Thursday 29 May 2008

Academic resigns over Brown remark

United Kingdom

By Kevin Scott, Staff Reporter
Published: May 19, 2008, 00:16

Dubai: A leading Scottish academic has resigned from the Labour Party following comments by Prime Minister Gordon Brown marking Israel's 60th anniversary.

Professor Abd Al Fattah Al Awaisi, the founding principal and vice-chancellor of the Al Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies in Dundee, Scotland told Gulf News yesterday he had resigned in a civilised manner to protest Brown's "offensive statement".

The PM said the creation of Israel was "one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century" at a special event at Finchley synagogue in London on May 7.

Brown said: "You may ask why it is that a young primary school child, brought up as I was in a mining town in Scotland in the 1950s, came to feel a huge attachment to the trials, tribulations and achievements of Israel.

"And the reason is that my father learned Hebrew, supported the attainment of the State of Israel in 1948, and for decades was a member of the Church of Scotland's Church and Israel Committee"

Brown also described the Holocaust as "the greatest crime ever committed against humanity" and praised Israel for confronting "hatred and its evil work".

Al Awaisi, who has been associated with the Labour party for over a decade and elected several times on the executive committee of the Labour Middle East Council, said he resigned because Brown had offended him personally as a British Arab.

The 49-year-old said: "While he was celebrating 60 years of the establishment of Israel I was commemorating 60 years of the Palestinian catastrophe 'Nakba'.

"How is Israel one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century when it is considered by so many people as worse than South African apartheid?

"He hopes the future will 'bring together the children of Abraham in order to live together in peace'. But this is not the way to bring the conflicted parties together."

Al Awaisi is widely recognised for his work at the Al Maktoum Institute and in particular his efforts to build contact between the Arab world and the West.

Reference: http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/05/18/10214009.html

Tuesday 27 May 2008

donation submited




The total collection from the balloon sponsor is £313.50

The organizer meeting had decided to submit the money to Palestine Gaza Strip Appeal. http://www.islamic-relief.com/submenu/Appeal/gaza_strip_appeal.html.

Tuesday 20 May 2008

Interesting fact

The organizer had prepare 8 extra balloons for the event just in case any of the balloon got accidentally burst, fly or anything. So, the total was 68 balloons.
At the venue, before the cards were tied to the balloons, 20 balloons fly to the sky because their ribbons tied to the bench got loosen themselves. The organizers were very upset because they had not enough balloons which should be 60.

But the time was so limited for them to go and get another balloons.

So, they proceed with the rest of the balloons, and tied all the sponsors card to them.

After the event, they discover that the rest of the balloon which the cards tied to them were 48. And, the interesting part is, 48 is the year when nakbah was happened.
And that is the date we are commemorating to! Subhanallah.

Monday 19 May 2008

Dundee mark the date

Click picture for bigger view

prof el-awaisi comment on nakbah

Click picture for bigger view

Saturday 17 May 2008

Event on Thursday

Dundee Marks Palestinian Catastrophe, Urges for Peace
Children release balloons as symbol of hope, peace


(DUNDEE, UK, 16/5/2008) – In commemorating 60 years of the Nakbah – the Palestinian Catastrophe – around 60 children released red, black, green and white balloons (colors of the Palestinian flag) in Dundee City Square yesterday as symbols of hope, peace and justice for Palestinians. Organised by Dundee University Islamic Society (DUIS) and the Dundee Malay Community (KMD), the event gathered various local community members and passers by. The balloons were sponsored by individuals from the UK and worldwide with messages of support and peace, and released at 5 p.m.

The “Nakbah” refers to the displacement of Palestinians after the 1948 Palestinian-Israeli war, when more than 700,000 Palestinians fled their homes or were expelled due to the creation of the Jewish state. Since then, Israel has fought six wars and displaced more than six million Palestinians.

“I think it’s important that people are aware of the Palestinian issue, especially since they have been suffering for 60 years,” said Altaf Hussein, DUIS President. “I hope the event led more people to become involved and encouraged local Dundonians to continue to support Palestinians, as they have already by twinning with Nablus,” he added.
Key organizer Fatimatuzzahra Abdul-Rahman agreed. "We aimed to reach as many people as possible by allowing them to sponsor balloons and write a message of support. The balloons were symbolic of hope for peace in that region, and much-awaited freedom for the Palestinians, especially the refugees," she said. Any proceeds collected from the sponsors will be donated to relieve the suffering of the people of Gaza.

In November, DUIS will take this further by holding week-long activities aimed at addressing the Palestinian cause, including lectures, movies, among other things.


Another refugee, Abdallah Ma’rouf Omar, asserted, “we do not want to wipe out anyone from anywhere; we are just asking for our right to return to our country, our homeland, which we were forced to leave 60 years ago.” All speakers urged imminent action on the part of the local, national and international community to help bring justice to the Palestinians.


These sentiments were echoed by Sarah El-Awaisi, a British Palestinian refugee whose grandparents were from those forced to leave their homes. “My grandfather kept the key to his home in Palestine; it was his hope and dream that his family would return one day,” she said.



“The nakbah is still ongoing,” said Andree Ryan, human rights and social activist from Dundee Twinning Association, who has worked in West Bank for a few months. “The situation on the ground is very bad,” she added.
Ashinida Aladdin, a Malaysian PhD student, said she felt the event was successful and “necessary in order to raise awareness and convey the truth about Palestine.” The event was attended by almost 50 people, and was part of a series of activities held all over the world to commemorate the Nakbah and remember its victims.


Around 40 local kids holding balloon shaping Palestinian flag. Ready to release.

Faces of next generation. Which kind of world we want to inherit to them?
Balloons released with the echo of Palestinian national antheme. Bringing with them messages for peace to the world, with hope up high to the sky.



Together with prayer up goes the balloons. Freedom. Free. Peace.



More pictures here
Should anyone whose pictures are here and want them to be withdrawn, please do not hesitate to send email to the moderator at nakbah_60@yahoo.com.
Thanks.