friday bulletin 170

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The Muslim News Update Friday Bulletin The Rajab 03, 1427/July 28, 2006 Issue no. 170 This Newsletter contains some of Allah’s names. Please do not throw in the trash. Either keep,circulate or shred. Human rights groups have poured scorn at the government for what they said was its persistent campaign to harass and intimidate Muslims on the allegation of involvement in terrorism activities. Deploring the human rights violations, they said the government had a moral duty to respect the constitution and safeguarding the sovereignty of the country. The Kenya Human Rights Network (K-Hurinet) urged the government to disassociate all religious activism from terrorism where Muslims are taken to be terrorists. “We are questioning the logic as to why terrorism has been linked only to the Islamic religion and the assumption that every Muslim is a terrorist,” said Stephen Musau the executive director of Release Political Prisoners (RPP). Musau was speaking in reaction to last week’s arrest in Mombasa of a British preacher of Nigerian origin Ismoila Olatunde Rufai. The preacher who was in the country to visit his family was later unceremoniously deported as a security threat to the country. He denied the allegations. They stressed that the preacher who was legally in the country was treated and deplored his treatment which they said was done without any recourse to the laws of the country. After his arrest at his Tononoka home, he was held incommunicado, denied access to lawyer and relatives and detained in a toilet at the port police station in Mombasa. “This culture of impunity is being used to enhance the abuse of human rights and the government officials are betraying the cause of justice, Musau told a media conference at a Nairobi hotel on Tuesday. He went on to dismiss the assertions by the Government spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua allegation that the passports confiscated from the preacher were of fake and of different nationalities and said the allegations were only aimed at portraying him as a dangerous terrorist. “The 7 passports included 5 passports for his children, his personal and one for his dear wife,” he clarified. Musau also urged MPs to resist moves to enact the Terrorism Bill and said the attempts to link Muslims to terrorism were being made to influence Kenyans in accepting the draconian legislation. Musau was accompanied by other members of the network who included Ndung’u Wainaina from National Consultative Executive Committee (NCEC) and Al-Amin Kimathi from the Muslim Human Rights Forum among others. After his arrest in the wee hours of the morning, he was bundled in a Landover and in an operation which brings bitter memories of the transport of Guantanamo detainees, his hand and legs were shacked during the 500 kilometres journey to Nairobi. Interestingly, though his case right from the start was handled by the anti-terrorist police unit, the government claimed that his arrest was a purely an immigration issue and he was not linked to any terrorist activity. He was deported midnight on Sunday aboard a Kenya airways plane flight 102. His deportation, a copy of which The Friday Bulletin saw was signed by the minister of state for immigration Gideon Konchella and dated July 17, two days before his arrest. It read in part, “Ismail Olatonda Rufai is for all purposes of the immigration Act, a member of the prohibited class and a prohibited immigrant.” In a related incident, an Imam was on Sunday last week detained at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for what officials later claimed was an anomaly in his passport file. Rasaam Ahmed Swaleh was arrested while on his way to the United Arab Emirates after visiting his family in the country. Human rights groups protest arrest of British Muslim Kenyatta University will next week host a two-day international Islamic conference discussing challenges facing Islam in East Africa. The conference under the theme, Islamic encounter with challenges of the 21 st century, has attracted various academic scholars from the three East African states. It will be opened on Wednesday by the deputy chancellor Olive Mugenda. The conference will be held under the auspices of the University’s department of Philosophy and Religious studies. Among the speakers will be the vice rector Islamic University in Uganda Prof Ahmad Sengendo, Suleiman Seif Salim from the Muslim University of Morogoro, Prof Adam of Nairobi University and Ali Sunkar from Zanzibar University. Topics to be discussed include Islam and social change in East Africa, challenges of the war on terror, the place of the Kadhi courts and Globalisation among others. Muslims of Mbale in Vihiga district have a cause to smile after the area masjid which had stalled for more than a decade was finally completed. Maahad Da’wah Organisation (MDO), a Nairobi based NGO took the mantle to complete the construction of the masjid which stalled due to financial constraints. Rehabilitation of the Mbale Jamia masjid which stands along the Kisumu-Kakamega road began last year after MDO stepped. More than Sh1.2 million was spent on the rehabilitation. The masjid was opened at the weekend at the ceremony where the Kadhi of Nyanza Sheikh Rashid Ali was the chief guest. Sheikh Abu Hamza, the Imam of Sparki Masjid in Mombasa was also present. International Islamic conference for next week Mbale Masjid finally completed The Bush administration is rushing a delivery of precision-guided bombs to Israel, which requested the expedited shipment last week after beginning its air campaign against the Lebanese resistance movement Hizbullah, The New York Times revealed on Saturday, July 22. Citing US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Times said the decision to ship the weapons quickly came after relatively little debate within the administration. The arms shipment has not been announced publicly. The officials who described the administration’s decision to rush the munitions included employees of two government US rushes laser-guided bombs to Israel Continued on Page 4

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The Friday Bulletin Issue No. 170

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Friday Bulletin 170

T h e M u s l i m N e w s U p d a t eFriday BulletinThe

Rajab 03, 1427/July 28, 2006 Issue no. 170

This Newsletter contains some of Allah’s names. Please do not throw in the trash. Either keep,circulate or shred.

Human rights groups have poured scorn at the government for what they said was itspersistent campaign to harass and intimidate Muslims on the allegation of involvement interrorism activities.Deploring the human rights violations, they said the government had a moral duty to respectthe constitution and safeguarding the sovereignty of the country.The Kenya Human Rights Network (K-Hurinet) urged the government to disassociate allreligious activism from terrorism where Muslims are taken to be terrorists.“We are questioning the logic as to why terrorism has been linked only to the Islamic religionand the assumption that every Muslim is a terrorist,” said Stephen Musau the executivedirector of Release Political Prisoners (RPP).Musau was speaking in reaction to last week’s arrest in Mombasa of a British preacher ofNigerian origin Ismoila Olatunde Rufai. The preacher who was in the country to visit hisfamily was later unceremoniously deported as a security threat to the country. He denied theallegations.They stressed that the preacher who was legally in the country was treated and deplored histreatment which they said was done without any recourse to the laws of the country.After his arrest at his Tononoka home, he was held incommunicado, denied access tolawyer and relatives and detained in a toilet at the port police station in Mombasa. “Thisculture of impunity is being used to enhance the abuse of human rights and the governmentofficials are betraying the cause of justice, Musau told a media conference at a Nairobi hotelon Tuesday.He went on to dismiss the assertions by the Government spokesman Dr Alfred Mutuaallegation that the passports confiscated from the preacher were of fake and of differentnationalities and said the allegations were only aimed at portraying him as a dangerousterrorist. “The 7 passports included 5 passports for his children, his personal and one forhis dear wife,” he clarified.Musau also urged MPs to resist moves to enact the Terrorism Bill and said the attempts tolink Muslims to terrorism were being made to influence Kenyans in accepting the draconianlegislation.Musau was accompanied by other members of the network who included Ndung’u Wainainafrom National Consultative Executive Committee (NCEC) and Al-Amin Kimathi from the MuslimHuman Rights Forum among others.After his arrest in the wee hours of the morning, he was bundled in a Landover and in anoperation which brings bitter memories of the transport of Guantanamo detainees, his handand legs were shacked during the 500 kilometres journey to Nairobi.Interestingly, though his case right from the start was handled by the anti-terrorist police unit,the government claimed that his arrest was a purely an immigration issue and he was notlinked to any terrorist activity.He was deported midnight on Sunday aboard a Kenya airways plane flight 102.His deportation, a copy of which The Friday Bulletin saw was signed by the minister of statefor immigration Gideon Konchella and dated July 17, two days before his arrest. It read inpart, “Ismail Olatonda Rufai is for all purposes of the immigration Act, a member of theprohibited class and a prohibited immigrant.”In a related incident, an Imam was on Sunday last week detained at Jomo KenyattaInternational Airport for what officials later claimed was an anomaly in his passport file.Rasaam Ahmed Swaleh was arrested while on his way to the United Arab Emirates aftervisiting his family in the country.

Human rights groups protest arrest ofBritish Muslim

Kenyatta University will next weekhost a two-day international Islamicconference discussing challengesfacing Islam in East Africa.The conference under the theme,Islamic encounter with challengesof the 21st century, has attractedvarious academic scholars fromthe three East African states. It willbe opened on Wednesday by thedeputy chancellor Olive Mugenda.The conference will be held underthe auspices of the University’sdepartment of Phi losophy andReligious studies.Among the speakers will be thevice rector Islamic University inUganda Prof Ahmad Sengendo,Suleiman Seif Sal im from theMuslim University of Morogoro, ProfAdam of Nairobi University and AliSunkar from Zanzibar University.Topics to be discussed includeIslam and social change in EastAfrica, challenges of the war onterror, the place of the Kadhi courtsand Globalisation among others.

Muslims of Mbale in Vihiga districthave a cause to smile after the areamasjid which had stalled for morethan a decade was f inal lycompleted.Maahad Da’wah Organisat ion(MDO), a Nairobi based NGO tookthe mant le to complete theconstruction of the masjid whichstalled due to financial constraints.Rehabilitation of the Mbale Jamiamasj id which stands along theKisumu-Kakamega road began lastyear after MDO stepped.More than Sh1.2 million was spenton the rehabilitation.The masj id was opened at theweekend at the ceremony wherethe Kadhi of Nyanza Sheikh RashidAli was the chief guest. Sheikh AbuHamza, the Imam of Sparki Masjidin Mombasa was also present.

International Islamicconference for next week

Mbale Masjid finallycompleted

The Bush administration is rushing a delivery of precision-guided bombs to Israel, whichrequested the expedited shipment last week after beginning its air campaign against theLebanese resistance movement Hizbullah, The New York Times revealed on Saturday, July22.Citing US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Times said the decision to shipthe weapons quickly came after relatively little debate within the administration.The arms shipment has not been announced publicly. The officials who described theadministration’s decision to rush the munitions included employees of two government

US rushes laser-guided bombs to Israel

Continued on Page 4

Page 2: Friday Bulletin 170

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editorial

The ugly head of terror has reared its mark again. The deplorableincidents of intimidation and harassment of Muslims seems tohave no end in sight even after none other than President MwaiKibaki himself pledged on several occasions that these wantonviolations of human rights would be relegated to the annals ofhistory.Any slight suspicion of involvement in so-called terrorist activitieshas seen Muslims being rounded up and subjected to brutaltreatments only to be released without any charge or deportedin the name of threats to State security. The hundreds of arrestsso far carried out in the last three years, not a single individualhas been incriminated with the alleged crime.Kenyans were outraged when the infamous Artur brothers in amajor security scare drew guns at one of the most sensitivenational institutions Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Thepair was later found with a deadly arsenal of highlysophisticated guns, akin to those used by the elitePresidential guard, fake documents and otherparaphernalia all bearing the hallmarks of terrorist gears.These people had earlier presented themselves as devoutChristians being seen going to churches and golden crucifixeson their chests were clearly displayed to whoever cared to see.Yet despite their underground dealings, no mention of anyterrorism linkage came to the fore nor was their faith linked toterrorism. Their associates and churches were not even asubject of investigations. The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit was nowhere in sight to scrutinise their dubious and dangerousactivities.If the same individuals were Muslims, then as one commentatorput it, “they would have been shot on the spot.” Institutions andindividuals deemed to be associated with the pair would nowbe under the spot light.Similar nerve wrecking incidents have happened in the pastwithout much ado simply because those involved were non-Muslims. A few years ago a University of Nairobi student was

found with a cache of arms in his room and only a few weeksago, dangerous explosives enough to bring down a multi storeyedbuilding were discovered in one of Nairobi’s suburbs. Had thoseinvolved happen to be professing the Muslim faith, the ATPU wouldhave won accolades for superb job well done.For its dedicated role to hunt down Muslims, the ATPU shouldtake on another identity, the Anti-Muslim Police Unit. In order toget the much-needed donor financing, it is now manufacturingterrorists were there are none and its victims are none other thanMuslims.The media without verifying the facts, have also fallen prey to theconspiracy game demonising Muslims as terrorists. Reportscarried last Saturday by Taifa Leo and KTN that deported Britishpreacher Ismail Rufai was an agent of Usama bin Ladin and asuspect in the Mumbai bombings respectively, were a gross

miscarriage of responsible journalism. Despite the policerefuting the claims, the message has already sunk deepinto the minds of the population; Kenya harbours terrorists(read Muslims).

There is a multitude of foreign Christian missionaries someworking in the remotest parts of the country. Their activities donot attract any suspicion from the government rather at timesthere work is encouraged especially in the fields of social welfare.Muslim foreign workers in similar situations however, are workingunder close surveillance and several of them have been deportedwithout any allegations being proved of involvement in any sinisterdealing.These acts of intimidation only continue to further strengthen thenotion among Muslims that this so-called war on terror is aimedat those who are firmly embedded in following its ideals andultimately obliterating the Islamic religion.Muslims are an integral part of the Kenya population and thepractice of subjecting them to different crude system of justice toappease foreigners ought be brought to an end. And the soonerit is done, the better for the country.

Another case of the flawed system of justice

I was resting at home with my family in Mombasa on WednesdayJune 19 when armed officers suddenly burst into my bedroom. Iwas dragged and thrown to the ground, although it was clearly visibleI posed no threat as I only had a vest and trousers on. Members ofmy family were treated in the same manner. Thereafter, I was pinnedto the floor and taunted by the officers who called me “Usama” andunleashed a torrent of abusive names.Upon asking them to identify themselves or to inform me the reasonfor the raid, I was told to shut up or be prepared to face severebeatings. The officers said they will justify the beatings by saying Iwas violent and resisting arrest.Thereafter, I was taken to the port police station where even thereason for my arrest was not communicated to me. I asked for myfamily and the British High Commission to be informed of my situationbut this request was refused. Upon my insistence, I was violentlythrown into the cell and then locked all by myself in the toilets. Otherinmates at the station were encouraged to tease me by calling me“Al Qaida”.I spent the night in a toilet and the next morning the arresting officerscame to me for questioning. I asked to contact a solicitor and adoctor as I suffer from a severe ulcer condition, which had started tobleed. My requests were again refused. After questioning they toldme it was an immigration issue and we will be leaving forNairobi shortly, where I will see a lawyer and a doctor. This did notoccur till around 3am the next morning when I was suddenly wokenup by two officers , dragged, hands were handcuffed behind myback, legs chained and bundled into a Landover. The journey to Nairobi was gruelling as I had not eaten sinceWednesday,.I had only managed to drink water from the toilet. Due to the condition of the road, the handcuffs got tighter and weregoing deeper through my wrist. Upon complaining, I was told “it isbecause you Nigerians your bones are too big.” The journey wasboth a physical and psycholigical torture for me.Upon reaching Nairobi, I was taken to the anti-terrorist headquarters,where even the cause of my arrest was not communicated to me.I spent Friday evening in the cells until Saturday evening June 22,when officers suddenly came and started to interrogate me and

later asked me to pack my things as we were going somewhere. Irequested for my lawyer or a member of my family to be contacted butthe security officials only laughed and said ‘’this is Africa!’’I came to realise that we were in Jomo Kenyattta International Airportwhere I was told to sign a deportation order which stated that I poseda threat to national security. I refused to sign as I was not a threat tonational security, and if that was the case, I insisted, that let the lawprove it. The deportation order did not even bear my name. Strangely enough,the deportation order was issued and signed on July 17 two daysbefore my arrest (a copy is available if needed).I was transported out of the airport to a cell at the airport police stationon Sunday. At this time I was vomiting blood due to my ulcers and despitepersistent calls, they refused to call a doctor or my family or even theBritish High Commission.I was later taken to a doctor and in the evening I was taken tto heairport to be deported. I complained that I was not fit for travel as I wasvomiting blood. The commanding officer ordered they drag me onthe plane if necessary and said in his own words: “This man can notstay till Monday. We CAN NOT let him go to court”.I was eventually dragged on the plane and hit on the head by one ofthe officers and my shoulder almost dislocated in the process. ThoughI was made to leave the country on Sunday my passport is stampedthat I left Kenya on Saturday June 22.I arrived in the England and was not arrested or charged.Lastly this incident has left me with deep psychological scars and Iam traumatised. I call upon all the good people of Kenya to speakagainst this oppression and victimisation of Muslims and any otherhuman being, no matter the race of faith he or she belongs to.I am free of all the accusations against me as a ‘terror suspect’, andI pray and hope this harassment will stop from those in a position ofauthority, as they are supposed to protect the population not terrorisethem. What hurts me most is that I am not the first, or the last toreceive this kind of ill-treatment.Ismoila Olatunde RufaiLondon-England

Statement from Ismoila Olatunde Rufai

Page 3: Friday Bulletin 170

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What strikes your mind when someone mentions worship?Most people would answer a ritualistic act performed in aprescribed place in a set manner, or something along thoselines.In Islam, every act done in day-to-day life is considered asworship if done in accordance to the ways prescribed by God(Allah). Eating, an act done to fulfi l l physical needs, isconsidered as a form of worship when done in the wayprescribed by Allah and Prophet Muhammad with the properintention. Food plays a prevalent role in an individual’s life. There is nodenying that food is one of the necessary requirements for thesurvival of a human being. Islam acknowledges the importanceof consuming food to nourish the body and mind. Only whenthe body is healthy can the mind be healthy.Food in the Qur’an The Qur’an and Sunnah recommend food rich in nutrients. “Opeople: eat of what is on earth, lawful and wholesome.” (Al-Baqarah 2:168). The Qur’an also says what means: “So eat of(meats), on which Allah’s name hath been pronounced if yehave faith in his signs” (Al-An`am 6:118).“The game of the sea and its food are permitted to you” (Al-Ma’idah 5:99).“Pure milk, easy and agreeable to swallow for those who drink”(An-Nahl 16:66).“He it is who produceth gardens with trellises and without, anddates, and tilth with produce of all kinds and olives andpomegranates, similar and different, eat of their fruit in season”(An-Nahl 16:141).Live to Eat, or Eat to Live?Islam emphasizes the concept of moderation in eating.Muslims are expected to eat for survival, to maintain good health,and not to live for eating. Moderation in dietary habits can helppeople to lead healthy and balanced lives. Modern researchhas proven that excessive eating and improper diet canincrease the chance of diseases such as obesity, highcholesterol, heart diseases, and diabetes. With regards to food, as with many other subjects in Islam,prevention is better than cure. Therefore, overeating has beenstrongly discouraged in the Qur’an and Sunnah. “Eat and drink and be not immoderate. Verily Allah does not likethe transgressors” (Al-A`raf 7:31).The Qur’an also says what means: “Eat of the good things Wehave provided for your sustenance, but commit no excesstherein” (Taha 20:81).In addition to the Qur’an, many hadiths, or sayings of the ProphetMuhammad encourage moderation. The Prophet said, “No manfills a vessel worse than his stomach. A few mouthfuls thatwould suffice to keep his back upright are enough for a man.But if he must eat more, than he should fill one third (of hisstomach) with food, one third with drink and leave one third foreasy breathing” (Ahmad).Reading these Qur’anic verses and sayings of the ProphetMuhammad (peace be upon him), some people may think thatIslam is too caught up with details of everyday life. Why is somuch attention given to something like food and eating whenthere are more important things like charity, mercy, love, andpiety to be discussed? This stress on daily details of life is,however, part of the worldview of Islam. The essence of Islamlies in the relationship between the human being and his orher Creator, Allah. Therefore, Islam lays down suggestions andrules for living in order to promote the maintenance of the kindof living that achieves the best results for this relationship.Consequently, Islam believes that optimum spiritual health canonly be achieved if one is physically sound. Food With Healing PropertiesThere are many Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings thatrecommend certain foods, such as honey, dates, figs, milk,and olives, for their healing properties.For example, the Qur’an mentions the healing properties ofhoney: “And thy Lord inspired the bee, saying: Choose thou

habitations in the hills and in the trees and in that which theythatch; Then eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of thy Lord,made smooth (for thee). There cometh forth from their bellies adrink divers of hues, wherein is healing for mankind. Lo! hereinis indeed a portent for people who reflect” (An-Nahl 16:68-69).The date, a fruit known for its rich nutrient value, is alsorecommended. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)said, “There is a tree among the trees which is similar to a Muslim(in goodness), and that is the date palm tree” (Al-Bukhari).The olive is mentioned several times in the Qur’an. “He it is Whoproduceth gardens trellised and untrellised, and the date palm,and crops of divers flavor, and the olive and the pomegranate,like and unlike. Eat ye of the fruit thereof when it fruiteth, and paythe due thereof upon the harvest day, and be not prodigal. Lo!Allah loveth not the prodigals” (Al-An`am 6:141).Prohibited Foods in IslamIn Islam, all foods are allowed except for those which are harmful.The Qur’an lays down injunctions regarding diet. “He has only forbidden you carrion, blood, the flesh of swine andthat on which any other name has been invoked besides that ofGod. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedienceor transgressing due limits, then is he guiltless. For God is Oft-forgiving Most Merciful” (Al-Baqarah 2:173). “Forbidden to you for food are: Carrion, blood, the flesh of swineand that on which any name other than Allah has been invoked,that which has been killed by strangling, by violent blow, by aheadlong fall or by being gored to death; that which has beenpartly eaten by a wild animal unless you are able to slaughter it(in due form), that which is sacrificed on stone (alters); (forbidden)also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety.This day have those who rejected faith given up all hope of yourreligion: So fear them not, but fear Me. This day have I perfectedyour religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and havechosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced byhunger, with no inclination to transgression, God is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful” (Al-Ma’idah 5:3). Alcohol is also prohibited. “They question thee about intoxicantsand games of chance. Say: In both is great sin, and (some) utilityfor men; but the sin of them is greater than their usefulness. Andthey ask thee what they ought to spend. Say: that which issuperfluous. Thus Allah maketh plain to you (His) revelations,that haply ye may reflect” (Al-Baqarah 2:219).Eating and Drinking EtiquetteIslam also stresses proper eating and drinking etiquette. Someexamples of etiquette which are encouraged include washingone’s hands before and after eating, saying “in the name of Allah”before starting to eat, never eating unless one is hungry, neverindulging in excessive eating or drinking, sitting while drinking,and, finally, returning back to the main objective of helping peopleto improve and elevate their relationship with their Creator,praising and thanking Allah for the blessings of food and drink.

Eating: An Act of WorshipBy Amatullah Abdullah

Being locked in die-hard battles against Hizbullah resistancefighters did not prevent Israeli occupation forces from killingfifteen Palestinians, including a child, in two air raids on theeast of Gaza City on Wednesday, July 26.Six Palestinians, including a three-year-old girl, were killed in asingle Israeli strike on a group of Palestinians in eastern GazaCity, hospital officials said.At least 40 people, including two journalists and six people in acritical condition, were wounded by Israeli fire.Late Tuesday, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy was killed by Israelifire while in his house. Two family members were also wounded.At least 134 Palestinians were killed since Israel launched awide-scale offensive on Gaza on the pretext of seeking therelease of an Israeli soldier taken prisoners by Palestinianresistance groups.Wednesday’s killings bring to 5,273 the number of people killedsince the start of Al-Aqsa Intifada in September 2000, most ofthem Palestinians, according to an AFP count. (islamonline.net)

Israel Kills Fifteen Palestinians

Page 4: Friday Bulletin 170

Show solidarity with thePalestinian and Lebanese peopleby boycotting the followingcompanies and products whichare actively supporting the Israelbrutal attacks against theinnocent .

The Friday Bulletin is a Publication of Jamia Mosque Commitee, P. O. Box 40629-00400 Nairobi, Tel: 243504/5 E-mail: [email protected] by Pro-phase Marketing- Plessey House Uhuru Highway P. O. Box 8156-00200 Nairobi

Islamic Economy SystemDr Abdallah Muhammad

Saturday July 29 20062.00-4.00pm

Jamia Masjid Multi-Purpose Hall

Saturday Lecture

Nairobi Masaajid Joint Programme– Faith in Action

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The Islamic IdentitySheikh Ahmad Uthman

Sunday July 30 20062.00pm-4.00pm

Park Road Masjid

Destination Jannah

BOYCOTT

ISRAEL

The youth constitute a central plank of every society. The nu-merical strength, knowledge and vitality are critical attributes ofthis important segment of the society; yet modern trends revealdehumanizing marginalization and debilitating violations of theirdignity and human rights. As a result, the society is caught up in a dangerous web ofdegeneration and hopelessness because we fail to appreciatethe important position and role of the youth in modern times.Hindsight will reveal that a society that invests and empowersthe youth is a productive, progressive and peaceful society whilethe vice-versa is the case for a society that treats and holds itsyouth in contempt, ridicule and connivance.This coming Saturday, 29th July 2006 will inshaallah usher in anew beginning for Muslim youths in Kenya. Over fifty youthsdrawn from various groups and institutions in Nairobi will bemeeting at Aga-Khan Sports Club to usher in a new and collec-tive vision. The workshop dubbed “team building and groupachievement” will no doubt present an opportunity for all to clasphands together as one people in grappling with the issues thatafflict the youth in Kenya. Amongst the speakers expected at thefunction are Prof.Shaukat Abdulrazak and Capt.Yahya Ateiamongst others.Coming as it is, a time when nations are tearing apart alongtribal, cultural, religious, class and other prejudices and stere-otypes, our youth will be able to interrogate these issues inaccordance with the teachings of Islam. It is established be-yond denial that Islam knows no race, colour, tribe, class, cul-ture, etcetera and that in Islam it is Allah (SWT) and humanitybeyond boundaries and nuances. It is therefore hoped that thisworkshop will empower the youth and generate the requisitecapacity to wither the many challenges facing the Kenyan soci-ety today and hence inspire a new hope for a better Muslim(community) and a better KenyaFrom this workshop, our youth will inshaallah display a newchapter in human development not only to the Kenyan nationbut to the whole world that it is possible to clasp hands togetherin all the things that are essential for our mutual progress asyoung people and that by empowering the youth, we are creat-ing a productive, peaceful and progressive society. That the youthif mobilized constructively will offer the safest depository of theultimate powers of the society as evidenced by their numericalstrength, freshness in knowledge and vitality.That indeed it is possible to lift our nation from the quicksand oftribalism, nepotism, corruption, impunity, recklessness, hope-lessness, name it all, to the very higher levels of reason, hopeand progress. This workshop will no doubt launch this newspirit and collective vision based on reason, hope, equity andmutual progress. May Allah (SWT) bless and guide our efforts.

NMJP rolls out youth programme

Religion is a compulsory subject in primary schools and in thefirst two years of secondary school. This means that every Mus-lim child in Primary school and in the first two years of second-ary school should be taught Islamic Religious Education.We are aware that there are some primary schools and sec-ondary schools that have Muslim students but no Muslimteacher to teach IRE. We would like to compile data on theseprimary and secondary schools that have Muslim teachers butno Muslim teachers to teach IRE.We appeal to Heads of schools teachers and parents to sendus the data as1. Name of the school2. Name of Town/District3. Approximate number of Muslim students in the school whereavailablePlease forward your information toIRE PanelYoung Muslim AssociationP. O. Box 48509-00100 Nairobi-Kenya

Survey of Islamic Religious Education in Schools

The Greek Parliament has approved a plan to build Athens’ firstmosque in two centuries. There have been no Muslim places ofworship in Athens since Greece gained independence in 1832 afterfour centuries of Ottoman rule.Tens of thousands of Muslim immigrants in Greece have heldprayers in private homes and have had to travel hundreds ofkilometers to northern Greece for weddings, burials and otherceremonies.The mosque plan was delayed due to opposition from the GreekOrthodox Church, the nation’s state religion, over its location andfunding, although freedom of religion is guaranteed by Greece’sconstitution as a member of the European Union.It’s worth mentioning that Athens is the only EU capital that doesn’thave an official place of worship for its 200,000 Muslims. The fewmosques dating from Ottoman times in the old part of Athens knownas Plaka have been turned into tourist sites and museums.But now the mosque won parliament’s approval and the support ofthe current centre-right government.“The Muslims of Athens are Greek tax-payers and we have a right topray in a respectful building,” said Naim El-Ghandour, who iscoordinating plans for the new mosque to be built in northern Athens.The controversy over the Athens mosque isn’t the first in Europe. InItaly, the planned construction of a mosque in Colle di Val d’Elsa inTuscany has been met by fierce opposition from the local commu-nity. (islamonline.com)

Athens Muslims to get their first masjid

A one day forum takes place in Nairobi to discuss challengesfacing Muslims in the face of continued reports of arrest ofindividuals in the so-called war on terror.The forum to be held this week at Jamia Masjid after Friday prayershas been organised by the Muslim Human Rights Forum inconjunction with other civil society groups.It aims at sensitising Muslim regarding their constitutional rights.

Forum to discuss terrorism in Nairobi

Awaiting collectionAlso Bursary Forms

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Bursary Cheques Masjid Al Amin LibraryOpen Saturday to Thursday

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Variety of Islamic literatures

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AVU Main HallKenyatta University

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Regional Conferenceon Islam