The "PEACE" Maker?

The "PEACE" Maker?



By Maqsood Ahmed (ROCHDALE)

No doubt most of you are absolutely flabbergasted but not surprised that Tony Blair has landed the job of peace envoy to the Middle East. With So much blood on his hands can Tony Blair really wear the gloves of The Peace Maker?

His track record shows that he’s never really been interested in peace. He’s been more interested in “getting a piece”. He backed the immoral war in Iraq to ensure UK didn’t miss out on any deals, he also continues to champion the misadventure in Afghanistan, he remained silent when Lebonan was being flattened.Some would say he’s had a lot of experience in the Middle East - after all he has had holidays and summits in Sharm-el-Sheikh, he’s “done deals” with the Saudi’s before, he’s hosted Jordan at 10 Downing St., (that’s the King of Jordan). Surely, he’s gotta be the man for the job!

He’s a man that calls for democracy, but won’t support the will of the Palestinian people in their choice of leadership. He’ll have cordial relationships with people who are known to torture their citizens. He sells fighter jets to India whilst urging peace with it’s neighbour.

Surley, he’s the wrong man for the job!

OKAY – Who else could do it?

It’s not about the man, it’s about the agenda and the will, and neither can bring REAL PEACE at this time!

The "PEACE" Maker?



By Maqsood Ahmed (ROCHDALE)

No doubt most of you are absolutely flabbergasted but not surprised that Tony Blair has landed the job of peace envoy to the Middle East. With So much blood on his hands can Tony Blair really wear the gloves of The Peace Maker?

His track record shows that he’s never really been interested in peace. He’s been more interested in “getting a piece”. He backed the immoral war in Iraq to ensure UK didn’t miss out on any deals, he also continues to champion the misadventure in Afghanistan, he remained silent when Lebonan was being flattened.

Some would say he’s had a lot of experience in the Middle East - after all he has had holidays and summits in Sharm-el-Sheikh, he’s “done deals” with the Saudi’s before, he’s hosted Jordan at 10 Downing St., (that’s the King of Jordan). Surely, he’s gotta be the man for the job!

He’s a man that calls for democracy, but won’t support the will of the Palestinian people in their choice of leadership. He’ll have cordial relationships with people who are known to torture their citizens. He sells fighter jets to India whilst urging peace with it’s neighbour.

Surley, he’s the wrong man for the job!

OKAY – Who else could do it?

It’s not about the man, it’s about the agenda and the will, and neither can bring REAL PEACE at this time!

Brown IN - Blair OUT

It is a known fact that the eye of the storm is it's calmest part, from this eye the strom will unleash it's anger and wrath upon all that stand in it's way. With Tony Blair stepping down on 27th June 2007 there has been a sense relief and calm amongst some of the Muslim community in the UK, a feeling of the dark clouds having lifted and a real hope of a new start ahead.

After all Blair was the problem not the otherwise "muslim friendly" Labour Party who for years had defended the rights of minority communities in the UK. Anyone starting a new job will know that there is a need to make a statement early on to show the kind of qualities you posses and what can be expected of you , with Gordon Brown it is no different. Journalists, Politicians and the general public have been speculating for months about the kind of approach Brown would have in key issues such as Security.

What Gordon Brown revealed during his recent speech to Labour Party activists destroyed the illusion that the calm that some felt was anything but a figment of their imagination. With the Muslim community having battled against the 90 day detention without trial law for months to see it binned in favour of an equally unjust 28 day law, most had hoped that was the end of that. But it seems Brown want's to make his mark as PM by reviving the idea of detaining suspects for 90 days without charge.

Brown IN - Blair OUT



By Waseem Aslam (ROCHDALE)

It is a known fact that the eye of the storm is it's calmest part, from this eye the strom will unleash it's anger and wrath upon all that stand in it's way. With Tony Blair stepping down on 27th June 2007 there has been a sense relief and calm amongst some of the Muslim community in the UK, a feeling of the dark clouds having lifted and a real hope of a new start ahead. After all Blair was the problem not the otherwise "muslim friendly" Labour Party who for years had defended the rights of minority communities in the UK.

Anyone starting a new job will know that there is a need to make a statement early on to show the kind of qualities you posses and what can be expected of you , with Gordon Brown it is no different. Journalists, Politicians and the general public have been speculating for months about the kind of approach Brown would have in key issues such as Security.

What Gordon Brown revealed during his recent speech to Labour Party activists destroyed the illusion that the calm that some felt was anything but a figment of their imagination. With the Muslim community having battled against the 90 day detention without trial law for months to see it binned in favour of an equally unjust 28 day law, most had hoped that was the end of that. But it seems Brown want's to make his mark as PM by reviving the idea of detaining suspects for 90 days without charge.

Commenting on the proposal of Brown Shami Chakrabati of Liberty said "Twenty-eight days is already the longest period to hold a person without charge in the free world. If you go beyond 28 days it is internment" so much for an easing of the pressure on the Muslims under Brown. Making these statements just days before John Ried proposed similar things shows it was Browns first influence on policy making in the government, and although the idea of "stop and quiz" laws being introduced was shunned by Reid it wouldn't surpise anyone if this was introduced as well.

These new proposals do nothing to quiten the noise being created about the Muslim community being a problem community in fact they do quite the opposite and suggest that despite all the demonisation and arrests on false evidence more needs to be done to "control" the Muslims in the UK. Brown suggested to Party supporters in Glasgow that his leadership would be one for listening to the Party and public. Brown could do worse than listen to the voices of reason that say holding people for 90 days without charge will not diminish distrust of the government, nor will it gain them friends amongst the Muslims. In fact it just exposes the government plan to continually bully the Muslim community into submission to an unjust foreign policy and medieval anti-terror laws.

These voices of reason must eminate from Muslim communities up and down the country and be made louder by support from every sphere of the community. It is a time for a unifid message to be sent to the goverment and all other political parties that the Muslim community is not a political football with which to gain political points or make your mark as the new PM.

CNN Report on Salman Rushdie's knighthood

Despite the knighthood being a national ceremony awarded to deserving British people, the recent knighhood of Rushdie has sparked off an international row with many people argueing that this has deepened the Gulf between a 'Liberal west' and a huge section of the world who models their behaviour on Islamic laws and teachings.

SALMAN RUSHDIE- The Brave Knight?

By Majed Iqbal- Once again, discussions over freedom of speech have sparked off tensions in europe with the knighting of Salman Rushdie by the Queen last week. There have been protests internationally as well as critical debate at home in the UK on the rationale behind the controversial knighting.

Over the last year we have seen the cartoon outrage depicting the Prophet of islam in a negative light. The pope folowed by quoting from a centuries old Christian ruler who stated that the prophet of Islam had spread nothiong except evil. Charles clarke, former Home Secretary stated that Shariah rule in the Muslim world is unacceptable. Blair termed parts of Islam as an Evil Ideology. Jack straw orchestrated tensions by terming the Hijab as a sign of segregation and describing it as a barrier to communication.

And now............ in the name of contribution to literature, Salman Rushdie, Author of the book "Satanic Verses", which makes insulting insinuations about the prophet of islam and his wifes is celebrated on a state level and given a Royal honouring, endorsed by the british Government for his works.

RUSHDIE- The Brave Knight?



By Majed Iqbal

Once again, discussions over freedom of speech have sparked off tensions in europe with the knighting of Salman Rushdie by the Queen last week. There have been protests internationally as well as critical debate at home in the UK on the rationale behind the controversial knighting.

Over the last year we have seen the cartoon outrage depicting the Prophet of islam in a negative light. The pope folowed by quoting from a centuries old Christian ruler who stated that the prophet of Islam had spread nothiong except evil. Charles clarke, former Home Secretary stated that Shariah rule in the Muslim world is unacceptable. Blair termed parts of Islam as an Evil Ideology. Jack straw orchestrated tensions by terming the Hijab as a sign of segregation and describing it as a barrier to communication.

And now............ in the name of contribution to literature, Salman Rushdie, Author of the book "Satanic Verses", which makes insulting insinuations about the prophet of islam and his wifes is celebrated on a state level and given a Royal honouring, endorsed by the british Government for his works.

All of these tensions have arisen in the midst of Government lectures given to the Muslim community in the UK about how they should feel a part of British society, integrate and work towards cohesion of communities. Minister after Minister as well as oppostion party members have continuously ruttled the same mantra, each time pointing the finger to the muslim community as probelmatic, not flexible and leading Parallel lives.

Once again, the Muslim community is being questioned on their "Tolerance levels". Rather than looking crtically at the event and its repercussions in relations in the UK, Secularism, the relegation of relgion to personal domains, is still being hailed as the key to success in forging a successful society where evryones rights are protected.

British Home Secretary John Reid alluded to this to an audience in New York that many Christians had been offended by Monty Python’s Life of Brian, while some Jewish people were offended by Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ;

"We have very strong laws about promoting racial tolerance. It isn’t a free-for-all. We’ve thought very carefully about it, but we have a right to express opinions and a tolerance of other people’s point of view, and we don’t apologize for that.”

The Muslim community remains confused. How serious is the government on Integration OR is this simply one of the exercises to mark how integrated we are; the benchmark being our ability to tolerate slingshots on Islam in the name of Freedom of speech. Surely that would mean were more tolerant, accepting, integrated and British. Doesn't it?

QUESTION TIME on Salman Rushdie's knighthood

QUESTION TIME on Salman Rushdie's knighthood

Panelists reason out the link between gaining a knighthood and its offence on sectors of the community. Once again, Freedom of Speech is categorised as a non-Negotiable concept for western countries to bargain on for any issue. People should accept it and be thankful for it.

Click to see the SHOW

QUESTION TIME on Salman Rushdie's knighthood

Panelists reason out the link between gaining a knighthood and its offence on sectors of the community. Once again, Freedom of Speech is categorised as a non-Negotiable concept for western countries to bargain on for any issue. People should accept it and be thankful for it.

Asian Leader Article- Reforming Islam?

The following was published in the Asian Leader newspaper (North West and Yorkshire) on 12 June 2007 articulating the case for how the muslim community feels about the idea of reforming Islam which the government is talking about.

Click here to read full article text

The Apprentice- How far will YOU go?

By Majed Iqbal- Its Wednesday night, BBC 2, and 9pm sharp. Millions of people in the UK have been glued to their screens ready to see the Hit TV show “The Apprentice”. He is the hard-nosed businessman who learnt life the hard way. Sir Alan Sugar, the son of a tailor, who left school at the age of 16 At the age of 21 he founded Amstrad which later floated on the London Stock Exchange.



He is one of the government's team of figureheads who travel around schools and universities encouraging young people to have an entrepreneurial spirit.He’s now looking for an apprentice; someone to work for him. Fourteen contestant’s ruthlessly battle for the position.

It’s the final week now. Will it be Simon or Kristina? By now, any of us who has watched this show will have realised that its cut throat. There are no friend’s, only foes. It’s a competition out there of the Survival of the fittest. Nobody cares about the next person. You ONLY defend yourself. All the smiles are Fake, the laughter is empty and the kind gestures and nice presentation is all deception.

The Apprentice- How far will YOU go?



By Majed Iqbal

Its Wednesday night, BBC 2, and 9pm sharp. Millions of people in the UK have been glued to their screens ready to see the Hit TV show “The Apprentice”.

He is the hard-nosed businessman who learnt life the hard way. Sir Alan Sugar, the son of a tailor, who left school at the age of 16 At the age of 21 he founded Amstrad which later floated on the London Stock Exchange. He is one of the government's team of figureheads who travel around schools and universities encouraging young people to have an entrepreneurial spirit.

He’s now looking for an apprentice; someone to work for him. Fourteen contestant’s ruthlessly battle for the position. It’s the final week now. Will it be Simon or Kristina?

By now, any of us who has watched this show will have realised that its cut throat. There are no friend’s, only foes. It’s a competition out there of the Survival of the fittest. Nobody cares about the next person. You ONLY defend yourself. All the smiles are Fake, the laughter is empty and the kind gestures and nice presentation is all deception

The Work Ethic

For some people, the apprentice programme may have come as a shock’. For others, we have seen this already in our workplaces. It’s nothing new. In fact some of us may have become the victims of this type of work Culture and Work Attitudes.

Most people are very materialistic wishing to gain as many pleasures as they can. Therefore working to earn money which they can use to fulfil these pleasures is a main goal. Hence, the better job you get, the more you have to enjoy life with. All the apprentice contestants were on good jobs. In fact Katie was earning 90K while last years contestant Tuan drove a Ferrari! If they have it all, then why do they want more?

The possible traps

As we are living in a materialistic society, we too can become victims of this type of thinking. Today you will see Muslims selling Alcohol in restaurants. Go to a Muslim Newsagents, you see the father putting his daughter at the counter who ends up selling Pornography magazines to customers. All in the name of Profit and earning a living!

What is driving such people to do this? It is no different to what the contestants of the Apprentice believe in. Work has become a religion in itself. Time is limited and you need to maximise your enjoyment in this world.

Indeed there will be many challenges which face us too, especially in the workplace. They will be in different shapes and forms depending upon where you work and your profession.

Compromising situations?

It’s running busy Friday afternoon. There’ lots of work to do before close of day. Other people are working through their lunch and munching away on their sandwiches. What do you do? Do you leave for Jumma prayer or stay in and work like everyone else? The Messenger of Allah (saw) said "A person who leaves three Friday prayers consecutively, Allah puts a seal on his heart." (Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud)

Will we fall for the charms of women who dress seductively at work? Statistics state that many girlfriend/boyfriend relationships begin with people in close contact to you. The workplace being a perfect breeding ground for that. Katie and Paul in this series; does that ring a bell? Ibn Abbas reported that he heard the Prophet give a speech in which he said: ''No man should be in seclusion (Khulwah) with a woman except with her Mahram''

The apprentice lifestyle distances people from their close relationships. We hear about this in our own communities where sons and daughters move away and are more worried about their careers than anything else. Islam placed great emphasis on maintaining relationships with family, cousins, kith and kin. Abu Ayyub al-Ansari narrates that a bedouin came to the Prophet (saw) while he was travelling. He asked, "Tell me what will bring me near to the Garden and keep me far from the Fire." He replied, "Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, perform the prayer, pay zakat, and maintain ties of kinship."

Conclusion

There is nothing wrong in pursuing a career, providing you remember that there is a purpose to life which is beyond acquiring goods. We carry an understanding about life which affects the way we behave. We carry concepts and ideas like halal and haram (lawful and unlawful) which shape our attitudes, values, opinions and actions. Compare this work ethic to the contestants on the Apprentice.

Allah says "But seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which Allah has given you, and do not neglect your portion of worldly life, and be kind as Allah has been kind to you, and seek not corruption in the earth" (Surah Al-Qasas verse 77)

The last thing we want is for Allah (swt) to say to us “I’ve had enough of you, you’ve made too many excuses, you’ve gone off and done what you wanted to do, you’ve disregarded protocol and you’ve simply broken the rules of the game. It’s the end of the game for you……………YOUR FIRED

RUTH KELLY on shared Values

RUTH KELLY on shared Values

Ruth kelly openely admits a government agenda in approaching the muslim community in the UK. She made clear references on how muslims need to adopt the shared 'British Values' and there are certain values which are 'non-negotiable'.

Click to see the Video Report

RUTH KELLY on shared Values

Ruth kelly openely admits a government agenda in approaching the muslim community in the UK. She made clear references on how muslims need to adopt the shared 'British Values' and there are certain values which are 'non-negotiable'.

Blair & Kelly call for REFORM of Islam

By Majed Iqbal- It was just under two months ago when Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly published an article in the New Statesmen Magazine, drafting out plans to shape a “British” version of Islam with a budget of £5 million to be ploughed into the project.

This week, Prime Minister Tony Blair joined in this debate at a conference titled "Islam and Muslims in the world today" at Cambridge University citing that “The principal purpose of this Conference is to let the authentic voices of Islam speak for themselves”.

Attended by the Grand muftis of Egypt and Bosnia as well as Pakistani PM Shaukat Aziz, Blair highlighted in his speech and in meetings with various representatives the need to reform madrassahs, boost Islamic studies with £1m funding at UK universities as a "strategic subject" playing a role "in preventing extremism" and breeding more home grown imams in an effort to engage effectively with young people born and brought up in Britain.

Ruth Kelly’s tone in the last couple of weeks has been no different. She said: "As a country we cannot afford to allow our young people to be intimidated and influenced by extremists' messages. Madrassahs have a pivotal role to play in winning the hearts and minds and supporting young people to reject the messages of extremist groups”.

Blair & Kelly call for REFORM of Islam



By Majed Iqbal

It was just under two months ago when Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly published an article in the New Statesmen Magazine, drafting out plans to shape a “British” version of Islam with a budget of £5 million to be ploughed into the project.

This week, Prime Minister Tony Blair joined in this debate at a conference titled "Islam and Muslims in the world today" at Cambridge University citing that “The principal purpose of this Conference is to let the authentic voices of Islam speak for themselves”.

Attended by the Grand muftis of Egypt and Bosnia as well as Pakistani PM Shaukat Aziz, Blair highlighted in his speech and in meetings with various representatives the need to reform madrassahs, boost Islamic studies with £1m funding at UK universities as a "strategic subject" playing a role "in preventing extremism" and breeding more home grown imams in an effort to engage effectively with young people born and brought up in Britain.

Ruth Kelly’s tone in the last couple of weeks has been no different. She said: "As a country we cannot afford to allow our young people to be intimidated and influenced by extremists' messages. Madrassahs have a pivotal role to play in winning the hearts and minds and supporting young people to reject the messages of extremist groups”.

The Muslim Community throughout the UK has met this government agenda with intense scrutiny. Many believed this was a new spin by the government to shift blame for Government misadventures in Afghanistan and Iraq onto the Muslim community under the auspices of tackling the threat of terrorism.

Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, was vocal in stating that the conference was "fronted" by Cambridge University , but had been organised by the government which had "deliberately chosen to exclude those Muslims who disagree with government policy."

Manchester based Mohammed Jahangir, Director of the Centre for Muslim Affairs said “Tony Blair’s speech is a total misreading of the Muslim world that points the finger to Islam as a problem and refuses to acknowledge British military intervention in countries as the causes for terrorism”

This new strategy took a hammering when Ruth Kelly claimed that 60 organisations had written an open letter and “have given support to the principles underpinning our action plan.” However, many of the organisations weren’t even told that the letter was in support of the Government action plan. The majority had not even seen the text of the letter and were not even consulted before their names were included.

In addition to this, Bradford , the key area of the government in launching this project and its new Citizenship curriculum titled ‘Nasiha’ was boycotted by more than half of the Mosques and madrassah’s.

Jamal Harwood from Hizb ut Tahrir in an open letter to Kelly wrote “While it was never suggested during the Troubles in Northern Ireland that state control of Catholic churches would have ended violence, we are now being told that it is an essential element of the 'war on terror' for Government to force mosques, Imams and madrassahs to teach secular liberal values, encourage support for British foreign policy and seemingly create a supine, compliant Muslim community”.

Although Blair was adamant at the end of his speech saying “this Conference is not about Government lecturing the Muslim world, or our Muslim communities”, many would feel to the contrary.

MORE Money : MORE Problems




By Majed Iqbal and Waseem Aslam

In an article published in the New Statesmen Magazine on 9th April 2007, she set out her plans for creating a British Islam for Muslims in the UK whilst at the same time setting out her plans for Mosques and Madrassas.

Ruth Kelly said "This project ensures that young Muslim students learn the true teachings of Islam and encourages them to play an active role in their local communities”.

Hence, in order to teach the Muslim community about Islam, Kelly has ploughed £100,000 into Rochdale to tackle “violent extremism”, identifying it as an area of “risk” based upon information gathered through intelligence reports. It doesn’t stop there. She has issued a new Citizenship curriculum for Madrassahs and Masjids to teach children on how to tackle 'extremism' in their communities.

Ruth Kelly said: "As a country we cannot afford to allow our young people to be intimidated and influenced by extremists' messages. Madrassahs have a pivotal role to play in winning the hearts and minds and supporting young people to reject the messages of extremist groups”.

In her campaign to show this is supposedly a grassroots initiative with majority backing up and down the country, Kelly said in a speech that 60 organisations had written an open letter and “have given support to the principles underpinning our action plan.”

The letter, titled, ‘Parallel Muslim Communities Statement to Speech of Ruth Kelly, MP, Minister of State’, dated April 5, was actually not written by the named organisations. Many weren’t even told that the letter was in support of the Government action plan. The majority had not even seen the text of the letter and were not even consulted before their names were included.

In addition to this, Bradford, the key area of launching this project and its new Citizenship curriculum titled ‘Nasiha’ was boycotted by more than half of the masjids, based upon the climate the curriculum was being introduced in; a climate of tarnishing the Muslim community as a problem community who suffers from the ills of extremism.

To further highlight the lack of support this so called “grassroots” initiative has, Rochdale community leaders in an emergency meeting early this week ridiculed the ‘Agenda’ set by Ruth Kelly, describing it as baseless, absurd, and another decoy ploy to shift the blame of UK foreign policy blunders in Iraq and Afghanistan onto the Muslim community under the guise of ‘Tackling extremism’.

So what will this new Curriculum for Citizenship aim to teach in Rochdale Masjids? These are some of the following scenarios:

A question involves the character "Ahmad" whose jihadi friends want to attack a local supermarket in retaliation for the war in Iraq . Kids will be asked: "Is it right for Ahmad to harm innocent Britons just because their government invaded a Muslim country?"

Another question to kids about what they would do if Islamic extremists sought to buy fertilizer for a bomb plot. Pupils will be asked should the shopkeeper sell it to them, even if she suspects it will be used for "holy war?"

So rather than accepting that the causes of this miniscule behaviour is related to occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and interferance in the political destiny of the muslim world, Ruth Kelly is more interested in diverting this attention and pointing fingers at the Muslim community with her new revelation of a “British” version of Islam.

So what does this “British” version of Islam mean and how will it affect us? Lets consider the following:

To create a compliant Muslim community who abandons speaking the truth on international issues for the sake of ‘National interest’ and ‘allegiance’ to the country. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said "Let not a persons fear of the people prevent him from speaking the truth if he has knowledge of it"


Forfeiting the link with the International Ummah and replacing this with a British Identity which does not worry about British involvement in Muslim lands. This is despite the fact that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said "The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthens the other".

The curriculum states “Citizenship is about respecting other people in the place where you are. It means that you to try to make other peoples lives as peaceful and as safe as you’d like them to make yours”. How did Jack Straw’s Tony Blair’s statements that the Niqab is a sign of segregation and John Reid’s comments that Muslim parents should spy on their children help in fostering the above?

Branding and labeling Muslims into moderates- those the government can work with- and extremists- those the government wishes to silence and sideline because they don’t tow their line on international issues like Iraq and Afghanistan; by default creating divisions amongst muslims . This is despite what Allah says "And hold fast together all of you by the Rope of Allah and be not divided amongst yourselves”

Accept that Islam is no different to other religions and is a faith that does not offer detailed solutions and systems of governance to tackle modern issues; only morals and basic rules for worship. This is what Kelly alluded to when she said “the government had to stamp out Muslim schools which were trying to change British society to fit Islamic values”.

Equating Political work for the re-establishment of the Caliphate (Shariah Rule) in the Muslim world as extremism despite the visions which the prophet of Islam gave when he said “This matter (the Caliphate) will be after me in Madinah, then in Syria, then in the Jazira, then in Iraq, then in Madina, then in Jerusalem. If it is in Jerusalem , its home country is there, and if any people expel it, it will not return there for ever"

That there is a choice even to reject Islam or its rules if you want to because of Freedom of thought and ‘tolerating’ others. This can be pictured with a recent article regarding a Muslim lady from Scandinavia who describes herself as "a feminist, a democrat, and a socialist, has gay friends, opposes the death penalty, supports abortion rights, and could not care less what goes on in other people's bedrooms". Hence creating a confused personality as opposed to an Islamic one.

These are some of the issues which Kelly’s initiatives aim to create amongst Muslims in the UK. Who in Rochdale will take a "Principle Stand", see through the government agenda and boycott these plans in Rochdale- Only time will tell.

VIRGINIA TECH- Tragedy at the Doorstep of the "Liberator"



By Waseem Aslam and Majed Iqbal

"Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions" was the reaction of Charles Steger the President of Virginia Tech yesterday where 32 students were shot dead by what seems was a lone gunman.

Never could the word's 'monumental proportions' be more apt for any incident than this. It is indeed an indictment of the world in which we live in today that students aspiring to learn would find their lives ended in a hail of bullets.

The shootings at Virginia Tech are not an isolated incident. Ever since the Columbine High School Massacre in April 1999 where 15 High School pupils were shot dead, the number of shootings at educational and other institutes in the US has been an all too regular occurrence. In fact the term "going postal" which refers to taking revenge on your former work colleagues was coined because of a shooting incident by a former postal worker in the US.

The responses to these shootings have been quite predictable with debate over the motives for the shootings. The initial response of the police being inadequate and the gun laws in the US . In the hysteria of trying to explain this tragic incident the real debate will be forgotten and ignored.

About the shootings The Rev. Jesse Jackson said "It's one of the biggest modern day tragedies we've known. We must double our efforts to reduce easy access to guns and take more seriously the need to address mental disorders and mental depression."

There has been no evidence to suggest that the gunman was mentally depressed or that the hundreds of other shootings that occur everyday in America are all linked to some kind of mental disorder but this is an easy get out clause when confronted with incidents that shake the very fabric of the society in which you live, in reality it is the safety blanket of a failed society.

It may be fair to say that there are too many guns in America just like there are too many knives in London ; but is this the real cause for the spree of shootings that plague everyday America and the recent knife attacks in London ?

Will stricter gun laws put an end to murder and violence in modern day Western Society?
It is very interesting to observe that there is little genuine interest in trying to understand the causes for such violence. However, European Countries as well as America have been heavily engrossed into rationalizing the causes for ‘extremism’ amongst Muslims.

This has simply not been confined to research but active policies have been implemented to ‘root out’ such ‘intolerant’ views. Hence, Muslim groups and individuals have been ‘bargained’ with by governments to carry out the ‘work’ on the ground to tackle the issues with great financial rewards as well as acquiring some form of status.

Why is there not an approach to understand what ‘radicalises’ a young person with a decent up bringing, stable family and who adopts liberal values in a free and democratic society? Surely, American and British Ideals must be the best. In fact, there is so much confidence in these principles that this is what is being sold internationally to countries like Iraq and Afghanistan .

So why is there no debate in Western Societies as to what ‘radicalises’ a youth to behave in such a way?

It is time for the Capitalist societies to stop burying their heads in the sand and wake up to the fact that this self professed great liberator of man has in fact imprisoned the American people to those carrying guns.

Eliminating guns from a society can only temporarily hide the problems which lie under the surface. The American people need a coherent and consistent premise from which to solve life's problems. Where Capitalism has failed and has only created misery Islam can succeed and give hope to the American people.

A look at Muslim communities throughout the world shows that despite having a great proliferation of guns very rarely are disputes solved using them, rather more traditional values of Islam are often refereed to.

Men want more family time



By Majed Iqbal

Men are increasingly yearning for a better work-life balance and want their partners to share the role of breadwinner so they can spend more time with their children, according to a survey published today. Male Magazine FHM commissioned a study, questioning 2,000 men around the UK with an average age of 30 about their views on Work life, equality and family.

Surprisingly, findings showed that men feel women have now changed their minds and want to go back to old roles. Half of men with a baby or young children say their partner "now wants him to earn enough so she can be a full-time mother", while 38% say their partner wants them to earn enough to allow her to work part-time.

Another study, published yesterday by the government's digital information and advice service Directgov, found that almost a third of UK parents feel their greatest stress is not spending enough time with their children.

The studies conducted highlight an attempt to understand the pressures being faced in modern British Society in tackling changing gender roles, achievement of both career goals and fulfillment, and a happy family life.

In a society modelled on commercial gain and the principles of benefit, both men and women are viewed as an economic product. The value of a person rests upon how much can be sucked out of each individual to generate wealth regardless of their gender.

It is therefore understandable why the Labour Government introduced a ''National Childcare Strategy'' in 1998 to provide thousands more child care places that would provide the mothers a place to leave their children while they pursued their careers, providing financial benefits such as the working families tax credit to make childcare more affordable.
T
his in itself creates problems expressed in the survey where 40% of those with children aged seven to nine, could not reconcile Britain's long hours working culture with family responsibilities, affecting both fathers and mothers equally.

The juggling of responsibilities for males and females has resulted in a number of problems within western societies. It has caused a strain on marriages and increased divorce due to the limited time the husband and wife spend with one another and with their children.

Even after 30 years of championing equality, women's rights, shared responsibility in the UK only 4% of judges are women, 11% are managers, and 2% of FTSE 100 directors are women.

In a book by Lisa Belkin called ''Life's Work: Confessions of an Unbalanced Mom'', she writes, ''Not a one of us seems to be able to give 100% of themselves to their job and 100% of themselves to their family, and 100% of themselves to taking care of themselves''.

Such ideals, values and visions are harmful for society and individuals and should in no way be a standard for Muslims. Islam provides its own solutions which create vibrant family structures, a source of happiness and tranquillity, and a bright future for children.

It is high time that the host population and government consider deliberating over Islamic ideals rather than continuing to force the Muslim community to integrate with a set of values which has been damaging to its own social fabric.

Allah (swt) says: ''And wish not the things in which Allah has made some of you excel others. For man is allotted from what they have earned, (and likewise) from the woman there is allotted from what they have earned'' [An-Nisa: 32].

Britney Shears- Capitalism is bad for your health dear!



By Majed Iqbal And Waseem Aslam

Just last weekend the world was exposed to yet another tantrum of celebrity misfits; once again it was Britney Spears who came to the limelight, but with the least expected behaviour. Earlier last week she was reported checking into Eric Clapton’s Crossroads rehab clinic in Antigua before checking herself out 24 hours later. She flew back to Los Angeles ‘economy class’ on American Airlines and immediately drove to a hair salon and demanded that staff shave her head. When they refused, she picked up some clippers and did it herself

There are increasing fears that the shocking new look from the singer is the latest stage in an escalating pattern of wild behaviour that resembles a breakdown. The incident has grasped attention internationally with internet sites, blogs and news stations, each attempting to present an ‘explanation’ of the ‘unexplained’ incident. Gurus, psychologists, mentors have all tried to give their indepth analysis as to the mental state of the fallen former "pop diva".

Once lauded as a teenage role model for her vows to maintain her virginity until she married, she is now better known for her increasingly disturbing stunts. She was renowned as a smart businesswoman who built up an £80m fortune; she now faces a financial challenge from her estranged husband, who is seeking half her wealth in a divorce under Californian law.

Britney Spears is not the only famous icon who has been involved in such imaginative incidents dubbed as signs of depression. Ruby Wax, Mariah Carey, Stephen Fry, Stan Collymore, Paul Gascoigne, Robbie Williams; all have had their fair share of the same dosage, whilst many other celebrities showing similar signs have yet not professed, being mindful of their showbiz ratings.

Western Society, in general is spiraling into chaotic behaviour. With maxims like ''eat drink and be merry for tomorrow you die'' or ''live for today'' or ''you only live once'' have all have become common explanations of motivations for leading lives.

Anxiety, often referred to as the ‘mid-life crisis’ is when people realise that they simply do the same thing day after day, week after week and year after year. Britney’s achievements at such a young age of 25 have reached unimaginable heights. Fame, stardom, money, exposure, celebrity status, Number one chart hits, marriage, children; but whats left now?

Unfortunately, Western consumer societies (Capitalism) offer no solution to this, apart from marketing a ‘new’ multi-million industry to tackle ‘depression’. No attempt is made to re-structure people’s lives who in their blind search to fill the voids in life are experimenting with anything and everything they can. The way "filling the void" manifests itself in people will vary but the underlying problem is the same, it may be drug abuse or the pursuit of fame and fortune.
Islam offers an intellectual basis, which is built on a conviction in the Creator, Allah (swt). When faced with calamity, the Muslim would feel pain or sorrow, as would any human being. However, it would not ordinarily push him towards the depths of despair or depression. This is because Islam has lifted the burden of material failure in this life from the Muslim.

The understanding of Qadaa' (fate), Rizq (sustenance) and Ajal (lifespan) give solace to the Muslim that wealth, health, life, family and those calamities that occurred from outside his control are all from Allah (swt) and Allah (swt) will not account him in these issues. So if Allah (swt) was to reduce or remove any of these provisions, then the Muslim would accept this with patience and understand that this is from his Lord (swt).
Britney Spears is in real need to address the balance of this life with the next. Only the convincing concepts of the origin of life, what you live for, and what happens after death can only resolve the crisis being faced by her.

So Britney, Capitalism will only you dump you once you pass your sell by date. It’s seriously bad for your health. A polite request from me; please check out Islam and may God bless your soul.

BIG BROTHER- Detoxing Societal attitudes

By Majed Iqbal

The Channel 4 programme Big Brother sparked a national debate off and a minor diplomatic incident last month after Indian contestant Shilpa Shetty was subjected to allegedly racist bullying by white housemates.

Whilst certain segments of the population voiced their opposition to such behaviour to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, which took a total of 45,100 complaints and Channel 4 fielding more than 10,000, National newspapers took the opportunity to cashing into the whole discussion. The Daily Mirror's exclusive interview with the Celebrity Big Brother winner boosted sales by at least 160,000 copies daily, paying in the region of £60,000 for its exclusive interview, whilst the Sun gave away free Bollywood film DVDs of the actress.

But away from the media frenzy stood an important discussion which had surfaced from the entire debacle which even the Prime Minister was not exempt from. The Government's equality chief, Trevor Phillips attempted to home into the discussion accusing Channel 4 of failing to take responsibility for the race row. "It was prejudice, and should have no place in our society ... what took place was a noxious brew of old-fashioned class conflict, straightforward bullying, ignorance and quite vicious racial bigotry."

The Archbishop of York waved some words of wisdom declaring the Big Brother race row revealed an "ugly underbelly in society only too ready to point the finger at the foreigner".

What has come to the forefront in this episode is a mirror which reflects what modern Britain is all about. Whilst Gordon Brown paraded the Capital of India defending British Values and promoting the phone vote as a referendum on racism, actress Shilpa was posing the question "Is this what people in Britain are like?"

Over a decade of championing Multi-culturalism in communities, through National Media and setting up race relations commissions, there seems to have been minor progress. The meagre responses to the Oldham and Bradford Riots did not address the core issues at stake and still continue to be ignored. The Big Brother debate was no different. So what are the questions that are being ignored? Let’s sit back and ask ourselves, are the host population willing to accept differences in colour and creed on the shores of Britain today?

The bleak concept of Multiculturalism has long been dissolved, despite efforts to formulate different meaningful identities for people such that people fit into British life. Attempts to show more 'Asian' movies on TV, organising 'cultural melas' or encouraging participation in politics, all have failed in making people with alternative values, ideals, principles and skin colour feel accepted in Britain.

Shilpa is not the only one who has taken the brunt of Britishness. Tony Blair has repeatedly singled out the Muslim community time and time again, claiming that Muslims are not integrating enough with the ideals and values which make Britain today. But what ideals is he referring to? Those ones which were demonstrated by the very celebrities in Big Brother whom millions of British people idolise? It may be a far fetched statement, but British people require integrating into Britain first before minorities and religious groupings are coerced into doing so. British Society by in large is in a need for a state of reflection on societal attitudes, ideals and values.

The fabric to glue people from diverse backgrounds; different beliefs, customs and races has not been more aptly demonstrated than the Islamic Caliphate System (Khilafah). Citizenship under this state was not subject to creed or colour and no one was forced to adopt ‘shared values’ or swear allegiance to the ruler; the proof of which can be symbolised by the presence of large Christian and Jewish communities in the Muslim world even till today.

Imam Qarafi (Classical Islamic Scholar) summed up the responsibility of the Caliphate to the non-Muslim Citizen (dhimmi) when he said: “It is the responsibility of the Muslims to the People of the Dhimma to care for their weak, fulfill the needs of the poor, feed the hungry, provide clothes, address them politely, and even tolerate their harm even if it was from a neighbour, even though the Muslim would have an upper hand. The Muslims must also advise them sincerely on their affairs and protect them against anyone who tries to hurt them or their family, steal their wealth, or violates their rights.”

Whilst similar scenes of discrimination are being imaged throughout Europe and stretching as far and wide to Australasia’s and the Americas, it is high time that Muslims and non-Muslims put forward the case for what creates ideal societies and leads to balance that can harmonise relationships between people from all walks of life.

The beginning of this debate may offer the remedy to 'detoxing' societal attitudes.