EMPOWERING US

2007-07-08T17:34:00.000Z

It seems there is a by-election in Ealing Southall and it looks to be a fierce battle between the Tory candidate and Lib Dem. It seems MPACUK have really come out with all guns blazing with this campaign as I saw them in Southall both today and yesterday handing out leaflets urging people to vote and to vote wisely ... more info of their leaflets coming up... In the interim, if you live in this constituent get out and vote! Research all the candiadates first, see what their views are on Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, the new terror law Brown is trying to pass, etc. And then Vote at crunch time!

I love this article from MPACUK, so sincere, so motivating! Check it out:

http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/3835/35/

And once more unto the breach the MPACUK team are forging ahead, while terrorists try to steal the political agenda, Zionists are trying to marginalise all Muslims, and mosque leaders are fast asleep at the wheel the MPACUK team are in a bullish mood.

We are sick of Muslim apathy to making a difference, we are sick of allowing ourselves to be marginalised, allowing ourselves to be victimised, learning to live with disappointment, learning to live as second class citizens in our own country.

MPACUK have always believed the key to greater emancipation is greater involvement, a greater say in the issues that affect us and the ability to join the debate without having our views brushed aside. Whenever Muslims talk about 'foreign policy, Palestine, Iraq or anything other than Halal meat' we are considered extremists. Well MPACUK doesn't play that game, we elect members of Parliament and we expect them to represent us both on the national stage but also against demonisation and one of the best times to make ourselves heard is during an election.

Lo-and behold, is that a by-election on the horizon? Is that a constituency with a population over 13,000 Muslims? Is that a chance to make our voices heard? Why yes to all of the above, and MPACUK have a powerful voice and we aim to ensure that we are heard!

The Muslim community have to understand that while the bulk of Muslims have let the agenda get hijacked by Muslim extremists on the one side and Zionists on the other, they have passively accepted the situation and by sitting idly by have sanctioned the crisis that is engulfing us now. They did nothing for Palestine, they did nothing for Iraq while sanctions killed a million of its children, they did nothing while Afghanistan imploded, they did nothing to stop the invasion of Iraq and now when extremists have taken on the agenda of the powerless they still do nothing.

Muslims did nothing while Zionists wrote Islamophobic articles, passed Islamophobic laws, propagated Islamophobic stereotypes and they still do nothing.

Muslims did nothing while their mosques turned into magnificent prayer-halls befitting graveyards, splendid chandeliers, and appalling toilets, no place for children, debate, education or women. Women were forced out the mosque and by extension community life, Muslim men did nothing. While Mosque Mafias took over their communities and sold them down the river for a picture with an MP and the prestige that goes with being a community leader, ordinary Muslims did nothing. While their kids stopped studying and turned to crime, and then extremism, they did nothing. As the drugs problems engulfed their neighbourhoods and crime became a regular feature of their mundane lives, they still do nothing.

MPACUK, for the last 7 years, has been calling for greater democratic participation, greater democratic adoption and greater integration. We have been shunned by the same mentally poverty-stricken Muslims, regardless of our stunning successes we have given the Muslims of the West in defending them and still the Muslims do nothing.

Well we have an answer, we have a way forward, if Muslims want change, and are sick of being self marginalised, or forcibly marginalised then adopt the beautiful, empowering democratic process, by joining the debate, ensuring that enough people from all hews agree with us, so that people, regardless of their race or faith, are elected who will put policies into place that are sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians and unsympathetic to Islamophobes, or Islamophobic laws. It's as simple as that. To be truly part of society we must care about what happens to it enough to get involved and without fear or apathy be proud to have our voices and opinions heard.

And while Muslims haven't taken control of their own destiny others have and now all of us are in the firing line. MPACUK are emphatic believers in democracy and with the focus on the by-elections in Southall and Sedgefield we will send out a message to the Labour Party that you may have changed leaders but you haven't changed polices - we will not vote for you. We will send out a message that while Iraq burns, Labour will haemorrhage votes and we will send a message to extremists and Muslim dictators around the world. Democracy will prevail and they will be driven and consigned to history within our lifetimes.

Join the campaign. Join MPACUK in getting Muslims out to vote for the Southall by-election.

London & Scotland Attacks Al-Qaeeda Inspired?

2007-06-30T19:11:00.000Z

The question reeling everyone's minds - were these 'terrorist' attacks by Muslims inspired by Al-Qaeeda networks? Lets hope the security services carry out a more thorough investigation this time round with concrete evidence of those responsible for what could have been 2 very disastrous attacks. And here's to hoping UK Mosques and institutions will take this as yet another example of what the outcomes are of not teaching the youth to channel their (justified) frustration and anger over UK's foreign policy via democratic means.

Our Mosques need to reform and revive - fast - with programs to educate the community of how to make a difference democratically, how to lobby the media, how to counter islamophobia and misrepresentation in society, how to outreach to the non-muslim community, how to engage the youth and women in the community in the running of the Mosque...man the list goes on. Unfortunately, I have yet to know of a single Mosque with plans such as these in the pipelines (well apart from the outreach to non-muslims). I've been (trying!) to approach the few local Mosques in my area for a while now about these issues, but guess what - 'no women allowed!' So I have to overcome this barrier first (or dress like a man?!) before my views and suggestions are even heard of! Aaaaaagggggghhhhhhhhhhh!

-----------------
Scotland is reeling from its first al-Qaida-inspired attack, after a car bomb was rammed into Glasgow Airport. Security sources believe that the attack, which happened at 3.15pm today, is linked to the two attempts to devastate London's West End 36 hours earlier, also using vehicles packed with petrol.

Gordon Brown tonight convened a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee to discuss the latest incident and be given the first intelligence reports. Airports around the world were put on alert for a further wave of potential terrorist attacks.

In Glasgow a burning green Jeep Cherokee was driven at speed towards the front of the terminal. Robin Patterson, 42, of Rochester, Kent, described the moment he saw the car burst into flames at the airport.

'It was just a small fire at first. Then there was an enormous explosion and it really was a big explosion,' he said. 'The guy next to the car, his skin and clothes just fell off him. He came running away from the car and he was like an absolute lunatic. He was just literally running away from the police.'

Travellers described how they saw two Asian men, one of whom was on fire, coming out of the car. One of them was seen pouring petrol around the car and on himself before people at the airport jumped on him and he was led away. Strathclyde Police confirmed that they had arrested two men, but gave no further details.

Several witnesses gave dramatic accounts of the apparent attempt to storm the departure lounge and harm holidaymakers. Richard Gray said: 'A green Jeep was in the middle of the doorway burning. There was an Asian guy who was pulled out of the car by two police officers, who he was trying to fight off. They got him on the ground. The car didn't explode. There were a few pops and bangs, which presumably was the petrol.'

Louise Robertson, 49, from Helensburgh, was checking in for her flight to Mallorca with her husband and son. She said: 'We were in check-in and were about to go up to the desk when we heard people shouting that there was smoke. I knew instinctively that something wasn't right and we just ran to the nearest exit as fast as we could.

'When we got out I looked back and I could see the Jeep was stuck at the door and it was on fire. 'I then saw a man who was partly on fire running from the car and he was being chased by police who eventually caught him and wrestled him to the ground.

'I have heard that the police are concerned there may be [explosive] devices in the car park.'

One unnamed witness told the BBC: 'I heard the sound of a car's wheels spinning and saw smoke coming out. I saw a Jeep Cherokee apparently as if it was trying to get right through the doors into the terminal building. There were flames coming out from underneath, then some men appeared from in among the flames. The police ran over and the people started fighting with the police. I then heard what sounded like an explosion.'

Two men, one of whom was said to be badly burned, were reportedly seen being led away in handcuffs. The airport was evacuated and all flights suspended following the incident. Roads around the airport were closed.

A spokesman for the British Airports Authority said that the emergency services were at the scene. He added: 'Our advice to passengers is to check with their airline to establish if their flight will be operating.'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,2115693,00.html

RESULT: UNISON Votes To Boycott Israel!

2007-06-23T14:44:00.000Z

Last month delegates at the inaugural congress of the UCU voted in favour of a motion calling for the circulation of 'the full text of the Palestinian boycott call to all branches for information and discussion'. Delegates deplored Israel's occupation of Palestine and the violation of Palestinian educational rights by curfews, checkpoints and travel restrictions. Although this is not a direct boycott of Israeli academia, the motion allows a Palestinian voice to be heard. This is a commendable decision made by the delegates at the UCU and highlights the moral stance of British academia.

As a result of this conceded campaign by the UCU, UNISON votes to boycott the Racist, Apartheid regime of Israel! Check out the following article by MPACUK:

http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/3772/64/

We Brits are known for our tolerance and sense of fair play. When Governments around the world stood by and did nothing about the apartheid in South Africa, it was ordinary men and women who stood against the racist regime. Over time their boycott spread from organisation to organisation, from churches and mosques, schools to universities, and finally the Governments of the World which had turned a blind eye to the injustices could no longer shy away, eventually taking their lead from the people.

UNISON is Britain's biggest trade union with over 1.3 million members. At its Annual Conference on 20th June 2007, the union passed Motion 53 on Palestine, stating that “ending the occupation demands concerted and sustained pressure upon Israel, including an economic, cultural, academic and sporting boycott.”

The motion, which was passed to cheers from the hall, urges Israel to respect the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to establish a state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with its capital in Jerusalem.

MPACUK commends the decision made at the UNISON conference with their pledge to support Palestine.

This follows hot on the heels of the recent UCU motion to boycott Israel, please see:
- Support the Anti-Apartheid Boycott

We would encourage our readers to contact UNISON to offer their whole-hearted support and to thank them for leading the way in this noble effort.

Only if we the British people work together with our common sense of fair play can we give hope to our fellow men, women and children in the occuppied territories who are living under a brutal occupation. Let the people of Palestine know that they have not been forgotten.

What you can do:

- Contact UNISON thanking them for passing Motion 53 on Palestine.

email UNISION on:
irelations@unison.co.uk
And / Or

'Phone UNISON on:
0845 355 0845

Looks Like Mad Mel’s Been At It Again.

2007-06-22T21:54:00.000Z

Notorious within the Muslim community with a title that seems more apt then just ‘Mad Mel’, Melanie Philips was named the "Most Islamphobic Media Personality of the Year " by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (in 2003).This time, she’s been in a major ding dong with Arab Media Watch and urged her fans/readers to write to them. Surprise, surprise, AMW were then inundated with racist hate mail…..coincidence? Me thinks not!

The Guardian on 18 June 2007 reported the row between Arab Media Watch and Daily Mail regular columnist and BBC Moral Maze regular Melanie Phillips, whose blog post urging her readers to write to us resulted in racist hate mail that we sent to the media.

This is what the Guardian had to say:

"An entertaining spat between the Mail's Melanie Phillips and Arab Media Watch has taken an unfortunate turn. The lobby group urged people to complain to the Mail over a Phillips column about the Arab-Israeli conflict. Phillips, in turn, suggested on her website that her readers might like to write to Arab Media Watch. And boy, have they written, reports its chairman Sharif Hikmat Nashashibi. 'One might wonder whether she hoped for the kind of vulgar, racist abuse, not to mention grammatical and linguistic embarrassment that her blog post generated,' he writes. No room to reprint the messages in full, thank goodness, but suffice to say they included the phrase f*** off back to where you came from'. With readers like that, does Phillips need critics?"

AMW's press releases concerning the hate mail received are available at:

http://www.arabmediawatch.com/amw/Articles/PressReleases/tabid/77/newsid391/3959/The-hate-mail-continues/Default.aspx

http://www.arabmediawatch.com/amw/Articles/PressReleases/tabid/77/newsid391/3946/AMW-responds-to-Melanie-Phillips/Default.aspx

Salman Rushdie

2007-06-19T22:26:00.000Z

Today is Salman Rushdie’s birthday, and I’m sure it’s a wonderful present to him- certain countries endorse him being killed.

I personally do not have a view on him either way, and as with the others that are to receive knighthoods, do not really care. Who knighthoods are bestowed upon, at this moment in time don’t really bother me. (This post is not on the wrongs and rights of awarding Rushdie a knighthood.) I am too young to remember any of the original big furore over The Satanic Verses. I have never read any of his books, less still The Satanic Verses, so I can’t comment on his skills as an author, or his storylines. I do know others who have read Midnight’s Children, and my mother and one of my closest friends maintain it is one of the most well-written books they have ever read, and both are pretty well-read. I don’t know a single person who has ever read The Satanic Verses though. I vaguely remember a Bremner, Bird and Fortune sketch which mentioned the fatwa on Salman Rushdie, and them going on to argue that fatwas in everyday life would be pretty useful (although not killing ones). He was one of those people whom I’m sure I’ve asked about in the past, but forgot the answer, and whose books I’ve felt I should read.

And then this incident starts. I have to admit its pretty embarrassing explaining to someone that Islam is a peace-loving religion and then reading a headline “Rushdie title 'may spark attacks'”.

For those of you that do not know, (and I doubt any of you are as unclued up about this issues as me but just in case) the low-down of the Salman Rushdie affair (courtesy of Wikipedia and the BBC) is that in 1988 he published a book called The Satanic Verses. The book is described as “a cosmic battle between good and evil, set in contemporary England and combining fantasy, philosophy and farce…. It included an extended section that appeared to denigrate the prophet Muhammad and the Islamic faith.” It is this section that meant many Muslims, most without reading the novel, came to believe that it contained blasphemous references, leading to the book’s banning in several countries. In 1989 Ayatollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa that called for the death of Rushdie and claimed that it was the duty of every Muslim to obey. “A large bounty was offered to anyone who would execute him and the author was forced into hiding, with full-time police protection, a condition that endured for many years.” In July 1991 Hitosh Igarashi, the Japanese translator of the book, wass stabbed to death, and Ettore Capriolo, the Italian translator, was seriously wounded.

The issue has now risen up again as Salman Rushdie is to be awarded a knighthood. This has led Pakistan's national parliament to pass a resolution yesterday condemning the award. Now ain’t no expert on Pakistani politics, but from what I have read and heard of about the unrest in Karachi alone, surely they have more important problems to deal with? Instead Religious Affairs Minister Ejaz-ul-Haq stated “If someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Mohammad, his act is justified," he said, according to the translation by the Reuters news agency. "If Britain doesn't withdraw the award, all Muslim countries should break off diplomatic relations."

This type of thing makes me angry for many reasons. Lets’s break it down before my anger just ends up as an unreadable mess (well more-so)
1. It’s a flippin FICTIONAL book. What’s to get so worked up about? There are SO many more things to pay attention to. In Pakistan alone- poverty, UNEMPLOYMENT, disease, the rat children, women’s rights, all that feudal crap, racism, to name but a few. My personal belief is that where people do get worked up, its because they have nothing better to do with their lives. If these people had jobs and cared about their families, they would surely have bigger worries than an English written book, that had this mass hysteria not occurred, most people would not have heard of it anyway.
2. Break off diplomatic relations? Oh that’s a good idea. Let uss all act like we’re four again and when we don’t like what someone does we won’t talk to them. Let’s just alienate ourselves.
3. In this county, I will be mighty annoyed if anyone starts violently protesting. If you live in a democracy, other people expressing their view is a part of it. If this book was that offensive, if one had half a braincell, the author would be ignored until he faded into obscurity and past generations. As it is, he’s just received one hell of a lot of publicity.
4. I seriously can not believe people were killed over this? An innocent translator, who did nothing more than do his job. Is this something to proud of?
5. Let’s end with what a great advertisement this is of the religion. Not. We must remember, despite Islam being the fastest growing religion on Earth, most will never have met a Muslim in the flesh. Therefore the way the Muslim community acts in the news is how Islam will be judged. When it seems that all Muslims do is react against perceived insults, it makes people wonder why the religion can’t tolerate it, and I’m sorry to say it, but if they are all “savages”.

To clarify, I do not mean to belittle Salman Rushdie’s supposed insult to Islam. But I find it hard to believe that it will “encourage people to commit blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammad”. Islam is much stronger than that. Its so much more than that. And it is bloomin about time that the Muslims start rising above, and start acting like that.

British Government Can Help End Siege on Palestinians

2007-06-15T20:17:00.000Z

Violence between Hamas and Fatah have caused nearly 100 lives, Abas has 'dissolved' the Hamas government, and a state of emergency has been declared. The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign group have hit the nail on the head and outline how this catastrophe was sadly an inevitable outcome of the illegal Israeli occupation and the west refusing to recognise the elected Palestinian government.

PSC Letter in the Guardian - Causes of the crisis in Gaza
Friday 15th June 2007

http://www.palestinecampaign.org/

Causes of the crisis in Gaza

The current crisis in Gaza and the West Bank (Fatah on the run as Hamas wages battle for Gaza's streets, June 14) is the predictable outcome of the policy of Israel and the west of boycotting the democratically elected Palestinian government, which has repeatedly offered a comprehensive ceasefire and negotiations with Israel. The deliberate creation of a humanitarian crisis by the EU, the US and Israel is a shameful and cowardly attempt at regime change.

The refusal to recognise Palestinian democracy, including a unity government representing 96% of the electorate, has created despair. Following the Palestinian elections in January 2006, Israel and the west have punished the Palestinian people by depriving the Palestinian Authority of its own tax revenues and aid. A brutal siege has been placed upon the Palestinians, with Israel preventing even humanitarian supplies such as food and essential medical supplies from entering. The use of aid agencies is ineffective, as graphically demonstrated in the recent Oxfam report, as well as UN documents and the report of the World Bank.

Democratically elected Palestinian parliamentarians have been abducted and imprisoned by Israel - a third of the Palestinian legislature is incarcerated by Israel. The responsibility for the crisis lies with governments, including our own, which have created these intolerable conditions for Palestinians and continue to deny Palestinians basic human rights.

We call on the British government to act now: to end the siege on the Palestinians and immediately reinstate the funding to the Palestinian Authority; to respect Palestinian democracy and fully recognise the Palestinian Authority; to ensure Israel releases the imprisoned MPs and all other political prisoners; to act to end the Israeli occupation; and to ensure Israel abides by international law. The foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, should use the EU meeting next Monday to press for these changes in EU policy.

Betty Hunter

Palestine Solidarity Campaign

March in June

2007-06-12T20:41:00.000Z

Well I’m back again- for a while…..
Had exams, but unlike Abu Funza I can not prove that is what I was doing as, well, I’m pretty sure they don’t allow you to take photos in the exam room. I suppose I could have asked though.

Went last Saturday to the demonstration WA mentioned. There I was actually going to take pictures, but I have a real poor memory and left the two cameras on the kitchen table. You should probably be glad I did forget though when I have a camera I take pictures of anything that interests me. I tell you this because while my friend was buying some inspirational postcards in Trafalgar Square, I was watching the naked people cycle past. (It was legal and had something to do with highlighting climate change - I wasn’t just in a real dodgy part of London.) At one point whilst I was standing there with my mouth wide open, an old man, well over the age of 50, got off his bike and just stood there for a good couple of minutes, completely stark naked. I do believe I have been scarred for life. Had I remembered my camera, I would I have shared the image with you, my privileged readers.

The demonstration itself was probably one of the best I had been to- although that’s only because I actually got somewhere to sit, and the fact that at the end, a couple of people at the front started an impromptu Palestinian dance, and with a few minutes about 10 people had joined in, and another hundred had gathered round watching and taking photos. I think the original dancers were a little shocked.

On the serious side, I was struck how brave some of the people there were. I heard from famous Jewish actors/ actresses who risk there careers by coming out against Israel, because we all know how good the Zionist machine is. I listened to priests and ordinary people who had dedicated their lives to helping the Palestinian people, and trying to find a solution. Most inspiring however was an Israeli from Combatants for Peace - a truly impressive and amazing organisation set up by Israeli and Palestinian Individuals – whose courage and beliefs brings hope to the conflict.

So whilst I saw many Jewish and Christians there, I noticed, as usual, how little Muslims there were. By far the majority there were non-Muslims which kind of makes you wonder. Whilst the Muslims may complain in their houses, when there comes a legitimate way to express their grievances where are they?

Whilst I agree that it is unlikely the government will not be particularly affected by the demonstration, I don’t believe this is why the Muslims don’t turn up.

So is it laziness, ignorance, apathy? I find it hard to believe it is apathy, because I find it that is a general trend among Muslims, no matter how little politics they know, they will still know of the “Palestinian Brothers, Sisters and Mothers” they do so much for.

Whilst there were many Jews there, who I know may find it a little patronising me saying this but you have got to rate them as some risk social stigma, and for some, especially Israelis, it goes against everything they have been brought up with. The Muslims who have a religious obligation were nowhere to be found.

Somebody please explain to me….

Academics Get Smart and Boycott Israel

2007-06-09T17:11:00.000Z

Last week University lecturers backed calls for an academic boycott of Israel at their inaugural national conference. Delegates at the University and College Union (UCU) conference voted 158 to 99 to circulate its branches with the boycott call from Palestinian trade unions for "information and discussion".

The motion calling for an Israeli academic boycott came jointly from the University of Brighton and the University of East London. They asked members to rally to the call from Palestinian trade unions "for a comprehensive and consistent international boycott of all Israeli institutions". Their motion also called on university lecturers to condemn the "complicity of Israeli academia in the [Palestinian] occupation".

And now our very own Tony Bliar is denouncing the boycott of Israel…man do these pro-Israeli lobbies have connections…

Blair: ‘Drop the boycott – it’s no good for peace’
http://www.thejc.com/

TONY BLAIR has led the worldwide condemnation of the British academics’ union supporting moves towards a boycott of Israeli universities. In the Commons on Wednesday, Mr Blair called on the University and College Union to drop the resolution, passed at its annual meeting last week.

“I hope very much that the decision is overturned because it does absolutely no good for the peace process or indeed for relations in that part of the world,” Mr Blair told MPs. “The only solution ultimately is to relaunch the framework for a negotiated peace with a two-state solution at the heart of it.”

The New York based Anti-Defamation League took out display advertisements in The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, the Financial Times and today’s JC pointing out that, at a time when journalists were being arrested in Iran, activists tortured in Zimbabwe and 400,000 people murdered in Darfur, “British unions have singled out Israel for boycott. That’s antisemitism.” – The inevitable anti-semtism card is played by the ADL!

A long term campaign has been launched by British Jewish leaders such as the Britain-Israel Communications and Research Centre (Bicom), the Jewish Leadership Council and Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks.

I guess at times like these you can truly rely on the pro-Israeli lobbies to kick into overdrive and prioritise Israel over and above Britain:

A fundraising effort was also under way. “We are in this to win and campaigns like this do not come cheap,” Ms Fitzsimons pointed out. “The aim is to persuade [UCU general secretary] Sally Hunt to do as she promised in her election manifesto and hold a ballot of all UCU members on the boycott motion.”

Taken from the British anti-Zionist Jewish blogger Mark Elf.

To thank the UCU for passing a motion clearly standing against the state of Israel and defending the rights of Palestinians, use the below details. It only takes 5 minutes to email/call and log your appreciation. The Zionist lobbies have mobolised and orchestrated a campaign to try and get Sally Hunt and the UCU to overturn the motion. The least we could do is support those who dare to stand up to Zionist bullies and advocate justice and peace in the Middle East.

Sally Hunt
Joint general secretary
shunt@ucu.org.uk
02076709729

Paul Mackney
Joint general secretary
pmackney@ucu.org.uk

Head Office:
hq@ucu.org.uk

Making a Stand...

2007-06-08T20:54:00.000Z

Anyone going to the march tomorrow? Stay tuned in for a write up of our ‘marching’ over the next few days …

http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/

Enough! End the Israeli Occupation – Justice for the Palestinians!
2007 marks the 40-year anniversary of the Six Day War, in which the Israeli army took military control of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Join the Enough! coalition demonstration tomorrow Saturday 9 July. Assemble 1.30pm at Lincoln's Inn Fields for the march to Trafalgar Square.

And speaking of actively making a stand…

Groningen University in Denmark is in talks with a law student who insists on wearing a full veil/Niqaab (face covering) to class. The university says the student may not take any exams with her face covered and has given her a few days to consider her position.

I still find it astounding that the veil can cause such uproar in today’s world. It just goes to show, the more we bury our heads in the sand and think these laws and discriminatory acts won’t affect us, the more likely it will ! So before it’s too late (and I say that lightly as the British government is not exactly improving its relations with the Muslim community) – wake up, get active, and play a role within the very systems and mechanisms (media, politics, etc) that make decisions about your rights and freedoms behind closed doors.

Muslim MPs - they are good for something! Well... one is at least

2007-06-06T22:30:00.000Z

I cam across this on the MPACUK website:

Shahid Malik Signs EDM!

Last week the Muslim Public Affairs Committee reported that 3 British Muslim MPs had not signed an early day motion regarding Israel's Relationship with the EU. It has now come to our attention that Shahid Malik has signed the Early Day Motion. What is remarkable is that he has had the moral and ethical courage to sign it.

We would like to ask the supporters of a just peace in the middle east to email Shahid Malik MP to congratulate him for signing the early day motion.

Unfortunately Khalid Mahmood MP nor Sadiq Khan have signed the early day motion. Please do email or call them and ask them why they have not signed it yet. There is no shame by signing it but there is shame for not having their names on there

Read more here

It sad that Khalid Mahmood and Sadiq Khan couldn't be bothered to sign the EDM - you know, you'd think that Muslim MPs would atleast want to stand up against injustice, but it's a shame that isn't true.

Insha'allah as we get more Muslims finally getting involved in politics we can make a positive change cos the current ones aren't that good - but it is good to see that Shahid Malik is not a complete sell-out.

*cough* Khalid and Sadiq, sign the EDM *cough*

40th Anniversary

2007-06-05T22:34:00.000Z

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the start of the 6 Day War, which resulted in the capture, occupation and colonisation of East Jerusalem, The West Bank, The Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights by Israel in contravention of every International Law.

Unfortunately the Democratic Nations of the West refuse to take decisive action to force Israel to honour International Law and give the Palestinians their long overdue right to statehood.

Israel shows no sign of relenting, it continues to build illegal colonies (commonly referred to as settlements) in strategic locations on the West Bank. These colonies are connected by highways that only Jewish residents can use and that also dissect the West Bank. All this means that it is incredibly difficult, near impossible, to create anything that can be referred to as a viable Palestinian state.

There is a march planned for Saturday 9th June to protest the 40th anniversary in London (see here)

Please tell your friends and family so that we get a large turnout for this important demonstration. The Palestinians have been stateless for far too long and Masjid Al Aqsa should be freed from the shackles of Israel's occupation.

Sunny Hundal Exposed

2007-06-02T17:18:00.000Z

Props to Dr Xiang for exposing this ne'er good doer (I'd use more colourful language but my mum would beat me silly). There are 3 posts on this guys and his behaviour leaves alot to be desired.

Here are the posts:

Sunny Hundal - the Islamophobe, Proudly Flies the Flag for Israel

Sunny Hundal - Pro-Israeli Stooge

Sunny Hundal - Silent Regarding Israeli Human Rights Violations

I must say that after reading these posts about Sunny Hundal I've shocked at his behaviour and at how he can support Israel even when Israel commits acts of injustice against the Palestinians whose only crime is that they were born Palestinian.

I urge everybody to please contact Sunny Hundal to give him your views, or post on his blogs, websites or Guardian 'comment is free'.

He can be contacted at sunny@pickledpolitics.com.

We can't allow this media-bias to continue and should try our utmost to take on such Islamophobic journalists.

Sorry for going AWOL

2007-06-02T17:12:00.001Z

Sorry for not posting on blog for so long, I had exams and went on a field trip to Surrey (I have pictures to prove it!!!)

But now I'm back :D

There's alot that's happened since I've been away, but don't worry I'm on it.

Btw, here's the proof:

See? I wasn't lying :D

Victory! Mars does a U turn on its decision to use animal rennet

2007-05-29T21:57:00.000Z

No doubt lots of people would have been disappointed when Masterfoods, the company behind such famous brands as Mars, Maltesers, Bounty and Twix announced that it would be using animal rennet in some of its chocolates. This decision hurt not just Vegetarians but also faith groups such as Muslims and Hindus.

Why Masterfoods would undertake such a step, that excluded a sizeable part of their customer base, is a mystery but what's important is that the people affected buy this decision refused to stay silent and took action.

Over 6,000 complaints were sent to Masterfoods who soon realised the error of their ways and reneged on their decision to the delight of chocolate lovers everywhere!

The real lesson to take away from this though is the success of taking action rather than complaining privately between friends. If there is something that you disagree with then don't stay silent, voice your thoughts in a non-violent manner e.g. through a letter and get your friends to do the same.

If enough people do this then we can make a difference...the masterfoods example is living proof of this. Well done once again to all who took part and happy eating!

Say Enough! Loud and Clear on 9th June

2007-05-26T16:51:00.000Z

EMPOWERING US Says Enough! To 40 Years Of Israeli Occupation Of Palestinian Territories.

Since that time the government of Israel has built ‘settlements’ in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and assisted its citizens in setting up homes and businesses using land and resources stolen from the Palestinian people. This situation has continued to the current day despite Israel being in violation of international humanitarian law and over 60 UN resolutions.

The Occupation has created serious poverty for the Palestinians, as well as severe human rights violations. But Palestinian suffering dates back further to 1948, when the state of Israel was created and 750,000 Palestinians were driven or .ed from their homes. The United Nations asserted the refugees’ right to return home in 1948, but Israel has refused to allow this. Meanwhile the refugee population has grown to over four million, one of the largest in the world, many of whom live in camps waiting for international law to be upheld.

Britain bears a particular responsibility for this suffering. From 1917 to 1948 Britain controlled Palestine. Along with the US and many EU countries, the UK government is today involved in a close military, economic and political relationship with Israel, and fails to stand up for the rights of the Palestinian people.

We say Enough! We are a group of charities, trade unions, faith and other campaign groups. We have come together because we want peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. This can only be built on justice, equality and freedom. In order to achieve this goal governments like the British government must stand up for international law and human rights.

Join the Demo on 9th June

Meet at Lincoln’s Inn Fields at 1.30pm for the march to Trafalgar Square

Coalition members: Amicus, Amos Trust, Arab Labour Group, Arab Media Watch, BFAWU, Britain-Palestine All Party Parliamentary Group, Britain Palestine Twinning Network, BRICUP, British Muslim Initiative, CAABU, CWU, Freedom Clothing Project, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Friends of Birzeit University, Friends of the Earth, Friends of Sabeel UK, GMB, Green Party, Interpal, ICAHD UK, Jewish Socialists’ Group, Jews Against Zionism, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, Liberation, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Muslim Association of Britain, Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Parliament of Great Britain, Muslim Public Affairs Committee, National Association of British Arabs, 1990 Trust, NUM, NUS Black Students Campaign, Open Bethlehem, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Palestinian Return Centre, Pax Christi, PCS, Qattan Foundation, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Scottish Episcopal Church’s Justice Peace and Creation Network , Scottish Palestinian Forum, Stop the War Coalition, Trade Union Friends of Palestine, TGWU, UNISON, War on Want, Welfare Association, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK Section, Zaytoun Ltd

Brilliant Documentary by Channel 4 and CTVC

2007-05-20T20:55:00.001Z

A mind blowing, objectional, inspirational expose on the 'Battle of the Holy Land' and its impact upon the Palestinian's plight. This documentary exposed the racist state of Israel for what it truly is and the injustices and oppression endured by the Palestinians since the illegal occupation of Palestinian terrotories as well as East Jerusalem. East Jerusalem is considered by the international community to be illegally occupied by Israel, in contravention of several binding UN Security Council Resolutions.

Read more on the documentary here:

I urge all readers to take some action and email/call Channel 4 and CTVC in humble gratitude for objective, balanced coverage of the true ongoings in the Middle East. The choice of presenter - Paddy Ashdown - was particularly inspiring and refreshing for his objective and informative presenting - finally a presenter and researcher who does not have an ulterior motive and is not driven by a pro-Israeli agenda.

Thank channel 4 and CTVC NOW as no doubt the pro-Israeli community have already complained in numbers, exploiting the anti-semitism card. Don't just lobby the media when they are bias and tar us as extremists and fanatics - lobby them in the postive too! Credit where credit is due! Well done Channel 4 and CTVC!

Contact Channel 4:

Tel: 0845 076 0191
Email:

Contact CTVC:

tel: +44 (0)20 7940 8480
email: info@ctvc.co.uk

Trust MPACUK to cover the documentary and try to convert it into positive action for readers (aka political and media lobbying): http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/3668/64/

And Jonathan Fryer has made a very interesting and informative post on his blog:
http://jonathanfryer.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/paddys-battle-for-the-holy-land/

Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods (J-BIG)

2007-05-18T19:58:00.000Z

A letter from Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods (J-BIG) to The Guardian in support of the boycott. (The Guardian leader opposed the boycott but got alot of complaints from readers):

We welcome the courageous decision of the National Union of Journalists to boycott Israeli goods (Letters, April 23). Given Israel's contempt for international law, with the complicity of the US and UK governments, pressure has to be increased by civil society if justice is to be achieved. A boycott of Israeli goods is a legitimate form of grassroots action and is particularly appropriate as Israel is destroying the Palestinian economy. Such a boycott has been called for by Israeli peace organisations.

As a result of its illegal occupation, Israel is able to flood the Palestinian market with its products, while preventing Palestinian farmers from growing and trading their own. We believe Israel's actions betray Jewish ethical traditions - the cutting down of olive and fruit trees is prohibited by Jewish law. The continuing occupation and exploitation of Palestinian land is a major obstacle to peace for Israelis and Arabs alike which has global implications for world peace.

Deborah Fink, Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, Mike Cushman, Sylvia Finzi, Tony Greenstein, Ruth Tenne, Deborah Maccoby, Prof Moshe Machover, Mike Marqusee - Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods

----------------------------

This article about J-BIG highlights things we should all be actively doing:

Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods - A Spearheading New Initiative

"...the viability of a future Palestinian economy depends significantly on its trading opportunities."

The latest report of the International Development Select Committee regarding the Occupied Palestinian Territories (31 January 2007) makes for very distressing reading. [...]

In order to challenge the stronghold Israel has on Palestine and its fledgling economy, a group of Jewish and Israeli residents in Britain was set up as a subsection of the campaign undertaken by Boycott Israeli Goods – BIG. The new group, J-BIG, is an outcome of the deep frustration Jewish peace activists feel towards the inaction displayed by the Jewish community and its liberal wing with regard to Israel's repressive occupation of Palestinian land. J-BIG members believe that Israel's policies "constitute a betrayal of the best trends in Jewish ethical tradition" and operate a form of racism which is reminiscent of South African Apartheid [...]

J-BIG's campaign however, is not focused on one-off events. It is in the process of launching an ongoing campaign which will put pressure on supermarkets by informing them and their customers about Israel's violation of human rights in the Occupied Territories, and of Israel's use of unethical and exploitative methods in marketing the produce of its illegal settlements in the West Bank - taking advantage of Palestinian labour and produce. In addition, J-BIG members will be requesting supermarkets to clearly label all goods which originate from the West Bank and Israel in order to help consumers make an ethical choice.

An additional aim of J-BIG is to promote Palestinian produce, especially extra virgin, organic, olive oil which is marketed by Zaytoun in accordance with the Fair Trade's code of practice. [...]

On a political level, members of J-BIG have joined the wider campaign for abolishing the special trade and economic benefits granted to Israel as part of its trade agreement with the European Union . Indeed a significant number of British MPs appear to support this campaign. In February 2007 an Early Day Motion (EDM) submitted to Parliament by Derek Wyatt notes that Israel "has routinely prevented the free movement of Palestinian goods and people and has withheld Palestinian funds from their people...... These and other grievous human rights abuses represent a clear breach of Article Two of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which calls for adherence to human rights." [...]

Being an Israeli-born citizen I hope, like the rest of my colleagues, that our campaign of boycotting Israel's produce of repression and "fruits of injustice" will successfully spearhead a grass roots action within the Jewish community against a brutal occupation which seeks to stamp out the Palestinians' legitimate aspirations for nationhood.

full article: http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/42134
more info: http://s188604020.websitehome.co.uk/...-israeli-goods

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of a crime....a slap in the face for the International community!

2007-05-16T20:58:00.000Z

Nothing is more disturbing than seeing the glorification of criminal activities, one would think that such acts would only be restricted to common crooks who hold scant regard for the rule of law. Yet the Zionist Federation of the UK is doing precisely that, they are celebrating what they are calling the 40th anniversary of the "re-unification" of Jerusalem.

In reality it is, sadly, the 40th anniversary of the illegal occupation of Jerusalem, which Israel continues to occupy in defiance of UN resolutions and international law.

The legal position on Jerusalem is well known and undisputable. East Jerusalem is considered by the international community to be illegally occupied by Israel, in contravention of several binding UN Security Council Resolutions. In these resolutions, the United Nations Security Council has also called for no measures to be taken to change the status of Jerusalem until a final settlement is reached between the sides: declaring Jerusalem as Israel's capital is an attempt to change this status, and is thus a violation of these Security Council resolutions.

Yet despite this we see continuous settlement expansion and increased hardship for Palestinian citizens of Jerusalem making it harder for them to live in their home city...in short implicit ethnic cleansing.

The sickening part is that all this is happening for all the World to see yet no Western Government pays anything more than lip service to this grave situation.

The celebration by the Zionist Federation is a slap in the face of Western Democratic Values... it stands for 40 years of injustice, occupation and racism and they should be ashamed of themselves!

David Cameron - Our Friend?

2007-05-12T16:59:00.000Z

David Cameron has spent the last week living with a Muslim family in Birmingham. I’ve been going over this in my head and have contemplated what his true motives behind this could be. It’s not every day politicians decide to move in with us! Was it a publicity stunt to appease voters from the Muslim community? If so, he must have had to deal with the inevitable wrath from the pro-Israeli lobbies in the UK and abroad who undoubtedly must have given him hell for reaching out to Muslims. Does he truly want to reach out to us, to try to understand us, because he really does care for all citizens of our country? Either way, Muslims must take note that Cameron could be the next PM and it is about time we started to pay attention and look into those who reach out a friendly hand. I’m not saying Conservatives and Cameron are the answers to our prayers in relation to the horrific foreign policy our country turn a blind eye to. But research into the Conservatives, into Cameron and we could be pleasantly surprised….

In the meantime, I urge people to post some appreciative feedback on his blog for trying to reach out and extend a hand to us. Remember, if you don’t, pro-Israeli Zionists will speak on your behalf damning his actions…or even worse certain people from our own community!

Some extracts from his blog:

http://www.webcameron.org.uk/118

My final thought yesterday was that integration is a two way street. Yes we can ask minority ethnic communities to work at integrating with British society as a whole, but we have to recognise that it won’t happen unless there’s something attractive to integrate into. Time after time I heard people here talking about the uncivilised behaviour and values that they see all around them. As I’ve said before, we can’t just bully people into being more British, we’ve got to inspire them. And frankly, there are many aspects of our society today which are hardly inspiring – the drinking, the drug-taking, the rudeness and incivility, the lack of consideration for others, anti-social behaviour…we’ve got a serious fight on our hands to build a responsible society that is the kind of society people admire and want to be part of. I know we can do it because most people in this country, like the people I’ve met here, are decent, hard-working and committed to their communities. We’ve got to much more to make sure that those are the values that win out.

Hijabi Power in Action!

2007-05-05T20:19:00.000Z

In western Sweden, a Muslim woman has won her battle with a supermarket which told her at a job interview that she couldn't work there if she refused to remove her headscarf. The woman took her case to the Ombudsman against Ethnic Discrimination and was awarded compensation. The ICA Kvantum supermarket in Västra Frölunda were ordered to apologize to the woman and pay her around $11,000 in damages. The supermarket has adjusted its dress code for staff.

…And who says Muslim women are oppressed, meek and timid characters…! I rate this woman for refusing to be victimised or compromise her right to wear hijab in a workplace. I rate her for not just making a fuss and moaning about this form of discrimination and oppression – she took some solid action and worked within the systems to make an effective change for her and her community.

It’s so refreshing to hear Muslim women refusing to accept discriminatory acts and take it upon themselves to empower themselves and stand up for their rights. Remember ladies, if you want something bad enough – you’re gonna have to go out and do it yourself!

Girl power rocks!

Israeli Animals in Action

2007-05-04T19:32:00.000Z

A clip from "Dispatches: The Killing Zone" (Channel 4 UK), showing perhaps one of the most tragic of several documented cases of Palestinian civilian casualties of Israel's 'war on terror' - even though this victim, a schoolgirl shot through the head while sitting in class in a UN-run school in Gaza, survives her injuries. When she awakes from coma she and her family find out the brain injury she suffers has made her blind.

This video truly is sickening. I can barely type after witnessing the brutality inflicted upon the Palestinians. Words cannot express how I am feeling right now. May Allah help us help them, Ameen.

Foreign Policy isn't THAT bad...is it?

2007-05-01T18:18:00.000Z

I came across this on a blog which seems to be run by dogs - little bulldogs that is:

Finally, we have the very vocal MPACUK. In a piece today they blame our foreign policy for radicalising young Muslims (something which we know not to be true because most of these Muslims were involved with Al Muhajiroun pre-9/11). They also blame the Mosque leaders for not doing anything. At least we can agree on the latter.

What I find interesting is that people only seem to think that after 9/11 foreign policy became an issue.

Puh-lease!

Israeli occupation of Palestine has been going on for decades and some politicians have backed Israeli. Now I'm pretty sure that has something to do with foreign policy.

It worries me that alot of people on this earth do not seem to find anything wrong with what Israel is doing. The Palestinians don't have a voice. I bet some Non-Muslims and Muslims don't even consider it a problem - now that is disturbing.

We need vocal groups like MPACUK to say something - the killings of the Palestinians can't continue in silence anymore - we have do something. It's time to rise up and live up to the title that Allah gave us - Muslim.

It's time for those that have an ounce of humanity in them to stand them. Because if we don't stand for something, we'll fall for anything.

Crazy dude arrested - Muslims don't care because he's crazy!

2007-04-30T22:49:00.000Z

Check out this video that I found on this blog

This blogger* thinks that Zulfi Bukhari (from MPACUK) was making an incorrect point, but I agree with Mr Bukhari - Abu Izzadeen is nothing but a loudmouth who no one actually listens to.

But the media love talking about/to him - he's nothing to the Muslim community! He doesn't represent anyone, and he just goes on about stuff that nobody really gives a flying hookah about.

To have arrested him, like Mr Bukhari said, will not go down well within the Muslim community - what great steps we're taking towards helping Muslims to "integrate"

*this blogger has the funkiest views on the Middle East Conflict - he thinks is Israel is good! lol! how stupid can someone be? May Allah help the Palestinians through their suffering and pain. Ameen

Muslim schools – 'a ticking time-bomb waiting to explode' - ???

2007-04-29T18:44:00.000Z

Speaking at a seminar on the subject of segregation, Nick Johnson of the Commission for Racial Equality asked:

"If a Muslim child is educated in a school where the vast majority of other children are also Muslim, how can we expect him to work, live and interact with people from other cultures when he leaves school? This is a ticking time-bomb waiting to explode."

I personally have mixed views about segregating our future generation from one another, based on their religious beliefs. By all means everyone is allowed the freedom to choose the best educational facilities for their child - I know I’d appreciate it! But coming from a professional from within state education, as well as a young British Muslim, I can appreciate the sentiments behind Nick Johnston’s statement. We live in a multicultural, cosmopolitan society, world even whereby we must interact with people of different backgrounds, cultures, religions, colour, dialects – you name it! So to understand them, to appreciate what they contribute to our society, should we not then be integrated with them in all aspects of our lives – be it from school to shopping at a supermarket and working with them professionally.

But how will our future generation even acknowledge the beautiful diversity we have in this world if they are educated strictly separately from them?

At the same time, I can appreciate why parents may decide to send their child to a ‘Muslim school’ – I’ve had heated discussions with my bro-in-law’s decision to send my above average niece to one (she’s so damn bright, I’m telling ya!). Bringing up children with the core principals, values and teachings of Islam is becoming a challenge in today’s ‘western world’ as he put it and hence they want their child to have a solid foundation of her religion from a young age – before college and university.

But what happens when my 6 year old niece gets to college where her peers are both male and female and of different colour, background, beliefs? Will she be able to adapt to this new ‘world’? Will interaction come second nature to people she may never have come across before…? To people she will live with in society?
And if every, no scratch that, if half of Muslim children went to Islamic schools – who would be left in state schools to represent the Muslim community to make known that we’re not a bunch of fundamentalist extremists that want to be segregated from non-Muslims?

But I’ll leave you with this note, how many times have you heard people in influential positions slam Islamic schools as a threat to community cohesion and unable to prepare Muslim children as good British citizens. Why are Muslim schools singled out when there are thousands of state-funded Christian schools, compared to about 5 state-funded Muslim schools? And while only 3% of British Muslim children attend Muslim schools 49% of British Jewish children attend Jewish schools.

Findings of a recent study by Dr Andrew Holden stated: "The greater degree of racial tolerance in an overwhelmingly Asian/Muslim populated school again calls into question the common sense assumption that mixed schools represent the most tolerant environments."

The biggest and most important issue that Nick Johnson and the Commission for Racial Equality should be concerned about in order to foster an inclusive, cohesive British society, is Islamophobia in state schools. What is being done about this! Rather than moaning and bleating about Muslim schools, collect evidence of Islamophobia in schools and counter it!

Latest example of Islamophobic racist kids in action:

Phew…feels good getting that off my chest!
Peace out.

Who's the Terrorist?

2007-04-28T20:09:00.000Z

When I witness true, uncensored expose's of the Israeli aggression, illegal occupation, humiliation and torture upon the innocent, defenceless Palestinian people I thank God for all I have and pray for those poor defenceless souls. The Zionist lobbies have mastered the propaganda war and rarely, if ever, are we embraced with the true terror inflicted upon the Palestinians.

This is a political Arab rap performed by the Palestinian hip hop group called DAM. They sing about the struggle of the Palestinian people and highlight the oppression they experience every single day

Check it out:

If only I could use my Kufi as a weapon...

2007-04-26T00:37:00.000Z

Speaking of others, I just want to make my way back to Mad Mel. No I haven't got a personal grudge against her (although it may seem it at times).

The reason I bring up Mad Mel is because, not only does she have wacky views when it comes to the environment, but she thinks that the Israelis are the victims!

Here's one of her latest articles:

As Hamas screams for yet another round of attacks against Israel, and claims responsibility for volleys of at least twelve Kassam rockets and eight mortar rounds fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip this morning, HonestReporting.com points out the astounding-if-it-wasn’t-so-routine fact that, while the western media insist that the Palestinians have maintained a ‘cease-fire’ against Israel for the past five months, the following Palestinian terrorist incidents have taken place:

• Islamic Jihad terrorist captured near Tel Aviv after his bomb belt fails to detonate

• Palestinian bride arrested on suspicion of planning to carry out suicide bombing

• 3 Israelis injured in shooting attack near Modi’in

• Hamas calls for further kidnappings of Israeli soldiers

• Israeli cars shot at in West Bank

• Israeli civilian wounded in West Bank drive-by shooting

• Arrests prevent huge Hamas-planned car bomb in Tel Aviv

• Egypt arrests would-be Hamas suicide bomber near Israeli border

• Palestinian rockets hit Sderot home; several Israelis treated for shock

Indeed, as in this typical Associated Press story, the media claim the existence of this Palestinian ‘cease-fire’ while in the very same story recording the never-ending Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel. The inescapable implication of this systematic and mind-twisting denial of Palestinian military aggression and equally systematic concentration on Israeli measures to counter it is that such Palestinian attacks aren’t considered to be attacks at all because their targets are Israelis, whose own self-defence is thus characterised falsely as aggression. Thus Israeli victimisation and Palestinian aggression continue to be airbrushed out of the moral equation, and Israel continues to be wickedly demonised in the eyes of the western world.

How dare she say that Palestinian aggression is airbrushed?! If anything, the injustices committed by the Israeli soldiers are airbrushed.

I swear, sometimes I feel like shoving a kufi down that woman's throat - but then that would be a waste of a good kufi.

Global warming and others

2007-04-24T21:04:00.000Z

Its interesting to see what those more read and influential than us here at Empowering Us have to say over the Global Warming Issue. Whether it be religious leaders, politicians, journalists, etc. As I (obviously) think it is a big issue that needs to be dealt with pretty urgently, what other people think about global warming often affects my view of them. Like any prat that drives round central London in a 4x4 automatically gains my wrath and WILL get a dirty look from me. The need? A friend was speaking to a colleague of his that lives in the rough terrained Chelsea and drives one. “Ever heard of global warming?” he asked him. “Oh yes, but this thing is marvellous - you can’t feel it at all!” referring to his monster. Blooming pompous twat. Of course I don’t blindly discriminate as some people have genuine reason for them. Well actually I do because apart from 3, everyone I know that drives one its blatantly a status thing.

Last week reading the Observer I came across Nick Cohen whose article I was pleasantly surprised by. He wrote of the danger of extremists undermining their own cause: as by the “eco-extremists” picking on Al Gore for his private electricity bills they are diverting attention away from the real cause. He states it’s the last thing we need - eco-extremists “trumping Gore’s inconvenient truth with a convenient excuse for doing nothing”. This article makes me like Nick Cohen as I have yet to form my own opinion on him. (I will read something about him or that he’s written and I’m like what a fool, but then on some domestic issues I generally agree with him e.g his stance on ID cards, grammar schools.) On the other hand there are people whose stance on the environment makes me dislike them even more. Jeremy Clarkson famously doesn’t give a monkeys, which definitely makes me dislike him even more. If you’re wondering he’s just too over the top and whilst when Hammond or James May do something it’s funny, when Clarkson does its normally pathetically sad/lame. Also sometimes I feel he just promotes or goes on about something just for the sake of it, although I did think he was funny on Have I Got News for You a couple of weeks ago. Then we come to Melanie Phillip’s views as below. I frequently read her stuff although why I bother is a mystery to me. Her views on global warming are positively bizarre, especially coming from someone who has no doubt never studied the subject, let alone devoted years of her life, like global warming scientist researchers have. Strange strange lady. (No, I ain’t picking on these people but when someone is so off on one issue, it kind of makes you question their other beliefs, no?)

Lastly, the religious leaders and their responses make for interesting reading. The Church of England last week released The Ten Green Commandments entitled “How many light bulbs does it take to change a Christian?” (Every time I read that I chuckle, but then I tend to find godawful jokes like that funny). Many of my friends have told me of their local rabbis talking of the need to take urgent steps. But the Muslim leaders, the imams? Well my local imam could be talking about climate change and what we could do, but they don’t allow women in, and don’t speak in English so not like I’d know. Now I know criticising the mosques is Funzie’s special area, but the Church of England taking steps has got to have shamed them in to doing something? Somehow I doubt it.

Let’s not end there. Let’s end on this instead:
“According to a survey in this week’s Time magazine, 85% of Americans think global warming is happening. The other 15% work for the White House.”

(Like i said, i like godawful jokes)

Global Warming is a lie! well that's what Melanie says

2007-04-24T11:59:00.000Z

Speaking of contrasting views about environmental issues, Melanie Phillips (that's her mugshot on the left) is one who certainly falls into that category.

Here's an excerpt from one of her more "thought-provoking and intelligent" articles:

Channel Four’s devastating documentary The Great Global Warming Swindle has blown an enormous hole in every fundamental claim made to support the climate change obsession — including the claim that the argument is over.

A procession of eminent scientists — climatologists, meteorologists, oceanographers, geologists, biogeographers, astrophysicists, professors of earth science, plus the former head of Greenpeace, who said that the global warming proponents were ‘anti-human’ — showed on the contrary that the theory bore no relation to science whatsoever.

The earth was much warmer during many periods in the past; the ice caps were always expanding and contracting and Greenland was much warmer 1,000 years ago; most of the atmosphere was not warming as much as surface temperatures; volcanoes, animals and vegetation each produced infinitely more carbon dioxide than human activity; carbon dioxide could not possibly be the culprit for climate change since historically the warming of the atmosphere preceded any increases in carbon dioxide, thus showing up a central claim made by Al Gore in his movie to be utter rubbish; and so on.

Read the rest of this article here

For someone who is seemingly very intelligent, to think that the issues of global warming "bore no relation to science whatsoever", well that's just crazy.

I think we can all see how the environmental changes are affecting thousands of lives - be they of humans or animals. To think that nothing needs to be done, well Melanie Phillips has then certainly lost her head.

No wonder they call her 'Mad Mel'

A Different Perspective?

2007-04-22T08:03:00.000Z

A slightly different perspective by some - the glaciers are NOT melting rapidly, reducing co2 in our environment will have a devastating impact ... ? What do you make of it?

And if you think Global Warming won't affect you as you'll prob be dead by the time it all kicks in, think again:

And just something a lil' humorous as no doubt we can find any excuse to take the mick outta Bush:

Fact of the day:
*An area of rainforest - the size of England - is cut down every year!

Wake up to reality - take up the Green Jihad today!

Take up the Green Jihad

2007-04-21T17:40:00.000Z

To keep in tune with EMPOWERING US’ Environmental Week, I thought I would carry out research via the inexhaustible internet. I have to add here that I was slightly apprehensive about what I would find (or how little I would find!) but I’m pleasantly surprised at what’s out there. Today I’d just like to remind readers of one of our many duties as a Muslim – our God-given responsibility to care for and safeguard our planet, what is ordained upon us by our Creator and the importance the Holy Quran gives to nature…

A fascinating article by Fareena Alam and Abdul Rahman Malik makes some crucial and insightful connections to Islam and the environment we live in…

Sacred balance

For most Muslims, Islam is more than merely a cultural or political identity. Religion matters – and thus any motivating argument about environmental activism must have at its core a message drawing on the sacred. The spiritual dimension, in other words, is at the heart of ‘Islamic environmentalism’. Nature is a sacred web of relationships, finely balanced and resonating with divinely given life. As the Quran says, “The sun and the moon follow courses precisely reckoned and the stars and the trees bow themselves in adoration and the heavens, God has raised them up, and set a balance. Transgress not in the balance.”

To transgress this balance is to commit a crime against God. Even the other creatures that inhabit this vast sacred dominion are not considered incidental. “No animal is there crawling on the earth and no bird flying on its wings that is not part of communities like yourselves,” the Quran reminds us. When we disrupt the natural order, we are upsetting communities as complex and diverse as our own. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said: “The Earth is like your mother; you came from it and you will return to it.”

The relationship is intimate. By polluting the source of life and damaging the Earth we are actually doing irreparable harm to ourselves. Men and women of faith never used to see themselves as separate from the environment. They were always attuned to the natural order and the movement of the sun, the moon and the stars guided their devotions. The reality of climate change and other “inconvenient truths” are indicative of how we have upset both the physical and spiritual order of the earth.

How, then, to reconnect? As Abdal-Hakim Murad puts it: “The Prophet Muhammad gave people something they could actualise in their worlds, in order to give them a form of life that would allow them to reconnect with nature. What is it that we in the modern world can offer?”

To answer this question, he does offer some practical advice. “We can be, as we so often are, moaning from the edges. It cannot be a menu of pure Luddite rejectionism. We need to make calls to people to be recognisably human in the middle of the modern world. Muslims engage in fasting, one of the most ancient of human rituals, perhaps like no other sacred tradition in the world. We pray not according to a timetable set by someone in some distant hierarchy, but in tandem with the planet beneath our feet, the sun and the moon. We break fast when the sun drops below the horizon and no amount of manipulation can alter that. To be embedded in the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is to be embedded in the natural world. That is the kind of Muslim voice I think should be heard. We must exist, in the things we say and do, with our lifestyle, to be living witnesses to a form of life that is genuinely pre-modern. We drive cars, become lecturers, use computers – but in the basic patterns of our life, we are following a form of life that is pre-modern.”
The word on the street

This practical message has resonance for a new generation of Muslim environ-mentalists. In London, a remarkable community-based group has grown out of the work of IFEES. The London Islamic Network for the Environment, established by the World Development Movement activist and former IFEES project manager Muzammal Hussain, aims to make the message real at the grassroots level – through local events and campaigns where participants can get their hands dirty.

Borrowing from the approach of other community-based social justice movements, Hussain has sought to promote regular local engagement, with monthly meetings and links with existing campaigns, bringing a unique Islamic take to such events as last November’s Campaign for Climate Change march. Both LINE and IFEES also worked with the London Sustainability Exchange (LSx) in an innovative project in Tower Hamlets to sponsor Friday sermons on explicitly environmental issues [see Mosque with a mission].

LINE’s local focus and Hussain’s open-door approach has led to the initiative being replicated in the Midlands (MINE), Sheffield (ShINE) and Wales (WELCOME).

So to sum up – remember what has been prescribed to you by your creator. We will all be held to account for our actions (or lack of) on the Great Day so alongside our other responsibilities and obligations as a Muslim, make ‘Green Jihad’ one of them!

“The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said ‘The Earth is like your mother; you came from it and you will return to it.’”

Muslim Organisations and the Environment

2007-04-19T15:04:00.000Z

Keeping in line with environmental week, I've decided to write about Muslim organisations and the environment.

Without a doubt, the environment is very important, and you'd expect Muslims to be right at the forefront of doing good work in this field - however, it seems that this is not the case at all.

There are very few Muslim organisations that are doing something: LINE, IFEES and MPACUK (they have a section called Green Muslims which I think is really useful) are the ones that come to mind.

I have to admit, I would've rather had said the names of mosques instead of these organisations, because the mosque should be the are where we go to learn about Islam in every sense of the word.

Imagine if our mosques taught us to be more environmentally friendly, imagine the postive impact on society. Yes, caring for the environment is common sense, but the mosque could be the centre from where we could learn how to refine our need to help the environment.

I know I seem to have moved onto the mosques, but that's because they are so important for Muslims, yet the mosque leaders don't seem to see this. I think it's great we have some organisations doing something, but imagine if our mosques were active (or atleast more active than they are), then we wouldn't need other organisations. Our mosques would be the centre of reforming society.

In conclusion, our mosques really need to shape up if they want to be the beacons of light they once were - may Allah guide us all to being true Muslims, and not just people who follow a bunch of rituals. Ameen.

“You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men, you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah…”

(Surah Al Imran 3:110)

2007-04-18T15:11:00.000Z

I recently came across this leaflet on climate change geared towards Muslims (it had pictures, parts were underlined, but i don't know how to get them to be shown so please forgive me- twas much brighter and more interesting). I implore you (don't worry I have never actually used that phrase while talking) to distribute this amongst Muslim friends (preferably by email) so in this area Muslims can be an example to the rest of the world.Here it is:

GLOBAL WARNING: THE ENVIRONMENT IS CHANGING FOR MUSLIMS TOO

As our various nations have developed and continue to develop, we need an ever increasing amount of energy to service our every day needs, such as heating, lighting, air-conditioning, travel etc. If this energy does not come from a renewable energy source, we are simply using up finite fossil fuel resources (of oil, coal, gas). More alarmingly however, we are polluting the environment to such an extent that the effects will be catastrophic. Similarly, as populations have increased, there are a greater number people using fresh water and producing a greater amount of waste.

It said in Islam that if one kills a single person, it is like killing the whole of humanity and if one person is saved, it is like saving the whole of humanity. If we compare this saying to the numbers of people that are being killed or may be killed in the future by our incorrect use of energy and our indiscriminate disposal of waste, we will have much to answer for.

It is said that there are 3 types of people:

1. Those that strive to have less than they need.
2. Those that strive to have only what they need (and no more)
3. Those that strive to have as much as possible no matter what the consequences.

By using more than one’s needs of finite resources, just means that in time, somebody else will have less.

It is acknowledged that Islam is not just a religion, but a way of life. A way of life that respects the rights of other people, (of whatever belief, and of no belief), of animals, birds, fish, of plants and of the environment in which we live. As Muslims we should undoubtedly be treating our environment with respect, in order that it may maintain its equilibrium and in turn it will sustain our children and grandchildren.

The problems include:
1. Global warming and air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels.
2. Household waste disposal.
3. Industrial waste disposal.
4. Pollution of our rivers and seas

The moral questions facing Muslims today include:

1. In order to achieve a better quality of life, should we readily accept that our actions will have a negative (and sometimes disastrous) effect on the life of others?
2. Can we afford to tolerate the wastage of water whilst we watch others suffer without?
3.Should we be [at least] attempting to minimise the negative impacts?
4. What can we do?

As Muslims we should be striving to lead the way as conservationists. Possible actions include:

1. Use of alternative energy sources, e.g. wind and solar power
2. Use of public transport whenever possible
3. Investment in bio-fuels
4. Water conservation
5. Minimising waste disposal
6. Recycling of waste
7. Planting trees wherever possible

Renewable energy

Muslims should invest in and learn about development of technology to harness wind & solar power for the masses (e.g. solar energy to power water de-salination plants)
Micro-generation of wind & solar energy at a local level (wind is free and blows in most parts of the world).

Waste Disposal

Minimising disposal of waste should be a primary concern. Wherever possible, waste should be re-cycled. Only as a last resort should it be disposed. Even then it should be treated before being allowed to flow into our rivers and waterways. As we are aware, whilst Islam is a way of life built upon hygiene and cleanliness, in most parts of the (Muslim) world our waste is not treated and therefore comes back to haunt us in the form of contamination, disease and easily preventable illnesses.
As a high proportion of the world’s population, Muslims are currently contributing significantly (some might say disproportionately) to the waste produced, whether it be day-to-day rubbish, green house gases or industrial effluent. In some instances we are literally choking on our own waste.

Recycling

Many Muslims in the West originally come from countries where in rural areas nothing is wasted, and where for example recycling a cow-pat to use as fuel for a fire is not given a second thought. Yet many of us appear to be ignorant of the need to recycle the bottles, cans, newspapers and plastics etc that we buy and throw every day. Put in perspective, the energy saved in making one tin can, is in the order of that required to power a TV for one hour.

Use of Water

As Islam was born in the desert, it is no surprise that water is honoured as the “secret of life” and that usage of water without benefits to mankind, animal, birds or plants is forbidden.

Solutions

Muslims must therefore be looking to lead the way when it comes to protecting the environment and conserving our finite resources. Initially, by learning about the environment and how to protect it. Then by implementing practical solutions, for example (but not limited to):

For every barrel of oil extracted, there could be a tree (costing perhaps just a few pennies) planted somewhere in the world.
Use of small scale wind turbines for rural communities, particularly for water extraction
Micro-generation using wind and solar power to supplement domestic properties
Use of grey water (i.e. collected rain-water) for use in our gardens and where possible to flush our loos
Use of public transport wherever possible, (or use a bicycle for short journeys)
Ensure that our vehicles burn fuel efficiently and produce minimal emissions. [Developing countries should introduce stringent MOT style tests to ensure that road vehicles, especially government vehicles, comply with emission reducing requirements.]
Wherever possible, protect the rights of animals (of any species). It is forbidden in Islam to kill an animal cruelly or for mere play. Islam has forbidden wastage of animals and plants in peacetime and even in time of war.

As an Ummah we should be practicing green policies that will contribute safeguarding the environment for our children, grandchildren and all future generations. As current, custodians of the planet, we bear the responsibility for our actions or indeed our in-action. Yet it is future generations that will suffer the consequences of our ignorance and selfishness.

The Prophet (pbuh) said:

"That which is lawful is plain and that which is unlawful is plain and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which not many people know. Thus he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allah's sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be whole, all the body is whole and which, if it be diseased, all of it is diseased. Truly it is the heart."

None of us can truly say in our hearts, that we are doing everything we possibly can against the injustice of environmental pollution. This short paper can by no means raise, let alone answer the many questions about global warming that we as Muslims (and non-Muslims) should be addressing. There is however little doubt that if we as Muslims do not act quickly and effectively against what is perhaps the greatest ever challenge to humankind, we shall be answering for it in this life and in the hereafter.

Print only double-sided on recycled paper
March 2007

Global Warning: the world needs to act now

2007-04-18T15:00:00.000Z

The current argument raging in the press, amongst world leaders and between the leading academics of our time over whether global warming exists or not seems remarkably strange to me and my friends. You see, when we were in school, from year seven in our science classes, it was taught to us as fact. It was only as i grew older and started to read the newspaper did i realise that not all people believed the world's climate was changing. It was astonishing to me that people like George Bush could deny it was happening when I (in seventh grade terms but still) had been taught the science behind it. I never questioned it all. In year eight geography we were taught the difference between renewable and non renewable sources of energy and the need to switch from oil to more sustainable resources. For one project, we were split into groups and each given one of the main sources of renewable energy (wind, wave, solar, tide, etc), told to research them and then give a presentation and argue why our one was best. (It obviously had an impact as I was given wind, and these days we have a wind turbine and our weekend are spent trying to see how much energy we could get from them.) It seems only now has the most powerful country in the world started to actually accept what is happening (behind my school!) and to realise the extent this crisis will reach.

But what about the Muslims? There are a minority of Muslims that realise the danger, but as per usual they are largely behind the rest of the world. You'd think the religious countries (whether it be Christian, Jewish or Muslim) having being told by God to take care of his planet and his people, would be the first on this issue? But no. Then again considering it is the Muslim countries that are the oil-producing ones and the ones that have the most to lose from people switching away from oil, perhaps its not surprising.

We here at Empowering Us realise what a HUGE issue it is, and so to mark the importance of the environment and climate change, (and how Muslims need to be made more aware of it) Wide Awake, Abu Funza and I have decided to devote the rest of the week to posts and articles in this area. We can only pray that our readers will take something away, spread the word and the world will change before it is too late. (Not to end on a glum note or anything....)

All it took was an email....

2007-04-16T23:01:00.000Z

I'm so pleased alhamdulillah, all it took was an email!

I bet you're wondering what I'm on about - well, it's regarding this action alert by MPACUK that WideAwake put up (here's the link).

Basically, the BBC were wrong in saying that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel when it isn't, and alhamdulillah, people who cared decided to do something.

And this was the BBC's response:

Thank you for your e-mail.

'Football Focus' regrets any offence caused by the film broadcast ahead of the Israel v England football match. The purpose of the piece was to look at the state of football in Israel and particularly Tel Aviv, where the European Championship qualifying game was being held.

It was while comparing the young, vibrant city of Tel Aviv with the more historic Jerusalem that our reporter Damian Johnson inadvertently referred to it as the capital.

We re-iterate our apologies.

Please be assured that your feedback has been fully registered on our daily audience log which is made available to the production team involved and senior BBC management.

Thank you, once more, for taking the time to contact the BBC.

Regards
BBC Information

I say, if we get more people to voice their concerns we could (insha'allah) get the BBC to admit their mistake publicly. I'm just so pleased - because it shows to all those pacified Muslims who think that nothing can be done, that no, something can be done, only and only by the Will of Allah ofcourse, but all that Allah asks if us is to take the step and He will bring the victory.

So, next time you see a campaign worth running, go for it, because if it's for a good cause then victory is yours! Allahukbar!

Action Alert! Defend Defenders of Palestine!

2007-04-15T17:41:00.000Z

I couldn't help but jump (literally yes!) with joy when reading this. UK journalists boycott Israel over ‘IDF aggression in Gaza.’ Thank God for open minded people in the world (note they are prob all non-muslim in the NUJ) who strive to fight for the defenceless and uphold truth and justice in the world. I stopped estatically jumping with joy and glee when pondering when the heck Muslims will activate and defend the defenders of Palestine ...

National Union of Journalists of Britain and Ireland decides to boycott Israeli products in protest of Second Lebanon War and ‘Israeli aggression in Gaza’; calls on UK government to impose sanctions on Israel

The resolution, which passed by a vote of 66 to 54 (man was that a tight vote!), called for a boycott of Israeli goods “similar to those boycotts in the struggles against apartheid South Africa led by trade unions and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to demand sanctions be imposed on Israel by the British government and the United Nations."

The announcement of the passage of the resolution drew a combination of applause and gasps, the Guardian said.

According to the Guardian, the NUJ national executive committee has been instructed to support organizations including the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, Jews for Justice in Palestine and the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding, the Guardian reported.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3387995,00.html

Was doing some research on the net to see how I could thank the NUJ for brave stance to uphold human rights and condemn Apatheid Israel ... when I came across more info on the MPACUK site: http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/3551/34/(man are they good with these things! Who says they are racist and ineffective!).

Remember, the pro-Israeli Zionist lobbies will be all over this and will already have mobolised to try and somehow overturn this. Doing a quick google search, I've found that over 20 blogs had already attacked the NUJ (they were pro-Israeli, racist blogs such as Harry's Place http://hurryupharry.bloghouse.net/ and Little Green Footballs: http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/weblog.php )

... and sadly but inevitably I couldn't see a single Muslim blog / forum / that had carried this alert & applauded the NUJ.

Get to emailing now please!

generalsecretary@nuj.org.uk (the General Secretary)

DGS@nuj.org.uk (the deputy)

BBC Reporter Excecuted Or Not?

2007-04-15T17:22:00.000Z

I posted an ALERT last week about the kidnapping of Alan Johnston. Just read this:

'We killed BBC reporter', Palestinian group says
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3388215,00.html

BBC reporter Alan Johnston has been killed by an al-Qaeda affilated Palestinian organization, according to an internet statement obtained by Ynetnews. The statement was signed by the Palestinian Jihad and Tawheed Brigades, an organization named after an Iraqi al-Qaeda group.

Responding to the statement, the BBC said it is "aware of these reports -- but we have no independent verification of them. We are deeply concerned about what we are hearing -- but we stress, at this stage, it is rumour with no independent verification."

In the message, the group said the British and Palestinian governments were responsible for Johnston's killing.

''The whole world knows of our just cause in demanding the release of our prisoners, who are waiting under the fire of the occupation," the statement began. "Our demand was that all of those who are responsible for the journalist... release our prisoners who are being held in the prisons of the occupation," it continued.

"The whole world made so much noise about this foreign journalist, while it took no action over our thousands of prisoners," the declaration said.

I pray this is just sick rumours and the BBC reporter is alive and safe. The Palestinians are no doubt living hell on Earth and my heart goes out to them. They see no way out of their misery and are reduced to desparate measures to defend themselves and make themselves heard. But this reporter was a friend to the Palestinian people - I've read his stuff and man is it good. He reported the truth from the Mid East and exposed the Israeli aggressors and the conditions the Palestinians lived under. So why oh why would a Palestinian group do this? Unless the rumour mill has started to smear and condmen the Palestinians altogether....

Muslims funny?

2007-04-13T15:01:00.000Z

Lying on a sun-bed by the pool last week, listening to cheesy 90s pop, sipping mint tea, pretending to read Isiah Berlin’s Two Concepts of Liberty but really chuckling at the guy on the other side of the pool stacking it, wondering why God invented Speedos and why it seems only the French wear them, I mused at the four things to me that cut across barriers: good music, good food, laughter and pain. Ok I suppose that statement is debatable. For example music- because what I enjoy won’t necessarily be enjoyed by the next person (something perfectly exemplified by our house). Food, only to a certain extent is that true, cos believe me whilst that snail soup being served in the souq had a huge queue, it did not look appetizing to me one bit. And I suppose there are way more things that transcend barriers other than the four I mention- beauty etc. But hey the sun and all morning spent shopping in the medina makes you tired.

The same thought came to me on Tuesday night as I was watching Shazia Mirza at the Comedy Camp. Shazia Mirza is a comedienne and MAN is she funny. It wasn’t even out of the five what particularly she actually said was the funniest, but it was more the way she said it. I think it was also because what she said was different that ensured she got the most laughs of the night. And afterwards when I overheard a dude say “she really made me see Muslims in a different way”, it just further enhanced my belief that comedy is the way forward.

In the past we have seen comedy make people much more comfortable with people from the gay and lesbian community, the Jewish community, the black community etc. Now is it surely not long overdue that the same is done by the Muslim community? Yet I know of like 3 Muslim comedians. Admittedly I don’t go out of my way looking for them, but if they’re any good I shouldn’t have to.

To sum up, (I’m starting 2 feel like JD in scrubs- the funniest programme EVER- with the need to sum up every post like he does with every episode) I’m saying you funny Muslims get yourselves out there. Comedians have a unique ability to dispel fear and tension, by making groups seem more accessible and human. Remember, God made you funny for a reason! Use it!

Norman Finkelstein: Alan Dershowitz's "The Case for Israel" is a hoax!

2007-04-13T00:30:00.000Z

This is very interesting:

Shortly after the publication of the book The Case for Israel, Norman Finkelstein accused its author, Alan Dershowitz of "fraud, falsification, plagiarism and nonsense", claiming that Dershowitz had plagiarized Joan Peters's controversial book From Time Immemorial. Finkelstein expanded his findings in a book entitled Beyond Chutzpah. Dershowitz has denied the charges. Former Harvard president Derek Bok exonerated Dershowitz of the plagiarism charges,while Amherst professor Sayres Rudy claimed that the charges were justified.

Continue reading about their heated discussion here: The Dershowitz-Finkelstein affair

Here's are two clips of a nice chat between these two guys (I love a good argument :p)
I'd upload the videos onto the blog but I don't know how to upload google videos :(

Part 1: http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-1899267555870962994&q=finkelstein+dershowitz

Part 2: http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=247803848714490692&q=finkelstein+dershowitz

Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad - Contentions 11

2007-04-12T00:29:00.001Z

Props to Brother Haseeb for posting this.

These are the latest Contentions by Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad.

My favourite: Peace without justice is not peace at all

I think this is so true in the modern day. I mean there are so many Muslims who are happy with the lives they live, or are too busy 'perfecting' themselves to care about children in Darfur, Palestine and even in our own backyards.

The older generations of Muslims have failed us, not the great Muslims of the past, I mean Muslims in their 40s or above. They allowed the atrocities to continue while they concentrated on their own needs. We as human beings need to do something. There are so many good organisations (Muslim and non-Muslim) out there who are doing something like: MCB, MPACUK, ISB (although ISB really sucks :p) and Stop the War! . We, too, need to stand up

Say: My Lord has enjoined justice, and set upright your faces at every time of prayer and call on Him, being sincere to Him in obedience; as He brought you forth in the beginning, so shall you also return.
Surah Al-Araf, Verse 29

The Parent Negotiations - Ummah Films

2007-04-11T23:13:00.000Z

Thanks to Sister Usma for posting this - it's so funny :p

I love the part where the Ali tells his dad that he wants to get married (about 2 mins into the video), and the dad just laughs at him "go into your room and make those little videos"- lol!

Iran to be attacked?

2007-04-10T16:15:00.000Z

See I disagree with Abu Funza. No I don’t mean with everything he says, although meet him and you’ll realise how much waffle he actually chats. At the moment I’m particularly mad at him over a certain trip to Birmingham. But that’s another post for another time. No here, I differ in opinion with him in regards to whether America will invade Iran.

I refuse to believe America could be so incredibly stupid. Sure Iran did itself no favours by detaining our soldiers, Ahmedinajad may have a few screws loose, and personally I don’t particularly agree with theocracies. And the US probably echo these views, but like I said, I refuse to believe that these are grounds for attacking a country and I refuse to believe that they haven’t learnt from Iraq. The absolute MESS that they have caused there. (What astounds me is how shocked they seem to be about it as well. I knew 14 year old girls that could have told them it would never have worked. They who employ the best minds thought Iraq would welcome them with open arms. Yeah right. And then everything would go swimmingly- the US would have protected their interests whilst democracy would reign. What’s the saying?- you can’t force democracy with the barrel of a gun?) But I’m not going to go in to all the many many reasons we should never have gone into Iraq- you’ve heard it all before and besides it’d take too much time and I’m sposed to be getting ready to go out.

And even if Iraq had never happened and Iran was still on the agenda, has America forgotten what the word sovereign means? So much for fighting against empires.

Well basically this post was just to say, I believe America are cleverer than that. I can’t seriously believe that they think that they will be able to, just logistically even, or get away with invading Iran. I don’t know what the mood is like amongst the American people, but certainly amongst us British, we ain’t gonna stand for it.

Of course a little while later I could be apologising for my foolishness/naiveté and be hanging my head with shame….

2007-04-09T19:47:00.001Z

Technorati Profile

Action Alerts Need Actioning!

2007-04-08T14:55:00.000Z

Sign BBC petition for Alan Johnston's release!

Arab Media Watch urges its members and the public to join the thousands, including journalists and media personalities, who have signed the BBC's online petition urging that abducted Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston be freed quickly and unharmed. It has now been over three weeks since his abduction, with no word on his whereabouts or condition.

If you would like to add your name to the petition, please click on:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/6518185.stm

While AMW condemns all forms of attacks, harassment and censorship of the media, the particular absurdity of this abduction is that Alan, as one of the few Western journalists still based in the Gaza Strip, has brought much-needed attention to the deteriorating situation in the territory over the past three years, and provided valuable and insightful perspectives that are often lacking among other media outlets," said AMW chairman Sharif Hikmat Nashashibi.

"AMW has consistently made the case that there are nowhere near enough correspondents based in the occupied Palestinian territories, and that this hampers the depth and objectivity of coverage. Alan's reports often have a qualitative edge because he is based at the heart of the conflict he is covering, rather than the relative comfort, safety and detachment of Israel," Nashashibi added.

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BBC Make False Offensive Claims About Jerusalem

Sick and tired of bias, inaccurate, unobjective reporting by the media? Then do something about it today. MPACUK are undergoing a campaign demanding the BBC publicly apolgise and correct an false, offensive statement made by BBC Sport's correspondance on 24.03.07 during the Football Focus program at 12.10BST. The reporter inaccurately describes Jerusalem as Israel's capital - this is not only inaccurate and dismiss international law where neither east or west Jerusalem is considered Israel's capital but is also offensive to Palestinians living under Israeli occupation every day.

How dare they! I don't pay my licence fees for such reporting so I complained on numerous occasions via phone calls and emails and have urged friends and family do the same. It's not good moaning and grumbling from the sidelines - this is a typical example of when an injustice is done we can make a change via simple yet effective means - lobbying!

So get to complaining people:

To make a complaint via the internet click on this link.

Or call the BBC directly on 08700 100 222

*Remember the clip was televised as part of BBC Sport coverage called ‘Football Focus - Feature: Israel in Focus’ on BBC1 at 12.10BST on the 24th March 2007.
The BBC must ensure that such a mistake is not made again as it is erroneous, misleading and offensive to many people who are struggling to uphold the rights of Palestinians under occupation.
For more information on the United Nations position on the status of Jerusalem click here.

p.s Happy Easter to those celebrating. Mmmmmmm....man do I love Easter and the chocolates as a result of the festivity!

Mosques Get A Battering!

2007-04-07T21:44:00.000Z

Good old Mosques seem to be receiving a battering lately. First signs of plans for a new Mosque in East London and an orchestrated email campaign is whipped up to spread false statements. Ken Livingstone, who I nickname as Champion Ken for his bravery and ruthlessness when it comes to defending Palestinians, revealed an organised email campaign around an online poll being conducted by the Evening Standard aimed at stirring up communal hatred by spreading entirely false statements about plans for a new mosque in East London. Then the controversial poll was removed after Champion Ken exposed its hidden agenda. You see it was no ordinary poll and thus the need to expose it's motives. The poll asked readers to vote whether or not they were in favour of the Mayor spending £100 million of public money on a new Mosque in East London however Mr Livingstone has repeatedly denied any public funds would be spent on the project. Mr Livingstone said his office has been alerted to a series of emails being sent which make what he calls "a series of false claims about the mosque proposals in such a way as to stir up communal hatred" leading him to write to Veronica Wadley, Editor of the Evening Standard. I mean come on, even the BNP were urging it's fans to vote in the poll! http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/

Then we have an alleged arson in a Mosque in Nottingham:

A Nottingham mosque has been severely damaged in a fire described by a leading imam as "an act of terrorism against Muslims". Police and fire investigators are trying to determine the exact cause of the blaze at the Madni Masjid Mosque on Alberta Terrace in Forest Fields. Imam Raza ul Haq said he believed paint was thrown around the inside of the mosque and then set alight.

Then the whole Ruth Kelly and the £600,000 she has floating around at her dispense:

The government is planning to intervene in some mosques to support Muslims who want to marginalise extremists. Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly will announce a new role for the Charity Commission, strengthening its task of overseeing religious institutions. A £600,000 faith unit within the commission will help Muslims strengthen governance and leadership in mosques.

Ms Kelly's department has changed government strategy by launching talks with a broader range of Muslim groups. But at the same time, the largest body, the Muslim Council of Britain, has fallen out of favour, leading to claims that ministers are talking only to those prepared to agree with government. http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/

I'm not so sure about the MCB being involved with this. Although they supposedly represnt Britain's Muslims, I've still to be convinced they are the most effective organisation to represent us. They good - but not that good. I think they are not as in tune with the younger generation as they claim. The dosh Ruth Kelly has needs to be spent on improving the state of our Mosques - indeed. But with the current apathetic and backward Mosque leaders? Hell no!

If the Mosque elders finally realise that now comes the time for them to make way for the younger generation to get involved with the running of the Mosques - the pillars of our community - in order to reform, improve and defend our communities and liberties then by all means i'll give 'em money! But sadly, this doesn't seem like it's in the pipelines for a while and our Mosques will continue to be run by men who don't speak English, who cannot apprehend that they must teach Muslims (via program's/classes/syllabuses) to engage within the democratic systems in order to make an effective change for us here as well as for our brothers and sisters worldwide, who refuses to open its doors to the non-Muslim community and thus the development of respect and harmony between people of different faiths is non-existant, and who slams doors in the faces of its women, sisters, mothers as they beg old men to let them engage within the Mosques and be allowed prayer space in the House of Allah.

No, not until then...

Israeli Thugs Beat Palestinian Man & Family

2007-04-06T15:07:00.000Z

Another day, another Palestinian life destroyed by Israeli aggressors and murderers.

Soldiers violently attack Palestinian man in his home: August 25th, 2006

There were two cameras filming most, if not all, of the following incident. A few soldiers are easily recognizable by Human Rights Workers (HRW) given the number of times they have been present while soldiers have been invading numerous Palestinian homes.

At approximately 5:15 PM, an HRW posted at the Tel Rumeida checkpoint heard yelling and screaming coming from up the hill. The HRW moved up the hill, and a Palestinian woman was able to point out the house and medical facility from which the screams were issuing. The HRW asked Israeli soldiers immediately inside the building’s door what was going on. They refused to answer, and the soldiers physically prevented the HRW from entering the house. At this point, Dr. Taysir, the building’s owner, broke free from the soldier who was holding him, and pulled on the HRW’s arm while begging him to enter. The HRW managed to enter the door, and saw two, elongated contusions high on Dr. Taysir’s left arm. While being pushed out once again, the HRW negotiated with the soldiers to leave the door open on the condition that he remain outside.

Shortly thereafter three more HRWs arrived. The HRWs managed to enter the building. Three HRWs demanded access to Dr. Taysir, who was now out of sight, while a fourth video taped the encounter. Dr. Taysir could be heard yelling and crying out in pain from a room further in the house. The HRWs attempted to move past the soldiers in order to prevent further injury to Dr. Taysir, but were repeatedly forced back. The soldiers refused to explain why the doctor’s home had been entered, why he had been struck, or why the HRWs could not see him. Throughout this time, the soldiers were physically and verbally aggressive towards the HRWs, repeatedly shoving them towards the door, and yelling at them to get out, shut up, etc.

At this point, an Israeli major arrived with approximately six more soldiers. The major entered the building and began speaking with Dr. Taysir’s brother, who had observed some, but not all, of the incident; this conversation is filmed almost entirely. The major spoke briefly to the soldiers already on site, who quickly became considerably less aggressive toward the HRWs. After approximately ten minutes, the major and all soldiers departed the house without speaking to anyone else. The HRWs then videotaped interviews with both Dr. Taysir and his brother regarding the incident.

Dr. Taysir told the HRWs that he gone to open the door for the soldiers when almost immediately they began shoving him around and pinned him against a wall by pressing on his chest. The doctor told the soldier not to push him, and the soldier responded by punching him in the temple. Other soldiers joined in, and Dr. Taysir received blows to his arms, legs, and torso. At least two blows, those to his left arm, were strikes with the butt of a rifle; these injuries are documented with video.

Seeing that Dr. Taysir was being attacked, a female patient who was present attempted to intervene, putting herself between the doctor and the soldiers. She was struck by a soldier, and fell unconscious. The patient was later placed on a medical exam table with an oxygen feed to help her recover, where she was videotaped (with permission) by the HRWs. Dr. Taysir’s adult daughter was also beaten at some point during the encounter, though the events are not clear to us what happened. Dr. Taysir and his brother both stated repeatedly that soldiers used and regularly use foul language towards him and his family, including his wife and small children.

Later that evening, before sunset, soldiers could be seen on the roof of Dr. Taysir’s house. HRWs were standing on their own roof, and when they looked in the direction of the soldiers, the soldiers used their arms in a gesture to say ‘F***you’ to the HRWs. The soldiers were laughing the entire time. The HRWs did not respond.

300 - the PG version

2007-04-03T17:17:00.000Z

300 is tearing up the box office, and because of its success, the studio has recut the film to make a PG version so kids can learn the story of what really happened aswell :p

Personally I like this one more!

Spectating

2007-04-01T22:44:00.000Z

I wanted to to write something to express how I feel when witnessing images and coverage on TV about the Middle East. This poem sums it though...

Sitting on the sidelines of life I see so much but do so little,

A spectator of a spectacular film I watch on enthralled,

I feel their emotions, their pain, their happiness,

I feel so ready to say what it is that they’re doing wrong and am silent when I see the right,

I am weak I know as I sit there watching the big screen ,

Just not ready for my close-up yet,

Not ready to jump in,

A spectator of a spectacular film I watch on enthralled,

I feel myself getting weaker as I sit there not ready to peel my eyes off the screen I sit there not alone as it seems,

If I did I would see what’s on the screen is actually reality,

Its physicality staring back at me with those questioning eyes wondering where I have been,

So dead and numb to life all these years,

There is no strength inside me I have sat too long,

Waiting, hoping that it wasn’t the truth,

But it is.

Slavery abolished? Don't believe it

2007-03-30T19:39:00.000Z

There is a lot of talk in the media at the moment on whether Britain should apologise for the slave-trade. And there is a valid case for and against it. How can we, or rather the government, apologise for something that our predecessors did. I just about apologise for the things I do, why should I have to apologise for my ancestors? Surely for an apology to be heartfelt it should be made by the people that committed the act, and they died hundreds of years ago. So whilst we can express regret, state it was an awful act, can we really apologise? On the other hand, we still live with the effects of slavery today. In Bristol, a beautiful and fascinating city I visited a couple of weeks ago, almost every landmark we visited (and believe me we did the whole tourist-thing) had something to do with the slave trade. Descendents of slave owners still own much wealth which they didn’t work for, and descendents of slaves still live in poverty. And the idea instilled by slavery, that Black people are inferior, still exists.

Yet whilst I see both sides of the arguments, I fail to understand why the argument is even taking place at all. So slavery was abolished? It still takes place today. How can we apologise for something that supposedly ended 200 years ago when right now slavery is still rife?

According to the Anti- Slavery Society, no state recognises slavery, in that they recognize title or property in a living human being. The most used definition of slavery is the one stated by the High Court of Allahbad, India where if a person has their personal liberty restrained or made to labour against their will, they are classed as a slave. Under this definition, in 1995 the Anti-Slavery Society estimated the number of slaves as 27 million. The likelihood is there are many, many more – mostly children.

Let me present you with some statistics, cos whilst I could write reams and reams on the extent of slavery today, nothing hits like the cold hard facts:

Unicef estimates 1.2 million children are trafficked every year for use as domestic servants, factory workers, camel jockeys, child soldiers and sex slaves.
Concentrating particularly on South Asian countries: an estimated 496,000 children are in slavery in Bangladesh
Of the 35 million soccer balls stitched in Pakistan, children produce around a quarter of these, most of them as bonded servants.
Christian Aid believes there are as many as 10,000 children between ages 6 and 14 are enslaved in brothels in Sri Lanka.
In the carpet industry of India alone, human rights organisations estimate that there are up to 300,000 children working - most under conditions that amount to bonded labour.
Just in India’s Bombay, 90% of the 100,000 women in prostitution in are indentured slaves.

These are just a tiny handful of the many statistics I found on the web. With just these in mind, can you now see why from my point of view it is pointless arguing about apologies for slavery? Combat today’s, so or grandchildren’s grandchildren’s children can be proud they live in a world where all people have rights and freedom, and then maybe the apology would mean something.

Iran will be attacked - at precisely 4am on the 6th of April

2007-03-28T06:51:00.000Z

The drums of hate are beating again, and the army of hate has Iran in its sights.

WASHINGTON DC, -- The long awaited US military attack on Iran is now on track for the first week of April, specifically for 4 am on April 6, the Good Friday opening of Easter weekend, writes the well-known Russian journalist Andrei Uglanov in the Moscow weekly “Argumenty Nedeli.” Uglanov cites Russian military experts close to the Russian General Staff for his account.

The attack is slated to last for 12 hours, according to Uglanov, from 4 am until 4 pm local time. Friday is the sabbath in Iran. In the course of the attack, code named Operation Bite, about 20 targets are marked for bombing; the list includes uranium enrichment facilities, research centers, and laboratories.

The first reactor at the Bushehr nuclear plant, where Russian engineers are working, is supposed to be spared from destruction. The US attack plan reportedly calls for the Iranian air defense system to be degraded, for numerous Iranian warships to be sunk in the Persian Gulf, and for the most important headquarters of the Iranian armed forces to be wiped out.

The attacks will be mounted from a number of bases, including the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia is currently home to B-52 bombers equipped with standoff missiles. Also participating in the air strikes will be US naval aviation from aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, as well as from those of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. Additional cruise missiles will be fired from submarines in the Indian Ocean and off the coast of the Arabian peninsula. The goal is allegedly to set back Iran’s nuclear program by several years, writes Uglanov, whose article was reissued by RIA-Novosti in various languages, but apparently not English, several days ago. The story is the top item on numerous Italian and German blogs, but so far appears to have been ignored by US websites.

Observers comment that this dispatch represents a high-level orchestrated leak from the Kremlin, in effect a war warning, which draws on the formidable resources of the Russian intelligence services, and which deserves to be taken with the utmost seriousness by pro-peace forces around the world.

Asked by RIA-Novosti to comment on the Uglanov report, retired Colonel General Leonid Ivashov confirmed its essential features in a March 21 interview: “I have no doubt that there will be an operation, or more precisely a violent action against Iran.” Ivashov, who has reportedly served at various times as an informal advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is currently the vice president of the Moscow Academy for Geopolitical Sciences.

Ivashov attributed decisive importance to the decision of the Democratic leadership of the US House of Representatives to remove language from the just-passed Iraq supplemental military appropriations bill that would have demanded that Bush come to Congress before launching an attack on Iran. Ivashov pointed out that the language was eliminated under pressure from AIPAC, the lobbing group representing the Israeli extreme right, and from Israeli Foreign Minister Tsipi Livni.

“We have drawn the unmistakable conclusion that this operation will take place,” said Ivashov. In his opinion, the US planning does not include a land operation: “ Most probably there will be no ground attack, but rather massive air attacks with the goal of annihilating Iran’s capacity for military resistance, the centers of administration, the key economic assets, and quite possibly the Iranian political leadership, or at least part of it,” he continued.

Ivashov noted that it was not to be excluded that the Pentagon would use smaller tactical nuclear weapons against targets of the Iranian nuclear industry. These attacks could paralyze everyday life, create panic in the population, and generally produce an atmosphere of chaos and uncertainty all over Iran, Ivashov told RIA-Novosti. “This will unleash a struggle for power inside Iran, and then there will be a peace delegation sent in to install a pro-American government in Teheran,” Ivashov continued. One of the US goals was, in his estimation, to burnish the image of the current Republican administration, which would now be able to boast that they had wiped out the Iranian nuclear program.

Among the other outcomes, General Ivashov pointed to a partition of Iran along the same lines as Iraq, and a subsequent carving up of the Near and Middle East into smaller regions. “This concept worked well for them in the Balkans and will now be applied to the greater Middle East,” he commented.

“Moscow must exert Russia’s influence by demanding an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to deal with the current preparations for an illegal use of force against Iran and the destruction of the basis of the United Nations Charter,” said General Ivashov. “In this context Russia could cooperate with China, France and the non-permanent members of the Security Council. We need this kind of preventive action to ward off the use of force,” he concluded.
Source: The Intelligence Daily

I truly hope that Iran isn't attacked, but we've all got to stop kidding ourselves.

I personally think that they are gonna go for Iran, then Syria and then bring on Pakistan.

May Allah protect the innocent and end their suffering - Ameen.

"Reach Out To Israel, Arabs Urged"

2007-03-27T07:32:00.000Z

I don't think everybody needs to be told as to what is going on in Palestine. Our mothers are being raped there this very second, and another one of our brothers just got shot in the head.

But I can't believe that Arab countries are being asked to reach out to Israel! Below is the article from the BBC

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called on Arab nations to reach out to Israel.

Ms Rice was speaking in Jerusalem after three days of meetings with Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian leaders.

She said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had agreed to meet every two weeks.

Ms Rice also said there was a "path of co-operation" with the new Palestinian unity government.
The secretary of state was speaking on the eve of the opening of an Arab League summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

'Complex' issues

Ms Rice urged Arab nations to take a more active role in regional peace efforts, although she said the presence of the militant Hamas faction in the Palestinian government made the issues "more complex".

"The Arab states must be reaching out to Israel... to show Israel that they accept its place in the Middle East," she said.

Ms Rice said there could be co-operation with the new Palestinian unity government but stressed again that Hamas must renounce violence.

Hamas has refused to adhere to three key international demands to recognise Israel, renounce violence and honour previous peace agreements.

Ms Rice said Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas would meet regularly and that she would attend some of the meetings.

"They achieved something, which is the very regularised meetings between the two of them, in which they will not just talk about their day-to-day issues, but also about a political horizon," she said.

Ms Rice said it was "not inconceivable" for a peace deal to be reached before the end of US President George W Bush's tenure.

But she added: "We're not yet at the... [stage] of final status" negotiations.

I can't believe this - it's like they're saying "why don't you Arabs do more? - it's all your fault".

Yes the Arab nations should do more - they should help their Palestinian brothers and sisters by forcing the Western countries to see that they can't be paid up (as so many of the arabs have already) and that they want Israel to no longer exist - everyone can live in Palestine in peace. If it was possible in the past then surely it is possible now.

The part that really made my blood boil though was when Condoleeza Rice said:

"The Arab states must be reaching out to Israel... to show Israel that they accept its place in the Middle East," she said.

Israel is murdering innocent people day in and day out. The only crime of the Palestinians is that they are Palestinians.

But how do we stop this? How can we end the killing of the Palestinians?

The answer lies in our mental ressurection. We shouldn't stay oblivious to the butchering of the Palestinians. It's our foreign policy (along with America's ) which allows Israel to get away with murder.

Change the foreign policy, then you change the future of the Palestinans to something that they can look forward to.

Our mosques and our MPs have too long allowed injustice to prevail - now we have to hold them to account and show Allah that we are Muslims who do care and want to please Him.

If we politically activate then we can ensure that Palestinians get the justice that they deserve.

Victory to the Intifada

2007-03-25T14:13:00.000Z

Interpal has been targeted again by pro-Israeli lobbies Muslims are in no position to counter. We are a million light years away of even competing! I learn Natwest has decided to close the bank accounts of Interpal – the biggest and probably the most effective Palestinian charity.

The closure is likely to cause untold disruption to Interpals delivery of humanitarian assistance to the beleaguered Palestinian people in occupied Palestine, Lebanon & Jordan and comes at a time when the hardship and destitution in the region has reached an unprecedented level. Importantly it is likely to deprive 6,000 Palestinian children of their monthly relief assistance for many months to come. http://www.aqsa.org.uk/news_detail.aspx?newsid=1086

Today they try to close down the biggest and best Palestinian charity, tomorrow it will be smaller charities and finally the Israelis will have starved the Palestinians from their land. http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/3475/64/

Back in 2003 Interpal were targeted by the Jewish Board of Deputies – they mobilized so fast and furiously that they managed to convince British Authorities that Interpal were linked to ‘funding terrorist activities in Palestine’ – their accounts were frozen immediately surprise surprise. However after a thorough investigation by the Charities Commission – they were cleared of the charges and even sought a libel case (and get this) won a notorious public apology from the JBOD…Woop woop!

To make a difference in this check out these sites: MPACUK, Friends of Al-Aqsa.

The smallest action can make the biggest of differences. Make that call today.

Victory to the Intifada

Zero Tolerance To Israel!

2007-03-24T21:44:00.000Z

After a long exhausting day of shopping, cleaning, cooking and some more cleaning (man I sound like a nag!), I put my feet up with a cuppa. The lil' brother was intently gazing at the TV screen and I dared ask who was playing tonight. 'England'. He then kinda stuttered 'VS Israel - IN Israel.'

So it was that match on tonight, I had forgotten all about it amidst my busy yet
uneventful day. I can't quite explain the feeling I had watching the interviews of some of the England players with the beautiful scenic view of a beach in Israel. Images of the Gaza strip, Palestine flashed by; the blood, the bullets, bulldozers destroying homes of the defenceless, children attempting to defend their homes by throwing stones at shooting tanks .

My blood was boling - another example of injustice directed towards the Palestinian people. A people who have been occupied, persecuted, humiliated, and terrorised for over 50 years.

The occupation of Palestinian land by Israel is illegal. Apartheid Israel should never have been allowed to be included in Euro 2008, especially seeing that Palestinian footballers are not allowed excluded from international football.

Whatever happened to 'kicking racism out of football' ! Guess it's just a fancy slogan
to allude the public as this is evident contradiction...Israel operates an entrenched system of racial Apartheid against its own non-Jewish occupants and has been illegally occupying Palestinian land.

The sporting boycott was an integral tool in the movement against South African Apartheid...Although protests were planned for this match; they didn't have much impact unfortunately...

Now I've not seen many Muslims or pro-Palestinian activists in large numbers protest against this (and by this I mean the average, pacified, Muslim) 'cos a big up to those that have been inundating the appropriate body's via emails and calls! It's definitely worth a shot to still voice your disgrace:

* Write to the Football Association to complain about Israel's inclusion in Euro 2008 and England's qualifier match with Israel in Tel Aviv on the 23rd March: Football Association, 25 Soho Square, London W1D 4FA.

* Complain to the FA at info@thefa.com or call them on 02077454999. You could copy in UEFA at info@euro2008.com

* Please also write to Kick Racism out of Football about the inclusion of Apartheid Israel in Euro 2008 while Palestinian footballers are excluded from international football. Email them at www.kickitout.org or email their chairman Lord Herman Ouseley at hermanouseley@aol.com

And I will leave you with this beautiful, heart aching poem I found from this superb website: (Be warned - tissues may be needed)

A tale too familiar to talk about,
A tale too hard to explain:
A family of six sitting down for dinner,
They barged in and quartered my home,
They took away my future;
My two sisters were held at gunpoint and stripped of their dignity.
A family of four,
My father left.
He had to join the freedom fighters.
A family of three.

So now,
Since the soldiers crashed my house,
We cook for five.
So now,
We do their laundry,
And for all I know,
This could be the same soldier who killed Ali.
Ali was my older brother,
He was only 15 years old.
Shot, dead, point blank range.
We were only playing catch,“Oh, I didn’t have my safety on” as he smiled.

They call it the Holy Land, but it is blood filled.
They call it their homeland,
They say it was meant to be theirs.
They say it was their right.
Olive trees uprooted and houses quarted.
Palestine shall find its days of freedom and peace.

They own our damn media,
America receives the crooked story,
How about I walk into a village and open fire upon a bunch of long side-burned punks,
Would they hear it in America then?
Of course Americans would.
Is that what it takes to be put on the media?!

Israeli soldiers,
I want to destroy them,
For what they did to my familiy,
For what they did to Ali,
For what they did to my land.

The Jewish media,
I want to see it fall,
For what they are doing to the American people,
For not saying what is really happening,
For not showing Americans what is true,
For Palestine,
For me,
But better yet,
for freedom,
Please end the oppression.

But yet,
I am too young.
Too young to understand what really goes on.
All I know is that when I was seven,
They destroyed my familiy,
All I know is that when I was seven,
They occupied my house and oppression took over my land.
All I know is that when I was seven,
My brother was murdered,
All I know is that when I was seven,
My father left us and told me to be strong,
All I know is that when I was seven,
I saw my sisters being taken away from me,
Disrespected and unfaithfully touched,
All I know is that when I was seven,
They ruined my life,
And that is when my life flashed before my eyes,
And said to me,“You are a special child;
Spread what you know,
Because you are a living example ofPalestine’s struggle.”
May God help us all,
Amen.

Women in Mosques

2007-03-22T00:11:00.000Z

I came across this interesting video on the MPACUK website. It's a segment done by Islam Channel about women trying to get their (rightful) places in the mosques.

Here's the video:

Lol I loved the interview where the committee member says he can't find any women who are interested in being on the committee but he won't advertise for the positions!

Remembering Malcolm X

2007-03-21T23:36:00.000Z

Today's the 21st of March and on this very date 43 years ago a man was martyred in the cause of the Truth - I speak of none other than Brother El Hajj Malik al Shabazz (aka Malcolm X).

I'm been reading his autobiography recently, and it is absolutely amazing (it can be purchased from here).

He spoke the Truth with no fear and he really was, and is, a great role model for people who want to make a change for a brighter future - may Allah bless him for all the good he did and all the good he has done after his death. Allah says about the martyrs that they are alive, and as we can clearly see, Malcolm X's legacy lives on and inspires so many people to the straight path even today.

Here's a short video about Malcolm X - enjoy:

20th March 2003

2007-03-20T23:17:00.000Z

No I didn't get the date wrong, but I just wanted to remind everyone that it's been 4 years since America attacked Iraq and ,well, got away with it.

No proof, no truth, all spoof.

So many lives were lost and now it seems Iran will be next.

We shouldn't let that happen.

We can't let that happen.

We CAN do something, but we should realise that it all depends on politics and on our (the UK's) foreign policy. Our elected 'leaders' are letting us down and we should hold them to account.

Remember, they work for us, not the other way around.

I know it sounds like I'm ordering you guys to do this, but it's just that I read this action alert by MPACUK (here's the link), and it made me realise that sitting around for our butchering leaders to change their stances by themselves ain't gonna happen. We gots to teach them a lesson :P

At least let's try to make a difference -as victory is for the believers, and Allah loves those that strive in His Cause.

Watch Out Iran!

2007-03-18T17:13:00.000Z

Ok, sorry, back to some serious stuff. Was reading the BBC site and it doesn't look too good for Iran. The drums for war are...well...basically drumming louder and louder for them.

The double standards and the cheek of it though! How often do Israel, America or any other country for that matter get a hard time and sanctioned over their nuclear weapons - Zilch, never!

Taken from: news.bbc.co.uk

A new sanctions package designed to put pressure on Iran over its nuclear
programme has been agreed by the six countries handling the issue at the UN. The
British ambassador immediately sent the draft to the 10 non-permanent Security
Council members, who have not been included in the negotiations. The package
includes an arms embargo and economic penalties.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, but Western governments say
it wants to develop nuclear weapons. Last December, the Security Council voted
unanimously to impose a first, limited set of sanctions against Iran for
refusing to halt uranium enrichment. The latest package includes extending
a freeze of assets to those linked to Iran's nuclear and missile programmes and
a ban on new grants and loans to the state.

Before the draft was presented, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
vowed the initiative would not sway his country.

Be Warned: These are Funny!

2007-03-17T18:43:00.000Z

Thought I'd be slightly less serious all the time and share some hilarious videos I've found of people making a right fool outta themselves! They are way tooooooo funny. What possess's these people I really don't know!

Enjoy.....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4795237232324013939

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/stfu.php

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/numa.php

(Sorry, I'm very untecchified (is that even a word?) so I have not the the foggiest as to how to upload them for real on the blog)

Hijab Ends Football Dream

2007-03-15T08:06:00.000Z

Props to Maniac Muslim for finding this:

Last week in Canada, a young Muslim girl - Asmahan Mansour (aka Asi) - was ejected from a Quebec summer football tournament for wearing a hijab.

Here's the full story:

Five young teams from across Canada walked out of a Quebec soccer tournament Sunday because a young Muslim girl was ejected for wearing a hijab.
Calling the rule banning the headscarf worn by Muslim women racist, four other teams followed Asmahan Mansour's team, the Nepean Selects from Ottawa, after she was thrown out for running afoul of a Quebec Soccer Association rule.

"The referee was staring and pointing. 'She can't play,'" said Asmahan, Asi to her friends. "I was like why? Why can't I play?"
Because of a safety rule, league spokesman Lyes Arfa said. He pointed out that the referee is Muslim himself, and that the ban on hijabs is to protect children from being accidentally strangled.
"We have to protect the players on the field, and that's the main point. It's not against the Muslims."
And the league had told organizers about the rule — "The wearing of the Islamic veil or any other religious item is not permitted" — before the game.
Asi's team was aware of the rule, but didn't expect it would be enforced.
So when it was, many players and adults were outraged.

Girls backed up teammate
"I automatically went back to the referee: 'Are you sure this is what you wanna do?'" said Louis Maneiro, the Selects' head coach. When nothing changed, he said, "I just decided that there's no way that I would allow our team to continue, and the girls backed up Asi very strongly."
Asi's teammates supported the move. "I felt disgraced, I was crushed, I couldn't see Asi like that," said Lisa Furano.
"It's just a piece of material, it can't do any harm," added Alicia Stainton.
The Selects left the tournament in good spirits. But they say they won't come back until the rule changes.

There have been other occasions of things like this happening in Canada. For example, a bearded Sikh boxer is challenging the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association who say that beards are "banned for medical reasons". (Source: CBC News)

?!

Now I may not be a doctor (although my parents would like me to be), but how the hell is a beard dangerous?! And a Hijab?!!!!!!

I know some hijabis may be scary, but to say that the hijab is, well that's just absurd.

It's not like the hijab will grab people by their throat while they are running past Asi - unless it's one of those mutant hijabs. My local hijab shop sells them (don't ask how I know....)

But how long till these problems come over to the UK?

Heck they already are

I mean after Jack Straw's crazy comments about the niqab (full veil) there has been alot of tension in many areas, but how long till the cheap tabloids start calling for a ban on the hijab? or on the beard?

Some of this has already started, and the marching Islamophobes are coming ever nearer.

I wish more Muslims would try to stop the war of terror before it's too late for us to stop anything at all. If we politically empower ourselves, then we could end these attacks against our civil liberties, but obviously that's not gonna happen - because that requires working and striving for a good cause ...

Introducing the iRack

2007-03-14T21:36:00.000Z

Lol this is so true...

I'm back...

2007-03-14T07:11:00.001Z

Assalaamualaikum,

I promised to keep people updated on what I got up to while I was at Hajj, but as soon as I came back (on the 18th of Jan), I was bogged down with so many things that I just couldn't find the time to write about my experiences.

However, I'm back now (it depends if you see that as good thing or a bad thing) and want to share what happened when I first got to Makkah and to the House of Allah.

We (I mean my family and I) had a 7 hour stay in Cairo before we got to Makkah, and as such were really really tired. I couldn't soak in everything as I was getting used to wearing two pieces of white, unsewn cloth and I was so tired.

We were lucky enough to have an old family friend in our Hajj group, and he had been coming for the past 26 years to perform either Hajj (pilgrimage) or Umrah (the lesser pilgrimage).

I remember walking for about 5 minutes before we got to the beautiful mosque, the marble looked so pure, and the atmosphere was electric - I was finally going to get the chance to see THAT house, I was finally going to see it with my own eyes. No TV broadcasts, no sir, I would get a chance to see the House of Allah for which so many believers in the past have strove to protect. As water washes away dirt, the thought of finally seeing Baitullah (the House Of Allah) washed my fatigue right out.

We entered through one of the doors that was close to mount Marwa (one of the two hills that Hajira/Hajar - the wife of Ibrahim/Abraham peace be upon him - ran on to try and find some water to quech her screaming baby's thirst).

There were so many people - all the men dressed in simple white cloths, no one could tell who was a king and who was a pauper, but they all had one common goal, to follow the Command of Allah.

As we got closer to the House I could feel the hairs on my neck stand up, I hadn't even seen it yet, but I could sense that it was there.

And then I saw it.

And I cried, and I kept crying, throughout the time I spent there that day that is all I did, such was the effect of Allah's House.

When we got to the end of the ritual, the men went to get their hair cut and then we all headed home to change out of our Ihram clothes (I did the type of Hajj where you take the Ihram clothes off after having done the preliminary rituals and then don it again when the 5 days of Hajj begin).

However something weird happened over the next couple of days, I couldn't feel any emotions when I looked at the Kaabah while I was in the Mosque - had I become so impure from within that I couldn't even show thanks, even FEEL thanks?

But that's when I realised - it wasn't that I couldn't feel anything when I looked at the Kaabah - the truth was that I was experiencing a new emotion that throughout my hectic life I have never encountered - sakinah (tranquility).

In the hustle and bustle of today's world where is the chance to just sit and thank Allah? I had all the time in the world to say thank you to Allah, and it was due to this new feeling of trainquility that Allah bestowed every time I looked up at the big beautiful House Of Allah.

There's so much more to say, but if I say it all now I'll need to make a new blog! Instead, from time to time I'll let you know what happened.

Fiamaanallah,

Abu Funza

How to become a Lord

2007-03-13T13:20:00.000Z

Lately we have been reading a lot of stuff in the press on the cash for honours scandal. The latest twist are the claims that Lord Levy is going to be used as a scapegoat, and some people are crying anti-Semitism. For perhaps the first and only time ever I agree with Melanie Phillips when she says “But to say he is the victim of ‘anti-Semitism’ when he is at the centre of an ongoing police investigation in which he has been arrested and bailed is simply outrageous. There is not a shred of evidence to support such an allegation. If Lord Levy is in trouble, this has nothing to do with his ethnic identity.” Here’s where we slightly differ (well I think as I don’t really understand her last paragraph- there’s a lady who needs to use more commas): in my opinion, the problem with claiming anti-Semitism (or Islamophobia or other forms of racism for that matter) when that is not the case, is extremely dangerous and harmful to the respective communities. After a while, people will get sick of hearing that so and so is anti-Semitic and stop believing. Anyone remember the story of the boy who cried wolf?

However, this is not where my interest in the case lies. In fact the whole issue really quite annoys me. Not particularly because people are buying their way into one of our great parliamentary institutions, cause let’s face it, most of the people who are in there shouldnae be anyway- heriditaries, “friends” of the parties, bishops etc. Or that it reveals how corrupt our government because, well we already knew that. No, it is the fact that the scandal has been discovered, and has been revealed to the general public so the problem will now be scrutinised and rectified.

That sounds (reads) strange doesn’t it? Normally I obviously want corruption to be cleared up as how will a country progress otherwise? Of course, unless it is in my potential interest.

Let me explain. The only guaranteed way to get into the House of Lords is brownnosing (that’s honestly the politest way I could think of to express that) the leaders of the party, and that’s just not me, but I really really REALLY want to be a Lord. My plan was therefore, one day marry rich, donate a lil money to a party of my choice, get myself a peerage. Ideally it would have been a birthday present. You get my drift? Now how’s that going to happen?

I suppose with the Lords being reformed (assuming they actually pass it) I would have to be elected anyway- but that’s just long. Pretending to be nice (when people don’t deserve it) and caring about people’s opinions when blatantly I’m going to do what I think is right- just not my cuppa tea.

Thanks to a few journalists, some dumb politicians that can’t cover their tracks very well, my dreams of being a Lord disappear……

Sunny Hundal's Unhealthy Obsession

2007-03-11T17:58:00.000Z

Should we be surprised at Patrick Mercer's (MP) racist comments? It hasn't been the first time he's said something so offensive and he is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel so what more can we expect!

And why oh why is Sunny Hundal so damn obsessed with Muslim organisations? I've come across his rants for some time and have noticed a slight pattern. If you are a Muslim who is vocal and active in defending the Palestinians against Israeli occupation - then you are either labelled anti-semitic or extremist - he has done this time and time again with the likes of MPACUK and the MCB - both credible pro-Palestinian Muslim organisations. If you object to Israel's crimes and occupation against the defenceless Palestinians - he will automatically have something to say about it.

There's something not quite right with him. He seems to use any excuse possible to attack and discredit Muslims. This one here as a prime example: http://www.pickledpolitics.com/archives/1040

When it came to the Holocaust Memorial Day, he attacked Salma Yaqoob and Inayat Bunglawala (of the MCB) for not 'mentioning' the massacre and genocide of Bengalis in 1971 by Pakistani soldiers. Fair enough but I don't see Hundal himself holding to account other massacres- namely the current one ongoing in Palestine!

He is the editor of Asians in the media (an informative site when it wants to be) but here comes the dodgy part - he also runs Pickled Politics - which is very hospitable to Islamophobes and far right fascists. He seems very chummy with the racists at Harry's Place and apparently the BNP organised a march 'in honour' of Hundal...!

Anyway, the point of my rant here is who is Sunny Hundal to go round attacking and vilifying groups like these and what exactly is his agenda? I for one can see the benefits reeling from racists like Harry's Place, Islamophobes and pro-Israeli lobbies - he is doing their dirty work for them by smearing and discrediting influential Muslim groups... but what's in it for Hundal?

Back from Hajj

2007-02-25T22:06:00.000Z

Well I’m back. Truthfully I got back over a month ago but have had so much to catch up with uni stuff that I just I haven’t had time to update this blog. But now good luck getting rid of me for a while! I suppose I should be typing up my promised diary but it was a stupid promise to keep because I hate keeping diaries- it makes me feel foolish (even looking back at these entries make me cringe), and besides any spare time in Saudi was taken up praying, sleeping, looking around, or trying desperately to get my essays finshed.

So an ultra quick summary of my Hajj was that it was the most amazing experience of my life. And I’m not just saying that because as a Muslim it should be- what with all the praying and history etc. And of course that (the praying and the history etc) was a big part of the experience, but what made it for me was all the people there. How even though they were so different, how incredibly friendly they were. And this friendliness came from rich and poor alike. Examples? Between our hotel and the Ka’baa there used to sit a man with hundreds of the juciest dates you ever did see piled in front of him, and as people passed he would offer them. Now what other city in the world would a young woman (or for that matter anyone) accept food from a random man in the street? Or the sight on the street of the not very well-off old man on his prayer mat standing next to a young man without a prayer mat, so the old man turns it around sideways so they can share, even though he’s now standing on the unprotected concrete. Closer to home, my dad must have given away at least twenty prayer mats after praying with people who did not own any. To someone from this part of the world it would be astonishing how willing people were to share EVERYTHING- whether it be the man who saw my brother, father and I wondering why on earth he was spraying into his hat, so insisted dad and my bruv spray some in their’s too and sprayed some on my wrist (and man did it smell nice) or people who would share their food with randommers in the Ka’baa between different namaaz.

The sight of people standing next to each other- poor, rich, sunni, shi’ite, black, white, MAN, WOMAN, (yes you read that right), old, young, colourful Africans, sombre Arabs- all trying to squeeze another person in the lines next to them.

To me, this is what true Islam is- not the debates on how a hijaab should be worn, who was the right caliph, how long a beard should be, and of course not terrorism and causing death in any form (their own or others).

Of course I have a whole host of other memories but I will share them as they become relevant or if I just feel like it. Also photos that would have been here but the computers being dumb so maybe next time.

xxx

Future plans

2006-12-15T22:00:00.001Z

Will Smith?? At hajj?? I bloody wish. But then again, saying that, what would the likelihood of me actually seeing him be? Zero. Zilch. Zip. Nada. But let’s not be too pessimistic here. 0.00000000000000000000000000000000000000001%. Gawd I gotta admit that’d be amazing though. I love that man- he’s given us great films, great music, and great laughs every night when me and my brother watch old episodes of the Fresh Prince. The dude’s a genius. In fact I’m all up for him becoming the first Black President of the United States of America. But that’s another thought and another post. (See how easily I got distracted? Thanks to Abu Funza.)

The reason for me posting is to let you are readers know, that as you may have already gathered, Abu Funza and I are both planning on going to Hajj this year, so we thought we’d do a diary about it. Mine will probably be the bitchy, ihatearabs, isn’t religion quirky? one (don’t I really sound ready to go?) so WARNING if easily offended don’t read. And Funza’s, as a nicer, more tolerant, devout person than moi, will most likely be a more inspirational and religious reading.

I hope your looking forward to them.

It's that time again

2006-12-14T20:50:00.000Z

Assalaamualaikum all,

'Tis the season to be jolly, and no, I'm not referring to Christmas (although Merry Christmas to all my christian friends out there).

I'm talking about Hajj, and insha'allah this year I'm going to be going for this beautiful journey aswell. It's been hell trying to get the visa, but hey that's bound to happen when you got a a corrupt government handing out visas (and no, I'm not talking about Blair and co. today, but about the Saudis).

But it seems a special someone might be joining me there aswell....

This is from an article from USA Today:

"I'm 38 years old, and I'm just getting an understanding of what life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness means," he says….

He's friends with vocal Scientologist Tom Cruise and attended Cruise's wedding in Italy. Although Smith has learned about the controversial religion, he has not converted to it. He says he's a connoisseur of all faiths.

"I want to go on the hajj to Mecca," [Will] Smith says. "I don't believe in religious separatism. I love people, and I don't believe that the twin towers getting knocked down means all Muslims are bad.

"I was raised in a resurrection Baptist church in Philadelphia, and my grandmother was a devout member of the church. The things that I believe are 90% morally what I learned growing up. But the additions that Jada and I have made — we've travelled around the world."
They have been "to India, and United Arab Emirates, and to Jordan and to Jerusalem. We are students of world religions."

Now I'm not saying that Will Smith is a Muslim (although according to Wikipedia he is - as is Ice Cube :P), but only Muslims can go on Hajj, so you never know...

Well seeing as most of our mosque leaders can only speak urdu or hindi it's good to see that Brother Will Smith is trying to learn how to communicate with them, cos I doubt the mosque leaders will know how to "get jiggy with it" ....

Fiamaanallah,

Abu Funza

The Defining Moment: Accident Or Murder?

2006-12-14T20:19:00.000Z

After nearly a decade and over £3 million pounds spent, the inquiry announce that it was a 'tragic accident.' I'm sure that won't end the speculations and conspiracy theories sorrounding this. What do others think? Was it indeed a tragic & fatal accident ... or in fact murder ? Either way, how the hell will we ever know! I, for one, like Mohammed Al Fayed, want some closure....

An official UK police inquiry into the Paris car crash which killed Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed has found no evidence the couple were murdered. Lord Stevens, who led the three-year investigation, said the 1997 crash was a "tragic accident". The inquiry report said chauffeur Henri Paul, who also died, was speeding and over the legal drink-drive limit. A spokesman for Mr Al Fayed's father said he does not accept the findings as questions remain "unanswered".

Michael Cole said it was "highly unsatisfactory" that up to 18 key witnesses to the crash were not interviewed by the Metropolitan Police's inquiry into the death. He called for next year's inquests to be heard before a jury so that the evidence presented by Lord Stevens could be "thoroughly tested". The princess, 36, and Mr Al Fayed, 42, died when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in August 1997.

"There was no conspiracy to murder any of the occupants of that car," Lord Stevens said. The findings - contained within an 832 page document - form part of the inquest into the deaths of the couple.

Mr Al Fayed's father, Mohamed, said the £3.69m spent on the Stevens inquiry was a total waste.

"I feel sorry for the taxpayers and the money that has been wasted on such garbage," he said. "Whatever it's going to cost me, if it costs me the last penny in my purse, I'm not going to rest until I get the gangsters." Mr Al Fayed said he would "definitely" accept a verdict by an inquest jury if it heard all the evidence.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/6217136.stm

A cry for help

2006-12-12T12:51:00.000Z

Today i am not in a very good mood. And here, dear readers, is why:

Last night after tying up a few loose ends on the computer i was extremely tired so decided to get an early night. I really felt to have a slice of cheddar, but after hearing others' bad experiences with late night cheese and odd dreams, i decided to leave it. Don't get me wrong, normally those sort of superstitions amuse me and i would have purposely eaten some cheese to see what happened, but this morning i had a driving lesson which after last lessons disaster i reckoned i should be at least half alert for(incidentally it went ok). I brushed my teeth, washed, got changed and went up to bed. I listened to a little bit of music as i always do before sleeping, played a little snooker on my phone and then got under the covers. I lay there for a few minutes drifting off.

All of a sudden i heard this noise. It sounded like when after you had done paper mache in the art room in school, and had scraped it all off, the noise that it made when the teachers made you rub the table to make sure it was squeaky clean. What the *%$&??? i muttered. It couldnae be the neighbours because, well, i live next door to a very dignified and upstanding man of the community- the local vicar, and it most definitely was not him. And i doubted it was those boys that normally parked there at time of night, because they tended to play loud music. Not rub squeaky tables. Then it hit me of course. It was the scourge of my very being, the plague of my existence (at least when i wanted to sleep), those darn unidentified ANIMALS.

Now what animals i do not know, and only care in so much so i know what sort of traps to buy and wether they'd make a good meal. (I have a strong suspicion they are foxes so i possibly won't be getting the boiling pot ready just yet) Nor do i know what they are doing out there- fighting, making love, singing, arguing- but whatever it is, it annoys the HELL out of me. How am i supposed to get to sleep when they are caterwauling out their life stories for all the rest of the animals of the 'hood to hear? And at that pitch! The only reason i know they're animals in the first place, believe me they do not sound like them, is when it first started about a year and a half ago, scaring the bejusus out of me thing as i thought there was unholy goings on happenin, i asked around and that was the answer i got. Yet no one was willing to help (they all live on the other side of the house, or are asleep when it starts) so since then i have been unable to do anything about it and i get left, as last night, not being able to sleep.

But for my sanity, please readers, does anyone out there have any ideas?

Hats/Hijabs/Topi's Off To Baroness Tonge!

2006-12-07T19:22:00.000Z

So much for freedom of speech 'ey! Or is it just freedom of speech when you attack & vilify Islam, Muslims, Palestine...?

The Zionist lobby's latest victim is Baroness Tonge. They seem to be failing miserably however to 'gag her' as she continues to perservere in standing firmly against the apartheid state of Israel & defending the people of Palestine. I came across the below ALERT from MPACUK. I suggest everyone who dares to speak out against pro-Israeli activists/Zionists for the sake of justice and freedom for Palestine also action this alert else that will be 1 less influential voice exposing the evils of Zionism & it's disastarous effects on the Palestinian people (not that we have many anyway!). All it takes is a simple letter or phonecall to the relevant people's:

-----------------

The Zionist lobby is gunning for one of the bravest supporters of Palestine in British politics. Baroness Jenny Tonge has been forced to resign as a trustee of the charity Christian Aid. But this is not enough for the Zionists who want to strip her of any influence or credibility - a Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel spokesman predicted that it was "only a matter of time" before she had her Parliamentary whip withdrawn
(reported in the Jewish Chronicle 30/11/06).
Baroness Tonge has faced
accusations of anti-Semitism over the following remarks about the Israeli lobby:

"The pro-Israeli lobby has got
its grips on the Western world, its financial grips. I think they’ve probably
got a grip on our party."

Indeed, the Pro-Israeli lobby, AIPAC
was described by Washington insiders as the 2nd most powerful lobby in the US, using campaign contributions to "buy power" . Baroness Tonge's view is further justified by academic researchers. According to Prof Stephen Walt, an academic dean of Harvard University, the United States has maintained an "unwavering support" for Israel - including the $3 billion a year given in direct assistance. This continued support has prevailed despite periods of serious budgetary pressures and neglect of large domestic constituencies. The details are given within a 12,000 word article entitled "The Israeli lobby."

The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell has defended the remarks of Baroness Tonge, so far resisting pressure to take further action against her. "[The remarks] Do not amount to anti-Semitism nor do they contain any implication of a supposed worldwide Jewish conspiracy when read in context of Baroness Tonge’s response to a question".

Baroness Tonge, a tireless supporter of the Palestinian cause, has come under fire from several pro-Israeli entities including LibDems Friends of Israel (Is that a Lobby?) for simply stating established fact to those on both sides of the Arab-Israeli debate.

Please email your local Liberal
Democrat representative (MP/ MEP/ Assembley member/ Councillor), voicing your concern over the false accusations launched at Baroness Tonge, and asking them to urge the party leadership to resist pressure to take action against her. You can find the contact details for your relevant constituency from this link:

http://www.writetothem.com/

You can alternatively contact the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell: westminster_office@mingcampbell.org.ukHouse of Commons Phone number: 020 7219 4446House of Commons
Fax number: 020 7219 0559Constituency Phone number: 01334 656361 Constituency
Fax number: 01334 654045

If you need an example of a letter, please see below but we would recommend you personalise it as much as possible.

Dear [Insert name here]I was very alarmed to hear that that Baroness Tonge has been unjustly criticized regarding comments made about the Pro-Israeli lobby. The view was not anti-Semitic and she reserves the right to highlight her views on the Israeli lobby based on the facts which are readily available to the public.

I also back Sir Menzies Campbell’s defense of Baroness Tonge and this reflects well on the Liberal Democrats credibility as a political party in the eyes of the Muslim Electorate. I would very much encourage a continuation of such a stance.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely

-------------------------

The orchestrated well oiled Zionist lobbies, bloggers, & actvists are working overtime to defend Israel after one of the most bravest pro-Palestinian supporters exposes the truth. I do wonder what Muslims are doing to defend truth & justice? To defend Palestine? How many of our Mosque leaders even acknowledge that Tonge is in need of defence? How many will even bother to lift their heads off the prayer mats ? ? Sadly, the answers are all predictable - in the negative.

Current Affairs- Litvinenko's death

2006-12-06T20:59:00.001Z

Conspiracy theories are interesting aren’t they? Put a real different spin on life. Now most are absolute crap and I know that, but man are they fun to discuss anyway. Many a good hour I have spent talking about conspiracy theories and many a new friend I have made as our comments become more and more outlandish and make less and less sense- and this whilst sober. We’ve spoken on all different levels- whether man really did land on the moon, Diana’s death really an accident, to our everyday life. Like my friend is convinced that our local big issue seller is an agent for Mossad even though she has two children and wears a scarf. “So what are the kids then?” we asked “just elaborate decoys?” “No, cameras” he replied. Sure. Or there’s our lecturer who we think was definitely a 70s rockstar who teaches at our uni so he doesn’t have to enter into the real world- I mean what else explains the jeans at his age, or the moustache and hair? But like I said mostly conspiracy theories in my opinion are wack and just something to entertain us when we are bored.

In my mind:
Man did land on the moon although why I ain’t sure
Princess Diana died in a car ACCIDENT and was not killed by Mossad because she was becoming too close to the Muslims, or by MI5 because she was pregnant with a muslim man
There is no Masonic/ prior of elder of zion (or whatever)/ catholic/ Medici/ Jewish/ rich banking family conspiracy to take over the world

But then there comes a case that is a bored girl’s, conspiracy nut’s, british papers’ dream. And by that I am talking about Alexander Litvinenko. Now unless you’ve been living on a different planet for the last few weeks, you can not have escaped the pictures of the effects the poison had left on Litvinenko’s body, or a new twist revealed in the case every few days. Here’s some of the theories surrounding his death:

He had a damning dossier on the break up of the Yukos oil company and was blackmailing former colleagues in the Russian security services who wanted to keep him quiet
Putin ordered his death becoming sick of continued criticism of his regime, especially Chechnya
He orchestrated his own death to discredit the Putin regime
As a convert to Islam he was involved in an Al Qaeda plot to smuggle radioactive material to make a dirty bomb
He was a pawn. Someone over here set up Russia to undermine relations between Russia and us and discredit Russia, some even say to spark of WW3. This method was used to draw as much public attention as possible

I’m not sure what I believe. I don’t believe he was an Al Qaeda agent as well if there was even a tiny bit of evidence to suggest this it would be waaay more widely publicised. Killing himself?f- that’s an extreme way to discredit Putin. There are not many people willing to die for a cause they believe in. So assassination? I find it hard to accept that Litvinenko’s death was because someone wanted to get rid of him for him, as surely there are quicker ways to kill someone. Or if you wanted to still cause them constant excruciating pain, less public methods which will only draw attention to your organisation. Yet I’m uncomfortable with the last one that as it makes there seem like there are dark forces out there far beyond public knowledge and I like to believe the best in our world.

Naïve- me? What do you lot out there think?

Why Me & Events Just Don't Go Together...

2006-12-03T20:20:00.000Z

So why exactly am I not the biggest of fans when it comes to Muslim events? Well, I wasn't sure at first until a dear friend and I brought ourselves to talk about it. We use to tip toe around the topic before, but once we realised we both felt the same, hey presto the conversation didn't end for hours!

See, after I started questioning just about everything in life & stopped following the 'crowd' like an obedient sheep, hence why I call myself 'WideAwake', I began to scrutinise every Muslim event/talk/Nasheed/Sing Song, etc I had ever been to or that I had heard of (along with questioning everything else in life!).

Why did I go? Was it a 'feel good factor’? What was the purpose of these talks? Did they achieve anything? Were they active, informative, educational in helping those less fortunate than us? Did they encourage Muslims to get active in defending the Ummah and combating the rising Islamophobia, pro-Israel propaganda, the slaughter of the innocent?
Sadly, the answers are simply.

NO.

Not one ever did, a few may have got my blood boiling about events ongoing in the world such as the war in Iraq, the recent Lebanon war, etc but none provided real, practical solutions to do anything effective. That's why when my friend dragged me to the Global Unity Event last week, I wasn't a happy bunny. No disrespect to organisers of the event but I felt that there wasn't anything there to grab my attention, my passion. In short, no real substance. So until these events buck up their priorities, content and objectives, I'll stick to staying in the backseat for a while.

On a brighter note, I did however grab a few bargains at the exhibition stalls. I purchased a beautiful piece of Islamic calligraphy with radiant colours and patterns. The young girl (or artist I should say) had breathtaking talent and I was pleased she was utilising her skills for such amazing artwork!

I also spoke to a few groups / activists at the event such as Interpal, Muslim Aid, MPACUK and met the lads from Maktabah books who do a fantastic job of selling a really interesting and worthwhile selection of books. All seemed nice and genuine people who are sincere in striving for a good cause. But I must say 'Muslim Green Pages' went a tad bit OTT with the stickers! Lol, They were inundating people with sticker after sticker - whether we wanted them or not!

Well, that's all for now folks, think I've bored ya'll enough for now. Keep tuned in for more entertaining rants from Abu Funza and Count Ed.

The time I ran out of the mosque and got married...

2006-12-01T08:27:00.000Z

Assalaamualaikum to all,

During Ramadhan (the 9th month in the Islamic calendar in which Muslims fast and argue about which days Eid is going to be on) I always try my best to sit at the front of the mosque, because as you all know there is alot of reward for those that sit at the front. So finally after 2 weeks of trying I finally got there...I was at the front, yay me!

So I prayed the 4 fard of Isha (the night prayer) with the congregation and then somebody made an announcement from the back: "Abu Funza your wife is ill, please go and see her straight avay" (yes he said "avay"). So I started running like a possesed man out of the mosque, but you have to take one thing to account: I'm not married :P. I'm only 19!

See what had happened was that I got confused by what the "avay" man had said. I thought that he said 'mother' in urdu, but that was my mistake. And also how was I supposed to know that other people were also called Abu Funza?!

So I ran and ran, and finally got outside.....and my dad was there to greet me. He knew that I was the only person crazy enough to run out of the mosque to attend to my "wife's" health.

So you can imagine how sad I was when I realised that there was no way that I was going to get back to the front of the mosque, I had to be content with praying at the back, and boy some crazy stuff goes on at the back of the mosques.

Firstly, the kids are running around like as soon as the prayers begin, it's almost as if they wait for the prayer to start and then begin their activities. Secondly, there are some stinky socks in the back, because some people come directly from work or are just too plain lazy to change their socks and boy they can knock out even the strongest of men, they smell that bad!

So anyhow, the next day I went to pray Zuhr and the Imam of the mosque asked me "beta (i.e. son) is your wife theek thaak (i.e. ok)?" Now I was hoping that the Imam didn't know that it was me who ran out, but since he asked I explained to him what happened. Unforntunately for me, all the other men were listening to our conversation aswell (He and I should have really picked a better location to talk about my "marriage") and began laughing at me.

I was laughing aswell, but then I began to think, it's funny, but there's a point that has to be seriously considered: Imagine this other Abu Funza didn't speak or understand urdu, how would he have know that his loved one is ill?

One of my biggest pet peeves is khutbahs (sermons) given in urdu - I live in England, speak to me in english! Fine I can understand urdu, but what about my somalian/portugese/chinese/english brothers and sisters who don't speak a word of urdu - what about them? They come to the mosque for religious enlightenment to understand their faith and then act, but how can they know what to do if they don't what to do because some committee members couldn't be bothered to find an english speaker. As a youth I have to carry this Ummah in the future, but if I don't know how because everything was being explained in a foreign language , then how can I begin my everlasting duty to Allah?

Alhamdulillah, my mosque is still one of the better ones because they have a deputy-imam who can speak english and allows women in (some don't, and it's not for religious reasons, trust me, watch this Dispatches programme following MPACUK on their quest to show the world how 60% of mosques in England don't let women in, for no reason whatsoever. The programme was called Women Only Jihad).

But what about other mosques? I know for sure that some mosques are very very racist. Shouldn't we do something about this? I mean Allah will hold us to account if we don't do as He says and don't enjoin the good and forbid the wrong, but are we too afraid to hold the mosques who are wrong to account? I say we all make a stand and hold the corrupt committee members (not all are corrupt - but you know what I mean :P) to account.

Fiamaanallah,

Abu Funza

P.S. I'm still single so if there are any marriage proposals coming my way, keep 'em coming! Awwwww yeah

Introducing Abu Funza...

2006-11-29T19:20:00.000Z

Assalaamualaikum to all,

My name is Abu Funza, and no I'm not related to Abu Humza. I like to think of myself as a pioneer - I want to bring the fun back into fundamentalism, which will become more evident in posts to come insha'allah.

But enough small chit chat, I want to talk about something that makes me kinda concerned. See, I like to do things to help my community and I want to learn ways of doing this. That's why I like to get involved with good organisations that I know will make a difference, to help one and all, no matter what their race, colour or creed....BUT, my parents are not so cool with it.

The problem is that they are scared, the way Muslims are demonised in some parts of the media (no I don't mean Islam Channel :P), they are afraid that I might be attacked (by racists and Islamophobes) or taken away (by our lovely Prime Minister - Gordon Brown...oops I mean Tony Blair, but Brown'll be there I bet sooner rather than later).

So whenever I want to attend a conference or join an organisation, you can imagine the response I get from my mother (aka Ammi ji).....

Abu Funza: *walks in* Assalaamualaikum ammi ji, I want to join an organisation, is that ok?

Ammi ji: *turns off GEO tv* Why do you need to go to join? It's not any of that "doing good" rubbish is it?! because if it is...

Abu Funza: Naheen ammi ji, it's for learning how to help people mum, I want to join.

Ammi ji: Join schmoin, firstly I don't like you doing all this volunteering stuff ,they'll use you paagal! It's all that Tupac stuff you listen to!

Abu Funza: *takes a step back* No mum! this is something important , and by the way his name is Malcolm X not Tupac.

Ammi ji: *takes a step forward* no you can't join, and don't answer me back ok?! You were in my stomach for 9 months! Show me some respect!

Abu Funza: *puts one hand on the door handle* I'm not trying to be rude mum, I'm trying to do some important work - as a Muslim it's my duty, and don't worry I'm not joining some crazed group like Hizb-ut-Tahrir or anything - I going to join a real group who actually make a difference. Oh, by the way it's called a WOMB, not a stomach, that's scientifically impossible.

*Ammi ji picks up a BATA sandal*

KERRRSLAP!!!

Ammi ji: I said don't get rude! *kicks Abu Funza in the stomach*

Abu Funza: *writhing in pain* so is that a yes then?

*Ammi ji walks off into the horizon*

Ammi ji: No!!! you can't join or I'll call your father!

Abu Funza learns his lesson

See? How can I, or even other Muslims, get any good work done?

I want to do something good - extreme!!!

I want to go clubbing - moderate.

I want to sit on a couch, gain some extra pounds - good Muslim boy. What's up with that?!

We all know we gots to do something, yet it seems we are too afraid to do anything. Aren't we Muslim enough to do the right thing? Am I such a coward that I'm afraid of another human, rather than being afraid of Allah? Has anyone else here been too afraid to do the the right thing? And what do you think we should be doing?

So yeah, that's my introduction. Watch this space for more posts about my mum, me and a BATA slipper that really hurts :p. Peace out.

Fiamaanallah,

Abu Funza

I Woke Up...

2006-11-28T21:40:00.000Z

Having recovered from the Global Unity Event that a friend dragged me to over the weekend, and I say 'dragged me to' as I'm not the biggest of fans when it comes to events such as these & i'll come to why later, it gives me a good platform to introduce myself to this new blog a few friends and I have put together.

You see, for most of my very short, bland life, I have been blind, ignorant, pacified even of what is happening in the world around me. The invasion of innocent people's lands, the wars, the oppression, the poverty, the famine, (the list is endless actually) was something I pushed to the back of my mind, my life if ever I even thought about it.

I'm embarassed to say, I got on with life happily ignoring other people's plight, other people's oppression, other people's injustice. It was when I watched 'Dispatches: The Killing Zone' (can be purchased here:)that it really hit me. I was confused with the mixed emotions I felt: anger, rage, pain, heartache, helpless to name a few.

I 'checked' myself & looked deep into my heart, I questioned the reason of my existence. Why was I placed on this earth if I was going to let injustice, oppression, illegal occupations such as the one in Palestine continue? What was I going to do to intervene on behalf of those that cannot defend themselves? Now I didn't know the answers to any of these pressing questions, but I knew that something inside me was beginning to stir and I could not shift this feeling away. I was itching for some answers, some solutions - I was sick, and I mean literally, of watching these scenes unfold before my eyes on a daily basis. I wanted solutions, I wanted to be effective, I did not want to be held accountable on the Great Day for letting these crimes go on. I set off on my quest for some answers.....(To be continued in my next post, keep tuned in for some more & why I'm not the biggest of fans when it comes to Muslim events.....)

Wasting Time...

2006-11-20T22:55:00.000Z

Do you ever feel like after doing something, you’ve just wasted part of your life? After going in for a lecture on Thursday where half the class was missing, and even the goddam lecturer didn’t have the courtesy to turn up, I felt that. Watching Saw III made feel that. (Its honestly shite- don’t bother.) Reading every single one of the thirteen books from the Series of Unfortunate Events did too.
But they were my choice. I didn’t have to go see the film, especially when I didn’t particularly like the first two. I should have known that Lemony Snicket would have written a crap ending. And it was a pretty good bet people would be missing on Thursday, when we had our essays due in on the next day. So I can live with that- twas my fault. What really gets me though is when you trust the reputation of something and then it lets you down. The Observer, good newspaper you’d think? I love it and when I read an article in another newspaper that it was becoming sensationalist, I defended it. That’s why it annoys me so much when I find myself questioning that.
Yesterday I read an article about Asghar Bukhari and David Irving and I am at a loss to explain the exact point of it was. Not only did the article not flow, it also bloomin contradicted itself. Shoddy writing in a damn NEWSPAPER gets me. On the one hand it accuses Bukhari of being anti-semitic, but then makes clear that neither he or MPAC is. What?! To me that just seems like sensation for the sake of sensation. By the way anyone else curious to know how the hell a journo in the UK got hold of a letter sent to Irving SIX years ago and then traced it back to Bukhari? More to the point, why? And then I remember (don’t ask I have a head for names)- and I apologise if I’m wrong- but ain’t this the dude that smeared SOAS’s Islamic Awareness Week as anti-semitic? A coincidence...I think not.
On the other side of this debacle, we have Asghar Bukhari and MPAC. To learn their side of the story I take a quick flick onto the MPAC website (don’t you love google!). At this point I got distracted (I was told in school I had the attention span of a six year old, and I must say I agree). But, they did their rebuttal on PODCAST. That amazes me- Muslims moving into the 21st Century… And I must admit Bukhari’s points did make sense. So for them is there an upside to this article? I suppose by someone attempting to smear Bukhari/MPAC as anti-semitic, it puts them in the pack with Livingstone, MCB, Galloway, etc- a place they were no doubt aspiring to!!
Anyway, back to the beginning- I slightly digressed by getting into the article (something you’ll come to notice with more posts)- what annoyed me most was that it was something that happened SIX YEARS AGO. I don’t know, its just in my head news implies it’s new, and surely there are other items more worthy of that half a page. I felt I had wasted my life reading it. And that annoyed me so if you didn’t like reading this post- you can blame them.
So here’s a message to all those involved:
Makers of Saw III- wtf? Was it asking too much to tie up the damn loose ends, and make it slightly realistic?
Lemony Snicket- Ditto
The Observer- Get rid of the writer, nay editor, nay both and stop being so damn sensationalist. Your readers like you because you’re not supposed to be.
Asghar Bukhari- Before you give someone money, ask people if they deny the holocaust - it would save a lot of your time and as the observer would have to put in some real news, I wouldn’t get annoyed, so my time as well. Irving- actually, you’re just not worth it.

Stand up and be Counted

2006-11-18T16:42:00.000Z

On November 9th 2006 Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of this great land, asked Muslims to stand up and be counted in the fight against global terrorism. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I doubt me and her are on the same wavelength here. (Actually I doubt me and her would be on the same wavelength for anything- caravanning just ain’t my cup of tea, and don’t get me started on her hair and clothes. Is it some sort of prerequisite to becoming a politician you must not be able to look good? But that’s not the point here.) She was probably talking about those misguided “Muslims” (and those quotes aren’t typos). And whilst of course what they do and believe is to be completely condemned and totally abhorred by any sane person, anyone taking any innocent life is, global terrorism in my mind includes those heads of states that think its fine walking into a sovereign land because they feel like it- Blair, Bush, Putin this means you- and those that devise their plans- Wolfowitz, Cheney etc. Bush has cost more innocent lives in this world then any terrorist in history has and continues to do so.
But when dear old Margaret tells us to stand up and be counted what exactly does she expect us to do? The Press aren’t going to want to express normal people’s views because let’s face it, it won’t sell papers. Maybe she means by voting, but I don’t think so, cos which one of us would vote for her? Also, in school, we learnt Britain is effectively an elective dictatorship. We have elections every 4-5 years but then nothing. Hence if the government does something we don’t like between then, we the common person are virtually powerless. I know that, she knows that. Which bring me to this blog.
Me and a coupla friends were talkin about this, askin what we could actually do, when one of us had the brainwave of starting a blog. Now we ain’t going to be as arrogant and say we stand for the common Muslim, because well, what is the common Muslim? No we’re just going to express our views and if people agree, s’all good. (I speak like many are actually going to visit here.) It’s a shame this is the only place where we’ll actually get heard, rather than Margaret and her team finding us a better soapbox. We’re going to try to stand up to be counted on all issues (whilst sitting and typing- achievement I know!). Let’s hope somebody out there is doing the counting.