NTM 1197 | NewTrendMag.org

NewTrendMag.org News # 1197 [ Click on NEWS for back issues ][ OUR BOOKS ]

Dr Kaukab Siddique | Editor-in-Chief

Muharram 17, 1429, January 26, 2008 #6

IMPRESSIVE RALLIES BY THE POOR and the DOWNTRODDEN ACROSS KARACHI, PAKISTAN to protest dramatic increases in prices of ESSENTIAL GOODS. Scroll all the way down.

For more info on Canada's victim, Momin Khawaja, see next issue. Canada is violating its own laws to punish this Muslim. Canada's Zionist hate for Muslims is manifest in this case. See below for U.S. prisoners. [Unity Day coming up for Imam Hasan and Lucasville, Ohio, prisoners. See below.]

Our America: From New Trend's Media Monitor [2 items with analysis]
They ALL want war: Most Americans don't understand the tricks of the candidates...................

Listen carefully to the Democratic Party candidates. They say they are against "the war." But listen again: by "the war" they mean the war in Iraq. They are ALL for the war in Afghanistan. They don't tell their people that Afghanistan has never been conquered. Going into Afghanistan means open ended war. The war on Afghanistan will inevitably flow into Pakistan. So when Obama or Hillary Clinton say, we shouldn't have gone into Iraq, we should have focused on the terrorists in Afghanistan, it simply means they want war big time in Afghanistan.

As for the Republicans, they are quite clear that they want war, both in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

And of course, ALL of them think Israel is a legitimate state and they will do ANYTHING to support Israel. A few of them, very few, want to link support for Israel to Israel's behavior.

GAZA: The Opportunism of U.S. Muslim Cliques. Not Very Different from Hosni Mubarak
[from Imam Badi Ali, Jamaat al-Muslimeen, North Carolina.]

It's kind of strange but typical of Muslim cliques in USA. They meet Rabbis, want to be invited to the White House and have recognized Israel as legitimate long ago. How should they now show U.S. Muslims that they themselves have Islamic legitimacy? They wait for SAFE CAUSES.

With hungary, needy, desperate people breaking out of Gaza to buy supplies in Egypt, the opportunists have a humanitarian disaster with no risks involved. Suddenly AFTER the people break out, the opportunists call for rallies to support the Gazans on humanitarian grounds. Why was it not done BEFORE? Go figure.

The HONESTY TEST New Trend has for these opportunists is: They should declare that as Muslims, they cannot and do not recognize Israel as a legitimate state. Then they should say that Hamas has a legitimately elected government in Gaza.

These U.S. groups are behaving like Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian tyrant. Mubarak was faced with a dilemma: when Islamic forces broke down the wall, he could either shoot at the surging people or he would be in trouble with the Israelis. Mubarak, known for his cunning, came up with an interesting solution. He would put up only token resistance to the desperate Palestinians. In fact he would claim that he sympathizes with the Palestinians. Thus he would clean up his dirty image, the total sellout that he is. [The wall was constructed by Israel with his complete agreement.]

Then he says to the Palestinians, I did you a favor, now in return Hamas and Mahmoud Abbas should come to Cairo and talk peace with Israel. [That's EXACTLY what the opportunist groups in USA are doing: They want "peace" with Israel. With humanitarian gestures, they want to throw crumbs to the Palestinians, thus deflecting the real issues: the legitimacy of Israel and the military occupation of Palestine by the Jews.]

The Global Islamic Upsurge
Helping non-Muslims Understand the Propaganda Campaign against Islam: Context is Essential: Why are Taliban Winning? Answers to Controversial Issues. Reason why Israel is Source of War.

On January 20, 2008 Dr. Kaukab Siddique addressed a gathering at a church in West Grove, Pennsylvania. Most of the audience were elders of the Christian community. They wanted answers to the serious allegations brought up on TV, Radio and print media, from coast to coast, following 9.11. Dr. Siddique spoke for 40 minutes and then answered questions for another 50 minutes. Because the questions were the most controversial which are repeatedly brought up by the media, the responses by Dr. Siddique are summarized herewith for countrywide distribution, inshallah: {Folders containing articles on the teachings of Islam, mosques, jihad, relations of Muslims with non-Muslims, recommended books, were given to those in attendance. We thank Sis. A. for these.}

SPEECH POINTS.

Muslims believe that western powers were able to colonize them and divide them owing to their internal corruption and deviation from the teachings of Islam.
The resurgence of Islam is based on the Muslim Will to return to the AUTHENTICITY of Islam. While Christians and Jews try to interpret their religious texts, Muslims are interested in knowing WHAT EXACTLY did the Qur'an say about such-and-such issue and how did the Prophet, pbuh, understand and implement the Qur'an.
Colonial rule in Muslim countries was followed by secular regimes, nominally Muslim, based on notions of narrow nationalism. This was post-colonial indirect European rule.
The Islamic upsurge is aimed at purifying secularized society and bringing it back to the AUTHENTICITY of the Qur'an and the Hadith.
Jihad is central to Islam but it is not aimed at other religions: it is resistance to oppression, occupation, exploitation, imperialism and Zionism.
Women, slaves and thoughtful people from small tribes were the first to embrace the mission of Muhammad, pbuh. Of these Bilal, r.a., and Zayd, r.a., two freed slaves, were so influential that major regions of Africa embraced Islam through their example.
WOMEN were the greatest supporters of Muhammad, pbuh. Martyrdom is the highest position in Islam, second only to prophethood, and the first martyr of Islam was a woman named Sumayya, r.a.
Islam CONDEMNED SLAVERY. As a result when the Islamic armies came out of Arabia, the greatest empires of that time collapsed like a pack of cards because they were based on SLAVERY. Millions of slaves and captive people embraced Islam.

Questions and Answers:

Q. Women seem to be totally under male domination in Muslim countries. This can be seen in the heavy veils they wear.
Ans: During colonial times Muslims became inward looking in their approach to religion in their attempts to safeguard their way of life from the Europeans. As a result they became conservative and restrictive in their attitudes towards their own women. Many of them started confusing CONSERVATISM with religiosity. Males used the situation to impose their dominance on women. Thus, among the older generations of present day Muslims, purda or hijab is worn usually owing to insistence by males or to please males or often because the males consider women their property.
However, RESURGENT ISLAM sees the purda and hijab very differently. Here the Islamic dress is the sign of a woman's acceptance of the WILL of ALLAH and as a form of resistance to Euro-American hegemony. University women are now wearing the complete outer covering signifying their pride in being Muslim, their love of Allah and their refusal to be objectified as commodities in the consumer market. The more radical among them also wear the face veil.
Q. What about female mutilation?
Ans: You probably mean female genital mutilation? ["Yes" from questioner.] All forms of mutilation are forbidden in Islam. Even in war, mutilation of enemies is not permitted. Female genital mutilation [FGM] is a pagan custom prevalent in tribal cultures in Africa and parts of Asia, including India. In some Muslim cultures where Islamic rights of women have been sidetracked, this abuse of women occurs.
To fully understand the Islamic opposition to female genital mutilation [FGM] one must understand the Islamic view of sexual pleasure. FGM is carried out to deny sexual pleasure to the female. By contrast, Islam recognizes the right of the female to sexual pleasure EQUAL to that of the male. The Prophet, pbuh, answering a question about whether a female too has sexual desires and dreams made his famous comment that: "Women are the twins of men." (1) In Islam, a woman can sue for divorce if her husband cannot give her sexual satisfaction. There is an entire chapter in the Qur'an about the woman who complained to the Prophet, pbuh, about her husband ignoring her and claiming that "her back to him was like the back of his mother." The Qur'an supported the woman. (2)
Q. Doesn't the Qur'an say that a man should treat his wife as if she is his "tilth" and that she should be subservient to him?
Ans: The verse [in chapter 2 of the Qur'an] legitimizes sexuality and links it to having children. Sex is honored in Islam between husband and wife and marriage is strongly encouraged. The verse's audience are MEN. It is not addressed to women and it does not tell women to be subservient. [3] In fact Islam does not allow, in ANY of its texts, a man to force himself on his wife. Islam however does teach the wife to be accepting of the husband because she is all he has. He cannot fornicate or commit adultery and the punishments for such acts are severe. So, if a wife keeps denying her husband's needs "the angels curse and leave the house." [4]
Q. We have seen pictures of the Taliban shooting a woman and beating women in enforcing the burqa or strict Islamic dress. Isn't that harsh?
Ans: CONTEXT is essential in understanding people and nations other than ours. Afghanistan has been ravaged by war ever since 1979, that is 28 years. It fought Soviet occupation and more than 7 million Afghans became refugees. After the Soviet withdrawal, the U.S. refused to support the establishment of an Islamic government in Kabul. The result was civil war and the general breakdown of law and order. Now the country is occupied by NATO and the war goes on. During the civil war, crime and brigandage became common. The people appealed to a Taliban leader named Mullah Umar to save them, in a specific case of rape. Mullah Umar hanged the rapist and drew support as he moved from village to village. Finally the Taliban under his command captured Kabul. Within that context, a woman and a man were executed by the Taliban after being convicted. The conviction was carried out in a stadium so that the public may attend and realize that the rule of Law would be enforced. An agent from a fringe communist group, known as RAWA, photographed the execution and passed it on to U.S. intelligence. It was shown about a million times on CNN and other media and became the source of propaganda to demonize the Taliban and to justify war against them.
The Taliban imposed burqa on the women of Kabul and there you have the second photo of a woman being hit with a stick by a Taliban regulator. Again, this was used to justify U.S. military intervention. The source of the photo was again RAWA. At this point Hillary Clinton took on the cause of Afghan women. Most people did not realize that Kabul was the base for Communism in Afghanistan. The Taliban captured Kabul but the total punishment they imposed was ONE execution and a few beatings wih sticks. Compare with other cities which have been taken by force. The Soviet took Berlin and other German cities and RAPED EVERY GERMAN WOMAN, from age 8 to 80. [5]The U.S. occupation forces often "took" starving German women for nothing more than a chocolate.
The RESURGENCE of the Taliban, 2005 till today, has become possible owing to the support of Afghan women. The Taliban are fighting NATO and winning because the women are telling their sons, husbands and brothers to go and fight the occupiers. It is said that the women do not want to see the face of a husband who does not oppose the occupiers. NO WOMAN HAS EVER BETRAYED THE TALIBAN. Thus the stories of Taliban being against women are nothing more than war time propaganda.
Q. What about honor killings? Why are they permitted in Islam?
Ans: Islam STRICTLY FORBIDS all violence against women including "honor killings." In Shari'a Law, a man who expresses suspicion against the chastity of a woman must bring four witnesses or such expression could result in severe punishment. Gossip against innocent and/or naive/careless women is strongly prohibited. [6] "Honor killings" do take place in Muslim countries, not owing to religion but owing to conservatism where the man thinks the woman is his property. Similar crimes are committed in the USA and are related to the activities of "stalkers" who have a similar view of women. The highest rate of "honor" killings is in Jordan, a highly secularized but conservative country. Its king is a playboy whose exploits feed the male ego of Jordanians. His father used to work for the CIA, so the moral quotient is very low.
Q. Why is there conflict in the Middle East? Can it end?
Ans: Our basic problem, which is the root cause of war, is that victors of World War II planted Israel in Palestine and Israel has been helped by the U.S. to become the major military force in the region. Israel is aware that if a people's government is formed in ANY Muslim country, it will become a rallying point for Islamic resurgence against Israel. Hence Israel [often through the U.S.] SUPPORTS EVERY DICTATORIAL and REPRESSIVE regime in the Muslim world. Israel will have to be dismantled for peace to be possible. The Muslims are commanded by the Qur'an to drive occupiers out of lands from where they drive out the Muslims. We should look for peaceful means by which the non-indigenous Jews could go back to the countries they came from.

REFERENCES:
1. Hadith, Sunan of Abu Dawud.
2. The Qur'an, chapter 58.
3. Chapter 2, verse 223.
4. See 2:228 for mutuality of rights. Men have a "degree" above them only in divorce because they don't have to wait for re-marriage. Men often use this verse to claim superiority.
5. Armageddon. The Battle for Germany, 1944-1945 by Max Hastings
6. The Qur'an 24:4

Jamaat al-Muslimeen [News] [4 items only]
P.O. Box 10881
Baltimore, MD 21234

Padilla, Hassoun, Kifah: Injustice so Shameful that Punishment makes Victims Happy

January 24, 2008: Hardly anyone knows that Jose Padilla has three children, Hassoun has 3 and Kifah al-Jayyousi 5. These are not terrorists. The sentences they have been given make a mockery of justice and decency. On top of that they were so threatened, so pressured, so insulted that when the sentencing came, their families were "happy" that the sentences were much lower than those called for by the prosecution. We have talked to Jose Padilla's mom, Hassoun's sister and Kifah's wife. They are very strong people, one Christian and the other two Muslims. They have undergone so much during this trial that they are relieved that it's over and they have hope in the appeals which are coming up.

No evidence was forthcoming against any of the three. Even helping the people of Bosnia and Chechnia BEFORE 9.11 was considered participation in terrorism. Our impression is that the people in power have gone nearly insane in their hatred of Islam. Kifah is given EIGHT years in prison! For nothing. Hassoun is given 15.8 which will count as less than 10 owing to time served. Padilla was tortured and according to scientists became totally helpless: He was given 13 years [not life as demanded by the prosecutor].

Dear Muslims! Is it right to give anyone even one year in prison when there is no evidence of violence [not a shred] against the U.S. Hatred of Islam drives this country's power structure. Make no mistake about it.

Protest Zionist Honors for Medeleine Albright, Mass Murderer of One Million Iraqis [500,000 Children] Under Sanctions during Clinton Rule

January 29, 2008, 7.30 to 8.30 PM, inshallah there will be a picket line at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral street, Baltimore, Maryland to protest the honors being given to Medeleine Albright. She appears to the right of Hillary Clinton in election gatherings. People have forgotten her key role in the decade long sanctions imposed on Iraq which caused the slow death of ONE MILLION Iraqis, including more than 500,000 children. It remains to be investigated whether the mass death in Iraq led to the 9.11 attacks on America.

Before Jan. 29 Argument for Lynne, Ahmad Abdel Sattar , Yousry, Rally on January 28, 7 PM

January 28
RALLY FOR LYNNE STEWART ON THE EVE OF ORAL ARGUMENT ON APPEAL

Discussion and analysis of the last 6 years since Lynne's arrest, the impact of USA Patriot Act and it's progeny

St. Mary's Church
521 West 126th Street
New York, NY 10027

7 p.m.

Join Lynne Stewart, Pam Africa, Ward Churchill, Sara Flounders, Clark Kissinger, Jeff Mackler, Cynthia McKinney, Danny Meyers, Ralph Schoenman, Michael Smith, The Raging Grannies, Rachel Wolkenstein, Juanita Young and others

THEN, COME TO COURT!

For more information contact Pat Levasseur 212-625-9696 www.lynnestewart.org

January 29, 2008
Oral arguments for the appeal.
The 2d Circuit has adjourned oral argument until January 29, 2008, at 2 p.m. The reason is that the law clerks need to be cleared to review the materials the Court last week ordered produced with respect to the government's ex parte submissions regarding FISA and NSA.

Muslim Woman Urges Support for Imam Hasan and other Lucasvlle, Ohio, Prisoners

Dear Friends, Fellow Activists and Attorneys:

Monday, February 4,2008, is the day we have chosen for our International Unity Day--the day we will write to Governor Ted Strickland to ask him to grant a "general amnesty" to all those who were convicted as a result of the 1993 Lucasville prison uprising. We urge you to join us in our letter-writing and/or phone-call campaign. A sample copy of the letter we intend to post to Governor Strickland is attached to this e-mail.

We are asking that you make copies of the letter drafted to Governor Strickland and circulate them among others--college students, religious persons, and those concerned for justice--to sign, fax, and mail in to reach the governor on Unity Day. Indeed there is strength in numbers, and we are asking that you join us in this noble fight to right the wrongs which have happened to these innocent men, five of whom have been sentenced to death.

We also ask that you periodically log onto www.FreeHasan.org to stay informed of our political activities surrounding these unjust convictions.

We appreciate your attention and help in this matter.

In Solidarity,

Saadiqah Amatullah Hasan

Saadiqah Amatullah Hasan
CEDP-Toledo Chapter
"Free Siddique Abdullah Hasan Coalition"
419-514-7634
www.FreeHasan.org
Saadiqah@freeHasan.org
Sherrell508@sbcglobal.net

The Miserable Failure of Western Style Democracy in Africa (Kenya)
by Akbar Muhammad

[The writer is famous for his coordination of international Islamic conferences in Chicago and is a frequent visitor to Africa.]

Kenya is another country in Africa challenged by its attempt to govern its people under a western-style democracy. Although Kenya has a strong economy, the botched elections that recently took place in Kenya have placed this beautiful country on the "Failed State" list with other African countries that are using the western style democracy to elect its leaders. This list of considered failed states include: Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR), and Cote D'Ivoire. There are other countries in Africa who want to believe that this system of democracy is working although it is clear that their country stands on the brink of being classified also as a failed state.
As I watch and read the news reports about the tragedy in Kenya where nearly 700 have been confirmed dead, 300,000 displaced, and the looting of stores and the burning of property, I am convinced that the Westminster System of Democracy is a failure in Africa. Africans as most people of the world long for democracy where the masses are free to choose their leaders without leaving a trail of death and destruction that takes place before and after an election.
Africa needs a form of government that speaks its culture and traditions. In many areas of Africa, the influence and importance of Tribal Leadership cannot be dismissed. Any system of democracy that is developed must take into consideration the reality of tribalism.
Africa cannot follow the European or American style of democracy.
The Europeans developed this democracy from Greek influences and have had hundreds of years to improve upon this system of government, contrary to the Nations of Africa who have only enjoyed freedom from their colonial masters over the last 50 plus years.
Africa needs a think tank comprised of "the best minds" that can develop a form of democracy that speaks uniquely to the African experience, in the best interest and consideration of tribalism inclusive of advice from the Elders. In tribal tradition, when one of the "sons" of the tribe is running for office, it is expected that most members of that tribe will support him.

As this western-style democracy pitches tribes against tribes, there are forces at work dividing the Nations of Africa: The North Africans (Arabs) against the Sub Sahara Africans (Blacks). As Africa fights, America and France are planning to build military bases on African soil. Africa is struggling to maintain its freedom and self determination, allowing military bases will erode this freedom.
America is the number one trading partner with Africa and Europe is not far behind. However, they no longer have an exclusive on Africa's natural resources. The new scramble for Africa now includes China. The wealth that Africa is receiving from the sales of oil and other natural resources to the East and West should be used to further develop its infrastructure, improve education, strengthen the economy and create jobs so that the young people of Africa will not feel the need to flee the Continent looking for greener pastures in the West.
All across Africa, African leaders seeking to be elected are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to fund these multi party elections patterned themselves after western style democracy, a path that Africa should not and must not follow. In America, the current 2008 Presidential elections will exceed 2 billion dollars.
Kenya brings home the reality that trying to adopt the colonial master's system of Government for the people of Africa is a miserable failure.

Pakistan
Islamic Rallies Across Karachi Protest Dramatic Rise in Prices of Flour, Rice, Cooking Oil and other Essentials

January 25, 2008: Karachi is a huge city, reputed to have a population of more than 10,000,000, representing people from every region of the country as well as grandchildren of refugees from India. More than 500,000 Bangladeshis live here illegally as do an estimated 20000 Burmese.

The population is under great stress owing to huge increases in the prices of essential goods. Atta or flour is beyond the reach of most people. To mobilize the people against the regime's wasteful activities, including an unnecessary war in Pakistan's northern areas, Jamaate Islami organized protests and rallies after Juma' prayers outside mosques across Karachi.

The protestors condemned the regime for its total lack of interest in the suffering of the masses. Speaker after speaker lambsted the Musharraf regime for its failure to provide necessities [though Musharraf's publicity machine says that Pakistan is prosperous as never before].

Some idea of the sweep of the January 25 rallies can be gauged from a mention of the areas of Karachi where the rallies were held. [We're leaving out the names of the mosques.]

North Karachi, Federal B Area, New Karachi, Gulshan Maimar, Gulshane Iqbal, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad #3, Liaqatabad, Orangi Town, Pathan Colony, Gizri, Akhtar colony, Ranchore Lines, Lyari, Landhi, Keamari, Lines Area, Manghopir [and others].

Among the numerous speakers were Nasrullah Khan Shuj'ee [ex MPA], Hamidullah Khan [advocate], Muhammad Yunus Barai and Muhammad Iqbal [JI's Central District ameer].

Many of the speakers condemned Musharraf as an agent of America. Others recounted the suffering of the people and the breakdown of facilities owing to EIGHT HOUR LONG electricity blackouts.

INDIA
INDIA LAUNCHED ISRAELI SPY SATELLITE INTO ORBIT

K Hamza [Writing from Kerala, India, exclusive to New Trend]

On January 21, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle successfully put in orbit an Israeli spy satellite called, "Tecsar", weighing 300 kg, belonged to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI.).

Earlier it was reported that there was immense pressure from the Gulf countries on India not to go ahead with the launch of the Israeli satellite since it was a spy satellite with radar-imaging technology that could take pictures of the earth during day time, night and even cloudy or rainy season.

Strangely enough, the media persons, reporters and photographers were barred from entering the Space Centre at Sriharikota in south India to cover the landmark event, because Israel government had insisted not to give any publicity till the launch was successfully complete. Israel wanted the launch kept under wraps. The satellite has been designed for mapping application of sensitive and secret military bases in the Middle East, especially Persian Gulf region. During the past decade India had been collaborating with Isreal government in various mutually profitable projects. In the latest launching of satellite bid, India adopted Tel Aviv University's newly developed Ultra-violet Experiment technique so as to enable surveying and detecting through radio frequency the movements of ships and their communications. This is ostensibly in aiding Tel Aviv's military efforts in the Gulf region, especially tracking activities in Iran and the Persian Gulf in the wake of Tehran's initiative in the nuclear field.

But the worrisome fact is that India has extended its collaboration and technical aid to Israel at a time of its blockade of the Gaza strip, violating all international and humanitarian norms. India is well aware of the fact that Israel is treating 1.5 million Palestinians of the Gaza Strip worse than a colonial power. Indian Muslims have also raised their concern and voice against New Delhi's shameful silence over this inhuman blockade, under which the Hamas-controlled territory, hospitals are running out of drugs and fuel for generators leading to idle main power plant. The Arab and Muslim world consider this inhuman blockade "a collective punishment" to Palestinians. Sad to say, the Israeli blockade of Gaza has also stopped UK.N. aid shipments that include food and other humanitarian supplies.

2008-01-26 Sat 21:39:26 cst
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