MURIC DENOUNCES US VETO OF UN RESOLUTION ON ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS

The veto last week by the United States of the UN resolution declaring Israeli settlements illegal is a flagrant display of arrogance and insentivity to the concern of the international community.    That veto is an effective recruitment sergent for terrorists and extremists in the Middle East. With this veto, America has lost in one bend all it has gained in the straights. If the UN can impose sanctions on virtually all Muslim countries for less crimes, sanctions must be imposed on Israel for defying the international community and for its crimes against humanity.   Justice is the soul of peace. Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk              muslimrights@gmail.com Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog:       muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter:   twitter.com/muslimconcern           Be just Justice is the soul of peace No one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace

RUMBLE-TUMBLE IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES

There is a glaring poverty of Islamic consciousness in the protests in the Arab world in general. On the contrary, the huge multitude demonstrates an understandably high desire for change. We need to realise that these are people long deprived of freedom of speech, traumatized and dehumanised during prolonged periods of tyranny   Their Muslim rulers never really cared about Islam Egypt banned the Islamic Brotherhood and forbade long beards! Tunisia banned the hijab and just last Ramadan, Tunisians were told by their government that fasting in Ramadan was voluntary! The Arab world is in dire need of spiritual reengineering The question is who will bell the cat? It is time for a Mujadid (reformer) to cleanse the desecrated desert sands   Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, Lagos State University, P.O. Box 10211, LASU Post Office, HO 102 101, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel. 234-803-346-4974   I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick healed and the homeless sheltered

MURIC ON MIDDLE EAST REVOLUTION

28th February, 2011 PRESS RELEASE:   MIDDLE EAST REVOLUTION: DEMOCRACY IS NOT THE ANSWER    Revolutions are spreading fast in the Middle East. Two regimes (Tunisia and Egypt) have already fallen. Demonstrations are currently taking place in Yemen, Bahrain, Algeria and Libya with hundreds of thousands trooping to the streets demanding reform or regime change. Many lives were reportedly lost as a result of brutal assaults on demonstrators in Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain and Libya. The case of Libya is close to an insurrection and the death toll is appallingly high.   The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) condemns violent repression of peaceful protests. We denounce the killing of unarmed demonstrators as this constitutes crime against humanity. We lay the blame of the ongoing uprising in the region squarely on the doorsteps of the Muslim rulers of those countries who have failed to implement the Islamic system of government. Many of them, like in Egypt and Tunisia, turned Islam into anathema in their countries. They siphoned the wealth of their people to the West while their subjects wallowed in abject poverty.       MURIC is appalled by the role played by Western nations in the deprivation and rape of the Muslims in the Middle East. It is an open secret that Western countries were the allies of Arab dictators. But they exposed the hypocrisy in democracy by turning the blind eye at the excesses of Arab totalitarian rulers except the radicals among them like Ghaddafi. That is why the West stood with arms akimbo as Husni Mubarak of Egypt tyrannised Egypt for 30 years. For waiting for so long and for capitalizing on the greed and narrow mindedness of Arab rulers, the West stands guilty of selfishness and has lost every moral right to intervene in the ongoing revolution in the region.   The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) asserts the supremacy of the Islamic political system. We urge Muslims in Arab countries to stop killing one another. Democracy is not worth dying for. Democracy has zero tolerance for religion, particularly Islam and its divine institutions. Democracy is a square peg. The land of Muslims is a round hole. They cannot fit. Islam has its own perfect political thought which, for their selfish motives, the hypocritical Muslim rulers of Arab countries have hitherto ignored, dancing to Western gallery.   A true Islamic revolution will guarantee the spirit of Madina, engender taqwah (piety), promote people's welfare, enshrine Allah-given and fundamental rights for all (including animals and inanimate objects). A genuine Islamic revolution will symbolize non-aggression, ensure peaceful coexistence with all countries of the world and project non-accumulation of wealth on the part of rulers and members of their immediate families. It will facilitate fair distribution of wealth, initiate social security and, above all, bequeath a legacy of freedom and general wellness.   We therefore charge the rulers of those Muslim countries which are yet to experience the revolution to immediately set the reform machinery in motion. Muslim rulers must promote the Islamic values of justice, fairness and equal rights.   Finally, MURIC sends a strong signal to the Muslim youths in the revolting nations: democracy must not be your target; you are Muslims, therefore, moderate and non-militant Islam must be a major correlate in the negotiations.   Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk              muslimrights@gmail.com Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog:       muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter:   twitter.com/muslimconcern           Be just Justice is the soul of peace No one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace

PRESS RELEASE: DONT TRUST IMF

21st February, 2011 PRESS RELEASE: DON'T TRUST IMF    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday requested the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to devalue the naira in order to fight the current rising inflation in the country.   We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) advice the CBN to ignore this advice. Our view is based upon the contradictory and hypocritical stance of IMF and its sister multinational financial body, the World Bank. Why do they always ask Third World countries to devalue while Europe and America are asked to strengthen the euro and the dollar.   What advice has the cat for the mouse when all the cat seeks is to enrich its pot? If IMF or the World Bank says 'Good Morning', CBN needs to take a good look outside to be certain that it is, indeed, morning time.   No country in the Third World has ever flourished economically based on following IMF advice. On the contrary, it is those who ignore their advice who rise to the path of economic glory. Malaysia is a good case in point. IMF made its usual noise concerning its economy but that country ignored IMF. Today Malaysia's economy is the envy of Asia.   As agents of neo-imperialism, IMF seeks to keep Third World countries perpetually poor and permanently dependent on the West in virtually everything, particularly infrastructure. We must not forget how IMF rejected Obasanjo's ambitious budget of year 2000. It asked the then president to divert the country's resources to the servicing and actual payment of its huge foreign debts. For this reason, IMF was of the opinion that huge expenses on roads, electricity and health should wait until foreign debts are fully paid.   This exposes the hidden agenda of both IMF and World Bank. They are there to serve the interest of the West. The payment of the foreign debt referred to was never meant to end. Nigeria borrowed $5 billion in 1985 or thereabout. By 1999 we had paid $19 billion. Yet IMF insisted that we were still owing $32 billion! We all remember what it took Nigeria to get debt forgiveness afterwards. The latest advice given by the IMF is therefore a booby trap. It is designed to drag Nigeria into the labyrinth of indebtedness once again.   MURIC therefore cautions the CBN to be wary of these international financial houses. IMF, World Bank and Paris Club are bad news for the nation's economy. They are better ignored.   Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), 234-818-211-9714 E-mail: muslimrightsconcern@yahoo.co.uk              muslimrights@gmail.com Website: www.muric.net Yahoo Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimrights Blog:       muslimrightsmuric.blogspot.com Twitter:   twitter.com/muslimconcern           Be just Justice is the soul of peace No one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace

AKINTOLA WRITES JEGA

The letter below was published in my weekly column of Friday, 18th February, 2011. It is a letter addressed to the head of Nigeria's Electoral body complaining of discrimination against Muslims in the Southern part of Nigeria during the voters registration exercise which ended two weeks ago.   OPEN LETTER TO JEGA   I write to affirm my confidence in you. There is no gainsaying the fact that very few Nigerians can brandish the type of unquestionable credentials at your possession.   Like in most Nigerian affairs, spoil-sports appear where we least expect with the sole purpose of tarnishing good images built over decades of hard work. The last voters registration exercise is a good example. Some bad eggs among the ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did a lot to throw spanner in the works during the registration.   Whereas INEC instructions are very clear and unambiguous concerning the treatment of religious groups, some recalcitrant and unscrupulous officials who served in the southern part of Nigeria came with their parochial agenda. They ordered men wearing caps to remove them. Women wearing hijab were treated like lepers. They were intimidated, harassed and mocked. Yet in spite of the dehumanization, they were not registered.   Reports to higher authorities changed nothing. State INEC officials issued statements urging the field workers to change their attitudes towards Muslims but nothing changed. Islamophobia rented the air. Islamic organizations in the region performed  creditably well. They reported to INEC state headquaters and appealed to their members to refrain from violent reaction.   Yet in spite of the extreme patience of the victims, in spite of fresh instructions from INEC state headquarters, the ad hoc staff oppressors persisted in their provocative stance. Some INEC officials at the state headquarters have expressed frustration at the refusal of field ad hoc workers to obey instructions in this regard.   On Monday 31st January, 2011, the name of Mrs Ishola was deleted after successfully thumb-printing simply because she refused to remove her hijab for the picture at the primary school, Ile Epo, Ilepa, Ogun State. Also on 22nd January, 2011, Mrs Abdul Rahman Lekkii was disallowed for wearing hijab at Lekki, Lagos State.   On Monday 24th January 2011, a distressed Muslim, Abdul Wasiu Abdul Rahman, called me. He had been refused registration on the ground that he was wearing a cap! This incident occurred at the voters registration center located at Idita Street, Imam Dauda area, Eric Moore, Lagos. The officer in charge refused to speak with me on phone. The victim's telephone number is 07083230115. His complaint to me can be verified by GSM providers.   The Imam of my mosque, Imam Abdul Rasheed Adebayo was denied registration for the same reason (wearing a cap) at Iba, Lagos State. There are so many other instances: Oja Ale Square in Ikenne; Ward 4, Orubo, Ogere; Nawarudeen School, Muwe; Iju-Ishaga; Baale Akinosi Community School, Olori Bus Stop, Lambe Road, Ifo; Ward 2, Oniyanrin, Ibadan; Amikanle, after Command, Ajasa; Ososa, Ijebu-Ode; Ado Primary School, Lamgbasa; Jolasco Bus Stop, Lambe Junction, Last Bus Stop, Akute; etc   The last place, Akute-Ajuwon area of Ogun State, was the most notorious victimization centre. The lady on duty there was called 'Ayo'. I could not get the rest of her names. Her supervisor, one Mrs. Ajimo, insisted that INEC instructed them to ask Muslims to remove their hijabs and caps. One of the victims managed to get Mrs. Ajimo's picture as evidence in case INEC investigators need it.   It was so widespread that millions of Muslims in the South-West were deliberately, illegally and unconstitutionally disenfranchised. The Allah-given and fundamental rights of many South-West Muslims were thus violated with impunity.   Dear Professor Jega, my real concern is the sustenance of the peaceful atmosphere in the South-West. My concern is security, law and order. This geo-political zone has always been described as peaceful. We are told that Christian-Muslim relationship in the zone is superb. But is this really true? Can the situation remain so for long if Muslims are treated like second class citizens?   Perhaps the reaction of a Christian reader to my article of two weeks ago in which I complained about this same phenomenon can be used as yardstick to gauge the way Christians think of and therefore treat Muslims in this area. A text message sent to me read partly: "I wished you didn't write that because you don't know how Christians are being treated in the North." I think this statement is an eye-opener.   Those who ordered Muslims to remove their caps and hijabs knew what they were doing. Those who robbed Muslims of the right to register and to vote were acting out a script. I hope the governments at federal and state levels are listening. I hope the international community is reading this. The first shots are already being fired by Christians in the South West.     But INEC must quickly redress the injustice perpetrated by some of its ad hoc staff who participated in the last voters registration exercise. Muslims in the region are greatly perturbed by this development. We are also constrained to warn that the palpably peaceful atmosphere in the South-West is cosmetic. This is because though we succeeded in persuading Muslims in this geo-political zone to refrain from resorting to violence, only justice can ensure durable peace.   The onus is therefore upon INEC to find and punish the perpetrators of Islamophobia during the registration exercise. I appeal to INEC to make arrangements for make-up voters registration in the affected areas to enable those Muslims who were cheated to register before the coming election. Only thus can the patience of the victims be rewarded while failure to do this is tantamount to promoting violence on the altar of dialogue. Also, only thus can the peaceful atmosphere in the South-West stand the test of time.   The disenfranchisement of thousands of tax-paying and law-abiding Muslims on account of their religious identity is illegal, unconstitutional and provocative. It is unpatriotic, callous and immoral. It is an unmitigated infringement on the civil rights of fellow citizens and an irresistible invitation to chaos.   Finally, I suggest that future registration exercises should be monitored the same way that elections per se are monitored. Experience has shown that most riggings are done during voters registration exercises. Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, Lagos State University, P.O. Box 10211, LASU Post Office, HO 102 101, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel. 234-803-346-4974   I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick healed and the homeless sheltered

Somebody Bleeeess Muhammad!   Soli 'ala Muhammaaaa (2ce) Allahuma Ya Rabi Soli 'ala Muhammaaaa Wa sayyidi Saadaati Nabiyyi Muhammaaaaa   Rasulu jamii rusuli duuna maqaamin Aminu yara ma khalfahu min amaamihi   Nabiyun ala kulil anami muqadamun Wa fihin kiraamun wa asma wa akramu   Huwa as-shamsu nuran wa an-nabiyuna anjumu Ala laylat il-Israi wa an-naasu nuwamun Samaaan samaaan thuma zada ala sabuin   Soli 'ala Muhammaaaa (2ce) Allahuma Ya Rabi Soli 'ala Muhammaaaa Wa sayyidi Saadaati Nabiyyi Muhammaaaaa   Somebody Bleeeees Muhammad!!! Sola Allahu alayhi wa Salam! Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, Lagos State University, P.O. Box 10211, LASU Post Office, HO 102 101, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel. 234-803-346-4974   I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick healed and the homeless sheltered

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