Pakistan's Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour Announced Bounty on Anti-Muslim Filmmaker

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Sat, Sep 22) - According to BBC News; a Pakistani government minister has announced a $100,000 bounty for the death of the maker of an anti-Islam film, Innocence of Muslims, produced in the United States.

 

Pakistan's Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour Announced Bounty on Anti-Muslim Filmmaker

 

 

Pakistan Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, belongs to a political party called ANP (Awami National Party), told reporters that he would pay the reward for the "sacred duty" out of his own pocket.

 

"Whomsoever can kill the blasphemer will be covered in dollar bills by me," Mr Bilour told in a press conference in Peshawar. The offer from Mr Blour came only a day after deadly riots across Pakistan against the offending film, in which at least 22 people were killed and some 200 injured in clashes with the police. A cinema owned by Mr Bilour was among many commercial properties set on fire there by a protesting mob.

 

Anti-America sentiment grew after a trailer for the film dubbed into Arabic was released on YouTube earlier this month. Muslim world rocked by the deadly protests since last 11 days.

 

The maker of the film, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, is currently hiding in an unknown place due to life threats. Nakoula is reported as an Egyptian-born Coptic Christian living in California, who was found guilty of fraud in 2010 and ordered to pay more than $790,000 in restitution. He is thought to have used the pseudonym Sam Bacile to hide his identity.

 

Federal Minister said his decision to offer the bounty for Nakoula was purely a personal one, and had nothing to do with either his political party or the government.

 

"I alone will bear the consequences of the blasphemer's killing including any prosecution by authorities overseas. It would be a matter between them and I," he said.

The Pakistani government is yet to comment on Mr Bilour's statement, but will be hard-pressed to prosecute him because it could antagonize his ANP party.

 

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Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, Sam Bacile, Anti-Islam Film, Anti-Prophet Film, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Bounty on Nakoula

 

Anti-Prophet Film Protests in Pakistan: At least 22 killed, 180 injured on Friday

Islamabad, Pakistan (Sep 22, 2012) - At least 22 people have been killed and more than 180 injured in Pakistan in police-protesters clashes during protests over a US-made anti-Muslim film titled 'Innocence of Muslims'.

 

Anti-Prophet Film Protests in Pakistan: At least 22 killed, 180 injured on Friday

 

 

Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf appealed to the people to get calm after violent protests erupted across the country after Friday prayers against the movie allegedly mocking the Prophet Muhammed (P.B.U.H).

"Destroying property and resorting to violence negate the spirit of Islam and teachings of the Prophet,"Prime Minister said in a statement issued by his media office.

Although Pakistani government declared Friday to be an official holiday — calling it a ‘‘Day of LoveLove for the Prophet’’ and peaceful protests were requested, but western media highlighted that the move helped unleash the worst violence yet caused by the film.

The deadliest violence occurred in Karachi, where 17 people were killed and 102 wounded, according hospital officials.

Five people were killed and 78 wounded in the north-western city of Peshawar, where police fired on rioters who set fire to two cinemas and the city's chamber of commerce, and damaged shops and vehicles. Police and stone-throwers also clashed in Lahore and Islamabad, the capital.

It seems like the $70,000 (£43,000), spent by the US Embassy spent for advertisements on Pakistani TV that showed US President Barck Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemning the film, have been wasted and rather it affected adversely.

Riyadh: Saudi woman confronting religious police over nail polish issue (Video goes viral)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Mon, may 28) – A video of a Saudi woman defying the orders of religious police over breaking modesty rules with her nail polished fingers has gone viral after she posted it on the YouTube.

Saudi woman confronting religious police over nail polish issue (Pic Credit: Youtube)

 The three and a half minute video posted on May 23 shows members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice telling the women to “get out of here (the mall).”

The cops from religious police ordered the unidentified lady to leave the shopping mall because she has painted her nails which is against the rules prevailing in the country.

But the lady refused to comply, saying: “I’m staying and I want to know what you’re going to do about. It’s none of your business if I wear nail polish,” the lady, who is not seen on tape, is heard shouting at religious cops with beard.

it has ignited a debate in Saudi Arabia over the way that members of the commission should deal with people in public places. The video shows several men in traditional Saudi dress, who have apparently stopped the woman to chastise her for the immodesty of her freshly manicured nails.

One of the men orders the woman to leave the mall, but she refuses and the pair become embroiled in a heated argument in the middle of the mall's concourse.

"The government didn't send you to follow me," she yells at them. "The government said there would be no persecution (of women). Your job is to advise people and move on. You have no right to harass anyone."

A probe has been opened into the incident, the Gazette reported.

Watch the video with English subtitles below:

Report Tags: Saudi Arabia, Religious force, Religious Police, Saudi Woman, Woman with nail polish, Video, Youtube, Nail Polish, Fashion in Saudi Arabia,

PTA banned Twitter in Pakistan over 'blaspemous' content

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Mon, May 21) – Microblogging site Twitter was blocked in Pakistan on Sunday in protest of r a competition to post caricatures of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W).

PTA banned Twitter in Pakistan over 'blaspemous' content

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) spokesperson Muhammad Younis Khan said, "The website has been banned by Ministry of Information Technology and the decision was conveyed to us. There was blasphemous material on Twitter." 

The reports published in English Daily Dawn said the material in question was promoting a competition on Facebook which involved posting images of the Holy Prophet.

While Facebook agreed to address concerns over the competition, Twitter had so far failed to comply with the PTA's requests to remove the content, the reports further mentioned.

Back in 2010 a Pakistani court ordered to block Facebook because of a similar kind of competition organized by an anonymous Facebook user who called on people to draw the Prophet to promote so-called "freedom of expression".

Islam firmly disallows the portrayal of any prophet as blasphemous. Muslims across the globe staged angry protests over the publication of satirical cartoons of Holy Prophet Mohammed in European newspapers four years ago.

Report Tags: Twitter, Facebook, Prophet Muhmmad, Blasphemous material on twitter, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, PTA, Twitter blocked in Pakistan

Mansor Almaribe, a Shia Muslim from Australia, sentenced lashes and jail by Saudi court for blasphemy

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (dc. 07) – Saudi Arabian court has sentenced 500 lashes and a year in prison to an Australian citizen on account of blasphemy. The verdict was announced today (Wednesday, Dec. 07), after which Australian government has requested for leniency in the punishment through their embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Mansor Almaribe's family with his photo

According to details; the 45-year-old Mansor Almaribe was found guilty of blasphemy after he was detained in November during pilgrimage from the holy city of Madinah, Australian officials said. His family back in Australia is worried about his health

Mansor Almaribe, a Shia Muslim from Victoria State, was convicted of blasphemy and "making comments insulting to Prophet Muhammad's relatives."

Consular officials have been continuously in touch with Almarible and have been talking to him several times on phone since his detention in the mid of last month. The officials from Australian consulate were also present in the courtroom when the final verdict was read out.

A foreign office spokesperson, Kate Sieper, told that their ambassador had contacted key Saudi authorities seeking leniency for their citizen Almarible. It was unclear when the lashing punishment will be carried out.

Blasphemy is punishable by up to a death sentence under the strict Muslim law in Saudi Arabia.

On Kartik Purnima - Express Train Crushed Four Women to Death in India

Women Take Holy Dip on Kartik Purnima

LUCKNOW, India (Nov. 10) – An express train crushed four women to death today (Thursday, Nov. 10) morning while two other were injured severely in the same accident.

Reportedly, the victim women were belonged to Delhi and were returning after participating in a ritual to observe Kartik Purnima - thousands of people take a dip in the Ganges and other rivers to worship Lord Shiva.

The ladies were knocked down by Faizabad-Delhi Express while crossing the tracks near the Garhmukteshwar railway station in Panchsheel Nagar district (Uttar Pradesh). Four of them, including three sisters and one of their cousins, were killed on the spot while two are being treated at a hospital where their condition is stated to be serious.

Names of the victims are disclosed as Sonia (15), Neelam (22) and Suman (28) died along with their relative Gunjan (24).

In Mureedwala, Faisalabad .... So-called magician arrested for burning Holy Quran

FAISALABAD, Pakistan (Sept. 22) – The police has reportedly detained a so-called magician, in Mureedwala – suburbs of Faisalabad,  on account of burning Holy Qura’an and a case has been registered against him under Pakistan Penal Code – Section 295-B.

Police Arrested a So-called Magician on Alleged Burning of Holy Quran

According to details available; the 45-year-old Akram, known as ‘magic master’ in his vicinity, went to graveyard on Tuesday with one of his client and started his ‘magical spell’ uttering unfamiliar words and sentences over a script of the Holy Qura’an.

At the end of his so-called magical spells he allegedly sets Holy Qura’an on fire, resulting his clients gone violent and started beating him. In the mean time more people and passers-by gathered there and also pounded accusing him insulting the Holy Book. 

Someone from the crowd also called up the police who held the culprit and registered a case against him on the complaint of Muhammad Sarfraz, a resident of the area. Later on, Akram has been presented before the judicial magistrate of the area who ordered a judicial remand of 14 days and adjourned hearing for two weeks.

Final Rites of Sathya Sai Baba Funeral Underway Since Wednesday Morning (Must See Video)

PM Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi Paying Last Respect to Sai Baba

PUTTAPARTHI, India – The funeral of Sathya Sai Baba might see the disagreement of succession of the Sai Baba and the fight for control over Rs 50,000 crore Sai Baba empire is reviving. 

In the mean time, public ‘Darshan’ of Sathya Sai Baba's body has been extended till Tuesday midnight. Even the scorching heat could not stop devotees and followers from paying their last respects to Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi.

Final traditional rites for Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Funeral are under way from Wednesday morning. 

An estimated 500,000 devotees, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, paid their last respects to Sai Baba before the last rites on Wednesday.

PM Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi Paid Last Respect to Sathya Sai Baba on Wednesday

PUTTAPARTHI, India – An estimated 500,000 devotees, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, paid their last respects to Sai Baba before the last rites on Wednesday (April 27, 2011).

Final traditional rites for Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Funeral are under way from Wednesday morning. 

The funeral of Sathya Sai Baba might see the disagreement of succession of the Sai Baba and the fight for control over Rs 50,000 crore Sai Baba empire reviving. 

In the mean time, public ‘Darshan’ of Sathya Sai Baba's body has been extended till Tuesday midnight. Even the scorching heat could not stop devotees and followers from paying their last respects to Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi. 

Final traditional rites for Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Funeral are under way from Wednesday morning. 

An estimated 500,000 devotees, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, paid their last respects to Sai Baba before the last rites on Wednesday.

Malayisians Warned Against Immoral Activities on Valentine's Day

KUALA LUMPUR – Almost three weeks back I shared a post here about the ban of Valentine’s Day in Iran; now Islamic officials in Malaysia have advised Muslims to be away from celebrating something against the golden principles of Islam; as couples around the world ready for Valentine's Day.

In a campaign to promote sin-free way of life; several Malaysian states have already issued their warnings last week against the "immoral acts" during Valentine’s Day.    

Head of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM),Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz, which supervises the country's Islamic policies, said talking to media the Valentine’s Day and vice activities are always recognized as identical historically and in today’s reality. 

He further added "Islam would reject anything, even from the Eastern culture, if it contravenes the Islamic teachings".