Kupwara Massacre - 26th January 1994

It was on 27 January 1994 that 27 civilians, mostly traders of Kupwara town, fell to indiscriminate firing by Army men. After a lapse of around 20 years, justice continues to elude the families of victims. The survivors allege that the massacre was carried out by the soldiers to punish the people for observing shutdown on January 26. Memories of the massacre are still fresh in the minds of people and they are waiting for the day when the perpetrators would be punished.

“A patrol party of Punjab regiment of Army had warned the shopkeepers on the eve of January 26 of dire consequences if they observe strike and didn’t celebrate the R-day, next day,” said a local shopkeeper who survived the massacre.

When blood poured the streets

Gawkadal massacre is perhaps the first massacre in the history in which signals of massacre were given well before conducting the massacre. On the frightful day of January 20, 1990 Jagmohan’s first address as governor dumbfounded everyone. It was clear cut provocative address.

In his address he stated:” I have come as a nurse. I will not take any salary. I will just take rupees 1000 to meet my personal expenses. I have promise you a clean administration. But if anybody creates a law and order problem, Meray Haathon say Aman ka patta Khisak jaye ga (the cards of peace I’m carrying will slip away from my hands)."

Blood Stained Legacy of Ariel Sharon

The whitewashing of the late Ariel Sharon's blood-stained legacy was both predictable - and predicted. But that doesn't make it any less forgivable or tolerable. For example, Listen to Carl Bildt, the Swedish foreign minister: "Ariel Sharon was a great leader of Israel. A brilliant military commander, but also a wise statesman seeing the necessity of peace."

Or US senator and former Republican presidential candidate John McCain: "Few statesmen have made sacrifices that were as difficult, and were prepared to make more painful sacrifices still, for the sake of peace and the security for their nation."

Forced into the Darkness

Hayat Ashraf Dar, a student of economics was blinded by Indian security forces by pellet shots

A quite Sunday afternoon in July 2013 turned fatal for twenty-one-year old Hayat Ashraf Dar, a BA economics student at Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi, who was visiting his grandparents in Kashmir during summer break. That day, Hayat was on his way home after attending a function in uptown Srinagar, when the bus he was travelling in came to an abrupt halt near his house. He was told that there are protests going on in Nowhatta area and it is not safe to go there. Hayat de-boarded the bus and decided to walk the remaining distance.

Why did Osama declare war on USA - Pt 2

This historical introduction is important (in order) to know the beliefs of Osama and his thoughts and ideology. I do not know – O American – if you are following the news of Osama; but I will remind you of his historical promise after the event of 9/11 when he said: “I swear by Almighty Allah who raised the heavens without any pillars, that America will not dream of living in security before we experience security in Palestine and not before all the infidel armies have left the land of Muhammad, peace be upon him”. And the one who knows Osama’s history, he will realize that Osama lived to abide (by) his promise.

Golden Mein: Muslims in Persia [Part 10]

Initially, Shybani (RA) started the Arab-Ajam (Arabic for non Arab) interaction on his own and Hazrat Khalid ibn Walid (RA) was sent by Caliph Hazrat Abu Bakr Sidiq [RA] to command and sustain the Persian campaign. Hazrat Musna (RA) had a geopolitical concept, hard to associate with the head of a Bahraini tribe, Al-Shybani, in those early years. He realized that rapid rise of Islam would entail a Persian reaction, which would be hard to counter unless the fight is taken to the Persians. The strategy virtually robbed the Persians of the room to think and plan.

Islamists vs Secularists

From Cairo to Dhaka ‘Islamists’ are emerging as potential challenge to the secular nationalist forces who fear getting marginalized and losing power. The well-entrenched army and judiciary, with ‘liberal’ orientation, are backing the latter at the cost of professional ethics, integrity of the institution and canons of justice. The ruling class seams scared of the growing influence of the Islamic groups and therefore have decided to sweep them out from the political firmament of the country.

Kashmir’s Accession to India is conditional

India has always claimed that the accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to India is absolute and legally unconditional, while the letters exchanged between India’s Governor-General Lord Mountbatten and the State’s Maharaja Hari Singh constitute a political Commitment. A document recently unearthed from the National Achieves of India puts things in perspective. Section 8 (2) of the Indian Independence Act, 1947 empowered the Governors-General of India and Pakistan to make orders to adapt the Government of India Act 1935 to serve as their interim constitution until their respective Constituent Assembly framed their Constitutions.

Why did Osama declare war on USA - Pt 1

This is an article written in response to a Question asked by an American citizen. The Question (posted online) reads:

    I’m an American, and I really don’t believe everything my government says. I was moved by the way the media dealt with the death of Osama bin Ladin. I thought he was hated by the Muslims because of his ways; at least, that’s what the officials told us in our country. I realized after his death that he was loved by most of you! I want to know exactly what Osama meant to you as Muslims. I want to know the truth from you, and not from the media, because I simply do not trust the media. Please be straightforward and honest. I really want to know the truth.

Why is West afraid of Islamic system?

The world has no problem with the customs and rituals of Muslim faith. In fact they would contribute lavishly to build Masjids, mausoleums and shrines as Israel did in Palestine. Their only problem is when Muslims says that sovereignty belongs to Allah only. They begin to conspire when Muslims say they want to be ruled as per the Shariah. First they ridicule its advocates branding them as malarkey who are hell bent to take the world back to ancient ages. Then all the forces unite against Muslims and say in unison that you cannot rule as per the shariah. What is the problem if Muslims want to live as per their system? If Muslims lived in Christian democracies, dictatorships, oligarchies what is the problem in implementing Shariah in their ownlands. Why are forces both in West and East against Shariah laws?

We were forced to suck genitals

On a cold winter night in November, in 2005, a loud knock on the main door of my house, in Kashmir’s Alesteng, woke me from my sleep. In utmost exasperation, my family rushed to the gate to check on what then seemed to be a fervent knock from an agonized traveler. They guessed it wrong. Instead, gun brandishing men from Delhi police, Central Reserve Police Force and Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir police forced their entry into my house. 

Muzaffarnagar: War against Indian Muslims

Muzaffarnagar and its adjoining districts are limping back to normalcy after the August 27 riots. This is the message now flashed by the official media. Twenty-eight units of the army, requisitioned earlier to control the situation, have now been recalled, but more paramilitary companies have been inducted to assist the state government to maintain calm. Prime Minister Dr. Manmoham Singh visited the riot-hit areas and took stock of the situation. Officially it is said that 40,000 people, victimized and displaced, are languishing in 50 camps across the twin districts of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. People from scores of villages have fled and taken refuge in mosques, madrasas and schools. They have left their cattle, homes and agricultural land. The violence has been widespread: as many as five districts such as Muzzafarnagar, Shamli, Meerut, Saharanpur and Baghapat have been hit. Even officially, it is being said that tension is still running high deep in rural areas.  The police did not allow a Mahapanchayat in Allahabad, and 600 students were detained and subsequently released by September 17.

Zubin Mehta concert exposed India

For Zubin Mehta it was the realization of a dream. For the German ambassador in India, Michael Steiner, it was the fulfillment of a promise to an internationally renowned conductor. For the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, it was a reassertion of the brute strength of the state.

Everybody seems to have had a stake in the first-ever international musical concert in the Kashmir Valley, held September 7, except the people of the region. The world-renowned conductor wanted to bring a message of peace and harmony to local Kashmiris, but instead ended up grating on the raw nerves of those who are still not reconciled to the loss of hundreds of loved ones during the decades of conflict in India’s northernmost state.

Most dangerous War

As predicted the most dangerous battle ever to have been engineered will now manifest itself into the bloodiest war ever to be inflicted on to the people of the Middle East. Syrians have suffered at the hands of Bashar al Khanzeer and his Shabiha for nearly 3 years. They have suffered at the hands of the Americans and Israelis who have been funding disgusting terrorist mercenaries to carry out attacks on the muslimeen of Bilad al Sham to further their agenda of removing Bashar so they can replace him with someone just as corrupt and who in typical puppet fashion will only serve western interests.

Will the USA attack Syria!

On Wednesday, August 21st, the Syrian regime attacked civilians in the Damascus countryside of al-Ghouta, killing around 1729 people as reported by the Syrian opposition. Immediately the day after, French Foreign minister Laurent Fabius, said that "reaction with force" might be needed if the claim of using such weapons is confirmed. Last Friday, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that the Pentagon has ordered some naval assets to move closer to Syria in preparation for a possible military strike using cruise missile. In addition, Britain has set a firm position too, where Prime Minister David Cameron spoke to US president Barack Obama in which they both agreed that there must be a "serious response" to using such weapons. On Sunday, several US lawmakers in Washington expressed their belief that they "expected limited military" strike by the US and its allies. Hence the important question: will the US strike the Assad regime?

Golden Mien: A Warrior par excellence [Part 9]

We may not be able to do justice with the Iranian campaign started by the unsung hero of Islam, Hazrat Musna ibn Haris [RA], without relating in some detail the tale and the historical trail of Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed [RA]. History is replete with great warriors from Alexandrian era down to Genghis Khan and Tamerlane. The famous battles between Alexander and Darius are woven in legend, apart from the historical recording. Hazrat Khalid (RA) was such a master strategist, a Napoleon; a Nelson would have loved to interact with. 
 
Nothing thrilled him more than to plan a battle with all its strategic implication. Whatever the opposition planned, he was always a step ahead. However, an assessment in purely military terms remained unknown until a modern day soldier of repute, of high rank provided the study material. Lt. Gen Akram of Pakistan army, who served during the era of Ayub Khan, has gone to great lengths to fill in the void. Gen Akram personally visited the various combat fields where Hazrat Khalid (RA) had fought some of the famous battles like the one at Yarmuk, sketch the war maps and match it with historical narratives and reach conclusions, which he put in book form to serve as an important source material.

5 Muslim Inventions That Changed The World

Coffee

Roasted Coffee Beans

About 1,600,000,000 cups of coffee are consumed every day around the world. Billions of people rely on it as part of their daily routines. And yet, very few people are aware of the Muslim origins of this ubiquitous drink.

According to the historical record, in the 1400s coffee became a very popular drink among Muslims in Yemen, in the southern Arabian Peninsula. Legend goes that a shepherd (some say in Yemen, some say in Ethiopia) noticed that his goats became very energetic and jumpy when they ate beans from a particular tree. He had the courage to try them himself, noticing they gave him an energy boost. Over time, the tradition of roasting the beans and immersing them in water to create a sour yet powerful drink developed, and thus, coffee was born.

Golden Mein: Hazrat Musna of the Iranian campaign [Paart 8]

Hazrat Musna [Mothana] bin Haris [Harith] Al-Shybani of Banu Bakr tribe in Basra contributed to early rise of Islam in a manner worth noting in letters of gold. But he remains an unsung hero of Islam. He is not as well known as Hazrat Saifullah Khalid (RA) Hazrat Abu Obadiah (RA) or Hazrat Saad bin Waqas (RA). Yet, based on historical evidence it could be safely stated that Hazrat Musna [RA] solely started the Iranian campaign.

The exploits of Hazrat Musna [RA] got woven into Islamic lore with a silken touch, so delicate was the art of the noble warrior in winning adherents to his cause. While as appeal to friends and supporters was a heart to heart affair, the steel in his person aimed straight at the jugular of Islam’s enemies. His effort orchestrated with other heroes making the song of Islam, a melody with a soulful rendering.
Hazrat Musna’s [RA] tribe of Banu Bakr in Bahrain bordered Iraq—a part of Iranian empire. The empire included present-day Iraq, Iran, and parts of Central Asia. Yemen across the Red Sea was its protectorate. Hazrat Musna [RA] started border skirmishes on his own without any word from Medina, the capital of the nascent Islamic republic.

Egypt After Morsi: Chaos or Bloodshed?

The ousting of elected President Muhammad Morsi has brought Egypt back to an era of instability. Hundreds of thousands of protesters both for and against Morsi have filled the streets of Egypt; clashes between these protesters and the army caused many violent incidents. The Muslim Brotherhood, which Morsi belongs to, has accused the army and its chief of wanting to drive Egypt towards another Syria. Such accusations arose after the army killed 51 of the Brotherhood's demonstrators and wounded over 430 others in front of the Republic Guard compound in Cairo. In response, the army called the protesters "terrorists." With all this  turmoil, the question remains, where is Egypt headed to?

Aafia, Malala and Western hypocrisy

As Malala Yousufzai delivered her speech in the UN General Assembly, in what is arguably the heart of western civilization – New York – another Muslim woman, Aafia Siddiqui, passed another day of her 86-year imprisonment in a Texas jail, in the model terrorist nation that the US is. Both Aafia and Malala are from Pakistan. But that is about the only similarity between them.

While Aafia was tortured endlessly – physically, psychologically and sexually – by the ‘peace keepers’ of the west, Malala was felicitated. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon commemorated July 12 as Malala Day. It is ironical that among the two, it was Aafia who apparently conformed to western ‘ideals’. Having immigrated to the US in 1990 and completed her PhD in neuroscience, Aafia should have been the perfect selling point for America in advocating feminism and women’s rights and its subsequent attempts in bombing Muslim countries to it. Instead, the exact opposite happened. Aafia was implicated on a series of flimsy charges and tortured in every possible manner to reduce a brilliant individual to a mass of broken bones and torn flesh. Hail the civility of the western civilization!