For all of you who are not soccer fans, Seydou Keita is a soccer player from the Barcelona FC which will play the final of the Champions’ League against Chelsea. Here is an excerpt from an interview:
Q: Does your family advise you?
A: They are always behind me. They really educated me that we have to suffer to make a living. We are Muslims and for us, everything is decided by Allah.
Q: So, has Allah already decided the result of the final in Rome?
A: Yes, sure, Allah has already decided it, it’s already written, but we have to do everything in our power to win, as we don’t know which one is going to be the champion.
It’s a pity Allah has not told him… and the rest of the people… so we can just rest so people can use that time to other tasks.
NOTE: Even if you are not a soccer fan, we are in peril of dying after the amount of time they spend on TV or on the radio explaining the preliminaries of the final.
Far-right Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders lost a legal bid Wednesday to stop his pending trial for inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims.
“The attorney general is of the opinion that there are no grounds” for a further appeal, the Dutch Supreme Court said in a statement.
Lawyers for Wilders had sought to overturn a ruling by the Amsterdam Court of Appeals in January that he should be prosecuted for a series of public anti- Muslim statements, particularly for comparing Islam to Nazism.
Well, this is nothing that we can consider as surprising. But anyway it something truly interesting that they want this to go to trial. Mr. Wilders has stated:
“I am being prosecuted for saying about Islam what millions of Dutch think. Freedom of expression is at risk of being offered at the altar of Islam.”
The real reason (at least for me) of this trial is that he considers Islam as equal to Nazism. Whatever our special ideas on the subject, this process is judging the personal idea of someone about an ideology/religion. Of course, I count with a just trial (consider me an optimist), in which he can express his own reasons about this. But I don’t know if, being realistic, we can count with that just trial. I fear he is going to be fried.
Just notice that he is labelled as “far-right” everywhere you read about him. Even if he has no link with Nazi parties, with actual far-right parties, etc etc.
NOTE: I really can’t blog often now. I am truly busy, I am sorry for this but life is like it is. Thanks to you all for your interest.
If we read the statement made by the secretary general of the Moroccan Community Abroad Council (a consultive bureau created by Moroccan King Mohammed VIth), Abdellah Boussouff, we can really consider that as a reality. He nearly goes as far as considering Moroccan as equal as Spanish Muslim.
(He) stated to the Spanish news agency Europa Press during a meeting about Islam in Europe which took place in Fez, that Moroccan nationals living in Spain “need a strong organization that defends the fulfillment of the religious freedom” in the country and for the “full practice of their rights”.
(…) (He also) added that some of the points that were included in the cooperation aggreement between Spain and the Islamic Commission in 1992 “are not fully applied”, pointing to the need of a “really representative and democratic organism because a lot of Muslims do not feel represented by the Islamic Commission” (name which are not fully applied and why a lot of Muslims do not feel represented by the Islamic Commission. I am not saying the latter is “moderate”, I’m saying that it would be interesting to know what is the future Morocco wants for Spanish Muslims, as pointing out what Spain lacks of in this respect would underline what they like Spanish Islam to be).
He maintains that they are “optimistic with Moroccan community’s progress in Spain”, because “all processes need time” and “both Spain and Morocco have a lot of things in common” (name a few… because except the Spanish-Moroccan war of late XIXth century and early XXth century and the Strait of Gibraltar, I just can’t really see what more).
As a special measure, Boussouff considers that the Islamic Council must create a census of Muslims in Spain that could chose their representatives directly, as it’s already done in France and Belgium (countries where there is NO radicalization of Muslims, is there? Ironically speaking, that is...).
But it’s not me the only one who thinks this is meddling in other State’s affairs:
These statements have been regarded by the Spanish Islamic Communities’ Union as a Moroccan meddling in Islam’s management inside Spanish territory.
The president of this Union, Riay Tatary, stated that the “Moroccan Government is not the indicated entity to speak about the management of the Muslim community inside Spain and how their leaders should be elected” (so, Tatary, are you feeling your chair moving under you?).
Anyway, this must be the first time I agree with Tatary in something, although of course, not for the same reasons: I am not the president of any Muslim organization There is something to consider,though: the growing number of Moroccan nationals in Spain (after Hispanic-American, they are the main immigrant group in Spain) makes this reaaaaaaaaally interesting for Morocco, who already wants Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands in a expansionist policy, seen always not very disgustedly by France, a traditional Moroccan ally, and by UK, because of Gibraltar (of course, Spain does not have one thousand million Chinese menacing Hong Kong, does it? In that case, the results would have been truly different ).
Meddling in other State’s affairs does not make a country trustworthy. Trying to meddle over an entire community to use it as an assault weapon to break into the fortress is even more untrustworthy. But considering the degree of Zapatero’s alliance with Morocco, this meddling is not completelly unexpected.
(I’m sorry for not posting, but the spring, the flowers and me are not the best of friends ).
An Australian film about Lebanese gangs has been pulled from Greater Union cinemas in Sydney after violent outbursts at early screenings.
The Combination is the first Australian film release of the year and has been receiving rave reviews for its gritty portrayal of life in Sydney’s west.
Set in Sydney’s western suburbs, The Combination follows the story of a Lebanese Australian who gets out of jail, only to find his little brother is following in his footsteps – he’s becoming caught up in the murky world of crime. With a lot of hand-held digital camera work, first-time film director David Field explores the world of the Lebanese-Australian communities of Guildford and Parramatta in a no-frills way; he advertised in local Parramatta papers for some of the young actors. Scriptwriter George Basha, who’s from the area, has also crafted a love story that works well as a central part of the film. Overall, critics are lapping up this local film, saying it’s deep and challenging.
There’s a strong whiff of spaghetti about the lurid climax – obviously conceived with Sergio Leone in mind. So strong is the momentum generated by the rest of the film, however, that you can almost swallow it – Sandra Hall, Sydney Morning Herald
An education expert is warning that some American textbooks present a biased view of Islam and offer a sugarcoated picture of Islamic extremism, a trend that has parents worried about what’s being taught in public schools.
In numerous history textbooks, “key subjects like jihad, Islamic law, the status of women are whitewashed,” said Gilbert T. Sewall, director of the American Textbook Council, an independent group that reviews history books and other education materials.
Cindy Ross, the mother of a junior high school student in Marin County, Calif., said she couldn’t believe her eyes when she read her son’s textbook last school year.
“I was very shocked by what I saw, looking through the book,” she said — shocked at how Islam was portrayed in her son’s seventh grade history text.
“What did strike me was that all the other religions seemed to be lumped together, where there is an inordinate emphasis on Islam specifically,” Ross said.
Well, this is not stricking at all, specially after knowing that both the Catholic Church (Ohhh, Myyyy) and the Muslims have agreed to erase everything which portraits them in a bad light from history books.
Absolutely shameful. Hiding people’s defects is not the best way to promote peace and justice. It’s just the opposite. Inquisitions, witch hunting, etc have existed, whatever the textbook says.
(UPDATE): Always on Watch has more about the US textbooks whitewashing Islamic extremists.
The polemic has been caused by two images of Mohammed, Islam’s prophet, which appear in a History’s text book of the first year of pre-Universitary phase, used in the Spanish institute in Tetouan, Moroccan north.
According to Moroccan newspaper ‘Al Masae’, parents of the alumni of the Secondary Education Institute Juan de la Cierva from Tetouan, have complained to the authorities about the Mohammed’s images. The mayority of Moroccans are Sunni, whose tradition forbids graphic representations of the Prophet.
A high official from the Moroccan Eduaction’s Ministery assured the newspaper they are investigating this to take the necessary measures.
The images contained in “Mohammed, Islam and the Arab World”, published by Spanish firm Anaya, come from the Arab world and are similar to the medieval codes or Bibles’ images which can be found in Europe.
One of the images shows Mohammed teaching his disciples, while in the other the prophet is shown by the Kaaba, the main Islamic sacred place and of pilgrimage.
Well, we continue with the supposedly forbidden images of the Prophet, images which were drawn in the Middle Ages, when they supposedly weren’t forbidden. So what does this lead us? Are we before the Midlle Ages?
Rebel blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin has vowed to die in silence as a sign of protest if he is re-arrested on what many believe are politically motivated grounds. His pledge came as a court was due to rule whether he is to return to prison under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act (ISA),
Raja Petra, who has risen to prominence as a pro-opposition blogger, was arrested on 12 September after accusations lodged by several religious groups who claim that he offended Islam in an article published on 8 August.
He was released on 7 November last year but the government has appealed the court decision and a verdict is expected on Tuesday.
“I shall no longer open my mouth or utter one word during my detention. I shall maintain the silence of a mute person. I shall not sign any documents of the so many documents that they make you sign when under detention,” he said.
He was appearing before the Shah Alam court under Section 4(1) of the 1948 Sedition Act after writing an article about the implication of leaders of the ruling party in the 2006 murder of a young Mongolian woman. He pleaded not guilty at the first hearing of the case.
“The government is abusing the law in order to silence critical voices and to gag free expression,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said.
Raja Petra Kamarudin is being hounded by the courts and could end up serving a very long prison sentence. It is an unacceptable criminalisation of the freedom to reveal facts and opinions”, it said.
He wrote an article in which he accused the Malaysian PM of killing a woman. So he is accused by some religious groups of insulting Islam. And the Government is prosecuting him on sedition charges. (
In only four sheets they explain why they believe it’s necessary this kind of party in Spain. He is a moderate and insists that he supports the Constitution and is Spanish. Rebirth and Union is a party for Muslims but also for ethnics minorities and immigrants: «Brother, sister, go one with the rebirth and the liberation, the consideration of what your situation is and meditate on it. You have to trust in yourself first and afterwards in your party to make your voice heard in the higher places. (…) The moment has come, Spanish Muslim, Arab, African immigrant and non-immigrant to free yourself from humiliation» (hein??? What class of humiliation does he think the immigrants suffer in Spain? Is he advocating for open borders? What is he referring to then?).
The central offices are in Granada, and others will be opened in all Spain to take part in the 2011’s local elections. «I’m sure that in a non-very distant future, not more than 30 years, one of our sons will be Mayor, Minister or even President of the Nation».
He acts like a leader, speaking with a lot of metaphores that wants to mobilize them: «We are wrong and we won’t see ourselves as flies who are stridden by oportunists’ feet. We shouldn’t give any oportunity to those who want to humiliate us or hurt our honor or our personality and then let them touch our beliefs» (But didn’t he say that he was “constitutional and Spanish? Why that conflict with “his personality” and that about “they shouldn’t let [oportunists] touch their beliefs”? Is he referring to peple critisizing their beliefs? People like me, that do not earn a single penny because of this?).
He knew the information was going to see the public light. He could even have calculated its effects: «If this time they want to work, they should support this party’s creation, because in a not very distant future these news will see the light». And he concludes with a prophet’s saying: «That who doesn’t see the light, is a mute Satan».
I’m specially interested in considering two facts: Communist party United Left is against this party’s creation and the same has been said by Granada’s mosques. Why? Regarding United Left, they consider that this can be a competitor and lower (even more) the Communist party’s expectations. But in the case of Granada’s mosques I don’t understand their reasons. He wants to defend his beliefs against oportunists who want to touch his beliefs.
What worries me is that, for example, in Finland, they were very clear about what they wanted (Shariah law, basically, alcohol forbidden, women separated from men in the pools…). Why are they so obscure about their goals? Do they fear a very unfavourable reaction from Non-Muslim population?
Mohammed Fagirad, 30, a vice consul at the Afghanistan Consulate, brutalized his wife inside their Flushing home from about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday until nearly midnight, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
During the attack, Fagirad bit, slapped, choked and beat the 22-year-old woman with a belt, pushed her down a flight of stairs and sat on her chest, prosecutors said.
At one point, prosecutors said, Fagirad threw his wife up against a wall, held her there by the neck and then let her drop to the floor, where he beat her with a belt.
Fagirad told police his “wife was a dog and he was going to treat her like a dog,” prosecutors said.
When Fagirad left the home, his wife fled and went to the 109th Precinct stationhouse, where she filed a domestic violence report, prosecutors said. She then returned home.
When Fagirad returned, he demanded his wife’s cell phone and called police to file a counterclaim, prosecutors said….
“Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them. Surely God is high, supreme.”
A self-proclaimed polygamist was sentenced Friday to seven consecutive life prison terms for torturing seven of his 19 children, abusing four others and imprisoning two of his three wives.
Mansa Musa Muhummed, 55, also was sentenced to additional terms totaling 16 years and eight months by Riverside County Superior Court Judge F. Paul Dickerson III, who said Muhummed’s treatment of his family amounted to “a reign of terror over defenseless children.”
“If his appeals are exhausted and he does not prevail, he will die in prison,” said Peter Morreale, Muhummed’s attorney.
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But to consider the Islamic tradition to beat the wife strongly, just see these videos:
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