July 11, 2009

European Islamophobia and the Murder of Dr. Marwa al-Sherbini – PART II

Inside story discusses the motivation behind the killing of Marwa al-sherbini.

An Egyptian Muslim woman was killed in a German courtroom by a man convicted of insulting her religion.

The brutal killing of the pregnant Marwa Al Sherbini, 32, raised a lot of questions about the rise of right wing fanatics in Europe.

Al Sherbini was stabbed 18 times by a German man of Russian descent, formally identified only as Axel W, last week as she was about to give evidence against him as he appealled against his conviction for calling her a “terrorist” for her wearing the headscarf (hijab).

-Report courtesy of Al Jazeera English

July 10, 2009

The Truth behind the conflict in Xinjiang, China – from an Uyghur Muslim

Map of the region where the Uyghurs reside

Map of the region where the Uyghurs reside

 

A letter from a fellow Uyghur…

 

Assalam Alaikum Brothers and Sisters,

You might have read and heard about the ethnic violence in the Western part of China, Xinjiang this past weekend. According to Chinese official media, 156 are dead and 1080 injured. However the unofficial figures report that at least 600 people died in the clashed between Uyghur Muslim and Han Chinese majority, and about 95% of the casualties are Uyghur Muslims. Chinese authorities have arrested at least 1400 Uyghurs, claiming they took part in the riot. The official Chinese media, Xinhua, only shows the pictures of few Han Chinese injuries with no mention of the hundreds of Muslims who died in these clashes, putting the blame completely on the Muslims. The reality is far from it. Please see the links below for some unbiased reporting.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0706/p06s04-woap.html

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The unrest in Xinjiang (East Turkistan), is near and dear to my heart. I am an Uyghur living in Chicago. My parents and the rest of the family are still in Xinjiang. While they are away from Urumqi where the clashes happened, I still have not been able to get hold of them in past couple of days as the authorities have shut down internet and telephone services. I am praying every moment for their safety.

Uyghurs are the Turkic speaking Muslim people living in the northwest part of China under occupation. Their short lived republic, East Turkistan went under Chinese communist rule in 1950. Since then they have been subjected to severe discrimination because of their Muslim identity and they have seen their 97% majority in Xinjiang shrink to almost 50% in last few decades. There are many underlining sources of tension and humiliation of over 10 million Uyghur Muslims.

I am writing to you for your support in helping spread the word and plight of Uyghur Muslims. I go to Juma prayers and everyone prays about suffering of the Palestinians, Kashmiris, Afghanis, Iraqis and Chechnyans, however not once I have heard someone pray for the Uyghurs.

We are the forgotten people in this world and not even our Muslim brothers and sisters have ever provided any moral support for us. Well I’m asking for the support in this hour of dire need. My brothers and sisters are being persecuted as we speak. They have been captured in mass arrests with no sight of what will happen to their future. Uyghur woman with their children have went on street to protest against the mass arrest of thousands of Muslim Uyghur men.

Under communist Chinese rule we are not allowed to practice our religion until the age of 18 and even after the age of 18 if anyone who works for government like teachers and doctor are not allowed to pray or go to Mosque. Our children and teachers are force fed in schools during the month of Ramadan. There is a governmental agenda to slowly take Islam out of common people’s lives. Majority of the high paying jobs go to the Han Chinese with a lot less qualification in our own home land. Our culture is being slowly disappearing.

I urge you to send this to your friends and families and condemn the killings and mass arrest of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. I ask you to pray for the safety of the people of East Turkistan (Xinjiang), Uyghurs and Han Chinese. I ask you to please stand in solidarity with your Uyghur Muslim brothers. The moral support of Muslim community means a lot to me and the Uyghurs as we are desperate to be seen and heard by our brothers and sisters.

I urge you to send a message of solidarity with Uyghur Muslims and pray for them. I urge you to send this message to at least 5 other family members and friends.

Sincerely,

Zulfiye Osman

Noman Khan (husband)

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Uyghur children

Uyghur children

Women and Children take it to the streets

Women and Children take it to the streets

Blood in the streets: Brutal rioting broke out this week in China's Xinjiang region between members of the Uighur ethnic group, Han Chinese, and government security forces. More than 156 people were killed in the riots in the capital of Urumqi, which began after police quashed a protest by students over ethnic discrimination. China has threatened to execute the leaders of the uprising -- while intervening to protect the Uighur community from ethnic reprisals. The violence has briefly focused global attention on one of the world's bitterest, but least-understood, ethnic conflicts. Above, an unconscious protester is pulled away from the fighting on July 7.

Blood in the streets: Brutal rioting broke out this week in China's Xinjiang region between members of the Uighur ethnic group, Han Chinese, and government security forces. More than 156 people were killed in the riots in the capital of Urumqi, which began after police quashed a protest by students over ethnic discrimination. China has threatened to execute the leaders of the uprising -- while intervening to protect the Uighur community from ethnic reprisals. The violence has briefly focused global attention on one of the world's bitterest, but least-understood, ethnic conflicts. Above, an unconscious protester is pulled away from the fighting on July 7.

uyghur protest 4

uyghur protest 5

uyghur protest 6

uyghur protest 7

uyghur protest 8

July 9, 2009

European Islamophobia and the Murder of Dr. Marwa Sherbini

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STAND UP AGAINST INJUSTICE AND ISLAMOPHOBIA. PetitionOnline. Join the Facebook Group. MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

European Islamophobia A Creeping Threat: Analysis

Firas Al-Atraqchi

Huffington Post

Posted: July 6, 2009 04:35 PM

The murder of Marwa Sherbini, a veiled (and pregnant) Egyptian woman, as she prepared to give evidence in a German courtroom against a man who physically assaulted her, has incensed the Muslim World and re-ignited the debate over whether Europe is a truly tolerant society or one on the cusp of xenophobic extremism.

Muslims say the attitudes which prevailed in early 20th century European history and gave rise to the Holocaust are similar in nature to the climate of intimidation and violence Muslim communities must increasingly endure in contemporary Europe.

Today, Muslims in Europe are seen as existing outside of a democratic culture. A resurgence of social Darwinism as applied to libertarian theory–that democratic ideals are inherently superior to ideals of other cultures–has alienated Muslims and created a cultural backlash against them.

A hostile view of Islam began in the 8th century when Muslims expanded into the Iberian Peninsula. Islam was rejected as a fundamental religion and seen as a direct challenge to Christianity; Muslims were seen as heretics and their prophet a diabolical fraud.

In Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, considered the pinnacle of Western literature in the 13th century, the Prophet Muhammad and his cousin Ali are cast to the ninth circle of Hell–one created for schismatics and sowers of discord.

In Giovanni Da Modena’s 1415 painting The Last Judgment, which adorns a cathedral in Bologna, the prophet is depicted as a scantily-clad, turbaned, and bearded man writhing in agony as he is pulled into hell by demons.

With Muslims’ increased migration to Europe, fear of an Eastern culture in the midst of Western ideals dominated the discourse.

Keep reading →

July 9, 2009

July 9, 2009

The Beauty of Islam: At 1.5 Billion and Growing, alhamdulillah!

All the clips are courtesy of Qur’an Explorer To see more amazing videos subscribe to Qur’an Explorer over on youtube. I can’t stop watching all of the videos on there. I wish I can post them all too.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Islam is going to dominate many Places in USA and Europe in the next few years, and is now a fiery revival sweeping much of the planet from Africa to Asia to Latin America to Europe to USA. The number of Europeans, Americans, Latinos and Africans converting to Islam is growing rapidly.

July 9, 2009

Rachel Finds Islam

Clip courtesy of Qur’an Explorer

July 9, 2009

More Convert/Revert Stories, masha’Allah!

All Clips courtesy of Qur’an Explorer

Ever more Germans convert to the Islam; The number of those new converts since 2004 has been doubled several times .. (now 4000 per year)

These are not only women who marry muslim men, but Germans who convert to the religion of Islam by rational Conviction ..

ISLAM is spreading in Germany rapidly..

According to the german Channels, RTL & 3Sat, there is about 4000 new muslim Germans every year. More than half of the number are women.

More Germans Convert To ISLAM

July 7, 2009

Malnutrition in Somalia + How You Can Help!

  

 

A Somali woman tends to her seven year-old son who was wounded by a stray bullet on May 24, 2009 as they sit inside a medical tent that was set up by Ugandan soldiers at one of their bases in Mogadishu, Somalia. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images)

A Somali woman tends to her seven year-old son who was wounded by a stray bullet on May 24, 2009 as they sit inside a medical tent that was set up by Ugandan soldiers at one of their bases in Mogadishu, Somalia. (ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images)

 

SEE ALSO: United Nations’ Quarterly Cluster Report on the Humanitarian Response on Somalia    UNDP report on the Somali Diaspora

DONATE TO: Muslim Aid

Somalia is facing its worst humanitarian crisis in years. Millions of Somali rely on the UNs World Food Programme but just how much food actually reaches them? We reveal the shocking truth.
A skinny ribcage, huge eyes and thighs thin as arms two year old Shukri is dying, and hes not alone. One in three Somali children is malnourished. I cannot move because of hunger, says a mother.

Forty-five thousand tons of aid arrive each month in Mombasa, but most of it gets siphoned off at the warehouse: You can buy as much as you like. A ton or half a ton a day can be shifted discreetly, this trader confesses. Its shockingly easy to go to the WFP office and claim food for a fictitious camp. Goods that make it to real camps are often taken straight back to Mogadishu to be sold on the market. A witness claims: They bring the food here to prove it’s been delivered, offload a small amount and take the rest back with them! The WFPs tragic lack of control over the food chain is killing those its meant to save.

Clip and info courtesy of JourneymanPictures

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Malnutrition in Somalia

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Relief Agencies Urge Obama to Step Up Aid for Somalia

Washington, DC 21 Apr 2009 – Six aid agencies today urged the Obama administration to consider humanitarian needs in its policy review on Somalia. As the latest piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia capture the world’s attention, humanitarian organizations warned that the country remains in the midst of a severe humanitarian crisis. More than three million people are in need of emergency assistance inside the country and half a million Somali refugees have fled to neighboring countries.

Piracy off the coast of Somalia is one symptom of appallingly low levels of socio-economic development indicators, as well as almost two decades of a political vacuum inside the country. The undersigned agencies, with decades of experience working on Somalia, are concerned about the devastating humanitarian crisis and the inadequate international response. Recent events should not deter from tackling the underlying causes of this crisis that has driven millions of Somalis from their homes.

The recent high-jacking of American maritime assets should be an opportunity for renewed constructive U.S. engagement. In the search for long term solutions to counter piracy acts, the Obama administration must prioritize the welfare of the Somali people. A comprehensive U.S. policy response must include robust humanitarian funding for programs inside the country, as well as assistance to neighboring countries where Somalis have fled, including Kenya, Yemen, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

The humanitarian crisis requires massive support from the international community, and in particular the U.S. The consolidated humanitarian appeal for 2009 amounts to US$918 million. So far, only US$251 million has been raised, including US$91.9 million by the U.S. government, possibly threatening aid agencies to scale back life saving programs in parts of the country. President Obama must work with U.S. allies to ensure that the Somali people receive life sustaining food, water and shelter.

American Friends Service Committee

International Rescue Committee

Mercy Corps

Oxfam America

Refugees International

World Concern

July 3, 2009

2009 Journey of Faith Conference in Toronto this weekend!

 

jof_2009

VISIT JOURNEYCONFERENCE.COM

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July 3, 2009

25 Du’as in the Holy Qur’an!

1. Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire (2:201)

1. Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire (2:201)

 

 

 

2. Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance and make our foothold sure and give us help against those who reject faith. (2:250)

2. Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance and make our foothold sure and give us help against those who reject faith. (2:250)

 

 

 

3. Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or fall into error. (2:286)

3. Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or fall into error. (2:286)

 

 

 

4. Our Lord! Lay not upon us such a burden as You did lay upon those before us. (2:286)

4. Our Lord! Lay not upon us such a burden as You did lay upon those before us. (2:286)

 

 

 

5. Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear, grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us. You are our Protector. Help us against those who deny the truth. (2:286)

5. Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear, grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us. You are our Protector. Help us against those who deny the truth. (2:286)

 

 

 

 

 

6. Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Your grace. Verily You are the Giver of bounties without measure. (3:8)

6. Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Your grace. Verily You are the Giver of bounties without measure. (3:8)

 

 

 

 

7. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and the lack of moderation in our doings, and make firm our steps and succour us against those who deny the truth. (3:147)

7. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and the lack of moderation in our doings, and make firm our steps and succour us against those who deny the truth. (3:147)

 

 

 

 

 

“]8. Our Lord! Whomsoever You shall commit to the Fire, truly You have brought [him] to disgrace, and never will wrongdoers find any helpers (3:192)

8. Our Lord! Whomsoever You shall commit to the Fire, truly You have brought [him to disgrace, and never will wrongdoers find any helpers (3:192)"

 

 

 

9. Our Lord! Behold we have heard a voice calling us unto faith: "Believe in your Lord" and we have believed. (3:193)

9. Our Lord! Behold we have heard a voice calling us unto faith: "Believe in your Lord" and we have believed. (3:193)

10. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and efface our bad deeds and take our souls in the company of the righteous. (3:193)

10. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and efface our bad deeds and take our souls in the company of the righteous. (3:193)

11. Our Lord! And grant us that which you have promised to us by Your messengers and save us from shame on the Day of Judgement. Verily You never fail to fulfill Your promise. (3:194)

11. Our Lord! And grant us that which you have promised to us by Your messengers and save us from shame on the Day of Judgement. Verily You never fail to fulfill Your promise. (3:194)