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Will the Arabs rush to the polls by buses in September 2019?

Gal Amir
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Will the Arabs rush to the polls by buses in September 2019?

The Palestinian vote is very significant in the Israeli general elections. The next elections will be held in September 2019. These elections are the second general elections within six months after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to form a coalition in April 2019 led him to dissolve the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) within a few weeks of the elections.

The Palestinian citizens of Israel (as opposed to the Palestinians living in the territories occupied by Israel in 1967) enjoy the rights of equal citizens including equal voting rights, and the right to political representation. Because Palestinians constitute about 20% of the voters, one might expect them to have enormous political powers in a state whose regime is based on a government formed by a coalition of parties.

In practice, the Palestinians have been pushed to a position where the political representation they receive in the Knesset is disproportionate to their weight in the population, and these representatives are also excluded from the decision-making circle.

The Palestinian representation in recent years consists of a number of parties representing the several strains in the Palestinian public – nationalists, Islamists, communists, who were forced to unite on a “Joint List” due to the raise of the electoral threshold in Israel in 2014 to 3.25%. This raising of the electoral threshold, initiated by Knesset Member Avigdor Lieberman, a politician known for his opposition to representatives of the Palestinian public in the Knesset, may have been intended to reduce Palestinian representation.

In practice, this move forced the Palestinian public to unite into one “Joint List,” which had a fine achievement in the 2015 elections – 13 seats from a 120-member Knesset.

It has been proven that the union results in higher voting percentages, and thus the Joint List has been able to get more voters to vote than its components separately in previous campaigns. When the party disbanded for the April 2019 elections, and its members contested separately, the number of seats they received fell to 11. Ahead of the September elections, the lists were rejoined. The leader of the Joint List is the popular lawyer Ayman Odeh, of the Communist Party, who is expected to bring many voters to the polls this time.

This success is a threat to Israeli right-wing politicians, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ruling Likud Party. It is unclear what the nature of the threat is, as Palestinian parties have never attained any real power, were not members of any Israeli coalition, and never nominated a minister on their behalf.

Palestinian Representation in the Knesset Began in the 1940s when the leaders of the new state decided to give the remaining Palestinian minority within Israel’s borders after the 1948 war (a war that led to the exile of some 80% of Palestinians who had previously lived in the same territories) political representation in the Knesset. In the early years of the state, the authentic representative of the Palestinians was the Communist Party, with some Palestinians being members of Satellite Parties formed by the ruling party Mapai (now the Labor Party) lacking their own independent policy.

The Communist Party was in perpetual opposition. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Communist Party’s monopoly on Palestinian representation was broken, and nationalist or Islamic parties were formed and competed for the voice of the Palestinian voter. These parties remained in opposition, and the Palestinian representation in the Knesset was viewed as challenging the Zionist consensus.

A shiver of hope for change occurred with the rise of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1992. Although the Palestinian parties did not participate  in Rabin’s coalition, their voice was needed to sustain the coalition, which without the Palestinian voice did not have the necessary majority for its existence. This coalition has made great historic moves, most notably the Oslo Accords with the PLO.

The assassination of Prime Minister Rabin by a Jewish terrorist in 1995 brought an end to this arrangement, and instead of advancing to a situation in which not only the voice of the Palestinians was counted, they would also be given influence, recognition, and legitimacy, the Palestinians were again excluded, and no coalition in Israel has ever relied on the support of Knesset members belonging to Palestinian parties.

The September 2019 elections are not likely to bring about a significant change in this situation. The two major parties, the Likud ruling party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, and the opposition blue-and-white party led by Benny Gantz, will not rely on the Arab parties to form a coalition.

Netanyahu has a long history of making statements against the Palestinian public and its representatives. His government has enacted the “Nation-State Law” that defined Israel as a Jewish state and forbade every mark of Palestinian national identity. Thus, the Arabic language has lost its stand as an official language, a status granted by the British monarch George the 5th in 1922, during the British Mandate. This legislation is seen by the non-Jewish public in the State of Israel as offensive and discriminatory.

Gantz, former commander-in-chief of the Israel Defense Forces, is seen as having central positions and is deeply rooted in the Zionist consensus. Joining these non-Zionist parties would require a major ideological change for him. His party member, Yair Lapid, once expressed disdain for these parties and refused to cooperate  with them. He nicknamed them “Zoabi’s” after the Knesset Member Hanin Zoabi, who was perceived in Israeli center and right circles as an extreme figure who should not be cooperated with.

It seems that no matter what the outcome of the elections is, whether Netanyahu wins or Gantz wins, the “joint list” will remain outside the sphere of influence. This outlook does not explain Netanyahu’s tremendous efforts to cripple Palestinian representation and to prevent the election of members of the “united list” to the Knesset.

In 2015, Netanyahu incited  his constituents by claiming that the Arabs rush to the polls by buses funded by the new Israel fund (a non-government human rights organization), and therefore, Likud voters must also rush for the polls and vote for him. This statement was seen to negate the legitimacy of the Palestinian vote in the elections, and Netanyahu quickly apologized  for it.

In the April 2019 elections, Likud observers were caught at polling stations in Palestinian communities photographing voters.

Apparently, this was a widespread phenomenon initiated by the Likud party headed by Netanyahu. The (unproven) argument was that in the Palestinian sector, there are many counterfeits in the polls and the cameras were designed to maintain the integrity of the elections. In fact, this was seen in the Palestinian public as a rude attempt to intimidate Palestinian voters, who are suspicious of the government’s actions, and many Palestinians may not be willing to vote if they know they are documented in the voting act.

It should be made clear that the vote itself is behind a curtain, and there was no intention to document the very act of voting, thus preserving the ‘elections confidentiality’. But even the record of voter arrival at the ballot box can cause many Palestinian voters to abstain from voting. The Likud party intends to reiterate this act in the current elections.

In recent days, the Likud party has joined the far-right party, “Jewish Power”, demanding that the Election Committee not allow the “Joint List” to run in the elections. “Jewish power” is the most radical party in the Israeli right, and it openly supports the path of Rabbi Meir Kahane, who was assassinated in 1994.

Kahane preached the expulsion of Palestinians from the State of Israel. If the demand is accepted (and the chances are very low), the Palestinian public will not have a significant and appropriate representation in the Knesset.

Why is the Palestinian voice threatening Netanyahu so much?

Palestinians have a very low voting percentage, and their parties that do not have, and probably will not have a position of power and influence in the foreseeable future. Netanyahu, the rogue politician, and realist knows this. He also knows that the more Palestinian Knesset members in the Knesset, the harder it will be for his opponents from the center blue-and-white party, committed to their electorate not to rely on the Palestinian vote, to form a coalition.

It seems that this is an ideological position that denies Palestinian self-expression and self-identity and that the measures designed to exclude the Arab parties and not allow adequate political representation are taken for reasons of rigid ideology, rather than for “real-politique”.

One hopes that the Palestinians will indeed rush to the polls. The political inclusion of the minority is extremely important in a democratic state and moreover, appropriate political expression for the Palestinian population, access to positions of power and influence, and integration in all aspects of life in the State of Israel, are the only guarantee of the long-term existence of the State of Israel, its integration into the middle east region and its prosperity.

Israeli tech providers are increasing quickly

News Room
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Israeli tech providers are increasing quickly

The Israeli tech sector reached many all-time highs this week as measured by the BlueStar Israel World Technological know-how IndexTM (BIGITech), a benchmark for Israeli significant-tech firms trading globally.

The businesses tracked because of the BIGITech index are Portion of the expense portfolio of The Jerusalem Portfolio (TJP), a new system permitting people today, foundations and establishments to possess a stake in Israeli-focused general public businesses.

“The history-breaking progress from the Israeli current market tech sector continues to underscore the worth of investing in Israeli-concentrated public corporations,” mentioned Jonathan Gerber, co-founding father of TJP and president of RVW Wealth.

In a recent start event, Stanley P. Gold, one among the largest and earliest key overseas private traders in Israel, sat down with Jeffrey I. Abrams, co-founder of TJP and RVW Wealth Legacy Useful resource Center controlling director. Gold reported that “folks throughout the world have ultimately acknowledged that the standard of the products coming out of Israel are pretty much as good or much better than everywhere on the earth … managers in Israel are planet-course [and] are each individual bit as good as Europe or The united states. ”

BIGITech has become up 25 percent for 2019 to date, and the U.S. and Israeli-stated Trade-traded funds and index funds that monitor it are prime performers inside their types.

TJP offers access to BIGITech, which can be Component of its In general portfolio.

It allows investors to personal fractional interests in the diversified team of  in excess of a hundred major-tier Israeli-concentrated general public companies like Check Stage Computer software Tech, Elbit Techniques Ltd., Novocure Ltd., Wix.com Ltd. and a lot more, spanning sectors from overall health treatment and technological innovation to Strength and cybersecurity.

Gender Discrimination and Equality in Switzerland; Jobs, Politics & Society

Patricia Zanini Graca
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Gender Discrimination and Equality in Switzerland; Jobs, Politics & Society

On June 14, 2019, women made history in Switzerland. Thousands of women joined a general strike to highlight several issues, including the underrepresentation of women, the gender wage gap, and discrimination. Despite Switzerland being a very developed country, Swiss women only won their right to vote in 1971.

In 1991, twenty years after attaining suffrage, half a million Swiss women took to the streets to demand more action for equal rights between men and women. At the time, there were no women in government, and there was no policy on maternity leave.

It was only in 2005, that women gained the right of 98 days of paid maternity leave, after four failed attempts. As a result, Switzerland lacks gender equality compared to other developed countries. According to the World Economic Forum, Switzerland ranks 20th in gender equality, lagging behind many European countries, such as the Scandinavian countries, France, Germany, and Poland. Much like an Alpine climb, the feminist movement in Switzerland has been a long and challenging endeavor.

Equal pay for the same work performed is a constitutional requirement in Switzerland. However, according to the most recent data from the country’s Federal Statistics Office (FSO), women made almost 20 percent less in the private sector and nearly 17 percent less in the public sector compared to their male counterparts.

By comparison, a report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that the pay gap is around 13.6 percent across developed countries; therefore, the Swiss gap is more significant. The FSO also reported that the differences between the sexes are still visible when comparing the median gross salary in full-time jobs. For self-employed persons that perform the same position, men earned an average of 80,000 Swiss Francs (CHF), while women earned only 56,700 CHF. As employees, men made 85,200 CHF on average last year, compared to 71,500 CHF for women.

The latest Swiss Labour Force Survey shows that two-thirds of workers who have a low salary are women; furthermore, half of the women are foreigners. The report also revealed that the youth unemployment rate of women rose from 4.8 percent to 5.1 percent. In 2018, the activity rate of women aged 15 to 64 (79.9 percent) was 8.6 percentage points lower than that of men (88.5 percent).

The OECD report on gender shows that 82 percent of men in Switzerland work full-time, compared to only 41 percent of women; whereas 11 percent of men and 35 percent of women work part-time. The same survey analyzed managerial positions in Switzerland, in which men occupy 64 percent. One factor that contributes to the pay gap is gender stereotyping of jobs, meaning that either a man or a woman is a better “fit” for a given job. Although it is not valid, such stereotypes may be dominant because they can bias a whole host of employment outcomes.

In June 2019, UNICEF released a report that portrays Switzerland as the least family-friendly country in Europe, with other poor performers including Greece, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom. The report outlines policies that make life hard for families in Switzerland. For example, the country offers the shortest paid maternity leave in Europe and one of the lowest in the OECD. Furthermore, Switzerland is also one of a handful of countries to offer no paid leave for fathers. In 2004, 75 percent of Swiss mothers worked part-time out of necessity to cover childcare, which the OECD said would hinder their career progression.

Although there has been some progress on women’s rights in Switzerland, violence, and harassment against women remains high and is one of the reasons why women went on strike. Amnesty International released a survey that showed that 22 percent of Swiss women aged sixteen or older have been subjected to non-consensual sexual relations. Furthermore, 59 percent of women have experienced sexual harassment in the form of unwanted contact, including hugging or kissing.

Women are more likely than men to be victims of other more prevalent types of domestic violence. In the past ten years, an average of 25 people have been killed annually as a result of domestic violence in Switzerland, with 75 percent of the victims being women or girls. Around half of those women who were affected by violence and harassment against themselves had not talked about their sexual violence experience, and only 8 percent had filed a complaint with the police.

Switzerland has somewhat improved its gender equality in political representation in the past 20 years. In the Federal Council, 43 percent are women; in the National Council, 32 percent are women; and in the State’s Council, 15 percent. It is critical that there is a push so that the Swiss population could have a meaningful number of women in the parliament.

Switzerland needs to develop a comprehensive national gender strategy. The introduction of gender quotas in politics in Switzerland can lead to a more balanced gender representation and bring improvements in childcare and schooling policies. Childcare is an expensive business in Switzerland, an average child daycare costs 40 CHF, hindering the possibilities of both parents working full time. Therefore, many women opt out to work part-time in order to take care of their children.

Work, politics, discrimination, wages—the differences between women and men in Switzerland are still worthy of attention. If Switzerland wants to maintain its high quality-of-life standards by being one of the best places to live and work overseas, it needs to address the gender gap and reduce gender inequality. Public initiatives demonstrate the urge for changes. To achieve de facto equality, Switzerland needs to address underrepresentation in political decision-making entities, unequal pay, violence against girls and women, and disproportionate

The world is silent as Ahmadi Muslims bleed

Muzaffar Ahmad Noori Bajwa
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The world is silent as Ahmadi Muslims bleed

Suppression of ideas has never killed them—it only immortalizes them. History bears witness: the crucifixion of Jesus sparked the spread of Christianity; the Holocaust did not erase Jewish identity; and today, the systematic persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is laying the foundation for their global awakening. Every attempt to extinguish a voice only amplifies it further.

In an age when human rights are enshrined in treaties and paraded at global summits, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community—a sect founded in 19th-century India that preaches peace, tolerance, and non-violence—remains one of the most relentlessly targeted religious minorities in the world. And the world watches in silence.

A global community under siege

With a population exceeding 200 million across 200 countries, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is widely regarded as the most educated and peaceful Islamic sect in modern history. Yet they are outlawed, beaten, silenced, and erased by Muslim-majority nations including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iraq, Syria, Libya, and increasingly, Bangladesh.

In these countries, the state’s duty to uphold the United Nations’ Resolution on Religious Freedom is nothing more than decorative ink on paper. The so-called defenders of Islam have turned Islam into a weapon—one that targets the very minorities the Prophet Muhammad himself once vowed to protect.

 

Bangladesh’s shameful betrayal

In February 2019, a peaceful community gathering by the Ahmadiyya in a remote village in Bangladesh became the epicenter of Islamist terror. The attackers? The Khatm-e-Nabuwat Andolon—a fanatical pro-Caliphate group, reportedly linked to ISIS and Hamas. According to local witnesses and verified media reports, the assault was brutal, premeditated, and tacitly supported by local police. No arrests. No justice. Not even a case filed.

More than 50 Ahmadi Muslims were seriously injured. Property worth over $3 million was looted, vandalized, or burned to the ground. ISIS claimed responsibility—just as it did in 2015 when a suicide bomber struck the Ahmadiyya mosque in the country’s north, killing and maiming worshippers in cold blood.

Even after more than 50 days, police had not registered a single FIR. A report by The Daily Star quoted Ahmadiyya leaders alleging clear police bias and political sheltering of the perpetrators. The Eastern Herald had warned of this attack in a special report published four days prior—yet the Bangladeshi government ignored the clear threat.

Incredibly, the day before the attack, the very mastermind behind the violence was seen dining with political elites—an ominous reminder that extremist ideology has wormed its way into the highest echelons of power.

The Khatm-e-Nabuwat plague

Khatm-e-Nabuwat, meaning “Finality of Prophethood,” has become a global brand of Islamist extremism operating under various names: Tahaffuz Khatm-e-Nabuwat, Majlis-e-Tahaffuz, and Khatm-e-Nabuwat Andolon. Their doctrine is straightforward: eliminate Ahmadis from Islam by labeling them heretics, outlaws, and worse.

In over 30 countries, these groups propagate hate with impunity. While some nations have declared them terrorist organizations, many others quietly facilitate their growth by refusing to crack down. It’s the 21st century’s version of Kristallnacht—minus the headlines.

Pakistan’s constitutional apartheid

Pakistan, the self-proclaimed citadel of Islam, set the blueprint for Ahmadi persecution when it constitutionally excommunicated the community in 1974. This wasn’t just political—it was ideological apartheid. Ahmadis were legally forbidden from calling themselves Muslim, praying in mosques, or even greeting with Assalamualaikum.

Dr. Abdus Salam, Pakistan’s only Nobel laureate in science, was driven into exile for being Ahmadi. A man who revolutionized theoretical physics and laid the groundwork for the Higgs boson discovery—the so-called “God Particle”—was discarded by the very nation he served.

His tombstone had the word “Muslim” forcefully scratched out by the state. Let that sink in.

The West’s double standard

The silence of Western democracies is not just disturbing—it’s disgraceful. Nations that claim moral leadership on human rights—France, Germany, the United States—have done next to nothing to intervene or even acknowledge this sustained religious genocide. Their selective outrage is deafening.

If the Ahmadiyya community were a geopolitical interest or an oil-rich minority, headlines would scream, resolutions would pass, and troops might march. But instead, Ahmadis suffer in the shadows of geopolitical convenience.

Voices that refuse to be silenced

Despite the storm, the community thrives—academically, scientifically, and morally. In the fields of medicine, physics, economics, and education, Ahmadi Muslims continue to contribute to the global intellectual pool with unmatched grace and determination.

Take Aniqa, a cancer research scholar at Panjab University, India, who wrote an article titled, “Not for Muslims: Cancer and Diabetes Cure by Israeli Scientists by 2020”. She explained:

“Our target is not a paycheck; it’s humanity. But even in India, we are attacked—by non-Muslims for being Muslim, and by Muslims for being Ahmadi. We love our country, but sometimes the country forgets to love us back.”

Sword can win lands, not hearts

Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, the 4th Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, once said:

“Sword can win territories but not hearts. Forces can bend heads, but not minds.”

This profound truth echoes across every persecution in history. Tyranny may suppress, but it cannot erase. It may delay progress, but it cannot stop it.

Where are the human rights champions?

If international bodies like the United Nations, the European Union, and the so-called world powers continue to ignore these atrocities, they risk becoming irrelevant in the moral discourse of our time. The hypocrisy is glaring: billions spent on weaponizing democracy, but not a whisper when democracy fails its own tenets.

Persecution of any group—be it based on faith, race, or belief—is a crime against humanity. If the world cannot unite to protect a community as peaceful, progressive, and persecuted as the Ahmadiyya, then global human rights have become nothing more than political theater.

Ahmadis in Bangladesh face fresh threat of persecution

Muzaffar Ahmad Noori Bajwa
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Ahmadis in Bangladesh face fresh threat of persecution

It is extremely disturbing to note, the top leader of Hefazat-E-Islam, Ahmad Shah Shafi has also called upon the Bangladesh government to “immediately declare Ahmadiyyas” as “non-Muslims” and has asked the government to stop the Ahmadiyya religious congregation in Panchagarh district in Bangladesh.

Ahmadiyya community in Bangladesh has decided to hold an Ijtema (religious congregation) in Panchagarh district, which has already come under extreme opposition from the pro-Caliphate group named Hefazat-E-Islam, which consists of thousands of madrassa teachers and students.

According to an opinion editorial published in Weekly Blitz, Executive editor of Qawmi madrassa mouthpiece named monthly Moinul, Sarwar Kamal has circulated a statement from HEI leader Ahmad Shah Shafi stating,
“Deniers of Khatmey Nabuwat (last prophecy), feet-licking slave of the British, nefarious enemy of the Muslim ummah, Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani had denied acknowledging Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) as the last prophet. He [Golam Mohammad Kadiani] proclaimed false prophethood with the agenda of deceiving Muslims, being a lapdog of the British. Golam Mohammad was the agent of those British imperialist traders who had ruled the Indian subcontinent for 190 years, and had falsely proclaimed himself as the prophet and had participated in anti-Islam propaganda”.
Shafi further said, “Despite the fact of being non-Muslims, Qadiyanis are claiming themselves as Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and has been booting the world’s prophet [prophet of Islam]. If such things are not stopped forthwith, Hefazat e Islam by joining the ‘Khatmey Nabuwat Movement’ will go into massive anti-Ahmadiyya movement in Bangladesh. Ahmadiyyas should be declared non-Muslims and their naked exposition of audacity [against Islam] should be immediately stopped. Otherwise, any conspiracy will be foiled by the hundreds of millions of towheedi Janata (masses of faith)”.

The most disturbing fact about this issue is, none of the mainstream media in Bangladesh or elsewhere have published even a single sentence on it, clearly exhibiting the degree of bias and influence those preachers of radical Islam have already established on the media.

This morning, immediately after hearing this disturbing news from the editor of Weekly Blitz, we have started contacting various media outlets in the world as well as rights groups drawing their attention to this issue.

For decades, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community are facing synchronized persecution in Pakistan in particular as well as other nations, including Bangladesh and India. Most, unfortunately, in some cases, such persecution enjoys direct or indirect patronization from the ruling elites or the establishments.

We are fully aware of Bangladesh’s authority banning religious publications of Ahmadis in 2005, which has not been lifted despite repeated reminders from the international community and Bangladesh government promises. Although religious minorities in Bangladesh had aspired of an end of such persecution, intimidation, and hostility ever since Awami League came to power in 2009.

But unfortunately, Awami League, that proclaims of being a secular political party too has joined hands with pro-Caliphate Hefazat-E-Islam and it is clearly evident, this group is gradually becoming a dictating or pressure force in Bangladesh. Just a few weeks back, Hefazat leader Shah Ahmad Shafi in a public gathering had asked the Muslim parents to refrain from sending their girl children to schools.

DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND COLLEGES: HEFAZAT-E-ISLAM’S KINGPIN(PRO-CALIPHATE)

This particular statement had never been even confronted by rights groups in Bangladesh, most possibly because of fear of state-patronized harassment.

“It is a moral obligation of all Muslim ummah to protest and stop the Panchagarh Qadiani Ijtema. This country is secular, here Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and all other religions perform their own religion similarly Qadianis can also perform their own religion but that must be a conference, not Ijtema.
Dhaka city president of Islami movement Bangladesh Maulana Imtiyaz Alam “Qadianis must be declared non-muslims immediately. let them live like minorities like Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists like indigenous people. We have no problem with that. But they can not live here like Muslims(because they are infidels, they can’t call their place of worship a mosque and they can’t perform any Muslim rituals)” — said Maulana Abdul Hameed Peer president of the Khatme Nabuwwat Council.

International Khatme Nabuwwat movement Secy. Genl. Maulana Alhaj Nazmul Haq and rep from Hefazat-e-Islam were there at the protest.

Chief editor of JamJamat Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury said “Some people in Bangladesh are engaged into anti-Ahmadiyya activities similarly as Pakistan which is not acceptable. They are trying to put the government into embarrassment as well this step engages in the deep conspiracy of destabilizing the country. I have been repeatedly saying, that Khilafat claiming anti-democratic force Hefazat-e-Islam should not be given any space in this country.

We all know Hefazat-e-Islam has connections with Al-Qaida and ISIS. These are groups of radical Islamic militancy minded people. They should not be allowed to openly continue such activities. Do the ruling party think (so-called)Hefazat-e-Islam will have them in gaining vote bank? Who gives such idiotic suggestions to the govt.? There is no space for radical Islam in this country.

There is no vote bank of Radical Islam in Bangladesh. Should those mullahs have any vote bank in this country they would have owned a seat in parliament. Have they ever got?

He further said” This group of barbarians deny the rise of women, women education, human rights, and rule of law. They want to establish a so-called caliphate in our country. The way ISIS scoundrels have attempted. I’m calling upon the government to forcefully stop such evil damn things of HeI. Our govt needs to be cautious about Shah Shafi otherwise this frankestine will emerge as a threat to our national security.”

Although counterterrorism experts are seeing ISIS in Hefazat, in my opinion, the case of Hefazat is even worst as ISIS never got patronization from the Iraqi government. The ruling party in Bangladesh, as part of its strategy of playing religion card in politics, has openly joined hands with Hefazat. Let us remember, Hefazat-E-Islam is the platform of hundreds and thousands of Qawmi madrassa teachers and students.

Long back, editor of Weekly Blitz and a counter-militancy expert, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has branded these madrassas as “breeding grounds of jihadists”. Mr. Choudhury in his book named ‘Inside Madrassa’ also has provided numerous facts, data, and evidence showing as to how jihadism is being gradually injected into the minds of young madrassa students by those radicalized teachers.

Being an Ahmadi Muslim, it is a call upon every conscious individual in the world to immediately look into the latest incident of threats on the Ahmadi Muslims in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh; India’s Biggest Ally or China’s Dragon Nest?

Muzaffar Ahmad Noori Bajwa
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Bangladesh; India’s Biggest Ally or China’s Dragon Nest?

26th March 1971 and a new state was born; Bangladesh. 14th August 1947 when the partition of India took place, the nation divided into two parts; India and Pakistan, it was not Hindustan anymore.

Pakistan was divided in such a way that East Pakistan and West Pakistan remain separated from a huge distance and during this distance lies India.

Right after the division of India, Pakistan declared India as an enemy and rival state and imposed a war fought in 1947-48.

The state of Kashmir was the cause of this war.

During the partition and independence, the princely states were to choose the option to go with; India , Pakistan  or to remain independent.  Jammu and Kashmir was the largest princely state with the Muslim majority and ruled by a Hindu king, Maharaja Hari Singh.

Pakistan imposed brutal battles on India including 1965 and 1999.

Thousands sacrificed their lives on the hands of the politics between New Delhi and Islamabad.

A misfortunate for Pakistan

West Pakistan never accepted the Bangalis equal to them. The majority of west Pakitan was dominated by the Punjabi politicians and they always wanted to be dominated on the national politics. The culture of vadehra; the landlord remained in the country even after more than 20 years of independence. The power balance was not visible at all.

The then popular politicians; Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto from west and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from East Pakistan attracted a public applaud in the general elections in 1970. East Pakistan was majorly dominated by Awami League which was the party of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This turned dismayed among two leaders causing a greater clash.

The nationalism among West Pakistan people risen due to the forceful impose of Urdu  language among Bengalis . The political dismay was a huge catastrophe to the nation and its people.

Before the general elections in 1970, Pakistan was facing the wrath of martial law of Iskandar Mirza who was disposed of by General Ayub Khan , the then Chief of Pakistan Army Staff .

It was the hard work of these two leaders; Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto which brought down the martial law in Pakistan and established the democracy again. Coup d’etat to the coup.

But bigotry of Zulfiqar made it worst and he continued the martial law in East Pakistan. The army never thought of them as human and became more barbaric- raping women and unlawful killing of civilians .

This infidelity made Bengalis think of the secondary options which lead them to fight a liberation war; Muktijuddho(the war of freedom). India supported this war but the first country to recognize the state of Bangladesh was Bhutan followed by India, Israel, Poland, Bulgaria, and Burma. China, Pakistan, Palestine, and many other Muslim dominated countries did not recognize Bangladesh for a very prolonged period.

The USA supported this war but the other side. Richard Nixon denied its involvement stating it is their internal matter.

Bangladesh will remain a strategic alliance for India.

The US is always looking for its war bases and they have a clean eye on Bangladesh. The geographical situation of Bangladesh makes her more strategic than any other south-Asian countries.

Bangladesh is under the face of rapid development. In the past decade, Bangladesh has emerged as the fastest growing economy with a record GDP growth of more than 6.5%, which is tremendous. The economy which is majorly dominated by its export may become a greater ally to the Indian market as well. Presently the India export to Bangladesh is in billion dollars.

China is spreading its dragon wings to the other states. Pakistan is majorly being benefited apart from Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Malaysia and now Nepal. For India, this may become a big headache in the very near future.

India played the most significant role in the liberation of Bangladesh and she should not ignore the Bangladesh alliance. The India and Bangladesh governments, business groups and intelligence should find a better way to neutralize the situation in the region.

Radical Islam is being appreciated by Indian authorities too

Muzaffar Ahmad Noori Bajwa
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Radical Islam is being appreciated by Indian authorities too

Allah has made The Holy Quran guidance for the whole of mankind. This book is not just a matter of guidance for Muslims, but for all mankind.

The Muslims who do not understand the Real Teachings of Islam and try to preach the literal meaning of what is on the Holy Quran, such as the Jewish people, as they say, that God is only for us and He does not have any interest in other nations.

This Incident is at the time when the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Comunity Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who is basically from Rabwah in Pakistan but based in London had advised Ahmadiyyas across the world to hold exhibitions of the Quran after a pastor allegedly called for Quran burning in Florida in the US.

So, after this advice of the Khalifat ul Masih (Caliph of Messiah) on 24th September 2011, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in India organized an exhibition on the Quran at the Constitution Club of India New Delhi.

The exhibition highlighted the teachings of the Holy Quran under a wide range of headings: Justice ; Suffering ; Death ; Science ; Peace ; Women’s Role and Rank , and so forth.

On the display, there were translations of the sacred text in 53 languages—including Tamil, Telugu. Marathi, Russian, Korean and Vietnamese —that the Ahmadis have successfully produced over many decades.

And our class was selected from Jamia Ahmadiyya Qadian to serve in this Holy Quran Exhibition.

The first day of this Quran exhibition was successful, but the 2nd day, the police came and surrounded the club.

And they asked us to shut down this exhibition of The Holy Quran and we did not retaliate. Our community teaches us the values of society. The core of the value is not to retaliate in a physical manner but in a spiritual manner. So, we did as they wanted us to do.

We were watching all of it unaware of the cause about what was going on and in a moment from nowhere crowd gathered along with Ahmed Bukhari and they started protesting against this Holy Quran Exhibition . 

The authorities feared further for more violent protests. To their credit, however, the Delhi police did a good job of keeping the demonstrators from physically damaging the exhibits and the organizers.

As the protests grew, police took a few persons, including the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid and his younger brother, in preventive custody for a few minutes.

The media remained almost silent as Ahmed Bukhari  is a source of vote bank for the then government. The Indian Express stated that Bukhari detained.

According to police, at least 56 people were detained from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Marg in Daryaganj. They were planning a rally towards the Constitution Club.

He alleged that Ahmadiyyas, also known as Qadianis , have made changes in the Quran. We are saying that they can do whatever they want, but they should stop using the name of Islam/Muslims and the holy Quran for their propaganda, he said.

Imam Bukhari also blamed the Congress party. The hall for the exhibition has been booked by Congress MP Pratap Singh Bajwa .

MP Pratap Singh Bajwa has strong ties with The Ahmadiyya Muslim community and also favored their motto; Love for All Hatred for None.

Mr. Pratap Singh Bajwa is an elected member of Parliament from the constituency where the town of Qadian situated.

So, the three-day Quran exhibition put up by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat at the Constitution Club was cut short on Saturday after one day and a half.

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