Indonesia: House to scrutinize Moeldoko over harassment of Ahmadis

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Moeldoko was said to have been responsible for assisting the West Java administration to force the Ahmadis — who have been deemed heretical — to return to the “right path” of Islam following the attacks against Ahmadis in Cikeusik, Banten, in February 2011.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: The Jakarta Post
By Margareth S. Aritonang | August 1, 2013

Members of the House of Representatives Commission I overseeing defense will question Army chief of staff Gen. Moeldoko, the sole candidate to replace retiring Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Agus Suhartono, over his alleged involvement in what could be deemed as harassment against Ahmadis in West Java in 2011.

Although Moeldoko will most likely get an endorsement from most lawmakers. Commission I lawmakers said that it was important to bring up the allegation during a fit-and-proper test slated for Aug. 20.

“[It’s important to highlight the issue] since he has been under the spotlight for his alleged involvement in assisting the West Java Governor Akhmad Heryawan to carry out Operasi Sajadah (Prayer Mat Operation) that aimed to kick Ahmadis out of West Java in 2011,” Commission I deputy chairman Tubagus Hasanuddin said on Wednesday.
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USA: Women at Chino mosque share their Ramadan experience

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The holy month of Ramadan began July 8 and requires Muslims to abstain during daylight hours from food, drink, smoking and sex to focus on spirituality, good deeds and charity.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Daily Bulletin
By Canan Tasci | July 28, 2013

CHINO -- Rabiya Chaudry's spirit may be willing, but she says her body is telling her something else.

Healthy Muslims are supposed to take part in the rituals of Ramadan, which include bowing and kneeling five times a day and fasting from dawn until dusk. But women who are menstruating or breast feeding get a pass, electing instead to "make up" the time through an alternative act.

"During that (menstruating) time you are told not to fast because you are weak and your body is going through all these changes and you need your energy," said Chaudry, 23, of Brea.

"In my heart I say those prayers but there is a prayer that is said by the congregation out loud, morning, afternoon, midafternoon, evening and at night and those are prayers you cannot say because you are not clean."
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Pakistan: 1,000 clerics seek pardon for Governor Taseer's assassin

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"The President has got a good opportunity to ensure his place in Heaven by granting pardon to Qadri as God will be very happy with him (Zardari) for pardoning a faithful Muslim by using his discretionary powers." 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: The Business Standard
By Press Trust of India | August 1, 2013

A thousand Pakistani clerics have asked President Asif Ali Zardari to pardon Mumtaz Qadri, the policeman sentenced to death for assassinating Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer in 2011.

The clerics belonging to different schools of Islamic thought signed a letter seeking a pardon for Qadri, and it was submitted to the President by Sunni Ittehad Council chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza.

In October 2011, an anti-terrorism court awarded the death penalty to Qadri, an Elite Force commando, for gunning down Taseer in Islamabad earlier the same year.

The policeman, who was part of Taseer's security detail, confessed to the murder and said he was angered by Taseer's calls for changes in Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law.
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Indonesia: Political parties have roles in discrimination

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“Some of our members in different regions have admitted that they were forced to support policies deemed discriminatory to get support."

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: The Jakarta Post
By Margareth S. Aritonang | July 31 2013

In spite of their stance on pluralism, major political parties in the House of Representatives have condoned, if not outrightly supported, discrimination against religious minorities.

Except for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), political parties continue to seemingly support Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto’s decision to revoke Indonesian Christian Church (GKI Yasmin)’s building permit despite throwing their weight behind the beleaguered church congregation in public statements.

Only the PDI-P officially withdrew its support for Diani following the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2010 that annulled the mayor’s ruling.
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Saudi Arabia: Online activist gets jail term, 600 lashes

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Badawi, who ran the website from Jeddah, was charged with “setting up a website that undermines general security” and ridiculing Islamic religious figures.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: Al Bawaba |
By Courtney Trenwith | July 30, 2013

The founder of an anti-government website in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to seven years jail and 600 lashes, according to international blogging website Global Voices.

The Free Saudi Liberals website claimed to be an online forum for public discussions.

It had been blocked within the kingdom for several years and was shutdown when its founder Raif Badawi was arrested in June 2012, Global Voices said.

Badawi, who ran the website from Jeddah, was charged with “setting up a website that undermines general security” and ridiculing Islamic religious figures.
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Pakistan's Sectarian Meltdown

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In a recent Pew poll, 41 percent of Pakistanis said that Shias are not Muslims. In another poll, 60 percent of Pakistani youth contended that Ahmadis—who belong to another minority sect of Islam—are not Muslims.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The National Interest
By Michael Kugelman | July 31, 2013

Last month, militants murdered nine foreign mountain climbers at a base camp on Pakistan’s Nanga Parbat peak.

Many observers noted that it was the first attack of its kind. But in fact, one aspect of the attack—which received little news coverage—was depressingly familiar.

This is because there was a tenth casualty—a Pakistani porter named Ali Hussain. He was a Shia Muslim—a religious minority making up about 20 percent of Pakistan’s Sunni-majority population. Officials believe he was targeted because of his faith, and for good reason: At least four Sunni Muslims were reportedly also at the camp, and their lives were spared.
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Australia: Beverley's Veneto Italian Club to be sold to Muslim group and used as mosque

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SA Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Australia president Manzoor Khan said the association was attracted to Beverley because of the high level of multiculturalism within Adelaide's western suburbs communities.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | AU Desk
Source/Credit: News.Com.au / Weekly Times Inner City
By Ken McGregor | August 1, 2013

ONE of the west's best known Italian clubs will be turned into a mosque under a plan being considered by Charles Sturt Council.

The Veneto Club in Beverley plans to move to a smaller site in the western suburbs after dwindling membership forced it out of its Toogood Ave base.

The club will sell the 3.3ha site to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Australia.

But the deal requires rezoning approval from the council to change it from a community centre to a place of worship.
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