C L O S E R

Protected: ‘Poldermujahedeen’

Posted on July 14th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Young Muslims.

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C L O S E R The Mohammed B. Court Case part 2: A man with a conviction

Posted on July 14th, 2005 by .
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues.

Well, a bit late perhaps but nevertheless… here the last day of the Mohammed B. court case. Let’s begin with the prosecutor’s request: a life time sentence for Mohammed B. and him losing his right to vote and to be elected for the rest of his life. The prosecutor made a parallel with Van Gogh as a father and a child of his parents. Mohammed B. said in his goodbye poem that he was changed after his mother’s death. So that must mean something to him? Mohammed B. only laughed.

The prosecutor made clear that this wasn’t a trail against Islam but a trial against Mohammed B. who has an extreme and distorted conviction of what Islam is and should be.

He wasn’t able to prove that Mohammed B. got any help although it is most likely that he received some aid and that some people had to be aware of his plans. Between 19 May and 28 October he only had € 200 to spent; that’s not enough so where did the rest of his money came from?

Mohammed B. used to be a model pupil at school. Around 2001 and 2002 (after his mother’s death and after he spend some time in prison where he read the Koran – he wasn’t that a model citizen ) he became more pious and ‘preached’ about (his) Islam. He told people he wanted to live as a prophet. In the beginning he was only pious but not radical in a political sense.

The prosecutor stated that it was proven that Mohammed B. killed Van Gogh, that it was a terrorist act, that he hindered MP Hirsi Ali in her work and that if he was set free that the chances of repeating this are very great.

After this, Mohammed B. spoke. Wow he said…. He told Van Gogh’s mother that Van Gogh was not a hypocrite but a man with a conviction and that he killed him because of his religion; not because Mohammed B. was insulted or felt humiliated. To the policemen he said that he really tried to kill them and he also said that if he got out, he would do the same again. He stated that this statement was meant to comfort mrs. Van Gogh; the only person he felt he had some obligation to. ‘For the rest, I don’t really care’.

4 comments.

The Mohammed B. court case part 1 / "Tool of god" or "Tyrannic and agressive"?

Posted on July 11th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues.

When I entered the public room today there were not many people and most of them were journalists. During the day more ‘ordinary’ people came, some of whom are Muslim but most are not. Among the latter group there were some women with a t-shirt with a picture from Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh on it: “The knights of free speech”. Let’s call them ‘The honourable ladies of free speech”. Others were more critical towards Van Gogh and said they would not mourn over him although the condemned the killing by Mohammed B.

Mohammed B. was dressed in a dark djellaba robe with a Palestinian scarf covering his hair when he was brought to the high-security Amsterdam-Osdorp court in the morning. With this appearance he tried to look like the prophet Mohammed who wore the same kind of outfit according to some Islamic traditions.

Well, today is the first day of the trial against Mohammed B. As expected before, he refused to say anything in the beginning and when questions were asked (and the judge did several times) he just referred to the opening statement of his lawyer. It was clear that the judges decided not to let him get away easy with this. The asked Islam-expert Ruud Peters if Mohammed B. was consistent in his behaviour by refusing to say anything. At first Peters said he was because in his writings Mohammed B. denounced democracy, the western (legal) system and the whole idea of Western society. God has made his laws, the shari’a, and following manmade laws is considered a violation of tawheed (divine unity) and therefore shirk (polytheism). But when the judge said that Mohammed B. did profit from social benefits, did use the hospital after the shooting on 2 November and therefore took part in the Western system, and actually said that it was impossible not to take part in it, Peters agreed that you can view this as opportunism as well. Also because, as Peters told, this is not the dominant view among Muslim scholars. He gave the example of a group of Muslims who migrated to a Christian country, Ethiopie, as ordered by the prophet Muhammed himself. They recognised the system in that country; this is considered an important precedence among many scholars.

It is clear that Mohammed B. knew what he was doing on 2 November, he told his brother. He also made clear back then that he wanted to die. His poem, was made on 15 September and changed on 23 September, his open letter to Hirsi Ali (see post below) was made on 22 June and changed on 14 October.

Mohammed B. is quiet and listening without any emotion during the trial. Sometimes he shows some reaction and writes something down. Especcially when in testimonies of several injured policemen he asked why he used them as a tool to go to heaven himself? Testimonies that showed the strange phenomenon that these men and women tried to protect themselves from this person that was shooting them randomly, then they tried to shoot them and when they succeed they gave him first aid. These are very different acts of course, which says something about the difficult task of these policemen and women.

The court could find no evidence (just some leads) that showed that Mohammed B. received help, but perhaps tomorrow the attorney will go into that. He was friends with Mohammed F.B., who worked nearby Van Gogh’s house. This Mohammed F.B. had said that Hirsi Ali was a ‘mortadda’ (an apostate) and also that Muslims who are pro-Western can be killed.

Although Mohammed B. published several texts on the internet, he never mentioned Van Gogh. The text that is most near is “The obligation to kill those who defame the Prophet” but it does not specifically mention Van Gogh. After quoting several texts of Mohammed B., and telling what the video showed that were found in his home (horrific films with amputations, beheading and having sex with a corps) the judge wonders what happened to Mohammed B. for having these hateful thoughts. This was the only time Mohammed B. responded (beginning with a traditional Arab Islamic saying that people use for example before reciting the Koran): “I pray to Lord everyday, that he keeps me from changing my mind”.

Islam-expert Ruud Peters investigated the matter of the ideological and religious development of Mohammed B. He told the court that many young people (not only in the Netherlands but also in France for example) are searching for a true islam. Young people feel they don’t belong anywhere and also have some kind of sense of being humiliated by other people. Radicalization can, partly, be seen as a severe reaction on (alleged) forms of racism and discrimination. Very important is also the generational gap between the Moroccan youth and their parents. (Which is quite similar in cases in the past of for example the Baader-Meinhof group) They feel there parents are unsuccessful and humiliated and also have a wrong (cultural) form of Islam. Especially the radicals have a very strong sense of being involved in an epic war of truth against lies, of light against dark.

Mohammed B. has written about 50 texts that can be divided into four stages according to Peters:
1) Denouncing Western values (February 2003)
2) Denouncing democracy and the constitutional state (October 2003)
3) A general call for jihad (March 2004)
4) A specific call for violence against people (June 2004).

According the shari’a, Peters told, you can not just wage a jihad; there are some criteria that have to be met. Therefore there are several texts to justify the changes in his development. Texts such as “The battlefield is the safest place” “The obligation to kill…” and several Open Letters (to politicians such as Hirsi Ali, Wilders and Aboutaleb, to the Dutch people, to the Islamic youth) and texts that celebrate 9/11 are instrumental in this process.

The prosecutor asked whether the violent texts are typical for Islam. Peters said that that was not the case. Mohammed B. seemed to be obsessed with violence and these texts are very ease to find. What happens after the fight, the prosecutor also asked. That is a problem Peters said. Most of these texts were written for societies in which Muslims are the majority and according to him it is easier to have some kind of Islamic state. Here in the Netherlands it doesn’t make sense. There were also some questions whether are not Mohammed B. is a takfir wal hijra member or supported the ideology. (see text below). Peters said he was not. Takfir is possible according to him, but hijra element is missing (I’m not sure about that…MdK).

Then in June 2004 there are specific calls for violence. It looks like some action needed to suit the word. These calls, according to Peters, can be seen as some kind of educational documents as well. A new text is the constitution of a fundamentalist part 5, which has now several different editions. The last one contained a poem with more or less the entire Dutch integration-debate in it; opinionleaders like Cliteur, minister Verdonk, Aldermen Aboutaleb and rapper Ali B.

Peters story (and also Mohammed B.’s outfit today) makes clear that in some way Mohammed B. sees himself as the instrument of god. But is he also linked to Al Qaeda-ideology. There are several similarities; the right to use violence, his open letters clearly refer to Al Qaeda. One of the questions for Mohammed B. must have been how to apply this here in the Netherlands. His texts are used to legitimize this but they are not shared by 99% of the Muslims, Peters stated. Mohammed B. uses the Koran to legitimize his hatred and bases his knowledge mainly on translated, salafi, texts.

After the last break a psychologist talks about his findings but before that Mohammed B. shows the Koran to the audience after several people in the audience showed him the book ‘Allah knows best’ written by Theo van Gogh. (A)The psychologists story and also the introduction of it by one of the judges is important because it ‘busts’ the myth of an integrated young man. He did ok on schools in the beginning and was very active but he also had several police contacts in which a showed to be a very aggressive (verbal and physical) and extremely insistent especially towards policemen, people from the local town hall and so on. The death of his mother and also the time he already spent in jail, have changed him.

This is if for now. On the internet there is, of course, already some debate about this. Many people, Muslims and non-Muslims, feel that he is coward for not talking in court but others argue that this is his constitutional right like every suspect has. All kinds of opinions are represented of course among Muslims; some who condone acts of violence others who furiously condemn these acts and everything in between. There is clearly some loyalty towards Mohammed B. and some consider him a hero. But more strikingly at this moment is that there is not a very heated debate about this and that on some webfora Muslims are almost completely absent in the debate on the trial. Many Muslims compare this case with the case against the murderer of Pim Fortuyn, which makes this case (in their eyes) some kind of test for equality in the Netherlands (although there are some differences that makes this case a little bit more severe than the other one).

AThere is some confusion about this. Mind that I was not in the court room but in the public room so I did not got this first hand. According to some Mohammed showed the Koran and after that the mother showed the book Allah knows better. That is not what I have heard, but it might be possible.

7 comments.

The Mohammed B. court case part 1 / “Tool of god” or “Tyrannic and agressive”?

Posted on July 11th, 2005 by .
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues.

When I entered the public room today there were not many people and most of them were journalists. During the day more ‘ordinary’ people came, some of whom are Muslim but most are not. Among the latter group there were some women with a t-shirt with a picture from Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh on it: “The knights of free speech”. Let’s call them ‘The honourable ladies of free speech”. Others were more critical towards Van Gogh and said they would not mourn over him although the condemned the killing by Mohammed B.

Mohammed B. was dressed in a dark djellaba robe with a Palestinian scarf covering his hair when he was brought to the high-security Amsterdam-Osdorp court in the morning. With this appearance he tried to look like the prophet Mohammed who wore the same kind of outfit according to some Islamic traditions.

Well, today is the first day of the trial against Mohammed B. As expected before, he refused to say anything in the beginning and when questions were asked (and the judge did several times) he just referred to the opening statement of his lawyer. It was clear that the judges decided not to let him get away easy with this. The asked Islam-expert Ruud Peters if Mohammed B. was consistent in his behaviour by refusing to say anything. At first Peters said he was because in his writings Mohammed B. denounced democracy, the western (legal) system and the whole idea of Western society. God has made his laws, the shari’a, and following manmade laws is considered a violation of tawheed (divine unity) and therefore shirk (polytheism). But when the judge said that Mohammed B. did profit from social benefits, did use the hospital after the shooting on 2 November and therefore took part in the Western system, and actually said that it was impossible not to take part in it, Peters agreed that you can view this as opportunism as well. Also because, as Peters told, this is not the dominant view among Muslim scholars. He gave the example of a group of Muslims who migrated to a Christian country, Ethiopie, as ordered by the prophet Muhammed himself. They recognised the system in that country; this is considered an important precedence among many scholars.

It is clear that Mohammed B. knew what he was doing on 2 November, he told his brother. He also made clear back then that he wanted to die. His poem, was made on 15 September and changed on 23 September, his open letter to Hirsi Ali (see post below) was made on 22 June and changed on 14 October.

Mohammed B. is quiet and listening without any emotion during the trial. Sometimes he shows some reaction and writes something down. Especcially when in testimonies of several injured policemen he asked why he used them as a tool to go to heaven himself? Testimonies that showed the strange phenomenon that these men and women tried to protect themselves from this person that was shooting them randomly, then they tried to shoot them and when they succeed they gave him first aid. These are very different acts of course, which says something about the difficult task of these policemen and women.

The court could find no evidence (just some leads) that showed that Mohammed B. received help, but perhaps tomorrow the attorney will go into that. He was friends with Mohammed F.B., who worked nearby Van Gogh’s house. This Mohammed F.B. had said that Hirsi Ali was a ‘mortadda’ (an apostate) and also that Muslims who are pro-Western can be killed.

Although Mohammed B. published several texts on the internet, he never mentioned Van Gogh. The text that is most near is “The obligation to kill those who defame the Prophet” but it does not specifically mention Van Gogh. After quoting several texts of Mohammed B., and telling what the video showed that were found in his home (horrific films with amputations, beheading and having sex with a corps) the judge wonders what happened to Mohammed B. for having these hateful thoughts. This was the only time Mohammed B. responded (beginning with a traditional Arab Islamic saying that people use for example before reciting the Koran): “I pray to Lord everyday, that he keeps me from changing my mind”.

Islam-expert Ruud Peters investigated the matter of the ideological and religious development of Mohammed B. He told the court that many young people (not only in the Netherlands but also in France for example) are searching for a true islam. Young people feel they don’t belong anywhere and also have some kind of sense of being humiliated by other people. Radicalization can, partly, be seen as a severe reaction on (alleged) forms of racism and discrimination. Very important is also the generational gap between the Moroccan youth and their parents. (Which is quite similar in cases in the past of for example the Baader-Meinhof group) They feel there parents are unsuccessful and humiliated and also have a wrong (cultural) form of Islam. Especially the radicals have a very strong sense of being involved in an epic war of truth against lies, of light against dark.

Mohammed B. has written about 50 texts that can be divided into four stages according to Peters:
1) Denouncing Western values (February 2003)
2) Denouncing democracy and the constitutional state (October 2003)
3) A general call for jihad (March 2004)
4) A specific call for violence against people (June 2004).

According the shari’a, Peters told, you can not just wage a jihad; there are some criteria that have to be met. Therefore there are several texts to justify the changes in his development. Texts such as “The battlefield is the safest place” “The obligation to kill…” and several Open Letters (to politicians such as Hirsi Ali, Wilders and Aboutaleb, to the Dutch people, to the Islamic youth) and texts that celebrate 9/11 are instrumental in this process.

The prosecutor asked whether the violent texts are typical for Islam. Peters said that that was not the case. Mohammed B. seemed to be obsessed with violence and these texts are very ease to find. What happens after the fight, the prosecutor also asked. That is a problem Peters said. Most of these texts were written for societies in which Muslims are the majority and according to him it is easier to have some kind of Islamic state. Here in the Netherlands it doesn’t make sense. There were also some questions whether are not Mohammed B. is a takfir wal hijra member or supported the ideology. (see text below). Peters said he was not. Takfir is possible according to him, but hijra element is missing (I’m not sure about that…MdK).

Then in June 2004 there are specific calls for violence. It looks like some action needed to suit the word. These calls, according to Peters, can be seen as some kind of educational documents as well. A new text is the constitution of a fundamentalist part 5, which has now several different editions. The last one contained a poem with more or less the entire Dutch integration-debate in it; opinionleaders like Cliteur, minister Verdonk, Aldermen Aboutaleb and rapper Ali B.

Peters story (and also Mohammed B.’s outfit today) makes clear that in some way Mohammed B. sees himself as the instrument of god. But is he also linked to Al Qaeda-ideology. There are several similarities; the right to use violence, his open letters clearly refer to Al Qaeda. One of the questions for Mohammed B. must have been how to apply this here in the Netherlands. His texts are used to legitimize this but they are not shared by 99% of the Muslims, Peters stated. Mohammed B. uses the Koran to legitimize his hatred and bases his knowledge mainly on translated, salafi, texts.

After the last break a psychologist talks about his findings but before that Mohammed B. shows the Koran to the audience after several people in the audience showed him the book ‘Allah knows best’ written by Theo van Gogh. (A)The psychologists story and also the introduction of it by one of the judges is important because it ‘busts’ the myth of an integrated young man. He did ok on schools in the beginning and was very active but he also had several police contacts in which a showed to be a very aggressive (verbal and physical) and extremely insistent especially towards policemen, people from the local town hall and so on. The death of his mother and also the time he already spent in jail, have changed him.

This is if for now. On the internet there is, of course, already some debate about this. Many people, Muslims and non-Muslims, feel that he is coward for not talking in court but others argue that this is his constitutional right like every suspect has. All kinds of opinions are represented of course among Muslims; some who condone acts of violence others who furiously condemn these acts and everything in between. There is clearly some loyalty towards Mohammed B. and some consider him a hero. But more strikingly at this moment is that there is not a very heated debate about this and that on some webfora Muslims are almost completely absent in the debate on the trial. Many Muslims compare this case with the case against the murderer of Pim Fortuyn, which makes this case (in their eyes) some kind of test for equality in the Netherlands (although there are some differences that makes this case a little bit more severe than the other one).

AThere is some confusion about this. Mind that I was not in the court room but in the public room so I did not got this first hand. According to some Mohammed showed the Koran and after that the mother showed the book Allah knows better. That is not what I have heard, but it might be possible.

7 comments.

Protected: Moslimterrorisme wordt gevoed door romantiek

Posted on July 10th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: International Terrorism, Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues.

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C L O S E R The Mohammed B. Court Case part 0

Posted on July 10th, 2005 by .
Categories: International Terrorism, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

Tomorrow will begin the court case against the murderer of Theo van Gogh, who was killed 2 November 2004 by Mohammed B. who claimed to have a islamic motive.

He left a note on his body in which he treatened Hirsi Ali and that had several references to the Egyptian Takfir wal-Hijra.. Mohammed B. is also accused of being part of a terrorist network, the so-called Hofstadgroup.

Mohammed B. is refusing to appear before the court tomorrow, therefore he will be forced to appear. His lawyer will plea for him. Perhaps Mohammed B. is giving a statement but I doubt it. Theo van Gogh’s mother will give a statement before court.

Several questions remain at this moment. What is his place in this so-called Hofstadgroup? They were very much focused on a violent jihad in Chechnya, Palestina and other places but not in the Netherlands. Why did they change their minds, apparently in two or three months? What kind of group was the hofstadgroup. In my mind not a very professional one, although very serious with several international connections.

Questions, questions, questions…answers? Not yet. Perhaps in the coming days. I will attend the court case and inform you and at the same time report the debates about it on the internet (I wanted to do that now already, but it is very quiet).

0 comments.

C L O S E R – Mohammed B. Court Case Part 0

Posted on July 9th, 2005 by .
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

Op maandag begint het proces tegen Mohammed B. Ik zal daar hier ook verslag van doen. Als ‘opwarmer’ (1 van 2) de NRC van vandaag met een zeer uitgebreid portret van deze man:

Mohammed B. was bezig met de dood

De wereld van Mohammed B.

Er blijven toch nog wel wat vragen over na het lezen van deze artikelen. Het wordt duidelijk dat Mohammed B. zich op een gegeven moment gaat richten op de gewelddadige jihad in Nederland. Dit is een duidelijke breuk met het eerdere patroon van de vermeende hofstadgroep. Wat bracht hem daar toe?

Wat was zijn positie binnen die vermeende groep?

Wat drijft hem nu precies? Nou ja en nog wel wat meer…

Het uitgebreide artikel in NRC: (more…)

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Protected: NRC Handelsblad – Binnenland: Imams preken tegen terreur

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: International Terrorism, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Mohammed B. wil geen verdediging – telegraaf.nl [Binnenland]

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by .
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

Mohammed B. wil geen verdediging – telegraaf.nl [Binnenland]
Mohammed B. wil geen verdediging
AMSTERDAM – Mohammed B., die heeft bekend Theo van Gogh te hebben vermoord, weigert maandag naar de rechtbank te komen in Amsterdam waar zijn proces begint. Ook wil hij dat zijn raadsman geen verdediging voert. Dat zei advocaat P. Plasman vrijdagavond in het NOS Journaal.

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Protected: AD.nl – Leden Hofstadgroep ook in Londen

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: International Terrorism, Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Protected: nu.nl/algemeen | Aanslagen Londen mogelijk werk van Britse jongeren

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: International Terrorism, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Protected: nu.nl/algemeen | Aanslagen Londen mogelijk werk van Britse jongeren

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: International Terrorism, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Virtually Islamic

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by .
Categories: International Terrorism.

Virtually Islamic

News, Commentary, Information and Speculation about Islam in the Digital Age – part of virtuallyislamic.com

Gary Bunt’s website with all kinds of links to articles concerning the ‘London Explosions’

0 comments.

This is London |Terror on the dole

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: International Terrorism, Religious and Political Radicalization.

This is London | London news

Until recently, nobody took the fanatical beliefs of al-Muhajiroun too seriously, believing that a British-based group so brazenly “out there” could not be involved in something as “underground” as terrorism. The group is led by the exiled Saudi, Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammad, from his base in north London. Yesterday, in a magazine article, Bakri warned that several radical groups are poised to strike in London.

For all its inflammatory rhetoric, al-Muhajiroun has never been linked to actual violence. Yet, with the discovery last month of half-a-tonne of ammonium nitrate fertiliser – the same explosive ingredient used in the Bali and Turkey terror attacks – and with the arrest of eight young British Muslims in London and the South-East, including six in Luton, extremist groups such as al-Muhajiroun are under the spotlight like never before.

0 comments.

This is London |Terror on the dole

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by .
Categories: International Terrorism, Religious and Political Radicalization.

This is London | London news

Until recently, nobody took the fanatical beliefs of al-Muhajiroun too seriously, believing that a British-based group so brazenly “out there” could not be involved in something as “underground” as terrorism. The group is led by the exiled Saudi, Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammad, from his base in north London. Yesterday, in a magazine article, Bakri warned that several radical groups are poised to strike in London.

For all its inflammatory rhetoric, al-Muhajiroun has never been linked to actual violence. Yet, with the discovery last month of half-a-tonne of ammonium nitrate fertiliser – the same explosive ingredient used in the Bali and Turkey terror attacks – and with the arrest of eight young British Muslims in London and the South-East, including six in Luton, extremist groups such as al-Muhajiroun are under the spotlight like never before.

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London Explosions

Posted on July 7th, 2005 by .
Categories: International Terrorism.

Several explosions this morning in London.

London rocked by terror attacks

Firefighters at Aldgate Tube station

TV coverage
At least two people have been killed and scores injured after three blasts on the Underground network and another on a double-decker bus in London.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was “reasonably clear” there had been a series of terrorist attacks.

He said it was “particularly barbaric” that it was timed to coincide with the G8 summit. He is returning to London.

An Islamist website has posted a statement – purportedly from al-Qaeda – claiming it was behind the attacks.

It is still not sure (when i’m writing) what exactly has happened and who is responsible. Therefore: view the BBC-pages for recent updates:

London Rocked by Terror Attacks

Reporters’ Log: London explosions

In Pictures: London blasts

Muslim leaders join condemnation

Also updates on The Muslim News

UPDATE (IN DUTCH):
Er zou een verklaring zijn van een groep die de aanslag namens Al Qaeda opeist. Dit is de tekst van die verklaring (al-Qala’a website):

In de naam van God mag het genadige, het medelevende, vrede is op de vrolijke en de onbevreesde vechter, Profeet Muhammad, is de vrede van God op hem. O natie van Islam en natie van Arabism: Verheug u voor het is tijd om wraak van de Britse zionist gedrevene Actievoerder Regering in vergelding voor de bloedbaden Groot-brittannië te nemen vertrouwt in Irak en Afghanistan toe. De heroische Mujahidin heeft een gezegende overval in Londen uitgevoerd. Groot-brittannië verbrandt nu met angst, terreur en panikeer in zijn noordelijke zuidelijke oostelijke en westelijke kwartalen. Wij hebben herhaaldelijk het Britse regerings en mensen gewaarschuwd. Wij hebben onze belofte volbracht en voerden onze gezegende militaire overval in Groot-brittannië uit nadat onze Mujahidin energieke inspanning over een lange tijdsperiode aanwendde om het succes van de overval te verzekeren. Wij verdergaan met waarschuwen de regeringen van Denemarken en Italië en alle gedrevene Actievoerder regeringen dat zij in de zelfde weg zullen gestraft worden indien zij hun troepen van Irak en Afghanistan niet terugtrekken. Hij die waarschuwt, is verontschuldigd”.

Bron: Deelnemer Marokko.nl

Het is op dit moment niet duidelijk wat precies de status van deze verklaring is. Het verklaart wel, waarom de reacties richting Al Qaeda gaan vandaar dat ik hem plaats. Op dit moment lijken de reacties op verschillende fora vooral richting afgrijzen gaan bijvoorbeeld in reactie op bovenstaande ‘verklaring:

Dit is bezoedeling van de naam van Allah (swt), deze aanslag tegen onschuldige burgers is volledig in strijd met alles waar de Islam voor staat.

Hier past vanuit de gelovigen maar 1 antwoord op: afgrijzen en afstand nemen.

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right to decide | it is impossible to disentangle religion from culture or tradition

Posted on July 7th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Gender, Kinship & Marriage Issues, Young Muslims.

An interview with my ISIM-colleague Linda Herrera on right to decide

Some parts of it:

In the context of the Muslim world the bad practices, such as female genital mutilation (FGM), honour killings, forced marriages, homophobia, and a range of other oppressive patriarchal practices and attitudes get so much media and scholarly attention that I do not need to go into those topics here. What I can point out is that things are not always as they appear. The Islamic Republic of Iran which represents a fairly conservative theocracy, for example, has one of the most efficient and perhaps even progressive approaches to sexual and reproductive health in the region. A number of scholars including Soraya Tremayne (Oxford University) and Homa Hoodfar (Concordia University) have shown that due largely to a vibrant grassroots and mainly female based civil society working in the fields of health and sexuality, a range of services and programs by both governmental and non-governmental agencies have had a vast impact on curbing population growth and providing much needed services in areas of reproductive health. Such programs include condom distribution, sex education, abortion services, sex change operations, in-vitro fertilization, and services for teen pregnancy. These types of services get justified through religious rulings and testify to how practices and attitudes change according to dynamic process that involve the agency of activists, clergy, government and non-governmental organizations.

[…]

The Quran, a seventh century sacred text in Arabic verse believed by Muslims to represent the actual words of God (transmitted to the Prophet Mohammed by the Angel Gabriel), in its very reading, reciting, or hearing, necessitate interpretation. Whether one approaches the Quran as divine communication, sublime poetry, or historic document, it is not a how-to manual from a certain ideological orientation with straight forward instructions on how to deal with specific issues (such as sexual and reproductive rights and health issues). My understanding of these debates, therefore, is that the Quran, like any other holy book, body of thought, philosophy, transcendental guidance, is neither inherently traditional nor progressive; it is what the reader, reciter, or listener, situated in a specific historic moment with a certain social positioning and ethical inclination, makes of it.

[…]

In addition to changes that might occur through international influence and pressure, Muslim societies and individuals within transnational Muslim communities are also contributing to the advancement of more rights-based movements. Countries such as Egypt have seen the growth of organizations dealing with sexuality and rights such as Al-Nadim Centre for Human Rights and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Iran, as mentioned above, has long been witnessing a vibrant civil society movement in arenas of gender and sexuality. Proponents of a progressive Islam, such as Zeina Anwar of the Sisters of Islam in Malaysia and Scott Kugle, a fellow at the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM), are working in movements with colleagues and like-minded reformers towards greater social justice as it pertains to gender and sexuality. Change, I believe, is not only inevitable, but a force of nature. But change towards greater social justice will need not only support from many constituents, but continuous commitment, courage, and creativity.

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right to decide | it is impossible to disentangle religion from culture or tradition

Posted on July 7th, 2005 by .
Categories: Gender, Kinship & Marriage Issues, Young Muslims.

An interview with my ISIM-colleague Linda Herrera on right to decide

Some parts of it:

In the context of the Muslim world the bad practices, such as female genital mutilation (FGM), honour killings, forced marriages, homophobia, and a range of other oppressive patriarchal practices and attitudes get so much media and scholarly attention that I do not need to go into those topics here. What I can point out is that things are not always as they appear. The Islamic Republic of Iran which represents a fairly conservative theocracy, for example, has one of the most efficient and perhaps even progressive approaches to sexual and reproductive health in the region. A number of scholars including Soraya Tremayne (Oxford University) and Homa Hoodfar (Concordia University) have shown that due largely to a vibrant grassroots and mainly female based civil society working in the fields of health and sexuality, a range of services and programs by both governmental and non-governmental agencies have had a vast impact on curbing population growth and providing much needed services in areas of reproductive health. Such programs include condom distribution, sex education, abortion services, sex change operations, in-vitro fertilization, and services for teen pregnancy. These types of services get justified through religious rulings and testify to how practices and attitudes change according to dynamic process that involve the agency of activists, clergy, government and non-governmental organizations.

[…]

The Quran, a seventh century sacred text in Arabic verse believed by Muslims to represent the actual words of God (transmitted to the Prophet Mohammed by the Angel Gabriel), in its very reading, reciting, or hearing, necessitate interpretation. Whether one approaches the Quran as divine communication, sublime poetry, or historic document, it is not a how-to manual from a certain ideological orientation with straight forward instructions on how to deal with specific issues (such as sexual and reproductive rights and health issues). My understanding of these debates, therefore, is that the Quran, like any other holy book, body of thought, philosophy, transcendental guidance, is neither inherently traditional nor progressive; it is what the reader, reciter, or listener, situated in a specific historic moment with a certain social positioning and ethical inclination, makes of it.

[…]

In addition to changes that might occur through international influence and pressure, Muslim societies and individuals within transnational Muslim communities are also contributing to the advancement of more rights-based movements. Countries such as Egypt have seen the growth of organizations dealing with sexuality and rights such as Al-Nadim Centre for Human Rights and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Iran, as mentioned above, has long been witnessing a vibrant civil society movement in arenas of gender and sexuality. Proponents of a progressive Islam, such as Zeina Anwar of the Sisters of Islam in Malaysia and Scott Kugle, a fellow at the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM), are working in movements with colleagues and like-minded reformers towards greater social justice as it pertains to gender and sexuality. Change, I believe, is not only inevitable, but a force of nature. But change towards greater social justice will need not only support from many constituents, but continuous commitment, courage, and creativity.

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Halleh Ghorashi wordt bijzonder hoogleraar Management van diversiteit en integratie

Posted on July 6th, 2005 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

Mijn VU-collega Halleh Ghorashi wordt Halleh Ghorashi wordt bijzonder hoogleraar Management van diversiteit en integratie in het bijzonder de participatie van vrouwen uit etnische minderheidsgroepen.

De nieuwe leerstoel is op initiatief van de commissie PaVEM mogelijk gemaakt door het Ministerie voor Vreemdelingenzaken en Integratiebeleid, het Oranje Fonds en de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Ghorashi gaat de leerstoel Management van diversiteit en integratie per 1 september bekleden bij de afdeling Cultuur, Organisatie en Management van de Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen.

Haar onderzoek, onderwijs en publicaties zullen zich concentreren op de participatie van allochtone vrouwen in de Nederlandse samenleving.

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Protected: Genoeg is Genoeg!

Posted on July 6th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Multiculti Issues.

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Protected: de Volkskrant – Salafisme: compromisloos en rechtlijnig, maar ‘niet gevaarlijk’

Posted on July 6th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: My Research, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Protected: de Volkskrant – Over Martine van den O. en Soumaia

Posted on July 6th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Young Muslims.

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Protected: AD.nl – 'Bilal had plan voor zelfmoordaanslag'

Posted on July 6th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Protected: AD.nl – ‘Bilal had plan voor zelfmoordaanslag’

Posted on July 6th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Protected: Het Parool – Doodstraf terroristen in Marokko

Posted on July 6th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: International Terrorism, Morocco.

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