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Former Bosnian Serb Leader Radovan Karadzic Captured, Ordered to UN Tribunal
A judge has ordered ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic handed over to the U.N. war crimes court to face charges of genocide and other atrocities against Muslims and Croats in his country, a Serbian prosecutor said Tuesday. A judge has ordered ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic handed over to the U.N. war crimes court to face charges of genocide and o... more
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Morocco: sending moderate preaches to fight extremism in Europe
Morocco's King Muhammed VI is to send moderate Muslim preachers in European countries to help the fight against extremism during the Holy month of Ramadan to address Mosques when they will be packed.
Morocco's religious affairs ministry has instructed preachers to:
"answer the religious needs of the Moroccan community abroad, to protect it from any speeches of extremism or irregular nature, and to shelter it from extremism and fanaticism"
Morocco held its annual sacred music festival this year with people from all faiths singing sacred music, and one with Islamic & Christian choir performing at the same time.
Morocco's King Muhammed VI is to send moderate Muslim preachers in European countries to help the fight against extremism during the H... more -
Mosque feeds 1, 000 needy Singaporians
Muslims worked together this weekend to provide Sunday lunch for people of races & religions at the Al-Iman Mosque in Bukit Panjang.
BLESSING TO ALL COMMITTEE
Soon after the Tsunami in 2004 Islamic Religious Council of Singapore and mosque heads set up a Blessings to All committee to help in humanitarian efforts. To date, it has raised $1.3 million for disaster victims in South Asia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Sichuan, China.
Yesterday the committee presented a $129,000 cheque to Mercy Relief for survivors of this year's cyclone in Myanmar and earthquake in China.
The committee encourages Mosques to make a difference in neighborhoods. Some Mosques now projects like running soup kitchens & beach clean ups.
RESPONSES
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said:
'Keep up the good work, to be good Muslims, good citizens, good neighbours!' he wrote in a note at the mosque, alongside comments from other well-wishers, who included representatives of major religions in Singapore.
Said Mr R. Bawajee of the Hindu Advisory Board: 'The promotion of sharing among communities facilitates inter-faith harmony.'
Muslims worked together this weekend to provide Sunday lunch for people of races & religions at the Al-Iman Mosque in Bukit Panjan... more -
Obama says New Yorker insulted Muslim Americans
CHICAGO (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday that the New Yorker magazine's satirical cover depicting him and his wife as flag-burning, fist-bumping radicals doesn't bother him but that it was an insult to Muslim Americans.
"You know, there are wonderful Muslim Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things," the presidential candidate told CNN's Larry King. "And for this to be used as sort of an insult, or to raise suspicions about me, I think is unfortunate. And it's not what America's all about."
Obama blamed himself for not being forceful enough in challenging some of the rumors about him, including that he is Muslim. Obama is Christian.
The son of a Kenyan father, Obama lived in the largely Muslim nation of Indonesia as a child. He dealt with similar questions in February after a photo surfaced of him wearing traditional Kenyan clothing during a visit to Africa in 2006.
The cover of the magazine, which hit newsstands Monday, depicts Obama in traditional Muslim clothing — sandals, robe and turban — while his wife, Michelle, has an assault rifle slung over one shoulder and is dressed in camouflage and combat boots with her hair in an Afro. A flag burns in a fireplace behind them as they bump fists, and a portrait of Osama bin Laden hangs above the mantel.
New Yorker Editor David Remnick told the Huffington Post Web site the cover was chosen because it had something to say.
When first asked about it on Sunday, Obama declined comment. His spokesman, Bill Burton, said it was "tasteless and offensive."
Obama said he's developed "a pretty thick skin" running for president and has "seen and heard worse."
"I do think that, you know, in attempting to satirize something, they probably fueled some misconceptions about me instead," he said. "But, you know, that was their editorial judgment. And as I said, ultimately, it's a cartoon, it's not where the American people are spending a lot of their time thinking about." CHICAGO (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday that the New Yorker magazine's satirical cover depicting him and his wife as flag-bu... more -
Where is the Afghan female runner?
Mehbooba Andyar's choice to compete in a head scarf and full-length, body-covering running suit could not spare her from Taliban taunts and threats. The Afghan middle-distance runner nonetheless trekked on and was on the verge of realizing her Olympic dream. But now Andyar — slated to be the only female Afghan athlete at the Beijing Games — has gone missing from her training site just weeks before the opening ceremonies.
Andyar has not contacted any Afghan or international track-and-field authorities since disappearing Friday from a training facility in Formia, Italy, 106 miles (170 km) south of Rome, where she and other international athletes were based in June. Italian police are investigating the disappearance, though there are no signs of foul play. Her bags and passport were also gone from her room, a sign that she may have left on her own.
No scenario is being ruled out, and Andyar did not have any special security detail. One possible explanation is that the 19-year-old may be seeking asylum somewhere in Europe, following repeated threats and humiliation from Muslim extremists, including false rumors that she was a prostitute. Nick Davies, spokesman for the IAAF, the world track-and-field governing body, said there had been no signs that Andyar was having second thoughts about competing in Beijing. "It was quite a surprise to us," Davies told TIME. "We don't know where she is. All we know is that she and her bags are gone."
The 800- and 1,500-meter runner, whose best times are far slower than international standards, was an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship athlete, paid for by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and trained by the IAAF, a program that offers special opportunities to competitors in troubled conditions.
An Italian Olympic official said Andyar and other athletes who had previously been training in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, had been in Formia the past month to train, and as a base for European track meets. "We were only the hosts," the Italian official said. "They were in transit here."
The other Afghan track athlete expected in Beijing, a male sprinter, as well as an Afghan trainer were also at the Formia facility, and they told authorities they were unaware of Andyar's whereabouts. TIME contacted both the Afghan Olympic Committee and the country's track-and-field association in Kabul, but neither knew where Andyar was. An Afghan Olympic official said the team holds the right to substitute Andyar with another female athlete, though the IOC would have the last word.
Davies says the runner was scheduled to return to Malaysia with the other Asia-based athletes just a few days after she disappeared. Although she could still wind up competing at the Olympics, Davies says that every passing day makes it more likely that Afghanistan will have no women at the Games.
Four years ago in Athens, Robina Muqimyar ran the 100 meters and Friba Rezihi competed in judo, becoming the first Afghan women ever to compete in the Olympics. If Andyar doesn't make it to Beijing, it will be one more sign that those making the most progress these days in Afghanistan are the bad guys.
Mehbooba Andyar's choice to compete in a head scarf and full-length, body-covering running suit could not spare her from Taliban taunt... more -
Italy grapples with polygamy
A boom in the illegal marriages is a byproduct of voluminous immigration by Muslims. Authorities largely ignore the unions, leaving the women in a murky world with no recourse when things go wrong.
A few miles from the Vatican, Najat Hadi kept house with her husband, his other wife and their assorted children, an unhappy home with a hateful woman 10 years her junior and a cruel spouse who left her with a jagged scar peeking from her collar.
Finally, she says, her Egyptian-born husband, who worked in Rome making pizzas, beat her so badly that she left him. But he kept her children.
Thousands of polygamous marriages like Hadi's have sprung up throughout Italy as a byproduct of a fast-paced and voluminous immigration by Muslims to this Roman Catholic country.
Despite the obvious culture clash, Italian authorities largely turn a blind eye, leaving women in a murky semi-clandestine world with few rights and no recourse when things go especially badly, as they did in Hadi's case.
"It is absurd that in a civilized country like Italy, so little is acknowledged about this," said Souad Sbai, a Moroccan-born Italian lawmaker who has emerged as a one-woman champion of female Muslim immigrants here.
Italy is one of several European nations faced with the issue of polygamy. In Britain and Spain, where large Muslim communities have also settled, some officials favor recognizing polygamous marriage as a way to ensure the wives' access to pensions, medical care and other state benefits.
A boom in the illegal marriages is a byproduct of voluminous immigration by Muslims. Authorities largely ignore the unions, leaving th... more -
Switzerland to ban minarets?
Switzerland is to vote on banning Mosque minarets as there has been over 100,000 signitaures asking for a ban nation-wide against Mosque minarets led by Swiss People's party.
Earlier this week a channel 4 documentary "It Shouldn't Happen to a Muslim" showed how many press reports have reported false reports on Muslims & Islam and how many Muslims are living in fear in the UK with some even go as far as buying homes in places like Muslim-Turkey incase things get worse.
The documentary was hosted by a Peter Oborne a devout-Christian who was shocked to find what was happening. Switzerland is to vote on banning Mosque minarets as there has been over 100,000 signitaures asking for a ban nation-wide against Mosq... more -
Muslim couple get married over the telephone
A Indian couple exchanged vows over the telephone because the groom could not return home from Kuwait (where he works) for the wedding.
The whole of the village in India's state of West Bengal watched as the Muslim clerics put the phone on speaker mode to hear the wedding vows.
The Islamic cleric who organised the modern marriage ceremony said: "They said qubul (I do) thrice and the marriage was complete" A Indian couple exchanged vows over the telephone because the groom could not return home from Kuwait (where he works) for the wedding... more -
Iran test-fires missiles for second day
Iran today test-fired missiles in the Gulf for a second consecutive day, Iranian state media reported.
The tests are likely to infuriate Israel and the US, who called on Iran to refrain from further tests after yesterday's war games.
"Deep in the Persian Gulf waters, the launch of different types of ground-to-sea, surface-to-surface, sea-to-air and the powerful launch of the Hout missile successfully took place," state radio said without giving further details of the missiles.
An Iranian satellite channel, Press TV, said Hout was a torpedo, according to Reuters.
Reports from Tehran say yesterday's tests included that of a new long-range missile that could easily reach Israel. Iran made clear that the operation was designed to show its capability to deliver a "crushing response" if attacked by the US or Israel.
Israel is today expected to showcase an advanced spy plane. The plane was first unveiled a year ago but Israel's Army Radio reported that it was to be shown now in response to Iran's missile tests.
State-run Israel Aerospace Industries planned an in-house exhibit of its Eitam airplane, which is equipped with sophisticated intelligence-gathering systems.
Israel considers Iran to be its greatest threat. An exercise by the Israeli military last month was considered to be a rehearsal for a potential strike against Iran's nuclear programme, which Tehran insists is peaceful and purely designed for power generation.
The US confirmed yesterday that it would continue to pursue a diplomatic solution to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear programme - which it fears is geared towards the production of weapons – but would not rule out a military option.
Iran today test-fired missiles in the Gulf for a second consecutive day, Iranian state media reported. ... more -
Attack outside US consulate in Istanbul, 6 dead
Three unidentified gunmen and three Turkish policemen were killed Wednesday in an attack on a checkpoint outside the well-fortified US consulate in Istanbul that officials labelled a "terrorist" act.
The assailants "directly" targetted the police post outside the high-walled US consulate in the upscale district of Istinye, Istanbul province Governor Muammer Guler said.
Interior Minister Besir Atalay called the gunmen "terrorists" and the investigation was handed to prosecutors specialising in terrorism cases.
The three assailants jumped from a car and opened fire at the police checkpoint around 11:00am (0800 GMT), a witness told NTV television, adding that they also fired shots at the building.
The security forces returned fire, killing all three gunmen.
One policeman died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries in hospital, Guler said.
Two other people -- a policeman and the civilian driver of a police truck -- were injured, he said.
No consulate personnel were injured, the spokeswoman of the US embassy in Ankara, Kathy Schallow, told AFP.
Guns and rifles were seized at the scene after the shootout, which lasted about eight minutes.
The police post was situated outside a gate for visa applicants from where steep steps lead up to the fortified consulate building.
The consulate was moved to its current high-security location in 2003 as foreign missions across the world stepped up security measures following the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York.
Television footage showed a bloodied body, covered with newspaper, lying in the street as emergency services rushed the wounded to hospital.
The car, described either as white or grey, was driven by a fourth accomplice who drove off after the attack.
The security forces launched a major hunt for the vehicle and a police helicopter was overflying the area.
The car had waited a while at a nearby car-wash before driving down towards the consulate, a witness said.
Investigators were trying to determine the identities of the assailants, who were aged between 25 and 30, Istanbul's chief prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin told reporters.
"We consider the incident a terrorist act," he said.
Two of the dead gunmen were Turkish nationals, while the police were still trying to establish the identity of the third, NTV quoted officials as saying.
The most recent attack on a foreign mission in Turkey was in 2003 when Al-Qaeda militants detonated a car bomb at the British consulate in central Istanbul, and simultaneously attacked the British HSBC bank.
The British consul was killed in the attacks, which followed the bombings five days earlier of two synagogues in Istanbul. About 60 people were killed in the four blasts, the deadliest terrorist attacks in Turkey.
Three unidentified gunmen and three Turkish policemen were killed Wednesday in an attack on a checkpoint outside the well-fortified US... more -
Muslim-run organisation throws "Pizza for the hungry" parties!
The pizza parties -with live music- saw people of all faiths caming together across U.S. states which saw 15,000 pizza slices donated to the homeless & hungry at soup kitchens through eyeBLINK’s business (a not for-profit-organisation)!
The Muslim-run eyeBLINK’s business's manager and creator of 'Pizza for the Hungry: A Smile Brings Hope' Obai Kadwani said:
“It is a part of our religion to feed the hungry,”
“Charity is both encouraged and required in Islam. Muslims are encouraged to feed the hungry irrespective of the religions of the hungry. It is great to showcase such a great characteristic of Islam. As everyone knows, actions speak louder than words.”
http://www.free-press-release-center.info/pr00000000000...
The pizza parties -with live music- saw people of all faiths caming together across U.S. states which saw 15,000 pizza slices donated ... more -
Saudi Muslim scholar: following al-qaeda against Islam
An Islamic scholar in Saudi Arabia has said the terrorist network alqaeda goes against the principles of Islam. The statement was issued after al-qaeda militants were arrested last month in S. Arabia.
The Saudi scholar, Al-Sheikh said:
"The things that al-Qaeda members do in Saudi Arabia must be unacceptable to any Muslim,"
"He who commits crimes such as those of the deviant sect (refering to al-qaeda) is nothing but a wicked person who has abandoned his faith and behaves like animals or barbarians."
"Supporting them means committing one of the biggest sins." An Islamic scholar in Saudi Arabia has said the terrorist network alqaeda goes against the principles of Islam. The statement was issu... more -
Sniffer dogs to wear bootees so to not offend Muslims
Is apparently the latest move to try and find a solution after controversy developed over Tayside Police using a picture of a puppy for an advertising campaign and reports of a group of Muslims refusing to be searched by a sniffer dog at Brighton station last week.
A dogs saliva is considered the only part of the animal to be unclean or impure in Islamic teaching and it is forbidden to keep the animals as pets.
From The Mail:
"Under proposals by the Association of Chief Police Officers, they will be made to wear leather bootees in cases where Muslims object to having them in their home. Bootees are already used when sniffer dogs enter mosques."
Is apparently the latest move to try and find a solution after controversy developed over Tayside Police using a picture of a puppy fo... more -
Muslim nuclear physicist sues US government over human rights abuse
An Egyptian-born nuclear physicist is suing the US Department of Energy over the revocation of his security clearance.
Moniem El-Ganayi, a US citizen since 1988, had been an employee of the department for 18 years, conducting research into nuclear propulsion. An active member of the local Islamic community, he was also a critic of the Iraq war, as well as the US government's treatment of Muslims.
In May, the government revoked his security clearence, on the grounds of his supposed "conflicting allegiances", before firing him outright a short time later.
He will fight his case with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, claiming that "the Department of Energy has violated his rights of free speech, and freedom of discrimination."
The implication of the DoE's charge of "conflicting allegiances", seems to be that you cannot be both an American and a Muslim with an interest in upholding the human rights of others; the government now risks a backlash from both the Muslim and scientific communities, with the outcome of the case sure to attract public attention. An Egyptian-born nuclear physicist is suing the US Department of Energy over the revocation of his security clearance. ... more -
Muslims feel much like the 'Jews of Europe'
Britain's first Muslim minister has attacked the growing culture of hostility against Muslims in the United Kingdom, saying that many feel targeted like "the Jews of Europe".
Shahid Malik, who was appointed as a minister in the Department for International Development (Dfid) by Gordon Brown last summer, said it has become legitimate to target Muslims in the media and society at large in a way that would be unacceptable for any other minority.
Mr Malik made clear that he was not equating the situation with the Holocaust but warned that many British Muslims now felt like "aliens in their own country". He said he himself had been the target of a string of racist incidents, including the firebombing of his family car and an attempt to run him down at a petrol station.
"I think most people would agree that if you ask Muslims today what do they feel like, they feel like the Jews of Europe," he said. "I don't mean to equate that with the Holocaust but in the way that it was legitimate almost – and still is in some parts – to target Jews, many Muslims would say that we feel the exact same way.
"Somehow there's a message out there that it's OK to target people as long as it's Muslims. And you don't have to worry about the facts, and people will turn a blind eye."
The claims are made in an interview to be broadcast on Monday in a Channel 4 Dispatches programme to coincide with the third anniversary of the London bombings of 7 July.... Britain's first Muslim minister has attacked the growing culture of hostility against Muslims in the United Kingdom, saying that many ... more -
Iran: Rising number of foreigners in religious schools in Qom
Twenty thousand foreign students have graduated from the theological schools in the holy Iranian city of Qom, which is considered the cradle of Shia Islam.
Mahommad Kabiri, a representative at the Mostafa al Alamieh University in Qom released the data on Friday and said that the foreign students represented 104 different ethnicities.
"Currently, we host 10,000 students who are not Iranian nationals, including 2,000 women, who are studying theology in the city of Qom," said Kabiri.
The Mostafa al-Alamieh University manages 13 theological schools for young foreigners. One of these schools, known as Bent al Hoda, accepts only female foreign students. Twenty thousand foreign students have graduated from the theological schools in the holy Iranian city of Qom, which is considered the ... more -
Muslim Morocco using Music as a bridge between world faiths?
As Saudi Arabia held its first ever conference on interfaith dialogue Morocco is hosting its 14th festival of World Sacred Music.
The president of the festival, Mohamed Kabbaj, said:
"Religion is too important to leave to clerics alone"
There was even a Christians & Muslims performing together which was shown on France24 on its 'Culture' Magazine.
Other performers from across the globe include a Christian singing in Syriac related to Aramaic the language of Jesus (pbuh) & Indian Madhup Mudgal who will sing in Hindustani (classical Indian) even using Hindu scriptures like the Vedas. A Greek Othordox choir & other Muslim sufi perfomers also performed.
The city of Fez has been the spiritual & cultural capital of Morocco & has ties with Europe such as Andulusia, (modern day Spain) as it use to be part of the Islamic Empire where Muslims, Christians & Jews use to live & coexist peacefully. As Saudi Arabia held its first ever conference on interfaith dialogue Morocco is hosting its 14th festival of World Sacred Music. ... more -
Muslim community raises $125,000 for Hospital
A fundraiser hosted by the Muslim community has raised $125 G for the York Central Hospital, well-above the goal to raise $150G over a 5 year span for a blood bank analyser system.
In all, $125,000 was raised by SHIFA (Arabic for “cure”).
“The commitment of $30,000 per year was exceeded significantly by a quantum leap,” Naim Malik, event co-chairperson said.
About 400 guests attended the Thornhill’s Le Parc banquet hall Friday night, for an inaugural hospital fundraiser, hosted by the local Muslim community. Among the attendees were Mayor Dave Barrow, members of council & Pakistan’s consul general, Tassadaq Hussain.The event which included multi-cultural entertainment was led by Mr. Malik and Nancy Coxford, chairperson of the York Central Hospital Foundation.
A fundraiser hosted by the Muslim community has raised $125 G for the York Central Hospital, well-above the goal to raise $150G over a... more -
JOURNEY INTO ISLAM with Dr. Akbar Ahmed
"Akbar Ahmed, who holds the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, and is a prominent scholar of Islam and frequent guest of Politics and Prose, has long been an advocate of a dialogue among the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish worlds." "Akbar Ahmed, who holds the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, and is a prominent scholar of Islam and frequ... more
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China destroys Mosque for not supporting the Olympics
A Mosque in the prodominantly Muslim Xinjiang province in China has been destroyed for not putting a sign up to support the olympics.
The Mosque was accused of "illegally" renovating the structure (the renovation took place in 1998), carrying out "illegal" religious activities aswell as storing "illegal" copies of the Holy Quran- which have also been seized alongside many people being detained.
On March 29 this year more than 50 Christians were arrested with their Bibles, books etc being confiscated for a "illegal" gathering in the Sichuan Province. A Mosque in the prodominantly Muslim Xinjiang province in China has been destroyed for not putting a sign up to support the olympics. ... more
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