The following article was published in the Nationwide Passion Islam Monthly Magazine which addressed French President Sarkozys proposals to ban the Burka (veil) in France.
The article can be read online on the Passion Islam Online Magazine on page 2. Click Here to read further. Read the text of the article on the Blog by clicking here Read the rest of this entry »
By Majed Iqbal-Over 150 women attended a seminar on Saturday 20th June in Manchester , Longsight, organised by the women chapter of Hizb ut-Tahrir that addressed the various challenges Muslim women are currently facing in Britain today
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The seminar titled “Muslim Women in Today’s Britain- The Challenges and the Solutions” aimed to tackle the pressing questions that have been a huge discussion point in government circles, the press, media, on the lips politicians and a cause of concern in the Muslim community throughout the country.
Dr. Nazreen Nawaz, the Women’s Media Representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain presented a picture of the current climate where a Muslim woman living in Britain is constantly under pressure to re-evaluate who she is, whether their Islamic identity is relevant for modern life, to question whether their Islamic beliefs are appropriate for British society, being asked to question the relevance of Shariah in her life, being continuously examined if her Islamic views are tolerant and compatible with ensuring a cohesive society and to adopt values that are at odds with their religious convictions.
“The hijab, the role of women, Islam’s punishments, liberation of occupied land, prohibition of homosexuality, the Global Islamic bond between Muslims and championing the call for a caliphate for the Muslim World are all been labelled oppressive, backward, intolerant, barbaric, and unacceptable and a threat to British society.” Said Dr. Nazreen Nawaz Read the rest of this entry »
By Zaythoun Suleman- What do Man in the Mirror, Heal the world, Thriller, Bad and Billie Jean have in common? Yep, MICHAEL JACKSON. Many of us awoke this morning with the news that the “King of Pop” had a full cardiac arrest and died last night.
Many of us received and sent texts late last night about his death. As the news travelled around the globe, fans and the general population were and still are in shock. Michael Jackson is dead!
At the age of 50, the life of the man who many of us grew up with ended. He was a son, father and brother and loved by many others around the world.
He was due to tour London in a couple of weeks with tickets sold out within an hour of the opening. People were still hoping to get in to see him even if it meant paying £1000 a ticket.
Many people will have many different memories of the child star that began his career at 5 years old, whilst most children were playing. His songs and dancing influenced much imagination. The moonwalk became the in thing as was wearing one sequinced glove and pants revealing glittery socks underneath. Read the rest of this entry »
The following article was pulished in the Asian Leader newspaper crticially evaluating President Obama’s tour of Muslim Countries. Was it a genuine gesture of building peace and opening up dialogue with the Muslim world?
By Majed Iqbal-Not enough with banning the headscarf from government institutions and buildings including schools, colleges and universities, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy sparked off deeper controversies by calling for the burka to be banned.
The comments were aired in the first presidential address in 136 years to a joint session of France’s two houses of parliament where the French premier described the burka, a veil, worn by many Muslim women as part of their Islamic attire as a “debasement” of women – and not welcome in France.
He added: “In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity. The burka is not a religious sign. It’s a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement”.
“I want to say it solemnly; it will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic. We find it intolerable to see images of these imprisoned women when they come from Iran, Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia.”
MEP Chris Davies from the North West added more fuel to the fire when he stated that the burka does not belong in 21st century Britain. Read the rest of this entry »
By Majed Iqbal- Earlier this month, the American President, Barack Obama visited a number of Muslim Countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar in efforts to open up a new chapter of US and Muslim relations.
Barack Obama’s speech in Egypt was watched internationally from East to West, in light of all the pressing issues that had hit our screens in the past years like the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, America’s silence on Gaza and the recent open drone attacks in Pakistan under the guise of fighting Americas “war on terror”.
Surprisingly, in his speech it was not US- Arab relations discussions that were being alluded to. Instead the primary focus was referenced as developing ‘Muslim’ relations with the ‘Islamic World’.
“I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect”
Some were taken back by his speech and hailed it as a new direction in policy towards the Muslim world which seemed to be ripe with positive gesture and promises of a new era of relations. Was America admitting its failures? Was America admitting that the Iraq war was wrong? Was America admitting that its War on Terror was ill-devised which has caused devastation in key parts of the Muslim world? Read the rest of this entry »
By Majed Iqbal-Western countries have gone mad questioning the validity of the results of the Iranian Elections. Newspaper reportage and coverage like ‘ Democracy is the loser in Iran’s ‘free’ election’ and ‘Iran faces international backlash over vote-rigging claims’ have all added to the media frenzy on Iran as Western observers map out what now holds in store for the future with the ‘rogue’ Iranian state.
In almost a dejavu fashion, the Iranian Elections seemed a repeat episode of the Hamas election victory into power in the Palestinian territories when the West questioned whether it was a ‘Fair and free’ Election. Iran stands in a similar position today, questioned on its election validity despite pursuing the Democratic route.
Britain, America, Israel and European leaders were doubted over President Ahmadinejad’s re-election. Joe Biden, the US Vice President, said: “There is an awful lot of questions about how this election was run“. Read the rest of this entry »
The following article was published in the Nationwide Passion Islam Monthly Magazine. The article analysed how the media and people in general were holding only individual MP’s accountable for the expenses Fiasco and tried to widen the discussion to institutionalised practices inherent in a democracy.
The article can be read online on the Passion Islam Online Magazine on page 18-19. Click Here to read further. Read the article on the Blog by clicking here Read the rest of this entry »
By Majed Iqbal- Rochdale’s campaign against the introduction of compulsory sex education for 5 year olds stepped into the next phase with the first of its public events.
At Kashmir youth project, Rochdale, over 50 members of the local community, consisting of teachers, Deputy heads, Parents, Primary School Governors, Councillors, Mosque representatives, Youth parliament delegate, local activists and parents gathered together to listen to the key discussions on the pressing issue of governments proposals on sex education for 5 year olds onwards.
After over four weeks of galvanizing support through public stalls in busy areas in Rochdale, an active online campaign through face book, YouTube and a local blog which has grew exponentially over the last weeks, presenting information packs to all Rochdale Mosques, visiting churches, dialoguing with local councillors, the event was held to present the detailed propositions made by the government and its effects it would have on the local community in Rochdale.
Majed Iqbal, organiser of the event introduced the event to a well balanced and mixed audience of Muslims and non-Muslims and a healthy attendance by women. Read the rest of this entry »
By Majed Iqbal- “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” Thomas Jefferson
Such descriptions of the mythical ‘god like’ concept of democracy could not be described more aptly and with such significance than the times British Politics is going through right now.
The last few weeks have been a roller coaster ride for many MP’s in the whole Expenses debacle- a national laughing stock and growing signs of anger and frustration from the British Population at Government and Politicians across the board.
Ratings for News channels must have soared as reality TV took a new turn with each day unveiling who has been caught in another expenses scandal. In fact Newspapers might even be thinking of releasing an end of the month top 30 ‘Lunacy Chart’ that orders the most scandalous MP expenses Issue in order with a prize for the most ‘well behaved’. Read the rest of this entry »
By Zaythoun Suleman- Imagine being handed a lump of clay with the challenge of moulding it into something beautiful. You have seven years “wet” time when it will be easier to mould, followed by seven years “drying” time when you are able to correct those imperfections made during the wet period followed by a lifetime of back seat viewing to be there for when the finished product needs attention.
Although, you have absolutely no idea on how to mould clay, you naturally accept the offer as it resembles you or your partner. After an undefined amount of time (1 day – many years), the rightful owner will take it back and you will be asked about how you dealt with the challenge.
Yes, the lump of clay is a baby. Even though we carry them for up to 42 weeks whilst fathers wait eagerly, nothing can prepare us for the first time we lay our eyes on them. Although, they are purple and look like something out of a science fiction movie, to us they seem like the most beautiful person ever.
I remember the first time I saw my eldest son, he was so small with shiny black hair and as his little eyes scanned the surroundings, I found myself repeatedly saying “You are so beautiful!” Read the rest of this entry »
The following article was published in the Asian Leader Newspaper examining if India had really progressed as a secular democracy in light of revelations of further discrimination of Muslims in housing.
The full Article can be read here. Read the newspaper online on the Look Asia Website . Read the rest of this entry »
By Majed Iqbal- Indian Elections are in full Swing as the Worlds largest democracy takes its course to decide the future of its 1.1 billion populous.
India’s marathon elections entered the penultimate phase of the five-stage election with parties going head to head in the last rounds. In this festival like Election fever, feelings around politics and the future of India have been mixed as citizens and observers abroad put their thoughts forward.
“Indian democracy is nothing but a miracle” said one person.
“It is a shinning example that how 1.1 billion people with different ethnicity, religion, caste and language can vote together is a victory of democracy and its institutions”
“The greatest democratic operation in the world is a model to every country” said another”
Some had more deeper and sceptical views about the whole Election process.
“In this country the educated don’t vote because they think it will make no difference and the poor don’t seem to realize the reason of voting” Read the rest of this entry »
Download the Rochdale Campaign leaflet to use for distribution in your local area. You can use it to highlight the concerning nature of the government Proposals on making sex and relationship education statutory for Primary school children.
You can print off the PDF copy and use it at your own stall and encourage people in your local area to join the campaign. The Leaflet contains practical steps that can be taken to make effective change on the issue.
Campaign stalls have been running for 2 weeks highlighting the growing concern on Government plans to introduce Sex Education for 5 year old children.
The slideshow shows the Weekly Saturdays Stall for the SRE Campaign that is growing in support in Rochdale Read the rest of this entry »
The following article was published in the Passion Islam Magazine discussing admittance from some US quarters that America had failed miserably in Pakistan through enforcing its agenda on the country.
The article can be read online on the Passion Islam Online Magazine on page 12. Click Here to read further Read the rest of this entry »
By Majed Iqbal- ‘We’ve alienated them tremendously. Whether we agree or not” says former US ambassador to Islamabad Robert Oakley. Airing his views on Americas role in Pakistan, Oakley was responding back to a host of views presented by Obama and his team on dealing with this ‘hotspot’ in the world which has drew international attention in the last years.
Americas increasing role in Pakistan through the Bush administration and the man of ‘change’, Obama, the new President of America who singled out Pakistan in his presidential campaign and within days of coming into office resumed drone attacks has clearly highlighted that Americas next target is Pakistan
“If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will” Said Obama in 2007 outside the Woodrow Wilson Centre in his Presidential run up campaign.
Oakley, who served in Islamabad from 1988 to 92, has criticised Americas approach to Pakistan airing views which present a clear picture of a structured policy to colonise Pakistan. Read the rest of this entry »
(Part of Al-jazeerah publishing)- CAIRO - With the British government planning to offer sex classes in primary schools, a campaign has been launched on the world’s largest social network Facebook to counter the move, reported the Rochdale Observer on Saturday, April 25.
“We believe the teaching of SRE (sex and relationship education) in schools is inappropriate, both in terms of the philosophy which underpins the way it is approached as well as the resources used,” campaigner Majed Iqbal said.
Iqbal, a British Muslim, has launched a Facebook group themed “Rochdale Muslims against Sex and Relationship Education for 5 year olds” to campaign against plans to introduce sex classes in primary schools.
“There is a misguided belief that children will engage in sexual relations, all of the solutions look at making this behavior ‘safe’ rather than challenging the lack of values which make this behavior acceptable.”
The government has unveiled plans to offer sex classes for pupils as part of efforts to protect children from early pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and substance abuse. Read the rest of this entry »
CAIRO - “Children do not need information, they need to be taught what is right and wrong,” Iqbal said. With the British government planning to offer sex classes in primary schools, a campaign has been launched on the world’s largest social network Facebook to counter the move, reported the Rochdale Observer on Saturday, April 25.
“We believe the teaching of SRE (sex and relationship education) in schools is inappropriate, both in terms of the philosophy which underpins the way it is approached as well as the resources used,” campaigner Majed Iqbal said.
Iqbal, a British Muslim, has launched a Facebook group themed “Rochdale Muslims against Sex and Relationship Education for 5 year olds” to campaign against plans to introduce sex classes in primary schools.
“There is a misguided belief that children will engage in sexual relations, all of the solutions look at making this behavior ‘safe’ rather than challenging the lack of values which make this behavior acceptable.” Read the rest of this entry »
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COMMENT- Pakistans 20-20 Victory- Is it time to Celebrate??
22 06 2009By Majed Iqbal- Yesterdays Twenty twenty cup Final saw un-precendented coverage worldwide as Pakistan beat Sri-lanka in an 8 wicket match victory.
Pictures and video footage beaming in from Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi on the Pakistani news networks showed crowds rejoicing after a historic win which saw Pakistan defeat the odds and answer back to the world that they are still a cricketing force to be reckoned with.
Even before the Final, a day before, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday urged the country’s cricketers to give of their best in the final of the World T20 against Sri Lanka on Sunday and win the title for the nation. The President even called up captain Younis Khan in London and reminded him that the country was passing through a very difficult phase and victory for Pakistan could provide some cheer, media reports said.
As crowds rejoice madly in the streets of Bradford, Luton, Manchester and London in unison with Pakistanis back home, it is worthwhile reminding them that a match victory can never quell the chaos and devastation that Pakistan is currently going through. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: American Interferance, Pakistan, twenty twenty final, War on Terror, zardari
Categories : Comment, International