30th Annual Quran Competition started in Makkah

Saudi Gazette – Qur’an competition starts Sept. 13 in Makkah

The 7-day 30th annual Qur’an competition is set to start in Makkah from Sept. 13. The competition, started 30 years ago, aims to teach the participants from around the world how best to read the Holy Book and comprehend its meanings and the laws laid down by the Almighty.

The participants at the competition, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, will also get a chance to visit several areas around the holy city of Makkah including the factory that produces the Kiswa (the Ka’ba cover), a museum of the Two Holy Mosques and Makkah Club for Culture and Art, said Ahmad Al-Nwawi, head of the ministry’s public relations department in Makkah.

Geert Wilders’ Fitnah countered by Saudi Hidaya

Saudi Gazette - Geert Wilders’ Fitnah countered by Saudi Hidaya

A new short film titled ‘Hdaya’ (or Guidance) has been out to counter ‘Fitna’ (or affliction) film posted by Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders in which he deliberately misrepresented Islam and the Quran.

The Saudi film opens to explain the veracity of Islam. It displays the story of a Dutch expert who comes to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to study geology. He has an appointment with a Saudi young man who is experienced in the same discipline. But he fears that the Saudi man will burst in anger in reaction to a misinformed film produced by a Dutch national.

The young Saudi man comes to the meeting and starts a long dialogue between the East and the West with the Dutch.  In part, the film is a documentary of wars. “We do not fear history because we have not fought bloody wars as those made by Europe”, the young Saudi man said in the film.

The documentary is being now filmed in Riyadh and will run for ten minutes. It reviews the accomplishments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its modernization endeavors. Scriptwriter Fawzi Al-Rawi said “This non-profit film which we are producing carries a great message and showcases the nobility of Islam. It makes its audience see how Muslims deal with others and how truly different they are from followers of other faiths”, he said.

Ms. Modesty

Saudi Gazette – Ms. Modesty

You know hijab styles have come to be recognized as legitimate fashion statements, when a mainstream newspaper like The Guardian does a fashion feature on ‘autumn’s key hijab look.’
Over the past few years, hijab styles and ‘modest’ fashion have blossomed into a full-grown preoccupation with Muslim women who wear the headscarf (hijab), with hijab-wearing public figures, designers, blogs, YouTube and Facebook groups all pitching in to stoke the hype.

Jana Kossaibati, a medical student from the UK, whose blog HijabStyle, (hijabstyle.blogspot.com) is tagged as the ‘UK’s first style guide for Muslim women’, says “Muslim girls are very conscious of the way they dress.

…Mainstream retailers have picked up on the huge market potential and are also starting to market their clothing to Muslim women. A few years ago Nordstrom put on a “full coverage” fashion seminar at a Washington, D.C.-area upscale suburban mall, promising to interpret “Hot Trends for Conservative and Veiled Women,” noted a Slate magazine article on the trend.

Although older Muslim women often choose a style of headscarf that reflects their cultural heritage, and more conservative Muslims call the “trendy hijab” an oxymoron, there’s no stopping young women from all over the Muslim world who have discovered that hijabs can be fashionable and fun.

Click the Saudi Gazette link at the top to read the full article

Briton jailed in Dubai for plane bomb scare

AlArabiya – Briton jailed in Dubai for plane bomb scare

A Briton who sparked a bomb alert on an Emirates flight from Manchester to Dubai in July while he was drunk was sentenced to four months in prison in the Gulf emirate on Wednesday.

Mark Winterbottom, 37, will be deported after serving his sentence and has also been fined 1,000 dirhams ($272), presiding judge Fahmi Munir Fahmi said.

Winterbottom, who said he had been “joking” when he triggered the bomb alert, appeared briefly in the dock to hear the sentence in a Dubai court.

During a hearing on September 10, Winterbottom, who causedpanic by claiming he had a bomb that would explode in seven minutes, pleaded not guilty to attacking a civilian airliner but admitted he had been drinking.

…Dubai’s Emirates airline said Winterbottom sparked the bomb alert as its flight from England landed in Dubai. An official said he had an argument with a crew member and then claimed a bomb was on the aircraft, which was later searched and no explosives were found.

The public prosecution charged him with assaulting the aircraft and passengers as well as drunkenness.

OIC appeals for urgent relief to people of Eastern Africa

IINA – OIC appeals for urgent relief to people of Eastern Africa

The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has made an urgent humanitarian appeal in favor of the people of eastern Africa following persistent rain failures. In a press statement, Prof. Ihsanoglu said “it has been brought to my knowledge that over 14 million people have been suffering from various forms of malnutrition in several Eastern African countries out of which three are Member States of OIC, namely Somalia, Uganda and Djibouti.”

According to UN sources, half of the population of Somalia is faced with acute food shortages due to prolonged instability, rising high food prices world-wide, coupled with long-term prevailing drought. Likewise, Uganda and Djibouti are also facing food deficits due to persistent rain failures which have rendered nearly two million people dependent on international aid in the arid Karamoja.

Yemen: Deadly car bomb attack targets US embassy

Adnkronos – Yemen: Deadly car bomb attack targets US embassy

At least 16 people, including civilians, were killed in a suspected car bomb explosion outside the US Embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, on Wednesday

According to media reports, citing Yemeni officials, the victims included six security guards, six attackers and four civilians.

Two vehicles are reported to have been involved in the embassy attack – one was said to have contained a suicide bomber and the second was carrying armed men.

Yemeni officials said the first car contained people in police uniforms who exchanged fire with Yemeni security forces.

The second car reportedly exploded after it passed an outermost gate to the heavily fortified embassy but before it reached a second protective barrier, the officials said.

US Embassy spokesman Ryan Gliha confirmed security guards and civilians were among the dead but said no embassy staff were killed.

Hate DVDs spread anti-Islam message in Florida

Middle east Online - Hate DVDs spread anti-Islam message in Florida

The mass mailing of a controversial DVD “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West” has sparked anger among many in South Florida.

The hour-long video began turning up in mailboxes last week as a direct mailing, and also as an advertising insert in dozens of newspapers, including The Miami Herald and the South-Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The DVD is promoted by Clarion Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to “educating the public about national security threats.”

South Florida Muslims say it maligns their faith and fuels hysteria ahead of the fast-approaching US presidential vote.

…The Huffington Post reported that the Clarion Fund plans to reach 28 million households with the video in all, targeting viewers in potentially critical battleground states such as Florida, Ohio and Colorado.

…Ali also said he worried viewers might attribute legitimacy to the film because it was packaged with their city newspaper. He said his phone had been ringing off the hook with complaints, often from newspaper readers who planned to cancel their subscriptions.

An article at the DAVD group’s site was said to have all but endorsed John McCain this past week before being pulled down.

…The DVD claims to show the “parallels between the Nazi movement of World War II, the radicals of today, and the Western world’s response to both threats.”

Ironically, critics noted the DVD actually incites sentiments against Muslims similar to the sentiments the Nazis had incited against the Jews.

The film’s re-distribution comes at a time of rising Islamophobia.

Muslim workers walk off job at Neb. Swift plant

9News – Muslim workers walk off job at Neb. Swift plant

About 500 Swift workers, all Muslim and mostly of Somali background, walked off the job Monday afternoon at the plant in Grand Island, Nebraska. The workers said they have been unable to pray during their holiest month, Ramadan, which occurs in September this year.

A Colorado-based spokeswoman for JBS Swift says workers who walked off the job at a Nebraska packing plant in a dispute over Muslim prayer time have not been fired.

Swift says 101 workers at its Greeley plant were fired last week for walking out before their shifts ended Sept. 5.

IDB, ADB sign $4 billion co-financing accord

IINA – IDB, ADB sign $4 billion co-financing accord

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a landmark co-financing agreement which will allow them to work together on projects in common member countries (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Maldives, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). The agreement calls on both organizations to provide up to $2 billion equivalent each over the next three years to finance projects in their common member countries. The agreement, the first of its kind, is based on a three-year business plan that includes a common vision, strategic framework, and best practice ideas in development financing, IDB said in a statement yesterday.

The co-financing will mainly target transactions in the infrastructure (including irrigation), utilities, and urban sectors. However, it may also cover education, health and other sectors in selected countries. “This agreement is unique, timely and in line with the Accra High Level Forum and other international declarations on development effectiveness and harmonization”, said Vice President Cisse of the Islamic Development Bank.

“In addition, this agreement provides a new platform form which both institutions will attempt to raise third party funds for investments in the common member countries. This is a breakthrough in collaboration between international financial institutions”, said Juan Miranda, director general of the Central and West Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank.

…Separately, another MoU was signed between the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) and the Islamic Development Bank Group on Sunday formulating a comprehensive agreement of cooperation between the partners in promoting economic and social development of their common countries…TIKA, acting on behalf of the government of the Republic of Turkey, is dedicated to contributing towards sustainable social and economic development in partner countries through technical cooperation activities and development projects. Given the similar realm of visions of both institutions, the partnership between IDB and TIKA aims to better facilitate development in their member countries.

South Korea, Indonesia sign deal on fuel from seaweed

IINA – South Korea, Indonesia sign deal on fuel from seaweed

South Korea has signed an initial deal to lease 61,750 acres of Indonesian coastal waters to grow seaweed for bioethanol fuel, it was announced today. The letter of intent was signed between the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and its Indonesian counterpart.

Yonhap news agency said the seaweed would be used to make commercial pulp products and bioethanol, a more environmentally friendly fuel used in internal-combustion engines either in pure form or as an additive.

Indian Muslims angry for being targeted in bomb probe

Daily Times – Indian Muslims angry for being targeted in bomb probe

Minority Muslims told Reuters in several Muslim-dominated areas of New Delhi that police were conducting a “witch hunt” and accused authorities of reinforcing stereotypes about Muslims. “Terrorists do not belong to any religion,” said Feroze Alam, a young trader in New Delhi’s Daryaganj district.

“They should be hanged. Why don’t the police realise this and stop persecuting Muslims alone?” Some 20 Muslim organisations plan to meet in New Delhi next month to work a strategy to counter those stereotypes. “It is time to unite and protest against these attempts to harass Muslim youths and brand them as terrorists,” Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the chief cleric of Jamia Masjid, India’s largest mosque, told Reuters. Bukhari met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week. Singh said after deadly 2006 train bombs in the western city of Mumbai that alienation of Muslims would only make matters worse. “After every blast case, they have dragged innocent young men from their homes, and this has not stopped despite repeated requests,” Bukhari said. “It is high time we put an end to this persecution.”

Police spokesman Bhagat denied police discriminated against Muslims. “We don’t look at a suspect’s religion. We work on positive leads,” he said. reuters

World differs on perpetrators of terror attacks

Dawn – World differs on perpetrators of terror attacks

There is no consensus in Muslim countries about the perpetrators of 9/11 attacks as significant minorities cite the US government itself and in a few countries Israel. These responses were given to an open-ended question that did not offer response options.

According to a survey by WorldPublicOpinion, 46 per cent say that Al Qaeda was behind the attacks while 15 per cent say the US government, 7 per cent Israel, and another 7 per cent some other perpetrator. Twenty-five per cent say they do not know.

“Given the extraordinary impact the 9/11 attacks have had on world affairs, it is remarkable that seven years on there is no international consensus about who was behind them,” comments Steven Kull, director of WorldPublicOpinion.org.

Even in European countries, the majorities that say Al Qaeda was behind 9/11 are not overwhelming. Fifty-six percent of Britons and Italians, 63 percent of French and 64 percent of Germans cite Al Qaeda. However, significant portions of Britons (26 per cent), French (23 per cent) and Italians (21 per cent) say they do not know who was behind 9/11. Remarkably, 23 per cent of Germans cite the US government, as do 15 per cent of Italians.

People in the Middle East are especially likely to name a perpetrator other than Al Qaeda. In Egypt 43 per cent say that Israel was behind the attacks, as do 31 per cent in Jordan and 19 per cent in the Palestinian Territories.

The US government is named by 36 per cent of Turks and 27 per cent of Palestinians. The numbers who say Al Qaeda was behind the attacks range from 11 per cent in Jordan to 42 per cent in the Palestinian Territories.

The only countries with overwhelming majorities citing Al Qaeda are the African countries: Kenya (77 per cent) and Nigeria (71 per cent). In Nigeria, a large majority of Muslims (64 per cent) also say that Al Qaeda was behind the attacks (compared to 79 per cent of Nigerian Christians).

…Interviews were conducted in 17 countries, including most of the large nations — China, Indonesia, Nigeria and Russia — as well as Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, the Palestinian Territories, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey and the Ukraine.

…Respondents in Asia have mixed responses. Bare majorities in Taiwan (53 per cent) and South Korea (51 per cent) name Al Qaeda, but 17 per cent of South Koreans point to the US government and large numbers in both countries say they do not know (Taiwan 34 per cent and South Korea 22 per cent).

Majorities of Chinese (56 per cent) and Indonesians (57 per cent) say they do not know, with significant minorities citing the US government (Indonesia 14 per cent and China 9 per cent).

A clear majority of Russians (57 per cent) and a plurality of Ukrainians (42 per cent) say Al Qaeda was behind the attacks. But significant minorities identify the US government (15 per cent in both cases) and large numbers do not provide an answer (Ukrainians 39 per cent and Russians 19 per cent).

Of all the countries polled, Mexico has the second-largest number citing the US government as the perpetrator (30 per cent after Turkey at 36 per cent). Only 33 per cent name Al Qaeda.

…A stronger correlation of beliefs about 9/11 are respondents’ attitudes about the United States. Those with a positive view of America’s influence in the world are more likely to cite Al Qaeda (on average 59 per cent) than those with a negative view (40 per cent).

Muslims can read, listen to Quran on LG television

IHT – Muslims can read, listen to Quran on LG television

LG Electronics Inc. said Tuesday it has marketed a new large-screen plasma display television in the Middle East that allows users to both read and listen to the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

Quranic verses can be read on screen and listened to via software embedded in the TV. All 114 chapters of the holy book are included and up to 10 pages can be bookmarked via remote control, LG said.

LG said in a release that the TV, which comes in 42 inch and 50 inch versions, is the first of its kind in the world. The company began selling it in conjunction with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which started at the beginning of September.

LG said it decided to offer the product after learning through a survey that many Muslims listened to the Quran via their home theater systems and that ratings for radio broadcasts of the holy book were high.

…The company also said that the TV, which comes with a 160-gigabyte hard disk drive, can record 40 soccer games and 30 movies.

Property developers turn to Islamic alternatives

Zawya – Property developers turn to Islamic alternatives

In an increasing tough financial world hammered by the global credit crisis, more property developers are turning to Islamic financial instruments to get projects off the ground, say the organisers of the Islamic finance industry’s leading global event.

“Financing based on Islamic rules requires that gains are derived from ethical, shared investment rather than being interest-based; hence it has sidestepped the credit crunch,” said Swati Taneja, conference director of the twice-yearly International Islamic Finance Forum that next takes place in Istanbul from 13 -17 October 2008.

“The downturn in the international property markets has hit conventional realty firms as investors scale back their exposure, especially in highly leveraged markets,” she added.

“There are many new examples emerging of developers worldwide adopting the Islamic model to finance their projects,” said Taneja. “One of the most recent is South East Asia’s biggest property developer, based in Singapore, which hopes to issue the first tranche of a $700 million Islamic bond by the end of this year – with Middle East investors as the main target.

“There are few competitive sources of finance available in the conventional financial world right now. Meanwhile, there are billions of dollars in the Middle East Islamic financial sector looking for investment. But, increasingly, unless developers structure their projects to be Shari’ah compliant they won’t get a second look.

…”In recognition of the highly competitive alternative now provided by Islamic finance to conventional interest-based structures, the forum this year features a special workshop on structuring Islamic real estate deals.”

…For more details about the 2008 International Islamic Finance Forum in Istanbul, please visit: www.iiff.com

Pakistan’s tribes threaten to join Taliban

Quqnoos – Pakistan’s tribes threaten to join Taliban

Pakistan’s tribesmen, reacting to a missile strike in North Waziristan and an earlier cross-border ground assault by US forces last week, said it would switch sides and join the Taliban unless Washington halted its attacks.

“If America doesn’t stop attacks in tribal areas, we will prepare a lashkar [army] to attack US forces in Afghanistan,” tribal chief Malik Nasrullah said in Miran Shah, north Waziristan’s largest city, during an emergency meeting on Saturday. “We will also seek support from the tribal elders in Afghanistan to fight jointly against America.”

The tribesmen represent about 500,000 people in the region. People in Pakistan’s tribal areas, along the border with Afghanistan, have reacted furiously to the US army’s cross-border attacks and unprecedented ground assaults in the area.

Last week, officials admitted to an American newspaper that President Bush had authorised US troops to cross into Pakistan to attack terrorist bases in the tribal areas. Pakistan’s President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani said in a joint statement at the weekend: “The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country should be respected at all cost.”

During the past month, there have been seven US missile strikes in the tribal area, about the same number as in the whole of last year.

A US ground assault in South Waziristan provoked a sharp rebuke from the Pakistan army, who said it had the right to retaliate if America continued with the attacks.

Arab-based group takes management of Pakistani electricity company

Zawya - Arab-based group takes management of Pakistani electricity company

The Dubai-based AbraajAbraajLoading… group of companiees Tuesday took over management of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) from the Saudi Aljomaih group following finalization of a deal through which the Saudi company offloaded 50 per cent of its 73 per cent shares and management in the utility.

The company has pledged to dole out 400 million dollars to the government, which to some extent relieved pressure on its budget-makers.

The company is taking charge of KESC at a time when it has suffered huge losses, borne out by the financial statement of the company for 2007-08. During the period transmission and distribution losses were 30.80 per cent.

The KESC, after its two and half year of its privatization, has only shown decline in its performance, and practically driven a direction where it was feared to be sliding rapidly in the black hole.

Presently there is not a single asset of KESC which has not been mortgaged. Even large Industrial customer’s accounts are mortgaged to the generating company to whom the payments of such customers are directly being debited. The KESC is suffering a shortage of 350 MW which had forced the utility to persist with outages which in many areas of Karachi are extended up to nine hours at a stretch.

South Korean Mosques Full in Ramadan

IslamOnline – South Korean Mosques Full in Ramadan

 Like other communities of their faith around the globe, Muslims in South Korea observe the holy fasting month of Ramadan by flocking to mosques every day for prayers and Qur’an recitation.

Every evening, after the breaking the dawn-to-dusk fast, the Central Masjid in the heart of Seoul draws hundreds of worshippers from all ages, Koreans or foreigners, the Chosun Ilbo reported on Thursday, September 11.

…However, the joy of Ramadan is sometimes marred. “My friends ask me why I’m not eating anything these days, so I tell them I’m on a diet,” says Ahn Tae-hwan, a 15-year-old middle school student.

Sung Ju-young, 25, finds it difficult to make his friends understand why he cannot eat pork or drink alcohol whenever they are hanging out.

Many of his friends are left to think that he is simply allergic.Ali Ahmad, a 31-year-old Egyptian studying at Seoul National University, notes that the people of Korea do not seem to know much about Islam.

Italy’s right to curb Islam with mosque law

Reuters – Italy’s right to curb Islam with mosque law

Italy’s Northern League, allies of centre-right Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, want to limit the growth of Islam in the centre of world Catholicism by blocking the construction of mosques through strict new regulations.

.. Fearing the advent of “Eurabia”, the League has used its control of Berlusconi’s interior ministry since helping him to power to push through tough new laws against illegal immigrants.

It has now turned its attention to the newcomers’ religion, emboldened by polls showing many Italians mistrust Muslims and a third do not want a mosque in their neighbourhood…The League’s anti-Muslim protests have often made headlines, such as when Roberto Calderoli, now a cabinet minister, walked his pet pig on a proposed mosque site to defile the soil or wore a T-shirt of the Prophet Mohammad, triggering riots in Libya.

…Gibelli, the author of the bill awaiting cabinet approval, says mosques discourage integration and “are often places of cultural indoctrination, sometimes linked to international terrorism”. Arguing that Muslims can “pray anywhere” and do not need a mosque, Berlusconi’s allies have blocked Muslims from building their own place of worship in Italy’s business capital, Milan.

… At present requests for mosques to be built are being blocked in Venice, Bologna, Trento and Treviso, among others. In Trento the League has collected 15,000 signatures and in Treviso it has called young local Muslims “extremists, pure and simple”.

The League bill would ban mosques from being built within a kilometre (0.6 miles) of a church, oblige imams to speak Italian, link the size of the mosque to the number of the congregation and forbid muezzins from using loudspeakers to call the faithful to prayer.

… “Nobody wants to build a mosque or open a prayer hall near a Catholic Church,” responds Scialoja, a former Italian ambassador to Saudi Arabia who converted to Islam two decades ago.  “Mosques should be located in areas where Muslims live and where they don’t provoke or create problems for the surrounding Italian population,” he said.