Since his arrest in July last year, a new portrait has hung on the walls: of the friendly doctor, Dragan Dabic, who nobody here suspected of being Radovan Karadzic. In the corner of the bar, 29-year-old Djordje and his friends try their hand at the "Gusle" — a traditional Serbian one-stringed musical instrument. They tell me proudly how Mr Karadzic himself would entertain customers here with performances on the instrument. "It's absolutely right that he boycotted the start of his trial," Djordje says. "That's the only way to show his anger at the injustice of this quasi-court. Throughout the 1990s wars, Serbs only defended our land, our people and our faith," he adds. Away from this hotbed of Serb nationalism, the start of the Karadzic trial has had a rather more mixed reaction here. Radovan Karadzic does still have a network of supporters — but he was never as popular in Serbia as his military commander, Mr. Mladic. Many Serbs feel indifferent towards the whole affair. When I asked one Belgrade taxi driver how he would feel when he sees Karadzic in the dock on television, he replied: "I'll just change channels." 'Divided opinion' Full Report at: http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/29/stories/2009102954310900.htm ----- Missing: British Girl of 14 who found Islam 30 Oct 2009 A 14-YEAR-OLD girl has vanished after becoming obsessed with Islam. Sarah Dunn had argued with her mother about her decision to study the Koran. Friends and family fear Sarah may have been brainwashed by hard-line Muslims. A pal said yesterday: "No one has heard from her. She was really into Islam and was interested in the Koran. I think it was a bit of an obsession. "But whenever anyone tried to talk to her she'd get very defensive. We're worried about her." It emerged yesterday that Sarah lived in foster care but visited her mum Christine regularly in Dudley, West Midlands. Christine, 40, appealed for Sarah to contact her. A family friend added: "Christine was concerned about her daughter becoming interested in Islam but wanted to talk it through with her to make sure it was what she wanted to do." Sarah was last seen being dropped at school in Leintwardine, Herefordshire, on September 28. But she did not go to class and CCTV later that day showed her 20 miles away in Wellington buying a Muslim prayer mat. A spokesman for the local Muslim Association urged the Islamic community to help find Sarah. Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2705681/Missing-Girl-of-14-who-found-Islam.html ----- Islamabad: Hillary Clinton says Pakistan does not really want to stop al-Qaeda October 30, 2009 By Zahid Hussain Hilary Clinton chastised Pakistan today for not making enough effort to seize senior al-Qaeda leaders who she said were hiding in the lawless tribal region bordering Afghanistan. "I find it hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they are and could not get them if they really wanted to," the US Secretary of State told a group of Pakistani newspaper editors. Her comments came as the Pakistani military said that Said Bahaji, a member of a Hamburg terrorist cell linked to the 9/11 attacks, could be involved with the militants fighting the Pakistani forces in South Waziristan. US intelligence officials have repeatedly said they believe that Osama bin Laden and his associates were hiding near the border with Afghanistan but this was the first time a senior American official has accused Pakistan of not trying hard enough to apprehend them. "May be that is the case, may be they are not getable. I don't know," Mrs Clinton said. "As far as we know they are in Pakistan." During a visit to the eastern city of Lahore, Mrs Clinton also warned that Pakistanis that they must get their act together to solve the challenges facing Islamabad. Her outburst has been poorly received by many Pakistanis, who blame US policy for most of their country's problems in dealing with rising terrorism. A senior security official said: "Pakistan has done far more than any other country in combating al-Qaeda, capturing at least 700 of its activists." Mrs Clinton was on a three-day visit to Pakistan designed to shore up the US relationship with Pakistan and offer help in its military campaign against Taleban militants. Full Report at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6896956.ece ----- Clinton opposes Islamic 'defamation of religions' push Oct 29, 2009 By Tom Strode WASHINGTON (BP)--Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke forcefully against international efforts to adopt policies outlawing the defamation of religions while presenting the Obama administration's first report on global religious freedom. The State Department issued its annual assessment of the conditions for religious expression in 198 countries, the first such report since President Obama took office in January. The report, issued Oct. 26, demonstrates there have been both positive and negative trends in the last year, a State Department official told reporters. Clinton, in introducing the report, took the opportunity to express her disapproval of the defamation of religions movement. Led by the 56-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the effort promotes the condemnation of messages that defame religions and can lead to violence. "[S]ome claim that the best way to protect the freedom of religion is to implement so-called anti-defamation policies that would restrict freedom of expression and the freedom of religion. I strongly disagree," Clinton said. "The United States will always seek to counter negative stereotypes of individuals based on their religion and will stand against discrimination and persecution. But an individual's ability to practice his or her religion has no bearing on others' freedom of speech," Clinton told reporters. "The protection of speech about religion is particularly important since persons of different faiths will inevitably hold divergent views on religious questions. These differences should be met with tolerance, not with the suppression of discourse." The American experience shows "the best antidote to intolerance is not the defamation of religions approach of banning and punishing offensive speech but, rather, a combination of robust legal protections against discrimination and hate crimes, proactive government outreach to minority religious groups and the vigorous defense of both freedom of religion and expression," Clinton said. The OIC may introduce a defamation of religions resolution at the United Nations any day, according to an Oct. 28 report by the American Center for Law and Justice. Such a resolution "stifles the religious freedoms of millions of Christians around the world," ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow said. It could encourage U.N. members to enact laws barring defamation of religions, empowering Islamic states that seek to ban the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus, he said. Full Report at: http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPnews.asp?ID=31573 ----- Taliban, Qaida disown blast in Peshawar 30 October 2009 ISLAMABAD: The Taliban and the al-Qaida have distanced themselves from the deadly market blast in Peshawar that claimed 105 lives, saying they don't explode bombs in such areas, reported a Pakistani paper on Thursday. The News quoted an al-Qaida statement as saying the group was not involved in the killing of innocent people. Most of those killed in the blast were women and children. According to al-Qaida sources cited by the newspaper, elements who want to defame jihad were behind the Peshawar blast. The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in an email sent to the media, also condemned the Peshawar blast and denied its involvement. ----- Peshawar: Terror unlimited October 30, 2009 Even by terror's gory standards, the bomb attack in Peshawar city that killed 105 people was of an order of savagery that surpassed anything Pakistan had seen before. It targeted the most vulnerable among civilians — women and children — and capped a month-long orgy of violence unleashed by extremist militants across the country. The timing of the attack with the arrival in Pakistan of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton might have been a coincidence. Even so, it was a horrific demonstration of the challenges to the U.S.-Pakistan partnership in the "war on terror." The terror attacks are clearly aimed at sapping the nation's morale as its army, under pressure from the U.S., battles the Taliban in its South Waziristan stronghold. The thinking seems to be that a terrorised nation will lose the stomach for military operations against the militants — but the attacks are having the opposite effect. Pakistanis are asking what kind of beasts are these who deliberately set out to target young students, women, and children. The suicide bombings at the International Islamic University earlier this month was an indication that the militants would stop at nothing. Full Report at: http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/30/stories/2009103053840800.htm ----- Beyonce causing controversy in Egypt By Daniela Deane, CNN (CNN) -- Diva Beyonce Knowles strutting her stuff in the conservative Middle East? Looks like it. Even though not everyone is looking forward to the show. Beyonce's worldwide, year-long "I am ..." tour, which has taken her from Canada to China since March, is due in Egypt on November 6 at the Red Sea resort of Port Ghalib. The single show will mark Beyonce's first-ever concert in the land of pyramids. Tickets have reached $400, according to the Al Arabiya television station. But even before she starts shaking her booty on the Egyptian stage, the scantily dressed superstar singer has created controversy. Last week, Islamist Egyptian Member of Parliament Hamdi Hassan, part of the conservative Muslim Brotherhood, slammed the government for allowing a singer "who appears naked in her clips" to perform in Egypt, saying it was violating Sharia law. Sharia, or Islamic religious law, covers many aspects of daily life, including family, sexuality, hygiene and social issues. "The government is trying to make people indulge in sin and licentiousness to cover up the other crimes it is committing against them," Hassan said in a parliamentary session. Hassan accused the government of a double standard for allowing Beyonce to perform, but at the same time refusing permission to an Islamic band that sings religious songs for children. Full Report at: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/10/29/beyonce/index.html ---- October 30, 2009 Saudis Try to Head Off Swine Flu Fears Before Hajj By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
Every year, the single largest gathering on the planet is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca: 2.5 million people from 160 countries packed into a small city in Saudi Arabia for five days. This year, some will be bringing swine flu. The Saudi authorities, fearing that the hajj could turn their holy city into a petri dish for viral mutations and a hub for spreading a new pandemic wave around the world, are working hard to head that off. They have asked some worshipers, including pregnant women and the elderly, not to make the trip, which is scheduled for the last week of November. "The hajj is a central ritual of Islam, and our country tries to make it easy for everyone to come," said Dr. Ziad A. Memish, the country's assistant deputy minister for preventive medicine. "We've said we won't turn away anyone who arrives at our borders. But we are recommending to other countries whom they should let come." Although the Saudis have turned to the World Health Organization and other health agencies for help in previous public health threats to the hajj, this year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American government's lead disease-fighting agency, is more deeply involved because it has so much experience with this new flu strain. Consultants for the centers have gone back and forth to Riyadh, flu experts at American medical schools have been called in and the United States Navy's medical laboratory in Cairo is preparing to help with any complex flu testing that is beyond what Saudi laboratories can do. While religious pilgrimages feed the souls of those who attend, they often endanger the bodies. There have been several outbreaks of meningitis in Mecca since 1987, and in 2004, Muslim pilgrims spread polio from northern Nigeria across Africa to Saudi Arabia and from there outward to Yemen and Indonesia. Full Report at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/world/middleeast/30flu.html?_r=1&ref=global-home&pagewanted=print ---- The state of occupied Iraq October 29, 2009 The suicide bombings in Baghdad on October 25 were the worst in the city for over two years. They reveal serious holes in Iraqi security as well as the continuing political problems posed by the United States-led military occupation of Iraq. The facts are that a van and a minibus, each carrying a tonne or more of explosives, passed through several checkpoints before being detonated near the Justice Ministry and several provincial council buildings. Trucks are banned from Baghdad during daylight hours without military permits, which are to be examined at every checkpoint. The terror vehicles got through in what looks like an expert attack. The Defence and Interior Ministries are investigating possible collusion or negligence by Iraqi security forces. The estimated death toll is 155, including several children at two day-care centres in the Justice Ministry building. Over 500 people were injured and an unknown number are missing. The buildings of the Justice Ministry and the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works, both seven storeys high, were destroyed in the blasts, as was a third government building. Full Report at: http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/29/stories/2009102954230800.htm ----- October 30, 2009 In Military Campaign, Pakistan Finds Hint of 9/11 By JANE PERLEZ and MARK MAZZETTI SHERWANGAI, Pakistan — Pakistani forces pushing toward a lair of hard-core Taliban fighters found documents this week linked to a member of the Hamburg cell of Al Qaeda that is believed to have planned the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. In a small village in the dun-colored hills of South Waziristan, soldiers found a German passport belonging to Said Bahaji, a German citizen and associate of Mohammed Atta, the leader of the 9/11 hijackers. The passport was issued in Hamburg in August 2, 2001 and was accompanied by a Pakistani visa dated August 3, 2001. The documents indicated that Mr. Bahaji landed in Karachi from Istanbul on Sept. 4, 2001. The apparent presence of Mr. Bahaji in the tribal areas of Pakistan is a clear indication that members of the Qaeda network — including participants in the 9/11 plot — have taken refuge here, as American officials, like Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday, have charged. There was no indication that Mr. Bahaji had left Pakistan, authorities said. Although Mr. Bahaji was not a central plotter in the Sept. 11 attacks, he lived for eight months in Hamburg with Mr. Atta and Ramzi bin al Shibh, according to the 9/11 Commission Report. He was described in the report as "an insecure follower with no personality and with limited knowledge of Islam." It added: "Atta and Binalshibh used Bahaji's computer for Internet research, as evidenced by documents and diskettes seized by German authorities after 9/11." A United States counterterrorism official said the documents "appear to be this guy," and that American officials believe "he's in Pakistan and is a senior Qaeda propagandist." The official spoke anonymously to discuss classified assessments of Al Qaeda. Soldiers also found a Spanish passport belonging to Raquel Burgos Garcia, who is believed to be Mr. Bahaji's wife. She wore an Islamic headscarf in her passport photo; an accompanying identity card showed that she had attended school in Morocco. Full Report at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/world/asia/30pstan.html?ref=global-home&pagewanted=print ---- Commentary: Stop religious persecution in Iran By Rainn Wilson Editor's note: Actor Rainn Wilson plays paper salesman Dwight Schrute in the television comedy "The Office." (CNN) -- Why is Rainn Wilson, "Dwight" on "The Office," writing a news commentary for CNN? Good question. It's a bit strange for me, to say the least; a comic character actor best known for playing weirdos with bad haircuts getting all serious to talk about the persecution of the fellow members of his religious faith. Dear readers of CNN, I assure you that what I'm writing about is no joking matter or some hoax perpetrated by a paper-sellin', bear-fearin', Battlestar-Galactica obsessed beet farmer. I am a member of the Baha'i faith. What is that, you ask? Well, long story short, it's an independent world religion that began in the mid-1800s in Iran. Baha'is believe that there is only one God and therefore only one religion. All of the world's divine teachers (Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Moses, Abraham, Krishna, etc.) bring essentially the same message -- one of unity, love and knowledge of God or the divine. This constantly updated faith of God, Baha'is believe, has been refreshed for this day and age by our founder, Baha'u'llah. There. Nutshell version. Now, as I mentioned, this all happened in Iran, and needless to say the Muslim authorities did not like the Baha'is very much, accusing them of heresy and apostasy. Tens of thousands were killed in the early years of the faith, and the persecutions have continued off and on for the past 150 years. Full Report at: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/17/wilson.faith/index.html ---- Muslim women film series dispels stereotypes By Ivy Lamb Oct. 30 2009 The IDS 485: Arab and Islamic Feminisms class, taught by Assistant Professor of English Diya Abdo, is presenting a Muslim women film series. The film series challenges stereotypes about Muslim women by exploring the lives of Muslim women around the world. "They Call Me Muslim," the first film in the series, was screened in Bryan Jr. Auditorium on Oct. 6. Directed by Diana Ferrero, the film examines the debate over the Muslim headscarf by interviewing two women; one in France who is forced to remove her hijab, and another woman in Iran who is forced to put it on. A small group of students gathered to watch the film and afterwards participated in a discussion that was led by four seniors from Abdo's IDS class. The discussion focused on how the hijab relates to oppression, identity, and anti-Muslim sentiments. "For many women, the veil is liberating," said presenting senior Lee Cornett, addressing the common Western misconception that the hijab is a symbol of oppression. "We all place different ideologies on the same piece of clothing." Competing religious, political, and feminist ideologies have singled out the hijab as a controversial piece of clothing, even though many religions have mandates for women to cover themselves. Full Report at: http://media.www.guilfordian.com/media/storage/paper281/news/2009/10/30/News/Muslim.Women.Film.Series.Dispels.Stereotypes-3816136.shtml ----- Islamist leader seeks to turn Buckingham Palace into mosque London, October 29, 2009 An extremist Islamist leader, who is campaigning to introduce sharia courts in the UK, seeks to turn Buckingham Palace into a mosque, a news report said on Thursday. Days before a potentially incendiary rally in central London to demand the introduction of sharia courts in Britain, Anjem Choudary claims to have uncovered historical evidence which challenges the right of Queen Elizabeth II to live at the royal palace. Choudary, the right-hand man of exiled Islamist cleric Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, demanded the palace be renamed Buckingham Masjid, and the Mall, which approaches the palace, would become Masjid Road, the Daily Express newspaper reported today. The protest on Saturday outside the British Parliament, less than a mile from Buckingham Palace, has raise Concerns over security, the report said. "There is a spark that has ignited and its flame has become unstoppable," Choudary wrote on the Islam4UK website. "We find ourselves in the year 2009, waiting for Rome to fall, waiting for the White House to fall and indeed waiting for Buckingham Palace to fall," he was quoted as saying by the British tabloid. Choudary said once the sharia was established the Queen's official residence in London would have a dome fitted and a tannoy system to call followers to prayer. The Islam4UK movement is made up of leading members of the banned radical al-Muhajiroun group which was once led by Choudary. Around 15 per cent of people convicted in the UK of terrorism-related offences in the last decade were either members of the group or had links to it, the report claimed. ----- 61 security force members held over Baghdad bombs: Army spokesman 29 October 2009 BAGHDAD: More than 60 security force members including 11 officers have been arrested over twin bombings in Baghdad that killed 153 people, army spokesman General Qasim Atta said on Thursday. Those arrested were deployed in the Salhiya section of the capital where the devastating suicide blasts on Sunday targeted government buildings and wrought havoc in the streets, said Atta, spokesman for Baghdad military command. "The commission of inquiry into the double attack on Sunday ordered the arrest of 11 officers of various ranks and 50 members of the security forces responsible for the protection of Salhiya," he said. The health ministry said on Thursday the toll from the attacks claimed by al-Qaida but blamed by the government on members of the outlawed Baath party stood at 153 people killed and more than 500 wounded. Among those arrested, said Atta, are four senior army officers and seven senior policemen, including the chief of police of Salhiya under whose jurisdiction the justice ministry, one of the targets of the attacks, falls. Also rounded up, he added, are the commanders of 15 security checkpoints in Salhiya. Baghdad's governor, Salah Abdul Razzaq, on Monday blamed negligence or even collusion by the security forces for the bombings in the heart of the capital, Iraq's deadliest day in more than two years. "It's a human failure... It can only be negligence or collusion," Razzaq said, noting that footage showed a white Renault truck carrying two tonnes of explosives driving up to the justice ministry building. The logo of the Department of Water in Fallujah, a former insurgent bastion west of Baghdad, was painted on the side of the truck, he said. "How did it get from Fallujah to here?" Trucks are barred from entering Baghdad, especially Salhiya neighbourhood, during daylight hours. Razzaq said that the vehicle that was blown up in front of the other target, a provincial government building, was a Kia minibus. Defence ministry spokesman Major General Mohammed al-Askari told AFP earlier this week that security forces raided two houses in Baghdad, where they found bomb-making materials, and made arrests, but did not specify how many. "It looks like the same materials used on Bloody Wednesday," he said, referring to August 19 bombings at government ministries in Baghdad that killed around 100 people. Askari said the evidence found confirmed the bombers were linked to al-Qaida and supporters of the Baath Party of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein. ----- UN re-evaluates Afghan mission after attack 30 October 2009 KABUL: Traumatized UN staff in Afghanistan were under orders to stay home on Thursday, one day after Taliban militants stormed a guest house in the capital and killed eight people in a brazen attack that is forcing the world body to re-evaluate its mission in the war-ravaged nation. The attack underscored the risks facing UN officials in organizing a runoff election following the fraud-marred first-round vote on August 20. A UN spokesman said at least nine UN staff who survived the assault will be evacuated to Dubai. The UN has ordered its employees to remain on "lockdown," with their movements restricted. A memo said UN departments will be reviewing lists of critical and nonessential personnel, suggesting some may be moved out of the country. ----- Detroit mosque leader killed in shootout with FBI 29 October 2009 WASHINGTON: A Detroit mosque leader accused of heading a Muslim militant group died Wednesday in a shootout with federal agents conducting raids that led to the arrests of eight suspects. Three additional suspects are wanted on charges including conspiracy, weapons violations and trafficking in stolen goods. There were no terrorism charges, though court documents alleged that the leader had threatened terrorist actions in conversations with FBI informants and undercover agents. Luqman Ameen Abdullah, 53, who was also known as Christopher Thomas, died after allegedly firing on FBI agents executing a search warrant on a warehouse in Dearborn, Michigan, outside Detroit. Abdullah led the Masjid al-Haqq, a mosque in Detroit of predominantly African-American converts to Islam. "The 11 defendants are members of a group that is alleged to have engaged in violent activity over a period of many years and known to be armed," the FBI and federal prosecutors said in a statement. ----- Sikhs ignore advisory, 165 leave for Pak 30 October 2009 ATTARI: Ignoring the Union government's advisory against travelling to Pakistan, 165 Sikh devotees left for Nankana Saheb in Lahore to observe the 540th birth anniversary of the first Sikh preceptor, Guru Nanak Dev, who was born there. The Centre had issued the advisory after a spate of terror attacks in Pakistan over the last few weeks. The Sikh jatha comprising groups from Taran Taran's Baba Sewa Singh Kar Sewa and Sri Guru Nanak Dev Yatra boarded Samjhauta Express for Lahore at Attari station. SGPC will send its jatha on October 31. ----- 'Terrorists sending coded messages in blog rants' Mateen Hafeez 30 October 2009 MUMBAI: Provocative rants by bloggers are a familiar sight to regular surfers of the internet. But some of these diatribes are more than simply a matter of disgruntled people venting their spleen — police say blogs have emerged as the favoured mode of communication of terrorists seeking to convey hidden messages to accomplices. Police officers are now busy scouring provocative blogs for such messages. ''Earlier, terrorists used email and social networking websites to chat. However, in some cases, the modules were busted precisely with the help of web chat. To avoid this pitfall, terrorists have begun relying on blogs now,'' said an anti-terrorism squad (ATS) officer. It may be recalled several Indian Mujahideen operatives were caught after the police engaged them in chat while posing as their associates. Similarly, police zeroed in on the location of a suspect in the 7/11 train bombing case after resorting to web chat. Police explained that blogs made it harder for police to tune in to chatter. An officer said, ''In emails, many other email IDs can be traced. But a blog could be read by anyone, and all the police will get is internet protocol address of the blog's readers. It will not give us exact email ID to identify the person. Moreover, blogs are being written in such a manner that the content looks religious or fanatical, but it actually contains coded messages for terrorists,'' added an officer. Officers of the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) scan blogs and websites that contain remarks aimed at offending someone's religious sentiment. They search them and send a request to the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) to block it. Meanwhile, the National Technology Research Organisation (NTRO), the country's secret agency that monitors cyber crime, also tracks cyber terrorists. But many cyber experts are not reassured by the investigations of NTRO and other agencies, saying there's need for more investment and training. Full Report at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Terrorists-sending-coded-messages-in-blog-rants/articleshow/5178538.cms ----- FBI: Islamic group leader killed in shootout 30 Oct 2009 The FBI in Detroit updated the fatal shooting of a leader of a radical Sunni-Islam group during a news briefing Thursday. Officials said Luqman Ameen Abdullah was fatally shot Wednesday after resisting arrest and firing at agents in suburban Detroit. Investigators were attempting to arrest him on numerous charges ranging from conspiracy to sell stolen goods to possession of illegal firearms. "In the course of the arrest search warrants yesterday, there was obviously a shooting that occurred at an undercover location which the FBI controls and unfortunately one of the subjects was killed in that exchange," said Andrew Arena, head of the FBI office in Detroit. Ten followers also face charges. The alleged sect is not charged with terrorism. However, the FBI said the group intended to commit violence against the United States. One report said the group plotted an attack on the 2006 Super Bowl, held in Detroit. No incident occurred. Source: http://www.necn.com/Boston/Nation/2009/10/29/FBI-Islamic-group-leader/1256844211.html ----- Iran - Young scholars boost hope for better future 30 Oct, 2009 The Leader of Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei received hundreds of young Iranian scholars on Wednesday. Ayatollah Khamenei described the visit as "sweet as ever" and said, the educated youth who had combined knowledge with devotion to their country have boosted high hopes for a better future. The Leader of Islamic Revolution pointed out that the youth attitude towards different issues was becoming more sophisticated every year and that it was a sign of advancement. Ayatollah Khamenei referred to issues raised by some of the youths in the meeting prior to his speech including necessity of putting high priority on domestic needs, and fostering religious spirituality and culture and said the were issues of utmost importance that must be thoroughly considered by the officials. "It is a reality that as a result of experiencing various difficulties imposed by political, security, and media powers of the world in the past 30 years as well as recent political incidents, the Islamic Administration has become immune," The IRI Leader stated. Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the enemy's conspiracies against Iran as an undeniable reality, adding that some individuals might not be aware of the reality but that would not refute the whole thing. Ayatollah Khamenei said by making fuss about trifles, the situation would be made worse. Full Report at: http://www.isria.com/pages/29_October_2009_43.php ----- Italy: Al-Qaeda linked terror suspects go on trial Bologna, 29 October The trial of five Muslim terrorism suspects has began in the northern Italian city of Bologna. The suspects were arrested in 2007 by Italian anti-terrorism police in the cities of Ravenna and Imola in the Emilia-Romagna region. They have been charged with subversion aimed at committing acts of international terrorism and fraud. An unnamed sixth suspect who is on the run is being tried in absentia. The defendants are accused of plotting terrorist acts in Iraq and Afghanistan and recruiting other jihadist sympathisers to carry out the planned attacks, according to prosecutors. Following a three-year investigation, prosecutors issued police with six arrest warrants in August 2007. The five suspects were named as: Khalil Jarraya, head of a suspected jihadist-Salafite cell with links to Al-Qaeda; fellow Tunisians Hecmi Msaadi, Mohamed Chabchoub and Chedli Ben Bergaoui; and Moroccan national Mourad Mazi. Jarraya, known as 'the colonel' because he had fought on the side of Muslims during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, is an illegal immigrant from the Tunisian city of Sfax. He was living on 'zakat' or alms given to him by pious Muslims who attended the mosque in the city of Faenza, where he lived with his family, according to investigators. Full Report at: http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.3923939077 -----
Pen Season on Jews: Two Men Shot At Prayer in Los Angeles By Phyllis Chesler October 29, 2009 Early this morning, as Jewish men gathered for their morning prayers, a lone gunman entered the Adat Yeshurun Valley synagogue in North Hollywood (or entered it's parking lot) and, without saying a word, shot and wounded two men [1]. The gunman, described as an African-American teenager wearing a hood, apparently fled. (By the next day, police claimed they were not certain if the shooter was African-American). At first, they arrested an African-American man who resembled the ostensible description of the shooter; they have since released him. The police are calling this a "hate crime" since no other motive appears to have been involved. (The police have subsequently said that they are not sure of the motive). Thankfully, the wounded men, Maor Ben-Nissan and Allen Lasry, were hospitalized and will recover. (Thank you Dymphna for posting their names here). Yesterday there was a shootout in Detroit at a mosque largely peopled by African-American converts to Islam and led by the former Black Panther H. Rap Brown, who converted to Islam in jail while serving a life sentence. If a convert to Islam was involved in the LA synagogue shooting (and it is totally unclear whether this is the case), I would view this shooting as one lone individual's version of "political" payback. Recently, in 2009, four African-American prison converts to Islam plotted to blow up two Riverdale synagogues and an American military base. Blame the Jews, target the Jews—even when they are not involved, especially when they aren't. Even when the Jews are not Israelis and are not necessarily "Zionists." Even when the Jews may themselves be Arabs of many skin-colors. Full Report at: http://pajamasmedia.com/phyllischesler/2009/10/29/open-season-on-jews-two-men-shot-at-prayer-in-los-angeles/ ----- Muslim women's sports foundation score with football grant October 30, 2009 THE Muslim Women's Sports Foundation (MWSF) is celebrating following a £235k grant awarded by the Football Foundation, the UK's largest sports charity. The grant will allow the the group to embark on the the Born to Succeed project - a three year plan aiming to increase the number of black, minority ethnic women in sport. The MWSF hopes to provide facilities and support that take into consideration religious and cultural sensitivities of black, minority ethnic women - by developing a number of futsal and basketball clubs, introducing summer and year-round leagues, engaging in school outreach programmes, conducting research projects and in recruiting and training volunteers, coaches and referees. It will also allow increasing access to player pathways, promoting healthy living in the community, providing alternative social activities in mainstream society, promoting cohesion and understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim communities, and developing role models for future generations of women. Full Report at: http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/sport/s/1180021_muslim_womens_sports_foundation_score_with_football_grant ----- Smooth rifts with Indonesians: expert DELLARAM JAMALI AND HARI RAJ October 31, 2009 CULTURAL links between Australia and Indonesia must be improved if they are to avoid further problems such as the stand-off over asylum seekers, a regional political scientist and historian says. Dr Farish Noor, whose many roles include teaching at universities in Singapore and Indonesia, said the squabble over the fate of 78 Sri Lankans on a customs vessel showed how quickly conflicts could flare up. ''What you have to do when you have a climate of distress and misunderstanding is to re-emphasise the humanity of the other,'' Dr Noor said. ''These Sri Lankan refugees have been publicly dehumanised. They are the commodity; the buck is being passed from one table to the other. Neither side has taken into account the humanity of the people involved.'' Visiting Melbourne this week for discussions on South-East Asia's influence on modern Islam, Dr Noor said the asylum-seeker stand-off also highlighted a wider cultural rift between Australia and Indonesia. ''There is a misunderstanding that Indonesia is a land of beaches, foot massages, Balinese dancing and occasionally the odd terrorist or two who spoils your holiday,'' he said. ''That really has to be contextualised, and it has to go beyond that level of trivialities.
Full Report at: http://www.theage.com.au/national/smooth-rifts-with-indonesians-expert-20091030-hpwb.html ------ URL: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamWarOnTerror_1.aspx?ArticleID=2023
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Friday, October 30, 2009
India reaches out to Muslim clerics for anti-terror campaign: Home Minister to address Deoband Ulema Conference
Ethnic Uighur Journalist Detained in China
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