Headlines 15/04/2016

Headlines

• ‘Europe Must Cultivate Own Islam’: German Politician wants to Cut Mosques off from Foreign Influence
• World of Islam Convenes in Istanbul, ‘Islamic Interpol’ Idea Gains Ground
• Pakistan’s Premier Leaves the Country Amid Panama Papers Scandal

Details

‘Europe Must Cultivate Own Islam’: German Politician wants to Cut Mosques off from Foreign Influence

A senior German politician has put forward a proposal to “cultivate” a European kind of Islam in Germany by barring foreign investment from Muslim countries, introducing local training for imams and making German obligatory in mosques. Andreas Scheuer, General Secretary of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister party of Angela Merkel’s governing CDU party, in an interview with Germany’s Die Welt, spoke of the need for a so-called Islam law that would help Muslims smoothly integrate into European society. “We cannot tolerate a situation in which extremist views are imported from abroad... Europe must cultivate its own Islam,” Scheuer stressed. The law would involve curbing the money flow from foreign countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia to mosques and Islamic kindergartens in Germany. Imams serving the Islamic population should “be trained in Germany and share our core values.” Apart from that, all services in local mosques should be conducted exclusively in German, Scheuer added. “This is only the beginning of our efforts. And we must do our best to succeed. There’s no point in passing an integration act if we turn a blind eye to what is preached in mosques and by whom,” the CDU general secretary stressed. When asked about those who fail to integrate, Scheuber had no hesitation in saying that these people should be punished or even deported. “Whoever does not integrate themselves cannot stay here. We must stop with this integration romance. Multiculturalism has failed. Whoever is not integrated must deal with leaving this country,” he concluded. [Source: RT Today]

Here is open admission that one of Europe’s cherished principles ‘Multiculturalism’ an offshoot of pluralism is dead. Instead of allowing people from different backgrounds to live according to their own norms and culture, the German minister wants to take Germany back to the dark ages and legalize the persecution of religious minorities to forcibly integrate Muslims under a German version of Islam. But tough questions about why pluralism failed are never asked or explored as this will expose the rotten foundations of liberal democracy.

World of Islam Convenes in Istanbul, ‘Islamic Interpol’ Idea Gains Ground

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member states agreed to establish an Istanbul-based police cooperation and coordination center to tackle terror and other crimes, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Thursday at the 13th OIC Summit Conference, held in Istanbul. "It would be helpful to establish a structure among member states that will strengthen and institutionalize cooperation against terror and other crimes," Erdoğan said, adding that Turkey's proposal to realize this with an Istanbul-based center, under the formal name of OIC Center for Police Cooperation and Coordination, was approved by member states. His remarks came at the opening ceremony of the OIC summit.  Erdoğan said that all Muslims must overcome sectarian temptations that instigate hostility. "I believe the greatest challenge we need to surmount is sectarianism. My religion is not that of Sunnis, of Shiites. My religion is Islam," he asserted. Erdoğan also said that terrorist organizations that attack and kill innocent people in the name of Islam and other Muslims cannot be representatives of the "noble religion." "We should be uniting. Out of the conflicts, the tyranny, only Muslims suffer," he said, adding that the summit meeting could be a "turning point" for the whole Islamic world. Saying that terror is one of the gravest problems facing the Islamic world, he decried the devastation in Afghanistan, where hundreds of thousands been killed.  "Now DAESH, which controls areas in Iraq and Syria and is trying to get control of Libya, serves the same dirty plans. We see Boko Haram and Al Shabaab, which conduct terror attacks in Africa, as belonging to the same category. Apart from a few attacks done for publicity, all these terror organizations oppress and harm all Muslims," Erdoğan stressed. Erdoğan underscored that Muslims should be united and urged them to strengthen mutual dialogue. [Source: Daily Sabah]

Will the so-called Islamic Interpol go after those Islamic leaders implicated in the Panama Papers or those guilty of killing their populations to remain in power? Alternatively, as expected Interpol will pursue sincere dawah carriers who toil day and night to liberate the Muslim world from its corrupt leadership and subservience to the Western powers.

Pakistan’s Premier Leaves the Country amid Panama Papers Scandal

Speculation about the political fate of Pakistan’s embattled Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, was swirling on Thursday after he left the country in the middle of an unfolding scandal over his family’s offshore wealth. Opposition politicians have pressed Mr. Sharif to resign after the so-called Panama Papers document leak revealed that three of his children controlled shell companies through which they owned expensive residential properties in London. Demands have picked up for a judicial commission under the country’s chief justice to investigate any potential wrongdoing by the prime minister and his family. Mr. Sharif has rejected any allegations of money laundering, claiming that his children have legitimate business abroad, and he has signaled his willingness to establish an inquiry commission. But as the political turmoil increased, Mr. Sharif flew to London on Wednesday for cardiac medical treatment that he described as a checkup. The timing of the visit immediately prompted rumors that Mr. Sharif might not return to Pakistan until investigations were completed. In his absence, the finance minister, Ishaq Dar, is leading important cabinet meetings this week. However, government officials said that Mr. Sharif will return on Sunday, and will face the crisis. Mr. Sharif has tried to assert civilian control over the government but has run into difficulties with the powerful military, which has again become ascendant in both foreign and domestic affairs in recent months and commands a deep well of public support. On Thursday, Imran Khan, the most trenchant political opponent of Mr. Sharif, also arrived in London. Mr. Khan said he was looking to hire financial investigation agencies that could look into the Sharif family’s dealings.

Mr. Khan has threatened to lead street protests if an investigation is not initiated by the government. Some political analysts here say that the major opposition political parties do not want the crisis to reach the point at which the military might step in. But the Panama Papers leak has lent momentum to Mr. Khan at a time when he had seemed politically weakened. He led thousands of his supporters and staged a sit-in outside the Parliament in 2014, accusing Mr. Sharif of rigging the last general elections. That effort to bring down Mr. Sharif fizzled, but Mr. Khan is taking this as a second chance. “This is a godsend opportunity for us,” Mr. Khan said last week, urging Pakistanis to rise against Mr. Sharif. Another mainstream political power, the Pakistan Peoples Party, has so far seemed to be weighing its options, and there has been no major joining of forces with Mr. Khan. Analysts say the party may be looking to cut a deal with Mr. Sharif. “They are trying to find some kind of political agreement to deal with the current crisis,” said Hasan Askari Rizvi, a prominent political analyst based in Lahore. “He is not threatened to that extent,” Mr. Rizvi added. “However, if all political parties join hands, then Nawaz is in real trouble.” [Source: New York Times].

It is odd that Sharif could neither visit nor build a hospital that performs routine heart checkups. But what is even more damning is how quickly Pakistani politicians of all colors leave the country for foreign shores when confronted with problems that implicate them. Such a leadership is not fit to run the country. Pakistan requires leaders that are sincere to Islam and its people., and this can only be accomplished through the establishment of Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashideh (Caliphate) upon the method of the Prophethood.