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2010-10-07T14:52:00.002+08:00

World Hunger: A Cold Fact

2010-08-27T22:21:00.001+08:00

via thinkquest.org

The world hunger problem: Facts, figures and statistics

In the Asian, African and Latin American countries, well over 500 million people are living in what the World Bank has called "absolute poverty"
Every year 15 million children die of hunger
For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for 5 years
Throughout the 1990's more than 100 million children will die from illness and starvation. Those 100 million deaths could be prevented for the price of ten Stealth bombers, or what the world spends on its military in two days!
The World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the world is well-fed, one-third is under-fed one-third is starving- Since you've entered this site at least 200 people have died of starvation. Over 4 million will die this year.
One in twelve people worldwide is malnourished, including 160 million children under the age of 5. United Nations Food and Agriculture
The Indian subcontinent has nearly half the world's hungry people. Africa and the rest of Asia together have approximately 40%, and the remaining hungry people are found in Latin America and other parts of the world. Hunger in Global Economy
Nearly one in four people, 1.3 billion - a majority of humanity - live on less than $1 per day, while the world's 358 billionaires have assets exceeding the combined annual incomes of countries with 45 percent of the world's people. UNICEF
3 billion people in the world today struggle to survive on US$2/day.
In 1994 the Urban Institute in Washington DC estimated that one out of 6 elderly people in the U.S. has an inadequate diet.
In the U.S. hunger and race are related. In 1991 46% of African-American children were chronically hungry, and 40% of Latino children were chronically hungry compared to 16% of white children.
The infant mortality rate is closely linked to inadequate nutrition among pregnant women. The U.S. ranks 23rd among industrial nations in infant mortality. African-American infants die at nearly twice the rate of white infants.
One out of every eight children under the age of twelve in the U.S. goes to bed hungry every night.
Half of all children under five years of age in South Asia and one third of those in sub-Saharan Africa are malnourished.
In 1997 alone, the lives of at least 300,000 young children were saved by vitamin A supplementation programmes in developing countries.
Malnutrition is implicated in more than half of all child deaths worldwide - a proportion unmatched by any infectious disease since the Black Death
About 183 million children weigh less than they should for their age
To satisfy the world's sanitation and food requirements would cost only US$13 billion- what the people of the United States and the European Union spend on perfume each year.
The assets of the world's three richest men are more than the combined GNP of all the least developed countries on the planet.
Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger
It is estimated that some 800 million people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition, about 100 times as many as those who actually die from it each year.

They Said 'NO' to PM, And Then They Get the Sultan

2010-08-26T13:44:00.001+08:00

Masjid Nurul Ehsan, Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya Selatan, whose committees denied a visit by the PM, just got a new surprised - the Sultan of Selangor is coming to their masjid!

More story by Roslan SMS

It is taxpayers' money, not UMNO's money

2010-08-17T14:52:00.001+08:00

Look at this:

'nuff said!!!

(some people are outright ignorants and fools)

images credit to kbsb@fb

Even the Giant can Stumble

2010-08-05T09:39:00.003+08:00

This screenshot I took from CNET explains a lot. Two latest news are about cyber giant, Google Inc.

Android is an operating system for smart phones (and tablet PCs), alongside more familiar names such as IPhone IOS, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry OS. Late starter Android, as of today, is enjoying a large chunk of smart phone market share, at a staggering 33%... one and a half of it's next competitor, the ever popular iPhone at 22%. Though iPhone set to get larger market share with its release of their new iPhone 4, Android is also set to do the same with various new phones coming in, especially from Motorolla and HTC, leaving Windows and BlackBerry smaller and smaller portion.

Wave is an online software application product from Google, which Google described as "a new web application for real-time communication and collaboration". Barely celebrating its first birthday, Wave is deemed as a failure.

Such are two different stories of success and failure. Yes, even big guys like Google will fail at some point, but they know when they fail, and they surely know how to capitalize on their success

Pray for My Abah

2010-07-06T21:30:00.004+08:00

To my friends, online buddies, and all readers...

My Abah (father) had been diagnosed with intestinal cyst after suffering for more than half a year. He is now waiting for a date for operation. The cyst is in later stage, and my Abah isn't young and strong anymore, so the condition is quite worrying.

Everyone, please, if you have several seconds of free moments, please pray for his health and well being.

thank you...

-L-

He's the first man I know

From many years ago

He's the first man I remember

The man who is my father

He is my first teacher

Taught me to read, write and calculate

He is my first coach

Taught me to swing my bat and racket

I still remember he was strong and sturdy

Full at hands, never even a bit lazy

And his wisdom, forever inspire me

He's my hero, my idol, the man I always wanted to be

He didn't sleep if to make his children comfy

He didn't eat if to avoid his children hungry

He showed me life beyond wealth and money

A life where we are all a family

Living moderate life, shy of luxury

Yet we all agree, we're more than just happy

Now he's fighting in hospital bed...

I just wanna fall and break...

Tears didn't come out, they're flooding my head...

Oh my GOD, save my father, what YOU made, only YOU can unmake...

The Story of Eagle

2010-06-22T22:06:00.000+08:00

The Stranger Is Not

2010-06-22T11:07:00.000+08:00

A beautiful and touching poem penned by Zainal 'Abidin 'Ali bin Hussain bin 'Ali bin Abi Talib.

The stranger is not the stranger to Yemen or Syria
But the stranger is the stranger to the grave and the coffin

Verily the stranger has rights for his absence
Over the residents of the dwellings & homelands.

Don’t chase away the outlander in his state of unfamiliarity
For time is also chasing him with hardship & distress

My travels are far and my provisions will not suffice me
My strength has weakened and death is calling unto me.

I still have sins which I know not of
Allah knows of them; those made in secret & in manifest

How merciful has Allah been to me by giving me respite
And I have increased in sins but Allah has always shielded me

The hours of my days pass by without regret
No crying, no fear, no sadness

I am the one who closes the doors with fatigue
On disobedience, & The Eye of Allah watches over me…

O that which was written in a moment of heedlessness
O the sorrow which remains in my heart is burning me.

Leave me to bewail myself and weep
And pass the time in sadness and remembrance.

Leave off your Blaming of me O you who do so…
If you were but to know my situation you would have excused me…

Let me cry out tears that have no ending to them
For there will be no lesson that will set me free

It is As though I am with that family, laying…
Upon the mattress with their hands turning me over.

And they came to me with a doctor that he may cure me…
But of today I think not that medicine will benefit me..

My sufferings increased and death began to pull at me…
From every vein, without ease or comfort…

My soul was then removed from me with a gurgle…
And my saliva became bitter at that point…

They then shut my eyes and left me…
After a long moment of despair… they hurried to the purchase of the shroud

And he who was dearest to me got up in a hurry…
To summon the person who was to wash me…

He said: O my people we have attained a washer who is skillful,
Clever, bright & intelligent…

So then one of the men came and removed my clothing…
He undressed me and uncovered my body…

They then placed me on top of a board
And the sound of water above me, [the water that] began to clean me

He poured the water on top of me and washed me…
Three times, before calling out to the people for the shroud…

They shrouded me in a sleeveless garment…
And my provisions became the balm in which they embalmed me

They bore me towards my journey out of this world, oh how sorrowful!
Will be this journey for which I have no provisions to take along with me?

Upon their shoulders, they carried me, Four…
Men, and behind me are those who come to bid me farewell

They set me before the mihrab then turned away from me
Behind the Imam they went and he prayed on me then bade me farewell

They prayed over me a prayer consisting of neither rukoo’ nor sujood
Asking that Allah may have Mercy upon me.

They lowered me into my grave slowly
And one of them came forward to place me in the lahd

He raised the garment from my face to gaze upon me
And the tears spilled from his eyes awashing me

Then he stood, honoring me, firm and resolute
And lined the bricks on my body then left me

And he said “Throw the dirt upon him and reap
The great rewards from Ar-Rahmaan, the Most Gracious”

In the darkness of the grave, no mother is there nor
Is there an affectionate father, or a brother to comfort me

Alone… The only inhabitant of the grave, oh how sorrowful!
Am I on parting the world bearing no deeds to provision me?

And a sight which beheld my eye struck terror into me.
From a place of terror it came and startled me…

Munkar and Nakeer, what shall I say to them?
The thought of them strikes terror into me, it causes me fear

And they made me to sit and put forth their questions
I have none other than You now, O Lord, to deliver me!

So bestow upon me from Your Mercy, O Lord, how I hope in You!!
For verily I am fettered in my sins, I am confined by them

The relatives have divided my wealth amongst them after leaving me.
And my sins are now upon my back, burdening me

My wife has taken another husband in my place
And she has appointed him as overseer over my wealth and my home

She has made my children into servants to bid unto her needs
And my wealth has become to them a worthless means of enjoyment

So let not this World and its adornments deceive you.
And look at its [evil] effects in your family and homeland

And look at the one who collects the wealth of this Dunya in abundance
Will he depart from this world bearing other than the death shroud and balm?

Take from the dunya that which suffices you and be contented with that
Even if you were to have naught but good health

O you who sows good, you will reap the fruit of your efforts.
O you who sows evil you will find yourselves overcome with grief

O soul of mine, abstain from sinning and attain instead
Deeds which are beautiful, for which Allah may be merciful towards me

O soul of mine, Woe upon you! Turn towards your lord in Repentance, and do that which is good
So that you will be recompensed after your death with that which is delightful

Lastly sending prayers upon the Chosen one, Our Sayyid (leader)
All praise is unto Allah, May he fill our days and nights with that which is Good, with forgiveness

لَيْسَ الغَريبُ غَريبَ الشَّأمِ واليَمَنِ *إِنَّ الغَريبَ غَريبُ اللَّحدِ والكَفَنِ
إِنَّ الغَريِبَ لَهُ حَقٌّ لِغُرْبَتـِهِ * على الْمُقيمينَ في الأَوطــانِ والسَّكَنِسَفَري بَعيدٌ وَزادي لَنْ يُبَلِّغَنـي * وَقُوَّتي ضَعُفَتْ والمـوتُ يَطلُبُنـي
وَلي بَقايــا ذُنوبٍ لَسْتُ أَعْلَمُها * الله يَعْلَمُهــا في السِّرِ والعَلَنِ
مـَا أَحْلَمَ اللهَ عَني حَيْثُ أَمْهَلَني * وقَدْ تَمـادَيْتُ في ذَنْبي ويَسْتُرُنِي
تَمُرُّ سـاعـاتُ أَيّـَامي بِلا نَدَمٍ * ولا بُكاءٍ وَلاخَـوْفٍ ولا حـَزَنِ

أَنَـا الَّذِي أُغْلِقُ الأَبْوابَ مُجْتَهِداً * عَلى المعاصِي وَعَيْنُ اللهِ تَنْظُرُنـي
يَـا زَلَّةً كُتِبَتْ في غَفْلَةٍ ذَهَبَتْ * يَـا حَسْرَةً بَقِيَتْ في القَلبِ تُحْرِقُني

دَعْني أَنُوحُ عَلى نَفْسي وَأَنْدِبُـهـا * وَأَقْطَعُ الدَّهْرَ بِالتَّذْكِيـرِ وَالحَزَنِ
كَأَنَّني بَينَ تلك الأَهلِ مُنطَرِحــَاً * عَلى الفِراشِ وَأَيْديهِمْ تُقَلِّبُنــي

وَقد أَتَوْا بِطَبيبٍ كَـيْ يُعالِجَنـي * وَلَمْ أَرَ الطِّبَّ هـذا اليـومَ يَنْفَعُني
واشَتد نَزْعِي وَصَار المَوتُ يَجْذِبُـها * مِن كُلِّ عِرْقٍ بِلا رِفقٍ ولا هَوَنِ

واستَخْرَجَ الرُّوحَ مِني في تَغَرْغُرِها * وصـَارَ رِيقي مَريراً حِينَ غَرْغَرَني
وَغَمَّضُوني وَراحَ الكُلُّ وانْصَرَفوا * بَعْدَ الإِياسِ وَجَدُّوا في شِرَا الكَفَنِ

وَقـامَ مَنْ كانَ حِبَّ لنّاسِ في عَجَلٍ * نَحْوَ المُغَسِّلِ يَأْتينـي يُغَسِّلُنــي
وَقــالَ يـا قَوْمِ نَبْغِي غاسِلاً حَذِقاً * حُراً أَرِيباً لَبِيبـاً عَارِفـاً فَطِنِ

فَجــاءَني رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ فَجَرَّدَني * مِنَ الثِّيــابِ وَأَعْرَاني وأَفْرَدَني
وَأَوْدَعوني عَلى الأَلْواحِ مُنْطَرِحـاً * وَصـَارَ فَوْقي خَرِيرُ الماءِ يَنْظِفُني

وَأَسْكَبَ الماءَ مِنْ فَوقي وَغَسَّلَني * غُسْلاً ثَلاثاً وَنَادَى القَوْمَ بِالكَفَنِ
وَأَلْبَسُوني ثِيابـاً لا كِمامَ لهـا * وَصارَ زَادي حَنُوطِي حيـنَ حَنَّطَني

وأَخْرَجوني مِنَ الدُّنيـا فَوا أَسَفاً * عَلى رَحِيـلٍ بِلا زادٍ يُبَلِّغُنـي
وَحَمَّلوني على الأْكتـافِ أَربَعَةٌ * مِنَ الرِّجـالِ وَخَلْفِي مَنْ يُشَيِّعُني

وَقَدَّموني إِلى المحرابِ وانصَرَفوا * خَلْفَ الإِمـَامِ فَصَلَّى ثـمّ وَدَّعَني
صَلَّوْا عَلَيَّ صَلاةً لا رُكوعَ لهـا * ولا سُجـودَ لَعَلَّ اللـهَ يَرْحَمُني

وَأَنْزَلوني إلـى قَبري على مَهَلٍ * وَقَدَّمُوا واحِداً مِنهـم يُلَحِّدُنـي
وَكَشَّفَ الثّوْبَ عَن وَجْهي لِيَنْظُرَني * وَأَسْكَبَ الدَّمْعَ مِنْ عَيْنيهِ أَغْرَقَني

فَقامَ مُحتَرِمــاً بِالعَزمِ مُشْتَمِلاً * وَصَفَّفَ اللَّبِنَ مِنْ فَوْقِي وفـارَقَني
وقَالَ هُلُّوا عليه التُّرْبَ واغْتَنِموا * حُسْنَ الثَّوابِ مِنَ الرَّحمنِ ذِي المِنَنِ

في ظُلْمَةِ القبرِ لا أُمٌّ هنــاك ولا * أَبٌ شَفـيقٌ ولا أَخٌ يُؤَنِّسُنــي
فَرِيدٌ وَحِيدُ القبرِ، يــا أَسَفـاً * عَلى الفِراقِ بِلا عَمَلٍ يُزَوِّدُنـي

وَهالَني صُورَةً في العينِ إِذْ نَظَرَتْ * مِنْ هَوْلِ مَطْلَعِ ما قَدْ كان أَدهَشَني
مِنْ مُنكَرٍ ونكيرٍ مـا أَقولُ لهم * قَدْ هــَالَني أَمْرُهُمْ جِداً فَأَفْزَعَني

وَأَقْعَدوني وَجَدُّوا في سُؤالِهـِمُ * مَـالِي سِوَاكَ إِلهـي مَنْ يُخَلِّصُنِي
فَامْنُنْ عَلَيَّ بِعَفْوٍ مِنك يــا أَمَلي * فَإِنَّني مُوثَقٌ بِالذَّنْبِ مُرْتَهــَنِ

تَقاسمَ الأهْلُ مالي بعدما انْصَرَفُوا * وَصَارَ وِزْرِي عَلى ظَهْرِي فَأَثْقَلَني
واستَبْدَلَتْ زَوجَتي بَعْلاً لهـا بَدَلي * وَحَكَّمَتْهُ فِي الأَمْوَالِ والسَّكَـنِ

وَصَيَّرَتْ وَلَدي عَبْداً لِيَخْدُمَهــا * وَصَارَ مَـالي لهم حـِلاً بِلا ثَمَنِ
فَلا تَغُرَّنَّكَ الدُّنْيــا وَزِينَتُها * وانْظُرْ إلى فِعْلِهــا في الأَهْلِ والوَطَنِ

وانْظُرْ إِلى مَنْ حَوَى الدُّنْيا بِأَجْمَعِها * هَلْ رَاحَ مِنْها بِغَيْرِ الحَنْطِ والكَفَنِ
خُذِ القَنـَاعَةَ مِنْ دُنْيَاك وارْضَ بِها * لَوْ لم يَكُنْ لَكَ إِلا رَاحَةُ البَدَنِ

يَـا زَارِعَ الخَيْرِ تحصُدْ بَعْدَهُ ثَمَراً * يَا زَارِعَ الشَّرِّ مَوْقُوفٌ عَلَى الوَهَنِ
يـَا نَفْسُ كُفِّي عَنِ العِصْيانِ واكْتَسِبِي * فِعْلاً جميلاً لَعَلَّ اللهَ يَرحَمُني

يَا نَفْسُ وَيْحَكِ تُوبي واعمَلِي حَسَناً * عَسى تُجازَيْنَ بَعْدَ الموتِ بِالحَسَنِ
ثمَّ الصلاةُ على الْمُختـارِ سَيِّدِنـا * مَا وَصَّـا البَرْقَ في شَّامٍ وفي يَمَنِ

والحمدُ لله مُمْسِينَـا وَمُصْبِحِنَا * بِالخَيْرِ والعَفْوْ والإِحْســانِ وَالمِنَنِ

Can anybody tell me who is the reciter in the video?

85% Israelis Support Freedom Flotilla Massacre

2010-06-10T19:56:00.002+08:00

Via guerraeterna.com :

Junio 10, 2010
Ni un paso atrás
Es discutible resumir el estado de opinión en todo un país con una sola encuesta, pero a veces sus resultados pueden ser muy reveladores. Un sondeo deja claro qué opinan los israelíes sobre el ataque a la flotilla de Gaza. El uso de la fuerza no les parece exagerado e incluso hay un porcentaje muy importante que opina que los militares se quedaron cortos. Dicho de forma coloquial: ¿nueve muertos?, pocos me parecen.
Un 46% cree que la respuesta fue la adecuada. Un 39% hubiera deseado una respuesta más violenta. En total, un 85% descarta por completo cualquier opción que hubiera previsto una operación más pacífica para obtener el mismo resultado.
Y sobre la reacción de EEUU, no crean que están contentos. Un 71% está muy o bastante insatisfecho con la respuesta de Obama. Supongo que esperaban una felicitación y un aumento de la ayuda militar para compensar por las balas gastadas.
Hay una forma de ver esto antes de manifestar una opinión. Con el tipo de información/propaganda que los israelíes reciben de su Gobierno y sus medios de comunicación, el resultado no es tan sorprendente.

Translation:

June 10, 2010
Not one step back
It is questionable to summarize the state of opinion in the whole country with a single survey, but sometimes the results can be very revealing. A survey makes it clear what the Israelis say the attack on Gaza's fleet. The use of force seems exaggerated and even a large percentage believed that the military came up short. In slang: nine dead?, Few seem to me.
46% believe that the answer was correct. 39% would have liked a more violent response. In total, 85% completely rule out any option that would have provided a more peaceful operation to achieve the same result.
And on the U.S. reaction, do not think they are happy. 71% were very or fairly dissatisfied with the response from Obama. I guess I expected a greeting and an increase in military aid to compensate for spent bullets.
There is a way to see this before expressing an opinion. With the kind of information / propaganda that Israelis receive from their government and their media, the result is not so surprising.

Poll by

Mercy didn't send any doctor to Gaza

2010-06-10T00:38:00.000+08:00

SMS regarding the death or missing of Malaysian MERCY doctors in Gaza is wildly circulating. I received one as well. First thing to do is (obviously) checking whether the news is reliable.

look at what i found:

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/39155-mercy-malaysia-denies-rumours-death-its-doctors-gaza

Gist: Mercy never send any of its doctors to Gaza this yet. So, there can't be any missing or dead Mercy doctors in Gaza

World Cup Gambling: Who's the Liar?

2010-06-08T20:21:00.010+08:00

credit to Zunar for pointing this via Facebook

#1

Licence Not Issued To Ascot Sports Yet - PM
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 (Bernama) -- The government has yet to issue or give the licence to Syarikat Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd to carry out betting operations in Malaysia, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, said the government had also not finalised discussions on the licensing terms and conditions with the company to undertake bookie activities in Malaysia.

"The government is still getting feedback and views from the various quarters on the proposed licensing for a betting bookie in Malaysia aimed at reducing and subsequently eliminating unlicensed gambling in Malaysia," he said in his written reply to Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) at the Dewan Rakyat sitting, here Monday.

Tian Chua wanted to know what was the basis for the cabinet decision to revoke the gambling licence in 2004 and why was the decision being changed this year.

-- BERNAMA

Assist Government To Tackle Football Betting Issue - Hishammuddin
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 (Bernama) -- State governments must stop speculations and contribute ideas to tackle the issue over the awarding of the football betting licence, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

Hishammuddin said states must start offering new ideas to assist the government to make a better decision with regard to the issue.

"Rather than making noise from the outside, state governments can offer their suggestions and ideas to overcome black economy.

"The betting licence was approved a long time ago but it was made to look like it was only recently approved. They have also painted a negative picture saying the government encourages gambling," he told reporters after receiving a delegation from United Nation's (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) led by El Hadji Maliek Sow from Senegal, at his office in Parliament here Monday.

People must understand that the licence was issued a long time ago and the Home Ministry is doing all it can to tackle the problem and one of the initiatives taken was to ask Bukit Aman CID Director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin and Commercial Crimes Investigations Director Datuk Koh Hong Sun to set up a special task force.

"The issue is closely related to black economy involving an estimated RM10 billion and related to illegal activities like human trafficking, illegal money laundering or Ah Long," he said.

So, apart from we increasing surveillance, monitoring and preventive measures, the state governments must also support such efforts by coming out recommendations to overcome the issue, he said.

Asked whether the government would be required to compensate those involved if the licence was withdrawn, Hishammuddin said: "The question of compensation does not arise as the licence was issued a long time ago."

The issue of legalising football betting hit a brick wall when Selangor, Penang and Kedah refused to allow such activities in their states although Ascot Sports were issued a sports-betting licence by the government.

Meanwhile, WGAD, a body mandated to investigate complaints of arbitrary deprivation of liberty is on a 12-day visit here to study the system and procedures enforced during arbitrary detention in Malaysia.

The four-member delegation will visit prisons, immigration detention camps, drug rehabilitation camps.

"Their presence here shows that Malaysia always observed human rights procedures in line with international requirements," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Who's lying? I don't know, what about you?

Israel faking audio evidence: Beatings, Abuse, Doctored Evidence Emerge

2010-06-07T23:06:00.000+08:00

via IPS News

RAMALLAH, Jun 7, 2010 (IPS) - Although Israel successfully controlled news of its deadly commando raid on the Free Gaza (FG) flotilla during the first crucial 48 hours of media coverage, emerging evidence from witnesses and survivors is challenging the Israeli government's version of events.

These include claims of medical treatment being withheld; beatings and abuse of passengers who never resisted; the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) doctoring audio and selectively editing videos.

Furthermore, allegations of a possible shoot-to-kill policy, amidst autopsies revealing repeated gun shots to the heads of the victims, are also part of an emerging pattern.

One of the first targets of Israeli commandos raiding the FG flotilla was the international media. Photographers were attacked, and journalists had their video, audio and other communications equipment confiscated. The equipment has still not been returned.

"It was clear that Israel wanted to control the media coverage of the situation from the very beginning," Huwaida Arraf, FG’s chairwoman, told IPS.

Approximately 60 journalists from around the globe were on board the FG flotilla. They were amongst the last to be released by the Israelis.

Israeli authorities denied other media access to the imprisoned journalists and activists during the entire period they were incarcerated. Reporters were also prevented from speaking to the FG activists when they were deported from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International airport.

The IDF imposed a media blackout on the wounded being interviewed in Israeli hospitals, with soldiers stationed in hospital wards to enforce the ban. Journalists trying to enter Gaza to cover the raid were turned back by the Israeli authorities at the Erez crossing.

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has denounced Israel’s editing and distribution of footage it confiscated from foreign journalists aboard the FG flotilla.

CPJ refers to claims by the Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Israel that the military "is selectively using footage to bolster its claims that commandos opened fire only after being attacked."

In another incident, the IDF had to clarify and correct another audio tape it released to the media after questions were raised as to its authenticity.

In the audio one of the ‘activists’ on board the FG allegedly tells the Israelis, amongst other things, to "go back to Auschwitz" in what appears to be a fake accent from the United States’ deep south. The "activist" is also heard telling the Israelis: ‘’We are helping Arabs go against the U.S. Don't forget 9/11 guys."

The IDF also claimed that the voice of Arraf was recorded on the ‘Mavi Marmara’, the boat where the activists were shot dead. However, she was on a different boat, the ‘Challenger 1’.

"There were no Americans from the south on the flotilla. Furthermore, the only people to communicate with the Israelis other than myself were the captains," Arraf told IPS.

"One of them was British, two were Greek, two Turkish and one Algerian and they acted in a very professional manner. I was near the VHF radio during the entire period of communication with the IDF and none of those alleged slurs were made," added Arraf.

However, despite the IDF’s retraction/correction, discrepancies remain even in the edited IDF audio which was released five days after the original one. The alleged slurs about Auschwitz and 9/11 remain.

Although it was inevitable that contradictory evidence would emerge following the arrival of hundreds of the released activists in Istanbul, Athens and other European capitals, the first dramatic events are no longer the main headlines of the major media outlets and network corporations.

And this was probably what the Israelis relied on as they went on the diplomatic offensive.

Nevertheless, the raid and its ramifications are not going away. Post-mortems carried out by the Turks reveal that a number of the dead had numerous shots to the head in addition to other parts of the body. Thirty shots were used to kill nine people.

The IDF has a "confirm kill" policy where even after a person (who is considered a danger to the life of a soldier or other Israelis) is neutralised by several bullets, a final shot is fired into the head at close range to "confirm the kill".

Critics have questioned how individuals, who allegedly constituted threats to the life of the commandos, and would therefore be fighting and moving around, remained still long enough to receive so many shots to the head at close range.

Activists further accuse the Israelis of denying the dying and seriously wounded medical attention despite their desperate pleas for help. Other activists were forcibly prevented from going to the aid of the injured.

Survivors, reportedly, have also disputed Israeli claims that their soldiers used live ammunition only after they were attacked by some of the activists who fought back and managed to wound several of the soldiers. They claim the soldiers began shooting before they were attacked as well as after those who fought back had been neutralised.

Further, Israeli claims that the commandos only used violence against activists who attacked them have also been disputed. A number of activists have claimed they were beaten up in jail and at Ben Gurion when they were being deported.

This IPS correspondent was physically threatened and verbally abused by Israeli police when she witnessed, and took pictures of, several frightened and cuffed activists being frog-marched away from the airport’s departure lounge.

Paul Larudee, a 64-year-old activist from the U.S. and a diabetic, had to be hospitalised after he was beaten repeatedly on different occasions by the navy seals. Kenneth O’Keefe, an Irish-American and former marine, was hospitalised in Tel Aviv after he too was beaten by security officials at the airport.

O’Keefe wanted to fight his deportation but was advised by his lawyer to leave the country for his own safety.

via IPS News

George Galloway: 60 ships and 500 land vehicles for Gaza

2010-06-07T18:21:00.001+08:00

via RedressNewsBlog

George Galloway announces new convoys to break the siege of Gaza
Five hundred vehicles and 60 ships to break the criminal siege of Gaza

Viva Palestina founder George Galloway, speaking to a crowd of around 20,000 protesting outside the Israeli embassy in London, revealed the latest plan to bring about the end of the siege on Gaza.

Two simultaneous convoys – one by land the other by sea – will set forth on SUNDAY 12 SEPTEMBER bound for Gaza. Viva Palestina, the International Committee to break the Siege on Gaza and any allies who will join us will organize the two convoys.

The land convoy will leave from London and travel across Europe to Turkey, Syria and ultimately through the Rafah Gate into Gaza. Cooperation will be offered and sought with all relevant governments and agencies. It is expected the convoy will pick up vehicles and volunteers in each country through which it passes. The target is to enter Gaza with 500 vehicles.

The sea convoy will travel around the Mediterranean gathering ships, cargo, volunteers from each country. The target is to enter Gaza with 60 ships.
via RedressNewsBlog
The aim will be to arrive on Gaza's frontiers at the same time. And to enter with the world's largest ever aid convoys. And to thereby render the siege null and void.

Please get in touch if you need further information. Please also sign up to the Viva Palestina mailing list -http://vivapalestina.org/alert.htm

Please pass this on to everyone you think might be interested in supporting the new convoy.

via RedressNewsBlog

Report: Turkish PM May Sail to Gaza Himself

2010-06-07T09:47:00.001+08:00

Via AntiWar.com

Turkish officials have been suggesting that they would dispatch a military escort with future aid flotillas to the Gaza Strip in response to the massacre of aid workers on board one of their ships by Israeli commandos earlier this week. The scope of the operation was never disclosed.

Turkish PM Erdogan

But now it looks like this may come to fruition in the near term and in very high profile fashion, as security sources within Turkey are reporting that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not only planning to dispatch the Navy on the next flotilla, but that he is considering accompanying them personally.

Israeli officials dismissed the possibility of Erdogan visiting the Gaza Strip with the flotilla, describing it as unrealistic. The United States has reportedly asked Erdogan to delay the aid operation in light of rising tensions with Israel.

As Turkey’s population has expressed outrage over the massacre of Turkish citizens and the government has expressed its displeasure at Israel’s attack, Israel has done acomparatively successful job in spinning Turkey as the real villain domestically, and Israeli protesters have been out in force condemning Erdogan and Turkey in general as terrorists for both dispatching aid to the besieged strip and for complaining when the aid workers were killed.

Israel’s formidable military has roughly the same budget as Turkey’s, but as a member in good standing of NATO Turkey could also call upon much of the international community if its Navy is attacked on such a mission, making it unlikely Israel will choose to solve an accompanied aid delivery militarily.

Via AntiWar.com

UMNO openly supports gambling license....What??? I mean, seriously... WHAT???

2010-06-04T09:48:00.001+08:00

This is really wrong... way over the board. Can't believe how some people can be this low in their morals. God save us

Gaza flotilla: How Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs fakes photos of seized weapons « Ibn Kafka's obiter dicta – divagations d'un juriste marocain en liberté surveillée

2010-06-03T09:40:00.004+08:00

via Gaza flotilla: How Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs fakes photos of seized weapons « Ibn Kafka's obiter dicta – divagations d'un juriste marocain en liberté surveillée

On the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs’ Flickr page, the pictures of the so-called weapons seized on the ships taking part in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla provide ample evidence of the deviousness of those darned anti-semitic terrorists. Be forewarned: the following pictures are not for the faint-hearted.

Exhibit A: bulletproof vests

Selon l'armée israëlienne, ce sont des armes

A slight snag though: two commentators, probably anti-semitic, point out that this photoreally is from February 2006:

Blue says: In addition, IsraelMFA has to be careful with the date settings of their cameras! This picture looks like it was taken on Feb 7, 2006.. Wth?

goplayer2008 says:
EXIF data
Date and Time (Modified): 2010:06:02 10:37:58
YCbCr Positioning: Co-sited
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE
Date and Time (Original): 2006:02:07 04:49:57
Date and Time (Digitized): 2006:02:07 04:49:57

Exhibit B: an axe

Ceci est une arme de destruction massive

An axe on board a ship? Good grief.

Another commentator, probably anti-semitic as well, notices that the picture dates from 2003:

Embra says:
Tiff data: Taken on January 1, 2003. Oops!

Horror knows no bounds- exhibit C: pepper spray.

Futés ces Turcs pour utiliser des sprays au poivre toujours sous emballage

The comments display the usual hateful fanaticism one can expect from islamo-fascists:

deepvisual says:
wow
they managed to use them while they were still in their wrappers… damn those Turks are clever..
Posted 3 hours ago.

Embra says:
Tiff data: Taken on January 1, 2003.
Posted 53 minutes ago.

docteur_nic says:
My mom must be a turrurrist. She used to carry one of those in her purse.
Posted 45 minutes ago.

Again, be forewarned: this post isn’t for the faint-hearted. Which leads us to exhibit D: a keffieh, kitchen knives, a Saudi flag, and and some CD-roms.

Do not faint just yet, because here is exhibit E: an electric saw – on a ship! Really, those terrorists really are beyond the pale.

Une scie électrique, arme de guerre

Another anti-semitic commentator spews his hateful bile:

barneygale says:
Hi. Just to confirm that the EXIF metadata points to this photo being taken in 2006:
barney@benchwood:~$ identify -verbose farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4662965686_a91f8 bab2e_o_d.jpg | grep Date
exif:DateTime: 2010:06:02 10:38:47
exif:DateTimeDigitized: 2006:02:07 05:52:19
exif:DateTimeOriginal: 2006:02:07 05:52:19

Please bear with me, because here comes exhibit F: night vision equipment, of course utterly useless on high seas.

Attention: arme de guerre!

Allow an antisemitic islamo-fascist to point out that picture’s original date:

Date and Time (Original):	2006:02:07 05:20:56
Date and Time (Digitized):	2006:02:07 05:20:56

Finally, the smoking gun as it were: aa butterfly knife of sorts, with a blade slightly shorter than a thumb, a weapon ideally suited for use against marine commandos armed with high-velocity firearms:

If all this hard evidence isn’t enough to convince you of the legitimacy of the Israeli action, I rest my case.

PS: Hurry up visiting that Flickr page, as I fear that some photos might be withdrawn soon…

via Gaza flotilla: How Israel’s ministry of foreign affairs fakes photos of seized weapons « Ibn Kafka's obiter dicta – divagations d'un juriste marocain en liberté surveillée

IDF Video Footage of Flotilla Attack is Fake!

2010-06-02T22:31:00.001+08:00

via IDF Video Footage of Flotilla Attack is Fake!

Worth Deeper Analysis arguing IDF Video Footage of Flotilla Attack is Fake

The Israelis took the Freedom flotilla into port and kept the peace advocates from any contact with reporters.

Meanwhile the Israeli spin machine went into action to fabricate a justification for their having murdered 2O innocent people.

The result is worthy of Dubya Bush and his various Bin Ladin not-so-lookalike videos.

12 hours after the assault Israel released a video that they claim shows the IDF being violently attacked by the peace advocates. (unlikely as that sounds, it’s the IDF’s story)

Why the video is a fake.

1. There is no genuine violence shown in the video just a lot of motion. It doesn’t show a single case of anyone actually being hit by anything at all. We’re supposed to assume that it’s happening outside of our vision (like in stage magic). And they even tell us what we are supposed to imagine seeing with notes on the screen.

2. It’s not even the right ship.
The peace ship has a metal framework support for a shade awning that covers nearly the entire outside deck.
There is no sign of that awning in the IDF video.

The framework can be seen in this video from 1:08 to 1:15.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yzx5pha6Sg&feature=PlayList&p=D744768FB63B3D94

3. Fake wave motion.
Although they tried to fake wave motion by moving the camera around and rolling it from side to side, there is zero variation of relative vertical position between the ship being filmed and the ship from which the film was supposedly made. When the photographer stops moving the camera the two boats don’t have any relative motion to each other.
That’s impossible at sea.

4. Fake infrared
The hijacking occurred at night but the video was clearly made in broad daylight.
They have photoshopped in a lot of brightness and contrast trying to fake Infrared night photography. But the result isn’t even close. Genuine infrared photography has almost zero halftones. Every pixel is either black or white. The IDF video is full of halftones.

5. The passengers fully knew they would be arrested and that was their stated intention.
Why in the world would they attack armed assault troops when they wanted to be arrested as a means of protesting Israel’s inhumanity. Why would they court death and destroy the very reason for their coming in the first place?

Compare for yourself
genuine nighttime infrared video versus daylight video bleached out to supposedly simulate infrared.

1. genuine infrared video taken from the helicopter.
(starts after several seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLrX7fznVgIWorth Deeper Analysis arguing IDF Video Footage of Flotilla Attack is Fake

The Israelis took the Freedom flotilla into port and kept the peace advocates from any contact with reporters.

Meanwhile the Israeli spin machine went into action to fabricate a justification for their having murdered 2O innocent people.

The result is worthy of Dubya Bush and his various Bin Ladin not-so-lookalike videos.

12 hours after the assault Israel released a video that they claim shows the IDF being violently attacked by the peace advocates. (unlikely as that sounds, it’s the IDF’s story)

Why the video is a fake.

2. It’s not even the right ship.

The peace ship has a metal framework support for a shade awning that covers nearly the entire outside deck.

There is no sign of that awning in the IDF video.

The framework can be seen in this video from 1:08 to 1:15.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yzx5pha6Sg&feature=PlayList&p=D744768FB63B3D94

3. Fake wave motion.

Although they tried to fake wave motion by moving the camera around and rolling it from side to side, there is zero variation of relative vertical position between the ship being filmed and the ship from which the film was supposedly made. When the photographer stops moving the camera the two boats don’t have any relative motion to each other.

That’s impossible at sea.

4. Fake infrared

The hijacking occurred at night but the video was clearly made in broad daylight.

They have photoshopped in a lot of brightness and contrast trying to fake Infrared night photography. But the result isn’t even close. Genuine infrared photography has almost zero halftones. Every pixel is either black or white. The IDF video is full of halftones.

5. The passengers fully knew they would be arrested and that was their stated intention.

Why in the world would they attack armed assault troops when they wanted to be arrested as a means of protesting Israel’s inhumanity. Why would they court death and destroy the very reason for their coming in the first place?

Compare for yourself

genuine nighttime infrared video versus daylight video bleached out to supposedly simulate infrared.

1. genuine infrared video taken from the helicopter.

(starts after several seconds)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLrX7fznVgI

notice, there are no halftones at all

everything is either black or white.

2. the faked IDF video, obviously taken in broad daylight and then photo-edited to try to fake infrared night video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LulDJh4fWI

notice that it’s full of halftones

Also.

Watch the real aerial video carefully again and watch for any sigh of the supposed violence on the faked IDF video.

I couldn’t see any sign whatsoever of passenger violence on the genune video. The passengers are obviously frightened and they obey orders to move, stop, and lie down.

notice, there are no halftones at all
everything is either black or white.

2. the faked IDF video, obviously taken in broad daylight and then photo-edited to try to fake infrared night video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LulDJh4fWI
notice that it’s full of halftones

Also.
Watch the real aerial video carefully again and watch for any sigh of the supposed violence on the faked IDF video.
I couldn’t see any sign whatsoever of passenger violence on the genune video. The passengers are obviously frightened and they obey orders to move, stop, and lie down.

Mavi Marmara vs Exodus

2010-06-02T10:10:00.003+08:00

July 1947, International waters off Palestine

SS Exodus, a ship carrying Jewish refugees running from holocaust of the Nazi heading towards Palestine, to build their new settlement. British, then the controller of Palestine, would not allow that to happen.

British Royal Navy intercept SS Exodus denying them entry into Palestinian waters.

"Several hours of fighting followed, with the ship’s passengers spraying fuel oil and throwing smoke bombs, life rafts and whatever else came to hand, down on the British sailors trying to board, The Times reported at the time. Soon the British opened fire. Two immigrants and a crewman on the Exodus were killed; scores more were wounded, many seriously. The ship was towed to Haifa, and from there its passengers were deported, first to France and eventually to Germany, where they were placed in camps near Lübeck."

That tragedy received international backlash forcing Britain to allow Jews to settle in Palestine, leading to the formation of an illegal country now know as Israel.

63 years later, the Zionists of Israel is doing the exact same thing, if not worst if you consider (1) the scale of resistance for the ships' passengers and (2) the mission the ships are carrying.

Ironic? it's tragic...

Irish Boat the MV Rachel Corrie proceeding to Gaza #flotilla - Ali Abunimah

2010-06-01T10:57:00.001+08:00

Irish Boat the MV Rachel Corrie proceeding to Gaza #flotilla - Ali Abunimah

Quote:

I received the following message from a member of the Belfast Palestine Solidarity Committee which has received word from the Free Gaza Movement that those aboard the Irish vessel "Rachel Corrie" have decided to proceed to Gaza. A full press release is expected shortly.
Niamh Moloughney of the Free Gaza Movement has just sent the following message :

>> Ok just got word from Derek,
>> they have all agreed to take the Rachel Corrie to Gaza as intended,
>> she's 2 days away, it's a Malaysian & Irish partnership
>> on board we have Denis Halliday, Mairead Maguire, Derek & Jenny Graham, Fiona Thompson (film)
>> and Mathias Chang human rights lawyer, Malaysian MP & media - bios attached
>> The Malaysians are serious contenders- they are very close to their government & have FULL support.
>> We have 2 days to turn this outrage into a victory & get the Rachel Corrie into Gaza with the support of the world
>> and open this sea route.
>> Will get press release together when I finish work - hopefully can stay awake!
>> all the best,
>> Niamh

It's vital that we now give full support to this ship reaching Gaza.

The World's Crying Over Freedom Flotilla

2010-06-01T09:29:00.002+08:00

Continued from yesterday's post...
The messages on twitter condemning flotilla massacre increased to thousands of tweets per minute.
The world is crying.

FreeGaza.org confirmed they will send more boats to Gaza, and already opening doors for donation. Let us play our part, start donating today.

Donation can be done via http://www.freegaza.org/

a bag of cement = EU$5 = RM20

Israel attacks Flotilla, what would APCO advise the government this time?

2010-05-31T15:11:00.001+08:00

From the beginning of Israeli commandoes attack on Flotilla humanitarian mission heading for Gaza, Twitter has been stormed rapidly with angry comments around the globe. On average, more than 100 tweets emerged every minute, making #flotilla the most tweeted trend of the day (unfortunately, Twitter banned #flotilla from trending, much to its users' rage)

And during that time, CNN did little to cover the news. Apparently according to tweeter DarthNader CNN have another 'more important' story to cover, namely "Pandas learn to live in the wild"

So, we're are watching a country attacking boats from many other countries trying to enter yet another country, in international water. How could that be justified?

What right does Israel posses attack the boats? One of the top excuses spread around the media was 'PA (Palestinian Authority) didn't ask for aid to Gaza'.

So what? just because PA wasn't asking, would that justify killings of innocent civilians whose only 'fault' is having good hearts to help other human beings survive another day?

And let us not forget the fact that PA is Israel's puppet. A puppet would always speak his master's words.

Israel claimed the activists were aggresive, but there's too little information out there too know whether that was true.

So here we have a major international conflict which will test our moral standing. As an individual, an as a nation. What will our government say about this tragedy?

Specifically, what will the endeared Israel-based overpaid government advisor, APCO decide for the government this time? Will we sink or float? tactful or tacitful?

Let see...

A FATHER AND A SON STORY

2010-04-29T12:35:00.000+08:00

One old man was sitting with his 25 years old son in the train.

Train is about to leave the station.

All passengers are settling down their seat.

As train started young man was filled with lot of joy and
curiosity.

He was sitting on the window side.

He went out one hand and feeling the passing air. He
shouted, "Papa see all trees are going behind".

Old man smile and admired son feelings.

Beside the young man one couple was sitting and listing all
the conversion between father and son.

They were little awkward with the attitude of 25
years old man behaving like a small child.

Suddenly young man again shouted, "Papa see the pond
and animals. Clouds are moving with train".

Couple was watching the young man in embarrassingly.

Now its start raining and some of water drops touches the
young man's hand.

He filled with joy and he closed the eyes.

He shouted again," Papa it's raining, water is
touching me, see papa".

Couple couldn't help themselves and ask the old man.

"Why don't you visit the Doctor and get treatment for your son."

Old man said,

" Yes, We are coming from the hospital as Today
only my son got his eye sight for first time in his life".

Moral: "Don't draw conclusions until you know all the facts".

Kerana Aku Rindu

2010-02-25T16:59:00.002+08:00

Kerana aku rindu
Rindu untuk bertemu denganmu
Ingin untuk mengucup tanganmu
Dan untuk memeluk tubuhmu

Engkau sinar engkau cahaya
Hadirmu sejuta makna
Menerangi dunia kurasa gelita
Kasih yang kau berikan
Masakan terjumpa tara bandingan
Bagaikan hati teresak hiba
Cintamu menghapus sendu tangisan

Engkaulah anugerah dari Ilahi
Laksana darah menyambung nadi
Dalam hidup memberi erti
Cuba kubayang dunia tanpamu
Pasti angin berhenti berlagu
Alam kan kehilangan segala seri
Dunia bertuah menerima kehadiranmu

Kerana aku rindu
Rindu untuk melihatmu
Walaupun sekadar dalam mimpiku
Walaupun hanya sedetik waktu

Ya Rasul kekasih Allah
Tidak kulayak menatap wajahmu
Tidak kulayak melawat syurga kediamanmu
Tidak kulayak mengaku umatmu
Tapi benarkan aku untuk merindu
Benarkan aku menyebut namamu
Benarkan aku memuji kemuliaanmu

Muhammad (SAW) A-Z

2010-02-25T10:48:00.000+08:00

This is written by Sheikh Yusuf Estes, taken from www.knowtheprophet.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following is based on books, manuscripts, texts and actual eyewitness accounts, too numerous to mention herein, preserved in original form throughout the centuries by both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Many people today are discussing Prophet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention. Who was he exactly? What did he teach? Why was he loved so much by some and hated so much by others? Did he live up to his claims? Was he a holy man? Was he a prophet of God? What is the truth about this man? You be the judge.

Here are the facts as narrated by thousands of people, many of whom knew him personally.

*He was born to a noble tribe to the lineage of the leaders of Makkah.

*His name comes from the Arabic root "hamd" and literally means "praised one." People at his time and until this very moment, praise him many times per day, may Allah exalt his mention.

*He never fell into the common practice of his tribesmen to worship statues, idols or man-made "gods."

*He believed that God was truly One God, and as such, He was to be worshipped alone, without any other "gods" beside Him.

*He held the Name of God in the highest of reverence and never took God's Name in vain or for any vain glorious purpose.

*He despised false worship and all of the complexities and degradation to which it leads.

*He adhered to the Commandments of Almighty God, just as prophets of old had done in the past.

*He never committed adultery, and he forbade others from doing it.

*He forbade usury and interest on money lending, as Jesus, may Allah exalt his mention, had done centuries before him

*He never gambled and did not allow it.

*He never drank alcohol or strong drink; even though it was a very normal thing for people of his time and place.

*He did not engage in gossip and used to turn away from hearing anything related to it.

*He fasted for days at a time to be closer to Almighty God and away from the narrowness of worldly attractions.

*He taught that Jesus, may Allah exalt his mention, was the immaculate conception and miracle birth of Mary, and that she was among the best creation of Almighty God.

*He insisted even to the Jews of Medina, that Jesus, may Allah exalt his mention, was the Messiah, the Christ, the one predicted to come in their Torah (Old Testament).

*He said Jesus, may Allah exalt his mention, did many miracles by the permission of Almighty God, curing the lepers, restoring sight to the blind and even bringing a dead man back to life.

*He stated clearly that Jesus, may Allah exalt his mention, was not dead, rather Almighty God had raised him up.

*He foretold that Jesus, may Allah exalt his mention, is going to return again in the Last Days to lead the true believers in a victory over the evil and unrighteous people, and he will destroy the Anti-Christ.

*He commanded the payment of charity to the poor and he was the defender and protector of widows, orphans and the wayfarers.

*He ordered people to unite with their families and honor the ties of kinship and he restored relationships between family members.

*He required his followers to engage only in lawful marriage relationships with women, and forbade sex outside of Almighty God's Ordinance.

*He insisted on giving women their proper rights, dowries, inheritance and property.

*His patience and humble attitude were exemplary and all who knew him had to admit to these virtues.

A. He never lied, never broke a trust never bore false witness, and he was famous with all the tribes in Makkah and was known as: "The Truthful" (Al-Ameen).

B. He never once engaged in sex outside of marriage, nor did he ever approve of it, even though it was very common at the time.

C. His only relationships with women were in legitimate, contractual marriages with proper witnesses according to law.

D. His relationship to Ayesha was only that of marriage. Their relationship is described in every detail by Ayesha herself in the most loving and respectful manner as a match truly made in heaven. Ayesha is considered as one of the highest scholars of Islam and lived out her entire life only having been married to Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention. She never desired any other man, nor did she ever utter a single negative statement against Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention.

E. He forbade any killing until the orders came from Allah. Even then the limits were clearly spelled out and only those engaged in active combat against the Muslims or Islam were to be fought in combat. And even then, only according to very strict rules from Allah.

F. Killing any innocent life was forbidden.

G. There was no genocide of Jews. He offered mutual protection and forgiveness to the Jews even after they broke their covenants with him many times. They were not attacked until it was clearly proven they were traitors during time of war and tried to bring down the prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, and the Muslims at any cost. Retaliation was only to those Jews who had turned traitor and not others.

H. Slaves were common in those days for all nations and tribes. It was Islam that encouraged freeing of the slaves and the great reward from Allah for those who did so. Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, gave the example of this by freeing slaves and encouraging all of his followers to do the same. Examples include his own servant (who was actually considered like a son to him) Zaid ibn Al Haritha and Bilal the slave who was bought by Abu Bakr only for the purpose of freeing him.

I. While there were many attempts of assassination made on Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, (most famous was the night that Ali took his place in bed while he and Abu Bakr escaped to Madinah), he did not allow his companions to slaughter any of those who had been involved in these attempts. Proof for this is when they entered Makkah triumphantly and his first words were to command his followers not to harm such and such tribes and so and so families. This was one of the most famous of his acts of forgiveness and humbleness.

J. Military combat was forbidden for the first thirteen years of prophethood. The desert Arabs did not need anyone to tell them how to fight or do combat. They were experts in this area and held feuds amongst tribes that lasted for decades. It was not until the proper method of warfare was instituted by Allah in the Quran, with proper rights and limitations according His Commandments, that any retaliation or combat was sanctioned. Orders from Allah made it clear who was to be attacked, how and when and to what extent fighting could take place.

K. Destruction of infrastructures is absolutely forbidden except when it is ordained by Allah in certain instances and then only according to His Commands.

L. Cursing and invoking evil actually came to the prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, from his enemies, while he would be praying for their guidance. Classic example is that of his journey to At-Taif where the leaders would not even hear him out nor offer so much as the normal courtesy called for and instead they set the children of the street against him, throwing rocks and stones at him until his body was bleeding so much, blood filled his sandals. He was offered revenge by the angel Gabriel, if he would give the command, Allah would cause the surrounding mountains to fall down upon them destroying them all. Instead of cursing them or asking for their destruction, he prayed for them to be guided to worship their Lord alone, without any partners.

M. Prophet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, claimed every person who is born is born in a state of ISLAM (submission to God), as a Muslim (MU-Islam means; "one who does ISLAM" i.e.; submits to God's Will and obeys His Commandments). Then as they grow older they begin to distort their faith according to the influence of the prevailing society and their own prejudices.

N. Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, taught his followers to believe in the God of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus, peace be upon them all, and to believe in them as true prophets, messengers and slaves of Almighty Allah. He insisted on ranking all the prophets up at the highest level without any distinction between them.

O. He also taught the Torah (Old Testament), Zaboor (Psalms) and Injeel (Gospel or New Testament) were originally from the very same source as the Quran, from Allah.

P. He prophesied and foretold of events to come and they happened as he had said. He even predicted something from the past that would come true in the future, and it has. The Quran states pharaoh was drowned in the Red Sea while chasing after Moses and Allah said He would preserve Pharaoh as a sign for the future. Dr. Maurice Bucaille in his book, "Bible, Quran and Science" makes it clear this has happened and the very person of Pharaoh has been discovered in Egypt and is now on display for all to see. This event took place thousands of years before Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, and it came true in the last few decades, many centuries after his death.

Q. There has been more written about the prophet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, than any other person on earth. He has been praised very high even by famous non-Muslims for centuries. One of the first examples we quote from is from the Encyclopedia Britannica, as it confirms (regarding Muhammad)� ". . . a mass of detail in the early sources shows that he was an honest and upright man who had gained the respect and loyalty of others who were likewise honest and upright men." (Vol. 12)

R. Another impressive tribute to Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention is in the very well written work of Michael H. Hart, "The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History." He states that the most influential person in all history was Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, with Jesus second. Examine his actual words:

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level."

S. While we are reviewing statements from famous non-Muslims about Prophet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, consider this: "Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?" Lamartine, HISTOIRE DE LA TURQUIE, Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp. 276-277.

T. George Bernard Shaw, a famous writer and non-Muslim says: "He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much needed peace and happiness." (The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936)

U. K.S. Ramakrishna Rao, an Indian (Hindu) professor of Philosophy, in his booklet "Muhammad the Prophet of Islam" calls him the "perfect model for human life." Professor Ramakrishna Rao explains his point by saying: "The personality of Muhammad, it is most difficult to get into the whole truth of it. Only a glimpse of it I can catch. What a dramatic succession of picturesque scenes. There is Muhammad the Prophet. There is Muhammad the Warrior; Muhammad the Businessman; Muhammad the Statesman; Muhammad the Orator; Muhammad the Reformer; Muhammad the Refuge of Orphans; Muhammad the Protector of Slaves; Muhammad the Emancipator of Women; Muhammad the Judge; Muhammad the Saint. All in all these magnificent roles, in all these departments of human activities, he is alike a hero."

v. Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the character of Muhammad, May Allah exalt his mention, says in 'YOUNG INDIA': "I wanted to know the best of one who holds today undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind... I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2nd volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life."

W. Thomas Carlyle in his 'Heroes and Hero Worship', was simply amazed as to: "How one man single handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades."

X. Diwan Chand Sharma wrote in "The Prophets of the East": "Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him" (D.C. Sharma, The Prophets of the East, Calcutta, 1935, pp. 12)

Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, was nothing more or less than a human being, but he was a man with a noble mission, which was to unite humanity on the worship of ONE and ONLY ONE GOD and to teach them the way to honest and upright living based on the commands of God. He always described himself as, 'A Slave and Messenger of God' and so indeed every action of his proclaimed to be.

Y. Speaking on the aspect of equality before God in Islam, the famous poetess of India, Sarojini Naidu says: "It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: 'God Alone is Great'... I have been struck over and over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother." (S. Naidu, Ideals of Islam, vide Speeches & Writings, Madras, 1918, p. 169)

Z. In the words of Professor Hurgronje: "The league of nations founded by the prophet of Islam put the principle of international unity and human brotherhood on such universal foundations as to show candle to other nations." He continues, "the fact is that no nation of the world can show a parallel to what Islam has done towards the realization of the idea of the League of Nations."

Z-2. Edward Gibbon and Simon Ockley, on the profession of ISLAM, writes in "History of the Saracen Empires": "I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, AND MAHOMET, AN APOSTLE OF GOD' is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol; the honor of the Prophet has never transgressed the measure of human virtues; and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion." (History of the Saracen Empires, London, 1870, p. 54)

Z-3. Wolfgang Goethe, perhaps the greatest European poet ever, wrote about Prophet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention. He said: "He is a prophet and not a poet and therefore his Koran is to be seen as Divine Law and not as a book of a human being, made for education or entertainment." (Noten und Abhandlungen zum Weststlichen Dvan, WA I, 7, 32)

People do not hesitate to raise to divinity and even make 'gods' out of other individuals whose lives and missions have been lost in legend. Historically speaking, none of these legends achieved even a fraction of what Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, accomplished. And all his striving was for the sole purpose of uniting mankind for the worship of One God on the codes of moral excellence. Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, or his followers never at any time claimed that he was a son of God or the God-incarnate or a man with divinity � but he always was and is even today considered as only a Messenger chosen by God.

Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries, the life and teachings of Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention; have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer the same undying hope for treating mankind's many ills, which they did when he was alive. This is not a claim of Muhammad�s, may Allah exalt his mention, followers, but the inescapable conclusion forced upon by a critical and unbiased history.

Now it is up to you.

You are a rational thinking, concerned human being. As such, you should already be asking

"Could these extraordinary, revolutionary and amazing statements, all about this one man, really be true?

What if this is all true?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sallallahu 'ala Muhammad, Sallalahu 'alaihi wasssalaam...

TAR on Democracy & ISA

2010-02-11T09:14:00.000+08:00

The Virtues of the First 10 days of Dhul Hijjah

2009-11-22T10:34:00.001+08:00

The Virtues of the First 10 days of Dhul Hijjah
by Shaykh Sa`d ash-Shitree حفظه الله
Albaseerah News letter Issue # 2 of Vol. 1

From the most virtuous of days are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah (the 12th month in the lunar calendar, one of the sacred months and the month of Hajj). A group of those from the People of Knowledge say: “Verily they are the best days of the year just as the last ten nights of Ramadaan are the best nights of the year.” Some of the various types of righteous actions which are done in these first ten days are mentioned below:

REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH

The first of the righteous actions is the remembrance of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Allaah سبحانه وتعالى said: {…and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues - Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).} [al-Ahzaab 33:35]

It is affirmed in a number of texts the encouragement of mentioning the takbeer. Allah سبحانه وتعالى said: {…and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days (i.e. 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah) } [al-Hajj 22:28]

It has been affirmed from the Sahaabah (Companions) of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and from him صلى الله عليه وسلم , that they increased in the takbeer (saying “Allahu Akbar—Allah is the Greatest) in the first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah and they raised their voice with it, each one of them saying the takbeer on his own. They raised their voices until the mountains shook from their takbeer but they did not say the takbeer in unison (in Jamaa’ah). Each of them said the takbeer on his own.

VOLUNTARY ACTS OF WORSHIP

One should implement the voluntary acts of worship - whether prayer, fasting or charity. It is reported in hadeeth that the Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم encouraged fasting the ten days and it is reported that he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever fasts the Day of Arafah will have his sins expiated for two years (the past year and the coming year).” [Ibn Maajah]

DO NOT CUT HAIR OR NAILS FOR THE ONE DOING THE SACRIFICE

From what is considered as righteous actions on these ten days is that the one who wants to do the Udhiyyah (sacrificial slaughter) should not cut his hair or nails during these ten days. As such it is desired that he commits himself before these ten days by cutting his hair and nails. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “When any one of you intending to sacrifice the animal enters in the month (of Dhul-Hijjah) he should not get his hair or nails touched (cut)”. [Muslim]

SUPPLICATE FOR THE HUJJAAJ

One should make du`aa (supplication) for the hujjaaj (pilgrims who have embarked upon the Hajj) that Allah سبحانه وتعالى keeps them safe from all evil and that He returns them to their countries. This is because the hujjaaj are the guests of Ar-Rahman so they have a right upon us that we supplicate for them for ease in their affairs and their safe return.

UDHIYYAH - SACRIFICIAL SLAUGHTER

One should prepare to do the Udhiyyah (sacrificial slaughtering of an animal) and arranging distribution of the meat amongst family, friends, the needy etc. This is from the pious and righteous deeds. Abu Haneefah رحمه الله was of the opinion that it was from the obligatory acts but most of others say that it is desirable. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said “Who does not slaughter should not come to the salaah”. [Ibn Maajah]

ATTEND THE `EED SALAAH

From amongst the righteous actions is attending the salaatul `Eed, greeting one another, and leaving off fasting on the day of `Eed and on the days of Tashreeq (i.e. the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah).

Based on a lectured by Shaykh Sa`d ash-Shitree (may Allah preserve him).

Number 2 Major Sin: Mistreating Your Parents

2009-11-13T10:38:00.005+08:00

Assalamualaikum,

Most of us are aware that the number one major sin in Islam is shirk, but at the same time ignore the warning on the second major sin: mistreatment of parents

In the Qur’an immediately after the duty of worshipping Allah comes the duty of showing dutifulness to one’s parents: “Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye show) kindness to parents.” (Al-Isra’: 23)

It is well-known that Islam urges every Muslim to be dutiful to his parents, extending to them the kindest treatment possible. Failing to treat one’s parents kindly makes one guilty of disobedience to those parents as well as to Allah, and this may deprive one of a chance of being admitted to Paradise. So it goes without saying that disobedience to parents or mistreating them is the second major sin after shirk.

This point is further clarified by Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as follows:

“The first commandment in Islam as revealed to all prophets is to worship Allah and the second is to treat one’s parents kindly. Accordingly, the first major sin is Shirk (association of partners with Allah), and the second major sin is mistreating one’s parents.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) said: “Shall I tell you of the three most heinous sins?” He repeated this question three times and then said, “They are: to associate partners with Allah, to mistreat one’s parents, and to bear false testimony.”

In another tradition, the Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) said, “One who mistreats his parents cannot hope to enter Paradise.”

Also, he said, “The pleasure of Allah is in the pleasure of one’s parents and the wrath of Allah is in the wrath of one’s parents.”

Now, it becomes clear that mistreatment of parents stands as the second major sin of Islam, after Shirk. Yet, a Muslim has to steer clear of all sins, major and minor, so as to gain Allah’s pleasure.

Having considered all these, how far have we all consider avoiding this major sin in our daily lives? Are we still considering treating our parents as a virtue, instead of a major obligation as a Muslim? If shirk will lead to unforgiven sin, mistreatment of parents will deny us any right of entering the heavens, no matter how good of a person we have been in every other areas.

Wallahu'alam....

Marilah Undi Bule

2009-10-21T17:30:00.001+08:00

While you and I are busy with our work, let us enjoy this Dikir song :)

The Messenger's Last Moments

2009-10-20T12:11:00.002+08:00

"Jijikkah kau melihat wajahku sehingga kau memalingkan mukamu, wahai Jibril?"
"Siapakah yang sanggup melihat kekasih Allah direnggut ajal?"

Sayonara Usui-sensei

2009-10-02T10:16:00.003+08:00

This might seems unusual for me to write about, but I've been a fan of Crayon Shin-Chan for a long time. The death of its creator, Usui Yoshito-sensei is a loss for the manga world. This post is a tribute for Usui-sensei...
Ima made honto ni arigatou, sayonara omoshiro sensei...

Why I Threw the Shoe?

2009-10-01T15:44:00.004+08:00

Why I Threw the Shoe?

"I am no hero. I just acted as an Iraqi who witnessed the pain and bloodshed of too many innocents"

By Muntazer al-Zaidi

September 19, 2009 "The Guardian" -- I am free. But my country is still a prisoner of war. There has been a lot of talk about the action and about the person who took it, and about the hero and the heroic act, and the symbol and the symbolic act. But, simply, I answer: what compelled me to act is the injustice that befell my people, and how the occupation wanted to humiliate my homeland by putting it under its boot.
Over recent years, more than a million martyrs have fallen by the bullets of the occupation and Iraq is now filled with more than five million orphans, a million widows and hundreds of thousands of maimed. Many millions are homeless inside and outside the country.

We used to be a nation in which the Arab would share with the Turkman and the Kurd and the Assyrian and the Sabean and the Yazid his daily bread. And the Shia would pray with the Sunni in one line. And the Muslim would celebrate with the Christian the birthday of Christ. This despite the fact that we shared hunger under sanctions for more than a decade.

Our patience and our solidarity did not make us forget the oppression. But the invasion divided brother from brother, neighbour from neighbour. It turned our homes into funeral tents.

I am not a hero. But I have a point of view. I have a stance. It humiliated me to see my country humiliated; and to see my Baghdad burned, my people killed. Thousands of tragic pictures remained in my head, pushing me towards the path of confrontation. The scandal of Abu Ghraib.

The massacre of Falluja, Najaf, Haditha, Sadr City, Basra, Diyala, Mosul, Tal Afar, and every inch of our wounded land. I travelled through my burning land and saw with my own eyes the pain of the victims, and heard with my own ears the screams of the orphans and the bereaved. And a feeling of shame haunted me like an ugly name because I was powerless.

As soon as I finished my professional duties in reporting the daily tragedies, while I washed away the remains of the debris of the ruined Iraqi houses, or the blood that stained my clothes, I would clench my teeth and make a pledge to our victims, a pledge of vengeance.

The opportunity came, and I took it.

I took it out of loyalty to every drop of innocent blood that has been shed through the occupation or because of it, every scream of a bereaved mother, every moan of an orphan, the sorrow of a rape victim, the teardrop of an orphan.

I say to those who reproach me: do you know how many broken homes that shoe which I threw had entered? How many times it had trodden over the blood of innocent victims? Maybe that shoe was the appropriate response when all values were violated.

When I threw the shoe in the face of the criminal, George Bush, I wanted to express my rejection of his lies, his occupation of my country, my rejection of his killing my people. My rejection of his plundering the wealth of my country, and destroying its infrastructure. And casting out its sons into a diaspora.

If I have wronged journalism without intention, because of the professional embarrassment I caused the establishment, I apologise. All that I meant to do was express with a living conscience the feelings of a citizen who sees his homeland desecrated every day. The professionalism mourned by some under the auspices of the occupation should not have a voice louder than the voice of patriotism. And if patriotism needs to speak out, then professionalism should be allied with it.

I didn't do this so my name would enter history or for material gains. All I wanted was to defend my country.

Seismon: Looking at the earthquakes

2009-10-01T11:06:00.005+08:00

Coverage from IRIS Seismic Monitor

Corruption is Not A Crime

2009-09-30T09:16:00.003+08:00

So said a candidate for Bagan Pinang by-election...

"Saya bukan melakukan jenayah, ini merupakan pelanggaran kod etika pemilihan, itu istilah yang pertama kita gunakan. Saya telah jalankan hukuman selama tiga tahun, jadi benda tu tak timbul lagi. Malah kes-kes jenayah pun orang boleh terima, ada yang dah jadi Ketua Menteri, ada dah jadi Menteri dan ada yang bercita-cita nak jadi Perdana Menteri lagi, semua ada, jadi apa masalah dengan saya?"

So now we know that among them, corruption is not a crime. It is just a disciplinary issue that does not conform with the code of ethics in their party electoral process. And those who are found practicing corruption can only be punished by the said party, because the pillars of this beloved country does not, by any mean, applied to them. KEDAULATAN UNDANG-UNDANG is only for other people, not for them. They can break the law all they want, and only themselves can punish them (unless any of them went against the wishes of the 'Prime Mammal', then all of his/her wrongdoings will be brought public and he/she will be dragged into the real court.

As long as everyone piously nodding to the rhythm of the big guy, no law can touch any of them.

What a world we're living in....

Wallahu'alam

Fasting your whole life

2009-09-29T15:15:00.002+08:00

Do you want to fast your whole life? It's not easy, i requires more wits and will than most people have. Let me re-phrase my question: Do you want to get reward as if you're fasting your whole life?

If your answer is NO, skip this article. But if your answer is YES, read on...

Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) related the Messenger of Allah, (p.b.u.h.), said: "Whoever observes the Ramadan fast and follows it with six days of fast in Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted Dahr (the whole year or possibly forever)." (Bukhari)

How? Ulama said "A good deed (Hasanah) is rewarded a minimum of ten times its equivalent. It follows, then, that one Ramadan is equivalent to ten months of fasting, and the clincher, six days, is equal to two months" (source: Jannah.org). It's a simple math then, fasting reward-wise, one Ramadhan=10 months, 6 days of syawwal = 2 months. 10 + 2 months = 1 year.

So, fasting for one month in Ramadhan and six days in syawwal will bear the rewards of fasting the whole year. and if this is done EVERY year, you're reaping the rewards of fasting your WHOLE LIFETIME!!!

Then there's always the issue of those who missed several days of fasting during Ramadhan, especially the women who went through their mentrual cycle. Which one should they attend to first? To make up for the missed Ramadhan, or go straight to the six days of Syawwal first?

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked: What if a woman owes days from Ramadaan – is it permissible for her to give precedence to fasting the six days of Shawwaal over making up the days she owes, or should she give priority to the days she owes over fasting the six days of Shawwaal?

He replied: If a woman still owes days from Ramadaan, then she should not fast the six days of Shawwaal until after she has made up what she owes, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal…” Whoever still has days to make up from Ramadaan has not fasted Ramadaan, so she will not attain the reward of fasting the six days of Shawwaal until after she has finished making up the days she owes. If we assume that this making up missed fasts lasts throughout Shawwaal, such as if a woman was bleeding following childbirth and did not fast at all in Ramadaan, then she started to make up her missed fasts in Shawaal and did not finish that until Dhu’l-Qa’dah began, then she may fast the six days, and she will have the reward of one who fasted them in Shawwaal, because she delayed it for a necessary reason, so she will have the reward.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 20/19

So friends, let us all grab this opportunity while it lasts :)

Wallahu'alam,
-Ariff Abdullah

Muslim in China are not allowed to fast

2009-09-08T18:38:00.001+08:00

China’s Muslim Uyghurs Forbidden to Fast During Ramadan

A young Uyghur boy in Calgary, Canada cries at a rally to protest the Communist Party's suppression in Xinjiang. (Jerry Wu/The Epoch Times)
Chinese authorities in Xinjiang Province have issued a notice that any Uyghur cadres or workers found not eating lunch during Ramadan could lose their jobs.

It is part of the campaign of local authorities in Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uyghur ethnic group, to force the Uyghur people to give up their religious rituals during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is a holy month in the Islamic calendar, which begun this year on Aug. 22. It requires not eating during the daytime.

“Free lunches, tea, and coffee—that authorities are calling ‘Care from the government’ or ‘Living allowance’—are being offered in government departments and companies. But it is actually a ploy used to find out who is fasting,” said Dilxat Raxit, World Uyghur Congress spokesman, speaking to The Epoch Times.

According to Dilxat, Uyghur Communist Party cadres throughout Xinjiang had been forced to sign “letters of responsibility” promising to avoid fasting and other religious activities. They are also responsible for enforcing the policy in their assigned areas, and face punishment if anyone in these areas fasts.

For the first time, Dilxat said, the crackdown has extended to retired Communist Party members. Current cadres are required to visit them to prevent them from participating in the fast. If anyone violates the ban, local leaders will be held responsible and severely punished, he said.

Muslim restaurant owners are forced to sign a document to remain open and continue selling alcohol during Ramadan or have their licenses revoked, he said.

Uyghurs arrested during the July riots in Urumqi are also prohibited from fasting; those who insist on fasting will be force fed food and water while enduring insults for their misbehavior, he said in the interview.

Monks in mosques are forced to preach to others that fasting is a “feudal activity” and harmful to health, said Dilxat. Otherwise, their religious certification will be cancelled.

When asked about Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Hu Jintao’s recent visit to Xinjiang, Dilxat said: “Xinjiang’s situation has not yet returned to normal. Rather than asking the local Han people to respect the religion and culture of Uyghur people, Hu encouraged the use of military troops to suppress and further restrict our religious freedom. The communist regime often talks about ‘maintaining stability,’ but what they do is always different from what they say. They are actually the ones who are destroying stability.”

An Epoch Times reporter contacted the CCP’s State Ethnic Affairs Commission to see whether the restrictions claimed by Dilxat were official, or what the official stance on Ramadan was. The media contact wouldn’t speak on the subject, instead giving two numbers in Xinjiang that he said the reporter would be able to call to find out more. Both numbers were continually busy, and when the reporter called the State Ethnic Affairs Commission back, the man hung up.

The directives are communicated on official Web sites in the region, however.

Mullah Mohammad Omar

2009-08-31T22:42:00.001+08:00

Disclaimer: I am neither a supporter nor a hater of Taliban. what you read here are purely third-party views, I am just re-posting for everyone to read.

Mohammad Omar
The Greatest Living Leader of Any Country Today is Muhammad Omar of Free Afghanistan

Dick Eastman

Mullah Mohammad Omar is a man his people to become the first nation to throw out Soviet Communism. He then led his country with a group of students of Islam -- the word "student" in Pishtan is "taliban" -- to overthrow a corrupt and immoral government of globalist stooges underwhom Afghanistan was being converted into a sewer of drugs, murder, theft and sexual immorality. Under the Omar's leadership the opium druglords were being pushed further and further north, cutting into the trillion dollar trade in Chinese heroin laundered into the international banking system to be invested in China's industrialization and the extension of organized crime throughout the world. Then came September 11, 2001. When on the very day of the supposedly unexpected surprise attack Paul Wolfowitz blamed Osama bin Laden, the Saudi who fled to Afghanistan after being blamed for the boming of a US ship, Mohammad Omar, after consultation with other leaders, offered to
extradite bin Laden to the United States for trial, if the American government would provide evidence leading to a reasonable belief that bin Laden was involved in the terrible attack. Omar was acting in accordance with international law and his request was even consistent with the reqirements of the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution that a person be secure in his person from arrest until authorities have established has "probable cause" for taking someone into custody. Bush ignored this request and merely set a deadline for Obama's extradition after which US forces would go in "to get Osama bin Laden" -- that is how the war in Afghanistan really started -- in case any of your people with dead sons or son's blown apart or blinded or psycologically mangled are curious -- and all of you countrymen who called me pro-terrorist and a non-supporter of our troops and a conspiracy theoriest etc. etc. At any rate, in the opening weeks of
October 2001, Omar's house in Kandahar was bombed, killing his stepfather and his 10-year old son. He has been leading his students of Islam against the Zionist's puppets, ever since. And yes, our soldiers continue to die to support this government made up of the Bush-Blair allies, the Norther Alliance, who, of course, are none other than the opium drug lords that Omar had banished before 9-11. (When you hear about the US government going after Afghanistan "opium dealers" -- they are talking about the independent opium growers who are in competition with the Jewish - Chinese Triad organized crime alliance who are producing more heroin than every before, but do not want potential supporters of Muhammad Omar to get money with which to regain their nation's freedom and integrity.

Before Bush attacked Afghanistan, I put out a letter that I had written to George W. Bush saying that I was voluntarily and on my own joining the Taliban in protest to the criminal plan to attack Afghanistan under the above mentioned conditions. Bush never responded and neither did any of you. And today we have the Money Power's step-and-fetch it, Barrak Obama, talking about the need to send more American's to Afghanistan to die. Afghanistan is right on China's boarder. China fears the appeal and power of Islam in its western provinces. I suppose Obama is going in to kill Omar's students because we owe the Chinese so much money -- but I think it has more to do with the opium trade and maybe the pipeline that Omar was not allowing to be built because of the vice and corruption large American corporations always bring with them in their great projects where money is thrown around and human beings are degraded and prostituted by it. Can you say
Muhammad Omar was wrong about that?

Dick Eastman

Farrakhan 20102 or sooner

Mohammad Omar, "one tall hombre"

Mullah Omar had a dream in which the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) appeared to him and told him to bring peace to Afghanistan.

from various internet sources (wiki etc.):

Mullah Mohammed Omar (Pashto: ملا محمد عمر) (born c. 1959, Nodeh, near Kandahar) often simply called Mullah Omar, is the leader of the Taliban of Afghanistan and was Afghanistan' s de facto head of state, and was recognized by three states, from 1996 to 2001, under the official title of Head of the Supreme Council. He held the title Commande of the Faithful from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. He is wanted by U.S. authorities "for sheltering Osama bin-Laden and his al-Qaeda network in the years prior to the September 11 attacks". He is believed to be directing the Taliban in their war against Hamid Karzai's Government and foreign NATO troops in Afghanistan from Pakistan.

Despite his political rank, and his high status on the FBI's wanted list, not much is publicly known about Omar. Few photos, none of them official, exist of him and a picture used in 2002 by many media, has since been established as representing another Taliban official. The authenticity of the existing images is debated.
He is very tall. Some say 1.98 m or 6'6." He has been very quiet and not talkative with foreigners. When the Soviet Union invaded in the 80s Omar was a guerilla warrior with the Harakat-i Inqilab-i Islami faction of the anti-Soviet Mujahideen. He was wounded four times and lost one eye in an explosion
During his tenure as Emir of Afghanistan, Omar seldom left Kandahar and rarely met with outsiders, instead relying on Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil for the majority of diplomatic necessities.

Omar is an ethnic Pashtun, a member of the Hotak tribe, of the Ghilzai branch of the Pashtun. He is thought to have been born around 1959 to a family of "poor, landless peasants," growing up in mud huts around the village of Sangisar Maiwand district in Kandahar province, (or, by some reports, Nodeh), near Kandahar. His father is said to have died before he was born and the responsibility of fending for his family fell to him as he grew older.

Omar fought as a guerilla with the Harakat-i Inqilab-i Islami faction of the anti-Soviet Mujahideen under the command of Nek Mohammad, and fought against the Najibullah regime between 1989 and 1992. It was reported that he was thin, but tall and strongly built, and "a crack marksman who had destroyed many Soviet tanks during the Afghan War."
Omar was wounded four times, and lost an eye either in 1986 or in the 1989 Battle of Jalalabad, which also marred his cheek and forehead. Taliban lore has it that, upon being wounded by a piece of shrapnel, Omar removed his own eye and sewed the eyelid shut. However, reports from a Red Cross facility near the Pakistan border indicate that Omar was treated there for the injury, where his eye was surgically removed.
After he was disabled, Omar may have studied and taught in a madrasah, or Islamic seminary, in the Pakistani border city of Quetta. He was reportedly a mullah at a village madrasah near the Afghan city of Kandahar.

Unlike many Afghan mujahideen, Omar speaks Arabic. He was devoted to the lectures of Sheikh Abdullah Azzam, and took a job teaching in a madrassa in Quetta. He later moved to Binoori Mosque in Karachi, where he led prayers, and later met with Osama bin Laden for the first time.

Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 and the collapse of the Communist regime in Kabul in 1992, the country fell into anarchy as various mujahideen factions fought for control. Omar, known for a pure devotion to Islam, was a mullah with a village madrassah near Kandahar. As the war lords continued fighting for power in Afghanistan the country was reduced to a state of anarchy. Omar started his movement after being, "horrified," by the behavior of mujahideen fighters. When a group of mujahideen kidnaped and raped two girls in early 1994, Omar led 30 men armed with 16 rifles to free them.[2][3] This fighting force would grow and become the Taliban. The word Taliban is the Pashto plural form of the Arabic طالب Tālib, "seeker". The phrase "طالبِ علم" or "Thaalib-e-Ilm" , literally "seeker of knowledge", is the Persian phrase for "student"

His recruits came from the Qur'anic schools within Afghanistan and in the Afghan refugee camps across the border in Pakistan. They fought against the rampant corruption that had emerged in the civil war period and were initially welcomed by Afghans weary of warlord rule. By November 1994, Omar's movement managed to capture the province of Kandahar. By 1998, they were in control of almost 90% of Afghanistan.
After the 911 attacks and his refusal to hand over Bin Laden, Omar was forced into hiding when American backed Northern Alliance a group of Afghan warlords took over the country. He is rumored to be in Pakistan and still releases audio tapes calling for the death of present day Afghan leaders.
He is said to have rose to power in 1994 in a moral clean-up campaign after two local warlords waged a full-scale tank battle in Kandahar's central bazaar, after a fall-out over their homosexual affections of a young boy. Omar he led religious students to take control of the city.

In April 1996, supporters of Mullah Omar bestowed on him the title Amir al-Mu'minin (أمير المؤمنين, "Commander of the Faithful"), after he donned a cloak alleged to be that of Muhammad out of a series of chests it was locked in, held in a shrine in Kandahar. Legend decreed that whoever could retrieve the cloak from the chests would be the great Leader of the Muslims, or "Amir al-Mu'minin" . In September that year, Kabul fell to Mullah Omar and his followers.

Under Omar's rule, Sharia was enforced causing crime to diminish. The civil war continued. His Afghanistan was named Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in October 1997.
A "reclusive, pious and frugal" leader, Omar visited Kabul twice between 1996 to 2001.
Omar stated: "All Taliban are moderate. There are two things: extremism ["ifraat", or doing something to excess] and conservatism ["tafreet", or doing something insufficiently] . So in that sense, we are all moderates – taking the middle path

After the NATO invasion of Afghanistan began in 2001, Omar went into hiding and is still at large. He is thought to be in the Pashtun regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The United States offered a reward of $10 million for information leading to his capture.

Claiming that the Americans had circulated 'propaganda' that Mullah Omar had gone into hiding, Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil stated that he would like to "propose that Mssrs Blair and Bush take Kalashnikovs and come to a specified place where Omar will also appear to see who will run and who not". He stated that Omar was (merely) changing locations due to security reasons.

In the opening weeks of October 2001, Omar's house in Kandahar was bombed, killing his stepfather and his 10-year old son.

Omar is believed to have played a significant role in the ending of the Waziristan War between Waziri Pashtuns and the government of Pakistan in September, 2006. He continues to have the allegiance of prominent pro-Taliban military leaders in the region, including Jalaluddin Haqqani. Former foe Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's faction has also reportedly allied with Omar and the Taliban.
In April 2004 Omar, with Mohammad Shehzad had a telephone interview. During the interview, Omar claimed that Osama Bin Laden was alive and well, and that his last contact with Bin Laden was months before the interview. Omar declared that the Taliban were "hunting Americans like pigs".
A captured Taliban spokesman, Muhammad Hanif, told Afghan authorities in January 2007, that Omar was being protected by the Inter-Services Intelligence in Quetta, Pakistan. This matches an allegation made by the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, in 2006, though it is denied by officials in Pakistan.
Numerous statements have been released identified as coming from Omar. In June 2006 a statement regarding the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq was released hailing al-Zarqawi as a martyr and claimed that the resistance movements in Afghanistan and Iraq "will not be weakened". Then in December 2006 Omar reportedly issued a statement expressing confidence that foreign forces will be driven out of Afghanistan.
In January 2007, it was reported that Omar made his 'first exchange with a journalist since going into hiding' in 2001, with Muhammad Hanif via email and courier. In it he promised 'more Afghan War', and said the 100+ suicide bomb attacks in Afghanistan in the last year had been carried out by bombers acting on religious orders from the Taliban – “the mujahedeen do not take any action without a fatwa.” In April 2007, Omar issued another statement through an intermediary encouraging more suicide attacks.
In Ayman al-Zawahiri' s frequent appearances in as-Sahab videos, he regularly refers to Mullah Omar as "Commander of the Faithful," Amir al-Mu'minin.

Here is what American's were reading just before the American invasion of Afghanistan:

From the Christian Science Monitor (which is a respected newspaper read by the American ruling elite)
October 10, 2001 edition

The reclusive ruler who runs the Taliban
By Robert Marquand | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN - A Pakistani official arrived in Kandahar, Afghanistan, this spring, on a mission to save two towering 1,700-year-old mountain carvings of Buddha. He tried to dissuade the Taliban Supreme Leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, from blowing up the statues.
Mullah Omar replied by describing a dream he'd had about "a mountain falling down on him." Before it hit him, Allah appeared, asking Omar why he did nothing to get rid of the false idols.

"I closed my attaché case," the Pakistani recalls, shoulders sagging. "There was nothing left to say."
Such private visions are part of the decisionmaking process that has guided the life of the man who rose from village mullah to Taliban leader to partner of Osama bin Laden.
Those who have met Omar, say he's tall (6 foot, 6 inches) bearded, reclusive, and a lover of war stories. A fierce commander, he was wounded four times in the jihad against the Soviets, leaving him with one eye.
His title, "Commander of the Faithful," has not been adopted by any Muslim anywhere for nearly 1000 years. Omar has given few interviews, rarely meets with non-Muslims, and there is only one known photo of him - as a young man. Diplomats describe him as shy and untalkative with foreigners. Omar says he has one son.
"He has never visited Kabul, the capital," says Rahimullah Yousefzai, who has interviewed Omar twice for The News, a Karachi, Pakistan, based newspaper. "He is not a great speaker. To his followers, his strength is his piety, the force of his belief."
In the past year, facing drought, military problems, a lack of international recognition, and sanctions, Omar has become increasingly isolated, and influenced by Arabs such as Ayman Zawahiri, Osama Bin Laden's No. 2. Omar's rhetoric used to focus on rebuilding Afghanistan, and even on censuring Mr. bin Ladin. During the past year, his public statements have taken on a pan-Islamic tone found more among militant Islamists from Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Omar used to be seen cross-legged in local mosques talking with his followers. But in recent months (until this week's air raids), he was seen in convoys of Landcruisers with tinted windows, a gift of wealthy Arabs. Omar's house (reportedly hit by bombs yesterday) was was one of 16 large residences built with Arab money along a stretch of Herat St. in Kandahar. Mr. Zawahiri is a neighbor.
Born in 1959 as the son of a peasant farmer, he grew up in mud huts around the village of Singesar, near Kandahar. In short, he's an unlikely leader in a country where pedigree and royalty have always been the path to power.
Omar, in fact, was relatively unknown in Afghanistan until 1994. He came to power reluctantly, says Mr. Yousefzai. Omar told him that he started the Taliban after a dream in which Allah came to him in the shape of a man, asking him to lead the faithful. There were also practical reasons.
Omar, known for a pure devotion to Islam, was a mullah with a village madrassah near Kandahar. But he was "horrified," says Yousefzai, by the behavior of former mujahideen commanders that he had fought alongside from 1989 to 1992. They were kidnapping and raping boys and girls, stealing from Afghans at gunpoint on the road, and driving international aid workers out of Kandahar. So, Omar and 30 ethnic Pashtun followers "picked up the gun" - at first to stop four notorious mujahideen who were raping women near Omar's village - and later to bring law and order to an entire country.
The idea: create a Muslim state that would perfectly practice a strict interpretation of the Koran, one taught in the fundamentalist madrassahs of Pakistan, where Omar went to school.
The Taliban movement, backed by the Pakistani secret service, succeeded beyond anyone's imagination - capturing most of the country by 1998.
In 1996, as Taliban fervor increased, Omar accepted the title of "Amirul Momineen," or "commander of the faithful," in an emotional meeting in Kandahar where he appeared on a balcony above thousands of cheering Taliban, wrapping himself in a cloak said to belong to the Prophet Mohammad. The cloak had not been removed from its Kandahar shrine in 60 years, and had never been worn before. Omar is the first Muslim since the Fourth Caliph, a nephew of Prophet Mohammad, to publicly accept the Amirul title, a ranking in Islam nearly second to the Prophet.
Omar's weighty title, which is not accepted by Muslims outside Afghanistan, represents a long journey for a man who never finished his Islamic education. In fact, Omar laments his interrupted schooling, and still calls himself a "talib," (one who seeks), rather than a "mullah" (one who gives) - even while some of his followers think of him as a god.
Many ordinary ethnic Pashtun followers see him as a repository of piety. "It is our duty to follow Omar, he is our father, the first man to take the cloak of the prophet," says Qoari Ali Khan, the head of a madrassah in Pabbi, Pakistan, who was one of 250 mujahideen commanded by Omar in the anti-Soviet war, where the Taliban chief made a name for himself as a marksman with anti-tank rockets.
Still, in the past year, some of the shine has come off the mantle of the current Amirul Momineen of Afghanistan. Some young Pashtuns who used to support Omar, and his dream of a pure Islamic state, are disillusioned.
Omar has never traveled to Kabul to set up a functioning government. Decisions are made in private with a small council of elders. Funds are often distributed among the Taliban by special envoys who travel to Kandahar for an audience with Omar. A plea is made, and Omar opens a large tin box, kept near his bed, which is filled with US dollars.
Some Afghans now speak of Omar's past year as something of an evolving tragedy, as he continues to be buffeted between Arab, Pakistani, and other influences. Some Muslims sympathetic to the Taliban do not want to see Afghanistan used as a platform for bin Laden's violent pan-Islamic jihad.
"There is no question that at the top levels, the Arabs have grown strong in the past two years," says a young Pakistani journalist who has visited Kandahar recently. "People like Osama and Zawahiri don't have to actually see Omar to influence him. Their presence isn't needed. The circumstances and their moves make it possible."
In the Taliban ranks, there is some dissatisfaction - though US strikes may again bring a rallying to Omar. Still, as the country undergoes drought, farmers are reportedly tired of handing over their sons each year for a jihad to take the Panjshir Valley, held by the Northern Alliance. That's another reason Omar depends on Arab fighters on the front lines.
Moreover, in something of a risky move that did not yield Omar any of the international credit he expected, the Taliban did last year stop an entire harvest of poppy. Farmers growing poppy earn about $5,000 a hectare, as compared with $1200 a hectare for wheat.
Last year as well, a huge truck bomb exploded near Omar's headquarters, killing his brother, and reportedly sending the mullah into a period of troubled silence.
During this time, as well, wealthy Arabs who come to Afghanistan to cut their teeth as radical jihadis - have often been reported as "bossing around" and "treating badly" many of the local Taliban. "We used to see them once in awhile, and knew they lived in camps," says the Pakistani journalist. "But in the past year, they are seen on the streets, in the restaurants, everywhere. Omar seems unaware of this."
In the late 1990s, Omar told Mr. Yousafzai that "I am ready to sacrifice everything in completing the unfinished agenda of our noble jihad...until there is no bloodshed in Afghanistan and Islam becomes a way of life for our people." Yet the country has lived in fear, with continued bloodshed.
Again, in the late 1990s, Omar is on record condemning any export of jihad by the Taliban to neighboring countries, and especially by Osama bin Laden. "We have told Osama not to use Afghan soil to carry out political activities as it creates unnecessary confusion about Taliban objectives," Omar told Yousefzai.
Yet the Pakistani Minister of Interior Moinuddin Haider, who visited Omar last month to persuade him to turn over Osama bin Laden, say the man is isolated: "I told Mullah Omar, 'You have switched off your TV set,'" Mr. Haider told reporters here. "I said, 'You don't have many embassies ...to tell you what is happening. You don't know what the Muslim world is saying right now.'"
Some observers say that Omar, who never finished his Islamic schooling, has become swayed by Gulf Arabs who have Islamic credentials that, for a man with humble origins, must be dazzling.
The scholars and clerics from the schools of Egypt and the land of Saudi Arabia, the land of the prophet, and, in the mind of a fundamentalist, the place where a restoration of "true Islam" must spring from - give these figures great influence on Omar, experts say.
In a Voice of America interview on Sept. 21, Omar said: "God says he will never be satisfied with the infidels. In terms of worldly affairs, America is very strong. Even if it were twice as strong or twice that, it could not be strong enough to defeat us. We are confident that no one can harm us if God is with us."
"I want an independent state for Palestine too," says one local Muslim who has followed the Taliban closely. "But I don't want to put my gun on your shoulder, the way the Arabs are doing with Omar.
"The tragedy is that at the beginning, Omar sounds like the man who will pave the way for the king's [Zahir Shah's] return. He talked about peace and security. But he never said he would try to become the leader of the Muslim world

Permatang Pasir : D-Day

2009-08-25T10:13:00.003+08:00

Ramadhan Nowadays...

2009-08-17T10:13:00.003+08:00

Transliteration:

This is a conversation between the shaitan and one of the TV channels manager. Because Ramadan is coming the all the shayateen will leave during this month, this shaytan is passing a message to that manager.

Alshaytan: we want you to carry the big responsibilities this year; we want all people to spend their time in dancing and singing all the time.

The manager: Do not worry at all; we have prepared more than 100 series and more than 500 songs to be published during Ramadan. Besides the funny programs, games and other things to keep people busy with the TV all the time. We are qualified to take this responsibilities don’t worry.

Struck off 'lawyer' to contest in Permatang Pasir

2009-08-14T21:09:00.004+08:00

UMNO announced their candidate few hours ago, and PAS will do their announcement in short while. Well, Google search engine must be flooded by queries for the name of this UMNO's fighting bull. And guess what? It's not going to be a good news for that poor guy.

UMNO's candidate in Permatang Pasir, Rohaizat Othman, is claimed to be a lawyer. Well, IS he or WAS he?

According to Malaysian Bar Council, Rohaizat had been STRUCK OFF on 7 March 2008 (One day before the 12th general election!). Rohaizad has been struck off by a DISCIPLINARY Order under Section 103D LPA 1976.

If you're satisfied, that's enough. Else, check this link for yourself:
Malaysian Bar Disciplinary Orders January-March 2008

DISCLAIMER: The excerpts of (most of)this post is deduced 100% percent from Malaysian Bar's website. There might be some misunderstanding, or even mistaken identity. Let see what the Bar council says on this.

EDIT: it's confirmed:

Source: Malaysiakini.com

Meanwhile, Rohaizat said the internal disciplinary action initiated by Bar Council on him on an allegation of unprofessional conduct had been struck off in March 2008.... Read more

"The allegation is no more an issue now," he said.

Rohaizat's name has appeared on the Bar Council report on disciplinary orders for January - March 2008.

The report revealed the case against Rohaizat had been initiated under Legal Profession Act 1986 and was struck off on March 7, a day before the last general election

-MalaysiaKini

Hassan Ali and Ronnie Liu made peace

2009-08-13T14:55:00.002+08:00

Datuk Dr Hassan Ali and Ronnie Liu today made an open statement on their peacemaking.
A good development on the Pakatan side. Strike one to the manipulating media. The PR leaders should realise, the people are not hoping for them to be in sync with each other all the time, that would be too ideal and non-progressive. But what the people want is for them to use more civilized and democratic way to stop the drift. If any PR leader thinks that the only ways to go are either cutting each other's throat or give 100% loyalty and obedience to the 'supreme' leader, then these hypocrics can jump over to BN. They'll find more comfortable home and mates there.
As for Dr Hassan Ali and Ronnie Liu, thumbs up for the decision to make peace !

Pak Samad says: Let's bring PPSMI to the street again!

2009-08-12T17:31:00.002+08:00

It has been reported that Pak Samad suggested another gathering should be organized to demand that PPSMI be taken out IMMEDIATELY.

How's that? Street protest is more popular than Akademi Fantasia nowadays. That's what you get when the voices of the people have been muted in all 'proper' channels.

I'd say "Get our towel, water and salt ready! And don't forget the mask, if you have one"

Ramadhan Mubarak

2009-08-12T09:24:00.002+08:00

(CLICK ON THE PICTURE FOR FULL SIZE IMAGE)

Police Brutality: What is right, what is wrong?

2009-08-05T09:01:00.008+08:00

Here's another example of police brutality. But before we raise our fingers blaming the cops, please look through and listen to the video first, and then you can decide whether you want to condemn this or not. Just one note; imagine if that guy's victim is your wife (or daughter, or sister), won't you be doing the same thing as these cops (if not more)?

I condemn police brutality when it comes to political issue, that is firm. But this one is criminal issue. I'm not saying that I would commend this violent act by the cops. We did witness (or heard) several occasions where detainee was dead in the lock-up.

But look at the excerpts from what the cops said in the video:
- "Why did you do that to somebody's wife?"
- "It's lucky enough that you're getting it here, if we leave you to those people (who caught you), you might be dead by now"
- "Be thankful this is Malaysia, if this is an Arab country, you'd be sentenced to death"

Once again, I'm not in favor of violence. But the first time I watched this video, the thoughts such as 'this b*****d does not deserve to live', 'if somebody did that to my wife, i might ask the cops to trash him more than this' did pass through my mind. And while writing this post, I'm still trying to justify those passing thoughts, and it is hard to do. We are all human, after all.

So, am I pro or against this kind of police brutality? I do hope that I am against, but I'm not too sure...

Oh, yes... compare that video with this picture:

The scenes look similar, but one is a criminal; the other is innocent... one is thinking about satisfying his lust; the other is thinking about having justice for his people... one had been kicked; the other had been kicked, beaten with baton, sprayed with chemicals and shot with tear gas...

American al-Qaeda exposed!!!

2009-08-04T10:20:00.002+08:00

Fabricating paranoid is always the best tool to justify the evil..

Umar and Amr: ISA, freedom of speech, corruption & immunity

2009-08-03T14:53:00.006+08:00

Umar bin al-Khattab (r.a.) was the second caliph, succeeding Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r.a). He was well-known for his soft yet rigid heart.

Amr bin al-Aas was the conqueror and governor of Egypt. He enjoyed a high position but in spite of that he did not escape from the scrutiny of Umar.

Story #1:
It was reported to Umar that Amr had amassed much wealth. Umar wrote to Amr:

"It has come to my notice that you have amassed considerable wealth. Originally you were a man of ordinary means. Whence comes such wealth?"

Amr explained that he owned some land which brought good income. Moreover the salary that he got was ample which he could invest in business.

Umar was not satisfied with the explanation. He had half of the wealth of Amr confiscated to the State. Umar reprimanded Amr in the following terms:

"O ye Governors you have sat on the springs of wealth. Nothing stands in your way in amassing wealth. You people are playing with fire."

Story #2:
Amr bin Al Aas had a pulpit for himself in the Juma Mosque at Fustat. Umar rebuked Amr for that in the following terms:

"I cannot approve that the Muslims should sit low while you should sit above them. Do away with the pulpit."

Amr bin Al Aas complied with the orders.

Story #3:
Once on the occasion of the Hajj in the presence of all the Governors, Umar addressed the people:

"O ye people, I have not sent the Governors so that they may maltreat you or deprive you of your lawful possessions. I have sent them so that they may be a source of inspiration to you in leading life according to the Islamic way. If any Governor violates these terms, please inform me and would take action."

A man rose up from the congregation to inquire whether a Governor could on his own account beat a Muslim. Umar said that if any punishment was inflicted as a result of a judicial trial the man could be punished; otherwise not. The man complained that Amr bin Al Aas the Governor of Egypt had inflicted eighty stripes on him without any judicial trial. Amr said that he had beaten the man to enforce discipline Umar said that unless the man was judicially tried and found guilty no punishment could be inflicted on him. Umar asked the complainant that as Amr beat him without authority, he could strike him with a similar number of lashes to vindicate himself. Amr begged for Umar's permission to conciliate the man. Umar agreed, and Amr bin Al Aas conciliated the man after paying him a substantial amount.

Story #4:
On one occasion Amr called a man 'Munafiq'. The man came to Umar and complained. Umar gave the complainant the authority to return to Egypt, confront the Governor with the charge before the public and if it was established claim indemnity. The man returned to Egypt and confronted the Governor with the charge in the main mosque. Amr denied the charge but the man asked the men in the congregation to say on oath whether they had heard the Governor on such and such a day calling him 'Munafiq'. Many persons stood up to corroborate the statement. Thus cornered Amr said to the complainant, "You may take your revenge". Thereupon the complainant said, "Now I forgive you."

Story #5:
On another occasion an Egyptian complained before Umar that in a horse race his horse was leading but Muhammad the son of Amr beat him and had his own horse to be the winner. When the matter was brought to the notice of Amr he put the complainant in prison. The complainant escaped from the prison and came to Madina to lodge his complaint with Umar. Umar summoned Amr and his son to Madina. They were apprised of the complaint against them. They could not offer a satisfactory explanation. Umar ordered that the complainant should beat Muhammad the son of Amr in the same way as Muhammad had beat him. The complainant beat Muhammad the son of Amr accordingly and felt satisfied.

Umar al-Khattab had shown us a good example of how a leader should be. Leaders should not get themselves busy accumulating wealth, especially through corruption. Should not be oppressing the people of their freedom of speech. Should not think themselves as immune from the law. And should never ever punish anyone without a fair trial. Think of Umar al-Khattab, and then think about our leaders. Do you see any differences? I do...

-Ariff Abdullah

Bombshell: Bin Laden Worked for US Till 9/11

2009-08-03T14:45:00.003+08:00

By Lukery, taken from Information Clearing House

July 31, 2009 "Daily Kos" -- Former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds dropped a bombshell on the Mike Malloy radio show, guest-hosted by Brad Friedman (audio, partial transcript).

In the interview, Sibel says that the US maintained 'intimate relations' with Bin Laden, and the Taliban, "all the way until that day of September 11."

These 'intimate relations' included using Bin Laden for 'operations' in Central Asia, including Xinjiang, China. These 'operations' involved using al Qaeda and the Taliban in the same manner "as we did during the Afghan and Soviet conflict," that is, fighting 'enemies' via proxies.

lukery's diary :: ::

As Sibel has previously described, and as she reiterates in this latest interview, this process involved using Turkey (with assistance from 'actors from Pakistan, and Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia') as a proxy, which in turn used Bin Laden and the Taliban and others as a proxy terrorist army.

Control of Central Asia

The goals of the American 'statesmen' directing these activities included control of Central Asia's vast energy supplies and new markets for military products.

The Americans had a problem, though. They needed to keep their fingerprints off these operations to avoid a) popular revolt in Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan), and b) serious repercussions from China and Russia. They found an ingenious solution: Use their puppet-state Turkey as a proxy, and appeal to both pan-Turkic and pan-Islam sensibilities.

Turkey, a NATO ally, has a lot more credibility in the region than the US and, with the history of the Ottoman Empire, could appeal to pan-Turkic dreams of a wider sphere of influence. The majority of the Central Asian population shares the same heritage, language and religion as the Turks.

In turn, the Turks used the Taliban and al Qaeda, appealing to their dreams of a pan-Islamic caliphate (Presumably. Or maybe the Turks/US just paid very well.)

According to Sibel:

This started more than a decade-long illegal, covert operation in Central Asia by a small group in the US intent on furthering the oil industry and the Military Industrial Complex, using Turkish operatives, Saudi partners and Pakistani allies, furthering this objective in the name of Islam.

Uighurs

Sibel was recently askedto write about the recent situation with the Uighurs in Xinjiang, but she declined, apart from saying that "our fingerprint is all over it."

Of course, Sibel isn't the first or only person to recognize any of this. Eric Margolis, one of the best reporters in the West on matters of Central Asia, stated that the Uighurs in the training camps in Afghanistan up to 2001:

"were being trained by Bin Laden to go and fight the communist Chinese in Xinjiang, and this was not only with the knowledge, but with the support of the CIA, because they thought they might use them if war ever broke out with China."

And also that:

"Afghanistan was not a hotbed of terrorism, these were commando groups, guerrilla groups, being trained for specific purposes in Central Asia."

In a separate interview, Margolis said:

"That illustrates Henry Kissinger's bon mot that the only thing more dangerous than being America's enemy is being an ally, because these people were paid by the CIA, they were armed by the US, these Chinese Muslims from Xinjiang, the most-Western province.

The CIA was going to use them in the event of a war with China, or just to raise hell there, and they were trained and supported out of Afghanistan, some of them with Osama Bin Laden's collaboration. The Americans were up to their ears with this."

Rogues Gallery

Last year, Sibel came up with a brilliant idea to expose some of the criminal activity that she is forbidden to speak about: she published eighteen photos, titled "Sibel Edmonds’ State Secrets Privilege Gallery," of people involved the operations that she has been trying to expose. One of those people is Anwar Yusuf Turani, the so-called 'President-in-exile' of East Turkistan (Xinjiang). This so-called 'government-in-exile' was 'established' on Capitol Hill in September, 2004, drawing a sharp rebuke from China.

Also featured in Sibel's Rogues Gallery was 'former' spook Graham Fuller, who was instrumental in the establishment of Turani's 'government-in-exile' of East Turkistan. Fuller has written extensively on Xinjiang, and his "Xinjiang Project" for Rand Corp is apparentlythe blueprint for Turani's government-in-exile. Sibel has openly statedher contempt for Mr. Fuller.

Susurluk

The Turkish establishment has a long history of mingling matters of state with terrorism, drug trafficking and other criminal activity, best exemplified by the 1996 Susurluk incident which exposed the so-called Deep State.

Sibel states that "a few main Susurluk actors also ended up in Chicago where they centered 'certain' aspects of their operations (Especially East Turkistan-Uighurs)."

One of the main Deep State actors, Mehmet Eymur, former Chiefof Counter-Terrorism for Turkey's intelligence agency, the MIT, features in Sibel's Rogues Gallery. Eymur was given exile in the US. Another member of Sibel's gallery, Marc Grossman was Ambassador to Turkey at the time that the Susurluk incident exposed the Deep State. He was recalled shortly after, prior to the end of his assignment, as was Grossman's underling, Major Douglas Dickerson, who later tried to recruit Sibel into the spying ring.

The modus operandi of the Susurluk gang is the same as the activities that Sibel describes as taking place in Central Asia, the only difference is that this activity was exposed in Turkey a decade ago, whereas the organs of the state in the US, including the corporate media, have successfully suppressed this story.

Chechnya, Albania & Kosovo

Central Asia is not the only place where American foreign policy makers have shared interests with Bin Laden. Consider the war in Chechnya. As I documented here, Richard Perle and Stephen Solarz (both in Sibel's gallery) joined other leading neocon luminaries such as Elliott Abrams, Kenneth Adelman, Frank Gaffney, Michael Ledeen, James Woolsey, and Morton Abramowitz in a group called the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya (ACPC). For his part, Bin Laden donated $25 million to the cause, as well as numerous fighters, and technical expertise, establishing training camps.

US interests also converged with those of al-Qaeda in Kosovo and Albania.

Of course, it is not uncommon for circumstances to arise where 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend.' On the other hand, in a transparent democracy, we expect a full accounting of the circumstances leading up to a tragic event like 9/11. The 9/11 Commission was supposed to provide exactly that.

State Secrets

Sibel has famously been dubbed the most gagged woman in America, having the State Secrets Privilege imposed on her twice. Her 3.5 hour testimony to the 9/11 Commission has been entirely suppressed, reduced to a single footnote which refers readers to her classified testimony. In the interview, she says that the information that was classified in her case specifically identifies that the US was using Bin Laden and the Taliban in Central Asia, including Xinjiang. In the interview, Sibel reiterates that when invoking the gag orders, the US government claims that it is protecting " 'sensitive diplomatic relations,' protecting Turkey, protecting Israel, protecting Pakistan, protecting Saudi Arabia..." This is no doubt partially true, but it is also true that they are protecting themselves too, and it is a crime in the US to use classification and secrecy to cover up crimes.

As Sibel says in the interview:

I have information about things that our government has lied to us about... those things can be proven as lies, very easily, based on the information they classified in my case, because we did carry very intimate relationship with these people, and it involves Central Asia, all the way up to September 11.

Summary

The bombshell here is obviously that certain people in the US were using Bin Laden up to September 11, 2001.

It is important to understand why: the US outsourced terror operations to al Qaeda and the Taliban for many years, promoting the Islamization of Central Asia in an attempt to personally profit off military sales as well as oil and gas concessions.

The silence by the US government on these matters is deafening. So, too, is the blowback.

Mansuhkan ISA - My story of August 1st

2009-08-03T11:41:00.002+08:00

Here's my story:

Although I received reminders over and over again to come early, but I decided to leave home after Zuhur. The reasons are:
1) I know the police will start arresting even before march started. Call me a coward, but I don't want to risk getting caught before the 'fun' started.
2) This time I want to take as many pictures as possible, and from many angles. So I don't want to be in the main crowd from the beginning (which will limit the perspective which I can capture with my camera)
3) There are main crowds and small crowds. If the main crowds are planets, the small scattering crowds can be considered the satellites. I've never been in this small crowds, so I'd like to see how it is like to be in one

The Masjid Jamek and Bandaraya LRT stations are closed due to 'technical' problem, so I took the train to Plaza Rakyat instead. I arrived at 2.25pm. Since I'm already 15 minutes late for Masjid Jamek's crowd, I decided to take some detour first. I checked up Mydin, Kota Raya and Petaling Street. Life was as usual in the places, as if nobody noticed there are something big is happening in a very close proximity. Then I went to Central Market to see what it is like for the 'white' street demonstration. To my surprise, except several uniformed policemen, the area was full of shoppers! There's nothing that indicated that this place is holding a large 'illegal' gathering. And the cops were as laid back as they can be in a peaceful time.

Losing interest, I made my move to, finally, Masjid Jamek. When I arrived there, the main crowd already left the premise. There were still some people gathering here and chit-chatting about the event.

I saw the uniformed cops and FRUs blocking the road at one end. This is one of the questions I always find myself asking. How did the small crowds managed to merged with the main crowds despite this kind of blocking? It is not easy, especially when the cops are shooing everyone away from the area. I went to take a look first.

Seeing that the main crowd from Masjid Jamek was not heading towards the direction os Istana Negara (They were at Jalan Tun Perak), I deduced that they were going to SOGO, where the PR leaders are. So I took another way to SOGO avoiding the police blockade. I arrived at Jalan TAR where many people were gathering. There's faint smell of tear gas lingering. Seemed like the battle was already on. Far behind me, the FRU tanks and trucks were stationed. Cops were trying to arrest some of the protesters, to be jeered and cursed by the shouting crowd. Then came the dreaded siren. A water cannon truck sped up the street and started showering the protesters with the chemicals. Everybody ran into alleys and backstreets for cover.

I continued moving towards SOGO. Police arrests can be seen along the way. And some of the protesters were taking a breather, especially the elderlies.

At SOGO, as in Masjid Jamek, it seemed like the main crowd already left, or leaving. I can see them from afar. As much as I want to join them, there was a blockade between me and that crowd. The foot policemen were retreating, which means one thing: making way for tear gas and water cannon. I took the opportunity to slip past them, heading towards the main crowd. Not even halfway, the tear gas canistered were fired, falling several yards in front of me. I ran and took a detour circling the SOGO complex with my eyes burning. Lucky I had my pinch of salt and two small bottles of mineral water with me.

I arrived in front of MARA, where the frontline of the crowd, especially the Unit Amal, were calling for people to regroup. More canisters of gas were shot. Having one of them fell just in front of me, I quickly grab my camera and tried to take a video. Unfortunately, another one of the canisters came and got me by surprise. Though as much I tried to record the event, the resulting video were as crappy as it can get. Amidst the confusion, I didn't realise that the water cannon were speeding from my back. Only when I took a glance back I saw the truck was less than 50 meters behind me. There was no cover around me so I pushed the record button on my camera, hoping something decent will come out (unfortunately, it didn't), and made a dash to the nearest cover around 20 meters ahead. Before I managed to get into a shelter, the chemicals from the water cannon hit me on my face, from the left side. Adrenaline helped me a lot to continue running. Once I reached safety, my eyes were itchy. And worse than that, they were blurry. That's when I realised I lost my glasses along the run. The crowd had retreat further, and the FRU had slowly taken over the place. Going to look for my glasses means I have to search amidst the FRU. I had no choice, I need my glasses. Several good fellows helped me during the rush. Once my glasses are found (it was right at where my face was hit by the water cannon), I went around the building for another breather.

Several minutes later, I continued towards Jalan Raja Laut. Seeing where the crowd was heading, there's only one possible place to go: PAS HQ. At the cost of the time spent looking for my glasses and the breather, I once again fell behind the FRU, and missed some more actions.

More tear gas can be seen shot at the crowd heading to Jalan Raja Laut. The FRU trucks were regrouping. Again, there's a blockade between me and the crowd. I looked around for a way to get past the blockade, and my luck was with me. Several press members were there, and the cops were letting them loose. So I walked beside a guy with 'PRESS' tag hanging from his neck, while pretending to be busy checking my camera. I casually walked pass the blockade, stopping sometimes to take some pictures. Once ahead of the blockade, I made my way towards the crowd. Looking back at the place where I was several minutes before, I saw a lot of people had been stopped by the police from continuing to Jalan Raja Laut. Smiling, I knew I was lucky to get through them.

Crossing the busy traffic light, the main crowd were already far ahead. Nevertheless, a lot of people were still gathering here. Some were talking furiously, some were resting. Some were keeping a watch at the FRU 100 meters away. Many were busy with their mobile phones, sending messages and calling their friends and family, maybe. My family didn't know I was here, only some of my friends knew, but I'm not into sending them the updates.

Then the FRU started to march again. Same routine: troops march>tear gas>water cannon. and arrests along the way. I made another run, this time straight to the destination: PAS HQ. In front of PAS HQ, there was speech going on. I couldn't get a good angle to see who was speaking behind the megaphone, but from the voice, I think it was Hj Mat Sabu (anyone can confirm this for me?). The speech was ending, with several shouts of 'Mansuhkan ISA', 'Hidup Rakyat' etc, the crowd were told to disperse peacefully.

So here it is, THE END. Everybody's heading back. Nothing choatic seemed to happen. Unfortunately, the FRU didn't think so. Out of surprise, another batch of tear gas were fired onto the street,and including the backstreets. It was a little havoc at this point. I went up the bridge to get a better picture. An old man and his daughter slumped at one corner. Obviously the tear gas got them. Someone passed them a bottle of water (I finished my ration on the way, unfortunately). I gave them the salt that I was carrying and told then to put some on their tongues. They seemed better, so I left the bridge after several shots of pictures.

Once down, my face started to sting. The tear gas was still lingering so I dashed to the backstreet. Bad decision, since they fired the tear gas into the backstreet as well. Without water and salt, a small towel was my only defense, and the pain was unbearable. I walk in circles, trying to put my mind away from the pain. Thank God, after several minutes it was gone.

I walked back to Jalan Raja Laut. Luckily, 7-Eleven kept operating even during the chaos. The only shop that was operating (they lived up to their 24hour status, kudos to 7-Eleven!!!). I bought a soy milk and two small mineal waters. The crowd had been reduced to very small number. Uniformed policemen were takig charge of the street, arresting more people. I waited across the street from PAS HQ. After a while, the FRU dismissed their formation and went into the trucks. Nevertheless, it didn't seem like they're going back soon. Everybody understood what is happening: They are waiting to arrest the PR leaders.

A long wait, the came several cars screeching and abruptly stopped in front of PAS HQ. several plainclothed men stormed the entrance of PAS HQ, followed by the media and uniformed cops. The plainclothed men were SB, by the way. They tried to get in, but the building were barricaded by PR supporters from the inside. SB went away empty handed.

Another long wait, I sat at the stairs of PAS HQ, looking at the police patrol cars and FRU trucks on standby, readying for the arrest. Nothing was happening. At 5.30pm, I couldn't take it anymore. My face was still burning and I really needed a bath. I made my way towards PWTC station to catch a train home.

It was painful, it was tiring, and it was a hassle. But it was worth it. And I'd do it again.. and again

-L

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Videos:

Video Himpunan Mansuhkan ISA

Pictures:

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14

And here's a compilation of rejected videos:
(The part where you can only see rubbish scenes are the ones I'm running and geeting hit with water cannon and tear gas)

Himpunan Mansuh ISA videos

2009-08-03T08:29:00.003+08:00

Here's some videos from the Himpunan Mansuh ISA on 1 August 2009. For pictures, click on the links below:

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14

Video 1: The main crowd already left the area. Latecomers are blocked by the police from joining the rest of the protesters.

Video 2: Patrol car jeered by protesters at Jln TAR. Someone gave a speech in a pantun manner while the crowds regroup before proceeding

Video 3: Police started arresting protesters at Jln TAR and received shouts and screams from the crowd

Video 4: Jln TAR just before water cannon

Video 5: Water cannon hits Jln TAR

Video 6: Jln TAR after water cannon

Video 7: Protesters taking refuge in back alleys

Video 8: Police standing back for tear gas

Video 9: FRU regrouping between assaults at LRT Bandaraya. They just finished one assault and preparing for another

Video 10: FRU marching towards protesters

Video 11: Resounding crowds in front of PAS HQ, Jalan Raja Laut

Video 12: Protesters are dispersing. PR leaders and the press went inside PAS HQ. Everybody thought it was a peaceful end, unsuspecting that FRU is about to launch another tear gas and water cannon assault

Video 13: SB arrived in several cars trying to arrest PR leaders, assisted by uniformed policemen. PR leaders are in PAS HQ, barricaded by the supporters from inside

Himpunan Anti-ISA Part 14 of 14

2009-08-01T22:58:00.002+08:00