Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog

Effectiveness of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS movement) is “rattling cages” within Israel (Image via Younes Arar)

The global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS movement) began in July 2005. The aim of the movement is to increase economic and political pressure on Israel through consumer boycotts and campaigns until it meets its obligations under international law to the Palestinian people and ends illegal occupation of their land. It is modelled on an earlier campaign against then apartheid South Africa. BDS works and has resulted in some companies withdrawing their services from Israel, see following link for one example,

“G4S to sell off operations in Israel as BDS claims victory”

http://europe.newsweek.com/g4s-sell-operations-israel-bds-claims-victory-435531?rm=eu

There has been a recent clampdown however by those opposing BDS with calls by the British government in February to make it a criminal offence for public bodies and student unions to shun Israeli goods. However BDS was strongly defended by a spokesman for the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the Independent who said,

“The Government’s decision to ban councils and other public bodies from divesting from trade or investments they regard as unethical is an attack on local democracy.

“People have the right to elect local representatives able to make decisions free of central government political control. That includes withdrawal of investments or procurement on ethical and human rights grounds.”

British Justice Minister Michael Gove recently addressed the third annual Algemeiner “Jewish 100 Gala” in New York claiming BDS to be anti-semitic stating, “anti-semitism has changed. And now, it finds its expression in opposition to the Jewish people’s collective identity and the existence of the state of Israel.” His speech can be seen here,

Professor Kamel Hawwash a British Palestinian engineering academic based at the University of Birmingham, commentator on Middle East affairs and Vice Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign denied this was the case in Middle East Monitor with the following words,

“The now regular accusation that the BDS movement is anti-Semitic is extremely dangerous. Anti-Semitism is about the hatred of Jews because they are Jews. By conflating this with a peaceful, moral tactic to pressure Israel to end its illegal and discriminatory policies against Palestinians in the occupied territories and its own citizens, Israel devalues the term. The reality is that many proponents of BDS are Jewish and some are Jewish Israelis. They all share the common and moral goal of achieving justice for Palestinians. True supporters of Palestinians should also do everything they can to ensure the pursuit of justice ensures that racism of any form is not tolerated but exposed and dealt with. The Palestinians will thank them for that.”

Israel’s failure to close down BDS has led to a disturbing new development according to Younes Arar, a Palestinian human rights defender from the West Bank, Hebron. Yesterday he posted the following message on his Facebook page alleging the following,

“Assassination of BDS activists,
The fascist Zionist occupation Intelligence and Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz called to “Assassinate leaders of ” BDS” activists mainly in Europe and US during a conference organized “Yediot Aharonot” newspaper over the weekend, the conference was held to address the global boycott of the Zionist occupations government and the colonies goods (known as BDS). Yet, I didn’t hear any condemnation from the leaders of the West’s countries nor any call to the Zionist occupation government to terminate this minister for his open call to kill other countries subjects who peacefully protest for justice and freedom, protest to end this fascist occupation, 31 March 2016.”

If this allegation is correct then where are those within the British government that claim to uphold democracy and human rights? Surely any call to harm citizens across the world involved in peaceful protest can never be acceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms. The government was voted in by the British people to serve the British people not the government of Israel!

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

KUNDUZ, Mar. 30 – Reports from northern Kunduz province say that local villages have been indiscriminately shelled and bombed by enemy forces from the ground and air since last night.

The enemy is tried to break out twice from the district administration center on Tuesday but were engaged by Mujahideen as a result 10 hirelings were killed before the rest retreated and left behind the corpses of their comrades.

Locals say that the US-nato forces are using all kinds of aircraft in the bombing campaign and some bombs being dropped are so powerful that they destroy 2 compounds in an explosion, adding that the airstrikes have destroyed and damaged countless homes and orchards.

Below are some of the images received by Al Emarah website depicting the damage caused:

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Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

URUZGAN, Mar. 30 – Officials from Dehrawod district report that the clashes which took place against enemy troops in Margi area on Tuesday resulted in 4 enemy APCs completely destroyed as well as 20 hirelings killed and wounded.

The clashes erupted after the enemy tried to reopen the main road which has been cut off by the Mujahideen.

The cowardly enemy fled the area after sustaining heavy losses while all praise is due to Allah alone, no Mujahideen were harmed in the fighting.

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Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

WARDAK, Mar. 30 – An enemy logistics convoy passing through Sayedabad district of Wardak province on Tuesday was waylaid by Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate in Sultan Khelo, Patang, Tara Khelo and Machine Kala areas at 02:00 pm local time.

The attacks on the enemy lasted till 05:00 pm during which 5 gunmen were killed including commander Zalmai and 7 others severely wounded as well as 5 logistics trucks, 2 pickup trucks and 10 other different type vehicles destroyed.

The convoy is said to be still surrounded by Mujahideen and the enemy looking for ways to rescue it securely.

More details will about the situation will be updated later.

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Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

BALKH, Mar. 30 – An enemy convoy backed by air power passing through Chahr Bolak district Tuesday morning was engaged by Mujahideen with heavy and light arms in Taimorak and Neik areas.

The attacks on the enemy lasted till dusk time during which 8 hirelings were reportedly killed and 11 others wounded as well as 2 APCs destroyed with 82mm artillery fire.

A Mujahid was also stated injured in the clashes.

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Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Free Dr Aafia Siddiqui demonstration outside Pakistan Consulate in Manchester, England
(Image via Yvonne Ridley)

The family of Dr Aafia Siddiqui have released a press statement demanding an update and clarification on her state of health after rumours circulated alleging she may have died. This is causing great distress to relatives including her sister Dr Fowzia Siddiqui who has been unable to verify whether she is alive or deceased.

Siddiqui, who gained a PhD in neuroscience at Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, US, was convicted for the attempted murder of American agents in Afghanistan and sentenced to 86 years in prison. The Aafia Movement who set up a campaign for her release claimed in 2015,

 “Dr Aafia Siddiqui was kidnapped 12 years ago from Karachi on her way to Karachi airport with her minor children. She was trafficked outside the country and after keeping her in illegal detention for five years, her arrest was shown in a faked attack on American soldiers in Afghanistan at Bagram base. “ 

Siddiqui was last known to be held in Fort Worth prison in the US. Her case was viewed as controversial based on what the Aafia Movement describe as “weak and flimsy” evidence with allegations of physical and mental torture and that she was “dishonored” see following article,

“Aafia awareness 2015, major campaign push to bring Aafia Siddiqui home”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/aafia-awareness-2015-major-campaign-push-to-bring-aafia-siddiqui-home-to-pakistan/

Photo posted on Twitter by Aafia Movement

Press statement from Aafia Movement

Aafia Movement seeks to determine what is happening with Aafia and demands action from Pakistan and US governments as follows:-

Letter of inquiry sent by Aafia’s family

A young girl passes out papers about Aafia Siddiqui, an MIT alumna currently serving an 86-year sentence in Forth Worth, Texas, during a rally Siddiqui’s release held Tuesday on the steps outside of 77 Mass Ave.

On March 10th 2016, Tech Online reported that a group of student protesters from MIT took to the steps outside of 77 Massachusetts Avenue calling on the U.S. government to release and repatriate Siddiqui, see following link,

“Protesters seek release of Aafia Siddiqui”

http://tech.mit.edu/V136/N7/protest.html

A further US rally in support of Siddiqui is scheduled for March 30th, 2016 at 4pm Fort Worth Texas near the Carswell Medical Center.

Link

Aafia Movement website

http://aafiamovement.com/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

The Afghan nation – under the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan – has waged a 15 year campaign to regain independence and establish an Islamic government. They have waged this campaign against the foreign invading forces and their Afghan mercenaries. Although this is a multi-dimensional campaign yet the most prominent of its dimensions is armed activity. This is due to the reality that modern colonization failed to submit to logic and only understands the language of force.

It is worth recalling that in terms of material resources the Afghan nation is hardly comparable to the imperial forces arrayed against it. Yet this proud nation has proven to the entire world that it has such an iron conviction and will that no amount of material superiority can break it.

If we take Operation Azm as a case study, we will find in it ample instances where the enemy has been brought to its knees, where it has been routed and ashamed, and the Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate have emerged victorious.

Over the course of this Operation, the Mujahideen captured large swathes of northern Afghanistan and laid siege to a number of provincial districts there. Their victories in the north culminated in their triumphant march on Konduz – a city which is not only historically and strategically significant but it capture was shrouded in irony since this was the city where the collapse of the Islamic Emirate first materialized and where the massacres of the Taliban were most evidently witnessed.

Similarly we witnessed intense fighting in Faryab and Suripul provinces where the Mujahideen successfully captured large swathes of territory and foiled any attempts by the enemy to recapture them. When the Kabul regimes criminal and genocidal Deputy President – General Dostum – announced his campaign against the Mujahideen, he specifically chose these two provinces and campaigned here with much fanfare but after having suffered heavy casualties and losing some of his top commanders he was force to flee back to the relative safety of Kabul.

In the west of the country, particularly in Farah and Helmand, the Mujahideen also cleansed whole districts from the presence of the enemy. The enemy forces tried unsuccessfully to recapture these territories with the help of foreign airpower but to no avail.

In addition to these frontal assaults the Mujahideen intensified their urban warfare tactics wreaking havoc in the enemy ranks and denting their morale by a series of bombings, small scale attacks and assassination attempts which resulted in the death of numerous foreign troops and a number of important military commanders.

With these successful Operation the Mujahideen have seized the initiative from the enemy and now dictate the time, place and pace of the coming battles. This spring God willing we will see even greater success in the campaign to reclaim our beloved homeland.

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Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

The American based ‘Globe Study Center’ has conducted a survey in thirty four provinces of Afghanistan in which two thousand people have been questioned about the proficiency of puppet Kabul regime. The conclusion of this survey explicitly shows that eighty one percent masses of Afghanistan are frustrated with this stooge regime and only seventeen percent people are pleased or contended with the heterogeneous setup of ‘Ghani’ and ‘Abdullah’.

It is evident from this survey by a foreign institution that the puppet regime is self-conceited in labeling itself as an elected and representative government of the people because how can majority of the people be displeased with a government which has supposedly been elected by them even though it has yet to complete the first half of its tenure?

In reality, the pious Afghan people realize that the Kabul based puppet regime is established and financed by an external force, and its pivotal obligation is to achieve the vested and malicious objective of its foreign lords. How can our masses be satisfied with and optimistic towards such a dependent and stooge regime?!!

The regime which is setup by foreign invaders, trained and financed by them, whose foremost priority, from head to toe, is to prefer foreign malicious objectives to the noble interests of the Afghan people and land, a nation which has suffered tremendously and presented innumerable sacrifices over the past three and a half decades!!!

On one hand, the puppet regime of Kabul is fully collaborating with the foreign invaders and is working side by side with them in detaining, torturing and martyring the innocent Afghan people from the beginning of this brutal occupation of our sovereign homeland. On the other hand, the internal stooges have left no stone unturned in looting and plundering the national assets and then transferring it to their foreign accounts, especially those funds raised on various forums for alleviating and improving the lives of ordinary Afghans and healing the wounds of our oppressed people.

Another vital reason of people’s annoyance with the puppet regime is that the funds raised for the well-being of the masses are instead used to frighten, torture and kill their own oppressed people and demolish their houses, shelters and villages for the sake of pleasing and winning the favor of their cruel and brutal foreign masters!!!

Moreover, incalculable political and economic setbacks as well as cultural and social harms have been inflicted on our pious Afghan people by this mercenary regime due to their indiscriminate adaptation of imported western norms and rules. And now the heroic Afghan people are depicted in the world as a corrupt, slave and ruined nation having no identity of its own!!!

On various occasions, in international conferences and forums, this stooge regime has explicitly supported the illegitimate and brutal foreign invasion and occupation of our beloved homeland. They are imitating the malicious and despised cultural and social values of the west. In the disguise of women rights, they are striving to violate all our prestigious religious and cultural values. State, politics and sovereignty are covertly alienated from religion and morality which is unwittingly paving the way for secularism. Instead of their own religious and cultural values, great preference is given to vile western values which are gradually becoming order of day. Instead of pacifying the people by sheltering and feeding them and by providing them jobs enabling them to live an honorable and dignified life, the mercenary authorities have gird up their loins to deviate the masses from their sacred religion and holy ideology!!!

How can the vigilant and pious people of our beloved homeland be satisfied and supportive of such an incompetent and stooge regime?!! As revealed by the recent survey of ‘Globe Study Centre’, the overwhelming majority of our people are annoyed and frustrated with this corrupt puppet regime.

This is the main reason that Mujahidin of the Islamic Emirate enjoy the warm and unconditional support of these masses in their holy struggle of defeating and ousting the foreign occupying forces, and concurrently, bringing down the inept puppet regime. And the day is not far off when our people will once again enjoy a free, peaceful and dignified life in a sovereign country under the blessings of Islamic Sharia, In-sha-Allah (God-willing)!!!

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Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

Last Monday, Nawroz, the first day of the Persian Calendar (1395) was celebrated in the Capital as well as in Balk province and some other cities of the beloved country with great fanfare by inefficient two-headed Kabul administration while our people are facing numerous sufferings. This is in a time that due to the lack of work and job opportunities, youth are fleeing the country and putting their lives in danger in far-off deserts and seas. Women, men and children remain spend sleepless nights due to fear of night raids and blind bombardments of the invading enemy. The people of villages and cities are fed up with search and raid operations of local police (militia) and unscrupulous armed men. There is fighting, instability and plundering all over the country.

In fact, in view of the Islamic teachings, celebration of Nawroz festival is absolutely impermissible and is associated to Zoroastrian religion. There is no justification to celebrate Nawroz in an Islamic country like Afghanistan. Our countrymen should lead their lives in light of the Islamic values and rules and should not blindly follow anyone. Eid festivals are specific days (as alternatives) for joys in Islam. Our Prophet (peace be upon him) has strictly prohibited the celebration of Nawroz and Mahrajan festivals.

Hazrat Anas (may Almighty Allah be pleased with him) says that when Prophet (peace be upon him) arrived at Madina, the people of Madina used to celebrate two days (Nawroz and Mahrajan). Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, which are these days? They said that we used to play during these days at the period of ignorance. Then the prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said that Almighty Allah has replaced these two days with such two days which is better than these days. They are Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Odha.

عَنْ أَنَسٍ رضي الله عنه قَالَ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمَدِينَةَ وَلَهُمْ يَوْمَانِ يَلْعَبُونَ فِيهِمَا، فَقَالَ: (مَا هَذَانِ الْيَوْمَانِ؟) قَالُوا: كُنَّا نَلْعَبُ فِيهِمَا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: (إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَبْدَلَكُمْ بِهِمَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُمَا: يَوْمَ الْأَضْحَى، وَيَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ) رواه أبو داود والنسائي

The writer of the book Aun al Mabood has mentioned in his book regarding the interpretation of this Hadith that Abu Hafs Kabeer Hanafi says:

من أهدى في النيروز بيضة إلى مشرك تعظيما لليوم فقد كفر بالله تعالى وأحبط أعماله، وقال القاضي أبو المحاسن الحسن بن منصور الحنفي: من اشترى فيه شيئا لم يكن يشتريه في غيره أو أهدی فيه هدية إلى غيره فإن أراد بذلك تعظيم اليوم كما يعظمه الكفرة فقد كفر وإن أراد بالشراء التنعم والتنزه وبالإهداء التحاب جريا على العادة لم يكن كفرا لكنه مكروه كراهة التشبه بالكفرة حينئذ فيحترز عنه. قاله علي القاري. عون المعبود (ج ۳ ص ۳۴۱- ۳۴۲).

Similarly other scholars have mentioned that offering gifts on that day is a cause of great sin for Muslims.

  (والإعطاء باسم النيروز والمهرجان لا يجوز) أي الهدايا باسم هذين اليومين حرام (وإن قصد تعظيمه) كما يعظمه المشركون  (يكفر…) ولو أهدى لمسلم ولم يرد تعظيم اليوم بل جرى على عادة الناس لا يكفر وينبغي أن يفعله قبله أو بعده نفيا للشبهة ولو شری فيه ما لم يشتره قبل إن أراد تعظيمه كفر وإن أراد الأكل كالشرب والتنعيم لا يكفر. الدر المختار وحاشیته (ج۶ ص ۷۵۴- ۷۵۵) و تبیین الحقائق (ج۶ ص ۲۲۸

The success of this world and the Hereafter could be achieved by paying respect to the Islamic rituals.

 {وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ} (الحج- ۳۲)

He that honors Allah’s rites, then surely it is from the piety of the heart. (Chapter 22, Verse 32)

Contrarily, Muslims face danger of spoiling their faith by celebrating un-Islamic customs and traditions (imitations). Whenever a Muslim submits himself to the commandments of his great God; strives for the implementation of His commandments; makes efforts to keep himself, his family and society away from acts which are prohibited by Almighty Allah; strives for implementation of all Divine teachings, then it means that he is taking steps towards success and will be blessed. But whenever a person keeps himself away from Islamic Shariah and drifts towards un-Islamic civilization then he faces sufferings and hardships.

{مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحاً مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ} (النحل – ۹۷).

Whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female and is a believer, we shall assuredly give him to live a goodly life; We shall reward them according to their noblest actions. (Chapter 16, Verse 97)

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Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

HELMAND, Mar. 26 – Reports from Marjah district say that a US-nato drone aircraft carried out an airstrike on a civilian gathering in 9th Block area on Friday in which tens of civilians including women and children were martyred and many others were wounded including some of our Mujahideen.

The enemy falsely claimed that this was a Taliban gathering and that around 50 were killed and wounded.

We reject this enemy claim with which they seek to hide their savagery and inhumane actions and consider it an unforgivable barbaric crime against our oppressed nation which shall avenged, Allah willing.

Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Qari Muhammad Yousuf Ahmadi

17/06/1437 Hijri Lunar               26/03/2016 Gregorian

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Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.