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The Ifk of the Jewel of Medina, Part one

Sherry Jones promised a work of “extensively researched historical fiction”. Whilst capturing the “fictional” dimension perfectly, the end result wreaks of an orientalist mindset, viewing Islamic culture and values through the prism of narrow western eyes. Her treatment of the Mother of the Believers, Aisha (RadiAllahu anha) has far more in common with a Jane Austen novel than a serious historical account. The style of her novel, choice of protagonist, as well as her subsequent statements, all suffer from a mistaken belief that the ‘’real’ Aisha (RadiAllahu anha) needs to emancipated from the shackles of a male dominated recording of history. The Muslim response has differed greatly. Some disagreed with the content of the novel but argued, in a manner Voltaire would be proud of, to allow for the freedom to offend. Others countered, freedom of expression is a ‘fanciful idea’, that it is applied selectively rather than adhered to as the ‘sacred cow’ we are often led to believe. There is

Views on the news - 9/10/08

British MP warns that some Muslim children at primary school are dangerous fanatics On 8/10/2008 Britain’s Schools Secretary suggested some primary school pupils were already displaying "early warning signs" of extremist attitudes. He called on teachers to challenge pupils sympathizing with terrorists. Guidance published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families outlined a series of recent examples of schoolchildren being confronted by extremist groups. Speaking as it was launched at a school in north London, Mr Balls said: "Violent extremism influenced by Al-Qaeda currently poses the greatest security threat but other forms of extremism and hate- or race-based prejudice are also affecting our communities and causing alienation and disaffection amongst young people…Our goal must be to empower our young people to come together to expose violent extremists and reject cruelty and violence in whatever form it takes.” British Officials also narrated how one primary

Muslim armies must respond to occupation

The following article was received by a brother. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Muslim armies must respond to occupation The top British commander in Afghanistan has said the war against the Taliban cannot be won, the Sunday Times reported on 5 October 2008. It quoted Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith as saying in an interview that if the Taliban were willing to talk, then that might be “precisely the sort of progress” needed to end the insurgency. “We’re not going to win this war. It’s about reducing it to a manageable level of insurgency that’s not a strategic threat and can be managed by the Afghan Army,” he said. At the same time, a group of Muslim protesters in Indian-administered Kashmir has defied a curfew imposed by the Hindu occupiers to denounce Pakistani President Asif Zardari for saying that Muslims fighting Indian rule in Kashmir were “terrorists” in an interview with America’s Wall Street Journal. In contrast, the treacherous remarks by Zardari were welcomed warmly by the Indian pre