ISIL promoting utopia

(Asharq Al-Awsat)

It looks very strange that a terrorist group engaged in bloody activities gets up one day from its historic slumber to establish a caliphate for Arabs. The move by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) aims at revoking borders of sovereign countries.

How can ISIL establish a state on the blood and bodies of innocent people they have killed?

State is a sovereign entity based on geography, people, constitution and judiciary, while the caliphate they proclaim denies sovereignty. Some people have likened ISIL to that of Mongols who invaded the land of the Ottoman caliphate and occupied Baghdad in 1258.

The strangest thing is that a large number of young men in the Arab world are enticed by ISIL’s bloody activities. Mongols succeeded over their rivals by frightening them but ISIL not only frightened people but also won supporters who endorse their foolish activities and crimes.

ISIL is promoting a utopia of setting up a caliphate of the old style. It is the creation of international spy networks to destabilize the Muslim world. I am sure ISIL will not last long. At the same time, we have to confront such extremist groups by continuing our efforts to open up the society, reducing restrictions, providing our women greater freedom and lifting controls on cultural and art works.

—By Mirza Al-Khuwailedi

Kurds’ independence

(Al-Riyadh)

Kurds are the victims of British colonialist presence in the Arab region. The Sykes-Picot Agreement divided the Kurds among four countries. They cooperated with the Soviets when the latter occupied Iran with Britain during the WWII. The Soviets later formed a small Kurdish state but it lasted only for a few months.

Kurds in the north of Iraq currently enjoy autonomous rule and this may lead to the establishment of an independent state but many foreign forces including Turkey and Iran are opposing the move.

The Kurdish entity in Iraq has become a reality. But the opposition from neighboring countries and the closure of borders would have a negative impact on the formation of an independent Kurdish state. The worsening security situations in Iraq and Syria are other factors that stand in the way of a Kurdish state. The US and Europe do not accept any change in border with Turkey for any reason.

Kurdish leaders in north of Iraq have forged an alliance with the Shiites. They have also rejected the continuation of Nuri Al-Maliki as the country’s prime minister.

— By Yousuf Al-Kowaileet

The spirit of Ramadan

Fasting in Ramadan sharpens our brains, cleans our minds and strengthens our bodies. The more a faithful strives to absorb the spirit of this holy month, the greater will be the benefits he/she gains from it.

Unfortunately, a large number of people do not deal with Ramadan properly. As a result, even the healthy and energetic among them become lazy and spend the day sleeping without engaging in constructive activities. By doing so, they think they are protecting their health but it will have an opposite effect.

A fasting man or woman will benefit a lot physically, mentally, intellectually and spiritually when he/she engages in various activities. It will remove poisonous substances from the body and burns fat. It will also provide rest to some parts of body like stomach and the digestive system.

—By Walid Fitaihi

A documentary on Islam

(Al-Madinah)

A short documentary film has been produced to present the teachings of Islam in an indirect manner. It highlights the fact that Holy Qur’an is a miracle and panacea for the woes of humanity. The film was produced by Sheikh Rashid Al-Masradi in English. It has been circulated widely through YouTube and a number of European television channels have telecast it. As a result at least 400 people have embraced Islam as reported by sabq.org electronic newspaper.

It was a great effort to shed light on Islam’s tolerance and humanitarian values. It was a big success as it attracted the attention of several non-Muslims and encouraged them to learn more about Islam.

The project shows that if Islamic scholars get rid of their differences, it would help them to portray the religion properly and promote its humanitarian values and dealings, making use of modern information technology as the new electronic media.

— By Abdullah Al-Jamili

Celebration of Haia report

(Al-Eqtisadiah)

I don’t know the reason for the fear of some people toward the field workers of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) as the social media carried the Haia chief’s statement canceling its field operations unit in Riyadh with utmost happiness.

A number of international news agencies have also published the report with importance and we don’t blame them because they don’t believe in our Islamic ideology. But what is the reason for the happiness expressed by some Saudis after hearing the report?

But the celebrations of those who oppose Haia and its activities did not last long as its spokesman Dr. Turki Al-Sholail said the move was aimed at strengthening the organization’s field operations in the capital city.

Who will be the beneficiary if the Haia stops its field operations against drug traffickers and addicts, producers and sellers of liquor and those who practice khulwa (man being alone with an unrelated woman)?

The Haia’s activities aim at protecting society from immoral practices and has made a lot of achievements in this regard.

I don’t ignore the mistakes that have occurred from some Haia members while carrying out their noble mission. But we should not hold the whole organization responsible for such individual mistakes.

— By Sattam Al-Thaqeel

The cover-up business

(Makkah)

Saudi Arabia has allowed millions of foreigners having different nationalities to work in the country to meet its development requirements.

But the presence of foreign workers had its negative impact on the country’s economy as they send to their home countries SR300 billion in remittances every year. This figure is increasing year after year.

The cover-up businesses being conducted by some foreigners are a clear violation of the Kingdom’s rules and regulations. Here a non-Saudi is allowed to invest in a venture, which is not licensed for him. A Saudi who assists a foreigner to invest in a venture where the latter is banned to invest is a violator of the law.

Some experts say that cover-up businesses develop a shadow economy, as it will not be calculated under the gross domestic product of the country. As a result, the economy is losing because of such activities.

These illegal practices not only undermine the efficiency of the national economy but also prevent citizens from real trading and investment opportunities.

The law that has been issued to combat cover-up businesses stipulates two-year prison sentence and SR1 million fine for violators or both punishments together. Punishments will increase with the number of such violations.

— By Bakheet Al-Ghabbash