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The Islamic Information Center would like to acknowledge actors Brad Pritt and Angelina Jolie for their generous donation to help children affected by the war in Iraq.

According to the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, which Jolie co-chairs, the hollywood couple is distributing a total of $1 million through the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.

This incredible gesture of charity is deeply appreciated by the Islamic community, and we would like to congratulate Jolie and Pitt for such a munificent act.

The money Jolie and Pitt donated will be sent to four different organizations that aid children who have lost homes, school, or even parents.

The money Jolie and Pitt donated will be sent to four different organizations that aid children who have lost homes, school, or even paretnts—including both kids in Iraq and the U.S. These organizations include Women for Women International, which gives school materials and essential needs to women and children; the International Rescue Committee, which restores schools; NineMillion.org, which provides books and uniforms to 2,000 children; and the Armed Services YMCA Operation Hero Program, which provides military families with counseling and a way to improve their education.

This is not the first time that the couple have donated a large sum of money towards a great cause. Last year the two hollywood stars gave $300,000 to aid Darfur refugees. The Islamic Information Center is thankful for the big hearts of these two celebrites, and hope to see others follow their lead.

The Islamic Information Center, under the guidance of Imam Syed Naqvi, works to bring understanding among people of all faiths and background in an attempt to build bridges for the future to prevent hate crimes through education and tolerance. IIC also works to correct any misinformation about matters relating to the Holy Religion of Islam.

What appeared unthinkable yesterday looks realisable today. Obama could become the 44th President of the United States.

44 years ago, before the advent of the Civil Rights Act in America, there was still legal separation between blacks and whites, including, but not limited to, the use of separate bathrooms, drinking from different water fountains, and sitting separately in buses. During the time of President Franklin Roosevelt (1933-1945), lynchings of blacks could occur (and did occur) in the American South, without legal repercussions. There were significant roadblocks which prevented blacks from exercising their right to vote.

To see then Obama emerge as the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic Party is a momentous event and an historic breakthrough. It overcame a dark legacy of slavery, civil war, segregation, and racial polarisation. The crowning moment will come during the Democratic National Convention set for late August at Denver, Colorado.
Unhappy over Iraq, a faltering economy, and on the overall direction of the US, millions of Americans have shifted to Obama to express their aspirations for change and hopes for a better future. And, by doing so, they delivered an unexpectedly crushing blow to the Clinton Machine, which had a stranglehold on the Democratic Party for nearly two decades, and whose dynastic resumption of the US Presidency seemed inevitable. For this, American democracy owes a debt of gratitude to Obama.

With an African father and with Muslim kin, both in Kenya and in Indonesia, and with a non-Anglo Saxon sounding name, Obama had to – and has to – fight and transcend both racism and Islamophobia. For a virtual unknown to become a dragon-slayer in US politics is quite a feat.

A key question is how will Obama fare? Compared to whom? It is unfair to compare Obama to America’s best President, Abraham Lincoln, who led the federal forces in the American Civil War, saved the Union, and got assassinated in the process. But it is certainly fair to compare Obama to the current occupant of the White House.
The legacy of Bush has been one of waging illegal wars, of flouting the US constitution and the Geneva Conventions, of roiling relations in the Muslim world, of mismanaging the US economy, of accelerating the spread of violent zealotry, and of making Americans feel unsafe as never before, whether at home or abroad. NBC’s Baghdad bureau chief, Richard Engel, in his new book, War Journal: My Five Years in Iraq, writes: “The problem was that the US invaded the wrong country, not responsible for 9/11…I don’t know how you recover from invading the wrong country.”

Based on the foregoing, Obama cannot do worse, even with respect to US-Pakistan relations.

And then, there is the presumptive Republican nominee, Senator John McCain. McCain certainly has admirable attributes. Coming from a family of naval admirals, McCain suffered torment during his time as a captured POW during the Vietnam conflict. But he hasn’t offered any new prescriptions to differentiate himself and his platform from the failed policies of his Republican predecessor, George Bush. McCain’s philosophy – as incited by his closest adviser, Islam-bashing Senator Joseph Lieberman – puts him in the path of continuing the blindly one-sided bellicose stance in the broader Muslim world.

While the American people yearn for change, in McCain they may get more of the same, when the Senator from Arizona is officially nominated during the Republican National Convention at St Paul, Minnesota, at the beginning of September.

In the degrading tradition of US Presidential candidates, both McCain and Obama have made the customary salutations to the pro-Israeli Lobby.

Whether Obama wins the White House or not, come Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, the incontestable fact is that what has been achieved this far is by itself a milestone. Race concerns remain a potent factor. For example, 20 percent of white Democrats in the states of Kentucky and West Virginia have openly acknowledged that race is a factor in their voting choice. This election will test the mettle and maturity of the American voter.

Obama faces formidable obstacles, including an attack campaign of vicious rumours on the Internet, which his staff is already preparing to counter. However, Obama’s Achilles’ heel could be his wife Michelle, who can on occasion convey gloom and grievance, in striking contrast to her husband’s optimism.

America has its share of socio-political weaknesses. Yet, embedded in its midst are some strengths which give space to those bereft of means and genes to flourish. Attached with it is the inherent dynamism which gives it the capacity to self-correct.

This capacity will face its toughest challenge with respect to re-aligning America’s disastrous posture in the Muslim world. It is a task of state-craft which cannot be bypassed by whoever becomes the temporary inhabitant of the White House. It requires fresh energy, new ideas, and the momentum driven by the thirst for change. It is a challenge that Obama cannot avoid

The Islamic Information Center would like praise Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet, for his words regarding Islam and peace on July 13, 2008. The Tibetan leader gave a speech entitled “Generating a Good Heart”. He centered his lecture on three key words, “listen, learn, love.” The Dalai Lama wished to express his belief that problems in today’s world should be solved with a calm mind and compassion.

“I think many problems we are facing are not due to lack of knowledge, (not) lack of experience, but to lack of good-heartedness,” he said.

When asked about the rise in violent religious fundamentalism the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate communicated his opinion on the accusations made against the religion of Islam. He stated that “it’s totally wrong, unfair” to call Islam a violent religion. In addition the Dalai Lama emphasized the fact that he has made an effort to reach out to Muslims since the attacks of September 11.
The Islamic Information Center, under the guidance of Imam Syed Naqvi, works to bring understanding among people of all faiths and background in an attempt to build bridges for the future to prevent hate crimes through education and tolerance. IIC also works to correct any misinformation about matters relating to the Holy Religion of Islam.

The entire globe is anxiously awaiting the Muslim world’s reaction to President Obama’s recent speech in Cairo, Egypt. The Islamic Information Center commends President Obama for taking the initiative to address the Muslim world in a productive manner.  News reports have examined whether Muslims will accept his words and thus accept the new political philosophy espoused by the Obama administration. The truth is, however, that by and large each Muslim will likely have two simple reactions to the President’s speech: the first of which is that the President has made some truly wonderful remarks, and within his speech has demonstrated his respect for the Muslim people and the Islamic faith.  He made references to the Holy Book of Islam, the Qur’an, he honored the rights of Muslims in America and around the world, and he vowed to move forward with mutual respect. The second likely reaction from Muslims will be based in pragmatism. The Muslim world is very familiar with the concept of verbal gestures of friendship, but as the President recognized, “no single speech” can change the world situation.  Accordingly, while Muslims will react positively to the speech, eyes around the world will be watching for a change in policy.

A change in policy regarding Arab monarchies and dictatorships is something Muslims will watch closely.  It is a sad reality that there are a great many Arab governments that regularly oppress their native Muslim populations, especially along sectarian lines, in addition to other minority non-Muslim groups.  Countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen actively persecute large segments of their populations, most often the sizeable Shia communities, as well as other Christian and Jewish minorities, in the name of fabricated sectarian ideologies, (that are not based in Islam).  Despite this, the United States remains a proud friend of the Saudi Royal Family, has signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement with Bahrain, and has made Yemen an ally in the Bush administration’s “War on Terror”.  Obviously, these ties were developed well before President Obama came into office, but it is time to deal with the present and prepare for the future.

While Muslims welcome President Obama’s gestures of friendship and mutual respect, platonic relationships with oppressive governments will only exacerbate the current situation. What most Muslims realize – and unfortunately Western analysts sometimes gloss over – is that it is primarily the governments of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen that are the sources of extremism, inter-sectarian tensions, and hostility towards the United States.  What Muslims want from the White House is an end to support for governments that harm their own populations, whether they are Muslim or not, and whether it is militarily expedient or not.  It should also be noted that Osama Bin Laden was born and raised in Saudi Arabia’s capitol city of Riyadh, maintained bases and training centers in Yemen, and used the Bahrain International Bank to allocate funding for terrorist purposes.  The Muslim world knows that bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban are engaging in a war of cowardice and desperation, that these governments contribute to this problem, and that leadership on this issue from President Obama would go a long way in gaining widespread support amongst the Muslim victims of terrorism around the world.

Muslims will respond well to the President’s extensive knowledge of Islam and the history behind various conflicts.  President Obama’s speech notably included mention of the need for ensuring that Muslims in America have the ability to fulfill their religious duties, such as the Islamic concept of zakaat, or charity, and the verses he selected from the Holy Qur’an show a genuine interest in dialogue, neither of which will go unnoticed by the world’s 1.2 billion Muslims. Yet as much as Muslims will appreciate his words, and raise their hopes for a brighter future, they will accordingly expect new policies to reflect the President’s words.

As part of the new IIC, and its dedication to providing high content, quality news – IIC brings you the newsletter of the human rights organization “Save the Shias”. A new organization, the group puts together an unbiased, informative, and thought provoking piece of news literature.

Highlights of this issue:

· Taliban Threaten to Attack MQM

· Silence of Ayatullahs, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon on Pakistan Shia Genocide…. Why?

· Imran Khan Detained upon Entering United States

The Islamic Information Center, after a hiatus, has returned in a new format and with a more focused mission in order to best service the needs of the American Muslim community. IIC returns on its 10th Anniversary with a brand new webpage, a new dedication to community activism, and with a fresh stance. [FA_Lite id=”35″]

IIC has gone through many changes since its founding in 2002, and in its newest format, will primarily serve as a news organization – dedicated to unbiased, topical, and accurate reporting of stories that are of critical importance to Muslims around the world

Individuals interested in obtaining round the clock information, and the latest updated stories on Islamic issues, can go to the IIC webpage 24 hours a day, and constantly receive the latest updated news. IIC’s new webpage has a modified version of “Islam in 60 Seconds” available throughout the day, with fresh new stories throughout the day – every day. Want to see it?

Begun in 2006, Islam in 60 Seconds has been an important news source for Muslims in 30 countries, including the United States, Canada, England, France, and Pakistan. The New IIC returns with Volume VI of Islam in 60 Seconds. Each story is an abbreviated summary of the news, allowing readers to quickly digest a large amount of information relating to Muslims around the world.

Americas and Europe

Middle East

Great Asia

Africa

The Islamic Information Center, joining a statement from UMAA and the Idara e Jaferia, strongly condemns the attacks on the United States Embassies in Cairo, Eypt, Benghazi, Libya, and Sanaa, Yemen. Further, we condemn the murder of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and that of his staff members. No legitimate goal can ever be accomplished by harming innocent people, and no such behavior can ever be tolerated by the Holy Religion of Islam. We call upon the people of Egypt, Libya, and Yemen to take proactive measures to prevent violence and ensure that such actions can never happen again.
These riots are believed to be the result of an anti-Islam video created in the United States, which while derogatory and insulting, do not justify the harming of innocents. In the Holy Quran, God says that evil must be met with good deeds:

“The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity will become as though he was a near friend.” (Chapter 41, Verse 34).

The Islamic Information Center condemns all acts of terrorism as deplorable crimes against humanity, as they are completely reprehensible, and there is no legitimate reason for them to occur. Islam is a religion that advocates peace and tranquility amongst all peoples, and for any innocent individual to be harmed, is completely against the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

Islam, as taught by the Holy Prophet and his family, strongly advocates peaceful dialogue and discussion and rejects wanton violence against innocents. Further, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May God Bless Him) condemned all forms of terrorism against all people. The individuals who perpetrated this attack blatantly acted against the teachings of Islam and humanity.