Happy International Women's Day!

I'd like to wish our sisters a joyous day on this International Women's Day! May they continue to fill our lives with blessings and support their communities!

Dr. Hany

Is Spring Here Yet?

Why do we love spring and look forward to it from year to year? 

Sure, spring helps us endure the summer heat and winter cold, but that’s not all. Spring has become to mean optimism and political transformation, and is a buffer that nations need to overcome tough political and economic climates. How we can we have a never-ending spring to regenerate our communities?

I can’t help but wonder: how can we sustain the Arab Spring without affecting its climate and destroying its crop?

In my opinion, we can do it by creating capable, independent and free-thinking farmers – or civil society organizations (CSOs) – to make a significant and lasting impact on governments in the Arab world.

The odd thing is authoritarian regimes understood the dynamic role of CSOs, so we had hoped that new governments would empower them. Instead, political parties are highlighting their own priorities rather than supporting the civil society sector. We also found that in four of the Arab Spring countries – Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Yemen – succeeding political parties ended up dividing rather than uniting their people. 

This is precisely why we need strong, stable, and independent civil service sectors, producing skilled civil workers to bring about social, economic, and political transformations. If we get this right, we will succeed in laying down the foundation of a bright and colourful future – a lot like what we would expect from spring.

Happy Holidays!

 To those who love Jesus (Peace be upon Him) and Lady Mary (Peace be upon Her). To those who believe in Their message of peace and Their mission to alleviate the suffering of humanity. 

I’d like to wish you the best life possible on this planet and hereafter. We believe in the same message of peace, brought up by Prophet Jesus (PBUH) and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and all other prophets. 

I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year celebration. Ameen.

The Ostrich Doctor

I didn’t think I would have to write a blog like this, especially at this time of year. I hoped and I prayed for something like this to never happen again.  Killing is a crime, no questions asked. However, killing children is a crime against humanity.

We must discuss and address the root causes of such issues, to prevent tragedies from happening again.  In my opinion, it’s a complex issue and it doesn’t just boil down to the social fabric of the country, the freedom of possessing guns, a bad foreign policy, disconnection with Diaspora communities, misinterpretation of religious texts, political lies or laws favouring the rich over the poor. No. The root causes are many and we mustn’t bury our heads in the sand like ostriches.

I am also very sad to see there are opportunistic companies taking advantage of parents’ fears for their children’s safety with highly expensive security devices, costing hundreds of dollars/British pounds.

In my opinion, if a patient is sick, then the doctor has to find out the root cause of the illness. The doctor can decide accordingly how to treat the illness – with medicines or through surgery. As long as our politicians and decision-makers are acting like incompetent doctors, trying to treat some symptoms without realising what the root causes of the problem are, and then burying their heads in the sand like ostriches, there won’t be a solution.

It is time to sit down together and discuss what is the way forward and how can our children have a future.

(Mis)Perceptions Part 1

I would like to apologise for my prolonged absence from the blog. My health and a full diary have prevented me from being able to write to you more often, but I hope insh’Allah that I will be able to discuss with you as friends more often from now on.

This series of blogs, I’ve named it Perceptions, but in reality it should be called Misperceptions.  It all started when I was at a workshop about children in conflict zones.  After preparing a presentation, I decided to change my talk 180 degrees. I felt our discussion was looking only at the symptoms as opposed to finding the root cause of the problem. It was a Catch 22 situation.

With regards to perceptions and misperceptions, I want to ask you a few questions. If you hear about a Muslim man having four wives, what would you say? If you hear about a Mormon man with 35 wives, what would be your reaction? How about a man from the Dinka tribe with 67 wives? Finally, how do you feel when you hear about a Western man having 10 girlfriends?

Perceptions are developed according to our upbringing and culture. These factors can make us not accept other ways of thinking.  Only when we will understand the other person’s values, culture and beliefs, we will become less judgemental and an asset to our community.

To be continued...

Eid Mubarak!

Eid is a time to celebrate the success of achievements. Eid is a time to reflect your gratitude to the Lord who makes us happy and the people who help us feel this happiness. Eid is a bond to tie you to everyone who cares and prays for you. Eid is a climactic moment of joy and submission to the Lord who has created you.

Eid is a platform to bridge the gap between us and different communities. Eid is a duty to make us responsible to look after our neighbours, regardless of their backgrounds. Eid is a commitment to care for your parents and your family. Eid is an instrument to draw a smile on the face of every child.

Eid is a care for the homeless, orphans, widows, the sick, the poor and the disabled. Men and women, children and others.

Please celebrate Eid with everyone! Eid Mubarak!

Burma

ماينامار بورما هى أقبح جريمه فى وجه الإنسانيه.

تغذيب , تطهير عرقى , إغتصاب جماعى منظم لطرد الأقليه من مسلمى الروهنجا.

تمنياتى الحاره بشهر رمضان وإقامة وتحقيق مبادئ الحريه والعداله والمساواه.

تمنياتى بالنجاح لمؤسسات الأمم المتحده, منظمة التعاون الإسلامى, رابطة العالم الإسلامى, مجموعة آسيان, ومؤسسات حقوق الإنسان والجمعيات الخيريه , كل مسلم ومسلمه وكل إنسان ومسئول.

Burma (Maynmar) is an ugly scar and a crime against humanity.

Torture, forced and organised group rape, massacre and forced migration to Rohingya muslim minority.

Happy Ramadan, freedom, justice and equality to humanity.

All the best to UN, OIC, ASIAN, World Muslim League, Human Right movement, charity organisations, every muslim and human being, leaders as well as others