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9 May 2013
The World News Headlines Patak unveils desi cooking campaign
This Week Tokyo stock market soars
Shares in Tokyo have soared, closing at their highest level in five years, with the market driven by a weakening Japanese currency and after Wall Street hit fresh all-time highs on solid jobs data. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 3.55 percent, or 486.20 points, to 14,180.24 on Tuesday, its best finish since June 2008.
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atak’s has unveiled its 3-2-1 Desi Cooking campaign which aims to show people how to cook a variety of mouth-watering desi khanas. By using Patak’s masala pastes, the 3-21 Desi Cooking videos on YouTube demonstrate how to cook a number of delicious dishes - the kind that take you back to your roots and brings families together. “Our masala pastes have been expertly crafted with the finest spices and ingredients and we are extremely proud of them. The 3-2-1 Desi Cooking videos on YouTube allow us to share just some ways people can create variety of mouth-watering dishes using one jar of Patak’s masala paste, said Sneha Beriwal, Patak’s Brand Manager. “We will help you enhance the desi flavours in one easy step. So you have more time to enjoy delicious khana with your family and friends!” Patak’s ranges of masala pastes not only enhance flavours to create flavoursome desi dishes but also let people experiment with flavours they have always wanted to try. Patak’s 3-2-1 Desi Cooking videos feature popular UK based desi foodies, each cooking with their favourite masala paste to create three different dishes.
UN unsure on chemicals
Rushanara Ali MP calls for urgent action on aid
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ushanara Ali has said there is an urgent need for the UK Government to step up its response to future humanitarian crises. Last week, a report released by the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network estimated that the number of people who died during the 2011 Somalia famine was much higher than initially anticipated at almost 260,000. Shadow Minister for International Development, Rushanara Ali, has urged the need for the UK Government to ensure that warnings for similar humanitarian crises are responded to much earlier and faster in order to avert the huge loss of life witnessed during the recent East Africa famine. Ms Ali said: “This study has highlighted the shock-
ing reality and the immense impact this famine has had on Somalia and its people the worst drought to have hit East Africa in a quarter of a century affecting 13 million people. With almost half of the estimated 260,000 people who had died being children below the age of 5, it is deeply concerning that the international community – who had dealt with a similar crisis in the “the long tailed” mid1970s drought – failed to act fast and could have saved the lives of thousands of people in Somalia during this famine. “Somalia’s politics has played a major role in exacer-
bating the countries droughts and there is a real concern that early interventions for such crises are being made avoidable for this reason. This report suggests that the early warning signals should have been acted on instantaneously by western donors but action was only taken once the famine had been officially declared and at that point thousands were already suffering and the crisis could sadly no longer be averted. “Reacting to a humanitarian crisis early to avert the deaths of thousands is paramount for Somalia’s future. The UK Government now
‘Reacting to a humanitarian crisis early to avert the deaths of thousands is paramount for Somalia’s future’
has the opportunity to outline its agenda in the Somali Conference today. What the UK Government must take away from this study, is the importance of the UK’s commitment to continue providing 0.7% of aid in international development – a commitment that cannot be turned back on and must be enshrined in law. The UK Government must also ensure that it is engaging with its counterparts in the Somali government so that aid is reaching those in need and that future early warning systems are acted on immediately.” Last year, Rushanara visited East Africa where she witnessed first-hand the work of NGOs on the ground assisting those struggling to cope with the impact of climate change that have destroyed their traditionally nomadic way of life.
Death toll in Dhaka factory collapse passes 800
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he death toll from the collapse of an eight-storey factory building near the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, has passed 800, officials say. The announcement came after workers pulled dozens more bodies from the rubble. Many people are still missing. Several people, including the building’s own-
er,
have been arrested. The collapse of the Rana Plaza on 24 April stands as Bangladesh’s worst industrial disaster. It sparked outrage among workers in the country. The previous most deadly structural failure in modern times - excluding the 9/11 terror attacks in New York - was the Sampoong department
store in Seoul, South Korea, in 1995, in which 502 people died. The death toll from Bangladesh now stands at 705. Officials say about 2,500 people were injured in the collapse and that 2,437 people have been rescued. Rescue officials also say they do not know exactly how many people are still missing as factory owners have not
given them precise figures. It came as hundreds of garment workers who survived the collapse protested by blocking a highway close to the accident site demanding unpaid wages and benefits. Reports say many of them were working in some of the factories housed in the illegally constructed building.
A UN team of investigators has said it has not reached “conclusive findings” that chemical weapons have been used by any parties in the Syrian conflict, distancing itself from an earlier statement from one of its members who suggested the likely use of sarin gas by rebels. The US said if anybody had used chemical weapons, it was probably the Syrian government.
Afghan-Pak border clashes
Cross-border clashes between Afghan and Pakistani security forces have broken out for the second time in three days, escalating tensions between the two countries, officials have said. Afghan officials said Monday’s crossfire started after Pakistani troops tried to repair a gate on the border in the Afghan district of Goshta, where last week an Afghan border policeman was killed, and two Pakisanis were injured, in an exchange of fire.
US plane down in Kyrgyzstan Rescuers recovered the bodies of two US pilots whose refuelling plane crashed in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan shortly after taking off from a base that serves as a hub for military operations in Afghanistan, the emergency situations ministry said. “The bodies of two pilots were found … near the site of the crash. The search operation is continuing, the body of the third crew member has not yet been found,” a spokesman for the Kyrgyzstan emergency situations ministry said.
Protest against drones
Anti-war campaigners have marched to an airbase in eastern England military to voice their opposition to Britain’s use of armed drones in Afghanistan. Saturday’s demonstration comes after the operation of the 10 unmanned aircraft was relocated from a base in Nevada in the US to the UK for the first time earlier this week.
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News This Week
A woman interviewee who has been involved with the UK Forced Marriage Unit assistance program tells her story of forced marriage and family pressure. When she was 17 years of age she was forced to marry her mother’s nephew against her will during what she thought was a family holiday in Pakistan. Image: UK Foreign Office
Three found after 10 years
Three US women have been found alive 10 years after being reported missing in a development which was hailed as a miracle by their families. Amanda Berry was last seen in 2003 on the eve of her 17th birthday. Georgina DeJesus disappeared nearly a year later, in April 2004. She was 14. Michele Knight vanished in 2002, at age 19.
US accuses China of hacking
The Pentagon has accused China of trying to extract sensitive information from US government computers, the latest in a series of rhetorical skirmishes between the two countries on the issue of cyberattacks. The frank assessment, made in an annual report to US lawmakers on Chinese military capabilities, is the harshest and most detailed set of accusations made thus far by the Obama administration.
Ibrahim rejects vote result
Malaysia’s opposition leader has urged his supporters to protest Sunday’s vote, which he claims was fradulent. “Our conscience cannot allow us to accept election results conjured through frauds and cheating. A fight for clean and fair election remains the single most important fight that any Malaysian should relate to,” Anwar Ibrahim said.
Libyans demand Ali exit
Despite the passage of a law banning Gaddafi-era officials from Libya’s government, armed groups continued their blockade of two ministry buildings in Tripoli on Monday, this time demanding the dismissal of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan. The adoption of the political isolation law by Libya’s parliament on Sunday had been a main demand of militiamen who surrounded the foreign and justice ministries last week.
Saudi girls allowed sports
Saudi Arabian girls will be officially allowed to practice sports in private schools for the first time. The new regulations for physical education, announced Saturday, require that girls “dress modestly” and have appropriate equipment and facilities, and that female Saudi teachers have priority to supervise these activities.
May acts against crime and forced marriages
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raft of measures to create new and simpler powers to tackle antisocial behaviour, make forced marriage illegal and improve professional standards of the police were introduced today in the new Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill. The Bill will: l condense 19 existing measures to deal with anti-social behaviour into six, more effective powers, giving victims the ability to ensure action is taken and a greater say in the sanction an offender receives; l encourage responsible dog ownership by making it a criminal offence to
have a dog that is dangerously out of control in a private property (extending the current legislation which covers public places); l tackle the use of illegal firearms by gangs and organised crime groups, by increasing the maximum penalty for illegal importation/ exportation of firearms and create a new offence of possession for sale or transfer;
l provide the new College of Policing with the powers it needs to set standards for the police in England and Wales; and l extend the powers and remit of the Independent Police Complaints Commission to ensure all serious allegations against police officers and staff are investigated robustly and independently. Home Secretary The-
‘We are delivering on our pledges to give victims of anti-social behaviour a stronger voice [and] further cut crime’
resa May said: “Police reform is working and crime continues to fall. We have swept away central targets, reduced bureaucracy and introduced Police and Crime Commissioners to make the police more accountable. “Today we are delivering on our pledges to give victims of anti-social behaviour a stronger voice, further cut crime and improve the relationship between the public and police,” she said. The government has also taken action to strengthen the protection for victims of forced marriage by making it a criminal offence.
British army take part in Qur’an contest
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he British Armed Forces won an honourable mention at the prestigious International Military Quran Recital Contest in Saudi Arabia. They were the first ever non-Muslim nation to take part in the contest. The Quran recital competition involves 117 competitors from over 24 different Muslim countries. Competitors are tested on their Quranic knowledge and are then judged on their accuracy. Three British representatives attended: Wing Commander Mohammed Ahmed MBE, Lance Corporal Muhammed Taju-Deen who took part in the contest, and the Muslim Chaplain to the Armed Forces, Imam Ali Omar. LCpl Muhammed Taju-Deen received an honourable mention by the judges including the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and the Imam to the Mosque of Medina, Sheik Hudaify. This was a huge achievement for LCpl Muhammed Taju-Deen who has been reciting the Quran since childhood but had only three weeks to prepare for the contest. “I was honoured to take part in this competition and whilst I only had three weeks to prepare I gave it my best shot,” he said. “To receive an honourable mention from such high-profile spiritual leaders was incredible. To be invited to recite my passage in front of the Imam of Medina was a huge honour and one I will never forget”.
Rushanara Ali MP ‘deeply disappointed’
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uring the opening exchanges of the House of Commons debate on the Queen’s Speech, local MP Rushanara Ali warned the Prime Minister that he was failing to take any action to tackle the alarming increase in child poverty under his Government. Ms Ali said: “According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, after the tax and benefit changes introduced in 2010, by 2020 one in four children will face child poverty, missing the Child Poverty Act goal of one in 10. Why does the Queen’s Speech not contain anything to address that major problem in our country?” The latest Institute for Fis-
cal Studies research found that relative child poverty in the UK is projected to increase by 6% between 2010–11 and 2020–21, reversing all of the reductions achieved during the previous decade. In 2020–21, child poverty is projected to be 23.5%, compared to the official target of 10%. This translates to increases across the decade of 1.1 million in the number of children in relative poverty. The Queen’s Speech, which was delivered to Parliament on Wednesday 8th May and set out the Government’s legislative agenda for the coming year, did not mention the
Government’s responsibility to adhere to the Child Poverty Act passed by the previous Labour Government in 2010. Following the speech, Ms Ali said: “With nearly half of children in my constituency growing up in poverty, I am deeply disappointed that the Queen’s Speech contains nothing to address the major problem of child poverty. “The IFS has found that the Tory-led Government’s tax and benefit policies are pushing one million more children into poverty and it is undoing all of the significant progress made by the previous Labour Government in lifting children out of poverty.”
Rushanara Ali MP says missing goals is a major problem
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9 May 2013
News Indian cinema celebrates one hundred years of making stars
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ndia’s brash, song-anddance-laden Bollywood film industry celebrates its 100th birthday, which began in 1913 with the first all-Indian feature film “Raja (King) Harishchandra”, a silent, blackand-white story of a virtuous king from Hindu mythology. The milestone is marked later this week with the release of “Bombay Talkies”, made up of short commemorative films by four leading directors, while India will be honoured as “guest country” at next month’s Cannes festival. Exhibitions in the capital New Delhi are showcasing a century of cinema, including onscreen kissing scenes that originally fell foul of the censors. India produced almost 1,500 movies last year and the industry is expected to grow from $2 billion to $3.6 billion in the next five years, according to consultancy KPMG. The industry has evolved from its early screen adaptations of Hindu mythology to the garish romantic escapism of modern blockbusters. But old-timers complain that it has become superficial, neglecting to deal with pressing social concerns of the age. “There’s a dumbing down that has taken place in the content. I think we are suffering
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Lawson calls for EU exit
The former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Lawson, has called for the UK to leave the European Union. Writing in the Times, he said British economic gains from an exit “would substantially outweigh the costs”.
Woman ‘killed three men’
A woman has been charged with the murders of three men whose bodies were found in ditches in Cambridgeshire.Kevin Lee, 48, died from stab wounds to the chest. Lukasz Slaboszewski, 31, was stabbed in the heart. John Chapman, 56, was stabbed in the neck and chest. Joanna Dennehy, 30, of Peterborough, has been charged with the three murders.
Queen to miss colonies meet
from what is called the narrative crisis,” said veteran director and producer Mahesh Bhatt. He contrasts modern filmmakers with Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, known as the “father of Indian cinema”, who brought the first all-Indian feature film to the silver screen in Bombay (now Mumbai) on May 3, 1913.
For many the “golden age” of cinema was the 1950s, when movie greats emerged such as Satyajit Ray, India’s most renowned filmmaker, who hailed from the alternative film hub of West Bengal. It was the era of newly independent India, searching for an identity and produc-
‘There’s a dumbing down that has taken place in the content. I think we are suffering from what is called the narrative crisis’
ing films such as Mehboob Khan’s 1957 hit “Mother India”, which combined social concerns with popular appeal. The 1970s and 80s saw a growing commercialism with the rise of the “masala” movie -a family entertainer that typically mixed up romance and action, songs and melodrama, a comedy touch and a happy ending. Parallel Cinema continued to focus on realism, with films such as Mahesh Bhatt’s “Arth” (Meaning) in 1982, a gritty tale of an extramarital affair that pre-
sented strong female characters. It was a path-breaker in a decade described as the “dark ages” of Hindi cinema, which struggled with the advent of colour television, rampant piracy and dependence on the Mumbai underworld for funding. Things improved after India’s economy opened up in the early 1990s, and again a decade later when filmmaking won formal “industry” status. Both steps encouraged foreign firms, such as Fox and Disney, to invest in Bollywood.
Rally remembers Altab Ali Day his year the annual ‘Altab Ali Day’ was observed on Saturday, 4 May 2013, to commemorate the murder of Altab Ali, a Bengali clothing worker, who was killed in 1978 by a gang of racist thugs. The event took place at the “Shahid Minar” (martyrs monument) Altab Ali Park, Adler Street, Whitechapel High Street, London E1. Chaired by Akikur Rahman, Ansar Ahmed Ullah, Organising Secretary of Altab Ali Foundation conducted the event with opening address from Dan Jones, Patron of Altab Ali Foundation. Following Dan Jones’s ad-
This Week
dress flower wreaths were laid by Doros Ullah, Julie Begum, Fazlul Haq Fazlu & Jamal Khan on behalf of Altab Ali Foundation and Amanda Sebestyen, Network for Social Change. A one-minute silence was observed in memory of Altab Ali and all those who died in racist attacks and for those garments workers who recently died in Dhaka’s Savar tragedy. Poetry recitation and any other readings were read by Ashraf Mahmud Neswar, Salim Malik and Roman Bakth Chowdhury. Anti-racist activists who shared their memory of 1978 were Rajonuddin Jalal – anti-rac-
ist campaigner of 1978, founder of Bangladesh Youth Movement, Dr Harris Ali, Bangladesh Youth League, Abdus Salam of Progressive Youth Organisation, Terry Fitzpatrick, Cathy Peters, Aloke Biswas from Hackney Asian Association, Md Haq, Murad Qureshi – AM, Greater
London Authority and Cllr Rajib Ahmed, Tower Hamlets speaker. Amongst others who attended in solidarity were David Rosenberg, Jewish Socialist Group, Clare Murphy, Juliet Ash, Rock Against Racism, Richard Humm, social worker, Cllr Denise Jones, Cllr Rachel Saunders and Rebecca Durrand, local anti-racist teacher. Speakers reminded the gathering that the annual commemoration of the Altab Ali Day was a very important event in the antiracist and anti-fascist calendar. In addition it was a reminder of the catalogue of racist murders and the Bengali community’s struggle against
racism and fascism in the UK. This year was the 35th anniversary of the murder of Altab Ali, which gave rise to the resistance movement by the Bengali community in the East End of London and led to the ‘Battle of Brick Lane’ in 1978 defeating the thugs of the then National Frontthe far right racist political party. The event ended with thanks giving by Akikur Rahman, founder of Bangladesh Youth Association, Chairperson of Altab Ali Foundation. Following the event at the Park a special prayer was held at Brick Lane Mosque organised by Shamsuddin Shams, a colleague of Altab Ali.
For the first time since 1973 the Queen will not be attending the Commonwealth heads of government meeting this year, Buckingham Palace has said. She will be represented by the Prince of Wales at the summit in Sri Lanka in November. The Queen, 87, is the head of the Commonwealth and every two years leaders meet to discuss global issues.
UK 23rd for mothers
The UK has failed to rank among the top 20 places to be a mother, falling behind other European countries such as Germany and France. In a list of 176 countries, compiled by the charity Save the Children, the UK is ranked at number 23. Finland, Sweden and Norway take the top three slots respectively in the charity’s Mother’s Index.
NHS 111 services improving
There are signs the NHS nonemergency helpline is getting better after the bank holiday weekend passed by without major problems. The 111 service has been beset by problems recently with reports of patients struggling to get through.
Cameron praises Somalia
UK Prime Minister David Cameron says Somalia has made “huge progress” in efforts to end more than two decades of conflict. He is co-hosting a conference in London with Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
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Features Somaliland humbles visitor
become violent... the police had no option but to respond”. “Rioters vandalised markets and set fire to bookshops where the Holy Koran is sold. Thousands of Koran and religious books burned. They also attacked the ruling party’s political office and national mosque,” he told the BBC. The bank employee, who asked not to named, said many people in Dhaka were angry about the violence, particularly as the city is still mourning the recent loss of more than 600 workers in a building collapse. “I am Muslim and 90% of the population is Muslim too, but the protesters do not represent our views,” he said. On Sunday, crowds of protesters blocked main roads, isolating Dhaka from other parts of the country. Dhaka’s Daily Star newspaper reported that the group had hired at least 3,000 vehicles, including buses, lorries and minibuses, to bring demonstrators into the capital, while others travelled there by train. Chanting “Allahu Akbar!” (“God is greatest!”) and “One point! One demand! Atheists must be hanged”, the activists marched down at least six main roads as they headed for Motijheel, AFP news agency reported.
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young Bangladeshi man representing charity organisation Global Aid Trust has made a visit to Somaliland to see for himself the challenges faced by local people. Abu Talha Choudhury visited the war-ravaged and drought-ridden country and found scenes of extreme hardship. “I was very humbled by the experience in Somaliland, which exposed a very harsh state of reality,” said Mr Choudhury. “The country which is situated in the horn of Africa is in dire need of foreign aid, a fact which was evident through the preposterous living conditions and the limited or no access to essential resources.” The charity he was representing undertakes a range of initiatives to alleviate water shortages and poverty. He added: “As a selfdeclared sovereign state, Somaliland has fell short of appeasing the UN and acquiring international recognition, which has left them bereft of any foreign investment. Although, many of the people I met were happy about the lack of intervention and foreign influence, I feel as though it was a demonstration of hollow nationalism, which seems to be waning day by day. “The country has hopes of providing quality education, provisions for widows and orphans, an economically-viable system and greater access to essential resources, most importantly of all, clean water. In addition to supporting existing projects, many of these hopes can be achieved through the support of our donors. “As aforementioned, I was very humbled by the experience and pray Allah continues to help us to help them.”
Hundreds believed killed in crackdown Up to a million people took to the streets of Dhaka to protest against the government’s crackdown on Islamists. The government responded by shutting down TV stations and sending in the tanks and army. In the ensuing violence, hundreds are believed to have been killed
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espite evidence that several hundred people were killed in the latest clashes between Islamists and the government, the BBC and other media are reporting that “27 people have been killed and dozens hurt”. Police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse a Sunday protest organised by the group Hefazat-e Islam in the capital Dhaka. But there were later running battles throughout Sunday and into Monday in areas across the city. Tens of thousands of Islamists had gathered in the city to call for stronger Islamic policies. Rioters went on to set fire to shops and vehicles. The dead in Dhaka included at least two policemen, according to officials. At least five people were reported killed in clashes in the south-eastern city of Chittagong and two in the coastal district of Bagerhat. Central Dhaka was reported to be calm following a day and night of violence. Police said a ban had been imposed on all rallies and protests in the city until midnight on Monday to prevent a repeat of the clashes. Thousands of Islamist activists were seen fleeing the Motijheel area of Dhaka on Sunday as police moved in to take control of the area. Having secured the business district by the early hours of Monday, the police said officers were searching for protesters hiding in nearby buildings. The area around the city centre’s largest mosque had turned into a battleground as police reacted to stone-throwing rioters with tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets and truncheons. Clashes also broke out in Kanchpur on the south-eastern outskirts of Dhaka. There were varying reports of the number of dead and injured, but police have confirmed that two officers and a member of the security forces were among the dead in Kanchpur. One witness who watched events unfold from a rooftop in central Dhaka said the demonstrators “were very aggressive, some people were throwing stones and the situation quickly
‘We don’t have any plan to [bring in a blasphemy law]. We don’t need it. They should know that existing laws are enough… this country is a secular democracy’ Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Profile of Hefazat-e Islam The Hefazat-e Islam is a tightly-knit coalition of a dozen or so Islamist organisations which have come together under one umbrella only in recent years. It has traditionally not sought power through elections, but looks to use its street muscle to change Bangladesh’s traditional secular culture and politics through the imposition of what it believes are proper Islamic ways. The organisations in the Hefazat coalition are based at more than 25,000 madrassas, or religious schools, across Bangladesh. Teachers at these madrassas belong to these organisations and all students are brought out en masse to participate in street rallies and marches. Hefazat burst onto the scene in February following the killing of young blogger Rajib Haider. The murdered blogger and his associates had launched the Shahbag campaign to demand the death penalty for a political leader convicted of war crimes committed in 1971. Haider and other bloggers were subsequently accused by Islamists of being atheists who had written comments derogatory of Islam and its Prophet. They served notice on the governing Awami League by gathering half a million supporters in Dhaka on 6 April, where the main slogan was “hang the atheist bloggers”. Since then Hefazat has launched a 13-point charter of demands. These include: l enactment of an anti-blasphemy law with provision for the death penalty l exemplary punishment to all bloggers and others who “insult Islam” l cancellation of the country’s women development policy l a ban on erecting sculptures in public places l a ban on mixing of men and women in public l a ban on candlelit vigils l ending what they call “shameless behaviour and dresses” l declaring the reformist Ahmadiyas as “non-Muslims”. The government of Sheikh Hasina has sought to treat Hefazat softly, and preferred to engage in negotiation. It sees Hefazat as less militant than the Jamaat-e-Islami, many of whose leaders are currently facing charges related to crimes against humanity committed in 1971. Hefazat also has theological disputes with Jamaat, although the latter has given all-out support to Hefazat in its current campaign. Hefazat’s detractors see its activities as little more than a cover of support for Jamaat’s often-violent campaign to derail the war crimes trials. Islamists say Hefazat is campaigning to “save Islam” in Bangladesh, but its opponents fear it will throw the country back into the dark ages. Some of the groups under the Hefazat banner played a key role in the mass demonstrations in 1994 which forced the feminist write Taslima Nasreen to seek asylum in Sweden. They have also been relentless in their campaign - so far unsuccessful - to have the Ahmadiyas (Islamic reformists) declared as “non-Muslims”, as has been the case in Pakistan.
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9 May 2013
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Features Sadequl Amin gives his personal view of the current fashion for atheist bloggers – particularly those in Bangladesh – to aim their attacks against Islam and Muslims
‘Attacks on Islam is nothing new’
T
hroughout history many biased historians, bigots, atheists and anti-Islam bloggers in the media even today, denigrate Islam and portray the character of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in a negative and insulting way. These negative comments could not be any farther from the truth. The nobility of his character and the truthfulness of his mission is plain for all to see, if one is prepared to face up to the facts with an open mind discarding all preconceived false ill notions. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was introduced in ‘The Quran Translated – Message for Humanity’ by International Committee for the Support of the Final Prophet (ICSF) as: “Muhammad was a Prophet chosen by God to be the recipient of a divine message. He was entrusted with the task of conveying this to the people around him, and through them, to all people throughout the world. As a Prophet and Messenger of God to His servants, Muhammad was not something new; he was merely the last in a long chain of Prophets and Messengers.” The exemplary life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the importance of his position in the hearts and minds of Muslims is precisely stated by Tariq Ramadan in his book ‘The Messenger – The Meanings of the Life of Muhammad’ as: “The Prophet Muhammad occupies a particular place in the life and conscience of Muslims today, just as he did in the past.” In this article a humble attempt is made to provide a brief highlight of the life of the Prophet and the standard of character depicted for Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) within the glorious Qur’an and the authentic Hadiths from books such as Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. There are numerous biographies of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) written by Muslims as well as non-Muslims, and are available for us to read. These biographies include classical sources such as ‘Sirat al-Rasulullah’ by Muhammad Ibn Ishaq, ‘Sirat un Nabi’ by Ibn Hisham, ‘Al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya’ by Ibn Kathir and contemporary biographies such as ‘Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum’ (The Sealed Nectar) by Safi-ur-Rehman Mubarakpuri, ‘Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet’ by Karen Armstrong and ‘The Messenger - The Meanings of the Life of Muhammad’ by Tariq Ramadan. In search for a brief description of the life and personality of the Prophet, I came across a dedicated section titled ‘A short sketch of the life and mission of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)’ in the book ‘Basic Knowledge of Islam’ by Muhammed Shamsul Haque. An abridged version of this short sketch where he wrote: “Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in the tribe of the Quraish, who were the descendants of Prophet Isma’il, the eldest son of prophet Ibrahim in Makkah the ancient and the central place of this earth. He was born in the year 570 CE. His father ‘Abdullah died before his birth and his mother Amina died when he was six years old. So as an orphan, he was brought up by his grandfather ‘Abdul Muttalib, the leader of the Quraish and the custodian of the Ka’ba, the House of Allah, which was built by prophet Ibrahim and prophet Isma’il (peace be upon them) about four thousand years ago. From an early age he took charge of the business of a well-to-do lady of Makkah named Khadija and at the age of twenty five married Khadija when she was forty years of age. Unlike other people he lived an honest and pious life and people called him Al-Amin and Al-Sadiq, meaning the trustworthy and the truthful one. Everybody revered and respected him. At the age of forty he was favoured with a revelation from Allah, at the place of his meditation, the Cave of Hira, where the
angel Jibrail came to him and entrusted him with the duty of Risalat (Prophethood) to guide the people of the right path. From that day on, and, in spite of many hardships, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) devoted the rest of his life to calling people to the path of Allah. He died in 632 AD at the age of 63. His call to the One and only Allah made the people of his own tribe and the people of Makkah turn against him and his followers. They oppressed and tortured the Muslims mercilessly and eventually the Prophet and his followers were forced to leave Makkah for Madina. But during this short span of time he expounded and established the loftiest character and ideal of life, especially during the last twenty three years of his life. In Madina the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) established and became the ruler of an Islamic Society and state. He moulded a way of life, established a civilisation and changed the culture of the world according to the teachings of Islam, which is the only code of life for mankind acceptable to Allah.” The glorious Qur’an, in many occasions mentions the standard of character of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by a beautiful pattern, a character most lofty, an honoured messenger, a convincing proof, a man of mercy, a judge and arbiter, truthful, forgiving and many more. The Qur’an refers to the exemplary character of the Prophet by a beautiful pattern in Surah Al-Ahzab as: “Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of Allah.” (Qur’an, 33:21) The Qur’an describes the great personality the Prophet in Surah Al-Qalam as: “And indeed you (O’ Muhammad), are on a character most lofty.” (Qur’an, 68:4) The Qur’an also refers to the noble quality of the Prophet as an honoured messenger in Surah Al-Haqqa as: “That this is verily the word of an honoured messenger.” (Qur’an, 69:40) The Prophet’s radiant personality as Burhan (Clear Proof) is mentioned in the Qur’an in Surah An-Nisaa as: “O mankind! Verily there hath come to you a convincing proof from your Lord: For We have sent unto you a light (that is) manifest.” (Qur’an, 4:174) The quality of the Prophet as a man of mercy was mentioned in Surah Al-Anbiyaa where the Qur’an says: “We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures.” (Qur’an, 21:107). And, it was also mentioned in Surah Al-Imran that: “It is part of the Mercy of Allah that thou dost deal gently with them Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (Their faults), and ask for (Allah’s) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of moment). Then, when thou hast taken a decision put thy trust in Allah. For Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).” (Qur’an, 3:159) In another occasion, the Qur’an declares the Prophet as a judge and arbiter in Surah An-Nisaa as: “But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.” (Qur’an, 4:65). And, it was also mentioned in surah An-Nur that: “The answer of the Believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that He may judge between them, is no other than this: they say, “We hear and we obey”: it is such as these that will attain felicity.” (Qur’an, 24:51) The truthfulness of the Prophet’s character was referred as Sadiq (Truthful) in Surah Al-Ahzab that: “When the Believers saw the Confederate forces, they said: “This is what Allah and his Messen-
ger had promised us, and Allah and His Messenger told us what was true.” And it only added to their faith and their zeal in obedience.” (Qur’an, 33:22). And, another of his great quality as forgiving is mentioned in Surah Al-A’raf as: “Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; But turn away from the ignorant.” (Qur’an, 7:199) There is a huge collection of hadith that exist relating to the ideal personality of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Here, a few of the hadith relating to the nobility of his character are selected from the hadith books. The Prophet (pbuh) was a living example of the Qur’an. A’ishah, the wife of the noble Prophet (pbuh), was asked about his character, and she replied: “His character was that of the Qur’an.” (Muslim) In a hadith relating to good manners, the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Indeed, I was only sent to complete the most noble character traits.” (Muslim). And, in another hadith regarding the manners of the prophet, Anas bin Malik said: “The Holy Prophet (pbuh) had the best manners among all the human beings.” (Bukhari and Muslim) In referring to mercy of the Prophet (pbuh), Abu Huraira said that the Prophet (pbuh) was asked to curse the infidels. He said: “I have not been sent to curse people but as a mercy to all mankind.” (Muslim) Muhammad (pbuh) is the only Messenger and man in the history of mankind whose entire life is fully preserved. In writing about this, in the introduction section of the ‘English transliteration of the Holy Qur’an’ by M A Haleem Eliasii where he wrote: “Muhammad is the one and the only Prophet, whose life can be studied in full details on the standard of history, none else has been so well known, so intimate with mankind and so congenial to humanity, it is so sure to know how to follow him in what matters.” Muhammad (pbuh), a perfect man, model and example for all mankind is eloquently expressed by Afzalur Rahman in his book ‘Muhammad – Blessing for Mankind’ and wrote: “Muhammad’s life is a perfect model and example for people to follow to attain goodness, piety and success in their individual as well as social life. People can seek light from his message and guidance from his life; the two are the eternal sources of guidance for men (and women) in their struggle to achieve perfection in the moral, spiritual and social areas of life. He has set very high noble ideals through his practical example for all mankind to follow in every field of life.” There are over one point five billion Muslims around the world who love and try their utmost best to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It is his entire life example as a Prophet and Messenger, and the divine Message and Guidance he brought for humanity, which as aptly stated by Tariq Ramadan; occupies a particular place in the life and conscience of Muslims today, just as he did in the past. Let this be an open invitation, to those atheists and anti-Islam bloggers, men, women and youths who are making blasphemous comments against Islam and its Prophet (pbuh), in different platforms; to open your mind and discard all preconceived false notions about Islam and its Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), take a step towards seeking light from his message and guidance from his life, and attain peace in your personal, family as well as social life, society, country and the world. [This article is prepared by researching from the Holy Qur’an translation by Yusuf Ali, Hadith books, Sirah books, books on Islam and internet by Sadequl Amin. Special thanks to M Amin for his help and support. E-mail: sadequlamin@ymail.com]