Dhu'l Qada 11, 1432/October 9, 2011 # 42Despite the magnetic pull the Black Hills held for me, I felt I could not run the marathon as just another trivial athletic endeavor (whatever its physical challenge), and decided almost immediately that the only way I could do it was as a dedication to Leonard Peltier, whose innocence I (along with 55 members of the U.S. Congress, many Nobel Prize holders, and people of conscience around the world) am absolutely convinced of.
Leonard, a leader of the American Indian Movement--a man who always stood up for the rights of Native people and was well-known for his stance against the corrupt Bureau of Indian Affairs administering the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation at the time--is serving two life terms for the putative murders of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in June of 1975. Despite the fact that the ballistics evidence clearly showed that he could not have committed the murder, he was convicted on the false testimony of a single coerced witness, Myrtle Poor Bear.
2011 marks Leonard's 33rd year in federal prison for a crime he did not commit. The Jericho Movement and a broad range of other groups is calling for his freedom.
Since the powers that be have clearly written Leonard off, and wish for him to be buried alive, one of the few remaining avenues available to free him is clemency. Please sign this petition for petition as I have, and encourage others to do the same, so that Leonard may at long last be free (DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 15, 2011):
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/grant-clemecy-native-american-activist-leonard-peltier-without-delay/LLBZq1S
[What was she thinking as she ran? Here is her comment from facebook.]
"Performed dhikr and made du'a (supplication) for Leonard Peltier's freedom in the majesty of the Paha Sapa (Black Hills) for the 26.2 miles of the Crazy Horse Marathon. Also for Dr. Omar Abdel Rahman, Imam Jamil Al-Amin, Ahmad Abdel Sattar [ AhmedAbdelSattar.org ] , and Sekou Odinga. They are all political prisoners, and at least praying for them is not illegal."
-- Nadrat Siddique [October 2, 2011]
Greetings to Imam Jamil Abdullah al-Amin
"The mission of a believer in Islam is totally different from coexisting or being a part of the system. The prevailing morals are wrong. Their ethics are wrong. [Modern] Western philosophy...has reduced man to food, clothing, shelter, and the sex drive, which means he doesn't have a spirit. In Islam, we're not talking about getting the poor to vote. We're not talking about empowering poor people with money. We're talking about overturning that whole thing, man..." -Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (formerly known as H. Rap Brown). Happy birthday, Imam Jamil, and may justice set you free in 2012!
(From Sis. Safiyyah Abdullah as sent by Nadrat Siddique from facebook)
Thinking of "Occupy Wall Street"
Spotlights by Imam Badi Ali, JAM Shoora, NC
- Spotlight #1:
-
Capitalism is a huge demon with a beautiful
mask and a big mouth. What you feed it is never enough.
- Spotlight #2:
-
Capitalism is slavery in a modern form.
- Spotlight #3:
-
Like any other trap, capitalism is easy to get
into but hard to get out of.
- Spotlight #4:
-
If you still like capitalism, try missing a
couple of house payments.
- Spotlight #5:
-
Capitalism exists because the people do not
know the just Islamic system. Try the Islamic system of
economics'
- Spotlight #6:
-
Everyone is making a profit, be it businesses,
entertainment or the courts. Only the poor suffer as the
drive for profits goes on.
- Spotlight #7:
-
Capitalism is the tool of the oppressors
whipping the oppressed.
- Spotlight #8:
-
Even women are part of the capitalistic slave
trade. The victims range from 10 years to 80 years.
The Honor of the Prophet, pbuh, is the Foundation of Pakistan
Tyrant Killed by Pious Muslim who is now sentenced to death.
Qadri facing execution but Raymond Davis killed 3 & Escaped!
by Shamsuddin Amjad
[Salman Taseer, the Governor of Punjab, tried to amend the Blasphemy Law, thus opening up the way to undermine Islam. Pakistan is founded on the love, respect and honor of the Prophet, pbuh, and cannot accept blasphemy. Taseer was killed by Mumtaz Qadri, a pious Muslim. Thus the conflict between the clique in power and the masses became apparent. Now Mumtaz Qadri has been sentenced to death. Here is the Islamic response - editor.]
LAHORE, Oct. 5: An all parties conference of Islamic movements in the Punjab capital on Wednesday termed the death sentence for Punjab Governor Salman Taseer's killer Mumtaz Qadri as biased besides being in conflict with Islam and the country's constitution.
A declaration unanimously adopted at the moot chaired by the JUP chief Sahibzada Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair demanded immediate dismissal of the Rawalpindi judge who pronounced a biased judgment, and announced a countrywide protest on October 7 against that.
The conference also announced immediate revival of the Steering Committee of the Tehrik e Namoos e Risalat [Movement for the defense of the Honor of the Prophet, pbuh] for deciding the future line of action.
The Jamaat e Islami chief, Syed Munawar Hasan, said the secular forces in the country have been defeated and Salman Taseer's killer Mumtaz Qadri was the hero of 90 per cent of Pakistanis despite unholy efforts from certain quarters to make the Blasphemy Law controversial.
He said that the judge who announced death sentence for Mumtaz Qadri had violated not only the Shariah law but also the country's constitution. The constitution clearly spelt out the Quran and the Sunnah as the supreme law of the land under which blasphemy of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was punishable by death.
The JI chief said that a complete unity of the Islam loving forces was inevitable to preserve the Islamic character of the country and to foil the unholy colonial agenda .
He said that Mumtaz Qadri was a hero not only for the Pakistani nation but also for the entire Ummah as he put to death the man who expressed his designs to undo the Blasphemy Law taking undue advantage of his high office as Governor, he said. The court order showed that the law of the land provided protection to a blasphemer and not to those who love the Holy Prophet, he added.
Syed Munawar Hasan said that the secular elements in the government and the media desired to undo the Islamic values and norms of the country in order to convert it into a value free society.
Sahibzada Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair, in his presidential address, said that the rulers had pronounced death sentence to the assassin of a blasphemer in clear violation of the injunctions of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah.
He pointed out that the CIA agent Raymond Davis who killed three innocent citizens had been released and sent home with protocol but the killer of a blasphemer had been sentenced to death.
Jamaat Al-Dawa chief, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, JUI(F) Secretary General Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, JI's Liaqat Baloch, Jamiat e Ahle Hadith's Rana Shafiq Pasroori, Al Dawa's Maulana Amir Hamza, Tehrik e Islami's Hafiz Kazim Raza, Tanzeem e Islami's Hafiz Aakif Saeed, Allama Ahmed Ali Kasuri, JUI's Maulana Amjad Khan, Jamiat e Ulema, e Pakistan's chief Maulana Abdul Malik, JUI(S)'s Abdur Rauf Farooqi, and Qari Zawar Bahadur also addressed the gathering..
Speaking on the occasion, JI Secretary general, Liaqat Baloch, said that Salman Taseer was representing the secular forces and had been striving for an amendment in the Blasphemy law. He said the trial court verdict was against the sentiments of the people of the country.
Mumtaz Qadri hailed as Hero of Islamic Pakistan.
by Shamsuddin Amjad
[Photo inset: Jamaate Islami leader Muhammad Hussain Mehnati addressing the crowd in Karachi.]
LAHORE, Oct. 7: Countrywide protest was held on Friday on the appeal of the Tahafuz e Namoos e Risalat, against the death sentence announced to former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer's killer, Mumtaz Qadri.
Ulema and Khateebs in their Friday addresses at mosques condemned the ATC verdict for being in conflict with the constitution as also the Holy Quran and the Sunnah and demanded suspension of the sentence and immediate release of Mumtaz Qadri. Thy also demanded dismissal of the trial judge and vowed to continue their movement till Mumtaz Qadri's release.
Demonstrations were held outside mosques and at different Press Clubs and were addressed by representatives of different religious and political personalities.
In the Punjab capital, the Jamaat e Islami held a demonstration at Multan Road near Mansoora. JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch, while addressing the people, said that Mumtaz Qadri had opted for the path of Ghazi Ilmud Din and he did not deserve conviction.
He counseled the people in power to correct themselves. He also advised the tiny secular lobby in the country not to play with the religious sentiments of the masses.
Liaqat Baloch said the US, the Pope at Vatican and the foreign funded NGOs had been pressurizing President Zardari to amend the Blasphemy law but the Pakistani people had foiled the conspiracy.
JI deputy Secretary General Farid Ahmed Piracha, while speaking on the occasion, said that CIA operative Raymond Davis who was the killer of three Pakistanis had been handed over to the US. Similarly, Ajmal Pahari who had committed one hundred murders, had not been given death sentence. Therefore, he said, the ATC verdict against Mumtaz Qadri was not acceptable.
Jamiat e Ittehadul Ulema Pakistan chief and eminent religious scholar Maulana Abdul Malik, while addressing Friday congregation at Mansoora mosque, said that the constitution provided death sentence for blasphemy of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) whereas Salman Taseer had publicly promised clemency for Asiya Masih, a convict in blasphemy case.
Maulana Abdul Malik said that the Noble Prophet had pardoned many people in his life time but nobody involved in blasphemy was forgiven. As such, Salman Taseer deserved death sentence and Mumtaz Qadri got this honour.
Maulana Abdul Malik said that the ATC judge holding the trial had no knowledge of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Accordingly, about forty religious parties at their joint sitting on Thursday, had rejected the court decision.
In Islamabad, a big rally was held at Aab Para chowk. Addressing the rally, deputy chief, JI, Punjab Mian Muhammad Aslam, JUP's Hamid Raza Bhatti, Ahle Hadith leader Maulana Abdul Aziz and Islamabad Trader Ittehad's Kashif Chaudhary demanded suspension of Mumtaz Qadri's sentence and his immediate release. A protest rally was also held outside the Rawalpindi Press Club.
In Karachi, a demonstration was held outside the Masjid e Khizra. JI Karachi chief, Muhammad Husain Mehnati, JUP's Siddique Rathore, JUI(S)'s Mufti Usman Yar , while addressing the rally, termed Mumtaz Qadri's conviction as unconstitutional.
In Multan, a protest rally was held at Clock Tower and was addressed by JI's Aziz Latif,
JUP vice President Mufti Hidayatullah Qasuri, JUI's Syed Khurshid Abbas Gardezo, Ahle Hadith leader Maulana Abdur Rahim, Tehrik e Insaf's Major (rtd) Mujib Ahmed and Jamaat Al Dawa's Hafiz Abdul Ghaffar and traders representatives.
Also, the efforts of Sunni Ittehad Council.
Demonstrations in Support of Qadri who killed the Tyrant Taseer
October 7: Following the appeal of the Sunni Unity Council, shut down strikes and demonstrations were held in various Pakistani cities to protest the death sentence on Mumtaz Qadri announced by a secular court. In Karachi, along with the protests there was scattered violence. In Lahore, several areas were closed down. In Khairpur, crowds rallied in support of Mumtaz Qadri.
In Mirpurkhas, there was a complete strike in all business areas. In Rawalpindi angry crowds rallied and threw stones to stop the flow of traffic. In the mountain resort of Murree, shops closed down in support of the Sunni Unity Council's appeal. [From Khabrain, Urdu language newspaper.]
Yemen
Major new demonstrations in Yemen: October 7
Large crowds gathered in San'a and Taiz to call for the ouster of President Saleh. Looks like his end is near.
Al Islah led by Shaykh Zindani, a major component in the Yemen uprising, which has been joined by the 1st Armored Division, which defected from the Yemeni army, is seen by Yemeni observers as strongly pro-al-Qaida. In addition, the Shar'iah movement, linked to al-Qaida has taken over Abyan provinces including the city of Zinjibar. Yemeni military is trying to take it back with the help of US drones.
In an attack on October 5, in Abyan province, US drones killed 9 al-Qaida fighters including 2 Pakistanis and a Chechen Muslim.
Photo from Yemen Online shows Islamic fighters linked to al-Qaida with a preacher urging Jihad.
Al Qaeda group in Yemen remains threat to U.S.
7/10/2011
Despite the drone-launched missile strike that killed Anwar Awlaki, the American-born radical cleric, the Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen remains a significant terrorism threat to the United States, according to Obama administration officials.
"Awlaki's death last week is a major blow" to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, Matthew Olsen, head of the National Counterterrorism Center, which coordinates terrorism information across the government, told a House intelligence committee hearing Thursday.
"But it does not end the threat from AQAP," he added. "We remain concerned about the group's intent to attack Western targets as well as its propaganda efforts designed to inspire like-minded Western extremists."
The Al Qaeda franchise's role in several high-profile plots, including the failed attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day 2009, and another attempt to blow up cargo planes headed to U.S. cities in October 2010, "demonstrate that AQAP is a determined enemy and that it is capable of adjusting its tactics to achieve its goals," Olsen said.
FBI Director Robert Mueller said AQAP "has proven its capability to direct attacks into the United States. And a strike against its leadership -- even a significant one -- does not eliminate the potential for retaliation or other action" by the group.
In response to a question, Mueller said Awlaki's death does not lower U.S. concerns about signs of cooperation between AQAP and al Shabaab, an Al Qaeda-linked group battling for control of Somalia.
LA Times via Yemen Online
Al-Jazeera Director Resigns After Ties to US Intelligence Disclosed
The Associated Press
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/20/2416502/al-jazeera-dirctor-announces.html
The Al-Jazeera satellite TV channel has announced Tuesday that its director has stepped down after serving the network for eight years. Wadah Khanfar's resignation follows release of documents by Wikileaks, purporting to show he had close ties with the U.S. and agreed to remove some content in response to American objections. The leaked 2010 U.S. diplomatic cable indicated that Khanfar was in constant contact with the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, responding to U.S. complaints of negative coverage and promising to tone down items on the station's website.
Time for Muslims to veto the United States.
Jahangir Mohammed
Director Centre for Muslim Affairs
After the last few weeks there should no longer be any doubt that the Muslim world needs to rid itself of American presence and interference in Muslim lands. There can be no freedom, self-determination or independence in these lands unless that happens.
The United States veto of the Palestinian efforts at recognition in the United Nations, the decision to withdraw aid for Palestinians, as well as continued US military presence, repeated drone attacks and assassination of Muslims without charge or trial in Muslim lands, is surely compelling evidence that its time for a different approach.
Change happens when the majority of people develop a common understanding of their situation and decide collectively to do something about it. The revolutionary movements (not yet revolutions) in the Arab world this year, are the product not just of face book (this was just a vehicle for change), but also of decades of Islamic activism, and challenge to dictatorship and oppression. Small and gradual changes over time produce bigger change. This activism helped produce a common understanding of the nature of these regimes, leading eventually to these uprisings. We must never forget the many Islamic activists and their families who have been persecuted, imprisoned, or killed for exposing and standing up to these regimes.
However, there will be no revolutions in the Muslim world unless and until the Muslim masses understand that their struggle is not just against their own dictators. These dictators are just the local proxies of the United States and the West. To produce revolutionary change requires Muslim masses first to understand that their real struggle is against western presence and interference in Muslim lands, and then to do something about it. In both Egypt and Libya we have seen that removing a Western backed dictator does not equate to removing Western presence and interference. Nor will it lead to freedom and independence.
Nowhere is this relationship between the West and United States becoming clearer than in occupied Palestine. For over 60 years now the Palestinian leadership have been struggling to persuade the West and the United Nations of the just nature of their cause. The Palestinian Authority accepted the United Sates and Britain as impartial mediators, even prepared to accept what amounts to a tiny parcel of land of what was once Palestine. Yet from 1949 -2010 the United States has supplied $106BN of assistance, mostly military, to Israel. This does not include special military assistance on occasions and for joint military projects. Moreover, the economic assistance is provided on more favourable terms than other countries and not to programmes but direct to the Israeli government. This support has continued even when the Israelis have been massacring Palestinians and Muslims in both Palestine and Lebanon.
Anyone with sense can conclude from this, that the Palestinian struggle is not just against Israel, but the United States in particular, and other Western nations that support it. Yet the Palestinian leadership has treated this as a local struggle and the US as their friend. If someone aids and abets your enemy in every conceivable way for over 60 years, it is an act of gross stupidity to consider them your friends and as a solution to your problems. Recognising your enemy is an essential step to putting an end to your misery. That is why the Quran goes into so much detail about the threats and enemies Muslims and humanity are likely to face in this world, and how to deal with them.
So when the US threatens to veto even the tabling of a call for recognition of a Palestinian State, and most of the non -Western nations support it, and almost all the Western nations oppose it, or abstain, its time to realise who your struggle is really against? The United States did not even float the idea of a Palestinian State for the first time until after 911 in the June 2002 speech of George Bush. Even then it laid down so many pre-conditions that it made it virtually impossible to achieve.
Instead of Muslims running to the UN, and, the United States threatening to veto, it should be Muslims who should be vetoing the United States. Every penny that Muslims spend in trade or investment with the United States simply prolongs our suffering. Instead of our leaders and scholars pleading for justice with the leaders of Western nations, they should be addressing and mobilising the Muslim masses in a global resistance movement against the United States. They should be calling for the masses to make it difficult for American companies to do business in any part of the Muslim world, not through violence but through legitimate protest, boycott and other means of civil mobilisation and resistance. This would have a major impact. The American economy is already collapsing. Muslim masses could hasten this decline, and as the American people realise that their regimes policies are making them suffer, they will rise up against their own government and the State of Israel, and force change. It is this global resistance against the US and capitalism, inspired by Muslims, rather than elections or lobbying that will bring about revolution and change not just in the Muslim world but in the West too.
The despots of the Muslim world will not support such calls against the US, but the global Muslim Ummah of two billion people will. Our scholars and leaders of movements need to learn to address them not Western instruments of power. It was to them we should always have turned. In one of his last commands to Muslims before he passed away the Prophet Muhammad (saw) asked the believers to " Expel the Mushrikeen[i] from Jazeera ut- al Arab" ( the Arabian peninsula, extends all the way to Syria). This order remains to be fulfilled even today. Revolutions first occur in the mind before they can be established on the ground. Its time for a change in mindset and strategy.
[i] NB The definition of Mushrikeen does not equate to ordinary people or Christians and Jews. It means those who subscribe to other than the authority and power of Allah (swt) and try to impose it on Muslims or mobilise against them (whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim).
Jahangir Mohammed, is Director of the Centre for Muslim Affairs, an independent think tank on Muslim Affairs, established in 1997, and based in UK. The centre provides independent political analysis, thinking on Muslim affairs here and overseas. It also does research and project development work.
Jahangir was the late Dr, Kalim Siddiqui's Deputy as Leader of the Original Muslim Parliament established in 1992, (right up until Dr. Kalim passed away) and was responsible for most of its strategy, research and development of projects. The original Muslim Parliament collapsed in 1997 and no longer exists, and the Centre for Muslim Affairs was established.
He has been a leading advocate of revolutionary change in the Muslim world since the early 1990's. Something he has always encouraged and predicted would eventually happen.
He is a writer, thinker and activist and a popular public speaker at events around the country and in the media.
He is the author of numerous works including:-
"Race Relations and Muslims in Britain" in 1992
"The Home Office Strategy for Islam and Muslims in Britain" 1996
"The Final Crusade against Islam: 911 and the challenge for the Muslim Ummah" 2002
"Good Muslim Bad Muslim" (an analysis of the UK Governments Prevent Strategy) July 2011
His articles are distributed, translated and published around the world.
General Kayani fooled Pakistani Politicians Again. Wants to defend Pakistan!
New Trend analysis
General Kayani and his military disinformation service once again proved that Pakistani politicians are no match for the military even in politics.
The US claimed that Pakistani intelligence, ISI, is in cahoots with the Haqqani "network" and that America would intervene militarily to take out the Haqqani fighters located in Pakistan's North Waziristan.
The Kayani army rang all the alarm bells and claimed that it was mobilizing to ostensibly defend Pakistan against the US. [Please don't laugh.]
The politicians took the bait and suspended all their anti-government activities to gather in Islamabad for an All Parties Conference [APC]. The meeting concluded with the announcent that everyone, from Zardari to Kayani to Gilani is ready to defend Pakistan.
The wind of all this agitation was taken out by Siraj Haqqani's leadership which told international news agencies that Haqqani's mujahideen are NOT in North Waziristan but in liberated territory in Afghanistan, all under the leadership of Mullah Umar.
After two weeks of disinformation, the Paki regime is now admitting that relations with the US are back to "almost" normal.
General [retired] Aslam Baig explains Murders
Aslam Baig is known as a patriot and has the confidence of many Pakistanis. He has given a revealing interview to an Urdu language TV channel which helps us to understand Pakistan's inner problems and evils. Here are his main points:
-
Richard Armitage, key official in the Bush
administration, visited Baig at his HOME in February this
year and persuaded him to create an opening for talks with
"moderate" Taliban. As a result, Khalid Khawaja and Colonel
Imam set off into the mountains for this "talks" opening
[which would divide the Taliban].
-
On the way, they were intercepted by Pakistani Taliban.
Colonel Imam had been in the meeting with Armitage; hence
both were seen as CIA agents and executed by a character
known as Usman Punjabi. Perhaps he was a rogue element and
went beyond his orders and was therefore himself
executed.
-
General Baig seems to both detest and admire the
Pakistani Taliban. He blamed the Pakistani military for
killing the top leaders of the Pak Taliban, first Naik
Muhammad and then Baitullah Mehsud.
-
General Baig said that Pakistan has used jet fighters,
helicopters, tanks and heavy artillery against the Pak
Taliban. They do not have such weapons, so they retaliate
with martyrdom operations and truck bombs, he said.
-
According to Baig, there is NO SUCH THING as the "haqqani
network" which USA talks about. The forces under the command
of Jalaluddin Haqqani and now under Siraj Haqqani are under
the overall leadership of Mullah Umar. The Taliban in
Afghanistan, he said, are very united and this unity has not
wavered, ever.
-
America is not satisfied with the support it gets from
the Pakistani military and civilian government, he said. It
wants total control and micro-management. Hence it was
planning "regime change" and this was why MQM [the fascist
party in Karachi] withdrew from its alliance with Zardari's
PPP government. An MQM led "agitation" was planned by the
US. It failed miserably.
-
Zardari panicked when he learned that the US wanted to
get rid of him. So he curried favor with China, Iran and
Russia. Now that things have returned to normal, because MQM
failed to destabilize the country, USA is going to continue
with Zardari and MQM has returned to its unity with the
PPP.
Here is the link for General Baig's interview for readers who know Urdu:
http://www.pkaffairs.com/Play_Show_Shahid_Naama_1st_October_011_17022
NewTrendMag.org