On the 13th of June 2017, the BBC reported on a mass food poisoning outbreak in the Iraqi refugee camp in the City of Mosul. “People were said to be vomiting and suffering dehydration after an Iftar meal, to break the daily Ramadan fast.” 800 people have been recorded as being poisoned with 200 taken to hospital and two deaths, one being a Muslim woman and another a little girl. The STL news agency reported that 20-30 children were laid out on camp floors suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. It is unclear how the poisoning occurred, there have been concerns raised about food prepared at a nearby restaurant, as well as negligence on behalf of the Qatari NGO running the camp. Investigations are still in process.
Comment:
This news story is representative of how the management of the lives of the most desperate and needy in the Ummah are being toyed with in a manner that reflects a complete disregard for the sanctity of human rights commanded by Allah (swt). This entire debacle raises serious cause for concern for the wellbeing of Muslims living without the guardianship of the Khilafah (Caliphate) and a sincere leader ruling by Quran and Sunnah. Firstly, why do we have our beloved brothers and sisters languishing in refugee camps for years at a time when Allah (swt) has made it an obligation to have housing and basic needs for all humans? The democratic capitalist values that claim to be superior to Islam is in fact the reason that wars and terror have been unleashed across the Muslim lands causing millions to leave their homes as city after city is destabilized by death and destruction. In this man made system, money is valued over morals and the endless suffering of women and children is considered collateral damage, as business profits are always priorities over any UN principle or enshrined treaty. There is no real motive to solve the refuges crisis, as it remains a useful tool to keep Muslims weak and controlled. This is why we still have generations of Palestinians in refugee camps 70 years after being displaced. We can only expect the same for the Royhingya Ummah, Syrian Ummah and others that exist in the world. The sickening greed and indifference of our Muslim leaders who squander, steal and sell Muslim wealth is also testimony to the need for a complete change of government system if our Ummah are to ever exit from the oppression and tyranny of non-Islamic ruling systems. The fact that Saudi Arabia used this appalling tragedy for its own political ends by accusing the Qatari NGO or “terrorism” in supplying poisoned meals shows how our leaders are true slaves to western interests and have absolutely no motive to help or change the catastrophe unleashed upon this Ummah at the hands of foreign governments. Our leaders only serve as obedient lapdogs of colonial interests, proven again in Saudi Arabia’s bombing campaigns against the women and children of Yemen.
We pray that this Ramadan is the last we see of these useless failed leaders that exist in all of the Muslim lands and we pray that the next Ramadan sees the end to manmade systems bent on serving the interests of the few and the expense of the many. Allah (swt) has promised his victory but we must be ever diligent in doing our responsibility to bring the light of Islamic ruing into real practice. Allah (swt) has informed us of His power to assist the believers in times of great test and trial in Surah Baqarah verse 214:
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُم مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء وَزُلْزِلُواْ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللّهِ أَلا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ
“Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, ‘When (will come) the Help of Allah?’ Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!”
(al-Baqarah 2: 214)
Imrana Mohammad
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir