Copenhagen: Thrown off plane for reading about Islam

 

Copenhagen: Thrown off plane for reading about Islam Joakim Johansson (24), was leafing through a book about Islam on a plane to London, at which the pilot threw him off. "It's totally absurd! I did nothing illegal." Joakim, from Arlöv (Sweden), converted to Islam four years ago. A coupe of days ago he was supposed to fly from Kastrup (Copenhagen) to London to visit friends. He boarded the plane and took out manuscripts about Islam. Among other things the text was about interpretation of religion statements. Suddenly a flight attendant came over, called him to the captain and there he got a cold shower. "The pilot said that I couldn't read that 'there', that people didn't like it nowadays," says Joakim, who was asked to leave the SAS plane. The police was waiting outside and escorted him to a detention cell in the airport. "They said that I wouldn't get to fly and asked me to try again another day. Then they would put me on the train to Malmö." After an interrogation and several hours in the cell, he got new information. SAS changed its mind and let him fly to London. Today he's saddened by the response at Kastrup. "I feel terrible that they generalize like this. they seem to think that a religious Muslim is automatically a terrorist." SAS defends their actions and dismisses the claim that Joakim was thrown out of the plane because he was Muslim. "It's unfortunate that he was affected, because he's innocent. But he made the staff and passengers concerned because he was reading out loud to himself. Then it's the captain's duty and right to put him out of the plane," says spokesperson Mikkel Thrane. Joakim did not get an apology from SAS and intends to pursue the matter further.

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USED vs LOVED

USED vs LOVED

While a man was polishing his new car,
his 4 yr old son picked up a stone
and scratched lines on the side of the car.

In anger, the man took the child's hand 
and hit it many times not realizing
he was using a wrench.

At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers 
due to multiple fractures.

When the child saw his father..... 
with painful eyes he asked,

'Dad when will my fingers grow back?' 
The man was so hurt and speechless; 
he went back to his car and kicked it a lot of times.

Devastated by his own actions...... 
sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches; 
the child had written 'LOVE YOU DAD'.
The next day that man committed suicide. . .

Anger and Love have no limits; 
choose the latter to have a beautiful, lovely
life & remember this: 
Things are to be used and people are to be loved.
The problem in today's world is 
that people are used while things are loved.

Let's try always to keep this thought in mind: 
Things are to be used,
People are to be loved.

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character;
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

I'm glad a friend forwarded this to me as a reminder.. 
I hope you have a good day no matter

what problems you may face

 

Portsmouth: Councillor walks out on imam prayer

Portsmouth: Councillor walks out on imam prayer Via BBC: A Portsmouth councillor walked out of a council meeting because an imam was asked to deliver an opening prayer. Conservative councillor Malcolm Hey left Tuesday night's Portsmouth City Council chamber while Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo was speaking. The imam, from the Al Mahdi mosque in Wickham, had been invited by the city's lord mayor Paula Riches. Mr Hey said it was not appropriate for a Muslim to deliver prayers at the start of a full council meeting. His behaviour was heavily criticised by Muslim community group Wessex Jamaat, which said snubbing the imam by walking out was "a serious issue". (source)

 

Protesters across Egypt defy curfew

Protesters across Egypt defy curfew

Buildings and vehicles set alight across the country as anti-government protests continue. Last Modified: 28 Jan 2011 17:55 GMT

Anti-government protesters continue to demand for an end to Mubarak's 30-year rule [Reuters] A nighttime curfew has begun in the Egyptian cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Suez, after a day where thousands of protesters took the streets, demanding an end to Husni Mubarak's 30-year presidency. The curfew was implemented on Friday on the orders of the president, along with an order that the military take charge of security, amid violent clashes occurred between police and protesters. Mubarak, "as commander in chief, has declared a curfew in the governorates of Greater Cairo, Alexandria and Suez from 6pm to 7am starting on Friday until further notice," state television announced. The president "has asked the armed forces, in cooperation with the police, to implement the decision, and maintain security and secure public establishments and private property," it said. Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Cairo said that a building belonging to the ruling National Democratic Party was set ablaze along with several police vehicles. Firefighters did not appear to be on the streets, and the buildings continue to remain torched. Rawya Rageh, reporting from the port city of Alexandria, said that protesters were defying the curfew. "The situation remains very tense, and many are still out here, openly defying this curfew." According to the Associated Press, thousands of protesters have stormed the foreign ministry, and state television building in Cairo. At least 870 people were wounded during Friday's protests some in a serious condition with bullet wounds, medical sources said. Police officers were also wounded, but numbers were not immediately clear, the sources told Reuters news agency. There was no official confirmation of the figures.   In pictures: 'Day of Anger'   Update: Egypt protests   Unrest in social media   Debate: First Tunisia, now Egypt?   Can Egyptians revolt?   Egypt’s protests on Twitter   Pictures: Anger in Egypt In the city of Suez, at least two people killed during ongoing demonstrations, and armoured vehicles were reportedly set alight. Correspondent Jamal Elshayyal also said that police stations were also set alight during protests. Dozens of people were also wounded as security forces fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon at the crowds and baton charged them. During the clashes, plain clothes security forces also dragged off protesters. At the Fatah mosque in central Ramses Square, several thousand people were penned in and teargassed. Egyptian military vehicles meanwhile, were sighted on the streets of the capital, and protesters had previously chanted slogans calling for the army to support them, complaining of police violence during clashes in which security forces fired teargas and rubber bullets. Unconfirmed reported however, have emerged that the army and police were involved in clashes in the capital. Ayman Mohyeldin said that if confirmed, it points to the chaos that has filled the streets of Cairo. "The army is a respected establishment in Egypt, and many feel they need their support against what they see as excessive force by the police and security forces," our correspondent in Cairo said. However, Husni Mubarak ordered troops to back up police as they struggled to control crowds who continue to flood the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian cities. But in a sign of escalating tensions, fires and thick black smoke have been seen across parts of Cairo. Friday's demonstrations were by far the biggest of four consecutive days of protests by people fed up with unemployment, poverty, corruption and the lack of freedom under Mubarak. "This protest is not going to stop. They won't and can't trick the people again and give us some lame concessions. Hosni has to go," protester Mohamed Taha said after fleeing a police attack. "I am 70 years old, I am going to die, but these people have to fight to live," he said. Protesters often quickly dispersed and regrouped. Some held banners saying: "Everyone against one" and chanted "Peaceful peaceful peaceful, no violence." Others threw shoes at and stamped on posters of Mubarak. As clashes intensified, police waded into the crowds with batons and fired volleys of tear gas. "Leave, leave, Mubarak, Mubarak, the plane awaits you," people chanted. Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog and an opposition leader in Egypt, was briefly detained by police after he prayed at a mosque in the Giza area but he later took part in a march with supporters.  The countrywide violence has so far left seven people dead. Government crackdown In response, the government had vowed to crack down on demonstrations and arrest those participating in them. It has blocked internet, mobile phone and SMS services in order to disrupt the planned demonstrations. Before Egypt shut down internet access on Thursday night, activists were posting and exchanging messages using social networking services such as Facebook and Twitter, listing more than 30 mosques and churches where protesters were to organise on Friday. Meanwhile, the United States says the situation in Egypt is of "deep concern" and is calling on Egyptian authorities to enact reforms and allow peaceful protests and open communications. PJ Crowley, a state department spokesman said on Friday that Egypt must respect the "fundamental rights" of its people and avoid violence.| He also said reform is vital to the country's long-term stability and security, and urged the government to view its people as a partner and not a threat. It is far from a foregone conclusion that the protesters will force Mubarak out. They face two key challenges, said Amon Aran, a Middle East expert at London's City University, told Reuters news agency. "One is the Egyptian security apparatus, which over the years has developed a vested interest in the survival of President Mubarak's regime. This elaborate apparatus has demonstrated over the past few days that it is determined to crush political dissent," he said. "Another obstacle derives from the fact that, so far, the protesters do not seem to form a coherent political opposition. The popular outcry is loud and clear, but whether it can translate into a political force is questionable."

 

Student peacemakers to calm Muslim-Jew tension on campus

UK: Student peacemakers to calm Muslim-Jew tension on campus Via London Evening Standard: Muslim and Jewish students trained in "conflict resolution" have been recruited by universities to help calm tensions between the groups. The "campus ambassadors" will start work tomorrow at 10 institutions, including four in London as well as Oxford and Cambridge. The Coexistence Trust, a charity that works to reduce Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, is funding the project. Twenty students will undergo monthly training sessions, featuring peacemaking and leadership skills. They will be expected to set up projects that both Muslims and Jews can get involved with. Shahnaz Ahsan, from the Coexistence Trust, said: "We hope this will create a new tone of respectful debate on campus and avoid the polarisation we have seen in past years." A report by counter-extremism think tank Quilliam has accused some members of City University's Islamic Society of intimidating Jewish students, as well as gays and women. The report also calls for every university to employ a religious watchdog to check extremists are not being invited to campuses. Ms Ahsan said: "There are so many factors behind radicalisation. University is a time when students interact with people from different backgrounds, often for the first time. We hope this will normalise relations." She said Muslims and Jews could join forces in many areas, such as campaigning about halal and kosher foods or not putting exams on Fridays: "A lot want the opportunity to get to know each other but don't know where to start." (source)

 

Lost stories of solidarity between Muslims and Jews

UK: Lost stories of solidarity between Muslims and Jews Via Manchester Evening News: Muslims voice their solidarity with Jews today launching Missing Pages, a campaign highlighting forgotten stories from the Holocaust. The Exploring Islam Foundation campaign challenges misconceptions about the relationship between Jews and Muslims and is supported by Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks. Launching in the week of Holocaust Memorial Day, Missing Pages voices Muslim solidarity with its aims and principles and draws on historical examples of peaceful co-existence between peoples of the two faiths. The campaign will be launched at the House of Lords today at which Jewish World War II survivor Dr Scarlett Epstein OBE, who was given asylum in Albania during the Holocaust, will be speaking. Also speaking will be celebrated Jewish American photographer, Norman Gershman, who will be talking about his project - Besa – Muslims who saved Jews in World War II. Gershman's photographs are currently touring the UK in an exhibition which has been jointly sponsored by the Exploring Islam Foundation and Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Memorial in Israel). EIF Campaigns director, Remona Aly said: "We are launching this campaign today because we want to show how Islam promotes diversity and co-existence and has no tolerance of anti-Semitism. "The message of the "Missing Pages" campaign is more vital now than ever before. Tensions in the Middle East need to be separated from the common shared theological heritage and values of the two faiths, and history of peace and solidarity between Islam and Judaism. (source)

 

Wikileaks: Americans concerned about radicalization and anti-American views of Dutch Muslims

Wikileaks: Americans concerned about radicalization and anti-American views of Dutch Muslims More shocking news from Wikileaks. Dutch broadcaster NOS published several cables from the American Embassy in the Hague, detailing how concerned the Americans were (and still are) about the threat posed by radicalized Dutch and other European Muslims, and the steps the Americans took to deal with this threat. Embassy staff visited Overtoomseveld, the neighborhood where Theo Van Gogh's murderer, Mohammed Bouyeri, grew up, and were shocked by the anti-American viewpoints (PDF, 2005) held by the residents: Overtoomseveld is a Moroccan neighborhood in Western Amsterdam, made notorious on November 2, 2004 when native son Mohammed Bouyeri murdered filmmaker Theo van Gogh on an Amsterdam street in broad daylight. One year later, it remains a largely segregated community, in many ways more Arab than Dutch. Over the last year, Embassy and Consulate officials visited this economically depressed neighborhood several times and established contacts with local Muslim and non-Muslim residents, at least one of whom knew Bouyeri prior to the murder. (...) The Muslim character of Overtoomseveld is immediately apparent to the casual visitor. Women are more visible on balconies (usually with small children) than on the street, and nearly all wear headscarves. Arabic language shop-window signs and graffiti -- much of it anti- American -- are common. (...) Neighborhood youth are also active graffiti artists; when the Consul General and emboffs toured the neighborhood in late September, graffiti on apartment buildings included obscenities against President Bush, adoration for Saddam Hussein and several HAMAS-related displays. According to police contacts, local police are now trained to monitor amounts and types of graffiti as signs of radicalism. According to Amsterdam West Youth Coordinator Tom Smakman, Overtoomseveld is not the toughest neighborhood in Amsterdam, but it is the most likely to produce radicals. Smakman claimed this was because of the density of the population and the level of poverty among its residents: People know that there are a lot of frustrated youths in this neighborhood. He stressed that police are less worried about what takes place on the streets -- which they can monitor -- than about what goes on behind closed doors. According to Smakman, radical views are more widespread than ever among local youth, many of whom consider Bouyeri a hero. Many youth, however, will not express their feelings openly in public or in the presence of their parents, who largely reject such views. However, Smakeman added, We don't know what happens when the drapes are shut. The result - the embassy established a special unit (PDF, 2006) to coordinate outreach with the Dutch Muslim community: In August 2005, Post established an Integration Issues Working Group (IIWG) to coordinate outreach and reporting activities related to the Dutch Muslim community. This approach succeeded in considerably expanding Embassy The Hague's and Consul General Amsterdam's contacts in the Dutch Muslim community as well as among government, academic, and think-tank circles. Mission has also significantly increased reporting on Dutch Muslim-related issues. This cable summarizes highlights from the last six months and describes new opportunities for further mission outreach. TOP MISSION PRIORITY -------------------- 2. (SBU) In accordance with Washington guidance, mission has made engaging with the Dutch Muslim community a top priority, as reflected in the just-completed FY 2008 MPP. Mission efforts are focused around three prime objectives: - Improving the image of the United States and U.S. policies among the increasingly influential -- and largely anti-American -- Dutch Muslim community; - Increasing our understanding of issues of concern to the Dutch Muslim community and similar communities elsewhere in Europe, including relations with the non-Muslim majority; - Using the U.S. experience to help foster a productive, non-confrontational dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim Dutch on sensitive issues of integration and civil rights. There are several cables detailing how American visitors to the Netherlands met with Dutch officials to discuss their integration efforts. The Americans also reached out to the Dutch Muslim community (via RNW): An all-expenses-paid study trip to the US: that was the offer to a number of prominent Dutch Muslims following the killing of controversial filmmaker Theo van Gogh in 2004. Now WikiLeaks documents reveal that these trips were part of a concerted effort by Washington to win the hearts and minds of Dutch Muslims. Among them was the current Mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb. Nordin Ghoudani was one of those fortunate enough to be offered such a trip after being invited for a number of conversations at the US Embassy. Now that he is aware of being a cog in the wheel of US policy, he tells Dutch broadcaster NOS that he looks back on the trip with mixed feelings. "The knowledge that Washington, and former president George W Bush, insisted on these trips... yes, that puts things in a different perspective." (source) The Embassy put special emphasis on outreach during Ramadan (PDF), a tradition which continues to this day: Embassy staff participated in 19 outreach events during Ramadan this year, including hosting mission's first-ever Iftar dinner, attending small Iftar gatherings hosted by Muslim families in Amsterdam, participating in the country's first nationwide Ramadan festival, and hosting an international visitor from the Council on Islamic Education who conducted a series of workshops on religion and democracy. Mission participation went beyond public diplomacy staff and included political section, Foreign Commercial Service, economic section, the delegation to the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons, Consulate General in Amsterdam, and front office staff. In addition, political officer assigned to cover Muslim issues held 13 separate meetings with Muslim representatives during the month-long festival. Meanwhile, another cable reports about a Dutch-Croatian employee of the embassy, who turned out to hold Jihadist viewpoints (PDF, 2010): IMO's investigation yielded evidence that subject had posted information and commentary on 9/11 conspiracy websites. Furthermore, on her Facebook page, under the alias XXXXXXXXXXXX, she had exchanged views and information with multiple people who appeared to espouse jihadist viewpoints. She also posted a hyperlink to a YouTube video, Winds of Paradise, which extols the virtues of al-Qaeda fighters and jihad, to which she added the comment, just beautiful. See also: US: Engaging with Muslim Communities in Europe

 

France/UK: "It is not enough just to target violent extremism"

France/UK: "It is not enough just to target violent extremism" Via UKPress (h/t Euro-Islam.info): Prime Minister David Cameron has said he hopes Britain and France can open up a new front in the fight against violent extremism by working together to prevent the radicalisation of young Muslims. After talks with French prime minister Francois Fillon, Mr Cameron said: "I am becoming increasingly convinced it is not enough just to target violent extremism - we have to target extremism itself. "We have to drain the water from the swamp in which the violent extremism grows. I am sure that Britain and France can work together on this and learn from each other." (source)

 

U.K: moderate'/'extremist' labels foster prejudice, says Muslim minister

 

UK: 'moderate'/'extremist' labels foster prejudice, says Muslim minister Via Daily Telegraph: Islamophobia has "passed the dinner-table test" and is seen by many as normal and uncontroversial, Baroness Warsi will say in a speech on Thursday. The minister without portfolio will also warn that describing Muslims as either "moderate" or "extremist" fosters growing prejudice. Lady Warsi, the first Muslim woman to attend Cabinet, has pledged to use her position to wage an "ongoing battle against bigotry". Her comments are the most high-profile intervention in Britain's religious debate by any member of David Cameron's government. (...) Some religious and social commentators have suggested that growth in numbers gives rise to legitimate concerns, asking whether strict adherence to the faith is compatible with the values of Western democracies. (...) In response, Lady Warsi will blame "the patronising, superficial way faith is discussed in certain quarters, including the media". The peer will describe how prejudice against Muslims has grown along with their numbers, partly because of the way they are often portrayed. The notion that all followers of Islam can be described either as "moderate" or "extremist" can fuel misunderstanding and intolerance, she will say. "It's not a big leap of imagination to predict where the talk of 'moderate' Muslims leads; in the factory, where they've just hired a Muslim worker, the boss says to his employees: 'Not to worry, he's only fairly Muslim'. "In the school, the kids say: 'The family next door are Muslim but they're not too bad'. "And in the road, as a woman walks past wearing a burka, the passers-by think: 'That woman's either oppressed or is making a political statement'." (source)

 

Switzerland: Dozens of Tunisians want to return

Switzerland: Dozens of Tunisians want to return Via WRS: Dozens of exiled Tunisians protested outside the Tunisian embassy in Bern today, wanting their passports returned to them. Some of the exiles have been in Switzerland for years, but following the change in government and the continued political unrest in Tunisian streets, the demonstrators said they wanted to return. (source)

 

Germany: Libyan intelligence monitoring opposition

Germany: Libyan intelligence monitoring opposition Via AFP: German federal prosecutors said Monday they had charged a Libyan man with acting as a spy in Germany to collect information on exiled members of the Libyan opposition. The suspect, identified only as 46-year-old Omar K., stands accused of monitoring the Libyan opposition in Germany between May 2010 and his arrest in September, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement. Omar K. is believed to have reported to his superior officer in Germany in return for payment. A Berlin court sentenced the officer, identified only as Abdel A., and a member of his network to jail terms last week. (source)

Russia: Muslim TV to launch in order to promote tolerance

Russia: Muslim TV to launch in order to promote tolerance Via Reuters: Russia will soon launch a Muslim television channel in the hope it will foster tolerance after the capital saw some of the worst clashes since the fall of the Soviet Union, state-run media reported on Tuesday. Proposed by President Dmitry Medvedev two years ago, the satellite channel will go on air in February or March across Russia, home to some 20 million Muslims, or a seventh of the country's population. "We believe it is necessary to cultivate a spirit of tolerance towards representatives of other faiths," RIA news agency quoted Russia's chief Mufti Ravil Gaynutdin as saying, adding programmes will be designed for a young audience. (source)

 

Copenhagen: Final approval given for construction of first mosques

Copenhagen: Final approval given for construction of first mosques Via Copenhagen Post: The City Council's Environment and Technical Committee has given its final approval to zoning changes that will permit the construction of two mosques, one in the Amager district and one in the Nordvest district. Last night's 9-2 vote brings an end to nearly four decades of discussion about building the city's first proper mosque. Muslim groups are applauding the move. They say the vote sends a message that the city respects their religion and views it on an equal footing with other faiths. Others, however, have voiced their opposition, particularly due to the design of the Nordvest building (source) Iranian organizations in Denmark fear the Shia mosque planned for the Nordvest district will serve as a center for Iranian-led extremism.

 

A Story With A Moral.. Learn To Forgive.

A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for work so he asked the wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot the matter. The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and, fascinated with its colour, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed, the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband. When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words.
What do you think were the four words?
The husband just said: “I Love You Darling”
The husband’s totally unexpected reaction is proactive behaviour. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he have taken time to keep the bottle away, this will not have happened. No point in attaching blame. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.

Moral: Sometimes we spend time asking who is responsible or who to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. We miss out some warmth in human relationship in giving each other support. After all, shouldn’t forgiving someone we love be the easiest thing in the world to do? Treasure what you have. Don’t multiply pain, anguish and suffering by holding on to forgiveness. If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unwillingness to forgive, selfishness, and fears and you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think

Muslimah

 

Albania: Muslims against draft law on veil ban

 

Albania: Muslims against draft law on veil ban Via AP: Leaders of Albania's Muslim community say they are against government plans to ban the use of veils in schools. They issued a statement defending the use of the veil, which is not widespread in the small Balkan country despite it having a majority Muslim population. (source)

 

Germany: Turkish mother and two daughters killed in blaze

Germany: Turkish mother and two daughters killed in blaze Police now say the fire was caused by one of the children. Via Today's Zaman: A Turkish woman (23) and her two daughters (5 and 2) were killed on Sunday morning in an apartment building fire in the western German city of Wuppertal, police said. Police said it seemed the fire, which started in the attic of the apartment block, was an accident and there was no indication of arson. The home was already in flames when firefighters, called by a neighbor, arrived and rescued three residents. Police said Hatice Gür and her daughters Elif and Esra could not be rescued, although the fire brigade arrived at the scene promptly, the Anatolia news agency reported. The father, Eyüp Gür (30), escaped from the burning apartment with severe burns and was taken to the hospital. Turkey's consul-general in Dusseldorf, Fırat Sunel, and the mayor of Wuppertal, Peter Jung, visited the scene of the fire later on Sunday. Sunel also told Anatolia that there was no indication of arson. However, the cause of the fire would become clear only after an investigation is finished, he added. The bodies, which were taken to Wuppertal's department of forensic medicine, will be sent to the victims' hometown in the central Anatolian province of Kütahya within days, Anatolia noted. (source)

 

Denmark: Turkish inmate beaten to death by prison guards

Denmark: Turkish inmate beaten to death by prison guards Interestingly enough, Turkish newspaper refer to the inmate, who was born and grew up in Denmark, simply as "Turkish". No wonder his mother feels they're not being treated like Danes. Via Today's Zaman: Ekrem Şahin, a 23-year-old Turkish inmate who was serving a two-year sentence in Denmark's Kolding Prison passed away after he was severely beaten by prison guards and went into a coma. Şahin, who was sentenced to two years on charges of robbery, was beaten by nearly ten prison guards after he refused to be transferred to another prison. His heart stopped after the incident and he was taken to the Odense University Hospital. His heart began beating following the doctors' efforts but he remained in critical condition. Şahin died at the hospital on Saturday. The Danish police, who earlier called the event resulting in Ekrem Şahin's coma, "an ordinary, everyday event," took action after the incident hit the Turkish press and the Turkish Embassy got involved. (source) Ekrem was born in Denmark and is a Danish citizen. His father, Ömer, came to Denmark in 1976, and his mother, Nermin, joined him in 1986. Nermin Sahin told esktrabladet.dk by phone (DA, h/t Uriasposten) that the parents would continue to fight to find the truth about their son's death. "We will continue until whoever killed my son will pay for his actions," said the brokenhearted and very angry mother. "If necessary, we will find Denmark's best human-rights lawyer, and if we can't get justice at a Danish court, we will bring the case to the human rights court in Strasbourg." Nermin says she doesn't feel she and her family are treated like Danes. "What we've experienced with our son, isn't the first example," she says and brings up the Turkish newspaper delivery boy who was beaten to death in Amager, and a young man of Turkish background who died after police violence in Copenhagen's Station 1. "Such things happen frequently in Denmark," says Nermin. "But why don't human rights apply to us? They apply only to Danes. But if a Dane or somebody from another European country was subjected to such things in Turkey, like what my son was subjected to - what would Denmark do?" Nermin therefore contacted the Turkish embassy in Denmark, so that Turkey would take up the issue with the Danish authorities. Erdem Sahin (19), Ekrem's younger brother says (DA) he's very upset and filled with sorrow. "What the prison employees did to my brother is pure murder - they've willingfully killed him." Ekrem's cousin, Erkan Sahin, is also convinced it was no accident and that the prison guards were responsible for Ekrem's coma.

 

ISLAM IS NOT AGAINST KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE

ISLAM IS NOT AGAINST KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE

 

How could Islam ever be defied through knowledge? Islam is the very essence of knowledge. Many parts of Qur’an al-karim command knowledge and praise men of knowledge. For example, it is declared in the ninth ayat ^[1] of Surat-uz-Zumar ^[2]: “Is it possible that he who knows and he who does not know be the same? He who knows is certainly valuable!” Rasulullah’s ‘sall-Allahu alaihi wa salam’ words praising and recommending knowledge are so numerous and so famous that even our enemies know about them. For example, in the books Ihya-ul-’ulum and Mawdu’at-ul-’ulum, the following hadith ^[3] is written in a section describing the value of knowledge, “Acquire knowledge even if it is in China!” That is, “Go and learn knowledge, even if it is at the farthest place in the world and in the possession of disbelievers!

    Do not say, ‘I don’t want it; it is invented by disbelievers’. ” And it is declared in another hadith-i-sharif: “Study and learn knowledge from the cradle to the grave!” That is, an old man of eighty, one of whose feet is already in the grave, should sudy. It is an act of worship for him to learn. And once he declared: “Work for the next world as if you were to die tomorrow, and work for the world as if you would never die. ” He declared in a hadih-i-sharif: “Little worship done with knowledge is better than much worship done without understanding. ” Once he said, “The Devil is more afraid of a savant than of thousands of ignorant worshippers. ”

    Muslim woman cannot go on supererogatory hajj (pilgrimage) without taking her husband’s leave; she cannot set out on a journey or pay a visit, either. However, she can go out for the purpose of learning without his permission, if he does not teach her or allow her to learn. As it is seen, though it is a sin for her to go on hajj without permission, which is a great worship liked by Allahu ta’ala, it is not a sin to go out to learn without permission.

    Then how can disbelievers ever attack Islam through knowledge? Does knowledge blame knowledge? Of course not, it likes, praises it. He who attacks Islam through knowledge will suffer a defeat.

GLOSSARY

[1] ayat: a verse of al-Qur’an al-kerim; al-ayat al-karima. [2] sura(t): a Qur’anic chapter [a chapter of the Qur’an]. [3] hadith (sharif): i) a saying of the Prophet (‘alaihi ‘s-salam).; al-Hadith ash-sharif: all the hadiths as a whole; ii) ‘ilm al-hadith; iii) Books of the hadith ash-sharif. iv) Al-hadith al-qudsi, as-sahih, al-hasan: kinds of hadiths (for which, see Endless Bliss, II).

 

In order not to lose the blessing of faith (iman), one must be thankful for it

Serving Islam and Human Rights
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People of wisdom state: In order not to lose the blessing of faith (iman), one must be thankful for it. Thankfulness for it is expressed in two ways: 1. The first way is to love Muslims, who have attained this blessing, very much for the sake of Allah and not to love non-Muslims for His sake again, which is called hubb-i fillah and bughd-i fillah. As a matter of fact, the last verse of Surah al-Mujadilah states that Believers must love one another very much so as to give thanks for the blessing of faith and that they must not love disbelievers even if they may be their own parents, siblings, or children. 2. The second way is to work in order to convey this correct faith and true Islamic knowledge to Allahu ta’ala’s other servants, which is called amr-i ma’ruf andnahy-i munkar. The easiest, the most suitable, and the most risk-free form of it is to give someone a book [teaching Islam]. We must strive to transmit the trust [the Islamic religion], which came to us, to the subsequent generations for the sake of Allah. Otherwise, when Allahu ta’ala says in the Hereafter, “O My servant, My hundreds of thousands of servants sacrificed themselves so that you might be saved. They sacrificed their lives, blood, and wealth at the gates of castles, in front of ramparts, on the field of battle, in short, everywhere. Well, what did you do on your part?” how will we reply it? The greater a blessing is, the greater the responsibility it brings. We must not go to the Presence of our Lord with others’ rights on us. It is one of the human rights to be fulfilled, so we must endeavor to teach our religion to the people who listen to what we say. If we do not do our jobs properly, we will be regarded as having committed a transgression against others’ rights as well. We are not freed from others’ rights only by obeying working hours at our jobs. If we come to our work in time but busy ourselves with other things there, we are considered to have neglected our work. Instead, we must work in such a way that we should become fully deserving of the salaries we receive. He who does not care about his work is a thief. If he eats haram, this haram becomes poison for him. A body that is nourished by what is haram is deserving of burning in the Fire. Whoever does not work in such a way as to truly deserve his salary, his accounting will be very severe. Everybody will give an account to Allahu ta’ala, not to his boss. The real owner of every work and every service is not the boss. Rather, the owner of all things is Allahu ta’ala. Every effort should be made so that Allahu ta’ala’s one more servant may be rescued from burning in the Fire. To that end, we should ask these questions to ourselves every day and every hour: What have I done today for Allah? What contribution have I made today to the services rendered to spread Islam? Hadrat ‘Umar used to ask himself every day, “O ‘Umar, what have you done today for Allah?” There are many things we do for our nafses, but what have we done for Allah? This is the primary matter that we must focus our minds on. As a matter of fact, our Master the Prophet said: “On the Day of Judgment, no one will be released from the reckoning until he answers the four questions: 1) From where and how did he earn his wealth? What did he spend it on? 2) How did he practice his knowledge? 3) How did he spend his life? 4) Where did he tire and exhaust his body?”

 

Tunisia: French, Swiss citizens killed in protests

Tunisia: French, Swiss citizens killed in protests Two European citizens were killed in the protests in Tunisia Wednesday. A 67-year old Swiss citizen was killed while watching the protests in the northern town of Dar Chaabne. A 38 year old French citizen, Hatem Bettahar, was killed in the protests in the southern town of Douz.

 

Finland: Book on Islamic cuisine wins science prize

Finland: Book on Islamic cuisine wins science prize Via YLE: A book about the cuisine of Islamic countries has won the prize for Finland's science book of the year 2010. The prestigious prize, worth 10,000 euros, was awarded to co-authors Helena Hallenberg and Irmeli Perho. In their book Ruokakulttuuri islamin maissa, which is published by Gaudeamus, Doctors of Philosophy Hallenberg and Perho are not content to merely describe dishes or give recipes. Instead, food is a vehicle through which the history, culture and societies of the Islamic world are explored. (source)

 

Emergency rule imposed in Tunisia

Emergency rule imposed in Tunisia

Beleaguered president fires government and calls for elections within six months after violent clashes rock capital.

The Tunisian president has imposed a state of emergency and fired the country's government amid violent clashes between protesters and security forces, state media has reported. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has also promised fresh legislative elections within six months in an attempt to quell the mass dissent over unemployment and high prices, sweeping the North African nation. There were also reports that the country's airspace has been closed and troops have taken control of the airport in the capital Tunis. State media also reported that gathering of more than three people have been banned and arms will be used" if orders of security forces are not heeded. The latest development on Friday came as police fired tear gas at protesters outside the interior ministry in Tunis. "We heard shots, I believe they were shooting in the air but for sure they were shooting [tear] gas bombs, and they are trying to disperse and spread people," Youssef Gaigi, an activist at the scene, told Al Jazeera. "There were some clashes, police on their bikes and cars hitting people. Things quickly changed. Before, this morning things were totally peaceful, we had people from all social classes, we had people from everywhere come here to Tunis and now they just decided to use violence." The protesters are seeking the immediate resignation of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the president, and are refusing to disperse until he steps down.  In a sign of a deepening political stand-off in the North African nation, increasingly being referred to on social media platforms as the "Jasmine Revolution", thousands of protesters converged in front of the interior ministry building on Friday, chanting slogans such as "Ben Ali, leave!" and "Ben Ali, thank you but that's enough!". The fresh protests came a day after Ben Ali offered sweeping concessions in an attempt to end the wave of dissent sweeping the country.  In a televised address on Thursday night, Ben Ali, who has been in power since 1987, vowed not to seek re-election in 2014. He also promised to institute widespread reforms, introduce more freedoms into society, and to investigate the killings of protesters during demonstrations that have spread throughout the country over the past month. Ben Ali (L) spoke with Tunisian General Labour Union leader Abdessalam Jrad on Thursday [EPA] Kamel Morjane, the foreign minister, said on Friday that Ben Ali is prepared to hold new legislative elections before the 2014 poll. Nevertheless, unions planned to hold a general strike in Tunis and some other regions on Friday. The Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights has tallied 66 deaths since the protests began after a 26-year-old unemployed university graduate set himself on fire in protest in the town of Sidi Bouzid on December 17.  Sources told Al Jazeera on Thursday that at least 13 people had been killed in the past two days alone. After Ben Ali's speech, the government appeared to immediately lift its heavy hand from the media, allowing opposition figures onto television and lifting bans on formerly censored websites such as YouTube. Ben Ali's about-face was met, at least initially, with limited approval from Tunisia's opposition. Speaking to Al Jazeera from Tunis on Friday, Najib Chebbi, a former leader of the opposition Progressive Democratic Party and managing editor of the weekly Mawkis newspaper, told Al Jazeera: "What we need now is not speeches or compromises, but a mechanism to carry them out.   "The ruling party cannot keep its monopoly on political life. We are under a one-party system and the failure of this system has produced these protests." The Progressive Democratic Party holds no seats in parliament, and Chebbi has asked Ben Ali to form a coalition government. Video footage The Lebanese social media aggregation website Nawaat posted videos of people who had reportedly been shot by police on Thursday night and taken to a hospital in the Kaireddine neighborhood of the capital. Video posted by Nawaat appears to shows doctors tending to people shot by Tunisian police the same night Ben Ali ordered security forces to cease fire In one, men can be seen praying over the body of a dead man whose head is wrapped in white bandages, with a spot of blood showing through. A younger man who is wounded explains that the police shouted at his group that "they rule this country, and we answered ... you don't rule this country". The protesters were peaceful, the man said, but the police fired live ammunition and aimed indiscriminately. "All the kids are young, 20 to 22 years old. They are students and professionals, not thugs as they say," he says "The police provokes the youth so the youth comes out and reacts ... This is God's will, what can we do." In another video, a man suffering from a bullet wound dies as a nurse tries to save him. The death toll includes seven people who committed suicide in protest over unemployment and economic hardships. The rest were reportedly killed by the Tunisian security forces. French and Swiss citizens visiting their native country were among those killed, the two European governments said. Freedoms promised In his speech, Ben Ali ordered state security forces not to fire at demonstrators and vowed to cut the prices of staples such as sugar, bread, and milk. "Enough firing of real bullets," he said. "I refuse to see new victims fall." Follow Al Jazeera's complete coverage  "I understand the Tunisians, I understand their demands. I am sad about what is happening now after 50 years of service to the country, military service, all the different posts, 23 years of the presidency," Ben Ali said. "We need to reach 2014 with proper reconciliation." Ben Ali has been elected four times, never with less than 89 per cent of the vote. 'Difficult mission' Many activists greeted Ben Ali's promises with caution. "People are still cautious and doubt these words," one activist told Al Jazeera. "Turning his words into action will be a very difficult mission." Rafik Ouerchefani, a supporter of the centre-left Ettajdid party, told Al Jazeera that he was sceptical that Ben Ali's promises would be delivered. "I am happy with the speech, but let's not forget the dead," he said. He said he was relieved that Ben Ali would not be standing down immediately, as time was needed for the country to prepare for a genuinely democratic election. After decades of being stifled, he said opposition parties must work to prepare candidates capable of taking over the role of president. "This is already a major victory, now we must work towards the alternative: what happens post-Ben Ali," he said.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

 

Sweden: "Just because you pray, you are not a terrorist"

Sweden: "Just because you pray, you are not a terrorist" Via SR: Police in Norrköping came out in force Wednesday afternoon after they had been tipped off about a "mysterious foreign man" behaving strangely at a bus stop, and then getting on the bus with his rucksack. It turns out the 28-year-old man had carried out the muslim praying ritual at the bus stop, but when police caught up with him, and searched him, all suspicions were dismissed. Also Moustafa Kharraki, deputy head of the Swedish Muslim Council, has noticed more suspiciousness against muslims lately. "This is very serious and it concerns pure discrimination. People have become fearful and suspicious, a lot has changed since Drottninggatan," Kharraki told the news agency TT. Kharraki finds the actions of the Norrköping police "unacceptable". "police needs more knowledge. Any muslim can pray in a public space. It is completely normal and just because you pray, you are not a terrorist." (source)

 

Turkey: Criticism of Dutch immigration policies

Turkey: Criticism of Dutch immigration policies Via RNW: The Turkish government has fiercely criticised the new Dutch government's stricter immigration and integration policies. Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant reports that Ankara's Labour and Social Security Minister Faruk Çelik said the new policies place immigrants in an isolated position. The minister mentioned the high costs of obtaining a residence permit, compulsory integration courses and the fact that Turkish language classes are not part of the curriculum offered at Dutch schools. Mr Çelik pointed to the successful integration of Turkish immigrants in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. He said the Netherlands and other Western European countries could learn from their example. (source)