Islami News: Dec 20, 2009

Stolen Auschwitz camp sign found

Police in Poland have found the stolen "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign, taken from the entrance to the former Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.

The metal sign, which was taken in the early hours of Friday morning, was cut into three pieces, officials said in a statement early on Monday.

Five people have been detained in connection with the theft, police said.

The theft of the infamous sign had sparked outrage around the world and the Polish government had made its recovery a top national priority.

Officials had also appealed to international police organisations Iterpol and Europol for help.

The sign's motto – which translates as "work makes you free" – has become a symbol of the cynical brutality of the Nazi regime.

More than 1 million people, mostly Jews, but also Gypsies, Poles and others, died at Auschwitz – most of them executed in gas chambers or worked to death in the camp's factories.

The five metre sign was reportedly recovered following a raid in northern Poland late on Sunday.

The sign had been cut into three pieces, one for each word.

No details have yet been released on the circumstances in which the sign was found or the possible motive for the theft.

More information is expected to be announced at a police press conference in the city of Krakow scheduled for Monday morning.

The director of the Auschwitz museum said at the weekend that urgent renovation work on the camp's crumbling buildings meant the museum had to make do with a rudimentary security system.

"The surveillance was concentrated on the archives and exhibited objects, because no sane person could have imagined such an act," Piotr Cywinski told the AFP news agency.

"The camp entrance, from where the sign was stolen, was being monitored by just one camera, an old model. Moreover the snow meant the image was blurred."
Source: Agencies

Iran opposition calls for mourning

Iran's opposition leaders have called for a day of mourning following the death of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, a senior cleric who was a fierce critic of the current government.

Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two of the defeated candidates in June's disputed presidential poll, urged their supporters to attend the funeral on Monday, according to a statement on Mousavi's Kaleme.org website.

87-year-old Montazeri was an architect of the 1979 Islamic revolution but fell out with the present leadership.

He lived in the city of Qom, which lies south of Tehran, and was referred to as the spiritual leader of the opposition after the country's recent disputed election.

"Following a call by some grand ayatollahs to mourn the death ... we announce tomorrow, Monday, December 21, a day of public mourning," Mousavi and Karroubi said in a joint statement.

"We invite all saddened religious people mourning the death of this pride of the Shia world to take part in the funeral of this legend of endeavour, jurisprudence and spirituality."

Burial ceremony

Montazeri will be buried in the shrine of Masoumeh, a revered Shia figure, in Qom, his office said.

Foreign media are banned from covering the ceremony.

"Thousands of people from Isfahan, Najafabad, Shiraz and other cities have left for Qom to take part in his funeral," Parlemannews.ir, the website of the parliament's reformist faction, reported.

Videos posted on the internet purported to show hundreds of Montazeri's supporters taking to the streets of Najafabad, his birth town, to mourn his death.

Shops in the town were closed and cloaked in black cloth pinned with pictures of the late cleric.

Baqer Moin, an Iranian journalist and author, told Al Jazeera that Montazeri's absence would be "greatly felt across the country", among both sides of the political divide.

"He was the most heavyweight among them [the reformists]. He had great popularity because he was a humble man, he was a simple man ... and above all he was very courageous.

"He didn't fear expressing his views, critical of the current supreme leader or the policies of the government."

Clerical critic

In August, Montazeri described the clerical establishment as a "dictatorship", saying that the authorities' handling of street unrest after the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "could lead to the fall of the regime".

"I hope the responsible authorities give up the deviant path they are pursuing and restore the trampled rights of the people," he wrote.

"I hope authorities ... have the courage to announce that this ruling system is neither a republic nor Islamic and that nobody has the right to express opinion or criticism," he said.

State news agency IRNA called Montazeri the "clerical figure of rioters" in its early reports of his death and dropped his clerical title of Grand Ayatollah.

Ghanbar Naderi, a journalist for the Iran Daily newspaper, told Al Jazeera: "This is huge blow to the reformist camp, because he is unreplaceable and nobody is happy to hear about his sad demise.

"He used to say that religion should be separated from politics, because in this way, we can keep the integrity of religion intact."

But Seyed Mohammad Marandi, a political analyst at the University of Tehran, told Al Jazeera in August that Montazeri has been "saying the same thing for around 25 years".

"After his inner circle was discovered to be linked to Mujahidin terrorists based in Iraq, he was isolated by the reformists," he said.

"He is not a major player and has always been very critical," Marandi said.

'Accomplished theologian'

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, offered condolences to his family, despite Montazeri criticising him and questioning his credentials for being the country's highest religious authority.

"He was an accomplished theologian and a prominent teacher who spent a large part of his life for Imam's [Khomeini's] cause," he said in a statement carried by state television's website.

Montazeri had at one time been expected to succeed Khomeini, but he fell from favour in the 1980s.

The cleric had long been critical of the concentration of power in the hands of the supreme leader and called for changes to the constitution, which he helped draw up after the 1979 Islamic revolution, to limit his authority.
Source: Al Jazeera

Climate Friendly Agriculture Systems

Climate friendly agricultural systems are key to fighting global warming and ensuring adequate food for humanity.

In a session discussing the importance of agriculture in fighting climate change at the on going Copenhagen Climate change talks, James Harkness, the president of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, said that agriculture as a sector can reduce its emissions and act as a major sink to green house gasses already in the atmosphere.

Adaptive and Mitigative Agricultural Systems

Experts attribute the use of nitrogen fertilizers for crops like maize to increasing emissions. The manure derived from the dung of livestock such as cows also emits tons of methane during its decomposition. Carbon dioxide is emitted by farm machinery as well, due to the use of fossil fuels.
"The future of agriculture needs to be resilient against climate change."
"With this carbon sequestration (low release of carbon into the atmosphere) and shift to low –input agricultural systems (less use of fertilizers), we can actually improve the resiliency of our soils, water systems and environment in a changing climate, while reducing our dependence upon fossil fuels," said Harkness as he called for enhancement of support for agricultural systems that are both adaptive and mitigative against climate change.

A bulk of farmers in poor nations of Asia and Africa are small scale farmers. Harkness faulted the approach of agriculture research institutions in these countries emphasizing that there is need to focus on indigenous technologies.

"Traditional and local knowledge should be supported in poor countries instead of inappropriate technologies developed and funded by the West being forced on farmers in the global south," he explained.

He added that research and farmer education should aim at optimizing sustainable agricultural production and reduction of green house gas emissions, and he decried the lesser role played by poor countries in the Global Research Alliance on Agriculture and Green House Gas Emissions.

Dr. Urs Niggli, the director of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture said that organic farming is effective in managing and conserving biodervisty as well as in curbing pollution and can easily be practiced by small-scale farmers. He said research done by his institute indicated that organic farming can reduce global green house gas emissions by almost five percent.

"Currently, there is an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Department of Environment and Natural Resources, supported by leading organic research institutes to establish a new alliance of organic research institutes," Niggli told IslamOnline.net (IOL).

"The initiative is called Organic Research Centre Alliance, (ORCA) and focuses on cooperation between research institutes in Africa, Asia and Latin America to intensify on-farm research on developing organic agro-ecological systems."

He said the initiative involves working with farmers on their farms and addressing how to solve specific problems they are facing.

"I see a huge potential in that kind of research and it can be organized in a kind of snow-ball system as all these on-farm activities attract a lot of farmers and motivate them to do experiments on their farms as well," he said.

Enough Food?

Skeptics of organic farming voice concern over its ability to produce enough food to feed hunger stricken populations in poor nations.

Niggli who is also a World Board Member of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) said yields from organic farming can be increased through research initiatives that put functions of ecosystems at their core.

He firmly believes that rural poor communities can be empowered to practice sustainable farming and at the same time produce enough food.

"The big chance of climate change - if we can talk about chances - is that the world leaders, the governments and international organizations and the public finally become aware of the multi-functionality of agriculture," he said.

"Agriculture must deliver food, but as co-benefits it also improves soil fertility, increases biodiversity in agricultural and semi/natural systems and habitats."

Farmers he said can learn sustainable farming methods and sell food and other improved ecosystem services to the public.

"I see here especially, a new added-value strategy for farmers in developing countries, and the international protocols on climate change have to lay the ground that sustainable but nonetheless productive farmers like organic farmers can profit from these opportunities," he told IOL.

In a press release issued in Nairobi last Monday, Dr. Akin Adesina, the vice president of Policy and Partnership Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), called upon International and African policymakers and scientists to move urgently to help Africa’s smallholder farmers increase their productivity while also adapting to and helping to mitigate climate change.

Adesina noted that given appropriate tools and support, smallholder farmers could farm carbon along with their crops by planting trees or tilling land less frequently to keep more carbon dioxide in the ground thus preventing it from ascending into the atmosphere and contributing to the greenhouse effect.

"By employing agricultural practices that boost productivity while rebuilding the soil and incorporating agro-forestry, Africa’s farmers will turn their fields into giant carbon reservoirs, so-called carbon sinks," said Adesina

He went on to say that "this will help mitigate climate change."

According to the World Agroforesty Centre (WAC), growing of trees in a billion hectares of farmland, (by intercropping them with crops) has a potential of preventing 50 billion tons of carbon dioxide reaching the atmosphere.

Adesina noted that in the on going Copenhagen talks, Africa must insist on a global carbon market which fully accounts for the environmental benefits of sound agricultural practices of smallholder farmers.

According to Adesina, African farmers need access to the technologies that will enable them to grow more food and do so sustainably. His views are in tandem with those of Harkness who said, "The future of agriculture needs to be resilient against climate change."

Wanzala Bahati Justus is a freelance journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Pakistan Govt Struggles For Survival

ISLAMABAD – Shaken to its foundations by a court ruling scrapping amnesty to corruption-tainted politicians, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led government is struggling to contain the fallout of the landmark verdict and prevent its collapse.

“Legally, the PPP can continue until it loses its majority in the parliament,” political analyst Rasul Baksh Raees told IslamOnline.net Saturday, December 19.

“But yes, morally, the government is on a weak wicket, and facing a moral crisis.”

The Supreme Court on Wednesday scrapped the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), under which corruption charges were dropped against PPP leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari.

Following the ruling, Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar was banned from leaving the country on an official visit to close ally China.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik was also summoned by a Pakistani court over re-opening a corruption case.

Corruption cases were also opened by the anti-corruption bureau against 52 officials.

“The Supreme Court has very wisely decided this complicated issue,” Abdul Khalique Ali, a Karachi-based political analyst, said.

“There is no ouster of the elected government. It’s very simple equation that the all the accused has been given a chance to prove themselves not-guilty in the courts of law.”

The ruling party was to hold crisis talks Saturday under Zardari in a bid to contain the fallout of the court ruling on the government.

"The meeting will discuss the present political situation," said Zardari spokesman Farhatullah Babar.

Zardari is immune from prosecution as president, but his eligibility for office could be challenged over corruption charges. Cabinet ministers have no such immunity.

Officials were tight lipped on the options up for discussion during the meeting.

"The party would like to take into account the point of view of its members, their suggestions and the strategy that the government should adopt," said PPP spokeswoman Fauzia Wahab.

Ouster

Analysts agree that the landmark court ruling has put the south Asian country on the right track.

“I see this a milestone that would ultimately lead to corruption-free politics in Pakistan,” Raees said.

“For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the top judiciary has given a judgment that has put the country on right track.”

The analyst urged the PPP-led government to take a positive approach in dealing with the verdict.

“After this judgment, Pakistani nation has many positive points to enumerate,” he said.

“First, we have an independent judiciary, secondly, we are proceeding towards an environment wherein all those corrupt politicians who have looted this country cannot rule without clearing themselves off.”

Ali, the Karachi-based analyst, agrees.

“If this judgment is implemented with its letter and spirit, it will change the dimension of the country’s politics,” he said.

“It will be for the first time in the history of Pakistan, that there will be no discrimination between the government and the opposition members.”

Analysts predict a gloomy future for the PPP-led government over any attempt to influence the judiciary over the ruling.

“If the PPP government tries to influence the judiciary and the investigators, I am afraid it will not be tolerated, and may lead to its ouster,” Raees said.

“My sincere advice to all the NRO-beneficiaries to step down voluntarily to save the PPP from further dents.”

Ali, the Karachi-based analyst, shares his view.

“The ball is in the government’s court,” he told IOL.

“If it really respects the judgment, it will have a smooth sailing despite the fact that some hidden forces are out to oust the PPP government.

“Resignation of those ministers charged with corruption and misuse of authority can wipe out the moral lacking.”

Top Iran Dissident Cleric Montazeri Dies

TEHRAN – Iran’s top dissident cleric, Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, who emerged as the spiritual leader of the Islamic Republic’s reform movement, has died.

"My grandfather died in his sleep last night,” Naser Montazeri told Reuters by phone Sunday, December 20, from Qom, some 125km south of Tehran.

The 87-year-old cleric died from natural illness in his house in Qom late Saturday.

"He was diabetic and had been using insulin for years ... He had also some lung problems and asthma. In fact he was suffering from several diseases," his doctor told state television.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered condolences to Montazeri’s family.

"He was an accomplished theologian and a prominent teacher who spent a large part of his life for Imam's (Khomeini's) cause," he said in a statement carried by state television's website.

Hundreds of Montazeri supporters flocked to the holy city of Qom to attend his funeral on Monday.

"People and friends are coming to express their condolences but there are no special security measures around our house," said Naser.

Videos posted on the Internet showed hundreds of Iranians taking to the streets of Montazeri’s home town of Najafabad to mourn his loss.

"Montazeri, congratulations on your freedom," the crowd chanted, and "oppressed Montazeri, we will follow your path."

Shops in the traditionally moderate town were closed and cloaked in black cloth pinned with pictures of the late cleric.

Montazeri supporters were also reportedly gathering in Tehran to mourn the late cleric.

"The social network of the reform movement has called on its supporters to gather in Mohseni square to mourn ... based on reports people have already gathered in some other squares in Tehran," said the reformist Tagheer website.

Outspoken

One of Iran's most senior clerics, Montazeri was an architect of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

He was a student of Iran’s revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and was designed as his successor.

But his criticism of the post-revolution political and cultural restrictions, most notable Iran’s treatment of political prisoners, caused Montazeri to fall out with Khomeini.

He resigned months before Khomeini's death in 1989, and was told by the supreme leader to stay out of politics and focus instead on teaching in the city of Qom.

Montazeri had long been a vocal critic of the concentration of power in the hands of the supreme leader and called for changes to the Constitution which he helped draw up after the 1979 revolution to limit the leader's authority.

The grand ayatollah also questioned the theological credentials of Khamenei, a move considered a treason in Iran, causing him to be put under house arrest in 1997.

Freed after five years on health grounds during the reformist presidency of Mohammad Khatami, Montazeri vowed that he would continue to speak out in defence of freedom and justice.

The top cleric emerged as the spiritual leader of Iran’s reform movement over his criticism of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government.

He had also been critical of the government’s handling of the post-election protests over the disputed June presidential elections, which the opposition says they were massively rigged in Ahmadinejad’s favor.

"He will be remembered as a man who sacrificed his political position for the sake of his principles," London-based Iran analyst Baqer Moin said.

India’s Successful Madrasas Speak English

CAIRO – As madrasas (Islamic schools) have become a mainstream education provider for thousands of Indians, the government of the eastern state of West Bengal is planning new English language madrasas to acquire students, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, with proficiency in the foreign language.

“If everything goes well, soon all 19 districts of West Bengal will see 19 new madrasas where the medium of instruction will be English,” minority development and madrasa education minister Abdus Sattar told The National on Sunday, December 20.

“In the first phase we plan to build 11 such English medium madrasas in 11 minority-dominated districts of the state.”

Students in the new madrasas will study their subjects, including Islamic studies, in English.

“We believe in modernising our traditional form of education so that boys and girls studying at our institutions can compete with the best,” said Sattar.

“We shall leave no stone unturned to give our students the best in modern education.”

Madrasas have become a mainstream education provider for tens of thousands of Indian students.

West Bengal has 474 state-run madrasas offering the same curriculum in the government schools.

Non-Muslims make up 20 percent of students in West Bengal’s madrasas.

Many of the students are groomed to become engineers, doctors, scientists and other modern professionals.

“Modernisation of the curriculum in our madrasas has been going on for a while,” Abdus Sattar said.

“Modern science, mathematics, computer applications … have already been introduced and they have been helping the madrasa students immensely.

Lifeline

Abdus Sattar said the new English language madrasas will be a lifeline for thousands of poor Indians.

“These madrasas will freely offer poor Muslims the opportunity to get quality English-medium education which is almost inaccessible to them otherwise.”

Indian Muslims have suffered decades of social and economic neglect and oppression.

The Muslim minority have been decrying for years that they comprise only a tiny percentage of police, army officers, public servants and public university students.

They register lower educational levels and, as a consequence, higher unemployment rates than the majority Hindus and other minorities like Christians and Sikhs.

“Now, the English medium madrasas will prepare our students for better opportunities in higher education and modern careers in more efficient ways,” Abdus Sattar said.

“If we continue to follow only the vernacular medium, students of the minority community will be left behind. So we thought of launching the madrasas in English medium so that the minority students get the best education.”

English had been taught in West Bengal schools, including at the primary level, since the colonial era.

But the language was abolished by the ruling Marxist Left Front in the 1980s.

Two decades later, English was reintroduced in schools after protests from locals that their kids were suffering at higher education levels and job markets over their poor English.

“We badly need the English medium madrasas to supplement our existing system,” said Nurul Islam, the headmaster of Khalatpur High Madrasah.

“Already many of our students have managed footholds in some modern professions.

“The English medium madrasas will help immensely in developing students’ personality which will brighten their prospects in the modern job market.”