Why was this radical Saudi anti-female cleric invited to the US?

His name is "Sheikh Ayed Al-Qarni" He was invited here and sponsored by Islamic Relief USA whose director, Belkacem Nahi lamented the thousands of dollars lost on hotel rooms for the various events he had been scheduled to speak at in this article in Arabic (Run it through Language Tools for simple translation) .

He says Belkacem Nahi Coordinator Development of the Organization of your Islam reliving in an interview for "Elaph": "" We feel regret bitterly to prevent Sheikh Ayed Al-Qarni of attendance for charity ceremony which will be held in the states of Washington, DC and California and New Jersey, Chicago, and all the sons of the Muslim community spread in the United States was a great longing to meet him. "

The organization spent your Islam reliving tens of thousands of dollars to rent rooms in plush hotels U.S. where he planned Qarni delivering his speeches in front of the crowd.

According Belkacem Nahi that "his organization has invited to the sons of the Muslim community in America because they know the weight of the volume of Sheikh Al-Qarni Islamic as an advocate large and unpopular massive, has been renting rooms within months hotels U.S. and room for five thousand people in the lecture" one, adding that being Muslim Reliving has lost all financial and insurance developed in order to book those halls after the ban.

Al-Qarni was denied entry by Homeland Security. Islamic Relief's attorneys failed to successfully intervene on his behalf. CAIR's Nihad Awad also stated that CAIR was willing to offer their legal services on Al-Qarni's behalf should he request.

" We defend all Muslims who are exposed to arbitrary measures In this sense we But we will not officially Ntraf but Ada got agency thereof. "

No doubt Al-Qarni was not denied entry due to his stance on women driving, However Islamic Relief and   MSA-ICNA both had this "sheikh" scheduled to speak at their events that stated the following in regards to why the women of Saudi Arabia should not be allowed to drive:

“One: I do not see women driving cars in our country because of the consequences that would spring from it such as the spread of corruption, women uncovering their hair and faces, mingling between the sexes, men being alone with women and the destruction of the family and society in whole.

“Two: Sadd Al-Dharaie principle (the closing of doors which could lead to corruption or sinful actions) is one of the values in our religion. Women driving cars is a sinful thing. It is used by those who want to wage a war against purity and hijab.

“Three: One of the principles of our religion is protecting honor and moral values. Women driving cars would threaten these principles because of the dire consequences resulting from it.

“Four: Such public issues must be brought up with the certified religious institution who have the say in such matters as I have said many times before.”

*source of above quotes http://www.arabnews.com/node/243514

On the website for the MSA-ICNA event Al-Qarni's "bio" was posted without one word regarding his stance on women. LINK.

When his visit was denied they posted THIS announcement. Again, without a word regarding his "sheik's" stance on women driving in Saudi Arabia where it is these very clerics who speak such words about women.

"Sheikh" Al-Qarni was also scheduled to speak at THIS Islamic Relief event Jan. 30

My open question to the above entities is very simple, why would a Saudi cleric who has this stance on women be invited as a guest to the United States to speak at several events, thousands of dollars spent on him?

Is this something that any of the above entities wish their interfaith partners (which are many) to know? Why on God's green Earth would this man who is an integral member of the very apparatus that oppresses Saudi women be sponsored by Islamic Relief, invited to speak by MSA-ICNA and defended by CAIR simply because he is Muslim?

Facebook Activism per Urban Dictionary

From Urban Dictionary:

Facebook Activism

413 up, 15 down

The illusion of dedication to a cause through no-commitment awareness groups. Specifically in reference to Facebook groups centered around political issues. Dave: Man, this genocide in Darfur is terrible. I sure wish I could make a difference. Jenna: Well, I made a facebook group about it. We have almost one million members! Dave: That's great! Are you all going to donate money to refugees or something? Jenna: No, but now those murderers will really know how sad we are! Dave: Sounds like you're really into your Facebook activism! ^^^^^^^ Question: Are you really an activist in real life? Who are you friending on Facebook ? Are you able to verify your "friend" on Facebook is real and is an activist for REAL? Stupid question of the day. If the answer to the above question does not fit within the peramerters of REAL LIFE activism and REAL LIFE precautions any sane person would take, what the hell are you doing on Facebook? Enquiring minds would like to know......

How to become a "Palestinian" activist on Facebook

1. Come up with a decent enough sounding name.

2. If you are on Timeline, put up a nice banner.  Using the Palestinian flag as your profile picture comes in handy.

3. Post some articles on your wall about Palestine.  This may take a little while, actually not long at all, if you have pro-Palestinian articles on your wall, you must be pro-Palestinian. Everyone with any brains knows that right?

4. To gain credibility choose some high profile activists to send friend requests to. These folks have thousands on their lists, certainly all those folks must be real right?  You know this because you have heard of them other places OR they also have outward appearances of being pro-Palestinian.  This is KEY to getting your foot in the door due to ........... #5

5. The key is "mutuals". You know how that one goes. If you have a whole lot of "mutuals" with someone, especially high profile Palestinian activists, then BINGO this person sending you a friend request must be legitimate. (hint hint, that high profile activist has no time for this sort of baloney, it's "only facebook" and they're so busy with all their real stuff they don't have time to check anyone out, if they want to be their friend then that is really REALLY "nice")

6. Once you get your foot in the door, the sky's the limit.  The more friends you make, the more friends you are able to make because gee whiz, if someone has that many friends they must be real!

7. Now what can you do once you are "in" as a pro-"Palestinian" FACEBOOK  "activist", gee whiz, I can't think of anything at all harmful can you?

Now that you know the basics of "How to become a pro-"Palestinian" activist on Facebook, HAVE FUN. There's a whole world out there for you to meander through. On any given day you can make more "friends", join Facebook groups, hell you might even get made an administrator on some of these groups and then you are REALLY "in".  This last part is just a perk that may or may not occur.  This may take some patience on your part but ya know that saying, who won the race, the tortoise or the hare?

Stay low, enjoy all your new friends just like they are enjoying you when they don't even know who the hell you are! But you have Facebook friends and a whole lot of them too so you must really be somebody. Oh, one thing, make sure you at least try to continue to appear pro-Palestinian. Any cracks in your appearance and some of these "activists" may notice, but hey, not necessarily cuz to each their own who they friend on Facebook.

Thus is the land of Facebook activism.  It's "only Facebook" right?

Why oh why did I ever stop blogging?  I miss it here.  I need some inspiration.............. The entire format of blogger has changed since I was last here. I used to write, I really did.  I didn't think I could get back in here.  Now..... let's see. Can't come up with anything at the moment. I miss my old blogging friends!

Martyr's Funeral Jawaher Abu Rahmah-Bilin 01.01.2011

The Last Bastion of Acceptable Racism in the US, Islamophobia, MUST GO!

Racism in America, a touchy touchy subject these days. With our nation electing it's first African American president, it would be utterly foolish to say that it has not flared again. As the underlying and often outright tone of many of the attacks against Obama are noticeably racist (not legitimate debate on policy disagreements), it would also be undeniable to say that racism against African Americans has become totally unacceptable. Unacceptable because racism in ANY form is unacceptable.

Or is it? Unquestionably the last bastion of racism in the US which is acceptable to spout is racism against Muslims. Witness the wild flurry leading up to 911 this year concerning the Park51 project. Not racist you say? All one needs to do is watch the videos of the protest against Park51, the nature of the signage and the crazed rantings of so many of Park51's opponents to see that at best the opposition was thinly veiled racism and at worst full-blown racism against Muslims.

There it was for all to see, with FOX News leading the pack of commentators to

tell us all why a multi-faith cultural center built by Muslims which would contain

a Muslim prayer space should not be built anywhere near "hallowed ground"

911 came and went this year, "Pastor" Terry Jones of Florida backed down from burning the Koran and the news seemed to settle down a bit. Then came Juan

Williams, his statement on the Bill O'Reiley Show that he gets nervous boarding a

plane with people in "Muslim garb who first and foremost identify themselves as

Muslim". Would he be more comfortable boarding planes with Muslim travelers

who showed no outward sign of their religious identification? He wouldn't be able

to tell they were Muslim would he? Perhaps identifying themselves is a GOOD thing

for Mr. Williams so he can be aware he needs to be afraid.

Note: none of the 911 hijackers whose actions have been condemned soundly by statements and fatwas from Muslim organizations world wide were "dressed in "Muslim garb". Note also that the myth is still perpetuated that Muslims have not condemned these horrendous acts when this simply is NOT the case.

As we all know, Juan Williams was fired following his statement on FOX. Subsequently CAIR has been blamed erroneously for the firing when the only thing CAIR did was ask

NPR to address Juan Williams' statement. CAIR did NOT ask for him to be fired, it was NPR who terminated his contract with him. Immediately following and since his firing

CAIR has been under attack. By threatening emails sent to them and public reaction

the firing of Juan Williams and support of his right to make the statement he did has

far outweighed those who agree he should have been fired.

However, there is much more to this story than what is apparent on the surface. There

are also questions that need to be asked of Juan Williams himself. Today an article was published which does ask Juan Williams a pointed question:

"Were he to get pulled over by a cop who made him get out of his car and submit to a full body-search, would he say “That’s OK officer. I know you’re just expressing your honest feeling that most black people driving nice cars are criminals”?

Unfortunately Juan Williams himself perpetuated the idea in his own statement that he was fired by NPR BECAUSE he did not fit NPR's mold as a Black liberal.

Mold? What mold Juan?

You were already on notice from NPR for other infractions and this time as stated by NPR you were fired due to breach of your employer's ethics code. A reminder of what those codes are which Juan Williams agreed to follow in signing his contract with NPR:

http://www.npr.org/about/aboutnpr/ethics/ethics_code.html

Now, lets compare Juan Williams' statement about being frightened of getting on planes with people in "Muslim garb" to the point made by the author of this article, would Juan Williams have a problem being pulled over for driving while Black simply because the police officer had an "honest feeling that most black people driving nice cars are criminals"? Note, it doesn't have to be "nice cars", it can be any car can't it? The point being that this Black man is in the wrong neighborhood, he must be up to no good, he doesn't belong here, reason for suspicion.

While racism against African Americans has become RIGHTFULLY politically incorrect in this country to publicly espouse, it hasn't stopped die hard racists from continuing to flaunt their racism. Take the case of White Nationalism which exists here til this day. Leading the pack of US White Nationalists is David Duke. What is he up to these days besides announcing his potential run for the presidency in 2012? Well David Duke has glommed on to a recent news item about a cheerleader in Texas who was raped at a drunken party in 2008. Evidently the rapist was allowed to continue playing football while the girl was kicked off her cheer team for refusing to cheer him. The story is outrageous, but what aspect of the story did David Duke hone in on? The fact that the rapist was Black, and that these sort of things didn't occur in Silsbee, Texas until Blacks started moving in.
This is important, watch David Duke's video HERE: at 4:40 he states,

"There was a time when Silsbee High School was entirely European American, parents never had to worry about their teenage girl getting raped at school or at a school party, much less gang raped, during that time gang rapes of 16 year old girls was simply inconceivable"

Student while Black. Before these non-White Europeans moved in there was never anything to worry about at Silsbee High. Got that? White Europeans don't do such things, never in Silsbee. Silsbee was the perfect little White hamlet at one time wasn't it Mr. Duke?

There's just one problem with Mr. Duke's statement (besides the point that it is utter RACISM), while unable to find evidence of past gang rapes in Silsbee which I am SURE have occurred since gang rape in this country crosses all socio-economic and racial boundaries and does not stop at any municiple border, I was able to find the list of registered sex offenders for the town of Silsbee, and surprise surprise NOT, there are White registered sex offenders a plenty in this priorly perfect little hamlet. Note: the term "aggravated sexual assault"=rape.

http://www.city-data.com/so/so-Silsbee-Texas.html

Now back to Juan Willliams being frightened of those in "Muslim garb". Just as David Dukes utter racism paints Blacks as the criminal element bringing "this sort of thing" to what used to be the perfect little White hamlet of Silsbee, Texas, so is Juan Williams statement that he is fearful of those in "Muslim garb" RACIST. To collectively hang the tag of criminal on ANY group of people is RACIST. Juan Williams would NOT accept being pulled over for "driving while black" any more than he would accept David Duke's assertion that Silsbee, Texas was just a wonderful place to live before the undesirables (Blacks) moved into town.

Just as David Duke's racism is unacceptable, so was Juan Williams' statement and those supporting his right to have this "feeling" are both unacceptable.

Fear of those in "Muslim garb" or Muslims in general=fear of those "driving while Black"/fear of "undesirables" (African Americans) in the neighborhood.

While it is RIGHTFULLY politically incorrect and WRONG to harbor racist sentiments against African Americans in this country, it must ALSO become unacceptable to harbor racist sentiments towards Muslims.

NO TO RACISM no matter what form it takes.

NO TO RACISM against Muslims, it is time to bury the acceptance of this vile sentiment.

Queridos mineros chilenos, por favor no acepten la invitación de Israel!

The letter I wrote to the Chilean miners (in English)concerning the all-expense paid offered to them by Israel to visit the Christian holy sites at Christmas, the two most important of which (Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Bethlehem) are in occupied Palestine, has been translated and published on the website for the Palestinian Foundation of Chile. Shukran khatier:

Queridos sobrevivientes de la mina chilena: Ustedes no saben de mí. Yo sólo soy un bloggero/actvista por la paz estadounidense que ha seguido sus esfuerzos heroicos por sobrevivir a los 69 días de prueba y los esfuerzos heroicos por salvarlos. Con asombro he visto cómo los subían uno a uno hacia la libertad desde ese infierno bajo tierra, donde por tanto tiempo no se sabía si iban a vivir o morir. De hecho, el mundo entero vio cuando fueron rescatados entre la alegría estruendosa de sus seres queridos reunidos y sentados en vigilia por ustedes durante tanto tiempo, insistiendo en que estaban vivos, insistiendo en que siguienran los esfuerzos de rescate, orando juntos por su seguridad. El mundo entero se regocija por su retorno a salvo hacia la superficie junto a sus seres queridos. Ahora es vuestro tiempo para que se recuperen de su terrible experiencia, para el reajuste en la superficie viviendo con todos los aspectos físicos que esto implica, así como también con los emocionales. Sin embargo, hay personas que desean adherirse de alguna manera a su rescate y lo que ellos ven es un estatus de celebridad para realizando invitaciones públicas para ir a visitarlos. Cuidado con los regalos de caballo de Troya. Las invitaciones de viajes con todos los gastos pagados se emiten con su propia imagen e intereses en el corazón. Hoy he leído que han recibido una invitación del Ministerio de Turismo israelí para visitar la Tierra Santa, donde empezó el cristianismo, donde está ubicado el más sagrado de los sitios cristianos. Ellos les han ofrecido pagar por la totalidad de su viaje allí, para que ustedes puedan visitar "Israel". Le están ofreciendo este viaje en Navidad como un "regalo para ti" Les pido que por favor no acepten esta invitación. Ustedes no están siendo solo invitados a visitar "Israel," se le está pidiendo ir a visitar los lugares santos que han estado bajo la ocupación israelí de Palestina durante 42 años, sitios a los que habitualmente se les niega el acceso a los palestinos cristianos por parte de su ocupante. En junio, el Vaticano ha emitido un documento que deplora la negación del acceso a los cristianos a los lugares sagrados bajo la ocupación, deniminando como "injusta" la ocupación. Ustedes serán llevados a la Iglesia del Santo Sepulcro en Jerusalén oriental ocupada que diariamente le niega el acceso a los palestinos cristianos. Ustedes también visitarán Belén, el lugar donde nació Cristo, que ha estado bajo la ocupación israelí durante 42 años. Muy cerca se encuentra la casa de la tienda Daoud Nassar de las Naciones Unidas que está continuamente bajo la amenaza de demolición por parte de Israel. Los palestinos cristianos sufren las mismas desgracias que sus compatriotas musulmanes bajo la ocupación israelí. Por esta razón la Declaración de el Cairo pide el fin a la ocupación de Palestina tras 42 largos años de violación directa al derecho internacional. Introducción Nosotros, un grupo de palestinos cristianos, después de la oración, la reflexión y el intercambio de opiniones, clamamos desde el sufrimiento en nuestro país, bajo la ocupación israelí, con un grito de esperanza en la ausencia de toda esperanza, un grito lleno de oración la fe en Dios y el siempre vigilante, en la providencia divina de Dios para todos los habitantes de esta tierra. Inspirado por el misterioso amor de Dios hacia todos, el misterio de la presencia divina de Dios en la historia de todos los pueblos y, de una manera particular, en la historia de nuestro país, proclamamos nuestra palabra sobre la base de nuestra fe cristiana y nuestro sentido de Palestina Perteneciente - la palabra de fe, esperanza y amor. ¿Por qué ahora? Porque hemos llegado hoy a un punto muerto en la tragedia del pueblo palestino. Los responsables en la toma de decisiones en las gestiones de la crisis se contentan en lugar de comprometerse en la tarea de encontrar una manera de resolverlo. Los corazones de los fieles están llenos de dolor y preguntándose: ¿Qué está haciendo la comunidad internacional? ¿Que están haciendo los líderes políticos en Palestina, en Israel y en el mundo árabe? ¿Qué hace la Iglesia? El problema no es sólo de carácter político. Es la política en que los seres humanos son destruidos, y esto debe ser motivo de preocupación para la Iglesia. Nos dirigimos a nuestros hermanos y hermanas, miembros de nuestras iglesias en esta tierra. Hacemos un llamado a los cristianos y a los palestinos, a los líderes religiosos y políticos, a nuestra sociedad palestina y a la sociedad israelí, a la comunidad internacional, y a nuestros hermanos y hermanas de las Iglesias de todo el mundo. Todos los días equipos cristianos por la paz trabajan en los Territorios Ocupados para proteger a los palestinos de la ocupación militar y de los ataques rutinarios de los colonos. La Teología de la Liberación en América Latina ha desempeñado un papel importante en la provisión de apoyo y consuelo a los oprimidos. Palestina también tiene una organización, Teología de la Liberación de Palestina (Saabel), que aboga por la libertad de los oprimidos bajo la ocupación israelí y la política del gobierno. Estos son tus hermanos y hermanas en Cristo, en la humanidad. Las conversaciones de paz en el levantamiento de la ocupación de Palestina no han llegado a ninguna parte en 42 años, Israel ha continuado violando el derecho internacional al continuar construyendo asentamientos en los territorios ocupados. Israel se ha negado a extender la congelación de diez meses en la construcción, siendo una violación directa al dereho internacional. Ahora el Ministerio de Turismo de Israel le ha cursado una invitación con todos los gastos pagados para visitar los "lugares sagrados" en "Israel". La Iglesia del Santo Sepulcro, el más sagrado de los santuarios cristianos, se encuentra en la Jerusalén oriental ocupada. Belén, el lugar de nacimiento de Cristo, se encuentra en la Cisjordania ocupada. Estos son sólo dos lugares santos cristianos que Israel desea tomar y sacar provecho de su celebridad para su propio beneficio. Yo mismo como cristiano, le ruego no aceptar esta invitación, no hasta que Israel se retire luego de 42 largos años de ocupación ilegal de Palestina. La Navidad es nuestro tiempo para celebrar el nacimiento de Cristo, no sólo en desmedro de los que viven bajo ocupación en su ciudad natal, al aceptar un regalo de su ocupante. Queridos mineros, quizás ustedes nunca puedan llegar a leer esta carta, pero de alguna manera debe llegar, porque fue escrita desde mi corazón, al corazón de ustedes, los hombres valientes que sobrevivieron, por la gracia de Dios, que todavía están con nosotros. Bendiciones a ustedes en paz, Robin Global Research

Dear Chilean miners, please do not accept Israel's invitation

Dear Survivors of the Chilean Mine Trap,

You do not know me. I am just an American blogger/peace actvist who has followed your heroic efforts to survive your 69 day ordeal and the heroic efforts to save you. With wonder I watched as you were brought up one by one to freedom from your underground hell, where for so long you did not know if you would live or die. Indeed the whole world watched as you were rescued in thunderous joy that you would be reunited with your loved ones who had sat vigil for you for so long, insisting you were alive, insisting the rescue effort keep on, praying together for your safety. The entire world rejoices in your safe return above ground to your loved ones.

Now it is your time to recover from your ordeal, to readjust to above ground living with all the physical aspects that entails as well as the emotional ones. Yet people who wish to somehow attach themselves to your rescue and what they see as your celebrity status are now issuing public invitations for you to visit them.

Beware the Trojan horse bearing gifts. For their all-expense paid trip invitations are being issued with their own interest and image at heart.

Today I read that you have received an invitation from the Israeli Tourist Ministry to visit the Holy Land where Christianity began, where the holiest of Christian sites are located. They have offered to pay for your entire trip there, for you to visit "Israel". They are offering you this trip at Christmas time as a "gift to you"

I am asking you please to not accept this invitation. You are not just being invited to visit "Israel", you are being asked to visit holy sites which have been under the Israeli occupation of Palestine for 42 years, sites that Palestinian Christians are routinely denied access to by their occupier.

In June the Vatican issued a paper deploring the denial of access to Christians to the holy sites under occupation, calling the occupation "unjust".

You would be taken to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in occupied East Jerusalem which Israel routinely denies access to for Christian Palestinians. You would also be taken to Bethlehem, the birth place of Christ, which has been under Israeli occupation for 42 years. Nearby is the home of Daoud Nassar's Tent of Nations which is continually under threat of demolition by Israel.

Christian Palestinians suffer just as horrifically under the occupation as do their fellow Muslim Palestinians.

For this reason the Kairos Declaration was issued which calls for an end to the 42 year long occupation of Palestine which is in direct violation of international law.

Introduction

We, a group of Christian Palestinians, after prayer, reflection and an exchange of opinion, cry out from within the suffering in our country, under the Israeli occupation, with a cry of hope in the absence of all hope, a cry full of prayer and faith in a God ever vigilant, in God’s divine providence for all the inhabitants of this land. Inspired by the mystery of God's love for all, the mystery of God’s divine presence in the history of all peoples and, in a particular way, in the history of our country, we proclaim our word based on our Christian faith and our sense of Palestinian belonging – a word of faith, hope and love.

Why now? Because today we have reached a dead end in the tragedy of the Palestinian people. The decision-makers content themselves with managing the crisis rather than committing themselves to the serious task of finding a way to resolve it. The hearts of the faithful are filled with pain and with questioning: What is the international community doing? What are the political leaders in Palestine, in Israel and in the Arab world doing? What is the Church doing? The problem is not just a political one. It is a policy in which human beings are destroyed, and this must be of concern to the Church.

We address ourselves to our brothers and sisters, members of our Churches in this land. We call out as Christians and as Palestinians to our religious and political leaders, to our Palestinian society and to the Israeli society, to the international community, and to our Christian brothers and sisters in the Churches around the world.

Read the entire Kairos Declaration HERE

Every day Christian Peacemaker Teams in the Occupied Territory work to protect Palestinians from their military occupation and settlers who routinely assault them.

In Latin America liberation theology has played a large role in providing solace and support to the oppressed. Palestine also has an organization, Sabeel-Palestine Liberation Theology, which calls for the freedom of the oppressed under Israeli occupation and government policy. These are your brothers and sisters in Christ, in humanity.

As peace talks in lifting the occupation of Palestine have not gotten anywhere in 42 years, Israel has continued to violate international law by continuing to build settlements in the occupied territories. Israel has refused to extend their ten month freeze on building which is in direct contravention of international law.

Now the Ministry of Tourism of Israel has issued you an invitation for an all-expense paid trip to visit the "holy sites" in "ISRAEL". The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest of Christian shrines, is located in occupied East Jerusalem. Bethlehem, the birth place of Christ, is located in the occupied West Bank. These are only two Christian holy sites that Israel wishes to take you to and to somehow capitalize on your celebrity by their offer.

As a Christian myself, I beg you not to accept this invitation, not while Israel refuses to withdraw from their 42 year long illegal occupation of Palestine. Christmas is our time to celebrate the birth of Christ, not to do so to the detriment of those living under occupation in his birthplace by accepting a gift from their occupier.

Dear miners, you may never read this letter to you, but should it somehow reach you, it was written to you from my heart, to the hearts of you brave men who survived, by the grace of God, you are still with us.

Blessings to you in peace,

Robin