Tag Archives: Islamic Terrorism

What is happening in Israel?

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Abhishek Ranga

The Historical walled city of Jerusalem is in again in a midst of a raging crisis.  To understand the present scenario that is fast unfolding and snowballing into a major conflict between Israel and Palestine,  we need to understand the geography of the city. The city of Jerusalem is predominantly divided into 4 different blocks- Jewish block, Muslim block which houses the Masjid Al-Aqsa as referred to by Muslims and as Temple Mount as referred to by the Jews. This predominantly Arab neighbourhood was ‘annexed’ by Israel during the 6 day war or as Israel puts it- was rightfully united with the rest of Jerusalem that has for ages been the epicentre of Jewish Civilisation. The remaining two quarters are the Christian and the Armenian quarters.

Since the ‘annexation’ of East Jerusalem (The Muslim Neighbourhood) by Israel there have been long standing ownership cases that have time and again sparked of violent clashes led by Palestinians who are fully backed by the Hamas- The designated Terror group that operates out of the contested Ġaza Strip.

A land ownership case pertaining to the predominantly Arabic neighbourhood  of Sheik Jarrah of which the judgment was due on May 10th once again led to clashes between the Israeli police and the Palestinians. The Palestinians argue that the ruling could well mean several Palestinian families evicted from their homes. The ruling in the wake of the violent protests have been deferred  according to a latest statement  by the Israel’s Justice Ministry.

The Al-Aqsa Connection–

The Masjid Al- Aqsa or Haram esh Sharif (The Noble sanctuary) is the third most holiest site according to Islam. Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammed ‘ascended’ to heaven from here. Though it is officially under the Israeli Govt. – the Jurisdiction of the Masjid is under the Jordanian Waqf. It is also the Holiest site for Jews who are allowed to visit it but prayers by Jews and other Non-Muslims is prohibited inside the complex.

The 35 acre complex has been a hotbed of several clashes in the past and with possible eviction in the Ownership case pertaining to the neighbourhood of Sheik Jarrah tensions have been simmering for a while which reached a crescendo during last week. Israeli police which secures and mans the entire complex anticipating large scale violence had restricted access to the area after clashes broke out in the neighbourhood.

Rampant Stone throwing and rioting was reported From Al Aqsa compound on Friday as mark of ‘protest’ against the forced evictions from Sheik Jarrah With heavy stone pelting the riot police forced their way to disperse the crowd using sten grenades and rubber bullets. When situation spiralled out of hand the police broke into the Al Aqsa mosque which angered the Muslim ‘Ummah’ around the world that have accused the Israel of defiling a holy place in the month of Ramadan.

However, Israelis and independent researchers observed that since a very long time Al-Aqsa was used as a ‘cover’ whenever such law and order issues arose and ‘defiling’ of place was beyond question.

Things took a drastic turn for the worse when Hamas fired over 200 rockets from the Gaza strip into Central and Southern Israel predominantly directed towards Tel Aviv, these attacks have led to the death of 5 citizens and an Indian living in Israel. Dramatic scenes of Israelis running into bomb shelters have emerged on the Social Media. The Iron dome intercepted many missiles that have been fired by Ġaza. The Israeli defence forces have since them launched the ‘ Operation Guardian of Walls’ which is the biggest Air Strikes since 2014. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reported that the Israeli Missiles have taken down several important hideouts of top Hamas leadership and pounded the building that was supposed to be the HQ of Hamas for Military research and Intelligence.

PM Netanyahu was quoted saying – ‘..this campaign will take time. With determination, unity and strength we will restore security to the citizens of Israel.’

With unremitting fire from Hamas and a determined fightback by Israel, the world watches the sudden military escalation in the Middle East after the much touted Abraham Accords.

IS module busted during NIA raids in Hyderabad

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While conducting several raids in Hyderbad, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) discovered what is alleged to be an ISIS cell.  At least 11 people have been taken into custody for the same.

A total of 11 suspects have been detained for questioning from 10 raids in the old quarters of the IT-city. NIA IG Sanjeev Kumar told ANI over telephone that the agency has conducted searches at around 10 locations in the city.
As per reports, a module linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was busted during the raids. Firearms, ammunition and currency have also been seized from them.
The suspected ISIS members were allegedly planning to carry out terror strikes in India and were in touch with handlers in Syria for the same.
“We are not sure who these people (suspects) are and the groups they are affiliated with,” the sources added. The detained are being interrogated.

Ganesh Mandal’s initiative to counter terrorism

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Ayub Sheikh, the founder member of the Vijay Tarun Mandal says

“No Muslim should feel offended or hurt by the video that will be screened at our pandal. The menace of youths joining terrorist organisations is not a social work. We should create an awareness against it, which is the need of the hour”.

Mandal president Nadeem Aaga also seconded his opinion.

Indian Youth in ISIS

The Maharashtra Police on Thursday denied permission to a Ganesh mandal’s plan to screen a video on the four Kalyan youths who are believed to have joined the Islamic State (IS). The mandal’s counsel Bhikaji Salvi, however, claimed that they secured a stay order from the Bombay High Court against the police action.

The police served the notice to the Kalyan-based Vijay Tarun Mandal, asking it to delete a major portion of the 10-minute video if it wants to go ahead with the screening. The video clip reportedly seeks to garner public opinion on the issue of Muslim youths being indoctrinated by Islamic extremists.

Mandal organisers claimed that they had been debating “social and contemporary topics and displaying related visuals” at pandals for the past 51 years. As per the rules, the organisers of Ganesh festivities have to seek permission from the police and will also have to explain to them in detail the theme of the show. The police in their notice said that the content of the video footage would hurt the sentiments of other communities and create a law and order problem.

However, the pandal organisers claimed that the show was intended to create social awareness. “The show was intended to create awareness on the problem of youths being indoctrinated by Islamic extremists. They make these youths abandon their studies and carry out terrorist activities across the world,” said Vijay Salvi, one of the trustees of Vijay Tarun Mandal.

Mandal members

Vijay Tarun Mandal, according to organisers, has members belonging to both Hindu and Muslim communities.

“No Muslim should feel offended or hurt by the video that will be screened at our pandal. The menace of youths joining terrorist organisations is not a social work. We should create an awareness against it, which is the need of the hour,” said Ayub Sheikh, the founder member of the Vijay Tarun Mandal. Mandal president Nadeem Aaga also seconded his opinion.

Mandal counsel Salvi said the organisers would remove the image of mosque from the poster as it was the place of worship. “This shows that Vijay Mandal has more respect for Muslims’ place of worship. At the same time, these misled youth believe that they would go to heaven by becoming a jehadi. Whether one goes to heaven or not is decided by their deeds, and I personally do not think heaven would welcome these misguided youths,” said Sheikh.

Several awards

Vijay Tarun Mandal has reportedly received several awards and recognitions from the police for organising disciplined and peaceful Ganesh festivities.

Arif Majeed, one of the four youngsters from Kalyan suspected of joining Sunni insurgents in Iraq, reportedly died in a bomb blast in Mosul a few days ago.

Although Maharashtra ATS and Thane police have no official confirmation of his death, Arif’s family performed ‘Janaza-e-gayabana’ (prayers for the departed soul in absence of the body) on Wednesday, a family friend Ateek Khan told agencies.

As per reports, Shaheen Tanki, who along with Arif, Fahad Tanvir Sheikh and Aman Naim Tandel, had disappeared during a trip to Iraq in May, called his family on Tuesday and informed them about his death.

According to sources, the Thane police said till they receive official confirmation about the death of Arif, they would continue to treat the matter as a missing case. However, an officer in Maharashtra ATS, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “There is no reason to disbelieve the information about Arif’s death in a bomb blast in Iraq.”

Source Yahoo News India

India a sinful country for ISIS recruits

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These lines seem from a fiction thriller. Sadly, they aren’t fiction.

“I do not want to live in this sinful country; the sun is setting on our backyard. It is time to take that greatest journey and migrate to the land of Allah.”

“The time has come and may we all meet in paradise. I cannot live in this country; I am moved to tears watching all of you live a luxurious life style, watching TV, listening to music…”

These are lines from the letters written by Arif Fayaz and Fahad Shaikh. Till yesterday, they were among the lakhs of ordinary residents of Kalyan in Maharashtra. Today, they have left Kalyan to seek what they believe is their true kalyan.

Fayaz and Shaikh are now global jihadis. They’ve left their homes for Iraq. Reason? They’ve decided that they must join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or the ISIS.

Naturally, Arif Fayaz’s and Fahad Shaikh’s families are a shocked and broken lot today. The boys were engineering students, in their early twenties. Also, these are no ramshackle families, but reasonably middle class households of doctors. Both boys’ disappearance was known only after one of the parents discovered a chilling note, which told their families about their sudden inspiration and departure for a cause that has only one end — death.

The distraught parents have filed complaints about their missing boys with the Kalyan police. They have also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, seeking their help. Till yesterday, their boys were bright students, and the parents hoped they would complete their studies and acquire decent jobs.

That was yesterday.

The parents still cannot believe what has hit them. They are shell-shocked, unable to even understand what brought about this change in their kids. Far from being the archetypal Islamic fanatics, Fayaz and Shaikh weren’t even religious, leave alone fanatical, the parents have stated in their complaint.

The tragic cases of Arif Fayaz and Fahad Shaikh bring to the fore the growing threat of religious indoctrination of Muslims in India. The Internet and its reach has only made the task easier. The ISIS is the latest and according to global terrorism experts and watchers, the deadliest among worldwide Islamic terrorist outfits. It has been waging a war against the Iraqi government with a declared intent of overthrowing it to establish a full-fledged Islamic Caliphate on the lines of the 7th century Islamic rule of the religion’s founder Prophet Mohammad. The ISIS has, in fact taken the towns of Tikrit and Mosul from Iraqi government forces and its self-styled Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has already declared the areas under ISIS control to be the Islamic world’s new Caliphate.

Of particular concern to intelligence agencies is the growing radicalization of Muslim youths, which includes the Indian subcontinent. In recent years, the Wahhabi sect of Islam has gained increasing traction in the Muslim world. Wahhabism propagates intolerant Islamic zealotry, which enjoins all Muslims to wage unrelenting war upon all non-Muslims in the world. It also exhorts Muslims to totally reject all forms of modern civilization and embrace the strict puritanical Islamic living.

More worrying is the fact that an increasing number of young Muslims, including those in India, have begun believing this to be the only way to “clean up” the world. Kalyan’s Arif Fayaz came under the Wahhabi spell sometime back. He would object to the way his parents brought up his sister. “She watches lewd content on television and listens to music. On television, they show people smoking and dancing, and you watch that all day instead of praying. All this will lead you to burn in hell. I have to go and cleanse up the world,” he wrote in the letter to his parents.

The young wannabe jihadis men reportedly saved money over the past year and then left for Iraq on their own expense. The Intelligence Bureau has confirmed that Fayaz and Shaikh are fighting near Fallujah which is close to the Iraqi capital Baghdad. How good they are as fighters, is an entirely different question, but for the ISIS only numbers matter. For the latest Islamic Caliph, Muslims coming from various nations to join in his jihad, irrespective of their utility in the battlefield, is an Islamic boost of sorts, as having Muslims from different parts of the world strengthens the ISIS.

For the parents of Arif Fayaz and Fahad Shaikh, their world has collapsed in the gunfire and explosions ripping apart Fallujah, a land so distant from their homes. Sadly, there may be more families like theirs who might be fated to see their boys disappear, only to join the one-way trip to jannat.

Source

 

9/11 – Tale of Two Worldviews – Swami Vivekananda at Chicago and the WTC Tragedy

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9/11 marks an important date in World history. It is a day when history was witness to two world views in action in one country, albeit over a difference of one century.

Swami Vivekananda made his historic speech at Chicago on this day, 1893 in the World Parliament of Religions. He won over the audience as well as the Americans as he presented the Hindu philosophy and spoke about how the Hindu nation gave refuge to the persecuted Jews and Parsis. He also warned about the dangers of fanaticism and bigotry.

A century later, On 9/11, 2001, on the same day, a sample of religious fanaticism was demonstrated to the world – “the destruction of the World Trade Centre in America”.

As Vivekananda said

“Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair.”

For the sake of world peace, the philosophy of “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah ” and “Ekam Sat” viz, the the Hindu view of life should gain currency and it can happen only by a strong, resurgent Bharat .

Text of Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago Address at the World’s Parliament of Religions Chicago, 11th September 1893

“Sisters and Brothers of America, It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us.

I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions; and I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects. My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth.

I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to the southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation.

I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: “As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.”

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world, of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: “Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to Me.” 

Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time has come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.

Audio of Swami Vivekananda’s speech ( though the voice is not his )  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxUzKoIt5aM

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