Why fear the constitution of the new Central Madrasa Board?, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Why fear the constitution of the new Central Madrasa Board?

By Mahfoozur Rahman

Let’s see this suggestion of the Central Madrasa Board in the words of Justice Mohammad Sohail Ejaz Siddiqui, the chairman of the central commission for minority educational institutions. He told the media in a particular interview: “We travelled all over the country in relation with the formation of Central Madrasa Board and visited the small-scale madrasas where poor Muslims’ children study. Ultimately, we decided to establish such an institution, where the Muslim students can study religious as well as scientific subjects simultaneously under the guidance of Central Madrasa Board. The teaching of all subjects up to STD XII according to CBSE pattern would be arranged there without any interference of the government bodies. It would be an autonomous body founded with the seed money (Rs.500 crore), a one-time assistance given by the government.

The affiliation of the madrasas with the Central Madrasa Board would be optional: either of the parties can terminate the contract. The government or the Central Madrasa Board would not interfere in matters of the Islamic syllabus or their financial matters. They would be run by the Islamic scholars only. On being affiliated, the Central Madrasa Board would be responsible for providing efficient teachers and financial help to make them excellent educational centres. As an advantage, the students would obtain education up to STD XII according to the CBSE pattern making them eligible to be admitted into reputed universities. Another advantage would be that they would be taught by eminent scholars to enhance their knowledge and learning. All madrasas would function like light houses dispensing the darkness of illiteracy to enlighten our lives.

http://newageislam.com/why-fear-the-constitution-of-the-new-central-madrasa-board?/current-affairs/d/1863

Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan policy: Brazen smash and grab, organised ethnic cleansing, Islam and Politics, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Politics

Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan policy: Brazen smash and grab, organised ethnic cleansing

Evolution of Pakistan’s Northern Areas policy

B Raman

September 18, 2009

n September 7, 2009, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari signed what is called the ‘Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009’, purporting to introduce administrative, political, financial and judicial reforms in the Northern Areas of Jammu & Kashmir, which has been under Pakistani occupation since 1947-48. The order re-names the Northern Areas as Gilgit-Baltistan, thereby seeking to obliterate the linkage of the area with Jammu & Kashmir.

Addressing a Press conference the same day, president of Gilgit-Baltistan branch of the Pakistan People’s Party, Syed Mehdi Shah, said that Mr Zardari had instructed the authorities concerned to prepare a comprehensive plan to accelerate economic development in Gilgit-Baltistan. He claimed that the Zardari Government had given internal freedom and all financial, democratic, administrative, judicial, political and developmental powers to the Legislative Assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that a Gilgit-Baltistan Council, to be headed by the Prime Minister, would be set up and that Mr Zardari had ordered early initiation of a Gilgit-Skardu road project, the establishment of regional branches of the National Bank of Pakistan, the National Database and Registration Authority and the House Building Finance Corporation in the area.

Explaining the changes sought to be introduced by the Government in the status of the area to the media, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani stated as follows on August 29, 2009:

http://newageislam.com/pakistan%E2%80%99s-gilgit-baltistan-policy--brazen-smash-and-grab,-organised-ethnic-cleansing/islam-and-politics/d/1761

Islam: Adding Value To Humanity, Islamic Culture, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic Culture

Islam: Adding Value To Humanity

By Raza Elahi

Posted Aug 1, 2009

Seven centuries ago, Baghdad and Damascus were world financial hubs. The Arab world, under the Abbasid caliphs, had trade relations with all major nations from China to Italy. The Assyrians mapped out a road network to enable them to transport African ivory, Caspian furs and Indian spices across their empire. Two millennia before the advent of the dollar and pound sterling, the gold coin, Persian daric, introduced by Darius the Great, was the currency of choice from Greece to the kingdoms of India. The financiers of Mecca and Damascus set up letters of credit, bills of exchange, foreign agencies, primitive contract laws and custom duties centuries before the bankers of Renaissance Florence and Tudor London.

Empires came and went, kingdoms were established and fell, but trade remains one of the institutions that truly defines Arab culture. The earliest civilisations of the Middle East evolved on the banks of the Nile, the Tigris and the Euphrates. Their trading links with Mohenjadaro on the Indus, Dilmun in the Arabian Gulf and the Hellenic ports of the Aegean islands demonstrate that international markets existed centuries before Christ.

http://newageislam.com/islam--adding-value-to-humanity/islamic-culture/d/1589

Turkey's ruling party narrowly escapes ban, Muslims and Islamophobia, NewAgeIslam.com

Muslims and Islamophobia

Turkey's ruling party narrowly escapes ban

AFP, Ankara

The judges who supported the financial sanctions agreed that the AKP had become a "focal point" of anti-secular activities as the chief prosecutor argued "but not that serious" to deserve a ban, he said.

A solemn Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the outcome, saying it would strengthen Turkish democracy, and pledged commitment to secularism.

"The Justice and Development Party, which has never been a focal point of anti-secular activities, will continue to defend the basic principles of the republic," he said.

The AKP will carefully study the ruling and step up efforts to heal political divisions, he said, reasserting commitment also to Turkey's European Union membership bid.

Closing down the AKP, which dominates parliament and is still the country's most popular party, could have sparked political chaos, wrecked Turkey's EU accession talks and hit the economy.

The AKP, which won a resounding re-election victory last year, was accused of seeking to install a regime based on Sharia law, charges that it vehemently denies.

The prosecutor had also asked the court to bar President Abdullah Gul, Erdogan and 69 other AKP officials from party politics for five years.

http://newageislam.com/turkey-s-ruling-party-narrowly-escapes-ban/muslims-and-islamophobia/d/354