Its Time to wake up for momineen
A handbomb Blasted in AlMurtaza Book Center Gilgit…. 4 badly Injured it is a vivid conspiracy against Shiyane Hyder e Karar it is just to creat hurdles in upcoming elections… we ask for reunion of Shia community…
and strongly condemn this act…
Monthly Archives: September 2009
Pakistani Shia-Sunni Observes anniversary of the demolition of the Jannatul Baqee
Scholars, groups and supporters of the Shia and Sunni faiths observed Condemnation Day on Monday to mark the anniversary of the demolition of the holy shrines and graves of the wives and companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Madinah’s Jannatul Baqee graveyard in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, Jafaria Alliance, Imamia Students Organisation, Khoja (Pirhai) Shia Isna Asheri Jamaat, Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya’s Hamid Mousavi group and other organisations held conferences, and staged protest demonstrations and mourning processions on MA Jinnah Road and outside the Karachi Press Club.
Leaders of the protesting groups and custodians of the shrines vowed to continue their struggle until the reconstruction of the holy shrines and graves.
“Many holy shrines and graves were razed on the orders of Saudi Wahhabi King,” said one of the protestors. Another conference on the protection of the graveyard and other holy shrines was held under the aegis of JA on Khorasan Road.
Former senator Allama Abbas Kumaili, JUP leader Qazi Ahmed Noorani Siddiqui, Maulana Hussain Masoodi, Khuwaja Amin Nizami, Allama Ali Karar Naqvi, Khuwaja Adnan Nizami and others demanded the Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud to reconstruct the tombs of IMAM HASAN B. ALI (2ND IMAM), IMAM ALI B. AL-HUSAYN (4TH IMAM), IMAM MUHAMMAD B. ALI (5TH IMAM), & IMAM JA’FAR B. MUHAMMAD (6TH IMAM), PEACE BE UPON THEM, and also the holy shrines of the Prophet’s (PBUH) wives and his companions, in Jannatul Baqee and Makkah’s Jannatul Mualla (Mecca).
Addressing the protestors’ gathering, the speakers said that emblems and the tombs of holy personages at Jannat al-Mualla (Makkah) where the Holy Prophet (s)’s mother, wife, grandfather and other ancestors are buried, while their protection, defence, renovation and construction was in accordance with the Shariah, and therein lay the success, supremacy and survival of the Islamic world. “These holy places are the assets of the whole Islamic Ummah and every honourable nation defends its assets,” said Kumaili.
Siddiqui urged King Abdullah to play his role in the reconstruction.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has successfully tested lng range Shahab-3 and Sejil missiles in the third stage of a defense drill in a bid to bolster its defense capabilities.
The missiles were launched on Monday as part of an advanced military exercise named The Great Prophet IV which was carried out by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
The optimized Shahab-3 has a range of 1,300 to 2,000 kilometers.
The Sejil is a two-stage missile powered by solid fuel which was tested by the IRGC for the first time in the maneuver.
Both of the projectiles accurately hit their designated targets.
The IRGC successfully test-fired several models of medium-range Shahab-1 and Shahab-2 missiles during the first and second stages of military drill in central Iran Sunday night.
A number of missiles including Iranian-made Fateh-110, a short-range ground-to-ground missile and Tondar-69, a short-range naval missile, were also launched consecutively at mock targets across the country in the first stage of the military drill on Sunday morning.
According to the IRGC Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the Shahab-2 missiles would hit targets at least 300 kilometers and at the most 700 kilometers away.
“The Great Prophet IV” maneuver is a sequel to “The Great Prophet III” which was carried out last year by the IRGC naval and ground forces in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz region.
Yemeni Army bomb Shia civilians in north
In a new assault, the Yemeni military has bombarded residential areas in the Shia-populated north, killing and wounding dozens and destroying homes.
According to Houthi resistance, the military planes “deliberately” targeted residential areas in Baghem district as well as Dammaj in Saada province, leaving dozens of civilians dead or wounded.
In south Saada, according to the Houthis, a military armored vehicle was destroyed by the Shias.
The leader of Yemeni Shias, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has accused the government of discriminating against his people, vowing to continue the fight as long as attacked by the army forces.
“(The war) is part of the official discrimination, marginalization and separation practiced against us as a social group described by the authorities as a minority,” al-Huthi said in a statement on Sunday.
“The war, the destruction and the arrests … are being waged against our culture,” he said, adding that the government detains Zaidis “on ethnic and sectarian grounds”.
In an effort to crush the Zaidi Shias, the government launched an offensive against the mountainous north, leaving hundreds of civilians dead and thousands of others displaced.
The government who has so far failed to observe two ceasefires in the region, warned earlier that it will not backtrack, even if the war takes five or six years. The Yemeni president had announced, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, that the war with the Shias would be over in two weeks.
Ayatollah Jafar Subhani: Jannat al-Baqee must be Freed
Ayatollah Subhani, a religious authority, said: “The Muslims of the world want the rules of Najd and Hijaz to free shrines of the holy ones. We want them to allow the lovers of the Ahl ul Bayt (pbut) to be able to calmly rebuild their graves.”
Ayatollah Subhani stated at the beginning of his principles of jurisprudence class in holy Qom: “The anniversary of the destruction of the Imam’s graves in the Baqi’ Cemetery is a second Ashura. The hatred that the Shia have for the culprits of this tragedy must be expressed to the world. 85 years ago an ignorant and misguided Wahhabi armies attacked the graves of the Imams and over respected individuals with hammers and shovels. They leveled the graves.”
He continued: “The Askariyan shrine, which was destroyed by the same culprits, was a place where the Imam and his mother would worship. It is a culture in the world to have the graves of prophets or huge personalities placed in high buildings showing respect. The graves of various prophets in Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq are proofs of this.”
Furthermore he said: “Unfortunately the Arabs of Najd are far from Islamic culture. They have destroyed the instances of the verse “Say, I don’t ask anything in return from you accept love of my family.”
IRANI PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS TO THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
Secretary General, Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am grateful to Almighty God for granting me the opportunity to be present once more in this important global assembly. During the past four years I spoke of the world’s major challenges, their underlying sources and causes and the necessity for the re-evaluation of the ideas and deeds of the powerful, in addition to the necessity of new approaches.
I spoke of two opposing currents: one being the preeminence of one’s own material gains over that of others, which, following the imposition of one’s will upon other nations, leads to the spreading of inequality, oppression, poverty, privation, degradation, aggression, occupation, and treachery, ultimately leading to a bleak future of despondency for humanity.
I spoke of the other current as being one in which monotheistic faith and observing the teachings of Godly messengers coupled with respect for human dignity and love for humankind allows one to seek a world blessed with security, freedom, prosperity, lasting peace based on justice, and morality for all. A current that respects every individual and nation, honors worthy indigenous, national and human cultures, and seeks an end to global discrimination and strives for the establishment of equality for all before a law based on fairness and fraternity in harnessing possibilities, having access to educational opportunities, and human advancement and progress, thus giving the glad tidings of a better future for all.
Friends and Colleagues,
Today and in continuation, I would like to bring to your attention some points regarding the dimensions of the changes and transformations that need to take place.
First Point:
Clearly, it is not viable to continue having the status quo dominating the world. The current adverse, one-sided conditions defy human spirit and are in direct contradiction with the objective of the creation of humanity and of the world.
The production of fake currencies, injecting of the equivalent of tens of thousands of unreal dollars into the world’s economy and creating serious budget shortages, as well as the transfer of inflation and other economic woes to other countries and the transportation of the wealth of others to the economies of certain special governments is no longer effective.
The economic apparatus of an unrestrained capitalist system with its unjust arrangements has reached its end and is no longer functioning. This one-sided equation no longer holds. The age of imposing the opinion of cold capitalism and forcing the style and tendencies of a particular group on the rest of the world, of expansion of global domination in the name of building the world and the era of establishing empires, have ended. The period of humiliating other nations and imposing double standards, biased policies and multifaceted discriminatory values has passed. The fact that the fulfillment of the desired aims of certain governments was the only criteria for determining whether freedom and democracy existed in a region and that under the guise of freedom, the most repulsive methods of deceit and threat were presented as democratic and dictators were considered democrats, is abhorrent and lacks legitimacy.
No longer can a group of people define democracy and freedom in their preferred terms and consider themselves the criteria of such. They can no longer pose as judge and executioner while having shortcomings themselves and fight governments that truly adhere to the principles of democracy. Prevalence of freedom on a global level and the awakening of nations does not allow for consumption from such an indecent source and that is why most nations including the people of the United States are awaiting a type of change that is profound and true and they have and continue to embrace the slogan of change.
Who would think that the continuation of the imposition of inhumane policies in Palestine would be possible? The fact that a nation is forced out of its home at gunpoint for more than 60 years against all human values or that they are subject to attack by all types of inhumane means including rockets and even outlawed weapons and deprived of the right to defend its legitimate rights (is incomprehensible). What is more amazing is that they call the invaders and occupiers, “peace loving” and “righteous” and the oppressed people, “terrorist” before the eyes of a stunned world.
How is it possible that the crimes of a group of invaders against defenseless women and children and the destruction of homes, farms, schools and hospitals receive the full, unconditional support of certain governments while innocent men and women are subjected to the most severe siege and food, water and medicine blockades and become victims of genocide.
Even the reconstruction of their homes which were destroyed during the 22 day violent invasion by the Zionists is prevented in the midst of a cold winter. At the same time the aggressors and their supporters are chanting slogans of human rights while subjecting other countries to pressure under such pretext.
It is no longer acceptable for an absolute minority to use a complex network designed in the most cruel manner, in order to dominate the economic, political and cultural segments of a large part of the world, institute a new system of slavery and sacrifice the honor of nations including European and American people in its quest to satisfy its racist avarice.
It is not acceptable that a group militarily invades the Middle East from several thousand kilometers away and brings death, war, terror, threat and invasion to the region, and ignores the sensitivity of the people of the region towards their destiny and their national security and remains apathetic towards their calls against injustice and invasion as they label their support for their innocent coreligionist, “resistance to peace and interference in the affairs of others.” See the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.
No longer can the slogan of “fighting terrorism and narcotics” be used to militarily occupy a country while narcotic production in that very country increases many folds, terrorism expands many folds, thousands of innocent people die, or are left injured and homeless, infrastructures are destroyed, regional security is threatened and the main culprits continuously accuse others.
The rhetoric of friendship and assistance to other nations can no longer be used while military bases are being expanded in all parts of the world including Latin America. This situation cannot continue. Expansionist and inhuman policies can no longer be carried out using the logic of militarism. The logic of force and threat has far graver consequences and amplifies current problems.
It is not acceptable that the military expenditures of some countries are several times higher than the total military budget of the rest of the world. It is not acceptable that each year, hundreds of millions of dollars of weapons are exported, chemical, biological and nuclear weapons are stockpiled, military bases are established in different parts of the globe and at the same time other countries are accused of warmongering and prevented from scientific progress. Meanwhile global resources are plundered using the false rhetoric of controlling the proliferation of weapons.
It is not acceptable that the United Nations and the Security Council which are supposed to represent all nations and their decision making process is to be based on the most popular and democratic methods are dominated by a few countries and serve their interests and wishes. Essentially, in a world where thought, culture and public opinion is the determining factor, the continuation of the present situation is impossible and fundamental transformation is an unavoidable necessity.
Second Point:
Transformation and change must take place both in the visual and practical realms. in the structures as well as methods, and in the most basic and fundamental manner. It is not possible to bring about transformation and establish the desired order based on the same thought processes and methods that have been the root causes of all the problems of the globe.
Liberal thought and domineering capitalism separates humankind from ethics and heavenly realms and not only fails to bring happiness and bliss to humanity but will be the cause of wretchedness and brings about war, poverty and deprivation.
Everyone witnessed how one-sided economic structures under the influence of political maneuverings sacrificed the interests of nations at the feet of a group of unethical entrepreneurs. Such mechanisms cannot improve the present circumstances. Political and economic structures established after the Second World War which were devised according to the intentions of those who wanted to dominate the world have not succeeded in implementing justice or lasting security.
Leaders who do not feel the love for humanity in their hearts and are void of any inclination towards justice within themselves, can never grant peace and extend a hand of friendship towards humanity.
By the grace of God in the same manner that Marxism joined the annals of history, expansionist Capitalism will also become a part of the past. Because according to the Divine tradition mentioned in the Revered Quran as a fundamental principle, falsehood is cast aside like the foam on the surface of the sea and that which serves mankind will endure. Everyone must beware that colonialist goals which are discriminatory and inhuman are not pursued under the guise of new rhetoric and within fresh packaging.
The world needs fundamental changes and everyone must help and cooperate in ensuring that such changes take place within the right course so that under this light, no individual and no government would consider themselves exempt from transformation and better than others or claim to be a world leader and impose on the rest.
Third Point:
The underlying and lesser known cause of all global problems is that a group of world leaders have deviated from the path of ethics, human values and teachings of the prophets of God. Unfortunately, in a number of major global relations, love and sacrifice for the salvation and prosperity of others and insistence upon justice and human dignity has been replaced by selfishness, insatiable greed and limitless personal pleasures.
Monotheism has given way to selfishness and some have positioned themselves in the place of God, and insist on imposing their viewpoints and wishes on the rest of the world lacking essential human credentials. Falsehood has replaced honesty, duplicity has taken the place of earnestness, selfishness has replaced sacrifice for others, deceit in conducting transactions is called wisdom and shrewdness, plundering of the wealth of others is named progress and development, occupation of foreign lands is revered as freedom and democracy and the oppression of defenseless nations is propagated as defense of human rights.
Friends and Colleagues,
Resolving global problems and establishing justice and peace cannot materialize save by the will of all nations and governments and their cooperation. The era of polarization resulting from the domination and rule of a few governments over the world has come to an end.
Today, we need to rise with a collective commitment against the status quo. We need to take change and transformation seriously and through general cooperation and struggle we must all try to return to ethical, human and innate values.
Godly prophets and the righteous came to shed light on the true nature of humanity and the personal and public responsibilities of human beings. Purity, crystal clear faith in God, in ultimate accountability and in the implementation of justice in both worlds, seeking true happiness through the happiness of others and prosperity and security in the prosperity and security of others, respect for humankind and struggle for the propagation of love and kindness instead of resentment and self-centeredness, and encouraging serving others instead of dominating them has been at the forefront of the teachings of Godly messengers from Adam to Noah, from Noah to Abraham, Moses and Jesus and Mohammad (May the Peace and Blessings of God be Upon Him).
They all came to ensure that there will be no war, that discrimination and poverty are uprooted, ignorance is wiped out and happiness and bliss dominates all people and all societies. They were the best gifts of God to mankind. If the thought of awaiting the victory of good and the establishment of the righteous government becomes a global way of thinking and we struggle together for the prosperity of all humankind, then the hope for improvement is realized and intensified.
Fourth Point:
In my opinion, several important agendas are before us which can be a guide for the Secretary General and the General Assembly of the United Nations to plan their actions and initiate their course.
1. Improving the structure of the United Nations and transforming it into an updated, popular institution that is impartial, free, just and effective in global relations; improving the structure of the Security Council and abolishing the discriminatory special advantage veto power, immediately insuring the complete fulfillment of Palestinian rights by holding free referendums and preparing the grounds for the peaceful coexistence of Muslims, Christians and Jews of Palestine, ending interferences in the affairs of Iraq and Afghanistan, Middle East, African nations, Latin America, Asia and Europe.
Governments can last in atheism and not by oppression. if they are oppressive.
These are the words of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Oppression and the violation of the rights of people in Palestine like the continuous displacement of yet another group of the true owners of Palestinian lands, residing in Jerusalem, destruction of homes by the Occupiers of Quds, aerial bombardment of Afghanistan and Pakistan, abuse in Guantanamo which is unfortunately still open and the secret prisons of Europe still continue to this day. The continuation of the present circumstances will intensify disappointments and leads to violence. Oppression and invasion must be halted. Unfortunately, no complete and official report on the conducts of the Zionist regime in Gaza has been issue. The Honorable Secretary General and the United Nations have a great burden of responsibility on their shoulders regarding this matter that must be pursued. The world community is impatiently waiting for the fair punishment of those who invaded Gaza and the murderers of its defenseless people.
2. Improving economic structures and establishment of ethical and humane economic relations in the world in a manner that serves the exaltation of humanity and is based on true justice. One that helps flourish the talents and capabilities of nations and endows prosperity on all and guarantees the lives of future generations.
3. Improving international political relations, establishing relations based on lasting peace and friendship, ending the destructive arms race and political competitions, nuclear, chemical and biological disarmament and preparing the grounds for general utilization of advanced peaceful technologies for the betterment of humanity.
4. Improving cultural structures, respecting indigenous habits and customs, promotion of ethics and morality and strengthening the warm, lasting and prosperous institution of family as the building block of a prosperous society.
5. Public commitment to the preservation of environment and adhering to global rules and regulations in order to prevent the destruction of irreplaceable natural resources.
Fifth Point:
The Iranian nation, by holding a glorious and completely free election, has opened a new chapter for national prosperity and extended global engagements, and through the indisputable vote of the people have placed the burden of responsibility upon my shoulders.
I therefore announce that the great nation of Iran that are the builders of human civilization and the institution of the Islamic Republic as one of the most popular and progressive governments of the world are ready to utilize every available cultural, political and economic capability to devise a fair plan that is respectful to all and is based on humanitarian solutions to end all concerns and challenges of the human society and participate actively and effectively in this endeavor.
Our nation that is the builder of culture is itself among the greatest victims of blind terrorism and during the first decade of its 30 year revolution has defended itself against an all out military aggression against its territories. Our nation has always been the subject of detestation and disfavor of those who one day fully supported Saddam in his aggression against Iranian soil and the use of chemical warfare agents and at another time attacked Iraq under the pretext of ending the evil of Saddam.
Our nation seeks a world filled with beauty and kindness for all nations and announces that while powerfully defending its legitimate and legal rights, will protect lasting peace and security for all nations based on justice, morality and human dignity.
Our nation is prepared to warmly shake the hands that extend in honesty for the fulfillment of these goals. No nation in its quest for advancement considers itself above the need for change and improvement. We welcome true, humane transformation and we are ready for active cooperation in implementing structural global improvements. Therefore we must stress the fact that the only path of salvation is return to monotheism and justice. This is the greatest hope and opportunity in all ages and in all generations. Without faith in God and commitment to carrying out justice and confronting injustice and discrimination, the world will not become orderly.
Human beings are the pivotal point of creation. What distinguishes them is their humanity. This is the very truth that seeks fairness, purity, love, knowledge, wisdom and all other distinctions. These human values must be supported and become accessible to all people. Eliminating any of them would mean the elimination of a human dimension. These are shared elements that join all human societies and are the bases of peace, security and friendship among nations.
Divine religions are attentive to all aspects of human life including worship of God, ethics, justice, fighting oppression, and the struggle for the establishment of fair and righteous governments.
Prophet Abraham was the symbol of monotheism at the time of Nimrod, Prophet Moses stood against the Pharaoh, and Prophets Jesus and Mohammad (Peace be Upon them All) struggled against the oppressors of their time to the point that they were threatened to death and were forced into exile. Without resistance and protest, injustices will not be eliminated from the world.
Final Point:
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
The world is in the process of change and transformation. God’s promised destiny for mankind is the pure existence of humanity. The day will come that justice will become all encompassing and global and every individual will be honored and revered. It is then that the path of human excellence will open before humankind and people will move toward becoming Divine creatures reflecting the Divine attributes of God. Human beings should reach a point that they become manifestations of “knowledge and wisdom”, “mercy and forgiving”, “justice and fairness”, “power and ethics” and “charity and kindness” of God.
All this can be attained when humanity reaches its zenith and the last Divine resource, a progeny of the beloved prophet of Islam, Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) will appear and so will Jesus, son of Mary (peace be upon him) and all other righteous people who will assist him in this great global endeavor and this is the very idea of awaiting a savior. Awaiting the government of the good and the righteous which is the hope of all people for the betterment of the world. They shall come and with the aid of the pious and the righteous will fulfill the historical ideals of human beings for freedom, excellence, growth, security and tranquility, peace and magnificence. They shall come to end war and aggression and bestow knowledge, morality and friendship on all humankind. Yes, (and indeed) yes, a bright future lies ahead for humanity.
Friends, let us await that magnificent era and in a joint commitment prepare the grounds for a better future. Long live love and morality, long live peace and security, long live justice and freedom.
I thank you all.
Peace be upon you…
HISTORY OF THE CEMETERY OF JANNAT AL-BAQI (Pictures Before and after Destruction)
On 8th Shawwal, Wednesday, in the year 1345 AH (April 21, 1925), mausoleums in Jannatul al-Baqi (Madina) were demolished by King Ibn Saud. In the same year (1925), he also demolished the tombs of holy personages at Jannat al-Mualla (Makkah) where the Holy Prophet (s)’s mother, wife, grandfather and other ancestors are buried
HISTORY OF THE CEMETERY OF JANNAT AL-BAQI
WHERE IMAM HASAN B. ALI (2ND IMAM), IMAM ALI B. AL-HUSAYN (4TH IMAM), IMAM MUHAMMAD B. ALI (5TH IMAM), & IMAM JA’FAR B. MUHAMMAD (6TH IMAM), PEACE BE UPON THEM, ARE BURIED
On 8th Shawwal, Wednesday, in the year 1345 AH (April 21, 1925), mausoleums in Jannatul al-Baqi (Madina) were demolished by King Ibn Saud.
In the same year (1925), he also demolished the tombs of holy personages at Jannat al-Mualla (Makkah) where the Holy Prophet (s)’s mother, wife, grandfather and other ancestors are buried.
Destruction of sacred sites in Hijaz by the Saudi Wahhabis continues even today. According to some scholars what is happening in Hijaz is actually a conspiracy plotted by the Jews against Islam, under the guise of Tawheed. The idea is to eradicate the Islamic legacy and heritage and to systematically remove all its vestiges so that in the days to come, Muslims will have no affiliation with their religious history.
The Origins of Al-Baqi
Literally “al-Baqi” means a tree garden. It is also known as “Jannat al-Baqi” due to its sanctity, since in it are buried many of our Prophet’s relatives and companions.
The first companion buried in al-Baqi was Uthman b. Madhoon who died on the 3rd of Sha’ban in the 3rd year of Hijrah. The Prophet (s) ordered certain trees to be felled, and in its midst, he buried his dear companion, placing two stones over the grave.
On the following years, the Prophet’s son Ibrahim, who died in infancy and over whom the Prophet (s) wept bitterly, was also buried there. The people of Madina then began to use that site for the burial of their own dead, because the Prophet (s) used to greet those who were buried in al-Baqi by saying, “Peace be upon you, O abode of the faithful! God willing, we should soon join you. O’ Allah, forgive the fellows of al-Baqi”.
The site of the burial ground at al-Baqi was gradually extended. Nearly seven thousand companions of the Holy Prophet (s) were buried there, not to mention those of the Ahlul Bayt (a). Imam Hasan b. Ali (a), Imam Ali b. al-Husayn (a), Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a), and Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a) were all buried there.
Among other relatives of the Prophet (s) who were buried at al-Baqi are: his aunts Safiya and Aatika, and his aunt Fatima bint al-Asad, the mother of Imam Ali (a). The third caliph Uthman was buried outside al-Baqi, but with later extensions, his grave was included in the area. In later years, great Muslim scholars like Malik bin Anas and many others, were buried there too. Thus, did al-Baqi become a well-known place of great historic significance to all Muslims.
Al-Baqi as viewed by historians
Umar bin Jubair describes al-Baqi as he saw it during his travel to Madina, saying “Al-Baqi is situated to the east of Madina. You enter it through the gate known as the gate of al-Baqi. As you enter, the first grave you see on your left is that of Safiya, the Prophet’s aunt, and further still is the grave of Malik bin Anas, the Imam of Madina. On his grave is raised a small dome. In front of it is the grave of Ibrahim son of our Prophet (s) with a white dome over it, and next to it on the right is the grave of Abdul-Rahman son of Umar bin al-Khattab, popularly known as Abu Shahma, whose father had kept punishing him till death overtook him. Facing it are the graves of Aqeel bin Abi Talib and Abdullah bin Ja’far al-Tayyar. There, facing those graves is a small shrine containing the graves of the Prophet’s wives, following by a shrine of Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib.
The grave of Hasan bin Ali (a), situated near the gate to it’s right hand, has an elevated dome over it. His head lies at the feet of Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib, and both graves are raised high above the ground, their walls are panelled with yellow plates and studded with beautiful star-shaped nails. This is how the grave of Ibrahim, son of the Prophet (s) has also been adorned. Behind the shrine of Abbas there is the house attributed to Fatima, daughter of our Prophet (s), known as “Bayt al-Ahzaan” (the house of grief) because it is the house she used to frequent in order to mourn the death of her father, the chosen one, peace be upon him. At the farthest end of al-Baqi is the grave of the caliph Uthman, with a small dome over it, and there, next to it, is the grave of Fatima bint Asad, mother of Ali b. Abi Talib (a)”
After a century and a half, the famous traveller Ibn Batuta came to describe al-Baqi in a way which does not in any way differ from the description given by Ibn Jubair. He adds saying, “At al-Baqi are the graves of numerous Muhajirin and Ansar and many companions of the Prophet (s), except that most of their names are unknown.”
Thus, over the centuries, al-Baqi remained a sacred site with renovations being carried out as and when needed till the Wahhabis rose to power in the early nineteenth century. The latter desecrated the tombs and demonstrated disrespect to the martyrs and the companions of the Prophet (s) buried there. Muslims who disagreed with them were branded as “infidels” and were subsequently killed.
The First Destruction of Al-Baqi
The Wahhabis believed that visiting the graves and the shrines of the Prophets, the Imams, or the saints was a form of idolatry and totally un-Islamic. Those who did not conform with their belief were killed and their property was confiscated. Since their first invasion of Iraq, and till nowadays, in fact, the Wahhabis, as well as other rulers of the Gulf States, having been carrying out massacres from which no Muslim who disagreed with them was spared. Obviously, the rest of the Islamic World viewed those graves with deep reverence. Had it not been so, the two caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar would not have expressed their desire for burial near the grave of the Prophet (s).
From 1205 AH to 1217 AH, the Wahhabis made several attempts to gain a foothold in Hijaz but failed. Finally, in 1217 AH, they somehow emerged victorious in Taif where they spilled the innocent blood of Muslims. In 1218 AH, they entered Makkah and destroyed all sacred places and domes there, including the one which served as a canopy over the well of Zamzam.
In 1221, the Wahhabis entered Madina to desecrate al-Baqi as well as every mosque they came across. An attempt was even made to demolish the Prophet’s tomb, but for one reason or another, the idea was abandoned. In subsequent years, Muslims from Iraq, Syria, and Egypt were refused entry into Makkah for Hajj. King Al-Saud set a pre-condition that those who wished to perform the pilgrimage would have to accept Wahhabism or else be branded as non-Muslims, becoming ineligible for entry into the Haram.
Al-Baqi was razed to the ground, with no sign of any grave or tomb whatsoever. But the Saudis were still not quite satisfied with doing all of that. Their king ordered three black attendants at the Prophet’s shrine to show him where the treasure of valuable gifts were stored. The Wahhabis plundered the treasure for their own use.
Thousands of Muslims fled Makkah and Madina in a bid to save their lives and escape from the mounting pressure and persecution at the hands of the Wahhabis. Muslims from all over the world denounced this Saudi savagery and exhorted the Caliphate of the Ottoman Empire to save the sacred shrines from total destruction. Then, as it is known, Muhammad Ali Basha attacked Hijaz and, with the support of local tribes, managed to restore law and order in Madina and Makkah, dislodging the Al-Saud clansmen. The entire Muslim world celebrated this victory with great fanfare and rejoicing. In Cairo, the celebrations continued for five days. No doubt, the joy was due to the fact that pilgrims were once more allowed freely to go for Hajj, and the sacred shrines were once again restored.
In 1818 AD, the Ottaman Caliph Abdul Majid and his successors, Caliphs Abdul Hamid and Mohammed, carried out the reconstruction of all sacred places, restoring the Islamic heritage at all important sites. In 1848 and 1860 AD, further renovations were made at the expense of nearly seven hundred thousand pounds, most of which came from the donations collected at the Prophet’s tomb.
The second plunder by the Wahhabis
The Ottoman Empire had added to the splendor of Madina and Makkah by building religious structures of great beauty and architectural value. Richard Burton, who visited the holy shrines in 1853 AD disguised as an Afghan Muslim and adopting the Muslim name Abdullah, speaks of Madina boasting 55 mosques and holy shrines. Another English adventurer who visited Madina in 1877-1878 AD describes it as a small beautiful city resembling Istanbul. He writes about its white walls, golden slender minarets and green fields.
1924 AD Wahhabis entered Hijaz for a second time and carried out another merciless plunder and massacre. People in streets were killed. Houses were razed to the ground. Women and children too were not spared.
Awn bin Hashim (Shairf of Makkah) writes: “Before me, a valley appeared to have been paved with corpses, dried blood staining everywhere all around. There was hardly a tree which didn’t have one or two dead bodies near its roots.”
1925 Madina surrendered to the Wahhabi onslaught. All Islamic heritage were destroyed. The only shrine that remained intact was that of the Holy Prophet (s).
Ibn Jabhan says: “We know that the tomb standing on the Prophet’s grave is against our principles, and to have his grave in a mosque is an abominable sin.”
Tombs of Hamza and other martyrs were demolished at Uhud. The Prophet’s mosque was bombarded. On protest by Muslims, assurances were given by Ibn Saud that it will be restored but the promise was never fulfilled. A promise was given that Hijaz will have an Islamic multinational government. This was also abandoned.
1925 AD Jannat al-Mu’alla, the sacred cemetery at Makkah was destroyed alongwith the house where the Holy Prophet (s) was born. Since then, this day is a day of mourning for all Muslims.
Is it not strange that the Wahhabis find it offensive to have the tombs, shrines and other places of importance preserved, while the remains of their Saudi kings are being guarded at the expense of millions of dollars?
Protest from Indian Muslims
1926, protest gatherings were held by shocked Muslims all over the world. Resolutions were passed and a statement outlining the crimes perpetrated by Wahhabis was issued and included the following:
The destruction and desecration of the holy places i.e. the birth place of the Holy Prophet [s], the graves of Banu Hashim in Makkah and in Jannat al-Baqi (Madinah), the refusal of the Wahhabis to allow Muslims to recite Ziyarah or Surah al-Fatiha at those graves.
The destruction of the places of worship i.e. Masjid Hamza, Masjid Abu Rasheed, in addition to the tombs of Imams and Sahaba (Prophet’s companions).
Interference in the performance of Hajj rituals.
Forcing the Muslims to follow the Wahhabis innovations and to abandon their own ways according to the guidance of the Imams they follow.
The massacre of sayyids in Taif, Madina, Ahsa, and Qatif.
The demolition of the grave of the Imams at al-Baqi which deeply offended and grieved all Shias.
Protest from other countries
Similar protests were lodged by Muslims in Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Indonesia, and Turkey. All of them condemn the Saudi Wahhabis for their barbaric acts. Some scholars wrote tracts and books to tell the world the fact that what was happening in Hijaz was actually a conspiracy plotted by the Jews against Islam, under the guise of Tawheed. The idea was to eradicate the Islamic legacy and heritage and to systematically remove all its vestiges so that in the days to come, Muslims will have no affiliation with their religious history.
A partial list of the demolished graves and shrines
Al-Mualla graveyard in Makkah which includes the grave of Sayyida Khadija bint Khuwailid (a), wife of the Prophet (s), the grave of Amina bint Wahab, mother of the Prophet (s), the grave of Abu Talib, father of Imam Ali (a), and the grave of Abdul Muttalib, grandfather of the Prophet (s)
The grave of Hawa (Eve) in Jeddah
The grave of the father of the Prophet (s) in Madina
The house of sorrows (bayt al-Ahzan) of Sayyida Fatima (a) in Madina
The Salman al-Farsi mosque in Madina
The Raj’at ash-Shams mosque in Madina
The house of the Prophet (s) in Madina, where he lived after migrating from Makkah
The house of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a) in Madina
The complex (mahhalla) of Banu Hashim in Madina
The house of Imam Ali (a) where Imam Hasan (a) and Imam Husayn (a) were born
The house of Hamza and the graves of the martyrs of Uhud (a)
Beautiful promises of Minister to Parachnari refuges
Pakistani Interior Minister Rahman Malik: We will send food and medicine to Parachinar emergency and based action under the military forces!
While the Eid al-Fitr celebrations are held in Islamic nations, hundreds citizens of Shia area of “Chrome Agency” – with the central city “Parachinar” – including men, women and children in neighboring cities “Islamabad” and “Rawalpindi” gathered in town “Ministers” to sit.
These Refuges want to reopen the road Parachinar to “Tal” city and other cities of Pakistan which has been blocked the past three years by terrorists.
The large number of Parachinary Shia which most of them make up by students of universities stated their march from the Central Husseiniya in J Street – 6 – 2 began with various slogans to head to town Ministers and sit in this town.
According to the report, this sit lasted for four hours, and then a committee of refugees invited to negotiate and head for the Interior Ministry.
In response to this invitation “Huj. Mohammad Amin Shahidi,” Deputy Secretary General of Muslim Unity House, “Seyyad Hasan Zaidi” Central chief of the Imamiye Students, “Haji Latif Hussein” Representative Welfare Association of Chrome Agency, “Azemat Ali Khan” member of peace committee, and Mr. “Seyed Ershad Husseini”,” Mohammad Hussein “,”Shabir Hussein Sajedi” and “Shafiq Bangash” as a bargaining committee went to the Interior Ministry building.
While after the Refugees performed Congregational prayers in sit place, the protests and their demands were persisted and the number of Refugees were rising moment to moment.
After the negotiation between the Parachinari Shia and “Rahman Malik” Minister of Pakistan, the Minister came to the Refugees and paying speak.
Important Notes of Rahman Malik Lecture is the following:
1. They will send food and medicine to Parachinar emergency and based action under the military forces!
2. To help to the damaged peoples of Chrome Agency a special package to the region will be allocated.
3. As long as the roads not opened a dedicated aircraft for passengers to travel to this region will be allocated.
4. He emphasized the fact that the government will expel all of violence across the country, including round Chrome Agency.
Pakistan with more than 30 million Shia, the second of the world’s Shia population has mass, but with this population they always has faced various disasters and problems. Last big crisis oppressed Shia, is the humanitarian disaster in Parachinar about two and a half years since the intensity and weakness,
Pakistan nabs 5 over bombing Shia mosques
Police officials said Saturday that security forces had arrested five terror suspects from the Choti area of the town of Dera Ghazi Khan late Friday.
“During their interrogation, the militants confessed to plotting terror attacks on the Shia Imam Bargahs, Mosque, and other sensitive places,” unnamed officials added.
They said that the arrested militants are members of a group known as “Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan” and were trained in the South Waziristan Agency.
The detainees had been moved to a secret location for further questioning, the officials added.
The Taliban-linked Wahhabi groups in Parachinar, Hangu District and much of the Kurram tribal agency have mounted a series of violent attacks against the region’s Shia Muslims.
The most recent incident occurred on Friday when a suicide bomber blew up an explosives-laden car at a market in Usterzai, a Shia majority town on the outskirts of Kohat in northwest Pakistan. At least 30 people were killed and 70 others wounded in the incident.
Iran building new nuclear fuel production plant
The director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has announced that the Islamic Republic is building a new nuclear fuel production plant.
In a new successful step, in line with its inalienable right to peaceful nuclear energy, the Islamic Republic of Iran has begun construction of another plant for enriching nuclear fuel, AEOI Director Ali Akbar Salehi said in a statement issued in Tehran on Friday.
The activities of the new facility, like the activities of the other Iranian nuclear facilities, are within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, part of the statement read.
The AEOI congratulates Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian nation on this great achievement, it added.
No room for political affiliations in Assembly of Experts: Leader
The Assembly of Experts is constitutionally tasked to appoint and supervise the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Its representatives are elected to eight-year terms in a general election.
The concerns of the prominent clerical figures in the Assembly of Experts are always the people’s concerns, Ayatollah Khamenei added.
Commenting on the post-election unrest, he said the incidents were completely preplanned but the enemy’s plot failed.
Ayatollah Khamenei also said that there is only a remote possibility that the enemies will start a military confrontation with Iran.
“At this juncture, the enemy is confronting the Islamic establishment through psychological warfare, which is called soft warfare,” he stated.
“In the soft war, the opposition to the establishment uses propaganda and communications tools to target the will, pillars… and beliefs of the establishment and the country,” he noted.
The enemies of the Islamic establishment are attempting to encourage the ordinary people and the elite to stop hating them, he added.
He went on to say that the unity of the people can be seen and the people’s participation in the International Quds Day demonstrations and the Eid al-Fitr prayers is a sign of the unity of society.
Ayatollah Khamenei also stated that the divisive remarks and actions of certain people are a result of their ignorance and negligence.
Millions Iranians march in solidarity with Palestinians
Millions of Iranians have taken to the streets across the country to mark the annual Quds Day march in solidarity with Palestinians.
The late founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in August 1979 declared the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as al-Quds Day, calling for international rallies in support of Palestinians and against Israel.
Iranians marched nationwide, namely in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and Mashhad, in opposition to the continued occupation of the holy lands by the Zionist regime.
Several Iranian officials including the newly appointed head of the judiciary Sadegh Larijani attended the demonstration in Tehran.
Secretary-General of Islamic Jihad Movement Ramezan Abdullah and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal were also present at the rallies.
At the end of the rallies, a statement was issued in support of Palestinians.
The statement said that the Iranians “support Palestinian resistance”, adding that “Israel must avoid any new adventurism ” in the region.
Body Parts of over One Thousand Palestinians have been Transported
The Swiss journalist who recently wrote a report about Zionists transporting Palestinian organs said that the Zionist regime has taken and transported body parts of over one thousand Palestinian martyrs.
Donald Boström, the Swiss reporter, discussed other dimensions of this issue in a media conference held in Algeria. He stated that this process started way back in 1960 and gained momentum after the first intifada. He also stated that Palestinians are not the only group targeted by the Zionists; all nations and all people are at risk.
Bostrom stated that he has recieved many death threats since publishing his controversial article. He said he was brave to write an article against the wishes of the Israeli lobby and to leak a serious crime that is being committed to the world.
India– Muslims in Lucknow offer 'Alvida Namaz' before Eid ul Fitr
Muslims gathered in huge numbers at several mosques of Lucknow on Friday to offer the ‘Alvida Namaz'(the last prayer) marking the last Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan.
‘We prayed to the Lord to raise the financial status of Muslims and also eradicate all their problems. In India, Hindu and Muslims have been living together for several centuries and we want them to be like this in future,’ said Moulvi Faizul Rehman, an Islamic cleric at a mosque in Lucknow.
Highlighting the significance of the ‘Alvida Namaz’, Mohammad Sayeed, a Namazi said that it is the reason why thousands of Muslim from across the city gather to offer prayers.
‘During Ramadan if we participate in the ‘Alvida Namaz’ and offer our prayers, then we get a reward for it and it will usher prosperity to us,’ Sayeed said.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijri lunar calendar, commemorates the revelation of holy Quran, Islam’s holy book, and has traditionally been a time of religious fervour, settling old disputes and behaving charitably towards neighbours.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Considered auspicious for prayers, Muslims observe the month-long fasting named ‘Roza’.
Iran calls on U.S. cineaste to make documentary on Mahdaviat
| TEHRAN, Sept. 5 (MNA) — Iran has formally proposed American cineaste Michelle Nickelson to make a documentary on Mahdaviat, Shia belief in and efforts to prepare for the appearance of Imam Mahdi (AS) as the savior of humanity. | |
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Nickelson welcomed the proposal, Mohammadreza Eslamlu, a close friend to Ahmadinejad’s art advisor, told the Persian service of Fars News Agency on Saturday.
“Since we think a fresh and accurate portrayal of Iran and Shia should be provided to the world at present, we have asked Michelle Nickelson to make the documentary,” said Eslamlu.
“Under the present circumstances in which we live, Islam, particularly Shia, increasingly has come under attack by the Western media. Thus, it is a good opportunity for us to ask her to travel to Iran in order to become familiar with the truth about Shia and the culture of Mahdaviat and then to introduce them to the rest of the world,” he added.
Eslamlu lamented over the work of Christiane Amanpour, CNN chief international correspondent, who produced a three-part series “God’s Warriors”, in which she considers the rise of religious fundamentalism as a political force in the world.
Her team ventured to several countries in the Middle East including Iran for the documentary.
“She never presented an accurate image of Iran in ‘God’s Warriors’, moreover, it is absolutely against the culture of Mahdaviat and Shia,” Eslamlu noted.
“By means of this proposal to Nickelson, we intend to correct this inaccurate and distorted image,” he stated.
He expressed hope that the project would begin as soon as the new administration of the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance makes the preliminary arrangements for production.
The screenplay must be approved by the Culture Ministry to obtain a production license in Iran.
The president and chief operating officer of Nickelson Entertainment Group/Mirage, Nickelson was to make “We the People of the Islamic Republic of Iran”, a documentary about the Iranian presidential election in June.
However, she could not make the documentary because of post-election unrest in Iran.
Eslamlu had been assigned by Ahmadinejad’s art advisor, Javad Shamaqdari, to accompany Nickelson in making the documentary.
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Iran says alleged weapons study is ‘closed’
| TEHRAN, Sept. 6 (MNA) – Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, has said the implementation of the additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is not legally binding since about 80 countries have refused to sign it. | |
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Demanding that Iran sign or implement the protocol is a violation of international law, although Iran voluntarily implemented the protocol for more than 30 months, Soltanieh stated in a letter to IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei.
Soltanieh also stated that Iran has answered all questions and cleared up all ambiguities about its nuclear activities, and thus the implementation of the nuclear safeguards agreement in Iran must take a normal course. In his letter, the Iranian envoy also accused the United States of feeding “forged” intelligence to the IAEA that claims Iran had studied ways to make atomic bombs.
In its report on August 28, the agency asked Iran to provide answers about the “alleged weapons studies”.
In the letter, Soltanieh told ElBaradei that the agency had not provided genuine documents on the alleged studies and the matter was “closed”.
“The government of the United States has not handed over original documents to the agency since it does not in fact have any authenticated document and all it has are forged documents,” Soltanieh wrote as carried by Reuters.
“The alleged studies are politically motivated and baseless allegations.”
Soltanieh also accused Britain, France, and the United States of trying to derail the IAEA’s technical mandate by piling political pressure on ElBaradei.
He also complained that Iranian cooperation with the IAEA had been overshadowed.
Tehran allowed IAEA inspectors to revisit a heavy-water reactor site last month after barring access for a year.
The envoy also thanked the IAEA for resisting ‘political pressure’ by certain Western countries over Tehran’s nuclear dossier.
Iran, along with many other member states, shares the view that the IAEA ‘resisted the political pressure’ by a few Western countries trying to derail the agency from its ‘professional technical mandate’, he wrote.
Soltanieh also said Tehran trusts the UN nuclear watchdog as the ‘sole pertinent international technical organization’ in charge of nuclear activities.
After the release of his latest report, ElBaradei was harshly criticized by Israel, which claimed that the IAEA was holding back information about Iran’s nuclear program.
In an interview with the Chicago-based magazine Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists published on Tuesday, ElBaradei dismissed the claims and said what some countries called the threat from Iran ‘has been hyped’ in many ways.
PA/HG END MNA –
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Nation celebrating Defence Day with renewed commitment
KARACHI: The nation celebrating the Defence Day today, Sunday to commemorate the great sacrifices for guarding the country against aggression and renew the pledge to make country’s defence invincible.
The nation paid homage to the heroes of September 6 besides the change of guards ceremonies were held at the Mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam and Mazar-e-Iqbal.
The day dawned with the Quran Khawani particularly for Martyrs in the unit mosques after Fajr prayers and for the solidarity of the country. Flag hoisting ceremonies held at unit and formation level and floral wreath laid at the Mazar-e-Quaid on behalf of the three services. Special prayers were held for all those who laid their valuable lives for the safety of the country and the nation, while the nation along with the Armed Forces of Pakistan celebrating the Defence Day with the pledge to leave no stone unturned in rendering any kind of sacrifice for the security of our country.
Change of Guards ceremony at the Mazar of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the nation was held in the city. Pakistan Air Force cadets presented the Guard of Honour and hoisted the national flag, while assuming the Guard duty at the Mazar-e-Quaid.
In Lahore, change of guards’ ceremony was held at the Mazar of the poet laureate, Allma Muhammad Iqbal. Garrison Commander Major General Shafqat Ahmad laid the wreath on the Mazar. Brigadier Imtiaz Haider laid wreath at the grave of Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfooz located on Kahuta Road in the outskirt of Rawalpindi and offered ‘Fateha’. Brigadier Syed Hussain Shah Abbas laid wreath on the mazar of Captain Col Sher Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider) at Swabi and an elegant and smart contingent of Pak Army presented guard of honour. Station Commander Okara Garrison, Brigadier Manzoor Ahmad laid wreath at the mazar of Major Tufail Muhammad Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider) at Boreywala and offered’Fateha’.
Chavez to arrive in Iran on Saturday
ILNA: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has scheduled a visit to Iran Saturday.
A number of bilateral agreements will be signed during the two-day visit by Chavez.
Venezuelan President would hold a news conference in Tehran after discussions with Iranian officials.
Chavez attended the special summit, held to celebrate 40 years of Moammar Gadhafi’s rule over Libya.
Chavez arrives in Iran to discuss bilateral relations between two countries,
Prior to his 11-day foreign trip chavez said that ”Iran is for us a strategic partner, with whom we have recently concluded a range of deals in the spheres of defense, energy, industry and technology,” adding that Venezuela was ready to “strengthen” its ties with the slamic Republic.
Iraq PM asks for U.N. inquiry into Baghdad bombings
UNITED NATIONS : Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has formally asked the U.N. Security Council to launch an inquiry into a series of explosions that killed 95 people in Baghdad last month.
More than 1,000 people were also wounded on Aug. 19, Iraq’s bloodiest day this year, when at least six blasts struck near government ministries and other targets, weeks after U.S. combat troops withdrew from Iraqi urban centers in June.
In an Aug. 30 letter forwarded to the Security Council on Thursday by the office of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Maliki asked for an independent international commission of inquiry to be set up.
“The scope and nature of these crimes calls for an investigation beyond Iraqi legal jurisdiction and prosecution of the perpetrators before a special international criminal tribunal,” said the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.
“The magnitude of these crimes demands that they be addressed immediately by the international community.”
The explosions caused anger among ordinary Iraqis at the country’s security forces, with many blaming
political infighting as parliamentary elections near.
Iraq’s Shi’ite-led government has blamed supporters of Saddam Hussein’s outlawed Baath party, and Sunni Islamist al Qaeda, for recent attacks, and says Baath leaders plotted the bombings from neighboring Syria.
Baghdad last week demanded that Damascus hand over two alleged masterminds of the bombing. Both countries recalled their ambassadors for consultations.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called Iraq’s accusations “immoral” and demanded Baghdad provide proof to back them up.
Maliki’s letter to the United Nations did not specifically name Syria, but said, “We believe that organized attacks of such size and complexity could not have been planned, funded and executed without the support of outside forces and parties.”
The attacks “rise to the level of crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity punishable under international law,” the Iraqi leader said.
The United States, this month’s president of the Security Council, confirmed receiving the letter which a U.S. official said would be circulated to the body’s 14 other members. The official declined to say what action the council might take.
The Iraqi request appeared similar to one that Lebanon put to the Security Council following the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. The council launched an investigation and set up a tribunal in the Netherlands, but no one has so far been indicted and inquiries continue.
Arab group in the dock for 'belying Holocaust'
An Arab cultural group faces trial for circulating a ‘Holocaust-denying’ cartoon as a reaction to leniency towards a far-right Dutch Islamophobe.
Dutch prosecutors said Wednesday that they would take the Arab European League (AEL) to court for republishing a cartoon which, they said, suggested Holocaust victims were not Jews, the Associated Press reported.
The group first published the picture in 2006 in response to far-right Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders’ screening of a 17-minute defamatory anti-Islam film which linked Islam to terrorism, called for a ban on the holy Qur’an and included caricature of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH(.
The film, titled ‘Fitna,’ sent shockwaves through secular and faith-based communities and was subsequently denounced by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as ‘offensively anti-Islamic.’
The lawmaker was prevented from screening the inflammatory movie in Britain’s House of Lords in February, with the British officials calling him a “genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to one of the fundamental interests of society.”
The AEL recently republished the cartoon after Wilders was cleared on the claim that his insults were aimed at the Prophet of Islam and not the Muslims in general.
“Freedom of expression is only a pretext to make life bitter for Muslims …,”AEL chairman Abdoulmouthalib Bouzerda said in a statement.
Spokeswoman for the public prosecutor in Utrecht in the Central Netherlands said a conviction could result in a one-year prison term, but a fine of up to euro 4,700 (USD 6,700) is more likely.
Iraq Death Toll in August Highest in 13 Months
Official figures showed on Tuesday that the month of August witnessed the highest number of deaths from violence in Iraq for 13 months, with 456 people killed across the conflict-torn nation.
Statistics compiled by the defense, interior and health ministries showed that 393 civilians, 48 police and 15 soldiers were killed. The figures marked the highest monthly death toll since July 2008, when a total of 465 people were killed.
August saw two massive truck bombings at the ministries of finance and foreign affairs in Baghdad that killed at least 95 people. There were also 1,592 civilians, 129 police and 20 soldiers wounded in August, according to the figures.
A negotiated solution still open to Iran: US
WASHINGTON: US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly says a negotiable solution to Iran nuclear issue is still achievable.
He noted that envoys from the US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany in their meeting in Frankfurt on Wednesday called on Iran to engage in direct talks based on mutual respect.
They stressed that a negotiated solution is still open to Iran, news reports quoted Kelly as saying.
They expected Iran . to respond to the offer of talks (issued by the six) in April by agreeing to meet before the UN General Assembly meeting, Kelly said, adding the six powers could not be sure that Iran would do so.
The major world powers are pressing Iran to accept an offer of face-to-face nuclear talks before a key UN meeting in late September, the US spokesman added.
The UN General Assembly meets in New York the week of September 21.
When asked if the assembly meeting amounted to a deadline, the State Department spokesman replied, I don’t know if I’d call it a deadline, but it certainly is giving them a time frame.
Kelly declined to predict what we’re going to do if Iran did not respond to the offer of talks by the time of the assembly meeting.
Imam Moussa Sadr, The Man Who Disappeared For Lebanon's Sake 31 Years Ago
31 hard years have passed and people – whether contemporary of him or not – are still hoping to see him again. He’s the Imam whose Muslims and Christians alike miss; the Imam whose whereabouts remain a secret within a secret inside Libya where Imam Moussa Sadr had traveled to seek support against the 1978 Israeli war on Lebanon.
The 31st of August of every year, marks the date of the 1978 kidnapping of Imam Sayyed Mussa Sadr in Libya. The Imam is considered one of the most prominent Muslim Shiite figures who sought to apply the message of religion in real life. He adopted the causes of the oppressed and the poor. Imam Sadr was also among the religious figures who contributed in launching the Islamic-Christian dialogue in Lebanon, at a time civil war was ruining this country. The Imam did not have any ties with Libya or its rulers, however he decided to visit Tripoli in the wake of the 1978 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, as part of a tour of Arab countries to rally support and prepare for an Arab summit over the war.
Then Algerian President Hawari Boumedian, suggested that the Imam visits Libya for that purpose as Moammar Ghaddafi was a key player in the course of the political and military situation in Lebanon. Imam Sadr left Beirut’s international airport for an official visit to meet Ghaddafi in Tripoli on the 25th of August 1978, accompanied by Sheikh Mohamad Yaacoub and journalist Abbas Badreddine.
According to reports, the trio stayed in the “Shate’ Hotel” in Tripoli, however the Imam’s visit was not mentioned in Libyan media and every contact with him was cut. Witnesses said that they saw the Imam and his two companions leave the hotel in an official convoy on the 31st of August, the date set for their meeting with Ghaddafi. The Libyan president however denied the meeting ever took place, even though reports say that he confirmed the date was set on the 31st of August at 1:00pm. The same reports said that the meeting did take place and deep differences between Ghaddafi and the Imam surfaced pertaining to the crisis in Lebanon. They added that Kings and rulers intervened in vain to sort out these differences.
Sayyed Sadr and his companions disappeared and they were never heard of until this very day. Libyan authorities claimed that Sadr, Yaacoub and Badreddine had left Tripoli for Rome, as Ghaddafi refrained from addressing the issue with then Lebanese president Elias Sarkis. An investigative panel was formed to carry out a fact finding mission in Tripoli and Rome, but Libya refused to receive the panel. Investigators concluded that Imam Sadr and his companions had never left Libya and did not check into Italy. Rome conducted two rounds of investigations into the case and authorities concluded that Libyan claims were baseless.
For their part, Lebanese authorities considered the disappearance of the Imam and his companions as a crime against the state’s internal security and took legal action. On the 30th of August 2001, Amnesty International issued its first report on the disappearance of Imam Sadr and his companions and stressed allegations that they had left Tripoli contradict the outcome of the Italian investigation.
Imam Sadr was born in the holy city Qom, Iran in 1928 to the prominent Sadr family of theologians. His father was Ayatollah Sadr al-Din al-Sadr, while Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr was his cousin. He attended his primary school in his hometown and then moved to the Iranian capital Tehran where he received in 1956 a degree in Islamic Jurisprudence and Political Sciences from Tehran University. He then moved back to Qom to study theology. Eventually he left Qom for Najaf to study theology under Ayatollah Sayed Muhsin al-Hakim and Ayatollah Sayyed Abul Qasim Khou’i.
The Sadr family is originally a Lebanese family, and in 1960 Musa al-Sadr accepted an invitation to become the leading Muslim Shi’ite figure in the Lebanese southern city of Tyre. He was a vocal opponent of Israel. In 1969 he was appointed as the first head of the Supreme Islamic Shi’ite Council, an entity meant to give the dacades-long oppressed Shi’ites more say in government. In 1974 he founded the Movement of the Deprived to press for better economic and social conditions for the Shi’ites. He established a number of schools and medical clinics throughout southern Lebanon, many of which are still operating today.
Sayyed Sadr was also the founder of the first armed resistance in Lebanon against the Israeli occupation, under the name Lebanese Resistance Brigades Movement, Arabic for Amal Movement.
One-third of Europeans have never been online
A new study shows that one-third of Europeans have never used the internet and more than one in every four European has never used a computer.
According to a report released by the European Union, more than one in every three individuals keen on avoiding the digital world said they did not see the need for a connection and nearly one quarter said they could not afford it.
The study also showed that people older than 65 and the unemployed were the least active online.
This is while the report says that 56% of Europeans had become regular internet users in 2008 and over 80% of them are now using high-speed internet connections.
According to Reuters, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding said Internet download rules should be changed so that people can have easier access to music and films.
‘To release the economic potential of these digital natives, we must make access to digital content an easy and fairgame,’ she said in a statement.
BAKU COURT ORDERS MOSQUE DEMOLITION
An Azerbaijani court on September 1 ordered the demolition of a community mosque, drawing protests from believers in a Baku district of Surahan. The mosque is the third such building to date in or near the Azerbaijani capital to face the wrecking ball.
Local officials argue that the controversy over the Fatima Al-Zahra mosque boils down to a land ownership dispute, but the Kavkazsky Uzel news portal reported that some Muslim faithful and other commentators were quick to see a governmental effort to contain the spread of Islam in Azerbaijan, which has a majority Shi’a Muslim population.
On May 10, the authorities demolished a mosque on the “Oil Rocks,” an offshore drilling settlement in the Caspian Sea built on stilts and rock. Baku’s Prophet Muhammad mosque was taken down in April; a court agreed with city officials’ argument that it was an “illegal” construction.
Israel kills 15-year old Palestinian boy, blocks ambulance
A 15-year old Palestinian died overnight in an Israeli hospital after being shot by Israeli soldiers, Palestinian medical workers said on Tuesday.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said soldiers shot the boy near the illegal Jewish settlement Beit El, near Ramallah in West Bank. He was taken to a hospital in Jerusalem, she said.
Three rescue workers were injured, according to medics, while Israel said just one was hurt Maan news agency said.
Palestinian medical sources identified the victim as Muhammad Nayif from Jalazun Refugee Camp, north of Ramallah in the West Bank.
The Israeli military spokeswoman saidd the boy was involved in suspected “hostilities”.
Palestinian residents of the nearby Jalazone refugee camp said they heard the shooting and saw soldiers surrounding the youth some 400 metres (yards) from the settlement’s perimeter.
Soldiers also obstructed a Palestine Red Crescent ambulance from reaching the injured boy, medical officials said.
Three rescue workers were shot by Israeli fire, one of them an ambulance driver, who was en route to pick up the injured boy.
After what medical officials said was a preliminary investigation, the wounded were determined to be medics from Jalazun camp.
About half a million Jewish settlers live among some 2.5 million Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, land Israel captured in a 1967 war that Palestinians want for a future state.
Saudi militant confesses to terrorism in Iraq
A suspected al-Qaeda militant from Saudi Arabia has confessed to having been trained by Syrian intelligence agents to act against Iraq’s national security.
Iraqi authorities aired the videotaped confession by 29-year-old Mohammed Hassan al-Shemari on Sunday.
The Saudi national said that he had entered Iraq with the help of Syrian intelligence agents after completing his training course in an al Qaeda training camp near the Syrian port city of Latakia.
“I entered Iraq through Syria`s Al-Bukamal border region along with three Saudi, Libyan and Algerian nationals and was deployed in Iraq’s Diyala Province,” he explained.
Shemari said when he first arrived in Syria from Saudi Arabia, he was met by a Syrian intelligence agent, called ‘Abu al-Qaqaa’, who took him to an al-Qaeda training camp.
“They gave us lessons in Islamic law and trained us to fight. The camp was well known to Syrian intelligence,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
Al-Shemari pointed out that the group, with which he was trained, included other Saudi nationals, as well as Libyans, Algerians, Moroccans, Tunisians, Yemenis, Kuwaitis and Syrians.
The al-Qaeda militant, moreover, confessed that he had received Syrian and Saudi financial support in order to carry out acts of terrorism against Shias in Iraq.
Al-Shemari also mentioned that he had given lessons in decapitation, adding that he had beheaded some Iraqi police officers in order to train armed fighters.
The videotaped confession could ratchet up already existing tensions between Iraq and Syria.
Al-Shemari was arrested in Diyala province before last week’s bombings on suspicion of being an al-Qaeda leader in Iraq.
Last week, both countries recalled their ambassadors after Iraq demanded Syria hand over two alleged masterminds of Baghdad bombings, which had claimed the lives of almost 100 people, mainly at two government ministries.
RUSSIA CALLS FOR DIPLOMACY ON IRAN'S PEACEFUL NUCLEAR ISSUE
According to Rianovosti, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said in his speech to the State Institute of International Relations in Moscow today that the best way to influence Iran is to have its cooperation, and not attempts to isolate or resort to force regarding the Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear programme. His remarks on continuation of diplomatic efforts followed the provocative comments of the French and German leaders at a joint conference a day earlier in Berlin.
French President Nicholas Sarkozi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel threatened more of those illegal sanctions if Iran does not bow to the West’s demand.
The Islamic Republic has on many times declared its readiness for talks without any precondition on its peaceful nuclear programme, which it has clearly said is legitimate and non-negotiable.
Meanwhile, according to the German press on Monday senior representatives of the five self-imposed permanent members of the UN Security Council along with Germany are to meet near Frankfurt on Wednesday to discuss the next steps on Iran’s nuclear dossier.
The five permanent members are the US, Russia, Britain, France and China.
President directs initiation of programme for women empowerment
KARACHI, Aug. 31 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari has directed the initiation of a special programme for the emancipation and empowerment of women in the country. He issued a directive to this effect while chairing a meeting here at the Bilawal House on Monday. The meeting was attended by Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and the provincial ministers. Later, briefing the newsmen Sindh Minister for Information, Ms. Shazia Marri, said that the programme has been named as ‘Benazir Behan Basti Programme’.
She said that this very programme pertains to housing and meant for the women who are poor and do not have a home. They can benefit from this scheme through the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Income Support Programme cards.
Ms. Marri said that the land to be utilized for this scheme would be provided by the government and for its funding the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum would be approached.
She said that the President also focused on irrigation and stressed that there should be lining of all the canals in Sindh and the methods of drip and sprinkler irrigation be utilized.
For this there would be a meeting soon of WAPDA and all the provincial irrigation departments to devise a comprehensive plan in this respect to convince for drip and sprinkler irrigation.
Shazia said that President Asif Ali Zardari also directed to identify an area in each district of Sindh, where pilot programmes of drip and sprinkler irrigation would be started.
She stated that the meeting also focussed on housing facilities for the police and noted that a number of plans are under consideration in this connection.
The Minister said that in the meeting the President expressed the desire that the police force be brought to the fore as a better service provider.
For this, she added, a number of facilities have been made available, but police force faced difficulty in housing. Some areas have been identified where police buildings already exist and in these areas highrises would be constructed so that better quality housing could be made available to the police personnel.
Shazia said that in the meeting there was also focus with regard to jails.
She stated that the President expressed concern at the condition of the barracks in the jails and called for providing better facilities to the inmates in the jails especially with regard to space.
The Minister said that the President directed that the barracks in the jails be improved, more construction be undertaken there in accordance with the existing jail manual.
She said that the President directed that lists be prepared which should carry the names of inmates over 70 years of age, women with minor children, and they should not be involved in anti‑state or serious crimes.
This list, the Minister added, would be considered for remitting any sentences.
Shazia said, the President directed that the cardiovascular unit at the Lyari General Hospital be started at the earliest.
He also called for prompt initiation of nursing training centre with a hostel in Lyari.
The Governor and the chief minister apprised the President that in Karachi’s Mauripur Road there is a truck stand on 1,000 acres and steps are being taken to vacate it, because the people have been facing difficulties in travelling in the area because of congestion on the road.
Shazia said that the President expressed the desire that after vacating that place, a park and a university be established for the people of Lyari.
She said that the President also reiterated the desire that all the political parties should work together for carrying forward the process of political reconciliation.
Replying a question, Shazia said the Ramzan package launched by the Government of Sindh for providing subsidized Atta to the people, was appreciated by the President who said that its management should be further improved.
To a question regarding the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, she said that the President has fulfilled his responsibility in this connection in accordance with the Constitution.
The Minister further said that now it is up to the provinces to take their decisions with mutual understanding and consensus.
She said that they should work out a formula for the equitable distribution of resources.
Shazia said that she was sure that better results would emerge in this regard in a politically reconciled environment as well as better conditions.
Are eggs healthy for weight loss?
A new study in the online journal entitled Risk Analysis reports that eating one egg a day accounts for less than 1 percent of the risk of heart disease, the leading killer of American men and women. This helps deflate the myth that all eggs are always bad for you and can never be included in a heart-healthy meal plan.he researchers cited lifestyle factors, such as a poor diet, smoking, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle as chief contributors (30 to 40 percent) of someone’s heart disease risk, with men having higher risks than women.
Risk factors that could be potentially treated, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, accounted for a whopping 60 to 70 percent of the risk. In this light, a single egg doesn’t seem so big a threat.
Eggs have gotten a lot of bad press of late. There seems to be a constant drumbeat, perhaps in the media, about eggs being off-limits if you want to keep your heart healthy.
Instead of worrying about an egg a day, we should turn our attention to the potential risks of stress (especially chronic stress), physical inactivity, and poor overall diet choices (like diets high in junk foods and low in fruits andvegetables).
This research, which was (full disclosure) funded by the Egg Nutrition Center, serves to further substantiate the premise that healthy adults really can eat (whole) eggs without upping their heart disease risk significantly.
What is it about eggs that could actually help your heart?
Eggs are high in choline, an organic, water-soluble nutrient that’s usually grouped in with the B vitamins. They are also high in betaine, a nutrient related to choline. Together these 2 are associated with lower levels of homocysteine (an amino acid that studies have shown to be related to a higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease).
It’s good to keep homocysteine levels under control because high homocysteine levels usually suggest chronic inflammation, a process that has been linked with heart disease, as well as to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Treatment of a high homocysteine level usually involves supplementation of the B vitamin folic acid but don’t take more than 1,000 micrograms—1 gram—a day, or it can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Eggs are a great source of high-quality (or high biological value, HBV) protein; in fact, they are considered to be the best overall source of protein.
Eggs provide 13 essential vitamins/minerals, including riboflavin, an important B vitamin needed to help your body get energy from food. Eggs also contain vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin lacking in the diet of many Americans. People who are overweight and/or have diabetes are at a higher risk for vitamin D deficiency.
Eggs also help you feel full, since your body produces a hormone called PYY when you eat high-protein foods. PYY tells your brain you’re no longer hungry, so if you’re trying to lose some pounds, opting for a high-protein snack like a boiled egg can really help you feel full (and it’s only 75 calories).
The organic eggs high in omega 3 fatty acids (the healthy fats), from chickens raised without hormones or chemicals are benefit for health. These eggs are higher in omega 3s because of the healthier feed given to the chickens. The high-omega-3 eggs add another possible benefit to a balanced diet.
However, if, for whatever reason, you want to keep the fat and cholesterol content in your diet low, eat the egg whites and skip the yolk, since all the protein (and virtually none of the fat) is in the whites. There are even cartons of pure egg whites in the grocery store that make it easy. Or you could separate the eggs at home by discarding the yolks, or at least a few of them.
This study, however, seems to be suggesting that even the egg yolk isn’t anywhere near the health risk people have perceived it to be for all these years. They’re also a very affordable source of protein, a big plus in today’s economy!
Car bomb in southern Russia kills 1, injures 8
MOSCOW: Police in Russia’s southern region of Dagestan say a driver stopped by traffic police has detonated explosives in his car, killing a passer-by and injuring several police.
Spokesman Mark Tolchinsky says the blast struck early Monday at a traffic checkpoint on the outskirts of Dagestan’s capital city, Makhachkala.
Tolchinsky told media that the police post was partly destroyed in the blast.
Dagestan’s Interior Minister Ali Magomedov says in stopping the car, the traffic police managed to avert a large-scale terrorist attack in Makhachkala.
Dagestan suffers such attacks frequently. The violence, which plagues a broader area within Russia’s North Caucasus, stems from two bloody wars in nearby Chechnya and is blamed on separatists.
SEYYED AMAR AL-HAKIM CHOSEN TO LEAD SUPREME IRAQI ISLAMIC ASSEMBLY
The Executive Council of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Assembly has elected Seyyed Amar Al-Hakim, the eldest son of the Seyyed Abdol-Aziz al-Hakim, as the movement’s new leader. In a statement issued by the Executive Council of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Assembly, Seyyed Amar Al-Hakim was chosen with a unanimous vote as the best possible candidate to lead the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Assembly. The statement praised Seyyed Amar Al-Hakim’s political (and jihadi) background. It is expected that Seyyed Amar Al-Hakim will be formally approved by the full Supreme Islamic Assembly session which will be held on Tuesday. The former head of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Assembly, Seyyed Abdol-Aziz al-Hakim, passed away last Wednesday after a prolonged and grueling fight with lung cancer.
IRAQ TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST TERRORISTS
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri Al-Maliki, has said his government intends to initiate legal proceedings at international courts of justice against all those who are behind a wave of deadly terrorist attacks in Iraq. Nouri Al-Maliki made the comment in a meeting in Baghdad on Monday with the Turkish foreign minister, Ahmad Davoutouglou.
Maliki indicated that the Iraqi government will pursue this matter vigorously, and will insist that United Nations set up an international tribunal to try terrorists who have committed horrific crimes against innocent Iraqis.
Iraqi prime minister, Nouri Al-Maliki also stressed that all terrorists, including Baa’thists and “Takfiris”, should be expelled from Iraq.
For his part, Turkish foreign minister, Ahmad Davoutouglou, stressed that Turkey wants stability and security in neighbouring Iraq.
US military still holding 9,000 Iraqi prisoners
A statement by the US military said on Sunday that the US has released more than 5,000 Iraqi prisoners since the start of the year. However it adds that about 8,947 prisoners remain in US custody.
“Since January, 1,179 detainees have been transferred to the government of Iraq with a valid warrant or detention order, and 5,236 have been released,” a US military statement said.
In line with an interim security pact signed between Baghdad and Washington in 2008, the files of all detainees in US custody must be handed over to the Iraqi authorities.
According to the so-called Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed last November, the fate of the detainees will rest with the Iraqi officials.
The US military statement added that the prisoners in its custody are held in detention facilities run by US forces at Camp Cropper, Camp Taji, and Camp Bucca.
The military says the number of prisoners, 8,947, is the lowest it has been since March 2005 and is down from about 27,000 in 2007.
UN pushes for creating a system to monitor marine environment
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 01 (APP): Significant gaps exist in the understanding and management of the complex processes and trends at work in the world’s oceans and seas, warned senior U.N. officials on Monday as they urged governments to approve expert recommendations for establishing a system that plugs the holes. At the opening of a week-long governmental session tasked with considering proposals for the creation of a mechanism that monitors oceans and seas, which cover 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, Deputy UN Secretary-general Asha-Rose Migiro called for “a continuous, comprehensive and integrated review of the problems facing the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects.” UN Environment Program (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner said that declining fish stocks and land-based sources of pollution are some of the persistent challenges facing the marine environment, while the emergence of “dead zones” and the impacts of climate change—including acidification— are among the more rapidly emerging challenges.
“A systematic assessment process is long overdue,” said Steiner. “This meeting in New York represents a tremendous opportunity for governments to put the best marine science at their service in order to make the best management choices over the coming years and decades.” If the UN General Assembly’s special working group, meeting from Aug. 31 to Sept.4, reaches agreement, the first globally integrated UN-backed assessment of the oceans could be delivered by 2014, according to a joint news release issued by UNEP and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UNESCO Director-general Koichiro Matsuura underscored concerns in the Assessment of Assessments report—the first-ever comprehensive overview of scientific marine assessments—which also considers socio-economic issues. “The report is a clear signal that the world needs a more inclusive approach on its oceans and resources,” said Matsuura, adding that it “provides a framework and options for how this can be done.” UNEP and UNESCO noted that despite the central role oceans play in the economic, environmental and social affairs of the world’s 6.7 billion people, not enough is known about their processes from the global climate system, the water cycle and circulation of nutrients, to changes affecting marine habitats. The clearing of mangroves and coastal wetlands, the over-exploitation of fish stocks and rising tides of pollution are affecting the marine environment’s ability to sustain livelihoods and life itself, while climbing concentrations of greenhouse gases—equal to a third or more of annual carbon dioxide emissions—are being absorbed, as well as untold amounts of heavy metals, triggering mounting concern over the marine food chain. To deal with this situation, improved monitoring and observation practices, regular assessments to provide a deeper understanding of the status and trends of environmental changes, and the know-how and ability to prevent, mitigate and adapt to these changes are urgently required, said the agencies. This week’s meeting of the Working Group will consider the establishment of a management oversight body, a new expert group, and secretariat support mechanisms, which could cost between four million and 5.6 million U.S. dollars a year. |
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