OIC to review steps to remove wrong Islam perception

Islamabad,

 President Musharraf Monday stated that the forthcoming Summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Malaysia later this year would discuss all the issues facing the Muslim Ummah and will suggest measures to remove wrong perceptions about Islam.

Brushing aside the impression that Pakistan is oblivious to such needs, the President said the country is wide awake and moving in the right direction, though, he admitted, some elements and organizations are putting hurdles in the way.

The President remarked that Pakistan possesses resources and human capital to meet all sorts of challenges.

Taken From:http://www.pakistanlink.com/headlines/aug03/05/08.html

Australian Court Upholds Appeal to Build Islamic Center

The New South Wales state Land and Environment Court ruled in favor of Muslim businessman Abbas Aly who had sought a reversal of the ruling by Baulkham Hills Council, which claimed the center would affect the rural-residential character of the area and most of the worshippers were living outside the suburb of Annangrove, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
But the court ruled it agreed with Aly, ordering the council to allow the center to be built whether its residents want it or not.
A jubilant Aly said:"I strongly believe that this country supports fair play and this was a fair result."
The suburb's council claimed that the prayer center would cause social unrest, anti-social behavior and would not accord with the community's shared beliefs.
The court ruling coincided with the release Wednesday last week of new research showing that Muslim communities across Australia are facing an increase in prejudice since the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Taken From:http://www.turks.us/article.php?story=20030730082923585&mode=print

Russia: Mufti cautions on discrimination

Moscow,

The chairman of the Russia’s Ifta Council, Sheikh Nufeullah Ashirov, has cautioned against what he called “discrimination” faced by the Muslims in the country, and added that the prevailing situation could easily lead to ethnic tensions.

He told a local broadcasting station that the attacks carried out by some Chechen women in Moscow not long ago have led to a wave of torture and persecution of Muslims. Another attack at music festival, he said, left 22 dead and between 40 and 55 badly wounded.

Ashirov criticized the Russian police for regarding every Muslim woman as a potential suicidal terrorist, and every Muslim man as an extremist and secessionist, adding that the government itself is responsible for allowing such a state of affairs to develop.

He said such behavior on the part of Russian officials and the media may likely result in grave consequences, eventually lead to acute ethnic tensions. There are around 20 million Russian Muslims, and more and more have been embracing the Islamic faith since the disintegration of the former Soviet Union.

Taken From:http://www.islamicnews.org/english/en_daily.html