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.

On Religion - Muslim Prayer Room Was Part of Life at Twin Towers - NYTimes.com

On Religion - Muslim Prayer Room Was Part of Life at Twin Towers - NYTimes.com: "Over the next few days, noticing some fellow Muslims on the job, Mr. Abdus-Salaam voiced an equally essential question: “So where do you pray at?” And so he learned about the Muslim prayer room on the 17th floor of the south tower.

He went there regularly in the months to come, first doing the ablution known as wudu in a washroom fitted for cleansing hands, face and feet, and then facing toward Mecca to intone the salat prayer.

On any given day, Mr. Abdus-Salaam’s companions in the prayer room might include financial analysts, carpenters, receptionists, secretaries and ironworkers. There were American natives, immigrants who had earned citizenship, visitors conducting international business — the whole Muslim spectrum of nationality and race."

Threats over Muslim school before blaze | Herald Sun

Threats over Muslim school before blaze | Herald Sun: "LIVERPOOL councillors received a series of threatening emails and text messages from opponents of a Muslim school before the council chambers were burnt down in an arson attack.

Police are investigating links between the council's controversial approval of the development and last weekend's huge blaze, which has resulted in chaos in one of Sydney's biggest local government administrations."

Radically opposing the school because it's founded by radicals? Radicals opposing radicals?

'Allahu Akbar' rings out at the Pentagon

'Allahu Akbar' rings out at the Pentagon: "WASHINGTON: Inside the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial Chapel, a female air force sergeant unlaced her combat boots, set them under the pews and slipped her black veil around her hair and over her camouflaged uniform.

The men pushed back the altar for Christian services to make room for their large, green prayer rugs; then moved the podium from one side of the room to the other so that the congregation would be facing Mecca.

''Allahu Akbar,'' called out Ali Mohammed, a contractor who works at the Pentagon, raising his hands to his face as he chanted the call to prayer. ''Allahu Akbar.''"

Feature - Christians and Muslims in joint retreat - CathNews

Feature - Christians and Muslims in joint retreat - CathNews: "Nine young people came together earlier this month at the Campion Centre in Melbourne for an experience in inter-religious dialogue.

Facilitated by Fr Herman Roborgh SJ, the dialogue, on August 6-7, consisted of lectio divina, or meditation on selected passages from the Bible and the Qur'an. They also involved sharing about each one's experience of praying with the text of the other religion.

Questions regarding each others' faith were also encouraged in an honest and respectful dialogue. The retreat finished with the MAGiS circle which is a modified and extended Examen, done in prayerful conversation.

The retreat was organized by Madeleine Marson of MAGiS Victoria and Kieran Gill, SJ of Jesuit Theological College. The attendees included two Muslim women from the Al Ghazzali Centre, a student from Newman College, a young lawyer and three Jesuit scholastics."

Muslim sister fends off a thief

Muslim sister fends off a thief: "Muslim sister fends off a thief"

First timers make poll waves: News: SBS Federal Election coverage

First timers make poll waves: News: SBS Federal Election coverage: "Ed Husic - First Muslim MP

Ed Husic, the winning Labor candidate for Chifley in Western Sydney, describes himself as
'Blacktown, through and through' on his website.

A union man - he's the National President of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, Ed is the first 'Muslim' ever elected to the lower house.

Husic is the son of Bosnian parents, and describes himself as a 'non-practising' Muslim, but it's perhaps something of a milestone for this multi-cultural country where, in 2010, politics still looks decidedly different to the community as a whole.

Husic spoke of what he said was the vilification he experienced when standing as a candidate in 2004."

Widow remembers the past but looks to the future

Widow remembers the past but looks to the future: "''That's not fair,'' she said. ''It's not because of Allah that these buildings fell.''

Mrs Traore is the widow of one of roughly 60 Muslims - cooks, businessmen, emergency responders and airline passengers - believed to have died on 9/11. It is a group that has been little examined, and no precisely reliable count of their ranks exists. But their stories, when told, have frequently been offered as counterweights in the latest public argument over terrorism and Islam."

Saudi diplomat seeks US asylum: report

Saudi diplomat seeks US asylum: report: "A Saudi Arabian diplomat is seeking political asylum in the United States because he is gay and befriended a Jewish woman, and fears for his life if he returns, NBC News reported on Saturday.

The diplomat, which NBC identified as Ali Ahmad Asseri, the first secretary of the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles, reportedly told US federal officials that Saudi officials refused to renew his diplomatic passport and terminated his job after they discovered that he was gay and was close friends with a Jewish woman.

'My life is in a great danger here and if I go back to Saudi Arabia, they will kill me openly in broad daylight,' Asseri told NBC in an email message."

Obama: we are at war with terrorist, not Islam

Obama: we are at war with terrorist, not Islam: "“We are at war against terrorist organizations that have distorted Islam or falsely used the banner of Islam to engage in their destructive acts,” Obama said during a press conference Friday morning."

Two bombs kill 20 near Iraqi Shi'ite city of Kerbala

KERBALA Iraq (Reuters) - Two car bombs exploded near the holy Shi'ite city of Kerbala in southern Iraq on Monday, killing 20 mainly Shi'ite pilgrims and wounding 54, an Iraqi official said.

The blasts took place on the road between Kerbala and the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf, Mohammed al-Moussawi, head of the Kerbala provincial council, told Reuters.

The bombs were targeting Shi'ite pilgrims visiting Kerbala, 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad, ahead of the anniversary of Imam Mohammed al-Mehdi's birthday for which several hundred thousand people are expected this week.

A police source said there were a total of 30 killed or wounded by one car bomb.

The birthday is one of several annual pilgrimages that have evolved into shows of strength for Iraq's majority Shi'ite community since the fall of Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein, who curbed such rites.

 I'm not a Muslim if this is Islam

BRUNEI Sultan wants improved PS

The Sultan of Brunei has called for improvements in the Public Service during a national address on his 64th birthday.
   The Sultan said productivity and work ethics needed to be improved in the PS, particularly in the Departments of Health and Education.
   He called for Key Performance Indicators to be used to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Public Service.
   “Through this methodology, we are able to measure to what extent can the public service carry out its responsibilities in meeting the demands of this country and the public,” The Sultan said.
   He said the Department of Health in particular needed to introduce assessments, especially for its medical professionals.
   “We do not want our hospitals to become frightening places just because the doctors always fail to provide their services.”
   He said in the Department of Education, new and effective techniques were needed but not at the expense of national priorities such as religious proficiency.
   The Sultan said that Muslim children in Brunei needed to be proficient in religion, and that to do so, the education system must prioritise religious education.
   He said that weak religious beliefs would thrust the nation into disaster and suggested that without strong religious restrictions, young people would become susceptible to crime and drugs.
   “This cannot be taken lightly,” he said.
   “As conscious people, we must remedy it and that remedy is religion.”

This is a great initiative but I hope they will focus on the core values of... Islam rather than sectarian Islam ..

Influential Saudi cleric says Muslim women can respect veil bans

A LEADING Saudi cleric has condemned France for moving to ban Muslim face veils, but approved of Muslim women foregoing veils when visiting a country which outlaws them.

"It is illogical and unreasonable that the French government undertakes such a thing, which is condemned by neutral people, not just Muslims, because the secular state assures freedom of religion," Sheikh Aed al-Qarni told Saudi paper Al-Hayat.

"The state has to respect religious rituals and beliefs, including those of Muslims," he said in an interview.

However, he added, if Muslim women are in a country that has banned the niqab, or full-face veil, or if they face harassment in such a place, "it is better that the Muslim woman uncovers her face."

Numerous scholars of various Islamic schools of thought agree on this point, Qarni said.


"We must not confront people in their own country or other countries, or bring hardship on ourselves."

His comments followed France's parliament voting on July 13 to ban the niqab. The French senate will vote on the measure in September, after which it could still be challenged on constitutional grounds.

I agree if they are just visitors but if they are citizens then they have all right to oppose it by all legitimate means .. 

DARYL McLURE: no need to ban the burqa

I HAVE been intrigued in recent times by the calls by some Australians for the burqa - the head-to-toe, face-covering clothing worn by a small minority of Muslim women - to be banned.

I think such calls are a threat to religious freedom and provoked by ignorance and fear rather than by logic and real concern for the rights of Muslim women.

This is certainly the case in Europe. More than 50 million Muslims now live in Europe, including Russia and Eastern Europe, with some 15 million in the countries of the European Union.

Tensions have arisen partly because of this, partly because of the religious/cultural differences and partly because in some countries, including traditionally tolerant Britain and the Netherlands, locally-born Muslims have been attracted to the Jihadi cause and become involved in murder and terrorism.


Hence an increase in fear.

Recently, France became the first nation in Europe to ban the burqa, but Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and some parts of Italy are also debating the issue. And, back home in Australia, we have seen the Rev Fred Nile and other Australians take up the cause.

Should the burqa be banned?

About the only reason I can see for doing so is security. But how often have we seen, even in Europe, the burqa being used as a cover for terrorist operations? I may be wrong, but I can't recollect any.

Locally, most of those opposing the wearing of the burqa, including the Rev Nile, follow the European mantra and claim they are taking their stand in the interests of human rights, the freedom of women to wear what they want to wear. But are they?

Only a small minority of Muslim women in Australia - even in many Muslim countries - wear the burqa. Is it not plausible that most of them do so, not because it is imposed on them by males, but because they take references in the Koran, which encourage modesty among both men and women, literally?

The Rev Nile and his unlikely bedfellows among the women's libbers are really patronising these women.

There are Christians, Pentecostalists, Revivalists and so forth who take the Bible literally, who believe in creationism. Should we stop them from holding their belief?

Of course not. Roman Catholic and Anglican nuns used to wear head-to-toe habits and have just their faces exposed for similar reasons of modesty. That is what the burqa is about.

There is still debate among Muslim scholars relating to interpretation of the Koran and the extent of covering of female bodies. Modesty is demanded of both sexes, not just women.

It is difficult. We live in a secular society but that society has evolved from traditional Christian values, that in many respects were - and, among a minority still are - not all that different to those of Muslims. But as secularism has become more widespread in Western society, norms have changed and secular (civil) law has evolved from the religious laws which once prevailed.

Will this happen with Islamic law? It may but certainly not in the short-term. However, as long as Muslims living in Australia and other Western countries accept that they owe an allegiance to their new countries as well as to their religion, there should be no conflict of loyalty.

As Muslim women mix more widely and new generations of Muslim Australians are born, there may be evolution and change in attitude. But a minority may always feel the burqa is both a religious statement and helps protect their virtue.

Is that a bad thing? Why should we force that minority to compromise their religious beliefs?

Some say the burqa is intimidating but then so is a Mohawk haircut to some and tattoos to others.

Should we ban them too? I repeat, I agree with those who have said that the only real reason to ban the burqa is security. And, in the absence of any security threat linked to the burqa or the nijab, I see no reason to do so. If we offer respect, perhaps it will be returned.

I salute such sensible & realistic thinking .. 

Sacked Liberal candidate goes loudly into exile, defending views on Muslims

SACKED Liberal hopeful David Barker has spent his first full day as a disendorsed candidate vigorously defending his views on Muslims.

In an interview with the Ten Network, Mr Barker declared the Muslim faith had no place in Australia and declaring his love for Mr Abbott, whom he earlier described as "God's mouthpiece" in politics. "I would stand up against the Muslim beliefs and ethics . . . well, I don't believe the Muslim faith actually has a place in Australia," Mr Barker told the Ten Network.

Coast Imam rejects Hanson option

The head of the Islamic Society of the Gold Coast said if the controversial former One Nation MP ran for the position and won, it would spell disaster for the city.
Earlier this year Ms Hanson came under fire for stipulating she would not sell her Coleyville home to a Muslim, but Imam Husain said no Muslim would want to buy her property anyway.....More than 20,000 Middle-Eastern people visited the Gold Coast in the year ending March 2010, but Imam Husain said they could be put off if Ms Hanson became mayor. "They enjoy our beautiful facilities here, and of course our mayor has been very accommodating to these tourists," he said. "These people are good spenders, but if they know of someone who is not so kind to them and has this biased attitude towards Muslims, then obviously they are going to look for some other destination. "Emotionally, some people may say 'that's good, we don't need these Muslims', but practically it's not good for the Gold Coast."

UK politician warned of legal action if he will not meet with women in burqas

A BRITISH lawmaker has been warned he faces possible legal action if he carries out a threat to refuse to meet constituents wearing burqas.

Conservative politician Philip Hollobone has been warned that the Equality Act obliges him to avoid discrimination, , Sky News reported.

Civil rights campaign group Liberty has told him it "will be happy to represent any of your constituents that you refuse to meet because they are veiled."

Iraq war turned British Muslims against their country: former spy chief

She said British involvement in Iraq "radicalised" some British citizens, "not a whole generation, a few among a generation -- who saw our involvement in Iraq on top of our involvement in Afghanistan as an attack on Islam".


Asked what specific proof there was of a direct correlation between the Iraq invasion and the growth in Muslim terror plots in Britain she said: "I think we can produce evidence because of the numerical evidence of the number of plots, the number of leads, the number of people identified and the correlation of that to Iraq and the statements of people as to why they were involved.


"What Iraq did was to produce a fresh impetus of people prepared to engage in terrorism."

You harvest what you sow!

Six years after public rap, Keelty judgment on terror upheld

FORMER Australian Federal Police chief Mick Keelty's judgment that the Iraq war had increased the terrorist threat has been vindicated.


He was promptly jumped on by the Howard government for contradicting its line on the war.
Yesterday, he was belatedly backed in spectacular fashion by former director-general of MI5 Lady Eliza Manningham-Buller, who told Britain's Chilcot inquiry into the war that the Iraq invasion had substantially increased the threat of terrorist attacks and was a significant factor behind the radicalisation of young Muslims.

Last night, he told The Australian he did feel vindicated by Lady Manningham-Buller's testimony.
"It's probably the strongest indication yet that the position I took not only at the time, but subsequent to that, to ensure that the Islamic community was properly engaged and not marginalised in Australia, was an important decision," Mr Keelty said.
He started by introducing Islamic awareness training in the AFP and put Islamic liaison teams in each state and territory.

I salute you Mr. Keelty!

Pakistani Christians accused of blasphemy murdered outside courthouse

Police were transporting Pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother, Sajid Emmanuel, from the court in Faisalabad to jail when masked gunmen opened fire, killing the two Christians and seriously wounding a policeman accompanying them before getting away, reported Washington-based International Christian Concern.

The brothers had been arrested on July 2 after being accused of writing a pamphlet with blasphemous remarks about the Muslim Prophet Muhammad – a crime punishable by death.

The two had just made a court appearance when Monday’s attack took place, prompting strong words from ICC. “It’s outrageous that the Islamists managed to kill the Christians while they were under police custody,” exclaimed Jonathan Racho, ICC’s regional manager for South Asia

I am not a Muslim if this is Islam!

Child bride law challenged in Nigeria

A Nigerian Islamic group has challenged a lawsuit against a senator who married a 13-year-old Egyptian girl.

While the government has issued the suit against Ahmed Sani Yerima for his marriage to the girl,
the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria is seeking an order of the Federal High Court to restrain the government from taking action over the marriage.

The Supreme Council for Sharia enforces Islamic laws and stands outside the regular court system.

The government-backed National Human Rights Commission and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficing in Persons had brought the lawsuit, which will be challenged on constitutional grounds.

According to the Supreme Council for Sharia, Muslim men in Nigeria are allowed to marry four wives without restriction on age, even a child in the womb of her mother.

The group has said the constitution guarantees the senator the right to practice his religion in the way and manner it is described.

Yerima, 49, the ex-governor of Muslim-dominated northwest Zamfara State, has slammed the Nigerian Child Rights Act of 2003 which forbids marriage to anyone under the age of 18, saying it contravenes the country's constitution which guarantees a citizen's rights to practice his religion. The case has been adjourned until October 21.

So that's how the Islamists will run their Islamic states according to Sharia?! I would be the first to flee such a state!

UK citizens more a threat than Saddam: spy chief

"Our involvement in Iraq radicalised, for want of a better word, a whole generation of young people - not a whole generation, a few among a generation - who saw our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan as being an attack on Islam," she said.
"During 2003-04, we realised that the focus was not foreigners. The rising and increasing threat was a threat from British citizens and that was a very different scenario to, as it were, stopping people coming in." Eliza Manningham-Buller, former head of British domestic intelligence agency MI5

Arab jailed for sex with Israeli woman

A Palestinian man has been convicted of rape after consensual sexual intercourse with an Israeli woman who believed he was Jewish because he introduced himself as "Daniel". An Israeli court made international legal history by jailing Sabbar Kashur, from East Jerusalem, for 18 months. The 30 year-old delivery man was convicted of "rape by deception" after a criminal trial that drew criticism from across Israel. Kashur was accused of misleading the woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, by introducing himself with the traditionally Jewish name when they met on a street in central Jerusalem in 2008. After striking up a conversation, they went into a nearby office block and engaged in a sexual encounter, after which Kashur quickly left.

And justice prevails! :^D 

Does the media pick on Muslims?

So it’s our fault, is it? The media’s? According to some Aussie Muslims, it is journalists who have given Muslims a bad name.
Since that infamous date of September 11, when Islamic terrorists slaughtered thousands in the US, the Australian public’s attitude towards Muslims has “hardened”, says a new report from the Australian Department of Immigration.

The media is blamed. One Iraqi father was quoted saying: “The media portray us as terrorists. The media are against us.” According to a co-author of the study, Ilan Katz, “the families felt strongly the media were gunning for Muslims: it was a huge concern.”
Are they right? Or are they just shooting the messenger? I see plenty of reports about Muslims in the Australian press but most of them seem to be news reports about atrocities committed by Islamic males abroad – such as suicide bombings – or by Islamic countries, such as the proposed stoning to death - currently postponed - in Iran of a 43-year-old mother of two, Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, who has already been given 99 lashes for alleged adultery.

Wouldn’t Aussie Muslims be better speaking out against these blots on the Islamic faith? A caller phoned Melbourne radio 774 ABC a while back when Muslim writer Waleed Aly was guest-hosting, asking this very question. Aly’s response was that “very few” countries condoned stoning any more and then he moved on. Few? Even one is one too many.
But you certainly don’t have to look far to find bad press involving Muslims. Here’s one from the weekend in The Age: “Suicide bombers hit mosque” , which told of Sunni Muslims killing 27 people and injuring 270, presumably (seeing as it was a mosque) all fellow Muslims. To add to the outrage, the Jamai mosque was bombed as Muslims celebrated the birthday of the grandson of the prophet Muhammed.
Rather than decry the media for “hardening” people's attitude towards Muslims, shouldn’t all good peace-loving Muslims be loudly condemning this appalling act of barbarity on one of their own sacred days?
What puzzles a lot of non-Muslims is why the good law-abiding Muslims don’t speak out against the atrocities that continue to be perpetrated all over the world by thugs and criminals in the name of Allah. When a terrorist explodes a suicide vest in a crowded market place or mosque, the media is not going to ignore it, whether it is done in the name of Allah or not. What the decent Muslims need to do is loudly and consistently condemn this pointless Islamic violence, as much of the rest of the world does. The media would be happy to report that. 

Source: http://www.watoday.com.au/opinion/blogs/modern-times/does-the-media-pick-on-muslims/20100717-10ezg.html

Please fellow Muslims brothers/sisters .. Make your stand load and clear .. condemn terrorist acts and disassociate yourself clearly and publicly from such non-Islamic barbaric acts .. Speak out for Allah's sake! Quit being passive! Please! Please!

Better ways to spend $1 trillion

RUSSELL Skelton, in his article ''Australia 'lacks clear Afghan strategy' '' (The Age, 17/7), does not mention the financial costs of the war in Afghanistan. The United States has already committed about $US1 trillion on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is reported to have spent about £20 billion on both wars. The loss of lives, both combatants and in the civilian population, is the greatest tragedy in this brutal means of stimulating nations' economies. Imagine what we could have done with this money on winning the hearts and minds of people in the Islamic world to give them basic literacy and health and the infrastructure to build a foundation for better growth, peace and prosperity. Such measures would have gone a long way to eliminate anti-Americanism or anti-West feeling.

2 Muslim inmates sue prison Pair allege discrimination of faith by failure of State Correctional Institution at Retreat to provide special food for Islamic holidays.

SCRANTON – Two Muslim inmates at the State Correctional Institution at Retreat have filed a federal lawsuit against the prison, alleging officials are discriminating against members of their faith by failing to provide specialized food to celebrate two Islamic holidays. Inmates Ronald Banks and Ravanna Spencer claim the prison provides special food to Christian inmates in celebration of the Easter and Christmas holidays, but has refused to do the same for indigent Muslim inmates who wish to celebrate Ramadan and Hajj.

The Racial Theory of "No Soul" is Once Again With Us....

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has big concerns about the Emerald Coast Tea Party Patriots inviting Brigitte Gabriel, the head of the anti-Islam hate group "ACT! for America," to be their keynote speaker at its "U.S. Constitution Freedom Rally" on August 21 in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. CAIR is asking political candidates scheduled to be at the event, such as Marco Rubio, to cancel their appearances unless Gabriel is dropped as a speaker. In 2007, Gabriel gave a speech and said "between Israel and the Arab world is the difference between civilization and barbarism and also said of the "Arabic world," that they "have no soul."

Yes, that was a racial comment but sadly he's right, Arabs have no soul, they are dead ages ago! 

Mesut Ozil race begins as Arsenal, Spurs, and United line up transfer bids

A devout Muslim of Turkish descent,  21-year-old Werder Bremen midfielder is the most coveted player in Europe recites the Holy Quran before the World Cup matches in a bid to help him focus.

Talking to the Berlin-based daily Der Tagesspiegel on Saturday, Ozil said, "I always do that before I go out (on the pitch). I pray and my team-mates know that they cannot talk to me during this brief period." A third generation Turkish-German, Ozil has become one of the superstars at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Source: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/835601-mesut-ozil-race-begins-as-spurs-arsenal-and-manchester-united-line-up-transfer-bids

Indonesian Muslims praying to Kenya, not Mecca, after faulty edict

"After a thorough study with some cosmography and astronomy experts, we learned they've been facing southern Somalia and Kenya," said Ma'ruf Amin, a prominent cleric of the MUI. "We've revised it now to the north-west." He said Indonesians need not worry, however. "Allah understands that humans make mistakes," he said. "Allah always hears their prayers."

I hope some of the so called "scholars" won't decree that all their prayers were void and have to be repeated again!

Israeli millionaire builds mosque in France

Father of four Robert Harush, 58, grew up in Ashkelon and having completed his military service tried his luck in the real estate business in Europe. His success has won him many hotels and buildings and he is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of shekels.




Despite his success Harush did not forget his hometown and has returned to Ashkelon and invested in local building ventures. For the past 10 years he has been dividing his time between Israel and France. His four children all speak Hebrew.




The businessman even chose to stay in the southern city during Operation Cast Lead. He remained in Israel also after a Grad rocket landed near his house.




Surprisingly, he has not harbored any ill-feelings against the Arab side and is a strong supporter of co-existence. He was recently approached by the mayor of Montereau, a French city adjacent to Paris, who informed him of his difficulties in financing the renovation of a large mosque in the city.




"I told myself 'here is an opportunity to bring the people together' and decided to donate the money," Harush said. "People were dumbfounded. What does a Jewish-Israeli man have do to with refurbishing a mosque? The answer is simple: I'm sick and tired of the hatred. A sane voice must emerge."




Harush explained that he built the mosque in order to promote co-existence. "It wasn't a cheap venture but I did with all my heart."

Where are Muslims?! They ran out of money and can't renovate their own Mosques?! An Israeli took a pity on their Mosques and donated for its renovation?! What a stigma!

Syria bans face veils (Niqab) at universities

DAMASCUS, Syria -- Syria has banned the face-covering Islamic veil from the country's universities. The Education Ministry's ban on the niqab comes as similar moves in Europe spark cries of discrimination against Muslims. An official at the ministry says the ban affects public and private universities and aims to protect Syria's secular identity.

However, Aljazeera reported that the officials claim the ban has nothing to do with the latests bans of Niqab in Europe, according to Aljazeera the official claims the main reason for the ban is to maintain the integrity of the education system especially the examination process because some students wear Niqab only during the exams so they can easily cheat.

Source: http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C4A10A55-E65D-4368-86A4-70EF582C16BE.htm?GoogleStatID=9

Born into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids

Bitter injection of reality that's really needed to wake us up from the ridiculous fantasy of Bollywood & Hollywood .. Also, I reckon the least people can do is not to use the word 'bastard' (in all languages) to describe bad people, it's ironic that ethnic slurs like Negro and Hymie are forbidden words while 'bastard' that's applied to the human race is not ..

Afghanistan: an open-ended commitment?

Looking at the terrorism threat to Australia, the reality is that our involvement in Afghanistan is more likely to lead to terrorism in Australia than prevent it. The main terrorism threat today is not from terrorists coming to Australia from Afghanistan, but from a few disaffected second-generation young Australian Muslims motivated by what they see as our involvement in a US-led international war against Islam. Some will travel to places like Pakistan, Lebanon and Somalia to get terrorism training, but more will rely on what they can learn from the internet.

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2953525.htm

Indonesia to ask ISPs to block porn websites

I am curious, how Islamic this restriction of freedom of choice is? In other words, is it backed by a robust source of Shariah/Islamic law? I don't think it's Islamic but it could be democratic if the majority of people voted for!

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, is planning use a controversial anti-pornography law to restrict pornographic websites in the next few months, a communications ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

http://www.itnews.com.au/News/219912,indonesia-to-ask-isps-to-block-smut.aspx

Fox News: Pakistan No.1 in the world in pornographic internet searches

Since the source was Fox News I had to double check the claims myself using Google Insights:
http://www.google.com/insights/

Even though the claims were true, I can easily tell it was quite biased as well, according to Google Insights 6 of the top 10 countries that search for "porn" are Western countries:
1.     Papua New Guinea    
2.     Trinidad and Tobago    
3.     United Kingdom    
4.     Ireland    
5.     Canada    
6.     New Zealand    
7.     Bangladesh    
8.     United States    
9.     Jamaica    
10.     Australia
Source: http://www.google.com/insights/search/#q=porn&cmpt=q

Moreover, ironically 6 of the top 10 countries that search for "sex" are Muslim countries:
1.       Viet Nam     
2.     Pakistan    
3.     Eritrea    
4.     Bangladesh    
5.     Sri Lanka    
6.     India    
7.     Somalia    
8.     Syria    
9.     Egypt    
10.     Yemen    
Source: http://www.google.com/insights/search/#q=sex&cmpt=q

Nonetheless, the article made a valid point, Pakistan was lately banning many popular websites including Facebook for offensive and blasphemous material while at the same time it's of one the top searchers for pornograhpy! This is just a total irony!

The Muslim country, which has banned content on at least 17 websites to block offensive and blasphemous material, is the world's leader in online searches for pornographic material, FoxNews.com has learned.

“You won’t find strip clubs in Islamic countries. Most Islamic countries have certain dress codes,” said Gabriel Said Reynolds, professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Notre Dame. “It would be an irony if they haven’t shown the same vigilance to pornography.”

So here's the irony: Google ranks Pakistan No. 1 in the world in searches for pornographic terms, outranking every other country in the world in searches per person for certain sex-related content.

Pakistan is top dog in searches per-person for "horse sex" since 2004, "donkey sex" since 2007, "rape pictures" between 2004 and 2009, "rape sex" since 2004, "child sex" between 2004 and 2007 and since 2009, "animal sex" since 2004 and "dog sex" since 2005, according to Google Trends and Google Insights, features of Google that generate data based on popular search terms.

The country also is tops -- or has been No. 1 -- in searches for "sex," "camel sex," "rape video," "child sex video" and some other searches that can't be printed here.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/07/12/data-shows-pakistan-googling-pornographic-material/