JNN 5th July, 2026 ,KARACHI / KARBALA — Millions of mourners across Pakistan, South Asia, commemorated Arbaeen (Chehlum) on Tuesday, 4th August 2026, as well as in Iran ,Iraq & Rest of the World it was commemorated on the same day marking the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) and his 72 companions at the Battle of Karbala in 61 Hijri.
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Ashura commemoration in 1448 H (June 2026) was observed globally with profound reverence and distinct traditions, honoring the martyrdom of Imam Hussain at Karbala
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JNN 29 June 2016 Karachi : For millions of Muslims around the world, the holy month of Ramadan is a time for reflection and abstinence. It is a time when those who follow Islam are supposed to clear their minds of distractions and dedicate more of their attention to their faith. Continue reading
JNN 15 Nov 2014 Riyadh : Concerns are rising among Muslims over Saudi Monarchy’s controversial plan to demolish the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the holy city of Mecca. Continue reading
JNN 19 Mar 2013 Riyadh : New photos taken by activists show that the Riyadh regime has demolished many holy sites at the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca under the cloak of a development plan implemented by Osama bin Laden’s family business. Continue reading
JNN 24 Oct 2012 MOUNT ARAFAT: The annual hajj pilgrimage started in earnest Wednesday, with more than two million Muslims thronging roads on foot and by bus for a five-day journey of faith most have spent their entire lives waiting for. Continue reading
JNN 21 July 2012 Najaf : Grand Ayatollah Sistani announced that Saturday is the first day of Ramadan in Iraq and neighbouring countries, Arabic countries, Australia, New Zealand, African Countries, America, South American countries and Countries in Central AmericaThe Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee in Pakistan announced on Friday that the moon of the holy month of Ramazan has been sighted in the country. Continue reading
JNN 19 Nov 2010 Mecca : The Mecca Metro in Saudi Arabia has carried more than one million pilgrims during the Hajj pilgrimage, builder of the line China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC) said Saturday.
During the five-days of activity, the metro ran more than 700 times, said CRCC, which will also run the line for three years.
The Mecca Metro, the first dual-track light railway in Saudi Arabia, began operating on Nov 13, 2010 to ease congestion during pilgrims’ visits to Mecca.
The 18-kilometer-long line with nine stations links Mecca and the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. It can carry up to 72,000 passengers in one hour.
The project is expected to operate at 35 percent capacity in the first phase and reach full capacity by May 2011. But it operated at over 50 percent capacity when it began operation.
The US$1.8 billion in line was the first cooperation project between China and Saudi Arabia after the two countries signed an agreement in June 2008 to enhance cooperation in infrastructure construction.
The line was the first light rail system built by Chinese companies in the Middle East.
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.
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
Iran’s senior cleric Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has warned the Saudi Arabian government against siding with anti-Shia extremists in the Arab kingdom.
Iran’s senior cleric Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has warned the Saudi Arabian government against siding with anti-Shia extremists in the Arab kingdom.
“Reports from Saudi Arabia indicate that Wahhabi extremists have not abandoned offense against Shia Muslims and are writing and publishing more books against the Shia faith than the past years,” ISNA quoted Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi as saying on Wednesday.
“An anti-Shia Persian channel has [also] been launched,” the prominent cleric regretted.
“Our message to Saudi rulers is that they [should] separate their stance from Wahhabis,” he urged, warning Riyadh against confronting Shiism, which he described as the dominant faith in the Middle East.
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi called on Saudi leaders to “reach out to Shias in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon and stand up against Zionists and the enemies of Islam.”
“It would be in your interest and for the good of Islam and the region that you separate your stance from the Wahhabis and avoid confrontation with Shias,” he reiterated.
He criticized the “ignorant” Wahhabi extremists for their “inhuman acts” and resorting to violence against Shias. “If your logic is strong, why do you avoid a debate for the fear of a response?” he questioned.
Wahhabism is an extremely intolerant interpretation of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia, which gained momentum after the discovery of oil in the kingdom in 1938.
Iran’s senior cleric Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has warned the Saudi Arabian government against siding with anti-Shia extremists in the Arab kingdom.
Iran’s senior cleric Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has warned the Saudi Arabian government against siding with anti-Shia extremists in the Arab kingdom.
“Reports from Saudi Arabia indicate that Wahhabi extremists have not abandoned offense against Shia Muslims and are writing and publishing more books against the Shia faith than the past years,” ISNA quoted Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi as saying on Wednesday.
“An anti-Shia Persian channel has [also] been launched,” the prominent cleric regretted.
“Our message to Saudi rulers is that they [should] separate their stance from Wahhabis,” he urged, warning Riyadh against confronting Shiism, which he described as the dominant faith in the Middle East.
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi called on Saudi leaders to “reach out to Shias in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon and stand up against Zionists and the enemies of Islam.”
“It would be in your interest and for the good of Islam and the region that you separate your stance from the Wahhabis and avoid confrontation with Shias,” he reiterated.
He criticized the “ignorant” Wahhabi extremists for their “inhuman acts” and resorting to violence against Shias. “If your logic is strong, why do you avoid a debate for the fear of a response?” he questioned.
Wahhabism is an extremely intolerant interpretation of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia, which gained momentum after the discovery of oil in the kingdom in 1938.
Hezbollah vehemently condemned on Monday the attacks on the Archeological Baptist Church in Al Quds and Sayyidat Al Najat -Our Lady of Deliverance- Church in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, which resulted in tens of victims, some of which were worshippers in the Church.
Hezbollah vehemently condemned on Monday the attacks on the Archeological Baptist Church in Al Quds and Sayyidat Al Najat -Our Lady of Deliverance- Church in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, which resulted in tens of victims, some of which were worshippers in the Church.
In a statement it released, Hezbollah said that the malicious Zionist hallmarks in this crime are clear as the Zionist scheme is based on fragmenting this region into feuding entities in order to dominate it.
37 Christians along with seven security force members were killed Sunday night when US occupation soldiers and Iraqi forces stormed a Baghdad cathedral to free dozens of hostages as an Al-Qaeda group claimed the attack.
In its statement, Hezbollah said that this region has never witnessed such a heinous crime, where it had always been a land of meeting, forgiveness, and coexistence, until the US occupation came to Iraq, and triggered incitements and sectarian conflicts.
The Resistance party concluded its statement by expressing belief that the malicious Zionist enemy is clearly behind this crime, in reference to the Zionist scheme in dividing the region into rival entities and peoples in order to impose its dominance.
Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned burning an old church in Holy Quds by Zionists.
Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned burning an old church in Holy Quds by Zionists.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran regards the recent provocative measure of Zionists in desecrating an old church in occupied Quds as another evidence of Zionist regime’s insult to divine religions and religious,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast.
“Zionist regime has already shown that it does not respect divine sources and its followers with desecrating religious sites of Muslims, Christians and al-Aqsa Holy Mosque.”
He called for the international community to denounce the Zionist measure and take steps to stop such insulting actions.
A group of extremist Jewish settlers set fire to a one hundred year old Christian church in holy Quds on Friday causing substantial damage to its first floor.
An Australian lawmaker has urged fellow members of parliament to block legislation that would allow financial products that met the Islamic banking principle prohibiting the payment and collection of interest.
British ex-premier Tony Blair’s sister-in-law has inspired mixed reaction in the West after converting to Islam following a visit to the Iranian holy city of Qom.
British ex-premier Tony Blair’s sister-in-law has inspired mixed reaction in the West after converting to Islam following a visit to the Iranian holy city of Qom.
Lauren Booth, a broadcaster with Iran’s English-language Press TV news network, has talked about her “journey” to Islam on a Press TV program which will be aired next Sunday.
The journalist and human rights activist was recently in the Iranian capital, Tehran, to cover the Quds Day solidarity march held annually on the last Friday of Muslims’ holy month of Ramadan.
She explains in details how she later traveled to a place which led her to one of the most important decisions in her life.
She said she “did not know that she was on such a journey” until she reached “a mosque” in the holy Iranian city of Qom, 156 kilometers southwest of Tehran. It was there that she “felt it” as she kept vigil all through the night.
As for what started it all, she reminisced about her encounters with Muslims, especially Palestinians in Gaza and Ramallah whose rights she has actively defended during much of her adult life.
The 43-year-old half-sister of Cherie Blair now wears hijab outside her home and prays five times a day.
Booth, who had moved to France with her husband and two daughters in 2004, returned to Britain after her husband suffered a sever brain injury following a motorcycle accident in April 2009.
In an hour-long appearance on Press TV’s Face to Face program, Lauren revealed all about her conversion to the world’s fastest growing religion and shared with the world all the feedback she has received from Muslims, non-Muslims as well as her own beloved family and friends.
BAGHDAD: A suicide bomber wearing an explosives belt martyred at least 21 people on Friday in a town north of Baghdad, shattering what had been weeks of relative calm, the town’s mayor said.
A suicide bomber wearing an explosives belt martyred at least 21 people on Friday in a town north of Baghdad, shattering what had been weeks of relative calm, the town’s mayor said.
The suicide bomber blew himself up inside a popular cafe in the town of Balad Ruz, 45 miles (70 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad, said the town’s mayor, Mohammed Maaruf. An additional 65 people were injured, he said.
The neighborhood where the explosion occurred is home to many Faili Kurds, a small sect of ethnic Kurds following the Shia branch of Islam, and many of the dead were Shias.
Feyli Kurds are largely a Shiite community living in Baghdad and Iraq around Khanaqin and Mandili. There are an estimated 2-3 million Feylis living in Iraq.
National Alliance turns down Saudi monarch’s offer to host all-party talks to break Iraq’s political impasse.
he National Alliance, Iraq’s main Shia bloc, has turned down a Saudi offer to host all-party talks to resolve months of deadlock over forming a new Iraqi government.
The offer was turned down on Sunday after some politicians voiced fears over foreign interference. Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah had a day earlier volunteered to host the talks in November.
The National Alliance, a coalition of Shia blocs, including that of incumbent prime minister,
Nouri al-Maliki’s coalition, said that a deal in Baghdad was close after the highest court ordered parliament to resume sessions last week.
“Though we express our appreciation to Saudi Arabia for its concern about the situation in Iraq and its willingness to provide support, we would like to confirm Iraqi leaders are continuing their meetings to reach a national consensus,” a statement issued by the alliance, said.
According to a senior member of al-Maliki’s bloc, the Kurdish Alliance also supports this statement.
The Kurdish alliance has 57 seats in parliament and al-Maliki’s camp is working closely with them to form a coalition government.
The Kurdish bloc was not immediately available for comment.
A spokeswoman for the rival Iraqiya list, led by Iyad Allawi, the former prime minister, however, welcomed the Saudi monarch’s initiative.
“We ask all political blocs to welcome the initiative, preventing Iraq’s security situation from deteriorating” amid continued political deadlock, Maysoon al-Damluji, a prominent member of the bloc, said.
Saudi police arrested since Tuesday a cleric and two other people from Qatif city on allegations of establishing a memorial ceremony on the anniversary of the death of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran Al-imam Al-Khomeini.
According to reliable sources, Saudi authorities detained Sheikh Saeed al Bahhar, the imam of Imam Reza Mosque in Tarot Island, and the administrator of the mosque Mr. Mohammad Hassan al Hubail.
In a similar event, Saudi police also arrested the administrator of Imam Al-Hadi Mosque in the village of Sanabis, Mr. Hussien al Dubaisy.
Family sources said that the three arrests were under the pretext of establishing a memorial day to commemorate the death of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran Al-Imam Al-Khomeini.
According to some sources attributed to Sheikh Saeed Albahhar and some people known to be close to him, indicated that he had never organized or participated in any memorial service of that kind recently.
Sheikh al Bahhar was called in on Monday by the Saudi police at Tarot Island police station and was subjected to a lengthy investigation before being released on the same day.
However, on the following day after the first call, he was called in again accompanied by Mr. Hussien al Dubaisy and Mr. Mohammad Hassan al Hubail , where they were all taken to custody at Al-Qatif Police Station. Since then, they still remain in the detention center.
According to family sources, arrest warrants were issued by the office of the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd, the governor of the eastern province of Saudi Arabia.
In addition, many observers noticed the ambiguity and contradiction that surrounds the circumstances and justification for the arrests.
It is noteworthy to indicate that Sheikh Albahhar was just grant a passport since few days ago after the travel ban against him that lasted more than fourteen years.
Sunnis in the Bahraini government have lost control over the parliament after independent candidates extended their lead to 13 seats
Sunnis in the Bahraini government have lost control over the parliament after independent candidates extended their lead to 13 seats.
The results of the second round of the country’s legislative elections were announced early on Sunday.
Shia opposition group al-Wefaq had already secured 18 out of 40 seats in the first round of the legislative elections in the Persian Gulf kingdom.
Shias and independent candidates now have most seats in Bahrain’s new parliament.
The results are a major blow to Sunnis, who had dominated the last two parliaments.
A total of 127 candidates were competing in the elections, which came in the wake of a crackdown on Shia opposition activists.
Bahrain’s National Assembly is made up of two chambers. The lower house has 40 elected members and the upper house has 40 members appointed by the country’s King.
The Shia opposition refuses to recognize the 2002 constitution and has called for an electoral boycott.
The Shias comprise the majority of Bahrain’s population. They have, however, long complained about being discriminated against by the Bahraini government when it comes to employment opportunities and the right to services.
Amnesty International has criticized Manama over the pre-election crackdown on the Shia opposition figures and rights activists.
The Human Rights Watch and the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) — a non-profit body with the stated aim of promoting democratic standards in the region — have also noted the campaign of suppression ahead of the polls.
JNN 30.10.10 The Mandela Foundation that caters for Palestinian captives said that Lanan Abu Ghalma who is detained at Hasharon prison has started a hunger strike three days ago to protest the prison’s administration refusal to unite her with her sister Tagrid who is detained in another Israeli occupation jail.
The Mandela Foundation that caters for Palestinian captives said that Lanan Abu Ghalma who is detained at Hasharon prison has started a hunger strike three days ago to protest the prison’s administration refusal to unite her with her sister Tagrid who is detained in another Israeli occupation jail.
Head of the foundation, lawyer Buthaina Duqmaq, said in a statement on Friday that Nada Derbas, another Palestinian female captive, went on hunger strike in solidarity with Lanan.
Daqmaq further called on local and international human rights organisation to pressure the Israeli occupation to release the two sisters Lanan and Tagrid Abu Ghalma.
Lanan was arrested last April and placed under administrative detention and a heavy fine was imposed on her sister Tagrid on top of her detention.
Lanan was one of twenty Palestinian female captives freed in October 2009 in return for a two and a half minute video of Gilad Shalit in which he appeared to be fit and well both mentally and physically.
JNN 30.10.10 The Kuwaiti daily Al-Jarida yesterday said that Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, president of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University plans to meet with Shia source of emulation grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Sistani.
The Kuwaiti daily Al-Jarida yesterday said that Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, president of Egypt’s Al-Azhar University plans to meet with Shia source of emulation grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Sistani.
According to Nun website, Al-Tayeb will visit Iraq after the new Iraqi government is formed.
He will also meet with other Shia sources of emulation to discuss ways for proximity among Shia and Sunni schools of thought.
His trip is expected to be a step towards holding an international conference of Shia and Sunni scholars and thinkers.
Located in Cairo, Egypt, Al-Azhar University is the main centre of Sunni Islamic learning in the world.
A Bahraini activist says the trial of Shia opposition detainees in Bahrain will not be fair as the Judiciary is totally swayed by the kingdom’s ruling family.
“I do not think there is going to be a fair trial. You cannot have a fair trial when the judge is accused himself,” Saeed al-Shahabi from Bahrain Freedom Movement said in an interview with Press TV on Thursday.
“In Bahrain the judge is appointed by the ruling family and he could be one of them. So, he is charging and trying people who he thinks are enemies,” he further explained.
During the trial of 27 Shia opposition activists at Bahrain’s High Criminal Court on Thursday, defendants complained that they were tortured by Bahraini authorities while in detention.
Defense attorneys argued that defendants had been abused while in detention. They also faced beatings and electric shocks and kept in solitary confinement.
Al-Shahabi ruled out the possibility of a just and lawful hearing while at the same time the defendants have been subject to torture and abuse.
” … You have these serious allegations of torture, and today they have proved to be not just allegations but facts when people expose their bodies to show serious wounds and one of them, Jaafar al-Hasabi, has said explicitly that he was sexually assaulted,” al-Shahabi went on to say.
The trial comes less than one week after the country’s parliamentary elections, which saw thousands demonstrating against what they insist is discrimination by the Sunni-led government.
Shias say they are discriminated against in housing, health, and education, in addition to government sector jobs.
Shias comprise 70 percent of Bahrain’s population, yet hold only 17 of the 40 seats in the directly-elected lower house of parliament.
Additionally, the upper house, or Shura Council, also has 40 members that are entirely appointed by the Bahraini King, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and has vetoing power.
Moreover, the Bahraini king appoints all the country’s ministers.
The government came down hard on the Shia opposition and human rights activists leading up to the elections in August and has arrested more than 250 dissidents that were protesting the election campaigns.
BAGHDAD: A suicide bomber wearing an explosives belt martyred at least 21 people on Friday in a town north of Baghdad, shattering what had been weeks of relative calm, the town’s mayor said.
A suicide bomber wearing an explosives belt martyred at least 21 people on Friday in a town north of Baghdad, shattering what had been weeks of relative calm, the town’s mayor said.
The suicide bomber blew himself up inside a popular cafe in the town of Balad Ruz, 45 miles (70 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad, said the town’s mayor, Mohammed Maaruf. An additional 65 people were injured, he said.
The neighborhood where the explosion occurred is home to many Faili Kurds, a small sect of ethnic Kurds following the Shia branch of Islam, and many of the dead were Shias.
Feyli Kurds are largely a Shiite community living in Baghdad and Iraq around Khanaqin and Mandili. There are an estimated 2-3 million Feylis living in Iraq.
Scores of Jewish settlers converged on al-Khalil on Friday afternoon to celebrate “Chaye Sarah” closing the mosque in the face of Muslim worshipers for the length of the festivity.
Scores of Jewish settlers converged on al-Khalil on Friday afternoon to celebrate “Chaye Sarah” closing the mosque in the face of Muslim worshipers for the length of the festivity.
The festivity will last until Saturday evening, where both parts of the Mosque have been opened for the settlers.
IOF troops intensified their presence inside the city, especially the old city and roads leading to the Ibrahimi Mosque.
The Israeli occupation authorities had earlier informed the Islamic Awqaf department in al-Khalil of the intended closure of the mosque for Muslims on Friday and Saturday.
Although Chaye Sarah is not an official Jewish holiday, settlers made it a yearly celebration saying that as they read in the Torah the story of Ibrahim (PBUH) buying the caves of Machpela, as they are trying to gradually take over the Ibrahimi Mosque.
DUBAI – The Information Centre of Dar Al Ber Society in Dubai registered conversion of 210 people into Islam in September and October.
“Special programmes organised by the centre had attracted around 1100 people to Islam this year so far. Most of the conversions took place in Ramadan, with 250 new Muslims, basically due to the spirit of the holy month,” Al Saeed said. He noted thousands of people come to the centre willingly to know about Islam. “The information on teachings and principles of Islam, provided in the books being gifted to thousands of truth-seekers, quench their thirst for the true religion,” he said.
Dar Al Ber Society has always been very keen to spread the peaceful message of Islam without any coercion since its establishment in Dubai 30 years ago.
“The branches and offices of the society in the emirates of Dubai, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah receive applications for conversion on a daily basis,” Saeed said.
The centre had distributed over 67,000 copies of the Holy Quran as well as 9,000 translated introductory books, audio cassettes and CDs on Islam in different languages, including Chinese, Russian, Tagalog, English, Urdu and others.
“The centre has further distributed more than 300,000 copies of Dar Al Ber editions of the Holy Quran to the masjids, Islamic centres and individuals inside the country and abroad this year,” Saeed said.
The construction of an Islamic center near the site in New York City where the World Trade Center twin towers were toppled in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a Gainesville minister’s threat to have a public burning of the Quran , both have sparked nationwide controversy about Islam in recent months
The construction of an Islamic center near the site in New York City where the World Trade Center twin towers were toppled in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a Gainesville minister’s threat to have a public burning of the Quran , both have sparked nationwide controversy about Islam in recent months.
On Wednesday night, the Interfaith Coalition of Tampa Bay will host a panel discussion focusing on the Muslim religion titled “Can’t We All Just Get Along?” at the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater. The public is welcome to attend.
Featured speakers from different Islamic communities will discuss how Muslims practice their faith, organizers say. They will answer questions about Islam and address responses from other faith leaders.
It’s the first in a series of programs to promote interfaith understanding and cooperation.
“What we’ve seen over the years is that there is a hunger to learn more about others’ faith,” said the Rev. Abhi Janamanchi of Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater. “We held a series like this about three or four years ago and averaged 150 people.”
Janamanchi, 41, of Safety Harbor has been senior minister at Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater for 12 years and will serve as panel moderator.
After a question-and-answer period, participants will split into groups for discussions under the direction of Roy Kaplan, an associate professor of Africana studies at the University of South Florida.
From 1989 to 2004, Kaplan was executive director of the National Conference for Community and Justice Tampa Bay Region.
Shia students at an elementary school in Saudi Arabia have been subject to physical punishment and insults over their faith by a Salafi teacher.
The report, which was first published by the Saudi Arabian Rasid News Network, said the punishments traumatized the students and inflicted emotional and psychological damage.
The teacher identified as Shaher al-Aatibi, is a hard-line member of the Salafi sect working at the Jafar ibn Abi Talib elementary school in Qatif in eastern Saudi Arabia.
Al-Aatibi repeatedly calls Shia students ‘infidels’ and ‘idolaters,’ saying they support Iran and the late founder of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini.
According to the report, the teacher also physically punishes students over unwarranted issue such as wearing rings, causing a rift among the different tribes of the area.
A 2009 report by the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized the Saudi government over its “systemic state discrimination” against Shia Muslims across the Kingdom.
Jafar ibn Abi Talib elementary school has a total of 600 staff and students, a vast majority of whom are Shia.
Qatif has the largest concentration of Shia Muslims in Saudi Arabia.
Russian Muslims have set off for Hajj. First flights delivered hundreds of pilgrims to the Saudi Arabia on Saturday, while those who prefer surface transport are leaving on Monday.
A quota for Russian pilgrims, who are due to cross the Saudi Arabian border on 12 November, remains unchanged: 20,500 people.
Traditionally, residents of the Russian southern republic of Dagestan make the bulk of pilgrims travelling to Mecca.
In light of the recent controversy over a planned mosque near the site of Ground Zero, MU’s Muslim Student Organization is prepared to set the record straight with Islam Awareness Week.
COLUMBIA
– In light of the recent controversy over a planned mosque near the site of Ground Zero, MU’s Muslim Student Organization is prepared to set the record straight with Islam Awareness Week.
From Oct. 25 through Oct. 28, the organization will host multiple events to spread the word about the religion of Islam and its practices.
Islam Awareness Week is an annual event, typically held in the spring. Because of recent mosque burnings nationally and negative discussion about American Muslims in relation to Ground Zero, however, the group made the decision to move the date of the event.
“We really just want to educate people about what Islam in America really is, especially because nowadays people get the wrong impression of Islam when they only watch 30-second clips on Fox News or CNBC,” said Mahir Khan, the Muslim Student Organization’s public relations chair. “Islam and America are not that conflicting, they are actually more hand-in-hand than most people understand.”
Mark Scott, a religious professor at MU, teaches a class on major world religions.
“It’s important to cultivate appreciation of all world religions,” Scott said. “Every religion has the capacity for peace and the capacity for violence.”
The first event, “Muslims in the Media,” will include a panel of Muslim community members hosting a discussion about the portrayal of Muslims in the news. The event will be held on the MU campus in 110 Memorial Union South.
“Conceptions about Islam are so widespread and often relate to terrorism,” Scott said. “I can see why this event would be very valuable.”
On Tuesday, the group will screen the film “Billal’s Stand,” a Sundance Film Festival selection.It tells the story of Bilal, a young black Muslim, living in Detroit.
“We picked this movie because it portrays a story that a lot of American Muslims go through when they struggle to keep their faith in this environment,” Khan said.
The film will play at 7:30 pm in Ellis Auditorium.
In addition to promoting Islam awareness, the Muslim Student Organization plans to support another cause at its third event on Wednesday. The organization will host a Women in Islam panel, which comprises Muslim women within the Columbia community.
The panelists will discuss their stories of adjusting to Islamic life in the U.S., especially in the context of common stereotypes and negative images that surround Islamic women in America.
Khan said each Muslim woman will be encouraged to wear a pink hijab, in honor of breast cancer awareness. This tradition started in Columbia a few years ago, and has now become a national phenomenon. Each attendee will also be encouraged to wear pink and contribute to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
The event will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Mumford Hall, room 133.
The final event for Islam Awareness Week will feature Suhaib Weeb, a former gang member who converted to Islam. Webb is now a prominent Islamic figure, who Khan described as a “huge force in the American Muslim community.”
“He embodies the American values of fixing yourself, getting out of a bad situation and pulling yourself up from your bootstraps,” Khan said. “He also embodies Islamic ideals like dedicating yourself to your religion, and the more you learn about him the more you fall in love with him.”
The Muslim Student Organization expects this to be the most popular event of Islam Awareness Week, and anticipates a crowd of about 100 people.
Khan said he hopes that these events raise awareness and understanding of Muslims as regular people.
German companies offered to implement 1,000 low-cost housing units within an integrated housing neighborhood project for a total cost of $16.5 million, a local spokesman said on Saturday.
German companies offered to implement 1,000 low-cost housing units within an integrated housing neighborhood project for a total cost of $16.5 million, a local spokesman said on Saturday.
“A delegation representing a German consortium offered to Karbala Governor Amal al-Din al-Hirr and Provincial Council Chief Muhammad Hameed al-Moussawi a project of 1,000 low-cost housing units, each consisting of three rooms,” Emad Muhammad
Hussein, the Karbala Province’s information director, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
For his part, the chairman of the board of the German consortium said the delegation was acquainted on conditions in the city and was encouraged to offer readiness to implement the project, which would take place near the green belt southwest of Karbala city.
“The contract will be signed during the next few days to start the project by German technicians while the working hands will be Iraqi,” he added.
The holy Shiite city of Karbala lies 180 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
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