Muslims' anger unveiled at protest in Lakemba | The Daily Telegraph

Muslims' anger unveiled at protest in Lakemba | The Daily Telegraph: "Umjamal Eldin, a seventh-generation Australian, said she wore the burqa out of choice as it allowed her to control to whom she 'exposes her beauty'."

:^D

HAVE YOUR SAY: Muslim women fight bikini ban in Dandenong - Local News - News - Dandenong Leader

HAVE YOUR SAY: Muslim women fight bikini ban in Dandenong - Local News - News - Dandenong Leader: "“I have spoken to a lot of women, they don’t want this,“Ms Ahmadi said. “They are open-minded ladies.

“We are not going to be silent. Enough is enough ... why run from Taliban to come to this?

“Most of the women want the family day without the restriction.”"

Muslim Candidate For Florida House Is Keeping the Faith | TheLedger.com

Muslim Candidate For Florida House Is Keeping the Faith | TheLedger.com: "People often ask, 'Are you American?'

'I tell them I'm American,' Hafeez said. 'And then they ask where are you from, and I say the Tampa Bay area. And then they say, 'No, no. Where are you from?' So I say, 'OK. I was born in England.' '

He said he knows what they're really asking: What is your ethnicity or religion?

For the record, Hafeez, 26, is a Muslim of Pakistani descent. He moved to Florida when he was 3 with his parents, both physicians, who were born in Pakistan.

He attended public schools, earned a law degree at Georgetown University and now works as a lawyer for a health insurance company.

He describes himself as religious, attending a mosque at least once a week and following the Muslim tradition of praying five times a day.

He also is a rarity: a Muslim running for public office in Florida during an election season marked by seething anger over a planned mosque near ground zero and a controversy about burning the Quran."

Girl power on the agenda as principal looks to future at Islamic school

Girl power on the agenda as principal looks to future at Islamic school: "Mrs Nemec said she was aiming to help her students develop into articulate young adults who could rub shoulders with all levels of society.

She considered the school to be more liberal than some other, more established Islamic schools.

''Our approach is going to be far more liberal,'' Ms Nemec said. ''We will allow girls to access all subjects. Academically, we want them to be at the same level as boys at least. I want women to have high aspirations.''

Mrs Nemec said she believed her Christian beliefs would be no hurdle to leading an Islamic school. ''I don't have any plans to become a Muslim. While I can respect the religion, I am not part of it. I am looking at the common ground. When you look at the firm beliefs, there is more common ground than difference. It makes it easily reconcilable."

Video - High-profile lawyer arrested again - Brisbane Times

Video - High-profile lawyer arrested again - Brisbane Times: "High-profile Muslim lawyer Adam Houda has been arrested again claiming racial vilification, harassment and brutality by police."

YouTube - The Imam and the Pastor (10 Minute clip)

YouTube - The Imam and the Pastor (10 Minute clip): "The Imam and the Pastor' depicts the reconciliation between Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, and the peace-making initiatives which have flowed from it. The film, narrated by Rageh Omaar, shows that it is possible for the perpetrators of inter-religious violence to become instigators of peace. It is both a story of forgiveness and a case study of grass-root initiatives to rebuild communities torn apart by conflict."

Successful network isn’t necessarily unbiased | www.caledoncitizen.com | Caledon Citizen

Successful network isn’t necessarily unbiased | www.caledoncitizen.com | Caledon Citizen: "Fox News (prefer “Faux News”) is the most successful cable news network, but that has nothing to do with it being fair, reasonable or unbiased reporting. Popularity and quality often do not connect, particularly when it comes to media.

Margaret Atwood and the people (including myself) who oppose the coming north of this station, and putting it into a privileged position, oppose not only the underhanded political machinations that are behind it, but the importation of the cultural style of Fox. Fox enables ranting and hate mongering homophobic, racist, anti-Islam, xenophobic media figures to vent their bile. Canadian television can be more “boring” as it is more civil, fair-minded and respectful of Canadians and non-Canadians."

SEE - Edmonton News & Views - News & Views - Haters Are Having A Fine Time

SEE - Edmonton News & Views - News & Views - Haters Are Having A Fine Time: "There’s no shortage of jerks in the world when it comes to issues of Islam."

One hell of a Canadian story - Winnipeg Free Press

One hell of a Canadian story - Winnipeg Free Press: "Technically speaking, a mosque in Norilsk, Russia, is the world's northernmost mosque by one degree, but Inuvik is closer to the ice, Guisti said. With only one degree blocking our claim to the title, however, perhaps it's time for geographers to re-examine their calculations.

Guisti has many explanations for all the attention -- the difficult and long journey, the remote location, the near disasters and the endless references to the TV show, Little Mosque on the Prairie.

These are, no doubt, important reasons for the public's fascination, but for Guisti it's really the story of Canada.

'In all of this, there has not been one single example of negative feedback. People have really cared about the mosque and were upset when it seemed it might not make it.'

He said the universally positive response 'shows that Canada is truly welcoming and multicultural... we are a good people.'

'Compare this,' he added, 'to what's going on in the United States.'"

Pique newsmagazine | Whistler, CANADA : History did not begin with 9/11, says Fuller

Pique newsmagazine | Whistler, CANADA : History did not begin with 9/11, says Fuller: "'If there had never been a Prophet Muhammad, if there had never been such a thing as Islam, what would be the relationship between the West, and particularly the United States now, because the burden of being the West has shifted to the US, what would the relationship be between the West and the Middle East?' he asked.

'The short and simple, and some may say simplistic answer is, you know, in the end, things might not be all that different than they are today.'

In a 27-year career with the State Department and the CIA, Fuller worked throughout the Muslim world in countries including Turkey, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Afghanistan, once serving as the CIA's station chief in Kabul. In his position at the National Intelligence Council he had responsibility for all national-level strategic forecasting."

Mainstream Bullshit

Mainstream Bullshit: "The media have a responsibility and that responsibility is to inform us of what’s going on. If a nuclear power plant is at risk of spreading nuclear death two miles from our town, it is the responsibility of the media to let us know that the danger exists and why it exists. To a certain extent, we put our trust in them. It is a social contract. They are there to inform us, to warn us, to let us know what's going on. Who, what, where, when, and why; all the information we need regarding the forces that impact us in our daily lives is delivered on our doorsteps, it comes in through the cable. We sleep well knowing that no midnight asteroid is about to send us back to the Stone Age.

But can we? At this point, trusting mainstream media is not a rational or intelligent choice to make. You may have noticed. They are not always honest. They have lied by saying things that are not true, by not saying things that are true, and very often through spinning bullshit, which is slightly different than lying. Sometimes bullshit is worse than lies. It’s not that they have done so several times, or even often. It’s that they do it all the time and they do it consistently."

Issue of Muslims' place in Canada won't disappear

Issue of Muslims' place in Canada won't disappear: "We have all been unsettled by the unfolding situation involving a terrorist threat aimed at Canadians that was headed off by the law enforcement authorities working together."

The shock has not worn off, and just thinking about what could have happened sends shivers down our collective spine. A recent poll suggests about two in five Canadians feels less safe in the aftermath of the arrests.

It is fair to say that, considering the gravity of the situation, the reaction on all sides has been mature and responsible.

But we would be delusional to think the matter of the place of Muslims in Canada will disappear, that everything will slide back into functional normalcy. There are worries on all sides, worries that should not be ignored and have not been ignored by responsible leaders.

Let's begin with the obvious. The agenda on all sides should be nothing less than that the Muslim community is welcome in Canada and that the Canadian reality is fully embraced by the Muslim community.

In this age of instant communication, there are no secrets. Canadians hear the shrill sounds of hostile takeover, of the call from some quarters to impose Sharia law everywhere, including Canada. They may have dismissed this until recently, but not any more. Christians and Jews in Canada, as in other countries, hear themselves being branded as infidels. Previously, they may have laughed this off, but not any more.

The Muslims I know do not embrace this ideology, and are model Canadians, but Canadians are worried about this ideology, and Muslims are worried about how they are perceived by Canadians. How do we address this situation such that Muslims will feel comfortable in Canada and Canada will feel comfortable with its Muslims?

There has been some debate about who has to make the first move. We need to avoid the Kansas conundrum. There is a law in Kansas that goes something like this: When two trains arrive at the same station, each must come to a full stop, and neither of them shall move until the other one has left!

With such an approach, we will be stalemated. We all need to make moves in the reconciliatory direction, in the direction that creates a climate of respect and trust. We did it before, after 9-11, when this community's leaders banded together and declared its solidarity, even in the face of incendiary remarks. It said then that everyone would deem an attack on one religion as an attack on all religions.

That spirit prevails today, but, in the light of the recent scare, we need to move far beyond that very necessary foundation.

The first step we must all take is to purposefully remove hate from the agenda, in public and private discourse.

I am not talking about legislation. I am talking about self-monitoring, about all communities rejecting hateful expression and not allowing such expression from its religious and secular leaders or anyone else.

The next step is for us to all think creatively about how we can work together on issues of common interest, such as we have done with blood donation, with organ donation, with fund-raising for CHEO, among other endeavours.

With your indulgence, the Muslim community, I propose some thoughts in the spirit of friendship. This is not a lecture; it is some shared reflections based on our history.

It is an unfortunate fact that Jews were not welcomed into Canada during the Second World War; instead they were forcefully excluded. That decision and policy was hate infused. And Jews endured anti-Semitism in so many quarters, public and private, for many years before, during and after the war.

Anti-semitism still exists, but it is hardly a potent presence. Jews are involved in every area of life in Canada and probably feel as welcome here as they have felt in any other country in their rich and turbulent history.

How did they achieve this? By patient, determined involvement in helping Canada shape itself, by philanthropy, by volunteerism, by political engagement, by educational zeal and by being undeterred whenever hatemongers stood in their way.

By now, the Jewish contribution to Canada is well entrenched and appreciated, but it did not come easily, or instantaneously. It came after years of persistent hard work.

And we still do not take Canada for granted. We are blessed, and count those blessings regularly.

To our Biblical cousins, I plead that you take a number of steps, steps that will take patience and courage, but which will help us all.

- 1. Do not let others define you. Let your appreciation of "Canada as it is" be a constant in your heart and on your lips. Clearly reject the values that, if ever implemented, would destroy Canada as we know it.

- 2. Be fully engaged in the community. I know that some of you are already fully engaged, but let it be almost a required component of your lives.

- 3. Make your schools and mosques places wherein the appreciation of Canada and its prevailing values is taught, wherein profound respect for all faiths is transmitted.

- 4. Do not allow conflicts in other parts of the world to be imported to Canada. Appreciate that the battle Canada is fighting, with the sacrifice of many of its youngest and most devoted men and women, is so people all over the world have the freedoms we here enjoy and cherish.

- 5. Have confidence that your community, properly devoted to the well being of Canada and all Canadians, will be more than properly embraced by fellow Canadians.

If you take these steps, as your defining agenda, and Canada as a whole stands by you supporting and applauding these steps and happily welcoming you, then any incident such as what occurred a few weeks ago will be dismissed as totally unrepresentative of what you are all about.

In truth, as many of you realize, we are not yet at that point of being able to dismiss such horrible behaviour, which is why we are all worried.

But this wake-up call can be turned into an opportunity to confront a situation that we all wished would go away, but will not go away unless and until we drive it away.

Canadians are with you in this and wish you well in your desire to be a vital part of the Canadian mosaic.

I know you can do it because your cousins did.

Reuven P. Bulka is rabbi of Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa and former co-president of Canadian Jewish Congress.

Residents against mosque 'have nothing to fear' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Residents against mosque 'have nothing to fear' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "People who live near mosques around the country are encouraging Worongary residents not to oppose the worship centre.

Jordan Brock used to rent a home in Northbridge, inner-city Perth, where he lived close to a mosque.

He says prior to September 11 he barely noticed it was there.

"The mosque has been there for well over 100 years and was renovated during the 1990s, which was when we moved into the area," he said.

"We didn't have a great deal to do with the mosque for the first few years, and to be honest, we barely even noticed it was there.

"There was certainly no evidence of it encouraging or increasing anti-social behaviour and it had no impact whatsoever upon neighbourhood security.

"If there was any gathering of people on the street prior to prayers, services or functions at the mosque, they were certainly friendly and in no way threatening."

Mr Brock says nowadays the mosque hosts community gatherings and provides delicious food.

"After September 2001 the people in the mosque obviously felt the need to engage in the community a bit more and start educating their neighbours," he said.

"So they started having a series of open days, where they provided free food and the tastiest lamb burgers you've ever eaten."

He says people should visit a mosque and talk to the people who worship there before attempting to ban the construction of a worship centre.

Moreover, Mr Brock says he left Northbridge in 2005 because he could not afford to buy a house in the suburb due to rising property values.

Kathryn Hegarty from Footscray in Victoria, who lives close to three mosques, says she enjoys the cultural diversity in her neighbourhood.

"My neighbours here are Muslim and life is unaffected, except the food aromas do put me to shame about 5:00pm each night," Ms Hegarty said.

She says she never has any security concerns.

"I feel safest in the African quarter of Footscray, especially at night, where people look out for each other and the men seem to me to really respect women," she said.

"I feel so blessed here because we are rich in this country and immigration has just made us richer and we eat better as well."

Does the American Right Value Muslim Lives? | Washington Notes

Does the American Right Value Muslim Lives? | Washington Notes: "With commentary like that we have seen from John Bolton, Martin Peretz, Richard Cheney, Liz Cheney, Glenn Beck, and saw in the political maneuvering of Cheney Chief of Staff, David Addington, we unleashed an America that defiles key aspects of its own DNA and that is less-trustable by the rest of the world today.

To take this further, I think the debate today is not about the treatment of Muslims of those of Arab descent, but about the United States itself.

John Bolton and Martin Peretz, in undermining America’s core values of a big-tent approach to accommodating and absorbing other societies, are not performing a patriotic duty — but are displaying the opposite of American patriotism."

Rep. Keith Ellison: To defeat terrorism, reach out to American Muslims

Rep. Keith Ellison was a guest on CBS News' Face the Nation on Sunday to talk about terrorism and the commemoration of the attacks of Sept. 11. Ellison said that in fighting terrorism, it's vital that the U.S. government keep open lines of communication with Muslim Americans. He also commented on increasingly anti-Muslim sentiment in the country, which he says may hamper efforts to counter home-grown terrorism.

There were two reasons for such sentiment, Ellison said: a misunderstanding of Islam and politicians trying to score points by scapegoating fellow Americans.

"The criminals and the murderers who did this thing to our nation, you know, they did associate themselves with my faith, Islam. That's unfortunate. Nothing they did is the Islam I know or the overwhelming majority of the Muslims I know. But they did make that connection, so a lot of Americans are just ... they don't know anything about Islam," Ellison said.

He added, "I think there is anxiety and frustration in the country. There are some politicians who believe it's to their political advantage to identify scapegoats and try to turn Americans on Americans for their own political advantage by pandering to our worst instincts and fears."
In order to bridge the divide and to bring the Muslim community into the fight against home-grown terrorism, he said American Muslims need to feel safe going to authorities and being part of the community.

"I think the right thing to do is reach out to mosques and Muslim groups across the country, to have a relationship of trust and open communication," said Ellison. "I recommend that Americans go out and get with your churches and your synagogues, reach out to a mosque. Get to know people."
"I think the wrong direction is to sort of target discreet and insular minority groups like Muslims and sort of focus on that community in a strict law enforcement sense. I think that could have a negative effect," he said.

"I think the right thing to do is, one, reach out to mosques and other groups across the country to have open communication and trust, because these good loyal Americans will be among the first to say, 'You know what? We found somebody we believe is suspicious.'"
Ellison added, "We need to make sure that we stand for civil liberties, so we can deprive people like Osama bin Laden of the claim that Muslims are poorly treated in America. The United States is not at war with Islam. The United States is a fair country."

The hospital gown gets iconic makeover - Health & Families, Life & Style - The Independent

The hospital gown gets iconic makeover - Health & Families, Life & Style - The Independent: "The hospital gown has undergone other redesigns in the past.

In 2004 at the Maine Medical Center changed 'its patient gown after learning that many Muslim women, whose religion and culture require them to be covered, were canceling doctor visits because they were embarrassed to wear the gown.'"

Egypt Al-Azhar scholar supports French niqab ban

Middle East Online: "Egypt's Abdel Muti al-Bayyumi insists that full-face veil 'has no basis in Islamic law'.


CAIRO - A leading cleric at Egypt's prestigious Al-Azhar Mosque on Wednesday applauded France's ban on the face veil worn by some devout Muslim women, saying the niqab harmed Islam's image.

Abdel Muti al-Bayyumi, a member of an influential council of clerics at al-Azhar, said the niqab, a full-face veil that leaves an opening for the eyes, 'has no basis in Islamic law and there is nothing in the Koran or Sunna that supports it.'

'I personally support (the ban) and many of my brothers in the Islamic Research Academy support it. My position against the niqab is actually older than France's,' said Bayyumi, who has authored a book against the practice."

Low support for radicalism among European Muslims | Reuters

Low support for radicalism among European Muslims | Reuters: "(Reuters) - Support for radical Islamist groups is low among European Muslims and some leading groups with overseas roots are now cooperating with local governments and encouraging Muslims to vote, according to a new report.

European groups linked to wider Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat-i-Islami now focus more on conditions for Muslims in Europe than their original ideologies from Egypt and Pakistan, according to the report by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life."

Arranged marriages - a union of more than love | The Daily Telegraph

Arranged marriages - a union of more than love | The Daily Telegraph: "Experts agreed that, while arranged marriages could be viewed as archaic, the idea that love and romance can sustain a family was seen as outdated in some cultures.

Statistics show 30 per cent of marriages in Australia end in divorce. Anecdotally, only about 4 per cent of arranged unions meet the same fate - possibly because divorce is not part of the culture."

Author Salman Rushdie Sides With Muslims Regarding Ground Zero Mosque | OTL

Author Salman Rushdie Sides With Muslims Regarding Ground Zero Mosque | OTL: "Author Salman Rushdie has voiced his support for a proposed mosque and Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero.

Salman Rushdie, author of “Satanic Verses”, has surprised us all by choosing to side with the Muslims and state that he believes a mosque should allowed to be built near to ground zero.

Rushdie has been severely hated by Muslims in the past, with them even calling for him to be put to death.

salman rushdie ground zero mosque stupid argument

Rushdie states that he is not in favor of any organized religion and does understand why building a mosque near the site of the trade towers would cause “sensitivities”; however, he believes that it is the Muslim people’s right to be able to build a place of worship where ever they choose."

Straight Goods - Banning the burka misses the point - The ban is largely symbolic but does hinder the few women who wear burkas.

Straight Goods - Banning the burka misses the point - The ban is largely symbolic but does hinder the few women who wear burkas.: "Are bans really about the shrouded women or are they about our own comfort? How much of our reaction is xenophobia — that is, dislike of foreigners? Do we find it easy to ban burkas and niqabs, or at least to have an opinion on the subject, because they are worn by women?

If the face veiling teaches us anything, it is that complex issues that involve gender, religion, culture and society require more than a knee-jerk reaction. We cannot look at a custom and assume we understand its meanings. And even where its meaning is one of oppression, we cannot simply ban it and expect that will stamp out the underlying problem."

Spies, Defence Force top brass - Do your job - Gower on politics - Politics - 3 News

Spies, Defence Force top brass - Do your job - Gower on politics - Politics - 3 News: "And I shudder to think about the resources and money spent on monitoring New Zealand's Muslim community in the years since 9/11.

But when it comes to vetting the CV of Stephen Wilce - they drop the ball completely.

There are rumours the SIS is underfunded, and slow to do its vetting. It sounds as if it may even contract it out to an outside private agency - if so, that ain't working too well.

I'm actually all for a spy agency, and one that errs on the side of caution - but it needs to do its job properly."

NewsRoomAmerica.com - Michael Moore Weighs Into Ground Zero 'Mosque' Debate

NewsRoomAmerica.com - Michael Moore Weighs Into Ground Zero 'Mosque' Debate: "'I believe in an America that says you have the right to worship whatever God you have, wherever you want to worship. And I believe in an America that says to the world that we are a loving and generous people and if a bunch of murderers steal your religion from you and use it as their excuse to kill 3,000 souls, then I want to help you get your religion back. And I want to put it at the spot where it was stolen from you,' he said. Moore said he hates bigotry and liars, and 'so in case you missed any of the truth that's been lost in this, let me point out a few facts.'"

I salute you Mr. Moore!

Brisbane Lawyer Expects To Be Fired For Burning Koran And Bible

Brisbane Lawyer Expects To Be Fired For Burning Koran And Bible: "The Islamic Association of Australia president urged 'hurt' Muslims not to retaliate.

'Of course we're hurt ... but I would urge my Muslim fellow men to respond with caution and with responsibility,' Sheik Muhammad Wahid said.

'They should be careful when they respond upon these issues. We are a community of tolerance [and] understanding.

'Of course people will be angry but I urge they should not take the law into their own hands and they should show their response in a positive way to explain [to] the whole Australian public that we must live in a way that we respect each other's faith and practices.'

Sheik Wahid questioned Mr Stewart's motive for publishing such a video"

Little chefs do us all proud, says Colin Vickery | Herald Sun

Little chefs do us all proud, says Colin Vickery | Herald Sun: "Even more impressive is the ethnic diversity of the Junior MasterChef contestants. The top 50 contestants included children with varied backgrounds that included Italian, Greek, Iranian, French, Chinese, British, Burmese, Maori, Indonesian and Ukrainian heritage."

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”

Iranian clerics call for slaying of Koran burners | Herald Sun

Iranian clerics call for slaying of Koran burners | Herald Sun: "TWO top Iranian clerics said anyone desecrating the Koran must be killed as hundreds of people protested on yesterady outside the Swiss embassy in Tehran.

'From the point of view of Islamic jurisprudence, strong objection to such thoughts is mandatory and necessary and killing the people who have committed this act is compulsory,' Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani was quoted as saying by Fars news agency.

His view was echoed by Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi who added that such a response must be taken after consulting a 'religious judge.'

'The blood of the person who burns the Koran can undoubtedly be shed. But in this issue, no action should be taken without the permission of a religious judge,' Makarem Shirazi said."

With all due respect to these scholars, is this really an Islamic fatwa/edict? or an emotional one?

Judge blocks 14-year-old girl's arranged marriage | Herald Sun

Judge blocks 14-year-old girl's arranged marriage | Herald Sun: "A 14-YEAR-old girl has been banned from leaving Australia and has had to surrender her passport to save her from an arranged marriage.

Just days before the girl's father planned to whisk her overseas to marry a man she has never met, the Family Court ordered she must stay.

The Melbourne teenager is one of a number of Australian girls forced into arranged marriages overseas each year.

Her plight came to light when child protection officers received a report in June that the then-13-year-old had been taken out of school ahead of her intended marriage."

Shouldn't Imams focus more on such issues than on paradise & rewards & worships?

French Senate passes ban on veil

French Senate passes ban on veil: "The French Senate has overwhelmingly passed a bill banning the burqa-style Islamic veil in public, with the leaders of both parliamentary houses saying they have already asked a special council to ensure the measure passes constitutional muster amid concerns its tramples on religious freedoms.

The Senate voted 246 to 1 on Tuesday in favour of the bill, which has already passed in the lower chamber, the National Assembly. It will need President Nicolas Sarkozy's signature."

And oppression of women prevails! Fight oppression with education not with another oppression!

Controversial yet must watch movies: The infidel & Taqwacores & 12 Angry lebanese

Terror suspect walked around base: court

Terror suspect walked around base: court: "The men believed Islam was under attack from the West, including Australia, the court has heard.

Transcripts of secretly recorded conversations involving the men were read to the court on Tuesday during prosecutor Nick Robinson SC's opening address to the jury.

In one conversation, Fattal and Sayed describe Australians as the enemy.

'They are spiteful,' Fattal said.

'I swear to Allah the great, they are enemies.

'All of them. All of them. They are targeting us.'

Sayed agreed: 'I swear to Allah, poison'."

This is indisputably terrorism but isn't that what Mr. Keelty was talking about?
FORMER Australian Federal Police chief Mick Keelty's judgment that the Iraq war had increased the terrorist threat has been vindicated.