Islams Challenge

WHO WOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER OF INNOCENT TALIBAN AND INNOCENT AFGHANIS IN THE NAME OF JIHAD? – ALTAF HUSSAIN

London – 27 November 2001

Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder and Leader, has said that the righteous ulemas (religious scholars) must issue a fatwaa, according to the jurisprudence (sharia, principles of Qisas & Diyat) as to who would be held responsible for the murder of innocent Taliban and innocent Afghanis in the name of Jihad? Either on the Taliban or those who created Taliban, preached them of jihad, trained them, armed them and sent them to Afghanistan and deserted them after the announcement of US attacks following September 11, 2001. Mr Hussain was addressing a gathering of ulemas, belonging to different schools of thoughts, maslak and fiqahs, at the Iftaar at Khursheed Begum Memorial Hall in Azizabad, Karachi on Monday. Members of MQM Coordination Committee and former members of Provincial and National Assemblies also attended the Iftaar.

Speaking on the situation in Afghanistan, Mr Hussain said that as a result of the war against terrorism, numerous innocent Afghan youth, elderly, women and children are being murdered, who are neither Taliban nor the ones who created the Taliban. Whereas those who created Taliban, preached them of jihad, trained them, armed them and sent them to Afghanistan to end Rabbani’s Government, have now deserted the Taliban after the announcement of US attacks following 11 September 2001. Mr Hussain said that the righteous ulemas (religious scholars) must issue a fatwaa, according to the sharia, principles of Qisas & Diyat, that who would be held responsible for the murder of innocent Taliban and innocent Afghanis in the name of Jihad or as a result of the US and Allied bombing? Either on the Taliban or those who created Taliban, armed them in the name of jihad, funded them, trained them, sent them to Afghanistan and deserted them in the time of need.

Mr Hussain asked what kind of role was it that three days before 11 September, it was being declared that the Taliban Government is independent and autonomous, we recognise them and the world should also recognise them, however, the Taliban is deserted and abandoned within a day after 11 September, when the US announced to act against the Taliban. Similarly in 1971, the Pakistani Army deserted hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis in Bangladesh, who sided with the Army to save Pakistan. After 30 years, millions of stranded Pakistanis are miserably living in the Red Cross Camps. The borders of their own country has been closed for them. He asked, who is responsible for the sufferings of these stranded Pakistanis, their sisters and daughters? Similarly, during the Pakistan Movement, the Muslims of Minority Provinces were hoodwinked in the name of two-nation theory. They were misguided that Pakistan would be the nation for all the Muslims of the Subcontinent. However, after the creation of Pakistan, the borders were closed for the Muslims of the Minority Provinces and they were left on their own in India. Who would be held responsible for bloodshed of millions of Muslim youth, elderly, women and innocent children during the struggle for the creation of Pakistan?

Mr Hussain said that today, the US officials are stating that if Osama Bin Laden or Mullah Omer are given refuge in the tribal areas of Pakistan then those areas would also be bombarded. Mr Hussain asked that who would be held responsible if innocent civilians would die as a result of this bombardment upon tribal areas? Mr Hussain said that where are those who were daily protesting against United States, carrying out processions armed with kalashinkovs and were announcing to wage jihad along with the Taliban? He said that Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Fazl-Ur- Rehman, Maulana Sami –Ul- Haque, Maulana Noorani and other so-called religious and jihadi leaders, who were claiming to support Taliban. They should have gone along with their convoy to Afghanistan and laid down their lives alongside the fighters of the Taliban to prove the truthfulness of their claims. He said that for the past 54 years, to serve their own interest and rule, the Pakistani Establishment, imprudent civil and military rulers have formulated defective policies and as a result, Pakistan is now in a position, where it has no friends in the South Asia Region.

Referring to Benazir’s India visit, Mr Hussain said that uproar was raised when he expressed his wish to write a letter to the Muslims of India and inform them of the plight of Mohajirs and innocent Sindhi people in Pakistan. He said that in the past when he had said that he would visit India and meet with the Muslims of India, venomous columns were written against him, he was branded as an Indian agent, however, what would the people say on the Indian visit of Benazir? Mr Altaf Hussain said, “when Army Generals, High Officials, political and religious leaders, intellectuals and even Benazir could visit India then why could he not go there? I have also been invited to visit India and from the Sajjada Nasheen of Hazrat Khwaja Nizam Uddin AulyaRH to visit the Dargah in Delhi” and also by the Gaddi Nashhen of Khawaja Sahab of Ajmer Sharif. Addressing all the ulemas, Mr Hussain sought for their permission to visit India to visit the Dargah of Hazrat Nizam Uddin Aulya and the Darbar of Khawaja Sahab at Ajmer Sharif, other revered personalities and to meet the Muslims of India. The ulemas unanimously replied that he should visit India.

Mr Altaf Hussain said that MQM is the only political party of the country, which is practically struggling for sectarian harmony amongst different schools of thoughts, maslak and fiqahs. Everyone respect each other and embrace each other. He said that we believe that no one is allowed to coerce their fiqah or maslak upon others. Everyone should stay on their fiqah, maslak and belief; and must not provoke others fiqah, maslak and belief. Mr Hussain said that the one who believes in the Oneness of Almighty Allah and the Prophethood of Mohammad (PBUH); and worship Allah Almighty, keeps away from dishonesty, fraud, mischief, provocation – the Allah Almighty accepts his worship. Those who confront people against each other in the name of fiqah or maslak, they are neither the friends of Islam nor of the fiqah or maslak. He said that until yesterday, he was the only one and now the entire world is stating that in Pakistan it is not the ulemas who are responsible for spreading sectarian tension, in fact it is the Establishment of the country, which orchestrated sectarian massacres and attacked the mosques and imambargahs killing innocent people.

He further said that the Establishment through their agents targeted the Shia people, particularly the Shia ulemas and intellectuals. He said that he has always condemned the barbaric killings of innocent people despite the fact that he was dubbed as Shia agent, accused me of taking money from the Iranian Embassy, some said that Altaf Hussain is himself a “shia” and his real name is Altaf Hussain Jaffri. He said, “if promoting sectarian harmony amongst Muslims is termed as “shia” then I am proud of being a shia.” He said, “If I say that do not murder of Hindus without any reason and for this I am labelled as Agent of Hindus. If I say that in your city or country, it is wrong and immoral to damage the worship places of the Christians, Parsees and people of other religion; and if I were labelled as the Agent of Jews and Christians, even then I would consider these allegations as an honour. Similarly, if we speak of Muslims and I say to Shia and Sunnis to respect each other, do not damage each others mosques or imambargahs; and I would not mind if I am labelled as the Agent of any fiqah or maslak.” Mr Hussain said that on the Day of Judgment, everyone has to answer to Allah Almighty. The Allah Almighty on the Day of Judgment would decide whether I am wrong or those who accuse me are wrong. He said that the Allah Almighty is not only the God of Muslims but also the God of Universe. He loves all His creations, feeds them either they be Muslims, non-Muslims or an animal.

Mr Hussain said that if it is legitimate to label each other as ‘infidel’ on the basis of fiqah or maslak then the portrait of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah must also be removed because he was not of the same fiqah or maslak as of the Taliban. In fact, he was a Khoja Asna-e-Ashri Shia. Allama Iqbal RH had written eulogies paying tributes to Hindu God the “Ram” and “Guru Nanak”, then why “Rahmat-u-Allah-o-Alayeh” is written after his name.

Mr Hussain said that we should establish a Forum comprising of scholars of all sects and jurisprudence to proliferate religious tolerance and harmony amongst the people of all sects and schools of thoughts to ensure that no one is termed wrong on the basis of dissent. Only God is empowered to send a dead either in haven or hell and no “Scholar “Mullah” is empowered to issue certificates for heaven and hell. He expressed his thanks to all the religious scholars present in the Seminar for co-operating with the MQM for promotion of religious tolerance.

I could hardly find any signs of religion / Christianity in europe.

A well-meaning article perhaps. But I cannot help but feel a certain sense of irrateness at the Western author`s use of Mohammaden for Muslim, and Avicenna and Averroes for Ib-e-Sina and Ibn-e-Rush respectively.

I have read the Quran, and refere to it almost daily to search for answers. I have looked at every text on fighting. Quran does not allow the killing of non-combatants, nor deliberate suicides as part of fighting attacks.

Yes, we Muslims are and willing to enter Modernity, but within our Islamic value system.

The fundamental gap in the western adoption of modernity is the absense of absolute morality and ethics. everything has been rendered to expediency and nationalist interests. Nothing is sacred before nationalism and materialism.

The Muslim clerics and the misled masses are stuck in the dreams of past glory, and the intelligentsia is too ready to adopt godless secularism. Maybe the events of Sept. 11th 2001 will force some of us to search for and create a proper synthesis between Islam and modernism. The first step will be to distinguish what is religious in Islam and what is centuries of cultural infiltrations.

Who is going to do it. Thinking Muslims living in the west.

Scout

Are you aware that terrorism had almost died in Kashmir a few years back till it was revived directly by Pakistan?

What the Taliban has banned for Afghan women:

• Education

• Applause

• Working outside the home

• Makeup

• Nail polish

• Jewelry

• Plucking eyebrows

• Short hair

• Colorful or stylish clothing

• High heels

• Walking loudly

• Talking loudly or laughing in public

• Singing

• Using public transport except special buses, which

are rarely available

• Being photographed

When women do leave the house, the Taliban states it must be for an essential, government-sanctioned purpose, and they must at all times wear the all-enveloping burqa. They also must paint their windows black to hide themselves from view.



What the Taliban has banned for everyone (The list seems to grow daily):

• Music

• TV and Movies

• Magazines

• Newspapers

• Most Books

• Internet

• Photographs and paintings of people and animals

• Pet parakeets

• Cigarettes

• Alcohol

• Picnics

• Wedding Parties

• New Year Celebrations

• Any kind of mixed gender gathering

• Children?s toys

• Cards and board games

• Paper bags

• Applause

• Being out after a curfew of 7:30 p.m., except government troops



Every Friday afternoon in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, 30,000 men and boys pour into a dilapidated sports stadium. The Taliban forces store owners to close up shop.

Outside the stadium, street vendors sell popcorn and nuts. The men are there to watch supposed thieves and criminals be shot, hung, buried alive, or even have limbs amputated.

This week a young woman, Sohaila, receives 100 lashes for walking with a man who was not a relative.

And two male suspected thieves have their right hands cut off. This information is gathered by RAWA through smuggled tapes, videos, and photographs.

RAWA is an organization of Afghan women who gather evidence beneath the darkness and heat of their burqas. A burqa is a robe that covers Afghan women from head-to-toe, with a mesh grid over their eyes. If these women were caught, they would be killed.



The Taliban likes to widely publicize its actions through the one radio station and newspaper in Afghanistan (which is run by the Taliban). The Friday stadium events provide the Afghan men with entertainment.

Since the Taliban has taken over, this is the only form of entertainment in Afghanistan, since most everything else is banned.



The situation is so bad that Afghan people are literally dying to get out of the country. For more then 20 years, Afghanistan has produced the world’s largest refugee group.

Currently numbering 2.6 million, Afghan refugees are still the largest displaced population in the world. More that 1 million Afghan refugees live in 203 officially recognized refugee ``villages`` in Pakistan.

The Beginning of the END of the (un)Islamic Amirate of Afghanistan.

May its Amir-ul-Shyateen Mulla Omar burn in hell for eternity for his CRIMES he committed against the women of Afghanistan. Amen

Re: Jaswant Singh`s visit to USA

Guys,

Saw this article in ``The Nation``(http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/today/editor/opi2.htm). Asghar Butt cannot hide his admiration/jealousy? for J.S. When i talked about independent policies that large democracies like India pursue, i was serious. I learned that during J.S`s visit, senator Baden had announced lifting of sanctions with some monetary assistance for Pakistan. So pissed off was J.S that he cancelled a scheduled senatorial committee meeting with Baden just 20 minutes before it was to take place, saying he was not feeling well only to appear in peach health on C.N.N just half hour later. Answering the news of waiver, J.S replied that India waves any such waiver. Baden sure has not made friends in North Block.

Sridhar

nasah,

mr chidanand rajghatta needs to take a chill pill. has been in dire need of it for a long time...

What Mr. Rajghata is whining about?

US State Dept. called the Kashmir Assembly attack an act of terrorism.

Even Pakistan FO called it an act of terrorism.

US has to tackle one item at a time not spread too thin -- patience -- insecure impatient Indians!

Pakistan has started to tighten the noose around the Lshkariyas, the Harakatyas and the worst of all the Jaishi criminals.

I don`t think another dastardly act like Assembly attack is going to happen again -- if coalition-captive Mr. Musharraf is IN CONTROL of his senses -- AND his country.

That monstrous attack has only settled the issue of Kashmir -- Kashmir is staying with India.

Re: sputtering idiot

I am supporting only the defensive posture the GoI has to take...for all I care the army can get the hell out of there once Pakistan has reigned its terrorists in...until Pakistan does that, the army will defend the house. You are supporting the criminal and I am supporting law enforcement...hence I don`t have to go do anything...you, on the other hand, should tighten your burkha and go fight with the jehadis you send to their deaths from some dirty sofa in the US.

Scout ji,

``You`re the one who started this whole Kashmir discussion out of the blue with your instigating insinuations and questions. I think you have nothing better to do with your time so I`ll leave you to do it alone.``

I guess when people run out of steam they resort to personal attacks.

I asked you about Kashmir because I felt that you were an open-minded person (you are in some respects) and you would see how covert violence leads to the loss of innocent human lives even if the underlying reason is ``noble`` (driving the Indian army out of Kashmir).

You are unwilling to admit the utter contradictory nature of your arguments because it will lead to a loss of face.

According to you

1) Indian Army is forcibly occupying Kashmir.

2) Mujahideen are there to drive them out.

How do the Mujahideen achieve their objective if all they manage to do is take innocent lives. Can you please explain?

We can come to your question later. Please answer mine first. You are just avoiding to answer it because your stand is inherently contradictory.

Response of Reason, Not Rage





``Events`` exercise a great and strong momentum of their own and do not accommodate much interference, although it is possible to influence one`s ``response`` toward them. The recent tragic event has offered Muslims one such opportunity to define and execute a ``response``, the outcome of which will incontrovertibly benefit the entire humanity.

Our response thus far is to the extent of interfaith dialogs, joint prayers, vigils, anti-war rallies and other such activities. These noble acts are important and must continue as it will bring peace to the hearts of those who live today as those who perished are already embraced by the Infinite Peace-Giver. It can be safely assumed that all of us aspire our progeny to live in a fearless, peaceful and a just world of tomorrows.

The pursuit for justice continues, from ``Infinite to Enduring!`` May that be either, but it must be `just`. The alleged should not be convicted before they are tried with a fair opportunity to defend themselves. Justice is a prerequisite for Peace. This is a principled position & must be part of our response.

The sacrifices of 1.5 million and the maiming of countless millions of Afghans by the Soviets, in fact gave victory to United States of America over Communists. The world must remember their sacrifices and the maiming because it is that which made the world free of ``Red Peril``. Our response must remember this fact too.

The 18 minute gap between the first and the second attack allowed every camera to focus on the scene to capture the second impact. With no film footage, the Pentagon explosion and the Pennsylvania crash smolders in our mental background. News consumers must heed to the useful caveat: Just because you see something does not mean that is all there is to see. And just because you do not see something does not mean nothing is happening.

If we cite what steeled the homicidal and suicidal resolve of the perpetrators, we must not feel ashamed to also include the exchange on CBS (May 12, 1996) between Madeleine Albright, then-US ambassador to the UN, and reporter Lesley Stahl.

Stahl: ``We have heard that more than half a million children have died. I mean, that`s more children than died in Hiroshima. And you know is this price worth it in the pursuit of one man (Saddam Hussain)?``

Albright: ``I think this is a very hard choice, but the price? We think the price is worth it.``

That exchange became infamous among some. Is it possible that such senseless statements and actions could have created senseless rage against America? Short of visiting the ruins of World Trade Center, Madame Albright must be invited to reflect her past. Respect is earned if we are fair to all people, all the time. Our principled position shall influence the response.

The media`s response to the event in all of its forms had the irremovable red/blue/white lens. The mantra of Muslims, Islam, Ex`sts and T`sts ... continues with more intensity. Precisely two weeks since Sep 11, fourteen people were shot killed before the ``gunman`` (not a T`st) shot and killed himself. It was in the city of Zug in Switzerland the country that prides itself for its lowest crime rate. Rather than maintaining a full time armed force, the government of Switzerland requires all civilians to undergo military training, and gives an assault rifle and 24 rounds of ammunition to each person for their personal safety. Imagine if these six million Swiss people with an estimated 2 million privately held firearms including automatic rifles, were to have been in some other country. Would media change or remove its fixed lens? Our response must be of reason and not rage.

The struggle to fight wrong is neither a fight of West vs East nor West vs the Rest, it belongs to the believers of peace, compassion and justice for all. It would honor the memory of those who perished on Sep 11 to insist that in the future, our policy makers and our media offer a better accounting of how wars for freedom

Re: continuation of my last post

Reply to your post #: 520

scout,

I am compelled to respond to two things that you brought out in your post:

1. Gandhi`s non-violence will not work and

2. The following:

``But does that make it ok for Bihar and Orissa to struggle economically and socially? How do they utter their grievances when the government doesn`t listen, or puts them on the back burner?``.

My reply to #1 will be, non-violence as a way of redressing grievances has never been resorted to or tried by the Kashmiris. They jumped on to the jehadi bandwagon too soon (after a few rigged elections!)without perhaps realising its full implications.

Even during freedom struggle, there were a number of terrorist outfits that were engaged in violence as a means of independence from British Raj. Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his company were in that category. Gandhiji did not approve of their modus operandi. Just to illustrate a point how violence affects innocent people and loses focus, Bhagat Singh`s group decided to take revenge on General Dyer (of Jallianwala fame)but shot dead another innocent armyman who resembled Dyer. It was Gandhi`s mass appeal as a leader and his non-violent struggle involving participation by the masses that made British took notice and compelled them to grant independece.

Your statement in # 2 is intriguing. Both Bihar and Orissa have democratically elected State govts. You seem to imply that GOI is not allowing these states to develop. This only shows your ignorance of how democracy functions in India. State Govts have responsiblities to develop their state. Some govts like the ones in Maharastra or Karnataka have been doing a good job. Others like Bihar have neglected their own people. GOI is not to blame. When parts of Bihar was being neglected by the State C.M and his cronies, there were protests. This has led to bifurcation of the state into Bihar and Jharkhand. Similar divisions have happened in other states like M.P (Chattisgarh) and U.P(Uttaranchal) in keeping with the aspirations of the people.

India`s democracy and rule of law gives its people voice their grievances in a peaceful manner. I am from the State of Tamil Nadu which in the 60s wanted to secede from the Indian Union. There were issues like language, and a perception that center was calling all the shots, not allowing for local aspirations. This resulted in emergence of a locally popular party, DMK, that threw up leaders like Anna Dorai and Karunanidhi. A peaceful but immensely popular movement headed by the above party and its leaders resulted in Congress being shown the door. 30 years later, no national party can win elections in Tamil Nadu on its own strength without the help of regional allies (DMK or AIDMK). The regional aspirations of Tamilians in India were channelised in a democratic fashion. Tamilians in India today feel they are a part of this great Indian diaspora and there is no talk of seperatism. Similar thing happened to Sikh militancy in Punjab. Indira Gandhi and Congress made tactical blunders but democracy won the day finally. It took more that a decade to put sikh militancy down but the fight was lead by sikhs themselves (people like K.P.S Gill and others). Today they have their own representative govt in Punjab.Again, there is no talk of seperatism by sikhs in India (except by some lunatic fringe elements in Canada perhaps).

Unfortunately, militancy in Kashmir refuses to die down as it is abetted and encouraged from across the border. Kashmiris should be given a chance to say what they want to say without fear of a terrorist gun pointing at their heads. For this, jehadi elements in Kashmir should and will be defeated. If Kashmiris still want to go their own way after they have been given a chance to integrate democratically with the rest of India, then India has no moral authority to hold on to Kashmir. We can live with an autonomous/independent Kashmir as friends the way we have lived with a fiercely independent Nepal to our north. India will however have the moral right to put down violence with all force at its disposal as long as such a force is unleashed on our territorry. Make no mistake about that.

Sridhar

My own 525

``My hatred on two things Pakistani`` should be ``My hatred of two things``. Religious hatred and fanaticism is not just Pakistani thing. It is everywhere being equally harmful everywhere. In Pakistan it is just the official doctrine taught as Pakistani ideology.

Stuka #532,

To me, any idiot who calls someone`s mother or wife a whore is a moron. And ylh has proved himself a moron in that sense. He did it to hamidm and didn`t even apologize.

Yes we all make mistakes in the midst of anger, but to recognize them and make amends makes us better people.

Go ahead and defend him, all you men are the same anyway. Almost all of the world`s problems are caused by members of your gender.

Pisses me off.