Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Secret report brands Muslim police corrupt

A secret high-level Metropolitan police report has concluded that Muslim officers are more likely to become corrupt than white officers because of their cultural and family backgrounds.

Guardian Unlimited Books | Review | Review: Preemption by Alan M Dershowitz

Louise Christian is horrified by US lawyer Alan M Dershowitz’s book on reshaping international law, Preemption

The SunniPath Academy presents:
The Hadith Jibril Explained - The Foundation of Prophetic Guidance
A free mini-course (in three lessons)

Learn how this hadith relates to your life. 
The text of the
hadith, commentary, and related readings will be provided. Lessons will
be live & interactive - you can ask questions at any time.

Course Starts Saturday, June 10th.
View a multimedia presentation about the course, or Download. [Updated]

Ajnabeeyeh: Well, well, well . . .

What a shocker! “Muslim Women Don’t See Themselves as Oppressed,” reads the New York Times headline.

When
asked what they resented most about their own societies, a majority of
Muslim women polled said that a lack of unity among Muslim nations,
violent extremism, and political and economic corruption were their
main concerns. The hijab, or head scarf, and burqa, the garment
covering face and body, seen by some Westerners as tools of oppression,
were never mentioned in the women’s answers to the open-ended
questions, the poll analysts said.

And
don’t you know, the hijab has everything to do with it. The article
even has to mention that the Gallup poll’s strategic analyst wears one.
Thanks for telling us, guys–it certainly makes a world of difference.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Reviving Malaysia’s hi-tech dreams

It is difficult to overestimate the impact that Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed had on his country during his 22 years in power.

Arguably the most impressive of his achievements was to be among the first of the world’s leaders to grasp the potential of the internet, all the more striking because he was already 70 years old at the time.

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf was in Malaysia @ Critical Thoughts

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf
was recently in Malaysia for his current project involving a
documentary on Muslim women in Muslim countries and he is touring some
countries in order to interview them (to counter some negative
perceptions about Muslim women being “oppressed” or “under apartheid”
as claimed by some). I was told that Zainah Anwar, leader of Sisters in
IslamShaitaan (SIS) refused to be interviewed by him, heh. Marina Mahathir, though, accepted the opportunity.

He was hosted by MPF recently. See the pictures here.

John Updike’s ‘Terrorist’ Imagines a Homegrown Threat to Homeland Security - New York Times

John Updike writing about terrorism? The bard of the middle-class mundane, the chronicler of suburban adultery and angst, tackling Islamic radicalism and the call to jihad?

Guardian Unlimited Books | Extracts | Did the CIA give Iran the bomb? Extracts from New York Times reporter James Risen’s new book

In an extract from his explosive new book, New York Times reporter James Risen reveals the bungles and miscalculations that led to a spectacular intelligence fiasco

TIME.com: Are Americans Suffering Diversity Fatigue? — Page 1

People are willing to be tolerant, but only to a certain point. And from California to the Midwest and Florida, signs of exclusionary thinking are popping up all over.

In a Solidly Conservative State, a Loyal Core of Support for Bush - New York Times

PROVO, Utah — Here in what may be the reddest city in the reddest of states, where Democrats sometimes gather like lost souls at the one Starbucks, most people are standing by President Bush.

TheStar.com - Most arrested from GTA

A group of Canadian teenagers and young men in their 20s, accused by police of being members of a suspected homegrown terrorist cell, will appear in court this morning to face accusations that they plotted to attack Canadian targets, the Toronto Star has learned.

Some members of the group allegedly attended a “training camp” north of the city where they made a video imitating military warfare, and the suspects allegedly had acquired weapons and listed targets in Ontario, sources told the Star.

May sanity prevail.

la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah

Do gyms breed terrorists? By Brendan O’Neill

There have been three major terror attacks in the West over the past five years—9/11, the 2004 train bombings in Madrid, and the 7/7 suicide attacks on the London Underground. For all the talk of a radical Islamist conspiracy to topple Western civilization, there are many differences between the men who executed these attacks. The ringleaders of 9/11 were middle-class students; the organizers of the Madrid bombings were mainly immigrants from North Africa; the 7/7 bombers were British citizens, well-liked and respected in their local communities. And interpretations of Islam also varied wildly from one terror cell to another. Mohamed Atta embraced a mystical (and pretty much made-up) version of Islam. For the Madrid attackers, Islam was a kind of comfort blanket. The men behind 7/7 were into community-based Islam, which emphasized being good and resisting a life of decadence.

The three cells appear to have had at least one thing in common, though—their members’ immersion in gym culture.

NPR : Satellite Imagery Shows a Sinking New Orleans

Parts of New Orleans are sinking faster than anyone previously thought. realized. Satellite imagery is showing sinking that previous ground level measurements missed.

NPR : Iran’s President Renews Interest in ‘Hidden Imam’

It is said that in the 10th century, the 12th and last Imam of the Shiite branch of Islam disappeared. He is said to be hidden by God and will reappear at the end of history to lead an era of Islamic justice. But lately, actions by — and rumors about — Iran’s president have renewed interest in the 12th Imam.

Centuries ago, this holy person is said to have disappeared, hidden by God, but kept alive since then, to reappear at the end of history to lead an era of Islamic justice. The belief, which helped to inspire Iran’s Islamic Revolution 27 years ago, diminished in importance over the years.

Now it has found renewed inspiration in Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The fear haunting Europe Mats Engström - openDemocracy

The secret meetings of Europe’s political authorities are sanctioning public policies that feed racist sentiment, argues Mats Engström.

Italians fear mosque plans - Islam in Europe - MSNBC.com

Mayor backs Islamic center’s construction, but residents are ‘very afraid’

Florence imam finds time for fashion - Islam in Europe - MSNBC.com

Muslim leader sells Italian leather jackets, designed women’s underwear

BBC NEWS | UK | Senior Asian policewoman honoured

The most senior Asian woman in the Metropolitan Police was among those honoured at awards to celebrate positive female Asian role models.  Ch Insp Parm Sandhu won the Public Sector Award - in part for her work in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings.

The winners of seven other awards were also announced at the Asian Women of Achievements Awards finals in London.

The managing editor of Muslim magazine Q-News won the Media Professional of the Year Award.

Fareena Alam also writes for the Observer and the Guardian newspapers.

A Whirling Sufi Revival With Unclear Implications - New York Times

…. This is a zikr, the mystical Sufi dance of the Caucasus and a ritual near the center of Chechen Islam.

Here inside Chechnya, where Russia has spent six years trying to contain the second Chechen war since the Soviet Union collapsed, traditional forms of religious expression are returning to public life. It is a revival laden with meaning, and with implications that are unclear.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Majority of women in armed forces harassed

More than two-thirds of women in the armed forces are subjected to sexual harassment and nearly all find themselves exposed to sexualised behaviour, the Ministry of Defence reported today.

SunniPath Academy’s Summer Intensive Program

Are you seeking to spend your summer immersed in the Islamic sciences, but are unable to travel or need a flexible schedule? SunniPath Academy has a solution for you. As part of the Summer 2006 semester, SunniPath is offering an engaging summer intensive program, MoreKnowledge.

Designed especially for university and secondary school students on summer vacation, this intensive is perfect for anyone whose summer does not require the same level of worldly commitment as the rest of the year.

MoreKnowledge seeks to offer a balanced curriculum in four key subject areas, while allowing you the flexibility to choose the specific level or topic. You will be able to select four classes that fit into thefollowing subject areas: Belief, Fiqh, Methodology, and Enrichment. Courses will run from June 24, 2006 through September 24, 2006.

So, why are you waiting? Spend your summer seeking MoreKnowledge.

Full list of SunniPath Academy Summer 2006 Courses

“We the Japanese People” – A Reflection on Public Opinion

For more than 60 years following its devastation in World War II, Japan has held onto an intense fear of militarism, renouncing the right to wage war and limiting its self-defense force. A side effect of such pacifist policies, according to scholar Hikari Agakimi, is a carefree people who struggle to find a national identity. In a 2005 survey of high school students, only 13 percent reported feeling pride at seeing the Japanese flag, while in a opinion poll conducted by the prime minister’s office, 40 percent of respondents admitted that they did not know if they loved their country or not. An alarmed Japanese government has initiated a series of reforms aimed at reviving patriotism: One education bill aims to instill respect for Japan’s history and traditions, while a constitutional proposal calls for more military flexibility. Threatened by the military buildup of neighboring China and North Korea, Japan is undertaking a “grand social transformation,” an attempt to imbue nationalistic sentiments in an aging population without revisiting military ambitions of the past

Guardian Unlimited | Guardian daily comment | With Turkey in the club, Europe can forge a fresh engagement with Islam

The state of Pakistan Irfan Husain - openDemocracy

Pakistan’s classification as a “failed state” reflects the collapse of Pervez Musharraf’s authority, says Irfan Husain.

BBC NEWS | Europe | Turkish secularists rally over attack

An attack on Turkey’s top administrative court has brought to the surface simmering tensions between secularists and Turkey’s governing Justice and Development Party, which has Islamist roots.

Fair use strengthened in court decision

The Second Circuit Appeals Court has just handed down an interesting copyright ruling
that furthers cements certain fair uses of copyrighted images. The
case, Bill Graham Archives (BGA) v. Dorling Kindersley (DK), centers on
the use of seven Grateful Dead concert poster reproductions used in a
coffee table book on the band published by DK. The facts of the case
were clear: DK used the seven images without a license after it could
not come to terms with BGA, and BGA took the firm to court, demanding
an injunciton and the destruction of all unsold copies of the book.

Comment is free: The Teflon pharaoh

For western and Arab media alike, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt is seemingly beyond criticism. Thank goodness for the bloggers.

The Perils of Soft Power

Any nation has an array of options for extending influence throughout the world: One is “hard power,” or military escalation. Another method, touted by a group led by Harvard Professor Joseph S. Nye Jr., is “soft power,” or cultural capital deployed across the globe. But soft power can produce antagonistic reactions. US movies, music and education may be popular in other nations, but world citizens do not necessarily rely on the US to shape their views on larger issues.

AMERICAblog: Because a great nation deserves the truth

Conservative commentator uses Hitler’s treatment of Jews as example of how to deal with America’s Latino “problem”

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | BBC News ‘wrong Guy’ is revealed

The true identity of a man who was mistakenly interviewed on BBC News 24 has been revealed.

Guy Goma, a graduate from the Congo, appeared on the news channel in place of an IT expert after a mix-up.

But Mr Goma, who was wrongly identified in the press as a taxi driver, was really at the BBC for a job interview.

Does a Growing Worker Shortage Threaten China’s Low-Cost Advantage?

China’s hold on the title of low-wage manufacturing giant may be in jeopardy. This year, a job program designed to entice migrant farmer-laborers into Chinese cities fell short of expectations, as many workers chose local rural employment.

Islam Critic: Fed Up with Holland, Hirsi Ali Plans to Move to America - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

Hirsi Ali, the Dutch parliamentarian who became the target of radical Islamists for her role in writing the screenplay to murdered filmmaker Theo van Gogh’s “Submission,” is planning to resign from her elected office and leave the Netherlands. Ali is considered one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of Islam.

USNews.com: Why no one has much chance of toppling Congress’s incumbents

Why no one has much chance of toppling Congress’s incumbents

BBC NEWS | Americas | US sees ethnic minority baby boom

Nearly half of American children aged under five are from an ethnic minority, according to a new report from the US Census Bureau.

BBC NEWS | Americas | US sees ethnic minority baby boom

Nearly half of American children aged under five are from an ethnic minority, according to a new report from the US Census Bureau.

Musharraf’s Ambitions: Pakistan’s Obedient Son - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

A key ally in America’s “war on terror,” Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf is bickering with his neighbor Afghanistan and is faced with ongoing unrest at home. But he still wants to make his chaotic country a regional power — with China’s help.

Under fire: US’s misguided defense budget - Asia Times

With Congress on the verge of approving yet another record Pentagon budget, a task force of nearly two dozen progressive policy analysts is calling for major changes in the way the United States allocates money for its common defense.

Noting that Washington currently spends $6 on its military for every dollar it spends on homeland security, diplomacy, foreign aid and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the group argues that a three-to-one ratio is more reasonable and well within reach.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Stuff the kids

It bombards them with adverts, seduces them with merchandise - and then fills them with additives. In an exclusive extract from his explosive new book, Eric Schlosser reveals how the fast-food industry exploits its key audience - the very young

The 50 Year History of Play-Doh

50 years ago U.S. Patent No. 3,167,440 was granted to Noah McVicker and Joseph McVicker for a “plastic modeling composition”, (which was originally intended to be a wallpaper cleaner) now called Play-Doh. Little did they know that they had created the substance of childhood memories as well as many a childhood meal, unfortunately.

Young Americans Geographically Illiterate, Survey Suggests

Young adults in the United States fail to understand the world and their place in it, according to a survey-based report on geographic literacy released today.

Foreign Policy: The Failed States Index

Democracy may be spreading, but is the world more stable? In the second-annual Failed States Index, FOREIGN POLICY and the Fund for Peace track the countries on the edge of collapse.

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Society | Britons put work and fun before babies

ICM poll reveals changing social attitudes behind UK’s low birthrate

Akbar Ahmed - Dispatches from the Muslim World — Beliefnet.com

In East Asia, ‘Arab Islam’ and moderate Islam are clashing. In India, orthodox thinking is flourishing–and that’s a good thing, says Professor Akbar Ahmed

Mosque’s curtain rises again | Chicago Tribune

After much debate, sexes pray apart

Rolling Stone : The Worst President in History?

George W. Bush’s presidency appears headed for colossal historical disgrace. Barring a cataclysmic event on the order of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, after which the public might rally around the White House once again, there seems to be little the administration can do to avoid being ranked on the lowest tier of U.S. presidents. And that may be the best-case scenario. Many historians are now wondering whether Bush, in fact, will be remembered as the very worst president in all of American history.

MoorishGirl: The European Street - Mosques burned down in Spain

The Guardian reports that a Moroccan mosque in Ceuta was burned down, one of apparently several incidents of this nature on Spanish territory:

El
País newspaper yesterday listed a number of mosques and other
Muslim targets that have been ransacked, burned or had copies of the
Qur’an set alight by intruders.

Police said that extreme rightwingers and skinhead groups were responsible for almost all the attacks.

“They want Spain to have the same sort of violent reaction that the
Netherlands had after the murder of film director Theo van Gogh,” one
police expert told El País. “Little by little they are creating
an atmosphere for this to grow.”

Spain’s 800,000 Muslims, many of them immigrants from neighbouring Morocco, have some 600 mosques around the country.

If you think that violence against Moroccans or their institutions are
isolated occurrences in Europe, then you probably should make yourself watch this, courtesy of the Italian carabinieri.

Visa for Cream

Historically, Britain relied on immigrants from India for factory help and other jobs that the British didn’t want to do. Immigration resulted in a British community of 2 million Indians, many who met with great success. But now the UK has tinkered with its immigration rules to reject poor workers from former colonies Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and elsewhere and target workers with information-technology and other science skills. A writer for “Outlook India” suggests that “Seen from the outside, India looks a lot more shining than it does to many within.” The Indian migration story now has a “cirucular” theme, she argues. Skilled Indians no longer merely set sights on the West for opportunity, but instead travel back and forth between the two countries to improve education, skills and careers in whichever location offering the most value and promise.