Moderate Muslims outrage at “Jewel of Medina” novel but urge peaceful protest

By Matthew Penright Security Correspondent London Daily News The 1.3 million British Muslim community is preparing to end the Ramdan fast only to be confronted with yet more as they see it “provocation and incitement” in the form of the “Jewel of Medina” novel which has been described by the moderate “Ramadan Foundation” “as an attempt to belittle, spear one of the greatest woman in Islam Aisha (RA). On Saturday morning a petrol bomb was used to attack the home of the publisher Gibson Square which has resulted in the arrest of several London Muslims, and the anti-terror police stepping up its efforts to prevent any further incidents. The Ramadan Foundation has sent a message to all British Muslims urging them: “To remain calm and peaceful but be under no illusion our faith is constantly under attack and we will not remain silent – we urge Muslims and those people of faith that are disgusted at this novel to unite and launch a peaceful campaign to protect the honour of all faiths and their figures.” “We further strongly condemn the violence and terrorism that has been used this weekend against the Gibson Square Publishing House, whilst we passionately oppose their plans to print the novel, trying to use violence is against Islam and we urge all Muslims to remain peaceful and within the law.” Mr. Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the Foundation comments: “I am disgusted at the novel and the plans by Gibson House to publish, this serves no purpose and does little to promote understanding between communities – indeed attacking the central figures of Islam under the guise of freedom of speech is patronising and the world sees their attempt to belittle our faith. “I also strongly condemn the thugs that used terrorism against the publishing house; they do not represent Islam or Muslims and violence in any form cannot be justified and we urge the Publishers to withdraw publication.” The intelligence and counter terrorism units of the police are believed to preparing an effort to prevent any attacks or protests that may create more animosity in the capital at this holy time in the Muslim calendar.

In Conversation: Gloria Steinem and Suheir Hammad

A feminist icon and a rising star on the sexual revolution, the booty-call nineties, and the Superwoman myth.

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• By Emily Nussbaum
• Published Sep 28, 2008

When Suheir Hammad arrives at Gloria Steinem’s apartment on the Upper East Side—the same one Steinem has lived in since 1968—the two embrace like old friends. Then Sarah Palin comes up. “What is going on?” yells Hammad. Steinem grins and shrugs. She’s been working all day on an op-ed. “It’s such an insult,” she says.

Racism as Reflex: Reflections on Conservative Scapegoating

By TIM WISE

COUNTERPUNCH.ORG

If hypocrisy were currency, conservatives would be able to single-handedly bail out the nation’s free-falling financial system in less than a week, without the rest of us having to front so much as a penny.

So on the one hand, folks like this always tell others–especially the poor and people of color–to take “personal responsibility” for their lives, and not to blame outside factors (like racism, or the economic system) for their problems. But on the other hand, these same persons then demonstrate that their own ability to blame others for their personal setbacks, or the nation’s problems, knows no rival.

Olmert Says Israel Should Pull Out of West Bank

September 30, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/world/middleeast/30olmert.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

By ETHAN BRONNER

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in an interview published on Monday that Israel must withdraw from nearly all the West Bank as well as East Jerusalem to attain peace with the Palestinians and that any occupied land it held onto would have to be exchanged for the same quantity of Israeli territory.

Muslim Children Gassed at Dayton Mosque After “Obsession” DVD Hits Ohio

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/28/203016/697/536/613742

by Chris Rodda

Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 08:50:29 PM PDT

(From the diaries — kos)

On Friday, September 26, the end of a week in which thousands of copies of Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West — the fear-mongering, anti-Muslim documentary being distributed by the millions in swing states via DVDs inserted in major newspapers and through the U.S. mail — were distributed by mail in Ohio, a “chemical irritant” was sprayed through a window of the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton, where 300 people were gathered for a Ramadan prayer service. The room that the chemical was sprayed into was the room where babies and children were being kept while their mothers were engaged in prayers. This, apparently, is what the scare tactic political campaigning of John McCain’s supporters has led to — Americans perpetrating a terrorist attack against innocent children on American soil.