Headlines:
• Number of Muslim Children in Britain Doubles in a Decade
• Narendra Modi Elevated to the Status of a God
• Turkey Increases Troops as NATO Ends Combat Operations in Afghanistan
Number of Muslim Children in Britain Doubles in a Decade
The number of children growing up as Muslims in the UK has almost doubled in a decade in what experts have described as an “unprecedented” shift in Britain’s social make-up. One in 12 schoolchildren in England and Wales are now officially classed as Muslim after a decade which saw the number of followers of Islam surge by just over 1.1 million, according to the most detailed study of its kind ever published. The report, presented to Parliament, concludes that Muslims could play a decisive role in the coming general election, expected to be the closest in recent times, making up a significant share of voters in some of the most marginal seats in the country. But the study of official census data by the Muslim Council of Britain also concludes that the Muslim population will continue expanding for “many decades” to come – something experts said could transform everything from social attitudes to foreign policy. Although immigration has driven growth in the past, it is the dramatically younger age profile of the Muslim population which could have the biggest impact in the future. At a time when the wider population is ageing rapidly, half of British Muslims are under the age of 25 and a third are under 15. Overall 2.7 million people living in England and Wales on census day in 2011 – and another 81,000 across Scotland and Northern Ireland – described themselves as Muslim. That is up from just under 1.6 million in 2001 – a 75 per cent jump. Among children under the age of five the rate of increase was more than 80 per cent. Significantly, Muslims make up more than a fifth of the population in 26 parliamentary constituencies and around 50 per cent in some areas. There are also 70 council wards with a Muslim population of 40 per cent or more. [Source: Daily Telegraph]
No matter how the British government tries to impose British liberal values upon Muslims, the Muslim community continues to thrive, while the host population continues to age. In the near future, this may prove to be an asset from the true Khilafah Rashidah State when it is established.
Narendra Modi Elevated to the Status of a God
A temple built almost a decade ago has finally caught the attention of the man to whom it is dedicated to—Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Although apparently constructed back in 2006, it has risen to prominence only now as worshippers installed Modi’s statue and prepared for its inauguration. The temple was constructed on the outskirts of Rajkot in Gujarat, where Modi was the chief minister from 2001 to 2014—and for the last decade, devotees there have been offering prayers before his photographs. It was built on government land by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters who belong to an organization called the Oum Yuva Group. But this isn’t the first temple in the honour of Modi, who has been worshipped in a small Uttar Pradesh village for over a year. Still, the news of the Rajkot shrine triggered a string of tweets from the Indian prime minister, who is an avowed Hindu nationalist. The idol is reported to have cost as much as Rs1.65 lakh ($2,642)—and the money was raised through donations from neighboring villages. “We spent so much money on the idol because no artist could make an exact copy of Modi’s face and we kept on changing the idol for three to four years. Then finally we called artists from Odisha and they created this idol, which looks exactly like Modi,” Ramesh Undhad, who donated funds for the Modi temple in Rajkot village, said in an interview. Finally, artists from Odisha constructed the marble statue. [Source: Quartz India].
How can any sane person worship another human being who is just like them. Allah Almighty says:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ عِبَادٌ أَمْثَالُكُمْ فَادْعُوهُمْ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
“Those you call on besides Allah are slaves just like yourselves. Call on them and let them respond to you if you are telling the truth.”
(Al-Araaf, 7:194)
Turkey Increases Troops as NATO Ends Combat Operations in Afghanistan
NATO formally ended their combat operations in Afghanistan months ago and transferred full security responsibility to the Afghan government. Yet as international combat troops pull out, NATO member Turkey is sending in more troops. About 13,000 foreign troops will remain in Afghanistan to continue training the Afghan National Security Force under a new two-year non-combative mission named ‘Resolute Support’. NATO member-state Turkey will increase their troop numbers from 700 to over 1000; the only country to do so. Professor Emre Hatipoglu said Turkey, who refuses to partake in combat missions in fellow Muslim countries, can now act more independently. In 2011 Turkey established the Istanbul Process between Central Asian countries in order to work towards and promote a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. Last October Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited newly elected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul to strengthen his country’s commitment to peace between Afghanistan and its neighbor Pakistan, who is accused of harboring the Afghan Taliban. Turkey, along with China, has also been cited as a potential mediator for negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban insurgents. Yet as a Western ally, Turkey’s motives raise questions in some corners. Something Turkey needs to address as insurgency attacks increase across the country. Turkey provides nearly $100 million in aid to Afghanistan annually and has announced it is spending over $50 million to manage the Kabul International Airport over the next two years. Turkey also plans to support other infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. As Turkey ramps up its efforts, thousands continue to flee the increasing violence in and around Kabul and other hot spots in the country. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates that more than 10,000 Afghanis will move to Turkey in 2015, giving the capitol Ankara even more reason to want to try and help find a solution. [Source: CCTV America]
From East to West, it comes as no surprise to see Turkey getting involved in conflicts to keep America’s hegemony intact. In Syria, Turkey continues to work with America to ensure Assad’s regime remains intact. Likewise, in Afghanistan Turkey’s role is to keep the pro-American government of Ghani from falling apart.