Archive for Current Events
04.17.09
Posted in Personal, Current Events at 8:06 pm by Abbas
Round three of our discussion on the Iran. I don’t have much time so I am going to be as terse as possible. It is almost time for finals, so I really can’t dedicate that much time to this topic, because I think most of my readers are familiar with the topic enough to make their own judgments.
if we cant even agree that Iran is a theocracy, there’s no point in having a discussion. whether shias disagree with the statement that iran represents shi’ism is besides the point…sticking to facts, it is the only shia state with a majority shia population, ruled by a shia government. so when i criticize iran’s politics it’s fair to say that i’m criticizing a shia state, just like when i criticize saudi, its fair to say that im criticizing a sunni state.
Before we can discuss of Iran is a theocracy, we need to define a few terminologies and get into another discussion, which I don’t have time for. In any case, you’re saying that if the majority of people are of a certain ethnic or religious group then it represents the ideals of that group? I think there is a difference between Shi’as and Shi’aism, like I believe there is a difference between Islam and Muslims.
the guardian council is charged with interpreting the constitution AND vetting candidates. all legislation has to be approved by the gc…and candidates have been disqualified by the gc on the basis of their perceived religiousosity. the supreme leader, who appoints members of the gc with the help of the chief judge (whom he also chooses), has the last word on all powerful posts, is in charge of defense, media, appoints the head of the judiciary, and handles foreign affairs…criticizing government can and has been equated with apostasy in iran…how is it the case that government and clergy are not one and the same?
Come on.. stop making it sound like the Supreme Leader does everything. He is a qualified mujtahid, you think he has that kind of time? 
The President who is second in command and is directly elected by the people has many duties, including nominating members of parliament, power to dismiss governmental members, appoint different high-level secretaries, formulate foreign policy, and so forth. You can see this reflection of duties when you look at the Khatami-era verse the current era.
Also, make sure you mention a Guardian Council that changes every three years, and a Supreme Leader, who was selected by an elected body (Assembly of Experts) and who can be impeached by that same body. Also note, that the Assembly of Experts also have minority religious groups and non-Muslims.
About criticizing the government being equated to apostasy (and ultimately death) really shows your lack of religious training and you’re not a scholar so I don’t expect you to know. However, in Shi’a law (and some Sunni) even an apostate is not to be punished by death, so I find it hard to believe that people have been murdered, for critisizing the government post-Revolution. In fact, the opposite is/was the case (please read up on the killings of sympathetic Shi’as and Sunnis in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, the West, Turkey, and in Iran during the Shah’s time).
I agree, many people died during the Revolution.. but it was a Revolution and the circumstances were very different.
the qualifications of the supreme leader are also besides the point..obviously he’s an ayatollah. for such a self correcting system, there are an awful lot of unaddressed issues such as the lack of freedom of expression…reformists are routinely censored by their government…they’ve shut down critical media…iran has behaved like any other oppressive government. how many activists have been placed under house arrest? what about those who have been given death sentences for speaking out against government?
You sound like a propagandist machine, the same machine that gets over 15 million of our tax money. He is not just an “ayatollah.” Please read “Islamic Government” by Ayatollah Khomeini (r) for in-depth analysis and information. Yes, some activists have been placed under house arrest, while some are not, including the very outspoken Dr Soroush. Death sentences for speaking out against the government? If you’re going to make wild accusations and claims, at least provide some evidence.
Did you even know that the Leader (Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei) seeks advice from known religious, and secular jurists on a consistent basis? Meaning that there is room for improvement and even the highest ranking official admits and accepts that.
it’s like when i hear ignorant arabs justify saddam’s rule by claiming that the iraqi people could only be ruled with an iron fist. not that i’m equating saddam with iran, but i just simply refuse to believe in this idea that people have to settle for something because it’s the best they have going for them…
I agree (and you better not be equating Iran with Iraq, because that would make everything you said dis credible in my eyes).
Anyway, have a good night.
I pray for your success,
peace.
(response to http://granfalloon.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/response-to-enlightenment-iran/ )
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Posted in Current Events, Poetry/Quote at 8:31 am by Abbas
I guess the blogger has responded to the below post I made. You can find it here: http://granfalloon.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/response-to-response-to-reformation-post/. I’ll just quickly make my points and call it a day, since the blogger is really just beating around the bush.
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“Iran physically and ideologically represents Shias all over … “
Some Shi’as may disagree.
“…the relationship between clergy and government is especially prominent in Iran because they are one and the same.”
What do you mean? That is definately not the case. Majority of the government are NOT made up of clergy. And some of the harshest critics of the government are clergy. So your conclusion here is somewhat unfounded.
“So in the end we have a system that always circles back to one guy…”
Clever. But let me ask you some preliminary questions, so we both know what we are talking about. Can you tell me who this “one guy” is? What are his qualifications? Furthermore, can you tell me how he was appointed? By whom?
If you know the answers to these simple questions, then I think we can both agree that ideally and on the practical level this is a self-correcting system.
“But as you noted Abbas, Iran too has its problems and the symptoms its society suffers from don’t look altogether different from that of the Arab world minus the gaping spiritual black hole.”
Look, there is no perfect system out there. We are all trying our best to be just and fair. Iran has issues, as does all other governments. However, I don’t think its fair to lump the Islamic Republic with the corrupt Arab regimes. Let us be fair. The literacy, democracy, education, advancement, spiritual development, and so forth that is produced in Iran is unmatched in the Arab world.
Then finally the blogger said that “power corrupts”. Well, it depends.
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04.12.09
Posted in Current Events at 9:35 pm by Abbas
Tragedy worse than Gaza waiting to happen in Pakistan
Ayatullah Nasir Makarim Shirazi, one of the top ranking Maraji’ Taqleed in Hawzah Ilmiyyah Qum, said:
Taliban, Al-Qaida and extremist Wahabis have committed a massacre in Parachinar Pakistan that is worse than Gaza. They have beheaded 600 hundred people, cut off hands of women and children.
Honorable Marja’ made these remarks in the beginning of his Dars-e-Kharij of Fiqh in Masjid-e-Azam, Qum where he strongly criticized the silence of Pakistan government in the face of crimes against Shias of Parachinar and said:
Why is the Pakistani government sitting idle and watching this happen? Is Parachinar not part of Pakistan? Pakistani government, which has a duty to defend its people, is not helping its own people and a genocide is taking place before its eyes.
Explaining the fact that the crimes of Al-Qaida, Taliban and the extremist Wahabis is the same as the crimes of Israel, he added:
It is clear that they are aligned with Israel because whatever happened in Gaza has repeated in the worse form in Parachinar.
The eminent Marja’-e-Taqleed voiced his complaint to the foreign ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the National Television for their lack of reporting and lack of confronting these genocidal acts saying:
Negligence of Pakistan government, careless attitude of Foreign Ministry and the Media has resulted in the spread of these massacres.
Hazrat Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi said:
Just as we raised our voices loudly about the crimes the people of Gaza, we should also scream and yell in support of people of Parachinar because Foreign Ministry and Official Media have remained silent and do not speak about these inhuman acts.
His Eminence added:
Foreign Ministry must awaken the international organizations to these tragedies and demand from them to send teams to investigate the crimes committed in Parachinar.
His Eminence continued:
It has been 10 months that the area of Parachinar has been besieged and permission has not been granted to deliver food and medicines.
The Ayatullah emphasized:
These news reports must reach the public through the mass media, and we hope that Allah (swt) will soon take revenge of the oppressed from their oppressors.
http://www.muslimcongress.org/contentmc/organization/official-statement.aspx
Does anybody care… 
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03.04.07
Posted in Personal, Current Events at 3:51 pm by Abbas
As the moon moved through the stages of the eclipse, George Lovely took this series of images from which he created a montage. (source: BBC)
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02.20.07
Posted in Current Events, Essay at 8:07 pm by Abbas
I recently interviewed Dr. Shahid Alam, the author of “Challenging the New Orientalism.” Here is an excerpt:
Q: After being featured on “Jihad Watch,” being blacklisted by David Horowitz and being accused of being “un-American” by Bill O’Reilly, what was your motivation for publishing the book knowing that you may be putting your academic career at risk?
A: My motivation is the same that I had in writing the essays. I wanted to bring some history and objectivity into the public discourse on relations between the West (including Israel) and the Islamicate world. That was a difficult goal. My essays were carried only on some left-leaning and Islamic websites in the US. I am hoping that publishing them in a book may help to bring my arguments a bit into the mainstream.
My essays have received some adverse attention – even hostile attention. But I have survived, with a few scars. And I am ready for a few more if this helps to advance a better understanding of the world we live in.
Visit Hot Coals for full interview - click here.
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01.21.07
Posted in Personal, Current Events at 6:03 pm by Abbas
The revolution of Husain (pbuh) was an Islamic movement spearheaded by one of the great leaders of Islam. The principles and laws of Islam demanded that Husain (pbuh) act to warn the Ummah of the evil situation which it was in, and to stand in the way of the deviating ruler. As Husain (pbuh) himself remarked when he left Madina for the last time,
“I am not rising (against Yazid) as an insolent or an arrogant person, or a mischief-monger or tyrant. I have risen (against Yazid) as I seek to reform the Ummah of my grandfather. I wish to bid the good and forbid the evil.”
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01.04.07
Posted in Current Events at 12:02 am by Abbas
Due to multiple requests, I thought I would comment on other people’s analysis and “love” for Saddam. It really hurts my heart to see people praising the likes of this man. I pray its due to ignorance and nothing else. I will try to address some of the points that were brought up, and inshaAllah try to explain it in a more rational manner.
When we look at an individual, we can look at the person’s good deeds or bad deeds, or both. I feel that the Shi’as have always concentrated on his bad deeds. And of course I may be accused of only concentrating on his good deeds.
I challenge all of us– Shi’as, Sunnis, Kurds, Americans, Arabs, etc.– to do our best to look at both sides of Saddam. It is completely detrimental to us all, especially the Muslims to ignore one side over another.
Both sides? If a man prays, yet steals that is an act of injustice towards the people and ultimately towards Allah(swt). And an act injustice, any type of injustice is hyprocricy. Now in the case of Saddam, he definately took part in some of the worse insjustices in the world. He butchered thousands of Shi’i in the south, and thousands of Sunnis in the north. He banned all popular religious rituals, and he forcibly named masjids under his name. He slaughtered hundreds of both Sunni and Shi’i clerics and scholars. He was a secular tyrant, who wanted to eradicate Islam from Iraq, because he knew Islam is much more powerful tool and way of life than everything and anything he represented and adovcated.
He stood for PALESTINE for PALESTINIANS for PALESTINIAN LAND for JERUSALEM. Just to give you an example, he helped the families of lost breadwinners and relatives. He would offer them thousands of dollars and even pay for their Umrah, Hajj, and/or education.
He stood for Palestine? If offering few thousand (actually around 3,000) to families in Palestine, makes you a champion of Palestinian rights, than the United States out-dues him significantly. We need to think rationally and un-biasly, inshaAllah. We all know it was and is a political move. He could care-less about the rights of the Palestinians. Sadly to say (or gladly to say), but the only government that does genuinely support the cause are non-arab.
Like any other leader would have done, Saddam began to see them as his enemy as well. I agree with him on that! However, he went overboard in many events that could have been avoided. The case he was tried for was of his killing of 182 Shi’as in Dujail villiage
Look at this logic. Collateral damage is haram in Islam. Collective punishment according the Qur’an and Sunnah is forbidden. Going overboard is an understatement. Killing children and women based on their religious affiliation is wrong. And labeling all Shi’a arabs as “Iranian Agents” is wrong. He certainly did send a message to all. That he does not care about the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters. He has no compassion for women and children. And no shame for allowing women to be raped and harassed.
Todays Iraqi gov’t is an illegitimate gov’t! The Sunnis boycotted the gov’t, it was implemented by the US and it is controlled by men and militias that are as evil as you can be (i.e. Muqtada).
Today’s government is as illegitimate as Saddam’s “government.” Both governments were installed by the United States. And both are puppets of the West. So, according to this person’s own arguement, everything Saddam did is now nullified, since he was an illegitimate leader. And do you have evidence that Muqtada al-Sadr, whom by the way supports the rights of Palestinians, and builds hospitals and schools, ordered anyone to take part in “evil” acts?
Saddam was not tried for his actions against the Sunnis (very rare crimes) nor his actions agaisnt the Kurds. He was only tried for his actions agaisnt Shi’as, the same people in charge of the Iraqi gov’t and court system.
Saddam was not tried for a lot of his atrocities, because he was only executed for his killings in Dujail. And I explained why earlier posts. This person has also fallen victim to the US strategy of “divide and conquer.” Its absurd to categorize Iraqis into “Sunni”, “Shi’a” and then “Kurds.” First of all Sunni and Shi’a is a religious denomination, while Kurd is a ethnical denomination. We are all forgetting that Kurds are mostly Sunni (approx. 90%). Hence, he killed thousands of Sunnis. Lets get the facts straight. He rarely committed crimes against “Sunni Iraqi Arabs.” I say Iraqi, because we all know how he treated the Sunni gulf arabs.
Saddam was not a leader, because he was installed by the United States. And then strenghtened by the United States and then further strengthened by the United States (UN Sanctions). And finally ultimately met his fate under occupation by the United States. An oppressor killed an oppressor. He was an illegitimate leader, who oppressed his own people. He tried to replace Islam with “Arabism.” May Allah unite and guide us all. Ameen.
“O you who believe, Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin; and whether it be against rich or poor… (4:135)”
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01.01.07
Posted in Personal, Current Events at 3:36 pm by Abbas
A few people showed concern about the motives and intentions behind my posting of the hanging. No one is enjoying his hanging. People are relieved and happy that an oppressor has met justice. Again, no one is celebrating his actual method of death. I personally feel at ease. He burned entire families alive in the southern and northen Iraq. He gassed his own people until suffocation and left their bodies to rot, so the vultures can feast on them. He persecuted and imprisoned anyone who even dream to practice any ritual/tradition that was affiliated with Shi’i. Over a 100 Shi’i and Kurdish scholars were martyed under his era. His demise is a time of relief and reflection. Actually, in my opinion, he actually should have gotten more for the atrocities he committed, but Allahu alim. And for those who say “…but he is a Muslim”, Yazeed (l) was also a “Muslim,” but he martyed and starved the Prophet’s family. Furthermore, Saddam never showed any signs of repetence or regret. As we all know the hypocrites in God’s eye are worse than the un-believer.
We are simply celebrating justice prevailing.
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12.12.06
Posted in Current Events at 1:09 pm by Abbas
Something is happening in Lebanon. The Western Media has really shied away from covering it. This has been the biggest demonstration (much bigger than the “Cedar Revolution”) in Lebanon’s history.
In many ways, Hezbollah has adopted a strategy that has been cheered by the White House in the past, in places like Ukraine, and even Lebanon itself, leaning on large, peaceful crowds to force unpopular governments to resign and pave the way for elections. But this time Washington and its allies have said the protest amounts to a coup d’état, fueling charges that America supports democratic practices only when its allies are winning.
“Does Bush want national expression in Lebanon?” Sheik Qassem said to the crowd. “Does the West and Arabs want the voice of the people in Lebanon? Tell them, ‘Death to America.’ Tell them, ‘Death to Israel.’ Tell them, ‘Glory to a free Lebanon.’ ”
The economy has been brought to a stand-still with companies admitting the loss of millions. The streets are jam-packed. Almost half of the population of Lebanon (4 million) have been attending! People have been protesting peacefully for more than ten days that even the “Prime Minister” is shocked and surprised.
The pounding of martial music, the roaring din of the excited crowd floated up a nearby hill to pierce the thick walls of the stately government building, the Grand Serail, as Prime Minister Fouad Sinoria, entered a ceremonial room for a news conference. “I don’t understand what is this great cause that is making them create this tense political mess and stage open ended demonstrations,” he said to a small group of reporters.
People want change. And they want change now.
A banner that hung down the side of a building, showing a picture of the prime minister hugging Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. “Thanks Condy,” it said just beneath another image of dead children, referring to Lebanese civilian casualties during Israel’s war with the militant Shiite group Hezbollah during the summer.
“There is no longer a place for America in Lebanon,” Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, said in remarks that boomed through loudspeakers.
This is the first time all of the Shi’a Muslims are under one banner (the biggest group in Lebanon). This is the first time where there is an alliance amongst the Shi’a, the largest Christain movement and Sunni Muslims (there are joint prayers being held all over Beirut). Here are some pictures from the rally (orange represents the “Free Patriotic Movement” the largest Christain party in Lebanon that is aligned with Hizbollah and the yellow represents Hizbollah, the largest political party in Lebanon).
source: Global Research, Michael Slackman
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12.05.06
Posted in Current Events at 12:51 am by Abbas
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12.03.06
Posted in Current Events at 3:08 am by Abbas
It just may be possible (at least at the Salk!)…
The ability to regenerate limbs is an enviable ability possessed by many vertebrate embryos, and occurs in a variety of adult animals such as salamanders, hydra, horseshoe crabs and a particular species of mouse.
Most mammals exhibit extremely limited regenerative abilities, not on par with those of salamanders. Examples of mammalian regeneration include antlers, fingertips and holes in ears.
An understanding of the processes behind regeneration could lead to better treatment for individuals with nerve injuries (such as those resulting from a broken back or a polio infection), missing limbs, and/or damaged or destroyed organs. Scientists may indeed be one step closer to developing such treatments.
Researchers at the La Jolla, California based Salk Institute have succeeded in stimulating limb regeneration in a developing chick embryo — a species not known to possess regenerative ability. The results of this study further suggest that all organisms, including humans, posses some degree of regenerative potential. It appears that the ability to regenerate limbs is an ability that has been lost or otherwise suppressed in most organisms.
Stimulating the regeneration of lost limbs is perhaps as simple as activating a genetic program already present.
The results of this study, published in the Advance Online Genes and Development on Nov. 17, suggest exactly this. The study’s lead author, Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte, Ph.D. explains: “In this simple experiment, we removed part of the chick embryo’s wing, activated Wnt signaling, and got the whole limb back — a beautiful and perfect wing.
“By changing the expression of a few genes, you can change the ability of a vertebrate to regenerate their limbs, rebuilding blood vessels, bone, muscles, and skin — everything that is needed.”
While newly developed and technically immature, research such as this serves a fresh beacon of hope for those suffering some sort of degenerative limb disease and those who’ve lost limbs to amputations, etc. While this technology is undeniably years from practical application in human medicine, it is undeniably a step — if not a giant leap, in the right direction.
(source and full article: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200661129033)
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12.01.06
Posted in Current Events at 1:46 pm by Abbas
We will see what happens. InshaAllah, may the truthful be victorious.
Huge Beirut rally demands change
Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies have held a mass rally in Beirut to protest against Lebanon’s government. Amid tight security, demonstrators chanted slogans denouncing Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
The opposition says it will keep up the pressure until the government resigns.
The protest follows weeks of rising tension in Lebanon, with the killing of a leading anti-Syrian politician and resignations from the cabinet.
Protest camp The huge crowd turned central Beirut into a sea of red and white Lebanese flags.
Hezbollah leaders had asked people not to wave the yellow flag of their movement, which features a fist holding a Kalashnikov rifle.
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We appeal to all Lebanese, from every region and political movement… to rid us of an incapable government
Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah
Hezbollah leader
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The noisy but peaceful crowd filled Riad Solh Square, in front of Mr Siniora’s office, says the BBC’s Simon Wilson in Beirut.Mr Siniora and some of his ministers were inside, just metres away, and will have heard the deafening music and speeches, our correspondent says.The army and police mounted a large security operation, closing off the prime minister’s office and other key buildings with barbed wire and armoured vehicles.
As night fell, the main protest broke up but many people were setting up a camp outside Mr Siniora’s office, saying they would stay until the government resigned.
‘Attempted coup’
During the afternoon, the huge crowd listened to Hezbollah songs and speeches.
Police estimated its size at 800,000 people, but Hezbollah claimed it was larger, the Associated Press news agency said.Speaking from behind a bullet-proof glass screen, Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun told the cheering crowd that the current government was unconstitutional and should resign.He said they had “made corruption a daily affair”.
Mr Siniora’s government has vowed to stand firm against what he has called an attempted coup.
“Lebanon’s independence is threatened and its democratic system is in danger,” he said on Thursday.
Under Lebanon’s constitution, the death or resignation of another two ministers will automatically topple it.
‘Syrian troops’
Hezbollah has been demanding a bigger share in the cabinet that would give it the power to veto government decisions.
The government came to office last year in the first election held after the withdrawal of Syrian troops originally stationed in Lebanon during the civil war.Syria was forced to withdraw its military presence after massive street protests and international pressure, triggered by the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.A UN investigation has implicated several Syrian officials in the killing, although Syria has denied any involvement.
The government in Beirut has also accused Damascus of ordering the assassination on 21 November of anti-Syrian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6197992.stm
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11.30.06
Posted in Current Events at 6:51 pm by Abbas
“We appeal to all Lebanese, from every region and political movement, to take part in a peaceful and civilised demonstration on Friday to rid us of an incapable government that has failed in its mission.”
-Shaykh Hassan Nasrullah
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11.16.06
Posted in Personal, Current Events at 2:17 pm by Abbas
This is what secret police do in third world countries, not in “civilized” countries. You do not taser someone that shows no threat, and then ask him to get up, so you can taser him more. Please protest, write something, and make people aware! Youtube video (cell phone video)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3GstYOIc0I
UCPD officers shot a student several times with a Taser inside the Powell Library CLICC computer lab late Tuesday night before taking him into custody.
No university police officers were available to comment further about the incident as of 3 a.m. Wednesday, and no Community Service Officers who were on duty at the time could be reached.
At around 11:30 p.m., CSOs asked a male student using a computer in the back of the room to leave when he was unable to produce a BruinCard during a random check. The student did not exit the building immediately.
The CSOs left, returning minutes later, and police officers arrived to escort the student out. By this time the student had begun to walk toward the door with his backpack when an officer approached him and grabbed his arm, at which point the student told the officer to let him go. A second officer then approached the student as well.
The student began to yell “get off me,” repeating himself several times.
It was at this point that the officers shot the student with a Taser for the first time, causing him to fall to the floor and cry out in pain. The student also told the officers he had a medical condition.
UCPD officers confirmed that the man involved in the incident was a student, but did not give a name or any additional information about his identity.
Video shot from a student’s camera phone captured the student yelling, “Here’s your Patriot Act, here’s your fucking abuse of power,” while he struggled with the officers.
As the student was screaming, UCPD officers repeatedly told him to stand up and said “stop fighting us.” The student did not stand up as the officers requested and they shot him with the Taser at least once more.
“It was the most disgusting and vile act I had ever seen in my life,” said David Remesnitsky, a 2006 UCLA alumnus who witnessed the incident.
As the student and the officers were struggling, bystanders repeatedly asked the police officers to stop, and at one point officers told the gathered crowd to stand back and threatened to use a Taser on anyone who got too close.
Laila Gordy, a fourth-year economics student who was present in the library during the incident, said police officers threatened to shoot her with a Taser when she asked an officer for his name and his badge number.
Gordy was visibly upset by the incident and said other students were also disturbed.
“It’s a shock that something like this can happen at UCLA,” she said. “It was unnecessary what they did.”
Immediately after the incident, several students began to contact local news outlets, informing them of the incident, and Remesnitsky wrote an e-mail to Interim Chancellor Norman Abrams.
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