Showing newest posts with label Religion. Show older posts

See and hear for yourself the truth behind all the fuss and propaganda.

In Indonesia the custom is not to wish someone before the exact date - be it Christmas or Birthday. So I waited till midnight (don't be confused with the blog posting time -I need to fix it) and now wishing everyone a merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Actually Christmas celebrations are pretty visible in Jakarta. Jakarta has about 9% Christians and almost all the shopping malls are decorated with colorful Christmas trees (pics will follow). You will hear the Christmas carols playing and in the Shenayan Plaza we saw live Christmas carol concert by some kids. This mall had a 75,000 IDR (8 Dollars) photo with live Santa facility. Seems most of it are marketing gimmick but I love the tolerance. It is being celebrated by people across religions. I never had the idea that Christmas is so lively celebrated in the largest Muslim majority democracy. Well I think its possible because its a democracy, not Theocracy.

Now lets party with this Bhangra remix of "Jingle Bell":

In 2007 I wrote why Hizbut Tahrir is the next threat for Bangladesh. They had been recruiting talented youths from Bangladeshi education institutions and brain washing them for their quest to establish Khilafat. Rawi commented in my above post:

I happened to closely follow the alarming emergence of HT in Bangladesh over the last 5 years -- alarming because they openly reject democracy as "un-Islamic", unlike the other Islamist parties that at least accept the democratic system as a pragmatic norm and act within it. Ironically, when they first started their activities at universities in Dhaka in the name of "intellectual debate", I heard some of these British-accented returned-to-Bangladesh leaders claiming that HT is a "non-violent, non-political" movement (exact words). Imagine my reaction when, less than 2 years later, I come across explicitly political leaflets being distributed outside mosques in Dhanmondi.

It's not entirely true that HT is "totally peaceful". Rather, they have taken on different colors in different countries. In places in Central Asia, HT-inspired movements have been known to engage in openly militant activities. Also important to note, though HT is currently based in the UK, they were originally founded in Palestine over 50 years ago by a cleric named Nabhani. A professor I knew at college, who once personally interviewed the late founder of Hamas, said he happened to meet an HT man in Palestine whose views were the most "extremist" he had ever seen -- even more extreme than Hamas!

Finally the Bangladesh government made the right decision in banning Hizbut Tahrir in Bangladesh.

"The organisation's activities have been banned from today [Thursday] as its activities go against public security."

Hizbut-Tahrir (the Party of Liberation) has already been banned in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia, Libya, Turkey, and in the former Soviet states in Central Asia.

After fifteen years on his feet, he was lying face down on the ground. India was on one side, behind a barbed wire fence. Pakistan was on the other side, behind another fence. Toba Tek Singh lay in the middle, on a piece of land that had no name. - Saadat Hasan Manto

After sixty years of the partition of India and Pakistan the madness that can sometimes overtake people in the name of religion still feels relevant.



From Global Voices:

Gojra, the capital of Gojra Tehsil, is a city of Toba Tek Singh District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Last Saturday riots broke out in the town over alleged desecration of the Holy Quran. Following the riots more than 50 houses, belonging to the Christian community, were set on fire leaving 7 burnt alive and 18 severely injured. According to sources, most of the houses were burnt by a group of youths who had their faces covered with veils. They threw petrol bombs and fired indiscriminately.

Blame it on the Mullahs and Talibans or Zia's theocracy, the fallacy of the two nation theory still haunts the people. Still it divides rather than ensuring a peaceful coexistence.

(Image courtesy, The Dawn)

During the Bush era the West distanced itself much from the Muslim world. Here is Obama's approach to reconcile with the differences and lending a hand towards a new future.

Some excerpts:

I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles – principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.

I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground.

Sujatha says "The speech is most definitely worth a read and worth sharing with our children."

I could only watch one of the parts of the series broadcast by Al-Jazeera.

In a special two-part documentary Rageh Omaar traveled across the United States to explore the story of Islam in the country.

He attempts to discover if - far from being fundamentally incompatible – Islamic America holds the seeds of a lasting solution to global discord between east and west.

Thanks to YouTube we can now view the complete series:









This is a must watch for those who are spreading Islamophobia in the USA.

First published in Global Voices Online.

A new controversy rattled Bangladesh last week. Authorities in Bangladesh were forced to remove five sculptures of Bauls (mystic folk singers) including Fakir Lalon Shah in front of the Zia International Airport in the face of protests from an Islamist group. They formed a sculpture prevention committee which pressed that they do not want any sculptures in the airport area where the hajj camp is located and they do not want Muslims to start their journey to the Hajj pilgrimage seeing the sculptures. Islam does not allow worship of objects/depictions that represent God or his messengers, or saints. However sculptures are part of the different cultures the Muslim world represents and can be found in every part of the world.

The removal of the sculpture and the inaction of the government has sparked protest across Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi blogosphere had heated debate on this issue.

A guest writer in the Bangla Blogging platform Sachalayatan says:

এয়ারপোর্ট একটি দেশের আন্তর্জাতিক প্রবেশ দ্বার। সবাই চাইবে তার দেশের শিল্প-সংস্কৃতি-ঐতিহ্য কে এখানে সংক্ষেপে তুলে ধরতে। লালন কি কোন ধর্মের মুর্তি? অমার প্রিয় স্বদেশ কি গুটিকয়েক (অসীম!) শক্তির লোকের কারণে অসাম্প্রদায়িক থেকে উগ্র ধর্মীয় দেশের পরিচয় লাভ করবে?

"An airport is the gateway for a nation. Every country will want to display its arts, cultures and traditions here. Is Lalon display of any religion? Will my country be identified as a fundamentalist country from its secular image because of some (mighty!) persons?"

Kowshik Ahmed writes [bn]:

একজন লালন আমাদের বাঙালীত্বের মানবিক স্ফূরণ সম্পাদন করেছেন, সাম্প্রদায়িকতার ঊর্ধ্বে অনুভবের বাস্পায়ন ঘটিয়েছেন। লালন আজ সেই সাম্প্রদায়িকতার বিষবাষ্পে স্খলিত। [..]

ভাষ্কর্য ভাঙা ও মোল্লাদের আবার সংঘ-শক্তি প্রদর্শনে মধ্যবিত্ত বাঙালি মুসলমানদের অনেকেই পরিমিতভাবে বিরক্ত। অনেকেই মৃদুস্বরে ধৈর্যের সাথে প্রতিবাদী কথা বলবার চেষ্টা করছেন।

"Lalon has established the humanist aura in us, the Bengalis, encouraged us to think beyond communalism. Lalon is today being poisoned by the venom of communalism.

The removal of sculptures and the display of the muscle power of the Mullahs have angered many middle class Bengali Muslims. They are trying to voice their protests in a feeble way."


The statues being pulled down: Image credit Banglar Joy

Blogger Banglar Joy says:

লালন নয় আমাদের গোটা বাঙালির জন্য অভিশপ্ত অধ্যায় (এটি)! [..] গোটা কিছু পাগড়ী আর উর্দি পরিহিত ফতোয়াবাজদের কাছে চরম ভাবে লাঞ্চিত দেশ, জাতি আর বিবেক! আমাদের সরকার নিরব, জাতির বিবেকবান মানুষ আজ মৃত।

"Its not only for Lalon but a cursed event for the whole nation. [..] The nation is being completely harassed by some people in religious cloths. Our government is silent. The people with conscience are dead."

Journalist Jahangir Alam Akash reminds that the country is under state of of emergency. However these (fundamentalists) are given the impunity by the government.

ওরা জরুরি অবস্থা মানে না কখনই। ওরা ধর্মকে পুঁজি ও ব্যবহার করে যখন যা খুশি তাই করে থাকে। আমাদের কালো বাহিনী, আইন-শৃঙ্খলা রক্ষাকারি বাহিনী কেউ তাদের ধরে না।

"They never abide by the rules of state of emergency (bar on collective protests). They can do anything in the name of religion. Our black forces, Security forces never take actions against them."


Image: Dhaka University students protesting with blindfolds in the faces of the statue "Oporajeo Bangla" in the compound. Courtesy: Lal Dorja

Faruq Hasan asks:

এত কিছু থাকতে এখন ভাষ্কর্য নিয়ে টানাটানি কেন? দেশে তো অনেক ভাষ্কর্য আছে। এখন কি সব ভাষ্কর্যই সরিয়ে ফেলতে হবে? হজ্জ্বযাত্রীরা তো উত্তরবঙ্গ থেকেও আসবেন, সেক্ষেত্রে আমরা কি গাজীপুর চৌরাস্তার 'জাগ্রত চৌরঙ্গীর' সেই দৃপ্ত মুক্তিযোদ্ধার ভাষ্কর্যও ভেঙ্গে ফেলবো? বকশিবাজার থেকে যদি কোনো হজ্জ্বযাত্রী বিমানবন্দরের দিকে আসতে চান তাহলে কি আমরা টিএসসি মোড়ের রাজু মনুমেন্ট ভেঙ্গে ফেলবো? যদি এদের না ভেঙ্গে ফেলি তাহলে লালন কি দোষ করলো?

"Of all the things why they are messing with this sculpture? There are many sculptures in the country. So should we remove them all? The Hajj pilgrims will also come from the North Bengal. So should we also remove the glorious sculptures of freedom fighters in Gazipur crossing? If any pilgrim wants to come to the Airport from Bakshi Bazar they will have to travel past the Raju Monument in TSC crossing. So should we remove that too for them? If we choose not to do anything with them then why bother with the Laoln sculptures?"

Yoothochari explains that the sculpture is not impersonating Lalon Shah but a symbol of all baul musicians:

মৃণাল হক যে ভাস্কর্যটি নির্মাণ করছিলেন বিমানবন্দর সড়কে, সেটির নাম "খাঁচার ভিতর অচিন পাখি", সেখানে যে বাউলের ভাস্কর্য করা হচ্ছিলো, সেটি লালনের নয়। লালনের মূর্তি করা সম্ভব না। কেননা লালনের কোনো ছবি বা স্কেচ নাই।

"The sculpture being erected by Sculptor Mrinal Haque in the Airport road, was titled "unknown bird in a cage" (after a song of Lalon meaning soul). The sculpture do not represent Lalon but the Baul musicians because you cannot make a statue of him. There are no pictures or sketches of Lalon available."


Image: Protest slogans in the streets "Communalism or freedom of expression? Which way is the government?". Courtesy: Lal Dorja

Mahbub Morshed discusses that there is a deeper politics in it and the date coincides with the period when the government was under pressure to execute an arrest warrant against a top religious leader.

Rajorshi says:

এসবই সাম্প্রদায়িক রাজনীতির কুটচাল। এগুলো অনেক আগেই শুরু হয়েছে এদেশে। এভাবে ধর্মকে ব্যবহার করে বিগত কয়েক দশকে কয়েকটা মুফতি (আমীনি, শা হাদিস) নেতা, সাংসদ হয়ে গেছে।

"These are all shrewd tactics of communal politics. It has started in this country long ago. In the past decade many such religious leaders have become members of parliament."

Mahi Rahi says:

আমাদের দেশের কিছু ধর্মীয় গুরু আছেন তারা মনে হয় সবসময় একপায়ে খাড়া আছেন মুর্তি দেখলেই তা ভেংগে গুড়িয়ে ফেলার জন্য। কিন্তু তাদের মনে যে লোভের মুর্তি, খ্যাতির মুর্তি আর ক্ষমতার মুর্তির যে প্রতিনিয়ত পুজা চলে, তাকি তারা কখনো ভাংগতে পারবেন।

"There are some religious leaders in our country who are on their toes to break any statues. But they worship the statue of greed, popularity and power in them everyday. Can they brake them?"

Onrinno posts pictures of a human chain that took place in Dhaka protesting the removal of the sculptures.

Nazrul Islam remembers how he posed as a live sculpture in school events and says:

খুব ইচ্ছা করতেছে বিমানবন্দর চত্বরে সেই বালকবেলার মতো মূর্তি সেজে দাঁড়িয়ে থাকতে। একতারা হাতে...

"I feel an urge to go to the (empty) airport sqaure and stand as a live statue with Ektara in my hand, just like my adolescent days."

There were also some voices for the removal of the statue. Borno says:

মূর্তির সাথে চেতনার কি সম্পর্ক? লালন যদি তার লেখনি দিয়ে মানবতার জন্য কিছু করেই থাকেন তো লালনের গানই লালনকে মানুষের হৃদয়ে স্থান দেবে। এ জন্য মূর্তি বানাতে হবে কেন?

প্রকৃতপক্ষে, ব্যক্তির কাজই তাকে মানুষের হৃদয়ে স্থান দেয়, মুর্তি নয়।

"What is the relation between consciousness and statues? If Lalon did any good to humanity with his writings then the people will place Lalon songs in their hearts. Why we need a statue for that?

In fact, peoples deeds places them in people's hearts, not the statues."

Lalon Fakir's songs has also inspired the rock music scenario of Bangladesh and some of his songs are rendered into popular modern folk rock. One of the rock legends of Bangladesh Maqsoodul Haque suggests to choose silence as a weapon of choice:

The Mullahs and Politicos combine wish us to be reactive and replicate their reactionary character. We do not consider them ‘worthy opponents’ or ‘worthy adversaries’ or even ‘worthy Comrades’. All we say is let us be – for we did not in the first place as a fraternity 'demand' or ask for any Monuments to our glorious ancestors, our forefathers......did we?

Those who have already commenced their ‘protest’ do not have either the bAUL’s or Bengal’s schools of socio-spiritual thoughts as an objective to further. Indeed, their objective and aspirations are narrow – as they wish to piggy-back on the bAUL issue to aspire for even narrower political expediency – the capture of state power – made even more complex give the restlessness prevailing in the country.

This is the oldest game known to mANKIND and epitomized in many bAUL songs:

Go tell the thief to steal
Go tell the peasant to catch him
Why do you then call the children of hUMANs - sINNERs?

[..]

Please keep the pEACE, spread the word and NEVER GIVE UP THE FIGHT.

Mrigrendra recognizes:

তবে ভাস্কর্য থাকুক আর না থাকুক লালন জীবিত আছেন। নিযুত হৃতস্পন্দনে তিনি জীবিত থাকবেন। কোন **বিমানবন্দর গোলচত্বর মুর্তি প্রতিরোধ কমিটি** সেই লালন দড়ি দিয়ে টেনে নামাতে পারবে না।

"Whether the sculpture is there or not Lalon is alive with us. He will live in millions of hearts. No "sculpture prevention committee" can bring that statue down."

*Thumbnail image of Lalon Shah from Wikipedia

In recent months radical mobs have attacked Christians and their churches in a number of Indian states. Ayesha Saldanha wrote a deep analysis on the issue in Global Voices:

Right-wing Hindu groups, such as the VHP, its youth wing, the Bajrang Dal, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) accuse Christian groups of converting Hindus, particularly from lower castes and tribal groups. It is alleged that Hindu activists in Orissa have tried to intimidate Christians to reconvert to Hinduism.

The renowned journalist Khushwant Singh explains this conversion business:

To this day, Christian missionaries run the best schools, colleges and hospitals in our country. They are inexpensive and free of corruption. They get converts because of the sense of gratitude they generate. Can this be called forcible conversion? Why donʼt the great champions of Hinduism look within their hearts and find out why so many are disenchanted by their pretensions of piety? Let them first set their own houses in order, purge the caste system out of Hindu society and welcome with open arms all those who wish to join them. No one will then convert from Hinduism to another religion.

Wishing everyone a happy Eid wherever you are. Amidst the festivity my thoughts are with these people.

Image Credit: Radiant Guy

Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen was in Paris recently to receive the Simone de Beauvoir prize for women’s freedom.

Here's her interview with France24 Tv channel. Here is another report in French.

World Economic Forum recently held a meeting with over 30 leaders of business, politics, religion, media and civil society in London to discuss a new report by the World Economic Forum entitled “Islam and the West: Annual Report on the State of Dialogue”. From a chart it is evident...

Dutch politician Geert Wilders film, "Fitna" (meaning Discord in Arabic) features violent imagery of terrorist attacks in New York and Madrid intertwined with Koranic texts. It interprets that Islam equates violence.

Mezba does a review of "Fitna" which is a great read. He writes after watching the film:

"Geert Wilders, the Dutch MP who has made an anti-Islam film, argues that he has the right, under Freedom of Speech, to say what he wants. And what exactly is he saying? He wants the Quran to be banned because it is a "hate speech". So here is a man using Freedom of Speech to argue that another speech - the Quran - should be banned. His much talked about film, Fitna, is equally circular in logic.
...
Honestly, a high school student could have produced a better Islam-critical animation. That the verses and their "controversial" meanings (when taken out of context) has been explained numerous times is immaterial. The "movie" is amateurish.

In fact, the only good thing about Fitna is the recitation of the said verses of the Quran. The qari who recited those verses had a melodious voice.

Geert Wilders must have hoped Muslims would see his movie and renounce the Quran. In fact it made me laugh at his childish movie and then search Youtube for more melodious Quran recitations."

Worldwide protests by Muslims are expected and there will be more politics - counter politics with it. But really there is a lot of difference between criticizing without hurting religious feelings and of amateurish poking in beehive to become famous and people should show their reaction accordingly.

Update: Another review "Fitna for whom?" (Thanks Hicham)

I really feel sorrow for him because he didn’t spent his time, effort and money to understand us and just followed the wave!

Update II: British-based Liveleak.com had pulled down the video. However the Fitna video is available in YouTube.

Update III: Review: Geert Wilders Fitna Farce by Ali Eteraz- a great read.

Update IV: A Muslim responds in Spiegel Online: "I am not a least bit offended"

The Doha Debates is a public forum for dialogue and freedom of speech based in Qatar held each month. The debates are Modeled on the Oxford Union debates and presented by the internationally renowned broadcaster Tim Sebastian. A motion is presented to the 350-strong audience and two speakers argue on behalf of the motion and two speak against it.

Earlier this month I watched in BBC a debate titled "This House believes that Muslims are failing to combat extremism". It was a lively debate with speakers like Ed Husain, the ex Islamic fundamentalist. His book 'The Islamist' was published in 2007. In it he says Muslims have a responsibility to stand up and reclaim their faith from extremists.

While most Muslims react to the fact that they are getting the blame of religious extremism around the world, sometime they forget to raise to the occasion when they are required to stop such incidents from happening in their communities. E.g. in Saudi Arabia (and elsewhere) propaganda books calling Jihad against non Muslims are sold outside Mosques and nobody seem to care about it.

If you are a Muslim, then watch this debate to know how to reclaim your faith from extremism and if you are a non Muslim then understand the complexities in the Muslim communities around the world (Muslims are not always Arabs, and with strong religious views) deterring them to take an unified action against extremism.

On the International women's day (March 8) The chief adviser of the caretaker (interim) government of Bangladesh Fakhruddin Ahmed had announced the National Women Development Policy 2008. From the New Age the text of his speech:

‘To achieve the goal of women’s economic empowerment, there should be enactment of necessary laws covering important aspects like health, education, training, vocational training, information, opportunity for income, property, debt, technology and equal rights and establishment of the right to have control over moveable and immovable property earned through market management,’ read one of the clauses of the policy

However Mufti Fazlul Huq Amini, chairman of Islami Oikkojote (Islamic confederation) has proclaimed a Fatwa in a press release that by announcing the policy, the caretaker government has spoken against the Koran, and are thus considered apostates. He has also asked President Iazuddin to disband the government, and asked Army chief of staff Gen. Moeen U. Ahmed to withdraw his support (via Shada Kalo).

But Amini did not describe how the Government had violated the Koran. Although there is a law in Bangladesh which prohibits any Fatwa, the government had not taken any action against Amini. Instead it sounded a meek protest that the policy has been 'misinterpreted':

"The caretaker government has not passed any "law" regarding inheritance, Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff yesterday said, adding that the National Women Development Policy, 2008 has been misinterpreted.

The women development policy is not a law, it is only a policy to work out measures for protecting women from different forms of harassment and deprivations. It does not even contain anything concerning inheritance."

The crux of the matter is thus the law of inheritance and women's equal rights.

According to AFP:

The government "does not have any plan to enact any laws that goes against the Koran and the traditions of Prophet Mohammad," a government statement said. Arif gave the assurance to top Islamic clerics and scholars late on Tuesday, after Islamic groups warned of nationwide protests, saying they would not tolerate any law that went against sharia, the Islamic law code.

Sharia is based on the teachings of the Koran, prescribing both religious and secular duties, from prayer to alms-giving, as well as penalties for law-breaking. There are many interpretations of the sharia.

The clerics' complaints followed a new government policy announced last week which stated women should have equal property rights.

Bangladesh, whose population is 90 percent Muslim, has a secular legal system but in matters related to inheritance and marriage Muslims follow sharia law.

Sharia practised in Bangladesh's inheritance law generally stipulates that a girl would inherit half of what her brother gets. Women groups have long protested against the disparity and demanded equal rights.

And if you are wondering who is this Amini read Sid's post:

Fazlul Haque Amini MP is one of Bangladesh’s more repulsive political Islamists and head of a Jamaat-friendly Islamist political party (Islami Oikya Jote). A man with a history of managing some of the most hate-filled religio-political projects Bangladesh has suffered. In 2004 and 2005, Amini blackmailed the Bangladesh government into a brutal and ugly campaign of attacks against the Ahmadiyya Muslim minority of Bangladesh. More information here.

Amini said in a press statement that if ever an Islamic party came to power in Bangladesh it would ban Grameen Bank from operating in the country.

Why the grudge against Grameen Bank? Because they empowers poor women.

And why people like Amini are around with their fanatic approach? Even the so called progressive political party like Awami League reached an agreement of coalition with them agreeing on these astonishing clauses (which were later termed void by AL because the election did not happen):

1) Certified Alems (Islamic clerics) will have the right to issue fatwas (Islamic religious edicts) if the grand electoral alliance comes to power.
2) A bar on enacting any law that goes against Koranic values,
3)A ban on criticisms of Prophet Muhammad.
4) Those who do not believe in the assertion that the Prophet of Islam is the last messenger of Allah would forfeit their right to be known as a Muslim, an oblique reference to the Ahmadiyya community.

It seems power brokers do not want to mess with Amini and he seems ever immune to hate speech against the government under a state of emergency.

The authorities did not take any action against Amini's puking towards them whereas a common citizen can find himself in deep trouble because of constructively criticizing the Government under the state of emergency. Such is the standard of law and justice in today's Bangladesh.

Red roses are banned in Saudi Arabia ahead of Valentine's day. How could anyone be so heartless? Can they stop love?

Oh and Happy Valentines day to all.

The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy lingers on. From Yahoo News:

"Danish authorities on Tuesday arrested three people suspected of plotting a cartoonist's assassination for his depiction of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) wearing a bomb-shaped turban that enraged Muslims two years ago.

Three of Denmark's largest newspapers said they would reprint the cartoon on Wednesday to show they would not be intimidated by fanatics. It was one of 12 Muhammad cartoons published in 2005 and then again in 2006 that led to protests in Muslim countries."

Islamic law generally opposes any depiction of the prophet for fear it could lead to idolatry. But throughout the ages there were so many depictions of the prophet as historical pieces of art and those did not raise controversies. But today's fanatics would like to bring this up for their own zealots. And their actions prove that they are making mountain out of a mole and embracing the sin of 'idolatry' in respect to Prophet Muhammad. They are worshiping Muhammad (PBUH) like some sort of an idol. Their "kill those who insult Islam" attitude is not only nonreligious but also harming the true image of Islam.

Another interesting development is in Wikipedia regarding the article on Prophet Muhammad. Some quarters are fighting to take down the The earliest surviving depiction (1315) of Muhammad from Rashid al-Din's Jami al-Tawarikh ('Compendium of Chronicles' or Universal History), an Iranian work of art.

Read an interview with the Jyllands-Posten editor who vows not to fear for his life.

I reported earlier via Shadakalo blog that Arif was quietly released 2 months ago, and newspapers were asked not to report on it.



But seems it was not true. Today a confirmation came from a group mail that he is still in a cell with one another person but seems in good spirits. Lawyers are moving the case and a decision is expected next month.

Let's hope that he is freed soon.

Background:

* Bangladesh: yet another Muhammad cartoon controversy
* Attack against freedom of speech: Bangladesh cartoon controversy update
* Cartoonist arrested over harmless play on name Mohammed.
* One Arifur Rahman and his fight against corruption
* Muhammad cat: Clerical Hypocrisy

Quite contrary to what the media usually depict that all the religious intolerances exist among Muslims, we hear this story:

A Brooklyn man whose "Happy Hanukkah" greeting landed him in the hospital said he was saved from a gang of Jew-bashing goons aboard a packed Q train by a total stranger - a modest Muslim from Bangladesh.

Walter Adler was touched that Hassan Askari jumped to his aid while a group of thugs allegedly pummeled and taunted him and his three friends. So Adler has invited his new friend over to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

The two new pals - Adler, 23, with a broken nose and a fat lip, and Askari, 20, with two black eyes - broke bread together and laughed off the bruises the night after the fisticuffs.

"He's basically a hero. Hassan jumped in to help us."

But Askari, who is studying to be an accountant, shrugged off the praise.

"I just did what I had to do," he recalled. "My parents raised me that way."

Photo: Askari and Adler courtesy New York Post via Gateway Pundit

More:

Friday’s altercation on the Q train began when somebody yelled out “Merry Christmas,” to which rider Walter Adler responded, “Happy Hanukkah,” said Toba Hellerstein.

“Almost immediately, you see the look in this guy’s face like I’ve called his mother something,” Adler told CNN affiliate WABC.

Two women who were with a group of 10 rowdy people then began to verbally assault Adler’s companions with anti-Semitic language, Hellerstein said.

One member of the group allegedly yelled, “Oh, Hanukkah. That’s the day that the Jews killed Jesus,” she said.

So you see we can see the world from a new angle if we refrain from the stereotypes and see others not through the filter of religion.

Watch the amazing video report from here.

Details about Askari and his dynasty here. And isn't this wonderful?

The student - whose mother, father and younger brother live in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka - says that his long term aim is to return to his beloved home country where he grew up as a child.

"Home is where the heart is and at least there is no subway there," he said.

Read more about the Hanukkah festivities from here.

Background: Free Cartoonist Arifur Rahman

Drishtipat blog posts an appeal to all:

It is more than a month since Arifur Rahman’s arrest.

In the past month, we have debated Arif’s culpability many times. The purpose of this post is not to re-visit that old debate. Even if we think of this man as guilty, we should ask ourselves: is his incarceration what the Prophet (SW) would have prescribed given his sense of generosity, forgiveness and - most importantly - justice?

We understand that Arif is being held at Dhaka Central Jail. We sincerely urge all of his well-wishers to write to him expressing solidarity at the address given below.

Mohammad Arifur Rahman,
Son of Mohammad Matiur Rahman,
re CR Case No. 2298/07,
Dhaka Central Jail,
Nazimuddin Road,
Dhaka.

We also urge those offended by the cartoon to write to him, for compassion towards one’s adversaries is a fast-vanishing Islamic value in today’s world.

From Dhaka Shohor:

Arif has spent the better part of Ramadan in prison and has spent Eid away from his family. Even his exact whereabouts are open to question.

Let me take a moment here to note the absolute silence about him in the mainstream media. A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E.

Ask yourself: is this what the Prophet (SW) would have prescribed? Given the stories of his sense of generosity, forgiveness and JUSTICE we all grow up with, the answer would have to be a resounding "no"! But of course, this will fall on the deaf ears of the people who use the Prophet's (SW) name explicitly (and that means YOU Hizb-ut-Tahrir!).

Free Arifur Rahman and let him live with security and dignity.

Mridul Chowdhury and Sikder Haseeb Khan writes in the Progressive Bangladesh:

The cartoon by Arifur Rahman is a source of grievance of scores of Islamist activists in Bangladesh who have risen up in arms to see Arif severely punished – some have even felt it their ‘sacred’ duty to declare death sentence on him. Isn’t it ironic that we are defying the very teachings of the Prophet in the name of trying to uphold his respect? Isn’t it a disgrace that we have ignored the peaceful and tolerant teachings of Islam and the Prophet (SM) to the point of making Islam look to the outside world like an intolerant and barbaric religion?

If the government fails to free Arifur Rahman and give him adequate protection for his life, it will only fan the fire of religious bigotry and ignorance in the country. If unchecked, this fire runs the danger of extending to proportions that we see in some other Muslim countries, hampering our international relations and jeopardizing our image as a ‘moderate Muslim nation’ that can serve as an example for others. We hope that this government will be prudent in taking a decision on this matter since it is not just an issue of freedom of expression but one that goes to the very fabric of who we are as a nation.