News

Pakistani American Funds Meals for Homeless for two years

Pakistani American Muslim Lakhani resident of Washington DC. spends $250,000 of his own money to feed the Washington DC city's homeless every night throughout the year in partnership with Salvation Army. See Video.

Pakistani Pop Music Takes on the Taliban

For a few days this past summer, a Pakistani music show called Coke Studio became the 11th most watched channel on Youtube. Around the same time, it also became one of the most Googled terms in Europe.

The show, which is similar to the British music series Live from Abbey Road, has been growing in popularity since 2009. This summer's spike came in part because of "Alif Allah Chambey Di Booty," a Punjabi song performed by a squat, aging Pakistani folk musician with a curling mustache.

At last count, it had received close to 3 million hits on YouTube.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjaH2iuoYWE 

It's not hard to understand the song's appeal. The folk musician is accompanied by a female singer in a cropped leather jacket, tight jeans, and siren-red lipstick. Traditional instruments like the two-pronged chimta compete with the guitar and the synthesizer. It's a faultless fusion of the new and the old, a rare image for Pakistanis used to seeing their country portrayed as fundamentalist and monolithic. Consider this comment by a YouTube user: "This is the soul of Pakistan.....this is me."

Such responses reflect Coke Studio's essential philosophy. Producer Rohail Hyatt says the idea for the show coalesced when he was working as a consultant for Coca-Cola four years ago. Initially, Coke, which has long played second fiddle to Pepsi in Pakistan, rejected the idea. "It was certainly a challenge to convince them that the concept would have mass appeal," Hyatt says. Eventually, though, the corporation agreed. Read More

Pakistani-American Theater Company 'Parwaz Playhouse' Emerges

Just over a year old, Parwaz Playhouse bills itself as the first major Pakistani-American theater company in the U.S. Currently, eight first- and second-generation Pakistani–American actors, playwrights and directors make up the company.

The two Parwaz Playhouse co-founders, Imran Javaid and Imran Sheikh, met last year working on Wajahat Ali's “The Domestic Crusaders,” a play about a modern Pakistani-American Muslim family navigating the post 9-11 world.   

“The cast was entirely South Asian,” said actor and company co-founder Imran Sheikh. “This was a very unique and unprecedented thing. In rehearsals, a bond and camaraderie arose. And something sparked in me: ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do this all the time, if this was not a unique incidence?’ Being an actor, I thought—theater company!”

The company’s first project, "Glass," played to sold-out audiences at last year’s Downtown Urban Theater Festival in the East Village. Next month, the theater group will stage its first full-length project—the Pulitzer-Prize-winning play "Beyond the Horizon" by Eugene ONeill—adapted to take place in Pakistan in the 1960’s. 

ONeill's original play is set on a Connecticut farm in the early 1900s. It is the story of two brothers—one who is content working on the family farm, another who reads poetry and dreams of traveling the world. 

Playwright and co-founder Imran Javaid says that "Beyond the Horizon" is a story that immigrants and the children of immigrants can easily relate to. “The story really appealed to us because it’s the story of going out into a new land and seeking your destiny in a new land—and that’s exactly what our parents’ generation did,” said Javaid. “It’s something that we could immediately relate to, and we wanted to make the play our own.”   

The name “parwaz” was borrowed from Pakistani poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal. It means “ascension,” or “flying high.” Sheikh says that those ideals match the mission of the company. “What better way to bridge gaps than through theater because you’re exposing who you are,” said Sheikh. “I always say that there is a maelstrom of negative images out there, but it's our job to shine a light through that. Through theater, we’re showing people that we’re not paragons, but human beings.”   

The production was funded on Kickstarter, an online platform for artists, where the project raised about $1,000 more than its $3,000 goal. The creators of Parwaz Playhouse say that the ultimate goal is to construct a brick and mortar home for Parwaz Playhouse.

Previews for "Beyond the Horizon" start next month at Theater for the New City.

Viewpoint

The Hajj and the Apartheid Train: Where Is the Muslim Outrage? - Ziyad Motala

A pivotal theme in current Islamic political discourse is a demand for justice, a key tenet of the Quran. A popular complaint in Islamic political argument is discrimination against Muslims in the west such as the ban of the veil in European countries, minarets in Switzerland or racial profiling in many western countries. Unfortunately, there is a conspicuous lack of looking inwards to practices within Muslim countries. Muslims from all over the world have just completed the annual pilgrimage, the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. The Hajj represents a critical pillar of Islam and is supposed to represent a universal gathering of Muslims, which transcends race, ethnicity, color or any other distinction. Muslims are supposed to meet in the sacred precincts surrounding the holy city of Mecca as equals wearing the same simple clothing meant to symbolize perfect brotherhood, where individuals or groups do not see themselves as separate entities and differences of lineage, tribe or race have no bearing.

The experiences of the Hajj are very different depending on which part of the world you originate from. If you hail from Saudi Arabia or the Gulf states, you will perform the hajj in relative luxury and privilege, which is denied to Muslims from the sub-continent, Africa or the rest of the world. Those from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states have a different Hajj based on luxurious accommodations, and preferential treatment in performing the rituals. The latest egregious practice is the high-speed rail service, which transports the pilgrims from Mecca to the sacred sites where the rituals of the Hajj are performed. The train is reserved only for Saudis and citizens from the Gulf countries. Citizens from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries can be transported to the holy sites within a few minutes. For others, they will have to take the bus or walk which could take many hours each day. I cannot think of any other place in the world today that practices such crass racism. Imagine a train in the United States that states no Arabs -- just people from the west -- can ride in. The real tragedy is the lack of outrage from Muslims. Read More

How WikiLeaks Hurts U.S.-Pakistan Ties – Jayshree Bajoria

The release of thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables (NYT) by WikiLeaks.org has further shaken Washington's already strained relations with Pakistan, a strategic ally central to any success in Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism. The cables discuss U.S. concerns over Pakistan's continued support for certain militant groups, its nuclear program, the country's fragile civil-military relations, human rights abuses by Pakistan's security services, and more. Pakistani media has been covering the cable leaks extensively, and some stories have further fueled anti-U.S. sentiment (Reuters), with Pakistan's right-wing Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami staging a rally Dec. 5 to protest Pakistan's alliance (AFP) with the United States. Read More

Announcement

International Essay Competition for High School Students

Rumi Forum and the Gulen Institute at the University of Houston have organized an International Essay Contest for all high school students in grades 9 through 12 enrolled in public or private schools.

Students from all over the United States and abroad are encouraged to participate in the Essay Contest to address the following topic:

The use of military means as a solution to today’s international and national political issues: Diplomacy or war, democracy or military coup?

Please feel free to reproduce these materials as needed. One special note is that our deadline for essay submission is Monday, January 31, 2011.

We kindly invite your students to participate in this event in which the winners will be awarded as follows:

1st place : 4,000 USD + Trip to D.C.

2nd place : 2,500 USD + Trip to D.C.

3rd place : 1,000 USD + Trip to D.C.

4th - 20th place : 300 USD + Trip to D.C.

21st - 30th place : Trip to D.C.

This event is a unique opportunity for the winners to meet U.S. Congress members; visit think tank institutions and tourist attractions during a 4-day trip to Washington, D.C. The Gulen Institute will sponsor winning students’ and their supervisors’ travel, accommodations and meal expenses.

In addition, all winners will receive a Certificate of Recognition.

For more information follow this link: http://www.guleninstitute.org/youthplatform or write to this email: youthplatform@guleninstitute.org

FOX News Channel College Challenge

This is a nationwide competition for undergraduate students majoring in journalism, broadcast journalism, communications or an equivalent. The competition's mission is to recognize, encourage and support excellence in broadcast journalism in America's colleges and universities.

 The "FOX News Channel College Challenge" requires teams of two to four students (juniors and seniors only) to research, write, produce and submit an objective broadcast news story. A panel from FOX News Channel, who are integral in the newsgathering, production and presentation of news, will judge the entries.

The winning team will share a scholarship of $10,000 and the team's school will receive a matching grant of $10,000. In addition, the winning team and one administrator will be invited to appear on FOX News Channel to talk about the winning entry and their experience. Members of the winning team, who are juniors, will be eligible for an internship at FOX News Channel (must meet eligibility requirements). Members of the winning team, who are seniors, will receive an entry level job interview at FOX News Channel.

Click here for official contest rules.

Click here for list of topics.

Click here for FAQ's.

Submissions must be either uploaded electronically by February 7, 2011 or postmarked by February 14, 2011. Read More

FEDERAL TASK FORCE IN BULLYING PREVENTION INVITES PUBLIC TO SUBMIT IDEAS ON WAYS TO COMBAT BULLYING

The Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Task Force announced today that it will begin accepting submissions from the public of field-based practices to combat bullying. Entries that are approved for posting on the website—www.bullyinginfo.org—can include formats ranging from research articles to youth-produced public service announcements (PSAs). All materials and resources posted must be free of charge and hosted on either a government or non-profit website.

“We know that many programs are successfully addressing bullying and want to share those materials with others,” says Kevin Jennings, assistant deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Department’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools who also chairs the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Task Force. “Our goal is to create an easy, central location for anyone to access information.”

Findyouthinfo.gov, an inter-agency federal government website that provides information on creating, maintaining and strengthening effective youth programs, already accepts submissions of evaluated, evidence-based programs on bullying for its program directory. In addition to information on bullying, submissions also are accepted for a range of other youth topics such as health and nutrition, positive youth development, substance use, parenting, and more. To submit field-based material to Bullyinginfo.org and/or Findyouthinfo.gov, please visit www.findyouthinfo.gov/resourcesubmission.aspx. To submit evaluated evidence-based programs, please visit www.findyouthinfo.gov/nominate.shtml.

Community Action

Call your Senator to pass DREAM Act

The House did not bring up the DREAM Act for a vote this week.  Supporters of the DREAM Act decided to await information from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) regarding the budgetary impact of the DREAM Act, with the expectation that the report would boost the fiscal arguments for passing the DREAM Act.  The CBO report came in too late for the House to act before leaving for the weekend. 

The good news, however, is that the CBO determined that the DREAM Act will increase government revenues by $2.3 billion over 10 years, and result in a net reduction in the deficit of $1.4 billion over the same period.

This adds to the information provided by other sources demonstrating the fiscal benefit that will be provided by the DREAM Act.  A new UCLA study estimated that the DREAM Act will lead to a boost in the economy of between $1.4 and $3.6 trillion over the lifetime of DREAM Act students.  Another estimate provided by the Center for American Progress estimates that if the government were instead to deport the DREAM Act students, it cost an additional $25 billion over the next five years— resulting in an increase in the deficit, higher taxes or cuts in other government programs.  Use this link to send a letter to your Representative and Senators urging them to support the DREAM Act.

Here again are some key reasons your Representative should support the DREAM Act.

Because taxpayers deserve a return on their investment.  Allowing immigrant students to continue their education and achieve their potential will boost the economy and result in higher tax revenues, as noted above.

Because the public supports it—70%, according to a recent poll by First Focus.

Because the military wants it.  Both Secretary of Defense Bill Gates and Retired Gen. Colin Powell have weighed in to support the DREAM Act.  The DREAM Act will help the military meet recruitment goals, because one of the ways students will qualify is to serve in the military.

The White House also released a fact sheet and a top ten list on why we need to pass the DREAM Act, highlighting myths and facts about the legislation as well as highlighting real stories, key supporters of the bill and over 50 editorial boards that have come out in support of the DREAM Act .

Sign the petition to pass Dream Act

Pressure builds up to amend Blasphemy Law

A determined Member of Pakistan National Assembly Ms. Sherry Rehman has started an effective campaign to amend Pakistan’s ambiguous Blasphemy Law, which according to many has been misused over the years. Ms. Rehman has compiled a large collection of misuses of Blasphemy Law through think tank Jinnah Institute , which has published a Briefing Pack on amendments to Blasphemy Law. Last month Ms. Rehman introduced an amendment to the current law in Pakistan’s National Assembly. Recent reports indicate that there is support within Pakistan’s majority political party – Pakistan Peoples Party including support from President Zardari. 

To make any appreciable changes to current law, support and determination is needed from remaining Political Parties, Pakistan Judiciary, and Pakistan Civil society. PAKPAC asks its readers to call on their contacts in Pakistan to build up this momentum to amend Blasphemy Law, which as it currently stands targets not only minorities but Muslims as well, more than  fifty percent of the cases registered, prosecuted, or pending have been filed against Muslims. The latest being case registered under Blasphemy Law against a Muslim Doctor from Hyderabad threw away a business card of a man who shared the name of Prophet, Muhammad.

Civil Liberties

Attorney General Eric Holder defends legality of FBI stings against Muslim groups

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. struck back against criticism that the FBI has targeted Muslims in a series of undercover stings, telling a Muslim group Friday night that those who allege government entrapment "simply do not have their facts straight." In one of his most pointed and personal responses to allegations that government anti-terrorism tactics are overly aggressive, Holder strongly defended the FBI agents he said are fighting a wave of terrorist plots. Without their efforts, he said in a speech in San Francisco, "government simply could not meet its most critical responsibility of protecting American lives."  

Carefully-crafted sting operations by FBI and Justice Department officials have included plots against a Portland, Ore., Christmas celebration, Dallas skyscrapers, Washington subways, a Chicago nightclub and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. "We have very serious concerns about FBI surveillance tactics that are used. We believe that law enforcement has an important job to protect us as a country but they should do so mindful of the rules of justice and fairness that are at the core of our criminal justice system," said Muslim Advocates executive director Farhana Khera, who invited Holder to speak to the group.

Despite the differences of opinion, Holder received strong applause and a standing ovation. Attendees said they felt reassured by his remarks on protecting the civil liberties of Muslim Americans.

Read More