| Islamic World News | |
| 06 Sep 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com | |
| World Hijab Day observed in Pakistan | |
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Verses of Qur'an often taken out of context to promote Hijab, writes Grade 11 student Anam Quadrat of Toronto Al-Jazeera reports worldwide demonstrations against France on "hijab day". Muslim women differ on hijab but always put the accent on modesty by Berta Delgado 40 Civilians among 90 killed in NATO strike in Afghanistan Saudi Arabia concerned over Pak situation Murderous attack on a federal minister leaves Pakistanis cold Dozens killed as Yemen ceasefire cracks Iranian couple held for having sex on beach In the holy month, even minorities in Pakistan exert self-control by Ayesha Nasir Young Saudis taught to fight Qaida: Campaign Aims To Wage War Against Extremist Ideology 'Pakistan bid to facilitate infiltrators has intensified' – Indian Army Chief The Middle East Firestorm Ahead US offering 'forged' intelligence on bomb studies: Iran Iraq calls for UN inquiry into bombings Swat Valley's hidden crisis by Morton Abramowitz Fall in poppy output Un-Islamic ways of driving in Pakistan: Ramazan has made no difference Mass transit for Karachi Karachi railway Media asked not to comment on SJC proceedings by Nasir Iqbal 'Army to chase Taliban till end' Gates Sells Afghan Strategy Amid Growing Unease by Stephen Morris Iraq Sends Thousands of Police to Syria Border to Stop Insurgents Ontario: Muslim effort helps homeless on Humanitarian Day by Liset Márquez Islamic militant arrested in southern Philippines Swedish government funds 'feminist' porn flick Afghanistan: Abdullah Abdullah's fractured support by Jal Taraporevala Family, fans bid farewell to Michael Jackson Muslim couple crosses cultures with Hernando County tradition by Gail Hollenbeck Washington: CAIR's Share the Quran campaign Dubai: Youngsters Master Art of Memorising by Quran Ahmed Shaaban Haram imam condemns assassination bid on Saudi Prince Compiled by Aman Quadri URL of this Page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1728 ------
World Hijab Day observed September 05, 2009 By Our Correspondent LAHORE: THE Jamaat-e-Islami Women's Wing observed the World Hijab Day on Friday, in line with the declaration of the World Ulema Conference, London, 2004. In this connection, JI women's wing held a seminar at Mansoora. Former JI ameer Qazi Husain Ahmed, JI secretary general Liaquat Baloch, Women and Family Commission president Sameea Raheel Qazi, JI Punjab Women wing president Humaira Tariq, Humera Ihtesham, Rabeea Tariq, Rahat Bashir, Afia Sarwar and others spoke on the occasion. Later, a Hijab Walk was held on Multan Road led by Sameea Raheel Qazi, Humera Tariq, Humera Ihtesham and others. Addressing the Hijab Seminar, Qazi said Pakistani society was heading for a clash, since on one hand large numbers of our men and women were being attracted towards Islamic teachings since hatred for US and western culture and civilization was on the rise. On the other hand, he said, the western civilization had attacked Islamic society with all its might and every effort was being made to eliminate Hijab and modesty of Muslim women. A worldwide campaign had been launched against Hijab which was tantamount to revolting against Quranic teachings. He said the only way to avert this clash was to enforce Islamic system in this country to fulfil the pledge made at the time of its creation. "We must revert to our origin, besides taking steps to unite society and to avert the clash of civilizations," he said. Qazi said that if bomb blasts was extremism, mocking Islamic teachings and culture and denying Muslims their basic rights to practice Islam was also extremism. He said a German fanatic killed a Muslim woman in a German courtroom for wearing Hijab and when her husband tried to protect her, police fired at him. But neither the German judiciary nor German society took notice of this horrifying incident, while the entire western civilization championing the cause of freedom and liberties acted as silent spectators. On the other hand, if a minority member was wronged in our country in any manner, Muslim society protested it. He said these incidents clearly showed hypocrisy of the West. He said the West was afraid of the resurgence of Islam. Qazi regretted that the secular English press in the country made fun of Hijab and published cartoons which was an attempt to end modesty among women. He warned that an immodest society could not safeguard its independence, culture and ideology. He said Muslim women have thrown a challenge to the West by declaring that they felt proud of wearing Hijab. On the other hand, western society had been ruined because of vulgarity and reducing women to mere playthings. Speaking on the occasion, Liaquat Baloch said it was the right of Muslim women to lead their lives according to Islamic teachings. He said the West was trying its best to eliminate Islamic values and norms from Pakistani society. He said Muslim women were engaged in Jihad by asserting for their right to wear Hijab and protecting the Islamic culture and the four walls of their homes. Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=196814 ---- Verses of Qur'an often taken out of context to promote Hijab Anam Quadrat Grade 11 student Muslim Girls School, Toronto wrote in The Expositor as a response to an earlier artilce: Are students in Burford learning true Islam? The media often feeds us censored information resembling a speck of truth mixed in a sea of lies. Taking ideas out of context and reshaping them to reflect a negative connotation is fact. I respect Rachel Senior for expressing her perception about Islam and giving Muslims the chance to elaborate further on some of the concepts of this divine religion. Islam, not only a religion but a way of life, is based on submission to Allah and it is not a political ideology. Its aim is not to control people's lives, preparing for a hostile takeover or world domination, but rather to reinforce monotheistic belief, freeing souls. Today more people are choosing this path of life to reform them. The verses of the Qur'an are taken out of context in regards to waging war, as Islam only allows war to be waged from a defensive perspective. Islam doesn't endorse oppression under its banner. The maltreatment of women portrayed today is not Islam; rather it is perpetrated by tradition, culture and rituals of ignorant nations. Islam encourages women to wear the hijab and burqa to safeguard them from wrongful eyes. Islamic schools aim to preserve the same morals and ethics evident in many religions. Besides the Ontario curriculum, they teach religion in light of the Qur'an and Sunnah. I am not an ignorant onlooker but an insider applauding the effort of those attempting to build a strong community. We are taught that tolerance and clemency are vital for reform. Tolerance is evident as Muslims are labelled with fabricated crimes and lashed in the media, yet we preserve ourselves. Diversity is in our religion as one glance at the annual Hajj celebration will demonstrate a colourful nation. What is Canadian culture? It is a mosaic defining each individual while resembling coherence. Canada is a unique icon of freedom and justice, promoting individualism as we witness countless Catholic, Jewish, Hindi, Islamic and other schools prospering. Together we are one and wholesome; we are not a nation assimilated into a specific culture, but we are a rainbow glittering over the rest of the world. Anam Quadrat Grade 11 student Muslim Girls School, Toronto wrote in The Expositor ----- Al-Jazeera reports worldwide demonstrations against France on "hijab day". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire | January 17, 2004 Text of announcer-read report over video by Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 17 January Marches have been staged in several Arab and international capitals to protest the decision of the French government to ban the hijab in government schools. The women demonstrators, marking the International Day for Solidarity With the Hijab, called on the French government to reverse its decision. The participants in a march staged in front of the French embassy in Cairo rejected the position of the shaykh of Al-Azhar, who considered banning the wearing of hijab a domestic French affair. [Al-Jazeera announcer Hala al-Khayri - recording] Scores of Muslim women in Egypt have staged a demonstration, which could be the first of its kind in the world and in history, to protest the decision of the French government to ban the hijab at French schools. However, the thing that was not expected was that army and police forces would stand between the women demonstrators and the French embassy in Cairo. The French decision to ban the hijab has sparked a sharp controversy in the circles of men of religion in Egypt because the shaykh of Al-Azhar, Muhammad Sayyid al-Tantawi, settled the issue by saying that it was an internal French decision. Angry demonstrations have also swept the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. Dozens of Yemeni women have appealed to the French government to go back on the decision to ban the hijab at French teaching institutions. This position was expressed during a rally organized in Sanaa by the women sector of the Yemeni Alliance for Reform. Women from the various Yemeni parties took part in the rally. A statement issued by the rally said that the French decision did injustice to Muslim women and said that it would negatively affect her participation and integration into French society. --- Muslim women differ on hijab but always put the accent on modesty The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) | July 14, 2000 Berta Delgado DALLAS _ Ummukulthum Almaawiy is 15, a typical teen-ager with a quick smile and a quicker giggle when with friends. She is a young Muslim who has followed in her mother's footsteps and her mother's mother's footsteps by wearing the Islamic head covering, called hijab. Maryam Khan is 15, a typical teen-ager who likes to go to the movies with friends. She is a young Muslim who has followed in her mother's footsteps and her mother's mother's footsteps by not wearing hijab. Maryam knows that Muslims wear hijab for modesty, and she believes she shows that modesty in her way of dress and her manner. "If I wore hijab, I'd feel too vulnerable because of the prejudices," says the teen, who will be a junior at The Hockaday School in Dallas. Ummukulthum says she never had doubts about whether she'd wear the head covering. "I feel happy to wear it," says Ummukulthum, who attends Brighter Horizons Academy, an Islamic school in Garland, Texas. These teens reflect the two sides of the debate over hijab. ---- 40 Civilians among 90 killed in Nato strike in Afghanistan 05 Sep, 2009 Kunduz (Afghanistan): An American war jet blasted two fuel tankers hijacked by the Taliban in northern Afghanistan on Friday, killing up to 90 people, including insurgents and dozens of civilians who had rushed to the scene to collect fuel, Afghan officials said. Nato officials initially insisted that there were no civilians in the area when the attack occurred at about 2:30 am, but alliance chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen later acknowledged some civilians may have died. The United Nations is sending investigators to the scene. Nato also said it would fully investigate the reports of civilian casualties. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has sharply criticized the US-led command for allegedly using excessive force in the war against the Taliban, announced that he would create a panel to investigate the strike. Kunduz, a former Taliban stronghold, had been generally peaceful until insurgent attacks began rising earlier this year. Most of the fighting in Afghanistan this summer has been in the south and east, where US and British forces operate. The Germans are responsible for the Kunduz area. ---- Saudi Arabia concerned over Pak situation: Nasim Ashraf September 05, 2009 LAHORE: Saudi authorities have expressed concerns about the political situation currently prevailing in Pakistan, a private TV channel quoted former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf as saying on Friday. Talking to the channel, Ashraf, who is also a close friend of General (r) Pervez Musharraf, termed the former president's recent visit to Saudi Arabia "a success" and quoted the former president as saying that Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz was concerned about the current political situation in Pakistan. Dr Nasim Ashraf said Musharraf would visit the US in the third week of September where he would deliver 15 lectures at various universities and institutions, and was expected to return to Pakistan by the end of the year. The former president is named in an FIR seeking action against him for manhandling judges and forcibly ousting them from office. daily times monitor Source:http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\09\05\story_5-9-2009_pg1_8 ---- Murderous attack on a federal minister leaves Pakistanis cold Not by force alone THE murderous attack on Federal Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, by two unidentified gunmen on Wednesday, was not entirely unexpected. He was receiving threats to his life for the last some months and had requested for an official bullet-proof car. But as the luck would have it, at the time of attack he was riding not only an unsecured ordinary car, even the police squad supposedly tasked to protect him was not there. In full public view, in the heart of Islamabad and in the margins of the so-called Red Zone, he was the target of multi-directional firing for a good five minutes or so. Touchingly, Hamid Saeed Kazmi came under attack only about two hundred meters from the Lal Masjid, which has now been fully restored but no more in red colour. The Aabpara police station is even closer. And so is the site of a major suicide attack on the first anniversary of the Lal Masjid massacre, which had cost the local police a score of lives. Kazmi's escape is indeed a miracle, given the tragic history of the surroundings and his attackers' determination to get him. Security officials say the attackers could be locals and perhaps outsiders residing in the capital for some time. Full Report at: http://dailymailnews.com/0909/05/Editorial_Column/DMEditorial.php#1 ---- Dozens killed as Yemen ceasefire cracks: army September 05, 2009 SANAA: A Yemeni military source said on Saturday "dozens" of people had been killed on both sides as clashes with Shiite rebels in the north resumed overnight after a short-lived ceasefire broke down. "The armed forces and rebels engaged in violent clashes overnight which continued until dawn on Saturday in Malaheez and Hafr Sufyan" in Saada province, the source told foreign news agency in Sanaa by telephone. "Dozens of people have been killed in both camps," the source added, without elaborating. No official confirmation of the toll was available. Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=86436 ---- Iranian couple held for having sex on beach 05 Sep, 2009 Bangkok: Thai police fined an Iranian couple about $15 for having drunken sex on a popular tourist beach in front of a crowd of excited onlookers on Friday, officials said. The 28-year-old man and the woman, 25, from the strict Islamic republic were caught in the act just before dawn by a policeman in the coastal resort of Pattaya. Police Captain Chamrasthong Jinda, deputy inspector of the Pattaya police station, was riding his motorcycle to perform routine checking on the beach at 4:30 am when he spotted a crowd watching something on the beach and some of the tourists were shooting video clips with their mobile phones. "While I was on a motorcycle patrol I saw some 20 people including tourists gathered at the beach. I went to examine and found the two Iranians were naked and having sex," Jamrasthongjinda said. He then rushed to stop the couple and told them to put on clothes and took them to the Dongtan police station. Police charged the pair with committing an indecent act in a public place and in front of the public. The couple said they were drunk after finishing a bottle of vodka between them and police fined them 500 baht before freeing them, Jamras said. The Iranian man, Hashom Abdli, 28 and his girlfriend, Margam Ziyace, 25, were drunk and claimed that they did not know it was illegal to have sex in public place. Pattaya has a reputation for drunken excess, sleazy bars and explicit sex shows. AGENCIES Source: timesofindia.com --- In the holy month, even minorities in Pakistan exert self-control Ayesha Nasir September 04. 2009 LAHORE // For Naila Ishtiaq, 48, the month of Ramadan is a reminder of the paradoxes she lives with every day. A Catholic by birth, Mrs Ishtiaq bears a Muslim name, covers her head with a dupatta and gets more gifts on Eid than Christmas. "Everyone I work for gives me clothes and gifts for my children on Eid, but hardly anyone remembers to do so on Christmas," she said. "It's as if people forget that Christians have different celebrations and traditions from Muslims." For Mrs Ishtiaq, Ramadan is a month when she fasts by compulsion and not by choice, as all Pakistanis, regardless of their religion, are forbidden from eating, drinking and smoking in public during the hours of fasting. Mrs Ishtiaq works a morning shift at a gymnasium and an evening shift in an upper middle class household where she serves as assistant chef and waitress. "In the mornings, the cafeteria at the gymnasium is closed and the water dispensers are nowhere to be seen, which means that someone who isn't fasting can't find even a sip of water or a morsel of food," she said at the house where she works, wiping perspiration off her face with her muslin dupatta. "Everyone at the house I work at in the evening also fasts so food is not served to anyone till the evening prayer." Full Report at: http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090905/FOREIGN/709049774/1335 ---- Young Saudis taught to fight Qaida Campaign Aims To Wage War Against Extremist Ideology 05 Sep, 2009 Riyadh (Saudi Arabia): Young men spray hoses in a car-washing contest and play pool. Children make paper crowns in an art class, while their parents have a picnic. Alongside the fun and games, Muslim clerics answer questions about jihad or give lectures about the proper dress for women. This is Islamic summer camp, and it's part of Saudi Arabia's campaign to eliminate al-Qaida. Saudi Arabia says it's waging a "war of minds'' against extremist ideology, alongside the fierce security crackdown that has killed or arrested many al-Qaida leaders over the past six years. The kingdom plans to expand a broad public campaign aimed at preventing the young from being drawn to radicalism. "We are working on the men of the future,'' Abdulrahman Alhadlaq, general director of the Interior Ministry's ideological security directorate, said. Islamic summer camps are a key part of the program, attended by thousands of families who consult with government-backed clerics instilling what Saudi authorities call a moderate message. ---- 'Pakistan bid to facilitate infiltrators has intensified' September 5, 2009 Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said here on Friday that incidents of ceasefire violation by Pakistan Army had increased to enable militants to infiltrate into Kashmir before the onset of winter and the Indian Army was taking appropriate steps to counter the threat. Stating this, Gen Kapoor said, "The attempts of ceasefire violation have increased because this enables infiltration to be carried out when the firing is on and can be used as a diversionary tactic. Their attempt is to infiltrate more and more people during ceasefire violation but we understand their tactics and take appropriate steps," Kapoor said. He said, "Attempts will be made by the other side to try and disrupt the stable and peaceful environment in Jammu & Kashmir and to push in as many infiltrators as possible before the winter sets in. It is the trend that we are witnessing and the attempts of infiltration are going on." Full Report at: http://www.dailypioneer.com/200398/%E2%80%98Pakistan-bid-to-facilitate-infiltrators-has-intensified%E2%80%99.html ----- The Middle East Firestorm Ahead Sept 4, 2009 There is a firestorm ahead in the Middle East for which neither the US government nor the US public is prepared. The storm will go from Iraq to Afghanistan to Pakistan to Israel/Palestine, says Immanuel Wallerstein. by Immanuel Wallerstein There is a firestorm ahead in the Middle East for which neither the US government nor the US public is prepared. They seem scarcely aware how close it is on the horizon or how ferocious it will be. The US government (and therefore almost inevitably the US public) is deluding itself massively about its capacity to handle the situation in terms of its stated objectives. The storm will go from Iraq to Afghanistan to Pakistan to Israel/Palestine, and in the classic expression "it will spread like wildfire." Let us start with Iraq. The United States has signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Iraq, which went into effect on July 1. It provided for turning over internal security to the Iraqi government and, in theory, essentially restricting US forces to their bases and to some limited role in training Iraqi troops. Some of the wording of this agreement is ambiguous. Deliberately so, since that was the only way both sides would sign it. Even the first months of operation show how poorly this agreement is operating. The Iraqi forces have been interpreting it very strictly, formally forbidding both joint patrols and also any unilateral US military actions without prior detailed clearance with the government. It has gotten to the point that Iraqi forces are stopping US forces from passing checkpoints with supplies during daytime hours. The US forces have been chafing. They have tried to interpret the clause guaranteeing them the right of self-defence far more loosely than the Iraqi forces want. They are pointing to the upturn in violence in Iraq and therefore implicitly to the incapacity of Iraqi forces to guarantee order. The general commanding the US forces, Ray Odierno, is obviously extremely unhappy and is patently scheming to find excuses to re-establish a direct US role. Recently, he met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq and President Masoud Barzani of the Kurdish Regional Government. Odierno sought to persuade them to permit tripartite (Iraqi/Kurdish/American) joint patrols in Mosul and other areas of northern Iraq, in order to prevent or minimize violence. They politely agreed to consider his proposal. Unfortunately for Odierno, his plan would require a formal revision of the SOFA agreement. Full Report at: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/09/04-6 ---- US offering 'forged' intelligence on bomb studies: Iran 05 September 2009 (TEHRAN) - Iran has charged that Washington provided forged intelligence to the UN nuclear watchdog claiming that Tehran studied how to make atomic bomb, as world powers pressured the Islamic republic to resume talks on its nuclear drive. Iranian state news agency IRNA quoted a top Iranian official on Saturday as saying the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been given documents by Washington that lacked credibility. "The government of the United States has not given authentic documents to the agency because it does not actually have any credible documents and all those documents are forged," Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy to the IAEA said in a letter to the agency's chief Mohamed ElBaradei, according to IRNA. "Considering that there are no authentic documents on these alleged studies, there is no credible evidence of link between such forged claims and Iran ... This issue should be closed." Soltanieh's comments come as Iran is under pressure from world powers to resume negotiations over its controversial nuclear programme. World powers led by Washington suspect Tehran's atomic drive is aimed at making nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge. Full Report at: http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/iran-nuclear-us.c3 ---- Iraq calls for UN inquiry into bombings 05 Sep, 2009 UNITED NATIONS, Sept 4: Iraq's prime minister has asked the UN Security Council to investigate recent bombings outside two government ministry buildings in Baghdad and prosecute the alleged perpetrators, the country's UN envoy said on Thursday. Ambassador Hamid Al Bayati said a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon requested the UN chief to ask the Security Council to establish an independent investigation commission and an international tribunal. UN deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said on Thursday that the letter was being sent to this month's council president, US Ambassador Susan Rice, who was expected to distribute it shortly to the 14 other council members. Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki claimed Syria was sheltering armed groups wanted for cross-border attacks, but Mr Bayati said the letter to the UN chief "doesn't mention a country or any name." Mr Bayati said the prime minister made the request now because "the kind of crimes committed in these attacks might need investigation beyond Iraqi jurisdiction." "We need an independent international investigation committee or commission, and then whoever proves to be connected, or perpetrators of (the) attacks, should be put (before a) special international tribunal," he said.—AP ---- Swat Valley's hidden crisis Morton Abramowitz CONFUSION continues to reign over what is happening in Pakistan's unstable Swat Valley and its neighbouring districts. The Pakistani government says that the "emergency" fighting that displaced more than 2 million people earlier this year "is over." The Taleban has been defeated, Islamabad claims, and the area is returning to normal. The million still displaced have been ordered to return home (regardless of whether they want to), and the remaining camps for the displaced will soon be closed. Whatever truth lies in the government's story, its portrayal of the scene is self-serving. The Pakistani Army is fighting a difficult internal battle for which it has not been trained. Soldiers have little capability to handle humanitarian problems, and the displaced are not their priority in the war against the Taleban. The economy is in shambles, and recovery looks likely to take a long time. Some will say the humanitarians are dramatizing the situation because helping populations in distress is their business. After years of analyzing troubled regions, I tend to believe aid workers and nongovernmental organizations before I believe governments, which have a deep political interest in publicly declaring success as quickly as possible. Swat raises three fundamental issues that so far have gotten little attention: •The continuing effectiveness of the operation: The Pakistani military is finally turning on the Taleban, a welcome development that the United States has heavily promoted. Is it a short-term tactical success for the military but a longer-term strategic failure in its dealings with citizens and in hunting down Taleban fighters? Sources in Pakistan report that no Taleban leader has been killed or captured in the Swat Valley operation. The military operation could still end up producing more instability. Full Report at: http://dailymailnews.com/0909/05/Editorial_Column/DMColumn.php#1 ---- Fall in poppy output 05 Sep, 2009 ANY progress on the narcotics front in Afghanistan should be welcomed. As a UN report released on Wednesday says, poppy cultivation in that country is down by 22 per cent, while opium production has registered a fall of 10 per cent. More significantly, narcotics prices are at a record 10-year low, while the number of opium- and poppy-free provinces has gone up from 18 to 20 out of the country's 34 administrative units. The report by the UN Office on Drug and Crime repeats what has been known to Pakistan for long — that insurgent forces have become 'narco-cartels' on the Columbian pattern, and that the funds generated by the drug trade are used by the Taliban to procure arms. As the report notes, the militants view profits from the lucrative drug trade as more important than ideological considerations. One reason for the slight improvement in the situation is the abandonment by the Obama administration of Bush-era policies which lacked consistency and were often counterproductive. One proposal, which fortunately was not implemented, called for the poppy fields to be sprayed with chemicals. This was not only hazardous for health, it could have annoyed small land-owners by depriving them of their means of livelihood and driven them into Taliban hands.. Full Report at: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/editorial/fall-in-poppy-output-599 ---- UnIslamic ways of driving in Pakistan: Ramazan has made no difference Being young and wild --Drive slower, live longer A reflection of any nation's ethics is the way its people drive, and the way we drive shows a lot about us. When it comes to unethical driving, the list has no end. For most of us, breaking the traffic rules when the traffic police are not around does not come under any offence really. We clearly speed over limit, being slow is not really us. Instead, if a car in front of us is following the speed limit, it's our right to flash the headlights, to say 'get out of my way you slow jerk'. But when it comes to us…well, giving way to others is not really us, is it? We can even drive at a speed of 20 mph in the fast lane, where the speed is 80 mph. No matter how urgent and serious the issue is, at times even the ambulances have to wait. As the green signal turns on, if the car in front of us fails to move within 1 second, it's a norm to press horn immediately. If we are freaked out while driving, we can simply roll down the car's window and abuse the other driver. Especially now, with countless barrier and security checks on main roads, we have the right to drive completely out of ethics and showing absolutely no mercy. With the onset of Ramazan, we should be demonstrating some tolerance towards other drivers and traffic, but all we see in Ramazan is an increased level of intolerance and unethical driving. Where are we speeding to? Why are we in that much hurry? And who will get benefited with our ruthless, hurried driving. Research shows, no matter how fast you drive you will always reach your destination almost with the car that's driving in front of you, unless you are driving on a highway without signals and barriers. You can try testing this theory yourself. When it comes to barriers and signals, we all get even. Except you're driving only for the sake of thrill and speeding, it's insane to take so many risks and upsetting quite a many people, just to reach at work 3 minutes ahead of the car in front of you. By ruthless driving we are not only frustrating others but frustrating ourselves for most of the times. It is evident that ruthless drivers, starting their day with frustration, usually keep yelling out at work and for rest of the day for no good reason. This way we are only initiating a chain of frustration spreading from one person to other and then coming back to us always in one way or another. According to the universal law of attraction, when we remain upset and frustrated most of the times, we keep attracting things that frustrate us over and over again. On the other hand when we avoid frustration and remain at the state of calmness and happiness, we'll keep attracting all the good in the world. Only if we can learn to turn the steering around, set out for work with a smile on our face, giving way to others and enjoying the view, we can make a difference not only in our lives but also in the lives of so many people around. Keep smiling! —Bushra Naz bushnaz@dailymailnews.com Source: http://dailymailnews.com/0909/05/Editorial_Column/DMArticle.php#1 ---- Mass transit for Karachi September 05, 2009 The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council has approved a revival of a circular rail to run around Karachi, along with 20 other projects which include dams, a plan for railway improvements and a development package for Azad Kashmir. The Rs128.5 billion project will link points in Karachi through what is envisaged as a modern rail system with high standards, and aims to carry about 700,000 commuters daily in the country's largest city. We can anticipate some controversy over the project given its scale and possible dispute over how tenders are floated. There is also the fact that the last circular rail to run through Karachi, set up in the mid-1960s, was closed in 1997. Big losses were reported and the project had only limited success in solving the massive commuting problems of Karachi. Over a decade on, these problems have increased. The traffic snarls that grip the city are more frequent than ever. Commuters struggle each day to get to work or to schools and colleges. Those dependent on limited public transport suffer most. In such circumstances there is an acute need for a good transport system. The question is how it can be made to succeed. The key to this lies in offering a service that is efficient, and it is perfectly possible to set one up. The underground service that runs through Calcutta is one example. The light rail that flies above the streets in Kuala Lumpur is another. Full Report at: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=196680 ---- Karachi railway Saturday, 05 Sep, 2009 GRIDLOCK is a feature of life in Pakistani cities and we can build flyovers or underpasses by the day and still not solve the problem. A plaster cannot staunch the flow from a gaping wound, and a broken leg will be permanently disfigured if it is not set in place. When the basics aren't right, no amount of papering over the cracks can ever produce a lasting solution. More roads may ease congestion in the immediate term but their utility is bound to be short-lived in a country with a burgeoning population. In any case, available space is finite and there are only so many flyovers that can be built. The answer lies in developing mass transit systems that can transport people cheaply and quickly from Point A to B. Commuters ought to be able to travel in relative comfort without compromising on their dignity on a daily basis. Besides improving the lives of those who use public transport, effective mass transit systems would eventually reduce the number of buses on the roads, easing gridlock and cutting pollution levels. Full Report at: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/editorial/eus-external-relations-599 ---- Media asked not to comment on SJC proceedings By Nasir Iqbal Saturday, 05 Sep, 2009 ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: The Supreme Judicial Council, which is hearing a number of references on misconduct against superior court judges, took an unusual step on Friday of clamping a ban on the media from commenting on its proceedings. "The council is pleased to order that in view of the sanctity of proceedings of the council, the media is also directed not to comment on the case except information given by the council through press release or with the prior permission of the council," an SC announcement said, citing desire of the SJC meeting held last month. Some lawyers favoured the ban while some described it as against freedom of speech. The council had on Aug 29 summoned Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro, a judge of the Sindh High Court, who is facing two references under Article 209 of the Constitution, but had dropped similar proceedings against a Lahore High Court judge who had recently resigned. Justice Soomro dismissed the notice served on him by the council and described it as "obviously biased" and "prejudiced". He also filed a counter-reference against the former SHC chief justice. "The ban seems to have been placed to prevent unsavoury and scandalous stories in media in relation to proceedings of the council," a senior lawyer said. Full Report at: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/media-asked-not-to-comment-on-sjc-proceedings-599 ----- 'Army to chase Taliban till end' September 05, 2009 * COAS says terrorists' network dismantled, peace restored to Swat * Opens rehabilitation centre for youth brainwashed by Taliban By Ghulam Farooq MINGORA/RAWALPINDI: Inaugurating a rehabilitation centre for young men taken and trained to become terrorists and suicide bombers by Taliban, Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Pervez Kayani said the military has broken the terrorists' backs and Operation Rah-e-Rast would continue as long as the last terrorist was not eliminated. The army chief, visiting Malakand on Friday, later told a gathering of local leaders and soldiers that the terrorist network had been dismantled and peace restored to the Swat valley. He also discussed issues of rehabilitating and resettling the internally displaced population of the area. "The army will chase these militants till the very end." He also hoped that the people of these areas would support the armed forces in their mission. Local elders assured Kayani of their complete support to the army. Full Report at: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\09\05\story_5-9-2009_pg1_1 ---- Gates Sells Afghan Strategy Amid Growing Unease by Stephen Morris Sept 4. 2009 WASHINGTON - U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Michael Mullen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) remained tight-lipped about the contents of a confidential report on the future of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan in a wide-ranging Pentagon briefing on Thursday. [U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates takes questions from the news media during a press conference at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. (AFP/Getty Images/File/Chip Somodevilla)]U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates takes questions from the news media during a press conference at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. (AFP/Getty Images/File/Chip Somodevilla) The report, authored by U.S. Afghanistan commander General Stanley McChrystal, is expected to lay the groundwork for a recommendation that President Barack Obama authorise an increase in combat troop numbers to help stabilise the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. McChrystal has previously called the situation on the ground "serious" yet salvageable. The report is due to be discussed with the president some time next week as a matter of urgency resulting from the growing public dissatisfaction with the conduct and progress of the war. The press conference, however, offered little illumination on the potential surge in troops, rumoured to be as many as 25,000, as Gates and Mullen evaded reporters' questions probing the actual contents of McChrystal's report. Gates denied that control of the war was slipping through the administration's fingers while acknowledging indications that U.S. public opinion is fading fast. Mullen said that the situation necessitated a sense of urgency and that there was "a limited time for us to show this [new] approach is working." According to a CBS poll this week, 41 percent are now calling for a reduction in troop levels - an eight point rise since April. The number who believe that the U.S. should commit additional troops has correspondingly declined 14 points, leaving only 25 percent who believe a higher commitment is necessary. Full Report at: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/09/04-1 ---- Iraq Sends Thousands of Police to Syria Border to Stop Insurgents By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS September 4, 2009 BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq has deployed thousands of reinforcements along its border with Syria to prevent insurgents from crossing the desert frontier, as the government said Friday it had provided Syria with evidence linking Iraqis there to bombings. Extra police officers were sent to the border this week on the prime minister's orders in response to the government's assertion that former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party based in Syria planned and financed attacks last month against the Foreign and Finance Ministries, said Maj. Gen. Tariq Youssef, the police commander in western Iraq. Iraq is seeking the extradition of two suspects, but Syria has refused, demanding proof of their involvement. The dispute has strained relations between the countries and again put Syria on the defensive over accusations that it is not doing enough to stop cross-border attacks. The truck bombings outside the government ministries in Baghdad on Aug. 19 killed about 100 people. Iraq has blamed an alliance between Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia and the outlawed Baath Party. Each country has recalled its ambassador, and Turkey has stepped in to try to mediate the dispute. Full Report at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/world/middleeast/05iraq.html?ref=todayspaper ----- Muslim effort helps homeless on Humanitarian Day Liset Márquez September 04. 2009 ONTARIO - The increased homeless population in the past couple of years has prompted organizers of Humanitarian Day to bring their event to the Inland Empire for the first time. Today's event will be hosted by the 2009 Coalition to Preserve Human Dignity, a social network of people, organizations and sponsors. Humanitarian Day is from 11 to 1 p.m. at Mercy House, 905 E. Holt Blvd. in Ontario "We chose Ontario because of the growing population of homeless in the area. The location of our event, Mercy House, is but a couple of blocks from the 'Tent City' where so many homeless live," said Fuad M. Dadabhoy co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of UPLIFT Charity, Inc. Naim Shah Jr, executive director of the Intellect, Love, Mercy Foundation, said, "Our goal is give hope and fulfill a divine obligation to assist the homeless and humanity." The coalition plans to serve lunch to about 200 homeless people as well as hand out gift bags with water bottles, snack packs, new T-shirts, hygiene kits, toys as well as free health screenings. Full Report at: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_13270535 ----- Islamic militant arrested in southern Philippines Sat, 05 Sep 2009 Cotabato City, Philippines - A suspected Islamic militant allegedly involved in arson and terrorist attacks was arrested in the southern Philippines, police said Saturday. Smawtin Basilan was arrested Wednesday at his home in Midsayap town in North Cotabato province, 930 kilometres south of Manila, according to regional police chief Chief Superintendent Bensali Jarabani. Jarabani said the suspect was a ranking member of a rogue group of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels under Commander Ameril Umbra Kato involved in deadly attacks in the area in August last year. Jarabani added that Basilan had a bounty of 600,000 pesos (12,371 dollars) on his head for his arrest or capture. Kato was among the three MILF commanders who attacked towns and seized villages after peace talks between the separatist group and the government broke down. More than 300 people were killed in the attacks and subsequent clashes with government forces and more than 500,000 were forced to flee their homes. --- Swedish government funds 'feminist' porn flick 05 Sep, 2009 Stockholm: A porn movie shot by a feminist documentary maker and funded by taxpayers was set for its premiere in Stockholm, Sweden's capital. Dirty Diaries, a collection of 12 short pornographic films, shot by director Mia Engberg received 500,000 Sweden kronor ($69,000) in public funds from the Swedish Film Institute. "Porn has always been made by men for men," Engberg said, explaining her reasoning for shooting the Dirty Diaries. "Above all, it's about showing sexuality through a female's perspective. It's not made to please a male audience and it's not made to make money," she added. Engberg said what makes Dirty Diaries feminist is that it displays women's sexuality in a natural way and shuns what she perceives as mainstream porn's sexist tendency to treat women as objects. "I think this is the future. The most popular genre now is homemade porn made by ordinary people," she said. Clips from the films appear on www.dirtydiaries.se, carrying titles such as "Flasher Girl On Tour" and "On Your Back Woman". Dirty Diaries was set for its premiere in Stockholm on Thursday night. ----- Afghanistan: Abdullah Abdullah's fractured support By Jal Taraporevala 05 Sep, 2009 Mounting allegations of malpractice levelled by Abdullah Abdullah, the main rival of Afghan president Hamid Karzai in last month's presidential elections, underscore the risks to the country's polity from the widening ethnic and regional divide. Given that the Karzai administration has its hands full battling the Taliban, it can't afford to antagonise Abdullah's supporters since he represents the country's leading political opposition group. After all, any further undermining of democracy will mean playing into the hands of militants. In ratcheting up his criticism of the polls, Abdullah is voicing the disappointment of many in the Tajik- and Uzbek-dominated north with the southern Pashtun-led Karzai administration. The effect of Abdullah's strategy hinges on the response of the US. Although US officials are uneasy about the polls, Washington is unlikely to significantly step up pressure on Karzai because of its own geopolitical stake in Afghanistan. Abdullah's task is also complicated by political differences between Tajiks and Uzbeks, his main support base. Besides, it's no help to him that the Tajiks and Uzbeks are wary of Shia Hazaras—15% of the population—who have sharp differences with Karzai. ---- Family, fans bid farewell to Michael Jackson 05 Sep, 2009 Los Angeles: Michael Jackson has finally been laid to rest in a crown-adorned glittering gold coffin after family and friends saluted the tragic 'King of Pop' in a poignant farewell. More than two months after the singer died from a drug overdose, around 200 mourners—led by the Jackson family and also including Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor—gathered at a picturesque cemetery on a warm summer evening to celebrate the singer's life. Jackson's children—Prince Michael 12, Paris, 11, and seven-yearold Prince Michael II—placed a crown on their father's coffin before the service got underway. Jackson's brothers—all dressed in black suits and red ties while each wearing a white glove in tribute to the pop icon—served as pallbearers as the coffin was removed from the hearse. His children left notes in the coffin reading "Daddy we love you, we miss you." Mourners made spontaneous tributes to Jackson in a service held beyond the prying eyes of hundreds of media personnel gathered outside the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, home to a who's who of late Hollywood legends. Other guests included actor Macaulay Culkin, comic Chris Tucker and outspoken rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton. AFP ----- Muslim couple crosses cultures with Hernando County tradition By Gail Hollenbeck, Times Correspondent September 5, 2009 They may call Tampa home now, but Drs. Adel and Ghada Eldin plan to continue their Ramadan tradition in Hernando County. On Sunday, the Eldins will again sponsor a Love Your Neighbour meal for homeless and needy people in Brooksville. Adel Eldin continues his cardiology practice in Spring Hill. His wife, who is also a physician, serves as his office manager. "The meal is for Muslim and non-Muslim," Ghada Eldin said. "The hunger, the pain, affects everybody. It doesn't matter if you're Muslim, Christian or Jewish. Pain is pain. We're human beings, and we have to be very merciful to each other." Love Your Neighbour is a Christian outreach ministry that feeds about 300 to 400 people each weekend at American Legion Post 99 in Brooksville. It is a part of New Beginning of Tampa, a non-profit charity corporation. "While we are Christian, we do accept sponsors from all walks of life and religious backgrounds," said Lisa Callea, who runs the ministry with her husband, John. "It's really about our community." Eldin said Sunday's dinner will be similar to the one he and his wife sponsored last year. Lisa Callea said it went well. "It was awesome," she said, noting that there are a few changes to the group's typical meal such as serving dates and avoiding pork. "There are a couple of things they ask us to do that we would not normally do. Otherwise, it's our regular Sunday dinner." Ghada Eldin said she helps serve the meal. "I do everything you could imagine," she said. "I serve and I speak and I clean sometimes. Whatever needs to be done, I do it. I don't mind helping, and I explain who we are." The Eldins also sponsored a meal for Mother's Day and sponsor a Thanksgiving food basket distribution each year. Full Report at: http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/muslim-couple-crosses-cultures-with-hernando-county-tradition/1033835 ----- CAIR Sends Quran to TN Mayor Who Circulated Anti-Islam Sep 4, 2009 WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today announced that it will send a copy of the Quran, Islam's revealed text, to a Tennessee mayor who circulated an anti-Islam e-mail to public officials. The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said Clarksville, Tenn., Mayor John Piper forwarded an e-mail urging "patriotic Americans" to protest a U.S. Postal Service "Eid" stamp marking the two major Islamic holidays of Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha at the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca. (The Eid stamp was first issued in 2001 and was re-issued several times as prices increased. The 44-cent version was issued yesterday.) Mayor Piper sent the e-mail to every city council member and to many city employees, friends, and family members. The e-mail falsely claims the stamp is new and that its creation was ordered by President Obama. It also states: "REMEMBER to adamantly & vocally BOYCOTT this stamp, when you are purchasing your stamps at the post office." Copies of the Quran will also be sent to members of the city council. CAIR is sending the Qurans to Piper and the city council as part of its "Share the Quran" initiative, which is designed to distribute free copies of the Quran to 100,000 local, state and national leaders by the end of the year. Full Report at: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS206852+04-Sep-2009+PRN20090904 ---- Youngsters Master Art of Memorising Quran Ahmed Shaaban 5 September 2009 DUBAI — When talking to him, one feels he is a fully mature and grown-up man though he is Grade 10 student. This is 15-year-old Abdul Rahman Hafez, who is representing Egypt in the 13th session of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA). "I started memorising the Quran at the age of seven and finished it after three years and a half. I was used to memorising the Quran at the Kuttab (a kind of small Islamic centre) of my village in Qalyubiya province. My younger brother has also memorised the Quran in full," Abdul Rahman told Khaleej Times. "I started my journey with the Quran by memorising three lines a day until I reach two quarters of a part. Both my Sheikh and father used to follow me up closely, check upon my memorisation and recitation on a regular basis, and reward me. I can now finish reading the Quran in just two days." Having shown good performance in many local competitions, Abdul Rahman was nominated for the DIHQA by the Ministry of Awqaf in Egypt. Full Report at: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2009/September/theuae_September101.xml§ion=theuae&col= ---- Haram imam condemns assassination bid 5 September 2009 MAKKAH: Sheikh Saud Al-Shuraim, imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Friday denounced the attempt to assassinate Prince Muhammad bin Naif, assistant minister of interior for security affairs, describing it as a heinous crime. The sheikh made the comments while delivering a Friday sermon to thousands of people who thronged the large prayer complex. The imam also lambasted the Al-Qaeda terror network's deviant ideology that promotes killings and assassinations. "This confusing ideology first targeted non-Muslims including contracted workers. Now they are targeting the people of Islam ... including top officials appointed by the ruler for the country's security," Al-Shuraim said in an apparent reference to the assassination attempt on Prince Muhammad. The imam urged wanted militants to surrender and correct their way of living during the holy month of Ramadan by making use of the concessions offered by the country's leadership. A suicide bomber, posing as a well wisher, blew himself up at Prince Muhammad's residence on Aug. 27 while he was receiving people who came to greet him on the occasion of Ramadan. Full Report at: http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=126111&d=5&m=9&y=2009&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom ---------- URL of this Page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1728
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Pakistani women express solidarity with Muslim women in Europe
7:59 PM
Sultan Shahin
2 comments:
the messages of the Quran is very important for every Muslim
I agree with u
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