My battle with Cancer- Living with the spirit of Passion

By Yasmeen Ahmed- On Thursday 28th February I was given some news that is likely to drastically change my life for a considerable amount of time...I was diagnosed with breast cancer (Alhamdullilah).

I was due to go into theatre on Friday 7th March to undergo a masectomy, and after a recovery period I would have had 6 months of chemotheraphy.

Instead of my pre-op appointment on Monday 2nd March I had to have a meeting with my consultant as the team of medical staff had met and looked at my case; I was informed that I have an aggressive form of cancer which meant a slight change of plan.

My initial treatment of 6 months of of chemotheraphy started on the 12th of March, it is to be followed by a masectomy which I have been told will "most likely" be followed by another 6 months of chemotheraphy and some radiotheraphy; basically I've been told they intend to try everything on me, with it being an agressive cancer it has to be treated more aggressively.

Islamic Times Article- Pakistan Elections 2008

An article from the blog was published in the Islamic Times Newspaper, which covered the Outcome and Future of the Pakistani Elections. The Islamic Times is a quarterly published newspaper with a growing readership throughout the UK.



The full text for the newspaper article can be found by clicking HERE

Dutch MP’s Anti- Quran Film: Is this the road to Integration?

Published on LookAsia and Asian News

By Majed Iqbal- It was on September 30, 2005, when the Danish daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten's, published cartoons depicting the Prophet of Islam in an attempt to "test the level of tolerance of Muslims" living in Danish Society.



Two years on from the international furor created by these publications, a sequel with an even more loaded message to this issue is about to re-kindle another international situation.

Dutch lawmaker, MP Geert Wilders, who last summer called for the Quran to be banned in the Netherlands has now made a movie, entitled "Fitna", to support his contention that the Koran inspires "intolerance, murder and terror."

Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party had long threatened to release a film exhibiting, in his words, "the violent and fascist elements of the Muslim faith".

Holland- Serious about Cohesion?

Published on the Asian News Letters Section

By Maqsood Ahmed- Fitna, a film directed by a Dutch Parliamentarian, Geert Wilders, and to be released shortly has openly called for the Quran to be banned and likens the Quran to Adolf Hitler's book Mein Kampf. All this is done in the name of "freedom of expression".



At a time when the propaganda on Islam is on the rise, and Muslim community is being coerced to assimilate into the dominant culture, it is imperative we look deeply at the issue of community cohesion. This term "community cohesion" seeks to gel the community together on a set of "common values".

Surely community cohesion must mean all cultures are respected for their values for greater harmony in our community. Yet, in the name of "freedom" Islam is mocked and insulted and Muslims are expected to buy into this "universal idea".

Divorce- Celebrity Style !

By Majed Iqbal- What started off as love in the air leading to tying the knot has now evolved into hatred in the air and tightening the noose! The Heather Mill's divorce battle over Sir Paul McCartney's reputed £825 million fortune to be decided by a High Court judge has caught attention nationally in the media and reached out world wide to audiences.



March 17th, the date set for the ruling on the epic divorce has been perfect in providing gossip material over an issue which has become part and parcel of celebrity lifestyles that we are bombarded with on a daily basis through cable, Sky, and jazzed up celeb mags.

Nobody seems to really care less at what is happening in the lives of celebs with their miss-fit marriages as long as it makes good reading and allows hardcore gossip addicts to feel that they are in the lead with what's "hot or not" in their circles giving them somewhat a false sense of leadership.

Heather, who is representing herself, is expected to repeat sensational allegations that Paul was abusive and violent after drink and drug binges and is believed to be demanding £50 million.

VIDEO- Extremism Debate and Discussion

Watch the Question Time event titled "Extremism, Islam and the Muslim Community on Youtube. The event drew hundreds and produced a productive enviroment for dialogue in the Rochdale Community.



The Event was publicised in the press and was greeted with positive commentary after in local newspapers and regional websites. The Event Video is in five Parts. Click on the link HERE or on the YOUTUBE logo to see the event coverage.

Pakistani Elections 2008- What now holds for the future?

Also available on the Asian Image Website

By Majed Iqbal- February 18th 2008 saw Pakistan embarking on its Election Day amidst the chaos, Political unstability, violence, Foreign Interference and heavy handed tactics of the darling of London and Washington, the self styled "President" of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf.



Dubbed as the most crucial and most important Elections in Pakistan and the sixth in the country's fifty one year history, international Media and Western states alongside a "Special" Foreign Election Investigators team sent to observe the whole process, were watching events with close attention as events unfolded minute by minute in this country described as a "volatile" and a "politically unstable" area.

If Elections in Pakistan ever changed anything, They'd be Abolished!

Published on the Heritage Section of Asian News

By Majed Iqbal- Today is February 18th 2008. A much awaited day and for some a day which supposed to have begun last month for many. Today, Pakistan is embarking on its Election Day amidst the chaos, Political unstability, violence, Foreign Interferance and heavy handed tactics of the darling of London and Washington, the self tyled "President" of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf.



Discussions on Elections and restoring the country onto a democratic route have been heavily discussed by Pakistani politicians, TV Channels, Newspapers and by the existing government officials.

Promises flavoured with enticing language of development, progress, education for all, rooting out corruption, free media, helping the poor, quashing extremism and placing the country of Pakistan back onto the international stage with pride amongst the world community; all such lollypop advert styled slogans have come thick and fast in efforts to engage the nation into voting for the "right choice".

A life without meaning is no life at all

By Moh Bloggs- Bridgend is a sleepy little place in South Wales, I've passed through it once many many moons ago, it struck me like the rest of the small towns in Wales a place without any real purpose.



This small town is now the centre of what is one of the UK's largest suicide patterns with 16 apparent suicides amongst young people in the last year alone.

The latest victims are two cousins who were found dead within hours of each other, Nathaniel Pritchard, 15, died in hospital after "harming himself" and Kelly Stephenson, 20, was found hanged while on holiday in Kent. The Police are not linking the current deaths to the pattern in Bridgend at the moment, but I think there is something more sinister at work here.

New aged liberal intolerance

By Moh Bloggs - Just like Kryptonite to Superman, there are some things British society just can't stand. In the last week one of these seems to be Islam I say this having considered the gravity of the statement very carefully.



Ever since the comments from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowen Williams, regarding the possible use of some aspects of Sharia law for Muslims in the areas of marriage and the like, there has been a frenzy of anti-muslim sentiments. These have been expressed by the media (both written and visual) and by the average person on the street.

The very idea of Muslims using Islam to solve their own problems has been lost in the noise about how supposedly backward Sharia is, conjuring up scenes of hand chopping and public floggings in the streets of Britain.