Global News Post: Islam

Mali Fighters Destroy More Timbuktu Tombs

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuA5M0xVVBPd7eY8Ubrn7xs6VNGiBethSQAIYRYpJqTQIzrFa0gFj5Be5GLjIuik_MD74hLXkjC_yJyE048x2tpveyqyzV90FPYBNcAsoh5ilMtsr2b_afionvlJxoq9s5hMy1_BRhIQ/s1600/2012122817175688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghuA5M0xVVBPd7eY8Ubrn7xs6VNGiBethSQAIYRYpJqTQIzrFa0gFj5Be5GLjIuik_MD74hLXkjC_yJyE048x2tpveyqyzV90FPYBNcAsoh5ilMtsr2b_afionvlJxoq9s5hMy1_BRhIQ/s320/2012122817175688.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">NNN--- Armed groups occupying <st1:city w:st="on">Timbuktu</st1:city>
in northern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mali</st1:place></st1:country-region>
used pickaxes to smash up any remaining mausoleums in the ancient city, an
Islamist leader said on Dec 27, 2012. The rebels' ruthless implementation of
their version of Islamic law comes just days after the United Nations approved
a military force to wrest back control of the conflict-ridden area. "Not a
single mausoleum will remain in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Timbuktu</st1:place></st1:city>,
Allah doesn't like it," Ansar Dine leader Abou Dardar said". Photo
courtesy agencies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mali Fighters Destroy More Timbuktu Tombs

NNN--- Armed groups occupying Timbuktu in northern Mali used pickaxes to smash up any remaining mausoleums in the ancient city, an ...

New Documentary Portrays Islam as Path to Women's Empowerment

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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By Carolyn Weaver</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="429" scrolling="no" src="http://www.voanews.com/flashembed.aspx?t=vid&id=1556198&w=640&h=429&skin=embeded" width="640"></iframe>A growing number of women in Islamic countries have turned in recent years to serious study of their religion: memorizing the Quran, learning to recite it properly, and studying hadith and other aspects of Islam. An American-made documentary, The Light in Her Eyes, shows how this religious movement can also foster greater freedom for women in traditional societies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The focus of the film, Syrian preacher Houda al-Habash, established her summer Quran School for girls in 1982, when she was just 17. Until the spring of 2012, she held classes on the women's side of a Damascus mosque, where girls memorized the Quran, practiced reciting it, and studied other Islamic teachings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She also supervised religious study classes for girls and women in other parts of the city.

American filmmaker Julia Meltzer, who was teaching journalism at the University of Damascus in 2005, happened to meet al-Habash through a colleague who was studying with her.

"From the moment that I walked into her mosque, I thought, you know, we don't get to see places like this, where girls study Quran with other women who have been trained and studied for a long time," said Meltzer, who made the film with co-director Laura Nix.  
They were struck by how al-Habash merged conservative traditions with progressive ideals for women's greater role in the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She believes that Islam requires women to wear hijab, and that wives should serve their husbands. Yet she also thinks women should be highly educated, and pursue careers and public lives, if they choose, even if it means staying up late to finish their housework, too.

"You are free in your choices, free in your way of thinking, free in your faith, free in everything," she tells a graduating class at her school.

"Women can be teachers and students, women can rule and arbitrate," she says. "Does religious law allow a woman to be president? Yes! Don't shut off your brain," she urges the girls.

"It's a story about just one mosque," Nix explains. "We don't claim to be telling a story [about] the entire region. But at least for the girls and women in Houda's mosque, it's a place for them to go, in a way that's comfortable for their parents. And they're also driven to learn more about their religion, and Houda offers an environment that's very organized, very warm and inclusive and inviting."

Although warm, al-Habash also is a demanding teacher, who urges her students to read more, and study harder in their other classes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Islam regards all learning as a form of worship, she says, adding,"Whenever a human being reads, he benefits and his mind grows."

The Light in Her Eyes includes TV clips of ultraconservative male clerics protesting against women's participation in public life. al-Habash responds in the film by saying that her study of Islam has taught her that they are mistaken.

"Muslims themselves have deprived women of everything, even the right to learn, teach and to enter the mosque," she says firmly. "This is ignorance, which has nothing to do with religion."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b> The Light in Her Eyes Trailer</b></span></div>
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"I started memorizing Quran when I was three years old," al-Khaldi tells the filmmakers. "And I finished memorizing Quran when I was 10. For girls, it is very important to learn what is in Quran, because if you don't really know what is the [truth], you are going to be misled."

Meltzer and co-director Laura Nix finished filming in November 2010, soon before the uprising began. They didn't have government permission to film, so they had to shoot discreetly, especially in the street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"We never felt like we were in danger, but we recognized that at any point, we could be asked to stop shooting," Meltzer said. "The big challenge was for Houda to let us into her life and to let us into the mosque, because the risk was much, much greater for her. If she had been stopped or found out or questioned by the secret police, it could have been very dangerous for her and her family. Or they just might have shut her school down."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why did al-Habash agree to take that risk?  "Houda's interested in having there be a different vision of Islam in the West," Meltzer says. "And she could tell we wanted to be able to give a different story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Occasionally when we were shooting something, she'd say, 'Oh no, you're not allowed to use that.' But when we included that in the final film, she didn't say anything. At the Dubai premiere, she came with her entire family, and she said she's really proud of the film, and feels it tells a truthful story about her."

The film had its U.S. broadcast premiere on the public television series POV.---VOA News
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New Documentary Portrays Islam as Path to Women's Empowerment

By Carolyn Weaver A growing number of women in Islamic countries have turned in recent years to serious study of their religion: mem...

Hajj Pilgrims Reflect on Regional Conflicts

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of Muslim have been arriving in the Saudi city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mecca</st1:place></st1:city> for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">As
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 <st1:placename w:st="on">Arafat</st1:placename></st1:place>, a sea of pilgrims
began converging on the region.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Adnan
Terkawi, from <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">Syria</st1:country>, had
thoughts for peace throughout the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"I
supplicate to God for calm in all Arab and Muslim countries, and in <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country> in
particular. I hope that <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country>
will return to normal as a safe and secure country," he confided.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Other
pilgrims were basking in the significance of the Hajj, which is one of the
pillars of Islam and is considered the ultimate act of worship for Muslims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Sahar
Hanafi, from <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country>,
has been planning this trip for years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"I
have been hoping to come [to Hajj] for five years," she said. "I cry
when I see the pilgrims on television. At long last I'm here, I feel that the
wordly life in nothing." she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Others
shared Sahar's excitement for making the Hajj pilgrimage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"This
is the big day in my life and I feel too much holy and too much happy.  We don't have feeling to express this, how
much I feel," said Mohammad Makbul, a Pakistani pilgrim.  <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Amneh
Shamari, a young pilgrim from <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country>,
is also very excited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Today
is the climax of the great Hajj, the best day," she said.   <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Muslims
are expected to make at least one visit to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mecca</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
Hajj observance is in the midst of a five day run, which began on Wednesday. ---VOA
News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Hajj Pilgrims Reflect on Regional Conflicts

Thousands of Muslim have been arriving in the Saudi city of Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. As the sun rose over Mount Ar...

Islamic Nations Relinquish Demand for Defamation Laws

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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the wake of a
U.N. resolution condemning discrimination on the basis of religion, the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation has stopped pushing for an international
treaty banning the defamation of religion. 
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The 57-member
confederation of Muslim countries has lobbied for years for an international
treaty that would outlaw blasphemy against Islam and other religions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ufuk Gokcen, the
OIC's Permanent Observer to the U.N., played a key role in that effort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But the Turkish
diplomat said the OIC is now satisfied with U.N. Human Rights Council
Resolution 16/18 adopted last year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I don't see
any attempt to go back to the old controversy over defamation and
blasphemy," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">U.S. Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton has said Resolution 16/18 recognizes that free expression
plays an important role in bolstering religious tolerance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gokcen says that is
correct.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"What
Resolution 16/18 achieved is exactly that, that we put the emphasis - instead
of the protection of the concept of religion - to protection of rights of
individual believers, and I believe this framework is compatible with the First
Amendment as well," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The First Amendment
of the U.S. Constitution protects free speech, including blasphemy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gokcen says he
accepts that it prevented <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country>
authorities from taking down a recent anti-Muslim Internet video produced in
the <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country>
that triggered a wave of violence in Muslim countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I believe
that in the age of communication and the Internet you cannot stop this type of
insulting or denigrating videos or books or publications by criminalizing. The
best way to combat this issue would be to develop a kind of understanding, a
mutual understanding among the international community, that we should not
insult each other, and we should not defame each other. Of course, this
requires a long-term cooperation and promotion of understanding," he said.  <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Critics of the OIC
say it should focus its efforts on the racist portrayals of Jews in Arab
newspapers and school textbooks as well as attacks against Christians in some
predominately Muslim countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gokcen says that in
its advocacy efforts the OIC treats anti-Semitic and anti-Christian prejudice
as seriously as Islamophobia. ---VOA News</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Islamic Nations Relinquish Demand for Defamation Laws

By Gabe Joselow In the wake of a U.N. resolution condemning discrimination on the basis of religion, the Organization of Islami...

Millions of Pilgrims Head to Mina As Hajj 2012 Officially Kicks Off

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MINA
(MALLAH) (NNN-AGENCIES) - Millions of pilgrims arrived this week in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mecca</st1:place></st1:city> for Islam’s annual Hajj
(pilgrimage), which officially starts on Wednesday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Around
four million pilgrims were heading to Mina, where they will spend their night
before heading to the Mount of Arafat in the early hours of Thursday, according
to Al Arabiya.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Many
pilgrims began leaving for Mina on Tuesday night after circumambulating the
Holy Kaaba, the first house of worship on Earth, built by Adam. Prophet Ibrahim
and his son Ismail rebuilt it some 5,000 years ago. Most Hajj rituals are
related to Prophet Ibrahim, his wife Siti Hajar and his son Prophet Ismail, and
thus reflect the unity of humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
Saudi government has given top priority to the security and safety of pilgrims
and has deployed thousands of security forces in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mecca</st1:place></st1:city>, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, all
cities within a radius of 10 kilometres, to ensure a safe and secure Hajj.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A
statement by the Saudi Interior Ministry on Tuesday said that pilgrims were
being transported to Mina smoothly without any obstacles, the official Saudi
Press Agency reported.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Millions
of pilgrims will spend their night at Mina before heading to the Mount of
Arafat in the early hours of Thursday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
Grand Mosque, the focal point of the Islamic faith, was already teeming with
joyful pilgrims at dawn on Monday, wearing the simple white folds of cloth
prescribed for Haj, many of them having slept on the white marble paving
outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“I
feel proud to be here because it’s a visual message that Muslims are united.
People speaking in all kind of languages pray to the one God,” said Fahmi
Mohammed al-Nemr, 52, from <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Hajj
must be performed at least once in their lifetime by all Muslims capable of
making the expensive, difficult journey, a duty that applies equally to Sunni
and Shiite Muslims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Saudi
leaders have emphasised it is a strictly religious occasion and they are
prepared to deal with any troublemaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Last
year, nearly 3 million pilgrims performed the Hajj, with roughly a third from
inside the conservative kingdom. The Saudi authorities said there have so far
been 1.7 million arrivals from abroad and about 200,000 from inside <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Saudi Arabia</st1:place></st1:country>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Mecca</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">’s merchants, famed across the Arab world,
are already doing a thriving trade as pilgrims stock up on souvenirs such as
prayer beads and mats, Qurans, dates, gold and Zamzam water, pumped from a holy
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The
first time I saw the Kaaba I cried with joy. I prayed for myself and all
Muslims,” said Nafisa Rangrez, 36, from Gujarat in India, who had waited five
years for a Hajj visa, according to Reuters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">All
Muslims must face towards the Kaaba, the huge black cube at the centre of the
Grand Mosque, five times a day for prayer, making a visit to the sanctuary a
powerful experience. Pilgrims must circle it seven times when they arrive in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mecca</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Wednesday
is the first official day of the pilgrimage, with Muslims following a set form
of rites laid out by the Prophet Mohammed and culminating on Friday with the
Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice), a holiday across the Islamic world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“I
would love to live here for the rest of my life. There’s no such place in the
entire world. This is a blessed country,” said Ziad Adam, 23, a theology
student from <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kenya</st1:place></st1:country>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“It’s
my first time in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mecca</st1:place></st1:city>
for pilgrimage. I can’t wait to pray in Arafat,” 32-year-old Koara Abdul
Rahman, a businessman from <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Burkina
  Faso</st1:place></st1:country>, told AFP.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Right
now, I’ve got all the good feelings you can think of,” said an Iranian pilgrim,
her voice quivering and tears welling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Saudi Arabia</span></st1:place></st1:country><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">’s king is formally titled Custodian of the
Two Holy Mosques and the ruling family has long reigned on its guardianship of
Islam’s birthplace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Over
the past decade it has spent billions of dollars expanding the Grand Mosque and
building new infrastructure to avert the stampedes and tent fires that marred
past pilgrimages with hundreds of deaths. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In
2011, <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Saudi Arabia</st1:place></st1:country>
began the biggest expansion yet of the Grand Mosque, to increase its capacity
to 2 million. A new railway will link the holy sites around <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mecca</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">This
year alone, the kingdom spent more than 1.1 billion riyals (US$293.3 million)
on development projects in the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, all
outside <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mecca</st1:place></st1:city>,
according to AFP. --NNN-AGENCIES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Millions of Pilgrims Head to Mina As Hajj 2012 Officially Kicks Off

MINA (MALLAH) (NNN-AGENCIES) - Millions of pilgrims arrived this week in Mecca for Islam’s annual Hajj (pilgrimage), which officiall...

PAKISTAN: Sectarian Violence Slipping Out of Control in Balochistan

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hbxvFC7akooKaqpmGFbM38aynWwFKGgljRAlNfTQnH6odYd8BLpngHXVvIMXJKBF-yigthyphenhyphen7zAg6avgrfTBjeJRS2MZnZ6QNTnSH_CJ39MMZtWgTtxoBTf3TN-9TX-1kMHgdcej501M/s1600/201111170827050625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hbxvFC7akooKaqpmGFbM38aynWwFKGgljRAlNfTQnH6odYd8BLpngHXVvIMXJKBF-yigthyphenhyphen7zAg6avgrfTBjeJRS2MZnZ6QNTnSH_CJ39MMZtWgTtxoBTf3TN-9TX-1kMHgdcej501M/s1600/201111170827050625.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Photo: <a href="http://www.irinnews.org/photo/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kamila Hyat/IRIN</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Relatives of missing persons stage <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">a protest in Balochistan<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">QUETTA,Pakistan (IRIN) - Ethnic and religious minorities in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan have faced increasing intimidation and violence since 2009, according to a recent</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">fact-finding mission</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">“Settlers” i.e. people who have settled in the province and are not of Baloch ethnicity (a term used by Balochi nationalists even for people whose ancestors came to the region before the Pakistani state was created in 1947) are being targeted.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Heavy locks on two empty houses in a residential suburb of Quetta, the provincial capital, stand as a testimony to what is happening - in this case the occupants chose to vacate their properties quietly in the dead of night.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">“These persons were `settlers’ in Balochistan, from the Punjab. They were good people; we had known them for years, but they had to leave because it is no longer safe for people from other provinces to live in Balochistan,” a neighbour who asked not to be named, told IRIN.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">With violence increasing in 2010, the central government informed the country’s Senate that</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">100,000</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">people had fled Balochistan. According to HRCP, thousands more have fled since then. At least 2,000 “settler” children have been taken out of school by their parents since 2011, the HRCP report says.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">About half of Balochistan’s 7.8 million people are non-Baloch; they live mainly in Quetta and Pakhtoon-dominated areas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">“My family has lived in Quetta since the 1930s. It is the only home I know. But things are getting too dangerous for anyone who is non-Baloch,” said Khawar Jhandro, an ethnic Sindhi.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">The teacher, 40, said he had already moved his family to Karachi, as “I was terrified about the safety of my children who were asked their ethnicity even at school.”</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">The problem, according to Tahir Hussain Khan, a Quetta-based lawyer and human rights activist, is tied to the nationalist struggle by Baloch groups, which began in the 1950s but intensified after the 2006 killing of a key Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Baloch Baloch, a spokesman for the nationalist Baloch Republican Army, an armed militia fighting for autonomy of the region, told IRIN over the telephone: “We believe Balochistan should be mainly for the Baloch people and not be taken over by those who have moved in from outside and settled here… Balochistan’s resources have been taken away by the Punjab, aided by the central government.”</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">HRCP says underdevelopment is one of the factors driving the grievances. According to official statistics, the province is the country’s poorest with the lowest literacy rate (30 percent).</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">According to the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">South Asian Terrorism Portal</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">which bases its data on media reports and is run by the New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management, 711 persons, including civilians, nationalist militants and personnel from security forces were killed in</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">Balochistan</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">in 2011, and 347 the previous year. HRCP reported the discovery of 57 bodies of people who had gone missing from various parts of the province in 2012 alone.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Sectarian violence has also started to target the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">Hazara, a Shiite minority. Sardar Saadat Ali, chief of the Hazara community in Balochistan, told IRIN: “Our protests are ignored. The extremists targeting us on a sectarian basis just escape, scot-free.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Balochs also targeted<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Even the Balochi nationalists themselves have become a target and many have gone missing. “There are at least 500 or more missing persons in the province,” Baloch Baloch told IRIN. According to the HRCP report, the disappearance of 198 people has been officially recorded since 2000.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">A</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">2010 report</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span">by Human Rights Watch said the Frontier Corps (FC), a paramilitary organization commanded by Pakistan’s military, was behind many of the disappearances.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><table align="right" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MediumShading2" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 6.0pt; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: -.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-table-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-table-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-table-bspace: 6.0pt; mso-table-left: right; mso-table-lspace: 8.25pt; mso-table-rspace: 8.25pt; mso-table-top: middle; mso-table-tspace: 1.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 220px;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: -1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">   <td style="background: black; border-bottom: solid windowtext 2.25pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid windowtext 2.25pt; mso-background-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 8.25pt; mso-element-frame-vspace: 1.5pt; mso-element-left: right; mso-element-top: middle; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-yfti-cnfc: 517; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: background1;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">    <v:stroke joinstyle="miter">    <v:formulas>     <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0">     <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0">     <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1">     <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2">     <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth">     <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight">     <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1">     <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2">     <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth">     <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0">     <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight">     <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0">    </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas>    <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f">    <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit">   </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="''" id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 17.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">    <v:imagedata o:title="''" src="file:///C:\Users\GHAZAN~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg">   </v:imagedata></v:shape></span></b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: background1;">My family   has lived in Quetta since the 1930s. It is the only home I know. But things   are getting too dangerous for anyone who is non-Baloch<b><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape alt="''" id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 13.5pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 17.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">    <v:imagedata o:title="''" src="file:///C:\Users\GHAZAN~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg">   </v:imagedata></v:shape></span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></td>  </tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The central government is concerned that it is losing control of the region. The country’s top court,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">hearing a case</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">regarding law and order in Balochistan brought before it by NGOs and families of the missing, has repeatedly ordered the provincial government to take action. So has the prime minister. But these interventions, backed by the military muscle of the FC are seen by some as interfering in local affairs.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">“Basically, the FC has seized all control, follows its own plans and does not allow us to function,” a senior police officer in Quetta, who asked not to be named, told IRIN.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">“The military has intervened too often in the affairs of Balochistan, handicapping civilian rule,” said I.A. Rehman, secretary-general of the HRCP. Balochistan has a long history of military intervention against those fighting for more autonomy, dating back to the 1950s.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fear</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">The result of this administrative disarray is fear. Tens of thousands across Balochistan are affected.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">“It is unsafe to go out of the house after 4 or 5pm. I, in fact, try not to let my college-going sons leave the house at any time, except for their studies, because I am afraid they may be `picked up’ as nationalists or get caught up in some terrorist incident,” said Shaista Bibi, a mother of three - and an ethnic Baloch.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">An ethnic Pakhtoon mother was just as fearful. “We will have to leave here soon. It is no longer safe for my four young children,” said Ameera Gul, 30, who had moved to Balochistan from Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Province 10 years ago. The family is now planning to leave as soon as it can.</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

PAKISTAN: Sectarian Violence Slipping Out of Control in Balochistan

Photo: Kamila Hyat/IRIN Relatives of missing persons stage a protest in Balochistan QUETTA,Pakistan (IRIN) - Ethnic and religious mino...

Anti-U.S. Protests Continue in Muslim World over Film

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe frameborder="0" height="429" scrolling="no" src="http://www.voanews.com/flashembed.aspx?t=vid&id=1508510&w=640&h=429&skin=embeded" width="640"></iframe><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BEIJING (NNN-Xinhua) -- A new wave of protests and assaults against U.S. diplomatic missions erupted in the Muslim world after Friday prayers, when people continued to vent their anger over an American film that was deemed an insult to Prophet Mohammed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In central Cairo, clashes continued around the U.S. embassy with hundreds of protesters hurling stones to the police. The Health Ministry said 27 people were injured, bringing the toll to 251 since protests erupted Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The police have arrested 94 protesters and used teargas to disperse those surrounding the embassy, according to state TV.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Several Coptic movements also participated in the protests in central Cairo's Tahrir Square, carrying banners asking for criminalizing the acts of offending religions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Protests also spread to the U.S. consulate in Alexandria and the headquarters of international peacekeeping force in north Sinai.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At least four peacekeepers were injured when gunmen attacked the headquarters of the international peacekeeping force, a peacekeeping official told Xinhua.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Peacekeepers and militant protesters exchanged fire and protesters set one car and the camp's monitoring tower ablaze.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Tunis, at least three protesters were killed in clashes, after a massive demonstration outside the U.S. embassy in the country, the official TAP news agency said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile, TAP said some 20 people were injured in the clashes between security forces and protesters.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some protesters managed to climb over a wall into the embassy and set a lot of cars ablaze. Heavy smoke was seen above the embassy, and security forces were seen firing rubber bullets and using teargas to disperse the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scene to rescue the injured and put out the fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some of the protesters, who gathered after the Friday prayers, told Xinhua that they want to force the U.S. ambassador to Tunisia to come out and demand the release of the demonstrators who were arrested earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile, local witnesses said another group of angry youngsters also set ablaze an American school which is close to the U.S. embassy in Tunis, causing heavy property damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Lebanon's northern port city of Tripoli, at least one person was killed and 25 others injured in clashes between angry youngsters and security forces.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Protesters in front of a KFC restaurant hurled stones at security forces and set the restaurant on fire, the National News Agency reported.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A number of worshipers also gathered in Tripoli after Friday prayers, waving black flags and calling to expel the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Similar rallies were also held in Lebanon's cities of Taalabaya and Zahle following the prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, at least three people were killed as protesters tried to gain access to the U.S. embassy there.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The three dead were reportedly all protesters who were hit by a police vehicle as they attempted to force their way into the U.S. embassy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Witnesses said nearly 10,000 protesters were heading to the U.S. embassy, which had already been heavily guarded by Sudanese troops and police. Some U.S. Marine soldiers were also seen protecting the embassy building.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Friday, protests also hit Iran, Jordan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama vowed to "stand fast" against the recent wave of violence targeting American diplomatic missions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Addressing a home-coming ceremony held at the Andrews Air Force Base near Washington D.C. for the remains of four Americans killed on Tuesday night in the Libyan city of Benghazi, the solemn-faced president said: "Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. We will bring to justice those who took them from us."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"We will stand fast against the violence on our diplomatic missions," he added, pledging to "continue to do everything in our power" to protect Americans serving overseas. -- NNN-XINHUA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Anti-U.S. Protests Continue in Muslim World over Film

BEIJING (NNN-Xinhua) -- A new wave of protests and assaults against U.S. diplomatic missions erupted in the Muslim world after Friday pr...

Indian Muslims Protest against Movie at U.S. Consulate

Indian Muslims Protest against Movie at U.S. Consulate

NEW DELHI, (NNN-Xinhua) -- Muslim protesters pelted stones and footwear at the U.S. consulate in Chennai, southern India, on Friday to pr...

Egypt Prepares for Holiest Month

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">By Margaret Besheer<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="360" scrolling="no" src="http://www.voanews.com/flashembed.aspx?t=vid&id=1441412&w=640&h=360&skin=embeded" width="640"></iframe><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">CAIRO — Ramadan, the holiest month of the year for the world's 1 billion Muslims, begins with the new moon expected in most of the world on July 20. It marks the start of a month of fasting, reflective prayer and helping the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In Egypt, observers have their own take on the centuries-old customs, including the traditional daily fast from sunrise to sunset as an expression of self-sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Islamic scholar Sheikh Mahmoud Ashour explains that Ramadan is much more than just abstaining from food and drink.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"In between fasting and praying we read the Quran, and they are the words of God Almighty," Ashour said. "And the Prophet Muhammad said whoever wants God to talk to him, let him read the Quran, so throughout Ramadan we do nothing but talk to God and God talks to us."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Many Muslims break their fast with dates and water.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At a bustling market in the Cairo district of Al Sayeda Zeinab, date sellers like Ahmed hope to attract customers by naming the varieties for sale after belly dancers, movie stars and more recently, political movements and figures.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"Last year we called them [Hosni] Mubarak, Habib al Adli, Alaa Mubarak, Suzanne Mubarak," he said. "This year we named them [President Mohamed] Morsi, the 25th of January, the Revolution, Tahrir [Square], demonstrators, according to the events we are going through."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He said the names do not always help sales.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"No, these are just names. The buyer chooses according to the date's taste," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Although it is a month for spiritual renewal, many people also festively decorate and spend more money and care preparing food for their loved ones, such as Fawzia.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"I spend it like any Muslim spends it," she said. "We have good days, we pray and fast. We make nice food and invite friends and family and we are also invited."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Egyptian parents also buy colorful lanterns called fanous for their children to play with after breaking the day's fast, singing rhymes and asking for treats.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"We fast and pray and wake up in the night to pray, and we buy lanterns for the children," said Abdel Hakim.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But all the faithful spend the month in reflective prayer, for Muslims believe this was the month God revealed the first chapters of their holy book to the Prophet Muhammad. ---VOA News</span></div>

Egypt Prepares for Holiest Month

By Margaret Besheer CAIRO — Ramadan, the holiest month of the year for the world's 1 billion Muslims, begins with the new moon ex...

India: Supreme Court Orders End to Hajj Subsidies

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">By Kurt Achin from New Delhi</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">India's Supreme Court has ordered the government to do away with a program that subsidizes Muslims in their most sacred journey. Still, many of the country's Muslims are fine with the decision. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">In this week's ruling, India's highest court said the subsidy for the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca known as the Hajj "is best done away with." If all the facts were known, the ruling continues, many Muslims "would not be very comfortable that their Hajj is funded to a substantial extent by the government.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Islam calls upon all of its followers to make a journey to the Saudi Arabian city and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad at least once in their lives, if they can afford it. Indigent Muslims are excused from the duty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Indian history is punctuated with episodes of tensions between majority Hindus and minority Muslims. Still, many Muslim leaders say they are fine with the court's decision to scrap the Hajj subsidy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Zafarul Islam Khan, the president of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (an umbrella body of Indian Muslim organizations), sees the subsidy as an indirect way for India's government to fund its cash-starved national airline.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">"Muslims in general are not in favor of the Hajj subsidy," said Khan. "We consider the subsidy as a subsidy to Air India and not to the Muslim community."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The practice of providing subsidies to Muslims began in 1973, when India's government abolished sea travel as an means of making the Hajj. At that time, the government began making up the difference between sea and air fares.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Khan says the decision was politically motivated from the very start.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">"Actually we didn't demand subsidy any day but the government insisted on this just to show to normal and ordinary voters, Muslim voters, that they are doing a favor," said Khan. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">An estimated 100,000 Indian Muslim pilgrims a year benefit from subsidized travel. Arman Khalid Hashmi went on the Hajj in 2011, and feels that a journey without government help would still be perfectly consistent with Islam.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">"As a Muslim, it should be our money invested in Hajj," said Arman. "So if it is done away, it doesn't matter for us."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">For many Indians, the strongest argument for ending the Hajj subsidy is that the country's constitution defines India as a secular republic -- with no special favoritism for any one religious faith group. The Supreme Court says the subsidy should be eliminated within ten years. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Neha Sethi contributed to this report.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India: Supreme Court Orders End to Hajj Subsidies

By Kurt Achin from New Delhi India's Supreme Court has ordered the government to do away with a program that subsidizes Muslims in th...

National Fatwa Committee: 'Haram' to Join Demos That Lead to Chaos, Riots

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SEPANG, Malaysia (NNN-Bernama) -- The National Fatwa Committee has decided that it is "haram" (not permissible) for Muslims to participate in any gathering or demonstration that is unproductive, is against the law or causes disturbance in the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It chairman Prof Emeritus Dr Abdul Shukor Husin said the committee viewed seriously this issue as some Muslims had resorted to rioting during street demonstrations as happened in the federal capital on April 28. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"Rioting, causing disturbances and damaging public property are all forbidden by Islam. This also applies to any intention to topple a duly elected government by organising such demonstrations. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"No one is exempted, and cannot support any efforts that can cause harm, anxiety or unrest among Muslims to the point of the community becoming split, what more if there is bloodshed," he told reporters after chairing the 99th meeting of the committee here today. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As such, he said Muslims who participated in such demonstrations must repent because Islam never called on its followers to resort to any action that could threaten people's lives just to pursue a specific agenda. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Abdul Shukor said as the country practised democracy, much more useful discussion channels could be implemented without having to sacrifice the peace in the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">He said the meeting also discussed the issue of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders and decided that no fatwa (edict) was needed on it as it was clearly "haram" in Islam. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Besides avoiding unnatural sex, Abdul Shukor also reminded Muslims not to be directly or indirectly involved in any movement or campaign that supported LGBTs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"Even showing support or sympathy (for LGBTs) is "haram". It is the duty of all Muslims to rid this menace and if we support something that is not good, it can be said we are abbetting it which is a sin," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">He added that idolising leaders who supported LGBTs should also be avoided because Islam itself had listed the qualities to look for in a leader which among others were good morals, piety, being knowledgeable and trustworthy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">He said the meeting also called on the authorities to act to stop the menace (LGBTs) from spreading. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On another note, Abdul Shukor also advised leaders, individuals and the media to stop openly revealing detestable things allegedly committed by certain parties as Islam prohibted this and that it was better to leave it to the authorities to handle. -- NNN-BERNAMA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

National Fatwa Committee: 'Haram' to Join Demos That Lead to Chaos, Riots

SEPANG, Malaysia (NNN-Bernama) -- The National Fatwa Committee has decided that it is "haram" (not permissible) for Muslims to...

Sunni Uproar over Iraq’s Shiite Wax Museum

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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDnHJJSfG8ssrKjGMhr46LioWHzmc929JCx0Xkb2khbRLxyJJTHLqDJEXmcw9qOu-n74SZ6f2s7gjw3vJNZwktQPpI2pEnlh8WkLePq7TFsfeQDkYrVu1ROKlecyCBGhyphenhyphenfeJhR-835VM/s1600/2012032212554233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDnHJJSfG8ssrKjGMhr46LioWHzmc929JCx0Xkb2khbRLxyJJTHLqDJEXmcw9qOu-n74SZ6f2s7gjw3vJNZwktQPpI2pEnlh8WkLePq7TFsfeQDkYrVu1ROKlecyCBGhyphenhyphenfeJhR-835VM/s1600/2012032212554233.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NNN--- A man arranges the clothing on a wax figure – one of the many such figures depicting some of Shiite Muslims’ most beloved clerics at the soon-to-be opened Najaf Wax Museum. The exhibits, aimed at paying tribute to this Iraqi holy city’s contributions to culture, have been dipped in controversy as some Sunnis decry the figures as heretical and a violation of Islamic law. The wax figures, which portray bearded clerics in turbans and politicians in freshly ironed suits, were originally intended to be part of festivities connected to the city being named the 2012 Islamic Capital of Culture. Photo courtesy dailystar.lb---NNN<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Sunni Uproar over Iraq’s Shiite Wax Museum

NNN--- A man arranges the clothing on a wax figure – one of the many such figures depicting some of Shiite Muslims’ most beloved clerics...

Rise in Number of Mosques in US Since 2000

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">WASHINGTON (NNN-KUNA) - The total number of mosques increased at a "tremendous rate" across the United States in the past decade, a report showed yesterday</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A report issued by the US Mosque Survey 2011 indicated that the number of mosques and mosque participants continued to show "significant" growth</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The US Mosque Survey 2011 counted a total of 2,106 mosques compared to 1, 209 in the year 2000, which is a 74 percent increase from 2000</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The report showed that Muslims who attended Eid Prayers also increased from about two million in 2000 to about 2.6 million last year</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to the report, the vast majority of mosques are located in metropolitan areas but the percentage of mosques in urban areas is decreasing while the percentage of mosques in suburban areas is increasing</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In 2000, 16 percent of mosques were located in suburbs compared to 28 percent in 2011</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over 98 percent of mosque leaders agree that Muslims should be involved in American institutions; and 91 percent agree that Muslims should be involved in politics," the report said</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It added that "the vast majority of mosque leaders do not feel that overall American society is hostile to Islam," where only 25 percent of mosque leaders last year believe that American society is hostile to Islam, compared to 54 percent in the year 2000</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Survey said that the emergence of new mosques can be attributed to a number of factors, such as "the increased number of Muslim refugees and new immigrant groups has led them to establish their own mosques where they can feel more comfortable in their own language and cultural environment</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">--NNN-KUNA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Rise in Number of Mosques in US Since 2000

WASHINGTON (NNN-KUNA) - The total number of mosques increased at a "tremendous rate" across the United States in the past decade...

Kazan Koran Recognized by Guinness as World’s Biggest

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">KAZAN (RIA Novosti)--- The Koran at Kazan’s Qolsharif Mosque has been awarded a Guinness World Records certificate as the world’s largest, Tatarstan’s state councilor Mintimer Shaimiyev said on Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This edition is 150x200 centimeters, has 632 pages and weighs 800 kilograms. It is printed on Scotland paper. The cover is made of malachite and semi-precious stones and is encrusted with phyanite, jade, gold and silver leaf.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“We have received a Guinness World Records certificate saying that our Koran is the largest printed version in the world,” Shaimiyev said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The holy book was placed at Qolsharif Mosque last November.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In June, it will be transferred to Bolgary in Tatarstan and will be deposited in a building erected to commemorate the adoption of Islam as the state religion of Volga Bulgaria in 922.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Kazan Koran Recognized by Guinness as World’s Biggest

KAZAN (RIA Novosti)--- The Koran at Kazan’s Qolsharif Mosque has been awarded a Guinness World Records certificate as the world’s largest, ...

Muslims Demand Resignation of New York’s Top Cop

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>By Peter Fedynsky from New York, NY</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="305" src="http://www.voanews.com/templates/widgetDisplay.html?id=138191004&player=article" width="480"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The screening of an anti-Muslim film for nearly 1,500 New York Police officers has sparked a call for the resignation of the city's police commissioner.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A coalition of Muslim groups is calling for Police Commissioner Ray Kelly's dismissal. Kelly appears in the controversial documentary The Third Jihad, widely available on Youtube. It portrays even ordinary Muslims as suspects in a radical Islamic quest to destroy Western civilization and take control of the United States.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“About 18 percent, at last count, of prisoners in New York State are Islamic,” he stated.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Police officials initially denied using the film at training sessions.  But a Freedom of Information request revealed documents confirming such use.  Kelly has issued an apology and enjoys the support of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Commissioner Kelly should not step down," Bloomberg said. "I think it’s fair to say that it was a little bit of an embarrassment that this film was made.”</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Activists say actions, not apologies are needed, first of all Kelly’s resignation or dismissal.  Shahid Farooqi represents the Islamic Circle of North America, an organization of mostly South Asian Muslims.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Second is [an] independent investigation.  The third is to start respecting our Muslim community members,” Farooqi demanded. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Third Jihad is filled with images of Muslim violence accompanied by threatening rhetoric and music.  It was produced by the Clarion Fund, a conservative non-profit organization and played on a continuous loop in the last quarter of 2010 on the sidelines of police counterterrorism training sessions.  Muslim activists say the documentary poisoned the minds of New York City Police officers.  They demand that those officers be retrained.  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An earlier controversy over alleged random police surveillance of New York’s Muslim community triggered protests and also a boycott by some Muslim clerics of Mayor Bloomberg’s annual prayer breakfast. ---VOA News</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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Muslims Demand Resignation of New York’s Top Cop

By Peter Fedynsky from New York, NY The screening of an anti-Muslim film for nearly 1,500 New York Police officers has sparked a call...