Articles

American hypocrisy became evident, yet again, on December 12 when the Treasury Department slapped new nuclear-related sanctions on Iran even while the Obama regime has said it would not do so. At the same time, Wendy Sherman, the top US nuclear negotiator told Congress it could impose new sanctions if they were not nuclear-related. The deal appears to have been placed in jeopardy.

Hasina Wajed is determined to push Bangladesh into civil war. The hasty manner in which Jamaat-e Islami leader Abdul Qauder Molla was executed by hanging within hours of the Supreme Court rejecting his appeal to review his death sentence shows the vindictiveness of the current prime minister. Violent protests erupted in many cities across the country. Bangladesh is heading for more turmoil as polarization deepens.

Without mincing words, the Saudi Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh has condemned suicide bombings as haraam. He has said that anyone who blows himself up with explosives is hastening his departure to hell. This is a very strong statement coming from the highest religious authority in the kingdom that specializes in producing suicide bombers, of course against people they consider to be their enemy.

Western hypocrisy was on full display in South Africa today as scores of leaders from around the world gathered to pay respects to Nelson Mandela, the father of South Africa's liberation struggle who died on December 5. He was 95. The same western rulers whose countries had aided and abetted the apartheid regime that had tormented Mandela and his fellow strugglers for decades were now singing his praises.

There appears no limit to the hatred of Bangaldeshi Prime Minister Hasina Wajed. She insists on seeking revenge from her political opponents that had opposed her father's quest to break Pakistan with Indian military help to create Bangladesh. Her government has announced it will hang Abdul Qauder Molla, a leader of the Jamaat-e Islami after midnight today. Observers believe it will lead to more chaos in the country.

Droning innocents to death in Pakistan is official US policy. This is implemented by US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel on behalf of Barack Obama who has escalated drone strikes alarmingly since becoming president. Hagel was in Islamabad today to insist the drone attacks would continue while the people of Pakistan are adamantly opposed to them. There have been protests for several weeks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to get such attacks stopped.

The Saudis have intensified their subversion of any chances of a negotiated settlement in Syria. The purchase of nearly 16,000 anti-tank missiles from the US at a price of $1.1 billion in meant for the Saudi-sponsored mercenaries in Syria. Will the latest move succeed or merely add to the misery of the people.

Nelson Mandela has exposed the hypocrisy of Western rulers that have made a beeline to join his funeral in South Africa. Kings, presidents, prime ministers and others will be there to proclaim Mandela’s greatness while they indulged and continue to indulge in the worst kinds of crimes against humanity imaginable.

Nelson Mandela, the first popularly elected president of post-apartheid South Africa died today at home in Johannesburg. He was 95. Surrounded by family, he breathed his last at around 8:50 pm local time. This was announced by a sombre Jacob Zuma, the current president of South Africa, on TV. He said a “light had gone out in the world.” Mandela would be given a state funeral. All flags were ordered to fly at half-mast.

Most Muslims do not subscribe to the divisive ideology of hate and killings among different schools of thought in Islam. This, however, needs serious effort to bring the majority together and to isolate the hate-propagating minority. In recent weeks, some tentative steps have been taken that are likely to yield positive results. Unity and harmony in the Ummah are desperately needed to overcome the myriad problems confronting Muslims.