8.1 VISITING A PATIENT
It is your duty to visit your Muslim brethren in time of illness. This will enhance and nourish the bond of Islam and the brotherhood among you. As a committed Muslim, do not undervalue the great reward from Allah. Imam Muslim reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: ‘A Muslim visiting ill brethren will continue to be in the Khurfa of paradise until he, or she comes back home. He was asked, ‘What is the khurfa of Paradise?’ He answered, ‘This means the harvest of paradise.’ Imam Ahmad and Ibn Hibban in his authentic book reported that the Messenger said: ‘A visitor walking to visit a patient will be wading in the mercy of Allah. When the visitor sits with the patient they will be immersed in mercy until his, or her return.’

8.2 PRAYING FOR THE SICK
It is very appropriate to say few prayers for the sick asking Allah (SWT) to bless them with recovery and help them through their sickness. Bukhari and Muslim reported that Aisha said ‘If someone fell sick the Prophet would pass his right hand over them while saying the following prayer ‘O the Lord of humans, take away the suffering, bring the recovery, no cure but your cure that leaves no ilness.’ In another hadith reported by Bukhari, Ibn Abbas said that the Prophet when vising a sick person would say: ‘Hold on, may Allah cleanse you.’

8.3 THE LENGTH OF THE VISIT
Certain etiquette will make your visit to an ill person a refreshing and morale boosting one. Your duty is to ease his or her pains, and to make him or her more conscious of the rewards they will gain in return for their suffering and endurance.

Make your visit brief. Sick persons may not withstand such long visits. The length of the visit should be not longer than the time between the two speeches of Friday. In this respect, it was said that the visit should be long enough to convey your greeting and wishes (Salam), to ask the sick how he or she is doing, to pray for recovery and to leave immediately after saying good-bye.

If you visit a patient say your greeting
And immediately you should say, ‘Good-bye’
The best visit is every third day The best stay is in the blink of an eye
Do not bother the patient with many questions
Two or three words will get you all along.

At the end of his book of Malkite Fiqh, Al-Kafi, Imam Ibn ‘Abdul Al-Barr said: ‘Whether you visit a healthy or an ill person, you ought to sit where you are told. Hosts know better how to ensure privacy in their home. Visiting an ill person is a confirmed Sunnah. The best visit is the shortest. The visitor sought not to sit too long with an ill person, unless they are close friends and the ill person enjoys their company.’

8.4 THE MANNERS OF VISITING A PATIENT
The visitor ought to wear clean clothes with a fresh scent in order to make the patient feel better both spiritually and physically. At the same time, it is improper to wear fancy clothes that are more appropriate for parties and festivities. Wearing a strong perfume may annoy the sick.

Visitors ought to keep their conversation light and avoid gloomy talk that might exacerbate the patient’s distress. Avoid conveying bad news such as a failing business, a death, or similar bad news. Also, visitors ought not to inquire about the details of illness unless the visitor is a specialized physician. Similarly, visitors should not recommend to a patient any food or medicine that might have helped them or someone else. Such recommendation might lead the ill person, out of ignorance or desperation, to try it, causing further complication or even death.

Do not criticize or object to the treatment by the physician in the presence of the ill person for it might cast doubt in the mind of the sick. If you are a specialized physician, you may want to discuss the case and its treatment privately with the doctor in charge.

8.5 How the Ill express their complaints
It is recommended that when asked about our condition, a sick person should start by thanking Allah and then proceed to list his complaints. This is to avoid the appearance of complaining of Allah’s will. This was the etiquette of the followers as reported by Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi in his Tarikh Baghdad in the biography of Abdul Rahman Al-Tabib who was the physician of Imam Ahmad and Bishr Al-Hafi. Abdul Rahman said both Imam Ahmad and Bishr became sick and were treated at the same place. ‘When I visited Bishr, I asked how he felt, and with thanks to Allah first, he then proceeded saying I have this pain or that complaint. When I visited Imam Ahmad and asked how he felt, he would say ‘I feel all right.’ One day I told him, ‘your brother Bishr is also ill, but when I ask him of his conditions, he thanks Allah first, then tells me his condition. Imam Ahmad said, ‘Please ask him from where did he get this.’ I answered, ‘His presence makes me reluctant to ask.’ Imam Ahmad said, ‘Tell him your brother, Abo Abdillah asks from where did you get this.’ Abdul Rahman asked Bishr as told. Bishr said, ‘Abo Abdillah wants everything with authority. I heard this from Azhar who heard it from ibn Aoun who heard it from ibn Sireen; ‘If a person thanked Allah before complaining, it will not be a complaint but as if telling the acts of Allah. ‘ Abdul Rahman said, ‘I
told this to Imam Ahmad. After that, if asked how he felt, he would start by thanking Allah, and then describing his complaints.’

The answer of Bishr indicates that when asked about their health, the sick preferably should praise Allah first then explain their complaints. By this approach, it is not considered complaining against the acts of Allah.

from the book ISLAMIC MANNERS
By Shaykh Abdul-Fattaah Abu Ghuddah (RA)

I received a reader request about an outfit to wear to a summer wedding. Depending on the time, venue and dress code, different outfits are called for, but you can always rely on a maxi dress to be appropriate! I’ve gone for a daytime, outdoor wedding outfit here; a printed dress with a light cardigan in pastel shades is a pretty option. Layer in a corsage headband with your scarf for an added touch. If you’re on the shorter side, try a cropped cardigan to lengthen your silhouette:

Norway: More information about the terror suspects

Norwegian papers continue to publish new information about the three terror suspects. Below is a summary of several articles.

At the same time, the PST is not officially saying anything about the investigation. The PST denies there was video surveillance of the suspect’s apartments, or any apartment, as VG Nett claimed.

Previous articles:

* BREAKING: Three arrested in Norway for terror plot

* Norway: Terrorist cell planned attacks in Norway

* Norway: Suspects bought bomb materials

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

The three suspects are: Shawan Sadek Saeed Bujak Bujak (37), an Iraqi Kurd who was arrested in Germany, David Jakobsen (31), an Uzbek, and Mikael Davud (39), a Norwegian citizen of Chinese-Uighur background. suspected of leading the cell.

Kurdish-Iraqi Shawan Sadek Saeed Bujak Bujak was extradited from Germany to Norway yesterday.

Dagbladet reports that the PST, the Norwegian Security Police, conducted secret raids in the suspect’s home in Grefsen. The PST headquarters are located 500 meters away. In a shed the security service found a big bottle and two smaller bottles of high-concentration hydrogen peroxide, acetone, two liters of liquid and flour. These are the main ingredients for preparing the acetone-peroxide bomb, “Satan’s mother”.

The police also found protective eye-wear, masks and walkie-talkies, which they think shows the three were going to make a bomb.

———–

The Iraqi Kurd worked for bricklayer Odd Bjørvik in Førde from 2001 to 2004.

His former colleagues told Dagbladet that he was politically engaged and a religious man, who spoke well of al-Qaida leader, Osama bin Laden.

“When the Twin Towers in New York were attacked, he worked by me. Then he thought it was the Japanese who were behind it. But he didn’t want to say so much on whether he was for or against it, we were all very upset at him.”

“But half a year later he said that Bin Laden was a good man.”

At one time the Iraqi tried to help an Iraqi women enter Norway illegally. “In 2003 he paid 70-80,000 kroner to obtain a false password for an Iraqi woman. She was stopped in Iran’s capital, Tehran, on the way to Europe and Bujak lost all the money.”

Bjørvik says that Bujak smuggled halal meat from Sweden. “He was very concerned about halal meat. My wife had a store and was to sell halal meat, but it wasn’t good enough. After that he began to smuggle halal meat.”

He says the Iraqi lived frugally and seldom went out. “He also had plans to build a Muslim cemetery and mosque in Førde.”

Bujak told Bjørvik that he wasn’t religious in Iraq and that he drank alcohol then. He become very religious when he was in an asylum center in Germany for 2-3 years.

Several of Bujak’s former colleagues say that he stopped work several times a day to pray and that he took over their offices to do so. One colleague says that they discussed politics during lunch, and that the Iraqi had said he wanted to go to paradise where the virgins were waiting for him.

Bujak’s lawyer says that it’s not uncommon for foreigners to smuggle halal meat or falsify travel documents and that it’s not connected to terrorism.

Meanwhile, Bujak’s wife is afraid to return to Norway. She says they might become victims or racism and that somebody might attack them. She describes the family as moderate Muslims.

———–

The PST started following the suspects after getting reports from the British and American security services that they suspect Davud of having contacts with people linked to terrorism. The PST is thinks that the terrorist cell intended to attack Chinese interests in Norway.

The PST found passport photos of several men in Davud’s home, one of which is a person identified as a member of al-Qaeda.

VG Nett and Dagbladet report that the PST and Jakobsen’s lawyer confirm that Jakobsen was an informant for the PST since 2009. According to his lawyer, Jakobsen approached the PST after his friend, Davud, asked him to get a person into Norway illegally. Jakobsen says that at the time Davud showed him several passport photos, and the PST he now trying to link the request to the photos they’ve seized.

Jakobsen had two contact people with whom he met 3-4 times a month. He didn’t report about the buying of the chemicals, which he now regrets.

———–

Davud met the Uzbek suspect in a mosque in Sarpsborg. According to imam Shaikhjami Abdulquddus the two regularly visited the Muslim Culture Center.

“Davud last visited three weeks ago. Both appeared to me as honest, kind people. Religious, but not fundamentalist. I’ve very shocked about the terrorism charges,” the imam told Dagbladet.

For a while, all three suspects lived in the same area. In a surprise move, Davud moved to Sarpsborg in 2003. Jakobsen lived in the nearby city of Råde in 2004. The third suspect, Shawan Sadek Saaed Bujak Bujak (37) had an address in Sarpsborg during that time.

Aftenposten reports that the mosque’s board consists mainly of Pakistanis, but it also attracts Muslims of other nationalities.

It’s now described as a place for radical Muslims. Klassekampen reported in April 2009 that the mosque’s imam previously defended the death sentence against Muslims who convert to Christianity. Previously he also claimed that “Islamic law is above Norwegian law”.

Provorst Dag Mysen has been in regular contact with the imam and others from the mosque, and describes the imam as welcoming and pleasant, though firm in his attitudes.

“He insisted in talks with us priests on the death sentence for converting and that our culture is on a collision course with Islam.”

Mysen stresses that there are many intelligent Muslims in this mosque who have other attitudes regarding the major social issues and that the imam’s view is not representative of Muslims in Sarpsborg.

Aftenposten spoke with other Muslim communities in Østfold who disagree. In 2008 a group of Kurds formed their own community in Sarpsborg, following a conflict with other mosque members, also on the issue of supporting suicide bombers in Northern Iraq.

A former member of the mosque who wished to remain anonymous says that the authorities should have better control of then.

The Islamic Association in Fredrikstad also distances itself from the mosque in Sarpsborg.

“We are modern Muslims. We have nothing to do with them,” says Haji Asif Husain.

When Aftenposten visited the mosque, the representatives of the mosque did not want to be photographed or to talk about their relationship with Davud. But they spoke out against terrorism and stressed that supporters of al-Qaeda were not welcome there. They also expressed surprised that the man they knew as ‘Rashidin’ is suspected of planning terrorist acts.

The mosque is not part of the Islamic Council of Norway, and in 2009 it’s head Senaid Koblica told Klassekampen they were not optimistic about having better dialog with the community.

Davud previously lived in Bergen. Semet Abla, former leader of the Uighur committee: “He was very religious, and didn’t want to have contact with the Uighur community in Bergen. He preferred being with the Somalis, Kurds, Arabs and Iraqis. They were people who were very religious. Most Uighurs are a little or moderately religious. It seemed as if he wasn’t interested in having contact with such people.”

Sources: Dagbladet 1, 2, 3, 4 VG, Aftenposten (Norwegian)

Spain: Final brings Spaniards together

Via TIME:

“Yo soy español, español, español!” As the buzzer sounded in Johannesburg on the final match of the 2010 World Cup, an entire city 5,000 miles away burst spontaneously into song. From the shirtless kids taking a celebratory jump into the Cibeles fountain to the old men crowded around a 13-inch TV set at their fluorescent-lit corner bar, all of Madrid, it seemed, was chanting the same joyful (if annoyingly repetitive) lyrics. But perhaps no one in the Spanish capital sang with more fervor than Mahbubul Alam. Watching the game through the window of a café in the Lavapiés neighborhood, his entire body shook as he gleefully belted out the words the whole city was singing: “I am Spanish, Spanish, Spanish!” The fact that Alam is Bangladeshi hardly seemed to matter.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

(…)

Seated outside with friends, Azhar Abbas, from Pakistan, was ecstatic before the game even began. With a red-and-yellow scarf tied around his neck, and a Spanish flag emerging from his collar, he was sure Spain would win because it was such a good country. “It’s not like Germany or Italy where there’s discrimination,” he said. “Here there’s no difference between Spaniards and foreigners.” And just in case ethnic tolerance wasn’t enough to guarantee victory, he added, “I went to the mosque today and prayed for Fernando Torres.”

(photo)

(…)

The scene was much the same at Hasan Keyf’s kebab restaurant around the corner. At one point during the evening, the 20 young Moroccan men sipping Fantas at tables draped in Spanish flags broke spontaneously into a chorus of “Viva España.” “They’re gods of the game,” said Mohammed Dauud, in reference to the Spanish team. The 22-year-old had immigrated by himself to Spain from Morocco when he was just 12, and the intervening years explain, he says, his loyalty to the Spanish team. “This is where I live, who I am now,” he said. “Of course, Spain is going to be my team.” Asked if the same logic meant he was also a supporter of Real Madrid, however, Dauud demurred. “Are you crazy?” he said, shaking his head. “I’m a Barça fan.”

(more)

France: Doctors have difficulties dealing with burka

While the French National Assembly is debating the law banning the burka in public, doctors are testifying of their difficulties in providing the necessary care to women wearing the full veil.

Since the law of religious symbols passed in 2004, doctors and nurses have seen an increase in the number of women wearing the burka. With this veil it is impossible to verify the identity of the patient, her state of health and during surgery or birth, the situation becomes even more delicate.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

Agnès, a nurse in the delivery room at the Poissy hospital, tells of one case in which a woman wanted to give birth in her burka at any price. The medical staff had to negotiate with her so she would agree to give birth without it.

After giving birth, Agnès says that women wearing a burka are put in a single room. There’s the problem of modesty, but in particular the husband’s influence. Isabelle Lévy, author of La religion à l’hôpital (Religion on the hospital) says that most of the time it’s the husband who opposes a cesarean, a procedure conducted by a man.

The result: the burka makes the relationship between the patient and doctor more tense. Paul Atlan is a gynecologist at the hospital in Clamart, the only surgery where patients come to talk of their religious dilemmas

Difficult to discuss sometimes in an emergency. (audio at link)

And in recent years, the hospital staff has been victims of violence by patients or their relatives for religious reasons.

Source: Europe1 (French)

Yes, a little late I know, but there has been little mainstream photographic coverage of the latest IFF. This time it took place in Jakarta on the 29th-30th June 2010. You can read more about the event in these articles from the Jakarta Globe and Malay Mail Online. And if you’re on Facebook, check out this album from top Indonesian photographer Arselan Ganin for lots more pictures.

Iva Latifah; Ida Royani

Ghea Panggabean

Images: Reuters

Norway: Terrorist cell planned attacks in Norway

Dagbladet reports that the three suspects are:

* Shawan Sadek Saeed Bujak Bujak (37), an Iraqi Kurd living in Oslo. He was arrested in Germany and Norway asked to extradite him.

* David Jakobsen (31), Uzbek living in Oslo. Jakobsen’s request for asylum was rejected, but he received a residence permit via family reunification. Several sources in the Uzbek community told Dagbladet that Jakobsen radicalized during his time in Norway.

* Mikael Davud (39), Norwegian citizen of Chinese-Uighur background. Suspected of leading the cell. Davud was formerly called Muhammad Rashidin, but changed his name in 2007.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

VG reports that the Norwegian security services installed cameras in Davud’s apartment next to the Ullevål Univesrity hospital in Oslo. According to the PST, it was there that Davud stored the bomb materials for al-Qaida’s first attack in Norway. The attack was planned in Norway, but the three hadn’t chosen a concrete target yet. The suspects bought the ingredients for the hydrogen peroxide bombs in February and March of this year. According to the PST they had enough material for a large bomb or several small ones.

According to VG, all the movements in the house were recorded and sent to the PST in Nydalen (Oslo).

Jakobsen’s lawyer confirmed to Dagbladet that Jakobsen visited Davud’s apartment on several occasions and had national dishes by him.

All three suspects deny any connection to terrorism. In his interrogation Davud denies that he knew about the hydrogen peroxide.

VG reports that Davud’s lawyer says that David Jakobsen bought the chemicals for somebody else who wanted to remove rust from his car.

Aftenposten reports that the PST has been following the radical Uighur community for a while, and has pressured people in the community to prevent them from radicalizing.

The case is compared to a case last year when former Taliban minister Abdul Mohammad Rauf supposedly managed to set up a community with a small group of supporters in a mosque in Oslo. The PST managed to break up the community and prevent radicalization. The PST contacted about 25 people who’s been in touch with Rauf through the mosque.

Einar Wigen, author of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment study “Islamic Jihad Union: al-Qaida’s Key to the Turkic World?” and researcher for the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, says that previous terrorist cells of this type traveled to the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan to train in using explosives.

According to a New York Times report, the three are part of the Turkistani Islamic Party/East Turkestan Islamic Movement. The ETIM/TIP were formerly linked to terror attacks in China, but Wigen thinks that terrorist group has close contacts with other organizations who have a strategy aimed against the West.

“The 39 year old Uighur who was arrested could have been influenced by a more global, Jihadi ideology through contact with other Jihadist groups in Afghanistan or Waziristan. These see the West as the primary enemy and a target for terror attack, rather than focusing on establishing Islamic rule in their own homeland,” says Wigen.

“That the group is described as members of TIP could be linked to the Uighur’s background, and that he was the one who recruited the other two. There are few good sources and little research on TIP and ETIM, but what looks like a central-Asiatic terrorist network has emerged, with centrally Uighurs but also Uzbeks. Whether they can be considered part of al-Qaida or not, is difficult to say. The Germany Sauerland cell in particular, which was uncovered in 2007, had links to the central-Asiatic network. There are many similarities between the Sauerland cell and what been published about the Norwegian cell,” the NUPI researcher says.

The so-called “Sauerland cell” planned to create powerful car-bombs of more than 700 liters of hydrogen peroxide. The bombs were to be used in attacks against American installations, airports or discos. The aim was to force the German army out of Afghanistan.

The materials are the same as those the three terror suspects in Norway had.

Wigen says that the Uighur and Uzebek Jihadists are often in the same networks. Similarities in language could contribute to making the recruiting process easier.

“It could naturally happen that an Uighur and Uzbek get together, but Uighur and Uzbek are closely related languages, and it can therefore be relatively easy for the two to speak to each other. When the Taliban still ruled Afghanistan, they sent Uighurs to Kunduz, where the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) had their base. This can be some of the reason why Uzbek and Uighur Jihadists are often in the same networks,” says Wigen.

“In general it’s very ‘classic’ for Jihadists in Europe that just one in the group that plans terrorist acts gets training in camps, and has contact with the leaders, and that they recruit new members who already have citizenship or residence permits in Western countries. There are many similarities here with previous attacks in Europe, both those carried out and planned,” says Wigen.

BREAKING: Three arrested in Norway for terror plot

Yesterday a Pakistani student was arrested in Manchester, on suspicion of being involved inthe NYC metro bombing plot. Today three people were arrested in Norway, possibly related to the same or similar plot.

The Norwegian Security Service (PST) is currently holding a press conference. I’ll add updates as they come.

———-

Three suspected al-Qaida members were arrested Thursday morning in what Norwegian and U.S. officials said was a terrorist plot linked to similar plans in New York and England.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

The three men, whose names were not released, had been under surveillance for more than a year. Officials believe they were planning attacks with portable but powerful bombs like the ones at the heart of last year’s thwarted suicide attack in the New York City subway.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has called that one of the most serious terrorist plots since 9/11. On Wednesday, prosecutors revealed the existence of a related plot in Manchester, England. Officials believe the Norway plan was organized by Salah al-Somali, al-Qaida’s former chief of external operations, the man in charge of plotting attacks worldwide.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case. The Norwegian Police Security Service said only that the three were arrested on suspicion of “preparing terror activities.”

(more)

————

The three men all have permanent residence permits in Norway. One has Norwegian citizenship. The PST suspects them of plotting to commit a terror attack. They think the three have links to people aboard who are linked to al-Qaeda.

The PST sees this as a very serious case, but says it’s not possible to give any more details at this time.

Sources: AP (English), VG (Norwegian)

Update (VG):

The men arrested are:

1. A 39 year old Norwegian citizen of Uighur background. Came to Norway in 1999.

2. A 37 year old Iraqi citizen. Came to Norway in 1999. Received residence for humanitarian reasons and has a permanent residence permit.

3. A 31 year old from Uzbekistan. Came to Norway as an asylum seeker in 2002, and later received residence in Norway. Has a permanent residence permit.

Update 2: (VG, NRK)

PST head Janne Kristiansen says that the investigation had been ongoing for a while, and that they’ve been following several people over time. The PST was told that the foreign media were on the case last week, which could have been diststrous for the investigation.

Two of the suspects were arrested in Oslo, and one in Germany.

Norway: Rejected refugees riot to protest living conditions

Police have arrested 23 people on suspicion of arson after last night’s fire that destroyed Lier asylum centre in Buskerud.

The fire started in three separate buildings that were far apart almost simultaneously, and preliminary investigations show traces of inflammable liquids.

Inmates already knew what was going to happen, as several refugees had packed their belongings, according to VG.

Jan Erik Skretteberg, regional director of SOS Rasisme, says he can understand why the fire was started, claiming there are many frustrated people who don’t get enough food or vitamins. There isn’t enough hot water in the showers, and a complete lack of mental health services.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

“Several residents have warned previously it was only a matter of time before someone either harms of kills himself because of conditions at the institution. Not only do they live under severe mental pressure, but living conditions at the centres are also not fit for human beings,” he says.

Trouble at both the Lier, as well as Fagerli asylum centre in Nannestad in Akerhus municipality started early yesterday morning. Rioters destroyed fixtures and fittings, broke windows, and started smaller fires. Both facilities are now uninhabitable.

The centres house refugees who are awaiting deportation, after their asylum applications have been a final rejection. Some have been living there for four years.

(more)

———–

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, after the riots but before the center was burned down, the leader of the Kurdish asylum seekers was interviewed by Drammens Tidende.

“I’m the one who started it. I threw the first stone,” an Iraqi man told Drammens Tidende when we visited the Lier natioanl reception yesterday afternoon.

Several others earlier said the same, but when the Iraqi came, we quickly got the message from the others that he’s the leader.

He’s kept to the background towards the press for a long time, but makes direct contact and wants to talk.

When he talks, the others fall silent.

“I’m the leader of about 35 Kurds here in the center,” says the man, who’s been there for a year and two months.

The man claims that he was the spokesperson with the police during the night. He can come up with names, and agrees to being photographed from the back.

“But don’t photograph the face. I don’t want to be a famous man,” he says.

We walk around the center. Almost all the glass windows in the administration buildings and dormitories are broken. We step over glass everywhere. Stones are strewn on the lawn and inside the buildings.

In one place the asphalt is torn up – apparently to obtain more ‘ammunition’.

Next to the main building, a garbage shed burned down, and in front of the building a car of the center is without windows.

Nevertheless, we can’t find remorse by the man.

“No. We wrote a letter to the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) and met the boss here three times in the past month. We’ve complained about the conditions. We’re treated like animals. But nothing happened,” says the man.

“Therefore violence is the only and best way. There were no journalists here yesterday. Now all the journalists re here and are asking what’s happening and wondering how we’re doing,” he explains.

“We don’t like violence. But see no other solution. And if it doesn’t get better, this is just a first warning of what can happen.”

Q: There was also trouble in the reception center in Nannestad. Were you in contact?

“Yes. We speak to each other all the time.”

———–

Drammens Tidende met several desperate people in the reception center. All said they’d like to go home to their homeland – but that it was too dangerous. Therefore they have to stay in Norway.

“If I go home, I’ll be killed,” said one.

“I’d rather be here than to go home to prison,” said another.

Each of them tells of bad food, not enough food, not enough warm water in the showers, that the internet connection is bad, that they get 100 kroner a week to live on and that they get bad medical care.

“We feel like slaves without a social life. There are people who have been here for four-five years,” says the leader.

Another men says he stole a cola when he was on a tour of Drammen.

“We get juice, juice and juice. I hadn’t tasted a cola for several months. In the end I took one,” says the man.

“We can’t sleep at night. There are many who have to take pills to sleep a little. And there are many who tried to take their lives. You can see the attempts on people’s arms,” says the leader of the Kurds.

“Why can’t we get permission to work, earn money and pay taxes? Now we just sit in the center all day. Have no money to do anything.”

The leader shows us his room to see the conditions he lives by. But the police prevented Drammens Tidende from going into the premises.

“We live five to a room. We are people but are treated like animals.”

Several other people made contact and told the same stories, but didn’t want to be in the paper. They feel treated in an unworthy manner, and think that the conditions in the waiting center are the reason for the riots.

———–

An Iraqi resident, who didn’t want his name in the paper, shows Aftenposten.no the damage to cars, buildings and sheds. He’s been in the Lier center for three months.

“I’m glad for the violence. It’s the best way to get attention in Norway. Now everybody knows what’s happening here, that we just get 100 kroner a week, and that everything we can do is to eat and sleep,” he says.

He participated in the riots during the night, and thinks it’s the only way to change his hopeless situation.

He shows Aftenposten his bedroom, a narrow, small room of 15-20 sqm, shared by five grown men. Some metal lockers for clothes and personal property. Five beds and a desk with a television is all that’s there. The TV, says the Iraqi, was obtained by the residents, they didn’t get it from the center.

Another resident says that they’ve been in Norway illegally for years, and says that he’s been here since 2002. Some of them have been in the Lier center since it was opened five years ago.

“Look at him down there,” one points to a thin man sitting alone under a tree.

“He always sits there, all alone, and speaks to the tree. People go crazy living here, there’s nothing to do besides eating and sleeping,” says the man, originally from Somalia. He’s been in Norway for the past nine years and says he’s a ‘Dubliner‘ and in theory should go back to Italy.

Sources: The Foreigner (English), Drammens Tidende, Aftenposten (Norwegian)

World Cup: French team goes home

BAFFLED, shaken and finally repelled, the French have watched aghast at the existential drama that unfolded this week in South Africa, on the pitch and off it. World Cup winners in 1998, France were eliminated from this year’s tournament without winning a single game, and flew home in disgrace. But it was the team’s performance off the pitch that so appalled the French, described by the sports minister, Roselyne Bachelot, as a “moral disaster” that had “tarnished the image of France”.

This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog – islamineurope.blogspot.com

The fiasco began with a dressing-room row, in which a star player, Nicolas Anelka, yelled insults at Raymond Domenech, the coach. The French Football Federation sent Mr Anelka home, prompting a mutiny by the players, who refused to train for the next match. As recriminations flew, the captain, Patrice Evra, said that the problem was not Mr Anelka but the mole who leaked the row. The unloved Mr Domenech called the players “imbeciles”. Players and staff rowed in front of the cameras. President Nicolas Sarkozy even held a crisis meeting in response.

The affair has provoked much agonised introspection. Aime Jacquet, the victorious 1998 coach, said he was “ashamed”, describing the team as “the laughing stock of the world”. Le Monde, the bible of the Paris intellectual, described the team as “a mirror of French society today. Dominated by tormented egos and star salaries, cut off from the reality of the country and their fans, split into clans”. Bernard Kouchner, the foreign minister, called it “an appalling soap opera”. Jacques Attali, an economic adviser to the president, hoped that the affair would “act as a wake-up call” and show the French they could no longer “be satisfied with past glories…glory is the worst enemy of power, and nostalgia the worst poison for the future.”

The debacle, and the reaction to it, says as much about French neuroses as it does about football. First, there is the prickly matter of race and religion. Most of the French squad are black, and many are Muslim, including Mr Anelka, who is a convert to Islam, as is Franck Ribery, who is white. The 1998 triumph was hailed at the time as a turning point: the country finally recognising, and celebrating, its multicultural make-up. Since then, between banlieue riots and talk of burqa bans, France has struggled to integrate its minorities. (Of the 23-man Algerian squad, 17 are French-born.) The team seems to reflect these tensions, with rumours of tribal divisions. Sensitivities are so acute that to criticise the players’ values, discipline or team spirit—one philosopher called them “a gang of yobs with the morals of the mafia”—is to be accused of racism.

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Source: The Economist