Headlines:

• HSBC Closes Muslim Groups' Accounts As They Are 'Too Risky'
• Saudis Give $1bn to Lebanon Amid Fighting
• Pakistan Denounces US Drone Strike in North Waziristan

Details:

HSBC Closes Muslim Groups' Accounts As They Are 'Too Risky'

Britain's biggest bank HSBC is closing a range of Muslims groups' bank accounts after deeming that continuing to manage them would be beyond their "risk appetite". The decision has caused one Muslim activist, who was involved in attempts to secure the release of a British hostage in Iraq, to speak out after being told that his bank account would be closed. Anas Altikriti, chief executive of the think tank the Cordoba Foundation, said he had met with a "wall of silence" from HSBC over its decision to close his account and those of his wife and two sons aged 16 and 12 years old. The Cordoba Foundation, along with Finsbury Park Mosque in north London and the Ummah Welfare Trust (UWT) have also been told their accounts are to be closed by the bank. An HSBC spokesman said, "We do not discuss relationships we may or may not have with a customer, nor confirm whether an individual or business is, or has been a customer. In general terms, decisions to end a customer relationship are not taken lightly, but are absolutely not based on the race or religion of a customer. "Discrimination against customers on grounds of race or religion is immoral, unacceptable and illegal, and HSBC has comprehensive rules and policies in place to ensure race or religion are never factors in the decisions we make." [Source: Huffington Post]

The war against Islam in the UK has now taken on a new turn and this includes denying Muslims main stream financial activities that are guaranteed for all citizens. The financial boycott of Muslims living in the UK is a new phenomenon and begs the question how long are Muslim populations safe in the West.

Saudis Give $1bn to Lebanon Amid Fighting

Saudi Arabia has given Lebanon's military $1bn to help its fight against self-declared jihadist fighters on the Syrian border. The Saudi gift came as Lebanon army's chief urged France to speed up promised weapons supplies and amid reports that a group of Muslim religious leaders were trying to mediate an end to the fighting. After fighting in the eastern area on Tuesday, where troops have been clashing with the fighters since Saturday, ambulances entered the town of Arsal amid reports of a temporary truce. Earlier, three out of 20 police officers detained by the fighters were released, according to police sources, reportedly as part of negotiations for a ceasefire. While France has said it will respond "quickly" to Lebanon's request to expedite weapons delivery, Saudi Arabia has gone further and handed Lebanon's army $1bn to strengthen security, according to Saad Hariri, former Lebanese prime minister. Saudi King Abdullah "has informed me of his generous decision to provide the Lebanese army ... with $1bn to strengthen its capabilities to preserve Lebanon's security," Hariri announced in Jeddah early on Wednesday. Speaking from King Abdullah's palace in the Saudi Red Sea city, Hariri - the Lebanese Sunni community's most prominent political representative - added that "we have received this aid". "This aid is very important especially at this time when Lebanon is fighting terrorism," he said. Saudi Arabia is already financing a $3bn package of French military equipment and arms for Lebanon's army. The fighting in Arsal is the worst violence to hit the volatile border region since the 2011 outbreak of the armed uprising in Syria against President Bashar al-Assad. Speaking to AFP, Lebanon's army Chief General Jean Kahwaji said the military was hamstrung in its fight against the fighters." This battle requires equipment, material and technology that the army doesn't have," Kahwaji said. "That's why we need to speed up the delivery of the necessary military aid by finalizing the list of weapons requested from France under a Saudi-financed deal." [Source: Aljazeera]

True to form, Saudi Arabia is again propping up regimes with financial aid to fight the emergence of political Islam. Earlier, the Saudi's lavished aid on Egypt's Sisi to put down Muslims craving for the return of Shariah. Yet, when it really matters to give aid, money and weapons to Muslims to fight the Jewish state in Gaza, the Saudi regime quickly becomes inconspicuous. If the Saudi regime was sincere, it should lead the effort to liberate Palestine from Zionist occupation.

Pakistan Denounces US Drone Strike in North Waziristan

The Government of Pakistan Thursday condemned the incident of US drone strike that took place in Datta Khel, North Waziristan on Wednesday, August 6, 2014. According to a Foreign Office statement, Pakistan regards such strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. "These strikes also have a negative impact on the Government's efforts to bring peace and stability in Pakistan and the region. We therefore expect immediate cessation of such strikes," the statement said.

If the Pakistani government was serious about putting a permanent end to American airstrikes on Pakistani territory then the government should terminate its relationship with America. This is in compliance with the following aya.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاء تُلْقُونَ إِلَيْهِم بِالْمَوَدَّةِ وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا بِمَا جَاءكُم مِّنَ الْحَقِّ يُخْرِجُونَ الرَّسُولَ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَن تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ رَبِّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ خَرَجْتُمْ جِهَادًا فِي سَبِيلِي وَابْتِغَاء مَرْضَاتِي تُسِرُّونَ إِلَيْهِم بِالْمَوَدَّةِ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِمَا أَخْفَيْتُمْ وَمَا أَعْلَنتُمْ وَمَن يَفْعَلْهُ مِنكُمْ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَاء السَّبِيلِ

"Oh you who have Iman, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies, extending to them affection while they have disbelieved in what came to you of the truth, having driven out the Prophet and yourselves [only] because you believe in Allah , your Lord. If you have come out for jihad in My cause and seeking means to My approval, [take them not as friends]. You confide to them affection, but I am most knowing of what you have concealed and what you have declared. And whoever does it among you has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way." [Al-Mumtahanah:1]