Islamic Revival

The present day misery of Gaza, Syria and Iraq began in that war. As people in Britain and Europe remember mark the anniversary of the armistice, there is little in the way of critical reflection about the horrors of a war that saw tens of millions killed and injured.  One would question – looking at Iraq, Syria and Gaza – whether the world has learnt any lessons at all. So it is worth reflecting on the legacies of this war that still resonates today. In particular that World War One shaped the chaos, oppression and conflict of the modern Middle East; and laid the seeds for the Zionist occupation of Palestine. Sowing the seeds of misery – Sykes-Picot, Client-Regimes and the Abolition of the Caliphate The modern Middle East is rife with wars, oppression and injustice. It is a series of nation states artificially constructed in the aftermath of World War One. They are ruled by client regimes, initially installed at that time, that serve themselves as well as a narrow eli

Over the last decade, it has become increasingly apparent that Muslims are receiving   the kind of treatment once reserved for blacks, Jews and Irish – dehumanized groups that were also the victims of racial and ethnic prejudice and violence. Anti-Muslim prejudice is now seen by many as normal and uncontroversial, as the patronising, superficial way Islam is discussed in powerful and far reaching quarters make the world a less tolerant place for believers. “ We have to be able to criticize bad ideas and Islam is the motherload of bad ideas,”  said Neo-Atheist Sam Harris in a heated TV discussion with actor Ben Affleck. Not to be outdone, controversial host Bill Maher was quick to echo the sentiment, “It’s the only religion that acts like the Mafia. ” The trio, appearing on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, collided while debating whether large numbers of the Muslim population are inherently violent with an oppressive and backward outlook to life. Seeking an explanation, Affleck the

Electricity is Public Property and Its Privatization is Forbidden in  #Islam #nepra Days after the government imposed a 30 paisa per unit surcharge, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) allowed on 27 October, a 53 paisa per unit increase in electricity tariff for all distribution companies, except K-Electric. The people of Pakistan are broken by electricity crisis, not only are  there shortage of electricity, with electricity cut off as much as most of the day, it has become hugely expensive. The situation is that people are paying five to ten times what they paid ten years ago, when they had twenty four hours electricity. Electricity has become expensive and in short of supply because of is privatization. Privatization of electricity is a crime because it not only deprives the people of a great source of revenue to look after their affairs, it also means that private owners, who have limited resources, only provide electricity when they can profit. They cannot

Over the past three years   I’ve written   more than once about how politicians use the annual “poppy day” for various reasons – and how the   issue can be pushed   in schools and in society generally. The theme deserves revisiting – not least because of the centenary of the start of World War One – but also because increasingly the way some in the Muslim community feel the need to display their “Britishness” by reminding everyone about Muslim soldiers who have fought in the British army over the past one hundred years. This year, the  website  of the Royal British Legion – the organizers of the annual Poppy day commemoration – has an interesting comment saying that ‘ wearing a poppy is a personal choice, reflects individual and personal memories, is not compulsory ’ and ‘ is appreciated by those it helps’. I’ll mention three reasons for why I won’t be wearing one… Personal choice Firstly, ‘personal choice’ and ‘not being ‘compulsory’ should mean that I am not bullied – impl

As the US began airstrikes against targets in Syria the global media went into fifth gear to highlight the threat the west faces in light of development in the country. Ibtihal Bsis recently returned from Syria and we caught up with her on the latest developments in the country. Kcom - The uprising began in 2011. It will soon be four years since the people rose up against the regime of Basher al-Assad. What is the current sentiment of the people and how do they perceive the situation in the country, currently? Ibtihal Bsis – I cannot believe that the revolution in Syria is entering into its fourth year, but for the people on the ground this is very real, it feels as if the revolution has been on-going for 40 years. They are tired, with the constant warplanes over their heads and the lack of electricity and water and even food. People take each day as it comes and try and survive every day on the little that they have. Very few people speak of 'tomorrow.' What we have to