tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36358851815364108092024-02-20T23:48:46.840-06:00SomaliCareGet the latest news, culture, history, arts, religious, literatures, values and traditions about Somalis around the world.
The information given here is factual and authentic and collected from the most reliable sources.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7897125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-72200230850194683722017-01-09T08:19:00.002-06:002017-01-10T07:27:17.070-06:00Somali-Canadian Economist named to Carleton University's '75 for 75' <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Carleton University, a leading university in Ottawa, Canada, recently named Somali-born economist to its list of distinguished alumni.</div>
Abdulqafar Abdullahi, a senior macro-fiscal economist with the World Bank and a member of Ottawa Somali community, is among Carleton Universities '75 for 75'.<br />
To commemorate the institutions 75th anniversary, Carleton University is profiling 75 of it's most distinguished graduates from the Faculty of Public Affairs; releasing five new names every month until June 2017 when a reception will be held for the honorees.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The impressive list of honorees is a cross section of industry leaders and visionaries. It includes the current Mayor of the city of Ottawa, Chief Statistician of Canada, Attorney General of Ontario, Chief Economics Commentator of the Wall Street Journal, the host of CBC's Power and Politics, and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada to name a few.</div>
Success is a ladder<br />
Mr. Abdullahi immigrated to Canada in 1992 after earning an MBA from Delhi University in India. After completing his studies in India he spent two years in Singapore and Thailand where he worked in various temporary jobs including a part-time teaching position at Assumption University in Bangkok. Once he arrived Canada, unlike many educated immigrants who came over, Abdullahi was fortunate to have found work in his field. <br />
“Despite the high unemployment rate when I arrived, I resisted in taking a job outside my field, and I was more fortunate than many of my fellow immigrants”. <br />
He worked for Pearson Canada, the largest publisher of textbooks and academic material in Canada. Mr. Abdullahi worked there for seven years, becoming an integral part of the company. He was promoted to Senior Regional Sales and Editorial Representative.<br />
The work gave Mr. Abdullahi the opportunity to travel Canada and the courage and confidence to go back to school. <br />
“Although I was happy with my job in the Publishing industry, I realized a graduate degree from a respected Canadian University would be advantageous in the long run." <br />
Abdulqafar Abdullahi went back to school and earned his Master’s in Economics from Carleton University in 2000. He soon landed a coveted job as an Economist with the Federal Department of Finance. For the next 13 years, he held various senior positions in Federal Government. <br />
Abdulqafar Abdullahi has lived in Ottawa since 1998 and has been a role model for the Somali-Canadian community. As an educator, Mr. Abdullahi taught Economics at Algonquin College for 12 years and has mentored hundreds of Somali university students in Ottawa navigate their career paths. <br />
"When I first started working with the Federal Government, there weren't many Somalis employed there," Abdullahi says as he reflects on his earlier days with the Department of Finance, "the last time I was at Portage (Federal Government office complex) I noticed there were a lot of young Somalis working there. It's great to them progressing with their careers and lives."<br />
Rebuilding a Central Bank from Scratch<br />
An economist by trade and a patriot at heart, Abdullahi sought out to rebuild the fragile Central Bank of Somalia in 2013. He served as a Senior Economic Advisor to the Governor of the Central Bank. <br />
The precarious security situation coupled with personal reasons led to his own resignation from his post and the decision to return to Canada. <br />
However, although he did not know it at the time, he would soon be back working on a plan to fix Somalia's fractured economy.<br />
"Not long after I resigned from the Central Bank of Somalia and on my way to my old job, I received an offer from the World Bank that allowed me to continue to help Somalia in a different capacity."<br />
Today, Abdullahi's position with the World Bank enables him to still work closely on forging an Economic policy for Somalia as the country begins to find its footing.<br />
“I lead the intergovernmental fiscal relations support to Somalia and I am a member of a team that is providing technical support on macro-fiscal issues to the federal and state governments,” he says. “We’re helping Somalia develop its own model of a federal system of government by sharing international experiences and lessons learned from other countries—including lessons I learned while working on Canada’s equalization program.”<br />
Somalia’s Diaspora community has been instrumental in sustaining its economy through remittances flow and investments. Now, Somalia needs the expertise and knowledge of its diaspora community to rebuild its institutions and government systems.<br />
“Many Somalis have gained knowledge and experience and built successful careers in their adopted countries and could make incredible contributions to Somalia today”. <br />
<br />
Please visit the Carleton University's Faculty for Public Affairs for Mr. Abdullahi's full profile.<br />
https://carleton.ca/fpa/story/abdulqafar-abdullahi/<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-44701281912464777622017-01-06T13:47:00.000-06:002017-01-06T13:47:09.735-06:00This photo of Ilhan Omar's swearing-in ceremony shows exactly why representation matters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-aria-label-part="" height="265" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C1S1NH_UkAAD2Cs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; top: 0px; width: 100%;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ilhan Omar, first Somali-American State Legislator</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">On Tuesday, Ilhan Omar <a href="https://mic.com/articles/158978/ilhan-omar-of-minnesota-becomes-first-somali-american-legislator">made history</a> in the United States in more ways than one when she was sworn into the Minnesota House of Representatives: She became the first female Muslim and Somali-American legislator.<br />
Omar, who serves House District 60B in Minnesota,<a href="http://alphanewsmn.com/ilhan-omar-makes-history-in-more-ways-than-one/"> <span class="comment-selection" data-editor-comment-id="96e79b65-370e-424c-b829-2d40ba79d3d2">held the Quran</span></a> during her swearing-in ceremony, becoming the second person to do so after Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim U.S. congressman and contender for DNC chairmanship.<br />
One photo, in particular, shows just how powerful this moment was and exactly why representation matters in the political system today. In this photo, Omar is seen standing tall — donning colorful accessories and her bright orange <span class="comment-selection" data-editor-comment-id="0465399e-eee1-4021-9030-f3faf405afe4">hijab</span> — among a sea of white faces. This is a historic sight that doesn't come too frequently for young women of color and Muslim Americans, especially in politics.</span>The U.S. Congress proves just how <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/01/05/the-new-congress-is-80-percent-white-80-percent-male-and-92-percent-christian/?utm_term=.5f92c054e17c">white, male and Christian dominated </a>some of our political institutions are. The 115th Congress, which was sworn in on Tuesday, is <a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/house/306480-115th-congress-will-be-most-racially-diverse-in-history">t<span class="comment-selection" data-editor-comment-id="7da2d07c-5612-4c6b-852f-f43c862e70b9">he most diverse yet</span></a>. Despite this, Congress is still about 80% male, around 80% white <span class="comment-selection" data-editor-comment-id="e00d87a8-b2cd-40ec-8d63-741028e25f59">and about 8% are non-Christian</span>. This is far from representative of the U.S. when, according to the<i> </i><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/01/05/the-new-congress-is-80-percent-white-80-percent-male-and-92-percent-christian/?utm_term=.5f92c054e17c" style="font-style: italic;">Washington Post</a>, more than half of Americans are female and white non-Hispanics only make up about 63% of the country's population.<br />
The new Congress includes a record number of 21 women. In addition, women of color serving in the U.S. Senate <a href="https://mic.com/articles/159067/meet-the-three-women-of-color-who-were-just-elected-into-the-u-s-senate">quadrupled this year</a> with Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) inducted to the U.S. Senate joining Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI).</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-83867572474130686652017-01-06T13:35:00.001-06:002017-01-06T13:35:44.361-06:00Why so many Somali-Americans celebrate their birthday on Jan. 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When Mohamed Cali lived in Somalia, he sometimes saw people blowing out candles on cakes in the Hollywood movies he watched, but he didn’t understand what the practice actually meant.<br />
<br />
He wasn’t aware that birthdays mean so much in Western countries that people celebrate them every year — a ritual that is uncommon in the East African nation. “If you don’t celebrate your birthday every year, then it’s tough to remember it,” said Cali, founder and president of a Minneapolis-based Somali-language radio station, <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/new-americans/2015/12/new-radio-station-aimed-somali-americans">KALY 101.7-FM</a>.<br />
<br />
But then, in the early 1990s, the U.S. government extended its refugee resettlement program to displaced Somali families fleeing clan-based warfare and droughts that brought them to crowded Kenyan refugee camps.<br />
<br />
And it was in one of these camps where Cali filled out his first application to enter the United States, which the federal government requires of refugees entering the country. He had the right answers to most of the questions on the document, except one.<br />
<div class="minnpost-ads-ad minnpost-ads-ad-Middle minnpost-ads-ad-article-middle">
</div>
“I knew the year I was born,” said Cali. “But I didn’t know the date and month. [In Somalia], nobody asks your date of birth or your home address or Social Security information to get something.”<br />
To complete the immigration papers, a resettlement official from the United Nations gave Cali Jan. 1 as his legal birth date.<br />
<br />
As it turns out, that date is a popular one among refugees worldwide — and in Minnesota, where Cali not only shares his official birthday with many other Somali-Americans, but with many immigrants from places that don’t typically have official birth date records, including countries in East Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.<br />
<br />
All of which is why thousands of foreign-born Minnesotans turned one year older on New Year’s day, a phenomenon now so common that it draws waves of inside jokes this time of year on social media among the state’s immigrant communities.<br />
<h4>
<b>Estimated birth dates </b></h4>
Somalis in Minnesota come from diverse backgrounds: Some led a nomadic lifestyle back in Somalia, where people relied mostly on a traditional calendar system for dates; others lived in big cities and towns where people used the 12-month calendar system their entire lives. <br />
Those who came of age outside the cities are most often not familiar with their birth dates. In rural regions, where many people don’t have formal educations, people don’t use the January-December calendar system to record important dates. Instead, they use the four seasons of the year and historic national events as markers of significant dates.<br />
<br />
“If someone was born in <i>Abaartii Dabadheer</i> [a major drought that took place in the ‘70s], the nomads would say he or she was born <i>Abaartii Dabadheer</i>,” said Abdulahi Warsame, who runs news programs at KALY radio. “Everybody gets it. And people can translate what that means into the modern calendar.”<br />
<br />
<div class="image" style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<div class="caption">
Ahmed Ismail Yusuf: “There were a few of us who had driver’s licenses or passports in Somalia. And we all had to make up birth dates on the spot to get those documents.”</div>
</div>
In Minnesota, the Somali-Americans who fall into this category are often the community’s oldest generation, who spent the better part of their lives in a nomadic lifestyle. That often means refugee resettlement agencies in the camps assigned them estimated birth dates, which might be a couple of years older or younger than their actual birth dates.<br />
<br />
The same is true for Afghans, Sudanese, Ethiopians and Iraqis, according to a 2013 <a href="http://www.minnesotalawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Pearson_MLR.pdf">Minnesota Law Review report</a> that noted that more than 200,000 immigrants and refugees in the U.S. have Jan. 1 as their date of birth. “These approximated birth dates allow the government to administer benefits and track and control immigration flow,” Ross Pearson wrote in the report, “but they lack both certainty and accuracy.”<br />
<h4>
<b>Few records </b></h4>
For Somalis, there are also historical reasons for the lack of accurate dates of birth. In the early 1960s — when Somalia gained its independence — more people emigrated to cities and town across the country for access to education, transportation and employment. As a result, many in the country began to rely on the Western calendar system for work and school schedules as well as for holiday vacations.<br />
<br />
Yet the impoverished Somali government didn’t have adequate social institutions that documented birth dates or issued certificates for new babies. On top of that — like many countries in the developing world — most citizens of the country didn’t have official identification cards and driver’s licenses, said Ahmed Ismail Yusuf, author of “<a href="https://www.minnpost.com/books/2013/02/writer-ahmed-ismail-yusuf-tells-story-minnesota-somali-style" target="_blank">Somalis in Minnesota</a>.”<br />
<br />
“There were a few of us who had driver’s licenses or passports in Somalia,” Yusuf added. “And we all had to make up birth dates on the spot to get those documents. Everybody knew they weren’t real. Even government officials knew about that.”<br />
<br />
In some cases, though, parents kept personal files and photos of their children’s births. Others kept archives of radio announcements, which has long been common in the country when a couple gets married or a child is born. <br />
<br />
But when the civil war broke out in 1991, many families — like Cali’s — lost those documents as they crossed oceans or walked for weeks to find stability in neighboring countries. “Nobody was concerned about IDs or birth information,” Cali said. “People were in survival mode. They didn’t have the luxury to talk about when they were born. They were busy working to stay alive.”<br />
<h4>
<b>Birthday celebrations take hold in America</b></h4>
Today, however, young people in Minnesota’s Somali-American community pay as much attention to birthday celebrations as their non-Somali counterparts.<br />
<br />
Yusuf, who has a 10-year-old U.S.-born son, said his child never misses a birthday.<br />
<br />
“The kids and their parents live in two completely different worlds,” he said. “My son counts down to his birthday every single year. Many years back, I used to laugh at him when I heard him or other people talk about birthday parties or celebrations.”<br />
<br />
Cali, whose children were also born in the U.S., said his kids also celebrate their birthdays — and he celebrates with them: He takes them out to eat and buys them gifts. “I still get confused about their dates,” he said of his eight kids, who were mostly born in March, April and May. “The only way I can remember is to look at their documents.”<br />
<br />
And today, the combination of America's preoccupation with celebrations and the commonality of Jan. 1 birthdays has led to a predictable phenomenon. The first day of each year, messages poking fun at Somali-Americans with New Year's Day birthdays blanket Facebook and Twitter feeds.<br />
As one Twitter commenter noted Sunday: “Happy birthday to every Somali on earth.”<br />
<br />
Source: MinnPost</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-43007268825364312632016-12-11T12:10:00.002-06:002016-12-11T12:10:51.161-06:00Today marks the observance of the Birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Mawlid</b> (<a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_language" title="Arabic language">Arabic</a>: <span dir="rtl" lang="ar" xml:lang="ar">مَولِد النَّبِي</span> <i>mawlidu n-nabiyyi</i>, "Birth of the Prophet", sometimes simply called in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varieties_of_Arabic" title="Varieties of Arabic">colloquial Arabic</a> <span lang="ar" xml:lang="ar">مولد</span> <i>mawlid, mevlid, mevlit, mulud</i> among other vernacular pronunciations; sometimes <span lang="ar" xml:lang="ar">ميلاد</span> <i>mīlād</i>) is the observance of the birthday of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophets_of_Islam" title="Prophets of Islam">Islamic prophet</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad" title="Muhammad">Muhammad</a> which is celebrated often on the 12th day of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabi%27_al-awwal" title="Rabi' al-awwal">Rabi' al-awwal</a>, the third month in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_calendar" title="Islamic calendar">Islamic calendar</a>. The 12th Day of Rabi' al-awwall is the most popular date from a list of many dates that are reported as the birth date.<br />
The origin of Mawlid observance reportedly dates back to the period of the early four <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun" title="Rashidun">Rashidun Caliphs</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" title="Islam">Islam</a>. The <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottomans" title="Ottomans">Ottomans</a> declared it an official holiday in 1588. The term <i>Mawlid</i> is also used in some parts of the world, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a>, as a generic term for the birthday celebrations of other historical religious figures such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufism" title="Sufism">Sufi</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint" title="Saint">saints</a>.<br />
Most denominations of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" title="Islam">Islam</a> approve of the commemoration of Muhammad's birthday; however, some denominations including <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahhabi_movement" title="Wahhabi movement">Wahhabism</a>/<a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salafism" title="Salafism">Salafism</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deobandi_movement" title="Deobandi movement">Deobandism</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmadiyya" title="Ahmadiyya">Ahmadiyya</a> disapprove its commemoration, considering it an unnecessary religious innovation (<a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bid%27ah" title="Bid'ah">bid'ah</a> or bidat). <i>Mawlid</i> is recognized as a national holiday in most of the Muslim-majority countries of the world except <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a> which are officially Wahhabi/Salafi.<br />
The date of Muhammad's birth is a matter of contention since the exact date is unknown and is not definitively recorded in the Islamic traditions. The issue of the correct date of the Mawlid is recorded by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Khallikan" title="Ibn Khallikan">Ibn Khallikan</a> as constituting the first proven disagreement concerning the celebration. Among the most recognisable dates, <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni_Muslims" title="Sunni Muslims">Sunni Muslims</a> believe the date to have been on the twelfth of Rabi' al-awwal, whereas <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi%27a_Muslims" title="Shi'a Muslims">Shi'a Muslims</a> believe the date to have been on the seventeenth.<br />
Mawlid is celebrated in almost all Islamic countries, and in other countries that have a significant Muslim population, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India">India</a>, the United Kingdom, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Canada. The only exceptions are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a> where it is not an official public holiday and is forbidden. However, as a result of Wahhabi and other strict traditionalist Muslim influence, since the last decades of the late 20th century there has been a trend to "forbid or discredit" Mawlid (along with similar festivals) in the Sunni Muslim world.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-88395917919101994012016-12-06T11:59:00.000-06:002016-12-06T11:59:18.157-06:00Muslim MTA Worker Called 'Terrorist,' Pushed Down Stairs at Grand Central Terminal: Officials<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The attack comes amid a 35 percent spike in hate crimes year over year in the city<br />
<br />
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="13">
<img itemprop="thumbnailUrl" src="http://media.nbcnewyork.com/images/653*367/mta+generic.jpg" width="100%" /><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="1">
A Muslim MTA worker was called a terrorist and pushed down the stairs at Grand Central Terminal on Monday, the latest in a string of alleged bias attacks sweeping the region, authorities said. </div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="2">
The woman, wearing her New York City transit uniform, was on her way to work and had just gotten off the 7 train when the suspect shoved her, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.<br /></div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="3">
She hurt her ankle and knee in the fall and was taken to NYU Langone Hospital for treatment.</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="4">
The attack comes amid a spate of apparent instances of bias crime and hateful language throughout the region following the presidential election.</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="4">
</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="5">
Swastikas were painted inside a 1 train on Saturday, and KKK recruitment materials were distributed in two Long Island Railroad stations. </div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="6">
In New York City, hate crime has spiked 115 percent since Election Day, with 43 cases reported compared with 20 cases in the same period in 2015, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce. Bias against Muslims has doubled, with four cases reported since Election Day compared with two reported in the same time period last year.<br /></div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="7">
Overall, hate crimes are up 35 percent year over year, with a 45 percent uptick in arrests, Boyce said. </div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="8">
Discrimination has also been reported in schools. Suffolk County officials sent a letter to each of its school districts in recent weeks offering to help deal with race-based bullying, and in at least one instance students chanted "build a wall" in the hallways.</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="4">
</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="9">
There have been similar reports of bias across the U.S. in the wake of the presidential election. Most of the cases appear to involve graffiti or violence directed at racial or ethnic minorities and in some reports the perpetrators indicated support for President-elect Donald Trump.</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="10">
Most recently, a <a href="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Muslim-Woman-Harassed-Subway-Called-Terrorist-Donald-Trump-Chant-404329066.html" target="_blank">Muslim woman wearing a hijab was harassed</a> in the 23rd Street subway station by three men who allegedly called her a terrorist, chanted "Donald Trump" to her and told her to get out of the country, officials said.</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="10">
</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="11">
And in the Mineola village of Long Island, police were investigating after someone spray-painted a red swastika along with the words "Make America White Again" on a Washington Avenue home last Wednesday, along with racist remarks against African American and Middle Eastern people. Similar words were spray painted on a sidewalk on Elm Place. </div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="12">
During a "60 Minutes" interview in November, Trump looked at the camera and said that any supporters of his who are harassing people or destroying property should "stop it."</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="10">
</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="10">
Shortly after the election, Cuomo announced a hotline for New Yorkers to report instances of discrimination.</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="14">
Anyone who wants to report an instance of bias or discrimination can call 888-392-3644 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. New Yorkers who want to report a crime or fear their safety should still call 911.</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="10">
</div>
<br />
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="10">
</div>
<div class="paragraph" data-pnum="4">
<br /><br />
<br />
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-75693659151741309092016-12-04T09:08:00.000-06:002016-12-04T09:08:03.670-06:00Halimo Hassen ’17 Named a Schwarzman Scholar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The sociology major will study for a year at Tsinghua University in Beijing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Halimo Hassen" height="358" src="https://news.dartmouth.edu/sites/dart_news.prod/files/styles/slide/public/news/images/halimo-hassen-eb-015-810.jpg?itok=QHPZu_xD" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
Halimo Hassen ’17 plans to complete a master’s degree in international affairs, concentrating on public policy. “I’m hoping the scholarship will serve as an experience that will allow me to continue to give back throughout my life,” she says. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4 align="left">
Halimo Hassen ’17, a sociology major from Atlanta, Ga., has been named a Schwarzman Scholar—one of 129 top students from around the world who next year will participate in a one-year master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing.</h4>
<h4 align="left">
Hassen will be Dartmouth’s third representative to the Schwarzman program, following in the footsteps of <a href="https://news.dartmouth.edu/news/2016/01/two-dartmouth-students-receive-schwarzman-scholarships">Jordyn Turner ’16 and Jacob Gaba ’16</a>, who are members of the program’s inaugural class this year.</h4>
<h4 align="left">
“It’s a testament to Dartmouth’s global reach that our students have been represented in the Schwarzman’s first two classes,” says <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~provost/about.html">Provost Carolyn Dever</a>. “Halimo is a remarkable student with a passion for public service. That she has been recognized on this international stage should make the entire Dartmouth community proud.”</h4>
<h4 align="left">
Founded by Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of the global investment firm Blackstone, the Schwarzman Scholars program seeks prepare a new generation of international leaders “to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century,” according to the program’s website.</h4>
<h4 align="left">
“I was exploring graduate fellowships and the Schwarzman scholarship seemed new, innovative, and placed an emphasis on leadership,” says Hassen. “It’s an opportunity to study in a different country for a year, learn about China as a major world power, and learn a new language in a completely different environment in the process.”</h4>
<h4 align="left">
Through the program, Hassen plans to complete a master’s degree in international affairs, concentrating on public policy. “I’m hoping the scholarship will serve as an experience that will allow me to continue to give back throughout my life,” she says.</h4>
<h4 align="left">
She was also drawn to the opportunity to shape a new program. “The first few cohorts will define the future of the scholarship, and I wanted to be a part of that,” she says.</h4>
<h4 align="left">
At Dartmouth, Hassen—the daughter of Somali and Ethiopian refugees and a first-generation college student—has mentored fellow students through the <a href="https://www.dartmouth.edu/~fysep/">First Year Student Enrichment Program</a> (FYSEP).</h4>
<h4 align="left">
FYSEP director Jay Davis ’90 says, “From the moment I first met Halimo during FYSEP’s pre-orientation program, it was clear that she brings passion, commitment, and compassion to all that she does,” he says. “I have known few students who can match her dedication to making others’ lives better.”</h4>
<h4 align="left">
Through her major, she has conducted research on the impact of globalization on Somalia after that country’s civil war and has studied how increasing diversity in work teams can improve business outcomes.</h4>
<h4 align="left">
“In the classroom, I appreciated Halimo’s ability to ask pressing and difficult questions while at the same time being lighthearted and genuine with her peers,” says Janice McCabe, an associate professor of sociology, with whom Hassen took two courses, “Sociology of Gender” and “Education and Inequality.” “It was clear that she was interested in exploring inequality from a sociological lens and that she was committed to social justice on campus and globally.”</h4>
<h4 align="left">
Hassen has worked as a student manager at the Collis Student Center, and served as secretary and co-director of CoFIRED, the Coalition for Immigration Reform, Equality, and DREAMers—a group that received a Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Award in 2014 during her tenure. </h4>
<h4 align="left">
She completed the Harvard Summer Ventures in Management program and participated in the Jumpstart Advisory Group, a program that helps women and members of minority groups build business leadership skills.</h4>
<h4 align="left">
She has received scholarships from the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, the GE Reagan Foundation, Coca-Cola, the Horatio Alger Association, and the Ron Brown CAPtain program, and received a Capital One Case Competition prize.</h4>
<h4 align="left">
Hassen’s siblings Hassan Hassen ’18 and Ridwan Hassen ’15 have also studied at Dartmouth; Ridwan was named a <a href="https://news.dartmouth.edu/news/2014/11/ridwan-hassen-15-named-rhodes-scholar">Rhodes Scholar</a> in 2015. “I am very thankful to my family and my close friends,” Halimo Hassen says. “They have been a tremendous support system and have challenged me to excel in every possible way.”</h4>
<h4 align="left">
“Throughout my time in college, I’ve started initiatives that have assisted low-income, high-achieving high school students in the college admissions process,” she says. “In the future, I hope to expand these initiatives to a broader scale and help to work towards ameliorating educational disparities.”</h4>
<h4 align="left">
Of those younger students, Hassen says, “I hope to inspire them to dream big and do more.”</h4>
<h4 align="left">
About Schwarzman Scholars:</h4>
<h4 align="left">
Founded in 2015, Schwarzman Scholars was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship and is designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. Scholars chosen for this highly selective program will live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion, attending lectures, traveling, and developing a better understanding of China.</h4>
<h4 align="left">
For information about applying for Schwarzman Scholarships and other programs, and to see a list of <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~scholarship/winners/awards.html">past recipients</a>, visit Dartmouth’s <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~scholarship/">National Scholarships/Fellowships</a> website.</h4>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-88069231105281556782016-12-01T07:12:00.001-06:002016-12-01T07:12:36.672-06:00Center for Constitutional Rights Says President Lacks Authority to Detain Prisoner <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="left">
<em>November 30, 2016, Washington – </em>Today, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed a lawsuit challenging the ongoing detention of Guantánamo prisoner <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Guled Hassan Duran</a>, a 43-year old Somali citizen. Duran was captured in Djibouti and rendered to the CIA in March 2004, according to the declassified executive summary of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) Study of the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program. He was transferred to Guantánamo in September 2006, where he has since been held without charge. The lawsuit challenges the legality of his continuing indefinite detention. </div>
<div align="left">
“In the 12 years that Mr. Duran has been held in U.S. custody, neither President Bush nor Obama was willing to charge him with a crime, and yet the government claims the authority to continue imprisoning Mr. Duran indefinitely – perhaps for the rest of his life,” said CCR Legal Director <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Baher Azmy</a>. “That is an absurd distortion of the constitution and the laws of war. The government will now – finally - have to explain how and why Mr. Duran ended up at Guantánamo, and why he remains there over a decade later.” </div>
<div align="left">
Attorneys argue that, whatever the government’s initial justification for detaining Mr. Duran in 2006, that justification has since unraveled. Among other reasons, attorneys point to Mr. Duran’s capture far from the Afghan theater of war in Djibouti, the declared end of U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan, and the reality that any conflict that may persist with the Taliban, Al Qaeda, or successor franchise groups bears no resemblance to the conflict in which the government claims Mr. Duran was captured in 2004. While they do not concede that his detention was ever lawful, attorneys argue that, now, surely, any legitimate reason to detain Mr. Duran has expired under the laws of war. </div>
<div align="left">
In January 2010, President Obama’s Guantánamo Task Force designated Mr. Duran for continuing indefinite detention. In August 2016, Mr. Duran appeared before the Periodic Review Board (PRB), which ultimately declined to approve him for release from Guantánamo. The Center for Constitutional Rights criticized the process, noting that he appeared before the PRB without counsel and that the board routinely relies on evidence obtained through torture in making its determination. </div>
<div align="left">
For more information and to read today’s filing, visit CCR’s <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">case page</a>. </div>
<div align="left">
<em>The Center for Constitutional Rights has led the legal battle over Guantánamo for nearly 15 years – representing clients in two Supreme Court cases and organizing and coordinating hundreds of pro bono lawyers across the country, ensuring that nearly all the men detained at Guantánamo have had the option of legal representation. Among other Guantánamo cases, the Center represents the families of men who died at Guantánamo, and men who have been released and are seeking justice in international courts.</em></div>
<div>
<div>
<em><br />The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.</em><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-38505638749940012072016-07-04T04:42:00.004-05:002016-07-04T04:46:37.280-05:00Sadaqat al-Fitr made simple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for zakat ul fitr" data-bm="20" height="190" src="https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Md49bdedc6afef0181d04ac78bf643266o0&w=282&h=134&c=7&rs=1&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.1" style="background-color: #e5cb9f; height: 134px; width: 282px;" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As this sacred month draws to a close and Eid approaches we could do worse than to think about <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> or <em>Zakatul Fitr</em> as it is sometimes called. Here are some points to understand and remember about the <em>Fiqh</em> of <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
What is <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>?</h2>
<em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>, also called <em>Zakatul-Fitr</em>, is a charitable <strong>duty</strong> associated with the month of Ramadan and in particular Eid al-Fitr. It is a duty on every Muslim who possesses wealth in excess of his <strong>basic needs</strong> at the time of <em>Fajr</em> on the day of Eid al-Fitr.<br />
To pay <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> one simply gives the required amount to a deserving recipient or a trusted third party to give on one’s behalf. It is preferred and more appropriate to give it directly to a poor person while on one’s way to the Eid prayer.<br />
<h3>
A duty</h3>
When we say <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> is a duty, we mean it is <strong>wajib</strong> such that a Muslim who neglects to pay it despite being obligated to do so would be sinful.<br />
<h3>
Basic Needs</h3>
When we speak of basic needs we refer to a <strong>legal class</strong> or <strong>type</strong> of wealth. We should remember that wealth doesn’t just refer to money but any possession of value. “Basic needs” refers to any possessions of value that are needed for a normal life.<br />
So wealth considered basic needs would include things like:<br />
<ul>
<li>One’s house</li>
<li>One’s car</li>
<li>One’s clothing & furniture</li>
</ul>
The value of these things does not matter, they are considered basic needs as long as they are for one’s use.<br />
<h3>
Beyond Basic Needs</h3>
Yet if one has an excess of these possessions (such as if a family has two cars but only uses one and the other is a showpiece), then if the excess (such as the extra car) is valued more than the nisab of Zakat then <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> would be wajib on the owner of the car.<br />
A rare stamp collection or an art collection are other examples of wealth beyond one’s basic needs.<br />
If the value of excess wealth is more than the nisab of Zakat (the value of approximately 87.48g of gold) and one owns this wealth at Fajr on Eid al-Fitr day then <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> is <em>wajib</em>.<br />
<h2>
Who Do I Pay For?</h2>
<h3>
Oneself and Small Children</h3>
One pays <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> on behalf of oneself and each of one’s children who have not yet become legally adult (which occurs at puberty).<br />
One is not required to pay <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> for one’s spouse. Each spouse is responsible for their own <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>. Yet if one spouse pays on behalf of another it is valid.<br />
One is only obliged to pay on behalf of the children one has at the time of Fajr on the day of Eid al-Fitr.<br />
If a child is born after fajr on the day of Eid then one is not obliged to pay on behalf of that child though there is no harm in doing so.<br />
<h2>
How Much Do I Pay?</h2>
Wheat or wheat flour may be given or barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins:<br />
<ul>
<li>If wheat or wheat flour is given then one gives 2kg of the flour/grain.</li>
<li>If barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins is given then one gives 4kg of the flour/grain/fruit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
May I Give Money Instead?</h3>
Yes, one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em> in money. One has the option to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Give the monetary equivalent of 2kg of wheat or wheat flour or the monetary equivalent of 4kg of barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins.</li>
<li>or give the monetary equivalent of 4kg of any other grain.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Money or Food</h3>
As mentioned, one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em> in money or the actual grain/food whichever is better for the poor.<br />
In situations of famine or a shortage of the actual foodstuff then it is better to give the foodstuff but under normal circumstances money is better.<br />
<h2>
Who Do I Pay it To?</h2>
<h3>
Sadaqa is for the Poor</h3>
<em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> may only be given to the poor. Unlike Zakat, it may be given to poor Muslims as well as poor non-Muslims.<br />
A poor person is one who does not possess wealth in excess of his basic needs that exceeds the value of the nisab of Zakat (approximately 87.48g of gold).<br />
Remember: Basic Needs<br />
Basic needs includes things like:<br />
<ul>
<li>One’s house</li>
<li>One’s car</li>
<li>One’s clothing & furniture</li>
</ul>
If apart from these types of things an individual does not possess wealth valued more than approximately 87.48g of gold then that individual is poor.<br />
Because of the nature of basic needs, it should be noted that it is possible for someone to own a house, a car, furniture and clothing and still be poor.<br />
One does not need to “investigate” to determine whether an individual is poor or not. If the individual seems to be poor (such as a beggar), or one is familiar with their financial circumstances and is reasonably sure that they are poor then one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em>.<br />
<h2>
Give Willingly</h2>
When we give <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> or any other charity it should be given willingly and happily and we should consider that the poor are helping us by accepting from our wealth. We should give with the objective of not being attached to possessions, seeking the pleasure of Allah, Most High, asking for His acceptance.<br />
<h2>
His Acceptance</h2>
We ask Allah, Most High, to accept from us all that we have put forward in this noble month and to make us among those drawn closer to Him, Most High.<br />
<br />
<b>Source</b>: QaysArthur.net<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-50008009381964901232016-07-04T04:42:00.003-05:002016-07-04T04:46:03.868-05:00Sadaqat al-Fitr made simple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for zakat ul fitr" data-bm="20" height="190" src="https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Md49bdedc6afef0181d04ac78bf643266o0&w=282&h=134&c=7&rs=1&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.1" style="background-color: #e5cb9f; height: 134px; width: 282px;" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As this sacred month draws to a close and Eid approaches we could do worse than to think about <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> or <em>Zakatul Fitr</em> as it is sometimes called. Here are some points to understand and remember about the <em>Fiqh</em> of <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
What is <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>?</h2>
<em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>, also called <em>Zakatul-Fitr</em>, is a charitable <strong>duty</strong> associated with the month of Ramadan and in particular Eid al-Fitr. It is a duty on every Muslim who possesses wealth in excess of his <strong>basic needs</strong> at the time of <em>Fajr</em> on the day of Eid al-Fitr.<br />
To pay <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> one simply gives the required amount to a deserving recipient or a trusted third party to give on one’s behalf. It is preferred and more appropriate to give it directly to a poor person while on one’s way to the Eid prayer.<br />
<h3>
A duty</h3>
When we say <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> is a duty, we mean it is <strong>wajib</strong> such that a Muslim who neglects to pay it despite being obligated to do so would be sinful.<br />
<h3>
Basic Needs</h3>
When we speak of basic needs we refer to a <strong>legal class</strong> or <strong>type</strong> of wealth. We should remember that wealth doesn’t just refer to money but any possession of value. “Basic needs” refers to any possessions of value that are needed for a normal life.<br />
So wealth considered basic needs would include things like:<br />
<ul>
<li>One’s house</li>
<li>One’s car</li>
<li>One’s clothing & furniture</li>
</ul>
The value of these things does not matter, they are considered basic needs as long as they are for one’s use.<br />
<h3>
Beyond Basic Needs</h3>
Yet if one has an excess of these possessions (such as if a family has two cars but only uses one and the other is a showpiece), then if the excess (such as the extra car) is valued more than the nisab of Zakat then <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> would be wajib on the owner of the car.<br />
A rare stamp collection or an art collection are other examples of wealth beyond one’s basic needs.<br />
If the value of excess wealth is more than the nisab of Zakat (the value of approximately 87.48g of gold) and one owns this wealth at Fajr on Eid al-Fitr day then <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> is <em>wajib</em>.<br />
<h2>
Who Do I Pay For?</h2>
<h3>
Oneself and Small Children</h3>
One pays <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> on behalf of oneself and each of one’s children who have not yet become legally adult (which occurs at puberty).<br />
One is not required to pay <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> for one’s spouse. Each spouse is responsible for their own <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>. Yet if one spouse pays on behalf of another it is valid.<br />
One is only obliged to pay on behalf of the children one has at the time of Fajr on the day of Eid al-Fitr.<br />
If a child is born after fajr on the day of Eid then one is not obliged to pay on behalf of that child though there is no harm in doing so.<br />
<h2>
How Much Do I Pay?</h2>
Wheat or wheat flour may be given or barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins:<br />
<ul>
<li>If wheat or wheat flour is given then one gives 2kg of the flour/grain.</li>
<li>If barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins is given then one gives 4kg of the flour/grain/fruit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
May I Give Money Instead?</h3>
Yes, one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em> in money. One has the option to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Give the monetary equivalent of 2kg of wheat or wheat flour or the monetary equivalent of 4kg of barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins.</li>
<li>or give the monetary equivalent of 4kg of any other grain.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Money or Food</h3>
As mentioned, one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em> in money or the actual grain/food whichever is better for the poor.<br />
In situations of famine or a shortage of the actual foodstuff then it is better to give the foodstuff but under normal circumstances money is better.<br />
<h2>
Who Do I Pay it To?</h2>
<h3>
Sadaqa is for the Poor</h3>
<em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> may only be given to the poor. Unlike Zakat, it may be given to poor Muslims as well as poor non-Muslims.<br />
A poor person is one who does not possess wealth in excess of his basic needs that exceeds the value of the nisab of Zakat (approximately 87.48g of gold).<br />
Remember: Basic Needs<br />
Basic needs includes things like:<br />
<ul>
<li>One’s house</li>
<li>One’s car</li>
<li>One’s clothing & furniture</li>
</ul>
If apart from these types of things an individual does not possess wealth valued more than approximately 87.48g of gold then that individual is poor.<br />
Because of the nature of basic needs, it should be noted that it is possible for someone to own a house, a car, furniture and clothing and still be poor.<br />
One does not need to “investigate” to determine whether an individual is poor or not. If the individual seems to be poor (such as a beggar), or one is familiar with their financial circumstances and is reasonably sure that they are poor then one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em>.<br />
<h2>
Give Willingly</h2>
When we give <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> or any other charity it should be given willingly and happily and we should consider that the poor are helping us by accepting from our wealth. We should give with the objective of not being attached to possessions, seeking the pleasure of Allah, Most High, asking for His acceptance.<br />
<h2>
His Acceptance</h2>
We ask Allah, Most High, to accept from us all that we have put forward in this noble month and to make us among those drawn closer to Him, Most High.<br />
<br />
<b>Source</b>: QaysArthur.net<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-46753120045001817712016-07-04T04:42:00.002-05:002016-07-04T04:45:19.110-05:00Sadaqat al-Fitr made simple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for zakat ul fitr" data-bm="20" height="190" src="https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Md49bdedc6afef0181d04ac78bf643266o0&w=282&h=134&c=7&rs=1&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.1" style="background-color: #e5cb9f; height: 134px; width: 282px;" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As this sacred month draws to a close and Eid approaches we could do worse than to think about <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> or <em>Zakatul Fitr</em> as it is sometimes called. Here are some points to understand and remember about the <em>Fiqh</em> of <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
What is <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>?</h2>
<em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>, also called <em>Zakatul-Fitr</em>, is a charitable <strong>duty</strong> associated with the month of Ramadan and in particular Eid al-Fitr. It is a duty on every Muslim who possesses wealth in excess of his <strong>basic needs</strong> at the time of <em>Fajr</em> on the day of Eid al-Fitr.<br />
To pay <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> one simply gives the required amount to a deserving recipient or a trusted third party to give on one’s behalf. It is preferred and more appropriate to give it directly to a poor person while on one’s way to the Eid prayer.<br />
<h3>
A duty</h3>
When we say <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> is a duty, we mean it is <strong>wajib</strong> such that a Muslim who neglects to pay it despite being obligated to do so would be sinful.<br />
<h3>
Basic Needs</h3>
When we speak of basic needs we refer to a <strong>legal class</strong> or <strong>type</strong> of wealth. We should remember that wealth doesn’t just refer to money but any possession of value. “Basic needs” refers to any possessions of value that are needed for a normal life.<br />
So wealth considered basic needs would include things like:<br />
<ul>
<li>One’s house</li>
<li>One’s car</li>
<li>One’s clothing & furniture</li>
</ul>
The value of these things does not matter, they are considered basic needs as long as they are for one’s use.<br />
<h3>
Beyond Basic Needs</h3>
Yet if one has an excess of these possessions (such as if a family has two cars but only uses one and the other is a showpiece), then if the excess (such as the extra car) is valued more than the nisab of Zakat then <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> would be wajib on the owner of the car.<br />
A rare stamp collection or an art collection are other examples of wealth beyond one’s basic needs.<br />
If the value of excess wealth is more than the nisab of Zakat (the value of approximately 87.48g of gold) and one owns this wealth at Fajr on Eid al-Fitr day then <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> is <em>wajib</em>.<br />
<h2>
Who Do I Pay For?</h2>
<h3>
Oneself and Small Children</h3>
One pays <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> on behalf of oneself and each of one’s children who have not yet become legally adult (which occurs at puberty).<br />
One is not required to pay <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> for one’s spouse. Each spouse is responsible for their own <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>. Yet if one spouse pays on behalf of another it is valid.<br />
One is only obliged to pay on behalf of the children one has at the time of Fajr on the day of Eid al-Fitr.<br />
If a child is born after fajr on the day of Eid then one is not obliged to pay on behalf of that child though there is no harm in doing so.<br />
<h2>
How Much Do I Pay?</h2>
Wheat or wheat flour may be given or barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins:<br />
<ul>
<li>If wheat or wheat flour is given then one gives 2kg of the flour/grain.</li>
<li>If barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins is given then one gives 4kg of the flour/grain/fruit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
May I Give Money Instead?</h3>
Yes, one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em> in money. One has the option to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Give the monetary equivalent of 2kg of wheat or wheat flour or the monetary equivalent of 4kg of barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins.</li>
<li>or give the monetary equivalent of 4kg of any other grain.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Money or Food</h3>
As mentioned, one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em> in money or the actual grain/food whichever is better for the poor.<br />
In situations of famine or a shortage of the actual foodstuff then it is better to give the foodstuff but under normal circumstances money is better.<br />
<h2>
Who Do I Pay it To?</h2>
<h3>
Sadaqa is for the Poor</h3>
<em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> may only be given to the poor. Unlike Zakat, it may be given to poor Muslims as well as poor non-Muslims.<br />
A poor person is one who does not possess wealth in excess of his basic needs that exceeds the value of the nisab of Zakat (approximately 87.48g of gold).<br />
Remember: Basic Needs<br />
Basic needs includes things like:<br />
<ul>
<li>One’s house</li>
<li>One’s car</li>
<li>One’s clothing & furniture</li>
</ul>
If apart from these types of things an individual does not possess wealth valued more than approximately 87.48g of gold then that individual is poor.<br />
Because of the nature of basic needs, it should be noted that it is possible for someone to own a house, a car, furniture and clothing and still be poor.<br />
One does not need to “investigate” to determine whether an individual is poor or not. If the individual seems to be poor (such as a beggar), or one is familiar with their financial circumstances and is reasonably sure that they are poor then one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em>.<br />
<h2>
Give Willingly</h2>
When we give <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> or any other charity it should be given willingly and happily and we should consider that the poor are helping us by accepting from our wealth. We should give with the objective of not being attached to possessions, seeking the pleasure of Allah, Most High, asking for His acceptance.<br />
<h2>
His Acceptance</h2>
We ask Allah, Most High, to accept from us all that we have put forward in this noble month and to make us among those drawn closer to Him, Most High.<br />
<br />
<b>Source</b>: QaysArthur.net<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-34450615338557883742016-07-04T04:42:00.001-05:002016-07-04T04:43:58.324-05:00Sadaqat al-Fitr made simple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for zakat ul fitr" data-bm="20" height="190" src="https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Md49bdedc6afef0181d04ac78bf643266o0&w=282&h=134&c=7&rs=1&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.1" style="background-color: #e5cb9f; height: 134px; width: 282px;" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As this sacred month draws to a close and Eid approaches we could do worse than to think about <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> or <em>Zakatul Fitr</em> as it is sometimes called. Here are some points to understand and remember about the <em>Fiqh</em> of <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
What is <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>?</h2>
<em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>, also called <em>Zakatul-Fitr</em>, is a charitable <strong>duty</strong> associated with the month of Ramadan and in particular Eid al-Fitr. It is a duty on every Muslim who possesses wealth in excess of his <strong>basic needs</strong> at the time of <em>Fajr</em> on the day of Eid al-Fitr.<br />
To pay <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> one simply gives the required amount to a deserving recipient or a trusted third party to give on one’s behalf. It is preferred and more appropriate to give it directly to a poor person while on one’s way to the Eid prayer.<br />
<h3>
A duty</h3>
When we say <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> is a duty, we mean it is <strong>wajib</strong> such that a Muslim who neglects to pay it despite being obligated to do so would be sinful.<br />
<h3>
Basic Needs</h3>
When we speak of basic needs we refer to a <strong>legal class</strong> or <strong>type</strong> of wealth. We should remember that wealth doesn’t just refer to money but any possession of value. “Basic needs” refers to any possessions of value that are needed for a normal life.<br />
So wealth considered basic needs would include things like:<br />
<ul>
<li>One’s house</li>
<li>One’s car</li>
<li>One’s clothing & furniture</li>
</ul>
The value of these things does not matter, they are considered basic needs as long as they are for one’s use.<br />
<h3>
Beyond Basic Needs</h3>
Yet if one has an excess of these possessions (such as if a family has two cars but only uses one and the other is a showpiece), then if the excess (such as the extra car) is valued more than the nisab of Zakat then <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> would be wajib on the owner of the car.<br />
A rare stamp collection or an art collection are other examples of wealth beyond one’s basic needs.<br />
If the value of excess wealth is more than the nisab of Zakat (the value of approximately 87.48g of gold) and one owns this wealth at Fajr on Eid al-Fitr day then <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> is <em>wajib</em>.<br />
<h2>
Who Do I Pay For?</h2>
<h3>
Oneself and Small Children</h3>
One pays <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> on behalf of oneself and each of one’s children who have not yet become legally adult (which occurs at puberty).<br />
One is not required to pay <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> for one’s spouse. Each spouse is responsible for their own <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>. Yet if one spouse pays on behalf of another it is valid.<br />
One is only obliged to pay on behalf of the children one has at the time of Fajr on the day of Eid al-Fitr.<br />
If a child is born after fajr on the day of Eid then one is not obliged to pay on behalf of that child though there is no harm in doing so.<br />
<h2>
How Much Do I Pay?</h2>
Wheat or wheat flour may be given or barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins:<br />
<ul>
<li>If wheat or wheat flour is given then one gives 2kg of the flour/grain.</li>
<li>If barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins is given then one gives 4kg of the flour/grain/fruit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
May I Give Money Instead?</h3>
Yes, one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em> in money. One has the option to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Give the monetary equivalent of 2kg of wheat or wheat flour or the monetary equivalent of 4kg of barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins.</li>
<li>or give the monetary equivalent of 4kg of any other grain.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Money or Food</h3>
As mentioned, one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em> in money or the actual grain/food whichever is better for the poor.<br />
In situations of famine or a shortage of the actual foodstuff then it is better to give the foodstuff but under normal circumstances money is better.<br />
<h2>
Who Do I Pay it To?</h2>
<h3>
Sadaqa is for the Poor</h3>
<em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> may only be given to the poor. Unlike Zakat, it may be given to poor Muslims as well as poor non-Muslims.<br />
A poor person is one who does not possess wealth in excess of his basic needs that exceeds the value of the nisab of Zakat (approximately 87.48g of gold).<br />
Remember: Basic Needs<br />
Basic needs includes things like:<br />
<ul>
<li>One’s house</li>
<li>One’s car</li>
<li>One’s clothing & furniture</li>
</ul>
If apart from these types of things an individual does not possess wealth valued more than approximately 87.48g of gold then that individual is poor.<br />
Because of the nature of basic needs, it should be noted that it is possible for someone to own a house, a car, furniture and clothing and still be poor.<br />
One does not need to “investigate” to determine whether an individual is poor or not. If the individual seems to be poor (such as a beggar), or one is familiar with their financial circumstances and is reasonably sure that they are poor then one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em>.<br />
<h2>
Give Willingly</h2>
When we give <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> or any other charity it should be given willingly and happily and we should consider that the poor are helping us by accepting from our wealth. We should give with the objective of not being attached to possessions, seeking the pleasure of Allah, Most High, asking for His acceptance.<br />
<h2>
His Acceptance</h2>
We ask Allah, Most High, to accept from us all that we have put forward in this noble month and to make us among those drawn closer to Him, Most High.<br />
<br />
<b>Source</b>: QaysArthur.net<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-3665851477112895042016-07-04T04:42:00.000-05:002016-07-04T04:43:03.134-05:00Sadaqat al-Fitr made simple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for zakat ul fitr" data-bm="20" height="190" src="https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Md49bdedc6afef0181d04ac78bf643266o0&w=282&h=134&c=7&rs=1&qlt=90&o=4&pid=1.1" style="background-color: #e5cb9f; height: 134px; width: 282px;" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As this sacred month draws to a close and Eid approaches we could do worse than to think about <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> or <em>Zakatul Fitr</em> as it is sometimes called. Here are some points to understand and remember about the <em>Fiqh</em> of <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
What is <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>?</h2>
<em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>, also called <em>Zakatul-Fitr</em>, is a charitable <strong>duty</strong> associated with the month of Ramadan and in particular Eid al-Fitr. It is a duty on every Muslim who possesses wealth in excess of his <strong>basic needs</strong> at the time of <em>Fajr</em> on the day of Eid al-Fitr.<br />
To pay <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> one simply gives the required amount to a deserving recipient or a trusted third party to give on one’s behalf. It is preferred and more appropriate to give it directly to a poor person while on one’s way to the Eid prayer.<br />
<h3>
A duty</h3>
When we say <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> is a duty, we mean it is <strong>wajib</strong> such that a Muslim who neglects to pay it despite being obligated to do so would be sinful.<br />
<h3>
Basic Needs</h3>
When we speak of basic needs we refer to a <strong>legal class</strong> or <strong>type</strong> of wealth. We should remember that wealth doesn’t just refer to money but any possession of value. “Basic needs” refers to any possessions of value that are needed for a normal life.<br />
So wealth considered basic needs would include things like:<br />
<ul>
<li>One’s house</li>
<li>One’s car</li>
<li>One’s clothing & furniture</li>
</ul>
The value of these things does not matter, they are considered basic needs as long as they are for one’s use.<br />
<h3>
Beyond Basic Needs</h3>
Yet if one has an excess of these possessions (such as if a family has two cars but only uses one and the other is a showpiece), then if the excess (such as the extra car) is valued more than the nisab of Zakat then <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> would be wajib on the owner of the car.<br />
A rare stamp collection or an art collection are other examples of wealth beyond one’s basic needs.<br />
If the value of excess wealth is more than the nisab of Zakat (the value of approximately 87.48g of gold) and one owns this wealth at Fajr on Eid al-Fitr day then <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> is <em>wajib</em>.<br />
<h2>
Who Do I Pay For?</h2>
<h3>
Oneself and Small Children</h3>
One pays <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> on behalf of oneself and each of one’s children who have not yet become legally adult (which occurs at puberty).<br />
One is not required to pay <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> for one’s spouse. Each spouse is responsible for their own <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em>. Yet if one spouse pays on behalf of another it is valid.<br />
One is only obliged to pay on behalf of the children one has at the time of Fajr on the day of Eid al-Fitr.<br />
If a child is born after fajr on the day of Eid then one is not obliged to pay on behalf of that child though there is no harm in doing so.<br />
<h2>
How Much Do I Pay?</h2>
Wheat or wheat flour may be given or barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins:<br />
<ul>
<li>If wheat or wheat flour is given then one gives 2kg of the flour/grain.</li>
<li>If barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins is given then one gives 4kg of the flour/grain/fruit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
May I Give Money Instead?</h3>
Yes, one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em> in money. One has the option to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Give the monetary equivalent of 2kg of wheat or wheat flour or the monetary equivalent of 4kg of barley, barley flour, dates, or raisins.</li>
<li>or give the monetary equivalent of 4kg of any other grain.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Money or Food</h3>
As mentioned, one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em> in money or the actual grain/food whichever is better for the poor.<br />
In situations of famine or a shortage of the actual foodstuff then it is better to give the foodstuff but under normal circumstances money is better.<br />
<h2>
Who Do I Pay it To?</h2>
<h3>
Sadaqa is for the Poor</h3>
<em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> may only be given to the poor. Unlike Zakat, it may be given to poor Muslims as well as poor non-Muslims.<br />
A poor person is one who does not possess wealth in excess of his basic needs that exceeds the value of the nisab of Zakat (approximately 87.48g of gold).<br />
Remember: Basic Needs<br />
Basic needs includes things like:<br />
<ul>
<li>One’s house</li>
<li>One’s car</li>
<li>One’s clothing & furniture</li>
</ul>
If apart from these types of things an individual does not possess wealth valued more than approximately 87.48g of gold then that individual is poor.<br />
Because of the nature of basic needs, it should be noted that it is possible for someone to own a house, a car, furniture and clothing and still be poor.<br />
One does not need to “investigate” to determine whether an individual is poor or not. If the individual seems to be poor (such as a beggar), or one is familiar with their financial circumstances and is reasonably sure that they are poor then one may give one’s <em>sadaqa</em>.<br />
<h2>
Give Willingly</h2>
When we give <em>Sadaqatul-Fitr</em> or any other charity it should be given willingly and happily and we should consider that the poor are helping us by accepting from our wealth. We should give with the objective of not being attached to possessions, seeking the pleasure of Allah, Most High, asking for His acceptance.<br />
<h2>
His Acceptance</h2>
We ask Allah, Most High, to accept from us all that we have put forward in this noble month and to make us among those drawn closer to Him, Most High.<br />
<br />
<b>Source</b>: QaysArthur.net<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-41625268360500680642016-06-30T09:53:00.001-05:002016-06-30T09:53:30.191-05:00Somalia Independence Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.google.com/url?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DpCxvBwTcabw&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwjS3OKxgNDNAhUm5YMKHX4OBUE4PBDBbgg6MBI&sig2=w2Ci7V6GNvvJUD24JnxjKg&usg=AFQjCNFFVNzb8jaSunRbmrpCPh5wQXN_6Q"><img alt="Image result for Somalia Flag" height="240" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT7KZGjtgO4X0f9OuHVPcqpjNLAVW2PW-tjcDEUHzMvyvCH-tE60Lbo2_8" width="320" /></a><a href="https://www.google.com/url?url=https://imlucky1.wordpress.com/2013/10/12/happy-birthday-to-the-somali-flag/&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwjg0PX6_8_NAhVr6oMKHUjACho4FBDBbgguMAw&sig2=jo9kFCwb1pMdh3L6JDM9ug&usg=AFQjCNGbFGFVVFNRvYgKPrQfvumwEUL7fA"></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The <b>Independence Day of
Somalia</b> is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day" title="National Day"><span style="color: blue;">national holiday</span></a> observed annually in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia" title="Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Somalia</span></a> on July
1. The date celebrates the union of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_Territory_of_Somaliland" title="Trust Territory of Somaliland"><span style="color: blue;">Trust Territory of Somaliland</span></a> (the
former <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Somaliland" title="Italian Somaliland"><span style="color: blue;">Italian Somaliland</span></a>) and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Somaliland" title="State of Somaliland"><span style="color: blue;">State of Somaliland</span></a> (the former <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Somaliland" title="British Somaliland"><span style="color: blue;">British Somaliland</span></a>) on July 1, 1960, which
formed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Republic" title="Somali Republic"><span style="color: blue;">Somali Republic</span></a> (Somalia). A government was
subsequently formed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullahi_Issa" title="Abdullahi Issa"><span style="color: blue;">Abdullahi Issa</span></a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Haji_Ibrahim_Egal" title="Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal"><span style="color: blue;">Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal</span></a> and other
members of the trusteeship and protectorate governments, with speaker of the
SOMALIA ACT OF UNION <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haji_Bashir_Ismail_Yusuf" title="Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf"><span style="color: blue;">Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf</span></a> as President of
the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Somalia" title="Parliament of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Somali National Assembly</span></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden_Abdullah_Osman_Daar" title="Aden Abdullah Osman Daar"><span style="color: blue;">Aden Abdullah Osman Daar</span></a> as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_Somalia" title="List of Presidents of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">President</span></a> of the Somali Republic, On
20 July 1961 and through a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_constitutional_referendum,_1961" title="Somali constitutional referendum, 1961"><span style="color: blue;">popular referendum</span></a>, the
people of Somalia ratified a new <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Somalia" title="Constitution of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">constitution</span></a>, which was first drafted in
1960.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">History of Somalia<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Somalia
was an important centre for commerce with the rest of the ancient world, and
according to most scholars, it is among the most probable locations of the
fabled ancient <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_of_Punt" title="Land of Punt"><span style="color: blue;">Land of Punt</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">During
the Middle Ages, several powerful Somali empires dominated the regional trade,
including the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajuran_Sultanate" title="Ajuran Sultanate"><span style="color: blue;">Ajuran Sultanate</span></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adal_Sultanate" title="Adal Sultanate"><span style="color: blue;">Adal
Sultanate</span></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsangali_Sultanate" title="Warsangali Sultanate"><span style="color: blue;">Warsangali Sultanate</span></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultanate_of_the_Geledi" title="Sultanate of the Geledi"><span style="color: blue;">Sultanate of the Geledi</span></a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majeerteen_Sultanate" title="Majeerteen Sultanate"><span style="color: blue;">Majeerteen Sultanate</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the late 19th century,
through a succession of treaties with these kingdoms, the British and Italians
gained control of parts of the coast, and established <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Somaliland" title="British Somaliland"><span style="color: blue;">British Somaliland</span></a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Somaliland" title="Italian Somaliland"><span style="color: blue;">Italian Somaliland</span></a>. In the interior, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Abdullah_Hassan" title="Mohammed Abdullah Hassan"><span style="color: blue;">Mohammed Abdullah Hassan</span></a>'s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dervish_state" title="Dervish state"><span style="color: blue;">Dervish
State</span></a> successfully repulsed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire" title="British Empire"><span style="color: blue;">British
Empire</span></a> four times and forced it to retreat to the coastal region but the
Dervishes were finally defeated in 1920 by British airpower. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy" title="Italy"><span style="color: blue;">Italy</span></a> acquired full
control of the northeastern, central and southern parts of the territory after
successfully waging a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Somalia#20th_century" title="History of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Campaign of the Sultanates</span></a> against the ruling <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majeerteen_Sultanate" title="Majeerteen Sultanate"><span style="color: blue;">Majeerteen Sultanate</span></a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultanate_of_Hobyo" title="Sultanate of Hobyo"><span style="color: blue;">Sultanate of Hobyo</span></a>. This occupation lasted until
1941, when it was replaced by a British <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_administration" title="Military administration"><span style="color: blue;">military administration</span></a>. Northwestern
Somalia would remain a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protectorate" title="Protectorate"><span style="color: blue;">protectorate</span></a>, while northeastern, central and southern
Somalia by agreement became a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_Territory_of_Somaliland" title="Trust Territory of Somaliland"><span style="color: blue;">United Nations Trusteeship</span></a> on 1 April
1950, with a promise of independence after 10 years. On 1 July 1960, the two
regions united as planned to form the independent <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Republic" title="Somali Republic"><span style="color: blue;">Somali
Republic</span></a> under a civilian government. The Somali National Assembly, headed
by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haji_Bashir_Ismail_Yusuf" title="Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf"><span style="color: blue;">Haji Bashir Ismail Yusuf</span></a>, approved the act
uniting former Italian Somaliland with British Somaliland, establishing the
Republic of Somalia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Colonialism: 1840-1960</span></strong><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Between <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1840</span></strong> and <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1886</span></strong>, the British East India Company
established a series of trade treaties with various Somali chiefs. Italy also
had a hand in the early establishment of Somalia and marked out the boundaries
of Italian Somaliland in the south between <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1897</span></strong> and <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1908</span></strong>. Ethiopia claimed the Ogaden region of
western Somaliland in <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1897</span></strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The first uprising against colonialism
occurred when Somalis sought to push the Ethiopians out of the Ogaden region
but then expanded to target European colonists as well. The Dervish State,
headed Mohammed Abdille Hassan, an Ogaden himself who the British referred to
as “Mad Mullah,” conducted a <a href="http://countrystudies.us/somalia/10.htm"><span style="color: #f57b20;">religious-based</span></a> war of resistance against the
Ethiopians and British from <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1899
to 1920</span></strong>, resulting in the death of <a href="http://countrystudies.us/somalia/10.htm"><span style="color: #f57b20;">nearly
one third of northern Somalia’s population</span></a>. Great Britain defeated
Hassan in <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1920</span></strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Italy maintained control of Italian
Somaliland as a part of its African empire (including Ethiopia and Eritrea)
until <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1941</span></strong>.
During WWII Great Britain also took over these areas and ruled them as military
protectorates until <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1949</span></strong>,
at which time the newly formed United Nations granted Italy a trusteeship over
most of present-day Somalia. The British maintained a trusteeship over what is
today the self-declared state of Somaliland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While the Italians dedicated significant
effort towards developing their colony, Great Britain took a more hands-off
approach to governance, leaving more responsibility in the hands of local
leaders but also providing less by way of infrastructure. These distinctions
are often cited as underpinnings of the incompatibility that would arise between
the two areas. This colonial history, in addition to other dynamics, is also
seen to play a role in the subsequent, contrasting levels of stability of
Somalia and Somaliland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Independence and Early Years, 1960</span></strong><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">After the 10-year interim period, on <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">June 26, 1960</span></strong>, the
northern protectorate of Somaliland gained independence from Britain. Five days
later on <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">July 1, 1960</span></strong>,
the two former colonies united to form the United Republic of Somalia under
President Aden Abdullah Osman Daar, Prime Minister Abdirashid Ali Shermarke,
and a 123-member National Assembly representing both territories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Daar ruled Somalia from <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1960</span></strong> until <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1967</span></strong>. Shermarke
succeeded him and led the country for two years until his assassination in <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1969</span></strong>. Though northern
and southern Somalia were united under one government, they operated as two
separate countries, with different legal, administrative, and educational
systems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Beginnings of Dictatorship, 1969-1976</span></strong><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">On the day of Shermarke’s funeral, the
Somali army, led by Mohamed Siad Barre, staged a bloodless coup. Barre, a
charismatic dictator who fostered a cult of personality and called himself
“Victorious Leader,” served as president and military ruler of Somalia from <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1969-1991</span></strong> and renamed
the country the Somali Democratic Republic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Under Barre’s leadership Somalia sided with
the Soviet Union in the Cold War. Though Barre <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/547169/Mohamed-Siad-Barre"><span style="color: #f57b20;">outlawed clan loyalties</span></a> and promoted his own “<a href="http://countrystudies.us/somalia/24.htm"><span style="color: #f57b20;">scientific
socialism</span></a>,” he supported clan elders to maintain control of rural
areas. The new government, dominated by the only legal political party, the
Supreme Revolutionary Council, or SRC, formed a guiding ideology based on a
combination of Marxism and the Quran and led a “reeducation” campaign to
eliminate opposition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">1976</span></strong>,
the SRC officially marked the end of military rule by dissolving itself and
ceded power to its own creation, the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party, or
SRSP.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 1977, with Ethiopia in chaos after the
fall of Haile Selassie, Somalia attacks Ethiopian garrisons in the Ogaden. Soon
a Somali army is even besieging the city of Harar. But President Siad is
betrayed by his chosen superpower. The Soviet Union sees a more important
potential client in the new Ethiopia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Early in 1978 the Ethiopian army, using
Soviet equipment and reinforced by troops from Cuba, recaptures the Ogaden. The
result is the mass exodus of hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees over the
borders into Somalia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the aftermath of this disaster guerrilla
groups, clan-based and regional, are formed in and around Somalia with the
intention of toppling Siad's repressive and centralizing regime. By 1988 the
result is full-scale civil war, resulting in the overthrow of Siad in 1991. He
withdraws to the safety of his own clan, becoming one warlord among many in
this increasingly chaotic nation. In 1991 the faction controlling the former
British Somaliland confuses matters by declaring its independence as the republic
of Somaliland. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Famine, the UN and continuing chaos: 1992-1999</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The conflict destroys Somalia's crops
during 1992 and brings widespread famine. Food flown in by international
agencies is looted by the warring militias. By December 1992 the situation is
such that the UN actively intervenes, sending a force of 35,000 troops in
Operation Restore Hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The UN briefly calms the situation,
persuading fifteen warring groups to convene in Addis Ababa in January 1993 for
peace and disarmament talks. These seem at first to make progress, but the
situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. In March 1994 American and
European units in the UN force withdraw, finding the level of casualties
unacceptable. Troops from African countries and the Indian subcontinent remain
in site. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">During the rest of the decade the situation
gets worse rather than better. From late 1994 the capital, Mogadishu, is
divided between the two most powerful of the warring factions. In each a leader
declares himself the president of the nation and organizes a supposedly
national government. In March 1995 the remaining UN forces are evacuated from
the coast under the protection of an international flotilla.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">At the end of the decade the only remotely
stable region is the breakaway republic of Somaliland, in the northwest. An
interim constitution is introduced here in 1997 and a president is elected. But
the would-be republic fails, as yet, to win any international recognition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Under the auspices of the UN, AU, Arab
League and IGAD, a series of additional national reconciliation conferences
were subsequently held as part of the peace process. Among these summits were
the 1997 National Salvation Council in Sodere, Ethiopia, the 1997 Cairo Peace
Conference / Cairo Declaration, the 2000 Somalia National Peace Conference in
Arta, Djibouti under the newly established <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_National_Government" title="Transitional National Government"><span style="color: blue;">Transitional National Government</span></a>,
the 2002 Somali Reconciliation Conference in Eldoret, Kenya, the 2003 National
Reconciliation Conference in Nairobi, Kenya when the Transitional Federal
Government was established and the Transitional Federal Charter was adopted,
the 2004 Nairobi Conference, and the 2007 National Reconciliation Conference in
Mogadishu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Following the outbreak of the civil war,
many of Somalia's residents left in search of asylum. According to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNHCR" title="UNHCR"><span style="color: blue;">UNHCR</span></a>, there were
around 975,951 registered refugees from the country in neighboring states as of
2016. Additionally, 1.1 million people were internally displaced persons
(IDPs). The majority of the IDPs were <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantus_(Somalia)" title="Bantus (Somalia)"><span style="color: blue;">Bantus</span></a>
and other ethnic minorities originating from the southern regions, including
those displaced in the north. An estimated 60% of the IDPs were children.
Causes of the displacement included armed violence, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_East_Africa_drought" title="2011 East Africa drought"><span style="color: blue;">drought</span></a> and other natural disasters,
which, along with diverted aid flows, hindered the IDPs' access to safe shelter
and resources. IDP settlements were concentrated in south-central Somalia
(893,000), followed by the northern Puntland (129,000) and Somaliland (84,000)
regions. Additionally, there were around 9,356 registered refugees and 11,157
registered asylum seekers in Somalia. Most of these foreign nationals emigrated
from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen" title="Yemen"><span style="color: blue;">Yemen</span></a> to
northern Somalia after the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_military_intervention_in_Yemen" title="2015 military intervention in Yemen"><span style="color: blue;">Houthi insurgency</span></a> in 2015.
However, the majority of emigrants to Somalia consist of Somali expatriates,
who have returned to Mogadishu and other urban areas for investment
opportunities and to take part in the ongoing post-conflict reconstruction
process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A consequence of the collapse of
governmental authority that accompanied the civil war was the emergence of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy_in_Somalia" title="Piracy in Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">piracy</span></a>
in the unpatrolled <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean" title="Indian Ocean"><span style="color: blue;">Indian Ocean</span></a> waters off of the coast of Somalia. The
phenomenon arose as an attempt by local fishermen to protect their livelihood
from illegal fishing by foreign trawlers. In August 2008, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_Task_Force_150" title="Combined Task Force 150"><span style="color: blue;">multinational coalition</span></a> took on the task of
combating the piracy by establishing a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_Security_Patrol_Area" title="Maritime Security Patrol Area"><span style="color: blue;">Maritime Security Patrol Area</span></a> (MSPA)
within the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Aden" title="Gulf of Aden"><span style="color: blue;">Gulf of Aden</span></a>. A <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puntland_Maritime_Police_Force" title="Puntland Maritime Police Force"><span style="color: blue;">maritime police force</span></a> was also later
formed in the Puntland region, and best management practices, including hiring
private armed guards, were adopted by ship owners. These combined efforts led
to a sharp decline in incidents. By October 2012, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy_off_the_coast_of_Somalia" title="Piracy off the coast of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">pirate attacks</span></a> had dropped to a
six-year low, with only 1 ship attacked in the third quarter compared to 36
during the same period in 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Structure of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Parliament_of_Somalia" title="Federal Parliament of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Federal Parliament of Somalia</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A reconstituted <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Somalia" title="Military of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Somali National Army</span></a> (SNA) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Police_Force" title="Somali Police Force"><span style="color: blue;">Somali Police Force</span></a> (SPF) have worked toward
expanding their influence. In October 2011, a coordinated operation, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Linda_Nchi" title="Operation Linda Nchi"><span style="color: blue;">Operation Linda Nchi</span></a> between the Kenyan and
Somali military and multinational forces began against the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shabaab_(militant_group)" title="Al-Shabaab (militant group)"><span style="color: blue;">Al-Shabaab</span></a> group of insurgents in
southern Somalia. The intervention was announced by the Kenyan government,
initially without the support of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, but
following talks in Nairobi on 30 October, a joint communiqué was issued saying
Somali forces were leading operations. By September 2012, Kenyan, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raskamboni_movement" title="Raskamboni movement"><span style="color: blue;">Raskamboni</span></a>, and Somali forces had managed to
capture Al-Shabaab's last major stronghold, the southern port of Kismayo. In
July 2012, three European Union operations were also launched to engage with
Somalia: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_Training_Mission_Somalia" title="European Union Training Mission Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">EUTM Somalia</span></a>, EU Naval
Force Somalia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Atalanta" title="Operation Atalanta"><span style="color: blue;">Operation Atalanta</span></a> off the Horn of Africa, and
EUCAP Nestor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Government_of_Somalia" title="Federal Government of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Federal Government of Somalia</span></a>, the
first permanent central government in the country since the start of the civil
war, was later established in August 2012. By 2014, Somalia was no longer at
the top of the fragile states index, dropping to second place behind <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Sudan" title="South Sudan"><span style="color: blue;">South
Sudan</span></a>. UN Special Representative to Somalia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Kay" title="Nicholas Kay"><span style="color: blue;">Nicholas
Kay</span></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union" title="European Union"><span style="color: blue;">European Union</span></a> High Representative <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Ashton" title="Catherine Ashton"><span style="color: blue;">Catherine
Ashton</span></a> and other international stakeholders and analysts have also begun to
describe Somalia as a "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fragile_state" title="Fragile state"><span style="color: blue;">fragile
state</span></a>" that is making some progress towards stability. In August 2014,
the Somali government-led <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Indian_Ocean" title="Operation Indian Ocean"><span style="color: blue;">Operation Indian Ocean</span></a> was launched to clean
up the remaining insurgent-held pockets in the countryside.<sup><o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 15.45pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Federal Government of Somalia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The <b>Federal
Government of Somalia</b> (<b>FGS</b>) (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_language" title="Somali language"><span style="color: blue;">Somali</span></a>:
</span><i><span lang="SO" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: SO; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dowladda
Federaalka Soomaaliya</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_language" title="Arabic language"><span style="color: blue;">Arabic</span></a>: </span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">حكومة الصومال
الاتحادية</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span>)
is the internationally recognized government of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia" title="Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Federal Republic of
Somalia</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Federal
Government of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia" title="Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Somalia</span></a>
was established on August 20, 2012, following the end of the interim mandate of
the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_Federal_Government" title="Transitional Federal Government"><span style="color: blue;">Transitional Federal Government</span></a>
(TFG).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It officially
comprises the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_(government)" title="Executive (government)"><span style="color: blue;">executive</span></a> branch of government, with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Somalia" title="Parliament of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">parliament</span></a> serving as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislature" title="Legislature"><span style="color: blue;">legislative</span></a>
branch. It is headed by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Somalia" title="President of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">President of Somalia</span></a>, to whom the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_(government)" title="Cabinet (government)"><span style="color: blue;">Cabinet</span></a> reports through the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Somalia" title="Prime Minister of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Prime Minister</span></a>.<u><sup><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></sup></u></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Structure</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Somalia" title="Constitution of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">national constitution</span></a> lays out the basic
way in which the government is to operate. It was passed on June 23, 2012,
after several days of deliberation between Somali federal and regional
politicians and ratified by the new federal parliament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Under the new
constitution, Somalia, now officially known as the <i>Federal Republic of
Somalia</i>, is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation" title="Federation"><span style="color: blue;">federation</span></a>.<u><sup><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></sup></u></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Executive
branch</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The President is elected by the Parliament. He or she
serves as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_state" title="Head of state"><span style="color: blue;">head of state</span></a> and chooses the Prime Minister, who
serves as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_government" title="Head of government"><span style="color: blue;">head of government</span></a> and leads the Council of
Ministers. According to Article 97 of the constitution, most executive powers
of the Somali government are vested in the Council of Ministers. The incumbent
President of Somalia is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Sheikh_Mohamud" title="Hassan Sheikh Mohamud"><span style="color: blue;">Hassan Sheikh Mohamud</span></a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Abdirashid_Ali_Sharmarke" title="Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke"><span style="color: blue;">Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke</span></a> is the
national Prime Minister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Council of
Ministers</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Cabinet is formally known as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_of_Somalia" title="Cabinet of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Council of Ministers</span></a>. It is appointed by the
Prime Minister with consent of the President and approved by the Federal
Parliament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Federal Parliament
of Somalia</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Parliament_of_Somalia" title="Federal Parliament of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Federal Parliament of Somalia</span></a> elects
the President and Prime Minister, and has the authority to pass and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veto" title="Veto"><span style="color: blue;">veto</span></a> laws. It is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicameral" title="Bicameral"><span style="color: blue;">bicameral</span></a>,
and consists of a 275-seat <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_house" title="Lower house"><span style="color: blue;">lower house</span></a> as well as an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_house" title="Upper house"><span style="color: blue;">upper
house</span></a> capped at 54 representatives. By law, at least 30% of all MPs must be
women. The current Members of parliament were selected by a Technical Selection
Committee, which was tasked with vetting potential legislators that were in
turn nominated by a National Constituent Assembly consisting of elders. The
current Speaker of the Federal Parliament is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Osman_Jawari" title="Mohamed Osman Jawari"><span style="color: blue;">Mohamed Osman Jawari</span></a>.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Judiciary<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The national
court structure is organized into three tiers: the Constitutional Court,
Federal Government level courts and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_regions_of_Somalia" title="States and regions of Somalia"><span style="color: blue;">Federal Member State</span></a> level courts. A
nine-member Judicial Service Commission appoints any Federal tier member of the
judiciary. It also selects and presents potential Constitutional Court judges
to the House of the People of the Federal Parliament for approval. If endorsed,
the President appoints the candidate as a judge of the Constitutional Court.
The five-member Constitutional Court adjudicates issues pertaining to the
constitution, in addition to various Federal and sub-national matters.</span><u><sup><span lang="EN" style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></sup></u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial Black",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Federal member
states<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Local state
governments, officially recognized as <i>Federal Member States</i>, have a
degree of autonomy over regional affairs and maintain their own police and
security forces. However, they are constitutionally subject to the authority of
the Government of the Federal Republic of</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Somalia. The national parliament is tasked with
selecting the ultimate number and boundaries of the Federal Member States
within the Federal Republic of Somalia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-32316423899801213882016-06-28T07:56:00.000-05:002016-06-28T07:56:29.324-05:00Zakat-ul-Fitr <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table><tbody>
<tr><td><div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="1">The Purpose of Zakat-ul-Fitr<o:p> </o:p> </a></b></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Every Muslim is required to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr at the conclusion of the month of Ramadan as a token of thankfulness to God for having enabled him to observe fasts. Its purpose is to purify those who fast from any indecent act or speech and to help the poor and needy.[1] This view is based upon the hadith which reads, “The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, enjoined Zakat-ul-Fitr on those who fast to shield them from any indecent act or speech, and for the purpose of providing food for the needy. It is accepted as Zakah for the one who pays it before the `Eid prayer, and it is sadaqah for the one who pays it after the prayer.”[2] Al-Qaradawi comments on this hadith by saying that there are two purposes: one is related to the individual; for completion of his fast and compensation for any shortcomings in his acts or speech. The other is related to society; for the spreading of love and happiness among its members, particularly the poor and needy, during the day of `Eid.[3] It also purifies one’s soul from such shortcomings as the adoration of property, and from miserliness. Furthermore, it purifies one’s property from the stain of unlawful earnings. It is also a cure for ailments.[4] The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “It would be better that you treat your patients with charity.”[5] <o:p></o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">In addition, it provides for the needs of the poor and the indigent and relieves them from having to ask others for charity on the day of `Eid.[6] The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Fulfil their need on this day (i.e., the day of `Eid)”[7] <o:p></o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="2"> Who must pay Zakat-ul-Fitr</a></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"> Zakat-ul-Fitr is incumbent on every free Muslim who possesses one Sa` of dates or barley which is not needed as basic food for himself or his family for the duration of one day and night. Every free Muslim must pay Zakat-ul-Fitr for himself, his wife, children, and servants. This is the opinion of Imam Malik, Al-Shafi`i, and Ahmad. Imam Abu Hanifah, however, said that it is only obligatory for one who possesses a nisab (a minimum amount of property) after fulfilling the costs of his house, servant, horse, and weapon.[8]<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Al-Khattabi explained that Zakat-ul-Fitr was obligatory for all Muslims, not only those who possess the nisab stating that this is the view of the majority of scholars. He said, “In essence, the rationale behind it was stated to be the purification of one who fasts from any indecent act or speech. And since every Muslim needs this, it is therefore obligatory upon every fasting Muslim, whether rich or poor, who possesses one Sa` in excess of his main staple food for the duration of one day and night. This is because so long as the essential rationale is shared by all Muslims, then they also share the same obligation.”[9]<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Al-Qaradawi also asserts the majority view when he says, “It is a virtuous wisdom of Islam that it makes this Zakah obligatory not only on the rich, but also upon nearly every Muslim, for you can hardly find a person who does not possess one Sa` of food above his main staple food for the duration of one day and night. The wisdom behind this obligation, therefore, is to prepare the poor to practice benevolence and feel the dignity and honour of giving in charity. Allah described the believers with these words, “Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity…”[10] Thus if we contemplate on this wisdom, we will not find it strange that the needy pay this Zakah, because it does not cause them to suffer any loss. He will pay only his Zakah and then receive the Zakah of various people.” [11] <o:p></o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Moreover, we have to bear in mind that Zakat-ul-Fitr is obligatory for everyone who lives until the sun sets on the last day of Ramadan. This is the point of view of the Shafi`is, Hanbalis, and Malikis. Accordingly, whoever dies before the sun sets on the last day of Ramadan is exempted. Likewise, a person who has a baby on the last day of Ramadan should pay Zakat-ul-Fitr for the baby. The majority of jurists argue that we should not pay Zakat-ul-Fitr for an embryo. But Imam Ahmad holds that Zakat-ul-Fitr is also obligatory for an embryo, because it is permissible to assign property to an embryo by means of a will.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="3">When Zakat-ul-Fitr is due<o:p> </o:p> </a></b></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">The jurists agree that Zakat-ul-Fitrr is due at the end of Ramadan. They differ, however, about the exact time. Al-Thawri, Ishaq, Malik (in one of two reports), and Al-Shafi`i (in one of his two opinions), are of the opinion that it is due at the sunset of the night of breaking the fast, for this is when the fast of Ramadan ends. However, Al-Layth, the Hanafi school, Al-Shafi`i (in his other opinion), and the second report of Malik say that Zakat-ul-Fitr is due at the start of Fajr (dawn) on the day of `Eid because it is an act of worship connected with `Eid, so the time of its payment should not be before `Eid just as sacrifice on the `Eid of Adha.[12] <o:p></o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">These two different views acquire relevance if a baby is born after sunset but before dawn on the day of `Eid; the question then is whether Zakat-ul-Fitr is obligatory for the baby or not. In accordance with the first view, it is not, since the birth took place after the prescribed time, while according to the second view, it is obligatory because the birth took place within the prescribed space of time.[13]<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="4">Time of payment<o:p> </o:p> </a></b></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">It is not permissible to delay giving Zakat-ul-Fitr after the day of `Eid (i.e. one may give it up to the time of the `Eid prayer). However, there are some jurists who think that it is permissible to delay giving it even after the `Eid prayer.[14] The founders of the four schools of Fiqh hold the first opinion, but Ibn Sirin and al-Nakha‘i say that its payment can be delayed. Ahmad says: “I hope that there is no harm [in delaying the payment].” Ibn Raslan says that there is a consensus that payment cannot be delayed merely for the reason that it is a type of Zakah. Thus, any delay is a sin and is analogous to delaying one’s prayers without an acceptable excuse.[15]<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Anyway, the founders of the four accepted Islamic legal schools agree that Zakat-ul-Fitr is not nullified simply by failure to pay it on its due time. If it is not paid before `Eid prayer, one is not exempt from it. It becomes a debt payable even after death. The heirs must not distribute the deceased’s legacy before payment of the deceased’s unpaid Zakat-ul-Fitr.[16] <o:p></o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Most scholars believe that it is permissible to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr a day or two before `Eid. Ibn `Umar reported that the Messenger, upon whom be peace, ordered them to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr before the people went out to perform the `Eid prayer. Nafi‘ reported that `Umar used to pay it a day or two before the end of Ramadan. However, scholars hold different opinions when a longer time period is involved. According to Abu Hanifah, it is permissible to pay it even before Ramadan so long as you make the intention of Zakah.[17] Al-Shaf‘i holds that it is permissible to do so at the beginning of Ramadan. Malik and Ahmad (in his well-known view) maintain that it is permissible to pay it only one or two days in advance.[18]<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Al-Qaradawi explains the reasons for these differences in opinion by saying that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr after Fajr prayer on the day of `Eid but before the `Eid prayer for the reason that the Muslim community was still small and limited in number. During the time of the Companions the payment was made one or two days before the `Eid. After the spread of Islam the jurists permitted its payment from the beginning and middle of Ramadan so as to ensure that the Zakat-ul-Fitr reached its beneficiaries on the day of `Eid, thereby avoiding the possibility that the process of distribution would delay reception of the payment after the day of `Eid.[19] After explaining the different views regarding the time of payment, Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr stated that these differences of opinion among the jurists justify some leniency for Muslims in regard to the time of payment, and therefore a Muslim can pay at any of these times. He also took the view that paying it at different times gives the poor and needy the opportunity to benefit from Zakat-ul-Fitr and fulfil their needs for longer periods.[20] <o:p></o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">In my opinion these differences are due to taking into consideration both the needs of the poor and the opportunity of attaining the wisdom behind the obligation of Zakat-ul-Fitr. Therefore, the most acceptable and practical approach is to apply whichever practice fulfils the purpose and wisdom behind Zakat-ul-Fitr, that is bringing happiness to the poor on the day of `Eid and giving their children a chance to enjoy this day as others do.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="5">What type of food can be given and permissible substitutes<o:p> </o:p> </a></b></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">The jurists hold different views as to the types of food which must be given as Zakat-ul-Fitr. The Hanbali view is that the kinds of food which can be given are five: dates, raisins, wheat, barley, and dry cottage cheese. Imam Ahmad is reported to have said that any kind of staple grain or dates are also permissible, even if the above five types are available. The Malikis and Shafi`is are of the view that it is permissible to give any kind of food as long as it is the main staple in that particular region or the main food of the person. As for the Hanafis, they permit paying the value of Zakat-ul-Fitr in money.[21] <o:p></o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Ibn Al-Qayyim highlighted these different viewpoints and concluded that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prescribed Zakat-ul-Fitr as one Sa` of dates, barley, raisins or dry cottage cheese. These were the main staple kinds of food in Madinah. As for people of other territories, what they should pay is one sa’ of their staple grain, such as corn, rice, etc. But if their main staple food is other than grain, such as milk, meat, fish, etc., then they should pay one Sa` of that particular food. This is the opinion of the majority of scholars and is the preferred point of view, since it achieves the purpose of fulfilling the needs of the poor on the day of `Eid with the staple food of their region.[22]<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="6">The calculation of Zakat-ul-Fitr<o:p> </o:p> </a></b></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">The amount of Zakat-ul-Fitr, as we referred earlier, is one Sa` of food. There is consensus on this amount among the scholars with regard to all types of food except wheat and raisins. As for these two types the Shafi`is, Malikis and Hanbalis agree that the prescribed amount is one Sa`, however the Hanafis say it is sufficient to pay half Sa` from wheat and they differed with regard to raisins.[23] After discussing the arguments of these two opinions al-Qaradawi reached the following conclusion: wheat was not a common food amongst them during the time of the Prophet so he did not prescribe one Sa` of it as he did with the other types of food. As for those of the Companions of the Prophet who prescribed half Sa` of wheat instead of one Sa` of barely or dates like Mu`awiyah and other Companions, he views that they did so by analogy, since the value of wheat was more than those of other types of food which were equal. But according to their opinion, he says, the value should be considered and taken as the criterion and this will cause instability and confusion for it changes from place to another and from time to time. He mentioned that in Pakistan the value of wheat is less than that of dates, then how should we pay of it half the amount (i.e. Sa`) that we should pay of dates? He also mentioned that nowadays raisins are more expensive than wheat and dates. The only solution for these problems, he says, is to regard Sa` as the criterion and basis.[24] <o:p></o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Al-Qaradawi explains why the Prophet appointed Sa` as the measure and did not prescribe it in money saying that in his opinion there are two reasons for this: First, money was still rare among the Arabs particularly the Bedouins. They did not have their own currency. So if the Prophet had prescribed it in money, he would have caused hardship to them. Second, the purchasing power of money changes from time to time. For instance, the purchasing power of a certain currency sometimes becomes low and other times high, so paying Zakat-ul-Fitr in money makes its value unstable. That is why the Prophet prescribed it with a stable measure, that is an amount of food which fulfils the needs of one family. For one Sa` provides a family with food for a whole day.[25]<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="7">The amount of Sa`<o:p> </o:p> </a></b></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Sa` is a certain measure which equals 4 mudds (a mudd equals a handful of an average man). The contemporary equivalent weights of Sa` differs according to the stuff which is weighted. For example a Sa` of wheat equals 2176 grams, a Sa` of rice is 2520 grams, a Sa` of beans equals 2250 grams etc.[26] Therefore some scholars are of the view that the criterion should be the measure not the weight for there are kinds of food which are heavier than others.[27] But I think this is the case if the equivalent weight of a certain kind of food is not known. If there is no available measure or weight with the person, then he should pay 4 mudds. Nowadays, it is not that problem because ministries of religious affairs in Muslim countries and mosques and Islamic centres in Western countries announce the value of Zakat-ul-Fitr every year. Anyhow, this is the obligatory amount which every Muslim should pay. It is better and recommended that one pays an extra amount, particularly for those who are wealthy, for they will be rewarded for it. <o:p></o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="8">Its payment in money<o:p> </o:p> </a></b></span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">As it is mentioned earlier, the Hanafis permitted the payment of Zakat-ul-Fitr in money. This is the view of Al-Thawri, Al-Hasan al-Basri, and `Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz. However, the other three schools did not permit this. Their argument is that the Prophet did not do so and hence its payment in money contradicts the Sunnah of the Prophet. But some contemporary scholars support the Hanafi view since this is easier nowadays for the payer particularly in cities where people use only money for dealings. Among them are Sheikh Shaltut, al-Ghazali, and al-Qaradawi[28] who mentioned earlier the two reasons for which the Prophet did not prescribe it in money. He also stated that the purpose of Zakat-ul-Fitr is to fulfil the needs of the poor and this is achieved also by payment in money and that in most cases and most countries the payment in money is more useful to the poor.[29] He also mentioned that when the Prophet prescribed it from food, it was easy for the payer and useful for the recipient during that time. But nowadays to pay it in food is not useful for the poor because he cannot make use, for instance, of wheat or dates unless he sells them with any price, generally low, to buy his needs with the money.[30]<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Al-Qaradawi excluded the times of famines where the payment of food is more useful for the recipients and said that the criterion is the benefit of the poor so if food proves to be more useful as in times of famines and catastrophes, then its payment in kind is better. But if money is more useful, then its payment in money is better.[31]<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Nowadays, if we consider the condition in the Muslim world in general and that of Muslims in the West in particular we will discover that the second view is more convenient with the spirit of Islamic legislation and the present condition of Muslims. As we will see later when Muslims living in the West decide to transfer their Zakah funds or some of them to needy Muslims in Muslim countries, then the payment in money is more convenient.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<hr align="left" color="#ff0000" width="25%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[1]Sabiq, op.cit, vol. III, p. 87.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[2]Abû Dâwûd, Sunan Abî Dâwûd, ed. Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz al-Khâlidî, vol. 1, Dâr al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1416/1996, p. 473.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[3]Qaradâwî, Yûsuf al-, Fiqh al-Zakâh, 4th ed., vol. II, Mu’assasat al-Risâlah, Beirut, 1980, pp. 922.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[4]Shahatah, Hussain H., How to Calculate Zakat ul-Fitr, trans. Abdel-Hamid Eliwa, 1st ed., Al-Falah Foundation, Cairo-Egypt (1999), pp. 3-4.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[5]Bayhaqî, Ahmad b. al-Husayn b. ‘Alî, Sunan al-Bayhaqî al-Kubrâ, ed. Muhammad ‘Abd al-Qâdir ‘Atâ, Maktabat Dâr al-Bâz, Makkah al-Mukarramah, 1414/1994, vol. 3, p. 382.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[6]Shahatah, op.cit, p. 6.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[7]Darqutnî, ‘Alî b. ‘Amr Abû al-Hasan al-, Sunan al-Darqutnî, ed. Al-Sayyid ‘Abdullah Hâshim Yamânî al-Madanî, vol. 2, Dâr al-Ma‘rifah, Beirut, 1386/1966, p.152. <o:p></o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn8" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[8]Dahmân, Muhammad Ahmad, Kitâb al-Siyâm, 1st ed., Matba‘at al-Taraqqî, Damascus, 1341/1923, p. 34.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn9" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[9]Ibidem, pp. 19-20.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn10" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[10]The Qur’ân, ’Âl ‘Imrân [3: 134]<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn11" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[11]Qaradâwî, Yûsuf, Al-‘Ibâdah fî al-slâm, 5th ed., Maktabat Wahbah, Cairo, 1985,p. 282.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn12" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[12] Ibn Qudâmah al-Maqdisî, ‘Abdullâh b. Ahmad, Al-Muqni‘, vol. 1, Al-Maktabah al-Salafiyyah, n.d., p. 336. <o:p></o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn13" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[13] Sabiq, op.cit, vol. III, p. 89.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn14" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[14] Shahatah, How to Calculate Zakat ul-Fitr, p.17.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn15" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[15] Sabiq, op.cit, vol. III, p. 89.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn16" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[16] Shahâtah, Hussayn H., Fiqh wa Hisâb Zakât al-Fitr, Cairo 1998, pp. 21-22.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn17" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[17]Ibidem, pp. 20-21.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn18" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[18]Sabiq, op.cit, vol. III, p. 89.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn19" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[19]http://qaradawi.net/arabic/meetings/shreai-&-hayaa/prog-46.htm</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn20" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[20]Qinâwî, ‘Abd al-Râziq Muhammad, Fatâwâ al-Sawm, 1st ed., Dâr Al-Amîn , Cairo, 1998, p. 59.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn21" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[21]Shahâtah, Fiqh wa Hisâb Zakât al-Fitr, pp. 11-12.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn22" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[22]Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, A‘lâm Al-Muwaqqi‘în ‘an Rabb Al-‘Âlamîn, vol. III, Dar al-Kutub al-Hadîthah, Cairo, 1969, pp. 15-16.<o:p> </o:p> </span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn23" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[23]Qaradâwî, Fiqh al-Zakâh, pp. 932-33.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn24" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[24]Ibidem, pp. 937-40.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn25" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[25]Qaradâwî, Fatâwâ Mu‘âsirah, vol. I, 8th ed., Dâr al-Qalam, Kuwait, 1420/2000, p. 336.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn26" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[26]Shahâtah, Fiqh wa Hisâb Zakât al-Fitr, pp. 16-17.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn27" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[27]Qaradâwî, Fiqh al-Zakâh, p. 942.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn28" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[28]Shahâtah, Fiqh wa Hisâb Zakât al-Fitr, p. 15.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn29" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[29]Qaradâwî, Fiqh al-Zakâh, pp. 948-49.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn30" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[30]http://qaradawi.net/arabic/meetings/shreai-&-hayaa/sh-2000-01-02.htm</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn31" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div align="justify" class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 12; margin-left: 6; margin-right: 6; margin-top: 12; text-indent: 0; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">[31]Qaradâwî, Fiqh al-Zakâh, pp. 950-51.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</td><td valign="top"><!-- Google Ads Start Here -->
<ins id="aswift_1_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 600px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 120px;"><ins id="aswift_1_anchor" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; height: 600px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 120px;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="600" hspace="0" id="aswift_1" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="aswift_1" scrolling="no" style="left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0;" vspace="0" width="120"></iframe></ins></ins> <!-- Google Ads End Here --> <br /><br /><br /><!-- Google Ads Start Here -->
<ins id="aswift_2_expand" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: inline-table; height: 600px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 120px;"><ins id="aswift_2_anchor" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; display: block; height: 600px; margin: 0; padding: 0; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 120px;"></ins></ins> <!-- Google Ads End Here --> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-74001175688261055572016-05-23T08:18:00.002-05:002016-05-23T08:18:44.059-05:00Somali president overrides parliament on election process <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="266" id="imageuploader1_Image1" src="http://hiiraan.com/images/2016/May/2016522635994947744106555Madaxweyne_Xasan_Sheekh_Maxamuud_7777.jpg" style="border-width: 0px;" width="400" /></div>
<br />
In what likely is a new showdown between Somali president and the parliament, Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud used an executive order and called for an election in Somalia, bypassing the parliament which delayed the vote process submitted by the government last month.<br />
The country’s outgoing parliament has delayed a vote to approve the election process multiple times, with the last one being on Saturday, raising concerns by the international community over the protracted process for the forthcoming presidential elections.<br />
Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu Sunday, Mr. Mohamud announced that the country would hold an election in line with a recent deal by the country’s stakeholders to hold timely elections in the country.<br />
Held in Mogadishu in April, the national consultative forum which sought ‘guiding principles’ to enable the transfer of power when the government’s mandate expires in 2016.<br />
The country’s major donors including European Union and the United States warned that failure to act quickly would ‘jeopardize’ the Somali political process and set Somalia several years back."<br />
According to Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution, adopted in 2012, the mandates of the Somali Federal Parliament and of the government would come to an end in August and September 2016, respectively.<br />
The international community which is spearheading efforts aimed at restoring peace and order into the Somalia which is recovering from decades of war mandated the current government to lead the country into general elections following the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, a new parliament and the adoption of a new constitution in 2012.<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-57126357209459191292016-05-23T08:15:00.000-05:002016-05-23T08:15:08.018-05:00Feature: Somali National University back on feet from civil war<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Newly reconstructed SNU building in Mogadishu's Hamar Weyne District. [Abdi Moalim/Sabahi]" height="266" src="http://hiiraan.com/images/gallery/2016/may/2016523635995616619340989999899.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Newly reconstructed SNU building in Mogadishu's Hamar Weyne District. [Abdi Moalim/Sabahi</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
More than two decades after it closed doors due to break out of civil war and disintegration of the state, the Somali National University is back on its feet and determined to reclaim its position as the premier institution of higher learning in Somalia.</div>
The university, which re-opened in 2014 following the flushing out of Al-Shabaab extremist militants from Mogadishu, now has a student population of 755. It has six faculties and a team of masters and PhD holders who steer the academic and administrative functions.<br />
The faculties include Education and Social Science, Health Science, Economics and Management Science, Law, Agriculture and Veterinary and Animal Husbandry.<br />
The university's rector, Professor Mohamed Ahmed Jimale, told Xinhua in a recent interview that Somali National University (SNU) is fast resuming its position as the source of qualified human resource and research as well as a driver of change in the country.<br />
"The aim of this university is to develop skilled professionals who can design and implement development programs for the rebuilding of the nuova Somalia (the new Somalia)," said Jimale.<br />
He said given Somalia is a largely agricultural and livestock driven economy, the university is keen on training professionals in agriculture, animal husbandry and economists.<br />
With a strong teaching fraternity, most of whom acquired higher education in China through scholarship programs, the rector says SNU is poised to offer tuition free quality education while at the same time contribute to peace and state building.<br />
"The number of enrolment increased a lot because many young people that cannot afford to pay the tuition fee for private universities find a good chance here at SNU, the only public and tuition free university," he said.<br />
Access to university education still remains a big challenge in Somalia since most of the secondary school graduates cannot afford private university education, a scenario Jimale says pushes the youth to illegal activities out of desperation.<br />
But SNU, Jimale said, aims to reverse this trend by scrapping tuition fees.<br />
"I believe that the revival and the expansion of Somali National University will contribute to the security, peace and the stability because a large number of desperate youth that now have no access to the higher education, because of economic reason, will access to higher education and that will strengthen their hope to a prosperous future," he added.<br />
Chinese ambassador to Somalia Wei Hongtian, himself alumni of the university with a fluency in Somali language, has played a critical role in facilitating scholarships and providing equipment to the university.<br />
Through this, Jimale said China is contributing in building the country's human resource and ensuring peace and stability.<br />
"We believe that the Ambassador is doing his best for granting Masters and PhD scholarships for the lecturers of our university. Also, the ambassador is helping our university in other areas such as donating teaching aid materials, furniture and other useful and necessary equipment," said Jimale.<br />
Before its closure in the early 1990s, SNU had a student population of 15,672, with about 700 academic and non-academic staff, and consisted of 13 faculties.<br />
But the university is determined to grow even beyond these numbers. Jimale said they intended to set up campuses in regional federal states such as Puntland, Jubbaland and Somaliland.<br />
He said the introduction of the centralized grade 12 exam system and subsequently universal free primary school under the "Go to School" program, was re-institutionalizing formal education in Somalia. <b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-28325631250507202262016-05-18T06:48:00.002-05:002016-05-18T06:48:30.292-05:0022 Percent of Resettled Refugees in Minnesota Test Positive for Tuberculosis <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Jim Mone/AP" src="http://hiiraan.com/images/gallery/2016/may/2016518635991443851233850SomaliMinnesota.jpg" /></div>
<br />
One of every five refugees resettled in Minnesota by the federal government tested positive for latent tuberculosis in 2014, <a href="http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/refugee/rhq/rhqapr16.pdf" target="_blank">according</a> to the state’s Department of Health. <!--?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /--><br />Only 4 percent of the general population in the United States tested positive for latent tuberculosis in the most recent report <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/ltbi/intro.htm" target="_blank">provided by</a> the Centers for Disease Control.<br />
<div align="justify">
The April 2016 edition of the Refugee Health Quarterly, published by the Minnesota Department of Health <a href="http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/refugee/rhq/rhqapr16.pdf" target="_blank">reports</a> that:</div>
<div align="justify">
<em>Minnesota had 150 cases of TB in 2015, compared to 147 cases in 2014 (a 2 percent increase). The most common risk factor for TB cases in Minnesota is being from a country where TB is common.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
<em>TB screening is offered to all refugees during the domestic refugee health exam.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
<em>In 2014, 22 percent of refugees screened tested positive for LTBI (latent tuberculosis infection).</em></div>
<div align="justify">
26 percent of all foreign born cases of tuberculosis in Minnesota were from people <a href="http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/refugee/rhq/rhqapr16.pdf" target="_blank">born in Somalia</a>. Somalians almost exclusively enter the state through the refugee resettlement program.</div>
<div align="justify">
More than 70,000 refugees have been resettled in the United States annually for the past three decades by the federal government. It’s not just tuberculosis being brought in by these resettled refugees. Measles, whooping cough, diptheria, and other diseases that were on their way to eradication are also coming in across the borders of the United States.</div>
<div align="justify">
A recent outbreak of measles in Memphis, Tennessee, a center for refugee resettlement, began at a local mosque, as Breitbart News <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/05/10/measles-outbreak-memphis-began-mosque/">reported previously</a>.</div>
<div align="justify">
The alarming public health report from Minnesota comes on the heels of news from the Centers for Disease Control that in 2015, the incidence of tuberculosis in the United States increased.</div>
<div align="justify">
“Data from 2015 show that the number of TB cases has increased (by 1.7 percent) nationally [in the United States] for the first time in 23 years, with a total of 9,563 TB cases reported,” the Minnesota Department of Health <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/">reports</a>.</div>
<br />
<div align="justify">
As the Star Tribune, Minnesota’s largest daily newspaper, <a href="http://www.startribune.com/after-20-years-of-decline-tuberculosis-inches-up-in-u-s/379588001/" target="_blank">reports</a>:</div>
<div align="justify">
<em>The CDC is still trying to determine the reason for the uptick.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
<em>The goal set by the CDC, in 1989, of eliminating TB by 2010 — defined as less than one case in a million people — remains elusive. Even if the trend of declining cases had continued, the United States would not have eliminated TB by the end of this century, the CDC said.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
<em>“We are not yet certain why TB incidence has leveled off, but we do know it indicates the need for a new, expanded approach to TB elimination,” said Dr. Philip LoBue, director of the CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, in an email.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
<em>A dual approach is needed: continue to find and treat cases of disease and evaluate their contacts, as well as identify and evaluate other high-risk persons for latent TB infection, he said.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
There may be a positive correlation between the increase in the number of refugees resettled in the United States during this period and the sudden increase in the incidence of tuberculosis, a disease that many thought was on the path to eradication in the United States.</div>
<div align="justify">
As the Centers for Disease Control <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/statistics/tbtrends.htm" target="_blank">report</a>:</div>
<div align="justify">
<em>In 2014, a total of 66% of reported TB cases in the United States occurred among foreign-born persons. The case rate among foreign-born persons (15.4 cases per 100,000 persons) in 2014 was approximately 13 times higher than among U.S.-born persons (1.2 cases per 100,000 persons).</em></div>
<div align="justify">
“Today four states – California, New York, Texas and Florida – have more than half the nation’s active TB cases, though they have only a third of the country’s population. The four states have the highest numbers of foreign-born residents,” <a href="http://www.startribune.com/after-20-years-of-decline-tuberculosis-inches-up-in-u-s/379588001/" target="_blank">according to</a> the Star Tribune.</div>
<div align="justify">
A person with latent tuberculosis is not infectious and does not have symptoms of the disease. A person with active tuberculosis is infectious and has symptoms of the disease.</div>
<div align="justify">
Ten percent of those with latent tuberculosis develop active tuberculosis if not treated,<a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs104/en/" target="_blank">according</a> to the World Health Organization.</div>
<div align="justify">
As the Star Tribune <a href="http://www.startribune.com/after-20-years-of-decline-tuberculosis-inches-up-in-u-s/379588001/" target="_blank">reports</a>:</div>
<div align="justify">
<em>TB is an airborne infectious disease caused by bacteria that spreads through the air, person to person, when someone coughs or sneezes. One in three people worldwide have latent TB, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, up to 13 million people have been exposed to TB and could develop the disease.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
<em>Every year, tuberculosis claims 1.5 million lives worldwide and 500 to 600 in this country.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
“Tuberculosis (TB) has surpassed HIV as the leading cause of death from infectious disease worldwide,” the Minnesota Department of Health <a href="http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/refugee/rhq/rhqapr16.pdf" target="_blank">reports</a>.</div>
<div align="justify">
Tuberculosis is airborne and can be spread when a person active tuberculosis coughs, sneezes, or otherwise transmits the infection to a previously uninfected individual.</div>
<div align="justify">
Treatment for tuberculosis is long and expensive. If caught early, it typically takes about nine months for a person with active tuberculosis to improve to latent tuberculosis. Not everyone diagnosed with active tuberculosis, however, improves. Mortality rates for those with active tuberculosis are much higher than health professionals would like, even in the United States.</div>
<div align="justify">
<a href="http://www.startribune.com/after-20-years-of-decline-tuberculosis-inches-up-in-u-s/379588001/" target="_blank">According to</a> the Star Tribune:</div>
<div align="justify">
<em>Treating TB patients is labor intensive. To ensure that TB patients complete the course of drugs that lasts six months or longer, Directly Observed Therapy programs require a health care worker – not a family member – to watch patients with active TB swallow every dose. If a patient cannot get to a clinic, a health care worker goes to the person’s home. The worker monitors patients for side effects and other problems.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
<em>Care also involves communication and cultural challenges. In Michigan, where the number of active TB cases rose from 105 in 2014 to 130 last year, the health department reaches out to Detroit’s large Arab and Bangladeshi populations. In other parts of the state, Burmese immigrants have different needs, said Peter Davidson, Michigan TB control manager.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
<em>“Some local health departments have strong partnerships with translation services. Some rely on a less formal mechanism – a private physician or someone on staff at the hospital who speaks the language,” Davidson said.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
<em>The cost of treating an active TB case that is susceptible or responsive to drugs averages $17,000, according to the CDC. Care of patients with drug-resistant TB, which can result from taking antibiotics prescribed before TB was properly diagnosed, costs many times more: $134,000 for a multidrug-resistant patient and $430,000 for an extensively drug-resistant one.</em></div>
<div align="justify">
Minnesota public health officials point to the high treatment rate of those refugees diagnosed with latent tuberculosis as a reason for optimism.</div>
<div align="justify">
“Eliminating TB in the U.S. will require increased attention to the diagnosis and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI),” the April 2016 Refugee Health Quarterly reports.<br />“Minnesota’s LTBI treatment completion rate for refugees who start treatment is one of the highest in the nation at 86 percent in 2013,” the report adds.</div>
<div align="justify">
An alternative public health policy–one that the United States used for decades in the latter part of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century–is to test immigrants and refugees for infectious disease before they are allowed into the country.</div>
<div align="justify">
In that earlier era, those who tested positive were sent home. Today, however, many are welcomed in and pose a risk of infecting the rest of the American population.</div>
<div align="justify">
(Note: Valley News Live in Fargo, North Dakota was the first broadcast outlet to <a href="http://www.valleynewslive.com/home/headlines/Health-risks-of-resettlement-include-rising-rates-of-tuberculosis-infection-379725921.html" target="_blank">report</a> on the 22 percent incidence of latent tuberculosis among refugees in Minnesota.)<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-34961274851712197972016-05-18T06:37:00.002-05:002016-05-18T06:37:09.267-05:00Suitcases full of cash leaving Sea-Tac Airport<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="expand-img-horiz" data-mycapture-src="http://content.king5.com/photo/2016/05/17/suitcase-cash2_1463534160775_2339581_ver1.0.JPG" height="225" itemprop="url" src="http://content.king5.com/photo/2016/05/17/suitcase-cash2_1463534160775_2339581_ver1.0.JPG" width="400" /></div>
<br />
Travelers pulling suitcases full of cash started showing up at Sea-Tac Airport last year holding tickets for flights headed out of the United States.<br />
Transporting large amounts of cash overseas isn’t illegal. But it was who was carrying the money … and where it was going that caught the attention of security officials.<br />
“It’s not against the law. You can travel outside the United States with as much money as you choose, as long as you declare it,” said Mike Bol, who heads U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations at the airport.<br />
The people carrying the cash didn’t hide the fact from Customs. Just the opposite, they reported it. Anyone traveling out of the United States is required to declare any amount over $10,000 and fill out a one-page federal form.<br />
These reports are what caught the attention of terrorism investigators in Seattle.<br />
“The thing was the amount, the staggering amount,” said Glenn Kerns, who was assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) at the time.<br />
The couriers were working for Seattle-area hawalas – businesses that derive their name from the Arabic word for “transfer.” Hawalas are part of a traditional system of informal bankingin Muslim communities.<br />
Seattle and King County are home to tens of thousands of immigrants and refugees from East Africa, many of whom use the hawalas to send much-needed money back to loved ones in their homelands. Given the presence of active terrorist organizations in Somalia, investigators worry that some of the money shipped home by Somalis up in the hands of the Al Qaeda affiliate active there.<br />
“(They) have Al Shabaab, which has been designated a terrorist organization, and our concern is how much money is going to them?” said Kerns.<br />
Kerns said the first cash shipment rolled through Sea-Tac early last year. A man carrying $750,000 in cash told Customs officials he was transporting the money overseas. Over the next several months, couriers carrying as much as $2 million boarded commercial flights at Sea-Tac.<br />
“One hawala – Seattle hawala – sent out $20 million last year,” said Kerns.<br />
Hawalas have been under intense scrutiny by the federal government since the Sept. 11 attacks. The federal government has pressured banks to monitor and report suspicious activity by hawalas.<br />
Over the years, U.S. banks have been shutting refusing to wire money on behalf of hawalas – worried that the bank could be held liable for failing to report suspicious activity.<br />
In March 2015 the last bank serving hawalas – Merchants – shut down the last remaining accounts of hawalas that wired money to Somalia. That left the hawalas with no other option but to ferry cash overseas on behalf of their customers.<br />
“We, the people that live here in America, are sending money back home to people that are suffering,” said Ikran Abdullahi as she stood outside a hawala in the City of SeaTac.<br />
Abdullahi is one of many Somali immigrants who is worried that the increasing pressure on hawalas will stop her from sending money to her family.<br />
“My grandfather. My brother. My uncle. My cousins. They’re all depending on me. So if that is cut they’ll all die,” said Abdullahi.<br />
Representatives from the Seattle-area’s Somali community say most immigrants send some money home to their families on a regular basis – usually $20-$50 at a time.<br />
Kerns was a Seattle police officer who retired last December after serving 14 years on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.<br />
He uncovered something suspicious when he analyzed financial records that the hawalas are required file with the Washington Department of Financial Institutions.<br />
He researched the names of the ten clients who transferred the most money through hawalas last year.<br />
“All ten of them were on welfare benefits. DSHS benefits,” said Kerns. “It’s fraud. Straight up fraud – every one of them.”<br />
Kerns said he, along with an agent from a federal agency he would not disclose, took their case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle.<br />
“They don’t want to touch it,” said Kerns. “My opinion – I believe it’s because it will look like they’re targeting a certain population.”<br />
Hassan Diis believes that Somali’s are already being targeted.<br />
Diis has been working with lawmakers to try to restore banking services for Somali hawalas. Diis says banks and law enforcement have placed unfair restrictions on hawalas that are harming ordinary, hardworking people.<br />
“Delivering money is one of the biggest challenges people face,” Diis said.<br />
Diis says it’s common for East Africans to pool their money to send overseas. The transfer may be attributed to a single individual who aggregated the funds, which are then distributed among many recipients on the other end. In other words, large amounts attributed to a single sender don’t necessarily mean that the person is a terrorist or committing welfare fraud.<br />
“So if they have a specific issue with one person, that doesn’t mean it fits all the community,” said Diis.<br />
Hawala owners declined to speak about the issue when contacted by KING 5.<br />
Sources within the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle, who spoke on the condition that they not be named, disputed Kern’s version of why the case hasn’t moved forward.<br />
Sources say Kerns case was not developed enough to proceed with criminal charges against any specific target. They say he was advised to follow up with an assistant U.S. attorney who handles fraud cases, but he never did.<br />
Meanwhile, some banks are working with lawmakers to try to restore money transfers to Somalia.<br />
Washington Bankers Association President Jim Pishue says his members know that hawalas are struggling under the scrutiny of international regulators and anti-terrorism agencies.<br />
However, he said federal laws make it “very burdensome” for any bank to send money on their behalf to countries like Somalia.<br />
Pishue said it’s expensive for banks to monitor the accounts, and there’s the risk of being held liable if the feds determine a bank hasn’t done an adequate job. He said congress need to create a better environment for Somali money transfers.<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-64043558711996670342016-05-16T08:02:00.004-05:002016-05-16T08:02:28.319-05:00War-Weary Somalis Flee for Europe as Rebuilding Too Slow <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />>Young Somalis see poor economy, insecurity as push factors<br />>Efforts to curb flight after report hundreds died in transit<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="MAP: SOMALIA" data-attachment-key="207287920" height="376" src="https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/i7n8C5p7Btvk/v1/-1x-1.jpg" style="max-width: 920px;" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
When hundreds of Somalis were reported drowned in the Mediterranean last month, Abdi Deeq didn’t rethink his plans to flee the Horn of Africa nation and risk the illicit crossing to Europe.<br />
More than two decades of Somali civil war and a bloody al-Qaeda-aligned insurgency have left the 22-year-old student with little hope his country is becoming safer or more prosperous. Even as the capital, Mogadishu, rebuilds and elections are scheduled this year, near-daily bombings, rampant corruption and few career opportunities mean he’s one of many young Somalis who see moving abroad as their only choice.<br />
“Many students who were my classmates risked their lives going to Europe -- some died in the sea and others survived,” Deeq said in an interview in the city. “I am ready to join those friends.”<br />
The exodus doesn’t bode well for Somalia, a country of an estimated 10.5 million people that has been mired in conflict since the late 1980s and is trying to use advances against the Islamist militants to attract investors to rebuild the economy. The departure of youth, who should be playing “a pivotal role in Somalia’s socio-economic progress,” will have a “negative impact” on the country’s development, according to Fadumo Abdi Warsameh, chairwoman of the Somalia National Youth Organisation.<br />
Somalis are adding to Europe’s biggest wave of displaced people since World War II, with 1.26 million of all nationalities arriving last year. Of the estimated 153,842 people who crossed illicitly to Italy in 2015, more than 12,400 were Somalis, according to the Kenya-based Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat. Somali immigration officials say they don’t have an exact number of people that have fled in the past year, but that the rate of departures has almost quadrupled in the past six months. Some Somalis also fled across the sea to Yemen, even as conflict engulfs that country, RMMS data shows.<br />
Somalia’s government on April 19 banned its citizens from traveling to Sudan, a popular transit route for undocumented immigrants, after it said hundreds who’d crossed the country died when their boat capsized in the Mediterranean. More than 3,500 people of all nationalities have been killed making similar crossings in 2015, according to the International Organization for Migration.<br />
Data from an RMMS project that interviewed Somalia migrants shows Europe named as the preferred final destination by 44 percent, ahead of South Africa with 34 percent and the U.S. with 16 percent.<br />
Rampant Unemployment<br />
“Some say it’s because of insecurity, but others rationalize their departure due to rampant unemployment,” the head of Somalia’s immigration and naturalization department, Abdullahi Gafow Mohamud, said in an interview.<br />
That’s the case for Ali Hassan Abdi, who graduated from university two years ago and hasn’t found a job. The 25-year-old says endemic graft -- Somalia is ranked joint-bottom with North Korea on Berlin-based Transparency International’s global Corruption Perceptions Index of 168 countries -- is “the number-one cause of mass migration.”<br />
“It is absolutely hopeless to find work if you’re not a relative of one of the government ministers or members of parliament,” he said in an interview.<br />
Among Somalia’s development plans are for oil and gas output to begin by 2020 after exploration work showed the potential for large offshore deposits. Companies including Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Exxon Mobil Corp. and BP Plc are in talks about returning, according to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud.<br />
‘No Hope’<br />
RMMS data shows 30 percent of Somali migrants citing economic factors as the main reason for leaving, with unspecified political issues accounting for 15 percent, and conflict for 11 percent. Thirty-six percent of those interviewed said they had no formal education.<br />
African Union official Francisco Madeira on Sunday said in a statement that the country’s youth have a “big role to play in shaping a future of Somalia without violent extremism and terrorism.” He urged a boost in support for unspecified “youth initiatives.”<br />
“There is no hope in this country,” said Da’ud Qaliif, who married recently and plans to travel abroad with his wife. He lamented the “constant conflict and corruption that’s made our lives miserable.”<br />
“We can’t secure a better life to raise our children,” said the 38-year-old. “There is no other option but the dangerous journey across the sea.”</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-71619620418569103402016-05-15T10:06:00.002-05:002016-05-15T10:06:49.713-05:00Somali grad 'leaving with much more' than a degree<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" height="266" src="http://www.hiiraan.com/images/2016/May/20165156359887111730631648998999.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
FARMINGTON — It’s been a long time coming for Abdirahman Ahmed Hussein, who graduated Saturday from the University of Maine at Farmington.<br />
Originally from Somalia, he and his family left his birthplace to live in Kenya. From there, Hussein said, “We took the opportunity to come to the U.S.” He added that he believed without that move, “none of this would be possible.”<br />
First settling in Salt Lake City 10 years ago for just two months, Hussein said he and his family did not know anyone and didn’t speak the language.<br />
"The city was a fast pace,” he said. "We needed a slower place where our transition could be smoother.” They eventually resettled in Lewiston.<br />
From their beginnings in Maine, he said, his family “saw Lewiston from a different perspective,” alluding to the city’s long reputation of being one of Maine’s rougher places. To him, the opportunity seemed to outweigh any downside. It just meant that they “had to work even harder to get a job,” he said.<br />
During his junior year in high school, an opportunity arose with Tree Street Youth, a free drop-in program for inner-city children and youths in Lewiston.<br />
“They were looking for Street Leaders, which were role models for kids in the community,” Hussein said.<br />
“I was one of the first Street Leaders," he said. "It was a 24/7 job.” As a Somali immigrant, he understood the work needed to move one’s life in a positive direction and enjoyed being a role model for younger kids. Hussein is the first Tree Street alumni to graduate from college and a first-generation college graduate from his family.<br />
Looking back, he spoke about being a Somali on campus.<br />
“I’m not sure people were ready for it, but as time went on, I built relationships that made a bigger impact than I thought,” he said, adding that being on UMF’s soccer team helped him make friends, many of whom brought him home to meet their parents.<br />
“Some say I really changed their life,” he said of those who had never met a Somali or a Muslim.<br />
Asked about the current political climate surrounding the Muslim community, he said, “It bothers me, but I am more disappointed. I was born into a Muslim family and never really questioned it. It made me who I am today.” He added, “I have to be a better human being. It’s part of who I am.”<br />
Hussein graduated with a B.A. in business economics and is looking forward to taking the summer to think about his next steps while searching for a job.<br />
"I came to UMF for a college degree, and am leaving with much more,” he said</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-66716766891451860102016-05-15T09:56:00.001-05:002016-05-15T09:56:04.644-05:00Helsinki University to offer degree in Somali language<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Starting in autumn 2017 the University of Helsinki will offer Somali philology as a full study programme, complete with a pathway to a master's degree. Two new study paths are in store, one for native Somali speakers and another for non-native speakers.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Helsingin yliopisto" data-imagesource="Image: Ronnie Holmberg / Yle" itemprop="image" src="http://img.yle.fi/uutiset/helsinki/article8725293.ece/ALTERNATES/w580/helsingin%20yliopisto%20raitiovaunu%20kaisaniemi%20metro.jpg" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A Somali language degree programme will be launched by the University of Helsinki in autumn 2017. A briefer, 15-study point package is already set to begin at the beginning of the autumn semester this year.<br />
In future, the Somali language may be studied all the way through to a master's degree at the Helsinki University.<br />
Somali language courses will be organised as hourly instruction at first, but Faculty of Arts Dean Arto Mustajoki says that a vacancy for a contract Somali language teacher will soon be established.<br />
The number of students who will get to begin their Somali studies is not yet set, but Mustajoki estimates that some 6-8 students will be accepted to the programme annually.<br />
<h3>
Need based on size of the minority</h3>
Mustajoki says that Finland's Somali-speaking minority is now so large that including it as a subject at the University is more than reasonable.<br />
"It will not be solely language instruction either, as the teaching will also include cultural elements," Mustajoki says.<br />
The University of Helsinki also aims to increase the number of students it admits to its Chinese and Arabic philology programmes by 15 places each year, and the number of students studying English philology will be increased by 20-25 people, according to demand.<br />
Admissions to German and French language study programs will in contrast be cut in future, due to a lower demand.<br />
<dl class="source">
<dt>Sources: Yle</dt>
</dl>
</div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-26929959563005761172016-05-14T09:42:00.001-05:002016-05-14T09:50:40.641-05:00Somali Design Influence Shows Up In The Global Bridal Business<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Somali-inspired designs by Shukri Hashi Bridal. Photo: elmimag.com" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" src="http://d34elvfuwuckt2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2016/05/Shukri-Hashi-3.jpg" height="350" sizes="(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px" width="620" /></div>
Shukri Hashi is the founder and CEO of Shukri Hashi Bridal, a company that is differentiating itself in the massive international bridal business with wedding dresses that combine traditional Somali touches and modern Western styles.<br />
Launched in 2014, Shukri Hashi Bridal is based in London.<br />
The global wedding market is a $300 billion industry, according to Huffington Post. More than 500,000 businesses make up this industry worldwide. No matter what part of the world a women is from, her wedding day is often the biggest day of her life, and the one that most money is spent on.<br />
Of Somali heritage, Hashi was born in Kenya and has lived in London since she was 8 years old. She continues to be based in London and through her bridal designs, Hashi gives a nod to her Somali heritage.<br />
She combines the traditional bridal Somali print known as iyo Dhaqan with modern Western styles on fabrics such as satin, tulle and chiffon.<br />
Hashi spoke to AFKInsider about her dreams of growing her business and getting recognition from the women who inspire her wedding dress designs.<br />
<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FAFKInsider.com%2F&h=uAQF9ho1ZAQGB5Xlm8d1-tzIHHKGHBngP-G6AUoYuC0WjHg&enc=AZOY0EC112RWsWLp7Y_0ICsF09x2-5kDuDkB8Vjds43sMBCntmbU6Ng4LT5JE93xKHfe8EbT-nSq5l0JI8ISBN15SMjur0tJxcdWZvjKkA--GB1jw578uEFxC6dRKLaq-VHsWjTWxV0Lg8YqDFDHajopHs_aDOn1ECLFuhZqymmXbYvN_Gktt84AY3FBqc9n0Lg&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AFKInsider.com:</a> When did you get into designing?<br />
Shukri Hashi: I studied fashion and have a degree in fashion. This business was an idea that I had for a while. I decided to start the business two years ago.<br />
<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FAFKInsider.com%2F&h=7AQFlH8zIAQGWeVCHJRIwLBmkWpCmEWr9O-5nwz-Jg0elnQ&enc=AZP0YUsoRLY0-VqlnZu4irfGmyYFj09ISoXzVGS33io71aamBROtK0JyYx3JEo_WyDOcetxhO3PUlFHhZXdNd6oyBwp_OF8lAojNeVGFBQqxmSeZyamijKTycv_1V0aIVyzauPd2wEHu7fDS_eCUuPYSiOQnu8x4ZWx_w6bsfNnZoEZFu6dXOj8VNt2sGACj8kQ&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AFKInsider.com:</a> When did you realize you wanted to make a career in fashion?<br />
Shukri Hashi: From the time I was a young girl and I would make little dresses for my dolls. I went on to study fashion and create this brand. I knew absolutely I wanted to be in fashion.<br />
<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FAFKInsider.com%2F&h=kAQFp7hrmAQGldTBhA3oVTEfozFNpFgdttmtcByoJF6_MkA&enc=AZNnK8cxUUYdiEenflMnG_cPWS_iLcTd4LpIyj8cCLF8UJl-MChDifvMY5_j7qaf84ET9dfYxp-gazGc7rUbHhpHu4tZfwqDjKPVW7NHmBIHU2QF7bDIroBryDG8hZMbnlWnYWIUMKqoO7q_BMFA_Rglkkd179t6SHTxw2VOymcD9bzX-lpni8NS5nyHrEdGxhI&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AFKInsider.com:</a> The bridal industry is highly competitive. How are your bridal designs different than others on the market?<br />
Shukri Hashi: The print I use is a traditional print on a long piece of fabric that is used as a wrap for brides at Somali weddings. Modern brides still use it but get it sewn into dresses. This was where my idea stemmed from. So I wanted get the print on different fabrics like satin, tulle, and chiffon and make bridal style dresses with the full bridal feel. I wanted to give the modern Somali bride the best of both worlds, giving the bride the traditional print on modern beautiful wedding gowns. I love bridal wear and that was my favorite sector in fashion.<br />
<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FAFKInsider.com%2F&h=xAQESTmbdAQHHywY1MKpca6Tl4oAkWE6mMBlF75mwdIrHxg&enc=AZPve-_Jbqta6eKyC7zJjAcLkqbfBkG9iRMPwC6qAsgXkq-_KwQyxWHZBMCp2XVysXvIprFvDJz1qGugcHX9F2ZfFq1Cq8Cq5S6v3q51h0M9Lg_DKxbnidMFDx2cWcpyd-bgGINwpzMMwOOIpSXwqMgxe2sy9G3AA78WDOX_l_tLWx6bh6ZZ44EnOmwFwJOjCtk&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AFKInsider.com:</a> Are your gowns sold in Somalia?<br />
Shukri Hashi: I currently operate from London however I ship dresses around the world including Somalia.<br />
<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FAFKInsider.com%2F&h=iAQEOr6uZAQGzzpg3gUYJJSnLg-WRH11VoF_AFBG4xw_YcA&enc=AZOTsTd2db2cEzTvwXKYsm5G9UAHaT_eq3g29zT0PEgBcp91MMW4VaQGcOQ9nyYPhCmgo7EN6OWULbd8fFw0UKJ7UunrXUcMGC-MHCTRCKddhwGbzvFvX3v-d4CBcxZCUR3BjIsyvKuWxcqlSDpohgobPkqGsITJXzPfxAflcHw275jSvN3aW8hatjHFePcgHtE&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AFKInsider.com:</a> How do you market your fashions?<br />
Shukri Hashi: I am advertising on Somali TV; also my social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.<br />
<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FAFKInsider.com%2F&h=qAQG7TVYGAQF7xS9frJOofACfbGyh_Xp_sEoWBz4pb3BZ9w&enc=AZMcKCowmBtRrmHEyfY9AIJF68MA9CZb387M5EapCmFliP8bYz8kbw5zHBSNIP3l2AsvxmqtnYQIHRLADJEE7icNA2l0yV9V6VZGoCjO3UgLqWiHW1cKm2HBZyI99PqJDay4hcpVQ2rrOgly4RNPGoy9MgvPYjNaci7uVuoklWSTLhm7BCabCzmZ_yRyJKX70nA&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AFKInsider.com:</a> Where can your products be brought?<br />
Shukri Hashi: Initial contact is made via website, phone, social media, or email. Then I will take details such as size, wedding date, and dress and take it from there. If I have the dress and size I will ship straight away or it will be made. It takes up to three months.<br />
<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FAFKInsider.com%2F&h=5AQGhzbd9AQFzrcHJKgNwJexS4NdA0YHobXs56PlRpDwc0g&enc=AZP1tFRpJN5OFCkweuq-jCsxMItJmvSVi7HiaWQA3X9g96ld6E4tgulA21aTjvuD9Ib7AiUIhc8SCFrYzWkJ6Ob9KjXhsLE5u_Lw9tlORB5o9U1I4SKN5xP80A2UXCB7WueSKWZZ2G5TCdPwtH7uQGwOlyw5auY_W_aphzEXdbhA2gmMByf3we9XuG9upuXwdtk&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AFKInsider.com:</a> Do you travel back to Somalia?<br />
Shukri Hashi: Actually I have never been however I hope to go this year.<br />
AFKInsider: Do you feel as if you inspire other African businesswomen?<br />
Shukri Hashi: I hope so and I do get emails from people who tell me that I inspire them which is always humbling.<br />
<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FAFKInsider.com%2F&h=sAQETbD8ZAQEpIg9JNjftpVHMgmw3TKPgyOPmOihiUzQcZg&enc=AZM3RKnoogb1Easo_hsh11sKSul8GA_KzMtIQ3kIKiPkkXzKYwGbXBgBiizDxatu_yUwU85HCTRJmEKvDElXUbpTrO8yJzPsmi_d8PFOXpez5WIvLnVv9GmhMxjQpEQlXZGVIOin-6Rq0Vwd_5ghxyEhxwZI9XQr22ovq06YrB0yRCSPDILgnaVNb2okSDApAEU&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AFKInsider.com:</a> What have been some obstacles in starting and growing your business?<br />
Shukri Hashi: I work full time as well as running this business so this makes my time very precious and makes me a very busy woman. I am still learning and growing. It’s a huge learning curve. Having said that, it’s a very rewarding one.<br />
<a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FAFKInsider.com%2F&h=vAQFF7Z10AQGmd3Sh6uKq0M4MrThgIq1swGb85UJf8Pz3Mg&enc=AZOUQtyQpzi_KtVjBbrU_eIw1ZQjWEnRhvwswfHMQP9KXnK-bGbWiKOPYL50JZwzZmG5S6i7sJmRJo0w1Epq7tdEsP35Np9X-8WEjkxl7oVTR9BoDg-Na49ajHWlxyE1h6fMx1svYfnDLgTLIkGFMZdq4IB2HJpEed4YNSCV0QSwFEOBn78crEtpAnva-XLlvlE&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AFKInsider.com:</a> What are your long-term goals?<br />
Shukri Hashi:<br />
I learned about Somalian culture because I was brought up around it and I got my inspiration from going to Somali weddings.<br />
The core aim of my brand is to give Somali girls something traditional yet modern on their wedding day.<br />
I dare to dream…hopefully to at least have every Somali bride wearing one of my creations.<br />
<br />
Source: <a href="http://afkinsider.com/125008/somalian-designer-says-bridal-business/">http://afkinsider.com/125008/somalian-designer-says-bridal-business/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-19524149732048989392015-11-14T10:06:00.000-06:002015-11-14T10:08:13.364-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" src="http://www.hiiraan.com/images/2015/Nov/20151114635830575336902820Borderwall.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></div>
<br />
Somalia’s government has accused Kenya of plotting to scrub out the border marker that identifies the two countries’ respective borderlines under pretext of building a separation wall to prevent terrorists from crossing into Kenya.<br />
<br />
The allegations come as the two neighboring countries are locked in a maritime boundary dispute at the International court. The Kenyan government said it seeks to end the long-running dispute with Somalia in a friendly manner and outside court.<br />
<br />
In statement from Somalia’s cabinet on Thursday, the government said that it were not consulted about the wall which being built along the borderline, raising suspicions of a secret scheme by Kenya. <br />
<br />
“We shall talk to the government of Kenya about the reports that it’s obliterating border markers.” said Abdirahman Odawa, Somalia’s interior minister.<br />
<br />
“But in the meantime, we demand an explanation from Kenya on the developments.” He said.<br />
<br />
Last year, Somalia’s government has taken Kenya to the ICC to end the border dispute, saying the dispute risks deterring multinational oil companies from offshore oil and gas exploration.<br />
<br />
However, the Kenyan Attorney General has reiterated his country’s willingness to bring the stalemate to an end, saying that Kenya has submitted its Preliminary objection against Somalia.<br />
<br />
“Kenya’s contention is that Somalia’s case falls outside the jurisdiction of the Court and is inadmissible because it is contrary to Somalia’s international obligations”. Mr. Muigai said last month.<br />
<br />
However, Somalia insisted on court settlements to end the dispute. <br />
<br />
Earlier this year, Kenya has identified eight new offshore exploration blocks available for licensing, and all but one of them are located in the contested area, but Somalia insisted that Kenya’s target area is within their maritime boundary.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-28748976250767890562015-10-31T10:03:00.001-05:002015-10-31T10:03:36.621-05:00Two-day weekend for private sector: New study underwayJEDDAH: The Labor Ministry has announced that it would conduct a study to determine the viability of having a 2-day weekend and a 40-hour work week for the private sector.<br />In a post on its Twitter account recently, the ministry stated that it would take into account the input of business owners, and look at the advantages and disadvantages of introducing the measures, including whether it would attract Saudi youth to the private sector.<br />Sources quoted in the media have suggested that most private companies would introduce the 2-day weekend only if the ministry removes the SR2,400 levy and institutes a 48-hour working week.<br />According to reports, the authorities face a dilemma as they try to boost private sector employment in a period of low oil prices, which are straining state finances and threatening to slow the economy.<br />Most Saudi workers are in the public sector, which offers generous conditions such as a 35-hour work week plus big pensions and health benefits. <br />Most private sector jobs are held by 10 million foreign workers.<br />To reduce the burden on the public sector and curb the number of foreign workers, the government has been considering a proposal to lure more Saudi nationals into private companies by limiting the working week to 40 hours, down from 48 in many firms, including a two-day weekend.<br />But much of the business community has argued that the move would hurt the economy by raising companies’ costs, deterring investment and possibly forcing companies to make up for the shorter work week by hiring more foreigners.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3635885181536410809.post-42083865353723542022015-10-21T06:44:00.001-05:002015-10-21T06:44:12.577-05:00Migrant’s rape claims overshadow Australia’s bid for UN rights bodySYDNEY: Australia’s hard-line immigration policies overshadowed the launch of its bid to join the UN Human Rights Council, with the government and rights lawyers arguing bitterly over a pregnant Somali asylum-seeker who claims she was raped.<br />Immigration Minister Peter Dutton accused lawyers of fabricating stories about the treatment of the woman, who human rights advocates said was denied basic medical attention and likened her removal from Australia to CIA-style rendition.<br />Australia has decided to take 12,000 refugees from Syria on top of its current humanitarian intake quota. The United Nations has said at least 850,000 people are expected to cross the Mediterranean seeking refuge in Europe this year.<br />That estimate already appears conservative as millions of Syrians flee their homes devastated by war, including widespread air strikes by the US and allies such as Australia.<br />However, Australia’s controversial policy of turning back refugee boats and holding asylum seekers in prison camps in poor South Pacific island nations such as Nauru and Papua New Guinea has undermined any goodwill.<br />Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to act on the harsh detention conditions after reports of systemic child abuse and rape. The UN also sharply criticized Australia after an observer canceled an official visit to the detention camps, citing a lack of government cooperation.<br />“Our harsh and cruel treatment of asylum seekers and refugees is damaging our international reputation and damaging our ability to advance our national interest, whether it’s through being elected to the Human Rights Council ... or in other negotiations,” said Hugh de Kretser, executive director of the Human Rights Law Center.<br />De Kretser said UNHRC membership would enable Canberra to rebuild relations with the UN. In March, former prime minister Tony Abbott said Australia was “sick of being lectured to by the UN” after a report accused Australia of breaching international anti-torture conventions.<br />The UNHRC bid came as protesters took to Sydney streets, and as lawmakers and immigration officials scrapped with lawyers over the treatment of the 23-year-old Somali woman, known only as Abyan, who is being held on Nauru and who claims her pregnancy was the result of being raped there.<br />She was brought to Australia last week for an abortion, a procedure banned on Nauru, but was returned four days later when Dutton’s office said she no longer wanted to terminate the pregnancy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0