Yes, pride in Pakistan. In something uniquely Pakistani. Not a word you will hear often given the news coming out of that country.

For a while now, I have been wondering about the moral responsibility of people like us (see here and here), , who work in the tech industry here in the Bay Area for human rights abuses enabled by our products.

Here’s the first real effort I have seen to put some legal and real shape to the concerns:

Every year we hear ridiculous insults, stupid questions, naive lunacies, and straight out racist bull. Lets collect the worst and funniest stuff said about Islam and Muslims this year. Put it in the comments section. Then we'll sort out the top 10 lunacies said about Muslims this year, put them in a poll and let readers vote on what is the absolutely most stupid and insulting thing said about Muslims this year!

Collect them all!

Sign Petition Here Activists Call For End To Practice Of Stoning  

PRAGUE, October 25, 2006 (RFE/RL) — Women's rights activists in Iran have called on the head of the country's conservative judiciary and the parliament to end the stoning to death of convicted adulterers. Under pressure from the European Union, Iran was said to have introduced a moratorium on stonings in 2002, under pressure from the European Union. But activists accuse judges of perpetuating the practice.

Reports suggest that two people were stoned to death in May and at least eight women currently face stoning sentences.

The BBC reported some good news about Chechnya after a long time today. 

There is of course a big element of tragedy in it. In 2000, Fatima Bazorkina saw television footage of her son being questioned by Russian military personnel. The questioning ended when a Russian general present ordered that he be taken away and shot. He was never seen again. It's all too common a story for the Chechens. Incidentally, the general was later given a medal.

The one good thing to have come of this particular case is that the European Court of Human Rights has ruled against the Russian government on it. I would hazard a guess, though, that no one will take away that guy's medal.

One common tactic to dissuade people from doing something, anything, is to argue that it's frivolous, that there are better things to do, that with all the human suffering out there, why in the world are you leading prayer/listening to music/talking about love, life, etc.?

I won't waste time talking about how idiotic that argument is, but I will ask why I've not seen that tactic used in another fashion. Why is it only used against folk who are working for more personal freedom, or simply enjoying life? Why not turn that "Don't you think you should be focused on the poor?" on the imam who screams for an hour about lipstick, MTV, or Naseeb? I don't hear anyone use those lines against the hateful characters calling for death to America/Israel/Asra Nomani/Irshad Manji/etc. We can't be pansies- I'm sick of progressives being pushed around. So, here's what I want y'all to do:

1. Next time you hear someone spouting hateful nonsense, just say: well, I'm sure that's very important, but we need to focus on poverty/public health/ education/human rights/just about anything else first.

2. As they sputter for a rejoinder, seize the reins of the conversation, and steer it towards your suggested topic, or one related. Bonus points if you can get people to donate to the charity of your choice.

3. Pass on this topic, and repeat when needed.

Good.

Now, I promised a little something on the Fashion Jihad, and I'm not one to break my promises. One of the stated goals of the Fashion Jihad was to make sure that all who participate in beautifying the believers are paid well and treated fairly. Since we're not going to get makers of "Islamic" clothing to go organic and fair trade anytime soon, I looked up a few places that do have organic, fair trade clothing, and weeded out those that lack the modest clothing us Muslims crave. I included some Islamic sites that have natural clothing, maybe we can work on them.

Key:
$ – downright cheap
$$- moderately priced
$$$ – slightly expensive
$$$$ – maybe if you mugged Madonna.

One World is Enough
http://www.one-world-is-enough.net/
Casual, some stuff for work (unless you're an accountant), some dresses for evening
$$

Mehera Shaw
http://www.meherashaw.com/boutique/HOME/cat/collections/fall-winter
Casual, some stuff for work (unless you're an accountant.), evening wear
$$$

Al-Farah
http://www.al-farah.com/
Casual, work (based in US)
$$

Primo Moda
http://www.primomoda.com/
Casual, work, formal
$$$

Artizara
http://artizara.com/webcart11/index.php
Casual, work, formal (based in US)
$$

Crescent Moon Boutique
https://www.crescentmoonboutique.com/default.aspx
Casual, work, formal based in US (they use black models!)
$$

Dan Varisco's post on gay marriage, the trade of young brides in Afghanistan, and the value of marriage on his group-blog Tabsir is so sensible it just makes me still with gratitude. Most of Varisco's writing is like this. He is one of those who combine comprehensive knowledge of an area and common sense. Here he offers a summary analysis of the historical value of marriage and suggests we might consider that there would be no loss of value should gay marriage be legitimized. Cultures have typically used marriage to build legitimate alliances between families or communities, regulate sexual access to fertile women, and consequently protect the validity of the alliance through the legitimacy of the offspring. It is only rarely about love. The child brides given over for debt in Afghanistan are symptomatic of marriage as alliance in its worst manifestation. Needless to say here, such marriages are not Islamically legal. But we all know too that few care what legal scholars have to say.

The BBC carried this story yesterday, along with a good discussion of what exactly constitutes war crimes under the Geneva Convention. It's refreshing to see mainstream media attempt for once to argue this sort of thing through rather than fall back on tired and lazy stereotypes.

According to the BBC's analysis, Hizbullah was definitely guilty of war crimes for firing missiles into civilian areas in Israel. Whether or not Israel is also guilty of war crimes in its response depends basically on two things; whether it tried sufficiently to avert civilian casualties, and whether the force of the response was disproportionate to the provocation it faced. As in all things legal, there is a big element of subjectivity to both these questions.