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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

[mukto-mona] Review: Film about Tamil Muslim Women's Struggle




 

Film Review

 

Name of the Film: Shifting Prophecy

Director: Merajur Rahman Baruah

Produced by: Public Service Broadcasting Trust

Duration: 30 minutes

Reviewed by: Yoginder Sikand

 

 

Countering the stereotypical image of Muslim women as silent victims of patriarchy, the award-winning film 'Shifting Prophecy' highlights the struggle launched by a group of Tamil Muslim women, led by the charismatic Daud Shareefa Khanum, to have their muffled voices heard and to fight misogyny in the name of Islam.

 

The film traces the origins of STEPS, a women's group based in the town of Puddukotai in Tamil Nadu, and goes on to detail its remarkable efforts in mobilizing Muslim women for their rights. It focuses in particular on Khanum and her own story—the daughter of a Tamil Muslim couple who got separated soon after her birth, who, defying all odds, went on to study at the Aligarh Muslim University and then, on her return to Tamil Nadu, immersed herself wholeheartedly in seeking to redress and protest against the grievances of her fellow Muslim women.

 

Footage of public rallies bringing together large numbers of these women, burkha-clad or demurely dressed in dupattas wound round their heads, depict the traumas that many of them have undergone. Breaking the veil of silence that has been sought to be imposed on them and defying deeply-rooted patriarchal customs, these women boldly relate their heart-rending tales—of being married off to drunkards, drug-addicts, womanizers and even, in one case, a murderer, against their will, of suffering beatings, demands for exorbitant dowries and brutal torture, and off being cast away by the mere pronouncement of the word talaq—now, thanks to new technology, even through email and SMS. A common theme runs through their tragic stories—the total indifference to their plight, simply on account of them being women, of jamaat committees, consisting entirely of males and based in local mosques, that generally arbitrate in cases of marital dispute.  

 

The film then shifts to outlining the story of the origins of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Women's Jamaat, led by the redoubtable Khanum, who has received numerous awards for her work. Khanum describes how the failure of the mosque-based jamaat committees to sensitively respond to women's issues forced her and her colleagues to set up their own all-women's jamaat some years ago.  Their jamaat meets once a month, where women collectively study the Quran themselves (free from patriarchal misinterpretations), and deal with cases of marital disputes and other such problems that women face. So far, Khanum and her colleagues have taken up some 10,000 petitions, trying to solve them through mutual consultation or, if that fails, through the police and the courts.

 

To galvanise their work, Khanum and her team are now in the process of setting up their own women's mosque, where they can pray (in contrast to other mosques, where, contrary to the practice at the time of the Prophet Muhammad, women are generally debarred from worshipping), and discuss their own issues and problems. At the same time, the group carries on with its demand that existing mosque jamaat committees should also have women's representatives, something that is totally absent today.

 

Accused by traditionalist clerics (some of who appear in the film) of being 'anti-Islamic', Khanum repeatedly clarifies that she and her colleagues are all acting within the Islamic framework, demanding the rights that Islam has given women but which Muslim men, impelled by a distorted interpretation of the faith, have snatched from them. 'Many Muslim women are even denied the right to their own identity, the freedom to express themselves, their self-respect, all this based on wrong interpretations of Islam,' she stresses. Dowry, forced marriage, arbitrary divorce, wife-beating and denying women the right to worship in mosques—all of these, she points out, have no sanction in Islam. The film reinforces this claim with a short interview with the noted Mumbai-based Islamic scholar, Asghar Ali Engineer, who expresses his solidarity with Khanum and her group.

 

Since her group's demands are all perfectly Islamically-legitimate, Khanum insists, the issue is not a religious one, unlike what her detractors argue, Khanum insists. 'Its simply about power', she claims—some men, who have for long misused Islam for their own power, just don't fancy the idea of power slipping out of their hands. That, in short, is the crux of this extremely inspiring film.




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[mukto-mona] LISTEN TO THE MUSLIM WOMAN’S VOICE: by Zakia Soman




LISTEN TO THE MUSLIM WOMAN'S VOICE
 
By Zakia Soman
 
India's largest minority population lives in poverty and socio-economic exclusion even after 62 years of Independence. Muslims live in ghettos across the country with a persistent feeling of fear and insecurity. According to the Sachar Committee, around 4% of Muslims have managed to become graduates; Muslims have a very thin presence in banks, universities and in Government jobs. This sort of socio-economic backwardness could not have taken place overnight. Successive Governments have failed in their responsibility to enable Muslims to participate in India's democracy. The nexus between the vote managers posing as community leaders and the supposedly secular political parties has ensured that the Muslim community remains mired in poverty, illiteracy, backwardness and insecurity. Living with communalism has become the fate of the ordinary Muslim. Since 1947 the community has been pushed to the margins, so much so that some experts feel that they are the Dalits of tomorrow. Worse, unlike the Dalits, Muslims do not have any legacy of social mobilisation and political consciousness. The Dalits were fortunate to have visionaries like B.R. Ambedkar and Jotiba Phule. Muslims have no leadership worth the name; and whoever claims to be a community leader should own up to the all-round failure.
There are two important reasons, among others, for this dismal situation. One, the failure of the state to fulfil its welfare responsibility towards citizens in spite of the guarantees given by the Constitution; and two, the failure of the Muslim leadership, if one believes it exists.
We are all aware how our democracy is marred by a corrupt and insincere polity which has no interest in the welfare of any of its excluded citizens, be it the Dalits, the Adivasis, the Muslims, the labour or the women. In the case of Muslims this is coupled with the failure to safeguard their lives and properties from communal violence. The discrimination faced by Muslims because of communal mindsets, particularly among the police and sections of the bureaucracy, is a commonly lived reality. Why else would the Sachar Committee recommend a full-fledged sensitisation programme? The community has little or no access to welfare schemes largely because of this communal mindset, apart from a general lack of education within the community. The rise of communal and fascist political parties has added to Muslim fear and insecurity.
The second reason — lack of leadership — is equally important and has far-reaching implications.
It is agreed that in a diverse country like ours Muslims are not a monolithic community. There are Urdu speaking Muslims, just as there are Tamil Muslims and Bengali Muslims. There are Sunnis, Shias, low castes and OBCs. And then there are men, women and the youth including girls and boys. Apart from faith there is another common factor that has acquired a huge importance in recent times. It is about how they are perceived by the larger world as a community: "Muslims are dirty; Muslims are backward; Muslims are not patriotic; Muslims are terrorists."
While the challenges faced by the community are of Herculean proportions, the fractured Muslim leadership neither has the commitment nor the competence to address these problems. They are obsessed with non-substantive and seemingly emotive issues. Unfortunately, it suits various Governments that no real demands are made for education, jobs, financial assistance, health facilities, security, etc. All that the latter have to do is to pander to these dubious elements and thus "take care" of almost 15% of the Indian population. The community has paid a huge price because of this. The leadership is not challenged and the Government gets away without fulfilling its welfare obligations.
Why does the Muslim leadership have to be of a particular variety? On issues concerning Muslims, why does the Government consult primarily those who have religious identities? Why does the mainstream media concentrate on highlighting the opinion of a few men with beards and skull-caps? Why do all these people have to be men? Why has everybody forgotten about the Muslim women who comprise 50% of the community? How can any opinion that leaves out half the community be relied upon? No wonder the Muslim leadership has failed to find solutions to the pressing issues.
As for the question mark on the patriotism of Muslims, the question mark is actually on the Indianness of some of the self-styled guardians of the Indian nation. The truth is that Muslims are as Indian as anybody else. The debate on this issue is humbug generated by vested interests clad either in saffron or green. Are you a Muslim first or an Indian is a non-substantive question raised with mala fide intentions and is best ignored.
In spite of the prevailing situation there has been a sure and steady stirring within the community. There are ordinary citizens who want to do something for the community and society. They are teachers, students, businesspersons, professionals, and most importantly, women — people who have multiple identities like most other Indians. Thousands of ordinary Muslim women spread across the country are working tirelessly towards meaningful and responsible participation in India's democracy. They believe in the values of equality, justice and democracy enshrined in the Constitution. They are working to make democracy a reality. Most of them have struggled to survive difficult personal and social circumstances and are now standing by others like them. Gujarat 2002 is a dark blot on the history of independent India, as is 1984. But most people may not be aware of a positive fallout of 2002. The way the riot-affected women of Gujarat have fought the battle for justice is historic. It is a pity that our patriarchal leaders do not feel the need to talk about this. "Hume insaf chahiye, madad nahi [We want justice, not help]," was an assertion we heard in Gujarat repeatedly. Even as the larger community was dejected and resigned to its fate as almost second-class citizens, it was the women who continued the fight for justice. They said, "Can't we go to the Supreme Court? Can't we go to Parliament?" When innocent boys were picked up under the draconian POTA, thousands of them came out on the streets of Ahmedabad and bravely demanded the arrest of the culprits, some of whom were sitting members in the State Government. Similar incidents took place in Mumbai following the 1992 riots, and in other places.
The story has only grown in 2009. Thousands of Muslim women activists are struggling to bring to the fore the community's sane, alternative and progressive voice. These women are demanding a comprehensive implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations, even as they are working to disseminate its findings. They are asking Government officers what they have done for them. They are using Right to Information to enforce accountability in various Government institutions. Slowly but clearly a collective feminine voice is emerging: we too are human beings and want to be recognised. We want jobs, we want schools for our children, we want a life of dignity. We want security and safety. We want respect and we want to respect all. We want a world where there is space for all, irrespective of religion, caste and sex. We want freedom for ourselves and our sisters and brothers. We won't tolerate the diktat of some self-appointed leaders. We oppose them as much as we oppose the Hindutva communalists. We are determined to fight the communalists and the patriarchal fanatics with equal resolution, because for us it is a question of life and death. God has endowed us with the ability to think and made us capable of making our own decisions; and we make decisions that are in our interests and in the interests of our families, our society and the world. We will not tolerate injustice and we will not allow injustice to take place around us. We will fight for our rights. We will carry out our responsibilities as the citizens of our country and participate in the affairs of the world.
It is not religion that has treated Muslim women unjustly, but the supposedly religious men. The Muslim woman has been treated unfairly by the distorted interpretations of Islam's religious texts by some ulemas. What is most abominable is that these ulemas have made it a habit of dispersing injustice in the name of religion. I, for one, like thousand others, do not want to get into the details about which line, which verse, which chapter prevents a woman from doing this or that. I refuse to play this power game. I do not have to be a scholar to know that my God is just; I do not have to go to a seminary to know that I am as equal as anyone else in front of my God. I do not need dubious experts to tell me what is right and what is wrong for me, for I rely on my common sense and my heart. It is a matter between me and my God and I refuse to recognise the middlemen.
Isn't Islam a religion of justice, equality, kindness and humanity? How can then some Muslims be more equal than others? How can Muslim men be more equal than Muslim women? How can privileges be heaped on one section while another section is excluded? This is discrimination, this is injustice. And it is common knowledge that discrimination and injustice are un-Islamic
Zakia Soman is a founder member of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (Indian Muslim Women's Movement'). She can be contacted on LISTEN TO THE MUSLIM WOMAN'S VOICE by Zakia Soman
 
Women offer prayers during Eid al-Fitr at a school ground in Chennai on 21 September 2009 TEXT SIZE:
S|M|L
 
 
India's largest minority population lives in poverty and socio-economic exclusion even after 62 years of Independence. Muslims live in ghettos across the country with a persistent feeling of fear and insecurity. According to the Sachar Committee, around 4% of Muslims have managed to become graduates; Muslims have a very thin presence in banks, universities and in Government jobs. This sort of socio-economic backwardness could not have taken place overnight. Successive Governments have failed in their responsibility to enable Muslims to participate in India's democracy. The nexus between the vote managers posing as community leaders and the supposedly secular political parties has ensured that the Muslim community remains mired in poverty, illiteracy, backwardness and insecurity. Living with communalism has become the fate of the ordinary Muslim. Since 1947 the community has been pushed to the margins, so much so that some experts feel that they are the Dalits of tomorrow. Worse, unlike the Dalits, Muslims do not have any legacy of social mobilisation and political consciousness. The Dalits were fortunate to have visionaries like B.R. Ambedkar and Jotiba Phule. Muslims have no leadership worth the name; and whoever claims to be a community leader should own up to the all-round failure.
There are two important reasons, among others, for this dismal situation. One, the failure of the state to fulfil its welfare responsibility towards citizens in spite of the guarantees given by the Constitution; and two, the failure of the Muslim leadership, if one believes it exists.
We are all aware how our democracy is marred by a corrupt and insincere polity which has no interest in the welfare of any of its excluded citizens, be it the Dalits, the Adivasis, the Muslims, the labour or the women. In the case of Muslims this is coupled with the failure to safeguard their lives and properties from communal violence. The discrimination faced by Muslims because of communal mindsets, particularly among the police and sections of the bureaucracy, is a commonly lived reality. Why else would the Sachar Committee recommend a full-fledged sensitisation programme? The community has little or no access to welfare schemes largely because of this communal mindset, apart from a general lack of education within the community. The rise of communal and fascist political parties has added to Muslim fear and insecurity.
The second reason — lack of leadership — is equally important and has far-reaching implications.
It is agreed that in a diverse country like ours Muslims are not a monolithic community. There are Urdu speaking Muslims, just as there are Tamil Muslims and Bengali Muslims. There are Sunnis, Shias, low castes and OBCs. And then there are men, women and the youth including girls and boys. Apart from faith there is another common factor that has acquired a huge importance in recent times. It is about how they are perceived by the larger world as a community: "Muslims are dirty; Muslims are backward; Muslims are not patriotic; Muslims are terrorists."
While the challenges faced by the community are of Herculean proportions, the fractured Muslim leadership neither has the commitment nor the competence to address these problems. They are obsessed with non-substantive and seemingly emotive issues. Unfortunately, it suits various Governments that no real demands are made for education, jobs, financial assistance, health facilities, security, etc. All that the latter have to do is to pander to these dubious elements and thus "take care" of almost 15% of the Indian population. The community has paid a huge price because of this. The leadership is not challenged and the Government gets away without fulfilling its welfare obligations.
Why does the Muslim leadership have to be of a particular variety? On issues concerning Muslims, why does the Government consult primarily those who have religious identities? Why does the mainstream media concentrate on highlighting the opinion of a few men with beards and skull-caps? Why do all these people have to be men? Why has everybody forgotten about the Muslim women who comprise 50% of the community? How can any opinion that leaves out half the community be relied upon? No wonder the Muslim leadership has failed to find solutions to the pressing issues.
As for the question mark on the patriotism of Muslims, the question mark is actually on the Indianness of some of the self-styled guardians of the Indian nation. The truth is that Muslims are as Indian as anybody else. The debate on this issue is humbug generated by vested interests clad either in saffron or green. Are you a Muslim first or an Indian is a non-substantive question raised with mala fide intentions and is best ignored.
In spite of the prevailing situation there has been a sure and steady stirring within the community. There are ordinary citizens who want to do something for the community and society. They are teachers, students, businesspersons, professionals, and most importantly, women — people who have multiple identities like most other Indians. Thousands of ordinary Muslim women spread across the country are working tirelessly towards meaningful and responsible participation in India's democracy. They believe in the values of equality, justice and democracy enshrined in the Constitution. They are working to make democracy a reality. Most of them have struggled to survive difficult personal and social circumstances and are now standing by others like them. Gujarat 2002 is a dark blot on the history of independent India, as is 1984. But most people may not be aware of a positive fallout of 2002. The way the riot-affected women of Gujarat have fought the battle for justice is historic. It is a pity that our patriarchal leaders do not feel the need to talk about this. "Hume insaf chahiye, madad nahi [We want justice, not help]," was an assertion we heard in Gujarat repeatedly. Even as the larger community was dejected and resigned to its fate as almost second-class citizens, it was the women who continued the fight for justice. They said, "Can't we go to the Supreme Court? Can't we go to Parliament?" When innocent boys were picked up under the draconian POTA, thousands of them came out on the streets of Ahmedabad and bravely demanded the arrest of the culprits, some of whom were sitting members in the State Government. Similar incidents took place in Mumbai following the 1992 riots, and in other places.
The story has only grown in 2009. Thousands of Muslim women activists are struggling to bring to the fore the community's sane, alternative and progressive voice. These women are demanding a comprehensive implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations, even as they are working to disseminate its findings. They are asking Government officers what they have done for them. They are using Right to Information to enforce accountability in various Government institutions. Slowly but clearly a collective feminine voice is emerging: we too are human beings and want to be recognised. We want jobs, we want schools for our children, we want a life of dignity. We want security and safety. We want respect and we want to respect all. We want a world where there is space for all, irrespective of religion, caste and sex. We want freedom for ourselves and our sisters and brothers. We won't tolerate the diktat of some self-appointed leaders. We oppose them as much as we oppose the Hindutva communalists. We are determined to fight the communalists and the patriarchal fanatics with equal resolution, because for us it is a question of life and death. God has endowed us with the ability to think and made us capable of making our own decisions; and we make decisions that are in our interests and in the interests of our families, our society and the world. We will not tolerate injustice and we will not allow injustice to take place around us. We will fight for our rights. We will carry out our responsibilities as the citizens of our country and participate in the affairs of the world.
It is not religion that has treated Muslim women unjustly, but the supposedly religious men. The Muslim woman has been treated unfairly by the distorted interpretations of Islam's religious texts by some ulemas. What is most abominable is that these ulemas have made it a habit of dispersing injustice in the name of religion. I, for one, like thousand others, do not want to get into the details about which line, which verse, which chapter prevents a woman from doing this or that. I refuse to play this power game. I do not have to be a scholar to know that my God is just; I do not have to go to a seminary to know that I am as equal as anyone else in front of my God. I do not need dubious experts to tell me what is right and what is wrong for me, for I rely on my common sense and my heart. It is a matter between me and my God and I refuse to recognise the middlemen.
Isn't Islam a religion of justice, equality, kindness and humanity? How can then some Muslims be more equal than others? How can Muslim men be more equal than Muslim women? How can privileges be heaped on one section while another section is excluded? This is discrimination, this is injustice. And it is common knowledge that discrimination and injustice are un-Islamic [¼]
Zakia Soman is a founder member of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan ('Indian Muslim Women's Movement'). She can be contacted on LISTEN TO THE MUSLIM WOMAN'S VOICE by Zakia Soman
 
Women offer prayers during Eid al-Fitr at a school ground in Chennai on 21 September 2009 TEXT SIZE:
S|M|L
 
 
India's largest minority population lives in poverty and socio-economic exclusion even after 62 years of Independence. Muslims live in ghettos across the country with a persistent feeling of fear and insecurity. According to the Sachar Committee, around 4% of Muslims have managed to become graduates; Muslims have a very thin presence in banks, universities and in Government jobs. This sort of socio-economic backwardness could not have taken place overnight. Successive Governments have failed in their responsibility to enable Muslims to participate in India's democracy. The nexus between the vote managers posing as community leaders and the supposedly secular political parties has ensured that the Muslim community remains mired in poverty, illiteracy, backwardness and insecurity. Living with communalism has become the fate of the ordinary Muslim. Since 1947 the community has been pushed to the margins, so much so that some experts feel that they are the Dalits of tomorrow. Worse, unlike the Dalits, Muslims do not have any legacy of social mobilisation and political consciousness. The Dalits were fortunate to have visionaries like B.R. Ambedkar and Jotiba Phule. Muslims have no leadership worth the name; and whoever claims to be a community leader should own up to the all-round failure.
There are two important reasons, among others, for this dismal situation. One, the failure of the state to fulfil its welfare responsibility towards citizens in spite of the guarantees given by the Constitution; and two, the failure of the Muslim leadership, if one believes it exists.
We are all aware how our democracy is marred by a corrupt and insincere polity which has no interest in the welfare of any of its excluded citizens, be it the Dalits, the Adivasis, the Muslims, the labour or the women. In the case of Muslims this is coupled with the failure to safeguard their lives and properties from communal violence. The discrimination faced by Muslims because of communal mindsets, particularly among the police and sections of the bureaucracy, is a commonly lived reality. Why else would the Sachar Committee recommend a full-fledged sensitisation programme? The community has little or no access to welfare schemes largely because of this communal mindset, apart from a general lack of education within the community. The rise of communal and fascist political parties has added to Muslim fear and insecurity.
The second reason — lack of leadership — is equally important and has far-reaching implications.
It is agreed that in a diverse country like ours Muslims are not a monolithic community. There are Urdu speaking Muslims, just as there are Tamil Muslims and Bengali Muslims. There are Sunnis, Shias, low castes and OBCs. And then there are men, women and the youth including girls and boys. Apart from faith there is another common factor that has acquired a huge importance in recent times. It is about how they are perceived by the larger world as a community: "Muslims are dirty; Muslims are backward; Muslims are not patriotic; Muslims are terrorists."
While the challenges faced by the community are of Herculean proportions, the fractured Muslim leadership neither has the commitment nor the competence to address these problems. They are obsessed with non-substantive and seemingly emotive issues. Unfortunately, it suits various Governments that no real demands are made for education, jobs, financial assistance, health facilities, security, etc. All that the latter have to do is to pander to these dubious elements and thus "take care" of almost 15% of the Indian population. The community has paid a huge price because of this. The leadership is not challenged and the Government gets away without fulfilling its welfare obligations.
Why does the Muslim leadership have to be of a particular variety? On issues concerning Muslims, why does the Government consult primarily those who have religious identities? Why does the mainstream media concentrate on highlighting the opinion of a few men with beards and skull-caps? Why do all these people have to be men? Why has everybody forgotten about the Muslim women who comprise 50% of the community? How can any opinion that leaves out half the community be relied upon? No wonder the Muslim leadership has failed to find solutions to the pressing issues.
As for the question mark on the patriotism of Muslims, the question mark is actually on the Indianness of some of the self-styled guardians of the Indian nation. The truth is that Muslims are as Indian as anybody else. The debate on this issue is humbug generated by vested interests clad either in saffron or green. Are you a Muslim first or an Indian is a non-substantive question raised with mala fide intentions and is best ignored.
In spite of the prevailing situation there has been a sure and steady stirring within the community. There are ordinary citizens who want to do something for the community and society. They are teachers, students, businesspersons, professionals, and most importantly, women — people who have multiple identities like most other Indians. Thousands of ordinary Muslim women spread across the country are working tirelessly towards meaningful and responsible participation in India's democracy. They believe in the values of equality, justice and democracy enshrined in the Constitution. They are working to make democracy a reality. Most of them have struggled to survive difficult personal and social circumstances and are now standing by others like them. Gujarat 2002 is a dark blot on the history of independent India, as is 1984. But most people may not be aware of a positive fallout of 2002. The way the riot-affected women of Gujarat have fought the battle for justice is historic. It is a pity that our patriarchal leaders do not feel the need to talk about this. "Hume insaf chahiye, madad nahi [We want justice, not help]," was an assertion we heard in Gujarat repeatedly. Even as the larger community was dejected and resigned to its fate as almost second-class citizens, it was the women who continued the fight for justice. They said, "Can't we go to the Supreme Court? Can't we go to Parliament?" When innocent boys were picked up under the draconian POTA, thousands of them came out on the streets of Ahmedabad and bravely demanded the arrest of the culprits, some of whom were sitting members in the State Government. Similar incidents took place in Mumbai following the 1992 riots, and in other places.
The story has only grown in 2009. Thousands of Muslim women activists are struggling to bring to the fore the community's sane, alternative and progressive voice. These women are demanding a comprehensive implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations, even as they are working to disseminate its findings. They are asking Government officers what they have done for them. They are using Right to Information to enforce accountability in various Government institutions. Slowly but clearly a collective feminine voice is emerging: we too are human beings and want to be recognised. We want jobs, we want schools for our children, we want a life of dignity. We want security and safety. We want respect and we want to respect all. We want a world where there is space for all, irrespective of religion, caste and sex. We want freedom for ourselves and our sisters and brothers. We won't tolerate the diktat of some self-appointed leaders. We oppose them as much as we oppose the Hindutva communalists. We are determined to fight the communalists and the patriarchal fanatics with equal resolution, because for us it is a question of life and death. God has endowed us with the ability to think and made us capable of making our own decisions; and we make decisions that are in our interests and in the interests of our families, our society and the world. We will not tolerate injustice and we will not allow injustice to take place around us. We will fight for our rights. We will carry out our responsibilities as the citizens of our country and participate in the affairs of the world.
It is not religion that has treated Muslim women unjustly, but the supposedly religious men. The Muslim woman has been treated unfairly by the distorted interpretations of Islam's religious texts by some ulemas. What is most abominable is that these ulemas have made it a habit of dispersing injustice in the name of religion. I, for one, like thousand others, do not want to get into the details about which line, which verse, which chapter prevents a woman from doing this or that. I refuse to play this power game. I do not have to be a scholar to know that my God is just; I do not have to go to a seminary to know that I am as equal as anyone else in front of my God. I do not need dubious experts to tell me what is right and what is wrong for me, for I rely on my common sense and my heart. It is a matter between me and my God and I refuse to recognise the middlemen.
Isn't Islam a religion of justice, equality, kindness and humanity? How can then some Muslims be more equal than others? How can Muslim men be more equal than Muslim women? How can privileges be heaped on one section while another section is excluded? This is discrimination, this is injustice. And it is common knowledge that discrimination and injustice are un-Islamic.
=========================================================================================
 
Zakia Soman is a founder member of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan. She can be contacted on zakiasoman@yahoo.com



__._,_.___


****************************************************
Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration: 
Call For Articles:

http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68

http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190




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[mukto-mona] Fwd: The Man who saved the World [Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov]



 
 

From: jcs3366@rcn.com
To: Kirfani@aol.com
Sent: 12/2/2009 7:46:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Re: Fwd: The Man who saved the World [Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov]
 


Wiki entry:

"Petrov... at no time did he have the authority or the means to launch a retaliatory nuclear attack."

The Man who saved the World:

"He took some time to think and decided not to give the order of a nuclear attack against America."


__._,_.___


****************************************************
Mukto Mona plans for a Grand Darwin Day Celebration: 
Call For Articles:

http://mukto-mona.com/wordpress/?p=68

http://mukto-mona.com/banga_blog/?p=585

****************************************************

VISIT MUKTO-MONA WEB-SITE : http://www.mukto-mona.com/

****************************************************

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190




Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
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[mukto-mona] Fwd: FW: The world's biggest cruise ship



 
 

From: bobsahni@gmail.com
To: Kirfani@aol.com, mansoorirfani@hotmail.com, suroosh@yahoo.com, sahnirs@kpcl.net, sbjay2000@yahoo.com, jasdeep_singhs@yahoo.com, gurbuxalag@hotmail.com, preetmohan@yahoo.com, specexim@aol.com, mahendru@aol.com
Sent: 12/2/2009 7:25:43 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: FW: The world's biggest cruise ship
 


---------- Forwarded message ----------


Subject: The world's biggest cruise ship    -  LAUNCHED LAST WEEK


 

 

Taller than Nelson's Column and five times heavier than the Titanic... world's largest cruise ship Oasis Of The Seas is prepared for grand unveiling in Florida

The world's biggest cruise ship - boasting its own open air park and amphitheatre - will be officially unveiled today.

The credit-crunch busting 225,000 tonne leviathan called Oasis of the Seas is set to be shown to the media and public at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, by American company Royal Caribbean.

The inside of the 1,187ft long ship, which can carry 6,296 passengers, has been a closely guarded secret as it travelled through the Baltic and across the Atlantic for its launch.

Oasis of the Seas

Blaze Nightclub

Entertainment: With options like the Aqua Theatre (left) and the Blaze Nightclub (right), passengers are unlikely to become bored on the Oasis of the Seas

Oasis of the Seas

Leviathan: The vessel weighs 225,000 tonnes and cost £800million to build

Sporty: There is a rock-climbing wall on board the giant vessel, which also boasts its own open air park and amphitheatre

Sporty: There is a rock-climbing wall on board the giant vessel, which also boasts its own open air park and amphitheatre

It even made a brief stop in the Solent earlier this month, but no-one was allowed a sneak preview.

The launch will see a series of stars shipped in. Pop singer Rihanna has already performed a concert on board and two of the godmothers for the ship are British actress Jane Seymour and pop star Gloria Estefan.

The £800million vessel is 40 per cent bigger than any other cruise ship afloat and it has the 'Central Park' style open air space aboard about size of a football pitch with its own micro-climate and trees.

It means that guests can have the option of a sea or tree view and 254 rooms with balconies overlook the park.

Oasis of the Seas dining room

Oasis of the Seas dining room

Ornate: Passengers can dine in style on board the ship's numerous restaurants

 

Oasis of calm: An ornate lobby on board the sprawling ship

Oasis of calm: An ornate lobby on board the sprawling ship

 

Oasis of the Seas top deck

Oasis of the Seas top deck

Sun worshipping: There are plenty of decks from which to top up your tan

In addition, there is a bar called Rising Tide that moves between three of the 16 passenger decks.

So passengers cannot get lost, a computerised room finder on each floor near the lifts makes sure they can find their way home through the ship's seven neighbourhoods.

It also has a 750-seat AquaTheater modelled on an ancient Greek amphitheatre, located at the stern of the ship.

It allows guests on board the chance of lounging around the biggest pool afloat in the day and going back at night for shows including acrobatics, synchronised swimming, water ballet, and professional high-diving.

Other amenities include loft-style apartments and an ice rink, plus the usual pools, 24 restaurants, a casino and even a carousel.

City on the sea: The ship's Royal Promenade will be a bustling meeting point for passengers

City on the sea: The ship's Royal Promenade will be a bustling meeting point for passengers

 

No expense spared: A vintage car on show in the ship's thoroughfare

No expense spared: A vintage car on show in the ship's thoroughfare

The ship has surf machines and climbing walls as the company tries to lure younger people with children to cruise.

Oasis of the Seas, which was built in Finland, is so big its exhaust stack retracts so it can pass under bridges as it travels the world. Its owners claim it is the most technologically advanced cruise ship in the world.

Cruising continues to grow in popularity in Britain and America despite the recession with Royal Caribbean building another ship of the same size due to enter service next year.

This represents a £1.6billion investment in the industry by the company with competitors like P&O and Cunard also expanding their fleets in Britain and America in recent years.

Sea of dreams: The plush interior of the Grand Suite

Sea of dreams: The plush interior of the Grand Suite

 

Comfortable: The suite features an upper floor and a downstairs lounge area

Comfortable: The suite features an upper floor and a downstairs lounge area

Luxurious: The relaxing interior of the ship's Vitality At Sea spa and fitness centre

Luxurious: The relaxing interior of the ship's Vitality At Sea spa and fitness centre

However, the recession is biting into the industry with new ship launches dramatically down this year.

Royal Caribbean said it has not sold out all its cruises on the new ship.

However, Robin Shaw, managing director, Royal Caribbean International, in the UK and Ireland:

'Currently, bookings from UK guests for Royal Caribbean sailings in 2010 are 50 per cent up compared with this time last year.

'Of all the UK guests booked to sail in the Caribbean in 2010 to date, 40 per cent of those UK guests are sailing onboard Oasis of the Seas.'

Sleek: Passengers can take advantage of full salon facilities while they cruise the world

Sleek: Passengers can take advantage of full salon facilities while they cruise the world

Chairman and chief executive of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, Richard Fain said the company would have liked not to have launched the ship during a recession.

'This is not the best of time to do it but it has actually worked quite well,' he said. 'People are beginning to come out of the funk that was 2008 and 2009 and even in these difficult times the ship is performing well economically.

'The cruise industry continues to do better than one might have expected given this economy.'
Mr Fain said the company was offering people amazing choice with the ship.

'People are willing to pay for an unique experience,' he added.
Despite the downturn, figures from the Passenger Shipping Association project that 1.55 million Britons are expected to take a cruise holiday in 2009 - up from 1.35 million last year.

By 2012 it estimated 2.2 million Britons will take a cruise. This is a doubling of the UK cruise industry in 10 years.

Prices start from £1,786 for a nine-night eastern Caribbean fly-cruise on board the ship.

Changing view: There will be an ever-changing landscape to observe from the ship's numerous balconies

Changing view: There will be an ever-changing landscape to observe from the ship's numerous balconies




 

 

 




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[mukto-mona] Bebosa pirgiri [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from mahfuz haque included below]

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[mukto-mona] Fwd: Vote for "Who will be the Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2009?"



 
 

From: anima_mundi@sbcglobal.net
To: anima_mundi@sbcglobal.net
Sent: 12/2/2009 5:37:26 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Vote for "Who will be the Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2009?"
 
Please cast your Vote for Time magazine's Person of the Year 2009 Award! So far, Iranian protestors rank highest on the list. Let's keep it that way!
 


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[ALOCHONA] BSF played key role in formation of Bangladesh



BSF played key role in formation of Bangladesh, says new book




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RE: [mukto-mona] Re: [khabor.com] MoAssghar aka Nidal Hasan [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from sefat ullah included below]


You are right Asghar bhai,
 
I marked the spelling too. it is not real Asghar Bhai.
 
Siraj Shikhdar was not a Terrorist at all, he was a real freedomfighter and a real patriot.
 
In politics there must be opposition parties, opposition doesn't mean terrorism.
 
The people those who are telling that siraj Shikhdar was a terrorist, they don't know real history at all.
In 1971 Pakistani Government and their colaboretors also called Sk. mujib and all Dreedom Fighters as Terrorists.
 
We the People of Bangladesh are demanding Justice of all the Political killings Like Col. Taher, Siraj Shikhdar and so on.
 
At the same Time I demand the Exicution of the Mujib Killars not by killing by hanging or shooting but by life term improsonment.
And from now in Bangladesh Exicution of all the verdicts must be implimented only by life term imprisonment not by killing.
 
Exicution by hanging or killing is inhumanic.
 
Best regards.
Sefat Ullah

 
 

 



 

To: anis90242@yahoo.com; moassghar@yahoo.com; mirza.syed@gmail.com; khabor@yahoogroups.com; syguia@aol.com; malamgir1@aol.com; hnhtex99@yahoo.com; turkman@sbcglobal.net; md.dabiruddin@yahoo.com; mozumder@aol.com; akhtergolam@gmail.com; saifpacific@yahoo.com; washington.field@ic.fbi.gov; mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
From: msa7011@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 10:24:29 -0800
Subject: [mukto-mona] Re: [khabor.com] MoAssghar aka Nidal Hasan

 
I think some miscreant is using the distorted form of my last name to mislead good members of this forum. I have never seen anyone spelling his name as "Assghar."
 
This could be one of the Satans we already know!
 
Mohammad Asghar
 



From: Anis Rahman <anis90242@yahoo.com>
To: moassghar@yahoo.com; khurshid <mirza.syed@gmail.com>; khabor@yahoogroups.com; Ashraf <syguia@aol.com>; asghar <msa7011@yahoo.com>; Alamgir <malamgir1@aol.com>; iftikhar <hnhtex99@yahoo.com>; turkman@sbcglobal.net; dabir <md.dabiruddin@yahoo.com>; MOZUMDER <mozumder@aol.com>; Farid <akhtergolam@gmail.com>; "saifpacific@yahoo.com" <saifpacific@yahoo.com>; FBI <washington.field@ic.fbi.gov>; mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, December 1, 2009 9:58:23 AM
Subject: Re: [khabor.com] MoAssghar aka Nidal Hasan

:)

--- On Tue, 12/1/09, SAIF Davdas <islam1234@msn.com> wrote:

From: SAIF Davdas <islam1234@msn.com>
Subject: [khabor.com] MoAssghar aka Nidal Hasan
To: moassghar@yahoo.com, "khurshid" <mirza.syed@gmail.com>, "Khabor" <khabor@yahoogroups.com>, "Ashraf" <syguia@aol.com>, "asghar" <msa7011@yahoo.com>, "Alamgir" <malamgir1@aol.com>, "iftikhar" <hnhtex99@yahoo.com>, turkman@sbcglobal.net, "dabir" <md.dabiruddin@yahoo.com>, "MOZUMDER" <mozumder@aol.com>, "Farid" <akhtergolam@gmail.com>, "saifpacific@yahoo.com" <saifpacific@yahoo.com>, "FBI" <washington.field@ic.fbi.gov>, mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 4:23 AM

 

I ask you, Hazrat Assghar, aka, Hazrat Abu Nidal Hasan--O slave of Allah, before slaying me and Kamran Mirza—you did not shout Allahu-Akbar. Why my son? Have you lost your marbles? I suspect, the only reason you did not shout Allahu Akbar is because you knew FBI would come after you with vengeance? Is that right? Dear Forum Members---I request you to visit my post again on Siraj Sikder and tell me where did I insult Hazrat Assghar? Wake up friends and see another Abu Nidal Hasan among you. He is about to blow himself up!


SaifDevdas
islam1234@msn.com


Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 01:52:00 -0800
From: moassghar@yahoo. com
Subject: 'Bongeshor' Seikh Mujib
To: islam1234@msn. com; mirza.syed@gmail. com
CC: khabor@yahoogroups. com; dahuk@yahoogroups. com; alochona@yahoogroup s.com; ajmol.ali@treas. state.nj. us; anis90242@yahoo. com; abidbahar@yahoo. com; akhtergolam@ gmail..com; veirsmill@yahoo. com; dsarkar1@hotmail. com; shah.mahmood@ navy.mil; banglarnari@ yahoogroups. com; beautyanwar@ hotmail.com; turkman@sbcglobal. net; tasneembr11@ yahoo.com; malamgir1@aol. com; anisahmed63@ yahoo.com; syguia@aol.com; celeti@aol.com; md.dabiruddin@ yahoo.com; delwar98@hotmail. com; enayet_2000@ yahoo.com; sahannan@sonarbangl adesh.com; hares.sayed@ dc..gov; himu.rozario@ comcast.net; hnhtex99@yahoo. com; inara_islam@ hotmail.com; bd_mailer@yahoo. com; kaljatri@emailme. net; khalidhasan@ hotmail.com; mahbub28se@yahoo. com; mozumder@aol. com; mukto-mona@yahoogro ups.com; captmunir@gmail. com; nizam_moer@sky. com; nzh.biman@gmail. com; imrulalqays@ gmail.com; saifpacific@ yahoo.com

bainchod paki mirza/ devdas, you moderfukers, you did not live in hell in 1974? was you the bustard sons of seikh kamal? who knows .... maybe, maybe your mom got some sprem donatiun from seikh kamal ..... obviously!

You bainchod did not even live in Bangladesh when Seikh kamal was fuking and raping girls in Dahka university? Sulatana was grabbed in daylight and forcely married to bustard seikh kamal. ask anyone who lived in dhaka in 72? Seikh kamal was da bastrd son of mujib. mirza modercod, you did not live in hell in bangladesh in 72-75? Mujib's death was the greatest thing in the history of bangladesh, same as Hitlar's death duirng WWII.

Devdas, pungir put? what you know abt mujib's killing? mujib killed thousands, millions people. mujib was a 3rd class student, he was a 3rd class politician. only thing, mujib liked power, same as hitlar. only difference between mujib and hitlar is: mujib could not fuk eva brown! mungir put devdas do not even live in banglades, you did not suffer the death of hunger. mujib killed more people than pakis in 74. feminein 74, was a total failure of mujib. kombol chora gazi golum mostafa was mujib's dulabhai. fazlul hoq moni, mujib's bhatija. this is mujib's minsters. mujib wanted to be a 'Bongeshor', khanki hasina wanted mujib to be a 'amirul muslimin'. Mujib created nazi party, BAKSAL. Mujib wanted to be 'bongeshor' in 15 August. but, heil hitlar, mujib kiked da buket.

devdas, you quoted mujib "Where is Siraj Sikdar'?
devdas, you should know by now "where is Mujib?"



--- On Tue, 12/1/09, Syed Mirza <mirza.syed@gmail. com> wrote:


On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 2:24 AM, SAIF Davdas <islam1234@msn. com> wrote:
 
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:28:30 -0800
Subject: [khabor.com] Banglar Hitlar - Seikh Mujib

 
Well dumba Ayubi, you gotta understand one thing: if Hasina can keep saying this thing, she is the most successful politician in the history of Bangladesh. BAL is same as Nazi Party, and Hasina is the pathetic liar as Goebells.

I see it's a slap on your face, because, no one is dare to say truth about Mujib from 72-75. Why Mujib died of his own wound, and why people were cheering in 15 October 1975? Anyone talking about Mujib's atrocities, no one!

Dumba Ayubi, you must know Goebells thing: 'if you say a lie 10 times, after 3rd person hearing it become truth'. So, if Ulema Parishad can keep saying things like that the Mujib who caused femine in 74, Seikh Jamal raped Dalim's wife, Seikh Kamal raped & forced marriage Athelete Sultana from DU, Gazi Ghulam Mustafa was a great KombolChora, Abdur Rab Serniabat, minister of Mujib's cabinet was Mujib's in-law. Mujib's cabinet was a sham, it was a family business.

What is so proudful about Mujib? What is so great about Mujib?

Mujib fomed RakshiBahini, same as Hitlar's Swastika, Mujib formed BAKSAL, same as Hitlar's Nazi party, mujib changed the constitution, same as Hitlar's NDP in 1939. Mujib wanted to be a 'Bongeshor' - same as Hitlar 'Heil Hitlar'.

What is Mujib?
Mujib is the greatest Banglar Hitlar.

15 August should be observed as 'Najaat Dibosh' - a day of attonment from Mujib's dictatorship.






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Attachment(s) from sefat ullah

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