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Rabwah Times

In Malaysia, a 17-year-old Pakistani refugee is helping educate fellow refugees

When 14-year-old Geeti Ara moved to Malaysia from Pakistan as a refugee she dreamed of becoming a teacher. But Geeti’s dream was nearly impossible, as she and her parents belonged to the severely persecuted Ahmadiyya community. Now the 17-year-old Pakistani refugee is fulfilling her dreams by helping educate fellow refugees in Malaysia. Geeti started teaching at the Smart Iqra Education refugee school in 2014, while she was still 14. After her inspirational story came to light she was asked to …

Pakistan puts portrait of U.S. designated terrorist on celebratory train

On Wednesday the U.S. State Department designated Hizb-ul-Mujahideen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization as Pakistan celebrated the terror organization by placing a portrait of Hizb leader on a celebratory train. As part of Independence Day celebrations, Pakistan ran a special ‘Azadi’ train from Islamabad on August 12 which reached the central city of Lahore on August 16th. The ‘Azadi’ or Freedom train had floats and carriages showcasing culture and traditions of the different provinces of the country. The train also …

Pakistan & Iran’s Blasphemy laws among the worst in the World

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released a ground-breaking report that takes a look at blasphemy laws around the world and compares them to international human rights standards. The report covers instances of the blasphemy laws in 71 countries which include countries like Paksitan and Indonesia, known for harsh punishments like the death penalty to countries like Canada and Switzerland which have minor penalties like fines. Among the six countries which were ranked the worst in terms …

Farhad Humayun pays Tribute to Pakistani legends in his new song

Farhad Humayun, the founder/drummer and producer for the band ‘Overload’, has come out with his new song ‘Murke Dekho’ in which he pays to Pakistani legends like Dr Abdus Salam and Edhi.  The song has been directed and composed by Humayun himself and features Kazakhstan born model Ramina Maripova. Farhad Humayun – Mur Ke Dekho Dear friends! Watch Farhad Humayun's first solo release 'Mur Ke Dekho' in HD. Blast it loud!!!Directed by Farhad HumayunStarring Ramina MaripovaMusic Mixed & Produced by …

Pakistani Truck art is coming to Washington

Truck art which is a common sight in Pakistan and South Asia, where buses and trucks are decorated with elaborate floral patterns and calligraphy. Now a Pakistani advocacy group is planning to bring the art form to the influential audience of the Washington area. AdvoPak plans to host a live painting event at Dupont Circle this coming Sunday, the event will feature prominent truck artist, Haider Ali. His work has previously been displayed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington. Ali …

Blasphemy, the Fate of Ahmadiyya in Lombok, Indonesia

Though Indonesia has claimed a principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (“different but one”), in reality, the country has faced fragmentation over the differences in its society, with its people blaspheming and killing each other. Ironically, the inter-religious conflict which has occurred is no longer between practitioners of different religions, but between practitioners of the same religions. The indigenous people of Lombok are the Sasak. They are the majority ethnic group that represents 89% of the island’s total population; the remainder …

The Former Hamas member who now preaches Peace

Sheikh Muhammad Jaber planned an attack on Israeli soldiers but was arrested and spent several years in prison. Today he openly walks around in Hamas stronghold of Hebron, calling for peace with Israel and preaches against violence. If Sheikh Muhammad Jaber of Hebron was ever asked what he thought of the Jews, he would simply have said, “You have to kill and slaughter them.” In the 1980s, when he was affiliated with he planned an attack against Israeli soldiers in …

Rabwah girls get top scores in national exams

Students from Rabwah’s Nusrat Jehan School scored top positions in the annual exams of Pakistan’s Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB). In secondary school exams, Samreen Raja of Nusrat Jehan Academy Girls High School got the second position with 1,029 out of 1,100 marks, scoring 93.54% while for Higher Secondary School exams Nusrat Jahan College’s Muqaddas Alvi stood third by obtaining 1,022 out of 1,100 marks and 92.90%. Associate Director of assessment, Dr Naveed Yousuf, congratulated the students and said, “It is …

Marriage: When culture and religion clash

Somewhere in Islamabad from what I understand, a girl is preparing for her wedding. Maybe she is booking a hairdresser or shopping for new clothes and jewelry. Maybe she is visiting friends and family and receiving their blessings and well wishes. Maybe she is fantasizing about her new life as a new bride and the impending move to the United States. Maybe she wonders what kind of man this cousin of hers is that her relatives and relations have chosen …

Pakistan-origin Lord Ahmad appointed as UK Foreign Office’s Minister of State

A Pakistan-origin British peer has been selected to serve as UK Foreign Office’s Minister of State. His new role was announced on June 13th, 2017 as Prime Minister Theresa May finished reshuffling the cabinet. Before his appointment as Minister of State, Lord Ahmad served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, while from 2015 to 2016 he served as Minister for Countering Extremism. .@tariqahmadbt appointed as Foreign Office Minister of State pic.twitter.com/SLboQl4yPU — Foreign Office ?? (@foreignoffice) June 13, 2017 …

Algerian Human Rights organization condemns targeting of Ahmadis

The Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH) has condemned the Government’s crackdown on the Ahmadiyya Muslim minority. Referring to the arrests of the Algerian Ahmadis, the LADDH called it an unacceptable infringement of the freedoms of worship, The organization also called for the release of Ahmadi prisoners of conscience. In a statement, the LADDH office in M’sila urged the Algerian Government to respect the international conventions ratified by Algeria, “in particular, those concerning respect for human rights.” LADDH …

Pakistan: Men sentenced to three years in prison for “Excessive use of Quran”

A Pakistani court on Wednesday sentenced two men to three years in prison for “Excessive use of Quran” The two men, Idris Ahmed and SabaulZafar were charged with”excessive use of Quran and Islamic literature” along with illegal possession of the Islamic Holy book. Both men were given a three-year prison sentence and fined PKR 50,000 (USD 475) by the anti-terrorism court. The men who belong to the minority Ahmadiyya community were arrested by Pakistan’s security forces in December last year during …