Table of Contents ECHO

of Islam

Zionist Regimes Fiasco in

8-Day War in Gaza Leader: US, Zionism
Trying to Turn
U.S. Judge OIC Mecca Conference
The Muslim
Brotherhood,
Rejects Call to

ECHO
and the Issues of
Muslim Youth Postmodernism and
against Each Other Ban Film on Net Bahrain and Palestine Future Challenges

ISSN: 1019-0775
of Islam

Thousands of Indonesians Protest

U.S.-Made Film
Egypts
President

2
and Future
Challenges

27

No 248, December 2012

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32
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2 December
Zionist Regimes
Fiasco in 8-Day War in
International organizations and several countries have
condemned the Zionist regimes attacks on Gaza, calling for
immediate halt to attacks.
By S. Musawi
S
everal international organi-
zations such as Organization
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
and a large number of countries
including Iran, Russia, Egypt,
Pakistan, Lebanon as well as
people across the world have
condemned the Zionist onslaught
against Gaza.
Iran, Inter-Parliamentary
Union Condemn Israeli At-
tacks
Irans Majlis Speaker Ali
Larijani in separate phone calls
with a group of his counterparts,
the political and parliamentary
Gaza
2012 / No.
personalities and other interna-
tional political officials strongly
condemned recent crimes of
the Zionist regime of Israel in
Gaza.
In a phone call with Anders B.
Johnsson, Secretary General of
the Inter-Parliamentary Union
(IPU), described as shameful and
deplorable the Zionist regimes
wide-scale attack from air, sea
and the ground on the innocent
people of Gaza. The time is now
ripe for the IPU, as the hub of
the world parliaments, to show
serious reaction in this regard.
Johnsson said in reply: The
Islamic Republic of Irans concern
over Israels attacks on Gaza is
common source of concern by
many of the world people and the
248 ECHO
of Islam
IPU is soon to issue a statement
in this connection to closely fol-
low up the issue.
He noted that an IPU delega-
tion is soon to pay a visit to Gaza.
Meanwhile, in a phone call
with Professor Erol Kili, Secre-
tary General of the IPU, con-
demned the Zionist regimes
crimes and called on the Islamic
states to take concrete action in
that connection.
Also in phone calls with Leba-
nese Speaker Nabih Berri, Alge-
rian Peoples National Assembly
Speaker Mohamed al-Arabi Ould
Khalifa, Fehmida Mirza, first
woman speaker of Pakistans
National Assembly, Syrias par-
liament speaker, Jihad Laham,
Osama Al-nujaifi Speaker of Iraqi

December 2012
Gaza
Council of Representatives, and
Tunisias National Constituent As-
sembly (NCA) Speaker Mustapha
Ben Jaafar, Larijani condemned
the crimes.
He called on Muslim states to
take parliamentary measures to
condemn the merciless crimes of
the Zionist regime in launching
air, ground and sea attacks on
Gaza.
NAM Condemns the Zionist
Regime
The Non-Aligned Movement,
in a statement, condemned the
Zionist regimes military aggres-
sion on Gaza Strip and called on
the international community, par-
ticularly the UN Security Council
to bring an immediate halt to
Israels crimes.
The NAM statement said that
the Zionist regime has once again
heightened its military aggres-
sions against the Palestinians,
particularly on Gaza Strip.
Iranian Ambassador and Per-
manent Representative to the
United Nations, Mohammad Khaz-
ayee presided over the ambas-
sadorial meeting of NAM in New
York city held for reviewing the
recent Israeli aggression against
the defenseless Palestinians.
NAM condemns the recent Is-
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
raeli military aggressions against
the Palestinians and believes that
the aggression of Israeli regime
and resorting to force against the
defenseless people needs im-
mediate attention of the entire
international community and
firm measure of the UN Security
Council as the sole responsible
for protecting peace and interna-
tional security, it added.
OIC Condemns Zionist Re-
gimes Attacks
The OIC Council of Foreign
Ministers strongly condemned
the dangerous Israel escalations
against Gaza. The council con-
siders this barbaric aggression a
continuation of the ongoing sav-
age and devastating war waged
by the Israeli occupation against
the Palestinian people in the
Gaza Strip since 2008.
The council observes that
these serious acts of aggression
are being committed at a time
when efforts are continuing to
reach a military truce in the Gaza
Strip and accomplish a compre-
hensive Palestinian reconcilia-
tion, the statement said.
The council sees this premedi-
tated wanton aggression as an
attack on the entire Islamic world
and warns against the continued
3
Israeli escalation and the attempt
to reinvade the Gaza Strip, which
will further fuel the conflict and
take the region to the brink of an
explosion, the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Secretary Gen-
eral of the Organization of Islam-
ic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeleddin
Ihsanoglu, condemned the Israeli
aggression against the Gaza Strip,
OIC said in its statement.
The report says that Israel
must stop shelling of the Gaza
Strip, as air strikes kill civilians.
Nasrallah to Arabs: Use Oil as
Weapon to Pressure US on Israel
Hezbollah chief says Palestin-
ian militants long-range rockets
are very significant develop-
ment in conflict with Israel.Pal-
estinians firing long-range rockets
from Gaza into Israel represents
a very significant development
in the conflict with the Zionist
regime, Hezbollah chief Hassan
Nasrallah said.
The firing of Fajr 5 rockets on
Tel Aviv shows the maturation,
the wisdom and strength, and the
courage of the Palestinian resist-
ance in the Gaza Strip, Nasral-
lah said in a speech.
The Israeli enemy was sur-
prised and forced to acknowledge
that its capital had been hit,
said the leader of Lebanons most

4 December
powerful military force, adding
that the Iranian-made rockets
have a range of 70 kilometers (44
miles)
Gaza defenders defied a major
Israeli bombing campaign, firing
off volleys of rockets, one of
which hit the sea near Tel Aviv,
the farthest distance ever at-
tained by fire from Gaza.
This was the first time rockets
had been fired at Tel Aviv since
the 1991 Persian Gulf War, when
the city was hit by Iraqi Scud
missiles.
This is a very significant de-
velopment in the history of
Gaza
2012 / No.
the conflict between the resist-
ance and the Israeli enemy,
Nasrallah said.
Nasrallah called on Arab
leaders to make every effort
to deter, prevent and stop the
aggression on the Gaza Strip and
protect the people of Gaza.
The only thing that can change
the equation, is for the Arab
League and the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation to take a
genuine stand and use oil as a
weapon to push the United States
to pressure its ally Israel.
We are all concerned in Leba-
non to do everything in our
power to help
the situation,
he concluded.
248 ECHO
of Islam
This is not Gazas battle to
fight alone, but belongs to all of
us.
Russia Is Concerned
Russia has strongly con-
demned the latest wave of
Israels aerial attacks on Gaza
Strip, which has killed over a
dozen Palestinians in the be-
sieged territory.
Further escalation of violence
would be impermissible, Russian
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alex-
ander Lukashevich told reporters
in Moscow.
The disproportionate strikes
in Gaza Strip are totally unaccep-
table, especially when there are
civilian casualties, he added.
Moscow is deeply con-
cerned with what is going on
in Gaza Strip and
calls for the blood-
shed to end,

December 2012
Gaza
Lukashevich noted.
The new wave of Israeli ag-
gression on the Gaza Strip has
claimed at least 17 lives since
Wednesday. Ahmed al-Jaabari,
the popular and influential head
of the Hamas military wing, the
Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades,
was assassinated in an Israeli at-
tack on his car on Wednesday.
The Israeli military frequently
carries out airstrikes and other
attacks on Gaza Strip, saying the
actions are being conducted for
defensive purposes. However,
in violation of international law
disproportionate force is always
used and civilians are often killed
or injured.
Gaza has been blockaded
since 2007, a situation that has
caused a decline in the standard
of living, unprecedented levels of
unemployment, and unrelenting
poverty.
The apartheid regime of Israel
denies about 1.7 million people
in Gaza their basic rights, such as
freedom of movement, jobs that
pay proper wages, and adequate
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
healthcare and education.
Egyptian President Slams Is-
rael, Vows to Stand by Gazans
Egyptian President Mohamed
Morsi has condemned Israels
unacceptable airstrikes on the
Gaza Strip, vowing to stand by
the people of the beleaguered
Palestinian territory.
In a televised address, Morsi
lashed out at Tel Aviv for killing
over a dozen Palestinians, includ-
ing senior Hamas commander
Ahmed al-Jaabari, during a
series of strikes.
We are in contact with the
people of Gaza and with Pales-
tinians and we stand by them
until we stop the aggression, he
vowed.
Tel Avivs deadly strikes has
sparked anti-Israeli protests in
Egypt; and prompted Morsi to re-
call the Egyptian ambassador to
Israel and to summon the Israeli
envoy to Cairo.
We do not accept under any
circumstances the continua-
tion of this aggression
on the Strip, the
5
Egyptian leader stressed, warning
that the attacks will destabilize
the region.
The Israelis must realize that
this aggression is unacceptable
and would only lead to instability
in the region and would negative-
ly and greatly impact the secu-
rity of the region, he stated.
Hamas Will Rain Rockets on
Israel If Strikes Continue
A top Hamas official says the
Palestinian resistance movement,
Hamas, will rain down its rockets
on Israel as long as the new wave
of attacks by the Tel Aviv regime
on the Gaza Strip continues.
If the Israeli aggression
continues, it is clear that the
Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades and
Hamas will attack the Israelis,
the Israeli soldiers and the Israeli
decision-makers, Fawzi Bar-
houm, a Hamas spokesman, said
at a press conference in
Gaza.

6 December
He added, We will launch our
rockets just like rain. Rains of
rockets will pour down on them.
Meanwhile, another Hamas
spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said
they would not consider a truce
with Israel for now.
British protesters condemn
Israels aggressions on Gaza
A large-scale Pro-Palestinian
demonstration was held outside
the Israeli embassy in London to
protest the ongoing strikes by the
Zionist regime against defense-
less Palestinians.
Stop the War Coalition, a UK
group that campaigns against
what it believes are unjust wars
had organized the protests.
Unless something is done
to stop the violencewe could
see yet another humanitarian
Gaza
2012 / No.
crisis, the coalition warned
amid the continuation of Israels
new wave of attacks against the
enclave.
Meantime, an NGO that works
on human rights issues in the
Arab World, the Arab Organiza-
tion for Human Rights in Britain
called on Egypt to take urgent
action to save the Gaza Strip in
the face of Israeli strikes.
The Israeli army military fre-
quently conducts airstrikes and
other attacks on the Gaza Strip,
claiming that its aggressions are
being conducted for defensive
purposes.
However, in violation of inter-
national law, disproportionate
force is always used and civilians
are often killed or injured.
The attacks take place while
Israel keeps up its crippling
248 ECHO
of Islam
blockade on Gaza, which it im-
posed on the enclave in 2007.
Pakistan Slams Israels Of-
fensive in Gaza
Pakistan has strongly con-
demned Israels new offensive
in the Gaza Strip, and urged the
Security Council, which met in
a private emergency session, to
demand an immediate cessation
of its military action.
Council sources said thatAm-
bassador Masood Khan, the
permanent representative of
Pakistan to the UN, told the
15-member Council that the
deadly Israeli offensive of more
than 20 airstrikes in Gaza threat-
ened international peace and
security.
Grave developments today in
Gaza portend to threaten inter-
national peace and security. The
Council must play its part in ar-
resting this trend, he added.
After the closed-door meeting
that lasted nearly 90 minutes,
Indian Ambassador Hardeep Singh
Puri, who is the president of the
Council for this month, said the
upshot of the discussion was to
seek de-escalation of the situ-
ation and to try and diffuse the
tensions.
These are senseless killings,
he is understood to have told the
Council. The Israeli retaliation
is excessive, the response dispro-
portionate.
Khan said the excessive use of
force by Israel on peaceful pro-
testers in a number of Palestinian
cities was unacceptable. Israel
should exercise restraint. The
firing of rockets from Gaza should
also stop, he stated.
The international commu-
nity should step in. The Security
Council should ensure that hostil-
ities cease forthwith and further
escalation is arrested, without
caveats and qualifications, Khan
added.

December 2012
Middle East
Leader:
Iran Plays Key Role
in Global Transition
T
he Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Seyed
Ali Khamenei said that the
world is in the midst of a transi-
tion to a new political, economic,
and social order and highlighted
the role the Iranian nation is play-
ing during the transition period.
The Leader made the remarks
during a meeting with a number
of professors, academics, and
researchers.
Ayatollah Khamenei enumer-
ated the signs indicating that a
profound change is taking place
in the world and said that the
Islamic Awakening occurring in
the region is one of the signs of
this major change.
A sense of identity and an
awakening based on Islam among
various Muslim nations is an
unprecedented sign of a profound
change in the structure and ge-
ometry of the future world, he
stated.
The failure of the efforts of
the West, led by the United
States, to gain control over the
West Asia region, which became
evident after the U.S. defeats in
Iraq and Afghanistan, is another
indication of a major change in
the world, he noted.
The Leader also cited the
current situation in Europe, the
uncertain future of powerful
European countries, and the de-
cline in the status of the United
States in the world as additional
evidence that a major change is
occurring.
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
He went on to say that the
Iranian people, especially the
countrys intellectuals and offi-
cials, have a heavy responsibility
and should play important roles
during this period of transition.
Ayatollah Khamenei also said
that the awakening inspired by
the Islamic Revolution and the
stability and strength of the Is-
lamic system, which are founded
on belief, faith, and wisdom,
are factors that have raised the
status of Iran in current develop-
ments in the world.
He added, At this critical
juncture in history, the countrys
intellectuals can provide decisive
assistance in elevating the status
of Iran in the new world struc-
ture through fulfilling their highly
important obligations.
7
Hamas
Representative:
Palestine and
Quds Unite
Muslims
K
halid al-Qaddumi,
the representative of
Hamas in Tehran, said,
Imam Khomeini was right as
he called Palestine the main
cause of the
Islamic world because only
Palestine and the holy Quds
can unite all Muslims.
Delivering speech in the
Resistance, Islamic Awaken-
ing & Liberation of Palestine
Conference held by the Islamic
Culture and Relations Organi-
zation (ICRO) in Tehran, Khalid
al-Qaddumi added, The other
side is waiting in ambush to
steer the developments of
the Islamic Awakening move-
ment toward a direction that
never reaches the Palestinian
cause.
He described the Islamic
Awakening as a golden oppor-
tunity for the Islamic and Arab
states and continued, The
Islamic Awakening movement
has provided us -- the cam-
paign elite with a historic
opportunity and we should not
be indifferent to it and wait
for the history as it will show
no mercy to us.
The representative of Ha-
mas in Tehran said the ongoing
developments in Arab states
are positive and will take time
to yield good results.
The Resistance, Islamic
Awakening & Liberation of Pal-
estine Conference was held by
the Islamic Culture and Rela-
tions Organization in the ICRO
premise in August.
 Middle East
8 December
The Muslim Brotherhood,
Postmodernism and
Future Challenges
Egypt has gone through many ups and downs since 1952 when
Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew the monarchy in Egypt and
announced a republic.
By Mahdi Goljan (PhD)
U
ndoubtedly, we can con-
sider the Muslim Brother-
hood as one of the most
influential actors in Egyptian po-
litical scene. It was established in
1928 with the goal of establishing
an Islamic government. In other
words, the Brotherhood considers
religious law as the pivot and
foundation of all legislations and
all governmental decisions.
Americans also are aware that
Egypts situation is significantly
different from that of Mubaraks
era and that they can no longer
influence regional policies or
encourage Egypt to support the
Zionist regime,etc.
Egypt has gone through many
ups and downs since 1952 when
Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew
the monarchy in Egypt and an-
nounced a republic. Anwar El
Sadat and Hosni Mubarak both
were kings ruling over people un-
der the title of president; but the
Brotherhood led a a revolution
beyond what had happened in
1952 and the result was the vic-
tory of Islamists over U.S.-backed
monarchists. The Brotherhood is
both affecting and affected by
the revolution. In other words,
they should carry out a revolution
within and do not let Salafists,
2012 / No.
American or Israeli thoughts
take over them from within or
without. Fortunately, after the
revolution of January 25, 2011
and expansive role in the course
of the revolution, particularly
in parliamentary or presidency
comptitions, they still follow
their original policies to promote
the global Islamic movement to
achieve Islamic goals.
Active presence in political
arena is among the main achieve-
ments of the Muslim Brotherhood
. Prior to the participation of
Justice and Development Party
in election campaign, and con-
sidering pessimism towards the
Muslim Brotherhood, there was
not much hope in triumph of
the group. One of the unwritten
obstacles in Arab and Middle East
world (Turkey is also included) is
that political parties and forces
with religious attitudes cannot
achieve success in political field,
but the Muslim Brotherhood
broke through the barrier and
proved that to be successful in
political field, it is necessary to
use intelligent approaches. As an
example, most of the Western
media predicted that the Muslim
Brotherhood would act similar to
Al-Qaida whereas its policy had
always focused on suppression
of Al-Qaida-supported groups in
248 ECHOof Islam
Egypt. At the same
time, Al-Qaida leaders
accuse the Muslim
Brotherhood of put-
ting aside Jihad and
involving in political
trends of Egyptian
government. In fact,
the Muslim Brotherhoods
success has invalidated
Al-Qaida claim, be-
cause they believe
that Jihad is the only
way to success while
the Brotherhood
always avoids it
and used political
competition to
come to power
and finally
achieved it.
In regard
to the Broth-
erhoods activities and
their impacts on the future
destiny of the country, it
should be borne in mind that
the Muslim Brotherhood is
involved in different issues
regarding the future course
of its policies both inside the
country and also in its foreign
relations, particularly with the
United States.
While previous generation of
such movements sought social
role and conservative activities

December 2012
Middle East
in the political scene, the new
generation looks forward to a
more serious presence in politics,
and they have practically proved
that they pursue this goal.
In the aftermath of the Janu-
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
9
great importance in the Arab
world and its actions influence
the region drastically. The United
States owns security interests in
Egypt and thus should be assured
of them; but the interesting
point is that U.S. influ-
ence in Egypt has dwindled
recently.
Meanwhile, the Muslim
Brotherhood is among
ardent critics of the U.S.
military operations in the
region and seeks reduction of
U.S.-Egypt cooperation. Inter-
estingly, the new Brotherhood
is like a Pandora box for the
U.S.: it can neither give it up
nor accept it completely; thus,
both sides are eager to cooperate
with each other, because none
will benefit from military con-
frontation, etc.
First, the presence of Egypts
president in Tehran was unpre-
dictable after 30 years of sever-
ance of diplomatic ties. In fact,
Morsi and his political Party
(Freedom and Justice Party)
and Muslim Brotherhood try to
demonstrate a new era in
Egypt foreign relations; the
reason is that Mubaraks
foreign policy was unac-
ceptable to almost all
Egyptians.
Morsis activities
in recent months in-
dicate that he will have
hard days ahead in major policy
issues. The Muslim Brotherhood is
trying to formulate an independ-
ent foreign policy to let Egypt
regain its regional influence.
Iran-Egypt relations became
critical during three decades of
Mubaraks rule; but President of
Egypt and the Muslim Brother-
ary revolu- hood believe that these rela-
tion, , conti- tions, particularly diplomatic and
nuity of military strategic relations with Iran and
cooperation with all other Islamic countries should
the U.S. has turned out to a be resumed because the Persian
significant question. Egypt has Gulf region is very significant for
 Middle East
10 December 2012 / No. 248 ECHO
of Islam

Egypt.
Also, Iran tries to keep its
relations with the Brotherhood
even if it is at the least possible Iran-Egypt relations became critical
level; since no side will benefit during three decades of Mubaraks
from severance of ties. The criti- rule; but President of Egypt and the Muslim
cal dialogue between Iran and
the Brotherhood not only will
Brotherhood believe that these relations,
contribute to preservation of the particularly diplomatic and strategic relations
present level of relations, but with Iran and all other Islamic countries should
also is important in effectiveness be resumed because the Persian Gulf region is
of such party in future. Iran could very significant for Egypt. Also, Iran tries to
be the best ally of the Brother-
keep its relations with the Brotherhood even
hood in world today. It is not
an enemy at all! The important if it is at the least possible level; since no side
point is that both the countries will benefit from severance of ties.
have a common enemy called
Israel or better saying the usurp-
ing Zionist regime.
The Brotherhood acts differ-
ently in each country. In other
words, it has regional and local
approaches within the frame-
work of its general strategy. The
Muslim Brotherhood does not
act uniformly in Syria, Yemen or
Bahrain which causes observers
occasionally feel a sort of para-
dox in their policies.
It seems that in Syria the pre-
vailing discussions are about the
stances of the ruling party, i.e.,
Baath Party and those of the Mus-
lim Brotherhood, which is a long-
standing difference. After Syrias
independence from France, both
parties tried to come to power
and finally the Baath party gained
victory over the Brotherhood and
thats why they always feel sort
of animosity toward Baathists,
they believe that Bashar al-Assad
should resign, either through
reforms or otherwise, since he is
a Baathist!
Morsi wants to achieve what
Saddam Hossein tried to achieve
recklessly, that is, formation a
powerful and effective Arab Un-
ion. One of the prerequisites of
this union is omission of Syria.
After the defeat of Brother-
hood from the Baath party, the
former launched two types of

December 2012
Middle East
campaign against the Baath
government: reformist campaign
along with political cooperation
and military struggle, particu-
larly by highlighting Assads Alawi
affiliation and provoking Sunnis
and even the attempts to assas-
sinate Assad which caused severe
suppression of the Brotherhood.
Historical animosity between the
Baath and the Muslim Brother-
hood resulted in severe conflicts
between Morsi and Bashar al-
Assad, and hence, Morsi considers
Syria more dangerous than Israel.
While the Muslim Brotherhood
reacts to killing of opponents in
Syrian, not only it is not neutral
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
towards killing of Bahraini pro-
democracy Shias, but also openly
supports the oppressing govern-
ment of Bahrain.
The Muslim Brotherhoods
stance towards Syria is based on
some considerations regarding
Arab history and Arab people.
Certainly, the next Arab genera-
tion will pose questions about the
Muslim Brotherhoods stance and
ask: why did not you act effec-
tively when you could? Why Morsi
did not support Syria and was
certain about U.S. determination
to wipeout Syria under any cir-
cumstances? It seems that Syria
turned out to be an offside trap
for the Muslim Brotherhood, chal-
lenging them with a significant
historical test at early stages. A
test which requires more think-
ing and the Muslim Brotherhood
should be cautious not to be
entrapped by the logic of oppo-
nents. They should not forget the
fact that Islams opponents have
always achieved victory through
division.
The Arab world is trying to
organize a new league with the
leadership of Egypt which has one
of the most ancient civilizations
and has been one of the most
influential actors in the Middle
East, Africa and the Arab world.
Definitely Morsi intends to do
what Saddam Hussein irrationally
intended to do; in other words he
intends to create a powerful and
influential league. At the same
time, the US wants the newly
formed league to target Iran as
its number one foe instead of
Israel. To achieve such a goal,
the Zionists are trying to fan the
flames of Iranophobia instead of
Israelophobia.
This project has been planned
in US-Israeli think tanks and costs
arm and leg. One of the prerequi-
sites of the formation of this un-
ion or league is to remove Syria.
U.S. strategy is to fan the flames
11
of a war between Arab league
and Iran and attempts very hard
to achieve this goal. Unfortunate-
ly, the Arab League is not aware
of the fact that change in Syria
does not benefit Arabs, but will
weaken their situation vis--vis
Israel. Now, Syria is considered
to be the most serious threat to
Israel. Therefore, Syrias defeat
means Irans defeat, thus to
achieve its goal, the U.S. has
mobilized all its means.
In presidential elections, 48%
of votes went to the previous
regimes candidate and the other
52% to the Muslim Brotherhood,
and the gap was not very wide.
Therefore, Egypt today is not a
homogeneous society and it can
create several troubles for the
Muslim Brotherhood and even
may force them to choose poli-
cies which are not always con-
comitant with their ideology.
Mohamed Al-Morsi introduced
himself as the president of all re-
ligious groups. In other words, he
meant that he would cover the
remaining 48% and assured that
his policies will ignore them. On
the other side, they are con-
fronting Egypts military council
which is to limit the presidents
authority by enacting self-made
laws. As I mentioned above, the
Brotherhood are facing some
political paradoxes among which
Syrian crisis is the most impor-
tant one. The significant point is
the manner in which the Broth-
erhood will face such paradox.
Is political post-modernism the
solution?
Perhaps in no period of time
we have had such intermingling
between the future of Egypt and
the Muslim Brotherhood. The
future of the Muslim Brotherhood
and consequently that of Egypt
depends on the ability of Muslim
Brotherhood to adjust itself to
domestic, international and the
Middle Eastern developments.
 Middle East
12 December 2012 / No. 248 ECHOof Islam

Qods, Factor for Strengthening

Muslim Convergence
By Mohammad Sadegh al-Hosseini Islamic states. blah of Muslims, it is natural that
What is the reason it will be widely welcomed by

P
erhaps few people thought for such a prevalence
that the last Friday of the and influence by the announce-
blessed month of Ramadan ment made by the founder of
which was announced as the Islamic Revolution of Iran in the
International Day of Qods by the heart of Muslims even beyond the
founder of the Islamic Revolution borders of countries and beyond
of Iran 30 years ago would the differences between Shias
be so widely wel- comed and Sunnis?
by Muslim na- tions Speaking of the importance of
and became so prevalent the holy Qods, one should bear
among in mind the fact that despite the
the changing of Muslims Qiblah from
al-Aqsa mosque to Mecca, on the
eve of Ascent, the prophet of
Islam began his Ascent from
al-Aqsa mosque to the
celestial world. Hence,
when this profound po-
litical insight and the
mystical philosophy
of Imam Khomeini
(May his soul rest
in peace) becomes
intertwined with
the spiritual and
sublime status
of this land and
the first Qi-
Muslims throughout the world.
Today, the impact of Qods day
has gone beyond the borders
of Iran, Shias and even Muslims
and will inspire every freedom-
seeking individual anywhere in
the world. The message of Imam
taught to the world people that
their clinched fists are stronger
than any weapon or army and the
first and second Intifadas took
shape in the occupied Pales-
tine based on such self-reliance
and more than ever before put
on display the decline of the
malicious Zionist regime. This
apparently simple and at the
same time insightful remark by
the late Imam that Israel will
be washed away if each Muslim
merely pours a pail of water, is
indicative of this very fact.
Such factors have led to 70
Islamic states within the Or-
ganization of Islamic Conference
(OIC) for the first time since the
naming of the last Friday of the
blessed month of Ramadan as the
International Day of Qods to offi-
cially announce the holding of
Qods Day rallies in these
countries. It seems
that concern over
the spread
of Islamic
awakening
to other
countries
inspired by
Irans Islam-
ic Revolu-
tion and the
naming of
the Interna-
tional Day
of Qods

December 2012
Middle East
It can be said that
the late Imams wish
has been fulfilled today
and one can observe the
materialization of Islamic
convergence in support of the
holy Qods and the occupied
Palestine in different corners
of the world.
have also been effective in the
changing of standpoint. One
should bear in mind the good
relations existing between the
Zionist regime and rulers of coun-
tries where the rulers lost their
thrones in the course of popular
revolutions inspired by Islamic
awakening and such relations
were one of the main reasons
behind popular protests and the
downfall of puppet regimes.
Therefore, it can be said
that the late Imams wish has
been fulfilled today and one can
observe the materialization of
Islamic convergence in support of
the holy Qods and the occupied
Palestine in different corners of
the world. Seyed Hassan Nasral-
lah has interestingly explicated
the impact of the Qods day on
the destiny of the Zionist regime
by saying that it is not unlikely
to see one day the convoys of
Muslims and Palestinian refugees
entering the occupied territories
without any war. In other words,
the Zionist regime that once had
the dream of creating an empire
extending from Nile to Euphrates
has turned into a number of lim-
ited forces targeted by the de-
testation and hatred of Muslims
and freedom-seeking nations of
the world. All the wills have been
concentrated on a focal point
that will bring about valuable
effects such as the strengthen-
ing of convergence and solidarity
amongst Muslims.
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
Will Saudi
Citizens Revolt?
By Hassan Ahmadian
O
ne of the main problems
with Saudi Arabias politi-
cal system is that there is
no pre-defined mechanism for the
transfer of power. Efforts by the
ruling elite to resolve the problem,
including Saudi King Abdullahs
formation of an allegiance council,
have failed due to disputes inside
the Al Saud family.
The other major problem is the
ambiguous nature of power sharing
in Saudi Arabias political struc-
ture. The second generation of the
Saudi monarchy is now embroiled
in a power rivalry, which many
believe will lead to the countrys
collapse.
Saudi rulers are trying to con-
ceal the power struggle, but the
recent escalation of disputes over
choosing the crown prince and
other major governmental posts
clearly proves the political vulner-
ability of the leadership.
In a move to counter the nega-
tive effects of the internal dis-
putes, the monarchy has expanded
its foreign policy interventions.
This policy has failed to calm
internal protests and people are
13
continuing to take to the street to
express their legitimate demands.
The extremist idea of Wah-
habism and its influence on the
ruling family is another major
problem that seriously damages
governance in the country. It is the
main source of Saudis anti-Shia
policies that have precipitated
wide-spread concern among its
religious minorities.
Shias living in the eastern
parts of Saudi Arabia are dissatis-
fied with the current political
atmosphere and have repeatedly
protested against the bias against
them.
The Saudi government preaches
democratic values to other Arab
states, while it remains busy
suppressing calls for the recogni-
tion of peoples rights within its
borders. Herein lies the paradox of
a government that is seen by many
to be the next place for a second
wave of the popular Arab uprisings
to take root.
Hassan Ahmadian is a researcher
at Center for Strategic Research
of Irans Expediency Council and a
specialist on Saudi Arabian politics.
 Middle East
14 December 2012 / No. 248 ECHO
of Islam

OIC Mecca meeting at the level of heads of

states for the aim of solidarity. In
the meantime, the Zionist regime
in the past few weeks decided to

Conference and the

turn part of Muslims holy sites
into a park for the Jews, destroy-
ing part of the surrounding area

Issues of Bahrain
of al-Aqsa Mosque for construct-
ing the Solomon Temple, expand-
ing the Jewish settlements and

and Palestine
impeding Muslims from going to
al-Aqsa Mosque with the excep-
tion of certain occasions. These
decisions were made simultane-

T
ous with the silence adopted by
he emergency meeting that the Mecca summit would the media of Arab countries and
of the Islamic heads of adopt practical measures in this the world of Islam and the inat-
states commenced its work regard, because mere releasing tention of Arab and Muslim states
in Mecca at a time when Saudi of statements and expression of including Saudi Arabia as one of
Arabia and its allies at the OIC viewpoints would not hamper the the strategic countries of the
sought to turn the issue of Syrias Zionist regimes activities aimed Arab world.
suspension from OIC into the at Judaizing this Islamic city. At the outset of the meet-
main subject to be addressed by Heedlessness to the strategic ing, the OIC Secretary General,
the conference. issue of the Muslim and Arab Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu expressed
Important matters such as the world takes place in spite of the concern over the Islamic identity
issue of Palestine, the crisis in fact that Saudi Arabia hosted the of Qods city and al-Aqsa Mosque,
Bahrain, the massacre of Muslims
in Myanmar and destruction of
mosques in Mali were marginal-
ized at the OIC meeting, but the
issue of Syrias suspension at
the OIC was put on the agenda.
This is despite the fact that the
Palestinian self-rule authority led
by Mahmoud Abbas as well as the
Hamas movement had called on
the OIC to seriously address the
issue of Palestine.
The elected government of Pal-
estine in the Gaza Strip called on
the Mecca conference to adopt
decisions in congruity with the
status and prestige of occupied
Qods city and al-Aqsa mosque.
According to the Palestinian
information center a political
adviser to the elected prime min-
ister of Palestine, Ismail Haniyeh
had emphasized that the libera-
tion of the occupied Qods city
was a shared responsibility of all
Muslims and not merely the Pales-
tinian people and expressed hope
 ECHO
December 2012 / No. 248

of Islam

Middle East 15

calling for extraordinary meas- Meanwhile, a member of al-

ures to be adopted in the face of Wefaq Society, Hadi al-Mousavi
the Zionist regimes activities. referred to the detention of
Another crisis that was not re- 1,400 political prisoners in Bah-
At the
flected by the media of Arab and rain within one-and-a-half years
Muslim countries is the ongoing describing it as the highest num- outset of the
clashes in Bahrain between the ber of political prisoners in the meeting, the OIC
pro-democracy opposition groups world with regard to the less than Secretary General,
and the ruling system. Within this a million population of Bahrain.
framework, the biggest opposi- But on the first day of the foreign Ekmeleddin
tion group in Bahrain called on ministerial meeting in Mecca, the Ihsanoglu
the participating countries in the foreign ministers offered the pro- expressed concern
Mecca conference to attach spe- posal for the suspension of Syrias
cial significance to the Bahraini OIC membership. The OIC foreign
over the Islamic
crisis. ministers despite Irans protest to identity of Qods
According to a website af- the proposal decided to suspend city and al-Aqsa
filiated to the Bahraini al-Wefaq Syrias membership in protest to
Mosque, calling
Society, the political group what they described as the Syrian
released a statement calling on governments handling of the cur- for extraordinary
Islamic states to present political rent crisis in Syria. measures to be
solutions based on justice and in If the OIC continues its cur- adopted in the
this way help the Bahraini people rents policies, not only it would
take steps for terminating the not serve the Muslims, but also face of the Zionist
political crisis as well as its legal, will do disservice to those who regimes activities.
economic and social consequenc- have pinned their hopes on this Another crisis that
es. giant Islamic organization.
was not reflected
by the media of
Arab and Muslim
countries is the
ongoing clashes in
Bahrain between
the pro-democracy
opposition groups
and the ruling
system. Within this
framework, the
biggest opposition
group in Bahrain
called on the
participating
countries in the
Mecca conference
to attach special
significance to the
Bahraini crisis.
 16
IRAN
December 2012 / No. 248 ECHO
of Islam

Leader:
We Support the Syrian
Nation, Oppose any Foreign
Interference in Syria

December 2012
IRAN
W
e support the Syrian
nation and we are op-
posed to any kind of
foreign activity and interference
in Syria. Any kind of reform in
that country should be carried
out by the Syrian people and
through completely domestic
methods, Ayatollah Khamenei,
said in his 2012 Hajj message
which was released on October
21.
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
That international hegemons
with the help of the obedient re-
gional governments create crises
in a country under certain pre-
texts and then use the existence
of crises as an excuse to justify
any crime they commit in that
country, is a serious danger and if
the regional governments fail to
deal with it, they should expect
that it will be their turn to suffer
from this plot by the arrogant
powers, the leader said.
With the help of their agents in
the region, they create crises in
Syria in order to divert the atten-
tion of peoples away from impor-
tant issues of their countries and
the dangers that threaten them,
trying to focus peoples attention
on the bloody event that they
have caused on purpose. The civil
war in Syria and the killing of
Muslim youth at the hands of oth-
er Muslim youth are crimes that
have been started by America, Zi-
onism and governments that take
orders from them and they fan
the flames of this civil war. Who
would believe that governments
that support wicked dictatorships
in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, have
now become supporters of the
Syrian nations call for democ-
racy? The issue of Syria is about
taking revenge on a government
that has single-handedly stood
up against the Zionist regime for
three decades and has defended
resistance groups in Palestine and
Lebanon, he added.
The full text of his message is
given below.
In the Name of Allah, the Be-
neficent, the Merciful
All praise belongs to Allah,
the Lord of the Two Worlds, and
peace and greetings be upon the
great and trustworthy Prophet,
and upon his immaculate and
chosen household and his blessed
companions.
The season of hajj, which
17
is full of mercy and blessings,
has arrived and once again the
fortunate people, who have been
blessed with the opportunity to
be present in this brilliant meet-
ing place, are showered with
divine grace. Here, time and
space call each and every one of
you hajj pilgrims to spiritual and
material perfection. Here, Muslim
men and women with their hearts
and tongues accept the call of
Allah the Exalted to righteousness
and salvation. Here, everybody
finds the opportunity to practice
brotherhood, sincerity and piety.
This place is a camp for
edification and learning. It is the
exhibition of unity, greatness and
diversity of the Islamic Ummah. It
is the battlefield of fighting satan
and taghut. Wise and Almighty
Allah has made this place a site
where believers will witness their
interests. Once we open the eyes
of wisdom and learning, these
divine promises will spread into
all parts of our personal and
social lives. The characteristic of
hajj rituals is that they connect
this world to the next, and the
individual to society.
Pure and glorious Kabah, ta-
waf of bodies and hearts around
a firm and eternal center, con-
stant and regular efforts from
a starting point to a destina-
tion, collective migration to the
otherworldly arenas of Arafat and
Mashar, and the atmosphere that
imbues hearts with sincerity and
liveliness in this great other-
worldly arena, a collective rush
to confront the symbol of Satan,
and participation of all people
from different places and races
in this ceremony which is full of
secrets, meanings and signs of
guidance: these are the unique
characteristics of this significant
obligation.
It is such a ceremony that joins
hearts to divine remembrance,
 18
IRAN
December
enlightens the solitude of ones heart with the
light of piety and faith, brings individuals out of
the walls they build around themselves and ab-
sorbs them into the diverse company of members
of the Islamic Ummah, provides members of the
Islamic Ummah with clothing which protects them
against poisonous arrows of sins, and provokes in
them the spirit of attacking satans and taghuts.
It is in this place that hajj pilgrims witness with
their own eyes examples of diversity of the Islamic
Ummah, realize the capacity and potential of the
Islamic Ummah, become hopeful about the future
2012 / No. 248 ECHO
of Islam
and feel prepared to play a role in it. They reaffirm
their allegiance to the Great Prophet, enter into a
firm covenant with dear Islam providing that they
benefit from divine blessing and assistance, and de-
velop in themselves a firm determination to reform
themselves and the Islamic Ummah and to promote
the word of Islam.
Both of these things namely, reforming one-
self and the Islamic Ummah are two perpetual
obligations. Thanks to their reflection on religious
responsibilities and their wisdom and insight, it is
not difficult for those who think and reflect to find
ways of fulfilling these two responsibilities.
Reforming oneself starts from fighting
satanic passions and making efforts to avoid
sins. And reforming the Islamic Ummah
starts from identifying the enemy and his plots,
and making efforts to render his blows, decep-
tions and enmities ineffective. Efforts to reform
oneself and the Islamic Ummah are organized
by the bond between the hearts, hands and
tongues of Muslims and Muslim nations.
At this juncture, one of the most important
issues of the world of Islam, which is tied to
the destiny of the Islamic Ummah, is the revo-
lutionary events of North Africa and the Ara-
bian Peninsula, which has so far resulted in the
overthrow of several corrupt regimes that took
orders from America and were accomplices to the
Zionists and which has shaken the foundations of
other such regimes. Missing this great opportunity
and failing to use it to reform the Islamic Ummah
are a great loss for Muslims. Currently, all efforts
of the aggressive and interfering arrogant powers
have been focused on diverting these great Islamic
movements from their original path.
In these great uprisings, Muslim men and women
rose up against the tyranny of their rulers and the
hegemony of the United States, which had resulted
in humiliation of peoples and alliance with
the criminal Zionist regime. They them-
selves believe that their savior in this
life-and-death battle was Islam and
its redeeming teachings and slo-
gans, and they announced this
in a clear voice. Defending the
oppressed Palestinian nation
and fighting the usurping
regime were at the top
of their list of demands.
They extended a hand
of friendship towards
Muslim nations and
demanded unity of
 ECHO
December 2012 / No. 248

of Islam

IRAN 19
the Islamic Ummah.
These are the essential pil-
lars of popular uprisings in the
countries that have raised the
flag of freedom and reform over
the past two years and have been
present in the revolutionary are-
nas with their hearts and souls.
And these are the things that can
strengthen the essential pillars of
reforming the great Islamic Um-
mah. Insistence on these funda-
mental principles is the necessary
requirement for ultimate victory
of the popular uprisings in these
countries.
The enemys goal is to shake
these fundamental pillars. Cor-
rupt agents of United States,
NATO and Zionism through using (fitna) among Islamic denomi- and the efforts to isolate Pales-
certain peoples lack of vigilance nations and they are creating tinian combatants and extinguish
and superficial outlook are obstacles in the way of the unity Palestinian jihad, anti-Islam
trying to divert the flood-like of the Islamic Ummah through propaganda of western govern-
movement of Muslim youth and their plots to promote Shia- and ments and their support for those
turn them against each other in Sunni-phobia. who insult the Great Prophet
(Allahs greetings be upon him
and his household), preparing the
ground for civil wars and dissolu-
tion of certain Muslim countries,
Brothers and sisters, the season of making the revolutionary peoples
hajj is an opportunity to reflect on and governments fear opposing
the domineering western powers,
important issues of the world of Islam. The promoting the illusion that their
destiny of regional revolutions and the future depends on surrendering
efforts that are made by powers which have to those aggressors and other
been harmed by these revolutions in order such important and vital issues
are among the important matters
to divert them, are among these issues. that should be reflected upon
during the opportunity that has
been provided thanks to hajj and
the name of Islam. They are try- Brothers and sisters, the the solidarity and unity of you
ing to turn the anti-colonialism season of hajj is an opportunity hajj pilgrims.
and anti-Zionism jihad into blind to reflect on important issues of Undoubtedly, divine guidance
terrorism in the streets of the the world of Islam. The destiny and assistance will show the safe
world of Islam so that Muslims of regional revolutions and the paths to hardworking believers:
shed each others blood and give efforts that are made by pow- And those who struggle in Our
the enemies of Islam an oppor- ers which have been harmed way, We will certainly guide them
tunity to save themselves from by these revolutions in order to to our paths. [The Holy Quran,
this dead end and tarnish the divert them, are among these Sura al-Ankabut (29), Ayah 69]
name and image of Islam and its issues. Treacherous plots to fo- Was-salamu alaykum wa rah-
soldiers. ment discord among Muslims and matullahi wa barakatuh
After despairing of eliminating create suspicion between the Sayyid Ali Khamenei
Islam and Islamic slogans, they risen countries and the Islamic Dhul Hijjah 5, 1433
have now turned to creating plot Republic, the issue of Palestine October 21, 2012
 World of Islam
20 December 2012 / No. 248 ECHO
of Islam

L
eader of Irans Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah
Seyyed Ali Khamenei said
that the fact that the enemies
have failed to keep pace with
the Islamic Awakening in the
region has prompted them to
perpetrate crimes such as in-
sulting Prophet Muhammad.
The film, which insults
Prophet Muhammad (S), was
produced in California, cost
$5 million, and was financed
with the help of more than 100
Jewish donors.
Nations that have expe-
rienced anti-Islam hegem-
onic and Zionist policies have
pointed a finger of blame at
the United States and a num-
ber of European countries, and
the leaders of these countries
should prevent such insane
actions in order to prove that
they are not accomplices in
this great crime, he noted.
The leaders of hegemonic
systems claim that they were
not involved in this incident,
while they refrain from con-
demning this crime and do not
meet their duties in regard to
this great crime, he added.

Irans Leader:
Ayatollah Khamenei also
said that the claim that pre-
venting people from insult-

Enemies
ing Islam infringes on their
right to free speech is a false
statement, noting that the
red lines set in the West that
prevent questioning hegem-
onic principles refute such
claims. He said that the pro-

Chagrin Behind
test demonstrations held near
political and cultural centers
of the United States illustrate
the deep animosity of the

Blasphemous Movie
people of various countries
toward hegemonic and Zionist
policies.

December 2012
World of Islam
T
housands of Iranian
schoolgirls gathered at
Tehrans Azadi Square
on September 30 to voice
their anger over the anti-Islam
film which insults the Prophet
Muhammad.
More than five thousand
female students formed a
human chain around Azadi
Square and chanted slogans
against the United States and
Israel.
Some of the protesters
here are Christians, Jews or
from other minorities that we
have in our schools, an offi-
cial of Irans Education Minis-
try, Ali Ezzati, told Press TV.
Ive come here today to
say that we are all backing
each other. We will not let
anyone disrespect our Proph-
et. Im backing my Prophet
and our Leader to the end,
one of the students said.
Were all angry over the
film that disrespects our
Prophet and we will not stay
quiet, another student said.
Muslims in Iran, Turkey,
Sudan, Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia,
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indone-
sia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, In-
dia, Iraq, Morocco, Syria, Leba-
non, Kuwait, Nigeria, Kenya,
Mali, Nigeria, Australia,
Britain, the United States,
France, Belgium, and several
other countries have held
many demonstrations to con-
demn the blasphemous movie
over the past two weeks.
Protests were also held in
Kashmir and
the Gaza Strip.
The anti-Islam movie is said
to have been made with the
help of the Zionist donations
totaling 5 million dollars.
On September 11, U.S.
Ambassador to Libya Chris-
topher Stevens and three
other consulate staff members
were killed in Benghazi after
clashes involving a group of
angry demonstrators near the
consulate building.
The sacrilegious movie was
followed by the publication
of several cartoons mocking
the Prophet Muhammad in the
satirical French weekly Charlie
Hebdo on September 19.
21
Russian Court
Bans Anti-
Islam Film
A
Russian judge on Oc-
tober 1 banned the
controversial film In-
nocence of Muslims that has
flamed tensions and sparked
protests over its portrayal of
the Prophet Muhammad.
Judge Yevgeny Komissarov
read a ruling in which he said
the court classified the Inno-
cence of Muslims movie as an
extremist and banned its show-
ing on Russian television or the
Internet.
The ruling follows a similar
decision taken last week by a
court in Grozny, the provincial
capital of Russias Muslim-domi-
nated province of Chechnya.
Russias communications min-
ister had warned that authori-
ties would bar access to video
sharing website YouTube if its
owner, Google Inc., failed to
abide by a court order to block
access to the U.S.-produced
film, which mocks Muslims and
the Prophet Muhammad.
Google in Russia has said it
could restrict access to the
video, if it received a court
order outlawing it, but the
company declined to discuss
that issue with The Associated
Press.Outrage at the film has
spiraled into violent protests
across several countries across
the Muslim world.
Some two dozen demonstra-
tors have been killed in protests
that attacked symbols of U.S.
and the West, including diplo-
matic compounds.
 World of Islam
22
Pakistanis Stage Fresh Protest
against Anti-Islam Movie
J
amiat Ulema Pakistan
(JUP) observed a protest
day against the blas-
phemous U.S. movie across
Pakistan on October 12 and
held rallies and protests
demanding severing of ties
with the U.S. on avoiding to
take serious action against the
blasphemers.
Addressing protestors wav-
ing flags and chanting slogans,
JUP Secretary General Qari
Zawar Bahadur condemned
the rulers for sitting idly as if
devoid of courage and self-
respect while the blasphem-
ers were hurling profanities
December 2012 / No.
against the ideals of Islam.
The protests against the
movie have intensified in
the Muslim and non-Muslim
countries after French weekly
Charlie Hebdo on September
19 published cartoons of the
Prophet Muhammad in yet
another proof of the Wests
Islamophobia campaign.
Demonstrations against
the movie have been held
across the Muslim world, with
protesters in some countries
marching on the U.S. embas-
sies and torching U.S. flags.
Protesters demand that
Washington apologize to the
248 ECHO
of Islam
Muslim world over the film.
They also call for the punish-
ment of those behind the film.
The anti-Islam movie is
said to have been made with
the help of Zionist donations
totaling 5 million dollars. Mus-
lims in Iran, Turkey, Sudan,
Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, Bang-
ladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Kashmir, Pakistan, India, Iraq,
Gaza, Morocco, Syria, Kuwait,
Nigeria, Kenya, Australia,
Britain, the United States,
France, Belgium, and some
other countries have held
many demonstrations to con-
demn the blasphemous film.

December 2012
World of Islam
Afghans Stage Fresh
Protests against Anti-
Islam Film, Cartoons
T
housands of protesters
have staged a demonstra-
tion in the Afghan capital
to condemn the United States
and France over recent anti-Islam
moves that disrespect Prophet
Muhammad (PBHU).
The protesters took to streets
in western Kabul on Septem-
ber 22 to express their outrage
against the production of a
blasphemous film in the United
States and a French magazines
recent publication of cartoons
insulting the Prophet of Islam.
Hundreds of Afghans protested
for the first time against car-
toons of the Prophet Mohammed
published in France and staged
fresh rallies against a US-made
anti-Islam film.
About 300 students chanted
Death to France, Death to Amer-
ica in a western neighborhood
of the capital Kabul.
Nearby, hundreds more gath-
ered on a flyover and chanted
Death to America and Long
Live Islam, Long Live Afghani-
stan.
Both demonstrations were
peaceful, condemning new Mu-
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
23
Hundreds
of Afghans
protested for the
first time against
cartoons of the
Prophet Mohammed
published in France
and staged fresh
rallies against a
US-made anti-Islam
film.
About 300 students
chanted Death
to France, Death
hammad cartoons published by to America
a French satirical magazine and
the low-budget film Innocence in a western
of Muslims, which has triggered neighborhood of the
protests around the world. capital Kabul.
Similar rallies have been held Nearby, hundreds
across Afghanistan in the last
four days. A protest of more than more gathered on a
1,000 residents in eastern Kabul flyover and chanted
turned violent when the crowd Death to America
set fire to cars and threw stones and Long Live
at police. About 50 officers were
slightly wounded.
Islam, Long Live
Afghanistan is a devoutly Afghanistan.
Muslim nation and perceived Both
insults to religion are taken very demonstrations
seriously, often with violent
consequences. Earlier this year
were peaceful,
40 people were killed in street condemning new
unrest over the burning of copies Muhammad cartoons
of the Koran by U.S. soldiers on published by a
a base.
French satirical
The crudely made film pro-
duced by U.S.-based extremist magazine and the
Christians has triggered protests low-budget film
in at least 20 countries since Innocence of
excerpts were posted online. Muslims, which has
The French satirical maga-
zine Charlies editor, Stephane triggered protests
Charbonnier, blamed the French around the world.
government for criticizing him
for being provocative.
 World of Islam
24 December 2012 / No. 248 ECHO
of Islam

Muslims in Sri Lanka

Protest against an
Anti-Islam Film
H
undreds of Muslims in Sri Lankas capital
protested against an anti-Islam film pro-
duced in the United States, burning effigies
of President Barack Obama. About 300 protesters
marched in Colombo, carrying signs and banners
that read, Ban Anti-Islamic Film All Over the
World. U.S. should apologize to Muslims. The pro-
testers blocked traffic on Colombos main roads,
but police did not allow them to go near the U.S.
Embassy. Protesters burned two effigies of Obama
and U.S. and Israeli flags during the demonstra-
tion, which was organized by the Islamic group Sri
Lanka Thawheed Jamath.
Abdul Razeek, a spokesman for the group, said
the protests would continue until the film, In-
nocence of Muslims, is completely removed from
YouTube.

Egyptians Protest French

Cartoons Insulting Prophet
D
ozens of protesters congregated in front
of the French embassy in Cairo, on Sep-
tember 22, to protest against the decision
to publish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in
French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
State security forces blocked Mourad Road lead-
ing to the Giza-based mission, in order to prevent
the protesters from reaching the building.
Protesters chanted Wake up Egyptians, They
Are Insulting Your Prophet.
Demonstrators complained that the West was
deliberately provoking Muslims by printing of-
fensive cartoons immediately after the anti-Islam
film sparked protests across the Islamic world.
Groups also threatened to boycott French pro-
duce.
Most protesters stated that they were not part
of any political group, however many are dressed
in the traditional Egyptian Islamic attire.
Coptic Christians also participated in the dem-
onstration. We are here to stand united togeth-
er, the Christian individuals said. Every religion
has extremists and this person who created The
Innocence of Muslims is trying to create sectarian
strife between Egyptians.
The French Foreign Ministry announced that it
would temporarily close its missions in Egypt and
in 19 other countries, in addition to stepping up
the security presence around French diplomatic
sites.
The French embassy in Cairo, for its part,
announced that it would close all of its associ-
ated cultural centers and schools. France has five
consulates in Egypt, in addition to its consulate-
general in the capital.
Germanys mission in Cairo is also taking pre-
cautions following a national debate in Germany
on whether to allow public screenings of the now-
infamous short film The Innocence of Muslims.
The cartoons were published in the wake of vio-
lent protests across the Islamic world against the
release of the contentious US-made film.
 ECHO
December 2012 / No. 248

of Islam

World of Islam 25

Tunisia Bans Demos

sy S
eeking to avoid a repeat of what

m b a s happened one week earlier,

a n E n
Tunisias Interior Ministry banned

G e r m u d a
Sy in Su-
all demonstrations On September 22,

e i n
the state-run Tunisian News Agency

C l o s an Embassof Khar- (TAP) reported, citing a statement

to he Germapital city n Sept. 22

from the ministry.
The report said the protest ban was

T
o in accordance with the provisions
c
dans as closed e cartoon r- of the state of emergency that has
w h a
toum sts over t gazine Ch been in place since the ouster Janu-
t e a
o pro nch m ary of its longtime president, Zine el
due t ed in Fre en Abidine Ben Ali.
sh
publi do. s h a ve be is- Presidential spokesman Adnene
eb sure tic m
lie H urity mea r diploma ter Mansar denounced Charlie Hebdos
Sec d at othe ign Minis publication of the cartoons as a de-
ene ore
tight broad, F le said.
liberate insult.
a l According to a TAP report, Mansar
sions Westerwe said, We should not fall in the trap
Guido of provocation, we should rather
denounce these acts by peaceful
means.

Muslims, Jews and Christians

Hold Demo to Condemn Anti-Islam Film
H
undreds of Brazilians
have held a demonstra-
tion in Sao Paulo to
condemn a recent film that
disrespected Islam and Proph-
et Muhammad (PBUH).
Anti-U.S. demonstrations,
which began on September 11
over the blasphemous movie,
which was made in the U.S.,
continued with protesters
chanting slogans against Wash-
ington, marching on U.S. em-
bassies and torching U.S. flags.
About 500 people including
Muslims, Catholic Christians
and Jews congregated near
Sao Paulos Shia mosque and
marched peacefully towards a
nearby church holding placards
and chanting anti-U.S. slogans,
Reuters reported on October 22.
Bilal Juma, the president
of Brazils Islamic Association,
said people from all religions
participated in the demonstra-
tion.
We are Muslims, Catholics
and Jews who came together
to say no to those who insult
prophets. We came here to
defend all prophets and reli-
gions, Juma said.
Hassan Gharib, the organ-
izer of the protest march, said
Muslims and Christians should
treat each other as brothers.
He stated that the anti-
Islam movie was produced
to incite a dispute between
Muslims and Christians but
this will not happen since the
Muslims and the Christians are
brothers; we come from the
same source.
Muslims in Iran, Turkey,
Sudan, Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia,
Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indo-
nesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan,
India, Iraq, Morocco, Syria,
Lebanon, Kuwait, Nigeria,
Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Australia,
Britain, the United States,
France, Belgium, and several
other countries have held
many demonstrations to con-
demn the blasphemous movie
over the past week. Protests
were also held in Kashmir and
the Gaza Strip.
 World of Islam
26
Facilities
Close in
Indonesia
T
he U.S. Embassy in
Jakarta, U.S. Consulate
General in Surabaya,
U.S. Consular Agency in Bali
and two other facilities were
closed On September 22,
officials said in a news state-
ment. There were protests in
Indonesia last week.
About 100 demonstrators
gathered near a U.S. dip-
lomatic facility in Medan,
Indonesia, the U.S. Embassy in
Jakarta said.
December 2012 / No.
Muslim Anti-
Film Protest Hits
London
T
he worldwide Muslim pro-
tests against a film insult-
ing the Prophet Muham-
mad reached London, when up
to 1,500 people demonstrated
outside the U.S. Embassy in Gros-
venor Square.
Protesters chanted slogans
condemning the film and U.S.
foreign policy, after Islamic lead-
ers demanded more demonstra-
tions throughout the week.
The demonstration, which
passed without incident, saw an-
ger at the film mix with broader
political points about Guanta-
namo Bay and drone strikes in
Pakistan.
248 ECHO
of Islam
Diplomatic
Missions Close
amid Fear of
More Protests
S
everal diplomatic facilities
were shuttered On Sep-
tember 22 as many braced
for intensified protests over the
anti-Islam movie Innocence of
Muslims, as well as recently
published cartoons in a French
publication of a figure resembling
the Prophet Muhammad.
Demonstrations have raged for
days as many in the Muslim world
are angry about the U.S.-made
film that mocks Muhammad and
about the French cartoon.

December 2012
World of Islam
Thousands of Indonesians
Protest U.S.-Made Film
T
housands of Muslims
enraged over a film that
denigrates the Prophet
Muhammad marched through
Indonesias capital Jakarta on
September 30.
Jakarta police spokesman
Col. Rikwanto estimates at
least 5,000 people joined the
demonstration. They marched
to the U.S. Embassy, which
was guarded by hundreds of
police, and staged a noisy but
peaceful protest.
Participants in the rally,
organized by the Islamic-
based Prosperous Justice
Party, chanted anti-American
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
slogans and shouted Allahu
Akbar! (God Is the Greatest).
Many wore traditional
white robes and held big ban-
ners reading, Muslims unite
against insults to Islam.
Men and women wear-
ing Muslim headscarves and
children assembled outside
the building, while hundreds
of police stood guard and four
water cannon vehicles were
at the ready.
The protesters carried ban-
ners declaring My life for the
Prophet Muhammad, Stop
the film, save the Prophet
Muhammad and Go to hell
27
with the freedom of expres-
sion.
It is very clear now that
our real enemy is America, a
speaker told the crowd, who
shouted America and Israel
are terrorists!
Prosecute and jail the
filmmaker and revoke the film
from YouTube, otherwise we
will boycott you America,
another speaker told the
crowd who shouted back,
Allahu Akbar! (God Is the
Greatest).
Protests against the film
have also been held recently
in other Indonesian cities.
 World of Islam
28 December 2012 / No. 248 ECHO
of Islam

Over 50 Arrested
in Bangladesh
Anti-US Movie
Protest

D
efying a ban on rallies,
thousands of people,
most of them supporters
of Islamic parties, on October
12 tried to stage a march in the
Bangladesh capital in protest
against an anti-Islam film, lead-
ing to a clash with riot police
who took into custody over 50
demonstrators.
Witnesses said several
thousand protesters, mainly
from a 12-party Islamic
Egypts Mufti Urges
coalition, gathered in front
of Baitul Mokarram National
Mosque in downtown Dhaka
Muslims to Endure
after the weekly Friday
prayers and tried to stage a Insults Peacefully
C
march against the film as well
ondemning the publication Al-Azhar, Egypts prestigious seat
as what they called anti-
of the cartoons in France of Sunni learning, which con-
Islamic Internet campaigns.
as an act verging on incite- demned the caricatures showing
Police in armored vehicles ment, Egypts Grand Mufti Ali the Prophet naked but said any
tried to disperse the protest- Gomaa said it showed how polar- protest should be peaceful.
ers using ized the West and the Muslim An official at the Coptic Or-
batons, tear gas and water world had become. thodox Church in Egypt, whose
cannons. Gomaa said Mohammad and population of 83 million people is
Some 90 percent of Bangla- his companions had endured the 10 percent Christian, also con-
deshs 153 million people are worst insults from the non-be- demned the cartoons as insults to
Muslims. The impoverished lievers of his time. Not only was Islam.
South Asian nation is home his message routinely rejected, Last week, some Egyptian pro-
to the worlds fourth-largest but he was often chased out of testers scaled the U.S. Embassy
Muslim population. town, cursed and physically as- walls and tore down the flag.
saulted on numerous occasions. They clashed with police for four
On Sept. 21, some 10,000
But his example was always days, although most of the thou-
Bangladeshis took to the to endure all personal insults sands of Egyptians who took to
streets of Dhaka to demon- and attacks without retaliation the streets did so peacefully.
strate against the film outside of any sort. There is no doubt The cartoons in Frances Char-
the countrys largest mosque. that, since the Prophet is our lie Hebdo satirical weekly have
The Bangladesh govern- greatest example in this life, this provoked relatively little street
ment has denounced the film should also be the reaction of all anger, although about 100 Ira-
and blocked YouTube, where Muslims. nians demonstrated outside the
the film has been posted. His statement echoed one by French embassy in Tehran.

December 2012
World of Islam
France Bans Protests over Cartoons of
Prophet Muhammad
F
rance confirmed on Sep-
tember 22 it would allow
no street protests against
cartoons denigrating Islams
Prophet Muhammad that were
published by a French maga-
zine.
Interior Minister Manuel Valls
said prefects throughout the
country had orders to prohibit
any protest over the issue and
to crack down if the ban was
challenged.
There will be strictly no
exceptions. Demonstrations will
be banned and broken up, he
told a news conference in the
southern port city of Marseille.
The main body representing
Muslims in France appealed for
calm as the satirical weekly
Charlie Hebdo put a new print
run of the cartoons featuring
Prophet Muhammad on the
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
newsstands.
The drawings have fanned
the flames over an anti-Islam
film made in California that
has provoked violent protests
in Muslim countries, includ-
ing attacks on U.S. and other
Western embassies, the killing
of the U.S. envoy to Libya and
a bombing in Afghanistan.
French embassies, schools,
and cultural centers in some 20
Muslim countries were closed
on September 22.
Police were on alert in the
French capital after protests
planned by some Muslim groups
were banned.
Mohammed Moussaoui,
leader of the French Muslim
Council (CFCM), described both
the film and the cartoons as
acts of aggression, but urged
French Muslims not to take to
29
the streets for unauthorized
protests.
I repeat the CFCMs call not
to protest. Any protest could
be hijacked and counterpro-
ductive, he told French radio
station RFI.
Charlie Hebdo, an anti-es-
tablishment weekly whose Paris
offices are under police protec-
tion, defied critics to rush out
another run of the publication.
President Francois Hollandes
government has sought to bal-
ance a cherished tradition of
freedom of expression with
security concerns, denouncing
Charlie Hebdo as irresponsible.
When you are free, in a
country like ours, you always
have to measure the impact of
your words, French European
Affairs Minister Bernard Caze-
neuve said.
 International
30
Teachers Fighting for
Educational Justice in Chicago
The strike isnt all about wages: Instead, the big sticking points
are maintaining existing health benefits and standardized testing.
By Dana Liebelson
M
ore than 350,000 kids
in the Chicago Public
School district got to
sleep in on November 10 because
their teachers were up early
striking for better benefits, job
security, evaluations and train-
ing. The Chicago Teachers Union
has been in contract negotiations
with Chicago Public Schools since
November 2011, but this is the
first actual teachers strike to
hit the Windy City in 25 years.
There have been other teacher
strikes this year in Oregon and
Pennsylvania,but this latest
movement has sparked a fierce
debate about national education
reform, raising questions about
Americas emphasis on standard-
ized testing. It has also pit public
schools against charter schools,
which are often non-unionized
and tend to favor rookie teach-
ers who are younger and far less
likely to be minorities according
to The Chicago Tribune.
Stephanie Gadlin, a spokes-
person for the Chicago Teachers
Union says we are fighting for
educational justice. We do not
intend on taking this anymore.
But Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
is characterizing the protest as
a strike of choice because,
he claims, the city has already
made an offer that is close to
the demands of the union. Heres
everything you need to know
about the clash:
Why are the teachers striking?
The Chicago Teachers Union
December 2012 / No.
is looking for a contract that in-
cludes the following (information
courtesy of Gadlin):
Pay Fairness: CTU seeks a
fairer distribution of pay [i.e.
higher compensation for teach-
ers] and to preserve the schedule
for career advancement estab-
lished 45 years ago in the Unions
first labor contract.
Protection of Benefits: Main-
tain our existing benefits and sick
days without increasing the con-
tribution rate [how much teach-
ers have to pay out-of-pocket for
health care].
Fair Evaluation Procedure:
The Chicago Public Schools
proposed evaluation procedures
could result in 6,000 teach-
ers, or nearly a third of all CPS
teachers, facing discharge within
one or two years. It places too
much emphasis on standardized
test scores, which diminishes
childrens education and pun-
ishes teachers unfairly. In other
words, teacher performance will
be judged by standardized test
scores.
Teacher Training: Chicago
Public Schools is imposing a new
curriculum at all schools and a
strict evaluation system. Teach-
ers have asked for more training,
but CPS proposes no increase, or
in some cases decreased, teacher
training.
Timetable for air condition-
ing: Teachers insist that Chicago
Public Schools agree to a reason-
able timetable to install air con-
ditioning in student classrooms.
In July and August, students sit
in sweltering 98-degree heat.
248 ECHOof Islam
(In case youre wondering what
students are doing in a classroom
during the summer, Chicago has
implemented some year-round
public schools.)
The union is also looking for a
fair recall procedure for laid off
teachers and fair compensation
Timetable for
air conditioning:
Teachers insist that
Chicago Public Schools
agree to a reasonable
timetable to install air
conditioning in student
classrooms. In July and
August, students sit in
sweltering 98-degree
heat.
for a longer school year.
How long will the strike last?
No one is hazarding a guess:
Emanuel told Time he will work
to end the strike quickly. CTU
spokesperson Gadlin says that
We are currently in negotiations
as we speak but I dont know, I
dont have a crystal ball.
Where are the children going
to go?
Chicago Public Schools opened
144 Children First sites, Sep-
tember 10, with limited hours.
These sites promise provide a
safe environment, food, and
things for kids to do. The school
system is also working with
libraries, non-profits, and church-
 ECHO
December 2012 / No. 248

of Islam

International 31
es.

Analyst:
What do the parents say?
Needless to say, some parents
are very upset, and have taken to

Prophet Muhammad,
Twitter to express their frustra-
tion:
However, other parents are
taking the opportunity to express
their support for the teachers.
What do Romney and Obama
Muslims Red Line
say?
Obama hasnt taken a firm
stand on the strike one way or
the other. However, at a White
House press briefing, spokesman
Jay Carney said that President
Obamas principle concern is for
the students and families who
are affected by the situation.
And we hope that both sides are
able to come together and settle
this quickly and in the best inter-
est of Chicagos students. Heres
a video of the briefing:
GOP presidential candidate
Mitt Romney has taken a firm

stance against the strike. He said
in a press release: I am disap-
pointed by the decision of the
Chicago Teachers Union to turn
its back on not only a city nego-
tiating in good faith but also the
hundreds of thousands of chil-
dren relying on the citys public
schools to provide them a safe
place to receive a strong educa-
tion. Teachers unions have too
often made plain that their in-
terests conflict with those of our
children, and today we are see-
ing one of the clearest examples
yet. President Obama has chosen
his side in this fight, sending his
Vice President last year to assure
the nations largest teachers
union that you should have no
doubt about my affection for you
and the Presidents commitment
to you. I choose to side with the
parents and students depending
on public schools to give them
the skills to succeed, and my
plan for education reform will do
exactly that.
Z
afar Bangash, director
of Contemporary Islamic
Thought Institute from To-
ronto, says, I think there is no
doubt that there is a concerted
effort on the part of certain
segments of the population in
the U.S., in Britain, as well as in
the larger European continent in
order to demonize Islam, Islams
revered personalities particularly
the Prophet of Islam as well as
desecrate the noble Quran.
In the U.S. or anywhere else,
people cannot shout fire in a
crowded theater or in a shop-
ping mall because that would
lead to public disorder and chaos
and yet when it comes to Islam
and its revered personalities,
unfortunately it appears to be a
fair game and such activities and
blasphemous acts are defended
in the name of freedom of
speech. In the U, they have this
curious notion that people are
free to express their opinions in
whatever manner they like. This
is what stated as an excuse for
what these individuals have done
and these excuses are obviously
offered by U.S. officials. But
when Muslims were to express
their opinions against certain
acts or policies of the U.S., then
those freedoms of expression
evaporate.
So, it is clear to those of us
that are following not only this
but U.S. policy for decades, we
find this double standard that is
applied constantly in terms of
targeting Muslims and I think all
U.S. officials whether they are
in the Congress or in the govern-
ment or elsewhere are quite fa-
miliar and aware of the fact that
the honor of the Prophet of Islam
is a red line for Muslims and that
insulting him is basically taking
a stab at the very core belief of
the Muslims and that this kind of
blasphemous act should not be
permitted.
 International
32
Bush and Cheney
notoriously misrepresented
the WMD case for war to
gin up popular support for
the invasion. Afterward,
they insisted for years
including in their recent
memoirsthat they had
not hyped the evidence.
But prior to the invasion,
they repeated falsehoods
and exaggerated flimsy
intelligence, and after
they were proven wrong
they dismissed the
significance of their
misleading assertions. And
while greasing the way to
war, both men also had
insinuated that Saddam
Hussein was in cahoots
with Al Qaeda, when no
intelligence backed up this
emotion-stirring charge. In
the years since, neither has
confessed to leading the
public astray on that front.
December 2012 / No.
9/11: What
Didnt
Change By David Corn
The attacks altered the world. It changed everythingbut not our politics.
T
hats the mantra that
emerged from the horrific
attacks of September 11,
2001. In certain areas of our col-
lective lives, it was an accurate
description. Security concerns in-
creased. The United States went
to war in two far-away lands.
It engaged in brutal practices
that amounted to torture and
opened secret prisons and the
ever-controversial Guantanamo
facility. Ugly barriers went up
around public facilities. Navigat-
ing airports became a new kind
of nightmare.
But as the dust was settling,
commentators and pundits also
applied the changed-everything
observation to other aspects of
our society. Americans would
become more united as citizens
and more engaged with the world
beyond their national borders.
(Students did flock to Arab stud-
ies programs; CIA recruitment
soared.) Our national discourse
would become more seriousand
such obsessions as shark attacks
and the tragic disappearance
248 ECHO
of Islam
of Capitol Hill intern Chandra
Levy (the big stories during the
summer of 2001) would be sup-
planted by more significant and
important fare. Our politicians
would devote more effort to ad-
vancing common interests rather
than accruing political gain. We
would all be better versions of
ourselves.
For a time, some of that hap-
penedon both mundane and
more notable levels. Americans,
anecdotal evidence indicated,
became a bit more contemplative
about their lives and priorities.
In the weeks after 9/11, people
were more courteous drivers (at
least in Washington, DC). They
gave other motorists more room
and yielded more readily. The
media produced stories about
Americas place in the world;
they explored the simplistic
question, Why do they hate
us? And the politicians did seem
to ponder how to govern in a
less divisive manner. President
George W. Bushs approval ratings
skyrocketed, as Americans of

December 2012
International
various political bents, including
those who had previously scorned
the chad-enabled commander-in-
chief, rallied around him.
But life often reverts to
form, and change is fleeting
and not necessarily a guarantee
of progress. At some point, the
old driving behaviorsreturned.
Americans never did become
very well informed about foreign
affairs. A political culture of divi-
sion and spin resumed. And these
were all connectedwell, maybe
not the driving.
In the first week of September,
the University of Maryland re-
leased a 9/11-related poll show-
ing that many Americans remain
ignorant about the link between
9/11 and the war Bush and Dick
Cheney launched in Iraq. Nearly
half of the respondents noted
that Iraq was directly involved
in the 9/11 assaults (15 percent)
or gave substantial support to
Al Qaeda without participating
in those attacks (31 percent.).
Neither is true. Iraq, as the 9/11
Commission reported, had not
been in league with Al Qaeda. It
had not provided substantial
assistanceor any aid of note, for
that matterto Osama bin Laden
and his mass-murderers.
The same poll also found that
about half of Americans (47
percent) believe that prior to the
Iraq war, the regime possessed
actual weapons of mass destruc-
tion or had a major WMD program
under way. Again, not true.
Obviously, the trauma of 9/11
did not cause Americans to be-
come knowledgeable about the
United States most significant
overseas endeavor. But one rea-
son for the widespread misbelief
is that the political leaders of
the country, in the aftermath
of the attacks, soon resorted to
the usual tactics to manipulate
the public discourse, rather than
ECHO
/ No. 248
of Islam
elevate it.
Bush and Cheney notoriously
misrepresented the WMD case
for war to gin up popular support
for the invasion. Afterward, they
insisted for yearsincluding in
their recent memoirsthat they
had not hyped the evidence.
But prior to the invasion, they
repeated falsehoods and exag-
gerated flimsy intelligence, and
after they were proven wrong
they dismissed the significance
of their misleading assertions.
And while greasing the way to
war, both men also had insinu-
ated that Saddam Hussein was in
cahoots with Al Qaeda, when no
intelligence backed up this emo-
tion-stirring charge. In the years
since, neither has confessed to
leading the public astray on that
front.
Even though case-closing facts
emerged to show that Bush and
Cheney had distorted informa-
tion to move the nation toward
war, their actions appear to have
indelibly shaped the false per-
ceptions still held by about half
the public. The shock of 9/11 did
not cause Americans to be more
discerning.
September 11 was a missed
opportunity for the entire nation.
Within the political culture, we
did not lift up the better angels
of our nature.
Moreover, the Bush administra-
tion did not refrain from exploit-
ing 9/11 in the most direct politi-
cal sense. Within months of the
attacks, it was back to business
as usual. In January 2002, Karl
Rove suggested that Republicans
should point out that Democrats
would not protect Americans as
well as GOPers in the so-called
war on terror. Later that year, a
private Rove PowerPoint in-
cluded advice to candidates that
they focus on the war in their
campaigns. That September, as
Congress was in the final stretch
33
of the midterm congressional
elections, Bush insisted that
it quickly consider legislation
permitting him to launch the Iraq
war, guaranteeing that the run-up
to the elections would be domi-
nated by Iraq, not his tax cuts for
the wealthy, the environment,
health care, or anything else that
Democratic candidates wanted to
talk about.
Two years later, the key-
note speaker at the Republican
convention, Sen. Zell Miller, an
archly conservative Democrat
supporting Bush, accused the
Democrats of caring more about
partisan politics than national
security and making the na-
tion weaker. He added that
Democrats dont believe there
is any real danger in the world.
He absurdly charged that Sen.
John Kerry, the Democratic
presidential nominee, would let
Paris decide when America needs
defending. This was an unprin-
cipled swipe at the patriotism
of an entire party. At the time,
Slates Will Saletan wrote:
Every one of these charges is
demonstrably false. When Bush
addressed Congress after 9/11,
Democrats embraced and ap-
plauded him. In the Afghan war,
they gave him everything he
asked for. Most Democratic sena-
tors, including John Kerry and
John Edwards, voted to give him
the authority to use force in Iraq.
During and after the war, they
praised Iraqs liberation. Kerry
has never said that any other
country should decide when the
United States is entitled to de-
fend itself.
Millers fear-mongering and
dishonest speech, vetted by
Bushs political team, was the
epitome of the Bush-Rove (or
Rove-Bush) effort to politicize
9/11 and the subsequent wars.
In the years since, politics
certainly has not improved. The
 International
34
bitter and divisive assaults from
the right on Barack Obama of the
past several yearshes a secret,
foreign-born, socialist, anti-colo-
nialist, Kenyan-like Muslim who
pals around with terrorists and
wants to destroy the economy
through Obamacare in order to
wipe out Americans freedom and
wealthare proof that the very
brief post-9/11, lets-get-along
glow is long gone. Some con-
servatives might argue that the
lefts Bush-is-a-treasonous-war-
criminal rhetoric was an equiva-
lent debasement of the national
debate. But such talk was hardly
embraced or enabled by lead-
ing Democrats. When the health
care reform tussle raged in the
House of Representatives in 2009,
Republican leaders hosted a tea
party rally, where angry demon-
strators chanted Nazis, Nazis,
referring to Democratic House
members. This brought no rebuke
from Reps. John Boehner or Eric
Cantor, the top two GOPers (who
each attended). The event did
December 2012 / No. 248 ECHO
of Islam
not even spark a major contro-
versy. The harsh discourse of the
Bush years had become harsher.
Anti-Bush partisans might be Even though
tempted to heap all the blame
on W. Bush for having perverted
case-closing
a national moment for his own facts emerged
benefit. At that time of tragedy, to show that
there did seem an opening to Bush and Cheney
nudgeor at least try to nudge
the national political discourse in had distorted
a more principled and honorable information to
direction. He chose not to do so. move the nation
But the culpability extends be-
yond the guy who happened (due
toward war, their
to the unusual circumstances of a actions appear
Florida election and the iffy rea- to have indelibly
soning of five Republican-appoint-
ed Supreme Court justices) to be
shaped the false
in the Oval Office when Bin Laden perceptions still
attacked. If most Americans held by about
had demanded more of Bush, half the public.
he might not have been able to
sidestep this obligation so eas- The shock of 9/11
ily. September 11 was a missed did not cause
opportunity for the entire nation. Americans to be
Within the political culture, we
did not lift up the better angels
more discerning.
of our nature.
 ECHO
December 2012 / No. 248

of Islam

International 35

The Crazy Cost There Is

Ample Room
of Becoming for Diplomacy
President, From with Iran:
Lincoln to Obama Chomsky
By Dave Gilson By Javad Heirannia

B N
arack Obama spent $730 million getting to the White House in
oam Chomsky says there
2008twice as much as George W. Bush spent 4 years earlier
is still great opportunity
and more than 260 times what Abraham Lincoln spent in his first
to resolve the standoff
election (as measured in 2011 dollars). Looking at the total costs of
over Irans nuclear issue through
presidential elections over the past 150 years, it would seem that the
diplomacy.
White House is the ultimate recession-proof commodity:
There is ample room for di-
So is the White House overpriced? Depends on what youre compar-
plomacy, Chomsky told the Mehr
ing it against. The increase in campaign costs (measured in real dollars)
News Agency in a short interview.
significantly outpaced the price of golds rise over the 20th century. Yet
Following is the text of the
between 1908 and 2008, real campaign costs did not keep up with real
interview:
GDP growth. Election costs include all major candidates spending and
Q: What is your assessment of
cost of primaries, when known; they do not include outside spending.
the recent meeting between Iran
Well see if these trends hold; 2012 could beat all records for cam-
and the major powers?
paign spendingand thats not counting super-PACmoney.
A: Unfortunately, it got no-
Sources:Center for Responsive Politics (election costs 1976-2008);
George Thayer, Who Shakes the Money Tree?: American campaign fi- where. And prospects do not look
nancing practices from 1789 to the present (election costs 1860-1972); good.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (CPI); Measuring Worth (pre-1913 CPIequiva- Q: So do you think that such a
lents; GDP 1908-2008); World Gold Council (gold prices) situation may lead to a war and
that the sides cannot resolve the
dispute through diplomacy?
A: We can be fairly confident
that war will only make matters
worse. There is ample room for
diplomacy. In fact, one excellent
opportunity is arising this Decem-
ber, when there will be a confer-
ence on establishing a nuclear
weapons-free zone in the Middle
East. The idea has enormous sup-
port, but probably, as in the past,
it will be blocked by the U.S. (and
Israel), with Europe toddling along
politely behind the master. Unless,
that is, there is a massive dem-
onstration of popular support in
the West. The lack of reporting is
designed to undercut that threat.
Noam Chomsky is an American
linguist, philosopher, cognitive
scientist, and historian.
 International
36 December 2012 / No. 248 ECHOof Islam

U.S. Judge Rejects

Call to Ban Film on Net
A
US judge rejected a request by an actress
in the anti-Islamic video that set off violent
Muslim protests to ban YouTube from show-
ing the trailer in the United States.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Luis Lavin re-
fused the request by lawyers for actress Cindy Lee
Garcia for a restraining order to prevent the online
video-sharing service from continuing to show the
trailer.
Garcia is one of three actresses in the film to
have come forward with similar accusations since
the explosion of violence that ripped through Mus-
lim countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia last
week.
She sued YouTube and its owner Google for re-
leasing excerpts of the very amateurish film, which
was later dubbed into Arabic.
YouTube said it extended its restrictions on the
video to countries where it is considered illegal by
local authorities; that is, to date, India, Indonesia,
Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia.
YouTube last week restricted access to the film in
Egypt and Libya after unrest in those countries, and
has been adding countries to the list.
The U.S. actress also filed a lawsuit against the
reported producer of the film, Nakoula Basseley Na-
koula, on grounds of invasion of privacy, fraud, slan-
der, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The 55-year-old Egyptian Copt and convicted
fraudster -- out on parole -- lives in Los Angeles and
has admitted to working on the film, Innocence of
Muslims.
U.S. media says Nakoula wrote and produced the
film, using the pseudonym Sam Bacile before being
identified. He was questioned by police before go-
ing into hiding with his family.

The U.S.
actress
also filed
a lawsuit
against the
reported
producer
of the film,
Nakoula
Basseley
Nakoula,
on grounds
of invasion
of privacy,
fraud,
slander, and
intentional
infliction of
emotional
distress.