Torture practices include beatings such as jumping on the victim’s stomach; falacca or falanga, which involves beating the soles of the feet with rods; telephono, where the torturer claps flattened palms over the victim’s ears rupturing the tympanic membrane in the process; the use of electricity, including tying victims to a metal bed before applying a current and the use of pointed electrodes placed on the victim’s genitalia; burning; submarino, the submersion of the victim’s head in dirty water until the point of suffocation is almost reached; rape and forced sexual assault; suspension in mid-air with knees bent over a rod and tied tightly to wrists; deprivation of water; fake executions; the forced witnessing of the torture of the victim’s family or children; being held incommunicado; sensory deprivation; the forced injection of psychotropic drugs or ‘faecal matter’.
Tortured in Syria by Italy
Mohammed Majid Shakir was tortured by the Syrians under the command of the Italians. He explains the torture methods used upon him by the Syrians.
“Their instruments of torture were :-
a. Blasphemy. They insulted Allah(swt), his messenger(saw), and tore up the Qu’ran
b. Beating with sticks. They attacked me with a hard stick, and if I tried to defend myself they attacked me harder. Whilst this was happening, I could hear the screams of the other brothers, and they haunt me still to this day.
c. In the winter, in the cell of torture the brothers were tied to a chair by their hands and feet, and into a cell that was freezing. They put an electric fan on us in our faces from morning to afternoon” (Help the Prisoners, 2010)
Tortured in Baghram
Moazzam Beg narrates his experience in Baghram prison, he states, “One particular month in May, I was subjected to some extremely harsh interrogation techniques, which included being – or having my hands tied behind my back to my legs like an animal, as they call in America ‘hogtied’, with a hood placed over my head so I was in a suffocating position, kicked and beaten and sworn at and spat at, left to rot in this position for hours and hours on end and taken again into interrogation, and this lasted over a period of over a month. That wasn’t the worst of it, of course. The worst of it for me was the psychological part, because all of this time I had no communication with my family at all. I didn’t know what happened to my wife or my children. For all I knew they could have done terrible things to them. And that was my biggest fear. (Moazzam Begg, quoted in Democracy Now!, 2006)
Torture in Abu Ghraib
In 2004, the world witnessed the shocking institutionally sanctioned torture of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers in Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison. The vile images of grinning American soldiers standing over shackled, naked and hooded Iraqi men in demeaning, sexually humiliating and contorted positions stunned the liberal conscience of the Western world. Rather than the aberrant behaviour of an isolated few, it became clear that the nine soldiers who were court-martialled for the crimes were indeed responding to orders issued from the highest levels of military government.
Death at Camp Delta
On June 9, 2006, three detainees died while in custody at Camp 1 of the Guantánamo Bay detention facility. Yassar Talal Al Zahrani, Mani Shaman Turki Al Habardi Al Tabi, and Ali Abdullah Ahmed were reported to have been found hanging in their cells at approximately 00:20 on June 10. According to descriptions from the guards, medics, and autopsy reports, all three detainees were cold to the touch, bluish in colour, and in a state of rigor mortis, indicating that each had been dead for more than two hours at the time of discovery. Their eyes were rolled back in their sockets and they had no pulse. Rigor mortis locked their jaws and impeded resuscitation attempts. In the case of one detainee, his jaw had to be pried open with a metal instrument that broke his teeth. At that time, medical personnel discovered that he had a cloth deep in his mouth and down his throat. The same condition was discovered in the other two bodies. The investigations did not explain why the detainees had rags in their throats (Death in Camp Delta, 2009).
Guantanamo Bay
Binyamin Mohammed recalls his experience of prison in Guantanamo Bay, “It is still difficult for me to believe that I was abducted, hauled from one country to the next, and tortured in medieval ways – all orchestrated by the United States government…There are thousands of other prisoners held by the US elsewhere around the world, with no charges, and without access to their families. And I have to say, more in sadness than in anger, that many have been complicit in my own horrors over the past seven years. For myself, the very worst moment came when I realised in Morocco that the people who were torturing me were receiving questions and materials from British intelligence (BBC News, 23rd February 2009)
Implications of Torture
There are a significant amount of detention centres around the world, specifically designed to torture victims. Cruel and callous methods of torture render the victims as helpless and in many cases, ultimately causing their deaths. The victims of torture are owed one thing above all else: justice. The perpetrators of torture must be exposed for who they are, and for what they have done. There is no statute of limitations on inhumanity. Those who designed and implemented the torture and illegal rendition programmes must be punished for their crimes or the laws forbidding these activities will be recognised as meaningless. These inhumane acts were committed against real people. Only the victims can forgive those who violated their human rights and stained the moral consciousness of humanity.
I didn't really know much about Kurds/Kurdistan, and I haven't had the pleasure of meeting any Kurdish sisters online or offline, however, you're points are correct.
In fact, there isn't much information about what happened with Anfal or Halabja, and shamelessly the Muslim world remained silent when the massacres of millions was taking place, and the persecution of anyone who was considered Peshmerga. It is outrageous to say the least. Unfortunately, this is what happens when those in Power are corrupt, and away from Islaam.
If this is how you feel about reading this, then imagine those who have to endure it?
I really am annoyed no one on Ummah replied to my post. Khair insha'Allaah.
I read all of these posts on here and UF but I can never think of what to reply. Anything I think of seems trite so I make dua but don't post, I make donations but obviously wouldn't reply saying that (I did here but only to encourage you) and I think possibly some others do similarly Inshallah.
Be encouraged sister, your posts and reminders are valuable and appreciated barakallahu feeki sis
I read all of these posts on here and UF but I can never think of what to reply. Anything I think of seems trite so I make dua but don't post, I make donations but obviously wouldn't reply saying that (I did here but only to encourage you) and I think possibly some others do similarly Inshallah.
Be encouraged sister, your posts and reminders are valuable and appreciated barakallahu feeki sis
The best thing sister we can do, is change what is in ourselves. Remove idle position when a so called person in power is being a Muslim, while reality is that he is just a dictator. Remove every trait of nationalism we might have. Remove every hateful feeling we have towards other people who just seek justice. Remove our disgusting behavior in saying ooh Allah protect the Muslims in such countries, while we throw food away in our own houses. Remove every disgusting trait of wasting water, while we do dua for Allah(swt) to safe others from poverty and hunger. I have come to know this world and the logic of this world is not only what is seen by the eye. For example throwing garbage in nature it is harmful to nature, but our harmful behavior is bring destruction upon ourselves.
So we need to look at ourselves critically as not much we can do. I still remember during last year Laylat ul-Qadr at the masjid. They brought food on large plates so everybody ate and some was left. I asked another older brother what will happen to this food? He said probably it will be thrown away..while standing in the masjid imam making dua for Allah(swt) to save the Muslims. If you experience such events ..you feel angered about the hypocrisy of us Muslims.
I don't agree it is the best thing we can do. Allah (swt) decides what is best for us and for others.
It is good to do all those things you said and it's also good to help those abroad directly too. I wouldn't consider one thing better than another only that we should be doing our best with both.
I don't agree it is the best thing we can do. Allah (swt) decides what is best for us and for others.
It is good to do all those things you said and it's also good to help those abroad directly too. I wouldn't consider one thing better than another only that we should be doing our best with both.
Alahu alam
I agree with you, that we that we should help the best we can, however often we think by donating ONLY..that will do. While we ourselves aren't showing through our behavior how it should be done.
1 (donating/helping) + 0 (changing our own behavior) = not Islam
0 (donating/helping) + 1 (changing our own behavior) = not Islam
1 (donating/helping) + 1 (changing our own behavior) = Islam.
We often always point at others but we forget many times that we are the cause of our own doings. For example if every one of us, always include this..work on ourselves, it is VERY VERY VERY hard for dictator to root in power. Or even western countries to influence those countries.
So i think we say the same think, but using different words and thus different understanding.
I read all of these posts on here and UF but I can never think of what to reply. Anything I think of seems trite so I make dua but don't post, I make donations but obviously wouldn't reply saying that (I did here but only to encourage you) and I think possibly some others do similarly Inshallah.
Be encouraged sister, your posts and reminders are valuable and appreciated barakallahu feeki sis
Alhamdulillaah. That's good to hear sister.
I Will Never Forget You.
[Please DO NOT like or rep my posts, Jazakumullah Khairan]
Yassin Aref #12778052
Federal Correctional Institution
PO Box 33
Terre Haute IN, 47808
An amazing brother - so insightful and humble. From the mountains of Kurdistan to a prison in the US. Read about his journey and struggles which are still ongoing in his autobiographical book: Son of Mountains.
Sometimes they put innocent men in prison. Yassin Aref is one of those men. Originally published in 2008, but with renewed relevance for today’s international events, Son of Mountains is the story of a UN refugee who sought peace and freedom for himself and his family in America––and found just the opposite. It is the story of a Muslim imam entrapped in a phony “sting” concocted by the FBI, accused of aiding terrorism, and sentenced in 2007 to fifteen years in federal prison.
To see those that have been imprisoned by deceit and lies causes my heart to hurt. Allah (swt) know all and those who have told these lies and deceptions in order to imprison innocent people will have to account for them at judgment.
To see those that have been imprisoned by deceit and lies causes my heart to hurt. Allah (swt) know all and those who have told these lies and deceptions in order to imprison innocent people will have to account for them at judgment.
I wonder more about the mentality of those who do this.
I wonder more about the mentality of those who do this.
Do they not have hearts?
These are people have gone far far faaaar away from their fitrah. Power is a big responsibility. We know that the last ummah (of Muhammad (saws) ) will be taste the punishment on this world and not in the next. I have lately been thinking about it. And so far my conclusion is this.
If somebody kills you unjustly, they will carry your sins on the Day of Judgement. If somebody puts you in jail (unjustly), Allah(swt) is just on the Day of Judgement and these people who have done that will lose their good deeds or if they have not left get your bad deeds. So in the end, all that is happening currently and what is to come..from this perspective is like cleaning our slate of all the bad deeds we have done. The people who are oppressing us, will carry our sins.
If the people are AWARE of Islam being the truth but reject is ..this being a true kaffir. On the Day of Judgement with your bad deeds end up in hell fire. It is like saying filth belongs in hell fire together with your bad deeds. While you being clean and only having good deeds in your book.
How awesome would that be right? So for us day in and day out facing harsh reaction of people because of us being Muslims. They calling us names, but we keep on walking. Or ignoring them. Their good deeds slowly belonging to us on the Day of Judgement. If you look it from that point of view, suddenly the heart becomes calm..and you become very optimistic .
By the way, i also thought of Rasullah(saws) and that he will get the highest place in paradise. We know if you call somebody filthy names, your good deeds will go to them. While sub'han'Allah in the present day everybody is calling Rasullah(saws) of all sort of filthy names. I mean..through out the world..day in and day out. Muslims sent blessings to Rasullah(saws) in the salah daily and non-Muslims are calling him names. Continuous hassanaat you could say that go to Rasullah(saws).
I wonder more about the mentality of those who do this.
Do they not have hearts?
The mentality of these people is that Islam and Muslims are the enemy and must be defeated. The mentality is such that they will praise a Military member that dies in an attack in Yemen but say nothing about eight year old Nawar al-Awlaki who was killed in the attack and is a US Citizen.
The mentality will bomb a wedding and kill many innocent people by “mistake” trying to get one person but if the sons or fathers of the victims take up jihad then they become terrorists.
The mentality will lock up someone for decades without trial in GTMO because they may have driven someone or delivered a package to someone or just been at the wrong place at the wrong time. And if this person is freed and takes up jihad because of the treatment he has received then he becomes a terrorist.
The mentality of these people is that Islam and Muslims are the enemy and must be defeated. The mentality is such that they will praise a Military member that dies in an attack in Yemen but say nothing about eight year old Nawar al-Awlaki who was killed in the attack and is a US Citizen.
The mentality will bomb a wedding and kill many innocent people by “mistake” trying to get one person but if the sons or fathers of the victims take up jihad then they become terrorists.
The mentality will lock up someone for decades without trial in GTMO because they may have driven someone or delivered a package to someone or just been at the wrong place at the wrong time. And if this person is freed and takes up jihad because of the treatment he has received then he becomes a terrorist.
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