'I will sell them,' Boko Haram leader says of kidnapped Nigerian girls

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Awful story coming out of Nigeria. What's even more awful is the world-wide silence and condemnation from the Muslim community and especially the UN. It's like crickets out there.

'I will sell them,' Boko Haram leader says of kidnapped Nigerian girls

(CNN) -- Fears for the fate of more than 200 Nigerian girls turned even more nightmarish Monday when the leader of the Islamist militant group that kidnapped them announced plans to sell them.

"I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah," a man claiming to be Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said in a video first obtained by Agence France-Presse.

"There is a market for selling humans. Allah says I should sell. He commands me to sell. I will sell women. I sell women," he continued, according to a CNN translation from the local Hausa language.

Boko Haram is a terrorist group receiving training from al Qaeda affiliates, according to U.S. officials. Its name means "Western education is sin." In his nearly hourlong, rambling video, Shekau repeatedly called for Western education to end.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/05/world/africa/nigeria-abducted-girls/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Edited May 5, 2014 by ExExpat

[eieio 1,594]

You could look at it as good news. They are still alive. Not the normal dull knife, to saw their heads off, Islam tactic.

[Lenny&Sanna 114]

Absolutely disgusting.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Awful story coming out of Nigeria. What's even more awful is the world-wide silence and condemnation from the Muslim community and especially the UN. It's like crickets out there.

Expect to get sanctioned . You just hit the 3rd rail of VJ CEHST

Feel free to go over to the Alabama Justice christian thread and bash away to get it out of your system

[mota bhai 2,675]

My Facebook feed is plastered with this story. Worldwide silence?

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

So I have a thought.

The "main street" media is often criticized (by...normal folk with normal brains) for being too "progressive" and let's paint everything with a "progressive" Rainbow of Hope & Change. Right? yes...right.

But...Every day = I open up Yahoo (which I think is considered for the most part to be ran by liberals) & scan Yahoo News US, Politics, World...and do it all over again throughout the day every day.

.....I never see or read a story about Islamists....doing something nice for humanity....Never. All I ever "see" to read is what I refer to as = "The Islamic Zombie Horror Picture Show."

Am I using the wrong search engine? Is Yahoo ran by Islamaphobes? is Yahoo a Muslim Hater...?

Some1 please direct me to good news sources telling good news stories about Islamists.....any1? Any1?

Edited May 6, 2014 by Crashed~N2~Me

[Jacque67 7,328]

Wow. The things people do in the name of religion

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Ebay link ?

Sorry I know that was bad

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Awful story coming out of Nigeria. What's even more awful is the world-wide silence and condemnation from the Muslim community and especially the UN. It's like crickets out there.

When that white supremacist went on a rampage and killed those folks, I don't remember white people condemning anything or apologizing.

http://www.news.nom.co/cair-condemns-boko-haram-kidnapping-9324599-news/

In its statement, CAIR said:

"It is almost impossible to express the level of disgust felt by American Muslims at the un-Islamic and obscene actions of the terrorist group Boko Haram for the kidnapping and threat to 'sell' hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls. We urge authorities in Nigeria and throughout the region to do everything they can to return the girls safely to their families and to eliminate the threat to peace and security posed by Boko Haram."

You hate Islam, at least be a man about it and admit it.

My Facebook feed is plastered with this story. Worldwide silence?

Yeah, because apparently Muslims aren't outraged about it.

So I have a thought.

The "main street" media is often criticized (by...normal folk with normal brains) for being too "progressive" and let's paint everything with a "progressive" Rainbow of Hope & Change. Right? yes...right.

But...Every day = I open up Yahoo (which I think is considered for the most part to be ran by liberals) & scan Yahoo News US, Politics, World...and do it all over again throughout the day every day.

.....I never see or read a story about Islamists....doing something nice for humanity....Never. All I ever "see" to read is what I refer to as = "The Islamic Zombie Horror Picture Show."

Am I using the wrong search engine? Is Yahoo ran by Islamaphobes? is Yahoo a Muslim Hater...?

Some1 please direct me to good news sources telling good news stories about Islamists.....any1? Any1?

There are tons of Muslims that live their lives and do good works, but we only WANT to hear about the negative. You want a good story? I gave 2 women out of work my last ten dollars so they could feed their children. And I'm a muslim. There you go.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

When that white supremacist went on a rampage and killed those folks, I don't remember white people condemning anything or apologizing.

http://www.news.nom.co/cair-condemns-boko-haram-kidnapping-9324599-news/

In its statement, CAIR said:

"It is almost impossible to express the level of disgust felt by American Muslims at the un-Islamic and obscene actions of the terrorist group Boko Haram for the kidnapping and threat to 'sell' hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls. We urge authorities in Nigeria and throughout the region to do everything they can to return the girls safely to their families and to eliminate the threat to peace and security posed by Boko Haram."

You hate Islam, at least be a man about it and admit it.

Yeah, because apparently Muslims aren't outraged about it.

There are tons of Muslims that live their lives and do good works, but we only WANT to hear about the negative. You want a good story? I gave 2 women out of work my last ten dollars so they could feed their children. And I'm a muslim. There you go.

Has a black person ever committed a crime ever that you did not try to negate by pointing out what some white criminal did?

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

There are tons of Muslims that live their lives and do good works, but we only WANT to hear about the negative. You want a good story? I gave 2 women out of work my last ten dollars so they could feed their children. And I'm a muslim. There you go.

That's not my point Marvin...I mean...that's a very nice thing you did...but, did you do it bcoz you are a Muslim..? Or did you do it coz you are Marvin...? or...Both?

Here's another take on my op thought....,

Consider the various regions in the world suffering violence and turmoil...most of the headlines read = ...(some) Secular entity or gov versus "Islamist".. Islamist this...Islamist that...

and...you told me a happy story about you. Where can I read happy stories about..."Islamists"..?

(if) I am a Muslim - I think I wouldn't be very happy about how the main stream media blasts "Islamists" every day all day. In fact...I'd be p!ssed and look for ways to protest for & demand a change in propaganda....or something like that.

Edited May 6, 2014 by Crashed~N2~Me

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You could look at it as good news. They are still alive. Not the normal dull knife, to saw their heads off, Islam tactic.

Right, or the cannibalization tactic deployed by Christians against Muslims.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Has a black person ever committed a crime ever that you did not try to negate by pointing out what some white criminal did?

If Muslims and black people have to condemn every single thing someone who looks like/prays like us, then the same should go for everyone else.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

That's not my point Marvin...I mean...that's a very nice thing you did...but, did you do it bcoz you are a Muslim..? Or did you do it coz you are Marvin...? or...Both?

Here's another take on my op thought....,

Consider the various regions in the world suffering violence and turmoil...most of the headlines read = ...(some) Secular entity or gov versus "Islamist".. Islamist this...Islamist that...

and...you told me a happy story about you. Where can I read happy stories about..."Islamists"..?

(if) I am a Muslim - I think I wouldn't be very happy about how the main stream media blasts "Islamists" every day all day. In fact...I'd be p!ssed and look for ways to protest for & demand a change in propaganda....or something like that.

I'm not, but I'm a realist. Ever since 9/11, it's been Islam 24/7. Bad things happen all over the world. Look at the violence and suffering in the Ukraine. Look at what's going on here in the US. It's the same damn thing, just minus the Quran. We had 3 women kidnapped and held for years in a basement. Had nothing to do with Islam. We have folks that grab a weapon and slaughter people for the hell of it. Not in the name of Allah. Kidnappings, murders, rape. All this happens here, and it's not as bad as when a Muslim does it.

You want good stories? Here you go:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/altmuslim/2014/01/year-in-review-top-ten-good-muslim-news-stories-of-2013/

1. Malala Yousufzai nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Sixteen-year-old student/blogger Malala Yousufzai wasn’t the first girl to be injured in trying to stand up for her right to be educated, but with the help of her social media-savvy peers, Malala became the most famous teenager in the world during 2013. Her plight, recovery, and the dignified way in which she kept the focus on women’s education rather than celebrity, created ripples of global awareness. She went from being hospitalized in critical condition at the start of the year to being celebrated by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, having pushed Pakistan to enact its first “Right to Education” bill and inspiring millions of girls around the world to believe that education is their birthright. The UN declared her 16th birthday to be “Malala Day,” though she took the opportunity to turn the focus to her cause. ”Malala day is not my day,” she declared. “Today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights.”

2. First Muslim fraternity enters U.S. campus life

What could be more American than fraternity life? Brotherhood, teamwork, public service and having fun during your college years — for many young American men, it’s an indispensable part of growing up. And while you may be thinking about some of the more stereotypical aspects of Greek life – alcoholism and hazing abuse come to mind – the truth is that Greek life has a lot to offer. But is there room in this system for Muslims? While Muslim men have been a part of the Greek system as individuals for many years now, this year we saw the emergence of Alpha Lambda Mu/Alif Laam Mim, the first fraternity organized around Islamic principles. “We stay far from what many other social fraternities stereotyped as, including excessive drinking, malignant hazing, and womanizing,” said Ali Mahmoud, the organization’s president and founder. “We provide a comfortable space for young Muslim American men to be themselves.” The first chapter is at the University of Texas at Dallas, but several other campuses have expressed an interest in creating their own chapters.

3. Hijab victory against Abercrombie & Fitch

Clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch took a hit in 2013 when it lost a lawsuit filed by former employee Hani Khan, who was fired after four months on the job in 2010 for wearing a hijab. Khan, who was first allowed to wear her hijab as long as it coordinated with the company uniform, was later fired for wearing it when a district manager said it violated the company’s “Look Policy.” A lawsuit filed by the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center (LAS-ELC) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was upheld by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch violated Khan’s federal and state civil rights. “At the heart of this case is the belief that no one should ever have to choose between their religion and work, said Zahra Billoo, executive director of CAIR-SFBA in a press release. “All Americans have a right to reasonable religious accommodation in the workplace, and for Muslim women this includes the right to wear a hijab to work.”

4. Yusuf Islam inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens, who has just been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has now officially come full circle. After leaving the world of music at the top of his career upon embracing Islam in the 1970’s, Yusuf lived a quiet life of philanthropy, starting an Islamic school in London and working on promoting global peace (winning several awards in the process). After 28 years of leaving his fans with only “greatest hits” collections, Yusuf made a return to music in 2003 upon studyingthe “the long history of music in Islam and Muslim musicians” and deciding that the a conflict between Islam and music did not exist. In the past 10 years, he has re-engaged his old fans and engaged a new generation with two albums, concert tours, a musical (“Moonshadow”) and collaborations with artists such as Dolly Parton. He was reportedly “tickled” by the Hall of Fame honor. “Even though it’s taken time, I’ve always been an optimist,” said Yusuf upon learning of the honor. “I was brought up on the view that if you wait patiently till the end of the story, the good people will live happily ever after. So this is sort of a fulfillment of that idea.”

Ms. Marvel – Kamala Khan

5. Kamala Khan IS Ms. Marvel

It’s a bird, it’s a plane! It’s … well it’s not Superman, nor does this particular superhero fly. But 2013 saw the introduction of the latest comic book superhero, Kamala Khan, bringing comic book fans everywhere into whole new exciting world. Kamala, Marvel Comic’s newest superhero, is part of a growing effort to fill the void of female superhero series while “diversifying its offerings,” as reported by the New York Times. Dubbed Ms. Marvel, Kamala was born from a conversation between Marvel editors Sana Amanat and Steve Wacker, who brought award-winning author (and Muslim convert) G. Willow Wilson to create a new kind of superhero mythos. “It [was] really a chance to do a story about a character who is not a token member of a superhero theme. I [got]to tell the origin story of a superhero. … Creating a superhero from scratch is really awesome; pulling in so many stories from the community of American Muslims, said Wilson in an interview with Altmuslim.

6. First female recitor of the Quran at 50th Annual ISNA Convention

At its 50th annual convention, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) opened its proverbial doors as always with a recitation from the Quran. But for the first time ever a woman was chosen to deliver the recitation — Tahera Ahmad, the associate university chaplain at Northwestern University and faculty fellow. Educated at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, among many other places, Ahmad’s recitation was shared hundreds of times over on social media and was heralded by many as a postive step towards more gender equality in Islam. “This is not about creating controversy or fitna” Ahmad told the Huffington Post. “This is about digging deep, doing our research and reviving our Islamic tradition and giving women the opportunity to be part of our rich legacy.”

7. Pope Francis builds bridges with Muslims

Pope Francis is not the first pope to win the respect of Muslims – John Paul II was so loved around the Muslim world that even the Taliban mourned his passing - but his outreach to Muslims during the early days of his tenure has struck a deep chord in Muslim communities around the world. Papal traditionalists noticed something was off when Pope Francis washed the feet of a Muslim woman prisoner in one of his earliest acts as the new pontiff. The pope followed this with many more gestures: sending “prayerful good wishes” to Muslims at the conclusion of Ramadan, writing to Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al Tayyeb to express respect for Islam and call for mutual understanding, and calling for Muslim immigrants to Europe to be embraced“with affection and respect.” “Pope Francis is really doing a wonderful job in terms of outreach,” said Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat after visiting the Vatican. “[He] resonates with the Muslim world.”

Sadia Saifuddin, UC Board of Regents

8. First Muslim regent selected for the University of California

With nearly a quarter-million students, the 10-campus University of California is is widely regarded as one of the top public university systems in the world. It is governed by a Board of Regents, who is ultimately responsible for all academic and financial matters. And this year, a Muslim student, Sadia Saifuddin, joined their ranks. Despite being the frontrunner in an extremely competitive selection process to be the student representative on the Board, Saifuddin faced outside pressure to deny her spot based on her political views (she worked on Israel divestment activities on behalf of a campus advocacy group called the Middle Eastern Muslim South Asian Coalition). “I think the position on divestment is irrelevant,” explained Saifuddin. “ It may be my personal opinion, but that has nothing to do with my work as a student regent.” But many Jews associated with the University of California strongly supported Saifuddin. Regent Bonnie Reiss, who is Jewish and served on the selection committee, stood firm by the choice. “Congratulations on raising a remarkable young woman who has the courage to stand up for what she believes in,” she told Saifuddin’s parents.

9. Muslims save Bradford synagogue in the UK

For years, the Jews and Muslims of Bradford (UK) have lived near each other but without interacting much. While the city is nearly 20 percent Muslim, there is only one synagogue remaining in the city, and at 130 years old was in a state of disrepair, endangering the congregation of 45 families who could not afford repairs. Once the synagogue’s Muslim neighbors found out, however, several of them stepped up todonate the funds required. “It was a challenge which didn’t take us long to decide on,”said Zulfi Karim, secretary of Bradford Council for Mosques. The goodwill sparked continued interaction between the communities, with members of each house of worship visiting each other for the first time in living memory and the communities co-sponsoring street fairs and philanthropic projects. ”When I met Rudi [Leavor, the 87-year-old chairman of the synagogue], I felt like he was my father, or grandfather,” Karim says. “If he were an elder in my community, I would be there for him in his time of need. So I felt – well, it’s my obligation to help him as if he were a member of my own family.” (This story mirrors a similar 2012 Good News story that took place in New York City.)

10. Somewhere in America … # Mipsterz

It started with a group. That group made a music video. That music video was set to Jay Z’s “Somewhere in America … ” And that video was uploaded to social media. And then things got very interesting. The #Mipsterz (a group calling themselves “Muslim Hipsters“) video featuring stylishly-clothed women in all forms of the hijab doing all sorts of cool things (skateboarding, posing, chopping wood) sparked a flurry of conversation, debate and interest regarding artistic form, use of the hijab, what modesty means, and really — was the hijab debate the point of the video? Islamic Monthly editor Sana Saeed wrote this critique of the video, to which Altmuslim’s Rabia Chaudry countered with her thoughts, and Aminah Sheikh, who participated in the video, chimed in as well. The debate and conversations flowed back and forth, fast and furious, causing some to wonder what the deal really was about a music video. (For some, it was the choice of the music, which included the use of the N-word, for others it that all of the women featured in it wore stylized versions of the hijab, and for others, it wasn’t about any of these things, but more so about artistic expression.) You may wonder why this story is included in our list. At the end of the day, it was a time of debate, self-reflection and growth for the American Muslim community. That so many of us got so fired up over a video says something.

So many other good Muslim stories happened in 2014. What did we overlook? Please post your thoughts below in the comments section!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If Muslims and black people have to condemn every single thing someone who looks like/prays like us, then the same should go for everyone else.

I didn't hear a lot of condemnation from the Christian camp when Christians slaughtered and literally devoured Muslims - yes, they roasted and ate them. Following the logic of the right wingers around here, the lack of outcry and condemnation from Christians means that they condone this type of thing.