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Bangladesh

Three killed in RAB encounter

2015-07-17

[Dhaka Tribune] The elite force has been criticised since its formation in 2004 for extrajudicial killings and giving the same version before the media after every incident of the so-called shootout or crossfire Members of the police's elite force, Rapid Action Battalion, killed three alleged criminals including two siblings during "shootouts" in the capital and Rangpur early yesterday. RAB and police claimed that the victims had been charged with murder and other offences, and that they opened fire in self-defence only. However, a clean conscience makes a soft pillow... family members of one of the victims Yasin Sarker Rajon alleged that the RAB personnel had picked him up on July 12. The two others are Manik, 32, and Sumon, 27, sons of Ameer Ali of Rangpur. Rajon, 25, was injured in a shootout between a patrol team of RAB 2 and some muggers in Taltola area of Agargaon around 2am. He departed this vale of tears at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 4am. In a statement, RAB confirmed death of an unidentified criminal during the shootout. They also claimed to have recovered two foreign-made pistols and seven bullets from the spot. The elite force has been criticised since its formation in 2004 for extrajudicial killings and giving the same version before the media after every incident of the so-called shootout or crossfire. Rajon's family came to know about the murder from the media and his brothers-in-law Ujjal Miah and Panna Miah identified him at the morgue yesterday afternoon. They claimed that Rajon, a contractor by profession, had been picked up by RAB 2 members around 10pm on July 12. His seven month pregnant wife Shammi Akhter said Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police had filed two false cases against him recently. Denying the forcer's having any involvement in abducting Rajon, RAB 2 Commanding Officer Lt Col SM Masud Rana said the area was not under their jurisdiction. When contacted, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police chief GG Biswas said the dear departed had four cases against him. Rajon was charged in one case recently. In another incident, two brothers were killed in a shootout with the RAB members near Desh Hospital and the cantonment check post in Rangpur around 3am yesterday. Some miscreants attacked a RAB 13 patrol team with sharp weapons when the elite force members challenged the brothers, Deputy Commander Maj Ashraf Ali said. "The brothers were killed when the RAB members fired in self-defence," he claimed adding that Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam and Lt Imran had suffered injuries inflicted by sharp weapons. Two pistols, bullets and sharp weapons were recovered from the spot, RAB says. Kotwali police OC Abdul Kader Zilani said Manik and Sumon were accused in several criminal cases, including for the murder of Limon on July 12.

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India-Pakistan

Four killed to 'avenge murder'

2014-06-18

[DAWN] FAISALABAD: Four people of a family, including an aged couple and a child, were allegedly killed to avenge a murder at Chak 273-GB, Jarawnwala, on Monday. Reports said ninety-year-old Bashir Ahmed, his wife Sardaran Bibi, 80, daughter Hafeezan Bibi, 38 and grandson Ameer Ali, 14, were found strangled to death at their house in the village. Police started the paperwork but haven't done much else against eight people, three of them nominated --- Nasir, Asif and Murtaza. According to initial police investigations, the suspects wanted to avenge murder of a relative and believed that one of the dear departed, Bashir, was involved in the killing.

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Bangladesh

23 Jamaat-Shibir Men Held

2012-11-24

[Bangla Daily Star] Law enforcers in the last two days placed in durance vile Please don't kill me! at least 23 more leaders and activists of Jamaat and Shibir from three other districts on charges of the recent attacks on police, involvement in acts of violence and suspected link to subversive activities. Of the arrestees, 11 are from Narail, seven from Munshiganj and five from Narayanganj. Our Correspondent from Narail reports that two Jamaat leaders including Jakir Hossain, ameer of Jamaat's Kotakol union unit, were arrested yesterday afternoon. On Thursday, police arrested nine Jamaat and Shibir men including Lohagora upazila Jamaat Ameer Ali Ahmed Mollah. In Munshiganj, police arrested seven Jamaat men from sadar and Gazooria upazilas with some booklets and non-lethal local arms, reports our Munshiganj correspondent. Our Narayanganj correspondent adds that law enforcers arrested five Jamaat men from Fatullah, Kashimpur, Sonargaon and Dewbhogh areas of the district yesterday and on Thursday night.

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Bangladesh

Rab man faces attempted murder charge

2009-09-17

A fruit seller yesterday filed an attempted murder case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka against Nuruzzaman, an assistant commissioner of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-3). Ameer Ali Mir of Chunarughat of Habigonj district filed the case on behalf of the victim Lutfar Rahman, fruit seller of Khilgaon rail gate bazar. After the hearing, Metropolitan Magistrate Julfiker Hayat recorded the statement of the complainant, took the charges into cognisance and ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. The case statement said the Rab official in plain clothes went to buy some fruits from the victim's shop at Khilgaon rail gate at about 2:00pm on September 7. At one stage they locked into an altercation over the prices of fruits and the Rab official beat Lutfar indiscriminately that threatened his life. Following the incident, Lutfar was seriously injured and was admitted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for treatment, the complainant added.

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Down Under

Jihadists celebrating Victoria fires

2009-02-15

JIHADISTS are celebrating the worst tragedy in Victoria's history. Terror watchdogs said fundamentalists had blogged on websites across the globe, applauding the lives lost and destruction in the Victoria fires. Senior analyst at SITE Intelligence Group Adam Raisman said they were posting pictures of burnt homes and devastated victims and "taking joy in the scenes", the Sunday Herald Sun reports. One jihadist wrote: "It would be an act of revenge for Australian's participation in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq." Bushfires victims said they were stunned. "We're minding our own business and trying to cope with all this and they are celebrating our suffering," said Denise McCann who lost her home in the Kinglake blaze. Regional Islamic Council vice-president Dr Ameer Ali said the comments did not represent the wider Muslim community. "They have no idea what they are talking about," he said. You guys really don't want to make the Aussies mad. You really don't.

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Down Under

Australian university urged to hand back Saudi cash

2008-04-27

Muslim community leaders have urged Griffith University to return a $100,000 grant from the Saudi Arabian embassy as prominent academics attacked vice-chancellor Ian O'Connor for his confusion over the Islamic ideology embraced by Osama bin Laden. Professor O'Connor was yesterday also attacked by fellow academics for partly plagiarising his written defence of the Saudi grant from online encyclopedia Wikipedia - as revealed by The Weekend Australian - and accused of being out of his depth on Islamic issues. The anger in Muslim and academic circles follows revelations by The Australian that the Queensland university asked the Saudis for a $1.37 million grant, of which it received $100,000, and offered to keep elements of the funding deal secret. The nation's most senior female Muslim leader, Aziza Abdel-Halim, urged Griffith to return the Saudi funds, saying the Saudi Government was known for funding projects such as mosques and religious activities in Australia to "subtly" impose its hardline ideology on recipients. "If there are no guarantees they have a free hand in their curriculum ... then it is safer to give the money back," she told The Australian. "If they are not able to have no strings attached, then it's better to not have the money." Documents unveiled by The Australian last week revealed that Professor O'Connor, among other staff, offered the embassy a chance to "discuss ways" in which the money could be used. Professor O'Connor was defended yesterday by Griffith's chancellor, Leneen Forde, who described him as an "outstanding leader", saying the university would not have accepted Saudi funds if they had conditions attached. "In relation to the two sentences lifted from the Wikipedia entry, Professor O'Connor has acknowledged this was inappropriate," she wrote in a memo to staff. "This is regrettable, but is a very minor error compared to the outstanding work which Professor O'Connor has done and will continue to do for the university." A Howard government adviser on Islam, Ameer Ali, said Professor O'Connor was wrong to interchange the term Wahabbism - a Saudi-pioneered Islamic ideology espoused by al-Qa'ida - with Unitarianism when he defended the Saudi grant in an opinion piece published by The Australian last week. Melbourne University associate professor Shahram Akbarzadeh said Professor O'Connor played down and did not properly reflect the essence of Wahabbism by calling it Unitarianism. "Wahabbism and Salafism are a social ideological movement ... and it's all about merging political power with religious piety," he said. "That was an early case of ... political rulers appealing to Islamic principles and Islamic justification for their rule."

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Down Under

Aus Muslim outrage at citizen test

2007-05-18

MUSLIMS are outraged that prospective citizens will have to acknowledge the Judeo-Christian tradition as the basis of Australia's values system. Australia's peak Muslim body said the proposed citizenship question - revealed in the Herald Sun - was disturbing and potentially divisive. Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Dr Ameer Ali said the "Abrahamic tradition" or "universal values" would be less divisive ways of describing the nation's moral base. Dr Ali said use of the term Judeo-Christian was the result of "WWII guilt", and before 1945 Australia would have been called only Christian. "That question must be rephrased," he said. Dr Ali was backed by Democrats senator Lyn Allison, who said the answer to the question was highly debatable. But Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews stood firm on the merit of the question. Mr Andrews said Australia's Judeo-Christian heritage was indisputable historical fact. "We are not asking people to subscribe to the Judeo-Christian ethic," he said. "We are simply stating a fact that this is part of the heritage of Australia in terms of its foundation. "This is not an exercise in political correctness. It is trying to state what has been the case and still is the case." But Health Minister Tony Abbott confused the issue, saying the modern Australian values system was secular, or of no particular religion. The Herald Sun yesterday revealed 20 key questions, developed in consultation with Mr Andrews, that are likely to be asked of would-be citizens. Mr Andrews said the test, to begin by September, would help immigrants integrate into society better. "We celebrate diversity and people are free to continue their own traditions, but we are also very insistent that we have to build and maintain social cohesion," he said. Dr Ali said he would request a meeting with Mr Andrews to discuss the question. "It is the wrong message we are sending," he said. Senator Allison said the test was pointless. "I don't see what it's going to achieve," she said. "It doesn't say anything about people's character, whether they are going to be good citizens." Opposition immigration spokesman Tony Burke said Labor agreed in principle with the test, but wanted details.

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Down Under

Sydney soccer tournament kicks off with Jihad hymn

2007-04-27

A VIDEO posted on a hardline Islamic website to promote a soccer tournament in western Sydney has outraged Muslim leaders by featuring an Arabic song often used by al-Qaeda to promote jihad. The song calls on militants to "exterminate" non-believers and make them "hear the tunes of death". The video is used by the Global Islamic Youth Centre, headed by radical cleric Faiz Mohamad, who has praised jihadists and compared Jews to pigs. It plays the jihad tune, which also says "we shall go to heaven fearing no death", to images of local and international soccer players displaying their skills. Bomb explosions and missiles launching form part of the music in the clip promoting the Liverpool Youth Cup. "With the swords we shall exterminate the infidels and death is the desire of the pure," one translated verse says. "With jihad the banners of the evident victory shall rise high. "We shall go to heaven fearing no death. We shall not waver ... we are the cubs of the victorious conquerors." Senior Muslim leader Ameer Ali attacked the seemingly "hidden agenda" of the video, which was pulled down by GIYC yesterday afternoon following The Weekend Australian's inquiry. "I'm worried and I am concerned there is a hidden message behind this soccer tournament (promotion)," said the former chairman of John Howard's Muslim reference board. "This sort of message should be avoided. Why bring controversy into a sports match? Sport promotes co-operation, friendliness - that's what you expect from sport." Prominent Sydney-based cleric Khalil Shami also condemned the video, saying it was wrong to conflate sporting images and "fighting". He attacked the fundamentalist GIYC for further damaging the Muslim community's standing in the eyes of mainstream Australia. "I don't know how they are driving this community - they drive it in a very, very bad way," said the imam at Penshurst mosque in Sydney's southwest."It's not fair for the community. Why mix sport with the fighting? Why?" GIYC's president, Zunaid Moosa, yesterday told The Weekend Australian that he was unaware of what the song meant because he didn't speak Arabic. He said Islamic songs were often chosen for video-clips based on their "catchy" tune, and denied having anything to do with the production of the clip. "Often a lot of anasheed (Islamic vocal music) we got no idea (about) because we are not Arabic-speaking people," he said. "It would just be more of a tempo of the beat and a catchy type tune, that's all." But now you'll be more careful, right? A list of sponsors on the soccer clip includes charity group Human Appeal International and Krispy Kreme Donuts. A spokesman yesterday said HAI was not aware that GIYC had any political agendas when it agreed to sponsor the event. But a spokeswoman for Krispy Kreme denied the organisation had sponsored the soccer tournament and said she would take the matter up with GIYC.

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Down Under

Ameer Ali: Banning Muslim group 'would be dangerous'

2007-01-28

A leading Muslim says the Federal Government is right to allow the controversial Islamic group, Hizb ut Tahrir, to practice in Australia. There have been calls for the group to be banned following a conference in Sydney's south-west yesterday, which focused on creating an Islamic super state with sharia law somewhere in the world. But former chairman of the Federal Government's Muslim Community Reference Group, Dr Ameer Ali, says banning the group and its controversial teachings could do more harm than good. "That call may be appropriate in a Muslim country, but it is totally inappropriate to Australia," he said. "Therefore they have to be monitored in what they are saying, but to ban them is not a wise move, because once you ban them, they go underground. That is much more dangerous." However, Dr Ali is concerned the conference held by the group may further damage the community's perceptions of the faith. He says the best way to deal with the group is to engage moderate Muslims to counter its views. "These youngsters don't realise the damage they are doing to the mainstream Muslim community in this country," he said. "So I'd say let them do whatever they want to do, but there must be some line - we draw a line beyond which they have to be monitored very closely. "And I think the law enforcement authorities must monitor them." Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says there is insufficient evidence to ban the group. But chair of the Community Relations Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, says Hizb ut Tahrir is overstepping the mark. "If people are going to hold public meetings calling for a way of life and our institutions to be replaced by some other system, then they are definitely crossing the line," he said. "It's not acceptable in our society and it's tantamount to calling for a revolution."

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Down Under

Australia a Muslim nation, says PM advisor

2006-10-08

AUSTRALIA is a Muslim nation, the head of Prime Minister John Howard's Muslim advisory board says. Dr Ameer Ali says most Australians practise Muslim values but the Muslim community is being alienated and disadvantaged by Islamophobia. Dr Ali said multiculturalism was Australia's destiny but Muslims, as latecomers, were being disadvantaged. "We would like to remain in this country as citizens like anybody else, but with cultural individuality preserved," he said. "We want an Australia which is like a fruit salad with a nice juice in it, not a mega fruit juice." Before addressing a conference on national identity today, Dr Ali said Muslim values were practised in Australia. "When I go abroad, they ask me where do I come from? I say I come from a Muslim country," he said. "Which country, they say. Australia. "That's not a Muslim country. Yes it's Muslim country. "For the value that my religion preaches, these people practise. "So I see Islam here but (the people) may not be Muslims, but in (other) countries I see Muslims but not Islam. "So when I come back to Australia, I've been told to respect Australian values and now I am confused, because I see no contradiction at all. "Values are universal. Human values - there is no such thing as Australian values." Dr Ali has denied a report in The Australian newspaper last week which quoted him as saying that Muslims should not blindly follow the Koran and that Mohammed was not the perfect model and had human flaws. But Dr Ali said the comments and a caption underneath a photograph saying "Muslim minds closed" were deeply offensive to all Muslims. Federal parliamentary secretary for multicultural affairs, Andrew Robb, said Dr Ali should be congratulated for the comments. But Dr Ali has been inundated with complaints from angry Muslims since the story appeared and Australia's most senior Islamic cleric called for him to be ostracised. "I have received a number of emails from my fellow Muslims who have taken this opportunity to ridicule me and I do not deny their right to do so," Dr Ali said. "The description projected by the article in The Australian totally misrepresents the noble character of the Holy Prophet who was sent as a model to humanity. "Any part that I may have unwittingly played in this depiction is deeply regretted." "Please don't kill me!" Dr Ali's term on the Muslim advisory board expired last month.

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Olde Tyme Religion

The archbishop downunder gets it

2006-09-18

SYDNEY'S Catholic Archbishop has hit out at Muslims protesting over comments by the Pope, saying their reaction shows the link in Islam between religion and violence. Cardinal George Pell has also labelled the response of some Australian Muslim leaders to the issue as "unhelpful". Cardinal Pell today backed Pope Benedict, saying the violent reaction to his comments on Islam and violence illustrated his fears. "The violent reactions in many parts of the Islamic world justified one of Pope Benedict's main fears," Cardinal Pell said in a statement. "They showed the link for many Islamists between religion and violence, their refusal to respond to criticism with rational arguments, but only with demonstrations, threats and actual violence. "Our major priority must be to maintain peace and harmony within the Australian community, but no lasting achievements can be grounded in fantasies and evasions." Dr Pell said it was a "sign of hope" that no organised violence had flared in Australia following Pope Benedict's comments. But he said the responses of Australia's mufti, Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali, and of Dr Ameer Ali, of the prime minister's Muslim reference group, were "unfortunately typical and unhelpful". "It is always someone else's fault and issues touching on the nature of Islam are ignored. "Sheik Alhilali often responds to criticism by questioning the intelligence and competence of the questioner or critic," Dr Pell said. Later, on ABC radio, he added of Sheik Alhilali: "I'm tempted to say almost never does he address the criticism of Islam but diverts the question away from it and I think resorts to evasions." Dr Ali said yesterday Muslims in Australia were disappointed by the Pope's comments. "We expect the Pope to follow (in) the footsteps of his predecessor who had been a great builder among communities for the last so many years and not a pope of the crusades," Dr Ali said. Dr Pell said Dr Ali had called on Pope Benedict to be more like Pope John Paul II than Pope Urban II, who called the First Crusade. "In fact the Pope's long speech was more about the weaknesses of the Western world, its irreligion and disdain for religion and he explicitly rejected linking religion and violence," Dr Pell said. "He won't be calling any crusade." Dr Pell sought to draw a distinction between Westerners and Muslims. "Today Westerners often link genuine religious expression with peace and tolerance. "Today most Muslims identify genuine religion with submission (Islam) to the commands of the Koran. "They are proud of the spectacular military expansion across continents, especially in the decades after the Prophet's death. This is seen as a sign of God's blessing." Dr Pell said while he was grateful for the contributions of moderate Muslims, "evil acts done falsely in the name of Islam around the world need to be addressed, not swept under the carpet". Dr Pell has repeatedly said Islam is more warlike than Christianity. In June this year he told the National Catholic Reporter in the US: "It's difficult to find periods of tolerance in Islam."

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Down Under

Muslims read riot act

2006-09-17

AUSTRALIA'S Muslim leaders have been "read the riot act" over the need to denounce any links between Islam and terrorism. The Howard Government's multicultural spokesman, Andrew Robb, yesterday told an audience of 100 imams who address Australia's mosques that these were tough times requiring great personal resolve. Mr Robb also called on them to shun a victim mentality that branded any criticism as discrimination. "We live in a world of terrorism where evil acts are being regularly perpetrated in the name of your faith," Mr Robb said at the Sydney conference. "And because it is your faith that is being invoked as justification for these evil acts, it is your problem. "You can't wish it away, or ignore it, just because it has been caused by others. "Instead, speak up and condemn terrorism, defend your role in the way of life that we all share here in Australia." Mr Robb said unless Muslims took responsibility for their destiny and tackled the causes of terrorism, Australia would become divided. Mr Robb, the parliamentary secretary for immigration and multicultural affairs, said it was important for migrants to learn English. "I see as critical the need for imams to have effective English language skills -- it is a self-evident truth that a shared language is one of the foundations of national cohesion," he said. On the eve of Mr Robb's release today of a discussion paper on a new citizenship test, the chairman of the Government's Muslim Reference Group, Dr Ameer Ali, said Opposition Leader Kim Beazley's idea of a values test was silly, as was the need for a universal English test. He called for an orientation program for new migrants akin to a university student's orientation week.

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