munaeem | 17 September, 2006 11:32
17 September 2006
THIS is in response to Imdad Ali’s letter, ‘Fighting an idea’ (KT, Sept. 16).
Whatever Mr Galadari wrote is true. But the situation is very complex. Because
perpetrators of those horrific crimes are using the name of Islam. They twist
and slant the meaning of Quranic Verses and holy traditions to justify their
actions.
Many of the Muslim leaders are also responsible for this crisis. They have
failed to provide welfare services to their citizens. Because of their
repressive rule, people in Muslim countries are living in extreme poverty.
Young people living in these circumstances fall prey to these fanatics. Muslim
leaders in Islamic countries must bring economic and constitutional reforms,
and try to create welfare Islamic States. This will dissuade young men from
joining them.
We, the ordinary Muslims, cannot go after those masterminds. But we can
frustrate those criminals by keeping an eye on our sons and brothers, who are
are misled by their vicious propagandas, and become their recruits.
- M. Munaeem Jamal,
munaeem | 15 September, 2006 02:14
munaeem | 14 September, 2006 22:44
Once again, King Abdullah II of Jordan, has expressed concern at the growing influence of the Iran in the region. He expressed this feeling while giving an interview to Time Magazine.
He said: “The region is going through throes where there are other regional powers that are vying for supremacy in this area. Usually when that happens the net result is conflict and violence. [The Palestinian issue] is the core issue, one that should be dealt with very easily because there is something looming over the horizon that is a lot worse.”
Arabs feel that US intervention in Iraq, has given Tehran unique opportunity that it has not had for many years to exercise a dominant role. They fear that the rising of the Shias in the northern tier of the Arab world will destabilize the region.
With a Shiite Iraq now in Iran’s sphere of influence, and the Shiite leadership of Syria looking to Iran, Tehran is well on its way. Add in the powerful tool of Hezbollah—Iran and Syria’s made-to-order terrorist group—and we can see an Islamic alliance that will only grow in its ability to challenge the West.
This alliance between the Iran , the Alawite-rule Syria has frightened the traditional Sunni rulers of the region. King Abdullah of Jordan described this alliance as “Shia crescent”.
Vali Nasr, a Council for Foreign Relations fellow explains :“The first decade of Khomeini trying to mobilize Saudi Shiites, Lebanese Shiites and trying to stage a coup in Bahrain and cause trouble in Kuwait all hardened views.”
Khomeini threatened the countries around him. He threatened Iraq and he threatened Saudi Arabia and each responded in a wrong way. Iraq ended up attacking Iran.
The Dawa Party, Shi'a Islamist party in Iraq with many linkages, even to this day, to Hezbollah, which is active on the other side of the Middle East. It conducted attacks in Kuwait in 1983, bombing the French and U.S. embassies in December of that year and nearly successful assassination attempt against the emir of Kuwait in May 1985.
Grand Ayatollah Sistani has been calling for Parliamentary democracy and the exercise of the will of the people and to get the Shi'ites in al Hasa stirred up about that is maybe not the most preferable from Riyadh's point of view.
The real cause of the tension according to Iranian author Amir Taheri, is that “Iran intends to reshape the Middle East after its own fashion” (New York Post, August 8).
Ahmadinejad stated clearly his vision for the future of the region in his election campaign: “The Middle East can have either an American future or an Islamic one led by Iran.”
This kind of rhetoric has frightened the Arabs rulers. They are of the opinion that Israel is the devil they know, but Iran is the growing threat.
There is no doubt Shias in the Arab world share a common problem. It’s a problem of marginality. Whether they are majorities or whether they are minorities, they are marginalized from power. They are essentially asking for the same thing. And they do have an attachment to Iran. It’s an attachment of culture and faith, and does not mean that they are controlled by Iran.
It is good to hear that Arab Leaders like King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia realized this problem . He brought reforms , which helped shias to practice their religion freely.
King Abdullah is their hero now. Under King Abdullah, we can even see the shia clergy in the royal courts along with typical Wahabi clerics that hate the Shiite. The King is trying get to the Sunni traditional clergy to accept diversity and existence of other schools of thoughts in Saudi Arabia.
Other states should follow the example of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Shias minorities should also try to be loyal to the country in which they live. The have a right to ask for equal opportunities in all affairs. But resorting to violence to get the these rights brings more miseries. They should also look for traitors among themselves who collaborate with outsiders, and want destabilize governments under the pretext of helping their coreligionists.
munaeem | 10 September, 2006 16:49
It was the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire that paved the way for the creation of Israel.
In World War I , British High Commission in Egypt, Sir Henry McMahon, persuaded, Ottoman Governor of Mecca,Hussein, to lead a revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
In return for his support he promised him an independent state under Hashemite Rule in the Arab provinces of the Ottoman Empire.
The Arabs revolt led by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), and Hussein’s son Faisal defeated the Ottoman Empire , and Britain took control of that area.
But Britain made other promises during the war, which conflicted with Hussein-McMahan understandings. In 1917, British Foreign Minister, Lord Arthur Balfour issued a declaration ( Balfour Declaration), announcing his government’s support for establishment of Jewish national home in Palestine.
A third promise , in the form of secrete agreement , was deal that Britain and France made with themselves to carve up the provinces of Ottoman Empire and divide control of the region.
France obtain mandate over Syria , carved separate Lebanon State with Christian majority. Britain obtain a mandate of the which now comprise Israel , West Bank and Gaza Strip.
In 1921, British divided this region into two : East of the Jordan River was Emirate of Transjordan called ruled by Faisal’s brother Abdullah, and west Jordan become the Palestinian Mandate.
Despite the annoucement of Bilfour declaration,arabs could have stopped the creation of Israel. But their tribal rivaliries and greed, allowed Jews immigrants to firm their postions in the Palestine. They sold their lands in high prices to Jewish immigrants, resulting in the displacement of Arab peasants.
Arabs are not interested to do anything concrete for their Palestinian brothers. I have observed the following points.
Arabs States accuse Israel of occupations. But when they got a chance . They did the same thing. After 1948 war, many arabs states occupied the Palestinion areas. Which I think was in violation of the UN Resolution 181.
These areas remained in their control till 1967.
But they did not nothing for their palestinion brother.There are many areas in Arabs countries where Palestinian are living in Refugee camps since 1948.
No Arab country except Jordan has granted them the right of nationality.
If they think Palestinians are their brothers. They should have open their hearts for them.
The main causes of the rise of the parties like Hamas is poverty of Palestinian people. All the aid which comes from US, EU and arabs countries are pocketed by the palestinian leaders.
The money should be directly delivered into the hands of the palestian people so they can improve their lives.
munaeem | 10 September, 2006 16:37
Khaleejtimes.com
Letters to Editors
28 August 2006
WHY hasn’t the wealthy Arab community helped its people start a new life? Instead the Arab community put their own people in camps, to live in poverty and hopelessness with no prospect of a quality future.
When the survivors of the Holocaust were freed from the German concentration camps and then freed from the camps in Cyprus, the Jewish communities around the world banded together to help their people settle
into a new life and make something for themselves and their families.
The same was done for the Jews who came from Yemen and other Arab countries to settle in Israel. They were not put in camps and kept as prisoners from a better life.
munaeem | 10 September, 2006 12:30
munaeem | 10 September, 2006 12:28
M. Munaeem Jamal
May I ask my Palestinian brothers. What was the crime of Angelo
Frammartino ? Why was he brutally murdered by Palestinian affiliated
with Islamic Jihad ? He had come to serve them , not to kill
them .
He was moved by the sufferings of Palestinian people. He talked about
the Israeli atrocities. He joined , ARCI , a far-leftist NGO, working
with Palestinian children at the Burj al-Luqluq community center in
eastern Jerusalem, to serve as a volunteer.
He wrote in a letter to a newspaper :"We must face the fact that a
situation of no violence is a luxury in many parts of the world, but we
do not seek to avoid legitimate acts of defense. … I never dreamed of
condemning resistance, the blood of the Vietnamese, the blood of the
people who were under colonialist occupation or the blood of the young
Palestinians from the first intifada."
I request my Palestianian brothers that they should only fight
occupation forces. Killing civilains and people like Angelo
Frammartino will undermine their case against Israelis.
munaeem | 10 September, 2006 12:27
Syria's government supports Hezbollah. Syrian goverment hailed Nasrullah as hero in the recent conflict. It finances Hizbollah's operations, as well as supplies arms to it.
Does the syrian goverment realize the implications and repercussions of its support to Hizbollah? By supporting hizbollah they are interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign country . Which is against the international law. This interference is weakening the writ of central government of Lebanon.
It is advised that Syrian should stop interfering in the affairs of Lebanon. It should try to put its house in order. Where a silent majority is seething under brutal and repressive rule of minority alawites.
If Israel and US start financing and arming discontent majority people, it will be a nightmare to Mr. Bashar and its minority alawites. Because he will not be able to stop the revolt of the majority by its state apparatus.
So far US and Israel has not pondered over these lines. I believe that they are not able to find a moderate figure in Syria. They fear if they topple the present goverment . It will bring hardline Islamist into power.
Syria is becomming increasingly religious and its national identity is weakening. Women are at vanguard of this silent Islamic revolution.
A secret Islamic women's society known as Qubaisiate is responsible for this change. The group is named after its founder, a charismatic Syrian shaikha, Munira al- Qubaisi.
According to a survey of Islamic education in Syria published by the pan- Arab daily Al Hayat, there are approximately 80 madrasas in Damascus alone, serving more than 75,000 women and girls, and about half are affiliated with the Qubaisiate.
So intead of meddling in the affairs of others. Mr. Bashar should pay attention to his country. He should bring reforms in his country so people can enjoy the fruits of democracy. Otherswise poverty and discontent will give rise to Islamic militancy . And there is no shortage of people who will be happy to finance the bills of Jihad| « | September 2006 | » | ||||
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