VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH

VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH

Volume 30, May 31, 2008
St. Louis, Missouri

Editors: Mohamed and Rashida Ziauddin

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful

PART I:

APPEAL TO OUR SPECIAL BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM LONDON:

"Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

A BUFFET FOR BURMA (Myanmar) with Ustadh Abu Muntasir (JIMAS)

Date: Saturday 31st May 2008

Time: 6.30 pm - 9.00 pm

Venue: Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial Street, Aldgate, London, E1 6LS

With up to 1000 years of Islamic heritage, the history, culture and environment of Burma make it a very unique and rich country. Unfortunately many of its people have been living in poverty and the recent cyclone has brought further suffering to their lives. Come and taste authentic Burmese cuisine with recipes from some of the various Burmese Muslim communities, including Rohingyas, Panthay, Pashus, Kamans and Myedu. And while you are stimulating your taste buds, learn more about the beautiful story of Islam's journey to the heart of Burma and how Burmese Muslims have been particularly affected by the current regime. Ustadh Abu Muntasir, who knows the country well, will remind us of the importance of charity during times of disaster and relate some of his personal experiences of the region.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to Burma Aid - a not for profit company in the process of UK charity registration; Registration number - 06591979.

All are welcome but please book your seat in advance".

For registration and more information contact: Tel: 07511 684 263

E-mail: info@burma-aid.org

Website: www.burma-aid.org

Wassalaam 'alaikum wa rahmatullaah.

Burma Aid Tel: 07511 684 263

E-mail: info@burma-aid.org Website: www.burma-aid.org"


PART II:

May 18, 2008 (www.whitehouse.gov)

President Bush Attends World Economic Forum
Sharm el Sheikh International Congress Center
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

"There are people who claim that democracy is incompatible with Islam. But the truth is that democracies, by definition, make a place for people of religious belief. America is one of the most --is one of the world's leading democracies, and we're also one of the most religious nations in the world. More than three-quarters of our citizens believe in a higher power. Millions worship every week and pray every day. And they do so without fear of reprisal from the state. In our democracy, we would never punish a person for owning a Koran. We would never issue a death sentence to someone for converting to Islam. Democracy does not threaten Islam or any religion. Democracy is the only system of government that guarantees their protection" .

President George W Bush

PART III:

THE DEBATE OF HIJAB IN NORWAY: Sexuality is currently the most important gender equality issue. (Condensed version)*

Berit Gullikstad is a researcher at the Center for Gender Studies at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The debate surrounding the use of hijab may indicate that sexuality currently is the main gender equality issue, while economy appears to be of less importance. These are the words of Berit Gullikstad, who has analysed the Norwegian debate over hijab.

THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE:

Both sides argued that women ought to be free to decide for themselves. But what does that mean?

– Advocates of the ban claimed that Muslim women are forced to wear a headscarf, and that a ban would give them the right to choose.

-The opponents, on the other hand, said that women with hijab should be considered as independent individuals who make their own choices and deserve respect. From this Viewpoint, a ban would deny women the right to decide for themselves, says Gullikstad.

The debate clearly accentuates the perception of gender equality as a trademark of the Norwegian identity, says Gullikstad. – Categorisations were central to the debate. While advocates of the ban assumed the position of “free and equal”, women with hijab were stamped as “subdued” and feeble. The women argued that they too were free, and stressed that a ban in reality would prevent them from working. Filing complaints when suspended from jobs is a testament to the women’s drive and awareness of their rights, says Gullikstad.

THE RIGHT TO WORK:

The right to be economically independent has traditionally been important to the Norwegian women’s movement and closely linked to the notion of gender equality. Gullikstad is surprised that this element received so little attention throughout the debate, despite the fact that what sparked the Norwegian debate was the suspension of Ambreen Pervez.

Pervez was fired from a furniture store on the grounds that her headscarf violated their dress code policy. She filed a complaint with the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud and won her job back. – Many self-proclaimed feminists avoided the question of what a ban would imply for Muslim women’s economic situation. This makes me wonder: Has economic independence lost its importance to ethnic Norwegian feminists? If so, why, asks Gullikstad, who presents one theory: The debate over hijab may suggest that sexuality currently is the most important gender equality issue.

SEXUALITY = FEMININITY:

According to Gullikstad, sexuality was a focal point on both sides of the debate. Those in favour of the ban argued that the headscarf is an unacceptable means of curbing women’s sexuality, and hence oppressive. The opponents, not least Muslim women, claimed that the headscarf is liberating. With the headscarf you are seen as a person, not mainly as an object of desire. There is a similar understanding of sexuality in the debate over teenage girls’ way of dressing. Some schools want to ban see-through trousers and bare stomachs, both to protect the girls and to avoid male teachers feeling like voyeurs. – With this kind of argumentation sexuality equals women’s skin, hair and figure. It is taken for granted that men feel desire when met with this femininity. Hence, sexuality is turned into “nature” both for women and men. Men’s sexuality is viewed as outside their own control, and something women must consider when they choose outfits, says Gullikstad.

WHAT IS EQUALIZED SEXUALITY ?

Her analysis of this issue has shown that the question is how to do sexuality in order to be categorised as “equal, claims Gullikstad.

– How available can and must the female body be in order to be “equal” and at the same time “appropriate”? One of the battles of the debate was where this line should be drawn, she says.

– Gullikstad adds: "I find it particularly interesting that, except for the issue of women in leading positions, the debate surrounding gender equality today revolves primarily around ”the others”. As my analysis of the debate over hijab shows, this is an area where our society still has a lot of work to do with regards to gender equality" .

PART IV:

IS BELOW A NEW FORM OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN OR JUST A FASHION SHOW (After all, the body is covered)?

Islamic fashion set to be the Next Big Thing:

Picture "women's Islamic dress."

If you imagined a plain, black burqa, or even a black abaya accompanied by a niqab, you may be envisaging an outfit that could soon be a relic of the past. That's because the Islamic women's fashion industry around the world is taking off—in a big way. Aside from introducing abayas decorated with crystal beads, pearls, embroidery, satin flowers and other colorful adornments, designers are introducing dramatic new styles, fabrics, and colors to Islamic dress. For instance, British designer Sophia Kara offers an outfit composed of a "hooded abaya with a matching niqab, or face veil, in shocking pink over a salwar, or loose pants, printed with an ornate English floral motif" as part of her Imaan Collections. High-end designers including Hermés and Gucci are also trying to break into the Muslim market with scarves and other products.

What's the attraction? Perhaps it's about encouraging women to "experiment ... with ways to feel happy about themselves while holding on proudly to their faith," as Raja Rezza Shah, entrepreneur and director of the Islamic Fashion Festival, says. Perhaps even more than that, it's about the bottom line: The global Muslim fashion industry is estimated to be worth at least $96 billion, assuming that half the world's 1.6 billion Muslims dress modestly, and that they spend $120 a year (a conservative estimate) on this type of clothing. Some outfits even sell for $10,000—which is not all that surprising considering that several of the key markets for Islamic fashion include oil-rich states like the United Arab Emirates—and Muslim fashion shows have have been held in places from Tehran to Jakarta to the United States.

"Islamic fashion is also not just restricted to Muslims. As with the burqini (Burkha + Bikini), which has gained popularity amongst non-Muslims, Muslim styles have begun to influence European street fashion. I'm willing to bet that this is an industry that's got a pretty bright future".

ISLAMIC FASHION SHOW IN IRAN

Just have a look at the traditional and contemporary Iranian designs of Islamic wear: An Islamic fashion event was organized where Muslima models walked down the ramp swaying their hips to the traditional music, and showing off the designer apparels to the enthusiastic female crowd.

ISLAMIC FASHION SHOW IN BERLIN, GERMANY

The presentation by German and Germany-based
Turkish designers is organized for Muslim women
and is the first such event in Germany, according
to the culture workshop.

Berlin Islamic Fashion Show: A model presents a wedding dress by Turkish designer Muhterem Cen during the 'Walk of Islam' fashion show in Berlin.

ISLAMIC FASHION SHOW IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Despite the ban on headscarves, many young Turkish women continue to embrace Islamic dress, as was apparent at a recent Islamic women's fashion show in Istanbul

PART V:

IS BELOW AN EXAGGERATION ?

May 28, 2008

According to "Religious trends and our religious future," from the CHURCH OF ENGLAND NEWS, UK will be "Islamic nation" in 2038. "

"If recent reports of trends in religious observance prove to be correct, then in some 30 years the mosque will be able to claim that, religiously speaking, the UK is an Islamic nation, and therefore needs a share in any religious establishment to reflect this. The progress of conservative Islam in the UK has been amazing, and it has come at a time of prolonged decline in church attendance that seems likely to continue. This progress has been enthusiastically assisted by this government in particular with its hard-line multi-cultural dogma and willingness to concede to virtually every demand made by Muslims".

PART VI:

GLOBAL UMMAH'S "SWAT" TEAM SPOTS AN IMAM'S UN-ISLAMIC VERBAL BEHAVIOR:

Tehran, 27 May (AKI) - A top Iranian cleric from the northeast, Ayatollah Ahmad Elmalhoda, has reportedly called feminists "whores and foreign spies".

"These whores, clutching a piece of paper in their hands to gather signatures, are working for foreign powers and want to destabilize the Islamic Republic," said Elmalhoda. He is the highly influential prayer leader in the northeastern holy Shia city of Mashad. Elmalhoda has called on the government to "intervene decisively against these whores, because it is improper to leave them to act with impunity."

(ED NOTE: One of the criteria to judge what is Islamic or unislamic behavior is to view it in context of what would our loving Prophet Mohammed (SAW) have told in similar situation. Based on the gems of hadith and Holy Quran, it looks unlikely that feminists would be given above derogatory names. We support feminists in terms of their efforts to work on equality in terms of equal pay for same work and other related issues. We however urge them to have an open mind to better understand Islam. If they also resort to condemning Islam based on misinformation and prejudice, then there is no difference between the above Imam's irresponsible statements and their own Islamophobic statements).

As usual, feel free to e-mail your valuable comments to info@mehrunyusuficds.com.