Some thoughts on the news, religion and life in general
Amin
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Posts by Amin
A Shakespearean tragedy, the case of Anwar al-Awlaki
Nov 12th
The murderous act of US Army Major Nidal Hasan has put the American Muslim community in the spotlight again, for all the wrong reasons. This single insane act will have repercussions far beyond US borders, Muslims in the West will now be viewed with more suspicion and a potential fifth column.
As we saw in the aftermath of 9/11, the initial horror turns to anger and then looking for people to blame. The latest bogey man of the West, the scholar of hate, happens to be Imam Anwar al-Awlaki. He fits the caricature perfectly, a dark-skinned, turbaned and long bearded Arab. Just when messages from Usama bin Ladin are becoming infrequent and obscure, up pops Anwar al-Awlaki (coincidentally also an ethnic Yemeni) to fill this void, rather convenient one might suspect? More >
Superman and the Islamic Movement
Oct 29th
Around 10 years ago, I asked Dr Tariq Ramadan for help with an essay on Nietzsche, the German philosopher. I knew he was a lecturer in philosophy, so who better to help with one of the most difficult texts (political thought) for undergraduates?
Admired by his supporters, dismissed by his critics - I can confirm and declare that Tariq Ramadan is no Übermensch (superman).
Though undoubtedly a gifted intellectual who is fluent in many languages including Arabic, English, French and German – I have no idea whether he read Nietzsche in its original German. This isn’t yet another post on Tariq Ramadan, but bear with me. More >
Racism in the name of Islam
Oct 23rd
Like many people I watched the recent BBC Panorama programme on racism, I was both shocked and appalled at the naked and violent racism that still exists in parts of the UK. Even more shocking is the racist language used by some Muslims when talking about the ‘Kuffar’. Muslims, most often the victims of racism, should really know better.
As the programme indicated, it was in response to comments by Trevor Phillips, head of Equality and Human Rights Commission, that race wasn’t an issue anymore in Britain. To be fair to him, he meant that in the ‘majority of cases’, and he further stated that British attitudes to race were far more advanced and tolerant than the other European countries. More >
A question of money
Oct 21st
A big Shalom to Judge Richard Goldstone, author of the report on Gaza war crimes, for his impartial report and courage to tell us the truth as it is. He is not a politician, war crimes are just that. According to him (and international law) war crimes must always be investigated and perpetrators prosecuted, not just when it’s politically convenient – as in Sudan.
His latest intervention is so simple it is brilliant. Finally someone prominent, and not a Muslim, has said what we all knew, all the time. Judge Goldstone’s blunt rebuttal of the Israeli stance that the report will ‘harm the peace process’ is admirable:
“It’s a shallow, utterly false allegation… What peace process are they talking about? There isn’t one. The Israeli foreign minister doesn’t want one”. More >
A thousand and one excuses – an Arabian tale
Oct 5th
Commenting on Portsmouth’s current financial troubles Harry Redknapp, its former manager, observed: “As somebody said they’ve (Portsmouth) found the only Arab who seems to be struggling for money.” He was wrong. I had the misfortune of finding the other Arab short of a bob or two. Forget a thousand and one nights, it was more a case of a thousand and one excuses.
The case of Sulaiman al-Fahim, Portsmouth’s new owner, mirrors my own recent experience with apparently rich Gulf Arabs - including a hospital episode.
Like al-Fahim, we too were spun a glamorous vision of riches, comfort and mixing with royalty. In fact, the service we provided was minimal in return for a decent reward package, including first-class travel and presidential suites at a 5 star hotel. So far so good. Unfortunately, like the Portsmouth affair that’s where the glitz and glamour ended. More >
Foreign Secretary justifies terrorism
Aug 16th
So David Miliband has finally accepted that Hamas has a legitimate right to resist occupation! I haven’t made this up, just look at what he said on BBC Radio 4. Asked whether he thought terrorism can be justified, the British Foriegn Secretary replied:
‘Yes, there are circumstances in which it is justifiable, and yes, there are circumstances in which it is effective.’ More >
