Wednesday, May 27, 2009

SIT begins probe into Zakia's complaint against Modi and his ministers

SIT begins probe into Zakia's complaint against Modi and his ministers | TwoCircles.net
SIT begins probe into Zakia's complaint against Modi and his ministers
Submitted by admin3 on 26 May 2009 - 10:32pm.

* Crime/Terrorism
* Indian Muslim

By Twocircles.net Staff Correspondent

Ahmedabad: The probe into the complaint filed against Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 others in connection with the post-Godhra riots of 2002 began today with Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team(SIT) “interacting’’ with Zakia Jafri and Teesta Setalvad.

The probe was ordered by the Supreme Court through its order on April 27 this year on a petition filed by Zakia, widow of slain former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri. The ex-MP was among 69 Muslims brutally murdered in the Gulberg Society on February 28, 2002, during the statewide anti-Muslim riots.

Speaking to mediapersons, SIT chief R K Raghavan said that SIT had officially begun the probe into the complaint filed in the apex court seeking probe against Chief Minister Modi, his seven cabinet colleagues and several senior IAS and IPS officers.

He said that they first called Zakia and Teesta because SIT wanted to know what happened on the day of riots in Gulberg society. As for Teesta, he said that she was called for interaction as she was convener of the Concerned Peoples Tribunal which had conducted a hearing in the matter and its findings had been used by Zakia in her petition.

Asked if Narendra Modi would also be called for probe or “interaction” as Raghavan preferred to call in connection with Zakia and Teesta, he said that whoever was needed for a probe as per orders of the Supreme Court would be interrogated.

According to SIT sources, two former judges of the Supreme Court including Justice P B Sawant, who had participated in the proceedings of the tribunal, would also be called for “interaction.”

Talking to Madhyamam, Teesta said that she was questioned particularly about former minister (now murdered) Haren Pandya who had deposed before the tribunal.

Belonging to anti-Modi camp, Pandya had deposed before the tribunal about a meeting held by Modi on February 27, 2002, after the Sabarmati train tragedy. In his depositions, he had stated that Modi had ordered the then DGP Chakravarti and senior IAS official Ashok Narayan not to take any action against the Hindu mobs venting their ire by attacking the Muslims.

Pandya had also revealed that there were four or five ministers also present in Modi’s meeting. However, Pandya had not revealed their names to the tribunal. Unfortunately, Pandya was murdered subsequently in broad daylight. While his family members accused Modi of plotting the murder, police arrested several Muslims from Hyderabad and Gujarat and about a half dozen accused in the case have been convicted in the case.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Al-Nakba: The Palestinian Catastrophe of 1947-48

Al-Nakba: The Palestinian Catastrophe of 1947-48


[Click here for a PDF flyer containing the text below.]



What Is Al-Nakba?



"Nakba" means "catastrophe" in Arabic ("al-nakba" means "the
catastrophe"). Throughout the Arab world, the word is used to refer to
the devastation of Palestinian society and the dispossession of the
Palestinian people resulting from the ethnic cleansing conducted by
Zionist forces during 1947-48.



What Is Nakba Day?



The most important date on the Palestinian calendar, Nakba Day is
observed throughout the world on May 15. This is a time to learn about
the history of Palestine and of Palestinians, and to remember the
tragedy inflicted on the Palestinian people in 1947-48, which has yet
to be rectified.



Nakba Day is also an occasion to celebrate the continued vitality of
Palestinian culture in the face of continuing hardships, and to
reaffirm Palestinian aspirations for peace and self-determination.



What Happened During Al-Nakba?



  • During the late 1930s and early 1940s, many among the European Zionist leadership in Palestine openly favored "transfer" of the indigenous Palestinian population to make way for a future Jewish state.
  • As the colonial British Mandate of Palestine ended in 1947-48,
    clashes began and Zionist forces attacked Palestinian communities, in
    most cases driving out their inhabitants.
  • In other cases, Zionist forces conducted massacres of civilians (e.g. 100 villagers at Deir Yassin, 200 at Tantura) in order to induce the rest of the Palestinian population to flee.
  • Over 700,000 Palestinians -- 2/3 of the Palestinian population -- fled in panic at the Zionist attacks or were forcibly expelled by Zionist forces.
  • Zionist forces depopulated over 400 Palestinian towns and villages,
    many of which were purposefully demolished. The newly established
    Israeli government confiscated refugees' lands and properties and
    turned them over to Jewish immigrants.
  • Israel has since refused to allow Palestinian refugees to return to
    their homes and has refused to pay them compensation, as required by UN Resolution 194 of 1948.


What Was the Aftermath of Al-Nakba?



Even though before 1948 Jews had owned about 7% of the land in
Palestine and made up only 1/3 of the population, following the
conquest Israel was established on 78% of Palestine.



What Is the Significance of Al-Nakba?



The Nakba destroyed a thriving and diverse Palestinian society and scattered the Palestinian people into diaspora.



The Nakba is also the source of the still-unresolved Palestinian
refugee problem. Today, over 4 million Palestinian refugees are
scattered throughout the world. Many of them live in Jordan, Lebanon,
Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip in poverty-stricken refugee
camps.



Why Is Nakba Day on May 15?



Although May 15 is the date on which Israel declared independence in
1948, Nakba Day is not a protest against Israeli independence. Israeli
Independence Day, which follows the Jewish calendar, was celebrated on
April 17, 2002.



Where Can I Find Out More?



Visit the following web sites:



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Monday, May 25, 2009

introduce ethical Islamic Banking

The Island-Features
THAT ORGY OF JUNK LOANS
introduce ethical Islamic Banking
By K. Godage

The current spate of financial scandals reminded me of the orgy of junk loans that had been given by the Peoples Bank in the period (if my recollection is right) 1992-93. I wonder as to whether any of that public money was recovered. Subsequently we had the Pramuka Bank scandal and three other scams including perhaps one of the biggest in the world have surfaced. As a concerned citizen, I am certain that I speak for thousands, we would like the Central Bank to inform us as to the action taken against those who obtained ‘junk loans’ and defaulted and also what action has been taken against those involved in the Pramuka affair?

In many respects the Central Bank has failed us as has the banking system as an instrument to assist in the development of the country. Should we not consider changing the banking laws, perhaps adopting some of the extremely good features of the Islamic Banking system which has an ethical orientation.

Islamic banking refers to a system of banking or banking activity that is consistent with the principles of Islamic law (Sharia). Sharia prohibits the payment of fees for the loaning of money (Riba, usury) for specific terms, as well as investing in businesses that provide goods or services considered contrary to its principles (Haraam, forbidden). While these principles were used as the basis for a flourishing economy in earlier times, it is only in the late 20th century that a number of Islamic banks were formed to apply these principles to private or semi-private commercial institutions within the Muslim community.

There are some features such as the non charging of interest (but only the imposition of administrative charges) which are not only commendable but should be emulated by people of all religions. There are also other features which could be adopted with advantage. What was most important of all, to mind, is that the bank which lends money for a project becomes a partner in the project; all project lending is therefore for joint ventures and the bank not only shares in the profits but has a stake in the project and would be on the board of directors and would seek to ensure its success. An Islamic tenet worthy of mention is that those with excess wealth are required to share with those less fortunate. The money deposited with a bank is placed as a trust to allow the bank to lend to those who have no resources to use such monies.

Considering the fact that the global financial crisis has been the result of reckless lending it does appear that the world has a thing or two to learn from Islamic banking. If the rules of Islamic financing had been in place, the mortgage crisis in the USA, which triggered the current financial crisis, could never have happened. If the details had been closely inspected, it would have been evident in many cases that the people taking out the mortgage would never been in a position to repay it.

Islamic law stipulates that all financing activities must be linked to a real economic transaction. "It is essential to know exactly what the transaction is based on. If someone wants to buy a house, can it be sold to him in installments? At first glance, it might look like a loan, but ultimately, it ensures that those involved know exactly what is happening,"

Similarly, instances - whereby money is earned not by selling goods or providing services, but by cleverly using capital to generate major profits would have been prevented.

The same can be said for earning interest: Islam forbids the faithful to "let money work". There are other strict rules in the system: businesses that are not compatible with the "Sharia", i.e. with the Islamic code of religious law, may not be financed. Naturally, it is forbidden to trade in pork, pornography, or gambling. Most unfortunately trade in hard drugs was not prohibited because such drugs or even hashish or cocaine was unknown. Those who indulge in the trade of drugs know that it is not in the spirit of Islamic law but they pocket their conscience because of the money involved. They stand cursed for they are in actual fact in violation of the law of Allah.

The ban on gambling applies not only to doing business with casinos, but certainly also to gambling-like behaviour on the international finance markets, where conventional rules of economics were abandoned and where "financial instruments" that were not even understood by many of those who were dealing in them suddenly appeared.

Sri Lanka has a few banks that indulge in Islamic banking but it is certainly time that the government appointed a new Banking Commission (the last such Commission was appointed in1934 during the days of the State Council—- the Commission was headed by Justice Pokinwala and the late N. U. Jayawardena was the Assistant Secretary of the Commission and functioned as the virtual Secretary of the Commission (as Prof. Das Gupta was unable to make himself available) to examine the state of our banking industry and to suggest ways of modernizing it. A new Banking Act which would ensure that no junk loans are given and that our banking system would play a positive role in the development of our country is an imperative.

The market value of the Islamic banking sector in Sri Lanka is estimated at LKR 70 billion to LKR 100 billion. Islamic financial services providers currently active include Amana Investments Limited, Ceylinco Islamic Investment in a Shariah compliant Corporation (CIIC), Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB), National Asset Management Limited (NAMAL), First Global Investments Group and ABC Investments

I am certain that there are experts in Islamic banking in this country; the government should include such specialists in the work of a new Banking Commission, they would be able to make an invaluable contribution to modernizing our banking system and bring it in line with our own requirements. Adopting some Islamic banking practises could also help this country to strengthen our relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran and Libya and the rest of the Islamic world in particular and of course ensure that no junk loans are granted at the instance of politicians.
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

A Woman in the Muslim Brotherhood

A Woman in the Muslim Brotherhood | Jacksonville.com
A Woman in the Muslim Brotherhood

Submitted by t.nicole.hernandez on Mon, 05/11/2009 - 21:03.

The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt would give more freedom for all aspects of Egyptian society, including women, if the movement achieved power in the country, a female member of the group said.

Hiba, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. The 28-year-old said she joined the party nine years ago because the party's plans include social as well as religious and political concerns. Although the Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1928, it remains banned in Egypt. Because of its illegal status in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood is not recognized by the U.S. government, although it is not listed as a terrorist organization.
While the Brotherhood is Egypt’s largest opposition party, the current government makes it difficult to join parties other than the ruling National Democratic Party, led by current president Hosni Mubarak, according to Hiba and other Egyptians. Hiba said the Mubarak regime has not allowed the Muslim Brotherhood to take the parliamentary seats it won in the 2005 elections. She added that some government branches, such as the Minister of Information, create problems for women who adhere to the Islamic dress code, even though the constitution of Egypt lists the state religion as Islam. This discrimination against veiled women, Hiba said, exists regardless of whether they are affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. For example, the Minister of Information controls the state-owned broadcast stations and does not allow female presenters to wear a headscarf on-air, even though adherence to the rules of hijab has recently increased among Egyptian women.

"You should judge me as a woman from my experience [and] my knowledge," Hiba said through a translator. "Not the shape of my body."

For Hiba, the Muslim Brotherhood's goals of instituting Islamic law would provide benefits for women similar to those of American women, such as equality between the genders, job opportunities, free elections, more seats in ministries and Parliament, and the ability to choose what to wear without discrimination.

"American women have all these rights; I wish I had these rights," Hiba said.

The Muslim Brotherhood has a female candidate every parliamentary election, according to Hiba. She added that the party does not restrict her from an active role just because she is a woman, and she said she would like to be a parliamentary candidate one year. However, she doubts she could abide by the Mubarak regime's treatment of prominent Muslim Brotherhood members.

And her fear is real. Egypt's government has detained more than 500 members of the Brotherhood without issuing any kind of charge, and the regime arrested two lawmakers from the party in August 2007 after removing their immunity, according to an Agence France-Presse article.

Even though she faces such danger, Hiba said she is honest about her membership with the Muslim Brotherhood.

"If anyone asks," she said, "I'll tell them [I'm a member]."

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