Muslims and Islamophobia

05 Dec 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com

Swiss Radicalization: A Sign of Things to Come?

'Minaret ban reminiscent of wars of Middle Ages' European rabbis condemn Swiss minaret ban Religious Leaders Slam Swiss Minaret Ban Minaret Ban - Muslim Scholars Urge Swiss Muslims to Remain Calm Turkey regrets 'rise in Islamophobia' Indonesia says Swiss minaret ban obstacle to interfaith harmony Photo: Mosque in Aswan, Egypt, with minarets - Wikipedia URL of this Page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamIslamicWorldNews_1.aspx?ArticleID=2190 ------ Swiss Radicalization: A Sign of Things to Come? December 4, 2009 Nestle. The United Nations. Rolex. Secure Banking. Toblerone. Yodeling. William Tell. Cowbells. Neutrality. Rousseau. Alpine Skiing. Heidi. These are a few of the things -- mostly pretty -- that come to mind when you say "Switzerland." But now thanks to a recent popular vote on a controversial referendum, things like "intolerance," "paranoia," and "limitations on freedom of religion" have joined the merry list. In case you have not heard already, 57% of Swiss voters approved a proposal Sunday to ban mosque minarets in a nationwide referendum sponsored by the Swiss People's Party (SVP), a right-wing group long known for its anti-immigration campaigns. A complacent Swiss government subsequently stated that it will "respect the decision" of the people and will affect the ban on all new minarets in the country. 2009-12-02-swiss_minaret.jpgThe SVP flooded the tiny landlocked Alpine state with posters in which minarets appeared as missiles rising from the Swiss flag. They told voters that "the minaret is a sign of political power and demand, comparable with whole-body covering by the burqa, tolerance of forced marriage and genital mutilation of girls." This is not true of course. Most Muslims accept the minaret as an architectural conduit for the call to prayer, but most do not seek political power, subscribe to the burqa, tolerate forced marriages, or accept genital mutilation of girls. Forced marriages and female circumcision happen mostly in poor, uneducated parts of the world and have no foundation in Islam. The burqa is worn by less than 1% of Muslim women. How these three things are "comparable" with a minaret must be Switzerland's dirty little secret because I cannot figure it out. Yet by casting the minaret, a mainstream symbol of normative Islam, as some kind of Trojan horse bearing the Achilles heel that will vanquish Swiss political and cultural hegemony, the SVP seems to have petrified people into a knee-jerk acceptance of a draconian ban that amounts to throwing out the baby with the bathwater. While the ban has dismayed Muslims, it should also embarrass Switzerland whose polished image will likely take a major beating. The Swiss logic here is as arbitrary and nonsensical as if Dubai were to ban skyscrapers because they "represent American corporate greed which is partially to blame for the misguided war in Iraq." Imagine the scornful reaction around the world then. Personally, I have vacationed in Switzerland many times. I have taken the famed glacier express from St. Moritz in the West to Zermatt in the East, climbed the Matterhorn in the Alps, enjoyed promenades in the Boulevards of Geneva, and walked among the rooftops of Zurich and Neuchatel. I found the Swiss to be generally pleasant (though somewhat aloof). It is beyond me why such a beautiful country would choose to take a turn for the ugly. Swiss Muslim Professor Tariq Ramadan says it is fear. Perhaps, but it is more than that. It is also cluelessness. Fear is not always such a bad thing; the Swiss had every right to fear the Nazis. But to ban an architectural form that scares you is a thing of prehistoric naiveté. Worse still, to be ignorant of what a minaret truly symbolizes -- to the tune of some 57% of voters -- signals that the wrong people are talking and a clueless majority are listening and following. The minaret has been around, appropriated in the unique architectural traditions of every culture, for 14 centuries. Sure there are minarets that surround the Taliban, but minarets also surrounded the scholars, philosophers and scientists of Baghdad, Damascus, Tashkent, Seville, Toledo, and Cordoba whose body of work helped jumpstart Europe out of its dark age and into its renaissance. They surrounded and still surround the students of the oldest surviving university in the world, Al-Azhar of Cairo. They dot the skylines of cities from Casablanca to Brunei, and Istanbul to the Zanzibar, calling their peaceful residents only to God-consciousness. They adorn the four corners of what is widely considered to be the most beautiful man-made structure on earth, the Taj Mahal of India. The short-sightedness of the anti-minaret campaign is fuelled by more than fear. It is fuelled by hate. For as long as most people living today have been around, Europe has enjoyed a stint as a tolerant, liberal hub of multiculturalism, personal freedoms, and all-around prosperity. But suffer from historical amnesia at your own risk, for history has a ruthless tendency to repeat itself. Before we get too comfortable and fully let our guard down, we may do well to remember that it was not so long ago that the tame territory of delectable delights, chocolate, wine, and cheese was engulfed by fascist ideologies that were anything but. Indeed, it was only as recent as two generations ago that those nations, who today fancy themselves as the defenders of freedoms around the world, were the purveyors of extreme brands of racism, uber-nationalism, and imperialism that launched the world into two destructive global wars and history's most egregious genocide. Given the burden of Europe's recent past, it is astonishing to note how readily Switzerland, itself a long-time haven of neutrality even during World War II (not exactly a great thing when you consider that human beings were being huddled into gas chambers North, West, and East), could teeter at the precipice of an eerily familiar abyss wherein citizens of a hapless religious minority are demonized and their rights freely limited. Sadly Switzerland's minaret vote is not the only troubling omen facing Europeans today. While the winds of fascism are not exactly sweeping over Europe as I write, a few unwelcome breezes seem to be intensifying and cannot be ignored. The other Semites, Muslims, are in the eye of the storm this time around -- Jews having borne the brunt of the last tempest. For Europe, "Never Again" seems to be a slogan for one religious minority at a time. Let me be clear, the situation of Muslims in Europe today cannot be analogized to that of Jews 70 years ago. But those familiar with European history know that the zenith of 20th Century anti-Semitism was not born overnight. It evolved over time eventually reaching grotesque proportions. At first, a vanguard of voices claiming unique insight and expertise on Jewish affairs sought to "wake society up" to "know" and "confront" the nature of the threat festering in their midst. This involved columnists, preachers, politicians, and yes cartoonists. Jews were caste as the other, foreign implants who can never be fully European regardless of whether or not they were citizens working and living side by side with everyone else. Their religion was judged as too exotic, too sinister, an anti-European ideology that could not be trusted. Their history was recast into a carefully crafted narrative of perpetual anti-Christian mischief. At first, their religious rights were curbed, and then they were rendered second class citizens. Things quickly dwindled thereafter. Today, I cannot help but wonder: had it not been for Germany's tolerance of the demonization of Jews in the early decades when it then seemed mundane and uneventful, would a crime as outlandish as the "final solution" ever have found the mass acceptance that it did further down the line? Worth mentioning is that despite the lessons learned from the Holocaust, Europe's only indigenous Muslim minority could not itself escape genocide a few decades later -- the first and only genocide to occur on European soil since World War II. So what about today's breezes of intolerance whisking through the continent? In the United Kingdom, the far-right British Nationalist Party (BNP), a splinter group of the Whites-only British National Front (BNF) is experiencing a new surge. The far-right Dutch Party for Freedom, whose leader Geert Wilders advocates banning the Quran and curbing Muslim religious freedom, placed second in a recent election in the Netherlands. In France and Austria, far-right political groups spouting anti-Muslim rhetoric are also gaining ground. The SVP, the group behind the minaret ban and a poster campaign depicting white sheep kicking black sheep out of Switzerland, is now Switzerland's biggest political party. Reports show that racism is on the rise in Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe. Astroturf groups that openly call for the demonization for Muslims such as ACT! for America, SANE, SIOA, and SIOE are becoming a dime a dozen. Vandalism of Muslim cemeteries and mosques and hate crimes are happening more frequently. In Germany, a Hijab-wearing woman was stabbed to death in front of her three-year-old child while seeking justice in a German court against the perpetrator who had hurled racist slurs at her in a public playground a few days earlier. Stephan Kramer, General Secretary of the Central Council of Jews in Germany subsequently deplored the "largely unchecked hate propaganda against Muslims." Throughout Europe, anti-Muslim rhetoric expressed in editorials, columns, campaign ads, hate blogs, and political cartoons is on the rise. European leaders and intellectuals are rightly concerned about Muslim extremism and radicalization, but what are they doing to fight anti-Muslim extremism and radicalization? Is it even duly acknowledged? Cynics often deflect attention by pointing out human rights abuses in the Middle East or Asia. The West is right to call out abuses of freedoms in the Muslim-majority world, but it is wrong to pursue a campaign of reciprocity that betrays its own principles as a response. Western Intellectuals are wrong to turn a blind eye to such a farce when it occurs. The Swiss referendum raises an important question about the great conundrum of democracy: if a majority of voters opt for dictatorship, is the result a democracy or a dictatorship? The answer lies in a simple concept: the constitution. The constitutions of democratic nations enshrine the principles of freedom and democracy and act as the final say on what future action can and cannot be done. A vote that betrays those principles is a vote that ought not to take place. In other words, a referendum that seeks to curb religious freedoms presumably protected by Swiss high law is itself unconstitutional and should not have been allowed in the first place. Should the West choose to remain reactionary in how it deals with Muslim extremism -- real or perceived -- then it unwisely relinquishes its fate to the hands of terrorists who know that it would only then take a few more attacks to sink Western societies into self-defeating frenzy. Make no mistake about it, merely inflicting explosions that tear down towers of steel and glass is not terrorism's ultimate goal or greatest threat, being a catalyst for Western self-implosion is. While the West needs to remain vigilant against physical threats, it needs to know that its greatest weapon against ultimate defeat is holding steadfastly unto its principles of democracy, freedoms and equal citizenship. Protecting and strengthening those traditions, integrating minorities as equals in society, and working academically to fight extremism, both Muslim and anti-Muslim, is our best assurance for future security and prosperity. Failing to do so spells the beginning of the end. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ahmed-rehab/swiss-radicalization-a-si_b_377242.html ------ Minaret Ban - Iums Urges Swiss Muslims to Remain Calm Yusuf Al-Qaradawi 3 December 2009 The International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS) has received with shock and surprise the results of the Swiss referendum on the proposed amendment to Article 72 of the Swiss Constitution, to include a new clause banning the building of minarets. As the results of the referendum show that 57.4% of voters approved of the amendment, it reveals a clear contradiction between the Swiss peoples' flaunting and boasting of democracy and religious freedom, and the racist and "Islamophobic" content of this referendum, which contradicts with all human rights constitutions and conventions, religious freedoms, and cultural diversity. Today, they ban minarets, and tomorrow they may ban the mosques themselves! What could prevent it as long as the racist right wing movement that is intolerant towards foreigners is leading this campaign! It is well known for all that minarets only constitute a signpost for the places of worship and that they have no other significance, whether political or otherwise. Rather, they represent a beautiful architectural symbol that is a witness to the country's tolerance and cultural and religious diversity. Indeed, those who drew up such a resolution among narrow-minded right wing extremists have taken advantage of the nurtured fear from Muslims by warning of the alleged expansion of their religious demands in the Swiss state, and went as far as claiming that Muslims work for "Minarets today, and the application of Shari'ah tomorrow!" Well, this is sheer delusion and a flight of fancy. If most Muslim countries themselves do not apply Shari'ah, how can a sound minded person believe that people in Europe, who are mostly non-Muslims, would apply Shari'ah? And though the current parliament and government did not approve of holding the referendum in the first place, and the church bishops opposed it, still the result of the referendum is disappointing for the Muslim minority living among the Swiss society who represent a bright example in their moral and humanitarian dealings through their integration, co-existence and openness towards all members of the Swiss society. Besides, such a result has thwarted all the expectations of Muslim minorities living in the West in general, and stirred their apprehension of such moves that could possibly be adopted by similar right-wing parties in other countries. Those right-wing parties, in turn, could follow similar steps as a means of applying more restrictions against Muslims in any European country, and exploit the Islamophobic environment that has intensified due to incessant instigation by the media machine that distorts the image of Islam and Muslims and portrays them in other than their true nature. Likewise, this result has frustrated the expectations of all Muslims around the world, and we think it will lead to substantial revisions and raise questions about the feasibility of dialogue and rapprochement between Muslims and non-Muslims in the Islamic world in general, and especially in the West, since the status of some Muslim religious symbols and places of worship in this cultural environment have become susceptible to debates, laws and referendums every now and then! So, what is then the point of holding dialogue, if it enhances the stance of extremist elements among Muslims who say that the West with whom you call us to dialogue and cooperate hates you and chases you away! Building on this painful reality and also on our responsibility towards these Muslim minorities, the IUMS maintains the following: http://allafrica.com/stories/200912040388.html ------ Turkey regrets 'rise in Islamophobia' Dec 04 2009 by Gabriel Hershman Turkey's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu has expressed concern at the Swiss decision on November 29 to ban the building of minarets. "There is a rise in Islamophobia, in the concept of 'the other', as if they do not belong to society," said Davutoglu during an interview with the BBC. "It may be today Muslims, tomorrow Jews, the next day blacks, the next Africans. In this new global world we will be living together everywhere, so we need a new spirit of tolerance everywhere." Davutoglu also made clear that Turkey still desired to become a full member of the EU. "All the countries that start accession negotiations with the EU, they became members of the EU, except Norway which didn't want it. Based on this statistical analysis, I can say, Turkey will be a member of the EU, 100 per cent," he told the BBC. Davutoglu said that Turkish admission to the EU was a litmus test for its development. "There are two ways in front of the EU," he said. "Either the EU will be a global power, a dynamic economy and a multicultural global environment, or a continental power with a less dynamic economy, with a more inward-looking culture. These are the two options." He added that Turkey's entry into the EU would transform the organisation into a global power. "I am optimistic. I believe in the rationality of the EU approach. I'm sure Turkey will be a member, a contributing member - not a burden, but a big asset for the EU," he said. http://www.sofiaecho.com/2009/12/04/825689_turkey-regrets-rise-in-islamophobia Switzerland's vote to ban minarets boosts European racists by Chris Bambery Pic: The far right SVP plastered the country with these racist posters and billboards Across Europe, racists have cheered the result of last Sunday’s referendum in Switzerland, which saw a vote to impose a ban on the building of minarets on mosques. “Switzerland forever white and Christian,” said Mario Borghezio, a member of the European Parliament for the anti-immigrant Northern League in Italy, as he hailed the result. The League is now calling for the cross to be added to the Italian flag, to affirm the country’s  “Christian identity”. And in Holland, anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders is demanding a similar ban. “What is possible in Switzerland should also be possible here,” he says. The result shows the growing climate of Islamophobia in Europe that is feeding fascists and other bigots. This not just about words—it is leading to attacks on Muslims. Before the referendum the main mosque in Geneva was vandalised, and cobblestones were thrown at it, damaging a mosaic. Farhad Afshar of the Coordination of Islamic Organisations in Switzerland warned that, “Muslims will not feel safe any more.” The referendum over minarets was initiated by the far-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which forced a vote after collecting 100,000 signatures from eligible citizens. The SVP is the largest party in parliament and part of the ruling Swiss coalition government. It gained its biggest vote in the 2007 federal election where it ran an anti-immigrant campaign, saying “criminal foreigners” needed to be kicked out of the country. It used the referendum as a way to further this racist agenda. Posters The SVP was allowed to turn the referendum into a vote on the very presence of Muslims within the country. It focused on claims that Switzerland would be put under Sharia law. SVP posters urging a vote in support of the ban showed a menacing-looking woman in a black burqa posing next to missile-like minarets standing on top of the Swiss flag—a Switzerland which had been “taken over” by Islam. The anti-Muslim arguments found support beyond the far right. Prominent Swiss feminist Julia Onken backed the ban, claiming that failure to ban minarets would be “a signal of the state’s acceptance of the oppression of women”. She sent out 4,000 emails attacking Muslims who “condone forced marriage, honour killings and beating women”. Many of those Muslims facing discrimination in Switzerland fled former Yugoslavia in search of a haven. Now they are again targets. Switzerland has traditionally relied on migrant labour, but also has a long history of racism. After the Second World War, Italian “guest workers” were subject to racist discrimination, including being banned from public parks. The police were handed control over immigration policy, with a duty to prevent the “over-foreignisation” of the country. The SVP has now collected enough signatures for another referendum, which will allow foreigners convicted of a crime or falsely claiming welfare to be expelled from the country. It has also said it will move to ban the burqa. The referendum result will boost racist and fascist parties across Europe, with their claims that Islam wants to take over Europe. Yet Islam is an integral part of European civilisation. In the Middle Ages both Muslim Andalucía in Spain and Sicily in Italy were centres of learning and scholarship. Today, the Islamophobia which accompanied the US-led assaults on Iraq and Afghanistan has become intertwined with the anti-migrant racism that has grown with the economic crisis, creating a poisonous brew. http://www.swp.ie/index.php?page=554&dept=News&title=Switzerland%27s+vote+to+ban+minarets+boosts+European+racists ------ Indonesia says Swiss minaret ban obstacle to interfaith harmony 04 Dec 2009 Jakarta - Indonesia on Friday criticized a Swiss referendum approving a ban on the construction of minarets, saying the move would not help efforts to promote religious harmony. The outcome of Sunday's vote in favour of the ban on tall towers attached to mosques has sparked criticism across the Muslim world. "Indonesia strongly deplores any measures which are inconsistent with the promotion of religious harmony," Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said in a news conference. "This referendum has convinced us that there are still misconceptions and stereotypes against a particular religion," he said. The minaret vote surprised many in and outside Switzerland and left many Swiss concerned that the decision would make their country look intolerant. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has criticized the ban as "discriminatory, deeply divisive and a thoroughly unfortunate step for Switzerland to take." http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/297651,indonesia-says-swiss-minaret-ban-obstacle-to-interfaith-harmony.html ------ Religious Leaders Slam Swiss Minaret Ban By Lorena Margam Dec. 04 2009 Prominent religious and political leaders expressed strong disapproval of the recent ban on the construction of Muslim minaret towers in Switzerland. The Rev. Ishmael Noko, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, told Ecumenical News International that his organization “regrets that some sectors of Swiss society and politics found it necessary to take the issue of the construction of minarets in Switzerland to a referendum, and to force a decision for or against a ban.” “This action has framed this interest in explicitly sectarian terms vis-a-vis Muslims,” Noko stated. "It thereby undermines efforts at inter-religious understanding and harmony in Switzerland, and the Swiss reputation and heritage of tolerance and hospitality." The ban was approved on Sunday by a 57.5 percent vote from Swiss citizens, much to the shock of government officials. Heavily backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party and other conservative groups, propaganda for the campaign included posters depicting minaret towers as missiles on top of a Swiss flag. The Swiss Council of Religions (SCR), a national body made up of Jews, Christians and Muslims, released a statement saying that their group “decisively rejects the Minaret Initiative.” Defining themselves as being “dedicated to protecting religious peace in Switzerland and to strengthening trust among the churches and religious communities, “ the SCR said that the minaret initiative “instrumentalizes religion for political aims and engenders mistrust among the populace.” The United Nations has also criticized the move, with UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Asma Jahangir calling the ban a "clear discrimination towards the members of the Swiss Muslim community.” "I have serious concerns about the negative consequences of the outcome of this vote on the freedom of religion or belief of members of the Swiss Muslim community," Jahangir said in a statement released on Monday. Only four minarets actually exist in Switzerland, in the cities of Geneva and Frankfurt, while there are an estimated 200 mosques and prayer rooms throughout the country. Muslims account for about 4.5 percent of Switzerland’s 7.6 million-large population. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091204/religious-leaders-slam-swiss-minaret-ban/ ------ European rabbis condemn Swiss minaret ban Kobi Nahshoni 12.04.09 During Moscow summit members of Conference of European Rabbis issue censure of Swiss referendum results endorsing ban on construction of minarets. 'Europe cannot beat radical Islam by knocking down minarets; moderate elements should be supported,' Rabbi Aba Dunner says Members of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) issued a condemnation Wednesday of a minaret ban endorsed by the Swiss public. During a meeting in Moscow the rabbis declared the decision to be undemocratic for violating freedom of religion. Executive director of the CER Rabbi Aba Dunner commented on the rabbis' statement and noted that he opposed the ban not only due to the legal issues it posed, but since it reflected a fear of radical Islam. The rabbi said that Europe could not triumph over Islam by taking down minarets and added that the right course of action should be supporting moderate elements within the Muslim community and cultivating dialogue between religions. In a referendum held in Switzerland on Sunday, 57.5% of voters approved a ban on construction of new minarets, a decision which prompted worldwide criticism. T The 47-nation Council of Europe said that banning new minarets in Switzerland "raises concerns as to whether fundamental rights of individuals, protected by international treaties, should be subject to popular votes." Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey expressed the government's concern and said that the restriction of the ability of different cultures and religions to live side by side jeopardized the public's security and could prompt violent reactions on the part of extremists. Calmy-Rey noted that the ban would come into force immediately, but indicated that it could be overturned since it contradicts the European Human Rights Convention. Jewish-EU collaboration The rabbinical censure was issued during a semi-annual conference held by the CER in Russia. Dozens of rabbis from across the continent attended the meeting and marked 20 years to the renewal of Jewish life in Russia. The conference was also attended by Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Sergey Mironov, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, Israeli Minister for Jewish heritage Meshulam Nahari, as well as representatives from the European Council and the local Jewish community. European Council President Jerzy Buzek sent a greeting to the conference's participants, in which he wrote that the meeting was a basis for serious dialogue between religions and illustrated the positive relations between Jewish representatives and EU institutes. He further added that the Jewish faith has contributed to the shaping of European culture and values and noted that cooperation alone would ensure that the events of World War II would not repeat themselves. During a meeting with the rabbis, Mironov promised that freedom of religion and contact with the Jewish community will be strictly upheld and pledged to fight any manifestation of anti-Semitism. Mironov further noted that he would promote a special memorial day for Holocaust victims to be integrated into the Victory in Europe day. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3814454,00.html ------ 'Minaret ban reminiscent of wars of Middle Ages' 04 Dec 2009 Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says a recent ban on construction of new minarets in Switzerland is reminiscent of sectarian wars of the Middle Ages. Davutoglu warned that the move could incite clashes on a global scale if sufficient measures are not taken, the Turkish Zaman newspaper reported on Thursday. “The issue is too serious to be dealt with by mere statements," Turkey's top diplomat said. “I am very concerned. We must take this issue very seriously. It is not something to be underestimated as an individual case," Davutoglu stated. “Who can say for sure that mosques in Europe are safe now? Fifteen years ago, hundreds of mosques were burned down in Bosnia," he added. Following a weekend referendum, the construction of any new minaret was declared illegal in Switzerland, a move which drew sharp criticism from Muslim and European countries, as well as the UN and the Vatican. Source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=112808&sectionid=351020204 URL of this Page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamIslamicWorldNews_1.aspx?ArticleID=2190

Islamic World News

05 Dec 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com

Suicide bombers assault mosque in Rawalpindi, kill 40

Hillary Clinton praises Nato allies' Afghanistan pledge NATO chief: 25 countries to help in Afghan war Islam: Another Wrinkle in Dubai’s Default Taliban Detainee Says Bin Laden is in Afghanistan Did Headley visit Pushkar to plot attack on Jews? LeT duo admits role in B'lore blasts Suicide bomber kills senior Iraqi police official, 4 others in Tikrit Bangladesh hands over Ulfa chairman Rajkhowa to India Somali Islamists deny responsibility for bombing Jail term for threat against anti-Islam MP Bank Islam targeting 5,000 new cardholders via latest offering Muslim family killed in Thailand's restive south Report: Anti-Muslim Discrimination Up, Hate Crimes Down Bid to rid Bible of ‘liberal’ additions kicks up a storm ‘Spiked salad killed Iran whistleblower’ Arab Leader Aims to Hold Obama's Feet to the Fire Iraqi insurgent fighter falls to his prey Lebanon: an End to Sectarian Politics? Lebanon Mufti: The equal Muslim-Christian powersharing should not be undermined Turkmenistan slightly improves attitude towards freedom of religion: U.S State Department Compiled by Aman Quadri Photo: Military policemen stand guard near the site of mosque attack in Rawalpindi URL of this Page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamIslamicWorldNews_1.aspx?ArticleID=2189 ------ Suicide bombers assault mosque in Rawalpindi, kill 40 By Bill Roggio December 4, 2009 The Taliban have struck again in the heart of Pakistan's military garrison city of Rawalpindi. A Taliban suicide assault team estimated at between three to five men entered a mosque in the city and opened fire on the worshippers and detonated their vests, killing 40 and wounding 83 more. The attack killed a senior general and wounded another. Two of the members of the suicide assault team have been killed. The assault team was not interested in taking hostages or negotiations, according to the Pakistani military. "They exploded bombs inside the mosque," Major General Athar Abbas, the top military spokesman told AFP. "They opened fire on the worshippers... There is no hostage situation. Two terrorists have been killed." The blasts caused parts of the roof of the mosque to collapse. The attack took place in a mosque that is used by Army officers on a day when the mosque is sure to be filled; Friday is the Muslim day of prayer. "There were about 200 or 300 worshippers in the hall," an eyewitness told AFP. "Army officials mostly offer their Friday prayers in this mosque." Major General Bilal Omar Khan, who had served as the commander of the Pakistani Rangers, and the son of the Peshawar Corps commander were both killed in the attack, according to Samaa. General Mohammad Yousuf, the retired former Vice Chief of Army Staff, was wounded. The Taliban and allied terror groups have struck at the military and police forces in Pakistan's major cities to counter the ongoing military operations in South Waziristan, Khyber, Arakzai, Kurram, and Swat. Today's Rawalpindi attack is the latest in a wave of Taliban violence that emerged in the beginning of October. Suicide bombers have struck in Islamabad, Peshawar, Shangla, Kohat, and Charsadda, and assault teams have targeted police in Lahore and Peshawar as well as the Army General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. Just two days ago, a suicide bomber detonated outside the gate of the Naval headquarters in Islamabad. The Oct. 10 assault on Army General Headquarters shut down Pakistan's military command for nearly a day, as hostages were held. The Taliban are reported to have obtained sensitive data from computers and files during that assault. The Taliban have also conducted targeted assassinations of senior military officers. Two Brigadiers have been killed and two more wounded in four separate assassination attempts in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The Taliban have repeatedly attacked their enemies in mosques and other places of worship. There have been 19 such attacks in mosques and other Islamic institutions in Pakistan since December 2007, according to information compiled by The Long War Journal. Major attacks at mosques, religious events, and Islamic institutions in Pakistan since December 2007: Dec. 4, 2009: A suicide assault team stormed a mosque in Rawalpindi that is frequented by Army officers, killing 40. Oct. 20, 2009: A pair of suicide bombers detonated their vests at Islamabad's International Islamic University, killing five. June 12, 2009: A suicide bomber killed five Pakistanis, including anti-Taliban cleric Dr. Sarfraz Naeemi, in an attack on a mosque during Friday prayers. June 12, 2009: A suicide bomber killed six worshipers and wounded more than 90 in an attack inside a mosque in Nowshera. The attack collapsed the dome of the mosque. June 5, 2009: A suicide bomber killed 49 worshipers in an attack on a mosque in a remote village in Dir. April 5, 2009: A suicide bomber killed 24 worshipers and wounded more than 100 in an attack outside a Shia religious center in the Chakwal district in Punjab province. March 27, 2009: A Taliban suicide bomber killed more than 70 worshipers and wounded more than 125 in an attack at a mosque in the Khyber tribal agency. March 5, 2009: An attacker threw a hand grenade into the middle of a mosque in Dera Ismail Khan, wounding 25 worshipers. March 2, 2009: A suicide bomber killed six people during an attack at a gathering in a mosque in the Pishin district in Baluchistan. Feb. 20, 2008: A suicide bomber killed 32 Pakistanis and wounded more than 85 in an attack on a funeral procession for a Shia elder who was murdered in Dera Ismail Khan. Feb. 5, 2009: A suicide attack outside a mosque killed more than 30 Shia worshipers and wounded more than 50. Nov. 22, 2008: A bombing at a mosque in Hangu killed five civilians and wounded seven. Nov. 21, 2008: A suicide attack on a funeral procession in Dera Ismail Khan killed 10 mourners and wounded more than 25. Sept. 10, 2008: The Taliban attacked a mosque filled with Ramadan worshipers in the district of Dir in northwestern Pakistan. More than 25 worshipers were killed and more than 50 were wounded. Aug. 19, 2008: A suicide bomber killed 29 Shia mourners and wounded 35 after detonating in the emergency ward of a hospital. June 17, 2008: Four Pakistanis were killed and three wounded in a bombing at a Shia mosque in Dera Ismail Khan. May 19, 2008: Four Pakistanis were killed in a bombing outside a mosque in Bajaur. Jan. 17, 2008: A suicide bomber killed 10 and wounded 25 in an attack on a Shia mosque in Peshawar. Dec. 28, 2007: A suicide bomber detonated in the middle of a mosque in Charsadda in an attempt to kill former Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao as he conducted Eid prayers. More than 50 were killed and more than 200 were wounded. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/12/suicide_bombers_assa.php ------ Hillary Clinton praises Nato allies' Afghanistan pledge 4 December 2009 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has welcomed a pledge by Nato allies to send at least 7,000 extra troops to support the US surge in Afghanistan. She said beating the Taliban insurgency there was a "crucial test" for Nato. She spoke in Brussels after talks with Nato foreign ministers and other partners with forces in Afghanistan. Nato's top official, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said at least 25 countries had promised more forces in 2010, providing at least 7,000 more troops. He suggested there would be "more [troops] to come" over and above that number once other nations had reached decisions on deployments. The US has called on allies among the 43 nations with troops in Afghanistan to send about 10,000 extra soldiers. Some major countries are holding back, however. France and Germany, for instance, have not yet committed themselves to sending extra troops. 'Lives and treasure' Mrs Clinton welcomed what she described as a "significant commitment" by Nato allies, saying she was extremely heartened by their positive response. She also acknowledged the sacrifices made by those countries "in lives and treasure", as they promised military forces and civilian resources to back the new US Afghan strategy. Earlier this week, US President Barack Obama announced he was sending an additional 30,000 troops to help battle the Taliban insurgency. Speaking earlier in the day Mrs Clinton had said the need for additional forces was "urgent, but their presence will not be indefinite". Mr Rasmussen told delegates at Nato HQ that the coming year would "see a new momentum in this mission". The BBC's Nick Childs, in Brussels, says the main thrust of Mr Rasmussen's speech was to insist on a message of solidarity, despite the challenges, and of unity behind the mission. "In addition to the clear pledges already tabled, we have heard indications... that other allies and partners will probably be in a position to announce contributions in the coming weeks and months," Mr Rasmussen said. "Isaf [International Security Assistance Force] will have at least 37,000 more soldiers in 2010 than it did this year. That is solidarity in action." Meanwhile more than 1,000 Nato soldiers, most of them from the US, as well as Afghan troops, launched a major offensive in southern Afghanistan on Friday. A US military spokesman said Operation Cobra's Anger in the northern part of Helmand province was aimed at cutting off insurgent supply and communication lines. Warning for Kabul But many Nato governments face publics even more sceptical about the mission than those of the US and Britain. Even if more public announcements are forthcoming, turning these into firm pledges of the right troops at the right time and for the right missions may take longer, our correspondent adds. Mr Rasmussen said several countries had pledged additional funds for development assistance as part of the mission's new approach in providing basic services to benefit the local people in Afghanistan. But he warned that Kabul had to play its part in the reconstruction process. "None of these initiatives are of any use if it is not backed up by good governance, efficient governance in Afghanistan, including a determined fight against corruption, a determined fight against the drug trade," he said. "So the international community stands ready to assist Afghanistan in promoting economic and social development but it also takes a strong effort from the Afghan people and not least the Afghan government." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8396162.stm ------ NATO chief: 25 countries to help in Afghan war By Mary Beth Sheridan Friday, December 4, 200 BRUSSELS -- NATO leaders said Friday that 25 countries have pledged to back up the U.S. escalation in Afghanistan with 7,000 extra troops, as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pressed American allies to firm up their commitments. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters that additional countries "probably will be in a position to announce further contributions during the coming weeks and months." U.S. military officials have sought about 10,000 troops to augment the surge of 30,000 American forces announced Monday by President Obama. Clinton told reporters traveling on her plane to Brussels that she was "encouraged" by the response she had been receiving. Clinton met Friday morning with foreign ministers from NATO and other countries contributing to the international security force in Afghanistan. She urged the allies to back the new U.S. strategy, acknowledging that some faced political pressures at home to start withdrawing. "Today, our people are weary of war. But we cannot ignore reality," she said, according to a transcript of her prepared remarks. "The extremists continue to target innocent people and sow destruction across continents." In announcing the new troop commitments, Rasmussen declined to give country-by-country specifics. Officials said the 7,000 total appeared to include both new troops and soldiers who had been sent temporarily to Afghanistan to help with elections, who will stay on. Some countries are not expected to make commitments before an international conference on Afghanistan scheduled for Jan. 28 in London. They include Germany and France, who are among the largest contributors of troops, with 4,200 and 3,750, respectively. Britain has promised 500 soldiers; Italy has said it will send about 1,000; and Poland has said it is likely to provide at least 600. U.S. officials have asked Germany for a number of extra soldiers "in the low four figures," said one senior diplomat. The request to France was for 1,500 troops, according to a report in LeMonde. The U.S. government is also seeking contributions for training, equipping and funding the Afghan army and police. In the meeting Friday morning, countries also discussed how to coordinate the unwieldy civilian aid effort -- which involves the United Nations, dozens of nations and hundreds of non-governmental organizations -- in the war-torn country, "We have a unified military command but we have an 'un-unified' international effort" on civilian aid, U.S. special envoy Richard C. Holbrooke told reporters in Brussels on Thursday. Clinton said her goal was for the international community to establish a "coordinating mechanism" for civilian assistance, but U.S. officials denied they were seeking to appoint a high-level representative to oversee the effort. European countries are wary that any such position could marginalize the United Nations' representative in Afghanistan, Kai Eide. The number of non-U.S. military forces in Afghanistan has jumped from about 17,000 to nearly 44,000 in the past two years, according to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. But some function under strict domestically imposed rules that limit where and how they can operate. The United States had more than 71,000 troops in Afghanistan at the end of November, according to the Pentagon. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/04/AR2009120400621.html?hpid=topnews ----- Islam: Another Wrinkle in Dubai’s Default Dec. 3  2009 Yesterday, while Dubai citizens celebrated National Day with parades and exuberant flag-flying, government officials were grappling with an uglier commemoration: the city’s first debt freeze, first potential sukuk default and in many ways, its first major embarrassment. If the $80 billion debt burden, plummeting real estate market and general loss-of-face weren’t enough, Dubai and its lenders have an an additional problem in that the $3.5 billion in loans which property developer Nakheel owes in less than two weeks are no ordinary securities. They are sukuk certificates, Islamic bonds which, in compliance with Shari’ah or Islamic Law, do not pay interest. Rather than receive interest payments, lenders assume a kind of partial ownership of a company’s underlying assets. It typically works like this: Company X sells the investors a piece of paper stating the investors own a piece of them, the investors then “rent” their share of the assets back to Company X at a predetermined rate. Company X also signs a contract promising to buy back that share they sold to the investors at par value at a future date. Voila: Company X gets immediate cash, the investors get a steady, regular return and no deities are offended. Sukuk bonds skyrocketed in popularity with Western investors starting around 2005, round about the same time Dubai was ramping up its pitch to the world. In 2006 Dow Jones launched the first-ever index dedicated to tracking global sukuks. By 2007 the global sukuk market reached a record value of $51.5 billion. Like every other exotic, convoluted financial instrument at the time, sukuks were raging hot. That sukuks would be flattened along with bonds in the credit crunch was inevitable. But the hitch with sukuk- which Nakheel lenders are discovering now- is that there is practically zero precedent of what happens in the case of default. As the Wall Street Journal noted this morning:     But with no precedent in the United Arab Emirates for a restructuring of this size, and its government ownership, creditors are in the dark as to how the process may work. As a result, investors will be watching events related to the Nakheel bonds for a road map for future restructurings in the region.     Via Dubai World Restructuring Poses Questions – WSJ.com There have been a few cases of default, but the phenomenon is stunningly new. The very first sukuk default in modern history occurred less than six months ago when Kuwaiti firm Investment Dar admitted it had defaulted on a $100 million certificate. As of now, there are no clear-cut guidelines from either Islamic, Western or international courts on what creditors receive in the event of default. If they theoretically own a piece of a company’s assets can they lay claim to it? Dubai_500_500 Which creditor gets what? In the case of Nakheel, could a creditor claim an island on its signature gaudy fake island- say, Brazil- in exchange for their lost scratch? What if everyone wants Brazil? And although the Islamic bonds were formed under British law, the restructuring would take place in Dubai courts, which as the WSJ notes, could be problematic:     It isn’t clear that Dubai courts would enforce any rights that holders may have to seize Dubai World’s assets, either land used to secure the Nakheel sukuk or other property the parent company owns, as Western courts might. Whatever happens, you can bank on the process being long, contentious and rife with red tape. Nakheel, or rather their parent Dubai World has until December 14 to persuade sukuk-holders to accept their previously-announced standstill. Otherwise they better get to precedent-setting. The Islamic financial world will be watching closely. http://trueslant.com/devonpendleton/2009/12/03/islam-another-wrinkle-in-dubais-default/ ------ Taliban Detainee Says Bin Laden is in Afghanistan ISLAMABAD | DEC 04, 2009 A Taliban detainee in Pakistan has claimed that one of his contacts met al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan early this year. "In 2009, in January or February I met this friend of mine. He said he had come from meeting sheikh Osama, and he could arrange for me to meet him," the detainee said. "The sheikh (bin Laden) doesn't stay at any one place. That guy (the contact) came from Ghazni, so I think that's where the sheikh was," the detainee told BBC. He said his contact met bin Laden 15 to 20 days prior to their meeting. The detainee, who was not named for legal reasons, said his contact is a Mehsud tribesman responsible for getting al-Qaeda operatives based abroad to meetings with bin Laden. The contact helps "al-Qaeda people coming from other countries to get to the sheikh, so he can advise them on whatever they are planning for Europe or other places", the detainee said. He also claimed to have met bin Laden numerous times before the 9/11 terror attacks. The province of Ghazni in eastern Afghanistan has a strong Taliban presence. Large parts of it are "no-go" areas for foreign and Afghan forces. But the detainee said militants were avoiding Pakistani territory because of the risk of US drone attacks. "Pakistan at this time is not convenient for us to stay in because a lot of our senior people are being martyred in drone attacks," he said. The detainee's claims about the whereabouts of the world's most wanted terrorist cannot be verified, BBC reported. However, former CIA analyst Bruce Riedel said his story is plausible and should be investigated. "The entire Western intelligence community, CIA and MI6, have been looking for Osama bin Laden for the last seven years and haven't come upon a source of information like this," Riedel said. "So if it's true - a big if - this is an extraordinary and important story. We know Osama bin Laden is alive. We know that he is living somewhere in the badlands along the border with Pakistan and Afghanistan," he said. "What is extraordinary about this story is we have someone who has come forward and said, really for the first time, 'I met with Osama bin Laden and I had the opportunity to meet him again in the recent past'." A Pakistani security official said the detainee has close ties with Taliban leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan and was involved in kidnapping and fundraising operations. BBC was given access to the detainee twice in November in the presence of a Pakistani interrogator. Amidst pressure from Western powers to do more to trace bin Laden and to take action against al-Qaeda elements, Pakistan has maintained that the terrorist leader is not on its soil. http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?670495 ------ Did Headley visit Pushkar to plot attack on Jews? 4 December 2009 AJMER: Was Pakistan-born American David Coleman Headley in Pushkar plotting an attack on Israeli tourists visiting the holy town? Intelligence bodies, including a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team, are pursuing some specific leads which hint that Headley had done a recce of the Bed-chabad — the prayer hall of the Jews — where hundreds of them gather every evening for routine prayers. After 26/11, Headley visited Pushkar a couple of times and spent about a month there. Besides, there are certain calls and e-mails sent from Pushkar cyber-cafes that the special team of NIA is following up. Officials on Thursday searched log-books of almost all the cyber cafes in Pushkar and questioned a barber Headley had visited. ‘‘So far, we have confirmed inputs that Headley stayed in Pushkar and was monitoring his operations from here,’’ said an NIA team member. The team said Headley stayed in hotel Oasis on March 11 and 12 near Bed-chabad. ‘‘The hotel staff has confirmed that he had taken a room facing the road where the Jewish prayer hall is located,’’ said an investigator. ‘‘We’re going to suggest that the security around the Jewish prayer hall be beefed up. There is a strong possibility that Headley oversaw the place to execute a terror attack in the future,’’ said an IB official. Meanwhile, the IB is searching forms submitted by the hotel that day to learn the name and passport Headley used. Every hotel has to fill in a C-form and submit it to local IB. Sleuths hope to find out more details soon. The team also got the name of two more hotels, one near Pushkar Sarovar and the other near the Brahma temple. The owner has identified Headley’s sketches and confirmed his stay in their hotel last December/January. Local intelligence has gathered that Headley came to Pushkar on a local bus and talked and behaved like an American tourist. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Did-Headley-visit-Pushkar-to-plot-attack-on-Jews/articleshow/5298166.cms ------ LeT duo admits role in B'lore blasts 3 December 2009, SHILLONG: The two Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, who were handed over to India by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) near the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya on Wednesday, have reportedly admitted their involvement in the serial blasts that rocked Bangalore last year. "Nazir Tarian Dabede (25), alias T Nazir, told interrogators of Meghalaya Police and BSF that he had planted the bombs along with another person, Rahim," a top police official said here on Thursday. "The duo did not admit their involvement in the 2005 terror attack on the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) in Bangalore," the official said. Nazir, a bomb expert, and another LeT operative, Siraj Shamshudeen Shamas, 33, were handed over to BSF by BDR on Wednesday at Erbamon village in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills after the two security agencies had shared intelligence inputs about their presence in that country. The militants, who were on Thursday remanded to a day's judicial custody by the additional district magistrate, are likely to be taken to Bangalore on Friday. A team from Bangalore Police, led by an ACP, has arrived here and formalities were on to take the two militants to Karnataka, officials said. Incidentally, the LeT duo is from Kerala. Nazir and Siraj, who were in Bangladesh about a year, have reportedly revealed some "vital information" about their bases in south India during the interrogation. Nazir's name surfaced in February last year when Mohammed Yahya Kammukutty, 31 was arrested as part of a probe into a SIMI network in Karnataka that has already led to the arrest of six youths, including four medical students, from the northern part of the southern state. Kammukutty is a resident of Mukkom in Kerala's Kozhikode district. The police officer said Nazir also revealed during interrogation that five new LeT recruits had gone to PoK for a five-month training after the Bangalore blasts. "Four of them were killed by the army, while the whereabouts of one are not known yet," the official added. Nazir and Siraj reportedly told of the existence of the LeT's bases in UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. The duo was first interrogated at the Pynursla police station and later brought to Laban police station in Shillong where they were being quizzed by a special Meghalaya Police team and central security agencies, the sources said. Intelligence agencies suspect that a Lashker "commander" had been in touch with Nazir and the duo was on a "recruitment spree" following ISI's orders. Nazir was arrested after FBI's inputs to Bangladesh about LeT's plan to carry out attacks on the US embassy and the Indian high commission in Dhaka last month. The US agency had unearthed the LeT plan after interrogating the terror duo David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana in Chicago for plotting attacks on India and Denmark. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/LeT-duo-admits-role-in-Blore-blasts/articleshow/5297055.cms ------ Suicide bomber kills senior Iraqi police official, 4 others in Tikrit By Ernesto Londoño and Muhanned Saif Aldin December 4, 2009 BAGHDAD -- A suicide bomber killed a senior Iraqi police official in the northern city of Tikrit on Thursday in an attack that authorities blamed on al-Qaeda in Iraq. The bomber ran toward Lt. Col. Ahmad al-Fahal, who headed the city's anti-terrorism and anti-riot force, as he was walking in a crowded market, according to Lt. Ibrahim al-Duri, a police spokesman in Tikrit. Duri said the bomber yelled the colonel's name before detonating the explosives, which also killed two guards and two civilians. Nine people, including two policemen, were wounded. Tikrit was the home town of deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Violence in Iraq has ebbed in recent months, but the Sunni Muslim insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq is seeking to destabilize the government by targeting key government facilities and officials. Fahal was known for his dogged approach to battling Sunni insurgents. Colleagues at the Interior Ministry referred to him informally as the "terrorism destroyer," an Iraqi police official said. Fahal once boasted in a TV interview of killing 168 foreign fighters, a term used to describe non-Iraqi Arabs who travel to Iraq at the behest of Sunni insurgent groups. Meanwhile, Iraq's Sunni vice president, Tariq al-Hashimi, expressed optimism that the impasse over legislation to organize upcoming national elections will be overcome soon. Iraqi political leaders have reached a tentative deal to resolve complaints from Sunnis and Kurds, but the Kurds have yet to sign off on it. Hashimi's office said the vice president retains the right to veto the legislation until Sunday. Hashimi's veto of the original bill sent it back to parliament. The amended legislation was passed last month over the objection of some Sunnis who said they would be disenfranchised. Aldin, a special correspondent, reported from Tikrit. Special correspondents Qais Mizher and K.I. Ibrahim in Baghdad contributed to this report. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/03/AR2009120303300.html?hpid=moreheadlines ------ Bangladesh hands over Ulfa chairman Rajkhowa to India 4 December 2009 GUWAHATI: Ulfa’s top leader Arabinda Rajkhowa, his wife and another key militant were on Friday handed over to the Indian authorities by Bangladeshi agencies at an outpost along the border in Meghalaya, paving the way for peace talks with the banned militant outfit. ( Watch Video ) The custody of 53-year-old Rajkhowa along with 9 others, including Ulfa's military operations deputy chief Raju Barua was given to the BSF at the Dawki outpost in the Jaintia hills district, official sources said. Along with them were Rajkhowa's wife and two children, his bodyguard Raju Borah, Barua's wife and son, and wife and daughter of Ulfa's self-styled foreign secretary Sashadhar Choudhury, they said. They were later flown to Guwahati where they surrendered before the Assam Police, the sources said. They were immediately taken into preventive custody for completion of various legal formalities, the sources said. Rajkhowa, founder member of the outfit, was detained in Bangladesh recently. He is among four people who founded the separatist outfit on April 7, 1979. Indications of government opening talks with Ulfa were given by home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday when he told the Rajya Sabha that the outfit is likely to make a political statement in the next few days. "Ulfa is in disarray today. In next few days, the Ulfa leadership will make a political statement. Our government is prepared to talk to Ulfa provided they abjure violence and there is no demand for sovereignty," he had said. The government is moving cautiously in its approach towards talks with Ulfa, given the militant outfit's track record and the group's leaders going back on their promises to take the peace process forward. Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi had said in Guwahati on Thursday that his government has received "encouraging signals" from Ulfa for holding peace talks and favoured safe passage to the group's leaders if they came to the negotiating table. Government is hoping that other top Ulfa leaders including the outfit's 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua, will also join the dialogue process. Barua, who is believed to be holed up in a southeast Asian country, has been opposed to the talks process and has been harping on the sovereignty plank. Rajkhowa, whose real name is Rajib Rajkonwar, is the son of a freedom fighter Umakanta Rajknowar, who died three years ago. Accused in several cases, including that of waging war against India, Rajkhowa has an Interpol Red Corner notice against him. He has been out of India since 1992 and is said to have lived in places including Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan. Two other top Ulfa leaders, self-styled finance secretary Chitrabon Hazarika and foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury had been arrested in Bangladesh in November last and handed over to Assam police in whose custody they are lodged at present. The developments assume significance in view of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India slated later this month and also the signing of three proposed agreements, including an extradition treaty and another on combating international terrorism. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bangladesh-hands-over-Ulfa-chairman-Rajkhowa-to-India/articleshow/5298994.cms ------ Somali Islamists deny responsibility for bombing December 4th, 2009 MOGADISHU — Somalia's hardline Islamist insurgents denied Friday that they carried out a suicide bomb attack in Mogadishu that killed at least 23 people, including three government ministers. A bomber dressed as a woman carried out the attack at a medical student graduation ceremony in a Mogadishu hotel, which also killed three journalists and left dozens of people injured. The international community condemned the attack, which dealt an unprecedented blow to Somalia's feeble transitional government, and President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed blamed it on the Islamist insurgency. But the Al Qaeda-inspired Shebab movement and its Hezb al-Islam allies, who have waged a relentless guerrilla war against the government since May, denied any involvement in the bombing. "We have heard about that tragedy from the media. On behalf of the Shebab, we are not in anyway involved in that incident," top spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage said in a statement. Hezb al-Islam leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys condemned the attack, charging the suicide bomber must have been a foreigner. "I condemn this attack, which is the work of the enemy, and I send my condolences to the family members of those who were killed," he told AFP in a telephone interview. "This was the work of enemies who want to destroy Somalia's intelligentsia and create a hostile atmosphere in which Somalis cannot reconcile," Aweys added. Although not the deadliest attack in Mogadishu, the suicide bombing sent shockwaves across the civilian population, the government and the international community. Hundreds of people were gathered inside the Shamo hotel for a rare celebration in a country which has experienced 18 years of almost uninterrupted civil chaos. The blast ripped through the crowd, killing the ministers of education, higher education and health. A medic at Mogadishu's Medina hospital said that, in addition to the dead counted on Thursday, three wounded had since died of their injuries and one more civilian victim was found, raising the death toll to 23. Three journalists were also among the victims, bringing to nine the number of reporters killed in the restive Horn of Africa country this year alone. An AFP photographer sustained slight injuries. "We were waiting outside the conference room when there was a huge explosion. I found myself on the ground in the middle of the smoke and screaming," the photographer said. "I went to get my camera, and that's when I saw the bodies of the three ministers." Shebab and Hezb al-Islam have so far focused their armed effort on attacking government troops and African Union peacekeepers, who they accuse of spearheading a Western-backed Christian crusade in Somalia. In his reaction to the bombing, the Shebab spokesman insinuated that the attack was the result of quarrels within the transitional government, caused notably by the reported imminent sacking of senior security officials. A joint statement from the European Union, the InterGovernmental Authority on Development, a regional body, the League of Arab States, the United Nations and the United States condemned the attack as "cowardly acts of terrorism". "The horrific attack is another demonstration of the extremists' complete disregard for human life. The fact this bombing targeted graduating medical students - the future doctors of Somalia - is particularly egregious," the statement said. ------ Jail term for threat against anti-Islam MP 4 December 2009 The public prosecutor in Rotterdam has demanded a 60 day jail term or 120 hours of community service for a Dutch rapper who threatened anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders. The Freedom Party leader was present as a witness in the heavily guarded courtroom. According to the prosecutor, the rapper who goes by the name of Mo$heb threatened Mr Wilders in the text of his rap Who is Next (Wie Iz De Volgende). In the track which is on the web Mo$heb says it will be "bam, bam" if he should happen to run into Mr Wilders. Gunned down The rapper recalls that filmer and Islam critic Theo van Gogh, and anti-immigration nationalist politician Pim Fortuyn "were gunned down", and he is warning Mr Wilders that he may be next if he persists in his policies. Mr Mo$heb denied in court that he treatened Geert Wilders, pointing to his next line in the rap: it won't be him who kills Mr Wilders, because a true Muslim wouldn't hurt a fly. Mo$heb said in court that he feels threatened by Mr Wilders, who responded by saying "I can't imagine you feel like that. If you disagree with me, use democratic means to protest, like writing a letter to the newspapers. I find it hard to understand threats against me." The offending rap was posted on YouTube in February, labelled as a "Geert Wilders diss". A film defending Mo$heb and showing how Muslims are treated around the world was posted on YouTube after his arrest (English subtitles). http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/jail-term-threat-against-anti-islam-mp ------ Bank Islam targeting 5,000 new cardholders via latest offering December 4, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd aims to sign up 5,000 new cardholders in the financial year ending June 30, 2010 with the launch of its new World MasterCard. Consumer banking group general manager Khairul Kamarudin said to date, the bank had almost 500,000 cardholders. The Bank Islam World MasterCard, unveiled yesterday, is Asia Pacific’s first Islamic World MasterCard. Card membership, which is via invitation only, “will allow members to indulge in the most luxurious comforts in style, class and sophistication,” the bank said in a statement issued during the launch. Speaking to reporters, Khairul said Bank Islam’s target for the new product was “the affluent segment.” Among the privileges are higher financing limit, no annual fee for life and free use of safe deposit box for three years. “We are currently working with safe deposit box companies at three locations, namely Damansara, USJ Summit and Raja Chulan,” Khairul said. He said cardholders would also receive free comprehensive takaful travel coverage of RM2mil, free takaful purchase protection coverage of RM10,000 and free takaful coverage on outstanding balance of RM100,000. MasterCard vice president and senior country manager for Malaysia and Brunei Jim Cheah said the company was actively in talks with several banks interested in rolling out World MasterCard. He declined to elaborate. — Bernama http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/4/business/5233838&sec=business ------ Muslim family killed in Thailand's restive south Fri Dec 4, 2009 PATTANI, Thailand, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Three Muslims were shot dead in their family home in Thailand's deep south, police said on Friday, in the latest attack in the troubled region bordering Malaysia. Unknown assailants broke into the victims' home in Pattani province late on Thursday and shot them in their living room, police said. The victims were a 46-year-old rubber tapper, his wife and their 17-year-old son. Police blamed separatist insurgents bent on fuelling sectarian violence between local Muslims and minority Buddhists. In a separate incident, a small explosive hidden in the basket of a motorcycle exploded outside a market on Friday, slightly wounding two civilians and two soldiers. More than 3,700 people have been killed in almost six years of bloody violence in Muslim-dominated Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces. The government has deployed a massive security contingent in a so far unsuccessful attempt to crush ethnic Malay rebels thought to be fighting for self-rule in the once-independent region, which is just a few hours from some of Thailand's most popular tourist destinations. The attacks came a few days ahead of a visit to the region by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak, who has advocated a degree of autonomy for the three provinces as a way of stopping the violence. (Reporting by Surapan Boonthanom; Writing by Ambika Ahuja; Editing by Martin Petty) ((ambika.ahuja@thomsonreuters.com; +662 648 9739)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)) http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKBKK483284._CH_.2420 ------ Report: Anti-Muslim Discrimination Up, Hate Crimes Down Thursday December 3, 2009 By Omar Sacirbey (RNS) Muslim Americans faced more anti-Muslim bias but fewer physical assaults in 2008, according to a report released Thursday (Dec. 3) by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. "In 2008, Muslims continued to face barriers to their full and equal participation in American society. Certain individuals and institutions persisted in profiting by smearing Islam," CAIR's annual civil rights report said. "American Muslims continued to fear profiling, surveillance and undue scrutiny by law enforcement and other authorities." According to the study, CAIR recorded 2,728 incidents of anti-Muslim discrimination or bias in 2008 -- an increase of 3 percent from 2007. So-called hate crimes -- incidents involving threats or physical violence -- fell 14 percent, from 135 to 116. CAIR also expressed concern about government surveillance of Muslims and mosques, profiling, and worries that many politicians were willing to play on public fears about Muslims, and equate tolerance of Muslims with weakness on national security. CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper acknowledged the increase in reported incidents could be attributed to greater Muslim American organization and less timidity about seeking help from law enforcement or civil rights groups. Still, he said Islamophobia persists. "There is an increasingly vocal minority of Muslim bashers who are promoting hate and trying to marginalize Muslims, and they are having an impact," said Hooper. Almost 31 percent of the complaints stemmed from hate mail and Internet abuse; 21 percent related to legal discrimination; and more than 12 percent stemmed from job discrimination. Skin color, headscarves and Muslim names were among the factors that triggered discrimination, CAIR said. More than a quarter of the incidents happened at mosques or buildings belonging to Islamic organizations; 23 percent happened at government agencies, and 18 percent happened in the workplace. In the report, CAIR urged President Obama to visit a major American mosque, and asked the Justice Department to revise FBI guidelines they say allow the use of informants in mosques, and encourage religious profiling. Copyright 2009 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission. http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2009/12/report-anti-muslim-discriminat.php ------ Bid to rid Bible of ‘liberal’ additions kicks up a storm 4 December 2009 CHARLESTON (West Virginia): The Gospel of Luke records that, as he was dying on the cross, Jesus sho-wed his boundless mercy by praying for his killers: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Not so fast, say contributors to the Conservative Bible Project. The project, an online effort to create a Bible suitable for contemporary conservative sensibilities, claims Jesus’ quote is a disputed addition abetted by liberal biblical scholars, even if it appears in some form in almost every translation of the Bible. The project’s authors argue that contemporary scholars have inserted liberal views and ahistorical passages into the Bible, turning Jesus into little more than a well-meaning social worker with a store of watered-down platitudes. “Professors are the most liberal group of people in the world, and it’s professo-rs who are doing the popular modern translations of Bible,” said Andy Schlafly, founder of Conservapedi-a.com, project’s online home. Experts who have devoted their careers to unraveling ancient texts of the Scriptures, many in long-extinct languages, are predic-tably skeptical about a project by amateur translators. Contributors to the project aren’t arguing on ideological grounds alone. The discussion forum on the site is full of discourse on Greek grammar, along with arguments long familiar to Biblical scholars about the history of certain passages. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Bid-to-rid-Bible-of-liberal-additions-kicks-up-a-storm-/articleshow/5297881.cms ------ ‘Spiked salad killed Iran whistleblower’ 4 December 2009 CAIRO: A 26-year-old doctor who exposed the torture of jailed protesters in Iran died of poisoning from a delivery salad laced with an overdose of blood pressure medication, prosecutors say. The findings fueled opposition fears that he was killed because of what he knew. Much of the abuse took place at Kahrizak, a prison on Tehran’s outskirts where hundreds of opposition protesters were taken. Several there died, and the facility became so notorious that Iran’s supreme leader was forced to close it down. Ramin Pourandarjani, a doctor at Kahrizak, later testified to a parliamentary committee and reportedly told them that a young protester he treated died from severe torture. Pourandarjani died in mysterious circumstances, with authorities initially saying he was in a car accident. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Spiked-salad-killed-Iran-whistleblower-/articleshow/5297883.cms ------ Arab Leader Aims to Hold Obama's Feet to the Fire By Liz Peek December 03, 2009 Disappointment with President Obama is not a strictly U.S. phenomenon. According to Shafik Gabr, Chairman of Egypt’s Artoc Group for Investments and Development, the Arab world’s enthusiasm for our new president is beginning to wane as well. Just six months ago, Obama went to Cairo to push the “reset” button on relations with Arab nations. Promising a more even-handed treatment of Middle Eastern countries and a wide series of initiatives aimed at fostering better relations between the U.S. and the Muslim world, Obama drew rave reviews. “The speech met or went beyond expectations in the Arab world,” says Mr. Gabr. “Since then, there has been little progress on the ground. Now Arab Main Street is beginning to suspect that it was all just rhetoric.” Mr. Gabr, who convened a group of Egyptian leaders and policy makers to hear and discuss President Obama’s speech in June, was cheered by the prospect that relations between his country and the U.S. might improve. He has made a career of building relations with legislators and business leaders here, trying to convince his counterparts that Egypt’s record of peace with Israel and women’s rights sets it apart from some of its neighbors – a distinction in his mind that is too rarely made. This, he feels, is good for Egypt and good for business. He has not given up. To further his agenda, and to mark the six-month anniversary of the Cairo speech, Gabr is convening over 200 Middle Eastern and U.S. business and political leaders in Washington next week for an Arab Global Forum. Topics on the agenda include investment opportunities in the Middle East for U.S. investors as well as prospects for Arabs in the U.S. The sessions will review energy and technology developments of importance to both groups, as well as one which confronts “mutual misperceptions.” The purpose of the forum is not entirely educational. Consider it a pep rally -- Egyptian style. “I want to knock on the president’s door” says Mr. Gabr. “We’ll be convening representatives of different aspects of the Arab world – the media, business, women leaders – to see what we can do to move the president’s initiatives forward.” Gabr cites a number of proposals outlined in the Cairo speech, including increased cooperation in areas like education, technology and trade. He feels there are a number of ideas which could be put into action very quickly, keeping alive some of the enthusiasm of six months ago. “He invited civil society to step up; we’re stepping up.” For instance, Gabr would like to see an increased number of exchange students traveling between East and West -- something he feels could be put into action within a matter of months. Also, he thinks that quite easily the U.S. and certain Arab countries could establish mutually beneficial technology zones, whereby U.S. companies would partner with Arab counterparts – supplying research and know-how in return for funding. He would build on a successful program undertaken during the Bush era which set up Qualified Industrial Zones, encouraging trade by making such centers duty free into the U.S. Another target for Gabr would be the VISA restrictions for Middle Easterners traveling to the United States. He describes two well known Moroccan CEOs who wanted to come to his forum, but were told they would have to wait several weeks, possibly months, before they would be given a VISA. Because they are often treated poorly, many Middle Easterners now choose to deal with European counterparts. The point is that not all small initiatives should be held hostage to resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. “I am much more optimistic about short-term efforts than long-term ones” says Gabr. “President Obama hasn’t had a chance to put his feet on the ground yet, but his people have to give him credibility. We need to see some steps taken in the short term to convince people that he is serious.” President Obama should take heed; Mr. Gabr is offering excellent advice. Sometimes, smaller is better—in health care and in improving relations with the Arab world. Republicans should take note, too. This is the kind of reasoned (and polite) pressure that they should bring to bear on matters such as infrastructure investment and increased trade – matters the president has endorsed but not yet pursued. Of course, you have to be serious about your mission, as Mr. Gabr clearly is. As he says, “If nothing happens, it just will just give added ammunition to the radicals. I’m here because I don’t want this effort to fail.” Liz Peek is a financial columnist and frequent contributor to the Fox Forum. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/12/03/liz-peek-egypt-arabs-obama/ ------ Iraqi insurgent fighter falls to his prey By LARA JAKES December 4, 2009 BAGHDAD — He compared al-Qaida in Iraq to wolves, urging that the terrorist group be crushed since he believed its members would never reject violence. But the wolves got to the Iraqi insurgent fighter first. Ahmed Subhi al-Fahal's death in a suicide bombing in Tikrit could embolden al-Qaida loyalists to try to make a return to the area around Saddam Hussein's hometown where he held sway. On Friday, within hours of his killing, dozens of Web sites affiliated with al-Qaida in Iraq were already celebrating the death of their longtime nemesis. The attack also stood as a reminder that Iraqi security officials who work closely with American forces remain a prime target for insurgents even as overall violence in Iraq fades. Thursday's bombing, outside a goldsmith's store, also killed two of al-Fahal's bodyguards and two bystanders in Tikrit — which holds symbolic significance for the Sunni-led insurgents because of its connection with Saddam. Al-Fahal, in his early 30s, was a lieutenant colonel in the Salahuddin provincial police force. But he was mostly known, by al-Qaida and the American military alike, as one of central Iraq's top counterterror officials, bent on purging insurgents from his turf. "It is better to kill al-Qaida's members because it is no use to reform them," al-Fahal said in a recent interview with Al-Arabiya TV. He was paraphrasing a religious saying that there is no use in trying to reform wolves — instead, they must be killed. And kill them he did. In his interview, al-Fahal claimed he killed more than 250 al-Qaida terrorists: 200 Iraqis and 50 Arab foreign fighters. He was also thrown the most difficult missions. It was al-Fahal who was called in to track down 16 prisoners — including several al-Qaida-linked inmates awaiting execution — who escaped in a stunning September jailbreak in Tikrit that deeply embarrassed Iraqi officials. Most of the prisoners were recaptured, but al-Fahal said two escaped and at least one suspected al-Qaida member was killed. Al-Fahal had a particularly good relationship with U.S. forces, who let him and his officers work out of Saddam's old palaces in Tikrit. When he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel earlier this year, the U.S. brigade commander who was then in charge of the American forces in the area threw a promotion party at his headquarters for al-Fahal. "He was controversial, flamboyant, brave, and effective," U.S. Col. Walt Piatt wrote in an e-mail message Friday from the U.S. after hearing of his former colleague's killing. "He single-handedly disrupted numerous enemy plots during the last election — He was the go-to-guy in the province." Piatt said al-Fahal worked well with the Americans, "but he was the kind of person who was willing to lead Iraq to a peaceful future — for Iraqis. Many feared him but all respected his courage." Violence in Iraq has dipped dramatically over the last two years after the surge of U.S. forces and after Sunni Arab tribes turned against al-Qaida in Iraq, particularly in western areas once part of the insurgent heartland. U.S. data shows the monthly number of attacks in Iraq dropped from more than 4,000 in August 2007 to about 560 in September 2009. Army Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, in September told Congress that far fewer al-Qaida and foreign fighters remain, and most of those who are left are criminals and disenfranchised Iraqis who have been recruited by a small number of hard-core insurgents. Still, U.S.-allied security forces and religious leaders who speak out against insurgents continue to be targeted. In October, a bomb hidden inside a mosque killed imam Narjis Shiwash during prayers in a mostly Sunni village south of Mosul, which is considered the last urban stronghold for al-Qaida in Iraq. In early November, twin car bombs targeted police in the western city of Ramadi, killing one officer. Associated Press Writer Maamoun Youssef in Cairo and AP staff in Tikrit and Anbar Province contributed to this report. Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ------ Lebanon: an End to Sectarian Politics? December 4-6, 2009 By Rannie Amiri     “To encourage vast participation in political life, a national committee should be established and charged with abolishing political sectarianism.”     – Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, in a televised address on the eve of the nation’s 66th anniversary of independence, 21 November 2009.     “Political sectarianism is blocking the development of the Lebanese political regime and standing as an obstacle in the face of a democracy … We want a Lebanon that is united through its land, its people, its state and institutions.”     – Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, in a news conference announcing the party’s new manifesto, 30 November 2009. Lebanon’s entire political structure and climate revolves around sectarianism. The country’s 128-member parliament or “Chamber of Deputies,” is based on a confessional distribution of seats, divided equally between Muslims and Christians irrespective of political affiliation (as is the prime minister’s cabinet). In parliament, the Christian side is further subdivided in a fixed allotment among seven dominations, and the Muslim half among four. The country’s top three political posts – president, prime minster, and speaker of the parliament – must be assigned to a Maronite Christian, Sunni Muslim, and Shia Muslim respectively. Sectarian quotas have even found their way into the public sector, the military and the security services. None of the above is based on actual demographic information, of course. Indeed, there has been no official census conducted in Lebanon since 1932. The equal allocation of parliamentary seats between Muslims and Christians mandated in the 1989 Taif Accord was nevertheless an improvement from the status quo ante, which gave Christians more seats despite a Muslim majority. The Taif Accord put an end to the country’s 15-year civil war, in part, by allowing for just representation in parliament between the two religious groups. The new configuration of political sectarianism set up in Taif was still meant to be a temporary one, with the ultimate goal being its demise. As stated in Section G:     “Abolition of Political Sectarianism: Abolishing political sectarianism is a fundamental national objective. To achieve it, it is required that efforts be made in accordance with a phased plan. The Chamber of Deputies elected on the basis of equal sharing by Christians and Muslims shall adopt the proper measures to achieve this objective and to form a national council ... The council's task will be to examine and propose the means capable of abolishing sectarianism, to present them to the Chamber of Deputies and the cabinet, and to observe implementation of the phased plan.” Refreshingly, both President Suleiman and Hassan Nasrallah have come to similar conclusions: it is time to move past the current (and outdated) system which has paralyzed Lebanese politics for so long, abolish sectarianism, and establish a government based on proportional representation. In essence, Lebanon would be transformed into a single electoral constituency. Parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri pledged to establish the national committee called for by Suleiman and “ … embark on a legislative push that centers on implementing the long-awaited Taif Accord provisions of administrative decentralization and the abolishment of political sectarianism.” The reaction to the bold proposition? Uproar. From charges it would “distort Lebanon’s pluralistic character” to Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir’s bizarre assertion that institutionalized sectarianism should not be eliminated by law before it can be “abolished from the souls,” it was met with both opposition and anger. Several MPs implicitly chided the supporters of Hassan Nasrallah for following a “sectarian leader” while making tangential references to Hezbollah’s arms. The majority of voices balking at the proposal have come from the ruling March 14 coalition, comprised mainly of Sunni Muslim and secular Maronite Christian parties. There is no doubt Taif put into place an arrangement that has managed to keep the peace in Lebanon for 20 years. But, are some of the circumstances that led to the outbreak of violence and civil strife in the 1970s and 1980s, namely skewed parliamentary representation poorly reflective of the population at large, present once again? What are those opposed to Suleiman’s progressive call really afraid of? Simply, that the least privileged, and historically most politically marginalized of Lebanon’s people – the Shia Muslims – will come to power. Now believed to form the single largest plurality among Lebanon’s confessional groups, they have long played “third fiddle” to the country’s Sunnis and Christians in government in relation to their numbers. Again, we must remember that the discrepancy found in parliamentary seats and power, whereby Christians were overrepresented in relation to Muslims and were the politically privileged class, was a significant factor that led to a long and painful civil war. Shouldn’t such recent lessons be heeded if this imbalance is once again apparent? Suleiman, a Maronite Christian himself and widely considered to be evenhanded, recognizes the present situation cannot continue; as a result of the confessional distribution of seats, the ruling March 14 coalition won a majority despite clearly losing the popular vote. It then took Prime Minister Saad Hariri five months to be able to form a cabinet. A clarion call has thus been issued for Lebanon to advance beyond its sectarian nature and adopt a political structure which eschews sectarianism and instead implement one based on equitable, and proportional, representation. It is time for Lebanon to embrace it. Rannie Amiri is an independent Middle East commentator. He may be reached at: rbamiri AT yahoo DOT com. http://www.counterpunch.org/amiri12042009.html ------ Lebanon Mufti: The equal Muslim-Christian powersharing should not be undermined December 4, 2009 Grand Sunni Mufti of Lebanon Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani phoned Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir congratulating him on returning safely from his visit to the Vatican. The two religious leaders stressed during the phone call upon “the common national stances that guarantee Lebanon’s unity.” The Mufti also told Sfeir that “the Taef Accord must be implemented in text and spirit upon the rule of consensus and that the equal Muslim-Christian powersharing should not be undermined under any condition,” http://www.yalibnan.com/2009/12/04/lebanon-mufti-the-equal-muslim-christian-powersharing-should-not-be-undermined/ ------ Turkmenistan slightly improves attitude towards freedom of religion: U.S State Department 04.12.2009 H. Hasanov In general, there were some small improvements in the status of respect for religious freedom by the state during the reporting period, the annual report of the U.S. State Department said. The report, prepared by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, pays attention to the fact that the Turkmen Constitution envisages freedom of religion and does not establish a state religion. But in practice the government continued to restrict freedom of religion. All groups must register to get the legal status. The unregistered religious activity is illegal and can be punished administratively in the form of fines. "In general, the government gave legal force to existing legal restrictions on religious freedom. But there were some small improvements in the status of respect for religious freedom by the state for the reporting period," the report said. "The unsettled state practice in the treatment with some registered and unregistered groups continued for the previous reporting period." Several religious groups failed to register. But the authorities restricted the opportunity to have a property for registered groups, to print or import religious materials, to receive foreign guests and to engage in religion. The report states that "there are no reports of abuse and public violence based on religious affiliation, religious belief or practice." The state has made little for the promotion of interfaith understanding or dialogue beyond the understanding and dialogue that exists between Muslims and Orthodox through its Council on Religious Affairs. The majority of citizens are Sunni Muslims: Turkmen people's ethnicity associated with Islam. Historically, the Turkmen society was tolerant and included different religious beliefs. But ethnic Turkmen people who appeal to other religious groups, particularly in less well-known Protestant groups are treated with suspicion and sometimes banished. The U.S. Government discusses freedom of religion issues with the Turkmen government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. http://en.trend.az/news/politics/foreign/1593836.html URL of this Page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamIslamicWorldNews_1.aspx?ArticleID=2189