Anatomy of a Karachi Bomb Blast

#45, reproducing a letter by bigots writes

<<< We refuse to renounce our critical spirit out of fear of being accused of ``Islamophobia``, a wretched concept that confuses criticism of Islam as a religion and stigmatisation of those who believe in it. >>>

Islamophobia is exactly what their rendition of what they call ``Islam-ism`` is, a fear of everything even remotely associated with Islam. Would adding an ``ism`` to any other religion`s name and then equating it with all that is evil be acceptible? Of course not but now since its ``open season`` against Islam as once there was against communism, we see these fascists coming out with this BS, and look at the clowns that have signed it, Ibn Warraq and Irshad Manji, poster children for bigoted hate. The only thing ``wretched`` are the minds of these bigots.

hamid mia

As I said, WE need our brave men and women who can openly say FU to OBL and his gang of followers........and not get terrorized by the chavanni lumpens mobilized by the mullahs.................the popular street `rage` against Bush was a mobilization by the mullahs .

Atleast there are atleast some brave men and women who can thumb these Islamists and their ideological supporters who have been pursuing their agendas by infilterating the local masjids and inciting communal violence and hatred worldwide................

Full text: Writers` statement on cartoons
A group of 12 writers have put their names to a statement in French weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo warning against Islamic ``totalitarianism``. Here is the text in full:


After having overcome fascism, Nazism, and Stalinism, the world now faces a new global totalitarian threat: Islamism.

We, writers, journalists, intellectuals, call for resistance to religious totalitarianism and for the promotion of freedom, equal opportunity and secular values for all.

Recent events, prompted by the publication of drawings of Muhammad in European newspapers, have revealed the necessity of the struggle for these universal values.

This struggle will not be won by arms, but in the ideological field.

It is not a clash of civilisations nor an antagonism between West and East that we are witnessing, but a global struggle that confronts democrats and theocrats.

Like all totalitarian ideologies, Islamism is nurtured by fear and frustration.

Preachers of hatred play on these feelings to build the forces with which they can impose a world where liberty is crushed and inequality reigns.

But we say this, loud and clear: nothing, not even despair, justifies choosing darkness, totalitarianism and hatred.

Islamism is a reactionary ideology that kills equality, freedom and secularism wherever it is present.

Its victory can only lead to a world of injustice and domination: men over women, fundamentalists over others.

On the contrary, we must ensure access to universal rights for the oppressed or those discriminated against.

We reject the ``cultural relativism`` which implies an acceptance that men and women of Muslim culture are deprived of the right to equality, freedom and secularism in the name of the respect for certain cultures and traditions.

We refuse to renounce our critical spirit out of fear of being accused of ``Islamophobia``, a wretched concept that confuses criticism of Islam as a religion and stigmatisation of those who believe in it.

We defend the universality of the freedom of expression, so that a critical spirit can exist in every continent, towards each and every maltreatment and dogma.

We appeal to democrats and free spirits in every country that our century may be one of light and not dark.


Signed by:

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Chahla Chafiq

Caroline Fourest

Bernard-Henri Levy

Irshad Manji

Mehdi Mozaffari

Maryam Namazie

Taslima Nasreen

Salman Rushdie

Antoine Sfeir

Philippe Val

Ibn Warraq

#44 writes <<< Are you fighting over nothing ?>>>

No, Parenti`s article mentioned Libya in a particular context, that of unjustified US alarmism, expanding that into absurd directions like you are doing does not render ``my fight``- whatever you mean by that as a ``fight over nothing``. If nothing else, atleast learn how to read and comprehend articles written in simple English instead of trying to look for excuses on how to reject something using every excuse in the book.

masadi #29

Let us assume for a comment US campaign against Qadafi has to do with oil.
Better question to ask - What has Qadafi done with $100-200 billions in oil revenues ?

He does not own hotels or palaces in Geneva.

He has a third rate army. He could not conquer a fourth world country like Chad.

Libyan society has improved since 1969. But it is still tribal and illiterate.

Are you fighting over nothing ?

Re: # 42

... thanks for the public service - you are a dependable chap ......

#40 by hamidm2 on March 4, 2006 9:55am PT

had posted the cartoons on that site


You mean these cartoons?

hamidm2
why dont u write some FP articles? You have a large fan base here. Are you scared of the wife?

Re: # 39

arjun mian,

........ i just checked and the chowk is well and alive in pakistan ...... they tell me that blogger.com was blocked because you (or rsridhar) had posted the cartoons on that site .......... in any case, the freedom of speech seems to be okay for now in pakiland(unless of course someone makes fun of the prophet`s camel) ........ just saw a cartoon of bush adressing the pakistani people in urdu on geotv ....... he used dick cheney as an example of how america takes care of its friends and also said that he had talked to mush about his uniform and mush had, in turn, complimented him on his suit - it was rather funny .........

......... actually freedom of speech is not an issue in pakistan, it is freedom of political action ........ the military thinks that barking dogs don`t catch cars ......... but what if the car runs out of gas ?

#38 by hamidm2 on March 4, 2006 8:57am PT

Pakistan Blocking Bloggers Because of Bush Visit?

Over the last few days, Pakistani bloggers have been reporting through the Global Voices email list that the Pakistani government is now blocking all access to Blogger.com. This particular blogging tool is one of the most popular in Pakistan - all blogs ending with the domain name blogspot.com are managed using Blogger.com - resulting in large numbers of bloggers no longer being able to update their blogs.

Some bloggers are beginning to speculate that the virtual blockade of Blogger.com is directly related to President Bush`s visit to Pakistan this week. With so many Pakistani bloggers critical of Bush, perhaps the government decided to place a gag order on them so they could roll out the red carpet without any ``embarrassing`` critiques from the local blogosphere.

Others wonder if the timing of the move is just a coincidence, and simply the first signs of a larger censorship campaign by the government.

``Truth is - it may have very little to do with Bush`s visit,`` writes Indian blogger Neha Viswanathan on the Global Voices e-list. ``The anti-Bush protest has hardly found a voice online. I really do think this might be the first of other blocks. This might be on a very experimental basis to see how far they go. The Pakistani govt has hardly had any dialogue with bloggers at all. ``

``The other theory is of course the one on Danish cartoons- which is likely,`` she continues. ``But there is so much content on that outside of the blogosphere (the limited one at Blogpsot) that it doesnt` seem to fit together. I wouldn`t be surprised if the govt of Pakistan comes up with an IT censorship policy.``

Pakistani bloggers are still pondering the motivation behind the censorship campaign. ``I have communicated with several bloggers and friends back in Pak[istan],`` writes UAE-based Pakistani blogger Omer Alvie. ``So far there`s no resolution to this problem. Bush`s visit in Pakistan is resulting in protests, strike (in Lahore city) and curfew areas in Islamabad. The feeling among bloggers is this is all rather suspect. Neha, might be right this might be on experimental basis. I feel this a a precursor to what the government can do in the future.``

Given all the rhetoric Bush has been spouting about free and open democracies in the Islamic world, I wonder if Mr. Bush would take a moment with Pakistan`s President Musharraf this weekend and remind him of the connection between democracy and respecting free speech. If he doesn`t, I`m sure Pakistan`s blogging community will find a way around the blockade and make the point themselves. -andy

............ has chowk been blocked in pakistan ?

Re: # 36

hamidm2 bhai bada maza aaya. Aur is masadi ki gandi zabaan ko karo ignore.

masadi mian,

........ as my kids would say, ``take a chill pill`` ........ first you accuse my mother (god bless her soul) of being a female cannine and then you go on to (almost) accuse me of sleeping with her ........ so, in fact, you are accusing me of beastiality and incest - a double whammy which it don`t think i deserve ............ and why?........ all because i mentioned you in the same sentence as your pirs and murshids mullah omar (ra) and hazrat osama (ra) ........ i thought you would be flattered ........... look, in your rabid foaming-at-the-mouth rants aginst america - the great satan, terrorist and murderer of innocent children - you do sound like these horrible creatures so it is easy to conclude that you belong to their school of thought .............. but we could be wrong

......... i don`t know about the other good folks on chowk, but i am willing to give you the benefit of doubt and will take back my words if you renounce these two rascals and their spiritual advisors like maulana fazloo, qazi hussain and mullah sami-ul-haq ............ all you have to do is ascribe to them the same attributes that you have ascribed to me (and my poor mother) and i will believe you ........

............. now be honest because al-lah (and gabby) are watching !

p.s. .... oh what the heck, i am in a rather happy mood this morning, so i will go ahead and apologize any way ............. so here it goes: ``maulana masadi, i am sorry for associating your name with criminals like mullah omar (ra) and hazrat osama (ra)`` ........ i hope that satisfies you ............. no skin off my back ............ as the danish say, ``words and pastries are cheap``

#14, hamidm2 the sob writes <<< .........now you have people like masadi and mullah omar and osama who are running away with the message and blowing up people because they think that’s what you want ........... >>>

This is a baseless accusition against me and amounts to libel. I suggest the editors remove my name from this comment by a clueless sob who cannot deal with my arguments so he thrown in baseless accusitions. Now if I were to respond to hamidm2`s posts by writing things like, `` hamidm2 sleeps with his mama, made her pregnant and sired two children with her?`` How would that sound? Now this sob is accusing me of something that I would never ever do and he is associating my name with that of criminals.

Pardon the digression:

Hamidm, please write to me at farzanaveeAtchowkDotcom and, if you think urstruly is guarding me there, then editors@chowk.com would do. Write or face the consequences!

Re: # 14

hamidm2: That was too good. I am still laughing. Thanks.

Re: # 31

Re:14

hamidmia........that was Chowk Classic......it is historic and it seriously competes with Plato`s dialogues...................only if imbeciles like Masadi had your sense of humour??