During the blessed month of Ramadan in which Muslims have celebrated victories over their enemies for over fourteen centuries, the Raheel-Nawaz regime is conducting military operations in North Waziristan. However, rather than being a cause for celebration, the North Waziristan military operations are a grave treachery against Pakistan's armed forces aimed at destroying their ability to challenge the malignant American plan for the region.
News
The Observer Newspaper reported on 28th June 2014 that ‘more than half of Islamophobic attacks in Britain are committed against women, who are typically targeted because they are wearing clothing associated with Islam'. It goes on to say 1 in 6 victims choose not to report incidents to the authorities due to lack of trust. The figures of attacks against Muslims comes days after the brutal murder of Saudi Arabian student, Nahid Almanea who was stabbed to death in Essex. Although initially not stated, detectives now say she may have been targeted due to her Islamic attire.
Comment
The attack on Nahid Almanea has seen many speaking out on social media that the mainstream media plays down any attack against Muslims and is very irresponsible at highlighting any negative action of Muslims whether in the name of Islam or not thereby creating strong anti-Islamic ideas about Muslims amongst the general masses.
Islamaphobia is the fear of Muslims and Islam; and just as racism and xenophobia created ideas and negative opinions about ‘the other'; the media and key politicians are responsible for the way Islam is viewed. British media reporting of ‘sexual grooming', ‘barbaric Shariah law', ‘the oppressive buraq', and most recently secret selling of halal food and the alleged takeover of Islamists in British schools would have the unsuspecting Brit feeling like s/he is being taken over by aliens!
For communities to live and co-exist in a harmonious manner, the State has the ultimate responsibility to use media, education and laws to protect minorities. In the capitalist system divide and rule is a policy that works well for international political gains and racism and phobia of others is another element of this policy. The West is fearful of Islam, not the dress of the Muslim woman, but what this represents, an adherence to laws, values and ideas that are not in line with the predominant views of the society. It works well to present Islam in a negative light as the resurgence of Islam in the Muslim world is a true threat that cannot be avoided. Just as the Quraysh tried to spread false propaganda about RasulAllah (saw) and Islam in the past, today we witness similar attempts. There are many policies in place trying to make Muslims in the West assimilate and integrate in a very forceful manner and Muslims are striving to stay steadfast in the face of this. In the meantime, we will witness attacks, verbal and physical, as a direct reaction to the way the masses view Islam and Muslims through the primary source, the media. Many victims will not tell the authorities as they do not feel any recourse and due to lack of trust. This all makes for a very uneasy relationship.
As Muslims living in these testing times, it is reassuring to see that in the Seerah of RasulAllah (saw), the propaganda was not ultimately successful when the Muslims continued in their struggle and held onto Islam, no matter what happened. Allah (swt) changed their situation and Islam was victorious. Then the whole world witnessed the beauty of the Islamic system in assimilating minorities as the Islamic State expanded.
Muslims are regulated in how they deal with minorities by the Shariah and Islam opened up lands with inhabitants of all kinds of belief and race. Viewing people only from the human point of view, Islam dealt with their problems and needs. Allah (swt) says:
((ولَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا ۚ اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ))
"And let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety and fear Allah. Verily Allah is Well Acquainted with what you do" [Surah al Maida: 8]
A non-Muslim citizen of the state is termed a dhimmi, "One whose responsibility is taken" so s/he has protection of life and property to the extent that the Prophet (saw) said,
«أَلَا مَنْ ظَلَمَ مُعَاهِدًا أَوِ انْتَقَصَهُ أَوْ كَلَّفَهُ فَوْقَ طَاقَتِهِ أَوْ أَخَذَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا بِغَيْرِ طِيبِ نَفْسٍ فَأَنَا حَجِيجُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ»
"If anyone wrongs a man with whom a covenant has been made, or curtails any right of his, or imposes on him more than he can bear, or takes anything from him without his ready agreement, I shall be his adversary on the Day of Resurrection." (Sunan Abu Dawud)
Only under the Khilafah "Caliphate" State will we witness the easy co-existence of Muslims and non-Muslims, where laws, media and mass opinions will be synchronized and justice felt for those who are harmed in any way.
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Nazia Rehman - Pakistan
News
PHILADELPHIA: Malala Yousafzai, who survived being shot by the Taliban because she advocated education for girls, has won the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Yousafzai was just 15 when she was shot in the head while returning from school in Mingora, Pakistan, in October 2012 since arguing that girls should be allowed to pursue an education, which was hindered under the Talibaan.
"It's an honor to be awarded the Liberty Medal," Yousafzai, now 17, said Sunday.
"I accept this award on behalf of all the children around the world who are struggling to get an education."
After surviving the attack, Yousafzai continued to be an outspoken advocate on education, prompting Gordon Brown, the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, to petition the agency to recommit to a goal of universal primary education for children around the world. The petition gained more than 3 million signatures and helped lead Pakistan to pass a Right to Education Bill, a first in that country.
"Malala's courageous fight for equality and liberty from tyranny is evidence that a passionate, committed leader, regardless of age, has the power to ignite a movement for reform," said Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the chairman of the National Constitution Center.
The medal has been awarded annually since 1989, when Polish Solidarity founder Lech Walesa received it first. Since then, recipients have included boxer Mohammad Ali, former US President Jimmy Carter, and, last year, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Yousafzai will receive the award at a ceremony at the center on Oct. 21. [Source: Dawn 30/06/14]
Comment
Malala's story has also been used to further fuel and re-enforce the age-old myth that Islam and Islamic rule oppresses women and deprives them of their rights and that they are in need of Western-style liberation. It is a narrative that has been employed historically and over decades, continuing into modern times to maintain Western secular hegemony over the region by fighting the resurgence of Islam internationally in order to prevent the establishment of an Islamic system in the Muslim world that would threaten Western political and economic interests.
However, it is not Islam but Western colonial foreign policy that has stripped women and girls in Pakistan and many other Muslim countries of a valuable education. The ‘War on Terror' and occupation of Afghanistan has created a constant climate of insecurity and instability in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the region, marked with frequent drone attacks and bombs that have killed thousands over the years, including countless women, girls, and children. A UN Committee on the Rights of Children report stated that hundreds of children are reported to have died, "as a result of attacks and air strikes by the US military forces in Afghanistan" between 2008 and 2012, due to the use of "indiscriminate force".
Where are the rights of these children? Clearly their deaths are acceptable collateral damage to such colonial governments for the sake of securing their interests in the region. Such occupation, war and instability have also generated a lawless environment riddled with crime, abductions, and rape. All this has led to many parents preventing their daughters from travelling far from their homes, including to school. Furthermore, how can states plagued with instability, destruction, and insecurity ever provide a good quality of education to their citizens? After more than 10 years of occupation, almost 9 out of 10 women in Afghanistan remain illiterate.
Hence, it is the destructive Western colonial foreign policy that has not only robbed girls of an education, but robbed them of their lives and dignity, and stands as one of the main obstacles to their effective schooling.
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Um Mohammed
1. Any organization that seeks to announce the Khilafah "Caliphate" in an area is obligated to follow the Methodology of the Prophet (saw) in it, and from it is that this organization should have the obvious visible authority on the place, where it can maintain security internally and externally, and that this area should have the components of a state in the area where the Khilafah "Caliphate" is announced....
The month of Ramadan is a time of worship, reflection, self control and forgiveness. It is also one of victory and rushing to implement all of Allah's commands with incredible reward for those who grasp this blessed month.
Talk 1: The virtues and blessings of the month of Ramadan | Mohammed Trad
Time: 1:49
Talk 2: Linking the actions of today to the pious predecessors | Uthman Badar
Time: 27:26
