French Minister to Convert to Marry Muslim lover, The architect of France’s burka ban was about to convert to Islam to marry his secret Muslim girlfriend.
Eric Besson, the country’s 51-year-old immigration minister, has admitted the relationship with Yasmine Tordjman, a Paris art student less than half his age. The French media has aired the likelihood Mr Besson, the hardline conservative, to convert to Islam to marry his girlfriend. The revelation comes as – tipped as a future prime minister – spearheads a campaign against non-Christian religions and cultures swamping France. He has called for Islamic head coverings such as the burka to be outlawed and wants potential immigrants to take French tests and swear allegiance to the Republic. His policies apply particularly to those arriving from Muslim countries, who do not share the same values as France’s predominantly Roman Catholic population. Miss Tordjman, who is in her early 20s, comes from a prominent family of Tunisian Muslims connected to the country’s former president, Habib Bourguiba. Before Christmas, divorced father-of-three Mr Besson travelled to the North African country to meet her mother, prompting speculation he would marry in June.

TEHRAN: Security forces opened fire on anti-government protesters in the Iranian capital Sunday, killing at least five people.
The dead included a nephew of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Authorities deny reports that some protesters were shot dead. Police, who denied using firearms, said dozens of officers were injured and more than 300 protesters were arrested.

“So far there have been no reports of killings and no one has been killed up to now,” Tehran police chief Azizollah Rajabzadeh told the Iranian media.

Witnesses said another victim was an elderly man who had a gunshot wound to the forehead. He was seen being carried away by opposition supporters.

A video posted to YouTube shows protesters setting garbage bins on fire and facing off with police in Tehran.

Journalists are banned from covering opposition protests in the country and there is no way to independently confirm what happened.

Thousands of opposition supporters were reported to be on the streets, chanting “Death to the dictator,” a reference to hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and protesting the disputed June election which supporters say reformist candidates won.

Foreign media reported that police were using tear gas to clear the streets.

The demonstration coincided with observance of the holy day Ashoura, commemorating the seventh-century death in battle of one of Shia Islam’s most beloved saints, Imam Hussein — a time when many Iranians take part in traditional street parades.

The Obama administration today “strongly” condemned the crackdown by Iranian security forces on protesters in Tehran that left at least five people dead.

The deaths and more than 300 arrests were reported in a police statement carried by the state-run news agency.

“We strongly condemn the violent and unjust suppression of civilians in Iran seeking to exercise their universal rights,” National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said in a statement. “Governing through fear and violence is never just.”

Pakistan News: Yaum-e-Ashur, the 10th day of Muharram, is being observed with reverence and religious fervor throughout the country and Azad Kashmir today to pay tributes to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions for the supreme sacrifices rendered by them for the cause of truth, justice and righteousness.
The day is observed to commemorate the supreme sacrifice rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his 72 companions at Karbala to uphold the truth.
The security have been put on high alert as the Rangers and Pakistan Army have been deployed along all the routes of the processions and venues of Majaalis in various cities of the country to plug chances of any untoward incident.
The provincial governments will keep a strict vigilance on the elements propagating sectarian hatred and for this purpose, security cameras are installed.
In Rawalpindi, the main procession of Alam, Zuljinnah and Tazia will be taken out from Imambargah Colonel Maqbool Hussain. After passing through its traditional route, it will terminate at Imambargah Qadeemi in the afternoon.
In Karachi, the day is being observed with the resolve and pledge that no sacrifice will be spared for the cause of supremacy of Islam and truth.
The law enforcement agencies have been put on red alert to thwart any attempt to create lawlessness. Stringent security measures have been taken for peaceful passage of Ashura procession and to ensure peace and tranquility. The entire route of the main mourning procession of Zulljinnah, Alam and Taiza will be covered by Rangers, police and other law enforcers. All the streets with exit to MA Jinnah Road is completely sealed with placement of containers and other barricades with members of law enforcing agencies deployed to ensure that no unauthorized person sneaks into the mourning procession.
The main mourning procession will be taken out from Nishtar Park, the procession, after traversing through its traditional route, will culminate at Hussainain Iranian Imambargah at Kharadar in the evening.
In Lahore, the main Zuljinnah procession will be taken out from Nisar Haveli, inside Mochi Gate. It will terminate at Karbala Gamey Shah in the evening after passing through its traditional routes.
Tazia, Alam and Zuljinah processions will be taken out from various localities of the metropolis, which after passing through their traditional routes will join the main procession. The city police have made elaborate security arrangements to check any sort of untoward incident during Majalis-e-Aza, ‘Alam’ and ‘Tazia’ processions.
In Peshawar, the main procession will be taken out from Imam Bargah Alamdar Karbala near Qisa Khwani. After passing through its traditional route it will terminate at its starting point.
In major cities of Balochistan including the provincial capital, Quetta, Youm-e-Ashur will be observed with reverence and religious solemnity.
All shops, hotels and houses located on traditional routes of the procession have been sealed on to ensure safe passage of the procession.
In Muzaffarabad, the main procession will be taken out from Markazi Imam Bargah Pir Ilam Shah and after passing through its traditional routes, it will terminate at the Imam Bargah in the evening.
In Gilgit, the biggest Ashura procession will be taken out from central Imamia Mosque.

MAKKAH: Mufti-e-Azam Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al Sheikh in his Hajj sermon urged on Thursday Muslim Ummah not to compromise against terrorism and be united against suicide attacks. The Arafat sermon was delivered by the Mufti-e-Azam in Masjid Nimra at Arafat.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz said the whole world was facing challenges of terrorism and efforts were being made to destroy Muslim youngsters. He said the world knew more about Islam today than ever before. Some powers are trying to create misconceptions and doubts about Islam therefore Msulims should unite to face such problems.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz told that faith was the only thing that could empower one. Islam is a religion of peace and guarantees it by opposing terrorism. He urged young Muslims to be cautious of miscreants. Today the non-Muslim powers are trying to divide Muslims and the biggest obligation of Muslims is to stay united. He urged Ummah to evade differences through tolerance and solidarity.
Mufti-e-Azam said Islam was a right religion and came for all nations of the world. The real purpose of Hajj is to spread message of oneness of Allah. It is because of non-Islamic economic principles that world’s largest companies are going bankrupt today. The world is looking for a refuge and the only refuge is Islam. He urged the media not to broadcast programs that were against moral principles.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz said the challenges world was facing today included spreading of ills across the globe and only the faith can prevent one from such problems. The planners are obliged to outline plans that could strengthen Muslims spiritually. He urged Muslim leaders to fear Allah about their nations. Muslims are facing another challenge of giving new meanings of Allah’s holy book. Muftis should also fear Allah before giving any verdict.

Anvil Band, Anvil the story of Anvil, Anvil is a Canadian heavy metal band, comprised of Steve “Lips” Kudlow (lead vocals, lead guitar), Robb Reiner (drums), and Glenn Five (bass, backing vocals). To date, the band have released thirteen studio albums, and have been cited as having influenced many notable heavy metal groups, including Slayer and Metallica.

The band, in particular Kudlow and Reiner, was the subject of the 2009 documentary film Anvil! The Story of Anvil, directed by the screenwriter and former Anvil roadie Sacha Gervasi. Upon its release, the film garnered critical acclaim from many major publications, and has since brought the band renewed recognition, including support slots with AC/DC and Saxon. Appearances at major heavy metal festivals, including Download, also followed the release of the film.

Derrion Albert Funeral, The funeral of a Chicago teen who was beaten to death on his way home from school drew civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan on Saturday, both calling for an end to youth violence.

Farrakhan said he came to the funeral because he was “deeply pained” by the death of 16-year-old honor roll student Derrion Albert. The boy was walking to a bus stop after school when a group of teens attacked him during a street fight late last month.

“Naturally, we wonder why such a beautiful life? Such a future we thought was waiting for this young man,” Farrakhan said. “This was a special young man of righteous bearing who God took from us so young.”

Cell phone video footage shows Albert being kicked and hit with splintered railroad ties. Four teens are charged in his death.

President Barack Obama is sending U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who once led Chicago Public Schools, to Chicago on Wednesday to meet with school officials, students and residents and talk about school violence.

“The eyes of the world are watching,” Pastor E.F. Ledbetter Jr. told mourners at the Greater Mount Hebron Baptist Church on the city’s South Side. “This has affected people all over the globe.”

Mayor Richard Daley, just off a plane Saturday from an International Olympic Committee meeting in Copenhagen where Chicago lost the 2016 Summer Games, said he would work with police, the community and school officials to break the “code of silence” that happens after street violence.

Police, ministers and community leaders have been asking people to come forward with information about Albert’s killing.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/03/derrion-albert-funeral-fa_n_308835.html

US President Barack Obama fetes Muslims at Eid festival, US President Barack Obama marked the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramazan Saturday with his administration stressing the commonality between American culture and the values of Islam.

“As Muslims in the United States and around the world complete the month of Ramazan and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, Michelle and I would like to extend our personal greetings on this joyous occasion,” Obama said in a statement.

“Even on this festive occasion, Muslims remember those less fortunate, including those impacted by poverty, hunger, conflict, and disease,” he added.

Obama highlighted Muslims’ commitment to collecting and distributing charity and said his administration was “working to ensure that Muslims are able to fulfill their charitable obligations not just during Ramazan , but throughout the year.”

In her own message, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed that Eid celebrations at the White House, pioneered by her husband Bill Clinton in 1996 when he was president, ensured that “all faiths have a home here in the United States.”

“This time of self-reflection reminds us that the values of Islam — charity, community, cooperation, compassion — are values which we hold dear as Americans and which have contributed so much to American culture,” Obama’s top diplomat said.

“We know there is more that unites peoples of faith than divides us. So as Ramazan draws to a close, let us hold on to that spirit of community throughout the year to achieve our common goals of peace, prosperity, and stability.”

Obama, who has Muslim heritage on his father’s side of his family, vowed to forge a “new beginning” for Islam and America in a landmark speech to the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims in Cairo in June.

US President Barack Obama fetes Muslims at Eid festival, US President Barack Obama marked the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramazan Saturday with his administration stressing the commonality between American culture and the values of Islam.

“As Muslims in the United States and around the world complete the month of Ramazan and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, Michelle and I would like to extend our personal greetings on this joyous occasion,” Obama said in a statement.

“Even on this festive occasion, Muslims remember those less fortunate, including those impacted by poverty, hunger, conflict, and disease,” he added.

Obama highlighted Muslims’ commitment to collecting and distributing charity and said his administration was “working to ensure that Muslims are able to fulfill their charitable obligations not just during Ramazan , but throughout the year.”

In her own message, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed that Eid celebrations at the White House, pioneered by her husband Bill Clinton in 1996 when he was president, ensured that “all faiths have a home here in the United States.”

“This time of self-reflection reminds us that the values of Islam — charity, community, cooperation, compassion — are values which we hold dear as Americans and which have contributed so much to American culture,” Obama’s top diplomat said.

“We know there is more that unites peoples of faith than divides us. So as Ramazan draws to a close, let us hold on to that spirit of community throughout the year to achieve our common goals of peace, prosperity, and stability.”

Obama, who has Muslim heritage on his father’s side of his family, vowed to forge a “new beginning” for Islam and America in a landmark speech to the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims in Cairo in June.

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has issued a special Ramadan message to the Muslim World, expressing hope for a more peaceful and secure world.

In a video message to Muslims, Obama said the US was committed to keeping its pledge to build a safer world, end the Iraq war and isolate violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“All of these efforts are part of America’s commitment to engage Muslims and Muslim-majority nations on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect,” Obama said in the message posted on the White House website.

“And at this time of renewal, I want to reiterate my commitment to a new beginning between America and Muslims around the world.”

“We are also committed to keeping our responsibility to build a world that is more peaceful and secure,” he said.

Obama also mentioned the common Muslim-Christian principals and rituals, saying that people of the both faiths are in search of “advancing justice, progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.”

He said that the US would help recognize the rights of Israelis and Palestinians for them to live in peace and security.

Since taking his oath of office in January, Obama has tried to reconcile US relations with the Muslim World, which were soured after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 20003.

The US President visited Turkey and Egypt, telling both Muslim audiences that “America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam.”

Ramadan, the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, is a time for Muslims to fast from dawn to sunset and focus on their faith, self-accountability and self-restraint.

Muslims believe it was in this month that the first verse of the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH).

Checkout Ramadan2009 Calendar and Islamic Society of North America 2009 Here.When is Ramadan in 2009?

On the 29th of Shabaan ( ie 8th month of the Islamic calendar. Shabaan is the month that comes before Ramadan) Muslims will start looking in the sky for the New moon. If a Muslim sees the New moon at Maghrib time or after Maghrib he will inform others and the start of Ramadan will be announced and the special Taraweeh prayers will be prayed after the Isha prayer of that night. When dawn comes the Muslims who are required to fast will observe abstinence from food, drink and sex until the sun sets.

RAMADAN 2009 SPECIAL

Ramadan 2009 will be start most likely on either 21 or 22nd August 2009.
Exact date will be known after 11.50 pm (UK time) on 20th August 2009.

The Islamic Society of  North America (ISNA), based in Plainfield, Indiana, USA, is a Muslim umbrella group that describes itself as the largest Muslim organization in North America.

The vision of ISNA is “to be an exemplary and unifying Islamic organization in North America that contributes to the betterment of the Muslim community and society at large.” ISNA is an association of Muslim organizations and individuals that provides a common platform for presenting Islam, supporting Muslim communities, developing educational, social and outreach programs and fostering good relations with other religious communities, and civic and service organizations. ISNA’s annual convention is generally the largest gathering of American Muslims in the United States.
Islamic Horizons is the bi-monthly publication of ISNA.

A speaker at the 2009 national convention, Warith Deen Umar, a New York imam, asserted that the Holocaust happened to the Jews “because they were serially disobedient to Allah.” He went on to allege that a group of Jews close to President Barack Obama “control the world.” ISNA immediately condemned the tenor of the comments.

Ramadan 2009 Calendar See Blow:-