Sun 30 Sep 2007
Update: As HuT is again in the news today bringing out another big procession defying emergency for a ban on Prothom Alo related publications for the cartoongate issue, we I decided revisit this organization — the same group was instrumental against Dr. Yunus speaking in Dhaka University recently. New Age has brought out a timely editorial titled “Govt should restrain Islamists”. It says:
the military-driven government of Fakhruddin Ahmed, which promised the nation that it would create an environment for improving upon democratic practices, is faced with a serious test: It has to decide, and that too immediately, before Thursday, whether to stand by the Islamist political groups out to advance its undemocratic ideals or not. We only hope that the government would neither entertain the Islamist groups’ demand to shut down Prothom Alo nor allow them to attack its offices. The incumbents should restrain the Islamists not out of gratitude to Prothom Alo and its sister concerns for their collaboration with the government in most of its deeds and misdeeds since, and including, the promulgation of emergency, but on the basis of a major democratic principle that allows dissenting views to be expressed unhindered
Who are these folks and how are they recruiting so rapidly in universities? We explored it last March. Time to revisit it again. At the discussion in March, it came out that it was important to confront them on an intellectual level. Disenchanted with the status quo, as more and more young folks are looking for alternatives, they are an easy alternative as they represent aparently a more balanced and “polished” view on theocracy. But as the New Age editorial states that the root problem with these theocratic views is that they have no room for dissenting opinions as plainly is obvious from the way they are trying to get the prothom alo publications banned.
Take a look at the photos by Amirul Rajiv who has recently done a photoblog recently on e-bangladesh on the recent movement. These are not the typical faces you see in these protests. These are young folks wearing T-shirts that blazes “Khilafah” in English — clearly aiming to attract the young, educated bunch. Underestimating them would be a mistake.
Original entry published: March 2nd, 07
Since the issue of Hizbut Tahir, who was pivotal against Yunus in DU, was brought up, perhaps its time to visit the rise of HuT in Bangladeshi universities. The linked article below is worth reading to explore this rise.
What’s their approach?
Though, the political ideology they represent is radical in terms of its values and implementation, the approach they have taken is least to say modern, and even appealing to the moderate Muslim, university crowd. Engaging in dialogue with both general students and opposite camps on previously taboo issues among Islamists through numerous seminars, discussion sessions and study circles, they are tactfully using the same political tools that previously worked so well for leftist student bodies during their heydays. The topics covered include ‘Existence of God’, ‘Blind faith of Atheism’ and ‘Cloning’.
How
The party believes in establishing ‘the Islamic State’ through three stages. The first stage involves ‘culturing to produce people who believe in the idea and the method of the party, so that they form the party group.’ As part of this stage, members of Hizb ut-Tahrir are mingling with the general public and creating Sahabahs, associated to the Islamic thought of ‘companions’. The second stage involves in ‘interaction with the Ummah (the masses), to let them embrace and carry Islam, so that they take it up as its issue, and thus works (sic) to establish it in the affairs of life.’ The third, and final, stage is: ‘establishing government, implementing Islam generally and comprehensively, and carrying it as a message to the world’.
It is the final stage that is contentious. Though Hizb ut-Tahrir is a political party, they do not accept any conventional political process. Parliamentary democracy is not acceptable in their system. Though, election as a process is acceptable, elected lawmakers formulating laws to govern a country is not acceptable in the Hizb ut-Tahrir’s final stage: ‘establishing government’. Now the obvious question arises: how then do we establish government?
So what’s different about them?
An interesting facet of their ideology is that, in principle, they subscribe to the same school of thought as the Taliban, or even Al Qaeda for that matter, since neither believed in engaging with a democratic structure. Their basic distinction is in their approach. ‘The perceived but not necessarily implied difference between the Hizb-ut-Tahrir and them (Taliban and Al Qaeda) is the fact that while the former insists that the end does not justify the means and that the Islamic Caliphate can be ushered in by non violent political activism, the latter has carried out a series of violent terrorist acts, which it claims are justified for the ultimate cause,’ points out Swati Parashar, associate fellow with the International Terrorism Watch Programme, in a research paper for the South Asia Analysis Group.
In Conclusion
For what its worth, the Islamic student movement in Bangladesh has a new face. Their gathering clout among private university students is likely to have far reaching consequences. As a faith-based organisation, students have been found to be connected to the party even after graduation, and as they will rise through the ranks in Bangladesh, the party’s financial and organisational capacity will increase likewise as all members contribute both compulsorily and also voluntarily. And along with it, as Hizb ut-Tahrir’s influence within the general public increases, the day may actually come when they just might say: step aside!
Full article by Mahfuz Sadique - Hizbut Tahir in Bangladesh
Is there any expert out there who can talk about their potential rise and acceptance?
March 2nd, 2007 at 7:55 am
Another bunch of brainwashed nutjobs who would shackle you with Shariah as soon as look at you. Let’s hope the roots of religious moderation are deep enough in our country to resist these wannabe theocrats, same way Jamaat and all the other reactionary parties have been resisted so far. In the meantime, it falls to popular blogs such as DP to highlight the danger to all concerned.
P.S. A lot of these Islamists/HT/Shibir-ites have infiltrated the popular Bangla blog site somewherein.net. A real pity, but luckily there’s also a countermovement to them.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:55 am
I don’t know how calling the Hizbut Tahir “nutjobs” helps anything other than to sound like a bigot. As a faith-based group, their objectives don’t have to be rational, in the secular sense of the word.
I don’t agree with what they have to say, but I will give them two things:
1) for not resorting to violence (yet) like almost every other fundamentalist group out there. AND
2) for being strategic and intellectually engaging with the youth, something which all political groups in BD fail miserably at doing.
Also, we can complain as much as we want about brainwahing, but there is a qualitative difference between the stereotypical youth fundy of yesteryear - uneducated, rural, lower-income, marginalized, raised in madrasah, susceptible to indoctrination - and the profile of the new activitists described in the article - educated, urban, from the mainstream, and high income (NSU, hello!).
As much as people may hate the sound of it, till the HT actually breaks a law or harms anyone, they are within their rights to say whatever they want. If we don’t like it, its our job to constructively counter their influence.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:42 am
Via Salam Dhaka
Hizbut Tahrir in North South University
I was browsing the Internet and stumbled upon a chat line that had real NSU students talking about Hizbut in NSU. Here are some comments made:
==============================
“I really dunno…their number is increasing…and they pretty scary. Moreover I don’t really wanna poke religious matters as small things concerning to religion can lead to big events”
“Hmm…I just read that piece of article. Something to worry about alright. And very true actually. One of my friend has actually started attending their meeting. He says ‘it is pretty serious stuff”
“Nothing Special…. Just normal chit chat…Like, What is Islam.. and other stuffs…People asked questions and they gave answers… They didn’t tell us any of their activities.. It was a normal Islamic Discussion.. I didn’t find any sort of extrimist acts in that meeting”
“yes they do the meeting as Hizbut Tahrir ….. Umm… how many people ?? around 30-40 people i guess… i attened the meeting like last year.. i dunno the current number now.. Actually Hizbut showed up themselves to NSU at the end of 2004.. and from 2005 NSUers became interested and attened diff meetings to get to know about them… but gradully the interest regarding hizbut decreased among the NSUers…. wht i feel is, not to many people attend or join their meetings these days… correct me if i m wrong.. “Era ki vondo naki, how will you know?” — defenitely they are vondo…They attract people in the Name of ISLAM….. first few months they will just tell u about Islam and good things .. but gradully when u will become a core member then they will brainwash u and make u inspired to do extreme activities! Like JMB and otherz….”
“joto jai hok ami ekbar Hizbut er meetting e gesilam Bashori te only meetting er por ekta joss khana hoisilo oitar jonno. r ekta bepar ektu kheyal koro. ora meetting e yaoung polapander attract korar jonno khali meyeder bepare kotha bole. meyera ekhon ki kore othocho ki kora uchit chilo aishob kotha bole. but amar ekta question : kara oderke taka poisa ditese ??? ai hizbut tahrir to 4/5 yr ageo silo na. hotat kore eder nam shunsi ekdin. r ekhon to era muktangone meetting korar sahosh dekhai”
==================================
p.s Hizbut is now called Liberated Youth in the Private University circles.
http://salamdhaka.blogspot.com/2006/08/hizbut-tahrir-in-north-south.html
Also see
http://salamdhaka.blogspot.com/2006/07/hizbut-tahrir-re-spun.html
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:49 am
All of us worried that the radical islamists are taking over the country. We all hate the islamic political parties anti-muktijuddho. But here is a point to think about: How do you think these parties are recruiting new faces almost every day? Why do you think a young man joins shibir or any other islamic political party? He/She has a better access to JCD, BCL, BCU, BCF, or any other student parties….but even then he/she goes out of his/her ways to join one of the islamic parties…..Why?
If we can stop this recruitment process, the future of islamic politics in Bangladesh will be over soon and finally, we’ll be able to move beyond this “muktijuddher pokkho-bipokkho” debate. Don’t you think so?
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:28 am
Mr. Sensible:
I think the answer is simple. Many young people are idealists and look to change the world; they are sold this Islamist vision as an alternate of the rotten things they see around them. Everyone sees JCD and BCL and knows that they have little more to offer by way of vision, except for perks.
These young people need to read more and read all type of sources, not just what their gurus tell them to read; they have to approach the world with an open mind to differentiate between propaganda and reality. The truth about political Islam is most vivid in our 1971 experience with Jamaat. It is not to be interpreted as a few wayward individual’s action, but as a natural consequence of Islamist activsm, where people feel they have the right to enforce God’s will by eliminating those they believe are God’s enemies.
If Islamic history is any guide, if we had not won in 1971, I am quite sure that most so-called Islamic scholars would have swept the atrocities in East Pakistan under the rug and we would have heard about glorious muslims standing up against Kafirs trying to destroy the muslim abode of Pakistan. The Jamaatis would have been considered the vanguards of Islam. In this context, I ask you to look at the portrayal of our struggle in newspapers of muslim countries. You will find it extremely difficult to find a single newspaper or single muslim scholar in any muslim country which did not toe the Pakistan line at the time–that they were fighting for Islam. Even muslims living in the west and having full access to the western press fell for conspiracy theories to weaken a powerful muslim country.
Hopefully, things will change and people will find idealism in secular causes.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:39 am
This group has been trying to gain a lot of ground in private universities. Since there was a lot of noise around Hizbut Tahrir, they changed their name to “Liberated Youth”.
Their main theme is preaching against the western values and actually talks to students about not socializing with girls etc. They try to appeal to the Anti-US sentiments.
Their goal is to establish a society based on shariah.
North South University is a big recruiting ground for them.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:09 pm
I completely agree with you that the young people see an alternative to JCD or BCL or the likes in the islamic student parties and they think of this alternative as better. To change that what needs to be done (I think) is to present them a better alternative instead of calling anybody and everybody names. And in my opinion, the burden rests with us to present our case. If we can sell to these people the better alternative, then we don’t have to worry about the rise of political islam in Bangladesh.
Now I think we’re getting better in selling our pro-Bangladesh ideas to the new generation of Bangladesh. But clearly, there is scope of improvement. The number of parties like shibir and their dominance in our academic campuses support this claim.
May be, we need a new strategy in addressing the new generations who have not been around for the independence war in 1971. To these young Bangladeshis, muktijuddoh is a topic of debate…Unfortunately, our leaders are still fighting for who did what! These young people have better access to information around the world and their lives are getting busier everyday. When I was growing up in a small town in Bangladesh, my goals were limited to going to a university, getting a degree with good results, and then getting a job. A few days back, I was talking to a couple of students who were born in late 70s and early 80s. They told me that their generation does not think in such straight lines anymore. They have better opportunities in front of them. I was happy to find out that one of them was trying to convince me to go back to Bangladesh! I think all of these are good signs. But the bottom line is that we’re not doing as great….that’s why I think we need to find ways to connect to these people. We need to finds ideas that interest this new generation of Bangladeshis. Once we do that, the recruitment of shibir and other such parties will definitely go down to zero. That is way we need to address this issue with jamayat-shibir. Not by branding them as rajakar….because I don’t think it means anything to the post-71 generation….at least not the same meaning as to the pre-71 generations.
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Here’s my post on Hibz ut-Tahrir and their ties in the UK from last August.
http://www.docstrangelove.com/2006/08/13/meet-the-enemy/
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Thanks Mash.
I am saddened by looking at this and more so by knowing that this organization is recruiting from NSU and IUB. When we use to be Bangladesh the NSU and IUB’s circle use to be busy with late night clubbing and party.It’s a drastic change in perception for kids to establish the rule of law, my foot.
We must protest and bring the perception back to secularism and communal harmony. Every individual should have the rights to practice his or her religion by his or her choice.No one should force anybody or any country to establish a rule of law for the state.
I blame our political parties for this uprising.
“One times asset becomes one time’s liability”
and it’s other way round too, that’s what we are seeing here.
I am sad to be a Bangladeshi by reading and seeing this people with such a massive signs and masses.
Kawser
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:46 pm
If “late night clubbing and party” is any indication of secularism then southern part of US have many church that preaches fundamentalism.
Religious party or group influences politics many different ways. In US they do mostly through evangelical org and many other organizations. There are many right wing Christian organizations that directly influence US national policy and recruit from everywhere.
So whats new?
Most Bangladeshis don’t like to see their religion hijacked neither by fundamentalists nor by secularist. In BD religious party and organization scream more then they can acheive. They are aware of their limitation
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Hezbottaheer, JMB, Hizbollah, these outfits are fundamentalist Islamic groups. I won’t wonder if they increasingly mushroom in the country. We should ponder over, they are are not from any marginalized sects or subsects of muslim. They are like us from common moderate muslim families. May be you and me or my son, siblings, cousins or nephews or nieces could be in those groups.
For being recruited in them is not their fault. It’s the fault of our social, politicial, economic, academic environment, more especially politically incorrect thinking of our policitians and intellectuals. Most of them see a social progressive and peacful melieu in the secularism. This is buzz-word in politics.
But what this secularism means! To me it’s the ideal of just protecting the rights of all the prevailing religions and ensure that the people of all faiths can practic their religions freely. As the basic religious rights and rituals of different religions may not be conforming one with other and sometimes may be conflicting, a true secular state or society would strive to minimize the conflicts and help bring interfaith harmony.
But the problem is what we see, the so called secularists hold again a blunderous trend. In the name of secularism, the secualrists group nurture a fundamentalist ideals like fringe religious group. As secularists, they instead of being buffers in inter-religious faith, take totally anti-islami stand. These pseudo-secularist groups have no true faith in religions, they are more materialistic and identify with agnostic and atheist philosophies.
As long as the secularists don’t change their ultra fundamentalist inimical stand against Islam, the Islamic extremists like HuT or the likes will thrive in their survival struggle. The secularists’ mission is to marginalize islam because as they are not intrigued by the tennets of islam, rather they feel comfortable with the people of liberal faiths and aetheists.
Our people will be more and more polarized if moderate groups on both isles don’t engage in constructive dialogues and stop hating each other and ready themselves accomodating each other shunning the path of hatreds.
Thanks.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Previous AL and BNP were so busy with their boycott and hartal agendas, that they probably had no idea what was going on in the country.
USA has banned their homegrown specimens - the KKK, because they are militant, religious fundos. Pakistan banned Hizb-T in 2003, Russia, India China banned HT years ago.
Where was Bangladesh during all this time?
If Hizb-T says they DONT preach violence, then whats all the “expel all EU ambassadors”? in photo above?
Basically, new CTG must take these militancy out of the picture, ban them actively, and enforce separation of church and state.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Old report below shows request for banning of HT:
http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/03/14/d60314060262.htm
March 3rd, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Basically My feeling is two
1) This type of activities will bring destiny of Darkness if It is coming from Institutes like IUB or NSU.
2) How can they do such thing in state of emergency
March 3rd, 2007 at 6:04 pm
The point about more and more young educated people being attracted to the HT type, isn’t it bit obvious, they are looking for alternative. If you look at the BCL or JCD, they are too busy making money rather than talk about politics or future of the country. You hardly find any decent educated young people joining BCL or JCD. Most cases its third rated individuals who are there for their own benefit.
Whether we like or not unless the BCL or JCD does not open up to the bright young things then you will see more and more joining HT and similar minded organisation.
Kawser bhai today’s kids are tomorrow’s established people with influence. I find it bizarre that in Bangaldesh how people underestimate the young people. As if the young people should not have a voice in making their future. If you look at the developed countries they engage the younger generation lot more.
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:51 pm
So what do you think Mustaqe , This type of raising Voice will help to develop the country?
April 4th, 2007 at 11:24 am
http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/03/31/d70331011813.htm
Raid on Hizbut Tahrir secret meeting bags 22. Those arrested include students of both DU and NSU.
April 4th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Good Lord, what a bunch of fascists we all are!
September 30th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Have you noticed the way Hizbut Tahrir’s programme is covered in Ittefaq, Adviser Mainul’s paper? Every Friday the zealots take out a procession over the issue, and it gets all the publicity in Mainul’s paper. This alone is evidence enough that the government (or a part of it) is backing the fanatics.
Imagine what happened to the DU teachers who broke the state of emergency. The Hizbut Tahrir activists (300-500 in total) break it every Friday, and the government remains tight-lipped about this violation of state of emergency. Someone is trying to play a (very) dirty game here…
September 30th, 2007 at 11:27 am
%
September 30th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Ah Fugstar, I was wondering when someone would prove Godwin’s Law on this thread, and I had a feeling it would be you.
Do you want explain why criticising HuT, an Islamist political outfit which operates like a cult and advocates racism and violence makes one a “fascist”? No pressure. Just post one clearcut, intelligible point in defence of their ideology which you think makes them worthy of support.
September 30th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Just watched the TV report (Bangla TV) that Hizbut Tahrir UK has arranged a big protest at the Bangladesh Embassy in London demanding banning Prothom Alo, arresting Golam Murtaza, the editor of Shaptahik 2000. I mean this is like blowing things out of proportion and out of place.
They were chanting that those cartoon/remarks has hurt the sentiments of 14 crore Muslims in Bangladesh and Muslims in the whole world. I wonder who gave them the right to generalize what they think to the whole Muslim Ummah? The politics is to silence the progressive publications I assume.
September 30th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
You guys are a bunch of out of touch NRBs. HT is a huge and growing force in Bangladesh. You just have no clue, and your sort of simplistic analysis, combined with knee-jerk name calling will only strengthen them. Approach them as political rivals, and deal with them politically.
Or everyone of you will lose.
This is a fight to the finish.
September 30th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
When I compare the recent DU events in August and PA cartoon gate & weekly 2000 fiasco, I find two approach of getting the point across:
(a) Recent DU events over army camp in the campus and subsequent violence was our traditional method of “Jalao Porao” style of getting attention. In the process, country was about to go up in smokes.
(b) Recent PA/Weekly 2000 affair, whole national attention was grabbed and point made clearly that these adventurism (I’m not debating whether they were offensive or not) will not be tolerated. Everybody got that message - PA apologized and that poor cartoonist was fired and jailed. And…..all these happened without torching single car, throwing a single stone at any shopping plaza, i.e. without “jalao porao”.
This second approach is in itself commendable and gets noticed by bright, young people serious about changing their surroundings . Also,lack or lesser degree of corruption within & by the islamic parties are also getting across as “practice what you preach”. One may not agree with ideology of HT but they have proven themselves by their activities that they are not violent like BCL or JCD and offers something more constructive. IMO, they have every right preach their ideologies as long as they are peaceful. I read a lot of despair and desperation in above postings that they are invading the last bastion of elitism - private universities and sheer disbelief that NSU students CAN become islamists. The common perception among secular circles is that these students are being brainwashed to “neo-razakars” and sort of “Lets merge BD with PK” type of mentality. Does one really expect any kid born in the late 70s & 80s not to accept BD independence? On the contrary my experience with these JI or HT activists to be as patriotic as you and me. The thought of turning the clock back to east Pk period is simply ludicrous and insane. This is what the secularists camp have been drumming all along without any intellectual challenges. Whenever any such challenges arrived, secularist camp, hijacked by secular fundamentalist, took positions which were completely anti-islamic and not acceptable by any average BD muslim. This is the root cause of failure of secularist camp.
In this struggle of ideology, different media outlets became or percieved to be aligned to one side or other. Prothom Alo also became marked to be with secularists. Hence when the cartoon came out,there were protests. When the news broke of weekly 2000 article ( owned by same owner of PA), suspicion of organized attempt to undermine religious feelings during ramadan became more adamant. Please note that there was a similar cartoon published in an islamic newspaper but there were subtle differences between the two which got overlooked by many DP bloggers:
(1) PA cartoon gave the prophets name to an animal whereas other cartoon to a person name Mohammed Kodu. (Belive it or not there ARE people with such funny names like Kodu, Alu, kala, lal,..etc.).
(2) As I described above, PA’s perception of being a secularist/anti-islamic mouthpeice didn’t help either. Keep in mind,that any religious discussions in these newspapers are examined for validity and viewed with suspicion ( discussed above about anti-islamic stance).
(3) Finally it was also a matter of who can say what. Let me give you a crude example..its common in the US that a black american refer to another black by the N-word but it is big problem when a white person uses that word. Its something similar to that, unfortunately. Over the years of different events (most recently weekly 2000 story comparison of “baijy bari” to the Islam’s holiest place) , secularists have lost the credibility and lost touch of religious compass.
September 30th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
a few members of this group were arrested while bringing out a procession and running a pitch battle with the police during Dr Yunus’s convocation speech at du. All the arrested were freed in a day, no case was lodged.
later, as Zubaer’s post and link say 22 members of the group were arrested. And all of them were freed in less than a month, no case was lodged. Who is backing this ultra-rightist group? It seems the group has friends in the current establishment?
Why two du teachers are still in jail and their leader Mohiuddin Ahmed, himself a du teacher, still free, fanning hatred? The government must come up with an answer.
I am an ordinary muslim woman, i pray five times a day, i fast, i did not find the cartoon offending. And these honest advisers, why aren’t they giving their wealth statement? They should have been the first to come up with it, long before they started this drive to purge corruption. When Adviser mainul assures his Hizbut Tahrir friends next time that his police will not do anything if the group lay seize to the Paltan intersection the way they did last time, Mainul must not forget the blood that was split in the Ittefak building a few years ago, two human beings died. Though the brothers did not file a case, when the wheel of history turns, allah alone knows what will happen.
Dearest Corporal Sahib, are you listening? This is the voice of the people, listen to it carefully, before its too late.
September 30th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I won’t defend Daud Haider’s poor choice of metaphors for personal reasons, but when Banglarman comes and makes arguments that naming a vegetable is somehow less offensive than naming a cat (a beloved animal of the Prophet according to the Hadiths), then you know we’ve just veered off into the ridiculous and the petty.
Then he comes and says it’s a matter of who says what. From his name Arifur Rahman seems to have been a Muslim. As such he can criticise mullahs and superstitious practices in the name of Islam, as can any other Muslim. Critics of mullahs and superstitions do NOT need to be affiliated with the Jamaat or any other Islamist party last time I checked what Islam said on the subject.
Simply ridiculous.
September 30th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Maajid Naawaz is a British Pakistani who was a senior member of the Hizbut Tahrir. A few months ago he renounced his membership and has come forward and in the process has outed Hizbut Tahrir as a dangerous organisation:
From a Newsnight interview:
Hizb-ut Tahrir’s stated aim is to create an Islamic super-state ruled by Shariah law. Publicly it stresses this will be achieved “without resorting to violence” and “following an exclusively political method.”
But this image was shattered in our interview when Maajid Nawaz confirmed that the organisation secretly believes that killing millions of innocent people to expand the Caliphate would be justified.
“They are prepared to, once they’ve established the State, to fight other countries and to kill people in the pursuit of unifying this state into one state. And what I’d like to emphasize is that such a policy is not agreed upon within Islamic theology.”
Mr Nawaz referred to a book which is highly respected by Hizb-ut Tahrir. “According to Hizb ut-Tahrir’s literature, according to a book written by their second global leader, it’s a state that they are prepared to kill millions of people to expand.”
Banglarman, you either have not spoken to hardcore HT members or you’re making this stuff up because you’re an apologist for Hizbut Tahrir. Either way, you’re dead wrong. HuT do not believe in patriotism because in order to establish a Khilafah they have to forego all ideas of nationanalism or patriotism. This is the fundamental tenet of Hizbut Tahrir, according to the information that is available on their websites and by the testimony by ex-members like Nawaz.
The confusion with the HuT group in Bangladesh is that they are willing to use the Bangladesh COnstitution to frame their version of Islamic State. This seems to be the height of confusion, or perhaps they are simply dissumalting, unless someone here can suggest how they intend to reuse a constitution for a secular democratic to establis an Islamic state in Bangladesh!
September 30th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
#24 banglarman
You are misguiding people when you say the cartoon of the shibir paper calls for a person named Mohammad Kodu. There was no person named kodu, it was a vegetable that it was refering. Did you not read the paper or something else?
If you are still unable to understand, let me help you understand, both the jokes refered Muhammad the name (like hundreds of thousands of people have it as name), not the prophet.
The real JalaoPorao in the DU incident occured only after army started beating up students/journalists. How many “islamists” were beaten up in this case? Can you tell me why ahmadiyaas were under physical attack (with their books/mosques burnt)?
if we support HT you have to clarify your stance on JMB too. Did you or your HT protested the violence they did?
The corruption issue is connected to the parties in Power, except for Jamat no other “islamic” party was in power, so they cannot be corrupt even if they want to. if you talk about money, i will say leftist parties are financially much more honest than your “islamic” parties. Couple of years ago, Nizami hostes an iftar party of couple of hundred peple in Sheraton Hotel where cost is 500 Tk/person. Columnist Abdul Ali had a column about it. (either in Bhorer Kagoj/or PA).
Nijami and Mujahid and many other MPs of JI has cases against them in courts like Khaleda/Hasina and other AL/BNP MPs.
September 30th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
For those in the UK:
Panorama, BBC1, this Monday at 8.30 p.m.:
How I became a Muslim extremist
What is it like to actually be an extremist and serve the political goals of radical Islam?
What is it like to think like an extremist and adopt an ideology that demands you abandon all aspects of your former life - including your friends and family?
On Monday’s Panorama Shiraz Maher exclusively tells his story.
He is a former member of Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT), a radical organisation campaigning for the creation of caliphate - an Islamic state. It operates in many countries.
Shiraz makes the case for a re-think of how the government should de-radicalise people like himself.
He tells how after 9/11, he had a chance conversation with a HT member at a mosque and within weeks became a member of the cell.
The cell thought that democracy was incompatible with Islam, that the state of Israel should be destroyed, and that Shariah law should be imposed over the entire world with violence being used to achieve this.
Shiraz rose through the ranks to become a regional leader of HT.
It soon dominated his whole life - from refusing to go to family weddings because the women were not segregated, to recruiting as many people as possible to the cause.
While at Cambridge University he even tried to recruit Kafeel Ahmed into HT, who was later alleged to be part of the attack on Glasgow airport.
Shiraz has now ‘come-out’ and now wants to expose HT for the organisation it is.
HT Britain is trying to market itself as a conciliatory and moderate organisation that condemns violence as a means to achieve political ends.
With access to other former HT insiders, and HT literature the group wanted to keep hidden, Shiraz will reveal that HT Britain’s conciliatory approach is merely a crude facade that conceals the same radical and extreme views.
October 1st, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Asif Y #26:
You missed my point. Its not about Arifur Rahman personally, its about PA (& Weekly 2000) that started the whole affair. Afterall you cannot blame a 23 year old cartoonist for this. Its the editors must take responsibility for what is published on paper. If you look at this whole mess from secularism vs islamic ideological struggle in BD, things will be easier to understand why it took such a turn. Its not only about kodu vs biral.
Fighter71 #28:
” The real JalaoPorao in the DU incident occured only after army started beating up students/journalists. How many “islamists” were beaten up in this case? Can you tell me why ahmadiyaas were under physical attack (with their books/mosques burnt)?”
DU incident was mitigated soon after soccer field brawl happened Aug 20th afternoon. Even then, violence spread thoughout the campus with demands for withdrawal of army camp. Govt expressed regret within 24 hours ( i.e. on Aug 21st) and announced that army camp will be withdrawn and withdrawal started at 8:00pm on Aug 21st. That didn’t stop the violence in the campus. Afterthat the real crackdown started along with the curfew. Please get your facts right. This Jalao porao didn’t need to happen. DU students started off with their traditional style which they know best.
It wasn’t about islamists vs army but DU students vs army. What I’m referring to the mode of protest. You can make the same point come across just as strongly without torching cars, destroying properties. It can be done and its done in rest of the world. It was also done in this PA/Weekly 2000 affair. You’re mixing up the Ahmediya with this incident, don’t know where you’re getting it from. Ahmediya affair is about general protection of minority rights, and law & order issue. Ironically, the biggest proponent and most violent of declaring Ahmediya as non-muslim was khilafat Mojlish party which was part of 14 party grand alliance composed largely of secular parties led by AL. ( see link for actual signed contract http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/12/26/d6122601022p.htm ).
HT is not JMB. I’ve stated clearly in my posting that as long as they are peaceful, they must be allowed to operate in BD. If communist party can operate so can religious parties. Don’t fall into the usual trap of putting anything islamic with bombs,terrorism, etc…
I agree with you that leftist parties are honest as well. But we are not talking about leftist parties. For all that practical purpose, majority of these parties have dwindled to few men shows. Utter failure of these hardline leftist parties in BD or in any other muslim majority countries show that it was rejected by muslim masses due to their incompatibility with islam.
I don’t know about the source of funds for a grand iftar party by Nizami. I am not JI or HT member but if I am a party leader with 5.6 million activists ( source: a recent BBC sanglap discussing banning religious party), I may be able to scrape to have such grand parties once in a while
October 1st, 2007 at 10:09 pm
The BBC Panorama documentary on Hizbut Tahrir on Shiraz Maher (former Hizbut Tahrir senior) can be seen here.
The documentary is essential viewing and will disabuse anyone of the illusion that the Hizbut Tahrir is a “benign, progressive Muslim organisation”.
October 2nd, 2007 at 4:02 am
Dhaka hunts for new Jamaat chief
Monday 1st October, 2007
(IANS)
Authorities in Bangladesh have launched a manhunt for former Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Moulana Saidur Rahman who, they believe, has taken over as chief of the outlawed Islamist group Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
Saidur Rahman has been absconding since the arrest of JMB chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman in Sylhet city in the northeastern region last year.
Shaikh Abdur Rahman and six of his accomplices, including Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, were hanged in February after a prolonged trial in the assassination of two judges.
The elite paramilitary force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has claimed that Saidur Rahman is conducting activities of the JMB since the arrest and hanging of its kingpins, the Daily Star reported.
While he is absconding, a Sylhet court tried him in absentia and early this month gave him 14 years rigorous imprisonment in an explosives case.
A Sylhet-based cable TV network — Sylhet Cable System — aired a message for three days till Friday, urging people to help law enforcers arrest Saidur Rahman alias Abu Zafar.
In the message, people were requested to inform RAB-9 headquarters in Sylhet if any one knew Saidur’s whereabouts. The message also said anybody helping law enforcers in arresting Saidur would be rewarded.
Declared a terrorist outfit by the US and banned in Bangladesh after the US pressurised the then government of prime minister Khaleda Zia, JMB draws a part of its leadership from JI, which shared power with Zia during 2001-06.
Saidur Rahman, a former Amir of Habiganj district JI, was in Sylhet city and running JMB activities till the arrest of Shaikh Abdur Rahman and his family members on March 2 last year.
Saidur Rahman left the city within hours of the arrests and remains untraced. A number of attempts by law enforcers to nab him have gone in vain, the newspaper said.
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:38 am
For # 25
Sorry mam ! I was out on official duty in a remote place.
I have no comment in this issue. I always consider that JI and so called Islamic groups(now HT) are simply parasites. And they will remain like that. Their only activities are limited to the procession on Friday infront of Baitul Mokarrom.
This is the age of Mobile phone/internet. No more misinterpretation about Islam.( I shared my experience in Jafanoor’s blog)
About the teachers…..I must say that no one is above law. Possibly you have heard yesterday that the enquiry committee led by the retired Justice said that number of parties were involved in this DU violence. Shouldn’t we wait for the justice ?
What we are seeing just a wheel. Now Anwar Hossain Monju is on the run while, you never know next year Mr Mainul will be on the run.
I am a Corporal and I will be remain such. I have no fear. As I said before, we are convinced about our duties and we are on it.
Shihab
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:10 am
They’re calling for the expulsion of EU Embassadors?* Since there’s no such thing as an “embassador,” materially speaking, meeting their demands will result in no action being taken. I say we meet their demands.
* see banner in post photograph
October 2nd, 2007 at 5:24 pm
People are sick and tired of conventional organization like AL, BNP or JP, and they are looking for an alternative, as any sensible person would do. We, who are happy in western life style, tent to think non western ideas are primitive, un-cool, and backward and brush them a side with disrespect. In other ward, we are too immature to understand that people don’t always think alike. So, we pronouns declarations like ‘they need to stop’ or ‘they are parasites.’
I didn’t hear about Hij’b until very recently. How did they become organized and popular to stage such a rally? There are other older Islamic organizations such as Khilapath Andolon, Mojlish or Islami Shashon Tantra Andolon. None of these parties are popular. On the other hand, once popular leftist parties new became relics in BD politics.
I think these Islamic parties have methods and ideas that work. Even though, progressive news outlets try to blackout activities of organizations like Jamat, shibir or Hij’b, they are inventing activities to reach out to people. For example, PA or Janakhanta reported that Shibir is recruiting students by providing scholarships, lodging and books for needy students. Experts say Jamat is the only practicing democratic organization in BD. Surprised!
So, unless we can bring alternatives to people, hating these organizations are not going change a thing. People like to be part of dynamic organizations where they see their participation could make a difference. People go for organization where they see actions speaks for ideals not words, at least for now. Verbal attacks on Islamic parties just shows, how their attackers are ineptitude.
In short, only Islamic parties that are smart and dynamic may become parties of the future. Unless, AL, BNP or JP can match these Islamic parties in organization, honesty, selflessness, skills, etc., they too may become political relic of Bangladesh politics.
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:49 pm
[...] Comment on Islamic student movement in Bangladesh has a new face …When I compare the recent DU events in August and PA cartoon gate & weekly 2000 fiasco, I find two approach of getting the point across:. (a) Recent DU events over army camp in the campus and subsequent violence was our traditional … [...]
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Banning these fanatics from formal politics will only drive them underground. That’s what happened in the early 70’s: the Rajakar Al Badr Jamaatis joined JSD (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal?), another extremist (but socialist) party out of favor with Sh Mujib, and continued their anti-state and subversive activities together in a true marriage of convenience.
HuT, JI, or JMB’s success in recruiting is more a socio-economical problem than a political one (in Latin America, an analogy may be found in the Gang/Drug wars; and in some African countries, in armies “manned” by child-soldiers). See how the Talibans were also so successful in Afghanistan — attending their Madrassahs would ensure at one square meal. (Un)fortunately, the middle of the road or left of center parties don’t have access to huge funds from the mid-East (or, lately, profits from Islamic banks, hospitals, and other such ventures under the burqa).
So scholarships or other monetary incentives will not solve these problems (assuming NSU students don’t join HuT meetings for cheap ganja). The only way to counter the Islamist (fundamentalist) movement may be by a social revolution of some sorts: I mean more equity; access to opportunities; more transparency in govt; and most importantly, more honesty — in personal ethics as well as in public economics — among the so-called “elite class” (even if they happen to be secularists or just plain Godless). NGOs can only do so much: the Govt (i.e. the middle-class power base) and the Business community (i.e. the filthy rich) need to tackle these issues for their own survival.
I think we have gathered enough evidence that piece-meal, temporary relief cannot compete in the long run with semi-idealist or even pseudo-idealist political movements of the mullahs that pretend to give the disenfranchised an illusion of power and voice. Given the abject circumstances prevailing in BD society (ethically as well as monetarily), even an illusion may be better than the real alternatives.
October 3rd, 2007 at 3:53 am
#37
NirBasito, you are right on the issues of banning these organizations. It will be difficult to monitor them. Surprisingly, failing to compete with Islamic organizations, secular parties shamelessly asks government to banned them.
Media and progressive organizations should just do their job that would have taken care of this problem. Secular news media should freely news on their activities wheather good or bad so progressive minded people could plan their activities to counter them. Unfortunately, media continues to shun reporting on these organizations, thus keep them out of sight and mind. These policies have backfired. Continuous negative campaign is also costing news media its’ credibility. Unfortunately, they are still continuing on age-old allegations, which they can’t even prove in the court of law.
Talking like bullies from secular parties and specially AL, make Islamic parties peace-loving organizations. Ordering to kill ten for every AL activist death is an example of a hideous mindset of some secular quarter. They need to understand that killing people on the street like snakes don’t help secular agenda. These are what make secular parties to be always on defense against Islamist propaganda. Some might argue, as it is a fact, not propaganda.
Secular parties need to educate themselves on the issues that effects public. Bangladesh is a Muslim country. Islam is an important factor to people. Secular people should not have a problem to address need of Muslims. For example, Muslim wanted Islamic Bank. Secular people should take it up as a business opportunity like Citi Bank in America. But they choose to oppose it. I think secular parties could learn from Malaysia on how Muhatir government kept Islamist out from power. Secular parties need to be champion of causes that matters most to people. Congress is doing it.
People who likes to take Bangladesh to post ’71 era, they have their work cutout for them. They need to go back to work to win over people’s hearts and mind. Talk is cheap. Bragging rights for independence may not work in the future, specially, when every family would have an Islamic activist of their own, with an opinion.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:03 am
#37 abuwardha,
It might not be right to ask for banning any particular philosophy. But if a political party was involved in crime against humanity, it might be within the realm of rightful demand. Now, you can argue about the strategic correctness. But your premise of “age-old” allegations against them can not be proven in the court of law is dubious! You are very concern about AL’s and allies hostility against islamists, “Ordering to kill ten for every AL activist death is an example of a hideous mindset of some secular quarter”. You almost conveniently forget the “rog kata” politics of “peace-loving” islamists. But I will give you that AL and allies talk too much but don’t act. On the other hand, islamists take over universities (Chittagong gone, now Rajshahi) in Bangladesh by simple means of “rog kata” without talking to the press.
There are numerous reports about unlawful banking practice in islami bank, yet they are untouched. Many of theirs other institutions have shadowy tie with Middle Eastern money. You are asking not to even criticize them! They are doing dangerous politics/conspiracy in the mosques, shielded by religion and you are also asking equal press for them in the ‘secularist’ media. Is not that little too much?
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm
#39 SC,
I couldn’t agree more with you on punishing criminals. My argument was, without taking any steps to punish criminals, just talking about it merely make it a propaganda and overtime loose its’ appeal to people. That is a huge loss for the secularist. I just suggested that they should bring justice to these people with specific law suite to prosecute them, or cease this propaganda campaign. Charges turn in to allegations unless prosecuted. I think it is a valid suggestion not a dubious one.
I wouldn’t argue the “rog-kata” business that goes on in school system. People see that in the secular news media all the time, and a few might have experienced themselves. But, we forget people do interact with Islamist. Ten million Islamist could make huge personal positive effect to the people they meet. In the societies, Islamist could have greater personal acceptance than secular oriented people. My comments were how secularist could overcome this challenge, not a support for Islamist.
Unbiased reporting is important for the media credibility. We know the story of a boy who cried wolf. By desensitizing public mind, sooner or later same fate is waiting for secular media unless they can prove honest reporting, a reporting that meet public perceptions.
Islamic Bank was fined for unlawful practices that were not the contention point. I think you misread my point here. My point was secular establishment should pickup issues that mattered most to people, whether those issues are Islamic or non-Islamic. Otherwise, they would find themselves at the opposite end of majority.
At the end, it is futile to complain the source of money. We know almost every politician is on the foreign payroll, probably, more secular politician then Islamist. Islamist is doing a great job with their resources. Unfortunately, secularist is still in fools’ heaven and complaining about others.
October 4th, 2007 at 4:07 am
Our secularists are ultra-atheiest secularists. But they don’t know people can be both secularist and religious together at the same time. How this fanatic secularists can darethink to turn this country of about 140 million muslims to a atheist nation. If someone think in that way it’s nothing but building castle in the air or living in eutopian cosmos.
The problem of our pseudo-secularists is that they are totally out of stern reality of life.
What I can recommend them is to change their stand of extremism and work for strengthening and expanding the fold of moderate Islamism. Extremism is evil, extremism is sin.
They [secular fundamentalists] don’t look around planet, how the socialist and communists powers crumbled with thier materialistic life-less philosophy.
Even after mini world-war or world war # II1/2 [two and half] in Iraq and Afganistan the warring force couldn’t send Islam in exile. Islam is still very much recognized in the constitution of Iraq. I would rather say, Islam has now far more influence in Iraqi society than era of hypocritical Saddam.
Even in Tarkey the Kamal ATA has been gradually getting dwindled.
All the major religions Islam, Chrisianity, Judaism so on will stay. They are the source of fuel for human souls. Without religion, without spirituality human society can’t survive and sustain.
Enemies of God like Taslima, Rushdie, Doud Haider, late Ahmed Sharif, late Humayun Azad etc so called progressivists or secularists can’t undo religions. They are engaged in all futile attempt but getting to be infamous celebrity.
Nizami gave an appropriate answer that banning religious politics is like a Mamar Baarir Abdar. Religious potlictics is prevelant all across the world in variable extents. Inter-religious conflicts some extent and sometimes are the cause of social discord and disharmoney though.
And that’s why for world peace and prosperity there should be interfaiths dialogue for religious reconcilliation and establishing religious secularism istead of Godless atheists’ secularism.
While the ultra anti-islamic secularists demand banning of religious politics, most them claim they are under the fold of biggest modern neo-religion which they brag as aetheism. Is it not rediculous or wistful thinking that the atheist padries [secularists] will have the license to practice evil politics and the true religious will suck their fingers as pacifiers or will remain busy counting the beads of their rosaries?
It is better to be practical than to be baseless propagandists.
Thanks.
October 4th, 2007 at 5:46 am
I’d like to add bitterboy’s name to the list of “Enemies of God” that he has so dutifully compiled. Almost all his posts here have ended up offending my religion, based as it is on tolerance and justice, neither of which have shown through in his quoting and his defence of war criminals.
THANKS!
October 4th, 2007 at 7:50 am
biterboy, what clash do you read in? which mardasha you go to? you must have many wise hujoors there. I jealash you. you know so much! and you are steel only a BOY!
what is baseless propagandists?
I hope soon you grow up as man, pass Fajil, become Camel, and drive all secular extremist into bay of bengal! I then ask Bush to give you most noble prize for idea of interfaiths dialogue.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
We should have intellectual debates not personal attacks. People resort to personal attacks once they realize it is impossible to produce valid counter arguments, due to either lack knowledge or tolerance. That is an utter shame for smart people.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Agreed abuwardha. My apologies for having started it.
Unfortunately, from experience I can tell you that talking on an intellectual level with bitterboy usually fails. Sometimes a personal attack is needed to show how he can pretty much implicate ANYone including himself using his fallacious logic in constructing these hitlists.
October 5th, 2007 at 4:54 am
#40
I think I agree with you… But in all probability the propaganda against war criminals (the division of our nation into Pro-Liberation and Anti-Liberation forces) will continue. No party (AL/BNP/JP) is actually interested in laying the matter to rest by actually trying these war criminals. I get really pissed when ALeaguers tell me that war criminals shd be punished. AL was in power for 8 years (’72-’75 and ‘96-/01). Why cdnt they frame a law, form a Tribunal and try the criminals within this period? No party will ever try the war criminals. Because once they have tried and punished the war criminals, they will have lost their biggest ammunition for attacking Jamaat and other Islamic parties.
PS: I really hate it when Hasanul Huq Inu talks about banning the religious parties. Who the hell is he? His party has got no representation in Parliament. On the contrary the Islamic parties have always been represented in our Parliament. Inu’s party has no future- someone shd tell him that. THe only reason we hear so much of his voice is because he comes from the left/secular camp.
October 7th, 2007 at 7:01 am
The tragedy is that the entire 15 years of ‘politics’ from 91 to 2006 was MIS-SPENT in the politics of history, not in the politics of future.
AL spent 5 years hunting the Mujib killers, BNP spent 10 years fighting hartals and oborodhs for NOT hunting the Mujib killers, and Jamat spent 15 years dodging ‘war criminal’ propaganda, and not sure whether to hunt the Mujib killers or not!!
Meanwhile, the nation got NO progress in the politics of development. It is about time ‘politicans’ stop worrying about Mujib, Zia and Razakars (Allah is taking care of them!)
Instead it is NOW time to worry about the 150 million people who are struggling for survival, and HOW they will fare in the next 20, 40, 50 years. That will bring a fresh blood in the science of ‘politics’ when Mujib, Zia and Razakars are left in the musuem, and not in Parliament.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:01 am
Salam All.
Lotta ppl can bullshit alot! nd they(who r commenting) dun knw abt Islam & its Glorious History and how our Prophet(SAW) carried Islam.
Wat Lib. Youth is doing……On THe Way 2 Rock D Boat 2 please ALLAH (SWT) & implement HIS rulings all over d world(we HAD it till 1924 b4 it collapsed)!
Doz ppl dun want Islam as THE ONLY way of life to be implemented r talkin abt democracy,secularism & so on.
now I would like 2 go 4 an Open CHALLENGE 2 ne1:
Can any1 show with evidence what Lib.Youth is doing dat goes against ISLAM & not the way of Prophet(saw)?
U’l find lotta Imamas & Islamic Scholars who dun knw answers or solutions of problems daz happening according to Islam! but Lib. Youth and its seniors or scholars DO!(Alhamdulillah)
MayBe some of the erudite Muslims & scholars do have answers but they do fear 2xpress due to Kufar!
I’l say few imp. thngs 2 evri1:
1. Lib. Youth is working all over d world & its much stronger in western world than muslim world(being an oversea student in west…,i can guarantee u) & it was born in 1952 wid some contemporary great Islamic Scholars.
2. Its aim is to re-unify the ummah & implement Khilafah(Islamic Rulings) dat we had for 1400 years!
3. It calls for ISLAM not 2 join in its team physically & doing nothing for ISLAM.
4. U’l find lotta movements calling for Khlilafah…Lib.Youth & 1or2 odar grp’s naming is just different but Method & Strategy is same.Simple Analogy :…..1 prson wana buil a home nd dun have necessary tools…then its dreaming rather than implementing…And his friend is serious about building a home and have necessary tools and d way2 build it….dis is Lib.Youth Brothers! If ALLAH gives us victory its scholars have al d equipmebts to run not onli Bangladesh but d whole Muslim Ummah on the spot immediately!
5. PLZ BROZ look@ the world map of 1800’s or b4 1924 thn u’l c 1 state 1 Ummah widout ne border.u r talkin abt Bd,India,Pak born—dis was our muslims fault,lack of islamic knowledge & west/kufar conspiracy which was & is obvious till these dayz! Yes those who were criminals wil b punished under Islamic laws dat i can assure u all.
thnx.
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Sal bro, as a PRACTICING LITERATE Representative Muslim of Islam and Quran and follower of Prophet Muhammad (s) and Allah’s Divine Law, and not HT or LY, I agree firmly with you…my question to all you so-called Muslim intellectuals [whether or not you are practicing Islam and following the brainwashed hujur or mullah of you nearby masjid who can never influence and motivate you to know correct Islam, and doing Hajj near the end of ur life after committing grave sins intentionally and unintentionally ! ]~ Are you a slave to what man-made or are you a slave to what man-made???? While answering this question, you must note that there is NO Compromise allowed in Islam since it is not defined as something brainwashing ‘peace’ but is literally defined as the ultimate ’submission’ to the Creator Allah and is a complete way of our life! Command Executed…
February 5th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
i think slave_of_Allah brother meant “r u a slave to wat man-made or what made-man”…ma bro islam u r very true, indeed most among us have submitted to the will of those that are man-made. These blind believers in secularism, democracy,capitalism are just taking our society down to the ugliest abyss. Btw should n’t those who call for nationalism (n all da terms that go wid it)hide their faces in shame when foreigners (ngos) come to feed our fathers n mothers and also teach us how to use da latrine? Shame shame. Bros..wake up..look wats happenin around..stop being so myopic. We have to revive our thoughts and fall back to our identity - MUSLIMS. Remember we ruled half the world for more than 13 centuries (from spain to indonesia)..this time we r gonna rule da entire world. So just dump ur shallow thoughts into the trash can..then understand Islam…understand ur responsibilities..then use HT as a platform to bring about the change that we have been long waiting for! Peace.
February 8th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
The point we want to highlight is whether secularism is the only appropriate political model to govern societies where more than one religion exists. We can discuss the full spectrum of political views about how this world should be best function.
Islam articulates a social political and economic order built, not borrowed, on its own source. It is both a ritual and a political value system. A consequence of this is that Islam cannot be secularized.
Although some of the Muslim world has reacted through violence but as for al-qaeda, it was created and patronized by the Americans where Islam/ Islamists doesn’t necessarily have to take the blame for that. Despite history shows that several violent movement has been carried out by many un-Islamic groups as a means to establish their idea, - i.e. most of the communist movement can be mentioned as an example of a near past. Using “jamati” as a tool in order to generalize the political force of Islam has been proved lame and confusing hence led general Muslims to explore what the real Islam is.
HT is a peaceful approach which threatens most the rulers of the Muslim world An idea cannot be quashed through force. This is too much of a challenge for the intellectually bankrupt and mentally corrupt western secularist. Whilst American and European celebrate anniversaries of the violent and bloody revolutions that led to the formation of western nation states, Muslims who advocate change through Ideas and yet are associated with terrorism.
Islam cannot be secularized therefore gives us a conviction to reject “Man as legislator”. Now we have people who are possessed by the philosophy of renaissance era where the idea of secularism developed. Renaissance was born out of problems specific to European experience as western thinkers challenged the authority of monarchical rule and the intellectual validity of Christianity. Now whoever wants to reject secularism as an idea has the right to do so and at the same time s/he can view Islam as a way of life and establish it in the society.
Some people accused Islam as being a nonpolitical entity. We can normally presume that s/he views Islam from a narrow perspective with a preoccupied mindset that emanates from the medieval confrontation. From such a person one can expect nothing but a stereotyped view about all the Islamic political parties. The issue of establishing Islam as a ‘way of life’ will always give them an itchy feeling.
February 9th, 2008 at 1:56 am
#50
about da latrine fing bruva. if yoo went into da country and saw what level of basic u wood prolly figa dat der needs too be sum work in dat department cos da present practice aint really all dat islamic. yes its patronizing, and yes dey(NGOs) are failing to even get sum of da folks to change der habits. Its hard work getting da swampy end of saaaf asia to work.
Sumhow i dont see big HT billboards in da ganj, or ne bruvs out der beeing practical. wen da floods happen der iz one gud fing about it. it washes away a lot of the hagu dat accumulated ova da year. cum on set up an HT toilet cru.