VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH
Volume 180, April 24, 2011
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful
Editors: Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin
Volume 180, April 24, 2011
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful
Editors: Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin
(www.xeniagreekmuslimah.wordpress.com)
EDITORIAL:
Muslim immigrants in the western countries share common challenges in their day to day life in terms of making a balance of maintaining their Islamic identity while at the same time trying to integrate in their adopted home country. We encourage Muslims to increase their participation in the civic & social aspects and be a contributing member in their local communities. They need to ask themselves whether it is possible for them to voluntarily contribute their services in their local community and if yes, then in what productive ways ?
Certain Muslims prefer to be literally in their own shell and not be an active member of their local community for various reasons. How many times have Muslims invited non-Muslims to their homes ? How many times have our Muslim brothers and sisters volunteered in local social service activities for the benefit of their local communities ? How many times have the local Islamic Centers organized open houses inviting non-Muslims to visit and answer their questions ? What have Muslims done in their personal lives and interaction with non-Muslims in their local communities to truly represent themselves as ambassadors of Islam ?
In this E-Zine and in the next issue, we would like to focus on Muslims in Europe & North America and also on issues pertaining to injustice perpetrated by extremists. In our discussion about Muslims in Europe, we include all Muslims including immigrants, non-immigrants and native Muslims. Below articles relating to Muslims in Europe was obtained from www.islamineurope.blogspot.com
PART I
MUSLIMS IN EUROPE:
GERMANY:
GERMANY:
(ED NOTE: We applaud below plan of German Minister of Education Annette Schavan)
BERLIN TO APPOINT IMAMS TO TEACH ISLAM IN SCHOOLS
Ennaharonline
13 April, 2011
BERLIN:
The German Minister of Education Annette Schavan wants imams teach courses in Islamic religions in schools, in an interview with the weekly Die Zeit to be published Thursday.
In Germany, where church and state are not separate, the schools provide religious instruction, Catholic or Protestant to students.
They could be "used in schools" at halftime, as "priests," said Schavan to Die Zeit. She nevertheless conditioned their hiring that they are trained at university in Germany.
Four new institutes devoted to Islamic theology are being created in the universities of Tübingen (southwest), Erlangen (south), Osnabrück / Münster (west) and Frankfurt (center), with support from the Department of research.
Between 3.8 and 4.3 million Muslims (45% have German nationality) currently living in Germany with 82 million inhabitants. The Turks form the largest community with 2.5 million people.
Like most European countries, Germany, with one third of Catholics, Protestants and all the rest being of another religion or no religion, is confronted with the thorny issue of integration of this population.
According to a study published by Die Zeit in December, two out of five Germans feel threatened by Islam, more than the French, Dutch, Danish or Portuguese.
Ennaharonline
UNITED KINGDOM
(ED NOTE: As we had indicated in the past, Muslims in the UK are leaders for Muslims in the West in terms of offering a vast array of services, trainings, programs etc. Even Muslims from US and Canada have a lot to learn and emulate from Muslims in UK. Below course for Muslim female youth are long overdue and we hope similar programs are developed in other western countries too).
LONDON: NEW COURSE FOR MUSLIM FEMALE YOUTH WORKERS
14 Apr 2011
Via the Guardian:
Today, Hassan is 26, and she's a youth worker at the Froud Community Centre in Manor Park in east London, providing today's female Muslim teenagers with exactly the sort of support that wasn't there for her.
"And the thing is that it's a lot harder for them than it was in my day," she says. "There are so many issues for young people today – sex, abortion, drugs, alcohol. All issues it's very, very hard for Muslim teenagers to sort out, girls especially. So I think youth workers like me are more needed than they've ever been."
Hassan has worked at the Froud Centre for the last three years, but over the last year, her work has been enhanced by a level 2 certificate (equivalent to GCSE) in youth and community work. To get that, she took part in a course designed specifically for Muslim women, believed by its organisers, the east London social action charity Aston-Mansfield, to be the first of its kind in the UK.
The six-month course, which is partly funded by Barclays Capital and aimed at Muslim women over the age of 21, involves three hours' tuition a week, delivered at the YMCA George Williams College in Canning Town, east London, and a minimum of 80 hours at a placement in a youth setting, which students have to find for themselves.
"By the end of the third course next year, we hope to have provided around 50 new youth workers, all Muslim women," says the course tutor, Firzana Khan.
"Almost all of them will go into or remain in youth work – and for some, the qualification will lead them to go on to a degree, and to perhaps eventually train other youth workers."
Khan estimates that around a quarter of Newham's residents are Muslim, yet Islamic youth workers are seriously under-represented – women especially.
"It's to do with social and cultural pressures, and it's a real tragedy that there aren't more Muslim women youth workers, because it means there aren't enough role models for Muslim teenage girls, and that's what we're hoping our course can change. Many teenagers in Newham have mothers who grew up in Asia, in very different cultures, and with very different aspirations. We want to help today's Muslim youngsters through a set of choices that's very different from the set of choices their parents had."
POLAND:
(ED NOTE:
We support below statements from Grand Mufti and regard suicide bombers as a cancerous growth within the Global Ummah. It is really sad and unfortunate that Islamic leaders in their Friday speeches are not being aggressive enough to condemn such "COWARDLY ACTS" which has thus far killed thousands of innocent, men, women and children. Their total disregard to value of human life directly contradicts what is mentioned in Holy Quran in terms of taking one life is equal to taking the lives of the entire humanity.)
We support below statements from Grand Mufti and regard suicide bombers as a cancerous growth within the Global Ummah. It is really sad and unfortunate that Islamic leaders in their Friday speeches are not being aggressive enough to condemn such "COWARDLY ACTS" which has thus far killed thousands of innocent, men, women and children. Their total disregard to value of human life directly contradicts what is mentioned in Holy Quran in terms of taking one life is equal to taking the lives of the entire humanity.)
GRAND MUFTI DECLARES SUICIDE BOMBINGS "HARAM", OFFERS TO MEDIATE IN PAKISTAN.
April 12, 2011
(www.islamblog.com)
I think this is the first time that a European Muslim says radicalism and terrorism in the Muslim world should be dealt with since they reflect back on European Muslims. Or in other words, that Muslim terrorism is cause for 'Islamophobia'.
Via the News International:
Mufti Tomasz Miskiewicz, head of the Muslim Religious Union (MRU) in Poland, visited Pakistan from April 4-10. The Mufti, who graduated from the Institute of Teaching Arabic Language for Foreigners and studied Theology at Islamic University of Madina in Saudi Arabia, met Pakistani officials and delivered lectures at the International Islamic University and Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad during his stay.
He was accompanied by his wife, who is the project manager of the MRU and accompanies him on his official visits.
She speaks fluent English and was charming and friendly, answering questions and giving information that was very helpful in getting to know the Muslim community in her country.
After being introduced by Dr. Andrezej Ananicz, the new ambassador of Poland, briefing media persons about the visit of Mufti Miskiewicz, said he had a fruitful visit and exchanged views with various scholars and heads of religious institutions. In reply to questions by media persons, he said suicide bombings were ‘haram’ because suicide was forbidden in Islam and killing innocent persons a crime.
He said he has offered to play the role of a mediator between religious extremists and authorities in Pakistan. He believes extremist violence in Pakistan is giving a bad name to Muslim minorities in Europe.
He was accompanied by his wife, who is the project manager of the MRU and accompanies him on his official visits.
She speaks fluent English and was charming and friendly, answering questions and giving information that was very helpful in getting to know the Muslim community in her country.
After being introduced by Dr. Andrezej Ananicz, the new ambassador of Poland, briefing media persons about the visit of Mufti Miskiewicz, said he had a fruitful visit and exchanged views with various scholars and heads of religious institutions. In reply to questions by media persons, he said suicide bombings were ‘haram’ because suicide was forbidden in Islam and killing innocent persons a crime.
He said he has offered to play the role of a mediator between religious extremists and authorities in Pakistan. He believes extremist violence in Pakistan is giving a bad name to Muslim minorities in Europe.
MUSLIM MAJORITY KOSOVO
KOSOVO: FEMALE POLICE CHIEF ELECTED AS NEW PRESIDENT
11 Apr 2011
Via Deutsche Welle:
Kosovo's parliament has elected Atifete Jahjaga, the female deputy chief of the country's police force, as president in an emergency session.
She replaced the former head of state, Behgjet Pacolli, after his appointment was ruled unconstitutional last month.
Jahjaga's swift appointment on Thursday, mediated by the United States, took place within 24 hours of her nomination. It put an end to a political stalemate and averted the threat of an enforced snap election.
The 35-year-old secured the position with 80 votes in the 120-member parliament, with only 100 members voting.
As she was sworn in, Jahjaga spoke of her desire for Kosovo to secure a better future and gain EU membership.
"I believe and I am convinced our dreams will come true," she said in her first speech to parliament.
BELGIUM:
(ED NOTE:
We are strong supporters of Muslims entering and actively participating and being leaders in the political arena.)
FORMER MP RUNNING FOR TURKISH PARLIAMENT
15 Apr 2011
Via HLN and Wikipedia:
Cemal Cavdarli, former Belgian MP, wants to represent the Turkish AKP, according to Tanguy Veys of Vlaams Belang. Cavdarli is fourth on the party's list for the Eskisehir Province for the upcoming elections. In the last elections the AKP won three of the six seats in the province.
Cavdarli, Imam of the Great Mosque of Ghent, represented the SP.A (Socialists) in the Belgian parliament between 2003 and 2007.
In the 2010 federal elections he was an election candidate for the conservative Lijst Dedecker (LDD) in East Flanders, but was not elected.
The LDD say Cavdarli is not a member of the party and never was, and shouldn't count on being a candidate for the party in the future.
Cavdarli, Imam of the Great Mosque of Ghent, represented the SP.A (Socialists) in the Belgian parliament between 2003 and 2007.
In the 2010 federal elections he was an election candidate for the conservative Lijst Dedecker (LDD) in East Flanders, but was not elected.
The LDD say Cavdarli is not a member of the party and never was, and shouldn't count on being a candidate for the party in the future.
PART II
NORTH AMERICA:
UNITED STATES:
Upset Over Nothing: Salon.com debunks latest Sharia scare
05 Apr 2011 (www.loonwatch.com)
Anti-Sharia propaganda is a load of BS Justin Elliot of Salon.com has been on point in his reporting over the last few months of the hysterics of the Islamophobes. He deserves massive credit for going to experts (i.e. people with actual credentials to discuss a certain topic) on Islam and Islamic law to find out the truth of these matters.
Here, Elliot discusses a recent case in Florida where Islamic law was used in the ruling of a civil dispute between two groups of Muslims with Cyra Choudhury of Florida International University College of Law. The verdict: these types of cases happen all the time in American courts.
In addition, Muslim Americans are not the only ones who use their religious law to draw up contracts between themselves. In fact, Americans Christians and Jews have done this throughout American legal history without so much as a peep that their religious law was going to overcome the U.S. Constitution.
For all of the jingoism and pretentious patriotism that these loons display, they do not know much about how their own legal system operates. The freedom of contract allows Americans to resolve their disputes through any law they want to contract upon. If two Americans want to make a contract based upon Sharia or French law, then they have the right to do it and courts will hold them to that contract based upon the law they freely contracted upon.
However, criminal law is already established by each state – so there will never be the stoning to death of an adulterer or the amputation of a thief’s hand for theft. Why? Because criminal penalties cannot be arbitrated between individuals – they are matters of the state. But don’t expect the Islamophobes to know any of this. They’re too caught up in either being afraid of a threat that does not exist or are intentionally ignoring these facts for the sake of drumming up hostility against Muslims.
Salon.com – Debunking the latest Sharia scare by Justin Elliot
The movement to ban the use of sharia in the United States continues to grow, even as its proponents struggle to find examples of Islamic law posing a threat to the American way of life. Anti-sharia activists have now resorted to focusing on an obscure Florida civil lawsuit called Mansour vs. Islamic Education Center of Tampa.
The case, which has been elevated to cause celebre status in the right-wing blogosphere involves a mundane financial disagreement between two factions of the Islamic organization. But in a ruling in the case last month, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Richard Nielsen wrote a sentence that has been seized on by anti-sharia activists: “This case will proceed under Ecclesiastical Islamic Law.” On the surface that may sound odd. And, indeed, the typical right-wing reaction has gone something like this: “A Florida judge ruled that a Muslim v. Muslim case can proceed under sharia law. I’m being unbelievably serious here! This kind of crap is why I drink, which would get me beheaded under sharia law. ”
Ironically, Nielsen is a registered Republican and Jeb Bushappointee. And as it turns out, the case is entirely routine, according to Cyra Akila Choudhury, a professor at the College of Law at Florida International University who has been following the case closely. Nevertheless, the uproar over the case is “already bolstering the political prospects of an [anti-sharia] bill being considered by the Florida legislature,” Politico reported.
I spoke with Choudhury to find out more about the case and why it’s not at all cause for alarm. The following transcript of our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
What is the dispute that led to this ruling?
The dispute is between two factions of an Islamic organization, the Islamic Education Center of Tampa, and centers on control of money that was given to them by the government through an eminent domain taking. It was about $2.2 million in this taking, so the controversy arose over who was going to control the proceeds from the settlement. As the lawsuit was moving along, the parties agreed to arbitrate, and the arbitrator would be a Muslim law scholar, an a’lim. That is somebody who is well-versed in Islamic law and would settle the dispute in terms of Islamic law principles.
Who are the two parties?
They’re different factions of this organization. In January, the side that emerged victorious from the arbitration filed a motion asking the court to essentially enforce the decision of the arbitrator. Arbitration is an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, in which parties decide not to go into court and not litigate. The rules that apply are chosen by both parties in the agreement. We do lots of arbitration in this country. We apply all kinds of laws, we have many religious mechanisms; for instance, the Jewish community has the beth din. That is basically an alternative court that applies Jewish law and performs litigation with regards to all kinds of civil disputes. It’s very common, and it has existed for many years. In this Florida case, the judge’s ruling is getting all the attention. When he uses the line “this case will proceed under ecclesiastical Islamic law,” what is that actually about? What the ruling put very simply was, “You agreed to these rules, and the court is bound to apply them.”
It isn’t about who wins. The arbitrator has already decided who wins. The judge’s role in the conflict is to enforce or to set aside the arbitration result. It is very difficult to set aside an arbitration result. You have to show that there was some sort of impropriety in the procedure. Did the judge decide that the arbitrated agreement should or shouldn’t be enforced? It’s still out. He still has to hear evidence about the process.
The decision says “the court will require further testimony to determine whether the Islamic resolution procedures have been followed in this matter.” So it’s clear from this that one side is resisting enforcement based on some challenge of improper procedure. The judge has to hear evidence on that. This is very similar to many other arbitration scenarios. You can pick for your arbitration any set of laws that both parties agree to — within reason. It’s really a contractual matter. You’re entering into a contract with the other side to arbitrate your disagreement, and you agree upon the rules, and the arbitrator applies those rules. So for instance sharia law in this case simply applies the ecclesiastical religious law of the two parties.
This is a conflict around a religious institution. It’s not a dispute between say, a Muslim property owner and his Christian or Jewish neighbor — but even there, if they agreed to use sharia law, that would be enforced. What do you make of the intense reaction to this decision around the country? It has been peculiar. What the judge did was extremely noncontroversial, particularly when it comes to religious organizations. It happens all the time. It happens with regards to the Jewish mediation and arbitration, it happens with arbitration that has used foreign law. What’s disheartening about this is the level of misinformation and the level of ignorance about our own legal system that has been propagated by people who either have an agenda or simply do not understand what we do in the civil system.
This really is fundamentally about our right to contract. If we unsettle arbitration rules on the grounds that we don’t like a law that somebody is agreeing to arbitrate under, we’re going to have a lot of problems when it comes to all kinds of other contractual arbitration clauses that call for foreign law. In a place like Florida, for example, with Latin America on its doorstep, there’s so much business done with Latin American countries. There’s currently an anti-sharia bill in the Florida legislature. If a law like that passed, how would it effect a situation like this? The way that the Florida measure is written, it would only prevent the application of foreign law if that foreign law did not guarantee the constitutional rights of the litigators.
So essentially it creates a floor. It creates our state constitutional rights as a floor and says you cannot apply foreign law in any arbitration proceeding if that foreign law will work to deny the rights provided by the constitution of the state. Which is an incredible waste of time. Our laws are already the laws of the land. If you ask the lawmakers, “Has there ever been a situation in which sharia has been applied in a way that is antithetical to our public policy?”
The answer is always no. It’s a fundamental misapprehension of our legal system to believe this can actually happen. People are writing on the blogosphere “Judge Nielsen is pro-sharia law, what’s next? Stoning of women?! Chopping off heads?!” We have a criminal system of law in the United States. The state prosecutes criminals under state criminal law. It’s never going to apply Jordanian law in the United States. That would never happen. You have to be completely ignorant to make these claims, unless you’re making them opportunistically in order to fan the flames of bigotry.
Here, Elliot discusses a recent case in Florida where Islamic law was used in the ruling of a civil dispute between two groups of Muslims with Cyra Choudhury of Florida International University College of Law. The verdict: these types of cases happen all the time in American courts.
In addition, Muslim Americans are not the only ones who use their religious law to draw up contracts between themselves. In fact, Americans Christians and Jews have done this throughout American legal history without so much as a peep that their religious law was going to overcome the U.S. Constitution.
For all of the jingoism and pretentious patriotism that these loons display, they do not know much about how their own legal system operates. The freedom of contract allows Americans to resolve their disputes through any law they want to contract upon. If two Americans want to make a contract based upon Sharia or French law, then they have the right to do it and courts will hold them to that contract based upon the law they freely contracted upon.
However, criminal law is already established by each state – so there will never be the stoning to death of an adulterer or the amputation of a thief’s hand for theft. Why? Because criminal penalties cannot be arbitrated between individuals – they are matters of the state. But don’t expect the Islamophobes to know any of this. They’re too caught up in either being afraid of a threat that does not exist or are intentionally ignoring these facts for the sake of drumming up hostility against Muslims.
Salon.com – Debunking the latest Sharia scare by Justin Elliot
The movement to ban the use of sharia in the United States continues to grow, even as its proponents struggle to find examples of Islamic law posing a threat to the American way of life. Anti-sharia activists have now resorted to focusing on an obscure Florida civil lawsuit called Mansour vs. Islamic Education Center of Tampa.
The case, which has been elevated to cause celebre status in the right-wing blogosphere involves a mundane financial disagreement between two factions of the Islamic organization. But in a ruling in the case last month, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Richard Nielsen wrote a sentence that has been seized on by anti-sharia activists: “This case will proceed under Ecclesiastical Islamic Law.” On the surface that may sound odd. And, indeed, the typical right-wing reaction has gone something like this: “A Florida judge ruled that a Muslim v. Muslim case can proceed under sharia law. I’m being unbelievably serious here! This kind of crap is why I drink, which would get me beheaded under sharia law. ”
Ironically, Nielsen is a registered Republican and Jeb Bushappointee. And as it turns out, the case is entirely routine, according to Cyra Akila Choudhury, a professor at the College of Law at Florida International University who has been following the case closely. Nevertheless, the uproar over the case is “already bolstering the political prospects of an [anti-sharia] bill being considered by the Florida legislature,” Politico reported.
I spoke with Choudhury to find out more about the case and why it’s not at all cause for alarm. The following transcript of our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
What is the dispute that led to this ruling?
The dispute is between two factions of an Islamic organization, the Islamic Education Center of Tampa, and centers on control of money that was given to them by the government through an eminent domain taking. It was about $2.2 million in this taking, so the controversy arose over who was going to control the proceeds from the settlement. As the lawsuit was moving along, the parties agreed to arbitrate, and the arbitrator would be a Muslim law scholar, an a’lim. That is somebody who is well-versed in Islamic law and would settle the dispute in terms of Islamic law principles.
Who are the two parties?
They’re different factions of this organization. In January, the side that emerged victorious from the arbitration filed a motion asking the court to essentially enforce the decision of the arbitrator. Arbitration is an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, in which parties decide not to go into court and not litigate. The rules that apply are chosen by both parties in the agreement. We do lots of arbitration in this country. We apply all kinds of laws, we have many religious mechanisms; for instance, the Jewish community has the beth din. That is basically an alternative court that applies Jewish law and performs litigation with regards to all kinds of civil disputes. It’s very common, and it has existed for many years. In this Florida case, the judge’s ruling is getting all the attention. When he uses the line “this case will proceed under ecclesiastical Islamic law,” what is that actually about? What the ruling put very simply was, “You agreed to these rules, and the court is bound to apply them.”
It isn’t about who wins. The arbitrator has already decided who wins. The judge’s role in the conflict is to enforce or to set aside the arbitration result. It is very difficult to set aside an arbitration result. You have to show that there was some sort of impropriety in the procedure. Did the judge decide that the arbitrated agreement should or shouldn’t be enforced? It’s still out. He still has to hear evidence about the process.
The decision says “the court will require further testimony to determine whether the Islamic resolution procedures have been followed in this matter.” So it’s clear from this that one side is resisting enforcement based on some challenge of improper procedure. The judge has to hear evidence on that. This is very similar to many other arbitration scenarios. You can pick for your arbitration any set of laws that both parties agree to — within reason. It’s really a contractual matter. You’re entering into a contract with the other side to arbitrate your disagreement, and you agree upon the rules, and the arbitrator applies those rules. So for instance sharia law in this case simply applies the ecclesiastical religious law of the two parties.
This is a conflict around a religious institution. It’s not a dispute between say, a Muslim property owner and his Christian or Jewish neighbor — but even there, if they agreed to use sharia law, that would be enforced. What do you make of the intense reaction to this decision around the country? It has been peculiar. What the judge did was extremely noncontroversial, particularly when it comes to religious organizations. It happens all the time. It happens with regards to the Jewish mediation and arbitration, it happens with arbitration that has used foreign law. What’s disheartening about this is the level of misinformation and the level of ignorance about our own legal system that has been propagated by people who either have an agenda or simply do not understand what we do in the civil system.
This really is fundamentally about our right to contract. If we unsettle arbitration rules on the grounds that we don’t like a law that somebody is agreeing to arbitrate under, we’re going to have a lot of problems when it comes to all kinds of other contractual arbitration clauses that call for foreign law. In a place like Florida, for example, with Latin America on its doorstep, there’s so much business done with Latin American countries. There’s currently an anti-sharia bill in the Florida legislature. If a law like that passed, how would it effect a situation like this? The way that the Florida measure is written, it would only prevent the application of foreign law if that foreign law did not guarantee the constitutional rights of the litigators.
So essentially it creates a floor. It creates our state constitutional rights as a floor and says you cannot apply foreign law in any arbitration proceeding if that foreign law will work to deny the rights provided by the constitution of the state. Which is an incredible waste of time. Our laws are already the laws of the land. If you ask the lawmakers, “Has there ever been a situation in which sharia has been applied in a way that is antithetical to our public policy?”
The answer is always no. It’s a fundamental misapprehension of our legal system to believe this can actually happen. People are writing on the blogosphere “Judge Nielsen is pro-sharia law, what’s next? Stoning of women?! Chopping off heads?!” We have a criminal system of law in the United States. The state prosecutes criminals under state criminal law. It’s never going to apply Jordanian law in the United States. That would never happen. You have to be completely ignorant to make these claims, unless you’re making them opportunistically in order to fan the flames of bigotry.
PART III
EXTREMISTS RAISE THEIR UGLY HEAD AGAIN:
(ED NOTE:
As we had indicated in the past, extremists of all religions and nationalities are a unique dysfunctional group by themselves. We would like to make it clear that when it comes to discrimination and injustice, we are not Islamic-centric. For those who accuse us of moving away from the interests of Muslims, we plead "NOT GUILTY" and would like to seek protection from the commandment of Allah in the Holy Quran: "MANKIND IS BUT ONE COMMUNITY". Injustice is injustice, usually there are no two interpretations about it. In below examples of extremism, you will note that we have highlighted injustices against people of all three major faiths - Islam, Christianity and Judaism. We appeal for people of all faiths to get together and work towards fighting against extremism perpetrated by extremists from our own religious backyard.)
FRANCE:
RISE IN ANTI-ARAB ATTACKS IN 2010
12 Apr 2011
Via Connexion:
RACIAL tolerance is receding in France according to a report by the Commission Nationale Consultative des Droits de l'Homme (CNCDH).
While the number of physical attacks on people based on race has dropped, the report concludes that "tolerance is receding and xenophobia is spreading".
In 2010, 886 racist incidents were reported, 165 which were violent, down 13.6% compared with 2009, according to figures from the Interior Ministry.
People of north African origin were the principle target, accounting for roughly a third of both violent and non-violent incidents.
"The year 2010 saw a rise in attacks on the Muslim community," said the CNCDH, an independent body which advises the government on human rights. Thirteen mosques and other centres were attacked compared to six in 2009.
While the number of physical attacks on people based on race has dropped, the report concludes that "tolerance is receding and xenophobia is spreading".
In 2010, 886 racist incidents were reported, 165 which were violent, down 13.6% compared with 2009, according to figures from the Interior Ministry.
People of north African origin were the principle target, accounting for roughly a third of both violent and non-violent incidents.
"The year 2010 saw a rise in attacks on the Muslim community," said the CNCDH, an independent body which advises the government on human rights. Thirteen mosques and other centres were attacked compared to six in 2009.
UNITED KINGDOM
Police appeal after Muslim attacked by schoolgirls in North Cheam
21st April 2011
www.suttonguardian.co.uk
A gang of schoolgirls attacked a Muslim woman after mocking her for wearing a headscarf.
Four teenage girls, two wearing school uniform, kicked and knocked the woman to the ground before trying to remove the item during the incident in North Cheam between 7pm and 9pm on Wednesday, April 13.
The 26-year-old was walking along Stonecot Hill towards London Road, near the territorial army centre, when she noticed she was being followed by the girls, who were teasing her about her headscarf.
One of the girls kicked her, before she crossed the road in an attempt to get away.
The girls caught up with the victim, kicked her again, and during a struggle to remove the victim’s headscarf, kicked her again after she fell to the ground.
The attackers fled after a car pulled over to help the woman. The driver then took the woman home.
Police are now appealing for information to catch those responsible.
One of the girls is described as 5ft 7in tall, of medium build with long blonde hair extending to her mid-back, and wearing a white shirt and navy skirt school uniform.
Another wearing the same uniform was 5ft 6in tall, with dyed red hair.
A third is described as Eastern European in appearance with small eyes.
Anyone with information should call Sutton Police Station on 0300 123 1212 and ask for the Community Safety Unit quoting reference number 4004250/11.
Four teenage girls, two wearing school uniform, kicked and knocked the woman to the ground before trying to remove the item during the incident in North Cheam between 7pm and 9pm on Wednesday, April 13.
The 26-year-old was walking along Stonecot Hill towards London Road, near the territorial army centre, when she noticed she was being followed by the girls, who were teasing her about her headscarf.
One of the girls kicked her, before she crossed the road in an attempt to get away.
The girls caught up with the victim, kicked her again, and during a struggle to remove the victim’s headscarf, kicked her again after she fell to the ground.
The attackers fled after a car pulled over to help the woman. The driver then took the woman home.
Police are now appealing for information to catch those responsible.
One of the girls is described as 5ft 7in tall, of medium build with long blonde hair extending to her mid-back, and wearing a white shirt and navy skirt school uniform.
Another wearing the same uniform was 5ft 6in tall, with dyed red hair.
A third is described as Eastern European in appearance with small eyes.
Anyone with information should call Sutton Police Station on 0300 123 1212 and ask for the Community Safety Unit quoting reference number 4004250/11.
BELGIUM:
TURKEY PROTESTS ANTI-IMMIGRANT POSTER
16th April 2011
World Bulletin / News Desk
The Turkish Embassy in Brussels has condemned a far-right party after it used posters depicting Turkish and Moroccan immigrants as a sheep being kicked out of Europe.
The poster was presented at a conference of the anti-immigrant Flaman Vlaams Belang party over the weekend. It features a white sheep that symbolizes European states exiling a red sheep with printed flags of Turkey and Morocco. It reportedly is based on a similar poster used earlier in another European country, Switzerland.
Turkish Ambassador to Belgium Murat Ersavcý said in a statement that Turkey condemned the poster, saying it was racist and xenophobic and that it stirs ethnic hatred.
“It thus constitutes a crime under Belgian law,” the ambassador said, underlining that Turkey was in contact with the Belgian Foreign Ministry and other authorities to express its objections over and seek action against the poster.
RUSSIA
Russia: Muftis indignant at imam's murder in Dagestan, accuse police of lack of action
April 11, 2011
In other news, three policemen and three Islamist militants were killed in clashes in the North Caucus Monday. Via Interfax: The All-Russian Muslim Board has called for stopping the killings of clerics in the North Caucasus.April 11, 2011
"Militants are openly threatening clerics, and clerics are killed in their own homes. What else must happen before practical steps are taken to stop the mass destruction of clerics?" head of the Board's Executive Committee Mufti Muhammedgali Huzin told the Interfax-Religion. He referred to the murder of mosque imam Magomed Saipulayev in the village of Yasnaya Polyana in the Kizlyar District of Dagestan last weekend. The National Counter Terrorist Committee said that the imam was known for his irreconcilable attitude to militants and was threatened many times.
BELGIUM: PIG'S HEAD BURIED UNDER CROSS ON BELGIUM MOSQUE SITE
www.expatica.com
www.expatica.com
Opponents of plans to build a mosque in a southern Belgian city partially buried the head of a pig under a Christian cross bearing the inscription: "Here Lies Mohamed." Xavier Godefroid, an official with the mayor's office in French-speaking Charleroi, told AFP Tuesday that the protesters' actions, with more offensive slogans plastered around the site, were "unacceptable, intolerable and disrespectful," adding that police had opened an investigation.
GREECE
2 arrested in Corfu synagogue arson case
(www.ynet.co.il)
2 arrested in Corfu synagogue arson case
(www.ynet.co.il)
(www.ynet.co.il)
(www.ynet.co.il)Less than 48 hours after unknown assailants break into Corfu synagogue, burn Torahs and Judaica, Greek security forces arrest two suspects and are examining terror connections as security around Israelis increased. For more details, check out: http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-4059127,00.html
(ED NOTE:
In the article below, Muslims have violated Allah's commandment in the Holy Quran; "THERE IS NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION").
In the article below, Muslims have violated Allah's commandment in the Holy Quran; "THERE IS NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION").
CHRISTIAN GIRLS FORCED TO CONVERT TO ISLAM IN PAKISTAN
www.cathnewsindia.com
April 15, 2011
Hundreds of Christian girls in Pakistan have been abducted, forced to convert to Islam, and raped or forced into marriages, according to a Fides news agency report.
“The Christian girls are the weakest and most vulnerable, because their communities are poor, defenseless and marginalized, therefore easily exposed to harassment and threats,” said a nun.
The nun, who hides girls who have escaped their captors, says often they do not even have the courage to denounce the violence.”
“The trend is worrying,” she added. “There are hundreds of cases a year registered, and those that come to light are only a fraction.”
These incidents have occurred mainly in Punjab province.
The Centre for Legal Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), which takes care of legal assistance for Christians who are discriminated against and persecuted in Pakistan, has confirmed the report.
Sidra Bibi, 14 year old Christian in the district of Sheikhupura in Punjab, is the daughter of a worker in the cotton industry. A Muslim from the village abducted and raped her before threatening her with death.
Physically and psychologically abused, the girl became pregnant. She managed to escape.
But police have refused to accept her complaint and now the CLAAS lawyers are handling the case.
Many other such cases have taken place where the girls were abducted, forced to marry and then convert to Islam, reports the agency.
The families of the girls, shocked, have reclaimed their daughters and the cases are currently before the High Court of Lahore, represented by lawyers provided by CLAAS.
“The Christian girls are the weakest and most vulnerable, because their communities are poor, defenseless and marginalized, therefore easily exposed to harassment and threats,” said a nun.
The nun, who hides girls who have escaped their captors, says often they do not even have the courage to denounce the violence.”
“The trend is worrying,” she added. “There are hundreds of cases a year registered, and those that come to light are only a fraction.”
These incidents have occurred mainly in Punjab province.
The Centre for Legal Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), which takes care of legal assistance for Christians who are discriminated against and persecuted in Pakistan, has confirmed the report.
Sidra Bibi, 14 year old Christian in the district of Sheikhupura in Punjab, is the daughter of a worker in the cotton industry. A Muslim from the village abducted and raped her before threatening her with death.
Physically and psychologically abused, the girl became pregnant. She managed to escape.
But police have refused to accept her complaint and now the CLAAS lawyers are handling the case.
Many other such cases have taken place where the girls were abducted, forced to marry and then convert to Islam, reports the agency.
The families of the girls, shocked, have reclaimed their daughters and the cases are currently before the High Court of Lahore, represented by lawyers provided by CLAAS.
INDIA
PEOPLE PROTESTING THE ATTACK ON CHILDREN HOMES IN MANGALORE
April 12, 2011
www.cathnewsindia.com
Thirty-seven groups belonging to all faiths have publicly condemned a pro-Hindu group’s attack on Christian-run homes for poor children in Karnataka.April 12, 2011
www.cathnewsindia.com
They deplored the new trend among Hindu fundamentalists to “train their guns” on students, especially those from these poor homes, alleging proselytization.
“There are more than 80,000 students studying in Christian schools in Mangalore. If every student was made a Christian by now India would have become a nation full of Christians”, said Vincent Alva, a Catholic leader.
“We may be Muslims or Christians but before that we are Indians,” said Muslim leader Ali Hasan, addressing nearly 4,000 people assembled on April 11 in front of the local district commissioner’s office in Mangalore.
Dalit leader Krishnananda D said Christians have donated their houses to establish schools but now the fundamentalists are stopping them from even imparting knowledge.
Since 2008 when the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party started ruling the southern state there have been at least 24 attacks on Christians and their institutions.
The police registered a number of criminal cases against Christians when they protested the attacks, but did nothing to safeguard them.
Since the beginning of April, many children from Christian-run shelters for poor returning home after exams have been stopped by Hindu activists and harassed.
These included children from Ebenezer Mercy Hall, a charitable home run by a Pentecostal Christian group, the Ashraya home run by a Catholic leader, and the Stella Maris Orphanage run by Apostolic Carmel nuns.
“The children were shocked and depressed when the fundamentalists threatened and questioned them. They even threatened the children with murder and removal of their kidneys”, said Sister Premalatha, one of the caretakers of Stella Maris Orphanage.
“Whatever the provocation, we will not stop working for the poor children,” said Sister Agatha Mary, Superior General of the Apostolic Carmel Congregation.
Mariamma Thomas, a Christian social activist, alleged that the police as well as child-welfare committees have joined hands with the fundamentalists in attacking children’s homes.
Asha Nayak, president of South Kanara District Child Welfare Committee said: ‘We inspect the records, registers, official permissions and files of the poor children homes as to protect them and their rights. That is our official duty.”
A memorandum for protection of the rights of minorities was sent to the Governor of the state.
ISRAEL
GAZA FAMILY GRIEVES FOLLOWING ISRAEL RAID
GAZA FAMILY GRIEVES FOLLOWING ISRAEL RAID
(ED NOTE:
One of the biggest political injustice in the contemporary period is the Israel occupation of Palestine. Inshallah Palestinians will one day have their own homeland and the global ummah's billion plus Muslims will wait for that auspicious & historical day. Below You Tube video reflects the pain that a father is going through after losing his wife and daughters in an Israeli airstrike.)
One of the biggest political injustice in the contemporary period is the Israel occupation of Palestine. Inshallah Palestinians will one day have their own homeland and the global ummah's billion plus Muslims will wait for that auspicious & historical day. Below You Tube video reflects the pain that a father is going through after losing his wife and daughters in an Israeli airstrike.)
THE END
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