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| IRAQ, THROUGH THE EYES OF YVONNE RIDLEY |
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| Learner |
| 12/26/02 at 11:28:37 |
| IRAQ, THROUGH THE EYES OF YVONNE RIDLEY I, like many others, watched the television footage of Yvonne Ridley’s release on 8th October 2001, after she had been held captive by the Taliban for 10 days. Following such an ordeal, we would expect exuberance at being released. Instead, we were presented with a picture of a solemn woman, with her head still partially covered with an Asian style scarf, even though she was safely within the borders of Pakistan and away from the strict standards of the Taliban. I wondered as I saw these images, has this woman been touched by the great spirit of Islam? Has she been blessed with the understanding of the modesty of the Muslim woman, which surpasses the understanding of so many in this society? Evidently so. Since then, this remarkable woman has kept her promise to her Taliban captors, that upon her return to England she would read the Holy Qur’an. This has inevitably drawn her closer and closer to Islam. Over the past year since that experience, Yvonne has been studying Islam and insha’Allah, will one day embrace this great faith of ours. Yvonne kindly agreed to share some of her views with VOICES. What were your views of Islam before you were captured by the Taliban? I was quite indifferent about Islam before I was captured, and once I was captured I deliberately avoided talking about religion because I realised I was in the hands of religious fanatics. How do you feel about Islam now? I really wish I had known then, what I know now because I would have asked the Taliban what on earth they thought they were doing. Their treatment of women may have had its roots in good intentions but it was certainly not Islamic. I realised that some of these people who could recite the Koran from first to last actually had no idea about the content, which made me very sad. The Koran makes it perfectly clear that women are equal in spirituality, education and worth and furthermore we are extra special because of our additional capabilities . . . childbirth, breast-feeding etc. I tell the sisters that on this basis we must be like the deluxe or ghia model of the car whereas the poor man is just the standard model! Do you think you will one-day embrace this faith? I am sure I will embrace Islam but I need to 'spring clean' my life first before I take such a major step. I have already cut out bacon sandwiches and alcohol and plan to try and fast during Ramadhan. I feel it is pointless embracing Islam if I am not going to seriously change my life. In view of the current situation with Iraq, why do you think the US is so determined to attack Iraq? Oil, oil and oil. Following your recent visit to Iraq, what can you tell us about the feeling 'on the ground'? Saddam Hussein enjoys a lot of grassroots support in Baghdad, but even those who think he should go say the last thing they want is Americans in their country. People are genuinely afraid and with good reason. Leaked pentagon plans reveal the military plans 60 days and 60 nights of bombing to 'soften up' the country before an invasion of 250,000 troops. Did you have any contact with the children of Iraq? What has been the effect of the last 12 years on them? The children of Iraq, especially the babies, are suffering badly from biting US driven UN sanctions. The infrastructure is crumbling and poor hygienic conditions are the cause of many deaths from severe dehydration. Three times as many Iraqi babies die every month as a result of these sanctions than were killed in the 9/11 attacks last year. Do you believe this is in any way a war against Islam? At first I thought Bush was just using clumsy rhetoric but now I think it is something which runs much deeper. Since September 11 more than 30,000 Afghan Muslims have been blown to bits by US bombs, 6000 plus Indian Muslims wiped out by the Indian government in Gujarat; over 5000 Chechen Muslims have been slaughtered by Russians; 3000 plus Palestinians have been murdered by IDF soldiers; nearly 2200 Uzbek Muslims who have disappeared from their homes by the US-backed Karimov government; and 1400 Kashmiri Muslims killed by Hindu and Sikh soldiers in Occupied Kashmir. America and its friends seem hell bent on making the lives of Muslims a misery because they feel threatened by a movement which transcends nationalities, race and colour. What does the average Iraqi appear to think of Saddam Hussein? It is always difficult to get the truth when you are constantly being 'minded' by a government helper but there is a genuine warmth and affection for Saddam from a stronghold of his people in and around Baghdad. If you ask the average Iraqi what he thinks he will tell you what he thinks Saddam would want to hear! What does the average Iraqi appear to think of the US and UK? The average Iraqi is very despondent, shocked and dismayed at the ''poor'' level of intellect in America which they have ascertained and gauged by talking to American citizens, via the Internet. They love the British and realise that any intentions to invade Iraq emanate from Downing Street and not the general public. How do you think the people of England can practically help the people of Iraq? Write letters of protest to your local MPs, local and national newspapers, attend anti war rallies, marches and demonstrations. The anti war movement in Britain is a magnificent body of people from all backgrounds and cultures. Collectively we are powerful and individually we can also make our voices heard. What do you think the effect of this war will be on the Palestinians? (Bearing in mind what happened in Jenin during the war in Afghanistan). The heroic resistance of the Palestinian people has prevented America from charging into Iraq months ago. Whatever is thrown at these amazing people they will rise and overcome the atrocities hurled at them. With sticks, stones and their own bodies they have shown the 4th largest army in the world (IDF) they are a force to be reckoned with. Can you imagine what would happen if their Muslim neighbours began to rise against the tin pot dictators who run their countries for America? Maybe the time is approaching when all Muslims must stand together and be counted instead of being cowed by a corrupt few. What do you believe the widespread implications of this war will be? How may it effect the world at large? The whole of the Middle East could be plunged into chaos and if Israel joins America it will Zionise the whole war. Saudi, Egypt and Jordan are already afraid of internal conflict and if Bush puts 250,000 'Christian soldiers' into Iraq it will have a devastating affect on the Muslim world which is already convinced, and justified in my opinion, that Bush is launching a Crusade against Islam. If this war destabilises the Middle East, what are the possible consequences for the Arabs? Bin Ladinism erupted because a few thousand American soldiers are hidden away in the Saudi desert, so the impact 250,000 Western troops in Iraq could have on the region is horrifying. Who do you think is next on the US list of targets? From Bush's own mouth his so-called Axis of Evil: Syria, Iran and North Korea, and anywhere else that has the misfortune to strike oil! Finally, in your view, what is presently the greatest threat to global stability? Not what but who: GEORGE W BUSH. global_voices@email.com © VOICES Magazine, December 2002 |
| Re: IRAQ, THROUGH THE EYES OF YVONNE RIDLEY |
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| BroHanif |
| 12/26/02 at 13:06:30 |
| Salaams [quote]How do you think the people of England can practically help the people of Iraq? Write letters of protest to your local MPs, local and national newspapers, attend anti war rallies, marches and demonstrations.... ...Collectively we are powerful and individually we can also make our voices heard. [/quote] And why not raise the issue in the mosques, and study circles...??? I'm ashmed to say this but, I went to an Interfaith Meeting a couple of weeks ago and the churches of UK have drawn up this five point plan on what the issue on Iraq is, the five point plan covers the role of the UN, what the purpose of war should be, the protection of civilians and other things. Sad to say there is not even one mosque in Yorkshire that I know of that has done something relating to how we can stop this war happening. Sure you hear the khutbas on Jumah, hear the storys of the Sahabas( may Allah be pleaseed with them) and the Prophet [saw], but hold everything to one side and think. In less than two months time, 5,000 to 10,000 people are going to meet Allah. Doesn't anybody think that theres something wrong here ?. I sincerly hope to Allah that I'm wrong, I hope something happens so there can be peace but I know that the build up is continuing and the signs are not looking good. And what happens after war ??? We've all heard the talk of more terror attacks being carried out in the name of religion, some websites are now even supporting the action conducted in Bali, NYC, Pakistan and other areas. Will those Muslims in other countries be safe ????. Yet you go round full circle, you look at all the channels of issue and you come back to the same point where I started from, is it because we are so ineffective that we are in this state ?. Where are our reliable scholars whom we can talk to ? Infact why isn't this issue addressed rightly ? I find it very frustrating that we as Muslims, have now stooped so low that I find that our emaan is going to be questionable. What answer are we going to give to Allah on the day of judegment for being so ineffctive ???. Right now I have no answer, my friends don't have an answer, the community where I live dosen't have an answer. Does anyone ? Salaams Hanif |
| NS |
| Re: IRAQ, THROUGH THE EYES OF YVONNE RIDLEY |
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| humble_muslim |
| 12/27/02 at 09:58:43 |
| [slm] So she hasn't embraced Islam yet ? |
| NS |
| Re: IRAQ, THROUGH THE EYES OF YVONNE RIDLEY |
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| Learner |
| 12/27/02 at 13:12:56 |
| [quote]So she hasn't embraced Islam yet ? [/quote] No, not yet anyway. [wlm] |
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