| Islamic World News | |
| 26 Aug 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com | |
| Top Sunni Rebel On Iran Death Row Says U.S. Ordered Attacks | |
| | |
| Female Muslim Journalist Faces Trial for Wearing Pants by Omar Sacirbey Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi Symposium on "Women's Leadership and Activism in the Muslim World" Coming to Naropa University BAHRAIN: Seeking Gender Equality in Quran by Suad Hamada Mosque visit introduces Catholics to Islam Rights of minorities in Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri More students wear 'Islam of the Devil' shirts to school By Christopher Curry The Battle at the Rafah Mosque: Power Struggles and Philosophical Clashes by Yoram Schweitzer So What That Islamic Law Evolves? Ruling to Keep Muslim Girl From Family a Stay of Execution by Frank Gaffney Jr. WAR ON IRAQ IS WRONG A report from British Columbia on Pacific Northwest Muslims and how they view life in the West by Knute Berger Islam: religion of mercy by Nour Abuzant Democracy in the Mirror of Afghanistan Two judges to file review petition before SC, another considering Bomb kills 43 in Afghanistan by Hameed Zalmai Ramadan For Kids? The Historicity of Normative Islamic Law, and its Contingencies by Farish A. Noor 13 Abus, rogue MILF fighters charged with murder By Dennis Carcamo Compiled by Aman Quadri URL of this page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1687 ------
Top Sunni Rebel On Iran Death Row Says U.S. Ordered Attacks 25 Aug, 2009
ZAHEDAN: A top Sunni rebel who is awaiting execution in Iran said on Tuesday that his militant group received orders from the United States to launch terror attacks in the Islamic republic. Abdolhamid Rigi, brother of shadowy Jundallah (Soldiers of God) group leader Abdolmalek Rigi, told reporters his brother was an Al-Qaeda point man in Iran six years ago but that later the group broke off ties with him. 'The United States created and supported Jundallah and we received orders from them,' Rigi said in Iran's restive southeastern city of Zahedan, the capital of Sistan-Baluchestan province bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan. 'They (US officials) told us whom to shoot and whom not to. All orders came from them. They told us that they would provide us with everything we need like money and equipment.' Wearing normal clothing, and not a prison uniform, Rigi addressed reporters in a government building in Zahedan, amid relatively light security. Iran has accused Jundallah of launching several attacks inside the country, mainly in Sistan-Baluchestan. The group also claimed a May 28 bomb attack on the Shia Amir al-Momenin mosque in Zahedan in which more than 20 people were killed and 50 wounded. That attack came just weeks before Iran's June 12 presidential election which returned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power. Iran has in the past blamed US and British agents based in neighbouring Iraq and Afghanistan for launching attacks on border provinces with significant ethnic minority populations. The day after the mosque bombing, officials accused the United States of 'hiring' those behind the attack, linking it to the presidential election. Washington rejected the accusation. 'We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms,' State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said. We do not sponsor any form of terrorism in Iran.' Before Tuesday's news conference began, reporters saw a group of people who reportedly had relatives killed in attacks launched by Jundallah. An AFP correspondent said that as Rigi sat down to address reporters, some of the victims' relatives called out, denouncing him as a murderer. Video footage of the aftermath of attacks allegedly launched by Jundallah was also shown at the news conference. The images included gory executions of several handcuffed and blindfolded people, scenes which provincial officials told reporters had been filmed by Rigi himself. The officials said some of those shown being killed, who were not identified, had been captured by Jundullah in 2006 and later executed. Sistan-Baluchestan has a large ethnic Sunni Baluch minority, and also lies on a major narcotics-smuggling route from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Iranian officials have said Abdolhamid will be executed for his role in several attacks in the country. –AFP Source: http://911blogger.com/node/20986 -------- Female Muslim Journalist Faces Trial for Wearing Pants By Omar Sacirbey August 25, 2009 (RNS) Sudanese journalist Lubna Hussein will face trial Sept. 7 for wearing trousers in violation of government decency statutes derived from Sharia law. If convicted, she faces 40 lashes and a fine. But it's the Sudanese government, not Hussein, who wants the trial to go away. "This is a turning point. We have a woman who has put the government on the spot," said Abdullahi An-Na'im, an Islamic law expert from Sudan who teaches at Emory University Law School. "They can't try her, and they can't not try her." Hussein and 12 other women were arrested by the country's public order police in July for wearing pants at a Khartoum reception hall. Most of the women accepted the punishment of 10 lashes and a $100 fine. Hussein, 43, worked for the United Nations at the time, and could have claimed diplomatic immunity from prosecution, but refused, seeing her arrest as a chance to challenge laws she said were anti-Islamic. Full Report at: http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2009/08/female-muslim-journalist-faces.php ------- Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi Symposium on "Women's Leadership and Activism in the Muslim World" Coming to Naropa University August 26, 2009 Naropa University is preparing to host a timely and important keynote talk and symposium on "Women's Leadership and Activism in the Muslim World." The events begin on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m., with a keynote talk titled "Human Rights and Women's Rights in Islam" by Dr. Shirin Ebadi, 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate. The talk is followed by a public symposium, "Women's Leadership and Activism in the Muslim World" on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Shirin Ebadi is an Iranian attorney who won the Nobel Prize for defending women and children's rights in Iran. She has also founded three NGOs in Iran--The Association for the Defense of the Rights of the Child, The Association for Human Rights Advocates, and the Organization Against Mines in Iran. Peace Studies Department Chair Candace Walworth said it is fitting that Naropa would host the upcoming series of events, partially because Naropa's mission is to embrace the "richness of human diversity with the aim of fostering a more just and equitable society and an expanded awareness of our common humanity." "More broadly, we hope the symposium will amplify the voices of Muslim women leaders, deepen participants' understanding of the evolving role of Muslim women, and serve as a catalyst for thoughtful conversation and networking," said Walworth. The Cordoba Initiative is a multi-faith nonprofit, and its primary mission is helping to bridge the divide between the Muslim world and the West. John Bennett, Cordoba's co-founder and a current member of its board, said it is important for people to understand that women are working for progressive causes from within the Muslim world. "The courage of these women leaders is quite extraordinary, and we're delighted to enable them to be heard by a wider audience," said Bennett. "We think that the role of women leaders in the Muslim world is critical to the process of both sides understanding each other." The public symposium, "Women's Leadership and Activism in the Muslim World" will include interactive panels, lunch with interest groups, and informal conversations over tea. Walworth said Naropa hopes to attract a diverse audience--Muslims and non-Muslims, women and men of all spiritual perspectives, students and teachers, academics, activists, artists, youth, community leaders, global citizens, senior citizens and lifelong learners. Full Report at:http://www.emediawire.com/releases/Nobel_Laureate/Shireen_Ebadi/prweb2781334.htm ---- BAHRAIN: Seeking Gender Equality in Quran By Suad Hamada 25 August 2009 White House to send scientists as envoys. The administration of US President Barack Obama is ramping up plans to develop scientific and technological partnerships with Muslim-majority countries. The move follows a June speech by Obama at Cairo University in Egypt, when he promised to appoint regional science envoys, launch a fund to support technological development and open centres of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. So far, the science-envoy plan is closest to getting off the ground, say White House officials, who see it as part of a broader drive to improve relations with the Islamic world. "Polling consistently shows that science and technology is an area where the United States is widely respected for its leadership," says a top administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "This is a key part of the comprehensive partnerships we are pursuing with Muslim-majority communities." The effort is being led by the National Security Council and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The White House plans for leading US scientists to visit a Muslim-majority region for several weeks, to canvass local researchers, community leaders and others for ideas that would shape scientific initiatives. Full Report at: http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090825/full/4601067a.html ----- Mosque visit introduces Catholics to Islam August 25 2009 SINGAPORE: As a stream of about 50 Singaporean Catholics entered a single-story mosque next to a busy road, the muezzin could be heard in the background leading the call to Maghrib (sunset) prayers. "Muhammad is the Prophet of God. Come, let us pray," said Syed Hassan Al-Attas, briefly translating the prayer call for the mostly Chinese visitors gathered at Ba'alwi Mosque. Hassan is imam (prayer leader) of the 57-year-old mosque, which invited the Catholics to visit and learn more about the Islamic faith. The Aug. 20 visit was organized by the Archdiocesan Council for Inter-Religious and Ecumenical Dialogue (IRED) as part of its formation program for Catholics to learn more about the other religions in Singapore. Hassan's father was of Yemeni origins. He built the mosque in 1952 and served as imam until his death. Hassan, who took over in 1976, is a well-respected spiritual leader in Islamic circles in Singapore and an active participant in interreligious dialogue. Full Report at: http://www.indiancatholic.in/news/storydetails.php/13144-1-2-Mosque-visit-introduces-Catholics-to-Islam ---- Rights of minorities in Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri August 26, 2009 Following a flurry of unfortunate incidents that involved mass scale persecution of the Christian community in Gojra and the misrepresentation of the religious teachings, it is high time we initiated intellectual discourse aimed at identifying the factors, which led to this tragedy. The principal purpose behind this exercise should be to fashion a cohesive and comprehensive strategy to educate masses about the real teachings of Islam and preempt any similar untoward incident in future. It is also of equal importance to seek input of the representatives of all schools of thought and other sections of society like journalists, intellectuals, civil society activists, lawyers and professors etc. Ideally, the Islamic Ideology Council is well suited to spearhead this initiative and give it institutionalised base for the production of effective results. The second phase of such an arrangement may be geared to engage the minorities living within Pakistan in a constructive dialogue aimed at allaying their apprehensions and fears. Full Report at: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Opinions/Columns/26-Aug-2009/Rights-of-minorities-in-Islam ------- More students wear 'Islam of the Devil' shirts to school By Christopher Curry August 25, 2009 More children from the Dove World Outreach Center arrived Tuesday at area public schools with shirts bearing the message "Islam is of the Devil" and were sent home for violation of the school district's dress code when they declined to change clothes or cover the anti-Muslim statement on their clothing. School district staff attorney Tom Wittmer said the shirts violated a district ban on clothing that may "disrupt the learning process" or cause other students to be "offended or distracted." "Students have a right of free speech, and we have allowed students to come to school wearing clothes with messages," Wittmer said. "But this message is a divisive message that is likely to offend students. Principals, I feel reasonably, have deemed that a violation of the dress code." Wittmer said the school district allows students to express their religious beliefs but also must protect other students, such as members of the Muslim faith, from discrimination based on their religious beliefs. He said there also has to be equal treatment of different faiths. "The next kid might show up with a shirt saying 'Christianity is of the Devil,'" Wittmer said. First Amendment scholars said the school district's policy is likely legal and constitutional. Ron Collins, a scholar with the nonprofit First Amendment Center in Washington D.C., said courts give public school officials a "significant amount of latitude" in regulating student dress that could disrupt the classroom or a school function. Full Report at: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090825/ARTICLES/908259940/1002/news?Title=More-students-wear--Islam-of-the-Devil--shirts-to-school ----- The Battle at the Rafah Mosque: Power Struggles and Philosophical Clashes By Yoram Schweitzer 26 August 2009 The violent clash in Gaza in mid-August at the Ibn Tamiyya mosque in Rafah between Hamas members and a group of al-Qaeda supporters from the Jund Ansar Allah organization, which led to the deaths of more than 20 Palestinians and the wounding of several dozen, has again demonstrated the violence, domination, and mercilessness Hamas exhibits towards its political rivals. At the same time, a volatile power struggle in the Gaza Strip was on full display, first and foremost, a struggle over Hamas' control of the Gaza Strip population. In addition, the episode dramatized the dispute among the locals about how to conduct their daily lives and what should be the nature of their government vis-à-vis both internal issues and external enemies. Against Hamas, the (Palestinian offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood movement) that combines an Islamic religious outlook with a Palestinian national vision favoring active participation in political life alongside the use of military power and terrorism, stands an ideological approach identified with Salafist jihadism in the Muslim world. These groups view the participation of Hamas in political activity based on rules not dictated exclusively by sharia as a deviation from the true path of Islam, to the point that the movement is accused of heresy. Unlike Hamas, these groups champion the idea of an ongoing, uncompromising war with no holds barred against anyone defined as an enemy of Islam, and demand that this approach be adopted first and foremost in the conflict with Israel. Full Report at: http://www.rightsidenews.com/200908266172/global-terrorism/the-battle-at-the-rafah-mosque-power-struggles-and-philosophical-clashes.html ----- So What That Islamic Law Evolves? Aug. 25 2009 Over at The American Muslim, Farish Noor, a Malaysian professor and intellectual, weighs in on the case of the Malaysian Muslim woman sentenced to be caned for consuming alcohol in public. His argument is that times have changed and Islamic Law must recognize the reality of changed circumstances – and therefore the caning verdict is wrong. To demonstrate that Islamic Law has changed he provides some examples of things where Muslim jurists held one opinion in the past but hold a different opinion now. Some examples he gives are: coffee, firearms and the printing press. He leaves out the most glaring examples. Slavery is one. Chattel and sexual slavery were, by and large, allowed by pre-modern Muslim jurists but are completely rejected by them today. Female suffrage is another. Until the middle of the 20th century countless Muslim jurists opposed the idea of women voting but now there is hardly any mainstream Muslim scholar who would oppose the idea of women getting the vote. However, the mere fact that Islamic law changes is not the issue, and I think Noor's piece ellides over that point. After all, a hardliner can argue that given today's changed circumstances, they have to be more severe than in the past. In fact, totalitarian ayatollahs in Iran or militant clerics in Pakistan rely on precisely that changed circumstances reasoning in order to justify their ratcheted up reaction. For example, when Pakistan's Maulana Maudoodi argued that apostates should be put to death, he did not merely argue from religious text. He also argued that in today's day and age, due to the political infringement by Western powers in Muslim nations, the act of apostasy was even more criminal than it was before, because it was political in impact. In short, merely saying that Islamic Law must take changed circumstances into account, is just not enough. Evolution, as everyone knows, is not always progressive. Full Report at: http://trueslant.com/alieteraz/2009/08/25/so-what-that-islamic-law-evolves/ ------- Ruling to Keep Muslim Girl From Family a Stay of Execution By Frank Gaffney Jr August 24, 2009 The image of a man convicted of killing 270 Americans and other innocent civilians receiving a hero's welcome last week at an airport in Libya was at once appalling and infuriating. Unless something permanent is done in the near future, however, the culture that promotes such behavior may soon be exulting over the "honor killing" of a young woman in America. The young woman in question is Rifqa Bary, a 17-year-old from a family of Sri Lankan expatriates who are part of a Muslim community near Columbus, Ohio that is dominated by the Noor Islamic Cultural Center. This mosque is renowned for its adherence to the brutally intolerant and repressive theo-political-religious program authoritative Islam calls Shariah. In fact, counterterrorism expert Patrick Poole has described the Noor Center as "the premier source of Islamic extremism" in Central Ohio. According to Shariah, it is impermissible to leave the faith: Those who convert have engaged in "apostasy," a capital offense. As Bary says she embraced Christianity four years ago, she is — in the words of Tom Trento, a formidable anti-Shariah activist who runs the Florida Security Council — "Dead Girl Walking." Pamela Geller's terrific web site, AtlasShrugs, reports that Bary was brutalized by family members even before they discovered that she had converted. But when the family learned, apparently from others associated with the Noor mosque, that the girl was an apostate, she says her father erupted: "If you have this Jesus in your heart, you're dead to me. You're not my daughter. I will kill you." Full Report at: http://www.newsmax.com/frank_gaffney/rifqa_barry_muslim/2009/08/24/251785.html ----- WAR ON IRAQ IS WRONG 26 Aug, 2009 If the Bush Administration has its way, Iraq will be the first test of its new doctrine of pre-emption, which calls for early unilateral action against enemies suspected of posing a threat to America. For the United States, the world's military and economic superpower, to abandon a defensive, international-law stance and adopt such a destabilizing strategy is profoundly contrary to our interests and endangers our security. What was once the frothing of right-wing ideologues is now on the verge of becoming national policy. Yet we hear no opposition from leading Democrats either regarding the new doctrine--which will alienate allies and makes us even more hated around the world, and will be used by other nations as a pretext for settling their own scores--or regarding its specific application in Iraq. Instead, the Administration gained several influential supporters for an Iraqi regime change, including House minority leader Richard Gephardt and Senate majority leader Tom Daschle. In making the case for taking pre-emptive action against Iraq, the White House has been long on innuendo and very short on evidence of an Iraqi threat requiring such drastic remedies. What we do know is that since the Gulf War, Iraq's military capabilities have weakened significantly, to the point where they pose little or no threat to its neighbors, a fact reflected in Saddam Hussein's bid to improve relations with both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Full Report at: http://www.jihadunspun.com/articles/06252002-war.on.iraq/ ------ Islam in Cascadia A report from British Columbia on Pacific Northwest Muslims and how they view life in the West. By Knute Berger August 25, 2009 With the arrival of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, religion and values reporter Douglas Todd of the Vancouver Sun has a couple of interesting stories about the state of Islam in Europe and Canada. He reviews the concept of Eurabia, the idea that Europe is slowly becoming colonized as a Muslim region. This puts me in mind of an old Andalusian farmer I met in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of southern Spain in 1978. We were high up in the hills on ancient terraces that dated back to Roman times. Gazing across the hazy Mediterranean, he pointed to North Africa and told me that one day, "los moros" — the Moors — would return. I thought he was nuts. But many are taking that notion more seriously today as Europe's immigrant population grows and demographics change. Those fearing Eurabia say that Muslims could make up 40 percent of the continent's population by 2020; other experts say that's way overstated and that 6 percent is a more realistic number. One reason: fertility rates drop in industrialized countries. Todd points out that even as Muslims move into Europe, it is not only Europe that's changing, but the immigrants who tend to become more secular and more open to Western ways. While Canada has a very small Muslim population (2 percent), Todd sees the effects of living in the West on the young BC Muslims he's talked to: I have talked to many devout Metro Vancouver Muslims, including young people. The teenagers I met are, like many Muslims, left-wing about economic issues, but morally conservative about sex outside marriage, homosexuality, and drinking. They both celebrate and criticize North America's libertarian culture. I was glad they attended public universities and public high schools (even though many others attend separate Muslim schools, which raise legitimate questions). Full Report at: http://crosscut.com/2009/08/25/mossback/19185/ ---- Islam: religion of mercy By Nour Abuzant 26-08-09 A Doha-based Islamic scholar believes that the recent economic recession in the West is a result of "lack of mercy in their business dealings" with other nations. Addressing a gathering at the first discussion organised by Friends of the Environment Centre at its Green Tent, Mustafa al-Sairafi said: "Islam is the religion of mercy as it ordered its followers to show mercy during peace and war towards the followers of other religions." He said: "Mercy in Islam is extended even to animals and plants." The scholar said when Muslims read the Qur'an they begin with "In the name of God, the Most Merciful", which is a reminder to the people that they should deal with others mercifully. Al-Sairafi said that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) spread the religion of Islam mainly because of his merciful approach to his companions. He reminded the audience that the renowned American author Michael Hart had put Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) at the top of a list of the "100 most influential personalities in the world". ----- Democracy in the Mirror of Afghanistan August 25, 2009 "[W]e believes that our government is weak, stupid, overbearing, dishonest, and inefficient, and also believe it to be the best in the world and would like to offer it to others." This insight of Professor Michael Kammen came to mind as I drove around the teaming, dusty streets of Kabul last week. The United States has an enormous military, political, and economic presence in Afghanistan, which will increase before it decreases, trying to bring to the Afghan people the kind of government against which Americans have been screaming in so-called towns meetings recently. Many Afghanis are dying and risking their lives to achieve even a semblance of the kind of government many Americans seem to distrust at best and hate at worst. Perhaps it is because this ancient culture -- an historic truck stop of sorts for traders from the days of Marco Polo and the Silk Route, the gladiatorial arena for aspiring world powers over the centuries, and, as a new book calls it, "the graveyard of empires" -- simply is tired and wishes a halt to everyone using it as a modern day version of the OK Corral or Chicago-in-the-1920s style running gun battle arena between the U.S. Army and the Taliban. Unlike Iraq, however, we didn't send our army there because we wanted to; we did so because our most recent day of infamy, 9/11, originated there. And, partly because we chose not to finish the job in 2002, we are now back to pick up where we left off seven years ago. Full Report at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-hart/democracy-in-the-mirror-o_b_267342.html ------ Two judges to file review petition before SC, another considering August 26, 2009 KARACHI: Justice Mrs Yasmeen Abbasey and Justice Mrs Qaiser Iqbal will file a review petition before the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday, their advocate-on-record, Mazhar B Chohan, told the media here on Tuesday afternoon after a brief meeting with his clients at the Sindh High Court. I will be filing the review petition for these two judges who were removed under the judgement of the apex court in judges case, he said. Justice Munib Ahmed Khan is still considering and a decision on his part is expected by Wednesday, he said and refused to give more details. He, however, said that the main grounds would be that these judges were discriminated against, and not given a chance to present their case that their removal is against the principle of natural justice. The would-be petitioner judges were stopped from work but allowed to occupy their chambers till the decision by the Supreme Judicial Council. staff report Full Report at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\08\26\story_26-8-2009_pg7_20 ------ Bomb kills 43 in Afghanistan By Hameed Zalmai KANDAHAR, Aug 26, 2009 Although the West praised Election Day for taking place amid less violence than expected, officials said there were more than 300 incidents ranging from small explosions to rocket attacks and gunbattles that killed 26 people. Debris of the blast Rescue workers Wednesday sifted through the rubble of the deadliest bombing in Afghanistan for a year as signs of poor election turnout pointed to the success of Taliban intimidation. With the Taliban-led insurgency at record levels, the Islamist rebels were blamed for setting off a truck bomb in the heart of southern city Kandahar, killing up to 43 people and injuring 65, almost all civilians. The force of the explosion shattered windows and brought down buildings, trapping people under the rubble as they were breaking their Ramadan fast, General Ghulam Ali Wahdat, the southern police zone commander, told AFP. The bomb blew up near a Japanese construction company, a guest house used by foreigners and government offices. Kandahar is the province of President Hamid Karzai, who is narrowly leading the race for re-election after polls last week. Karzai ordered an investigation and the "arrest those responsible as soon as possible", his office said. Full Report at: http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2009/08/26/bomb-kills-43-in-afghanistan.html ---- Ramadan For Kids? August 25, 2009 Muslims across the world are observing the first week of Ramadan, where for 30 days — from dawn until dusk — the faithful abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex as a sign of purification and loyalty to the tenets of Islam. But there is debate over whether children should join their parents in fasting. Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, a pediatrician, Muslim and mother of three, is the author of the children's tale A Party in Ramadan, which views the holy month through the eyes of a Muslim child. In years past, Uddin's young children have joined her in fasting, but she says the faith does not mandate that parents force their children to do so. "Young children don't have the obligation to fast," says the author. "Generally, after puberty is the time that the obligations of the faith become a responsibility." Jameel Johnson is the father of two teenage sons, ages 14 and 15. Both are high school athletes and are fasting for Ramadan. Johnson says children don't need to be coerced; it is something they want to do. Full Report at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112200635 ------ The Historicity of Normative Islamic Law, and its Contingencies By Farish A. Noor Aug 25, 2009 By now Malaysia has made international headlines thanks to the plight of Kartika Sari Dewi, a Malay-Muslim woman who was found guilty of drinking alcohol and who was subsequently fined and then sentenced to six strokes of the cane. Kartika herself has baffled the religious authorities of the country when she and her family stated that she was willing to be caned for her 'offence'; and this has put the government of Malaysia in a state of confusion: Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has asked whether the country is prepared to celebrate its coming independence day with a Malaysian citizen being caned; while Prime Minister Najib Razak has asked Kartika to appeal her sentence and not accept the caning. All of this has placed undue pressure on the Malaysian government to address the issue of its international image and standing, and Malaysia does not want to be put in the same category as countries such as Afghanistan, Iran or Pakistan. Above all, the long-cultivated image of Malaysia as a 'moderate' Muslim state is now being put into question. But also put to question is the basis of the law and the punishment meted out to Kartika herself. It has been noted by some scholars that the Quran is silent on the question of the punishment for alcohol consumption. But then again the Quran is likewise silent on many other social phenomena that have developed over the past one and a half millennia. Full Report at: http://www.theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the_historicity_of_normative_islamic_law_and_its_contingencies/0017505 ------ 13 Abus, rogue MILF fighters charged with murder By Dennis Carcamo August 26, 2009 MANILA, Philippines -- Police filed today (Aug. 26) criminal raps against 13 Abu Sayyaf and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) militants for the two bloody clashes in Basilan province that killed 23 government soldiers. Charged with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder were Abu Sayyaf commander for Basilan Furuji Indama, and Abu Sayyaf members Appong Kasanarin and Benshar Indama; and MILF renegades Atih Indama, Asali Mallatin, Abdullah Hud, Abdullah Piyasta, Husad Alajala, Imhar dasar, a certain Amar Asid and three John Does. The case stemmed from the involvement of Indama and the other accused Abu Sayyaf and MILF personalities in the encounter last Aug. 12 in Sitio Kurelem, Barangay Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, and last Aug. 15 in Barangay Pamatsaken, in Sumisip, Basilan. The clashes resulted in the death of 20 Marines and three Army Rangers. Forty-two Abu Sayyaf terrorists were also killed in the day-long encounter against Indama's group. Full Report at: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=499540&publicationSubCategoryId=200 ------ URL of this page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1687
|
7:11 PM
Sultan Shahin
0 comments:
Post a Comment