Due to prompt action by Muslims and a
CAIR ALERT The Winnepeg Free Press Issued a public apology.
To view the article click on the link
Winnipeg Free Press
CBS News Witness To A Killing
CBS News Love Crosses Borders
A Poem
Personal Commentary:
Palestinians Riot. Israeli
Soldiers Taken Hostage. Israeli Soldiers Killed. Shocking
headlines. Of course they are and the first response would be they ought
to take those Muslims and shoot them. But what of these headlines. Children
Killed by Israeli Soldiers. Twelve Year Old Boy Murdered by Sniper
Fire. Sharon Takes Soldiers To Mosque. Israelis Use Bullets against
Rocks or these in 1948 Western Countries approve New Country.
Palestine Now to Become ISRAEL (without the consent of the Palestinians). We are all accustomed to seeing
the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and the media portrays the
Israelis as the ones who are suffering. Are they the ones who are
suffering? The western media would have us believe this. What has happened
recently is the culmination of years of abuse and disregard by the Israelis of
basic human rights. Here are even more shocking headlines. Barak
Threatens to Bomb Syria, Iran. Barak gives Arafat Deadline. Let
us not forget that Israel courtesy of the United States has nuclear
capabilities. We who are here in the west do not often get the whole
story. I challenge you to research for the whole story.
In The News:
The Question I ask "Israel Wanted Peace?"
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak
announced the deadline on Saturday, saying that if Palestinian Authority
President Yasser Arafat failed to end the violence, the peace process was
dead and Israel's military would use whatever force necessary to bring calm to
the streets.
In Ramallah, the violence broke out
on Monday after the body of a 40-year-old Palestinian was found beaten and
burned. Palestinians tossed rocks at three Israeli army vehicles. Israelis
responded with tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets. (Rubber coating
steel bullets doesn't make them any less lethal.)
Read this account by a Muslim who
witnessed first hand the atrocities that Israel has
inflicted.
In the Name of Allah, the Most
Gracious, the Most
Merciful. All Praise is due to Allah, Lord of All the
World. The Protector, the Giver and Taker of Life.
Peace and Blessings be upon Muhammad bin Abdullah, His
Slave and Messenger, the Seal of the Prophets, the
Mercy to all Mankind. Peace and Prayers be upon the
Prophet's family , his companions and all the
righteous until the Day of Recompense. Amen.
As for what follows:
Allah says in His Noble Qur'an, what can be translated
into English as:
Surah Al Isra 1
"Glorified be He who took His slave (Muhammad) from a
journey by night from Al Masjid al- Haram to the
Farthest Mosque (in Jerusalem), the neighborhood
whereof we have blessed, in order that we might show
him (Muhammad) of Our ayat. Verily, He is the
All-Hearer, the All Seer."
Today, dear Muslims after Jummah (last Friday), I
witnessed with my own eyes a horrendous act put upon
the Muslims at the hands of the Jews. In this blessed
Masjid (Masjid Al Haram Al Sharief-Masjid al Aqsa.
The Israeli police, army and special military forces,
shot and killed 5 Muslims and wounded hundreds. As I
entered the Masjid, it seemed to be just another
Jummah. See, the people here come to Jummah around
8:00-9:00am in the morning, have a picnic and wait
until the earlier lectures start and the Qur'anic
recitation begins. It did not seem that it would be a
day of infamy, in which all chaos would be inflicted
upon the Believers.
As I took my place in the forth row of the Masjid (at
10:30 am) it seemed all calm as the Qur'anic reciter,
recited. The Mufti took his place on the mimbar,
giving salaams to the people and the adhan was called.
The Mufti began by reciting Surah Al Isra ayats 4-7.
Which can be translated into English as:
"And we decreed for the Children of Israel in the
Scripture, that indeed you would do mischief on the
earth twice and you will become tyrants and extremely
arrogant. So, when the promise came for the first of
the two, we sent against you slaves of ours to
terrible warfare. They entered the very innermost
parts of your homes. And it was a promise
(completely) fulfilled. Then We gave you once again, a
return of victory over them. And We helped you with
wealth and children and made you more numerous in
man-power. (And We said): "If you do good, you do good
for your own selves, and if you do evil (you do it)
against yourselves. "Then, when the second promise
came to pass, (We permitted your enemies) to make your
faces sorrowful and to enter the mosque ( of
Jerusalem) as they had entered it before, and to
destroy with utter destruction all that fell in their
hands."
The Mufti told the people from what I could understand
from the Arabic, that the Jews would never get Al
Aqsa. We are prepared to die for this place. He told
us of the deal that the Jews had offered to Arafat
regarding allowing them to take al Aqsa and giving the
dome to the Muslims. Never! He shouted. This blessed
place its for the Muslims from all over the world. He
ended with dua and we stood for prayer. All the while
outside, the Israeli troops were mounting their
assault on the sides of the Masjid. There is an
average between 50,000 - 100,000 thousand people at
Jummah. Not even two minutes after the tasleems did I
hear the first loud bombing noise. The noise of tear
gas being fired at the people. Suddenly the people
retaliated with rock throwing. I made my way to the
front of the Masjid into the courtyard area, where I
saw men, women, and children running. The youth were
throwing rocks. The elderly men were taking refuge
behind the large pillars. Then I saw the first
casualty. A man's head was filled with blood. At that
point I realized that this was no joke. The people
were shouting Allahu Akbar, God is Great, God is
Great!!!!
Suddenly, the Israeli troops advanced coming out of
the sides shooting. They tell you in America that they
are rubber bullets, but they are in fact steel bullets
with a rubber coating. As the people continued to
scatter for cover and the troops still advancing, I
tried to take one more picture, when a brother pulled
my arm and pulled me into the Masjid. I come to find
out that he is the son of a brother from Florida
(Sheikh Yusef). As the massive doors in al Aqsa
closed, the special forces continued to shoot at the
door. Suddenly, I saw a brother one foot from me start
to fall. As I watched him go down I saw the blood gush
from his chest. I stood there in shock. How could they
do such a thing? I thought to myself, as I continued
to look at the brother, I felt all emotions come up
from inside, not out of fear but, rather this man
being my brother. I immediately fell to the floor in
sujood, praying to Allah for help. As I began to get
my composure, I looked around the Masjid in a daze and
saw the brothers raising their hands in supplication.
There was this old man sitting near me, saying "There
is no god but Allah", over and over in Arabic. This
was real. This was extremely real. I felt myself
cursing the Jews. Not in they way of back in the days
of ignorance, but rather sending duas against them,
asking Allah for their destruction. I felt anger,
sympathy, and complete sadness.
Some time went by and the doors opened and the
brothers came running in with stretchers heed to get
the wounded. As I made my way to the side door as
people were exiting, I saw the young brother who
practically saved my life. He was injured. He asked if
I had witness anything like this before. I told him
yes. After the Rodney King verdict, in Atlanta. Yet,
with that uprising the police were trying to restore
order rather then being the cause of chaos. I really
saw the hatred of the Jews towards Muslims. As I began
to walk through the courtyard, towards the dome, all
I could see in front of me and around me were Israeli
military with their assault rifles, with their fingers
on the triggers. As I walked toward the gate. I walked
pass the dome where many women and children were
barricaded inside. At each time they tried to exit, I
watch them run back in. I noticed this sister jumping
up and down with a bloody towel or shirt where she was
screaming about her shield and cursing the Jews.
Again, I thought to myself how can a man do such a
thing.
Dear Muslims, I witness something that has shocked my
heart, yet has instilled the truth of Allah's word as
well. The Prophet said what can be translated into
English as:
Narrated Abdullah bin Masud, I asked Allah's Messenger
"O Allah's Messenger! What is the best deed?" He
replied, "To offer the prayers at their earlier fixed
stated times". I asked, "What is next in goodness?"
He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents."
I further asked, "What is next in goodness?" He
replied, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's cause."
I believe at this time this would be the closest I
would reach towards armed struggle. Dear Muslims this
place was defiled by the Israeli's. Blood was spilled
on the ground. Muslim blood. I appeal to you to help
in whatever way you can. I urge you to change things
with your hands, tongue, or heart. Dear Muslims make
dua for the people. I will insha Allah try to keep
you updated. As of today there are more that 1200
wounded and 50 dead. I pray to Allah for victory of
over the disbelievers. Amen.
Your brother in Islam
Khatib Muhammad, in Al Quds
The Question I ask "Israel Wanted Peace?"
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak
announced the deadline on Saturday, saying that if Palestinian Authority
President Yasser Arafat failed to end the violence, the peace process was dead
and Israel's military would use whatever force necessary to bring calm to the
streets.
Here is an article on this and the
shocking photos of the death of an innocent child. My question is this as human
beings can we continue to watch these and not do something to stop the shedding
of the blood of innocents.
The Question I ask "Israel Wanted Peace?"
Foes trade threats
Throughout the rising conflict, Palestinian and Israeli leaders have
exchanged barbs and accusations, putting an additional strain on peace talks
that have proved tenuous at best in recent months.
Barak was blunt with reporters Sunday.
"If in the next two days we do not see a complete change in patterns
of behavior and cessation of violence we will consider that this is a
deliberate act by the Palestinian Authority to stop (peace) negotiations, and
we shall instruct the defense to act accordingly," he said.
Barak threatened to use the "full force of the military" if
necessary.
Palestinian leaders were curt in their replies.
"I have the impression that according to him it is Palestine that
occupies Israel and not Israel that occupies Palestine," Afif Safieh,
Palestinian delegate to the United Kingdom, told CNN. "All the battles,
confrontations are taking place around Palestinian urban centers. All Israel
has to do is withdraw 300 meters (330 yards) so that there is no
confrontation."
Palestinian security chief Mohammed Dahlan said Barak's remarks were
insulting. After years of involvement in negotiations, he said his optimism
for peace had waned.
The Palestinians said it was up to the Israelis to stop the shooting, and
they laid down their own condition: Accept a U.N. Security Council call for an
international commission to investigate the violence.
The Security Council late Saturday approved a resolution that condemned
Israeli "acts of violence, especially the excessive use of force against
Palestinians, resulting in injury and loss of human life."
Personal Commentary: The U.S. abstained. Why? Israel is
an ally and we protect our allies regardless if they are violating fundamental
human rights. Would we stand quietly by while another government took
our land from us to create another country? Would we stand aside while
our government took our homes, imprisoned our children, and forced us to
become beggars in our own land? We say we stand for justice, human
rights, and freedom. Do we? Are Muslims terrorists? Is Islam the
religion of terrorism? Or are these people merely trying to fight for
what is theirs as any normal human being would.? Only you can answer
these questions for yourself.
The above is from http:/www.cnn.com/
And it is said that Israel
wanted peace? If this is so then why allow the actions of Sharon
that provoked this human tragedy to occur? Israel knew how the Arabs and
Muslims felt about Sharon. The question now is who has suffered the
most. Answer: The innocents who have been slaughtered and many of
them have been children under the age of 15. Let us all mourn the deaths
of these innocents. I do not wish to make this site for a political
forum but what has occurred is a human tragedy. We reacted when Milosevic committed atrocities in Kosovo yet we fail to act when Israel
commits atrocities in Palestine, because Israel is and always will be land
that belongs to Palestine and the Palestinians.
Here are other links on this the
tragedy in Palestine. Yes, as a Muslimah and a mother I am upset and
appalled by this tragedy. Below are some media links both western and
middle east. Read them to get both sides of the story. What we
hear and see in the west is not always the completed story.
Western Media
CNN.com - World - Israeli deadline passes for Palestinians to end violent protests - October 9, 2000
Annan Tries to Head Off Israeli-Palestinian War
ABCNEWS.com Sunset Deadline Passes With Diplomatic Flurry
Diplomacy Expands in Mideast Crisis
U.S. Restore Calm in Mideast
NBCiMiddle East and North Africa News
‘The Danger We Are Facing’
CBS News Home
Middle East Media
crime
Arabic News .com Front Page for Arab News
Middle East Times 2000
Sahafa Online, Arabic News, Arabic Newspapers, Magazines, Radio & Television.
Intertent Arabic Radio and Television Webcasting
The Daily Star - Lebanon
Planetarabia.com Gunfire Erupts As Mideast Clashes Flare
Action Alert #271
CONVERSE DISRESPECT ISLAM AND
MUSLIM WOMEN IN
ADVERTISEMENT
The Centre for Muslim Affairs in Australia is
calling
on Converse (Stock Symbol: CVEO) to apologize
for running an advertisement degrading Muslim women
and disrespecting Islam. In a recent
advertisement, run in the November edition of TV
Hits
(Australia), women in black hijab are shown
posing, wearing Converse sneakers
URGENT ACTION REQUESTED:
We are asking Muslims to send polite but firm
letters
to both Converse and the publisher of
TV Hits magazine (Pacific Publishing). Muslims
should
demand a public apology from both
companies, as well as a retraction of the
advertisement.
1) Contact the Converse head office:
Attention: Glenn N. Rupp (CEO)
Converse Inc.
One Fordham Road
North Reading, MA 01864-2619
UNITED STATES
Tel: 1-978-664-110
Fax: 1-978-7528
Email: info@converse.com
2) Send copy to the Australian distributor:
Conquest Sports Pty. Ltd.
28-36 Terracotta Drive
Blackburn 3130
AUSTRALIA
Tel: (03)-9-894-2333
Email: conquest@consports.com.au
3) Contact the publisher of TV Hits:
Attention: Shane Sutton (Editor)
Pacific Publications Pty Ltd
35-51 Mitchell Street
McMahons Point
NSW 2060
AUSTRALIA
Tel: (02)-9-464-3300
Fax: (02)-9-464-3508
Email: tvhits@pacpubs.com.au
4) Refrain from buying Converse products until the
matter has been resolved satisfactorily
A show recently appeared on this
show is Jane Fonda on Sanctioned Violence
Against Women
The site URL is Oprah.com
The Show Past Shows. This aired September 29th 2000. I did not
see the show personally but I hope what is on the site and what was shown are
the same. It is imperative for the media to distinguish cultural
practices from Islam. Islam does not condone such actions.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_938000/938485.stm
As the new academic year begins in
Turkey, thousands of female students are being prevented from entering their
universities and colleges because they want to wear the Islamic style
headscarf.
The students say their human rights
are being infringed but influential figures in the state education system
insist that wearing the scarf is a statement of political intent and current
laws allow
them to ban it.
A ban on beards was lifted but the
headscarf ban remains. On the first day of term at the beginning of the week
men wearing beards were also banned because facial hair is seen by some
defenders of Turkish secularism as an statement of Islamic
identity.
Now the beards have been let in but the women wearing headscarves are still
locked out.
Mixed picture
There are protests at state universities around the country, but it is a mixed
picture.
Some faculties at Ankara university for example are not enforcing a ban. It
all depends on individual decisions made by professors and administrators.
The secular elite which has ruled
modern Turkey for more than 75 years says the head scarf has become a
disruptive political symbol.
The students involved insist they wear the scarf because of their religious
beliefs, not because of political
ideology.
It is an issue which goes to the heart of Turkey's complex effort to define
the role of the state and the role of
religion in society.
And as the dispute goes on it is claiming many victims. One human rights group
estimates that last year alone more than 16,000 women were prevented from
entering universities or taking
exams because they refused to remove their scarves
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