Women status in Islam - Pakistan Observer

 
Before the advent of Islam, women were treated in such a evil way. They had no rights to live. They were treated worse as compare to animals. Young girls were buried alive. Women were treated like cattle, devoid of humanity. In those days of darkness and evil society, the people had not any sense about women as they are also creation of Allah. The advent of Islam gave bright light to everyone. Islam gave equal rights to both male and female. Islam recognises the position of women to be the same as that of men. Islam also recognises that women are not one of the lower specie. Islam has given women rights and privileges which she has never enjoy under other religion. GHULAM TAHIR
Resident Editor

TLC's new series ' American Islam ', the diversity of Muslim women-Detroit free press.

A lot of Shadia Amen, her left eyebrow piercing a few and has 20 in her ears. She says her hair change color monthly, "wherever for whatever tickles my fancy geompureunsaeg pink to black."

And one of the "rock star symbol to the hand" to describe her body, including the Devil's horns of the tattoo cover 40% of the shape. Nevertheless, the 31-year-old Dearborn women-from the heart is proud to call myself a dork-Muslim.

Although she has drunk alcohol, and once was a single MOM, her Islamic faith is part of her still.

"I've read the Quran. Three times "to see the sacred texts of Islam, Amen. "I know a lot about the religion. I'm growing up, Sunday school was raised to all Muslim. Because to me, is not less of Islam does not allow T. Because after all, it is to judge us, I think it's wonderful that God and he is. "

Amen, and her two sisters extensively new TLC reality television show debuts tonight "all American Muslims." will be featured in the first two episodes of the 8-part series on Muslim Americans, often misunderstood, but over the past 10 years is in the spotlight for the community's life is the first time on television to describe the United States.

The American Shiite Islam in Lebanon this year and 5-series taken in the United States women's looks, Dearborn Arab Americans in the city with the highest concentration of families from the community that reflect the diversity of the greater part of the show: female characters frank and Arab Muslim head scarves and a woman to dance at a wedding in the Valley-dancers who wore short skirts, ranging from conservative to rent and tight tops when married to a businessman with a friend to hit the city.

Series of religious women called hijab oppresses and forces them to wear the Islamic head scarf to some faith in Islam at the time of an intense curiosity about the Americans coming. But many already know, Dearborn, and the TV series as their Islamic hijab wear life decide for themselves how to incorporate the world of independent women.

Ah life is apparent in the of the Amen sisters. They grew up in Dearborn in the 1980s, after the 1979 revolution in Iran, while religious revival among Shias Lebanon development. Was not wearing a hijab or the temple prior to attending the women became fascinated in Islam.

Leila Amen, Amen's mother found a little girl wearing a head scarf who wanted to emulate.

"Iran after the revolution, and the people were really more consciously aware of Islam," old sisters Suehaila Amen, 32, explained. They began to learn about the faith.

"My mother and all my aunts had at the time putting in the head scarf oppression and I tried to like them, their footsteps. ... Everyone else was doing it. We wanted it to do so. "

Islamic tradition not related to them and urged the men to cover up the existence of the girls. The practice is called hijab,. Also covers the head and neck scarf, specifically the term used to refer to.

Leila wears the hijab, then 6 Suehaila Amen thought too young. And when the next year, she also say no to Shadia 6.

"My mother told me not to" Shadia Amen. "But we have to share our faith would be so proud."

The two girls to wear it I'm sure their moms. However, she graduated from high school and then the head scarf off Shadia Amen. She did not wear it since.

At first, "I was uncomfortable with myself, scarves," she said. "It was very difficult."

Today, she loves dressing up in funk and Hillbilly style and she is known as the revolt of the family. She wears a head scarf is part of the reason for the abort her behavior did not want to tarnish the reputation of Islam, she was concerned for her.

"People don't want to give the impression it's synonymous with Islam have."

She noticed people on the show by her deeds must not judge her faith.

"I am here as a Muslim" Amen says. "But I am here represents Islam. Show no one is running for this year's Muslim. No one has tried to represent the religion as a whole. "

Suehaila Amen, on the other hand, never stop wearing hijab, and social and political issues in the community has become a spokesperson for the show. But she, too, lies the stereotypes. She enjoys dancing at a wedding, and still single, some Muslim religious leaders urged the youth to get married with a young community of the problem.

Samira Amen Amen-at the wedding of her youngest sister Fawaz, crying in front of her she was not married at the little embarrassing failure.

"Bilal (her brother) or committed suicide before the marriage for the rationale, let me tell you if it gets," she says a joke to her mother and they both laugh at the show.

The head scarf worn by Islamic guidelines, such as avoiding alcohol Amen desire to change that part of her life.

"I never had on the other side, or if you did not wear hijab as it holds those feelings of wonder."

Amen-hijab worn around the 18-year-old Fawaz, 28, stopped. But this year, in order to be closer to God, she again began donning.

Part of her motivation and the difficulties she was conceived, so her faith in turning hopes will help.

"I hope and pray to God my religion embracing shows ... He'll give me kids on the show, "she says.

For the first time when Amen-Fawaz hijab her family and her, she gets a hug and clap to indicate.

"So, I think the last Mohicans," was with a sigh, Shadia Amen. "I decided to wear a head scarf, or hijab, at a later time if you do. You know, it's competition. "

 

Turkey: Islam in the Muslim spark controversy from women's magazines-Eurasianet and the role of fashion

New Turkish headscarf-clad model on the cover of fashion magazines, featured in Central Istanbul and the woman sitting outside the mosque as hopes to attract sophisticated Muslim women. "L Â â" hit clothing has to offer on the shelves in July 2011, Muslim designers and women entrepreneurs, interview advice, travel tips and reports (photo: Jonathan Lewis)

The first Turkish women's magazine â Â l, Turkey on its cover in the Islamic headscarf in the most controversial pieces of fabric, by inserting a notice in the summer of 2011. Four months later, similar to the Turkish secular and Islamic fashion and traditional Muslims still debate: can coexist comfortably?

Agency Account Executive, and Volkan Mehmet Atay â Â l Birer Burak (beautiful life styles), select the target Turkey's clothing advice monthly and observant Muslim women's increase is the brainchild of ad, the Muslim designers, and business travel tips and feature stories and interviews. Since the first edition hit newsstands in July, and widely reported by Turkish media already in vogue and Elle had surpassed the sales of 40,000 copies of the ship, its circulation.

But Islam is not a fad as tags. Â Â l Art Director, the concept of Islamic fashion Esra Sezis women modestly covering their bodies of Islamic ideas contradictory claims. "[The magazine] is meant only for women-conservative, to help guide them where they can combine what clothes, '" Sezis Turkish daily Sabah and August 20, said in an interview. "[I] could not be a short, there are Islamic fashion; N just details. "

Online social media forum, critics nevertheless argued that the glossy, high-end monthly "that the idea of a modest Muslim dress" to try and convert a prototype of a veiled woman reading Vogue-fashion victims spend thrift; Contrary to the Islamic ideology concept. Magazine photos in a professional model and Islamic clothing is characterised by regular readers.

"To try and squeeze into the modest Islamic dress fashion patterns in the Western lifestyle is absurd as trying to squeeze Islam", the reporter writes monthly in the magazine Genç Aysegül Genç. "If you already have to contribute to the ongoing degeneration of this magazine and I would like to minimalize the damage will occur, and it's a veiled girl with nature, as long as the answer to the question of how it is to find a beautiful and how to be a veiled girl thinking."

  l talk about the content of the editor refused to debate EurasiaNet.org.

However, Chief Executive Officer of Tekbir Giyim Turkey's largest textile company entirely veiled women cooking is one of the first argument, and fashion to configure the hidden model in fashion shows and Islam are mutually exclusive in 1992.

"Our religion and the Quran instructs modest dress, and how you need to take care of any part of the body. But that's only constant: design and patterns change and evolution, and these changes will remain in the religious rules, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, "Mustafa Karaduman commented.

Whether or not, strictly speaking, fashion cover, found the market â Â l appears. Magazine follower of more than 90,000 Facebook command and in Western Europe, in Germany too Turkish Edition was launched to cater for the reader.

Who wear the Islamic head coverings and 15,000 Turkish woman magazine run by a pre-launch survey, the magazine found that "[t] he biggest problem for women in conservative Islamic textile producers and the absence of communication between their audience," said Volkan Mehmet Atay Turkish daily Radikal. "They said: ' why no one does get touch with us? '"

Turkish Islamic clothing stores such as the Istanbul Metro, but their numbers in the dotted the neighborhood; Follow very different. A more conservative, such as the Fatih district of Istanbul, for example, Islam provides a variety of boutique for women, but non-Islamic-oriented clothing stores easily dominates elsewhere.

Atay underline, however, Islamic apparel market is not an island unto itself. The interview covered women to sell only see most Islamic clothing in stores do not like shopping. Young women, in particular, prefer to mix and match, he said.

  l of Mustafa Karaduman Tekbir Giyim pursued by his answer to the demand for the company. "In our interview with Designer â  l. We are not in line with the rules they are religious, as long as the young veiled women to appeal to the opposite on the design of the clothes. "

Now, picking up on some non-Islamic clothing company, claimed the trend indicator Atay. "Islamic clothing outside of the textile company began to ask for the report. They design items that meet the public, "Radikal said to women. "They no longer veiled women, a large group of potential customers are all understanding can not be ignored." Atay was the name of the company was not provided.

Turkish Islamic gender studies expert, Feyza Akinerdem  l is far from fashionable clothing â agree. The most notable for publishing what the "self-esteem" a veiled young woman featured on the page, she blogs, Turkey-related issues in the field in the journal of Erkan commented.

"Posing for magazines, women's consumer culture to embrace their eyes if I did not see on the street in the ' other ' than the other, the terrible feeling of" Akinerdem wrote.

  admittedly, that was mission accomplished for l.

Constanze Letsch is a freelance writer based in Istanbul.

Will Political Moderate Islam Take The Lead in Post-Elections Tunisia? - Tunisia Live

 For fifty years and through two authoritarian regimes, Tunisian Islamists lived in repression. Both presidents tried to suppress political Islamism to gain the trust and support of Western forces. They also promoted secularism in Tunisia by pushing new laws and regulations to separate religion and state. After the collapse of Ben Ali’s regime following the popular uprising in Tunisia last year, Islamist forces have rediscovered the freedom to be more active on the public political stage. Ennahda, the Tunisian Islamist party, was granted the license to legally organize and operate in March 2011. Later, the party won a plurality – 89 seats -in the Constituent Assembly elections.

The party derives its support from its religious affiliation, Islam, which is the religion of the majority of Tunisians. Ennahda promotes an image of Islam that protects individual freedoms and promotes active citizenship. To attract more support, Ennahda even promises to not meddle with a strong Tunisian point of pride in the Arab Muslim region: the personal status code. The party promises to not amend the code and to firmly protect women’s rights. Rached Ghannouchi, the party’s leader, declared on several occasions, “We will not introduce polygamy.” Ghannouchi also claimed that “Ennahda will not ban alcohol or bikinis.”

On a local radio, Express FM, Samir Atig, one of the most prominent figures within the Ennahda Executive Bureau, reaffirmed Ennahda’s commitment to present itself as a political party. “Ennahda is not a religious party, even if its point of reference is Islam.”

Ennahda is still trying to convince the Tunisian people that it will only implement modern interpretations of Islam to improve both the political and economic situations in Tunisia. Yet, only a few days earlier, one of their female candidates labeled single mothers in Tunisia as a “disgrace” to the nation. Her comments regarding the situation of these mothers upset many Tunisian people, who expressed their anger through interactions on Facebook and other social networks.

Critics cite examples such as the above as evidence of the party’s double discourse, as they do not match Ennahda’s promises to protect the rights of all citizens and to not discriminate against them for religious reasons.

In the meantime, another more fundamentalist party, Ettahrir, is looking at obtaining a visa and being lawfully recognized in the Tunisian political arena.

Both parties, Ennahda and Ettahrir, originally founded by Islamist leaders, existed even before Ben Ali took power in 1987. Nowadays, they differ in the policy they’re using to cast people’s support, but also in their views on religious, political and social issues.

Ettahrir stands for a more radical interpretation of Islam. The party refutes democracy as a model for governance, and their ideology is closer to older and more traditional models such as that of caliphate.

The party argues that Islam and Sharia incorporate all the “modern” values that Tunisians seek, such as social justice, the abolition of corruption and the regulation of social and economic life, but as applied 14 centuries ago, explains Abdelmajid Hbibi to Express FM.

Ettahrir’s executive bureau president says that “positioning Islam between radical and moderate is meaningless because Allah’s words are clear and direct.”

Ennahda, who are determined to maintain their point of view, replied that applying a 14-century-old Islam to a modern Tunisian society does not make sense. Ennahda representatives have largely expressed the party’s commitment to protect Tunisia’s long ruling laws in regards to civil and women’s rights, thus reassuring both local and international communities. It is in fact partly thanks to its moderate discourse that the party managed to cast so many votes in the lastest elections.

Yet, the party is still the subject of much controversy. A recent article published by Lebanese news outlet “The Daily Star” actually brings up controversial details concerning the party’s leader Rached Ghannouchi.  The article, titled “Ennahda’s rise is good cause for alarm,” portrays Ghannouchi as pro-radical.

It seems many remain to be convinced as to Ennahda’s legitimacy to present itself as a moderate Islamic political party.

' Islam ' United States of America-South Bend Tribune restrained reality show

Nawal Aoude, pediatric respiratory therapist and left her husband, Nader, "all American Muslims," the premier go for a walk in the field from the TLC series Sunday. (Ap Photo/Discovery, September 6, Adam Rose/2011)

TLC's new reality series strange restrained, "all American Muslims," the total number of subjects, from the beginning of naiveté to approach yet to the high expectations. Because, who the Islamic faith regarding the majority of businesses along the United States citizens, as viewers of journalistic conduct modern Muslims assumes that you know absolutely nothing about.

Unfortunately, it's probably still the best place to start. Ten years after 9/11, our communities and knowingly around us everyday, terrorism remain uninformed about the non-Muslim "24" or "homeland"-"ground zero mosque" and other hot-button issue for thorough paranoid when excited by an episode of so easily. The girl from the suburbs at Costco are still in the airport security line hijab she will tell you how to do too much snow.

That way, "all American Muslims," the Sunday night premiere is a much-needed primer, a dozen or so focused on the life of one of the largest deer, Michigan, is one of the most established Muslim communities from across the country residents. There is even a marginalization and assimilation, but this seems like a constant forces asked family and it goes both ways.

Compared to the normal prices of reality (especially in TLC's reality fare, personnel issues, the dwarf, multiple births, obesity-the bakery for the show in recent years towards the washing will do any combination of), "all American Muslims" is not simple and attention.

Perhaps, so be careful-TV. Sometimes there will be a mini-crisis with the acquisition as any human, though in the TV camera crew to pretend to put next to them, invisible whenever "all American Muslims" is primarily an act of public relations. "real housewife of Dearborn"How to avoid

In fact, most of the show's star, the best of them have been cast for the civic and cultural pride. TLC's website in their "family" is a prominent character bios, or "pillars"-Dearborn stake is referred to as old fashioned words you would like to explain here. On the other hand, minor family, husband and father Mike is Deputy Sheriff; Wife and mother Angela as a consultant; They juggle busy lives four young raising kids. They want within 5 minutes of the meeting they can.

No one screams insults thrown or the other, seen here in the genre of action required, because of the propensity of reality has been found. Include the angle of the Touchiest Jeff McDermott, Irish Catholics grew up in Lebanon and Shadia Amen, a well known family coming from a single mother trying to marry the conversion to Islam of the salesman.

Repeat a single sentence, of the amount pledged to convert Arabic Jeff Shadia's parents and family living room, also the site of the couple's traditional Korean wedding ceremony officiated by the mosque imams of the previous event in Amen brother Shadia for the first time in years, covering her head. She has more tattoos and hair dyes pink stripes.

Where McDermott had a good time to learn without relatives, cash bar and Jeff's mother's incredible narrowness and her son's choice and happiness where large wedding reception for the trust are as follows: articulates

"All American Islam 's" subjects, Nina Bazzy-Aliahmad, another more of the named event planner, we come to expect from the cross signal is the adaptation of realityland: she's tanned, blond, wearing a tight mini skirt with Hill, and she dreams of opening a night club, most of the men around her horrible idea for a woman.

Yet somehow, despite the appearance on the show, Nina, at least interesting man. In fact, wearing her hijab-who co-directed with her husband, Nader; and delightful and equitable marriage were forged with his wife, Nawal Aoude named young expected to do can be done. Amen's sisters, Suehaila and Shadia or Samira-tell us about Muslim life and many more.

A new rendition, Jeff daily Ramadan fast (what kind of food or liquid sunset sunrise) and struggle with Shadia's sister Samira hijab, who she says she and her husband to see how seriously trying to conceive that God will be beneficial to return to wearing on the advice of the Imam.

In fact, it's in the first episode "all American Muslims" is largely focused on the belief that the appearance of the hijab-here swear, there is the expression that a quick collapse several hours early, Shadia Jeff break the permissions once the remaining chicken lunging.

Before this is all part of the "cafeteria Catholicism" is one of the rules and must broker a compromise between personal reality is known under the guise of my own religious upbringing, I've seen it in more detail? We head football coach Fordson high school, Fouad Zaban, who works with and how to interpret the decision by the other (the student body is 95% Muslim), Gatorade, cooler at 10 am 5 Ramadan as a workaround to get hold of the team practices?

Yet the show around the principle of non-Muslims, but we are concerned with teaching the Koran. Life is more for style and image. It is an attractive, informative and almost sometimes, but not what we came from adorable thinking as a reality show.

TV

"All American Muslims" Sunday in the premier TLC.

The WISE Women of Islam: What a Conference in Istanbul Can Tell Us About the ... - Huffington Post (blog)

The "fearful fatalistic apathy", which a young Winston Churchill once noted amongst the "curses [of] Mohammedanism", (Churchill, River Wars, 1899) has found frequent repetition over the years as one base assumption behind explanations as to precisely why a political revolution, like the Arab Spring, could never come to pass in the Muslim Middle East. A similar logic has often been applied to the concept that women in Islamic societies might strive to become anything other than the "absolute property of some man" (another Churchillian gem). Such apathy was, however, on poor display October 14 as some 170 Muslim women leaders gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Istanbul to attend a four-day conference organized by the Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE) -- an offshoot of the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA) dedicated to promoting women's rights in the Muslim world. Here, the word apathy does not spring easily to mind. As women from every far-flung province of Islam's reach stream into the empty conference hall, the air hums with voices raised in vigorous conversation. Flowery greetings and small talk segue swiftly into meatier discussion. Stories are told, tactics exchanged, politics debated, and by the end of each speaking event lines for questioning stretch towards the door. It quickly becomes clear that four days will not be nearly enough to contain the vitality of this group. African, Asian or European, bareheaded or modestly garbed in flowered hijab (traditional head scarf), these women brim not with resigned fatalism but with energy, conviction and, incredibly, an overriding sense of optimism.

There seems little evidence to support such confidence. Muslim women, especially those hailing from the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, remain notoriously underprivileged and underrepresented. A recent report released by Freedom House on women's rights in those nations did find marginal gains -- specifically in the fields of education, employment, and political participation. However, it remains the region where "the gap between the rights of men and those of women has been the most visible and severe." This is hardly news for the women of WISE, nor is such iniquity exclusive to Islam's heartland. Standing to speak before the conference, Sophia Abdi Noor -- a member of Kenya's 10th parliament- rattles off a list of offences. "I have been a victim myself," she admits, "who has gone through female genital mutilation at a very tender age, who has lost her two friends in the operation... who was forced to marriage." Later, when she ran for parliament, conservative Islamic leaders within the community convinced the president to disqualify Ms. Noor's bid, despite her victory at the polls. "But", she states to laughter from the crowd, "I did not stop at that!" She smiles triumphantly, "Now I am a member of parliament... and I am proud to tell you that I am one of the framers of the new constitution of Kenya!" This tone of dogged defiance in the face of adversity is one struck often and well here. From Suraya Pakzad, a fearless campaigner for women's rights in Afghanistan, to Santanina Rasul, who remains the only Muslim woman to win a senate seat in the Philippines, each participant pairs tales of hardship and bias with the casual assumption that no obstacle is insurmountable.

That mentality is one which seems to define this gathering but what is, perhaps, most striking about WISE is the religious framework within which it operates. This is a Muslim women's conference above all else and, in large part, it is this Islamic identity, which the organization seeks to empower. "Women are the glue that holds society together", states Daisy Khan -- WISE founder and executive director of ASMA -- their status in the Muslim world must change but, Daisy notes, "Islam can effect that change." That statement might seem antithetical to some, considering the frequency with which theological arguments are used to rationalize rights abuses in the Muslim world. However the women here maintain that, for the most part, these arguments represent only the manifestation of cultural and tribal mores in the guise of Islamic law. They argue that, contrary to popular perception, the six basic objectives which guide Sharia law -- the protection and promotion of religion (al-din), life (al-nafs), mind (al-aql), family (al-nasl), wealth (al-mal), and dignity (al-'ird) -- provide the same fundamental rights to both men and women.

The promotion of Sharia interpretations refocused upon these universal values is one of WISE's main objectives and the organization sponsors several programs aimed at balancing the narrative on woman's place within Islam. One such program, the NOOR Educational Center run by Jamila Afghani, has experienced marked success in educating Afghani Imams on the religious illegality of common cultural practices such as early and forced marriage. While the Shura Council, WISE's flagship project, brings together influential female leaders and scholars specializing in Islamic law to produce detailed and thoroughly sourced theological position statements on certain controversial elements of Sharia.

As Islamist parties stand poised to win a large share in government at upcoming elections in post-revolutionary Egypt and Tunisia, the promotion of an inclusive, non-restrictive approach to Sharia is particularly important. Efforts such as these, if spread successfully, have the potential to blunt the power of those who would use Islam as a weapon of repression, and inform those who would assert their intrinsic rights within the religion. However the tendency for Muslim women, bound by cultural and traditional norms, to censure themselves and prolong their own discrimination remains a major obstacle in efforts toward equality. Judge Kholoud al-Faqih -- Palestine's first Sharia court judge -- underlined this dilemma during a panel on spiritual leadership, recalling her disappointment at the reaction of many women who, upon seeing a female judge, clicked their tongues in admonishment and sought out male judges to try their case. "It is very sad to see this" she says with a shrug, "because this is cultural baggage and doesn't have anything to do with Islam." So, perhaps, Churchill's "fearful apathy" retains some of its power to convince the disenfranchised to stay that way. As long as it does, progress remains a distant prospect. Still, the events of the Arab spring should provide a lesson in the folly of underestimating the spark of individualism in the Islamic world. If the ladies of WISE 2011 are anything to go by, Muslim women may celebrate their own spring sooner than we think.

 

Women Could Promote Rights Through Islam - U.S. News & World Report

Despite the perception that strict Islamic law and feminism are incompatible, women's rights advocates argued Wednesday that Muslim values could actually help women of the Arab Spring promote greater equality.

The U.S. ambassador for global women's issues Melanne Verveer testified on Wednesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women's Issues that women in predominantly Muslim countries have shown in the past that critical reforms are indeed possible within the context of their religious values. She argued that although the political future of countries like Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya are uncertain, it's possible that the rights of women there will be protected, even if Islamist parties take control. [See a photo gallery of the unrest in Libya.]

"Sharia is thrown around a lot," she said, speaking of the brand of Islam most associated with radical movements. "[But] so much has to do with whose interpretation."

Verveer acknowledged that leaders with stricter interpretations of Islam could significantly push back the civil rights gains already made by women involved in the so-called Arab Spring movement. But, examples like Morocco—where women now enjoy improved political and personal status—could give women in other Muslim-dominated nations hope.

In Morocco, Verveer noted that women went through a difficult process that lasted "many, many years," during which many activists were jailed. However, as "good Muslims," she said, these women realized that their desire for civil rights didn't clash with their religious faith.

"They were not about to sacrifice their values to the voices of those who said, 'You are being anti-Islamic because you are supporting personal status law reforms,'" she said. "They steeped their reform effort in the very values of their religion."

Indeed, according to Verveer, Moroccan women made a legitimate case to their country's leaders by putting their arguments for equality in Koranic verse.

"The values that the religion represents, and that so many women are a part of in a very significant way, infuses the kind of reforms they want to see for themselves," she said.

Recent revolutions in northern Africa have prompted the U.S. State Department to commit resources to training women on how to better communicate their ideas and become more politically engaged. This includes helping them form cross-border coalitions so they can learn the strategies that other women in the region, like those in Morocco, used to promote their interests successfully in the past.

"They are all from predominantly Muslim societies. They are all reform-minded. They all want to see a better life," Verveer said. "To learn what those lessons and best practices are, and the support mechanism that they represent for each other, the mentoring that they represent for each other, I think is a very lost-cost, significant investment that we need to keep making." [Read: U.S. Role Continues After Qadhafi in Libya.]

Mahnaz Afkhami, president of the Women's Learning Partnership, an international non-profit advocacy group, cautioned that while some Islamic countries have provided a more positive outlook, other examples, like Iran, give women reasons to worry.

"A lot of the organizations who self-identify as Islamists are the ones whose goals and aspirations don't necessarily match those of the progressives and the rest of the democratic world," she said. "The definition of moderate should be looked at very carefully when we look at these countries."

Afkhami said Iranian leaders originally stated the same goals as today's self-proclaimed moderate Islamist political parties in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya which promise democracy and equality. However, as Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini remains in power three decades later, women in Iran are among the world's most oppressed, she explained.

Egypt women fear rise of conservative Islam - Bikya Masr

Be modest. Those are the words of potential Egyptian presidential candidate Hazem Salah Abu Ismail to his supporters, and especially to the country’s female population. His firebrand rhetoric, which endorses “Islamic dress” has begun to spark fears among Egyptian women that he wants a Saudi Arabian styled future for Egypt, where women are forced to cover and are barred from beaches.

At least two-piece swimsuits, Abu Ismail said at a recent interview on a TV program called “90 minutes.” He also said that if elected, he would bar alcohol from public places, even for tourists, would end the peace treaty with Israel, and more frightening to the over 40 million women living in the country, he would “embark on a conservative dress campaign,” which would “force the Islamic dress on all women.”

He added that if women were seen wearing two-piece bikinis on the beach or in public, “they would be arrested.”

For many in the country, it is a scary proposition that would see many of the real, and perceived, freedoms that have come slowly as a result of the January uprising that ousted the former government here, dissipate in favor of conservatism.

Nawal el-Saadawi, the foremost Arab feminist, told Bikyamasr.com in a recent interview that the revolution was largely “because women took to the streets. But we cannot have a better Egypt without women, they are the foundation of any society.”

With the rise of the conservative Salafists in late July – they held a million man march on Cairo’s Tahrir Square – and their increasing popularity, women are now being pushed aside, says Nadia Fahmy, an Egyptian-American researcher based in Cairo and works in rural villages, attempting to gather an understanding of rural culture in the country.

“Look around and all the positives and optimism that were part of the post-revolution Egypt are all but gone,” she begins. “We have returned to how things were before Mubarak, but now it is the Salafists who are gaining the peoples’ strength, especially in rural areas where religion is so important.”

Around 12 percent of Egypt’s population are Coptic Christian and do not veil. A small percentage of Muslim women in the country also do not adorn the veil, and Abu Ismail’s comments have left many frustrated over the rising power of the Islamists in the country.

“I talk to my friends, who are not veiled and drink and go to the beach, and these kind of statements really worry us, partly because we know that people like Abu Ismail are popular among the lower classes,” added Fahmy.

Abu Ismail, who started his public life as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, split from the group in order to run in the presidential election, vaguely set for by the ruling military council for some time in 2013.

Ismail is one of the stronger and popular potential candidates, although he will be running against a former MB member, Abdel Moneim Aboul Foutoh, who also had to quit the group to be able to run.

The crux of the matter seems to be the growing divide between the secularists, who for the most part have left women’s issues on the side, arguing they are divisive and “not part of the overall social justice demands” of the revolution. This has angered many women’s activists in the country, including Saadawi.

“This is ridiculous,” she began, “because you can’t have anything without women, so the women are very important.”

While the Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday came out and called on the Salafists, including Abu Ismail, to “tone down” their language, the reality on the ground is that women’s issues are falling away as quickly as the conservatives and the military increase their grip on power and public opinion.

“We have to be weary of the future of this country right now, because there are elections soon and if these people are gaining popularity, it could mean a lot of downsides for women and freedom,” added Fahmy.

For now, with presidential elections two years off, activists are beginning to entrench themselves for a long battle for social justice and freedom. Saadawi and Fahmy hope that candidates such as Abu Ismail will begin to lose popular support in favor of freedom and justice.

What I Know About... Converting To Islam - AhlanLive.com

Four years ago Amal Loring became a Muslim and is now the second wife to her Emirati husband - here she shares her story.

"For months after I converted to Islam in October 2007 I was asked the same question over and over again: ‘Why would an intelligent woman become a Muslim?’

As a 30-something Western woman who grew up in the UK, I’d had an exceptional career as a sales manager, followed by 10 years as a counsellor in Dubai and had never shown any signs of madness. Yet my family and friends assumed that my conversion was due to some kind of nervous breakdown.

A bloody fool. A victim of brainwashing. A prospective bomber. All of these accusations were thrown at me. When I moved here 14 years ago, like many expats, I didn’t mix with the local community and had many preconceptions about Muslims, with my biggest issue being that Islam was degrading to women. I would see them in the malls, covered up to their eyes, and think, ‘How could a woman allow herself to be repressed like that?’ But my stereotypes were all wrong.

Over time I became more interested in the world I was living in and decided to look deeper into the local culture and religion. I was given the number for Jumeirah Islamic Learning Centre and my investigation began. I discovered that, rather than women being segregated and controlled in Islam, they are viewed almost like a precious jewel.

One afternoon I got a phone call from a woman claiming that she was phoning from the office of HH Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, one of Dubai’s rulers.

‘We’ve heard that you’re interested in Islam,’ she said. ‘We’d like you to come to the Palace and we will send a car to pick you up at 4pm.’

Assuming that it was a friend winding me up, I just joked back, “Yeah, right!” before hanging up.

But at four on the dot a huge car with blacked-out windows arrived. It felt so surreal I just went with it. At the Palace I was met by Sheikh Saeed, who was welcoming and friendly, and we spoke about the Quran and some of the theories behind it. There and then I took the Shahada – the declaration of faith and confirmation that you are a Muslim. It was over in a matter of minutes and afterwards I thought, ‘Oh my God! What have I done?!’

My life did a 180-degree turn. Legally, a Muslim woman cannot be married to a non-Muslim, which put an end to my seven-year marriage to my British husband. We had already been experiencing problems so my conversion wasn’t the trigger. Starting life anew with our six-year-old daughter was difficult, and, without the bond of alcohol and socialising, my relationships with my Western friends deteriorated.

Of course, in the early months, I had doubts that I’d done the right thing. At times I’d feel excluded and miserable but I remained committed. The biggest deal was covering my distinctive long hair – but it was a small price for having faith in my life. In the beginning I was always tripping over my abaya and I had to adopt a different kind of walk. The idea of covering up is that you’re preserving yourself for your husband – it makes you feel protected.

Naturally, some moments have been hard. My mother wouldn’t walk on the same side of the road as me. People refused to serve me in shops. I’ve been spat at and, back in the UK, was asked to leave a park because, ‘We don’t want your sort around here’. In Dubai I sometimes encounter hostility from other Muslims, who feel that they can challenge me.

I met my husband, Mohammed Al Shehi, through friends. As soon as you become a Muslim you’re asked if you’d like a good husband! The introduction process was completely different – you don’t go to the cinema or have meals alone together – but we fell in love and got married in June 2008. I am my husband’s second wife. Mohammed lives with me and my daughter three days a week and with his first wife and their children for the rest of the time. I don’t get jealous; a Muslim husband has to treat all of his wives equally.

In 2009 I began a degree in Islamic Studies because I wanted the courage and knowledge to answer those who ask about Islam and Sharia law. I also work in a mosque, trying to bring Dubai’s separate cultures together and speaking with others who are considering converting.

By becoming a Muslim I have lost friends – and I’m always the one being searched at airports. But I have never been happier, felt more understanding towards others or felt more balanced and content within myself. Every time I pray I gain the strength and stillness of mind to continue.”

$('.storyContent .body a[href^="mailto"]').removeAttr("target");

Women and Islam: No smooth path - Hindu Business Line

If it is naïve and stereotyped to label a Muslim woman ‘liberal Islamist' just because she switches from ‘full facial veil' to covering her head, it is as dangerous to expect that ‘Islamic movements' will play a positive role in liberating Arab women.

October 10, 2011:  When Ms Tawakkol Karman of Yemen was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week, along with two Liberian women — Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and peace activist Leymah Gbowee — it was hailed as the western world's recognition of the Arab Spring, which had toppled oppressive regimes in the Islamic world. Incidentally, these are the first women to get a Nobel Peace since 2004, and the citation did great service to women's empowerment and the greater role they will have to play in the future when it said unequivocally: “We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society.”

Among the three awardees, Mr Karman's choice was a little surprising, because she was less well known than the frontline leaders of Egypt, or even Tunisia. A prominent member of Yemen's Islamist party Islah, she's taken on Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh for long years, first as a journalist, and then an activist/politician. She has braved several death threats for her role in the Yemenis' violent struggle for deliverance from the repressive Saleh regime, and has been camping for the last several months in a huge camp in Sana, far away from her home and three children.

no cakewalkSo far so good. Even when the western media, after the Nobel announcement, made her the “standard-bearer for the Arab Spring and for the role of women across the Middle East”, it was a fair assessment of her activism. Make no mistakes about it; taking to the streets with banners and slogans is no cakewalk for women from any Islamic country.

In the more liberal Muslim families, women do get equal opportunities when it comes to higher education and economic emancipation. But the lingo changes when women take on adversarial or activist roles in political or social struggles. In most Muslim communities the demarcations are well spelt out on what women can and cannot do.

But when an article in The New York Times says of Ms Karman that “as a liberal Islamist who stopped wearing the full facial veil three years ago, she appears to represent something else, too: the hope in the West that Islamic movements might some day play a positive role in rebuilding Arab societies,” you have to ask: “Huh? Come again?”

I am no admirer of the veil, full or partial; but I respect any Muslim woman's right to wear or reject it, provided she does so by choice.

the veil and liberalismSo to label a Muslim woman “liberal Islamist” just because she switches from “full facial veil” to just covering her head, is to get trapped into stereotypes.

There is already widespread criticism that the Western world judges Muslims by the veils/clothes they wear or the long beards they sport. And not without valid reason; in security checks these worthies are invariably singled out for special treatment.

Even more dangerous than the comment linking liberalism to the veil, or absence of it, is the one pertaining to “Islamic movements” playing a positive role in rebuilding Arab societies. In both Egypt and Tunisia, where the existing regimes were overthrown by the protestors, there is ample evidence that the Islamists have moved in to occupy some, if not most, of the political space vacated by dictators.

The jury is still out on whether the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt, if elected to power in the November polls, will provide Egyptians with a better life and lifestyle. Under their thumb, you can be sure, for Egyptian women a “liberal life” will be a far cry, and Shariah laws will dominate.

Misplaced “re-evaluation”The same NYT article quoted Ms Nadia Mostafa, a professor of international relations at Cairo University, saying: “Giving it to a woman and an Islamist? That means a sort of re-evaluation. It means Islam is not against peace, it's not against women, and Islamists can be women activists, and they can fight for human rights, freedom and democracy.”

Isn't this a most sweeping and dangerous statement? The problem comes in equating Islam with Islamists. How will Islamists, who themselves have such rigid and dogmatic views such as ‘our religion is the best, our scriptures rule supreme, only Muslims will go to heaven and others will rot in hell,' fight for democracy and all the values that come with it?

And just because one Ms Karman makes it to an important position in an Islamist party, where, incidentally, her father and brother occupy important positions too, to expect that the lot of women in the Islamic world will certainly improve, is wishful thinking. Islamist or religious parties taking over the reins of administration, I fear, is bad news for women, who will, once again, be pushed into subservient roles.

Already, in countries such as Egypt and Libya, where the “liberation” struggles were fought as zealously by women as by men — remember the women at Cairo's Tahrir Square smuggling in food, medical supplies, digging up the pavements to collect small rocks and facing a lot of violence — women are being sidelined.

At a recent conference, Ms Hoda Badran, chairperson of the Alliance for Arab Women, was quoted by the BBC as saying that Egyptian women had planned and participated in the revolution, “they cleaned the (Tahrir) square, they nursed the wounded, they also were killed when people in the square were shot. But after the revolution we notice that decisions are being taken to exclude women. We expected this revolution will include women as much as it includes men, in terms of liberty, equality, and social justice. Apparently it is not.”

Ah, if only it was so easy to get equality, and that too in the Islamic world!

Islam and the Arab revolution-Huffington Post (blog)

In the Middle East, North Africa and India in the area, Yusra Tekbali media groups and work together. She is currently based in Cairo.

What is happening today in the Arab world to capture the Holy Quran verses.

"Really, what's in the conditions of the people of God does not change is change ourselves." (13: 11).

Verse General Muslims, scholars, and revolution; Mentioned by often apathetic youth before the Arab people all over the world to demand more rights and takes on a different meaning now change their society.

Tunisia and Egypt revolution, while the secular, protesters, jazz, fashion, and personal prayer, filled the street and Tahrir or TV screen, but that many people crying, shouting Islamic slogans as rallying and in their society in a more religious, in any case, calling the protesters did not commit. Arab world religion and politics are intertwined. For example, Tunisia, Libya, Syria is one of the most influential branch in Egypt with the Muslim Brotherhood opposition movement is organized to take their campaign they reject violence,. women support and believe in democracy, to the West can do to convince (and Egypt voters), but it also stresses many Muslim non-Muslims, Islam means just change in philosophy of the so-called extremist groups.

Benghazi and Libya just as passionately obsessed with Islamic revolutionaries over and they "Allah, Allah, his Messenger and Libya, Gaddafi and Libya" and "," countered his phrase: "whoever by unjust Gaddafi, he will in the future in this life is blind; The country's Army Chief, "blind" to the story with references to Quranic verses, many of the refugees further away from straying path "Libya (17: 72).

Syria, Bahrain, "Allahu Akbar" or God is great, God is greater than the crimes of their Government believed to be used by Muslim protesters. On Twitter and Facebook with their faith in young people against democracy in Islam professed his belief in injustice, oppression and patience, often refers to the passages from the Holy Quran.

The term is a big difference between Islam and the Islamic revolution are not directly related to their unhappiness and frustration, for youth, better treatment and dignity, for his desire to preach Islam. Arab revolution youth society stop allowing the status quo; Chuck demanded that. You cannot overlook the meaning in religion.

Discussions about sexual harassment, often in Cairo Arab men groped along the right, they might be if the distance and brought Islam to Egypt police claim a free pass to insult the dignity of women before taking it will think-something we recommend not by Islam. Arrested by the police during the protest in Egypt Cairo, Tahrir square was forced to undergo virginity tests for women '. ' were women, according to Amnesty International, "beatvirginity tests, electric shock, ' ' were forced to submit, then being taken by the soldiers, while the men subjected to strip searches and threatened charges of prostitution."

Libya, Syria, Bahrain, the emphasis of Islam, a man of humility, of all aspects of human dignity and humiliation of women and get away with ignoring them in order to maintain the dignity of rape force and respect for women.

Yemen, known as reform, led to demonstrations and niqab-clad women in male-dominated discourse squashing. Saudi women drive to support their rights in the Islamic Government to crack down on the female driver at the time of the misuse of its authority. Other players in the country and to obey the ruler's call for revolution and overthrow King Islamic teachings counter. "The best Jihad is an unjust ruler, speaking the truth," when completely ignored the Government's criminal weapon can be used to discourage people from occupied appropriately.

Unable to find a modern democratic society in the Islamic world and Muslims of Arab or change the balance of his life up to the responsibility. What the millions of youth protest for rebellion: life with the control of their own. And it rejects the old autocrats addicted to power.

Islam (and the religion in General) always seek that power, but was manipulated by the Muslims of Arab and Islamic revolution is well aware of the changing power struggle-something that we cannot continue to overlook this fundamental discourse.

Young Arab, i.e. the upheaval in the streets started protesting and rebuild their country actively began to have been forced upon them by the things dictatorships cannot accept Islam. They have more Muslims they collectively decided to practice their faith at the time of enjoying personal freedom in a democratic society in the world. Along with the rest of the world, and a continuous flow of information and ideas in this connection-Islam in society-direct-how to understand the impact on Arab youth is simply better.

"In my diary," the critically acclaimed Hill essays "Anthology has beenI speak for themselves: Muslims and the United States women's," religion and politics in Washington and its impact on individual id [NULL] between the dichotomy in the Arab world has the same dichotomy to write about., or not the young Muslims, they realize it, whether it is a Muslim's life and understanding of Islam, their society and around the world.

How to prove that Islamic violence-FrontPage magazine Absurdities Islam

Muslims to ignore Muhammad's sunna Sheikh's video saw a warning about the other day or prescribed in the rules and customs of the Prophet for Muslims. In order to support his points, he was talking about Muslims, Muhammad wherein the hadith reads: "pray, wash your hands before you put in water to wake up from sleep, ablution for nights spent at hand."

Sheikh Muhammad said, according to hear of someone, deridingly as "I'm not going to keep my own hand, what I am know?!"You are talking about, and then

This guy is trying to find his arm — elbow to hand in his anus up — Xu.

The moral of the story? It is dangerous to ignore the words of Muhammad. Sheikh Sharh Sahih Muslim, this highlights a trusted source of anecdotes and its closing alerts, read: "therefore, to make light of the fear of Allah and the sunna of the Prophet's words to ridicule human flaws — rebelling, and what references to this person."

There is a reason why guardians of Islam — past and present — always Muslims threatened: Muhammad sunna, seriously, if you do not want to provoke laughter naturally comic or perverse things to bizarre.

We have just one: adult breastfeeding, rida ' Al-Kabir concept or thebreast milk "Islam, Muhammad. adult women when I started hitting Canonical hadithis included in it, Islamtoday, almostauthorities the top of the 1,400 years later, still advocate this perverse practice. After all, or reject it, the other canonical hadith and fiqh of usul al-source — in short, rejects Sharia reject the methodology.

Now, how we connect the dots to see the bizarre show violence in Islam.

Consider: Muslim is still simply "adult breastfeeding," set to true if you are compelled to such things as the 7th century, Muhammad said so, because it is not that they are embracing their Prophet's better documented and unequivocal consent regarding pagan at the end of the logical?

Take a look at it this way: adult breastfeeding problem is Muslims and all sorts of embarrassing so far about; advantage or to provide them with benefits, it places them in a position, especially their women, mad (actually, it was the first rank "top 10 bizarre or ridiculous fatwas" in this list). So why is it still relevant issues among Muslims? Because Muhammad ordered it once. Thus, like it or not, Muslims must come to grips with it somehow.

What, following Muhammad's other Commandments — if you are in a Muslim settlement, embarrassed, and power, wealth, they provided the commandment humanity hedonistic pleasure — that is the most primitive urges, and very well run out of the commandments? I speak of (and extensions Sharia) war of Muhammad ("Jihad"), a pagan, his wealth, women, and children, looting, and everlasting kept him from battling the pagan Muslims along the history of Islam vis-à-vis the commandments — for non-Muslim all the things that define them.

Simply feel the need to address adult breast feeding, that is, the spirit of Islam, Muhammad, the Prophet of war and conquest because it once sold on the constant incitements recommendations.

The Islamic world is so much weaker than the heathen world, currently living in an era where it is capable of launching an attack on the whole, one may be overlooked this fact. But the intention is certainly there. Look at how a non-Muslim minorities, only one is needed, especially Christians, Muslims persecutionin the world are processed kidnapping-where are they, rapes and ransacked, — to make sure of it.

Women are banned from driving in Saudi Arabia-the Christian Science Monitor about Islam

Saudi Arabia in 1990, 11/6 "culture" is a driving ban, 47, and Saudi women defied the ban when the veiled King Abdul Aziz Highway Riyadhand 14-vehicle convoy drove on. They are in their military vehicles during Desert Storm and Saddam Hussein, former Iraq attacks in the United States women in Gis Kuwaitarrived in the Kingdom of Kuwait was inspired by the women.

Their uprising these women were arrested and imprisoned for several hours and confiscated their passports. They were summarily dismissed from their jobs for one year banned from traveling abroad. Soon after, Saudi authorities banned the fatwas, or religious edict on women driving by the explicit issue.

Ironically, it is essentially a ban on the Islamic monarchy, especially since it is unIslamic is a matter for. Muslim women have been made Mecca lack of male relatives, without limitation, for centuries a pilgrimage: solo The recognition of their travel as individuals of their rights in the Islamic Group.

One of the Agency's evidence of women's freedom-Al-ayyam on Muslim Sahaba ( Prophet Muhammadfellow,)-take a look at the very genesis of the only. Early Islamic feminists have all faith in Islam dear literate role models. The most illustrious Prophet and Khadija, the first Muslim, the Prophet's first wife, Aisha, the wife later canonized in Islamic history.

Khadija, Muhammad's first wealthy merchant woman and the employer (a trusted intermediary) she later marriage proposal provides. She continued her business dealings after marriage and is considered an archetypal Muslim women entrepreneurs. The possibility of economic gender equality within Islam, Khadija, and she traveled often exemplifies and independently as a trader.

Aisha and her autonomy, knowledge, and her spouse during the cherry blossom is famous for the outstanding leadership that would completely. The Prophet himself publicly acknowledged her scholarship: "red headed one learns your anti-religious!"

Two women are well-Al-Momeneen-as the mother of the faithful, among the most esteemed of Islam. These women are seen as full Islamic Group of Trustees.

Both are conducted their business whether Islam is clearly marked on the papers, trade or training independently. Both of them as a means to complete the task and the horse has been documented to be a camel. Both the role of women in rural and pastoral of Arabia once allowed at work when the home is operating throughout their operating outside the home.

Islam [NULL] is not sure about? Thanks to Austin women now it-Austin American-statesman is an app for

Well, she was the last one may not be guaranteed, but she's cruel humour and some of the people of Islam the problem recognition app to promote as a disclaimer on the Web site.

Austin social media maven passages in the Quran, the Prophet Muhammad, Islamic words from Proverbs, traditions and beliefs and historical anecdotes contain description of the Islam daily facts is an application designed to part of the reason why.

For example: "the Prophet Muhammad said, ' there it not deserve the Sparrow or anything smaller, without killing any person but is Allah that questions about it on judgment day. Yes, I mean your windshield spiders too! "

365Muslim, Android phones for work, and 4 G iPads, iPhone, iPod touch users can use free of charge and you can mark your favorite actually stored and on Facebook, share them.

As all too circulating familiar Web site and email emptying her information about religion. (Most of us take the world warned Islamic plot for our in your Inbox.) Almost all the planet's second-largest faith related is somehow tainted by the allegations.

37-year-old Web administrators she conspiracy theory when he can't help but laugh. Muslims, jokes, her favorite hatch disorders such as scheme, too.

But she knows these ideas to the real damage to be done. Most of the people she says, Muslims the benefit of the doubt was willing to give you but they are impatient and what they hear to often is not concerned by the Muslim to have accurate information.

She is the Islamic content for her iPhone scoured the App store. She Islamic quiz and prayer time app, Mecca, the direction of the compass towards the user, but she finished in Islam [NULL] is about non-Muslims found nothing in the way of education.

"A lot of Westerners, seem really intimidating Islam," she says.

In Islam there is no central authority, so many people where to go for information. And more often than not, they are causing them for fear of being afraid of Muslim questions.

Although the app itself, have made, any attempt to say about the 8-year-old twins of mobility will be short, fun mother.

Reconciliation letter to her blog one conservative women classified as himself as a "flaming liberal progressive Muslim-American feminist." but it's just "Q of the silver as she is known to me online. She start companies and non-profit organizations to help the Muslims for girls participated in the documentary.

A passionate supporter of interfaith dialog, she contributes to the Jewish blog last month established a Catholic charity mobile stuff can also involve steps using fish, people in the street food, clothing and comfort, provides Web and database administrator tasks.

"Why I would not want the same kind of world vision with people who have something of value and spend my time?" she said.

She's Facebook page news stories, photos and motherhood in World Affairs to all her own sardonic commentary with interesting links is taken. This week, she has 1201 friends. Her Twitter figures, @ ImtheQ, draws 8,000 followers. She is a United States politician Texas Social Media Awards 25 winners of this year.

She is a religion [NULL] love to talk about, but she says there is no agenda.

Raised Jehovah witnesses, she spread the word to understand the meaning of: he is not her thing. She is a student of religion of the world the truth and faith in the wisdom of all expressions. Some people cry at weddings. As in the cry of the church service. Religion, she says she must go to.

She is in the Quran 1999 made sense to her family, community and charity to help focus on Islam, and said it would. She is a progressive, social justice Center found Muslim religion — the exact opposite of the current image. She is a terrorist and politics with all this talk of deep spiritual aspects of Islam to overlook regrets.

"(The people) always want to know what I'm wearin ' would do something," she has a half-grin says.

Why Adam black, Web strategy and through Twitter, I got to know who the Jews as a research PhD student is happy his friend 365muslim made.

App gave me a email, "help to discredit the other is a very human tendency to battle."

Or, "365muslim, even after you use, you can take the rest of the night, know that your block Muslim family does not build Wmds or wearing burkas you are planning to conquer and fornication relatives stone." she writes as the site of the

But under the veil of humor lies to interfaith understanding, non-Muslims in Islam for app development motivation for serious desire for.

"It is not able to encourage them," she said, "but at least they it inspires others to see why that is."

Eileen Flynn eileenflynn.wordpress.com's blog.

Success-Islamic Republic of Pakistan observer in order to achieve the best way the teachings of Islam

Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad amp; QuettaThursday-2011, May 26, Jamadi-us-Saani 22,Multan 1,432 showing Central leaders women's wing Jamaat-i-Islami Fouzia Irfan society as a whole in the future in this world and life in order to achieve success in Islam's Golden should follow the subject, he said.

Women journalists Committee to organise an event at the time, leaders, Fouzia Irfan Quranic teachings society put on the track the best source of instructions and to resolve the problem, the best source also said.

She is also the Multan Press Club Shakeel Anjum, journalist Rabia Khan, reporter Aneela Ashraf's late cousin's late mother's brother's departure offers prayer for the soul.

Participants also unknown attackers, three months before the bullet injuries received reporters Adnan Khan, journalist Haider Abbas, cameraperson Iqbal butt Hassan Thailand camera-men's 7 days old daughter praying for an early recovery.

On this occasion, Razia Baig, Zahida Choudhary Faiza Javed, Sameena said, Rabia Khan, Khan, Shazia Mehwish Bhutti, Saadia Tabasum and Imrana Komil ladies journalists attended.

On the other hand, revenue 17 car, circuit breaker, ball bearings, cloth, tires, and artificial jewelry has been created through the auction. The first auction assistant collector Shaukat Hayat led 3 members auction Committee under the supervision of Multan dry port may 23, was held in. It helps Rs 7.3 million collected customs. 12 car products, Mitsubishi, Toyota, land cruiser Jeep circuit breakers and other items, such as ball bearings in the auction was put aside.

On Tuesday, Deputy Director customs intelligence and investigation, Farrukh Sharif 5 car tires, cloth and artificial jewelry et Jimny Suzuki, Toyota Corolla, land cruiser, Mitsubishi, etc., conducted the auction. This auction is Rs Rs 4.1 million and 3.5 million car Rs 600,000, including cloth, artificial jewelry and tires through the withdrawal of the auction. Green tea's stock to expire was found and therefore, the spot was destroyed in the app.

?APP

Islamic Republic of Pakistan observer 1998-2011
All rights reservedHURMAT group

Zahid Malik
President and editor in ChiefFaisal Zahid Malik
Tel: 021-32211777, 3 2631102Gauhar Zahid Malik
Phone: 051-2852028Feroz Uddin Khan
Cell 03009185669
Email: khan007_feroz@yahoo.comAli Akbar House G-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Tel: + 92 (051) 2853818, 2852027-8, fax: (051) + 92 2262258
Observer@pakobserver.net email: Faisal ZAHID Malik
Editor

Tel: 021-32211777, 32631102
Fax: 021-32626902
Obskhi@pakobserver.netemail:

Khalid butt
Resident Editor

Tel: 042-37593341, 37566702
Fax number: + 82-42-36300043
Obslhr@pakobserver.netemail:

Turn Tahir
Resident Editor

Phone: 081-2829238-40
Fax: 081-2829072
Mobile: 0333-7944760

Muaz Siddiqui
Web Editor
For all queries, complaints or suggestions about the website please webmaster@pakobserver.netemail:

Christian-Middle East Forum on Islam project Islam's worst attributes

Sorry, this page content can not read fromt. sorry, this page content can not read fromt.

Firdous calls for binding between the Muslim media to counter against Islam propaganda - Associated Press of Pakistan

Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request
Error in deserializing body of reply message for operation 'Translate'. The maximum string content length quota (8192) has been exceeded while reading XML data. This quota may be increased by changing the MaxStringContentLength property on the XmlDictionaryReaderQuotas object used when creating the XML reader. Line 1, position 9218.
UN-backed Asia-Pacific forum stresses social protection for poverty reduction - UNITED NATIONS, May 23 (APP): Basic social protection for all segments of the population is key to protecting people from extreme poverty and economic exclusion, according to views expressed Monday by government representatives from the Asia-Pacific region attending a UN forum in Thailand.Developing countries can afford to provide universal basic social protection, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) says in an assessment, which formed the basis for discussions at the ESCAP Commission Session for Asia-Pacific governments being held in Bangkok.According to the ESCAP study, entitled “The  Promise of Protection,” a universal basic social protection package costs no more than 3 per cent of gross national income (GNI) and is affordable at virtually any stage of economic development.

NUPSA condemns attack on military base in Karachi, praises efforts of security forces - LONDON, May 23 (APP)- The UK-based National Union of Pakistani Students and Alumni (NUPSA) Monday strongly condemned the attack on Naval air base in Karachi and praised the sacrfices rendered by the security forces in dealing with the situation.Calling for national unity at this juncture, NUPSA said this menace require united efforts by every member of the society to effectively surmount the challenge pose by the terrorists to national security and the people of Pakistan.“NUPSA is deeply saddened by this event and cannot begin to express the level of pain they feel along with all the Pakistanis at home and abroad. We commend the security forces for fighting these militants and giving up their lives in the confrontation,” spokesperson Sundas Malik said.

No Chinese citizens taken hostage at air base in Pakistan: Spokesperson FM - BEIJING, May 23 (APP)  - No Chinese nationals were taken hostage in a terrorist attack on an Mehran Navy Base in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi late Sunday night, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu confirmed in a press release here on Monday. Jiang said, as a friendly neighbor of Pakistan, China supports the efforts of Pakistani government and people in maintaining the country’s social stability.

PTI UK stage protest outside US Embassy in London against drone attacks - LONDON, May 23 (APP):The UK chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) organized largely participated protest outside the American Embassy in Central London at the weekend against the drone attacks in Pakistan. The presence of hundreds of people including women and children from all across the UK conveyed the deep feelings of the Pakistani community in Britain against the US drone attacks.

Pakistan?s flags flew high at Tiananmen Square during PM?s visit - BEIJING, MAY 23 (APP): During Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s recent visit to China, Pakistani flags were flying high on the Tiananmen Square, which show the sentiments the Chinese people and government have towards our nation and the importance they attach to their relations with Pakistan, said Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masood Khan. Tiananmen Square is the world’s largest city square with a total area of 440,000.
ISLAMABAD, May 22 (APP) - Aaj Peshawar beat APP by 39 runs on Sunday in the TCKP Media Cricket League and Festival dedicated to Swat Valley played here at F-9 Park. APP won the toss and invited Aaj news to bat first, Aaj scored 84 runs in the allotted six overs with the loss of 3 wickets. Rashid (26), Hassan (22) were higher scorers.  In reply APP failed to reach the target and was restricted to 45 runs with the loss of four wickets in six overs.   ISLAMABAD, May 21 (APP):Hassan Sadpara, a Pakistani mountaineer who recently conquered the Mount Everst, has asked the government to help young mountaineers for better results in future.He said that he wished to climb 14 mountain summits to include his name in the Guinness Book of World Record.Talking to PTV, he said that the task of climbing the world top mountain peaks could be accomplished with the assistance and support of the government.Sadpara, who successfully climbed the world’s highest 8,850 meter summit, thanked President Asif Ali Zardari for supporting and accepting his demand in 2009.  
  LAHORE, May 21 (APP)- Pakistan Hockey Federation has invited two more players to attend the training camp of national senior probables from May 30 at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium Islamabad to prepare for different assignments in Europe in June and July.“ On the recommendations of national selection committee and the team management, the PHF has included the names of two more players Mazhar Abbas (Goalkeeper) and Bilal Qadir (Forward) in the list of camp trainees”,said a spokesman of PHF here on Saturday.

  LAHORE, May 21 (APP)- Fourth seed, Yasir Butt won the FMC International squash Pakistan Circuit II ,snuffing a weak challenge from wild card holder Mohammad Shahnawaz in straight sets 11-9,11-8,11-3 in thef final here on  Saturday at PSA complex.Shahnawaz who caused sensation by toppling top seed Farhan Mehboob in the semi finals, failed to rise to the occasion and disappointed a large gathering with his sluggish play and poor finish in a match lasted just 34 minutes.

  LAHORE, May 21 (APP)- Former world squash champion, Jansher Khan gave glimpses of his glittering past by playing two back to back exhibition matches here on Saturday at PSA complex.Jansher, who ruled the squash world for over a decade by winning all the major titles at stake was in good physical shape and demonstrated his usual punch and sting in his attacking game.In the first match he beat Sheraz Saleem, a member of Punjab Squash Association’s executive committee who is a regular player and then played against Punjab’s promising player Ali Bokhari.

 April, 2011 March, 2011 February, 2011 January, 2011 December, 2010 November, 2010 October, 2010 September, 2010 August, 2010 July, 2010 JEDDAH, May 22 (APP): Pakistan and Saudi Arabia can benefit from each other in the field of education, particularly women’s education, and there is a need for greater cooperation among media and women of Muslim countries for preserving Islamic identity and counter propaganda against Islam. This was stated by Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan during her visit to Princess Nora bint Abdul Rahman University in Riyadh on Sunday.
She was received by the Vice Minister for Education, Girls Education, Dr. Nourah Al Faiz, President of the University, Dr.
Huda bint Muhammad Al Ameel and other high ranking officials of the Ministry, said a press release received here from Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Firdous was given an extensive briefing on the University which is considered the world’s largest women university and reflects the Saudi leadership’s determination to uplift and promote women education in the Kingdom.
Dr. Firdous toured various University faculties and was shown through the 19-km long tram network that links the university’s various buildings.
Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan appreciated the pioneering role of Nora University in promoting education.
Later, talking to Saudi TV, the Minister said that keeping in view the criticism and propaganda of some western media against Islam and the Muslims, there is a dire need for strong media cooperation between the Muslim media to counter the nefarious propaganda against Islam and the Muslims.
She said that the objective of her visit is to promote cooperation in the fields of Media & Information, women development and women education.
She underlined the need for greater exchange of delegations of mediapersons, education experts, teachers and students.
She also underlined the need for benefitting from each other’s experience.
Talking to the Pakistani community at the residence of Asghar Qureshi, member, Board of Governors for Overseas Pakistanis, the Minister said that the Pakistani community in KSA was doing a great job by contributing to the development of Saudi Arabia and boosting the economy of Pakistan.
She advised the community to abide by the rules & regulations of the KSA and  work as responsible citizens.
She thanked the Saudi leadership for providing a congenial atmosphere to the Pakistani workers and lauded the deep ties and the noble stand of the Saudi leadership and the nation towards Pakistan.
Later, the Minister visited the central Museum in Riyadh and was shown the artefact, historical documents, relics, antiques and classical portraits put on display.
She appreciated the Saudi authorities’ keen interest and for preserving and maintaining the historical edifices at the Museum.   Chinese Prime Minister Visit to Pakistan Presidential address to the joint sitting of parliament Official Results Election 2008

View the original article here

"The convert Deborah Baker" tells the story of love of American woman in Islam - Plain Dealer

The converted

Graywolf Press, 246 pp., $23

By Tricia Springstubb

Even if a "stout and stubborn little girl" growing in the 1940s, Margaret Marcus believes that Western civilization was on the wrong track. Despising the secular Judaism of his family, it aspires to be free of materialism and governed by the sacred law.

In close to his home in Mamaroneck, New York, public library discovered Margaret "The road to Mecca," a book written by a Jew converted to Islam and read dozens of times. In 1961, she was a correspondent with the powerful religious leader Mawlana Abul Al Mawdudi, who invited him, now Maryam Jameelah, to become a kind of adoptive daughter and a member of his household. Twenty-seven years, it has raised only for Lahore, Pakistan.

Deborah Baker tells this story in "The convert: A Tale of exile and extremism," a new biography as absorbent as a great detective story. It has no easy answers. Baker earlier book, "in Extremis: the life of Laura Riding," focused on British poet of the 20th century and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

As the constituency, Margaret/Maryam was not easy to love someone. A social misfit attracted by absolute, Margaret started the University of Rochester and the University of New York. Here and in Pakistan, it has suffered devastating mental breakdowns.

However, Baker made Maryam research for a community that would "accommodate the idea of a soul" poignant and heartbreaking. With the help of dozens of letters and essays and leaflets distributed extensively Maryam, Baker rebuilt his relationship with Mawdudi, who helped lay the intellectual foundations of militant Islam. The American of Pakistani who parked a truck filled with explosives in Times Square, cited last year his work.

Maryam went to Pakistan, expecting a precious, only to be treated as too openly and demanding role. However, his belief that Islam was at home has never wavered, even when she found herself second wife of another man and mother of children, she never wanted. In 2007, Baker visited him in Lahore and found an old fragile woman "living alone in a room with a little more of his faith and his library." for comfort she still lives.

In this book, Baker asks urgent questions on how America and the Muslims of the world sometimes becomes "the other evil cartoons." She explores if current enmity is more driven by history or metaphysics. As Maryam, it believes that its own American interests in the Middle East contributed to corrupt Governments and the rise of extremism. The difference of Maryam, it deplores the fringe of Islam that judges the success of the woman as fidelity to her husband, who condemns art and celebrating suicide bombings.

Twining in addition to his own life with his subject, Baker received consent of Maryam of condense letters. She retains her voice earnest, very eloquent, with their underlying emotional distress.

Cutting back and forth between two bewildered lives of Maryam/Margaret Baker gives us a miserable, privileged woman whose argument with his house was so strong that hers has become one of the most incisive voices of the argument of Islam with the West.

In this superb biography, Baker in fact an argument deserves our attention.

Tricia Springstubb is an author in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

View the original article here

My Take: This just in the Tennessee Court says that Islam is a religion - CNN (blog)

Editor's note: Stephen Prothero, Boston University researcher religion and author of "God is not a: eight Rival Religions that run the world," is a regular contributor to CNN belief Blog.

By Stephen prothero, special to CNN

A few months ago I spoke at a forum interfaith at the University of North Alabama. One of the speakers on my Panel was Osama Bahloul, imam of the Islamic Centre in Murfreesboro.

Bahloul began his speech by observing that God must have a sense of humor for giving him a problematic name like Osama. But the heart of her talk concerned the compatibility of Islam with American values.

What has surprised me on Bahloul, in our private conversations and his public speech was his deep and lasting faith in America. Signs on the site for its planned mosque was vandalized two times and federal investigators have determined that a fire on the site has been intentionally. Efforts to build this mosque, appropriate for a growing congregation who had been active in the field for nearly two decades, was achieved not only with events, but with legal action also.

Follow the Blog of belief of CNN on Twitter

Bahloul yet continued to believe that what was right would prevail in the end.

In the pursuit, Mosque opponents argued, among other things, that Islam is not a religion and had therefore not entitled to the free exercise special zoning treatment and protections given to religious organizations. But last week, a court in Murfreesboro ruled during the Islamic Centre.

In his decision, Judge Robert Corlew announced "that Islam is a religion". The fact that a Court of justice of the United States would in fact have such a conclusion is a sad comment on where we are today with United States religious literacy.

Imam Tennessee: my mosque was burned down.

Islam is not only a religion. It is the second largest religion in the world, with more than a billion adherents. And, as shown in the case of Murfreesboro, some of these Muslims are our neighbours.

There is still a legal issue that is uncertain in this case - a technical issue as to whether a screening procedure for the construction of the mosque had followed the rules of an order of premises of open meetings. But, as the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro noted on his web page yesterday, the permit to build is now in hand.

And, at least for the moment, the first amendment is still the law of the land in Tennessee.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Stephen Prothero.

View the original article here

Islam is a religion of peace not terrorism: Zardari - Associated Press of Pakistan

Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request
Translate Request has too much data
Parameter name: request
UN-backed Asia-Pacific forum stresses social protection for poverty reduction - UNITED NATIONS, May 23 (APP): Basic social protection for all segments of the population is key to protecting people from extreme poverty and economic exclusion, according to views expressed Monday by government representatives from the Asia-Pacific region attending a UN forum in Thailand.Developing countries can afford to provide universal basic social protection, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) says in an assessment, which formed the basis for discussions at the ESCAP Commission Session for Asia-Pacific governments being held in Bangkok.According to the ESCAP study, entitled “The  Promise of Protection,” a universal basic social protection package costs no more than 3 per cent of gross national income (GNI) and is affordable at virtually any stage of economic development.

NUPSA condemns attack on military base in Karachi, praises efforts of security forces - LONDON, May 23 (APP)- The UK-based National Union of Pakistani Students and Alumni (NUPSA) Monday strongly condemned the attack on Naval air base in Karachi and praised the sacrfices rendered by the security forces in dealing with the situation.Calling for national unity at this juncture, NUPSA said this menace require united efforts by every member of the society to effectively surmount the challenge pose by the terrorists to national security and the people of Pakistan.“NUPSA is deeply saddened by this event and cannot begin to express the level of pain they feel along with all the Pakistanis at home and abroad. We commend the security forces for fighting these militants and giving up their lives in the confrontation,” spokesperson Sundas Malik said.

No Chinese citizens taken hostage at air base in Pakistan: Spokesperson FM - BEIJING, May 23 (APP)  - No Chinese nationals were taken hostage in a terrorist attack on an Mehran Navy Base in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi late Sunday night, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu confirmed in a press release here on Monday. Jiang said, as a friendly neighbor of Pakistan, China supports the efforts of Pakistani government and people in maintaining the country’s social stability.

PTI UK stage protest outside US Embassy in London against drone attacks - LONDON, May 23 (APP):The UK chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) organized largely participated protest outside the American Embassy in Central London at the weekend against the drone attacks in Pakistan. The presence of hundreds of people including women and children from all across the UK conveyed the deep feelings of the Pakistani community in Britain against the US drone attacks.

Pakistan?s flags flew high at Tiananmen Square during PM?s visit - BEIJING, MAY 23 (APP): During Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s recent visit to China, Pakistani flags were flying high on the Tiananmen Square, which show the sentiments the Chinese people and government have towards our nation and the importance they attach to their relations with Pakistan, said Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masood Khan. Tiananmen Square is the world’s largest city square with a total area of 440,000.
ISLAMABAD, May 22 (APP) - Aaj Peshawar beat APP by 39 runs on Sunday in the TCKP Media Cricket League and Festival dedicated to Swat Valley played here at F-9 Park. APP won the toss and invited Aaj news to bat first, Aaj scored 84 runs in the allotted six overs with the loss of 3 wickets. Rashid (26), Hassan (22) were higher scorers.  In reply APP failed to reach the target and was restricted to 45 runs with the loss of four wickets in six overs.   ISLAMABAD, May 21 (APP):Hassan Sadpara, a Pakistani mountaineer who recently conquered the Mount Everst, has asked the government to help young mountaineers for better results in future.He said that he wished to climb 14 mountain summits to include his name in the Guinness Book of World Record.Talking to PTV, he said that the task of climbing the world top mountain peaks could be accomplished with the assistance and support of the government.Sadpara, who successfully climbed the world’s highest 8,850 meter summit, thanked President Asif Ali Zardari for supporting and accepting his demand in 2009.  
  LAHORE, May 21 (APP)- Pakistan Hockey Federation has invited two more players to attend the training camp of national senior probables from May 30 at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium Islamabad to prepare for different assignments in Europe in June and July.“ On the recommendations of national selection committee and the team management, the PHF has included the names of two more players Mazhar Abbas (Goalkeeper) and Bilal Qadir (Forward) in the list of camp trainees”,said a spokesman of PHF here on Saturday.

  LAHORE, May 21 (APP)- Fourth seed, Yasir Butt won the FMC International squash Pakistan Circuit II ,snuffing a weak challenge from wild card holder Mohammad Shahnawaz in straight sets 11-9,11-8,11-3 in thef final here on  Saturday at PSA complex.Shahnawaz who caused sensation by toppling top seed Farhan Mehboob in the semi finals, failed to rise to the occasion and disappointed a large gathering with his sluggish play and poor finish in a match lasted just 34 minutes.

  LAHORE, May 21 (APP)- Former world squash champion, Jansher Khan gave glimpses of his glittering past by playing two back to back exhibition matches here on Saturday at PSA complex.Jansher, who ruled the squash world for over a decade by winning all the major titles at stake was in good physical shape and demonstrated his usual punch and sting in his attacking game.In the first match he beat Sheraz Saleem, a member of Punjab Squash Association’s executive committee who is a regular player and then played against Punjab’s promising player Ali Bokhari.

 April, 2011 March, 2011 February, 2011 January, 2011 December, 2010 November, 2010 October, 2010 September, 2010 August, 2010 July, 2010 LONDON, May 22 (APP)- President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Islam is a religion of peace and tranquillity and totally opposed to friction and terrorism. President Zardari, in his message to the International Imam Council, organisers of Syeda Fatima (S.A.) Interfaith Conference at the House of Lords here last evening, noted that such conferences highlight the real image of Islam being a peaceful religion and clear the confusion that Islam, in any way, favours terrorism. The President said: “It gives me immense pleasure that Imam Hussain Council arranged an Interfaith Conference in recognition of Hazrat Fatima Tu-Zahra ( S.A.) , the daughter of our Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is a distinguished personality of the Muslim world.
“She is a shining moral example for all the women across the globe. Her life, her teachings, her mannerisms and even her authority over her father, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is a precedent for us to follow even today.”
The President congratulated the International Imam Hussain Council for bringing all religions and sects together on one platform and becoming a significant instrument of harmony, love, tranquillity and brotherhood amongst all people.
The International Imam Hussain Council arranged the innovative seminar at the  senior chamber of the British Parliament, to encourage interfaith dialogue for the enhancement of mutual understanding and sectarian harmony.
The seminar was attended by a number of parliamentarians, interfaith leaders and people from different walks of life.
Rich tributes were paid to women from Abrahamic traditions such as Lady Mary from Christianity and Bithia from Jewish traditions. In celebrating the lives of these glorious women they also focussed on important topics of forced marriages, importance of female education and women with rights.
Originally founded in Pakistan , the International Imam Hussain Council strives to promote unity through creating innovative platforms for heads of state, scholars and members of the public to come together and find creative solutions to the complex problems and threats facing our world. The diverse audience was made up of attendees from all of the major Ibrahamic faiths, as well as representation from Hindu and Seek communities.
The main speaker, Lord Alderdice, Chair of Liberal Democrats, said that women in following the footsteps of Hazrat Fatima (S.A.)  can build bridges not only between the Abrahamic religions but also between communities with no particular belief systems. He said there is a tremendous power to motherhood, children and family which perhaps gets lost in more complex cultures.
Lord Nazir Ahmed  said Syedna Fatima is a role model for women and a symbol of unity for the Muslims. He said he raised the issue of mosques which have been demolished in Bahrain and will call on the Bahraini Government to stop destroying places of worship.
Rubab Mehdi Rizvi, Chairperson of International Imam Hussain Council, in her welcome address  said the  gender based nepotism in history means that achievements from females are conveniently forgotten.
“It is imperative in our struggle for gender parity that such personalities are given their rightful place theologically and socially as they are an authentic source of law and ethics.”
She said role of woman in society today has reached the level of stagnation. Hazrat Fatima (S.A.) is a name capable of waking women into dawn away from the painful burdens of some man-made shackles. She sacrificed all she had for justice and was a sister to the poor.
Bishop Nick Holtam of Salisbury shared a story of two extraordinary women who visited St Martin’s from Israel Palestine. He said both these women had lost their sons but following the footsteps of Lady Mary, Miriam and Syeda Fatima (peace be upon them) embarked on a joint reconciliation women while the conflict is still alive. He says these are mothers such as these who can promote the cessation of acts of hostility and the achievement of a political agreement.
Senior Rabbi Mark Winer said, “Although I am not a Muslim, I am a dedicated student of the Quran, the Hadith, and the entirety of Islam.  Although I am a Rabbi and dedicated to teaching Torah, I am also an Islamophile, a lover of Islam and Muslims.”
Julian Bond of the Christian Muslim Forum said: “Reflecting on Fatima and Mary, they both had important messages, they challenged men’s words, actions and outlooks and had close family relationships with our founders - the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Jesus Christ”.
The conference was chaired by Yousaf Al Khoei, Director of Al-Khoei Foundation.   Chinese Prime Minister Visit to Pakistan Presidential address to the joint sitting of parliament Official Results Election 2008

View the original article here