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2.5 Million Homeless After Quake

Webmaster — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 05:37:35 +0000

The mammoth quake which devastated parts of northern Pakistan killed 23,000 people and left 2.5 million homeless, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said today. Aziz appealed to foreign governments to send more money, tents, blankets and other aid to help desperate survivors four days after the 7.6 magnitude earthquake. "The latest loss of life, the number of people dead, is approximately 23,000, Injured is about 51,000," Aziz told a news conference in Islamabad. "It is expected to rise as we go into the outlying areas." Until yesterday the government had put the casualties at 20,760 killed and 43,000 injured. The United Nations Children's Fund and a senior Pakistani government official yesterday estimated the number of people killed in the quake at between 30,000 and 40,000. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the toll in Indian Kashmir jumped to 1300 today. The quake also caused massive devastation to homes, businesses, official buildings and schools across a large swathe of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir and the North West Frontier Province. "There is one estimate of 2.5 million people will need new housing," he added. "Whole cities have been annihilated". Aziz appealed to foreign countries to donate more money for vital supplies for those whose homes were destroyed by the quake and asked them to send aid including tents. "Our priorities for foreign assistance are, first, financial, so then we can buy locally and send quickly," he said. "Second, would be tents; third would be blankets; fourth would be medicines and medical equipment; fifth would be engineering equipment to rebuild." He added: "It's a mammoth exercise in logistics, it's a mammoth exercise in coordination, it's a mammoth exercise in every respect of human endurance." Pakistan has also appealed for more transport helicopters to get relief supplies to far flung mountain villages that were flattened by landslides in the quake. Military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told reporters that the United States is to send 24 more giant Chinook heavy lift helicopters to Pakistan. The US military in Afghanistan has already sent five Chinooks and three Black Hawk choppers yesterday and the new helicopters are expected next week, military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told reporters. "Twenty-four more Chinooks are being mobilised by the US," Sultan said. Meanwhile,Pakistan has accepted an aid offer from nuclear rival India to cope with the earthquake devastation in Kashmir, the disputed territory that has twice brought the neighbours to war. India said it would send 25 tonnes of desperately needed supplies to Pakistan in what it called the first such airlift to its long-time rival since the 1980s, as both nations grappled with Saturday's powerful quake. "Yes, we have accepted," said Pakistan's foreign ministry spokeswoman, Tasnim Aslam. "As far as help from India is concerned, we are in touch with them and have indicated our requirements to them." Islamabad gave a list of non-sensitive items such as tents, plastic sheets, mattresses, blankets, food and medicines. But it would not accept joint relief efforts in Kashmir, where thousands of troops have faced off against each other along the heavily militarised line of control. Kashmiri Islamist fighters have put down their guns to try to save youngsters still trapped inside a girls' school two days after the earthquake struck. The mujahideen arrived at the high school in Garhi Habibiullah, 24 kilometres from the devastated city of Balakot. The town is in mourning after more than 100 girls, two teachers and an administrator were killed when the school building caved in. United Nations officials said the situation was desperate. "At [the] moment, I'm afraid it's so chaotic, I can't give you a clear picture," one senior official in Islamabad said of the emergency effort. Trucks carrying emergency supplies had finally started moving towards Muzaffarabad but the roads beyond remained blocked by landslides. More than 20 helicopters essential to reach the remote areas worst affected by the earthquake had been pledged from abroad, including eight by US forces deployed in neighbouring Afghanistan. The Bush Administration has pledged an initial $US50 million ($66 million) for emergency aid. "We need maybe 40 or 50 more helicopters beyond what we have been promised already," the UN official said yesterday. Kuwait has promised $US100 million and the United Arab Emirates has pledged $US100 million. Australia would donate an extra $4.5 million, the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, announced yesterday. The money, which takes Australia's total donations to $10 million, would be given to aid agencies working with victims of the disaster in the region. The decision to donate additional money was in response to a fresh appeal from the United Nations for more aid to help the earthquake victims, Mr Downer said. A tremor measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale yesterday shook India's Andaman Islands - devastated by the Boxing Day tsunami - but there were no reports of any damage or injury.

Girl Rescued After Four Days

Webmaster — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 15:23:53 +0000

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan - Four days after Zarabe Shah's home crumbled on her, rescuers pulled the dust-covered 5-year-old out of the rubble Wednesday, a shot of good news as hopes faded of finding other earthquake survivors. "I want to drink," the girl whispered. The day before, Zarabe's neighbors recovered the bodies of her father and two sisters. Her mother and another two sisters survived Saturday's quake. Helicopters flying in clear skies delivered aid to victims Wednesday, a day after rain and hail grounded efforts. Relief supplies poured into Pakistan from about 30 countries, including longtime rival India. However, the Indian effort was not without a glitch, as a plane from New Delhi was forced to turn around within 10 minutes of takeoff because Pakistan said there was no room to land at the airport near Islamabad. The plane later landed with 25 tons of supplies. Many bodies were still buried beneath leveled buildings, and the United Nations warned of the threat of measles, cholera and diarrhea outbreaks among the millions of survivors. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is on a regional tour, arrived in Islamabad and promised long-term U.S. help for Pakistan. She also predicted more American aid beyond the $50 million already committed. In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita said 25-30 U.S. military helicopters would be in the region in the next few days. The 7.6-magnitude earthquake demolished whole communities, mostly in the Himalayan region of Kashmir. The U.N. estimated that 2 million people have been left homeless. U.S., Pakistani, German and Afghan helicopters resumed aid flights suspended because of stormy weather. They brought food, medicines and other supplies to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan's portion of divided Kashmir, and then ferried out the injured to hospitals. Some 50,000 Pakistani troops joined the relief effort. Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said small aircraft were able to land at the airport in Muzaffarabad, but C-130 transport planes were only able to airdrop equipment and supplies. Still, residents in Muzaffarabad were desperate, mobbing trucks with food and water and grabbing whatever they could. The weak were pushed aside. Jan Vandemoortele, U.N. resident coordinator for Pakistan, said key roads into the quake zone that were blocked earlier have been opened up. U.S. military spokesman Col. James Yonts said that with the resumption of flights, helicopters were able to unplug any backlog of aid. About 30 countries_ including the United States, France, Japan, Jordan, China, Russia, Iran, Syria and the United Nations have sent relief equipment, doctors, paramedics, tents, blankets, medicines and disaster relief teams. Many also have pledged financial assistance, and Japan's Defense Ministry said Wednesday it would send about 290 troops and three helicopters to help transport aid. "Relief material is moving in," Vandemoortele said in Islamabad. "It is getting there. Roads are open now. We have several trucks that are all loaded and on the road now." The transport plane from India brought tents, medicine and other goods, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said. More than 1,400 people have died in India's part of Kashmir, and the offer and receipt of the aid by Pakistan reflects warming relations between the nuclear-armed rivals, which embarked on a peace process last year. The Pakistani government's official death toll was about 23,000 people and 47,000 injured, but a senior army official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to release the figure publicly said an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 people had died. Rescue workers fanned out of Muzaffarabad by helicopter to remote regions of Kashmir. Among them were eight teams from the British International Rescue Corps, which has found 16 survivors since arriving in the quake zone nearly three days ago. "As time goes on, hope will get less and less. But you always do get miracles," said Ray Gray, a stocky man in a blue uniform and helmet, as he prepared to board a chopper. "Even if we just find one person, the whole effort is worth it." Vandemoortele said there have been no reports of epidemic outbreaks so far but the area's health infrastructure has completely collapsed. In one field clinic alone, 2,000 patients had been treated, most of them for broken arms or legs. It's too early for onset of disease, but officials are fully aware of the potential threat, he said. The quake damaged sanitation systems, destroyed hospitals and left many victims with no access to clean drinking water, making them more vulnerable to disease. "Measles could potentially become a serious problem," said Fadela Chaib, a WHO spokeswoman in Geneva. "We fear that if people huddle closely together in temporary shelters and crowded conditions, more measles cases could occur." Measles

AFIC Leader Admitts Misrepresenting Muslim View

Webmaster — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 03:05:12 +0000

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,16903519,00.html The head of the nation's leading Muslim body has admitted to misrepresenting the views of other Muslim leaders on the Howard Government's tough new terrorism laws.The president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Ameer Ali, backed away yesterday from his claim last week that there was "unanimous" support from key Muslim leaders for the Government's anti-terror laws. His comments sparked anger within the nation's Muslim community, where many harbour grave concerns about the laws. Dr Ali triggered the controversy at a press conference in Canberra last week after Attorney-General Philip Ruddock had briefed him and 13 other Muslim leaders on the terror laws. The leaders were part of the Muslim Reference Group set up by the Government last month to act as a go-between for the community and Canberra on key Islamic issues. After the meeting, Dr Ali, the group's chairman, was asked whether "every representative at the meeting has accepted these laws". "It was all unanimous, not one single disappointed person," he replied. But those at the meeting told The Australian Dr Ali's comments were wrong and that no one present had endorsed the laws or had even been asked to give an opinion on them. The aim of the meeting was to learn more about the laws, not to pass judgment on them. "His comments were wrong and they upset a lot of people," said one attendee, Aziza Abdel-Halim, president of the Muslim Women's National Network. "We had taken no decision on the laws, we were just listening to Mr Ruddock's explanation. He (Dr Ali) jumped the gun. If we had just jumped in and said we accept the laws before we fully understand them or are fully convinced of them, then we would lose credibility with our community." Another who attended the meeting, Islamic Council of Victoria president Malcolm Thomas said Dr Ali's comments were "unauthorised and totally misrepresented our position".

Terrorist Laws To Lock Up Objectors

Webmaster — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 22:41:53 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/terrorist-laws-to-lock-up-objectors/2005/10/14/1128796712300.html?oneclick=trueSupporting the insurgency in Iraq, Afghanistan or any country where Australian troops are deployed could carry a penalty of seven years' jail under the Prime Minister's new terrorism laws. The changes also allow for control orders of unlimited duration, secret preventive detention, the monitoring of lawyers, and life imprisonment for funding terrorist organisations. The draft legislation, disclosed by by Greens yesterday, details the far-reaching security regime proposed by John Howard for "very dangerous and difficult and threatening circumstances" in the wake of the London bombings. New sedition offences will put big constraints on anti-war protests, familiar since the Vietnam era, and come down hard on those advocating violence against any religious, national or political group. Those charged with sedition can argue they were acting "in good faith" but it is unclear how the courts will interpret this. The bill sets out new federal police powers to detain terrorist suspects for up to 24 hours, and up to 48 hours with the approval of a judge or magistrate. Suspects will get access to a lawyer to challenge the detention order in a court or complain of maltreatment. Police do not need to give suspects or their lawyers reasons for the detentions and can monitor lawyers. All conversations lawyers have with their clients must be in English or translated into English for the police. Police are prohibited from questioning the detainees but that ban does not apply to ASIO officers. Last month the states agreed to allow extensions of up to 14 days for detentions when a terrorist act is believed imminent. The suspect must then be released if no terrorist act occurs. Detentions are secret but suspects are allowed to contact a family member or employers to say they are safe but, "not able to be contacted for the time being". If they disclose the detention they can be jailed for up to five years. Under the bill, the Government can apply to a court for control orders on terrorist suspects who have not been charged. These orders include house arrest, preventing them using the telephone or internet and restricting their social contacts and work opportunities. Suspects can also be fitted with tracking devices. The suspect's lawyer can be shown the control order but not necessarily the evidence or reasons behind it. The orders can last up to 12 months and can then be renewed any number of times. Persons under control orders may be given "counselling or education" if they agree. The bill does limit to three months control orders on those aged between 16 and 18. Also contained in the legislation are wide-ranging search powers that will compel the production of any documents relating to "any serious offence", regardless of any laws protecting privacy or legal privilege., The new laws are to be debated this month, after the Labor premiers agreed to their broad outline at the recent terrorism summit in Canberra. The proposed laws have been strongly criticised by human rights lawyers and some Muslim leaders, who have described them as draconian. The premiers and Mr Howard insist the new laws contain sufficient safeguards to ensure they are not abused. See Also:

'Ill will' can lead to jail terms

From: By Samantha MaidenOctober 15, 2005 http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,16922905-421,00.htmlSweeping new anti-terror laws include a plan to jail people for up to seven years for promoting feelings of "ill will" or hostility between different groups that would threaten the peace. As John Howard yesterday defended the measures, the federal Government was angered by ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope's decision to publish the 107-page draft bill on his website. Surprising legal experts with the scope and definition of terrorist acts, the laws would also make it a criminal offence to support a terrorist act, directly or indirectly. However, elements of the terrorism advocacy provisions are expected to be watered down after a backbench revolt over the draconian laws. Speaking at a Canberra mosque yesterday, Mr Stanhope explained his decision to support the legislation but also to publish the draft laws in defiance of a directive from Attorney-General Philip Ruddock. "Today I invite Canberra's Muslims to see for themselves the draft legislation the Prime Minister has presented to the states and territories for their consideration," he said. "I do not wish to deceive you. The laws to which I have agreed are unpalatable laws. They are laws I never anticipated I would be called upon to consider. "I believe it is wrong and counterproductive for us to keep insisting that this behaviour has no causal links to our invasion of Iraq. I also believe that the anxiety and dislocation felt by some Muslims can no longer be seen in isolation from the West's behaviour in relation to Palestine." The Prime Minister defended the laws, arguing that a one-day Senate inquiry into the sweeping laws would be supported by a longer period of parliamentary scrutiny. "The essence of this legislation has already been approved by all state governments ... all of which I remind you are controlled by the Labor Party," he said. The chairman of the backbench committee on Attorney-General matters, Liberal senator George Brandis, confirmed yesterday the concerns of some Coalition MPs and indicated that talks were continuing. "The Attorney-General has already met the government backbench committee for six hours in the course of two meetings to discuss the draft bill and has shown a spirit of co-operation in attempts to meet the concerns raised," Senator Brandis said. "Those meetings have not completed so I don't know what Mr Stanhope has published, but it shouldn't be thought that the process of consultation has finished." Asked yesterday by the Howard Government to remove the draft laws from their website, Mr Stanhope's office simply replied: "It's not coming down". President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, John von Doussa QC, also expressed concerns at the Government's plans to rush its new anti-terrorism legislation. "We have heard much from the Government about safeguards that are to be placed upon these draconian powers, but it is only when the detail of these protections are examined through the committee process that potential problems may be identified," Mr von Doussa said. "In my view, proper public scrutiny stands to assist the Government by ensuring that the legislation is properly drafted, thus reducing the likelihood that it will be challenged in the courts." Related Link:Draft: Anti-Terror Bill

PM: Anti-Terror Laws To Stay

Webmaster — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 13:59:51 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/pm-antiterror-laws-will-not-be-diluted/2005/10/17/1129401192988.html Prime Minister John Howard insists the government will not water down its tough new anti-terror laws despite fears they could erode civil rights. Top lawyers, civil rights advocates and the chief ministers of the ACT and Northern Territory have spoken out against the new laws, arguing they could weaken freedom of speech in Australia. ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope published a copy of the draft laws on his website on Friday, saying they went much further than measures agreed to by state and territory leaders last month. But Mr Howard says while the draft laws are being tweaked, they will not be watered down. "What is going to be in that legislation is what I announced and the states agreed to - no more, no less," he told the Nine Network. "I announced that we were going to have preventative detention, I announced that we were going to have control orders, I announced that we would be expanding the sedition offence to include incitement of violent behaviour against the community. "Now obviously people are entitled to have a look at the final form of the legislation and they will, but this idea that we have snuck in a whole lot of attacks on civil liberties beyond what I announced is completely wrong." Mr Howard accused Mr Stanhope of playing politics with the new laws, saying no other state leader had raised concerns. He also played down concerns about the laws eroding freedom of speech among Australians. "There's no way that any of these provisions are going to stop people attacking the government's policy on Iraq, attacking the government's policy on terrorism," Mr Howard said. "But what it will stop is encouraging people overseas to attack our soldiers in Iraq, for example." Under the proposed laws, people can be jailed for up to seven years if they support insurgents, while Australian Federal Police will be able to lock up people thought to be involved in or have knowledge of a terrorist act. NSW Premier Morris Iemma and his Victorian counterpart Steve Bracks backed the draft laws, saying they reflected what was agreed to at last month's COAG meeting. "(NSW has) no second thoughts - we are supporting what was agreed to," Mr Iemma said. But Mr Stanhope said he would seek advice from legal and community groups before backing the measures. "I find it simply unacceptable for anybody to suggest that I should put my signature on this draft bill, send it back to the prime minister and say 'yes, prime minister, I agree to this bill, I haven't consulted with the people of the ACT ... but I'm prepared to sign off on it'," he told ABC radio. The laws are expected to be introduced to federal parliament on November 1. The Senate will have just one day to investigate the new laws before having to report on November 8. But Labor, Mr Stanhope and the Australian Democrats are calling for more time. "We need tough practical measures but we don't need to trample on our rights," Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said. The latest debate on the new draft laws came as thousands of emergency workers and bureaucrats began taking part in a week-long anti-terror exercise, Mercury 05, across the country. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Robert Hill says Australia and and The Philippines will expand their cooperation on security issues amid concern over Islamic militants on the island of Mindanao. The two countries will increase exchanges on intelligence issues and maritime surveillance, Senator Hill said during a visit to The Philippines.

Unease Mounts Over Anti-terrorism Laws

Webmaster — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 02:30:09 +0000

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/unease-mounts-over-antiterrorism-laws/2005/10/18/1129401259010.html MULTICULTURALISM is an ally, not an enemy, in the fight against terrorism, prominent Liberal Petro Georgiou has declared, as Muslim leaders warn that new laws could increase Australia's security risk by isolating their communities. Mr Georgiou, a staunch advocate of civil liberties, last night urged the Government to consider setting up an independent watchdog to monitor the impact of sweeping anti-terrorism legislation. He said the authority could report regularly to Parliament so that any "unintended adverse consequences" of the counter-terrorism legislation were identified and promptly rectified. The idea was immediately backed by prominent Queensland Liberal senator George Brandis, who supported expanded powers in the fight against terrorism, but said it was important to "correspondingly expand" the safeguards against abuse of powers. The call from the high-profile Liberals came as Muslim leaders said they were dismayed by the sweeping new laws, branding them draconian, alarming and a knee-jerk reaction. "Now that we've had a chance to see some of the proposed detail it's even scarier than we imagined," said Islamic Council of Victoria spokesman Waleed Aly. Mr Aly said there was a sense among Muslims of alienation from the Government. "I don't think that's healthy from the social or security perspective." He accepted that the Government did not intend to target Muslims, but believed this was inevitable. "The mood of the community is very dejected. Muslims are really gutted about the whole terrorism phenomenon and (feel) that they are being defamed by their co-religionists, but there is also a very strong sense of dejection about the Government," Mr Aly said. The comments are in contrast to the declarations of support and co-operation that emerged during Prime Minister John Howard's summit with Muslim leaders less than two months ago. Mr Georgiou, delivering the Castan lecture in Melbourne last night, stressed that care must be taken to ensure the new laws did not unfairly affect Muslim and Arab Australians. "I believe that a commitment to multiculturalism, to respecting diversity, is vital to achieving and maintaining the highest level of community co-operation and participation in the fight against terrorism," Mr Georgiou said. One concern was that laws that were intended to be non-discriminatory might be applied in a discriminatory way

"I Will Take Blame For Any Terror Attacks": Sheikh Taj

Webmaster — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 05:31:03 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ill-take-rap-for-attacks-imam/2005/10/19/1129401317131.html The prominent imam Sheik Taj el-Din al Hilaly has urged the Federal Government to scrap its proposed terrorism laws, saying he will personally guarantee there are no terrorist attacks here and happily go to jail if he is wrong. The pledge from the man who offered to swap places with Douglas Wood, the Australian held hostage in Iraq, underscores his concerns that the laws would increase the terrorist threat. "These laws are akin to holding an M-16 and pointing it at the Muslim population," he said. "It makes things worse and that's the advice I have given the politicians." "We have people in Australia who hold views that are extreme or radical. Just because they have extreme thoughts doesn't mean they will put them into action. "And putting them in jail when they are innocent will breed hatred. That's why these laws are dangerous for Australia and Australian society." Under the draft laws, people can be put under house arrest for a year or detained for up to two weeks on suspicion of being a terrorist. Sheik Hilaly said a better way of tackling extremism was education and counselling. "What I want to suggest is to give five years for my strategy. I will ensure there is not one extremist, one fundamentalist in Australia," he said. "My view is that there are no terrorists but there are extremists. If any act of terrorism does occur, I will be responsible and I'm ready to go to jail." He said Zeky "Zak" Mallah, who was acquitted on terrorism charges, had extreme views but would never act on them and was benefiting from counselling. The Herald yesterday reported Mr Mallah's allegations that he was mistreated in jail and judged the highest-risk prisoner while on remand for almost 18 months. He said he was beaten in a place away from prison cameras, his Koran was desecrated and prayer mats were soiled by urinating guards. NSW Police found "insufficient evidence" to prove the beating claim, a spokesman said. Mr Mallah's lawyer, Adam Houda, said authorities refused repeated requests to investigate other complaints. NSW Corrective Services denies Mr Mallah was abused and said his status as a high-risk prisoner was downgraded following his acquittal in March.

Earthquake Victims Struggling To Survive

Webmaster — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 23:45:04 +0000

http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IV0510-2827 A Kashmiri woman grieves for her family member, killed by the October 8 earthquake, beside a new grave in a mountain village of Comsar in the Neelum Valley, north of Muzaffarabad.Several days after the deadly earthquake hit northern Pakistan, the people of Kashmir who survived the earthquake are in a desperate situation. Nearly a third of Pakistan's injured still have not been reached by doctors. And when nightfall comes, with temperatures already close to freezing, they're left with very little shelter. The UN's relief agency, OCHA, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies both say they've been given only a fraction of the money they need. It's an unusually slow response to a disaster they say. More than 50,000 people died in the earthquake; more than that will die through the winter if supplies don't reach them soon. The most pressing need is for winterized tents. The World Health Organization has expressed concern about the lack of shelter and safe water for people affected by the earthquake in Pakistan. In addition to the people who have died due to the earthquake more than 65,000 are reported to have been injured, according to official government figures. Many have still received no treatment. Teams from the Ministry of Health and from international field hospitals are operating around the clock to find and treat the injured. Many people with normally non-life threatening injuries who have not yet received treatment or have not been accessed by relief teams are now at serious risk of fatal infection or crush syndrome.Supplies of winterized tents and blankets are becoming essential as winter approaches. Sustainable supplies of clean water are essential for health facilities - for both drinking water and sanitation. Hundreds of thousands of liters are needed for people's survival and to protect against disease outbreaks. Some purification plants are already in Muzaffarbad and more mobile plants are on the way. The Pakistan Institute for Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad is still receiving up to 300 patients daily and is sending stabilized patients to other public hospitals around the country. The hospital has put up tents in the grounds for families of patients. An injured Kashmiri survivor waits for treatment in the mountainous village of Butnar in the Neelum Walley, northern PakistanPakistan Armed Forces has set up a field hospital at Islamabad airport, and with staff from the Ministry of Health, this facility is undertaking triage of patients and dispatch to adequate treatment facilities in Islamabad and in other cities according to the preliminary diagnosis. In Muzaffarabad, a district of 600,000 people has been massively damaged. Half of the population has no access to any kind of services. The Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Muzaffarabad, the main health facility, has been extensively damaged and is closed. Most other health facilities in the district are thought to have been destroyed or severely damaged. The Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences is the only hospital in Muzaffarabed which managed to withstand the earthquake. It is now carrying out dozens of major and minor surgical interventions in its operating theatres every day. In spite of the fact that many Ministry of Health staff are direct or indirect victims of the disaster, many have started to report back for duty. Medical and surgical field teams report 2000 patients are being treated daily in Muzaffarabad. The first three days after the earthquake, most patients were treated for trauma injuries. Currently, about 40% of patients are treated for trauma; the remainder being largely acute respiratory infections. The scale of the suffering is immense, but for some reason, perhaps disaster fatigue, perhaps geographical distance, the money pledged isn't matching what's needed. The people here will be dependent on aid, say the agencies, for at least the next six months -- a long and difficult operation because of the lack of infrastructure and the rugged terrain. The money and supplies are urgently needed and the international community must act fast to save lives.

U.S. Administration Used Media To Tell Tales of WMD

Webmaster — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:27:03 +0000

More than any other New York Times reporter, Judith Miller took the lead with stories claiming that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Now, a few years later, she's facing heightened scrutiny in the aftermath of a pair of articles that appeared in the Times on Sunday -- a lengthy investigative piece about Miller plus her own first-person account of how she got entangled in the case of the Bush administration's "outing" of Valerie Plame as a CIA agent. It now seems that Miller functioned with more accountability to U.S. military intelligence officials than to New York Times editors. Most of the way through her article, Miller slipped in this sentence: "During the Iraq war, the Pentagon had given me clearance to see secret information as part of my assignment 'embedded' with a special military unit hunting for unconventional weapons." And, according to the same article, she ultimately told the grand jury that during a July 8, 2003, meeting with the vice president's chief of staff, Lewis Libby, "I might have expressed frustration to Mr. Libby that I was not permitted to discuss with editors some of the more sensitive information about Iraq." Let's replay that one again in slow motion. Judith Miller is a reporter for the New York Times. After the invasion, on assignment to cover a U.S. military unit as it searches for WMDs in Iraq, she's given "clearance" by the Pentagon "to see secret information" -- which she "was not permitted to discuss" with Times editors. There's nothing wrong with this picture if Judith Miller is an intelligence operative for the U.S. government. But if she's supposed to be a journalist, this is a preposterous situation -- and the fact that the New York Times has tolerated it tells us a lot about that newspaper. Notably, the front-page story about Miller in the Times on Sunday bypassed Miller's "clearance" status and merely reported: "In the spring of 2003, Ms. Miller returned from covering the war in Iraq, where she had been embedded with an American military team searching unsuccessfully for evidence of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons." In effect, during the propaganda buildup for the invasion of Iraq, while Miller was the paper's lead reporter on weapons of mass destruction, the New York Times news department served as a key asset of the warfare state. "WMD -- I got it totally wrong," the Times quoted Miller as saying in a Friday interview. "The analysts, the experts and the journalists who covered them -- we were all wrong. If your sources are wrong, you are wrong." But analysts, experts and journalists were not "all wrong." Some very experienced weapons inspectors -- including Mohamed ElBaradei, Hans Blix and Scott Ritter -- challenged key assertions from the White House. Well before the invasion, many other analysts also disputed various aspects of the U.S. government's claims about WMDs in Iraq. (For examples, see archived news releases put out by my colleagues at the Institute for Public Accuracy in 2002 and early 2003.) Meanwhile journalists at some British newspapers, including the Independent and the Guardian, raised tough questions that were virtually ignored by mainstream U.S. reporters in the Washington press corps. Reporters select sources -- and the unnamed ones that Miller chose to rely on, like the Pentagon's pet Iraqi exile Ahmad Chalabi, were predictably eager to spin tales about WMDs in order to fuel momentum for an invasion. Yet the official line at the New York Times has been that its news department was fooled with the rest of the media best. On May 26, 2004 -- more than a year after the invasion of Iraq -- the Times published a belated semi-mea-culpa article by two top editors, including executive editor Bill Keller. The piece contended that the Times, along with policy makers in Washington, were victims rather than perpetrators: "Administration officials now acknowledge that they sometimes fell for misinformation from these exile sources. So did many news organizations -- in particular, this one." But the Times did not "fall for misinformation" as much as jump for it. The newspaper eagerly helped the administration portray deceptions as facts. The carnage set loose by those deceptions is continuing every day. But the Times' extensive Sunday coverage of its own machinations, with Judith Miller at the center of the intrigue, had nothing to say about the human consequences in Iraq. In elite medialand, the careers of journalists at the New York Times loom large. In contrast, the lives of American soldiers -- and especially the lives of Iraqis -- are more like abstractions while the breathless accounts of press palace intrigues unfold. The apex of the Times hierarchy has provided no indication of personal remorse or institutional accountability. And the next time agenda-setting for U.S. military action -- against Iran or Syria or wherever -- shifts into high gear, it's very unlikely that the New York Times or other top-tier U.S. media outlets will present major roadblocks. On June 14, 2003, shortly before he was promoted to the job of executive editor at the New York Times, the newspaper published an essay by Bill Keller that explained why the U.S. government should strive to improve the quality of its intelligence. "The truth is that the information-gathering machine designed to guide our leaders in matters of war and peace shows signs of being corrupted," he wrote. "To my mind, this is a worrisome problem, but not because it invalidates the war we won. It is a problem because it weakens us for the wars we still face." -Norman Solomon is the author of War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death

How the West Came To Run Islamic Banks

Webmaster — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 04:15:52 +0000

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9775291/site/newsweek/

You're a pious Muslim with a few million in oil dollars to invest. So would the perfect Islamic bank for you be Citigroup, perhaps? HSBC?

Actually, yes. Giant Western banks

Anti-terrorism Laws Go Too Far, Analysts Say

Webmaster — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 18:25:27 +0000

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1492446.htm An informal survey of 25 of Australia's leading security analysts has found the majority believe the Federal Government's proposed anti-terrorism laws go too far. The survey, conducted by Lateline, found that while some of the analysts back the new laws, the majority think the laws will not clearly deter or prevent terrorism inside Australia. The experts contacted include some well-known names, like one of Australia's first counter-terrorism experts, Brigadier Malcolm MacKenzie-Orr, former deputy director-general of ASIO Gerard Walsh, former deputy secretary of defence Professor Hugh White, former SAS commander Jim Wallace, three former heads of intelligence for the Federal Police, and the former head of intelligence for the Sydney Olympics. They were asked two questions: whether they believe the proposed anti-terrorism laws were proportionate to the threat against Australia; and whether the laws would help deter or prevent terrorism in Australia. Of 25 experts, 15 said they believe the laws were not proportionate to the terrorist threat against Australia. They include Gerald Walsh a former director-general of ASIO for 10 years, Professor Hugh White, former deputy secretary of the Defence Department, Dr David Wright Neville a former terrorism analyst for the Office of National Assessments, Peter Jennings a former strategic adviser to Prime Minister John Howard, and Sandy Gordon, a former director of intelligence for the Federal Police. Professor White said he thinks the threat of terrorism against Australia is very serious. "But I'm unpersuaded that these laws are a cost-effective way of responding to that threat," he said. "By cost-effective I mean the sacrifice of civil liberties is justified." Clive Williams, former director of security for the Defence Department, said the laws go too far. "I think that they will alienate at least some individuals who might then be motivated to do something, and I think the last thing we really need is to drive wedges between our various communities," he said.

Proportionate

Nine of the 25, said the laws were proportionate to the threat. They included Dr Carl Ungerer, a former ONA analyst and former adviser to Simon Crean, Jim Wallace, a former commander of the SAS and special forces, and Geoff Penrose, also a former head of intelligence for the AFP. Dr Ungerer said the London bombings highlighted the threat posed by home-grown terrorists. "I think it's proportionate because we need to have measures for our police and our intelligence agencies that can deal with that particular threat," he said. Nearly two thirds of those surveyed were not convinced that the a laws would be effective. Ten of the 25 experts said they believe the laws would not work and a further seven said it was unclear whether the laws would work. Former Sydney Olympic intelligence chief Neil Fergus is one of those who says it is unclear whether the new laws will work. But he says similar laws have made a difference in the United Kingdom. "There were undoubtedly people taken off the streets in the United Kingdom that a brief could not be put together for a successful prosecution who were intimately involved in Al Qaeda-related activities," he said. "By taking them off the street I think it made a very positive contribution to national security in the United Kingdom."

Concerns

But Neil Fergus has concerns. "I don't think anybody could seriously argue that despite their most valiant and distinguished efforts either ASIO or the AFP get it right 100 per cent of the time," he said. "And the fact is they only have to get it wrong one time out of 100, it's still a pretty good record, and with the application of these laws it is possible that an innocent member of the community might virtually have their life destroyed." About a third, or eight out of the 25, had no doubt the laws would help protect Australia. Mr Wallace, former SAS commander, was among them. "What you are looking at doing is trying to deter terrorism, to detect it and obviously to protect against it," he said. "And if you're going to do that, you have to disrupt the preparations of the terrorists. "And these sort of laws, right down from the additions to the criminal code and also the control orders and preventative detention, are all aimed at doing that." One of the strongest voices against the new proposals is one of Australia's earliest counter-terror warriors - Brigadier Malcolm MacKenzie - who established the first counter-terror regiment in the SAS. "I think they're grossly over the top. Australia has a very, very small, low terrorist threat," he said. "We've had virtually no terrorist activity in Australia. The little bit there has been has been outsiders getting involved. "And in my experience in Northern Ireland where we had similar laws, they didn't work anyway." The laws are due to be introduced into Federal Parliament next week.

Dick Cheney Adviser Indicted in CIA Leak Probe

Webmaster — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 18:55:35 +0000

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/28/AR2005102800153.html?referrer=email A federal grand jury today indicted Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, after a two-year investigation into the leak of a CIA agent's identity but spared -- at least for now --President Bush's top political strategist, Karl Rove. Libby was indicted on charges of perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements. The five-count indictment charged that he gave misleading information to the grand jury, allegedly lying about information he discussed with three news reporters. It alleged that he committed perjury before the grand jury in March 2004 and that he also lied to FBI agents investigating the case. Shortly after the indictment was announced, Libby resigned his White House positions. Cheney said in a statement that he accepted Libby's resignation "with deep regret." He called his aide "one of the most capable and talented individuals I have ever known" and said he "has given many years of his life to public service and has served our nation tirelessly and with great distinction." Cheney added that Libby is presumed innocent until proven guilty and that "it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the charges or on any facts relating to the proceeding." The indictment of Libby, 55, was presented in court today by the special counsel in the case, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, as the grand jury's term expired. Although no indictment was announced for Rove, 54, the White House deputy chief of staff, today's proceedings did not remove him from legal jeopardy. Sources close to the case said the investigation of Rove is continuing. "When citizens testify before grand juries, they are required to tell the truth," Fitzgerald said in a statement. "Without the truth, our criminal justice system cannot serve our nation or its citizens. The requirement to tell the truth applies equally to all citizens, including persons who hold high positions in government." The indictment contained one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements. The charges involve testimony that Libby gave to the grand jury and other statements he made regarding his conversations with three journalists: Judith Miller of the New York Times, Matthew Cooper of Time magazine and Tim Russert of NBC. The indictment alleges that Libby lied about how and when in 2003 he learned and subsequently disclosed to reporters information about the covert CIA operative, Valerie Plame. It says he lied to FBI agents on Oct. 14 and Nov. 26, 2003. Libby is to be arraigned at a later date. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, an appointee of former president George H.W. Bush. A press release issued by the special counsel's office said that before Plame's name appeared in the press in July 2003, her CIA employment was classified and that her affiliation with the agency "was not common knowledge outside the intelligence community." It said that disclosing such information "has the potential to damage the national security" by preventing the person from operating covertly in the future, compromising intelligence-gathering and endangering CIA employees and those who deal with them. However, the indictment does not charge Libby with the original alleged offense that the grand jury set out to investigate: illegally revealing the identity of a covert agent in violation of a 1982 federal law. An attorney for Rove, Robert Luskin, said in a statement this morning, "The Special Counsel has advised Mr. Rove that he has made no decision about whether or not to bring charges and that Mr. Rove's status has not changed. Mr. Rove will continue to cooperate fully with the Special Counsel's efforts to complete the investigation. We are confident that when the Special Counsel finishes his work, he will conclude that Mr. Rove has done nothing wrong." Rove provided new information to Fitzgerald during eleventh-hour negotiations that "gave Fitzgerald pause" about charging Bush's senior strategist, said a source close to Rove. "The prosecutor has to resolve those issues before he decides what to do." This raised the prospect that a new grand jury or another existing one would continue the probe, given the expiration today of the current grand jury's term. As tension mounted ahead of the indictment, the White House adopted a business-as-usual approach. Bush traveled to Norfolk, Va., today to deliver a speech on the war on terrorism, and Cheney was in Georgia to attend three political events. The investigation by the federal grand jury in Washington was originally launched to determine whether anyone illegally leaked the name of Plame, a covert CIA agent, in an effort to discredit her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, in retaliation for his criticism of the war in Iraq. Wilson began criticizing the war and the Bush administration after a 2002 trip he took at the behest of the CIA to the African country of Niger to look into reports that Iraq was seeking materials to build nuclear weapons. The indictment charges that Libby began acquiring information about Wilson's trip in May 2003 after a New York Times column disputed the accuracy of a Bush statement in his State of the Union address. The column said a former ambassador, who was not named, found the statement to be false. According to the indictment, Libby learned Plame's identity from a senior State Department official in June 2003 and was told by Cheney that she worked in the CIA's Counterproliferation Division. The two key subjects of the inquiry -- Rove and Libby -- have acknowledged talking about Plame to reporters, but they have denied leaking her name or committing other wrongdoing. Libby testified that he did not identify Plame by name to reporters or discuss her covert status with them. But Miller of the New York Times has testified that she believed she first learned of Plame's CIA job from Libby, when the two spoke on June 23, 2003. Miller said she and Libby discussed Plame again in a meeting on July 8, 2003, and in a phone conversation a few days later, on July 12. She has said she first learned Plame's name from someone other than Libby but does not recall who it was. A lawyer who formerly served in the State Department and Defense Department, Libby is the vice president's assistant for national security affairs in addition to being his chief of staff. The reported effort to discredit Wilson was rooted in a clash between the White House -- notably Cheney -- and the intelligence bureaucracy in the CIA and State Department over the war in Iraq. Grand jury testimony that has been disclosed suggests that Bush administration officials suspected the CIA of trying to shift blame for prewar intelligence failures to the White House. The vice president played a central role in assembling the case for invading Iraq and repeatedly pressed for intelligence that would bolster his arguments. Ironically, it was a question from Cheney during an intelligence briefing that initiated the chain of events that led to the grand jury investigation. He had received a military intelligence report alleging that Iraq was seeking uranium from Niger and asked what the CIA knew about it. As a result, Wilson was dispatched in February 2002 to look into claims that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had attempted to buy uranium yellowcake from Niger for use in developing nuclear weapons. Wilson has said he found no evidence of any such effort and reported that the claims were false. Nevertheless, President Bush said in his January 2003 State of the Union address that the British government had learned Hussein "recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." Two months later, Bush ordered U.S. troops into Iraq to depose Hussein and eliminate a purported threat to the United States from Iraqi "weapons of mass destruction." No such weapons were found, nor was there evidence that the Hussein regime had reconstituted a nuclear weapons program. In an opinion piece published in the July 6, 2003, New York Times, Wilson criticized Bush's State of the Union statement. Wilson wrote that if his findings in Niger were ignored because they did not fit the administration's "preconceptions about Iraq," then a case could be made "that we went to war under false pretenses." He said some intelligence related to Iraq's nuclear program was "twisted to exaggerate the Iraqi threat." On July 14, conservative political commentator Robert D. Novak wrote a syndicated column that called Wilson's African mission into question, suggesting the trip was instigated by Wilson's wife and did not have high-level backing. Novak named Plame as "an Agency operative on weapons of mass destruction" and said "two senior administration officials" had told him she had suggested sending her husband on the Niger trip. Wilson subsequently complained that the Bush administration had compromised his wife's CIA career in retribution against him. The CIA then asked the Justice Department to investigate the leak. Fitzgerald, a hard-charging U.S. attorney in Chicago, was appointed special counsel for the probe in late December 2003. His charge was to determine whether anyone involved in the leak violated federal law, including the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982. The act makes it a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for a person with access to classified information to intentionally disclose the identity of a covert agent to anyone not authorized to receive classified information. Indications later emerged, however, that Fitzgerald was looking into other possible crimes related to the leak, including conspiracy, perjury and obstruction of justice. As Fitzgerald was preparing to seek the grand jury indictments, the FBI conducted last-minute interviews Monday night in Plame's Washington, D.C., neighborhood. The agents were attempting to determine if Plame's neighbors knew she worked for the CIA before she was unmasked. Two neighbors said they told the FBI they had been surprised to learn she was a CIA operative. Plame, 42, formerly worked undercover as an "energy analyst" for a private company that was later identified as a CIA front. A graduate of Pennsylvania State University and the London School of Economics, she married Wilson, now 55, in 1998 while she was a covert agent. The couple has 5-year-old twins. Although the focus has been on Rove and Libby, Cheney himself has been publicly implicated in recent days in the chain of events that led to the exposure of Plame. The New York Times reported Monday that Fitzgerald possesses notes taken by Libby showing that he learned about Plame from the vice president a month before she was identified by Novak. The White House did not dispute the report. Two lawyers involved in the case said Fitzgerald apparently has been aware of Libby's June 12, 2003, conversation with Cheney since the early days of his investigation. Cheney told NBC's Russert in September 2003 that he did not know Wilson or who sent him on the trip to Africa. Around the same time, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said any suggestion that Rove was involved in the leak was "ridiculous." McClellan said President Bush has set "the highest of standards" for his administration and that if any officials were involved in the leak, "they would no longer be in this administration." Asked in June 2004 whether he would fire anyone who leaked Plame's name, Bush replied in the affirmative. But in July this year, Bush appeared to add a qualifier, telling reporters he would dismiss anyone who "committed a crime" in the case. The White House refused to clarify whether an indictment would trigger termination, or if that would require a conviction. During the investigation, Fitzgerald sought grand jury testimony from several journalists who had spoken with administration officials about Plame, and he came down hard on those who refused to cooperate. The federal judge in the case, Thomas F. Hogan, ordered the New York Times's Miller held for contempt for refusing to identify a confidential source, and she spent 85 days in jail in Alexandria, Va., before agreeing to testify about conversations with Libby. Although she did not write an article about the case, Miller interviewed Libby about the Plame matter and promised him anonymity. Miller said she agreed to testify when Libby specifically and personally released her from the confidentiality pledge. Among those interviewed by Fitzgerald in the case have been Bush, Cheney and several of their top aides and advisers. Washington Post staff writer Jim VandeHei contributed to this story.

UN Council Demands Syria Cooperate In Hariri Probe

Webmaster — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 01:12:17 +0000

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The Security Council voted unanimously on Monday for a resolution ordering Syria to cooperate fully with a U.N. investigation of the assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister or face possible "further action." The chief U.N. investigator, German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, already has named Syrian officials as suspects in the assassination in the plot to kill Rakif Hariri and 22 others in a February 15 bombing in Beirut. In a recent report, he said the killing was organized by Syrian security officials and their Lebanese allies. "We have affirmed our just demands of the Syrian government -- and made it clear that failure to comply with these demands will lead to serious consequences from the international community," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the 15-member council. Unanimity was achieved in the Security Council after the United States, France and Britain, sponsors of the resolution, agreed at the last minute to drop an explicit threat of economic sanctions against Syria. Otherwise Russia, China and Algeria were expected to abstain, diplomats said. Instead, the resolution warns the council "could consider further action" if Syria does not meet demands in the resolution. One of them is ordering Damascus to detain anyone who Mehlis wants to question. Mehlis has returned to Beirut to continue his investigation. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara sharply criticized Mehlis for accusing his country without due process and basing his charges on flimsy information. Shara said implicating top Syrian officials in Hariri's assassination was like charging U.S., Spanish and British authorities with involvement in September 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington, the March 11, 2004, bombings in Madrid and July 7, 2005, attacks in London. An angry British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called Shara's comments "appalling," "absurd" and "the most grotesque and insensitive comparison." Rice later called Shara's speech "a tirade that made the most bizarre connection." FOREIGN MINISTERS ON HAND The importance of the meeting was underlined by the attendance of 11 foreign ministers of the 15 council members. They negotiated until minutes before the vote, which was presided over by Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu. The resolution, No. 1636, also calls for a financial freeze and travel ban on individual suspects to be named by the Mehlis commission or the Lebanese government. At the insistence of Russia, that demand was weakened and now any Security Council member can object to a name on such a list. Mehlis' report touched close to the family of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He cited possible involvement in the plot of Maher Assad, his brother, and Assef Shawkat, his brother-in-law and the chief of military intelligence. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the changes in the resolution removed "unnecessary and ungrounded threats." But he told reporters, "We want this statement to be followed by specific action" from Syria. Algerian Foreign Minister Mohamed Bedjaoui said that as the only Arab council member, "I would like to state here loud and clear that the cowardly assassination ... must not under any pretext go unpunished." He called the killing "absolute evil" but cautioned against a "hasty threat of sanctions." The death of Hariri, an opponent of Syrian domination of his country, transformed Lebanon's political landscape. The killing led to a pullout of Syrian troops from Lebanon after three decades and has put increasing pressure on Lebanon's pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud to resign. France's foreign minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy, said the Security Council had "only one aim: the truth, the whole truth." But Brazil had hesitations about sanctions. Its foreign minister, Celso Amorim, said his country did not favor "hasty decisions" that could further endanger the stability of the Middle East. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also spoke against any "willful" use of sanctions and noted Mehlis would continue investigating until at least December 15. Rice has sought to isolate Syria over the past year because of Lebanon. And she has accused Damascus of allowing foreign fighters to cross over its border to Iraq where more than 150,000 U.S. troops are fighting a bloody insurgency.

U.S. Frees 500 Prisoners From Abu Ghraib

Webmaster — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 16:15:30 +0000

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Five hundred prisoners walked free from the U.S. military's Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq on Tuesday, released in a goodwill gesture to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The detainees were presented with a Koran and $25 on their release which marked Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Their release was in addition to 1,000 prisoners set free in October at the start of the month of fasting. All 1,500, who also received traditional white shirts, were released after their cases went before an Iraqi-led review board and were found not to have committed serious or violent crimes, the U.S. military said in a statement. "These detainees have confessed to their crimes, renounced violence and pledged to be good citizens of Iraq," it said. Deputy Prime Minister Abed Mutlak al-Jibouri and other ministers were present for the release, requested by the Iraqi government, but media were not invited to Abu Ghraib, a vast complex about 15 km (10 miles) west of Baghdad. U.S. forces are holding 13,885 detainees, including 5,074 at Abu Ghraib, behind barbed wire at several facilities across Iraq, up from a total of about 11,800 a month ago, a spokesman for the U.S. military's prison operations said. Iraqi critics say U.S. military detentions are too arbitrary and too long. Abu Ghraib became notorious for the images of U.S. soldiers mocking, physically abusing and torturing Iraqi prisoners that emerged last year. U.S. military officials and Iraqi authorities have since been at pains to show Abu Ghraib now being run as a model prison.

Muslims Celebrate `Eid Al-Fitr

Webmaster — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 15:11:05 +0000

Thesweeping majority of Muslims world-wide will celebrate `Eid Al-Fitr,which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on Thursday,November 3. In Australia, like most years, there is onceagaina difference of opinion as to the calculation method ofdeterminging the first day of Shawal and henceEidAl-Fitr.Mosques that are following the calculation method will becelebrating Eid on Thursday, while those that follow actualmoonsighting will most likely be celebrating Eid on Friday. Egypt'sMufti Ali Gomaa announced Tuesday, November 1, that Wednesday will bethe last day of the dawn-to-dusk fasting month, and that `Eid Al-Fitrwill fall on Thursday. InRiyadh, the Saudi Judiciary Council announced that the new moon ofShawwal has not be sighted which means Ramadan will end Wednesday. Following suit, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen, Algeria, Sudan and Tunisia announced that the Muslim feast will fall on Thursday. In Beirut, Dar al-Iftaa [the Sunni fatwa authority) said the new moon has not been sighted and Ramadan will end Wednesday. Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, the Shiite religious authority in Lebanon, had announced earlier that `Eid Al-Fitr will fall Thursday. The Association of Muslim Scholars, the highest Sunni religious authority in Iraq, and the Sunni religious endowment authority announced Tuesday that Wednesday will be the last day of the holy fasting month. `Eid in Europe Turkey said that Wednesday will be the last day of Ramadan and `Eid Al-Fitr will begin on Thursday. TheMuslim minority in France will celebrate the Muslim feast on Thursday,according to the French Council for the Muslim Religion (CFCM). TheMuslim Council of Britain, the leading representative body of theminority, said the Muslim feast will fall on Thursday in the Europeancountry. TheShura Mosque in Vienna, one of the main reference authorities for theMuslim minority in Austria, announced that Wednesday will be the lastday of Ramadan. In Slovakia, the Islamic Awqafs (endowment) society announced that `Eid Al-Fitr will begin on Thursday. TheGerman Muslim Committee for Moon Sighting announced Tuesday that thenew moon of Shawwal has not be sighted and Ramadan will end Wednesday. InBelgium, the Muslim minority representative body said Muslims in theEuropean country will celebrate`Eid Al-Fitr on Thursday. A member of the Council of Muftis in Russia said the Muslim feast will fall on Thursday. In Albania, the Islamic Sheikdom announced that Wednesday will be the last day of the dawn-to-dusk fasting month. TheFederation of Social Organizations (ARRAID), the Muslim umbrella bodyin Ukraine, said the new moon has not been sighted and Ramadan will endWednesday. Also, the leader of the Muslim minority in Tatarstan announced that `Eid Al-Fitr will be celebrated on Thursday. Indonesians United For the first time in years, Indonesian Muslims will celebrate `Eid Al-Fitr on the same day. The government of the world's most populous Muslim country announced that the Muslim feast will fall on Thursday. Thetwo biggest Muslim organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiya,which usually stand different in deciding the moon sighting, madesimilar announcements. Muhammadiyah usually marks Ramadan and `Eid Al-Fitr one day before NU. Still to Sight Whilesome countries are still to sight the new moon, Libya was the onlycountry to announce the end of the dawn-to-dusk fasting month,celebrating `Eid on Wednesday. Pakistan, Malaysia, Oman, Morocco, Somalia, South Africa and Shiites in Iraq said they will sight the Shawwal moon on Wednesday. Moonsighting is supposed to determine Arab lunar months. It has always beena controversial issue among Muslim countries, and even scholars seem atodds over the issue. Whileone group of scholars believes Muslims in other regions and countriesare to follow this sighting as long as these countries share one partof the night, another states that Muslims everywhere should abide bythe lunar calendar of Saudi Arabia. Athird, however, disputes both views, arguing that Islam is againstdivision and disunity, since Muslims, for instance, are not allowed tohold two congregational prayers in one mosque at the same time. Thisgroup believes that the authority in charge of ascertaining thesighting of the moon in a given country (such as Egypt's Dar al-Iftaa)announces the sighting of the new moon, then Muslims in the countryshould all abide by this.

Missile Embedded In Cruise Ship Off Somalia

Webmaster — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 02:02:13 +0000

A cruise ship with up to 19 Australians on board has an unexploded missile embedded in an accommodation unit after a possible terrorist attack off the east African coast, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says. The passengers on the US-owned Seabourn Spirit were woken by machinegun fire and a rocket-propelled grenade crashing into the vessel at dawn on Saturday about 160km off the coast of Somalia. The luxury cruise ship is about to dock in the Seychelles, but Mr Downer said that could be delayed while officials disarm the unexploded ordnance. "We're not sure whether in the early stages the ship will be able to tie up at the wharf there because of concern about an unexploded rocket that is embedded in some of the passenger accommodation of the ship," Mr Downer told the Nine Network. "American officials are going to board it initially to deal with that problem, and once that problem's dealt with then our consular officer will be able to go on board as well." The attack was believed to have been carried out by pirates, but Mr Downer said it may have been a terrorist act. "The whole thing is an extraordinary story, that it would be attacked by, we're not quite sure who at this stage, but it's possible the people who attacked the ship were terrorists," he said. Mr Downer said it was not known exactly how many Australians were on board, with 13 named on the ship's passenger list and another six who were thought to have joined the cruise. The ship, with more than 300 people on board, was on its way to the Kenyan port of Mombasa where it was due to pick up more passengers, including Australians. Those Australians will now be met by a consular official from Australia's embassy in Nairobi. The passengers awoke about 5.30am on Saturday to the sound of gunfire as two armed vessels approached the Seabourn Spirit. The 7.5-metre inflatable boats approached the vessel and fired as their occupants attempted to get on board the liner. Seabourn Spirit was not boarded, managing to outrun the attackers and change its course. One member of the crew was slightly injured before the attackers were repulsed, a London-based Seabourn Cruises spokesman said. The crew member was reportedly hit by flying debris. The ship has 161 crew members and 151 passengers. The company said the ship, registered in the Bahamas, sustained minor damage and was safe to sail. Sydney couple Gayle and Bob Meagher, who are aboard the ship, described the moment they realised they were in the firing line. Mr Meagher said he could see the pirates shooting at the ship. "It was a frightening experience to see the flash of a rocket launcher and you just wonder what's about to happen to you in the next couple of seconds," he told the Seven Network. Ms Meagher said the captain stayed calm, warning passengers: "We have people shooting at us, we are going to try to outrun them." "(It was) a little bit more exciting than we planned for," she said. "The sounds were very sharp like doors banging."

Security Risk Cited As Imam Ordered Out

Webmaster — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 19:30:42 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/security-risk-cited-as-imam-ordered-out/2005/11/07/1131212008761.htmlAn Iranian-born imam who has lived in Australia for more than a decade will be deported after the Federal Court upheld ASIO's finding that he was a risk to national security. Sheik Mansour Leghaei is a prominent Shiite cleric, father of four and convenor of the Imam Hussein Islamic Centre in Sydney who has been under ASIO surveillance virtually since he arrived in Australia. Justice Rodney Madgwick reserved the reasons for his decision but earlier documents filed with the court said ASIO believed that Sheik Leghaei had engaged in "acts of foreign interference", essentially spying for a foreign government. Sheik Leghaei's links with the Iranian Government, his ties to the radical Islamic group Ahlul-Bait and the source of his funding had been of concern to the domestic security agency ever since authorities photocopied an exercise book he brought into the country in 1996. ASIO said it contained excerpts from a a publication called Jihad and Islam which discussed a holy war to be fought with infidels, those who do not accept the Koran, and others who insulted Islam. ASIO also said it contained tips on how to conduct intelligence operations, including observations that spies had to be "devout", "sharply intelligent" and have a "very strong sixth sense". The spy agency - which is charged with counter-espionage responsibilities - was concerned Sheik Leghaei was monitoring Iranian dissidents on behalf of the hardline regime in Tehran. Sheik Leghaei could not be contacted yesterday and his legal representatives were instructed not to speak to the media, but the cleric had earlier told reporters that the translation of the material was wrong and he was the victim of a vendetta from a "paranoid" ASIO. He argued the exercise book referred to Iraq's attempted invasion of Iran in the mid-1980s. His legal counsel argued unsuccessfully that ASIO's assessment should be rendered void because it lacked procedural fairness.

Terror Raids In Sydney & Melbourne

Webmaster — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 20:25:20 +0000

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17176270-2,00.html Police are raiding homes in Sydney and Melbourne in a counter-terrorism operation involving federal and state officers. New South Wales police commissioner Ken Moroney has revealed at least six people have been arrested who were "proposing to conduct a terror attack in Australia". The raids are still being carried out. Some 400 officers from the Australian Federal Police and the state police forces in New South Wales and Victoria were involved. The raids are still being carried out. Mr Moroney said some 15 homes were targeted. ABC radio said this morning that another nine people were arrested in Victoria in the raids. This has yet to be confirmed. The swoop follows changes to the law that were rushed through Parliament last week by the Federal Government. The Prime Minister said the changes were needed to help police avert a terrorist attack. "A number of search warrants are currently being executed in Sydney and Melbourne as part of a joint operation by the AFP, New South Wales Police and Victoria Police," an AFP spokeswoman said. "These warrants relate to an ongoing investigation and as a result it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time. "Maintaining operational security is paramount at this stage. "We can confirm that the ongoing operation relates to the area of counter-terrorism." The raids follow Prime Minister John Howard's announcement last week of a possible terrorist threat believed to involve potential targets in Sydney and Melbourne. The Australian reported the threat was linked to a group of Melbourne men who were spotted filming possible targets. The Government recalled the Senate for a special sitting last week to pass one measure which widened the scope for authorities to arrest terrorist suspects. Labor, the Australian Democrats and the Australian Greens have accused the government of playing politics with national security and trying to scare Australians. But Mr Howard last night rejected the claims, saying he announced the changes to anti-terror laws because they were in the national interest.

Court Told of Plot In Australia

Webmaster — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 15:17:22 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/11/08/1131212028240.htmlA terror suspect arrested this morning was contemplating sacrificing himself as a martyr, the Melbourne Magistrates Court has heard. Nine men were arrested in today's counter-terrorism raids across Melbourne's northern and western suburbs. They included Osama bin Laden supporter Abdul Nacer Benbrika, also known as Abu Bakr. The court was told the nine had formed a group aimed at carrying out a jihad, or holy war. Abdullah Merhi, 20, of Fawkner, appeared on charges of intentionally being a member of a terrorist organisation and knowing the organisation was a terrorist organisation. Seven of the other men are charged with the same offences. In electronic surveillance conducted by police since July 2004, the apprentice electrician was heard discussing with his group's so-called "spiritual leader", Benbrika, 45, of Dallas, whether it would be better to martyr himself overseas or in Australia. Federal agent Jennifer Vandermoss told the court Merhi was "seeking revenge on the 'kafar'

Raids Not Anti-Muslim: Howard

Webmaster — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 22:30:19 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/raids-not-antimuslim-says-pm/2005/11/09/1131407665606.htmlPrime Minister John Howard says the police operation which uncovered an alleged terrorist plot and moves to strengthen counter-terrorism laws are not attacks on Australian Muslims.The president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils believed yesterday's police raids in Sydney and Melbourne, in which 16 terrorism suspects were arrested, showed the current laws were strong enough. Dr Ameer Ali planned to raise his concerns about the government's new anti-terrorism laws during meetings today in Canberra. The anti-terrorism laws were introduced to parliament last week. Mr Howard said today that Muslims had to be reassured they were not being targeted. "People who support terrorism are as much their enemies as they are my or your enemies," he told Sydney radio 2GB. "There is nothing in our laws, nor will there be anything in our laws, that targets an individual group be it Islamic or otherwise. "What has happened is that people have been charged with a breach of the law, they are entitled to be properly defended, they're entitled to all of their rights under the law." New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma today appealed to the public to trust in their police forces during this difficult time of action against alleged terrorist elements. Mr Iemma also said police believed they had taken the necessary action to prevent an attack. The Australian Arabic Council welcomed yesterday's arrests of 17 men for allegedly planning to carry out terror attacks. But AAC secretary Martin Hosking has called for restraint from the media and other commentators in their response to the arrests in Sydney and Melbourne. "We see the arrests as a step forward ... in the sense that matters which have been bubbling along in the media are now firmly in the hands of the courts," Mr Hosking said. "Of course we, like all Australians, welcome these arrests if they can improve our security and we support the actions of the authorities in this regard. "We need to remember there is a presumption of innocence and the final verdict will be delivered by the courts. "The strength of the Australian community as a whole depends upon the premise that there is no blame by association. Arab Australians and Muslims are as much potential victims of terrorism as the rest of the Australian community and abhor it no less." Related coverage from SMHWe'll charge more, says Moroney Shot man appeared on Home and Away Months of watching pay off as police swoop in two cities Arrested: a man apart who fought to stay in Australia Purchase of chemicals key to raids Hours of uncertainty end with no sign of accused Children were raid bystanders Muslim leaders fear vilification PM, police at odds over use of new laws Guns taken before raid: witness Hot on the trail Presumed innocence lost in day of rhetoric Graphic: Swoop in Sydney Graphic: Melbourne arrests Gallery: Raids foil terrorist plot

Muslims Concerned But Support Anti-Terror Raids

Webmaster — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 21:29:58 +0000

TUESDAY began with an awful sense of deja vu for many Australian Muslims. Ever since ASIO raided several homes in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth in October 2002, news of overnight raids has assumed a sadly familiar ring. It always begins with feelings of panic and fear. Australian Muslims vividly remember how children were needlessly held at gunpoint in the 2002 ASIO raids. And there has been growing mistrust of law enforcement and intelligence agencies among many Muslims. A series of raids since has yielded very few charges. For all the spectacular activity, only one man was convicted on terrorism offences in Australia. It was not so much the raids themselves as it was the deafening silence following them that was frightening. The sheer dearth of tangible results led many to wonder whether or not these agencies were abusing their powers. And it's not as if the agencies are immune to stuff-ups: just ask Bilal Daye and Fatme Iali, who were recently awarded an out-of-court settlement after ASIO raided their home by mistake. The suspicion was that law enforcement and intelligence activities were achieving little more than violating the rights of innocent people. The initial knee-jerk response on Tuesday was, naturally, to fear the worst. But as events unfolded, it was clear that this week's raids represent a profoundly different case. This is not to say there were no causes for concern. Reports of a media tip-off sit uncomfortably, and police exclamations of thwarting a terror operation before anyone has even been tried smack of contempt. But the arrests, which critics such as myself had so often called for on previous occasions, were made at long last. Charges were laid. Bail applications were heard. Prosecutions will ensue. The criminal justice system will finally be set in motion. We should not underestimate just how big a difference this makes. It is all well and good for politicians to speak of endless briefings of terrorist threats, or for security officials to tell us how many potential terrorists there are in Australia. But the unaccountable secrecy of national security is a tyrant's best friend. The problem has always been that such claims were conveniently beyond the ambit of public and independent scrutiny. But now, in this particular case, that is no longer true. Federal and state police have put up. All the claims of hundreds of hours of damning intercepted chatter, the stockpiling of bomb-making chemicals, the links to proscribed terror organisations are about to be put to the test. This is no longer about asking the Australian public just to believe. The prosecution will have to convince an independent court that no reasonable doubt remains of the accused's guilt. And for those in the habit of asserting the innocence of the raided, that, too, will be put to the test. Defence lawyers will do everything in their power to ravage the prosecution case, and magistrates will assess the evidence. The raided men will now have their day in court. Provided the trial is fair, there is little cause for any complaint. The initial public feeding frenzy jeopardised this, but the delay before trial should help, and in Australia's fiercely independent courts, a fair trial is still probable. Importantly, federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty is suppressing details of the charges against the accused precisely because, as he puts it, "it's important that we give these people a fair opportunity to prepare their defence before the court, rather than run the trial in the media". No one likes to see raids taking place. Innocent family members always suffer and images of hundreds of police officers across the nation storming into homes in the dead of night feel as though they belong on the movie screen. There is something surreal and unsettling about an operation of this magnitude taking place in familiar Australian suburbs. This is our new celluloid reality. But reactions on Muslim internet forums and Muslim community radio have demonstrated just what a difference a concrete result can make. Whereas support for previous raids was as rare as a pork chop in a mosque, this time the response is markedly more considered. A few are even predicting that in the long run Tuesday will mark a positive turning point for Australian Muslims. They want the scourge of terrorism eradicated more than anyone else, and are likely to feel much more comfortable about the police's conduct if a fair trial produces conviction. Of course, there will still be a conspiratorially minded fringe that insists this is all some spectacular political stunt; that it is a manifestation of some indiscriminate governmental crusade against Muslims. And this sort of allegation has not been confined to the Muslim fringe either. Similar rumblings could be heard from within the minor parties this week from Greens Senator Bob Brown and Australian Democrats leader Lyn Allison. It's time for the conspiracies to stop now, guys. I'm no fan of the Howard Government either, but if there is genuinely a conspiracy against innocent Muslims, pressing charges and handing control to an independent court would be the most stupid thing authorities could do. Nothing would be more politically disastrous than an acquittal and it would simply not be worth the risk when authorities could keep raiding with relative impunity, without pressing charges. Unless you believe, on zero evidence, that the courts are not independent, this matter has moved from the political realm to the judicial. Surely, the fact that prosecutions came from Tuesday's raids should please even the most diametrically opposed observers. Surely the only reasonable response is to say: "Bring it on. What is there to be afraid of? Let the truth come out. Let justice prevail." Waleed Aly, a Melbourne lawyer, is an executive member of the Islamic Council of Victoria.

Reasons To Hate

Webmaster — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 21:23:09 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/reasons-to-hate/2005/11/11/1131578234340.htmlParis is burning. But, as the smoke settles, the most significant element of this French crisis may well turn out to be what didn't happen - as opposed to what did. Constant comparisons to the student riots of 1968 are apt in the wake of the violence of the past two weeks. But, while whole communities were terrorised, the mainly migrant protesters conducted themselves in the best tradition of French protest - great spectacles though, in the end, not great blood-letting. This is not to underestimate the gravity of the crisis that confronts French society - as the embers cool, the toll stands at three dead and more than 7000 cars incinerated. But there will be official sighs of relief that the mobs opted for street fighting over the mass death and injury that might have been inflicted by the suicide-bombing tactics of Baghdad and Amman, London and Madrid, and possibly even Sydney and Melbourne, were it not for this week's mass arrests. And all the more so because the terrorist masterminds who prowl Europe for cannon fodder apparently were not in the streets to manipulate events or to link them to jihad in the Middle East. But Paris is a timely window into impressionable young minds the world over, and how they might be lured into terrorism. Proportionately, France has Europe's biggest communities of migrant descent - mostly Muslim, mainly North African and Arab. Their urban ghettos and their sense of alienation are as bad and as great as anywhere on the continent and in Britain. But when the protest fuse was lit by the deaths of two young men fleeing the Paris police, there were none of the subway and rail bombings orchestrated by their first- and second-generation counterparts in Britain and Spain. Instead, there were barricades in the tradition of the French Revolution. And that's the rub. The revolution made all Frenchmen equal, so these sons of migrants are French citizens - if in name only. But their protest violence and rhetoric were distinctly French - certainly not jihadist. Some French commentators say these were the riots France had to have - what else could be expected when hundreds of thousands of the poor and disadvantaged are crowded into city-fringe estates and suburbs, with a police presence so heavy as to suggest officialdom expects the spontaneous combustion of mass youth and mass unemployment? It is too simplistic to say it's all about religion and it's too dangerous to lump it in with the global jihad. Yes, the French protesters are predominantly Muslim. But, in the same way that the crisis in Northern Ireland has been more about the social and economic consequence of being Protestant or Catholic than the detail of either creed's prayer books, so it is in France - the root cause of the unrest is the treatment of Muslim migrants by the rest of France. A study cited by The Guardian this week found that a prospective employee with a classic French name would be granted 75 interviews if he applied for 100 jobs. But a man with the same qualifications and an Algerian name would get just 14 interviews. Migrant communities constantly seek to straddle the social void between acceptable individual differences and demands for a common national identity, exemplified best in the debate in France, and now it seems in Australia, over Muslim schoolgirls' right to wear headscarves. The conduct of the French protest crowds is not to be justified. But, as communities, the harsh interior of their "new-world" existence must be a profound psychological and material disappointment when their fathers and grandfathers talk about the privation they fled in the Middle East and North Africa. As "French" schoolchildren, they learnt the ideals of the republic - liberty, fraternity and equality. But the reality of their life in the housing projects is isolation and discrimination - a prison without bars and with empty political promises. In some ways, the gap between their world and the rest of the French community mirrors that between societies in the Middle East and the rest of the world - a divide described by anthropologists as the freedom or democracy deficit. As measured by the Arab Human Development Report (a joint annual publication by the United Nations' development program and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development), the Arab world is a corner of hell where the privation of mind, body and soul leaves many youngsters in the homelands ripe for the jihadist picking. The latest issue of the report, published this year, reveals the bareness of a corner of the world we often assume to be its richest: chronic illiteracy, little contact with the outside world, and a combined economy that, disregarding oil, exports less than Finland. Despite the rise in oil prices, there has been a real-terms drop in per-capita gross domestic product in the past 30 years - from $1845 to $1500. And these Western-blessed regimes and tribal tradition have still required most to surrender much of the personal freedom that is taken for granted in the democratic world. But of most concern to analysts is the region's youth bubble - it has twice as many under-15s as Western Europe does, and up to 65 per cent of those in Arab communities are under 24. As in the migrant ghettos of Europe, there are few release valves for the combustible mix of youth, joblessness and frustration in the Middle East, so, for some, violence and/or religion are tempting or satisfying diversions. And here's the irony. For all the talk of Islamic conservatism and fundamentalism, amid the repression and despotism of the Middle East, the suicide bombers and their jihadi mentors are the equivalent of the student rioters of Paris in 1968. And religion is a protective bubble from which to challenge the status quo. The danger lurks in the Middle East as much as in Europe and, perhaps, even in Australia, given the life stories of some who appeared in court as terrorism suspects this week. It doesn't matter which social forces conspire to effectively isolate or disenfranchise such people - any combination of political, economic, religious or educational forces - the result can become a threat from within. Hence the apparent recognition in France of an urgent need to deal with the grievances behind the protests of the past fortnight. Le Monde editorialised: "A country that regards itself as the birthplace of human rights and a model of social welfare has shown itself, in everyone's eyes, to be incapable of giving its young people the opportunities they deserve." Le Figaro agreed: "France is paying for its arrogance - our famous model of social integration is going down the drain." And President Jacques Chirac insisted that all citizens had to be treated equally: "We need to respond in a strong and quick way to the unquestionable problems that many of the inhabitants of the deprived neighbourhoods surrounding our cities are facing." The stakes are high because of the application of US terrorism expert Robert S. Leiken's theory of jihadi "insiders" and "outsiders". In an article in Foreign Affairs this year, he addressed it to Western Europe, but it also applies in the Middle East or Australia. The "outsiders" are the likes of the bin Laden or al-Zarqawi lieutenants, tourists or first-generation immigrants, sent to enlist the children of earlier arrivals as so-called home-grown terrorists. These youngsters are among Leiken's "insiders". They play boules in France, and cricket or soccer in Australia and Britain. He writes: "They are alienated citizens, second- or third-generation children of immigrants who were born and bred under European liberalism. Some are unemployed youth from hardscrabble suburbs of Marseilles, Lyon and Paris, or former mill towns such as Bradford and Leicester." But the insiders also include the seemingly upwardly mobile. Leiken refers to the university-educated Zacarias Moussaoui (dubbed the 20th September 11, 2001, hijacker), and Omar Khyam, a junior county cricket captain accused of involvement in a terrorist plot. But he might just as easily have mentioned two of those arrested in Sydney this week - Mohamed Ali Elomar (an engineering consultant) or Omar Baladjam (a 28-year-old bit-part player in TV soapies). Perhaps if he drew a jihadi map, we might wonder just how far it is from Paris to Parramatta.

Saudis Pledge $1 Billion To Rebuild Iraq

Webmaster — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 14:20:43 +0000

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said he is less worried that U.S. policies in Iraq will bring on a civil war there, and pledged anew to contribute $1 billion for rebuilding that war-ravaged country's shattered infrastructure. "My fears are much more eased," Prince Saud al-Faisal said Sunday following meetings with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Before Iraqi voters passed a new constitution last month, Saud had told U.S. reporters he worried that sectarian disputes complicated by the U.S. presence in Iraq were pulling the country toward civil war. He said Saudi Arabia is working to distribute the reconstruction money promised earlier this year, but gave no date for it. The United States has chided Arab states for not doing enough to support post-Saddam Iraq and for being reluctant to open embassies there. Rice said Saudi Arabia can do more to root out the sources of terror financing, but said the two countries were working together well. "The reason that countries or leaders are fighting terrorism is not to please us, not to please the United States," Rice said. "It's because their own people are dying ... because their own region is suffering a sense of instability." She also renewed criticism of Syria for dragging its feet in cooperating with a U.N. investigation into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut last February. Hariri was trying to pull his country away from Syrian domination, and his death launched street protests against Syria's three-decade political and military control in Lebanon. "We have to say the Syrians have not yet cooperated," Rice said, dismissing Syrian complaints about the probe and its plans to perform its own investigation. "That's just not going to cut it," she said. Rice's second visit to Saudi Arabia as secretary of state comes in the middle of a Mideast trip that began in Iraq and Bahrain and also includes Israel, the West Bank and Jordan, where terrorist bombs killed more than 50 people at Western hotels last week. Saudi Arabia is an important Arab ally estranged by the Sept. 11 attacks four years ago. Rice's trip to the conservative Islamic kingdom also recalled another terror attack last December when al-Qaida gunmen stormed into the inner courtyard of a U.S. consulate in this port city, grabbed human shields and killed five people. Four of the attackers were killed. Saudi Arabia has been working to rebuild a network of political and economic contacts with the United States. President Bush has reached back, inviting Saudi King Abdullah to his Crawford, Texas, ranch for a chummy visit last spring. The two leaders agreed then to set up a high-level committee, headed by Rice and Saud, to deal with strategic issues. The two inaugurated that initiative during Rice's visit. Relations between Riyadh and Washington suffered after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks masterminded by the Saudi-born Osama bin Laden. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudis, and some U.S. officials blamed the kingdom's austere branch of Islam, known as Wahhabism, for encouraging hatred of the West, Christians and Jews. Saudi Arabia believed it was being unjustly blamed for the actions of bin Laden, who seeks to topple the Al Saud monarchy. Last month, Abdullah called Islamic terrorism "the work of the devil," and said Saudi Arabia will fight it "until we eliminate this scourge." In the same ABC television interview he also said the kingdom would expand the rights of women, eventually allowing them to drive cars.

Police Reveal Case Against Terror Suspects

Webmaster — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 00:20:51 +0000

US Bombed Iraqis With Phosphorous

Webmaster — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 03:33:58 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/us-bombed-insurgents-with-phosphorous/2005/11/16/1132016832953.html

A US military official confirmed today that white phosphorous bombs were deployed against insurgents in Iraq last year but denied media reports they used against civilians.

"White phosphorus is a conventional munition. It is not a chemical weapon. They are not outlawed or illegal," Lieutenant-Colonel Barry Venable, a Pentagon spokesman, told the BBC in an interview. "We use them primarily as obscurants, for smokescreens or target marking in some cases. However, it is an incendiary weapon and may be used against enemy combatants." Italy's state television RAI claimed last week the highly flammable munitions were used against insurgents and civilians in the Iraqi town of Fallujah in November last year. Radical left-wing Italian politicians joined a protest at the US embassy yesterday, including communist deputy Piero Folena, who called for a United Nations inquiry into the alleged use of such weapons in Fallujah. The RAI documentary, Fallujah - The Hidden Massacre, said the US military used a kind of napalm and white phosphorus in the battle, a claim denied by the US State Department. Robert Tuttle, US ambassador to Britain, wrote in a letter published by The Independent newspaperyesterday that "US forces do not use napalm or white phosphorus as weapons". But Lieutenant-Colonel Venable said white phosphorous was useful to shift insurgents from positions that could not be targeted by normal artillery. "It was used as an incendiary weapon against enemy combatants," he told the BBC. "When you have enemy forces that are in covered positions that your high explosive artillery rounds are not having an impact on ... one technique is to fire a white phosphorus round into the position," he said. "The combined effects of the fire and smoke - and in some case the terror brought about by the explosion on the ground - will drive them out of the holes so that you can kill them with high explosives." ==== Related, independent news report: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article10907.htm(please note that the images are quite graphic in content and is horrific).

US Congress Arrives At A Deal On Patriot Act

Webmaster — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 00:46:30 +0000

House and Senatenegotiators reached a tentative agreement yesterday on revisions to theUSA Patriot Act that would limit some of the government's powers whilerequiring the Justice Department to provide a better accounting of itssecret requests for information on ordinary citizens. Butthe agreement would leave intact some of the most controversialprovisions of the anti-terrorism law, such as government access tolibrary and bookstore records in terrorism probes, and would extendonly limited new rights to the targets of such searches. For President Bush, renewal of theact would provide a boost as he looks to restore his image as a strongcommander in chief in combating terrorism. And Democrats said yesterdaythat the administration largely got what it wanted -- a major breakafter lawmakers challenged the White House in recent days on theconduct of the Iraq war, budget policies and tax cuts. Thedeal would make permanent 14 Patriot Act provisions that were set toexpire at the end of the year. Three other measures -- including oneallowing law enforcement agents access to bookstore and public libraryrecords -- would be extended for seven years, or three years longerthan the Senate had agreed to. The House initially extended theprovisions for 10 years but later voted to accept the Senate'sfour-year extension. Also extended for seven yearsis a provision allowing roving wiretaps that follow an individual whomay use multiple means of communication, rather than targeting a singlephone line. The agreement also extends for seven years a provision of aseparate intelligence law passed last year that allows federalinvestigators to track an individual not connected to a foreigngovernment but suspected of operating as a "lone wolf" terrorist. Thecompromise would weaken a block of House-approved death penaltyprovisions that had elicited concern in the Senate and in legalcircles. In the event that a jury could not agree to impose the deathpenalty on a convicted terrorist, House Judiciary Committee Chairman F.James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) had hoped to empower prosecutors toimpanel a new jury. The deal also excludes a House proposal to allow adeath penalty for terrorist offenses that "create grave risk of death." Theagreement does extend the federal death penalty to those who knowinglytransport materials used in a deadly terrorist attack, those who helpplot a deadly attack on a mass-transit system, and those whoparticipate in a deadly attack on ships and maritime facilities. Republicansand Democrats said the agreement is a victory for Sensenbrenner, whodefended the expanded government powers enacted after the Sept. 11,2001, attacks. Civil libertarians and liberal Democrats lamented thedeal as another blow to individual rights. And three Democraticsenators and three GOP senators declared the agreement unacceptablelast night. "Is Congress standing up to thepresident? No, not on this one," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), aHouse Judiciary Committee Democrat. The agreement,which could go to final votes in the House and Senate before the end ofthe week, is Congress's first effort to revise the national securitymeasure that became law just weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks. Duringlast year's presidential campaign, the Patriot Act was elevated to amajor political issue, showcased by Bush as a sign of strength in theface of terrorism but maligned by many Democrats as an abuse of power.Hundreds of local governments have passed resolutions decrying the lawas an infringement of civil liberties. When Congressturned to reauthorizing the measure this year, there were bipartisancalls for major changes. House and Senate negotiators have agreed tolimit the government's powers in some areas, while rebuffing Bushadministration requests for new subpoena powers. Buton balance, the compromise sides with a stronger government hand whenterrorism investigations clash with civil liberties concerns. ButCongress does not look ready to hand Bush all of the sweeping powers itwas willing to grant in 2001. Negotiators refused to back theadministration's request for administrative subpoenas, which would haveexpanded the government's power to subpoena records without theapproval of a judge or grand jury in terrorism investigations. SenateIntelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) called that "aserious mistake," saying the government already has such powers toinvestigate non-security issues such as Medicare fraud. "We can do it for a dirty doctor but not a dirty bomber," he said. Whilethe government would retain access to library, bookstore and businessrecords, the FBI would face new limits on the retention anddissemination of such information. The compromisealso places new controls on the FBI's use of "national securityletters," which require companies to provide private information abouttheir customers and to keep the request secret. The Patriot Act allowedthe FBI to use such letters on any citizen it deemed relevant to anational security investigation, even if the target is not suspected ofany wrong-doing. A Nov. 6 article in The WashingtonPost revealed that loosened restrictions in the Patriot Act helpedboost the annual use of such letters 100-fold, to more than 30,000 ayear from about 300 before the Sept. 11 attacks. Underthe compromise, the Justice Department would have to disclose thenumber of requests it made for information concerning differenttargeted people in the United States, but not including thecommunications subscriber information that makes up the bulk of suchrequests. Those who receive such letters would beallowed to consult a lawyer and challenge the requests under a newjudicial review process. But critics said thosecontrols were more cosmetic than real. A recipient wishing to revealonly the receipt of a security letter would have to prove thatdisclosure would not harm national security or diplomatic relations orendanger any lives or public safety, while the government can merelyassert disclosure would have those effects.

Michelle Leslie Denies Muslim "Stunt"

Webmaster — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 05:35:55 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/leslie-denies-muslim-stunt/2005/11/21/1132421573377.htmlMichelle Leslie refutes claims that wearing a Muslim headscarf during her trial was a stunt. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils made the claim after the 24-year-old Australian model flew to Singapore following her deportation from Indonesia on Saturday. She was sentenced in Bali to three months in jail for drug possession, but was almost immediately released and deported because she had already served that time awaiting trial. It has been reported that Leslie plans to resume her modelling career when she returns home later this week. Federation of Islamic Councils president Ameer Ali today said that if Leslie resumed work as an underwear model, she must admit that her claim that she had converted to Islam almost two years ago was a stunt. "She can't have it both ways," Dr Ali told Sky News. "If she wants to be a Muslim, she has to be very modest in her dress sense, modest in her language, modest in the way that she looks - everything. "But if she wants to carry on with the way that she was living before, she must come out clearly and say: 'Look this was a stunt I used and I am not a Muslim any more.' " Leslie, who, during her trial, teamed a Muslim headdress with modest clothing, drew anger at the weekend when she left Indonesia wearing skin tight jeans and a singlet top that showed part of her midriff. Today, Leslie family spokesman Sean Mulcahy said the model meant no disrespect by her outfit. He said she continued to follow her own version of Islam. "She is delighted to be out of Indonesia," Mr Mulcahy told the Nine Network from Singapore today. He said she would return to Australia within days once an exclusive media deal had been secured. He expected her to be reunited with her family and millionaire boyfriend Scott Sutton in Sydney tomorrow or on Wednesday. "I'm sure you'll hear about this in the coming days or weeks ... at some point in the future she will tell all," he said. Mr Mulcahy rejected comments by Federal Justice Minister Chris Ellison that Australian proceeds of crime laws would prevent Leslie from profiting from her story. "With all due respect to the minster he doesn't know anything about this matter, he is only quoting the law and I wouldn't expect him to do anything less," Mr Mulcahy said. He said Leslie's legal team believed the law did not apply in this case. Mr Mulcahy said the pay cheque would go towards the cost of fighting Leslie's legal battle, which he said had cost "a lot of money". Mr Mulcahy said Leslie's story would include details of her release from prison before deportation from Bali, which he labelled a "sham". "... the release from the start of the day right though to the end of the night and getting onto the plane was nothing short of idiotic," he said. Her story should also include an explanation of Leslie's use of a Muslim headdress during her court appearances and incarceration. "She is Muslim, she didn't wear anything yesterday to be disrespectful to anyone," Mr Mulcahy said. "She was a Muslim when she was doing catwalk stuff, so I don't think the fact that she did wear a hijab at times ... conflicts with her belief. "She has her own firm belief of her religion and she practises it as she sees fit." Mr Mulcahy also seemed to rule out a fairytale ending to Leslie's story, playing down speculation of an imminent engagement to her boyfriend. "They are in love and very much looking forward to each other's company, but they are not going to get rushed into something that they are not ready for just yet," he said.

U.S. Congressman Urges Iraq Pullout

Webmaster — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 22:28:06 +0000

(Washington D.C.)- The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. The American public is way ahead of us. The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering. The future of our country is at risk. We can not continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interest of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf Region. General Casey said in a September 2005 Hearing,

Muslim Brotherhood Continues Record Win in Egypt's Polls

Webmaster — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 01:28:17 +0000

http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2005-11/21/article01.shtml Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood (MB) members claimed further gains Monday, November 21, in the second round of parliamentary polls, maintaining their record-breaking first phase momentum despite widespread voter intimidation and violence. Senior Brotherhood Issam El-Aryan told Agence France-Presse (AFP) his movement had won at least 13 seats in the second phase of elections, without run-offs needed, bringing their seat tally to 47 half-way through the elections and trebling their 2000 score. While President Hosni Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) was at no risk of losing power, it looked set to face a real parliamentary opposition for the first time. Official results were expected later Monday. Sunday's polling was marred by widespread violence, which claimed the first victim of the elections, the driver of a candidate whom independent monitoring groups said was beaten to death by NDP thugs. The usually peaceful Mediterranean city of Alexandria was the scene of pitched battles between supporters of rival candidates, as clans fought with sticks, knives and guns. Run-offs Brotherhood deputy leader Mohammad Habib told Reuters 35 of his candidates would contest run-offs on Saturday, November 26. The group had fielded 60 candidates in stage two, which decides 144 seats. "If the elections had taken place in a good way, like the first stage, 35 of those would have won," Habib said. The group's strong performance in the first stage aggravated the NDP and sparked the crackdown "to reduce the number of voters and consequently the number of winners", he said. Police arrested about 470 activists from the officially banned MB during and ahead of voting on Sunday, November 20, according to Reuters. Police and armed gangs blocked polling stations in some MB strongholds, witnesses said. A Muslim Brotherhood official in Alexandria charged that the NDP had given thugs T-shirts inscribed with the Brotherhood's campaign slogan "Islam is the solution" to mislead monitors. "The success recorded by the Muslim Brothers during the first phase sparked fear in the regime, which cannot bear the presence of opposition in parliament," Habib told AFP. "The NDP could see it was going to lose and resorted to violence and thugs against the Muslim Brotherhood. All this was aimed at preventing people from voting," he added. "Who can hit the hardest?" was the headline of Egypt's leading independent daily Al-Masri Al-Yom, which carried front page pictures of men and teenagers wielding swords, with their backs protected by security forces, en addition to another picture of a candidate holding a handgun. Monitoring groups deplored the violence and complained that they had been given less access to the polling process than in the previous round. "The electoral process has been marred by serious and widespread violations that have undermined the credibility and the integrity of the election," said a statement by one of the main civil society organizations, the Independent Committee for Election Monitoring. In the outgoing People's Assembly, the NDP controls 404 out of 454 seats, while the Muslim Brothers were the largest opposition force but with only 16 seats. Legal parties need five percent of parliament -- or 25 seats -- to field a candidate in presidential elections. But independents require the approval of at least 65 members, according to a constitutional amendment which the Brotherhood says was initially designed to prevent it from running. Senior Brotherhood Issam El-Aryan told Agence France-Presse (AFP) his movement had won at least 13 seats in the second phase of elections, without run-offs needed, bringing their seat tally to 47 half-way through the elections and trebling their 2000 score. While President Hosni Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) was at no risk of losing power, it looked set to face a real parliamentary opposition for the first time. Official results were expected later Monday. Sunday's polling was marred by widespread violence, which claimed the first victim of the elections, the driver of a candidate whom independent monitoring groups said was beaten to death by NDP thugs. The usually peaceful Mediterranean city of Alexandria was the scene of pitched battles between supporters of rival candidates, as clans fought with sticks, knives and guns. Run-offs Brotherhood deputy leader Mohammad Habib told Reuters 35 of his candidates would contest run-offs on Saturday, November 26. The group had fielded 60 candidates in stage two, which decides 144 seats. "If the elections had taken place in a good way, like the first stage, 35 of those would have won," Habib said. The group's strong performance in the first stage aggravated the NDP and sparked the crackdown "to reduce the number of voters and consequently the number of winners", he said. Police arrested about 470 activists from the officially banned MB during and ahead of voting on Sunday, November 20, according to Reuters. Police and armed gangs blocked polling stations in some MB strongholds, witnesses said. A Muslim Brotherhood official in Alexandria charged that the NDP had given thugs T-shirts inscribed with the Brotherhood's campaign slogan "Islam is the solution" to mislead monitors. "The success recorded by the Muslim Brothers during the first phase sparked fear in the regime, which cannot bear the presence of opposition in parliament," Habib told AFP. "The NDP could see it was going to lose and resorted to violence and thugs against the Muslim Brotherhood. All this was aimed at preventing people from voting," he added. "Who can hit the hardest?" was the headline of Egypt's leading independent daily Al-Masri Al-Yom, which carried front page pictures of men and teenagers wielding swords, with their backs protected by security forces, en addition to another picture of a candidate holding a handgun. Monitoring groups deplored the violence and complained that they had been given less access to the polling process than in the previous round. "The electoral process has been marred by serious and widespread violations that have undermined the credibility and the integrity of the election," said a statement by one of the main civil society organizations, the Independent Committee for Election Monitoring. In the outgoing People's Assembly, the NDP controls 404 out of 454 seats, while the Muslim Brothers were the largest opposition force but with only 16 seats. Legal parties need five percent of parliament -- or 25 seats -- to field a candidate in presidential elections. But independents require the approval of at least 65 members, according to a constitutional amendment which the Brotherhood says was initially designed to prevent it from running.

Iraqi Shia & Sunnis Call For Pullout Of Troops

Webmaster — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 02:16:11 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/shiites-join-sunnis-in-call-for-pullout/2005/11/22/1132421669301.html For the first time, Iraq's political factions have collectively called for a timetable for withdrawal of foreign forces, in a moment of consensus that comes as the Bush Administration faces pressure at home to commit to a pullout schedule. The announcement, made at the conclusion of a reconciliation conference in Cairo backed by the Arab League, saw Shiites, who dominate Iraq's government, reach out to Sunni Arabs on the eve of parliamentary elections marred by weeks of sectarian violence. About 100 Sunni, Shiite, and Kurdish leaders, many of whom will stand in the election on December 15, signed a closing memorandum on Monday that "demands a withdrawal of foreign troops on a specified timetable, dependent on an immediate national program for rebuilding the security forces". "The Iraqi people are looking forward to the day when foreign forces will leave Iraq, when its armed and security forces will be rebuilt, and when they can enjoy peace and stability and an end to terrorism," the statement said. Shiite leaders have long maintained that a pullout should not be before Iraqi security forces are fully operational. The closing statement upheld a Sunni demand for a pullout, while preserving aspects of calls by Shiites. It did not specify when a withdrawal should begin, making it more of a symbolic gesture than a concrete agenda item. While condemning the terrorism that has engulfed Iraq, the memorandum acknowledged a general right to resist foreign occupation. This was another effort to compromise with Sunnis who have sought to legitimise the insurgency. The statement condemned terrorist attacks and religious backing for them, and it demanded the release of innocent prisoners and an investigation into allegations of torture. In Washington on Monday, the US Vice-President, Dick Cheney, tried to damp down a bitter and personal fight over the Iraq war, by praising a senior House Democrat, John Murtha, who has called for the full withdrawal of troops, and saying that an "energetic debate" over the war was part of a healthy society. But Mr Cheney also made fresh attacks on Democratic senators who have accused the Bush Administration of exaggerating the threat of Iraq's weapons programs to build support for the invasion. He called those accusations "dishonest and reprehensible". Even so Mr Cheney's speech signalled a softer tone from the White House. It came as members of both parties sought to step back from the name-calling that erupted last week after Mr Murtha, a former marine who is respected in both parties for his leadership on military affairs, on Thursday dropped his support for the war and called for an immediate, phased withdrawal of US troops. In his speech on Monday before the American Enterprise Institute, Mr Cheney called Mr Murtha "a good man, a marine, a patriot". And Mr Murtha, who last week had noted pointedly that Mr Cheney used deferments to avoid service in Vietnam, amended his own comments, saying on CNN: "I said that heated, and I feel bad about that actually, because, you know, Dick Cheney - he was in Congress for 10 years. "He really has served this country. And he's been a public servant when he would have been making a lot more money outside." See Also:

Iraq war to last decades: study

Bush had al-Jazeera attack in mind, says paper

Iraq seeks help from Iran

Rice Suggests U.S. Troop Drawdown Is Approaching

Webmaster — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 22:15:18 +0000

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-rice23nov23,1,1751398.story WASHINGTON

New Zealand Muslims Complain Of Profiling

Webmaster — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 16:23:20 +0000

http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2005-11/24/article01.shtml "They are interrogating New Zealanders whose only 'crime' is to have a Muslim sounding name - or maybe to have visited an Islamic country," Locke said. Muslims in New Zealand are being harassed at borders for no apparent reason other than being Muslims, said a New Zealander lawmaker, calling on the government to interfere to stop the anti-Muslim harassment. "Immigration officials are acting like political police," said Keith Locke, Green Party Immigration spokesperson, reported the Scoop newspaper Thursday, November 24. "They are interrogating New Zealanders whose only 'crime' is to have a Muslim sounding name - or maybe to have visited an Islamic country." Many New Zealander Muslims have complained of being detained by the immigration services for several hours, without explanation, for claims of "terror fears". Javed Khan, President of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, said he has received numerous complaints from tearful people, many of whom are long-time New Zealanders, who were interrogated for no valid reason. Border Harassment Locke urged the immigration service to stop harassing New Zealander Muslims at borders. "Immigration profiling is now bordering on racism, and needs to be stopped." "They are spending so much time detaining upstanding Muslim New Zealanders that they probably wouldn't notice if a real terrorist slipped through." He added the Muslim border harassment has got even worse in the last few months. "The targeting of Muslims has become worse since (MP) Winston Peters started attacking Iraqis in the House and an Immigration Profiling Group was set up last May. "We don't want to get like George Bush's America, where Homeland Security treats Muslims as second-class citizens," Locke said. No Apology Locke and Khan urged the government to interfere to investigate the immigration services' targeting of the New Zealander Muslims. "I am asking the Government for its statistics on the nationality and religion of those held for questioning at our airports," Locke said. The Immigration Service, on its part, has said it makes no apologies for the racist move. The Department of Labour said immigration officers will detain anyone who they believe requires further checks. There are nearly 17,000 Muslims in New Zealand, comprising less than one percent of the total population. Governmental census figures show that the Muslim population has doubled every five years for the past 25 years. New Zealand also has a large export oriented dairy and Halal meat industry whose products are found in all gulf countries and other Middle Eastern countries.

Beyond That Memo: Bush Wanted Al-Jazeera Gone

Webmaster — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 16:27:55 +0000

http://www.antiwar.com/orig/jscahill.php?articleid=8148 On Nov. 22, Britain's Daily Mirror published a startling allegation: In an April 2004 White House meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, President Bush proposed bombing the Arab TV network al-Jazeera's international headquarters in Qatar. The report was based on a memo stamped "Top Secret" that had been leaked by a Cabinet official in Blair's government. Is the allegation "outlandish," as the White House claims? Or was it a deadly serious option? Until a news organization or British official defies the Official Secrets Act and publishes the five-page memo, we have no way of knowing. But what we do know is that at the time of Bush's White House meeting with Blair, the Bush administration was in the throes of a very public, high-level temper tantrum directed against al-Jazeera. The Bush-Blair summit took place on April 16, at the peak of the first U.S. siege of Fallujah, and al-Jazeera was there to witness the assault and the fierce resistance. A day before Bush's meeting with Blair, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld slammed al-Jazeera in distinctly undiplomatic terms: REPORTER: "Can you definitively say that hundreds of women and children and innocent civilians have not been killed?" RUMSFELD: "I can definitively say that what al-Jazeera is doing is vicious, inaccurate, and inexcusable." REPORTER: "Do you have a civilian casualty count?" RUMSFELD: "Of course not, we're not in the city. But you know what our forces do; they don't go around killing hundreds of civilians. That's just outrageous nonsense. It's disgraceful what that station is doing." What al-Jazeera was doing in Fallujah is exactly what it was doing when the United States bombed its offices in Afghanistan in 2001 and when U.S. forces killed al-Jazeera's Baghdad correspondent, Tareq Ayoub, during the April 2003 occupation of Baghdad. Al-Jazeera was witnessing and reporting on events Washington did not want the world to see. The Fallujah offensive was one of the bloodiest assaults of the U.S. occupation of Iraq. On April 5, 2004, U.S. forces laid siege to the city after the killing of four Blackwater mercenaries days earlier. When the U.S. forces, led by the First Marine Expeditionary Force, attempted to take Fallujah on April 7, they faced fierce guerrilla resistance. A U.S. helicopter attacked a mosque, hitting the minaret and killing at least a dozen people. Within a week, some 600 Iraqis were dead, many of them women and children. By April 9, some 30 Marines had been killed and Fallujah had become a symbol of resistance against the occupation. What was more devastating than the direct resistance U.S. forces encountered in Fallujah was the effect the story of the local defense of the city and the U.S. killing of civilians was having on the broader Iraqi population. A handful of unembedded journalists, most prominently from al-Jazeera, were providing the world with independent, eyewitness accounts. Al-Jazeera's camera crew was also uploading video of the devastation for all the world, including Iraqis, to see. Inspired by the defense of Fallujah and outraged by the U.S. onslaught, smaller uprisings broke out across Iraq, as members of the Iraqi police and army abandoned their posts, some joining the resistance. Faced with a public relations disaster, U.S. officials did what they do best

As One Border Opens For Palestinians Another One Is Closing Fast

Webmaster — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 01:36:47 +0000

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=17&article_id=20312 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was all smiles Friday at the sight of his passport being stamped at the newly opened Rafah crossing from Gaza into Egypt. With rows of blue and orange chairs filling the border terminal and European help on monitoring activities, there was joy in the air as Gazans were granted the first opportunity since 1967 to leave their homes for a foreign country without first seeking Israeli permission. Perhaps the festive mood would have been dampened somewhat if the assembled company had been paying attention to a report prepared for European Union foreign ministers by the local EU representatives into Israeli activities in East Jerusalem. The report accused the Israelis of stepping up illegal settlements in that part of the holy city the Palestinians still eye as the capital of their state-to-be. Coupled with the separation wall that amounts to a de facto annexation of Palestinian land, the motivation was put down in the report to a desire by the Israelis to increase the proportion of Jews living in East Jerusalem and squeeze out the Palestinians. The whole effect of this, added the report, would be to radicalise the "hitherto relatively acquiescent Palestinian population of East Jerusalem," especially given that it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to travel to hospitals, schools and holy places in the West Bank. In short, "prospects for a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as capital of Palestine are receding." The report is dynamite but what is even more explosive is what happened to it. Later described by the Europeans as only an interim document anyway, the document is not to be published by the EU foreign ministers because the timing is inconvenient. An anonymous Israeli Foreign Ministry official opined: "Our assessment is that with the Israeli election campaign starting this week and the good momentum of European involvement in Rafah, the Europeans decided that this is not the right moment to open up Jerusalem as an issue." How very convenient for the Europeans. How even more convenient for the Israelis. As long as the Palestinians are treated as third rate children to be fobbed off with colorful plastic toys, there is no wonder that there remains a danger of their being "radicalized." What else do the Israelis and Europeans expect? That Abbas should set up a Parliament on the blue and orange plastic chairs in Rafah?

The Grave Threat of the Bush Administration

Webmaster — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 05:56:29 +0000

http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts11282005.html

According to news reports, at a US Naval Academy speech on Wednesday, President Bush will announce plans for withdrawing US troops from Iraq. It will be diverting to watch the propagandists at Fox "news" flip-flop with the White House line and explain that now is the time to cut and run after all. A month ago the administration's line was that cutting and running was the dastardly act of cowards and traitors who would abandon our troops and all they have fought for. A month ago senior US commanders in Iraq said that the US-trained new Iraqi army only had 700 troops who could operate independently of US support. Now suddenly the new Iraq has the troops to do the job and America's soldiers can come home. What this means is that Republican pollsters have made it clear that the Republicans cannot win next year's congressional elections if the US is still mired in Iraq. The war is unpopular. A large majority of Americans do not believe the war was justified, and they no longer support it. Republicans have no prospect of rehabilitating Bush if he keeps the country bogged down in a pointless war. The war, in other words, no longer serves the Republicans' political interest and must be got rid of. So much for "staying the course." What will happen to Iraq and the Middle East no one knows. Our concerns need to be directed at what happens here in the US. Bush's war against Iraq might be over, but the police state Bush built at home is still in place. On November 27 Walter Pincus reported in the Washington Post that the Pentagon is expanding its domestic surveillance activity and that all sorts of proposals are afoot to allow military agencies to spy on law-abiding Americans and to build secret dossiers on citizens. The demand for police state powers is said to be necessary in order to fight the "war on terror." Considering the drastic gestapo-type activities for which Washington is clamoring, a person would think that America is being overwhelmed by terrorist attacks. Yet, despite an aggressive and brutal war that Bush has been waging in Iraq for going on three years, terrorist attacks in America are even more rare than a honest politician. There has not been a terror attack since September 11, 2001, more than four years ago! The Bush administration's hype about terrorism serves no purpose other than to build a police state that is far more dangerous to Americans than terrorists. Ever since the "war on terror" was initiated by the Bush administration, the US has been holding large numbers of "detainees." By chance or the laws of probability, a few of these people might fit some definition of "terrorist." The vast majority, however, are innocents picked up in the equivalent of Stalin-era KGB street sweeps. Many are hapless people sold by warlords to the US in order to receive cash awards for turning in "terrorists." Despite the large number of alleged "terrorists" or "enemy combatants" that are being held, the Bush administration simply hasn't a shred of evidence with which to bring "detainees" to trial. If truth be known, the "detainees" are merely props for Bush's hype about the "terrorist threat." The "detainees" were arrested in order to make Americans feel safe and at ease with the police state. Perhaps the most famous of the alleged terrorists, a man held for more than three years, is the "dirty bomber" Jose Padilla. Padilla was the "grave threat" who was going to set off a radioactive dirty bomb in a US city. The charge never made any sense. If al Qaeda had a dirty bomb, they certainly would not entrust it to the loud-mouthed Padilla, who was being followed around by FBI agents. Such a weapon would be kept secret and entrusted only to the most competent and proven hands. Who could possibly believe that top al Qaeda operatives would meet and plot with Jose Padilla? The Bush administration has itself given up its Padilla fantasy. After three years of hype about this most dangerous of terrorists who allegedly intended to kill large numbers of Americans, the government's indictment doesn't mention dirty bombs or the murder of Americans. Instead, Padilla is indicted for conspiring "to commit at any place outside the United States acts that would constitute murder" for the purpose of advancing "violent jihad." Padilla is also charged with "conspiracy to provide material support for terrorists." In other words, the government has no case against Padilla and is putting him on trial in the US for conspiring to kill unidentified foreigners in an effort to overthrow an unidentified foreign country. His case is lumped in with a case against four other persons, one or more of whom may have committed an actual crime that can be used to tar them all. Both the Attorney General and President of the United States branded Padilla a "grave threat" to the lives of Americans. After three years of this propaganda, all the US government can come up with is the trumped up charge of conspiracy to kill foreigners and to provide support for terrorists. A police state has to catch enemies in order to keep the people frightened and appreciative of the watchful eye of the police state. Now that the Padilla case has evaporated, the Bush administration has come up with a replacement. An American student of Arab descent, who was studying at a Saudi Arabian university, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to assassinate President Bush. The indictment rests on the confession wrung out of the young man by torture in a Saudi prison. Does anyone really believe that al Qaeda leaders would conspire with an American college student to assassinate President Bush? Indeed, President Bush has been Osama bin Laden's greatest benefactor. Why would al Qaeda want to kill the man who is doing them so much good? Before Bush launched his war on terror and invaded Iraq, the vast majority of Muslims thought bin Laden was a nut case and supported the US. Today Muslims think Bush is a nut case and support bin Laden. What kind of a country have we become when we put a citizen on trial on the basis of a confession obtained under torture by a foreign government? Is the case against this student anything other than an attempt to enlist the sympathy factor for Bush in order to repair his standing in the polls? Americans need to understand that a police state has to produce results in order to justify its budget and its powers. It doesn't really care who it catches. Stalin's police state caught the wife of Stalin's foreign minister in one of its street sweeps. The Bush administration justifies torture and threatens to veto congressional attempts to restrain its use. The Bush administration justifies indefinite detention of American citizens without charges. It asserts the power of indefinite detention based on its subjective judgment about who is a threat. An American government that preaches "freedom and democracy" to the world claims the powers of tyrants as its own. Americans need to wake up. The only danger to Americans in Iraq is the one Bush created by invading the country. The grave threat that Americans face is the Bush administration's police state mentality. Paul Craig Roberts has held a number of academic appointments and has contributed to numerous scholarly publications. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. His graduate economics education was at the University of Virginia, the University of California at Berkeley, and Oxford University. He is coauthor of The Tyranny of Good Intentions. He can be reached at: paulcraigroberts@yahoo.com

Howard Agrees To Changes On Terror Laws

Webmaster — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 20:40:12 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/pm-caves-in-on-terrorism-laws/2005/11/30/1133311107113.html The Federal Government has agreed to a number of amendments to its tough new anti-terrorism laws under heavy pressure from its back bench, including softening its contentious sedition provisions. The changes, agreed to by the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, after a day of meetings with the Government's back-bench committee, were rushed through a special meeting of the Coalition parties last night. One of those in the negotiations said the "vast majority" of the 52 amendments recommended by a Senate inquiry into the legislation had been accepted by Mr Ruddock and the Prime Minister, John Howard. There will be a higher standard of evidence required before people suspected of terrorist involvement can be subjected to continuing preventive detention or control orders. Previously, hearsay evidence from security agencies would have been admissible; now it will not. However, Mr Ruddock refused to move significantly on two main issues. He insisted on retaining a 10-year sunset clause on the legislation, in spite of a recommendation by the committee that it should lapse after five years. He also rejected a push by the committee to have sedition offences dumped from the legislation pending a review next year. However, it is understood that the sedition provisions will be amended to stress that any incitement to terrorism, violence or hostility to Australian troops be intentional, not merely reckless, for the laws to apply. Mr Ruddock has also agreed to greater safeguards for the media, inserting a provision that any publication made in good faith, and reporting or commenting on any matter of public interest, will be protected. The sedition laws will still be subject to review early next year. Among the new checks and balances, people subject to a continuation of preventive detention will have to be supplied with a full statement of the facts that form the basis of the order. Before the change, they could have been left not knowing what they were suspected of, and thus unable to defend it. Other changes sought, and understood to have been accepted, would stop 16- to 18-year-olds from being housed with adults if detained in police custody, and would oblige the authorities to provide a lawyer, as well as an interpreter, if a detainee had poor command of English or mental or physical disabilities. The Liberal MPs Marise Payne and Petro Georgiou told last night's party meeting they believed the legislation should have been amended to allow review by Parliament, a significant change rejected by Mr Ruddock. There had been concerns that minors taken into preventive detention would be allowed to tell only one parent, who then would have committed a crime if they passed it on to the other parent. Mr Ruddock has softened this to allow communication. In NSW, the Iemma Government was intent on rushing its complementary state laws through Parliament last night or this morning, despite the objections of some government MPs. They fear the preventive detention orders could be "rolled over" so people are detained for much longer than a fortnight. The Premier's office was awaiting details of the federal negotiations to determine if contingent changes were needed in NSW. The Labor Left convener Paul Lynch described the bill as "corrosive of Australian democracy" and said the entire Left faction opposed it. But he and other Labor members in the Legislative Assembly who spoke against the bill voted for it when a division was called.

THE CHANGES

-Sedition provisions amended to stress that incitement to terrorism, violence or hostility to Australian troops is intentional. -Hearsay evidence to be inadmissable for continuing preventive detention or control orders. - Those aged 16 to 18 not housed with adults if detained in police custody. -Before continuation of preventive detention, a full statement of facts forming the basis for the order to be given to detainee. - Six monthly reviews by Parliament of preventive detention and control orders.

The Other Meaning of Israel's Political Earthquake

Webmaster — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 01:52:20 +0000

http://www.counterpunch.org/baroud11302005.html

Most of what has been written or said to depict Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's departure from the Likud party is parable to an "earthquake," or the "eruption of a volcano," and has, without a doubt, turned the Israeli political map "topsy-turvy," to borrow Ha'aretz Gideon Samet's phrase. Like an earthquake it was unforeseeable -- except to the prudent few, mostly in Israeli political circles who predicted a dead end in Sharon's dealings with the Likud, the same political party he helped create 30 years ago. But acknowledging the significance of the undeniably consequential event is one thing. Succumbing to a flawed analysis that it is a real opportunity to resuscitate the so-called peace process -- is entirely a different matter. Similar to his unilateral move to "disengage" from the Gaza Strip earlier this year, the rightwing prime minister once again managed to control media discourse surrounding his Nov. 21 decision to jump the Likud ship in favor of a new center-based "liberal movement" -- a political party tentatively known as National Responsibility. The U.S. media almost immediately accepted, with little scrutiny to speak of, Sharon's announcement that he -- a 77-year-old leader with extensive history of political extremism and a longer history of war crimes -- has become a "centrist." The depiction of Sharon as a moderate, risking it all to salvage the peace process, is a misguided, if not embarrassing, inference to say the least. While one can easily decipher the source of the upsurge in Sharon's reputation in the media as a rising "liberal politician" -- his decision to disengage from Gaza being the most obvious -- one cannot help but wonder whether Sharon's enthusiasts, who hurryingly registered his renewed commitment to the "road map" for peace in the region, were even aware of his concurrent decision to further expand three major illegal settlements in the occupied territories -- Maale Adumim, Adam and Ariel. If they were aware of his future designs, wouldn't responsible journalism compel them to report that the road map calls for the halting of settlement expansion, as it would prejudice the outcome of any final status negotiations? Instead, the process of split-up and formation in Israeli politics was portrayed as having the potential of determining the future of the peace process, while every other fact that might negate such an assertion was omitted. True, the upheaval and subsequent reshuffling that recently took place among the Labor party rank had more to do with redefining Israel's priorities than achieving peace with the Palestinians. The deposing of the elitist Deputy Prime Minister and former Labor party leader Shimon Peres, in favor of the more socialist-like Amir Peretz, is in essence an attempt to reroute the government's focus and resources to poorer Israeli communities, whose plight has deteriorated as a result of the government's endless spending on its illegal settlements projects in the West Bank. Nonetheless, the Likud party mayhem is essentially ideological. Though the outcome of the Israeli debacle will implausibly yield a full recognition of long denied Palestinian rights and the acceptance, without further spins, of international law as the basis of resolving the conflict, one must not unwisely write off scenarios that will possibly emerge following the March elections. The Likud and Sharon's emerging political party have not changed; nor have they substantially altered their ideological interpretation of their conflict with the Palestinians. Even in the midst of the disengagement hype, Sharon never ceased to assure Israelis that the move is tactical, that his commitment to the country's expansionist project is as ever strong and so forth. The prevailing understanding among Israeli officials was that the "painful" and indeed marginal withdrawal from Gaza was merely aimed at altering demographics in favor of Israel, converge the country's resources to expand West Bank settlements, and indefinitely postpone the peace process with the Palestinians. The strategy proved a winner when the Americans gave the nod that no such process was needed for the time being until Palestinians disarm, quit incitement, prove able to govern themselves, etc. Empowered with unadulterated American support and a corruptible Palestinian leadership, Sharon is hoping to persist with the implementation of his vision that, in his opinion, will secure and irrevocably define Israel's borders -- even if at the expense of Palestinian land and rights. Thus, if one must accept that Sharon has indeed metamorphosed from one character to another, it was his move from being a rightwing ideologue to a rightwing strategist. Alas, for Palestinians, the end result is the same. The changes in the Israeli political scene place Palestinians under yet more pressure to "reciprocate" while their land is being actively stolen, as their aspiration for a meaningfully sovereign state is gravely diminished. Ramzy Baroud, a veteran Arab American journalist, teaches mass communication at Australia's Curtin University of Technology, Malaysia Campus. He is the editor-in-chief of PalestineChronicle.com

Iraq's Former PM Claims Assassination Attempt

Webmaster — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 03:21:21 +0000

Iraq's former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi at a Shiite shrine south of Baghdad on Sunday, forcing him to flee in a hail of stones and shoes. Allawi called the attack an assassination attempt. In Baghdad, one of the five judges in the trial of Saddam Hussein stepped down because one of the co-defendants may have been involved in the execution of his brother, a court official said Sunday. Another official said police had uncovered a plot to fire rockets at the courtroom when the trial convenes Monday for a third session. The confrontation in Najaf began when about a dozen men, some armed with clubs, tried to block Allawi from entering the Imam Ali mosque, one of the holiest Shiite shrines in Iraq. Allawi's bodyguards fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd. Once Allawi and his entourage were inside, the crowd grew to about 60 and as the group left, they were showered with stones and shoes

Accused Terrorists Mistreated: Lawyer

Webmaster — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 03:26:49 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/accused-terrorists-mistreated-lawyer/2005/12/05/1133631183568.html The lawyer for eight accused terrorists says the NSW government should act to prevent the mistreatment of some of the men. The eight Sydney suspects are being held under high security in prison after they were arrested in counter-terrorism raids on November 8. When their case came before Central Local Court today, defence lawyer Adam Houda told Magistrate Allan Moore his clients were "caged in inhumane conditions" and that he was having "tremendous" difficulty contacting them. He said he was still to receive any detailed documents from the prosecution. Outside the court, Mr Houda said his clients were being kept in "absolutely shocking" conditions and were held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day. "Some of them have been mistreated and denied their rights," he told reporters. "This treatment is very cruel and inhumane ... it totally undermines and makes a mockery out of the presumption of innocence. "What I would be appealing for is for the premier, Morris Iemma, to intervene and to put and end to this scandal." He said the alleged mistreatment would be subject to numerous complaints that would be forwarded today. However, he did not elaborate on the nature of the alleged mistreatment or say to whom the complaints would be forwarded. Mazen Touma, 25, Mohammed Elomar, 40, Abdul Rakib Hasan, 36, Khaled Cheikho, 32, Moustafa Cheikho, 28, Khaled Sharrouf, 24, Mirsad Mulahalilovic, 29, and Omar Baladjam, 28 are accused of conspiring to make explosives in preparation for a terrorist attack. If convicted, they could face life in prison. None of the men appeared in court or via videolink today. Mr Houda told the brief hearing: "This is a matter that was subject to an 18-month investigation (which has) come before the court, and there's not a single document other than a fact sheet produced. "We say that's totally unsatisfactory." Prosecutor Wendy Abraham QC told the court that a "continuous stream" of documents would be available to the defence within a few days. A police fact sheet tendered to Central Local Court last month alleged that members of the group attended "jihad" training camps in western NSW and stockpiled chemicals to make explosives. Police allege that the accused may have been targeting Australia's only nuclear reactor, at Lucas Heights in Sydney's south. Mr Moore adjourned the case until January 17.

Struggle For Terror Raid Families

Webmaster — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 03:47:00 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/struggle-for-terror-raid-families/2005/12/03/1133422148097.htmlThe families of the eight Sydney men arrested on terrorist charges are struggling to feed their children and having to apply for welfare to survive. At least one family has had its bank accounts frozen. One of the wives of the arrested men told The Sun-Herald she had "no money" and would be forced to sell the family car to meet her husband's tax bill. She will meet with Centrelink this week to discuss her entitlements. "My husband made enough money to support me and his parents," she said on condition of anonymity. "Now I have no money." The woman, who is expecting the couple's first child, said she has been allowed to see her husband three times a week. "We go to see him in jail and when we can't see him he will call us. They [police] have been very good to us and let us spend time with him." Several women have been forced to re-apply for welfare benefits because their husbands are no longer living with them. A Centrelink spokesman refused to comment on the individual cases but said it is common practice to re-evaluate a family's entitlements if their circumstances had changed. "Centrelink will not cease payments completely but will need to re-test the family's eligibility," he said. Adam Houda, the lawyer representing the eight Sydney men charged with terrorist activities, said the families had been under tremendous strain since the men were arrested three weeks ago. "Most of these people are very poor and of modest means and have children," he said. "In one case there is a disabled child and the father was the primary carer of the child. One family had their bank account frozen which meant the wife could not get access to money to buy food and pay rent. "We are going to make an official complaint about that to try and get the money released for the family." Mr Houda said the eight men were given the highest classification as AA prisoners and four of them are now in the state's highest security prison, Supermax, inside Goulburn jail. Some families are still waiting for approval to visit and Mr Houda will appeal against the custodial restrictions when their case is mentioned in court on Dec 5.

New Anti-terrorism Legislation Clears Parliament

Webmaster — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 16:51:01 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/antiterrorism-laws-cleared/2005/12/06/1133829592420.html Parliament today handed the Federal Government sweeping new powers to crack down on home-grown terrorists after months of heated debate over civil liberties. The Australian Greens, the Democrats and the Law Council today accused Labor of selling out civil rights by supporting the bill, which will give unprecedented powers to police and spy agencies. But Labor joined criticism of a Government move to gag debate on the bill, spending only three and a half hours examining more than 100 amendments - most of which were forced on the Government in a backbench revolt. Prime Minister John Howard, who secured support for the powers from the Labor premiers in September, told a coalition party room meeting it was "complete nonsense'' that the Government was acting with undue haste. "When the public realise that the sky has not fallen in and the legislation is in fact in the nation's interest, that we will be vindicated for the positions that we have held strongly and delivered on,'' a party room spokesman quoted Mr Howard as saying. The laws allow for the first time terror suspects to be detained without charge for up to 14 days as well as controls on their movement and communication for up to 12 months. They also update sedition laws, give police tougher stop, search and seizure powers and allow greater use of security cameras. Government amendments included giving more time for businesses to respond to anti-terror financing checks, enabling courts to consider a summary of grounds when deciding whether to issue the interim control order and greater access to lawyers for those facing preventative detention. The Commonwealth ombudsman would be given more power to oversee detention, detainees would have greater access to relatives and police would need to satisfy a greater number of grounds to impose limits on who a suspect could contact. Changes to sedition laws would protect the publication of news reports or commentaries about matters of public interest. Justice Minister Chris Ellison told the Senate the laws would give authorities the necessary tools to tackle terrorism, while being consistent with international human rights obligations. Opposition justice spokesman Joe Ludwig said the latest draft of the bill had been greatly improved since the first ``extreme'' draft was leaked by ACT chief minister Jon Stanhope. But Labor failed to secure support for three monthly reporting to parliament on the use of the new powers and more protections for freedom of speech built into the sedition section. Australian Greens leader Bob Brown compared the laws to the 1950s crackdown on communism in the United States. ``We are in a new period of McCarthyism and we need to know that, and understand it, and worry that this time it won't be turned around, that citizens, using a law like this, will be brought before courts for political reasons, not security reasons,'' he told parliament. Australian Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, who sought a three-year expiry date for the laws, said it was the Government that was acting seditiously. ``Indeed I suggest the process that has been put forward by government, gagging debate, truncating debate, circulating amendments at the last moment, explanatory memoranda that do or don't turn up depending on what bill you're referring to ... this process in itself is positively seditious,'' she said. The Australian Law Reform Commission will review the sedition provisions next year.Law Council of Australia president John North, who has been a prominent critic of the laws, today pledged the nation's lawyers would ensure that the laws were not misused or abused. ``We want governments to know that almost 50,000 lawyers will be watching closely to make sure the new laws are not implemented at the expense of our civil liberties,'' Mr North said. He said unlike Labor, the council had ``put up a decent fight'' to overturn the bill. Main points in the new anti-terror laws - Control orders to monitor terrorism suspects. - Preventative detention of suspects without charge for up to 14 days. - 16- to 18-year-olds suspected of terrorism can be subject to control and detention orders. - Seven-year jail terms for urging violence against the government or sections of the community. - Tougher police stop, search and seizure powers. - Police and ASIO powers to examine passenger and business information. - Broader use of surveillance cameras at transport hubs. - Ombudsman to oversee police use of new powers. - Parliament to receive reports on police powers. - Ten-year expiry date and five-year review of laws. - Law Reform Commission to review sedition laws in 2006.

Tight Security Impedes Terrorism Case

Webmaster — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 23:08:26 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/tight-security-impedes-terrorism-case/2005/12/08/1133829724520.htmlLegal proceedings are under way to freeze the assets of a terrorist suspect, understood to include an account allegedly used to fund terrorism.But a judge has warned that tight prison security could frustrate the attempts to seize the assets of Omar Baladjam, a former actor, one of eight Sydney men who face terrorism charges. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions has started legal proceedings for a restraining order over Baladjam's property under proceeds of crime legislation. The Herald has learnt this includes a bank account his supporters say was set up to fund legal representation for Muslims facing any kind of legal action. The prosecution is understood to allege the money was intended for terrorist purposes. Baladjam, 28, was shot in the neck after allegedly shooting at police on November 8, during raids on suspected terrorists. He was charged with conspiring to make explosives in preparation of a terrorist act, and charges related to the shooting. His prison conditions are so strict that Dennis Miralis, a lawyer, has so far been unable to see him. Mr Miralis said he had been cleared by the federal counter-terrorism agency under a new process for solicitors representing "AA" high-security inmates, but then prison authorities insisted on vetting him again. Baladjam's wife had been allowed to see him for the first time at Goulburn jail a week ago, he said, and weekend visits were banned. The isolation had imposed an enormous amount of psychological pressure on his client, he said. All terrorism suspects are held in high security under strict conditions, which a Supreme Court justice, Michael Adams, described as troubling. Justice Adams yesterday refused the prosecution's request for a speedy hearing of its application that Baladjam prepare a list of all his assets and liabilities, asking why the "relatively trivial" proceedings were considered urgent. Thomas Muir, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the orders were the "first step in any further investigative proceedings". But Justice Adams said he was uncertain Baladjam could make a list of his assets while in "highly restrictive custody". "It's simply impossible to know whether he is in a position to comply with any orders - one of the troubling aspects of the nature of his custody." He also said he might not make such an order if the accused was not allowed a private conversation with his lawyers. "I'm talking about lawyer-client privilege [which is] in some way even more fundamental," he said. "It's unexplored territory whether a requirement by legislation that certain material be provided would permit an order to be made where the person in effect cannot have a conference with his lawyer which is legally privileged." Adam Houda, a lawyer who represents Baladjam and others in the criminal proceedings, said he had been able to see his clients but had been unable to have private discussions with them. According to a document tendered in another court, the police allegedly seized cans of chemicals, masking tape, several pipes and two butane gas cylinders from Baladjam's West Hoxton home. Baladjam, who appeared in small parts in the ABC's Wildside and in Channel Seven's Home and Away, ran a painting business in Yagoona. Related coverageSuspects to be relocated without warning

A Lesson In Beach Etiquette - Shire-Style

Webmaster — Sat, 10 Dec 2005 20:20:26 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/a-lesson-in-beach-etiquette--shirestyle/2005/12/09/1134086806862.html They're itching for a blue, these Shire boys. For Shaun Donohoe it's war, pure and simple - and it has been a long time coming. "It's been brewing for years." For another local, a teenager surveying the ocean outside North Cronulla Surf Lifesaving Club, it's time for a showdown - though it's not about race, he says, just manners. "They have no respect for anyone." Angered by what they see as an aggressive invasion by youths of Middle Eastern background, these men say they have had enough. After a week that began with the assault of a lifeguard and was punctuated by another brawl and inflammatory rhetoric, the Shire boys are ready to rumble. It's an old-fashioned word, and an old-fashioned problem. Back in 1963 the headlines were much the same. "Beach louts out!" said the Sydney Sun. "Youths in more beach brawls," reported the Herald. Police deployed in strength to stop fights between "surfies" - Cronulla locals - and "rockies" - described as "from the western suburbs", and distinguished by "slicked-down hair". Forty-two years on it's a different Australia, with multiculturalism in full bloom, but this seaside community is still fiercely protective. The word "our" is common currency: our beach, our way of life, our Shire. Mr Donohoe, a chef, 24, takes it a step further. "They look down on our women," he says. "They don't really assimilate to our way of life. I've been at war with them for 10 years." For him it all boils down to race and culture. But the suburb has never been a stranger to bouts of tension, whether ethnic differences were present or not. Mark Goodwin, the assistant commissioner who has co-ordinated the police response, started surfing at the beach when he was 10. There has always been something to disagree about, he says, even if it was just surfers at odds over their stretch of ocean. "There's been tension between locals and people who come from other suburbs for a long time over various issues," he told the Herald. "We're taking it extremely seriously but there needs to be some perspective." The Mayor of Sutherland, Kevin Schreiber, and the local federal MP, Bruce Baird, agree there have been minor issues in the past, but believe the present problems are of a different order. Mr Baird, who was born in Cronulla, says: "I haven't seen the kind of problems we've got now." The visitors are aggressive, and come armed with "anti-female attitudes". Mr Schreiber attributes much of the problem to male aggression. "I think it's boys being boys," he says, adding that he understands local frustration. Those frustrations found their most provocative expression in a text message of unknown origin but wide impact. It was a blunt call to arms, saying in part: "This Sunday every f---ing Aussie in the Shire get down to north Cronulla to help support Leb and wog bashing day. Bring your mates down and lets show them that this is our beach

A Day Of Shame

Webmaster — Sun, 11 Dec 2005 23:13:03 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/the-mob-sang-waltzing-matilda/2005/12/11/1134235951620.html Abare-chested youth in Quiksilver boardshorts tore the headscarf off the girl's head as she slithered down the Cronulla dune seeking safety on the beach from a thousand-strong baying mob. Up on the road, Marcus "Carcass" Butcher, 28, a builder from Penrith, wearing workboots, war-camouflage shorts and black singlet bearing the words "Mahommid was a camel f---ing faggot" raised both arms to the sky. "F--- off, Leb," he cried victoriously. It was one last act of cowardly violence on a sad and shameful day that began as a beach party celebrating a kind of perverted nationalism that was gatecrashed by racism. A crowd of at least 5000 - overwhelmingly under 25 - took over Cronulla's foreshore and beachside streets. Police were powerless as 200-odd ringleaders, many clutching bottles or cans of beer and smoking marijuana, led assaults on individuals and small groups of Lebanese Australians who risked an appearance during the six-hour protest. The horde swirled after fleeing individuals, sometimes sweeping past police lines and horses, chasing a quarry who sought safety in restaurants, shops, toilet blocks and ambulances and police vehicles. Some were snatched by police, who stood against the swarm and repelled the most violent with capsicum spray. After a local man, "Steely", had led a chant of "F--- off, Lebs", a young man demanded the megaphone and told the crowd it was "racist". A bottle arced in from the audience and shattered on his forehead. He fled "like a bleeding rabbit", someone yelled after him. Sometimes when a victim was cornered, the mob started singing Waltzing Matilda. Advance Australia Fair was similarly employed against obstructing police, and the usually good-natured "Aussie Aussie Aussie" chant in the mouths of the Cronulla crew assumed a menacing tone. Cronulla was possibly Australia's biggest racist protest since vigilante miners killed two Chinese at Lambing Flat in 1860. Yesterday's violence had been brewing for months. It came to a head last weekend when some Lebanese Australian men attacked members of the North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club after they asked the visitors to stop playing soccer because it was disturbing other beach users. "Steely" - who did not want to identify himself "for fear the Lebs will come and shoot up my joint during the week" - said his children had been scared by Lebanese Australians coming in from the western suburbs. "I've got a four-year-old girl and a boy who's 11, and they see these bastards come here and stand around the sea baths 'cos their women have got to swim in clothes and stuff, or they see them saying filthy things to our girls," he said. "That's not Australian. My granddad fought the Japs to see Australia safe from this sort of shit, and that's what I'm doing today." The word went out last week that the Shire boys would not take it lying down any more. Yesterday was shaping as a giant clash if Lebanese Australians came to run the gauntlet. Cronulla has been an iconic surf suburb since the early 1960s, when the surfboard craze hit. It has a tribal surf culture shaped by violence and substance abuse. Its first surfing hero, Bobby Brown, died after being sliced by a beer glass in a hotel in 1967. Cronulla was the setting for Puberty Blues, the brutal book and film about girls growing up in the surf culture. Many of its surfing heroes have had difficult lives, not the least Mark Occhiluppo, who came back from virtual career oblivion to take the world surfing title in 1999. Cronulla has long been the scene of battles with outsiders. The early 1960s saw pitched fights between "westies" and "surfies". Then, the media portrayed them as wars between teenage subcultures, but they always had an economic if not class element to them. It was a time when the White Australia policy still existed and nobody thought it was based on racism. Things have changed. So yesterday "Da Boys" - the Cronulla locals - turned up early, and by 10am a party atmosphere was already evident. Two-storey apartments were bedecked in bizarre bunting ranging from Australian and Eureka flags to "Merry Christmas" signs and Bundaberg Rum polar bear cut-outs. On the streets, Australian flags fluttered on most cars, Cold Chisel and Men At Work boomed out of stereo systems and there were patriotic T-shirts with kangaroos, swear words and puns. Beer soaked everything. Todd Russell, a concrete pourer from one of the apartments up the road from the riot site, was among the first to arrive and was giving away sausages cooked on a barbecue on the back of his ute, "to get everyone in the mood to be a real Aussie". He had put up a sign saying "No tabouli". He was enthusiastically handing out brochures headed "Immigration out of control" and "Your teachers are lying to you" to passers-by."Don't know what this shit is, mate. It's just stuff. I agree with it, whatever it is," Russell said. "Look, these Lebs are coming here and giving us shit and we're not going to take it any more." Behind him, John Moffitt of the Australia First Party was smiling to himself. He had been handing out political pamphlets to some of the flag and beer can-bedecked teenagers most of the morning and they were merrily distributing them to the committed, the curious and the repulsed. "This is a great day. Australia is now seeing what the policies of the last 30 years are reaping," Moffitt said. Paul Wilson, a local accountant who wants to start a political movement he has called Sons of Anzacs, led the mob with a couple of megaphone chants but said he was disgusted at the abuse of Lebanese immigrants. He said the protest was really just an extension of the sorts of things Pauline Hanson was warning about when she entered national life in 1996. "Nobody listened to her really and look what's happened. Mind you, it's a shame that it came to this. I don't agree with the racist stuff. It frightens a lot of people off but it still a true reflection of what being a real and proud Australian is to many of us. You deny that, you're mad," he said. The crowd's first likely target was sighted just after 11am. He copped a punch from a local before fleeing to the safety of the Northies hotel sports bar, where a police line stopped the hunters in their tracks and he was whisked from the building. Over the next six hours there were sporadic outbreaks when the mob thought it spied a Lebanese Australian intruder. Many in the melee took photographs on mobile phones as they contacted people to join the fray or just to check out the fun. "It's a pisser," said Michael Bedford, of Sylvania. "Shire forever." As police tramped in quick-time from flashpoint to flashpoint, many in the crowd ridiculed their efforts. "Hup, hup, hup. Left, right, left, right. Sound off - that's right, dudes, go get 'em," a group yelled in unison, before showering police with beer. At one point, thousands rushed up the hill to the Cronulla Mall and headed for the railway station, nearly a kilometre away, where two men were taken and beaten. Sated, the crowd returned to the beachfront. While bedlam ruled, the North Cronulla SLSC did its best to ignore the unlovely spectacle, calmly continuing with the launching ceremony of a new surfboat, the Graham "Cashy" Cachia. Meanwhile, down the beach, the Lebanese Australian girl's three male friends were being chased through apartments as her headscarf was being born off as some sort of souvenir. At the boat ceremony, a 13-year-old boy, a nipper with the club, turned from the boat to the noise swelling from the crowd north of the clubhouse. "Get her!" he yelled. On his bare back were the words in black felt pen: "We crew here. You flew here." RELATED Race riots spread to suburbs The mob sang Waltzing Matilda Worst possible outcome - vigilantes rip unity to shreds Gallery: Mobs rampage in Cronulla Video: Cronulla riots

Sydney Erupts Again In A Night Of Violence

Webmaster — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 19:28:55 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/armed-gangs-on-rampage/2005/12/12/1134236005902.html Sydney erupted in a second night of racial violence last night as Middle Eastern mobs fired shots into the air, attacked women and smashed shops around Cronulla, while up to 600 young men - armed with guns and crowbars - prepared for a battle. In a terrifying escalation of the conflict, up to 70 cars from Hurstville and possibly Lakemba invaded Cronulla and Brighton-le-Sands to launch revenge attacks, following the vicious attacks by Cronulla locals on people of Middle Eastern appearance on Sunday. Twenty carloads of men arrived at Cronulla by about 10.30pm, smashing shops, and cars in Elouera Road, and threatening people who got in their way. They reportedly stabbed a woman at Carringbah, but her condition was unknown. Gunshots were heard near Northies Hotel at Cronulla and there was an unconfirmed report of a man being shot. About 11.30pm a group of about 100 Cronulla locals surrounded a car carrying men of Middle Eastern appearance, but police cleared the crowd and let the car escape. Hours earlier, about 200 men had assembled outside Lakemba Mosque - some armed with Glock pistols - and dozens more gathered at Campsie. They were preparing to travel to Maroubra Beach, where up to 300 locals, many armed with crowbars, waited for an arranged fight, according to "Bra Boys" at the beach. But some young Muslims said they had gathered to protect the mosque because of a threatened attack on it by a gang from the southern beaches. Following Sunday's riot at Cronulla beach - when local mobs had bashed people of Middle Eastern appearance - police confiscated iron bars and other weapons at Maroubra last night and blocked roads around the mosque. About 20 police cars surrounded the mosque, where four men showed their pistols and ammunition to a news crew, and boasted that others were carrying arms. At 10.45pm, on the Kingsway at Caringbah, about 12 cars sped by, followed by another vehicle that stopped. Four men got out and began attacking patrons of Antonio's Pizzeria. They knocked a woman unconscious on the footpath and smashed the window of a denture clinic. Thai-born Suchada Goodier, 44, owner of a Thai restaurant on the Kingsway, said she was walking on the street when she was attacked. The group then started bashing her car. "What have I done?" she said. "I have done nothing." In Bay Street, Brighton-le-Sands, a young woman was sitting in a car when men approached and opened the door to her vehicle and put a hand up her dress, saying: "We are going to rape you, you Aussie sluts." A witness, Linda El-Hassan, 19, said a shot was fired at the woman's car but she was unhurt. Miss El-Hassan said she was Lebanese and opposed the violence. "We all came to this country and we are all one in this country." The mobs vandalised cars and Bay Street was strewn with rubbish and a government bus was attacked and its back window smashed. Many police gathered in Bay Street, where a senior officer was heard to say: "Let's get our [riot] gear on and smash 'em." At Lakemba Mosque earlier, a media crew had been involved in an altercation with some in the crowd about 7pm. A man is believed to have suffered a broken leg during a scuffle. Islamic leaders tried to calm the crowd, imploring the men over a loudspeaker to go inside and pray. Outside the Maroubra Bay Hotel, police dressed in riot gear prepared for violence. A Channel Seven reporter, Robert Ovadia, was surrounded by a group who menaced him, spat in his face, threatened to head-butt him and told him that the media had stirred up all the trouble. Ovadia called police, who sent a patrol car. The Herald's reporter at Maroubra retreated under a hail of water bombs. The Bra Boys had told the media they were not welcome. Police said there was evidence of text and email messages promoting another confrontation at Cronulla next Sunday. One email congratulates those involved in Sunday's riots but warns of armed retaliation. "This is only the beginning, this is a start of the war! Leb's n wog's won't stand for this and will start singling out the aussies and gang bashing them with drawn weapons. We must continue to come together to help the innocent and family's so everyone can enjoy our beach's!" The Premier, Morris Iemma, said Sunday had exposed the "ugly face of racism in Australia". But John Howard said: "I believe yesterday's behaviour was completely unacceptable but I'm not going to put a general tag [of] racism on the Australian community ... I think it's a term that is flung around sometimes carelessly and I'm simply not going to do so. I do not accept there is underlying racism in this country. I have always taken a more optimistic view of the character of the Australian people." Related CoverageThe hordes came with guns and iron bars Australians racist? No way, says Howard Abandoned drink laws rushed back An angry ride into the dark side of mateship Welcome to Cronulla - unless you'd fit in better at Brighton When two tribes go to war: how lines were drawn in the sand Treat us like dogs and we'll bite back Arrested man breached bail conditions, say police Blinky Bill, the face of race hatred Bloodstains left as reminder of beach havoc World sees Sydney in a new light Every bit as Aussie as boys on the beach Suburban calm was shattered in seconds David Marr: One-way radio plays by its own rules Police act swiftly to curb attacks

Police To Get New Riot Powers

Webmaster — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 03:18:43 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/police-to-get-new-riot-powers/2005/12/13/1134236033030.htmlNSW Premier Morris Iemma has recalled parliament for an emergency sitting to equip police with new powers to crack down on rioters."NSW parliament will be recalled for a special emergency sitting on Thursday morning to provide police with extra powers to deal with criminals and thugs who are causing disturbances across our city," he told reporters. Mr Iemma said the government would seek powers including the ability to lock down zones, search people and vehicles, create temporary alcohol free zones, and shut down licensed premises.Police also would get additional powers to confiscate vehicles of people involved in social unrest."These criminals have declared war on our society and we are not going to let them win," the premier said. Dozens of people have been injured and many others arrested in two days of racial violence along Sydney's southern and eastern beaches. Meanwhile attempts were under way today to broker a peace deal between warring groups to prevent a third successive night of clashes. But while community and political leaders urged an end to the racial violence, one Muslim spokesman warned of continuing anger among Middle Eastern youths who feel police are treating them unjustly. Eleven men were arrested in a second night of violence last night as groups unleashed apparent reprisal attacks for Sunday's race riot at Cronulla, when alcohol-fuelled mobs chased and bashed anyone of Middle Eastern appearance. Seven people were injured, cars and shops trashed, and rocks and flares hurled at police in suburbs including Cronulla, Brighton-le-Sands and Caringbah. NSW Police were today planning how to deal with the spiralling violence. "We're dealing with an unprecedented situation the likes we haven't seen in Australia before, with this type of racial tension and these types of series of smash and bash attacks across multiple fronts,'' NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Goodwin told ABC Radio. While the southern beachside suburb of Cronulla has been the major flashpoint for violence, attempts were under way today to ensure peace at Maroubra Beach, the target of an apparent reprisal attack late on Sunday night. Lebanese Muslim leader Keysar Trad and members of Maroubra's surfer gang, the Bra Boys, held talks today to broker a peace deal between rival groups. "They [the Bra Boys] expressed their outrage at what happened at Cronulla and they expressed their support and appreciation for the Middle Eastern community,'' Mr Trad said. The Lebanese community also condemned the violence, Mr Trad said. Bra Boys member and top surfer Koby Abberton labelled Sunday's riots at Cronulla "cowardly''. "I was upset being Australian on that day,'' he told the Nine Network. However Islamic leader Fadi Abdul Rahman suggested further trouble could be brewing, saying Muslim youths felt angry that police were not treating them fairly. "They feel they have been dealt with by the authorities differently to the way Anglos have been dealt with,'' he told the Seven Network. "They feel injustice and they feel angry about it.''NSW Police Minister Carl Scully said rival groups needed to bring an end to the violence, and groups had no right to take the law into their own hands. "They feel slighted and insulted and believe they're entitled to respond to the provocation of those drunken yobbos on Sunday,'' Mr Scully told ABC Radio. ''[But] they're not entitled to respond in a violent, criminal manner which is what they're doing and the police will continue to round them up while they do so.'' The NSW Opposition called on the NSW Government to mobilise hundreds of police in a bid to prevent another night of violence. Opposition leader Peter Debnam said the Government should consider importing police from other states. "The Government is simply pussyfooting around. What they need to do is mobilise hundreds of police,'' he told ABC Radio. Prime Minister John Howard again played down the racial aspect to the Sydney clashes, saying they were primarily a law and order issue. "I don't think we should over-complicate this,'' he said. "Violence, thuggery, loutish behaviour, smashing peoples' property, intimidating people - all of those things are breaches of the law and I don't think the actions should be given some kind of special ... status because they occur against the background of this or that. "If we start treating this behaviour for what it is we will far more readily settle things down and get back to a situation we all want.'' Mr Howard again said he did not think Australia was a racist country and said the mob violence would have no long-term effect on Australia's international reputation. Related coverageJust settle down, pleads attack victim Don't over-complicate riots: PM Charity stops shire runs over attacks Lock up your sons, Lebanese mothers told We need hundreds of police: Debnam More arrests as violence escalates Armed gangs on rampage The hordes came with guns and iron bars Australians racist? No way, says Howard Abandoned drink laws rushed back An angry ride into the dark side of mateship Welcome to Cronulla - unless you'd fit in better at Brighton When two tribes go to war: how lines were drawn in the sand Treat us like dogs and we'll bite back Arrested man breached bail conditions, say police Blinky Bill, the face of race hatred Bloodstains left as reminder of beach havoc World sees Sydney in a new light Every bit as Aussie as boys on the beach Suburban calm was shattered in seconds David Marr: One-way radio plays by its own rules Police act swiftly to curb attacks Clifton Evers: Where the 'other' fears to tread

Hicks Gets British Citizenship

Webmaster — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 20:57:10 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/hicks-wins-uk-citizenship-battle/2005/12/13/1134236069847.html THE Australian terrorism suspect David Hicks won British citizenship and the hope of freedom last night, and moves are afoot to have him swear an oath of allegiance to Britain within days inside the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Justice Lawrence Collins of the British High Court overturned the Blair Government's refusal of citizenship to Hicks, whose mother was born in England. Hicks's supporters hope that, as a British citizen, the Foreign Office will remove him from US detention, as it did for nine other Britons once held in the US military prison in Cuba. After a four-year campaign to free his son, Terry Hicks said in Adelaide: "It's the first hurdle. We now have to face the second part of it." Justice Collins said: "There is no basis upon which the [British Home] Secretary of State can refuse to register Mr Hicks's citizenship". Lawyers acting for the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, immediately announced an appeal. But Justice Collins refused the British Government a stay of his judgement, meaning it is compelled to proceed with Hicks's citizenship application. Britain could strip Hicks of his new citizenship because he is accused of acts prejudicial to the United Kingdom. But Hicks, 30, could circumvent this by renouncing his Australian citizenship - meaning Britain could not act to leave him stateless. His British lawyer, Stephen Grosz, said Hicks did not currently intend to do so. Emerging triumphant, Mr Grosz said he would get a message to Hicks in Cuba as soon as possible. He said there was no reason Hicks should not enjoy the same protections as the nine released at the Blair Government's request. Justice Collins appeared to agree: "In my view, it would be improper to fail to give assistance which otherwise would have been given, simply because the claimant was believed to be involved in terrorism and has not had any previous connection with this country." The British Home Office had recognised Hicks's prima facie right to citizenship, but withheld it on the grounds he allegedly aided the enemy when fighting alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, said the ruling had no implications for the Federal Government and would not alter Australia's position on the Guantanamo Bay detainee. But Australia would not try to pressure Britain to revoke Hicks's British citizenship. Nor would it try to stop Hicks from revoking his Australian citizenship. "It's not a matter for us. If a British court decides that David Hicks is a British citizen, well that's a matter for the British Government to deal with." Mr Grosz will immediately ask for a citizenship ceremony in Guantanamo.

Police Guard Churches As Tension Rises

Webmaster — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 19:43:59 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/police-guard-churches/2005/12/14/1134500916773.html Police will pay "special attention" to religious venues after a spate of attacks on places of worship linked to race-fuelled violence. Religious leaders called for unity and calm as text messages and emails, similar to those which promoted Sydney's violence earlier this week, spread to other states. The NSW parliament will convene today for an emergency session to pass new police laws allowing authorities to lock down trouble spots, seize cars and turn off alcohol. Police in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia said copycat text messages and emails calling for unrest had been circulating. Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said he believed there would not be any support for racial unrest on the Gold Coast, where text messages have called for people to start "cracking skulls". In Sydney, hundreds of police continued to patrol flashpoint suburbs in the city's south and west last night following violence sparked by an attack on surf lifesavers and Sunday's subsequent race riot at Cronulla. The riots were followed by two nights of retaliatory "smash-and-bash" attacks in Maroubra, Cronulla and Brighton-le-Sands. A leaked document has indicated that police were not equipped to respond to Monday evening's violence in Cronulla, in which people were assaulted and cars, shopfronts and windows were smashed. The Seven Network said it had obtained a police incident report instructing officers to stay away from one of the areas - believed to be Punchbowl Park in Sydney's west - on Monday night. The park is believed to have been the meeting place for scores of men who formed a vehicle convoy which drove to Cronulla unimpeded by police. The network claimed the report showed some of those in the crowd were suspected of being Middle Eastern criminals who had been involved in malicious damage and civil disobedience offences throughout the Sutherland Shire. The report is believed to have said "a direction was given to police about midnight not to enter the area and antagonise these persons". In separate incidents, a Uniting Church hall in Auburn was burned to the ground on Tuesday night, while the nearby St Thomas' Anglican Church had windows smashed at about the same time. A spokesman for the NSW Uniting Church, Jim Mein, said yesterday members of the mainly Tongan congregation at the Harold Wood Auburn Uniting Church were bewildered by the attack. Police are treating the blaze as suspicious and Mr Iemma has said "it may be" linked to the recent race-fuelled violence in Sydney. Mr Iemma said today he was not aware of any past tensions related to the church or its activities in the Auburn area. But he said the incident showed the need to monitor places of worship during the current unrest. "Special attention will be paid to places of worship, our churches and our schools," Mr Iemma said. "Obviously we have to be on guard for this, and these hooligans and criminals will not destroy the fabric of our society," he said. Amjad Ali Mehboob of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils said worshippers at Omar Mosque in Auburn would hold a solidarity meeting at the Uniting Church after Friday prayers. The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, condemned the violence, saying "faith leaders will have much to do in their communities to assist".

Cronulla Protest Leaders Apologise and Condemn Violence

Webmaster — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 20:48:58 +0000

The ringleaders of Sunday's protest at Cronulla Beach delivered written apologies to Sydney's Lebanese community yesterday, saying it was meant to be a peaceful protest but spiralled out of control due to alcohol and a lack of leadership.Troy Denenhy formally apologised to the Lebanese community, police, ambulance officers and the Sutherland Shire for his behaviour, which featured prominently in media coverage of Sunday's riot. Mr Denenhy, who has a Japanese wife, emphasised he was "not racist". "It was supposed to be a peaceful protest but turned into a racial war," his letter says. Glenn "Steely" Steele, who was another vocal voice early on in Sunday's protest, now says he is "deeply embarrassed and ashamed". He said alcohol played a major part in the escalation of violence and admits to being extremely drunk on Sunday. But while Cronulla local Josh Loney, 21, agreed with the sentiment of the letters, he predicted "it's gonna happen again this weekend". "I'm just sticking up for my place and my mates," he said. Senior lifeguard manager and Cronulla Boardriders Association spokesman Brad Whittaker said Sunday began "as a show of solidarity" against up to seven years of intimidating behaviour by "non-locals on shire beaches that escalated out of control". "The beach is for all to use with everyone to show respect and consideration for each other," Mr Whittaker said. United Muslims of Australia's Faid Kanawati and Azad Houda met the boardriders before publicly accepting the apology. Mr Kanawati said it wasn't just Islamic Lebanese youths at Sunday's riots but Christian Lebanese were also involved. He told the Christians to heed Jesus's message to "do unto others as we would have done unto ourselves"' and the Muslims "to be just is to be closest to piety". Yesterday's meeting followed a similar rapprochement on Tuesday at Maroubra between the "Bra Boys" gang and Islamic leaders. EXCLUSIVE - The written apologies from the Cronulla protest leaders, including an apology from Glen Steele who figured prominently in leadingSunday's protest that turned into a race riot.Statement on Behalf of the Cronulla Surfing Community http://islamicsydney.com/imglib/903.jpg Apology from Troy Dennehy, Protest Organiser http://islamicsydney.com/imglib/904.jpg Apology From Glen Steele http://islamicsydney.com/imglib/905.jpg

Related Audio (from ABC News)

Police across the country are investigating the circulation of new text messages similar to the ones that incited race riots in Sydney at the weekend. [RealMedia 28k+] [WinMedia 28k+] [MP3] As police prepare for the possibility of more violence across beachside suburbs in Sydney tonight, there are efforts under way to calm any remaining tensions and head off further clashes. [RealMedia 28k+] [WinMedia 28k+] [MP3] In the wake of the last few days of violence and ethnic tension in Sydney, groups representing Australians of Middle Eastern extraction have called for a voluntary curfew for all their young people to help restore calm. [RealMedia 28k+] [WinMedia 28k+] [MP3]

Bush: Iraq Intelligence Wrong

Webmaster — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 20:37:15 +0000

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1667583,00.html President Bush conceded yesterday that much of the pre-war intelligence on Iraq "turned out to be wrong" but took sole responsibility for ordering the invasion, which he said was justified by the potential threat posed by Saddam Hussein. Mr Bush has acknowledged flaws in US intelligence on Iraq before, but this was his most wholehearted acknowledgment to date of the scale of the errors underlying his administration's allegations over Saddam's alleged weapons of mass destruction. "It is true that much of the intelligence turned out to be wrong," he said. But he repeated the administration's frequently made defence that other intelligence agencies had made similar mistakes, and Democratic politicians had voted for war based on the same intelligence the president had seen. However, Mr Bush acknowledged that the final decision to invade had been his alone. "As president, I am responsible for the decision to go into Iraq," he said. It was revealed yesterday, on the eve of elections in Iraq, that the Pentagon had set up a $300m (

Police Warn Of New Threats Of Riots

Webmaster — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 05:46:43 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/police-warn-of-new-threats-of-riots/2005/12/16/1134703597549.htmlTwo men have appeared in court accused of making Molotov cocktails in Cronulla.There appearance comes as NSW's police chief appealed to people to stay away from beaches in Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle this weekend after credible threats of gang violence were received. Matthew Lalor, 24, and Mark Miller, 33 were refused bail in Sutherland local court today after being arrested by Operation SETA officers, who allegedly found seven Molotov cocktails in a Cronulla apartment. The pair's lawyer told the court they admitted making the Molotov cocktails, they didn't intend to use them. The magistrate, Mr Ross Clugston, found that hard to accept and adjourned the case until next week. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said visitors and locals would greatly help police by staying away from beaches this weekend. He said intelligence received from the public indicated gangs would target Cronulla, Sydney's eastern beaches, Wollongong, Newcastle, and some central coast beaches. Police numbers would be further boosted - to 1,500 on Saturday and 2,000 on Sunday as a result, he said. NSW Premier Morris Iemma warned troublemakers would face harsh penalties. ``Police will be using tough new powers that have been granted to them,'' Mr Iemma told reporters. He said road blocks would be in place at various locations to be advised.About 5,000 people converged on Sydney's North Cronulla beach last Sunday sparking a race riot which led to further violence across the city's beachside suburbs during the week.

This Is A War We Must Win: Iemma

Webmaster — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 16:56:12 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/this-is-a-war-we-must-win/2005/12/17/1134703643234.htmlToday is crunch day for expected race riots and police last night issued their final warning that people would be jailed if they tried to launch violent racist attacks on Sydney's beaches. Police are using tough new powers for the first time to lock down the beach suburbs of Cronulla, Brighton, Maroubra, Coogee and Bondi, which have been targeted by the angry mobs. Only local residents and those with a good reason to enter the suburbs are being allowed through. Premier Morris Iemma laid down an ultimatum to beach thugs that their violence would be met with the full force of the law. Talking tougher than at any time since the eruption of violence at Cronulla a week ago, Mr Iemma said: "This is a war we have to win. Our response to these troublemakers is to meet force with force. "I've checked with the Department of Corrective Services and there's about 400 cells just ready and waiting for you, for troublemakers." Mr Iemma said police intelligence continued to show troublemakers had declared this weekend retribution, retaliation and get-square time. Deputy Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said he had "very, very serious intelligence" that the mobs were out to rekindle the violence that broke out last Sunday in Cronulla. For the first time in Sydney's history whole suburbs are being locked down today. All cars are being stopped at police barriers and occupants questioned, vehicles searched and confiscated if considered suspicious. "Sunday is crunch day," Mr Scipione warned as he outlined the extraordinary measures police were taking. An extra 500 police are on the streets today bringing the total deployed to 2000. Police are ready to blockade eight roads in Brighton, four in North Cronulla, five on the Cronulla peninsula, eight in Maroubra and six in Bondi Beach. "The tactics we are using are changing hour by hour," Mr Scipione said. "This is a deliberate, preventative strategy and I know this is causing considerable frustration to motorists. I thank them for their co-operation and apologise for the delays and inconvenience. "We are doing this to ensure we are keeping the public safe." Police were taking seriously SMS messages from both sides - the Anglo beach gangs and the Lebanese groups - as they tried to rally for racist attacks. Mr Scipione said police were getting good information from the public as well as national security sources. He said: "We can't say how many people might be involved but we are working on the worst-case scenario. We have put 2000 police on the streets and there is good reason for that. We have seen intelligence suggesting people have come from other states as well as from across NSW." Mr Scipione said many different groups had congregated with the purpose of causing mayhem and violence. "They want to cause public disorder, riot and affray like we saw last Sunday. There are two sides each as keen to cause mayhem. We have seen some neo-Nazis involved last weekend so we can't rule out them being involved now," he said. Today people will have to prove they live in closed areas or have a good reason for visiting before they are allowed through police roadblocks. Mr Iemma acknowledged the public's "frustration and anger" at road delays and traffic jams from Wollongong to Newcastle. "But effectively these criminals have declared war on us, and our response must be unity to meet force with force," he said. Related Coverage2000 police but the beaches were empty Three teenagers accused of race attack on Cronulla train win bail Fighting back with message of love Locations of road closures and lockdowns Years of rejection erupted in open rebellion A tale of two Sydneys: affluent versus aspiring Paul Sheehan: A great divide takes some understanding It's harder to be Australian Order of the board jungle Cronulla - and the blues - revisited, easily recognised

Racists Held As Muslims Talk Peace

Webmaster — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 00:57:14 +0000

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17605825-2,00.htmlFive white supremacists have been arrested carrying material to build petrol bombs, enabling police to claim they were vindicated after locking down more than 200km of beaches to prevent a repeat of Sydney's ugly race riots. The men, dressed in camouflage gear, were caught yesterday in the southern suburb of Brighton-le-Sands carrying equipment to make Molotov cocktails including 25l jerry cans filled with petrol, as well as commando-style utility belts and Kevlar helmets. The lockdown occurred on a perfect summer weekend when many Sydneysiders were winding down ahead of Christmas and forced Premier Morris Iemma to deny the gangs had won the battle. Police officers also found car stickers promoting the white supremacist movement in the men's car. Two other men, travelling by bus to Sydney's Bondi Beach, were arrested carrying petrol bombs, and in a separate incident in Brighton-le-Sands five men of Middle Eastern appearance were arrested for carrying offensive weapons. "There is still a lot of work to be done but so far the police have done an outstanding job," Mr Iemma said. "We have to remain vigilant from here on in. This is not going to be a one-day fight. We're in for a long, hard fight. The streets are going to be safe for all peace-loving citizens." Sydney's western suburbs remained quiet yesterday after a call for a full day's curfew by Lebanese community leaders. Mohammed Elriche, 19, said he and his friends would have enjoyed nothing more than their regular swim at Cronulla Beach but their parents had asked him to stay at home. His parents, Eddy and Samira, who have lived in Australia since 1972, said their five children would be allowed to go to the beach again only when the "conflict is resolved and peace is restored" in the Sutherland shire region. "If there's no more conflict, I will let him (Mohammed) go," Samira, 42, told The Australian in Arabic. Mohammed, a second-year design student, said it was part of his Muslim culture to obey his mother. "In our (Muslim) religion, it says you've got to like your mum three times as much as your father ... and because of that, you've got to give them more respect." "So if they tell you not to go somewhere or do something you must listen to them out of respect." He said last week's retaliation by some young members of his community for the rioting and assaults at Cronulla beach was the work of hotheads who should have let the police resolve the situation. "It was hot-headed guys who retaliated last week," said Mohammed, whose cousin and friends had considered driving down to Cronulla to join in the retaliation, but changed their mind once their parents told them to steer clear of the troubled area. While the city stayed relatively calm, Deputy Commissioner Andrew Scipione yesterday said a force of 800 additional police would be available every day until the end of January. Mr Scipione said he was concerned after dangerous weapons were seized at police roadblocks. NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said concerns that there had been a call to arms in other states appeared justified with one of the men arrested at Bondi coming from Melbourne, and three men arrested with offensive weapons in Brighton came from Canberra. After the Brighton-le-Sands arrests police locked down the suburb using new powers passed by Parliament last week. Mr Moroney said charges would be laid against all seven men in relation to possession of offensive weapons and all would be refused bail under the provisions of the new anti-riot laws. Mr Moroney said that since last Monday, 193 charges had been laid in relation to the anti-riot operation Seta. Since Friday, police deployed in the operation had arrested 59 people and laid more than 100 charges. "It has clearly been a weekend like no other in the history of policing in this state," Mr Moroney said. Reporting the arrests at Brighton-le-Sands, Mr Scipione said: "This just shows that what we're dealing with was perhaps this type of opportunity for those who would commit crime - not just in Cronulla but in a number of areas."

Iran Wins Big In Iraq's Elections

Webmaster — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 15:04:37 +0000

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GL20Ak01.html "We knew ever since the beginning [of the Iraq war] that the Americans would become trapped in a quagmire ... Iraq has become a turning point in the history of the Middle East. If the Americans had succeeded in subjugating Iraq, our region would have suffered once again from colonialism, but if Iraq becomes a democratic country that can stand on its own feet, the Americans will face the greatest loss. In such an eventuality, Iran and other regional states will be able to play an important role in world issues since they provide a huge share of the world's energy needs. We see now that the United States has been defeated." Such a statement has to have come out of Iran, and without a doubt President George W Bush would attribute it to that "odd guy", as he referred to Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad in a recent PBS TV interview. But, as with just about anything else these days concerning the Middle East, Bush would be dead wrong, as would be many others who have misread Iran at this momentous juncture in the region. The excerpts are from a speech at Friday prayers at Tehran University, made by someone whom the Western world has come to regard as the consummate "pragmatic conservative" (whatever that might mean) of Iranian politics, former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. There is one thing for which Rafsanjani is famous - he seldom mixes illusions with reality. And the reality is that the Middle East's political compass shifted last week. As the trends became available regarding the Iraqi elections of last Thursday, what has emerged is that contrary to all pre-poll projections, the Shi'ite religious coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), not only held together, but also can be expected to dominate the new 275-member National Assembly for the next four years. More importantly, the "secular" candidates who were believed to enjoy links with the US security agencies would seem to have been routed. Former premier Iyad Allawi's prospects of leading the new government seem virtually nil. And Ahmad Chalabi's Iraqi National Accord suffered a shattering defeat. The prognosis that Sunnis would flock to Allawi or that Shi'ite constituents were disillusioned with the "fundamentalist" UIA and would be drawn to Allawi's secular platform has also proved to be highly faulty. All indications are that in the Shi'ite provinces such as Najaf, Karbala, Qadisiyah, Maysan, Diwaniya, Amara, Nasiriyah and Samawa, anywhere between 70% to 90% of the votes may have gone to the UIA, and that even in the mixed Babil, Diyala and Baghdad provinces the UIA may well secure the most number of seats. Some reports indicate the UIA as getting probably as high as 70% of the votes in Babil - a magnificent performance in a mixed Shi'ite-Sunni province. According to reports, early returns show a strong performance by the followers of the outspoken Shi'ite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, on the UIA slate. Some reports estimate Muqtada's nominees winning almost one third of the UIA slate. Worse still for the US, the "Sunni factor" choreographed by the American viceroys also seems to have come up with surprises. Al-Hayat newspaper commented that the two Sunni politicians who would appear to have done extremely well were Islamist leader Adnan Dulaimi and Ba'athist leader Salih al-Mutlak. (The latter is already being billed as the "Gerry Adams of Iraq", a reference to the mercurial Sinn Fein leader.) Moreover, former members of the Ba'ath Party and other militia leaders have lost no time asserting that despite the Sunni participation in the elections, their armed resistance to the American military occupation would be resumed. (Since the elections, 10 Iraqis, including five police officers and an American, have been killed.) Al-Hayat quoted a Ba'ath communique condemning the elections as an American plot to divide Iraq along ethnic and religious lines and vowing that resistance would not end until US troops left Iraqi soil. So much for the delicate distinction that American spokesmen were making between "Ba'athists" and "Saddamists". With the ascendancy of Muqtada and Mutlak in the fragmented political spectrum, the calls for American troops to leave Iraq can be expected to become more strident. In the new climate, the incoming parliament itself may well make such a formal demand on the Americans. The hurried visit by US Vice President Dick Cheney to Baghdad on Sunday, his first ever since the US invasion in 2003, underscores the disarray surfacing in Washington. Iran has, therefore, every reason to be pleased with the outcome of the election. Tehran sees that Iraq is now irreversibly on the verge of profound change, and transition is already in the air. The US is increasingly finding that it must come up with a clear plan to withdraw its troops from Iraq. As prominent Lebanese political observer Rami Khouri wrote on Saturday, "Starting the American military retreat from Iraq is important because American troops will continue to be a divisive and destabilizing force, just as the American military presence in Saudi Arabia after the 1991 war was a major provocation leading to Osama bin Laden-type resistance and terror." Khouri (who cannot be described even remotely as "anti-American" on the intellectual plane) suggested 18 months as a "target date" for Washington to pull out its troops from Iraq. Tehran is conscious that any American withdrawal from Iraq cannot be summarily done. It will have to be preceded by a broader regional understanding over Iraq's stability and cohesion, which inevitably involves Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Equally so, new regional security arrangements also become necessary. No less important for Tehran were the local Palestinian elections last week in West Bank cities. According to the preliminary results, the Islamic militant group Hamas won resounding victories. Coming as it does barely six weeks ahead of crucial parliamentary elections (scheduled for January 25), this development significantly impacts on the Palestinian problem and also alters the scope and dimensions of Middle East politics as a whole. Hamas remains committed to the destruction of Israel, and is considered a terrorist group by Israel, the US and the European Union. The implications for the tepid peace process with Israel are bound to be serious. An existential dilemma forthwith arises for the "international community": can it any longer remain myopic and exclude Hamas from the the Middle East's political landscape? But, more importantly, along with the significant showing by the Muslim Brotherhood in last month's elections in Egypt and the incremental "Islamization" of Iraq that is unmistakably under way (and that will get a fillip from the Iraqi elections), Hamas' emergence at the forefront of Palestinian politics signifies a huge eruption of popular disenchantment with the prevailing governance systems. Simply put, Islamism has placed itself in the vanguard of the Middle East's democratization - like "liberation theology" did at one time in Latin America. There was a great deal of political symbolism in the fact that Hamas' chief, Khaled Meshaal, happened to be visiting Tehran as the results of the Palestinian elections became known. (Interestingly, Rafsanjani was among those in the top echelons of the Iranian leadership who received Meshaal.) The Hamas leader seized the opportunity to hold a press conference, during which he said: "If Israel attacks Iran, then Hamas will widen and step up its confrontation of Israelis inside Palestine ... Hamas and other Islamic groups will stand by Iran's side. We are defenders of Iran's obvious right [to have a nuclear program] ... Iran is our source of pride." Britain has done well by scheduling exploratory talks between the EU-3 (Britain, France and Germany) and Iran at the official level on Wednesday. The political geography of the Middle East is transforming so rapidly that the protagonists cannot but factor in an entirely new matrix of regional security and stability. The time for indulging in sophistries and vacuous rhetoric over Iran's nuclear issue is running out. The challenge facing the EU-3 lies in breaking the dea dlock by advancing its offer to Iran made in August under the terms of the Paris Agreement. As the former International Atomic Energy Agency head (1981-1997) and UN chief weapons inspector in Iraq, Hans Blix, said last week, "I am not convinced that the EU has offered sufficiently interesting things to the Iranians ... when you compare these things that have been offered to Iran with what has been offered to North Korea, I am not sure that one is at the negotiations' end." Blix was caustic that up to now, the EU-3 remained "constrained by the backseat driver whom they have in the car, the Americans". M K Bhadrakumar served as a career diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service for over 29 years, with postings including India's ambassador to Uzbekistan (1995-1998) and to Turkey (1998-2001).

Defiant Israel Kills Three Palestinians

Webmaster — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 02:35:48 +0000

Israeli occupation soldiers killed three Palestinians Thursday, December 22, in the West Bank city of Nablus, in a new Israeli escalation against the Palestinian people, hours after a Pope representative blamed Israel and the United States of throwing obstacles on the road of peace. The three Palestinians were killed during an Israeli raid on a house in central Nablus, Reuters reported. The killing came when Israeli forces surrounded the house, claiming that several "wanted" Palestinian activists were hiding inside. Local Palestinian sources said one of the victims was Bashar Khanania, a local military commander of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), according to the BBC News Online. Israeli army has stepped up offensives in the Palestinian cities since a Palestinian attack on December 5, which left five Israelis killed. On Wednesday, Israeli occupation forces killed a Hamas local leader in the West Bank city of Jenin. The killings brought the overall death toll since the September 2000 start of Al-Aqsa Intifada to 4,917, mostly Palestinians. The incessant Israeli aggressions have dimmed hopes for peacemaking that was kindled by Israel's withdrawal of troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in September after 38 years of occupation. Big Prison "Bethlehem is a big prison which is surrounded by walls," Sabbah said. (AP) Thursday's deaths came only one day after a representative of Pope Benedict XVI blamed incessant Israeli aggressions for causing chaos in the Palestinian territories. Latin Patriarch for the Holy Land, Michel Sabbah, said that Israel's military actions were making it harder for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to establish order, Reuters said. "What makes things difficult for (Abbas) is the continuation of Israeli violence," told reporters at a briefing held ahead of Christmas celebrations. Sabbah also reiterated criticism of the barrier Israel is building in the occupied West Bank on claims of keeping out Palestinian attackers. The barrier now separates occupied Al-Quds (East Jerusalem) from Bethlehem, the town where Christians believe Jesus was born. "Bethlehem is a big prison which is surrounded by walls. While people enter through a beautiful gate, it is still a big prison and not a normal way of living," Sabbah said. "They cannot have a normal economic life, which affects the social life, and people are getting more nervous." The Israeli army has claimed it is easing restrictions at Christmas for pilgrims and local Christians and that some 200,000 pilgrims were expected, up from 100,000 last year. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nation's highest legal body, has ruled that the 700-kilometer (435-mile) barrier violated international law. Israel, which vowed to ignore the verdict, claims the barrier is essential for security reasons. Palestinians maintain that the wall is nothing but an Israeli attempt to pre-empt the borders of their future state. More than 200,000 Palestinians are already suffering the humanitarian consequences of the wall, according to the United Nations.

A Muslim Christmas

Webmaster — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 00:33:27 +0000

http://www.islamonline.net/English/introducingislam/Worship/Heart/article15.shtml Are you a new Muslim trying to survive Christmas? Are you feeling lonely, cooping yourself up in your room on Christmas Eve? Ignoring all the carols being sung outside your door? Or maybe you

Sydney's Map Of Racism Revealed

Webmaster — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 03:57:32 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/revealed-citys-map-of-racism/2005/12/25/1135445486548.html Residents of Mosman and Woollahra have joined those in the Sutherland Shire as among the Sydney people least tolerant of cultural diversity and multicultural values, a map of the city's racial attitudes reveals. Two weeks after the Cronulla race riots, tens of thousands of people returned to Sydney's beaches for Christmas Day, while church leaders called on Australians to be tolerant and to take responsibility for the violence in the beach suburbs. Now researchers have produced a map - based on a survey of 1800 Sydney residents - that they hope can be used in programs to counter racism. The survey is part of work by Associate Professor Jim Forrest, of Macquarie University; Kevin Dunn, of the University of NSW; and others, from which Professor Forrest has produced the map. Professor Forrest said the least accepting groups were in outer suburbs where populations are mostly solidly Anglo. But the least tolerant also include culturally diverse places such as Liverpool and "old" wealth areas such as Mosman and Woollahra. Waverley, which adjoins Woollahra but is more culturally diverse, is among the most tolerant. Among the most tolerant are people living in the local government areas Sydney, South Sydney, Leichhardt, Auburn and Pittwater. Professor Forrest said wealthy, better-educated areas of northern Sydney were quite tolerant and inner-city areas highly tolerant. Less tolerant areas include outer locations such as Gosford and Campbelltown, but also culturally mixed areas such as Bankstown and Ryde. Bankstown has a substantial Muslim population, while Ryde has many Chinese and Koreans. Culturally diverse areas such as Parramatta, Marrickville and Penrith, and the suburbs Hurstville, Randwick and Botany, are tolerant. At St Mary's Cathedral yesterday, Sydney's Catholic Archbishop, George Pell, confronted the race riots. At a Christmas Mass where there was standing room only, he noted the high number of visitors to the cathedral in the lead-up to Christmas. "I wonder if it was a reaction to the Cronulla riots

Australian Islamic Clerics Face Tougher Regulation

Webmaster — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 16:19:20 +0000

http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2005-12/28/article05.shtml Islamic imams and preachers in Australia will have to register their credentials and adhere to a strict code of conduct under proposals put forward by a government-backed group of moderate Muslims to curb "extremists". The Muslim Advisory Council, created by Australian Prime Minister John Howard in the wake of July's London bombings, said a registration system would allow Muslims and the wider community to distinguish between responsible imams and "mavericks" on the fringes of society. "Unlike Christianity, we don't have a hierarchy of Muslim clerics in Australia. Anyone can get up in the mosque and say they are an imam and give a sermon," council chairman Ameer Ali told Agence France-Presse (AFP). "Then if they say something irresponsible or rash, it gets picked up in the media and the whole community is tarnished and we all get portrayed as extremists or terrorists or whatnot. "The number of mavericks is tiny but they have created an image problem for the Muslim community in Australia." Ali told The Australian newspaper that followers of "radical imams" would be "told these whom they are following are not telling the right interpretation of Islam, and that's not what Islam is all about". He warned that imams who failed to comply with the guidelines, which will be thrashed out at a national meeting of Muslim leaders next month, would be publicly identified. "If the majority of the imams and the leaders are moderates and have to turn to set guidelines, then those who want to stay in the periphery will be identified," said Dr. Ali. Self-governing Ali, who is also president of the Federation of Islamic Councils, said under the proposal, Muslim scholars and religious leaders would form a self-governing body to register imams and administer a voluntary code of conduct. "No one has the power to enforce any of this, it would have to be voluntary," he said. "But if clerics refuse to cooperate then the Muslim community and the wider community will know that they are extremists who do not represent mainstream Muslim beliefs." Ali added the council could offer imams guidance on what was acceptable in Australia's multicultural society and help foreign-born clerics who struggle with the English language. He said this month's racial attacks on youths of Lebanese origin in the Sydney beachside suburb of Cronulla showed the pressure being felt by the country's 300,000 Muslims, despite around half of the Lebanese community in Australia being Christian. The Muslim community has also complained of being singled out by recent anti-terrorism laws. Security forces arrested 18 Muslims in a series of raids in Sydney and Melbourne last month for allegedly plotting a major bombing in the country's largest city. Howard convened the Muslim Advisory Council in August after the London bombings that killed more than 50 people, saying he was concerned at the prospect of Australia producing similar "home-grown" extremists. Action The guidelines are in response to suggestions by the community and imams as well, according to Soliman. Howard has previously criticized Muslim leaders for not doing enough to isolate radical preachers but council member Yasser Soliman said the community was taking action. "The guidelines are in response to suggestions by the community and clerics as well, that there are people who are pointing themselves as clerics when they are really just backyard clerics, and unqualified," Soliman told ABC radio this week. Ali said it was particularly important to reach Muslim youths, many of whom felt alienated from both their own community and the wider Australian society, making them more susceptible to extremism. "We've got to get out there and say 'this is not what Islam is about, we're a religion of peace'," Ali said. "We need to bring the youth into the main fold and teach them the proper ways so they will not resort to hooliganism." He said the council planned to hold a conference next year on ways to promote the moderate message. Thousands of Australians in Sydney and Newcastle rallied Sunday, December 18, against racism after a week of violence against Arabs and Muslims. Social experts have concluded that the Australian government policies of alienation and ignorance of ethnic minorities and Prime Minister John Howard's draconian anti-terror legislations are to blame for the country's racial violence. Though Australia is a nation built on immigrants, there has been an underlying ignorance among ethnic minorities, especially between white and Arab groups. Riots began in Australia when more than 5,000 people gathered at Sydney's Cronulla beach on December 11, after e-mail and mobile phone messages called on local residents to beat-up "Lebs and wogs" -- racial slurs for people of Lebanese and Middle Eastern origin. Howard's draconian anti-terror legislations have also been blamed for the country's racial violence.

2006: Iran In The Crosshairs

Webmaster — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 14:44:01 +0000

http://www.counterpunch.org/petras12242005.html

Never has an imminent war been so loudly and publicly advertised as Israel's forthcoming military attack against Iran. When the Israeli Military Chief of Staff, Daniel Halutz, was asked how far Israel was ready to go to stop Iran's nuclear energy program, he said "Two thousand kilometers" the distance of an air assault. More specifically Israeli military sources reveal that Israel's current and probably next Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered Israel's armed forces to prepare for air strikes on uranium enrichment sites in Iran According to the London Times the order to prepare for attack went through the Israeli defense ministry to the Chief of Staff. During the first week in December, "sources inside the special forces command confirmed that 'G' readiness the highest state for an operation was announced" (Times, December 11, 2005). On December 9, Israeli Minister of Defense, Shaul Mofaz, affirmed that in view of Teheran's nuclear plans, Tel Aviv should "not count on diplomatic negotiations but prepare other solutions". In early December, Ahron Zoevi Farkash, the Israeli military intelligence chief told the Israeli parliament (Knesset) that "if by the end of March, the international community is unable to refer the Iranian issue to the United Nations Security Council, then we can say that the international effort has run its course". In other words, if international diplomatic negotiations fail to comply with Israel's timetable, Israel will unilaterally, militarily attack Iran. Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Likud Party and candidate for Prime Minister, stated that if Sharon did not act against Iran, "then when I form the new Israeli government (after the March 2006 elections) we'll do what we did in the past against Saddam's reactor." In June 1981 Israel bombed the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq. Even the pro-Labor newspaper, Haaretz, while disagreeing with the time and place of Netanyahu's pronouncements, agreed with its substance. Haaretz criticized "(those who) publicly recommend an Israeli military option" because it "presents Israel as pushing (via powerful pro-Israel organizations in the US) the United States into a major war." However, Haaretz adds "Israel must go about making its preparations quietly and securely not at election rallies." (Haaretz, December 6, 2005). Haaretz's position, like that of the Labor Party, is that Israel not advocate war against Iran before multi-lateral negotiations are over and the International Atomic Energy Agency makes a decision. Israeli public opinion apparently does not share the political elite's plans for a military strike against Iran's nuclear program. A survey in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, reported by Reuters (December 16, 2005) shows that 58 per cent of the Israelis polled believed the dispute over Iran's nuclear program should be handled diplomatically while only 36 per cent said its reactors should be destroyed in a military strike. All top Israeli officials have pronounced the end of March, 2006, as the deadline for launching a military assault on Iran. The thinking behind this date is to heighten the pressure on the US to force the sanctions issue in the Security Council. The tactic is to blackmail Washington with the "war or else" threat, into pressuring Europe (namely Great Britain, France, Germany and Russia) into approving sanctions. Israel knows that its acts of war will endanger thousands of American soldiers in Iraq, and it knows that Washington (and Europe) cannot afford a third war at this time. The end of March date also coincides with the IAEA report to the UN on Iran's nuclear energy program. Israeli policymakers believe that their threats may influence the report, or at least force the kind of ambiguities, which can be exploited by its overseas supporters to promote Security Council sanctions or justify Israeli military action. A March date also focusses the political activities of the pro-Israel organizations in the United States. The major pro-Israel lobbies have lined up a majority in the US Congress and Senate to push for the UN Security Council to implement economic sanctions against Iran or, failing that, endorse Israeli "defensive" action. On the side of the Israeli war policy are practically all the major and most influential Jewish organizations, the pro-Israeli lobbies, their political action committees, a sector of the White House, a majority of subsidized Congressional representatives and state, local and party leaders. On the other side are sectors of the Pentagon, State Department, a minority of Congressional members, a majority of public opinion, a minority of American Jews and the majority of active and retired military commanders who have served or are serving in Iraq. Most discussion in the US on Israel's war agenda has been dominated by the pro-Israeli organizations that transmit the Israeli state positions. The Jewish weekly newspaper, Forward, has reported a number of Israeli attacks on the Bush Administration for not acting more aggressively on behalf of Israel's policy. According to the Forward, "Jerusalem is increasingly concerned that the Bush Administration is not doing enough to block Teheran from acquiring nuclear weapons" (December 9, 2005). Further stark differences occurred during the semi-annual strategic dialog between Israeli and US security officials, in which the Israelis opposed a US push for regime change in Syria, fearing a possible, more radical Islamic regime. Israeli officials also criticized the US for forcing Israel to agree to open the Rafah border crossing and upsetting their stranglehold on the economy in Gaza. Predictably the biggest Jewish organization in the US, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations immediately echoed the Israeli state line. Malcolm Hoenlan, President of the Conference, lambasted Washington for a "failure of leadership on Iran" and "contracting the issue to Europe" (Forward, December 9, 2005). He went on to attack the Bush Administration for not following Israel's demands by delaying referral of Iran to the UN Security Council for sanction. Hoenlan then turned on French, German and British negotiators accusing them of "appeasement and weakness", and of not having a "game plan for decisive action" presumably for not following Israel's 'sanction or bomb them' game plan. The role of AIPAC, the Conference and other pro-Israeli organizations as transmission belts for Israel's war plans was evident in their November 28, 2005 condemnation of the Bush Administration agreement to give Russia a chance to negotiate a plan under which Iran would be allowed to enrich uranium for non-military purposes under international supervision. AIPAC's rejection of negotiations and demands for an immediate confrontation were based on the specious argument that it would "facilitate Iran's quest for nuclear weapons" an argument which flies in the face of all known intelligence data (including Israel's) which says Iran is at least 3 to 10 years away from even approaching nuclear weaponry. AIPAC's unconditional and uncritical transmission of Israeli demands and criticism is usually clothed in the rhetoric of US interests or security in order to manipulate US policy. AIPAC chastised the Bush regime for endangering US security. By relying on negotiations, AIPAC accused the Bush Administration of "giving Iran yet another chance to manipulate (sic) the international community" and "pose a severe danger to the United States" (Forward, Dec. 9, 2005). Leading US spokesmen for Israel opposed President Bush's instruction to his Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khaklilzad, to open a dialog with Iran's Ambassador to Iraq. In addition, Israel's official "restrained" reaction to Russia's sale to Teheran of more than a billion dollars worth of defensive anti-aircraft missiles, which might protect Iran from an Israeli air strike, was predictably echoed by the major Jewish organizations in the US. Pushing the US into a confrontation with Iran, via economic sanctions and military attack has been a top priority for Israel and its supporters in the US for more than a decade (Jewish Times/ Jewish Telegraph Agency, Dec. 6, 2005). In line with its policy of forcing a US confrontation with Iran, AIPAC, the Israeli PACs (political action committees) and the Conference of Presidents have successfully lined up a majority of Congress people to challenge what they describe as the "appeasement" of Iran. Representative Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida), who has the dubious distinction of being a collaborator with Cuban exile terrorist groups and unconditional backer of Israel's war policy, is chairwoman of the US House of Representative Middle East subcommittee. From that platform she has denounced "European appeasement and arming the terrorist regime in Teheran". She boasted that her Iran sanctions bill has the support of 75 per cent of the members of Congress and that she is lining up additional so-sponsors. Despite pro-Israeli attacks on US policy for its 'weakness' on Iran, Washington has moved as aggressively as circumstances permit. Facing European opposition to an immediate confrontation (as AIPAC and Israeli politicians demand) Washington supports European negotiations but imposes extremely limiting conditions, namely a rejection of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which allows uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes. The European "compromise" of forcing Iran to turn over the enrichment process to a foreign country (Russia), is not only a violation of its sovereignty, but is a policy that no other country using nuclear energy practices. Given this transparently unacceptable "mandate", it is clear that Washington's 'support for negotiations' is a device to provoke an Iranian rejection, and a means of securing Europe's support for a Security Council referral for international sanctions. Despite the near unanimous support and widespread influence of the major Jewish organizations, 20 per cent of American Jews do not support Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians. Even more significantly, 61 per cent of Jews almost never talk about Israel or defend Israel in conversation with non-Jews (Jerusalem Post, Dec 1, 2005). Only 29 per cent of Jews are active promoters of Israel. The Israel First crowd represents less than a third of the Jewish community. In fact, there is more opposition to Israel among Jews than there is in the US Congress. Having said that, however, most Jewish critics of Israel are not influential in the big Jewish organizations and the Israel lobby, excluded from the mass media and mostly intimidated from speaking out, especially on Israel's war preparations against Iran.The Myth of the Iranian Nuclear Threat The Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Daniel Halutz, has categorically denied that Iran represents an immediate nuclear threat to Israel, let along the United States. According to Haaretz (12/14/05), Halutz stated that it would take Iran time to be able to produce a nuclear bomb which he estimated might happen between 2008 and 2015. Israel's Labor Party officials do not believe that Iran represents an immediate nuclear threat and that the Sharon government and the Likud war propaganda is an electoral ploy. According to Haaretz, "Labor Party officialsaccused Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and other defense officials of using the Iran issue in their election campaigns in an effort to divert public debate from social issues". In a message directed at the Israeli Right but equally applicable to AIPAC and the Presidents of the Major Jewish Organizations in the US, Labor member of the Knesset, Benjamin Ben-Eliezer rejected electoral warmongering: "I hope the upcoming elections won't motivate the prime minister and defense minister to stray from government policy and place Israel on the frontlines of confrontation with Iran. The nuclear issue is an international issue and there is no reason for Israel to play a major role in it" (Haaretz, December 14, 2005). Israeli intelligence has determined that Iran has neither the enriched uranium nor the capability to produce an atomic weapon now or in the immediate future, in contrast to the hysterical claims publicized by the US pro-Israel lobbies. Mohammed El Baradei, head of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has inspected Iran for several years, has pointed out that the IAEA has found no proof that Iran is trying to construct nuclear weapons. He criticized Israeli and US war plans indirectly by warning that a "military solution would be completely un-productive". More recently, Iran, in a clear move to clarify the issue of the future use of enriched uranium, "opened the door for US help in building a nuclear power plant". Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hamid Reza Asefi, stated "America can take part in the international bidding for the construction of Iran's nuclear power plant if they observe the basic standards and quality" (USA Today, Dec. 11, 2005). Iran also plans to build several other nuclear power plants with foreign help. This Iranian call for foreign assistance is hardly the strategy of a country trying to conduct a covert atomic bomb program, especially one directed at involving one of its principal accusers. The Iranians are at an elementary stage in the processing of uranium, not even reaching the point of uranium enrichment, which in turn will take still a number of years, and overcoming many complex technical problems before it can build a bomb. There is no factual basis for arguing that Iran represents a nuclear threat to Israel or to the US forces in the Middle East. Scores of countries with nuclear reactors by necessity use enriched uranium. The Iranian decision to advance to processing enriched uranium is its sovereign right as it is for all countries, which possess nuclear reactors in Europe, Asia and North America. Israel and AIPAC's resort to the vague formulation of Iran's potential nuclear capacity is so open-ended that it could apply to scores of countries with a minimum scientific infrastructure. The European Quartet has raised a bogus issue by evading the issue of whether or not Iran has atomic weapons or is manufacturing them and focused on attacking Iran's capacity to produce nuclear energy namely the production of enriched uranium. The Quartet has conflated enriched uranium with a nuclear threat and nuclear potential with the danger of an imminent nuclear attack on Western countries, troops and Israel. The Europeans, especially Great Britain, have two options in mind: To impose an Iranian acceptance of limits on its sovereignty, more specifically on its energy policy; or to force Iran to reject the arbitrary addendum to the Non-Proliferation Agreement and then to propagandize the rejection as an indication of Iran's evil intention to create atomic bombs and target pro-Western countries. The Western media would echo the US and European governments position that Iran was responsible for the breakdown of negotiations. The Europeans would then convince their public that since "reason" failed, the only recourse it to follow the US to take the issue to the Security Council and approve international sanctions against Iran. The US then would attempt to pressure Russia and China to vote in favor of sanctions or to abstain. There is reason to doubt that either or both countries would agree, given the importance of the multi-billion dollar oil, arms, nuclear and trade deals between Iran and these two countries. Having tried and failed in the Security Council, the US and Israel would, on the scenario of the War Party, move toward a military attack. An air attack on suspected Iranian nuclear facilities would entail the bombing of heavily populated as well as remote regions leading to large-scale loss of life. The principal result will be a huge escalation of war throughout the Middle East. Iran, a country of 70 million, with several times the military forces that Iraq possessed and with highly motivated and committed military and paramilitary forces could be expected to cross into Iraq. Iraqi Shiites sympathetic to or allied with Iran would most likely break their ties with Washington and go into combat. US military bases, troops and clients would be under fierce attack. US military casualties would multiply. All troop withdrawal plans would be disrupted. The 'Iraqization' strategy would disintegrate. Most likely new terrorist incidents would occur in Western Europe, North America, and Australia and against US multinationals Sanctions on Iran would not work, because oil is a scarce and essential commodity. China, India and other fast-growing Asian countries would balk at a boycott. Turkey and other Muslim countries would not cooperate. The sanction policy would be destined to failure; its only result to raise the price of oil even higher.Here in the United States there are few if any influential organized lobbies challenging the pro-war Israel lobby either from the perspective of working for coexistence in the Middle East or even in defending US national interests when they diverge from Israel. Although numerous former diplomats, generals, intelligence officials, Reformed Jews, retired National Security advisers and State Department professionals have publicly denounced the Iran war agenda and even criticized the Israel First lobbies, their newspaper ads and media interviews have not been backed by any national political organization that can compete for influence in the White House and Congress. As we draw closer to a major confrontation with Iran and Israeli officials set short-term deadlines for igniting a Middle East conflagration, it seems that we are doomed to learn from future catastrophic losses that Americans must organize to defeat political lobbies based on overseas allegiances.

Pilgrims Pour Into Mecca For Hajj

Webmaster — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 07:30:58 +0000

http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2006-01/03/article03.shtml Pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia by sea Some 1.3 million Muslims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj as the government completed all preparations for hajj, which is due to kick off for five days as of Sunday, January 8. According to Saudi Arabia's Passport Department Director General Maj. Gen. Salem Al-Belaihed, 1,269,209 pilgrims came from abroad by Sunday night, Saudi English-language daily Arab News reported Tuesday, January 3. Around 1.5 million foreign pilgrims are expected to arrive in the holy city of Makkah from all over the world when the five-day ritual begins, Reuters reported. Around a million Saudi-based pilgrims were licensed to take part in the hajj. Up to 300,000 more are expected to slip into Makkah without permits, taking the number of total pilgrims to over 2.5 million.

Sharon in Critical Condition After Massive Stroke

Webmaster — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 13:22:57 +0000

Sharon in Critical Condition After Massive Stroke Sharon has undergone several hours of surgery after alife-threatening stroke (Reuters) OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, January 5, 2006 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies)

Mecca Building Collapses, 23 Reportedly Killed

Webmaster — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 13:28:18 +0000

http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2006-01/05/article04.shtml Around 2.5 million Muslims are expected to perform hajj this year. A four-storey building collapsed on Thursday, December 5, in the Muslim holy city of Makkah, reportedly killing at least twenty three pilgrims and wounding dozens others. "For the moment, I counted 23 bodies. The wounded are more than 80," witness Abderrahmane Ghoul, who heads an Islamic organization in southeastern France, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). "I was present. It started with a fire in the building. A helicopter started to sprinkle water to put out the fire. Afterwards, the building collapsed," he said. Ghoul the death toll would have been much higher if the tragedy had not struck during one of the five daily prayers observed by Muslims. The pilgrims' hostel lay just 50 meters (yards) from Al-Masjid Al-Haram, Islam's holiest shrine. More than 1.2 million Muslims from around the world have already arrived in Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj, which climaxes this year on January 9 when the pilgrims descend the Mount `Arafat. They will be joined by around a million Saudi-based pilgrims. Hajj consists of several ceremonies, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family. Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can financially afford the trip must perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, once in their lifetime. Nothing Official No official statement has been issued on the incident and the state-run Saudi Press Agency has not even reported the news. "We don't know for sure how many were killed, if any, or if there were pilgrims in the building or not," Interior Minister spokesman Mansour al-Turki told Reuters from Riyadh. Saudi civil defense officials said an unknown number of people were injured and were now in hospital. The United Arab Emirates state news agency WAM said four of its citizens had been killed as they passed in front of the building. Some Makkah residents said about 30 people were staying in the old building. Saudi authorities had deployed some 60,000 security personnel to try to prevent any repetitions of the deadly stampedes and structural failures that have marred previous pilgrimages. In 2003, 14 pilgrims, including six women, were killed during the first day of the symbolical stoning of the devil, 35 in 2001 and 118 in 1998. The worst toll was in July 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims were trampled or asphyxiated to death in a stampede in a tunnel in Mina. Also read: Hajj (a special page)

Christian Leader Links Sharon Stroke To God's Wrath

Webmaster — Fri, 06 Jan 2006 01:35:57 +0000

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060105/ap_on_re_us/robertson_sharon Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for "dividing God's land." "God considers this land to be his," Robertson said on his TV program "The 700 Club." "You read the Bible and he says `This is my land,' and for any prime minister of Israel who decides he is going to carve it up and give it away, God says, `No, this is mine.'" Sharon, who ordered Israel's withdrawal from Gaza last year, suffered a severe stroke on Wednesday. In Robertson's broadcast from his Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach, the evangelist said he had personally prayed about a year ago with Sharon, whom he called "a very tender-hearted man and a good friend." He said he was sad to see Sharon in this condition. He also said, however, that in the Bible, the prophet Joel "makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who 'divide my land.'" Sharon "was dividing God's land and I would say woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the EU (European Union), the United Nations, or the United States of America," Robertson said. In discussing what he said was God's insistence that Israel not be divided, Robertson also referred to the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who had sought to achieve peace by giving land to the Palestinians. "It was a terrible thing that happened, but nevertheless he was dead," he said. The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement urging Christian leaders to distance themselves from the remarks. Robertson made similar comments as the Gaza withdrawal occurred, it said. "It is outrageous and shocking, but not surprising, that Pat Robertson once again has suggested that God will punish Israel's leaders for any decision to give up land to the Palestinians," said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the group, which fights anti-Semitism. "His remarks are un-Christian and a perversion of religion. Unlike Robertson, we don't see God as cruel and vengeful." The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said a religious leader "should not be making callous political points while a man is struggling for his life." "Pat Robertson has a political agenda for the entire world, and he seems to think God is ready to take out any world leader who stands in the way of that agenda," Lynn said in a statement. Robertson spokeswoman Angell Watts said of critics who challenged his remarks, "What they're basically saying is, `How dare Pat Robertson quote the Bible?'" "This is what the word of God says," Watts said. "This is nothing new to the Christian community." In August, Robertson suggested on "The 700 Club" that American agents should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has long been at odds with U.S. foreign policy. Robertson later apologized for his remarks, saying he "spoke in frustration."

Hajj - The Spiritual Climax

Webmaster — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 05:40:27 +0000

http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0501-2583 Al-Hajj (Pilgrimage to the House of God and Mecca). Belief in the Oneness of God is the most fundamental principle of Islam; Prayer regulates the believer's relationship with God; Zakah controls his relations with society; fasting exercises and strengthens his will: the Hajj offers Muslims, as one nation, the opportunity to exercise the high principles, values and objectives upon which Islam bases the shaping of the individual and the nation. It is the climax of the individual's spiritual life and an embodiment of the unity of the nation which is based on a brotherhood in the faith that towers above narrow considerations or race, nationality, color or tongue. In this light we can see the following functions of the hajj which complement the functions of the other pillars of Islam: (a) A psychological and spiritual function: The hajj is an exercise of the will of the believer at its height, where he rises above day-to-day preoccupations and casts off what men ordinarily cherish. Thus we can understand the deep symbolic meaning of the clothes he wears during ihram (the state of consecration). They symbolize his inner state which makes him leave behind his family, home, wealth, position and everything dear to him. With his free choice he leaves the good things that were lawful to him and enters a spiritual haram (sanctuary) which he sets up within himself before he enters with his body into the haram in Mecca. The stations at which pilgrims must stop to enter the state of ihram serve to remind them of the inner renunciation of worldly preoccupations so that their pilgrimage may produce its desired effect. Pilgrims gather in thetent city of Mina (b) A moral, behavioral function: The stations of the hajj are entrances through which pilgrims pass coming from every distant quarter, repairing to the sacred House, whither the message of Truth was imparted to Muhammad . In this blessed land the Muslims meet to live a spiritual life on a special level, enacting a rite that exposes the exalted value of Islam and where equality, brother-hood and unity among the faithful is embodied, where response to the call of God comes before that to any other call: "And proclaim among men the pilgrimage: they shall come to you on foot and upon every lean beast; they shall come from every deep ravine." (Quran 22:27) The hajj is an unique gathering that gives the pilgrims an experience unavailable to them at home in their usual life. In hajj there is an exercise of strict self-discipline and control where sacred things are revered and the life of even plants and birds is made inviolable and everything lives in safety: "And he that venerates the sacred things of God, it shall be better for him with his Lord ..." (Quran 22:30); "And he that venerates the Symbols of God, it surely is from devotion of the heart" (Quran 22:32); "And when We made the House (at Mecca) a resort for men and a sanctuary..." (Quran 2:125) (c) The hajj is a rigorous training in self-control: "The pilgrimage is in the well-known months. He that undertakes the duty of the pilgrimage during them must abstain from coition, ungodliness and acrimonious dispute, and whatever good you do, Allah is aware of it. Take provision (from it) for yourselves, for the best provision is piety." (Quran 2:197) "Take provision" indicates that the effects of this experience should extend to the conduct of the Muslim in his normal life afterwards, and that he should live and conduct himself by the values that manifest piety, "the best provision". The day atonement: Pilgrims praying at mount Arafat(d) A social function: this has many aspects and dimensions in the life of Muslims as a nation. The Quran points to this function in the hajj verse cited above: "And proclaim among men the pilgrimage: they shall come from every deep ravine; they shall come to witness things of benefit to them and mention the Name of Allah." "To witness things of benefit to them" is a general expression that covers benefits to individuals and groups in the religious and worldly spheres. The fact that it is placed in the verse before mentioning God's Name (which is the foremost objective in the devotional act of hajj) is intended (I think, but God knows best) to dispel any thought that acquiring benefit from trade, for instance, necessarily contradicts the spirit of the hajj. What we deduce from this verse was explicitly stated elsewhere in the Quran: "It is no sin for you to seek the bounty of your Lord..." (Quran 2:198). The expression, "seeking His bounty" covers, in other usages, benefits from trading, as in "...and others travel in the land in search of the bounty of Allah..." (Quran 73:20). The only condition is that such worldly benefits remain a secondary objective and not a diversion of the spiritual meaning of the hajj. The desired balance is maintained in the verse by using the concessionary expression, "It is no sin for you..." In all events, the "benefits" the pilgrims could derive from the experience of the hajj, for themselves, their countries, and the Muslim nation as a whole could, with good planning and guarantees for effectiveness and continuity, bring about enormous changes in the life of Muslims of which they are in dire need. The benefits are numerous, perennial and capable of increase from age to age and of taking various forms to suit different individuals, groups or countries. We understand this in the Arabic expression from the use of the indefinite plural in the word, "benefits". Within the limited scope of this paper I will give one example of the benefits Muslims could derive from the hajj, properly understood. Pilgrims spend a homeless night in the plane of MuzdalaifahThe hajj gives an opportunity to all Muslims from all groups, classes, organizations, systems and governments from all over the Muslim world to meet annually in a great congress. The time and venue of this congress has been set by their One God. Invitation to attend is open to every Muslim. No-one has the power to bar anyone. Any such attempt would amount to the crime of debarring Muslims from the House of God which He has made "a resort for men and a sanctuary". Every Muslim who attends is guaranteed full safety and freedom as long as he himself does not violate its safety: "Whoever enters it is safe." (Quran 3:97). Such a congress is a miniature of the Muslim nation and offers an unique opportunity for discussion of all Muslims' problems and issues whether related to the system of government, economics, culture, education, military and defense matters, industry, trade or commerce and the condition of Muslims in every part of the Muslim world. Such discussion could take place on the level of the layman, or at specialist level, in the hajj atmosphere of detachment, inspired by the sense of unity instead of self-seeking individualism, and enriched by a multiplicity of ideas and experience. It could also take place on the level of Muslim decision-makers and rulers whom the hajj calls from the towers of authority to mingle together and with ordinary Muslims in complete equality before their One Lord. What a tremendous assembly that should be, and what great "benefits" the Muslim could derive from it! In the footsteps of Prophet Abraham, pilgrims throwing stones at the pillar of temptation to reaffirm their commitment to repel all that is evil.We do not, in fact, go too far when we ask for the unity of the Muslims to be the first issue to which all efforts should be directed during the hajj season: the efforts of rulers, politicians, economists, thinkers, jurists and all efforts of the media. Let the unity of the Muslim ummah and work for it be "the provisions" Muslims take from the hajj when they make for the House of God from every corner in their lands, and let this unity be their starting and finishing point when they seek the "benefits" to which God has invited them on the hajj. If this happens (and we pray to God to open the Muslims' hearts, eyes and ears to it) it would restore to the hajj its foremost function, and realize the message of this devotional act which, alas, appears nowadays to be devoid of it: yet "God prevails in His purpose, but most men do not know it." (Quran 12:21) Excerpt from "Islam and the Pillars of Faith" published in Islam and Contemporary Society.

Mecca Stampede: Hundreds Killed

Webmaster — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 23:40:18 +0000

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/mecca-stampede-hundreds-killed/2006/01/13/1136956310498.html Thousands of Muslim pilgrims rushing to complete a symbolic stoning ritual during the hajj tripped over luggage, causing a crush in which at least 345 people were killed, the Saudi Interior Ministry said.The stampede occurred as tens of thousands of pilgrims headed toward al-Jamarat, a series of three pillars representing the devil that the faithful pelt with stones to purge themselves of sin.Dr Abbasi, a Red Crescent doctor at the scene, said up to 1,000 were injured. An Australian woman is understood to have received minor injuries in the stampede but has beendischarged from hospital, says theDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Footage from the scene showed lines of bodies laid out on stretchers on the pavement and covered with sheets.An Egyptian pilgrim, Suad Abu Hamada, heard screaming and "saw people jumping over each other."The bodies were piled up. I couldn't count them, they were too many," she said.The site is a notorious bottleneck for the massive crowds that attend the annual hajj pilgrimage and has seen deadly stampedes in the past, including one in 1990 that killed 1,426 people and another in February 2004 that killed 244.The latest crush came despite Saudi attempts to ease the flow of traffic around al-Jamarat.This year's hajj was marred by the January 5 collapse of a building being used as a pilgrims' hotel that killed 76 people in Mecca.The stampede happened as pilgrims were rushing to complete the last of three days of the stoning ritual before sunset, Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Mansour al-Turki, said.Some of the pilgrims began to trip over dropped luggage, causing a large pileup, he said. Many pilgrims carry their personal effects with them as they move between the various stages of the hajj.Al-Turki said 345 people were killed. State-run Saudi television Al-Ekhbariyah reported that most of the victims were from South Asia.Mena General Hospital, a small facility several hundred metres from the site, was filled with injured, and some victims were sent to hospitals in Mecca and Riyadh, said Ismail Abdul-Zaher, a doctor at the hospital.The stampede took place despite Saudi efforts to improve traffic at the site, where all 2.5 million pilgrims participating in the annual hajj move from pillar to pillar to throw their stones, then exit.Saudi authorities replaced the small round pillars with short walls to allow more people to throw their stones without jostling for position. They also recently widened the bridge, built extra ramps and increased the time pilgrims can carry out the rite - which on the second and final days traditionally takes place from midday until sunset.The stoning ritual is one of the last events of the hajj pilgrimage to Islam's holiest sites, which able-bodied Muslims with the financial means are required by their faith to do at least once.

Why Hundreds of Ordinary West Aussies Convert to Islam

Webmaster — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 01:54:45 +0000

http://www.sundaytimes.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,7034,17822298%255E2761,00.html With defined rules for life and a strong sense of community, Islam is attracting many Perth converts. Axel Cremer used to turn heads when he'd roar up to prayer time at the Rivervale mosque on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. try{if(command.toLowerCase()=="ebinteraction")gEbStdBanners[0].handleInteraction();}catch(e){}"When I first turned up, I freaked them out," the 50-year-old reticulation company director said. "They'd see someone in black leather flying down the road, who stopped, then all of a sudden took all the leather off and walked into the mosque in Islamic clothing. Now they know me and miss me when they don't hear the bike." Mr Cremer, whose Muslim name is Mohammed, is one of hundreds of West Australians who have converted to Islam in recent years, despite the stigma surrounding the religion that has grown since the 9/11 terror attacks. Local converts say they number about 200, among about 20,000 Muslims in WA from more than 70 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and eastern Europe. Nationwide, numbers increased about 40per cent between 1996 and 2001, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, mainly because of migration. Converts say that in Islam they have found clearer answers to questions of spirituality than in Christianity, a stronger sense of community and rules to live by. "There are guidelines for everything. It shows you how to do the right thing, to be nice to people," said Mr Cremer, a former Catholic. "The Bible does this as well, but it has been translated too much, it has been tampered with too much. "And one major difference with Islam is there is no hierarchy above me, no priests, no bishops, no Vatican. "Imams (holy men) lead you in prayer. But beyond that it's just you and Allah. You're talking directly to God, that simplifies things." Mr Cremer was also attracted to rules such as Muslims donating a percentage of their annual income to the poor. The fact that Islam was a lifestyle rather than a weekend event was appealing too, because it advocated morality in all areas, including politics and work, where he believed morality was sorely needed. The southern suburbs father of four, who migrated to Australia from Germany 22 years ago, said his Indonesian wife triggered his "reversion" in Jakarta seven years ago. Muslims believe people revert, not convert, because they say everyone is born Muslim. But Mr Cremer said he became enthusiastic about Islam while researching the religion before his marriage

Countdown to War with Iran?

Webmaster — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 14:06:56 +0000

http://www.counterpunch.org/whitney01132006.html Iran will defend itself if it is attacked by the United States or Israel. Defending one's country against unprovoked aggression is sanctioned under international law and is a requirement of true leadership. We would expect no different if either the United States or Israel was attacked. The Sharon and Bush administrations' have done an admirable job of poisoning public opinion against Iran; interpreting President Ahmadinejad's comments as a potential danger to Israel's welfare. But such statements, however offensive, are commonplace in the Middle East and cannot be construed as a credible threat. In fact, Iran has not demonstrated any territorial ambitions nor is it involved in the occupation of any foreign country as is true of both the United States and Israel.Media-Hype; beating the war drums, againThe media has assumed its traditional role of fanning the flames for war by providing ample space for the spurious allegations of administration officials, right-wing pundits, and disgruntled Iranian exiles, while carefully omitting the relevant facts in Iran's defense. As always, the New York Times has spearheaded the propaganda war with an article by Richard Bernstein and Steven Weisman which lays out the sketchy case against Iran. In the first paragraph the Bernstein-Weisman combo suggest that Iran has restarted "research that could give it technology to create nuclear weapons."Nuclear weapons?Perhaps, the NY Times knows something that the IAEA inspectors don't? If so, they should step forward and reveal the facts. More likely, however, they are simply following in the tradition of mentor Judith Miller whose scurrilous front-pages articles misled the nation to war with Iraq.There is no evidence that Iran has a nuclear weapons program.None.Not even George Bush would make that claim.There's also no evidence that Iran has the centrifuges necessary to enrich uranium to weapons-grade material. These are the two issues which should be given greatest consideration in determining whether or not Iran poses a real danger to its neighbors, and yet, these are precisely the facts that are absent from the nearly 2,500 articles written on the topic in the last few days. IAEA chief Mohammed Elbaradei has repeatedly stated that his team of inspectors, who've had the opportunity to "go anywhere and see anything", has found nothing to corroborate the assertions of the US or Israel. On the other hand, we know that the U.S. has developed a new regime of low-yield "usable" nuclear weapons to destroy underground bunkers. We also know that the militarists in the Pentagon have threatened to use nuclear weapons in a "first strike" preemptive attack, and that the main players in the Defense Dept. unanimously believe that nuclear weapons should be used as part of America's strategy for global security. Iran claims that developing nuclear weapons runs counter to their religious beliefs, while the Bush administration (as per the Nuclear Posture Review) believes that nuclear weapons are an integral part of the war on terror. Rumsfeld has even shaken up the Pentagon to further surround himself with like-minded people who support this basic thesis.Perhaps, our fear of Iran is misplaced?Presently, the administration is trying to bring Iran before the UN Security Council for violations that date back more than 2 years. Since then, there have been no violations and Iran has willingly complied with strict enforcement of its treaty obligations under the NPT (Nuclear Proliferation Treaty) as well as other "confidence-building" measures which it freely accepted as a sign of good-will. In truth, Iran is entitled to enrich uranium under the terms of the NPT and has agreed to do so in a manner that is consistent with the strict rules of the IAEA. Iran will not, however, give up its "inalienable right" to convert uranium for peaceful purposes, such as making fuel for use in nuclear power plants. No other nation except Iran has been asked to forgo its rights under the NPT. The Bush administration expects the UN to annul parts of the treaty simply to accommodate its unfounded suspicions. But, why should Iran agree to be treated like an underling just to satisfy Bush? After all, Iran initially signed the NPT as a way of reducing nuclear weapons while Israel, the U.S., and other nations were busy building a new generation of nukes. Besides, the conversion process takes place in front of IAEA inspectors and cameras that are set up to film the entire procedure. The IAEA is required to report any violations to the UN Security Council for punitive action. The watchdog agency was very successful in analyzing the true state of Iraq's "alleged" nuclear program. There's no need to suspect that they won't succeed here as well. (Israel, Pakistan and India all avoided this regimen and developed nuclear weapons secretly)The Last StrawBritain's Foreign Minister Jack Straw, who played such a critical role in disseminating the lies that preceded the Iraq war, has been equally disingenuous regarding Iran. "For two and a half years, we've been working with Iran and the rest of the international community to bring Iran into compliance with its very clear obligations not to do anything that leads to suspicions they are developing a nuclear weapons capability." Straw knows, of course, that Iran has not violated its treaty obligations for over two years and has been in full compliance since then. His statement only confirms what reasonable people already know; Washington wants another war. The Bush administration knows that there's no hope of passing a Security Council resolution for sanctions against Iran. Neither Russia nor China would agree to penalties nor is there any proof of wrongdoing. The case will simply be used to increase public suspicion and fear while Israel-Washington put the final touches on their battle plans. It is worth noting, however, that Iran will be attacked without a shred of evidence that they have nuclear weapons, a nuclear weapons program, or even a long-range plan for hostilities against the US or Israel. In other words, they are completely innocent. Now that the administration has abandoned the internationally recognized benchmark of an "imminent threat", it has also disposed of any other reasonable claim to justify unprovoked aggression. Iran will be attacked without pretext and without congressional or UN authorization invoking the executive authority to prosecute the war on terror by "all necessary and appropriate means".The determination to attack Iran goes back more than a decade to now famous policy documents (PNAC) which support the idea of integrating Iranian resources into the global system while eliminating potential adversaries of Israel in the region. This first phase is intended to defang the regime and leave it vulnerable to future invasion or regime change.The forthcoming attack will probably unfold as surgical strikes by Israel on perhaps as many as 12 facilities and weapons sites. Both Israel and the US have signaled to Iran that retaliation will escalate quickly into nuclear war. In fact, the Pentagon hawks may desire such a conflict to deter future adversaries in Latin America and Asia. If Iran does respond with force, there's no telling how things will play out. The markets could nosedive, the dollar could fall precipitously, and vital oil shipments could be indefinitely disrupted. (Read the business page and see how jittery many analysts are) If the conflagration goes nuclear, then we can expect that China, Russia and Venezuela will take firm steps to demonstrate their disapproval. Oil shipments from Venezuela may be cut off while China stages a destructive sell-off of its $769 billion in foreign-exchange. Then, of course, there's the likelihood that the attacks will draw the Iraqi Shiites into an alliance with the Sunni-backed resistance making occupation of Iraq even more tenuous. Or, perhaps the Mullahs will deploy state-sponsored jihadiis across the globe targeting American energy facilities and commercial interests. In any event, there could be hefty price to pay for Washington's recklessness. Whatever the cost, the attack seems likely to be carried out sometime on or before March 2006 when Iran plans to open its new oil bourse. The new exchange which directly challenges the continued dominance of the greenback in the oil trade (the largest commodity traded in the world) poses an "existential threat" to the well-being of western financial institutions and elites. Beyond the media subterfuge of "nuclear weapons" and "non-compliance", the empire is marching resolutely to war; voluntarily risking nuclear holocaust to preserve the system of privilege and concentrated wealth.

Will We Get a Spielberg Epic on the Palestine Catastrophe?

Webmaster — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 01:39:25 +0000

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/fisk/article340020.ece Steven Spielberg

Hamas Reiterates Stand on "No Taboo" Israel Talks

Webmaster — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 02:31:45 +0000

http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2006-01/24/article02.shtml "Negotiation is not a taboo," Zahar said. The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has reiterated that it was ready to hold "indirect" talks with Israel through a third party after the parliamentary elections slated for Wednesday, January 25. "Negotiations are a means. If Israel has anything to offer on the issues of halting attacks, withdrawal, releasing prisoners ... then 1,000 means can be found," Reuters quoted senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar as telling reporters Monday, January 23. As an example, he cited contacts the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah held with Israel, via German mediators, for the release of Lebanese held in Israeli jails. "Negotiation is not a taboo," Zahar said. "But the political crime is when we sit with the Israelis and then come out with a wide smile to tell the Palestinian people that there is progress, when in fact, there is not." Zahar, however, stressed that "our entry into the political arena in no way signifies that we are renouncing our right to resistance. Palestinians vote in a parliamentary election Wednesday in which Hamas is running for the first time. The group, popular among the Palestinians for its anti-corruption stand and extensive charity work, is expected to make a strong showing. Its strong performance in polls in the lead-up to Wednesday's vote has raised the prospect of entering government. Most opinion polls show Hamas trailing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement, but the margin had narrowed to a few percentage points. The main resistance groups have, meanwhile, announced that they agreed to maintain calm and stop fighters carrying weapons during the election. The seven groups, including the armed wing of Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, said they were ready to support the entire process until the results were declared. "Unafraid" Acting Israeli PM Ehud Olmert. On the Israeli side, acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will declare in a keynote speech Tuesday, January 24, that Israel is unafraid of the prospect of Hamas taking power in this week's Palestinian election. "I am not afraid of the results of the election in the Palestinian Authority and I hope that, whatever the result, it will move Israel forward towards a settlement with the Palestinians," Israeli Maariv newspaper quoted Olmert as planning to say. The speech, to be made at a security conference north of Tel Aviv, will be Olmert's first public policy address ahead of Israel's general election in March since he became acting premier following the collapse of Ariel Sharon, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP). He intends to declare that while Israel would prefer a negotiated agreement with the Palestinians, he cannot rule out the possibility of further unilateral withdrawals from Palestinian territory. Israeli Labour party leader Amir Peretz vowed Monday to never negotiate with Hamas unless it revokes a call for Israel's destruction. "On the one hand, we will never, under any circumstances, conduct negotiations with an organization which declares its intention to destroy the State of Israel, but on the other hand, we will never agree to a political deadlock," Peretz said in a live broadcast. "Should Hamas rise to power and refuse to renounce its call for Israel's destruction, a Labour government would look for complete separation from the Palestinians." In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair told a news conference Monday it would be difficult for the West to negotiate with or talk to Hamas "unless there's a very clear renunciation of terrorism". Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Union's external relations commissioner, said in Brussels the EU would not rule out working with a Palestinian government that included Hamas, provided it sought "peace by peaceful means" with Israel. Well-placed sources told Israeli Ha'aretz newspaper Monday that the US and EU had promised Israel not to recognize any future Palestinian government that would include Hamas. Hamas has already omitted from its election manifesto its long-standing call to destroy Israel, adapting to the rules of the political game. In June of last year, an EU diplomat told AFP that the euro bloc had been in contacts with Hamas. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the meetings between Hamas and EU diplomats were held in the occupied Palestinian territories and abroad. SEE ALSO US, EU Won

Palestinians Celebrate Hamas Victory

Webmaster — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 00:17:32 +0000
http://www.islamonline.org/English/News/2006-01/26/article06.shtml Thousands of jubilant Palestinians took to the streets on Thursday, January 26, to celebrate the resistance group Hamas's stunning election victory. "Congratulations Palestine. This is the dawn of change and reform," a thrilled Umm Ramy told IslamOnlin.net. "We are tried and sick of corruption its about time we see some real change, she added. Initial election results showed that Hamas has won an absolute majority of seats in the Palestinian legislative elections, the first in a decade. The ruling government of long-dominant Fatah has resigned and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was expected to ask Hamas to form the new government. Unexpected With horns blaring, truckloads of supporters waving Hamas's traditional green flags drove through the Gaza Strip. Youths wearing green bandanas or baseball caps hung out of car windows as they careered along the streets, shouting pro-Hamas slogans and making victory signs with their fingers. "I'm walking on the moon," said Mohamed Abu Nakhla, a shop owner. "I expected Hamas to perform well in the polls, but this stunning victory never crossed my mind." Ahmed Ghandour said no words could express his happiness. "This is a victory for the Palestinian people and the Muslim nation," added Sami cheerfully. Hamas has been riding a wave of popularity among Palestinians because of its corruption-free reputation, extensive charity network and resistance against the Israeli occupation. Coalition Government Children joined the Palestinian celebrations. (Reuters) Celebrating the victory, many Palestinian were hopeful Hamas would seek a coalition government and shun Fatah's monopoly mistake. "The entire Palestinian people voted for Hamas. I hope the group would form a national unity government," Amin El-Sayyed told IOL. Hoda El-Naggar, a university student, agreed. "I pray that Hamas would not make the same mistake of Fatah and try to be the sole decision-maker." She hoped Hamas would reward the Palestinians who voted for its candidates by working with Fatah and other groups to form a coalition government. Winner Hamas said it remains ready to negotiate with Abbas and other parties on political partnership. "Hamas is not going to work alone, but with the other groups who represent the Palestinian people," chief candidate Ismail Haniya said Thursday. "We want to work with you together because the challenges facing the Palestinian people are great and the fight is still long," he said, addressing his remarks to long-dominant Fatah. Before the elections, Hamas said it does not want to govern alone, and would prefer to bring Fatah into a coalition. However, as political maneuvering gathered steam, many leading Fatah officials said Thursday their long-dominant movement would not join a Hamas-led government. "We will set as the loyal opposition in parliament," chief negotiator Saeb Erakat said. Stunned The election results left many Fatah supporters stunned. "I can't believe that Fatah has failed to secure even one seat in Gaza," said Salem Abu Kashif who voted for Fatah. Despite the shock, other Fatah supporters congratulated Hamas for its electoral victory. "I'm happy for Hamas though I did not give it my vote," said Ramez El-Halabi. "I hope the group would live up to the people's expectations." Umm Rafat, a housewife, concurred. "Yes I support Fatah but as a Palestinian I also congratulate Hamas and hope the group would do better for the Palestinian people," she said. Fatah has held a near-monopoly on power since the Palestinian Authority was created in 1994. But it has been divided by infighting in recent years, and its future is now uncertain. Pundits believe many Palestinians voted to punish Fatah for corruption and mismanagement. SEE ALSO: Hamas to Form Cabinet, Loser Fatah Not Joining Hamas Bombshell Win Rattles Israel Abbas Urges Respect of Result, West Alarmed Hamas Sweeps Polls, Wins Parliamentary Majority

French Jews, Canadian Muslims Urge Respect of Hamas Win

Webmaster — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 15:45:41 +0000
PARIS/ TORONTO - The Jewish French Union for Peace (JFPP) has criticized the ferocious campaign by the US, the EU and Israel against Hamas after the group

Muhammad (PBUH) cartoon row intensifies

Webmaster — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 20:02:57 +0000
Newspapers across Europe have reprinted caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad to show support for a Danish paper whose cartoons have sparked Muslim outrage. Seven publications in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain all carried some of the drawings. Their release in Denmark has led to protests in Arab nations, diplomatic sanctions and death threats. Islamic tradition bans depictions of the Prophet, but media watchdogs defend press freedom to publish the images. Reporters Without Borders said the reaction in the Arab world "betrays a lack of understanding" of press freedom as "an essential accomplishment of democracy." 'Spiting Muslims' France Soir and Germany's Die Welt are among the leading papers to reprint the cartoons, which first appeared in Denmark last September. The caricatures include drawings of Muhammad wearing a headdress shaped like a bomb, while another shows him saying that paradise was running short of virgins for suicide bombers. In Berlin, Die Welt argued there was a right to blaspheme in the West, and asked whether Islam was capable of coping with satire. "The protests from Muslims would be taken more seriously if they were less hypocritical," it wrote in an editorial. La Stampa in Italy, El Periodico in Spain and Dutch paper Volkskrank also carried some of the drawings, while France Soir reprinted the full set. It did so to show "religious dogma" had no place in a secular society, the paper said. European Muslims spoke out against the pictures. The president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), Dalil Boubakeur, described France Soir's move as an act of "real provocation towards the millions of Muslims living in France". In Germany, the vice-chairman of the central council of Muslims said Muslims would be deeply offended. "It was done not to defend freedom of the press, but to spite the Muslims," Mohammad Aman Hobohm said. Sanctions Correspondents say the European papers' actions have widened a dispute which has grown very serious for Denmark. The publication last September in Jyllands-Posten has provoked diplomatic sanctions and threats from Islamic militants across the Muslim world. Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller has postponed a trip to Africa because of the dispute. Thousands of Palestinians protested against Denmark this week, and Arab ministers called on it to punish Jyllands-Posten. Syria and Saudi Arabia have recalled their ambassadors to Denmark, while Libya said it was closing its embassy in Copenhagen and Iraq summoned the Danish envoy to condemn the cartoons. The Danish-Swedish dairy giant Arla Foods says its sales in the Middle East have plummeted to zero as a result of the row, which sparked a boycott of Danish products across the region. The offices of Jyllands-Posten, had to be evacuated on Tuesday because of a bomb threat. The paper had apologised a day earlier for causing offence to Muslims, although it maintained it was legal under Danish law to print them. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen welcomed the paper's apology, but defended the freedom of the press.

NZ Braces For Cartoon Fallout

Webmaster — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 03:10:30 +0000
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/nz-braces-for-cartoon-fallout/2006/02/05/1139074093234.html?page=2 New Zealand is braced for fallout from the Islamic world after two newspapers published controversial Danish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, with a potential trade ban by Iran the main concern. New Zealand diplomats in Muslim countries were also warned to take precautions against possible threats to staff and property, the Sunday Star Times reported. The New Zealand government attacked the two newspapers, both owned by Australia's Fairfax group, with Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton dubbing them "gratuitously offensive" and saying that by upsetting Muslim nations the publishers were putting the nation's economy at risk. The government's immediate worry was a reported threat by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to review all economic relations with countries where the cartoons had been published. Iran is an important market for New Zealand, buying more than $NZ100 million ($91 million) in goods annually from the world's biggest exporter of dairy products. Reports of demonstrators setting fire to Denmark's embassy in Syria's capital Damascus in protest against the original publication of the caricatures in September in a Danish newspaper led news bulletins this morning on Radio New Zealand. Some Muslim shopkeepers reportedly refused to sell the two newspapers - Wellington's Dominion Post and Christchurch's The Press - which claimed they published the cartoons as part of "the battle between freedom of speech and religion". Javed Khan, president of the Federation of Islamic Associations, said that Muslim groups in New Zealand would discuss whether to lodge complaints with the race relations commissioner and Ethnic Affairs Minister Chris Carter, or to take up the issue directly with the papers. "It is hard to see why the publication of cartoons known to be deeply offensive to Muslim communities is such an important point of principle to the New Zealand media who have published them," Carter said yesterday. "What good did it do publishing these cartoons and what damage could it do to communities in New Zealand and to New Zealand's international reputation?" New Zealand's Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said the controversy surrounding the cartoons' publication has highlighted a need for dialogue on press freedom, and the responsibility of the press in exercising that freedom. "The publication of the cartoons has caused great offence to Muslims, and one has to ask what media purpose has been served by their publication." De Bres called for dialogue between different media organisations in New Zealand, as well as with religious communities, on how press freedom can be protected and exercised without causing offence. "There is clearly a difference of view even among our newspapers about the issue in this instance, with our largest newspaper, the New Zealand Herald, deciding not to publish the cartoons, and two other papers taking the opposite view." De Bres said people who were offended by the publication can complain to the newspapers, and further to the New Zealand Press Council. He said the national interfaith forum being held at Parliament on February 26-27 would be an opportunity to address the issue. Meat and Wool New Zealand chairman Jeff Grant said the newspapers' decision to publish the cartoons had the potential to damage the long-standing high reputation of New Zealand exports. "We've had an association with Iran, for example, for now 40 years - it's a relationship that's been developed over a long period of time," Grant told NZPA. "We're well respected for our ability to do halal kill." The greatest risk lay in the New Zealand sheep export industry.Grant estimated $NZ100 million ($92 million) of sheep meat was exported to Iran annually. "(The publication's) not necessary, it creates a risk that now has to be managed," Grant said. Dominion Post editor Tim Pankhurst said on Friday his paper's publication of the controversial cartoons was an issue of solidarity and supporting press freedom, and he was not setting out to deliberately antagonise the Muslim communities of New Zealand.

Survey Finds Pupils See Muslims As Terrorists

Webmaster — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 05:46:31 +0000
Victorian schoolchildren view Muslims as terrorists, and two out of five students agree that "Muslims are unclean". Just over 50 per cent believe "Muslims behave strangely", and 45 per cent say Australians do not have "positive feelings about Muslims". These are some of the preliminary findings from a statewide survey of student attitudes towards the Muslim community. The research - conducted in the second half of last year — is based on responses from 551 year 10 and 11 students across public and private schools.
Almost half said they had learned "a little" about Muslims and Islam at school, but more than a third said they had learned nothing on these subjects. When asked if schools should teach more about Muslims, 29 per cent said no and 34 per cent said they did not care.

Researcher Abe Ata, of the Australian Catholic University, said the findings showed a need for educators to develop new ways of promoting multiculturalism among children.

"There are very strong signals that there is a chasm between mainstream students and Muslim students," said Dr Ata, a senior fellow at the university's Institute for the Advancement of Research.

"Educationalists and policymakers in education should take proactive steps … to help create more racial harmony in the classroom and outside it."

In the survey's other findings:

■62 per cent agreed Christians were smart, while 36 per cent agreed Muslims were smart.

■38 per cent agreed or strongly agreed Muslims were the most negatively stereotyped of all minorities, including Aborigines.

■34 per cent agreed most Australians were racist, while 46 per cent disagreed.

Islamic Council of Victoria board member Waleed Aly said the results were troubling.

"What it demonstrates is that Muslims are being viewed in a way that is really subhuman," he said. "The only way you can combat this kind of prejudice is on a personal level … it's much harder to hate people when you actually know someone in that social group."

The chairman of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Phong Nguyen, described the findings as "a wake-up call".

"We cannot assume that our children who grow up in a multicultural setting will automatically be accepting of each other," he said.

"Adults need to do things to make sure that our impressionable young children have a growing, mature understanding of the world and other people."

Ex-U.N Inspector: Iran

Webmaster — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 04:04:08 +0000
http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/39053.html The former U.N. weapons inspector who said Iraq disarmed long before the U.S. invasion in 2003 is warning Americans to prepare for a war with Iran.

Mr Bush, your sheikh is dead

Webmaster — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:29:20 +0000
Some may call it divine providence, some may call it Allah's bidding; in the end it was up to real Iraq to intervene and shatter the "surge is a success" story sold to US and world public opinion by President George W Bush and his top man in Iraq, General David Petraeus. Only hours before Bush recommended to the nation and the world what he had told Petraeus to recommend to Congress - in essence his roadmap toward counterinsurgency and endless military occupation of Iraq - a key player in the "success" story was killed, significantly right at the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. Sheikh Abdul Sattar Abu Risha - along with his two bodyguards - was killed by a roadside bomb planted near his home in Ramadi, the capital of an Anbar province Petraeus had sworn was "pacified". Abu Risha, 37, was the leader of the Anbar Salvation Council, renamed Anbar Awakening - an alliance of about 200 Sunni sheikhs drawn mostly from the Dulaimi tribe and dozens of sub-clans who were fighting against al-Qaeda in the Land of the Two Rivers. In his speech, Bush outlined the plan to leave more than 130,000 troops in the battle zone in Iraq next year, unless Petraeus and Bush decide further withdrawals are possible before that. With regard to Abu Risha's killing, as far as the White House is concerned it was the work of al-Qaeda (12 mentions of "al-Qaeda" in Bush's speech). Were this to be the case, the "don't mess with us" al-Qaeda message couldn't be more devastating. Consider the chain of events of the past few days. In a carefully stage-managed piece of theater, Bush visits al-Asad military air base in Anbar (not real Iraq) to stress his "surge" is working. He personally meets Abu Risha.Osama bin Laden, looking like a clone of himself with a stick-on beard, releases his first video in almost three years, proving he's alive and kicking. The video may or may be not be a fake.Petraeus and US Ambassador in Iraq Ryan Crocker start their presentation in front of Congress, assuring the US and the world the "surge" is a "success".Bin Laden releases his second tape in four days, praising one of the September 11, 2001, "martyrs". His image is on freeze-frame; his lips do not move.Bush announces he will recommend to the nation what he told Petraeus to recommend to Congress: not a drawdown, but the actual extension of the "surge" until next summer.Abu Risha, the man Petraeus relied on for the "success" of the "surge", is killed in Anbar. No wonder Petraeus defined it as "a tragic loss". The hit on Bush's sheikh happened just 10 days after they met. Al-Qaeda had plenty of motives to order the hit. But so did other key players. No Iraqi guerrilla or jihadist group claimed responsibility. Abu Risha was the most visible of the 200 or so sheikhs in Anbar Awakening. They were mostly from the Dulaimi tribe. Al-Qaeda has a close bond with the Mashadani tribe. This could well have been an inter-tribal payback. Sheikh Jubeir Rashid, also part of the council, cryptically said that "such an attack was expected", but they "are determined to strike back". Abu Risha may have also been killed by one of the top Sunni Iraqi-nationalist guerrilla groups for which throwing the occupation out remains the top priority - way beyond fighting the Shi'ite-dominated government in the Green Zone or Shi'ite militias. Al-Qaeda may boast a maximum of 800 or so jihadis in Iraq. The Sunni resistance has more than 100,000 fighters. The White House hurricane of spinning has simply erased the anti-occupation Sunni resistance masses from the ground. Marc Lynch, an expert on Arab media and Sunni politics at George Washington University in Washington, called remarks by Petraeus on Abu Risha's importance "a leap to judgment emblematic of all which is wrong with America's current views of the Sunnis of Iraq", Jim Lobe of Inter Press Service reported. "In reality, there are a plethora of likely suspects, reflecting the reality of an intensely factionalized and divided community which little resembles the picture offered by the administration's defenders," Lynch said. "Leaders of other tribes deeply resented Abu Risha's prominence. Leaders of the major insurgency factions had for weeks been warning against allowing people such as Abu Risha to illegitimately reap the fruits of their jihad against the occupation," Lynch said. Petraeus' chaos strategy Anbar is not pacified, contrary to official line, and Petraeus's tactics once again are deceptive. When in late 2005 he was writing the new Pentagon counterinsurgency manual, he was heavy on "paramilitary units" and "specialized paramilitary strike forces". These are actually the new Petraeus-supported and armed actors in Anbar: hardcore Sunni militias. Some of their foot soldiers - receiving a handsome US$900 monthly salary in a land of 70% unemployment - are formerly unemployed "irregulars"; some are former Sunni guerrillas (the White House makes it sound as if they are all friendly now); and some were until recently working closely with al-Qaeda. Call it Afghanistan remix. Petraeus was a godsend; local Sunni tribal sheikhs could hardly believe their luck. They had found an eager counterinsurgency messiah with large pockets. Now they can't get enough of the United States' cash, weapons, spanking-new uniforms, body armor, helmets, pickup trucks, high-tech information. They can patiently build their own Sunni militias and/or death squads with no hassle. They can take their time to settle ancient, ever-evolving tribal scores. And sooner rather than later, they can turn on the occupiers themselves. All this financed with US taxpayers' money. Petraeus's counterinsurgency game - arming Sunnis and Shi'ites alike - is the ideal recipe for non-stop sectarian hatred, the perfect justification for an indefinite US presence in Iraq. Petraeus did not even bother to seek "permission" from the puppet Nuri al-Maliki government in Baghdad to arm Sunni militias who will try to depose this same government. There's also the extra bonus of the militias doing part of the dirty work for the Pentagon - going with a vengeance after Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army. Furthermore, it all fits the anti-Iran Pentagon hysteria - the creation of a Sunni counter-power to the Shi'ite Iran-trained Badr Organization. So the result is of this grand chaos strategy: Iraqis are plunged into horrific sectarian killings on behalf of clashing foreign powers, the US and Iran. Don't stop until you get enoughAl-Qaeda for its part, with or without a fake, recycled video-only bin Laden, will keep enjoying the fruits of its brand recognition. Much more than the Middle East, al-Qaeda's special target audience is western Europe, where a legion of "white Moors" - second-generation, radicalized, born-again Muslims - eagerly accepts its new politico-religious anti-imperial message. The best antidote to this expansion would be the dawn of real representative governments in Egypt, Jordan, Syria and the Persian Gulf petro-monarchies. It won't happen - at least not in the near future. A new report released this week by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), one of the world's top think-tanks, is unmistakable. As the IISS is very close to British intelligence, its conclusions represent a faithful portrait of how Western intelligence evaluates the al-Qaeda nebula. For the IISS, al-Qaeda - the network - is on a roll, is well established in northwestern Pakistan, is already able to pull off a new, improved September 11, and its ideological appeal "will require decades to eradicate". The IISS also notes how myriad "regional jihadi groups" - especially in the Maghreb (North Africa) and Iraq - have pledged a formal allegiance to al-Qaeda, but also support its global agenda. This may be the case with al-Qaeda in the Land of the Two Rivers. Localized, regional or global, al-Qaeda the burning idea will keep surging on relentlessly - killing one US collaborator, Bush ally or - why not? - opportunistic sheikh at a time.

Shock and Horror

Webmaster — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:43:02 +0000
It's sensible to be afraid of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. These people are killers who will murder women and children and not bat an eye. I predicted we'd be hit by terrorism in a column I wrote in August 2001. I had no idea, of course, that the attack would come so soon afterward. Nor did I have any inside knowledge or any psychic feelings. It was just plain logic. We had been messing in the Middle East's wars and feuds for too long, and I knew that sooner or later there would be payback. There might be some parts of this old world where you can push people around and hurt them and they won't fight back, but the Middle East is not one of them. Now I do have an uneasy feeling. While there were no overt threats in the latest bin Laden video, there was an indirect threat. I don't recall that he has ever, in his earlier communications, suggested that Americans convert to Islam. He did this time, and I've heard a couple of people say that somewhere in Islam one is instructed to offer the enemy one last chance to convert before attacking. So maybe that was a warning of an imminent attack. If so, don't expect the attack to bear any similarity to the attacks on Sept. 11. One of the advantages a terrorist has is that he is completely free to choose the time, place and method of attack. Al-Qaeda will be looking to create shock and horror sufficient to capture worldwide attention. Frankly, there is not much an individual can do except to be alert to one's surroundings, something we should do anyway to avoid domestic crime. Naturally, if you see an unattended package or backpack, you should alert authorities. But don't count on recognizing a terrorist by his appearance. There are a billion or more Muslims in the world, and Arabs are only a minority of those. Furthermore, not all Arabs look alike. Terrorists comprise a tiny fraction of the Muslim population. It's both unfair and misleading to refer to "Islamic terrorists" or "Muslim terrorists." You will recall that nobody ever referred to the Irish Republican Army as "Catholic terrorists" or their opponents as "Protestant terrorists." Al-Qaeda is an ideological organization and has been roundly condemned by ordinary Muslims. It's important to understand that the cause of terrorism is political, and therefore there is no military solution. If killing terrorists were the solution, the Israelis wouldn't be enclosing themselves inside a wall and carrying guns all the time. Unless you solve the political problems that cause terrorism, you will never eliminate it. The U.S. government always discourages publication of the full text of bin Laden's messages. That's because what bin Laden says does not match the lies American politicians utter – to wit, al-Qaeda hates us because we are rich or free. Bin Laden's complaints are quite specific. Al-Qaeda hates us because we are occupying Muslim lands and killing Muslims. That's true. Al-Qaeda hates us because we support the Israeli brutalization of the Palestinians 100 percent. That is true. Al-Qaeda hates us because the Muslim governments we support are dictatorships. That is true. Al-Qaeda hates us because we are in the Middle East not to spread democracy, but to support Israel and to control Islamic resources, namely oil. That is true. What is needed is an open re-examination of American foreign policy in the Middle East. That is unlikely to happen. Since it is unlikely, best you keep your eyes open, your head down and your children close. The U.S. government has chosen to make an enemy of a group that is without mercy and has a long memory and infinite patience.

Islamophobia on rise: UN

Webmaster — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:09:54 +0000
"In the current context, Islamaphobia constitutes the most serious form of religious defamation," said Diene GENEVA — Islamophobia has been on the rise since the 9/11 attacks in the United States with Muslims living in Europe facing growing difficulties in carrying out their religious practices and establishing mosques, said a UN expert in racism. "In the current context, Islamaphobia constitutes the most serious form of religious defamation," Doudou Diene, UN special rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, said in a report to the UN Human Rights Council on Friday, September 14, reported Reuters. Diene said that Muslim minorities in the West have been in the eye of storm since the 9/11 attacks. "Political parties with open anti-Islamic platforms have joined governmental coalitions in several countries and started to put in place their political agendas," he said. "In sum, Islamophobia is in the process of permeating all facets of social life." Diene, who was appointed as an independent UN expert in 2002, was presenting a report on defamation of religions to the 47-member council. The report also includes sections on anti-Semitism and other forms of religious or racial persecution around the world. He said recent lampooning cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) were an evidence on the rising Islamophobia in the West. Such caricatures were evidence that "the basic principle of coexistence of different cultures and different religions, which is the lasting basis for peace, is threatened now. "Freedom of expression cannot be used as a pretext or excuse for incitement to racial or religious hatred," he said. On August 18, the Nerikes Allehandalocal newspaper published a cartoon by Swedish cartoonist But Lars Vilks, depicting the head of a man the paper called Prophet Muhammad on the body of a dog, inflaming Muslims worldwide Scapegoat The UN expert said Muslims living in Europe are facing growing difficulties to establish their worship places and carry out their religious practices. He said right-wing groups and the media are trying to equate Islam with violence and terrorism. Some were seeking to "silence religious practices by banning the construction of mosques", he said. Though Islam is the continent's second religion, Muslims across Europe are facing venomous campaigns against building stately mosques. In Switzerland, the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) has launched a campaign to ban the construction of minarets in the country. A similar move is also underway in the German city of Cologne. Some European parties were resorting to the language of fear and exclusion, scapegoating and targeting ethnic or religious minorities in general, and immigrants and refugees in particular," said Diene. "We see the initiatives and activities of many groups and organizations which are working hard to bring about a war of civilizations." A recent report by the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia said that Muslim minorities in Europe face deep-seated discrimination in jobs, education and housing in addition to myriad barriers that give rise to feelings of hopelessness and exclusion. Spain will host a conference early October to discuss discrimination and intolerance toward Muslims. The conference, held under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, will investigate the "roots of intolerance towards Muslims, the consequences and the role of the media," said the Spanish Foreign Ministry in a statement. Alarming The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) said the rising Islamophobia in the West was alarming. "Recent acts of defamation in the shape of blasphemous sketches in Sweden and posters in Switzerland reinforce this conclusion," said Pakistan's envoy Masood Khan, speaking on behalf of the OIC "Such blasphemy should not be encouraged in the name of freedom of expression," accusing the media of fueling fears of Muslims. "The international media continues to use the misguided actions of a small extremist minority as an excuse to malign the entire Muslim world, as well as the religion of Islam," he said. A recent British study accused the media and film industry of perpetuating Islamophobia and prejudice by demonizing Muslims and Arabs as violent, dangerous and threatening people. Famed US academic Stephen Schwartz had also criticized the Western media for failing to meet the challenge of reporting on Islam and Arab issues after the 9/11 attacks.

Somalis Hope for Tranquil Ramadan

Webmaster — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:13:08 +0000
Somalis hope that the holy fasting moth of Ramadan would bring a let up to the months-long fierce fighting. (Reuters) MOGADISHU — As fighting continues unabated, war-weary Somalis voice hope that the holy fasting moth of Ramadan would bring a let-up to the months-long fierce fighting ravaging their homeland. "In Islam, it is totally wrong to fight during the holy month," housewife Kasho Ahmed told Reuters, Friday, September 14 Ahmed said she prays to God everyday to end the bloodshed in her homeland. Ahmed's remarks came a few hours after the killing of two police officers and four civilians in an attack on a police patrol in the war-torn capital Mogadishu. On Thursday, September 13, the interim government lifted a dusk-to-dawn curfew that had been in place since June. The move was meant to give some much-needed relief to the one million or so residents of Mogadishu during the holy fasting month, which started on Thursday in most countries. During past Ramadans, Somalis go out in the evening to pray, eat at restaurants, and share meals overnight in family homes. However, this year the raging war prevented many Somalis from organizing outdoor Iftar (fast breaking meal) banquets and many of the activities marking the holy month. Mogadishu has been ravaged by violence since Ethiopian and Somali troops ousted the Islamic Courts that restored rare law and order for six months after routing a US-backed alliance of warlords in 2006. The capital has plunged into a deadly vicious cycle of violence which has so far killed up to 1,300 civilians and displaced more than 400,000, according to Human Rights Watch. Somalia has lacked an effective government since the 1991 ouster of president Mohamed Siad Barre, which touched off a deadly power struggle that has defied numerous attempts to restore peace. Pessimistic Many Somalis still pessimistic about any improvement in the security situation. "I don't think the groups will stop fighting during Ramadan, because those who do not respect human life will not respect Ramadan," 38-year-old Mogadishu resident Osman Muhammed Mudey said. Only a day before the start of Ramadan, Somali opposition leaders convening in the Eritrean capital Asmara announced the formation of a new alliance for liberating Somalia from the Ethiopian troops. The alliance also declared the Ethiopian-backed Somali interim government an enemy. The leader of the new alliance would be announced Friday at the end of the conference. It is widely expected that Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the former leader of the Executive Council of the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts of Somalia, would be announced a chairman for the new entity. Housewife Fatuma Ali said the formation of the new alliance offers her little hope of a lull in the violence. "Since the Asmara groups decided to liberate the country from the Ethiopians, I don't think fighting will stop, even though it is Ramadan," she said.

Muslims told: challenge jihadists online

Webmaster — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:26:21 +0000
Australian Muslims could go online and challenge those promoting violent jihad in a bid to tackle growing radicalisation, a new study suggests. The study by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) said Australia, like other western nations faced the problem of a rising number of young disaffected Muslims. These young Muslims could be persuaded to adopt a militant and violent version of Islam and perhaps resort to terrorist attacks. The study said Australian security authorities faced the difficult task of identifying self-radicalised cleanskins, individuals not on any police or security service watch list and with no links to known militant groups, but who identified with Islamism and proceeded rapidly to jihadist violence. "Such leaderless subversion does not necessarily require meetings with other terrorist operatives or training at an overseas camp, but can take place via the internet or through access to a spiritual sanctioner," ASPI said. To counter this threat other nations have developed a range of strategies aimed at identifying extremists, engaging with the Muslim community and encouraging its commitment to the wider community. Australia, with a population of 340,000 Muslims, is also developing such policies. ASPI said Australian security authorities faced a radicalised home-grown Islamism that had yet to develop the capability of its equivalent in the United Kingdom and Holland. "In order, therefore, to ensure that the threat is both contained and over time negated, security, police and national leaders will need to reassure the majority of Australian Muslims that they can practice their faith freely and that they have a place within a pluralist Australian society," ASPI said. "Integrated into wider social networks, Australian Muslims are less likely to experience the rejection and alienation that Islamists seek to exploit." ASPI said Australia could draw on the experience of other nations. It suggested formation of an Australian Muslim national security forum to boost cooperation between police and the Muslim community. Over time that could establish a dedicated youth council which could play a key role in detecting those prone to radicalisation. "Increasing numbers of young Australian Muslims are turning to the internet for information on Islam and for radicalisation," ASPI said. "The forum might encourage Muslims who reject violence to participate in internet forums and challenge those defending violence or martyrdom in the Australian Islamic community. "Ultimately, it is Australian Muslims who are best placed to recognise and resist the dangers of jihadism and terrorism at an early stage."

Muslims Welcome Ramadan

Webmaster — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:54:42 +0000
Fasting ... The Kadidi family enjoy an evening mealat their Balmain home There was feasting before the fasting last night, as 350,000 Muslims around Australia welcome their holy month of Ramadan today. During the fasting month of Ramadan, Muslims are obligated to abstain from food, water, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset daily. Hundreds of worshippers attended the Lakemba Mosque last night for special Ramadan prayers called tarweh and then feasted last night in preparation for the fasting from sunrise this morning. Mohemmed and Zeinab Kadadi and their children enjoyed a family dinner and then woke up about 3.40am for a light meal before dawn. After a little rest, the family got up again for their dawn prayers about 4.30am and began their 14 hours of daily fasting. "Ramadan is a time to worship and feel really close to Allah," Mrs Kadadi, 43, said. "The fasting is not only of food and drink but all your bad habits. When we fast, we learn to appreciate everyday things like food and water that people take for granted," she said. The Kadadi family of Balmain are all fasting including 16-year-old Bilal and 13-year-old Rayan. "My children started fasting early, when they were seven years old, the same age I started. It's a very special month for all of us," she said. Muslims are still expected to adhere to praying five times a day but have an additional evening prayer time during Ramadan - which is the month when the Muslim's holy book the Koran was revealed to their prophet Mohammed. Executive Director of the Forum on Australia's Islamic Relations (FAIR) Kuranda Seyit said Ramadan was a special month for Muslims and they wanted to share their experience with people of other faiths. FAIR and other groups are inviting people from different backgrounds to take part in the sunset ifta dinners throughout the month. "After we fast each day we visit family and friends and break our fast with them," he said. At least 10,000 people are expected at tonight's prayer service at the Lakemba Mosque and during night services throughout Ramadan.

Spy laws track mobile phones, internet use

Webmaster — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 01:58:39 +0000
SECURITY agencies would be able to secretly track people via their mobile phones and monitor their internet browsing for up to three months without obtaining a warrant under new laws due to go before the Senate this week. The powers could be used in a range of even relatively minor criminal investigations, not just terrorism cases. They would allow ASIO and federal and state police forces to demand that phone companies and internet service providers stream information to them in "near real-time" - just a few minutes after calls are made or websites visited. The information would have to be provided for up to 90 days for ASIO investigations, and 45 days if state or federal police are involved. Justified as a counter-terrorism measure, the legislation has already been passed by government and Labor members of the lower house. But it remains deeply unpopular with legal experts and privacy advocates. As well as not requiring a warrant signed by a judicial officer, the powers could be used in any criminal investigation into a suspected offence that carries a jail term of three years or more. The regime applies to all "telecommunications data", including the time and destination of phone calls made and received, the duration of the calls and the location of the callers. For computers, security agencies would be told what website addresses and chat rooms the user has visited and what files have been downloaded. The laws would also enable authorities to track internet conversations. Security agencies would still need a judicial warrant to listen in on phone calls, or peruse emails. The Greens senator Kerry Nettle said the powers would allow authorities to glean huge amounts of information. Every mobile phone could potentially become a tracking device for police and ASIO. The bill "is more like something from East Germany than a party claiming to support liberal principles", she said. "There is no judicial oversight. Police and ASIO should have to get a warrant to track and tap people's mobile phones or web browsing." The Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, was unavailable for comment yesterday. He has previously said the laws do not constitute new powers for security agencies, but a "more systematic and appropriate controls over the existing access framework". But the legislation's own explanatory memorandum says the regime for "prospective" telecommunications data - the streaming of near real-time information for up to 90 days - is new. The Law Council of Australia argues that technological advances mean the powers pose new dangers to privacy. Tracking someone with a mobile phone was far easier than secretly affixing a listening device without breaking and entering, it said. Therefore the proposed powers were "far more amenable to misuse or over-use by law enforcement agencies".

Costello pledges support for Israel

Webmaster — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:29:20 +0000
AUSTRALIA’S unwavering, demonstrable support for Israel may be jeopardised if Labor wins the upcoming Federal Election, Treasurer Peter Costello has warned. In an in-depth interview with the AJN, Costello cautioned that if the ALP wins government, pressure from left-wing unions and unsympathetic Labor backbenchers may damage the country’s political, cultural and economic ties with the Jewish State. “At national level there is support for Israel on both sides of parliament, however, I think that Labor’s support is not as strong as the Coalition’s,” Costello said. “They [voters] know that the Labor Party is much more susceptible to influences from the left and they also know that many of the unions that comprise the Labor Party are quite hostile to the Jewish community.” He singled out Julia Irwin, a Labor backbencher who in the past has shown sympathy for the Palestinians, as one element of the Labor Party “that is not sympathetic to Israel”. Costello said that in 1982, Labor was responsible for granting permanent residency to outspoken Islamic leader Sheikh Tajeddin al-Hilaly, despite having received information that he had divided the local Muslim community and was unwilling to integrate. Sheikh Hilaly was allowed to stay and caused furore during his term as the self-appointed grand mufti of Australia, a position he held until earlier this year. The treasurer pledged that the Liberal Party would continue its strong support of Israel, regardless of any criticism it might receive over its stance on the Middle East. “Australia is very supportive of Israel’s application to get into the OECD, the group of developed economies in the world,” he said. Australia and Israel are both engaged, to differing degrees, in a battle against Islamist terrorism, and this is another tie that binds the two countries, he said. “We have common aims to protect and defend ourselves against Islamist terrorism and I think we can cooperate in that regard.” But the keeper of the country’s purse was hesitant to push for a free-trade agreement between Australia and Israel. He said that there are no real trade barriers between the two countries at the moment. Instead, increasing Australian foreign investment in Israeli technology is the most urgent economic task. “I’ve met numbers of Israelis who come out here with bio-tech or high-tech patents who are looking for investment and I think they will find Australia quite a fertile field in that regard.” On domestic election promises, Costello said the government’s planned introduction of a tax-deductibility scheme for donations towards Jewish security offers a long-term solution that Labor’s $20-million funding pledge cannot guarantee. “[Our scheme] is not capped, it is not like a grant program that has to be renewed year by year through the budget process. “Tax deductibility could be worth $100 million, but it depends how much you are willing to put into it. It is much better than $20 million. Take it from me, if you are ever offered tax deductibility or a grant, take the tax deductibility.”

Drift into war with Iran out of control, says UN

Webmaster — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:06:36 +0000
The UN's chief nuclear weapons inspector yesterday warned against the use of force against Iran, in what UN officials said was an attempt to halt an "out of control" drift to war.His outspoken remarks, which drew a parallel between Iran and Iraq, appeared to take aim at the US and Britain. They followed comments on Sunday night by the French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, who said: "We have to prepare for the worst," adding "the worst is war". "I would not talk about any use of force," Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters at the International Atomic Energy Agency headquarters in Vienna. "There are rules on how to use force, and I would hope that everybody would have gotten the lesson after the Iraq situation, where 700,000 innocent civilians have lost their lives on the suspicion that a country has nuclear weapons." There has been a string of reports out of Washington that the Bush administration is running out of patience with diplomacy and is intensifying its plans for air strikes as a means of halting Iran's disputed nuclear programme. UN officials said Mr ElBaradei, an Egyptian diplomat who was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2005, was attempting to slow down what seemed to be an accelerating march to war. "There's a strategic reason for doing these things," one official said. "He really is alarmed. He sees this thing going out of control. The feeling around here is that this looks like the run-up to the Iraq war." Last month, the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, sparked a heated political debate in Paris when he called the Iranian stand-off "the greatest crisis" of current times, saying the world had "a catastrophic alternative: an Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran". Following Mr Kouchner's comments, Tehran yesterday denounced France's stance on the nuclear issue, which has toughened since Mr Sarkozy's election in May. Iran's state-owned news agency IRNA published an editorial accusing Paris of "extremism" and pandering to Washington. "The new occupants of the Elysée want to copy the White House," it said, accusing Mr Sarkozy of taking on "an American skin". Iran insists on its right to run a comprehensive nuclear programme, including the enrichment of uranium, which it says is intended for peaceful electricity generation. The US has called a meeting of senior European and Russian officials in Washington on Friday to discuss the deepening crisis over Iran. Britain, the US and France are likely to push for more sanctions over Iranian defiance, while Russia and China are expected to resist, pointing to a deal Mr ElBaradei struck with the Iranian government last month, in which Tehran agreed to answer unresolved questions over its nuclear programme. The US, Britain, France and Germany complained to Mr ElBaradei that they had not been consulted and that the agreement did not mention the UN Security Council's demand that Iran suspend uranium enrichment while its programme is assessed. In their eyes, the deal gave Tehran a means of stalling new sanctions while continuing to produce nuclear fuel. France is determined that if the UN is unable to agree on a new round of sanctions against Iran, the European Union should impose its own. Mr Kouchner said leading French companies such as Total and Renault had been urged not to sign new contracts with Iran, and he flew to Moscow to try to persuade Russia to accept a toughening of the embargo. Meanwhile, the French prime minister, François Fillon, yesterday tried to play down the talk of war, saying that everything must be done to avoid a conflict, but he added that Mr Kouchner was right to stress the danger and seriousness of the Iranian stand-off. A British official said yesterday that when the French foreign minister had raised the spectre of a conflict, he was "stating the obvious". "The worst case scenario is a war with Iran, but meanwhile we are seeking a diplomatic solution," the official said. The French Socialist leader François Hollande yesterday called for an immediate parliamentary debate on Iran, demanding to know if the government had new intelligence on Iran's nuclear intentions. After talks with Mr Kouchner in Paris yesterday, the Dutch foreign minister Maxime Verhagen said the Netherlands would support EU sanctions if the UN Security Council failed to agree new measures. Mr ElBaradei, the director general of the IAEA, has been increasingly at odds with Washington and London, who believe he is straying beyond his job description and freelancing as an independent statesman.

Israel's agenda for ethnic cleansing and transfer

Webmaster — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:40:06 +0000
The stage for ethnic cleansing of Palestinians has been set in the Occupied Territories, and ethnic cleansing is in progress. At present, this is the major project of the state of Israel. For an impartial person of medium intelligence, a tour of the Occupied Territories may be sufficient to understand this fact. The prime ethnic cleansing tool is, forever, land grab of Palestinian property in conjunction with expansion of settlements. Various stages of annexation process are in evidence in the originally rural part of the West Bank, constituting 60 per cent of its area. By now, nine per cent of the West Bank land has been transferred to the direct control of the settlements. A recent Peace Now investigation (July 2007) revealed that only twelve per cent of this land is being used at all. "The state earmarks huge tracts for the settlements, out of all proportion to their size, in order to prevent Palestinian construction in those areas. Yet once an area is closed to Palestinians, the settlers begin seizing adjacent Palestinian lands, often privately owned, that lie outside their jurisdiction". According to B'Tselem, the Israeli human rights organization, already in 2002, 41.9 per cent of the West Bank was assigned to the Israeli regional councils. And for years, the entire rural Area C has been under administrative control of the so called "Civil Administration", which, in close cooperation with other branches of the Israeli army and with the settlers, toils to make the life of its Palestinian residents as miserable as possible; the obvious objective being to make them leave. (Comprehensive information can be found, e.g., in the Occupation Magazine, the website of the Israeli anti-occupation activists.) In the remaining West Bank, Palestinians became virtual prisoners in their own towns and villages. Every aspect of normal Palestinian life - economy, health, education, is being crushed by a well organized and deliberate military-bureaucratic machine, masquerading as a security establishment. Every now and then, the strangulation noose around Palestinian existence is being tightened. Ethnic cleansing, by means of home and field demolitions, is also pursued diligently by the state of Israel towards its Bedouin citizens residing in the Negev desert (see the excellent tutorial movie at the website Adalah - the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights). . All of the above scarcely registers in minds of my compatriots. No wonder, since it is covered by a monumental but eagerly believed hoax of "negotiations with Abu-Mazen", diplomatic efforts, and promises of good will gestures towards Palestinians (which are forever un-implemented, or implemented marginally for short periods). For reasons of their own, some Palestinian politicians including President Abbas chose to participate in this farce. An average Jewish-Israeli does not know - or does not want to know - about the ethnic cleansing program executed by their state - she or he prefers to think of it as "fight against terror". Jewish-Israeli citizens live in virtual reality, thoughtfully provided for them by the leaders, the media, and the education system. In this reality, the Israelis figure as good guys, fighting for their existence, rather than as colonizers and occupiers. In this virtual world, it is believed that our government has worked hard to achieve a peace agreement with the Palestinians; and if this goal has not been not achieved, it is because of Palestinian intransigence. Impediment of negotiations by settlers is admitted, but settlers are viewed as troublesome extremists, rather than as an offshoot of deliberate and consistent annexationist policy of the Israeli government. But the key Israeli politicians KNOW - the ethnic cleansing project could not possibly proceed otherwise. I have been wondering if every new minister in Israeli government gets a manual spelling the facts of life, written in the past by somebody like Golda Meir or Arik Sharon. Otherwise, how would you explain the remarkable continuity of Israeli policies in the Occupied Territories during the long years of the Occupation? How come the current maps of the Jewish settlements and the Palestinian enclaves match the Drobles and Sharon's blueprints for colonizing the West Bank, prepared decades years ago? However I rather think that no such manual exists, and every minister is expected to figure it out by himself/herself. Yitzhak Rabin paid with his life for what then appeared to be a sincere effort to break away from the ethnic cleansing program (although Rabin never even tried to remove the settlements; and his was the idea of the infamous "bypass roads" for settlers; in the end, the Oslo years turned out to be a golden opportunity for settlement expansion under the cover of the bogus "peace process". Barak, promoter of large scale colonization projects in the West Bank, seems to have made the last failed effort to set a (very limited) form of coexistence with Palestinians. But he must have finally decided that "if you cannot fight it, join it", as indicated by his current activities as a new Minister of Defense. (One recent example can be found in the article "Hamastan as a challenge", by Shlomo Gazit, NRG, June 25, 2007: "Simultaneously with its total takeover of the Gaza Strip, the Hamas leadership implemented a unilateral ceasefire with Israel . For a whole week, not a single Qassam was fired at Sderot and the surrounding district. But then, after only one day as Defence Minister, the new Minister [Ehud Barak] authorized a new operation to seek out people on the wanted list in the Khan Younis region. Five Palestinians were killed while others were injured. As if by magic, the firing of Qassams towards Sderot resumed the very next day." Maintaining low grade violence appears necessary for the ongoing Israeli policies of presenting Palestinians as terrorists, and presenting Israeli colonization projects and military operations to crush Palestinians - both in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip - as the "fight against terror".) It was Sharon, a brilliant politician, who, under the cover of the "disengagement from Gaza", converted the ethnic cleansing program to the "only game in town" in the Israeli politics. By now, the entire Zionist establishment has been enlisted, from the Hebron settlers to the Shomer Hatzair (socialist youth movement), who, as army conscripts, provide those same settlers with security cover. The current policies of the State of Israel are determined by the collusion of settlers' insatiable appetite for land, and the generals' insatiable appetite for "action". The elected leaders who execute these policies range from whole-hearted supporters to more or less willing accomplices, mindful of their careers. Presently, none of the leaders opposes actively the ethnic cleansing program. In the background, there is the ever-intensifying humming of propaganda which designates Palestinians - both citizens and non-citizens - as A DEMOGRAPHIC DANGER WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. The Israeli policy towards Palestinians can be summarized briefly - "inflict all the damage you can get away with". But how do the Israeli leaders envisage the end of this game? The hard core nationalists spell it loudly - "transfer", i.e. expulsion of Palestinians. But what do the main-stream leaders think - the ones who actually carry out the expulsion (presently - the internal one, to the Palestinian ghettos and the enclaves)? The operation is too well organized for one to believe that the end-game was never considered. I believe that the final objective of our rulers is to set the stage for the second Naqba. Otherwise what is the point of the endless goading of Palestinians into violence? Any minimally thoughtful person understands that the Israeli policies in the Occupied Territories will lead to an eventual paroxysm of violence. Do not tell me that our leaders never thought about it. Granted, amongst them there are total opportunists who do not care about anything except staying in power. But somebody is pushing the ethnic cleansing forward. Sharon was the foremost among them, but judging from the well organized continuation, his associates are fully operational and in business. These people are actually looking forward to the violence. They have their eyes on the real-estate prize - the West Bank. A paroxysm of violence would enable the State of Israel to annex the West Bank - the entire West Bank, that is, while getting rid of most of Palestinian inhabitants. Just like in 1948. This is, in my view, the envisaged end-game. Where do they propose to expel the Palestinians? Jordan? The Gaza Strip? Syria? I do not know. Will the ethnic cleansing succeed? The authors of these policies obviously count on it. The opening is there, with the present US administration backing Israel whatever it does, and the EU and the Arab countries unable or unwilling to stand up to the US. It is likely that the forthcoming outburst of violence will be initiated by the desperate and destitute Palestinians; and then, for the umptieth time, our propaganda machine will be able to present us to the world as victims, and Palestinians as victimizers. Israeli responses will be presented as legitimate defensive actions. Later, the history may judge otherwise, but meanwhile (if the present political constellation persists for a while), who cares about the Palestinians. But in the long run, disaster looms for Israel. This is since we are a small nation, and Palestinians are a similarly sized nation which is moreover a part of the vast Moslem world. The experience of South Africa suggests that the apartheid-type system imposed on Palestinians is not viable in the long run, even if it seems invincible at the beginning. As exemplified by last year’s invasion to Lebanon, the performance of the Israeli army is deteriorating, corrupted by years of operating as a colonial militia. At the same time, the generals are becoming increasingly unbridled and reckless. The Israeli economy rests on support of the similarly reckless US corporate-political establishment, but this very expensive support is unlikely to last forever. The ability of the US to dictate the world is also likely to wane as Russia and China are coming to their own. And perhaps most importantly - the Dome of the Rock - the third holiest place of Islam - is at stake. In my view, my country Israel has embarked on suicidal policies. Something like that already happened in the Jewish history, some 1940 years ago - see the "The Jewish War", by Josephus Flavius. And just like in those days, most of Israeli public does not realize, that they are being dragged to disaster by their own leaders. Victoria Buch is an Israeli academic, anti-occupation activist, and a member of the editorial board of the Occupation Magazine www.kibush.co.il. She is can be reached at vvbb54yahoo.com

Turkish PM wants headscarf ban eased

Webmaster — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:56:30 +0000
The Turkish prime minister has defended plans for an overhaul of the constitution amid a nervous response from the country's secular establishment to his call for an easing of the ban on the hijab, the Islamic headscarf. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose wife and daughters observe the Islamic dress code, was quoted in Wednesday's Financial Times as saying: "The right to higher education cannot be restricted because of what a girl wears." Hesaid: "There is no such problem in Western societies, but there is a problem in Turkey and I believe it is the first duty of those in politics to solve the problem." The wearing ofthe hijabin universities was first banned shortly after a 1980 coup by military officers who viewed Islamists as a serious threat. But the implementation of that rule varied during the law's early years. Erdogan's apparent desire to include in the constitution an easing of the ban on thehijab in universities has predictably alarmedthe secular elite. The latter views thehijab as a symbolic threat to the separation of religion and state. Alternative wordings A copy of the first draft published by Turkish media includes alternative wordings for a possible article that would allow the hijab to be worn on campuses. The wearing of the hijab in universities was banned after a 1980 military coup [EPA] University rectors and the head of Turkey's court of appeals both warned on Wednesday against any change in this regulation. The head of Turkey's Higher Education Board - a well-known secularist law scholar - condemned Erdogan's move to lift the headscarf ban. Erdogan Tezic said: "It is our mission to remind the public that any constitutional regulation that would abolish restrictions on clothing is illegal." Ayse Ayata, a professor at Ankara's Middle East Technical University, said: "The lifting of the ban could lead to increased community pressure on uncovered women to cover up." Constitution question Erdogan on Wednesdayrejected criticism that his governing Justice and Development (AK) party wanted to impose its own constitutional text on Turkey and pledged full, open discussions in parliament, the media and elsewhere. The new constitution would replace a document that dates back to a period of military rule in Turkey in the early 1980s. He said: "It's time to have a modern constitution that represents our nation's common sense and wisdom ... that will realise the ideal of a free Turkey." But Ayataargued thatthe draft text risked eroding Turkey's system of checks and balances by giving parliament and the government too much power. Charter debate The AK party, which won a five-year mandate in July elections, says the new charter would favour the individual over the state and bring Turkey more into line with the European Union, which Ankara hopes to join. The secular elite failed tostop Gul from becoming president in August[Reuters] Turkey's army, which views itself as the ultimate guarantor of secularism, is closely following the constitutional debates, as are nervous financial markets. Ten years ago, the military ousted a government it saw as too Islamist. In April, the army tried to stop the AK party's Abdullah Gul from becoming president in an election in parliament because of his Islamist roots and his wife's hijab. Gul finally became president in August after the standoff with the army triggered early parliamentary elections which the AK party won resoundingly.

Australian universities become a mecca with their call to prayer

Webmaster — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:00:00 +0000
For Wafaa Jan, a student from Mecca in Saudi Arabia, one of the hardest things about adjusting to life in Melbourne was the absence of the call to prayer."It was difficult for me to change to this environment," says Ms Jan. "In the holy city, we should pray five times a day. The call for prayer, you hear this sound," she says of the cry of the muezzin that echoes from mosques across Mecca, home to Islam's holiest shrine. Ms Jan, who is studying for a PhD in philosophy at La Trobe University, is one of thousands of Saudi Arabian students who have chosen to study in Australia in recent years. Since the September 11 attacks it has become harder for Saudi students to either get or renew visas to the US, says Saudi ambassador Hassan Nazer. Many Arab students have simply felt uncomfortable travelling to the US, fearing anti-Arab sentiment there. "After what happened politically, I didn't want to go (to the US)," says Najia Al-Ghandi, 28, a mother of two from Riyadh, who is studying for a PhD at Monash University. "Because I was travelling with my family I needed to make sure I was coming to a safe place, so I chose Australia." Australia has replaced the US as the most popular overseas destination for Saudi students, says ambassador Nazer. It is also attracting higher student numbers from other Middle Eastern countries and Iran, figures from the Department of Education, Science and Training show. Ambassador Nazer says there are 6974 Saudi students and their families living in Australia, a 231 per cent increase from 2005-06. The embassy is expecting another 2000 to arrive in the coming months, and is considering building new education offices to support them. Australia is popular partly because of good reports from students here flowing back to Saudi, he says. The standard of education is high and universities have been supportive in providing prayer and ablution rooms. "We have a mosque inside the university, so I've never felt that I need to go back home to pray and then go back to university," Ms Jan says. Australian universities have been actively reaching out to Arab students. Adjunct Professor Charles Mott, a former diplomat who promotes La Trobe's international relations, has made trips to the Gulf. The university recently hosted senior Saudi higher education officials. The market is worth millions to the universities each year. Saudi students have access to a billion-dollar education fund sponsored by the Saudi royal family. A June Australian Strategic Policy Institute report raised concerns that potential terrorists could enter Australia with the increase in foreign students. Professor Mott dismisses the concerns. "Our experience with Arab students and wider Muslim students coming here has been very good," he says. "You have to have in mind, for many coming to a country like this, it represents a substantial cultural change … these students have fitted in very well." Ambassador Nazer says education is vital "if you want, really, to build relations and understand each other's culture". He notes that before 2005, Saudi Arabia's relationship with Australia revolved solely around trade. "This never builds relationships," he says. Ms Jan has come to love Melbourne, its cafes, libraries and river. She has occasionally been taunted because she wears the veil, but points out this is only a few individuals — not the majority of Australians. "We take this experience (of being taunted) — these are individuals. Mostly, we feel safe and happy," she says. "This is a great chance for me to study in a developed country."

Australia working with Brunei on first global halal brand

Webmaster — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:23:27 +0000
A GROUP of Victorian businesses are working with the Government of Brunei to develop the world's first global halal brand. More than 200 Victorian food manufacturers and producers are involved in the project to establish a brand for premium halal products by the middle of next year. The project, which is being run by the Brunei Government and is being coordinated in Australia by Elders, aims to fill a gap in the halal market, which is worth about $US600 billion ($A700 billion) a year. However, the market does not have any dedicated global brands servicing it at present. Australia is the first country to be approached by Brunei, which represents an unprecedented opportunity for local food businesses to gain access to a growing global market, according to the chairman of Elders Victoria, Brian Norwood. "What's being offered to them is a new market opportunity and, what's more, it's going to be part of a very, very large program that's going to be financed by somebody else," Mr Norwood said. The project will give Australian producers access to the world's 1.9 billion-strong Muslim population, making the potential of the brand incalculable, Mr Norwood said. "It's a billion dollar opportunity. How many billions I'm not sure — but there's enough noughts there, I think, to keep people happy," he said. A delegation of Victorian businesses attended a halal food expo in August in Brunei, where they met with members of the Government and the Sultan of Brunei himself. One member of the delegation was Robert Radford, the managing director of Warragul company Radford's Abattoir. As well as providing networking opportunities, Mr Radford said, the trip opened his eyes to some market niches that do not exist in Australia. "There's huge opportunities overseas for offal products that, on the domestic market in Australia, is downgraded for pet food," Mr Radford said. "We've just got to make every post a winner and get every value-added product out of meat processing as possible," he said. Elders is now waiting for the Brunei Government to develop the brand and packaging, along with a set of guidelines that producers need to follow in order to be accredited, which the company expects to take place by February next year. This allows time for the range to be ready for the halal food expo in Brunei next August. In the meantime, Mr Norwood is keen to recruit as many Australian producers to the project as he can. "My message to them has been: 'Here's the size of the halal market; here's what the Bruneians are wanting to do. If you are involved in export, or are thinking of exporting, you really need to have a think about whether or not you should be involved in halal,' " he said.

Ahmadinejad does New York

Webmaster — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:48:20 +0000
CBS reporter: But the American people, sir, believe that your country [Iran] is a terrorist nation, exporting terrorism in the world. You must have known that visiting the World Trade Center site would infuriate many Americans. President Mahmud Ahmadinejad: Well, I'm amazed. How can you speak for the whole of the American nation? You are representing the media and you're a reporter. The American nation is made up of 300 million people. There are different points of view over there. The new "Hitler", at least for a while, has lodged in a prosaic midtown Manhattan hotel. Contrary to a plethora of demonizing myths, this Persian werewolf did not evade his abode to eat kids for breakfast in Central Park. Instead, he turned on a carefully calibrated public relations charm offensive. Whatever his polemical views, for a now-seasoned head of state like Ahmadinejad to turn astonishing US disinformation on Iran, the Middle East and US foreign policy for his own advantage ended up as a string of slam-dunks. Articulate, evasive, manipulative, the Iranian president - even lost in translation - was especially skillful in turning US corporate media's hysteria upside down consistently to paint those in the administration of President George W Bush as incorrigible warmongers. Both at the National Press Club, via video-conference, and live at Columbia University, Ahmadinejad even had the luxury of joking about fabled Western "freedom of information" - as so many are still "trying to prevent people from talking". He scored major points among the target audience that really matters: worldwide Muslim public opinion. Contrasting with a plethora of corrupt Arab leaders, Ahmadinejad has been carefully positioning himself as a Muslim folk hero capable of standing up to Western arrogance and defending the rights of the weak (the Palestinians). The way he deflected US ire on the enemy's own turf will only add to his standing. At the United Nations this week, a remix of 2002 couldn't be more inevitable: it's the same soundtrack of tortuous diplomacy with the bongos and congas and special effects of war beefing up the background. By going on preemptive public relations, Ahmadinejad was clever enough not to commit the same mistake of the previous, "invisible" Hitler, Saddam Hussein. He was also clever in preempting ear-splitting rumors of a next war: "Talk about war is basically a propaganda tool." One of his key points may not have made an impact in the US, but resonated widely around the world, and not only in the Muslim street: "We oppose the way the US government tries to rule the world"; there are "more humane methods of establishing peace". He assured that no Iranian weapons are flowing into Iraq, adding that "regional countries in the Middle East don't need outside interference". On uranium enrichment, he repeatedly stressed that it is Iran's right, as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to conduct a "legal" and "peaceful" nuclear program. "Why should a nation depend on another?" But if the US would engage in peace talks, so would Iran: "International law is equal to everyone." As for the US and France, they "are not the world" - a reference to both the Bush administration's and the French saber-rattling. "France is a very cultured society, it would not support war." Humanitarian imperialist French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was summarily brushed aside: he needs to attain "higher maturity". On Israel, Ahmadinejad said, "We do not recognize a regime based on discrimination, occupation and expansionism," and he said that country "last week attacked Syria and last year attacked Lebanon"; pretty much what most of the Middle East agrees with. He may have granted that the Holocaust did take place, but the world needs "more research on it". The Holocaust is not his main point: it always serves as an intro to one of his key themes - why should the Palestinians pay the price for something that happened in Europe? He said he wanted a "clear" answer. No one deigned to provide it. To put in perspective the Iranian hostage crisis in the early days of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, he said one would need to "go back to US intervention in Iran since 1953". His hosts preferred to change the subject. Humming non-stop in the background noise was the "wipe Israel of the map" myth. No one had the intellectual decency to point out that what he really said, in Farsi, in a speech on October 2005 to an annual anti-Zionist conference in Iran, was that "the regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time". He was doing no more than quoting the late ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini - hoping that an unfair (toward Palestine) regime would be replaced by another one more equitable; he was not threatening to nuke Israel. Warmongers anyway don't bother to check the facts. You've got to change your evil ways US corporate media's treatment of the new "Hitler" seemed to have been scripted by the same ghostwriter lodged in the same (White) House. On 60 Minutes, the Columbia BroadcastingSystem (CBS) was firing on all cylinders for a casus belli - from "There's no doubt Iran is providing the IEDs" (improvised explosive devices, in Iraq) to "Why don't you just stop denying that you're building a nuclear bomb?" Ahmadinejad was bemused, to say the least. CNN for its part could not resist proclaiming, "His state even sponsors terrorism ... in some cases even against US troops in Iraq." Ahmadinejad succinctly unveiled to the Associated Press the reasons for so much warmongering - in a way that even a kid would understand: "I believe that some of the talk in this regard arises first of all from anger. Secondly, it serves the electoral purposes domestically in this country. Third, it serves as a cover for policy failures over Iraq." An even more appalling measure of Western arrogance - also speaking volumes about "us" when confronted with the incomprehensible "other" - is the diatribe with which the president of Columbia University, Lee Bollinger, chose to "greet" his guest, a head of state. Bollinger, supposedly an academic, spoke about confronting "the mind of evil". His crass behavior got him 15 minutes of fame. Were President Bush to be greeted in the same manner in any university in the developing world - and motives would abound also to qualify him as a "cruel, petty dictator" - the Pentagon would have instantly switched to let's-bomb-them-with-democracy mode. Ahmadinejad, to his credit, played it cool. Stressing, in a quirky fashion, his "academic" credentials, he unleashed a poetic rant on "science as a divine gift" just to plunge once again into the Palestinian tragedy. He stressed how Iran "is friendly with the Jewish people" - which is a fact (at least 30,000 Jews live undisturbed in Iran). Then back to the key point: Why are the Palestinians paying the price for something they had nothing to do with? Iran has a "humanitarian proposal" to solve the problem - a referendum where Palestinians would choose their own political destiny. In the absence of informed debate, Ahmadinejad stressed his points the way he wanted to. Iran does not need a nuclear bomb. Iran does not want to manufacture a nuclear bomb. But telling other countries what they can and cannot do is another matter entirely. He is more than aware that the nuclear dossier is "a political issue" - a question of "two or three powers who think they can monopolize science and knowledge". It's up to a sovereign Iran to decide whether it needs nuclear fuel. "Why should we need fuel from you? You don't even give us spare parts for aircraft." He also stressed that Iran is a victim of terrorism - a reference to the Mujahideen-e-Khalq, a micro-terrorist group by any other name, formerly protected by Saddam, now supported by the Bush administration; but he was also referring to destabilizing black ops by US special forces in the strategically crucial provinces of Khuzestan and Balochistan. Ahmadinejad was not questioned in detail on internal repression, intimidation of independent journalists, what his Interior Ministry is up to, from a crackdown on women not wearing the veil properly to more sinister, unsubstantiated "collaboration with America" charges. When executions were mentioned, he quipped, "Don't you have capital punishment in the US?" - and defended them on the ground that these were drug smugglers. Nobody questioned him on his disastrous economic policies, on the competence of his ministers, on an embryonic pact between Iran and Saudi Arabia to prevent another war in the Middle East, on the upcoming, pivotal summit of the Caspian littoral states in Tehran where Ahmadinejad, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Vladimir Putin will discuss what happens next - from technical aspects of Iran's nuclear program to Bush's warmongering impetus. Anyway, Ahmadinejad made it clear: Iran is "ready to negotiate with all countries". The same could not be said about the Bush White House. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon would have liked this UN General Assembly to discuss seriously climate change and the looming water wars. But nobody - not even diplomats - is really paying attention. It's all about Bush against the "new Hitler". Gaza is being collectively punished, and Tony "invade Iraq" Blair bleats platitudes about "peace". About 100,000 brave monks are in the streets of Yangon defying Myanmar's military junta - and the UN is not even listening ("Bring democracy to the Burmese people," anyone?). It's just war, war, war. New Yorkers may have shown the new "Hitler" a very ugly face, but at least they should know the war remix's hard sell is not dubbed in Farsi. RELATED: Read the full Transcript of Ahmadinejad's speech here:forums.muslimvillage.net/index.php

Americans ignorant of Islam: poll

Webmaster — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 20:02:03 +0000
Many American Muslims complain that discrimination and stereotyping have made it difficult to be a Muslim in the US since the 9/11 attacks. Despite its growing visibility in society in recent years, the majority of Americans know very little about the practices of Islam and don not see any common grounds between the Muslim faith and their own Christian beliefs, a new US survey has revealed. "Fifty-eight percent say they know little or nothing about Islam’s practices," concludes the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. It noted that the number of people who say they know little or nothing about Islam has changed very little since 2001. The survey found that most of the 3002 people interviewed nationwide saw little in common between Islam and their faith. "Fully 70% of non-Muslims say that the Muslim religion is very different from their own religion." It noted that the proportion who say that Islam has little or nothing in common with their own religion has increased substantially since 2005. There are between six to seven million Muslims in the United States, making up less than three percent of the country's 300 million population. Tarnished Despite the public lack on knowledge, the poll saw that attitudes toward Muslims and Islam "have grown more negative in recent years." About 35 percent of respondents expressed an unfavorable view of the Muslim faith. "Forty-five percent of those polled said Islam was more likely than other religions to encourage violence among its believers." When asked for the single word that best describes their impression of Islam, far more Americans mention negative words than positive ones, said the survey. The most frequently used negative word to describe Islam is "fanatic," with "radical" and "terror" often mentioned as well. US Muslim leaders say the survey results are something to expect amid the current environment that has tarnished a peaceful faith. "We're not surprised," Safaa Ibrahim, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told the Los Angeles Times. "It's difficult to remove the tarnish of twisted interpretations of terrorists from what Islam means." In its annual report, the leading US Muslim advocacy group said discrimination jumped 25 percent last year with Islamophobia being much evident in federal and government agencies. The 40-page report showed that hate crime complaints including physical attacks against individuals and mosques rose 9.2 percent. Six years after the terrorist 9/11 attacks, many American Muslims complain that they continue to face discrimination and stereotyping because of their Islamic attires or identities. Media The Pew Research Center found that the view of Islam in the society is largely affected by the media. "The biggest influence on the public's impressions of Muslims, particularly among those who express an unfavorable opinion of Muslims, is what people hear and read in the media." About a third of those polled, including half of those who offer a negative opinion of Muslims, said what they have seen or read in the media had the biggest influence on their views. The head of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), America's largest Jewish movement, has accused US media and politicians of demonizing Islam and portraying Muslims as "satanic figures." Famed US academic Stephen Schwartz had criticized the Western media for failing to meet the challenge of reporting on Islam and Arab issues after the 9/11 attacks. A recent British study accused the media and film industry of perpetuating Islamophobia and prejudice by demonizing Muslims and Arabs as violent, dangerous and threatening people. The Pew found that knowing a Muslim is usually associated with more positive views of the religion. "Among those who know a Muslim, 56 percent have a favorable overall impression of Muslims, compared with just 32 percent of those who are not acquainted with a Muslim." Click hereto read the survey findings in full.

Anti-Muslim campaigner jailed

Webmaster — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 02:30:49 +0000
MICHELLE JANE ALFORD thought it was a "harmless joke" to put the names of two policewomen on a pamphlet she distributed in Greenacre and Yagoona inviting people to a Prophet Muhammad Australia Day barbecue at Cronulla. She included the private address of Constable Rebecca Francis of Cronulla Police and the mobile phone number and police email address of Constable Amy Birdsall, the purported authors of the document put in letter boxes on January 23 this year. The document featured a cartoon of a man of Middle Eastern appearance with a turban and a lit bomb protruding from it. In Bankstown Local Court yesterday, the magistrate, Paul Falzon, saw it as no joke but a document vilifying the prophet Muhammad and the Koran, and the action of a "really dangerous" and "vengeful person" in a long-running feud against the two policewomen by Alford, a 35-year-old single mother of a teenage son. The extraordinary vendetta began seven years ago when Alford and Constable Francis were neighbours in the same Sylvania apartment complex, Mr Falzon said when Alford appeared before him charged with contravening an apprehended violence order against the officers and intimidating a police officer in the execution of their duty. Why Alford and Constable Francis originally fell out was not detailed, but on New Year's Day 2005 Alford had attacked the policewoman while she was off duty and clutching her three-year-old daughter in her arms, slashing her three times on the arm with a kitchen knife on Carringbah railway station. The attack, captured on security film, followed five years of physical abuse by Alford. An earlier apprehended violence order was taken out against her after she struck the officer with a wooden pole. Mr Falzon said Alford was arrested and charged by Constable Birdsall and served eight months of a 16-month jail sentence for malicious wounding. There the story should have ended but in January angry and concerned residents who had received the barbecue invitation began ringing the stations of the two officers. Many were of the Muslim faith. The two women suddenly found themselves "keelhauled" by superiors, Mr Falzon said. The pamphlet, he said, had come a year after the Cronulla riots, and had "encouraged people to attend the Sutherland Shire on Australia Day to celebrate everything that was great about being Australian". It went on to criticise the Muslim religion and the Koran as "an excuse to rape women" and cause destruction of other people's property and "wreak havoc on Cronulla Beach". Mr Falzon said the two officers had separately nominated Alford as the only possible person with a vendetta against them. When her home was raided police found that the pamphlet had been created on her home computer. He sentenced her to 18 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 12 months.

Special Ramadan for Colombian Muslims

Webmaster — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 01:58:23 +0000
Omr Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque is the second biggest mosque in Latin America. BOGOTA — Colombian Muslims welcome the holy fasting month of Ramadan this year by marking the 10th inauguration anniversary of one of the largest mosques in the Latin American state, amid growing media interest in Muslims rituals during the most important month in the Islamic calendar. "About 500 Muslim children and teens flock to the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab mosque everyday to learn Qur'an and Arabic," Pedro Delgado, a native Colombian who reverted to Islam 20 years ago, El Tiempo newspaper Saturday, September 29. Based in the northeastern city of Maicao, the mosque is one of the stately mosques in Columbia. But Omar Ibn Al-Khattab mosque is unique by its design and architecture. It is the second biggest mosque in Latin America. To the locals it is known as "la Mezquita" ("The Mosque") for being the only one in the federal department of Guajira, and along with the Dar Alarkan School, they are the centers of Islamic faith of the region. Constructed on September of 1997 and named after the second Muslim Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, the mosque can easily accommodate over 1,000 people. The mosque plays an important educational role through organizing Islamic and Arabic courses for Maicao Muslims. The predominantly Catholic country has several grand mosques like the Istanbul mosque in the capital Bogota and San Andres and Cartagena mosques. Media Attention Muslim rituals during Ramadan have drawn media attention in Colombia where Roman Catholics make up 90 percent of the 44 million population. Headlines like "mosques teeming with worshipers in Ramadan" and "how do Muslims pray in Ramadan?" have appeared in many mass-circulation local newspapers. "Muslims steal the limelight in Ramadan," Riyad Darwish, 40, told El Tiempo. "Mosques' splendor becomes evident in Ramadan," added Darwish, who noted that Colombian Muslims fully integrated into society but never forgot their Islamic identity. Some media outlets highlighted Muslim practices in mosques like taking off shoes and segregation between male and female worshipers. Semi-official statistics put the number of Muslims in Maicao at 1,300, the majority of whom work in business. But Maicao Muslims increasingly migrate from the city to more business-friendly cities in the country. The number of Muslims in Maicao has dwindled from 5,000 in the mid 1980s to up to 1,000 nowadays. Islam first entered Colombia in 1948. Colombian Muslims hail from different ethnicities and backgrounds, but are mostly of Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian origin.

Qur'an copies a rarity in Cambodia

Webmaster — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:14:42 +0000
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — While Muslims worldwide are busy reciting and studying the Noble Qur'an during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, Cambodian Muslims can hardly find a copy of the holy Muslim book in the Buddhist country. "Copies of the Qur'an are hard to get in Cambodia," Mufti Karmaruddin Yusof said in statements carried Saturday, September 29, by Malaysia's Bernama news agency. He said copies of the holy book are usually stolen from mosques in the Southeastern Asian country. This makes it difficult to explain and spread the Islamic teachings in the Buddhist country, he said. Ahmad Zahid, the chairman of the Dewan Amal Islam Hadhari (Damai), said at least 200,000 copies are needed to the Muslim minority. He urged Malaysia, the chairman of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference, to meet this serious shortage. Zahid added that his organization has collected so far RM200, 000 for its Wakaf Al-Quran program. There are estimated 700,000 Muslims in Cambodia, making up 5 per cent of the country's 13 million population. Cambodian Muslims are generally located in towns and rural fishing villages on the banks of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers and in Kampot Province in the south.

Australia welcoming more Arab Gulf tourists

Webmaster — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:18:31 +0000
Tourism officials in Australia say the number of visitors from Arab Gulf nations is increasing. Airlines are scheduling more flights between the Middle East and Australia to accommodate the rising popularity. Phil Mercer reports from Sydney on where the Arab tourists are going and why. Australia's tourism authority says arrivals from Arab Gulf states have increased by 25 percent so far this year - mostly from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The northern Australian state of Queensland is a top choice for many Arab travelers. Paul Buggy from Tourism Queensland says they are headed to the state's beach resorts. "They are stopping off in Sydney and Melbourne and having a couple of days there, but primarily their number one destination is the Gold Coast. They like staying in apartments, of which the Gold Coast has plenty to offer," Buggy said. "You have theme parks and shopping centers who have put in prayer rooms. The access to Halal food is a lot greater." Looking after the cultural needs of Arab visitors also includes placing arrows in hotel rooms that point toward Islam's holy city of Mecca. Facing the city during prayers is essential for Muslims. Arab vacationers like to escape the scorching summer heat of their homelands, visiting Australia most in July and August - winter in the southern hemisphere. Tourism officials here expect the strong growth in the Arab market to continue. Etihad Airways - the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates - plans to increase the number of weekly flights to Sydney early next year and introduce new services to Brisbane. The number of Arab visitors has been rising sharply since 2002, as many abandon destinations such as the United States and Europe. Arab tourists have complained of hostility in the United States and are wary of tighter U.S. visa restrictions imposed after the attacks in New York and Washington in September 2001. Travel agents say Australia's reputation as a safe and friendly alternative is growing. It's estimated that tourists from the Arab Gulf states spent more than $12 billion last year on overseas vacations.

Muslims in Australia subject to racism: report

Webmaster — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:49:54 +0000
Earlier this year, Sunday brought you a story about an extraordinary gathering in Canberra. It was called Australia Deliberates. A cross-section of Australians from right across the country, 330 men and women, got together for a long weekend. They gathered to talk about the so-called "problem" of Muslims in Australia, sparked by the infamous Cronulla riots, the bombings of 9/11 and Bali and London. There were 50 Australian-Muslims and a high-powered bunch of experts, led in discussion by Bob Hawke and Barry Jones. But mostly they were ordinary Australians. A lot had never met a Muslim person. Few had a Muslim friend. Well, after that meeting (and two years of research by social scientists), Issues Deliberation Australia has released their report, with a one-hour documentary called Between the Divide. Now, while our political leaders like to insist that Australians are not racist, especially at election time, the report (out this week) concludes that when it comes to Muslim/non-Muslim relations, we are racist. And there's a grim warning. We'd better do something about it quickly, if we don't want to breed our own home-grown terrorists. Dr Pam Ryan from Adelaide is the social scientist in charge of Issues Deliberations Australia. She talks to Ray Martin about this report. Click link to watch the Sunday segment that aired on Sept 30 2007: Watch video(advertisment plays first)

ALP hits out over attitudes to Muslims

Webmaster — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 03:42:16 +0000
The Federal Opposition has called on political leaders to stop equating Islam with terrorism, saying the support of Australia's Muslim community is critical to fighting extremism.Seeking to differentiate Labor from the Government on national security, homeland security spokesman Arch Bevis called for "responsible leadership" in tackling fundamentalism. He said Australia's Muslim community was the country's greatest asset in fighting terrorism, pointing out that Australian Muslims had provided essential information that prevented attacks in the past. "We are in real danger of losing that support as political leaders, community leaders and the media opt for simplistic and ultimately harmful characterisations that juxtapose 'terrorist' with 'Muslim'," Mr Bevis said. He outlined elements of Labor's national security policy at a security conference dinner in Canberra on Wednesday. A federal Labor government would produce a counter-terrorism white paper at the end of 2008 clarifying threats to Australia's national security, he said. It would also increase inspection of containers at ports. "Examining containers at our ports is fundamental to border security, crime fighting and counter-terrorism. At present about 93 per cent to 95 per cent of containers entering Australia are not X-rayed or physically inspected," Mr Bevis said. Under a $200 million plan to boost the recruitment of sworn officers to the Australian Federal Police, Labor would also expand the recruitment of indigenous Australians and improve CrimTrac, the national police data-sharing agency. The Police Federation has been calling for improvements to the system. Mr Bevis accused the Government of being "confused" on its security strategy by repeatedly "contradicting" security assessments made by Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty. He pointed to the Government's criticism of Mr Keelty when he suggested in 2004 that terrorism and the Iraq war were linked, and attempts to play down Mr Keelty's assessment that chaos caused by climate change would be the biggest security threat of the century. "On such key factors as dealing with border security and terrorism, how is it that our most senior public servants and ministers could hold such differing public views?" Mr Bevis said. "Government has to be clear about the task to be confronted and the best way of succeeding." The Opposition has proposed grouping security agencies under a Department of Homeland Security, following the US model. Attorney-General Philip Ruddock dismissed Mr Bevis' comments. "Labor demonstrates ignorance of the way national security assessments are made and that is on the advice of the relevant agencies — the very agencies that Mr Bevis falsely suggests are at odds with the Government," he said. Australia was a terrorism target before the Iraq war, he said, and climate change and terrorism were "different challenges" the Government was tackling.

Plan to push for Halal standard rejected

Webmaster — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 07:05:58 +0000
The Australian federal government has rejected a parliamentary committee's call for the creation of an international halal meat standard. Since 1983 the federal government has been running the Australian Government Muslim Slaughter (AGMS) Program, an halal livestock slaughter scheme. Muslims require all meat to be slaughtered according to halal, or permissible, rules which vary from country to country. The foreign affairs sub-committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade recommended the AGMS be used as a benchmark for the promotion of an international halal standard suiting all countries. "The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (should) promote in international for the adoption of a transparent and efficient halal standard," the sub-committee wrote. But the government did not address the recommendation, instead using its response to defend the AGMS. "The AGMS is an international halal standard accepted by the majority of Australia's halal export markets," the government wrote. It also rejected the second recommendation that the department create a single halal certifying body for Australia. "The government and red meat industry does not support this recommendation. "It is important that industry has a choice of approved Islamic organisations to facilitate the halal certification. "The development of a single halal certifying body ... risks creating a potentially unfair and uncompetitive monopoly situation."

The anonymous victims of Guantanamo

Webmaster — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:43:29 +0000
Hot on the heels of the release of Mohammed al-Amin, a Mauritanian student who was just a teenager when he was kidnapped for a bounty payment on a street in Pakistan over five years ago, the Pentagon has released another eight detainees -- six Afghans, a Libyan and a Yemeni -- thinning "the worst of the worst" at Guantánamo from 778 men to just 335. Of the six Afghans released, the identities of three are unknown. This is hardly surprising, as the Department of Defense never reveals the names of those it releases, and the media long ago abandoned turning up in Kabul to welcome back another bunch of farmers, shopkeepers and Taliban conscripts from their brutal and surreal sojourn in a small corner of Cuba that is forever America. Of the 163 Afghans released since Guantánamo opened (out of a total of 218), a dozen of those released in the last few years have not been identified, and these three look like remaining just as anonymous. To compensate, however, the three Afghans who have been identified represent a microcosmic cross-section of the ineptitude of the US military and the Pentagon during the two years that followed the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, consisting of a pro-US, anti-Taliban military leader, another man who was arrested after his house was bombed, and another who was seized while walking in the street. The pro-US military leader -- one of several dozen actively pro-American Afghans held at Guantánamo over the years -- is Sabar Lal Melma. 40 years old at the time of his capture, Melma was the military aide to Haji Roohullah, the commander of a long-standing anti-Taliban militia based in Kunar province, which was aligned with the Northern Alliance. Roohullah, who was also described by Ghulam Ullah, the head of education in Kunar, as "a national religious leader," had fired the first salvo against the Taliban in Kunar after the US-led invasion, and as a result of his anti-Taliban credentials and his support for Hamid Karzai, he was rewarded with an important position in the province's post-Taliban administration, and was also made a member of the Loya Jirga, the prestigious gathering of tribal leaders that elected Karzai as President in June 2002. Betrayed by a rival probably Malik Zarin, the head of the rival Mushwani tribe, who had ingratiated himself with the Americans and was using them for his own ends Roohullah, Melma and eleven others were seized by US forces in August 2002 and taken to the US prison in Bagram airbase for questioning, where they were accused of being part of an Islamic extremist group and helping al-Qaeda fighters to escape from Tora Bora, even though they had had numerous meetings with senior American officials and had offered support for the Tora Bora campaign. Although the others were subsequently released, the Americans decided that both Roohullah and Melma had sufficient intelligence value to be transferred to Guantánamo in August 2003. According to an Associated Press report, they believed, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, that Roohullah "had strong links with Middle Eastern fighters in Afghanistan, particularly Saudi Arabians like Osama bin Laden," and thought it significant that he was a follower of the Wahhabi sect of Islam. In his tribunal, Melma pointed out the injustice of imprisoning him with members of the Taliban: "The only thing I want to tell you that is so ironic here is that I see a Talib and then I see myself here too, I am in the same spot as a Talib. I see those people on an everyday basis, they are cursing at me ... They say, 'See, you got what you deserved, you are here, too.'" Astonishingly, though Melma has now been released, Haji Roohullah remains in Guantánamo, with no immediate prospect of release. The man who was taken to Guantánamo because his house was bombed is Mohibullah, from Uruzgan province, who was just 21 when he was captured. Woken in the night by the sound of firing, he went into his compound and fired three warning shots into the air to ward off what he thought were burglars. Soon after, an American plane dropped a bomb on his compound, injuring him, and he was captured by Special Forces the following morning. "I never worked with the Taliban, or talked with them or ate with them," he told his tribunal at Guantánamo. "I was a bus driver." Two years ago, in an attempt to secure his freedom, he wrote a habeas corpus petition, without the help of a lawyer, in which he explained more about the circumstances of his capture, noting that he was severely injured when his house was destroyed, but that when the Americans, who admitted that the bombing might have been a mistake, took him away, claiming that they were going to treat his wounds, he was transported to Guantánamo instead. "Now it has been two and one-half years that I have been detained here and I do not why," Mohibullah wrote. "Even the interrogators have still not told me what my crime was and why they detained me." The third Afghan -- the one who was captured in the street -- is Azimullah. Just 20 years old at the time, he explained to his tribunal in Guantánamo that he was captured near a madrassa (religious school), where he was studying. He was accused of acting "as a guide to a group of individuals attacking the Salerno Fire Base" (a US base), but he said that he didn't know anything about this group, or about allegations that they had "weapons, surveillance equipment (cameras and binoculars) and radios," or that he "met with an Arab man and an Afghan man who gave him money prior to the attack." Asked about the circumstances of his arrest, he said that he was walking towards the village with a man named Salim, whom he did not know previously, but whom he had met "on the way going to the village," when a group of Afghan soldiers "saw us and arrested us." He explained that he was not told why he was arrested at the time, but that "when they took me to the base," where he was handed over to the US military, "they told me that I attacked them and that I did this and this." The story of the released Libyan, Abu Sufian Hamouda, is rather more complicated. Hamouda, who is 48 years old, was a refugee from his homeland. According to the US military's "evidence," accumulated over the last five years, he had served in the Libyan army as a tank driver from 1979 to 1990, but was "arrested and jailed on multiple occasions for drug and alcohol offenses." Having apparently escaped from prison in 1992, he fled to Sudan, where he worked as a truck driver. In an attempt to beef up the evidence against him, the Department of Defense alleged that the company he worked for, the Wadi al-Aqiq company, was "owned by Osama bin Laden," and also attempted to claim that he joined the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a militant group opposed to the rule of Colonel Gaddafi, even while admitting that an unidentified "al-Qaeda/LIFG facilitator" had described him as "a noncommittal LIFG member who received no training." After relocating to Pakistan, Hamouda apparently stayed there until the summer of 2001, when he and a friend crossed the border into Afghanistan, traveling to Jalalabad and then to Kabul, where Hamouda found a job working as an accountant for Abdul Aziz al-Matrafi, the director of al-Wafa, a Saudi charity which provided humanitarian aid to Afghans, but which was regarded by the US authorities as a front for al-Qaeda. Over the years, dozens of Guantanamo detainees were tarred as terrorists because of their associations with al-Wafa. The majority have now been released, but one of those who remains in Guantánamo, little-known and barely reported, is al-Matrafi, who was kidnapped on a flight from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia in November 2001. It's difficult to ascertain whether there is any truth in the allegations that al-Wafa was a front for al-Qaeda. According to the "evidence" against Hamouda, "Members of the Taliban would frequently visit the al-Wafa office in Kabul and had dealings with the director of that office," which was hardly surprising, as the Taliban was the government at the time. Less clear is the claim that, according to various accounts, including a statement allegedly made by Hamouda, "the director of the al-Wafa office was connected to al-Qaeda and knew Osama bin Laden." Even setting aside the dubious circumstances under which this "confession" was produced, other detainees have claimed that bin Laden was actually suspicious of al-Wafa, because of its Saudi links. What's apparent, however, is that Hamouda's involvement with the organization centered on its humanitarian work, as another "allegation," which actually had nothing to do with terrorism, made clear. In the "evidence" presented for his Combatant Status Review Tribunal, under factors purporting to demonstrate that he "supported military operations against the United States or its coalition partners," it was stated that, while working for al-Wafa, he traveled to Kunduz "to oversee the distribution of rice that was being guarded by four to five armed guards." In Guantánamo, it seems, even the distribution rice can be regarded as a component in a military operation. Captured in Islamabad, after fleeing from Afghanistan following the US-led invasion, Hamouda was held for a month by the Pakistani authorities, and was then handed over to the Americans, who began mining him for the flimsy "evidence" of terrorist activities outlined above. Earlier this year, he was cleared for release, and, despite misgivings on the part of his lawyers, stated that he was prepared to return to Libya, even though what awaits him may not be any better than what he was suffered over the last five years. Perhaps, as one of Guantánamo's truly lost men, he has decided that, if he is to spend the rest of his life in prison for no apparent reason, he would rather be in Libya, where his wife and his family might be able to see him, than in Guantánamo, where, like every other detainee, he was more isolated from his relatives than even the deadliest convicted mass murderer on the US mainland. The last of the eight, Ali Mohammed Nasir Mohammed, was 19 years old when he was seized by Pakistani soldiers and delivered to the US military in December 2001. Slightly evasive in his tribunal, he said that he went to Afghanistan to "look around to see how the people were doing," and added, "In my imagination I thought I was going to see many centers with a lot of guards in them and I would see a lot of Muslims. I would find out how the Muslims were worshipping and what they do." He admitted, however, that he attended a training camp for 40-45 days and also admitted that he had worked for the Taliban, although he said that he had worked only in the kitchens or as a guard behind the front lines, and had not participated in military operations against the US-led coalition, telling his tribunal, "I have never shot one bullet in my life." After escaping from Afghanistan by passing through the Tora Bora region to reach Pakistan, he was captured by Pakistani soldiers after asking directions to the Yemeni embassy. What makes his story unusual is that, once the Pentagon had decided that it was not worth holding onto a cook for the Taliban who clearly knew nothing about al-Qaeda, confusion over his identity prevented his release for 16 months. Back in May 2006, as the Washington Post described it four months ago, "He got a checkup. His photo was taken, as were his fingerprints. He was measured for clothes and shoes, then offered a meeting with the Red Cross. As the Pentagon tersely put it later in an e-mail to his attorneys: 'Your client has been approved to leave Guantánamo.'" However, as his lawyer, Martha Rayner, explained, "He never went home." "Stuck," as the Post article went on, "in a limbo of mistaken identities, bureaucratic inertia and official neglect," his case was "an indictment of a system, still cloaked in the strictest secrecy and largely beyond accountability, in which a man who face[d] no charge and no sentence remain[ed] deprived of the freedom he was granted" in May 2006. "It's a lovely illustration of what happens when there's no oversight of the jailer," Rayner noted, acutely. The Washington Post article went on to describe what had happened to prevent Mohammed's release for 16 months. Although he was born in Saudi Arabia and had been living there before his all-advised trip to Afghanistan, he was regarded as a Yemeni, under both Yemeni and Saudi law, because his parents are from the Yemen, where they still live, and Mohammed had a Yemeni passport and grew up there. What particular confused matters was the fact that the US military regarded Mohammed as a Saudi, and while the Saudi authorities washed their hands of him, and the Yemeni government said that it was "unaware of his case," he languished in Guantánamo for another 16 months, imprisoned in Camp Six, where even cleared detainees are held in solitary confinement, until a new arrangement could be made. As these eight men finally leave Guantánamo after five years or more in US custody without charge or trial, their cases clearly do nothing to salvage the administration's reputation for illegal incompetence. And it can only get worse. Of the 335 detainees still held in Guantánamo, the government has admitted that it only intends to put forward around 80 for trial by Military Commission. Of the remaining 255, at least 70, like the men just released, have been cleared for release (some for two years or more), and despite the administration's blustering this summer that it intended to hold dozens of others indefinitely because, in another revolutionary legal twist, they are too dangerous to be released, but not dangerous enough to be charged, it now seems inevitable that they too will eventually be given their freedom. Even if the 80 proposed trials go ahead, which is extremely unlikely, it must surely be impossible for the architects of this disaster to claim that an 11% success rate is sufficient justification for the moral, ethical, judicial, and financial cost of an operation that has been manifestly revealed not as the triumphant prison wing of the "War on Terror" but as an inept, cruel, degrading and ultimately failed experiment.

Howard firm on troops

Webmaster — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 05:16:47 +0000
Prime Minister John Howard says he stands by his decision to send troops to Afghanistan, despite the death of an Australian soldier yesterday. Trooper David Pearce, 41, a member of the Brisbane-based 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment, was killed when his armoured vehicle was blown up in a roadside bomb attack. Mr Howard said he accepted full responsibility for sending troops abroad. "It's very sad what has happened to Trooper Pearce, I send my love and my prayers and sympathy to his family," Mr Howard told reporters. "I don't seek in any way to evade responsibility for the decision I took to send Australian forces to Afghanistan, or Australian forces to Iraq, or indeed anywhere else. "I am more than anybody else responsible for the men and women of our forces being overseas and I will never run away from that, I won't seek to shift the responsibility to other people." Trooper Pearce is the first serviceman to be killed by direct enemy action in the current Australian deployments to Afghanistan or Iraq. Mr Howard was in the Melbourne suburb of Williamstown to sign a $3 billion contract with Tenix to build two new warships. Earlier, the Prime Minister talked up Australia's defence spending during the contract-signing ceremony. Mr Howard said he was proud that defence spending had increased by 47 per cent in 11 ½ years. "And we remain committed to further increases of 3 per cent in real terms until at least the year 2015," Mr Howard said. "If there is national interest required, this Government will spend even more on the defence of this country because there is no responsibility that's greater than that." Mr Howard said recruitment for the defence forces was at a 10- to 20-year high but there were challenges in some areas.

How does a Muslim astronaut face Mecca in orbit?

Webmaster — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:45:19 +0000
Allah is watching – even in outer space. And that poses a problem for a devout Muslim astronaut who is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a Russian rocket this week. Imagine trying to pray five times a day in zero gravity while having to face an ever-shifting Mecca hundreds of miles below. How do you ritually wash yourself without water? And, now that it's Ramadan, how do you fast from sunrise to sunset when you see a sunrise and a sunset every 90 minutes? Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, a Malaysian astronaut, must decide before the Oct. 10 launch. "I am Islamic," Sheikh Shukor told a press conference in Moscow, according to the Associated Press, "but my main priority is more of conducting experiments." The young orthopedic surgeon is not the first Muslim to fly into space. In 1985, Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, a Saudi Arabian prince, flew aboard the shuttle Discovery. Last September, Iranian-American telecommunications entrepreneur Anousheh Ansari paid the Russians an undisclosed sum (reportedly $20 million) to visit the ISS as a "space tourist." But up to now, there have been no guidelines for Muslim religious practice in space. And so the Malaysian National Space Agency (MNSA) and its Department of Islamic Development held a two-day conference in April last year. They invited 150 scholars, scientists, and astronauts to discuss "Islam and Life in Space." The result is a recently published booklet of guidelines for the faithful Muslim astronaut. Five times a day (before sunrise, at midday, in late afternoon, after sunset, and at night), earth-bound muezzins call Muslims to prayer. A spaceship traveling 17,400 miles per hour orbits the earth 16 times in a day. Does that mean praying 80 times in 24 hours? The guidelines are much more reasonable: Daily prayer in space is not linked to sunrises and sunsets, but to a 24-hour cycle based on the "home" time zone of Baikonur, the Russian-leased launch site in Kazakhstan. Five meditations every 24 hours will suffice. If interrupting work to pray is not possible, the astronaut may practice a shorter version of the prayer or combine midday and afternoon prayer times, or the evening and night ones. The next problem: Where is Mecca? Muslims on Earth face Mecca, in central Saudi Arabia, when they pray. The MNSA suggests that the astronaut pray toward Mecca as much as possible, or at the Earth in general. But if it becomes necessary, the astronaut may simply face any direction. The attitude while at prayer is also an issue. In zero gravity, the sequence of the praying postures – standing, bowing, kneeling, and prostrating oneself – is difficult at best. Malaysian Islamic authorities say the astronaut should stand, preferably. If he can't stand, he should sit. If he can't sit, he should lie down. And if he can't do any of those, he's allowed to symbolically indicate the postures "with his eyelids" or to simply imagine them, according to the MNSA booklet. Before worship, a Muslim must perform ritual washing – cleaning face, hands, arms, feet, and hair. The problem: Water on the ISS is so precious that even sweat and urine are recycled. And so the Muslim astronaut is permitted "dry ablution." In desert areas on earth, Muslims use dirt and sand to clean the hands. The astronaut will strike his palms on a wall or mirror – though this is not likely to raise any dust. Then there's diet. Pork and alcohol are forbidden. Animals to be consumed for food must be slaughtered in a particular way. All food must be halal (allowed by Islamic law). But how can the astronaut know if the food aboard the ISS is halal? If he has any doubts, says the MNSA booklet, he should eat just enough to ward off hunger. Meals raise another complication. Ramadan – the holy month during which Muslims abstain from all earthly indulgences (including eating) during daylight hours – doesn't end until Oct. 13. Shukor said he hopes to be able to fast in space. The decision will be his. If he does fast, the 16-times-every-24-hours problem will be solved in the same way as the prayer question. And if he chooses not to fast in space? That's OK. But he will be required to make up for Ramadan when – after 11 days in space – he's back on Earth.

Muslim scholars and leaders send global peace message

Webmaster — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:39:20 +0000
It is time that Muslims and Christians recognized just how similar they are — the fate of the world depends on it. That's the message being sent out today by 138 Muslim leaders and scholars in an open letter to their Christian counterparts saying that world peace hinges on greater understanding between the two faiths. The 29-page letter — entitled "A Common Word between Us and You" — is addressed to Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and 25 other named Christian leaders and "Leaders of Christian Churches, everywhere". Organized by the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Amman, Jordan, it's the first time so many high-profile Muslims have come together to make such a public call for peace. Launched first in Jordan this morning, and then in other countries over the course of the day, the letter gets its final unveiling at a joint press conference in Washington D.C. this afternoon by Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia, and John Esposito, Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. By pointing out the similarities between the Bible and the Koran, between Christianity and Islam, the letter's signatories are asking Christian leaders to "come together with us on the common essentials of our two religions." The signatories include Sheik Mohammed Nur Abdullah, Vice President of the Fiqh Council of North America; Sheikh Salem Falahat, Director-General of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan; Hasan Shariatmadari, head of the Iranian National Republicans party and Sheikh Ikrima Said Sabri, former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque. "This is a determination by mainstream, traditional Muslim scholars and authorities who cover all the branches of Islam, and that's very unusual," says David Ford, Director of the Inter-Faith Program at the University of Cambridge, who helped launch the letter in London this morning. "It is unapologetic — but not aggressive, not defensive — and is genuinely hospitable in all directions. It's also modest. It doesn't claim to be the final word; it's 'a' common word." Quoting from both holy texts, the letter notes that "whilst Islam and Christianity are obviously different religions — and whilst there is no minimizing some of their formal differences," both require believers to believe in only one god and it's the same god. It points out that both religions are founded on goodwill, not violence, and that many of the fundamental truths that were revealed to Muhammad — such as the necessity for the total devotion to God, the rejection of false gods, and the love of fellow human beings — are the same ones that came to other Christian and Jewish prophets. Because of this, the letter says, Muslims are duty-bound by the Koran to treat believers of other faiths with respect and friendship — and that Muslims expect the same in return. "As Muslims, we say to Christians that we are not against them and that Islam is not against them — as long as they do not wage war against Muslims on account of their religion, oppress them and drive them out of their homes." With Christians making up about 33% of the world's population and Muslims making up around 22%, the letter says that finding common ground, "is not simply a matter for polite ecumenical dialogue between selected religious leaders." Is it, instead, essential for the survival of humanity. "The relationship between these two religious communities [is] the most important factor in contributing to meaningful peace around the world. If Muslims and Christians are not at peace, the world cannot be at peace. No side can unilaterally win a conflict between more than half of the world's inhabitants. Thus our common future is at stake. The very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake." This letter comes on the anniversary of another open letter to the Pope last year, which was signed by 38 Muslims clerics and was response to a speech on Islam in which the Pope quoted a medieval text saying it is a violent religion: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." The Pope later apologized, saying that he had only used the quote — an opinion which he said he doesn't share — to condemn violence motivated by religion and to highlight the need for exchange and understanding between the faiths. Now Islamic leaders have come together again to try and make that happen. "This is the way forward," says Ford. "To combine Muslim solidarity around core teachings together with friendly address to Christians and respect for the public good as a whole." The letter ends with a quote from the Koran — "Vie one with another in good works ... Unto God ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ" — before making a final plea for peace: "So let our differences not cause hatred and strife between us. Let us vie with each other only in righteousness and good works." Surely that's a sentiment people of all faiths can share. Related:
Read thehistoric letter "A Common Word Between Us and You", in full here:
news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/11_10_07_letter.pdf

Tougher laws could fuel terrorism: report

Webmaster — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 02:16:35 +0000
IT'S an agonising paradox: no matter how much money Western governments pour into counter-terrorism programs or how much they toughen laws, terrorist violence around the world continues to grow. In the meantime, think tanks, committees, academics and police forces, to name a few, are frantically hunting for new and innovative ways to counter terrorists who have proved to be patient, resilient and very adaptive. But lessons have been learnt since September 11, 2001. It's no longer just about countering terrorism. Halting the process of radicalisation is now a priority for police and intelligence agencies everywhere. In the UK, a new approach that is gaining significant traction tries to bring the principles of community-based policing into national security. It's a significant shift from an international approach that has generally relied on "hard power" or "exceptional powers" of the type that are common in the "war against terror". A new report released in Melbourne today, argues Victoria Police is committed to community-based policing to counter the threat of terrorism, but it fears the Commonwealth's approach is undermining its efforts and fuelling a drift towards extremism. The report, by Monash University terrorism experts and Victoria Police, effectively calls into question the Federal Government's entire counter-terrorism strategy, warning that "hard-power" tactics risk fuelling alienation, particularly in Muslim communities. More ominously, it warns there is credible anecdotal evidence of concern "that there already existed in Victoria individuals who had progressed to the extremist end of the radicalisation continuum and who were actively probing society for alienated individuals who might become recruits to their cause". So how is the Commonwealth's strategy, which relies on tough legislation, covert surveillance and secret intelligence gathering, among other things, potentially adding to the risk of terrorism? The report says there is ample evidence that laws granting police and security agencies broad powers to investigate and prevent terrorism are unlikely to be effective. "If such powers are used in ways that are repressive or discriminatory, or in ways that are perceived to be repressive or discriminatory, they risk creating an environment conducive to the spread of terrorist sympathies," the report says. Since September 11, 2001, anxiety had led some in the media and government bodies to unfairly target communities as inherently suspect and being sympathetic to terrorism and its causes, it says. It warns the Federal Government's use of tough legislation and secret intelligence gathering will inevitably scoop up more innocent people than the traditional approach to dealing with crime. "Evidence from the UK and USA suggests that the impact of this may be significant in terms of fuelling a process of alienation, social exclusion and, ultimately support for terrorism." It says the net effect is the spread of feelings of alienation from mainstream society, with those who feel under assault retreating into isolated enclaves as a form of self defence. Terrorists then penetrate these enclaves and prey on fears to recruit more people to their cause. "There are worrying signs that this pattern of self-defensive isolation might be taking root in Australia," the report warns. "Such a development is a matter for significant concern ... because it threatens to erode what in Victoria has been a long and successful tradition of community police co-operation. "The erosion of this tradition in the face of public fears and moral panics will have significant costs in terms of the ability of Victoria Police and other agencies to deal effectively with the threat posed by terrorism in Victoria and Australia more generally." Community policing and social cohesion, the report argues, is more likely to win over communities, especially Muslim communities, so that people are more willing to co-operate with police by sharing information. Community policing emphasises community co-operation and human rights, with police work focusing on social objectives as well as law and order. This empowers communities and improves their contribution to police investigations, the report says. Furthermore, creating a positive spiral of police-community relations around intelligence based on trust and co-operation will diminish the need to use "harder" methods of intelligence gathering. This has the advantage of being more consistent with liberal democracy than other forms of intelligence gathering. The report, Counter-Terrorism Policing and Culturally Diverse Communities, is the result of a three-year research project initiated by the Victoria Police Counter-Terrorism Co-ordination Unit. It was funded by the Australian Research Council and Victoria Police, with research conducted by terrorism experts at Monash University. The researchers spoke to more than 1000 people, including those from culturally diverse backgrounds across Victoria. Victorian police were also interviewed and surveyed. Associate Professor Sharon Pickering, who headed the research team, told The Age Victoria Police was more confident responding to terrorist events than preventing them. Nevertheless, a strong track record of multiculturalism and community policing in Victoria provided police with the capacity to effectively use community policing to counter terrorism. In the report, Victoria Police officers express concern with the evidence-gathering process under Commonwealth laws. Some said they preferred to use the Victorian Crimes Act over the Commonwealth legislation because they found the federal laws confusing and ill-suited to their needs. Half of all respondents surveyed from the Counter-Terrorism Co-ordination Unit considered the legislation "barely workable". There was also concern over what they considered to be the Australian Federal Police's lack of experience in dealing with everyday crime. One officer is reported as saying: "They (AFP) have got some people there who were out of Barton College two months ago. Now, whilst they are good people ... none of them have investigated a murder. It's like throwing them into the deep end." A former AFP agent with 20 years' experience, who now works for a private company in the Middle East, told The Age he believed a lack of cultural literacy among federal police officers was also part of the problem. The agent, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he had met officers "who had no idea" about social, cultural, religious and language issues pertinent to their work. He recalled an incident where senior AFP officers, insensitive to the fact that pork and alcohol are prohibited under Islam, visited him in the Middle East and offended local Muslims by asking for ham and cheese sandwiches and talking about brewing beer at home. He said better training of different cultural norms would improve the ability of the AFP and state police to build bridges with culturally diverse communities. While the report calls for better training, it also says Victoria Police counter-terrorism specialists believe a commitment to multiculturalism is crucial to preventing terrorism, but that this needs to be better communicated to stations. Indeed, Victoria Police is in a good position to integrate community policing into counter-terrorism policing, and to promote this approach nationally, the report says. Dr David Wright-Neville, one of the authors of the report and co-convener of the global terrorism research project at Monash University, told The Age the lack of a hearts-and-minds approach at the federal level was not deliberate, merely a reflection of the struggle to understand the problem. "They didn't really understand the problem and as a result there was a tendency to leap to stereotypes ... It was dominating some of the academic literature, so I'm sure it was dominating some of the advice that the Federal Government was getting: that the spread of terrorism was overwhelmingly a religious threat. That is not the case and that is starting to be reflected ... There's a more nuanced, more culturally sensitive approach to the problem." He said many mistakes were made in the handling of the Mohammed Haneef case and this would loom as a reminder of the tendency to stereotype. Terrorism-related charges against Dr Haneef, a medical doctor from India, were withdrawn in July after the case collapsed due to a lack of evidence. But despite Victoria Police's track record in building links with communities, there are still difficulties that lie ahead. In the report, counter-terrorism specialists agree developing trust with the community is their greatest challenge. One officer says: "The biggest challenge is trust because a lot of these communities come from an environment which is a totalitarian state, where the secret police knock on your door and you're never seen again. And sometimes new migrants think we are similar to that here, so they are wary. "You just have to reinforce that its totally different ... here, that we're a pretty democratic state here and that we've got rights, where police can't just abduct you and take you away and shoot you in the head." Although the research findings indicated a high level of trust in Victoria Police, the mountain police will have to climb to win deeper trust, particularly among Muslim communities, is evident in the remarks of those who participated in the research. All respondents expressed doubts about the extent to which they would voluntarily offer important information on suspected terrorist activities to the police. The report outlines two reasons for this. First, many Muslims come to Australia from societies where police are associated with repressive and brutal regimes, so there is a reluctance and fear about dealing with police. Many also fear the possibility of "guilt by association". Second, there are cultural and religious sensitivities. For example, a person may be concerned that information he or she has, if passed to police, might embarrass them, their family or their community. A view consistently expressed by members of culturally diverse communities throughout the three-year research project was that "federal bodies seemed to have crowded out Victoria Police on counter-terrorism". The report says the views of a youth leader from Melbourne's inner-west summarised a popular view: "From where we stand the Federal Government looks like the enemy, they act like they hate us and we don't know why ... the State Government looks more like a friend, but one that is pretty weak compared to the bully." In the race to find new and more effective ways of dealing with the threat of terrorism, ideas are important. National security will require the co-operation of Australia's Islamic communities, which represent 1.7 per cent of the population. "What is needed," says the report, "is a more nuanced blend of hard and soft policing powers than has been attempted in many other jurisdictions."

Deal with Musharraf allows Benazir to reclaim her Swiss wealth

Webmaster — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:35:38 +0000
An agreement between former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and President General Pervez Musharraf has not only paved the way for the PPP chief's return to Pakistan, but it is also reported to have allowed the former to reclaim her hundreds of millions of pounds frozen in Swiss bank accounts. According to a report in the Times, Islamabad has cleared the way for Benazir and her husband to reclaim 740 million pounds in Swiss bank accounts. The report, filed by Dean Nelson from Lahore and Ghulam Hasnain, quoted senior anticorruption officials as saying that their assets allegedly included a 10-bedroom, mock-Tudor Surrey mansion and 740 million pounds, which was amassed from kickbacks on government contracts during Benazir's two terms as Prime Minister. According to Hassan Waseem Afzal, a civil servant who led the Bhutto investigation for 10 years, the deal with Musharraf to drop the corruption charges against Benazir, which would allow her to return home from exile this week, would unlock the frozen accounts. The accounts were registered in the names of Bhutto's mother, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, and Zardari, a former minister, said the report, which appeared in the Sunday Times. However, Afzal, who was deputy head of Pakistan's anticorruption National Accountability Bureau (NAB), said that the Pakistan government and a Swiss magistrate had obtained evidence that Bhutto herself was a beneficiary. Bhutto's chief spokesman had last week quoted her as denying owning any of the frozen accounts. She is scheduled to return from her self-exile on October 18, and is expected to become Prime Minister again after parliamentary elections in January if Constitutional ban on serving more than two terms is revoked. Bhutto and Zardari, who spent seven years in prison in Pakistan on corruption charges, were convicted in absentia by a Swiss court in 2003, the daily said, adding that the Swiss magistrate found that during her second term as Prime Minister she enriched herself or her husband with kickbacks from a government contract with two Swiss companies. As per the agreement, Bhutto did not oppose Musharraf's re-election as President on October 6. In return, Musharraf announced an amnesty for all Pakistani politicians and officials accused of corruption between 1986 and 1999.

Turkey into Iraq? Easier said than done

Webmaster — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 01:38:34 +0000
Turkey is taking final steps toward a military foray into the Iraqi quagmire. It is a move favored by the public and the military, but opposed by major powers - and Iraq. An entry is laden with pitfalls. And exit after that, more so. The government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking - and will surely obtain - parliamentary approval for a major cross-border military operation to flush out an estimated 3,500 members of the outlawed separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Guerrillas from the group are suspected of operating in Turkey from northern Iraq. The government acted after 15 soldiers were killed within two days last week, bringing the year's total to 200 such casualties, and public clamor for a strong military response to separatist insurgents. Turkish troops and military hardware are amassed now along the Iraq border to the southeast. The United States, the European Union and Russia have advised Turkey against unilateral military action. The Iraqi government has said any Turkish incursion would infringe on its territorial integrity. For the time being, Turks are not in listening mode. Back in April, Chief of Staff Gen Yasar Buyukanit said a military operation was feasible and advisable, but the government shied away from any move in view of parliamentary elections on July 22. But now, with casualties rising, government spokesman Cemil Cicek announced after an emergency meeting: "Time for words is over." Funerals of fallen soldiers often turn into rallies for revenge, and calls for a strong military response. In his toughest criticism of the United States since coming to power in 2002, Erdogan told a crowd in Istanbul last Friday: ”Nobody can give us lessons on beyond-border operations. Did the United States consult us when it entered Iraq from tens of thousands of kilometres away?” While Turks take note that the United States, along with the EU, lists the PKK as a terrorist organisation, they are also irate because the US makes no concrete moves against the group in northern Iraq, which is controlled by its Iraqi Kurdish allies. Turkey has called its ambassador to Washington home for consultations. If a military move comes, it will be more than a hot-pursuit operation, since as Defens Minister Vecdi Gonul said, there is no need for parliamentary approval for a limited foray. Turkish forces have been in and out of northern Iraq 24 times since 1984 for limited military operations of up to 72-hours duration and up to five kilometres inside Iraq. Turkey also maintains an estimated force of 2,000 on the Iraqi side of the border under an accord with Iraq 23 years ago. A new attack, when and if it comes, may not end without establishment of a buffer zone to keep Kurdish insurgents from slipping into Turkey, Istanbul-based writer and analyst Jerome Bastion told Inter Press Service. It is unlikely to be a quick operation. "Hunting the rebels will not be easy," Bastion said. "They will melt into the local population. The Turkish military may be confronted by a well-disciplined Iraqi Kurdish military in control of the region. And what happens if the Turkish military also faces US troops? These are scary scenarios but not totally unrealistic." Parliamentary approval may give Erdogan the trump card to push the Iraqi government and the United States to hunt down rebels on their own if they do not wish Turkey to do the job. Turkey and the US have been North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies for over half a century, but their ties have deteriorated since the Turkish parliament denied entry to US troops from its territory for toppling Saddam Hussein. Kurds on the other hand have been strong allies of the United States in the crumbling Iraqi mosaic. Professor Ilter Turan, a leading analyst of Turkish affairs and vice-president of the International Political Science Association, believes Turkey and the US can still work out differences in northern Iraq without a military move by Turkey. "With Turkey determined to crush the PKK, it is feasible that the United States will push Iraqi Kurds to capture and turn over to Turkey one or two top rebel leaders. It will placate Turkish public opinion and avoid a military move by Turkey." In its approach to northern Iraq, the Turkish fear is that if an oil-rich independent Kurdistan emerges from an Iraqi meltdown, its own Kurds (up to 20% of the population of 72 million) may also make similar demands or at least press for more autonomy, or even a separate homeland entity within Turkey. Sedat Laciner, head of the independent Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization, says that a Turkish move into northern Iraq would be seen outside of Turkey as "invasion" and "occupation" and could lead to increased trans-boundary Kurdish nationalism affecting also Iran and Syria, both with sizeable Kurdish minorities (four million in Iran, two million in Syria). Iraq counts five million Kurds in its north. Laciner told IPS that the financial cost to Turkey of an attack into northern Iraq could be US$10 billion in flight of foreign capital, quite apart from the cost of the military operation. The move could also doom Turkey's controversial bid for full EU membership. A segment of Turkish society, led by influential liberal commentators, claims that flushing out 3,500 rebels in northern Iraq and neutralizing Kurdish-populated southeast. The area is missing the economic boom in the rest of the country.some 1,500 within Turkey may not solve the long-standing Kurdish problem. "The military response is not sufficient on its own," commentator Mehmet Ali Birand wrote in the mass-circulation daily Posta, stressing the need to enrich the impoverishedKurdish-populated southeast. The area is missing the economic boom in the rest of the country.

Pakistan plans all-out war on militants

Webmaster — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:46:27 +0000
An all-out battle for control of Pakistan's restive North and South Waziristan is about to commence between the Pakistani military and the Taliban and al-Qaeda adherents who have made these tribal areas their own. According to a top Pakistani security official who spoke to Asia Times Online on condition of anonymity, the goal this time is to pacify the Waziristans once and for all. All previous military operations - usually spurred by intelligence provided by the Western coalition - have had limited objectives, aimed at specific bases or sanctuaries or blocking the cross-border movement of guerrillas. Now the military is going for broke to break the back of the Taliban and a-Qaeda in Pakistan and reclaim the entire area. The fighting that erupted two weeks ago, and that has continued with bombing raids against guerrilla bases in North Waziristan - turning thousands of families into refugees and killing more people than any India-Pakistan war in the past 60 years - is but a precursor of the bloodiest battle that is coming. Lining up against the Pakistani Army will be the Shura (council) of Mujahideen comprising senior al-Qaeda and Taliban commanders, local clerics, and leaders of the fighting clans Wazir and Mehsud (known as the Pakistani Taliban). The shura has long been calling the shots in the Waziristans, imposing sharia law and turning the area into a strategic command and control hub of global Muslim resistance movements, including those operating in Iraq and Afghanistan. "All previous operations had a different perspective," the security official told ATol. "In the past Pakistan commenced an operation when the Western coalition informed Pakistan about any particular hide-out or a sanctuary, or Pakistan traced any armed infiltration from or into Pakistan. "However, the present battle aims to pacify Waziristan once and for all. The Pakistani Army has sent a clear message to the militants that Pakistan would deploy its forces in the towns of Mir Ali, Miranshah, Dand-i-Darpa Kheil, Shawal, Razmak, Magaroti, Kalosha, Angor Ada. The Pakistani Army is aiming to establish permanent bases which would be manned by thousands of military and paramilitary troops." According to the security official, an ultimatum had been delivered to the militants recently during a temporary ceasefire. The army would set a deadline and give safe passage into Afghanistan to all al-Qaeda members and Taliban commanders who had gathered in Waziristan to launch a large-scale post-Ramadan operation in Afghanistan. They, along with wanted tribal warrior leaders, would all leave Pakistan, and never return. After their departure, under the direct command and surveillance of newly appointed Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kiani (who will replace President-elect Pervez Musharraf as Chief of Army Staff), fresh troops and paramilitary forces would be sent in to establish bases at all strategic points and disarm the local tribes. The Durand Line (the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan), would be fenced and border controls would be tightened. The militants rejected the ultimatum. What's at stakeA qualified estimate by intelligence officials is that Pakistani military pacification of the Waziristans would slash the capability of the Afghan resistance by 85% as well as deliver a serious setback to the Iraqi resistance. The militants have little option but to stand and fight, rather than slip across the border or melt into the local population. Aside from the sanctuary and succor afforded them in the Waziristans, most of the fighters there are either Waziris, or from other parts of Pakistan, or foreigners. They would be unable to support themselves in Afghanistan, especially as most of the non-Waziris do not speak Pashtu - a fact that also prevents them from disappearing into the Waziristan populace. Their presence in the Waziristans also has a direct bearing on their funding: money can be transferred through bank and non-bank channels, including the informal fund transfer system known as "hawala". Western intelligence that has been shared with Pakistan has determined that the two Waziristans alone provide the life blood - a steady stream of fighters, supplies and funds - for the resistance in all of southeast Afghanistan, including the provinces of Ghazni, Kunar, Gardez, Paktia and Paktika, as well as for attacks on Kabul. In addition, the Waziristans supply trainers to guerrillas in the Taliban heartland of Zabul, Helmand, Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces. According to intelligence sources, during Ramadan, the Taliban's entire top command, including Moulvi Abdul Kabeer, Jalaluddin Haqqani, Sirajuddin Haqqani, Nasiruddin Haqqani, and Mullah Mansoor Dadullah were in North Waziristan to launch a post-Ramadan offensive in southeast Afghanistan. The Pakistani military engaged the militants well in advance to block their offensive plan, but the same militant command is believed to still be in North Waziristan. In addition, the town of Shawal hosts the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan’s command. The Uzbeks are trying to reorganize themselves to stage an armed revolt against the government of Uzbekistan. There is also a Kurd presence in the area, which has a direct bearing on the US's Iraqi occupation. A small number of fresh Kurd recruits come through Iran into Waziristan, get few months' training, and then return to Iran before infiltrating Iraq to fuel insurgency in Iraqi Kurdistan against this important US ally. "If the planned battle is successful and Waziristan is pacified, the global Islamic resistance would be back where it was in 2003, when it had fighters but no centralized command or bases to carry out organized operations, said a Pakistani security official. "As a result, the guerrilla operations were sporadic and largely ineffective." The safety of Taliban and al-Qaeda assets in Waziristan is a matter of life and death and, therefore, the militants have devised a forward strategy to target the Pakistani cities of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, hoping to break the will of the Pakistani armed forces. The Pakistani military, meanwhile, is trying to break the will of the militants with ongoing bombing raids. Underscoring the seriousness with which the military is planning for the coming battle, it is reported that Shi'ite soldiers from northern Pakistan are being sent to the Waziristans. In the past, the Pakistani Army has been plagued by desertions of Pashtun and Sunni troops who refuse to fight fellow Pashtuns or Sunnis.

Battle for the religious vote

Webmaster — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 22:10:08 +0000
As two Christians battle it out for the Lodge, religious leaders of all faiths are applying their own wedges on moral and ethical issues - with some calling for regular insider access to the winner. Talk about troublesome priests. Here we are heading into an election and the Catholic Bishop of Parramatta is fuming about an "immoral" Howard government law he says risks breaking up families, drives workers’ conditions back 50 years and tries to make a god of the economy. "There seems to be a real arrogance there," says Bishop Kevin Manning, who has landed in trouble with the government over the industrial relations debate before. John Howard dismissed his concerns in parliament and Tony Abbott, the devoutly Catholic health minister, has accused him of faulty logic. But Manning has no intention of keeping quiet on WorkChoices. "I started work 50 years ago as a 14-year-old working in a grocery store. I had no rights whatsoever; you did exactly what the boss told you to do, you worked overtime [and] you got no pay for it. This bill is taking us right back to then. I think we have every right [to speak out] because the whole thing is immoral." Industrial relations is just one issue that Australia’s religious leaders want debated in this election campaign, and they’re not planning to keep quiet. Climate change, Muslim migration, same-sex relations, foreign aid, Aboriginal reconciliation and housing affordability – the priorities depend on the church. The big churches are sending detailed analyses of the issues to their clergy and organising meet-the-candidate sessions in key seats, and the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is asking the big parties to spell out their policies on issues from prayer in parliament to homelessness. In interviews with The Bulletin, one concern is high on the big churches’ list: Howard’s proudest achievement, a more flexible and productive economy, has come at the cost of family and community relationships. Despite strong employment and wage growth, the work-life balance is bothering the bishops. Like Manning, the Anglican Primate and Archbishop of Brisbane, Phillip Aspinall, has also earned a whack around the ears for his criticism of the original WorkChoices legislation. Treasurer Peter Costello publicly chided the archbishop, pointing out that a theology degree did not make him an IR expert. Despite this year’s "fairness test", which requires compensation if penalty rates or overtime conditions are changed, Aspinall still thinks the law doesn’t do enough to protect workers. He also worries that in intervening in the Northern Territory, the government has "not really listened to the extent that they could to local people on the ground". In short, he’s unrepentant. "I won’t be taking sides in the election," says Aspinall, who believes the key question is how well the poorest in society are being looked after. "But as policies are released, if there are real concerns about their fairness and justice for groups in the community, then I am prepared to express a view." Aspinall’s more conservative colleague, the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, worries about relationships in society, and says neither party has come to terms with the contest between economic liberalism and conservatism. Without taking sides in the IR dispute, he worries about the decline of unions. "I can’t see that it’s good for the nation that working people fail to unite together in guarding their workplace conditions," he says. The decline in community relations is not the government’s fault, "but it has to help provide the right ethos. A government that simply says to us, ‘look, we’re doing better than ever financially or economically’, is not actually saying what Australians only want to hear". Jensen argues that if the wealth comes at the expense of family time and relationships "there’s a huge movement around Australia of people who say that it’s not good policy, and they’re suffering from it". Both sides have to address this. "I want to know why a social conservative would vote for either party." Religious leaders speaking out on political issues isn’t new. What is different is that the churches believe the politicians are listening. There are a few reasons. For one thing, there’s a more organised religious lobby. There is also a contest. While Howard has increased his vote in the past decade among Christians, especially regular churchgoers, that is now being challenged by Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd, who’s brandishing his own Anglican faith. And even if the mainstream churches are struggling to keep their flocks, an estimated two million people still attend church every week and four million at least once a month. Mostly they voted conservative in 2004. Professor John Warhurst, a political scientist at the Australian National University, says Rudd has been working to win them back. Partly, that means undoing the damage wrought by Mark Latham, who sought to reduce funding to elite religious schools and was dismissive of religion. Are there votes in it? "I think there are some votes," Warhurst says. "It’s not a big group of voters, but they’re one of the groups who make a difference. If it could contribute a 1% swing, then it’s worth chasing for Rudd and worth defending for the Coalition." As Warhurst points out, religion has been very much in the news. Think of 9/11’s message on religion’s power, the growth of Pentecostal Christian groups, the advent of Family First in the 2004 federal election and the shift to churches running privatised government job and counselling services. There has also been debate over the entitlements of same-sex couples, and conscience votes on moral issues such as the abortion pill RU486 and embryonic stem cell research. On that one, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, suggested that MPs risked consequences for their church life depending on how they voted. So when retired army brigadier Jim Wallace, who heads the Canberra-based ACL, invited Rudd and Howard to address a forum of church leaders and answer questions, both were keen to appear. In a first for Australian politics, both men explained how their faith affected their thinking, before being quizzed by Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal and Evangelical leaders. Broadcast on the internet, the forum was watched by an estimated 100,000 people. Howard told the church leaders that his faith was exemplified by the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Talents, stressing the importance of the individual and free enterprise. Rudd declared that his faith was "garden variety" and claimed a social justice approach in which he cared for his family, but also for "my community, my country, our common humanity and this great ecosystem called the Earth". Howard even flagged a bigger and more influential role for the church. "I want to fully involve the churches in advising me and advising the government," he declared. Last year, in parliament, he didn’t seem so interested, saying of his IR policy: "If we are to have a sensible debate on the merits of this legislation, my advice to every person on this side of the house is: let’s leave out of the debate indications by the clergy to either side of the argument." Times have changed. The government is now behind in the polls – and Rudd would appeal to many Christians, thinks Wallace. "Those who have as their priority the social justice issues would be very much relating to him. He certainly related to the Christian constituency better than any Labor leader in the recent past I can think of. "But I think people shouldn’t underestimate the reservoir of loyalty that’s there in a large part of that constituency for the prime minister. People see him as holding Judaeo-Christian values. He’s very strong on traditional Australian values. And he responded well to concerns the Christian constituency had on socially conservative issues like the importance of marriage, the need to make it between a man and a woman, and pornography." The question for Rudd, he says, is "can he hold the cap on those in his party with libertarian views". While this battleground is Christian values, the point is that they are not only moral issues like abortion or stem cell research or gay marriage. They also include climate change (we are stewards of God’s creation) and industrial relations (an alleged threat to community and family relationships). It’s a spectrum from political right to left. In this fight, the Coalition claims to be more attuned to Christian values. Abbott has pointed out that more Christians voted for them at the last election. An ANU study showed almost 50% of Catholics – the largest Christian group and traditionally Labor supporters – voted for the Coalition and 40% for Labor. Sixty per cent of Anglicans, the second-largest group and traditionally Coalition supporters, backed Howard, with a mere 30% voting Labor. While Howard hasn’t worn his faith on his sleeve, he’s wooed a large spectrum of worshippers. He’s opened a giant Hillsong church in Sydney, transferred government job search and family relationship counselling to the mainstream churches, keenly backed Israel and introduced school chaplains. He’s also met the Exclusive Brethren, which Rudd dismisses as an extremist cult. Perhaps sensing an opportunity, some key church leaders now tell The Bulletin they would like a more organised arrangement in their dealings with Canberra. They’d like the next government to host regular meetings between religious and political leaders, as former premier Peter Beattie had been doing in Queensland. The interfaith group idea – it would also include Jews, Muslims and other religions – is also backed by the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson, and Hillsong pastor Brian Houston, president of the Assemblies of God (AOG). It would be wrong to think there’s a common church position – some leaders say it’s a step in the wrong direction and that nobody would be able to agree on who should be on such a committee. There are also differences on the key political issues. Pell, for example, is dismissive of climate change. The 25 questions the ACL has sent to the main parties shows how varied the focus is. Many deal with personal morality: What will your party do to reduce abortions? Will you oppose de facto marriage status for homosexuals? Others are more to the left, on climate change, refugee policy and homelessness. Bridging the range of issues is the big challenge for the Christian lobby, believes Rod Benson, a Baptist preacher and director of the Centre for Christian Ethics at Morling College in Sydney. "I think the ACL webcast was a turning point for Christians in Australia," he says. But Benson adds that the trick is to prevent the churches splitting as they have in the US along party political lines, with a Christian right focused on issues around sex and abortion and the Christian left on social justice issues like poverty. The ACL, which says it is funded 50-50 by the Pentecostals and the mainstream churches, has sought unity among the churches. "That’s certainly not easy to do," says Benson. Not everyone agrees that the ACL is on a middle path. The Uniting Church decided against joining the forum with Howard and Rudd. The Reverend Elenie Poulos, director of the church’s social justice arm, says it didn’t want to see its message confused with the ACL’s. "I think their priorities as I’ve been able to gauge them are really around issues such as abortion and family planning and marriage and same-sex relationships," she says. Some in her church would support that, but overall it believed the priorities were elsewhere. "Indigenous issues, climate change, human rights, peacemaking; they are the issues we think are most significant." Poulos worries that "Christian values" are being hijacked by religious conservatives. She cannot understand why the Pentecostal groups – which grew by 25% in the decade to 2006 to about 220,000 worshippers – command so much political attention. (Those affiliated with the Uniting Church fell 15% in the same period to about 1.1 million.) The Pentecostals, disparaged by some as happy-clappers, proclaim a popular message and a free enterprise philosophy that matches Howard’s. Its membership is much more active than that of most churches and they tend not to be critical of the prime minister. Hillsong’s Houston has been sanguine about WorkChoices and, in official statements, has been more focused on personal morality issues. "While I think that social and moral issues such as recent debates on stem cells, civil unions and RU486 are not the only factors that determine how Christians vote, they clearly have an impact," he says. But Houston adds that Christians have genuine concerns about the government’s response to social justice issues such as the dire conditions faced by some Aboriginal communities, as well as international aid. Still, the focus on moral issues bothers Poulos. "What I’m most concerned about is the badging of Christian values as referring to a small bundle of issues around personal morality," she says. "And Christian values, when it’s used by a lot of journalists, becomes code for things like marriage and stem cell research. Whereas we regard basic Christian values being around peace and human dignity and healthy environments, which are far more core to the Christian faith than issues of personal morality." She points accusingly to Fred Nile’s Christian Democratic Party’s arguing for a ban on Muslim immigration. "Policies like that grow fear and mistrust." Like industrial relations, social cohesion is an issue about which some churches feel strongly. The ACL’s Wallace says he wouldn’t back a ban on Muslim immigration, but says the numbers should be debated. "We do need to be alert to the fact that extremist Islam doesn’t offer an ideology that’s compatible with democracy. It sees the church as being over the state." Wallace believes Australia does not need problems from accepting more Muslims "than would perhaps be sensible. We need to monitor it in terms of how successful we are in maintaining the social cohesion of Australia". The Muslim community is not being wooed for its vote in this election, despite the 2006 census showing that it has grown by 70% to 340,000 in a decade. Nor are the Buddhists, who grew by 109% to about 420,000. The Buddhists say they’re miffed by Howard’s failure to meet them. "Neither John Howard nor Kevin Rudd has visited a Buddhist temple or attended any functions," says Brian Ashen, president of the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils. Ikabel Patel, president of the Islamic Council of Australia, says Muslims are also worried about Australian values – they think the country has lost its "fair go" mentality. Disillusioned Muslims are more likely to consider voting Green or Democrat, he says. "It seems now that suddenly the Judaeo-Christian leanings are being very, very strongly enshrined," he says. "I think its populist; it’s pandering to the majority." Rudd is the same as Howard. Patel says. "He’ll do anything – or not do anything – to make sure he doesn’t upset people." During this election campaign, he says, Australians should debate their role in the world. "We jumped very quickly on the bandwagon of invading countries. I’m not saying we’re not a generous country – we’re very generous – but I think we ought to make it our business to have a foreign presence in terms of aid, in terms of trying to sort out and resolve disruptions around the world, rather than be there marching with guns blazing." The Jewish community is smaller at about 90,000, but influential. It is also important because in two seats, Wentworth in Sydney, held by Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and Melbourne Ports, held by Labor’s Michael Danby, Jewish voters could swing the result. The burning issue among Jews tends to be the government’s support for Israel. Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence, of Sydney’s Great Synagogue, says Howard has been a stalwart and personal supporter of Israel and that has affected government policy and "certainly given great comfort to much of the community". But he says there’s no guarantee that a different Liberal leader would be as supportive, or that a Labor leader wouldn’t be. Lawrence does nominate climate change as the big issue he hopes voters will think about. But it’s the Christians who dominate the religious field, even if the proportion of Australians describing themselves as such fell from 71% in 1996 to 64% last year. Never mind that most of them rarely sit on a pew, or that the moral authority of the big churches remains compromised from abuse scandals, they still add up to almost 13 million. Gary Bouma, professor of sociology at Monash University, says there’s no question that religion is back on the agenda because the heyday of secularism is past. "[Secularism] didn’t provide an abiding concern for social justice, or deliver us from idiocy such as the Iraq War." But Bouma says the churches are only one of many voices, and the family only one value base. "The churches are no longer major influences in society, they have a voice ... but it’s not like they have a dominant voice. While WorkChoices is a problem for many, the churches are simply hooking on that bandwagon, not leading the cause." He says their concerns are different from those of workers "who are more worried about what’s going to happen to their job than the impact on family time". ANU’s Warhurst thinks the churches still have some influence. "There is a wider group in the community who still prick up their ears at what the church leaders say." Politicians are certainly listening, and work-life balance will continue to be a issue. Philip Wilson, Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, believes there are broad social consequences. "The really big element of our lives is the relationships we have. If people find that in order to have the wellbeing they want they’ve got to work longer and longer hours, and they become alienated from their own families, we need to think about that." Howard rejected Bishop Manning’s criticisms of WorkChoices in parliament last year, insisting there was no Catholic position on IR and urging MPs to ignore the clergy on the issue. Yet, eventually, he did introduce a fairness test. Manning says Howard’s comments were "idiotic" and that the church does have an IR position, backed by the Pope. And while he welcomes the fairness test, he is sceptical of the motivation. "It’s because [they feel] they’re going to lose the election." A lefty? Well, Manning is equally scathing of those MPs who voted in favour of stem cell research and the RU486 abortion pill. As for the issues the nation should be debating in the campaign, he’s adamant. "I still think workplace relations is going to be a major focus. It’s hitting people right where they’re most vulnerable, people who are trying to raise families, buy a home, set up a decent standard of living. There’s a huge amount of discussion to take place to ensure there’s a real fairness there."

Israeli soldiers enjoy torturing Palestinians: report

Webmaster — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:08:16 +0000
Israeli soldiers enjoy torturing Palestinians, both men and women, and many of them use it to discharge energy, according to a recent study by an Israeli psychologist. "At one point or another of their service, the majority of the interviewees enjoyed violence," Nufar Yishai-Karin, a clinical psychologist at the Hebrew University, told The Observeron Sunday, October 21. Interviewing 18 Israeli soldiers and three officers, Yishai-Karin heard confessions of brutal assaults troops routinely commit against Palestinians. All of the interviewees were among those serving with her at an army base in Rafah in the Gaza Strip. After finishing service, Yishai-Karin spent seven years investigating soldiers' abuse of Palestinians during the first intifada in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some of the interviews soldiers revealed how they enjoyed the intoxication of power when they abuse helpless Palestinians. "It's like a drug," one solider told her. "If I don't go into Rafah and if there isn't some kind of riot once in some week, I go nuts." God For some of the Israeli soldiers, bashing the Palestinians made them feel important. "You feel that you are the law. You are the law. You are the one who decides," another soldier said. "As though from the moment you leave the place that is called Eretz Yisrael [Israel] and go through the Erez checkpoint into the Gaza Strip, you are the law. You are God." With such pleasure in power, soldiers said, nothing was prohibited. One soldier described an incident when a Palestinian passer-by was shot for no fault of his. "We were in a weapons carrier when this guy, around 25, passed by in the street and, just like that, for no reason - he didn't throw a stone, did nothing - bang, a bullet in the stomach, he shot him in the stomach and the guy is dying on the pavement and we keep going, apathetic," he recalled. "No one gave him a second look." A fourth soldier revealed how he had "no problem" abusing Palestinian women in particular, recalling when he brutally beat one woman for throwing a clog on him. "I kicked her here [pointing to the crotch], I broke everything there. She can't have children." Another woman's fault was to spat at him. "I gave her the rifle butt in the face. She doesn't have what to spit with any more." Culture Yishai-Karin found thatsoldiers start abusingPalestinians from as early as their first weeks oftraining. Yishai-Karin found that the soldiers engage in violence against Palestinians from as early as their first weeks of basic training. Soldiers described how their commanders encouraged brutality against helpless Palestinians and even endorsed it. They recalled how one of their commanders began the first days of his leadership with beating up a four-year-old Palestinian child. "So we do a first patrol with him. It's 6am, Rafah is under curfew, there isn't so much as a dog in the streets. Only a little boy of four playing in the sand," one soldier remembers. "He is building a castle in his yard." Once spotting his target, the Israeli commander suddenly started running with his soldiers around him. "He grabbed the boy. I am a degenerate if I am not telling you the truth. He broke his hand here at the wrist, broke his leg here. And started to stomp on his stomach, three times, and left," said the soldier. "We are all there, jaws dropping, looking at him in shock. "The next day I go out with him on another patrol, and the soldiers are already starting to do the same thing." The report findings, which recently found they way to mainstream Israeli media, sent shock waves in Israel, where new recruits are usually taught they are joining "the most ethical army in the world". Israeli author David Grossman said Yishai-Karin's research is not about individuals but rather about hundreds and thousands "who carried out a kind of 'privatization' of a vast and general evil." Erlik Alhanan, the public face of Israeli refuseniks, has said that the number of soldiers who defy army orders to serve in the occupied territories is on the rise due to illegal army practices. At least 80 percent of reservists who refuse to do their military service in the occupied Palestinian territories have lost confidence in the declared moral principles of the Israeli army. RELATED: Pictures of Israeli soldiers possing with a dead Palestinian like a "trophy" kill hunting photo:

Tributes flow for Mustafa (Crazy John) Ilhan

Webmaster — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 06:11:00 +0000
JOHN Ilhan learned perseverance early. As a 13-year-old he would walk four kilometres from his home in Jacana to his soccer club for training every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. It was his first season. He was not picked for a single game all year. "I used to get disappointed," he once said of the experience, "but I still walked to training every week." The next year, he played only a couple of games. Still he walked. By his third season he was captain — "a good lesson for me about perseverance". It was a lesson learned early, and learned well. He was born Mustafa in Yozgat, in central Turkey, in 1965, the second of three children. Mr Ilhan's academic father, Ali, fled civil war with his young family, arriving in Australia in 1968. The Ilhans settled in working-class Jacana — "as Broady as you could get" — and the young John (he took the Anglicised name early) remembers settling in well. "I don't look Turkish," he said. "I found it easy. But the Turkish people, because of their dark complexion, they found it hard in those days. I was quite lucky." But things were far from easy for the family. Unable to find work as an engineer despite his qualifications, Ilhan snr had to take a job on the Ford production line. Soon, his wife, Nezaket, joined him. "I didn't see my parents when I was growing up because they were doing shiftwork," Mr Ilhan would recall. An entrepreneurial streak emerged early. He started selling The Herald on a street corner, later selling the business to a friend, for a tidy profit, of course. But after a brief dalliance with an arts course at La Trobe University — he found uni life "too educational" — he found himself on the same Ford production line his parents worked. He soon jumped to head office as a sales clerk, but then a chance conversation led to him landing a job selling mobile phones at Strathfield, in Sydney Road, Brunswick. Here he discovered his gift, topping sales records for each of his three years with the company. "I realised I had good people skills. I was dealing with senior management and selling 40 phones at a time." In 1991, he left Strathfield after a dispute over commissions and, half out of spite, set up his own shop, Mobileworld, just across the road. He had nothing more than $700 of his own money, a loan from his parents and a makeshift shop counter a mate knocked up out of plywood. Mobileworld's first two years were hard. His business partner walked out. At one stage he could not afford to stock any phones, and was forced to sell from catalogues. When a customer brought a phone from the brochure, he would have to lock up the store and race into town to buy one. Many times, he thought he was going under. But the business had two big breaks. The first was a name change, his company's new moniker taken after a potential customer described his prices as "crazy". That begat the Crazy John's logo — he of the unruly hair, bulging crossed eyes and lolling tongue — which Mr Ilhan bought from a friend for $20 and hardly changed. The second great break was Mr Ilhan's decision to go out on a limb to establish more stores across Melbourne with limited backing from Telstra. The giant business, he was told, would throw in a few dollars, but the rest was up to the store operator. Mr Ilhan developed a reputation as a generous boss, who would shout his workforce holidays to Hawaii, Fiji and Bali. But he was also as an exacting taskmaster, writing emails to staff who he thought were underperforming or unprofessional. The franchise now has 120 stores and 700 staff. In 2004, Mr Ilhan was named as Australia's wealthiest person under 40, with an estimated worth of $300 million. Outside his business, which he admitted often consumed him "12 hours a day, seven days a week", Mr Ilhan was a devout Muslim, as well as a devoted husband to Patricia and father to daughters Yasmin, 9, Hannah, 8, Jaida, 6 and their son, Aydin, 10 months. He was a generous philanthropist, pouring millions into his own charity, the Ilhan Foundation, to help needy children. And when his youngest daughter developed a potentially deadly allergy to peanuts, he donated $1 million to set up a new allergy research centre at the Royal Children's Hospital. But his life was also touched by tragedy. In 1996, his elder brother by two years, Celal — known as Gerald — died. "They said it was suicide, that he had tried to hang himself, but there was some doubt whether it was suicide," Mr Ilhan said later. Mr Ilhan's other great love was sport, of any kind. It was soccer, he often said, that kept him out of trouble as a teenager, and he developed an affection for the Richmond Football Club as a young man (last year, he was rumoured to be contemplating a run for the club's presidency). But he also bought a $6 million stake in the rugby league team Manly and tried, unsuccessfully, to bankroll the nascent Melbourne Victory, and rebadge Perth's Subiaco Oval as Crazy John's Stadium. RELATED:
From small change to $300m: the too-short life of John Ilhan
Simon Mann, Ben Schneiders, Jesse Hogan and Ben Doherty - The Age http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/the-tooshort-life-of-john-ilhan/2007/10/23/1192941066134.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 IT DAWNED a seemingly ordinary day in a crazy life, but within a few short hours John Ilhan, the high-energy mobile phone salesman-turned-entrepreneur who amassed a $310 million personal fortune, was dead. Mr Ilhan, who was 42, collapsed while on his morning walk along the beachfront near his Brighton home about 7.15am yesterday. No one had expected it. He had appeared fit and well. And despite a high-profile multimillion-dollar legal stoush with Telstra that had been played out in recent months, the man who had commandeered the moniker "Crazy John" in a canny marketing ploy had apparently been stress-free and on top of the world. "He was playing lots of golf, he'd been away with his family on a few holidays the last few months and he was very comfortable with the way things were going," said his company's managing director, Brendan Fleiter. On Monday about 11pm, Mr Ilhan had telephoned television reporter Jonathan Creek of Channel Seven's Today Tonight program, after the screening of a story about him. The pair had arranged to meet with their partners last night for dinner at Melbourne's Flower Drum restaurant. Mr Ilhan had appeared in good spirits, according to program host Anna Coren, who had spent a day with Mr Ilhan and his family about three weeks ago working on the story. "He called (Creek) and said he really liked the yarn," in which Mr Ilhan had discussed the trauma of the suicide death of his brother as well as his own rags-to-riches tale. "Oh my God, he was so fit and healthy, just this amazing enthusiasm for life," Coren said. "I asked him what (would be) his legacy. Not only does he want to be remembered as a successful businessman but as a family man." The son of Turkish migrants, Mr Ilhan grew up in working-class Broadmeadows and would often describe himself proudly as driven and self-made. He was married to Patricia and had four children — daughters Jaida, Hannah and Yasmin, and a son, Aydin, who is 10 months. Mr Ilhan was found on the bike path near the Elwood Croquet Club by passers-by, who called for help. Bystanders performed CPR on the unconscious Mr Ilhan for several minutes before ambulance officers arrived. They worked for more than half an hour trying to revive him. He is believed to have had a heart attack. Mr Ilhan, a devout Muslim who did not drink, had given up smoking only in the past year. But he appeared in good health. "He had a gym at his house. He walked every morning. He was a smoker, but he'd given up. He was fit and healthy as far as we were all aware, and (as far) he was aware," Mr Fleiter said. Mr Ilhan's death prompted a stream of visitors to the family's home in Brighton's famous "golden mile", which Mr Ilhan bought in 1999 for $6.5 million, a then record price for the suburb. They included Ahmed Fahour, NAB's chief executive of Australian operations. The bank recently took a 20 per cent stake in the Crazy John business that Mr Ilhan started in the early 1990s with one store and $1000. "I'm deeply shaken and saddened," Mr Fahour said. Mr Ilhan's death drew comment from the Prime Minister and the Premier, as well as a host of business associates, including his competitors. Mr Howard, campaigning in Adelaide, hailed the businessman as "a wonderful migrant success story, (who) came here as a three-year-old and built a huge business through hard work and inspirational commercial leadership". Premier John Brumby said Mr Ilhan "got a lot out of Australia. It was a land of opportunity — he'd tell you that — and he made the most of it. But he put back in, I think, much more than he ever took out." Mr Ilhan was a strong supporter of charities and last year set up the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation with his wife, after the couple discovered their daughter Jaida was allergic to peanuts. The foundation's aim is to support research into determining the causes of food allergies. Mr Fleiter, who was Mr Ilhan's lawyer before joining Crazy John's as its managing director, described Mr Ilhan as a "big thinker". Asked what drove Mr Ilhan, Mr Fleiter said: "I can tell you it wasn't money, it was success … to be the best in what he did, to give customers what they wanted … He was a proud person but also a humble person, and someone who could relate to ordinary people. He was a complex man. He was a big risk taker. He backed himself." Mr Ilhan opened his first mobile phone store in 1991 in Sydney Road, Brunswick, and by 1998 Crazy John's had added another 14. Today the company has more than 120 outlets, employing more than 700 staff. In the latest Business Review Weekly "Rich List", Mr Ilhan appears as Australia's 126th richest person. Family friend and fellow Broadmeadows "old boy" Eddie McGuire characterised Mr Ilhan's success story: "Turkish boy, lands in Broadmeadows, has a shopfront in Brunswick, turns it into a multimillion-dollar business. But he still looked after his parents and looked after the community and put everything he could back into it. John was a gentle, loving, respectful, tremendous person."

Iran looms over Turkey crisis diplomacy

Webmaster — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:59:48 +0000
With the crisis on the Turkish-Iraqi border region at its peak, and amid distinct signs that a large scale Turkish invasion is imminent, eyebrows were raised when Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdogan left Ankara on Monday and headed for London. Why London? In another time, in the year 1914, it might have made sense - an Ottoman sultan facing the Arab revolt instigated by Britain, setting out on a voyage from Constantinople, seeking settlement. Of course, analogies from history never quite apply. But there is something extraordinary about these diplomatic activities. United States President George W Bush revealed on October 17 that he's "told people that if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them [Iran] from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon". Man has never before in his bloody history waged preemptive war against the spread of knowledge. The nearest he came was with the Inquisition when he insisted knowledge was heresy. But when Bush warns of preemptive war, it must be taken seriously. With a world war on its doorstep, Turkey is coming under enormous pressure to take sides. Erdogan did the right thing visiting Britain. He should check out the thinking in London, pick up signals. The sun may have set on the British Empire, but London still has an enviable say in the affairs of Mesopotamia. The London Times quoted British Defense Ministry sources on Sunday saying that SAS (Special Air Service Regiment) commandos, operating jointly with the US and Australian special forces units, have engaged in at least a dozen intense firefights in the recent weeks with Iranian border guards. The newspaper spoke of British special forces having repeatedly crossed into Iran several times in recent weeks, and of "persistent reports of American special-operations missions inside Iran preparing for a possible attack". It's Iran, stupid!It seems a coincidence that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also happened to be visiting London on Monday. Miri Eisin, Olmert's spokesman, said a meeting with Erdogan had been "added" to the Israeli prime minister's itinerary, and that they would likely discuss Iran's nuclear ambitions and the Palestine peace moves. But why the hurry? It is hardly a fortnight since the Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan visited Israel. Besides, if the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, is to be believed, there is still plenty of time for diplomacy with Iran. He told Le Monde newspaper over the weekend, "I cannot judge their intentions, but, assuming Iran does intend to acquire a nuclear bomb, it would need between another three and eight years to succeed. All the intelligence services agree on that. I want to get people away from the idea that Iran will be a threat from tomorrow, and that we are right now faced with the issue of whether Iran should be bombed or allowed to have the bomb. We are not at all in that situation. Iraq is a glaring example how, in many cases, the use of force exacerbates the problem rather than solving it." Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband left London at the weekend for Washington for consultations over Iraq and Iran, with particular focus on the tensions on the Turkish-Iraqi border. Erdogan himself is traveling to Washington at the beginning of November. And whenever there is criticality in Western strategy in the Middle East, little Jordan gingerly pops up. To be sure, King Abdullah is visiting Turkey next week. An apparent theme running through all this diplomatic activity is the snowballing crisis in the Turkish-Iraqi border region. But somewhere in the near background, there is the lengthening shadow of the Iran question. Israeli diplomatic activity has picked up sharply. Olmert has just concluded a packed European tour. Israeli intelligence officials and opinion makers in the strategy community are fanning out and are descending on friendly capitals such as New Delhi. They carry fearsome tales about Iran. Israel seems geared up for a big-time role. The point is, several unanswered questions remain about the sudden eruption of Kurdish violence in Turkey's eastern provinces bordering Iraq and Iran. Some templates are visible. The PKK enigmaIt is at once obvious that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is not acting on its own. The PKK cadres are extremely well equipped and far better trained than at any time in their 25-year campaign of violence. Equally, it is common knowledge that the president of the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, Massoud Barzani, is playing hide and seek (which comes naturally to a wily Kurd reared in the tough mountains of his homeland) - publicly dissociating from the PKK; pleading inability to curb PKK activities from bases located in territory under his control; but reserving the right to oppose any Turkish cross-border operations in pursuit of the PKK. There is also much evidence that weapons given by the US to Barzani, ostensibly for fighting al-Qaeda, are finding their way into the PKK's hands. How this can happen no one cares to explain. Barzani is a staunch ally of the US - and of Israel. The US pleads its forces are overstretched in Iraq and cannot do anything much by way of curbing PKK activities. Yet nothing much can happen in that region without US acquiescence. It is a region where the US Special Forces have been active in kidnapping visiting Iranian functionaries. They are pretty much clued in on what goes on there. The Kurdish region is a crucial theater of US strategy in Iraq. The US is using northern Iraqi Kurdistan as a launching pad for undertaking covert activities within Iran. The same is the case with Israel. Israeli businessmen are having a whale of a time in northern Iraq. They are there for the long haul. They have bought up much real estate in and around Suleymaniah. They are traveling in a gravy train with corrupt Kurdish local officials. They have grandiose business plans riveted around the evacuation of northern Iraq's oil and gas via Turkish pipelines. They are thick with Barzani too. Northern Iraq is a region where Israel has established a very strong intelligence presence over the past four years. It is a region that is central to Israel

Hindus confess to Gujarat Muslim massacre

Webmaster — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:38:55 +0000
A Hindu politician confessed that Modi had given the Hindu mobs the thumbs-up. An Indian weekly magazine has released a series of videotaped confessions of Hindu activists of hacking hundreds of Muslims to death in the southern state of Gujarat and detailing blatant state collusion over the 2002 massacre, reported the Washington Post on Friday, October 26. "It is a very disturbing story," said Tarun Tejpal, the editor of the weekly Tehelka, which released the confessions. "It is a story that makes me worry about the kind of India we are living in." The videos showed Hindu activists and politicians bragging about hacking Muslims to death and burning their bodies. Some activists confessed that they doused petrified Muslims in kerosene and burned them alive. Another activist said that he slit open the stomach of a pregnant Muslim woman. "There is a complete absence of remorse in these confessions," said Tejpal. "The perpetrators of the violence have themselves confessed to the crime." The videos are the result of a six-month investigation by a by a Tehelka investigative reporter, who posed as a research scholar and spoke to the activists. Up to 2,500 people, mostly Muslims, were hacked and burnt to death by Hindu extremists in Gujarat in 2002. The carnage took place after 59 Hindu pilgrims were died on train in a fire some blamed on Muslims. India's Supreme Court has accused the Hindu nationalist government in Gujarat of being complicit in the killings. Gujarat carnage was the worst religious violence India had seen in years. India is home to the world's largest Muslim population after Indonesia and Pakistan. Hindus account for more than 80 percent of the country's 1.1 billion population while Muslims make up about 13 percent. State Collusion The video also showed an Indian Hindu politician confessing that Gujarat's chief minister Narendra Modi had given the green light for the Hindu extremists to go ahead with their rampage. "He (Modi) had given us three days to do whatever we could," admitted Haresh Bhatt, a leader of Bajrang Dal, a hardline Hindu group affiliated to the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. "He said he would not give us time after that, he said this openly," he was quoted as saying by Reuters. Modi, who is seeking a reelection in December state elections, earlier claimed that the massacre was a spontaneous reaction to the train fire. Arvind Pandya, a Gujarat government counsel at a riot inquiry panel, said Modi's "blood was boiling" when he first heard of the train fire. "His reaction was like this, 'if he were not a minister he would have burst bombs ... detonated a few bombs in Juhapura'," Pandya said, referring to a Muslim suburb in Gujarat's main city Ahmedabad. Indian Muslims said the videos were no surprise. "None of these confessions are new to us. We have experienced all this firsthand," said Shakeel Ahmed, a legal activist in Gujarat and a member of the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights. He, however, said that the videotaped confessions mount pressures on the state government to act against the perpetrators. "The perpetrators themselves are admitting to the heinous crimes," he said. "Whether it will bring justice depends on political will. Many of the accused are our rulers today. Who will investigate them?" Right groups complain that little has been done to catch the culprits. They insist that there was no trace of accountability on government officials who reportedly engineered the massacre. Only about a dozen people have been convicted from 3,200 cases filed.

'War on terror' is now war on Iran

Webmaster — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:48:48 +0000
Scores of middle-aged, mild-mannered, bearded gentlemen - the technocrats of the Iranian military bourgeoisie - are now officially enjoying the status of "terrorists", at least from a Washington point of view. The demonization of Iran drags on relentlessly as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has been officially branded a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction and its elite Quds Force a supporter of terrorism. The latter has for months been accused of supplying Shi'ite militias in Iraq with weapons that are killing US soldiers. The new round of US sanctions also targets Iran's Defense Ministry, as well as three major Iranian banks accused of financing "the usual suspects"; Shi'ite militias in Iraq, Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon and - absurd as it may sound - the Taliban in Afghanistan. The banks are the state-owned Bank Melli, Bank Mellat and Bank Saderat. The US State and Treasury departments jointly announced the new sanctions, citing the Islamic Republic's defiance over its continued nuclear program and its alleged involvement with terrorist organizations. The new restrictions are unilateral and aim to prevent businesses and other groups both within and outside the US - but that do work within the US - from dealing with individuals who are part of any of the banks, military forces and other organizations in Iran that were named, including the IRGC. The move follows President George W Bush's comments last week that implied that Iran obtaining nuclear weapons could lead to "World War III", and Vice President Dick Cheney's speech on Sunday in which he said that "the international community is prepared to impose serious consequences" if Iran does not comply with demands. Sanctions do bite - as some Iranian conservatives have started to publicly admit. But Tehran won't be in a hurry to mount a hug-and-kiss expedition to Washington. Cuba has been fighting a US blockade and sanctions for almost five decades - and has managed to survive with dignity. The more than 20 companies and individuals affiliated with the IRGC that are now excluded from the American financial system - and nodes of the international banking system - will still have plenty of opportunities of doing business with Russia, China or Arab monarchies. They may barter. They may exchange goods with services. And they may resort to the black market. As far as Moscow and Beijing are concerned, they are hardly shivering with fear in the face of renewed State Department "warnings" to China not to invest and Russia not to sell weapons to Iran. This new round of sanctions is just one side of the demonization of Iran campaign - as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was once again spinning the other side of the same old scratched vinyl, that of preventing "one of the world's worst regimes from acquiring the world's most dangerous weapons". The International Atomic Energy Agency still has not found any evidence Iran is developing a nuclear program for military use, and has called for the further engagement of Iran, rather than its isolation. Meet the terroristsThe IRGC was founded by a decree of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, in May 1979. In the beginning, in pure revolutionary fashion, it was the "eyes and ears" of the revolution, its trusted popular army fighting the enemy within - which could be, according to revolutionary whim, the deposed Shah's supporters, communist militants, ethnic minorities like the Kurds in the northwest or Arabs in oil-rich Khuzestan province, or Western-educated, influential intellectuals. The early revolutionaries in 1979 had two fears: a military coup orchestrated by remaining Shah supporters, or an attack by the US. What happened was the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), started by Saddam Hussein with the hardly silent support of the US and the West. So the popular army immediately had to be converted into a parallel - and soon very powerful - fighting army. Almost 1 million IRGC people - pasdaran (soldiers) and bassijis (young militiamen under their control) - died in that horrendous war, and are today revered as martyrs. The IRGC today numbers, according to their bureau in Tehran, about 130,000. Ground forces have 105,000 soldiers - four divisions, six mechanized divisions and one marine brigade. The air force has 5,000 men and the navy 20,000, with an undisclosed number of vessels equipped with anti-ship missiles. Three separate units man the Shahab-3 missiles, with a 1,500-kilometer range; the new Shahab-4 has a range of 2,000 kilometers. The Quds Force of the IRGC - the key target of US ire - may have as many as 15,000 men. They are specialists in surveillance andspecial operations. It is the Quds Force that trained Iraq's Badr Brigades, the paramilitary arm of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, the party of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim allied with the US. The Badr are firmly ensconced at the Iraqi Ministry of Interior - and it is they who have spawned death squads and accelerated ethnic cleansing in Baghdad. Instead of accusing Iran without any evidence, Washington should take a good look at what its Iraqi allies are up to. The Quds Force has four main bases in Tehran, aside from bases in Mashhad, Qom and Tabriz and a semi-secret base in eastern Lebanon. These bases would in all certainty be hit in the event of an American - or Israeli - strike. It is the IRGC that supplied Hezbollah with the rockets and anti-tank missiles that caused havoc during the Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon in the summer of 2006. In bed with businessAfter the Iran-Iraq war, the IRGC quickly diversified from the battlefield into real estate development. The man who actually gave the go-ahead was then-president Hashemi Rafsanjani, the wily, indestructible pragmatist who is today the actual number two of the regime, behind only Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The business-minded IRGC thrived during the 1990s. Today it controls more than 100 large companies involved in telecoms, road and dam construction, luxury hotels, the auto industry (the Mazda assembly line in Iran) and, crucially, oil and gas exploitation at the giant South Pars field. The IRGC power play is visible in upscale north Tehran in a cluster of high-security buildings occupied by the revolutionary bonyads (foundations). That's also where the IRGC elite enjoys itself in restaurants like the Talaie, with its water fountains and tearoom. The foundations - many directed by IRGC people - don't pay taxes and their budget is under direct supervision of the Supreme Leader. So the IRGC in fact controls an array of both public and private companies, financed by their own network linked to the Iranian Central Bank. They also have extensive connections in the black market - one reason why US sanctions may not bite as much as the Americans believe. President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is an ex-pasdaran himself - thus also a "terrorist" according to Bush administration logic. The same applies to no fewer than two-thirds of the members of the Majlis (parliament). Most of the leadership at the Ministry of Interior is also ex-pasdaran. Five IRGC generals are already under United Nations sanctions, as they are responsible for Iran's nuclear and missile program. The bassijis - essentially a gigantic militia - are the IRGC at street level. They number about 100,000, but in theory could instantly draw on as many as 20 million people - hence they are known in Iran as "the army of 20 million". The bete noire of the bassijis include students (especially those attracted by the West) and Western-minded women and girls bent on showing off their stylish hairdos, fancy makeup and curves under their chadors. The bassijis' main bases virtually surround Tehran; they are capable of blockading the whole city in less than half an hour. We'll bomb you to bits During the years of reformist president Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), the Supreme Leader cleverly manipulated the IRGC for political ends, thus preparing for the arrival to power of Ahmadinejad and his IRGC buddies. Dejected reformists in Tehran swear the IRGC now controls everything: power, wealth and weapons. The IRGC is accused of being involved in all sorts of rackets, from oil smuggling with Iraq to opium trafficking with Afghanistan. Hard evidence is extremely difficult to come by. Investigative reporting in Iran inevitably lands practitioners in jail. What is certain is that the IRGC is flush: US$12 billion in contracts in 2006 alone, including a mega-pipeline and the Tehran metro. A few Iranian ministerial officials, when pressed, admit strictly off the record that the IRGC is in fact a huge industrial-military complex - not exactly like that of the US but rather similar to that of the former Soviet Union - ghostly and as Kafkaesque. Even well-positioned Iranians cannot clearly distinguish who is manipulating whom in the wide net involving the Supreme Leader, the IRGC, the fervent bassiji masses and business and national security interests. By branding the IRGC as terrorist, Washington has in fact declared war on the Iranian power elite. One can imagine what would happen if any developing country branded the US industrial-military complex as "terrorists" - and any number of countries would have plenty of reasons to do so. By stretching its "war on terror" logic to actually naming names, the Bush administration has boxed itself into no other option than regime change in Iran.

All Muslims should vote: Sheikh Taj

Webmaster — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:29:29 +0000
AUSTRALIA'S most influential Muslim cleric has called on members of his community to participate in democracy and make an informed decision in the upcoming federal election.Sheik Taj al-din al-Hilaly, the Imam of Australia's largest mosque, in Lakemba, encouraged Muslims to vote based on the credentials of their local candidate. He has also criticised Paul White, the co-ordinator of the organisation Muslims for Peace, who claims that any Muslim who votes becomes an apostate (one who denounces one's faith). "I call (Mr White) to correct his information," Sheik Hilaly said. "Muslims should vote and be active participants in Australia's democratic system." Mr White, who was recently made redundant from the University of Western Sydney, used an essay published in March and distributed through his organisation's website to urge Muslims not to vote. "Any system not based wholly on the law of Almighty Allah is by definition a system of idolatry," Mr White, a convert to Shiite Islam, wrote. "Since Almighty Allah alone is sovereign, He alone is the sole source of all legislation on humanity's affairs and no one has the right to even question this." Mr White refused to answer questions from The Australian yesterday. Sheik Hilaly said voting enabled Muslims to "take a fair and just position and consider the place in the world community of all Australians". "The differences between the two major parties as a whole is like the difference between Coke and Pepsi; they may have a slightly different flavour but they are both still cola," he said. "Muslims should vote for the local candidate who most respects and supports our pluralistic society, whether they are from the Liberal or Labor party."

Heat on PM to cut link to pastor

Webmaster — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 03:10:19 +0000
PRIME Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello are under pressure to distance themselves from an evangelical church leader who has spoken at a meeting of the far right-wing League of Rights. Pastor Danny Nalliah, the head of Melbourne-based Catch the Fire Ministries, has confirmed he addressed the group, despite being warned that they were "anti-Jewish". Pastor Nalliah has been given top-level access in recent months to the Howard Government, which he has endorsed enthusiastically. The revelation of his speech in 2005 has prompted Labor to call on the Government to cease contact with Pastor Nalliah. The row came as the Coalition yesterday sought to promote its Christian credentials at the expense of Labor. Health Minister Tony Abbott said Labor MPs did not have the same Christian commitment as those from the Coalition. Mr Nalliah made headlines after he was charged in a test case of Victoria's religious vilification laws for comments he made about Muslims in 2002. The case ran for five years, during which Mr Costello supported the pastor. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal initially found he had vilified Islam, but the verdict was quashed on appeal. It was eventually resolved at mediation. Last week Mr Nalliah led a prayer meeting in Parliament House, to which Mr Howard sent a message. Afterwards, he backed Mr Howard and expressed doubts about Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd's religious beliefs, pointing out he had failed to confirm that Jesus was the son of God when asked on SBS last month. He has told followers that he had held one-on-one meetings with Mr Costello on August 9 and Mr Howard on August 10. That was the same week in which Mr Howard met members of the Exclusive Brethren sect. Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese last night urged the Prime Minister to cut himself from Mr Nalliah. "John Howard needs to distance himself from organisations that think it's acceptable to associate with the League of Rights," he said. Australia Israel and Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein last night expressed dismay about Mr Nalliah giving credibility to the league. "No one claiming credibility should dignify the podium of a body like the League of Rights with its track record - to give them any sort of Respectability or legitimacy," he said. But Mr Nalliah last night did not rule out further meetings with the League of Rights, denying that speaking to the group gave it credibility. "I thought maybe it is a good opportunity to go and speak and I can change some of their thinking," he said of his October 2005 speech. "Let me be honest and truthful - if I am invited again, I will go again. I am not going to talk about anti-Jewish and anti-Islam; my message is about Christ and salvation." Mr Nalliah said he was warned before he went that the League of Rights was anti-Jewish. "One guy in the crowd put his hand up and said 'Do you believe in the Holocaust?'," he recalled. "I said 'To deny the Holocaust would be like saying there will be no daybreak tomorrow morning'." Mr Howard's office declined to comment. Mr Howard has previously said that "association with the League of Rights is unacceptable". A spokeswoman for Mr Costello declined to say if he would distance himself from Mr Nalliah. "The Treasurer has been a vocal, public and lifelong critic of the League of Rights." Mr Nalliah praised Mr Costello again yesterday, saying he appreciated both he and the Prime Minister taking "a stand against multiculturalism". "One thing I love about Peter and John Howard is saying people who come here should not try to change this place to their own nation." While Mr Rudd has tried to overturn the antagonism between the churches and his predecessor Mark Latham, he has questioned the closeness of the Government to fringe groups such as Catch The Fire and the Exclusive Brethren. But Mr Abbott said the fact the ALP was willing to do a preference deal with the Greens - who he said were hostile to many things Christians thought important - should sound a "very cautionary note" to Christians who were considering voting Labor. "Labor's enthusiasm to do a deal with the Greens I think calls into question (its) depth and sincerity in these areas," Mr Abbott said. Mr Abbott - the Coalition's most prominent Christian - was speaking to The Age in response to the establishment of a website by The Australian Christian Lobby, which is targeting churchgoers in marginal seats. He said the criteria the ACL used to assess the parties was up to it, but he pointed out that half the lower house Labor MPs "declined to take an oath on the Bible" after the last election. "That's not necessarily the be all and end all, but nevertheless it does suggest to me . . . as a collective Labor politicians don't have the degree of Christian commitment (that Coalition politicians do)," he said.

English enriched by Centuries of borrowed Arabic words

Webmaster — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 00:15:19 +0000
For 1000 years, Arabic was the primary international language of commerce, scholarship and politics, much as English is in today's world. In fact, over the centuries English adopted many words that were either borrowed directly from Arabic, or were absorbed indirectly through other languages, especially Spanish. Even today, Arabic still accounts for the greatest number of Eastern elements in English. The lists of examples that follow are only a brief sampling of the many more words available; perhaps some will surprise you! No computer, nuclear plant or microchip design could have been possible without the words and concepts we know as algorithm, algebra, and zero - all of which come from Arabic. The names of many musical instruments -- like lute and guitar - as well as a number of technical performance terms and styles, are also from Arabic roots. Many names of familiar animals, plants, spices, herbs and drinks began as Arabic nouns: saffron, henna, camphor, cotton, apricot, lemon, lime, orange, tamarind, lilac, sherry, mango, coffee, artichoke, spinach, jasmine, ginger, tulip, lotus, shrub, giraffe, gazelle, cobra, zebra, cheetah. If you have ever taken a chemistry course, the word chemistry itself originates with Arabic, as well as nitro, alkali, alcohol, calibre, antimony, arsenic. In your household and daily life, you might easily run into Arabic words that are so common we never give them a second thought: shampoo, sofa, cable, atlas, magazine, pie, pajama, bungalow, mattress, sack, khaki, candy, caramel, jar, sherbet, sugar, syrup, cinnamon, ribs, silk, cheque, chatty, sandal. And, as you might expect, Arabic is very present in slightly more exotic or emphatic English words and proper names: tycoon, carat, chess, checkmate, Sahara, almanac, rum, musk, sesame, tariff, cashmere, mummy, coral, sapphire, jubilee, jargon, thug, Satan, fake, jungle, alchemy, zenith, safari, talc, tartar, zircon, chiffon, amber, Bedouin, Ariel. In military vocabulary, frequently-used terms like hazard, admiral, arsenal and assassin all owe their use to Arabic. But reference books devoted to tracing the English words borrowed from Arabic are rare. Most were written some time ago and do not include contemporary scholarship or changes in our language. The most recent is more than three decades old -- Arabic Contributions to the English Vocabulary, by James Peters and Habeeb Salloum (1973). Two other useful, but dated, titles are: A History of Foreign Words in English, by Mary S. Serjeantson (1935) and Arabic Words in English, by Walt Taylor (1933). Words are much like organic living creatures whose character and meanings evolve over time and circumstance. Those Arabic words that made it into English must have had a fascinating history, much of which has been lost over the centuries. It makes one wonder; Who used the original Arabic words and what were they like? How did these words first come to be spoken by non-Arabs? How many variations did they go through before appearing in English dictionaries? Why are some much easier to trace back to their Arabic roots than others? Linguists have answered some of these questions but there is still much more to be known. Here is a project worthy of far greater attention. Any takers? RELATED:
Islamic Heritage belongs to All -- Architecture and Science
by Mohamed ElmasryOct 27 2007 http://asiapacific.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/46990 Few places throughout the world have remained untouched by the extraordinary, multi-faceted heritage of Islam. For more than 1000 years the unique and unsurpassed achievements of Islamic culture illuminated the known world, building a civilization that in itself formed one of the greatest epics of human history. From the 7th to the 18th centuries - more than an entire millennium -- Islam permeated society with a profound cultural fabric whose influence is still being revealed even in today’s postmodern age. Inspired in new and revolutionary ways by the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as by his Companions and later followers, Muslim artists, architects, scholars and scientists carried the intellectual and creative concepts of Islam from present-day Saudi Arabia across the lands now known as Morocco, Spain, France and Sicily, as well as eastward throughout ancient Persia (now Iran) to India and the Far East. Over time as Islam spread, many lands and many peoples also flowed into the faith, resulting in a diverse global community where all believers became brothers and sisters in spirit, united by their faith in the one God. Thus, diversity developed within unity, expressed in an astonishing breadth and flowering of culture which had a deep and permanent effect on life, art and science throughout societies even beyond Muslim borders. Sadly, however, this noble and living heritage, together with the importance of its worldwide influence, is too little known today among both Muslims and non-Muslims. Islamic architecture is a prime example of how much has been forgotten or left unappreciated. Within the early Islamic world, which included Arabia, the Maghrib (North Africa), Spain, Sicily, Egypt, Turkey, Persia, and India, the foundation of all great building enterprises was based solidly on the precepts of faith. From mosque to mausoleum, Muslim architects and builders devoted their greatest skills to creating edifices that reflected the glory of God, rather than that of humans. Many great historic mosques demonstrate, for example, the enduring success of a major structural innovation replicated by Western builders. This was a radically new method of constructing a dome upon a cube by creating transitional supports between the two - called muqarnas or corner squinches -- such as those found prominently in the Martorana and Cappella Palatinebuilt in Palermo, Sicily, during the 11th and 12th centuries. The minaret (tower) form of the mosque was also adopted by Western architects. In Seville, they simply added to the Giralda, which had originally been built as a minaret. The influence of the minaret may also be seen in some Medieval church towers in rural England and the campanile, or in the bell towers of Renaissance Florence and Venice, as well as somewhat later in the later free-standing church towers common to Scandinavia. Artists and architects of the Islamic world also brought to the West their elegant and daring ways of covering the interior walls of buildings. In Spain’s famed Alhambra at Granada and in the mosques of Isfahan, a breath- taking explosion of beautiful patterns and colors took place. Before long, the techniques of Islamic faience, mosaic and tile design – virtually unequalled before or since -- were absorbed into the mainstream of Western craftsmanship. Architecture was further enhanced by advances in the fields of Islamic sciences and engineering, through the practical works of many great Muslim scientists - al-Razi, al-Biruni, Avicenna, and even the poet-scientist Omar Khayyam - which were also passed on and eagerly adopted by the West. Fascinated by the versatility and potential of machines and mechanics, Muslim inventors developed many new ones, ranging from the ingenious water- clock to enchanting mechanical "automata" (animated figures), also run by water, and regarded as being among the most magical of all diversions. Muslims were also innovative pioneers in another major branch of science - that of optics, or the investigation of vision and the physics of light. Al-Haytham, born in the 10th century, wrote one of the greatest medieval scientific works, the Kitab-al- Manazir, or Book of Optics. This work was the fruit of his detailed exploration of optical illusions, rainbows, and the camera obscura - the beginning of photographic instruments. He also made important discoveries about atmospheric refraction, mirages, and comets, as well as studying the phenomenon of eclipses. His work laid the foundation for later optical developments, such as the microscope and telescope. Al-Haytham’s exhaustive studies in optics and related fields influenced Western scientific thought for centuries. Muslim scientists such as Jabir bin Hyan lived and worked during the 8th century. And as early as the 10th century, the Baghdad scientist-historian al-Masudi spoke of the process of evolution from mineral, to plant, to animal, to human being -- a concept gradually inherited by Western scholars, reaching fruition nine centuries later in the works of England’s Charles Darwin. For more information on Islamic Heritage please visit: www.islamichistorymonth.com

Musharraf Declares Emergency Rule in Pakistan

Webmaster — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:24:45 +0000
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday, suspending the constitution, replacing the chief justice before a crucial Supreme Court ruling on his future as president, and cutting communications in the capital. His leadership threatened by an increasingly defiant court and an Islamic movement that has spread to Islamabad, Musharraf's emergency order accused some judges of "working at cross purposes with the executive" and "weakening the government's resolve" to fight terrorism. Seven of the 17 Supreme Court judges immediately rejected the emergency, which suspended the current constitution. Police blocked entry to the Supreme Court building and later took the deposed chief justice and other judges away in a convoy, witnesses said. In an address to the nation late Saturday on state-run television, Musharraf said Pakistan was at a "dangerous" juncture, its government threatened by Islamic extremists. He said he hoped democracy would be restored following parliamentary elections. "But, in my eyes, I say with sorrow that some elements are creating hurdles in the way of democracy," said Musharraf, who was wearing civilian clothes and spoke firmly and calmly. "I think this chaos is being created for personnel interests and to harm Pakistan." Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, a longtime rival of Musharraf who recently returned from eight years of exile, flew back to Pakistan from Dubai where she was visiting family. She left the airport under police escort; her house was surrounded by paramilitary troops. The government halted all television transmissions in major cities other than state-controlled Pakistan TV. Telephone service in the capital, Islamabad, was cut. The order drew swift complaints from the United States and Britain — Musharraf's main Western allies. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged restraint on all sides and a swift return to democracy in Pakistan.The United States "does not support extraconstitutional measures," Rice said from Turkey, where she was participating in a conference with Iraq's neighbors. But, in justification, the emergency order obtained by The Associated Press said "the constitution provides no solution for this situation, there is no way out except through emergent and extraordinary measures," it said. Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup and has been a close ally of the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, has struggled to contain spreading Islamic militancy that has centered along the Afghan border and spread to the capital and beyond. Hundreds have died in recent weeks. Pakistanis have increasingly turned against the government of Musharraf, who failed earlier this year to oust Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry — the chief justice replaced Saturday. Rice said that to her knowledge, U.S. officials had yet to hear directly from Musharraf after his declaration."Whatever happens we will be urging a quick return to civilian rule" Rice told reporters traveling with her in Turkey, and a "return to constitutional order and the commitment to free and fair elections." Crucial parliamentary elections meant to restore civilian rule are due by January. Musharraf himself was overwhelmingly re-elected last month by the current parliament, dominated by his ruling party, but the vote was challenged. The Supreme Court has emerged this year as the main check on Musharraf's dominance and is due to issue a verdict before his current term expires Nov. 15. Most analysts thought Musharraf was on shaky legal ground in his re-election by lawmakers last month — a vote that was boycotted by most of the opposition — but they still expected the court to rule in his favor to prevent further destabilizing Pakistan. However in recent days some judges had made comments that they would not be swayed by threats from senior officials that an emergency might be declared if the court ruled against the general. The seven Supreme Court judges rejected the declaration of emergency and ordered top officials, including the prime minister, and military officers not to comply with it. The two-page ruling said there were no grounds for an emergency "particularly for the reasons being published in the newspapers that a high profile case is pending and is not likely to be decided in favor of the government." At least seven trucks brought armed police and paramilitary ranger troops to Constitution Avenue that passes in front of the court, Parliament and the official residences of the president and prime minister. Paramilitary troops behind rolled barbed wire blocked access to an official compound housing lawmakers — barring even wives, children and even a ruling party senator from entering. Bhutto, seen by many supporters as key to a possible return to democracy, went to Dubai after being targetted by assassins in Pakistan last month. Suicide bombers attacked her homecoming parade after eight years in exile, killing more than 140 people. Musharraf's order allows courts to function but suspends some fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution, including freedom of speech. It also allows authorities to detain people without informing them of the charges.In Karachi, about 100 police and paramilitary troops surrounded Bhutto's house and a bomb disposal squad searched the building, witnesses said. There were reports of gunfire in several districts of the city, but it appeared to be aerial firing, police said.The emergency was expected to be followed by arrests of lawyers and other perceived opponents of the government, including civil society activists and possibly even members of the judiciary itself, a ruling party lawmaker said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Private Geo TV reported the arrest of the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan — a lawyer for Chaudhry in the case that led to his reinstatement in July. With telephone lines cut, it was not possible to contact government spokesmen for confirmation.Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister who was deported in September as he tried to return from exile, condemned the emergency and said Musharraf should resign. He also urged the people of Pakistan to rise against Musharraf.

Musharraf's "Second Coup"

Webmaster — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:40:37 +0000
The dailies accused Musharraf of targeting the independent-minded judiciary and media. Pakistan's leading dailieson Sunday, November 4, fired a fusillade of attacks at President Pervez Musharraf's decision to impose emergency rule, suspend the constitution and sack the top judge. "So we are back to square one. Back to October 12, 1999," read the headline of the daily Dawn, referring to the military coup that brought Musharraf to power eight years ago. "All the gains over the years have gone down the drain," said the English-language daily, which was set up by Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah. "The people have been cheated." Musharraf declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution blaming that on terrorism and the Supreme Court's interventions. After the Supreme Court ordered the suspension of emergency rule, he sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and appointed a replacement. Police and security forces have rounded up the country's leading opposition leaders, except former premier Benazir Bhutto. Musharraf also imposed sweeping reporting curbs that ban any coverage "that defames, and brings into ridicule or disrepute the head of state" on pain of up to three years' jail. The Dawn rejected Musharraf's claims he was fighting terrorism. "No one is going to accept what he is going to tell us, neither the people of Pakistan, nor the aid-givers," said the Dawn. "Can a general who does not enjoy the people's mandate really carry the nation along and fight terrorism alone?" The state of emergency also throws into doubt parliamentary elections slated for January, as well as a Washington-brokered power-sharing deal between Musharraf and former premier Benazir Bhutto. Bhutto told Britain's Sky News television that the country was regressing towards greater dictatorship. Former premier Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted by Musharraf in the 1999 coup, asked him to step down, warning that Pakistan was heading towards chaos. Black Saturday The News, another English-language newspaper, dubbed the declaration of an emergency "Black Saturday". "November 3 will go down as another dark day in Pakistan's political and constitutional history," it said in an editorial. "It can be safely said that this is one of General Pervez Musharraf's gravest errors of judgment, and a sorry indication that nothing has been learnt from the mistakes of the past." The paper also questioned the move would enhance anti-terror efforts. "Such a draconian step will also give little effect on our ability to fight terrorism and extremism." The paper said Musharraf targeted the judiciary worried about an impending Supreme Court ruling on the legality of his re-election on October 6. The Supreme Court was still deciding whether he was eligible to run for reelection in October while still serving as army chief. "He has sent the country into a tailspin just to save his job," the Nation said. "It would be fair to assume that emergency has been imposed only to target two institutions: the judiciary and the media." Private television channels were blacked out on Saturday and Sunday, leaving only state television on air showing re-runs of Musharraf's late night address to the nation and advertisements promoting the government. The Daily Times went further. "We have a state of martial law, whatever the government may say and however long it may last," it said. "We should expect the lawyers, civil society groups and most, but not all, the opposition parties to launch a spirited protest on the streets and boycott the courts," it added. "We should also expect a surge of terrorist activities and bomb blasts by Taliban and al Qaeda elements to take advantage of the situation." Crackdown Scores of opposition leaders and activists have been detained. Anticipating a possible uprising by opposition activists and the masses, authorities have arrested or held under house arrest almost all leading opposition figures, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP). Javed Hashmi, the acting chief of former premier Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N party, was arrested in a raid on his house in the central city of Multan. "I am neither afraid of prison nor of generals because I have served the major part of my political life in prison," he told reporters outside his home. Hashmi was freed by the independent-minded Supreme Court in July after three years in jail after being slapped with a 23-year term in 2004 on treason charges for criticizing the army. Khawaja Asif, a firebrand central leader of the party, was also placed under house arrest. Nationalist opposition leaders Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Qadir Magsi were detained in their home towns in southern Pakistan. The president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan, and other legal leaders including Munir A. Malik, Ali Ahmad Kurd and Tariq Mehmood were taken into custody. The four were counsels for Chief Justice Chaudhry when Musharraf first tried to sack him in March. The police also picked up five lawyers from southwestern Quetta, who were known as staunch supporters of Chaudhry. Politician and cricket legend Imran Khan was also placed under house arrest. "Police entered my house in Lahore and told me that I am placed under house arrest, they did not show me any detention order at all." Khan, who heads the Movement for Justice Party, is at the forefront of an opposition campaign to dislodge Musharraf. He had earlier accused Musharraf of high treason for declaring emergency. "He is a power-grabber and wants to cling to power at all costs." Lawyers called for a countrywide strike on Monday. "We are launching our struggle from tomorrow. Lawyers will be observing a strike tomorrow. We will be holding protests and boycotting courts," Hamid Ali Khan, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, told Reuters on Sunday. A lawyers movement emerged as the vanguard of an anti-Musharraf campaign after the army chief sacked Chaudhry.

Backlash over new Islamic school

Webmaster — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:38:25 +0000
Up to 1000 people have protested against the building of a private Islamic school in Sydney's south-west as the backlash against the project - including a text message campaign - builds. The proposed Islamic school for Camden has outraged thousands of residents, some of whom say it would bring violence to the suburb and turn it into a "dirty looking town like Lakemba". On October 17, Camden Council made public an application from the Quranic Society to build Camden College, a primary school and high school for 600 students each on Burragorang and Cawdor Roads. The site is now farm land and the one house on the land might be turned into a caretaker's residence. Last night's meeting was not advertised as a protest, but a call for a show of hands from those behind the plan for the school attracted only a few responses from the crowd. "This will put Camden on the map," one speaker said. Some residents have also been circulating a text message urging people to voice their opposition to the council. "The council requires 600 written dated n signed letters objecting2the proposal of the muslim school in camden. DONT MISS the oppoutunity2have your say before its2late," the message says. It gives a postal address for the mayor and tells recipients to forward the message to everyone they know. However, Camden mayor Chris Patterson said the 600-letter requirement cited in the text message was "inaccurate". "I'd recommend people call council and find out the information that is correct. That will help them understand the process," he said. Cr Patterson said last night's meeting had been "well behaved" and that he estimated 700 to 1000 people were there. "I don't think anyone that spoke, certainly who I saw, was inciting [hatred]," he said. "The people who spoke - I didn't hear them all - were very, very good. "They were saying there's a right way and a wrong way to go about this. "The right way is to do submissions on planning grounds." Cr Patterson said most of the 270 responses received by council opposed the plan on "perceived problems with traffic, rural lifestyle and amenities". But concerns aired in posts on the local newspaper's website were more blunt. A Camden Advertiser reader, who identified herself only as Hayley, said she felt sick. "The thought of our beautiful Camden accommodating to this religion is a disgrace ... This Islamic school will change the town forever," she said. A resident of 14 years, Gary Wright, said if Camden Council wished to bring crime and corruption to Camden and make it a "dirty looking town like Lakemba I supose [sic] they will go ahead anyhow". In the 2006 census, Camden had 3166 residents of which 69 per cent identified themselves as Christian and 13 per cent as havingno religion. The spokesman for the Quranic Society, Jeremy Bingham, said he had anticipated the religious backlash. "People fear what they don't yet understand," he said. "There's nothing at all for people to be afraid of any more than they need to be afraid of Catholics or Jews or Protestants." Kindergarten to Year 3 pupils would be enrolled first to the school, which could open for the 2009 school year. New grades would be added each year and children would not have to be Muslim to enrol, Mr Bingham said. Students would be taught subjects in line with the government syllabus in a structure that allowed for prayer and time dedicated to religious instruction - just like in other church schools, he said. "It's just a school for little kiddies who want to learn to be good Australians and they will be taught to be good Australians. Their religious faith happens to be the Muslim faith, that's all," Mr Bingham said. Mr Patterson said no decision would be made on the proposal until early next year. Development plans are on display at Camden and Narellan libraries and Camden Council until November 14.

Palestinians get some medical care

Webmaster — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:35:51 +0000
After packing the ambulance with medical equipment and bags full of medicine, Dr. Jameel Mashny, Dr. Rami Habash and their nurse, Maysa Youseff, all from the Palestine Medical Relief Society (PMRS), prepare themselves for the long day ahead. If it is business as usual, it will be a day of organised chaos. Screaming children will hide behind their mothers, elderly men will complain that they do not like the taste of their medicine -- and a poor village will get desperately needed medical relief. Next door, Israeli citizens have access to some of the most sophisticated medical care in the world. The Israeli ministry of health runs about 480 medical centres, with one doctor for every 200 people, one of the highest ratios in the world. Every Israeli citizen has access to a fund that will cover the cost of medical treatment, no matter how poor they are. But for hundreds of thousands of poor Palestinian villagers, accessing treatment is a struggle. According to the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), a specialised branch of the United Nations (UN) established specifically for Palestinian refugees, 46 percent of Palestinians do not have enough food, let alone the means to afford medical care. "The biggest problem the villages face today is poverty," Dr. Habash said, as he drove his ambulance down a small, winding gravel road. "Many people have illnesses that are curable, they just need access to medical care." There are only six major hospitals in the entire West Bank, and three are located in East Jerusalem. Because the Israeli wall, deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2004, severs East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank, Palestinians in need of specialised medical treatment are at the mercy of the Israeli military. According to a report published by the Palestinian ministry of health, between 2000 and 2005 at least 129 Palestinians died in ambulances waiting at checkpoints. It said 67 women gave birth and 36 newborn babies died at checkpoints. In all 1,905 ambulances were not allowed through. The international community, and the Palestinian government too, have ignored this growing problem. Last year the Palestinian Authority (PA) received a little over one billion dollars in foreign aid, but the money has not reached the average Palestinian. So grassroots organisations such as the PMRS have sprung up across the West Bank and the Gaza strip. According to the Palestinian ministry of health, there are now 265 medical centres run by non-governmental organisations in the Palestinian territories. Privately funded and independently operated, PMRS aims to provide both affordable and free medical care to all Palestinians. "One day every week PMRS will come to our village to help our people," Khalil al-Shabba, former council leader of Jamala village told IPS. "They know that we have nothing here. We have no doctors, we have no medicine. We love them for this." Jamala is a small and impoverished village. It was only a 15-minute drive from Ramallah before the Israeli military closed the main road to Palestinians six years ago. That road is now used exclusively by Jewish settlers. If any of Jamala's 1,600 inhabitants needs medical care, they must travel more than an hour by a poor gravel road. "And if the Israelis put up a flying checkpoint it can take four hours, or we might not get through at all," Shabba said. Compounding the situation is the fact that most inhabitants are unemployed. The vast majority used to work in Israel, but over the past few years Israel has denied work permits to all but a few. Doctors Habash and Mashny, and nurse Maysa are working to change all this. Every day they travel to a new village, setting up temporary mobile clinics. As the team hurriedly unpacked and prepared their clinic in the two-room building of the Jamala village council, loudspeakers from mosque announced their arrival. It was not long before mothers and their sick children began to queue up. The first patient of the day was a young boy with a swollen eye. Maysa handed the boy's mother some medicine in exchange for a very small sum of money. "He had conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye," Dr. Mashny said. "If he had not been treated he could have gone blind." The mobile clinics charge only three shekels (66 cents) per patient for medicine. And those who cannot afford even this are given medicines for free. "After all, we are doctors not accountants," said Dr. Habash. "You know, sometimes this job can be really hard, but I love it," Maysa said. "I will never stop helping the people of Palestine."

Environmental Responsibility Clear in Islamic Scriptures

Webmaster — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:52:21 +0000
Muslims have many scriptural imperatives that demand we work for the preservation and health of our environment. As we enter an era where the prospect of environmental catastrophe is perhaps greater than the prospect of disaster from any other source, it is especially important that we make environmental protection one of our most pressing priorities. In a talk I gave at the London School of Economics on Islam and the environment, I said that when one considers the dismal record of the Muslim nation-states in dealing with environmental issues, and the virtual lack of any significant grassroots environmental organizations in those countries, one may find it strange that a Muslim should speak about this topic. This sentiment is only reinforced by the fact that the various Islamic movements, which have become the main opponents of the regimes governing those states, lack even the semblance of an environmental agenda. However, the informed Muslim can easily speak on Islam and the environment for a number of reasons. First of all, Islam is described in the Qur'an as the religion of nature. God declares: “Therefore, orient yourself, with all due sincerity and uprightness towards the natural religion; this is consistent with the nature He (God) has created in humankind. Never will there be any change in that nature, this is the straight way. However, most of humanity realizes it not.” (30:30) Having created us, and then through the institution of religion oriented us towards Him, our Creator then situated us in a delicate, intricate system where our success, and indeed the perpetuation of that system, rests in maintaining a balance between all things. He says in the Qur’an: “The Merciful. He has taught the Qur'an. He has created the human being. He has taught him elocution. The sun and moon flow along in their established orbits. The stars and trees recline themselves humbly in prostration. He has raised aloft the firmament of the sky and established the balance. Therefore, cheat not in maintaining the balance. Establish just measure and do not fall short in maintaining the balance.” (54:1-9) In this group of verses, God enumerates some of His Blessings to humanity. He starts by mentioning the Majestic Qur'an. As Muslims, we believe that the Qur'an contains the enduring message of God to humanity. Its guidance defines the worldview of the conscientious believer. God reminds us: “Remember the blessing of God upon you, and the Scripture and Wisdom that He has revealed unto you, by way of admonition. Be mindful of God, and be assured that He knows all things.” (2:231) He then mentions His creation of the human being. This creation is mentioned after His teaching the Qur'an. In other words, God has facilitated our success before our actual creation. From this we should understand that God desires that we succeed in this life. This is consistent with His saying: “God has made faith beloved to you, and adorned it in your hearts. And He has caused you to hate disbelief, corruption, and sin.” (49:7) He then mentions His teaching humanity clear speech, elocution. He has given us the ability to express our thoughts, emotions, feelings and sentiments. Imam al-Baydawi says in his commentary on this verse that this is the greatest encouragement for man to express his gratitude to God for His blessings. An individual may lack the means to express his appreciation for a favor with a gift or some other material possession. However, he never lacks the means to express his thanks verbally. It is as if God is saying to humanity, "I've created you, guided you, and facilitated the means for you to thank me." After this He enumerates some of His blessings, all are to be found in the world of nature. He mentions the “…sun and moon flowing along in their established orbits.” The predictability of their orbits increase their benefit to humanity as signs for guidance, markers of time, and regulators of the tides and winds. “The stars and trees bow in prostration…” The stars prostrate by willingly accepting the Divine Decree governing their arrangement into constellations. These constellations are an adornment for the sky, and a source of guidance for humanity. The trees do so by accepting the determination that they deliver their fruit consistently and uniformly in an appointed season. This regularity makes possible the harvests, which provide repeated benefit to humanity. The trees also absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help to replenish our supply of oxygen. All of these processes are based on laws established by God. “We have raised aloft the firmament of the sky and established the balance...” God has crowned the benefits He has bestowed upon us by raising over us the miraculous canopy of the sky, which protects us, the animals, the plants, and helps to preserve the stored up repositories of water found in glaciers and the polar ice caps. He then declares that He has “established the balance." The balance mentioned here is a symbol of the justice that must characterize all of our transactions. Those transactions must be based on a system of equitable reciprocity and they involve our interactions with everything on earth. Everything in this creation gives and takes fairly: the plants, animals, seas, winds and the Earth. Humans also give and take. However, we often take more than we give. We thereby oppress our fellow humans, the land, the sea, the plants, and beasts. Our Creator, most knowledgeable of this propensity, advises us: “Therefore, cheat not in maintaining the balance.” In other words, do not take more than you give! For if you cheat in this great transaction, you are denying my blessings, and if you deny my blessings, I will withdraw them from you. In this regard, God proclaims: "If you give thanks [for My blessings], I shall increase you in them, and if you refuse [to thank Me], you should know that my punishment is quite severe." (7:167) What we are witnessing in our world is the failure of humanity to maintain the balance, and that failure has led to unfathomable consequences for the land, the sea, and all of the creatures therein. The Qur'an gives us an insightful description of this condition when it declares: “Corruption has appeared on the land and in the sea because of what the hands of humans have wrought. This is in order that we give them a taste of the consequences of their destructiveness in order that they will return to the path of right guidance.” (30:41) Qur’anic exegetes have described this corruption as the drying up of the rains, the disappearance of the harvest of the sea, and other ecologically relevant meanings. One could well look at these and similar Islamic teachings and ask if they had a practical manifestation in Islamic societies. The answer is yes. The protection of natural habitat, the well-being of animals, and related responsibilities were often overseen by appointed officials, members of the world’s first environmental protection agencies. For example, Imam Taj al-Din al-Subki, in his instruction manual to the appointed officials in the Islamic polity, Mu'id al-Ni'am wa Mubid al-Niqam, advises the official overseeing the stuccoing of the city walls: "The person entrusted with stuccoing the walls must first ascertain that no animals are living in them. Otherwise, he might inadvertently cause the death of animals that he has no right to kill, small birds and the like. Were he to do so, he would betray God by killing those animals." He advises the official entrusted with the oversight of the animals: "Among the rights owed to these beasts is that you are sincere in serving them. You must exercise the trust you have concerning them fully. They have no tongues with which to complain to you [concerning abuses], they can only complain to God." Officials charged with overseeing the protection of the forests and trees were also admonished to carefully guard the rights of these living creatures. In the past, Muslims were among the leaders in utilizing earth, wind, sun, water and shade to develop ecologically friendly systems of air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, energy generation, farming and construction. These systems considered well the damage of human activity to the ecosystem. The resulting positive attitudes towards the environment were not unique among pre-modern people. This careful attitude towards the environment is countered contemporarily by one of avarice, greed and neglect facilitated by a global economic climate that allows gross corporate ecological irresponsibility. This shift has led to unimaginable abuse of the Earth's resources and people. At the heart of this abuse is an economic system that is predicated on unlimited growth, while encouraging unimaginable waste. Our planet's finite resource base and limited absorption capacity cannot long endure such a scheme. Unless we change, perhaps the only question left for us to answer will be, "Will we meet our doom by exhausting our available resources or suffocating in our waste?" In conclusion, the current economic arrangement fails on three counts. First of all, as Herman Daley and others point out, it fails to meet the basic needs of the planet's entire population. Secondly, it fails to maintain an acceptable level of biodiversity. Thirdly, it does not ensure a sustainable level of resources for future generations. These failures have their own ecological consequences, global warming being only the most alarming. Muslims, especially here in the West, have an important part to play in addressing the growing ecological crisis. As we know, the overarching objectives of Islamic Law (Maqasid ash-Shari’ah) determine that religion has been instituted to preserve six things: religion itself, life, intellect, wealth, lineage and honor. If the environment that sustains our life and is the primary source of our wealth, is destroyed, then religion is effectively voided as there would be no life, lineage, or wealth left for it to safeguard. Even if we were to limp along, barely surviving in a toxic, ecologically ravaged wasteland, we would have lost our honor, with our wealth and lives likely to follow in short order. How can we change? First of all, as Muslims, we must realize that our religious teachings provide us with a valuable source of meaningful ecological consciousness. Our rich history provides us with many brilliant models, which can serve as the basis for significant strategies in developing alternative energy sources, organizing holistic communities, as well as significant direction in other vital areas. Secondly, we should know that it isn't necessary for us to "reinvent the wheel." There are many non-Muslim groups that are active in addressing a large variety of environmental issues. We can both learn from their experiences and join with them to augment their strength. If we act now, we can help to avert many looming disasters, such as global warming and the associated climate changes, which are already beginning to wreak havoc on our world. If we fail to act, we are only hastening our collective doom.

Police, ASIO review after court debacle

Webmaster — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:48:21 +0000
The Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, yesterday flagged a wide-ranging inquiry into the practices and co-operation of the federal police and ASIO as counter-terrorism authorities deal with a crisis of public confidence following the debacle of the ul-Haque case. The unprecedented investigation comes on the heels of an announcement yesterday by the intelligence watchdog, Ian Carnell, that he will use his powers - akin to those of a royal commission - to examine the misconduct of at least two ASIO officers found by a Supreme Court judge to have kidnapped and falsely imprisoned the Sydney man Izhar ul-Haque. The federal police have also begun a separate, internal investigation into the actions of their officers, also heavily criticised by Justice Michael Adams. The inquiries were prompted by the scathing judgment from Justice Adams this week, which also ruled inadmissible all police records of interviews in the case. That led to the trial being abandoned and the charge against Mr ul-Haque, of training with a terrorist group, dropped. "I'm considering a significant review in consultation with other agencies," Mr Keelty told the Herald yesterday. "We always knew that the interoperability of intelligence and law enforcement was something that our system had not dealt with previously. "It's something we have to ensure is right in terms of the public confidence in policing, intelligence and supporting the criminal justice system." The inquiry would require the co-operation of ASIO, and possibly other arms of the counter-terrorism apparatus, and would probably be headed by a judge. A person with a law enforcement and intelligence background could also be involved. Meanwhile, Mr Carnell, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, took the unusual step of beginning an inquiry under his own motion, rather than the typical procedure of having a matter referred to him by a minister or being prompted by a formal complaint. With powers to compel witnesses to answer questions under oath and hand over any documentation required, Mr Carnell will examine ASIO's general policies and practices when interviewing individuals of security interest at the time Mr ul-Haque was illegally detained and interrogated in 2003. He will also examine ASIO's procedures. Justice Adams noted in his judgment that while at least two ASIO officers had broken the law by kidnapping and falsely imprisoning Mr ul-Haque, their behaviour appeared to be in accordance with the spy agency's protocols. The ASIO officers committed the crimes because they coerced Mr ul-Haque to go on a drive with them in a car and then detained and interrogated him until 4am, even though they only had a search warrant for his house. Compounding the misconduct, an AFP officer sat in on the interviews where Mr ul-Haque was wrongly told he was compelled to answer the ASIO inquiries or face "serious consequences". The officer then took part in a later formal police interview. Mr Carnell can recommend - not enforce - disciplinary action against the ASIO officers and it will be up to the Attorney-General to decide whether to release an unclassified version of his report. Meanwhile, Mr ul-Haque's solicitor, Adam Houda, yesterday gave the strongest indication yet that civil proceedings would be brought against ASIO and the Government for compensation. "I won't rule out civil action. In fact, you could say it's on the cards," he told the Herald. "But it's something I still haven't taken to my client."

ASIO to feel the heat of scrutiny

Webmaster — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:13:24 +0000
The Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, yesterday flagged a wide-ranging inquiry into the practices and co-operation of the federal police and ASIO as counter-terrorism authorities deal with a crisis of public confidence following the debacle of the ul-Haque case. The unprecedented investigation comes on the heels of an announcement yesterday by the intelligence watchdog, Ian Carnell, that he will use his powers - akin to those of a royal commission - to examine the misconduct of at least two ASIO officers found by a Supreme Court judge to have kidnapped and falsely imprisoned the Sydney man Izhar ul-Haque. The federal police have also begun a separate, internal investigation into the actions of their officers, also heavily criticised by Justice Michael Adams. The inquiries were prompted by the scathing judgment from Justice Adams this week, which also ruled inadmissible all police records of interviews in the case. That led to the trial being abandoned and the charge against Mr ul-Haque, of training with a terrorist group, dropped. "I'm considering a significant review in consultation with other agencies," Mr Keelty told the Herald yesterday. "We always knew that the interoperability of intelligence and law enforcement was something that our system had not dealt with previously. "It's something we have to ensure is right in terms of the public confidence in policing, intelligence and supporting the criminal justice system." The inquiry would require the co-operation of ASIO, and possibly other arms of the counter-terrorism apparatus, and would probably be headed by a judge. A person with a law enforcement and intelligence background could also be involved. Meanwhile, Mr Carnell, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, took the unusual step of beginning an inquiry under his own motion, rather than the typical procedure of having a matter referred to him by a minister or being prompted by a formal complaint. With powers to compel witnesses to answer questions under oath and hand over any documentation required, Mr Carnell will examine ASIO's general policies and practices when interviewing individuals of security interest at the time Mr ul-Haque was illegally detained and interrogated in 2003. He will also examine ASIO's procedures. Justice Adams noted in his judgment that while at least two ASIO officers had broken the law by kidnapping and falsely imprisoning Mr ul-Haque, their behaviour appeared to be in accordance with the spy agency's protocols. The ASIO officers committed the crimes because they coerced Mr ul-Haque to go on a drive with them in a car and then detained and interrogated him until 4am, even though they only had a search warrant for his house. Compounding the misconduct, an AFP officer sat in on the interviews where Mr ul-Haque was wrongly told he was compelled to answer the ASIO inquiries or face "serious consequences". The officer then took part in a later formal police interview. Mr Carnell can recommend - not enforce - disciplinary action against the ASIO officers and it will be up to the Attorney-General to decide whether to release an unclassified version of his report. Meanwhile, Mr ul-Haque's solicitor, Adam Houda, yesterday gave the strongest indication yet that civil proceedings would be brought against ASIO and the Government for compensation. "I won't rule out civil action. In fact, you could say it's on the cards," he told the Herald. "But it's something I still haven't taken to my client." RELATED:
ASIO under fire after case falls over
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22748789-17044,00.html jserve.write("/SITE=TAUS/AREA=NEWS.FINANCE.LEGALAFFAIRS/AAMSZ=110X40/"); ipt>David King - The Australian November 13, 2007 AUSTRALIA'S counter-terror agencies have come under intense criticism after another terrorism case collapsed and a judge found ASIO officers had kidnapped and falsely imprisoned the suspect. In a highly embarrassing outcome for the federal Government, commonwealth prosecutors were forced to drop charges against 24-year-old Sydney medical student Izhar Ul-Haque, who was accused of training with the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Toiba in Pakistan in 2003.The collapse of the case follows a series of flawed terror prosecutions including the bungled charges brought against Gold Coast doctor Mohamed Haneef in July and the decision last year by the Victorian Court of Appeal to overturn the conviction of Jack Thomas. In a damning judgment, NSW Supreme Court judge Michael Adams said key interviews, in which Mr Ul-Haque allegedly talked about his activities in Pakistan, were inadmissible because of gross misconduct by ASIO agents and Australian Federal Police officers. He found the ASIO officers - referred to by the pseudonyms B15 and B16 - intimidated, coerced and illegally detained Mr Ul-Haque as they questioned him. "I am satisfied that B15 and B16 committed the criminal offences of false imprisonment and kidnapping at common law and also an offence under ... the Crimes Act," Justice Adams said. "Their conduct was grossly improper and constituted an unjustified and unlawful interference with the personal liberty of the accused." Mr Ul-Haque remained silent outside court. His solicitor, Adam Houda, attacked the decision by authorities to pursue the case. "This has been a moronic prosecution right from the start," Mr Houda said. "The terror laws were introduced, supposedly, to catch terrorists, not brilliant young men like Izhar Ul-Haque. From the beginning this was no more than a political show trial, designed to justify the billions of dollars spent on counter-terrorism." Mr Ul-Haque, who has completed his medical studies, was accused of receiving weapons and combat training from LET during a 20-day introductory course in January and February 2003, before LET was proscribed as a terrorist organisation. When Mr Ul-Haque returned to Australia, Customs officers searched his bags and found books and a letter by him addressed to his family in which he stated that he was going to Kashmir for "jihad" and that he intended to join LeT. He was allowed to go, but was approached by ASIO six months later, in November 2003, at a carpark near Blacktown railway station as he returned from university. He was told he was in "serious trouble" and was taken to a park for questioning. Justice Adams said it was "almost certain" ASIO swooped on Mr Ul-Haque because of his connection with Faheem Lodhi, a Pakistani-born Sydney architect, was sentenced last year to 20 years' jail for plotting a bombing campaign. ASIO agents put Mr Ul-Haque in a car and said: "we can do this the easy way or the hard way". Justice Adams said the officer's "very mode of questioning was intimidating". "He was not told what was being investigated except in the most general terms," Justice Adams said. "He was told, in effect, that he knew what he had done wrong ... This is reminiscent of Kafka. "It was a gross interference by the agents of the state with the accused's legal rights as a citizen, rights which he still has whether he be suspected of criminal conduct or not, and whether he is Muslim or not." University of Sydney anti-terrorism legal expert Ben Saul said the case showed there needed to be greater checks on the power of the intelligence agencies. "It does go to this point about whether the controls on the exercise of ASIO's powers are adequate or not. The checks and balance may well not be strong enough in this area." UNSW terrorism and law project director Andrew Lynch said the judgment could not have been more damning of ASIO and the AFP. "ASIO doesn't normally interview people with a view to prosecuting them," Mr Lynch said. "There really does need to be a better understanding on behalf of the intelligence services of what their involvement in these matters can do to subsequent attempts at prosecution ... The positive to come from it is that the judicial arm is clearly doing a very good job of holding the executive to account." Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said he had confidence in the security agencies. "I don't think it's an embarrassment when the legal system works as intended," he said, noting the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided to discontinue the case. "If there is to be any judgments drawn about the conduct of others in relation to these proceedings, it would come through the proper investigations by the body that is set up to deal with the security agency and that is the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security." ASIO had no comment about the conduct of its officers. The AFP issued a two-line statement. "The AFP is aware of the NSW Supreme Court proceedings today. The AFP is currently examining the ruling in this matter." Justice Adams said it was unlikely the ASIO officer would be disciplined.

ASIO to Sydney Sheikh: deport yourself, please

Webmaster — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:08:26 +0000
ASIO has asked a prominent Sydney Shiite cleric, Sheik Mansour Leghaei, to "voluntarily deport" himself in the latest, bizarre twist in a lengthy bid by the spy agency to enforce an adverse security assessment against him. Sheikh Mansour, who came to Australia from Iran and is a father of four, has hosted Attorney-General Philip Ruddock at his Imam Husain Islamic Centre at Earlwood and been the recipient of a glowing reference from Labor frontbenchers Robert McClelland and Anthony Albanese. He has also been widely praised for his moderate teachings and leading role in setting up inter-faith dialogues. But ASIO has accused him of being a spy for Iran. It also confiscated a notebook from him which it said contains jihadist material. According to ASIO, parts of the book discussed a holy war to be fought with "infidels" who "do not accept the Koran as the book of heaven", and gave advice on spying. However, Sheikh Mansour has said the notebook was translated incorrectly and has denied he is, or was, an Iranian spy. Sheikh Mansour and his legal team have never been able to see the full detail of the security assessment made against him that required the Department of Immigration to revoke his visa. He had appealed to the Federal Court in 2005, but it ruled that national security considerations overruled any notion of procedural fairness or natural justice. Last week the High Court declined an application for him to appeal the decision. As Sheikh Mansour has four dependants who are Australian residents, including one child who was born in Australia, he said that meant he could not be forcibly deported. That led to the Australian Government Solicitor, acting for ASIO, to ask Sheikh Mansour this week to voluntarily leave the country. "That's the dilemma they have," Sheikh Mansour said yesterday. "I don't intend to go. I have asked the community and they don't want me to go." ASIO yesterday declined to comment. RELATED: Against Deporting Sheikh Mansour Leghaei, Muslim Bashing: http://forums.muslimvillage.net/index.php?showtopic=38719

Cyclone leaves millions facing starvation in Bangladesh

Webmaster — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:01:01 +0000
As a helicopter of Bangladesh Air Force hovered over Dublar Char, a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, hundreds of people starving for days gathered on an open space for some food and drinking water, but the helicopter failed to find any space to land on. The impoverished people, mostly fishermen, who had lost everything in the decade’s worst tropical cyclone, fought each other as the helicopter crew air dropped packets of dry food and water on the island. That scene was repeated over the weekend in many areas of Bangladesh’s southern coastline that took the brunt of Cyclone Sidr and the tidal wave that ripped through the country on Thursday. "I’ve visited Southkhali of Bagerhat district on Sunday …. I’ve seen people starving for three days... I’ve seen people searching through the rubble for missing relatives... I’ve seen people buried under the debris of their houses,’’ Andrew Biraj, a photojournalist, told IPS on Sunday. Tens of thousands of survivors were reported waiting for relief supplies amidst their wrecked homes, three days after the disaster struck. Rescuers have already recovered thousands of bodies, suggesting that the death toll may be far higher than the government figure of 2,300 reported on Sunday morning. "The deaths may reach up to 10,000," said Mohammad Abdur Rob, chairman of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, which is at the forefront of rescue and relief operations. According to Red Crescent estimates more than five million people were in dire need. This is beyond the capacity of a country that is already one of the poorest in the world. Aid workers, joined by the Bangladesh armed forces, are still struggling to clear roads to get their vehicles through to the worst-hit areas. In places elephants had to be pressed into service to clear away big trees, uprooted by 220-240 kmph strong winds. Different countries, international agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), local organisations and the Bangladesh government have pledged relief worth millions of dollars, but only a few of the millions of victims crying for food, water and medicine could be reached. The cyclone that roared in on Thursday evening rom the Bay of Bengal devastated the southern coastal districts, killing thousands of people, flattening tens of thousands of houses and uprooting large trees. "Nearly three million people were vulnerable to the cyclone in the coastal districts and we could evacuate only half of them... we hope the rest of the people are safe," said food and disaster management secretary Mohammad Ayub Mia at a press conference in Dhaka, Friday evening. Almost the entire country was plunged into darkness as the national grid of electricity lines collapsed under the force of the cyclone, with supply only partially restored by Sunday. The suspension of power added to the shortages of water, fuel and gas supplies across the country. In most of the affected areas, telephone lines were down and roads blocked with big trees. Mushtaque Chowdhury, deputy executive director of BRAC, one of the largest NGOs, told IPS that although initially there was a lack of coordination, there has been some success in reaching people in the remote areas. Chowdhury, also dean of the school of public health at BRAC University, said the country now faced a major food crisis as the cyclone was preceded by massive floods and the two disasters had effectively wiped out rice crops this year. BRAC, which initiated a million dollars worth of aid for the victims, now has plans to mobilise five million dollars for its programme. "At first, we could not estimate the real extent of damages... as our aid workers could not get to the affected areas…but we realise now that the task is huge," Chowdhury said. He said water crisis in the affected areas was severe because of the salinity caused by the tidal surges. "Lack of logistics and coordination has made it difficult for rescuers and aid workers to reach the affected people," said Claire Barrault, an official of the European Commission’s humanitarian aid department in South Asia, at a briefing in Dhaka on Sunday. She and two other officials are now in Bangladesh as part of the rapid response mission to assess the extent of damages caused by the cyclone. Hundreds of dead bodies were floating about in the rivers surrounding the swampy Sundarbans area on Sunday, said some of the survivors who made it to the mainland, ending a nightmare that lasted two days. A 30-year-old fisherman Milon Mia remained floating for 30 hours in the Bay before he was rescued by fishermen on Saturday morning. "My boat sank when I was trying to take shelter on the river inside the Sundarbans. On my way back as I was being rescued I saw hundreds of bodies floating," he told journalists. Another fisherman Abdur Gafur, aged about 50, rescued from Dublar Char on Saturday, said he climbed up a big tree as the island was hit by high winds and tidal waves. He latched himself onto the tree and stayed there until the storm passed. "Although I climbed up 10-12 feet, the waves still lapped at my chest... I prayed to the almighty for my protection," he said. "I couldn’t trace four of my companions and they might have been washed away in the Bay," he said. Many small islands in the coastal areas in the Bay of Bengal remain totally cut off from the mainland and thousands of people were still trapped in the small islands, officials said. Ayub Mia said on Sunday the government had relief material in stock in every district and more relief was now on its way to the affected areas, though large areas remained cut off. Bangladesh is prone to natural disasters that leave behind massive trails of death and destruction with regularity. In 1970, about half a million people died when a cyclone hit the country, while an estimated 138,000 people died as a result of a cyclonic tidal wave in 1991.

Liberals busted over vile Muslim slur

Webmaster — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 23:12:50 +0000
The Liberal Party has been hugely embarrassed over a campaign team caught delivering fake letters linking Labor with the Bali bombers. The grubby night-time operation in St Marys, in the seat of Lindsay, was busted by a squad of ALP sleuths who conducted a stake-out. Police have been called in to investigate the distribution of the letter, as well as the Australian Electoral Commission. The Liberal Party yesterday expelled two members involved in the scheme. The gang allegedly included Gary Clark, husband of retiring MP for Lindsay Jackie Kelly, and party state executive member Jeff Egan, who today vowed to "clear my name". "I have been falsely accused of distributing unauthorised material," Mr Egan said in the statement. "I categorically deny distributing any unauthorised material." Another was named by Labor as Troy Craig, president of the Glenmore Action Group. As Prime Minister John Howard today denied any knowledge of the smear campaign, Ms Kelly said she did not approve of the pamphlet, but labelled it a "Chaser-style of prank", a reference to ABC TV comedy team The Chaser. "I think its intent is to be a send-up but obviously it hasn't worked," she told ABC radio. "I think if you read it you'd be laughing. Most people who have read it have said 'That's a Chaser-style of prank'." Ms Kelly said the "prank" was "really immature stuff" that would not influence any voters. SheKelly denied the pamphlets were printed in her office and said she didn't know who funded or authorised the printing. Asked if she could guarantee no funds came from her office or the Liberal Party, she replied: "Yeah, yeah, absolutely." "Everyone has got home printers and what not. You can do up dodgy flyers how you like. Anyone could have, even the goon squad following," she said. Ms Kelly said she was "upset" with her husband. "I'm a bit upset with him, but no, look I love him," she said. "He hates the unions with a passion and after weeks and weeks of letterboxing, what gets to be boring material, of a repetitive message that we get them to letterbox all the time, they come up with their own skylarking over a few beers and think that something's funny. Ms Kelly said the state and federal offices of the Liberal Party were not involved in the pamphlets. MrHoward today strongly condemned the letter drop. "The first I knew about this was yesterday morning," Mr Howard told ABC radio today. "I was told about it by my chief of staff who'd got the information from the NSW party director. "I said `look, this has got to be dealt with by the (party) organisation'. "I condemn it, I dissociate myself from it. It's no part of my campaign and the party has acted promptly to deal with it. "As far as I'm concerned, that was the right and only response." Mr Howard would not comment on reports the leaflets were distributed from Ms Kelly's home. "I don't know. You'd have to speak to others about that," he said. "I am not in control of the actions of all people who are members of my party. "I react when I believe something wrong has occurred. I don't think you can mistake the words I have used. I have made my position very clear. "This is no part of my campaign. It is no part of the Liberal Party's campaign. I don't want anything to do with it." Liberal sources said a group of campaign volunteers were involved and had not been authorised. Mr Clark, a dentist, has a reputation among party campaigners for coming up with distinctive ideas and trying to carry them out. The letter appeared to be from a Muslim organisation, the Islamic Australia Federation. But the organisation does not exist. The fictitious group was said to be backing Kevin Rudd because Labor supported forgiveness for "our Muslim brothers who have been unjustly sentenced to death for the Bali bombings". It also said Labor endorsed construction of a mosque in St Marys. "In the upcoming federal election we strongly support the ALP as our preferred party to govern this country and urge all other Muslims to do the same," the letter read. It was clumsily worded and ended with "Ala Akba", a dismal attempt at the traditional Islamic salute of "God is Great" - "Allah Akbar". However, the letter drop wasn't organised in a mosque or a madras, but in the family home of Ms Kelly and Mr Clark. ALP national secretary Tim Gartrell yesterday formally complained to the AEC, citing the offence under the Electoral Act of printing, publishing or distributing election material without authorisation or the name of the printer. Labor officials were tipped off and on Tuesday night staked out a Penrith house in the same street as Ms Kelly. They followed a small convoy of cars to St Marys, where the group split up and began putting the dodgy material into boxes. The Labor officials later confronted the men, identified three and photographed two. Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese today attacked Ms Kelly's response as "unbelievable". "This is a document that has an ALP logo in two spots, it has flags of two countries, it has photos of mosques, it has photos of Sheik al-Hilali, it has another picture on it, it presses buttons about a range of issues including mosques in St Marys and quotes going back to Keating," Mr Albanese told Southern Cross Broadcasting. "This hasn't been done up in a kitchen, this has been done up professionally by someone using resources unknown, and Jackie Kelly doesn't explain where it came from." He said the leaflet had been professionally printed. "This isn't a lark, this is serious," he said. "This divides the Australian community, this is completely consistent with the Liberal Party's push polling tactics that they've used before. Liberal state director Graham Jaeschke yesterday said he had been "made aware of an incident" involving unauthorised and false election material. "He condemned the action. The people allegedly involved are no longer members of the Liberal Party. I will refer this incident to the Electoral Commission," Mr Jaeschke said in a statement. He declined to name those expelled when asked by The Daily Telegraph, but said two members were involved and that he thought there had been a total of five men. The fake flyer outraged Islamic leaders who told The Daily Telegraph yesterday the Islamic Australia Federation did not exist. Sydney-based chairman of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils Ikebal Patel said: "I think it's very deceitful and is an indication of the level of politicking and electioneering. It should be investigated. It does not stand well, especially as its untrue. "No community, race and religion should be used for one side's political ambition." He urged Muslims to overlook the false letter and decide for themselves who they would vote for. RELATED: See the offensive flyer here: http://www.smh.com.au/images/Islamic%20Pamphlet.pdf

Libs also played Muslim "race card" in 2004 election

Webmaster — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:54:44 +0000
Residents in the western Sydney seat of Lindsay voiced outrage at the distribution of fake flyers by the Liberal Party yesterday, as further examples emerged of dirty campaign tactics in other hotly contested seats across the west. "It is a bit pathetic - makes you think they are probably not trustworthy," said a St Marys resident, Jim Carroll. "It is like everything you read you can't believe now." His neighbour Sonter Neil was home on Tuesday night and saw what he believes were the Labor operatives accosting the leafleteers. "I just thought it was someone having a blue from the club. Then they started rousing on each other and screaming." Karen Chijoff, the Liberal candidate for Lindsay, remained out of sight yesterday, even as her office insisted she was out "talking to voters". Ed Husic, a Labor candidate for the seat of Greenway in the 2004 election who was the subject of a racist letterboxing campaign, said the revelations prove race-baiting is an established Coalition technique. Mr Husic, a Muslim who lost to the Liberals' Louise Markus by about 800 votes, said the only difference between the 2004 and 2007 incidents is that this time the perpetrators have been caught. On the Friday night before the 2004 election, anonymous campaigners plastered Greenway with a leaflet that read: "Ed Husic is a devout Muslim. Ed is working hard to get a better deal for Islam in Greenway." The leaflet carried a picture of Mr Husic, the ALP logo and its campaign slogan, making it appear genuine. Mr Husic said the issue in Greenway then and Lindsay now was not so much who produced the propaganda but who benefited from it. A former Liberal Party campaign worker yesterday said the retiring member for Lindsay, Jackie Kelly, had used such dirty tactics before. Ken Higgs, a booth captain in Lindsay in 2001, said Ms Kelly and her crew printed fake how-to-vote cards in 2001 to capture the preferences of a local action group that was trying to save a former defence site at St Marys. "It was actually a fake how-to-vote card … intended to deceive voters into voting for Jackie Kelly instead of the Save the ADI site candidate." Earlier this year Ms Kelly was caught using electorate office resources to support a business distributing clothing bearing the Australian flag. In Bennelong and Parramatta, candidates have been targeted by Right to Life Australia with a leaflet accusing them of being pro-abortion and supporting "destructive research on human embryos". RELATED:
Leaflet affair may play to Coalition's advantage
jserve.write("/SITE=TAUS/AREA=NEWS.POLITICS/AAMSZ=110X40/"); ipt>Brad Norington - The Australian November 23, 2007 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22806708-11949,00.html AS blunders go, they don't come any bigger just days before an election when the government of the day is far behind in opinion polls. And the irony was not lost on political pundits yesterday: Jackie Kelly, once regarded as a Liberal Party hero by John Howard for winning a western Sydney seat deep in Labor's heartland, could be the doomsayer of the Prime Minister's political career. The overwhelming reaction to the bogus leaflet distributed by Kelly's husband and a small band of Liberal supporters that linked Labor to Muslim terrorists was disgust. Most political observers accepted the document's distribution at face value: a desperate, ham-fisted attempt to swing voters in the marginal seat of Lindsay away from Labor to Karen Chijoff, Kelly's successor as Liberal candidate in Lindsay. The pamphlet was a clumsy attempt, by modern political standards. It even misspelt "Allah Akbar", the Muslim salute of "God is great". But what if there were a broader strategy behind the document, intended to help a racist undercurrent that still exists across much of western-oriented Australia to bubble to the surface? It is not long since the Cronulla riots in Sydney's south in December 2005 incited Muslim hatred. The Howard Government won the 2001 election in the wake of the Osama bin Laden-inspired US terrorist attacks on September 11, but an anti-Muslim sentiment was already stirred by the Tampa affair that preceded it. Some senior Labor figures believe The Australian's exposure of the so-called "children overboard" affair as a fraud just days before the election did not help Labor's standing with voters; rather it harmed it. Why? Because, bizarrely, it brought to the surface once more the fear of invading boatpeople. Labor appeared to recognise the potential problem yesterday by playing down the arrival of a new boat of asylum-seekers, even if it happily released detail of the Lindsay escapade. Mr Howard led the charge yesterday in rejecting suggestions that the Lindsay propaganda scandal was orchestrated at higher levels in the party. Labor strategists agreed, saying the benefit to the Liberals beyond Lindsay was always slight, not worth the effort if it meant Mr Howard was distracted all day from his main message. NSW Liberal Party director Graham Jaeschke said the attempts to link Labor to Muslim terrorists were not helpful to the Liberals' cause. "We acted swiftly to punish the people involved," he said. John Wanna, professor of politics at the Australian National University, said tactics like those used in Lindsay generally backfired. But Professor Wanna said that the public only knew they backfired if they were exposed, and many probably remained hidden. He said the notion that the Lindsay pamphlet was orchestrated at a higher level of the Liberal Party, including its exposure as a fraud, was "ingenious" even if it was unlikely. "It can blow up in your face if you try to make it part of a bigger agenda," Professor Wanna said. "The problem is that on the bigger agenda you don't know how it will play out. "You've got no control over it." Out of 70 calls across the country on commercial talkback radio yesterday, Media Monitors said 90 per cent were negative, with many critical of Kelly. For angry bloggers venting their spleen in cyberspace, the issue was not accepted as a benign joke, as Kelly suggested. A number of bloggers on news websites and Muslim community forums slammed the leaflet drop as racially inflammatory and have said the Liberal Party stunt will have an influence on who receives their vote this Saturday.

Australian Muslims musn't miss opportunity to influence election outcome

Webmaster — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 06:00:01 +0000
As Australians, we havethe right and duty to participate in public life. We already participate in the economy, media, academia, the arts and other aspects of Australian life. We also make use of various services provided by governments at all levels. Why not also participate in who is to govern us?Whether we like it or not, governments at all levels affect our lives. Often they do this without any need to consult with us, the ordinary citizens.By selecting our governments at Federal, State and Local Government level, we are selecting who will make decisions on our behalf. Our vote does count. Australian Muslims are just as Australian as anyone else. We are affected by government decisions and laws. We have a stake in ensuring good government. And in a democratic system like Australia's, we have an even greater say than many Muslims enjoy in Muslim countries.Some of you will have read a saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he said: "The Angel Gabriel once lectured me on the rights of neighbours with such vigour that I was expecting him to reveal that a Muslim would have to include neighbours as a beneficiary in their will". In a sense, all our fellow Australians are neighbours. Voting is a key method of helping ourselves and our neighbours.Further, there are certain areas where governments feel they can adversely affect the specific interests of Muslims with impunity. For instance, draconian anti-terror laws have the effect of compromising the civil liberties of all Australians, especially Muslims. We need to fight these and other laws and policies that adversely affect Muslims. We also need to get the message across that such laws and policies not only affect Muslims but all Australians. At all levels of government, elections are won and lost at the margins. In other words, governments of all parties seem to take more notice of the needs of constituents in marginal seats. If we look at the composition of metropolitan marginal seats in Sydney, we find almost all of these have substantial Muslim communities. Muslim citizens in these seats have a particular responsibility to vote. Our votes do make a difference, especially in marginal seats.Australian Muslims love this country. We enjoy the freedoms and rights that we have. We enjoy economic prosperity and liberty. If we refuse to vote, we are showing the height of ungratefulness. The Federal election of 2007 is being described as one that will shape the next generation.Make sure you don't waste your opportunity to have a say in your future. It is clear that Australian Muslims have a chance to play a major part in this and future elections. RELATED: AustMET is dedicated to supporting the Muslim community's engagement in Australia's political landscape. It is a coalition of Muslim organisations. http://austmet.org Assalaamu-Alaikum Brothers and Sisters. The Federal Election is on Saturday 24 November 2007 and it is important that every eligible Australian Muslim casts a valid vote. In this guide we provide some basic information that will help you make your vote count. Questions to Political Parties+ Responses AustMET submitted a list of seventeen questions to the major political parties: Friday 16/11/07- Australian Greens response received (PDF document); Monday 19/11/07- Australian Labor Party confirms that it will respond; Tuesday 20/11/07- Australian Democrats response received (PDF document); Friday 23/11/07 - Nothing received from the ALP or Liberal Party of Australia. Read more... Muslim Electorates - House of Representatives 2004Election Results The following table presents a list of Muslim populated electorates based on the House of Representatives results forthe 2004 Election. See why you shouldn't waste your vote(PDF document) - updated 23/11/07, 9am. Muslim Voters' Guide 2007 In this guide we provide some basic information that will help you make your vote count. The Guide is available in English, Arabic and Turkish… Read more... LATEST MEDIA: Liberal shame over fake pamphlet Nov 23 2007 - Despite statements of condemnation and disgust by John Howard and members of the Liberal Party over the distribution of fake flyers playing on anti-Muslim sentiments, it has been revealed that this is not the first time the Liberal Party has been caught out using such tactics. Ed Husic, a Labor candidate for the seat of Greenway in the 2004 election was also the subject of a racist letterboxing campaign. He believes the latest revelations prove race-baiting is an established Liberal party technique. The2007 bogus pamphlet carries the ALP logo and is from the non-existent "Islamic Australia Federation". It applauds the Labor Party for supporting Muslim terrorists. FULL STORY: http://www.smh.com.au/news/federal-electio...5321949397.html Poster & Brochure: Don't throw your vote away Make your vote count PDF Posterand PDF Brochure. More... How does it all work? Authorised by:Ahmed Kilani, AusMET, Suite 5, Level 1, 38 Railway Pde Lakemba NSW Australia 2195 - 0433 165 590 - akilani@optusnet.com.au AusMET (Australian Muslim Electoral Taskforce)http://austmet.org

Syria to join latest Mid East peace effort

Webmaster — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:21:14 +0000
Syria is to attend the US-brokered Annapolis conference tomorrow, guaranteeing broad Arab support for an ambitious but risky attempt to relaunch peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians after years of violence and deadlock. Confirmation that President Bashar al-Assad is sending his deputy foreign minister means that the Maryland meeting will be the best-attended Middle Eastern summit since the Madrid conference in 1991 - although the stakes are higher and expectations far lower. President Bush said last night that the broad attendance "demonstrates the international resolve to seize this important opportunity to advance freedom and peace in the Middle East". The news came as Israeli and Palestinian officials worked against the clock to try to agree an elusive joint declaration on principles for peace amid near-universal gloom about the long-term prospects of reaching a workable solution. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, and Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, arrived in Washington yesterday declaring their determination to make progress, but acknowledged the difficulties. "I have come in order to fulfil the desire of the Palestinian people for their own state," said Abbas. Both leaders are meeting Bush separately at the White House today and again on Wednesday. Olmert told reporters he hoped the summit would launch negotiations on "all the core issues that will result in a solution of two states for two peoples". But in the Gaza Strip, sealed off from Israel and controlled by Abbas's bitter enemy, Hamas, thousands of women demonstrated against Annapolis, waving banners that read: "The enemy knows only the language of force." Iran condemned the summit as "supporting the Zionist occupiers". Diplomats said Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, was trying last night to bridge the gaps. Negotiations have been deadlocked for weeks over whether the document should address the final borders between Israel and a Palestinian state, Jerusalem, and refugees. Israel wants to keep it vague; the Palestinians want detail and a timetable. The idea is to jumpstart talks aimed at creating a Palestinian state before Bush leaves office in January 2009. These will be the first substantive negotiations since the collapse of talks in the dying days of the Clinton administration. That was followed by the second intifada, which claimed 4,000 Palestinian and 1,000 Israeli lives. The question is, what can happen beyond tomorrow's ritual speeches? Both leaders face powerful opposition - Abbas from Hamas and Olmert from coalition partners and opposition parties against concessions on settlements, Jerusalem and easing restrictions in the West Bank. Arab attendance provides one glimmer of hope. Syria had insisted it would only come if there was discussion of the Golan Heights, still occupied 40 years after the 1967 Middle East war. The country's official news agency said Syria had been told there would be a session on reviving peace talks with Israel. Faysal Mekdad, Syria's deputy foreign minister, is a senior enough figure to avoid a snub, but not so high-level as to constitute a ringing endorsement of the event. Dialogue with Syria was one of the recommendations of the Hamilton-Baker commission for the aftermath of the Iraq war. Damascus backs Hamas and Hizbullah in Lebanon, both enemies of the US and Israel. Under US pressure, Saudi Arabia is sending its foreign minister, the veteran Prince Saud al-Faisal, although he made clear there would be no "normalisation" or handshakes with Israeli leaders. RELATED:
We have not given up
The Palestinian people will not yield to the west's cynical pressure on them to surrender Karma NabulsiMonday November 26, 2007The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/comment/0,,2217017,00.html If you want bad symbolism, you need look no further than the venue. The US naval academy of Annapolis is the current representation of unrestrained global supremacy, from where young cadets are being sent forth to occupy Arab land by force of arms. Appropriate place, then, for the US to host the meeting between Palestinian officials and the Israeli state, with every important government and international institution in obedient attendance. No one has misunderstood the nature of this meeting or is vaguely fooled by what is taking place. What we have at Annapolis is yet another ultimatum to the Palestinian people to surrender their sovereign rights.The language of the Middle East peace process has become utterly weary, intellectually bankrupted; embarrassing. The tarnished trickery of those tired catchphrases - "last chance for peace", "painful compromises", "moderates against extremists" - is now worn so thin a child would not be taken in. There is no peace process, and hasn't been one for a very long time. It is no secret this conference won't bring an improvement in the intolerable status quo. It is a meeting to legitimise that status quo. And all this dust and fracas because the leaders of Europe are fed up, and feel they can no longer face the obstinate, immovable strength of the unilateral US and Israeli positions. More worrying than the acquiescence of our political leaders is the intense defeatism now pervading the mainstream media. They, too, are apparently too exhausted to inform their readers of the shocking reality in occupied Palestine and the refugee camps - especially the unbelievable horror of blockaded Gaza - and report fully, accurately and consistently the long list of Israel's daily illegalities. True, it has now become nearly indescribable. Why report that three times as many political prisoners were arrested by Israel as were released in its "goodwill gesture" for Annapolis? Somehow, the colossal number of outrageous facts cancel each other out - one can't keep repeating, especially into a political void. Fed up with telling the same grim story over and over without a glimmer of change from their governments, they have finally accepted the hegemonic version signalling their defeat. Our leaders, our pundits, are worn out, defeated: they simply want it over with. They no longer believe they can do anything to help the Palestinians gain their freedom, or even have a responsibility to do so. And if Britain, with its nuclear weapons and modern military, its defence treaties and international alliances, its centuries-old democratic institutions, has not been able to stand up to the current US order, and instead has buckled into participating in an unpopular illegal war, then why won't the Palestinians (with no sovereign state or army to protect them, blockaded, impoverished, hemmed in on all sides by a regional superpower, locked into prisons, bantustans, behind borders, walls, checkpoints, and refugee camps) give up? The desire emanating throughout European ministries for the Palestinians to surrender is now palpable. Yes, these are tired politicians without valour who are holding the reins of power in Palestine, the Arab world and the west. And there has never been a more visible rupture between governments and ordinary citizens than we witness today. But this also reveals a more hopeful reality: ordinary citizens all over the world have not given up on the Palestinians, and the Palestinians have not given up on themselves. They are organising to create a national consensus and democratic representation, calling for steadfastness and courage: this general will is manifest everywhere today except Annapolis. In Venice the astonishing art of young Emily Jacir, which paid tribute to the sublime in the Palestinian history of freedom, won her the Golden Lion at the Biennale, and demonstrated to the world that the undimmed Palestinian heart is true and free. Today in Villiers-sur-Loir, a village near Paris, more than 100 young Palestinians from every continent overcame the obstacles of visas, checkpoints and lack of passports to join a remarkable initiative, the Palestinian Youth Network, to "prove that the cause of Palestine remains in the hearts and consciousness of this new generation of Palestinians throughout the world" and to further discussions on a common political platform. Today our eyes are not on Annapolis, for there is no future there. Today they are on Villiers-sur-Loir. · Karma Nabulsi is a fellow in politics and international relations at St Edmund Hall, Oxford University

Christian leaders ask for Muslim forgiveness

Webmaster — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:10:59 +0000
Peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians stand as one of the central challenges of this century, according to leading Christian leaders. Responding to an open letter in October signed by 138 leading Muslim scholars, clerics, and intellectuals from around the world, the Christian leaders also asked the Muslim world for forgiveness “We want to begin by acknowledging that in the past (e.g. in the Crusades) and in the present (e.g. in excesses of the “war on terror”) many Christians have been guilty of sinning against our Muslim neighbours. Before we “shake your hand” in responding to your letter, we ask forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world”, they said in the letter which was made available to the press here yesterday. Following is the full text of the letter: As members of the worldwide Christian community, we were deeply encouraged and challenged by the recent historic open letter signed by 138 leading Muslim scholars, clerics, and intellectuals from around the world. A Common Word Between Us and You identifies some core common ground between Christianity and Islam which lies at the heart of our respective faiths as well as at the heart of the most ancient Abrahamic faith, Judaism. Jesus Christ’s call to love God and neighbour was rooted in the divine revelation to the people of Israel embodied in the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). We receive the open letter as a Muslim hand of conviviality and cooperation extended to Christians worldwide. In this response we extend our own Christian hand in return, so that together with all other human beings we may live in peace and justice as we seek to love God and our neighbours. Muslims and Christians have not always shaken hands in friendship; their relations have sometimes been tense, even characterized by outright hostility. Since Jesus Christ says, “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye” (Matthew 7:5), we want to begin by acknowledging that in the past (e.g. in the Crusades) and in the present (e.g. in excesses of the “war on terror”) many Christians have been guilty of sinning against our Muslim neighbours. Before we “shake your hand” in responding to your letter, we ask forgiveness of the All-Merciful One and of the Muslim community around the world. Religious Peace-World Peace “Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world’s population. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world.” We share the sentiment of the Muslim signatories expressed in these opening lines of their open letter. Peaceful relations between Muslims and Christians stand as one of the central challenges of this century, and perhaps of the whole present epoch. Though tensions, conflicts, and even wars in which Christians and Muslims stand against each other are not primarily religious in character, they possess an undeniable religious dimension. If we can achieve religious peace between these two religious communities, peace in the world will clearly be easier to attain. It is therefore no exaggeration to say, as you have in A Common Word Between Us and You, that “the future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians.” Common Ground What is so extraordinary about A Common Word Between Us and You is not that its signatories recognize the critical character of the present moment in relations between Muslims and Christians. It is rather a deep insight and courage with which they have identified the common ground between the Muslim and Christian religious communities. What is common between us lies not in something marginal nor in something merely important to each. It lies, rather, in something absolutely central to both: love of God and love of neighbour. Surprisingly for many Christians, your letter considers the dual command of love to be the foundational principle not just of the Christian faith, but of Islam as well. That so much common ground exists-common ground in some of the fundamentals of faith-gives hope that undeniable differences and even the very real external pressures that bear down upon us can not overshadow the common ground upon which we stand together. That this common ground consists in love of God and of neighbour gives hope that deep cooperation between us can be a hallmark of the relations between our two communities. Love of God We applaud that A Common Word Between Us and You stresses so insistently the unique devotion to one God, indeed the love of God, as the primary duty of every believer. God alone rightly commands our ultimate allegiance. When anyone or anything besides God commands our ultimate allegiance-a ruler, a nation, economic progress, or anything else-we end up serving idols and inevitably get mired in deep and deadly conflicts. We find it equally heartening that the God whom we should love above all things is described as being Love. In the Muslim tradition, God, “the Lord of the worlds,” is “The Infinitely Good and All-Merciful.” And the New Testament states clearly that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Since God’s goodness is infinite and not bound by anything, God “makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous,” according to the words of Jesus Christ recorded in the Gospel (Matthew 5:45). For Christians, humanity’s love of God and God’s love of humanity are intimately linked. As we read in the New Testament: “We love because he [God] first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Our love of God springs from and is nourished by God’s love for us. It cannot be otherwise, since the Creator who has power over all things is infinitely good. Love of Neighbour We find deep affinities with our own Christian faith when A Common Word Between Us and You insists that love is the pinnacle of our duties toward our neighbours. “None of you has faith until you love for your neighbour what you love for yourself,” the Prophet Muhammad said. In the New Testament we similarly read, “whoever does not love [the neighbour] does not know God” (1 John 4:8) and “whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). God is love, and our highest calling as human beings is to imitate the One whom we worship. We applaud when you state that “justice and freedom of religion are a crucial part” of the love of neighbour. When justice is lacking, neither love of God nor love of the neighbour can be present. When freedom to worship God according to one’s conscience is curtailed, God is dishonoured, the neighbour oppressed, and neither God nor neighbour is loved. Since Muslims seek to love their Christian neighbours, they are not against them, the document encouragingly states. Instead, Muslims are with them. As Christians we resonate deeply with this sentiment. Our faith teaches that we must be with our neighbours-indeed, that we must act in their favor-even when our neighbours turn out to be our enemies. “But I say unto you,” says Jesus Christ, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good” (Matthew 5:44-45). Our love, Jesus Christ says, must imitate the love of the infinitely good Creator; our love must be as unconditional as is God’s-extending to brothers, sisters, neighbours, and even enemies. At the end of his life, Jesus Christ himself prayed for his enemies: “Forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). The Prophet Muhammad did similarly when he was violently rejected and stoned by the people of Ta’if. He is known to have said, “The most virtuous behaviour is to engage those who sever relations, to give to those who withhold from you, and to forgive those who wrong you.” (It is perhaps significant that after the Prophet Muhammad was driven out of Ta’if, it was the Christian slave ‘Addas who went out to Muhammad, brought him food, kissed him, and embraced him.) The Task Before Us “Let this common ground”-the dual common ground of love of God and of neighbour-“be the basis of all future interfaith dialogue between us,” your courageous letter urges. Indeed, in the generosity with which the letter is written you embody what you call for. We most heartily agree. Abandoning all “hatred and strife,” we must engage in interfaith dialogue as those who seek each other’s good, for the one God unceasingly seeks our good. Indeed, together with you we believe that we need to move beyond “a polite ecumenical dialogue between selected religious leaders” and work diligently together to reshape relations between our communities and our nations so that they genuinely reflect our common love for God and for one another. Given the deep fissures in the relations between Christians and Muslims today, the task before us is daunting. And the stakes are great. The future of the world depends on our ability as Christians and Muslims to live together in peace. If we fail to make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony you correctly remind us that “our eternal souls” are at stake as well. We are persuaded that our next step should be for our leaders at every level to meet together and begin the earnest work of determining how God would have us fulfill the requirement that we love God and one another. It is with humility and hope that we receive your generous letter, and we commit ourselves to labor together in heart, soul, mind and strength for the objectives you so appropriately propose. List of signatories: *Harold W. Attridge, Dean and Lillian Claus Professor of New Testament, Yale Divinity School *Joseph Cumming, Director of the Reconciliation Program, Yale Center for Faith and Culture, Yale Divinity School *Emilie M. Townes, Andrew Mellon Professor of African American Religion and Theology, Yale Divinity School, and President-elect of the American Academy of Religion *Miroslav Volf, Founder and Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology, Yale Divinity School Martin Accad, Academic Dean, Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (Lebanon) Scott C. Alexander, Director, Catholic-Muslim Studies, Catholic Theological Union Roger Allen, Chair, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, University of Pennsylvania Leith Anderson, President, National Association of Evangelicals Ray Bakke, Convening Chair, Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding Camillo Ballin, Bishop, Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait (Roman Catholic) Barry Beisner, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Northern California Federico Bertuzzi, President, PM Internacional, Latin America James A. Beverley, Tyndale Seminary, Canada Jonathan Bonk, Executive Director, Overseas Ministries Study Center Gerhard B?wering, Yale University Joseph Britton, Dean, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale John M. Buchanan, Editor/Publisher, The Christian Century Joe Goodwin Burnett, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska Samuel G. Candler, Dean, Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta Juan Carlos C?rdenas, Instituto Iberoamericano de Estudios Transculturales, Spain Joseph Castleberry, President, Northwest University Colin Chapman, Author David Yonggi Cho, Founder and Senior Pastor, Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul, Korea Richard Cizik, Vice President, National Association of Evangelicals Corneliu Constantineanu, Dean, Evangelical Theological Seminary, Croatia Robert E. Cooley, President Emeritus, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Harvey Cox, Harvard Divinity School John D’Alton, President, Melbourne Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Australia Andr? Delbecq, University of Santa Clara Keith DeRose, Yale University Andr?s Alonso Duncan, CEO, Latinoamerica Global, A.C. Diana L. Eck, Harvard University Bertil Ekstrom, Executive Director, Mission Commission, World Evangelical Alliance Mark U. Edwards, Jr., Senior Advisor to the Dean, Harvard Divinity School John Esposito, Director Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University David Ford, Regius Professor of Divinity, Cambridge University Timothy George, Dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University Roberto S. Goizueta, Boston College Bruce Gordon, University of St. Andrews William A. Graham, Dean, Harvard Divinity School Lynn Green, International Chairman, YWAM Frank Griffel, Yale University Edwin F. Gulick, Jr., Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky David P. Gushee, President, Evangelicals for Human Rights Kim B. Gustafson, President, Common Ground Elie Haddad, Provost, Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, Lebanon L. Ann Hallisey, Hallisey Consulting and Counseling Paul D. Hanson, Harvard Divinity School Heidi Hadsell, President, Hartford Seminary David Heim, Executive Editor, The Christian Century Norman A. Hjelm, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, retired Carl R. Holladay, Candler School of Theology, Emory University Joseph Hough, President, Union Theological Seminary, NY Bill Hybels, Founder and Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church Nabeel T. Jabbour, Consultant, Professor, Colorado Shannon Sherwood Johnston, Bishop Coadjutor, Episcopal Diocese of Virginia David Colin Jones, Bishop Suffragan, Episcopal Diocese of Virginia Stanton L. Jones, Provost, Wheaton College, IL Tony Jones, National Coordinator, Emergent Village Riad A. Kassis, Theologian, Author, Consultant Paul Knitter, Union Theological Seminary, NY Manfred W. Kohl, Vice President of Overseas Council International, USA James A. Kowalski, Dean, Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, NY Sharon Kugler, University Chaplain, Yale University Peter Kuzmic, President, Evangelical Theological Faculty Osijek, Croatia Peter J. Lee, Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Virginia Linda LeSourd Lader, President, Renaissance Institute Tim Lewis, President, William Carey Int’l University John B.Lindner, Yale Divinity School Duane Litfin, President, Wheaton College Greg Livingstone, Founder, Frontiers Albert C. Lobe, Interim Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee Rick Love, International Director, Frontiers Douglas Magnuson, Bethel University Peter Maiden, International Coordinator, OM Danut Manastireanu, World Vision International, Iasi, Romania Harold Masback, III, Senior Minister, The Congregational Church of New Canaan, New Canaan, CT Donald M. McCoid, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America C. Douglas McConnell, Dean, School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary Don McCurry, President, Ministries to Muslims Brian D. McLaren, Author, Speaker, Activist Kathleen E. McVey, Princeton Theological Seminary Judith Mendelsohn Rood, Biola University Steve Moore, President and CEO, The Mission Exchange (formerly EFMA) Douglas Morgan, Director, Adventist Peace Fellowship Richard Mouw, President, Fuller Theological Seminary Salim J. Munayer, Academic Dean, Bethlehem Bible College, Jerusalem Rich Nathan, Senior Pastor, Vineyard Church of Columbus David Neff, Editor in Chief and Vice-President, Christianity Today Media Group Alexander Negrov, President, St. Petersburg Christian University, Russia Richard R. Osmer, Princeton Theological Seminary George E. Packard, Bishop Suffragan for Chaplaincies of the Episcopal Church Greg H. Parsons, General Director, U.S. Center for World Mission Doug Pennoyer, Dean, School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University Douglas Petersen, Vanguard University of Southern California Sally Promey, Yale Divinity School Thomas P. Rausch, S.J., Loyola Marymount University David A. Reed, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto Neil Rees, International Director, World Horizons Cecil M. Robeck, Jr., Fuller Theological Seminary Leonard Rogers, Executive Director, Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding William L. Sachs, Director, Center for Reconciliation and Mission, Richmond Lamin Sanneh, Yale Divinity School Andrew Saperstein, Yale Center for Faith and Culture Robert Schuller, Founder, Crystal Cathedral and Hour of Power Elizabeth Sch?ssler Fiorenza, Harvard Divinity School Francis Sch?ssler Fiorenza, Harvard Divinity School William Schweiker, University of Chicago Donald Senior, C.P., President, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago C. L. Seow, Princeton Theological Seminary Imad Nicola Shehadeh, President, Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary David W. and K. Grace Shenk, Eastern Mennonite Missions Marguerite Shuster, Fuller Theological Seminary John G. Stackhouse, Jr., Regent College, Vancouver Glen Stassen, Fuller Theological Seminary Andrea Zaki Stephanous, Vice President, Protestant Church in Egypt Wilbur P. Stone, Bethel University, MN John Stott, Rector Emeritus, All Souls Church, London Frederick J. Streets, Yeshiva University William Taylor, Global Ambassador, World Evangelical Alliance John Thomas, President and General Minister, United Church of Christ Iain Torrance, President, Princeton Theological Seminary Michael W. Treneer, International President, The Navigators, CO Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director, World Evangelical Alliance George Verwer, Founder and former International Director, OM Harold Vogelaar, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Berten A. Waggoner, National Director, Association of Vineyard Churches Jim Wallis, President, Sojourners Rick Warren, Founder and Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church, and The Purpose Driven Life, Lake Forest, CA J. Dudley Woodberry, Dean Emeritus, Fuller School of International Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary Christopher J.H. Wright, International Director, Langham Partnership, London Robert R. Wilson, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Yale Divinity School Nicholas Wolterstorff, University of Virginia Godfrey Yogarajah, General Secretary, Evangelical Fellowship in Asia Community Council of the Sisters of the Precious Blood, Dayton, OH.

Australia's new PM: a view from Asia

Webmaster — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:18:02 +0000
SINGAPORE - Perceptions can play an important role in shaping international relations and here Australia's prime minister-elect, Kevin Rudd, will take office with some advantages, especially in Asia. As a fluent Mandarin speaker - the only Western leader of government now or ever, at least in contemporary times, with this ability - the one time diplomat will clearly be able to gain Beijing's interest and attention. This must carry benefits in diplomatic, security and trade negotiations when leaders meet on a bilateral basis or in multilateral forums. Already this has been demonstrated at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting in Sydney in September. As parliamentary leader of the federal Australian Labor Party, then the main opposition party, the 50-year-old Rudd joined Prime Minister John Howard in welcoming Chinese President Hu Jintao to Australia. Rudd broke into Mandarin after a brief introduction in English, upstaging Howard. Rudd later had a 30-minute meeting with Hu without resort to interpreters. And during the recent election campaign he was interviewed by Chinese television in Mandarin several times. Appearances and style do count. While a Rudd Labor government will not depart radically from the foreign and security policies of Howard's conservative Liberal-National Party government, the relationship with the US and the Bush administration will not be the sort of lock-step affair that characterized ties between Canberra and Washington under Howard. Rudd will demonstrate to Asia that his government is more independent of Washington through his commitment to withdraw combat troops from Iraq and sign the Kyoto Accord on reducing the growth of greenhouse gas emissions and combating global warming. Australia will remain a loyal ally of the US but Rudd should torpedo the view of some in Asia of Canberra having a subservient relationship with Washington. At the same time, Rudd has repeatedly affirmed that the US alliance, under the broad framework of the 1951 Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS), will continue to be a cornerstone of Australian foreign and defense policies. The US military will continue to maintain important communications centers in the US satellite defense system and Australia will host joint and multi-country military operations with the US. Late on Saturday, with Labor’s success in the election secured, Rudd spoke with President Bush and plans to visit Washington early next year. Australia will remain a loyal, although more independent ally of the US. This has been very much the usual Labor Party position in government despite left-wing elements in the party opposed to the US alliance. The troop withdrawal is more symbolic, with Australia having only 550 combat soldiers in Iraq and Rudd saying Australia will continue to provide aid for Iraqi reconstruction. But these initial measures over Kyoto and Iraq are important and will be seen by Asian governments and public opinion as marking a new era for Australia on the regional and international stages. Already, Indonesia's President Bambang Yudohoyono has invited Rudd to attend the key United Nations meeting in Bali in December to determine a successor framework to the Kyoto Accord when that expires in 2012, while Malaysia's leader, Abdullah Badawi, says Rudd's Iraq plan will "improve the country's international standing". Australia under Labor will put more emphasis on pursuing Australian objectives through multilateral diplomacy in the UN and regional forums as against the more bilateral style of Howard's government and in particular its very heavy weighting on close alignment with the US position. It was the lack of UN support for the US's Iraq invasion in 2003 that is the reason for Labor's opposition to Australian troop deployment, in contrast to Labor's support for the first Gulf War in 1990-91 when in government under Bob Hawke, and Labor's support for the UN sanctioned military invasion in 2001 against the al-Qaeda- supporting Taliban regime in Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the US. Indeed, there are suggestions that Australia will increase its forces in Afghanistan as it withdraws from Iraq. Rudd in fact may find that Afghanistan becomes an early concern as the apparent strengthening of Taliban forces point to a long struggle ahead. And the situation there has started to come into sharper focus for the Australian public with four soldiers killed in fighting in the last few months. Looking ahead at US-Australia relations, should the Democrats take the presidency in the US in 2008, which seems very likely, then almost certainly Canberra, under the moderately left of center Labor government, and Washington will see eye to eye on the importance of a multilateral system, the Middle East, Iraq, Kyoto, global warming and many other issues In Australia's relations with Asia, there will be many continuities with the outgoing John Howard government, with Rudd's government building further on work done over the last 11 years. Howard was perhaps unfairly seen in Asia, especially in his earlier years as prime minister, as being not particularly comfortable in Asia and in some ways more of a 1950s and '60s man, preferring an old-fashioned Australia tied closely to Britain. Yet many overlook the fact that Howard presided over an unprecedented strengthening of Australia's economic links with China, driven especially by exports of Australian mineral, energy and agricultural commodities and increasing Chinese investment in Australia. There has also been remarkable growth in the numbers of immigrants from China settling in Australia as well as growth in students studying and tourists visiting down under. Under his watch, China's Hu addressed the Australian Parliament in October 2003, the first time this was done by any Asian leader, a day after the address by George W Bush. Negotiations for a free trade or preferential trade agreement with China were also begun, following the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement signed in 2004. The Howard government also differentiated - although probably regretting that it did so publicly - Australia's policy over Taiwan from that of the US. In August 2004, then foreign minister Alexander Downer during a visit to Beijing said that under the ANZUS Treaty, Australia was not automatically committed to provide military support to the US in any Taiwan Strait crisis. This is true as the treaty in fact is short and quite general although Australia is still obligated under the treaty to act diplomatically with the US in such a situation. Rudd, then shadow foreign minister, more carefully stated that Australia’s interest was to see the use of peaceful means to deal with tensions and that Australia was not obliged to say what it would or would not do in the event of a crisis in the Taiwan Strait. As far as Southeast Asia is concerned, Howard also sought to strengthen relations after a fairly passive start. Relations with Indonesia, especially, plummeted as a result of Australia's military support for East Timor's independence as the head of the UN force sent in 1999 to pacify the country after Indonesian military inspired militias went on a rampage. Here the US alliance was important as Washington pressured Jakarta to "invite" the UN to send the force, although the US did not contribute American troops. Relations though have been rebuilt with Jakarta, as symbolized by Howard's effort to attend Yudhoyono's inauguration in August 2004, the only leader outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to do so. Underlining further the effort that Howard's government has put into Indonesia-Australia relations is the new and broad security pact signed between the two countries in November 2006, replacing a 1995 agreement that was jettisoned by Jakarta during the Timor crisis. As far as Southeast Asia and Asean as a whole are concerned, again the Howard government can boast of real advances. Australia is pursuing a free trade agreement with ASEAN and on the diplomatic and security front has signed the 1976 ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, after some concern that it might cut against ANZUS, so that Australia could become a founding member of the East Asia summit, first held in Kuala Lumpur in December 2005, joining the 10 ASEAN countries, Japan, China, South Korea, India and New Zealand. Despite all this, Australia's relations with Asia have probably been hurt by measures Howard took in response to Islamic extremism and terrorism internationally and the possible threat to Australia domestically, especially in the wake of the Bali bombings in October 2002. The specter of Islamic terrorism within Australia has led to an alarming degree of xenophobia. As many leading figures - from former conservative prime minister Malcolm Fraser to former Labor prime minister Paul Keating - warn, Bali has encouraged a climate of suspicion, insularity and narrow nationalism, seriously eroding the strong multicultural and multiracial policies and attitudes that had developed under both conservative and Labor governments since the 1970s. Severe new security laws have been established, there has been often heavy-handed detention of illegal immigrants from the Middle East, an "Australian knowledge and values" test has been established that immigrants must pass before gaining Australian citizenship, and there have been some nasty cases of street abuse and racism towards Australians of Middle Eastern and also African background. All this has reinforced the still sometimes strong view among people in Asia that Australia is still beset by racism. So a critical task of the Rudd government will be to re-cast and re-assert a non-discriminatory and "fair go" Australia. This will in turn enhance Australia's moral capital and "soft power" in regional and international forums. To this end, what also will not have escaped notice in Asia is the fact that Rudd's daughter, Jessica, recently married an Australian of Chinese background. In election night celebrations on Saturday in Brisbane they were both on stage and under the spotlight with the rest of the immediate Rudd family. While interracial marriages are hardly a big deal in Australia - and of course there are plenty in Asia, Europe and North America - it does help to promote Australia as the open, tolerant and inclusive country that Rudd has declared is his objective to strengthen. Andrew Symon is a Singapore-based journalist and analyst. In Australia he worked in the Senate of the national Parliament and as a ministerial speech writer in the 1980s. He has been working in Southeast Asia since 1992. Andrew.symon@yahoo.com.sdg

Somalia: A cruelty the world ignores

Webmaster — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:57:59 +0000
As tens of thousands more frightened and exhausted people fled the terrors of Mogadishu last week, a Somali community leader condemned the international community "for watching the cruelty in Somalia like a film and not bothering to help". He was mistaken. The international community has barely been watching the cruelty in Somalia at all. Life in Mogadishu has become even more intolerable since Ethiopia intervened last Christmas to install the transitional government of President Abdullahi Yusuf. Ethiopia had been alarmed by the aggressive rhetoric of the Islamic Courts government that had taken over the Somali capital. It had seen off the warlords and brought unprecedented order to Mogadishu. But threats of jihad against its powerful neighbour provoked a muscular response. The US stood by its regional ally, declaring that Somalia must not become a terrorist haven, and mounting a missile attack on the Islamist forces for good measure. The Ethiopians calculated a lesser risk in having Yusuf in charge. Having installed him, they promised to withdraw quickly, agreeing to remain only while an African peacekeeping force was mounted. Lord Triesman, the minister for Africa, praised Ethiopia for creating conditions for peace and stability. British ministers were pleased to describe the new state of affairs as a window of opportunity for Somalia. The optimism rested on highly dubious assumptions. It presupposed that the transitional government possessed legitimacy, and had the capacity to govern. It also assumed too easily that an African peacekeeping force would materialise and Ethiopian forces would leave. None of this has come to pass. The core problem was that Somalis everywhere were appalled to see Ethiopian troops on the streets of their capital. What kind of government, they asked, needed the protection of a foreign force against its own citizens? Opposition to the Ethiopian military presence soon manifested itself and an insurgency was born. Ethiopian forces launched massive military attacks on various quarters of the city in March and April, designed to root out extremists. Their complete disregard, and that of the insurgents, for the population's safety has been condemned by human rights organisations. But the international community took all too little notice of events in a city that was just too dangerous to visit or report on. Humanitarian organisations quietly started to provide for the 300,000 people who fled Mogadishu and established makeshift settlements under the trees. They are still there. There were other consequences of Ethiopia's rampage through the city. It hardened the insurgents' resolve, and made new enemies among the clans targeted; it deepened opposition to the transitional government, in whose name the operations were conducted; it prompted the flight of the business people so vital for any normalisation; and it alarmed African nations who might have considered joining the small Ugandan contingent to provide security and enable the Ethiopian forces to leave. The insurgency has deepened and spread. The tactics are those of Iraq, but with more roadside bombs than suicide bombs, and a growing tally of assassinations - most directed against office holders of the transitional government, but journalists, humanitarian workers and civil society leaders are all at risk. A government-sponsored reconciliation conference came and went, without result. A prime minister has resigned. The transitional government seems not only powerless but irrelevant, and wholly dependent on Ethiopia. A renewed crackdown in Mogadishu has caused hundreds more deaths and pushed another 200,000 people into destitution on the roadsides. Somalia is now the worst humanitarian situation in the world. The number of internally displaced has reached a million. Insecurity and extortion are putting untold strain on the efforts to provide humanitarian assistance. We cannot say we were not warned. Six months ago the UN's head of humanitarian affairs highlighted the deplorable conditions of the displaced. He observed that more people had been displaced from Mogadishu in the previous two months than anywhere else in the world, and that a political solution was the only way to resolve the crisis: "Otherwise I fear the worst." The worst has now come. What are we waiting for?

Skepticism greets Israeli-Palestinian peace talks

Webmaster — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:21:00 +0000
George Bush told the Annapolis summit yesterday that a battle was under way for the future of the Middle East as events on the ground underlined the difficulties ahead for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that were relaunched after seven years.Iran, on cue, said it had developed a new long-range ballistic missile, while thousands of supporters of the Islamist movement Hamas protested in Gaza, chanting "Death to America", "Death to Israel" and scorning the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, as a "collaborator". In the West Bank, Palestinian security forces shot dead a demonstrator. Bush came to the US naval academy to portray his support for revived "final status" negotiations between Abbas and Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister, against the background of a broader regional struggle. "We must not cede victory to the extremists," he said. In the Maryland winter sunshine, all was carefully choreographed. "Today, Palestinians and Israelis each understand that helping the other to realise their aspirations is the key to realising their own, and both require an independent, democratic, viable Palestinian state," said Bush. "The time is right, the cause is just and with hard effort I know they can succeed." Analysts say the key to any future peace process is the degree to which the US, EU and others will be prepared to intervene, hold the parties to their commitments, and bridge gaps when disagreements arise. It is far from clear that Bush is prepared to play that role. Abbas restated key demands for the removal of Israel's West Bank settlements, roadblocks, the separation wall and the release of thousands of prisoners - all difficult for Olmert to implement while keeping his shaky coalition government together. "We need East Jerusalem to be our capital," Abbas said. War and terrorism "belong to the past". "Neither we nor you must beg for peace from the other. It is a joint interest ... Peace and freedom is a right for us, just as peace and security is a right for you and us," he added. Olmert, who, like the Palestinian president, is facing powerful opposition at home, spoke to his own people as much to the other leaders. "I had many good reasons to refrain from coming to this meeting," he said. "I do not ignore all the obstacles which are sure to emerge along the way." He denounced Palestinian terrorism and the Qassam rockets being fired from Gaza. Unusually, he also acknowledged the suffering of Palestinians "living in camps, disconnected from the environment in which they grew up, wallowing in poverty, neglect, alienation, bitterness and a deep sense of deprivation". Expectations for Annapolis were kept so low that any vaguely positive achievement would have been impressive. But months of US-brokered diplomacy could not produce a promised joint declaration on the ultra-sensitive "core" issues that have to be negotiated - borders, settlements, Jerusalem and refugees. Instead they announced, as expected, the immediate resumption of talks on creating an independent Palestinian state by the end of next year, when Bush is due to leave office. These are to be overseen by a permanent bilateral steering committee and will begin in earnest on December 12. The issues remain as tough and intractable as ever. "We agreed to immediately launch good faith, bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including core issues, without exception," Bush said, reading the agreed statement. The Annapolis conference was the biggest of its kind since the Madrid summit of 1991. The 14 Arab participants included Saudi Arabia, represented by its foreign minister, taking part in the kingdom's first public meeting with Israel. "It is time to end the boycott and alienation toward the state of Israel," Olmert said. "I have no doubt that the reality created in our region in 1967 will change significantly. "While this will be an extremely difficult process for many of us, it is nevertheless inevitable. I know it. Many of my people know it. We are ready for it." RELATED:
If the conference fails, what's Plan B for peace?
By Daoud Kuttab- The Daily Star (Lebanon)Nov 28 2007http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=5&article_id=87060 American officials usually spend enormous energy highlighting the "process" in the Middle East "peace process." Only in the last 18 months of a second-term president or following a military engagement in the Middle East does the United States actually start to concern itself with "peace." This pattern seems to be holding true for this week's US-sponsored Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland. The difference now is that, unlike the Madrid Conference after the 1991 American-led Gulf war, the current effort is coming after a perceived American defeat in Iraq. Assuming that the Bush administration is serious in its current efforts, the US must have a Plan B in case the just-completed Annapolis talks fail. For Palestinians, the main concern is to avoid negative repercussions if they do. Unlike former President Bill Clinton, who blamed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for the failure of the Camp David talks in 2000, the Bush administration must honor its commitment not to point fingers or allow either side to use failure to advance its strategic goals. Palestinian negotiators have always had to balance three issues: historic rights, current realities, and the price of using their negative power. For Palestinians, the codewords for historic rights - liberating Palestinian land, securing the right of return for refugees, and insisting on a truly independent state - are "international legitimacy." For both the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas, this refers to various United Nations resolutions and international public opinion, which have amounted to little more than lip service on the part of Western powers and Arab and Islamic leaders, whose statements raise false hopes, enticing Palestinian negotiators to harden their positions. The current realities that the Palestinians must reckon with include their strategic, political, and economic imbalance vis-a-vis Israel and the United States, the reality of occupation, and the challenges of diaspora life. For example, Israel's harsh policies to confront the 1987 intifada, coupled with the boycott of the PLO by oil-rich Arab countries (because of its failure to oppose Saddam Hussein's occupation of Kuwait), imposed a potent reality check on the Palestinian leadership. Finally, Palestinian negotiators after Annapolis will have to consider the consequences of using their most valuable bargaining chip - the ability to reject a perceived bad deal - in terms of its direct effect on Palestinians and the strong possibility of continued expansion of Jewish settlements on Palestinian lands. The late Haidar Abdel Shafi repeatedly stated one of the major problems in the Oslo Accords, namely that it didn't secure the halt of settlement expansion in the interim period or if final-status talks failed. At Camp David II, in 2000, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak cleverly insisted that the first clause of his offer included acceptance of the end of the conflict, which was a problem for Palestinians, given that historic rights remained unresolved. Arafat used his negative power and blocked a settlement, but he couldn't predict the consequences. Before Annapolis, Palestinian negotiators insisted that they did not plan to engage in substantive negotiations. They argued that the positions acceptable in Taba (following the failure of Camp David II) had to be the basis of any agreement, and that what needed be negotiated afterward was the timetable for implementation. Backed by a reasonable Arab peace plan, they insist that there is already a worldwide consensus on restoring the 1967 borders (with mutual adjustments of equal size and quality), the need for a fair agreement on dealing with refugees, and a formula to share Jerusalem. As a result, Palestinian negotiators have reversed their position on the step-by-step approach to negotiations - an approach that proved disastrous, as it was exploited by radicals on both sides and gave the Israelis the time they needed to build more illegal settlements. Fears abound among Palestinians of another spasm of violence if no agreement if the Annapolis round of talks fails. But what is crucially important for Palestinians is that, whatever the outcome, new Israeli settlements must not be built and land expropriation must end. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that the creation of a Palestinian state is a component of US national security. But a Palestinian state will not appear now or in 10 years if Israel continues build settlements in areas slated to be part of that state. Daoud Kuttab is currently a visiting professor at Princeton University. THE DAILY STAR

Getting into the Hajj spirit

Webmaster — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:18:06 +0000
For those of us not going to Hajj this year, it's easy to dismiss the journey of a lifetime. After all, we aren't rushing to make travel plans, secure a visa, pack and master the rituals of this fifth pillar of Islam all in less than a month. So, it's easy to ignore the excitement of those going. But we non-Hajjis can swing into the Hajj spirit too, and we should. We must always remember that one day, when our health and finances are in the right shape, we too must make this journey to the House of God. Here are a couple of ideas: Help a Hajji There's so much to do and so little time before leaving for Hajj. Any help you can offer a family member or friend about to make Hajj will be welcome. You can offer to make phone calls to various travel groups, cook or baby-sit so the pilgrim-to-be can pack, run errands for them or come up with a list of items they need to take with them. Ask them how you can be of most help. Read/watch/learn about Hajj When it comes to prayer and fasting, we tend to know much more about these pillars of the faith than Hajj. Most of us tend to put off finding more until we actually go. But who knows how long you have before going, so why wait? If books aren't your thing, find a video, an audio CD, a CD-rom or a DVD that can give you the basics. You can and should also read travel accounts and diaries of those who have gone for Hajj. Their insights provide a more personal perspective of the journey. Throw a party! What better way to get into the spirit than to hold a party in honor of the person going for Hajj? This is also a great way to get kids interested in the topic of Hajj. It will also provide some much-needed relief from the stress before going to the pilgrim-to-be. You can also hold a bash after your friend/family member returns as an official "Hajji." Ask them to remember you in their Duas Knowing that someone's praying for you at the House of God will no doubt help you remember Hajj. But don't just say the standard, "remember me in your Duas." Try to ask for at least one specific thing they can ask for on your behalf. Whether it's a job, a child, passing a difficult class or a better relationship with your spouse, remember that only God can grant us what we need and want. And what better place to ask than the House of God? Arrange to give a presentation about Hajj to your or your child's class or at a local community center One of the best ways to retain information is to teach it. Perhaps this is why the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said, The best of you are the ones who learn the Quran and teach it to others (Al-Bukhari). Arrange with your teacher, your child's teacher or your local community center to organize a brief lecture/workshop on Hajj. The aim is to familiarize both Muslims and non-Muslims about this pillar of Islam, as well as to share the common Abrahamic heritage the Muslims, Jews and Christians. Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, and his family are the main characters in the story of Hajj. Read the Prophet's Last Sermon The Prophet Muhammad's last sermon was offered on the occasion of the only Hajj he ever performed in his lifetime. Peace and blessings be upon him. Read the sermon not only for the wisdom it offers, but also, try to close your eyes and picture yourself there, with the thousands of other Muslims who were.

Media plagiarism in "al-Qaeda" inmates story?

Webmaster — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:12:12 +0000
It’s been a while since we last had a story about al-Qaeda expansion into New South Wales jails. However, today the Sun-Herald reports that Muslim prison inmates in New South Wales have been studying an al-Qaeda manual. And up to 40 inmates have apparently established… …an internal organisational structure to maintain morale, resist interrogation and recruit members to Islam. Hmmm… Where have we heard that before? Oh, yes. In the San Francisco Chronicle last year! The Chronicle reported that detainees of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba had created… …their own internal organizational structure to maintain morale, resist interrogation and recruit members… Amazing. Not only did they both create “internal organizational structures” but they both have the exact same objectives listed in the exact same order. What are the chances of that? The Sun-Herald continues: The al-Qaeda training manual was first obtained by the CIA in 1996. And in the San Francisco Chronicle last year: The al Qaeda training manual, obtained by the CIA in 1996… The Sun-Herald today: It suggests a 10-position leadership structure for members held in prison. And in the San Francisco Chronicle last year: …suggests a 10-position leadership structure for members held in prison The Sun-Herald today: The structure includes “barracks chief and deputies”, “greeters to meet and instruct new arrivals”, “welfare attendant to organise equitable distribution of goods from families and aid organisations” and “clergy”, presumably to attend to spiritual needs as well as to recruit new adherents to their faith, according to the CIA report. And, finally, in the San Francisco Chronicle last year: It includes “barracks chief and deputies,” “greeters to meet and instruct new arrivals,” “welfare attendant to organize equitable distribution of goods from families and aid organizations,” “morale officer to organize leisure time” and “clergy, presumably to attend to spiritual needs as well as to recruit new adherents to their faith,” according to the report.

Sudan frees teddy row teacher

Webmaster — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:56:06 +0000
Gillian Gibbons, the British teacher jailed for allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammad, has been freed today after receiving a presidential pardon.She was handed over to the British embassy after more than week in custody and is expected to fly back to England within the next few hours. Her freedom came after a meeting between two British Muslim peers, Lord Nazir Ahmed and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, and Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, in his palace in the capital, Khartoum. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said today that "common sense" had prevailed. In a statement, Gibbons said she was "fine" and "very grateful to all the people working on my behalf". The prime minister said in a statement: "I was delighted and relieved to hear the news that Gillian Gibbons is to be freed. She will be released into the care of our embassy in Khartoum after what must have been a difficult ordeal." He added: "Through the course of Ms Gibbons' detention I was glad to see Muslim groups across the UK express strong support for her case. "I applaud the particular efforts of Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi in securing her freedom. I am also grateful to our officials for all their work behind the scenes." In a statement, Gibbons said: "I have been in Sudan for over four months but I have enjoyed myself immensely. I have encountered nothing but kindness from the Sudanese people. I have great respect for the Islamic religion and would not knowingly offend anyone and I'm sorry if I have cause any distress." Warsi read out the statement after meeting the Sudanese president. In it Gibbons paid tribute to her pupils and said she would miss them terribly. "I am sad to think they have been distressed by this incident," she said. Her son, John Gibbons, 25, said: "Obviously we're very pleased. We've just got to contain our excitement until she's on the plane. "I'd like to thank the government for all they have done, the hard work behind the scenes, especially the two peers who went out there." Asked if he had spoken to his mother since her release, he said no, but added: "I'm sure she'll be very pleased although quite embarrassed to be on the news permanently. "It's been a strange old week, very stressful and particularly bad for the family but now she's coming home, fingers crossed. "If this week has taught me anything it is that anything can happen." When asked what the key factor was in securing Gibbons' release, Ahmed said: "As British Muslim parliamentarians we had better understanding." A Sudanese government spokesman said he hoped the decision to release Gibbons would improve relations between Britain and Sudan. But he said: "There was a political risk in this decision. Although the pardon is a presidential prerogative, because of the rising feeling and tensions that have been generated many Sudanese will see it as unfair to them and that it might encourage others to do the same. "The president considered the intentions behind the actions when he made this decision [to pardon]." Gibbons' pardon prompted a small protest outside the British embassy, which ended peacefully. Reacting to the pardon, Khalid al-Mubarak, of the Sudanese embassy in London, said: "Congratulations. I am overjoyed. She is a teacher who went to teach our children English and she has helped a great deal and I am very grateful. What has happened was a cultural misunderstanding, a minor one, and I hope she, her family and the British people won't be affected by what happened." Gibbons, 54, was arrested last Sunday over a classroom exercise in September in which she allowed seven-year-old pupils to name a teddy bear. A school assistant complained after the pupils chose the name Muhammad. Gibbons was jailed for 15 days on Thursday. She was held at an undisclosed location in Khartoum for her own safety after angry protesters gathered on Friday, many of whom called for her to be executed. Massing in Martyrs Square some chanted: "Shame, shame on the UK", "No tolerance: execution"; and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad." Mubarak played down Friday's protests, saying: "The demonstrations were an argument from the fringe. I hope for the best relationship with Britain in the months ahead." In Liverpool, Gibbons' former teaching colleagues said they were thrilled by her release. Rick Widdowson, headteacher of Garston primary school, where Gibbons worked for 12 years, said: "Everyone is very relieved and very pleased. "We feel it should never have come to this but it's a good ending. "One or two of the staff see Gill socially and I am sure they will be meeting up to celebrate with her." RELATED:
There's far more to Islam than a teddy
Ed HusainSunday December 2, 2007The Observer http://www.guardian.co.uk/sudan/story/0,,2220481,00.html Twenty out of 23 children chose to name their class teddy bear Muhammad. A rather sweet gesture, I think. But no. In ultra-sensitive Sudan, parents and a staff member decided to complain against what they saw as a white, female, infidel British teacher insulting their religion. What was an innocent classroom gesture was, yet again, hijacked by Muslim extremists to threats of floggings and demands of shooting after Friday prayers in Khartoum last week. Last year, it was the Danish cartoons. This year it is a teddy bear. What next? And why this repeated madness? For me, it is not about the possible offence taken at perceived negative portrayals of Islamic symbols, but the repeated calls for death, lashings and stoning. The medieval, literalist mindset that fails to comprehend the inhumane nature of these brutal and barbaric acts, often carried out against the defenceless, is the crux of the matter. The Western media are right to hold a mirror to educated Muslims by highlighting these outdated practices. Only a week ago, a young Saudi gang rape victim, rather than being counselled and loved, was sentenced to 200 lashes. If the young lady had been a wealthy Saudi with powerful connections, she would have escaped her punishment. Similarly, if Gillian Gibson had not been British, there would not have been an outcry. When Muslims want to appear sanctimonious about newspaper cartoons or a teddy bear, I ask where are the mass protests against the Saudi Wahhabite destruction of the birthplace of Muhammad in Mecca? Or systematic annihilation of Muslim heritage in Medina? Or the organised desecration of the Prophet's family's tombs across Saudi Arabia? We should not be hypocritical in our choice of protest. Mainstream Muslims cannot remain silent as our faith is destroyed by extremists from within, and mocked by agenda-driven, habitual Islam-haters from without. We must have the courage to stand and reclaim our faith. I write this from a conference in Madrid, a city, like my home, London, that has suffered immensely from the Islamist-jihadist rage. The ubiquitous question here has been: where is the voice of the Muslim majority? Part of the answer is that it is buried in fear of extremist reprisals and concern at breaking ranks with fellow Muslims only to be attacked by fundamentalist atheists for not going far enough. Last week, I faced former Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who levelled exactly that criticism at me. How could I possibly believe? Another renowned British liberal called Islam 'gobbledegook'. Tomorrow, I meet Martin Amis, who has found Islam a convenient whipping boy for all things religious. The contempt for Christianity is just as ferocious. Despite being caught in crossfire between two extremes, I believe in a Muslim tradition, a spiritual path, that can bring harmony between Islam and the West and thereby rescue millions from misery, rigidity and oppression. If anything, the modern West stems from a Judaeo-Christian-Islamic heritage. More than ever, Western Muslims need to stop viewing the world through bipolarised lenses and assert our Western belonging. The Spanish Muslim jurist, Imam Shatibi, who died in 1388, articulated the aims of the shariah as preservation of life, honour, property, religion and reason. Leading Muslim scholars in the Arab world today compound this classical Islamic approach. That's not to hide the reality of religious scripture, compiled in a world radically different from ours. Just as in Leviticus we find references to stoning sinners, in Muslim scripture there are some unpalatable references. But these are to be seen in the context of their time. What remain valid are the eternal truths that Shatibi, Locke and others enunciated. Our humanity must transcend adherence to scriptural literalism, especially if it leads to mayhem and loss of innocent lives. The whole purpose of religion is to bring order and harmony to our existence. Islam is not a monolithic entity. Inherent within Muslim tradition is a plurality of thought, practice and reasoning that can help create a genuine Muslim renaissance or tajdid in Arabic. Just as scriptural references to stoning and flogging are cited by countries such as Saudi Arabia as justification for their horrid practices, in these same texts, we find that the Prophet Muhammad reprimanded his followers for stoning a person who attempted to flee. He also condemned those who killed innocent people. By drawing on these lessons, mainstream Muslims must illustrate that compassion, humanity and sense should override scriptural rigidity understood with anger and revenge. More than any other Muslim community across the world, those of us who were born, raised and educated in the west have access to both cultures: Islam and the west. It is my generation that can bridge the gap between what seem like warring parties. Our arguments carry greater weight in the Muslim East. Western Muslims have a duty to continue developing what is a nascent phenomenon: Western Islam. We have no choice but to find common ground between our faith and our culture, Islam and the West, and then offer an alternative path to our brethren in the Muslim East. The presence of millions of Muslims in the West is an asset with which we can bring civilisational harmony. But Western Muslims must, in the words of Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, 'build our home together' with fellow citizens of all and no faith. It is our common bond, being human, which comes first. Our future must be a negotiated one. The Koran repeatedly calls us to think, contemplate and reflect. For how much longer will we be the laughing stock of the world? And all over a teddy bear. · Ed Husain is author of The Islamist #comments { font-size:70%; font-family:Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;}#comments div.commentheader p { font-size:1.2em;}#comments { clear:both; margin-top:25px; width:256px;}#comments h3 { color: #fff; padding:2px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-size:1.3em; background-color:#999;}.individualcomment { font-size:1.2em; clear:both; margin-top:10px; padding-top:10px; border-top:1px solid #999;}.dateline { font-weight: normal; color:#999; padding-top:2px; margin:0 0 15px 0;}.byline { font-weight:bold; padding:0; margin:0;}

US spies concoct a potent Iran brew

Webmaster — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 04:48:53 +0000
Two years after the last National Intelligence Estimate (NIE)on Iran that claimed "with high confidence that Iran currently is determined to develop nuclear weapons despite its international obligations and international pressure", the 2007 NIE by the US's 16 spy agencies claims otherwise. That is, that Iran "halted" its secret weapons program in the autumn of 2003. Crediting this to pressure by the international community, the new report is clearly geared to sustain the crumbling United Nations coalition on Iran. As expected, Washington, which released the report with much fan-fare, has been quick to frame it with the appropriate nuance, by letting National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley do the talking, "It confirms that we were right to be worried about Iran seeking to develop nuclear weapons," Hadley said. "It tells us that we have made progress in trying to ensure that this does not happen. But the intelligence also tells us that the risk of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon remains a very serious problem." In other words, let's not have a let-up with the sanctions that the new report proves are effectively working. The new NIE reports with "high confidence" that the military-run program was shut in 2003, and it concludes with "moderate confidence" that the program had not restarted as of mid-2007. The timing of the report's release is curious, coinciding both with Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's crucial meeting with the heads of states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, where Ahmadinejad has made substantial progress in confidence-building by advancing the idea of security and economic cooperation in the region, and with critical discussions with the so-called "Five plus One" countries regarding the next United Nations steps against Iran. The Five plus One includes the five permanent members of the UN security Council - United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China - plus Germany. Irrespective of Hadley's comments, the new NIE actually undermines much of the rationale behind the US-led push for a third round of US sanctions on Iran, by flatly contradicting what until now has been held as an article of faith by US politicians and much of the media. That is, the notion that Iran has been pursuing an open weapons program via its uranium-enrichment and reprocessing activities. Casting heavy doubt on that flawed theory or "truth paradigm" [1], the new NIE simultaneously recycles the previous reports's air of certainty and lack of minutest doubt and presents its new findings, which are in stark contrast, if not flagrant contradiction, to the previous report's. Such intelligence flip-flops on Iran simply reduce the credibility of any information on that country from Washington and raise international doubts about its real intentions. Thus, given the credibility gaps in US information on Iran, the real question is whether or not the new report actually helps or harms the US's bid to escalate sanctions on Iran? This is an important question since reports indicate strong reservations on the part of China and Russia to go along with further sanctions imposed either unilaterally or multilaterally. To open a caveat, former US national security advisor, Zbingnew Brzezinski, has written an article in the US media claiming that China, depicted as a "geopolitically status-quo power", is inclined to come on board more sanctions and even the "revisionist" Russians can be persuaded with the right "patient diplomacy". Brzezinski does not mention the China-Russia alliance within the anti-North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which has accorded Iran observer status, conveniently relying on a caricature of China's evolving global power projections and intentions. Cultivating partners against Iran by benign analyses or dubious intelligence reports will not cut it and the US is today in dire need of a serious rethinking of its long-term policies and intentions in the Middle East, nowadays featuring a "rising Iran". In the absence of such a rethinking, the unrealistic expectation of "zero centrifuges" will persist. Instead, the US could contemplate the utility of an alternative, coercion-free Iran diplomacy centered on shared and parallel interests with the US, that is, both nations' vested interest in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' oil flowing from the Persian Gulf to the international market, as well as on an internationally monitored Iranian nuclear program. In other words, it is time for "realism, not idealism" in the US's policy regarding Iran's nuclear program. [2] To open another caveat, this author's past exposure to Iran's nuclear decision-makers, particularly in 2004 and 2005, leaves no doubt the new US report's claim that Iran "halted" certain nuclear activities due to external pressure should be taken with a grain of salt. This is in view of the fact that all exhaustive International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)inspections have produced no such conclusions and, on the contrary, have actually reinforced the Iranian claim that Iran has never diverted to military development. The various programs that Iran halted in 2004-2005, as a result of intense negotiations with the European troika of Germany, France and Britain, were "voluntary, non-legally binding" confidence-building measures, and not any illicit, military activities, such as those alluded to in the US's new intelligence report. If the latter were true, then the world community needs to know what specific activities were involved and why the US has until now failed to share them, for example, with the IAEA. After all, IAEA chief Mohamad ElBaradei has been quite forthcoming in his latest press interviews regarding the lack of any knowledge of Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons. What is troubling about the new NIE is that top US intelligence officials have been going on record, for instance in their congressional testimony, promising no repetition of past errors put on full display with respect to Iraq, no "cherry picking" intelligence on Iran, and even threatening to resign if selective intelligence were to be misused for military adventures against Iran. With the US intelligence community on the defensive since the post-Iraq-invasion revelations still plaguing the George W Bush administration, the latter may have managed a mini-coup with the intelligence community by procuring a new report that confirms an Iranian nuclear weapons program, albeit one that it claims has been "halted". If complemented by a follow-up report that Iran is now poised to change course and resurrect its halted activities, then theoretically speaking, that gives ample justification for Washington's planned "pre-emptive strikes" on Iran, not to mention added sanctions. Yet, even short of such a follow-up, the present state of mind on Iran fueled by the new intelligence report is sufficiently paranoid to warrant tough new actions against Tehran. But, does this new report really represent an improvement in the US's intelligence on Iran? Or is it the same attitude that continuously falls shy of acknowledging Iran's legitimate nuclear rights, and needs for peaceful purposes, and the viability of existing mechanisms, for verification, by the IAEA, not to mention the proposed additional "objective guarantees" that Iran has put on the table? This aside, the US has for now taken a qualitative step away from the military option by releasing this new report that states unequivocally an Iranian freeze on its proliferation impulse, while simultaneously giving that military option a new lease of life by the related allegation of past proliferation activities. On the whole however, this puts the US behavior with regard to Iran in a thick cloud of uncertainty, let alone credibility gap, with the pendulum capable of swinging in wildly different directions almost at will. The bottom line, thanks to its vast cadre of intelligence "alchemists" is that the US and its even more gullible politicians, has now pre-positioned itself for yet another disastrous gambit in the volatile Middle East. The temporary freeze on the military option by the new intelligence report has nested within it its exact opposite, and may be calculated as part and parcel of a roundabout way of dealing with Iran's "nuclear menace". This is, indeed, a menacing development. Notes1. Debunking the Iran nuclear mythmakers Asia Times Online, January 25, 2007 and Iran, nuclear challenges The Iranian Journal Of International Affaris, Spring, 2007.2. Realism, not idealism, Harvard International Review, May 2007.

Hajj - the return to God

Webmaster — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:09:53 +0000
We will be entering the month of Dhul Hijjah next week. The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the most sacred days of the year. They are mentioned as special days in Surah al-Fajr. These are the days of special blessings. Muslims are urged to do more Dhikr, charity and good deeds during this time. Fasting in these days is prescribed as Nafl from first to the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah. The Prophet -peace be upon him- said: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." The people asked, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?" He said, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing." (Reported by Al-Tirmidhi 688) At this time millions of Muslims are gathering in and around the sacred city of Makkah. They are coming from every corner of the globe to perform the sacred rites of Hajj. Many members of our own community are there. We pray to Allah to bless all Muslims and accept their Hajj and devotions. Hajj is an important rukn of Islam. It has many benefits. It is a command of Allah. It is obligatory once in life on every adult Muslim male or female who can afford it physically and financially. Muslims perform Hajj every year in millions in number. They go there with great love and devotion. Hajj has a form and a spirit. Its form is to have Ihram, perform Tawaf and Sa'y, go to Mina, 'Arafat, Muzdalifah, do the ramy at the Jamarat and make sacrifice of a sheep, goat or camel. There are detailed rules that Pilgrims learn. Here at this time, however, I want to discuss few points about the spirit of Hajj for our benefit and let us think about it in these days. This will help us here also. 1. Hajj is a ceremony of love and devotion to Allah. A Muslim's relation with Allah is that of deep love, devotion and obedience. We love Allah, because He loves us. "He loves them and they love Him ..." (al-Ma'idah 5:54). Prophet Ibrahim -peace be upon him- loved Allah and Allah took him as a Friend (Khalil). "Allah took Ibrahim as a friend ." (al-Nisa' 4:125). Hajj is deeply associated with Prophet Ibrahim and his life-story. Hajj gives us a sense of History. Our faith is deep rooted in History. This is the religion of Allah given to us by His many prophets: Adam, Noah, Ibrahim, Ismael and finally Prophet Muhammad -peace be upon them all. These were the people who loved Allah and Allah loved them and made them the guides of humanity. 2. Hajj gives the universal spirit of Islam. People of all races, colors and nationalities go there. They become one people without any class or distinction. They look alike and do the same things. The spirit of Hajj is to foster unity and universal brotherhood and sisterhood among the believers. 3. Hajj gives us a focus, center and orientation. We have one Qiblah and that is our direction for worship. But we should not have only one Qiblah for worship; we should also have unity of purpose and mission in our life. Muslims should be the people of a focus and direction, not a confused people or a people without any orientation and direction. Our focus of life is Allah and House of Allah, the Ka'bah on this earth. We have with us Allah's book that we must hold fast together. "And hold fast all together Allah's rope and be not divided... (Al 'Imran 3:103). 4. Hajj is the ceremony of peace and harmony. The pilgrims come in peace and spend their time together in the most peaceful and respectful manner. They respect every person and every thing. They do not harm any one or anything. This is also the spirit of Islam. Islam is a total commitment to care, compassion and kindness. Hajj is symbol of this commitment and it must manifest in our daily life. 5. Hajj is also a movement, action and sacrifice. The pilgrim keeps on moving all the time, with Tawaf, Sa'y, going to Mina, 'Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina again, around the Jamarat and other places. It is a dynamic ceremony and this is the way a Muslim's life should be. Motion, action, and sacrifice -these things bring success in this life and salvation in the Hereafter. I hope those who have gone to Hajj, will learn good lessons from this journey and we here also should keep these lessons in our minds and lives. Hajj in the Holy Quran By the Break of Day; By the Ten Nights; By the Even and Odd (contrasted); And by the Night when it passes away; Is there (not) in these an adjuration (or evidence) for those who understand? (Surah al-Fajr 89:1-5) "And proclaim the Pilgrimage among people; they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways. That they may witness the benefits (provided) for them, and celebrate the name of Allah, through the Days Appointed, over the cattle which He has provided for them (for sacrifice). So eat you thereof and feed the distressed ones in want. Then let them complete the rites prescribed for them, perform their vows, and (again) circumambulate the Ancient House." (Surah al-Hajj 22:27-29) The first House (of worship) appointed for people, was that at Bakkah; full of blessing and of guidance for all beings. In it are Signs manifest; the Station of Abraham; whoever enters it attains security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures. (Surah Al 'Imran 3:96-97)

Australia may stand to gain from Islamic finance boom

Webmaster — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:08:49 +0000
Nearly $6 billion is held in global assets by Islamic finance institutions, and some of the world's biggest banks, like Citigroup and Deutsche Bank, have Islamic banking arms. (AAP: Alan Porritt) There might be talk of recession in the United States, but in oil-rich countries, the petrodollars just keep flooding in, and they are driving the increasingly powerful Islamic banking sector, which is growing by more than 10 per cent a year. The major centres for Islamic banking are in the Middle East, the UK and South East Asia, but now Australia is being touted as a market in the fight for the halal dollar. Nearly $6 billion is held in global assets by Islamic finance institutions, and some of the world's biggest banks, like Citigroup and Deutsche Bank, have Islamic banking arms. Islamic banking bans the payment of interest, which is forbidden under Sharia law. For example, if you took out a home loan from an Islamic bank, the bank may buy the home and resell it to you for a higher price. You pay the loan back over 30 years, with no interest. Nail Aykan is from the Muslim Community Cooperative, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Australia. "In Islam, a business transaction is allowed to make a profit, so there's no issue about making a profit, it's just that how you make a profit, what formula do you use," he said. "We don't use a interest-based conventional banking formula, but we use another formula and, hence, aren't allowed to make a profit." Karate champion Bilal el-Hayek says the Muslim Community Cooperative Australia (MCA) has helped him achieve the great Australian dream, because it matches his religious beliefs and does not charge interest. "It's the most important thing in life, for us personally, from a religious point of view," he said. "It's either buying a house with the MCCA, or not having a house at all." Australian potential As yet, no Australian banks offer Islamic finance, but a number are looking into it, including National Australia Bank. Earlier this year, Kuwait Finance House, the world's second biggest Islamic bank, did a country report on Australia. Andrew Reynolds from global accounting firm KPMG says we could become a hub for the region over the next 10 to 20 years, because of our stable financial and political system. "A major part of the market would be servicing the existing Muslim community here," he said. "To me, the larger potential, at this point in time at least, is servicing Muslims resident elsewhere, seeking investment opportunities." Nail Aykan from the Muslim Community Cooperative thinks it will be even sooner. "Islamic banking is the largest growing sector in the banking world, globally, and it will be big in Australia, purely because there is a demand," he said. "Within five years' time there will definitely be at least one Islamic bank operating in Australia, if not more." Islamic finance is not just about banking, it also includes products such as shares, bonds and insurance. Islamic investments comply with Sharia law by avoiding sectors like alcohol and gambling. Ratings agency Standard and Poor's has just created three new Sharia indices, to draw some of the estimated $1.5 trillion worth of funds in the Middle East. Jason Hill, the head of index services at Standard and Poor's in Australia, says he expects an Islamic stock market index to be based here within the next 12 to 18 months. "Australia sits on the doorstep of the some of the largest Islamic regions in the world," he said. "Australian investors, given the time zone in which the market trades here, is of particular interest, and I think there's strong interest in this area of the market."

Anti-Arab racism rising in Israel

Webmaster — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:19:52 +0000
Racism against Israeli Arabs has alarmingly increased in Israeli society amid a systematic state discrimination which makes the matter worse, the Association of Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) said in its annual report cited Sunday, December 9, by Haaretznewspaper. "Israeli society is reaching new heights of racism that damages freedom of expression and privacy," ACRI President Sami Michael said upon the release of the report on civil rights in Israel. Michael said the towering racism undermines Israel as a real democracy in the Middle East. "We are a society under supervision under a democratic regime whose institutions are being undermined and which confers a different status to residents in the center of the country and in the periphery." The ACRI report found that racist incidents against Israeli Arabs increased in 2006 by 26 percent. The number of Jews publicly expressing feelings of hatred toward Arabs has also doubled. The report also found that over two-thirds Israeli teens believed Arabs to be less intelligent, uncultured and violent, and over a third of the age group feared Arabs all together. The report cited a March ACRI poll, which showed that 50 percent of the Israelis neither accepted living in the same building with Arabs nor having Arab friends, nor even letting their children befriend Arabs. The respondents said that they would not also let Arabs into their homes. Nearly half of the Israelis further want the state to encourage Arab citizens to emigrate elsewhere, according to the survey. According to a June 2007 Democracy Index of the Israel Democracy Institute, also cited in the report, only half the Israeli people believes that Jews and Arabs must have full equal rights, and 78 percent oppose the inclusion of Arab political parties in the government. And a recent Haifa University study found that 74 percent of Jewish youths in Israel think that Arabs are "unclean," the report says. According to statistics released by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics in 2006, Arabs in Israel are estimated at 1,413,500 or 19.8% of the Israeli 6.5 million populace. State Discrimination The report further said that there is a systematic state discrimination against Israeli Arabs, which added insult to injury. It says that Arab citizens "are subject to 'racial profiling' that classifies them as a security threat. " The government also threatens the freedom of expression of Arab journalists by "brandishing the whip of economic boycott and ending the publication of government announcements in newspapers that criticize its policy." Arab citizens are harassed and singled out at airports. "Arab citizens are frequently subject to ridicule at the airports," the report stated. More and more, in the last year's Isralie-Lebanon war, some 40% of the citizens killed were Israeli-Arabs, mostly due to a severe lack of shelters in Israeli Arab towns, according to the report. The report further criticized a set of Knesset draft laws discriminating against Israeli Arabs like one that would link the Arab citizen's right to vote and receive state allowances to military or national service. Under Israel's draft system, Arabs are not allowed to join the army. The bills also include one that requires ministers and MKs to swear allegiance to the "Jewish state." Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the starting point for all negotiations with the Palestinians will be the "recognition of Israel as a state for the Jewish people." Recognizing Israel as a "Jewish state" and a homeland for the Jewish people would kill stone dead any hopes for them to return to homes in what is now Israel. Though legally considered as Israeli citizens, many of Israeli Arabs have been complaining about discrimination in all walks of life. Poverty rate among Arabs in Israel is almost twice that of the Jewish population. Norm Arab Members of Knesset said the report underlined the fact that racism in Israel against Israeli Arabs is deeply-rooted. "This report doesn’t come as a surprise," Mohammad Barakeh, the chairman of the left-wing Hadash party, told the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot on Sunday. "These findings are a natural outcome of the racial slurs by political leaders and the racial policy that have been implemented by the Israeli governments towards the Arab population for the past 60 years." Ahmad Tibi,of theUnited Arab List-Ta'al, agreed. "Racism has become the norm in Israeli society," he said. "Israel is ridden with discrimination through and thought." Barakeh said the Israeli government should change what he called its anti-Arab mentality to lay racism to rest. "Such racism can only be cured by changing the Israeli government's racial mentality," he said.

History of Australia's Muslim cameleers revealed

Webmaster — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:52:47 +0000
They were among the first Muslims in Australia. Single men, mostly. Some with wives and children at home in Afghanistan, India or modern-day Pakistan. Economic migrants, prepared to work ceaselessly in the alien landscape of the outback to hoist themselves from poverty. Yet, says Philip Jones, the Muslim cameleers who helped pioneer the inland wastes of the driest continent on Earth have largely been dismissed as a mere exotic side bar. Mr Jones, the co-curator of an exhibition on the cameleers, which opens at the National Library of Australia tomorrow, said: "They have been retained in the public consciousness as picturesque figures, a footnote to 'the real Australian history', which is seen as the white exploration … and, of course, the narrative of the clash between and contact with Aboriginal people." Three thousand cameleers came to Australia between 1860 and 1930. Most were itinerant workers, signing on for a few years before returning to their native lands. Nineteen of every 20 were Muslims, Mr Jones said, and their effect on inland Australia was profound, far beyond their physical numbers. They opened up pastoral land, brought wool to the railheads, connected remote settlements with the markets of Europe and pioneered the classic outback tracks that would ultimately be their undoing. The first record of camels arriving from overseas, said Mr Jones and his co-curator, Anna Kenny, was in 1860 for the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition. But it was two South Australian pastoralists, Thomas Elder and Samuel Stuckey, who appreciated the camel as a way of unlocking Australia's inland riches. "Bullock carts were letting them down, particularly during the droughts," Mr Jones said. "They needed camels to get wool more reliably from the clip to the ports." In the summer of 1865-66 the first of the camels arrived, 31 in all. But the pastoralists soon realised camels were useless without cameleers, Mr Jones said. "Camel saddles require pretty constant maintenance. And it was only the cameleers who could attend to the constant vagaries of the camels and keep them going day after day." Gradually they created a network of routes, which crossed the most inhospitable parts of the inland, from Bourke to the goldfields of Western Australia - routes now immortalised with names such as the Birdsville Track. They built mosques in the most unlikely places, now long gone. By the 1930s motor lorries were replacing the camel on the very paths they had established. Most of the cameleers returned to their original countries, but a few remained, marrying local Aboriginal or white women. But the camels remained. Today they are largely seen as exotic pests. But they are among the world's purest bred camels - the sole reminder of the men who helped change the outback. Pioneers Of The Inland: Australia's Muslim Cameleers, 1860s-1930s, National Library of Australia, until February 17 2008.

US looks on as Malaysia wobbles

Webmaster — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:14:26 +0000
Protests for greater democratization have spurred a strategic Muslim ally of the United States to clamp down and prioritize security concerns over civil liberties. Opposition parties have promised more protests, while the government states it will not tolerate any more public demonstrations that it deems a threat to national security. All of this takes place with critical democratic elections on the horizon. Although this scenario could apply to Pakistan, a key ally in the US-led "war on terror", it applies equally to Malaysia, a country that in recent years has been on the periphery of US foreign policy and now suddenly is at risk of becoming another regional political hot spot. Malaysia is important both strategically and economically as the world's 34th largest economy and currently the US's 10th-largest trade partner. Geographically, Malaysia straddles the Strait of Malacca through which approximately 50% of the world's oil supply flows, including over 70% of China's imports. The US navy has pushed to play a larger role in patrolling the strategic waterway, including protecting against possible seaborne terror attacks. Malaysia is also home to the Southeast Asia Regional Center for Counterterrorism, which has trained over 1,000 police and military personnel on strategies to combat terrorism in the region. Multilateral security agreements between Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have recently helped to hobble Indonesia-based terror group Jemaah Islamiyah and other al-Qaeda-linked operations in Southeast Asia, including in the southern Philippines. On the surface, Malaysia is precisely the type of moderate and modern Muslim country that the US should prioritize for improving relations. The current prime minister, Abdullah Badawi, is a third generation Islamic scholar and has advanced a concept known as "Islam Hadhari", which focuses on progressive values, moderation, and social justice in Islam. He is currently the chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the premier global forum for Muslim country leaders. Abdullah was appointed to power in 2003, ending the autocratic reign of the previous prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, who had earlier anointed Abdullah as his eventual successor. In 2004, his United Malays National Organization (UMNO) won an overwhelming majority, winning 198 of 220 parliamentary seats and gaining electoral ground against a radical Islamist party, though the polls were somewhat tainted by restrictions that prevented full participation by opposition parties. Although it has many blessings, Malaysia also suffers from a growing number of dire domestic problems. Mahathir's 22-year reign saw dramatic economic growth, but at the same time entrenched social discrimination, with preferential government policies drawn on ethnic lines that pit the majority ethnic Malays against the minority Chinese and Indians. As a result, endemic corruption, ethnic tension and uneven economic development now threaten to overwhelm Abdullah's once popular administration. While Malaysia is relatively prosperous compared to other countries in the region, many areas of the country are still impoverished. The sharp ethnic and religious divide between Muslim Malays, Buddhist and Christian Chinese and Hindu Indians has clearly been accentuated by recent events. Earlier, a high-profile court case pitting the state against a Malay woman who attempted to officially convert from Islam to Christianity stirred fundamental tensions over ethnic identity, religion, and civil liberties. (By law Muslims in Malaysia are not allowed to change their faith). Most importantly, the government remains largely unresponsive to these mounting tensions. Proposed anti-corruption measures have stalled, the police are still largely unaccountable and electoral barriers for opposition parties remain in place. All of these problems have in recent months fueled some of the largest protests in Malaysia's history. The government has responded by cracking down hard on peaceful demonstrators and banning further protests - an order that the political opposition and non-governmental organizations have defied. Further instability could imperil US interests, as well as the security of key neighboring US strategic allies, including Singapore. The US has a surprisingly large lever to push for democratic change in Malaysia. The two sides have been engaged since June 2006 in extensive talks about signing a new free trade agreement (FTA), which if implemented would give Malaysian export products preferential treatment in US markets. Because exports represent roughly 130% of Malaysia's gross domestic product, potential greater access to US markets is a big economic deal. The administration of US President George W Bush has made it clear that it is committed to successful negotiations, but could also use the talks to wring important political concessions from Abdullah, in particular towards good governance and democratic change, reforms that could help to relieve the pressure surrounding the ongoing protests and government crackdowns. For instance, a US push for a gradual easing of electoral restrictions on opposition parties and greater freedom for non-governmental organizations to put a check on government would allow some of the pressure now building on the streets to be vented in parliament. Abdullah's UMNO party, which has ruled the country uninterrupted since achieving independence in 1957, currently enjoys an overwhelming majority in parliament. The US could also pressure Malaysia to more effectively implement its anti-corruption legislation. Endemic corruption continues to weaken the Malaysian state and provides a big hurdle to US investors who must abide by the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In return, the US could offer preferential concessions in an FTA to groups that increasingly are being left behind by Malaysia's development, including fisher-folk and agricultural workers. Pakistan serves as an increasingly grim example of what can go wrong when the US fails to engage a strategic ally by lobbying for democratic and economic reforms that could go to redress underlying socio-economic problems. And the US could also arguably enhance its ongoing fight against terrorism by improving and re-engaging its relationship with Malaysia. Indeed, a more democratic, prosperous and religiously moderate Malaysia could serve as a valuable conduit for future US engagement with the broader Muslim world.

Haj: Symbol of Muslim unity

Webmaster — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 23:35:54 +0000
The faithful circumambulate the Holy Kaaba on the last Friday before Haj. (AFP) Sheikh Osama Khayyat, an imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, on Friday described the annual pilgrimage as a symbol of Islamic unity and solidarity and urged Muslims to strengthen their unity by upholding the teachings of Islam. Delivering the Juma (Friday) sermon to nearly two million faithful including a large number of pilgrims, Khayyat decried sectarian violence. “Don’t become infidels after my death, killing one another,” the imam said quoting a saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He said the protection of life, wealth and honor of Muslims was essential to achieve unity. “Killing a person without any legitimate reason is prohibited in Islam,” the imam told the faithful, emphasizing Islam’s total rejection of terrorist acts. Khayyat urged the pilgrims to make use of their blessed journey for achieving the objectives of Haj, such as establishing a close relationship with God, cleansing themselves of sins and bolstering unity. Nearly 1.6 million pilgrims from different parts of the world have already arrived in the Kingdom for Haj, which begins on Monday. More than 2.5 million are expected to perform Haj this year. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah arrived in Jeddah yesterday to supervise the services being rendered to pilgrims. Interior Minister Prince Naif, who is chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, will inspect today the Haj facilities in the holy sites, including the newly established Jamrat Bridge project. The large Haram Mosque complex overflowed with pilgrims yesterday, the last Friday before Haj. When the spaces in the inner courtyard filled up, the pilgrims chose spaces in the outer courtyard. Latecomers spread their mats on stairways of the shopping mall overlooking the mosque and later in the narrow alleys behind. The Haj is often described as the world’s biggest religious gathering, and men and women from more than 100 countries take part. Some of the largest contingents come from Indonesia, Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and Egypt. “See how people come from all over the world — Chinese, Pakistanis, Algerians, even Americans. It shows that we are all brothers,” said an Algerian who gave his name as Ibrahim. Saudi state television said on Thursday the police were taking strict measures to keep out aspiring pilgrims from the Kingdom who do not have a Haj permit. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to perform Haj this year. Iranian media said on Wednesday that Ahmadinejad had received a formal invitation from King Abdullah. Meanwhile, Dr. Ali Hassan Naqour, chairman of the land transport committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the new railway project linking Jeddah, Makkah and the holy sites would not affect bus companies. He said the railway project, in the first phase, would be limited to foreign pilgrims coming by land as well as domestic pilgrims. “Others who arrive by plane will be transported by bus,” he said. Naqour said a fleet of 19,500 buses would be used this year to transport pilgrims. Of this 17,000 buses would be allocated for pilgrims coming from abroad and 2,500 for domestic pilgrims. He said the Car Syndicate, the authority overseeing pilgrim transit, has readied 15,500 buses owned by 16 companies for the service, which is an increase of 1,000 buses over last year. The syndicate has rented 1,500 buses for domestic pilgrims. Apart from that the domestic pilgrim service companies have rented 2,500 buses directly from foreign companies, especially from Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and the UAE. He estimated the rents of these buses between SR35,000 and SR70,000. Naqour said the proposed monorail system linking Makkah and the holy sites would enable authorities to stop renting buses once and for all. “This will also solve many other problems. Most foreign drivers do not know the routes in the holy sites and they often reach their destinations very late,” he pointed out. Pilgrim bus companies have invested more than SR7 billion and have plans to beef up their fleets. Al-Jazirah Transport Company, which has a fleet of 2,000 buses, has bought 200 Mercedes buses for use during this Haj. Naqour, who is CEO of Al-Jazirah, disclosed the company’s plan to purchase 200 more Mercedes buses within the next two years.

Saudis tighten security for Hajj

Webmaster — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:09:11 +0000
Saudi Arabia has tightened security measures in the kingdom before the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which begins on Monday. More than 1.6 million Muslim pilgrims have already arrived in Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, and Saudi officials say they have installed more than 1,000 surveillance cameras around the city to monitor crowds. Several helicopters fitted with cameras will also be deployed over the city, General Saleh Mohammed al-Shihri, commander of the Central Control of the Hajj Security, told AP news agency.All Muslims must try to perform the Hajj to Mecca, birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, during their lifetime. "Saudi Arabia has mobilised all the needed security and municipal forces for a smooth Hajj, so hopefully we will not see any problems," Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, the interior minister, said on Saturday.He wasspeaking after a parade of some of the 50,000 security forces involved in protecting the Hajj.Nayef said there was no link between this year's Hajj and the arrest of 208 men last month in the latest of a series of sweeps against suspected fighters.Ahmadinejad expectedMahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, is expected to perform the Hajj this year after a personal invitation from Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.The invitation is notable as the Iranian leader is an adherent to the Shia sect of Islam, the main faith in Iran, whereas Saudi Arabia is predominantly Sunni.Tensions between the two main sects of Islam have spilled over into violence in Iraq.There are also ongoing concerns of repercussionsafter last week's deadly suicide bombing in Algeria and the ongoing violence in Iraq and Afghanistan.Medical precautionsPilgrims will perform a series of sacred rituals, including walking counter-clockwise seven times around the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure in Mecca towards which Muslims pray.Authorities are also hoping to avoid any repeat of the deadly incidents that have hit the Hajj in earlier years.Last year more than 360 people were killed in a stampede at the entrance of the Jamarat Bridge, where Muslims cast stones at a pillar representing Satan.A further 70 at least died after a hostel in Mecca housing pilgrims collapsed.Authorities have deployed 11,000 doctors, nurses and paramedics to provide medical care to pilgrims and 85 ambulances have also been mobilised.Health alerts will be issued in case of any outbreak of disease, local media reported.Palestinian pilgrimsIn other news, Israel has agreed to let about 900 Gaza pilgrims travel through Israeli territory en route to Saudi Arabia, Palestinian and Israeli officials said on Sunday.Israeli officials said the passage through the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing was under way at midday, but couldn't specify how many Gazans had actually crossed.The Israeli approval was given at the last minute. RELATED:
Ahmadinejad's Hajj more than religious
SANA ABDALLAH -Middle East Times http://www.metimes.com/International/2007/12/13/ahmadinejads_hajj_more_than_religious/5979/ Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will become the first Iranian sitting president to perform the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, in another sign that relations between Tehran and its Arab neighbors are warming up. His senior adviser, Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi, confirmed Wednesday that Ahmadinejad has accepted an invitation to Mecca from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, according to the semi-official Iranian Mehr news agency. The move is seen as being a helpful step to ease regional tensions. Although this would be Ahmadinejad's third visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office, the Saudi monarch's invitation to a sitting president of the Islamic Republic of Iran to fulfill one of Islam's five required pillars was largely seen in Tehran as an important development. "It is the first time in the history of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia that the king of this country invites a president of the Islamic republic to make the pilgrimage to Mecca," Ali Akbar Javanfekr, Ahmadinejad's media adviser, said Wednesday. "As a result, the visit of Ahmadinejad is considered to be an important event in the relations between the two countries," added Javanfekr, who was already in Saudi Arabia when he made his remarks. The invitation was extended a day after Ahmadinejad said he would conduct the Hajj this year in Mecca, in western Saudi Arabia, if he was invited by King Abdullah. Riyadh declared that the five-day pilgrimage rites, performed by 1.5 million Muslims, would begin Dec. 18 when the pilgrims converge on Mount Arafat near Mecca. Tensions between predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia – a close U.S. ally – and Shiite Iran began with the 1979 Iranian Islamic revolution that the Arabs feared would spill over to the rest of the region. Saudi Arabia was one of Iraq's biggest supporters during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, and Iran's late Islamic revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, labeled leaders of the Arab kingdoms as U.S. lackeys. Their relationship hit rock bottom in July 1987 when more than 400 people, most of them Iranians, were killed in clashes between Iranians and Saudi security forces during the Hajj. But Saudi-Iranian ties began to thaw under former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, although Iran's influence on Shiite populations and groups in the turbulent region, especially in Iraq and Lebanon, increases tensions now and then. Arab analysts say that with Iran's rising political leverage in the Arab region and its suspected potential to become a nuclear military power, King Abdullah – who enjoys substantial influence with the pro-Western Arab regimes – has embarked on the diplomatic exercise of winning over Tehran instead of confronting it. Since Sunni-Shiite strife was unleashed in the wake of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq, Saudi leaders have been accused by Iran and Iraqi Shiites of supporting Sunni insurgents. Riyadh denies these charges. Yet, according to Arab diplomats, the Saudis have refrained from lashing back at Iran with counter accusations on Tehran's involvement in Iraq, instead preferring to keep channels open to win Iran's cooperation on settling Iraq's and Lebanon's internal disputes. Riyadh and Tehran have been the major regional players in efforts to calm the Lebanon crisis, in which the Saudi-backed government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has been locked in political disputes with the opposition, led by Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah organization, backed by Iran. Lebanese analysts expect that Ahmadinejad's Hajj pilgrimage this month will help the anti- and pro-Western politicians in Lebanon to come closer to electing a president and to formulate an agenda and lineup for a new cabinet. Lebanon has been without a head-of-state since pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud's term expired Nov. 23. Meanwhile, Arab diplomats told the Middle East Times that a recent report by the U.S. intelligence community, the National Intelligence Estimate, that said Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 had alleviated some Arab fears, particularly in the Gulf, of an imminent Iranian atomic bomb next door, or worse yet, a U.S. or Israeli war with Iran using nuclear weapons. The diplomats also agreed that the NIE report has calmed the region's growing nuclear hysteria and has made the Arab Gulf role in appeasing its Persian neighbor less rigorous. The NIE report was published a day after the summit of the six-member Arab Gulf Cooperation Council concluded Dec. 4 in Doha, at which the delegates reiterated their desire for a peaceful solution to Iran's nuclear crisis with the West. Ahmadinejad was also the first Iranian president to be invited to attend a GCC summit, during which he addressed his Arab neighbors and called for a regional security cooperation pact with his country. Though religious in nature, King Abdullah's invitation to Ahmadinejad to conduct Hajj in Islam's holiest site is clearly another political gesture by Riyadh to bring Iran closer to the Arab ranks in the hope of encouraging Iran to help pacify tensions in the region.

Federal Police chief criticised for "court testing" terror cases

Webmaster — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:25:10 +0000
AUSTRALIAN Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty has provoked criticism from lawyers, legal experts and civil libertarians after he said police should continue "testing the courts" despite the recent collapse of a number of high-profile terrorism prosecutions. Mr Keelty made the claim during a speech on Friday to an audience of police officers at the announcement of a new counter-terrorism team, based in Sydney, consisting of AFP and NSW police. He later attempted to deny he used these words, which were digitally recorded. "Both in the UK and in Australia we are testing the courts. We make no apologies for that, I think it's part of the work police do ... and will help prevent a (terrorist) attack here," he said. "We're not going to get perfect results each and every time. People need to understand it (the new anti-terror legislation) is a very different operating environment." In light of the failed prosecutions of Mohamed Haneef and Izhar Ul-Haque, his claims provoked fresh criticism from those who argue the police have no authority to test the boundaries of what is legal in order to pursue a conviction. In a previously unreported letter to Mr Keelty last month, the Law Council of Australia questioned the actions of his officers in the arrest and prosecution of Dr Haneef in relation to a car-bomb attack on Scotland's Glasgow airport in June. The case against Dr Haneef collapsed in July amid revelations incorrect evidence against him had been tendered in court. "It has become clear that our anti-terror laws, while draconian in certain respects, are only part of the problem. The source of the danger is not only what those laws say but what people, including AFP officers, think they say," Law Council president Ross Ray QC said. Australian Council for Civil Liberties spokesman David Bernie said he feared Mr Keelty's statement revealed an "ideological mindset" that governed the AFP's conduct during a series of highly politicised prosecutions. "The role of the police is to enforce the law, not test the law. Does this mean the AFP are taking on borderline cases when they should be taking on the main cases?" Mr Bernie said. In November, the attempted prosecution of Mr Ul-Haque on unrelated terrorism charges collapsed after a judge found AFP officers had interviewed him without either cautioning the Sydney medical student or telling his lawyer about the interrogation. An AFP officer was present during a separate coerced interview of Mr Ul-Haque at his home by ASIO officers, which judge Michael Adams said amounted to "false imprisonment and kidnapping". Mr Keelty said public perception of his force had not been affected by the fallout from these prosecutions and instead criticised the role the media played in highlighting the failures in each. "The burden of responsibility for protecting the community lies not on the shoulders of journalists, nor does it lie on the shoulders of commentators. It lies on the shoulders of frontline police (and) frontline intelligence agents," he said. Media Alliance Federal Secretary Christopher Warren said this was "typical of his (Mr Keelty's) failure to understand" the media. "The media's role is to pull up state institutions, whether it's police, governments, prosecutors or courts, because if we don't no one else does," he said.

Australia pledges $45m to Palestinians

Webmaster — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:26:59 +0000
Australia will commit $45 million to the Palestinian Authority today as part of a major international effort to help the ailing Government achieve a peace deal with Israel. The Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Bob McMullan said this morning that Australia would double its level of assistance to the Palestinian territories in 2008 as part of international moves to help in the formation of a Palestinian state. "The Palestinian issue is a principal trigger to instability in the Middle East and if we just pop into bed and pull the covers over our head it won't achieve anything," Mr McMullan told commercial radio from an international donors' conference in Paris this morning. "It is essential to peace in the Middle East. Global security is fundamentally affected by the situation in the Palestinian territories where many women and children are suffering without the things which we take for granted. "The sense of manifest injustice about the situation in the territories is a significant cause of terrorism in the world. Every developed country has come to the conclusion that this is necessary." The Donors' Conference is intended to build on the recent conference in the United States where Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed to negotiate a peace treaty by the end of 2008. The Palestinian Authority is seeking $US5.6 billion ($6.5 billion) in aid over the next three years from the international community. Australia's extra support will help the Palestinian Authority implement their reform and development plan, which will focus on governance reform, social development, economic and private sector development, and public infrastructure. RELATED:
Managing the occupation
Lamis Andoni, Al Jazeera Middle East analyst Dec 17 2007 http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F863E315-6763-4ED6-9138-94A1C896BABC.htm On the face of it, the one-day international donor meeting in Paris was a fantastic success. Billions of dollars were promised in aid to the Palestinian Authority to salvage its ailing economy, and all the while political rhetoric flew about in support of Palestinian statehood.But financial pledges, even if and when they are delivered to the Palestinians, are meaningless in the long term without the exertion ofinternationalpolitical pressure to end the 40-year old Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip."This is not a donors' conference. This a state-building conference," declared Tony Blair, the Middle East peace quartet's envoy,in his speech at the meeting.In his opening speech, Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, called for an end of the occupation and for an independent Palestinian state to be established within a year in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.Such statements, while politically significant, sound vacuous unless the international community reaches a consensus to pressure Israel not only to stop, but also to reverse its settlement building that has rendered statehood a shattered Palestinian dream. No 'show of will' This is not to underestimate the urgency of the flow ofimmediate aid - every single dollar is direly needed to avert an impending catastrophe that the United Nations and other humanitarian organisations have already cautioned against.Yet in the absence of a clearly defined political plan, financial aid will amount to no more than a sticking plaster that cannot stop a profusely bleeding wound.In Paris there was neither a show of an international political will to address the occupation itselfnor any serious pressure placed on Israel to lift restrictions onthe movement of people andgoods.Warnings by the World Bank that an Israeli reversal of movement restriction policies and closure of bordersis a pre-requisite for the recovery of the Palestinian economy, went unheeded.The donors' conference, as the American-sponsored Annapolis meeting a few weeks ago, was instead driven by Israeli and US security priorities, namely backing, if not, encouraging a Palestinian Authority confrontationagainst Hamas rather than addressing the reality of the Israeli occupation. Fuelling divisions The international community, following the lead of Washington, has been instrumental in fuelling Palestinian divisions,particularly since the international boycott of the Hamas-led government formed after the 2006 Islamic movement's victory in parliamentary elections.But while the shift in the international agenda against Hamas has served US and Israeli framing of the problem of that "of Palestinian terrorism", both Fatah and Hamas share the main responsibility of facilitatingan international consensusthat has diverted attention from the Israeli occupation.The PA's initial acquiescence in the international boycott of the Hamas-led government and security co-ordination with the US to strengthen its security against Hamas - even if that did not amount to practical steps - created an internal atmosphere of mistrust.Meanwhile, Hamas's military takeover of Gaza last June provided an unprecedented opportunity for Israel to strangle an already suffocated 1.6 million Palestinians in the tiny strip and turned a geographic divide into a de facto political division of a frail Palestinian polity.As a result, we saw a conference supposedly aimed at reviving peace negotiations in Maryland turn into an all-out "war on terrorism" pitting Palestinian against Palestinian and consequently pushing the fight against Israeli occupation onto the backburner.The trend continued in Paris, even as Abbas tried in his speech to draw attention back to the reality on the ground. "I expect them [the Israelis] to stop all settlement activities, without exceptions,"he said. He also called on Israel to remove dozens of unauthorised settlement outposts established since 2001, to remove military checkpoints and to stop building its separation wall in the West Bank. Political tool? There are currently 120 Israeli settlements in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, that amount to about 40 per cent ofPalestinian land occupied by Israel in 1967.But Abbas's demand is likely to fall on deaf ears. For while an international show of support -and infusion of millions of dollars -may strengthen his position against Hamas, it does not bolster the Palestinian position vis-a-vis Israel.If anything, the conference has enabled Israel to stand its ground on its security conditions. It has also practically absolvedIsrael from making commitments to stop settlement expansion and incursions and attacks against the Palestinian territories, and to ease the restrictions on movement in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.Indeed, the flow of aid - with the exception of UN-directed emergency relieffunds - would be used as a political tool by some donors to pressure the PA to initiate a full-scale crackdown on Hamas, and even other opponents. Divisive stepsUS congress, in particular, is expected to make stricter stipulations for releasing all, or even part, of the $550m pledged by the US government to ensure that Abbas meets Israeli demands on dismantling armed wings of Hamas and Fatah. In other words, for the PA to even receive part of the promised aid, it has to take more divisive and harsh security steps that could prove very costly in the increasingly impoverished Palestinian territories.In a revealing statement, Sarkozy suggested the beefing-up of the Palestinian security machinery against Hamas through the deployment of an international peacekeeping force. This proposal reflected the Paris meeting's skewed priorities and could become a recipe for Palestinian civil war.Thus, while the Paris meeting may have recognised the urgency of the deteriorating humanitarian situation, thepolitical subtext of the donors' financial pledges will only feed the internal strife and enable Israel to manage, not end, the occupation.

Hajj: Journey of a Lifetime

Webmaster — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 19:15:30 +0000
The hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah, a central duty of Islam whose origins date back to the Prophet Abraham, brings together Muslims of all races and tongues for one of life's most moving spiritual experiences. For 14 centuries, countless millions of Muslims, men and women from the four corners of the earth, have made the pilgrimage to Makkah, the birthplace of Islam. In carrying out this obligation, they fulfill one of the five "pillars" of Islam, or central religious duties of the believer. Pilgrims gather at the Mount of Mercy, where the Prophet delivered his Farewell Sermon. Muslims trace the recorded origins of the divinely prescribed pilgrimage to the Prophet Abraham, or Ibrahim, as he is called in Arabic. According to the Qur'an, it was Abraham who, together with Ishmael (Isma'il), built the Ka'bah, "the House of God," the focal point toward which Muslims turn in their worship five times each day. It was Abraham, too - known as Khalil Allah, "the friend of God" - who established the rituals of the hajj, which recall events or practices in his life and that of Hagar (Hajar) and their son Ishmael. In the chapter entitled "The Pilgrimage," the Qur'an speaks of the divine command to perform the hajj and prophesies the permanence of this institution: And when We assigned for Abraham the place of the House, saying "Do not associate Anything with Me, and purify My House for those who go around it and for those who stand and bow and prostrate themselves in worship. And proclaim the Pilgrimage among humankind: They will come to you on foot and on every camel made lean By traveling deep, distant ravines. By the time the Prophet Muhammad received the divine call, however, pagan practices had come to muddy some of the original observances of the hajj. The Prophet, as ordained by God, continued the Abrahamic hajj after restoring its rituals to their original purity. Furthermore, Muhammad himself instructed the believers in the rituals of the hajj. He did this in two ways: by his own practice, or by approving the practices of his Companions. This added some complexity to the rituals, but also provided increased flexibility in carrying them out, much to the benefit of pilgrims ever since. It is lawful, for instance, to have some variation in the order in which the several rites are carried out, because the Prophet himself is recorded as having approved such actions. Thus, the rites of the hajj are elaborate, numerous and varied; aspects of some of them are highlighted below. The hajj to Makkah is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation upon male and female adults whose health and means permit it, or, in the words of the Qur'an, upon "those who can make their way there." It is not an obligation on children, though some children do accompany their parents on this journey. Before setting out, a pilgrim should redress all wrongs, pay all debts, plan to have enough funds for his own journey and for the maintenance of his family while he is away, and prepare himself for good conduct throughout the hajj. When pilgrims undertake the hajj journey, they follow in the footsteps of millions before them. Nowadays hundreds of thousands of believers from over 70 nations arrive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by road, sea and air every year, completing a journey now much shorter and in some ways less arduous than it often was in the past. Till the 19th century, traveling the long distance to Makkah usually meant being part of a caravan. There were three main caravans: the Egyptian one, which formed in Cairo; the Iraqi one, which set out from Baghdad; and the Syrian, which, after 1453, started at Istanbul, gathered pilgrims along the way, and proceeded to Makkah from Damascus. As the hajj journey took months if all went well, pilgrims carried with them the provisions they needed to sustain them on their trip. The caravans were elaborately supplied with amenities and security if the persons traveling were rich, but the poor often ran out of provisions and had to interrupt their journey in order to work, save up their earnings, and then go on their way. This resulted in long journeys which, in some cases, spanned ten years or more. Travel in earlier days was filled with adventure. The roads were often unsafe due to bandit raids. The terrain the pilgrims passed through was also dangerous, and natural hazards and diseases often claimed many lives along the way. Thus, the successful return of pilgrims to their families was the occasion of joyous celebration and thanksgiving for their safe arrival. Lured by the mystique of Makkah and Madinah, many Westerners have visited these two holy cities, on which the pilgrims converge, since the 15th century. Some of them disguised themselves as Muslims; others, who had genuinely converted, came to fulfill their duty. But all seem to have been moved by their experience, and many recorded their impressions of the journey and the rituals of the hajj in fascinating accounts. Many hajj travelogues exist, written in languages as diverse as the pilgrims themselves. The pilgrimage takes place each year between the eighth and the 13th days of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Its first rite is the donning of the ihram. Photo: The Ka'bah, focal point of Muslims' prayers, highlights the unity of the believers. Symbol of the oneness and centrality of God, the Ka'bah stands in the courtyard of Mecca's Sacred Mosque where at the season of the hajj the faithful gather for rituals that precede and end their pilgrimage. The ihram, worn by men, is a white seamless garment made up of two pieces of cloth or toweling; one covers the body from waist to ankle and the other is thrown over the shoulder. This garb was worn by both Abraham and Muhammad. Women generally wear a simple white dress and a headcovering, but not a veil. Men's heads must be uncovered; both men and women may use an umbrella. The ihram is a symbol of purity and of the renunciation of evil and mundane matters. It also indicates the equality of all people in the eyes of God. When the pilgrim wears his white apparel, he or she enters into a state of purity that prohibits quarreling, committing violence to man or animal and having conjugal relations. Once he puts on his hajj clothes the pilgrim cannot shave, cut his nails or wear any jewelry, and he will keep his unsown garment on till he completes the pilgrimage. A pilgrim who is already in Makkah starts his hajj from the moment he puts on the ihram. Some pilgrims coming from a distance may have entered Makkah earlier with their ihram on and may still be wearing it. The donning of the ihram is accompanied by the primary invocation of the hajj, the talbiyah: Here I am, O God, at Thy Command! Here I am at Thy Command! Thou art without associate; Here I am at Thy Command! Thine are praise and grace and dominion! Thou art without associate. The thunderous, melodious chants of the talbiyah ring out not only in Makkah but also at other nearby sacred locations connected with the hajj. On the first day of the hajj, pilgrims sweep out of Makkah toward Mina, a small uninhabited village east of the city. As their throngs spread through Mina, the pilgrims generally spend their time meditating and praying, as the Prophet did on his pilgrimage. During the second day, the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims leave Mina for the plain of 'Arafat for the wuquf, "the standing," the central rite of the hajj. As they congregate there, the pilgrims' stance and gathering reminds them of the Day of Judgment. Some of them gather at the Mount of Mercy, where the Prophet delivered his unforgettable Farewell Sermon, enunciating far-reaching religious, economic, social and political reforms. These are emotionally charged hours, which the pilgrims spend in worship and supplication. Many shed tears as they ask God to forgive them. On this sacred spot, they reach the culmination of their religious lives as they feel the presence and closeness of a merciful God. The first Englishwoman to perform the hajj, Lady Evelyn Cobbold, described in 1934 the feelings pilgrims experience during the wuquf at 'Arafat. "It would require a master pen to describe the scene, poignant in its intensity, of that great concourse of humanity of which I was one small unit, completely lost to their surroundings in a fervor of religious enthusiasm. Many of the pilgrims had tears streaming down their cheeks; others raised their faces to the starlit sky that had witnessed this drama so often in the past centuries. The shining eyes, the passionate appeals, the pitiful hands outstretched in prayer moved me in a way that nothing had ever done before, and I felt caught up in a strong wave of spiritual exaltation. I was one with the rest of the pilgrims in a sublime act of complete surrender to the Supreme Will which is Islam." She goes on to describe the closeness pilgrims feel to the Prophet while standing in 'Arafat: "...as I stand beside the granite pillar, I feel I am on Sacred ground. I see with my mind's eye the Prophet delivering that last address, over thirteen hundred years ago, to the weeping multitudes. I visualize the many preachers who have spoken to countless millions who have assembled on the vast plain below; for this is the culminating scene of the Great Pilgrimage." The Prophet is reported to have asked God to pardon the sins of pilgrims who "stood" at 'Arafat, and was granted his wish. Thus, the hopeful pilgrims prepare to leave this plain joyfully, feeling reborn without sin and intending to turn over a new leaf. Just after sunset, the mass of pilgrims proceeds to Muzdalifah, an open plain about halfway between 'Arafat and Mina. There they first pray and then collect a fixed number of chickpea-sized pebbles to use on the following days. Before daybreak on the third day, pilgrims move en masse from Muzdalifah to Mina. There they cast at white pillars the pebbles they have previously collected. According to some traditions, this practice is associated with the Prophet Abraham. As pilgrims throw seven pebbles at each of these pillars, they remember the story of Satan's attempt to persuade Abraham to disregard God's command to sacrifice his son. Throwing the pebbles is symbolic of humans' attempt to cast away evil and vice, not once but seven times - the number seven symbolizing infinity. Following the casting of the pebbles, most pilgrims sacrifice a goat, sheep or some other animal. They give the meat to the poor after, in some cases, keeping a small portion for themselves. This rite is associated with Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's wish. It symbolizes the Muslim's willingness to part with what is precious to him, and reminds us of the spirit of Islam, in which submission to God's will plays a leading role. This act also reminds the pilgrim to share worldly goods with those who are less fortunate, and serves as an offer of thanksgiving to God. As the pilgrims have, at this stage, finished a major part of the hajj, they are now allowed to shed their ihram and put on everyday clothes. On this day Muslims around the world share the happiness the pilgrims feel and join them by performing identical, individual sacrifices in a worldwide celebration of 'Id al-Adha, "the Festival of Sacrifice." Men either shave their heads or clip their hair, and women cut off a symbolic lock, to mark their partial deconsecration. This is done as a symbol of humility. All proscriptions, save the one of conjugal relations, are now lifted. Still so journing in Mina, pilgrims visit Makkah to perform another essential rite of the hajj: the tawaf, the seven-fold circling of the Ka'bah, with a prayer recited during each circuit. Their circumambulation of the Ka'bah, the symbol of God's oneness, implies that all human activity must have God at its center. It also symbolizes the unity of God and man. Thomas Abercrombie, a convert to Islam and a writer and photographer for National Geographic Magazine, performed the hajj in the 1970's and described the sense of unity and harmony pilgrims feel during the circling: "Seven times we circled the shrine," he wrote, "repeating the ritual devotions in Arabic: 'Lord God, from such a distant land I have come unto Thee.... Grant me shelter under Thy throne.' Caught up in the whirling scene, lifted by the poetry of the prayers, we orbited God's house in accord with the atoms, in harmony with the planets." While making their circuits pilgrims may kiss or touch the Black Stone. This oval stone, first mounted in a silver frame late in the seventh century, has a special place in the hearts of Muslims as, according to some traditions, it is the sole remnant of the original structure built by Abraham and Ishmael. But perhaps the single most important reason for kissing the stone is that the Prophet did so. No devotional significance whatsoever is attached to the stone, for it is not, nor has ever been, an object of worship. The second caliph, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, made this crystal clear when, on kissing the stone himself in emulation of the Prophet, he proclaimed: "I know that you are but a stone, incapable of doing good or harm. Had I not seen the Messenger of God kiss you - may God's blessing and peace be upon him - I would not kiss you." After completing the tawaf, pilgrims pray, preferably at the Station of Abraham, the site where Abraham stood while he built the Ka'bah. Then they drink of the water of Zamzam. Another, and sometimes final, rite is the sa'y, or "the running." This is a reenactment of a memorable episode in the life of Hagar, who was taken into what the Qur'an calls the "uncultivable valley" of Makkah, with her infant son Ishmael, to settle there. The sa'y commemorates Hagar's frantic search for water to quench Ishmael's thirst. She ran back and forth seven times between two rocky hillocks, al-Safa and al-Marwah, until she found the sacred water known as Zamzam. This water, which sprang forth miraculously under Ishmael's tiny feet, is now enclosed in a marble chamber the Ka'bah. These rites performed, the pilgrims are completely deconsecrated: They may resume all normal activities. According to the social customs of some countries, pilgrims can henceforth proudly claim the title of al-Hajj or Hajji. They now return to Mina, where they stay up to the 12th or 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. There they throw their remaining pebbles at each of the pillars in the manner either practiced or approved by the Prophet. They then take leave of the friends they have made during the Hajj. Before leaving Makkah, however, pilgrims usually make a final tawaf round the Ka'bah to bid farewell to the Holy City. Usually pilgrims either precede or follow the hajj, "the greater pilgrimage," with the 'umrah, "the lesser pilgrimage," which is sanctioned by the Qur'an and was performed by the Prophet. The 'umrah, unlike the hajj, takes place only in Makkah itself and can be performed at any time of the year. The ihram, talbiyah and the restrictions required by the state of consecration are equally essential in the 'umrah, which also shares three other rituals with the hajj: the tawaf, sa'y and shaving or clipping the hair. The observance of the 'umrah by pilgrims and visitors symbolizes veneration for the unique sanctity of Makkah. Before or after going to Makkah, pilgrims also avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the hajj or the 'umrah to visit the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, the second holiest city in Islam. Here, the Prophet lies buried in a simple grave under the green dome of the mosque. The visit to Madinah is not obligatory, as it is not part of the hajj or 'umrah, but the city - which welcomed Muhammad when he migrated there from Makkah - is rich in moving memories and historical sites that are evocative of him as a prophet and statesman. In this city, loved by Muslims for centuries, people still feel the presence of the Prophet's spirit. Muhammad Asad, an Austrian Jew who converted to Islam in 1926 and made five pilgrimages between 1927 and 1932, comments on this aspect of the city: "Even after thirteen centuries [the Prophet's] spiritual presence is almost as alive here as it was then. It was only because of him that the scattered group of villages once called Yathrib became a city and has been loved by all Muslims down to this day as no city anywhere else in the world has ever been loved. It has not even a name of its own: for more than thirteen hundred years it has been called Madinat an-Nabi, 'the City of the Prophet.' For more than thirteen hundred years, so much love has converged here that all shapes and movements have acquired a kind of family resemblance, and all differences of appearance find a tonal transition into a common harmony." More than two million pilgrims gather each year to perform Hajj. As pilgrims of diverse races and tongues return to their homes, they carry with them cherished memories of Abraham, Ishmael, Hagar, and Muhammad. They will always remember that universal concourse, where poor and rich, black and white, young and old, met on equal footing. They return with a sense of awe and serenity: awe for their experience at 'Arafat, when they felt closest to God as they stood on the site where the Prophet delivered his sermon during his first and last pilgrimage; serenity for having shed their sins on that plain, and being thus relieved of such a heavy burden. They also return with a better understanding of the conditions of their brothers in Islam. Thus is born a spirit of caring for others and an understanding of their own rich heritage that will last throughout their lives. The pilgrims go back radiant with hope and joy, for they have fulfilled God's ancient injunction to humankind to undertake the pilgrimage. Above all, they return with a prayer on their lips: May it please God, they pray, to find their hajj acceptable, and may what the Prophet said be true of their own individual journey: "There is no reward for a pious pilgrimage but Paradise." Bowing in submission to God, thousands of pilgrims pray on a street at Mina. In the tawaf, pilgrims circle the Ka'bah seven times, reciting a prayer during each circuit.