Common Ground News Service – Partners in Humanity (CGNews-PiH)
May 2, 2006

**********

The Common Ground News Service – Partners in Humanity (CGNews-PiH) aims to promote constructive perspectives and dialogue about Muslim-Western relations.

*This service is also available in Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia and French. You can subscribe by sending an email to cgnewspih@sfcg.org [cgnewspih@sfcg.orgcgnewspih@sfcg.org], specifying your choice of language.

*Unless otherwise noted, copyright permission has been obtained and articles may be reprinted by any news outlet or publication. Please acknowledge both the original source and the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).

*For an archive of CGNews articles and other information, please visit our website at www.commongroundnews.org (http://www.commongroundnews.org/).

**********

ARTICLES IN THIS EDITION:

1. British Muslims Gain Respect by Lee Marsden
Lee Marsden, researcher in international relations at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, considers the greater involvement by British Muslims in British politics and discusses how the local elections taking place across England on the 4th of May represent a unique opportunity for them to engage in the political process. Although small political parties such as the Respect–Unity Coalition, which began as a coalition of British Muslims, socialists, environmentalists and anti-war campaigners searching for common ground, do not have much hope of claiming a majority, Marsden feels that “in an election where there is so little to choose from among the programmes of the main political parties…it is the relative success or failure of these fringe parties that will have the most impact on the nature of British society.”
(Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), May 2, 2006)

2. YOUTH VIEWS Beyond the smoke, there is solidarity among cultures by Victoria Harben
University of Arizona journalism student, Victoria Harben, explains how hookah bars are serving as the latest intersection of globalisation and youth culture: “This infusion of Middle Eastern culture in American life is promoting interaction with Muslims and a new interest in Middle Eastern culture.” As one patron, Alicia Garcia, says, “Being in this environment helps to educate people about the positives of the Middle East,” she said. “When you’re here experiencing the culture with people from all over the world, you forget the unfair negativity that’s been portrayed by the media and this nation for the past decade.”
(Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), May 2, 2006)

3. Talk to Iran, President Bush – Statement published in the International Herald Tribune
The statement, signed by former foreign ministers Madeleine Albright of the United States, Joschka Fischer of Germany, Jozias van Aartsen of the Netherlands, Bronislaw Geremek of Poland, Hubert Védrine of France and Lydia Polfer of Luxembourg - individuals who are disturbed about reports that the Bush administration may be planning to launch military strikes against possible nuclear weapons facilities in Iran - suggests that “the Bush administration should pursue a policy it has shunned for many years: attempt to negotiate directly with Iranian leaders about their nuclear program.” They counter those who feel that Iran would not engage in such negotiations and explain why negotiations will work better than military intervention in this case.
(Source: International Herald Tribune, April 26, 2006)

4. Islam Is Innocent by Sheikh Abdul Mohsen
Sheikh Abdul Mohsen, a member of Saudi Arabia's Shura council and a judiciary consultant for the Saudi Ministry of Justice, describes four groups of non-Muslims in the context of Islamic rule. Dispelling the myth that Muslims aim to convert, or wage war on, all non-Muslims, he explains the responsibilities of Muslims towards these groups and condemns the recent attacks on Christians in Alexandria as un-Islamic.
(Source: Asharq Alawsat, April 25, 2006)

5. “Hip” hijab takes on Dutch prejudices by Leela Jacinto
New York-based journalist, Leela Jacinto, looks at how a Dutch graduate student, Cindy van den Bremen, has worked to reduce prejudice in her country and simultaneously provide women wearing the hijab with greater flexibility to participate in sports activities. With the advent of the “capstter”, a chic yet functional design that enables active Muslim women who choose to wear a head-covering to stay covered, van den Bremen has won the support of both Muslims and non-Muslims in the country. This functional hijab is only one aspect of her work to promote intercultural dialogue in the Netherlands: she encourages policy makers to actually engage with the women whom their policies will affect rather than emancipating them by unilaterally forcing them to comply with decrees from above.
(Source: The Christian Science Monitor, April 17, 2006)

**********

ARTICLE 1
British Muslims Gain Respect
Lee Marsden

Norwich, England - In the aftermath of the London bombings of July 2005, the British Muslim community has sought to become more involved in the political process. The main political parties have courted British Muslims with promises of greater representation at the local and national levels. At the same time, they have criticised community leaders for not being more politically active and engaged, resulting in some young Muslims turning to extremism. The local elections taking place across England on the 4th of May represent an opportunity for British Muslims to engage in the political process.

The 7/7 bombings last year and the ongoing war on terrorism have created a climate of fear and Islamophobia that is being exploited by British racists. British Muslims are faced with two alternatives: either to maintain a low profile and hope that tensions will subside over time, or to become active participants in the political discourse. It is by fully engaging in society and being involved that the current climate of fear can begin to dissipate. By reaching out across communities, mutual suspicions recede and a deeper understanding of, and respect for, other cultures and shared culture develop. Issues such as social inclusion, housing, crime, education and immigration affect everyone, and British Muslims need to be involved in addressing these issues through active participation in the political process.

The emergence of a new political party at the last general election provides British Muslims with an opportunity to shape the policies that affect their lives. The Respect –Unity Coalition is fielding 165 candidates in constituencies across the country, although most of its efforts will be concentrated in the East London constituencies of Newham and Tower Hamlets, areas with a high concentration of British Muslims. Respect was formed in 2004 as a coalition of British Muslims, socialists, environmentalists and anti-war campaigners searching for common ground.

Over half of the candidates being fielded by Respect are British Muslims, but as Newham candidate, Hanif Abdulmuhit, emphasises: “Respect is proud to say we defend the rights of Muslims, but we are not a party of Muslims, rather a party for Muslims, as well as Sikhs, Hindus, Jews, Christians, and all faiths and none.”

The party is campaigning on a range of local and international issues. In Tower Hamlets, it is calling for the council to be “the most democratic, green and publicly accountable council in the country. It should put people before profit. The council should defend its residents from the power of big corporations and be a showcase for high quality houses and services.” On international issues, it urges an end to the occupation in Iraq and is against any invasion of Iran. If Respect wins seats in Tower Hamlets and Newham, it will represent a significant vote of no-confidence in the Blair government’s policy on Iraq.

The emergence of Respect represents a positive aspect of multicultural society with diverse groups coming together and being able to campaign around issues whilst celebrating their diversity. This counters the negative impact of a racist campaign launched by the British National Party (BNP). The BNP has called the elections a “referendum on Islam”. They have sought to link the 7/7 bombings with lax immigration and asylum controls. The war on terror and fear of the “other” have been used to undermine multiculturalism and make scapegoats of British Muslims.

A recent report commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust suggests that as many as 25% of voters might vote for the BNP, and Employment Minister Margaret Hodge believes that eight out of ten “white” families in her constituency would vote for it.

Respect and the BNP are both fringe parties with little prospect of gaining control over any local authorities. But in an election where there is so little to choose from among the programmes of the main political parties, it is the relative success or failure of these fringe parties that will have the most impact on the nature of British society. One advocates partnership and cooperation in a multicultural society, the other separation and discrimination in a racist society.

In a message sent to every mosque and centre across the country, the Muslim Council of Britain has called on British Muslims to vote in order to highlight local concerns, participate in local civic duties and make Britain a better place. The relative success of Respect or the BNP in these elections will have an impact on British Muslim relations with the rest of society. It is therefore imperative that British Muslims exercise their vote.
###
* Dr Lee Marsden is a researcher in international relations at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom. This article was commissioned by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org.
Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), May 2, 2006
Visit the website at www.commongroundnews.org
Distributed by the Common Ground News Service – Partners in Humanity (CGNews-PiH).
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.

**********

ARTICLE 2
YOUTH VIEWS
Beyond the smoke, there is solidarity among cultures
Victoria Harben

Tucson, Arizona - Behind a heavy haze and intense smell of what seems to be a mix of cigars and incense lies a colourful lounge full of college students sitting and chatting in deep-seated couches. Thumping, bass-heavy music shakes walls and eardrums alike. The Bubble Lounge, a hookah bar in Albuquerque, New Mexico is introducing Americans to Middle Eastern culture.

Hookah bars, where anyone can pay a small price to indulge in the traditional Middle Eastern practice of smoking flavoured tobacco, are the latest intersection of globalisation and youth culture. For the uninitiated, a hookah is a smoking device with a vase at the bottom containing water - to filter the tobacco - and a metal pipe, from which protrude the colourfully-decorated smoking tubes. Above this lies the heating mechanism, usually a thin slab of charcoal.

While there is more than a passing resemblance to certain devices commonly used to smoke illegal substances, hookahs are used only for regular or flavoured tobacco. Strawberry, cola, white peach, rose and dozens of various flavours of “shisha”, or tobacco, are available. Shisha is healthier than smoking cigarettes because the washing process used in producing it leaves behind much of the tar and nicotine. The shisha is then dried and soaked in molasses, honey and fruit to give it its distinctive flavour.

For Americans under the legal drinking age of 21 (but over 18, since tobacco is unavailable to minors), as well as for Muslim-Americans, a hookah lounge is a perfect hangout on a Saturday night. The phenomenon is not only giving older teenagers an alternative to illegal drinking, it’s also causing a convergence of cultures.

Hookah originated in India over a millennium ago and conquered most of the Middle East more than 500 years ago. Today, the trend has crossed the Atlantic and established itself in both major American cities and smaller college towns. From cafes in Cairo to bars in Baghdad, tearooms in Tucson to houses in Honolulu, hookahs seem to be everywhere.

This infusion of Middle Eastern culture in American life is promoting interaction with Muslims and a new interest in Middle Eastern culture. A group of girls at the Bubble Lounge sits at a table talking and laughing while they pass around the hookah’s hose. Two Americans, two sisters from Baghdad, and a Pakistani girl have gathered at the lounge to chat and smoke.

“It diversifies the cultures,” said Saba Mohammad, a native of Baghdad and current journalism sophomore at the University of New Mexico (UNM). “We can just relax with the hookah, people like it more than drinking or cigarettes. It’s a great alternative to partying, which I’m not interested in.”

Alicia Garcia, a media arts sophomore also attending UNM, thinks smoking hookah brings about a positive cross-cultural exchange. “Being in this environment helps to educate people about the positives of the Middle East,” she said. “When you’re here experiencing the culture with people from all over the world, you forget the unfair negativity that’s been portrayed by the media and this nation for the past decade.”

Garcia has been friends with Mohammad, the owner, for years, but that doesn’t stop them from learning new things about each other’s cultures. “We teach each other a lot,” said Garcia. “Diversifying your social group can really broaden horizons.”

As the group of girls continue chatting around their hookah, they order a special kind - double apple - which, according to Mohammed, is only available to VIP customers, and the music suddenly becomes louder. Three belly-dancers appear in the doorway and begin to make their way around the room.

Cheers erupt from the sidelines as the dancers shake to the Middle Eastern music and the clientele watches, entranced by the performance.

Behind the bead curtain of the Bubble Lounge lies a different world where cultures intertwine and the stereotypes of the outside world are forgotten. Here at least, it seems ignorance and hatred can be dissolved in a puff of apple-flavoured smoke.

###
* Victoria Harben is a third-year student of journalism at the University of Arizona. This article was commissioned by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org.
Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), May 2, 2006
Visit the website at www.commongroundnews.org
Distributed by the Common Ground News Service – Partners in Humanity (CGNews-PiH).
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.

**********

ARTICLE 3
Talk to Iran, President Bush
Statement published in the International Herald Tribune

The undersigned, a group of former foreign ministers from Europe and North America, find disturbing the reports that the Bush administration may be actively planning to launch military strikes soon against possible nuclear weapons facilities in Iran.

Such reports, though denied by the administration, raise alarms nevertheless. Similar reports, and similar denials, preceded the administration's decision in 2003 to invade Iraq.

We accept Iran's legitimate right to pursue civilian nuclear power with appropriate international safeguards.

European leaders have made strenuous efforts to negotiate a solution that met Iran's energy development needs while ensuring respect for non-proliferation norms. Unfortunately, Iran's government continues to resist accepting verifiable constraints on its development of all elements of the nuclear fuel cycle, including large-scale uranium enrichment facilities that could be used to manufacture fuel for nuclear weapons.

The threatening and outrageous rhetoric of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has evoked understandable concern in Israel and other countries about Iranian intentions. Israel also has legitimate security concerns about Tehran's growing military capabilities.

Although these discussions have proven only partly successful, a unilateral American use of force against Iran would likely have disastrous effects on the international security environment. It is doubtful than a "surgical" air strike could succeed in destroying all of Iran's nuclear assets, while a large-scale invasion and military occupation of the country is widely recognised as unmanageable.

Even if American air power succeeded in disrupting for some time Tehran's ability to develop nuclear weapons, Iran could well find others means - including terrorism - to retaliate against Western interests in the region and elsewhere.

Such a unilateral use of force by Washington would find little support within Europe and would further undermine trans-Atlantic relations just as they were recovering from the divisions created by the invasion of Iraq.

Russia and China would certainly oppose such a move. Even close American allies in Asia and Latin America would object to a U.S. military action against Iran under present circumstances. Fearing the long-term consequences for their security of an even more radicalised Iranian regime, Turkey, Egypt and other nearby countries would have new grounds to pursue their own nuclear programs, further undermining the global non-proliferation regime.

We cannot exclude the fact that the United States might eventually conclude that military action might prove warranted. We are suggesting another course. The potential risks of using force are sufficiently grave that we instead urge the United States to pursue a bold non-military option first.

We believe that the Bush administration should pursue a policy it has shunned for many years: attempt to negotiate directly with Iranian leaders about their nuclear program.

The administration has already taken the first step in engaging the Iranian government on regional security issues when it authorised its ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, to discuss questions relating to the situation in Iraq with representatives of the Iranian government (hopefully with Iraqis also included). We applaud the administration's decision, but call on it to widen the dialogue and raise it to a higher level, by developing a dialogue on nuclear security issues as well.

Some might consider the current Iranian government an unwilling dialogue partner. Yet every European member of our group has met with influential Iranian officials during the past few months and found a widespread interest among them in conducting a broad discussion with the United States on security issues.

Government leaders in Europe, Russia and Asia also believe that direct talks between Washington and Tehran could prove more fruitful now that the European and Russian-Iranian engagements on Iran's nuclear program have made some progress in communicating mutual positions and concerns.

Accordingly, we call on the U.S. administration, hopefully with the support of the trans-Atlantic community, to take the bold step of opening a direct dialogue with the Iranian government on the issue of Iran's nuclear program.

###
* The statement is signed by former foreign ministers Madeleine Albright of the United States, Joschka Fischer of Germany, Jozias van Aartsen of the Netherlands, Bronislaw Geremek of Poland, Hubert Védrine of France and Lydia Polfer of Luxembourg. This article was distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org.
Source: International Herald Tribune April 26, 2006
Visit the website at www.iht.com
Distributed by the Common Ground News Service – Partners in Humanity (CGNews-PiH).
Copyright permission has been obtained for publication.

**********

ARTICLE 4
Islam Is Innocent
Sheikh Abdul Mohsen

Riyadh - Due to the regrettable events that took place recently between Egypt's Muslims and Christians, I decided to postpone my article concerning the codification of the shari'a and dedicate this piece to that matter of jurisprudence which relates to the dealing with, and treatment of, non-Muslims.

Islam is a religion of mercy and justice. It was revealed to bring happiness to humanity and to deliver people from darkness. Islam is not about shedding blood or violating the rights of others.

As to how Islam deals with non-Muslims, jurisprudence has identified four categories. The first category is Ahl al-Zimma, non-Muslim citizens of an Islamic state living under Islamic law. This refers to those whose countries were conquered by Muslims many years ago and who have lived under their protection throughout the centuries. As it was the Muslims who had entered their countries, Islam emphasised preserving the rights of these people, the security of their places of worship and their freedom of worship.

As for the tax to be paid by non-Muslims, it is similar to the tax paid by Muslims and goes directly to the Bayt al-Mal, the Muslim Treasury. It is used to protect these populations. Most non-Muslim citizens in Egypt and countries of the Levant are classified as such and so their rights are maintained and secured by Islam.

The second category is the Mu'ahidoon, those whose governments are at peace with the Muslim state. They constitute the majority of non-Muslim citizens and their rights cannot be violated. Their well-being and property cannot be harmed by Muslims.

The third category is the Musta'mineen, citizens that come from a country that is at war with the Muslims but who have asked for protection under Islamic law or through the support of a Muslim. They should also be protected by Muslims and be permitted to stay in their countries.

The final category is the Harbyeen, citizens of countries at war with Muslims. As long as they have not sought the protection of Muslims, those citizens have no rights. However, I should emphasise here that with this group, only the Muslim rulers can be the ones to have declared war on them.

Thus, the latest events that took place in Alexandria, Egypt are in fact un-Islamic acts of violation carried out against non-Muslim minorities in Muslim states, a group which, of the four categories mentioned, ought to be the first to be protected.

Therefore, I strongly condemn the clashes that took place in Alexandria and state clearly that Islam has nothing to do with these acts that run contrary to the interests of Muslims also. Such events in fact defame the image of Islam and Muslims. These clashes provoke disorder and seek to weaken the solid structures of Muslim states, which some could use as a pretext to harm Muslims.

###
* Sheikh Abdul Mohsen Bin Nasser Al Obeikan is a member of Saudi Arabia's Shura council and a judiciary consultant for the Saudi Ministry of Justice. This article was distributed by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews) and can be accessed at www.commongroundnews.org.
Source: Asharq Alawsat April 25, 2006
Visit the website at www.asharqalawsat.com/english
Distributed by the Common Ground News Service – Partners in Humanity (CGNews-PiH).
For reprint permission, please contact the original publication.

**********

ARTICLE 5
“Hip” hijab takes on Dutch prejudices
Leela Jacinto

Son en Breugel, The Netherlands – In 1999, while seeking a graduate project idea at the Design Academy of Eindhoven, Cindy van den Bremen found a problem-solving opportunity.

The Dutch Commission of Equal Treatment had recently ruled that high schools could prohibit Muslim girls from wearing head coverings in gym class. Girls were advised to wear turtlenecks teamed with swim caps. But some were ignoring the sartorial advice, preferring instead to skip gym all together.

At about that time, the Dutch were beginning to become disillusioned with multiculturalism - a trend that was to intensify in the next few years with the death of maverick anti-immigrant politician Pim Fortuyn and the murder of film-maker Theo Van Gogh by a radical Dutch Islamist.

For Ms. van den Bremen, the phys-ed class controversy offered a means to marry her political sense of injustice with her professional expertise. "I realised that if the hijabs did not look traditional, but hip and trendy, they could possibly change prejudice into some sort of admiration," says the young Dutch designer.

Within months, the "capster" was born, and quickly blossomed into a business. In four styles designed for tennis, skating, aerobics and outdoor sports, van den Bremen's head coverings were sleek, safe and - in the words of a local Islamic cleric - "Islamically correct."

Even an elderly man at her graduation show, who told her he didn't like the hijab at all, said he did like her designs. "This made me realise even more that the social problem with the acceptance of the hijab was not about the girls being covered, but the way they are covered," says van den Bremen.

Initially, she expected that she'd be done with the capsters after graduation. But the capsters' popularity has grown steadily, and grateful feedback she receives and the clamour for more such products has encouraged her to expand her small business operation.

For Farah Azwai, an athletic undergraduate at the American Intercontinental University in London who started wearing the hijab at age 16, the capster was a relief.

"Before I had the capsters, I tried a number of things - I used to wear a bandanna and tried fixing my hijab in different ways but it wasn't very practical and I always had problems," says Ms. Azwai, who bought the "skate" and "outdoors" models online. "The fabric and style is very modern, it totally suits my style - it goes well with my sports clothes, with brands like Nike, Adidas and Pineapple."

Van den Bremen's business expansion plans include increasing production of the four current lines to keep up with demand as well as new lines of "breathable" capsters for tropical climates.

She also has designs on promoting intercultural dialogue. She recently teamed with Dutch Iranian photographer Giti Entezami to produce Sharing Motives, a book featuring 25 Dutch women in a variety of hijabs. The duo has since expanded their project to an exhibition - currently on display at the University of Utrecht - accompanied by a series of lectures and debates.

More than a year after Van Gogh's killing sparked a violent anti-Muslim backlash, experts say a pressing need for intercultural dialogue remains in the Netherlands. A recent Pew Global Attitudes study found the Netherlands to be the only Western country where a majority of the population - 51 percent - views Muslims unfavourably.

Amid a recent slew of immigration-tightening measures, beefed-up citizenship tests and controversial anti-terrorism programmes inviting citizens to report "suspect people", Muslim community leaders say a proposed ban on the burqa - an all-enveloping Islamic covering for women - is yet another shot in the Netherlands' rising Islamophobia.

"There are two sets of standards in this country," says Famille Arslan, a prominent Dutch Muslim lawyer. "One is for Muslims and another for non-Muslims. This law not only discriminates against religion and gender, it also threatens to further polarise the people."

In December, the Dutch parliament approved a ban on the burqa and other Islamic veils that cover the face in all public places. The measure - which was introduced by conservative politician Geert Wilders - is currently awaiting approval from a commission examining the legality of such a ban under European human rights laws.

If passed, it would be one of the most restrictive responses to Islamic clothing in Europe. Defenders of the ban note that the measure does not apply to the head-scarf (or capster), merely to Islamic garments that cover the face such as the burqa and the niqab, a facial veil with an opening for the eyes. Experts estimate that only about 50 to 100 women among Holland's 1 million Muslims currently don such extensive veiling.

Despite widespread criticism, Mr. Wilders is determined to push his initiative through the legal process. "I hope to succeed with my motion because I believe I have broad popular support," he says in a phone interview. "Parliament has followed public opinion, but the government can act differently for political reasons."

Van den Bremen bemoans the lack of intercultural dialogue. "It seems like no one is discussing things with the girls. They always talk about the girls," she says. "I was struck by how emancipated they were. They were demanding to be judged by their capacity, not their looks."

###
* Leela Jacinto is a New York-based journalist who writes on Middle Eastern and South Asian affairs.
Source: The Christian Science Monitor, April 17, 2006
Visit the website at www.csmonitor.com
Distributed by the Common Ground News Service – Partners in Humanity (CGNews-PiH).
(c) Copyright 2006 The Christian Science Monitor. For reprint permission please contact lawrenced@csps.com.

**********

The Common Ground News Service – Partners in Humanity (CGNews-PiH) provides news, op-eds, features and analysis by local and international experts on a broad range of issues affecting Muslim-Western relations. CGNews-PiH syndicates articles that are balanced and solution-oriented to news outlets worldwide. With support from the Norwegian government and the United States Institute of Peace, this news service is a non-profit initiative of Search for Common Ground, an international NGO working in the field of conflict transformation.

This news service is one outcome of a set of working meetings held in partnership with His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan in June 2003.

~YOUTH VIEWS~

CGNews-PiH also regularly publishes the work of student leaders and journalists whose articles strengthen intercultural understanding and promote constructive perspectives and dialogue in their own communities. Student journalists and writers under the age of 27 are encouraged to write to cbinkley@sfcg.org for more information on contributing.
*The views expressed in these articles are those of the authors, not of CGNews-PiH or its affiliates.

Common Ground News Service
1601 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite #200
Washington, DC 20009 USA
Ph: +1(202) 265-4300
Fax: +1(202) 232-6718

Rue Belliard 205 bte 13
B-1040 Brussels, Belgium
Ph: +32 (02) 736-7262
Fax: +32(02) 732-3033
E-mail: cgnewspih@sfcg.org
Website: http://www.commongroundnews.org

Editors

Emad Khalil (Amman)
Juliette Schmidt (Beirut)
Chris Binkley (Dakar)
Medhy Hidayat (Jakarta)
Elyte Baykun (Washington)
Leena El-Ali (Washington)
Emmanuelle Hazan (Washington)

**********

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an email to cgnewspih@sfcg.org with “subscribe” or “unsubscribe” in the subject line, indicating your language of choice among English, French, Arabic and Bahasa Indonesia.

Posted by Evelin at May 3, 2006 07:18 AM