TONY BLAIR FACES NEMESIS

Serves Tony Blair right. He was pelted today with shoes and eggs for war crimes. What goes round comes round. Don't you think so?

MURIC WELCOMES SPEECH BY PRESIDENT JONATHAN

We welcome the speech made today by President Jonathan of Nigeria. He wants Nigerians to have confidence in free elections. We congratulate Mr. President for choosing a tested team to handle Nigeria's 2011 elections and urge Nigerians to share in our optimism. Change can only be effected by Nigerians themselves and this is the time to begin to have faith. There can be no hope without faith.

MURIC DEMANDS SALAH BONUS FOR MUSLIMS

CHRISTMAS BONUS: MURIC DEMANDS SALAH BONUS FOR MUSLIM WORKERS   Nigerian workers have since colonial days enjoyed Christmas bonus both in the public and private sectors. This has always been helpful as it puts smiles on workers faces during the Christmas season. It is also a mark of appreciation and a reward for hardwork. Boosting workers' purchasing power improves standard of living as well as their families' general welfare.   We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) regard Christmas Bonus as sine qua non to high spirit among the proletariat and commend governments at both the federal and state levels as well as a large section of the private sector for being consistent with its payment.     Nonetheless, MURIC wishes to call attention to the need to create a level playing ground for workers of different religious backgrounds in the dispensation of such largesse. No matter what is shared out as incentive to workers, Christmas remains, essentially, a Christian festival. Dishing out largesse only during the festival of a particular religion is capable of depicting government and employers generally as being partisan.   Muslim workers lack this motivation during Salah. Christmas is therefore made glamorous whereas Salah does not enjoy this dividend. Salah period is rendered dull and Muslim workers have to fend for themselves. The idea of giving bonus to both Christian and Muslim workers during Christmas is narrow, ill-defined and parochial. It seeks to bury the identity of Muslim workers in the Christmas season. This must change if Nigeria is trully democratic.   MURIC is calling for parity in the way governments and other employers of labour favour Christmas at the expense of Salah. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.Since Christians and Muslims are all tax-payers and in the name of fairplay, MURIC urges employers of labour, particularly the federal and state governments, to share the bonus between the Christmas season and Id al-Kabir in such a way that Christians can receive their Christmas bonus during Christmas while Muslims collect Id al-Kabir bonus during Id al-Kabir.         Dr. Is-haq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) 234-803-346-4974 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

MURIC DIALOGUES WITH PRESIDENT JONATHAN, DEMANDS PARITY

Thank you Mr. President. You have a listening ear and we appreciate it. Muslims demand parity and to be respected for what they are and not coerced to go along with colonial settings. Could Mr. President grant Nigerian Muslims two things? 1. Share the Christmas bonus into two for workers to receive half during Christmas and the other half during Id al-Kabir. 2. Declare 1st Muharram a holiday like 1st January. Thank you Mr. President for listening.

RAMADAN OF UNITY   Nigerian Muslims started Ramadan fasting today Wednesday 11th August, 2010 after the Sultan announced the sighting of the moon in several northern states of the country.   The moon was also reportedly sighted outside Nigeria in Saudi, Egypt, Qatar, Yemen, Kuwait, Libya, Jordan, Algeria, Malaysia, etc. This development has facilitated a united approach to fasting this year. Alhamdulilah.   We call on Nigerian Muslims in particular to rally behind Sultan Abubakar whose leadership style has been dynamic, purposeful and focussed.   We urge Muslims around the globe to see this as a unique opportunity to sink their differences and speak with one voice. MURIC advocates the unification of all elements in Islam. Let us follow Islam, not Sunnism. Let us cherish the Glorious Qur'an, not Shiism. We are Muslims, not Sunnis. We are believers in Allah, not Shiites. Let us do away with all vestiges of compartmentalisation which have stood as insurmountable barriers between us and our fellow Muslims.    It is shameful seeing Sunnis and Shiites slaughtering each other in Iraq and Pakistan We call on Muslims all over the world to address this issue very urgently Dr. Is-haq Akintola Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) 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

KIDNAPPED NIGERIAN JOURNALISTS RELEASED

MURIC welcomes the release of the kidnapped Nigerian journalists. We urge Nigerians to stop paying ransom to kidnappers as this is capable of encouraging more abductions. Kidnappers are terrorists and they must be treated as such. The currently thriving kidnapping industry in Nigeria must be driven aground by every means necessary. Above all, the Nigerian police must wake up from its deep slumber to protect the citizens.

MURIC is of the opinion that there is more to incidents of kidnapping in South-Eastern Nigeria than meets the eye. The Nigerian government must therefore set up a powerful committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes.

MURIC rejoices with the members of the families of the freed journalists.

Dr. Is-haq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
234-803-346-4974

WHERE IS RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE?

The vicious cycle of religious violence claimed more lives in Taraba State, Nigeria, during the last week. We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) frown upon religious intolerance, destruction of places of worship and shedding the blood of fellow homo sapien. Religion is love. It should forge unity of mankind.

The latest disturbance was sparked off by an attack by Christian youths on a mosque. The youths reportedly claimed that they did not want to see any mosque in the area. Interestingly, citizens of Tennessee, USA, also protested against the construction of a new mosque in the town. Like the Taraba Christian youths, they too did not want to see a mosque in their neighbourhood. Somewhere in Europe, minarets have been banned. In France, the Muslim female hijab is now outlawed.

Are we to infer from these incidents and conclude that Muslims have become endangered species?