UK scholar advocates women imams for Britain's Muslims

This week Ruth Gledhill The Times Religious Correspondent reported that South African-born Dr Hargey a Muslim scholar supports the right of Muslim women to become imams. Dr Hargey is currently raising £2 million to build Britain's first progressive mosque, in Oxford, where he hopes to have a woman imam leading prayers for mixed congregations. He is no stranger to controversy, and made headlines last year when he invited a woman, US progressive Islamic scholar Amina Wadud, to lead Friday prayers at the Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford, where he claims a regular congregation of up to 300 Muslims.

US and EU at odds over Turkey's entry into the European Union

US President Obama urged the EU to accept Turkey as a full member, saying that it would send a positive signal to the Muslim world. Speaking last week-end in Prague before his visit to Turkey, President Obama said the West should seek greater cooperation and closer ties with Islamic nations. However, French President Sarkozy said it was up to the EU member states to decide on Turkish entry and underlined his opposition. "I have always been opposed to this entry. Turkey is a very great country, an ally of Europe, an ally of the United States. It will stay a privileged partner. My position hasn't changed and it won't change," he said. The Europeans have been incensed at Turkey's opposition towards Anders Fogh Rasmussen- the Danish leader who defended his country's right to insult Islam. The Europeans accuse Turkey of using the issue to blackmail NATO into ceding important NATO posts.

Somalia pirates take on America

Somali pirates defied the might of the US military by refusing to release the captain of an American cargo ship kidnapped in a bungled hijack attempt. On April 8 2009, the pirates seized the Danish-owned 17,500-ton container ship as it carried food aid south past Somalia's coast en route to the Kenyan port of Mombasa. This is the first time that the pirates have targeted a ship with a American crew board. The US for sometime has been pressing members of the UN security council to pass a resolution that support a ground incursions into Somalia.It remains to be seen whether the US will use this incident to press ahead the UN resolution or take unilateral military action against Somalia.

Nuclear umbrella or nuclearization of the Middle East

The Obama administration should consider countering an Iranian threat by offering Middle East allies protection under a "nuclear umbrella," a United Arab Emirates official said, as the U.S. announced plans to join international talks with Iran. Clinton, now Obama's secretary of state, said during the April debate last year that Israel and Arab allies should be given "deterrent backing" by the U.S. and that "Iran must know that an attack on Israel will draw a massive response." The official made the remark soon after the UAE government agreed to stringent inspections of its nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The UAE is expected to invest US$60 billion in atomic energy this year. The IAEA agreement with the UAE coincides with the US softening its attitude towards Iran and Ahmadinejad opening Iran's first nuclear production facility. Both developments come days after Obama called for an end to nuclear proliferation. The US nuclear stance on the Middle East suggests that she is more interested in the nuclearization of the region then either rolling back proliferation or establishing a nuclear umbrella.

America invites India to play a stronger role in Afghanistan

For the first time since partition, India, Pakistan and the United States face a common threat, a common challenge, a common task," Richard C. Holbrooke, the United States special representative for the region, told reporters here on Wednesday. His comments came after he met with Indian officials to brief them on his trip earlier in the week to Pakistan and Afghanistan. It was his first trip to the region since President Obama unveiled a plan to strengthen the war effort against the Taliban in Afghanistan and goad Pakistan to flush out extremists from its soil. "Now that we face a common threat we must work together," Mr. Holbrooke said. "We know that is going to be difficult, but the national security interests of all three countries is clearly at stake." Holbrooke was accompanied by Chairman of U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and both men discussed with Indian officials how to defeat the Taliban. Clearly, Pakistan's strategy of following America's war on terror has not only eroded its sovereignty but now the country faces the prospect of joint US-Indian cooperation against Pakistan.

Brown's advisor: ‘UK population must fall to 30m'

Last week Jonathan Porritt, one of Gordon Brown's leading green advisers, is to warn that Britain must drastically reduce its population to 30m if it is to build a sustainable society. Porritt's call will come at this week's annual conference of the Optimum Population Trust (OPT), of which he is patron. The trust will release research suggesting UK population must be cut to 30m if the country wants to feed itself sustainably. Porritt said: "Population growth, plus economic growth, is putting the world under terrible pressure. Each person in Britain has far more impact on the environment than those in developing countries so cutting our population is one way to reduce that impact." Britain's population is expected to grow from 61m now to 71m by 2031. It is the eradication of capitalism and not population reduction that will help Britain sustain its burgeoning population for the foreseeable future.

Czech Cardinal: Europe is headed for a Muslim future

Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, the head of the Czech Roman Catholic Church says Europe must adopt Christian values and multiply otherwise Islam and Muslims will fill the vacuum. In the interview with a Czech publication, Vlk links the European Union's flag to Christian values. The flag consisting of twelve stars on a blue background was inspired by the Bible. He says there should be dialogue between Christians and Muslims but "in terms of culture and opinions Islam is medieval." "I do not want to sound negative... but in Islam a religion assumes the position of the state power and rules the people. Our European Christian experience proved that it is not the right way," said the Cardinal who argues that Christianity should be part of the EU constitution. He warns that Muslim population will increase considerably in Europe because of "the low fertility of Europeans the majority of whom are non-believers." The Cardinal said that "while European Muslims are living their religion, Europeans are pagans, as they do not respect their religion" and warns "if we do not restore Europe in terms of Christian values, we will surely die out."

Angola anxious about Islamic expansion

On March 31 Angop news agency reported that the Angolan Government is worried about the expansion of Islam and its consequences in the organisation and structures of the Angolan society. Addressing the deputies of the sixth commission of the National Assembly, who visited the facilities of the National Institute of Religious Studies (INAR), minister of Culture Rosa Cruz e Silva expressed concern about the growth and increase of number of followers of this religion in Angola. "Our worry has to do with the expansion of Islam and the consequences it may cause to the organisation and structure of the Angolan society", she said. In her turn, the National Institute for Religious Affairs (INAR), Fátima Viegas, said that it is in place a study to determine to what extent the Islam is ingrained in the Angolan society.

During Gaza massacre King Abdullah sends pet dog to Israel for treatment

The Jordanian royal family's dog was secretly rushed to Israel for treatment in the midst of Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on March 29. During the fighting in the Gaza Strip, the Jordanians called on the Israeli veterinarians for help. King Abdullah and Queen Rania's beloved dog had fallen ill. In a secret operation, the pet was transferred to the hospital in Israel in very poor condition and later died. The dog's body was returned to Jordan, along with a sincere apology from the hospital's vets for being unable to save him.

Iran wants to cooperate with America in a bid to stabilize Afghanistan

On March 31 at an international conference on Afghanistan at The Hague, in the Netherlands, the Iranian delegate, Mohammad Mehdi Akhundzadeh, responded positively to Barack Obama's new strategy for winning the war against the Taliban. Akhundzadeh said, "Welcoming the proposals for joint cooperation offered by the countries contributing to Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran is fully prepared to participate in the projects aimed at combating drug trafficking and plans in line with developing and reconstructing Afghanistan." He went on record to support aspects of Obama's strategy. He said," "The military expenses need to be redirected to the training of the Afghan police and army, and Afghanisation should lead the government-building process" - a clear reference towards the Obama administration's decision to send 4,000 more US military trainers.

Poll finds 63% Pakistanis believe US wants to divide Pakistan

A Press TV poll suggests Pakistan's political turmoil has been orchestrated by the US in an attempt to partition the nuclear-armed country. The opinion poll conducted by the Press TV website found that an overwhelming 63 percent of some 3,807 participants believe the "tension is an American scenario to partition Pakistan." A mere eighteen percent of the participants said the crisis stems from a power struggle between Pakistani politicians.

China continues to suppress its Muslim population

The official Xinhua News Agency earlier this month reported that Hotan authorities had launched a campaign against "illegal religious activity" at the end of February and "had already achieved some initial success." The News Agency said, "Officials uncovered some illegal religious activities, seized a large number of illegal books, handwritten materials, computer discs, audio tapes and other propaganda materials as well as bullets, fuses, explosive and flammable materials, and other weaponry." A secretary with Hotan's Communist Party Propaganda Department on Monday denied that any religious schools were closed, people arrested or bullets, explosives and other materials seized. But he confirmed that some illegal religious activity has been halted and illegal books, writings, computer discs and audio tapes had been confiscated. He refused to give his name or any more information and referred calls to other departments where the phone rang unanswered or officials said they were not authorized to speak to the media. The clampdown is consistent with previous efforts to target a resurgent Islam that the government says is fanning radical, violent separatism in Xinjiang. A year ago, several hundred Muslims staged a protest in Hotan that rights groups said was against a ban on women wearing headscarves but that the government said was incited by an overseas Islamic group.

On 5 April 2009, Hizb ut-Tahrir Wilayah Pakistan demonstrated in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad  against the arrival of US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Michael Mullen, and the US Special Envoy Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke. Demonstrators held placards saying "Holbrooke go home - No aid for the drones". The protestors stated that the real reason for the current wave of destabilization in Pakistan is the American presence in the region. The protest called for the Pakistan Army to give the material support (Nusrah) to Hizb ut-Tahrir for the establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate".

Since 1999, G20 summits have taken place and formulated financial plans for the world - plans that brought crises and calamities to human beings and the world. They claim that through these summits they will save the world even thought it is inconceivable that the wolf would save its own prey! The leaders of the G20 will meet in London, the spiritual capital of Capitalism and its corporations, on Thursday 2nd April 2009. Instead of formulating a plan to rescue the world from the financial cirsis, they only devise solutions that aim to increase the wealth of the rich capitalists even if that further impoverishs the poor.

Meanwhile, Hizb ut-Tahrir, the global Islamic political party, has convened two emergency press conferences in Beirut and London on Friday 3rd April 2009, a day after the London G20 summit. At both press conferences, Hizb ut-Tahrir will launch its new book "Towards a Tranquil Safe World under the Shade of the Economic System of Islam". The book examines the global economic crisis, explains its reality, critically examines its symptoms and exposes the flaws in the solutions proposed by the flagbearers of Capitalism. The book concludes by illustrating the correct solutions to the economic crisis from Islam - solutions that are from the Creator of the universe and the Creator of mankind, who knows what is best for His creation.

"Should not He Who has created know? And He is the Most Kind and Courteous (to His slaves) All-Aware (of everything)." [TMQ Al-Mulk: 67]

At the press conferences, there will be speeches in Arabic and English outlining Hizb ut-Tahrir's solutions to the economic crisis and its response to the London G20 summit. There will be an opportunity for open discussion and debate and both press conferences will be broadcast live on the Internet.

The press conferences will take place in Beirut and London on Friday 8th Rabi` al-Akhar 1430 Hijri / 3rd April 2009

BEIRUT

10:30 a.m. Medina and Beirut time.

As-Safir Hotel, al-Rawsha, Beirut, Lebanon

LONDON

6:30 p.m. BST (8:30 p.m. Medina and Beirut time).

The London Continental Hotel, 88 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 6HR,

United Kingdom

The live Internet broadcast will be streamed on the Hizb ut-Tahrir Media Office website: www.hizb-ut-tahrir.info

It can also be followed on the following websites:

Video: http://kstreamvideo.blogspot.com/

Audio: http://kstreamaudio.blogspot.com/

For more information please contact us on:

Beirut: +961(0)3927056

 London: +44(0)7074192400