Tag: Muslims

  • 5-member Hajj task force set up to cut pilgrimage costs

    5-member Hajj task force set up to cut pilgrimage costs

    President John Dramani Mahama has announced the establishment of a five-member task force aimed at reducing the high costs associated with the annual Hajj pilgrimage for Ghanaian Muslims.

    The task force, led by Asutifi South Member of Parliament Collins Dauda, has been mandated to secure affordable arrangements for the pilgrimage, ensuring more Muslims can fulfill this significant religious obligation.

    Speaking during a National Muslim Prayer and Thanksgiving event at the National Mosque in Kanda, Accra, on Friday, January 10, President Mahama disclosed that the task force would depart for Saudi Arabia on Monday, January 13, to participate in the annual Hajj conference.

    “One of their primary responsibilities is to negotiate arrangements that will drastically reduce Hajj fares. This will enable more Muslims who wish to perform the pilgrimage to fulfill this religious obligation,” he stated.

    In addition to the task force announcement, President Mahama revealed plans to introduce a second public holiday for the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, honoring a campaign promise to better recognize Islamic festivities in Ghana.

    “As part of our promises, we assured the Muslim community of adding one more holiday to the Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Once Parliament resumes, we will amend the Holidays Act to officially recognise an additional day for the Sallah festivities,” he affirmed.

    This initiative will ensure that after the Ramadan fast, Ghanaians will enjoy two public holidays to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

    President Mahama further assured that the necessary legislative steps would be expedited to ensure the additional holiday is implemented this year.

  • Prove LGBTQ education claim or apologise in 3 days – Muslim associations tells NAPO

    Prove LGBTQ education claim or apologise in 3 days – Muslim associations tells NAPO

    The Association of Liberal Muslims and the Association of Concerned Muslims have issued a three-day ultimatum to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) running mate, demanding he reveals the names of Islamic clerics he claimed were involved in a contract to incorporate LGBTQ teachings into the basic school curriculum.

    If he fails to provide these names, they insist he must retract his statements and apologize to the Muslim community.

    “What he (NAPO) is alleging some Muslim clerics did contradicts the Islamic teachings. We plead with him to come out and name the said clerics who engaged in this. If he cannot do that, then he must retract his statement and apologise to the entire Muslim community. We are issuing a three-day ultimatum,” a spokesperson for the associations said.

    The Islamic faith frowns on same-sex activities and individuals caught engaged in such actions face punishments including death.

    Dr. Opoku Prempeh, also known as NAPO, alleged that during his tenure as Education Minister, he uncovered a curriculum developed under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that included Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) aimed at schoolchildren.

    He claimed that the NDC recruited religious leaders to influence teachers and that various NGOs benefitted from a $51 million fund to support this curriculum, which he argues contradicts Ghanaian cultural and religious values.

    In response, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu and a key figure in the NDC, has threatened legal action for defamation over these claims, emphasizing that he will be contacting his lawyers. He has also challenged NAPO to substantiate his accusations. The unfolding drama highlights the contentious debate surrounding education and LGBTQ issues in Ghana.

    Background on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)

    Comprehensive Sexuality Education is a curriculum-based initiative designed to address the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social aspects of sexuality.

    Although intended to inform young people about sexual health, CSE has faced significant pushback due to its perceived introduction of sensitive topics to children at an early age. Critics, including many parents, teachers, and religious leaders, have raised concerns about the appropriateness of the curriculum.

  • Hajj: Hundreds of pilgrims loose their lives over extreme heat  – Reports

    Hajj: Hundreds of pilgrims loose their lives over extreme heat – Reports

    Reports from various sources indicate a significant death toll, primarily attributed to scorching temperatures during this year’s annual Muslim pilgrimage(Hajj) to Mecca.

    According to diplomats speaking to French news agency AFP, at least 550 pilgrims have lost their lives, with Egyptians constituting the majority of the deceased, mainly succumbing to heat-related illnesses.

    The pilgrimage, which commenced last Friday, has been marred by various incidents including stampedes, tent fires, and other accidents, resulting in numerous fatalities over the past three decades.

    Saudi state TV reported temperatures soaring to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.2 Fahrenheit) in the shade at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday.

    Recent studies underscore the growing risks posed by rising global temperatures during the Hajj.

    A 2024 study published in the Journal of Travel and Medicine warns that climate change may surpass current heat management strategies.

    Additionally, a 2019 study from Geophysical Research Letters highlights increased temperatures in arid Saudi Arabia, posing severe dangers to pilgrims.

    Tragically, Tunisian sources report the deaths of 35 citizens, many due to extreme heat, while families continue to search for missing relatives in Saudi hospitals.

    Jordan has issued 41 burial permits for its deceased pilgrims, primarily from heatstroke cases.

    Iran reported 11 fatalities and hospitalized 24 pilgrims, although the causes of death were not disclosed.

    Three Senegalese citizens and 144 Indonesians have also lost their lives during this year’s pilgrimage, with Indonesian health ministry data confirming the deaths without specifying the exact causes.

  • Let’s join forces to make  Bawumia president – Frafra chief to Muslims

    Let’s join forces to make Bawumia president – Frafra chief to Muslims

    President of the Ashanti Regional Council of Chiefs for the Frafra community, Alhaji Musah Akambonga, has expressed his concerns that it would be very sad and disappointing if Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia were made president solely by Christian votes.

    He emphasized that Dr. Bawumia, a Muslim, needs strong support from his fellow Muslims and expressed his intent to campaign vigorously for the Vice President.

    Describing Dr. Bawumia as truthful and competent, the Frafra chief stressed that Ghana needs a leader like him to improve the nation’s fortunes.

    Alhaji Akambonga urged the Muslim community to unite and support Dr. Bawumia in his bid for the presidency.

    He made this appeal during a gathering of Muslims at the Kumasi Central Mosque, part of the flagbearer’s three-day campaign tour in the Ashanti region.

    The event drew a large crowd of Muslims who welcomed Dr. Bawumia and listened to his vision for Ghana’s future.

  • Muslims should get closer to Christians, I am very much comfortable around them – Bawumia

    Muslims should get closer to Christians, I am very much comfortable around them – Bawumia

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has encouraged Ghanaians of various faiths and religions to peacefully coexist for the sake of national cohesion.

    Speaking to clergy members in the Northern Region, Dr. Bawumia expressed his confidence and comfort in associating with Christians, citing this as a virtue emphasized by the Holy Prophet Mohammed.

    “I don’t think that being a true Muslim means that you cannot get close to Christians. I don’t see how being a true Christian, you cannot get close to Muslims

    “Prophet Mohammed said to the Muslims that of all the religions and faiths of this world, Muslims should get closer to the Christians. That is what the Prophet Mohammed said and so I am very much comfortable and confident in getting close to Christians. My brothers and sister are Christians and I cannot say that I will not get close to them.”

    The NPP’s flagbearer emphasized the importance of promoting peaceful coexistence among different faiths in Ghana.

    He highlighted that this harmony helps prevent the entry and activities of jihadists, who may seek to exploit disagreements between believers of different faiths and religions.

    “There are many people who are uncomfortable with us [Muslims] getting closer [to Christians] and that is how jihadists and all of the extremists benefit. We are a peaceful country and we always get closer and so let us keep it that way.”

  • Modi accused of using hate speech after referring to Muslims as “infiltrators” in India

    Modi accused of using hate speech after referring to Muslims as “infiltrators” in India

    India’s biggest opposing party said Prime Minister Narendra Modi made hateful comments by calling Muslims “infiltrators. ” This happened during the general election, and it was one of his most provocative statements about the minority religion.

    The comments made at a campaign rally on Sunday were strongly criticized for being anti-Muslim. The Congress party complained to the Election Commission of India on Monday, saying that he broke the rules that prohibit candidates from doing things that make people of different religions upset.

    People who disagree with the prime minister, who strongly supports Hindu beliefs, say that India’s history of being a diverse and secular country has been in danger since his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, gained power ten years ago. They say the party promotes unfair treatment of people with different religions and sometimes even encourages fighting. The party says it didn’t do what it’s accused of and that its plans help all people in India.

    During a rally in Rajasthan, Modi said that when the Congress party was in charge, they believed that Muslims should have the first claim to the country’s resources. He also said that if the party comes back into power, they will take everyone’s money and give it to people with lots of children. The crowd cheered as he said this.

    “They will give it to people who came in secretly,” he said. “Do you want your money to go to them. ”

    Mallikarjun Kharge, who is the leader of the Congress party, said that the prime minister’s comments were full of hate. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who speaks for the party, also said that the comments were very objectionable.

    The party asked the election commission for help because their rules say candidates can’t try to get votes by talking about people’s race or religion. People started voting on Friday in a six-week election. Most surveys show that Modi and his party, the Hindu nationalist BJP, are likely to win. The results will be available on June 4.

    Asaduddin Owaidi, a Muslim politician and leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen party, said on Sunday: “Since 2002 till now, the only thing Modi has promised is to insult Muslims and win votes. ”

    For a while, there have been problems between India’s main Hindu group and Muslims. But now, rights groups say that attacks on minorities have become more bold since Modi became the leader.

    Muslims have been attacked and killed by groups of Hindus because they were accused of eating beef or trading cows, which are sacred animals to Hindus. Muslim businesses have been avoided, their homes and businesses have been knocked down and places of worship set on fire. People are asking for them to be killed.

    Modi mentioned a statement from 2006 made by the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the Congress party. Singh said that all people in India, including those in lower castes, tribes, women, and especially the Muslim minority, should have an equal part in the country’s progress.

    “Singh said they should get the resources first. ” The next day, his office explained that Singh was talking about all the people who have disadvantages.

    The Congress party asked the election commission to stop Modi and the BJP from using religion and religious symbols in their election campaigns. The commission has not punished the prime minister and the BJP for breaking electoral laws, which has made these actions even stronger.

    “In India’s history, no prime minister has brought down the respect of his position as much as Modi has,” Kharge, who is the president of Congress, wrote on the social media platform X.

    The commission can give warnings and stop candidates for a while if they break the rules.

    A representative for the commission said they don’t want to comment.

    In his speech, Modi said that Muslims were having more children than Hindus, which is a common idea among Hindu nationalists. 80 out of every 100 people in India are Hindus, while 14 out of every 100 are Muslims. The number of children born to Muslim families has gone down the most compared to other religious groups in the past few years. In 1992-93, the average Muslim family had 4. 4 children, but by 2019-21, it went down to 2. 3This is just slightly more than the average number of children in Hindu families, which is 1. 94

    Modi’s party BJP has said that Muslims who came to India from Bangladesh and Pakistan are illegal immigrants. Some states ruled by the BJP have made laws to stop people from different religions marrying each other. They say it’s because of an idea called “love jihad,” which says Muslim men marry Hindu women to convert them to Islam. But there’s no proof of this happening.

    Throughout everything, Modi has mostly kept quiet. Critics say this has made some of his most extreme supporters feel more confident and has allowed more hate speech against Muslims.

  • Your stance against LGBTQ+ activities must be upheld when you become president – Association of Progressive Muslims to Bawumia

    Your stance against LGBTQ+ activities must be upheld when you become president – Association of Progressive Muslims to Bawumia


    The Association of Progressive Muslims has urged Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia to uphold his stance against LGBTQ+ practices in Ghana.

    In a press release dated April 11, 2024, the Association commended Dr. Bawumia for publicly declaring his opposition to homosexuality.

    However, they emphasized the importance of ensuring concrete actions, urging him to persuade President Akufo-Addo to sign the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill into law.

    “Good news for mother Ghana and we’re so glad Alhaji Bawumia has listen to our call finally. However, we expect him to in the coming days, ensure that his boss, President Akufo-Addo signs the Anti- LGBTQ Bill for this matter to be brought to finality. Without that, we’ll assume it is the usual political antics to deceive Ghanaians, like in the case of his promise to build Cape Coast a harbour, like his claim of shifting the focus of the economic management policy from taxation to production which, turned out to be the shifting of the focus of economic management policy from production to more taxation.” the release signed by President of the Association, Umar Harris stated.

    Dr. Bawumia reiterated his stance during Eid Al Fitr celebrations in Kumasi, aligning his opposition with his religious beliefs and Ghanaian cultural norms. However, the Association urged him to translate his words into tangible actions by advocating for the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill’s passage.

    “It is important to note our cultural, societal and norms as well as values as Ghanaians frown on the same sex marriage. Further, as a Muslim my view on this matter aligns with the position of my religious faith. My faith is strictly against the practice of LGBTQ+, No ifs, no buts. Therefore, I personally cannot support that which my religion and indeed all major religions in Ghana as well as our societal norms and values clearly forbid. All major religious are opposed to the practice and I stand opposed to it now and I will stand opposed to it as president,” he said.

    “Ghanaians have leant many bitter lessons from Dr. Bawumia and Nana Addo, and won’t fall for any of his political gymnastics again. This is the same man who inspired hope into the poor that Mobile Money will not be taxed so Ghanaians should accept it to save his government from going to the IMF, what happened in the end? Mobile money tax was introduced and yet proceeded to the IMF.

    “Ghanaians expect action and not his usual rhetoric. The only way to prove his commitment on the LGBTQ is to persuade his boss, President Akufo-Addo to sign the Anti- LGBTQ Bill as soon as possible,” the release concluded.


  • NDC extends well wishes to Muslims as they observe Ramadan

    NDC extends well wishes to Muslims as they observe Ramadan

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) extends heartfelt greetings and sincere blessings to Muslims observing the Ramadan fasting period.

    Portraying Ramadan as a period of spiritual reflection, fasting, prayer, and solidarity, the party underscores the significance of standing by Muslims during this sacred occasion.

    In a press statement released on Tuesday, March 12, and endorsed by General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the NDC acknowledges and honors Ghana’s cultural and religious diversity.

    Fifi Kwetey

    The party stood in solidarity with its Muslim brethren and sisters, reiterating its dedication to promoting policies that champion equality and inclusiveness.

    “As Muslims around the world observe the sacred fast of Ramadan, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) extends warm wishes and heartfelt blessings to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Ghana and beyond. Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, fasting, prayer, and unity embodying values of compassion, empathy, and solidarity.”

    “During this sacred month, we acknowledge and celebrate the rich cultural and religious diversity of our nation. The Muslim community’s steadfast commitment to faith, charity, and service inspires us all to strive for greater harmony and understanding in our society,” an excerpt of the statement said.

  • Reasons Muslims don’t eat pork

    Reasons Muslims don’t eat pork

    Muslims avoid consuming pork for several reasons, which are deeply rooted in their religious beliefs and cultural practices. Here are five main reasons why Muslims do not eat pork:

    1. Religious Prohibition: The primary reason Muslims do not eat pork is that it is explicitly forbidden in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. In several verses, the Quran clearly prohibits the consumption of pork. For example, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:173), it is stated: “He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah.”
    2. Purity and Hygiene: Pigs are considered impure animals in Islam due to their eating habits and physiology. Their omnivorous diet, scavenging behavior, and the way they process food are viewed as unclean. In contrast, Islam encourages the consumption of clean and pure foods that are considered halal (permissible).
    3. Health Concerns: The health reasons for avoiding pork were not fully understood at the time of the Quran’s revelation. However, modern science has confirmed that pork can carry various diseases and parasites, which can pose health risks if not prepared and cooked properly. This aligns with the concept of maintaining physical well-being in Islamic teachings.
    4. Spiritual and Moral Considerations: The avoidance of pork is also linked to moral and spiritual factors. Muslims believe that their dietary choices should be made in accordance with the teachings of their faith. Abstaining from pork is a way to demonstrate obedience and submission to God’s commandments.
    5. Cultural and Social Traditions: Beyond religious reasons, the avoidance of pork has become a significant cultural and social practice among Muslims. This practice is often passed down through generations, and it plays a crucial role in shaping the culinary traditions of Muslim communities around the world.

    It’s important to note that dietary restrictions can vary among Muslims, with some adhering more strictly to the prohibition of pork than others. However, the avoidance of pork remains a significant aspect of Islamic dietary guidelines for the majority of Muslims.

  • How Muslims in Hohoe defied rains for Eid prayers

    How Muslims in Hohoe defied rains for Eid prayers

    Scores of Muslims in Hohoe defied early showers on Wednesday to converge at the Ahlussunna Mosque for this year’s Eid ul-Adha prayers.

    At 0930 hours, prayers were done with a lot of Muslims crowded at the Mosque to wish each other a fruitful celebration.

    Alhaji Mohammed Mutawakil Yussif, Volta Regional Imam, Ahlussunna Wal Jamaah, speaking to the media after the prayers, disclosed that the day was significant to all Muslims in the world.

    “In times like this, we do a lot of prayers, types of worship and engage in so many things trying to get closer to Almighty Allah.”

    Alhaji Yussif said celebrating Eid ul-Adha was not about one’s wealth nor trying to show off but for all to fear Allah in all they were doing.

    He said it was important to ensure that everything was done according to what was prescribed by Allah and Prophet Muhammad.

    Alhaji Yussif admonished all, especially the youth, to mark the day in modesty and be cautious as well as law-abiding.

    Eid ul-Adha is celebrated to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah (SWT) and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail.

    The celebrations, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice” is the second of the two Islamic festivities, which are celebrated annually worldwide.

    Muslims approach God on this day by sacrificing a sheep, a cow, or a camel and distributing the meat to the poor as well as uniting to pray together with family and friends and show love.

    Eid ul-Adha falls on the tenth day in the twelfth month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar; Dhul-Hijah, which allows families, loved ones, and communities to fraternise, and is dependent on a legitimate sighting of the moon, following the completion of the annual Holy Pilgrimage of Hajj – which is an obligation for all Muslims.

  • Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid-ul-Adha today

    Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid-ul-Adha today

    Muslims across the world will today June 28,2023, celebrate Eid-ul-Adha to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah (SWT) and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail.

    The celebrations, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice” is the second of the two Islamic festivities, which is celebrated annually worldwide.

    Muslims approach God on this day by sacrificing a sheep, a cow, or a camel and distributing the meat to the poor. They unite to pray together with family and friends and show love.

    Eid-ul-Adha falls on the tenth day in the twelfth month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar; Dhul-Hijjah, which allows families, loved ones, and communities to fraternise, and is dependent on a legitimate sighting of the moon, following the completion of the annual Holy Pilgrimage of Hajj – which is an obligation for all Muslims.

    The command from Allah (SWT) is a test of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness and commitment to obey his Lord’s command, without question.

    At the point of sacrifice, Allah (SWT) replaced Ismail with a ram, which was to be slaughtered in place of his son.

    So, during the celebration, the sacrificial animal must be a sheep, lamb, goat, cow, bull, or a camel; the sheep, lamb or goat consist of one share, whereas a bull, cow or camel consist of seven shares per animal. The animal must be in good health and over a certain age to be slaughtered, in a “halal” friendly, Islamic way.

    The meat can then be divided into three equal portions per share; one-third for the owner and family, one-third for friends, and the final third to be donated to those in need.

    The act of the sacrifice is usually carried out after Eid Prayers, which are performed in congregation at the nearest Mosque on the morning of Eid.

    The celebration of Eid-ul-Adha is to last for three days. Traditionally, the day is spent celebrating with family, friends and loved ones, often wearing new attire and the giving of gifts.

    Some Muslims, the Ghana News Agency spoke to ahead of the celebrations, thanked Allah for seeing them through the year and prayed that their supplications, together with those who were able to embark on the journey to Hajj, would be answered.

    Some were excited about the celebration, saying though the prices of animals for sacrifice were high due to the outbreak of Anthrax in Bolgatanga, and the current economic situation, they would still enjoy the celebration.

  • How to say “Happy Eid” to someone in 11 different languages

    How to say “Happy Eid” to someone in 11 different languages

    Two months after Eid-al-Fitr, which marks the conclusion of Ramadan, Muslims around the world will observe Eid-Al Adha, the second of their yearly Eid holidays.

    The Haji pilgrimage, a five-day trek to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the holiest city in Islam, occurs around the same time as Eid-al Adha for many Muslims.

    Have a blessed Eid is the English translation of the Arabic phrase “Eid Mubarak,” but did you know there are more ways to wish your friends or family a merry Eid?

    Here is how to send your best wishes for Eid in 11 languages.

    How to wish someone a Happy Eid in different languages

    Arabic

    • عيد مبارك (Eid Mubarak) – ‘Have a blessed Eid’
    • تقبل الله مناومنكم (Taqabalallahu minna wa minkum) – ‘May Allah accept your and our right doings’
    • عيد سعيد (Eid Saeed) – ‘Happy Eid’

    Bosnian

    Bajram Šerif mubarek olsun – ‘Happy Eid’

    Turkish

    Bayramınız kutlu olsun – ‘May your Eid be blessed’

    Zazaki (eastern Turkey)

    Roşanê Şima Bimbarek Bo – ‘Happy Eid’

    Indonesian

    Selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri – ‘Happy celebration day of Eid ul Fitr’

    Bengali

    Eider shubheccha – ‘Eid greetings’

    Pashto (Afghani)

    Akhtar de nekmregha sha – ‘Happy Eid’

    Albanian

    Gëzuar Bajramin – ‘Happy Eid’

    Kurdish

    Cejna we pîroz be – ‘Happy Eid’

    Malay

    Selamat Hari Raya – ‘Happy Festival day’

    Ghanaian

    Ni ti yuun’ palli – ‘Happy new Eid season’

  • 6,000 Ghanaians set to perform Hajj this year

    6,000 Ghanaians set to perform Hajj this year

    As part of the five pillars of Islam, an estimated 6,000 Ghanaians are anticipated to participate in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

    As such, a first set of over 400 Muslims have left Accra for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj.

    This comes after the first flight for the pilgrimage was delayed due to technical challenges.

    Communications Director for the Hajj Board, Alhaji Rahman Gomda made this known in an interview in Accra on Monday.

    “The flight has taken off already. 437 [persons] have taken off to Saudi Arabia. The aircraft came yesterday to start the flight, the maiden flight from Accra. So the second one has taken off. We will have the third one tomorrow and another one on Thursday.”

    “This year we had a quota of 6000. Every year, the Saudi authorities give quota. Ghana’s quota this year is 6,000. Last year it was 3,069 as a result of COVID-19,” he stated.

  • See how Asamakese Catholic Priest prayed with Muslims on Eid Day

    See how Asamakese Catholic Priest prayed with Muslims on Eid Day

    Ghanaian Muslims concluded their 30-day Ramadan fasting period on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

    The Assistant Parish Priest of the Catholic Church in Asamankese used the day to share love with his Muslim brothers and sisters as well as affirm the country’s religious tolerance.

    Reverend Father Martin Delali Attitson and some of his parishioners joined the Asamkese Muslim community to mark the end of Ramadan.

    Images from the event sighted by GhanaWeb, show the priest and the Muslim community sharing happy smiles and interactions.

    Fr Attitson in one of the shots is also seen joining the Muslims as they conducted their Eid-Ul-Fitr prayers.

    Some social media users who have been commenting on the images have commended the priest while those who claim to know him point out that such act is his person.

    “Rev. Fr. Atitson was my Senior at our Catholic JSS and he always showed respect and tolerance to people of other faiths. I am not surprised about this development. I hope he rises to the very top of the Catholic Church that trained me and him to treat everybody with respect and fairness. God bless the Catholic Church,” a Facebook user, Mikdad Mohammed said.

  • 5 delicacies to enjoy this Eid al-Fitr feast

    5 delicacies to enjoy this Eid al-Fitr feast

    One of the most sacred times of the year in the faith of Islam is Ramadan. Muslims around the world have been fasting for this holy month.

    The fasting begins from sunrise to sunset with the highly anticipated Eid al-Fitr feast.

    Eid celebrations often include large feasts, gift-giving, and gatherings among family and friends. Eid feasts can include hearty main dishes, including lots of slow-cooked meat, toasty grains, and refreshing.

    Celebrate the end of Ramadan with these hearty dishes for your Eid al-Fitr feast.

    Tuo Zaafi

    Tuo Zaafi is a highly nutritious Ghanaian delicacy eaten with special vegetable leaves used in making the accompanying soup, including ‘ayoyo’,’ Aleefi’, ‘Kuukar’, ‘Okra’, and ‘Shuray’ leaves.

    Tuo zaafi sits on top of the list of preferences for the Muslim festival. If you have never tried tuozafi, this Eid may be your chance to try this meal.

    Rice and Tomato stew

    This meal will arguably be the most popular during Eid. Most families choose to cook this rice and stew because it is relatively easier to execute especially in large quantities. It is also quick to make and not complicated.

    Meat

    The abundance of meat on Eid is inexplicable. There is usually so much meat at the end of the celebration.

    Usually, in most Muslim homes this celebration makes merry with lots of fried meat, and share with family and loved ones.

    Jollof

    This Eid is not complete should you not come across this delicious meal in many Muslim homes during this feast.

    Waakye

    This rice and beans dish is a favorite, especially among Muslim communities in Ghana. Be sure to come across a lot of waakye this Eid.

    To honor this holy time, here are some recipes to make this year’s Eid a deliciously memorable one.

    Eid Mubarak to all who celebrate!

  • Chief Imam declares end of Ramadan after sighting new moon

    Chief Imam declares end of Ramadan after sighting new moon

    On April 20, 2023, Muslims in Ghana broke their fast after seeing the new moon of Shawwal, the month that follows Ramadan.

    Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu spoke to the faithful late on Thursday after confirming the sighting of a new moon.

    He clarified that, in accordance with the announcement made this week by the Interior Minister, Muslims will offer the congregational prayers on Saturday, April 22, even though April 21 is the first day of Eid.

    http://tigpost.co/muslims-deserve-two-holidays-to-celebrate-eid-ul-fitr-umaru-sanda/

    “In the exercise of his mandate as the National Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu has brought us here this evening to announce to us officially about the sighting or otherwise of the new moon of Shawwal marking the end of the month of Ramadan,” his spokesman said.

    On the details relative to the sighting of the moon, he stated: “Information that has come to the office of the National Chief Imam indicates that an authenticated information has come from the Ashanti Region with respect to the sighting of the moon, specifically in Kenyasi Troba in the Kwabre East District.”

    He said eight people had sighted the moon and made that information available to head of the Hilal (moon) committee of the Imam’s office which information was passed on and acted up by way of the announcement.

    “And in this regard, tomorrow (April 21), we are all not going to fast but as officially made known to us through the Chief Imam and the Minister of Interior, we are going to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday (April 22).”

    The national prayers is slated for Saturday at 10am, at the Independence Square in Accra.

    http://tigpost.co/imam-stabbed-during-ramadan-morning-prayers/

    Meanwhile, some sections of the Muslim community will observe the Eid prayers today, one of the most prominent being by the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamah group. Their prayer is slated for the forecourt of State House.

  • Muslims deserve two holidays to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr – Umaru Sanda

    Muslims deserve two holidays to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr – Umaru Sanda

    Ghanaian journalist, Umaru Sanda Amadu, is displeased with the government’s decision to provide Muslims with only one public statutory holiday to commemorate this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr.

    In a Twitter post, the Citi FM\TV journalist argued that currently, it is unknown exactly which day Eid-ul-Fitr falls as no one has been able to sight the new moon yet.

    For Mr Sanda Amadu, it is unacceptable, although understandable that the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery, went ahead to announce Saturday, April 22, as Eid-ul-Fitr which would later be observed on Monday, April 24, since it falls on a weekend.

    http://tigpost.co/govt-declares-april-24-statutory-holiday/

    “No Muslim is certain when the Eid-ul-Fitr will be! But Ghana’s Minister for The Interior has already stated that it’ll be on Saturday. I don’t blame him. By law, he’s supposed to announce a Holiday, days ahead which he does after consultations.

    Muslims know that the Eid…could be on Friday or Saturday, depending on whether or not we sight the new crescent on Thursday evening,” Mr Sanda Amadu wrote.

    It is expected that the new crescent will be observed on Thursday evening but that information is not guaranteed.

    Mr Sanda Amadu therefore believes it would be wise enough to declare two holidays to ensure Muslims are not deprived should the moon be witnessed on Thursday evening or later than the expected date.

    “Muslims deserve two days holiday for Eid because from the foregoing, if Eid falls on Friday, which is possible, Muslim workers can’t celebrate because it’s not a holiday!” he suggested.

    As it stands now, “His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, has by Executive Instrument (E), in accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, (Act 601) declared Monday, 24th April 2023 as an additional public holiday”.

    Eid-ul-Fitr serves as an avenue for Muslims to crown Ramadan. This year’s month-long fasting by Muslims started on March 22, 2023, to mark the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

    Ramadan

    Ramadan is the Arabic name for the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.

    It is considered one of the holiest months for Muslims and is marked by a period of fasting, considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which include faith, prayer, charity and the pilgrimage to Mecca.

    Muslims have an early morning meal before dawn, known as suhoor or sehri.

    They do not eat or drink anything including water until they break their fast after sunset for the evening meal, called iftar or fitoor.

    Fasting is observed only by those in good health.

    Some Muslims are exempt:

    • Those who are sick or ill and whose health will be affected by fasting
    • Children who have not reached puberty – although some begin to practise fasting before then
    • Pregnant and breastfeeding women
    • Menstruating women
    • Travellers

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • NDC has taken Muslims for granted – Ben Ephson on why party may lose election 2024

    NDC has taken Muslims for granted – Ben Ephson on why party may lose election 2024

    Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson, has predicted that many Muslims will not vote in favor of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the upcoming 2024 elections.

    He claims this is because Muslims feel the party has taken them for granted.

    “The Muslims have now noticed that the NDC has taken them for granted for far too long because they don’t take Muslims for even running mate,” he said during an interview on Onua TV. 

    He further projected a landslide victory for Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the general elections should he be given the nod as the NPP flagbearer, over two main reasons.

    “If Bawumia is made the flagbearer of NPP, he comes with two main advantages; that is many Christians feel comfortable with him even though he is a Muslim and Muslims who used to vote for the NDC would switch and vote for NPP,” he asserted.

    In another on Hello FM, Mr Ephson mentioned that former President John Dramani Mahama may win the NDC flagbearership position although he is most likely to lose the 2024 election bid. 

    “Mahama will win but it is 2024 that will be his problem. Mahama will win the NDC slot, he will win easily but 2024 is going to be his problem,” he said. 

  • Muslim astronaut commemorate his Ramadan festive in space

    Muslim astronaut commemorate his Ramadan festive in space

    This week’s new moon marked the start of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims throughout the globe, and one man will be watching it from space.

    First Emirati to work on the International Space Station (ISS), where he will spend the next six months, is astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.

    Mubarak in Ramadan.
    Al Neyadi tweeted a video of his breathtaking views of the Earth, moon, and Venus from the International Space Station on Thursday along with the message, “Wishing you all a month full with blessings.”

    ‘Sharing the beautiful night time scenery from the International Space Station Station with you all.’

    During the month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking anything from sunrise to sunset. So will Al Neyadi be fasting in space?

    As an astronaut Al Neyadi fits the definition of a ‘traveller’, excusing him from attempting to observe Ramadan at the same time as Earth-bound Muslims.

    ‘Fasting is not compulsory if you’re feeling not well. So in that regard — anything that can jeopardize the mission or maybe put the crew member at risk — we’re actually allowed to eat sufficient food to prevent any escalation of lack of food or nutrition or hydration,’ he told reporters at a press conference in January.

    Alneyadi also told reporters during a news conference in Dubai in February that he could fast according to Greenwich Mean Time, or Coordinated Universal Time, which is used as the official time zone on the space station.

    ‘If we had the opportunity, definitely Ramadan is a good occasion to fast, and it’s actually healthy,’ said Al Neyadi. ‘We’ll wait and see how it goes.’

    The Emirati is only the 11th Muslim astronaut to go to space.

    In 2007, Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor became the first practising Muslim aboard the ISS.

    Since his time in space coincided with Ramadan, Malaysia’s space agency, Angkasa, convened a conference of 150 Islamic scientists and scholars in 2006 to create special guidelines to guide his and future Muslim astronauts’ practices in space.

    According to the guidelines, Shukor’s fasting could be postponed until he returned to Earth or he could fast in accordance with the time zone of the place from which he had launched.

    He was also relieved of the obligation to attempt to kneel while praying — a difficult feat in zero gravity.

    Another challenge in space is attempting to face Mecca, as Muslims must during Salah or daily prayer. This was left to the best abilities of the astronaut, according to Fatwa Council guidelines.

    So far, less than a dozen Muslim men have been in space.

    Al Neyadi was part of SpaceX’s Crew 6 and is currently on the first-ever long-duration mission flown by a United Arab Emirates (UAE) astronaut.

  • 2023 Ramadan fast begins today

    2023 Ramadan fast begins today

    In honor of Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims in Ghana have begun their fast Today, Thursday, March 23, 2023.

    Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, spokesman for the Chief Imam, made the declaration on Wednesday night.

    “The report we received and source we are getting from Bawku is that the moon has been sighted at Bawku. This information has been well authenticated based on communication between the Bawku Chief Imam and the office of the Chief Imam.”

    “There is no reason to doubt it. On this ground, and by the Chief Imam’s mandate as the supreme leader of Muslims in this country, Muslims will begin fasting on the 23rd of March 2023”, he declared.

    Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. It begins with the sighting of the moon.

    Fasting in Ramadan involves abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual relations from dawn to sunset.

    Ramadan for Muslims is a month of reflection, and self-improvement in relation to one’s behaviour toward other people, oneself, and Allah.

    It is also a way to show solidarity with millions of poor people who cannot afford a four-square meal.

    Muslims begin the fast before the call to the Fajr prayer after they are done with suhoor and fast till the setting of the sun after the call of Maghrib evening prayer.

    Children, the elderly, people who are travelling, pregnant women, and people who are suffering from chronic illness are, however, excused from fasting, but they are required to make up the fasting later or compensate by feeding the hungry in proportion to the fast they had missed.

    The festival of Eid al-Fitr, also known as the festival of fast-breaking, is observed to mark the completion of Ramadan after the 29 to 30-day fast.

  • Muslim leaders call for a vote against the newly proposed constitution

    Muslim leaders call for a vote against the newly proposed constitution

    On Tuesday, a significant group of Mali’s religious leaders urged their followers to oppose a new constitution that would uphold the country’s junta’s commitment to secularism.

    Mali’s proposed constitutional amendment is intended to allow the West African country to transition back to civilian governance from military authority.

    The plebiscite for the new constitution was initially slated for March 19, but the junta has not commented on the timeline due to growing skepticism about the day.

    Elections that would result in the return of civilian control will be held in February 2024, according to the junta’s stated agenda.

    A constitutional draft received by junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita late last month stated an “attachment to the republican form and to the secularism of the state”.

    “Secularism is not opposed to religion and to beliefs,” the drafts says, adding its aim was to “promote and reinforce living together based on tolerance, dialogue and mutual understanding”.

    But the Mali League of Imams and Scholars for Islamic Solidarity called Tuesday for the “removal of pure and simple of the word” secularism and for it to be replaced with “multi-confessional state”.

    It called on all “patriotic Muslims” to vote against the draft constitution in its current form.

    Mali is a Muslim-majority country.

  • Hajj fare: Suhuyini calls for review

    Hajj fare: Suhuyini calls for review

    The member of parliament for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, is urging government to examine the price of transporting Ghanaian Hajj pilgrimages to Mecca.

    He explains that the charge as announced by the Ghana Hajj Board is the highest in the sub-region and will prevent some members of the Muslim community from honouring their religious obligations.

    Mr. Suhuyini says the new charges are astronomical, considering the economic plight that has bedeviled the country.

    “I am terribly disappointed at the fair that has been announced, it is simply unacceptable. Not only is it the highest in the sub-region so far, but how can we at this time, and in this economy peg the fair at GH¢ 75,000 in this economy.”

    “Some people think this is luxury, it is not, it is one of the 5 pillars of Islam which Muslims are mandated to observe.”

    The Ghana Hajj Board has announced that prospective pilgrims to Mecca this year will pay $6,500, which translates to GH₵7,500 each.

  • Trapped in Saudi Arabia: A mother’s fight to free her daughter

    Mothers from the US, Canada, the UK, and other western countries, are fighting to get their children out of Saudi Arabia after marriage breakdowns to Saudi nationals. A campaigner says many don’t get the help they need from their own governments.

    At first, all seemed fine when American mum, Carly Morris, arrived in Saudi Arabia with her five-year-old daughter, Tala. The child’s Saudi father, whom she had married and later divorced during his seven-year scholarship in the USA, had persuaded her to come for a short visit. He had arranged a thirty-day visa for them both so that his parents could meet their granddaughter for the first time.

    Carly’s holiday mood first took a knock on checking into the hotel her ex-husband had booked for her and Tala. Their room had no windows or internet access and her mobile phone would not work there. Though Carly says she soon had much more to worry about.

    “The week after we arrived he asked for my passport and my birth certificate so that he could start processing her [Tala] exit permit. Though what he really did, I later found out, was he transferred her to Saudi citizenship.”

    Dual citizenship is not recognised in Saudi Arabia so from this point on Tala, who had been born and raised in America, was considered a Saudi citizen only. This meant that under the country’s male guardianship system she could not leave the country unless her Saudi father agreed. It was soon clear that this was the last thing he would do.

    Carly says her Saudi ex-husband began collecting Tala each morning and not bringing her back until late in the evening. Left alone all day in her basic hotel room with little money she relied on boxes of food he would leave for her. Finally, after nearly two years of appealing to him to take their daughter home, Carly began writing to members of the US congress and others who she hoped might help her.

    This, she says, angered her former husband.

    “When he found that I was reaching out to people outside of the kingdom asking for help, he abducted my daughter for a period of two months. He and his family fled their home even. During that time he filed for custody of her.”

    In the papers filed as part of the custody proceedings, the father denied having abducted Tala.

    After failing to get any constructive replies from American politicians, Carly wrote to the White House for help. She never heard back but her hopes nonetheless soared when the US President, Joe Biden, visited Riyadh in July. That effort too came to nothing, along she insists with appeals to US Embassy staff in Riyadh.

    Back in America, Carly’s increasingly worried mother, Denise White, has come to believe that Saudi economic and political importance means US diplomats are reluctant to act. The Gulf kingdom is one of the world’s biggest oil producers, which gives it powerful political leverage, especially during the current energy crisis.

    Speaking from her home in California, Mrs White says she is deeply concerned about her granddaughter’s lack of education, after being told that Tala has not been to school once in the past three years.

    Carly has also voiced fears about the psychological impact on Tala of being caught in the middle of a custody battle in a country far from her home.

    “I can’t get her to speak to anyone when social affairs people come here. She will not speak to any strangers. If I try to do video for my family she hides from the camera. I’m really worried about her socially at this point.”

    Bethany Alhaidari holding her daughter
    IMAGE SOURCE, BETHANY ALHAIDARI Image caption, Bethany Alhaidari, from the Human Rights Foundation, says dozens of women are in the same situation as Carly

    Statistics compiled by the US-based Human Rights Foundation show that Carly is one of nearly 50 American mothers fighting to get their children out of Saudi Arabia after marrying Saudi nationals. That is in addition to many from Canada, the UK, and other Western countries.

    The foundation’s Bethany Alhaidari, who herself spent two years trying to get a Saudi exit visa for her daughter, says none have been successful over the past year. Many, she insists, simply don’t get the help they need from their own governments.

    “There tends to be a sentiment, even in the US government, of ‘You did this to yourself, you should have known better. So I feel like we face a wall a lot of times with that attitude.”

    The US embassy in Riyadh told the BBC that the welfare of US citizens was the “highest priority” of the state department and that the embassy was in regular contact with Carly and in touch with the Saudi government.

    After a long court battle Carly was finally given custody of Tala, but told not to leave the Saudi city she is staying in, never mind the country itself. With no funds of her own, she says she had become a kind of prisoner within her own four walls.

    “At that point, I had gone two years not even stepping outside. I sat inside this hotel every single day. Not one person has seen my face… not one person has knocked on my door”.

    Bethany Alhaidari with her daughter in Saudi Arabia.
    IMAGE SOURCE, BETHANY ALHAIDARI Image caption, Bethany Alhaidari says it took her two years to get her daughter back

    Since speaking out on this issue Carly has been accused by Saudi authorities of “disrupting public order”, with the prosecution seeking a jail term as punishment.

    She is also facing another even bigger new worry. Well before meeting her husband, Carly had converted to Islam and she insists her beliefs have never wavered since. But just days after she won back custody of her daughter, her ex-husband’s father officially accused her of denouncing her faith and insulting Saudi Arabia and all Muslims. Still unable to bring her daughter back home she also now faces a potential death sentence but pins much of the blame on herself.

    “I was warned. Many people told me like, do not to enter that country. If you enter you will never get your daughter back. And I didn’t listen to the warnings… and I’m here in this situation three years later”.

    The Saudi authorities and Carly’s ex-husband have been approached for comment but have not yet responded.

    DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana

    Source: BBC.com

  • India prohibits the Islamic organisation PFI due to “terrorism” suspicions

    The Popular Front of India (PFI) was referred to as an “unlawful association” by the Indian government. At least 200 PFI members have been arrested this month.

    India on Wednesday imposed a five-year ban on the Islamic organization Popular Front of India (PFI) and eight of its affiliates. The PFI was referred to by the government as an “illegal association” and was charged with involvement in terrorism.

    In the past month, dozens of PFI offices have been raided and at least 200 PFI members were detained across India.

    PFI has rejected the accusations and said authorities are fabricating evidence and targeting the group.

    Indian government: PFI had ‘international linkages’ to terror groups

    According to the Indian government, PFI has been funding terrorist activities, providing arms training to its supporters, and radicalizing people for anti-India activities.

    “PFI and its associates operated openly as a socio-economic, educational and political organization but they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize a particular section of the society,” read the notification issued by the government.

    The government said the group has multiple “international linkages” with “global terrorist groups.” Members of the PFI have been accused of joining the Islamic State and participating in “terror activites” in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

    The government notification also banned eight PFI-affiliated groups: Campus Front of India, Rehab India Foundation, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organization, National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.

    The bans were invoked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which gives extraordinary powers to the government to deal with activities that attack the integrity and sovereignty of India. Under this law, UAPA undertrials can be designated as terrorists.

    PFI called the ban an act of political vendetta

    Mohammed Tahir, a counsel for the PFI said the government has failed to present any evidence of the group has received international funding for terror activities in India.

    The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), a group that works with PFI on certain issues but has not been included in the ban, accused the Indian government of “misusing the investigation agencies,” using “laws to silence the opposition and to scare the people from expressing the voice of dissent.”

    The PFI came into existence in 2006 with the objective of countering Hindu nationalist groups.

    In the last few years, the PFI has backed protests against the citizenship amendment law which many Muslims in India deemed discriminatory, and supported the rights of Muslim women students to wear the hijab in their classrooms.

    Women students in India are seen protesting for their right to wear the hijab in the classroom.PFI supported the rights of Muslim women students to wear the hijab in their classrooms.

    Previously, the group has also been accused of killing people associated with other religious organizations, supporting the Islamic State group and destruction of property.

    Implications of the ban

    Of India’s nearly 1.4 billion people, about 14% are Muslims.

    In the last few years, many Muslims in India have complained of being marginalized and attacked for their identity under the rule of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

    The ban is likely to stir an outcry among opponents of the government, which retains broad public support and enjoys a comfortable majority in parliament.

     

     

     

  • Who is Salman Rushdie? The writer who emerged from hiding

    Over a literary career spanning five decades, Sir Salman Rushdie has been no stranger to death threats arising due to the nature of his work.

    The novelist is one of the most celebrated and successful British authors of all time, with his second novel, Midnight’s Children, winning the illustrious Booker Prize in 1981.

    But it was his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, published in 1988, which became his most controversial work – bringing about international turmoil unprecedented in its scale.

    In the Islamic world, many Muslims reacted with fury to the book’s publication, arguing that the portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad was a grave insult to their faith.

    Death threats were made against Rushdie, 75, who was forced to go into hiding, and the British government placed him under police protection.

    Iran quickly broke off relations with the UK in protest and the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa – or decree – calling for the novelist’s assassination in 1989 – the year after the book’s publication.

    But in the West, authors and intellectuals denounced the threat to freedom of expression posed by the violent reaction to the book.

    Copies of Salman Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses on sale in the UK, circa 1988.

    The Satanic Verses, published in 1988, brought about an international turmoil unprecedented in its scale

    Salman Rushdie was born in Bombay – now known as Mumbai – two months before Indian independence from Britain.

    Aged 14, he was sent to England and to school in the town of Rugby, later gaining an honours degree in history at the prestigious Kings College in Cambridge.

    He became a British citizen, and allowed his Muslim faith to lapse. He worked briefly as an actor and then as an advertising copywriter, while writing novels.

    His first published book, Grimus, did not achieve huge success, but some critics saw him as an author with significant potential.

    Rushdie took five years to write his second book, Midnight’s Children, which won the 1981 Booker Prize. It was widely acclaimed and sold half a million copies.

    Where Midnight’s Children had been about India, Rushdie’s third novel Shame – released in 1983 – was about a scarcely disguised Pakistan. Four years later, he wrote The Jaguar Smile, an account of a journey in Nicaragua.

    In September 1988, the work that would endanger his life, The Satanic Verses, was published. The surrealist, post-modern novel sparked outrage among some Muslims, who considered its content to be blasphemous.

    India was the first country to ban it. Pakistan followed suit, as did various other Muslim countries and South Africa.

    The novel was praised in many quarters and won the Whitbread Prize for novels. But the backlash to the book grew, and two months later, street protests gathered momentum.

    Demonstration Against Salman Rushdie's book The Satanic Verses in Paris, February 26, 1989

    Demonstrators were seen protesting against The Satanic Verses in Paris in February 1989

    Some Muslims considered it an insult to Islam. They objected – among other things – to two prostitutes in the book being given names of wives of the Prophet Muhammad.

    The book’s title referred to two verses removed by the Prophet Muhammad from the Quran, because he believed they were inspired by the devil.

    In January 1989, Muslims in Bradford in the UK ritually burnt a copy of the book, and newsagents WHSmith stopped displaying it there. Rushdie rejected charges of blasphemy.

    In Mumbai, Rushdie’s hometown, 12 people were killed during intense Muslim rioting, the British embassy in Tehran was stoned, and a $3m (£2.5m) bounty was put on the author’s head.

    Meanwhile, in the UK, some Muslim leaders urged moderation, others supported the ayatollah. The US, France and other Western countries condemned the death threat.

    Rushdie – by now in hiding with his wife under police guard – expressed his profound regret for the distress he had caused Muslims, but the ayatollah renewed his call for the author’s death.

    The London offices of Viking Penguin, the publishers, were picketed, and death threats were received at the New York office.

    But the book became a best-seller on both sides of the Atlantic. Protests against the extreme Muslim reaction were backed by the EU countries, all of which temporarily recalled their ambassadors from Tehran.

    An Indian Muslim wears a mask of Indian writer Salman Rushdie as he displays a placard condemning Rushdie during a protest in Bombay, 12 January 2004. During the protest against Rushdie's presence in the city, organised by several Muslim organisations, a reward of Rs.100,000 (2,199 USD) to anyone who blackens the face of Rushdie,who in his book The Satanic Verses allegedly made remarks against Islam's holy prophet Mohammed.An Indian Muslin wearing a mask of Rushdie was one of many protesting the author’s presence in Bombay in January 2004

    But the author was not the only person to be threatened over the book’s content.

    The Japanese translator of The Satanic Verses was found slain at a university north-east of Tokyo in July 1991.

    Police said the translator, Hitoshi Igarashi, who worked an assistant professor of comparative culture, was stabbed several times and left in the hallway outside his office at Tsukuba University. His killer has never been found.

    Earlier that same month, the Italian translator, Ettore Capriolo, was stabbed in his apartment in Milan, though he survived the attack.

    And the book’s Norwegian translator, William Nygaard, was shot in 1993 outside his home in Oslo – he also survived.

    Salman Rushdie

    Rushdie had to go into hiding and received police protection due to the backlash to The Satanic Verses

    A prolific writer, Rushdie’s later books include a novel for children, Haroun and the Sea of Stories (1990), a book of essays, Imaginary Homelands (1991), and the novels East, West (1994), The Moor’s Last Sigh (1995), The Ground Beneath Her Feet (1999), and Fury (2001).

    He was involved in the stage adaptation of Midnight’s Children which premiered in London in 2003.

    In the last two decades he has published Shalimar the Clown, The Enchantress of Florence, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights, The Golden House and Quichotte.

    Rushdie has been married four times, and has two children. He now lives in the US, and was knighted in 2007 by the Queen for his services to literature.

    In 2012, he published a memoir of his life in the wake of the controversy over The Satanic Verses.

    The death sentence against Rushdie stopped being formally backed by Iran’s government in 1998 and in recent years the author has enjoyed a new level of freedom.

    But threats to his life always lingered under the surface, and Iran’s current supreme leader – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – once said the fatwa against Rushdie was “fired like a bullet that won’t rest until it hits its target”.

    Source: BBC

    Â