SC grants bail to Syed Mohammad Ahmed Kazmi in Israeli diplomat car attack case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today granted bail to Syed Mohammad Ahmed Kazmi, who has been behind bars since March 6 in the Israeli diplomat car attack case.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir granted bail and directed him to deposit his passport before the concerned authority.

Kazmi has also been restrained from going abroad. The bench passed the order on a plea filed by Kazmi challenging the Delhi high court's order which had dismissed his plea for bail.

Kazmi, who claims to have been writing for an Iranian publication, was picked up after a probe showed that he had been in touch with the suspect who is believed to have stuck the magnetic bomb on Israeli diplomat Tal Yehoshua's car on February 13, according to the police.

Kazmi is alleged to have helped the suspect in conducting the recce of the Israeli Embassy to keep a tab on arrival and departure of diplomats.

By: Admin On 10/19/2012 04:12:00 pm

Continue Reading

Is there a case against Kazmi?

ON 6 MARCH this year, Delhi Police claimed a breakthrough in their investigation into the Israeli Embassy car blast case with the arrest of Syed Ahmed Kazmi, 50, a freelance Urdu journalist who specialised in West Asian affairs. Apart from a shocked family, it left the media fraternity bewildered at the police’s assertion that the arrest was cleared at the top level — with consent coming from the home ministry.

Frame-up? Senior Urdu journalist Syed Ahmed Kazmi

TEHELKA was amongst the first to raise questions on the police theory. Now, six months after Kazmi was arrested on charges of conspiring with the blast accused, a close look at the investigation and the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police Special Cell raises serious doubts about the credibility of the case.

On 13 February, a powerful explosion ripped through the car of Tal Yehoshua, wife of the Israeli defence attaché, on Aurangzeb Road, injuring her and the driver seriously. On 6 March, a week after Delhi Police revealed that they had names of the suspects, Kazmi was detained outside the India Islamic Centre, Lodhi Road. Just hours before his arrest, Syed Ahmed Kazmi was sitting in a television studio commenting on the building tension between the West and Iran. Since the arrest, his family has been running from pillar to post trying to prove Kazmi’s innocence.

On the other hand, the Delhi Police — that has from the beginning termed the case as holding ‘international ramifications’ — has carried out investigations that are perplexing, to say the least. Whereas at first Delhi Police claimed that two other suspects were detained in Bangkok on 13 March, a 16 March press release by Delhi Police named four Iranian nationals. Kazmi was charged with conspiring with the other accused. It is unclear, to this day, who the detained suspects were.

At the very outset, the chargesheet filed by the Special Cell reveals several loopholes. Consider one of the findings in the beginning: “On discreet enquiry, it was revealed that Syed Mohammed Ahmed Kazmi was out of the country during the latter half of February 2012,” it reads. But what the Special Cell found through ‘discreet enquiry’ was actually a media trip Kazmi had undertaken to Syria, as part of a 20-member delegation of journalists from India to assess the conflict there. “There was nothing discreet about it. We went to Damascus and Hama. More than a 100 journalists from all over the world were part of the Syrian government-sponsored trip,” says John Cherian, New Delhi bureau chief of Frontline.

A more startling inconsistency comes from the testimony of witnesses. Tal Yehoshua, the Israeli victim of the attack, had stated that the attacker who planted the magnetic explosive device on her car was riding a ‘black, big/sporty motorcycle’. The chargesheet claims that Houshang Afshar Irani, the Iranian national who planted the bomb, hired the motorcycle for Rs 500 per day from the owner of Hotel High 5 Land — who too has claimed the colour of the bike to be black. At the same time, two other witnesses of the blast have stated the colour of the bike to be red. The Delhi Police has refrained from sticking to a particular colour of the bike.

Even though it is claimed that Irani was in touch with Kazmi during 2011, Delhi Police has not substantiated it with any evidence, in the form of call records for instance.

Although it was claimed that Irani was in touch with Kazmi, Irani’s call records were not attached in the chargesheet

Another gaping hole comes in the form of the allegation made by Delhi Police, that traces of TNT were found in room No. 305 of Hotel High 5 Land, Karol Bagh, where Irani allegedly stayed from 29 January to 12 February 2012. “Delhi Police landed at the hotel on 26 February. Strangely, room No. 305 remained unoccupied all 14 days, even as all other rooms, including the adjacent ones, were occupied. How is it possible that even the cleaning staff never entered the room those 14 days?” asks Kazmi’s counsel, Mahmood Pracha. He goes on to point that whereas Delhi Police had earlier claimed that Irani left the country on 13 February, after the blast, details recorded in the chargesheet show that Irani left India on 29 February. Delhi Police, however, says it was an error in the cover letter of his air ticket (Malaysian Airlines). But Mahmood Pracha disagrees. “Even if we concede this, why hasn’t the Delhi Police attached immigration details from the Delhi airport in the chargesheet? Has the Iranian government even confirmed the authenticity of the passport? Do they even know who Afshar Irani really is?” asks Pracha.

Also, Delhi Police’s claim that Kazmi received huge remuneration from a terrorist cell in Iran — a case being pursued by the Enforcement Directorate separately — is completely missing in the chargesheet. However, the police have maintained that Kazmi received $5,500 in Iran, to facilitate the bombing. This claim, however, is based on a custodial confession, which has no evidentiary value in a court of law.

On 22 March, the Interpol international website issued Red Corner notices on four Iranian nationals — Houshang Afshar Irani, Seyed Ali Mahdiansadr, Mohammadreza Abolghasemi and Sedaghatzadeh Masoud — at India’s behest. On 16 March, the Delhi Police commissioner revealed that the Special Cell would go to Tehran and Bangkok to nab the accused. But they actually left for Tehran on 10 August, five months after the announcement. Delhi Police has remained tight-lipped about its findings so far.

Also questionable is the manner in which Delhi Police almost agreed to Alon Yehoshua’s (husband of Tal) plea to release the car, a crucial piece of evidence. On 1 May, Kazmi’s counsel had to oppose the plea. The prime accused in the case had to oppose the release, and potential tampering, of the only piece of evidence of his own ‘crime’.

By June, Delhi Police had filed four applications for the extension of Kazmi’s judicial custody. Since Kazmi was booked under Section 16/18 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) (along with 120 (B) conspiracy and (3) Explosive Substance Act), the custody can be extended for 180 days before the chargesheet is filed. But the remand applications — required to detail each day of custodial inquiry — merely stated the purpose, never the progress.

SUSTAINED IMPRISONMENT has taken a toll on Kazmi’s family; he was a crucial earning member of the family. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s (CMM) court, on 1 May, even denied Mahmood Pracha files pertaining to the case. On 24 May, during a revision-petition by the defence to procure the case files, another court found that the remand papers were missing. The recordkeepers of the court claimed that they had misplaced the documents. However, the session court observed that the CMM’s order was in fact “illegal and fractious”.

The family has been furnishing necessary details to the Enforcement Directorate explaining the foreign remittances to their bank accounts. The money, Kazmi’s wife claims, came from their eldest son, Ali Quazim, who’s based in Sharjah. She has also enclosed details of the tax filings done by Syed Kazmi in the past five years.

On 11 September, in a bizarre twist, the Delhi Police Special Cell tried to arrest Kazmi’s nephew. “Some policemen in plainclothes tried to arrest my cousin as he was coming out of his house in Shaheen Bagh. They claimed to be from Mumbai ATS, but their ID cards said they were from the Special Cell,” alleges Shauzab. But the Delhi Police spokesperson has maintained that the said policemen were from Anti Auto-Theft Squad, and not the Special Cell. However, Kazmi’s family members are not buying the explanation. They feel it is just an intimidating tactic employed by the Special Cell to thwart their efforts in getting justice.

G Vishnu is a Correspondent with Tehelka
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main54.asp?filename=Ne290912There.asp

By: Admin On 9/21/2012 10:08:00 pm

Continue Reading

WE ARE COMPLETELY AGAINST THE GROWTH OF TERRORISIM AND AL-QAIDA

Ayatullah Basheer Najafi

His eminence (may Allah prolong his life) has indicated that the human spirit can be affected by the whereabouts of guidance and spiritual clearness as it is mentioned in the holy Quran and the honored Hadith. Therefore, I have always loved Najaf and wished this love for others, for this city has got a spiritual atmosphere distinct from any place in the world. It is the place which contains Hawza which is unmatched all over the world in terms of quality.

Afterwards, his eminence (may Allah prolong his life) has talked with the representative of the Red Cross in Najaf, saying: "freedom, justice and equality are the most important teachings of orthodox Islam. Thus, the Western world should pay attention to this conception and use it impartially. For example, the issue of women's hijab could not even some of the political claims prevent it legally in one of the Western world countries because their exponents have become aware of that the Virgin Mary (AS) was veiled. Accordingly, Muslim woman cannot be forced to take off the hijab. However, France did not heed this wisdom, nor did they respect what has been called for freedom of thought and religion, forcing Muslim women to remove the veil. At the same time, there must be freedom of belief."

Furthermore, his eminence (may Allah prolong his life) has expressed his regret for what is going on in the world concerning the killings, destruction, and blood shedding. His eminence has asserted that we are against any growth to al- Qaida and terrorism in any place in the world. The Red Crescent and Red Cross are among the important humanitarian phenomena that have been established in the Islam and Christianity world, his eminence has added. Consequently, this is an approaching sign between Muslims and Christens, whereas Judaism did not establish such a humanitarian projects.

As far as the delegation are concerned, they have presented many questions about the Islamic theory of life, justice and judgment, where his eminence, with open-mindedness, has answer them. In regard to what is going on in Syria, his eminence (may Allah prolong his life) has stated: "We are not with any situation which might lead for the growth of terrorism and al-Qaeda anywhere in the world, and what is happening in Syria is to transplant the agendas of regional and foreign states seeking to destabilize the security of the region through the deployment of Wahabisim and trying of re- existence of Qaeda after failing in Iraq..

The delegation have also presented a lot of the work done in Iraq and the region, chief among them are helping those affected and trying to stop this crisis through negotiations. In conclusion, they have thanked Allah (Almighty) for enabling them to know Najaf and authentic Islamic belief, and for such meeting that presents Najaf in a civilized image of Islam filled with humanity and urbanization.

By: Admin On 9/07/2012 12:13:00 am

Continue Reading

Slogans against the Christian religion in Israel including names of West Bank outposts and "Jesus is a monkey".

A Trappist monk stands between graffiti reading in Hebrew, "Jesus is a monkey" (L) and "mutual guarantee, Ramat Migron and Maoz Ester" 

Ynet reports on the attack. The Latrun Monastery is located west of the green line, about 15 miles from Jerusalem:

Vandals set fire to the entrance door of the Latrun Monastery early Tuesday and spray-painted slogans against the Christian religion on its walls, including names of West Bank outposts and "Jesus is a monkey".

The Jerusalem District Police launched an investigation into the incident.

The monastery's wooden door caught fire. The abbot, Father Louie, told Ynet: "At around 3:30 am, a monk sleeping in one of the guest rooms heard a noise, went outside and saw the door burning. He entered our rooms and began shouting and waking us up.

"I went outside and saw the entire door on fire. He put out the fire with an extinguisher we had. If he hadn't done that, everything would have caught fire." . . .

The monks appeared very offended by the incident.

"I know there is some tension, but I don't understand why it has to do with us," said Father Louie. "We're Christians and we have nothing to do with it. We try to do everything with love. We are saddened by this incident. It's a shame that some people are unwilling to live with and accept people who are different."

Police officials said they viewed the targeting of holy places and religious sites as extremely severe. "We'll make every effort to bring the criminals to justice," one of them said.

The police have been preparing for "price tag" actions by extreme right-wing activists, which are usually directed at Palestinians, following the evacuation of the West Bank outpost of Migron in recent days. Source: http://mondoweiss.net/2012/09/price-tag-vandals-attack-latrun-monastery-set-fire-to-door-and-spray-paint-jesus-is-a-monkey.html#

By: Mohammed On 9/06/2012 03:35:00 pm

Continue Reading

Bahraini court upholds sentences for uprising leaders

A Bahraini civilian court on Tuesday upheld sentences of up to life in prison against the leaders of last year's uprising.

It is a decision that could dim prospects for defusing persistent unrest and advancing reform in the important US ally against Iran.

Bahrain, where the US Fifth Fleet is based, has been in political turmoil since a protest movement dominated by majority Shia Muslims erupted in February 2011 during a wave of revolts against authoritarian governments across the Arab world.

1. ​
   A Bahraini civilian court on Tuesday upheld sentences of up to life in prison against the leaders of last year's uprising

The Sunni Muslim ruling Al Khalifa family put down the uprising with martial law and the aid of troops from Gulf neighbours Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but unrest later resumed with daily clashes between Shias and police.

"All the accused are guilty in the case of taking part in a conspiracy to overturn the system of government, contacts with foreign bodies and violation of the constitution," the state news agency BNA said, referring to them as a "terrorist group".

The verdicts, originally issued by a military court against 21 men, including seven in absentia, comprise eight life sentences. Thirteen remain in jail after one was released. Defence lawyers said Tuesday's ruling could be appealed.

Opposition activists fear Bahraini authorities want to prolong the case and hold on to the men as bargaining chips in an eventual resolution to the conflict. The government says courts in the Gulf monarchy are independent.

The authorities have initiated low-level talks with opposition groups, but said they must do more to stop street violence. The opposition says this stance is a ruse to avoid concessions and they are not responsible for clashes.

Jane Kinninmont, a Chatham House analyst based in London, said the verdict sent a tough message to protesters as well as Western countries who have tried to persuade Manama to compromise with the protest movement.

"The authorities may be trying to show their strength ahead of a planned dialogue with political societies," she said, adding that could backfire if protests and clashes escalate.

"This may also send a message to the international community about the limits of pressure. Strong Saudi backing for Bahrain has made it less interested in what the West has to say."

Though US officials are keen for a release of Bahraini prisoners to help restore calm, Washington has avoided irritating Manama by calling publicly for their release.

The presence of US warships helps ensure a free flow of oil exports out of the Gulf, which Iran has threatened to blockade if the stand-off with Western powers over its nuclear energy programme deteriorates into confrontation.

Danish Foreign Minister Villy Sovndal said the verdict was disappointing and called for the release of Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, a rights activist in the case with Danish nationality.

"It is important that the international community continue to make Bahrain aware of the importance of the country respecting basic human rights," Sovndal said in a written comment.

Eight of the 20 men received life sentences in a military court last year, including Al Khawaja and opposition leader Hassan Mushaimaa, who supported making Bahrain a republic.

Ibrahim Sharif, leader of the opposition Waad party and the only Sunni among the 20, is serving a five-year sentence while blogger Ali Abdulemam was given a 15-year term and is in hiding.

"I am very disappointed. This was a shock to people," said Hussein Jawad, son of Mohammed Jawad, who is serving a 15-year sentence. "If they don't want life or a future for Bahrain, they will keep the verdicts like this."

Sunnis, who fear the rise of Shia Islamists if the government compromises with opposition demands for political reform, praised the ruling. "God is great! God is great!" wrote cleric Mohammed Khalid on Twitter.

By: Admin On 9/04/2012 06:25:00 pm

Continue Reading

Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Ishaq Al-Fayadh on extremism (SHAFAQNA EXCLUSIVE) – Your opinion?

Near the shrine of Imam Ali (A.S.) in Najaf, there is a small home of a Grand Ayatollah who left his homeland, Afghanistan, with hardships and poverty at a young age and settled in Mashhad. He studied in an Iranian Seminary then moved to Najaf. He spent many years with Grand Ayatollah Khoei and currently is one of the most influential clerics in Najaf.


Perhaps, when the father of Muhammad Ishaq Al-Fayadh sent his child to the Koran seminaries to learn the Almoqadmat book and Bahjat Almrzyh from Sheikh Mullah Ismail and Mullah Haidar Ali, he did not think that he is preparing for a great authority in the coming half of a century and could not see that his clever child of today, would become one of the leading authorities of Shia Clergymen and his word was to be a proof for many people.

Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Ishaq Al- Fayadh was mentored by teachers such as Sheikh Hassan Nishaburi, Mirza Ali Falsafi, Sheikh Mujtaba Lankarani, Syed Asadullah Madani and, eventually, studied under Grand Ayatollah Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei for more than 34 years. He was active in the Istefta lessons and, at the same time, began teaching becoming one of the great professors in Najaf. Now, his lessons in Fiqh s and Osoul are ones the most important lessons in the Najaf seminary.

He invited the group to sit on the floor beside him and gave them a warm welcome in his small room that was covered with a carpet. Self-restraint, simplicity and ceremonial are the characters for Najaf scholars. They have created a huge gap between their own life and the world and, like the great Shia leaders; they have defined their style of living as deprived people.

Grand Ayatollah Al-Fayadh emphasized the historic role of Qom and Najaf seminaries, and gave an example in this regard saying that “the seminaries of Qom and Najaf are two eyes that see things from a different perspective.”

The great scholar says “Shia ijtihad is based on scripture and tradition” and he noted that “There are lessons in Shia seminaries and Ijtihad in Shi'a Islam does not exceed the limits of the Book and Sunnah and the decisions of our scholars are all based on The Balance (Mizan). For example, there is no Shias’ fatwa saying Sunnis are Kafirs. All old scholars have said what is common between us and the Sunnis, is Islam, belief in monotheism, faith to God and belief in prophecy of prophet Muhammed (PBUH). “

He regretted that among the Sunnis, many are in bound state and supplied by governments, so they are followers of their governments and they do not always issue Fatwas base on Islamic rules. Consequently, you will see some Sunnis accusing the Shi'a with infidelity and polytheist, and, eventually, issue fatwas to murder them.

The authority of Shia believes that moderation is one of the main principles Shia’s seminaries which are due to the balanced Shia Ijtihad. He adds that “maintaining this moderation in the Shia sect is a permanent necessity.” He pointed out to Shafaqna’s reporters that "you should act on moderation in your carrier. You know that Imam Ali’s (A.S.) rights were dispossessed from him in his lifetime, but he (A.S.) was silent and was ethical. The Prophet (P) advised that he should always act with moderation. You, too, have to balance you work with all faiths and never say any bad to other religions. "

Grand Ayatollah Al-Fayadh reminded that we are, currently, in a very unique state said: "there is no possible opposition to Shia because they have entered the development in unique state. Even in the 60’s to 70’s, Shia books were not found in many libraries and their sale was prohibited, but the situation has changed and with new media like the Internet you can find Shia books everywhere.”

The Grand Scholar then addresses Shias by saying:

“You dear Shias should know, in this situation, that Shiism has received much attention and you are representatives of this oppressed religion across the world. Imam Sadeq (A.S.) states: “كونوا زيناً لنا ولا تكونوا شيناً علینا” (Be good representatives of us and do not be otherwise).”

“The youth of the world do not accept the religions and Muftis who issue fatwa as the Shia are infidels and, knowing the world's cultural and political conditions, the rightfulness and wisdom of Shia is evident.”

He added “The true Sunnis do not say Shias are Kafirs. All previous Sunni scholars did not state that Shias are Kafirs. Currently, the Sunnis, themselves, do not like Wahhabis and call them Salafi. If you look at the Sunni’s old books like Sahih Muslim and Bukhari, there is nothing but praising of Ahlulbayt (A.S.).”

The Grand Ayatollahs adds-in another part to his speech on the necessity of moral and religious principles of Muslims in non-Islamic countries: "Every Muslim is required to follow the laws and regulations of the country they live in. They cannot ignore, for example, the electricity and water costs and traffic laws, etc. if they do not pay attention or ignore them, the reputation of Islam will be at risk.”

As a conclusion he pointed out to the current changes in the region and called for Islamic Unity and awakening and to take full and wise advantage of these historical changes. He called for Bahraini Shias to unite, criticising the governments of the western countries and their silence towards the violation of the people’s rights and said: “They are silent towards the Bahraini protestors because they are Shia, while you see how they are defending the opposition in Syria.”



Note: This is a translation of the original interview made in Persian language.

By: Admin On 9/04/2012 11:52:00 am

Continue Reading

Thousands of Bahrainis rally to demand release of jailed activists

Tens of thousands of Bahraini protesters have rallied near the capital, Manama, to demand the release of jailed activists.

The anti-regime demonstration, dubbed "Freedom and Democracy," was held near a motorway connecting Shia villages with the capital on Friday, AFP reported. 

Witnesses say the demonstrators waved Bahraini flags and pictures of jailed opposition activists, including human rights activist Nabeel Rajab, who is sentenced to three years in prison for participating in anti-regime protests.

"We do not forget the prisoners!" the demonstrators chanted.

Bahrainis have been holding frequent demonstrations in support of political prisoners since hundreds of opposition activists were arrested as part of Manama crackdown on protests last year. 

On Sunday, Bahrainis took to the streets in Sitra and Sanabis to demand the release of political prisoners. 

The tiny Persian Gulf island state, which is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, has been the scene of anti-regime protests since February last year and scores of people have been killed and hundreds more injured in the Saudi-backed crackdown. 

The protesters say they will continue their protests until their demand for the establishment of a democratically elected government is met. 

By: Admin On 9/01/2012 12:00:00 am

Continue Reading

Pakistani Shi'as are 'victims of regional politics'

Pakistani development experts and activists say the massacre of Shia Muslims in Gilgit-Baltistan and other northern parts of Pakistan is linked to ongoing development programs in the area and regional politics. 


Last week, several gunmen, who were in the guise of Pakistani security officials, stopped a passenger bus travelling from Rawalpindi to the northwestern Gilgit region and dragged the travelers off the bus. The gunmen asked the passengers to show their identity cards, after which they brutally killed 22 of them at point blank range, making sure that they belonged to the minority Shia community. The Taliban, a Sunni-Wahabi militant organization, claimed responsibility of the attack. 

It was the third such incident in six months. Pakistani experts say that although Shia Muslims are also murdered in other parts of Pakistan, the Shias living in the northwestern Gilgit-Baltistan region, a predominantly Shia area, face a systematic onslaught by the Taliban. Some experts go to an extent of calling it "sectarian cleansing" of the Shias. 

In a similar incident on February 28, gunmen in military fatigues shot dead 18 Shia Muslims in the northern Kohistan district while they were travelling from Rawalpindi to Gilgit. On April 3, a Sunni mob pulled nine Shias out of buses and murdered them in the town of Chilas, about 60 miles south of Gilgit. 

Pakistani human rights groups accuse the country's security agencies of backing Sunni militants and failing to protect the minority groups of the country.

"The killings are doubtless the work of those who want to destroy Pakistan, but a failure to nab and punish the killers is also contributing to the same end ... the Taliban (are) nobody's friends and those who created this monster have taken Pakistan down the road to annihilation," said Pakistan's non-governmental Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in a statement, directly holding the Taliban and state agencies responsible for the massacre. 

Control over Gilgit-Baltistan 

Gilgit-Baltistan used to be a popular tourist destination but now not many people travel to these areas because of the unrest. Gilgit-Baltistan lies about 10 kilometers off the Karakoram Highway, which connects it to the Pakistani capital Islamabad in the south and to the Chinese cities of Tashkurgan, Upal and Kashgar in the northern Xinjiang province. To the west of Gilgit-Baltistan lies Afghanistan and on its southwest is Pakistani Administered Kashmir. 

Pakistani experts say the sectarian violence in Gilgit-Baltistan, which was given the status of an administrative province by President Zardari in 2009, is also linked to regional politics and to ongoing and future development projects in the area. 

Maqsood Ahmad Jan, a development expert in Islamabad, told DW that the violence in Gilgit-Baltistan region increased considerably after the Pakistan People's Party's government elevated the status of the once-reclusive and semi-governed region. 

"Currently, I am working with the Plan International organization and we are working to implement some projects in Gilgit, but the continued violence has impeded the pace of our projects. Other development organizations working in this area also complain about the same," Jan said. 

Many development experts are of the view that militant Sunni groups are not in favor of a prosperous and autonomous Shia-dominated Gilgit-Baltistan region so close to Afghanistan, China and Kashmir. Defense experts say that peace in Gilgit-Baltistan would also be a setback for hard-line Kashmiri militant groups, which claim that Gilgit-Baltistan is part of Kashmir. Gilgit-Baltistan Shias have always opposed any move to annex their region with Pakistan Administered Kashmir because they fear it would turn them into a minority. 

The Taliban, say experts, see the majority Shia Gilgit-Baltistan as a threat to their Wahabi political agenda and their influence in the Pakistani Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which borders Afghanistan. 

Geo-politics 

But there are others who say that the Shia massacre in Gilgit-Baltistan was actually a war of interests between regional players. 

"It is somehow linked to the 'war on terror' and US policies in the region, especially its policy towards Iran," Sartaj Khan, an editor in Karachi, told DW. "I think the US and Pakistani agencies, with the backing of Saudi Arabia, are arming militant Sunni groups to suppress the Shias in the region to kill any possible support for Iran." 

Khan added that the Pakistani agencies had given a "free hand" to militant organizations like the Sipah-e-Sahaba, a Sunni organization believed to be responsible for various attacks on Pakistani Shias in the past, to operate in Gilgit-Baltistan. 

Karachi-based Shia activist Syed Ali Mujtaba Zaidi also blamed US policies in the region for the instability in Pakistan's northern areas and the conflict between the Shias and Sunnis. 

"The US intends to demoralize us, make us feel hopeless and helpless, so that it can continue to play its politics in the region. Its main motive is to counter China and Iran." Zaidi told DW, adding that he believed extremists Sunni groups like the Taliban were working for the US' interests in the region. 

On his part, Hameed Satti, a development consultant in Islamabad, told DW that Pakistanis had a habit of blaming foreign countries for their problems, and that it was not surprising for him that the massacre of the Shias, which he believed was a result of state policies, was blamed on the US. 


http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16188813,00.html

By: Admin On 8/24/2012 02:58:00 pm

Continue Reading

South Africa boycotts products labeled ‘Made in Israel’

The South African government has put the final seal on a measure boycotting goods produced in the illegal Israeli settlements across the occupied Palestinian territories.

The government on Wednesday confirmed that it will not import the goods produced in the occupied West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem) with “Made in Israel” labeling. 

Government spokesperson Jimmy Manyi said the goods produced would now be labeled as originating from the “Israeli Occupied Territories.”

The measure, which has been under consideration by the South African government since May, is aimed at preventing consumers from being misled into thinking that such goods come from Israel, Manyi said. 

Separately, Canada’s largest Protestant church has also approved a similar measure to boycott goods produced in the occupied West Bank. 

The United Church of Canada made the decision on August 15 and approved a policy paper two days later at its 41st general council meeting in the capital, Ottawa. 

The move aims to show Tel Aviv that the church considers Israel’s continued occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds as illegal, and wants the Israeli regime to stop settlement expansion on Palestinian lands. 

The church, however, maintains that its decision to boycott Israeli products is guided by the international legal opinion and the staunch anti-racist belief in the equality of humans. 

Israeli settlements are considered illegal by the UN and most countries, because those Palestinian territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967, and are hence seen as being subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbids construction on occupied lands. 

A number of industries have sprung up in the illegal Israeli settlements, with a range of products, including cosmetics, beverages and plastics.

By: Admin On 8/23/2012 08:14:00 pm

Continue Reading

Eight Islamic Sects Meet in Saudi, But Can They Make Amends?

During the Islamic Summit Conference that was held in Saudi Arabia last week, King Abdullah called for a dialogue between different Islamic sects. The Shiite Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad officially attended the summit. The Saudi King invited eight sects to the dialogue: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’I, Hanbali (i.e. the four Sunni schools) and the Shiite al-Jaafari, al-Zaidi, al-Abazi and al-Zahiri sects, which exist in the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Yemen and Iraq. Two years ago, the Saudi King himself called for an interfaith dialogue at a conference, which was held in New York and was attended by Israeli figures.

Although many initiatives were previously launched to hold dialogues and bring together different Islamic sects, a special importance has been attached to the Islamic Conference as it has been sponsored by Saudi Arabia at a time when the practice of Takfir [when a Muslim declares another Muslim a Kafir, or unbeliever] is on the rise. This practice is becoming more common than ever, even within political movements of the same sect. However, the Sunni-Shiite conflict is the main reason behind the rift in the Arab and Islamic world.

It is obvious that this initiative is not likely to bear immediate fruit. It needs an integrated project and mechanisms that would address the key issue, which is religious reform. Nevertheless, the conference holds significant importance at the political level, since it represents a positive step on the part of a hard-line religious Sunni authority towards another hard-line Shiite power, each leading a political camp.

Needless to say, we live in a world that has long overcome the issue of recognition of the other in terms of religion and culture. However, although Muslims have managed to integrate into this world, they have failed to reconcile with themselves, their history and their culture. They continue to dig up stories and dogmas from their religious history to further widen the gap of their conflict. Yet, this summit remains a very modest step in the right direction.

What about the social and political relations existing between these sects?

It is well known that before the Islamic revolution, the Gulf did not see Iran as its foe. Arabs used to deal with Tehran on a political basis. Syria, on the other hand, was also acooperative country and a partner in the management of the Arab world and its affairs. However, the Shiite sect’s legitimacy was not acknowledged by the Saudi King. Shiites in the Kingdom are deprived of their rights.

Shiites comprise the majority of the Bahraini people, a large proportion of the Iraqi people and one third of Lebanese society. Previously, the Saudi Kingdom did not deal with these people on a sectarian basis, except for its own [Shiite] citizens. However, today, the Kingdom looks at Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria as well as Iran from a sectarian perspective. In order to change this outlook, the Kingdom ought to put the Saudi Shiite groups on equal legal footing with other groups of different sects in the Gulf emirates.

Recent Arab history has not been rife with religious conflicts. Since the first Arab revolution in 1916, the identity of the region’s peoples was characterized by nothing but Arabism. During the time of national renaissance and the struggle against European colonialism, it was difficult to categorize the history of Arab peoples based on their religions and sects.

Arabism, which is an organized intellectual movement, did not only appeal to Sunnis, who represented the broader public of the nationalist movement, but to “minorities” as well. Arabism attracted all of the elites in all Arab countries, including the Arabian Gulf. Sectarian problems must be seen as receptacles for social and political effects caused by regimes that have used religious and cultural arsenal to support and justify religious and sectarian privileges among their peoples. Had Bahrain or Iraq been Shiite states, inter-Arab relations would not have changed to such an extent. Had Iran been a Sunni state for the past 400 years, positions would not have changed towards it, and the Saudi Kingdom would have dealt with the Sunni-based Egyptian government according to its political choices rather than its religious sect. The same is true for Turkey.

However, we do not deny the fact that Iran has stormed the Arab world and sought to export the revolution and thus its influence to Arab countries. Iran has become a partner in the Arab interests and managed to procure for itself geographic, political and sectarian regions. Today, Iran is trying to take advantage of the Arab world crisis and invest in the Shiite environment to serve its interests in Iraq, Yemen, the Gulf, Syria and Lebanon. While it has succeeded in justifying the overthrow of autocracy in Iraq and thus reaping the fruits, Iran cannot justify the killings of the majority of the Syrian people by relentlessly supporting the regime under the pretext of its political resistance. For the regime’s domestic policy is no longer voicing political resistance, which in turn is no longer viable unless Arab solidarity is renewed in order to formulate national, social and integrated policies.

Today, Iran is seen as a force inhibiting the path of change in the Arab world, as this change will be done at the hands of Sunni political Islam.

Here we are in Lebanon facing a contradictory Iranian position. Iran supports our national defense, as in the “resistance” and its arms and all relevant achievements in this regards. On the other hand, it tries to place Lebanon at the forefront of the Arab-Israeli conflict and inter-Arab conflict and therefore preventing the country from rising and from regaining its stability and unity.

Today, the Sunni-Shiite conflict is likely to be affiliated with the Saudi-Iranian conflict and the interfaith dialogue has yet to put forth any viable solutions.

Today, Lebanon falls under the responsibility of Iran and Saudi Arabia. The fragmentation witnessed over the past years reflects a joint trusteeship, aiming at exporting regional conflict to Lebanon at the ideological and political levels. It would have been a dignified and viable step, had the Saudi King sought to establish a dialogue with Iran in order to protect Lebanon and distance it from the Syrian crisis. For Lebanon must not be subject to the hegemony of any doctrine or sect, whatever the aspirations of regional states.

Source:http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2012/08/the-dialogue-of-sects-and-the-na.html

By: Admin On 8/22/2012 12:39:00 pm

Continue Reading

Our heart must bleed for everyone... not just for Muslims

Have you ever seen Arab Sheikhs protesting the killing of Muslims in Myanmar or their citizens?

Two recent incidents — the protest over the ‘discovery’ of the Akbarabadi mosque in Delhi, and the agitation at Azad Maidan in Mumbai over the violence in Myanmar and Assam which turned violent — must serve as a wake-up call for all Indian Muslims.

I’ll come back to them but just a recall: In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Urdu newspapers in India Nida-e-Millat and Nasheman would spend gallons of ink on the plight of Palestinians, perennially.

This was not just an interest but an obsession. With the decline of the Urdu press for a phase in the 1980s, there was a marked decline in Indian Muslim interest in the faraway territory.

This was the era when Muslims here faced the heat due to the Ayodhya movement. But whether it was the Babri Masjid demolition or major communal riots, we never heard any Muslim country or people in other lands shedding tears for Indian Muslims or issuing any statement for them. Was there any strong voice over Gujarat from a foreign power?

In fact, there was no need for any outsider to speak for us. We are a democratic country. Like most nations and societies, we will have our issues and will sort them out ourselves. There is no need for intervention. Mostly our Hindu brethren are fighting the cases for justice for minorities.

Still, whenever there is an issue in a faraway country, Indian Muslims are the first to hit the streets. Of course, not when Muslims kill Muslims in an African country, or when Ahmadiyyas (or even Shias) are blown to pieces in supposedly ‘Muslim nations’ on a regular basis.

Some of us unfortunately might look at Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries as model states, despite the fact that they are monarchies, despite their rigid and regressive attitudes to women, minorities and even Muslim settlers from other countries, who are not given equal treatment or citizenship.

Have you ever seen Arab Sheikhs protesting the killing of Muslims in Myanmar or their citizens? From Egypt to Lebanon, Iran to Turkey and Kazakhstan to Bosnia, which Muslim country saw such huge numbers pouring out on streets to protest the killings?

Frankly, we have the right to protest but we are perhaps misusing it. We don’t join other communities to protest against injustice on others, but our blood boils when we hear or see images of attacks on Muslims.

Don’t we realise that the world looks at this as a case of Muslims just thinking about themselves and none else? Our heart must bleed for everyone who is facing injustice, not just for Muslims.

In any case, what is Bangladesh, a predominantly Muslim country, doing? It closes its border to the Rohingyas, forcibly sends them back and doesn’t hold serious talks with the Myanmar regime over this issue.

They did the same with Urdu-speaking Biharis for decades. They remained in camps and both Pakistan and Bangladesh avoided taking responsibility. Only recently did Bangladesh give them citizenship.

Forget the Gulf countries, what about Malaysia, another Muslim majority country, close to Myanmar? It is also an economic force and just a bit far away is Indonesia. What are these governments doing? If Indian Muslims want to the feel pain of the Rohingyas, it’s okay. But holding demonstrations of such size that can go out of control, what message do we want to send?

Misplaced priorities?

On the issue of ethnic cleansing in Myanmar, for the last month, we have seen demonstrations not just in capitals but districts, even towns and at smaller places. Why? In cities, where twenty people aren’t ready to join a delegation on a matter of genuine concern at delay in recognition to a school in a minority-dominated area, 2,000 people easily come for such a gathering or protest. Isn’t that amazing?

It tells us a great deal about the emotions which the Indian Muslims seem to have in excess. It’s better to use and channel this energy elsewhere. Whether it’s Akbarabadi mosque, over which passions were whipped up by an MLA, or the Myanmar issue, our priorities are misplaced.

Isn’t it a better idea to have funds collected for victims of violence in Assam, both Bodos and Muslims, than giving advertisements in papers and then heading for rallies? In the Akbarabadi mosque case, the issue was handled in such a way that it could now cause severe embarrassment to the community.

Just a few decades ago, a senseless emotional movement over a frail old woman turned Muslims into villains in this country. The Shah Bano case strengthened right-wing forces, led to the rise of the BJP, the destruction of the Babri Masjid, and the entry of the word ‘appeasement’ in the Indian political dictionary.

Despite going through so much, the Muslim leaders seem to have learnt nothing. Everywhere, one sees misplaced priorities and ‘josh’ prevailing over ‘hosh’ that only harms us.

(The author is a blogger, who writes under the pseudonym Indscribeat anindianmuslim.com.)

By: Admin On 8/19/2012 05:29:00 am

Continue Reading

American Muslims condemn violence against Shias in Pak

Washington: Condemning the recent killing of about two dozen Shias in Pakistan and expressing concern over increase in attacks on religious minorities, the American Muslim community has called for intervention by Pakistan's religious, civic and government authorities. 

In a statement on Friday, the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) called for an end to intra-faith violence and minority persecution in Pakistan. 

Attacks against Shias are on the rise in Pakistan, particularly in the northern regions, it said. 

MPAC called on Islamic scholars of all schools of thought to condemn this cancerous practice of attacks against Shia communities. 

"Scholars and activists, especially in regions spreading anti-Shia rhetoric, must make it clear that there is no room in Islam for murder and violence. The Pakistani government should investigate this growing security concern and make the rights and safety of minorities a priority," it demanded.

A day earlier, Washington-based Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress had condemned the killing of 21 Shias of Gilgit-Baltistan by militants near Abbottabad, and urged the US and the United Nations to pressure Pakistan to open the trade routes with Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Ladakh. 

"United Nations and US are requested to pressure Pakistan to open travel and trade routes towards Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Indian Ladakh so that Shias are not forced to travel on the roads that have become killing fields and virtually controlled by ISI-led militants like Lashkar-e-Toaiba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Sahaba," Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress (GBNC) said in a statement on Friday. 

Alleging that Shias and other religious minorities are being prosecuted in Pakistan, the Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress in its statement said demanded that the State Department grant a CPC (Country of Particular Concern) status to Pakistan and impose restrictions on activities of Pakistani secret service agencies and their militant allies. 

By: Admin On 8/18/2012 04:40:00 pm

Continue Reading

Hundreds of Indian Muslims stage anti-Israeli rally in New Delhi

 Hundreds of Indian Muslims on the occasion of International Quds Day on Friday staged a rally against Israel's illegal occupation of al-Aqsa Mosque, at Jantar Mantar in Central Delhi.

Expressing solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine, Indian Muslims, mainly Shia Muslims yesterday sent a clear message of condemnation to the Zionist Regime and its allies for the atrocities they have committed against the Palestinians and illegal occupation of the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Demonstrators, under the banner of National Council of Shia Ulema, Majlis Ulema-e-Hind along with other organizations, raised the slogans for the liberation of holy al-Quds and chanted 'Down with Israel,' 'Down with US'' and 'Long Live Islam.'

Chanting slogans in favor of Palestinian people they demanded an end to the Zionists' illegal occupation of Arab lands.

The protestors reaffirm their support to the Palestinian people's right to establish an independent and sovereign Palestine state on all the territories occupied by Israeli Regime.

Addressing the gathering, Maulana Syed Mohsin Taqvi, Friday Prayer Leader of Shia Mosque, Kashmiri Gate at Old Delhi called for unified resistance against the Zionists and US designs.

He called on the Muslims of the world as well as on all Islamic governments to join forces to cut down this usurper and its supporters.

The Israeli regime has occupied the territories of the Palestinian people, killing innocent people and destroying the holy places of Muslim worshipers.

'Why the self-styled champions of freedom and democracy, the US and its allies are watching as mute spectator. Why the so-called pioneers of human rights and justice are not raising their voices against the heinous crimes committed by the Israeli Regime. Why the United Nations, which vigorously passed resolutions against those Muslim countries whose rulers are against the hegemonic policies of the West, is watching silenty the crimes of Israeli Regime,' asked Maulana.

'When the entire nation of Palestine has been illegally occupied by Israel, when the entire Palestinian civil society has been surrounded, encircled, crippled, tortured, massacred, humiliated, besieged and being systematically destroyed and assimilated, these self-styled champions of freedom and democracy, so-called pioneers of human rights and justice have turned a blind eye, this is more shameful than the crimes committed by the Israeli Regime,' he noted.

Criticizing Arab countries role, T A Rahmani, President of Muslim Political Front said: 'How painful and distressing it is that in the proximity of the Muslims and the so-called Islamic governments, the usurper Zionist Regime can so outrageously and presumptuously attack the innocent people of Palestine, and rather than rising up in their defense, which is a divine ordinance and a human duty, the governments of the Islamic countries display meekness and instead rise up to act for the vile aims of America and Zionist Regime by training their sights on Islamic Iran and Islam in Iran rather than the oppressor Israel.

Later on Maulana Syed Jalal Haider Naqvi, Joint Secretary Majlis Ulema-e-Hind, Syed Mohd Mohsin Taqvi, Friday Prayer leader of Shia Mosque at Kashmiri Gate in Delhi and other eminent religious scholars submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh.

The memorandum while demanding evacuation of Palestinian territory from Israeli aggressors, asked government of India to revert back to its original foreign policy of panchsheel and non-alignment so as to accept the right of self-determination, sovereignty and independence of all nations in the world.

Memorandum also called on the international community and the Arab League (AL) to fulfill their commitments to the religious sites of great value to all Muslims around the world.

The last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan is observed all over the world as the International Quds Day. On the day, Muslims worldwide hold demonstrations to condemn the atrocities of Zionist regime against Palestinians and the Zionists' illegal occupation of the Beit-ul-Moqaddas. 

By: Admin On 8/18/2012 04:39:00 pm

Continue Reading