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4 April 2013
The World News Headlines UN to control arms trade
This Week North Korea nuclear threat
North Korea will restart all nuclear facilities at its main Yongbyon complex, in the latest move which is likely to escalate tensions further with South Korea and the United States. Plans have been announced to rebuild and restart nuclear facilities including its uranium enrichment facility and the 5 MW Yongbyon reactor which it closed in 2007.
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fter six years of diplomatic negotiations, and more than 10 years of campaigning from civil society, governments at the United Nations voted for the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) by a resounding majority (154 votes YES – 3 votes NO, 23 Abstentions). The treaty enshrines in new international law a set of clear rules for all global transfers of weapons and ammunitions. The vote at the UN General Assembly was held just five days after Iran, North Korea and Syria blocked the Treaty’s adoption by consensus in a nail-biting session on the last day of the Final Conference on the ATT. The Treaty will create binding obligations for governments to assess all arms transfers to ensure that weapons will not be used for human rights abuses, terrorism, transnational organised crime or violations of humanitarian law. It will require governments to refuse any transfers of weapons if there is a risk countries would use them to violate human rights or commit war crimes. Anna Macdonald, Oxfam’s Head of Arms Control, said: “This is an incredible moment. For the first time ever, we have a legally binding international treaty that will regulate the world’s deadliest business, the arms trade. “The agreement of the Arms Trade Treaty sends a clear message to arms dealers who supply war lords and dictators that their time is up. They will no longer be able to operate and arm themselves with impunity. The world will be watching and will hold them accountable.”
Palestinians protest death
Opposition activists have detonated small homemade bombs and set fire to several vehicles in capital Dhaka
New anti-government strike hits Bangladesh
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pposition activists have detonated small homemade bombs and set fire to several vehicles in the latest anti-government protest to hit Bangladesh’s capital, according to police. Police officials said at least 30 people were injured in the latest violence on Tuesday. No one was reported killed. Bangladesh’s main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its 17 allies staged the protest to enforce a nationwide strike. The protesters are pressing for the release of more than 150 opposition mem-
bers arrested during earlier anti-government protests. The opposition alliance led by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and the student wing of the Jamaate-Islami in Bangladesh, Islami Chhatra Shibir are staging protests to express their ire over the detention of its president, Delwar Hussen. The protesting opposition demanded the release of leaders and activ-
ists detained in a recent police raid on its headquarters. In order to avoid any untoward incident, police stepped up security and shops and business establishments remained closed. Hundreds of activists in Bogra town, 220km north of the capital, Dhaka disrupted railway services as they set the tracks on fire and shouted anti-government slogans. Bogra is a political strong-
Protesters are pressing for the release of more than 150 opposition members arrested
hold of Zia, head of the main opposition BNP and arch rival of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera’s undercover reporters have reported that a train from Chittagong to the capital Dhaka has derailed injuring 20 people. Railway officials were quoted as saying that they are suspecting a sabotage. Calling a general strike is a common opposition tactic in Bangladesh to highlight demands, and the country has been hit by a series of strikes and street protests recently that have left at least 70 people dead.
Birmingham discovers pork in ‘halal’ chicken burgers P ork has been discovered in halal chicken burgers which were distributed by a Birmingham food company. Birmingham City Council’s environmental health team discovered the Humza brand burgers, sold in packs of 20, contained pork protein after the officers were checking for horsemeat. The affected burgers, which have a best before date of May 10, 2013, are distributed by Roshan Food. Anyone who has the product, one of 170 samples to be tested in the city, is asked to return it
to where they bought it from. A council spokesman said: “The city council would like to stress at this stage, there is no evidence to suggest Roshan Foods has caused this deliberately. “Investigations are ongoing and the firm is co-operating fully. Their retail and catering customers have been notified. “We are working closely with other local authorities to trace exactly how this has occurred.” Meanwhile, a Norwegian food safety watchdog has discovered large amounts of pork in food being sold
Halal chicken burgers are popular as halal throughout Norway. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority plan to report Norwegian food company Kuraas to the local authorities after finding that kebab meat they sold to restaurants, which they claimed to be halal, actually contained be-
tween five and 30 per cent pork. “We will file a complaint against the producer,” said Catherine Signe Svinland, who is an adviser at The Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Catherine added, “In a halal product, there should be no pork at all and when we find such quantities we don’t believe it’s an accident but it is in fact fraud.” In response to these claims, Kuraas have said that they never intended to mislead consumers. The group’s marketing manager, Kenneth Kuraas, has argued that an error in the labe-
ling process may be to blame, “Pork ending up in these products is simply due to routines not being followed.” He added, “Our theory is that it happened when the meat was labeled.” Regardless of the reason why the mistake occurred, the Kurass company recognizes that eating pork is not allowed in Islam, and so they have sent a letter to the Islamic Council, an organisation that represents Muslims in Norway, apologising for the error. Rushanara Ali MP speaks against ‘halal’ fraud, page 39
Israeli prison guards have fired teargas on Palestinian inmates in several Israeli jails who have been protesting the death of a prisoner who died of cancer. Maisara Abu Hamdiyeh, who was serving a life sentence in Israeli jail, died of throat cancer on Tuesday. Palestinians blame Israel for a late diagnosis and lack of proper medical treatment.
Gunmen attack power plant Dozens of gunmen have attacked an electricity plant in northwest Pakistan, killing seven people and disrupting power to 100,000 people overnight, officials say. Around 50 fighters targeted the plant in Badh Bher a suburb of Peshawar in Tuesday’s attack, officials added.
TV host released on bail
Popular television satirist Bassem Youssef, who stands accused in Egypt of defaming Islam and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, posted bail on Sunday, but still faces jail time and a possible fine. Youssef’s program The Show often takes jabs at Egypt’s leaders. The program is hosted in front of a live studio audience and has more than 30 million viewers across the Middle East.
Monks arrested over arson
Sri Lanka’s police have arrested three Buddhist monks over the destruction of a Muslim-owned clothing store that has heightened religious tensions in the country. Police superintendent Buddhika Siriwardena said the monks were detained on Monday, four days after a mob of SinhaleseBuddhist men vandalised and torched a three-storey building in the Pepiliyana suburb of Colombo.
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News This Week Cyprus finance minister out
Cypriot finance minister Michael Sarris resigned Tuesday, just days after the country accepted a 10 billion euro bailout to stave off a disorderly banking collapse. The country is still in the midst of trying to negotiate better terms for its bailout, which will see large bank depositors lose a significant portion of their savings.
Hamas re-elects Meshaal
Hamas, the Palestinian movement that runs Gaza, has re-elected Khaled Meshaal as its political leader. Meshaal was re-elected as chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau in Cairo on Monday. Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya will continue to lead the movement internally inside Gaza. Based in Qatar, Meshaal has led Hamas in exile. He left the Palestinian West Bank in 1967 at the age of 11 after Israel moved into the territory during the Six Day War.
EU unemployment increases
Official European Union figures show unemployment in the eurozone hit a record high of 12.0% in February, and young people are paying a particularly heavy price. The reported January rate of 11.9% was also revised up to 12.0%, meaning the continent has spent consecutive months at the new record level. Some 19 million people are out of work in the eurozone, 3.6 million of them under the age of 25.
Arrests made after rape
Police in Brazil have arrested a third person in connection with the rape of an American woman on a minibus in Rio de Janeiro. Carlos Armando Costa dos Santos was arrested Monday night. The woman boarded the minibus with another tourist in the Copacabana beach district in Rio de Janeiro early Saturday. Three men subsequently boarded the minibus and forced off all the other passengers.
Fat to ‘pay more on planes’
An economics scholar in Norway has recommended that air ticket costs be calculated according to a passenger’s weight. Dr Bharat P. Bhatta, professor of economics at a university in Norway, noted “a reduction of 1 kilo weight of a plane will result in fuel savings worth $3,000 a year and a reduction of CO2 emissions by the same token”.
Myanmar violence claims lives of 13 schoolchildren T
Indians reject drug patents
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hirteen children have been killed after a fire, apparently caused by an electrical fault, engulfed an Islamic school dormitory in Myanmar’s largest city. The dead in Tuesday’s fire in Yangon, all boys, died of suffocation in the early morning, witnesses and officials said. Police officer Thet Lwin said the fire was triggered by an overheated inverter “and not due to any criminal activity”. The building housed a mosque and a religious school where children were staying while taking a summer class. Local residents said the victims were believed to be orphans. Riot police were deployed nearby as some Muslims gathering outside the charred building feared the fire was linked to sectarian violence that has shaken the nation. Neighbours and witnesses said it appeared the crowded dormitory locked its doors due to heightened security concerns. “It seemed the boys didn’t get a chance to get away because the doors were locked because of the unstable situation,” a resident said. The blaze comes against a backdrop of heightened Buddhist-Muslim tensions in Myanmar. Forty-three people have been killed in sectarian violence since March 20.
The building housed a mosque and a religious school where children were staying while taking a summer class Police called for calm and promised to establish a committee – including Muslim leaders – to look into the cause of the fire. Al Jazeera’s Wayne Hay, reporting from Bangkok in nearby Thailand, said that there already have been differences in opinion about the incident, within the small community around the school. “Some Muslim people who
live in the area, who we spoke to on Tuesday morning, say that they believe that it was an attack. On the other side of the coin, Buddhist people living in the area are saying that this was a tragic accident,” said Hay. He added that the authorities were concerned that this incident could spark further unrest between the Muslim and Buddhist communities in the country.
‘Some Muslim people who live in the area, who reporters spoke to on Tuesday morning, say that they believe that it was an attack’
A police officer said the 13 dead in Tuesday’s blaze were among more than 70 people sleeping at the school when the fire broke out. “The rest of the children were rescued,” he said. The Myanmar Police Force reported on its official Facebook page that the victims died from burns or smoke inhalation. “According to the investigation by township police officers, the fire was caused by excessively high [electric] voltage,” it added. According to official records, electrical faults and overheating are major causes of fires in Myanmar’s largest city.
he Indian Supreme Court’s ruling against Novartis means cheaper medicine for all. By dismissing the Novartis application, the Court “has put public health before commercial profits” said Oxfam India’s CEO Nisha Agrawal. The ruling allows Indian makers of generic medicines to continue making affordable versions of the medicine. Agrawal said: “We’re not against companies making profits, but against companies charging exorbitant amounts for life-saving medicines in the name of patents. Patenting this medicine would have defeated the very purpose of it – to treat patients’ suffering from cancer. This important medicine would be of no use to cancer survivors if they can’t afford to buy it.” Currently, Glivec is priced at around £1450 (120,000 Indian rupees) for a monthly dosage. This ruling will make way for generic version of the medicine which will cost about £120 (Rs.10,000) a month – more than 90 per cent cheaper than the patented version. However, even the generic version may still not be affordable to millions of patients in India where health expenditure is one of the most important reasons for indebtedness. Agrawal said: “This ruling is cause for celebration. It should put an end to companies’ challenge of the Indian patent law and attempts to evergreen their patents.”
Fairtrade Fortnight celebrated for helping third-world farmers
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o mark Fairtrade Fortnight, council officers joined forces with the borough’s fairtrade steering group, to highlight the importance of ethical buying and sustainability to residents. A stall in Brick Lane provided information about the benefits of buying fairtrade products such as coffee, bananas, chocolate and even school uniforms, and how sustainability – ensuring that something can be maintained in the long term – should be on everyone’s radar in the current economic and environmental climate. Fairtrade is an international scheme set up in the 1980s to help
improve the lives of farmers and workers in the developing world. Focusing on better prices, decent working conditions and sustainability, the scheme has a kitemark which is now displayed on a number of products stocked by most UK supermarkets today. The event also gave residents the chance to find out more about the borough’s energy cooperative, T.H.E. – Community Power, which promotes sustainability by helping people reduce their energy costs through better insulation and competitive fuel tariffs, and access grants to help them out of fuel poverty. Later this month, the co-operative will join forces with 20
other London boroughs to create one of the biggest collective energy switching schemes in the country. Using ‘bulk-buying’ power, the scheme will negotiate with energy providers for cheaper rates for anyone signed up, so the more people who join, the better the deal for everyone.
Residents can still register for the scheme and there is no obligation to switch energy providers. During a 24-hour auction later this month, a range of energy companies will put forward their most competitive tariff. Once the cheapest tariff is selected, people signed up to the scheme will be notified of the results and provided with a personal savings plan, before they decide whether to switch their energy provider. Mayor Lutfur Rahman was joined by Councillors Abdul Asad, Maium Miah, Shafique Haque, Gulam Robbani and Aminur Khan at the event. He said: “Sustainability is such an important subject for
all of us – not just for today but so that we provide for our children and future generations. “We can all do something to show our commitment to sustainability – whether that’s switching to fairtrade products, turning off the lights when we leave a room, or educating our children about where their food and clothing comes from.” Primary schools across the borough also marked the fortnight by attending a fairtrade conference at the town hall. 30 pupils and their teachers took part in a range of games and activities including following the journey of different products from farmer to consumer.
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4 April 2013
News Islamists plan B’desh protest
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slami Andolan Bangladesh on Friday announced plans to lay siege to the Prime Minister’s Office on April 25 demanding arrest of ‘atheist bloggers who insulted Islam ‘ and to pass law for punishing those who ‘insulted Islam in the parliament’. It also announced its support for the “Long March Towards Dhaka” from all districts on April 6 declared by the Hefazate Islam Bangladesh, a Qaumi madrasa based organisation. The party’s Amir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Pir Shaheb Charmonai) on Tuesday announced this while addressing a national grand rally at Motijheel intersection in the capital. He also announced to submit a memorandum to the UN office in Dhaka on April 4 demanding an end to ‘Muslim genocide’ in Myanmar and hold long march towards Myanmar on May 8 and 9 protesting ‘Muslim genocide and arson attack on mosque, madrasas and Muslim residences in Myanmar.’ The Islami Andolon held the grand rally to press home its five demands — restoration of the phrase ‘Absolute trust and faith upon Almighty Allah’ in basic principles of the constitution, passing law to punish atheist; holding of national election under an impartial government; ensuring good governance and justice, uprooting terrorism and corruption and establishing Islamic rule for a prosperous and welfare state.
Tower Hamlets cleared of electoral allegations
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ayor Lutfur Rahman today praised Tower Hamlets’ electoral safeguards as “robust and highly effective” after an Electoral Commission report into allegations of widespread electoral fraud in by-elections in April and May 2012 were found to be groundless. Opposition councillors made an astonishing 154 separate allegations of which 151 were dismissed entirely and only 3 offered grounds for concern. An investigation by the Metropolitan Police found that there was “insufficient evidence to prove an offence” had been committed on any of these. Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “These allegations were nothing less than a systematic attempt to discredit our robust and highly effective electoral safeguards. The Electoral Commission report is a vindication for this administration and the excellent council officers who impartially administer the electoral process in Tower Hamlets.” The report indicated that a “breakdown in trust” between certain opposition councillors and the administration, based on “local political disagreements” was at the root of the allegations. Out-of-date electoral regis-
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Council has been complacent about electoral fraud for too long and needs to take action. The councillors also pledged to look in detail at the proposals relating to campaigners and reiterated their support for the Electoral Commission’s Code of conduct for campaigners. Leader of the Labour Group,
Parents convicted of fire
The parents of six children who died after a house fire in Derby have been convicted of their manslaughter, along with their friend. Mick Philpott and Paul Mosley were found guilty by unanimous verdicts, while Mairead Philpott was convicted by a majority, at Nottingham Crown Court. Philpott hoped the fire would frame his ex-mistress for the attack so he could win custody of his children.
Osborne defends changes
Police were stationed outside polling stations in Tower Hamlets during the 2012 elections ters used by campaigners and an inability to differentiate between Bangladeshi names were also to blame, the report found. Cllr Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor said. “I’m pleased, but not surprised, that these allegations were found to be baseless. I can’t imagine a clearer case of sour grapes than this – attacking the sys-
tem when it doesn’t give you the result you want. I hope all those responsible will publicly apologise for crying wolf.” This is not the first time that Mayor Lutfur Rahman has been accused and then vindicated of voter fraud. In 2010 his beaten rival Helal Abbas claimed widespread fraud after Mr Rahman’s landslide
‘These allegations were nothing less than a systematic attempt to discredit our robust and highly effective electoral safeguards’
victory in the selection to be Labour’s Mayoral candidate. Cllr Ahmed further added: “It seems that Labour and Tory opposition councillors can’t process the fact that the people of Tower Hamlets have rejected their divisive and self-interested politics. Instead of looking to their own failings they repeatedly try to discredit the system and are repeatedly proven wrong.” “At a time of huge government cuts, what I’d like to see is how much these frivolous claims have cost the ratepayer – that’s the real crime.”
Electoral Commission’s ‘wake-up call’ ‘No casino’ policy promoted report on allegations of fraud in Tower Hamlets in 2012 from the Electoral Commission out this week has said the Council must do more to minimise the risk of electoral fraud and malpractice. The report noted that the Metropolitan police had found that in a number of the cases of electoral fraud it was investigating there was evidence to suggest an offence had been made but insufficient evidence to identify a suspect. Labour councillors have welcomed the report and called on the Council to implement the proposals arguing that the
This Week
Cllr Joshua Peck, said: “We’ve had significant concerns for some time that not enough was being done by the Council to prevent electoral fraud. Hopefully the Electoral Commission’s report will be a wakeup call for the Council and that their recommendations will be implemented in full to prevent any future abuse of the electoral system in Tower Hamlets. “Labour councillors and campaigners will continue to work within the code of conduct and report any instances of electoral fraud to the authorities. We urge voters and politicians of all colour to do the same, fraud has no place in our democracy.”
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ayor Lutfur Rahman and his Independent Cabinet Members put their weight behind a proposal to prevent any casinos opening in Tower Hamlets, and called on councillors to join him in opposing the proliferation of gaming establishments in the borough. Mayor Rahman said: “I’m concerned that in these tough times betting shops and gaming arcades are exploiting our residents. I’m also worried that the increase in such establishments could lead to more crime in the borough. I’ve instructed officers that the forthcoming review of our Gambling Policy should include the clear view of this
administration that casinos are not welcome in Tower Hamlets.” Cllr Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture, said: “People from lower income backgrounds are more likely to use betting shops and gaming machines. The Tory-led government wants to make it easier for such places to open. I hope councillors from all parties will join the Mayor and Independent Councillors in opposing casino building in the borough.” Following public consultation the revised Gambling Policy will go to the April Full Council meeting, where elected members will have the chance to enact a “no casino” clause that will prevent any new establishments from opening in the borough.
George Osborne has defended benefits and tax changes, accusing critics of peddling “headline-seeking nonsense”. The chancellor claimed in a speech to supermarket workers that nine out of 10 working households would be better off. The shake-up, including cuts to housing benefit for some social housing tenants with a spare room and alterations to council tax, took effect this week.
UK to avoid triple-dip
The UK is set to avoid falling back into recession, according to the British Chambers of Commerce, which believes a strong performance by Britain’s service industries during the first three months of the year has kept the economy growing.
Lamb born with five legs
A lamb has been born with five legs at a farm in Northumberland. Named Quinto by staff at Whitehouse Farm Centre in Morpeth, it was among three born on Sunday. The additional front limb is fully formed and does not appear to be causing the animal any problems.
Horrible Histories to end
Popular children’s book series, Horrible Histories, is to end after 20 years according to author Terry Deary. He said on his website that he is writing a new range of history books for adults for the next two years.
Undertaker killed wife
An undertaker has been found guilty of killing his wife at their bungalow and disposing of her body. John Taylor, 61, was given a life sentence and told he must serve a minimum of 17 years. He had denied murdering his wife Alethea, who was last seen in Orleton, Herefordshire, in January 2012. Her body has never been found.
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Features
An exemplary life Islamic history A short sketch of the life and mission of Prophet Muhammadpbuh. Compiled by Sadequl Amin
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he five pillars of Islam are not in themselves the goal but they are the means by which to achieve the actual goal of life which is to serve Allah and Allah alone throughout the whole of life as said in the holy Qur’an: ‘I have not created mankind and jinn but to serve Me alone’ (Surah AlDhariyat 51: Verse 56). This we must try to do as the last Prophet of Allah as shown us. So a short sketch of the life and mission of the Prophet Muhammadpbuh will be beneficial for us all. Muhammadpbuh was born in the tribe of the Quraish who were the descendants of prophet Isma’il, the eldest son of prophet Ibrahim in Makkah the ancient and the central place of this earth. He was born in the year 570 CE. At that time the people of Arabia were a most degenerate people. His father ‘Abdullah died before his birth and his mother Amina died when he was six years old. So as an orphan, he was brought up by his grandfather ‘Abdul Muttalib, the leader of the Quraish and the custodian of the Ka’ba, the House of Allah, which was built by prophet Ibrahim and prophet Isma’il (peace be upon them) about four thousand years ago. Upon the death of his grandfather his uncle Abu Talib took charge of Muhammadpbuh. As a boy he used to graze the sheep with other boys of his time. He was modest, polite and thoughtful and had many friends. As a young man he used to go to other countries on business trips with his uncle Abu Talib. He gained knowledge and experience and became a good and honest businessman. He took charge of the business of a well-to-do lady of Makkah named Khadija. He married Khadija at the age of twenty five when she was forty years of age. They had a happy married life and they had six children. Muhammadpbuh was distressed at the condition of the people of Makkah who were idolaters and who committed murder, plunder, gambling, fornication and many other grave crimes. He used to meditate in the Cave of Hira about creation, the meaning of life and its goal, and what
could be done to remedy the inhuman activities and crimes in society and how the lives of the people could be raised to a better position. As a result he started to work with other people for the betterment of society. Unlike other people he lived an honest and pious life and people called him Al-Amin and Al-Sadiq. Everybody revered and respected him. At the age of forty he was favoured with a revelation from Allah, at the place of his meditation, the Cave of Hira, where the angel Jibrail came to him and entrusted him with the duty of Risalat (Prophethood) to guide the people of the right path. From that day on, and, in spite of many hardships, Muhammadpbuh devoted the rest of his life to calling people to the path of Allah. He died in 632 AD at the age of 63. But during this short span of time he expounded and established the loftiest character and ideal of life, especially during the last twenty three years of his life. As a boy he was noble and good. As a young man he was of pure heart. He grew into a man of excellent character with many good qualities. He was a good family man who dearly loved and provided for his wife and children. He was very kind and merciful to his kith and kin. He was a good member of society and everybody found him well behaved even towards his enemies. As a friend he was
kind hearted and dependable. As a businessman he was honest and fair and as a labourer he was hardworking and trustworthy. He was a good neighbour. He was very fond of children and they loved him dearly. Nobody could find fault with him in any walk of life. However, his revolutionary call to the One and only Allah made the people of his own tribe and the people of Makkah turn against him and his followers. They oppressed and tortured the Muslims mercilessly and eventually the Prophet and his followers were forced to leave Makkah for Madina. This is called Hijrat and from this occurrence the Hijra era began. The Prophet was then 53 years of age. All the Muslims migrated from Makkah to Madina where the Prophet established and became the ruler of an Islamic Society and state. He was a great reformer and the leader of a great movement and everyone had great respect for him. He was the commander-in-chief of the Muslims and all of his companions were ready to sacrifice their lives and properties at his command and in the cause of Islam. In fact they did so on more than one occasion out of love for him and Islam. He taught us a way of life to follow from birth to death. He taught us about purities, impurities and how to achieve purification. He taught us which things and actions are halal and which are haram. He taught us what to eat and how to eat and how to do every kind of work. He taught us obligatory duties and incumbent duties and religious rites like prayers, fasting, zakat, hajj and jihad. He taught us good manners and good behaviour and how to behave with parents, wives and children, with brothers and sisters and other near relatives and with neighbours and other members of society. He introduced a social system and taught us how to deal with and conduct society. He introduced the moral and ethical system and taught us morality, faithfulness, truthfulness, trustworthiness, piousness, etc. He introduced the economic system and taught us how to conduct business honestly and how to avoid interest, malpractices, hoarding, dumping, gambling, etc. Also how to use the system of Zakat and Sadaqa as social security for the poor and needy for meeting the fundamental necessities of life like food, clothing, education, medical treatment and shelter for each and every individual in the Islamic Society. He framed and introduced personal laws, criminal law and penal codes and as a judge taught us how to impart justice and how to establish the rule of law in society. He taught us how to rule and how to be ruled and how to enforce laws and how to maintain law and order in the society and state. He taught us the rights and duties of each and every individual man and woman in a family, in a society, in a state and even in international fields. He is the criterion of truth and that is why Allah says in the Qur’an: ‘Verily there is best ideal for you in the life of the Prophet’ (Surah Al-Ahzab 33: Verse 21). He moulded a way of life, established a civilisation and changed the culture of the world according to the teachings of Islam, which is the only code of life for mankind. He was not only an Apostle to people of Makkah, for a period of time, but he is the Prophet for all people for all time to come. He reformed the individual and collective, conjugal and social, moral and ethical, economic and political, foreign and international lives of the people according to the demand of the Kalima – LA ILAHA ILLALLAHU MUHAMMADUR RASULULLAH. That ‘there is no god but Allah, Muhammadpbuh is His messenger,’ which is the foundation pillar and the gateway of Islam. Thus we see him as the standard of truth and the best ideal for our whole life. Therefore, we should strictly follow the ideal of the Prophet Muhammadpbuh in every sphere of our lives, an ideal which is explicitly and elaborately described in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, about which the Prophet of Allah in the historical speech of his last Hajj said: ‘I am leaving behind two things amidst you; they are the Qur’an and the Sunnah. If you get hold of them strongly then you will never go astray.’ Let us follow strictly these two heritages from our beloved Prophet Muhammadpbuh. This article is extracted from the book Basic Knowledge of Islam by Mohammed Shamsul Haque, published in London and complied by Sadequl Amin who can be contacted via email:sadequlamin@ymail.com
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10 January 2013
The World News Headlines This Week Gang rape case: five in court
Walmart, the world’s largest retail company, has been found to have had ties to a garment factory in Bangladesh where 112 workers were trapped and killed in a fire in late November 2012. The company, which buys $1 billion in garments from Bangladesh each year, initially tried to deny any connection
Mayor fires off angry letter over Banglatown
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ayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman has published a letter clamming planned changes to the borough’s electoral wards following the conclusion of a public consultation. In the strongly-worded letter, Mr Rahman called on the Local Government Boundary Commission to scrap its plans to re-name wards after the tumultuous consultation period came to an end on Monday. Mr Rahman’s detailed his response to the plans, writing that he objected in the “strongest possible terms” to the pro-
posals to scrap ‘Banglatown’, the removal of ‘St Dunstan’s’ from the Stepney Wards, and the re-naming of East India and Lansbury as Poplar North. Referring to the move to drop the name ‘Banglatown’ from the Spitalfields and Banglatown ward, he wrote: “I struggle to comprehend why any individual or political entity would regard dispensing with this name as desirable, aside from as a very cynical blast on the proverbial dog whistle, aimed at attracting support from people who resent the Bangladeshi com-
‘Renaming the (Banglatown) ward as merely ‘Spitalfields’ would be a hugely reactionary, retrograde and provocative step’
Mayor Lutfur Rahman munity’s presence in t he area. “Accordingly, renaming the ward as merely ‘Spitalfields’ would be a hugely reactionary, retro-
grade and provocative step”. The Commission is due to publish its final recommendations in Spring this year. Its draft proposals had also attracted criticism for removing the names of former Labour Party leader George Lansbury and former Bishop of London St Dunstan from
ward names in the borough. Mr Rahman concluded: “I hope that you will consider my submission, as well as the views of hundreds of local residents expressed in related petitions, extremely carefully when arriving at a final decision.” eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk
Five sentenced to death for murder in Dhaka of Saudi diplomat
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special tribunal sentenced to death five Bangladeshi men for killing a Saudi diplomat in an apparent street crime earlier this year. Initial speculation about the shooting had focused on Iran, which denied the accusations. The suspects told investigators they were trying to rob the diplomat and shot him accidentally. Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem al-Ali, a 45-year-old official in the Saudi Embassy’s consu-
lar section, was killed near his home in Dhaka in March. Tribunal Judge Mohammad Motahar Hossain handed down the verdict Sunday, chief prosecutor Rafiqul Islam said. One of the men was tried in his absence, Islam said. He said the men can appeal the verdict. Iran has been accused of other international attacks or attempted attacks against diplomats, including Saudis. Days after the shooting, Saudi Arabia sent investigators to assist
Khalaf bin Mohammed Salem al-Ali was killed near his home in Dhaka Bangladeshi detectives. The defendants pleaded not guilty at the trial. After their arrest in July, the four men told investigators they tried to rob the
diplomat as he was going for a walk on the deserted street and shot him accidentally during a scuffle. Police said the men were ar-
rested after a revolver and a car used in the killing were found in their possession. Muslim-majority Bangladesh enjoys good relations with Saudi Arabia, which is a top destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers. Relations between the countries were tested in October last year, when Saudi Arabia beheaded eight Bangladeshi workers who were found guilty of robbing and killing an Egyptian.
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Five men accused of raping and murdering an Indian student were read the charges in a nearempty courtroom on Monday after the judge cleared out lawyers for bickering over whether the men deserved a defence. The 23-year-old physiotherapy student died two weeks after being gang-raped and beaten on a moving bus in New Delhi, then thrown bleeding onto the street. Protests followed, along with a fierce public debate over police failure to stem rampant violence against women. With popular anger simmering against the five men and a teenager accused in the case, most lawyers in the district where the trial will be held refuse to represent them.
British soldier shot dead
A British soldier serving with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan has been shot dead by a man in an Afghan army uniform, according to the US-led military coalition. In a statement released on Tuesday, ISAF said that the incident, which took place in southern Afghanistan on Monday, was “under investigation”. “The British soldier was killed when a suspected Afghan soldier opened fire first at Afghan troops and then at British soldiers,” said Major Martyn Crighton, an ISAF spokesman. “In the subsequent engagement, the attacker was killed by British troops.”
Many killed in drone attack
At least eight people have been killed in two suspected US drone attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal areas, security officials say.Both attacks took place in the Mir Ali area of the North Waziristan tribal district in the early hours of Tuesday. In Khiderkhel, eight missiles were fired at a compound, killing at least four people, security sources told Al Jazeera. In Essakhel, meanwhile, two missiles were fired, killing at least three people.
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Messi named world’s best
Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi has been named world footballer of the year for the fourth time in a row, marking another unprecedented achievement. He pipped Andres Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo to the title. No other male footballer has been named the best on the planet in four separate years, let alone four in succession.
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4 April 2013
Features Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Food Standards Agency and the Department for Communities and Local Government, the HFA demanded that regulation should be brought in where the manufacturers and processors of halal foods must undertake mandatory DNA checks at source.
Selling porkies Rushanara Ali MP expresses her shock at the news that Muslim schoolchildren have been served pork sausages that were described as ‘halal’ by the authorities. Now the Bengali MP and the Halal Food Authority are demanding action to ensure that such things are not allowed to happen again
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ethnal Green and Bow MP Rushanara Ali has raised her constituents’ concerns with the Government and Foods Standards Agency, after pork DNA was found in halal meals being served to students in Westminster schools. Rushanara Ali said: “I am shocked to hear of the recent reports that pork DNA has been discovered in halal school meals across Westminster borough – the scandal of failing meat standards has regrettably reached our children in their school lunches and it is now crucial the Government takes immediate steps to ensure high standards are maintained in our food supply chain, especially in light of the recent horsemeat scandal showing the flaws within the British food supply system. “As pork is strictly prohibited under Islamic law and a high proportion of Tower Hamlets’ population is of Muslim faith, it is a pressing concern for my constituents. “It is critical that halal meat contractors to schools across the UK be put through vigorous examination to ensure that they are complying with halal meat standards. “While there is no suggestion that there is any pork DNA in halal food in Tower Hamlets Schools, I have written to the Minister of State for Agriculture, Rt Hon David Heath MP and Ms Catherine Brown, Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency seeking assurances that all necessary safeguards and checks are made to give British Muslims the reassurances they very much need.” Meanwhile, the Halal Food Authority has expressed shock and horror that once again pork DNA has been discovered in halal products, this time in “halal” chicken sausages for school meals. In a meeting recently with the officials of Department for
‘It is critical that halal meat contractors to schools across the UK be put through vigorous examination to ensure that they are complying with halal meat standards’
How the scandal started Pork DNA has been found in halal chicken sausages served in a primary school in Westminster, central London, the local authority said. The sausages were from St Mary’s Bryanston Square, a Church of England school, Westminster Council confirmed. Tests on a sample from Burdett Coutts School revealed the presence of lamb and pork DNA in lean minced beef. The items have been removed from all school meals and the contractor was asked not to use its meat supplier. Council officers took seven samples in total from three schools in the last week of February to carry out tests on meat products served in schools following the horsemeat scandal. Under Islamic law, Muslims are strictly forbidden to eat pork. Halal sausages are served in 15 primary schools, two nurseries, one special school and one pupil referral unit, which take only halal meat. More than 4,400 pupils choose sausages as a meal option, the council said. The council said it decided to carry out tests for the presence of DNA from beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, goat and horse after the horsemeat scandal. No horse DNA was found in the tests. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) was alerted by the council on Monday. Andrew Christie, Westminster City Council’s director of children’s services, said: “We are very concerned by the discovery that a contractor has fallen short of the high standards we demand. “We also understand and regret the upset that may have been caused to parents and children alike. “We are contacting schools, parents and faith group leaders and are offering to meet them to discuss their concerns. “We have asked our contractor Chartwells to no longer use the meat supplier involved. “The discovery of pork in these sausages came about because of extra tests Westminster City Council decided to carry out. “The results were all the more shocking given the assurances about the food we receive from our suppliers. I can assure parents we will keep testing our school meals.” Chartwells said the product was supplied by butchers Nigel Fredericks which had taken “full responsibility” for the breach in the supply chain. Nigel Fredericks said the product was sourced from Brook Farm Sausages. Managing director of Nigel Fredericks, Nigel Tottman, said: “We can only think that this was an isolated incident involving some element of human error.” A Defra spokesman said: “It is totally unacceptable if food labelled as halal has been found to contain pork. Today Defra, the FSA and the Department for Communities and Local Government met with organisations involved in halal and kosher food to discuss labelling and certification. Food manufacturers and suppliers have a responsibility to make sure that the food they serve is what they say it is. The FSA is working with Westminster City Council to establish what happened.” Dr Shuja Shafi, deputy secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said while the FSA had been swift in acting on the horse meat issue, it had been “lamentably slow in acting on halal meat regulation”. He added: “At a time of acute consumer anxiety, we would expect the government to be as robust in engaging with the public as it did during the horsemeat scandal.” In a separate incident, supermarket Aldi said the FSA had alerted it to the presence of horse meat in its Oakhurst Frozen Meatloaf. A spokesman said: “The product is not part of our main range of everyday products and was stocked on a limited availability basis. However, we have immediately withdrawn any of the remaining stock from our stores.”
UN calls for end to violence
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group of United Nations independent human rights experts called on all parties in Bangladesh “to cease violence immediately and return to peaceful demonstrations”, after high levels of violence have been reported following large-scale protests across the country since 5 February 2013. The protests have largely occurred in the context of the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal’s trials and verdicts. The Tribunal was established by the Bangladeshi Government in 2010 as a domestic court to try and punish persons accused of committing atrocities, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, in Bangladesh, during the country’s 1971 independence war. Violent clashes between security forces and various groups as well as between the groups have so far claimed the lives of at least 88 persons and led to the injury of hundreds of other people. There have also been worrying reports on attacks against members of the Hindu community, their homes and places of worship, as well as against journalists and other media practitioners. “I am extremely alarmed at reports that a large number of deaths may have resulted from excessive use of force by security forces, including the use of firearms against unarmed individuals,” said Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, Christof Heyns. “International law provides that, even in the dispersal of violent assemblies, law enforcement officials shall exercise the utmost restraint before using firearms, and shall ensure they are used with the sole and imminent objective of saving another life.” “I call upon the authorities in Bangladesh to ensure prompt, impartial and effective investigations of all killings committed irrespective of whether they were committed by a State or a non-State actor,” he added.