As the Swiss prepared to ban new minaret construction and as Americans chowed down on turkey and stuffing, we headed to Geneva and boarded an early morning EasyJet flight to Marrakech (Marrakesh, مراكش), an old trading center in central Morocco.

▲ Four days later, we returned home with painfully sore throats to Bern’s first significant snowfall of the year. The weather in Marrakech was somewhat better — daytime temperatures in the 70s and abundant blue sky.

▲ The old quarter of Marrakech, “the Red City,” is renowned for its souq (market), irritating “merchants,” and labyrinthine passageways, which double as interstate highways for insane moped and motorcycle riders who have a complete disregard for human life. Here, the main gate of the tiny street leading to our riad (رياض‎), a cozy bed-and-breakfast with an open central garden.

▲ View from the roof of our riad towards the 12th-century minaret of the Koutoubia mosque (جامع الكتبية). The loudspeakers on this particular minaret were particularly numerous and well placed. The daily 4:30am call to prayer was impossible to miss (i.e., sleep through).

▲ The distinctive chimney of the riad’s hammam (steam bath).

▲ View from our room into the riad’s garden.

▲ One of the resident cats sleeping on the couch outside our room’s “door.”

▲ Breakfast guest.

▲ Our first meal in Marrakech: a plate of Morocco’s famous couscous. Not quite mom’s Thanksgiving dumplings…

▲ One of our favorite things about Morocco: tea spiked with fresh mint and a kilo of sugar.

▲ Settled into the riad, food in our bellies, and desperately trying to pry ourselves out of a sugar coma, it was time to explore Marrakech… and to steer clear of the hordes of European and American tourists. Before heading off, we studied the tourist map given to us by our riad hosts. When we checked out several days later, we discovered an optional/mandatory €1.50 map fee. It was, sadly, indicative of our experience…

Minarets (Turkish: minare,^[1] from Arabic manāra (lighthouse) منارة, usually مئذنة) are distinctive architectural features of Islamic mosques. Minarets are generally tall spires with onion-shaped or conical crowns, usually either free-standing or taller than any associated support structure, states a source from Wikipedia …http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minaret

The main function of the minaret is to provide a vantage point from which the call to prayer (adhan) is made. Call to prayer in Islam happens five times each day, and is a very important ritual required of all who practice Islam.

Voters in Switzerland chose to take a step in the direction of Nazi Germany, and collectively decided to restrict and to persecute Islam and the religious practices required by those who are Islamic.

The BBC is reporting from Geneva,Switzerland that in a vote that displayed a widespread anxiety about Islam and undermined the country’s reputation for religious tolerance, the Swiss on Sunday overwhelmingly imposed a national ban on the construction of minarets, the prayer towers of mosques, in a referendum drawn up by the far right and opposed by the government.

Swiss voters’ clear decision on Sunday to ban the construction of minarets has generated a wide range of emotions,supporters of the initiative said the Swiss electorate wanted to put a brake on the Islamization of their country, whereas opponents were concerned about the violation of rights, not to mention an international backlash and possible boycott of Swiss products.

Amnesty International has expressed deep regret over the Swiss voters’ approval of a ban on minarets, calling it a violation of religious freedom for Muslims.

“The ‘yes’ vote comes as a surprise and a great disappointment,” David Diaz-Jogeix, Amnesty International’s deputy program director for Europe and Central Asia, said on Monday.

The Swiss Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but the rightist Swiss People’s Party, or S.V.P., and a small religious party had proposed inserting a single sentence banning the construction of minarets, leading to the referendum.

The Swiss government said it would respect the vote and sought to reassure the Muslim population — mostly immigrants from other parts of Europe, like Kosovo and Turkey — that the minaret ban was “not a rejection of the Muslim community, religion or culture.”

The president of the People’s Party, Toni Brunner, said voters had clearly rejected the idea of parallel societies and the further expansion of Islam – including radical, political Islam – in Switzerland.

Saida Keller-Messahli, president of the Forum for an Advanced Islam, said the public’s fears had been too great and “hatred had won over reason”.

She said there would now be legal consequences, since the ban violated the freedom of religion.

The Federation of Islamic Organisations in Switzerland also regretted the result, saying the propaganda of the campaign supporters had succeeded in frightening the majority of voters.

The federation said it was too soon to judge the negative social and legal consequences – what was important now was to strengthen their public relations and clear up any misunderstandings or prejudices concerning Islam.

“Switzerland is heading straight for a battle with Islam,” he said, adding that he feared a boycott of Swiss products.

The ban on minarets’ violates the right of Muslims to manifest their religion in Switzerland, and is incompatible with the international conventions signed by the European country.

It is to note that this is similar to the way that Nazi Germany, under the rule of Hitler, was able to gradually assert their main agenda, which was to exterminate the Jewish religion and all those who practice it.

It appears as though the Islamic citizens of Switzerland need to prepare for similar treatment, and mounting restrictions on the practice of their religion.

Swiss Ban Minarets,and restrict the practice of Islam

 Let’s never have this disgrace ever happen in the United States of America….Shame on Switzerland.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/world/europe/30swiss.html

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=112489&sectionid=351020606

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/29/swiss-ban-minarets-in-sur_n_373172.html

At a time of legends, myths, ignorance and idolatry, and in an era when people were fighting for many years for camels!! In an age, girl was buried alive in the soil have no guilt but been a female! At a time when a man buys a God made of dates, if hungry eat!! In these circumstances ,the Prophet of Mercy peace be upon him, had came with the light, the guidance and the right, He came to change the world until the Day of Resurrection.

But that prophet was not normal human beings, he was a messenger prophet ,supported by Almighty God, the God who created this universe, created all things and knows everything.

God willing, the message of Islam spread all over the world, and therefore the merciful prophet must be supported by the miracles, but what are they?

Allah supported him with great Metaphysical miracles, he was to tell the events will take place after hundreds of years, at a time, no one expected such things. Indeed, the Prophet at that time was not a full-time for such subjects, he who holds the nation they are invited, and has a very difficult task to convince the infidels to change their corrupt ideology, miracles were supported Muhammad everywhere.

The moon has been cleft asunder by Allah as a miracle for Muhammad, and be with him on his enemies, even the enemies of Islam have turned to faith and were soldiers loyal to the prophet, like him and he was their commander. Thus, if we take for granted that this prophet was not true and he wants fame, power and money, why should he involve himself in talking about things metaphysical will happen after his death? But what are the benefits of these prophecies if it were not true?

Therefore, such things are a tangible demonstration for our time proves the sincerity of the message of the final prophet, and that he is the prophet of God Almighty.

And now, my lovers let’s ponder the words of the prophet of mercy peace be upon him, and know how it match hundred percent with the reality in which we live today:

The emergence of strife( sedition),lying, and convergence time

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah peace be upon him: (The Hour will not come until the strife been very common, do a lot of lying, converging markets and converging time) [Narrated by Imam Ahmad].

This Hadith tells the reality in which we live these days, there are so many temptations, and many lies, and numerous markets, and convergence time as they become digital communications provide us with information and convey to us the picture from far away to know what is happening now.

Reference to the global economy

He said peace be upon him speaking about the signs of the Hour: “among conditions of the Hour: increased money and increased trade” [narrated by Al-Nesaii], and in the second novel: ” women are sharing trade with her husband” [Narrated by Ahmad]. The trade has become the backbone of today’s global economy, and this was not known during the time of the Prophet peace be upon him, where agriculture was the most prevalent.

And think with me how it became the share of women in the media, factories, teaching political and commercial.

There are women organizations of Business and other things that were not known time of the Prophet peace be upon him.

New ways to ride

Ibn Umar said that the prophet peace be upon him said: “be in the last decades men are riding “mayaathir” (new luxury means of transportations) to the doors of the mosques, their wives are clothed yet naked, their heads alike camel’s hump, put curse upon them ,sure they are cursed by God. It was said, O Messenger of Allah, will horses not be used then? Said: never ride for war” [Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan, and Ibn Majah].

Look at how the Prophet spoke peace be upon him by the new means of transport is not known in his time, which mayaathir, and can say that they are cars that have spread, while a horse become for fun and well-being only.

Look at how predicted by the Prophet peace be upon him that these horses will never be used in war, (not riding for a war at all), this indicates to the invention of new tools such as planes, tanks and nuclear weapons and laser … Who told him peace be upon him in all this?

A reference to the skyscrapers

Abu Hurayrah may Allah be pleased with him said that the Prophet peace be upon him said to Jibreel, when asked about the time:” but I’ll tell you about portents of them stated (when shepherds  boasting establish high buildings” [Bukhari and Muslim]. Today we see people rushing to build high-rise towers, and boast about it, and this is a miracle truly experiencing the greatest prophet. Because no one could not predict that 14 centuries ago.

Ignorance, murder and money

Say peace be upon him: “The Hour will not come until knowledge caught , earthquakes frequently occur ,time converge, plenty strife ,disorder, frequently murder and money be great and surplus” [Bukhari].

There are several miracles in this Hadith:

1 – Knowledge be caught: If ponder ‘fatawa’ nowadays on satellite channels today we find some scholars allows dealing with interest,friendly kiss between boys and girls and smoking at Ramadan.Unfortunately, we find a lot of satellite TV rush into such scholars who have not enough knowledge!!. Not all of this evidence that real knoledge be rare and ignorance be common?

2 – frequent earthquakes: There are many scientific indications on the possibility of a large number of earthquakes, hurricanes and natural disasters such as tsunami, as a result of pollution, which will witness in the next few years,and this demonstrates the sincerity of the Prophet peace be upon him.

3 – convergence of time: through the speed of communication, speed of movement and speed of information, through mobile and satellite channels and e-mail.

4 – The advent of temptation: As we see in many Islamic countries of the sectarian and factional strife, sedition and murder and so on.

5 – Frequent murder: this is what we see on the satellite channels of wars and battles and armed conflicts between the peoples on the earth, and indicators on the rise.

6 -Surplus money: The world economy depends on money and currency exchange, banking, commerce, stock market and these things were not known the time of the greatest Prophet.

The emergence of adultery and alcohol

Say peace be upon him: “from Signs of the Hour: to show ignorance, few real religion scientists, shows adultery, drink alcohol, less men, and frequently women, so that 50 women stand for one man” [Bukhari]. If we walk today in the streets of Muslim countries, we see a lot of liquor stores, and see places of entertainment and discos spread here and there.

If you go to sea shores in non-Islamic countries there is almost devoid table of intoxicating drinks of all kinds. All of this can not be predicted by the thousand and four hundred years, but the Prophet peace be upon him says but truth.

Resurrection approaches

Says peace be upon him: “between my mission and Resurrection as between these, and he points with two adjacent fingers” [Bukhari]. Scientists estimate the age of the universe by billions of years (13.5 billion years), and human life very little compared with the age of the universe, where the prophet Mohammed sent peace be upon him 1400 years ago only, ie, if we divided the 1400 to 13,500,000,000 result is a very small proportion of up to 0.0000001 (one to ten million), so the metaphor prophetic were acute since he stick his two fingers to signify that the time of the arrival of the Day of Resurrection is very close compared with the age of the universe, and God knows best.

Signal to the computer and print

Ibn Masood may Allah be pleased with him said: The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: “before the Hour(and He mentioned some matters ,among them: he mentioned the emergence of the pen)” [Narrated by Ahmad].

Look with me into the development of writing and the use of computers in the writing, newspapers, magazines and books, even if the number of pages printed per day is estimated in millions .. Who would have imagined this at that time in Mecca, where only few men were master the writing?!

A reference to the weakness of the Muslims and left behind

:Says peace be upon him “Nations are about to fall upon you as eaters rush into their food bowl … at that time you are plenty but scum as torrent scum.”

Glorified be Allah! It is likened to an accurate and eloquent, the rhetoricians unable to describe and depict the reality of the Islamic nation today, as illustrated by our most beloved peace be upon him.

All other nations have underestimated us, and Muslims have become the most backward peoples on the earth after Allah make them honourable and powerful by Islam.

The reason for our backwardness that we shy away from the teachings of Islam, we ask Allah well-being for Muslims and to return them to their guidance and to their religion.

A reference to the amazing inventions

He said peace be upon him: “ The Hour will not until you see great things that never seen before or came to your minds.” [Narrated by Ahmad]. In another narration “if you have seen it, remember Allah, and know it is early signs of the Hour”.

Look at the new inventions such as the Internet, mobile,satellites, lethal weapons, dangerous diseases such as AIDS , mad cow disease and swine influenza … All of these things we did not heard of before!

Today, you spoke to your friend and you see through your mobile device things thousands of kilometers away from you, it is an indication of the sincerity of the Prophet peace be upon him, how he knows that strange, new and great things will appear, if he not a prophet of Allah?.

Reference to the sophistication in buildings

He said peace be upon him: (The Hour will not until people build houses,as if they are decorating their clothes” [al-Bukhari in literature singular].

Look at these houses decorated around and spent the millions on decorating and decoration ... How could an illiterate Prophet, lives in the desert of the Arabian Peninsula, know that people will spend huge amounts of money to decorate their houses?

Similar to men and women, and vice versa

He said peace be upon him: “Approaching the Hour you will find: men imitate women, and women imitate men) [Narrated by Abu Naim].

Has become a phenomenon imitation of men to women and vice versa, is rampant in the world today, even we find many countries allowed the marriage of men with men and women marry women !!… We ask Allah to save us. This was not known or even expected to occur but the Prophet told us, why? To be evidence of the sincerity of his Prophethood in this era of much mocking the Prophet of Mercy peace be upon him.

The Prophet peace be upon him said:“There will be among my Ummah who will legalize  adultery, silk, alcohol and musical instruments” [Bukhari].

To look at what is happening today in cafes, bars and places of prostitution and singing these songs, even found at houses cars and heard in the street ... Millions of tapes and CDs are sold daily and millions of concerts and dance performances and concerts of wines … We see them all this time.

This phenomenon, no one can imagine at the time of the Prophet peace be upon him, but the Prophet of mercy and peace be upon him told us it to be an evidence of his sincerity in this era.

A reference to adultery in public

The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: “I swear of Who my soul is between His Hands, this Ummah will not end before man make love to woman in the main way, and the best one of you will just say to him ,couldn’t you hide her behind that wall? [Narrated by Abu Ali].

Look at the Western States to practice the evil in the way and on Sea shores, unfortunately hardly see those who say to them: Fear God!!

We tell each arrogant atheist mocking the Prophet of mercy and peace be upon him: For God! How aware of the Holy Prophet at that time such a thing? How aware that time will become, the practice of immorality in public and legitimate right as we see today in most non-Muslim country!!, and unfortunately there are some Muslim countries imitate the West in this bad habit.

Decoration of mosques

“The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said:“The Hour will not until you see boast of people in the mosques” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad].

Look at the decorations and the money spent on the decoration of mosques, knowing that we respect it and consider it as the sacred houses of Allah, but it is not logical to find the poor do not find what they eat, and then spend millions on the decoration of the mosque, and God is not in a need for such extravagance!

Yes, the house of God should be a home for fit and comfort incorporate all the requirements of the worshipers, but there are decorations of mosques Allah did not order. The Prophet peace be upon him if he was not a messenger from Allah how did he know that this will happen after him!

Frequent earthquakes

The Messenger of Allah may peace be upon him and his family said: “The Hour will not come until frequent earthquakes happened” [Bukhari].

Scientists say there are many indications of sudden and unexpected earthquakes . For example, a country like Japan is in an area could be crack and shake at any moment and millions of people will then killed…

Our question: Did Muhammad peace be upon him study Geology and predicted this??!

Reference to the lack of the Secretariat

The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: “If the Secretariat been missed, so wait the Hour” [Bukhari].

If we went to the courts today, we see a large number of cases caused by the breaching trust, we believe the millions of cases of swindling , fraud and forgery … This was not known time of the Prophet peace be upon him. No human being at that time could predict that the Secretariat will be lost, and this proves that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

Plenty of music and “artists”

The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said:“it will be eclipsed in the last decade, bombarding and metamorphosis, a man asked the prophet: when it will be ,O Messenger of Allah? Mohammad said: “If musical instruments and artists spread out”  [Narrated by Ibn Majah], artists here are the dancers and singers.

Look with me, to the emergence and spread of music is not perceived by the mind, as well as the spread of singers in large numbers of tens of thousands, and there are unfortunately hundreds of satellite channels broadcast songs and dancers all night and day.

Sold daily in Muslim countries, only hundreds of thousands of songs and videos cd’s containing films or songs downlink rave, and such phenomena were not known time of the Prophet peace be upon him, so this is a modern miracle of Prophet Muhammad, because no one can predict that the songs will spread in this

New names for of alcohols

The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said : “A range of my Ummah will make alcohols legal for themselves, they call it by another names” [Narrated by Ahmad].

Really alcohols now have many names: beer, vodka and whiskey … And all new names were not known before, it is the Holy Prophet, who told the prophet that people will invent new names for alcohols?

Disobedience to parents

The Prophet peace be upon him on speaking about signs of the Day of Resurrection said:“if the man obeys his wife, disobey his mother, honoring his friend and estrange his father ” [Narrated by Tirmidhi.

Today at any Muslim court you will see a large number of cases for parents raised against their children cause they may disobey, beat or insult them.

Also, we find a lot of problems between the man and his mother because of his wife … Such things were not familiar in the past.

The researchers noticed growing phenomenon of disobeying parents, which is narrated by the Prophet peace be upon him,as a sign to the approach of the Day of Resurrection.

Shall we consider and get back to the Book of our Lord?

Lovers of Allah! The Prophet peace be upon him did not tell us about such things just to prove to us that he is the Messenger of Allah!! Yes, this is a big goal of these conversations to be a witness and proof of the sincerity of the message of Islam, but there are further objective is to warn and prepare for the Day of Resurrection.

The Prophet peace be upon him warns us of the approach and time that can come only suddenly, if we see such things, “musical instruments, adultery, alcohol and lying …” Should we be mindful of the approaching Day of Resurrection, and thus hasten to repent and seek forgiveness and return to the teachings of the religion that Allah may seal our fine, and be of those who Allah about them:

(Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with

God: of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some (still)

wait:  but they have never changed (their determination) in the least:) (Al-Ahzab, 23)

——————–

By: Abduldaem Al-Kaheel

www.kaheel7.com/eng

Related Post: The Role of Miracles in Islam

As I’ve not really been following this issue, I think I have more questions than answers. First question is why? What is banning minarets going to do? What is the goal? To force the Muslims already there out? To keep more Muslims from coming into the country? Because from my vantage point, which I realize isn’t a good one, it just makes the Swiss look really racist, bigoted, and close-minded, and I’ll just leave it there for now.

I’m just perplexed, but I know I shouldn’t be. I mean, what is the point? What does banning a minaret have to do with immigration, extremism, etc.? Well, as a Muslim, I won’t ever be going to Switzerland, I can tell you that. And if America did something like this, I’d probably have to start really questioning whether I wanted to stay here. Because it’s banning head scarves first, then minarets, why not just ban the religion of Islam altogether and ban Muslims from coming into the country and get it over with? But I guess minarets represent people’s ignorance and fear of the unknown, and they represent their already preconceived prejudices, and they feel like banning minarets will keep them safe at night or something, and they can use the excuse/reasoning that “we don’t dislike Muslims they are fine but minarets represent extremism or terrorism” or something. Congratulations Swiss for making yourselves look like a bunch of stupid racist people. At least to me here in America.

And I was really hoping they’d not do this, but somehow knowing they probably would. And I just feel angry and indignant, but ignorance, prejudice and racism usually has that affect on me anyway. And I kinda want to laugh, like banning a minaret is going to actually protect you from anything. Or make things better for you. All it’s going to do is make you look really ignorant and stupid. It’d all be really humorous, I feel the urge to laugh now as I’m typing this actually, if it wasn’t also so scary. What will they ban next? What measures will they take against the Muslims next? And which countries will be next to do this?

I’ll definitely remember this the next time anyone wants to tell me how open-minded Europe is. Well, perhaps if you’re talking about some countries where smoking pot and homosexuality and assisted suicide is legalized, but as far as Islam and Muslims are concerned, I don’t think I want to live in Europe. Islam and Muslims are definitely topics that the Europeans seem to be very close-minded on.

The stead fast blinkers on attitude of so called moderate and secular Muslims should own up responsibility for having allowed things to come to such a pass because of their refusal to rein in their terrorist brethren.One shudders to think of the clash of Christian world and the Muslim world, which unfortunately the current situation is heading for.
Story:
Swiss voters have supported a referendum proposal to ban the building of minarets, official results show.
More than 57% of voters from 26 cantons – or provinces – voted in favour of the ban, Swiss news agency ATS reported.
The proposal had been put forward by the Swiss People’s Party, (SVP), the largest party in parliament, which says minarets are a sign of Islamisation.
Opponents say a ban would amount to discrimination and that the ballot has stirred hatred.
The BBC’s Imogen Foulkes, in Bern, says the surprise result is very bad news for the Swiss government which had urged voters to reject a ban on minarets, fearing unrest among the Muslim community and damage to Switzerland’s relations with Islamic countries.
Switzerland is home to some 400,000 Muslims and has just four minarets.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8385069.stm

by Charles Brenner for Times Online:

After keeping invaders at bay for two centuries the Swiss are about to vote on what many see as the enemy within: their growing minority of Muslims.

On Sunday, the calm little nation at the heart of Europe will decide whether to approve a constitutional ban on building minarets, the spires that are often attached to mosques.

The issue arose when Mutalip Karaademi, a Muslim leader in the town of Langenthal, north of Berne, suggested a modest tower for the local mosque. The mayor supported what would have been only the fifth minaret in Switzerland — but it was blocked by opponents who want to halt what they see as inroads by political Islam in the world’s oldest democracy.

“They think we are animals, when we are normal people just like they are, not a threat to anyone,” said Mr Karaademi, who arrived 27 years ago from Albania. “They call us new names every day . . . terrorists and Islamists,” he told The Times.

Strong opposition to a possible ban is coming from the federal Government, churches and the business world, who fear that Switzerland’s spirit of tolerance is being sullied by the populist Swiss People’s Party (SVP). The group rode the nationalist tide under Christoph Blocher, its charismatic former leader, to become the biggest party in parliament in 2003.

“The simple fact of holding this vote is disastrous for Switzerland’s image,” said Hugues Hiltpold, a Radical MP from Geneva. “If it passes, part of what makes Switzerland Swiss will fall — its respect for minorities, its tolerance and freedom.”

Polls have shown a narrow margin opposed to the ban, with more than a third in favour and the rest undecided.

The Muslim population, mainly from Turkey and the Balkans, has grown from a few thousand to more than 400,000, 4 per cent of the population, since the 1970s. There have been no extremist incidents associated with the 150 mosques and prayer rooms, but the minaret issue is seen by many as a chance to save Switzerland from tension over immigration of the kind that has affected its neighbours.

Ulrich Schlüer, one of those who raised the requisite 100,000 signatures for the vote to take place, said: “We compare our situation to Germany, France or England — the problems they have in their suburbs. That is what we do not want.” Voters were hiding their intentions from pollsters and would approve the move, he said.

The SVP rejects the government view that a ban would breach the law on freedom of religion. It cites Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Turkey, who once called minarets “the bayonets of Islam”.

The Establishment recognises widespread disquiet over Muslims and is trying to counter scaremongering by the SVP and its right-wing evangelical allies. President Merz reassured the nation in a video broadcast on Tuesday. “Muslims should be able to practise their religion and have access to minarets in Switzerland too, but the call of the muezzin will not sound here,” he said.

The political world is worried about a worldwide Muslim backlash of the kind that hit Denmark after the affair of the Muhammad cartoons. Business leaders are also concerned — in a nation that earns £10 billion a year from Muslim countries.

Sevilla, Córdoba, Granada
25 – 27 July 2009

The Alhambra, Granada

A flight back to the mainland put me back in my element: the heat, the aesthetics and the Spanish culture is strongest in the heart of the country – Andalucía. After the overload of electro, booze and skin I was happy to see the Spanish guitar, tinto verano and … reasonable dress sense.

Sevilla was a great city. What I saw of it at least. The morning after arriving, I was immediately perched over the toilet bowl with some sort of stomach bug. I slept the morning away before deciding that I was well enough to visit the Alcazar. Ange and I walked through the sweltering heat of siesta time (honestly, the only stupid people who go out at that time are the tourists) and after maybe 15 minutes in the Alcazar, my stomach yet again revolted. Classy. Poor Ange, who had to look after my sick ass and who continued to trudge through the heat to find me some medicine! Te quiero, chica. I can sum up my first proper night in Sevilla with two words: salty Fanta. Yes, that’s what my medicine tasted like. In the meantime, Ange was off making friends and loving the nightlife, enjoying the riverside festival with spontaneous flamenco and the Spanish Michael Jackson. You should read her stories here and here.

The grand red arches in the Mezquita, Cordoba.

The next morning was MUCH better as the toilet and I were no longer intimate friends. Mingled instead with actual people and Ange and I journeyed to Córdoba with Cory and Mandi. We visited the Alcazar there with an hour to spare before they closed – my legs were in pain from rushing up and down the stairs in order to see as much as possible! Then it was time for the main attraction: the Mezquita. I wrote an essay on the religious architecture of the Mezquita last year for uni so it was amazing to witness the different spiritual decorative elements (what I could remember anyway) up close and in person. The red arches were so grand and imposing, I loved the light that managed to filter in and the calligraphy and tiles were so beautiful! It was somewhat surprising to see a cathedral smack bang in the middle of it. (I studied the architecture before the Christian invasion.) For me, that took a little bit away from how much I enjoyed the place as I find Islamic architecture more enthralling than Christian architecture. I’ve seen so many churches in my life that it’s nice to see some mosques, and the dedication to decoration and detail is amazing and everything is meaningful! Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the Mezquita, and later that afternoon we stumbled around the town in 47°C heat (forty seven degrees!!) as we looked for the Jewish quarter and then made our way back to the train station and back to Sevilla.

I believe the sun had just set at 10pm when we set out for a free flamenco show with an amazing woman who danced with so much emotion and strength. She had an amazing bod as well, ha! The clapping was so entrancing and the guitarist had crazy skill. Boys from our hostel were literally tripping over themselves to shake his hand and sing his praises. Oh, fanboys. It was also then that I realized that the flamenco isn’t just about the dancing, but the whole combination of music, clapping and dancing. The show was short so we made our way back to the riverside festival, La Velá de Santa Ana, which was being held for the last night. It didn’t live up to the intense spirit of Ange’s stories (apparently the Spanish Michael Jackson accidentally whacked a kid in the head with his passionate dancing) but it was still fun. There were lots of bars and some dancing (spotted Spanish MJ for myself!) and great conversation with people from the hostel. One of the best hostel experiences of my travels!

The next day we were on our way to Granada but we realized a few days ago that we might not have enough time to see the Alhambra properly! We would arrive late in the afternoon and then we’d be leaving early the next day. Attempting to change our bus online and then on the phone was fruitless and by the time we reached the bus station, they were unable to get us on the earlier bus. We arrived in Granada and took a taxi to our hostel, thinking it would be faster and while it was … it was still incredibly slow. We wound through the narrow streets of Albayzin (the taxi driver had to fold in his windows at one point to fit through a particular gap), ran as well as possible through construction to our hostel, dumped our stuff and jumped back in the cab to the Alhambra!

Tiles, calligraphy and decoration in the Alhambra.

We got there in time for our 7pm Nasrid Palace appointment and spent our allocated hour in utter awe. The place is gorgeous and breathtaking and massive, with decorative elements which I can only describe as kind of cross between inverted honeycombs and arches and the ribs of domes. Complicated, no? Sadly the lion fountain had been taken apart for restoration and even sadder was that we only had an hour there! We dawdled as much as possible before we were kicked out as the whole complex was being closed for the night (before the Night Visits). We witnessed the sunset over the Alhambra and valley below while lazily swinging our legs over the ledge at Mirador San Nicolas lookout. Our night was spent eating: paella, ice cream and then peach tea in a Turkish Tea House.

We packed our things late into the night and were off early the next morning on different routes to Barcelona (Ange via plane and me via bus to Madrid to pick up a suitcase I left behind, and then flying from there). Even leaving the city was amazing – thousands of small trees growing over the mountains in almost perfect grid arrangement and covering such a HUGE area. We were so sad to be spending less than 24 hours in such a great city that we vowed to return! And that my friends, is a story for another time. ;D

Recommendations:

Oasis Hostel, Sevilla
Plaza Encarnacion, 29 1/2,
Sevilla, Spain

The Alhambra
Granada, Spain

Kasbah Tea House
Calle Calderería Nueva 4, Albayzín
Granada, Spain

PHOTO GALLERY – Sevilla
PHOTO GALLERY – Cordoba
PHOTO GALLERY – Granada

Instructions: Up the top: select ‘Show Info’, unselect ‘Options: Embiggen’.
At the bottom: go to fullsize (bottom right) and press play (bottom left).

Right now, a media furore is erupting in India, which relates to the “leaked” details of the Judge Liberhan Commission report, a 17-year inquiry into the tumultuous 1992 Ayodhya Mosque demolition. A number of the figures very seriously named are long-time close associates of Sathya Sai Baba and his core servitors.

The report names the former (BJP) Prime Minister Vajpayee, his Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani (not a devotee of Sathya Sai Baba) and former high-powered government BJP minister Murli Manohar Joshi as instrumental figures in orchestrating the demolition and hiding their roles in this extremely painful episode in modern Indian history. The disgraced former Home Minister, Ashok Singhal, like Vajpayee and Joshi, is an old adherent of Sathya Sai Baba, is also named. Media links to this breaking story abound – but here are a couple:

 NEWS REPORT, Tuesday, 24 November 2009

An official report in India has blamed leading Hindu nationalist politicians for playing a role in the 1992 demolition of a mosque in Ayodhya.

The report clearly implicates more than 60 people – including the most senior members of the main opposition party, the BJP – in the mosque’s destruction.

The mosque was brought down by a Hindu mob and some 2,000 people died in riots across India after its demolition.

BJP politicians have denied any wrongdoing in the incident.

—————————————-

                                                                         A scene at the time of the riots and the demolition of the Mosque

In a joint public letter (December 2001), the (then) Chief Justice of India, P.N. Bhagwati along with the former Prime Minister of India of the right wing BJP, A.B. Vajpayee, and another former Chief Justice of India, Ranganath Mishra, and three other prominent leaders wrote a public letter stating that contentions of Sai Baba’s dissenters represent a:

“wild, reckless and concocted allegations made by certain vested interests and people against Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba”.

But of course the chief players concerning us here are Vajpayee,  Advani, and Joshi, the first and the third closely linked with Sathya Sai Baba, as we have often enough referred to -See my:

Letter to Prime Minister of India, Hon. A.B. Vajpayee 

By Barry Pittard, Australia, former Lecturer, Sri Sathya Sai College of the Arts, Science and Commerce, Whitefield, Karnataka

Here is the signatory list:A.B. Vajpayee
(then) Prime Minister of India
P.N. Bhagawati
Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India
Ranganath Mishra
(then) Chair Person, National Human Rights Commissioner of India
Formerly Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India
Najma Heptulla
(then) President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union; UNDP Distinguished Human Development Ambassador
Shivraj V. Patil
(Details as signatory: Member of Parliament, India; Formerly of the Lok Sabha & Union Minister. However Patil is now Home Minister in the Government of Manmohan Singh, who himself has shown strong partiality to Sathya Sai Baba)

See my article:  Shivraj Patil Falls From Home Ministry and Robert Priddy’s, below.

 Murli Manohar JoshiIn blustering, bullying style towards the interviewer, Tanya Datta, who asked perfectly reasonable questions, seen by millions in many countries around the world viewing BBC’s ‘The Secret Swami’, (2004) Joshi aggressively defended Sathya Sai Baba. See:

Indian Minister Shields Sai Baba on BBC television

Posted by Barry Pittard on July 31, 2007In the BBC’s 2004 television documentary The Secret Swami, confronted by the BBC interviewer Tanya Datta, Murali Manohar Joshi (see photo, right), one of the most powerful ministers in the since-defeated A.B. Vajpayee (pictured to left) right-wing government, soon lost his temper, jabbing away with pointed finger at Ms Datta, accusing the BBC and people in England of plotting against Sai Baba, A.B. Vajpayee and P.N. Bhagawati  (sometimes Bhagwati), a key Sathya Sai Central Trust member and former Chief Justice of India). He arrogantly shouts at her,

“No, no, no… You don’t know the meaning of interviewing a minister in my capacity, as a minister of my stature.”

Allegations against Sai are worldwideMs Datta’s vulnerability in the face of an arch bully was  touching to see, and she showed some courage but tougher interviewers would not have put up with an evasiveness like Joshi’s. It might have been better had Ms Datta not tried to defend the BBC and herself (although her reaction is transparently natural) but, rather, firmly stated the worldwide nature of the serious evidence that keeps on coming.At least, Murali Manohar Joshi’s arrogant evasion of the BBC’s totally fair question about Indian Government accountability was unmasked for the world to see. Joshi exposed himself. See him doing it in video footage from the BBC’s The Secret Swami HERE

——————————————–

The Times of India story mentions the disgraced Home Minister Ashok Singhal, yet another political figure strongly associated with Sathya Sai Baba. 

Shivraj Patil – Sai Baba worshipper – resigns

Posted by Robert Priddy on 30th November 2008 

India’s Minister of Home Affairs, Shivraj Patil, who lost his seat at the last election, was nevertheless given the government post by Manmohan Singh. These two cronies are co-worshippers of Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi - and Sonia Gandhi protegees, the self-proclaimed God Incarnate, Deity of deities, The Father who Sent Jesus and virtually whatever else almighty or divine. At last, this worshipper and top home affairs protector of Sathya Sai Baba has met his Waterloo and had to resign! A further casualty is the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh (see CNN report).

There are so many reasons why “the terrorists, enemy combatants, maggots, killers,” should not be given a civil trial reserved only for legal citizens of America. President Obama knows  that in so doing , he will not only turn America who is the  victim, into  being the defendant in this trial, but he will give these maggots an open forum to promote their propaganda of hate and all things anti-American. What this childish, naive,  dumb and dangerous travesty will accomplish, is to once again show the world that President Obama is more interested in show than in substance.

The message the world at large is getting is that America lost the cowboy in the White House, and replaced him with a Spineless octopus.  Soldier of Allah Major Hasan who recently went on a killing spree at Fort Hood murdering 13 American soldiers and; at the memorial for these dead American Soldiers, Obama addressed the fact that their deaths was an act of war, by the symbolism displayed in their boots and guns. We already see that this Jihadist murder’s defense is going for the insanity plea. I just hope that his insanity plea will help put him out of his misery with early eternal retirement.

Aside from the ridiculous high expense of affording these civil trials, it is amazing that the US Government is willing to have such a trial, knowing full well it will not be able to put on a strong prosecution, as National Security issues, will prevent proper evidence from being presented to the Jurors.  Speaking of juries, the rights of any one standing trial in the USA is being judged by a “Jury of Your Peers.”  So does Obama intend on importing twelve people from Pakistan? Or Saudi Arabia? How about some Al Qaeda wannabes’ running around most Mosques in the USA?  Germany will not submit documents because the information would help the USA ’s case for the death penalty. This trial should not be about America. The only way this Country can be avenged is to know that these terrorist will be given a proper military trial, and when found guilty, these maggots should be shot and their corpses  left to rot in hell.

Humans are just animals that have evolved . What has never changed is the call of the wild. Weakness in the animal kingdom is an opportunity for a good meal. Weakness in a nation inspires boldness among its enemies.  Americans are seen as the new carrion among our Muslim foes.

Andrea

Since my embracing Islam several years ago I have had the good fortune to see an explosion of growth in the Muslim Community here in the Southwest.
I enclosed photos of three Masjids I have worshiped in or have had the blessing to watch during construction.
I pray you ,Insha`Allah,find them pleasing.

By

Daniel  S

Specialist in strategic & Security Studies

News talking about the possibility of building a new Islamic center in a Swedish city “Helsingborg”. Of course the Swedish government believes that this Center will help to integrate muslims into Swedish society, they will become loyal to Sweden and they will maintain the national security! They may also think that their good treatment and support to muslims, despite the strong and growing opposition, would protect Sweden from the muslims Jihad! Such wrong beliefs, prove what we have always affirmed, that no one can understand the danger of the mosques ideology, if he was not born an Arab Muslim, received education at the hands of imams, had a daily contacts with them, and was active in the mosques. However, let us provide you with some of the evidence, which confirm that these beliefs wrong and dangerous.

                                     Ahlalhdeeth or ‘Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama`a

Al-Shabab “Youth” and the Ahlu Sunna wal Jama‘a sect … Members of the Al-Sunna wal Jamma

‘Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama`a

‘Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama`a is the most dangerous official sect in all over the world because of their dangerous strategy based on brain-wash people especially children, girls and young Muslims in Europe through Islamic  organizations , mosques and young associations and through the exploitation of both the European governments and politicians  and they who want a new mosque in that city. They emphasizing:

( The Sunna of the Prophet, salallahu alaihi wa sallam, and the people who follow it. Praise belongs to God Who in every century inspires a group of scholarly people to defend the Way of the Prophet, salallahu alaihi wa sallam. Islam in the understanding of Muslims from every generations from the prophet on down is that the only Islam is the Islam of ahlu-sunnah wal jama’ah, the jam’ah being the jama’ah of the salafu-saalih. Their Islam was Islam and other than their Islam is not the correct Islam and Islam is only looked at from the route of how they viewed the Islamic etiquettes from manners all the way to fiqh and aqeedah to be )

“That his’ Ummah will split into seventy-three factions, all of them in Hell except one: The Jama’ah (the Community).” (Reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal)

And (the Prophet) (peace be upon him) said in another hadith: “They are those who will follow what I am and what my companions are today.” (at-Tirmidhi)

Those referred to in this saying, those who hold firmly to pure, unadulterated Islam, became the people of the Sunnah and the Jama’ah. Amongst them are the Siddiqs, The martyrs, the righteous, included in them are the cairns of guidance, the lamps for darkness, the masters of memorable merits, the ever-remembered virtues; Among them are the Abdal 1 the Imams about whose judgment and understanding all Muslims agree. These are the victorious ones about whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A group of my ‘Ummah will continue to follow the truth prominently. Whoever betrays them or opposes them can never harm them to the Day of Judgment.” (al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The creed and the aims of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama‘a

  They believe that the situation of Muslims now is identical to the Saudi Prophet Mohammed at the beginning of his missionary . So,  their  policy now , especially in Europe, is not to use violence for For certain reasons such as fear of expulsion, which will lead to the integration of generations of Muslims in European societies and that violence will not lead to the opening of Europe.  This is the difference between them and terrorists  muslims.  Therefore, the most important of their current employment in Europe is to present the mosques ideology peacefully  and to fight the integration through the islamic centers , mosques and schools and working to raise generations of Muslim  on the doctrine of the mosques.  And then, those of the generations will be a strong base, can be moved and used for the implementation of the  mosques strategic plan. However, the points below show a part of their ideolgy and policy: 

• As you know they believe in the imams sunna - the Saudis Mohamad teaching –  which asserts beating women, amputation of hands, cursed the Christians and Jews, to prevent alcohol, stoning of women, forcing women to veil, killing mockers, fighting secularism, prevent Muslims from paying taxes, prevent Muslims from converting to another religion…..

• Anti-Christian missionaries, churches and Jewish centers and secular parties. They asserted : ( The duty of the Muslim community — in order to preserve its identity — is to combat apostasy in all its forms and wherefrom it comes, giving it no chance to pervade in the Muslim world.)

• ( The four main schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi`i, and Hanbali) as well as the other four schools of jurisprudence (the four Shiite schools of Az-Zaidiyyah, Al-Ithna-`ashriyyah, Al-Ja`fariyyah, and Az-Zaheriyyah) agree that apostates must be executed.)

• ( “The blood of a Muslim who testifies that there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah is not lawful to shed unless he be one of three: a married adulterer, someone killed in retaliation for killing another, or someone who abandons his religion and the Muslim community.) ( such me. I  deny the doctrine of mosques, and I believe in secular countries and the ethics and the law of Europe )

• ( Religion occupies the very first place here as believers may sacrifice themselves, their country, and their wealth for the sake of their religion.)

• ( Refrain from fighting anyone whose death will cause more harm to the muslims ) ( This also one of the reasons whay they deny and refuse to use the mosques official violence because it would harm musims such as expel them from Europe and the closure of mosques 

• They asserted : ( The  principle aim of a mosque is to save the Muslims from melting in the Swedish society )

• The asserted : ( One of the most important basic principles of our religion is that of al-walaa’ wa’l-baraa’, loyalty (walaa’) to Islam and its people, and diavowal (baraa’) of kufr and its people ( Christians, Jews and all non muslims ) )

What will be their work ? 

  The mosque would be aimed at matching  other mosques aims because it same ideology , such as the:

1. Cursing the Swedish people dozens of times each day

2.  To remind Muslims, especially young people, children and women that to love and follow the non-Muslims is forbidden . All mosques and imams agreed that a true  believer does not  love non muslims ,for whoever loves a kaafir is not a believer

3. To prevent Muslims from integrating

4. To convince  Swedish people  to turn to the imams ideology

5. To prevent Muslim women from emancipation

6. To prevent any Muslim to cooperate or recognize Israel

7. To organize demonstrations against any citizen to criticize Islam, mosques

8.  Bring the Saudis and other imams to give lectures to young people to be trained in Sharia and anti integration

9.  Organizing trips for  youth Muslim to States full of terrorists such as Yemen, under the pretext of learning the Arabic language

10. Collicting  children in mosques to teach them the doctrine of imams

11. The establishment of official relations with politicians, for reasons I will mention in another article 

12. The most important goal is to open Europe through Sweden, as provided  in the doctrine of mosques

Therefore, to allow them to establish this mosque means helping to destabilize the national security and prevent the integration of Muslims. Of course, our politicians refuse to accept my scientific and strategic advices  , for reasons I mentioned earlier as well as they use the excuse of religious freedom. Forgetting that freedom of religion does not allow teaching people to be criminals by teaching them convictions and criminal acts  such as amputations of hands and stoning and beating of women and children and endangering the national  and global security . In any case, I’m sure they will regret later,  because the presence and the increasing number of mosques and Islamic centers and associations, will lead to very serious damage And would cause great suffering to our future generations too.

 

Awake. Lying in bed feeling the chills of a man made winter.
Breathing in blistering bursts of cold winds into his belly with no dinner
He searched to light a candle in the dawn.
He goes into the world, fighting blizzards in cotton
Warm dreams and lullabies are forgotten
He knows that winters begun
The spring seemed so far away and the summer was not fair
the autumn rains reflect his pain but he would not shed a tear
This was to be his last year.
So in the fall he reaped his harvest.
Money barely filled a wallet.
Spent his last dollar on a beer.
Then went into the square and said a little prayer.
Fire in the air, people can’t get clear.
And bodies fell down like snowflakes.

The End.

SexDrugsMoney.com Reminding You To Watch Out For Terrorists and Stuff (Click for More)

I really hate that people are so shallow. I often hurl this insult around at people and they get upset at me. I realize that I haven’t used the word accurately. Ever. To anyone I have ever called shallow, I apologize.

I was previously under the notion that to be shallow was to be a bad thing. I judged, so I looked for faults in people. So when I didn’t agree with them, I usually justified my position because I was the smarter one, or the more experienced one, or even the bully. That didn’t make the other person shallow, that made me a pompous asshole. The truth is I was trying to say that people don’t look at things complexly enough sometimes. You have to use your brain and not your heart or learn to use your heart without letting your mind get in the way.

I have been sitting at my computer for at least a week. I know. Get a life. I have actually seen more coverage on television and in the newspaper on the beauty queen than I have on the seizures of the mosques. Its amazing that people still don’t know how to focus on whats really important because of schisms that they have built over time. I want to point out that this only happened on Thursday so i understand that its still breaking news, but I haven’t seen any of the regular pundits on CNN or Fox go in or have too many segments on the topic. Are they trying to hide it? If this was a Christian church bombing would the coverage be the same? (Depends on the color of the church probably).

I think its best to use opportunities like these to open your eyes to the other side. If for no other reason than to know thy enemy. But certainly trying to understand. There is no way to forgive or forget until you understand and accept something mentally. Please accept the fact that there are other ways of believing and worship that are just as important to other people, if not more than yours. Please accept the fact that we live in a place that is a powder keg of peoples, cultures, and faiths, under constant fear of combustion until we understand and can communicate with the one we call our enemy. On the surface it seems crazy. Our lives are god given, why would they sacrifice god’s gift. If you couldn’t be the good Christian you wanted to be; if you couldn’t celebrate the way you wanted to celebrate or name your son what you want to name your son because of fear, what honor are you giving to god by living an inglorious life.

That is the mind of a suicide bomber. But you wouldn’t really know it, because they don’t wanna talk about what its really about. Its about being shallow. Its about living in a world where a religion is given to you and a country is given to you and you are just so lucky to have been born here in this time and in this condition instead of a time when Black men hung from trees for sport or Indians were massacred with guns in what should have been knife fights. Realize that this moment isn’t luck at all, but god given and destined.

Its about having this moment and this power and this strength and yet being so arrogant to world around you that you don’t care to even listen to your fellow man. What is his life like? I’m not saying watch the sea level and study the plight of extincting breeds. But know that people are dying and killing themselves for the things that we take for granted. Look at the world and what it happening around you because someone, or something, doesn’t want you to know. Because if you know you will relate and then understand and then feel and then forgive. The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. Seriously.

“This was an unpredictable and isolated episode, impossible to anticipate and guard against.” – Muqtedar Khan, University of Delaware.

Men like Professor Khan single out Major Malik Hasan as being a unique case; unpredictable and inexplicable.

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times shows that if we look to the root causes of incidents like this, they may not be as impossible to foresee as Professor Khan believes. Sometimes, an influential cleric, mixing political and spiritual messages, can influence others to commit terrible crimes in the name of God. Such is the case with Anwar al Awlaki, an American born cleric now living in Yemen.

Anwar al Awlaki is an extremist whose sermons have helped radicalize terrorists from Atlanta to New Jersey to London, including cases in which the U.S. military was targeted. A well-spoken Yemeni American, Awlaki has emerged as the leading ideologue for a homegrown generation of young militants who conspire over the Internet.

As reported in the Times, Major Hasan had an email relationship Awkaki; a cleric with whom he worshipped in 2001. Although it is not claimed that there was anything suspect in their emails, Hasan was apparently familiar with Awlaki’s politically charged religious teachings. These teachings are known to have influenced other men convicted of terrorist plots, including the men convicted in the plot against the U.S. Army Base at Fort Dix. Additionally

London extremists transcribed Awlaki lectures while plotting bombings, and an Atlanta man who filmed potential terrorism targets — including Washington landmarks and U.S. military bases — praised the cleric during his trial this summer. Awlaki’s extremist materials also were found in the possession of accused accomplices of the suicide bombers who hit London’s transport system in 2005.

The article cites other cases where terrorists in North America are known to have listened to the imam’s teachings.

Awlaki is not an isolated case, wherein a terrorist threat has emerged from an environment where these kinds of teachings were present.

Omar abu Ali, convicted of plotting with Al-Qaeda to kill President George Bush, was a valedictorian of the Islamic Saudi Academy in Virginia. Among the teachings found in the school’s textbooks are passages promoting jihad, Anti-Semitism, and the murder of those who convert out of Islam.

Ali was also a congregant in the mosque of Sheikh Abdul Malik Johari. Sheikh Johari taught one congregation that

people see even within all of this struggle it is better to be a Muslim under these conditions than to be a kaffir [infidel] under any conditions… before Allah closes our eyes for the last time you will see Islam move from being the second largest religion in America-that’s where we are now- to being the first religion in America.

There was also Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, currently serving a life-sentence for his role in plots including the 1993 World Trade Center (WTC) bombing. Sheikh Rahman was the imam of three New York mosques where he preached a militant form of Islam. His followers would go on to commit crimes congruent with his teachings. They include several others convicted with him in the New York plots. Sayyid Nosair, who murdered Jewish Defense League founder Meir Kahane, was also a follower of the cleric.

Sheikh Rahman has continued to inspire and galvanize Islamists following his imprisonment.

On a related note, there are other clerics currently preaching across America who are known to have mixed an anti-American political agenda with their teachings. This includes Siraj Wahhaj, who reportedly told followers they could take over America and place an Islamic emir at its head.

“Take my word, [if] 6 to 8 million Muslims unite in America, the country will come to us. Strong Muslims, strong and free, firm believers in Allah, I’m telling you, the rest of the world will come to the Muslims.”

Wahhaj, who was an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 WTC bombing, stood before one audience waving a Koran, telling them that it should be the goal of every Muslim to replace the Constitution with the Koran.

Although there may not be terrorist activity tied to the preaching of Sheikh Wahhaj, in light of precedent from Sheikh’s Rahman and Awlaki, it presents a serious concern.

Professor Khan indicated that it’s impossible to foresee isolated cases like that of Major Hasan. In truth, if Muslims and non-Muslims were to make a concerted effort to uproot political messages when they appear in the mosques, then it would go long ways towards preventing cases like this in the future.

Obama runs for cover: uses Iran and Al-Qaeda for self-defense
IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC UPROAR AGAINST OBAMA’S MISHANDLING OF FT. HOOD MASSACRE

Article: The Post & Email

Today is Obama’s unlucky day, and the overwhelming wave of public outcry at his mishandling of the Ft. Hood Massacre has led him to run for cover, using Iranian and al-Qaeda agents for self-defense.

YahooNews, a we’ll-print-anything-to-run-cover-for-obama news outlet, is pushing 2 reports this morning to this effect.

In the first report, “AP Source: Gitmo 9/11 suspects to NY for trial”, Devlin Barrett of the AP informs the world that Obama will move several Al-Qaida terrorists to New York City, and put them on trial in a civilian court. This information was leaked to the AP, by someone in Eric Holder’s department. Barrett says that Holder will make an announcement this morning.

Uh, does ANYONE in the BHussein Obama Administration remember what happened the LAST TIME those Al-Qaeda terrorists were New York City? Anyone? It wasn’t fucking pretty.

In the second report featured by YahooNews, “Obama orders review of possible Fort Hood signs” two AP reporters, indicate that Obama has ordered an investigation of why warning signs of Hasan’s proclivities were ignored.

Then to avert anger over this Sunni Muslim who committed the massacre for purely religious motives, Obama has given the Justice Department the go-ahead to seize 5 Shiite Mosques and a NYC Skyscraper tied to Iranian intelligence and terrorism-promotion activities in the U.S.A.. The Jerusalem Post reprints the AP report on this move.

Seeing that Obama worshiped in a Sunni Mosque as a boy, and seeing that his whole family is Sunni, according to his sister Maya, this attempted seizure will only inflame the Islamic world with internecine strife.

Though other news outlets, such as CBS, are reporting these events, the Associated Press, after the gaff last month of being associated with a report which named Obama as Kenyan-Born, has evidently considered it their duty to be extra-devout in running cover for Obama on the Islamic issue.

What’s really being defend here, though, is not National Security, but rather Obama’s rapidly declining poll numbers.

To belittle the horrific nature of the Ft. Hood Massacre, to deny its association with the authentic nature of Islam, and to play games with issues of National Security to defend your political image, all indicate that Obama, having usurped the Presidency for his own power and glory, uses his pretense of authority for his own power and glory.

Glory? This man has no glory. He has no power. He certainly has no power over me.

Obama runs for cover: uses Iran and Al-Qaeda for self-defense
IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC UPROAR AGAINST OBAMA’S MISHANDLING OF FT. HOOD MASSACRE

Article: The Post & Email

Today is Obama’s unlucky day, and the overwhelming wave of public outcry at his mishandling of the Ft. Hood Massacre has led him to run for cover, using Iranian and al-Qaeda agents for self-defense.

YahooNews, a we’ll-print-anything-to-run-cover-for-obama news outlet, is pushing 2 reports this morning to this effect.

In the first report, “AP Source: Gitmo 9/11 suspects to NY for trial”, Devlin Barrett of the AP informs the world that Obama will move several Al-Qaida terrorists to New York City, and put them on trial in a civilian court. This information was leaked to the AP, by someone in Eric Holder’s department. Barrett says that Holder will make an announcement this morning.

Uh, does ANYONE in the BHussein Obama Administration remember what happened the LAST TIME those Al-Qaeda terrorists were New York City? Anyone? It wasn’t fucking pretty.

In the second report featured by YahooNews, “Obama orders review of possible Fort Hood signs” two AP reporters, indicate that Obama has ordered an investigation of why warning signs of Hasan’s proclivities were ignored.

Then to avert anger over this Sunni Muslim who committed the massacre for purely religious motives, Obama has given the Justice Department the go-ahead to seize 5 Shiite Mosques and a NYC Skyscraper tied to Iranian intelligence and terrorism-promotion activities in the U.S.A.. The Jerusalem Post reprints the AP report on this move.

Seeing that Obama worshiped in a Sunni Mosque as a boy, and seeing that his whole family is Sunni, according to his sister Maya, this attempted seizure will only inflame the Islamic world with internecine strife.

Though other news outlets, such as CBS, are reporting these events, the Associated Press, after the gaff last month of being associated with a report which named Obama as Kenyan-Born, has evidently considered it their duty to be extra-devout in running cover for Obama on the Islamic issue.

What’s really being defend here, though, is not National Security, but rather Obama’s rapidly declining poll numbers.

To belittle the horrific nature of the Ft. Hood Massacre, to deny its association with the authentic nature of Islam, and to play games with issues of National Security to defend your political image, all indicate that Obama, having usurped the Presidency for his own power and glory, uses his pretense of authority for his own power and glory.

Glory? This man has no glory. He has no power. He certainly has no power over me.

According to a November 10 Newsmax article, 10 Percent of 2000 U.S. Mosques Preach Jihad and extremism, the FBI Estimates.

Here are some astounding facts about Islamic thought in the USA. About a quarter of the Muslims in America ages 18 through 29 believe that suicide bombings can be justified, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Generating those attitudes are imams who preach jihad and hatred in American mosques and postings on the Internet, according to FBI counter terrorism officials interviewed for the book, “The Terrorist Watch: Inside the Desperate Race to Stop the Next Attack. The same source said, “It’s not the Irish, it’s not the French, it’s not the Catholics, it’s not the Protestants, it’s the Muslims.” …

The Bible shows that we have a muddled, minority-privilege, criminal-as-victim rationalization within our societies. This view is fueled largely by our liberal leadership and media’s look-the-other-way response and pretending the greatest danger in the war on terror is increased discrimination against peaceful American Muslims. Nothing, but nothing seems to prevent us from prioritizing “sending the right message” to the Islamic world over dealing with the truth.

That sort of thinking puts into perspective  the problem facing us as we ponder the meaning of Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan’s slayings of 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas. Numerous signs point to Hasan’s jihadist motives:

1. His attendance at a mosque with a jihadist hate preacher—Anwar al-Awlaki, the same “spiritual adviser” to three of the 9/11 terrorists.
2. His labeling of the war on terror a “war on Islam.”
3. His identifying his nationality not as American, but Palestinian.
4. His being reprimanded during his postgraduate work for inappropriately proselytizing for Islam.
5. His efforts, noted by U.S. intelligence officials, to contact members of al Qaeda.
6. His evident approval of a Muslim terrorist killing an Army recruiter in Arkansas this past summer.
7. His statements (according to colleague Col. Terry Lee), that Muslims had the right to attack Americans, and that “maybe people should strap bombs on themselves and go to Times Square.”
8. His lecture to doctors at Walter Reed in D.C. where he warned that “adverse events” could occur if the military didn’t release Muslim soldiers as conscientious objectors.
9. His statement, in the same presentation, calling non-Muslims (in the words of the Sunday Telegraph) “infidels condemned to hell who should be set on fire,” and saying they “should be beheaded and have boiling oil poured down their throats.”
10. His statement to a neighbor the morning of the attack, as he gave her a Koran with his business card, “I’m going to do good work for God.”
11. His shout of “Allahu Akbar!” (Allah is great) before he mowed down his victims.

More motives are appearing by the minute and it is clear that the radical element of Islam influenced Hasan.

Don’t expect many retractions from any who assume Hasan’s religion had no bearing on his motive in the attack. That is because political correctness is cherished more than truth. Most in power or in the press have downplayed the jihadist connection from the moment the tragedy happened. They ascribed the attack to Hasan’s supposed mental imbalances, stress from counseling traumatized soldiers, or harassment he endured for being Muslim. Everything at all, except the fact that he is a Muslim with extreme views.

Gen. George Casey, the U.S. Army chief of staff, said it’s important not to speculate about the role his Muslim faith played in the outburst. Well, why not given the facts stated above? Because his concern is to prevent a backlash against Muslims in the military.

President Obama also issued a statement saying, “We don’t know all the answers yet. And I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts.”  sounds noble right, except this is the same man who, before knowing all the facts, glibly judged that the Cambridge police’s actions against Henry Louis Gates fit a pattern of racial profiling in America.

I don’t see that these 13 murders will do anything to change the culture of political correctness strangling our Western nations. They have a stubborn, unshakable conviction that the best way to fight Islamist terrorism is to avoid offense. This runs parallel to a prophecy in Isaiah which states: “[W]e have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.”

The Prophet Moses warned that the end-time nations of Israel, of which the U.S. is one, would suffer. Among their punishments: “The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.” And why? “For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them” (Deuteronomy 32:25, 28).

Doesn’t the above information adeptly show a nation void of counsel and bereft of understanding? As long as we continue to cherish political correctness above truth and value diversity over life itself, we will continue to suffer. The reason? Our life is void of God’s word.

Central mosque (Nouakchott, Mauritania)

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modern mosque, and the mosque of the city, it was builded in the 20° century, with aids of Saudi Arabia

The Great mosque (El Aaiún, Western Sahara)

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new ad main mosque in the city

Hassan II mosque (Casablanca, Morocco)

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The Hassan II Mosque (Arabic: مسجد الحسن الثاني‎), located in Casablanca is the largest mosque in Morocco and the third largest mosque in the world after the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) of Mecca and the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque) in Medina. Designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau and built by Bouygues.[1] It stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic, which can be seen through a gigantic glass floor with room for 25,000 worshippers. A further 80,000 can be accommodated in the mosque’s adjoining grounds for a total of 105,000 worshippers present at any given time at the Hassan II mosque. Its minaret is the world’s tallest at 210 m (689 ft).

Built on reclaimed land, almost half of the surface of the mosque lies over the Atlantic water. This was inspired by the verse of the Qur’an that states “the throne of God was built on water.” Part of the floor of this facility is glass so worshippers can kneel directly over the sea; above, spotlights shine at night from the top of the minaret toward Mecca. These features were specifically requested by King Hassan II, who declared, “I want to build this mosque on the water, because God’s throne is on the water. Therefore, the faithful who go there to pray, to praise the Creator on firm soil, can contemplate God’s sky and ocean.”

It also includes a number of modern touches: it was built to withstand earthquakes and has a heated floor, electric doors, and a sliding roof.

The mosque displays strong Moorish influence and the architecture of the building is similar to that of the Alhambra and the Great Mosque of Cordoba in Spain. This and the old Tin Mal Mosque are the only mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims. Non-Muslims may view the interior on hour-long guided tours that depart several times daily

Zaytuna mosque (Tunis, Tunisia)

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Al-Zaytuna Mosque (Arabic: جامع الزيتونة‎, literally meaning the Mosque of Olive) is a major mosque in Tunis.

The mosque is the oldest in the Capital of Tunisia and covers an area of 5,000 square metres (1.2 acres) with nine entrances[1]. It has 160 authentic columns brought originally from the ruins of the old city of Carthage[2]. The mosque is known to host one of the first and greatest universities in the history of Islam[3]. Many Muslim scholars were graduated from the Al-Zaytuna for over a thousand years. From Ibn ‘Arafa, one of the greatest scholars of Islam, Imam Maziri, the great traditionalist and jurist to the famous Tunisian poet Aboul-Qacem Echebbi and countless others all taught there

Al-Zaytuna was the second mosque to be built in Ifriqiya and the Maghreb region after the Mosque of Uqba in Al-Kairouan[4]. The exact date of building varies according to source. Ibn Khaldun and Al-Bakri wrote that it was built in 116 Hijri (731 C.E.) by Obeid-Allah Ibn Al-Habhab[2][4][6]. A second source states that the Umayyad Hisham Ibn Abdel-Malek ordered the building[4] while Ahmed In Abu Diyaf and Ibn Abi Dinar attributed the order to Hassan Ibnu-Noauman who led the conquest of Tunis and Carthage[4][6]. Most scholars agreed that the third possibility is the strongest by evidence as it is unlikely that the city of Tunis remained a long time without mosque after its conquest in 79 Hijri[2][4][6]. Thus the closest date is 84 Hijri (703 C.E) and what Al-Habhab did was in fact enlarging the mosque and improving its architecture[4].

The Great mosque (Alger, Algeria)

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one of the oldest mosques in Algiers, it was built in 17° century

Central mosque (Tripoli, Libya)

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typical modern mosque, one of the biggest of the Libyan capital