Masjid Al-Aqsa Under Threat
In light of the violence that erupted on the doors of Masjid Al-Aqsa during and after Jum`ah Salah last week, where the elderly and woman were fired upon, in response to their protest over the current excavations that threaten the very foundation of one the three Holy Mosques of Islam:

The Jamiatul Ulama requests all Muslims, Imams and Jamaats to remember the people of Palestine and the make special du’âs for the protection of Masjid
Al-Aqsa, where again, we have been reminded of the threat posed by the occupying state of Israel to the Haram Sharif, where:

• Occupying authorities have resumed excavations around the Masjid compound. Excavations, under the pretext of recovering archaeological artefacts, have long been known to weaken the foundations of the Haram Sharif.

• Occupying authorities have ignored calls from the international community and their own defence minister to halt the controversial excavations which started on Tuesday. Jordan's King Abdullah on Wednesday released an
unusual statement warning Israel against damaging the Al-Aqsa Masjid. Jordan has a mandate of oversight of holy places in Palestine.

• Occupying authorities are suppressing the protests to the excavations with arrests restricting Muslim access to the Haram Sharif. Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the Islamic movement in Occupied Palestine was arrested and released with a condition not to come within 150 metres of the Haram Sharif.

• Occupying authorities often use such initiatives to provoke Muslims in Palestine into confrontation which routinely results in wanton loss of human life, especially (and ‘naturally’) on the side of Palestinians.

• Tensions are escalating as Occupying authorities are deploying thousands
of armed personnel “amid ‘intelligence indications’ that disturbances could erupt.” (Al-Jazeera)

Let’s Pray for the People of Palestine and Masjid Al-Aqsa, our First Qiblah

Crime
Newspapers, this week, carried articles reporting on the travel advisories
that various countries have issued to their citizens wishing to travel to South Africa. Today’s news reports on the numbers of embassies that have been recently robbed, with specific reference to the Pakistan embassy, who states that five cases of crime or robbery on its staff have been reported in this
year alone is a serious issue.

With 2010 fast approaching, our South African government is rightly
concerned about the negative reports that appear in the national and international media about the crime situation in South Africa. These reports definitely do influence individuals’ decisions on whether they see South
Africa as a destination worth visiting, or whether they consider it too risky
to travel here.

The media will always look for a story, and they have had a field day
reporting on the intense and serious crime problem in South Africa. They
have also made much mention of the apparent increase in the intensity, severity and violent nature of crime. High profile murders and focused attention on crime related court cases have also highlighted the crime issue. The media’s constant reporting on the popularly perceived lack of real and evident success of the allegedly feeble and casual approach of the
government is also noticeable.

The question we need to ask is whether the media frenzy is something based on the nature of media and its inclination towards shaping the minds of the people through speculation as well as it’s tendency to be sensationalist; or whether, in this instance, the flurry of crime is disproportionate and
excessive and the media harping is dictated by the lack of visible results in
the fight against crime?

Whatever the situation, crime does seem to be becoming more and more of a serious issue, and the fact that so much time was dedicated to it by our President in his State of the Nation address is indicative of the fact that government considers it in this light. It is hoped that the government’s consideration of crime as a serious issue will translate into something
tangible. The seriousness of a situation demands a proportionate response. Let’s hope that the government considers crime to be a really, really serious problem, and let’s hope that the fight against crime be viewed, not only in
the context of making 2010 a s success, but also a part of fulfilling the constitutional rights of every South African, the right to a safe and secure living environment, where we can enjoy and contribute to our beautiful country without fear for our lives.


North Korea’s abandonment of the bomb
The recent announcement by the North Korean government to halt its
nuclear weapons program has come as a surprise to many observers. Tensions between the USA and North Korea have been running high ever since April 2003, when North Korea admitted that they do possess nuclear weapons.

Since then North Korea engaged in several missile tests (firing long-range missiles over the islands of Japan), and conducting underground nuclear tests.

The interesting thing to note is that North Korea has gone much further
than Iran in publicly admitting that it has nuclear weapons, while maintaining an aggressive stance in its region. Iran is, in the estimation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), still years away from actually producing a
nuclear weapon.

This raises the question why the USA has not yet threatened North Korea
with punitive military strikes to halt its program, as in the current case of
Iran. Is this a case of double standards, or another indication that the USA is fighting tooth and nail to maintain its geopolitical stranglehold on the people and resources of the Middle East?


HIV / AIDS
HIV AIDS is a serious problem. It is becoming more and more prevalent in the Muslim community. In light of the serious threat that it poses the lives of all South Africans including Muslims, the Jamiatul Ulama, together with the
Islamic Careline (the Jamiatul Ulama, Islamic Careline and the IMA are founder members of MAP – Muslim Aids Awareness Program) are focusing on HIV?AIDS in the Online Newsletter.

Names in the case histories are not actual names (to protect the identity of the persons), but permission to print the case histories has been obtained from the respective persons.

Case History
Even though HIV and AIDS is a deadly virus, people living with the disease can still live fruitful lives. Following is a story of hope regarding the residents of
the Care Centre.

So many of us are guilty of taking everyday, mundane things in life for
granted. One of which is a holiday. Most of us expect our loved ones to provide us with a holiday every year and every school break, not thinking
twice of those who feel lucky to even see the outside of their towns and villages. I would like to share with you the joy and excitement of a special group of children and adults who spent a holiday in Durban.

Recently, MAP- Muslim Aids Programme Care Centre was blessed with a gift that will stay in these children’s hearts for a lifetime, a holiday outside Johannesburg.

“We are a few caretakers and have a few children at our home infected with the HIV virus. Every holiday we venture out into Johannesburg and enjoy our holiday but last year November when I received the news that a sponsor came through to send us for a week to Durban, it brought tears to my eyes and I could not wait to tell the children! This would be the first holiday we spent outside of Johannesburg and some of the children had never even seen the beach or Durban.

We left on the 8th of January and after boarding the bus at Park station, the children already began their chants of `are we there yet, are we there yet….’ And this lasted the entire trip until our arrival in Durban. We stayed at a lovely hotel in South beach, just walking distance from the beach. The first day we spent relaxing in the hotel room and rested so that we could enjoy the rest
of the holiday. The children were so excited they couldn’t wait to go to the beach and explore their new surroundings.

Interviewing the children made a knot in my heart as these kids eyes shone brightly as they each shared their holiday experiences with me, their smiles were wide and their faces had a glow and their tales made me feel as if
I were in Durban, soaking in the humidity and tasting the salty air.

“I am a 10 year old boy and my favourite was everything, but I loved Ushaka village the most. I was so excited and happy I had a lot of fun. I am 9 years old and I am a girl (she smiles) I was so excited and happy it was my first time ever to see the beach of Durban. I did swim in the sea and in the pool; everything was my favourite also… (She giggles and walks away)”

“I am in my late twenties and it was also my first time to Durban. I couldn’t wait to get there. When I saw the sea I was so happy I couldn’t wait to swim. The hotel was so smart I watched television and ate a lot. We also went for many walks and saw a lot of wonderful places. I wouldn’t mind living there.”

As the interview progressed my heart began to break as I looked at these children dressed in their madressah cloaks and scarves I almost forgot that they were HIV positive, that they were battling a disease that our
communities still attach a stigma to and isolate themselves from those
affected. So brave, so full of life, they are so normal and yet so different. According to the caretakers the Muslim communities are opening their hearts and minds and are helping in whatever way they can, although much more
help is still needed.

In concluding the interview the caretakers could not emphasis their thanks more loudly or clearly for the sponsor who sent them to Durban.
“We could not believe someone could have such a big heart and care for us
so much to send us on such a wonderful holiday. Thank you so much. May Allah reward you and your family, insha-Allah. Ameen.

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