TEHRAN – Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi has warned the government of Azerbaijan to stop destroying the country’s mosques.

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Jafaria  News Agency, Tehran, Iran — Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi has warned the government of Azerbaijan to stop destroying the country’s mosques.

“If the destruction of the mosques in Azerbaijan continues, we will issue a fatwa (religious decree) of resistance, and we will declare that anyone who is killed in this path is a martyr,” Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said in Qom on Wednesday.

“We have officially sent our message to the Azerbaijani government, and we hope that they stop,” he stated.

The government of Azerbaijan should know that Shia Muslims obey marja taqlids (Shia clerics who are regarded as sources of emulation) and act upon their decrees, he noted.

He also said, “You should not become a puppet of Jews and Wahhabis and undermine security in your country.”

The Fatima Zahra Mosque in Azerbaijan was recently torn down following a ruling issued by Baku’s Second Economic Court.

Azeri Muslims have strongly protested against the court verdicts calling for the destruction of several mosques in Azerbaijan.

In addition, a mosque in the Yasamal district of Baku was recently demolished.

Saudi Wahhabis: We Torture and Kill Every One Who Help and Support Shia Muslms

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Jafaria News Agency , Human rights defender Mr Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas, aged 30, remains in detention in Saudi Arabia having been arrested on 7 November 2009 by the Saudi Wahhabis’ intelligence service in Al-Dammam, in eastern Saudi Arabia.

Further Information

Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas has been an advocate for Shia minority rights since February 2009. He is the general supervisor for the “Tahara” on-line discussion forum and regularly posted articles and comments on other web forums on the same issue. Despite more than five months in prison, no official charges have been pressed against him.

Two months prior to his arrest, Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas was summoned by the Al-Dammam intelligence service and reportedly ordered to write a pledge to stop his internet posts criticising the government’s treatment of the Shia minority.

His posts urged peaceful action to support his fellow Shias, especially following incidents in February 2009, when Saudi religious police attacked Shia pilgrims in Medina, and in March 2009, when they arrested peaceful Shia solidarity protesters in ‘Awwamiyya in the Eastern Province.

On 7 March 2009, Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas wrote about the “need to continue peaceful and correct media mobilization… to release the prisoners as soon as possible”.

On 7 November 2009, agents of the intelligence service arrested Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas and raided his house, without showing any search warrant, confiscating two laptops, a hard-disk and a digital camera, in the presence of his wife, who is ill, and their two small children.

Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas was held in solitary confinement for four months at the detention centre of the intelligence service in Al-Dammam. His wife was allowed to visit him two months after his arrest, but only so that she could obtain his written consent for her to undergo an urgent medical procedure, in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s guardianship system.

She was allowed to visit him again two months later, shortly after he had been moved to a group cell with other inmates. He told her that his arrest was a result of his internet posts defending the rights of the Shia minority In Saudi Arabia.

Front Line believes that the arbitrary arrest and continued detention without charge of Munir Baqir Ebrahim Al-Jassas is directly linked to his legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights, particularly the rights of Shia minority in Saudi Arabia.

Imam Khamenei visits 23rd International Book Fair in Tehran

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei visited the 23rd International Book Fair Wednesday morning.

The book fair started work in Tehran on May 5 in the presence of First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi.

During his inspection tour, World Shia Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, inspected various pavilions and talked to publishers and book sellers.

While visiting various sections of the book fair, Imam Khamenei was briefed on the international event held annually in Tehran by cultural officials.

Indian Shia Religious Leaders: Hindu terrorist organizations should be banned

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , Lucknow: Muslim scholars and clerics have demanded a ban on the Hindu organizations, against which there are sufficient evidences for their involvement in the terrorist activities.

While grieving about the fact that the government has let off the Hindu organization on the issue of terrorism, they claimed that the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), an Islamic student’s organization, was banned only on the grounds of suspicion.

A Shia cleric and a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Moulana Kalbe Jawwad lamented that it was the weakness of the Muslim organizations who couldn’t force the government to lift the ban on SIMI. People still question about SIMI, even after it has been banned only on the basis of suspicion, but the government zipped their mouths about the Hindu organizations whose involvement in the terrorist activities can be proved with enough evidences that are already available.

Other clerics, including principal of Nadwatul Ulema Maulana Dr. Saidur Rahman Azmi Nadvi and Deputy Imam of Idgah Aishbagh Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi mahali, also expressed resentment of the community over letting off the Hindu organizations by the government on the issue of terrorism.

Meanwhile, the clerics appreciated the decision of the Mumbai court for awarding death penalty to Ajmal Amir Kasab for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attack. The Shia clerics, however, questioned about why several other ‘Kasabs’ involved in the killings of innocent people were roaming free in the country. ”Kasab is a ‘kasai’ (butcher) by profession and has committed the crime as per his family tradition, but what will happen about the ‘political’ butchers in the country,” he asked.

Moulana Khalid Rashid Firangi mahali called upon the Muslims to unite and fight for their own cause. ”The Ranganath Mishra report had also suggested that Muslims could get their dues only if they unite and fight,” he said.

He further notified that Muslims are hardly holding 3 per cent government jobs in the present, while they had 30 per cent of the government jobs earlier.

Iraq's first private airline starts Dubai flights

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , Alnaser Airlines, Iraq’s first private airline established in 2009, started its daily flights from Dubai to Iraq last week. The flights are running to their full capacity of 140 passengers.

The airline, owned by an Iraqi national, Shaikh Hussain Al Khawam, has started a joined venture with the US-owned FK Gryphon Airlines, which in 2008 started commercial operations in Iraq and Kuwait.

The first port of stop for Alnaser Airlines was Kuwait, a country that came under attack from Iraq in 1991. “We wanted Kuwait to be the first [stop], to break the barriers between the two countries,” said Executive Vice-President of Gryphon Airlines, Abdullah Al Tammar.

He explained why FK Gryphon made its entry into the Iraq market: “The country has several religious spots and holy shrines that many people would like to visit.”

As for the timing of launching an airline in Iraq, which is still facing lethal attacks, Al Tammar said: “Life has to go on. We cannot let the terrorists win.”

The Dubai-Baghdad route follows the Baghdad-Kuwait and Kuwait-Najaf routes, with more destinations to come soon. Both Najaf and Karbala house shrines revered by Shias.

“We are eyeing East Asia, particularly China, as well as Europe, with current talks on Iraq-Germany routes,” said Al Tammar.

Currently, the joint venture utilises seven aircraft, three supplied by Alnaser and four by Gryphon.

“We operate in Kuwait as a joint venture between Alnaser and Gryphon – sometimes we fly our own carrier, sometimes they fly with their planes… we have a commercial agreement,” he said.

The size of Gryphon’s fleet is to be increased as the company is in the process of buying a second airline from the Gulf Co-operation Council region. “Gryphon will own a second airline within two months, and we hope that it will compete [well] in the aviation industry,” added Al Tammar.

“The economic situation being what it is, there should be more consolidation and alliances between companies, so there can be a continual and sufficient budget flow,” he said.

Meanwhile, profits are expected in the second year of operation, and will grow if stability returns to the war-torn country.

“We cannot disclose figures for the time being, as we are still in very early stages. The real worth of the agreement will come to light later,” said John Mohamed, Director of Middle East Sales of Gryphon Holdings.

According to Al Tammar, Alnaser has a grand future, especially with the private sector growing in Iraq.

“For the first time, there is a private airline in Iraq. And there is co-operation between Alnaser and the national carrier, Iraqi Airlines, not to mention the help received by Alnaser for its AOC [air operator certificate].”

Christian author introduces Imam Hussein (AS) from spiritual point of view

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , The Christian author of “Hussein in Christian Ideology” said that he introduced Imam Hussein (AS) from a spiritual point of view in his book.

“Unlike Orientalists who concern themselves with the historical and material aspects of the life of Imam Hussein (AS), I introduce him from a Christian point of view,” Antoine Bara mentioned in a review session of his book at the 23rd Tehran International Book Fair on Sunday.

Kuwait-based Syrian writer Bara has been invited by the International Publishing Company of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization (IIDO) to participate at the fair.

The company released the Persian translation of his book by Gholam-Hossein Ansari in Iran last winter.

“I wrote the book when I was an inexperienced author and journalist, but decided to reflect on such a noble character with lofty spiritual concepts,” he mentioned.

“This is the first time that I have traveled to Iran. I never imagined that one day I would be introducing the book right here in this country”, he mentioned.

He went on to say that he is surprised by the number of visitors and he has found Iranians to be people who are fond of reading books.

At the ceremony, Ansari, the translator of the book, said that the book made use of authentic Shia and Sunni sources.

“I added footnotes to some parts of the book which were not based on Islamic concepts and beliefs,” Ansari mentioned.

The author is currently compiling a three-volume book about Hazrat Zeinab (sister of Imam Hussein) and the role she played in keeping alive the movement.

Pakistan to attend World Islamic Economic Forum-2010 in Malaysia

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency ‘ KAULA LUMPUR (Malaysia): Minister for Privatization Senator Waqar Ahmad will represent Pakistan in the 6th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) being held in Kuala Lumpur on May 19.

Pakistan is also setting up a big pavilion in the 6th WIEF exhibition to showcase its quality products including mangoes, handcrafts, women garments, traditional jewellery and other such products, says Pakistan’s High Commission in Malaysia.

Besides the forum, Pakistan will also be represented in the Businesswomen’s Forum and the Young Leader’s Forum.

The WIEF is expected to bring together some 2000 participants comprising world leaders and members of the global business community to discuss ideas and strategies on global issues affecting trade and business and to network with each other on cross border business opportunities.

The Forum has been instrumental in providing a platform for thought-provoking dialogue to provide synergistic solutions to key economic issues of interest to the Muslim world and to bridge the economic gap between the Muslim and non-Muslim world by tackling the current state of the global economy, from a Muslim world perspective.

The Forum will focus on forging cooperation among the member states in areas such as tourism, logistics, SMEs, water management, branding, technology for education, entrepreneurship and business ethics, innovation and Islamic banking.

The Forum is expected to be attended by half a dozen world leaders including the Sultan of Brunei, the Presidents of Indonesia, Senegal, Maldives, and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh besides the host country’s Prime Minister.

Iran — 8000 students will attend the third Quranic knowledge exam on Friday, May 28, secretary of the Quran and Etrat Activities at the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology said.

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency  Iran — Ruhollah Mohammadalinejad said that the exam will be held in 40 centers across the country in three categories of Quran translation and Mufradat, Quran interpretation, and Quranic teachings.

He said students of the universities affiliated to Health Ministry as well as Science Ministry and the University of Applied Science and Technology will attend the exam.

The exam’s questions will be based on two books: “Everlasting Words” and “Everlasting Messages” both written by a group of scholars and writers at the Quran and Etrat Activities Center of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, he went on to say.

International conference of “Palestine from Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenei’s point of view” will be held in Greece.

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According to Ahlul Bayt (A) News Agency – This conference will be held in June 2010 by the attempt of Iranian Cultural Center in Athena.

The conference will be held by cooperation of Iranian and Greek friendship club, Greek and Iranian friendship club and Athena University for one day, with participation of guests from countries such as U.S, Palestine, Iran and Greece in Athena University.

OIC head says Israel aim non-existence of Palestinians in Jerusalem ; All Muslims have an obligation to save their Muslim brothers and sisters living in Jerusalem, Ihsanoglu said.

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Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said Monday Israel was trying to end Palestinians’ existence in Jerusalem.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Second Expanded Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC-member states (PUOICM), Ihsanoglu said that Israel was implementing a secret plan in Jerusalem and gaining international advantage.

The issues of Palestine and Jerusalem are of concern to the whole Islamic community. Palestine is going through terrible days like never before, Ihsanoglu said.

Jerusalem happens to be under danger. Jerusalem is under Israeli occupation like never before. The identity of people living in Jerusalem is being changed with political and demographic measures, Ihsanoglu said.

Palestinians are left without education, health, residences, economic and social security services and Israel is in violation of international laws. Israel uses to its advantage the lack of interest the international community has on Jerusalem, Ihsanoglu said.

By placing Israelis into residences owned by the Palestinians, subjecting Palestinians to high taxes and ending Palestinians’ right to construct their own residences, Israel is trying to end the existence of Palestinians in Jerusalem, Ihsanoglu said.

All Muslims have a responsibility regarding Jerusalem. All Muslims have an obligation to save their Muslim brothers and sisters living in Jerusalem, Ihsanoglu also said.

Qaradawi warns European countries for Hijab ban

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Qatar-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradawi urged those European countries which are considering outlawing the full veil (niqab) to review their plans, saying that a wider ban on niqab might prompt clerics to campaign for imposing a “modest dress code” on foreigners living in Muslim countries.                                                                                                                                          In his Friday sermon, Sheikh Qaradawi said the recent outlawing of the face-covering veil in public by Belgium along with a French draft law to make it illegal would be a violation of both religious and personal freedoms.

“I hope that France, Belgium and all of Europe will show respect to Islamic values and creed. Banning a Muslim woman from wearing the niqab would only place her in a dilemma about whether to comply with the law or obey what she believes is a religious order,” Sheikh Qaradawi told a congregation at a mosque at Khalifa South town.

I am totally against banning a Muslim from wearing niqab if she is convinced of it as a religious obligation,” he explained.

Quoting from a letter he had sent to former French president Jacques Chirac, the scholar said the ban imposed on hijab in schools would be a betrayal of the principles of the French Revolution, namely liberty, fraternity and equality.

“I told (president Chirac) that prohibiting women from wearing the hijab would be discrimination against them and make them hate France which is known to be a leading country for freedom,” he added.

In his letter, he had also dismissed the notion that hijab was a religious symbol for Muslims as “untrue”, saying that if it was a symbol, why they were allowed to take it off when they were in the presence of other women or male relatives.

“Wearing hijab for Muslims could not be dealt with as wearing a necklace with a cross pendant for Christians,” he said.

“When Muslims ruled India, they did not close down temples or impose a ban on cremation. It is the duty of each nation to respect the values of the other, but with the European case, we can make it difficult for French and Belgian women who stay in Muslim countries by asking them to stick to a modest dress,” he quoted from the conversation he had with the French ambassador to Qatar.

Iran Army warns off US recon plane

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“A US reconnaissance aircraft approached our war games on Monday, but left the area after receiving a warning from our anti-aircraft system,” Fars News Agency quoted Maj. Gen. Ataollah Salehi as saying.

The Iranian navy kicked off the eight-day maneuvers dubbed Velayat 89 on May 5. The drills, backed by the Air Force and the Army, stretch from the Strait of Hormuz to the north of the Indian Ocean.

The strategic Strait of Hormuz is a waterway through which a large percentage of the world’s oil shipments pass.

Iranian military officials have stressed that the aim of the military exercises is to send a message of peace and friendship to regional states and show foreign powers that Persian Gulf states are capable of maintaining their own security.

Kabul-Mashhad flight hijacking fails

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According to Ahlul Bayt (A) News Agency  – The hijacking attempt failed when security personnel arrested the armed passenger with the help of other passengers.

The flight originated in Kabul with a stopover in Kandahar and destined to its final landing point in the holy city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran.

The plane landed safely in Kandahar’s airport, where Afghan security officials detained the hijacker for questioning. The assailant has claimed to be an Afghan soldier.

The aircraft was flying to the southern Afghan city from Kabul when the hijacker tried to take control of the plane with a knife.

An official at the Kandahar International Airport said the plane belonged to the private Ariana Afghan Airlines.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior has announced that the detained passenger is being interrogated. The hijacker’s possible terror links are not yet clear.

Pakistani ambassador attacked in Tehran

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TEHRAN, May 11 (MNA) — Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, M.B. Abbasi, has been injured in an attempt on his life in Tehran.
M.H. Jaffery, the press counselor of the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran, told the Tehran Times on Tuesday night that Ambassador Abbasi was on his way to his home in the northern Tehran neighborhood of Darous after working out at a nearby gymnasium when a man with a knife stabbed the ambassador repeatedly.

Ambassador Abbasi attempted to ward off the attack but was injured and fell to the ground.

Mr. Jaffery stated that the ambassador has been hospitalized but the doctors have not yet announced his condition and the level of his injuries.

Officials at the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran dismissed the reports of the Al Arabiya network, which said that the Pakistani ambassador had been injured in a bomb attack in which two of his bodyguards were killed.

Israeli Politician: 'Israel must stop nuclear tomfoolery'

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , A former worker at Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility says that Tel Aviv should abandon its policy of nuclear ambiguity and acknowledge what it is doing at the site.

Former politician Uzi Even told Israeli army radio that the political footwork “by which we fool only ourselves and nobody else, is not good for us any more,” AFP reported on Monday.

“It was good, effective and successful for close to 40 years, but over 40 years many things changed, and now I am telling you clearly, this policy is no longer in our interest,” he added.

“We could open Dimona to international inspection.”

Under the nuclear ambiguity policy, which Israel successfully maintained for years with the help of the United States, Tel Aviv neither confirms nor denies it possesses nuclear weapons.

Since 1958, when Israel began building the plutonium and uranium processing facility, it has allegedly manufactured scores of nuclear warheads at the site, earning it a reputation as the only player in the Middle East with a nuclear arsenal.

Former US President Jimmy Carter has said Israel has between 200 and 300 nuclear warheads.

But now, after years of silence on the issue, the International Atomic Energy Agency plans to discuss Israel’s nuclear activities for the first time at its next meeting in June.

However, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said, “I don’t think there is a real danger or threat to Israel’s traditional position, as it has been expressed over the years.”

Islamic world calls on Israel to stop new settlements in Jerusalem

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , Parliament speakers and parliamentarians from 29 Islamic countries, including Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Syria, adopted Istanbul Declaration here on Monday, calling on Israel to halt all settlement activities in Jerusalem.

Istanbul Declaration was adopted at the second extraordinary meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)-member states (PUOICM) held at the Conrad Hilton Hotel, Istanbul.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Syrian Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al Abrash were among those parliament speakers from 14 countries. Deputy parliament speakers from 5 countries and parliamentarians from 10 countries attended the meeting.

The declaration condemned the continuing Israeli provocative and deliberate acts in Jerusalem and other Palestinian cities while urging Muslims and Christians in all parts of the world to work together to protect sacred sites, heritage and history in Jerusalem.

Addressing the delegates at the inauguration of the meeting, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference ( OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said, Israel was trying to end Palestinians’ existence in Jerusalem.

Ihsanoglu said that Israel was implementing a secret plan in Jerusalem and gaining international advantage.

The issues of the Palestinians and Jerusalem are of concern to the whole Islamic community. Palestinians are going through terrible days like never before, Ihsanoglu added.

“Jerusalem happens to be under danger. Jerusalem is under Israeli occupation like never before. The identity of people living in Jerusalem is being changed with political and demographic measures,” he said.

Influence of the Zionist Lobby in EU (10)

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The influence of the Zionist lobby in the European Union, especially in the decision-making process is evident. The lobby influences political decisions through infiltrating the parties, parliament and having relations with influential political figures. In this regard, in addition to state organizations, we should not ignore the role of Zionist organs including Central Jewish Council Inc. It plays an important in Europe.

In the past and at present some British politicians as well as major parties have been working hard to strengthen the Zionist lobby through diplomatic and political channels in addition to propaganda tools. For example, the former British Labor government on many occasions prevented different efforts for international economic pressure on the Israeli regime in order to cease violence against the Palestinians.

The clear evidence of this policy can be seen in not condemning the Zionist invasions of Lebanon and Gaza, doubling the export of British military equipments to Israel in the recent years and encouraging the illegal migration of British Jews to the usurped land of Palestine.

Probably the most leading political figure who is working hard covertly and publicly to strengthen relations between Britain and Israel is the Jewish Lord, Levy. He was senior aide to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He is a supporter of the Labour Friends of Israel and has been described by The Jerusalem Post as “undoubtedly the notional leader of British Jewry”. He is also a member of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the leadership of UK Jewish community. Levy has close ties with the Israeli Labour Party. Levy has praised Blair for his solid and committed support of the State of Israel.

He is also involved in fundraising for Jewish and Israeli causes. For this he showed a special adeptness, raising 60 million pounds for Jewish Care between the years 1988-to-1994, an amalgam of Jewish charitable organizations, of which he is now President. Simon Morris, Chief Executive of Jewish Care, said of Levy that, when it comes to fundraising, “there’s no one better in the country.”

France is among the European countries which largely backs the illegal Zionist entity. The reason may be the presence of influential Jews in the governing body. In fact, the French has supported the Zionist regime more than any other country and in the regime’s access to nuclear weapons the French companies and institutes including Saint-Gobain and Desso have played a key role. It is worth noting that the political, economic, military and cultural cooperation between France and the Zionist entity started in the 1960s and is clearly dominant today. Simultaneously, the role of Zionist organizations and institutions in France is very important in a way that on one side there is a major current backing the Zionist entity and on the other hand it tries to silence any voice opposing the usurpation of Palestine by resorting to the pretext of anti-Semitism although Israel and the Zionists have no relation at all with the Semitic race. For example, the French Central Jewish Council plays a key role in decision-makings and is considered the most powerful Jewish lobby in France. The record of the Council dates back to Second World War II. The Council tries to stabilize its position by establishing relations with Jews worldwide.

An example of French free services for Israel is that in the last days of the France’s chairmanship of the European Union, it promoted EU’s relation with the Zionist entity despite opposition by its allies. According to reports, in the conference of EU Foreign Ministers in early December of the last month of France’s presidency of the EU, a draft was approved according to which relations with Israel were promoted to a level higher and trade and political relations with that illegal entity was considered as special. The decision that was taken by the rabidly pro-Israel French President Nicolas Sarkozy was a novel gift to his Zionist friends at a time when public opinion expected France as president of the EU to condemn the Zionist massacre of the Palestinians and the unrelenting Gaza siege.

Istanbul conference calls for formation of an independent Palestine state

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Istanbul conference calls for formation of an independent Palestine state.

The Executive Committee of the parliament speakers of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) in a statement called for formation of an independent Palestinian state and independent sovereignty with the holy Qods as its capital.

The statement issued Monday evening after the end of the Executive Committee of the parliament speakers of the OIC, says the lands of the occupied Palestine including Gaza, West Bank and the holy Qods ate inseparable parts of the Palestine and the previous resolutions of the Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union especially 2009 Istanbul resolution in support of the rights of Palestinians are stressed again.

Istanbul conference expressed disgust over the current illegal measures in Qods and the banning of Palestinians to go to holy sites, and stressed the right of the Palestinian refugees to unconditionally return to their mother land.

The parliament speakers in Istanbul conference also asked the UNSC, Human Rights Committee, and UNESCO to force the Zionist regime into accept the Geneva fourth agreement and other agreements concerning the occupied lands.

The final part of the statement says Istanbul conference calls for the opening of sea and air passages for helping the people of Gaza, and supports measures for lifting Gaza siege. The parliament speakers and representatives of 15 member countries including Islamic Republic of Iran, the host Turkey, Syria, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Burkina Faso, and Cameron participated in the conference.

Larijani Meets Turkish, Pakistani Officials

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Iran’s Majlis Speaker Dr. Ali Larijani in a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davotoglu said the oppressed Palestinian people in the current sensitive situation need to receive a firm message of support from Muslim states in realization of their denied birthrights.

Larijani said the holding of Inter-parliamentary Conference on the issue of Palestine in Istanbul is appreciable.

The Turkish Foreign Minister for his part expressed hope the Istanbul conference can deliver a strong message in support of the rights of Palestinians.

Larijani, in a separate meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mohammad Ali Shahin, regarded Iran and Turkey as two important and influential countries in the region, and said Istanbul-Tehran relations are based on mutual trust.

He also welcomed Ankara’s role in efforts to defuse the crisis raised by the West over Iran’s peaceful nuclear issue.

The Turkish Parliament Speaker for his part expressed happiness over the growing trend of Tehran-Ankara cooperation and said that the consultations between the Iranian and Turkish parliaments can be an effective for more expansion of cooperation.

Iran’s Majlis Speaker also conferred with his Pakistani counterpart, Mrs. Fahmidah Mirza. In the meeting, Larijani said the information obtained from the recently captured terrorist Abdul-Malek Rigi shows direct US support for terrorism in the region.

Larijani said the US is following a dual policy in the occupied countries of Iraq and Afghanistan, and said that the examples of such a dubious US policy can be seen in its support for terrorist groups including the Taliban.

Fahmidah Mirza for her part welcomed expansion of Iran-Pakistan economic relations and added that progress in the project of transferring Iran’s gas to Pakistan are a good example of such cooperation.

Crisis of the American Occupation of Iraq Monday, May 10, 2010

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Iraq witnessed positive political developments concerning talks for formation of the new government. With the announcement of merger by the State of Law Coalition and the Iraqi National Alliance, the Kurdistan coalition as well as the Sunni Islamic Party, have declared readiness to join the national reconciliation trend for the broad-based unity government. Despite desperate efforts by the US occupation authorities and certain reactionary Arab regimes, both of whom had meddled with the election process to hand over the marginal al-Iraqiyya of former Ba’thist Iyad Allawi a surprising 91 seats in the parliament, the Sunni Accord Front has also expressed willingness to join in the new government taking shape. The Kurds have said they will support any candidate nominated for the prime minister’s post by the Shi’ite Muslim bloc that represents the long suppressed majority of the country. The representative of Iraq’s senior-most religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani has called for speedy efforts to name the new cabinet.

The manual recounting of ballot boxes of Baghdad Province started last week and according to the Iraqi High Election Commission the recounting would take at least three weeks. It is widely believed that most of the rigging was done in favour of Allawi and his marginal party under pressure from the US and the bribes of Saudi Arabia and other reactionary Arab regimes.

The trip of Prime Minister Maliki’s aide to Syria and his meeting with President Bashar Assad had reflections in the regional media.

It was disclosed by the British daily The Independent that British occupation forces in Iraq had a hand in the US-led American chemical bombardment of Falluja

Last week two consecutive blasts in Mosul killed and injured more than eighty people.

As said earlier, backed by the Iraqi masses, the State of Law Coalition of incumbent premier, Nuri al-Maliki, and the National Alliance made up Supreme Islamic Assembly Chief, Hojjatoleslam Seyyed Ammar al-Hakim and the Sadrists, have decided to merge. This positive development makes the alliance the largest single bloc in the newly elected parliament with 163 seats, thus eclipsing for good the 91 seats that were surprisingly allotted under American pressure and Arab money to former Ba’thist Iyad Allawi’s marginal group, al-Iraqqiya. With the 43-seat Kurdish coalition of President Jalal Talabani announcing its backing for the country’s Shi’ite Muslim majority and its choice of prime minister, coupled with declarations of support by some Sunni parties, the national unity government is certain to take shape since now the allies have between them more than 200 seats of the 325-seat parliament. In the statement read by senior officials of the two alliances, it was noted that the goal behind the merger is to materialize the legitimate aims and aspirations of the people of Iraq. It is interesting to note that following the start of recounting of votes in Baghdad Province, several groups of the Arab Sunni minority of Iraq, realizing that Allawi’s fraud was sure to be exposed, have voiced readiness to join Iraq’s Shi’ite Muslim majority in forming the national reconciliation government. This is likely to reduce the number of the surprising 91 seats that the Americans had gifted to Allawi. Secretary General of Islamic Party, Osama Takriti, expressed happiness over the merger of the two principal Shi’ite groups and appealed to all political groups to set aside differences joint the positive political trend.

The Iraqi Presidential Council held an emergency meeting last week to help resolve the current post-election problems. The meeting coincided with the recounting of the ballot boxes of Baghdad Province. Meanwhile, the Iraqi National Alliance called on the al-Iraqiyya Coalition of former Ba’thist and currently US-backed candidate, Iyad Allawi, to accept the results of the recounting. A member of the National Alliance, Mohammad Naji, advised al-Iraqiyya that its threat to pull out of political trend before the announcement of the results of the recounting is not a wise decision. In recent days, al-Iraqiyya has tried to make the Iraqi atmosphere tense through its provocative calls for outside interference in the deadlock following the parliamentary elections held last March. It is worth noting that al-Iraqiyya was surprisingly awarded with the most number of seats, that is, 91 in the parliamentary polls, which analysts believe was due to US meddling and the hundreds of millions of dollars that have flowed into the country from Saudi Arabia and other reactionary Arab regimes which do not want a stable and democratic Iraq. Concern over delay in forming the new government and bringing up marginal and unimportant issues by some political currents have complicated the situation in Iraq. The heads of Iraq’ three braches of government have tried to ease the current unstable atmosphere through consultations with the different political currents.

Zionists' Conspiracy Against Islam and the Event of Karbala

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , Pakistan — Blasphemy of the highest degree alarms students appearing in their paper for the year 2010 Intermediate Examination of Hyderabad Education Board.

Hyderabad Education Board astounds every institution (lest the whole Muslim Ummah) with the conspiracy brought forth by its Zionist Agenda publishing in an atrocious question in its Intermediate Muslim History Paper. In this years’ paper ‘One’ on question 8 referred to “Karbala as a bad patch in the beautiful history of Islam”.

Being Muslims, let alone in Pakistan, with recent bombing events in religious festivities flaring up sectarian rivalries, a conspiracy as such is not only highly outrageous to a particular Muslim community but an open blasphemy for the entire Muslim Ummah. Emotions and values are not only questioned but animosity aggrandized due to the sacrilege of our unanimous Belief.

Every years our Ummah faces the trauma by Anti-Islam Organisations contesting to check the reactions with one religious profanity or the other. Yet this stands out as the acme, for it is done within the vicinity of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, but put forth to a number of academics minors appearing in for a Muslim history paper, nurturing them with cryptic’s of preposterous decree.

It should be bourne in mind that already the students face great turmoil due to the Board’s policy of not facilitating Shiite students with a separate curriculum in Islamiyat but now with this new advent of sickly questions, the ulterior free-mason agenda remains no secret.

Great agitation among the Shiite community and other the Muslim sects are noticed and brought forth to the concerned officials.

Jafaria Alliance Hyderabad President Rashid Rizvi condemned the notorious act of Hyderabad Education board and termed the act a conspiracy against the Islam.

He said that a petition is put forth to the Government to take immediate actions against the transgressors but as well arrange for separate curriculum for the Shiite students.

Zionists’ Conspiracy Against Islam and the Event of Karbala

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , Pakistan — Blasphemy of the highest degree alarms students appearing in their paper for the year 2010 Intermediate Examination of Hyderabad Education Board.

Hyderabad Education Board astounds every institution (lest the whole Muslim Ummah) with the conspiracy brought forth by its Zionist Agenda publishing in an atrocious question in its Intermediate Muslim History Paper. In this years’ paper ‘One’ on question 8 referred to “Karbala as a bad patch in the beautiful history of Islam”.

Being Muslims, let alone in Pakistan, with recent bombing events in religious festivities flaring up sectarian rivalries, a conspiracy as such is not only highly outrageous to a particular Muslim community but an open blasphemy for the entire Muslim Ummah. Emotions and values are not only questioned but animosity aggrandized due to the sacrilege of our unanimous Belief.

Every years our Ummah faces the trauma by Anti-Islam Organisations contesting to check the reactions with one religious profanity or the other. Yet this stands out as the acme, for it is done within the vicinity of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, but put forth to a number of academics minors appearing in for a Muslim history paper, nurturing them with cryptic’s of preposterous decree.

It should be bourne in mind that already the students face great turmoil due to the Board’s policy of not facilitating Shiite students with a separate curriculum in Islamiyat but now with this new advent of sickly questions, the ulterior free-mason agenda remains no secret.

Great agitation among the Shiite community and other the Muslim sects are noticed and brought forth to the concerned officials.

Jafaria Alliance Hyderabad President Rashid Rizvi condemned the notorious act of Hyderabad Education board and termed the act a conspiracy against the Islam.

He said that a petition is put forth to the Government to take immediate actions against the transgressors but as well arrange for separate curriculum for the Shiite students.

Wahabi Terrorists killed Shia Doctor in Karachi

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , Terrorists of outlawed Wahhabi Organization on Monday night martyred Shia Doctor Haider Abbas at Metrovil III in Karachi.

Police officials were suspecting his killing as a result of sectarian violence.

Police officials said that two armed men on a motorcycle targeted and shot him thrice when he on his Toyota Corolla car bearing registration number C-2933, was on the way to AKM specialist hospital in Mominabad to attend the patients. The deceased died on the spot as he sustained bullets in his face and head.

His body was moved to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for an autopsy.

Police officials said that the incident took place near Metrolines hospital located at Metrovil SITE, within the limits of SITE ‘A’ Section police station soon after he left the hospital to make his presence in another AKM specialist hospital. DSP Rao Iqbal said that apparently, it seems an incident of sectarian killing and investigation is underway. No case was registered till the filing of this report.

The deceased was a resident of Saddat Colony Block-20, Federal ‘B’ Area and was the father of two daughters.

The mayhem continues of the Notorious Gang fuelling the hatred among the sectarian rivals, targeting innocent bystanders and intellectuals; in particular of the Shiite community.

Fed with Zionist Agenda to harm the sanctity of Islam, these off-putting powers – the offshoots of Pagan, have been working against the forces of Islam since their patron went against the will of Almighty and never prostrated Hazrat Adam (A.S).

It cannot be put past them to go beyond any means to harm the deity of our Almighty Allah, Muhammad (SAWWS) and his Progeny (A.s). It is upon realization to this failure that they stoop to levels beyond imagination; mass killing, staged bombings, gorilla warfare etc. targeting muslims who have the will to unravel and expose their true identity.

Government officials remain allay and no statement has been issued as yet. This whole year, since the heartrending incidences of Ashura and Arba’een our community lives on false pretence; an environment where security is never compromised.

Yes! It remains a housemaid to elites enrolled in government enjoying the benefits of security protocols beyond imagination; whereas citizens remain too stressed with financial concerns, load shedding, outrageous prices of utilities, etc. All issues pending are concealed with petty issues for populace to fondle over for months to come with justice molested under heaps of files.

Australian Government to spend millions to fight spread of Wahhabism

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , The Australian Government will be earmarking millions of dollars to check the spread of extremist Wahhabis who are far from Islamic thought but kill innocent people in the name of Islam. The measure comes as part of a Federal Budget package to boost national security.

The Federal Budget to be announced on Tuesday is especially significant as it comes in an election-year. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Government is focusing on strengthening national security to appease Australian citizens.

There has been heightened concern over the security issue following a deluge of asylum-seekers who manage to enter the country unintercepted.

In view of these concerns, the Government will announce “preventative” measures to counter the growth of radical terrorist cells across Australia, The Daily Telegraph reports.

The Government will implement its programmes carefully in order to avoid demonizing the Muslim community and the new measures will tackle potential spread of extremism in the nation’s jails, the paper said.

The Budget is expected to outline a national scheme, with religious classes and better contact between inmates and their families. This could minimize interactions that could potentially lead to the formation of radical Wahhabis caucuses, it added.

Wave of Iraq attacks kills many Shia Muslims

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , An apparently co-ordinated series of attacks targeting security forces and a Shiite mosque in Iraq killed 31 people on Monday in the worst violence to hit the country in more than a fortnight.

The bloodshed began in Baghdad where shootings with automatic weapons against six police or army checkpoints in eastern and western sectors of the city accounted for seven of the dead, an interior ministry official said.

Two other policemen died in three bombings in south and west Baghdad.

“The attacks started at 6:30 am (0330 GMT) and ended around 8:00 am (0500 GMT),” the official said, noting that nearly all of the wounded were security personnel.

A double bomb attack near the mosque in Suwayrah, 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of the capital, killed 11 people and wounded 70, a police lieutenant told AFP.

There were also four bomb attacks on houses in and around the former Sunni insurgent bastion of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, three of which were owned by security officials. Police and a doctor at Fallujah hospital confirmed a total of four people had been killed and 11 injured in the attacks.

Seven other people were killed in separate attacks near the main northercity of Mosul, in Iskandiriyah south of Baghdad, and near Tarmiyah, north of the Iraqi capital.

Monday’s death toll was the highest since April 23, when 58 people were killed in series of bombings in Baghdad and western Iraq, days after the government said Al-Qaeda was on the run.

There were around 20 attacks in total on Monday.

Major General Qassim Atta, a security forces spokesman in Baghdad, said the attacks appeared to be coordinated

Wedding issue puts young generation into a sticky situation

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , Arak, Iran — Hujjatul Islam mohsin qara’ti addressing to Friday congregational prayer of Arak told: due to severity of families on both sides, wedding issue has changed into a critical situation for our youth.

He while stating that education should not be an obstacle for right time wedding of boys and girls in the society he said: wedding is a necessary and more important than education and parents should not disallow their children from the marriage compulsorily.

Central province due to its strategic position and connection with Qom and Tehran is a very significant province and stands first in industry, agriculture, and productive land and its culture and science, Hujjatul Islam Qara’ti continued.

Worthy to note: nowadays, hujjatul Islam mohsin qara’ti travelled to central province to deliver his lectures about Quran.

Baghdad, Iraq — Ammar al-Hakeem, the leader of the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) bloc, met on Sunday with Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah at the al-Sayf Palace in the Kuwaiti capital city and discussed political developments in Iraq as well as bilateral relations.

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , Baghdad, Iraq — Ammar al-Hakeem, the leader of the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) bloc, met on Sunday with Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah at the al-Sayf Palace in the Kuwaiti capital city and discussed political developments in Iraq as well as bilateral relations.

“During the meeting the two sides reviews current developments and future vistas as well as means to further bilateral relations to the interests of both the Kuwaiti and Iraqi peoples,” according to a statement published on Hakeem’s Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC) web site as received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

Hakeem had started a visit to neighboring Kuwait on Saturday (May 8).

His meeting with the Emir of Kuwait was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah and Minister of State for Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali al-Jarrah al-Sabah

OIC meeting in Turkey to discuss Israeli damages in holy city

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency, The second extraordinary meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)-member states (PUOICM) will take place in Istanbul on Monday.

Turkey’s Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin will preside the meeting at Istanbul’s Conrad Hotel.

Sahin held bilateral talks with Yemeni Parliament Speaker Yahya al-Raee, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Syrian Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al Abrash in Istanbul on Sunday.

Parliament speakers from 14 countries, deputy parliament speakers from 6 countries and parliamentarians from 8 countries will be in attendance at the meeting.

Israel’s damaging the holy structure of Jerusalem by opening new settlement units will top the agenda of the meeting.

Parliament Speaker Sahin, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliamentary Union of the OIC Secretary-General Mahmut Erol Kilic and OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu will make opening remarks of the meeting.

Established in 1969, OIC is an international organization with 57 member states from the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, Caucasus, Balkans, and South America. The Parliamentary Union of the OIC member states was established in Iran in 1999 and its headquarters is situated in Tehran.

Shia Muslim cleric: Ireland under the attack of Al-Qaeda extremists

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency, EXTREMIST Wahhabis influenced by al-Qaeda are taking a hold in Ireland and some of these young adults are becoming influential in the country’s universities, the Muslim religious leader of a Dublin mosque has warned.

Imam Ali Al-Saleh, who runs the Shia mosque in Dublin’s Milltown, said fundamentalist Wahhabis who sympathise with al-Qaeda were living in Ireland and and that the recent arrest of a group of Wahhabis in Waterford and Limerick was proof of this.

“I think there is a problem with extremists in Ireland. Ireland is being used as a safe haven. We were not surprised over the arrests in relation to the plot in Sweden,” Dr Al-Saleh told the Sunday Tribune.

“Many extremist Wahhabis came to Ireland as asylum seekers. They are raising their children as extremists and these children have now grown into adults. There is now a problem in Ireland with extremists getting involved in university student societies. This is of concern.

These youths can be easily brainwashed. There are so many websites dedicated to extremism and so many speeches being made that influence these young people. It is a very hot atmosphere. We are warning people not to get involved.”

Dr Al-Saleh added that, as well as extremist Wahhabis who have been raised in Ireland, many middle-Eastern students are also arriving in Ireland to study.

“Al-Qaeda have used Ireland as a base. I think the most dangerous are the parents who raise their children as fanatical extremists. I have children in primary and high school. They tell me what they say about Osama bin Laden. They tell us their youth praise Osama bin Laden.”

“The reaction of extremists can be very harsh. There have been al-Qaeda leaders in Ireland – they have since been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Dr Al-Saleh said it was important to acknowledge Wahhabi extremism in Ireland but he is aware that some other imams do not agree with his views. “In Ireland we have this problem and we need to tackle it. By acknowledging it, I am defending Islam. To deny it is not accusing Islam, it is accusing extremists.”

Islam is now the second biggest faith in Ireland after Christianity with approximately 32,000 Muslims living here. Imam Ali Al-Selim, chairman of the Irish Council of Imams and head of the Sunni mosque in Dublin’s Clonskeagh, said he did not believe there was a problem with extremists Wahhabis in Ireland.

“We are an integrated part of Irish society here. Nothing has happened to show us there are radical Wahhabis who call themselves as Muslim in Ireland. We as Muslims condemn all violence whether it’s against Muslims or non-Muslims,” he said.

Wave of Iraq attacks kills many Shia Muslims

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , An apparently co-ordinated series of attacks targeting security forces and a Shiite mosque in Iraq killed 31 people on Monday in the worst violence to hit the country in more than a fortnight.

The bloodshed began in Baghdad where shootings with automatic weapons against six police or army checkpoints in eastern and western sectors of the city accounted for seven of the dead, an interior ministry official said.

Two other policemen died in three bombings in south and west Baghdad.

“The attacks started at 6:30 am (0330 GMT) and ended around 8:00 am (0500 GMT),” the official said, noting that nearly all of the wounded were security personnel.

A double bomb attack near the mosque in Suwayrah, 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of the capital, killed 11 people and wounded 70, a police lieutenant told AFP.

There were also four bomb attacks on houses in and around the former Sunni insurgent bastion of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, three of which were owned by security officials. Police and a doctor at Fallujah hospital confirmed a total of four people had been killed and 11 injured in the attacks.

Seven other people were killed in separate attacks near the main northercity of Mosul, in Iskandiriyah south of Baghdad, and near Tarmiyah, north of the Iraqi capital.

Monday’s death toll was the highest since April 23, when 58 people were killed in series of bombings in Baghdad and western Iraq, days after the government said Al-Qaeda was on the run.

There were around 20 attacks in total on Monday.

Major General Qassim Atta, a security forces spokesman in Baghdad, said the attacks appeared to be coordinated.

Greek lawmakers back austerity bill

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Greece’s Parliament has passed a $40 billion austerity bill to prepare the ground for a much-needed bailout to save the country from a historic economic crisis.

The bill which ensures the $110 billion aid from European Union and the International Monetary Fund includes tax rises, pension reforms and major cuts in public sector bonuses, Reuters reported.

In an address to the Parliament, Prime Minister George Papandreou referred to the country’s debt and deficit which has triggered anxiety among the 16 member nation making up the euro zone. He revealed that there is no time to be lost in making big changes in Greece’s broken economy.

The legislation took place amid violent public protests, which brought thousands of angry students, workers, and pensioners to the streets.

Greek’s biggest public and private unions went on strike on Wednesday which cancelled flights, closed shops and halted the public transportation as protesters vowed to continue their campaign against governmental plans.

Blaming corrupt politicians for the spiraling economic crisis, the restless dissidents have demanded justice to be served.

Papandreou, in an effort to calm the bitter protests, has promised to crack down on financial corruption.

Shia teacher martyr’s in Mastung Balochistan Terrorists of nutritious religious organization on Thursday"Abdul Qadir Mohammad "

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According to Ahlul Bayt (A) News Agency – ABNA.ir – Terrorists opened the fire on Shia teacher Abdul Qadir, when he was arrived from the post office.

Abdul Qadir Mohammad Shai was brought to the local l Hospital of Mastung, where he was succumbed to injuries and got martyrdom.

The killing of Shia teacher Abdul Qadir was a part of a series of Shia target killing incidents that have been going on in Quetta and Balochistan from the last five years.

The genocide of Shia Muslims in Pakistan continue unabated. Recent reports from Shikarpur (Sindh), Quetta (Balochistan), Dera Ghazi Khan, Orakzai Agency  and finally from Mastung (balochistan) are incontrovertible fact that the Holocaust of Shia Muslims, anti-Shi’ism and anti-Shia Pogrom have no match in the human history.

Where is United Nations, where are self-claimed champions on war on terrorism and their local allies? Where are human rights organisations, civil society, lawyers? Where are those who are legally bound to ensure safety and security of life, property and honour of all Pakistani citizens

Ayatollah khamenei said; IRI sould turn into a reliable reference for Islamic world

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Receiving thousands of teachers from all over the country, the Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei pointed to the teachers’ vital and great role in creating and cultivating innovative, thoughtful, religious and self-confident human beings in order to continue the country’s progress, stressing: “The Iranian nation should achieve a stage of progress and exaltation so that it turns from intellectual and scientific aspects and different political and social fields into a reliable reference for nations and the thinkers of the Islamic world, and this is the Iranian nation’s historical responsibility.”
Commemorating the martyr master Morteza Motahhari and the Teachers’ Day, IR Leader called Motahhari the martyr as a complete teacher with a sense of responsibility, adding: “That great man entered bravely any arena that he felt the society has different questions and needs, and considerations and interests never blocked him.”
“The martyr Motahhari, contrary to some claimants of religious intellectualism that used to present concepts void of religious content with religious paint, presented to the society real religious concepts in coordination with the needs of the day and the audience’s understanding,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Stressing that the martyr Motahhari never sought seminary and academic name and title, he added: “That martyr during his life fought religious innovation and deviatory and eclectic thoughts with the same strength that he fought reactionary thoughts and petrifaction and this was one of the prominent characteristics of the martyr Motahhari.”
IR Leader regarded one of the excellent characteristics of the martyr Motahhari’s works as their liveliness and novelty, stressing: “The reason why after 30 years of that master’s martyrdom and despite different progresses, the martyr Motahhari’s works are still respondent to many of today’s needs, is that great man’s sincerity.”
“Whenever a deep thought is accompanied with sincerity, God grants that thought a blessing that remains for the society as an eternal reserve and the martyr Motahhari’s works are so,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.
Considering the effect of the martyr Motahhari’s scientific and cultural works as an example of the magnitude of education and cultivation and referring to the teachers’ vital role, he said: “If teachers always consider the magnitude and greatness of the effect of their work, their faith, incentive, movement and effort will intensity.”
IR Leader regarded the teacher’s role and effect in forming children’s and teenagers’ personality and social personality as further than the effect of parents, media, social issues and even spiritual and ethical hereditary factors, adding: “The teacher with this prominent role can cultivate a faithful, enthusiast, patient, hopeful of the future, pursuant of public interests, interested in achieving the peaks of personal and social evolution, innovative, thoughtful and researching human being.”
The Leader of Islamic Revolution said should teachers fail to appreciate the importance of their role they would educate people not favorable to the society.
Ayatollah Khamenei urged all teachers not to forget their duty adding that a fundamental change in the education system should be made in compliance with the needs and goals of the country.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution added that to compensate for the deficiencies of the past a major move was required emphasizing that “the country and the nation should gain the stature they deserve and become an excellent model for the Islamic world.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said that in order to achieve that goal all intellectual and physical resources of the nation should be utilized.
“If Iranians took their rightful position in the world it would lead to a change in the Muslim world and a change in the Muslim world would certainly change the whole world,” the Leader of Islamic Revolution said.
Ayatollah Khamenei spoke of the world’s current situation as morally bad adding that the humankind could be spared a terrifying fate but first the country should change so as to become a model for the world.
He continued that education was the basis of every change and since the foundation had been laid in the past thirty years, and despite the difficulties, promising future was ahead.
Ayatollah Khamenei also added that no power in the world could obstruct the country’s forward movement adding that long years of experience had proven it.
“In a forward movement what is important is that every one fulfills his or her duty,” the Leader of Islamic Revolution said.
In the end Ayatollah Khamenei urged education authorities to fulfill their duties with enthusiasm and hard work.

Ahmadinejad at UN: US Is the "Main Suspect" in The Stockpiling And Spread of Nuclear Weapons

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According to Ahlul Bayt News Agence, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the United States should dismantle its nuclear bases around the world as a step to create a nuke-free world.

“Dismantling of nuclear weapons stationed in the military bases in the US and its allies around the world, including Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands,” President Ahmadinejad said in an address before the 2010 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday.

“Those who used nuclear weapons for the first time in history are the most detested and disgraceful people in the world,” he said, adding that nuclear arms are “the most disgusting and shameful kind of weapons in the world.”

The United Sates, despite being a signatory to the NPT, is the “main suspect” in the stockpiling, spread and threatening of other nations with nuclear weapons, the Iranian president said.

Ahmadinejad noted that “possessing nuclear weapons is nothing to be proud of,” criticizing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for adopting a double standard toward nuclear-armed countries and those seeking nuclear energy.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened the review conference, held every five years to strengthen the non-proliferation regime, at the UN headquarters.

Ahmadinejad, who is the only head of state attending the summit, said world powers should set a deadline to create a nuke-free world, calling on the UN to rebrand the NPT as the “Disarmament NPT.”

The Iranian president, who described as “hazardous” the production and stockpiling of nuclear weapons by world powers, criticized the United Nations for its inability to establish sustainable security for the world against nuclear weapons.

He stressed that nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation have not materialized, saying the US should be blamed for proliferation of nuclear weapons.

World powers, he said, should live up to their obligations under the NPT.

Despite all diplomatic formalities delegates of the United States, Britain and France have walked out of a UN summit as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was delivering his speech.

Iraq Shia Blocs Unite; One Step To Make Government : Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s coalition and another Shia political bloc (led by Hakim) announced last night that they would band together to form a new government.

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According to Ahlul Bayt News Agency., Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s coalition and another Shia political bloc (led by Hakim) announced last night that they would band together to form a new government.

“We formed an alliance to form the biggest bloc in the next Parliament,’’ Ali al-Allaq, a leader in Maliki’s State of Law coalition, said in an interview. “We agreed to postpone talking about the position of the prime minister until the next phase.’’

“The agreement was signed by representatives from both coalitions to form a parliamentary bloc … which will nominate the prime minister,” said State of Law official Haider al-Ebadi, who is also a member of Maliki’s Dawa Party.

Asked whether the issue of prime minister had been resolved, he said “No, not yet. The new bloc will nominate one candidate.”

Maliki’s State of Law won 89 seats in the next parliament. The other Shia-dominated coalition, the Iraqi National Alliance, won 70. The Sunni-backed Iraqiya coalition won 91 seats.

If the alliance between the Shia blocs holds, leaders would need to bring just a handful of other lawmakers into the fold to get the 163 votes required to appoint a new prime minister. The incoming parliament will have 325 members.

Such an alliance threatens to undermine US interests.

While the resulting combination of 159 seats is just short of the required majority, the Kurdish Alliance of the autonomous Kurdish region’s two long-dominant blocs holds 43 seats and has previously said it would join the new grouping if the two main blocs allied.

However, electoral authorities are carrying out a recount of votes in the key Baghdad constituency, which accounts for 70 seats.

Electrical Fire Damages Mosque; Muslims Blame Jews-:- A mosque north of Ramallah went up in flames Monday night, apparently due to a short circuit — but Muslim clerics blamed Jews from nearby communities in Samaria.

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency , A mosque north of Ramallah went up in flames Monday night, apparently due to a short circuit — but Muslim clerics said Jews from nearby communities in Samaria.

Palestinian Authority Arabs charged that “settlers” torched the mosque, forcing Israeli security forces to try to calm down villagers.

They have asked Palestinian Authority police to investigate.

The PA previously has said Jews for a long list of damage to Arab property, particularly orchards.

Iran open to new talks on fuel swap

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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterates Iran’s readiness to play a “constructive and positive” role in breaking the stalemate in nuclear fuel swap deal.

President Ahmadinejad’s offer came in talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York on Monday on the sidelines of the 2010 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

According to the fuel swap proposal, Iran is required to ship most of its low-enriched uranium abroad for further processing and conversion into fuel rods for Tehran’s research reactor, which produces medical isotopes.

While Iran accepted the swap proposal in general terms, it demanded for tangible guarantees that the other parties involved — Russia and France — would in fact deliver the fuel in a timely manner. The talks reached a stalemate after the Iranian stipulation was ignored by the West.

Iran called for simultaneous exchange of nuclear fuels or similar guarantees after voicing concerns about past practices of Western nations in arbitrary violating and even abrogating their nuclear contracts with the Islamic Republic.

Regarding Iran’s interaction with Europe, Ahmadinejad said Iran is ready to cooperate with the European Union on a wide range of issues.

The UN chief praised Ahmadinejad’s speech at the NPT Review Conference, saying his remarks were “constructive.”

He added that the attendance of the Iranian president in the conference showed that the Islamic Republic attaches special significance to settling global issues.

Ban expressed optimism that negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, China, France, Britain and the US – plus Germany (P5+1) would reconcile unresolved issues

Israeli guard tears inmate's Quran

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Tearing of Islam’s holy book of Quran by Israeli prison guards has sparked new outrage across Palestine against Tel Aviv regime’s religious bigotry.

A detainees’ society reported the sacrilegious measure, asserting that an Israeli prison guard in Ashkelon jail seized a prisoner’s Quran during a cell search and tore it into pieces.

Palestinian Authority Chief Justice Sheikh Tayseer al-Tamimi issued a statement on the incident on Monday and strongly condemned recurring insults on Islamic sanctities by Israeli forces. The move reveals the extent of “extremism, religious hatred and racism in Israel,” he said.

The sheikh said it was not the first occasion during which “Israeli forces have disrespected the Noble Quran, having done so in the al-Arroub refugee camp and in Megiddo prison.”

Tamimi stressed that religious books, including the Quran, should be respected by followers of all religions. “But Israeli guards do not do so,” he regretted, saying he held the Israeli regime and Israeli Prison Service responsible for the insult.

Last month, assailants who looked like Israeli settlers broke into the Bilal Ben-Rabah Mosque in the village of Hawara, near Nablus. They sprayed graffiti, including a Jewish Star of David, on the walls of the mosque alongside the name of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) in Hebrew and set fire to two cars outside the building.

Extremist settlers also vandalized a mosque in the West Bank village of Yasuf in December. The vandals attacked the holy site overnight and burned prayer mats and a book stand with sacrosanct, Islamic texts. They also sprayed threatening messages on the mosque walls reading, “Get ready to pay the price” and “We will burn all of you.”

Indonesia calls on Israel to join NPT

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Indonesia has urged Israel to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) voicing grave concern on the threat of nuclear proliferation across the globe.

“We must prevail on Israel to come into the NPT fold,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Raden Mohammad Marty Muliana Natalegawa said Monday in New York at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.

Israel possesses a nuclear arsenal of at least 250 warheads and has never allowed IAEA inspections of all its nuclear facilities.

The Indonesian foreign minister also demanded the establishment of new nuclear weapon-free zones, particularly in the Middle East.

“Nuclear proliferation threats, wherever their source, must be effectively addressed without discrimination and double standard on the basis of multilateralism and international law.

“We certainly find it difficult to rationalize nuclear energy cooperation involving those who have openly chosen to add to the proliferation momentum,” Natalegawa noted.

187 member countries of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) have gathered in New York for the 8th NPT Review Conference which runs between May 3 and 28.

The Review Conference is held every five years to evaluate and ensure that NPT provisions are being realized. The 2005 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was held from May 2 to May 27 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The conference proved a failure since it could not adopt a final document.

PLF STARTS ANTI-ISRAEL CAMPAIGN

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KARACHI- Palestine Foundation Pakistan on Friday announced an anti-Israel campaign to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine from 1st to 16th May across the country.

According to the Shiite News Correspondent, Addressing the joint press conference at Karachi press club Palestine Foundation (PLF) Leaders Qazi Ahmed Noorani Siddiqui, Allama Aftab Jaffari and Sabir Karbalai denounced the genocide of oppressed Palestinian people by the Zionist regime Israel saying that Israel is imminent existential threat to humanity.

They said that Palestine foundation has decided to hold the online referendum against Israel, protest demonstrations, media campaign, and publications to highlight the atrocities of Zionist regime against the innocent Palestinian.

Describing the details of well-polling, PLF leaders said that the online referendum on “Israel posses serious and imminent existential threat to humanity” will start from May 1st to 12th, 2010 on Palestine Foundation website www.plfpakistan.com on the occasion of Youm-e-Nakba (Catastrophe).

They said that people from across the country would cast their online vote on the referendum and expressed their sentiments in-front of the entire world.

PLF leaders said that Pakistani people would not accept any conspiracy against the Palestinian people saying that Palestine is the part of our faith and ideology.

They further said that the results of online referendum will be announced by the PLF Guardian committee members and representatives of various Political organizations on May 13th through a press conference.

“Pakistani students’ organizations have unanimously decided to observe Black Day on Youm-e-Nakba as a token of solidarity with oppressed Palestinians and condemnation for Israel” they informed.

They said that every year, the Palestinian Arabs observe the day of Nakba (Catastrophe) on May 14th to condemn establishment of Zionist regime Israel, an illegitimate, immoral and inhuman Zionist occupation of Palestine in the name of Jewish homeland, in 1948.

They added that the prominent Student organizations of the country including Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT), Peoples Students Federation (PSF),

Anjuman Talba-e-Islam (ATI), Muslim Students Federation (MSF-N), Pukhtoon Students Federation (PSF-Pukhtoon), and Imamia Students Organization (ISO) in their joint meeting with PLF office bearers finalized the program’s in connection of Youm-e-Nakab to support the Palestinian cause.

“The students want unity to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque and liberate Palestine from illegitimate Zionist occupation” PLF leaders said. On May 14, students’ organizations will observe black day and stage demonstrations. On May 15, a huge rally will be staged under the aegis of Palestine Foundation at Karachi Press Club. Countrywide protest and rallies will continue to be staged on May 16.

CNN: Egypt preoccupation, Israeli nukes not Iran

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The real problem, from the Egyptian standpoint, is not Iran which does not have a nuclear weapon, but Israel which according to many sources has more than 200 nuclear warheads, CNN’s senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman said.
“Egypt since 1995 has been pushing for a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons and their focus is not so much on Iran which is engaged in a nuclear program but on Israel which it is widely believed is the only real nuclear power in the Middle East,” Wedeman added.
“The Egyptians have been involved in negotiations prior to this summit today with the Americans to come up with some sort of formula whereby the mechanisms would be put in place for a process, it would push toward creating a nuclear-free Middle East,” CNN’s correspondent continued.
“But of course, the problem in this formula is Israel because unlike Iran, unlike Egypt, Israel was never a signatory to the NPT and therefore that is the real stumbling block,” Wedeman said.
“But Egyptian diplomats have for years now been pushing for this idea of a nuclear-free Middle East and of course, the real problem from the Egyptian standpoint is not Iran which does not have a nuclear weapon but Israel which according to many sources has more than 200 nuclear warheads. So for the Egyptians that is the preoccupation not so much Iran,” he added.
“Israel frequently says that if they lose one war, it is the end of their country. So realistically, what chances are there that they would ever conceive giving up their weapons?” CNN’s presenter asked.
“Certainly, under current circumstances, the chances are pretty much close to nil. The Israelis have always been ambiguous on their possession of nuclear weapons, although we heard the former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert in 2006 essentially admitting in an indirect way that they do have those weapons and by all accounts, the chances that the Israelis would give up their nuclear capacity as a result of meeting in New York are slim to none” Wedeman replied.

The real problem, from the Egyptian standpoint, is not Iran which does not have a nuclear weapon, but Israel which according to many sources has more than 200 nuclear warheads, CNN’s senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman said.
“Egypt since 1995 has been pushing for a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons and their focus is not so much on Iran which is engaged in a nuclear program but on Israel which it is widely believed is the only real nuclear power in the Middle East,” Wedeman added.
“The Egyptians have been involved in negotiations prior to this summit today with the Americans to come up with some sort of formula whereby the mechanisms would be put in place for a process, it would push toward creating a nuclear-free Middle East,” CNN’s correspondent continued.
“But of course, the problem in this formula is Israel because unlike Iran, unlike Egypt, Israel was never a signatory to the NPT and therefore that is the real stumbling block,” Wedeman said.
“But Egyptian diplomats have for years now been pushing for this idea of a nuclear-free Middle East and of course, the real problem from the Egyptian standpoint is not Iran which does not have a nuclear weapon but Israel which according to many sources has more than 200 nuclear warheads. So for the Egyptians that is the preoccupation not so much Iran,” he added.
“Israel frequently says that if they lose one war, it is the end of their country. So realistically, what chances are there that they would ever conceive giving up their weapons?” CNN’s presenter asked.
“Certainly, under current circumstances, the chances are pretty much close to nil. The Israelis have always been ambiguous on their possession of nuclear weapons, although we heard the former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert in 2006 essentially admitting in an indirect way that they do have those weapons and by all accounts, the chances that the Israelis would give up their nuclear capacity as a result of meeting in New York are slim to none” Wedeman replied.

Indian lives 70 years without food, water

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Scientists with India’s Defense Research Development Organization said they are closely studying a man who says he has gone 70 years without food or water.
Prahlad Jani, 82, had shown no signs of ill effects after six days under observation without food or water, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.
Jani said he is a “breatharian” living on a “spiritual life-force”, the British newspaper said.
Scientists said they may be able to learn from Jani’s physiology.
“If his claims are verified, it will be a breakthrough in medical science,” said Dr. G. Ilavazhagan, director of the Defense Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences.
“We will be able to help save human lives during natural disasters, high altitude, sea journeys, and other natural and human extremities. We can educate people about the survival techniques in adverse conditions with little food and water or nothing at all”.

Scientists with India’s Defense Research Development Organization said they are closely studying a man who says he has gone 70 years without food or water.
Prahlad Jani, 82, had shown no signs of ill effects after six days under observation without food or water, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.
Jani said he is a “breatharian” living on a “spiritual life-force”, the British newspaper said.
Scientists said they may be able to learn from Jani’s physiology.
“If his claims are verified, it will be a breakthrough in medical science,” said Dr. G. Ilavazhagan, director of the Defense Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences.
“We will be able to help save human lives during natural disasters, high altitude, sea journeys, and other natural and human extremities. We can educate people about the survival techniques in adverse conditions with little food and water or nothing at all”.

Martyrdom Anniversary of Shaheed Murtaza Motahhari

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Every year the great Iranian Islamic thinker Morteza Motahhari is commemorated. This is done to appreciate his scientific and ideological efforts and it also expresses the Islamic world’s need to thinkers like him.

Martyr Motahhari was a perfect model for all Muslim thinkers. He was a wise man, pious philosopher, God seeking gnostic and a great writer. These good characteristics were quite clear in his works. The books of martyr Motahhari open the gates of knowledge, philosophy and various sciences for the seekers of knowledge.

Motahhari enjoyed two major characteristics; namely a deep and all-out cognizance of Islam and endeavor to express religion according to the requirements of time. He says: “Since I remember my spiritual developments, I was sort of concerned at the age of 13 and I was strangely sensitive towards the issues related to God and religion.”

In different works of professor Motahhari, his attention to man’s eternal bliss and an accurate cognizance of religion is noticeably visible. Through research, preaching and rational books, he has tried to introduce Islam as the loftiest copy of human living to the world. The Holy Quran always stresses in its cahpters and verses that religion brings a real life for mankind. Verse 24 of Surah Anfal says:

“O you who believe! Answer (the call of) Allah and His Apostle when he calls you to that which gives you life;”

Therefore positive response to the call of God and His Messengers is the source of life. Certainly whatever is the source of life will be ever- lasting and immortal.

According to professor Motahhari religion never dies; from his viewpoint the revival of religion requires its presence in human life. This presence is materialized by activating religion in man’s life and revitalizing its role in human deeds and thoughts.

Social phenomena should be in compliance with human needs so that they may continue to exist. Human needs consist of the natural and unnatural ones. Natural needs stem from the natural characteristics of mankind. For example human being is interested in scientific research or he likes beauty. His unnatural needs are a series of tendencies spring from habits. For instance majority of people are accustomed to have tea or to smoke. Since these are not natural, human being can give them up.

In the path of human progress, we have witnessed that as conditions alter many things change. For example once Thomas Edison invented electricity, candle and lamp were ceased to be used. For, electricity could well meet the human need for light.

But some things can never change. Religion is one of them.

According to Martyr Motahhari, religion is in accordance with human inherent and emotional needs. In terms of securing human needs, nothing can replace religion. The Holy Quran in verse 30 of Surah Rum expresses the inherent nature of religion saying:

“Then set your face upright for religion in the right state-the nature made by Allah in which He has made men; there is no altering of Allah’s creation; that is the right religion, but most people do not know”

Throughout centuries many things have been put forth about the causes behind the emergence of religion. Some believe that religion has its roots in human fear and ignorance, while some others are of the opinion that the reason for human tendency towards religion is his interest in order and justice. The maintainers of these theories believe that if knowledge develops, religion will gradually disappear. Nevertheless, despite the speedy progress of science, religion has not lost its role, but mankind has found out that religion is imperishable. German psychologist Karl Yung acknowledges the fact that religion is part of the things which exist in human nature and subconscious. American psychologist William James in his book entitled “Religion and Spirit” says it is true that the sources of many of our internal tendencies are natural and material affairs but most of them spring from Metaphysics. He adds: I always see a specific dignity and sincerity in religious matters. Human religious conditions enjoy certain characteristics which are not comparable with any state of mankind.

Elsewhere, professor Motahhari responds to the question as how can religion meet human needs. He says mankind is in need of religion both personally and socially. Therefore when the Russian author Lev Tolstoy was asked what belief is, he said belief is the very thing with which mankind lives. Faith is the asset of human life.

Martyr Motahhari also believes that religion is the stronghold of morality and law. He says today it has become clear that morality without religion has no firm basis.

All sacred values of the human society like justice, equality, humanity, altruism and sympathy could not be materialized without belief in religion. Alexis Carl referring to this fact says: “Brains have now made progress but unfortunately hearts are still weak. It is only the faith that can strengthen hearts.”

In addition to raising natural emotions within human beings, Islam is also coordinated with the real nature of mankind in terms of laws, regulations and teachings. With such an understanding of religion, the American writer Will Durant says in his book “The Lessons of History” that religion has one hundred lives. If everything dies once, it will die for ever but if religion dies one hundred times it will revive again. In this relation, professor Motahhari considers religion as a sun which always shines but what makes it stagnate and recess is that on one hand under the name of religion, superstitions, and illogical concepts enter people’s minds and on the other people’s reasonable needs are countered. Martyr Motahhari believes that if the truth of religion is revealed to people, then as the Holy Quran says people would enter God’s religion in groups.

A.Haider

Martyr Motahhari; the Great Thinker

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Every year the great Iranian thinker Morteza Motahhari is commemorated. This is done to appreciate his scientific and ideological efforts and it also expresses the Islamic world’s need to thinkers like him.

Martyr Motahhari was a perfect model for all Muslim thinkers. He was a wise man, pious philosopher, God seeking gnostic and a great writer. These good characteristics were quite clear in his works. The books of martyr Motahhari open the gates of knowledge, philosophy and various sciences for the seekers of knowledge.

Motahhari enjoyed two major characteristics; namely a deep and all-out cognizance of Islam and endeavor to express religion according to the requirements of time. He says: “Since I remember my spiritual developments, I was sort of concerned at the age of 13 and I was strangely sensitive towards the issues related to God and religion.”

In different works of professor Motahhari, his attention to man’s eternal bliss and an accurate cognizance of religion is noticeably visible. Through research, preaching and rational books, he has tried to introduce Islam as the loftiest copy of human living to the world. The Holy Quran always stresses in its cahpters and verses that religion brings a real life for mankind. Verse 24 of Surah Anfal says:

“O you who believe! Answer (the call of) Allah and His Apostle when he calls you to that which gives you life;”

Therefore positive response to the call of God and His Messengers is the source of life. Certainly whatever is the source of life will be ever- lasting and immortal.

According to professor Motahhari religion never dies; from his viewpoint the revival of religion requires its presence in human life. This presence is materialized by activating religion in man’s life and revitalizing its role in human deeds and thoughts.

Social phenomena should be in compliance with human needs so that they may continue to exist. Human needs consist of the natural and unnatural ones. Natural needs stem from the natural characteristics of mankind. For example human being is interested in scientific research or he likes beauty. His unnatural needs are a series of tendencies spring from habits. For instance majority of people are accustomed to have tea or to smoke. Since these are not natural, human being can give them up.

In the path of human progress, we have witnessed that as conditions alter many things change. For example once Thomas Edison invented electricity, candle and lamp were ceased to be used. For, electricity could well meet the human need for light.

But some things can never change. Religion is one of them.

According to Martyr Motahhari, religion is in accordance with human inherent and emotional needs. In terms of securing human needs, nothing can replace religion. The Holy Quran in verse 30 of Surah Rum expresses the inherent nature of religion saying:

“Then set your face upright for religion in the right state-the nature made by Allah in which He has made men; there is no altering of Allah’s creation; that is the right religion, but most people do not know”

Throughout centuries many things have been put forth about the causes behind the emergence of religion. Some believe that religion has its roots in human fear and ignorance, while some others are of the opinion that the reason for human tendency towards religion is his interest in order and justice. The maintainers of these theories believe that if knowledge develops, religion will gradually disappear. Nevertheless, despite the speedy progress of science, religion has not lost its role, but mankind has found out that religion is imperishable. German psychologist Karl Yung acknowledges the fact that religion is part of the things which exist in human nature and subconscious. American psychologist William James in his book entitled “Religion and Spirit” says it is true that the sources of many of our internal tendencies are natural and material affairs but most of them spring from Metaphysics. He adds: I always see a specific dignity and sincerity in religious matters. Human religious conditions enjoy certain characteristics which are not comparable with any state of mankind.

Elsewhere, professor Motahhari responds to the question as how can religion meet human needs. He says mankind is in need of religion both personally and socially. Therefore when the Russian author Lev Tolstoy was asked what belief is, he said belief is the very thing with which mankind lives. Faith is the asset of human life.

Martyr Motahhari also believes that religion is the stronghold of morality and law. He says today it has become clear that morality without religion has no firm basis.

All sacred values of the human society like justice, equality, humanity, altruism and sympathy could not be materialized without belief in religion. Alexis Carl referring to this fact says: “Brains have now made progress but unfortunately hearts are still weak. It is only the faith that can strengthen hearts.”

In addition to raising natural emotions within human beings, Islam is also coordinated with the real nature of mankind in terms of laws, regulations and teachings. With such an understanding of religion, the American writer Will Durant says in his book “The Lessons of History” that religion has one hundred lives. If everything dies once, it will die for ever but if religion dies one hundred times it will revive again. In this relation, professor Motahhari considers religion as a sun which always shines but what makes it stagnate and recess is that on one hand under the name of religion, superstitions, and illogical concepts enter people’s minds and on the other people’s reasonable needs are countered. Martyr Motahhari believes that if the truth of religion is revealed to people, then as the Holy Quran says people would enter God’s religion in groups.

Iran set to limit ties with UAE

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With Tehran still reeling from recent Emirati claims on three Persian Gulf islands, Iranian lawmakers move to reduce ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Last week, Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan raised hackles in Tehran when he likened Iran’s ownership of the three Persian Gulf islands to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territory.

He outraged Iranian officials even further when he repeated the claims on Sunday and urged Tehran to, once and for all, end the “occupation” of the three islands of the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.

In the wake of these controversial remarks, the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) has instituted measures to lower the level of relations between Iran and the tiny Arab sheikhdom.

Zohreh Elahian, a member of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Monday that the country’s “quick and severe” response to Sheikh Abdullah is probably not enough to teach UAE officials a lesson.

“Tehran’s reaction to the outrageous claims was appropriate and well-suited, but it does not change the fact that some serious…rethinking needs to be done…to prevent such provocative behavior [recurring] in the future,” she continued.

Elahian said the Parliament will convene later this week to hand down a final decision on limiting ties with the UAE.

“Iran is the UAE’s number one trade partner in the region and persistence on baseless claims by Emirati officials will come at their own expense,” she noted.

The three Persian Gulf islands in question have long been owned by Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated independently of each other in countless historical, legal and geographical documents in Tehran and other parts of the world.

The islands temporarily fell under British control in the 1800s, but were nevertheless returned to Iran on November 30th 1971 through legal procedures long before the statehood of the United Arab Emirates was declared and the Al-Nahyan clan assumed leadership.

New movement of Husseini Speakers created in Pakistan

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir), ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The creation of a nation-wide organization namely Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Wila-o-Aza and Azmat-e-Sadaat (Movement for Protection of Wila, Aza and Dignity of Progeny of Holy prophet) has been announced in All Pakistan Azadari Convention organized by Bazm-i-Waezeen-o-Zakireen. A communiqué was also issued in this connection on the conclusion of the representative gathering of waezeen and zakireen who had come to Shah Allah-Ditta Islamabad from across the country.

While presenting communiqué, Allama Nasir Abbas said that defence of Pakistan’s ideological borders, unity of Muslims of Pakistan, protection of true beliefs and ideology of Shiayan-e-Pakistan, raise voice against injustices being committed against Millat-i-Jafariya being a recognized school of thought and practical struggle for national targets and religious rights under the leadership of Quaid-i-Millat Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi were among the objectives of the Movement. He said the Convention has also decided to organize Mukhtar Force national level.

The Convention unanimously nominated renowned religious scholar Allama Agha Naseem Abbas Rizvi as the Chief Patron. Other office-bearers are: Syed Nazakat Hussain Naqvi (Chief Organizer), Agha Syed Ali Hussain Najafi (Patron), Makhdom Syed Zargham Abbas Bokhari (Chairman), Maulana Khadim Hussain Ghagri (Senior Vice-Chairman), Syed Ilyas Raza Rizvi (Vice-Chairman), Syed Madah Hussain Shah Daera Dinpanah (Central President), Haji Nasir Abbas Notak (Senior Vice-President), Malik Jafar Tayyar (Vice-President), Allama Nasir Abbas (General Secretary), Syed Aqeel Mohsin Naqvi (Additional General Secretary), Ch. Ghazanfar Abbas Gondal (Joint Secretary), Syed Sajjad Hussain Shumari (Coordination Secretary), Syed Iqbal Hussain Shah Bajar (Deputy Coordination Secretary), Allama Syed Matloob Hussain Taqi (Office Secretary), Syed Mushtaq Hussain Shah (Finance Secretary), Aala Haider Syed (Secretary Information), Syed Muazzam Rizvi (Legal Adviser). The Provincial Presidents are: Allama Mazhar Hussain Kalo (Punjab), Allama Abdul Hakim Bu Turabi (Sindh), Allama Muhammad Mohsin (Hazara-Balochistan), Allama Syed Abul Hassan Khomeini (Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa), Allama Syed Riaz Hussain Kazmi (Azad Kashmir), and Maulana Akhund Ghulam Muhammad Ammoni (Gilgit-Baltistan).

Allama Agha Nasim Abbas Rizvi, Allama Agha Ali Hussain Najafi, Zakir Syed Zargham Abbas Bokhari, and other office-bearers in their address reiterated their resolve to offer all types of sacrifice for the objectives of the Tehreek.

A resolution adopted on the occasion strongly condemned the incidents of terrorism in the country and demanded from the government to initiate impartial enquiry into all incidents of terrorism including Ashoora and Arbaeen incidents in Karachi. The resolution demanded effective implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act and to restrict banned groups from working with new names. The resolution appealed the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo moto notice of the continued incidents of terrorism in the country and set up Enquiry Board comprising High Court judges on Provincial level so as to get the country rid of the menace of terrorism. Another resolution reiterated resolve to continue struggle for the achievement of pious targets of ‘Wila’ and ‘Aza’ and for the protection of dignity of Sadaat with sincerity of purpose while they will not hesitate in offering any sacrifice on the call of Quaid-i-Millat Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi for this purpose.

A large number of ulema, zakireen and organizers of Majalis participated in the Azadari Convention. Special security arrangements were made by the Mukhtar Force and the Islamabad District Administration on this occasion.