Topic Addresses
America and Muslims: Analysis of Events
Seminar on cultural dialogue to be held in Riyadh
Palestinian economy sustains great losses
Germany: Minister sees positive role for Muslims
Ifta and Research Council make recommendations
Consultative Council starts meetings in Fez
Amnesty urges help for Afghans
IINA – 01
America and Muslims: Analysis of Events
Washington, Rajab 9/Sep 26 (IINA) – The relations between the US and the Muslim world are going through a difficult and complicated phase, but there are both positive and negative ramifications. These need to be looked at from all angles, without making haste in coming up with emotional judgments that are crucial, without positive proof.
From the positive angle, one can see that America has been helping a number of Islamic countries, both economically and culturally, through the IMF and directly, in addition to its investments. It also provides protection for all the Middle Eastern countries, against their hostile neighbors. The US has also make it possible for millions to live in America, in peace, and has made it possible for millions of Muslim to get educated in some of its best universities and other institutions of higher learning.
The US is not inimical to Islam, nor is it after its destruction, because Islam has principles and beliefs that could not possible be wiped out. Furthermore, Islam, as a religion, does not threaten anyone in the US. On the contrary, the US has a lot to offer the Muslim world, particularly in the fields of technology, education, economic cooperation, medical treatment, and the like, and therefore it is more useful than harmful to the Muslim world.
On the negative side, the US’s foreign policy could be roundly criticized, particularly its blind support for Israel, its attitude and policy toward Iraq, its hasty raids on Libya and Sudan. On top of that she is the founder of extremism and violence in Afghanistan, in that it was at one time it chief financier, planner, publicist, and source of that country’s arms and ammunition.
What is noteworthy is that the American people are not responsible for their government’s policies, nor does it have any say in its foreign policy formulation. It is in the hands of a handful of people in the American Congress, interested parties, and the people themselves are not even that much interested in their country’s foreign policy. Often, the interest groups formulate policies that are not in the interests of the people, even in internal policies, such as gun laws.
Neither the US Government nor the people of American are as religious-minded as some people would like to think, particularly in the Muslim world, and that they are out to combat Islam. The majority of the people are secular-minded, and so is the government, which does not take religion into consideration when formulating its policies. The government is not related to the Church, nor is the Church connected to the state in the US.
The Muslim countries and their people are poor and in no way could confront the US, for any confrontation would definitely spell doom for the former, and this is what the extremist among Muslims are trying to embroil their countries in. The only rational way of dealing with the US, as far as the Muslims are concerned, is the peaceful and convincing way, and the through economic relations and media utilization. But certainly not through terrorism and killing, whose only outcome would be harmful to the Muslims.
On the other hand, the US must try to understand the feelings and sensitivities of the Muslims and adopt fair policies toward their issues and causes. It should not only adopt a positive attitude toward Muslims, but should also change its old policies that have been the cause of so much hatred and negative attitude toward it in the Muslim world.
As for mobilizing its forces and issuing threats, this is a natural reaction for any state, even a Muslim one, if it was in America’s place and over 6,000 of its people had been killed in cold blood, in a matter of less than an hour. This is mainly in order to appease the people, and to demonstrate that the government is performing its duty.
America has not at any time threatened the Muslim world with strikes. All it said was that it is going after the Al-Qaeda organization, an organization that is credited with a number of terrorist activities against the US, as well as the extremists who work against that country and its interests.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Muslim scholars have all called upon the US to exercise restraint and act with wisdom, in retaliating, after ascertaining who the perpetrators of the latest acts of terrorism against it were. They have advised the US to punish only the culprits and not include the people who are innocent, as provided by international law and legality.
At this point in time, a lot is being said, publicized and bandied about, most of it far removed from reality and rationality. This could only lead the simple-minded to take actions that are inimical to their own interests, and as such people should keep their distance from such exhortations.
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IINA – 02
Seminar on cultural dialogue to be held in Riyadh
Riyadh, Rajab 9/Sep 26 (IINA) – A seminar on “Islamic and Dialogue of Civilizations” is to be held here on November 3 – 7, under the auspices of the Saudi Crown Prince, Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who is also Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard. The seminar will be organized by the King Abdul Aziz Library here.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Tuweijry, the Patron of the library, who is also the Deputy Commander of the Saudi National Guard has said that any dialogue must be based on mutual respect between those who are participating in it.
He pointed out that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is doing its best to affirm the human moral values, and to respect the customs and traditions of other nations. He said the different civilizations and cultures are a heritage for humanity as a whole, and are instruments for strengthening world peace, bring about understanding, and cooperation between nations.
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IINA – 03
Palestinian economy sustains great losses
Amman, Rajab 9/Sep 26 (IINA) – A report from the Palestine Section of Jordan’s Prime Ministry indicates that the Palestinian economy is sustaining losses at the rate of US$ 15 million a day, that is around 50 percent of the daily Gross Domestic Product, all because of the siege laid by Israel on the Palestinian people.
Export has come to a halt, according to a report from the Khan Yunis Chamber of Commerce, and this has affected all other sectors of the economy in Palestine.
The industrial sector has registered a perceptible recession, and the total losses to the sector of US$ five million.
The agricultural and tourism sectors have also been adversely affected by the closure, and the latter sector was additionally affected by the destruction of shoreline in Khan Yunis, and the torching of dozens of restaurants and residential cabins by the Israelis.
The construction industry is also a victim and this is reflected in the large number of this sector’s workers who have been laid off or suspended, despite the fact that numerous homes had been destroyed by the Israelis and need repair and reconstruction.
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IINA – 04
Germany: Minister sees positive role for Muslims
Berlin, Rajab 9/Sep 26 (IINA) – Germany’s Minister of the Interior has advised against religious bias, and affirmed that the majority of Muslim citizens in the country are law-abiding and are not affiliated to any terrorist organization.
The minister said that all the country’s citizens are equal before the law, and that Muslims have a positive role to play in the German renaissance.
Minister Schiller insisted that all Islamic organizations in the country should be involved in revealing any extremist group or groups operating in the country, adding that this was a national duty of every citizen of Germany.
This statement on the part of the minister came in the wake of the explosions in the US, one of the results of which is that Muslims in the country have come up for vilification, despite the fact that many a Muslim country has condemned those actions.
The Islamic Center in Germany had also issued its own statement condemning the explosions, but they fear that the Muslims of Germany might be in for a rough time is still there, and signs of Muslim and Islam hatred had already appeared in the society.
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IINA – 05
Ifta and Research Council make recommendations
Valencia, Spain, Rajab 9/Sep 26 (IINA) – The Ifta and Research Council of Europe, meeting under the chairmanship of Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi, has advised Muslims in Europe to respect the sanctity of the lives and possessions of the non-Muslims in those countries, and respect their laws. If it had not been for this, the Muslims would not have been allowed to live in those countries or enjoy the peace and security that is prevailing in them. The Muslims have also been advised to spend what is rightfully theirs and earned by them, instead of cheating in obtaining social security payments.
The Council also recommended that Muslims should give a positive picture of Islam in the countries in which they live, and should also set up insurance corporations that are free of usury. It has also been recommended that they make every possible endeavor to obtain recognition from the governments of the countries in which they live.
The Council also recommended that Muslims should do away with the differences among themselves, and also from extremism, saying that it has tarnished the name of Islam and negatively affected the Muslims.
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IINA – 06
Consultative Council starts meetings in Fez
Fez, Morocco, Rajab 9/Sep 26 (IINA) – The Consultative Council for the Implementation of Strategy for Improving Science and Technology in Islamic Countries has started its first meeting here under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdul Aziz Othman Al-Tuweijry, Director-General of the Rabat-based Islamic Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and Dr. Naguib Al-Zirwaly, Morocco’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The Council consists of members from nine Islamic countries that are members of the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), namely Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Gabon, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco, and Uganda, in addition the ISESCO and COMESTEC representatives.
The meeting ended Wednesday by adopting the Council’s Rules of Procedure, and endorsing several scientific programs. It also elected its officials.
The Consultative
Council is an advisory body for Member States for the implementation of the
Strategy for the Development of Science and Technology as well as programs of
critical importance such as building scientific and technological capability of
Member States to attain economic and social development, in addition to the
study of issues and proposals on the promotion of science and technology in
accordance with the Strategy's implementation mechanisms.
The Consultative Council is also specialized in the study of priority development projects to be submitted by Member States for consideration and cost estimation, as well us for exploring ways of appropriate funding mechanisms.
Similarly, the Council oversees the implementation of projects agreed upon in co-ordination and consultation with the General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and COMSTECH.
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IINA – 07
Jeddah, Rajab 9/Sep 26 (IINA) – The Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has decided to advance a loan of US$9,000,000 to Mali, to be used for improving medical facilities in that country. Nine medical centers will be equipped in various parts of the country, with the IDB contributing 88 percent of the total cost. The loan is repayable within 20 years, with a grace period of seven years.
So far the IDB has loaned Mali a total of US$120 million, in financing not less than 45 development projects in education, health, water, roads, and fuel storage facilities.
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IINA – 08
Amnesty urges help for Afghans
London, Rajab 9/Sep 26 (IINA) – Amnesty International (AI) has called upon the international community to extend food relief aid to the Afghan refugees, to avoid a famine and diseases, which appears to be imminent in the next few weeks.
Hundreds of thousands of refugees have converged on the border areas of Afghanistan, fleeing from the war that is going on between the various Afghan factions, according to a statement issued by the AI.
The statement added that the available food reserves are adequate to meet the needs of the next two – three weeks only.
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