By Geoffrey Cook, Muslim Media News Service (MMNS)

In Pakistan an important challenge has arisen before the Musharraf Government–from on the one hand the bourgeois democratic parties and, on the other, the strong religious right, an inheritance of the Zia ul-Haque’’s regime of the 80s and America’s version of the Great Game against the “Russian Empire’s” thrust into the Hindu Kush.

An Iraq-like emergency (car and suicide bombers) has brought the crisis to an urgency by the military’s attack upon the Red Mosque in center of the capital city itself. The militant mosque’s students were planted in the middle of the seat of Government to protect Zia’s undemocratic rule. In revenge for the high profile attack on the mosque, Islamist groups, whose ideology arose in the Northwest Provinces and Balochistan, have almost brought the nation to civil war.

Ayesha Siddiqa was recently forced to leave her native Pakistan for writing a book on Rawalpindi, Military Inc., that has gained quite a bit of attention there and abroad. The Pakistani Armed Forces are not only a Defense Force, but also a Corporate Entity –even making the breakfast cereal–within the country. I was told in Madison that there are more Ph.D.s in the Army than in the universities. Ms. Siddiqa is definitely one of the best female thinkers in the Islamic Republic, and perhaps one of the leading thinkers on her homeland worldwide.

“I wish to be more confident of [Pakistan]…” Unfortunately, our relationship with India has been too negative, but we have to engage with our neighbor more with the thought that “We are an independent entity.” We both are obsessed with each other–positively and negatively. Neither India nor Pakistan will disappear, and, alas, we shall continue to be a threat to one another. Pakistan and India should possess their own visions of themselves — independent of the other.

Ms. Siddiqa inquired rhetorically: “Where do we wish to go in the next fifty years?” True, Islam should be factored into any future Constitution, but she argues “[theocratic] politics and the State should be separate.”

Regrettably, unlike its neighbor India–especially in the Marxist dominated states of West Bengal and (formerly) Kerala there–the ancient feudal structure within Pakistani society still predominates. This has ensured the rule of the oligarchy. Pakistan is a nation where the ancient elites govern the countryside, and, thus, exert considerable sway over the Center as well. The non-elite classes do not have much political control over their future, and this may be a cause for radicalization in the country.

If the Musharraf Government falls, it will be hard to say how America’s “War on Terrorism” will continue with its chief regional ally gone–who or what will take its place. The States have made threats recently because they believe the General has not done enough. This is something that should be of concern to all Muslims. To attack the country from the North or the South to rid the terrain of Al Qaeda would prove disastrous. Rawalpindi has been concerned over such a betrayal–and especially over the safety of its nuclear arsenal.

Ayesha Siddiqa’s book on the Corporate Pakistani Army is Military Inc. published by Pluto Press, and distributed in the States by the University of Michigan Press. It can, also, be downloaded from the Internet, too.

9-31

By Ashraf Ali, Special to Muslim Media News Service (MMNS)

Peshawar, Pakistan–The seventy five year old Peshawar Khan was yet not ready to die. He wanted to live long. But he felt no justification to continue living after he saw the dead bodies of nine members of his family, who perished in a US-led coalition forces raid on the Datta Khel area in North Waziristan on June 24th last month.

This was the third consecutive attack by the coalition forces on the civilian population during five days period which took the lives of sixty six people in total leaving scores more injured. ‘After the death of all my family members, my life is now meaningless’. These were the last words of Peshawar Khan before he said good bye to this world. Thanks to him, since he killed only himself and no others in his suicide attack.

But who can say a word with authority about what his grandson will feel towards the Goras (whites), when he grows up? That grandson is the only survivor of the family.

Peshawar Khan’s grandson is not the only example. He represents thousands of those who lost those near and dear to them in similar attacks on civilians along the Pak-Afghan border.

Said Wali is one of the three survivors of another madrasa (religious seminary) attack in Bajur, in the tribal areas of Pakistan, which left eighty people dead and three injured. With the dream of becoming a religious scholar still unseen, he may have regretted his decision of joining the madrasa when his leg and six fingers of his both hands were blown up in an Arial attack in Bajur on 10/30.

“I joined the madrasa just two days ago–on Saturday, and two days after the madrasa was attacked”, said the 15 year-old Wali, who is still fighting against his wounds in a local private hospital in Peshawar.

Mr. Wali, who, after having gone through a four-year course at another madrasa in the Swabi district to become a Hafiz-e-Quran, had got migrated only to get his education at a local madrasa in his village to be in easy access to his family. “I knew nothing. Whom the madrasa was affiliated to and why was it attacked. I was concerned only with my studies”, said Mr. Wali.

Abu Bakar 20, who has got his ear drum damaged alongside having got his right hand fractured and facial burns, is another survivor of the same incident. With a heavy heart for Americans, Abu Bakar said, ‘What wrong have we done to Americans. Are we so bad. Do we deserve to be killed”.

I remember the cries of a grieved mother with the blood tainted clothes of his deceased son who had lost him in the Bajaur Madrasa attack. ‘God destroy America who destroyed our sons’. The attack was widely reported to have been carried out by American unmanned drones. Immediately after the incident took place, Maulana Faqir Muhammad, a fire brand speaker who is wanted by the Pakistani government for supporting Al Qaeda and hosting Osama Bin Ladin’s top aide Aiman Al Zawahiri, while making an appearance in the public after a long time in his hideout, asked a gathering of more than ten thousand people to shoot all those suspected of working for the US on the spot. He added that “the death of 80 Taliban have given birth to 80000 more Taliban.”

The reaction was so quick. Hardly a week after, on November 9, a suicide bomb attack on a Pakistan army base killed 42 young recruits in the most devastating strike by militants against the pro-US government.

The rising hatred against America has gone to the extent that today, drawing a line between a talib and an Al-Qaeda member, a mullah and a mujahid (holy warrior), a common man and an extremist would really be hard– as extremism and violence as an attitude has well penetrated into the social values of this part of the world. A turbaned and bearded man, taught at a madrasa, may not necessarily be an extremist, however an enlightened and well educated, clean shaven and well dressed man could in fact be a suicide bomber, if he is convinced that by following this path he could cause damage to the ‘enemies of Islam’.

A psychiatrist, Dr Mian Iftikhar Hussain says, “violence, extremism and anti-Americanism has now become part of our social life.”

In parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the clerics have banned polio teams from entering the area with a drive to vaccinate children, and have asked the people not to get their kids vaccinated as the polio drive is an American conspiracy aimed at cutting the fertility of the next generation.

A local cleric in the north of the country, Maulana Fazlullah, through his FM radio channel, has been telling the audiences that the vaccination drive was a conspiracy of the Jews and Christians to stunt the population growth of Muslims. Agency surgeon Dr Abdul Ghani along with his four companions were killed in the Bajaur area a couple of months ago, after inaugurating a polio drive in the area.

On June 21st, in a recent attack on the civilian population of the Greshik district in Afghanistan, 25 persons including three children and nine women were killed. During the last couple of weeks more than 90 people have been killed in the coalition forces bombing on the civilian populations. The Afghan President Hamid Karzai, during a press conference in Kabul, while strongly condemning this kind of ‘careless’ acts of the coalition forces, warned that this might turn the majority of the Afghan population against those countries whose forces are contributing to the war against terror.

The political observers are of the view that the killings of civilians by coalition forces have drawn down the morale of its partners in the war on terror–Gen. Musharraf and Hamid Karzai.

Their credibility within their respective countries is in question. Taking a solo fight on the terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan by the US-led coalition forces will weaken the authority of Mr Karzai and General Musharraf even more within their respective countries, which may result in their loosing their grip on the terrorists on both sides of the border.

9-30

Courtesy Yvonne Ridley

Why do journalists choose to ignore the Amnesty International report [1] which outlines in clinical detail how the Tunisian authorities have increased their “harassment of women who wear the hijab”?

I have a bee in my bonnet or hijab to be more precise.

On an almost daily basis there are horrific stories pouring out of Tunisia about how the state police are ripping off the hijabs of women living there.

Some of these women, who are merely fulfilling their religious obligation to wear a hijab, have been assaulted, sexually abused and even locked up in prison by the authorities.

Unbelievable when you consider western tourists are topless sunbathing on the coastal resorts, soaking up the Tunisian sun.

So it is okay to get your kit off if you are a western tourist who pays handsomely for sun, sand, sex and sangria but try wearing a hijab and see what happens in this so-called liberal, Muslim country.

At the moment I am in Tehran where Iranian police are occasionally stopping women in the streets to remind them of their religious obligations by wearing a full hijab.

There’s been an outcry in the Western media about how the Iranian authorities are fining women who fail to wear their hijabs correctly in public.

I call these women the half-jabis you know the ones, they balance their designer scarfs precariously on the back of their heads and spend the rest of the day adjusting and picking their scarfs from the nape of their necks.

It might have endeared Princess Diana to half the Muslim world when she ‘covered’ in Muslim countries, but most women who try and emulate the Di style just look plain stupid.

But what a pity those same journalists don’t travel to Tunisia and write about a real story like the human rights abuses against women in down town Tunis instead of focusing on Tehran.

Why do journalists choose to ignore the Amnesty International report which outlines in clinical detail how the Tunisian authorities have increased their “harassment of women who wear the hijab”?

Is it because the Tunisian government is a craven devotee of the Bush Administration whereas Iran was identified as the now infamous Axis of Evil?

Surely the media is not that fickle? (Rhetorical question merely for the benefit of the mentally challenged).

The actions of the Tunisian regime make Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his government look like a group of Tupperware party planners.

For instance, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Interior and the Secretary-General of Tunisia’s ruling political party, the Constitutional Democratic Rally, have stated they are so concerned about the rise in the use of the hijab by women and girls and beards and the qamis (knee-level shirts) by men, that they have called for a strict implementation of decree 108 of 1985 of the Ministry of Education banning the hijab at educational institutions and when working in government.

Police have ordered women to remove the head scarfs before being allowed into schools, universities or work places and others have been made to remove them in the street.

According to Amnesty’s report, some women were arrested and taken to police stations where they were forced to sign written commitment to stop wearing the hijab.

Amnesty International states quite clearly it believes that individuals have the right to choose whether or not to wear a headscarf or other religious covering, consistent with their right to freedom of expression.

They have called on the Tunisian government to “respect the country’s obligations under both national law and international human rights law and standards, and to end the severe restrictions which continue to be used to prevent exercise of fundamental rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly”.

They have even kindly asked President Ben Ali’s government to “end the harassment and attempted intimidation of human rights defenders”.

I would like to be more forthright with Mr Ben Ali and remind him of his Islamic obligations as a Muslim.

I doubt if Zine Alabidin Ben Ali would take much notice. The man is clearly an arrogant fool and somewhere in Tunisia there is a village which is missing its idiot (Hamman-Sousse in the Sahel, actually).

This is the man who once said the hijab was something foreign and not part of Tunisian culture. Hmm, he obviously has not seen pictures taken before he came to power, clearly show Tunisian women going about their business fully covered.

He has a history of despising the French colonialists who occupied his country, but at least under the French, the Tunisian people had more freedom than they do now.

And since I have no family, friends or connections in Tunisia I write this without fear or favour.

Also, there is no rank in Islam so I care nothing for his title nor do I have any respect for him as a man. I would certainly never doff my cap to this particular President of Tunisia and would happily spit in his face if he told me to remove my hijab.

Perhaps those Muslim women in Tehran might like to consider the plight of their sisters in Tunisia before trying to balance their hijabs on the backs of their heads. And I would ask them to read the harrowing report below before bellyaching to more journalists about their rights to parade around like Diana-look-a-likes.

It was written by an imam from Tunisia who had it smuggled out and given to me because he wants the world to know exactly what is happening to the women in his country.

Here is a snippet: “The police will randomly make their way into markets and rip the hijabs from women’s heads as well as take away any fabrics being sold to make hijabs.

“They will also go into factories where women are working and rip the hijabs off women’s heads. This is the least of what they have done.

“I will give you just one example of what these dogs with Arab faces but the hearts of devils, have done to our sisters. They have, at one time ordered a public bus to halt in the middle of the road while two plain clothes detectives went inside. The buses are similar to the ones in the west except they will usually have three times more people inside it.

“They grabbed one women wearing hijab and took her outside of the bus. This was a sister who they had warned before. They brought her into the side of the street and began slapping her across her face and cursing at her with the worst language you could think of.

“They took her hijab off and the main policeman said, “When are you going to stop wearing this ****. She said she would never stop and she was crying. The men took her around the corner by a public bathroom.

“They ripped her clothes off. They grabbed a soda bottle, these bottles are made of glass, and they raped her with it. They were laughing and they were many people around but no one did anything. When they were done they made her wear a short skirt and a sleeveless shirt and made her walk home to her husband like this. I swear by Allah that this is true”.

The time is fast approaching when sisters across the world have to unite and come together in defence of the hijab and in defence of the Muslim sisterhood.

My appeal goes out to feminists of all faiths and no faith but please don’t think Muslim women are weak because the reality is that Islamic feminism can be just as radical as western feminism.

Our parameters and values are slightly different as Muslims but that does not make us any better or lesser human beings than western feminists. There is certainly no room for sectarianism in the Muslim sisterhood and we have no time for petty squabbles, divisions, cultural or tribal affiliations.

The bottom line is that we need to show solidarity with our sisters in Tunisia it is a very small country which makes it easy for the army to control the people and brutally squash any signs of resistance.

Even those Tunisians living abroad have a fear in their eyes because while they may be safe, members of their families left behind are often held to account for any actions overseas regarded as subversive.

The brutality of the regime, combined with the happy clappy clerics and their narcotic-style preachings in praise of the Sufi-style government have also collectively subdued parts of the Tunisian population.

No wonder the Muslim youth no longer clamour to get into masjids on Fridays to listen to these khateebs who spend half the khutbah praising the President and his followers.

Which is why I salute the bravery of those sisters in Tunisia who are fighting for the right to fulfill their religious obligation as Muslim women, to wear the hijab.

If you want to help, then copy and paste this article and send it to the nearest Tunisian Embassy demanding that Muslim womens’ rights to wear the hijab are respected.

[1] Amnesty International report 2007 – Tunisia

http://thereport.amnesty.org/eng/Regions/Middle-East-and-North-Africa/Tunisia

See Yvonne Ridley’s website at:
http://yvonneridley.org

9-30

Perhaps because Israel Seeks Litani River

Sumayyah Meehan, Muslim Media News Service Middle Eastern Correspondent

This past week marked the 1-year anniversary of the Israeli strike on Hezbollah in Lebanon last summer. And even up until this day no one can truly say just what the war was about in the first place. The Israelis first claimed that it was about the 2 kidnapped soldiers that Hezbollah held as captives. Then they claimed it was about their security because they had to protect themselves from Hezbollah in a war that they themselves started!

There have been rumors abounding in the news media that Israel has been waiting for a chance to attack Lebanon for years and was only looking for an opportunity. Well, they found a golden opportunity when their soldiers were kidnapped and a willing collaborator in George Bush. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that there is a reason that America refused to issue an immediate ceasefire when Israel attacked Lebanon without warning. Condoleeza Rice, herself, acted like a child when she said that a ceasefire would not work so why bother trying. She never wanted to try. The Americans and Israelis were buying time. Time for what? The official claim was that they wanted to create a buffer zone (i.e. steal land) between Israel and Lebanon. If you believe that, then I have a bridge I want to sell you in Brooklyn!

Forget about the buffer zone lie, Israel wants to clear a path for annexation. Israel wants a big fat piece of Lebanon. They have been bloodthirsty for it for years. The part they want is in southern Lebanon and that piece of land holds the Litani River. This river is essential to the future of Israel and they want it so badly that they will kill for it. Israel has suffered from mass water shortages for years. The economic development of Israel depends on water. The acquisition of the Litani River would increase Isreal’s water supply by 50%.

You only have to take a brief look back in history to understand why Israel needs so much water. Since Israel is an “occupier” they must sustain themselves within their own country. Ever since they formed the illegal country in 1948, they have known that trade with their Arab neighbors would be impossible. They adopted massive agricultural policies in order to create a continued and sustainable food source. So, the majority of Zionists are farmers. The Zionist Movement itself encourages newcomers to plant crops and harvest fields. This takes a huge chunk of the Israelis yearly water allocations and the rest is used for home water usage, which includes swimming pools and perfectly manicured lawns.

This is not the first time that Israelis have tried to annex southern Lebanon. The Israeli designs on acquiring the Litani River go way back. In 1954, Moshe Dayan (Israel’s Chief of Staff) was quoted as saying this: “ … the only thing that’s necessary is to find an Lebanese officer, even just a Major. We should either win his heart or buy him with money, to make him agree to declare himself the savior of the Maronite (Christian) population. Then the Israeli army will enter Lebanon, will occupy the necessary territory, and will create a Christian regime, which will ally itself with Israel. The territory from the Litani southward will be totally annexed to Israel and everything will be all right.” (Rokach, 1986; 26). In 78 the plan was achieved. Israel created a supposed “security buffer” between Lebanon and Israel. It was under the control of a Christian-Lebanese army major named Sa’ad Haddad. He formed the Southern Lebanese Army (SLA) and declared the area a Maronite-Christian area (I wonder what the price of his heart was?). The SLA and Israeli’s still coordinate today and even possess a tiny strip of the Litani River.

Even before I could complete this article about last year’s atrocities in Lebanon, I received a Breaking News report on my cell phone that yet again Lebanon is under fire. This time Israel claims it is attacking Muslim militants holed up in Nahr al-Bared. This area has been under attack off and on for the past 8 weeks but the Israelis recently increased their bombardment in an attempt to drive out the supposed militants. This most recent Israeli assault is just another excuse for the Israelis to acquire more land and get closer to their agenda of seizing a viable water source. Rest assured this battle is not about terrorism or security. Those are only buzzwords that are used as excuses. This fight is about water. And I doubt the Israelis will stop attacking Lebanon, at will, until they get it all.

9-30

By Nilofar Suhrawardy, Muslim Media News Service (MMNS)

NEW DELHI – With his distinct trait of always looking into the future, President Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam completes his term on July 24, leaving behind a historical stamp in many areas.

International recognition of this distinction is marked by Kalam’s being selected for the prestigious British award, the King Charles II Medal.

Kalam is the first Indian President and the second head of state after Japanese Emperor Akihito to be selected for this honor. Making this announcement, President of the Royal Society Martin Rees said in London (July 11): “President Kalam has led India at a time when science and technology investment in the country has radically increased.”

“He has played a major part in preparing a road map for transforming India from developing status into a developed nation. As a scientist himself, he has also made a great contribution to scientific advances in his country.”

Kalam, with a specialization in Aeronautical Engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology, was better known as the “missile-man,” when he stepped into Rashtrapati Bhawan in 2002.

During an exclusive interview sometime back, Kalam aired his views on certain key issues to this correspondent. On two opposite labels attached with him, his being known as a missile-man and also an advocate of peace, he said: “For peace, one has to be strong enough to defend oneself. Missiles are necessary for this strength that leads to peace.”

In Kalam’s opinion, development is the best defense against terrorism, as he said: “Poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and discrimination are some factors that lead to the frustration which contributes to terrorism.” Earlier, while addressing an international parliamentary conference in New Delhi, he said: “Nations have been destroyed by war. Has the world eliminated terrorism? No. Not at all.” To eliminate the problem, he emphasized, we need to address the root causes of terrorism causing “frustration, anger and violence.”

He is the first Muslim from South India to occupy the country’s highest constitutional office. Kalam is the only Muslim president of the country who has completed a full term. The other two Muslim presidents, Dr Zakir Husain (in office from May 1967 to May 1969) and Dr Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (August 1974 to December 1977) died in office before completing their terms.

Kalam is credited for developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at the Defense Research and Development Organization as the Chief Executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). He was responsible for development and operationalization of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through the networking of multiple institutions.

Kalam received Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, in 1997, for his pioneering role in India’s missile program. He was also awarded the coveted civilian awards – Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990).

With a background in high tech development, Kalam was project director of India’s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), which successfully put the Rohini satellite into near orbit in 1980, making India a member of the exclusive Space Club.

Being associated with the Indian Space Research Organization for two decades, Kalam was responsible for the evolution of its launch vehicle program.

Kalam served as the Scientific Adviser to Defense Minister and Secretary, Department of Defense Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999. With his guidance leading to the weaponization of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with the Department of Atomic Energy, India became a Nuclear Weapons State. He is also credited for India’s self-reliance in defense systems by progressing multiple development tasks and mission projects such as the Light Combat Aircraft.

As the Principal Scientific Advisor to the government of India, in the rank of cabinet minister, from November 1999 to November 2001, Kalam was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications.

With a focus on transforming India into a developed nation, as Chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) and as an eminent scientist, he led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology Vision 2020, the road map for transforming India from the present developing status to a developed nation by 2020.

In addition to his academic engagements, Kalam’s literary pursuit is marked by his books- Wings of Fire, India 2020 – A Vision for the New Millennium, My Journey and Ignited Minds – Unleashing the power within India.

Even the last few days spent by Kalam in office have been marked by his doing full justice to his being ranked as the first citizen of the country.

Launching the e-court project in New Delhi, Kalam said (July 9): “Our society is going through unique dynamics due to the shortage of leadership with nobility. The only hope the nation cherishes and looks to is the judiciary, with its excellence and impeccable integrity.”

Asserting the need of an e-judiciary system, he said: “My visualization of a typical scenario is where the citizen files a case for a civil dispute of a piece of land in the e-court using his or her national ID Card and gets justice within two weeks’ time.”

Displaying his concern for mentally challenged children, Kalam gifted two Army horses to the Central Institute of Mental Retardation (CIMR) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (July 12).

During his term in office, the 76-year-old Kalam became a favorite among Indians, especially children.

Giving importance to focus on positive news and on need to live in harmony, in his addresses, he repeatedly urged people to stop associating any religion with terrorism, missiles with war and sufferings with defeat. In his opinion, “Suffering is the essence of success.”

Not surprisingly, millions of Indians wished to have Kalam as the president for another term.

9-30

By Dr. Aslam Abdullah, Muslim Media News Service (MMNS)

Islamabad’s Red Masjid was indeed red with the blood of some 85 Muslim Pakistanis when the operation to flush out terrorists and extremists ended violently on July 12, 2007. It was a tragedy that could have been avoided. It was an unwarranted bloodbath. The government could have given more time to negotiations. It could have waited more for a peaceful outcome. After all, it had allowed the situation to reach this far by allowing the clerics at the Red Masjid to pile up ammunitions with the full knowledge of some influential people in the government as has been alleged by many news reports.

The precedence set by the Musharraf government is bad. The use of force to force extremists change their ideas may lead to more violence. Violence only breeds violence and what was done violently in Islamabad to restore law and order may lead to a wave of unbridled violence in the coming months if not week.

Doubtless, it was wrong on the part of clerics at the Red Masjid to promote violence to seek change in their country. Masajid and Madrasas are not the places to promote killing or abduction. They are the sanctuaries of peace and the centers for a civil dialogue with other members of the society. The clerics have every right to promote their understanding of Islam as long as they do not advocate the use of violence to achieve their objectives. Extremism is an elusive term.

President Bush can be described as an extremist for his murderous policies in Iraq. Saudi monarchs can be categorized as extremists in their efforts to keep monarchy intact in their country. The Labor party in the UK can be described as an extremist group bent on defending its policies in Iraq, and so on so forth.

Groups and individuals do tend to go to extremes in pursuing their goals, as is clearly evident in modern history. It is the use of force by any extreme groups and ideologies that lead to terrible atrocities. Hitler is perhapse the most obvious example of an extremist in control of an extreme regime; the leaders of the former Soviet Union also showed this trend. Modern American history, unfortunately, also shows extremist tendencies.

The clerics of Lal Masjid crossed their limits in demanding the implementation of Islam in their country, when they killed or abducted security force members or average citizens or when they took law in their hands by confiscating and burning the property of others. Those who believe in the supremacy of Islam in their everyday life should have done everything possible to pursuade the Lal Masjid students and officials not to break the fundamental Islamic principles that call for the sanctity of human life. Instead of intimidating people to submit to Islam, they should have tried to convince people of the legitimacy and validity of Islamic principles for a better and meaningful life.

Yet, the clerics and other religious leadership in Pakistan turned this into a political circus, creating circumstances where every mosque and every madrasa became on object of suspicion in the eyes of all those who still find it hard to believe that Islam is a religion of peace not only in its ultimate objectives but also in the means to achieve them.

It would have been wiser for the clerics of Lal Masjid to seek a negotiated settlement rather than issuing statements suggesting that there is no alternative to violence.

The blunder of the Lal Masjid clerics, however, didn’t supersede the blunders of the Musharraf government. The government was in a position to flush out all those inside the masjid in weeks if not in days. The government had already cut electricity and water and certainly these tactics would have worked effectively if given a chance to succeed.

If one set of negotiations had failed, the second and third rounds of negotiation should have been sought. The purpose should have been a peaceful solution rather than a bloodbath. The government acted in panic and in a hurry to eliminate those whom it described as extremists. The Musharraf government must be held accountable for the deaths of 85 people, as should the clerics be held accountable for the deaths and destruction in Islamabad before this last episode.

The whole incident raises once again the question Muslims have been confronting in modern times. Should violence be a legitimate method to bring out changes in the society. No matter what the some assert, the simple fact is that Islam prohibits the use of violence as a means to bring about change in society.

Islam does not condone imposing its principles on those who are not ready to accept them willingly. The Prophet (s) didn’t impose Islam on non-believers when he entered Mecca after an absence of 10 years. No; he allowed people their religious and social freedom after cleaning the House of God from the idols gathered there over centuries.

Muslims have to take a very clear stand on the issue of violence. They have to declare clearly that there is no place for violence in a society run on the basis of Islam. Those who do not accept Islam as their way of life can adopt whatever means they want to adopt to impose their will upon others. However, Muslims are bound by a higher code of ethics and their stand on violence must be very clear. Even when they are responding to violence perpetrated by those invading their lands or committing acts of oppression against the, they cannot transgress the limits set by God Almighty.

9-30

Groundbreaking for New Project at Tawheed Center

Farmington–Friday July 13–Phase II of the Tawheed Center’s planned expansion began this past Friday at the Tawheed Center, which is one of the pillars of the Oakland County Islamic community and a symbol of its growing financial clout.

The mosque started from a simple two building structure of 1700 square feet, but has changed immensely over the years–after the expansion it will be approximately 26,000 square feet.

Mr. Asim Khan explained that the mosque has implemented a three phase project to improve its facilities, the first phase of which was to buy two additional parcels and add additional parking spaces (about 300), the second phase is an aggressive development of the mosque that is expected to cost $1,000,000, to build a shell which will house a mezzanine prayer area for women, an expansion of the mosque including a larger prayer hall for men; there will be schooling, a kitchen, a library, a conference room, and offices; this phase will include all of the work to develop the mezzanine area with its internal guts including drywall and electrical work; the third phase will be to finish the gymnasium.

Originally the project was conceived as four phases but it has been repackaged in a constant evolving process involving the architects and contractors.

The event on Friday lasted only about an hour, with a brief Qur`anic recitation by the Tawheed Center’s Imam Sohel Mangeria, a welcoming introductory speech by Mr. Asim Khan, chair of the Board of Trustees, and a speech by Dr. Khalid Zafar, the president of the Tawheed Center Board of Directors.

Imam Moosa of the Bloomfield Unity Center, who was the guest of honor at this groundbreaking for Phase II, spoke on the benefits of mosques for Muslims and for non-Muslims, speaking of the Islamic requirement that a Muslim help his neighbors and explaining that neighbors, Islamically, include people 40 houses away.

Mr. Khan welcomed all those who were in attendance, and explained that the mosque had been in existence for almost exactly 14 years, having seen in that time a huge expansion from only about 25 families and 44 parking spaces to its current 250 families and 300 parking spaces.

He emphasized that the Tawheed Center has been a positive influence in the community and to the neighborhood, and said that one of its best qualities has been its conveniently central location attracting visitors from as far away as Brighton and Milford, and explained that there is no other mosque offering five daily prayers within a 15 mile radius.

He graciously thanked and welcomed all those in attendance.

President Khalid Zafar also thanked the participants from the community for attending, and emphasized the importance of mosques for the proper upbringing of children. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining good and positive community and neighborly relations.

Imam Moosa did the physical groundbreaking in a ceremonial act that will kick off an approximately 1 million dollar expansion, of which about $400,000 has already been collected. There will be an additional fundraiser for this Phase II construction in Ramadan, then another next year, if necessary, to complete the expansion.

In addition to Imam Moosa, several important officials from local politics and people who have been important to the Tawheed Center as major donors came to support the Tawheed Center.

All of Farmington Hills’ major officials were invited, including the chiefs of police and fire, federal congresspersons Knollenberg and Stabenow, and state senators. Present at the groundbreaking were several prominent local officials including Jim Nash, the Oakland County Commissioner, Steve Schwartz, the Chairman for the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The mayor of Farmington Hills, Vicki Barnett, was not able to come but called to voice her support. The city manager of Farmington Hills was going to come but had a planning conflict.

In all, this was a very successful effort to bring an entire neighborhood community on board with a large expansion of this important Oakland county mosque.

Toledo’s Growing Muslim Community Builds New Mosque

Imam Sallie, now of the Bloomfield Unity Center and formerly of IAGD, will serve as imam to the Toledo community, during August and September, as a part time imam.

This new mosque will be about 10 acres; the Toledo community has purchased a church and will convert it to a mosque.

The mosque will be in Sylvania, OH, close to Toledo. The church needs only minor adjustments to be turned into a mosque, and has the huge advantage of having zoning and parking all worked out for worshippers, not to mention that all of its facilities have been conceived and built expressly for the purpose of serving many worshippers. The Sylvania community hopes to inaugurate the mosque in early August.

The name of the mosque is “MSF,” the Masjid Sa’ad Foundation. Currently the community is still in its old bldg, at 5225 Alexis Road. The community wishes for Imam Sallie to be their full-time imam, but it would be difficult for him to break free of his commitments to Southern Michigan, including his Oakland University professorship and involvement with the Bloomfield Unity Center, without an enticing offer.

The Islamic Society of Greater Toledo is a companion mosque to the MSF. The two mosques maintain good and collegial relations, on the model of the Flint Islamic Center and Grand Blanc Islamic Center, who have frequent mutual events. Several people serve on the boards of both masjids at the same time, as an example of these good relations, and the two Ohio mosques (like the Flint/Grand Blanc mosques) hold mutual ‘eids.

On the 27th of July, Imam Sallie will give the Jumu’ah khutba at 1:30 pm at this big mosque in Toledo, the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo. This mosque is on I-75, about 8 miles south of Toledo. This is a different community. The Sylvania community is especially strong because the mayor and chief sheriff are also Muslim, so the community is very well-integrated with the local non-Muslims and with every branch of government. The ISGT claims to serve 30 nationalities; its imams have mostly been Egyptian, with one Yugoslavian imam in its history. The ISGT also plans a huge expansion project on 51 acres in Perrysburg, Ohio, but must change an agricultural zoning area so as to provide a school, homes for seniors, and a seniors‘ club; the Toledo and Sylvania Muslims are a very vibrant community, with about 6000 Muslims.

Oakland University Islamic Studies

The Islamic Studies program is going very well. Imam Sallie explains that the university treats him very well, very respectfully, paying for all of the expenses related to his work.

The imam is currently teaching a course on Islamic ethics, and is seeking to arrange a fairly modest scholarship program to help Muslim and other students pay for their coursework at Oakland University–he is seeking to arrange scholarships of $1,000 per student.

Some such scholarships are now available, and he is trying to arrange more.

He is hoping to establish the Islamic studies program as a permanent fixture at Oakland University by building an endowment of 1.5 million dollars. That would be a monumental accomplishment for Southeast Michigan Muslims, a huge benefit in building relations with outside communities and in building the educational infrastructure of Muslims as well.

The current Islamic ethics course is happening three times a week from 12-2pm, during OU’s summer semester.
3 courses will be offered in the fall semester—including Islam in America (a new course), and Introduction to Islam. In the winter semester there will be a new course, Introduction to Islamic History, Empires of Faith. There will also be Business Ethics offered as an online course., biz ethics on line, and there is also going to be an Islamic Literature course offered for students in OU’s honors college—this will be an intensive course, with many texts, exposing students through direct experience to events in community and to local Muslim places, so they can feel Islam, not just learn about it; including several field trips.

9-30

Community needs to come forward and claim owner-ship of Shifa Public Clinic

As everyone with a smile entered the ballroom of the hotel for the fundraiser of Shifa Foundation, they got reminded of Verses 6 to 8 of Chapter 99 of Quran: “On that Day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown the deeds that they (had done). Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good, see it! And anyone, who has done an atom’s weight of evil, shall see it.”

“Our previous generations of Muslims have done their work –Now it is time for the Contemporary Muslims to actively come forth and claim the ownership of what was built by their elders”: These were the sentiments shared by Dr. Moein Butt, Former President of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH) at the inaugural fundraising dinner for the Shifa Foundation. He is now the Caretaker of the Foundation.

“When we started the Clinic during the 1990s, we started off with donated two chars and a broken table in a 10” x 12” room: All the volunteers remained consistent and persistent and today we are building the million dollar Shifa Clinic, which will be open to [the] public in August 2007. We thank and congratulate all the community members, the City of Houston Councilman Honorable M. J. Khan and the City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department”: Dr. Moein Butt added.

Earlier part of ISGH, but in order to make it more effective and viable, now it is the Houston Shifa Foundation Services Inc.: They are almost done with the construction of the multipurpose building at the site of ISGH Southwest Center Masjid Abu Bakr located at 10415 Synott Road. “This 8,000-square- foot, slightly over a million dollars facility is scheduled to be open to the public in August 2007”: Informed most industrious Abdul Wahid Munshi, the CEO of the foundation.

At present, the Shifa Clinic operates from a make-shift facility inside a trailer at the same location. It opens from 6PM.-8PM. on Thursdays-&-Fridays and 11AM.-3PM. on Saturdays. Abdul Wahid Munshi has informed that with time these hours will increase as the new facility gets ready for operation. There are plans to have the facility open all days of the week by the Year 2008.

“Now-a-days on an average, about forty patients per week come to the clinic: We expect this to increase five times after the new clinic becomes fully functional: Clinic is open to all indigent patients and low-income families irrespective of their religion, race or ethnicity”: Said Abdul Wahid Munshi.

“The City of Houston’s Department of Housing and Community Development has recognized Shifa Foundation as a Community Housing Development organization and as such has provided nearly $500,000 of the about $1-Million funds required to build the Free Clinic and Multipurpose Community Center”: Informed Donald Sampley, the Assistant Director of Housing and Community Development Department of Houston.

Shifa, of course, means recovering from disease. It all started as a voluntary organization within ISGH by a dedicated set of doctors in 1997. It used to be beside the Hyderabad House in Royal Center located along South Kirkwood at Bissonnet: After seven years in 2004, it progressed the trailer at today’s location what is called the Synott Road Masjid. Around 30 doctors and their assistants (volunteers) give their time, energy and other resources to efficiently run the clinic. Besides general medical help, dental services are as well given. There are no laboratories to do tests at the same facility.

The new facility will be providing all this: Lab Test Services (both on-site and referral diagnostic lab), Dental Services, Preventative Care and Diagnostic Exam, Clinical (including Flu Shots, Quarterly Health Fairs and Blood Drives), Primary-Care Services, Specialty-Care Services, Disease Management, Women’s Health, Referral Network, Health Education, Case Management, Sample Prescriptions and much more.

Dr. Moein Butt, who is caretaker of the facility and a retired doctor himself said: “Our main aim is to offer free health care to those who cannot afford.”

The Shifa Foundation was in the beginning a part of ISGH, but since it provides professional services, as such in order to make it more effectual, it has now been made autonomous and the foundation pays nominal rent money to ISGH. Dr. Moein Butt said: “Come forward new generation of the community: Be proud of this facility, which some of our most dedicated elders of the community had envisioned in 1997 and then persistently worked hard for: Now the next generation has to take the baton and run away with it to make it more fruitful and most useful for the society at-large.”

The Shifa Center has been designed by successful Muslim designers and architects Arif Mushfiqur and Hashmet Wali. The whole building is 8,000 square feet, of which 3,500 square feet is for the clinic. It has been made sure that the looks of the building from the outside give continuity with the beauty of the masjid and other building around the area.

Abdul Wahid Munshi has said: “We invite you to become a part of the new Shifa Clinic to serve the impoverished and less fortunate. Donate generously your efforts to create an institution of proud heritage, which will serve as role model for the generations to come. Why wouldn’t you like to be part of this dream? Contact us at 832-640-0548.”

9-30

Courtesy Patrick J. Buchanan

Is the United States provoking war with Iran, to begin while the Congress is conveniently on its August recess?

One recalls that it was in August 1964, after the Republicans nominated Barry Goldwater, that the Tonkin Gulf incident occurred.

Twice it was said, on Aug. 2 and Aug. 4, North Vietnamese patrol boats had attacked the U.S. destroyers Maddox and Turner Joy in international waters. The U.S. Senate responded by voting 88 to two to authorize President Johnson to assist any Southeast Asian nation whose government was threatened by communist aggression.

The bombing of the North began, followed by the arrival of U.S. Marines. America’s war was on.

As Congress prepares for its August recess, the probability of U.S. air strikes on Iran rises with each week. A third carrier, the USS Enterprise, and its battle group is joining the Nimitz and Stennis in the largest concentration of U.S. naval power ever off the coast of Iran.

And Tonkin Gulf II may have already occurred.

In Baghdad, on July 1, Gen. Kevin J. Bergner charged that Iranians planned the January raid in Karbala, using commandos in American-style uniforms, that resulted in the death of five U.S. soldiers.

As the New York Times reports, this “marks the first time that the United States has charged that Iranian officials have helped plan operations against American troops in Iraq and have had advance knowledge of specific attacks that have led to the death of American soldiers.”

The Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards is using Hezbollah to train Shi’ites to attack our soldiers and providing them with enhanced IEDs that have killed scores of U.S. troops, Bergner charged. He says we have captured a veteran Hezbollah agent and documents pointing to direct Iranian complicity in the Karbala raid.

Iran has denounced the charge as “ridiculous.” But the Senate has voted 97 to zero to censure Iran for complicity in killing the Americans.

If what Bergner alleges is true, President Bush has not only the right but appears to have the blessing of Congress to attack Iran. And he now has the naval and air forces at hand. What is stopping him?

For it is surely not Congress, which buried a resolution last spring declaring that Bush must come to Congress before taking us into a new war in the Middle East. Congress appears to be signaling Bush: “If you want to hit Iran, you have the green light. No need to consult us.”

Is this yet another abdication by Congress of its moral and constitutional duty to decide when and whether America goes to war?

And something smells awfully fishy here.

Iran has no interest in a war with the United States, which it seems to be toying with. Iran supports the pro-American Shia regime in Baghdad. And the al-Qaeda umbrella group in Iraq, which is our mortal enemy, has just warned Iran it faces terror attacks if it does not stop supporting Shi’ites in Iraq.

Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, who leads the al-Qaeda group known as the Islamic State in Iraq, says his fighters have been preparing for four years for war on Iran.

“We are giving the Persians, and especially the rulers of Iran, a two-month period to end all kinds of support for the Iraqi Shi’ite government and to stop direct and indirect intervention – otherwise a severe war is waiting for you,” Baghdadi said in a 50-minute videotape.

Baghdadi also warned Arab Sunnis in the region who do business with Shi’ites in Iran that they were inviting assassination.

Query: If Iran’s ally, the Maliki government, is our ally, and if Iran’s enemy, al-Qaeda in Iraq, is our enemy, why would Iran use the Quds Force to attack Americans and risk U.S. retaliation?

Killing Americans in Iraq is not going to defeat the United States. But it could trigger heavy U.S. retaliation, not only on the Quds Force, but on Iran’s nuclear facilities – and a war with the United States. Yet Iran’s diplomatic behavior suggests it wishes to avoid such a war.

Another explanation comes to mind. Iran is not initiating, but is responding to U.S.-inspired attacks inside Iran, in the Kurdish north, the Arab southwest, and the Baluchi southeast of its country. Was Karbala an attempted kidnapping to exchange U.S. soldiers for the five Iranian “diplomats” we are holding?

Has Bush secretly authorized covert attacks inside Iran? Are U.S. and Israeli agents in Kurdistan behind the attacks across the border to provoke Iran? On July 11, Iranian troops clashed with Kurd rebels inside Iran, and the Iranians fired artillery back into Iraq.

Why is Congress going on vacation? Why are a Democratic-controlled House and Senate not asking these questions in public hearings? Why is Congress letting Bush and Vice President Cheney decide whether we launch a third war in the Middle East?

Or is Congress in on it?

9-30