Guantanamo Bay Rant #2

The CIA water boarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed 183 times and Obama gave immunity to those responsible. That apparently is American justice, the kind of justice they want to spread in the Middle East. Apparently torture is acceptable if its a western government (Gadaffi and Mubarak should have taken notes!) 


America has got away with kidnapped 779 men and taking them to Cuba, thats rights ladies and gents, CUBA! Rather than hold them in the country they were found and arrested in, they took them far far away...why? The answer is pretty darn simple, they do not have to abide by the Geneva Convention. They can do what they want with these human beings, regardless of what crimes they MAY have committed surely nothing justifies such a violation of human rights. Most of these victims of the American "justice" system  have been released without charge. 

Here are some stats as of January 17th 2011 :

• 779 acknowledged prisoners held in Guantánamo Bay to date (there are indications that various prisoners were held in Guantánamo Bay in secret from 2003 until June 2004 when the US Supreme Court ordered that the prisoners be allowed access to courts, but these prisoners have never been identified.
• 535 men reviewed by Combatant Status Review Tribunals.
• 497 men designated Enemy Combatants by CSRTs.
• 38 men designated No Longer Enemy Combatants by CSRTs.
• 173 men left in Guantánamo.
• 89 of these men cleared for release by the US authorities.
  
• 14 British nationals and residents released to date.
• 38 habeas petitions granted (one subsequently reversed by DC Circuit Court).
• 20 habeas petitions denied (one susbsequently vacated by DC Circuit Court).
• 6 prisoners who have died at Guantánamo, one from cancer, five suspiciously.
• 16 Guantánamo prisoners who are known to have been held at CIA-run facilities. 

Omar Khadr

 There are known cases of sexual, physical and psychological abuse. Omar Khadr was only 15 years old when he was captured, but 8 years later he still resides there. In the early spring of 2003, Khadr was told "Your life is in my hands" by a military interrogator, who spat on him, tore out some of his hair and threatened to send him to a country that would torture him more thoroughly, making specific reference to an Egyptian Askri raqm tisa ("Soldier Number Nine") who enjoyed raping prisoners.
Everything about his story suggests he SHOULD have been tried as a minor, however the US had no mercy. What does this sentence mean for other child soldiers? Why is the United Nations so quiet about such a ridiculous sentence? Why is the world silent on the blatant torture this child has been through??????

I leave you with this question - The crimes that Gadaffi/Mubarak committed, are they really that different to the crimes that the US has committed? Ask the mother in Iraq who lost her entire family because soldiers were bored, ask the man who was arrested by US forces and sexually humiliated, ask the Palestinian father who witnessed his son being blown to bits by weaponry supplied by the US...

The trials of wealth...

The title says it all.

Is money the root of all evil? No. But boy does it tempt people into it! The Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) said that he feared the trial of wealth for his people and I understand why.

I was raised in a pretty poor household. Poverty teaches you humility, creativeness and appreciating the small things in life. If it was my birthday and my mum brought us cake it was a pretty awesome moment! I'm not saying wealth does not teach these things but it depends on how your raised in it.

Having wealth is a vicious cycle, you learn to live with objects you dont really need but become use to therefore you want more. However, if you've never had them, you'd like them but can also live without and thats where the difference lies. All we as humans need is warmth, shelter and food to survive but the people have become so materialistic that they no longer see it like that. People want houses with too many rooms, or cars that do speeds they can't legally do on the average street. I'm not saying they shouldn't want these things, by all means get them, but don't lose sight of the bigger picture. I read of a man who had a billion dollar business due to the recession he lost half of it and was left with half a billion dollars, he killed himself because of the losses he occurred. He was so blinded by his huge losses he couldn't see that he still had half a billion dollars!!

Money brings out the competitiveness and it gets ugly. Why do you think our leaders can be so ruthless? The war in Iraq was a money making opportunity, therefore it was quick and merciless. The rich got richer and the poor got poorer. Look at Blair, making millions working in the middle east after f***ing it all up! Leaders cling onto power because of the abundance of wealth at their finger tips! Let me tell you about an amazing man - Umar ibn al Khattab. Umar was the leader of the most powerful nation of that era. His army was spreading far and wide. His army had captured many spoils of war therefore the nation was experiencing wealth like never before!

Once Umar (RA) was going on his usual round towards Harrah (a suburb of Madinah) with his slave Aslam, when he saw a distant fire in the desert. He said:

"There seems to be a camp. Perhaps, it is a caravan that could not enter the town due to night fall. Let's go and look after them and arrange for their protection during the night."

When he reached there, he found a woman and some children. The children were crying. The woman had a pan of water over the fire. Hadhrat 'Umar (RA) greeted her with salaam and, with her permission, went near her.

Umar: "Why are these children crying?" The Woman: "Because they are hungry." Umar: "What is in the pan?"

The Woman: "Only water to soothe the children, so that they may go to sleep in the belief that food is being prepared for them. Ah! Allah will judge between Umar (RA) and me, on the Day of Judgement, for neglecting me in my distress."

'Umar (weeping): "May Allah have mercy on you! How can Umar know of your distress?"

The Woman: "When he is our Amir, he must keep himself informed about us."

Hadhrat 'Umar (RA) returned to the town and straight away went to treasury to fill a sack with flour, dates, fat and clothes, and also drew some money. When the sack was ready, he said to Aslam:

"Now put this sack on my back, Aslam."

Aslam: "No please, Amir-ul-Mo'mineen (leader of the people)! I shall carry this sack."

'Umar refused to listen to Aslam, even on his persistent requests to allow him to carry the sack, and remarked:

"What! Will you carry my load on the Day of Judgement? I must carry this bag, for it is I who would be questioned (in the Hereafter) about this woman."

Aslam most reluctantly placed the bag on Umar's (RA) back, who carried it with a swift pace right to the woman's tent. Aslam followed at his heels. He put a little flour and some dates and fat in the pan and began to stir. He blew (with his mouth) into the fire to kindle it. Aslam says:

"I saw the smoke passing through his thick beard."

After some time, the pottage was ready. He himself served it to the family. When they had eaten to their fill, he made over to them the little that was left for their next meal. The children were very happy after their meal and began to play about merrily. The woman felt very grateful and remarked:

"May Allah reward you for your kindness ! In fact you deserve to take the place of Khalifah instead of 'Umar."

'Umar consoled her and said: "When you come to see the Khalifah, you will find me there."

He sat for a while at a place close by and kept on watching the children. He then returned to Madinah. On his way back, he said to Aslam:

"Do you know why I sat there, Aslam? I had seen them weeping in distress; I liked to see them laughing and happy for some time."
Whether your muslim or not - Umar is recorded in the history books as a great leader and his achievements speak for themselves. I look forward to the day we have more leaders like him, who when their people don't have food to eat they also refrain from food. Did you know, that he would not eat fat because it was not a dish all the people had access to. His people pleaded with him to eat it a his health was declining but he refused saying that who was he to have the porviledge of enjoying such a dish when his people couldn't.

On that note I end with "He who went to the kings to seek favors went away from God." Wealth weakens the heart when used for the wrong purposes...be wise with it. Give in charity and give openly!


"In the eyes of God he is the best ruler who has secured prosperity and comfort for the people." - Umar Ibn al Khattab.

Changing your outlook...

I've had enough of the negativity surrounding me. I've had enough of the hate. I've had enough of the constant bickering!! I"VE HAD ENOUGH!!! If you think you've got it tough, then always remember there is always someone out there with it MUCH worse (A reminder for myself first and foremost and then you guys) 

To say March was one of the toughest months of my life is no exaggeration. My young able bodied cousin had a stroke, aged 28. To say it was tough to hear is an understatement, this young man was burnt at the age of 4 and spent most of his life in hospitals having skin grafts, and corrective surgery. He finally decided enough was enough and never went back for more. To say he's had it tough is putting it lightly. At age 14 he lost his father to cancer - becoming the man of the house. He has 2 younger sisters who see him as their father figure, he is literally their world!

Why am I telling you this?
Its easy to start questioning God, why me? Why him? Haven't this family been through enough?
I'm going to be honest, I was surprised I didn't hear that once from my fragile aunt. Seriously, to mention the stuff she's been through would be way too long and too tough. Here's the thing, positivity can help you through any situation in life. There is nothing that can extinguish the positive attitude you have no matter what your facing.

We were told that he had 24 hours that were critically, we'd pretty much lost hope. Yes, we cried. But then we started praying - Remove the harm, O Lord of Mankind & heal Khalid, for You are the Healer & there is no healing execept Your healing, & a healing which does not leave any disease behind. Once the 24 hrs had passed we were overjoyed that he was still among us! We are well aware that he may never speak again and may never be able to move his right side, but guess what, who cares!! We're a tough bunch no matter what happens we'll deal with it. 


Simple things like him putting the volume up on the TV give us soooooo much joy its actually bonkers! When we found out he tried updating facebook (using my young bros phone) we were ecstatic!! That's how we should live our lives...the simple pleasures are never overlooked. When you whack your leg on the table, or your arm into the door be grateful you can sense pain. Im not kidding when I say that. My cousin tried speaking the other day, I've never known what it feels like to have a broken heart, but hearing the sounds from his mouth as he attempted to speak caused me such physical pain I cannot even describe it! But once again, yea he could speak perfectly 2 weeks ago, but this is just a test of our patience and God Willing we will get through it. As long as he keeps up the positivity, that he will improve, then anything is possible! 

The point of this blog? Well, I guess I'm just trying to remind you that even though you may be healthy and able bodied as of this moment in time, your health can be taken away at any moment. Death does not ask permission before it enters your life, so make sujood to the One who created you. Give thanks and treat those close to you in way that if anything was to happen to them you would have no regrets. As a muslim I've had to deal with plenty of hatred towards me, but I really don't care. I have such a precious gem locked up within me, that InshaAllah, nothing and no-one can take away - my Islam!

Guantanamo Bay Rant #1

I just don't get how the US has got away with this atrocity!!

Haji Nasrat, 77 - Relaeased in 2006 after 3 1/2 years in Gitmo

Haji Nasrat was one of the eldest prisoners held. Partially paralyzed for more than 15 years and illiterate, Nasrat says he does not know why the Americans detained him. In his statement to American authorities Nasrat said, "When (the Americans) came to Afghanistan everybody was waiting for America to help us build our country. We were looking for you guys and we were very happy that you would come to our country. The people who hated you were very few, but you just grabbed guys like me. Look at me. Our very happiness, you changed it to (bitterness)." Bravo!! Well done America you REALLY won hearts and minds! This kind of shit really pisses me off!! HOW DARE THEY DETAINEE THIS OBVIOUSLY INNOCENT MAN! GET REAL! PARALYSED FOR 15 YEARS - YEA IM SURE HE CAN RUN AROUND SHOOTING PEOPLE!

There are men with families, INNOCENT MEN, rotting away in a place I can only imagine to be like hell on Earth! There's generous souls like Fayiz Al-Kanderi rotting away in there when there's absolutely no need, Kuwait wants him back, he CAN go home but why won't the US let him go? It 'll save them costs but no! They just want to squander the taxpayers money and go against all the principles they try so hard to force on the people of the Middle East - hypocrisy seeps through the Government, hardly suprising!

Then there are men like Ali Abdullah Ahmed, Mani al-Utaybi, Yasser al-Zahrani, Abdul Rahman Ma'ath Thafir al Amri and Mohammad Ahmed Abdullah Saleh Al Hanashi who died in the most cruel place on Earth. I can only imagine the desperation, the humiliation, the self helplessness these men felt that they felt they had to take their own lives to be at peace. May God have mercy on them.

Do I actually believe they killed themselves - maybe? I can't judge them and their situation, I'd rather believe that then the other possibility which doesn't bear thinking about.

"The government’s investigation is slipshod, and its conclusion leaves the most important questions about this tragedy unanswered. Taking the military investigation’s findings as truthful and complete, in order to have committed suicide by hanging, the detainees had to:

• Braid a noose by tearing up their sheets and/or clothing
• Make mannequins of themselves so it would appear to the guards they were asleep in their cells
• Hang sheets to block the view into the cells, in violation of SOPs
• Stuff rags down their own throats
• Tie their own feet together
• Tie their own hands together
• Hang the noose from the metal mesh of the cell wall and/or ceiling
• Climb up on to the sink, put the noose around their necks and release their weight, resulting in death by strangulation
• Hang dead for at least two hours completely unnoticed by guards"

With the above info you can come to a pretty fair conclusion that the guards must have been pretty dappy to have not noticed any of the above!

There's awesome men and women out there defending and fighting for these illegal detainees to have the rights and the freedom that we are currently blessed with . Here's a list of a VERY few:

• Lt. Col. Barry Wingard <--- Fayiz Al-Kanderi
• Dennis Edney <---- Abdullah and Omar Khadr
• Gareth Peirce <---- Tipton Three, Moazzam Begg & Richard Belmar
• Joshua Colangelo-Bryan <--- Juma Al Dossary & Abdulla Majid Al Naimi

I pray that On the Day we are Judged by the Almighty He humiliates our failed leaders, the oppressors, the tyrants, the false Kings - the ones who betrayed their oaths to serve their people and to be fair and just! I pray the victims of this obvious injustice remain patience and steadfast - May Allah keep their hearts and minds strong!

Japan

May God grant the people of Japan patience in times of such hardship. May He grant them patience and courage to get through and may He instil in the people of the world generosity and love to give to this cause.

What we've seen in Japan is absolutely devastating to say the least. But I'm going to try and put a positively spin on it because we're all aware of the heartache and horror the people of Japan are going to be feeling. Dwelling in the sadness leads to darkness, thinking of the good brings back light into even the darkest of situations.

The whole world has united for the people of the world, we've had so many natural disasters but still the generosity of the people never wanders. It's at times like this we ignore the differences and unite for one cause - the safety and protection of fellow earthlings. The Japanese have taught us a lot. Their investment in preparing for such a natural disaster shows their commitment to their people & most definitley made this far less tragic than it could have been! As much as other nations are trying to sensationalise the issues with the nuclear power plants, the Japanese government has remained calm and in control. There is no doubt that their calm demeanour is going to have a positive affect on the people, no-one wants to see their leaders/protectors frantically trying to put a positive spin on everything.

Natural disasters are one of the most scariest things to have to face. Nature has no limits. When it strikes, it strikes hard - New Orleans, Christchurch, Swat etc are all victims of nature. But its the people that can limit the impact. Donations are a great way of helping, but not just in the first week of the event - donations are needed for months, sometimes even years, to help rebuild lives.

I'm going to go slightly of topic now. What we need to learn from this is that life is incredibly short and we don't control certain aspects of it i.e. death. As much as you may eat healthily, exercise, take your daily vitamins, death can come for you when you least expect it. So prepare yourselves! Make your peace with God, let go of the grudges you hold, ask forgiveness from those you've wronged. I'd rather die knowing I have sought forgiveness - whether it's accepted is another issue - but I tried and that's what counts. If your wasting your days away on computer games or the internet then stop! Go do something that benefits someone else - even if its just writing a thank you letter to your postman!! (Yes, I have done that!) One act of kindness can be imprinted onto a person for a lifetime - although most will say so can a bad one, forgiveness helps glaze over it.

If your reading this and know what I'm saying makes sense then do something about it. Your pride/ego is probably telling you to not take the first step in calling your estranged parent/sibling, but wouldn't you rather give it a go and have a chance at a relationship (if not that, then at least forgiveness) with someone you loved or would you rather carry the bitterness for the rest of your life. Life's too short to let the ugliness of hate have a part in it.

Pakistan & Cricket

This sounds crazy to some, not to all, but winning the Cricket World Cup would help the nation.

Pakistan and cricket have always had  a love/hate relationship. We win some, we lose some (most!) but we love it no matter what. It gives the people a chance to escape their normal lives, full of sorrow and pain, and focus on something that the whole nation is anticipating. Sounds corny and totally unreal - let me explain further.

Shahid Afridi being embraced by team mates

Pakistan Cricket has some AMAZING characters - you have Afridi (The Stud), Shoaib Akhtar (The Bad Boy) and you have loads of others I cant be bothered to go on about. The average Pakistanis life is one of struggles and hardships. Food prices are soaring and the peoples worries are increasing. Their leader is a man that has no clue what he's doing. When they watch cricket, it's a chance to escape and take pride in their ailing nation. Most other cricketing nations will admit that the Pakistan Cricket Team is one that is unpredictable in the best of ways! We come back in games everyone's written us off in, and we lose games we're predicted to win. We have style, charisma and most importantly FUN on and off the pitch.We, the pakistani people, take great pride in knowing all other cricket teams respect us for the way we play our game. Finally, we have something that we can call our own. Our government does not own it, it can not interfere in it - IT IS OURS!

If we won the world cup the ENTIRE country would be united in celebrating a great achievement for the nation. The one thing they take absolute pride in, their team, would have finally put their country in the headlines with a positive story behind it, rather than all the tragedy that so often follows it.

I'm going to be honest, I was born and raised in good ol' blighty! I had no attachment to my parents country until I watched a cricket game in Year 10. The Pakistani team had character something I thought no one raised in Pakistan could have. We were on an international platform and actually respected for our game! Who'd of THUNK it! For me, it was something I could enjoy and connect with my country of origin without having to over think it or over do it.

Cricket is a gentlemen's game, there is no hooliganism unlike football. Whether your Pakistani, Indian, West Indian, Australian, South African, Kenyan etc when you play cricket your treated with equality. The best moment that sums this feeling up is when Monty Panesar (England Spinner) made his debut on the field, there were up to 7/8 English men with false beards and turbans on to show their support for him. It may seem like I'm stereotyping, but from my experiences normally that wouldn't happen.

England's James Anderson (L) and Monty Panesar (R)

I love cricket because it's truly a great sport uniting all the nations and giving those that are considered deprived or developing a chance to take pride in something home grown :) And lets be frank, Pakistan is the best team out there!! :P Teehee!!

Violated!

Have you ever had anything taken from you? I haven't but my sister did. In secondary school someone stole her phone. I was so angry that someone went through her belongings and took her property I hit a wall (yes I'm aware I'm not the smartest kid!) and my knuckles were sensitive for a good few years.

The point of this story? I'm coming to it, just bare with me.

Have you ever been mugged? Or has anything been taken without your permission but you know it'll get returned but the principle of taking without asking pissed you off to a point you lost your temper?

Now imagine this...You kiss your wife goodbye and head off to work. Your wage is hardly worth the work, but anything is better than nothing. After a tough day at work (like always) you make your way home. You know your on the right street but you can't find your home, you keep going round in circles now panicking! Where is your wife? Where is your home? You happen to see your neighbour in a surrounding area and ask "what has happened??" and he replies "they took your home and they took your wife!" How do you feel? What are you going to do?? This is the threat that looms over EVERY Palestinian, those that aren't feeling this threat are those that this has already happened to!

Well they deserve it, they're terrorist? No they're not! Imagine having your home taken, having your wife taken, who would you normally go to? The police? Palestine is an  OCCUPIED land, the courts are of those who are OCCUPYING them. So of course they're going to turn to those who offer them the justice their hearts are yurning for. Imagine finding out a soldier killed/violated your wife, your daughter or your mother! Your going to want to get justice, no matter what the cost. Therefore they turn to the "extremists".

We can't imagine the suffering they go through daily, because most of us live in a free land, where no matter what your religion, ethnicity and gender we can argue our cases and get the justice we want. They cannot! I was angry beyond belief that someone took my sisters PHONE, these peoples HOMES, JOBS, MEN AND WOMEN are being taken without any justification and without any warning!

The same has happened with over 700 men that the US army kidnapped and took to an Island they'd never heard of! Guantanamo Bay Prison is just as great a violation of human rights as is the continuous occupation of Palestinian land by the Israeli state.

The discussion of the illegality Guantanamo Bay Prison is for another blogpost :)