EXPOSED- "NASIHA" PROJECT

EXPOSED- "NASIHA" PROJECT-

NO to Government Agendas in Rochdale By Majed Iqbal

It has been months since the Government flashed out its new agenda for the Muslim community in the guise of re-structuring madrassahs with the teaching of a British version of Islam. Despite millions being poured in to win the 'Hearts and Minds' battle within the Muslim community, success has been minimal.

Gordon Brown, shortly after his inaugration re-championed the cause promising £32 Million in investment for next year on this very project and praising the launch of the Nasiha project in its pilot area, Bradford . Rochdale was allocated £100,000 by government to tackle the causes of 'Violent Extremism' , which again is the principle concept behind issuing this new curriculum for Masjids.



The clickable documents found above are all the organisations, institutions, groups and prominent individuals from Bradford who rejected the Government project and showed concern at the motivation behind the idea. However, on TV, through the press, and hand-picked Muslim personnel, the picture trying to be painted out is one of success and amazing results. The Documents are a proof of the rejection of the Government Plan, in the pilot area from grasroots organisations and individuals. If this is the case in the pilot area, what credibility does it have elsewhere?

EXPOSED- "NASIHA" PROJECT-

NO to Government Agendas in Rochdale By Majed Iqbal

It has been months since the Government flashed out its new agenda for the Muslim community in the guise of re-structuring madrassahs with the teaching of a British version of Islam. Despite millions being poured in to win the 'Hearts and Minds' battle within the Muslim community, success has been minimal.

Gordon Brown, shortly after his inaugration re-championed the cause promising £32 Million in investment for next year on this very project and praising the launch of the Nasiha project in its pilot area, Bradford . Rochdale was allocated £100,000 by government to tackle the causes of 'Violent Extremism' , which again is the principle concept behind issuing this new curriculum for Masjids.

The clickable documents found above are all the organisations, institutions, groups and prominent individuals from Bradford who rejected the Government project and showed concern at the motivation behind the idea. However, on TV, through the press, and hand-picked Muslim personnel, the picture trying to be painted out is one of success and amazing results. The Documents are a proof of the rejection of the Government Plan, in the pilot area from grasroots organisations and individuals. If this is the case in the pilot area, what credibility does it have elsewhere?

Key personalities like Mufti Mohammed Zubair Butt, Shariah Advisor, Institute of Islamic Jurispudence from Bradford was un-equivocal in his stance in the dispatches program on working on such government Initiatives. Unfortunately, Personalities on the same program from Rochdale had other views which were unrepresentative and lacked any real credibilty in thought. The reason simply being is a blind following of the British Governments Agenda, as witnessed in their support and backing and as outlined by many commentators.

There is no intellectual reasoning for such projects and should not in any way be transalated into the Masaajid and community of Rochdale. It is this path which will trigger off a divide in the Muslim community and will work to our own detriment, but will score major political points for the Government in its steps to tackle its phoney War on Terror.

Masjids Responsibility lies with the Community- NOT Govt

ROCHDALE Masjids Responsibility lies with the Muslim Community- NOT in the hands of Government- By Majed Iqbal

Masjids have been central to the development of the Muslim community ever since our fathers and mothers generation came to the UK. They were constructed with the sweat and dedication of hard working immigrants who valued their adherence to Islam, their heritage, and their values. These Masjids were built independently, financed out of the pockets of labourers and wives who sold their gold and jewellery to witness the continuation of their Islam which they bought with them from the sub-continent.

However, over the years to come, the Government has began to play a more increasing role in the affairs of Masjids, seeing them central and pivotal to tackling community affairs. After enjoying decades of independance, the cards seemed to have switched.

After 7/7, the government called upon Masjids to root out extremism and play their role in supporting the Government.
Plans were rolled out for imam Training to be ‘re-cultured’ in discussing only certain aspects of Islam which tow a secular line. Madrassah curriculum’s have been worked on and been re-defined to make Muslims apolitical, pacifist and cheer leaders of a bankrupt British Foreign Policy. Politicians have asked for Parents to play increasing roles on spying on other Muslims. Agendas and discussions have been rolled out by the government on camping Muslims into a moderate Muslim and extremist Muslim branch.

Responding in accordance with these measures, Masjids have slowly began to loose out on their independence and decision making procedures. These pressure on Masjids to conform has been witnessed by all- through Politicians, press, programmes like Panorama and Dispatches and hand-picked people from their own communities (and this is the unfortunately the case for Rochdale too) to spear head government agendas on Masjids despite their fallacy and corruption.Rhetoric from government ministers including Blair, Kelly, Blears, Reid, Clarke equates an approach no similar from brutal Arab dictatorships who have used the masjids to spill out government agendas- khutbas tailored to tow particular lines and monitored by intelligence services to reprimand anyone who oversteps the barrier.



What is laughable is how the debate of loyalty is being pitched onto whose side Muslims want to be as deliberated by a MP in Bradford.

Towing the government agenda on Masjids is instrumental to the governments position to internalise the debate and blame the Muslim community of problems spawned out of colonial mis-adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan. What is more disturbing is the use of Muslim personalities to achieve these objectives for Masjids in Rochdale. Rochdale has already had its share- now no more are excusable.

ROCHDALE Masjids Responsibility lies with the Muslim Community- NOT in the hands of Government- By Majed Iqbal

Masjids have been central to the development of the Muslim community ever since our fathers and mothers generation came to the UK. They were constructed with the sweat and dedication of hard working immigrants who valued their adherence to Islam, their heritage, and their values. These Masjids were built independently, financed out of the pockets of labourers and wives who sold their gold and jewellery to witness the continuation of their Islam which they bought with them from the sub-continent.

However, over the years to come, the Government has began to play a more increasing role in the affairs of Masjids, seeing them central and pivotal to tackling community affairs. After enjoying decades of independance, the cards seemed to have switched.

After 7/7, the government called upon Masjids to root out extremism and play their role in supporting the Government.
Plans were rolled out for imam Training to be ‘re-cultured’ in discussing only certain aspects of Islam which tow a secular line. Madrassah curriculum’s have been worked on and been re-defined to make Muslims apolitical, pacifist and cheer leaders of a bankrupt British Foreign Policy. Politicians have asked for Parents to play increasing roles on spying on other Muslims. Agendas and discussions have been rolled out by the government on camping Muslims into a moderate Muslim and extremist Muslim branch.

Responding in accordance with these measures, Masjids have slowly began to loose out on their independence and decision making procedures. These pressure on Masjids to conform has been witnessed by all- through Politicians, press, programmes like Panorama and Dispatches and hand-picked people from their own communities (and this is the unfortunately the case for Rochdale too) to spear head government agendas on Masjids despite their fallacy and corruption.

Rhetoric from government ministers including Blair, Kelly, Blears, Reid, Clarke equates an approach no similar from brutal Arab dictatorships who have used the masjids to spill out government agendas- khutbas tailored to tow particular lines and monitored by intelligence services to reprimand anyone who oversteps the barrier.

What is laughable is how the debate of loyalty is being pitched onto whose side Muslims want to be as deliberated by a MP in Bradford.

Towing the government agenda on Masjids is instrumental to the governments position to internalise the debate and blame the Muslim community of problems spawned out of colonial mis-adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan. What is more disturbing is the use of Muslim personalities to achieve these objectives for Masjids in Rochdale. Rochdale has already had its share- now no more are excusable.

WHY WE MUST ACT NOW to save our society

By Moh Bloggs- "Damn you all to Hell" is the cry from Charlton Heston at the end of the 1968 film Planet of the Apes. Tired, bruised and ultimately broken, Heston's character has just realised that it wasn't the apes to blame for the destruction of Earth, but actually the Humans. In perceiving a threat and blaming an enemy for something that his own kind had done, British society today is going much in the same direction. One that future generations will be damning us to hell for - not for the things we did, but for the things we didn't.







Whilst the country is gripped by a rising sense of fear that it is drowning in it's own societal ills, the debate and spotlight is placed on wars abroad and a perceived ideological threat at home. Incidents such as the shootings in Liverpool and London will for a time create a discussion point but rarely a healthy debate as to the future of the society in which we live. It is clear there are deep-rooted problems in modern life, which are creating a younger generation obsessed with guns, gang culture and the pursuit of a super ASBO.

WHY WE MUST ACT NOW to save our society

By Moh Bloggs

"Damn you all to Hell" is the cry from Charlton Heston at the end of the 1968 film Planet of the Apes. Tired, bruised and ultimately broken, Heston's character has just realised that it wasn't the apes to blame for the destruction of Earth, but actually the Humans. In perceiving a threat and blaming an enemy for something that his own kind had done, British society today is going much in the same direction. One that future generations will be damning us to hell for - not for the things we did, but for the things we didn't.

Whilst the country is gripped by a rising sense of fear that it is drowning in it's own societal ills, the debate and spotlight is placed on wars abroad and a perceived ideological threat at home. Incidents such as the shootings in Liverpool and London will for a time create a discussion point but rarely a healthy debate as to the future of the society in which we live. It is clear there are deep-rooted problems in modern life, which are creating a younger generation obsessed with guns, gang culture and the pursuit of a super ASBO.

The thing that will destroy British society is not an "evil ideology" as Blair kept on telling us, but British society itself. The refusal to accept that there is something wrong in the way modern society operates and thinks and lives will lead us all to doom. Just as the 2001 re-make of the Heston classic was heavy on style and image, it offered very little in the way of substance. Likewise, Capitalism is all very pretty but scratch beneath the surface and it displays the fruits of a failed society as in Britain.

The idea that depravation in inner-city areas leads to a sense of isolation and ultimately to criminality in our youth falls down upon closer examination. With most of the population of the third world living in deprived and hopeless conditions, problems such as those found in the UK are not prevalent there.

The behaviour of a society is based on core intrinsic values, which are indoctrinated to them from a young age. The fact that a child in somewhere like Afghanistan will at the age of ten collect pieces of waste paper all day on his donkey cart, and then sell them to the re-cycling plant for £1.50, which he will then give to his parents for the upkeep of the house, is unthinkable in a materialistic society such as the UK where the answers to lifes problem aren't found at the bottom of pile of waste paper but at the barrel of a gun.

Furthermore, a recent Unicef report stated the UK is the worst place in the developed world to raise children shouldn't be taken lightly. The government's screams of "not me guv" - with a smoke screen of old statistics put up to try and reject the findings - will not make the truth go away.

In the months to come there may be promises of government funding for more local grassroots projects in our inner cities but this isn't the solution to the problems of today. We must have an open debate as to why this is happening, why young men in one of the richest societies in the world, afforded all the opportunities of free education and self betterment, reject this to live a life of excess and broken dreams. It's not just boredom , lack of love and poverty that produces these men but it's also traits such as greed, selfishness and immorality, traits all too prevalent in the Capitalist societies of today.

The six elapsed years of the 21st century have been in the most part, filled with the pursuit of an ideology threatening our "way of life" (as Tony Blair liked to call it), yet in those years the ills of the ideology at home has manifested itself in the Soham Murders, the rise in youth crime, the introduction - and the quite speedy uptake - of ASBOs, years wasted, a generation lost and still no way out.

The saying goes "adversity introduces a man to himself" so I guess it's time to wake up to the real Britain because what we have been introduced to paints an ugly picture of what we have become. As for the evil of the ideology abroad, there is much Britain as a society could learn from the countries we invade and "liberate" because in adversity the man can be quite proud of what he sees.

It wouldn't be surprising if future generations look at the degraded societies in which they live and damned us all to Hell - maybe it would be a better place than what we helped create.

The RHYS JONES Tragedy

By Majed Iqbal- It was Wednesday night, 22nd August, when the mother of 11-year-old Rhys Jones cradled her dying son in her arms after he was shot on the streets of Liverpool by a youth who rode past on a BMX bike. One of the bullets hit Rhys in the neck, one hit a car and another missed.



The murder comes in the latest series of killings of young people this year. The Liverpool boy was the seventeenth young victim of gun crime in the UK this year. Other high-profile cases include 18-year-old Nathan Foster, a youth worker who was shot in the street in south London earlier this month and 15-year-old Michael Dosunmu, who was shot in Peckham, also in south London, in February.

Nearer to home, on Friday 24th August, a 20-year-old woman attacked by a gang of youths in a park in Rossendale, Lancashire, died in hospital. Lancashire police charged five teenage boys, aged between 15 and 17.

An inquest into the killing of Jessie James, 15, who was shot dead in Manchester last year, heard he was killed because he refused to join a gang.

THE CASE OF RHYS JONES - Preventing "Violent Extremism"?



By Majed Iqbal

It was Wednesday night, 22nd August, when the mother of 11-year-old Rhys Jones cradled her dying son in her arms after he was shot on the streets of Liverpool by a youth who rode past on a BMX bike. One of the bullets hit Rhys in the neck, one hit a car and another missed.

The murder comes in the latest series of killings of young people this year. The Liverpool boy was the seventeenth young victim of gun crime in the UK this year. Other high-profile cases include 18-year-old Nathan Foster, a youth worker who was shot in the street in south London earlier this month and 15-year-old Michael Dosunmu, who was shot in Peckham, also in south London, in February.

Nearer to home, on Friday 24th August, a 20-year-old woman attacked by a gang of youths in a park in Rossendale, Lancashire, died in hospital. Lancashire police charged five teenage boys, aged between 15 and 17.

An inquest into the killing of Jessie James, 15, who was shot dead in Manchester last year, heard he was killed because he refused to join a gang.

The spate of Youth crime this month has topped the agenda for media, politicians, Government, community and faith leaders and sparked off a huge debate in wider society on the origins, impact and repercussions of such behaviour currently looming in our communities.
Gordon Brown said the killing was a "heinous crime" that had "shocked the whole of the country". He said: "The people responsible will be tracked down, arrested and punished."
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith reassured the public that the issue of gun crime was still her priority after conceding to the fact that there were too many guns on the streets.

Already there have been a number of opinions as to what the causes of these crimes were and how they should be tackled. From alcohol abuse to social deprivation, poor education to difficult home lives and from single parent families to poverty. The Cheshire chief constable, Peter Fahy blamed cheap alcohol and its availability to young people for youth crime and antisocial behaviour.

Other commentators went as far as proposing military service for youth with behaviourial issues, following the model from some states in America where the Army participates heavily during School hours to inculculcate discipline and respect of authority.

While the government has been hell bent on tackling ‘extremism’ and ‘Islamism’ as ‘major threats’, real and pressing issues like youth crime, which have been making regular appearances for years on end have been left sidelined. The government has been more interested in playing the ‘Politics of fear’ game with Muslims, with its bullying line whilst neglecting another form of violence which has been more catastrophic than the attacks by militant criminals on UK soil.

Surely, the Brown government should be re-considering in investing the £5 million for tackling ‘Violent Extremism’ to gang, gun and crime culture for youth? If violence on the streets of Britain and protecting its citizens is the governments principle and foremost role then the £32 million pathfinder fund dedicated for next years project on tackling ‘Violent Extremism’ surely should be re-invested to the current crime phenomenon amongst youths?

Perhaps Ruth Kelly and new Communities minister Hazel Blears should roll out a new curriculum for local community centres and schools to tackle the radicalization of youth towards gun crime?

Are the demands too far fetched?....... and don’t serve political Capital in the current climate?

Rhy jones, a young lad described as “a very good footballer, a lovely and funny kid” will be remembered by all of us, sharing in the grief of the loss of life of an innocent child caught victim to a ruthless crime culture.

It seems that our concern as Muslims for the sanctity for life, wherever this maybe or whatever the background of the victim, is more sincere than those put in charge of looking after society.

Al-Jazeera Coverage of the Indonesia Khilafah Conference

On Sunday 12th August, the Islamic group, Hizb-ut-Tahrir Indonesia, stated that democracy is one of the main reasons why the country is lagging behind others. Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia spokesman Muhammad Ismail Yusanto said the situation had worsened since the economic crisis hit a number of Asian countries, including Indonesia, in the late 1990s.



About 100,000 Muslims gathered Sunday at the Bung Karno sports stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta, for the conference. Ismail said the establishment of an Islamic caliphate would help solve this country's problems and increase development.

Official statistics show that currently 39 million Indonesians live in poverty and 22 million people are unemployed. Millions of children also suffer from malnutrition and are unable to continue at school, Ismail added.

According to Ismail, the establishment of the caliphate would mark the application of sharia in all aspects of life and the reunification of Muslim countries all over the world.

Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said that non-muslims did not have to be afraid of the discourse on Khilafah. "Khilafah is a good Islamic teaching. We shouldn't reject it," he said.

Both Ismail and Din also stated that Hizbut Tahrir was strongly against violence. They urged the international community to be fair in its treatment of Hizbut Tahrir as a Muslim group.
"Hizbut Tahrir doesn't support any (form of) radicalism, especially not terrorism," Din stated.

Hizbut Tahrir was founded in Baitul Maqdis, Palestine, in 1953. It is banned in several Arab and Asian countries, but Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia has grown rapidly in recent years since its arrival here in the early 1980s.

Al-Jazeera Coverage of the Indonesia Khilafah Conference

Al-Jazeera Coverage of the Indonesia Khilafah Conference

On Sunday 12th August, the Islamic group, Hizb-ut-Tahrir Indonesia, stated that democracy is one of the main reasons why the country is lagging behind others. Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia spokesman Muhammad Ismail Yusanto said the situation had worsened since the economic crisis hit a number of Asian countries, including Indonesia, in the late 1990s. About 100,000 Muslims gathered Sunday at the Bung Karno sports stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta, for the conference. Ismail said the establishment of an Islamic caliphate would help solve this country's problems and increase development.

Watch the VIDEO REPORT covered by Al-Jazeera news station here Official statistics show that currently 39 million Indonesians live in poverty and 22 million people are unemployed. Millions of children also suffer from malnutrition and are unable to continue at school, Ismail added.

According to Ismail, the establishment of the caliphate would mark the application of sharia in all aspects of life and the reunification of Muslim countries all over the world.

Mainstream OR Fringe?
The Indonesian Khilafah Conference- (August 2007)

By Majed Iqbal

We've been hearing it from the Politicians in the West, from Corrupt Rulers in the Muslim and Arab world, from selected 'Scholarly' personnel that Caliphate is a historical Phenomenon with no relevance to the modern World today. These sections have actively worked to malign the call for Khilafah as extreme, violent, and the call of dis-illusioned Muslims visualising some pipe dream that is worthy of fantasizing about but will never have any effect in reality.

Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia, as part of a global awareness campaign for Khilafah have successfully held the largest Khilafah Conference the world has ever seen since the destruction of the Khilafah on the 28 Rajab 1342 (hijri date). Attended by a phenomenal 100,000 people, in the packed out Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno stadium, the world press, international media, Muslim rulers, government 'scholars' and western politicians watched on in awe, with jaws dropped, as their propaganda on the subject matter watered away in front of their own eyes.


The largest country in the Islamic World staged an unbelievable and unprecedented conference with International and national Speakers on the concept of khilafah, the very concept which is resurging dramatically in the Muslim world as a credible and viable form of government; the very aspiration which Washington and London are currently worried and sleepless over.

Despite the cheap rhetoric spread by many in the Community in the UK, in Rochdale, and internationally, the discussions on Khilafah remain the Pillar of Islam with growing grassroots support. Concocted terms of fringe and mainstream, coined by governments to malign and muddy the work for the global restoration of the caliphate can no longer be used to fragment Muslim groups and their unity in Rochdale, Britain and internationally.

The ideas of Ummah, Shariah, Khilafah are non-negotiable and not up for change amongst the Muslim community to suit the agendas of governments in their phony 'War on terror'. These are inherent parts of Islam with no jurisprudential differences whatsoever.

Indonesia was not alone on this campaign to highlight the crucial issues facing Muslims in the current climate. Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Ramallah, Gaza, Malaysia, Netherlands, Denmark, all staged similar Conferences (Gaza audience accumulating to 10,000).

Therefore, is there any question on the restoration of the Caliphate as a Political right and a destiny which is for a surety to dawn very soon in the Muslim World.

Mainstream or Fringe? I'l leave your minds to ponder over that.

KHilafah- Mainstream OR Fringe?

Mainstream OR Fringe?
The Indonesian Khilafah Conference- (August 2007)

By Majed Iqbal

We've been hearing it from the Politicians in the West, from Corrupt Rulers in the Muslim and Arab world, from selected 'Scholarly' personnel that Caliphate is a historical Phenomenon with no relevance to the modern World today. These sections have actively worked to malign the call for Khilafah as extreme, violent, and the call of dis-illusioned Muslims visualising some pipe dream that is worthy of fantasizing about but will never have any effect in reality.

[slideshow id=432345564232050020&w=426&h=320]

Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia, as part of a global awareness campaign for Khilafah have successfully held the largest Khilafah Conference the world has ever seen since the destruction of the Khilafah on the 28 Rajab 1342 (hijri date). Attended by a phenomenal 100,000 people, in the packed out Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno stadium, the world press, international media, Muslim rulers, government 'scholars' and western politicians watched on in awe, with jaws dropped, as their propaganda on the subject matter watered away in front of their own eyes.

Shaping the destiny of the Muslim world

By Majed Iqbal- In October 2005, the then British Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, made a speech to the right wing neo-conservative US think-tank the Heritage Foundation where he said:

"What drives these people on is ideas. And, unlike the liberation movements of the post-World War II era, these are not political ideas like national independence from colonial rule, or equality for all citizens without regard for race or creed, or freedom of expression without totalitarian repression. Such ambitions are, at least in principle, negotiable and in many cases have actually been negotiated. However, there can be no negotiation about the re-creation of the Caliphate; there can be no negotiation about the imposition of Shariah law".

An interesting statement to say the least, which coincided with the governments feeble attempts to try and ban a legitimate political party in the UK advocating the re-establishment of a caliphate for the Muslim world. What seemed to be more delusional than this was Charles Clarke’s attempts to paint a picture of the Islamic Civilization which boasts a 1400 years of rich political, social, cultural, educational and economic history, to one in his eyes no different to current Zimbabwe under the authority of the Harold shipman of Africa , Robert Mugabe. A gory picture indeed Charles.

However, its not only Charles Clarke who was interested in this discussion over two years ago. Senior politicians, including George Bush are now 'warning' of the consequences of its re-establishment. Bush, in a speech to the American nation on the 8th of October 2005 stated:

"The militants believe that controlling one country will rally the Muslim masses, enabling them to overthrow all moderate governments in the region, and establish a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia."

Shaping the destiny of the Muslim world

By Majed Iqbal

In October 2005, the then British Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, made a speech to the right wing neo-conservative US think-tank the Heritage Foundation where he said:

"What drives these people on is ideas. And, unlike the liberation movements of the post-World War II era, these are not political ideas like national independence from colonial rule, or equality for all citizens without regard for race or creed, or freedom of expression without totalitarian repression. Such ambitions are, at least in principle, negotiable and in many cases have actually been negotiated. However, there can be no negotiation about the re-creation of the Caliphate; there can be no negotiation about the imposition of Shariah law".

An interesting statement to say the least, which coincided with the governments feeble attempts to try and ban a legitimate political party in the UK advocating the re-establishment of a caliphate for the Muslim world. What seemed to be more delusional than this was Charles Clarke’s attempts to paint a picture of the Islamic Civilization which boasts a 1400 years of rich political, social, cultural, educational and economic history, to one in his eyes no different to current Zimbabwe under the authority of the Harold shipman of Africa , Robert Mugabe. A gory picture indeed Charles.

However, its not only Charles Clarke who was interested in this discussion over two years ago. Senior politicians, including George Bush are now 'warning' of the consequences of its re-establishment. Bush, in a speech to the American nation on the 8th of October 2005 stated:

"The militants believe that controlling one country will rally the Muslim masses, enabling them to overthrow all moderate governments in the region, and establish a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia."

On December 5th 2005, the then US Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld in remarks pertaining to the future of Iraq at John Hopkins University said

"Iraq would serve as the base of a new Islamic Caliphate to extend throughout the Middle East and which would threaten the legitimate governments in Europe, Africa, and Asia. This is their plan. They have said so. We make a terrible mistake if we fail to listen and learn".

Tony Blair after 7/7 also referred to the need to confront an "an evil ideology" that included "the establishment of effectively Taliban States and Shari'ah law in the Arab world en route to one Caliphate of all Muslim nations".

Despite the attempts to sketch out a medieval entity populated with religious zealots, perhaps if Mr. Clarke had possibly scratched his head and try to understand exactly why the caliphate is a model which Muslims internationally, stretching from the Middle East, Africa, to South Asia place their confidence in. Maybe attempting to reason this may have aided him to draw his conclusions better. Let’s put some facts on the table for us to consider.

Pakistan currently has a population of 164,741,924. Around 38 million (24% of the population) live below the national poverty line. 50% of the adult population is illiterate. One in ten children die before their fifth birthday. The country is in $36 billion debt- a figure which has remained stationary since Year 2000. Bangladesh has a population of 150,448,339. Around 36.0% of people are living below $1 a day: 82.8 % of people living below $2 a day.

Tajikistan lies at the south-eastern corner of Central Asia, bordering Uzbekistan , Kyrgyzstan , China and Afghanistan . With a small Population of 7 million, 64% of them are living below $2.15 per day

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa , with a population of 140 million. The country suffers from extreme poverty with over 70 million people who live on less than $1/day. one in five children dies before the age of five; 7 million children are not in school; and around 3 million people are living with HIV or AIDS.

Couple this with nearly all of the Rulers in the Muslim world who are un-elected, un-representative and have imposed themselves through usurpation of power. Musharraf, Mubarak, Ghadaffi, House of Saud, karimov, karzai, Noor-al Maliki; What are their credentials? Who installed them in power? Do they represent the interests of the masses? In fact President Mubarak won the last elections with a landslide victory of 99.9% of the Votes? Definitely a shining example of true democracy in place.

So, its not exactly the most rosiest picture, especially when the government of Charles Clarke has played a pivotal role in forging the dire conditions in these countries which people are currently suffering from; economic strangulation through the IMF and World bank, physical invasions to secure strategic resources, un-elected rulers- backed and financed by western powers and continuous meddling in internal affairs.

With such a backdrop and years of experimentation with various models of governance ranging from Democratic socialism, Presidential democracy, Arab nationalism, Secular democracy, Arab Socialism, Real democracy, Sham democracy, parliamentary democracy and copy and paste Capitalism; it is now that the populations of these regions have forfeited these bankrupt models and evaluated their aspirations for the caliphate;

A state based on Islam promising economic independence from colonial institutions, Protection of borders from foreign intervention, food, clothing and shelter for all, social stability in society, educational and technological breakthrough and contribution, accountable rulers to root out corruption, and independent judiciaries to dispense justice equally to all; these are the aspirations that the Muslim world calls out for.

A recent study by the University of Maryland published in April 2007 also confirmed this trend towards Shariah, with the report stating:

"Large majorities in most countries support the goals of requiring a strict application of sharia, keeping out Western values, and even unifying all Islamic countries into a single Islamic state."

Interestingly, in addition to greater than 70 per cent support for Shariah and a unifying Caliphate the respondents overwhelmingly rejected that the change would come via violence.

Unfortunately, Mr. Clarke and now, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, American President George Bush and many Western politicians seem to sideline the real pressing issues which people in these regions need addressing.

So is there anything wrong with ascribing yourself to a call which aligns you to the most successful civilisation and the longest serving ideology since the dawn of man? If Western Politicians are worried about the Islamic Ideology being outdated, then they may want to consider checking out the dates for democracy which goes back to the Greeks from the time of Aristotle, Plato and Socratese; which is centuries earlier than Islam.

So Charles, is the re-creation of the Caliphate and imposition of Shariah law for the Muslim world still non-negotiable?

ROCHDALE SISTERS air their views with Media

More than half of the participants at Sunday, 4th August's conference on Khilafah in London were women. The press took note of this as their diet of thoughts on Islam, women and Political/social life were marred and shaped through western liberal insight which often depicts muslim women as voiceless and victims of male patriarchy. Rochdale sisters made the following statements which appeared in the International Herald tribune, New York times and the BBC.

"Some of the most ardent adherents to the party’s ideas about a caliphate were expressed by women. Rubina Ahmed, 33, a mother of four who came on a charter bus from Manchester (should be Rochdale!!!), said,

“It’s the in-depthness of the caliphate that I like.” Hizb ut-Tahrir “doesn’t compromise on the values of Islam, and it’s not afraid to speak out for what it wants,” she said. "

"Neela, a London-born woman now living in Rochdale, was one of those who sympathised.

"What you will find with Muslims is that we have a global identity, we share the same relief. It's not about me being a Muslim in Britain and she's a Muslim in Palestine, she is still my sister. When I see Iraq happening, I feel sad."

"There is no one taking account of British and American foreign policy for what it is actually doing to Muslim lands. "

"When we look at the solution of the caliphate, we're saying enough is enough, Muslims in the Muslim world should be allowed to choose their own political destiny. If it's Sharia law, that's their right." "

Links: Rubinas comments Neelas Comments

ROCHDALE SISTERS in the Press

ROCHDALE SISTERS air their views with Media



More than half of the participants at Sunday, 4th August's conference on Khilafah in London were women. The press took note of this as their diet of thoughts on Islam, women and Political/social life were marred and shaped through western liberal insight which often depicts muslim women as voiceless and victims of male patriarchy. Rochdale sisters made the following statements which appeared in the International Herald tribune, New York times and the BBC.

"Some of the most ardent adherents to the party’s ideas about a caliphate were expressed by women. Rubina Ahmed, 33, a mother of four who came on a charter bus from Manchester (should be Rochdale!!!), said,

“It’s the in-depthness of the caliphate that I like.” Hizb ut-Tahrir “doesn’t compromise on the values of Islam, and it’s not afraid to speak out for what it wants,” she said. "

"Neela, a London-born woman now living in Rochdale, was one of those who sympathised.

Early morning on Saturday, just after fajr (morning prayer), 55 men and women, some young and some old. some educated and some.....................more educated.......gathered together to set off for the much awaited Khilafah Conference in London. There were plenty of discussions circulating in Rochdale about the importance of such an event after 3000 flyers had been distributed 2 weeks earlier at Jumah (Friday prayers) and in the evenings in the various areas of Rochdale.

Hence there was healthy debate surrounding the conference on the journey on what the Government means when it talks about Extremism; Is the concept of khilafah (Caliphate) extreme? Is Political Islam which calls for the Muslim world to be shaped on its beliefs, History and Islamic legacy non-negotiable in todays era? Are political movements working for the aspirations of Millions in the Muslim world in any way a threat to anybody? Does the government believe that Islam is outdated and non-applicable? How can the Government Praise Islamic History but actively work to distort its re-application in the Muslim World by labeling it as unfit to "Global values"?

With these questions in mind as well as questions to do with how the Caliphate state will deal with building a healthy economy, eradicating Corruption, dealing with Minorities, Foreign policy, International trade, transfer of Technology, Education, Womens rights, tackling international Institutions like IMF and the World Bank, and a whole array of other questions; The Rochdale participants planned to get some serious answers.

Further coverage, audio, pictures and videos can be found by clicking here.

ROCHDALE at the Khilafah Conference

Early morning on Saturday, just after fajr (morning prayer), 55 men and women, some young and some old. some educated and some.....................more educated.......gathered together to set off for the much awaited Khilafah Conference in London. There were plenty of discussions circulating in Rochdale about the importance of such an event after 3000 flyers had been distributed 2 weeks earlier at Jumah (Friday prayers) and in the evenings in the various areas of Rochdale.

Hence there was healthy debate surrounding the conference on the journey on what the Government means when it talks about Extremism; Is the concept of khilafah (Caliphate) extreme? Is Political Islam which calls for the Muslim world to be shaped on its beliefs, History and Islamic legacy non-negotiable in todays era? Are political movements working for the aspirations of Millions in the Muslim world in any way a threat to anybody? Does the government believe that Islam is outdated and non-applicable? How can the Government Praise Islamic History but actively work to distort its re-application in the Muslim World by labeling it as unfit to "Global values"?

The Age of Irony is Dead!

Published on the Islamic Times website

By Andrusha Wickremeratne (Hebden Bridge)- In 1973 Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. As Tom Lehrer, one of America’s leading satirists remarked at the time: “political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace”, since amongst Kissinger’s contribution to peace that year was the continuation of the bombing campaign of neutral Cambodia, started in 1970 and instigated by that esteemed diplomat and peacemaker, resulting in an estimated loss of 600,000 lives.



Sadly present day Tom Lehrers are thin on the ground. Tony Blair’s newly appointed position as Middle East Envoy with a special remit to, amongst other things, bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinians, has not been greeted with howls of disbelief, disdain or ridicule, but treated with all due gravitas and seriousness within the parameters of liberal journalism and commentary.

First, lets set a few things straight. There was no popular clamour for Blair to be seconded to this role. Indeed ordinary people around the world would probably agree with Lehrer’s appraisal of Kissinger as applied to Blair. For those Iraqis and Afghanis, the recipients of Western beneficence and bombs, the reaction would probably be somewhat stronger. No, Tony Blair was appointed to his new role by the “Quartet”; that is, representatives from the US, UN, EU and Russia. And who are these representatives? Highly educated diplomats, consumers of free lunches, people who appreciate a fine vintage wine, and who, like Kissinger does today, charge exorbitant sums of money for a speaking engagement on Peace.

FROM ISLAMABAD to London to Washington

Published in The Islamic Times Newspaper


By Majed Iqbal- Sacking of the Chief justice, Lawyers rallying on the streets, MQM activists murdering protesters, Madrassah students trying to create a state within a state, the Lal Masjid showdown; Pakistan peoples Party’s switch in allegiance to the Musharraf regime; Pakistan has seen it all in the last seven months.



With deep discontent and resentment rising over the unfolding sagas in the last months, President Musharraf is bordering a Political crisis with elections looming on the horizon and ace cards to place on the table to obtain support seem to be running out.



Support for Musharraf has plunged since February, according to an opinion poll published on Wednesday 2nd August 2007. The latest poll, conducted by the Washington-based International Republican Institute, found dissatisfaction with the president has surged this year with 63 per cent of respondents calling for him to quit.

FROM ISLAMABAD to London to Washington



By Majed Iqbal

Sacking of the Chief justice, Lawyers rallying on the streets, MQM activists murdering protesters, Madrassah students trying to create a state within a state, the Lal Masjid showdown; Pakistan peoples Party’s switch in allegiance to the Musharraf regime; Pakistan has seen it all in the last seven months. With deep discontent and resentment rising over the unfolding sagas in the last months, President Musharraf is bordering a Political crisis with elections looming on the horizon and ace cards to place on the table to obtain support seem to be running out.

Support for Musharraf has plunged since February, according to an opinion poll published on Wednesday 2nd August 2007. The latest poll, conducted by the Washington-based International Republican Institute, found dissatisfaction with the president has surged this year with 63 per cent of respondents calling for him to quit. The poll also showed a rising sense of insecurity in the country, with 72 per cent of respondents not supporting Musharraf's decision in March to suspend Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.

More damning was the Brussels-based think tank, the International Crisis Group, who issued in their latest report on Pakistan that the end of President Musharraf's government was ‘a matter of time’ and ‘If the president tries to rig the elections or proclaims emergency rule, it could lead to street demonstrations and violent clashes with the military’ the report warned.

Musharraf’s blunder in sacking the Chief Justice cost him hugely and drew immense dissatisfaction on the streets in Pakistan. With the entire nations focus on damning the President in interfering with the independence of the Judiciary, Musharraf required a calculated miracle to regain balance in his favour. The Lal Masjid showdown’s timing and orchestration was now to prove its worth, after allowing it to build up from as far back as February 2007.

According to Mir Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, head of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, who was sent to negotiate with the mosque administration, and who was about to resolve the issue in April, was "asked by someone very important to delay it". According to Ishtiaq Ali Mehkri, news editor at Geo TV, the Lal Masjid standoff was a "masterpiece of intelligence agencies" and an "eyewash" to deflect attention from issues of national importance, especially the Supreme Court hearing of the petition of Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

The government milked this ‘triumph’ for all it is worth, portraying it as another victory against ‘extremism’. The image which Musharraf had cultivated in the West of being the last bulwark in Pakistan against the rising tide of Talibanisation was further strengthened.

Beyond the saga of Lal Masjid lay the challenge of Musharraf retaining his position and power; something which not only had been on his mind but the American administrations too. A swift maneuver from the Military regime in favour of reviving an old Pakistani dynasty with Musharraf still retaining power was the formula currently being conjured up.

On 27th July, Musharraf Benazir flew into the UAE capital Abu Dhabi for an unannounced meeting that was aimed at ending eight years of extreme hostility and to give the Pakistani politics a new direction. Much earlier, a US state department spokesman, briefing the media on June 11, had already alluded to possible changes "There are going to be some important elections coming up in the fall," he said, adding that Musharraf had pledged that, if he "continues in political life", he will "put aside the uniform".

The set up therefore seems appeasing to all parties involved. That is, Musharraf and Benazir will together run Pakistan as President and Prime Minister respectively. The national general elections will take place in Pakistan in the coming months, but as it appears, the results of the elections have already been decided and endorsed from Washington.

Once again, foreign nations triumph in playing the pivotal role ofsteering the direction of Pakistan, the cost of which the Pakistani population will pay for the time to come, just as they have witnessed with Musharraf and his instructions from Capitol Hill in the last decade.

SKY NEWS Interview- Benazir discusses "Deal"

SKY NEWS Interview- Benazir discusses "Deal"

Benazir outlines her moves and aspirations to re-enter Pakistani politics under a brokered deal with Musharraf that would suit the United States and in which would appease the liberal segment of Pakistan’s oligarchy. It is being argued that Ms. Bhutto would bring popular support for a power-sharing arrangement and could provide Pakistan’s army with an exit strategy.

Benazir maneuvers her way around the frank questions hurled at her by the presenter; especially her acceptance of power-sharing with a Dictator.

Watch the SKY NEWS interview

SKY NEWS Interview- Benazir discusses "Deal"

Benazir outlines her moves and aspirations to re-enter Pakistani politics under a brokered deal with Musharraf that would suit the United States and in which would appease the liberal segment of Pakistan’s oligarchy. It is being argued that Ms. Bhutto would bring popular support for a power-sharing arrangement and could provide Pakistan’s army with an exit strategy.

Benazir maneuvers her way around the frank questions hurled at her by the presenter; especially her acceptance of power-sharing with a Dictator.