MWL's World Organization of Muslim Women and Families holds meeting

JEDDAH - The Board of Trustees of the World Organization of Muslim Women and Families, which functions under the supervision of the Muslim World League (MWL), held its meeting in Hotel Hilton here on 13 Shawwal 1423, (17 December 2002), under the chairmanship of the MWL Secretary- General of Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, who is also the president of the organization.

Secretary-General of the organization Dr. Bahija Baha Azzi emphasized that Muslim families are confronted with rapid challenges that affect their thinking and culture, destroy Islamic and human values and principles and make the families expose to many changes and adjustments. "Most of the families do not have excess to resources that can successfully face these changes," she said.

She said, unfortunately, a big number of families are not furnished with defensive means to face up to those sweeping charges and pointed out tat confronting those challenges necessitates the updating of the enlightenment and orientation of women's programmes to suit the global message of islam while emphasis should be place on the language of dialogue with other groups.

She also highlighted the importance of media in the life of Muslim society and urged for training Muslim women in this field through educational curriculum and holding training courses with the coordination of mediapersons of international repute.

The Board of Trustees discussed to bring an international magazine especially for the organization, focusing on the issues concerning Muslim women and families, hiring the journalists of international repute to extend their services to it. The board also discussed the importance of setting up a complete information centre, which is linked with important information websites in the world that are especially meant for women and families and also chalked out the ways to open a site on Internet to respond to questions about Islam, women and family affairs.

It is our duty to highlight bright and real picture of Muslim women in the Western media through:

* supplying information, books, articles and researches on Muslim women to Western universities that have departments of women studies ;

* sending women specialists from the organization to participate in conferences and seminars held by these universities;

* contacting international women organizations that work for the same causes and coordinate and cooperate to correct the maligned picture of the status of women in Islam.

Saudi Arabia urges United States to refrain from solo war

WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD - The United States should refrain from attacking Iraq alone, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Saud Al- Faisal said on 22 December. "I cannot imagine a war waged on Iraq on a bilateral fashion, that the United States goes alone," Prince Saud said in an interview with CNN.

The Prince quoted US President George W. Bush as saying that war "is the last resort" in an effort to disarm Iraq and praised as "very wise" the US decision to rely on the United Nations. So the decision to go to war "should not be taken as a simple decision," he said.

"It is not a conflict between the United States and Iraq. It is about United Nations resolutions and about the government of Iraq's implementation of those resolutions," he said.

The Prince also left open the possibility that Saudi Arabia might cooperate in a war on Iraq if the war receives UN support. "Every member of the United Nations is liable to co-operate with any decision based on Chapter 7 in the United Nations Charter and every member is obliged to cooperate in that, but that cooperation does not mean joining in the effort to fight, sending troops and so forth," he said.

As war loomed in the Gulf, Baghdad said that the CIA was welcome to come to Iraq and indicate suspect sites to the UN weapons inspectors. Iraq also said it was ready to answer any questions from the United States and Britain over its arms programme.

"We are ready to deal with each of those questions if you ask us," Amir Al-Saadi, an adviser to the President Saddam Husein, told a news conference in Bagdad at which he also accused previous inspection regimes of manipulating evidence against Iraq.

Saddam himself demanded the United States stop harassing him. "The world should tell America now there is no need for more aggression and sanctions on Iraq in order to let it cooperate freely (with the UN)," he told visiting delegates.

The United States and Britain were, according to a British Defence Ministry source, planning a massive seaborne invasion if war broke out against Iraq, a strategy planners hope would make troops less exposed to chemical or biological attacks.

Some 1,000 US troops are in Israel this week for an exercise involving US-made Patriot missiles, which were largely ineffective in intercepting the 39 Scud missiles that Iraq fired at Israel in the 1991 Gulf War. The Patriot has since been upgraded and Israel has developed and deployed the more effective Arrow anti-missile system. The New York Times on 22 December said US intelligence agents were working with Kurdish groups in northern Iraq opposed to Saddam.

UN expert in Iraq continued their hunt for banned arms. Iraqi officials said sites searched by the inspectors included a space research centre in Baghdad. - AN

OIC opens trade fair in Sharjah

SHARJAH - An international trade fair aimed at boosting trade between the 57 member-states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) kicked off in Sharjah.

The OIC's ninth trade fair, held for the first time in the Gulf, was inaugurated by Sharjah's Governor Sheikh Sultan Ibn Mohammad Al-Qassimi.

"OIC countries have undertaken to strengthen their bilateral (trade) exchanges that account currently for only 11 percent" of their total foreign trade, Emirati Economic and Trade Minister Fahem Ibn Sultan Al-Qassimi said in a speech at the opening of the fair.

OIC Secretary- General Abdelouaed Belkeziz for his part urged "representative of the private sector, the true movers of the economics of member states, to work with all means to strengthen trade between Islamic countries, to face the challenges represented by the big international economic blocs."

Islamic organizations from France, South Africa and Thailand - non-members of the OIC - are also taking part in the fair, which lasts until on 22 December in the 16,000 square meter exposition centre of this port city. - AFP

Israelis kill Palestinian school girl

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM - Israeli troops killed a Palestinian schoolgirl in southern Gaza on 21 December as they enforced new blockades in the coastal strip.

Palestinian witnesses and security sources said Israeli troops opened fire as the 11-year-old girl walked home from school on a road near a heavily guarded Jewish settlement. The girl was hit in the back of her leg and died in hospital.

Elsewhere in the strip, the army set up blockades at the Gush Katif and Netzarim settlements effectively cutting Gaza into three. At least 6,500 Jewish settlers live in about 16 settlements among nearly two million Palestinians there. Hundreds of Palestinian cars trying to travel between the north and south of the densely populated coastal strip were piled up or turned back at checkpoints. "The forces divided the Gaza Strip into three parts... in order to prevent the movement of Palestinian. (We) will permit passage for humanitarian situations," the army said.

It was not immediately clear how long the Israeli Army would maintain the blockades imposed after Palestinians shot and killed a settler on 23 December, but an Israeli military sources said it was a "new policy" in response to attacks. The army said it arrested two men belonging to Islamic Jihad, which claimed responsibility for shooting the 40-year-old settler, and blew up their homes.

A Palestinian who threw grenades at Israeli soldiers guarding the Jewish settlement of Morag in the Gaza Strip, wounding one of them, was shot dead, Israeli military sources said. Following the attack, the army launched an operation in the area to search for any accomplices, they said. - (Agencies)

Rights groups flay US arrests of Muslims

LOS ANGELES - US civil right groups and Muslim leaders on 19 December slammed a new US anti-terrorism measure under which Middle Eastern men are forced to register with the authorities and be fingerprinted.

They called on Washington to scrap the "flawed and misguided" programme aimed at men from the Middle East, North Africa and North Korea, following the arrest of scores of immigrants who turned up to register under the new rules.

Hundreds of Muslim men and boys are being subjected to strip-searches in freezing, detention centres in southern California after being arrested for routine visa irregularities, immigration lawyers said.

They estimated that between 1,000 and 2,500, mostly Iranian males, some as young as 16, have been locked up in inhumane conditions after voluntarily presenting themselves at immigration offices to register under new anti-terrorism rules.

The actions "only serve to underscore the fact that some people in the administration still don't understand the values we are all fighting to protect," said Roman Ripston, calling for the system to be scrapped.

Under the registration scheme, men who are required to register are photographed, fingerprinted and interviewed before being put on a list for federal screening.

Muslim leaders were outraged by the registration programme and arrests, saying that the system would not help uncover terrorists living in the United States. - RD

IN BRIEF

Saudi committee gives SR 4.4m to PLO

RIYADH - In line with directives of Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region, an amount of SR.4,411,239 from the revenues of the Popular Committee for the Assistance the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This was announced by Abdur Rahim Jamous, the director of th offices of the Popular Committee for the Assistance of the Palestinian Mujahideen in Saudi Arabia.

He noted that his remittance constitutes the fifth tranche of the committee's remittances to the PLO during this lunar year. Jamous highlighted the Kingdom's unwavering support to the Palestinian cause, and hailed its continuous efforts to bring about a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East. It is worth mentioning that Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz is the president of the Popular Committee for the Assistance of the Palestinian Mujahideen. - SPA

Saudi aid distributed among Chechen refugees

RIYADH - The Saudi Red Crescent Society is continuing distribution of its relief assistance to Chechen refugees at Saudi Arabia's camp in Angoshia. The society has so far distributed 4,921 food baskets to he refugees, in addition to its monthly basis distribution. The director of the society's office in Russia Abdullah Al-Harthy said the society will carry on this operation of relief aid until the refugees settle down in their country. - SPA

South African pilgrims arrive

JEDDAH - Forty-two people, who constitute the first batch of pilgrims from South Africa for this year's Hajj, arrived here on 21 December.

They were welcomed at King Abdul Aziz Airport by Undersecretary of the Hajj Ministry Hatim Kadi and a number of other officials. Abdel-Wahid Burhan, president of the Non-Arab African Pilgrims Establishment, said that all efforts would be mobilized for the service of pilgrims. "We are keen to enable them to perform their rituals in comfort," he added. - SPA

WAMY builds new mosque in Kyrgystan

MAKKAH - The Makkah Branch of World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) has recently built a new mosque in Kyrgystan at a total cost of SR 45,000, according to Dr. Abdul Wahab Noorwali, Assistant Secretary-General of WAMY (Makkah branch).

He said that many citizens of this Central Asian Republic would benefit from this mosque, which bears the name of "Um Abdullah"

He disclosed that his branch has implemented since the beginning of this year a number of charitable projects in Kyrgystan costing over SR 700,000 which included (7) new mosques, (4) educational youth camps, two medical caravans, distribution of Islamic headscarf among women conducting of religious and training courses for male and female, and serving free meals during the holy month of Ramadhan, and Eid clothes to the orphans and indigent people. - Press Release

FROM THE HOLY HARAMS

Remain grateful to Allah

MAKKAH/MADINAH - The Imam and Khateeb of the Holy Haram in Makkah, Sheikh Dr. Osamah Abdullah Khayyat, in his Friday sermon on 13 December said the pleasures and delights of this world can never be a barrier between a man of faith and his Lord if the person sincerely seeks His favour.

While some people are keenly involved in worldly affairs and comforts and material possessions of this world, for the pious and the righteous, the perfection of faith and piety to the highest degrees and purity in the belief of One Allah, following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) and doing good deeds are of prime importance that guide them, Sheikh Khayyat said.

The second most important thing, after the belief in the Oneness of Allah, is the presence of sincere and truthful advisors (scholars and religious leaders) in our community who would counsel their Muslim brethren on the ways to praise their Lord and how to avoid pitfalls and sources of ruin, Sheikh Khayyat added.

"Following their advices is a noble trait and (a sign of) good character. Although human beings are fallible, their failures can only be mitigated by the mercy and grace of Allah and with the help of sincere and dedicated advisors," he said.

"And those who disregard their advice and never pay attention to their counsel (even the teaching of the Holy Qur'an) out of pride or self-conceit are doomed to failure and torment," he concluded.

Thanking Allah for His countless blessings is one of the most important duties of a Muslim.

Meanwhile, Imam and Khateeb of the Prophet's (peace be on him) Mosque, Sheikh Ali Ibn Abdur Rahman Al-Hudhaifi, in his sermon said thanking Allah for His countless blessings is one the most important duties of a Muslim.

"The opposite of not thanking Allah is disbelieving in Him. Thanking Him entails deep belief in Him, carrying out the duties and obligations ordained by Him and abstaining from committing what He has forbidden," he added.

"One has to be grateful to Allah for all the bounties and blessings bestowed on him by Allah. On the other hand, being ungrateful to Him implies that a person does not believe in the Message of Allah, does not carry the duties and obligations, commits sins and thus remains ungrateful to the Lord," he said.

Sheikh Al-Hudhaifi added that the rewards of giving thanks to Allah are great as Allah saves the person from torment and wards off evil from him. With offering thanks to Allah, His bounties increase and His blessings become long-lasting.

"Being grateful also means showing gratitude to the Benefactor for His favours and blessings by His remembrance and sincere love of the Benefactor which should also be reflected in one's deeds and acts that please Him," he said.

"Even parts of one's body that are involved in acts that earn Allah's pleasure and are done solely for His sake, involve thanking Him. Whereas, if a person uses his body's organs for committing acts of sins, then he is ungrateful to Allah and is waging war against Him and denies the blessings granted by Him," he added.

"If a Muslim spends his money in a religious cause or in ways permitted by Allah, he or she stands to earn Allah's reward, in other words he thanks Allah. Similarly, if a person uses his wealth for committing sins and for acts that are harmful, then he is ungrateful to Allah and he spends his money in ways that earn Allah's wrath," he said. "To be grateful to Allah a person should obey Him and abstain from acts that show disobedience to Him. Good deeds must be followed by good deeds and he should thank Allah in order to get His rewards multiplied," he concluded. - SPA

Muslim Ummah rejects all forms of terrorism, violence and extremism banned by Islam

RABAT - In a communique released on 15 December in Rabat, the Executive Council of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) reaffirms that the entire Islamic Ummah rejects, jointly and severally, terrorism, violence and extremism under all their forms, methods and formula and considers them as a mischief on earth that is banned and incriminated by Islam as expressed clearly in the Holy Qur'an: "If any one slew a person unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief on earth, it would be as if he slew the whole people."

The Council holds as truth that the responsibility for international peace and security lies with the international community as a whole, and that the Islamic world, being a stakeholder in the international and collective enterprise, consecrate the principles of peace and security, as part of commitment to international law and legitimacy. It affirms that true peace, likely to bring about stability of human societies and redress the world conditions, is a peace built on justice, fairness and equity and on the respect of human rights, in the forefront of which, the right to self-determination and liberation from foreign occupation of the territories of countries striving to obtain their independence.

The Executive Council's communique appeals to the international community to close ranks and affirm their solidarity to solemnly condemn terrorism, including state terrorism exercised by Israel against the Palestinian people, and face up to all those propagating the theory of the clash of civilizations and seeking to sow the seeds of hatred and animosity among people trigger wars merely to fulfill personal objectives, without any legal ground or rationale.

The Council strongly denounces all international and regional initiatives, acts and policies means to undermine peace and security, destabilize human societies, and utilize terrorism as a means to reach their ends and exercise pressure on states, threatening their peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In the closing of its 23rd Session, held in the presence of the Director General of ISESCO, Dr. Abdul Aziz Othman Altwaijri, ISESCO's Executive Council released this communique on the stand of the Muslim World regarding the issues of peace, security and terrorism after it examined the present situation prevailing in the Muslim World in light of the threats menacing the Ummah, its faith, culture and civilization, jeopardizing its sovereignty, security and stability of its states, and after it reviewed the world changes and their impact and percussion on the present and the future of the Muslim World. - Press Release

Muslim Persecution in Myanmar

Dr. Nora Ahmed

THE latest account holds 5,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees who fled into Bangladesh at the end of November of this year from Myanmar (Burma). The number of Rohingya Muslim refugees thus in Bangladesh rose to around 250,000. This is the third major influx since 1978. The refugees told Amnesty that they had fled persecution, leaving their homes in Maungdaw and Bathidaung township areas of the Pakhine province.

The Buddhists who are in power today cannot forget the power and authority of these Muslims aback in history and during the composition of this region. Arab Muslim traders converted the people Rohang who were in Arakan to Islam in the 10th and 11th centuries. The succeeding centuries saw an influx of Muslim immigrants from West, Central and South Asian countries. Arabs, Persian, Indians and Turks intermarried with native Arakanese. The Buddhists resent the culture of openness and co-existence and want to establish a pure pagan society.

Muslims number close to seven million in Myanmar. The majority are Indian Muslims who settled in Burma when the country was under the British rule, moving to Burma during the 19th century. Some of the ethnic Indian Muslims migrated into Karen State. The distinct ethnic character of the people is evident in their language, Rohingya, which is a mixture of Bengali, Persian, Arabic and Arakanese. The Rohingya also live on the other side of the Burma-Bangladesh border. In this manner these and the glory of Islam which is resented by the racist military regime in Myanmar which relies on myths of Buddhist historical times as opposed to Islam and the changes it brought about.

Persecution of Burmese Muslims by Buddhists is ongoing today. The history of human rights violations against Muslims in Burma dates back to 1784, when Burman Buddhists invaded Arakan. Troops this year entered the area, occupied and closed mosques, seized livestock and crops, captured villagers for forced labour and evicted them from their homes.

Since June of this year OIC had been calling for an end to the persecution of these Muslims and released its statement by saying: "The extremist Buddhists have burned houses, killed women and children and destroyed eight historical mosques in the Tongo region, and 26 mosques in the Mindanao region." It strongly condemned the inhuman and aggressive attacks by extremist Buddhists upon Muslims in Myanmar.

The OIC called on the international community and human rights organizations to intervene and force the Myanmar government to halt attacks on Muslims, and quit destroying mosques and Islamic historical places. It urged the international community to secure the safety of Muslims in the Union of Myanmar and enable them to exercise their political and social rights as accorded to other citizens, and safeguard their Islamic identity. If today's world community is all about coexistence and cultural exchanges, why is it silent about the persecution of Muslims.

Validity of Umrah Visa to be reduced to one month

MAKKAH - The validity of Umrah visas will be cut from three months to only one month effective the next year's Umrah season, according to the minister of Hajj Iyad Ibn Amin Madani.

The minister told the Jeddah-based Okaz Arabic newspaper that the new regulation would help his ministry to know the exact number of Umrah performers on a monthly basis. He added that his ministry was also planning to put a ceiling for the number of Umrah performers coming from every country every month to enable the Saudi consulates finalize Umrah visas on due times."

The new measure will help in offering excellent services to Umrah performers, prevent large crowds coming in certain months of the year and will facilitate their departure to their homelands,"

Madani indicated that some 1,700,000 Umrah performers out of the total 2,126,000, have so far left the Kingdom, adding that his ministry is coordinating with the sea and air companies for the departure of remaining Umrah performers before the deadline, which is December 19. - RD