AFRICA: Male circumcision slowly taking off

CAPE TOWN, 23 July 2009 (PLUSNEWS) - The World Health Organization endorsed male circumcision (MC) as an HIV-prevention measure two years ago, but implementation of large-scale male circumcision programmes has been relatively slow.

Several countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where the need is greatest, have only started drafting policies and strategies to roll out programmes in the past year.

UNAIDS calculated that one HIV infection is averted for every five to 15 male circumcisions, and designed a tool to help countries plan large-scale male circumcision programmes. Catherine Hankins of UNAIDS explained it to delegates at the 5th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Cape Town, South Africa.

After punching in surveillance data on HIV prevalence and sexual behaviours, and expenditure on performing male circumcisions, including the cost of facilities, drugs, surgical supplies and staff salaries, countries can calculate the cost of a national male circumcision programme, and how many men they would need to reach to achieve the desired results within a chosen time-frame.

In terms of the model, Namibia calculated that a national roll-out costing 823 million Namibian dollars (about US$107.5 million) would result in cost savings of 5 billion Namibian dollars (about US$653 million), based on the number of infections averted.

Much of the work on male circumcision is still taking place at the three sites where the clinical trials took place: South Africa, Kenya and Uganda. The Rakai Health Sciences Programme in Kalisizo, Rakai District, Uganda, is carrying out post-trial research on the long-term effects of male circumcision on HIV incidence and behaviour.

Around 3,000 men per year are being circumcised there, with funding from the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and Dr Godfrey Kigozi of the Rakai programme reported that "demand is still overwhelming".

Slow progress

The Bophelo Pele Male Circumcision Project at Orange Farm, outside Johannesburg, the site of the South African trial, is still the only facility in the country that offers free male circumcision for HIV prevention.

Dirk Taljaard, the project manager, told delegates that the programme aimed to circumcise 50 percent of young men in the township over a five-year period.

He noted that one surgeon assisted by five nurses can perform between six and 10 circumcisions every hour at a cost of about R350 (U$45) per procedure, and training nurses to carry out the surgery would mean more men could be circumcised, but South Africa does not allow nurses to perform the operation.

Outreach activities to educate households in Orange Farm about male circumcision include door-to-door campaigns, talks at schools and churches, radio spots, and referrals from clinics that treat patients for sexually transmitted infections.

Men can proceed with the surgery if they give their informed consent after group and individual counselling sessions that include the offer of HIV testing and information on safe sex, and if they test HIV positive and have a CD4 count above 200, which means their immune systems have sufficient strength.

A significant additional benefit of the programme has been the large numbers of young men it has reached with voluntary HIV counselling and testing. "It gives us an excellent opportunity to engage them about safe sex and HIV, which is very important even if they decide not to be circumcised," said Taljaard.

The programme also revealed widespread confusion among men about the difference between traditional initiation rites and medical circumcision: 45 percent believed they were circumcised when they in fact had intact foreskins; 19 percent of these men tested HIV-positive, compared to 9.5 percent who actually were circumcised.

The finding emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive information delivery about the procedure, followed by individual pre- and post-surgery counselling. "Without political backing and will, male circumcision will have very limited impact," said Taljaard.

The South African and Ugandan governments are both drafting policies on male circumcision, while other countries, including Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Swaziland, are at various stages of implementation.

ks/kn/he[END]

Q & A ON ISLAM: He is going through a financial crisis and lives in a western country with his parents, and ......

He is going through a financial crisis and lives in a western country with his parents, and he feels embarrassed to ask them to go back to their homeland

Both my parents and sisters lived in their own apartment back home in Algeria. I live in London and Recently I have bought a new appartement and both my parents and sisters have moved into it and are living there since. they have left the old appartement to my two other brothes. Now time have changed and I have found myself in a new difficult financial situation and alos getting old.my question is can I ask my parents to move back to theire own appartement whicg they still own and is occupied by my 2 brothers, their wives and kids. My objectives are to sell the appartement or to get married and live in it with my wife. this has not been eazy for me at all as I am living in guilt.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

We appreciate your keenness to honour your parents and your fear of falling into sin with regard to the way you interact with them. We ask Allaah to increase your reward and to help you to do that which pleases Him.

Secondly:

Undoubtedly it is very difficult to tell your parents that you need to ask them to leave your house and go back to their country whilst you remain in the house, especially if the reason is your marriage and bringing your wife to take their place. We appreciate that and empathise with it. But there is another option which you did not mention, and we think that it is the option that is in accordance with sharee'ah and is appropriate in your situation. It is that you should sell your house in London and go back with your parents to your original homeland, and marry a pious Muslim woman, and buy or rent a house which will be sufficient for you, your parents and your wife.

There are a number of benefits in this solution:

1. Leaving the land of kufr in which you are living and to which you have brought your parents to live.

2. Not hurting your parents by making them leave your house.

3. Marrying a woman who is of the same religion and country as yourself.

4. Bringing the family together in one place and not causing it to be separated.

5. Leaving your brothers in their parents' house and not making them leave it.

This is what we think is the best choice for you and for all your family. But if you reject it and insist on staying in that country, then we feel compelled to advise you of the other option, which is the lesser of the two evils: you should sell your house and then spend its price on two things:

1. Sending your parents back to their country and renovating and expanding their house so that it will be big enough for them.

2. Marrying a woman who is religiously committed and keeping yourself chaste, and living in rented accommodation until Allaah makes things easier for you.

If you want to marry a Christian woman, then see the answer to question number 2527, in which are listed the conditions of marriage to a woman of the People of the Book.

We advise you to think about the Islamic ruling on your staying in that country; perhaps you will respond to our advice and leave that land for the sake of Allaah, for you have the promise that Allaah will compensate you with something better than it.

It was narrated that Abu Qataadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) said: "You will never give up a thing for the sake of Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, but Allaah will replace it for you with something that is better for you than it." Narrated by Ahmad (22565); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Hijaab al-Mar'ah al-Muslimah, p. 47. Also classed as saheeh by the commentators on Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal (23074).

In the answers to many questions we have discussed the issue of settling in kaafir countries and the negative consequences that result from that, as well as the conditions that must be met by a person if he settles for a legitimate shar'i reason that makes it permissible for him to settle there. See the answers to questions number 11793, 14235, 27211.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A

Breaking The Silence I

Breaking The Silence I

via The Arabist by arabist on 20/07/09

Since the report Breaking The Silence [PDF] about Israeli war crimes and use of human shields during the Gaza War is not getting much coverage in the American and international press (certainly the major papers – nothing in the NYT so far), I will be reproducing parts of it here.

Sometimes the force would enter while placing rifle barrels on a civilian's shoulder, advancing into a house and using him as a human shield. Commanders said these were the instructions and we had to do it… Anyway, at the concluding debriefing, he (the unit commander) said he didn't know about these things, and the guys, commanders who had been there the first week, said they saw civilians being assigned to break walls and enter with rifle barrels on their shoulders. He said he didn't know this and would look into it. i think nothing substantial had been done about it, i'm also in touch with one of the officers there at present and I don't know if an investigation was made and nothing was found or that nothing was cleared up. several weeks later, the story came out in the paper about these exact incidents, where they were given sledgehammers to break walls, in our area, this i can say with certainty.

In the IDF they call this the Johnny procedure:

The method used has a new name now _ no longer 'neighbor procedure.' now people are called 'Johnnie.' they're palestinian civilians, and they're called Johnnies and there were civilians there who stayed in spite of the flyers the army distributed before it went in. Most people did leave, but some civilians stayed to watch over the houses. perhaps they had nowhere else to go. Later we saw people there who could not walk, some simply stayed to keep watch. to every house we close in on, we send the neighbor in, 'the Johnnie,' and if there are armed men inside, we start, like working the 'pressure cooker' in the West Bank.

. . .

the commanders tell what they saw and make sure we know how things work on the inside. they also talked about things that bothered them. they said that civilians were used to a greater extent than just sending them into houses. For example, some of them were made to smash walls with 5 kilo sledgehammers. there was a wall around a yard where the force didn't want to use the gate, it needed an alternative opening for fear of booby-traps or any other device. so the "Johnnies" themselves were required to bang open another hole with a sledgehammer.

Uri Avnery has an article about the Johnnies.

EGYPT: Bloggers Fly Into Security Trap

EGYPT: Bloggers Fly Into Security Trap
By Cam McGrath

CAIRO, Jul 28 (IPS) - Cairo's airport has been unusually busy the past month as Egypt's security apparatus steps up its campaign against online political activists.

Several prominent Egyptian bloggers have "disappeared" from the airport's arrivals hall, while others report suspiciously long delays that they claim were cover for state security officers to search their laptops and luggage.

Bloggers Abdel Rahman Ayyash and Magdy Saad were arrested at Cairo airport last week as they returned from a political conference in Turkey. Both men are outspoken members of Muslim Brotherhood, the banned fundamentalist Islamic group that is the largest political opponent of Egypt's ruling regime.

Ayyash, who runs the blog Al-Ghareeb ('Strange'), is being held incommunicado. The 19-year-old Islamist, known for his reformist tendencies, posts in Arabic and English about Islam and its role in governance.

Saad, a 31-year-old marketing executive, blogs at Yalla Mesh Mohem ('All right, it doesn't matter') about matters both personal and political. He was among 21 Muslim Brotherhood members and leaders arrested in March 2006 in what later became known as the "student's case". Saad's blog entries following his release helped focus media spotlight on the arrests.

"These guys are among the most influential young Islamist bloggers in Egypt, generally voices for dialogue with other currents and reform inside the Muslim Brotherhood," according to The Arabist.

The popular blog suggests a link between the arrest of the two online activists and their efforts in the campaign for the release of Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood's Guidance Council. Aboul Fotouh was arrested Jun. 28 along with six other Brotherhood members, and is currently being detained without charge.

The Cairo-based Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) says detention of bloggers arriving at the airport is "becoming a routine."

"This is a new episode of the blatant violation programme practised by the security services, with absolute illegitimacy and with shameful consent of the prosecution, the only entity responsible for questioning police authorities about such encroachments and law breaking incidents," says ANHRI executive director Gamal Eid.

Egyptian authorities have intercepted at least two other cyber dissidents at Cairo airport this month. On Jul. 18, blogger Ahmed Salah was reportedly detained at customs for several hours while his belongings were searched. State security officers also detained prominent blogger Wael Abbas for 13 hours upon his return to Cairo on Jun. 30 from a conference in Sweden where he criticised the government.

Abbas said he was taken to a separate room in the arrivals hall where officers searched his backpack, wallet, camera and laptop. The belongings were returned except for his conference papers and his laptop, which he was told had been sent to be scanned for pirated software.

As more Egyptians espouse their political views online, authorities have taken an increasingly heavy hand in suppressing their voices. State security monitors phone and Internet communications, and cyber café owners are required to collect and keep personal information of all Internet users.

Police have detained hundreds of online activists in the last year. A handful still remain in custody, including blogger Abdel Karim Sulieman, better known as Kareem Amer, who was arrested in November 2006 and is currently serving a four-year jail term for insulting religion and the president.

Earlier this year, Paris-based press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders named Egypt as one of 12 "Enemies of the Internet." The other members of the "dirty dozen" are Burma, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

"All these countries distinguish themselves not only by their ability to censor online news and information but also by their virtually systematic persecution of troublesome Internet users," the rights organisation said.

Cairo airport has become a preferred place to apprehend bloggers. The terminal is an easy place to monitor and detain activists, as arriving passengers must pass successively through the gate, immigration hall and customs - each station affording authorities an opportunity to interrogate the passenger and search their belongings.

Airport officials keep lists of individuals wanted by police. (END/2009)

Ruling on jury duty in a non-Islamic court in a non-Muslim country

Ruling on jury duty in a non-Islamic court in a non-Muslim country
Can a Muslim living in a non-Muslim country participate their court system by agreeing to the call of jury duty from the government? This jury duty involves in sitting inside the court and listening to the pro and con arguments of a case and deciding along with other 11 people whether a person is guilty or not.

Praise be to Allaah.
Passing a verdict on a accused person whose case has been brought to court and stating whether he is guilty or not guilty is regarded as ruling and passing judgement. One of the conditions of ruling and passing judgement is that it should be based on the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) even if it has to do with passing judgement on kuffaar or judging between them.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

?So if they come to you (O Muhammad ??? ???? ???? ????), either judge between them, or turn away from them. If you turn away from them, they cannot hurt you in the least. And if you judge, judge with justice between them. Verily, Allaah loves those who act justly?

[al-Maa?idah 5:42]

?And so judge (you O Muhammad ??? ???? ???? ????) among them by what Allaah has revealed and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they turn you (O Muhammad ??? ???? ???? ????) far away from some of that which Allaah has sent down to you. And if they turn away, then know that Allaah?s Will is to punish them for some sins of theirs. And truly, most of men are Faasiqoon (rebellious and disobedient to Allaah)?

[al-Maa?idah 5:49]

Shaykh ?Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa?di (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

?And so judge (you O Muhammad ??? ???? ???? ????) among them by what Allaah has revealed? -- this verse is the one which is said to abrogate the verse ?either judge between them, or turn away from them?. But the correct view is that it does not abrogate it, and that this indicates that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) was given the choice between passing judgement between them or not doing so, and that was because their aim was not to refer to the truth for judgement. This verse indicates that if he did pass judgement, then he was to pass judgement between them in accordance with that which Allaah had revealed of the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and this is the justice which is referred to above, in the verse in which Allaah says: ?And if you judge, judge with justice between them?. This points to what is meant by justice, and that it should be based on the rulings that Allaah has prescribed, which include the ultimate justice and fairness. Anything contrary to that is injustice and wrongdoing. End quote.

Tafseer al-Sa?di, p. 234

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

No one has the right to judge between any of Allaah's creation, whether between Muslims or kuffaar or young men or armies or the poor or anyone else, except in accordance with the rulings of Allaah and His Messenger. Whoever seeks anything other than that is included in the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning): ?Do they then seek the judgement of (the days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allaah for a people who have firm Faith? [al-Maa?idah 5:50] and ?But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad ??? ???? ???? ????) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission? [al-Nisa? 4:65]. End quote.

Majmoo? Fataawa Ibn Taymiyah, 35/407, 408.

The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas said:

It is not permissible for a Muslim to work as a judge except in sharee?ah courts which apply the laws of Allaah in all their rulings. End quote.

Shaykh ?Abd al-?Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh ?Abd al-?Azeez Aal al-Shaykh, Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd.

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa?imah, 12/136, 127

It is no secret to anyone that the reference point for passing judgement on people in the country asked about and -- unfortunately -- in many Muslim countries is not the Qur'aan and Sunnah. Based on that, the starting point for passing judgement on people -- both Muslims and kaafirs -- is man-made laws, which are opposed to the laws of the Lord of the Worlds. Based on that, it is not permissible to serve on the jury or work in any other part of the courts which judge between people on the basis of something other than that which Allaah has prescribed.

And Allaah knows best.


Islam Q&A

ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS IN OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY HURT PEACE PROCESS – UN

ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS IN OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY HURT PEACE PROCESS – UN
New York, Jul 27 2009 3:10PM
The illegal building of new homes and communities continue to occur across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, threatening fragile hopes of a two-state solution to the long-running conflict, top United Nations officials warned today, urging both Israel and the Palestinians to meet their obligations under the Road Map for peace in the Middle East.

"The situation in East Jerusalem is of particular concern… especially indications of new settlement construction and house demolitions," Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, said during an open Security Council <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2009/sc9717.doc.htm">debate on the Middle East.

Mr. Fernandez-Taranco said that the international community was troubled by the recent approval of 20 new housing units in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, as well as the issuing of eviction and demolition orders against Palestinian homes.

"In a significant development yesterday, settlers accompanied by Israeli security forces took physical possession of a house in another area of Sheikh Jarrah," Mr. Fernandez-Taranco told the 15-member body.

In response to yesterday's move in Sheikh Jarrah, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, stressed that the recent "upsurge in orders for house demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem is contrary to the Road Map.

"Any settlement activity in East Jerusalem is contrary to international law and cannot prejudice the outcome of negotiations," said Mr. Serry, appealing for restraint from all sides and for Israel to refrain from unilateral actions that risk inflaming an already tense situation.

Mr. Fernandez-Taranco noted that in the last month demolition orders without permit were carried out against three Palestinian homes and a further 13 new orders were issued, and that 51 incidents in which 19 Palestinians were injured and a number of properties vandalised by settlers were reported.

Council Members also heard that in the five years since the <"http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/131/1671.pdf">advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (<"http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?p1=3&p2=4&k=5a&case=131&code=mwp&p3=4">ICJ) stated that erecting a wall within the occupied Palestinian territory was contrary to international law, the barrier has compounded movement restrictions in the West Bank and its planned route encloses 9.5 per cent of the West Bank area.

However, Mr. Fernandez-Taranco noted that Israel has taken a number of steps to ease movement between Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah and Jericho, significantly reducing the time it takes Palestinians to enter these cities.

He also welcomed Israel's move to extend the hours for commercial crossing at the Allenby Bridge to Jordan, which will promote the development of industrial zones in Bethlehem, Jenin and Jericho.

In early July, a Palestinian Authority official reported that Palestinian security forces had uncovered stockpiles of arms, explosives and a stash of $8.5 million in cash from Hamas cells in the West Bank, said Mr. Fernandez-Taranco.

"I urge the Palestinian Authority to continue to make every effort to improve law and order and to fight violent extremism, consistent with its Road Map obligations," he said.

In the Gaza Strip, the relative drop in violence reported in the last briefing to the Security Council continued, said Mr. Fernandez-Taranco, despite four incidents of rocket or mortar fire into Israel and nine Israeli army incursions into the Strip, which resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to seven Palestinians.

He stressed that the Middle East diplomatic Quartet – consisting of the UN, European Union, Russia and the United States – has called on Israel to reopen all crossing points into Gaza to ensure the regular flow of people, as well as humanitarian and commercial goods.

"In May 2007, prior to the imposition of the comprehensive closure regime, 475 trucks per day wee entering Gaza, as part of normal commerce and trade," compared to the 78 trucks allowed access per day in June.

Over the past month, only 70 per cent of the fuel needed to operate the power plant at full capacity was shipped into the area and as a result "power cuts continued throughout the Gaza Strip, directly affecting most householders' ability to refrigerate foods, as well as the provision of essential services like water and sanitation, health care and medicine storage, and waste disposal," with some 10 per cent of Gazans without any electricity at all.

Mr. Fernandez-Taranco also reminded the Council that the Secretary-General described the blocking of reconstruction materials and supplies as "completely unacceptable," and that the Quartet supports "the UN proposal to kick-start early recovery in Gaza by opening the crossings for materials to complete UN construction work on housing, health and education facilities suspended since June 2007."

In meetings with Lebanese and Israeli officials and political leaders in the past week the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Michael Williams, stressed the "seriousness of recent events and the gravity of the violations of resolution 1701," said Mr. Fernandez-Taranco, noting that Mr. Williams had been reassured that no further incursions of Lebanese territory would take place below the 'Blue Line' and there would be no further demonstrations in the area.
Jul 27 2009 3:10PM
________________

Crackdown on Egypt’s Islamist bloggers

Crackdown on Egypt's Islamist bloggers

via The Arabist by arabist on 7/23/09

Three major Egyptian Islamist bloggers have been arrested over the last 48 hours, Global Voices reports:

Today, July 22, 2009, seems to be a start of a series of crackdown on bloggers in Egypt, as 3 young bloggers were arrested separately. The first blogger is Ahmad Abu Khalil, who was taken from his home in the dawn.

State Security forces broke into Ahmad's house and confiscated his books. The State Security did not inform his family about the accusations against the son, or as to where he will be taken. However, he is most likely being held in Nasr City State Security headquarter.

Ahmad who blogs at Al- Bayareq (means: lanterns), identifies himself as an 'Islamist'. And he used to write about his life.

The other two bloggers are Abdel Rahman Ayyash and Magy Sa'd, who have been arrested at the Cairo Airport, since yesterday night. The two bloggers were coming back from a visit to Turkey. Ayyash is running 'Abdel Rahman's Blog' , while Magdy is writing at 'Yalla Mesh Mohem' blog, (means: OK it doesn't matter).

These guys are among the most influential young Islamist bloggers in Egypt, generally voices for dialogue with other currents and reform inside the Muslim Brotherhood. They are among the people campaigning for the release of Dr. Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, the prominent member of the MB's Guidance Council who has articulated reformist tendencies more clearly than any other leader. Let's hope they are quickly released.

Update: Menassat has a write-up, quoting from here but also with additional info.

Boycott Etisalat – in the UAE and everywhere else

Boycott Etisalat – in the UAE and everywhere else

via The Arabist by arabist on 7/25/09

Till they apologize and guarantee they will never do anything like this again, at least:

FT.com / Middle East / Politics & Society – BlackBerry rogue software leaves sour taste:

A bungled attempt by the United Arab Emirates' largest telecommunications operator to install surveillance software into subscribers' BlackBerrys has infuriated customers in the rich Gulf state, and raised global concerns over the security of smart phones.

Etisalat in late June told its 145,000 BlackBerry customers to 'upgrade' the software on their devices by downloading a program or 'patch' that Etisalat claimed would improve performance, but users said it only drained the battery of the smart phones, prompting tech-savvy subscribers to investigate further.

What they discovered was that the instead of improving performance, the software 'patch' – which included a mysterious file labelled 'Interceptor' – was actually spyware designed to let Etisalat capture, read and store targeted customers' e-mails.

The claim was later confirmed by Research in Motion, the Canada-based maker of the BlackBerry, which sent out a warning to subscribers in the UAE with instructions on how to remove the rogue software."

For now they are stupidly denying it. And I'd love an initiative to reveal what all Middle Eastern telecoms are doing to help governments eavesdrop (or an easy way to disable that.) MobiNil and Vodafone in Egypt, for instance, provide access to their network servers to state security.

'Why I took up arms against Ethiopia'

The ONLF says these rocks conceal mass graves By Yannick Demoustier and Jonathan Alpeyrie BBC Focus on Africa magazine Ahmed, 35, is a member of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), one of a number of separatist groups fighting for the independence of the Somali-speaking Ogaden region in the east of Ethiopia. The previous evening, he had participated in an attack against Ethiopian troops near the town of Babile. "The assault lasted only a few minutes but we managed to kill nine government soldiers," he said. "We are no match for direct combat, so we must rely on quick surprise attacks." The armed resistance began in 1994 after the ONLF, then a political organisation, broached the idea of splitting from Ethiopia. The central government responded by imprisoning Ogaden leaders and, according to academics and human rights groups, assassinating others. 'Point of no-return' "In 1994, as a student in Dire Dawa, I was not allowed take the final examinations because I was an Ogadenian," said Ahmed. "I was arrested two years later on false charges of belonging to the ONLF. They kept me there for four years and I was beaten repeatedly, sometimes even subjected to electric torture. While in detention, my father was killed by government soldiers." On his release in 2001, he immediately joined the rebellion but his mother remains in jail in Jijiga. Fearing for his family, Ahmed convinced his wife to flee with their two daughters. "They are refugees in Kenya, I haven't seen them for three years. "There comes a point of no-return when you know you don't belong in this country," he said. 'Human shields' Over the past two years, the conflict has escalated following the ONLF's April 2007 attack on a Chinese-run oil exploration field. This resulted in the death of 74 people, including Ethiopian guards and Chinese workers. The central government calls the rebels "terrorists", however watchdogs have accused the government of human rights violations. In this village, they crushed babies' heads with stones and in another, they cut up bodies and scattered the parts to prevent remaining villagers from burying the dead Ahmed "This is a complete fabrication and these are unfounded allegations," said Berhanu Kebede, Ethiopia's ambassador to the UK. "The Ethiopian government has no intention of harming civilians, it is the ONLF that uses civilians as human shields." Near the deserted village of Galashe, which Ethiopian troops allegedly stormed in January 2009, Ahmed explains what lies beneath the numerous piles of rocks. "There are about 50 bodies under each pile. "The Ethiopian soldiers stayed here for a couple of months, they terrorised inhabitants, killing as many as 1,500 people." In Galashe and across Ogaden, civilians attest to the same horrors, the gang-raping of women, the burning of huts and killing of livestock. But the Ethiopian ambassador denied this claim. "This was recently the subject of an independent investigation and this has made it clear that no such crimes were committed. "This is a vast area with a population of 4.5 million, who are mostly nomadic and you won't see graveyards because people bury their relatives anywhere they can," said Mr Berhanu. The government has closed off all access to the Ogaden region. Ahmed believes the Ethiopian government is trying to cut them off from the local population which supplied the rebels with food. Rebel alert One of Ahmed's main tasks is to train the younger recruits. "They are very angry but it is important that they remember to stay organised, especially when things appear calm," he said. The rebels say that they cannot live under Ethiopian rule but we are a federal state. Berhanu Kebede The Ethiopian government has been trying to find a political solution to the problem. "We are approaching them through their elders to explain that the constitution provides enough political space for a peaceful resolution of the problem, but they must renounce the armed struggle and wage their political agenda peacefully," said Mr Berhanu. "The rebels say that they cannot live under Ethiopian rule but we are a federal state." Ethiopia remains one of the world's most aid-dependent countries, receiving more than $2bn in foreign assistance every year. Evidently, no aid reaches the Ogaden region despite the government's insistence that hostilities have ceased. "Why does the international community remain silent?" said Ahmed. "The UN must come to the Ogaden to see what [Prime Minister]Meles is doing to us." Yannick Demoustier is a French journalist for Rue des Pommiers news agency and Jonathan Alpeyrie is an independent photojournalist. BBC

Racists may have started fire at Bristol office

The offices of a newspaper serving Bristol's Somali community have been devastated in what is thought to have been a racially-motivated arson attack.

The Somali Voice base on Stapleton Road, Easton, was set alight in the early hours of Wednesday and the voluntary organisation's two computers, desks, chairs and paperwork were destroyed.

Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused in what investigators believe was a malicious attack on the bilingual, monthly publication set up to help the Somali community in Bristol.

The offices were also home to the Easton Advice and Advocacy Centre, which was also damaged.

Somali Voice editor Kayse Maxamed said: "It's very sad and very, very difficult for the community because a lot of people come here for help.

"There has been a lot of damage. We are all volunteers, we do not get funding, and have been renting the office for about three months.

"We've been trying our best to help the community and a lot of people are very upset about what has happened. But we are determined to carry on."

Mr Maxamed said the newspaper had been the victim of some hostility recently.

No decision has yet been made on where the paper will be made in the future and staff will try their best to get July's edition out on the streets.

"I'd appeal for the community to contact the police if they know who may have done this or if they saw anything suspicious," he said. "This has not only damaged the Somali Voice, but the whole community."

The Somali Voice is a free publication. It has a website, www.thesomalivoice.co.uk, and aims to "provide a voice that represents Somali communities in the UK and bridges the gap between governmental, non-governmental agencies and Somali communities across the country".

Two fire appliances from Temple fire station extinguished the fire after a call at 2am yesterday. Throughout the day fire investigators and scenes of crime police officers looked for a possible cause.

Avon and Somerset police spokesman Simon Whitby said: "I can confirm we are looking into the possibility that this incident was racially motivated.

"The fire was started deliberately and we would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area, between 1am and 2am to contact us."

Witnesses should call the police on 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A NEW BOOK ON SOMALILAND

Somaliland: An African Struggle for Nationhood and International Recognition

By Iqbal D Jhazbhay

http://www.nuradeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Somaliland-1.jpg

Foreword By Professor Ali Mazrui

This study contributes significantly to our understanding not only ofSomaliland, but of the predicament of the Somali people as a whole.Today, they are scattered over what used to be British Somaliland (capital Hargeisa), former Italian Somaliland (capital Mogadishu), former French Somaliland(now Djibouti), Ethiopia (the Ogaden), and Kenya. These are the five fragmentsthey have been split into following the European scramble for Africa in the 19th and early 20th century.
In 1960, amid considerable euphoria, the former British Somaliland unitedwith the former Italian Somaliland to form the Somali Republic. This emerging post-colonial state was widely regarded as the closest an African country could beto a classical nation-state. The new Somali republic was homogeneous in language(almost everybody spoke Somali), homogeneous in religion (almost entirely Muslim), homogeneous in political culture (based on a system of clans), and almosthomogeneous in economic lifestyle (mainly pastoralist, but reinforced by fishingalong the coast).

In the course of this study, we retrace some of the steps taken by Somalia duringthe first 30 years of independence (1960 to 1990). The earliest years promisedthe evolution of a pastoral democracy. Somalia was close to being the most open society in postcolonial Africa. There were high levels of political participation,open debates, and impressive political eloquence in the emerging parliamentaryculture.Against such a background, it would have been tempting to study the Somali story not as a case of nation-building but as one of national demolition, not as acase of political development but as one of political decay. Part of the originalityof Iqbal Jhazbhay's approach has been to transform this agenda. Instead of focusing on the disintegration of the Somali Republic, he has turned his attentionto the resilience of Somaliland, which pulled out of the union in 1991. TheSomali Republic can be studied as a case of national disintegration, but Jhazbhay draws lessons from the experience of Somaliland as a case of national integration.

The wider Somalia illustrates political decay, while Somaliland is an experimentin political development – what Jhazbhay calls a 'bottom-up approach to nation-building'.Because of high levels of poverty among people such as the Somali, socialscientists have often been drawn to political interpretations based on economiccausality – indeed, some scholars studying developing countries have been drawn to neo-Marxist forms of economic determinism. Jhazbhay has resisted the lure ofeconomic explanations. He has opted instead for the primacy of culture as thecentral determinant of Somali behaviour. Thus he regards the main social forces at work among the Somali as 'culturally rooted, and internally driven'.

The pre-colonial legacy inherited by all Somali people was a culture of rulesrather than rulers. According to scholars, before Europeans arrived, Somali society was one of 'ordered anarchy'. Governance was ultimately based not on a state'smonopoly of physical force but on consensus-building within and among clans.There were no kings, sultans or emirs. The imposition of European colonial rule interrupted the tradition of 'orderedanarchy'. Nascent statehood was initiated. The colonial state certainly insistedon a monopoly of physical force.

When the British and Italians departed, and their two former Somali colonies united into one republic, there was, for a while,'order' without the 'anarchy'. This stable 'order' was soon undermined by whatJhazbhay calls 'the interplay of internal and external forces'. Mogadishu and its surroundings became increasingly militarized.

The pre-colonial tradition ofconsensus-building within and among clans was rapidly eroded. For a while, theSomali people experienced not 'ordered anarchy' but 'ordered tyranny', especially under Siad Barre. But the element of 'ordered' declined, and was replaced by 'tyrannyand disorder'.
The situation was exacerbated by the 'interplay between internal and external forces' during the Cold War. While the United States and Soviet Union competedfor the allegiance of Mogadishu, consensus within and among clans was increasinglyundermined. Tension between the clans of former British Somaliland and those of former Italian Somaliland escalated, and Puntland was caught in thecrossfire. In the course of the 1980s the Somali Republic descended into chaos – acondition of post-colonial anarchy without pre-colonial order. Jhazbhay takes us through the different stages of resistance, collapse, and conflict– illustrating what Ahmed Yusuf Farah has described as a 'culture of locallybased reconciliation-processing'.

After Northern Somalia's withdrawal from the Union in 1991, the Horn ofAfrica experienced 'A Tale of Two Somalias'. The Somalia of Mogadishu continuedto be a case of anarchy without order, while the Somalia of Hargeisa was gathering momentum as a case of 'bottom-up nation-building', rooted in culture andenergized from within.To what extent were the differences between the Somalia of Mogadishu(chaotic) and the Somalia of Hargeisa (relatively stable) due to the differences
between their former imperial powers (Italy and Britain)? Was the Italian legacypart of the explanation for Mogadishu's chaos? Was the British legacy part of theexplanation for the relative stability of the Somalia of Hargeisa? Jhazbhay does not buy such a simplistic explanation; instead, he ascribes the relative stability ofHargeisa to 'the efficacy of Africa's approach to bottom-up nation-building'.Some Somali analysts in Hargeisa regard the British legacy as relevant for relative stability, and the Italian impact as contributory to chaos. But this was notbecause British political culture in the United Kingdom was more stable than Italianpolitical culture in Rome. Hargeisa analysts have argued to me that British rule interfered less with indigenous clan culture in Hargeisa than Italian assimilationistpretensions had done in Mogadishu. British rule had therefore been less culturallyintrusive than Italian imperial rule.
Jhazbhay has not tapped these issues of comparative colonial policy as muchas he might have done. But he does allow for their relevance in 'balancing traditionwith modernity', and in 'comparative elite formation' under different colonial powers.

The Somali have a love--hate relationship with the Arabs, but a great commitmentto Islam. I am delighted that Jhazbhay found my concept of 'Afrabia'useful in the Somali context. He is also fascinating on what he describes as 'the Global Islamic Civil War' in relation to the 'War on Terror'. Although the Somaliaof Hargeisa has been less fundamentally affected by the politics of Islamism andAl-Qaeda than the Somalia of Mogadishu, Jhazbhay has confronted these issues of radicalized Islam frontally. These are forces affecting all Somali in one way oranother.
Jhazbhay's study of the people of Hargeisa sometimes comes close to being acase of participant observation in the tradition of British social anthropology. He has conducted wide-ranging interviews both within Somaliland and outside, andsocialized with the people to get to know them better. He has also agonized withthem about the stressful politics of international recognition.

Hargeisa people have often complained that the international community is ready to spend millions ofdollars on Mogadishu because it is chaotic, rather than spending any money atall on Hargeisa, precisely because it is stable. The international community is less interested in investing in the nation-building of Hargeisa than in the explosivetumult of Mogadishu. Jhazbhay has sympathized with these lamentations.This study contributes significantly to our understanding of the Horn of Africa in the context of wider international forces. It also contributes to a number ofdifferent theoretical concerns – ranging from the role of culture in nation-buildingto the emerging forces of radical Islam, and from the nature of post-war reconstruction to the dilemmas between self-determination and regional integration.

We salute it as a major scholarly success.

Professor Ali Mazrui

Professor in the Humanities

Binghamton University

US Corruption Arrests Shock Jewish Community

US Corruption Arrests Shock Jewish Community
By Victoria Cavaliere New York 24 July 2009

The arrests of more than 40 prominent politicians and Jewish leaders in New Jersey and New York on corruption and money laundering charges have sent shockwaves through the close-knit Syrian Jewish community there.

Federal investigators in New Jersey announced Thursday they had arrested more than 40 people, including public officials charged with corruption. Charges against others included international money laundering, selling counterfeit goods, and the black-market sale of human organs.

Acting US Attorney Ralph Marra Jr. speaks at a news conference with Newark division special agent in charge Weysan Dun (R), 23 Jul 2009, Newark, N.J.

In addition to three mayors, officials arrested five influential rabbis from New Jersey and the New York borough of Brooklyn.

"They used purported charities, entities supposedly set up to do good works, as vehicles for laundering millions of dollars in illicit funds. The rings were international in scope, connected to the city of Deal, New Jersey, Brooklyn, New York, Israel and Switzerland," saidActing U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra about the money-laundering scheme.

The rabbis are accused of using their congregations' charitable organizations to launder about $3 million by passing money from alleged illicit activity through their charities' bank accounts. The FBI said the rabbis then kept about 10 percent for themselves.

All of the rabbis come from the close-knit and wealthy Sephardic Jewish communities of southern New Jersey and Brooklyn - and the arrests have put the spotlight on a usually quiet community.

Rabbi Saul Kassin (C) leaves federal court in Newark, N.J., 23 Jul 2009

One of the rabbis arrested, Saul Kassin, is considered the leading cleric of the U.S. Sephardic community, comprised of families that emigrated mostly from the Middle East, Syria in particular, following the formation of the state of Israel in 1948.

Rabbi Kassin leads the largest Sephardic synagogue in the United States, Shaare Zion in Brooklyn, and has written books on Jewish law.

Members of the community have expressed shock and disbelief over the allegations against Rabbi Kassin. Many have been reluctant to speak publicly. One member of Shaare Zion, Ezra Kassin, told reporters he did not believe the charges.

He's just a very honorable person. I can't believe it, I don't believe it. Whatever they want to say, it's hogwash," he said.

Authorities said an FBI "cooperating witness" helped federal investigators gather evidence in the case. Media reports said he was arrested in 2006 for bank fraud.

FBI agent Weysan Dun said the probe seeks to root out corruption in New Jersey, wherever it is found.

"This case is not about politics. It is certainly not about religion. It is about crime, corruption, arrogance. It is about a shocking betrayal of the public trust," he said.

The FBI said the two-year probe is part of a wider investigation into political corruption and money laundering that started 10 years ago.

US rabbi held over 'kidney trade'

Suspects were taken to the FBI office in Newark A US rabbi accused of kidney trafficking is among dozens of politicians and other rabbis held in a major corruption sweep. Three mayors from New Jersey and two members of the state legislature were among more than 40 people held. Three hundred FBI agents raided dozens of locations across New Jersey and New York as part of a 10-year probe into corruption and money laundering. Cars carrying suspects were parked four deep outside FBI offices in Newark. 'Piece of the action' Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini and Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez were among those arrested. State legislators Harvey Smith and Daniel Van Pelt were also arrested. Law enforcement officials say the investigation originally focused on a network they allege laundered tens of millions of dollars through charities controlled by rabbis in New Jersey and neighbouring New York. It widened to include alleged official corruption said to be linked to a New Jersey construction boom. Acting US Attorney, Ralph Marra, said: "It seemed that everyone wanted a piece of the action. The corruption was widespread and pervasive. Corruption was a way of life for the accused." He said politicians had "willingly put themselves up for sale". "These rings, led by clergymen, cloaked their extensive criminal activity behind a facade of rectitude," he added. Jon Corzine, the Governor of New Jersey, said: "The scale of corruption we're seeing as this unfolds is simply outrageous and cannot be tolerated." Ed Kahrer, an FBI agent who has worked on the investigation from the start, said: "New Jersey's corruption problem is one of the worst, if not the worst, in the nation. "It has become ingrained in New Jersey's political culture," he said. The BBC's Jane O'Brien says the money laundering ring reportedly spanned the US, Israel and Switzerland. Prosecutors accuse one rabbi of dealing in human kidneys for transplant for a decade. It's alleged that "vulnerable people" would give up a kidney for $10,000 (£6,000) and these would then be sold on for $160,000 (£97,000).