Unfinished Family Business

Abdullah bin Muawiyah bin Abdullah bin Jafar bin Abi Talib rebelled against the Umayyad establishment in 126 Hijri.  Apparently, the descendants of Ali and their distant cousins shared the same belief in that the Umayyads were a tyrannical force and so unfinished family business for them meant more bloodshed for the Umayyads to spill.

Abdullah bin Muawiyah was successful in conquering numerous cities such as Halwaan, Hamadaan, Qom, Asbahaan and Ar-Ray.  The newly appointed governor of Iraq, Yazid bin Umar bin Hubayrah by Marwan bin Muhammad the Caliph of Umayyads in 127 Hijri, was able to deter Abdullah bin Muawiyah’s advancements and force him to flee to Khorasaan but was sadly captured by Abu Muslim Al-Khorasaani, imprisoned and executed.

By this time, the Umayyad armies were stretched thin and weakened by these unsuccessful uprisings giving way to the secret establishment of a military division of the Abbasids.

Wallahu Alam 

Next Blog:  Al-Khawarij vs. The Umayyads

Zayd bin Ali Zaynul Aabideen bin Al-Hussein

In parallel with the events that were going on, we find another important personality emerge from all of this chaos.  Zayd bin Ali Zaynul Aabideen bin Al-Hussein, the great grandson of Ali bin Abi Talib, declared war against the Umayyad establishment in 122 Hijri ruled during that time by Hisham bin Abdul Malik.  You might recall that Ali bin Abdullah bin Abbas also died during his reign.

Hisham bin Abdul Malik ordered his governor, Yusuf Ath-Thaqafi of Iraq to stop this uprising and was successful in suppressing this rebellion and executed Zayd bin Ali.  The general Shia public was enraged by this brazen act and their hatred towards the Umayyads increased which was successfully exploited by the Abbasids to further their anti-Umayyad interests.

The Umayyads were not ready to let go of this bloodshed and imprisoned Zayd bin Ali’s son, Yahya who managed to escape but was recaptured and executed.  The Abbasids increased their secret war propaganda against the Umayyads and used these two tragic events to highlight the “apparent” hatred the Umayyads had against the family of the Prophet’s descendants.

Here we find the apparent difference in the way how the Abbasids operated in constrast to the opponents to the Umayyad establishment and apparent supporters of the descendants of Ali and their causes.  The Abbasids clearly did not allow any of their supporters to openly oppose or engage the Umayyad establishment in order not to arouse suspicion.  The opponents to the Umayyad establishment and apparent supporters of the descendants of Ali and their causes would openly declare their intentions and fail miserably shortly thereafter.

Wallahu Alam 

Next Blog:  Unfinished Family Business

Notable Quote

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light - Plato

Numbers Galore

This site is a great resource for school children to translate numbers from digits 0-999,999,999,999,999 to actual letters such as this:  zero - nine hundred and ninety-nine trillions and nine hundred and ninety-nine billions and nine hundred and ninety-nine millions and nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand and nine hundred and ninety-nine).

Sorry, it does not count to quadrillion.

Awake!

No.  This is not what you’re imagining.  I am not trying to copycat Jehovah Witnesses in their magazine titles.  Truly, I am better than that!  My blog title itself explains it.

Anyways, for those that wanted someone to wake you up for fajr with water, now you can do it all by yourself!

Dont’ forget to position the water gun above your head board.  Enjoy!

 

Youtube Video Awards

You-tube selected many videos of many genres to be nominated for awards.  I don’t care if you vote for Leave Brittany Alone.  However one of the videos (a bit cheezy) was  “I am a Muslim”.  You might have seen it.  It was nominated and is in the “Inspirational” genre.  I am not in anyway endorsing the music in the video, or the organization that supports it.  It’s probably the only video worth voting for.

Go to this link:

http://www.youtube.com/ytawards07

Look for the category “Inspirational”, and look on the right hand side and you’ll find the video and vote.

Here’s the video:

Islamic Race

For those of you that are fed up with the United Nations, please refer to the new UNPO or known as Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organization.  According to Shaykhul Search & Ansycloopeediyaat - Wikipedia, this organization represents  indigenous peoples, occupied nations, minorities and independent states or territories which lack representation internationally.  There are nations, groups and “countries” within this organization such as Somaliland, Tartarstan, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Greeks in Albania, Rehoboth Basters, Hungarians in Romania and many others are represented in this group.

If every ethnic minority/majority needs diplomatic representation, then let all the different ethnic mash ups make their own nations such as Kingdom of Expatriate Arabia, Pharaonic Coptic Republic of Gayyid Giddan, Peoples Republic of Chinalaysia, Zimbabwean Republic of White Farmers and many others.

 The thought of allowing every group representation is frightening.  People are either bound by ideas, values, religion or race.  What annoys me today is the fact that many Muslims in the west hate defining their racial identity.  They think it’s haram or shameful to mention their ethnic background. 

Here’s a mock-dialogue:

Me:  Salam Alaykum Brother!

Them:  Alaykum Salam Brother!  Are you from…?

Me:  No, I’m from the United States.

Them:  Where’s your dad ORIGINALLY from?

Me:  I’m a third generation American.  Where are you from?

Them:  Oh I’m Muslim!  It doesn’t matter where I’m from!  I’m Muslim by blood.

For those that die for proof even though this isn’t an issue of fiqh or aqeedah, I do have some proof.

 1.  Islam is not a racial terminology.  Dictionary.com - Islam is the religious faith of Muslims, based on the words and religious system founded by the prophet Muhammad and taught by the Koran, the basic principle of which is absolute submission to a unique and personal god, Allah.  Yes.  Some of you might say, AUTHOBILLAH!!!  Islam is a way of life.  Allow me to grab my rolling pin should you say Islam is genetics and dna.

2.  Islam does not discriminate towards people that are of different races - understood.

3.  Islam does not prohibit people from identifying themselves as a particular race or ethnic makeup.  In fact, Islam wholesomely encourages it.  Proof?  The Prophet peace be upon him used to call Salman the Persian and Sohaib the Roman.

4.  Allah made nations so that we identify each other.  Refer to Surah Al-Hujuraat please!  It says in meaning, “We have created you different groups and tribes so that you might know one another.  Verily the best of you in front of Allah are the most pious.”  Here the verse identified the reason behind Allah creating different ethnic groups and nations so that we might know each other.  However, let not nationalism carry you into thinking you’re better than the other person.

5.  Under an “Islamic Caliphate”, Muslims were Muslims but identified themselves along racial lines to differentiate one another and not for racial supremacy.  Remember the good old names like Imam Bukhaari, Imam Tirmidhi and many others?

6.  The more that people say Islam is a “race” reminds me of Judaism because Judaism is for an exclusive race.

Now back to the issue of UNPO, should anyone out there feel that they need to be represented as the Nation of Islam, no pun intended, then please apply to UNPO.

On a further note:  It looks like the so-called “Khawarij” or OBL can’t register under UNPO because they violate every single UNPO principle:

• the equal right to self-determination; clearly they only accept their right to determination, anyone that opposes them are kuffar.
• adherence to the internationally accepted human rights standards as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments; understood.
• adherence to the principles of democratic pluralism and rejection of totalitarianism and religious intolerance; clearly, hukum bi ghayri maa anzala Allah is kuffar akbar for them - not in anyway saying that it’s halal either!!!
• promotion of non-violence and the rejection of terrorism as an instrument of policy;  yeah right… 
• protection of the natural environment; not really…unless caves are included

Conclusion:  It’s important that we know one another and enjoy the different ethnic cultures but don’t deny your ethnic heritage.  As long as your ethnic customs doen’t contradict Islam, it’s all good in the hood!  Don’t you just hate people that put their culture over their own intellect and religion?

Unity Based on GCF

These equations are simple.  Add 2 things together based on GCF (Greatest Common Factor) yields a great unified result.  If applied in real life, it most probably will yield my hypothetical suggestions.

 +  =

Dick Cheney + Salman Rushdie = Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

 +  =

George Bush + Queen Elizabeth = Miss South Carolina

 +  =

Oprah Winfrey + Kofi Annan = Barack Obama

 +  =

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad + Tom Cruise = Mitt Romney

 +  =

Rudy Giuliani + Martha Stewart = Hillary Clinton

 +  =

Joel Osteen + Celine Dion = Sami Yusuf

 +  =

Michael Moore + Greenpeace = Al Gore

 +  =

Hosni Mubarak + Hugh Hefner = Dodi Al Fayed

 +  =

Carlos Mencia + Geraldo Rivera = Hugo Chavez

 +  =

Marijuana + Ballet = Sufi Dervishes

 +  =

John Esposito + Ellen Degeneres = Irshad Manji

 +  =

Jimmy Carter + Barbie Ken Doll = John Edwards

 +  =

Shoney’s Big Boy + James Orsen Bakker = Mike Huckabee

 +  =

Bin Laden + Jerry Falwell = Westboro Baptist Church

Sit Pop

Drunk

Here’s a disturbing quote from the current President of Chechnya.  He has only taken a few elementary school classes.

I’ve already killed who I should have killed. And I will kill all of those standing behind them, as long as I myself am not killed or jailed. I will be killing as long as I live… Putin is a beauty. He thinks more about Chechnya than about any other republic. When my father was murdered, he [Putin] personally came down and went to the cemetery. Putin stopped the war. Putin should be made president for life. Strong rule is needed. Democracy is an American invention… Russians never obey their laws. Everyone stole, and only Khodorkovsky is in jail.

Father Kills 2 Daughters

I think Muslims need to calm down.  We just had an incident a few ago in Canada where someone killed their daughter over the hijab.  Guess what!  Another tragic case in Dallas.  A father killed his two daughters after he found out that they had boyfriends etc.  He shot them and left them in a taxi.  He left them there to die and fled the scene.  This act has nothing to do with Islam.  I understand the frustration of the father but he took the matter into his own hands and commited a horrible crime.  May Allah protect us.  Click here to read the full story.

Medical Myths

By Peter Griffiths

LONDON (Reuters) - Reading in dim light won’t damage your eyes, you don’t need eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy and shaving your legs won’t make the hair grow back faster.

These well-worn theories are among seven “medical myths” exposed in a paper published Friday in the British Medical Journal, which traditionally carries light-hearted features in its Christmas edition. Two U.S. researchers took seven common beliefs and searched the archives for evidence to support them.

Despite frequent mentions in the popular press of the need to drink eight glasses of water, they found no scientific basis for the claim.

The complete lack of evidence has been recorded in a study published the American Journal of Psychology, they said.

The other six “myths” are:

* Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight

The majority of eye experts believe it is unlikely to do any permanent damage, but it may make you squint, blink more and have trouble focusing, the researchers said.

* Shaving makes hair grow back faster or coarser

It has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair regrowth, studies say. But stubble lacks the finer taper of unshaven hair, giving the impression of coarseness.

* Eating turkey makes you drowsy

It does contain an amino acid called tryptophan that is involved in sleep and mood control. But turkey has no more of the acid than chicken or minced beef. Eating lots of food and drink at Christmas are probably the real cause of sleepiness.

* We use only 10 percent of our brains

This myth arose as early as 1907 but imaging shows no area of the brain is silent or completely inactive.

* Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death

This idea may stem from ghoulish novels. The researchers said the skin dries out and retracts after death, giving the appearance of longer hair or nails.

* Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals

Despite widespread concerns, studies have found minimal interference with medical equipment.

The research was conducted by Aaron Carroll, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, and Rachel Vreeman, fellow in children’s health services research at Indiana University School of Medicine.

(Editing by Steve Addison and Paul Casciato)

Cows

Cows 

SOCIALISM: You have 2 cows. You give one to your neighbour.

COMMUNISM: You have 2 cows. The State takes both and gives you some milk.

FASCISM: You have 2 cows. The State takes both and sells you some milk.

NAZISM: You have 2 cows. The State takes both and shoots you.

BUREAUCRACY: You have 2 cows. The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, then throws the milk away.

TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.  Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.

A FRENCH CORPORATION: You have two cows. You go on strike, organise a riot, and block the roads, because you want three cows.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION: You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.  You then create a clever cow cartoon image called ‘cowkimon’ and market it worldwide.

A GERMAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows, but you don’t know where they are. You decide to have lunch.

A RUSSIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You count them and learn you have five cows. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. You count them again and learn you have 2 cows. You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.

A SWISS CORPORATION: You have 5000 cows. None of them belong to you. You charge the owners for storing them.

A CHINESE CORPORATION: You have two cows. You have 300 people milking them.  You claim that you have full employment, and high bovine productivity, and arrest the newsman who reported the real situation.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You worship them.

A BRITISH CORPORATION: You have two cows. Both are mad.

AN IRAQI CORPORATION: Everyone thinks you have lots of cows. You tell them that you have none. No-one believes you, so they bomb the life out of you and invade your country. You still have no cows, but at least now you are part of a Democracy….

AN AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. Business seems pretty good.  You close the office and go for a few beers to celebrate

A TURKISH CORPORATION: You have thousands of cows but you dont know what to do with them everbody has an idea but nothing is done, you forget them and continue fighting each other.

Interview with Bush in Ireland

Bush seems to be quite forceful in his dealings with this interviewer…

Father Calls Marrying And Impregnating His Own Daughter “God’s Will”

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_16921.aspx 

A man who admitted marrying his own daughter, then getting her pregnant claims God told him to do it. Officials in the city of Kolkata, India (also known as Calcutta) are trying to make charges stick against 36-year-old Afazuddin Ali. But in a blunder that’s made an already terrible case even worse, they inadvertently filed the wrong charges against him and had to let him go.

Ali confessed to the incestuous crime, which has the entire state of West Bengal - and now much of the world - talking. Cops were stunned to find out about the case, because no one in Ali’s inner circle ever said anything. But authorities haven’t given up making him pay for the appalling crime. “This is a very strange case as no one in the family has complained, but we will conduct medical tests to verify the girl’s exact age, before filing a strong case against her father,” vows Ravinder Jit Singh Nalwa, a senior police officer.

The unnamed girl remains with the Alis for now. “She has never been to school as well and seems clearly terrified,” Nalwa admits.

The father, who works as a day labourer, insists he’s not guilty of anything and proudly boasts about the relationship. “I have not committed any crime,” he told authorities. “Don’t you see it was God’s will?”

There’s no word on when charges might be refiled.

Alarm Clock

Ancient Chinese Inventions

I’d like to share with everyone a very interesting video regarding Chinese inventions.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

When “Aum” Meets “Yeehaw”…

How did this guy win the gubernatorial elections in Louisiana?  I’m pretty sure his ancestors’ expertise in the monsoon season back in India will definitely alleviate any fears of a future Katrina - God forbid.  Also, Shiva-loving-Ganesha-adoring-Kali-fearing theological viewpoints for him don’t work!  He’s a convert to Christianity.  Is that the key to winning the south?

Your Highness…Per Your Request

A shocking video regarding Saudi Arabia’s corrupt government.  Take it as an Eid present.

Part 1 

 Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Blind Ambition

Oh Allah, let us not take your blessings for granted!

 

Good Times

I couldn’t help but reminisce about last year’s infamous speech given by Hugo Chavez.

Nancy Dis-Grace

Nancy Grace aka The Disgrace is an American talk show host and former prosecutor.  She is heavily criticized by the media for her distorting, oversimplifying and sensationalizing complex legal issues.  Nancy is a very arrogant news critic and loves to bash and pester her guests.  When Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped and found later, Nancy hosted Elizabeth on her show to discuss about a proposed bill requiring sex offenders to register with the state of residence.  Instead, Nancy tried to force Elizabeth in talking about her traumatic abduction which Elizabeth refused many times.  She only relented when Elizabeth remarked, “I really—I really—to be frankly honest, I really do not appreciate you bringing all this up.”  Not only is her arrogance offensive, her brazen questioning techniques drove Melinda Duckett to suicide.

Nancy Grace getting owned by Elizabeth Smart

And here, this so-called “CNN legal expert” tries but fails miserably on “Celebrity Jeopardy!” by showing the true extent of her intellect; assuming she got one.

Being a loser is one thing. Lying twice is another:

Lie 1: she said “Flamingo”, not “Flamenco”

Lie 2: the answer she crossed out is a tactic middle school pupils use to gamble in written exams by answering the same question twice when in doubt and expecting the teacher to fall for it. Never works. Especially on live TV.

Well deserved loss & embarassment, Miss Arrogance/Disgrace

Oudah Denounces Bin Laden’s Ideology

Arab News

BURAIDAH, 17 September 2007 — In a major blow to the ideology of Osama Bin Laden and his followers in the Kingdom, Sheikh Salman ibn Fahad Al-Oudah, a popular Saudi religious scholar, has criticized the way in which Bin Laden has ruined Islam’s global image. “We as scholars of Islam reject what Osama does,” Al-Oudah wrote in an open letter posted on his website www.islamtoday.com. Al-Oudah also questioned the validity of Al-Qaeda using violence. “What have we gained from the destruction of a whole country such as Iraq and Afghanistan?” Al-Oudah said, adding that these wars have led to civil wars in the region. “Who benefits from turning countries like Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Morocco into insecure places?” he asked.

Many experts considered the letter as a major setback to Al-Qaeda’s ideology, as it comes from an influential Saudi scholar, who is not part of the official religious establishment.

“Brother Osama. How many wars and how much bloodshed have occurred in the name of Al-Qaeda? How many innocents, old men, children are killed in the name of Al-Qaeda? Are you happy to meet God carrying this heavy burden on your shoulders?” Al-Oudah asked.

He also criticized the Al-Qaeda leader’s lust for power at the expense of thousands of Muslims, who have been killed in wars initiated by Al-Qaeda. “Who is responsible for promoting the culture of killing and violence that has led to the destruction of families and societies? Who is responsible for the youths sent to wars leaving their crying mothers and sons?” Al-Oudah said.

“The attacks of Sept. 11 resulted in the deaths of thousands of human beings. Unknown callers to Islam (missionaries) are by far better. They help tens of thousands become Muslims without shedding blood,” he said.

Al-Oudah further slammed Al-Qaeda’s violent philosophy and attributed a decrease in the work of Islamic charities to Al-Qaeda. “Who is responsible for pursuing every charitable project in the world?” he said, adding that Al-Qaeda is responsible for filling prisons with Muslim youth — a phenomenon that will lead only to more violent and extremist acts.

Al-Oudah expressed sorrow over the current negative image of Islam saying that it has been severely damaged because of Al-Qaeda’s violent acts. “The image of Islam is not the one it used to be. The world is talking of Muslims killing non-Muslims. Even the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not kill hypocrites who were mentioned in the Qur’an for fear of people describing the Prophet as a man who kills his companions,” Al-Oudah reminded Bin Laden in his letter.

I’m Taller…No…I AM!

When Gabriel visited the Prophet (Peace be Upon him), he asked him, “When is the Hour?”  The Prophet said, “The one being asked does not know more than the questioner himself.”  Among the signs of the Day of Judgment is that barefeet and naked Arabs will compete in surpassing each other in building super-skycrapers.  Here’s a look at some of the structures under construction.

1.  Burj Dubai - It is a supertall skyscraper currently under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. When it is completed in late 2008, it will be the tallest man-made structure in the world, as well as the tallest building by any measure.  Here is computer generated image of the structure at time of completion:

Here are two photos of the current construction:

2.  Al Burj - It is a is a skyscraper proposed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates by developer Al Nakheel. Originally hyped to become one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, but currently thought to have been redesigned on a more modest scale, it is to form the centrepiece of the Dubai Waterfront, the world’s largest man-made waterfront which is also being developed by Al Nakheel.

According to officials at Al Nakheel, the tower was originally designed to be at least 700 m (2,297 ft) tall and have more than 160 floors but no specific figures have been disclosed. This is very much the same strategy as that employed by Emaar with the Burj Dubai which currently under construction and will become the world’s tallest building on completion. The secrecy behind Al Burj’s height originally suggested that it will also try to compete for this title and rumours even suggest it will break the 1,000 m (3,281 ft) mark. There’s indeed evidence from the latest renditions that height increases have been made. One of these renders even shows the tower with more than 200 floors. The 16 March, 2007 article by Construction UAE referenced above states that the tower will indeed begin construction later this year and that it will be 1,200 meters (1.2 km or 3,937 feet) tall.

Here is a computer generated image of the proposed building:

3.  Murjan Tower - It is a is a supertall skyscraper planned to be built in Manama, Bahrain. The tower is designed by Danish firm Henning Larsens Tegnestue A/S and is expected to be 1,022m high, which is by far higher than any skyscraper standing today. However, a completion date of the tower has not yet been set nor has the construction of the tower began.

4.  One Mile High Tower - It is a is a 1600m tower proposed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is planned by Kingdom Holdings owned by Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal.

5.  Pentominium - is a supertall skyscraper, currently approved for construction in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. When completed, the current design will stand at 516 m (1,693 ft) tall, with 120 overground floors.  The Pentominium is currently the second tallest proposed residential building in the world, the 610 m tall Chicago Spire being the first.

Here is a computer generated image of the proposed structure:

Instead of helping their Muslims in Iraq, Arabs prefer to waste money on things that have no benefit to them.  Here are a few more links to more buildings planned for construction around the Arab world.

1.  23 Marina - Dubai, UAE

2.  Marina 101 - Dubai, UAE

3.  Ocean Heights - Dubai, UAE

Life in Jerusalem

Scientology

After reading Abu Ameerah’s posting on Scientology, I was curious about it.  I couldn’t believe that they believed in aliens and some galactic warlord that destroyed humans in volcanoes.  I heard of a BBC Panorama reporter that lost it and started yelling at the Scientologist Cultist that was following him around.  I finally found this video produced by the BBC Panorama regarding Scientology.  I am shocked, disgusted and confused at how a “religion” harasses other people that disagree with them and labels these type of operations as “fair-game”.  I think Scientology would definately fit the term of a terrorist organization that solicits, spies and lies about its “ex-members” or its critics.  Enjoy.  May Allah protect us from this cult and it’s so called “galactic warlord”.

Comments

Recently, I’ve noticed that some comments are being sent into the spam folder.  If your comment does not appear after 24 hours, please email me as soon as possible at exexblogger@gmail.com.

Dispatches - Undercover Mosque…FAKE!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6936681.stm

* Police are reporting Channel 4 to the media regulator Ofcom over the way an undercover programme was edited. *

But charges will not be brought against preachers featured in Dispatches, which tackled claims of Islamic extremism.  West Midlands Police carried out its own inquiry into three speakers in the Undercover Mosque broadcast, and then into the programme-makers themselves.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the show “completely distorted” what the trio said, a claim Channel 4 rejects.  Kevin Sutcliffe, commissioning editor for Dispatches, said West Midlands police had produced no evidence to support their claims.  “We find it extraordinary that they have gone public on these concerns without discussing them with us first,” he said.

To try and demonise the efforts of these people by taking their comments out of context was shocking

Abu Usamah,Green Lane Mosque preacher 

“We believe the comments made in the film speak for themselves - several speakers were clearly shown making abhorrent and extreme comments.”  He said the one-hour documentary, which was made over a nine-month period and broadcast in January, allowed comment to be seen in a fuller context.

“All the speakers featured in the film were offered a right to reply and none denied making these comments, nor have any of them complained to Ofcom to our knowledge.”

* Bombings ‘justified’ *

The Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday that a second Dispatches programme was also being investigated.  Britain Under Attack featured a man known as “Abu Mohammed”.  He disguised his face with a scarf in the programme, which was shown on Monday, and said British Muslims were in “a state of war” and the 7 July bombings were “justified”.

A Met spokesman said: “We are assessing the content of a Dispatches programme broadcast on Monday 6 August to determine if any offences may have been disclosed.”  The spokesman said it was too early to say whether officers were
investigating the people shown in the broadcast or the programme-makers.  The January programme infiltrated a number of mosques, one of which was Green Lane Mosque in Small Heath, Birmingham.

* ‘Moderate tradition’ *

It investigated mosques run by organisations claiming to be dedicated to moderation.  Abu Usamah, one of the preachers from Green Lane Mosque featured in the programme, said he was shocked when he saw himself depicted.  “It was the fact that Green Lane Mosque has a 33-year-old tradition of preaching and teaching the moderate version of Islam.

In this case we have been dealing with a heavily-edited television programme

Bethan David, CPS lawyer

 ”To try and demonise the efforts of these people by taking their comments out of context was shocking.”  Mr Usamah said he had been featured as saying homosexuals should be thrown from a mountain when in fact he was explaining it was an opinion featured in some books, which was not one he believed.  An undercover reporter claimed to provide evidence that certain speakers preached messages of religious bigotry and extremism.

In a piece about the programme, the Channel 4 Dispatches website said a reporter had attended talks at mosques and found preachers “condemning the idea of integration into British society, condemning British democracy as un-Islamic and praising the Taliban for killing British soldiers”.  Police said they acknowledged some parts of the programme may have been considered offensive, but, when analysed in full context, there was not enough evidence to bring charges.

* ‘Completely distorted’ *

The police investigation was extended to include looking at issues relating to the editing of the programme.  Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer Bethan David scrutinised 56 hours of media footage, only some of which was used in the broadcast.  She said: “The splicing together of extracts from longer speeches appears to have completely distorted what the speakers were saying.  “The CPS has demonstrated it will not hesitate to prosecute those responsible for criminal incitement.  But in this case we have been dealing with a heavily-edited television programme, apparently taking out of context aspects of speeches which in their totality could never provide a realistic prospect of any convictions.”  Police asked the CPS to consider a prosecution of Channel 4 under the Public Order Act 1986 for showing material likely to stir up racial hatred, but they were advised there was insufficient evidence.

Wasabi…Tasty

Do you like wasabi?  For those that don’t know what wasabi is, it’s a green paste made from the root of Japanese horseradish that produces hot burning vapors.  Wasabi is usually served with sushi and sashimi.  Now there are companies that are produce wasabi flavored ice cream, wasabi coated peanuts and other condiments and snacks.  In this video, I don’t know what kind of prize this radio show is giving out for this publicity stunt.  Not only is this person so naive of the reality of wasabi but sadly, I find this quite funny.  The wasabi that he is sniffing is dry wasabi which is considerably mild unlike the wet-pasty kind served with sushi.

Cats

Without being biased towards any type of cat, I find that white cats are generally the most arrogant of all.  Black, grey, tortoise shell, tabby and other cats seem to be so much friendlier.  Orange cats are somewhat moderate.

Don’t Pet this Kitty

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4