Suicide bomber kills many in Afghanistan to mark the start of Eid: Syria faces the duality of terrorism

Suicide bomber kills many in Afghanistan to mark the start of Eid: Syria faces the duality of terrorism

Omar Abdullah Ismail and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Islamists often go on a killing spree during Ramadan in several nations and likewise the mark of Eid al-Adha in Afghanistan met the same fate. It is reported that more than 40 people have been killed by a brutal Islamist terrorist attack against Muslim worshippers. Therefore, once more the Islamist clerics and various terrorist networks have shown the world that their hatred is beyond any logic.

Muslim worshippers prayed to the God of Abraham during the start of Eid al-Adha. Yet while these innocent individuals were concentrating on God, the forces of evil had other ideas because a planned attack took away many lives. This senseless violence highlights not only the bankruptcy of radical Sunni Islamism which is killing with abandon in Afghanistan, Mali, northern Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and other parts of the world; it highlights utter hypocrisy on the side of Islamists.

Recently, many demonstrations took place against a minor film of no importance which was manipulated by Islamist clerics. Yet how many Korans were destroyed  in this attack and countless other terrorist attacks against mosques in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria and northern Nigeria?  Does the sanctity of Islam only count when non-Muslims can be blamed? After all, in Libya, northern Mali and Somalia many Sufi shrines have been destroyed but where was the outcry against this in the Muslim world?

Outside of the September 11 attacks which mainly killed non-Muslims in America. The vast majority of Sunni Islamist terrorist attacks have killed mainly Muslims. Often, Shia Muslims are the main victims of many Sunni Islamist terrorist attacks in countries like Iraq and Pakistan. When it comes to Syria, then Alawites and the Shia are targeted based on sectarianism and mainstream Sunni Muslims are also killed for being loyal to the government of Syria. However, irrespective of the Muslim branch, it is clear that Muslims are the main victims of terrorism. Therefore, what is the point to this endless cycle of violence?

In the past, too many nations like America, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Kuwait, France, Pakistan, and other nations; have tried to manipulate terrorists for personal geopolitical gains. Recently, the usual culprits are now involved in destabilizing Syria by enabling many funding channels to support Islamist terrorist organizations. Until an international system starts naming and shaming these nations, organizations and whereby implications for this barbarity will be enacted; then too many lose ends will continue to exist. Therefore, currently you have an enormous duality – this applies to state funded and covert funded terrorism which is ongoing against Syria – to private organizations, Islamist charities and so forth which are funding terrorism outside of nation states. In the case of Syria both terrorist networks are working hand in hand.

If the international community continues to condemn terrorism like what happened in Afghanistan today and the recent terrorist attack in Beirut; however, constantly ignoring and tacitly supporting terrorism against nations like Syria. Then this dualistic and hypocritical approach not only shames these nations, but in a sense it makes them even worse. After all, the evil suicide bomber who killed many Afghans while they were praying inside a mosque could only see his reality. After all, his evil and hatred was one dimensional but nations like America, France, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom are two dimensional. This means, that when it suits, for example by manipulating terrorist organizations against secular Syria; then these nations participate alongside vile media wars which are based on enormous distortions.

Turning back to the suicide bomber who killed many worshippers, then it is reported that some of the Muslims were connected to the security elite of this district in Afghanistan. This fact highlights the plan to kill during this holy period for Muslims. It also shows you that the Taliban and other Islamist organizations, like the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, are gradually spreading their power base to other areas of Afghanistan.

The Russian Federation recently tried to get members of the United Nations to condemn the brutal terrorist attack which happened in a Christian area of Damascus in Syria. Yet, the duality of evil once more shamed their “terrorist stance” because major nations refused to abide by the positive policies of the Russian Federation.

It is clear that the brutal suicide terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and Syria aren’t coming from “zero.” Therefore, until the ratlines are cut and nations stop supporting terrorism either openly or covertly, then nothing will change. However, why should innocents continue to die because of the whims of outside nations in the case of Syria? Likewise, in Afghanistan it is time for mainstream Sunni Muslim clerics and other branches to work together in order to root out this evil which is mainly killing Muslims in the name of hatred.

 

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

 

Libya and Mali: Salafi Islamists destroying shrines courtesy of Saudi Arabia and Qatar

Libya and Mali: Salafi Islamists destroying shrines courtesy of Saudi Arabia and Qatar

Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The “bomb democracy” Western and Gulf policy in Libya brought on the massacres of black Africans, killing of Gaddafi loyalists and creating a “new society” based on disorder which is currently ongoing. Indeed, the chaos which is engulfing Libya is now destabilizing Northern Mali and creating problems for Tunisia. This destabilization is based on vast quantities of military hardware being available and more dangerously the Salafi ideology is spreading because of money from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Salafi ideology is now intent on destroying Sufi shrines in Libya, Northern Mali, Somalia, and in other parts of the world, where this dangerous ideology fused within a faith is growing in power. In their worldview all other Muslim places of worship and Muslim shrines are deemed to be un-Islamic. This blind hatred can be seen in places like Somalia where all converts to Christianity face death by Islamists in this country.

This isn’t surprising because Saudi Arabia supports killing all apostates to Christianity and not one single Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and Christian place of worship is allowed. However, just like old men marrying little children in Saudi Arabia and both Qatar and Saudi Arabia supporting terrorism against Syria. Nothing appears to raise the heckles when it comes to the policies of London, Paris, Washington and other governments which throw human rights out of the window when dealing with Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The appeasement of institutional religious discrimination in Saudi Arabia and trampling down on the rights of women is a policy which is “cheapening” democracy. Likewise, this appeasement shames the United Nations and the various bodies connected with this major international institution.

Turning back to Libya and Northern Mali then currently Salafists are intent on destroying all Islamic thought patterns outside of their “blinkered monoculture” which thrives on hatred and fear. Indeed, in Syria some video evidence survives which makes it clear that the Western and Islamist “marriage of convenience” is now spreading this dangerous ideology within Syria. Therefore, mainstream Islam and religious minorities have much to fear in Syria but like usual political leaders in London, Paris and Washington will support any form of barbarity providing it meets their geopolitical ambitions.

Ongoing attacks against Sufi shrines which venerate Sufi Muslim saints in Libya are now under attack. The same Islamists destroyed a Christian graveyard in this country. These blatant crimes of destroying culture and attacking the diversity within Islam are now in full flow in the capital of Libya just like they reached Northern Mali.

The shrine of al-Shaab al-Dahmani in Tripoli follows on from the attack which took place in Ziltan against the tomb of a notable scholar who enriched the Sufi faith. In Ziltan the rich history of the tomb dedicated to Abdel Salam al-Asmar was attacked. Therefore, just like Northern Mali the history of the past is being eradicated by Islamists who obtain funding and indoctrination from their Salafi brethren in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Attacking “infidel” mosques and shrines is now part of the new “Islamist holy war” being funded and supported by organizations and wealthy individuals in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. One can only imagine what will happen to Alawites, Christians, the Druze and mainstream Sunni Islam in Syria if the same Islamists grow in power. If Saudi Arabia and Qatar remain unchecked then the richness of religious diversity within Islam will end up in some nations like Buddhism in Afghanistan in past history. This applies to being decapitated and destroyed by an ideology which seeks only a world based on monoculture.

In the BBC article about the attack against Sufi shrines in Libya one student commented that “There’s a large group of Salafists – they are the one with the bulldozers, and some military police are also present…They seem to be overseeing the process, rather than preventing it… There are some bystanders who seem to approve.”

Similar acts and much worse are now common in Northern Mali because Salafists are intent on destroying the beauty and wisdom of African Islam in Mali. Therefore, historical monuments, shrines and mosques which have been the envy of nations throughout the world, are now on the frontline of Islamism. Sadly, it currently appears that the liberal version of Islam in Mali is being torn apart by outside forces emanating from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

In a past article by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “The same foreign Islamists in Mali are akin to the Islamists in Syria. It is a direct mirror looking into another mirror and the Saudi Arabia angle can be seen along the way. In Syria it is much more open while in Mali it is more covert and through channels outside of the government. However, the same violence is the main theme and the same applies to the desire for a monoculture to oppress all alternative thought patterns.”

In other nations like Tunisia the confusion of recent events is enabling massive funding from wealthy individuals and organizations in Saudi Arabia and Qatar to spread their “Islamist Year Zero” policies. It is abundantly clear that an internal ideological war is being funded and supported to spread Salafi Islam. Therefore, the frequent attacks against Shia Muslims and other branches of Islam by Islamists is part of the same conflict which is destroying Muslim shrines in many parts of the world.

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

 

 

Syria and Russia: Putin remains firm and highlights hypocrisy – reality of Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan

Syria and Russia: Putin remains firm and highlights hypocrisy – reality of Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan

Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation is highlighting the need to resolve international disputes through the proper channels of international law and diplomacy. On the other hand, many political leaders in America appear all too hasty to start another major war and create yet another failed state. Vladimir Putin commented about this reality and given the facts of Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq, and Libya; then it would take a brave individual to disagree.

Iraq even today can’t hold a major international conference without spending vast resources on protecting any specific event from the threat of terrorism. Obviously, the fact that the leaders of America, the United Kingdom, France, and others, have to sneak into Afghanistan and back out again quickly highlights the complete failure of decades of Western meddling. Indeed, Afghanistan under Najibullah was more secular and progressive compared with the current reality of this nation.

Modern day Afghanistan is based on continuing feudalism, a land where apostates face death, women throughout most of the nation remain discriminated against, and the Taliban can strike at any moment. On top of this, you still have a major heroin problem and the central government is not only weak, it is corrupt and is increasingly more conservative. Therefore, since Western and Sunni Islamic states began to meddle into Afghanistan they have done nothing but spread terrorism and a dangerous ideology during the first stage. Then after September 11, former allies have become estranged friends and this notably applies to the relationship between America and Pakistan.

Similarly, in Libya many atrocities have been committed by the new power brokers. Indeed, it is difficult to state “power brokers” because various militias and regions have their own power bases. Therefore, the central authority is very weak and clearly tensions throughout Libya remain. Also, many black Africans were lynched by the so-called progressive forces in the early period. Today, meanwhile, many allegations of torture have come to the fore and very little progress is being made.

Vladimir Putin therefore is disillusioned by the constant posturing of certain nations towards bombing and supporting covert operations against independent nations. In Kosovo, the United States and United Kingdom supported Hashim Thaci who is tainted by the organ scandal. Also, Kosovo remains to be a land where Orthodox Christians can’t travel freely in the place of their birth and criminality remains a fact of life.

Vojin Joksimovich wrote in Modern Tokyo Times, regarding the organ scandal in Kosovo, that “In this era of WikiLeaks the UN report dated October 30, 2003 was leaked.  France 24 TV channel was one of several media outlets to reveal the content of this confidential report. Even this author managed to get a copy of this 29 page report. The report originated from Eamonn Smyth, Head of ICTY Mission in Skopje and Pristina to Patrick Lopez Terres, Chief of the ICTY Investigations. The report says that 100-300 mostly Serbian men were abducted and taken by truck/van to detention facilities in Albanian towns of Kukes and Tropoje. Beginning in August 1999 some of these captives (24-100) was transferred from Northern Albania to secondary detention facilities (private homes and rough industrial compounds) in central Albania, mainly near the towns of Burrel and Peshkopi. Then they were moved to a private house south of Burrel that was setup as a makeshift clinic. There, medical equipment and personnel were used to extract body organs from the abductees, who then died. Their remains were buried nearby. The organs were transported to Rinas airport near Tirana. It should be noted that the airport was under the NATO control. A small number of female captives from Kosovo, Albania and Eastern Europe were also taken to the clinic. In addition to abductees taken to Albania alive, an unknown number of bodies of Serbian civilians killed in Kosovo were transported to Albania and buried in remote locations. The last delivery of captives was reported in spring or early summer 2000.

“The report identifies at least eight sources, all ethnic Albanians from Kosovo and Montenegro who served in the KLA. In the report they were listed with numbers as their identities were withheld. Four, who have directly participated in the transport of at least 90 Serbs, provided very detailed accounts of their roles including the exact dates. Of these, three sources delivered captives to the house/clinic south of Burrel. Two have participated in the disposal of human remains and one who has participated in the delivery of body parts to Rinas airport. The transports and surgical procedures were carried out with the knowledge and/or active involvement of mid-level and senior KLA officers. Doctors from Kosovo as well as an Arab doctor were involved. The operation was supported by the men with links to the Albanian secret police operatives of the government of Sali Berisha. Maps of the site locations were included. 10 Serbian victims were identified by name.”

Diana Johnstone commented that “Human rights campaigners in the self-righteous Western democracies are intransigent when it comes to ending what they call ‘the culture of impunity’ so long as it involves, say, Africa. But their own impunity and that of their clients seems more secure than ever.” This comment also applies to the current reality in Syria whereby international terrorists and outside nations are spreading sectarianism in Syria.

Francois Hollande, the new President of France, is already highlighting “a war mongering touch” within just a short period in office. He, like political leaders in America and the United Kingdom, are all too keen to blame the Syrian government for any misdeed. However, when the Free Syrian Army (FSA) which is a fusion of mercenaries, terrorists, and criminals, does massacres and ignites sectarianism then the same Western powers remain silent. This isn’t surprising given their “partners in crime” – Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar – are all assisting in the terrorist and sectarian ratlines engulfing parts of Syria.

President Hollande also insists that President Bashar al-Assad must leave office but Vladimir Putin openly states that this depends on the “will” of the Syrian people. Hollande, just like President Obama, promised “a new world” based on greater transparency and international dialogue. However, behind the rhetoric of both are the same failed policies of supporting international terrorism and giving a “green light” to outside nations to spread their carnage.

Vladimir Putin dismisses many negative comments by certain political leaders who desire to enforce “their thinking” on the people of Syria. He stated that “If you think you can decide that for other nations, go to Cairo now and take part in the Egyptian presidential elections. You can’t do that! Nor can you or anyone else do that in Syria.”

Vladimir Putin further commented that “Why do we think that if we push someone from the current leadership away from power, prosperity will arrive there tomorrow?”

“What is happening in Libya? We all know what kind of a tyrant [Muammar] Gaddafi was…But do you know what was happening in Sirte when militants entered the city? Why do you not write about that? Has humanitarian wellbeing settled there?”

Many citizens in America, the United Kingdom, France, and other nations, are fed up with constant wars, media manipulations, and covert operations involving their elected leaders who are acting undemocratically. Of course, many will agree, but overall the vast majority is disillusioned despite all the domestic propaganda. After all, modern day Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, and Libya, are all failed states or patched up states (Kosovo not recognized by the majority of international nations). On top of this, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and terrorism is a fact of life in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria because of outside meddling. Meanwhile, an organ tainted leader in Kosovo was supported – implying that killing individuals for organs is acceptable to leaders in Washington and London – because the same individual is free to visit America. Yet while he is free Orthodox Christian children in Kosovo have to be protected if they want to travel freely.

If killing hundreds of thousands of people is deemed fine, increasing narcotic problems (Afghanistan and Kosovo), creating a vacuum whereby terrorists flourish, and then taking the independence away from nations which were sovereign; then by all means, support individuals like Susan Rice, the American representative. However, if you are internationalist and support independence and “a collective approach” when the time is needed – then surely Vladimir Putin makes a million times more sense than the posturing of Hillary Clinton and Susan Rice.

The brutal murders of Muammar Gaddafi and Najibullah in Afghanistan highlight the bloody nature of the forces that were supported to overthrow both individuals. In the case of Kosovo you had political elites within the Albanian leadership who were involved in killing individuals for organs. Meanwhile, Saddam Hussein was taunted and goaded before being killed by the new state apparatus of Iraq.

Saddam Hussien and Muammar Gaddafi were once supported by the same nations which turned against them. It is clear that many atrocities took place under Saddam Hussein but during his time he served the West and Saudi Arabia well by keeping Iran in check. It is this utter hypocrisy and ruthlessness which makes individuals question their-own-so-called political leaders. Therefore, is it progressive to support terrorism and sectarianism against the Syrian people?

Vladimir Putin praised the Kofi Annan plan not because of the current reality on the ground which is being made worse by outside meddling. He did this on the grounds that Kofi Annan is seeking a solution to a complex problem based on political dialogue and not war.

Vladimir Putin stated during his meeting with Chancellor Merkel of Germany, that ”Russia has a good and long-standing relationship with Syria…We support Syria’s stability, sovereignty and people, and all parties should support the plan of the UN envoy Kofi Annan.”

”We have to stop talking about aborting Annan’s plan…Our mission is to end violence in Syria by all sides, and we agreed with Merkel that Russia, Germany and our partners have to de-escalate violence and help Annan achieve that.”

”We believe that we can hold dialogue at the United Nations Security Council, and sure we’ll have contacts with the Syrian leadership and will be in contact with the countries interested in this issue…We will do our best to reach a nonviolent, political solution to the crisis in Syria.”

It is hoped that the Russian Federation will not cave in to international pressure from Washington, London, Paris, Ankara, and Riyadh. Syria needs to be “a line which isn’t walked over” by hypocrites who have supported tainted individuals involved in organ scandals, covertly supported terrorists, remain quiet about the lynching of black Africans in Libya, and other vile episodes. The situation in Syria is being made complex because of the dangerous terrorist and sectarian policies of nations like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar – along with the usual players – this must end because history is repeating itself too much.  

 

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

 

Afghanistan: a nation where converts to Buddhism and Christianity face death

Afghanistan: a nation where converts to Buddhism and Christianity face death

Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and a host of other nations, keep on sending economic support to Afghanistan and how do the leaders of this nation respond?  Yes, they still support an ongoing Islamic inquisition whereby every Muslim convert to Buddhism, Hindusim or Christianity faces the death penalty.

In truth, the policies of Karzai and the Taliban are not so different because both sides support killing apostates from Islam, the prevention of non-Muslim places of worship, continuing discrimination against women and rigid stratification of Afghanistan. Therefore, any positive images of Kabul being shown in the media, is just “a hidden disguise of reality” and corruption is endemic alongside the heroin trade.

Afghan converts to Christianity and other faiths also face persecution outside of Afghanistan and if de-Islamization of culture isn’t installed into the younger generation via the education system, then what is the point?

Therefore, the mosque and Islamic Sharia law needs to be kept out of all major institutions and reformist Muslim organizations should be supported. After all, how can commerce, pluralism, religious freedom, female emancipation, the rights of homosexuals, and so forth, happen under the prevailing conditions of modern day Afghanistan?

Secularism, credit unions to help business initiatives, a growing liberal media network, a judiciary which is free from religious dogma and an educational system based on liberal values is needed. Of course, other important areas need changing and this applies to restrictions on dress and challenging the power base of traditional rulers who care little about modernity.

This Sunni Islamic version of Islam in Afghanistan is mainly ultra-conservative and based on preserving inequality and the subjugation of non-Muslims, women, and maintaining stratification. The Islamic enlightenment in this country is a million miles away. Therefore, the current Western policy appears to be based on the status quo and allowing another generation of girls to be chained by an oppressive society.

If the option is the Taliban who recently stoned a woman to death for so-called immorality, yes, Mohammed married a child of 6 years of age and consummated the marriage with Aisha when she was 9 years old, and by this time Mohammed was over 50 (Obviously morality is conditional on individuals and not their own prophet); or the Karzai government which is corrupt and supports killing apostates via the state; then what option is this?

Trillions of dollars have been spent on Afghanistan and the return on all this money is you have schools which teach basic education to girls. However, this educational system is uneven and in more conservative areas it is still disliked.

Therefore, what are NATO forces and American troops dying for? Why are the sons and daughters of democrats being thrown to “the jaws of radical Sunni Islam” and the complete corruption and hypocrisy of the Karzai regime?

Once Buddhism and Hinduism nurtured the land of Afghanistan but the Islamic inquisition after countless invasions changed everything and one day all Buddhists would disappear because of many factors. These factors apply to dhimmitude, massacres, pogroms, and once the power shift became dominated by Islamic forces then Buddhism was doomed to just being a shell.

However, the Taliban didn’t even like a shell, therefore, the forces of conservative Sunni Islam turned against all Buddhist images. At the same time, the forces of radical Sunni Islam then turned against the Shia and slaughtered them in the thousands but of course Osama Bin Laden believed that this policy was both Islamic and a jihad.

This madness, and it is madness, which desires to kill apostates to Buddhism, apostates to Christianity, kill homosexuals, stone women to death for adultery, and so forth; isn’t being challenged by “the light of democracy;” on the contrary it is being challenged by appeasement and the corruption of the Karzai regime which also supports killing all apostates and not allowing any other religion in Afghanistan.

If Western political leaders just desire the status quo then surely they should stop wasting the lives of military people who are dying for nothing. Also, tax-payers money shouldn’t be thrown at a county which is undemocratic and corrupt.

America likes to rebuke North Korea but women at least have a million times more freedom in this nation than Afghan women. The same also applies to Saudi Arabia where women can’t drive cars and shop freely with men and so forth.

Indeed, you have more Christian churches in North Korea than in both Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. What does this tell us about Western policy and the nature of conservative Sunni Islam? Also, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia are deemed to be allies but from the point of view of democracy, religious freedom, equality of the sexes, and so forth, it certainly doesn’t look like it.

It is time to stop coddling up to despotism and for greater accountability.

http://www.aina.org/news/20111116185325.htm  (Recent article about apostates in Afghanistan)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2060380/Afghan-mother-daughter-stoned-shot-dead-Taliban-accused-moral-deviation-adultery.html  (Woman and daughter stoned to death)

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

 

 

 

Osama Bin Laden killed and no jihadist ending

Osama Bin Laden killed and no jihadist ending

Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

 

It is reported that Osama Bin Laden has been killed and unlike the mass murderer who ordered fellow Sunni Islamic fanatics to kill in the name of Islam; it is clear that he died without putting up much of a fight.

The sham of this warrior of Sunni Islam is clear for all to see because everywhere he and his followers were based, then all they did was kill, murder, and get involved in criminality.

Indeed, while would be jihadists in the West fixated on the “man myth” his followers were slitting the throats of Orthodox Christians during the Bosnian civil war and slaughtering the Shia Muslims in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen.

Osama Bin Laden, a wealthy rich kid who had eyes for the ladies then turned inward upon himself and entrenched all the jihadist theories which can be found in the Koran and the Hadiths.  This further enabled him to kill in the name of Allah and in the name of hatred.

He cared little about the destitute or the policies of women and everywhere his followers went they just caused mayhem, murder, persecution, and sowed the seed of more hatred.

President Obama announced that “his demise should be welcomed by all those who believe in peace and human dignity.”

President Obama also stated that “The death of Bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al-Qaida.

It was also confirmed by the president of America that the special operation took place in Abbottabad in Pakistan.  This will raise serious eyebrows because many people always pointed the finger at Pakistan, I included, and it is still unsure about how long he had been living in Pakistan and if the Pakistan security services had been protecting him in the past?

This is pure speculation at the moment but in the future many serious questions will need to be answered by Pakistan.  After all, the United States gives vast economic assistance to Pakistan therefore the “rat lines” need to be known.

Ansar al Mujahideen which is an Islamic jihadist website also confirms the death of Osama Bin Laden but of course they do so by using a lot of spin and neglecting to mention that this mass murderer was responsible for the deaths of so many.

Former President George W. Bush also commented that “The fight against terror goes on……but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.”

Now is a time of celebration because a major force of evil is no longer but like George W. Bush warns, “The fight against terror goes on.”

It is clear that all security agencies will be on high alert because terrorist revenge attacks may occur in the following days or weeks.

Fittingly for Osama Bin Laden, he died and bit the dust while putting up little resistance and this killer of innocents who glorified martyrdom; died like the coward he is.

I now hope that America will not allow him to have a Muslim burial because he should be showed no compassion.  After all, what compassion did he show to the innocents who have been slaughtered on his orders and with his encouragement?

http://moderntokyotimes.com (please visit)

 

 

Yemen and ongoing persecution of the Shia

Yemen and ongoing persecution of the Shia

Lee Jay Walker

The Modern Tokyo Times

Shia children killed in Yemen

 

Shia child killed in Yemen

—————————————————

In Afghanistan the forces of the Taliban and Al Qaeda massacred many Shia Muslims and the same happened in Iraq under Saddam Hussein.  Sunni Islamists clearly have little respect for their co-religionists and some Sunni Islamic organizations claim that Shia Muslims are heretics and this hatred can be seen in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and other nations where you have Sunni-Shia tensions. 

The current crisis in Yemen is clearly under-reported and many massacres have taken place against Shia Muslims.  In the following link it clearly shows you the deaths of many innocent Shia Muslims and this applies to many young children who were killed during the chaos in this nation　(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ivAeaVfILY&feature=related ) before a fragile truce was agreed in early 2010 (broken many times in the past).   

Therefore, just what is happening in Yemen and what is the role of the central government?  Also, if you have so much hatred within the House of Islam then what hope for non-Muslim minorities in mainly Muslim nations?

James Haider, Middle East correspondent for The Times (UK), stated on November 5, 2009, that the Shia “…accuse Saudi Arabia, a conservative Sunni Muslim country, of backing the Yemeni army, fearing the emergence of a strong Shia militia similar to Hezbollah in Lebanon.”

“In turn, the Yemeni Government in Sanaa has accused Iran, a Shia theocracy, of supporting the Huthi rebels as part of a campaign to spread Tehran’s influence across the region. The Government said last week that Yemeni troops had seized five Iranians on a boat loaded with arms in the Red Sea”.

James Haider continues by stating that 150,000 people had been forced to flee the government offensive in late 2009. This applies to land and aerial bombardments and clearly many innocent civilians have been killed.

If we look at the bigger picture and take away current militias or organizations or terrorist networks in Yemen and throughout the Muslim world, irrespective if Shia or Sunni, or from the sub-divisions within both groups; then it becomes clear that the Shia have been marginalized for centuries.  Therefore, do traditional Sunni power mechanisms just desire the status quo rather than bridging the gap and does this hatred within the House of Islam spill over to other non-Muslim minorities?

Rannie Amiri’s, whose article was published in the weekend edition of Counterpunch, (Feb 19-21, 2010) called The Shia Crescent Revisited, commented that “Should the Arab Shia be prohibited from freely airing their grievances and demanding accountability for past injustices? Stopped from speaking out against the crimes perpetrated against them under Saddam (in which many in the Arab world were complicit)? Prevented from attempting to lift the heavy hand of institutionalized discrimination levied against them in Saudi Arabia? Barred from seeking an end to their disenfranchisement in Bahrain – where they make up at least 70 percent of the population yet constitute no part of the government or security services? Forbidden from asking why the language of sectarianism was used to justify and amplify the carnage in north Yemen?”

It is a fair question and another question must be added and this applies to the global terrorist faith which was behind September 11^th, Kenya, London, Madrid, Bali, Uganda, and a host of other terrorist attacks which have hit so many nations.  Were these Islamists following the Shia faith or the Sunni faith?

The answer is obvious because all these terrorist attacks were done in the name of radical Sunni Islam.  After all, Shia Muslims were not behind any of these attacks and the same applies to other Muslim groups like the Ahmadiyya and Alevi who are not involved in terrorism. On the contrary, the Ahmadiyya and Alevi suffer terrible persecution at the hands of Sunni Islamic extremists in their native lands and from the central government.

Even in Afghanistan and Iraq it is clear that Sunni Islamists and terrorist groups are the main problem because forces within the Shia have been much more accommodating.  Yes, followers of Muqtada al-Sadr who is a Shia leader in Iraq and who supported the Mahdi Army taking on American forces, is a rare exception but on the whole it is the forces of Sunni Islam which are behind the vast majority of the carnage in both nations.

Turning back to Yemen, then is this the next brutal war which will drag in outside forces and lead to the growth of radical Sunni Islam?  After all, it is clear that the al-Shabaab in Somalia desire to turn Somalia into a fundamentalist nation. It is also abundantly clear that Arab Sunni Muslims are behind this fanatical terrorist organization which beheads Christians and stones women to death for adultery or when women are raped but are blamed.

The linkage between the al-Shabaab in Somalia and radical Sunni Islamic organizations and terrorist networks in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and other nations, is obvious.  After all, you only have to look at the dress code and the way of thinking because everything is Arabized and Sufi Muslims now face persecution at the hands of radical Sunni Islamists but for Christians it is a complete witch-hunt and brutal beyond words.

Sudarsan Raghavan, Washington Post, February 11, 2010, stated that “Even as it fights a U.S.-supported war against al-Qaeda militants here, the Yemeni government is engaging Islamist extremists who share an ideology similar to Osama bin Laden’s in its own civil war, adding new complications to efforts to fight terrorism.”

The writer continues by stating that “Yemen’s army is allying with radical Sunnis and former jihadists in the fight against Shiite rebels in the country’s north. The harsh tactics of those forces, such as destroying Shiite mosques and building Sunni ones, are breeding resentment among many residents, analysts said, and given the tangle of evolving allegiances could build support for al-Qaeda’s Yemeni branch, which plotted the Christmas Day attempt to bomb a U.S. airliner.”

However, America should be worried about this because America, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and other nations, used radical Sunni Islam in order to topple communism during the Cold War in Afghanistan.  Yet, just like the ongoing crisis in Pakistan, it is clear that obtaining radical Sunni Islamic support is a dangerous game because one day these very same Islamic jihadists will turn against their original masters in order to spread their global Islamic jihad and nations in the Horn of Africa, notably Ethiopia, must be watching events with great alarm and fear.

Abdel-Karim al-Iriyani, a former prime minister is clearly alarmed by current events in Yemen.  He states that “Using these extremist people, if they are with you today, they are prone to be against you tomorrow.”

At the same time it is clear that the Shia are being victimized by central forces and with radical Sunni Islamists and Saudi Arabia joining the fray, then fresh massacres and greater alienation will take place if the truce breaks down in Yemen.  Therefore, the future looks bleak for the Shia in Yemen and while extremists exist within the Shia community in this nation, it is clear that innocent Shia civilians are seen to be expendable.

It is clear that this is going to add to the Sunni-Shia divide throughout the entire region and stretching all the way to Afghanistan and Pakistan.  This internal hatred is also infringing on how Sunni Islamists view non-Muslim minorities because daily attacks are taking place. Also, Sunni dominated governments are implementing draconian laws in order to oppress non-Muslim minorities and Muslim minorities like the Ahmadiyya who are suffering in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia.

Given this, Sunni dominated leaders and elites are mainly concerned about preserving their power base over the Shia and this hatred and marginalization also spreads to all non-Muslim minority groups. 

Therefore, apostates face severe persecution in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Somalia, and this applies to state sanctioned laws and terrorist networks in Afghanistan and Somalia who behead apostates who convert to Christianity or any other non-Muslim faith. 

To radical Sunni Islamists it is clear that non-Muslims and the Shia are both viewed to be infidels and worthy of killing.  For example, when Raed Mansour al-Banna from Jordan did a suicide bombing in Iraq which killed 125 people he was deemed to be a Muslim martyr.  This in itself implies that the Shia are worthy of killing in the eyes of Sunni Islamists in order to meet virgins in the Muslim heaven after waging jihad and killing innocents.

Therefore, will the Shia be protected from a fresh onslaught in Yemen if the current truce breaks down?  If, and which is most likely, their plight is ignored then hatred will spread deeper and this hatred will be aimed at Muslims and non-Muslims.

If the House of Islam can shed the blood of their own on the grounds of sectarianism then clearly non-Muslims are going to face the consequences of this hatred.  At the same time, greater marginalization of Shia religious minorities in nations like Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and many others, will only lead to more despotism and more persecution of all minority religious groups.

The Islamic faith fears equality, religious freedom, and the separation of mosque and central state.  After this, the Islamic faith fears internal infidels and the Shia are deemed to be infidels in the House of Sunni Islam and Sunni Muslims also use the same mantra against the Ahmadiyya community. 

Naturally, this hatred of diversity within the House of Islam also applies to that of non-Muslims and this can be seen by the brutal reality of modern day Somalia. Yes, another brutal nation where the Sunni al-Shabaab hunts down Christians and then beheads them slowly while shouting their allegiance to Allah.

Therefore, internal Islamic hatred is being whipped up against all notions of diversity and non-Muslims are suffering terrible persecution, alongside the persecution of Shia Muslims. This applies to the persecution of Assyrian Christians, Coptic Christians, Shabaks, Mandaeans, Yazidis, and other religious minorities.

However, coverage of dead Shia children in Yemen was rarely shown before the current truce which began in early 2010. The same applies to the persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt, Assyrian Christians in Iraq, and Christians in Pakistan, who are also marginalized and persecuted.

All these areas are mainly being hidden by national governments and the mass media in order to foster the Sunni Muslim agenda of preserving power. Therefore, draconian laws which infringe upon all minorities are being implemented in the majority of Sunni dominated nations.

Given this, the internal hatred within the House of Islam and the preservation of Sunni political power is being whipped up against all outsiders, irrespective if against Shia Muslims or non-Muslims.   

Lee Jay Walker

http://themoderntokyotimes.wordpress.com

http://islamicpersecution.wordpress.com