By Lahem al Nasser
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat- We will not be able to say that Islamic banking has become a strong competitor to conventional banking unless it is able to surmount the Great Wall of China and settle upon the Chinese mainland and take advantage of what is considered to be one of the world's fastest growing economies. According to the World Bank, the Chinese economy is expected to experience a growth of 6.5 percent –during the [global] financial crisis – while during the same period of time the World Bank expects world growth not to exceed 1.5 percent. China is considered to be the US's largest creditor, and its investment in US bonds exceed one trillion dollars, while its own monetary reserve stands at nearly two trillion dollars, according to the CNN Arabic website. A Price Waterhouse report predicted that by 2050 the Chinese economy would surpass the [combined] economy of the G7 countries. The report based its prediction on Chinese purchasing power, which is founded upon the savings culture that is prevalent among the Chinese population, and their aversion to debt. China is also considered to be one of the more attractive countries for foreign investment which helps to finance this rapid growth. By the end of 2007 foreign investment in China reached approximately $74 billion.
According to Western estimates, China has a Muslim minority in the Xinjiang province with a population between 70 and 90 million. Yet until today, Islamic banking has confined itself to standing on the Chinese borders [and looking in]. Islamic Banking has a presence in Singapore – a country which borders China – as well as Hong Kong – the island under Chinese control – but has not crossed onto mainland China. To be honest I cannot find any justification to the long delay of Islamic Banking in making this crossing, especially since the Chinese government has been making overtures to this industry. This can be seen with regards to the People's Bank of China gaining membership to the Islamic Financial Services Board [IFSB]. The IFSB – whose premises are in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur - is an international body concerned with promoting, strengthening, and developing standards of Islamic financial services.
China – from time to time- has sent positive messages to the Islamic banking industry; this includes monetary authorities in Hong Kong attempting to provide a sound environment for Islamic banking operations by amending their laws to the specifications of Islamic banking, especially with regards to Islamic Sukuk [bonds], as well as the establishment of Islamic indexes on the Hong Kong stock exchange. More
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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12.4.09
Turkey's Top Science Magazine pulled Darwin's picture of cover last second
TURKEY is the Islamic world's leading secular democracy. It spends a large proportion of its income on scientific research and aims to match that of the European Union by 2013. Turks like science: one of the country's top-selling magazines is the popular science monthly Bilim ve Teknik ("Science and Technology"), published by the country's scientific funding agency TÜBITAK. The best-seller is a science monthly for kids.
But Turkey is also a hotbed of creationism. So when a cover feature on Darwin planned for the March issue of Bilim ve Teknik was pulled at the last minute, it caused an uproar. Turkish scientists suspected that pressure from religious politicians had led to censorship. Is Turkey changing course? Does this bode ill for science in the Muslim world?
Turkish scientists suspected that pressure from religious politicians led to censorship
Full Story
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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But Turkey is also a hotbed of creationism. So when a cover feature on Darwin planned for the March issue of Bilim ve Teknik was pulled at the last minute, it caused an uproar. Turkish scientists suspected that pressure from religious politicians had led to censorship. Is Turkey changing course? Does this bode ill for science in the Muslim world?
Turkish scientists suspected that pressure from religious politicians led to censorship
Full Story
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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10.4.09
Message to the Muslim world from President Obama
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (CNN) -- President Obama has given the Muslim community around the world the message we have been waiting for.
He reassured Muslims in America that "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers." For those like me who were critical of his standoffish attitude toward Islam during his campaign, this signaled a welcome change.
Even more important was his subsequent statement: "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect."
In traveling throughout Western Europe in the past two years, I heard several anti-American comments; these Europeans were challenging me, a Muslim, about American foreign policy in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.
In Muslim countries, I've heard admiring comments about how great it must be to live in a rich country like America, followed by accusations that, "your President Bush doesn't like us Muslims."
As a Muslim-American, I have found myself in a difficult position. In America, I've had to explain Islam to other Americans, and abroad, I've had to explain America to those in the Muslim world. Full Article
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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He reassured Muslims in America that "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers." For those like me who were critical of his standoffish attitude toward Islam during his campaign, this signaled a welcome change.
Even more important was his subsequent statement: "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect."
In traveling throughout Western Europe in the past two years, I heard several anti-American comments; these Europeans were challenging me, a Muslim, about American foreign policy in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.
In Muslim countries, I've heard admiring comments about how great it must be to live in a rich country like America, followed by accusations that, "your President Bush doesn't like us Muslims."
As a Muslim-American, I have found myself in a difficult position. In America, I've had to explain Islam to other Americans, and abroad, I've had to explain America to those in the Muslim world. Full Article
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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Dutch TV show exonerates bin Laden
A Dutch TV jury has found Osama bin Laden not guilty of the September 11 attacks.
In the conclusion Wednesday night to the show Devil's Advocate on Dutch public broadcaster Nederland 2, the jury of two men and three women, along with the studio audience, ruled that there was no proof bin Laden was the mastermind behind the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in 2001.
The Netherlands, home to Big Brother creator Endemol, is known for being on the cutting edge of format-based television.
But even for Dutch standards, Devil's Advocate, from Amsterdam production house AVRO, pushes the envelope.
The show features star defence attorney Gerard Spong standing up for some of the world's worst criminals.
In the latest show, Spong was able to convince the jury that bin Laden's connection to September 11 was a product of "Western propaganda".
The jury also ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove bin Laden was the real head of terrorist network Al Qaeda.
The jury did rule, however, that bin Laden is a "terrorist who has misused Islam".
The show is certain to provide further ammunition in the already heated Dutch debate over immigration and the country's large Muslim minority.
The Netherlands saw a sharp rise in anti-immigration and anti-Islamic sentiment after the 2004 murder of Dutch director Theo Van Gogh by a Muslim extremist.
Spong has been at the centre of the debate, supporting legal action against anti-immigrant politician Geert Wilders.
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
In the conclusion Wednesday night to the show Devil's Advocate on Dutch public broadcaster Nederland 2, the jury of two men and three women, along with the studio audience, ruled that there was no proof bin Laden was the mastermind behind the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in 2001.
The Netherlands, home to Big Brother creator Endemol, is known for being on the cutting edge of format-based television.
But even for Dutch standards, Devil's Advocate, from Amsterdam production house AVRO, pushes the envelope.
The show features star defence attorney Gerard Spong standing up for some of the world's worst criminals.
In the latest show, Spong was able to convince the jury that bin Laden's connection to September 11 was a product of "Western propaganda".
The jury also ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove bin Laden was the real head of terrorist network Al Qaeda.
The jury did rule, however, that bin Laden is a "terrorist who has misused Islam".
The show is certain to provide further ammunition in the already heated Dutch debate over immigration and the country's large Muslim minority.
The Netherlands saw a sharp rise in anti-immigration and anti-Islamic sentiment after the 2004 murder of Dutch director Theo Van Gogh by a Muslim extremist.
Spong has been at the centre of the debate, supporting legal action against anti-immigrant politician Geert Wilders.
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
6.4.09
5.4.09
Benazir killer responsible for Lahore attack: Pakistan
Director General of Pakistani Rangers General Yaqoob Khan said that Hizratullah, the terrorist captured alive during Monday's attack at the academy, said that he was sent by Baitullah Masood. Pakistani initiated UN investigations are it appears are a political swindle - The killer is known it is not 'foreign' it is within...will the government now take measures to stop the investigation and get the 5m US $ of a very poor nation back. The killer is known to everyone from the day one.
Baitullah Mehsud- is the enemy within!!
The killers are hunting the nation. What a dishonor, the killer who was obvious caught on tape from day one was left to operate and given an advantage of uncertainty for opinionated gains which were minimalistic. Politics cannot be played on dead bodies, that callous display of opportunism overlooked by nearly all and sundry in Pakistan is today consuming the public like a cancer. Heartless assassins removed an icon of democracy and pluralism in Pakistan, however, political expediency took over the better of our conscious, in a sorrowful display of politics over her dead body the nation imploded within. Her killers remain at large in the wilderness.
Mehsud has claimed responsibility for Monday's attack at the police training academy on the outskirts of Lahore. The opportunity to grab them was lost by the present leadership, when she was assassinated the leadership instead of condemning Mehsud politicised the carnage and pointed fingers at government in supremacy. Now in a peculiar turn of events this outrageous politicisation has come to a full turn.
The real culprits who want to subvert Pakistan and make it a 'religious caliphate' were given a clean slate by a bunch of very 'secular imprudent people.' The real murderers can now cherry pick their leaders to eliminate and still get away with all this carnage. We and our 'dillydallying' as a nation are paying a price for ineptitude and power lusty gamesmanship post-BB murder. The political leadership of our country remains inept, futile and totally power hungry with no idea of penalties emerging from dreadful results of political expediency.
I wrote at the time that for sake of record one should note that politicising an ideologically stimulated slaughter will bring great damage to Pakistan. Baitullah today has been accused by the Pakistanis as the brain behind the Lahore incident and now pointed as BB killer. The nation lost a great change to channel the combined hatred of nation to eliminate Al-Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban, the message of Qatil league - Mush nexus divided a conspiracy prone nation in 90/10% divide where 90% believed that it was government agencies, it created a rift with the Army and golden opportunity to unleash full force of government behind the killers of BB was lost to political gamesmanship and point scoring. Political Islam pre-occupation with global enforcement of the Shariah law and establishment of a global capihate on a papal style has been a wish that has never died amngst the faithful. From 'Wahabbi elements to Ayatolahs and to the secular Turks' in one form or the other the dream is alive. Taliban has driven this dream relentlessly with blood, horror and killings.
I owe this article to the soul of BB; the shameless accusation of her death through a nonexistent bullet that was never the case (Scotland Yard report), and the crime scene being washed by overeager foolish police diluted the emphasis on the main culprit and effectively put Pakistanis on a collision course with their own selves. Scandalous politicising of her remembrance is the ultimate human and moral low with which some of these present leaders who played with her demise will have to live with. If not their own conscience that should prick them daily, I am sure history will not forgive them. Read More here
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
Baitullah Mehsud- is the enemy within!!
The killers are hunting the nation. What a dishonor, the killer who was obvious caught on tape from day one was left to operate and given an advantage of uncertainty for opinionated gains which were minimalistic. Politics cannot be played on dead bodies, that callous display of opportunism overlooked by nearly all and sundry in Pakistan is today consuming the public like a cancer. Heartless assassins removed an icon of democracy and pluralism in Pakistan, however, political expediency took over the better of our conscious, in a sorrowful display of politics over her dead body the nation imploded within. Her killers remain at large in the wilderness.
Mehsud has claimed responsibility for Monday's attack at the police training academy on the outskirts of Lahore. The opportunity to grab them was lost by the present leadership, when she was assassinated the leadership instead of condemning Mehsud politicised the carnage and pointed fingers at government in supremacy. Now in a peculiar turn of events this outrageous politicisation has come to a full turn.
The real culprits who want to subvert Pakistan and make it a 'religious caliphate' were given a clean slate by a bunch of very 'secular imprudent people.' The real murderers can now cherry pick their leaders to eliminate and still get away with all this carnage. We and our 'dillydallying' as a nation are paying a price for ineptitude and power lusty gamesmanship post-BB murder. The political leadership of our country remains inept, futile and totally power hungry with no idea of penalties emerging from dreadful results of political expediency.
I wrote at the time that for sake of record one should note that politicising an ideologically stimulated slaughter will bring great damage to Pakistan. Baitullah today has been accused by the Pakistanis as the brain behind the Lahore incident and now pointed as BB killer. The nation lost a great change to channel the combined hatred of nation to eliminate Al-Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban, the message of Qatil league - Mush nexus divided a conspiracy prone nation in 90/10% divide where 90% believed that it was government agencies, it created a rift with the Army and golden opportunity to unleash full force of government behind the killers of BB was lost to political gamesmanship and point scoring. Political Islam pre-occupation with global enforcement of the Shariah law and establishment of a global capihate on a papal style has been a wish that has never died amngst the faithful. From 'Wahabbi elements to Ayatolahs and to the secular Turks' in one form or the other the dream is alive. Taliban has driven this dream relentlessly with blood, horror and killings.
I owe this article to the soul of BB; the shameless accusation of her death through a nonexistent bullet that was never the case (Scotland Yard report), and the crime scene being washed by overeager foolish police diluted the emphasis on the main culprit and effectively put Pakistanis on a collision course with their own selves. Scandalous politicising of her remembrance is the ultimate human and moral low with which some of these present leaders who played with her demise will have to live with. If not their own conscience that should prick them daily, I am sure history will not forgive them. Read More here
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
4.4.09
U.S. "war on terror" seriously damages human rights
GENEVA, (Xinhua): The so-called "war on terror" launched by the United States following the 9/11 terror attacks has resulted in serious damage to the world's respect for human rights, according to a report released on Monday.
The United States "has adopted measures to counter terrorism that are inconsistent with established principles of international humanitarian law and human rights law," said the report, which was released by an independent panel of eminent jurists.
The report illustrated the consequences of notorious counter-terrorism practices such as torture, disappearances, arbitrary and secret detention as well as unfair trials.
It warned that excessive or abusive counter-terrorism measures adopted by the United States were having influence on other countries and causing them to follow suit.
"It was particularly disturbing to learn in many hearings that governments in other parts of the world are relativizing or justifying their own wrongdoing by comparisons with the United States," the report said.
The panel of jurists has based its report "Assessing Damage, Urging Action" on three years of investigations, which included 16hearings covering more than 40 countries in all regions of the world.
"In the course of this inquiry, we have been shocked by the extent of the damage done over the past seven years by excessive or abusive counter-terrorism measures ..." said Arthur Chaskalson, chair of the panel and former chief justice of South Africa.
"The result is a serious threat to the integrity of the international human rights legal framework," Chasklalson said.
The eight-member panel, which was established by the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), called for a concerted international effort to take remedial measures and restore long-standing international norms for human rights.
It particularly urged the new U.S. administration of President Barack Obama to take a leading role in restoring respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.
"Seven years after 9/11 it is time to take stock and to repeal abusive laws and policies enacted in recent years," said Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who now leads the ICJ.
"If we fail to act now, the damage to international law risks becoming permanent," she added.
The report called for the rejection of the "war on terror" paradigm and for a full repudiation of the policies grounded in it.
It emphasized that criminal justice systems, not secret intelligence, should be at the heart of the legal response to terrorism.
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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The United States "has adopted measures to counter terrorism that are inconsistent with established principles of international humanitarian law and human rights law," said the report, which was released by an independent panel of eminent jurists.
The report illustrated the consequences of notorious counter-terrorism practices such as torture, disappearances, arbitrary and secret detention as well as unfair trials.
It warned that excessive or abusive counter-terrorism measures adopted by the United States were having influence on other countries and causing them to follow suit.
"It was particularly disturbing to learn in many hearings that governments in other parts of the world are relativizing or justifying their own wrongdoing by comparisons with the United States," the report said.
The panel of jurists has based its report "Assessing Damage, Urging Action" on three years of investigations, which included 16hearings covering more than 40 countries in all regions of the world.
"In the course of this inquiry, we have been shocked by the extent of the damage done over the past seven years by excessive or abusive counter-terrorism measures ..." said Arthur Chaskalson, chair of the panel and former chief justice of South Africa.
"The result is a serious threat to the integrity of the international human rights legal framework," Chasklalson said.
The eight-member panel, which was established by the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), called for a concerted international effort to take remedial measures and restore long-standing international norms for human rights.
It particularly urged the new U.S. administration of President Barack Obama to take a leading role in restoring respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.
"Seven years after 9/11 it is time to take stock and to repeal abusive laws and policies enacted in recent years," said Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who now leads the ICJ.
"If we fail to act now, the damage to international law risks becoming permanent," she added.
The report called for the rejection of the "war on terror" paradigm and for a full repudiation of the policies grounded in it.
It emphasized that criminal justice systems, not secret intelligence, should be at the heart of the legal response to terrorism.
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
Please share
2.4.09
Interpal vindicated for third time-Muslim Charity cleared from ties to terrorism
Interpal vindicated for third time
By Hamed Chapman
Britain’s top Muslim charity has been cleared for the third time by the Charity Commission of any alleged links with so-called terrorist organisations.
“Interpal has been vindicated,” said the Charity’s Chairman, Ibrahim Hewitt, following the publication of the Commission’s 52-page report on February 27 over claims made by BBC’s Panorama over two-and-a-half year ago that Interpal funded partner organisation that promoted terrorist ideology.
“This is the third Charity Commission inquiry into Interpal in 13 years. In each case allegations and accusations made against the charity have been unproven,” Hewitt said. Previous inquiries in 1996 and 2003 also found insufficient evidence to support allegations that have been blamed on the Zionist lobby.
“The inquiry found that given the seriousness of the allegations being made, the material did not reach the standard of proof required under UK civil law,” the Commission said in its latest report. It concluded there was “not enough evidence to support the allegations.”
Hewitt criticised as “totally irresponsible” the BBC Panorama program that triggered the latest year inquiry. “Given the obvious collaboration between the Israelis and Panorama, it is hard not to conclude that we are the target of an ongoing and concerted political campaign designed to bring a halt to our humanitarian work in the region,” he said.
Interpal suggested that the smear campaign grew after the US Government, at the request of the Israeli Government, declared Interpal to be a “special designated global terrorist entity” in August 2003, for allegedly supporting Hamas.
Prior being cleared, Lloyds TSB proceeded in November last year to go as far as to stop clearing cheques for the charity that was seen as an attempt to force it to cease its operations entirely. But the investigation found that Interpal kept clear financial audit trails in its delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and in its dealings with its partner organisations.
The Commission acknowledged that charities providing humanitarian aid in high-risk situations make a “vital contribution to the communities affected and support people in desperate need.” It cleared Managing Trustee, Essam Mustafa, of any links with terrorism, that were alleged in the Panorama report, but ordered him to resign as the General Secretary of the Union for Good group of organisations working in the occupied territories.
Interpal was also asked to end its membership of the Union, saying that its reputation could be damaged because the Union’s President supported violent Palestinian resistance. “Even in these difficult areas, trustees must discharge their duty of care to ensure the charity’s work is protected from abuse, and must avoid activities that might put charities’ assets or reputations at risk,” said the Commission’s Chief Executive, Andrew Hind.
The BBC program, entitled Faith, Hate and Charity, claimed that many Islamic charities linked with Interpal are an integral part of Hamas, and are crucial to its support amongst the Palestinian people. It further alleged that the Charity’s funds are sent to local partners which promote what it called a ‘Jihadi ethos.’ Material from the Israeli Defence Force was used to claim key figures in the management of certain local partners were members of Hamas.
Source
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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By Hamed Chapman
Britain’s top Muslim charity has been cleared for the third time by the Charity Commission of any alleged links with so-called terrorist organisations.
“Interpal has been vindicated,” said the Charity’s Chairman, Ibrahim Hewitt, following the publication of the Commission’s 52-page report on February 27 over claims made by BBC’s Panorama over two-and-a-half year ago that Interpal funded partner organisation that promoted terrorist ideology.
“This is the third Charity Commission inquiry into Interpal in 13 years. In each case allegations and accusations made against the charity have been unproven,” Hewitt said. Previous inquiries in 1996 and 2003 also found insufficient evidence to support allegations that have been blamed on the Zionist lobby.
“The inquiry found that given the seriousness of the allegations being made, the material did not reach the standard of proof required under UK civil law,” the Commission said in its latest report. It concluded there was “not enough evidence to support the allegations.”
Hewitt criticised as “totally irresponsible” the BBC Panorama program that triggered the latest year inquiry. “Given the obvious collaboration between the Israelis and Panorama, it is hard not to conclude that we are the target of an ongoing and concerted political campaign designed to bring a halt to our humanitarian work in the region,” he said.
Interpal suggested that the smear campaign grew after the US Government, at the request of the Israeli Government, declared Interpal to be a “special designated global terrorist entity” in August 2003, for allegedly supporting Hamas.
Prior being cleared, Lloyds TSB proceeded in November last year to go as far as to stop clearing cheques for the charity that was seen as an attempt to force it to cease its operations entirely. But the investigation found that Interpal kept clear financial audit trails in its delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and in its dealings with its partner organisations.
The Commission acknowledged that charities providing humanitarian aid in high-risk situations make a “vital contribution to the communities affected and support people in desperate need.” It cleared Managing Trustee, Essam Mustafa, of any links with terrorism, that were alleged in the Panorama report, but ordered him to resign as the General Secretary of the Union for Good group of organisations working in the occupied territories.
Interpal was also asked to end its membership of the Union, saying that its reputation could be damaged because the Union’s President supported violent Palestinian resistance. “Even in these difficult areas, trustees must discharge their duty of care to ensure the charity’s work is protected from abuse, and must avoid activities that might put charities’ assets or reputations at risk,” said the Commission’s Chief Executive, Andrew Hind.
The BBC program, entitled Faith, Hate and Charity, claimed that many Islamic charities linked with Interpal are an integral part of Hamas, and are crucial to its support amongst the Palestinian people. It further alleged that the Charity’s funds are sent to local partners which promote what it called a ‘Jihadi ethos.’ Material from the Israeli Defence Force was used to claim key figures in the management of certain local partners were members of Hamas.
Source
Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you
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