“Your Hijab is Bondage” says Hotel owner- How Free is Speech?

By Majed Iqbal- A court has cleared two Christian hoteliers accused of religiously insulting a Muslim guest at their Hotel. Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang were hauled into the dock after a white British convert to Islam complained they had called the prophet Mohammed ‘a warlord’ and told her that Muslim women were oppressed.

Supporters broke into applause as Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang were found not guilty of religiously aggravated abuse.

They had been accused of insulting the religious beliefs of white convert Erika Tazi, 60, asking if she was a terrorist and describing her Islamic dress as a form of “bondage”.

Disabled Mrs Tazi, who converted 18 months ago, said the pair laughed when she wore a hijab and Ben, 53, called the Prophet a murderer and likened him to Saddam Hussein and Hitler.

Sharon, 54, admitted suggesting the hijab was a form of bondage but said Mrs Tazi insulted Jesus by calling him a minor prophet.

Afghanistan’s “Pop Idol”- Signs of Democracy, Progress, Liberation?

By Majed Iqbal- The second presidential election in Afghanistan under the new constitution, designed after ‘liberation’ in 2001 was held on August 20, 2009.

The much awaited election has been at the forefront of international observers from the west. An election result which must prove that democracy has now been embedded in Afghan society and a living showcase to the world that the troops sent thousands of miles away from across the world were not fighting in vain.

The fight for ‘people power’ took a new form, away from the battlefield where western troops are fighting the ‘insurgency’. The fight to establish people power was now through Television allowing Afghanis to digest democracy through voting for their favorite singing stars by text messaging, in the form of the countries own version of Pop Idol.

The program titled “Afghan Star” drew viewing figures of 11 million people (a third of the population) who tuned in to watch the finale, gathering in homes, fruit shops, coffee houses and military barracks. The six-month-long television show, running for the third season would name the final two contestants, based on votes sent in from viewers via text message and offering a grand prize of £2,500 for the winner.

ASIAN NEWS ARTICLE- Muslim Communities in the North Reject Government PVE strategy

Pubished on the Asian News Website-

By Majed Iqbal- A report released last week by think-tank the New Local Government Network (NLGN) has criticised the flagship £70 million Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) programme launched by the government two years back because it alienates Muslims.

Community groups across the North West and Yorkshire have refused to join a Government-funded scheme to prevent violent Islamic extremism because it “victimises” Muslims, it has been claimed.

The PVE programme was modeled to “promote shared values, support local solutions, build civic capacity and leadership and strengthen the role of faith institutions and leaders”.

The generic nature of the strategy was welcomed initially at the first look but rejected once the details became further apparent. The plans were considered divisive and an effort to divide the Muslim community on the lines of moderates and extremists by branding what ideas of Islam will be acceptable in Britain and what won’t.

ASIAN NEWS ARTICLE- MP declares Muslim segregated weddings as signs of ‘Intolerance’

Published on the Asian News Website

By Majed Iqbal- A government minister last week joined the list of Politicians in raising, once again, allegations that Muslims lead ‘segregated’ lives.

Following a similar line of discussion to his colleague, Jack Straw who raised similar comments on women in Blackburn attending his surgery with Niqaabs and dubbed it as a sign of segregation, Jim Fitzpatrick, the minister for food, farming and environment, stormed out of a constituent’s wedding at the London Muslim Centre after being told that male and female guests were to be segregated and that he could not sit with his wife.

Fitzpatrick said it was “strange” he could not sit with his GP wife Sheila at the ceremony on Sunday. “We’ve been attending [Muslim] weddings together for years but only recently has this strict line been taken. We left so as not to cause offence,” he said.

But the newly weds at the wedding ceremony did take offence after the minister contacted his local newspaper straight after the walkout to tell them he was “disappointed” by what had happened. “We are trying to build social cohesion in a community but this is not the way forward,” he said.

PASSION ISLAM MAGAZINE Article- Sarkozy calls for burka ban- A Superiority Complex?

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

ASIAN NEWS ARTICLE- Manchester Muslim Women gather to discuss challenges in Britain today

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

French President Sarkozy calls for burka ban- A Superiority Complex?

 

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.

ASIAN IMAGE Article- Sex education for five year olds?

A campaign has been launched in Rochdale following a new government project for primary schools which is set to be rolled out later this year.

The controversial Sex and relationships (SRE) studies, aimed to open up the minds of five year old primary school children towards understanding sexual behaviour, orientation and managing relationships is currently in the consultation process but has already sparked debate in many communities across the UK.

Rochdale residents have shown growing concern as many people had not been made aware of these plans for their children’s education.

Further, once in fruition, parents do not have the choice to opt their children out of the lessons.

The studies were designed with the perceived wisdom that ‘good sex education’ leads to better informed children and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), teenage pregnancies.

Britain remains the lead country in Europe with the highest figures of teenage pregnancies whilst number of abortions carried out on girls aged under 18 in Wales was at a five-year high, assembly government figures show.

Majed Iqbal, a Rochdale based blogger and community activist has embarked on a campaign to challenge the SRE project to be taught at primary schools.

Sex at five? No thanks!

By Zaythoun Suleman- When I was five, all I wanted was to play with my friends and enjoy my childhood under the cloudless skies and fields full of daisies. I was unaware of the dangers and evils of this world and if it was up to me, I would have loved to have it kept that way for as long as possible.

Do our children really need to begin knowing about sex and relationships at 5 years old? Is making them aware of their body parts and sexual acts preparing them to make informed decisions for the future or is the Government opening Pandora’s box even further? A box filled with evil unleashed to plague the innocent mind is surely doing more damage than good.

The evil spreading reminds me of nuclear bombs dropped in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the effect of which is long-term devastation and destruction for many years to come. Instead of equipping them to protect themselves from the monsters of society, Isn’t SRE making them more vulnerable with this knowledge?

Children are an amanah (trust) given to us by Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala; with their minds fresh and like sponges, they absorb information from all around them. They are like a handful of clay that can be moulded to form any shape. It is up to us as parents or carers on how we should mould them.

So how do we as parents reply when our children come and ask us “Mum/Dad where do babies come from?”

North West Women’s conference addresses the future of Gaza

    By Majed Iqbal- While international pressure seems to have produced a ceasefire in Gaza, feelings of outrage have not dissipated easily left by the international silence by leading powers whilst the aggression was taking place in Gaza. Bitter taste can be felt resounding in many countries and seemed no different for the Muslim community in the UK.

Beyond the Gaza episode and the alleged ceasefire by Israeli forces, debates and discussions continue to look at a viable alternative to achieving territorial integrity and liberation for the Palestinians and mapping out the main obstacle in the way of achieving this.

To discuss these issues over a 150 women attended a one day Conference which looked beyond the ‘ceasefire’, evaluated the practical steps that could have prevented such atrocities and mapped out a future political set up to ensure stability and peace for the region

The women’s chapter of the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir organised the conference in Longsight, Manchester opening a robust debate on the Gaza issue.

VIDEO- Hazel Blear’s ‘Off the mark’ plans

Hazel Blears launched a dedicated campaign in her  new report ‘Preventing Violent Extremism: Next Steps for Communities’ which builds on the cross-government strategy published in June.

She said “The Government has always been clear that communities must be at the centre of the response to violent extremism. Over the last year we have been working with communities and local authorities in developing their capacity to confront violent extremism effectively, marginalise and undermine those actively peddling these views and support vulnerable young people. “

One of her areas of work has been with women as shown in the video. Muslim communities must make a correct stand on theses issues. Whilst no one disagrees that women in Britain in general need support, guidance and oppurtunities, to single out Muslim women fro empowerment courses tells clear tales of how conniving ministers can be in their pursuits of twisting the rationale for violence and the link to the Muslim community.

Dr Aafia Siddiqui- A ‘Casualty in Americas War on T ’Error’

By Majed Iqbal- ‘For you it’s just another story. If you want the truth, go to Ghazni where you will get more than I can ever tell you about my sister”

These were the words echoed by Fouzia Siddiqui, sister of Aafia Siddiqui whose story has moved the Pakistani nation in the last weeks and months and has stirred international concern over America’s new casualty in her War on Terror of which Pakistan is a Front line signatory in this campaign.

Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, a neuroscientist and graduate of genetics disappeared five years ago, in March 2003 along with her three children, aged 7 years, 5 years and 6 months during a visit to her mother’s house in Karachi.

It is widely suspected that she was picked up on the way to the airport by Pakistani Intelligence and handed over to the FBI who believed her to be an “Al-Qaeda operative” and that she was yet another Pakistani citizen handed over to the Americans by the Musharraf government in exchange for money for the country or support for his leadership.

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.

EVENT ANALYSIS- Do Muslim Women in Britain Need Empowering?

By Yasmeen Ahmed (Rochdale)- Inline with the governments recent push to “empower” Muslim women headed by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, an event was organised by the North West Regional Assembly, Friends of Islam (All Party Parliamentary Group), it was held on Monday 21st January 2008 at Bolton Town Hall, and was entitled “Realising our potential: Promoting the talents of Muslim Women”

The government have invested £70m for Muslim womens projects, which has been allocated over the next 3 years; £45m will be given to local authorities for work on “preventing violent extremism”. Some of this money will go towards efforts to give Muslim women a bigger role in creating “strong, resilient communities”.

In the attentive audience was a mixture of people from the private, public, and voluntary sector; and, as it was a public event, there were members of the community in attendance curious to know what the latest government led initiative meant for the Muslim community.

The event which had been described as “ground-breaking” was well attended by Muslim women, of which I was one. Amongst the invited guest speakers was MP of Salford, Hazel Blears. Unfortunately?! Ms.Blears was unable to grace us with her presence on the day.