ASTAGHFIRULLAH, MAY ALLAH PROTECT US FROM SUCH SINS, AMIN

 Posted here on 2/12/2012.

Gay Mosque to Open in Paris

By DRAGANA JOVANOVIC | ABC News – Tue, Nov 27, 2012.

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ABC News - Gay Mosque to Open in Paris (ABC News)

Ludovic Mohammed Zahed is braced for controversy, maybe even worse. A gay Muslim and an expert on the Koran, Zahed plans to open Europe's first gay-friendly mosque in Paris at the end of this month. He calls it a place of shelter as well as a place of worship.

"We need to have a safe space for people who do not feel comfortable and at ease in normal mosques," Zahed told ABC News. "There are transgender people who fear aggression, women who do not want to wear head scarf or sit in the back of the mosque. This project gives hope back to many believers in my community."

"Common prayer, practiced in an egalitarian setting and without any form of gender-based discrimination, is one of the pillars supporting the proposed reforms of our progressive representation of Islam," he said.

"The Unity" mosque will initially operate in a Buddhist temple in a neighborhood in eastern Paris, and will emphasize "accepting everyone as equally God's creation....I hope straight men will pray together with gay men and women, everyone," said Zahed who declines to make public the address of the venue, due to security concerns.

Zahed's mosque will honor some Islamic traditions, like Friday prayers (Jumu'ah), and the Muslim marriage contract (Nikah) to bless same-sex marriage. It will also perform funeral rites (Janazah) for those who have been denied a traditional Islamic funeral based on Sharia law because of their sexual orientation.

"It is a safe place to worship," said Zahed, where no religious questions will go unaddressed. "Our imams will talk on any taboo topic." Zahed will be one of three prayer leaders, along with a female French convert to Islam and another man who is being trained.

"Current Islamic ethics may condemn this sexual orientation," Zahed said, "but in fact nothing in Islam or the Koran forbids homosexuality. Indeed, for centuries, Muslims did not consider homosexuality to be the supreme abomination that they do today."

According to Zahed, renowned Muslim poets wrote odes glorifying handsome boys. Some were interpreted as metaphors for loving God, but some also seem to reference gay intimate relations. Zahed argues that homosexuality became criminalized only under European colonialism.

"From the 10th to the 14th century, Muslim society used to be a far richer mix of the legal, the rational and the mystic," said Zahed. "They looked at sexuality as one aspect of life's many possibilities, and they saw in it the hope for spiritual insight."

"Even if this mosque is newfound freedom," said Nasser, an openly-gay Parisian, "gays will remain in a closet, worried about being ostracized at their local schwarma stand."

While it would be the first gay mosque in Paris, there are believed to be 21 other gay mosques sprinkled through the U.S., Canada and South Africa.

In countries where traditional Islam is dominant, like Egypt and Iran, punishment against homosexual activity, not to mention advocacy for gay rights, is very severe.

Zahed's Parisian mosque will be inspired by the work of Muslims for Progressive Values in North America, who practice common prayer, in an egalitarian setting and without any form of gender-based discrimination.

"We are already working very closely with them. The idea for our Paris mosque comes as a result of our conversations," says Zahed, whose future plans include "a progressive mosque in the UK and then another one in Denmark will follow."

Zahed believes, if the Prophet Mohamad was alive today, he would marry gay couples. He himself is the first gay man to marry partner in a Muslim ceremony in France. He is an Algerian PhD student writing his thesis on Islam and homosexuality, a subject he also addressed in a book "The Koran and the Flesh."

He has experienced anti-gay discrimination from Islamic groups, and Islamophobia from members of the French gay community.

Meanwhile there is a lot of controversy in France regarding both same-sex marriages and Islamic influence and practices. Ten days ago, tens of thousands protesters took to the streets against government's plan to legalize same-sex marriage, while several weeks ago, right wing protesters stormed an unfinished mosque to show disapproval of France's large community of Muslim immigrants.

ZUBERI MIPIKO ANAISHI KWA KUCHOMA MIILI YA WAFU DAR ES SALAAM

IMETUNDIKWA HUMU TAREHE  2/12/2012.

Mtanzania Anayeishi Kutimiza Mila za Kihindi za Kuchoma Miili ya Marehemu
Zuberi Mipiko 
Na Florence Majani , MWANANCHI, TANZANIA,  Ijumaa, Novemba 30,  2012  saa 13:9 PM

 Mzee huyu anasema kwa miaka 36 aliyoifanya kazi hiyo ameona na kuchoma miili mingi, hivyo amekuwa mzoefu na mahiri pengine zaidi hata ya Wahindi wenyewe.

SENTENSI iliyoandikwa katika lango kuu ni ‘Hindu Crematory’, yaani ‘Tanuru la Wahindi la Kuchomea Maiti.’

Ipo katika eneo la Kijitonyama, jijini Dar es Salaam ambalo limetawaliwa na miti mirefu, ikiwamo miembe, mipera na mingine isiyo na matunda. Upande wa kulia, kuna nyumba mbili ndogo nyeupe.

Upande wa kushoto kuna kitu mfano wa kaburi lililosakafiwa vyema pamoja na picha ya mtu anayeonekana kuwa na hadhi kutokana na mavazi yake.

Mbele yake kuna majengo mawili makubwa yaliyoshabihiana kiasi. Yameezekwa juu kwa bati, bali  nguzo nne kubwa zinazoshokilia paa hilo ambalo kwa ndani limesheheni moshi mweusi.

Katikati ya jengo hilo, kuna kitu cha chuma, mfano wa kitanda…na hilo ndilo tanuru la kuchomea miili ya wafu, kama zinavyohubiri mila na tamaduni za Wahindi.

Ndani ya mandhari hii anaishi  Mzee Zuberi Mipiko, mwenye umri wa miaka 79 sasa.
Pamoja na ulinzi, lakini kazi yake kubwa ni kuchoma miili ya wafu.

Mipiko, mwenyeji wa Kisarawe Mkoani Pwani anasema alianza kazi katika tanuru hilo mwaka 1976.
Katika miaka 36 aliyofanya kazi ndani ya tanuru hilo, amekwishachoma maelfu ya miili ya wafu wa mataifa mbalimbali wakiwemo pia Watanzania wenzake.

Mzee Mipiko huwachomaje wafu?

 Kwanza kabisa, anasema baada ya mwili wa marehemu kuingia ndani ya jengo hilo, Wahindi huvunja  nazi tatu katika kaburi lililo karibu kabisa na lango kuu.

Baada ya hapo mwili huletwa katika tanuru lenyewe.  Yeye (Mipiko ) hupanga kuni juu ya tanuru hilo   ambalo limeundwa mithili ya kitanda cha chuma.

“Mimi huanza kupanga kuni kabla hata mwili haujafika ili kuokoa muda kwa sababu huwa napigiwa simu na kuambiwa kuwa leo kuna maiti inakuja,” anasema.

Kuni hupangwa kwa ustadi mkubwa. Zile  za ukubwa kiasi hupangwa katika umbile la reli. Magogo makubwa manne hupangwa kushoto, kulia magharibi na mashariki  ya tanuru hilo.

“Kuni zinatakiwa ziwe nyingi kwa sababu kazi ya kuchoma mwili si ndogo,” anasema Mipiko.
 Kabla ya kuuweka mwili katika tanuru, anasema ndugu wa marehemu huuzungusha mara nne, kulizunguka tanuru hilo.

Baada ya hapo, Mwili wa marehemu ukiwa na sanda huwekwa katikati ya kuni hizo, kichwa kikielekezwa magharibi.

Kabla ya uchomaji wenyewe kuanza, mila za Wahindu hasa Baniani, hutaka kuhakikisha iwapo kweli ndugu yao amefariki.

Ndugu mmoja wa marehemu hutakiwa kuhakiki kwa kuchukua kipande kidogo cha kuni  chembamba kilichoshika moto, kisha humchoma marehemu katika unyayo mara nne, huku akilizunguka tanuru.

“Yaani, anachoma mara moja, kisha anazunguka, na anarudia hivyo hivyo hadi mara nne,” anasema.

Hatua   inayofuata ni kuchukua moto kwa kutumia makoleo maalum, kisha kuuchanganya moto huo na mafuta ya samli.

“Ninachofanya mimi hapo ni kuupaka uso wa marehemu kwa mafuta ya samli, kabla ya zoezi jingine halijaanza,” anasema.

Mzee Mipiko anasema husaidiana na ndugu za marehemu kuweka moto na mafuta ya samli katika mwili, baada ya hapo moto huanza kuwaka na kwa kawaida huwa ni mkali zaidi ya gesi.

Anasema mafuta ya samli pamoja mafuta ya marehemu mwenyewe huufanya moto kuwa mkali kuliko kawaida.

Wakati moto unaendelea kuwaka kwa kasi, Mzee Mipiko hushika mfuko uliojaa mbegu za ufuta na ndugu za marehemu hutakiwa kuzichota mkononi na kuzirusha juu ya mwili unaoendelea kuungua.

“ Hayo ndiyo mazishi yenyewe sasa na wakati huo ndugu zake huwa wamelizunguka tanuru,” anasema Mipiko
Anaongeza kuwa kwa kawaida mwili wa marehemu huchomwa na kumalizika kabisa baada ya saa mbili au mbili na nusu.
Mwili unatakiwa kuungua na na kwisha kabisa,  kinachotakiwa kubaki  ni vipande vya mifupa, lakini  wakati mwingine moto huweza kwisha kabisa na wakati huo mwili bado haujamalizika.

Kama mwili haujamalizika kabisa, Mipiko hutumia koleo lake maalum kutoa sehemu ya mwili iliyobaki, kuiweka pembeni, kisha
kupanga kuni mpya… na kuuchoma tena.
“Nikishaweka samli na mkaa pale, dakika tano tu, kila kitu tayari,” anasema Mipiko akitabasamu
Anasema wakati mwingine mwili unaobaki unakuwa ni sehemu ya tumbo, ambapo yeye hushuhudia utumbo au nyamanyama zilizoungua.

“Hii ndiyo kazi yangu, nausogeza taratibu, nauweka pembeni, halafu naanza kuchoma upya,” anasema.
Baada ya mwili kuchomwa na kwisha, ndugu mmoja wa marehemu huchukua chungu maalum kilichojazwa maji na kukiweka katikati ya miguu, kisha anatakiwa kutazama  magharibi akiyapa kisogo mabaki ya mwili huo wakati huo  waombolezaji wote wageuke pia.

Anachofanya ndugu huyo wa marehemu akiwa amesimama ni kuchukua jiwe na kukipiga chungu hicho kwa nguvu hadi kivunjike na maji yamwagike  kuelekea lilipo tanuru.

Baada ya tukio hilo  yeye pamoja na umati wote wa waombolezaji hutakiwa kuondoka bila kugeuka nyuma.
Mzee Mipiko anasema baada ya mwili kuchomwa  na moto kumalizika kabisa, yeye huchukua chuma kirefu mfano wa koleo na kuanza kuyatoa mabaki ya mwili huo ambayo kwa kawaida ni vipande vya mifupa  ya mwili na fuvu, vilivyochanganyika na majivu na mkaa kutoka tanuruni.

“Nikishasogeza mabaki yaliyochanganyika na majivu na mkaa kwa kutumia fimbo hii (anaionyesha), naanza kuvitenga vipande vya mifupa peke yake,” anasema

Mifupa hiyo huwekwa katika mifuko maalum na hatua ya mwisho ni ndugu kwenda kuyatupa baharini.
Mzee huyu anasema kwa miaka 36 aliyoifanya kazi hiyo ameona na kuchoma miili mingi, hivyo amekuwa mzoefu na mahiri pengine zaidi hata ya Wahindi wenyewe.

Anasema si raia wa India pekee ambao wanachoma  wafu, bali aliwahi kuchomwa mwanamke wa Kichagga ambaye alikuwa ameolewa na Baniani.

“Hata Wazungu wanachomwa hapa, na baadhi ya Waafrika ambao wana imani za Kibaniani,” anasema Mzee Mipiko

Hilo ndilo tanuru na kibarua ambacho Mipiko amekiishi kwa miaka 36 na kufanikiwa kujipatia kipato.
Uongozi wa Hindu Mandal umemjengea nyumba yeye na familia yake.

Anasema hana hofu juu ya kazi yake hiyo ambayo pengine yeye ndiye mtanzania pekee anayeifanya.
“Mimi najihisi kama ni malaika siogopi na ninazunguka katika matanuru haya wakati wote bila woga, kwani hata mimi si nitakufa tu,” anasema.

Anasema hana woga wala wasiwasi kuhusu kazi yake hiyo na anawafundisha watoto wake wa kiume ili siku atakayoondoka duniani, basi wawe warithi wake.

BAKWATA [TANZANIA] YAMKANA SHEIKH PONDA MAHAKAMANI

Imetundikwa hapa leo hii 2/12/2012.

 

MWANANCHI, Tanzania,  Novemba 30, 2012

 

Bakwata yamkana Sheikh Ponda mahakamani

 

 

BARAZA Kuu la Waislamu Tanzania (Bakwata), limemkana Katibu wa Jumuiya na Taasisi za Kiislamu Tanzania, Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda na wenzake, baada ya kudai mahakamani kuwa eneo walilovamia wakidai ni mali ya Waislamu linamilikiwa kihalali na kampuni ya Agritanza.

Katibu Mkuu wa Bakwata, Sheikh Suleiman Lolila alisema hayo jana wakati akitoa ushahidi katika kesi ya jinai inayomkabili Ponda na wenzake 49 katika Mahakama ya Hakimu Mkazi Kisutu, wakidaiwa pamoja na mambo mengine kuvamia na kupora ardhi na wizi wa vifaa vya ujenzi.

Akitoa ushahidi wake jana huku akiongozwa na Wakili Mwandamizi wa Serikali, Tumaini Kweka, Lolila ambaye ni shahidi wa kwanza wa upande wa mashtaka alidai kuwa eneo hilo awali lilikuwa likimilikiwa kihalali na Bakwata.

Hata hivyo, alidai kuwa baadaye Bakwata walibadilishana na Kampuni ya Agritanza Limited baada ya kuona eneo lililobaki halifai kujengwa chuo kikuu kutokana na ufinyu wake.
Alidai kuwa awali eneo hilo lilikuwa kubwa lakini miaka ya 2000 lilianza kumegwa na kuzigawia baadhi ya taasisi na wafanyabiashara na kwamba tume iliundwa na kubaini kwamba hayo yalifanyika kinyume na utaratibu.

“Baada ya kumegwa eneo lililobakia ni finyu ambalo halitoshi kujengwa chuo kikuu. Mimi nilikuwapo wakati Baraza la Wadhamini wa Bakwata wakijadili jinsi ya kupata eneo kubwa na kuijadili Kampuni ya Agritanza iliyokuwa na eneo la ekari 40 Kisarawe ili tubadilishane,” alidai.

Shahidi huyo aliongeza kuwa Agritanza ilikubali kubadilishana maeneo na kwamba wao walichukua ekari nne zilizopo Markaz (Chang’ombe) na Bakwata ikachukua ekari 40 zilizopo Kisarawe.

“Hayo yalifanyika baada ya kupata baraka kutoka katika Baraza la Maulamaa lililokaa na kuamua hivyo Januari 22, 2011,” alisema shahidi huyo na kuongeza:
“Baada ya kufanyika mabadilishano, Agritanza walianza kushughulikia usajili wa kiwanja namba 311/3/4 na walipata. Hivyo kwa sasa ni wamiliki halali, tulishamalizana nao.”

Shahidi huyo aliendelea kudai kuwa eneo hilo Serikali ililitoa kwa Wamisri kwa ajili ya kujenga chuo chini ya usimamizi wa Bakwata.
Alidai kuwa kwa mujibu wa mkataba huo uliosainiwa mwaka 2003, endapo Wamisri wataondoka Tanzania watarejesha eneo hilo katika umiliki wa Bakwata.
Shahidi huyo pia alitoa kielelezo cha makubaliano ya Baraza la Wadhamini wa Bakwata na Agritanza, kuhusu kubadilishana uwanja.

Hata hivyo, Wakili wa utetezi, Juma Nassoro alipinga kwa madai kwamba kisheria walitakiwa kutoa notisi kabla ya kuwasilisha kielelezo hicho mahakamani.

Akijibu hoja hizo, Wakili Kweka alidai kuwa barua halisi wanayo na kwamba ipo katika kumbukumbu za Bakwata, huku akisisitiza kuwa shahidi anastahili kutoa kielelezo hicho kwa sababu saini yake ipo.

Hakimu Mkazi, Victoria Nongwa anayesikiliza kesi hiyo, alikikataa kielelezo hicho akisema Serikali ilitakiwa kutoa notisi kabla ya kuwasilisha kielelezo hicho.

Hakimu Nongwa alisema kwa kuwa barua halisi ipo wanatakiwa kuiwasilisha mahakamani, lakini akasema endapo barua halisi haipo, basi taarifa ya jana itatambulika kuwa notisi na wataruhusiwa kuiwasilisha.
 Baada ya kumaliza kutoa ushahidi wake, Hakimu Nongwa aliahirisha kesi hiyo hadi Desemba 13 itakapoendelea kusikilizwa kwa mashahidi wengine wa upande wa mashtaka.
Sheikh Ponda na wenzake walipandishwa kizimbani mahakamani hapo kwa mara ya kwanza Novemba 18, mwaka huu na kusomewa mashtaka manne likiwamo la wizi wa mali ya Sh59.6 milioni.

Kwa mujibu wa hati ya mashtaka, washtakiwa wote 50 wanakabiliwa na makosa manne kwa pamoja, lakini Sheikh Ponda na Sheikh Mukadamu Swalehe wakasomewa shtaka jingine zaidi.
Mashtaka manne yanayowakabili washtakiwa wote ni wizi, kula njama, kuingia kwa nguvu kwenye eneo lisilo mali yao kwa nia ya kutenda kosa na kujimilikisha ardhi kwa nguvu na kusababisha uvunjifu wa amani.

Shtaka la tano ambalo linawakabili Sheikh Ponda ambaye ni mshtakiwa wa kwanza katika kesi hiyo na Sheikh Swalehe ambaye ni mshtakiwa wa tano, ni la uchochezi.
Washtakiwa wengine katika kesi hiyo wako nje kwa dhamana isipokuwa Ponda na Swalehe tu ambao dhamana zao zimezuiliwa na DPP.

Wakati washtakiwa hao wakipandishwa kizimbani katika Mahakama hiyo kwa tarehe tofauti, Wakili Kweka alidai kuwa DPP ametoa hati ya kuzuia dhamana yao chini ya Kifungu cha 148 (4) cha Sheria ya Mwenendo wa Mashauri ya Jinai (CPA).

Hata hivyo, Wakili anayewatetea washtakiwa hao 50, Nassoro aliipinga hati hiyo kwa madai kuwa sababu zilizotolewa na DPP za kupinga dhamana za usalama na masilahi ya Jamhuri ni za kiujumla na kwamba Mahakama haiendeshwi kwa namna hiyo.

Akijibu hoja hizo, Wakili Kweka alidai kuwa kwa Kifungu cha 148 (4), alichokitumia DPP, Mahakama inafungwa mikono na kwamba kwa mujibu wa kifungu hicho, DPP halazimishwi kutoa sababu yoyote.

 

CHANZO: MWANANCHI , Novemba 30, 2012

Posted by Geofrey Adroph at 11/30/2012 11:26:00 AM No comments: