Bosnian Serbs Convicted of Burning Muslims Alive

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 11:24 a.m. ET

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- A U.N. war crimes court convicted two Bosnian Serb cousins Monday for a ''callous'' 1992 killing spree that included locking scores of Muslims in two houses and burning them alive.

Yugoslav war crimes tribunal judge Patrick Robinson said burning at least 119 Muslims to death in the eastern Bosnian town of Visegrad ''exemplified the worst acts of inhumanity that one person may inflict on others.''

He sentenced Milan Lukic to life in prison and Sredoje Lukic to 30 years.

Robinson said Milan Lukic was the ringleader in both incidents, helping herd victims into the houses, setting the fires and shooting those who tried to flee the flames. The judgment said his cousin Sredoje Lukic aided and abetted in one of the blazes

Witnesses ''vividly remembered the terrible screams of the people in the house,'' Robinson said, adding that Milan Lukic used the butt of his rifle to herd people into the house, and said, ''come on, let's get as many people inside as possible.''

Milan Lukic shook his head but looked unmoved as Robinson pronounced sentence. Sredoje Lukic leaned back in his chair, his face blank.

Even Robinson, a veteran judge at the tribunal that has been prosecuting Balkan war crimes for 15 years, sounded stunned by the Visegrad atrocities.

''The perpetration by Milan Lukic and Sredoje Lukic of crimes in this case is characterized by a callous and vicious disregard for human life,'' he said.

''In the all-too-long, sad and wretched history of man's inhumanity to man, the Pionirska street and Bikavac fires must rank high,'' the judge added.

Prosecutors seeking to clear the court's docket as quickly as possible had asked for the Visegrad case to be handed to a Bosnian court because the cousins were relatively low-ranking suspects. But tribunal judges refused, saying the allegations were so serious they should be handled in The Hague.

Milan Lukic also was convicted of murdering 12 other Muslims, shooting them in the back on the banks of the Drina River, which runs through Visegrad, so the current would sweep away their bodies. One of the victims was murdered in front of his wife and child.

Robinson said Milan Lukic ''ignored the victims pleas for their lives,'' as he and other Serb paramilitaries executed them with a single shot in the back before firing into the bodies of any men they believed were still alive.

Milan Lukic led a paramilitary group known as both the ''White Eagles'' and the ''Avengers,'' which terrorized Muslims in Visegrad. His cousin Sredoje was a local policeman and a member of the group.

Both men also were convicted of cruelty for visiting a detention center to savagely beat Muslim inmates.

German city honors Egyptian woman slain in court

German city honors Egyptian woman slain in court

By JOERG ABERGER (AP) – Jul 11, 2009

DRESDEN, Germany (AP) — Hundreds of people carrying white roses gathered Saturday on the steps of Dresden's city hall in honor of an Egyptian woman who was fatally stabbed by a defendant in a German courtroom.

Marwa al-Sherbini, a pregnant 31-year-old pharmacist, was stabbed 18 times in a court where she was to have testified against a young Russian-born German. She had filed a complaint against him in 2008 accusing him of insulting her with racial slurs.

The public memorial, organized by local civil rights groups, drew more than 1,000 people, including the Egyptian ambassador and officials from the state of Saxony, where the July 1 stabbing took place.

Mourners brought single white roses that they laid beneath large photos of the dead woman.

Al-Sherbini was stabbed as her 3-year-old son looked on. Her husband was injured when he intervened to protect her and he remains hospitalized.

The attacker, identified only as Alex W., 28, remains in detention pending the outcome of an investigation on suspicion of murder. Charging a suspect typically takes months in Germany.

Al-Sherbini had already testified once against the man in court in November 2008, after which he was fined for calling her a "terrorist" and an "Islamist at a playground.

He had returned to court on July 1 to challenge the fine. Because the man was not considered a threat and had not been held in detention before the court session, there was no security surrounding the trial.

Many German courts, including that in Dresden, have no security checks at their entrance.

"This crime by a lone wolf destroyed a family's hopes within minutes," said Egyptian Ambassador Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy. "We expect the attacker to be swiftly sentenced and her family to receive justice."

Egyptians have expressed outrage at the attack, saying the German response has been too little, too late and serves as an example of racism and anti-Muslim sentiment.

Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her condolences to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during the Group of Eight summit in Italy on Thursday and sent her top official for immigration affairs to offer sympathy to al-Sherbini's husband, but has not publicly condemned the slaying.

Ramzy said he was convinced "that this act does not reflect the reality of the German people. The Germans have an open mind, including to people of other faiths," he said.

One of those at the memorial was Walerius Steinhauer who, like the attacker, was born in Russia of German forefathers and was allowed to emigrate after the collapse of communism in 1989.

"We Russian-Germans do not understand this young man. All of us are asking ourselves how could a Russian-German (immigrant) become a right-wing extremist?"

Others expressed similar outrage.

Tobias Weidlich, 29, brought his two young daughters to the memorial.

"The brutality and horror of this crime is unbelievable," he said.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Killing Civilians: Al Qaeda Vs Sharî'ah!

15% Discount on remaining inventory @ Suq As-Sunnah Bookstore!

A personal recommendation from myself, I'm sure many of you are aware that this reputable bookstore was closing. May Allaah reward them for all their past efforts, Ameen.

Meanwhile, they still have remaining inventory which can be purchased via PayPal only with a 15% discount! Don't Delay!

barakAllaahu feekum

Umm Salamah bint Bilquis (aka The Life Of A Muslimah)

Visit WWW.ISLAAM.CA

Walhamdulillaah they've updated everything on their website and this is an extremely important site for non and new Muslims, I cannot stress this enough.

The Ruling on Attacking the enemy by blowing oneself up in a car

Question:

What is the ruling regarding acts of jihaad by means of suicide, such as attaching explosives to a car and storming the enemy, whereby he knows without a doubt that he shall die as a result of this action?
Answer:

Indeed, my opinion is that he is regarded as one who has killed himself (committed suicide), and as a result he shall be punished in Hell, for that which is authenticated on the authority of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam).
"Indeed, whoever (intentionally) kills himself, then certainly he will be punished in the Fire of Hell, wherein he shall dwell forever" [Bukhaaree (5778) and Muslim (109 and 110)].

However, one who is ignorant and does not know, and assumes his action was good and pleasing to Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala), then we hope Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) forgives him for that which he did out of (ignorant) ijtihaad, even though I do not find any excuse for him in the present day. This is because this type of suicide is well known and widespread amongst the people, so it is upon the person to ask the people of knowledge (scholars) regarding it, until the right guidance for him is differentiated from the error.

And from that which is surprising, is that these people kill themselves despite Allaah having fordbidden this, as He (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) says:

{And do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you}, [Soorah an-Nisaa., Aayah 29].

And many amongst them do not desire anything except revenge of the enemy, by whatever means, be it halaal or haraam. So they only want to satisfy their thirst for revenge.

We ask Allaah to bless us with foresight in His Deen and action(s) which please Him, indeed He is all Powerful over all things.

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
Kayfa Nu'aalij Waaqi'unaa al-Aleem - Page 119
http://www.spubs.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=MNJ14&articleID=MNJ140003&articlePages=1a

Advice regarding Palestine from Shaykh Fawzan, Hafidahullah -

Earlier this evening Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan, via his open question-answer session on PalTalk, was asked about the position of a Muslim concerning what is happening now to our brothers (and sisters) in Palestine, with respect to supplication, giving wealth or making jihaad with them.

So he replied: “It is obligatory upon the Muslims to make supplication for their Muslim brothers and to assist them with wealth. To assist them with wealth and supplication, this is what is obligatory, and this is what will benefit them.”

Then the Shaykh was asked, “May Allaah be benevolent to you. And this questioner says, “What is the ruling pertaining to demonstrations, and are they considered to be from jihaad in the path of Allaah?”

So he replied: “There is no benefit in demonstrations. Rather they are confusion. They are from confusion, disorder. And what harm will be done to the enemy if the people demonstrate a street amongst the streets and raise their tongues?! Rather, this is from the matters on account of which the enemy actually rejoices, and so he says that he has harmed them and cause damage to them, so the enemy rejoices with this.

Islaam is a religion of sanctity, and religion of tranquility, a religion based upon knowledge, it is not a religion of confusion and noise. It is a religion that aims to bring about tranquility and sanctity, alongside the working of beneficial and praisworthy deeds, such as aiding the Muslims and supplicating for them, and providing them with wealth and weapons. This is praiseworthy, and also arguing for their case with the nations, so that the oppression can be raised from them. And that the nations are asked, those who claim democracy for themselves, they should be asked to give those Muslims their right, and the right of a human is what they themselves boast about! However, in their view the human is the disbeliever, and as for the Muslim in their view, he is not a human but a terrorist. They call the Muslims “terrorists”. And the disbeliever is the one who has rights, in their view!

So it us upon the Muslims to traverse upon the manhaj of Islaam in the likes of these affairs and other than them. Islaam did not come with demonstrations and clangor, and raising of the voices, or destruction of the state properties, or transgression. All of this is not from Islaam, it does not benefit, rather this harms the Muslims and does not harm the enemy. This harms the Muslims and does not harm their enemies. Rather their enemies rejoice with this, and he says, “I have affected them, I have made them angry, and I have affected them.”

Credit: IGNITE THE LIGHT WITHIN~ by Umm Travis on December 30, 2008.

Saudi Scholar, ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Ubaykan’s 7/7 Anniversary Warning Against Extremists

O Muslims Overseas! Beware of Conspirators

Shaikh ‘Abdul-Muhsin ‘Ubaykaan
6 July 2006-07-08
Taken from the paper ‘Ash-Sharaq Al-Awsat’

Read Original in Arabic

At this time last year a great evil took place. It visibly affected peoples’ wealth and lives, and injured the image of Islam and the Muslims throughout the whole world.

This time last year attacks were made against the London underground system and (London) buses and explosions went off. Tens of people died and were injured, as a result of these (actions).

Some Muslim youth, who reside in those lands, carried out these disgraceful acts.

What is the correct stance that the Muslim should adopt towards this type of activity?
What advice is it incumbent upon us to offer to the Muslims abroad?

I say that there is not a shadow of doubt that a small group of people, whom ascribe themselves to Islam, have arisen, in the last few years, traversing upon the methodology of the kharijites (a deviant sect) of the past.

This (deviant sect) have left the religion like an arrow leaves its prey. Actually, this present group of people could possibly be viewed as being more astray and misguided than the original kharijites, because they have not only declared Muslims to be infidels and killed them but, instead, they have added to this by violating their covenants and transgressing against the people of the book and other than them, who have agreements with the Muslims; even the kharijtes of the past never done this. So pay attention oh my Muslim brother.

Islam has not sanctioned this type of activity. Opposite to that, Islamic law warns against these acts in the clearest fashion and discourages going down these paths.
On top of that, even Arab and Islamic customs reject these appalling acts that deeply damage the image of Islam. This has caused many non-Muslims to flee from Islam and shun its people.

For this reason, the attacks against London last year that were carried out by some misguided, astray Muslim youth are forbidden. Especially, (bearing in mind) that they killed tens of innocent people with their bombs. These (youth) have committed a grave sin. In the light of Islamic law, this is viewed as a violation of a covenant and treachery. An affair that has resulted in many negatives which have (damaged) the co-existence of these people, and I am referring to how the British people (interact) with the Muslims who reside in those lands.

These bombings have placed the rest of the Muslims of Britain in a difficult situation and, perhaps, caused some aggravation. The least of them being that this has portrayed the Muslims as a possible security threat.

It is not acceptable to reserve the slightest doubt about the fact that those responsible for the bombings in London and any other similar acts have carried out something forbidden in the light of Islamic law. No matter what excuses they offer. I say (for arguments sake) even if the non-Muslims, whom we were residing in their lands, were at war with us and we entered their lands and remained there with an agreement of their protection, it is impermissible to deceive and betray them. The people of knowledge, like Ibn Qudaamah in Al-Mughni (a famous piece of classical Islamic jurisprudence), have mentioned this in the books of Islamic jurisprudence

Therefore, there is no ambiguity that these bombings of the subway in London were a blatant form of deception.

My advice to my Muslim brothers who are residing in Britain, in the west generally or in any non-Muslim land is to be cautious of those conspirators amongst you, who falsely claim that they are implementing the correct Islam. In reality, these people strive to destroy the relationship that (the rest of the Muslims) have with their countries that have hosted them for their whole life.

Also, their activities deprive them (i.e. the rest of the Muslims) of the benefits of life, ruin their relationship with their hosting nations and citizens, spoil their reputation before the people and damage the rights they have acquired.

It is upon the Muslims in those lands to work together to uproot this deviant group, if advice brings no fruits, they should abandon and shun them, and inform upon every trouble maker from amongst them. To allow the rest of the Muslims in that land can live in peace and spread the true Islam. They should be torches of light and guidance, guiding the people to the magnificence and excellence of this great religion that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed as a mercy for the whole of mankind.

Islamic Scholar ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Abbad On Killing Non-Muslims

This is an extract, with some abridgement, from the book, “With Which Religion and Intellect are Suicide Bombings and Destruction Considered Jihad?” by the senior contemporary Islamic Scholar from Saudi Arabia, Shaikh ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Abbad.

WHAT HAS COME CONCERNING KILLING THE ONE UNDER PROTECTION OF A TREATY, INTENTIONALLY OR BY MISTAKE

The killing of a dhimmee (free non-Muslim), mu’aahad (one under a treaty or truce) and musta‘man (one under the guarantee of protection) is unlawful. Indeed, a severe threat has been mentioned concerning that.

Indeed, al-Bukhaaree relates in his Saheeh (no. 3166), from ’Amr Ibn ’Abdullaah (radiyallaahu ’anhumaa), from the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) who said, “Whosoever kills a person who was a mu’aahad, he will not be able to smell the fragrance of Paradise, even though its fragrance can be smelled for the walking distance of forty years.”

This is mentioned by al-Bukhaaree in the book of al-jizyah (taxes for disbelievers) under the chapter, “Chapter: The sin of the one who kills a mu’aahad who has not committed any crime.”

And he mentions it in the book of compensations, under the chapter, “Chapter: The sin of the one who kills a dhimmee who has not committed any crime.” And it also occurs under the wording, “Whosoever kills a person who was mu’aahad will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, even though its smell can be found for the walking distance of forty years.”

Stated al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr in al-Fath (12/259), (commenting upon the action of al-Bukhaaree in the manner compiling these statements under these chapter headings), “Likewise, he brought the chapter heading of the dhimmee, yet he mentioned the mu’aahad. And in the chapter heading of al-jizyah (taxes for non-Muslims), he brought the wording, “Whosoever kills a mu’aahad…” as is apparent in the narration. So the intended meaning of this is that whosoever has a treaty with the Muslims, whether it be by agreement of a jizyah, or a truce with a Muslim ruler, or protection from a Muslim.”

And this hadeeth is related by an-Nisaa‘ee with the wording “Whosoever kills a person from amongst the people of dhimmah (protection), then he will not find the fragrance of Paradise, even though the fragrance of Paradise can be found for the walking distance of forty years.”

And he also relates it (no. 4749) with a saheeh isnaad, from a man from amongst the Companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam), that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whosoever kills a man from amongst the people of dhimmah, then he will not be able to find the fragrance of Paradise, even though its fragrance can be found for the walking distance of forty years.”

As for killing the one under protection unintentionally, then Allaah has obligated a compensation and retribution for it. Allaah the Mighty and Majestic said,

“And if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, compensation must be paid to his family, and a believing slave must be freed. And whosoever finds this beyond his means, then he must fast for two consecutive months, in order to seek repentance from Allaah. And Allaah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (an-Nisaa‘ 4:92)

And I say in conclusion: Fear Allaah – O youth – with regards to yourselves. Do not become prey for Satan. He gathers up for you the dishonour of this worldly life and the punishment of the Hereafter. And fear Allaah with regards to the Muslims, from amongst the elderly, the middle-aged and the youth. And fear Allaah with regards to the Muslim women, from amongst the mothers, daughters, sisters, maternal aunts and paternal aunts. And fear Allaah with regards to the elderly who ware bowing and the babies who are breastfeeding. And fear Allaah with regards to the spilling the blood of the innocent and the wealth of the unlawful.

“So fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones. (al-Baqarah 2:24)

“And fear a day when you shall be brought back to Allaah. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.” (Sooratul-Baqarah 2:281)

“On the day when every person will be confronted with all the good he has done, and all the evil he has done, he will wish that there were a great distance between him and his evil.” (Soorah Aali-’Imraan 3:30)

“The day when a man shall flee from his brother, and his mother and his father, and from his wife and his children. Every man, that day, will have enough to make him careless of others.” (Soorah ’Abasa 80:37)

Awaken from your slumber and become attentive from your heedlessness. Do not be the riding animal for Satan to cause corruption in the earth.

And I ask Allaah the Mighty and Majestic to grant the Muslims understanding of their Religion, and to safeguard them from the misguidance of tribulations (fitan), whatever is apparent from them and whatever is hidden. And may the salutations, peace and blessings of Allaah be upon His servant and Messenger, Muhammad, upon his family and all of his Companions.

Shaikh ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Ubaykan’s Debates With Terrorists Leads Them To Recant and Repent - The Issue of Removing Non-Muslims From the Arab Peninsula

Ash-Sharq al-Awsat published an interview between Turki as-Suhail and the Saudi Scholar, ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Ubaykan on 12th September 2005. We reproduce below some extracts from it that highlight important Islamic issues, regarding which the extremists and terrorists had been misled by their ideological figureheads. A very large number of these people, who were youth poisoned by evil people like Abu Qatada al-Filisteeni and Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi (’Isam Barqawi) repented and recanted from their falsehood, on account of these dialogues.

Turki as-Suhail: What about removing the non-believers from the Arab peninsula?

‘Abdul-Muhsin al-’Ubaykan: This is another issue prominent amongst the wanted men. We tell them that removing non-believers from the Arab peninsula in context of the hadith (of the Prophet) is not how they interpret it.

This is because the area the Prophet (peace be upon him) was concerned about removing the non-believers from was that surrounding the two Sacred Mosques and not other areas such as the Eastern Province or other regions in Arabia.

Another point is that there were non-believers who lived in Arabia during the Caliphs’ times. Muslim men married non-Muslim women and lived together in the region.

I even found fatwas for Shaikh Mohammad Ibn Uthaimeen who supported this notion.

A third point is that this issue is the business of the country’s guardians rather than the people. The Caliph Abu Bakr did not have the Jews removed from Medina during his time, nor did he ask ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab to do so either.

A fourth point is that even if non-believers are to leave the region, it does not mean violating their properties or permitting their bloodshed. Furthermore, having them leave the region is related to what is in the best (interest) and it is not an indefinite general predicament.