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CHICAGO CALLING:
FOUR REPORTS by New Trend's representative Ather Masood
1. MUSLIMS FORGETTING CHECHNIA?
2. What Prime Minister Mahathir actually said.
3. We still want Iftaar with
Bush?
4. Imam Jamil's
repeated on
A & E
Ramadan
began again everywhere including Chechnya. The land of Imam Shamil is
still in the hand of those killing Muslims in the month of Ramadan.
With conflicts raging in
Iraq
and Falasteen, Muslims everywhere are forgetting those who continue to
fight for their freedom without publicity. Once such place continues to be
Chechnya.
Why has the
Organization of Islamic Conference
not called out for Chechen refugees? Many positive and negative things
took place during the Organization Of Islamic Conference. The highlight had
to have been a very thought provoking speech by Prime Minister Mahathir.
It is the opinion of this writer that, Mr. Mahathir's speech be read in
it's entirety for better understanding.
BUT how can we explain Mr. Putin's presence at the gathering? It is safe to
assume that Mr. Putin has killed more Muslims than, perhaps, any world
current world leader today. How is he to be invited to any gathering of
Muslims?
Iran
remains silent over Chechnya. How shameful! Muslim organizations either
knowingly or unknowingly forget the father and mothers of Imam Shamil but
hypocritically use his name in attracting attention. With this in mind we
respectfully ask, what is the difference between Chechnya and any other
part of the world?
In September the Council of Europe thought of suspending
Russia
over it's
open Human Rights violations in Chechnya. In the end, however, European
leaders thought it was better to "swoon," Russia into settling for peace
with Chechens. As always it went nowhere, with Russia claiming Chechnya is
under control and will be handled peacefully.
(www.hrvc.net/index.htm)
RUSSIANS RAPED 14 YEAR OLD CHECHEN GIRL: FEMINISTS WERE SILENT.
And where were all the Feminist groups condemning the Russian soldier who
raped a fourteen year old Chechen girl ? Where were all the women claiming
to fight for Amina Lawal? How come they suddenly disappeared when it came
to the Chechen girl, as rapist was released under the pretext of being
"insane" (a common defense of many Russian soldiers these days in Chechnya).
CLEARLY there is a double standard with people in power playing games.
Will Muslims ever learn?
How shameful it is that thousands of refugees are still languishing in
neighboring Dagestan. How shameful it is that other Chechens are stuck in
other parts of europe, away from their rightful place under the sun.
How shameful it is that even "Muslim" governments are silently cooperating
with Mr... Putin. Is it any wonder that people out of desperation are going
to great lengths to make the world know of their forgotten genocide?
We must ask ourselves some serious questions and get busy.
Russia claims Chechnya is a land of "terrorists."
But how many acts of terrorism have been caused by the Russian Army?
How many Chechens have been killed?
We do not have even a credible count in numbers.
The United Nations knows of this problem but cannot do anything about it.
The United States talks of freedom and democracy all over the Middle East.
But how come there is not an ounce of democracy in Russia?
It was only quite recently that Mr.. Putin's biggest political rival,
Mikhail Khordokovsky, was jailed.
In some parts of Chechnya Taraweeh prayers have also been banned out of
fear of extremist meetings. But extremist Russians meet all the time in not
so secret meetings. Even if it is the Kremlin or Right-wing fascist
elements against Muslims.
The Chechen problem will not go away for Russia or the Muslim world.
The old monarchy of mother Russia tried to exterminate Chechnya but failed.
Stalin deported the entire nation of Chechnya and still they came back
walking from Siberia. Khrushchev, and Gorbachev tried to turn Chechens into
their fighting machines which backfired in the end. Mr. Yelstin tried
direct genocide but that went nowhere until his retirement. And so now we
have Mr... Putin. Who takes a part of the Chechen people for his needs
against the democratically elected President of Mahskolov.
(another democratic leader ignored by President Bush) And now even some
"Muslims," have sided with Mr. Putin's "tricknology." But as long as there
are Muslims there will always be a Chechnya. As long as there are Muslims,
Chechen refugees will be heard anywhere and everywhere. Even if the
media
does not speak of Chechnya, we will certainly.
May Chechens sing the old hymn:
O mountains of Gounib,
O soldiers of Shamyl,
Shamyl's citadel was full of warriors,
Yet it has fallen, fallen forever ..
No...Imam Shamyl's citadel has not fallen.
Instead the people with his spirit are now everywhere.
IN DEFENSE OF PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR
Quite recently Min. Mahathir of Malaysia was roundly condemned for his
opening address. First, how many people actually read his speech ? It is
interesting to note that a four page speech was watered down into three or
four quotations. The usually allegations of Anti-Semitism followed the
(www.oicsummit2003.com)
Once again The word Anti-Semitism is not something exclusively owned by
Zionists.
Such an idea is not correct. There were plenty of Semitic peoples at the
OIC gathering. In fact the speech itself did not condemn all Jewish people.
In fact he made the following statement in his speech:
"We also know that not all non-Muslims are against us. Some are
well-disposed towards us. Some even see our enemies as their enemies. Even
among the Jews, there are many who do not approve of what the
Israelis
are doing. We must not antagonize everyone. We must win their hearts and
minds. We must win them to our side, not by begging for help from them, but
by the honorable way that we struggle to help ourselves. We must not
strengthen the enemy by pushing everyone into their camps through
irresponsible and un-Islamic acts."
The Prime Minister clearly stated his opinion on Israel and Falasteen.
With the media in high gear Mr. Mahathir was condemned. We must ask the
question why all the condemnation now, when the Prime Minister has said
similar things in 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999, and even in 2000? The answer is
simple. Those who are "offended" now were making lots of money setting up
free trade zones in Malaysia. Back then nobody dared to say much of
Mr. Mahathir's comments. Could it be those same Zionist elements are unable
to share slave labor profits now as before?
How can Anti-Semitic criticism be leveled when even Mr. Musharraf and
Mr. Kharazi approved of the opening remarks? In an attempt to castigate
the Muslim community, Anti-Muslim elements chose the Malaysian Prime Minister
to vent their frustration on Muslim sensibilities. Not even
Turkey,
who has a close relationship with Israel said anything.
In contrast was the speech by General Boykin. Not in one place did the
"respected" general quantify his statements. Not in one place did the
Mr. Boykin condemn a section of the Muslim community but all of it. Only
after criticism was leveled did General Boykin try to retract his
statements. MUSLIMS NEED TO READ THE SPEECH FOR THEMSELVES AND STOP
PARROTING THE
MEDIA.
An entire speech was reduced to a few lines and portrayed as a "war on Jews."
A profoundly thought-provoking presentation was reduced by Zionist forces
into a sensationalized story. How sad it is for Muslims to roundly compare
the Prime Minister's speech to that of Mr. Boykin. STUDY before you
criticize.
Malcolm X
used to say we need to study for ourselves. Somehow a few prominent Muslims
forget this important point and attack other Muslims to only make others
happy. EVEN IF YOU DID NOT AGREE WITH MR. MAHATHIR, DOES HE NOT HAVE
FREEDOM TO SAY WHAT HE FEELS? Mr. Boykin certainly does.
PRESIDENT BUSH AND IFTAAR DINNERS
This writer was profoundly shocked to hear still some Muslim leaders went
to see Mr. Bush for Iftar.
1. DESPITE the ascension of Daniel Pipes to the Institute of Peace.
2. DESPITE the continued reluctance to condemn General Boykin.
3. DESPITE the war in Iraq with the death of thousands and Iraqis and
Americans.
4. DESPITE the war in
Afghanistan
with the death of thousands of Afghanis and Americans.
5. DESPITE calls from Najee Ali (with some generalizations) of
Operation Hope to
boycott
the event.
www.projectislamichope.org,
6. DESPITE the continued insults by this administration towards anything Muslim.
7. DESPITE the Patriot Act being endorsed by Mr. Bush.
8. DESPITE John Ashcroft 's persecution of Muslims with support from the President.
9. DESPITE THE DEATH OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS WORLDWIDE
10. DESPITE THE ARREST OF HUNDREDS OF INNOCENT MUSLIMS
SOME muslim leaders and institutions found ways to visit Mr. Bush.
So sad that after all of the trials and tribulations,
some of us have still not learned.
What are some of us thinking? Can we not just say no to Bush ?
By now it should be clear that this is a war on Islam,
though cleverly concealed.
Those who visited the President,
are no different then those who voted for him in the first place!
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2003-11-22 Sat 08:03ct