Shia Muslims in Egypt face ‘Systematic’ Discrimination: Rights Groups

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JNN 08.11.10 Egypt’s Emergency State Security Court on Sunday ordered–for the seventh time–the release of an Egyptian Shia Muslim illegally arrested for alleged involvement in planned terrorist activity.

Mohammed Farouk al-Sayed was one of 12 Egyptian Shia Muslims to have been arrested since May of last year. Some of the men were later released, while five currently remain in detention.

When the court previously ruled to release al-Sayed, the Ministry of Interior simply countermanded the order.

Such a policy, read a statement issued on Sunday by the Cairo-based Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), “reveals the despotic nature of the Ministry of Interior and [the fact] that it’s not subject to the rule of law.”

Apart from its large Christian minority, Egypt is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim. Some local rights groups claim that non-Sunni Muslims, including Shias, are regularly exposed to systematic intimidation.

According to Adel Ramadan, a lawyer with EIPR, Shia Muslims–Egyptian nationals or otherwise–are subject to “systematic violations by the state.”

Al-Sayed had been one of a group of Shia Muslims who had held regular peaceful meetings. Egypt’s State Security Investigations Service, however, suspected the gatherings were related to terrorism and therefore represented a possible threat to Egyptian national security, Ramadan noted.

“In the arrest memo [issued by the Ministry of Interior], the report must indicate the reason for arrest,” Ramadan said. “In all cases involving Shia Muslims, there’s a reference to ‘terrorist’ operations.”

Crackdowns on Shia Muslims have become commonplace in Egypt–including arrests, detention and lawsuits–in recent years, according to reports by local human rights groups.

Last week, a group of detained Shia Muslims, some of whom were foreign nationals, won a court ruling ordering their release. Nevertheless, several of them still remain in detention.

Shia Muslims in Egypt face ‘Systematic’ Discrimination: Rights Groups

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JNN 08.11.10 Egypt’s Emergency State Security Court on Sunday ordered–for the seventh time–the release of an Egyptian Shia Muslim illegally arrested for alleged involvement in planned terrorist activity.

Mohammed Farouk al-Sayed was one of 12 Egyptian Shia Muslims to have been arrested since May of last year. Some of the men were later released, while five currently remain in detention.

When the court previously ruled to release al-Sayed, the Ministry of Interior simply countermanded the order.

Such a policy, read a statement issued on Sunday by the Cairo-based Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), “reveals the despotic nature of the Ministry of Interior and [the fact] that it’s not subject to the rule of law.”

Apart from its large Christian minority, Egypt is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim. Some local rights groups claim that non-Sunni Muslims, including Shias, are regularly exposed to systematic intimidation.

According to Adel Ramadan, a lawyer with EIPR, Shia Muslims–Egyptian nationals or otherwise–are subject to “systematic violations by the state.”

Al-Sayed had been one of a group of Shia Muslims who had held regular peaceful meetings. Egypt’s State Security Investigations Service, however, suspected the gatherings were related to terrorism and therefore represented a possible threat to Egyptian national security, Ramadan noted.

“In the arrest memo [issued by the Ministry of Interior], the report must indicate the reason for arrest,” Ramadan said. “In all cases involving Shia Muslims, there’s a reference to ‘terrorist’ operations.”

Crackdowns on Shia Muslims have become commonplace in Egypt–including arrests, detention and lawsuits–in recent years, according to reports by local human rights groups.

Last week, a group of detained Shia Muslims, some of whom were foreign nationals, won a court ruling ordering their release. Nevertheless, several of them still remain in detention.

China blasts US $600bn banking plan

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JNN 08.11.10 China has blasted a US decision to inject hundreds of billions of dollars into the US banking system amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing.

Chinese Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao said Washington is ignoring its responsibility to support emerging economies. 

Zhu said the move would bring greater volatility to markets worldwide and lead to excessive flows of capital into emerging markets.

“The US has not fully taken into consideration the shock of excessive capital flows to the financial stability of emerging markets,” Zhu told reporters in Beijing on Monday.

Last week, the US Federal Reserve announced plans to pump $600 billion into its economy by the end of June 2011.

Experts say the move is an attempt to boost America’s sluggish economy.

The move is expected to force down interest rates for homeowners and businesses.

Supporters of the plan say weakening the US dollar could also help make American goods more competitive overseas.

Nations from Brazil to Germany have criticized the US policy, saying it will push their currencies higher and make their exports less competitive.

Relations between Beijing and Washington have been deteriorating over a number of issues, including currency debates and the Pentagon’s arms sales to Taiwan.

Massive bomb explosion in Karbala

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JNN 08.11.10 A huge bomb explosion has rocked the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala, killing at least 12 people and leaving 40 others wounded.

The incident occurred on Monday morning when a car bomb detonated near a mosque in Karbala, which hosts the shrine of the third Shia imam, Imam Hussein (PBUH).

There were Iranian pilgrims among the casualties from the massive blast.

No person or group has yet claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing which took place despite tight security measures in the city, visited by thousands of pilgrims from across Iraq and neighboring countries.

Iraq has witnessed a notable hike in violence over the past few days, following months of relative calm amid continuous yet less fatal, terrorist attacks across the country.

At least 120 people lost their lives in over a dozen coordinated bomb attacks on Tuesday in and around the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Earlier on Sunday, more than 50 Iraqis were killed and at least 60 others injured in a hostage crisis in Baghdad’s Sayidat al-Nejat Catholic Church.

Iraqi authorities blame the al-Qaeda for the attacks, saying the militants are seeking to destabilize the country. Last month, a total of 194 people lost their lives in violence across the war-weary country.

Eight killed in Najaf explosion

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JNN .08.11.10A bomb explosion has killed eight people, including three Iranians, in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, hours after another deadly bomb attack in the holy city of Karbala.


The blast happened about 500 yards from the shrine of the first Shia imam, Imam Ali (PBUH), wounding also at least 16 people on Monday, Khaled Jashani, a member of Najaf’s provincial council, told JNN.

The car bomb went off near three buses transporting Iranian pilgrims to Najaf, Iraqi police said.

The revered Imam Ali shrine attracts hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims from Iraq, Iran and other countries every year.

Earlier in the day, a car bomb detonated in Karbala, killing 12 people, including six Iranian pilgrims, and leaving more than 40 others wounded.

No group or person has yet claimed responsibility for the Monday attacks.

Last week, at least 120 people were killed in over a dozen coordinated bomb attacks in and around the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

In a separate attack on October 31, more than 50 Iraqis were killed and at least 60 others injured in a hostage crisis in Baghdad’s Sayidat al-Nejat Catholic Church.

MRS/AGB/HRF/AKM

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a universal servant
11/8/2010 2:25:20 PM
These are the acts of criminals blinded by greed, like in all empires. Conquest and destruction, to fulfil self-destructive delusions. The people are too wise and their hearts too beautiful to be manipulated by these tactics. Those that seek chaos and impunity will only find their true interest in repenting before the time of judgement.
Reality
11/8/2010 1:33:46 PM
Of course this has been done by mossad. They’re hungry to kill muslims, and label them as terrorists. The want disunity and chaos among muslims in the middle east, to forecome a strong intelligent unity against them. Until now, iran is the only country they cannot dominate.
Sayed Kadiri
11/8/2010 11:48:37 AM
I am a Sunni Muslim. In my opinion anyone who calls himself a Muslim and then blows up a religious place of any denomination, whether it is Church, Synagogue, Mosque or Temple has taken themselves outside of Islam.Oh Muslims wake up and Unite. Otherwise be prepared to lose you ‘Islamic Lands’ to the ZionistsThe Greater Israel encompassess Iraq, Jordan, saudi and other Arab States. Oh Arabs wake up or be prepared to lose your lands, women and honour to the Zionists !!!
Ali
11/8/2010 11:30:52 AM
American and british troops mustleave Iraq, they havent helped at all, they have made situations alot worse, they must leave as soon as possible!!!
ahmed
11/8/2010 11:19:54 AM
imam ali is just not the imam of shias he is also the imam of sufis/sunnis long live the ahle bait, ya ali and the salafis working with the foreign forces on one hand say they are attacking them on the other hand taking money of them to destroy hazrat ali shrine.shame on you so called muslims who have sold your iman allah is the all knower judgement day will be coming when the lovers of prophet muhammed S.A.W and his family will be under the shade of jannat
REALIST
11/8/2010 11:04:52 AM
AS LONG AS THE INVADING FOREIGN FORCES WILL REMAIN IN IRAQ, THEIR DIVISIVE TERRORISM WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE SECTARIAN INFIGHTING TO CAUSE TURMOIL AND CHAOS TO JUSTIFY THEIR PRESENCE AND THEIR MURDEROUS INVASION!!

Israelis Demolished a Mosque in Palestine

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JNN 07.11.10 In another direct assault against the country’s Muslim Bedouin-Palestinian community, Israeli police demolished a mosque in the Negev Bedouin city of Rahat during the evening hours of Saturday.

Hundreds of policemen and Israeli Land Administration (ILA) authorities, in addition to tractors and ambulances, descended upon the city and demolished the mosque, citing Israeli police claims that the structure was built illegally.

Hundreds of residents protested the demolition and Israeli police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, detaining five. The Rahat municipality has called for a general strike in wake of the demolition.

“Seeing the mosque being destroyed is infuriating. They would never destroy a synagogue,” said Rahat resident Younes Abu Janem.

According to Mayor Abu Sahiban, the act was a direct offense against all Muslims, and the “police should act responsibly and use its discretion.”

The Bedouin village of El Araqib has suffered repeated harsh blows at the hands of Israeli authorities in the last several months. The Israeli Land Administration (ILA) has destroyed the village six times in the past four months, with police arresting residents. While destructions and constant fear of homelessness has prompted some of the El Araqib villagers to move to Rahat, it now seems Israeli authorities will target them there as well.

The ILA is the government branch responsible for managing 93% of the land in Israel, which the country considers public domain. They have a history of uprooting olive trees in Palestinian villages and trying to plant forests as part of a plan to “green” the Negev, while making the nomadic lifestyle for the Bedouin impossible and pushing them to cities like Rahat, where employment is low and their traditional way of life impossible.

“If they continue to destroy it, we will rebuild the mosque over and over again,” said Yusuf Abu Jama, leader of the northern branch of the Isalmic Movement in Rahat.

“Now we are unified, the northern branch and the southern branch [of the Islamic movement]. Today, Arab people from all over the country will come to show their solidarity.”

Rahat residents began rebuilding the mosque on Sunday, with dozens honoring the site of yesterday’s destruction with worship.

Thousands Protests in Indonesia against Obama's visit

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JNN 07.11.10 Jakarta Thousands of Indonesians  gathered outside the US embassy in Jakarta to protest against the  visit of US President Barack Obama

Thousands of Indonesians gathered outside the US embassy in Jakarta to protest against an upcoming visit of US President Barack Obama.

The protesters marched on the US embassy in Jakarta and called for the full withdrawal of US troops from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

They also asked Washington to stop its “blind support for Israel.”

“We’re going to change our assessment of Obama only when Obama withdraws all the American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and stops the attacks in the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan and stops the blind support for Israel,” a prominent participant said.

“We don’t see the differences between Obama and Bush, they both oppress Muslims, they both have blood on their hands,” Ismail Yusanto, a spokesman for a Muslim group in Indonesia said.

“That’s why we reject Obama and we don’t believe that he’s reaching out to Muslims.”

The spokesman said about 20,000 people attended the rallies.

Obama will make a stop in Indonesia on Tuesday as part of his 10-day Asia tour.

The US president is in New Delhi now, where he was greeted by nationwide protests.

In reaction to the visit, victims of a toxic tragedy in the city of Bhopal held a sit-in, demanding compensation for the fatal incident.

More than 500,000 people were exposed to toxic gas after 40 tons of deadly chemical leaked at the Indian subsidiary of the US Corporation Union Carbide on December 3, 1984.

The protesters are also demanding President Obama take action against the Union Carbide and Dow Chemicals for breaching the law for many years.

People also gathered in the eastern state of Orissa, protesting against President Obama’s presence in the country, arguing that he has been unable to maintain peace in developing countries.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir Action Committee staged a demonstration in Pakistan’s Lahore, calling on the US president to take a strong stance against the Indian government’s crackdown on the Kashmiris.

More than 100 people have been killed in Indian-administered Kashmir since June, when the residents began holding anti-India demonstrations.

President Obama’s decision to spend three days in India, while bypassing Pakistan, has also come under fierce criticism.

A Washington Post report said that the move has sparked anxiety among government officials in Islamabad due to fears that the US president’s visit could likely upset the delicate balance of power between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Thousands Protests in Indonesia against Obama’s visit

Posted on by

JNN 07.11.10 Jakarta Thousands of Indonesians  gathered outside the US embassy in Jakarta to protest against the  visit of US President Barack Obama

Thousands of Indonesians gathered outside the US embassy in Jakarta to protest against an upcoming visit of US President Barack Obama.

The protesters marched on the US embassy in Jakarta and called for the full withdrawal of US troops from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

They also asked Washington to stop its “blind support for Israel.”

“We’re going to change our assessment of Obama only when Obama withdraws all the American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and stops the attacks in the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan and stops the blind support for Israel,” a prominent participant said.

“We don’t see the differences between Obama and Bush, they both oppress Muslims, they both have blood on their hands,” Ismail Yusanto, a spokesman for a Muslim group in Indonesia said.

“That’s why we reject Obama and we don’t believe that he’s reaching out to Muslims.”

The spokesman said about 20,000 people attended the rallies.

Obama will make a stop in Indonesia on Tuesday as part of his 10-day Asia tour.

The US president is in New Delhi now, where he was greeted by nationwide protests.

In reaction to the visit, victims of a toxic tragedy in the city of Bhopal held a sit-in, demanding compensation for the fatal incident.

More than 500,000 people were exposed to toxic gas after 40 tons of deadly chemical leaked at the Indian subsidiary of the US Corporation Union Carbide on December 3, 1984.

The protesters are also demanding President Obama take action against the Union Carbide and Dow Chemicals for breaching the law for many years.

People also gathered in the eastern state of Orissa, protesting against President Obama’s presence in the country, arguing that he has been unable to maintain peace in developing countries.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir Action Committee staged a demonstration in Pakistan’s Lahore, calling on the US president to take a strong stance against the Indian government’s crackdown on the Kashmiris.

More than 100 people have been killed in Indian-administered Kashmir since June, when the residents began holding anti-India demonstrations.

President Obama’s decision to spend three days in India, while bypassing Pakistan, has also come under fierce criticism.

A Washington Post report said that the move has sparked anxiety among government officials in Islamabad due to fears that the US president’s visit could likely upset the delicate balance of power between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The Oldest Haj Pilgrim for 2010 was Born on 14th Aug 1890

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JNN 07.11.10 The Oldest Haj piligrim this year will be Munni Begum who is 120years old as she  was born 14th August  1890 , and is  now a resident of  Jaipur , Rajasthan , India .

Munni Begum is 120 year old and is all set to go for Haj, after special permission as her name didn’t figure in the draw of lots.

 

The old woman who gave birth to eight sons and daughters, heads a huge family that lives in Kho Nagorian locality of Jaipur.

 

Family members say that Munni Begum was born in August 1890. She has 52 grandsons and granddaughters apart from 96-odd great grandsons and great granddaughters other than two dozen great-great-grandchildren [and even their kids].

The elderly woman has seen three centuries. And now she is all set for the pilgrimage she has waited for all her life. On Saturday she reached the office of Haj Committee to fill the form. The Central Haj Committee officials from Delhi gave her special permission.

The Rajasthan Haj Welfare Society has requested the Saudia Arabia government that special attention should be paid to her because of Munni Begum’s age.

Munni Begum is perhaps the oldest woman on record to embark for the holy journey. She says that she had the wish to go for Haj ever since she was married in her teenage, and thus her wish is going to be fulfilled after over a century.

The previous world record of the Oldest Haj Piligrim is also with a Jaipuri Rajasthani Man , who Performed his Haj , at the age of 138 years , which shows and proves the tendency of Jaipuri people to live longer , a healthy life .

Earlier, Habib Miyan had gone for Haj at the age of 134. He had suddenly drawn international attention after it was found that he had been drawing pension for over 65 years.

Habib Miyan had retired in 1938. He went for Haj in 2004 when he was 134. Though birth certificates were unknown in the olden days, the bank records proved his age.

As per the pension papers, Habib Miyan was drawing pension since 1938. The documents clearly showed him as born in 1878 and this made him the world’s oldest man alive until his death at the age of 138 in 2008. The bank officers delivered his pension at his home.

Now it’s Munni Begum’s turn though she is not a ‘Munni’ in the literary sense. [Munni means little in Urdu] In India, it was the tradition that mostly older persons went for Haj, after they had fulfilled their worldly responsibilities.

In recent years the pilgrims have begun going at a comparatively younger age, still a large number of Indians who go to Hejaz [Arabia] are over sixty. And Munni Begum clearly beats them as well. One hopes that along with other Hajis, she also manages to perform the Haj and returns safely. Ameen.

Her Date of Birth which is also the Independence day & the Day of the Birth of our Beloved Home land Pakistan , proves that the people and states born on that date are there to live longer even after facing all the difficulties of this world , but finally will achieve there goal of prosperity , and will eventually fulfill all the duties the Almighty have asked them to perform.

God Bless Pakistan

Long Live Pakistan