Islam and Human Rights *Tuesday, May 05 2009* Protect Minorities in Pakistan from Taliban’s extortion and loot <http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1372>
*State within a state* The Taliban in Orakzai Agency are reported to have occupied three homes and ten businesses belonging to Sikhs, to press for their demand that 'jaziya', a tax imposed non-Muslims, be paid. The militants had previously demanded a sum of Rs 50 million, which they later reduced to Rs15 million. This of course is extortion. There is no other name for it..... It is sad our legislators have not spoken up for the rights of the minorities who live in Taliban-controlled areas. Even in cities still outside Taliban rule, they have been targeted for violence and victimized. These most vulnerable of citizens need to be protected. – *Editorial in The News, Islamabad* 11 Comments More...<http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1372> The War within Islam *Soul-searching among Muslims: Is the beard really so vital a part of our faith? <http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1382>* A recent Supreme Court Judgement reinforcing minority institutions’ right to formulate their own rules and expecting students to follow them if they wanted to study there has created a storm of protest from the Muslim community as it concerned a Muslim student’s demand to be allowed to keep his beard. This was irrational, as Muslims themselves constitute a minority and run their own institutions in which they formulate their own rules. Urdu Press was flooded with articles claiming, wrongly from all accounts, that a beard was as essential for a Muslim to have as it was for say, a Sikh. *New Age Islam’s Chennai-based columnist V. M. Khaleelur Rahman *looks at the issue from various perspectives. At one point, he describes the camaraderie that exists in students of minority institutions in Tamil Nadu: “In almost all minority institutions in Chennai, Muslim and Christian, nothing is imposed on the students belonging to other religions. For example, a head scarf is an indispensable part of the uniform in all Muslim schools but it is not made compulsory for non-Muslim girls. We have not seen any non-Muslim girl wearing a head scarf in any school here. In the same way in non-Muslim institutions belonging to Christian, Hindu or any other community in Tamil Nadu, there is nothing which can be branded as inimical to cultural or religious feelings of the Muslim community. In other words a good camaraderie exists among them here. We are proud of it. There are many Muslim educational institutions - primary schools, higher secondary schools, arts and science colleges, engineering colleges, etc. in places like Chennai, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Melvisharam, Keelakarai, Trichy, Kayalpattinam, etc. where students belonging to all religious communities study understanding and respecting each other's sentiments.”** 3 Comments More...<http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1382> The War within Islam *Frustrated Pakistanis debate their country’s future, if any <http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1381>* How can one be hopeful about the political future of a country where the will and the wisdom of politicians becomes hostage to the threats of barbarians? How can I be optimistic about a country where doyens of the media like Ansar Abbasi hear the collective silence of the parliamentarians as the resounding support of the people of Pakistan, but are deaf to the threats issued by the Taliban to anyone opposing the legislation? How can I feel secure in a country where the army, despite receiving the largest chunk of our resources, cannot defeat a bunch of thugs? How can I expect justice when there are different laws for different citizens, and I as a woman am a second class citizen? How can I be inspired by a country where there is no culture, no music, no art, no poetry and no innovative thought? -- From a master's student at Princeton University* Sehar Tariq’s *article I want my country back. --- *Seerat Hazir's response: *"I am curious to find out which Pakistan she wants back. The one created by the British with the help of wealthy and influential feudals and nawabs as a gift to the Americans to serve as a pawn in the cold-war games after the 2nd world war? The one ruled successively by military dictators, aided and abetted by a conniving nexus of corrupt bureaucrats, politicians, industrialists, and devious feudals that many of us were privileged enough to be related to, getting our passports and driving licences made without standing in sweaty queues? The one that created a two-class system: the haves and the have-nots? 5 Comments More<http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1381> -- Syed M. 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