@ Sister JenGiove
Firstly, you should realise that we have been following the plight of sister Aafia for a long time. This has been discussed far more among the muslim community around the globe, than the attention it has been give in the west.
Therefore, when you posted a wikipedia page that was filled with inaccurate facts and propaganda, I can see that it could potentially irk a lot of people who know her case and the allegation in far more detail. I think it would have been better, if you had reserved making a post/comment before you conversed yourself with her entire situation and her case.
As I mentioned earlier, even honest non muslim observers who are conversant with details of her arrest and the case levied against her, are asking for justice and the restoration of her civil rights. They too think it is outrageous for the govt/military to deny her rights and capture/torture her out of blind hate and prejudice.
The allegations against her are outrageous and it is sickening for any military might to imprison and brutally oppress a woman and level false charges against her to justify this injustice.
I would hope that we are all for justice. Even if it is our *own* people/government/military who is the oppressor. At this point, patriotism needs to be put aside and people need to feel sympathetic with the oppressed. I have no problems with anyone pointing fingers at the barbaric killings that my *own* country's military undertakes against the people of kashmir in addition to other atrocities. It doesn't matter to me that this is the country whose culture, history and economic/military might I am supposed to be proud of. Injustice at the end of the day is ruining lives of other people and snatching away their basic human rights of living in peace and in dignity.
I do not think it is anti american to start such threads or discuss such matters. If she was being held in Britain (see Faraj Hassan), then we would be talking about the injustice done by the British govt. I would go as far as saying, if it were in a Arab muslim country, the reaction wouldn't be any different.
Granted that people should not demonize anything and everything they hear about the US. But given the fact that in the past few years, the US govt has waged two wars killing thousands upon thousands innocent muslims (with or without intent), Abu Ghuraib, Guantanamo Bay, Blackwater etc etc (this list is not even close to completion) has demonstrated that the US govt. has paid no or little attention to treating the muslims in these lands (which is hardly discussed or covered on the US media unless there is a political controversy in relation to it).
Outwardly, the govt. might proclaim to have got rid of tyrants and inhumane, barbaric and backward governments. But look at the infrastructure these people have to live is ? Look at the new corrupt tyrants they have installed and the mass civil unrest in Iraq (
look at this heartbreaking call from Baghdad) has come about.
Look at these heart wrenching details that are uncovered from the battle zones.
All the above is posted not to hold the *common American* accountable, rather so that you can understand why you read thread upon thread of 'anti american' sentiment. If you would be reasonable, you would easily understand that these things lead to people always being doubtful and apprehensive about the intentions of the these western governments with relation to our muslim countries and muslim people.
Some of the members on this webforum are also bearing the consequences of such military campaigns. For example : Pakistan. They have Taliban forces at the door step of their major cities. They have people blowing up other people when they go out to shop or to pray at a mosque. They wake up to newspaper headlines of drone attacks killing 10-12 villagers (including children) in some parts of their country. I would only imagine that they have a right to question the actions of their government and the coalition forces for these calamities that they have to come across in their daily lives.
Yet all this is not reason to be prejudiced or show blind hate against any American who registers to this website to learn about the beauty of Islam. We have to treat such members as our guests, with kindness and respect.
And at this point, I would like to remind myself, my fellow muslim brothers and sisters to always be patient and understanding with our guests. To treat people with best manners is a teaching of our deen. So why let your emotion overcome you by you treating your guests in a way that would repel them from this website and from learning about Islam ?
With this, I think I should bring my post to an end. I hope this post serves it's purpose InshaAllah.
