“We are in the process of destroying an entire society. It is as simple and terrifying as that.” - Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Denis Halliday, former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq (1997-1998)
Subsequent to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait approximately a decade ago, a predominantly silent war has been waged against innocent children, women, and men of Iraq - economic sanctions imposed upon the country prevent adequate supplies of food and medicines from entering the country. Any individual’s right to medicines and clean food is a fundamentally basic right. While failing to adversely affect the government of Iraq, sanctions have succeeded in affecting the most vulnerable members of a society: children. 500,000 Iraqi children, according to Unicef, have died since 1991 due to the economic sanctions.
What can I do?
Voices in the Wilderness (UK) is organizing a march tomorrow (5th of August) to Downing Street; it is hoped that 1000 demonstrators will attend. On the same day, they are initiating a three-day fast and vigil opposite Downing Street. Further info. available at: http://www.viwuk.freeserve.co.uk/march.html
Voices in the Wilderness (US) is organizing a forty-day demonstration beginning on Monday, 6th August, in New York along 45th St. and 1st Avenue, (across from the United Nations building). Led by two-time Nobel Peace Nominee Kathy Kelly, there will also be a forty-day fast beginning on the same date. Former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, Denis Halliday, will also be participating in the fast. More info. available at: http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw/pages/145.htm
I hope everyone who is in the vicinity of these UK and US marches can participate in them, even if it is just for a few minutes. Our physical presence may not make practically change the situaton of the Iraqis, but it may help to put some compassion into the rigid hearts of the UN and US high-ups.
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Originally posted by SSultan:
**Thank you Nadia_H.
I am emailing this to all my friends worldwide.
It is the media age- use the media. **
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Right! Use the media. Then hope for participation that Akif proposed. But Akif, a letter writing effort directed towards the authorities is also required. If not in a march then have your comments inserted in someone's inbox. Hundreds won't matter, a few thousands won't matter but increase that to 20-30-40K and above.....
There was a petition on this issue that I signed on that web site...onlinepetion.com or something like that - I'd have to search it for the proper URL - saw that the petition didn't carry that many signatures.
But those who care should continue to strive in the hopes of pulling others or influencing others to think similarly.
This picture reminds me of this poem "Yeh bacha kis ka bacha hai" by Ibn-e-Insha written on the topic of Famine in Africa. Really makes me cry. The situation in Iraq is quite bad and can be understood from this example that people of that area love their books and they have started selling their books. News about the plight of these people doesn't come out and is worse than muslims in any other parts of the world.
A few dollars donated towards Iraq by everyone here might make some change in the life of people in Iraq.
dil khush ho gia to read you guys’ receptive comments - any little bit we each contribute is valuable in its own measure.
Thank you very much, Akif - yes Insha’Allah, high-profile media events such as these will force a re-evaulation and instill true compassion in the hearts of those who endorse such a policy.
I am emailing this to all my friends worldwide. It is the media age- use the media.
I agree, SSultan, this is an immensely positive way to use the media. I really appreciate your e-mailing it to your friends, thank you.
Jannu - Many thanks for going through the website. There are quite a few anti-sanctions petitions being currently circulated, I doubt this is the one you were referring to but just thought I would put it up anyways incase someone had a few mins. to sign and fax it - Voices in the Wilderness jointly organized this petition with the US-based National Catholic Peace Movement (all signed petitions are requested to be submitted prior to 30th September, 2001): http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw/pages/140.htm
Khan Sahib, thank you for your comments. It reminded me of how a friend of mine who had visited Baghdad describes the Friday markets throughout Iraq where people gather to sell their personal possessions, including books. It is what British journalist Felicity Arbuthnot describes as the sanctions’ “intellectual genocide”. The economy is substantially deflated and the dinar so depreciated that even doctors there are left with a monthly salary of US$3-5. Most individuals are left with few options but to sell almost all personal material possessions.
Go through that query almost every day, Nia. I wish I had a suitable answer, but I don’t think I’ll ever understand why and how any human could do this. But I try to take ‘comfort’ from the belief that Allah always has a clear purpose behind everything that happens, even when we may never understand that purpose. Hope that helps you too.
Asalamoelekum all
well there are many answers to the 'why' and they all end up to the conclusion that this is a wakeup call. it is time for us to realize that there is no one out there but ourselves, the muslims, to help eachother. if we keep ourseves at the mercy of the west this is what we musy expect. they dont care about the misery of a competitive civilization; infact there goal is to diminish the same. Today it is Iraq, tomorrow it will be Pakistan. this is a conspiracy against us and we shut our eyes to it. lets wake up. we are at war. the Prophet said that Muslims are like a body; if one part hurts the whole body feels it. but we dont feel the pain of the Palistinians, the Iraqis, the Kurds, the Chechneans, the Kashmiris, the Bosnians, the Albanians. we only feel our own pain.
what happens next? do we stay like this forever? what changes can WE bring? do WE have a role to play?
May we all be forgiven for our sins, intentional or otherwise. Ameen
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Originally posted by Nadia_H:
Go through that query almost every day, Nia. I wish I had a suitable answer, but I don't think I'll ever understand why and how any human could do this. :-( But I try to take 'comfort' from the belief that Allah always has a clear purpose behind everything that happens, even when we may never understand that purpose. Hope that helps you too.
As always many thanks for sharing your comments.
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"And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient)". Surah Al-Baqarah v. 155
The answers are right there, we just have to look harder. This goes for all Muslim nations i.e. Kashmir, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Bosnia etc.... remember that this life is a test, faithfuls are always pushed an extra step.
ps. Thanks for the info Nadia.
We are the Taleban-Resistance is Futile Sin: Osama Bin Junior
[This message has been edited by yOuNgBrAt (edited August 07, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by yOuNgBrAt (edited August 07, 2001).]
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Originally posted by Papa Smurf:**what happens next? do we stay like this forever? what changes can WE bring? do WE have a role to play?*
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Walaikum Assalaam.
I couldn't agree more; rather than pointing fingers at anyone else, it would be much more wise to first seriously contemplate our own tacit culpability in this issue. I believe each of us does have a role to fulfil here, irrespective of how seemingly 'trivial'. Perhaps it is not solely our words and deeds that will be used to judge us one day, but also those times when we produced a silent response when knowing of an injustice - as you said, the times when only treating one's own pain was given priority.
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Originally posted by yOuNgBrAt:*
"And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient)". Surah Al-Baqarah v. 155
The answers are right there, we just have to look harder. This goes for all Muslim nations i.e. Kashmir, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Bosnia etc.... remember that this life is a test, faithfuls are always pushed an extra step.
ps. Thanks for the info Nadia.
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YoungBrat - You're very welcome, but I should be thanking you for reading the post. Regarding the verse from Surah Al-Baqara - that was very appropriate timing, you don't know how much I needed to read that. Thank you.
Patiance is one part of the whole. Yes, the people who Allah is testing should be patient; there is no debate on that. but what do the bretheren Muslims do. be patient in their peaceful countries? it is the obligation of every muslim to rise to the call of his brother/sister in the time of need. it is similar to the right of being visited by the sick, someone is pain. We need to acknowlege our weakness of eeman.
May we all be forgiven for our sins, intentional or otherwise. Ameen
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*Originally posted by Nadia_H: *
I believe each of us does have a role to fulfil here, irrespective of how seemingly 'trivial'. Perhaps it is not solely our words and deeds that will be used to judge us one day, but also those times when we produced a silent response when knowing of an injustice - as you said, the times when only treating one's own pain was given priority.
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It seems the war is not against the Sadam regime, its a war against humanity. :(
But I try to take ‘comfort’ from the belief that Allah always has a clear purpose behind everything that happens, even when we may never understand that purpose. Hope that helps you too.