Finished reading a book few days back.... its called SOLD by Andrew Croft.

 ITs a story about 2 sisters fighting their way back to UK. For Fifteen-years-old Zana Muhsen and her younger sister Nadia, born and raised in Birmingham, a six weeks holiday with relatives in North Yemen sounded like the trip of a lifetime.

 It turned into a living nightmare. on their arrival Zana and her sister discovered that their father had literally sold them into marriage and that they wee helpless prisioners. the girls had to adapt to a completely alien way of life, living in primitive stone houses with dung-plastered walls and no running water. they suffered rape, frequent beatings and the terrifying ordeal of child birth on bare mud floors with only old women in attendance.

 After 8 yrs of misery and humiliation, Zana escaped but her younger sister is still trapped there wid her 2 children........

CARTOONS arent funny when they offend a community and ridicule the beliefs that it holds sacred. such was the effect that was produced by the caricatures printed in the Danish newspaper, Jyllands Posten, last year in September. The events that followed were just like the cartoons that caused them.... not one bit funny.all those cartoons suggested that al muslims are murderers or suicide bombers!!!!!

with layers upon layers of arguments, the Danish cartoon controversy brought to light several issues that all of us can learn from.

Muslims all over the world condoned the publishing of caricatures of the Holy Prophet(SAW) for being highly disrespectful and blasphemous. Editor of Jyllands Posten claims to have done so as a satirical work of art which is general feature of the Danish press. they have done the same with the political figures, influential personalities as wel as with figures of Jesus Christ and Jewish  rabbis. therefore, for them and other so-called 'free press' proponents around the world, muslims' reaction was not justified. muslims, in their view were hindering the 'freedom of press'

even if somehow we do accept those caricatures as symbols of free expression, da Danish media's awe at the repercussions in itself seems a bit absurd since it wasnt the frst time muslims had reacted so aggressively to an act of sacrilege. nor was this the frst ever act of profanity against their beliefs. did not the Danish media remember Muslims' reaction to Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses , or for that matter the more recent Dutch movie incident that sparked immense controversy?

this still, however, does not justify the nature of the cartoons that were printed in the newspaper. they were derogatory and insulting towards an immensely holy figure that muslims follow and endear.

if we just look a lil bak in time, we wil find there hav been several instances within Europe itself when the church has dragged the media into courts for printing material that's offensive to Christian dogmas. the most recent of these cases was in Greece where the writer of a controversial comic book was sentenced to 6 mnths in jail and his work was banned. the comic book showed Jesus as a 'naked surfer high on marijuana'.

similarly, a musical play by a grp called 3 tornadoes in 1994 was banned fr portraying 'pigs on the crucifix'. at present, an artist has been sued under the blasphemy law in Poland for sculpting 'male genitals on to the Christian crucifix'.

almost all of the European countries hav their blasphemy law including Denmark, where there are fines and upto 4 months of jail term fr any1 who 'publicly offends or insults a religion that is recognized in the country'! ( is their law working now??)

Islam does not forbid art completely, yet it has set uderstandable  censorships. as part of these censorships, portrayal of all the prophets has been proibited in order to prevent any idolatrous inclinations of the people as well as to prevent God's messengers from becoming subject to any disregard.

As Pakistanis muslims, our tragedy is tht we hav not been able to identify the issue as a muslim problem. we rather let it get owned by the usual champions of our religion for whom all solution lies in burning effigies. It is not a certain grp's prob. it is the prob of the whole Islamic world and display of such solidarity would hav been better if ppl from al walks of life wuld hav gatherd to express their grief over the issue. shouldnt the muslim wrld find a unified solution to the prob?

recently a very sensible suggestion was put frward in 1 of the national dailies acc to whch 'all muslim govt shuld lodge a united complaint against the European media that was responsible fr this nefarious act to the united nations wid a single penalty demand which the offenders shuld face'.regardless of how the UN may take up the case, it wuld be an effective documnt showing the muslim worlds unity not only to the world but most imp to muslims themselves.

then theres another thng whch has sent in a rong message. Danish apologies came only aftr Danish embasies were attacked and the country's eco suffered wid the ban on Danish goods all over the Middle East. the danish govt as well as the press hav sent a rong msg tht its not peacful demonstrations or lawful proceedings tht will make them move their diplomatic muscle, but a more violent provocation. now the ques is: is this just a miscalculation on denmark's part or do western countries on whole thnk like that?

shedding blood and chanting slogans will not make us better muslims, but a peaceful and pragmatic lifestyle in accordance with our beliefs will. we must know how to integrate or bear with all sorts of individuals.... be they racists, fundamentalists or leftist. we will b often compelled to exercise self-control when provoked by bigots of all kinds. islam is Allah's religion and it can never be threatened by intrigues of any kind. but we as muslims will b tried at every step and we msut know how to keep a sound head on our shoulders wen our mettle is tested by mischief-makers like the ones who made  those cartoons.

I was reading my friend's blog.. he is doing his MBBS from Rawalpindi Medical College.. i thought i should share this with all of u.

 As our principal pointed out, the only real treatment of Chronic Liver Disease is Liver Transplant which unfortunately is not available in Pakistan. So a person with liver disease has to travel abroad to countries like India, China, UK, and USA. The treatment costs are in excess of a whooping One Crore Ruppees. Since prevention is better than cure, I would advise all of you to get yourself vaccinated against Hepatitis B, a viral agent known to cause Liver Disease. Remember

****Hepatitis is many times more infectious,in terms of percutaneous exposure than the feared HIV virus. The chances of getting HIV after a percutaneous exposure is o.3% , while Hepatitis B is upto 40%. So why are we more afraid of HIV than Hepatitis? I'm not playing down HIV. Just trying to get the point across that Hepatitis is as deadly if not more deadly. And the most important fact is that vaccinations are available for Hepatitis B, unlike AIDS. Hepatitis B has been associated with liver cancer. So, go and get yourself vaccinated.

i gave 2 listening tests today ..... at first i was soo mad co zi never got more than 24 or 25 out of 40!!! but when i did toefl listening today i got 45/50!!!!! yes!! i was soo happy that when i got to know my score.. i literally stood up  frm my seat.. and said YES I DID IT!!

even my teacher was smiling.. saying tht ur pretty happy about it haan..

sometimes when i thnk as if what i have to do in my life... it seems like i hav less time and so many things to do. someitmes i thnk tht wil i b able to live abroad alone!?? make new frnds?? get a part time job... live an independent life????? and im so worried abt it.. 24/7 this is the only thing on my mind these days.....

i have to do my gmat yet... im the worst at math! and i havtn studies math in like 3 yrs!!!! i dont even know if  i will ever pass the test!

then, whatever course i have chosen. is it right? will i get a job if i will hav a degree in this field????

ufffff! sometimes i feel like i wont b able to do anything... bcz all my other frnds hav started their masters degree.. and i still have to apply fr it. maybe its bcz they are doing it frm here paki.. and i wana go abroad and have my degree!!!!

i wish watever i have plannned fr my career life... waisa hi ho!

i just hope tht i get the permission to go abroad and get my education.. alone!

i finally had my leraner's liscence issued! i went there with my cousin. first i had to buy this code book , and went fr an eye chkup! after tht i was sitting in a waiting room. myname was called and they took my form, stamped my code book, and told me to go through these sign boards..... i didnt do tht. i just went outside and was waiting tht again my name was called! .

i was asked to stand in front of a board and tell the traffic police, about the signs! frst he asked me about a no parking sign, told him tht.... after wards this is wat hapnd.....

police: is sign ka kya matlab hai? ( referring to no overtake sign)

asma: do not over take:

asma: is poray room mein sirf mein apko mili signs pochnay k liye? baqi jo 25 larkay bethay hain, unko kya road pe drive nahi kerna, unho ne asman pe gari chalani hai???

police: unho ne mana kerdia hai ke unko signs nahi pta, unho ne apni driving institute ki be izati kerwadi hai...

asma: tu mujhko bhi nahi pata, mein yahan learners liscence banwanay aye hon. na kay pakka liscence! mujhko yeh signs nahi pata. ap meri pic lein, ur mera liscence mujhko dein.

police: aap gussa kyon horahi hain?

asma: aap ki batein hi aisi hain....

after 3 mins ma name was called! and i was given my liscence!!!

WTF! uski beti ke barabar ki thi mein .. ullo!

I went to Dawn education exhibition today. they had universities from UK, Australia. i didnt know they had 3 pavillions. i just went through one .. and i got to know that there are 2more!

i met ma frnd from dawn adil and nida. then i met saba apas daughter czara and then the most wonderful thnig happend was tht  a guy came upto me and said" hi, asma, im JD ur frndster frnd!!! i was like huh? and then he said, JD frm malaysia.... and i was like OH MA GOD!!!! how are u? when did u come here... etc etc... i was soo excited to see him here! then we talked a lil , and he told me about some course in mgmt, if im interested, i can apply to staffordshire uni, and he can help me out!

it was a good exp though... i met a ma old frnds.

im tired.. i hav a class at 11 in the mrning.......

i am gona get some sleep......

zzzzzz

today was the MOST tiring day of my life!!!!! i cant even open my eyes... but im soo addicted to this net world and blog thing that i had to rite sumthing.......

well.. laterz... me gona get sum sleeep

The adventure of life is to learn.
The purpose of life is to grow.
The nature of life is to change.
The challenge of life is to overcome.
The essence of life is to love.
The opportunity of life is to serve.
The secret of life is to dare.
The spice of life is to make friends.The beauty of life is to give...........
Never stop caring about the little things in life, never stop dreaming or give-in to strife.
Never stop building bridges that lead to promising tomorrows, never stop trying or give in to sorrows.
Never stop smiling and looking forward to each new day.
Never stop shining in your own special way.
Never forget that all storms can clear, the grayest sky can turn pure blue.
 Remember, brighter days are near... And of course, I'm always here for you