Sufferings of global Muslims
While many of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims are celebrating Ramadan, there are some who will not be free to acknowledge the most sacred month of the Islamic calendar.
The Central African Republic (CAR) conflict has pitted Muslim Seleka forces against Christian Anti-Balaka militias since the former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown by Michel Djotodia, a Muslim, in 2012. The two have continued to engage in tit-for-tat violence resulting in more than 2,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands of displacements. Thousands of Muslims have fled Christian-majority areas as sectarian violence continues to rise.
The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group, originally from Bangladesh, who live and make up a minority in the predominantly Buddhist country of Myanmar. Buddhist extremists refuse to acknowledge the Rohingya as citizens and claim they are Bengalis who belong in neighbouring Bangladesh. More than 230 Rohingyas were killed in religious violence in Myanmar since June 2012 and more than 140,000 have been displaced.
The Uyghur people are a Turkic Muslim ethnic group living in the Xinjiang region of China. This minority is subjected to religious discrimination by the Chinese government. Since the founding of the Republic of China in 1912, some Uyghurs have demanded complete autonomy from the Chinese government.
Muslims have also felt persecuted in India through the years even though it’s the world’s largest Islamic community. Since independence, India has always maintained a constitutional commitment to secularism but Muslim-Hindu conflict has never been far from the surface.
Ramadan is a time when we hear and answer the cries of the oppressed, exploited and suffering people around the globe. Let us all spare a thought for those suffering political, social, economic, racial, ethnic and cultural injustices.
Ramadan is also a time to share our religious and cultural heritage with our Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist friends and neighbours.
From Mr Samaoen Osman
Cape Town, South Africa
Saving the birds
I was very happy to look at the colourful pictures of birds in the Gulf News this morning but the headline of pesticides killing them really depressed me (‘Pesticides are killing off birds,’ Gulf News, July 11).
Being a student in grade five, I feel very happy when we study about the different food habits and ways of adaptation by animals and birds.
As human beings we unknowingly or knowingly cause harm to birds, these creatures that are so colourful, attractive and gave us the idea that we can fly.
We should start a campaign to protect birds. I have collected lots of information about birds with pictures, as well as this article, to show to my friends and classmates so that we can raise awareness.
From Mr Syed Emad Al Deen
Dubai
A step towards recovery
Narendra Modi government’s maiden budget contains lot of good proposals that will revive the ailing Indian economy (‘India’s budget revels in tremendous detail,’ Gulf News, July 11). To expect a miracle from a government that has just been voted to power and completed less than two months in office is unfair and unrealistic.
This government has gotten into serious governance and the budget is a true reflection of it. The budget has something for all the sections of society and most importantly, by allocating a huge outlay to infrastructure development; it has created a huge opportunity for employment generation, which is the dire need right now. Allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in insurance and defence is a bold step towards reforms.
Expanding educational institutions and setting up sports facilities will immensely help the youth who otherwise have to go to other countries in pursuit of careers.
While the editorial points out the terrific paradox between allocations of amount for women’s safety versus the gigantic statue, it ignores the fact the amount of revenue and employment generation the statue would bring about in the tourism sector. Therefore, the article reeks of a typical response from political opponent whose job is to find faults. This budget has set the right tone and takes a step towards recovery. Knowing Modi’s track record, he would ensure implementation and delivery.
From Mr G. Srinivasan
UAE
Fighting terrorism
It’s true that countries have to face challenges and hardships until a certain time period, but one must remember that there could always be a silver lining (‘Beyond terror and Taliban untold stories of success,’ Gulf News, July 11). We will defiantly overcome the war imposed on us; our army is clearing all Northern areas of Pakistan, in operation Zarb-E-Azb, where these terrorist organisations are spreading their roots. We will nip them in the bud within months to welcome tourists from all around the world in our Northern areas like we used to welcome them in 1990’s era.
From Mr Waqas
Lahore, Pakistan
Website comment
An effective method
Donating spectacles is a simple but a very effective idea (‘Young Indian girl on a spectacular mission,’ Gulf News, July 11). If we could also spare a thought and think of ways to alleviate the difficulties through cost effective methods, our community will surely benefit.
From Mr John
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
Potential for total disaster
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in the violence (‘No end in sight as Israeli reign of terror continues,’ Gulf News, July 11). Eight members of a family including five children in a strike have also been martyred. ‘Operation Protective Edge’ is unquestionably the initial stage of the Zionist agenda.
Gaza has become the biggest hindrance on the way of regional domination. So while the bombing of innocent Gazans is going on, Israel is more exposed - thanks to social media.
Usually, the silence with the unjustifiable Israeli aggression is not so embarrassing for the international community. In contrast, Hamas rockets are everywhere on the mainstream media screens. However, a rally in New York against Israel on July 9 was one of the voices of dissent. These voices are good news for good people.
On the other side in Iraq and Syria, so-called Muslim caliph and cronies are too busy killing fellow Muslims. War makers’ mercenaries are destroying everything.
Indeed, the world needs to realise that Israeli terrorism and Iraq and Syria’s bloody games are an alarming indication of the potential for total disaster in the Middle East. The greatest need of the hour is for Muslims to not allow themselves to be carried away by the deceptive slogans.
From Mr Nasser Farooq
Karachi, Pakistan
Not common enough
India’s union home ministry’s recommendation to promote Hindi in all spheres of life is primitive and impractical. It is very difficult to impose a common language other than English where states are primarily created on the basis of regional languages.
What will happen if we don’t use most modern technology in the name of indigenousness? We will be pushed back. And so it will happen if we don’t have a common language to communicate. Instead, Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram’s recommendation of encouraging the use of English and make English a compulsory language in every class is a welcome step.
I will illustrate the same with an example wherein I was a victim of proficiency in Hindi. I belong to the South Indian state of Kerala where Hindi is a compulsory language in all classes up to the secondary level, although its usage is almost nil.
When I was abroad, once my Korean manager asked his staff of various nationalities to translate an English memo into three other languages such as Hindi, Urdu and Nepali so that labourers in the company could easily understand the content. Except for Hindi, the other translations happened quickly. Since I am an Indian, the task of translating into Hindi was assigned to me.
Though I know how to write in Hindi very well, translation was difficult. I approached a Gujarati staff member who is familiar with the language but he only knew how to translate, not read and write.
Together we started the mission of translating and it took more time than usual. With the delay in achieving the mission, it prompted my manager to ask me as to why I was seeking the assistance of others. He called me in front of the staff and I was forced explain as to what exactly was going on.
One person knows to write and read but not able to translate, whereas the other only knew how to translate but was not able to read and write!
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai
Neo-colonial avatars
The expansionist designs and territorial assaults of China and Israel are threatening an otherwise peaceful world. The war clouds are gathering in Ukraine and the world appears to be balancing itself on the sharp edge of a sword. The situation is being made worse by non-intervention by the “responsible” United Nations (UN) and an indifferent West.
Israel is overzealous in preventing the birth of a proud nation - Palestine. What’s worse, they are trying ceaselessly and is on the detested ‘child annihilation’ and mindless destruction path without any rhyme or reason.
China on the other hand has even made a new map including Arunachal Pradesh as a part of China. They are the ‘peace breakers’ of the south East Asia.
But most of all Israel is indulging shamelessly in destroying the entire concept of a united Palestine. Israel and China must be stopped in their aggressive tracks sooner than later in the name of peace for the world.
From Mr Thomas Matthew Parackel
Kerala, India
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