Swedish Muslims Stick to Islamic Identity in Ramadan

OSTOCKHOLM

The holy fasting month of Ramadan in Sweden gives Muslims a good chance to stick closer to their Islamic identity, with mosques teeming with worshippers and shops selling famous Arab food.

Encouraged by a country that respects freedom of religion; Muslim families are trying their best to instill the Islamic values and Ramadanian traditions into their young generations.

State schools, in turn, respect the desire of Muslim students to observe the dawn-to-dusk fasting, excepting them from having the obligatory lunch meal.

After having their Iftaar, Muslim children glue themselves to the TV and keep flicking Arab satellite channels, searching for religious programs.

Among a plethora of serials, the Syrian-produced Al-Shatat (Diaspora) has succeeded in grabbing the attention of hundreds of children, which helps keep the Palestinian cause alive in the memories of those young generations.

The 26 miniseriestraces back Zionism at all political, economic and religious levels, and unmasking ways used by the Jews to create their "fictitious" entity in Palestinian territories.

After performing the Tarawih prayers, the faithful go out to the ubiquitous Arab shops and restaurants selling delicious Arab food and pastry such as Moulikhiya (green soup) and Konafa (a golden crisp delicacy said to be of Fatimid origin).

Taken From: http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2003-11/08/article08.shtml

Mauritania Vote Disputed

OUAKCHOTT,

With preliminary results ofMauritania's presidential elections on Friday showing the American-allied incumbent leader ahead by a wide margin, the principal opposition party rejected the results on Saturday and called for a new election.

Government officials said Saturday afternoon that President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya, a former colonel who has ruled for 19 years, had won 66 percent of the votes, with his principal opponent, Muhammad Khouna Ould Haidalla, trailing with 19 percent.

Taken From: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/09/international/africa/09MAUR.html?ex=1068958800&en=45b48f879daa3f47&ei=5006&partner=ALTAVISTA1

Mufti ofBelgrade appeals for help

Belgrade,

The Mufti of Belgrade inSerbia has appealed to the Muslim world to be concerned with the situation of Muslims in Serbia, who number 2.8 million, out of a total population of six million.

He said the most pressing need of the Muslims here is for mosques and schools, plus cemeteries, adding that despite the fact that there are a number of diplomatic missions of Islamic countries in Belgrade, no one bothers to find out what the Muslims of this country need. Himdi Bisahic, the Mufti, said that Belgrade’s 200,000 Muslims have only one mosque, and the mosque measures only 100 square meters, and there is no place in it for women to conduct their prayer.

The Mufti said that with the prevailing poor economic conditions, particularly those of Muslims, he does not see the possibility of any other mosque being put up in any foreseeable future. He said there were 273 mosques in Serbia during the Ottoman era, but these were confiscated at the end of the Turkish-Serb War of 1913.

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