(cc) powtac/flickr As Saudis react to jihadists using the internet to recruit and coordinate, the West is at a standstill on the information superhighway, Peter A Buxbaum writes for ISN Security Watch. By Peter Buxbaum in Washington, DC for ISN Security Watch Radical Islamic groups are increasingly recruiting operatives over the internet, as illustrated by several recent examples. US Army Major Nidal Hasan – the accused in the November shootings in Fort Hood, Texas – used email to coordinate with the radical Yemen-based American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. Five young American Muslims arrested in Pakistan last month and accused of seeking … Continue reading Countering the Internet Jihad

It seems that the movement for Mosque reform is gathering pace. Tablighi Jamaat have been forced to drop plans to build the Mega Mosque, due to a combination of unconnected opposition, including a virulent, hostile reception from Islamophobes and those who have been taught to fear Islam and Muslims, a genuine community opposition from non-Tabligui Jamaat Muslims and to top it all a heavy-handed, impervious, dysfunctional ‘like it or lump it’ attitude from the Mega Mosque committee towards all who had real concerns about the style and content of the project. MPACUK always opposed the Mega Mosque committee until it … Continue reading Tabligui Jamaat ‘Mega’ Humiliated in Climb Down

By Mansoor Raza Pakistani Christians protest extra-judicial killings prompted by accusations of blasphemy. – File photo It is widely believed that the draconian Blasphemy Law is used for the miscarriage of justice; it is exploited ruthlessly by fanatics to settle scores with rivals and by religio-political parties to gain political leverage over administrative apparatuses. In Jawaid Ghamdi’s book, The Penal Shariah of Islam, Ghamdi maintains that capital punishment can only be given to a person who has killed someone, or to someone who is guilty of spreading disorder in society. With reasonable certainty, during a seminar organised by People’s Resistance … Continue reading The unholy law to appease Mullahs and shame Muslims

Dr. Aafia told the court that she is being misrepresented by the prosecutor’s statement, that only negative thoughts are being portrayed. –Photo by AP KARACHI: The trial of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has taken a bizarre turn when a witness’s testimony came out to be different from the one given by American official Captain Schnieder, reports DawnNews. Furthermore, an FBI agent testified that they did not find Dr. Aafia’s finger-prints on the rifle. The US federal court in Manhattan heard Aafia Siddiqui and 5 other witnesses. Dr. Aafia told the court that she is being misrepresented by the prosecutor’s statement regarding … Continue reading Witnesses’ accounts differ at Dr. Aafia’s trial

// Attractive women are more likely to be right-wing, say scientists. New research proves that, like men with greater upper-body strength, women who consider themselves good-looking tend to favour law-and-order policies and the use of force to settle international conflicts. Presumably this explains Sarah Palin. Such a presentation of scientific findings is, needless to say, over-simplified to the point of absurdity. It is, however, one observation that could validly be drawn from a paper published last August by researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, which bore the less-than-enticing title Formidability and the logic of human anger. You can … Continue reading Angry blondes and bad science

In a little-noticed press release on Wednesday, the Department for Communities and Local Government announced a group of 13 “inter-faith” advisers to act as its “sounding board” on all things faith. The statement expresses the hope that the lucky thirteen will “will enhance ministerial understanding of, and engagement, with faith communities nationally.” // The Secretary of State, John Denham, claims that the panel “brings together an unprecedented wealth of knowledge and experience that will help advise on the big issues facing society such as the economy, parenting, achieving social justice and tackling climate change….We should continually seek ways of supporting … Continue reading British Government and its ‘God Squad’

Wakkas Khan’s off-message past Riazat Butt guardian.co.uk, Wakkas Khan is one of 13 unpaid advisers who will, according to Communities and Local Government (CLG), help improve the relationship between faith communities and the state as well as assessing the impact of certain policies on these groups. While the very concept of a “faith panel” has offended the National Secular Society – which describes the new body as an insult to non-religious Britons – Khan’s appointment has caused the most alarm because of his background. It is not his contributions to Comment is free that have upset some parts of the … Continue reading The background of a new government ‘faith adviser’ has raised eyebrows. Does it matter, if all he’s going to produce is hot air?

Imran Khan: from playboy to politician By Danae Brook ‘My mission is to cure my country of endemic corruption’ Photo: PHILIP HOLLIS I drive to meet Imran Khan through the white silence of Richmond Park in the snow. Deer loom out of the dusk, antlers like reindeer. “I love nature,” says Khan when we meet. “I am an outdoors man. I love coming here because I can play outside with my children.” On the day we meet, Khan has just stepped off the plane from Islamabad, and his sons, Sulemain, 13, and Kasim, 10, have been playing in the park. … Continue reading Imran Khan has offered to broker a deal between the Pakistani Taliban and his government.

Muslim police officers have rebelled openly against the Government’s anti-terrorism strategy, warning that it is an “affront to British values” which threatens to trigger ethnic unrest. By By Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor TELEGRAPH Published: 10:32PM GMT 20 Jan 2010 Photo: JOHN TAYLOR The National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) claimed that ministers were wrong to blame Islam for being the “driver” behind recent terrorist attacks. Far-Right extremists were a more dangerous threat to national security, it said. The officers told MPs that Muslims were being “stigmatised” by the Government’s attempts to tackle terrorism, which was adding to “hatred” against … Continue reading Muslim police say Islam not to blame for terror attacks

// // // // // // <!– Remove following to not show photographer information –> (Channel 4) <!– Remove following to not show image description –> Ambreen Sadiq <!– Remove following to not show enlarge option –> <!– –> // Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent // the times <!– –> Few girls, let alone Muslim girls, can expect to be encouraged to pick up a pair of boxing gloves and go out fighting. But Ambreen Sadiq, a 15-year-old schoolgirl from Bradford, has overcome opposition in her community to win her latest fight and aim for the 2016 Olympics. Hailed tonight as … Continue reading Ambreen Sadiq, British Muslim girl boxer, aims to combat prejudice to succeed in the ring