It fell from the heavens, Radical Islamism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Radical Islamism and Jihad

It fell from the heavens

By Nadeem F Pracha

Though both sides of the main sectarian divide (the ‘Barelvi’ and the Salafi/Deobandi) are given equal space on the channels, unfortunately, the preachers and TV hosts of both the sides have usually taken extreme positions on various issues. This includes exhibiting animated armchair radicalism by indirectly siding with monsters such as the Taliban and scoffing at the concept of democracy and liberal Islam, attacking them as misguided constructs worthy only of ridicule.

But the proliferation of conservative and at times rather demagogic religious shows on television is not exactly a new phenomenon. Its roots lie in the sudden growth of religious programming on the state-owned PTV from 1979 onwards, or two years after General Ziaul Haq’s intransigent military dictatorship started to find some firm footing following the toppling of a democratically elected government in 1977. According to a former PTV man Burhanudin Hasan’s book, ‘Uncensored’ (2000), there was almost a three-fold growth in religious programming on PTV in the 1980s.

This kind of programming was mostly sculpted to propagate the Zia regime’s Islamic credentials and laws, and to also justify and glorify the concept of armed jihad in the wake of Pakistan’s involvement in the anti-Soviet manoeuvres of the (US/ISI-backed) Afghan mujahideen. But is it possible to pinpoint an exact moment that triggered the whole trend of politically-motivated religious programming in Pakistan? It seems there is.

In July 1979, America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) announced that its ‘Skylab’ satellite that had been orbiting the planet since 1973 had developed a fault and was expected to fall to Earth. Nasa was not sure exactly where it would crash, but experts believed that the burly satellite was likely to fall either over Australia or over the Indian subcontinent. Though the same experts also stated that the satellite would start burning after it entered Earth’s atmosphere and most probably end up in the sea, the story took a life of its own in Pakistan.

http://newageislam.com/-it-fell-from-the-heavens-/radical-islamism-and-jihad/d/2752

Kabul’s Women Today: No Escaping the Burqa, Islam, Women and Feminism, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam, Women and Feminism

Kabul’s Women Today: No Escaping the Burqa

By Sahar Saba

February 22, 2010

In 2001, US First Lady Laura Bush said “the fight against terrorism is also a fight for the rights and dignity of women.’’ In practice, because of the subsequent US military strategy to bring warlords into power to replace the Taliban has proved to be a negation of this. Women’s rights are regularly traded for political deals. Afghanistan’s most famous woman and youngest MP, Malalai Joya, remains suspended from parliament because of the government’s effort to please the Northern Alliance. Gulbadin Hikmatyar, notorious since the 1970s for his anti-women barbarities, has been accommodated. Now talks with the Taliban are underway.

On the streets of Kabul burqa-clad women outnumber those without burqa. So much for images flashed in the global media in 2001 of Afghan women happily removing their veils. Those without burqa are subjected to sexual harassment at workplaces and in the streets and are more vulnerable to groping by men on public buses. This is an outcome of Talibanisation, which views a woman without purdah as having questionable character. Hence, many girls who want to study or work prefer burqa to escape sexual harassment. It is the same Kabul where two decades ago girls went to university in skirts with burqa-clad students, without ever inviting trouble.

Though the Karzai administration keeps boasting about millions of girls being registered at schools and colleges, far more women are unable to read and write than men. Eighty percent of woman suffer domestic violence, 60 percent are coerced into forced marriages while half of them are married before reaching the age of 16. Self-immolation has of late become common practice among desperate Afghan women seeking an escape from the harsh Afghan life. True, the situation is not comparable with the Taliban-era nightmare, but women in Kabul have not regained even a fraction of liberties they used to have before the Taliban and their jihadi predecessors after the fall of the secular government.

http://newageislam.com/kabul%E2%80%99s-women-today--no-escaping-the-burqa/islam,-women-and-feminism/d/2492

Rahul Gandhi to motivate Aligarh Muslim University students to pursue higher education, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic World News

Rahul Gandhi to motivate Aligarh Muslim University students to pursue higher education

HAATHRAS: AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi will interact with the students of Aligarh Muslim University, during his two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh starting December 7.

"Rahul, who has been invited by vice-chancellor P K Abdul Azis, will address students at Kennedy hall of the university on December 7," AMU spokesman Rahat Abrar said here.

This will be Gandhi's first visit to AMU. Around 800 students selected from various faculties, residential halls and schools affiliated with the AMU will also attend the event.

"Rahul will motivate students to pursue higher education," Abrar said.

The Congress leader will also visit Jama Masjid and pay tributes to Sir Syed Ahmad, founder of the AMU.

On the second day of his visit, Gandhi will attend a convention of PCC representatives to be held at UPCC headquarters in Lucknow on December 8 where the party's membership campaign would be discussed.

Later in the day, the Congress leader will also attend programmes to be organised in Ambedkar Nagar and Kanpur.

"Rahul Gandhi, who will be on a two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh, will attend various programmes to be organised in Sitapur, Bahraich, Aligarh, Aliganj (Etah) and Hardoi district on December 7," party spokesman Dwijendra Tripathi said in Lucknow.

AMU revokes suspension of 18 students

The Aligarh Muslim University administration on Thursday revoked the suspension of 18 students, who were charged with misconduct and indiscipline.

http://newageislam.com/rahul-gandhi-to-motivate-aligarh-muslim-university-students-to-pursue-higher-education/islamic-world-news/d/2187

Bush's Third Term? You're Living It, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Bush's Third Term? You're Living It

Tomgram: David Swanson, The More Things Change

Sept 01, 2009

A presidential candidate opposed to the Iraq War is elected and enters the Oval Office. Yet six months later, there are still essentially the same number of troops in Iraq as were there when his predecessor left, the same number, in fact, used in the original invasion of Iraq in March 2003. Moreover, the new president remains on the "withdrawal" schedule the previous administration laid out for him with the same caveats being issued about whether it can even be met.

That administration also built a humongous, three-quarters-of-a-billion-dollar embassy in Baghdad, undoubtedly the most expensive on the planet. Staffed with approximately 1,000 "diplomats," it was clearly meant to be a massive command centre for Iraq (and, given neocon dreams, the region). Last weekend, well into the Obama era, the Washington Post reported that the State Department's yearly budget for "running" that embassy -- $1.5 billion (that is not a misprint) in 2009 -- will actually rise to $1.8 billion for 2010 and 2011. In addition, the Obama administration now plans to invest upwards of a billion dollars in constructing a massive embassy in Islamabad and other diplomatic facilities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Here, too, there will be a massive influx of "diplomats," and here, too, a U.S. command centre for the region is clearly being created.

http://newageislam.com/bush-s-third-term?-you-re-living-it/current-affairs/d/1725

India: Aggressive Wahhabi assertion leads to riots in Vaishali, Islam and Sectarianism, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Sectarianism

India: Aggressive Wahhabi assertion leads to riots in Vaishali

The 100-years-old mosque in Kamalpur village was owned and managed by the followers of Barailavi sect. As per information, prayers have been led by Barailavi Imams for a long time. Recently, the mosque had got renovated by a wealthy person belonging to Deobandi sect. He wanted a Deobandi Imam and a Deobandi Hafiz to be appointed for the prayers and Taraveeh (special Ramazan prayer) simultaneously in the Holy month of Ramazan. The Barailavi followers insisted upon the appointment of a Barailavi Imam and Hafiz which had been the tradition for about 100 years. The other group flatly refused to accept and follow the old tradition. Thus a dispute occurred of which no solution could be found.

Some anti-Islamic elements tried to disturb unity among the Muslims and create differences within community. The situation was brought under control by the responsible residents of the society. They contained it with great sincere efforts and tactfulness, preventing any more serious and unpleasant incident from taking place.

Initially the controversy arose over the matter of leading Friday prayers which resulted in fighting and stone-pelting among the residents of Kamalpur. The district administration was somewhat aware of the brewing sectarian conflict and they were quite mindful too of trying to prevent any serious untoward incident. So they had deputed a police force in the concerned village even before the incident took place. They brought the situation under control by taking action immediately.

http://newageislam.com/india--aggressive-wahhabi-assertion-leads-to-riots-in-vaishali/islam-and-sectarianism/d/1702

Obama understands that security lies in cooperation, not in bigger weapons, Islam and the West, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and the West

Obama understands that security lies in cooperation, not in bigger weapons

Sept 18, 2009

US President Barack Obama’s decision to shelve plans to base a missile-defence system in Eastern Europe is a welcome sign of his departure from the war-mongering policies of his predecessor. The decision has already prompted sharp criticism from Obama’s Republican rivals, who claim that the new US president is compromising America’s national security. But the truth is that Obama’s move will probably go a long way toward making the United States – and the world – safer.

Supporters of George W. Bush’s costly defence plan argued that it was necessary in order to ward off threats from Iran. But even after tens of billions of dollars were spent developing the advanced missile-interceptor system, the Pentagon could offer no guarantees that it would actually work in realistic conditions.

Obama said on Thursday that his administration had reassessed the threat of Iran’s missiles and had concluded that it could be countered with cheaper defence weapons that have a proven track record of working. The Obama administration’s conclusion is an important one because it touches on an issue of major concern: the tendency of world leaders to exaggerate threats.

http://newageislam.com/obama-understands-that-security-lies-in-cooperation,-not-in-bigger-weapons/islam-and-the-west/d/1769

Vande Mataram Controversy and Fatwa of Darul Uloom, Deoband, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Vande Mataram Controversy and Fatwa of Darul Uloom, Deoband

A Frank analysis of the Fatwa over the controversial song composed by Bankimchandra Chattyopaddhay

by Maulana Nadeemul Wajidi

Translated from Urdu by Raihan Nezami

A communal leader of Hindu Gujjar community of Marakpur in Deoband conducted a panchayat in the premises of Inter college and decided to organize a demonstration in Saharanpur district against the so-called anti-national attitude of Darul Uloom, Deoband and burn an effigy of the concerning organization on the 25th of Aug 2009. On that day, about 70 (seventy) people only from a village of 80 (eighty) houses gathered to demonstrate at the pre-announced site whereas their number was expected to be in thousands. It shows the majority of the Hindus are still peaceful-minded who believe in secularism and solidarity of the country. This malicious attempt was made by the supporters of the communal parties only, who keep trying to destroy inter-communal harmony by their anti-social activities. The demonstrators could only shout anti-Muslim slogans, but failed to burn the effigies as the Muslims had taken a hard stand. The district administration, too, was quite alert and sought to avert any untoward occurrence. The unholy mission was foiled but this left a few questions behind.

http://newageislam.com/vande-mataram-controversy-and-fatwa-of-darul-uloom,-deoband/current-affairs/d/1784

The Taliban Can Be Beaten, Radical Islamism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Radical Islamism and Jihad

The Taliban Can Be Beaten

Re-reading the future

By Swagato Ganguly

9 Jun 2009

West Asia has oil, so it's sexy and glamorous in a way that South Asia isn't. But a lot of transnational jihadist activity is centred in South Asia. This part of the world being un-sexy for western analysts is perfect cover for al-Qaeda. It also enables those who still dream of 'strategic depth' within the Pakistani establishment to hope that the West will give up on Afghanistan and hand over Kabul's keys to Islamabad as it withdraws. The latest salvo in that regard has been fired by a Pakistani ex-intelligence officer known as Colonel Imam, who has worked with the Taliban and with Mullah Omar. According to him the Taliban can never be defeated on the battlefield because their losses only help them to expand.

Such mythmaking is reinforced by those 'liberal' western commentators who, as a backlash to the excesses of the Bush administration, now recommend withdrawal from Afghanistan. The historical precedents they cite, of the failure of earlier British and Soviet efforts to tame Afghanistan, are shallow. In a 21st century, post-Cold War framework it's no longer a question of bringing Afghanistan to heel, but enabling it to become a modern nation with the backing of the international community. Not doing that would leave a vacuum for the Taliban and for petrodollars looking for jihadist causes to fill. That would provide the conditions for Colonel Imam's prophecies to come true.

http://newageislam.com/the-taliban-can-be-beaten-/radical-islamism-and-jihad/d/1453

India’s Dilemma: Help Pakistan stay together or help it to self-destruct?, War on Terror, NewAgeIslam.com

War on Terror

India’s Dilemma: Help Pakistan stay together or help it to self-destruct?

The Pakistan problem

Tavleen Singh Posted: Jan 11, 2009 at 0139 hrs IST

This promise has been paid for in advance. The administration of George W. Bush has paid Pakistan more than $12 billion since 9/11. More money will come if Pakistan can prove that it is serious about fighting the jihadi groups who shelter along its Western border. But, it is not simple for the Pakistani Army to persuade its soldiers to kill men who till yesterday were their brothers in arms. And, let us not fool ourselves into believing that the ‘rogue’ elements in the army and the ‘rogue’ ISI do these bad things. The Pakistani Army is a cohesive whole. If there are rogue elements, it is in the ranks of the jihadi groups, some of whom got disenchanted with General Pervez Musharraf and tried more than once to bump him off. The Lashkar-e-Toiba, we must remember, is not one of them. It has never been responsible for terrorist acts in Pakistan. So, let us not fool ourselves into thinking any of our wanted criminals is going to be extradited. If we want to try them in India we will have to go and get them ourselves.

http://newageislam.com/india%E2%80%99s-dilemma--help-pakistan-stay-together-or-help-it-to-self-destruct?--/war-on-terror/d/1110

Saudi Arabia finally feels a slight prick of conscience over Gaza massacre, urges US to be even-handed, Islam and the West, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and the West

Saudi Arabia finally feels a slight prick of conscience over Gaza massacre, urges US to be even-handed

A prominent member of the Saudi royal family is warning the Obama administration that failure to alter US attitudes towards the Arab-Israeli conflict radically would threaten the kingdom's "special relationship" with the US and could force Riyadh to abandon its own support for a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

In an article in today's Financial Times, Prince Turki al-Faisal, former Saudi intelligence chief and former ambassador to Washington, says that if the US wants to continue playing a leadership role in the Middle East and maintain its strategic alliance with Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, it "will have to drastically revise its policies vis-à-vis Israel and Palestine".

Writing days after the end of Israel's three-week Gaza offensive, he says the Bush administration, which supported the onslaught, had left a "sickening legacy in the region". And while Saudi Arabia has so far resisted Iranian calls to lead a "jihad" against Israel, "eventually the kingdom will not be able to prevent its citizens from joining the worldwide revolt against Israel".

The prince - writing before President Barack Obama made his comments on the Arab-Israel conflict last night - holds no official position in the Saudi government at the moment but his views reflect the mounting frustrations within the al-Saud royal family and the apparent need to exert immediate pressure on the Obama administration for a more even-handed Middle East policy.

http://newageislam.com/saudi-arabia-finally-feels-a-slight-prick-of-conscience-over-gaza-massacre,-urges-us-to-be-even-handed--/islam-and-the-west/d/1159

Let the cosmopolitan spirit of Mumbai defeat the forces of darkness, Islam,Terrorism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

Let the cosmopolitan spirit of Mumbai defeat the forces of darkness

By S A H RIZVI

Notwithstanding these verbal assurances and cosmetic changes, it is high time to act and only time will tell how far the government is successful. “There is no room for politics”, says my friend Sirajuddin Qureshi, President of the India Islamic Cultural Centre but adds with disappointment `our political dispensation could not come together even at this critical juncture”

Siraj is right as people are slowly loosing faith in the political system, faith in the administration. The political class must strengthen the system and restore faith of the people by reforming itself than to indulge in petty bickering, is the general refrain.

In the mayhem of Mumbai terror attack, the citizen of this nation stood together, united to face the brunt. In the darkness that permeated all around during the siege of Mumbai and thereafter, there was a silver lining nonetheless.

Where everything failed, our security, our intelligence network our establishment, the spirit of Mumbai once again prevailed. This is where the terrorists from across the border failed in their nefarious design, a plan that unarmed citizens of the city thwarted.

http://newageislam.com/let-the-cosmopolitan-spirit-of-mumbai-defeat-the-forces-of-darkness/islam,terrorism-and-jihad/d/1033

Was America Attacked by Muslims on 9/11?, War on Terror, NewAgeIslam.com

War on Terror

Was America Attacked by Muslims on 9/11?

By Professor David Ray Griffin

One might, to be sure, rationalize this behaviour by supposing that these were momentary lapses and that, as 9/11 approached, these young Muslims had repented and prepared for heaven. But in the days just before 9/11, Atta and others were reported to be drinking heavily, cavorting with lap dancers, and bringing call girls to their rooms. Temple University Professor Mahmoud Ayoub said: "It is incomprehensible that a person could drink and go to a strip bar one night, then kill themselves the next day in the name of Islam. . . . Something here does not add up."5

In spite of the fact that these activities were reported by mainstream newspapers and even the Wall Street Journal editorial page,6 the 9/11 Commission wrote as if these reports did not exist, saying: "we have seen no credible evidence explaining why, on [some occasions], the operatives flew to or met in Las Vegas."7

2. Do Authorities Have Hard Evidence of Osama bin Laden's Responsibility for 9/11?

Whatever be the truth about the devoutness of the hijackers, one might reply, there is certainly no doubt about the fact that they were acting under the guidance of Osama bin Laden. The attack on Afghanistan was based on the claim that bin Laden was behind the attacks, and the 9/11 Commission's report was written as if there were no question about this claim. But neither the Bush administration nor the Commission provided any proof for it.

http://newageislam.com/-was-america-attacked-by-muslims-on-9/11?-/war-on-terror/d/726