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ANMag Issue 27 Public Surveillance
Riad Hamad is Dead
By Farah Salka, Staff writer
Beirut, Lebanon –Who is Riad Hamad? 55 years old, Riad is (or was) a highly respected and award-winning technology teacher at a school in Texas. He was a very proud Arab and Muslim holding an American passport and coming from Lebanon. On the morning of February 27, Riad received unexpected visitors (or expected since it was not a first visit), from the FBI and the IRS specifically, with guns and warrants from none other than Judge Robert Pittman, famous for his prejudice against Arabs in general and Palestinians in particular. There were 18 of them and they stormed the house trying to find something in the 40 loaded boxes (with papers, CDs, computers and everything basically) they removed from the apartment. They tried their best to incriminate him with wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering on that occasion and on several other occasions but they constantly failed. Riad was never charged with any crime, big or small, since he never committed one. [More]
OIC Debate on Islamaphobia
By Dr. Terry Lacey, Contributing Writer
Jakarta, Indonesia – The Indonesian political magazine Tempo recently published a satirical version of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Instead of Jesus, it showed ex-President Suharto, who died late January, having dinner with his six children. Catholic groups protested and asked the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs to look at Blasphemy charges under the Indonesian Criminal Code. The magazine offered an apology and the Indonesian Bishops Conference and Communion of Churches then declared the case closed.
Indonesian journalist Pak Nurrohman asked how blasphemy can be a crime when the Indonesian constitution guaranteed religious freedom and freedom of expression. Journalist Samsudin Berlian argued Tempo should not have apologized, and that Church leaders who called the case closed should note that no serious or mature conversation about religion can take place under threat of “people power” to silence others. [More]
Revolution in a Box
By Naseem Javed, Contributing Writer
Toronto, Canada – Come August 24th, 2008, when the Olympics Games start with music and hymns and the torch lights the flame, the global spotlight will land on Beijing, and when the athletes march in unison to their beautifully-orchestrated national anthems, in the ultra modern stadium, the whole world will witness a sleeping giant awaken to create a global shockwave. Like a nicely packaged little gift box, a highly intense global consumer revolution will be let out to create ripples and cause a global shift in image and perception consuming minds. Like a tsunami, the ripple will mostly wash over the busy production facilities of hundreds of nations parked far away. [More]
Numbering Lebanon
By Farah Salka, Staff Writer
Beirut, Lebanon – Lebanon is officially one of the 22 Arab countries although a fair proportion of Lebanese refuse to attribute the term Arab to themselves. Lebanon is comprised of 10,452 square kilometers, 22 square kilometers being Shebaa Farms, still occupied by Israel. This is a very small area of land, one might instantaneously think, and does not require such a big hassle and ado about “nothing”. Go tell that to the Lebanese living under the occupation in Shebaa and see how they would answer you on that.
Lebanon has a little bit more than 3.5 million Lebanese residing in the country now, or so we assume, since the last consensus was made more than 70 years ago, in 1932 (meaning we have never taken the time to undertake a proper consensus in this highly “developed and civilized” country since independence). The reasons behind that are simple and rooted in the culture itself- we do not want to know figures and facts that might further increase political sensitivity over religious affiliation. Lebanon received its “independence” from France in 1943. It is 2008 now and one can strongly argue that independence from France, Syria, Saudi Arabia, USA, Israel, and Iran, among others, has never been and will not be established anytime soon. [More]
Malaysia: A Maturing Democracy
By Dr. Terry Lacey, Contributing Writer
Jakarta, Indonesia – Malaysia has just elected a new Federal Parliament and State Assemblies in which the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) or National Front coalition led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has lost support to several opposition groups, including the leftist Chinese backed Democratic Action Party (DAP) which won 28 seats, the Islamist Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) which won 23 seats , and the Parti Keadilan Rakayat (PKR) or Peoples Justice Party led by Anwar Ibrahim which won 31 seats.
The National Front (BN) has ruled Malaysia, led by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) since 1957 and for the first time failed to reach a two thirds majority in the Federal Parliament, (gaining 62% of the 222 Parliamentary seats) and losing control in 5 States out of 13 ( Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and Selangor). This is seen as a personal defeat for Prime Minister Badawi by Opposition Leaders and some younger UMNO leaders, but perhaps something like this would have happened whoever was the UMNO leader. [More]
Petition: Make Zimbabwe's votes count
By Avaaz.org
Avaaz.org – Zimbabwe is on a knife's edge between democracy and chaos. Results still have not been released from the 29 March elections--and each day, more signals emerge that Mugabe will resort to violence and fraud to hold on to power.
Mugabe is unlikely to listen to the world's outcry--but he might listen to his old friend and powerful neighbour Thabo Mbeki, president of South Africa. Click below to add your name to a petition calling for the results to be released, verified, and peacefully honored, and we will do all we can to deliver it to Mbeki--through diplomatic channels, over the radio, and in a public event when Mbeki travels to New York for a United Nations meeting next week. [More]
Petition: Food Crisis Out of Control
By Avaaz.org
Avaaz.org – Have you noticed food costing more when you shop? Here is why: we're plunging headlong into a world food crisis. Rocketing prices are squeezing billions and triggering food riots from Bangladesh to South Africa. Aid agencies say 100 million more people are at risk of starvation right now. In Sierra Leone alone the price of a bag of rice has doubled, becoming unaffordable for 90% of citizens. Fears of inflation stalk the whole world, and the worst could be yet to come.
We need to act now - before it's too late. As Ban Ki-Moon holds a high-level UN meeting on the crisis, we're launching an urgent campaign with African foreign minister and human rights campaigner Zainab Bangura. Click below to see Zainab's video message and add your name to the food crisis petition - we need to raise 200,000 signatures by the end of this week to deliver a massive global outcry to leaders at the UN, G8 and EU. [More]
Mr. Bin Sulayem Leads Dubai World Delegation on West African Tour
Africa Has Solid Investment Base with Conditions Favorable for Growth
Dubai, April 10, 2008 – Mr. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World, the leading global holding company, has embarked on a tour of West Africa, prospecting for investment opportunities.
He began his visit in Equitorial Guinea, where he met the President, HE Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in the capital city of Malabo on Tuesday (April 8) and held discussions on matters of mutual economic interest. [More]
Careers UAE 2008 Exhibition
Dubai World Companies Offer Training, Internships, and Jobs to Emirati Youth
Dubai, April 14, 2008 – Dubai World is all set to provide UAE national job seekers with detailed information on the internships, training programmes and recruitment plans for several vacancies that have opened up in its various subsidiary companies.
The global holding company is taking part in the eighth annual Careers UAE 2008 Exhibition, which is opening today (Tuesday April 15) at Dubai World Trade Center and will continue until April 17. [More]