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  • American Working In Egypt: True Islam Rejects Violence, Don’t Blame All Muslims For Orlando Shooting

    American Working In Egypt: True Islam Rejects Violence, Don’t Blame All Muslims For Orlando Shooting

    I WORK IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

    My wife convinced me that I needed to share this. Most of you know that I work for Siemens as a Service Engineer in the Middle East. I am currently on a project in Egypt. It is a German project and I believe I am the only American here (definitely the only Texan).
    Over the last two days I have had over 20 people (Egyptians) many I don’t even know personally come and ask if my family and friends were okay. They understand the magnitude of the Orlando shootings and they simply wanted to let me know they cared.

    This morning I went out to site with a smile and a “sabah-al-kheir” (Good Morning) and the supervisor shook my hand then apologized to me for what happened in Orlando. As we talked, even more foreman and laborers began gathering around me shaking my hand. They wanted to let me know that this act is not acceptable to them as Muslims and they were “anah-aswah”…I’m sorry.

    Those who couldn’t speak english asked the supervisor to translate who in broken english let me know that they all wanted to let me know that this upset them and they hoped I would not hold all Muslims responsible. They hoped America would not blame Islam.

    This was impressive enough, but when I went to another area well away from where I was before, the same thing happened. Shaking hands, apologies, and condemnation to the shooter and the shame he has brought upon their religion. From Engineers to the young man who makes us coffee, even the guy who cleans my room; they all wanted to let me know they are angry too.

    I know that after the shootings the news and radio are probably all over this spreading fear and anger, because that is what sells. I want you to know, I spend months at a time living here and in other Muslim countries to include Saudi Arabia and it is the same everywhere. The Muslim people I meet are honest, friendly, caring, and consider you a close part of their lives with a simple shake of the hand.

    So take it from someone who practically lives here; don’t let the media or politicians sway you with their spin to win ratings and votes.

    True Islam does not accept these actions, it condemns them. Don’t hold the majority responsible for the actions of the very, very few.

     

    Source: Edsel Townsend

  • TRS Founder To Plead Guilty To Sedition Charges

    TRS Founder To Plead Guilty To Sedition Charges

    In a surprising turn of events, Yang Kaiheng, founder of socio-political website The Real Singapore (TRS), indicated yesterday that he wished to plead guilty to the seven sedition charges he faces.

    Yang, 27, had originally claimed trial, denying he had posted inflammatory articles on the TRS website and Facebook page between 2013 and 2015. (See report…)

    During the trial, which went on for seven days in March and April, Yang claimed his involvement in TRS was for only a month in 2012 after helping to set it up.

    The trial was supposed to have resumed yesterday until his lawyer told the judge in chambers about his client’s intention to plead guilty.

    During the trial, Yang claimed that his wife, Ai Takagi, 23, an Australian national of Japanese descent, was responsible for the day-to-day business and editorial content of TRS.

    Between December 2013 and April 2015, TRS raked in almost half a million dollars in advertising revenue, the court heard.

    In April, Yang claimed that he and Takagi had been inspired to start TRS after their Facebook page, which petitioned for the removal of new Member of Parliament (MP) Tin Pei Ling after the 2011 General Election, garnered about 60,000 likes.

    But during cross-examination, Deputy Public Prosecutor G. Kannan asked how this was possible when the couple had not yet met during the 2011 GE period.

    DPP Kannan said he had a log of very personal and embarrassing WhatsApp messages that proved they had met only after the petition Facebook page was created.

    Yang’s lawyer tried to interject, but Yang then conceded: “It’s okay, Your Honour, I admit I am lying.”

    The next day, Yang again admitted to lying – this time for having falsely told the police he did not know that his friend, Mr Damien Koh, was involved in setting up TRS.

    Yang had met Mr Koh, who later quit TRS, during their University of Queensland days.

    Yang told the court: “I was being investigated for sedition during my interview. I didn’t want to implicate my friend. I was sure he had nothing to do with sedition in the TRS site.”

    Yang turned up at the State Courts yesterday wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt and knee-length bermuda shorts.

    He is expected to be back in court tomorrow.

    If convicted of each charge under the Sedition Act, he faces up to three years’ jail and a fine of up to $5,000.

    Takagi pleaded guilty to sedition in March after also initially claiming trial and was jailed 10 months.

    Now about five months pregnant,, she began serving her sentence on April 22.

    HIS CHARGES

    Yang Kaiheng is accused of seven counts of sedition:

    • An article falsely asserting that a Filipino family caused an incident between the police and participants at last year’s Thaipusam procession.
    • A similar Facebook post.
    • An article alleging that a Filipino employee bribed a colleague to delete traces of his misdeeds to ensure that only his countrymen were hired by the company.
    • An article portraying women from China as home-wreckers whose main motive was “trying to hook” Singaporean men.
    • An article that had an editor’s note warning companies about hiring foreigners over Singaporeans.
    • An article claiming that Filipino managers working here would give preferential treatment to subordinates of the same nationality at the expense of Singaporeans.
    • Copied an article from Stomp about an elderly woman who told her grandson to urinate into a bottle on an MRT train, then doctored the article to say she was a Chinese national who allegedly had an accent and posted it on TRS.

    An eighth charge of failing to produce documents to the police for investigations has been stood down.

    TIMELINE OF CASE

    2012

    The Real Singapore (TRS) is set up.

    February 2015

    TRS publishes an article on Feb 4 alleging that a Filipino family’s complaint over noise from drummers led to a scuffle during the Thaipusam procession on Feb 3. The police receive reports about an “insensitive article” online the next day. The authorities arrest Yang Kaiheng and Ai Takagi in Singapore that month.

    April 2015

    Yang and Takagi are charged with sedition and failing to produce documents to the police.

    May 2015

    The Media Development Authority suspends TRS’ operating licence and orders that it be taken down.

    August 2015

    Yang and Takagi open two ramen stalls in two National University of Singapore foodcourts.

    October 2015

    They get married.

    January 2016

    They open a third ramen stall at a coffee shop in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8.

    March 2016

    Yang claims trial while his wife pleads guilty. Takagi is sentenced to 10 months’ jail.

    April 2016

    During Yang’s trial, he admits to lying on two different occasions before the trial is adjourned to June. Takagi begins her sentence on April 22.

    June 2016

    Yang indicates he wishes to plead guilty.

  • Malaysians, Indonesians, Threatens Boycott Over Honda’s LGBT Campaign In US

    Malaysians, Indonesians, Threatens Boycott Over Honda’s LGBT Campaign In US

    KUALA LUMPUR — Several Malaysians and Indonesians have expressed outrage over Honda’s support of a US lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pride parade, saying they would boycott the Japanese carmaker.

    American Honda Motor Company, Inc, which is the North American subsidiary of Honda Motor Company, Ltd, posted on its Facebook page last Saturday (June 18) that it would be participating in the 2016 Columbus Pride Parade in Ohio and posted a photograph of its vehicles in various colours, following the signature rainbow colour of the LGBT movement.

    “At Honda, we value diversity and inclusion of everyone. Our support for the LGBT community is a reflection of our company’s commitment,” Honda wrote.

    Many Malaysians and Indonesians, however, found issue with the automobile company’s backing of the community and posted comments saying they would trade in their Honda vehicles and stop buying from Honda.

    “I am a potential buyer who had a keen interest in your new Honda Civic, but since Honda support lgbt, you just lost a customer. I will spread this post and made you lost EVEN MORE customer,” said Facebook user called Penulis Tanpa Nama, whose post received 474 “likes”.

    Another Malaysian Facebook user, Syarifah Husna, said she would now choose Mazda over Honda, warning Malaysians that “eventually it will come to here… And last thing u know they will fund lgbt here”.

    Malaysian Facebook user Bendahara Alam Warisan said he used to be a big supporter of Honda, but now he would trade off all his vehicles and cancel two orders of a CR-V and Civic.

    “I shall never buy honda again n i shall tell all my friend dont buy honda. The least we could do to stop lgbt,” he wrote.

    Indonesian Facebook user Didi Rachmadi said “since Honda support gay, lets move to Toyota for the next car”.

    Some Facebook users, however, supported Honda’s pro-LGBT stance.

    Shafiqah Othman Hamzah told Honda to keep “spreading the love and keep making bucks”.

    “Thank you for standing up against homophobia,” she wrote.

    Facebook user Mohd Faiz said: “Dear ‘muslim’ Honda users. Please donate me your Honda Jazz. I love that car the moment I’m using it”.

    Facebook user Zanthrax Will apologised on behalf of Malaysians who posted offensive comments, saying: “We all know that LGBT are humans to [sic]”.

    Malaysia and Indonesia are Muslim-majority countries. The local LGBT communities are often targeted by Islamic officials on grounds that homosexuality is forbidden in their religion.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Orang Sibuk Berterawih, Pasangan InI Ditangkap Basah

    Orang Sibuk Berterawih, Pasangan InI Ditangkap Basah

    INDONESIA: Sedang umat Islam sibuk menunaikan ibadah terawih di masjid setelah seharian berpuasa, sepasang kekasih juga sibuk memadu asmara di sebuah rumah sewa di Jawa Barat.

    Pasangan itu, Ahan 35 tahun dan Lis Hermawati 29 tahun, bagaimanapun ditangkap penduduk kampung semalam (19 Jun) semasa orang lain sedang bersolat terawih di masjid.

    Serbuan ke atas mereka itu dibuat hasil daripada rasa curiga pemilik rumah sewa tersebut yang sering melihat Ahan masuk ke rumah itu semasa suami Lis tidak ada.

    Semasa serbuan dijalankan, pasangan yang pada ketika itu hampir tidak memakai seurat benang pun, cuba untuk mengelak ditangkap basah dengan bersembunyi di dalam sebuah almari.

    “Semasa serbuan dibuat rumah itu seperti tidak ada sesiapa, tetapi apabila saya memeriksa di dalam, mereka sedang bersembunyi di dalam almari,” menurut Soleh pemilik rumah tersebut.

    Pasangan itu kemudian dipaksa keluar dan hanya dengan berpakaian dalam, mereka diarak keliling kampung sebelum dihantar ke balai polis.

    Pasangan itu masing-masing sudah berkahwin bahkan semasa di balai polis, isteri Ahan dan suami Lis turut hadir.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • Walid J. Abdullah: Racism Is No Laughing Matter

    Walid J. Abdullah: Racism Is No Laughing Matter

    A lot of us like to share feel-good stories about seeming cooperation and tolerance, or acts of goodwill, involving people from various races. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it can be an extremely positive thing: if we are too mired in negativity , we may forget that there are genuinely nice and kind human beings all around us, and that we experience these acts on a regular basis.

    At the same time, some of those who wish to believe that their societies are harmonious and tolerant find it difficult to accept that racism does indeed exist, or even, that they themselves are racists. Too many times I have seen people justifying their palpably chauvinistic stances via what they think is “reasoned” argumentation.

    “Calling an Indian apuneneh is not racist, it is just a term of endearment.”

    “Saying ‘keling’ is not wrong, it has historical roots.”

    “It was just a joke, don’t be so sensitive.”

    “How is saying that Malays make good barbers and security guards racist; I joke like that with my Malay friends all the time.”

    “Believing that Malays are lazy is not necessarily racist; that is just stating a fact.”

    Next time, I hear some smart alec making a racist comment, I may just be tempted to slap the person and then say:

    ‘Don’t be so sensitive, i am just playing.’
    ‘This is my way of showing endearment to you.’
    ‘I do this to my friends all the time!’

    Racism will continue to exist, as long as we allow it to, and as long as it remains unchallenged. Whether mainfested in ‘jokes’, words or actions.

     

    Source: Walid J. Abdullah

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