Hindu Mahasabha of America observes Hindu Memorial Day, speakers caution against Muslims

September 15, 2013, 12:37 pm

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[The Indian Muslim Observer received a Press Release by Hindu Mahasabha of America sent by PRESS @ HMSA on September 12, 2013 at 11.41 am. Though such a news of observing 'Hindu Memorial Day' is not relevant for our readers, yet I thought it appropriate to publish the news for the only reason that Muslims and other secular-minded people should know the real motive and thinking of a section of our Hindu brothers, who have a radicalized, biased and inimical mindset. The speakers only indulged in rhetoric and didn't substantiate with proof on how the entire Indian Muslims have hatched a grand conspiracy to bring harm to our Hindu brothers, who are not only our compatriots but also have a special place in our heart. Hope this would caution all the Indians from people having such a bigoted mindset. -- Danish Ahmad Khan, Founder-Editor, IndianMuslimObserver.com]

IMO News Service

Houston: Hindu Mahasabha of America aka Hindu Congress of America (HMSA) observed Hindu memorial day in Houston to commemorate Hindus who have been victims of Hindu human rights violation globally. The program began with a silent prayer in memory of Hindus who laid down their life in defending Hinduism. Many eminent speakers from various faculties spoke during this event.

Dr. Babu Suseelan, one of the director of New York based Indian Intellectual Forum (IIF) and a renowned scholar on Hindu human rights, spoke on significance and historicity of Hinduism. He mentions that currently Hindus, Hinduism and motherland is in crisis. The biggest problem is Hindus are not participating in democratic process via voting whereas Muslims in India are voting in large numbers—as a result more and more elected representatives are more inclined to serve Muslim interests and ignoring Hindus requirement towards developing social—political and religious policies at state and national assembly. He says that if Hindus vote in large number there wouldn’t be a problem of minority vote bank or appeasement. He requested all Hindus to vote for Narendra Modi in upcoming Lok Sabha elections not for personal reasons but Hindutva, which is an ideology for peace and prosperity in India and worldwide. Hindutva is cultural nationalism (like considering cow as sacred, considering Ganges as sacred river and love for motherland and ancestors etc). He mentioned the urgent need to understand anti-Hindu forces schemes and projects to gain control over the way our motherland is to run and our way of life.

Ravindra Shukla, a prominent social activist and author of book “A Maverick Heart: Between Love and Life" spoke on ‘Terrorism around the world”. He presented some real scenarios where systematically one by one key nationalist institutions in India are diluted to embolden anti-Hindu agenda. Like the issue of increase in beef exports from India, communal violence in Mumbai, UP, Kishtwar riots, Assam riots, Bikers gang in Delhi etc. Similarly how armed forces and intelligence agen-cies (CBI, IB, RAW) in India are being targeted and demoralized, appeasement of ISI and Pakistan based terror outfits by some politicians for cheap vote bank politics. How Varun Gandhi was legally victimized for his speech (which focused towards protecting Hindus) but Owaisi (an MLA from AP) was given a free ride for his hate speech against Hindus. Such anti-Hindu and anti-India agenda aims towards demoralizing nationalist security apparatus, make Hindus feel cheap and worthless by raping their women under Love Jihad, rob the economy and committing crime against Hindu women who are the our mothers and sisters. He suggested three way approach. First: Hindus should change their attitude (renunciation of duty for Dharma and nation), vote and support honest nationalist leaders. Connect all Hindu temples and Hindu organizations for common cause. If we follow distorted principles of Gandhi - where they forgot meaning of non-cooperation and, people will not only hit you, but demoralize you in worst possible way and crush you and move away. Theory of Buddha changing somebody heart is distant dream. Nobody have changed Hyena heart. It cannot be. It is unnatural.

Prof. T R Narasimha Rao, an eminent Hindu scholar and past president of Hindu University of America, Florida, spoke on how brainwashing of Hindu youth is rampart with a pro Islamic mindset. Why with a 80% majority Hindus are being politically suppressed. How conversions are used to keep religions alive. He said Hindus should be optimistic and confident as even after 1000 years of suppression by Islamic and British Raj—Hinduism is still flourishing. He mentioned that Nehru retained the social and cultural policies of Britishers in Bharat and Congress Party is continuing that colonial agenda. Lastly he mentioned that Hindus have to do their dharma and at this stage Hindus should vote for Narendra Modi in complete capacity and support him from overseas. He reiterated the message of Swami Vivekananda who taught that Hindu Dharma is above and everything.

Pramod Buravalli, Coordinator of BJP Texas, educated audience on Mission 2014, which aim to bring Narendra Modi led NDA to power at center. He emphasized the point where political power is essential to safeguard national and cultural interest. He requested Hindus to join this mission and do their Dharma.

In a ceremony to memo rate the decades of selfless service of Dilip Mehta towards global Hindu unity and empowerment. He was awarded Lifetime Achievement Award towards Global Hindu Unity by Dr. Babu Suseelan.

Rahul Chandra, a distinguished Hindu scholar on socio-political activism and Governing Council member of Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), educated audience on strategic and tactical approach to prevent further Hindu human rights violations and subsequent holocaust. He mentioned that it’s anti-Hindu ideology that leads to formation of institutions and institutions implements projects. Currently three prominent ideologies are against Hinduism - Radical Islam, Communist and Missionary based conversion. For example (but not limited to) Pakistan sponsored Jihadist ideology has institutions like ISI, Islamic underworld and Jihadist organizations (LET, JED) , each institution has its own projects impacting Hindus at social, religious and political spectrums. He emphasized that the reason for suppression of Hindus and Hinduism is because Hindus don’t know who their enemy is. Neither they are aware of schemes of anti Hindu ideology, nor they are aware of institutions which support that ideology and as per war methodology literature ‘Art of War’ by Sun Tzu and Chanakya's niti—if you don’t know your enemies and their strength / weakness—how can you develop a strategy? As a result Hindus are missing a uniform long term sustainable global strategy to counter such attacks. Hindus think that all such anti-Hindu events are random which in fact are very well planned, developed and implemented in safe heavens of UAE, Pakistan and selected European countries. It’s not one organization or religion or one country but a syndicate of organizations which are working in unison against Hindus and Hinduism. On the other hand anti-Hindu forces have well understood Hindu organizations strengths / weakness.

Once Hindus are aware of above said syndicate they would be in a better position in developing both offensive and defensive counter strategies. Another reason for such ignorance among Hindus is persisting closed system (not thinking out of box) attribute of social and political Hindu organizations towards promoting and implementing innovative thoughts, ideas and associated projects for catering to contemporary Hindu requirements , in many scenarios it’s observed that if some activist comes up with an innovative revolutionary idea towards Hindu empowerment—leaders sometimes takes a back seat, even without primarily analysis. Leaders of Hindu organizations have to be bold and courageous if they expect workers to move forward and succeed. More visionary and farsighted leadership is required among Hindu organizations. Establishment of powerful international think tanks is need of time where ideas can be quickly implemented and deployed.

He presented a model where such anti Hindu institutions are working in sync towards a prospective Hindu holocaust in future in a systematic well laid project plan and phased approach.

All this to realize one common agenda—enslave Hindus socially, culturally, politically and turn India into a banana republic—which later is to be used as a ‘guinea pig’ by antiHindu forces to further their unrighteous agenda internationally. He suggest Hindus to join pro Hindu organizations and empower them as an office bearer, volunteer or donator.

Dilip Mehta, a renowned worldwide Hindu leader and President of Hindu Mahasabha of America (HMSA), thanked all speakers and guests. He educated the audience on HMSA mission, goal and objectives—to fight for Hindu cause socially and politically platforms with worldwide scope. He referred to Bhagavad Gita verse which says: Ahimsa paramo dharmaha, Dharma himsa tathaiva ('Non-Violence is the greatest Dharma, so too is all righteous violence to protect Dharma') in short it’s right to fight back to protect or motherland, dharma and culture if we have to save ourself.

Hindu Memorial Day (HMD) is observed to commemorate (Shradhanjli ) to Hindus who died by Muslims and British atrocities. For thousand years Hindus have been slaughtered, humiliated and plundered. In the memory of those departed souls we observe memorial day. Millions of Hindus suffered social, economic and political persecution as a result of division of area. HMD is also observed to commemorate Hindus who have been victim of human rights violations across the world since time immemorial.

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Hindutva extremists exploiting Swami Vivekanda's name to surreptitiously gain credibility and respectability in the U.S., says CAG

September 15, 2013, 12:42 pm

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• VHP-A loses major American co-sponsor for event commemorating Swami Vivekananda

• Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions dissociates from event and all its co-sponsors

IMO News Service

Coalition Against Genocide (CAG), a broad alliance dedicated to justice and accountability for the Gujarat pogrom of 2002 and to combating extremist ideologies that were its genesis, today welcomed the statement issued by Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) dissociating itself from the "World Without Borders" event organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHP-A) to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

In an official statement of withdrawal issued today, CPWR stated that it was not informed that the event involved by "organizations promoting controversial political positions". "While we do honor and promote the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, we respectfully withdraw our name from any co-hosting or co-sponsorship of the “World Without Borders” event and any connection to this event or its other co-sponsors," the statement added.

Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions mission statement declares that it was "created to cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions in order to achieve a just, peaceful and sustainable world." VHP-A is the US affiliate of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP-World Hindu Council), which is the socio-cultural wing of a network of extreme right-wing organizations in India that adhere to the ideology of Hindutva (which is different from the religion of Hinduism). The VHP has been rightly characterized as "extremist" in the U.S. State Department's annual International Religious Freedom Reports, and has been cited in almost every International Religious Freedom annual report since 2001 for its violations of religious freedom against minorities.

"Hindutva extremists were exploiting Swami Vivekanda's name to surreptitiously gain credibility and respectability in the US. On the one hand VHP is fanning the flames of currently raging sectarian violence in Muzaffarnagar in India through virulent anti-minority propaganda and on the other its followers in the US are trying to project Hindu supremacist ideology of Hindutva as pluralistic," said Dr. Shaik Ubaid, a spokesperson for CAG.

"This incident exemplifies how the Hindutva organizations have managed to mask their virulent politics by appropriating the legacies of important historical personalities such as Swami Vivekananda." said Raja Swamy, also a CAG spokesperson . "These have gone largely unnoticed and unchallenged until now largely due to the general lack of understanding on the part of US institutions of the divisive and violent agenda of these groups in India," Mr. Swamy added.

The Coalition Against Genocide is composed of a diverse group of organizations and individuals in the United States and Canada that have come together in response to the Gujarat genocide to demand accountability and justice.

Muzafarnagar Riot warrant Communal Violence Bill

September 15, 2013, 12:49 pm

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By Syed Ali Mujtaba

There are two things that warrant attention for the immediate passing of Communal Violence Bill, in the post Muzafarnagar riots analysis.
Can India which is slipping closer to the ‘Hindu rate of growth’ afford the burden of communal riots and internal turmoil in the country and further slow down its economic progress?

Second, can the identity politics that’s so vigorously perused be would be allowed to gallop on, inviting the tag of India being a ‘moving anarchy?’

The instance of Muzafarnagar and Tamil Nadu suggest that, differences between individuals are no longer between people concerned and the identity of Jati, caste, religion gets activated in no time leading to communal riots.
Can India afford such development, if it likes to drive on the growth curb? If not, then there is an urgent need to pass the Communal Violence Bill for maintaining peace and prosperity of the country.

The Communal Violence Bill announced by the UPA government in May 2004, soon after coming to power, was a revolutionary call. The bill aimed to stop the repeat of 2002 post Godhara riots in Gujarat, gave a huge relief among the minority community, living under the constant shadow of insecurity.

However, somewhere done the line, the plot seems to be lost. The incumbent government has more reasons to pilot other bills than make efforts to see through the Communal Violence Bill become an Act. As a result this Bill is gathering dust from past nine years now.

In the wake of Muzafarnagar riot, Home Minister Shushil Kumar Shinde came out with a statement that the communal situation in the country is going to deteriorate ahead of the general elections due in 2014. He however maintained a stoic silence o how to contain it. He was at a total loss of memory about the Communal Violence Bill and was clueless about the time frame of its tabling it in the Parliament.

It’s an irony that from past nine years, consensus on the Communal Violence Bill is eluding. The result is the union government is shying away to use its residual power to prevail over the state government in wake of communal riot and put a lid over this crime against humanity.

As of now, the Center cannot interfere in the affairs of the provinces and can only appeal to the state government to control the situation, in the wake of the eruption of a communal riot.

The Communal Violence Bill is supposed to give powers to the central government to intervene into the states in wake of a breakdown of the law and order situation.

However, there are two contentious issues that need to be ironed out, before the Bill tabled in the Parliament. First, can a communal situation in a state be dealt with by the Central government without encroaching upon the state’s rights of maintaining law and order?

Second, can the deployment of central forces be done independently and such forces can act independently or it has to do at the request of the state government and act under its command?

Opinion seems to be divided on both the issue and is cited as the reason for keeping the Communal Violence Bill in abeyance. This logjam is well over nine years now.

Notwithstanding the rights of the states, the fact remains that in the name of state autonomy and its exclusive right over 'law and order', the Central government cannot remain a silent specter to the instances of communal orgy taking place in several states, time and again.

The 2002 post Godhara riots in Gujarat, that warranted the Bill, has lived up to its reputation. Communal riots are happening in the country with immunity. The state governments have repeatedly failed to control the situation.

In such case what stops the central government from promulgating this law. Is it a bankruptcy of ideas or a deliberate design to keep the communal pot boiling?

The riots in Muzafarnagar that has claimed over 34 lives, once again reiterate the necessity for the passing of the Communal Violence Bill.
Muzafarnagar is closer to Delhi and the loss of lives could have been prevented, if the Central government had acted swiftly to control the situation.
In Muzafarnagar, the communal tension was brewing for some time. It exploded after the Maha-Panchayat, where inflammatory speeches were made, that triggered communal mayhem.

The riot in Muzafarnagar is a clear cut of the slackness of the state administration unable to keep the communal forces in check. The building communal tension was farther aggravated by the state government’s permission to hold the Maha-Panchayat.

What was the necessity of its permission in the wake of rising communal temperature one fails to understand? Was Samajwdi party shuffling two cards, one of minority fear and other majority, and keep both insecure?

It’s a clear cut case, where if the Communal Violence bill was in place, and the Central government would have intervened and many lives could have been saved.

As it happens after every riot, motives are attributed to the events and the blame game circulates stories of aggrieved and revenge. The fact remains, in all such situation, its innocent people who lose their lives.

It’s ominous that the fatalities could have been avoided if the state administration had acted with a little intelligence and responsibility. However, its total sloppy approach allowed the situation to deteriorate.

This helped a well thought out plan to carry out a communal program against the minorities, similar to the post Godhra riots.

A cursory look at the history of all the communal riots in the country suggests that Muzafarnagar riot was not isolated event. In the larger picture of the communal program carried out intermittently in the country, it tells the similar story, as others.

The communal violence invariably flares up around skirmishes among religious communities and the state administration allows it to escalate. The extremists then go on the rampage unleashing an orgy of death and mayhem. When enough damage is done and media pressure becomes unmanageable, the authorities then put their act together and swing into action to control the situation.

In case of Muzafarnagar riot, this is exactly what had happened. Here the naked vote bank politics for consolidating the majority and minority vote banks was at its lethal display.

Since last sixty years, this is the pet theme of communal politics in India. The negative politics of hate is a tried and tested formula in Indian politics. First, create a sharp polarization in the society, and then ride on the insecurity wave of the communities. It happens each time at the expense of the minority community.

In this game, the Congress and the BJP are outwitting each other at several places, in Uttar Pradesh it’s the Samajwadi Party and the BJP that are battling it out currently.

Since communalism is one of the many tools on which politics centers in India, no political party wants to get it eliminated. Some parties may talk about banishing it from the society; but in their hearts view it as a holy cow that can be milked any time for electoral gains.

The Muzafarnagar riot has given enough indication of what future has in store, ahead of the general elections of 2014. If future communal riots have to be controlled, then Communal Violence Bill has to be brought out at once.

One wonders why UPA government that’s now coming close to two terms in office, is still shying away to bring the Communal Violence Bill. This is giving rise to suspicion among the minority community that it’s not seriousness of their welfare. Their disenchantment brewing among them may have serious repercussions for the future of the Congress led government at the centre.

It’s high time the UPA government should bring out a statutory order that Centre can have the exclusive right to intervene in event of breakdown of communal situation in the state.

Any further waste of time would be an invitation for another saga of communal riot somewhere else in the country.

[Syed Ali Mujtabais a Journalist based in Chennai, India. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com]

‘Muslims are just being made scapegoats’

September 15, 2013, 1:02 pm

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By Tariq A. Al-Maeena

My column last week on the media marginalization of minorities in India (Saudi Gazette, September 3) and in particular the Muslim minority prompted an Indian Muslim to bring to my attention a letter he had written to an Indian daily some years back. With a little editing, here is his piece:

“The Indian government and general public owe Muslims an apology for traumatizing the community and tarnishing its reputation. The community that stood shoulder to shoulder with Hindus and fought for independence is now viewed with suspicion and its members have been isolated, and its patriotism has been questioned time and time again. Every terrorist or subversive act proves to be a nightmare for Muslims who have to go through an acid test to prove their innocence.

“Even after 64 years of independence, Muslims are viewed as anti-Indian or pro-Pakistani, and this very topic has been used by communal parties to drive a wedge between Muslims and other communities. The Muslim community has given its blood and sweat for this country, but its members have been labeled invaders and an effort has been unleashed to brainwash the masses about Muslims. The religious scholars and madrasas of the Muslim community which were the beacons and torchbearers of the call for freedom are now being targeted as propagators and houses of terrorism.

“Members of the community are asked to come out in the open against such elements and people who ask for a sense of justice are immediately labeled as supporters of terrorism and their patriotism is questioned, while members of other communities with proven terrorist links and acts are openly supported by politicians, and amnesty and forgiveness and better treatment for them is sought in open discussions and even parliament meetings. Their terrorist activities are covered up with the dust of nationalism and in the larger interest of the nation.

Photo Courtesy: The Hindu

“Muslim youth have been rounded up on the basis of suspicion and jailed without trial, and their families have been targeted and victimized. Day in and day out, we see hooded youths being rounded up by police and intelligence sleuths. Who are the men wearing these hoods? Are they for real or just bogus terrorists used to hush up cases and close files in order to get recognition and medals? False encounters have been concocted to prove the guilt of Muslims by deceitful means and truth has been snuffed out and buried. Fair trials and access have been denied to them.

“Our media is biased and trigger happy and seems to jump the gun in order to be the first to break the news and in so doing, lies are told and retold so that viewers end up forming a negative opinion of Muslims.

“Who are these Indian Mujahideen, Bhatkal brothers, etc? Are they just a figment of the imagination or media/government-created hype to cause mass hysteria? Quite often governments and intelligence services create monsters to divert the attention of the public from real issues which threaten the existence of many governments. Once the objective has been achieved, these monsters seem to disappear into the horizon but leave bad memories in the mind of the general public.

“We are sure that once the CBI opens the cases related to all the blasts that have occurred in India since post 9/11, the truth will emerge that the real perpetrators of such ghastly acts were not Muslims, but that the events were stage-managed by syndicates in collusion with the government to tarnish the image of Muslims and their faith.

“The Malegaon blasts, Samjhauta train blast, Kingfisher plane bomb planting, KSCA stadium blast, Ajmer blast, and Hyderabad Mosque blast should be an eyeopener for the government and masses alike that Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs can also be terrorists. Muslims are just being made scapegoats. Signed, S.T.H.”

Such words carry the emotion of a proactive Muslim patriot who is at his wit’s end because of what he senses is persecution being carried out for political gain. There has not been much of a dramatic shift by the Indian media since his letter was written a few years ago. And now, in an election year, India’s communal rifts are expected to widen and blood will be shed as politicians fuel ethnic disharmony for gains at the polls.

The Indian Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde admitted this week that he had some information that such a scenario was on the cards. In his words, “I had said in my monthly conference in Delhi that as elections are approaching, there is a likelihood of communal tension in the country.”

Referring to the recent riots that led to the death of more than 30 people in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Shinde blamed the state leadership for fanning the flames. "I told the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh that tension was rising and he had to be alert. He said that he would make arrangements. However, this incident has taken place.”

Elements of the Indian political party, the BJP, are suspected of being behind such actions that pit Hindus against Muslims and Christians against Sikhs in their "divide and rule" system of government. That does not bode well for India’s path toward democracy or the fate of its minorities. All Indians must band together to rid themselves of this evil notion within their midst. It is only then that India can truly claim to be a democratic country.

[The author can be reached at talmaeena@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @talmaeena]

(Courtesy: Saudi Gazette)

Defeat Modi’s Corporate and Communal Agenda by Inclusive Development

September 15, 2013, 1:10 pm

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By Dr Javed Jamil

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has at last been formally declared Prime Ministerial candidate for NJP. This has occurred at a time when 50,000 Muslims in Muzaffar Nagar have been made refugees in their own district. I have heard stories of how Gujarat has been rehearsed in Muzaffar Nagar. Even before Modi;s Raj, the country has started witnessing what is in store for the future.

BJP is playing its game shrewdly. Almost every corporate is now lined behind him. If one goes through the comments being made even on the websites of newspapers like Hindustan Times, one can gauge the mood of the majority community. They are waiting for Modi because they think that he will “teach lesson to Muslims”. In response to a brief comment posted on Modi in Hindustan Times yesterday, I got an immediate bombardment of salvos from the readers. They were calling Muslims “pigs that have no other work except producing children”. One comment said” “Muslims attacked Twin Towers and the US taught them a lesson by killing 2 million Muslims. America has become safe. They were shown the way in Gujarat, and Gujarat is safe. Now they have learned a small lesson in Muzaffar Nagar. Hopefully, Modi will make them learn the lesson they deserve to learn without delay.” This is the mentality which is behind the huge celebration that the country is witnessing all over the country since evening. No one has seen the Gujarat Model of development except Gujaratis. People in the rest of the country do not love Modi for “Vikas”. They adore him simply because they feel that he is the new Avatar who will put Hindutva ahead of the nation. And Hindutva means nothing more than destruction of Muslims and whatever they stand for.

The other Prime Ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi must be watching all this with concern. Mercifully, he is talking increasingly about the poor and marginalized sections. He is talking of inclusive growth, which is welcome. But he must understand that the corporate that used to be behind Congress is not on its back any more. The temptation for him may be to try to win it back. This will be a folly. Instead he must be even more vocal in his plan on how he can develop a growth model which decreases rather than increases the huge economic disparity – urban to rural, state to state and even more importantly community to community. This is a tough challenge, and next few months will tell what he decides: appease corporates or the people.

Muslims too have to take tough decisions. They have to ensure that they have an agenda in hand. They have to learn the art of hard bargaining. They must impress upon all political parties that the Muslim support will not be easy to win. If they want Muslim votes, they must learn to listen to Muslims, and make them partners in all decisions, governance and share of booty. Emotional issues or the fear factor must not be the only reason behind their choice.

[Dr Javed Jamilis India based thinker and writer with over a dozen books including his latest, “Muslims Most Civilised, Yet Not Enough” and “Muslim Vision of Secular India: Destination & Road-map”. He can be contacted at doctorforu123@yahoo.com or 91-8130340339]

Should marriage registration be made mandatory for Muslims?

September 15, 2013, 1:25 pm

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By Mohammad Aleem

We, Muslims, unfortunately, hardly try to pay due attention to those issues which touch our lives in a greater way such as want of proper education, grinding poverty, social malice and many other such things. But, as some issue comes into focus, either by us or by any other sources, which has direct or indirect bearing on our religious beliefs, we erupt into rage in no time. Of late, an issue regarding the registration of marriage has surfaced and became a topic of debate in the media. But, if the government wants to implement it both in letter and spirit then what is the harm in doing so? After all, why Muslims all the time continue look at others with so much suspicion and disregard. Isn't it a fact that within the vast length and breadth of our country, child marriages and dowries are still prevalent and many deaths occur due to this malice, and many lives get withered due to sheer apathy shown by the irresponsible individuals and families? Sadly, we, Muslims, are also not far behind in imbibing those ill practices which are much prevalent in other communities in India.

It has been widely experienced and seen that still in many parts of our country many illiterate and irresponsible parents coax their children to marry in the early stage of their lives. They even don’t hesitate to send their little children for earning a living to faraway places, whose childhood should have otherwise been spent in schools and on the playgrounds. They don’t hesitate in spoiling their tender lives just to gain some narrow material benefits. Why don’t we raise a cohesive voice against it?

Dowry practice is still quite prevalent in many parts of the country. Our society is also not immune to it. Our people take it as it is the necessary part of the marriage. And if one doesn’t meet the demand, he or she is subjected to inhuman and unethical behaviour. Even, we don’t hesitate in taking the precious lives of our young brides. Why don’t we stand against it and despise it as a bigger sin in our lives?

So, if the marriages get registered with a proper registration authority, it might help in curbing these social evils in a much more effective way. At least, the government will have a proper data of those persons who have got married, and in whose presence they have solemnized their marriages. If any wrongdoing comes in the married life of a couple, at least, they can be brought to justice and put to the appropriate trial by these preventive measures.
These days, a large group of our young men is also working abroad to earn a living. In that case, they need a valid marriage certificate if they want to take their spouse to their workplaces. Without getting a marriage certificate and certified by any proper authorized agency, no one can do that. In that case, we don’t then raise an issue that why the concerned departments are seeking a valid registration from us. We simply follow what they ask.

So, it is better to get every marriage registered which should also contain many essential clauses attached such as whom the person is going to get married with, whether he has taken the dowry, or any other such misdoings he has committed. In that case, we can at least nail such people and discourage such evil practices, which has seeped so deep in our lives.

It is easier to say that we love our religion, but how faithfully we practice it, is the question should be asked so often in our day-to-day life. The Government of India is taking a laudable step, and Muslims should themselves come forward for their own safety, security and betterment in their lives.

[Mohammad Aleemis a winner of many national level awards like Sanskriti Award for Literature, Urdu Academy Delhi Award, Navodit Lekhak Puraskar by Hindi Academy Delhi and National Junior Fellowship Award by Ministry of Culture, Government of India. He has many books to his credit, to name a few, Mere Nalon Ki Ghumshudah Awaz (a novel in Urdu and Hindi by Penguin Books, India, 2008), Saiyid Hamid - A Relentless Reformer (a biography in English). He can be contacted at mohammad.aleem1@gmail.com]

OPINION: What if Modi becomes the next Prime Minister of India?

September 15, 2013, 1:33 pm

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By Aslam Abdullah

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ruled over India in the past, and the hell did not break loose. Why would it be different if Narendra Modi becomes the next prime minister of India with his party having a majority in parliament?

Times are different. The BJP of today is ideologically and administratively controlled by the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS). During the previous BJP government at the national level and at present through its strong presence in several states, the RSS has systematically acquired position of influence in the army, judiciary, academia and administration at various levels. The RSS has also created a myriad of organizations around its ideology at different levels. The organizations within the Sangh family include the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Vanbandhu Parishad, Rashtriya Sevika Samiti, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Vidya Bharati, Seva Bharati and many others spread in all parts of society. Numerous other Hindu organizations take inspiration from the RSS's philosophy.

It is, therefore, not unsound to assume that the rise of Modi as the next prime minister of India might lead to a sea of change in India’s identity as a democratic and secular country.

The RSS is an organization run by secret cells with a mass following committed to the sanctity of mother India. This para-military organization is no different than what any national army is expected to do. But the army defends the nation as a whole. The RSS is committed to an India that is controlled, dominated and run exclusively by Hindus belonging to a caste hierarchy deemed pure by the standards of Manu Samirti (codes of manu).

In its philosophy, organization and strategy, the RSS is not different than that of Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini’s National Fascist Party or that of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party.

One of the starlwarts of the RSS, M.S. Golwalkar, laid out the foundational principles of his organization when he wrote the following: “To keep up the purity of the Race and its culture, Germany shocked the world by her purging the country of the Semitic races—the Jews. Race pride at its highest has been manifested here. Germany has also shown how well nigh impossible it is for Races and cultures, having differences going to the root, to be assimilated into one united whole, a good lesson for us in Hindustan to learn and profit by.

“The non-Hindu people of Hindustan must either adopt Hindu culture and languages, must learn and respect and hold in reverence the Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but of those of glorification of the Hindu race and culture... in a word they must cease to be foreigners; Or may stay in the country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu nation, claiming nothing, deserving no privileges, far less any preferential treatment— not even citizens' rights.”

The secret cells of RSS have the expertise of many former army, police, intelligence and administrative officials who had and still have access to national resources to gather information on anyone. These cells carefully lay plans to help the organization inch towards its goal of total domination of the country. The Gujarat massacres that took place in 2002 provide a glimpse of the tactics used by RSS to serve its interests. The massacres were originally planned to purge the state of Muslims and other minorities.

In Modi, the RSS has found a man who can follow its dictates fully and execute the plan perfectly. With every new day, India is learning the ways Modi manipulated the state resources to fulfill the RSS objectives in Gujarat without being caught by the law. Everyone in Gujarat knows that Modi carried out the RSS plans without leaving any legal trace.

The secrecy of RSS makes it one of the most dangerous organizations in the world. It has its own intelligence, hit squads and international PR groups. Through temples and social service organizations in India and abroad it collects funds that support millions of its workers and their projects.

RSS views Muslims and Christians as the two influential groups that pose threats to India’s integrity and security. Christians are considered dangerous because of their ties with international Christian organizations in different parts of the world and Muslims because of their faith that give priority to one God over everything else. In the view of RSS, Muslims and Christians cannot be loyal to India, a land specified by Gods for Hindus alone.

Of course, there exist a vast majority of Hindus that do not subscribe to the ideology of RSS. But the RSS is a very well organized group that exists at every level and has the capacity to mobilize millions any time. It has a dedicated cadre that can carry out its plan without hesitation anywhere and it has a network of secret cells that plans events and has prepared a blue print for the future of a Hindu India.

RSS plan was to showcase an Indian state run by the BJP as a model of prosperity and development to the world to prepare the ground for its national government. While, simultaneously, it had also envisaged a state free from all minorities. The 2002 massacre of Gujarat were planned to drive minorities out of the state to turn it into purely Hindu state. But the plan did not work as perceived. The response of non-BJP Hindus shocked the RSS leadership. The way India’s federal government responded also surprised many. The RSS had expected the Indian government to ignore the massacres the way it had done so at the time of the demolition of the Babari masjid. But under the intensive persuasive power of India’s non-BJP Hindu intellectuals, the central government took a strong stand and challenged the Modi government. Had the central government kept quiet, RSS could have repeated the plans elsewhere.

RSS has the manpower and capacity to install Modi as the next prime minister of India. However, the only way RSS march can be checked is when the vast majority of India’s non-BJP Hindus come out on election day to cast their votes in favor of non-RSS candidates. India’s religious minorities will not support RSS with the exception of a few individuals and groups who value their personal interests more than the national interests. But rural India can be persuaded on religious issues. The RSS is fully aware of these realities; hence it will try to make religion a dominant factor in the forthcoming elections. It should not surprise anyone if they hear news about increased so called terrorist activities and attacks on temples and other sacred places before elections. It should not surprise anyone if the country experience a new wave of Hindu-Muslim riots and the world should not be shocked, if the plan to rebuild the Ram Temple at the site of the demolished Babari Masjid is unveiled. The BJP under the influence of RSS has already appointed Amit Shah, a man accused of masterminding the 2002 Gujarat massacres as the election strategist for Uttra Pradesh, a state that a must for any aspirant for any prime ministerial candidate.

In the glare of economic development, the world’s investors are ignoring the harsh ground realities in India and some of them under the influence and intense lobbying of pro-RSS groups in Europe and North America are trying to project Modi as a genuine progressive leader without realizing that the hands behind Modi are stained with blood including that of Mahatama Gandhi. The group that can engineer the murder of an emissary of peace, a Hindu from the state of Modi, would have no hesitation to cause genocides against even those Hindus who it thinks detrimental to its interests. It is this danger that India is heading to and it is this danger that India must be saved from.

[Aslam Abdullah, a naturalized US citizen, is originally from India. He is Editor of the Muslim Observer, published from Detroit, as well as director of the Islamic Society of Nevada. His works can be seen on his blog aslamabdullah.blogspot.ca]

IMO Exclusive: Jamia Hamdard mired in big time corruption, Unani System of Medicine getting step-motherly treatment

September 15, 2013, 1:51 pm

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By Danish Ahmad Khan

Jamia Hamdard, the dream institution of late Hakeem Abdul Hameed, which was established to espouse the cause of Unani system of Medicine, is currently passing through a bad phase of its otherwise enviable history.

Over the years Jamia Hamdard has performed very well in the field of higher education. The hallmark of the institution is that it provides several job-oriented courses, including both modern and alternative medicine. Unfortunately, of late, the Unani System of Medicine has received stepmotherly treatment by the authorities here.

The story that the Indian Muslim Observer published titled "IMO EXCLUSIVE: Son puts Hamdard University Chancellor Saiyid Hamid under ‘House Arrest’?" published on October 28, 2012, on the 'House Arrest' of Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard Saiyid Hamid by his eldest son Syed Samar Hamid, who is looking after the affairs of Hamdard Public School and is also associated with Jamia Hamdard, a year ago is being hotly debated today.

The Indian Muslim Observer has received many reactions from the family members and others who claim to be near and dear to Saiyid Hamid. Even Saiyid Hamid also personally wrote to Indian Muslim Observer on his official letter head and under his signature dated 24th May 2013 asking to take off "such an untruthful and libelous article" from our News Portal. Saiyid Hamid wrote thus: "... I was deeply dismayed that you have chosen to defame me and my family in this manner. I fail to understand what could have compelled you to write such an untruthful and a libelous article. You have caused me immense distress and pain. I would request you to kindly take off the offending piece from your website."

Anyone who has gone through our write-up will bear testimony to the fact that it was an eye-witness account of what had happened to Saiyid Hamid on that fateful day. The story was not based on hearsay nor did it contain the impressions of other people. Instead it was a vivid description of what three visitors of Saiyid Hamid had experienced and seen with their own eyes. Moreover, our intention was not to malign the image of Saiyid Hamid, whom we respect as much as others do. The purpose has been to awaken people, his well-wishers particularly, to the conditions he is living in.

In view of strong reaction/response to our story we decided to consult other people associated with Jamia Hamdard and Hamdard Public School. We found that the employees of Jamia Hamdard are living in perpetual fear. In fact, a reign of terror has been unleashed by Dr. G.N Qazi, the Vice Chancellor and Dr. Firdous A. Wani, the Registrar. But some people agreed to speak out in privacy and on condition of anonymity. The information provided to us is revealing as well as damaging.

Many in Jamia Hamdard believe that the office of Chancellor, due to the illness of Saiyid Hamid, has been overtaken by unscrupulous people because of which untoward things are happening in Jamia Hamdard. They say that Saiyid Hamid is known for his honesty and integrity of character.

But they also wonder how illegal activities are going on unchecked under his nose. They specially find it difficult to stomach the silence of the Chancellor even when an FIR has been registered against the registrar for sexually harassing a woman employee. It is also being said in the campus that Dr. G.N Qazi had manhandled his former Personal Secretary, Ms. Maryamma who agreed to withdraw her complaint under police pressure. Some people spoke about the illegal continuation in office of Dr. G.N Qazi as Vice Chancellor. But we would refrain from commenting on this as the matter is subjudice.

The most disturbing fact is that the present Jamia Hamdard administration, especially the Vice Chancellor, has no regard for rules and regulations, and has indulged in several illegal acts. Sadly neither the UGC nor the HRD Ministry has shown any interest in preventing corruption in the University. But what disturbs us the most is the fact that Saiyid Hamid is probably being kept in the dark because it is against his nature and character to allow illegal activities under his own nose. And the illegal actions of Dr. G.N Qazi are aplenty, not just one or two isolated incidents which further reinforce our suspicion that perhaps Saiyid Hamid, Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard, is not in full command of affairs in Jamia Hamdard due to his prolonged illness.

At Jamia Hamdard campus both academics and non-teaching staff narrated to us many instances of corruption and also provided us proofs in their support. A careful perusal of the papers compels us to believe that rules and regulations have really been violated.

The authorities of Jamia Hamdard appear to be intoxicated with power and arrogance as they display no regard for rules and statutes. The university has set up a medical college recently for which efforts were started during the tenure of Shamim Ahmad, a former Vice Chancellor. Dr. Qazi also worked hard to get the medical college for the university, though some teachers alleged that he delayed its coming into existence by one year, for the first application he had submitted to the Medical Council of India for approval had sought to establish a private medical college. The MCI objected and rejected the application that the land on which Jamia Hamdard is located has been obtained from the government on lease and, therefore, cannot be treated as private land. However, people could not provide proof in support of above allegation.

But Dr. Qazi surely did a few things which appear to be abnormal and violate established rules and statutes. For example, he appointed Dr. K.B Sood as Managing Director for the sole purpose of obtaining approval for the Medical College, though he had no previous experience in the field.

As the Medical College was to be set up by Jamia Hamdard, a Deemed University, the prescribed norms of recruitment should have been followed. But the university had not advertised the vacancy of Managing Director in newspapers seeking application from qualified persons. Dr. Soods’s appointment, therefore, was arbitrary and in violation of right to equal opportunity.

Dr. Sood had no experience of setting up a medical college, but he proved to be quite clever in advancing self interest. He would cause delay or create emergency situation saying that MCI was coming soon for inspection and such and such facilities were not ready. In view of this artificially created emergency the university would renovate a building or procure equipments at high costs.

But the most strange and disturbing aspect of his appointment was that besides his salary he would get a 2% commission on all purchases or perhaps on all the money spent on setting up the medical college. Jamia Hamdard is a Deemed University and has to follow the rules and regulations of the UGC. There is no provision of commission in UGC-prescribed rules for appointments. When people started murmuring about the illegal appointment and unfair method of money-making, Dr. Sood was conveniently allowed to resign. Some allege that the commission he earned was more than the salary he drew during his brief tenure.

As stated above, Jamia Hamdard is bound to follow the UGC/Government rules in all matters because it is not a private university. But sadly the university under the present authorities seems to be averse to doing things in a legal way.

In 2011, a construction company M/S Ahluwalia Construction Group was duly awarded a contract to build a Women/Girls hostel at Rs 1500/- per square feet. The rate was revised and enhanced to Rs 1850/- per sq. ft.

As per rules a new project cannot be given to M/S Ahluwalia Construction Group as extension of the work they have undertaken to build the Girls Hostel. For a new project the whole process has to start afresh, which necessitates hat an advertisement should appear in newspapers seeking tenders from interested persons. This is not just a routine practiced by institutions all over India, but also vital to ensure that all people get equal opportunity to win a building contract through competitive bidding. Aware of the rules the Construction Committee of Jamia Hamdard had resolved that M/S Ahluwalia Construction will not automatically get the contract to build the new project, namely, the Unani Hospital worth more than Rs 25 crores. But G.N Qazi administration threw the decision of the Jamia Hamdard Construction Committee to the wind, published no advertisement in newspapers seeking tenders from interested parties, and awarded the contract to M/S Ahluwalia Construction Group, which is in gross violation of Government rules.

The university’s medical college, however, received approval after a great deal of efforts. In fact, the G.N Qazi administration would often fail in meeting the requirements of the MCI. But when the medical college became a reality the G.N Qazi administration again started indulging in rule violation. The Indian Muslim Observer has obtained the Delhi High Court’s order which says that the university admitted 101 students against the approved 100 seats. Among the admitted students were two Saudis who had not appeared in the entrance test, though it is compulsory as per MCI rules. The MCI rules also stipulate that only the candidates securing 50% marks in the entrance test will be eligible to take admission in the medical course. But the list of admitted students included two persons who had secured around 45% marks in the entrance test. Strangely the High Court did not punish Jamia Hamdard, though it referred to some Supreme Court’s judgments with regard to punishing some erring colleges. The Delhi High Court, however, left the matter of Jamia Hamdard to MCI hoping the later would take appropriate action. But it proved to be a case of asking the corrupt to punish the guilty.

The Jamia Hamdard campus is abuzz with news about what they call MGRM-gate scandal.

Immediately after joining Jamia Hamdard as Vice Chancellor, Dr. G.N Qazi embarked upon a project of E-governance in administration. An advertisement appeared in Indian Express (dated 1st April 2009) seeking tenders from interested parties. In response five applications were received. A firm, MGRM Net Limited was awarded the contract on the basis of technical bid only. The commercial bids of five tenders were neither opened nor a competitive assessment of these bids was ever made. It is rumoured in the campus that MGRM was favoured over others because the son of a high university official was employed with it. The Indian Muslim Observer is still investigating if the rumour is true and this is the reason that we are refraining from naming the official. But the documents available with us clearly suggest that MGRM was a sinking ship at the time it was awarded the contract. It appears as the high official really wanted to bail out MGRM. The company was not only financially bankrupt but perhaps it did not have the required skill and expertise as well because it failed miserably in delivering the desired results. Despite its utter failure the university paid MGRM several lakh rupees. (To be continued….)

[Danish Ahmad Khan, a Journalist based at New Delhi, is Founder-Editor of IndianMuslimObserver.com. He can be contacted at danishkhan@indianmuslimobserver.com]

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London steps up Islamic finance ambitions

September 21, 2013, 12:11 pm

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Kuala Lumpur: Britain is encouraging banks through a task force to establish sharia-compliant products, aiming to position London as a Western hub for a fast-growing Islamic finance sector that is expected to reach $2.6 trillion by 2017.

Aiming to build on London's status as a leading exporter of financial services, Britain hopes to step up the challenge to Islamic finance centres such as Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

"We want to be the leading (Islamic) finance sector outside of the Muslim world," deputy mayor of London Edward Lister said in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.


Islamic finance follows religious principles such as bans on interest and gambling, and is playing an increasingly prominent role internationally as often oil and gas-rich investors from Islamic countries put more of their money to work overseas.

Britain's Islamic finance task force, established in March, is led by several ministers and industry figures as well as top executives from Gatehouse Bank and Oakstone Merchant Bank Ltd.

It was launched ahead of London hosting the World Islamic Economic Forum in October and its mandate is to facilitate Islamic financial business, including investment in British infrastructure by Islamic sovereign wealth funds.

The forum, which saw 28 billion ringgit ($8.6 billion) worth of deals inked last year, is being held outside an Islamic city for the first time.

Islamic finance has already played a role in several major deals in London, with Qatari investors taking part in funding the city's Shard tower, Harrod's department store and the athletes' village used for last year's summer Olympics.

A Malaysian consortium is also spearheading the redevelopment of London's Battersea power station, after acquiring the site for 400 million pounds last year. Malaysia is the second largest investor in London's real estate market behind the United States.

"The task force has just started and its aim is to make it easier for banks in London to have Islamic products, which is still quite a new concept to any of them," Lister said.

"Only now people are beginning to understand what the products actually mean and how they comply ... What you will see is a lot of companies introducing those products."

Maybank Islamic, an arm of Malaysia's largest bank Malayan Banking Bhd, has launched a sterling-denominated and sharia-compliant mortgage product for high net-worth Malaysians looking to invest in London's real estate market.

Britain currently has 22 financial institutions, including five fully sharia-compliant banks, offering Islamic finance products. They are supported by 30 London law firms offering expertise on the sector.

(Courtesy: Reuters.com)

Western banks eye Islamic trade finance

September 21, 2013, 12:16 pm

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Jeddah: Islamic trade finance, a tiny part of global banking business, is starting to attract interest among big Western banks because of rapid growth of trade involving wealthy Gulf economies, bankers said on Tuesday.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch hopes to begin offering Islamic trade financing in the future, Chris Jameson, the bank's regional head of sales for global transaction services, said without giving a time frame.

"Our focus will be on Middle Eastern clients who are expanding their footprint internationally," Jameson said on the sidelines of a banking conference in Dubai.

"You can see that local banks are setting up Islamic units to cater for the needs of their clients. This is driving more and more international institutions to focus on the Islamic sector."

Islamic trade finance, which uses instruments that obey sharia principles such as Islam's ban on interest, has remained a backwater even as other areas of Islamic business, such as sukuk issuance, have boomed in the last few years.

This is partly because Islamic banks are relatively small and lack the expertise and large international networks of mainstream Western banks.

Foreign trade conducted by the 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation totaled $3.9 trillion in 2011. But only a tiny fraction was financed in a sharia-compliant way; the Saudi Arabia-based International Islamic Trade Finance Corp, which promotes Islamic trade, approved transactions worth just $3 billion in 2011.

There are signs that this is changing, however, as trade flows between the Gulf and Asia – including predominantly Muslim countries in southeast Asia – become large enough to support specialist trade financing operations.

Trade between the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries and emerging Asia economies is growing at 30 percent annually, according to Kuwait-based Asiya Investments, which launched an Islamic trade finance fund with $20 million in seed capital last December.

Some Islamic banks in the Gulf are trying to expand in sharia-compliant trade finance through tie-ups with Western institutions; this week Dubai Islamic Bank said it would use Deutsche Bank's expertise to facilitate its letters of credit in Europe.

Dubai's oldest and largest Islamic bank hopes to serve local companies which are increasingly looking abroad for business, chief executive Adnan Chilwan said in a statement.

"In this regard, trade flows have become a critical component of this growth as has the provision of trade finance activities for businesses," he said.

Bank of America could opt for a strategic partner as well, Jameson said. "We would consider that – that's the model we have followed to date on cash management and trade. We can leverage the local expertise that they already have."

Haytham El Maayergi, head of transaction banking in the United Arab Emirates for Standard Chartered Bank , which provides Islamic services, said he was seeing demand for Islamic trade finance that was partly due to the convenience of its structures, not just just its religious permissibility.

Islamic finance deals are backed by income from real assets, providing a layer of security which is attractive for many exporters of goods.

"A lot of Islamic structures are more appealing to clients not only because these clients are sharia-compliant, but also these structures are suitable for their business models. Clients want the ownership structure, less risky transactions and the ethical proposition that Islamic trade financing provides."

Maayergi added, "We see an increase in appetite from many of our MENA-based multinational clients."

(Courtesy: Saudi Gazette)

HEALTH: Ginger and Its Medicinal Use

September 21, 2013, 12:26 pm

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By Irshad Mahmood

Ginger is a strengthening food that has long been used to maintain health. Ginger has a long history of both culinary and medicinal use in Chinese, Japanese and Indian medicines. In ancientChina , ginger was regarded as a healing gift from God and was commonly used to cleanse and warm the body.

Qualities of Ginger

The major active ingredients in ginger are terpenes and oleoresin called ginger oil. These two, and other active ingredients in ginger, provide antiseptic, lymph-cleansing, circulation, and constipation relief qualities.

• Ginger is good for the respiratory system
• It is good to fight against colds and flu
• Ginger offers substantial protection from stroke and heart attack because of its ability to prevent blood clotting
• Ginger, a multifaceted herb, is crucial in the battle against cardiovascular disease
• Relieves headaches and pains
• Helps to clear sore throats
• Good for upset stomach and indigestion
• It is very effective as a cleansing agent through the bowels and kidneys and also through the skin

Some of the problems cured by Ginger

Colds/Flu

Kills influenza virus by improving immune system's ability to fight infections. Ginger also relieves headaches.

Increases Circulation

Increases the muscular contractions of the heart atria, there by increase in overall circulation. Ginger has been proven to prevent internal blood clots and lowers blood pressure. Ginger Root stimulates the central nervous system controlling the heart and respiratory centers. Ginger helps reduce serum cholesterol, which can slow down circulation.

Ginger Relieves Motion/Morning Sickness.

Ginger is one of the most effective herbal remedies to get rid of Motion/ Morning Sickness.

Digestive Aid - Indigestion, Stomachache.

Ginger Root increases production of saliva in the mouth and dramatically increases digestive enzyme amylase in the saliva to additionally aid digestion. Ginger Root also contains a very effective digestive enzyme zingibain.

Women's Health: Ginger Root is good for the uterus as well as the intestinal tract and may ease menstrual cramps.

Skin: Very cleansing - reduces pus in infected wounds as well as boils. Clears spots caused by chicken pox and shingles. Useful for burns, sores, sunburn, ringworm, warts, herpes, athletes foot and even for dandruff.

Stress Protection: Ginger Root appears to limit the effects of adrenergic stimulation and there by relieves the stress.

Arthritis: As Ginger root is a proven anti-inflammatory agent, some arthritic victims may find it helpful.

Ginger is sometimes recommended as an alternative to aspirin for people who can not take aspirin because of its irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract.

Ginger cures following ailments:

Asthma - Adults
Athlete's Foot
Acne
Boils/ Blisters
Cold Sores
Cuts
Cold
Flu
Gingivitis
Glandular Fever
Gum Infections
Head Lice
Infections
Insect Bites / Stings
Mosquito Bites
Mouth Ulcers
Mumps
Ringworm (tinea)
Skin Conditions - Antiseptic
Sore Throat
Warts

With all the benefits to the average person, ginger should be included in the diet every day. Especially for a person who are suffering from heart problems, cold/flu, stress problem, motion sickness a daily dose of ginger combined with other herbs to enhance their effectiveness is part of a sensible, healthy diet.

[Irshad Mahmoodis Global Auliyaa (President), Siraat-al-Mustaqeem Dawah Centre]

The Niqab - a convenient veil for Islamophobia?

September 21, 2013, 12:33 pm

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By Uzma Aslam

If I wasn't someone with first hand experience, being a niqab wearing women myself, I would think that Muslims were a tad paranoid in saying that politics and the media run a recurring cycle of Islamophobic jabs. As a woman who has worn the niqab in England, it appears that when there's little left to say , then the rather heated, yet over played topic of the niqab is a grand one to throw on the table.

If I wasn't someone with first hand experience, being a niqab wearing women myself, I would think that Muslims were a tad paranoid in saying that politics and the media run a recurring cycle of Islamophobic jabs. As a woman who has worn the niqab in England, it appears that when there's little left to say , then the rather heated, yet over played topic of the niqab is a grand one to throw on the table. After years of bashing and negative coverage, more and more people have come to the exaggerated conclusion that the niqab is hugely detrimental to society, and few stop to ponder over the legitimacy of what the media portrays.

So is it just paranoia on our behalf. I for one can recall the first day I wore the niqab on the London underground over 15 years ago. I was a bit nervous, but happened to sit in front of a ‘punk’ lady, tattooed all over with pink hair. I clearly remember the pause as we stared at each other, followed by a sudden mutual smile as we found peace in each other's uniqueness (you can tell when a niqabi smiles by the eyes). I never had any problems in those days, though a few years later I would find myself dodging tube cabins with groups of intimidating looking yobs . Now, sad to say, it's not the typical skin head taking a jab at a single harmless woman, but just about anyone who feels it is totally ok to insult the woman in niqab. It would take a real emergency for me to get on the tube alone with my niqab these days. Recently, Conservative back-benchers brought forward a bill discussing a ban on the full face veil. The usual rhetoric of women being forced to wear it or it being a security risk has long been quashed by statistics proving that a large percentage of the women are British born, educated and often converts to Islam. As for the issue of security it should be acknowledged that much of the Muslim world operates with women fully covered, with hundreds of thousands passing through security checks every day. These women would not and should not have a problem in verifying their identity to female staff members, and this is typically done in airports or banks all of the time. MP Philip Hollobone who called for a ban in 2010, stating that British people like to smile and greet one another in the street. He obviously has had precious little else to do since then, as the issue has been burning on his mind for the last 3 years, no doubt he was gleeful when he finally got his private members bill discussed last Friday.

The argument against the Niqab has often run parallel to immigration, and the idea that the presence of non-Brits has led to a number of problems here. It may look good to use a picture of niqab wearing women to show a group of immigrants, but this has also led to a huge amount of confusion and been detrimental to us. It is vital that we clarify that not all niqab wearing women are immigrants and that to vent the frustration felt towards the issue of immigration on a group, simply because they look the most foreign is unfair and unwarranted. From the hundreds of veiled women that I know, they are generally British born, educated, religious, focussed and courageous people, who have taken the brave step to pursue what they believe in. They are void of bad language, promiscuity, crime or abuse, and more than often are devoted to raising a wholesome family and contributing to society. It is about time that Britain took heed of this. If only they would look around society they would have to admit that veiled women are the least of their concerns.

Generally, the argument boils down to the fact that many Brits just don’t like the veil. But surely that alone cannot justify a ban, and it is worrying that the argument has reached parliament without really having a valid reason. For me, it highlights peoples deeper dislike towards Islam as a whole. Furthermore the idea that someone is so committed to Islam that they can abandon Western dress and liberal values it boasts, is interpreted by many as a rejection and degradation of British lifestyle. What needs to be clarified here is that when most women wear the niqab it is done to achieve a religious station of submission and modesty that is promoted by Islam, and not to spite society at all. The Niqab and hijab is worn in public, in gender mixed environments, outside of this many of these women observe a very British dress code, and lifestyle too as long as it does not oppose any matter from their faith.

It would be interesting to know how many of the people in parliament arguing the ban actually knows a lady who wears niqab. Most likely, their knowledge of the niqab extends from a skewed image from the media, and that within itself is bias. Also, who qualified certain people to sit back and dictate what is or isn’t good for a people who are in actual fact causing no harm. If what is occurring is indeed a reflection of Islamophobic tendencies then Muslims should stand beware of what they may dare ban next.

If we look at France, we ask exactly what did they achieve from banning an extremely small sector of society from wearing their religious choice of dress? The answer is nothing more than a gleeful jab at Muslims just because they could. France did not improve integration, instead it further ostracised veiled women, and clearly demonstrated its Islamophobic colours.

Our message to Parliament today, is not only to preserve the liberties that Britain so proudly boasts, but also to preserve the harmless and conforming rights of the Muslim woman to actively practise her religion. One may not choose that lifestyle for themselves but to ban it, when promiscuity and indecency are far greater harms to society, seems absurd.

(Courtesy: Islam21c.com)

‘Muslimah World’: Indonesians hold ‘Islam’s answer to Miss World’

September 21, 2013, 12:38 pm

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Jakarta: The Miss World beauty contest, which has attracted fierce opposition by hardline Islamic groups in host country Indonesia, is now facing another challenge — a rival pageant exclusively for Muslims.

The Muslimah World contest to be held on Wednesday in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, is “Islam’s answer to Miss World”, the pageant’s founder Eka Shanti said Saturday.

“Muslimah World is a beauty pageant, but the requirements are very different from Miss World — you have to be pious, be a positive role model and show how you balance a life of spirituality in today’s modernised world,” Shanti told AFP.

The pageant is the latest backlash against Miss World, which has already dropped the bikini from its beach fashion round and has attracted more than a month of protests by Muslim hardliners demanding the show be scrapped.

Radicals have set effigies of the organisers alight and deemed the contest “smut” and “pornographic”.

The 20 Muslimah World finalists were chosen from more than 500, who took part in online rounds, reciting Koranic verses and telling stories of how they came to wear the Islamic headscarf, a requirement for the pageant.

The finalists, from Iran, Malaysia, Brunei, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Indonesia, will parade Islamic fashions in what Shanti says is an opportunity to show young Muslim women they do not need to show their “immodest” parts — including their hair and bare shoulders — to be beautiful.

But Shanti said she did not support hardliners’ calls to cancel the Miss World contest, acknowledging that Indonesia was a diverse country with many faiths.

“We don’t just want to shout ‘no’ to Miss World. We’d rather show our children they have choices. Do you want to be like the women in Miss World? Or like those in Muslimah World?” Shanti said.

The Muslimah World finalists will be welcomed with open arms, with hundreds of women wearing headscarves planning to take part in what they call an “elegance rally” Sunday to greet the contestants and offer a moderate voice to the debate, Shanti said.

In contrast, Miss World contestants were again ridiculed Saturday, with around 300 members of the radical Islamic Defenders Front gathering in the capital, holding signs that read “Miss World is a whore contest”.

Government officials gave in to hardliners last week and announced the Miss World final would be moved from the outskirts of Jakarta to the resort island of Bali, where the contest began last week with no opposition from the Hindu majority there.

Despite the decision to keep all Miss World activities off the Muslim-majority island of Java, protestors from the Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia also demonstrated Saturday in the central Java city of Yogyakarta, where contestants had planned to visit but were forced to cancel their trip.

“Miss World is not welcome in Indonesia at all,” a spokeswoman for the organisation in Yogyakarta said.

MNC Group, the organisers and broadcaster of Miss World, said this week that they were not party to the government’s decision and have said it would be “impossible” to make the last-minute move.

The decision to confine Miss World activities to Bali was the latest victory for Islamic fringe groups, who are wielding increasing power and have succeeded in getting several events they deem un-Islamic changed or cancelled in recent years.

Last year, pop sensation Lady Gaga axed a concert after hardliners threatened to burn down the venue and criticised her for wearing only “a bra and panties”.

(Courtesy: Morocco World News)

A Tribute: Malika-e-Tarannum Madam Noor Jahan – South Asia’s Queen Of Melody

September 21, 2013, 12:46 pm

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By Rohail Khan

She reigned the film and music industry for seventy years (from 1930 to 2000).

Let us pay tribute to Madam Noor Jahan on her 87th birthday on 21st September 2013.

Melody Queen Noor Jahan (original name: Allah Wasai) was Indo-Paks’s most versatile and highly decorated playback singer and actress . She was also the first female Pakistani film director.

She has recorded more than 10,000 songs in Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Sindhi languages. Along with singing legend Ahmed Rushdi, she holds highest record of songs in the history of Pakistani cinema.

Born in Kasur, Punjab, on 21st September 1926, she was trained by her music maestro parents (Ustad Madad Ali and Fateh Bibi) to follow their traditional musical footsteps. However, the young and talented Noor Jahan was more interested in film acting.

At a tender age of six years, the prodigy showed her melodious voice and singing gift in a range of styles, including traditional folk and popular theatre. Realising her potential for singing, her parents sent her to receive training in classical singing under “Ustad Baray Ghulam Ali Khan” - British India’s Master of classical and Semi-classical music , also a native of Kasur.

The legendary Ustad Baray Ghulam Ali Khan trained young Noor Jahan in the traditions of the Patiala Gharana of classical music and the classical forms of Thumri, Dhrupad, and Khayal. Once her training finished, young Noor Jahan pursued a career in theatre singing with her sisters in Lahore.

The family moved to Calcutta, where the renowned singer Mukhtar Begum, recommended them to various film producers. She also referred them to her husband, Agha Hashar Kashmiri, who owned the famous “Maidaan Theatre” . It was here that she received the stage name “Noor Jahan”.

Top Film Actor – British India and Pakistan

In 1935, K.D. Mehra directed “Pind Dee Kuri” in which nine years old Baby Noor Jahan acted along with her sisters. She then acted in “Misr Ka Sitara” in 1936 and acted and sang in it. Baby Noor Jahan also played the child role of Heer in “Heer Sayaal” in 1937. After a few years in Calcutta, the growing Noor Jahan returned to Lahore in 1938.

In the wake of Second World War In 1939, Ustad Ghulam Haider composed songs which led Noor Jahan to her early popularity. She recorded her first popular song “Shala Jawaniyan Mane” for D.M. Pancholi's movie Gul Bakavli.

In 1942, the 16 year old pretty Noor Jahan played the main lead opposite actor Pran in the famous black & white movie “Khandaan”. It was her first role as heroine which brought her instant fame all over India. Khandaan's success saw her shifting to Bombay, with her first husband, the famous director Syed Shaukat Hussain Rizvi.

In 1945, Noor Jahan achieved another milestone, when she sung the famous Qawwali with Zohrabai Ambalaywali : "Aahen Na Bhareen Shikwe Na Kiye". This was first-ever Qawwali recorded in female voices in the South Asian film industry.

Noor Jahan's last film in India was “Mirza Sahibaan” in June 1947. She sang 127 songs in Indian films and acted in 69 films from 1932 to 1947.

Creation of Pakistan

After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, Shaukat Rizvi and Noor Jahan, Bombay’s celebrity couple, moved to Pakistan and settled for good in Karachi.

In early 1951, Noor Jahan starred in her first Pakistani film “Chanway “, opposite Santosh Kumar, which was also her first Punjabi film as a heroine. Shaukat Rizvi and Noor Jahan directed this film together, thus making Noor Jahan Pakistan's first female director.

Her second film in Pakistan “Dupatta” turned out to be a blockbuster in 1952. Subsequently, after divorce from Shaukat Rizvi in 1959, she married actor Ejaz Durrani.

Her final film as an actress and singer “Mirza Ghalib” became world famous in 1961 and raised her iconic stature. Her rendition of Faiz Ahmed Faiz's : “Mujhse Pehli See Mohabbat Meray Mehboob Na Maang” is a legendary piece of Urdu poem sung like a melodious song.

Noor Jahan made a total of 14 films in Pakistan and said farewell to acting in 1963 after an acting career of 33 years from 1930 to 1963. The pressure of being a mother of six children and wife to a famous actor forced her to give up her acting career.

Top Playback Singer

Thus emerged a God-gifted playback singer rarely seen in South Asia. Noor Jahan formally made her debut as a playback singer in 1960. She sang a large number of duets with Ahmed Rushdi, Mehdi Hassan, Masood Rana, Mujeeb Alam, and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. She had good understanding with film industry icons like: Dileep Kumar, Muhammad Rafi, Mukesh, and Lata Mangeshker.

Awarded with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and Pride of Performance in 1966, Madam Noor Jahan was titled as “Malka e Tarannum “, “Queen of Melody” and also fondly called Sada Bahaar (evergreen) by her contemporaries in both Pakistan and India. Her popularity was further boosted with her patriotic songs during the 1965 war between Pakistan and India.

Top Films

As an actor from 1935 till 1961, Madam Noor Jahan’s top movies included: Sheela, Gul Bakavli, Imaandar, Sajni, Umeed, Susraal, Chaandni, Feryaad, Khandaan, Nauker, Dohayee, Nadaan, Dost, Zeenat, Lal Haveli, Dil, Gaoon Ki Gori, Anmol Gharee, Humjoli, Mirza Sahebaan, Jadooger, Jugnoo, Chanway, Dupatta, Gulnaar, Anarkali, Lakht e Jiger, Paatay Khan, Neend, Koyal, Mirza Ghalib.

Top Songs

As a playback singer, from 1940 until 2000, Madam Noor Jahan’s top songs included: Aawaz Day Kahan Hai, Sanoon Neher Walay Pul, Jis Din Say Piya, Chalo Acha Hua, Dil Kay Afsanay, Hamari Sansoun Mein, Hum Say badal Gaya, Hamari Saanson Main, Jalte Hain Armaan, Kis Naam Say Pukaroon, Kuch Log Ruth Ker, Mujhse Pehli Si Mohabbat, Kahndey Nay Naina, Mein Tay Mera Dilbar Jani, Sonay Dee Taveetri, Sunn Vanjli Dee Taan.

Top National Songs

During the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Noor Jahan rendered patriotic songs which to date are highly popular: Aey Watan Kay Sajeelay Jawaano, Merya Dhol Sipahiya, Mahi Chel Chabeela, Yeh Hawaoun Kay Musafir, Meray Ser Bakaf Mujahid, Rang Laey Ga Shaheedoun Ka Lahoo.

On December 23rd, 2000, South Asia’s most popular Queen of Melody Madam Noor Jahan died as a result of cardiac arrest. It was the eve of 27th Ramadan. She rests in peace near the Saudi Consulate in Karachi.

In a 1990 survey, conducted by Bollywood’s music directors, Malka -e- Tarannum Madam Noor Jahan was decorated as : “South Asia’s Playback Singer of the Millennium”.

[Rohail Khanis a Senior Banker and CFO based at Jeddah. He is also Chairman, Urdu Academy International (UAI), Washington, D.C. He can be contacted at rohailkhan00@gmail.com]

A Rabbi Allied with Prophet Muhammad

September 21, 2013, 1:01 pm

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By Rabbi Allen S Maller

There were many Jews who supported Muhammad when he arrived in Medina. I learned about one of them from Dr. Muqtedar Khan, an associate professor of Political Science, and founding Director of the Islamic Studies Program at the University of Delaware. In an article published in December of 2009 in The News Journal. AltMuslim and Islamicity, Dr. Khan says there are many stories that contemporary Imams rarely tell their congregations. The story of Mukhayriq, a Rabbi from Medina is one such story. “I have heard the stories about the battle of Uhud, one of prophet Muhammad’s major battles with his Meccan enemies, from Imams and Muslim preachers hundreds of times, but not once have I heard the story of Rabbi Mukhayriq who died fighting in that battle against the enemies of Islam… Rabbi Mukhayriq was the first Jewish martyr of Islam.”

Mukhayriq was a learned leader of the tribe of Tha’labah who fought and died alongside Prophet Muhammed in the battle of Uhud on March 19, 625 CE. That day was a Saturday. Rabbi Mukhayriq spoke to his congregation asking them to go with him to help Muhammed. His tribe’s men declined because it was the day of the Sabbath. Mukhayriq announced to his people that if he died in the battle his wealth should go to Muhammed to be distributed as charity.

Most Orthodox Jews in those days would not wage war on the Sabbath, unless it was a defensive war. As early as the first century, Jews serving in the Roman army were actually exempted from fighting on the Sabbath. Since the pagan Arabs of Mecca were not coming to attack the three Jewish tribes living in Medina, or the pagan Arab tribes the Jewish tribes had long been allied with, the Orthodox Jewish view was: do not fight on the Sabbath. The Torah (Deuteronomy 20:8-10) says: Jewish men who are afraid or disheartened (by thoughts of fighting on the Sabbath) should be told to go home. The Mishnah, the first legal code (Fiq) of the oral rabbinic Torah states that there are two types of war. A war of defense which is obligatory for all Jewish adult men, and all other wars, which are voluntary.

Hamas chief Ismael Haniyeh with Jewish Rabbi

Rabbi Mukhayriq’s view was unorthodox. He must have seen Muhammad as a Prophet of the One God. He also knew that Prophet Muhammad had told his Muslim followers to pray facing north toward the site of Solomon’s Temple, although this was later changed to facing south towards Mecca. Thus, this unorthodox rabbi viewed fighting alongside Muhammad as his personal voluntary fight in support of monotheism. Perhaps Rabbi Mukhayriq had already heard directly from Prophet Muhammad the Ayah: “There are certainly, among Jews and Christians, those who believe in God, in the revelation to you, and in the revelation to them, bowing in humility to God. They will not sell the signs of God for a miserable gain! For them is a reward with their Lord.” (Al Imran:199) and believed that it applied to Jews like him. As the Biblical Prophet Micah (6:8) said, “God has shown you mankind, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Mukhayriq did die in battle against the Meccans that Sabbath. When Prophet Muhammed, who was seriously injured in that same battle, was informed about the death of Rabbi Mukhayriq, he said, “He was the best of Jews.” Muhammed inherited seven date gardens from Rabbi Mukhayriq and used this wealth to establish the first waqf – a charitable endowment – of Islam. From this endowment many poor people were helped in Medina.

Dr. Khan teaches us that “Mukhayriq’s story is a story of an individual’s ability to transcend communal divides and to fight for a more inclusive idea of community… He was a Jew and he was an Islamic hero and his story must never be forgotten and must be told and retold. When Muslims forget to remember his, and other stories that epitomize interfaith relations they diminish the legacy of Islam and betray the cause of peace. If Muslim Imams told his story in their congregations in America and elsewhere, I am confident that it will contribute to manifestations of increased tolerance by Muslims towards others. There are many such wonderful examples of brotherhood, tolerance, sacrifice and good citizenship in Islamic traditions that undergird the backbone of Islamic ethics. I wish we told them more often.”

I agree with Dr. Khan. I first studied Islam when I was a student at UCLA over 50 years ago, Then again while I was in Rabbinical school. Over the years I continued to read the Qur’an and other Islamic books. I read these books as the Prophet taught his followers in a Hadith “not as a believer, and not as a disbeliever”. What does that mean? The Qur’an, of course, is sacred scripture for Muslims. A disciple of Muhammad named Abu Huraira related, “The people of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and then explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. Allah’s Apostle said (to the Muslims). “Do not believe the people of the Book, nor disbelieve them, but say, ‘We believe in Allah, and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.’”

Following Muhammad’s teaching I too neither believe nor disbelieve in the Qur’an. If I believed in the Qur’an I would be a member of the Muslim ummah (community). But I cannot disbelieve in the Qur’an because I believe that Muhammad is a prophet and I respect the Qur’an as a kindred revelation, first revealed to a kindred people, in a kindred language. In fact, the people, the language and the theology are closer to my own people, language and theology than that of any other on earth.

Thus, I feel that I am a Muslim Jew i.e. a faithful Jew submitting to the will of God, because I am a Reform Rabbi. (Reform Jews are now the largest of the Jewish denominations in the U.S. In the U.K..Reform Judaism is called Liberal Judaism.) As a Rabbi I am faithful to the covenant that God made with Abraham, the first Muslim Jew, and I submit to be bound by the covenant and commandments that God made with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. As a Reform Rabbi I believe that Rabbis should modify Jewish traditions to prevent them from making religion to hard to practice. This important teaching in the Qur’an (7:157) was taught by Prophet Muhammad 12 centuries before the rise of Reform Judaism in the early 19th century Germany. As Abu Huraira related: The Prophet said, “Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded.” (Bukhari book 2 #38) May the faithful believers of all religions commit themselves to this excellent teaching.

(Courtesy: Khutbahbank.org)

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IAEA vote: Are Israeli nukes holier than American?

September 21, 2013, 1:06 pm

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By Dr. Abdul Ruff

Surely, enemies of humanity led by USA-Israeli terror twins pose the most dangerous threat to civilization with their cumulative nuclear arsenals, the WMD.

Unless the veto is done away with, there is absolutely no chance for the humanity survival from the onslaught of these rouge states backed by all top terrocracies of the globe.

Americans support Zionist nukes, shielding crimes against humanity

The ways all western terrocracies shield the criminal Israeli regime from any punishment for its crimes against humanity and international community by misusing their fascist veto clearly show how Zionist they are!

US president Obama, as part of US Mideast policy, also promotes Zionist regime with more terror arms, disturbing already fragile peace in the region. US foreign secretary Kerry goes all the way to Israel to endorse the Zionist nukes and crimes sending a clear message that Americans have duty to shield Zionist criminals and that Israeli criminals are indeed the US terror babies.

American leaders, cutting across political spectrum, are engaged in triclomatic exercises to woo every prominent terrocracy to promote Zionist fascism as being a part of western imperialism and global fascism. .

For decades now, the monstrous Israel with its illegal nuclear arms remains the most serious threat to Mideast and world as a whole. And unless Israeli nukes are destroyed there is no chance for peace but the USA and Israel would continue to sell their terror goods to the world.

When Arab leaders protest against Israeli illegal nuke arsenals threatening the regional peace forever, USA come to support Israeli nukes, while it condemns nukes of Israel and Syria.

Arab resolution at IAEA

Israel is widely believed to possess the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal, threatening the balance in the region and thus drawing frequent condemnation by Arab countries and Iran which say it threatens peace and security. But the unilateral United States said earlier that targeting its “close ally” would only hurt broader steps aimed at banning nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in the tinderbox region.

Knowing the monstrous military power of USA-Israeli twins, Arab states seek peace in the region by getting Israeli nukes dismantled legally and had submitted a non-binding resolution on Israel to the gathering of the 159-nation International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna for the first time since 2010 to signal their frustration at the lack of movement in efforts to create a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction. On 29th September the member states of the U.N. nuclear agency rejected an Iranian-backed Arab bid to focus Israel for criticism over its assumed atomic arsenal, in a diplomatic victory for Western powers that opposed the initiative

The debate and vote at an annual meeting of the IAEA underlined divisions at a time when the United States and its allies are hoping for progress in a separate, decade-old nuclear dispute with Iran. Fifty-one countries voted against the text, which called on Israel to join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and 43 states for. Others abstained or were absent.

The Arab push had been a mainstay of most recent annual meetings of the 159-nation International Atomic Energy Agency, where it was usually narrowly voted down. Ahead of the vote, diplomats said the motion would likely pass or fail by no more than one or two votes. But unfortunately while 43 backed the resolution and 32 abstained under US pressure, 54 nations voted for Israeli nukes and threat to the region,. The other 30 countries refused to take part during the vote. One diplomat at the meeting said the outcome was the result of strong U.S.-led lobbying on behalf of Israel.

The U.S. envoy to the IAEA, Joseph Macmanus, said the United States regretted that the resolution had been brought to a vote. Declaring that the vote had "no winners," Macmanus said work would continue on starting Middle East dialogue on creating a zone free of weapons of mass destruction. A happy Israeli diplomat said the "positive outcome gives better prospect to Middle East dialogue".

Describing his country's nuclear activities as peaceful, Iranian delegate Reza Najafi said it is Israel that poses "a serious and continuing threat to the security of neighboring states."

The fascist Jewish state has long said that a full Palestinian-Israeli peace plan must precede any creation of a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction. In order to be on safer side, the Israelis just describe Iran and its alleged work on nuclear weapons as the real regional menace, though Iran denies wanting such arms. The Mideastern Muslim nations assert that Zionist Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal presents the greatest threat to peace in the region. They insist that Israel should declare such weapons and join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty as part of any peace talks.

Nuke powers oppose disarmament

The Jewish state is overwhelmingly considered to possess such arms but declines to confirm it. Its Arab neighbors say Israel's nuclear weapons threaten peace in the Middle East and miss few international opportunities to criticize it on that account. Still, it was the first time in three years that a resolution critical of Israel was put to a vote at the annual conference of the U.N's International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. The Arab decision to do so reflected frustration over failed attempts to convene senior-level talks on banning weapons of mass destruction from the Mideast. At the same time, more nations opposed the resolution than expected.

The resolution was not introduced in 2011 and 2012, in what the IAEA's 18 Arab members viewed as a concession to keep hopes alive of the Mideast weapons talks. Efforts to convene such talks, co-sponsored by the United States, Russia and Britain, were called off late last year. While Syria's civil war, nuclear tensions with Iran, and other Middle East frictions were cited as the official motive, diplomats back then acknowledged that the real reason was the failure to bridge Arab-Israeli differences.

World powers agreed in 2010 to an Egyptian plan for an international conference to lay the groundwork for creating a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction. But the United States with largest nukes and one of the big powers to co-sponsor the meeting said late last year it would not take place as planned last December and did not suggest a new date. Britain, another sponsor, says it hopes it can still take place in 2013.

Like in previous years, the IAEA conference overwhelmingly adopted a separate resolution urging all Middle East countries to accede to the NPT, without mentioning Israel by name. Arab diplomats said they refrained from putting forward the resolution on Israel at the 2011 and 2012 IAEA meetings to boost the chances of the Middle East conference but it had no effect. Arab League Ambassador Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy earlier told Reuters: "The Israelis have been playing for time, delaying."

Israel, USA-UK terror twins, and allies fended off an Arab-led attempt to censure the Jewish state's refusal to acknowledge that it possesses nuclear weapons and put them under international oversight. Israel and the United States accuse Iran of covertly seeking a nuclear arms capability, something Tehran denies. The election of a relative moderate, Hassan Rouhani, as new Iranian president has raised hopes of an easing of tension with the West.

Observations

Israeli nukes are true and their threat to Mideast is real. Analysts like Hans M. Kristensen and Robert S. Norris wrote that Israel has 80 nuclear warheads. Israel still does not reveal that to the world or IAEA effectively controlled by USA-UK-Israel terror rogue gang. The vote in favor of Israel shows Israel can do anything with its illegal nukes and escape punishment thanks to the all powerful USA.

That is real tragedy for the humanity, accelerated by UNSC veto regime.

Americans fuel Israeli arrogance and boldness with more and more terror goods. Officials of US- Israeli terror twins want to see Iran's atomic activity as the main proliferation threat saying a nuclear arms-free zone in the Middle East could not be a reality until there was broad Arab-Israeli peace and Iran curbed its program.

The concentration on Syria now by US-Israeli twins is essentially meant to deflect attention from the large quantities of chemical weapons held by Israel and the fundamental challenge posed by military terrorism in Egypt targeting Also, all bull talk about Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons is only to shield the Zionist nukes and criminals.

The historic defeat of Arab resolution for IAEA vote can be both misleading and dangerous!

[Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachalis Specialist on State Terrorism; Chancellor-Founder of Center for International Affairs (CIA); Independent Analyst; Chronicler of Foreign occupations & Freedom movements (Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Xinjiang, Chechnya, etc.). He is also former university Teacher. He can be contacted at abdulruff_jnu@yahoo.com]

Military Intervention in Syria & International Law

September 21, 2013, 1:22 pm

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By Barrister M. A. Muid Khan

This September, the Human Rights Watch published a report alleging that the, “…Available evidence strongly suggests that Syrian government forces were responsible for chemical weapons attacks on two Damascus suburbs on August 21, 2013. These attacks, which killed hundreds of civilians including many children, appeared to use a weapons-grade nerve agent, most likely Sarin…”

Peter Bouckaert, Emergencies Director at Human Rights Watch alleged that “Rocket debris and symptoms of the victims from the August 21 attacks on Ghouta provide telltale evidence about the weapon systems used,” He further alleged that “…This evidence strongly suggests that Syrian government troops launched rockets carrying chemical warheads into the Damascus suburbs that terrible morning.”

In the light of the above objective report, witness accounts of the rocket attacks, information on the likely source of the attacks, the physical remnants of the weapon systems used, and the medical symptoms exhibited by the victims as documented by medical staff, could Britain & the US carry out any Military attack upon Syrian government forces for using chemical weapons attacks on two Damascus suburbs?

Military Attack & UN Charter

The United Nations Charter 1945, the foundation stone of the modern International Law bans the use of force by states to “save the succeeding generation from the scourge of wars”.

Article 2(4) of the UN Charter specifically states that, “… All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations…”

This rule was enshrined in the United Nations Charter in 1945 for a good reason, “…to prevent states from using force as they felt so inclined…" In accordance with the expressed provisions of the UN Charter, it would an illegal act under International Law to go to war unless a country is defending itself against aggression or the UN has given prior approval for UN Resolution needed.

Therefore, in the absence of any armed attack against Britain, the US, France or the coalition members, any legal use of force, or any legal threat of the use of force, had to be supported by a UN Security Council resolution authorising member states to use force against Syria.

This authorisation is secured in the form of “UN Resolution” through a vote on a UN Security Council resolution, which will set out the type of military action that can be taken against a particular country.

The UN Security Council consists of 15 General member states with 5 Permanent member states. The resolution must be passed by a majority of the Security Council’s 15 members but the five permanent members - Britain, the United States, Russia, China and France - each It is this veto that Russia has used in support of Damascus, Britain, the US or its alleys are not able to take any military intervention against Syria under the International Law.

Any further attempts to secure a resolution are also likely to be blocked by Russia, meaning that the most straightforward legal authority for military action in Syria will not be available to the Britain, the United States and France.

UK Military Attack & International Law

Now, the question is could UK conduct any military intervention upon Syria unilaterally?

September 2013, the British Government's lawyers suggested that, “…Britain could still act on humanitarian grounds without agreement at the UN…”

The British Government Lawyers stated that the Syrian regime was behind the chemical weapons attack in Damascus last week. Calling it a "war crime and a crime against humanity", it says: “…The legal basis for military action would be humanitarian intervention…”

Under the "exceptional measures" criteria, the military intervention by Britain would be justified on humanitarian grounds and permitted under international law; even if Russia and China block agreement at the United Nations.

The British Government Lawyers further suggested that, "The aim is to relieve humanitarian suffering by deterring or disrupting the further use of chemical weapons."

The lawyers argue conditions needed for action to go ahead without the UN Security Council's agreement have already been fulfilled.

MPs will now debate and vote only on the principle of military action and any direct British involvement would only be possible after another Commons vote.

Joint UK-USA Military invasion without UN Resolution

In addition, UK & the US could also carry out a joint military attack upon Syria without having any UN Resolution.

Without having any UN resolution, a military intervention upon Syria is still possible via a regional grouping with the help of Nato.

The 1999 Kosovo conflict has a shirking similarity with the present Syrian Crisis. In the absence of an UN Resolution, the former US President Bill Clinton, with Nato’s backing, was able to give the bombing of Serbia.

By invoking Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which commits each member state to considering armed action to protect another, Britain and the US could gather support within Nato to conduct a joint military invasion upon Syrian regime.

Turkey is a member state of Nato. In June 2012, one of its F-4 reconnaissance jets was shot down by Syrian forces, which could provide a foundation under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty for a military intervention by the alliance against Syrian regime.

Military intervention & R2P

Principle known as “responsibility to protect”, or “R2P” was adopted in 2005 by the United Nations following the genocide in Rwanda. The principles established by the “R2P” are recognised under International Law could also be invoked to justify any joint military strike by the US & UK against Syria.

The R2P states that, “…the international community has a responsibility to protect against war crimes and crimes against humanity by using coercion, including military intervention as By invoking the principles stipulated in the R2, the US and UK could take a joint decision to conduct a military intervention in Syria.

Military intervention & EU

The European Union has also called this chemical weapons attack in Damascus a crime against humanity and says it was probably carried out by the Syrian government.

Catherine Ashton, the EU's representative for foreign affairs issued a statement on Saturday calling the chemical attack a "blatant violation of international law, a war crime and a crime against humanity"

Following a meeting with the US secretary of state, John Kerry, EU foreign ministers said that any punitive military attack should not be carried out until the delivery of a report by United Nations inspectors.

The Russian President Putin declared that any attack without a UN resolution would "violate the law", indicating that he was ready to give further military assistance to the Assad regime if it were attacked.

The British Prime Minister, David Cameron warned that the world could not "contract out" its morality to a Russian veto at the UN Security Council over its response to the poison gas attack which killed hundreds in a Damascus suburb.

Mr. Obama, President of the United States, failed to get international agreement for an attack on Syria at the summit in St Petersburg. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, claimed that a majority of the G20 opposed any US-led intervention, and gave no ground by continuing to insist that the chemical weapons attacks were a provocation by Syrian rebels designed to win international backing for an attack on the Assad regime.

Geoffrey Robertson QC, a former UN appeal judge and leading international lawyer, said yesterday that Russia was wrong to insist that military intervention would hinge on UN consent. He said it was possible for other countries to step in to prevent mass murder but added that it would be necessary to find evidence the Assad regime was responsible for last week’s chemical weapons attack.

The foregoing discussion reveals that the US & UK can jointly conduct a military attack upon the Syrian Government without having any UN Resolution. Even though the US & UK can jointly conduct a military attack upon the Syrian Government under the International Law, yet Mr. Vuk Jeremic, the President of the United Nations General Assembly supports Diplomatic solutions instead of any joint military action against Syria to resolve the present crisis. On 12 September 2013, at this “crucial moment” for Syria and the wider Middle East, the President of the United Nations General Assembly called on Member States to push for a diplomatic solution to the crisis by supporting efforts to bring all parties to the conflict to the negotiating table at a proposed conference in Geneva. What happens in Syria in the weeks ahead will profoundly bear upon the security and well-being of the entire region of the Middle East, and possibly the whole world. We, the defenders of human rights and the fundamental freedoms, also expect that the present crisis in Syria could be resolved via a diplomatic solution to save the Middle East & the whole world from the scourge of another war.

[M.A. Muid Khanis a Barrister of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn & Qualified Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer of CILEX. He is the first British-Bangladeshi lawyer recognised jointly by the Bar Council, Law Society & CILEX as the Best Human Rights Lawyer of England & Wales. He can be contacted at barristermuid@yahoo.co.uk]

Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah -- His Life and Message

September 21, 2013, 1:33 pm

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By Rohail Khan

September 11, 2013 was the 65th death anniversary of the Founder of Pakistan. On this occasion, let us revisit his life long struggle and deduce his “real message”.

Renowned American Historian Prof. Stanley Wolper admitted: “Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. Muhammad Ali Jinnah did all three”.
Let us contemplate Great Quaid’s golden words: "Come forward as servants of Islam, organize the people economically, socially, educationally and politically and I am sure that you will be a power that will be accepted by everybody".

We remain indebted to QuaideAzam and will always cherish his life-long struggle and sacrifices. He led the South Asian Muslims to establish an Islamic state in which everyone could live and breathe as free individual.

We must appreciate the fact that Quaid-e-Azam established Pakistan as a Castle of Islam. He desired Pakistan to become a platform for renaissance of Caliphate System across the Muslim World. Well. We still have got time. Haven’t we?

May Allah grant us true understanding of Quaid-e-Azam’s teachings. Together let us work to meet his expectations. Let us observe the life and message of Quaid-e-Azam.

Shocking News

Just over a year after Pakistan’s creation, the Founder and First Governor General of the new Islamic Republic, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah died at his Karachi residence on the eve of 11th September 1948. His death, untimely for the Pakistani nation, was mourned by millions across the world.

Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru promptly stated his personal sadness. Indian Governor General Raja Gopal Achari cancelled official meetings to honour the demise of sub-continent’s greatest leader.

The Quaid was buried on 12th September 1948 amid official mourning in both India and Pakistan; a million bereaved people gathered for his funeral.

Today, Muhammad Ali Jinnah rests in Karachi in a grand marble mausoleum called Mazar-e-Quaid.

Secret of the Century

Since the 1930s, Quaid-e-Azam suffered from tuberculosis. Working twenty hours daily for decades, along with hectic travel and heavy smoking, had deprived him of good health. This was a well-guarded secret and only his doctor sister Miss FatimaJinnah and few close aides were aware of his condition. The Quaid believed that public knowledge of his lung ailments would politically hurt the cause of a separate homeland for the Muslims of India.

The great Quaid ultimately died of lung cancer on 11th September 1948. His adversaries in England and India termed this as “secret of the century”. On his death, the British Viceroy Lord Mountbatten stated that if he had known Jinnah was so ill, he would have stalled, hoping Jinnah's death would avert the partition of India.

In “My Brother”, Quaid’s biography authored by Miss Fatima Jinnah, she admits: "Even in the hour of triumph (Pakistan’s birth), the Quaid e Azam was gravely ill. He worked in a frenzy to consolidate Pakistan and totally neglected his health”. Such was the dedication and commitment of this great leader.

Formidable Political Leader -- Proponent of Free India (1904 – 1934)

Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a formidable “respected-by-all” political leader whose life long struggle (from 1904 to 1947) and steadfast contribution for liberation of India from the British Empire remains unmatched.

In 1895, at a tender age of 19 years, he became a Barrister and earned the coveted distinction of being the youngest Indian to be called to the bar at Lincolns Inn, London, England. He returned home briefly to Karachi and then wisely moved to Bombay: the socio-political hub of British India.

Equipped with top-notch legal training and a burning desire to succeed, the young Muhammad Ali Jinnah began his law practice in Bombay, the “only Muslim barrister” in the metro city. English had become his principal language and would remain so throughout his life.

His first step towards a brighter career occurred when the British Advocate General of Bombay, John McPherson, invited the promising Mr. Jinnah to work from his elite chambers. In 1900, Mr. Jinnah succeeded P. H. Dastoor, as Bombay’s Presidency Magistrate. After completing six month’s probation, the British Government offered young Mr. Jinnah a permanent position on a 1,500 rupee monthly salary, which in those days was a sizeable amount. The clairvoyant Mr. Jinnah politely declined the lucrative offer, plainly stating he planned to earn 1,500 rupees “per day”, which he eventually did. Nevertheless, as Governor General of Pakistan in August 1947, he categorically refused any large salary, fixing it at a token One rupee per month.

The industrious Muhammad Ali Jinnah formally began his political career in December 1904 when he was initiated at the All India Congress Party's 20th annual meeting in Bombay. It is worth while to mention, he led a “moderate group” in the Congress, favoring “Hindu - Muslim Unity” in achieving self-government.

Mr. Jinnah’s exemplary role to persuade the British to amicably leave India was well appreciated by all Hindu and Muslims leaders alike. In fact, he perfectly suited the role, based on his towering and incorruptible personality and the intellectual guts to confront the British Bureaucrats.

In December 1913, he joined the All India Muslim League at the insistence of senior Muslim leaders. He remained a loyal member of the Congress as well and stressed that his Muslim League membership took second priority to the "greater national cause" of a free India.

Just before the advent of the First World War, Mr. Gokhale, a coveted Hindu leader, proudly stated that “Jinnah has true stuff in him and freedom from all sectarian prejudice which will make him the best ambassador of Hindu–Muslim Unity".

Mr. Jinnah's moderate faction in the Congress was undermined by the deaths of top Congress stalwarts namely: Mehta, Gokhale, and Nawroji. Nevertheless, Mr. Jinnah consistently went on to bring the Congress and Muslim League together.

In 1916, with Mr. Jinnah now president of the Muslim League, the two political parties signed the “Lucknow Pact”, setting quotas for Muslim and Hindu representation in various provinces. Although the pact could never be implemented, its signing ushered in a period of congenial cooperation between the Congress and the Muslim League.

During the First World War, Mr. Jinnah joined other Indian moderates in supporting the British war, hoping that Indians would be rewarded with political freedoms.

Politically well-placed Mr. Jinnah played an important role in the founding of All India Home Rule League in 1916. Along with senior Indian political leaders, Mr. Jinnah from 1916 - 1923 continued to demand constitutional reforms to allow "home rule" for India. This implied the status of a self-governing dominion witihn the British Empire similar to Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

British Cabinet Minister Edwin Montagu recalled Mr. Jinnah in his memoirs, "young, perfectly mannered, impressive-looking, armed to the teeth with dialectics, and insistent on the whole of his scheme".

Unfortunately, Britain's senior politicians were not genuinely interested in considering Indian constitutional reforms. Most British Ministers were against the idea of power sharing in India. Many discreetly lobbied to divide the Hindu and Muslim leaders and worked behind the doors to patronize the Pro-British Hindu Congress leaders.

In fact, Senior Ministers in London, saw in Mr. Jinnah a leader who could challenge the British Empire‘s motives to prolong the occupation of India. In 1925, in an effort to pressurize him to change sides, Mr. Jinnah was offered Knighthood by Viceroy Lord Reading. He replied: "I prefer to be plain Mr. Jinnah." This was the character of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

In 1928, the British Cabinet established the “Simon Commission” influenced by Winston Churchill, who strongly opposed self-government for India, and hoped the Simon Commission would set up policies to ensure survival of British rule in India.

The Congress, under the leadership of Moti Lal Nehru, responded with “The Nehru Report” which favored separate electorates based on geography and population. At this juncture, Mr. Jinnah intervened and proposed that electorates be based on religion. This stance was necessary "to ensure Indian Muslims had a voice in the Government".

Ironically, the British-backed Hindu leaders were adamant to dominate the Muslim representation. Mr. Jinnah strongly defended the cause of Muslims and submitted his famous “Fourteen Points” wherein he put forth proposals that would satisfy a broad range of Muslims, calling for mandatory representation for Muslims in legislatures and cabinets.

From 1930 to 1934, to resolve the conflicts between Congress and Muslim League, three Round Table Conferences were organized, none of which resulted in a political settlement.

The connivance between British and Hindu leaders had become crystal clear. Disappointed Mr. Jinnah, in utter disgust, took exile from active politics and settled back in London continuing his legal practice.

Mr. Jaswant Singh, deems Quaid -e- Azam's respite in Britain: “a temporary break from the Indian struggle”. Mr. Hector Bolitho called this period: "Jinnah's years of order and contemplation, wedged in between the time of early struggle, and the final storm of conquest".

Struggle for Separate State for Muslims (1934-1948)

Back in India, a storm was brewing up which could only be led by a leader as strong and unyielding as Mr. Jinnah. The Allahabad Address by Allama Iqbal at the 25th session of All India Muslim League on 29th December 1930 spelled out the “Concept of Pakistan”. Here Allama Iqbal (Great Philosopher and Sage of Islam) boldly presented the idea of a “separate homeland” for Indian Muslims.

Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, renowned professor at Oxford University, published his famous pamphlet in 1933 profoundly advocating the establishment of "Pakistan" for the Muslims in sub-continent.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, while admitting his efforts to foster Hindu Muslim unity had fallen apart, remained fully sympathetic to serve the Indian Muslims. The volatile political climate and side lining of Muslims by Indian National Congress showed the bleak future of Muslims in the sub-continent. Against this backdrop, Allama Iqbal’s concept rapidly gained Mr. Jinnah’s attention.

The Quaid returned back to India in 1934 buoyant with highest levels of confidence and started to collect the Indian Muslims under the singular banner of All India Muslim League.

Mr. Jinnah and Allama Iqbal conferred regularly on strategic matters. In subsequent years, Mr. Jinnah credited Allama Iqbal as his mentor, and eloquently used Allama Iqbal's concepts in his speeches.

The British Parliament's Government of India Act 1935 gave certain powers to provinces, with a weak central parliament in Delhi, which had no authority over foreign policy, defence, and budget. Full power remained in the hands of the Viceroy, who could dissolve legislatures and rule by decree.

Under Mr. Jinnah’s wise leadership, Muslim League expressed reservations about the weak parliament. The Congress grabbed the opportunity and contested the 1937 provincial elections. Consequently the Muslim League failed to win any majority.

These events had a strong impact on Mr. Jinnah’s political perspectives. Despite his belief, of twenty years, that Muslims could protect their rights in a united India through separate electorates and provincial boundaries, the Muslim voters were forcibly casted out. Alas, as a result of the 1937 elections, the British and Hindus had became one supreme power against the Muslims. Once again, the onus to re-build the Muslim majority came on the shoulders of Mr. Jinnah.

The coarse of the events altered, in favor of Indian Muslims, when the Second World War erupted in September 1939. With Congress demanding the British to “Quit India”, the Viceroy asked Mr. Jinnah for an expression of the Muslim League's position on self-government, confident that it would differ greatly from that of the Congress.

On 6th February 1940, Mr. Jinnah informed the Viceroy that the Muslim League would be demanding India’s partition instead of the federation contemplated in the 1935 Act.

The Lahore Resolution, also known as “Pakistan Resolution”, was a formal political statement adopted by the All India Muslim League on 23rd March 1940, which called for the creation of “independent state”' for Muslims in British India. The constituent units of this state were to be autonomous with no direct or indirect interference from either British or the Hindus.

Eventually, the 1940 Lahore Resolution picked up its pace and became a "unified demand for a separate Muslim state, called Pakistan".

The end of the Second World War in 1945, expedited the fall of the British Empire across the world. General Elections were announced in British India to be held in December 1945, with a firm resolve that the British would leave India after formation of a constitution-making body, following the outcome of the India-wide elections.

Mr. Jinnah declared the Indian Muslims would campaign on a single issue: “Pakistan”. He travelled all over India and aggressively campaigned for Pakistan. His message to every one was loud and clear: "Pakistan is a matter of life or death for us."

In the December 1945 elections for the Constituent Assembly of India, the Muslim League won every seat reserved for Muslims. In the provincial elections in January 1946, the League took 75% of the Muslim vote, an increase from 4.4% in 1937.

According to his biographer Mr. Hector Bolitho, "This was Jinnah's glorious hour. His arduous political campaigns, his robust beliefs and claims, were at last justified."

Prof. Stanley Wolpert, author of “Jinnah of Pakistan” wrote: “The 1945 election results appeared to prove the universal appeal of Pakistan among Muslims of the sub-continent".

The comeback of Muslim League shocked both the British and the Hindu-dominated Congress for whom the idea of a separate Muslim state was tough to be digested. On 20th February 1947, British Government finally announced she would transfer power in India latest by June 1948. Lord Mountbatten took office as Last Viceroy on 24th March 1947, to execute the final arrangements of India’s partition.

For Mr. Jinnah and the Indian Muslims, the fight was far from over.

On 2nd June 1947, the final plan was given by Lord Mountbatten to Indian leaders: “On 15 August, the British would turn over power to two dominions. The provinces would vote on whether to continue with the existing constituent assembly, or to have a new one, that is, to join Pakistan. A boundary commission would determine the final borders in the partitioned provinces”.

On 4th July 1947, Muslim League vehemently asked Lord Mountbatten to recommend to the British King George VI, that Mr. Jinnah be appointed Pakistan's first Governor General. This move angered Lord Mountbatten, who had aspired to become India's first post-independence Governor General for both dominions. Mr. Jinnah had foreseen that Lord Mountbatten would favor the new Hindu-majority state, based on his close alliances with the Hindu politicians and landlords.

Although the Radcliffe Boundary Commission, had not yet reported, there were already massive movements of populations between the nations-to-be, as well as sectarian violence.

These were testing times. Like every one, Mr. Jinnah saw that indecision and delays will only cause more bloodshed across the Muslim-dominated areas.

On 7th August 1947, Mr. Jinnah, with his sister Miss Fatima Jinnah and close aides, flew from Delhi to Karachi and on 11th August presided the new constituent assembly for Pakistan. Mr. Jinnah addressed the nation:

"You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed. This has nothing to do with the business of the State."

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

On 14th August 1947, the “Islamic Republic of Pakistan” came into existence, the "First country in the world to be founded on the basis of Islamic Ideology".

One international observer wrote: "Here indeed is Pakistan's Emperor, Archbishop of Canterbury, Speaker and Prime Minister concentrated into one formidable Quaid -e- Azam."

As Pakistan’s first head of state, Quaid-e-Azam led by example. He worked day and night to formulate policies and consolidate the entire fabric of the new Islamic Republic.

During his tenure, the Founder of Pakistan proudly boasted: “Pakistan is the Castle of Islam. Pakistan should one day serve as platform for renaissance of the Caliphate System across the Muslim world”.

In a vital public address, on the occasion of the first independence day of Pakistan, on 14th August 1948, Quaid-e-Azam advised the nation:

“Nature has given you everything. You have got unlimited resources. The foundations of your state have been laid, and it is now for you to build, and build as quickly and as well as you can. So go ahead and I wish you God speed”.

[Rohail A. Khanis a Senior Banker and CFO based at Jeddah. He is also Chairman, Urdu Academy International (UAI), Washington, D.C. He can be contacted at rohailkhan00@gmail.com]

Celebrating Saudi National Day - From Memorable Past to a Bright Future

September 21, 2013, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Bhopal Hajj flights from Sept. 26, transit point at Taj-ul-Masajid from Sept. 23

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By Rohail Khan

On the dawn of 18th June 1985, the entire world was pleasantly surprised that HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, a Royal Saudi Air Force Pilot, became the first and the youngest Muslim astronaut to fly in the outer space. The news brought Saudi Arabia on the radar of international community.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s remarkable multi-sector development is a “modern-age wonder”. Indeed, the nation has come a long way since the grand achievement of the Saudi Prince.

On 23rd September 2013, public celebrations will mark the 83rd Saudi National Day, which commemorates the 1932 unification of the Kingdom by its founder, King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.

The growing public exuberance on Saudi National Day underscores important changes in Saudi society, most importantly Saudi Nationalism's new found attraction to the Kingdom's growing youth population.

We all extend heartfelt felicitations to the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on the 83rd National Day of Saudi Arabia. We express our gratitude for his majesty’s able leadership and pray for his majesty’s good health and longevity.

On this auspicious occasion, comments and suggestions from leading Saudis and Expatriates from different professions and walks of life, have been compiled as follows:

Veterans - Nostalgic memories and proud moments

Hameedudin Ansari came to Jeddah from Karachi in 1957 and has personally witnessed the development of Saudi Arabia during last fifty five years. He proudly recalls how in the 1950’s the city of Jeddah started off its socio-economic growth and has come a long way since then. Nostalgic Mr. Ansari reiterates the historical role of Pakistani doctors, engineers, bankers, and business executives to support Kingdom’s development. Jeddah had its proud moments when Sheikh Ahmed Al-Juffali installed electricity grids and brought light into the lives of the citizens. Another wonderful event was the launch of Saudi Riyal in 1961 as the Kingdom’s official currency with Mr. Anwar Ali, Governor, SAMA’s signatures on the currency notes. Mr. Ansari, along with leading business executives, was instrumental in establishing the Pakistani School in 1959 in Jeddah’s old Balad. He fondly remembers how the construction of Jeddah’s roads, bridges, sea and airport, and industrial areas brought prosperity all over the region.

Feza Ur Rehman, came to Jeddah in 1967 from Lucknow, India, after completing his Masters in Sociology. Since last forty years, he has worked as a senior business executive managing bulk imports of commodities to meet Saudi Arabia’s demand for staple food. He states that from 1975 onwards, the rapid development of infra structure across the Kingdom was astonishing. He appreciates that KSA has provided the opportunity to raise the children in a socially-controlled environment. Having observed the last forty years’ evolution, Mr. Rehman advises that, Saudis and expatriates alike, should tackle the recent influx of western media with utmost wisdom and should reinforce the original traditions and cultural values into our daily lives.

Industrialisation in KSA

Ibrahim Al-Hajri, a Saudi national and former Saudi Aramco Oil & Gas Specialist, expressed satisfaction over the Industrialization measures in Saudi Arabia. Since 1980, the Kingdom has become a world leader in upstream and downstream Oil & Gas industry and has successfully diversified the manufacturing and heavy engineering sectors. Recent move to enter Automotive manufacturing is a positive leap and shall place KSA as one of the top industrialized nations in the coming future. C.E.O of Al-Khurayf Water & Power Company, Dammam, Mr. Al-Hajri is a strong proponent of inducting fresh Saudi graduates into the corporate sector. He admires the quality of fresh Saudi graduates, and recommends the Government should send increased number of qualified Saudis on scholarships to Universities abroad.

Healthcare – Promising advancement over 30 years

Dr. Taha Jaffrey, Canadian National, moved to Saudi Arabia thirty years ago. He is serving the Zahid Group as Chief Medical Officer. A seasoned consultant physician, Dr. Jaffrey has special observations about the growth of healthcare sector in KSA.

Over last thirty years, the Saudi Government has achieved commendable progress in the healthcare sector, making substantial efforts to provide modern medical facilities to Saudis and expatriates.

Healthcare is one of the foremost sector where hundreds of hospitals and thousands of polyclinics have been established all over the Kingdom. With the recent introduction of Medical Insurance, it has become convenient for middle and low income class to avail the best of medical facilities.

Specialist Hospitals in metro cities possess technologically-advanced health care facilities and world’s best qualified doctors. Difficult surgeries like Kidney and liver transplant, and artificial heart replacements are being undertaken with 100% success rate. Medical treatment for serious diseases, including different kinds of Cancer and AIDS, are being treated under one roof.

The most impressive part is, now there are thousands of locally available Saudi Doctors who have specialized in various medical fields. The previous trend of getting overseas treatment has now reduced. “Air Ambulances”, acquired by the Saudi Government for medical evacuation, offer one of the best medical emergency services.

Dr. Jaffrey rightfully claims that health services in KSA are “at par with international standards” in advanced countries like USA, Canada, UK, and Germany. There is no stopping. Saudi Government has generously allocated billions of dollars for provision of medical services for the next ten years and beyond. He strongly suggests that First Aid and life-saving CPR courses be made compulsory at schools and in all public and private companies.

KSA - High standards of governance

Barrister Azad Iqbal, British-Pakistani, is the eldest grandson of Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal. He came to Saudi Arabia in 1984 and is serving the Saudi Binladen Group as Group Legal Counsel. He opines: “In Saudi Arabia the writ of the state and effective judicial system are upheld with high reverence. Governments across the world should learn due lessons from these high-standards of governance. Even the West acknowledges that the security and safety across KSA are par excellence”.

Safe and stable environment to raise a family

Gregory Bauarschi, Lebanese National, working in Riyadh with a top branding firm, and his wife, Rebecca Bauarschi, hailing from New Zealand, are a happy couple who find Saudi Arabia as their “home away from home”. Gregory says: My wife and myself are both expats living in Saudi Arabia for over 12 years now. Today we have beautiful twin girls who just started going to school here in Riyadh. We truly feel privileged to have been able to work, live and raise a family in a safe and stable environment. We are happy to note the economic, social and technological developments which have taken place, specially since King Abdullah Al-Saud was inaugurated. We wish the Kingdom and its lovely people a future full of peace and prosperity.

Sophisticated and secured banking system

Mr. Mohieldeen Naamani, Saudi National, is a senior corporate banker at Al-Rajhi Bank. His comments are value-adding: “Compared internationally, the Saudi banking industry is highly sophisticated offering state-of-the art products and services in both consumer and corporate arenas”. Saudi banks are world’s most-capitalized and offer fully-automated and secured banking platforms. When it comes to compliance and prudence, the Saudi banks are considered ultraconservative. Monitored by SAMA, the robust Saudi banks have played a key role to support and enhance the Kingdom’s economic growth consistently since last five decades.

Saudi Arabia – Proponent of Islamic finance

Dr. Umer Chapra, Senior Adviser at Islamic Development Bank, is an international authority on Islamic banking and Islamic economy. According to Dr. Chapra, Islamic finance has come a long way and has established its credibility among the international financial community. The World Bank and IMF consider “Shariah-based banking” a viable substitute to the conventional western banking system. In a 2011 conference, key international bankers agreed that “excess lending and hedging” by conventional banks are the main source of financial crises. They have come to the conclusion that “risk-sharing” – one of the foundations of Islamic banking – is the key to rationalise the economies and avert financial instability. Saudi Arabia definitely has the capacity to spearhead the growth of Islamic banking across the world.

Hajj and Umrah – Extraordinary arrangements

Shahbaz Senior, Country Manager, Pakistan International Airlines, aptly explains: When it comes to “religious tourism”, Saudi Arabia no doubt is world’s best service provider. In this regard, the commitment of Saudi Government is exemplary and their performance is highly efficient. As an aviation specialist, it is amazing to note that two millions Muslims travel to and fro Saudi Arabia round the year and visit the Holy cities. The arrangements are so smooth, one is filled with gratitude for the Ministries for their extra ordinary zeal and hard work. Extension of Jeddah and Medina airports, the Haramain high-speed railway, along with construction of new hotels in Makkah, proves the will of Saudi Government to serve the Pilgrims better and make their stay more comfortable.

Housing Development – Rapid growth in the offing

Saudi Arabia’s population will soon be crossing the 30 million mark. As such, the need for housing units across the Kingdom has grown rapidly. According to Faisal Al-Hamdan, Investment banker and Real Estate Specialist, three million houses have to be built over next five years to address the situation. In addition to proper legislation, the Saudi Government is pushing the private sector property developers to expedite the construction of villas and apartments for the medium and low income class. Mr. Al-Hamdan is confident that implementation of new mortgage laws, will act as a catalyst for the lenders and the borrowers. The procedures, once stream lined, would facilitate the average Saudi citizens to avail home loans on competitive terms. This sector will generate employment and augment the construction and financial services industries in coming years.

Lucrative market for GCC businessmen

Mateen Karam, Bahraini National, is engaged in imports and distribution of consumer products.

He candidly expressed that the Saudi domestic market has expanded phenomenally and the growing population has multiplied the demand for all kinds of products. Consequently, Mr. Karam and his Bahraini associates have established their company branches in KSA to tap the growing market.

Fayyaz Shah, Omani National and Chairman of Shah Group of Industries, Muscat, admiringly states that among GCC countries, Saudi Arabia is the “big brother” with a strong economy, growing liquidity, and buoyant purchasing power. Mr. Shah, foresees huge potential for cross-country trade through establishment of regional economic zones and free trade agreements between Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries. He suggests that joint ventures between Saudi and Omani industrialists will pave the way for joint progress.

Saudi Women - Role in KSA’s development

Saudi women must come forward and fulfil their duties towards socio-economic development of the Kingdom, says Dr. Noura Abdullah, Head of Mathematics Department, Dammam College for Women. Author of numerous books, Dr. Noura has successfully trained Saudi women for senior positions in teaching and research. She opines the Saudi women require consistent encouragement to join the professions of their choice. Both public and private sectors should provide conducive environments to identify and nurture the growing female talent across the Kingdom. The induction of qualified women in “Majlis e Shoura” is a constructive step enabling Saudi women to put-in their share for the Kingdom’s socio-economic development.

Saudi Females – Pride of corporate sector

Mrs. Leena Bin Talib Al-Harbi, Riyadh-based Saudi female stockbroker, is a specialist in KSA’s capital markets. She insists that Saudi female executives are far more gifted and hard-working than is commonly perceived. Mrs. Al-Harbi warmly encourages Saudi females to pursue executive careers in commerce and industries.

Life for women and children – Full of sanctity and safety

Mrs Samreen Yousuf, a home maker, landed in Jeddah in 1996 from Hyderabad, India. She finds living in KSA has made her a “Better Muslim” and has brought her closer to Islam. Life for women in KSA is distinctly different from other countries. Despite women’s over-dependency on their male counterparts, there is no place in the world like Saudi Arabia when it comes to women’s sanctity and security. Having raised a teenaged girl, Mrs. Yousuf admits “parenting in KSA is safer and fruitful than India”. Socio-cultural practices in Saudi Arabia caste a “protective shield” over growing children and keeps their minds away from undesirable western influences.

Saudi Youth – Bright future

Engr. Moayed Al-Shammari, Saudi youth, is an Aircraft Engineer. After graduating from Royal Jordanian Air Academy in 2008, he studied Business Administration in U.K. Back in Jeddah, he has set up his own business and is testing out his entrepreneurial skills. He is confident that Saudi Youth are highly talented and have the potential to excel in any field, if they put their hearts and minds to it.

Third generation success

Fawaz Farooqui, after graduating from Stanford University, California, is serving the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), Rabigh. Engaged in supervising the construction of a mega economic zone, Fawaz is the third generation Saudi’s whose grand father Ataullah Farooqui came to Jeddah from Pakistan in 1957. Ataullah Farooqi was Jeddah’s leading businessman and literary figure and in 1965 founded one of the first advertising companies in the region. Born in Jeddah, both Fawaz and his businessman father Ahmed Farooqui were raised as steadfast Saudi. Fawaz advises young Saudis to pursue advanced education and serve Saudi Arabia with full devotion.

Cultural tolerance - Appreciation of expatriates

Asif Hazratji, British National, and his wife Ruby Hazratji, Philippines National, have been living in KSA since 1985. Asif, a chartered accountant, and Ruby, a qualified teacher, have worked in Jeddah, Riyadh, Al-Khobar, and are currently settled in Jubail. The couple has observed high level of cultural tolerance and congenial atmosphere across the Kingdom. They are grateful to Saudis, from all walks of life, for their warm appreciation and acceptability of the expatriates.

Jeddah: Growing cosmopolitan city

Ali Sheikh and Mrs Sabaa Ali, British Nationals, moved to Saudi Arabia in 2003, and Jeddah is the place they call home. According to Sabaa: When we moved here, I felt a lack of information about Saudi Arabia on the internet. There were so many things I wanted to search for, but didn't know how or whom to ask. Our search for a good accommodation or school was limited to a small circle of acquaintances. It was then that I decided to set up “Jeddah Blog” as not only an information disseminating website, but a positive celebration of all the wonderful cultural and social activities that this cosmopolitan city has to offer. Our blog must have struck a chord somewhere as we have received 110,000 hits in the last year alone. We are proud to improve Jeddah’s visibility and stature as a first-class cosmopolitan city.

Computerization of Government Processes – Newcomer’s advice

Engr. Shoaib Alizai, recently came to Saudi Arabia after serving a multi-national engineering firm in Dubai for ten years. Engr. Alizai appreciates the recent changes being undertaken to reform the employment and sponsorship processes in KSA. He recommends that a 360 degree implementation of “online e-Government” (like UAE) at local ministries would dramatically improve the efficiency of these processes and would be of meaningful benefit to the trio of Government ministries, local employers, and expatriate workers.

Education and Saudi society

Mrs Humera Adnan, Jeddawi by birth, is a teacher at the PISJ. She underlines that the education system at Saudi Schools, Colleges, and Universities is a “unique balance” of teaching modern social and physical sciences, medical, and professional courses – all within “well-defined Islamic context and traditions”. Nowhere in the Muslim world can one find such an education environment. Thus, the graduates of local educational institutions are better-prepared to serve the Saudi society. She further identifies that the children of expatriates, having lived their entire lives in KSA, are forced to go abroad for higher studies after passing the 12th grade grade at local community schools.It would be worthwhile, Mrs. Adnan suggests, if a University is established to accommodate these expatriate youngsters for under-graduate studies within the Kingdom.

Unmatched Infra-structural development

Nadir Sargiroh, Senior Urban Planner, came to Saudi Arabia in 1993 after graduating from Bombay, India. He feels that Infrastructural development in the Kingdom stands un-matched when compared with neighbourly countries. The ongoing large-scale development of airports and railway, the expansion of telecommunication and logistics, the construction of industrial cities in Rabigh and Jizan, along with the launch of King Abdullah sports, medical, and financial cities will certainly upgrade Saudi Arabia as one of the top industrialized countries in near future.

KSA’s Telecommunication sector - Exponential growth

Back in the 1980’s, who would have imagined that every individual in KSA would carry handy mobile and smart phones. In fact, Saudi Arabia boasts one of the “most mobile-savvy populations” on the planet, says Faisal Al-Bannai, Saudi CEO of Axiom Telecom. With STC, Mobily, and Zain as the leading players, the KSA mobile market is already the most competitive in the Arab world. Mobile phone penetration stands at 182 percent – almost two subscriptions per individual – and the emerging broadband market offers exponential growth for the KSA telecoms industry in coming future.

Information Technology sector – catching up quickly

Mohamed Zaitoun, Egyptian National, Sales Manager, Oracle Saudi Arabia, observes, “Automation increases the operational efficiency and productivity of companies and improves their profitability”. Twenty years back, except for multinationals, very few Saudi companies took up computerization and automation. However, the trend has now changed and this sector has picked up proactive growth. Now thousands of companies are automated and we can see hundreds of local suppliers of IT products and Software applications. Per Mr. Zaitoun, in near future, the IT spending will multiply and the IT sector will positively support the Kingdom’s growth.

Leaders of the Ummah

Dr. Athar Naqvi, is a renowned Saudi scientist and Professor of Physics. After his Ph.D in 1969 from Imperial College of Science, University of London, Dr. Naqvi has taught at King Saud University and is engaged in research & development.

Prof. Naqvi says: “Living and working in Saudi Arabia has been a wonderful experience. The proximity of two Holy Cities is a constant source of blessing and has no parallel”. He continues: “Teaching physical sciences to young Saudis has been a stimulating experience. There is great potential in the Saudi youth. We are constantly seeing snippets of this aptitude in headlines all the time. I do see “Saudi youth as future leaders of the Ummah”. They should get higher education and strive to excel in all fields”. Dr. Naqvi sees King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) as a hub to train and educate Saudi Arabia’s coming generations.

[Rohail A. Khanis a Senior Banker and CFO based at Jeddah. He is also Chairman, Urdu Academy International (UAI), Washington, D.C. He can be contacted at rohailkhan00@gmail.com]

Bhopal Hajj flights from Sept. 26, transit point at Taj-ul-Masajid from Sept. 23

September 21, 2013, 2:04 pm

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By Pervez Bari

Bhopal: Direct Hajj-2013 flights from Bhopal will start from September 26 and the last flight from the city to Jeddah would take off on October 1.

Preparations at war-footing are underway at the historic Taj-ul-Masajid campus, which is being turned into Hajj Transit Camp in the absence of a regular Hajj House in Bhopal. It may be mentioned here that after long last the Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), ruled Madhya Pradesh Government has sanctioned Bhopal Hajj House and it is under construction about two kilometres away from the airport.

Necessary arrangements are being made at Bhopal Hajj Transit Point to provide better facilities to pilgrims for Hajj-2013 and sending them to embarkation point. Arrival of Hajj pilgrims and their families at Hajj Transit Camp on premises of Taj-ul-Masajid will commence from September 23. First Hajj flight from Bhopal's Raja Bhoj Airport will take off for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on September 26. The last flight will take off on October 1. All necessary arrangements have been made to facilitate Hajj pilgrims at Hajj Transit Camp for sending to Bhopal airport. For this, responsibility has been entrusted to various departments.

All arrangements regarding Hajj Transit Camp and sending Hajj pilgrims to Bhopal airport will be completed by September 22. Bhopal Municipal Corporation is constructing temporary toilets and bathrooms in the camp premises. Daily bus facility will be available for carrying Hajj pilgrims from transit camp to the airport. Arrangements of trucks have also been made to carry luggage of pilgrims to airport. Responsibility for security arrangements, parking, traffic control, metal detector and installation of other security equipments has been entrusted to Bhopal Superintendent of Police. Custom Commissioner and DIG Immigration have been given responsibility of complete formalities of customs and immigration before departure of pilgrims for Hajj.

Director, Airport Authority of India, Bhopal will ensure arrangements for Hajj pilgrims at the airport and regulate flights as per directives of Central Hajj Committee and Foreign Ministry. Besides, free parking facility will also be provided for people who will come to see off pilgrims. Arrangements of canopy, place to offer Namaz, drinking water, seating, toilet etc. will also be made outside the airport for such visitors. Security of Hajj pilgrims at the airport will be ensured by Deputy Commandant CISF.

Manager of Air India will manage flights. Arrangements of doctors, necessary medicines, medicare and other necessary facilities for Hajj pilgrims have been made at Raja Bhoj Airport from 3 hours before till flight take-off. Its responsibility has been entrusted to Chief Medical & Health Officer, Bairagarh, Bhopal.

Various departments have been made responsible to ensure lighting arrangements, medical camp, 24-hour ambulance, medicare, generator, sanitation, drinking water facility, bathroom & toilet, deployment of fire brigade etc.

[Pervez Bariis a senior Journalist based at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. He is associated with IndianMuslimObserver.com as Bureau Chief (Madhya Pradesh). He can be contacted at pervezbari@eh.net]