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Volume 21 Issue 564 - February 11, 2022 -Rajab 10,1443 H, $1
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from the Sunnah 03 Advice on Coping with Grief Matters, 08 Muslim popular articles
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Most
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16 Kashmir Solidarity Day
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Molana Naumani,Mr. Liaqat Bajwa & M.Shamim B.C. expanding vaccine mandate to remain Quebec City Mosque Massacre 5 years
army huddle 05 High-level briefed on on recent... WHO chief, Taliban ‘dire’ Afghan. How many candidates 06 could run for CP lsr....
05 discuss
Police issue warnings in effort to control Freedom Convoy protests Christy Somos
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olice in Ottawa and other parts of the country, impacted by ongoing protests and blockades, are warning participants of increased law enforcement efforts as the country heads into its second straight week of Freedom Convoy demonstrations.The Ottawa Police Service issued a notice to protesters on Wednesday, saying it may arrest those blocking streets in the downtown core and seize vehicles. Demonstrators have flooded the city’s downtown for nearly two weeks to protest vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions. In the border town of Coutts, Alta., where truck drivers and others have set up a blockade in
support of the Ottawa convoy, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was met with anger and chants of “Hell no, we won’t go” as officers attempted to persuade protesters to move elsewhere.Two blockades are in place — an original one immediately north of the border crossing and another near Milk River about 15 kilometres north of Coutts. Police are asking protesters at the second protest site to move to an area off the highway north of Milk River, citing safety concerns. Officers have started issuing tickets. “Really it’s going to be up to them,” RCMP Supt. Roberta McKale told reporters.“Up
To be Continued at page 4
Growing calls for Canada to end mandatory testing for travellers returning home
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aybe the rain is getting to you and you’re dreaming of a beach vacation. Perhaps you haven’t been able to visit family since the pandemic began. Whatever the reason, some Canadians are anxious to start travelling again. And with several provinces easing COVID-19 restrictions, there are growing calls for Ottawa to scrap mandatory testing requirements for Canadian travellers. Some of that advice is coming from doctors.“What are we trying to prevent with testing? Are we trying to prevent Omicron cases from coming into Canada? Well, there’s a lot
of Omicron that’s already in Canada,” said Zain Chagla, an infectious diseases doctor and associate professor at McMaster University. He also pointed out the widespread transmission of COVID-19 in Canada leads to another potential problem for would-be travellers. Chagla said in provinces like B.C. and Ontario, where access to COVID-19 testing is extremely limited, many who have become sick at home have no way to document their infection. That means they can’t get an exemption to travel testing requirements, but do face the risk of testing positive even after To be Continued at page 4
‘Reprehensible act’: Pakistan summons Indian envoy over hijab ban in Karnataka schools
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akistan on Wednesday deplored the “reprehensible act” of banning Muslim students from wearing hijab in the Indian state of Karnataka and summoned the Indian envoy to convey Islamabad’s concerns.Students at a government-run high school in the Indian state were told not to wear hijabs last month, an edict that soon spread to other educational institutions in the state. A hijab-clad student was
also heckled and jeered at by a mob of Hindutva supporters in Karnataka on Tuesday.In a statement issued today, the Foreign Office (FO) said that the Indian Charge d’Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was conveyed the government’s “grave concern and condemnation on the deeply reprehensible act” of banning Muslim students To be Continued at page10
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
Master Shamim Ahmad
BC Local Community loses key figures Maulana A. Latif Naumani, Master Shamim Ahmad, and Mr. Liaqat Ali Bajwa
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Rajab 10,1443 Febuary 11, 2021
f a i t h
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Learn the [laws of] inheritance and teach it to people for I will pass away soon. Knowledge will soon be taken away so much so that two people will argue regarding inheritance but will be unable to find someone to pass a verdict for them.” in Mustadrak Hakim
Advice from the Sunnah on Coping with Grief after the Loss of a Loved One like to include his photo Master Not By: Azam Bhatti t is with great sorrow the family of I “Master” Shamim Ahmad or as many Shamim knew him “abaji” have announced his passing on January 27th, 2022. As was Ahmad written by the BC Muslim Association
By:Umm Zaynab
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osing a loved one is one of the major trials of life many of us will encounter. Grief from that loss is a natural reaction that takes a different trajectory for different people. Some people describe grief as a dark fog that is difficult to shake, others speak of the suffocating regret and anxiety that often accompany those feelings, still others speak about grief as waves that rise up and subside at different points. “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, Who, when disaster strikes them, say,
“Master Shamim was a well-known pioneer of the Muslim community whose impact will carry on for generations to come. Master Shamim was originally from Delhi India, then migrated to Fiji before making Canada his home. He was the founder of the BC Muslim School in Richmond where he was also the principal, a teacher and bus driver among other deeds. In addition to being a long serving Khateeb at the West 8th Masjid in Vancouver, Master Shamim served and advocated for the aboriginal community in Mount Currie where he was the principal and a teacher at Ts’zil secondary school. Master Shamim continued his work after his retirement and founded the Muslim Education Welfare Foundation of Canada, Masjid Al-Huda and a printing press company that is dedicated to publishing Quran and Arabic books for adults and children (Arabic made easy for kids) as well as the islamization of secular curriculum for children from K-4. Beyond all that he did for both the Muslim and aboriginal communities he will be remembered for his unwavering commitment and devotion to his family. They were his inspiration and support for all his work and they will insha’allah continue his legacy. May Allah have mercy on his soul and grant him Jannah.
Late Liaqat Ali Bajwa
“Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” Those are the ones
upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the guided.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:155-157) Sometimes people expect to follow a particular timeline of grief, but the reality is that the journey of grief is different for everyone. Counsellors and bereavement supporters often speak about the five stages of grief that were popularized in the famous book On Death and Dying by psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross namely: denial (as you begin to come to terms with the reality of the situation, denial begins to fade and difficult feelings may begin to surface) anger/ anxiety (anger is the body’s natural reaction to threat and, oftentimes, there is no greater threat than the loss of someone you love or the loss of the way you envisioned life would be. Anger can also feel powerful during times when we feel powerless. You may experience nervousness, heart palpitations, restlessness, irritability, and/or difficulty breathing) bargaining (this stage often includes “If only…” statements due to the feelings of regret that come up with loss. This stage is characterized by an overwhelming desire for life to return to the way it was)depression (you might feel down and cry more often than you usually do. It may also feel like you have less motivation and find less enjoyment in activities you used to love. This stage can feel as though it’ll stretch on forever) and acceptance (it involves accepting the reality that this person is physically gone and that this new reality is the permanent reality. Acceptance does not mean that you’re “ok” with what happened. The loss of someone you love will likely never feel ok. The goal in this stage is to learn how to live with this loss and create a new normal despite the huge piece that is missing). However, recent research and understanding has concluded that grief can be an individualized and unpredictable experience and no two people’s experiences will be the same. Let us look at some advice in the Quran and Sunnah to help us cope with grief and the loss of a loved one: Shed tears as much as you want, but don’t let the tongue say what may displease Allah. Our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, experienced grief at many points of his life, often at the loss of loved ones. During these experiences he taught us
Cont. at Pg 16
By:Bilal Cheema August 10 1951 to February 6 2022 iaqat Ali Bajwa was born on August aby before settling in Surrey since the
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10 1951 in Malikwal Pakistan to father Late Ghulam Ali Bajwa and mother Late Shriffan Bibi Bajwa. Mr. Bajwa was second youngest of 8 children. Liaqat Ali Bajwa has 6 brothers, from oldest to youngest – Hafeez Ullah Bajwa, Late Najeeb Ullah Bajwa, Habib Ullah, Qamar Un-Nisa Cheema, Imtiaz Ali Bajwa, Mukhtar Ali Bajwa and Amjad Javed Bajwa. All siblings reside in the Lower Mainland with their respective families. The Bajwa/ Cheema families are one of the pioneer families among the Pakistani Diaspora of British Columbia.Mr. Liaqat Ali Bajwa was an ardent student, receiving his Bachelor of Education from Government College in Lyallpur before attaining his Law degree from the Law College of Punjab University. Mr. Bajwa was drawn to social causes from a young age. Always advocating for better student experiences and resources, he sought and won the Presidency of the Student Union when attending Government College. Following in the footsteps of his elder brothers and sister, Mr. Bajwa made the journey to Canada with his younger brother, Mr Amjad Javed Bajwa in December of 1977 on the invitation of his brother Habib Ullah Bajwa. At that time, Mr. Habib Ullah Bajwa was well established in the Vancouver area and helped the two younger brothers find shelter and work. He worked a variety of jobs and slowly adjusted in Vancouver. It wasn’t very long before Liaqat Ali Bajwa was integrated within the Pakistani and Muslim communities of Vancouver. Mr. Bajwa returned to Pakistan to marry Mrs. Samara Ajmal in December 1982. Over the next number of years they welcomed three boys of their own to this world – Ammar Ali Bajwa (1983), Affan Ali Bajwa (1986) and Zohaib Ali Bajwa (1989). The family lived in Vancouver and Burn-
early nineties. Mr. Liaqat Ali Bajwa was the single largest promoter of Pakistani culture and the arts through his efforts to bring Pakistani stage shows, singers and artists to Canada. He was always seeking out the top Pakistani artists to showcase across Canada. Through this work Mr. Bajwa became a household name within Pakistani and Indian communities across Canada. Showcasing Pakistani Talent and using the arts to bring people together was his passion. Mr. Bajwa worked with some of the most popular Pakistani artists of all time, including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Junoon, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Abrar Ul Haq to name a few. His first unique stage show in Canada was titled, “Paindu in Canada” starring Ali Ejaz, Sheba Hasan and Tariq Aziz. This show was very well received by the Pakistani Diaspora in Vancouver. Other Pakistani stars Mr. Bajwa toured through Canada included Malika Pukhraj, Tahira Syed, Sultan Rahi, Shoki Khan, Qavi Khan, Sohail Ahmed, Shujat Waseem, Naseebo Lal, Abida Parveen, Amjad Sabri, Massood Anwar and most recently Aftab Iqbal to name a few. Mr Bajwa was the founder and Executive Producer of the Sohni Dharti Pakistan show that was featured on Metro Vancouver’s Shaw and Rogers Multicultural Channels. He ensured a good mix of blended programming, something for Canadian born diaspora as well as those longing for news and information from back home. The show was aired weekly.
His goal was to keep a pulse on issues impacting and affecting the community. He remains the Executive Producer to this
day. The show is now made available worldwide and watched by hundreds of thousands through a variety of mediums.
Cont. at Pg 16
Molana Abdul Latif Naumani By: Naseer Pirzada
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aulana Abdul Latif Naumani was a well-known figure for community members from all walks of life. He passed away on January 28 and left his admirers and loved ones in mourning. He had been hospitalized since January 6th due to some health issues. During this time, the whole community was praying for his health and was hopeful that he would return home with all his heart and soul. However, Allah had other plans for him. He spent almost forty-four years of his life in religious and social services and then went to his last destination at the age of sixty-two. Maulana Naumani was from Gojra District, Faisalabad, Pakistan. At the age of seventeen, he moved to Fiji. He continued to perform the duties of Khatib and Imam there for many years. He participated in the construction of a Jameah Mosque in Lautoka, Fiji. The people of Fiji still remember his great services of many years. Many of his students are now performing religious services all over the world and they all have a great respect for Maulana Naumani as well as great devotion to him. Such respect and devotion are bestowed on only few people. Maulana Sahib visited British Columbia Vancouver in 1995 and opened Ayesha Islamic Center at Main Street, Vancouver, and then soon shifted his center to Surrey. He founded the Fiji Islamic Center with a few friends in Surrey. Until the last moment, he continued to perform the duties of Imam and Khatib as well as teaching Nazra Qur’an and Quran memorization. Besides being a dynamic scholar, Khatib and Imam, he was a great social worker. He led the way in raising funds for every occasion. If there was fundraising for the mosques, he would have been the first to invite and encourage everyone by contributing his share first. Recently he raised 500, 000 Canadian Dollars for the construction of Masjid Aulia Allah Surrey. Earlier, he was prominent at fundraising events for Noor Masjid, Fiji Centre and others. Whether it was the opening of a restaurant or store, any personal event, Maulana Naumani accepted invitations to make dua. Maulana would not deny any happy occasion and would take time out of his busy schedule to spend time there. It was his greatness to take care of everyone and do it cheerfully. The Miracle family has lost one of its pillars and great support. He has been a member of Miracle’s editorial board for 18 years. Whenever there was an issue, he would give his expert opinion. No words can describe his larger-than-life personality and his contributions to the community. A true religious scholar, a conscientious social worker and everyone’s beloved friend has passed away. May Allah forgive him and grant him the highest place in Jannah. Ameen
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E D IT O R A L
South Asian domestic abuse victims have a tendency to underreport.
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omestic violence typically translates as aggressive or abusive behavior within the home, usually involving the abuse of a spouse or partner. In many cases, it’s about control and power in a dynamic and can affect atone of any race, gender, or religion. Although domestic violence is a choice made by the abuser, underlying factors may also contribute to the matter such as childhood trauma, holding certain beliefs about hierarchy systems, or witnessing domestic violence as a child. Specifically in south Asian and Muslim homes, culture plays a large role in the cause of domestic abuse. South Asian culture and Muslim religion tends to stick to traditional values surrounding gender roles, the idea of a patriarch, and a tight knit and strong family unit which can be contrasted with western culture which values individ-
ualism and sexual equality. When talking about religion and culture, it’s important to separate the two because Islam is open to women being career-driven and many other ideologies western culture values. But regardless, many of these ideas seem foreign to south Asian culture. In South Asian homes, domestic violence can appear in psychological, social, physical, secular, and even financial forms. The most common interpretation of domestic violence can range from gaslighting to emotional manipulation but always takes on a tone of guilting the other spouse in an effort to control them. In many cases, it’s unintentional, learned behavior but that doesn’t change its statis as abuse. In all of its forms, domestic violence represents an unhealthy control on the part of the abuser. Unfortunately, because of
societal and cultural expectations, South Asian domestic abuse victims have a tendency to underreport. According to Canadian statistics, 29% of women belonging to a visible minority group reported experienced some kind of psychological, physical, or sexual violence committed by an intimate partner in their lifetime, starting at the age of 15. These statistics are only those who reported their experiences, only those women who were aware of what was happening to them and realized it wasn’t normal. The best way to minimize the occurrences of situations like these is to prevent them beforehand, through social and cultural change across the community. Discouraging conversation about harmful attitudes towards family, and challenging the condoning of violence within the family is a simple way
to play your part in repudiating ideas of domestic violence. Similarly, intervention is important. Matters like these are not private affairs, if someone is being affected by family violence it is important to identify and support victims and help them get out of a harmful situation. When called to an incident of domestic violence and abuse, the RCMP are responsible for restoring order, protecting victims, and investigating and gathering evidence. This may involve the arrest of the abuser but in many cases both the victim and the abuser are provided with programs and care for them both to get through the experience. For the victim, overcoming the trauma is important, and for the abuser it is necessary that something like this never happens again. Laysa Lil Insana illa ma’ sa’aa That man can have nothing but what he strives for.
Police issue warnings in effort to control Freedom Convoy protests
News Cont from Pg 1
until this point it’s been us asking them and this afternoon we don’t have an option, we’re going to have to use our enforcement options to have that happen.” Another blockade on the Canadian side of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., which connects
Canada to the U.S. through Detroit, began on Monday. The continued blockade on the bridge, the busiest international border crossing in North America, has prompted the City of Windsor and local police service to request provincial and federal assistance. “We are striving to resolve this is-
sue safely and peacefully,” Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said, while adding, “make no mistake, our community will not tolerate this level of disruption for long.” In a statement on Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford said he spoke to Dilkens, as well as Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley, and called for the
“ongoing illegal occupation and blockade” to stop. “The Ambassador Bridge is one of the most vital trade corridors in our country,” he said.“The damage this is causing to our economy, to people’s jobs and their livelihoods is totally unacceptable. We cannot let this continue.” Source: ctvnews.ca
Growing calls for Canada to end mandatory testing for travellers returning home Cont. from Pg 1
they are no longer infected. “We know that PCRs can remain positive for some individuals for three to six months,” the doctor said. “They have to treat themselves as infectious, they have to
cancel their flights, they have to isolate in a foreign country,” he said.Chagla says border testing is also believed to be costing the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars. “If we’re not preventing much from coming in and we’re just
Inna Lillaahi wa Inna Ilayhi Rajioun. Assalaamu Alaykum, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. he BCMA announces with great sorrow the passing of brother
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“Master” Shamim Ahmad.
He was a well-known pioneer of the Muslim community whose impact will carry on for generations to come. He was originally from Delhi India, then migrated to Fiji before making Canada his home. He was one of the founders of the BC Muslim School in Richmond where he was the first principal as well as a teacher and bus driver among other deeds. In addition to being a long serving Khateeb at the West 8th Masjid in Vancouver, Master Shamim founded
causing harms to people, the purpose for this type of testing is really in question,” he said. When CTV News asked federal officials when health measures might be rolled-back, the Public Health Agency of Canada responded in an email saying the
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he death of highly honourable scholar Molana Abdul Latif Naumani has gripped the Canadians with a deep embrace of shock. As the community grieve, people thank Almighty for the memorable years he gave to this beloved purveyor of kindness and humility. His death gives us cause to ponder how he touched our lives. All walks of life people pay tribute to his immense and unique contribution to peace and justice and his emphasis on the dignity and worth of every individual from Muhammad Asad Gondal conception to the grave, President He was a founding father of Surrey The BC Muslim Association (BCMA) Fiji Islamic centre from where he imparted knowledge not just reli-
the Mount Currie Indian Reserve School, the Muslim Education Welfare of Canada, Masjid Al-Huda and a printing press company that published Quran and Arabic books for adults and kids (Arabic made easy for kids). Master Shamim has left a lasting legacy and footprint in the community. Our heartfelt condolences and dua to the family and friends. May Allah accept his deeds, forgive him and grant him Jannatal Firdous. Ameen. Yours in Islam,
federal government “continuously assesses the latest available evidence and monitor the situation to determine when to ease or adjust border measures accordingly.” Source:bc.ctvnews.ca
giously, but socially and morally. He had the uncanny knack of guiding the direction and inspiring and fulfilling youth aspiration. With his child-like curiosity, simplicity and optimism, no other public figure endeared himself to all sections of community like Abdul Lateef Naumani. His relentless service to community over the past 44 years will be remembered by many generations to come. Entire Surrey community are devastated to lose our national symbol of truth, love and hope. The brilliant and sparkling light that illuminated our Canadian community and our global landscape amid darkness and chaos has gone out. Beloved Naumani was one of a kind everyone will miss him. May Almighty forgive him, grant him lofty status in Jannatu-Firdos and give sabre Jameel to his family. (Aamin) By: Hanif A. Patel, Surrey
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Contents
Pak/Can. News Ediorial/Opinion Faith
5 4 3 Int.News /M.East 6 Locals 7, Politics 8 Sports 14 Health 10 Women 15 Youth 15 Pakistan/ 16 Urdu 17-24
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c a n a d a / P A K I S TA N
How many candidates could run for Conservative leader? Depends on timing and rules
High-level army huddle briefed on recent incidents in Balochistan
OTTAWA -- One candidate has decided to join the nascent Conservative leadership race so far and the timing and rules will help determine how many others will end up on the ballot. Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre announced his intention Saturday to replace Erin O’Toole, who was forced out of his job as leader last week by his fellow members of Parliament.The declaration came before the party’s national council appointed a leadership election organizing committee, which is tasked with setting the fee amounts and signature requirements that candidates must meet to enter the race.. Rob Batherson, the party president, said the first thing to figure out is the length of the race. “My own view is we have to strike a balance,” he said in a recent interview. “What’s the timing that strikes that balance between getting a new leader in place in an uncertain minority government environment, while giving candidates and members a fair chance to participate in the democratic process?” The party last searched for a new leader in 2020, after Saskatchewan MP An-
drew Scheer announced in December 2019 that he would stay in the job only until a new leader was chosen. The race began the next month and was supposed to end by June, but the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in March saw the vote pushed back to midAugust 2020. When it comes to timing, the party is talking about a matter of months. Batherson said he is confident that a permanent leader will be in place by the end of the year.Shakir Chambers, a political strategist who helped Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives win Ontario’s 2018 provincial election, said a federal election .. Source: ctvnews.ca
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa presided over the 247th Corps Commanders’ Conference at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, where a comprehensive briefing on the security situation in the country, particularly the recent terror attacks in Balochistan, was given. Gen Bajwa expressed satisfaction over the operational preparedness of the army’s formations and safeguards in place for the defence of the country, a statement by the military’s media wing said. According to Inter-Services Public Relations, the army’s top brass paid tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the defence of the country while “valiantly repulsing recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan &
inflicting heavy losses on them”. Terrorists had attempted to attack security forces’ camps in Balochistan’s Panjgur and Naushki in two separate attacks last week. The attacks had been “successfully repulsed” and 20 terrorists were killed in a clearance operation, the military’s media wing had said at the time. During the high-level meeting today, the participants were apprised of measures being employed to counter “hostile efforts to destabilise Pakistan”. “We have come a long way in our fight against terrorism. Armed forces, with the support of the nation, have conducted successful operations against terrorists of all hues and colours,” the army chief told the participants. Gen Bajwa said desperate attempts by terrorists for their revival won’t be allowed to succeed.“We will eliminate all remnants of terrorists, their abettors & accomplices whatever is the cost,” the COAS emphasised. He directed all formations of the armed forces to concentrate on maintaining high standards of basic military training to ensure effective execution of operations in their respective domains. Source: dawn.com
It’s easy and popular for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to demonize a vaccine protest when it comes from a mob of horn-blaring barbarians at the parliamentary gate. But when the pushback against his incendiary ‘fringe’ label for this raging rebellion of the unvaccinated erupts inside his tightly muzzled caucus, it’s time to put down the matches and let cooler minds prevail in the Prime Minister’s Office. MP Joel Lightbound, a calm, credible, thoughtful third-term Liberal from Quebec, gave Trudeau a massive political migraine Tuesday when he declared he was speaking for many timid Liberals who believe it’s time to heal a vaccine mandates rift which has divided families, traumatized school children
and stranded travellers. Lightbound looked beyond the swastikas and Confederate flags of the occupation to see truckers fronting for real people who are struggling to cope with vaccine demands and excessive restrictions. So he bravely (and crazily) spoke out against Trudeau’s politics of vaccination division and stigmatization Tuesday at considerable risk to his future in caucus and certain death to any cabinet aspirations. But Trudeau was hearing none of it as he faced his first Question Period this week. When Lightbound’s devastating observations were thrown at him, Trudeau delivered the same alphabet soup of scripted lines he’s been reciting for two years with no hint he would reconsider any softening of any positions. Now, just to be clear, there’s no point in governments talking to Freedom Convoy leadership with their bizarre plan to overthrow this democracy and replace it with unelected leaders rejecting all COVIDcontrol mandates. This is meant as a statement of fact, not an insult to convoy leaders and their seditious mandate manifesto, but they’re out of their collective minds and have forfeited any right to adult negotiation. Source:ctvnews.ca
. LAHORE: Pakistan should not be limited to taking measures related to tax alone, but it should also find other ways to enhance the competitiveness of the economy, said IMF’s Resident Representative Ms Esther Perez Ruiz. Speaking to the office-bearers of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday, she said the purpose of the IMF programme is to promote macroeconomic stability and the country’s fiscal and monetary policies must promote the former’s vision in this regard. She said the IMF programme’s aim is to bring a set of policies that could promote sustainable and inclusive growth. She maintained that since the country’s taxto-GDP ratio is very low, the purpose of eliminating sales tax exemptions to the industry through the recent finance bill is to reduce the complexity in the taxation system. “We want Pakistan to attain a long-lasting and durable growth. And for this there is need to first endeavour to implement the macroeconomic policies, leading to the country’s economic development,” she said. “However, we will remain open to hear remarks, observations and concerns [on the
IMF programme] from your end,” Ms Ruiz said.Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Mian Nauman Kabir said the chamber is quite sensitive about the impact of Pakistan’s ongoing 22nd IMF programme on the national economy and particularly on the private sector growth. “We will, however, witness the successful completion of this programme as well just like the 21st programme,” he added.He termed the interaction with the IMF team better understanding of IMF policies and also know about the major success stories related to such programmes adopted by other countries...Source: dawn.com
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday disqualified PTI Senator Faisal Vawda as a lawmaker over alleged concealment of his dual nationality at the time of contesting the National Assembly election on a Karachi seat in the 2018 general elections. The ECP also directed Vawda to return within two months the salary and other benefits he had received as a minister and parliamentarian. It also withdrew the notification declaring Vawda’s victory on a Senate seat in polls held last year. The vote Vawda had cast in the Senate polls held on March 10 as a member of the National Assembly was also “invalid”, according to the short order announced by the chief election commissioner. The ECP said Vawda had submitted a “false affidavit” with his nomination papers. The ECP had reserved its judgement on petitions seeking Vawda’s disqualification on Dec
23 last year. The ECP bench had during the last hearing given Vawda the last chance to defend himself and explain his position. Dual nationality The News reported in January 2020 that Vawda was a dual national at the time of filing his nomination papers to the ECP to contest the 2018 general elections. Vawda submitted his nomination papers on June 11, 2018, which were approved by the election body a week later on June 18, the report said. However, the PTI MNA applied for the renunciation of his nationality with the US consulate at Karachi four days after the fact on June 22, 2018, the report revealed. Qadir Khan Mandokhel, Mian Faisal and Mian Asif Mehmood subsequently filed petitions in the ECP on January 21, 2020, seeking Vawda’s disqualification. A citizen, Dost Ali, also filed a similar petition in 2020 challenging Vawda’s election as a member of the National Assembly. The petition stated that when Vawda filed his nomination papers for contesting elections, he held dual nationality as he was a US citizen as well. A petition was also submitted to the Islamabad High Court seeking Vawda’s disqualification. The court had directed the PTI leader to submit a reply.........Source: dawn.com
With the protest moving inside Trudeau’s IMF wants Pakistan to ‘do caucus, it’s time for a restrictions rethink more’ than just levying taxes
Ambassador Bridge blockades will have ‘lasting effect’ on supply chain, experts say
A slew of consumer goods and time-critical supplies will be disrupted by even shortterm blockades at the Ambassador Bridge, experts say, as the protests in solidarity with the so-called “Freedom Convoy” stretch into a third day. Traffic delays continue Wednesday at the bridge connecting Windsor, Ont., to Detroit, Mich., as 50 to 70 vehicles are blocking off parts of the busy border crossing, though traffic into Canada from the U.S. resumed Tuesday. Protests are also ongoing at the Coutts, Alta., border crossing and on
highways surrounding Canada-U.S. border crossings in Ontario, as well as in downtown Ottawa. The Ambassador Bridge is a critical trade link for Canada and the U.S. It’s the busiest land border crossing in North America with up to 10,000 trucks travelling across the bridge daily, representing a quarter of all commercial trade between the countries, according to Fraser Johnson, professor of operations management at the Ivey Business School. Daily, the Ambassador Bridge is responsible for $350 million to $400 million worth of goods, he says. With such a significant volume of goods relying on the bridge, the impacts of a shutdown would be felt in every aspect of the economy, Johnson says. That includes fresh produce grown in states such as California, which becomes increasingly critical in Canada’s cold winter months. Electronic and other consumer goods would also face delays. “Everything that we touch as consumers would be affected,” he says. Source:ctvnews.ca
ECP disqualifies PTI’s Faisal Vawda in dual nationality case
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Ford, Toyota halt some output amid Israeli soldiers open fire at car in Nablus killing Palestinians Canadian trucker protests Anti-vaccine mandate protests in Ottawa have been causing gridlock in the Canadian capital since late January. Ford and Toyota on Wednesday said they were halting some production as anti-coronavirus mandate protesters blocked United States-Canada border crossings, which have prompted warnings from Washington and Ottawa of economic damage. Many pandemic-weary western countries will soon mark two years of restrictions as copycat protests spread to Australia, New Zealand and France, amid decreasing cases of the highly infectious Omicron variant in some places Some carmakers have now been affected by the disruption near Detroit, the historic heart of the US automotive sector. But there were other factors too, such as severe weather and a shortage of semiconductor chips. Toyota, the top US seller, said it is not expected to produce vehicles at its Ontario sites for the rest of the week. Output has been halted at a Ford engine
plant and Chrysler-maker Stellantis has had its production disrupted. Another border crossing in the province of Alberta has been closed in both directions since late Tuesday. More than two-thirds of the 650 billion Canadian dollars ($511bn) in goods traded annually between Canada and the US is transported by road. The “Freedom Convoy” occupying downtown Ottawa was started by protesters opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border truckers and was mirrored in the US. Protesters in Canada are now also airing grievances about a carbon tax and other legislation. Source: aljazera.com
WHO chief, Taliban discuss ‘dire’ Afghan health crisis The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday he had met with the Taliban’s health minister for talks on the “dire” health and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed that he met Qalander Ebad for talks on Tuesday. Ebad is part of a Taliban delegation visiting Geneva for a week of talks with institutions and non-governmental agencies on humanitarian access and human rights, as Afghanistan’s new rulers expand their international engagement. The hardline Taliban movement returned to power in Kabul in mid-August as the United States ended its 20-year war in Afghanistan. Since then, Afghanistan has plunged into financial chaos, with inflation and unemployment surging, while the halting of aid has triggered a humanitarian crisis in a country already devastated by decades of war. Tedros had already met Ebad during his visit to Kabul in September 2021 in the wake of the Taliban takeover. “Despite some improvements since then, the health situation in Afghanistan is still dire
and the acute humanitarian crisis is continuing to put lives at risk,” said Tedros. He said they discussed health needs in the country, strengthening the system, emergency preparedness and training the health workforce, to which women are central. “The acute need in Afghanistan is to deliver diagnostics to detect the Covid-19 virus, and in particular Omicron, as the number of cases is on the rise,” Tedros said. The Taliban delegation is in Switzerland at the invite of Geneva Call, which works to protect civilians during conflict. Source: aljazera.com
LONDON -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday that laws requiring people in England with COVID-19 to self-isolate could be lifted by the end of the month, bringing an end to all domestic coronavirus restrictions.“Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions --- including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive --- a full month early,” Johnson told Parliament. People who test positive now have to isolate for five full days. That rule is to expire on March 24. Johnson added he plans to present his plan for living with the virus when Parliament returns from a
short break on Feb. 21. Johnson’s Conservative government dropped most remaining COVID-19 restrictions last month. Face masks are no longer mandatory anywhere in England, except on London’s public transport network. Virus passports for gaining entry to nightclubs and largescale events were scrapped, as was the official advice to work from home. Officials have said the government plans to switch from legal restrictions to advisory measures and treat the coronavirus more like the flu as it becomes endemic in the country. The U.K. has seen a drop in both new infections and COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals since early January, when the highly transmissible omicron variant drove daily caseloads to more than 200,000 a day. Current infections average at around 64,000 daily -- the lowest recorded since mid-December -- with 314 deaths reported on Tuesday. Officials have credited the government’s booster jab program with preventing the surge of omicron cases from causing serious stress to U.K. hospitals. In Britain, 65.4% of those 12 and over have had a booster vaccine, and 84.5% have been fully vaccinated. .....Source: ctvnews.ca
U.K. PM Boris Johnson signals early end to COVID-19 isolation rules
Palestinian Authority condemns the assassination of three Palestinians in occupied West Bank calling it a ‘heinous crime’. Israeli security forces have killed three Palestinians in the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Tuesday, drawing condemnation from Palestinian Authority (PA). “Three citizens were martyred as a result of direct shooting by Israeli forces in the city of Nablus,” the ministry said in a statement. It identified the victims as Ashraf Mubaslat, Adham Mabrouka, and Mohammad Dakhil, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency.“An eyewitness we spoke to said the [Israeli] army … fired at the car that the three Palestinians were using. She said that
for more than a minute she kept hearing gunshots being fired,” Al Jazeera’s Rania Zabaneh, reporting from Nablus, said. “When we got to the location, the car was being towed away, it was totally riddled with bullets. At the hospital where the bodies were taken the doctors said they had a hard time recognising the victims because of the gunshots.“The Israeli defence minister commended the army for doing this operation,” she said.Witnesses told Anadolu Agency that the icident involved a member of Israel’s special forces in a civilian vehicle storming the city’s al-Makhfieh neighbourhood, and opening fire at the car. The PA’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for an international investigation into the killings while the PA cabinet described it as a “heinous crime”. The foreign ministry held the Israeli government and Prime Minister Neftali Bennett “fully and directly responsible for this crime”. “The silence of the international community to Israeli violations and crimes provides a cover to these criminal acts and encourages the Israeli occupier to continue in its open warfare against the Palestinians,” it said in a statement... Source: aljazera.com
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him in their marathon talks a day earlier that Moscow would not further escalate the Ukraine crisis. Macron’s remarks on a visit to Kyiv on Tuesday came as the Kremlin denied that he and Putin struck a deal on de-escalating the crisis. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “in the current situation, Moscow and Paris can’t be reaching any deals”. Macron met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid mounting fears of a Russian invasion. Moscow has massed tens of thousands of troops and military hardware near the border with Ukraine, but insists it has no plans to attack its neighbour. The Kremlin wants guarantees from Western powers that NATO will not accept Ukraine and other former Soviet nations as members, and that the organisation will halt weapon
deployments and roll back its forces from eastern Europe — demands the US and NATO reject as nonstarters. Macron said he believed steps can be taken to de-escalate the crisis and called on all sides to stay calm. Both Putin and Zelenskyy had told him they were committed to the principles of a 2014 peace agreement, he said, adding that this deal, known as the Minsk accords, offered a path to resolving their continuing disputes. ..Source: aljazera.com
Macron says Putin told him Russia won’t escalate Ukraine crisis
Israel hits Syrian targets after antiaircraft missile fire
ERUSALEM -- A Syrian soldier was killed and five others were wounded in an Israeli attack near the capital Damascus, Syrian state media said. The Israeli military said it attacked targets in Syria shortly after an antiaircraft missile was fired from the Arab country into northern Israel early Wednesday. Israel said the Syrian rocket exploded in the air and was not intercepted by Israeli air defences, but it activated warning sirens in northern Israel. There were no reports of injuries or damage there. ian facilities used in targeting Israeli aircraft, In a rare statement acknowledging attacks in- including a radar and anti-aircraft batteries. side Syria, the Israeli army said it struck Syr- Source: aljazera.com
Turkey opens new dispute over sovereignty of east Aegean islands
Athens, Greece – As NATO confronts Russia over security in Europe, renewed tension between Greece and Turkey is gnawing at the alliance’s eastern heel. In letters sent to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last July and September, Turkey for the first time disputed Greece’s sovereignty over its east Aegean islands, “over which sovereignty was ceded to Greece on
the specific and strict condition that they be kept demilitarised,” in the words of Turkey’s permanent representative, Feridun Sinirlioglu. Greece absorbed the islands of Limnos, Samothrace, Lesvos, Samos, Chios and Ikaria from the Ottoman Empire in the Balkan Wars of 1912-13. It was officially awarded sovereignty over them in the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923. Another treaty drawn up in London in 1914 had made Greek possession of the islands conditional on their demilitarisation. Turkey says that since the Lausanne Treaty makes reference to the 1914 treaty, it implies the same conditionality. Greece rejects that interpretation.....Source:aljazera.com
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Quebec City Mosque Massacre 5 Years Later: Hate Has No Borders kilometers south of Jerusalem, and murBy;Samana Siddiqui
Growing up in multicultural and cosmopolitan Montreal, the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec, I was raised in diverse neighborhoods all of my life. I had also experienced snippets of racism as a dark-skinned, Hijab-wearing Musilm at times. But that was all they were - snippets. It was part of the reality of being a minority - religious and cultural - not just in Quebec, but essentially anywhere in the world. I was aware that, while the majority tolerated my presence most of the time, underneath the surface, that tolerance would wear thin during times of stress, war, or other challenges. At best, it would result in individual instances of ignorance. And nothing more. But I questioned that reassurance when I walked into the inaugural dinner of the Muslim Students’ Association at Montreal’s Marianopolis College on Friday February 25, 1994. It was Ramadan, and the dinner was also an Iftar (fast-breaking) event. The atmosphere was nonetheless festive, with the usual rounds of great food, non-alcoholic drink, and picture-taking (pre-digital phone era). It was, after all, a historic moment for the Muslim students. But as we ate, my friends and I couldn’t help but talk about the horrific events of that morning overseas. An American-Israeli settler, Baruch Goldstein, had stormed into the Al-Khalil mosque in Hebron, 30
dered 29 Muslims as they prayed, wounding 125. It made me wonder if that could ever happen in my city, my province, my country. I could never imagine my father going to the Masjid for Taraweeh in Ramadan and being attacked in such a manner, never to come home. We were far away from what the news business routinely described as a “hot spot” - the Middle East. Surely, it could never happen here in multicultural Montreal, in stable and peaceful Quebec, Canada. Could it? Twenty-three years later, the answer was a shocking yes. This time, the killer’s name was Alexandre Bissonnette. The massacre was in no traditionally media-designated “hot spot”. It was in Quebec City. On January 29, 2017, Bissonnette, fed and fueled by Islamophobia he had followed for years online by right-wing pundits in Canada and the United States, walked into the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, and murdered six Muslim worshippers right after they had finished evening prayers. Nineteen others were injured. Saturday marks the fifth anniversary of that day. Last year, the Canadian government announced that January 29 will be a national day of remembrance to honor the victims of the mosque massacre, and express solidarity with the survivors. It will also be an occasion to promote action against Islamophobia. This is thanks to the
diligent efforts of Canadian Muslim activists and their supporters, who worked hard to ensure that this horror is never forgotten, and that we learn from it. I am grateful for this. But I am also saddened that it took a mosque massacre in the province I was born and raised in, the place where I always felt safe and secure as a Muslim, to teach us that such violent bigotry is not the preserve of any specific place, people, or time. We are not any less susceptible to being its victims or its perpetrators. We are not too “advanced” on a civilizational level to succumb to such barbarism. Baruch Goldstein was radicalized by the extremist Jewish settler movement, with their vicious and violent hate toward non-Jews that justifies all kinds of horrific human rights violations in the service of their occupation. After years of propaganda and hate, Goldstein pulled the trigger. Alexandre Bissionnette was similarly
radicalized to despise Muslims in an echo chamber of hate, only his trajectory to violence was shorter. But the timeline matters little. The bottom line is that every one of us is vulnerable to the harbingers of hate. With the presence of the internet, something that was absent when Goldstein committed mass murder, anyone, anywhere in the world with online access can fall deeply into radicalization. How far will we let these forces go to whip up frenzy that kills? We have seen this happen barely 30 years ago, in Rwanda and Bosnia, before social media made hate much more mainstream. In those genocides, it was radio that was the medium, not the internet. But the hatred was the same. And so was the outcome. Will we allow it to consume and destroy us? Or will we take the steps necessary to stop it now before it spirals to its inevitable conclusion? Source:soundvision.com
January 29th marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia. On this day in 2017, six worshippers lost their lives, and nineteen suffered severe injuries from the terror attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City. Today we honor and remember Ibrahima Barry, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi,
Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzedine Soufiane, and Aboubaker Thabti. Today we come together as Canadians from all plains of this country to take a moment and mourn this loss caused by a senseless act of hate, because no matter what part of Canada we come from, the mountain ranges or the busy cityscapes, we can ALL stand to and renew our commitment to combating Islamophobia, radicalization, and hatred. The Muslim family murdered by a bigoted driver in London, Ontario on June 6, 2021, the victims of the terror attack on the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City; these are the people we need to renew our commitment for. The loved ones left behind to mourn the loss of these victims are the people we need to renew our commitment for. The vulnerable Muslim youth that doubts their faith based on their safety are the people we need to renew our commitment
for. The people who will end up victims to more senseless acts of hate tomorrow are the people we need to renew our commitment for. No meaningful change can be achieved until we work together as a society to ensure tolerance and equality and the elimination of Islamophobia in our communities. Human Concern International stands in solidarity with the victims’ families, the survivors, the Muslim community, and all Canadians on this day, but remembering and commemorating them is not enough. Islamophobia is a daily reality for the Muslim community. It is up to us all to stand up and strive towards a truly inclusive society where no family has to experience these tragedies again, where no community has to fear these tragedies again. Let today be a day to take stock of what we have learned and done in the fight against
Islamophobia. Let today be a day to remind us that changes must be embraced at the very foundation of our country. There is an obligation on the part of the Government of Canada to establish legislation and policy to combat all kinds of Islamophobia, including systemic Islamophobia inside government institutions. Justice and Equality and Dignity and Love are two of Human Concern International’s core values in our recently released fiveyear strategic plan that have been inspired by our resolve to fight injustice and inequality. We want to do our part, but we need everyone to do theirs. Let us all work together to ensure that Islamophobia has no place in our future. Mahmuda Khan Executive Director” Source: mail.google.com
VICTORIA (January 29, 2022) – Interim Leader of the Official Opposition Shirley Bond and MLA Teresa Wat, BC Liberal Critic for Tourism, Arts, Culture and AntiRacism Initiatives, released the following joint statement today on the anniversary of the attack on a Quebec City Mosque: “Today marks half a decade since the devastating attack on a Quebec City Mosque that left six people dead long with many other worshippers injured. “Five years later, we pause to remember the innocent victims of this senseless violence
and share the grief of those who lost a loved one on that heartbreaking day. “It has also been less than a year since the unprovoked attack that killed four members of the Afzaal family in London, Ontario. “These crimes, driven by hatred and intolerance, are painful reminders of the need for all of us to speak up and condemn Islamophobia and racism while taking action to create a more equitable and inclusive province for all. “We must also reflect on the unity that Canadians demonstrated following both the
shooting in Quebec, and the attack last year in Ontario. People from coast to coast to coast came together to express their sympathies and to demonstrate their support for Canada’s Muslim communities. “Today, on behalf of the BC Liberal Caucus, we re-affirm our commitment to fighting discrimination and working together to build a British Columbia without the hatred and bigotry that drive such horrific attacks.” By: Andrew Reeve Media Relations Lead & Communications Manager, BC Liberal Caucus
The B.C. government will be expanding its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to all remaining health-care workers next month, fulfilling plans that were previously announced back in the fall. The new mandate will apply to family doctors, dentists and all other regulated health professionals who work in private practices, and is scheduled to take effect on March 24.Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the government has
been working with the various professional colleges for months to “sort through the details,” and is ready to move forward in the coming weeks.“This is a really important measure that brings the same standard to all health-care workers across the province,” Henry said. She did not address the ongoing convoys and protests that have been organized in opposition to vaccine passports and mandates. One such gathering has
National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia
BC Liberal statement on the anniversary of the Quebec City Mosque attack
B.C. expanding vaccine mandate to remaining health-care workers in March been set up near the Pacific Highway Border Crossing in Surrey since last weekend, and members have said they plan to remain there until all pandemic-related restrictions are lifted.B.C.’s health-care worker vaccine mandate began with employees of long-term care homes, and was expanded in October to include anyone who works or volunteers in hospitals and community care settings. Source: bc.ctvnews.ca
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Conservative MP tables legislation to help parents Jagmeet Singh calls on Justin Trudeau to show and grandparents visit their families in Canada federal leadership on the convoy crisis
Ottawa, ON — Today, Kyle Seeback, Member of Parliament for Dufferin—Caledon introduced Bill C-242 entitled, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (temporary resident visas for parents and grandparents). Conservatives recognize the importance of family, and the challenges families face when applying to make long term visits to Canadians and permanent residents from abroad. Bill C-242 addresses some of these challeng-
es by simplifying and extending the temporary residency program for the parents and grandchildren of Canadians and permanent residents. This new legislation will help by making visa requirements around health care insurance simpler and more accessible. It will also more than double the length of temporary residency to five years for the parents and grandparents of Canadians and permanent residents. Bill C-242 will also require the government to reduce the minimum income requirement that a child or grandchild of a foreign national must meet in order to qualify for an extended visit. “This compassionate legislation is a commonsense change that will unite more Canadians and residents with their parents and grandparents,” said Seeback. “Conservatives will always stand with families. Bill C-242 will help unite many Canadians and residents with their loved ones from abroad.” Office of Kyle Seeback, M.P. Source: mail.google.com
MuslimMatters’ Most Popular Articles For Black History Month
Canadians are facing a national crisis, they need national leadership now OTTAWA — Today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to show leadership and to work on a plan to put an end to the convoy crisis that is terrorizing neighborhoods across the country. The people of Ottawa, especially those living in the downtown core, have been under siege for more than a week now. Local citizens, healthcare workers and front lines workers across the country are being harassed and assaulted in their community. Yet the Prime Minister, and the Liberal government, have been missing in action to put an end to this crisis. “Since the beginning of the convoy, and despite things only getting worse, the Prime Minister hasn’t taken any action to help calm the situation or deescalate while families are being terrorized in their communities,” said Singh. “Healthcare workers and employees of local businesses have also been harassed or assaulted simply for going to work. Symbols of hate are being promoted, and memorials have been vandalized. In times of crisis, a Prime Minister must be present and show leadership. Canadians need a plan to end this convoy and Canadians who have done everything they need to keep themselves and their communities safe need a plan to get to the end of the pandemic.” Singh and the NDP called for an emergency debate to find solutions to this crisis and laid out some concrete steps the Prime Minister can take: Meet immediately with municipal leaders impacted by the convoy to discuss a path out of it and proactively offer support: Ottawa (ON) Coutts (AB), Sarnia (ON) and other cities and borders being targeted. Considering the significant amount of fund-
ing coming from the U.S., get in touch with the U.S. administration to shut down the funding coming from the U.S. that is interfering in our democracy. Work with Provinces and Territories on a clear plan to get to an end of this pandemic. Including: Better access to rapid tests to stop the spread of COVID. More work to encourage better uptake for a booster shot for all Canadians. An emergency plan to rescue the healthcare system on the brink of collapsing. A global vaccination plan to stop new variants from developing. Work with the minority government on the other real issues that Canadians are going through to help them make ends meet as the cost of living continues to skyrocket. And find solutions that help people, not the ultra-rich“The solutions are not simple, but national leadership is needed. People need to know that their Prime Minister is at the table to solve this crisis and to work on a plan to end this pandemic and to help Canadians come out of this pandemic stronger,” said Singh. “New Democrats will continue to push the Liberal government to take leadership in the face of this crisis and will always fight to help Canadians get through the pandemic and be better off after it.” Source:NDP Media Centre:
Opposition parties call for tougher sanctions after MPP’s ‘terrorist’ tweet
By Rob Ferguson, Queen’s
By Shaahima Fahim February is Black History Month – a time that is often overlooked, both in the Muslim community and wider society. While there may be some token acknowledgement of Black History Month, the Muslim community must acknowledge the seriousness of what BHM should mean to us. Black history spans so much more than just regurgitated tidbits about Muhammad Ali Malcolm X, and Bilal razyAllāhu ‘anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him).Black history is Muslim history; spanning Abyssinia in the time of an-Najaashi, to the blessed Companions of RasulAllah, to the Sokoto Khilaafah of Usman Dan Fodio, to the dazzling era of Mansa Musa, to the ongoing thriving Islamic scholarship of Gambia, Senegal, Niger, and other regions of the African continent. Black History is Muslim history; in South America and North America – the stories of the rebellious enslaved Muslims of Brazil, of
Omar Ibn Sa’id and Muhammad Kaba Saghanughu in North America who preserved their knowledge of the Qur’an and fiqh in manuscripts discovered decades later. Black History is Muslim history; the oppression of Imam Jamil, the ongoing struggles of Black Muslims who face systemic discrimination in both the Muslim and non-Muslim world, the devastating loss of lives in the Bronx fire. MuslimMatters reminds ourselves and the rest of the community that our knowledge of, and engagement with, the Black Muslim community is not something to be relegated to tokenism or talks about Bilal razyAllāhu ‘anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him), but must be actively sought out all the time. The list of articles below is just the beginning of seeking knowledge and raising our awareness about the vastness and relevance of Black Muslim history -past and present- to the rest of the global Ummah. Source: muslimmatters.org
VICTORIA (February 1, 2022) – Interim Leader of the Official Opposition Shirley Bond released the following statement today for Black History Month:“Today we mark the start of Black History Month here in British Columbia. It is an important opportunity to honour and recognize the significant accomplishments and contributions to our province by people of African descent.“Black Canadians have played vital roles throughout the history of both Canada and British Columbia, all while many faced racism and discrimination in their daily lives.
“It’s so important that we continue to advocate and work together to ensure that all people who call this land home, regardless of their background or ethnicity, have equal opportunities to succeed here in British Columbia. “On behalf of the entire BC Liberal Caucus, I invite everyone to take the time to learn more about the contributions to our province by both historical and contemporary people of African descent and join us in celebrating Black History Month.”
BC Liberal statement on Black History Month
Park Bureau Pressure is building to develop stronger sanctions after Randy Hillier called federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra a “terrorist” on Twitter. Pressure is building to develop stronger sanctions for errant MPPs after independent member Randy Hillier — who was censured last fall for “disreputable conduct” — called federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra a “terrorist” on Twitter this week.Opposition parties are urging Premier Doug Ford’s government to work with them on tougher measures for inappropriate conduct than just a censure by a vote of members in the Ontario Legislature. “We have to do something,” Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said Friday. “What he did was vile.” In a letter to Ford, New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath called for “all sanctions possible” to be levied against Hillier in the wake of a “hateful, ignorant and absolutely unacceptable” Twitter post on Monday.Hillier referred to Alghabra, who is Muslim, as a “terrorist” in response to the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate for truckers crossing the U.S. border, and suggested the policy is leading to empty supermarket shelves.Government House Leader Paul Calandra said the censure mechanism used against the MPP in October remains available.“Mr. Hillier’s comments are deplorable and he should apologize for them. Racism and Islamophobia are never acceptable,” Calandra added in a statement.“The assembly censured Mr. Hillier last year for other inappropriate Twitter posts. A decision to censure Mr. Hillier again for his recent comments would be a decision of the assembly as a whole.” But opposition parties said that’s no longer enough, and maintain that stronger penalties are needed to send a message, although no specific suggestions were made.“You’ve got to
make it abundantly clear that none of us is going to accept that this is right,” said Del Duca. “Given what we are seeing these days with so many horrible things being said and done around this province with Islamophobia, antisemitism and hate, you have to call it out.”Horwath said the government has the power to issue an order of reference for an investigation by a standing committee of MPPs. “There must be actual consequences for MPP Hillier’s actions,” she wrote in the letter. Ted Arnott, the speaker of the legislature, said he has no power to regulate the content of an MPP’s social media posts.“The House might consider further action to discipline Mr. Hillier, but the speaker has no power to act unilaterally,’ he added, noting MPPs have banded together “at least once” to declare a member’s seat vacant. One occasion was in the 19th century under “quite different” circumstances, Arnott said. Reached in Ottawa where he is attending the truckers’ protest, Hillier sent the Star pictures of empty supermarket shelves and reiterated accusations that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is “committing an act of domestic terrorism” and that Ford is “complicit” by ordering pandemic restrictions. Hillier, who has been a fixture at anti-lockdown protests and opposes vaccination mandates, did not address his Alghabra comment. The veteran MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston was kicked out of the Progressive Conservative caucus by Ford in 2019 following complaints over his behaviour and accusations he taunted parents of autistic children. Hillier said the real reason was that he was at odds with the premier’s office.Source: thestar.com
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LIFESTYLE
History and Islamic Perspective of Valentine’s Day What is Valentine’s Day?
V
alentine’s Day is a day which lovers wait to express their feelings to the opposite gender by writing it in a letter or by meeting and by a promise, that they will love each other endlessly. They share presents, roses, and letters with each other on Valentine’s Day as a sign of affection. Valentine’s Day is also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the feast of Saint Valentine. This day is celebrated each year on the 14th of February. However, Valentine’s Day is strictly forbidden in Islam and also banned in Muslim countries. Historical Background of Valentine’s Day It is one of those mysterious antiquarian cases which is doomed never to be solved, but according to some historical books, St. Valentine was a holy roman man. The emperor banned all weddings and commitments in Rome and Valentine opposed the emperor decision and supported couples to meet in secret. It is estimated that he himself was also involved with the jailer’s daughter and had some illegal and prohibited relations which are not acceptable by social norms, hence when Valentine’s actions were discovered by the jailer, he was arrested and put to death on 14th of February, but youth supported him and gradually, 14th February became a
day to celebrate love, exchange love letters, poems, and gifts as a sign of showing their love for their partners and it was originally a “Pagan celebration”. Read more: History and Importance of Prophet’s (Peace Be Upon Him) First Visit to Taif
What Islam Says About Valentine’s Day (Islamic Point of View)
festival, “Best Way of Expressing Love is the love for the wife and husband.” We have the best practical example of the pure love of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and his first wife, Khadijah (RA), She loved him for his noble manners, loyalty, humility. He loved her for her beauty of character, understanding, and support and belief in him. He loved her deeply despite the age difference. She loved him unconditionally despite his poverty. Therefore, the glorious and pure was their affection, that the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) continued to love Khadijah (RA) until the end of his life. Read: How to raise your children according to Islam
Islam has implemented all the festivals of which Muslims are compelled to participate and Valentine’s Day is not one of them. As a believing Muslim, we are not supposed to participate in the celebration of Valentine’s Day. Islam is against the supporting Pagans and Christianity regarding their celebration of love. Its Haram (prohibited) for Muslims to follow the culture of non-Muslims whether that support is of their worship or of their festivals,It is clearly defined in the Holy Quran and Sunnah that no addition or subtractions may be accepted in the celebra- Pure Affection for Others in Islam Islam encourages us to extend affection and tions of festivals. There are only two festivals in Islam: love for each other at all times to maintain a great and pure bond in our society. • Eid Al-Fitr and A man was with the Prophet (Peace Be • Eid Al-Adha. Upon Him) and a man passed by him, so he Any other festivals that have to do with a said, ‘you know, that one, I really love him.’ person, a group, an occasion or any other The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said, festival are not acceptable in Islam. This was indicated by the Prophet (Peace and Bless- ‘tell him so.’ He caught up with the man ings of Allah Be Upon Him) when he said: and said, ‘I really love you for the sake of “Every people has its festival and this is our God.’ He replied, ‘I, too, love you as much
My Hijab, My Pride!
as you love me, for His sake.
Clarification for Permission to Celebrate Holiday of Valentine
Many of the Muslims who are living in abroad usually get a bizarre thought of whether is it allowed in Islam or not, to have a vacation on Valentine’s Day so Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta clears us as follows: Such kinds of celebrations have become social occasions. Therefore, there is no objection to participating in them as they do not harm the Islamic teachings. Read more: The importance of Sadaqah in Islam It is lawful in Islamic law to specify a day for renewing lawful love between spouses because there is nothing in Islamic law to prohibit this. But be careful as it is allowed for your Mahram only, however, this occasion must not be called “Eid” (feast) but “Day of Love” (Youm al-Hob). Source:thesaudiexpat.com
en and prevent them from feeling safe in society. It is natural to fear what is different and unknown. A society which promotes worshiping oneself, and one’s own desires may find it difficult to understand the submission to a higher power, and the alignment with an identity that is so often othered. Therefore World Hijab Day was introduced as “a global movement to encourage religious tolerance, cultural understanding and international solidarity”. It reflects upon the idea that Muslim women, donning the headscarf are representative of Islam, and that practices which solidify their identity and faith should not be tarnished or maligned. Above all, World Hijab Day aims to give Muslim women the empowerment and dignity to wear their hijabs with pride and without fear. Source: icna.org
JOB VACANCY
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n February 1st, Muslim women across the globe celebrate World Hijab Day, a day of celebrating and uplifting women who choose to don the headscarf as prescribed by Islamic faith traditions. The headscarf is a token of submission, respect, and identity for Muslim women, who cover their hair in a variety of ways, paying homage to not only their religion but their cultural heritage as well. The hijab is often referred to as a way of life- not merely a garment, but a code of conduct that emerges from the Islamic traditions of upholding modesty and dignity in one’s lifestyle, behavior, dress, and even thought. The image of the hijab as merely a headscarf, rather than an ideal to aspire to, has been popularized by the political and social culture of our time, which disparages such symbolism of submission-to man or to God- and characterizes it as oppressive, stifling, and inappropriate for our day and age. The headscarf, which is commonly referred to as a hijab, may come in many variations and styles that are a reflection of the culture. In North America and the western world, the hijab is typically a square or rectangle piece of cloth wrapped around the hair, or a pre-sewn slip-on that makes the wrapping and pinning process a bit easier. In other cultures, such as Egypt, the hijab tends to be a rectangular scarf called Ashrab. The color, material, shape and wrapping of hijab differs in every culture. However, the Islamic requirement remains that women should wear loose and modest clothing only showing their face and hands. Additionally, some women choose to wear a voluntary face veil called niqab, but this is optional and prac-
ticed by a minority of Muslim women in the West. World Hijab day celebrates variations of the headscarf from all over the world, and aims to reclaim the heritage of a noble and centuries old tradition. Booths set up at universities and public squares invite women to try on headscarves, and explain their relationship to hijab and what it means to them. The ostracization of the hijab and hijab donning women has invited misconceptions about the traditional head garb, including that it is a symbol of oppression, or stifles women from performing in society. Since the beginning of Islam, Muslim women following Islamic dress traditions have held various positions such as soldiers, nurses, teachers, doctors, business women, and even political strategists. The headscarf and the accompanying rules of hijab do not overcomplicate gender- interactions, but rather give clear guidelines of respect, which allow for dignified relationships between friends, community members, colleagues, and peers. As for the hijab being oppressive, for many women who choose to don the headscarf, it is a symbol of not only submission to God, but our identity as Muslims, and what can be more liberating than the ability to openly express ones identity in public, without fear of harm or violence? There is and has always been bigotry in response to that which is different. However, this personal and communal bigotry has now extended into egregious discriminatory policies that have banned hijab in public spaces, or for those occupying certain jobs, such as educators. In fact, it may be argued that these policies, rather than the hijab itself, are what actually oppress Muslim wom-
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h e a l t h
Leukemia: What You Need to Know?
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By:John H. Ostdick eukemia is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. Bone marrow produces blood cells. Leukemia can develop due to a problem with blood cell production. It usually affects the leukocytes or white blood cells. Leukemia is most likely to affect people over the age of 55, but it is also the most common cancer in those aged under 15 years. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 61,780 people (Trusted Source) will receive a diagnosis of leukemia in 2019. They also predict that leukemia will cause 22,840 deaths in the same year. Acute leukemia develops quickly and worsens rapidly, but chronic leukemia gets worse over time. There are several different types of leukemia, and the best course of treatment and a person’s chance of survival depends on which type they have. In this article, we provide an overview of leukemia, causes, treatment, type, and symptoms.
Causes
Leukemia develops when the DNA of developing blood cells, mainly white cells, incurs damage. This causes the blood cells to grow and divide uncontrollably. Healthy blood cells die, and new cells replace them. These develop in the bone marrow. The abnormal blood cells do not die at a natural point in their life cycle. Instead, they build up and occupy more space. As the bone marrow produces more cancer cells, they begin to overcrowd the blood, preventing the healthy white blood cells from growing and functioning normally. Eventually, the cancerous cells outnumber healthy cells in the blood.
Risk factors
There is a range of risk factors for leukemia. Some of these risk factors have more significant links to leukemia than others: Artificial ionizing radiation: This could include having received radiation therapy for a previous cancer, although this is a more significant risk factor for some types than others. Certain viruses: The human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1) has links to leukemia. People who have received chemotherapy treatment for previous cancer have a higher chance of developing leukemia later in life. Exposure to benzene: This is a solvent that manufacturers use in some cleaning chemicals and hair dyes. Some genetic conditions Children with Down syndrome have a third copy of chromosome 21. This increases their risk of acute myeloid or acute lymphocytic leukemia by 2–3%, which is higher than in children without this syndrome. Another genetic condition with links to leukemia is Li-Fraumeni syndrome. This causes a change to the TP53 gene. Family history: Having siblings with leukemia can lead to a low but significant risk of leukemia. If a person has an identical twin with leukemia, they have a 1 in 5 chance of having the cancer themselves. Inherited problems with the immune system: Certain inherited immune conditions increase the risk of both severe infections and leukemia. These include:
ataxia-telangiectasia
Bloom syndrome
Schwachman-Diamond syndrome Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome Immune suppression: Childhood leukemia may develop due to the deliberate suppression of the immune system. This might occur following an organ transplant as a child takes medications to prevent their body from rejecting the organ. Several risk factors need further studies to confirm their link to leukemia, such as: exposure to electromagnetic fields exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace, such as gasoline, diesel, and pesticides smoking using hair dyes
Types
There are four main categories of leukemia: • acute • chronic • lymphocytic • myelogenous • Chronic and acute leukemias During its lifespan, a white blood cell goes through several stages. In acute leukemia, developing cells multiply quickly and collect in the marrow and blood. They exit the bone marrow too early and are not functional. Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly. It allows for the production of more mature, useful cells. Acute leukemia overcrowds the healthy blood cells more quickly than chronic leukemia. Lymphocytic and myelogenous leukemias Doctors classify leukemia according to the type of blood cell they affect. Lymphocytic leukemia occurs if cancerous changes affect the type of bone marrow that makes lymphocytes. A lymphocyte is a white blood cell that plays a role in the immune system. Myelogenous leukemia happens when the changes affect bone marrow cells that produce blood cells, rather than the blood cells themselves.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia
Children under 5 years old are at the highest risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, it can also affect adults, typically over the age of 50 years. Out of every five deaths caused by ALL, four occur in adults.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
This is most common among adults over 55, but younger adults can also develop it. About 25% (trusted source) of adults with leukemia have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is more common in men than in women and rarely affects children.
Acute myelogenous leukemia
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is more common in adults than in children, but overall, it is rare cancer. It develops more often in men than in women. It develops quickly, and symptoms include fever, difficulty breathing, and pain in the joints. Environmental factors can trigger this type.
CML. Children rarely develop this type of leukemia.
Treatment
Treatment options will depend on the type of leukemia a person has, their age, and their overall state of health. The primary treatment for leukemia is chemotherapy. A cancer care team will tailor this to suit the type of leukemia. If treatment starts early, the chance of a person achieving remission is higher.
Frequent infections: The white blood cells are crucial for countering infection. If white blood cells are not working correctly, a person may develop frequent infections.The immune system may attack the body’s own cells. Anemia: As fewer effective red blood cells become available, a person may become Types of treatment include: anemic. This means that they do not have Watchful waiting: A doctor may not actively enough hemoglobin in their blood. Hemotreat slower-growing leukemias, such as globin transports iron around the body. chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). A shortage of iron can lead to difficult or Chemotherapy: A doctor administers medi- labored breathing and pale skin. cations intravenously (IV), using either a Other symptoms may include: drip or a needle. This targets and kill can- • nausea cer cells. However, they can also damage • fever non-cancerous cells and cause severe side • chills effects, including hair loss, weight loss, and • Nite sweats nausea. • Flu-like symptoms Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for • Weight loss AML. Sometimes, doctors may recommend • Bone pain a bone marrow transplant. • tiredness Targeted therapy: This type of treatment If the liver or spleen becomes swollen, a uses tyrosine kinase inhibitors that target person may feel full and eat less, resulting cancer cells without affecting other cells, in weight loss. reducing the risk of side effects. Examples Weight loss may also occur even without an include imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib. enlarged liver or spleen. A headache may inMany people with CML have a gene muta- dicate that cancerous cells have entered the tion that responds to imatinib. One study central nervous system (CNS). found that people who received treatment However, all these can all be symptoms of with imatinib had a 5-year survival rate of other illnesses. Consultation and testing are around 90% (Trusted Source). necessary to confirm a diagnosis of leukemia. Interferon therapy: This slows and even- Diagnosis tually stops the development and spread of A doctor will carry out a physical examinaleukemia cells. This drug acts in a similar tion and ask about your personal and family way to substances that the immune system medical history. They will check for signs naturally produces. However, it can cause of anemia and feel for an enlarged liver or severe side effects. spleen. Radiation therapy: In people with certain They will also take a blood sample for astypes of leukemia, such as ALL, doctors rec- sessment in the laboratory. ommend radiation therapy to destroy bone If the doctor suspects leukemia, they may marrow tissue before a transplant. suggest a bone marrow test. A surgeon exSurgery: Surgery often involves removing tracts bone marrow from the center of a the spleen, but this depends on the type of bone, usually from the hip, using a long, leukemia a person has. fine needle. Stem cell transplantation: In this procedure, This can help them identify the presence and a cancer care team destroys the existing type of leukemia. bone marrow with chemotherapy, radiation Outlook therapy, or both. Then, they infuse new stem The outlook for people with leukemia decells into the bone marrow to create noncan- pends on the type. Progress in medicine cerous blood cells. means that people can now achieve comThis procedure can be effective in treating plete remission thru treatment. Remission CML. Younger people with leukemia are means that there are no longer any signs that more likely to undergo a successful trans- cancer is present. plant than older adults. In 1975, the chances of surviving for 5 years
Symptoms
Symptoms of leukemia include the following: Poor blood clotting: This can cause a person to bruise or bleed easily and heal slowly. They may also develop petechiae, which are small red and purple spots on the body. These indicate that blood is not clotting Chronic myeloid leukemia properly. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) Petechiae develop when immature white mostly develops in adults. About 15% of blood cells crowd out platelets, which are all leukemia cases in the United States are crucial for blood clotting.
or more after receiving a diagnosis of leukemia were 33.4% (Trusted Source). By 2011, this figure had risen to 66.8%. When a person achieves remission, they will still require monitoring and may undergo blood and bone marrow tests. Doctors need to carry out these tests to ensure cancer has not returned. The doctor may decide to reduce the frequency of testing if leukemia does not return over time. Source: pakoption.org
Pakistan summons Indian envoy over hijab ban in Karnataka schools Cont. from Pg 1
from wearing hijab in Karnataka. “The Charge d’ Affaires was urged to convey to the government of India Pakistan’s extreme concern over the anti-hijab campaign, being spearheaded by RSS-BJP combine in Karnataka, which is part of its larger exclusionist and majoritarian agenda aimed at dehumanising and demonising Muslim the FO said. The Indian diplomat was also conveyed Pakistan’s
concern that religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatisation and discrimination against Muslims was continuing unabated almost two years after the 2020 Delhi riots, which claimed the lives of 50 Muslims. “The government of Pakistan is also alarmed at the deafening silence of the BJP leadership and the absence of discernable action against Hindutva proponents openly calling for [the] genocide of Muslims at the recently held Dharam Sansad in Haridwar, Uttarakhand,” the statement said, re-
ferring to calls for the mass killing of Muslims by Hindutva leaders in India. It was emphasised to the Indian envoy that the government of India must fulfil its responsibility to hold the perpetrators of harassment against women in Karnataka to account and take adequate measures to ensure the safety, security and well-being of Muslim women, the statement added. “He was further urged to impress upon the government of India to take immediate action against [the] perpetrators and abettors of
anti-Muslim violence in [the] Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Gurugram and Uttarakhand and bring justice to the victims of [the] Delhi riots,” the FO said.Pakistan also called on the international community, including the United Nations and the organisation of Islamic Cooperation, to take notice of the “worrying level of Islamophobia in India” and prevail upon Indian authorities to prevent systematic human rights violations against minorities in the country. Source: dawnnews.com
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Rajab 10,1443 Febuary 11, 2021
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Rajab 10,1443 Febuary 11, 2021
SPORTS
on Saturday February 26, 2022 @ 6:00pm at Masjid Anwar e Madina 13560-105A Ave. Surrey, BC. All are Welcome
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Main Guest Speaker
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Hazrat Allama Mufti Saiyad Imroz Dean Sayed Aulade Rasul Qudsi Info Masjid: 778.318.2475 Saiyad Imroz Dean Saify: 604.727.1438 Abdul Raoof: 604.588.8779 How Canada performed at the Beijing Olympics
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fter going winless on day four of the Beijing Olympics, Canada added two medals to its tally on day five of competition Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Canada now has eight medals to its name from the 2022 Games so far. Here’s what you may have missed from Canada’s performance on day five.
Short-Track Speed Skating
Steven Dubois was the highlight of Canada’s day in short-track speed skating with a silver medal win in the men’s 1,500-metre event. Dubois, who advanced to the final after of-
ficial review following an error in the semis, took home the medal in a photo-finish over bronze-medallist Semen Elistratov of the Russian Olympic Committee. The Republic of Korea’s Daeheon Hwang won gold with a time of 2:09.23 – just 0.035 seconds ahead of Dubois. The 24-year-old Olympic rookie was the lone Canadian in the final after teammates Charles Hamelin and Pascal Dion failed to qualify. Hamelin, a five-time Olympian, was penalized during his skate at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing and did not make it to the final.
Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver Feb 11-25, 2022, Rajab 10-24,1443H Isl. Dt. Day Date Fajar
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Sunr
Zawal Dhuhr Dhur Asar Shafi / Asar Hanfi Maghrib
Isha
Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thus Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thus Fri
For such Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times: Quran ,n 4:103 Source: BCMA
The event was Hamelin’s last Olympic race of his career in an individual distance event, the Canadian Olympic Committee said on Tuesday. However, he will compete in the men’s 5,000-metre relay – an event he’s won three Olympic medals in – starting Friday, alongside Dubois and Dion. On the women’s side, Kim Boutin’s quest to add to her bronze medal in Beijing hit a roadblock in the 1,000-metre qualifying event after she fell just before the finish line in her heat. Boutin won’t advance to the quarterfinals on Friday, but teammates Courtney Sarault and Alyson Charles will. In the women’s 3,000-metre relay semifinals, Boutin, Sarault, Charles, Danae Blais and Florence Brunelle raced Canada into Final A alongside the Netherlands, China and the Republic of Korea, which takes place on Sunday. Source: globalnews.ca
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Rajab 10,1443 Febuary 11, 2021
W omen / yo u t h
Waiting for motivation to strike? Try rethinking that! By: Asma joy into your life. That’s very different than could join a running club, or ask family and friends to check on setting a goal of “paint room.” Shums,
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ll of us k n o w that motivation is a key ingredient to accomplishing goals in our personal and professional lives. But if you wait for motivation to strike like a sudden lightning storm, you’re a lot less likely to take a single step toward any goal. Even if you have a much-desired goal in mind, it’s all too easy to deplete motivation through feeling overwhelmed, procrastination, or impatience. The steps below can help you increase your motivation to accomplish the goals that matter to you.
The meaning of your goal
Before setting a goal, it is critical to clearly identify meaning — that is, why is successfully reaching this goal important to you? What will this achievement mean to you? For example, telling yourself “I want to lose 10 pounds so I have more energy to play with my grandchildren” conveys far more meaning than “I want to lose weight.” Or maybe your goal is to paint a room a different color because you feel that color will bring more
your progress in achieving tasks related to your overall goal. Perhaps friends can send email or text message reminders to keep you accountable. Finally, surround yourself by other people Set up a to-do list — and tick it off who are actively working on Once you identify a specific goal, make a to- their own goals. Their efforts do list to accomplish it. may inspire you, too. • What resources do you need? Visualize success • What are the steps you’ll take toward Create an image of yourself your goal? Break down tasks into man- achieving this goal. This image could be in ageable mini-tasks and write each one your mind, or perhaps you could draw a picdown. ture of yourself achieving your goal. Imagine • Set deadlines for each task. Make a what achieving this goal will mean for you. schedule to accomplish these tasks, be- How will you experience the success? How ing sure to include regular breaks and will it feel for you? Remember these positive realistic time frames. emotions as you are completing the tasks on • Cross off each mini-task as you com- your to-do list to help fuel motivation. plete it. Step by step, you’ll see you’re Avoid distractions making progress toward your goals. Try to choose a space that is organized, free If you are having difficulty breaking down of clutter, and with minimal distractions. Foyour goal into smaller tasks, just begin work- cus on one task at a time, not multitasking. ing toward it. For example, if you set a goal Close email and place your phone on silent. of increasing the number of steps you walk Avoid social media sites that make goals each day, but have difficulty identifying the seem very easy to attain. ideal number of steps as a goal, just start Track progress and time spent walking. You can figure out that ideal num- Decide how often you’ll track progress tober later. ward your overall goal through your to-do Include others list. Are you meeting the timeline you iniInvite a team to help you with your goal. You tially established? If not, identify stumbling
If you set a goal and find yourself procrastinating or not achieving it, revisit the meaning of the goal you have set. Is this a goal that continues to matter to you? If so, consider the meaning behind the procrastination or the difficulties that you are experiencing.
blocks. Revisit the importance and meaning of this goal and how you initially set up your SMART model. If necessary, reconsider challenging aspects of your goal and make changes in your plan. Think creatively about how to expand available time to work on your goal. Can you make certain tasks more routine in your life? Can you link unenjoyable tasks with more pleasurable activities? For example, if you dread your goal of taking 100 additional steps each day, could you listen to music or a podcast that you enjoy while you are taking these steps?
Embrace empathy
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Shamima Begum: what the media’s fixation on her ‘western’ clothing means for Muslim women
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She then reappeared on our screens in 2019 following an interview with the Times. In a picture used for the interview, Begum appeared in a black jilbab (long outer clothing worn by some Muslim women), black hijab (headscarf) and a niqab (face veil), which she had lifted over her head. This image aligned with western media’s portrayal of so-called “Isis brides”, often clad in all black. Images like these flooded the media at the height of Isis’s activity, playing into established Islamophobic views about a perceived correlation between Islamic clothing and extremism. In the summer of 2020, another article with images of Begum appeared. This time, reports pointed out her change in style, chiefly that she had “ditched her Islamic dress and instead [was] donning western clothes including jeans, a shirt and a blue hat”. In March 2021, another article highlighted how Begum was seeking to move away from her Isis past with “western clothing” and “straightened hair”. Aside from the bizarreness of suggesting jeans and t-shirts (clothes popular across the globe) are exclusively “western”, this comparison with Begum’s previous Islamic garb implies that only in the west can Muslim women be liberated. Shamima Begum walking across sand with CCTV image from ITV News report on the detention camp buildings in the background Bethnal Green schoolgirls who’d fled the An ITV News report in February 2021 showed footage of Shamima Begum wearcountry to join Isis in 2015. ITV/YouTube
urope’s fascination with Muslim women, their bodies and their clothing choices – as seen in the passing of discriminatory face covering bans in several countries – shows no sign of abating. Throughout the western world, Muslim women have become expendable commodities, with offensive tropes dominating news coverage on a regular basis. In recent years in the UK, the most high profile victim of such rhetoric has arguably been Shamima Begum. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled Begum could not return to the UK to challenge the government’s decision to revoke her citizenship in 2019. As a result she would have to remain in Syria, where she had travelled to in 2015. When she was first pictured, as one of three London schoolgirls suspected of being groomed to join Isis, she looked no different to many young Muslim women in the UK at the time.
ing ‘western’ clothing in a Syrian detention camp. ITV/YouTube The obsession with her clothes and whether they signal how much of a threat she is has its roots in colonial history. The lands east of Europe have historically been portrayed as lacking in civilisation, too concerned with the fantastical world to ever really understand what it means to be free, as succinctly articulated by philosopher Edward Said in his seminal book, Orientalism. In this picture, Begum’s emanci- a terrorist attack. This was evident when Ispation, as signified by her change of clothing, lamaphobic incidents rose sharply in the UK is intimately tied to Europe. after Prime Minister Boris Johnson referred to niqab-wearing Muslims as looking like The dangerous Muslim woman The construction of the Muslim woman as “letterboxes” in August 2018. Using Muslim “dangerous, yet in need of saving” is char- women for politicking in this way is comacteristically European in its racism. For mon in the UK and it shapes how the wider, example, in colonised Algeria in the 1950s, dominant society views them. Muslim women were unveiled in public to The media’s focus on Begum’s choice of clothing is part and parcel of this consistent showcase their “liberation”. Journalists actively “tracking down” Begum, obsession with Muslim women, illustrating taking photographs of her and projecting the pervasive and intrusive ways Muslim them to the world is no different than the women are presented to the public: either as Algerian example as a ceremony of unveiling dangerous or oppressed. and revealing a Muslim woman. As much as Such depictions trickle down and impact Muslim women continue to argue that we ex- Muslim women in their everyday lives, with ist beyond the paradigm of liberation versus many faced with intrusive questions based on oppression, the voyeurism just never stops. this perceived lack of freedom among MusSuch depictions of Muslim women have se- lim women. As the pandemic continues to rious implications. Research on gendered Is- fuel Islamophobia, it’s increasingly important lamophobia has found that Muslim women for these narratives to be tackled and stopped bear the brunt of physical attacks after de- in their tracks. The sooner that happens, the rogatory, infantilising comments have been easier it’ll be for Muslim women to get on made about them in the media or following with their lives.Source: heconversation.com
The generation ‘chasm’: Young Canadians feel unlucky, unattached to the country
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eeling the pressures of a society plagued by climate change, soaring home prices, economic inequality and poverty, many young Canadians say they are feeling less than optimistic about the direction of our nation. They don’t necessarily like the path that Canada’s on, and cite the baby boom generation as one of the root causes of disparity and division in Canadian society. An Angus Reid Institute sur-
vey of young Canadian leaders found that almost half of respondents thought the answers to Canada’s woes rely not on fixing the past mistakes of previous generations, but, rather, starting anew with a complete restructuring of Canadian society. The study asked Canadians of all ages to self-report on whether they consider themselves “leaders” in their communities. Respondents rated themselves on their ability to incite change in
their communities through volunteering and political involvement.These self-identified young leaders, all under the age of 41, said they were likely to prioritize the common good and generally believe that what’s good for society holds more importance than people’s individual rights and freedoms. The young leaders also reported higher education levels and slightly more personal wealth than non-leaders, and were
found to be far more diverse than their older counterparts in terms of race and gender.
A generational split
One thing most young leaders agree on is that the legacy of the baby boom generation may not be much of a legacy at all. The majority of young leaders aged 40 and under said they view the boomers’ legacy as negative, while an overwhelming majority of leaders over the age of 55 view the legacy as positive. Source: globalnews.ca/
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Rajab 10,1443 Febuary 11, 2021
KASHMIR/Pakistan
Kashmir Solidarity Day: 5 February 2022 (Human Rights Dimension)
Aid Memoire
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ebruary the 5th is observed as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’; a Day to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir in their just struggle for freedom from Illegal Indian Occupation and for their right of self-determination; a just struggle in the face of India’s increasingly oppressive policies and atrocities. The persistently deteriorating human rights situation in the Indian occupied disputed territory, it is important to recall the history of the Kashmir dispute. At the time of partition of India in 1947, Jammu Kashmir was a princely state in the undivided India. Jammu Kashmir had its historic, religious, demographic, trade and road links with the present day Pakistan. With an overwhelmingly Muslim population, it was governed by a Hindu ruler. Several UN Security Council Resolutions
passed soon after the partition require the future of Jammu Kashmir to be decided according to the wishes of the people of Jammu Kashmir through a plebiscite under UN auspices. Importantly, India itself is a party to these resolutions. Unfortunately, instead of honoring its obligations, India opted to use brutal force against Kashmiri men, women and children to deny them of their right of self-determination. Mediating between India and Pakistan, the two huge former colonies of Britain, was one of Canada’s key aspirations was the crown jewel of the Canadian foreign policy as a “peacemaker” or “peacekeeper” internationally. Canadian General A.G.L. McNaughton as President of the Security Council of the United Nations headed the armistice commission in December 1949 which was signed in December 1949 between Pakistan and India. McNaughton had been quoted as stating that plebiscite, “to take place as early as possible,” which would “settle this issue between the Governments of India and Pakistan.” A recent example of ruthless suppression of a just freedom struggle, was the funeral of 91 year old iconic Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who passed away while under house arrest on 01 September 2021. When the bereaved family was preparing for the last rites of Syed Geelani, Indian police
snatched the deceased leader’s body and denied burial according to his will (in “Cemetery of Martyrs” in Srinagar). Not content with that level of callousness, Indian authorities resorted to harassing Syed Ali Geelani’s family and registered cases against them on trumped up charges. Geelani had inspired three generations of Kashmiri people to struggle forfreedom from illegal occupation. He had spent decades in jail and house arrest without losing even an iota of his commitment and conviction. His biggest legacy not just to Kashmiri people but for the world, is his conviction for freedom and principle of justice and international law. That has been the guiding light for the oppressed in all eras of history and in all continents of the world. That was the main force and spirit behind decolonization and against apartheid. India’s blatant violation of human rights in Kashmir is nothing new. Toits infamous record of human rights, it has the discovery of thousands of unmarked graves in early 2000s; use of pellet guns that blinded the Kashmir youth in last decade and stripping millions of the very basic human rights to life and dignity all through since 1947.
was shot dead at a public meeting in Rawalpindi, and why “these” politicians quarrel and fight for power, and why and how “these jugglers” are so rich and “we are so poor that we can’t think of eating a ‘paratha’—and why pure milk and clean drinking water is not provided to us?” “And why these leaders abuse one another publicly instead of following in the footsteps of the father of nation?” The city elders join hands with growing children because they too face socio-economic problems in the wake of electricity and gas outages and rising food prices. They recall March 23, 1940 resolution passed at Lahore for an independent sovereign state, which came into being on August 14, 1947, with Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah as its first governor-general and
the first president of the Constituent Assembly.The first observation the Quaid made in the Assembly was: “the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious belief of its subjects are fully protected by the state…if we want to make this great state of Pakistan happy and prosperous we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people, especially of the masses and the poor.”The architect of Pakistan had a dream; he visualized a welfare state. He had conceived Pakistan based on foundations of social justice and Islamic socialism which stress equality and brotherhood of man. Like Allama Iqbal, he was concerned with the problem of poverty and backwardness among Muslims for the eradication of which they looked, on the one hand, to the urges of
and culture through large events. He inspired people to give of their time and motivated the community to participate in social causes. While he lived in Canada, his heart never left Pakistan. Mr. Bajwa was also a lifelong trustee of the Al Jamia Masjid in Vancouver, the oldest Masjid in British Columbia.Over the last 15 years, Mr. Bajwa focused on building his family and supporting his children and family. He built a successful construction company while sending one of his sons to Law School and the other to Medical School. His oldest son Ammar helped build the family construction business under the name A1 Ideal Homes and Construction. (the Arabs – women in particular – used to scream and wail during funerals or at someone’s death). As the Prophet Muhammad said the eyes shed tears and the heart is grieved but the tongue only says what is acceptable to Allah.
Liaqat Ali Bajwa was a pioneer – helping to welcome newcomers to this community and opening his door to house strangers. He worked hard and smart to build a sense of community. He was a straight shooter; always telling it like it is. He had a heart of gold while lending a helping hand to those in need. Let alone say no, he sought out those to help out. The family came to know how far and wide his charity went as people would call to ask how he was doing and in the process come to know that he helped that family and so many others in their time of need without anyone else knowing. He was never one to seek out pictures, never one to speak in public, but always heard joking and laughing with friends and family alike. Liaqat Ali Bajwa was also the recipialleviate the pain they are feeling. When we are unable to grieve fully and an experience becomes a source of trauma, we are thrust into survival mode, which shuts down the executive functioning part of our brain and prevents us from thinking clearly. This is why we may react to situations in unhealthy ways or do things during times of stress that we would not have done during times of ease. This is one reason why some people struggle to worship Allah during times of extreme stress. When the “danger activation center” part of our brain is dominant, there is a decrease in self-awareness, our capacity to self-evaluate, and our ability to establish goals. All of these require advanced thought processes, which are very difficult to sustain
called for independent and impartial investigations into the matter; in 2011, Amnesty International, expressed concern over ‘confirmation’ of 2,700 unmarked graves. Discovery of unmarked graves created a furor and concern everywhere in the world, except India. Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK), now for several years remains the most densely militarized place in the world, with 900,000 uniformed security personnel on ground, teethed with draconian laws. June, 2019 report of Amnesty International described the situation as “Tyranny of alawless law”. Unfortunately, all this is happening in today’s ‘civilized world’, where we often hear about the sanctity of human rights and human dignity. It is happening today, now, and as we speak, in a world that is connected across the globe with a single click on our mobile devices. Is that acceptable? “If not, then the question is, what is our responsibility; at collective and at an individual level? Kashmiris Right of self-determination was promised to them by the international community. The international community has a responsibility for its realization. Let us support the oppressed people and join the voices that are struggling for peace and justice. Reports of unmarked graves in Indian To fulfill their responsibility is not a matter Occupied Kashmir first surfaced in 2006. of choice, but a matter of responsibility. European Parliament’s resolution of 2008, Source: Consulate General of Pakistan
What was founder’s idea of Pakistan?
By:Zafar Alam Sarwar, Surrey. Miracle’s Writer
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owing children are asking their parents who made such a Pakistan where there is ‘roti’ problem, ‘kapra’ problem, shelter problem, education problem, healthcare problem, honour problem, job problem and so many problems to survive. City children are impatient: why was first pro-people prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan
The Late Liaqat Ali Bajwa Cont. from Pg 3
Mr. Bajwa also gave his time to his community, serving a number of times as President of the Pakistan Canada Association as well as serving in other executive capacities. He was active, always finding ways to bring people together, to celebrate the growth and achievements of the community. He loved being active. He also served on the Executive of the National Federation of Pakistani Canadians in Ottawa as Senior Vice-President from 1992 to 1994. In later years, he formed the Friends of Pakistan Association of Canada and promoted Pakistani history
Advice from the Sunnah on Coping... Cont. from Pg 3
that grief is a natural emotion and that Allah does not hold us accountable for expressing sadness and pain in a permissible manner. Sadness does not negate the acceptance of Allah’s decree which is the very center of a believer’s journey in grief. As we see from the ahadith above where the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was coping with grief, patience in Islam does not mean that we do not cry and that we do not express our emotions. What is forbidden is wailing and slapping one’s cheeks which was the culture at that time
Make dua for yourself.
As human beings, we attempt to cope with negative emotions in different ways. We often attempt to push away difficult emotions because they make us feel uncomfortable as it’s a painful process to sit with these feelings. We may try to distract ourselves or put on a fake smile. Some may even self-medicate through the use of drugs or alcohol to
dynamism, struggle and creativity in Islam and, on the other, to the Islamic principle of distributive justice. Growing children ask why these leaders do not unite for the cause of Pakistan as the Quaid had done; build their character as he had defined--and implement his idea with iron determination?” Em:zasarwar@hotmail.com ent of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award in 2013. This medal is given to those who have made a significant contribution to Canadian society. Significant contribution is what Mr. Liaqat Ali Bajwa made. His loss is not just his large families, but a loss for the whole community, including the Indian community whom he worked with closely and maintained close links with. Mr. Bajwa is survived by his wife Samara, sons Ammar, Affan and Zohaib, daughter-in-laws Zainab, Asma and Merzieh, grandkids Easa, Noah and Liyana and his large loving family including brothers, sister, brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws and dozens of nephews and nieces on both sides of the family. during times of extreme stress. In order for any activity to help, our brain needs to register it. Research has shown an association between prayer and the ability to re-engage the “thinking” part of our brains. Umm Salama, the wife of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, as saying: “If any servant (of Allah) who suffers a calamity says: ‘We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return; O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me something better than it in exchange for it,’ Allah will give him reward for affliction, and would give him something better than it in exchange.” Source: zillnoorain.com
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