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Appeal to the Media: Stop Promoting Hate Preachers

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This is an appeal to the media, if you want to be taken seriously, stop giving hate preachers unnecessary publicity, that only fuels their hateful agendas.

Why is it that this “man”, who represents no one but his sadistic cult, is so often called upon to be interviewed by the BBC and other media channels, whenever they want a Muslim spokesperson? Is it any wonder some misguided individuals indulge in conspiracy theories about the media, when this is how it behaves?

Giving hate preachers free publicity through the mainstream media only fuels their callous agendas. By doing so, media channels are themselves contributing to the crimes of such cowards against society and our Human Family.

Paul Salahuddin Armstrong

Co-Director, The Association of British Muslims
Director, Khilafah Online Ltd

Hate preacher's definition of a nice guy

My Fellow American

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Take the pledge now http://www.myfellowamerican.us

The climate of suspicion towards American Muslims compromises the great values the United States of America was founded upon.

Take the pledge http://www.myfellowamerican.us

Follow on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MyFellowAmericanProject

Follow on Twitter http://twitter.com/usmuslimstories

Reprieve | Pakistan Police Torture Project

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When a YouTube video emerged last summer showing Pakistani policemen taking turns to beat prisoners in their custody, it sparked a surge of anger among Pakistanis around the world. In the weeks following, a notable pessimism set in as bloggers and commentators mused on the inevitability of police abuse in Pakistan.  But for those working towards a fairer Pakistani justice system, including my team at legal action charity Reprieve, these are exciting times — with plenty of reasons for hope.

YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are enabling citizens and police alike to communicate and disseminate information like never before, even with limited resources. This means cases of police abuse are better disseminated, increasing debate around an issue that many were previously too scared to raise. Yet there are also many positive stories to be told about the police– real-life day-to-day anecdotes that encourage citizens to trust officers more, and inspire police to be the best they can be.

Positive stories are important because, despite their reputation, many members of the Pakistan Police Force are hard-working, trustworthy pillars of society – the embodiment of the childhood career ambitions of so many. This is despite numerous inadequacies in their employment, notably the low level of financial reward that comes with such responsibility.

Of course there are exceptions. Some corrupt officers demand bribes and abuse those in their custody, and it is these stories that may now be taking permanent residence in many people’s minds.  The recently published report by the Asian Human Rights Commission on the incarceration and subsequent torture of Ruby Masih in August 2010 is available to all at www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2010/3595. Following police occupation of her Karachi home, Ruby filed a First Incident Report against those police responsible, which led to her being arrested, allegedly gang raped and held incommunicado for 50 days. It has also emerged that 50 year-old father-of-five Akbar Khan was apparently beaten to death by police in Harbanspura Precinct in February 2010, after allegedly being found to possess a small amount of hashish.

These incidents are crimes committed by corrupt officers and should be treated as such. Yet the fact that they are increasingly emerging into the public domain is the crucial first step. While all police forces struggle to control officers who would abuse their power, it is the persistent cover-ups which have roused so much resentment in Pakistan. And for this, sunlight is the best disinfectant. We’ve seen how the media attention surrounding the Sialkot killings generated debate, demonstrations and much-needed criticism of the officers involved; the police were subsequently disciplined.

That’s why we at Reprieve’s Pakistan Police Torture Project are trying to shine a light on the Pakistan Police Force, for better or for worse. Based in Birmingham in the UK, we are collecting witness statements of both British Pakistanis and Pakistani nationals who have passed through police stations and prisons across Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. With lawyers in the UK and Islamabad, and experience representing those held in Guantanamo Bay, Reprieve is well-placed to assist those who have suffered at the hands of authority. We have helped release many prisoners, including Moazzam Begg and Binyam Mohamed, and taken important confidential testimony about the so-called ‘War on Terror’ from countless more. Personal stories about encounters with the police, both positive and negative, help us to assist prisoners in seemingly hopeless situations.

With your help we can assist people like Ruby, Akbar and the families of those poor boys murdered in the summer of 2010 in Sialkot, and eventually restore trust and transparency in the police force in Pakistan  Help us to create pride in a country where so many positive stories still remain to be told.

Our ultimate aim is to have torture abolished and restore trust in the Pakistan Police Force, thereby making life easier for all Pakistanis, British or otherwise. If you too want this, please contact us or visit www.reprieve.org.uk/pakistanpolicetortureproject.

 

Japanese Red Cross Society | Japan/Earthquake Donation

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We heartily appreciate your kind offer of support.

If you want to donate money to those affected by the earthquake and tsunami, please contact your national Red Cross/Red Crescent society, which may have already launched a fundraising campaign within your country.

If you wish to send your donations directly to the Japanese Red Cross Society, you can donate online, or direct your funds to the following bank accounts. All funds received under this account will be transferred to the Distribution Committee, which is formed around the local governments of the disaster-affected prefectures. These funds will be distributed directly among the affected population. We are currently requesting the government to establish the Distribution Committee as soon as possible.

Donate online via PayPal
PayPal is the online system that securely processes donations for the Japanese Red Cross Society.
You can complete your payment with just a few clicks, here.

Donation Bank Account 1
Name of Bank: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Name of Branch: Ginza
Account No.: 8047670 (Ordinary Account)
SWIFT Code: SMBC JP JT
Payee Name: The Japanese Red Cross Society
Payee Address: 1-1-3 Shiba-Daimon Minato-ku, Tokyo JAPAN

Donation Bank Account 2
Name of Bank: The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
Name of Branch: Tokyo Government and Public Institutions Business Office
Account No.:0028706(Ordinary Account)
SWIFT Code: BOTKJPJT
Payee Name: The Japanese Red Cross Society
Payee Address: 1-1-3 Shiba-Daimon Minato-ku, Tokyo JAPAN

Thank you once again for your generous offer. It is surely the source of encouragement for the affected population in Japan.

For our operation updates, please have a look at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies site. here

*Tax exemption
We are not in the position to confirm the details of tax exemptions in your country as each country would have different tax regimes. We hope you ask with your local Red Cross/Crescent society including matters such as eligibility to tax deductibles for donations in your country.

*Receipts
For corporate donors: We can issue receipts if required. We would appreciate if you could designate an intermediary entity such as a Japanese subsidiary and have this entity request a receipt to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

For individual donors: Please state your (entity) name, address, telephone number, payment date, amount of donation (currency and amount), the name of your bank (financial institution) and the name of the beneficiary bank (The Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation or The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ) and send details to Fundrasing department at gienkin@jrc.or.jp .

Islamic Relief: Japan Tsunami Appeal

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People are being urged to help Islamic Relief get much-needed aid to the people of Japan, as the country struggles in the aftermath of an earthquake, tsunami, and a growing nuclear crisis.

The full scale of the disaster is now starting to emerge, following a devastating tsunami which swept the north-east of Japan after a massive earthquake struck just off the coast. The tidal waters swept away homes, livelihoods and infrastructure, and a nuclear emergency has been declared with explosions at least one power station. More than 200,000 people have been evacuated from the area, and 300,000 people had to flee their homes across the country.

At least 16,000 people are thought to have died in disaster. It is expected that the confirmed numbers of fatalities and casualties will rise as the waters recede, with local police warning that the death-toll in the Miyagi prefecture alone could top 10,000.

Islamic Relief’s emergency teams are on standby to deploy to Japan and we’re also preparing to channel aid through partner agencies on the ground. Please support our efforts to help the people of Japan.

New Zealand Red Cross – Earthquake Appeal

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A devastating earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand on 22 February 2011, killing around 100 people and injuring around 2,500.

There is widespread destruction, including collapsed buildings in the centre of the city and damage to roads and bridges. The mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, has declared a state of emergency and aid is being co-ordinated by the National Crisis Management Centre.

The New Zealand Red Cross responded immediately, sending eight emergency response teams to conduct search and rescue and provide first aid.

Around 2,000 people have been displaced and Red Cross teams are helping set up welfare centres and distributing blankets, water containers and tents to affected families.

In conjunction with the New Zealand Police and Ministry of Civil Defence, the Red Cross has established a missing persons call centre. It has received more than 400 international requests to help restore family links.

Funds raised will be used towards the New Zealand Red Cross response to the disaster, including transport and provision of goods.

Please give what you can today to support the relief effort.

URGENT NEWS RELEASE: Iran to execute 19-year-old man on false charge of sodomy – LATEST PRESS RELEASE

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Help us save Ehsan’s life – See sample letter below

London – 11 January 2011

A 19-year-old Iranian man is facing imminent execution on charges of attempting to rape another man (sodomy or lavat), even though the allegation was withdrawn by the accuser. There is no evidence that the accused youth is gay.

Ehsan was 17-years-old when he was arrested in late 2008 in Shiraz, in the province of Fars, after a man pressed charges against him and two other youths, alleging that they attempted to rape him.

Under torture that may have lasted over a month, only Ehsan, who is the youngest of the three accused, confessed to the charges. The Fourth Branch of the Criminal Court of Fars province, in Shiraz, found him guilty of lavat and sentenced him to hang. Ehsan has since withdrawn his ‘confession’, saying that it was extracted under torture.”

The execution of Ehsan is opposed by a coalition of Muslim organisations from across the world: the Association of British Muslims (AOBM), Faith Matters, Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), USA and Canada, Canadian Muslim Union (CMB), Members of The Royal Order of Noor of Buayan, Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) and el-Tawhid Juma Circle.

“We appeal to the Supreme Leader and Chief Justice of Iran to show mercy by revoking the death sentence and releasing Ehsan. The evidence against Ehsan is weak. The accuser has withdrawn his allegations. It is unIslamic to sentence a person without 100% proof of guilt,” said Paul Salahuddin Armstrong, Co-Director of the Association of British Muslims.

Under Articles 108 to 113 of the Iranian penal code, lavat is proved either if a person confesses four times to having committed sodomy or by the testimony of four righteous men. Neither of these legal conditions have been met. Ehsan confessed only once and under torture. Four righteous men have not testified that they saw him commit sodomy.

Ehsan denied the charges in court in front of the judges. He mentioned that his confession was made under torture.

Furthermore, the alleged victim dropped all charges against all three boys before the trial. One out of the five judges pronounced him not guilty and asked for his immediate release. It appears that the four remaining judges used the clause “judge’s special knowledge”, or allowed the forced confession as sufficient to convict the boy to death.  Either way, it seems the trial was grossly flawed.

Ehsan was detained when he was 17, a adolescent, and kept in a juvenile detention centre up until a month ago. Since his execution order was approved by the Supreme Court (Branch Thirteen) he was transferred to Aadel Abaad Jail in Shiraz, where is awaiting execution, which could happen any day now.

Saghi Ghahraman, chair of the Iranian Queer Organisation (IRQO), told the Human Rights and Press Director of the Association Of British Muslims (AOBM), Dan Littauer:

“We should urgently ask the Iranian judicial system to show sympathy to a mere minor who has been falsely accused. Either forgive and release him or have another trial and investigate the evidence more thoroughly.”

“Ehsan’s family is terrified of government and security service reprisals if their family name appears in the media, and so is Ehsan’s lawyer. This is why we are not releasing Ehsan’s full name or the name of his lawyer,” said Ms Ghahraman.

“As has happened in several cases in the past, you don’t need to be gay or lesbian in Iran to be in danger of execution for homosexuality – a simple, unfounded accusation can be enough to see you sentenced to death,” added Dan Littauer, Human Rights and Press Director of AOBM.

The Muslim coalition oppose Ehsan’s execution on religious grounds, arguing that the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) was known as Rahmatulil Alimeen – Mercy unto all the Worlds. Surely, it’s better to follow the example of the Prophet and be merciful…

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, “…if anyone slays a human being unless it be [in punishment] for murder or for spreading corruption on earth – it shall be as though he had slain all mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind…” 5:32 (M. Asad)

This verse highlights the high priority Allah places on the sanctity of human life. Unless there is no doubt whatsoever of a person’s guilt of a very serious crime, no one is granted permission by Allah to take a human life.

In Ehsan’s case, the evidence is extremely tenuous. The Holy Qur’an strongly highlights the importance of justice and being merciful, as did Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib when he said,“God’s verdict is judicious and full of wisdom. His pleasure implies protection and mercy. He decides with knowledge and forgives with forbearance.”. (Sermon 159, Nahjul Balagha)

“And when those who believe in Our messages come unto thee, say: ‘Peace be upon you. Your Sustainer has willed upon Himself the law of grace and mercy – so that if any of you does a bad deed out of ignorance, and thereafter repents and lives righteously, He shall be [found] much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.’” Holy Qur’an 6:54 (M. Asad)

Further information: Dan Littauer, Human Rights and Press Director of the Association of British Muslims, press@aobm.org +44 207 193 3125  Skype: aobritishmuslims

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Please Donate to Australian flood relief appeal

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The Queensland Government has launched an appeal to help fellow Queenslanders affected by the recent floods. Many communities have been devastated. Some families have lost everything. You can help make a difference by donating to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.

Floods head towards Australia’s Brisbane, many evacuate:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BU09620110111

At this time, the Queensland Government is inviting financial donations only. Unfortunately this appeal cannot accept donations of goods or services.

Donations can be made to the Premier’s Disaster relief appeal using this secure payment form.

For more information on ways to donate, please visit:
http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html