The AhlulBayt Islamic Mission (AIM) and the Shia Professionals of London (SPL) are proud to present their upcoming event entitled ‘UNCHAINED WORDS’ marking the joyous occasion of the birth of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (as). The special event features freestyle poetry and an opportunity to meet professionals from a variety of backgrounds including those specialising in media and arts. With us on this auspicious occasion will be Sheikh Hamza Sodagar who will deliver a talk on the virtues of Imam Ali (as). Addmission to this event is free and both brothers and sisters are welcome. Dinner will be served.

On Saturday 26th May 2012, AIM will be hosting Sheikh Ahmed Haneef, who will cover the issue of the Urban Islam and Street Culture. The event will be from 7pm until 9pm and entails a lecture followed by question and answer session, with both brothers and sisters welcome to attend.

Register your attendance on our facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/events/292474334171984/

The AhlulBayt Islamic Mission (AIM) is proud to present AIM Platform, a regular topical event covering a mix of contemporary and traditional issues that matter. On Saturday 19th May 2012, the AIM Platform will be hosting Hujjat Al-Islam Sheikh Mirza Abbas who will cover the issue of the importance of Hijab and the challenges of Muslim women in the modern age. The event will be from 7pm until 9pm and entails a lecture followed by questions and answers, with both brothers and sisters welcome to attend.

Register your attendance on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/events/343947779001170/

The AhlulBayt Islamic Mission (AIM) and the Islamic Centre of England are organising a conference to mark the demise of the Father of the Revolution, the late Imam Khomeini. Entitled ‘Reflections on Leadership’, the conference will be held at the Islamic Centre of England, London on Sunday 3rd June 2012. Guest speakers include: Sheikh Moezi, Sheikh M. Saeed Bahmanpour, Revd Frank Julian Gelli, Nabil Ahmed Awan, and Sheikh Hamza Sodagar. The event is open to both brothers and sisters. Dinner will be served.

]]> http://www.aimislam.com/imam-khomeini-conference-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.aimislam.com/aim-upcoming-events-for-may-june-2012/ http://www.aimislam.com/aim-upcoming-events-for-may-june-2012/#comments Sat, 05 May 2012 02:24:14 +0000 AIM http://www.aimislam.com/?p=3142

The AhlulBayt Islamic Mission (AIM) is offering several events in the upcoming period. For a full list of the upcoming events, please see the details below.

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Saturday 19th May 2012, 7pm-9pm
AIM Platform Event – ‘Why Hijab?’ With Sheikh Mirza Abbas

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Saturday 26th May 2012, 7pm-9pm
AIM Platform Event – ‘Urban Islam & Street Culture’ With Sheikh Ahmed Haneef

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Sunday 3rd June 2012, 2pm-6pm
Imam Khomeini Conference

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Monday 4th – Thursday 7th June, 6.45pm-9pm
Course – ‘Wilayat Al-Faqih’ With Sheikh Hamza Sodagar

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Saturday 16th June 2012, 7pm-9.30pm
Majlis – ‘Martyrdom of Imam Al-Kadhim [as]‘ with Sheikh Mohammed Al-Hilli

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Saturday 30th June 2012, 7pm-9pm
AIM Platform Event – ‘Commentary on Dua Al-Ahd’ With Sheikh Shabbir Hassanally

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On Tuesday, 3 April 2012, at least six passenger buses were stopped by Al Qaeda affiliated Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) militants in Bonar Das area in Chilas (Gilgit Baltistan), passengers were segregated by checking their identity documents, those found or believed to be Shia Muslims were shot dead and many other Shias were kidnapped.

The current massacre in Chilas is the sequel of the February 2012 incident when ASWJ-SSP militants stopped buses and vans travelling to Gilgit on the Karakoram Highway in Kohistan, verified the identity of the passengers before killing 16 members of the Shia community. In a similar incident in September 2011, at least 29 Shia Muslims, mostly of Hazara ethnicity, were killed in Mastung area of Balochistan after the ASWJ militants attacked their bus and killed all Shia passengers after verifying their sectarian identity.

Pakistani state (both Pakistan army and government) is making an all out effort to block information from Gilgit Baltistan to the rest of Pakistan and international community. Upon advice by Pakistan army (ISI in particular), Pakistan government has instructed the print and electronic media to refrain from using words such as “Shia killing” or “Shia genocide” and instead use a false neutral term “sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shias”. The aim is to cover up the state-sponsored Shia genocide currently taking place in Pakistan.

On the directives of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, phone services and wireless communications were jammed in Gilgit on Wednesday, 4 April 2012, bringing communication to a standstill.

Given that Pakistani media is under instruction to refrain from reporting the full scale and extent of Shia genocide, there is very little published information on what actually happened in Chilas.

For ordinary readers, it is very difficult to get the right information about how many people have died in recent Shia massacres in Gilgit-Baltistan. Some put the numbers as high as 80.

However, there are people who have received information from eye witnesses about the massacre of Shias in Chilas.

One person is Shujat Hussain Mesam of Gilgit Baltistan region who has recorded statements of three witnesses who were riding the buses which were attacked in Chilas. The passengers were interviewed by Hussain’s father, who is a retired government employee.

One eyewitness, Aslam, is a 30 year old male who provided the following details:

About three thousand (3,000) fully armed assailants intercepted a convoy of 25 buses. They pulled all the passengers down. After confiscating the luggage, the buses were then set on fire. It appeared to be all pre-planned and even the police and administration present there were either helping the assailants directly or turned a blind eye throughout the entire episode of bloodshed and mayhem.

The assailants had set up a makeshift tent to host those (mostly Sunnis) who were going to be released later. The male Shia passengers were then lined up. The gunmen checked their ID cards and shot and killed many on the spot. Many bodies were riddled with bullets. Those who ran for life were then attacked by the mob with stones and bricks and killed them in that manner. The assailants pelting stones were laughing and high fiving each other upon hitting the target.

A large number of Shias were also taken hostage and may be still alive. The estimated the death toll is no less than sixty (60), while at least another sixty (60) went missing. I (Aslam) was not carrying an ID card and remained associated with a Sunni family as the kind hearted elderly male guardian claimed me to be his son. Those males believed to be non-Shias were then sent to the tent along with females and the children. Later, they were sent to the house of Haji Abdul Aziz, where they were offered refreshment. At some point, the police arrived at Haji’s house and escorted me and other passengers to the few remaining buses which then took them to Gilgit.

Another survivor, Zakir – a 22 year old Shia male, said:

My bus was first to arrive at Buner farm, where the assailants had gathered. I claimed to be a Sunni student without an ID card upon which the assailants hurled me towards a government building along with two old ladies and three girls. There, I was able to call my family members and also contacted an influential government official in Chilas, who was later instrumental in saving my life. The official sent his police guards who escorted me away. After spending the night at the officer’s residence, I was then sent to Gilgit in a helicopter with the dead bodies of Shias. From there, I reached my hometown Skardo. The man (a Shia) sitting next to me in the bus showed his ID card to the assailants and was subsequently killed.

Ilyas is the third survivor and eyewitness who stated the following:

I was assisting some ladies from Khapulo during the bus journey. As the attackers approached me, one of the ladies claimed me to be his son and a Noorbakhshi by faith from Khapulo. This way, I was able to save my life with the help of that kind and brave lady.

Once the assailants were done with the passengers at Buner farm, they then marched towards Gilgit. The military personnel stopped the mob at Juglote and refused further advance. Juglote is only 40 kilometers from Gilgit city. At the same time, Shias of Nagar retaliated by taking 19 Sunnis hostage. Further, thousands of men of Nagar valley marched towards Gilgit and Chilas to protect and avenge the death of innocent Shias. They were stopped by military personnel at Danyor from where they could not march any further.

Despite curfew, exchange of heavy gun fire continues in Gilgit city. Many people have got injured as well as died of gun shots but exact numbers are not known. In absence of proper rescue and first aid facilities, and imposition of curfew, the number of deaths could increase. The main hospital has run short of medicine while residents have no access to food supplies. Life has come to a complete halt in Gilgit city yet government opts to act as bystanders.

Dominated by Sunni Deobandi elites of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, Pakistani media, civil society, NGOs and human rights groups continue to ignore the plight of Shias of Gilgit Baltistan. In a rare relay of facts on ground, Express Tribune published this grim picture of life in Gilgit under Pakistan army’s curfew:

When Gilgit shut down after the recent violence, 20 children, all under the age of 12, found themselves stranded at a house with limited supplies, and a single caretaker. Violence broke out Tuesday morning and schools asked children to head back home. A group of 20 children, however, found themselves in the middle of heavy shelling in Khomer area, and sought refuge at a temporary shelter. They entered the house of a former engineer, Muhammad Hussain, who had died recently. According to a neighbour, who informed The Express Tribune about the incident on Wednesday, there was one woman in the house to take care of all of them. Food supplies have almost exhausted and with communications systems jammed, and the city under a strict curfew, the children have been stranded for almost three days now. The parents of the children may have no way of knowing where they have been for the last three days, the neighbour said.

Infant in danger
Meanwhile, parents of a 9-month-old boy suffering from kidney failure have appealed to authorities to allow them to go to Islamabad immediately. “The infant needs urgent medication, which is only possible if he is evacuated to the federal capital,” Mansoor Wali, father of the child and a resident of Kashrote told The Express Tribune. He appealed to the authorities to let him go to Islamabad through a military or PIA aircraft immediately. He said that last night he managed to take the child to a Gilgit hospital where doctors advised that the child is shifted to a hospital in Islamabad. “That is only possible if the authorities provide a seat in an army aircraft from Gilgit to Islamabad,” he said. http://tribune.com.pk/story/360534/unsuspecting-victims-gilgit-violence-leaves-20-children-stranded/

According to ISPR, army troops have reached in Gilgit and controlled the situation. The same army troops which routinely protect and train ASWJ-SSP militants and also ensure their safe acquittal or escape from Pakistani courts are brutally suppressing local Shia population of Gilgit-Baltistan whose only crime is that they were protesting against Shia genocide.

The mothers, sisters and daughters have shed all the tears they had. The children cannot sleep due to nightmares. But the bloody coffins continue to arrive with each passing day. The aged fathers have no strength in their shoulders to carry all those coffins to the graves.

Through its implicit role in the formation of anti-Shia alliance Difa-e-Pakistan Council which provided the anti-Shia militant group Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (also known as Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan) an opportunity to reorganize and recruit more militants, Pakistan army has enabled further Shia genocide in Pakistan. Pakistan’s judiciary routinely releases dangerous Jihadi-sectarian terrorists involved in Shia massacres. Pakistani media, civil society NGOs and human rights groups continue to remain silent on Shia genocide, or worse, misrepresent it as Sunni-Shia sectarian violence ignoring the fact that majority of Sunnis have dissociated from anti-Shia militant groups.

The current wave of Shia massacres in Gilgit Baltistan cannot be seen in isolation from the country-wide Shia genocide which is taking place in Pakistan since 1960s and which became state supported and systematic since 1977 when an Islamofascist dictator General Zia-ul-Haq imposed martial law in Pakistan. Pakistan army and judiciary have shown their real face as the supporters of terrorists and extremists. The politicians too seem to have sold the interest of their nation for personal or political favors by the all powerful military-judiciary establishment.

Here is an account of how a Pakistani newspaper holds Pakistan army backed non-state actors (Jihadi-sectarian militants) for anti-Shia violence in Gilgit Baltistan: Shia genocide in Gilgit Baltistan and the role of army-sponsored non-state actors

In a recent statement, World Shia Forum (WSF) has expressed concern over the ongoing Shia genocide in different parts of Pakistan, particularly in Gilgit, Karachi and Quetta.

The Shia massacre has exposed the artificiality of the so called two nation theory. It is now the responsibility of the United Nations and other regional and international players to pay close attention to plight of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan whose lives and fundamental human rights must be protected.

Source: Senge Sering, Institute for Gilgit Baltistan Studies, Washington DC, DC, 202 689 0647

Pictures of some of the Shias killed in Chilas on 3 April 2012

They were first brutally tortured, then killed with stones. Acid was thrown on some of the slain Shias to burn them alive. ISI trained and prepared Jihadi-Doebandis for proxy war in Kashmir and Afghansitan, they are using ISI’s training to brutally kill Shia Muslims in Pakistan.

Funeral

LUBP Editor’s note:

We note with concern that some innocent Sunni Muslims have been kidnapped in reaction to the Chilas massacre. We urge Shia activists to refrain from harming innocent citizens of any faith or sect. Shias are being killed not by Sunnis but by State-sponsored ASWJ-SSP militants, who for Shias are enemy combatants. It is the responsibility of not only government of Pakistan but also local majority population to ensure safety and security of all communities including Sunni and Shia Muslims. No non-combatant must be harassed or hurt.

According to Express Tribune, more than 20 people, reportedly Sunnis, went missing in Nagar valley on Tuesday, and are yet to be traced. They were kidnapped in reaction to the Chilas incident, where about 10 Shia passengers were killed. Three of the missing people, including District Health Officer Rasheed, Civil Judge Inayat and Bank Manager Habib, were reportedly abducted by armed men from the vehicle of regional Finance Minister Mohammad Ali Akhtar in Nagar Valley. According to Bank manager Rashid’s family, he had last contacted them at about 1:45 pm on Tuesday and since then his phone has been switched off. The Hunza-Nagar district deputy commissioner told The Express Tribune on Tuesday that investigations were underway to recover the missing persons.

According to The News, unidentified gunmen abducted about 20 workers of two flourmills in Hunza following the sectarian clashes in Gilgit-Baltistan, sources said on Thursday. The sources said some 30 gunmen stormed the Hunza Flour Mills and Gojaal Flour Mills in Hasanabad area of Hunza and kidnapped 20 workers.They said that 12 labourers belonged to Shangla district while others hailed from Punjab. The kidnapped workers from Shangla district include Faridoon, Sher Alam, Bakht Alam, Sadiqullah, Muhammad Jan, Qismat Gul, Salman, Ahmad, Abdul Wahid, Din Muhammad, Naseebzada and Nizar Alam.The reports suggested that the kidnapped workers had been shifted to Nagar locality, which was the stronghold of a sectarian outfit.

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Written by Shujat Hussain Mesam
Source: Let us build Pakistan (LUBP)

London vigil outside the Indian High Commission for the safe release of Sayed Kazmi

Hundreds of Indian students in UK, holding candles, carrying banners, wearing black armbands and simmering with anger, held a candle light vigil outside Indian High Commission UK on March 23, to protest against the incarceration of New Delhi based prominent journalist Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi by Delhi Police’s notorious Special Cell. Protestors demanded the immediate release of Kazmi, who has been allegedly held on dubious and unsubstantiated charges and is being subjected to custodial torture and harassment.

A large mass of protestors, blurring the lines of ethnicity and religion, including many high-profile dignitaries, religious clerics, community leaders and senior members of civil society from across UK unequivocally condemned the arrest of Kazmi. The protestors alleged that he has been implicated on flimsy grounds at the behest of powerful Israeli-US lobby in Delhi.

The event started with the recitation of Holy Quran, followed by introductory speech by one of the organizers. Some of Kazmi’s friends and acquaintances in UK also addressed the gathering. One of the speakers hailed him as the perfect embodiment of Gandhian values.

Condemning the arrest of Kazmi, Head & Spokesperson of Islamic Human Right Commission (IHRC) Raza Kazim said the mindless targeting of innocent Muslims is not in the interest of India, but in the interests of US and Israel. “It is not about certain section of people, it’s about ordinary masses and what it is that we can actually do so that the oppressed are remembered and the oppressors are held to account and this is the message we are sending out today,” said Kazim.

Many civil rights activists spoke about the importance of the freedom of speech and expression and how it is often sacrificed at the altar of ‘national interest’ or ‘strategic interest’. “It is unfortunate that innocent journalists and writers are incarcerated merely for expressing their views, which are not in conformity with official rhetoric, and it sets a dangerous precedent for future,” said one of the speakers.

The protestors called for an end to mindless witchhunt and targeting of innocent Muslims by India police. The protestors also condemned the misrepresentation of facts in certain sections of mainstream India media.

Students and activists present at the vigil reacted sharply to reports about Israeli intelligence agency Mossad interrogating Kazmi. “We voted for Indian government not for Israel. Why is Delhi Police taking directives from Israel, which is already so notorious for illegal spying operations and war crimes in West Asia,” said one of the activists.

The event concluded with protestors submitting a signed petition and memorandum to the Indian High Commission officials with a box of chocolates as a sign of goodwill gesture.

Kazmi, a veteran journalist who has worked with Doordarshan, BBC, IRNA, UNI and is a regular columnist for Urdu newspapers in India, was picked up by police on Wednesday, March 7, while returning to his home in Jor Bagh from India Islamic Cultural Centre, Lodhi Road. He is accused of providing the ‘logistical support’ to those who attacked the Israeli diplomat’s car in New Delhi recently. His family and friends has rubbished the charges as baseless and concocted, alleging that he has been falsely implicated because he is an outspoken critic of US and Israel.

He has been booked under the stringent provisions of dreadful Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and sent to unprecedented 20 days police remand. Kazmi’s counsel has said that he was forced to sign on the arrest memo hours after the arrest. The police have not yet produced any case diary, and the sleuths who arrested him were not in uniform, exposing the illegal nature of his arrest. Some of the accusations leveled against him smack of vicious conspiracy and vendetta, rather than his involvement in the crime.

Syed Zafar Mehdi
Hindustan Times  
New Delhi

The Global March to Jerusalem takes place on March 30th.

The historic day 30th March marks Palestine Land Day in Palestinian national memory. This year our aim is to mark it as an international event to demonstrate solidarity with Palestinians and to protect Jerusalem. This will be achieved by organizing a Global March to Jerusalem or to the nearest point to it. The march will demand freedom for Jerusalem and its people and to put an end to the Apartheid, ethnic cleansing and Judaisation policies affecting the people, land and sanctity of Jerusalem.

 

By organising the March and its preceding and parallel activities we aim to highlight the cause of Jerusalem (the City of Peace) which is considered the key to peace and war in the region and the world. The march will confirm that the policies and practices of the racist Zionist state of Israel against Jerusalem and its people are a crime not only against Palestinians but against all humanity.

 

The march will unite the efforts of Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, Christians, Jews, and all citizens of conscience in the world to put an end to Israel’s disregard for international law through the continuing occupation of Jerusalem and the rest of Palestinian land.

 

We aim to make this march a turning point in the nature of the confrontation, with the occupation having to face millions of protesters and demonstrators demanding Freedom for Palestine and its capitol Jerusalem. We will make a renewed true effort towards ending the occupation through peaceful national movements inspired firstly by our convictions, secondly by the justice of our cause, and thirdly by the spirit of the Arab spring revolutions and the determination of young people who were able to overthrow dictatorships. Especially now that the nations have realized the magical effect of the people’s will to make the impossible possible. The advancing slogan, “the people demand,” has proved to be more effective than armies and weapons.

 

Massive marches will be organised from Asia, Africa and Europe to and in neighbouring countries to Palestine (Jordan, Eygpt, Syria and Lebanon) and towards Jerusalem or to the nearest point possible according to the circumstances of each country and through coordination between all groups and institutions of civil society taking part in the march, in coordination with the official and national bodies concerned. These marches will be composed mainly of the people of each country and thousands of international solidarity participants traveling to these countries specifically to join the marches.

 

Massive marches will be organized in Palestine (the 1948 seizures, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) towards Jerusalem or to the nearest point to it. Palestinian people from all factions and institutions will participate alongside international solidarity activists who are able to enter Palestine.

Mass protests will be organised in front of Israeli embassies in the capitals of different countries.

Mass demonstrations and protests will be organised in the main public squares in the big cities of the world, including the Arab and Muslim capitals and large cities, which can be initiated from the main mosques and churches in each city, where appropriate.

An international caravan will travel through Asia towards Jerusalem in the weeks leading up to the march.

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For more details visit: http://www.gm2j.com

Do you want your children and family to embrace what society values or to embrace what Allah values?

Children’s fashion is a billion dollar market with movie stars and other media figures endorsing the latest and hippest trends. Not only is there more emphasis on name brands when it comes to children’s clothing, but the standard of acceptable clothing and behavior has been lowered immensely. It is disheartening to see that despite Islam being the greatest proponent of modesty, many Muslim parents consciously or unconsciously fail to teach our children that modesty is an important part of a person’s character.

Establishing What Modesty Is

It is important to note that modesty is not measured solely based on how long a person’s shirt is or how loose their clothing is. In the simplest and most sensible terms, a person’s conduct, speech, entertainment, and clothing are all components of modesty. A great number of parents are caught in a battle of wills with their children solely based on clothing or outer appearance. However, modesty is directly related to an individual’s sense of worth. Instilling in children the notion that they are above watching certain programs, listening to music, wearing tight and revealing clothing, and using profanity is the real essence of teaching them modesty and self-respect.

Embracing Modesty in Early Childhood

There is no religious, moral, or human justification for dressing a young child in shape-hugging and skin-revealing clothes. Our children teach us what we have not taught them. How can we teach our children that it is acceptable to wear shorts and sleeveless clothes up till a certain age, and then expect them to accept the standard of Hijab when they come of age? While toddlers have different standards, a general rule of thumb to keep in mind: if the child shouldn’t wear it as a teenager, (s)he shouldn’t wear it as a second or third grader either.

Developmentally speaking, children learn most habits by the time they enter elementary school. These years are also incredibly critical for children, since they begin to establish self-confidence. A child who is dressed immodestly and fixated on wearing names brands from a Disney channel show will have trouble finding self-worth intrinsically.

When we think of the word modesty, other words come to mind, such as decency, reservation in speech, behavior, and dress, and humility. These are all essential attributes that children should be taught at an early age, so they grow up to become well-adjusted adults and Muslims.

The Negative Effects of Immodesty

There is a not-so-subtle campaign aimed at having young girls dress in short, revealing clothing. In fact, a trip to a department store will quickly remind us that modesty is not the number one priority when designing children’s clothes. However, modesty is an essential foundation when it comes to raising children into believing Muslims. For the girls, adjusting into the expectations of Hijab is a much smoother transition if they have dressed modestly since childhood. We have witnessed the struggles many girls have when they go from wearing t-shirts and shorts to long sleeves and pants, and this can be easily avoided by encouraging modest clothing from a very young age.

Young boys need to also be taught and see through modeling the importance of modesty. Plenty of people have become fixated on the fact girls have Hijab and boys don’t. This, however, is not true. Hijab is obligatory on both genders in Islam; however, it takes different forms for them. Society doesn’t measure the worth of a man by his waistline or beauty like it does for a woman. It is important to instill in young children of both genders that our worth as human beings extenders further than our looks.

With young boys, it is important to teach them at a young age that their bodies also need to be properly, and that it is not respectful to wear skin-tight clothing or to take off their shirts off in front of others or in public places. Many young children go through a phase during preschool and kindergarten where they like to experiment with taking clothing off. It is important that adults are understanding but firm towards this phase.

Helpful Tips for Teaching Modesty

Parents, family members, and other adults in a child’s life can make a huge impact on how a child views modesty. Some helpful advice for introducing and maintaining modesty in a family are:

• Set standards and stick to them. Children thrive on consistency and routine. If one day you don’t allow your child to wear shorts because they are too short, and the next day you do, your child is going to think, “Mom and dad don’t care, why should I?”
• Think Length: how short is too short? Many parents neglect to have their daughters wear leggings or tights under dresses or skirts that are too short. Establish with your daughters what length is too short and why tights or leggings are needed.
• Swimwear: a good number of families will take their children to the beach or have a swimming pool at home. Even around family members, two-piece bathing suits are not appropriate for young girls, and boys should have age-appropriate swimwear as well.
• Read the writing: these days there are shirts that say “smoking hot” or “too hot for you” marketed towards young girls. Similar products exist for young boys and teens that promote un-Islamic terms, profanity, or other behaviors that are inappropriate.
• Lay a foundation of self respect and preservation. Modesty is a thematic approach to life, and if a person is modest in speech, gestures, and conduct, the clothing will reflect this.
• Modest clothing can be hip, chic, and popular! With a little extra effort, nice modest clothing can be found or put together. There are many outlets specifically out there just to sell you modest clothing. Don’t let some of the latest trends to discourage your family from adopting modesty for your children.
• Consider a simple question: do you want your children and family to embrace what society values or to embrace what Allah values?

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Written by Huda Jawad and originally appeared in the Islamic Insights newsletter.

Sayed M A Kazmi, a Shia journalist in India has been arrested in trumped up charges to give legitimacy to Israel's false flag attack on its embassy in India.

Journalist intimidated and threatened with being handed over to Israel in India

For more details visit http://www.freekazmi.com

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FORWARDED FROM THE ISLAMIC HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Contents

1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action required
4. Sample letter
5. Addresses for sample letters

1. Summary

Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi has been under police custody since 6 March. He is accused of having masterminded an attack on the wife of an Israeli diplomat on 13 February, yet has not been charged with any crime,

Write to the Indian High Commission in your country and demand that the Indian police authorities immediately release Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi. Please also write to the National Union of Journalists, and request that they take action in defending journalistic freedom in India.

2. Background

Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi is a well established and respected Indian journalist of almost thirty years, accredited by the Press Information Bureau (PIB). Based in Delhi for many years, he has covered conflicts such as the Iran-Iraq war and the invasion of Iraq by US-led coalition forces for media outlets such as IRNA, IRIB, Doordarshan and BBC.

In 1993 he launched his own news agency dedicated to coverage of the Middle-East, called Media Star News and Features. He is a familiar face in the Indian media, having covered many international summits and proceedings in Parliament. His work entails frequent travel to countries such as Iran, Iraq and Syria.

On 13 February, a bomb blast in New Delhi injured the wife of an Israeli diplomat. With little evidence, Israeli officials immediately blamed Iran and the Lebanese group Hizbullah for the bomb blast, and attempted to link it to a foiled attack in Tbilisi, Georgia.

On 15 February, Mohammad appeared on the political discussion programme Primetime on NDTV. He defended Iran’s right to nuclear enrichment, and stated that from his interactions in Iran with lawmakers and MPs he did not believe Iran seeks to develop a nuclear weapon.

On 6 March, Mohammad was taken from the Indian Islamic Centre at approximately 11:30AM. No arrest warrant was presented, and later that day his house was searched by five police officers – again, none of which were able to produce a search warrant. On this occasion, Mohammad’s son Shauzab was intimidated into signing an arrest ‘memo’, confirming the arrest of his father. He was thus not officially under arrest until that evening. He is now being informally accused of masterminding the attack in New Delhi on 13 February.

The treatment of Mohammad Kazmi has been met with widespread outrage in India. Many consider the allegations against Mohammad to be politically motivated, and that he is being targeted because of his frequent travels to Iran, his work for an Iranian news agency, and for his opposition to Israel.

His arrest has coincided with the arrival of Israel’s National Security Advisor, Yaakov Amidror, in India. The prospect that his case is being handled by external forces, rather than internally by the Indian police and intelligence services, is of great concern. Worryingly, the family of Mohammad have indicated that Mohammad has been threatened by plain-clothed interrogators to be handed over to Israeli intelligence for harsher interrogation.

Not only has Mohammad been under police custody for over two weeks without charge, but he has also been intimidated and threatened by his interrogators. His very detention has pointed to the politicisation and exploitation of the Delhi bombing, and the ease with which the Israeli authorities have manipulated supposedly democratic and accountable Indian institutions.

3. Action Required

IHRC requests its campaigners and supporters to write letters and emails to the Indian High Commissioner and/or Indian ambassador to their country, and the General-Secretary of the National Union of Journalists, Michelle Stanistreet. Demand that Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi is released immediately from police custody, and that the National Union of Journalists takes action to protect journalistic freedom in India.

4. Sample letter
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Sample letters are given below for your convenience. Please note that model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is very important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters.

——————————————————————————————
a) Dr J. Bhagwati, Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Dr J. Bhagwati, High Commissioner,
High Commission of India,
India House
Aldwych
London
WC2B 4NA

Email: hc.office@hcilondon.in

[Your name]
[Your address]

[Date]

Dear Dr J. Bhagwati,

Re: Arrest and detention of Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi.

I am writing to express my outrage over the recent arrest and detention of Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi, a well-respected journalist, by Indian police.

Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi has been a freelance journalist for almost thirty years, accredited by the Press Information Bureau (PIB). Based in Delhi, he has covered conflicts such as the Iran-Iraq war and the invasion of Iraq by US-led coalition forces for media outlets such as IRNA, IRIB, Doordarshan and BBC.

On 6 March, Mohammad was taken from the Indian Islamic Centre at approximately 11:30AM. No arrest warrant was presented, and later that day his house was searched by five police officers – none whom produced a search warrant. On 7 March, Mohammad’s son Shauzab was intimidated into signing an arrest ‘memo’, confirming the arrest of his father. Mohammad has now been accused of masterminding the bomb attack on 13 February, which targeted the wife of the Israeli ambassador in Delhi.

I am one of the many who believe that the allegations against Mohammad are politically motivated. It is clear that Mohammad Kazmi – whose journalistic and professional records are impeccable – has been targeted due to his affiliation with an Iranian news agency.

Worryingly, Mohammad has claimed that he has been threatened by plain-clothed interrogators to be handed over to Israeli intelligence for harsher interrogation. This raises serious questions regarding not only India’s standards of policing, but also India’s national sovereignty. These concerns must be addressed by the Indian government if it is to be viewed as able to protect its own citizens.

If Mohammad Kazmi, a respected journalist who on one occasion met with Prime-Minister Manmohan Singh, can be intimidated and detained without charge – what does this say about freedoms under the world’s “largest” democracy?

India must not subordinate its judicial system to the political whims of Israel. Nor should Indian citizens be at the mercy of foreign intelligence services, or the agendas of external forces wishing to pursue their own interests.

I request that as Indian High Commissioner you address the genuine concern that Mohammad Kazmi is being targeted because of his work with an Iranian news agency. The Delhi police force must ensure that Mohammad Kazmi’s lawyer is permitted to monitor him during interrogation in order to allay fears that he is being threatened by his interrogators. Unless any charge is brought to Mohammad Kazmi, he must be released immediately from police custody.

I look forward to you reply.

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature]
[Your name]

b) Michelle Stanistreet, General-Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Michelle Stanistreet,
NUJ Head Office,
Headland House,
308-312 Gray’s Inn Road,
London,
WC1X 8DP

Email: generalsecretary@nuj.org.uk

[Your name]
[Your address]

[Date]

Dear Michelle Stanistreet,

Re: Arrest and detention of Indian journalist Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi.

I am writing to express my concern over the recent arrest and detention of the well-respected journalist Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi in India.

Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi has been a freelance journalist for almost thirty years, and is accredited by the Press Information Bureau (PIB). Based in Delhi, he has covered conflicts such as the Iran-Iraq war and the invasion of Iraq by US-led coalition forces for media outlets such as IRNA, IRIB, Doordarshan and BBC. He has been an outspoken critic of India’s relationship with Israel, and has openly supported Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology.

On 13 February, a bomb blast in New Delhi injured the wife of an Israeli diplomat. With little evidence, Israeli officials immediately blamed Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah for the bomb blast, and attempted to link it to a foiled attack in Tbilisi, Georgia.

On 6 March, Mohammad was taken from the Indian Islamic Centre at approximately 11:30AM. No arrest warrant was presented, and later that day his house was searched by five police officers – again, none of which were able to produce a search warrant. They confiscated a laptop and some of Mohammad’s papers. His son, Shauzab, was intimidated into signing an arrest ‘memo’ confirming the arrest of his father on 7 March. Mohammad is now being accused of having masterminded the 13 February bomb attack in New Delhi.

He has claimed that he has been threatened by plain-clothed interrogators to be handed over to Israeli intelligence for harsher interrogation. I am one of the many who believe that the allegations against Mohammad are politically motivated, and that he has been targeted because he has worked for an Iranian news agency.

Not only has Mohammad remained under police custody for over two weeks without charge, but he has also been intimidated and threatened by his interrogators. The National Union of Journalists must condemn his treatment if it is to truly represent the interest and wellbeing of journalists worldwide.

The ordeal endured by Mohammad Kazmi reveals the politicisation and exploitation of the Delhi bombing, which involves the targeting of those linked in any way to Iran. It is also indicative of the climate of fear and intimidation that a growing number of Indian journalists are forced to work under in the country – where criticism of Israel or visiting Iran can so easily lead to the violation of rights.

As General-Secretary of the NUJ, you have the power to make sure that the case of Mohammad Kazmi receives the publicity it deserves, and encourage support from other members of your organisation. I kindly ask that the National Union of Journalists takes action to ensure that a fellow journalist in India does not have his rights taken away from him in the name of politics.

I look forward to you reply.

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature]
[Your name]

————————————————————————————————————
5. Addresses for sample letters
a) Shri Gurjit Singh; Ambassador of India (designate) to Indonesia.
Embassy of India
JL HR Rasuna Said, Kav S-1
Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan, 12950
INDONESIA.

Email: ambasador@net-zap.com

b) Mr Vijay K. Gokhale; Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia.
Mr Vijay K. Gokhale,
High Commission of India,
No. 2 Jalan Taman Duta,
Off Jalan Duta,
50480 Kuala Lumpur,
MALAYSIA.

Email: hc@indianhighcommission.com.my

c) His Excellency Shashishekhar Madhukar Gavai; Indian High Commissioner to Canada.

High Commission for the Republic of India,
10 Springfield Road,
Ottawa,
Ontario,
K1M 1C9,
CANADA.

Email: hicomind@hciottawa.ca

d) Mr Biren Nanda; Indian High Commissioner to Australia (designate).

Mr Biren Nanda,
The High Commission of India,
3 – 5 Moonah Place,
Yarralumla, ACT – 2600,
AUSTRALIA.

Email: dhc@hcindia-au.org