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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

[ALOCHONA] Tariq Ramadan - Sakineh, the Roma and Pakistan

Sakineh, the Roma, Pakistan ...

Monday 6 September 2010, by Tariq Ramadan
Sakineh ...

Fifteen years ago I called for a halt to the so-called "Islamic" penalties—corporal punishments, stoning or the death penalty—in Muslim majority countries. The purpose of my appeal was to launch an inter-Muslim debate on the founding texts, the ways in which they are applied, and the social realities that must be taken in account in applying them. It would have taken the form of a full-scale moratorium leading to a wide-ranging debate in the Muslim world.

Many in the Muslim-majority countries—scholars (ulamâ), intellectuals and simple believers—understood and supported this approach. Others, Nicholas Sarkozy and Bernard-Henri Lévy among them, rejected it out of hand with "shock and dismay."

Today, as international headlines focus on the possible stoning in Iran of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the French government has proposed a "moratorium" on capital punishment. The Parisian weekly Politis pungently noted that France has now come around to my position—without admitting it. A fascinating turn of events: either yesterday's scandalized moralists have lost their minds (the very people who labeled me as crazy at the time), or they have finally adopted a reasonable, just and consistent position.

The issue can only be handled, and the reductive, biased and even populist interpretations of the Islamic penal code (hudûd) dealt with preventively. Only an approach that involves the broadest spectrum of Muslim scholars, intellectuals and citizens is likely to lead to concrete results in majority Mulsim societies—providing we actually wish to bring about a true reform.

I oppose and condemn such penalties in any contemporary society, whether in the petro-monarchies, in Iran, or in the poorest countries of the Middle-East, Africa or Asia. For they stand, in the name of Islam, in violation of justice, of dignity and of human rights in societies where judicial systems lack transparency when they are not totally corrupt; or where religion is used for political purposes, or to distinguish themselves from the West. Thus I oppose, and naturally condemn, the stoning of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. It must not take place; it cannot take place.

But I will not sign the petition launched by several French intellectuals. I do not doubt the sincerity of the majority of the signatories, but we must not be misled by the intentions of its main instigators, the Bernard-Henri Lévys, the Marek Halters and the Sihem Habchis—founder of Ni putes, ni soumises—of the French intellectual elite.

Past masters of selective indignation and media manipulation, they now attempt to paper over their guilty silence on other issues. Iran, the West's (and Israel's) worst enemy, must be attacked and not the wealthy hereditary kingdoms and oil-rich sheikhdoms where stoning and judicial killing are practiced with impunity. Not a word about the innocent people of Gaza, nary a petition for the pacifists of the Peace Flotilla. Their hyper-selective condemnations and their political manoeuvres are quite simply stomach turning!

...The Roma...

No less stomach turning is the "lawful" decision to deport the Roma, with the apparent approval of a majority of French citizens—another crudely political gambit by a president who, with dwindling support on the right, the left and in the center, is using dangerously populist policies to troll for votes in the murky waters of the extreme right.

A few days ago France's president proclaimed the distinction between "Citizens" and "citizens", between "old stock" citizens and the rest, who are liable to be stripped of their citizenship; the measure is supported by a majority. Which takes us back to the era of citizenship by appearance, where some people were more French than others, where some French people were subject to scrutiny, and to potential surveillance… French people who are not quite French. Jean-Marie LePen can only be rubbing his hands: the president is promulgating a policy that the extreme right has been promoting for forty years.

All is not well in France; fear stalks the land. How pleasing it is, then, and encouraging, to hear politicians and intellectuals lash out at the shame and disgrace of these policies. How pleasing, and still more encouraging to see the Catholic hierarchy and some Protestant dignitaries raise their voices in protest against the politics of exclusion and mass deportation, and firmly condemn the government's treatment of the Roma. To these bishops and priests, to these men and women, whether well-known or anonymous, we say: you are the pride and dignity of our country, the guardians of its contemporary and historical conscience.

But where have the leaders and the representatives of the Muslim organizations all gone? Where are the promoters of cultural diversity? Why can we not hear their condemnations, their criticisms; why are they not supporting the Roma in their quest for equal rights and full recognition? How can French citizens with a conscience, with a religion, an ethical sense, possibly remain silent in the face of policies that can only be described as inhumane and disgraceful? What fear stops them from condemning the inacceptable? What reduced intelligence causes them to react as Arabs, Blacks or Muslims only when they are dealing with issues involving Arabs, Blacks or with Islam? Their silence is not only without honor; it is a disgrace.

... Pakistan

Flooding, landslides…death, exile, emergency shelters. Images of devastation, horror and sadness… Tens of thousands of dead, millions of homeless, tens of millions displaced. And yet international support has been slow in coming, as though held back by some mysterious form of intertia. The UN and international NGOs have issued repeated calls to underline the seriousness of the disaster and to mobilize urgent support. But that support is still far short of what is needed.

Pakistan's image on the international scene is anything but positive. The country has been linked to the Talibans, to Islamic extremism and to violence. Even in the midst of natural catastrophe, Pakistan seems unable to touch the West's heart or the international conscience. Six years after the tsunami that ravaged principally Indonesia but affected thousands of Western tourists—and whose long-term impact appears less grave than awaits Pakistan—we note that human solidarity and commitment can be influenced far more by variables such as the politics of emotion or today's favorite trend rather than by an informed, universal conscience.

It is as if certain "stereotyped" humans have lost their humanity, as if they were less worthy of rescue and assistance than others. What we see before us is frightening, and yet it is tangible; so real and so true. We can criticize all the powers of the world, all the media, the entire world itself. But in the final anaysis, both question and answer are to be found in each individual conscience. What drives my moral indigation, and my sense of solidarity? My commitment and the causes I support? Is it my social, community, political or religious affilation, or the common dignity of the world's women and men? Am I capable of seeing, beyond skin color and national origin, styles of dress and length of beard, the essential, the intrinsic value and the distress of my fellow humans, or am I the plaything of the kind of emotive attachments that measure how deserving are the victims by how much they resemble me?

To rephrase Montesquieu's question three centuries later, how can one be Pakistani? Good question; sad truth. Solidarity knows no color, no religion, no class. When natural catastrophe strikes, no hair-splitting is necessary. We must support those in need in the most effective way possible. Pakistan needs our support, as does India and China. History will record our dignity only if we have recognized their dignity as no less than ours.

Neither categories nor selectivity; with humanity and determination.

www.tariqramadan.com


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Re: [ALOCHONA] President pardons 21 AL activists in death row

The release of killers of AL are no shocking information. Al is a terrible organization with historyof murder and kidnapping and sheltering criminals. In Bangladesh there is few justice unless you are a strongman.

On Mon Sep 6th, 2010 10:32 PM EDT Isha Khan wrote:

>*President pardons 21 AL activists in death row*
>
>President Zillur Rahman granted clemency to 20 Awami League activists
>sentenced to death for murder are being set free from Dhaka and Rajshahi
>Central jails anytime now.Sadar Upazila Parishad vice-chairman Asadur Rahman
>Asad told UNB yesterday night that documents of the President's granting
>their mercy petitions reached the Dhaka and Rajshahi jails on Thursday. They
>likely to be released today.
>
>Dhaka Central Jail sources confirmed the receipt of clemency order. "We are
>examining the documents. They will be set free tonight or tomorrow," a
>senior jail official told UNB.
>
>Judge Firoze Alam of the Speedy Trial Tribunal of Dhaka had sentenced 21
>people, including Naldanga thana Awami League general secretary SM Feroze on
>August 24, 2006 for murder of Jubo Dal leader Sabbir Hossain Gama, also the
>nephew of former BNP central leader Ruhul Kuddus Talukdar Dulu.
>
>One of the convicts, Akbar Ali, remained fugitive since the incident while
>ten each are now in Dhaka and Rajshahi Central Jails.The convicts, all Awami
>League activists of Naldanga, had made mercy petitions to the President,
>which were granted, said Asadur Rahman.
>
>They had been accused of hacking and shooting down Sabbir Hossain at Kazipur
>Kamarpara bazaar on February 7, 2004 by terrorists. The killers had left the
>spot raising slogans of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party.His father
>Rafiqul Islam Talukdar had filed the murder case against 16 identified AL
>activists and about 16 others unknown. Police investigator charge-sheeted
>them. Natore District and Sessions judge's court transferred the case to the
>Speedy Trial Tribunal Court in Dhaka that convicted and sentenced 21 persons
>to death.
>
>Those in Dhaka Central Jail are: SM Firoze and his brothers Fazlul Haq
>Master and Farooq Hossain, Anisur Rahman and his sons Sentu and Farooq,
>Shahjahan Ali, Badal, Zahedul Islam and Faruq Hossain.Zahurul Shah, Sajjad,
>Sohag, Bablu, Abul, Ataur, Ashraf, Formazul, Fakhruddin and Ohidur Rahman
>are in Rajshahi Jail.
>
>http://www.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/09/07/news0749.htm

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[ALOCHONA] Daily Star opinion survey:100 days vs 1 year



 

100 days vs 1 year: A comparison


The Daily Star-Nielsen conducted two surveys, one on 100-day performance of the government and the other on 1-year performance. Comparing between these two surveys, it is evident that the people's opinions have been changed in some of the critical areas. Moreover, the strong support that the government had enjoyed at the end of its 100 days appears to have eroded to some extent after completion of its one year as expected after a landslide victory.

Overall satisfaction
At the end of its 100 days, 62 percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with the government and 19 percent highly satisfied. Together they made up 81 percent. But after one year, 53 percent said they are satisfied and 12 percent very much. Together they make 65 percent.

Which direction
After 100 days, 71 percent said they thought the country was on the right track while the current survey showed 62 percent people think so. In the last survey, 17 percent thought the country was heading in the wrong direction while after one year, that was marginally increased to 19 percent.

Law and order situation
Law and order was a weakness in the last survey but in this survey it appeared as a strong point of the government. Currently 64 percent of the respondents said the law and order situation improved, compared to 57 percent in the earlier survey.

Political culture
An interesting upbeat note was seen among the respondents this time about their confidence in political practices. After the 100 days, 48 percent said they think old political practices such as hartal, violence, political killings and street agitation will not return, today 83 percent think so. Moreover, a year ago, 56 percent people saw a positive change in political culture. After a year, today that confidence still continues as 54 percent now think so.

BCL
This is one area of concern for the government since its takeover a year ago, from the very first day. Although Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took it very seriously, the situation has not improved significantly. The majority of the people said in both surveys that "Chhatra League activities should be strictly controlled", "stern action should be taken" and "law and order situation has deteriorated due to them".

Economy
Considering public perceptions about the economy after the 100 days, 59 percent respondents said the economy was doing positively which -- after a year -- declined to 50 percent.

Price inflation
The government's rating on inflation also slipped over the year. Managing prices to a lower level was a major electoral pledge of the AL-led grand alliance and many thought that it worked for its victory in elections. After its 100 days, 74 percent said the government had well-managed inflation. But after its first year, only 38 percent think so. In the last survey 20 percent said they were dissatisfied with the government's measures to tackle inflation. Today 52 percent are dissatisfied.

Corruption
One area where the government could hold the fort is the corruption perception which remains the same in both surveys. After 100 days 54 percent respondents said they thought corruption had decreased. After a year, 53 percent still think so.

Opposition's rating
The opposition's rating remained almost static from the previous survey. After the first 100 days of the new government, 33 percent said they were satisfied with the opposition role, which is 30 percent now.
After 100 days, 32 percent were dissatisfied with the opposition's negative role, which has increased to 39 percent. In response to another question, 75 percent of the respondents said the "opposition should attend the parliament first".

http://www.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2010/01/govt's_one_year/p3.html



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