Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Muslims Condemen Varnasi Terror

MUSLIMS CONDEMN VARNASI TERROR
Dallas, Texas, December 08, 2010
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2010/12/muslims-condemen-varnasi-terror.html

The CNN-IBN in India reports, “The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad on Wednesday detained three people in connection with Tuesday's blast in Varanasi which killed a one-year-old child and injured at least 20 people, a media report said. According to CNN-IBN, the ATS has identified Mohammad Shahnawaz, (27), a doctor and Asadullah Akhtar alias Asadullah Khan, (25), a pharmacist, as key suspects behind the blast.

The Muslims of the World unequivocally condemn this disgusting act of terrorizing and killing the innocent in Varanasi. Thank God, the Indian Police has identified those criminals, and the court system must go in full gear and punish these criminals to the hilt per the civil laws.

Their parents, friends or their religion should not to be used to dilute the case, they did it and they must be punished.

I urge the Muslims to take the lead and tie these rascals or their effigies to a pole by the court house and take turns in spitting on them (a very shameful act in Indian culture).

Every one has to tell them that there is no hoori for them waiting in Paradise, nor there is anything like that in Quraan. They have been duped about it, and those who told them so will also meet the same fate.  

We also hope the Muslim will take the extreme position of banning them from burial in their cemeteries. They need to learn, “forget the hoories, I wont’ even get a decent burial”. Isn’t punishment a deterrent?
  
The religious leaders are urged to condemn these acts and repeatedly communicate to those duped ones that killing any one including themselves will not earn them a heaven, but the wrath of God for killing another being.
As Muslims we have to stand up for what is right and stand against what is wrong.

Mike Ghouse runs the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other and has dedicated to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress. He is a regular commentator on the TV, Radio and Print media offering pluralistic solutions to the issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker, writer and a peace activist. Mike's work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

3 detained over Varanasi blast
New Delhi, December 08, 2010First Published: 15:50 IST(8/12/2010)
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad on Wednesday detained three people in connection with Tuesday's blast in Varanasi which killed a one-year-old child and injured at least 20 people, a media report said. According to CNN-IBN, the ATS has identified Mohammad Shahnawaz, (27), a doctor and Asadullah Akhtar alias Asadullah Khan, (25), a pharmacist, as key suspects behind the blast.
Both are allegedly linked to the 2008 Delhi blasts and the Batla House encounter in Delhi.
Indian Mujahideen (IM) claimed responsibility for the blast in an e-mail traced to Malad in Mumbai. Earlier a father-son duo were picked up for questioning in Mumbai in connection with the e-mail sent by IM.
One killed, many injured in Varanasi bomb blast
HT Correspondent, Agencies
Varanasi, December 07, 2010First Published: 18:56 IST(7/12/2010) 
A two-year-old girl named Swastika Sharma was killed and about 30-40 people, including four foreigners, were injured in a bomb blast at the Dashashwamedh Ghat on the banks of Ganga river in Varanasi at around 6.30 pm on Tuesday.
Additional Director General of Police (ADG)-- Law and Order, Brijlal said: "The state has been put on high alert. And anti-terrorist sqauds and a bomb disposal squad have been rushed to the site."
Though it has been reported that the bomb was possibly kept in a milk container. Quoting IG Varansai the ADG said that the bomb was placed in some cavity. All top Varanasi district and police officers are on the spot. ADG said that there was no laxity as the state was already on alert due to Babri Masjid demolition anniversary.

The blast took place when thousands of devotees and the foreign tourists had assembled at the ghat for having darshan of the Ganga Arti, police sources said.
All injured were rushed to the nearby Marwari Hindu Hospital, where doctors, including Dr AK Singh told HT that nearly 40 injured were brought to the hospital, out of which over ten have been referred in critical state to the BHU and Varanasi Divisional Hospital.
 Dr Singh confirmed the death of a one year old girl Swastika Sharma, a native of Assi locality of Varanasi, who was brought dead to the Marwari Hospital.
 Singh further said the injured, included at least five foreign nationals, among them Italian and Japanese nationals. Two more foreigners reached on their  own to the district hospitals with injuries. They were two young women from UK. They after self-medication returned to their hotel near the blast spot.
 Injured have suffered splinter injuries, severe fractures, head injuries and other injuries in the incident, Singh maintained.
"It was a powerful blast which shuddered buildings up to 500 metres and even blew away banners on the Shitla Temple. We ourselves saw dismembered limbs and many foreign tourists writhing in pain,” said Kishori Raman Dubey ‘Babu Maharaj’ who organised daily evening at the Ghat under banner of Gangotri Sewa Samiti.
 A local cloth trader Kuldip Beri present at the spot when the blast took place told HT 10 to 15 people, including two foreigners were badly injured and were carried by us into the Ambulance. One of the foreigners had lost his limb.
 One of the foreigners Alessandro (50), an Italian national has been rushed to the Heritage Hospital in critical state with profusedly bleeding multiple injuries. Blood remained sputtered all round the Ghat and the blast destroyed the railings and stone stairs of the ghat.
 As per initial reports, the injured included Phool Rani (50) a native of Damoh (MP), Jitendra Bidhua (35) a native of Madhya Pradesh, Barkha Sahni (12) native of Dashwashamedh Ghat in Varanasi, Om Prakash (40) native of Bhelupur in Varanasi, Suresh prasad (65) a native of Karnataka, Shubham Sahni (10), Daswashamedh Varanasi, Ram Shankar (45) of Dashwashamedh Varanasi.
 Injured are presently being treated at BHU, Varanasi Divisional , Heritage and Marawari Hospitals.
Some people have been injured due to the blast and some others due to the consequent stampede which occured due to the collapse of the railing.
IG Varanasi Police Range RP Singh confirmed the death of the one-year-old little girl and 20 others injured, two of them critically.
Just a few days ago only at a high-level security meeting in New Delhi, the UP Govt and Police had been alerted highly about terrorist misadventure towards the anniversary of the Ayodhya demolition.

Alert had also been sounded about banned SIMI operating via sleeper modules in various East UP districts under disguised names.  
While the stairs leading to the New Dashwashamedh Ghat have door framed metal detectors, there was no such provision on stairs leading to the Old Dashwashamedh Ghat (Shitla Ghat).
As per Kuldip Beri, a native of Mir Ghat locality present at the spot, no security provisions or cops were present at the spot when the blast took place and there was total chaos for at least 15 to 20 minutes before the cops arrived.
Old and New Dashwashamedh Ghats are most crowded ghats particularly during the evening Ganga Arti, but still there is hardly any security on the Old Ghat also known as Shitla Ghat.
It was Tuesday on March 7, 2006 when terrorists struck Sankatmochan temple and Varanasi Cant railway station and today was also a Tuesday.

(With PTI inputs)

Monday, December 6, 2010

Iranian ruling on women sports is wrong

With reference an item on Muslim debates about Iranian clergy's opposition to women participatin in sports. This amounts to oppression against women - did the Clergy know that women have rights to believe in what they do, the Quraan goes far out to suggest that a Muslim man can marry a Jewish and Christian woman and she can practice her own faith. (Research is pending to dismantle the propagation that a Muslim Woman can do the same).

This ruling is contrary to Islamic beliefs, and we hope some one issues a Fatwa against these 'men' that they are not Muslims any more when they go against the very essence of Islam; Freedom, thus rendering both Fatwas ridiculous.

Mike Ghouse
Muslim Debate site writes: "Iran senior Muslim cleric against participation of women in Asian Games, saying women sports are product of West dirty culture. Is true almost every thing in Muslim world is from the west because we Muslims didn't create anything in the last centuries. But can we clean this dirt with our Burqa, suicide bombing, hypocrisy or dictator corrupt governments? www.muslimsdebate.com/faces/sn.php?nid=1332"

Friday, December 3, 2010

Dallas Conference on building an inclusive America

 

No American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. The purpose of this conference is to understand the issues and find ways to remove such fears in an open forum and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure America
When: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 5, 2010
Where: Unity Church,
6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX
. 75230

PRESS RELEASE | INVITATION
You are invited, details below
No American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. The purpose of this conference is to remove such myths in an open forum and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure America
Since our independence in 1776, we have been tested time and again by various political, economic and religious forces to divide us, however, at the end we have come out strong as one nation. The Civil War, the Great Depression, the World War, Pearl Harbor, Women’s rights, Abortion, the Vietnam War, Civil Rights, Budget Deficits, Unemployment, 9/11, the Iraq and Afghanistan War have all been difficult, but we will make it through and sanity will prevail.

The controversy over the Muslim Community Center in New York has unraveled the difficulties Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Wicca and others have endured.

We have come a long way to embrace and accept the otherness of other. However, this year has given rise to yet another temptation; to blame Islam, calling it an evil, evil religion and calling its prophet a false prophet. No American has to live in fear of the other, nor live in anxieties or discomfort.

Religion has been “abused” and “misused” to someone’s advantage, as Americans, are we going to let that happen? No, we can pull ourselves together and not fall for the temptations to divide ourselves.

If we make an effort, goodness will come to our rescue.   Mike Ghouse adds, “As members of diverse family of faiths, we seek to demystify the myths, malice and falsification of our respective faiths. It is time for all of us to gather and understand the Qur’aan, the holy book of Muslims, which has been the subject of attack by a few among us. Indeed, a conference is a positive response to negative sermons delivered from a few pulpits of America this year.”

The Conference puts the Quraan in the hands of panelists made up of Pastors, Rabbis, Pundits, Shamans, Clergy, lay persons, elected officers and the public. The uniqueness of the event is highlighted by facing the “terrifying passages” of Quraan.  For the first time in history, the actual verses  from Quraan will be read directly and explained by panelists made up of Pastors, Rabbis, Pundits, Shamans, Clergy, lay persons and elected officials who have a deep interest in bringing Americans together on common grounds.  The Muslim scholars either affirm their reading or share the additional information right from the very Quraan for further understanding.

It is time now to replace the ill-will with goodwill; no American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. The purpose of this conference is to remove such myths in an open forum in the public and restore the cohesiveness of our society and work towards building a safe and secure America

When: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 5, 2010
Where: Unity Church,
6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX
. 75230
Event: Qur’aan Conference in Dallas
Purpose: To demystify the myths about Quraan and Islam
Website:
http://www.quraanconference.com/
Inquiries:
quraanconference@gmail.com
RSVP:
Confirmattendance@gmail.com
Call: Mike Ghouse (214) 325-1916
THE EVENT IS FREE


Thank you.
Mike Ghouse for
A COHESIVE AMERICA,
AMERICANS TOGETHER
http://www.quraanconference.com/ 
Documentary – listed at www.QuraanConference.com


MUSLIM SPEAKER

MUSLIM SPEAKER
Email to: SpeakerMikeGhouse@gmail.com

Voice of Moderate Muslims

Voice of Moderate Muslims
Voice of Moderate Muslims

Moderate Islam Speaker

Moderate Islam Speaker
Moderate Islam Speaker

quraan burning

Planned Muslim Response to Qur'an Burning by Pastor Jones on September 11 in Mulberry, Florida

PRESS RELEASE
August 19, 2013| Dallas, Texas

Mike Ghouse
Text/Talk: (214) 325-1916
MikeGhouse@aol.com

Mirza A Beg
(205) 454-8797
mirza.a.beg@gmail.com

www.WorldMuslimCongress.com


PLANNED MUSLIMS RESPONSE TO QUR'AN BURNING BY PASTOR JONES ON 9/11/13 IN MULBERRY, FLORIDA

We as Muslims plan to respond to pastor Terry Jones' planned burning of 3000 copies of Quran on September 11, 2013 in positive terms.

Our response - we will reclaim the standard of behavior practiced by the Prophet concerning “scurrilous and hostile criticism of the Qur’an” (Muhammad Asad Translation Note 31, verse 41:34). It was "To overcome evil with good is good, and to resist evil by evil is evil." It is also strongly enjoined in the Qur’an in the same verse 41:34, “Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel evil with what is better; then you will see that one who was once your enemy has become your dearest friend.”

God willing Muslims will follow the divine guidance and pray for the restoration of Goodwill, and on that day many Muslim organizations will go on a “blood drive” to save lives and serve humanity with kindness.

We invite fellow Americans of all faiths, races, and ethnicities to join us to rededicate the pledge, “One nation under God”, and to build a cohesive America where no American has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of fellow Americans. This event is a substitute for our 10th Annual Unity Day Celebration (www.UnitydayUSA.com) held in Dallas, but now it will be at Mulberry, Florida.

Unwittingly Pastor Jones has done us a favor by invigorating us by his decision to burn nearly 3000 copies Quran on September 11, 2013. Obviously he is not satisfied by the notoriety he garnered by burning one Qur'an last year.

As Muslims and citizens we honor the free speech guaranteed in our constitution. We have no intentions to criticize, condemn or oppose Pastor Terry Jones' freedom of expression. Instead, we will be donating blood and praying for goodness to permeate in our society.

We plan to follow Jesus Christ (pbuh), a revered prophet in Islam as well as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) – that of mitigating the conflicts and nurturing good will for the common good of the society.

We hope, this event and the message will remind Muslims elsewhere in the world as well, that violence is not the way. Muslims, who react violently to senseless provocation, should realize that, violence causes more violence, and besmirches the name of the religion that we hold so dear. We believe that Prophet Muhammad was a mercy to the mankind, and we ought to practice what we believe and preach. We must not insult Islam by the negative reactions of a few.

We can only hope it will bring about a change in the attitude of the followers of Pastor Jones, and in the behavior of those Muslims who reacted violently the last time Pastor sought notoriety – We hope this small step towards a bridge to peaceful coexistence would propel us towards building a cohesive society.

Like most Americans a majority of Muslims quietly go about their own business, but it is time to speak up and take positive action instead of negative reaction. May this message of peace and goodwill reverberate and reach many shores.

Lastly, we appreciate the Citizens of Mulberry, Florida, Honorable Mayor George Hatch, City Commissioners, police and Fire Chiefs for handing this situation very well. This will add a ‘feather of peace’ in the City’s reputation. We hope Mulberry will be a catalyst in showing the way in handling conflict with dignity and peace.

We thank the Media for giving value to the work towards peace rather than conflict.






URL- http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2013/08/planned-muslim-response-to-quran_18.html



Thank you.

CIVIL DIALOGUE

The people in Dallas are making an effort to understand and clean their own hearts first, when we are free from bias, it would be easy to share that with others. Islam teaches us in so many ways to "respect the otherness of others" and it is time we find simple practical ways of doing it.