Wednesday, Nov 30, 2011 AMSTERDAM - On a chilly Sunday morning, a group of Dutch teenagers gather in an overgrown patch of land in east Amsterdam to work on a unique project: cleaning up a 300-year-old graveyard. But the volunteers involved in restoring the Zeeburg Jewish cemetery are more than just beautifying: drawn from the city's Jewish and Moroccan Muslim residents, they are building bridges between two divided communities. "Come on guys, lets get going!" volunteer Alfie de Vries, 13, urges his friends Jonas Poolman and Max Zegerius as they grab garden rakes and a spade to join some 30 other teenagers hacking away in a nearby clearing. With help from Ahmed Bularoez, 21, they pull down branches and clean up strands of dead grass to reveal a grey stone slab with an inscription in Hebrew and the Star of David on it. "Another tombstone," one teenager excitedly points out as dirt and leaves are wiped away before being carted off in a wheelbarrow. De Vries, Poolman, Zegerius and Bularoez lean on their garden tools, grinning broadly. De Vries, Poolman and Zegerius are Jewish. Bularoez, the son of Moroccan migrant labourers who came to the Netherlands in the 1970s, is Muslim. "The idea to get Jewish and Muslim teenagers working side-by-side to clean the old cemetery was sparked last year after we filmed incidents of anti-Semitism on a hidden camera and broadcast it," one of the project's organisers, Rabbi Lody van de Kamp tells AFP. Shown on Dutch television, Moroccan youngsters are seen baiting two Jewish teenagers wearing skullcaps, as they walk around a Moroccan neighbourhood in Amsterdam, while in another clip, the boys are flashed a Hitler salute. The broadcast sent out shockwaves which reverberated all the way to the lower house of the Dutch parliament. It was mooted as a sign of growing anti-Semitism in the Netherlands and an MP, himself of Moroccan parentage, even suggested police don kippas and walk the streets as "decoy Jews" to catch offenders in the act. But the images also touched a raw nerve within the Moroccan community, whose members also complain of being singled out. "You know, when you do something good, you're called a Dutchman of Moroccan descent, when you do something bad, you're just a Moroccan," said Bularoez. Said Bensellam, a key figure among Amsterdam's Moroccans, says he decided to contact Van de Kamp shortly after the programme aired - and so the idea of a combined project to clean up the Zeeburg cemetery was born. "We want to show solidarity with the Jewish community," he says. Jewish teenager Jonas Poolman says "together we can achieve a lot. Besides, we really like these guys." Around him, teenagers mix and laugh together, all wearing the same blue overalls. The only real difference, some of the youngsters are wearing kippas. Says Bularoez: "This is a fantastic project with a lot of history here." Opened in 1714, the Zeeburg Jewish cemetery is spread over two acres (0.8 hectares) and with thousands of graves, it's one of Amsterdam's oldest Jewish graveyards. It's also one of the largest in western Europe, according to Van de Kamp. It was well maintained until 1944, when most of the city's Jews including its most famous wartime figure, Anne Frank, and her family were carted off to Nazi death camps like Auschwitz, Sobibor and Bergen-Belsen. "They did not come back so there was no-one to tend to the graves," says Van de Kamp. Its existence was rediscovered about two years ago, when police arrested two youngsters playing a paintball game among the gravestones, which borders Zeeburg's multi-ethnic Indies Neighbourhood. Now, the plan is to clear a part of the cemetery and restore it to its former glory. For five Sundays, the teenagers will lead the way. "In a sense, it's the dead from the past showing the living of today the way of the future," says Van de Kamp.

Mexico unearths 600-meter border drug tunnel AFP | Wed, Nov 30, 2011 TIJUANA, Mexico, Nov 30, 2011 (AFP) - Mexican authorities have unearthed a 600-meter (1,800-foot) drug smuggling tunnel beneath the US border, the second such find in the same area this month. The 15-foot-deep tunnel found on Tuesday was similar to another tunnel found on November 16, and contained both lighting and transport carts, indicating the growing technical sophistication of the country's powerful drug cartels. "The tunnel was located after we were informed of it by US authorities," who had found the other end of the passage in nearby San Ysidro, California, Tijuana police chief Ricardo Garduno told AFP. Security forces who took part in the raid said three tons of marijuana were uncovered inside the tunnel. The entrance to the tunnel on the Mexican side was found some 100 meters (300 feet) from the local headquarters of the federal police, a military air base and a customs office, according to an AFP reporter. On November 16 US authorities announced the discovery of a "major" drug smuggling tunnel under the border running some 400 meters (1,200 feet) and containing electricity and a ventilation system. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) service trumpeted the find as a major victory over Mexican drug cartels responsible for vast trafficking across the border into the United States. Some 45,000 people have been killed since 2006, when Mexico launched a major military crackdown against the powerful drug cartels that have terrorized border communities as they have battled over lucrative smuggling routes.

  Russian whistle-blower beaten to death in jail: council AFP | Mon, Nov 28, 2011 MOSCOW, Russia - Moscow prison guards used rubber batons to beat to death a Western investment fund lawyer who alleged mass embezzlement by Russian officials, a Kremlin rights panel said on Monday. The case of Sergei Magnitsky - a whistle-blowing attorney who was jailed shortly after making his accusations - has been highlighted by the West as one of the most flagrant abuses of human rights in Russia in recent years. The 37-year-old's death in 2009 also raised alarm over the Russian justice system's impartiality and the ability of the police to manipulate the courts. Magnitsky's Hermitage Capital firm campaigned to prove that the lawyer was killed for accusing top interior ministry officials of embezzling $230 million by obtaining false tax returns on payments made by the fund. Hermitage Capital published a 75-page report on Monday featuring what it said was a photocopy of an internal Moscow prison document authorising the use of handcuffs and batons against Magnitsky the day he died. "A rubber baton was used against the suspect," the standard form prison document said. It then had Magnitsky's name written down in pen in the space provided for the inmate's identification and was dated November 16, 2009. Magnitsky died later that evening. In a separate news conference, members of a Kremlin rights panel for the first time stated that physical harm rather than negligence appeared to have been the direct cause of his death, based on the same documents. The panel, which was mandated by President Dmitry Medvedev to investigate the death, said the documents came from Magnitsky's case material that authorities had tried to cover up for two years. "I do not think that (prison officials) wanted to kill him, but I do think that they beat him in order to force him to admit guilt" to false charges that led to Magnitsky's arrest, said panel member Valery Borshchyov. "But either way, he died as a result of the beating, that is my opinion," said the rights official. "They tried to keep this hushed up for two years." Borshchyov said eight people were present at the time of Magnitsky's death. Hermitage Capital also published a separate document showing an investigator urging his superiors three days after the incident to open an official murder investigation. That request was denied and subsequent state reports concluded that Magnitsky had died from complications of medical ailments he had prior to being jailed. Investigators have charged two prison doctors with neglect. But Hermitage Capital - founded by the US-born investor William Browder and now based in London - said the state was only trying to cover up its crimes. "It is really shocking. You have the situation where Sergei Magnitsky was beaten by eight guards at 8:00 pm and he was dead at 9:00 pm," Browder said in a telephone interview from London. The fund chief said he would present the findings to the European Commission in Brussels on Wednesday in an attempt to force European capitals to introduce a blanket ban on entry to the dozens of Russian officials involved in the case. "We are not hopeful that there is going to be any justice in this case in Russia," said Browder. "The main purpose of this report is for foreign governments and parliaments to see what is really going on in this case as they consider imposing visa sanctions and asset freezes." The United States has already placed a slate of mid-ranking officials involved in the case on a visa blacklist and similar measures are now being considered in Europe.

S'poreans, beware when you marry someone from a different culture Posted on 28 Nov 2011 STOMPer Zaitsev was concerned when he read a report in The New Paper about a Singaporean man who had allegedly stabbed his Thai wife's lover to death after catching the two together, naked, in a condominium in Bangkok. The STOMPer warns Singaporeans to beware when marrying someone from a different culture, as they could find themselves in a similar situation. According to the news report today (Nov 29), CCTV footage shows Singaporean Hsu Wei Hua, 38, allegedly stabbing Mr Ittiphan Kuwakorn, 26, repeatedly with a knife. Mr Ittiphan, a car drifter, suffered knife wounds in nine places, including his heart, chest, back and right hand. It is believed that Hsu found his 25-year-old wife, Ms Siriwan Yaemsi, and Mr Ittiphan naked in a sixth floor unit of Regent Home condo in Bangkok's Chatuchak area at about 1pm last Thursday. CCTV footage shows Hsu and the heavily tattooed Mr Ittiphan getting into a scuffle outside the flat. Hsu seemed to have a hard time overpowering the Thai man. Hsu then went into the flat and emerged with a knife, which he used to stab Mr Ittiphan several times. Mr Ittiphan managed to stagger back into the flat, but later collapsed and died in the bedroom. Hsu then fled the scene in the black BMW that he had given to his wife, but left behind his passport and Singaporean driving licence. Is this a case of a tragic love triangle? STOMPer Zaitsev feels that Singaporean men should be wary when they marry a foreigner. He said: "Many Singaporean men have foreign wives, especially from China and Thailand. Many Singaporean women are marrying foreigners too. I think there are things we have to be wary of. I'm not saying all foreigners are bad, but I've heard many stories of how Singaporean men have been cheated on by their foreign wives, who might only be after them for their money. "It's also difficult when you're in different countries, as you don't know what they're up to. "You must really know for sure that she's in love with you and not just what you're able to provide them with." It is understood that Hsu doted on Ms Siriwan, his wife from his second marriage. The Singaporean man showered his Thai wife with luxury gifts, including the black BMW 325i he had fled in and gave her a monthly allowance of 70,000 baht (S$2,900). It is also believed that Hsu had hired Mr Ittiphan as a chauffeur for Ms Siriwan. According to The New Paper report, Hsu is a director and shareholder at a company manufacturing plastic precision engineering parts at Kallang. At the time of this report, Hsu was still at large and wanted by Thai police.

Twelve dead, dozens missing in Indonesia bridge collapse AFP | Mon, Nov 28, 2011 TENGGARONG, Indonesia - Twelve bodies have been recovered from a river after a bridge collapse in Indonesian Borneo sent dozens of vehicles plunging into the water, officials said Monday as authorities probed the disaster. Around 30 people are believed to be missing after the 720-metre-long bridge - built to resemble San Francisco's Golden Gate - over the Mahakam river collapsed on Saturday. Divers were temporarily forced to abandon their search for victims because of poor visibility in the murky water and strong currents. "One more body has been found, bringing the death toll to 12," East Kalimantan province's search and rescue agency head Harmoni Adi hurriedly told reporters between meetings. National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho confirmed the updated death toll, saying that bodies were washing up on the river banks. "Fourteen people are still in hospital," he told AFP, adding there was "zero visibility" in the river which is up to 40 metres (yards) deep. "Based on reports by the community, at least 33 are missing. It's difficult to know exactly how many are missing because we don't know how many vehicles and people fell when the bridge collapsed." He had earlier said 39 people were injured. Divers, who have waited for two days for currents to ease and visibility to improve, would try to enter the water again Tuesday morning, Adi said. "We will send the divers first thing tomorrow morning. The weather so far has been good," he told AFP. Nugroho said rescue teams would use echo-sounding to analyse the position of the bridge's underwater metal frame to ensure it is safe to start removing the debris. Witnesses reportedly heard a loud crash as the structure buckled, sending a public bus, cars and motorcycles plunging into the broad river in Kutai Kartanegara district. Survivors desperately swam to the shore, screaming in panic, while others were trapped underwater beneath the debris. The cause of the collapse was not immediately clear but Nugroho said on Sunday that a steel support cable for the bridge, finished in 2002, snapped as workers were repairing it. The Jakarta Post daily quoted Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto as saying the bridge had been weakened after being struck by boats several times. "A pillar almost collapsed last year because it was hit by a cargo barge that carried coal," Kirmanto told the daily. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered an investigation into the cause of the accident. Indonesia is setting a blistering pace of growth, expected to top six percent this year, but investors complain infrastructure is hopelessly inadequate and that the nation is mired in corruption and red tape. "Around ten to 20 percent of project funds usually go to corruption. The consequence is that building materials are of low quality," said Sri Adiningsih, an economics lecturer at the Gadjah Mada University in Jogjakarta. The government last year announced plans to spend $140 billion on infrastructure until 2014, more than half of which would have to come from the private sector. There have been a string of bridge disasters in Indonesia in recent years, including two others this year, according to local newspapers. Last month, a bridge in South Sumatra province collapsed under the weight of a trailer-truck loaded with construction materials, and in September two workers were killed and four injured when a bridge under construction collapsed in the same province. Also on Sumatra island, 12 children died in October last year when a suspension bridge collapsed as they were taking part in a traditional ceremony to dispel bad luck. And in April 2009, one person died and two others were injured when a bridge collapsed in Central Kalimantan province.

Spain busts gang that used child drug mules AFP | Mon, Nov 28, 2011 MADRID, Spain - Police busted a drug gang that used babies and small children to smuggle cocaine from South America through European airports, Spanish officials said Monday. Police in Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands arrested 20 suspects including traffickers who arrived on flights with large amounts of cocaine hidden about them while travelling with children to avert suspicion. "They used minors as a cover so as not to raise suspicion and also to hide the drugs among their nappies" in their baggage, the statement said. "They were flying from South America with quantities of narcotics varying from one to five kilogrammes." Police arrested 16 people at various airports in Spain, and two each in Belgium and the Netherlands and seized 11 kilogrammes of cocaine, the statement said. One Spanish couple arrested in The Netherlands were carrying 1.5 kilos of cocaine attached to their bodies and hidden among their baby's nappies in their luggage. The smuggling ring involved members in Zaragoza, northern Spain and flights to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport and Madrid's Barajas airport.

German accused of raping daughter for 34 years stands trial AFP | Mon, Nov 28, 2011 NUREMBERG, Germany - A German pensioner accused of raping his daughter repeatedly over a 34-year-period and fathering three children with her went on trial in this southern city Monday. The now 69-year-old defendant, Adolf Bergbauer, admitted sex with his daughter in testimony before the court but denied charges of rape. He said she consented. Bergbauer has been charged with 497 counts of rape. Suspected cases earlier than 1991 have now passed the statute of limitations and are too old to consider. He denied the prosecution charges he started to rape his daughter when she was 12. The first sexual contact took place when she was 17, he said. "She was a willing participant," he insisted. "I did not undress her myself," added Bergbauer, who is illiterate and used to work as an occasional labourer. He said they had consensual sex around twice a week. However, according to prosecutors, the daughter, now aged 46, said he raped her in her parents' bedroom, in her own room and later in the woods in the back of his car. She also said he forced her into sex at knife-point, which Bergbauer strenuously denied. "Never in my life have I done that," he said. The daughter's lawyer, Andrea Kuehne, said her client was "shocked and furious" at Bergbauer's statement that the sex was consensual. "My client would never have pressed charges if she had felt that way," said the lawyer. Of the three sons born as a result, two died and the other is handicapped. The man faces up to 15 years behind bars if convicted.

A*STAR scientists lead human embryonic stem cell study AsiaOne | Mon, Nov 28, 2011 SINGAPORE - Researchers from A*STAR Singapore took lead roles in a study that identified a portion of the genome mutated during long-term culture of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The three-year study compared the genome of cell lines from around the world that were grown in cell culture for a short period of time, to those grown in cell culture for a longer period of time. During long-term culture, these cells can mutate, which can compromise the cells' utility for regenerative medicine. Sceintists used these samples to pinpoint an area of the genome that contains genes that affect the cell's ability to control its own growth. This study provides important information for evaluating the genetic integrity of hESCs, as these embryonic stem cells hold potential for future cell therapy and regenerative medicine. This same genome region has also recently been identified to occur in many types of cancer, and is likely to hold information on the factors at play in cancerous cell growth. The study was a worldwide collaboration, led by Drs Peter Andrews of the University of Sheffield (UK), Paul Robson of the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Steve Oh of Singapore's Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), and Barbara Knowles and others in the international stem cell community. The GIS, IMB and BTI are research institutes under the umbrella of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, (A*STAR), Singapore. It is the largest conducted on the genetic stability of cultured hESCs, involving 125 ethically diverse genetic lines originating from 38 laboratories globally.

  Dog dies after being dragged by Porsche The New Paper | Sun, Nov 27, 2011 IT WAS either an absolutely despicable act or a horrible accident. One view is that a driver tied a dog to his Porsche and dragged the poor animal for about 10km. The beagle-collie cross died of terrible injuries after being pulled at speeds of up to 110kmh along a highway in Sussex, England. Its mangled body was later dumped, Daily Mail reported. A bystander dialled 999 last Sunday night after he saw the black Porsche 911 Carrera dragging the terrified dog through a carpark. Half an hour later, police received another call to say the driver was heading along a nearby dual carriageway, with the dog, now clearly dead, still attached to the car. A police source told The Telegraph that detectives are investigating whether the alleged incident may have been triggered by a domestic dispute between the dog's owners. The other view comes from the owner of the £40,000 (S$81,000) car, who told The Mirror that her partner had not meant to kill the dog. She claimed: "He said a dog had strayed into the road and he had swerved to avoid it - he thought he had missed it. But as he drove along, other motorists kept flashing their lights at him. "He eventually pulled over and found he had run over the dog and it had become trapped underneath the car. He was in tears. He loves dogs." Driver Mike Walsh, who witnessed the incident, said that after the Porsche overtook his car, he could hear a metallic sound, "a bit like a garage door closing". He said he could see a chain coming out of the back of the car. Then he saw the beagle. Added Mr Walsh: "There were four to five metres of chain coming out of the car and then the chain was wrapped around the dog's neck." The driver, who wasn't named, was arrested after he handed himself in on Monday. After discovering the abandoned body, officers took the dog to a local vet for examination and identification. Police Constable Scott Walters told Daily Mail: "This is being treated as a deliberate act. Anyone who can help us find those responsible must get in touch. The injuries this dog suffered were horrific. It has been distressing for everyone involved." An Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals spokesman said the dog's body has been kept as evidence. She told The Telegraph: "This was an unbelievable thing to do to an animal. It would have suffered both physically and mentally during its ordeal." A lawyer representing the driver said: "My client is now very worried because of all the Facebook messages and threats of retaliation that have been made on the Internet. He handed himself into police expecting everything to be cleared up easily. His Porsche is still with forensic officers." Police were testing the car to see if the chain was attached deliberately. CCTV cameras could also provide crucial evidence as the Porsche drove along a highway and through the 300m Southwick Tunnel. That should make it clear whether it was a case of animal cruelty or an accident. This article was first published in The New Paper.

Law allowing their sexual histories to be used against them in court could go SINGAPORE - The sexual history of victims of sexual assault soon may no longer be used against them in court. The Ministry of Law plans to remove a part of the law that provides for this. The move came after the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) last month, during a public consultation exercise, made a submission to repeal Section 157(d) of the Evidence Act. Law Minister K Shanmugam announced his intention to recommend the repeal yesterday, at the launch of AWARE's Sexual Assault Befrienders' Service (SABS). He said: "Ultimately ... Cabinet has got to sign off on it, and Parliament has got to approve it, but it is certainly my view that it should not exist." Section 157(d) of the Evidence Act states that when a man is prosecuted for rape, it may be shown that the victim was of "generally immoral character". AWARE took issue with it, on the grounds that it was based on an outdated concept that only "chaste" women should be afforded legal protection. Mr Shanmugam said the Evidence Act, which is based on the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, was using the English common law of that time and that such views should not find any expression in Singapore's laws. He added: "That a woman's sexual history would show whether she is of moral or immoral character and, if she is sexually promiscuous, then she is immoral and therefore she should be less likely to believed, I think that's frankly repugnant." AWARE said if the subsection is repealed, victims of sexual assault will be better protected. Noting that there is a very low rate of police reports made, the group said one reason could be because victims are fearful their sexual history may be used against them. Amendments to the Evidence Act will be brought up in Parliament in the first half of next year. Meanwhile, SABS, the first support service for survivors of sexual assault in Singapore, will be available from next Monday. (Amended 3.14 pm, Nov 26) It comprises a dedicated help-line, counselling, legal counselling and befriending services. The SABS help-line number is 6779 0282, and it operates from 10am to 9.30pm on weekdays.

Photo of ghost under the bridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Coordinates: 1°19′49″N 103°51′27″E

Siong Lim Temple Siong Lim Temple (also: Shuang Lin Temple) is the common Hokkien or Fukien name of the (Lian Shan) Shuang Lin Monastery (Chinese: (莲山)双林寺; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Liân-san-siang-lîm-sī), pinyin: (Lián Shān) Shuāng Lín sì, literally Twin Grove of the Lotus Mountain Temple. Built in 1902, the Buddhist temple is located in Toa Payoh, Singapore. The 40,000 square metres site was owned by Low Kim Pong, a wealthy Chinese Hoklo (Hokkien) merchant and devout Buddhist. When Low Kim Pong was sixty, he had a dream where he saw a golden light rising from the west over the sea (the west being symbolic of Buddhism which originated in India, and is west of China). He took the dream to be an omen, and went to the coast the next day. At dusk, he met an unusual Hokkien family arriving by boat. The entire family had taken Buddhist vows and were on their way home to Fujian after a pilgrimage to Sri Lanka. Low, moved by their devotion, tried to persuade them to stay in Singapore and spread the faith. He promised to build a temple for their use. The head of that family, Xian Hui, eventually became Siong Lim's first abbot. Doorknob of the Temple shaped as a jiaotu The funds used for its construction were raised by Low Kim Pong and Yeo Poon Seng, one of the saw mill pioneers during the period. In 1950s, the temple area was reduced to about 20,000 m² when part of the land was acquired by the Singapore Improvement Trust for public housing. Today, the temple still stands as a landmark amongst residential flats (HDB). The temple was gazetted a national monument on 17 October 1980, symbolising the social and cultural roots of the early Chinese immigrants. In spite of being a national monument, Siong Lim was mostly neglected as the government of Singapore tried to westernize. By the 1990s, portions of the temple were in disrepair. Areas were cordoned off as being unsafe. A major renovation was started in 1994 and completed in 2002. In order to return the temple to its former southern Chinese glory, eighty carpenters, sculptors and artisans were brought in from China to work on the restoration. The temple was originally modeled after the Xichang temple in Fujian province, but has a uniquely Singaporean style. Singapore was an immigrant society, and although built by Fujian workmen, these original workmen came from different counties in Fujian. As a result, the temple has elements of Fuzhou, Quanzhou, and Zhangzhou styles. The temple now boasts a seven storey gold-topped pagoda which is a replica of the 800 year old Shanfeng temple pagoda in Fujian. [edit]External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Siong Lim Temple Official site Cultural Compass: Anthropological research of Shuang Lin Monastery View page ratings Rate this page What's this? Trustworthy Objective Complete Well-written I am highly knowledgeable about this topic (optional) Submit ratings Categories: National Monuments of SingaporeBuddhist temples in SingaporeReligious buildings completed in 190220th-century Buddhist templesToa Payoh

Temples of Singapore About the Author Helen Conway hconway [954] Western visitors to Asia will recognise the feeling: you go into a Chinese temple, you "wow" at the incredible decorations, you "ooh" at the goldenness of the deities, and you "aah" at the heady incense. But sometimes, it isn't easy to know which deity you are admiring. On a recent trip to Singapore, I visited several temples and tried to unravel some of the stories behind them. When the immigrants stepped off the boats from China, their first port of call was to give thanks for a safe sea voyage. And so one of the first joss houses was established on Telok Ayer Street as far back as 1821. At the time, the street was on the sea front; now, roofs stretch away in every direction. It was way back in 1897 that land reclamation began and Telok Ayer bid farewell to the sea. Thian Hock Keng Temple The Thian Hock Keng Temple, or Temple of Heavenly Happiness, still stands on the original site, dedicated to Ma Cho Po, Mother of Heavenly Sages and the goddess of safe sea travel. It is one of the most striking temples in Singapore and should not be missed, although every tourist is of the same opinion and visitors far outnumber worshippers. It must be said that camera flashes going off can hardly be conducive to praying: the temptation to take photographs should be resisted, as these are places of worship. Some temples prefer you to remove your shoes before you enter although you will know this, as there will usually be footwear lying outside. Steps, or a wooden bar, are often at the entrance to a temple. These serve the double purpose of keeping out wandering spirits and also making those who enter the temple look down, thus bowing the head in humility. The Thian Hock Keng Temple was built between 1839 and 1842, using imported materials from China (although the tiles on the façade are from Holland and the railings from Glasgow). Astonishingly, not one nail was used during the construction. A glance up at the roof shows a traditional beam-and-bracket system and wonderful carved men squat at the cornices, holding the roof on their shoulders. The statue of Ma Cho Po was brought from China in 1840 and carried through the streets in an elaborate procession before being installed in the temple. Ma Cho Po was born Lin Mo in 960 AD. Legend has it that she did not cry during her first month and was given the name "Mo," which means, "keeping silent". She was extremely intelligent and she became a Buddhist at the age of ten, dedicating her life to helping others. She grew up on Meizhou Island, a busy seaport in the Fu Jian province and she was renowned for being able to accurately predict the weather, thus becoming invaluable to the seamen. She also helped out in many sea rescues. Lin Mo died at the young age of 27, since when sailors and fishermen have come to pray to her for safe sea voyages. Stone lions guard the entrance to the temple: the male on one side has a ball in his mouth, which symbolises strength. It is good luck to twirl the ball round before you step into the temple. The female lion on the other side holds a cup, representing fertility. Once inside, the courtyard is heavy with the scent of burning incense, said to remind followers of virtue. The main deities are enclosed behind glass. Ma Cho Po sits in the middle, red and yellow silk adorning the statue (Lin Mo is reputed to have always worn red during her life). On either side of her sit the Protector of Life and the God of War. Offerings are placed on the tables before the gods- here are neatly arranged bowls of apples, oranges and bananas. This artistic scene appears more for the benefit of the tourists than the gods. Yueh Hai Ching Temple Ma Cho Po fares better on the food front further up the road at the Yueh Hai Ching Temple (literally, the "Temple of the Calm Sea built by the Guanzhou people"). The offerings here include bowls of rice, fried mushrooms and bok choy, as well as sweets and pastries. Bottles of oil stand next to the burners and, just in case you should doubt the quality of your purchase, a large label informs you that you have purchased "Lucky Oil". As opposed to the other sort, presumably. This temple on Phillip Street also once fronted the water. Now, the single-storey building and paved courtyard are shadowed by the gleaming skyscrapers of the financial district, which is gradually encroaching on Chinatown. The original temple was built here in 1826, making it the oldest Teochew (the second largest of the Chinese dialect groups) temple in Singapore. Across the courtyard are festooned burning incense coils, inside of which hang pieces of paper. On these, people write their name and wish. The smell of the incense alerts and appeases the gods and the wish will be granted. The temple is unusual in that it has two entrances: the right wing altar is dedicated to Yuan Tian Shang Di, the Heavenly Emperor, and the left wing altar to Ma Cho Po. There is also a statue of Confucius, to whom parents can bring their children to pray as this is thought to bring filial piety and good grades at school. To one side within the temple is a statue of Gambler Brother. He is worshipped to bring good luck and riches and around his neck hangs a string of coins. Opium used to be smeared on his lips once upon a time; presumably this kept him happy. Now, however, poor Gambler Brother has to be content with a (legal) herbal paste, koyo. This temple is also unusual in that it has many three-dimensional scenes from Chinese operas, depicting scenes of courageous deeds of the gods and ancient heroes of Chinese legends. They are displayed on the roof to render vigilance and bestow blessings. This quiet little temple is a far cry from the Kuan Yin Temple, which dominates the pedestrianised Waterloo Street. It is not merely the imposing entrance that catches the eye but also the fortune-tellers lining the street and the flower-sellers enticing you to buy your offerings from them. Kuan Yin Temple This is one of the most popular temples in Singapore, both with devotees and tourists. The aroma from the incense wafts all the way down the street. A security guard sits at the entrance and warns visitors not to take photographs. Inside, another security guard patrols round and monitors the CCTV. Streams of people wander in and out all day, praying to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. It is said that whatever you wish for within the walls of the temple will come true, so small wonder it is busy. Kuan Yin is often shown on a lotus pod, holding a child. Sometimes the depiction is of a man with very feminine features and many arms to show the extent of his mercy, although his sex varies. He is also the god to whom childless women turn for help. Inside the temple is a swirl of activity. The high ceiling reverberates the chanting of the priests as they stand at the front of the hall, ringing the bell and beating the drum. Worshippers (and there are many) kneel on a large square of red carpet in the centre of the room. They rattle canisters full of what resemble chopsticks and the incessant clattering adds to the din. These are fortune-telling sticks and they shake the canister until one falls out. This is then taken to the interpretation box where they receive the inscription's meaning. Chairs are set against the walls where people sit and talk, a far cry from the hushed tones of the Protestant churches I am used to. Flowers, signifying the impermanence of life, are brought and offered to Kuan Yin, who sits in all her golden glory behind glass. Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple One of the most touristy temples would have to be the Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple, more commonly known as Temple of 1000 Lights. Indeed, as I arrived, a coachload of Japanese tourists was just leaving. The temple was founded by a Thai monk, Vutthisasara, and the Thai influences are obvious. The building stands taller than many Chinese temples and there is no pagoda roof. However, Chinese influences are present in the bright colour schemes. Inside is an incredible 15-metre high, 300-ton statue of Buddha, painted in a yellow robe. When a donation is made, the 1000 lights are illuminated. Fortunately, no one made any offering while I was there and I was spared being witness to this tacky event. Around the statue's base are friezes depicting the Buddha's life. Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world and was founded in Northern India by Siddharta Gautama. He was born in 563 BC in Lumbini, which is in modern-day Nepal. At the age of 27, he set off on the road as an ascetic. It was while meditating under the bodhi tree that he reached enlightenment, assumed the title Buddha (one who has awakened) and spread the word. He died in 483 BC. In a cabinet is a piece of bark from the actual bodhi tree in India, as well as a 2-metre replica of the Buddha's footprint, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. In one corner is the Maitreya, or "laughing Buddha" and at the back of the hall is the "sleeping Buddha" to whom you can also pray. The temple has an eclectic range of influences, including a statue of the Hindu god, Ganesh, (placed there at the request of the worshippers) and a wax image of Gandhi, but it all feels quite soulless. The very high ceiling and many windows make the inside very light and airy, quite unlike the dark, aromatic temples previously visited. Leong San See Temple Across the road is the much more attractive Leong San See Temple, or "Dragon Mountain Temple". Once again, it is dedicated to Kuan Yin. It was built in 1917 and is infinitely more beautiful, with people actually praying there. Inside is dark, and the walls are black and red with gold carvings. You are supposed to walk around the temple in a clockwise direction for good feng shui. Around the back of the deities is the ancestral hall. Here are countless tablets for the deceased, quite literally glittering in gold and those tablets with red on them signify souls who are still alive. Two ochre-robed monks bang a drum, and hit bells, accompanied by two frail-looking elderly women, shrouded in black. Added to this musical accompaniment is the noise of several tables of people eating and talking. It is such a different experience to visiting churches! Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple Quite away from all the tourists and well worth the effort to get to is Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple. It is the largest complex of temples in Singapore and amongst one of the largest in South-East Asia. Spread over nineteen acres are temples, pagodas, pavilions, a Buddhist library and a vast crematorium. Saffron roofs, adorned with dragons and birds, compete with fire-engine-red doors to arrest the attention. Columns are covered with ornate carvings of lions, and swastikas loom over doorways, although these are the anti-clockwise version, an ancient symbol of good luck and protection. The largest building here is the spectacular Chinese-style hall of Great Compassion, and there is also an octagonal Hall of Great Virtue and a nine-metre high statue of Kuan Yin. Chinese religion can take a while to fathom but, as I discovered, those without an in-depth knowledge can still appreciate it. There are many temples in Singapore, each with a character as individual as the god for whom it was built. Non-Buddhists are privileged to be able to see inside these incredible places of worship, as long as we all remember that that is exactly what they are. * * * * * Published on 9/29/01

Unusual Temple Ceremony in Sims Ave ‘Deep down, I never stopped feeling guilty’ 1,200 couples offer prayers to aborted foetuses By Maureen Koh November 04, 2006 She wasn’t alone. With her in the second floor hall of the Cai Shen (Fortune God) temple were other mostly young Singaporean couples at a ceremony to put their past behind them. More than 1,200 couples had registered. The day-long mass ritual was held after an auspicious date and time were selected by the Yuan Zhong Xiu Geomancy Centre, which conducted the ceremony. Last Monday fell on Chong Yang (Double Ninth) Festival, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. Mr Lim Dechang spending a quiet moment in front of the urn he and his wife placed for the child they aborted 18 years ago. — MOHD ISHAK It is the day when believers of the deities Kew Ong Yah (nine emperors of Chinese legend) hold a ceremony to celebrate their birthdays. Said Madam Ng, 30: ‘I told myself it was the last thing I could ever do for my unborn baby. ‘He had suffered long enough. It was also a way of making peace with myself, and to bid him farewell.’ Madam Ng, a teacher, recalled how she had to terminate her pregnancy. Then she was doing her final year degree in English at the National University of Singapore. She was two months’ pregnant. Dressed in a beige blouse and dark pants, the slender woman said in English: ‘I didn’t have a choice, it was that or risk not graduating. I had to concentrate on my studies.’ After a discussion with her then boyfriend, and with her parents’ approval, she opted for abortion. She eventually broke off with her boyfriend, but no one except her family members knew about the abortion. Only one other person let into the secret - her husband, Mr Ricky Foo, 32, a property agent. She told him about it before their marriage in 2002. Life was blissful for the couple, especially with the addition of a baby boy a year later. Until sometime in December last year. ‘My son had started to babble a little and he’d always mumble ‘Kor Kor’ (Hokkien for elder brother) while staring into blank space,’ recalled Madam Ng. ‘At first I ignored it, thinking he was just learning how to talk, but it became more frequent. ‘Then one of Ricky’s colleagues passed him a newspaper article in August.’ ‘I told myself it was the last thing I could ever do for my unborn baby. He had suffered long enough. It was also a way of making peace with myself, and to bid him farewell.’ said, Madam Diana Ng, 30, at above (in pale jacket) observing the prayer ceremony That was when they first learned of how the spirits of miscarried or aborted foetuses are laid to rest in urns nestled in columbarium niches. CLOSURE While some may brush it off as superstitious, others interviewed by The New Paper said that the ceremony served as an act of closure for the parents. Five priests performed the mass ritual that will lead the infant spirits to rest and give them a chance for reincarnation. A full bottle of milk is placed in front of each urn, and biscuits, sweets and small toys scattered around them on the table. The surnames of both parents are carved on the outside for identification, but they are discouraged from paying respects after the ritual. ‘This to prevent the infant spirit from holding on and refusing to leave,’ said Mr Hillary Phang, 40, managing director of the centre. It costs $1,388 for one urn, which is placed after the ceremony in one of the rooms in the Sims Avenue temple for five years. The centre will then perform another ceremony where the urns will be ‘cremated’. Mr Phang said they believe they are the only ones in Singapore providing such a service. Mr Ang Boon Soon, 42, a geomancy master from the centre, added that there was an increasing demand for the niches, especially as it was not only for those who had lost their babies recently. ‘We have couples who tell us that the abortion or miscarriage took place more than 10 years ago,’ he said. Like Mr Lim Dechang, 39, a sales manager. He said in Mandarin: ‘I had just finished national service, and had not found a job yet. ‘We felt we were not ready to start a family then. That was about 18 years ago.’ His wife, Mrs Lim, 34, said: ‘Deep in my heart, I’ve never stopped feeling guilty about it.’ The couple has a 10-year-old daughter. (Above) Prayers being chanted for the infant spirits in front of rows of memorial tablets. — MOHD ISHAK UNEASINESS Mr Lim said: ‘Somehow there was this niggling uneasiness that we couldn’t explain.’ Parents may attend the ceremony, but they are discouraged from joining in the prayers as they are the ‘elder’ of the infant spirit, said Mr Ang. The centre also manages the top floor of the An Le Memorial Park columbarium at Choa Chu Kang, where the niches house the spirits of miscarried or aborted niches in small urns. There are more than 800 urns placed at An Le since it was opened last year. Each urn contains the hair and nails of the parents and houses one baby spirit. Mr Phang explained: ‘When everything’s done, it’s like unloading a burden. Our clients tell us they feel peaceful. Often, it’s like closing the final chapter of a book.’

'Deep down, I never stopped feeling guilty' 1,200 couples offer prayers to aborted foetuses By Maureen Koh November 04, 2006 EIGHT years after she aborted her baby, Madam Diana Ng went to a temple at Sims Avenue on Monday to offer prayers. Mr Lim Dechang spending a quiet moment in front of the urn he and his wife placed for the child they aborted 18 years ago. -- MOHD ISHAK She wasn't alone. With her in the second floor hall of the Cai Shen (Fortune God) temple were other mostly young Singaporean couples at a ceremony to put their past behind them. More than 1,200 couples had registered. The day-long mass ritual was held after an auspicious date and time were selected by the Yuan Zhong Xiu Geomancy Centre, which conducted the ceremony. Last Monday fell on Chong Yang (Double Ninth) Festival, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. It is the day when believers of the deities Kew Ong Yah (nine emperors of Chinese legend) hold a ceremony to celebrate their birthdays. Said Madam Ng, 30: 'I told myself it was the last thing I could ever do for my unborn baby. 'He had suffered long enough. It was also a way of making peace with myself, and to bid him farewell.' Madam Ng, a teacher, recalled how she had to terminate her pregnancy. Then she was doing her final year degree in English at the National University of Singapore. She was two months' pregnant. Dressed in a beige blouse and dark pants, the slender woman said in English: 'I didn't have a choice, it was that or risk not graduating. I had to concentrate on my studies.' After a discussion with her then boyfriend, and with her parents' approval, she opted for abortion. She eventually broke off with her boyfriend, but no one except her family members knew about the abortion. Only one other person let into the secret - her husband, Mr Ricky Foo, 32, a property agent. She told him about it before their marriage in 2002. Life was blissful for the couple, especially with the addition of a baby boy a year later. 'I told myself it was the last thing I could ever do for my unborn baby. He had suffered long enough. It was also a way of making peace with myself, and to bid him farewell.' said, Madam Diana Ng, 30, at above (in pale jacket) observing the prayer ceremony Until sometime in December last year. 'My son had started to babble a little and he'd always mumble 'Kor Kor' (Hokkien for elder brother) while staring into blank space,' recalled Madam Ng. 'At first I ignored it, thinking he was just learning how to talk, but it became more frequent. 'Then one of Ricky's colleagues passed him a newspaper article in August.' That was when they first learned of how the spirits of miscarried or aborted foetuses are laid to rest in urns nestled in columbarium niches. CLOSURE While some may brush it off as superstitious, others interviewed by The New Paper said that the ceremony served as an act of closure for the parents. (Above) Prayers being chanted for the infant spirits in front of rows of memorial tablets. -- MOHD ISHAK Five priests performed the mass ritual that will lead the infant spirits to rest and give them a chance for reincarnation. A full bottle of milk is placed in front of each urn, and biscuits, sweets and small toys scattered around them on the table. The surnames of both parents are carved on the outside for identification, but they are discouraged from paying respects after the ritual. 'This to prevent the infant spirit from holding on and refusing to leave,' said Mr Hillary Phang, 40, managing director of the centre. It costs $1,388 for one urn, which is placed after the ceremony in one of the rooms in the Sims Avenue temple for five years. The centre will then perform another ceremony where the urns will be 'cremated'. Mr Phang said they believe they are the only ones in Singapore providing such a service. Mr Ang Boon Soon, 42, a geomancy master from the centre, added that there was an increasing demand for the niches, especially as it was not only for those who had lost their babies recently. 'We have couples who tell us that the abortion or miscarriage took place more than 10 years ago,' he said. Like Mr Lim Dechang, 39, a sales manager. He said in Mandarin: 'I had just finished national service, and had not found a job yet. 'We felt we were not ready to start a family then. That was about 18 years ago.' His wife, Mrs Lim, 34, said: 'Deep in my heart, I've never stopped feeling guilty about it.' The couple has a 10-year-old daughter. UNEASINES Mr Lim said: 'Somehow there was this niggling uneasiness that we couldn't explain.' Parents may attend the ceremony, but they are discouraged from joining in the prayers as they are the 'elder' of the infant spirit, said Mr Ang. The centre also manages the top floor of the An Le Memorial Park columbarium at Choa Chu Kang, where the niches house the spirits of miscarried or aborted niches in small urns. There are more than 800 urns placed at An Le since it was opened last year. Each urn contains the hair and nails of the parents and houses one baby spirit. Mr Phang explained: 'When everything's done, it's like unloading a burden. Our clients tell us they feel peaceful. Often, it's like closing the final chapter of a book.' http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/st...16754,00.html?

Posted on 16 Nov 2011 Pornbook? Pornographic photos, videos and links flooding Facebook Facebook users, some of them appearing to be minors looking for attention, have taken to posting nude pictures of themselves on the website. Other users have also reported pornographic images, links and videos appearing on their newsfeeds. A number of users are apparently posting nude or racy pictures of themselves on their Facebook pages. Alarmingly, some of these users are minors out to seek attention, who might be unaware of the consequences of their actions, or how far the images might spread on the Internet. According to a Reuters report, Facebook is also investigating a rash of unsolicited graphic images, Internet links and videos that hit some users' accounts this week. Many of these pages are public and therefore viewable by all, including underage users. Facebook is aware of this, and is taking action to identify those responsible, as well as address software vulnerabilities. Concerned by the trend, STOMPer Bingo wrote: "Seriously what has Facebook turned into? "I found this post on Facebook. Young adults are posting more and more pornographic pictures on Facebook that may pollute the minds of netizens. "From the photo, it seems that some people are seeking attention though social networks. It so unbelievable!" STOMPer PrivacyPlease also commented: "Parents please be aware of what your children might be exposed to. If you thought Facebook was just a safe place for them to interact with their peers, think again. "There are exhibitionists online who think nothing of exposing themselves online, or the sensitive pictures of others. Some of them are even underage. "To all users -- please note that there is a function on Facebook that allows you to report undesirable images to the administrators. Please help keep Facebook a useful social media tool, not a place for sickos to spread such material to children." Said another STOMPer: "Fourteen-year-olds nowadays! "I found an inappropriate photo spreading around on Facebook. "I was really shocked when I first encountered the photo. I'm not a uptight person and I have no issues against girls dressing up sexily. But outright nakedness is definitely not sexy. "The younger generation has to be educated that such actions are not 'sexy', most will refer the pictures as 'slutty'." See also: Blogger who posted O-level paper: Don't do it, he says, after questioning by exams board New trend to pose inside lockers? They could damage property and hurt themselves Young doctor complains about pay, wonders 'why no one has gone on strike' What were they thinking? Teens make a fool of themselves on bus Another pai kia wannabe? Foul-mouthed girl says she punched mum, & she's only 12 Here's how to stop students from posting their exam papers online Share this article:     Facebook    Twitter    Windows Live More »

  'Dad', 'cop' could be charged too The New Paper | Thu, Nov 24, 2011 THE people behind the scam have broken several laws, said lawyer Foo Cheow Ming of KhattarWong. For threatening the men who contacted the girls, the man claiming to be the father can be charged with criminal intimidation. For telling the men to pay up or he would go to the police, they can be charged with extortion. The men pretending to be the fathers can be charged with cheating by impersonation, for dishonestly inducing the victims to give them money to stay out of trouble. The man who contacted the men on the pretext of being a policeman can be charged for impersonating a public servant. If the pictures in the advertisements are of innocent girls and used without permission, the scammer can be charged with criminal defamation as the ads imply that the girls provide sexual services. Said Mr Foo: "This is applicable if the girls are in Singapore, or if the girls are abroad but come here to file a report." He said the men involved could also get into trouble as they can be charged with abetting sexual grooming. However, actions proving that the person had intended to sexually groom a minor under 16 years old need to have been taken at least twice. Mr Foo said: "For example, if a person had travelled all the way to meet a 15-year-old after expressing an intention to have sexual relations, even if they did not actually have sex, the man can be charged of abetting sexual grooming if they had met twice." Mr Foo said men who have sex with a minor can be charged with underaged sex. But if the scam is proven to be fraudulent from the start, Mr Foo said the police may not press charges of sexual grooming. Those convicted of criminal intimidation can be jailed up to two years and fined. Extortion carries a seven-year jail term and caning. Those cheating by impersonation can be jailed up to 10 years and fined. For criminal defamation and for impersonating a public servant, one can be jailed up to two years and fined. For abetting sexual grooming, one can be jailed up to three years and fined. This article was first published in The New Paper.

SINGAPORE - A 62-year-old man found himself locked in his own flat yesterday afternoon, when he awoke from his nap and found himself locked in. The incident occurred at Blk 92, Henderson Road at about 2pm. The man's flat was being repossessed by the HDB, as he had failed to pay rent on the one-room unit for four years, reported the Shin Min Daily News. But HDB officials did not realise that the man, Mr Liao, was at home, when they sealed his home and stuck a notice on his front door. Helpful neighbours had to pass him food and water after they realised what had happened, as there is no running water nor electricity in his flat. When reporters arrived, police were already at the scene, speaking to Mr Liao. HDB officials finally arrived at about 4.30pm to unlock the gate. They told reporters they had knocked on the door several times but received no response. Neighbours also told them there was no one home, before they proceeded to seal the flat. HDB says it will review its procesess to prevent the recurrence of such an incident.

Wrong twin aborted in Australia An Australian hospital has launched an inquiry after staff treating a woman carrying twin boys accidentally terminated the wrong foetus. Doctors had told the woman that one of her babies had a congenital heart defect that would require numerous operations, if he survived. The woman chose to abort the 32-week foetus but staff injected the wrong twin. The hospital in Melbourne described it as a "terrible tragedy". "The Royal Women's Hospital can confirm a distressing clinical accident occurred on Tuesday," it said in a statement. "We are conducting a full investigation and continue to offer the family and affected staff every support." The woman went on to have an emergency caesarean to end the life of the sick foetus. 'Thorough investigation' Victorian Health Minister David Davis said the hospital investigation would be overseen by an independent expert. "I am very much determined to get to the bottom of what went wrong," he said. State Premier Ted Baillieu echoed his sentiments, saying: "I don't think it's appropriate for anybody to draw any conclusions other than this is a horrible tragedy. "We'll make sure that the investigation is as thorough as it can be." In a brief statement, the family asked for privacy "at what has been a very difficult time for us".

Source: The Straits Times He claims his mind went blank after he thrust the knife into her. He had no idea what he did next, Pathip Selvan Sugumaran, 23, told the High Court yesterday. He is accused of murdering Jeevitha Panippan, 18,between 8.20pm and 9.30pm on 7 Jul last year at an SP Powergrid substation opposite Block 154 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5. He will be hanged if found guilty. He told the court: “I stabbed her the first time. After that, everything went blank. I cannot even remember pulling out the knife.” But the prosecution disagreed. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Cheng Thiam pointed out that Pathip Selvan had told the court previously that “images of her in bed with the other man and the other things she had done to me previously” had gone through his mind when he stabbed her. That, DPP Ng said, showed that his mind did not go blank. Pathip Selvan said that he also told police that he did not know what he was doing at the time and that “something took control of me”. When DPP Ng referred to his statement where he told the police that Jeevitha was holding his hand and screaming when he stabbed her, Pathip Selvan said he heard what she was saying but he did not know what he was doing then. As for “the other man” in the visions, he told the courthe did not know who he was. Last week, he testified that he stabbed Jeevitha after she told him a red-shirted man whom he saw kissing her in the bedroom was “better than him in bed”. In his statement, Pathip Selvan said he closed his eyes after he first stabbed Jeevitha and “swung the knife widely” at her after that. He told the court yesterday: “When I opened my eyes and kissed her, then I realised that I had stabbed her many times. This was after she let go of me and fell to the ground.” A confused Justice Kan Ting Chiu asked him: “Then why did you say that (you had stabbed her) in your statement?” He thought that showed Pathip Selvan knew what he was doing and so contradicted his claim that his “mind went blank”. Pathip Selvan replied that he did not even know what he was doing when he gave the statement. He disagreed with the prosecution’s argument that he knew what he was doing and had intended to kill Jeevitha all along. When psychiatrist Tommy Tan took the stand for the defence, he said it was possible for someone whose mind had “gone blank” to “hear, feel and perceive” the world around him. Justice Kan asked: “He can perceive, he can hear, he can feel. So what does a blank mind mean? This seems like a very active mind.” Dr Tan replied: “I took it to mean that he was not thinking at the time. He could not control what he was doing.” Though he noted that Pathip Selvan was not of unsound mind when he killed Jeevitha, Dr Tan said he was suffering from attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) and that affected his reasoning at the time. Pathip Selvan’s report from Woodlands Secondary School had shown that he was “playful and restless, easily distracted and dreamy”. All these were symptoms of childhood ADHD, Dr Tan said. His mother, Madam M. Saroja, told Dr Tan that Pathip Selvan had been hyperactive since he was a year old. He needed to do things all the time and had a hot temper. “She said Pathip Selvan must do better than his siblings. If his brother gets a handphone that is better than his, he will get angry and break his brother’s handphone,”Dr Tan said. “Only his parents and grandmother can control his temper. After they talk to him, he will keep quiet and walk away. When his siblings talk to him afterwards, he will cry and apologise to them.” Problematic behaviour The supervisor of the Ramakrishna Mission Boys Home, where Pathip Selvan stayed from 1992 to 1996, said he showed “problematic” behaviour, disturbed the other boys and did not do his homework. ADHD is associated with drug abuse, Dr Tan said, and Pathip Selvan told him he often used alcohol, sleeping pills and cough mixture to sleep. During his National Service with the SCDF, Pathip Selvan often took medical leave and argued with his officers. Dr Tan said he disagreed with the findings of Institute of Mental Health psychiatrist, Dr Joshua Kua, who said Pathip Selvan did not have any psychiatric disorder when he killed Jeevitha. He told the court that the details from the Boys Home, which Dr Kua did not have in his report or notes, were relevant. Dr Tan said one reason for the discrepancy between his and Dr Kua’s observations was that Pathip Selvan might pay more attention and be less restless when he wasin a “novel situation” like prison. “The accused has a psychiatric disorder and an abnormality of mind,” Dr Tan said. “If you ask the right questions, you can get the right conclusion.” The trial continues today.

IONESCU SAYS HIT-AND-RUN IS 2ND TIME S'PORE IS TRYING TO FRAME HIM 28 Jul 2010 Source: The Straits Times BUCHAREST: Former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu yesterday rejected the charges against him when he appeared for the first time before a criminal court in his home country, in connection with a double hit-and-run accident in Singapore last year. At yesterday morning’s proceedings, he also sought to be freed under judicial supervision. Ionescu has been remanded in a Romanian prison for over two months leading up to the trial. He left Singapore three days after he allegedly hit three pedestrians on Dec 15 in Bukit Panjang, killing one of them. Insisting on his innocence, Ionescu refused to return to Singapore to face charges. On July 1, the Romanian authorities announced that they would prosecute him. The 50-year-old former charge d’affaires was handcuffed and clutching a soda bottle as he was charged with culpable homicide, personal injury, making false statements and leaving the site of an accident. The most serious charge of homicide involving the death of one person carries a maximum seven-year jail term. But Ionescu was calm and collected as he claimed the evidence against him was insufficient and had been doctored. He added that he was the victim of a state conspiracy, claiming that this was the second time the Singapore authorities had tried to blame him for a hit-and-run accident. The first case was dropped after witnesses confirmed he had been at a diplomatic reception at the time of the alleged incident, he claimed. Ionescu also took issue with two police reports he was said to have made, detailing what happened last December. He said he did not write the first report, only the second, and even that contained errors as it was transcribed by someone else. There was a slight hiccup at the start of the hearing when the defence counsel went out of the courtroom for a few minutes and a disoriented Ionescu found himself having to account for the lawyer’s absence when the judge wanted to start the day’s proceedings. None of the victims or their representatives was in court. The Singapore Government was represented in the court by Special Envoy to Romania Anil Kumar Nayar. Ionescu used the absence of the widow of Mr Tong Kok Wai, 30, and the other victims as an argument for his release. “They knew that July 20 was the deadline for the court appearance and yet they are missing. Is there any reason at all to keep me in prison waiting for them to testify?” he asked the judge. Under Romanian law, the victims could be invited to the trial later on. The prosecutor urged the judge to keep Ionescu in custody because he said Ionescu had tried to cover up evidence and mislead investigators. The prosecutor also said that one of Ionescu’s sons has a job and could support his family during his absence. This was in response to Ionescu’s argument that as the sole breadwinner he should not be behind bars. “I would not have brought this up before the media, but my wife is currently committed to an isolated room in Bucharest’s Hospital Number 9,” Ionescu told the court, referring to a mental institution. His attorney confirmed that Mrs Ionescu has been a patient there since July 20 for schizophrenia. Ionescu is seeking to be released under judicial supervision, which in Romanian law means that he is freed from detention but is not allowed to leave the country and has to report to the police regularly as long as the trial is continuing. The judge is expected to make a decision on Ionescu’s request within days. A trial date was set for Oct 6. Ionescu, who was in court accompanied by one of his sons, was represented by a new lawyer yesterday. Mrs Maria Vasii told The Straits Times that she no longer represents Ionescu during this phase of his case. “Our legal team’s numerous and we decided that Mr Ionescu should be represented in court by someone more able to commit to the case,” she said. Outside the courtroom, Ionescu’s new lawyer, Mr Nelu Tasca, told the media that the evidence against his client was circumstantial. “There may be proof that he was driving the car at 2am, but that does not mean he was also driving it at 3am,” he said. “The embassy’s car was easily accessible for many people; the driver also had a set of keys and there was also a third such set, so anyone could have, theoretically, taken the car for a spin.” There was no film footage at all from the first accident and the footage available from the second one did not clearly identify the registration plates, the lawyer added. As for his client’s accusation that he was framed, Mr Tasca said: “This has to do with things so secret, he could not reveal them even to me. It’s a case of state secrets.” One of the witnesses he plans on bringing to the stand is Mr Dan Diaconescu, the owner of television network OTV. It is the defence’s case that Mr Diaconescu had sent a crew to Singapore to investigate the incident and that Ionescu is depending on the crew’s findings to prove his innocence. Mr Nayar, in a press briefing after the hearing, expressed “cautious optimism” about the proceedings. “It’s a good sign that the trial is on, regardless of its speed,” he said. He also pointed out that all of the world’s eyes are now on Romania and how it dealt with the case. While noting that different legal systems worked differently, “it’s most important that justice be served”, he concluded. BROWSE FULL REPORT Ionescu says hit-and-run is 2nd time S'pore is trying to frame him 28 Jul 2010 Romanian envoy told driver to look for 'stolen' car 10 Mar 2010 Bukit Panjang hit-and-run death: I saw envoy face to face, says witness 09 Mar 2010 Romanian envoy not returning for inquiry because of 'poor health' 26 Feb 2010 Romanian envoy in hit-and-run: Largest inquiry ever involves 50 witnesses 25 Feb 2010 Hit-and-run envoy faces 2 - 7 years if convicted in Romania 05 Feb 2010 Romanian envoy charged with manslaughter 04 Feb 2010 Romanian diplomat was driver in hit-and-run accident 27 Jan 2010 Copyright © 2011 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn No. 198402868E | Terms & Conditions

On Truth & Reality The Spherical Standing Wave Structure of Matter (WSM) in Space Site Introduction (2011): Despite several thousand years of failure to correctly understand physical reality (hence the current postmodern view that this is impossible) there is an obvious solution. Simply unite Science (Occam's Razor / Simplicity) with Metaphysics (Dynamic Unity of Reality) and describe reality from only one substance existing, as Leibniz wrote; 'Reality cannot be found except in One single source, because of the interconnection of all things with one another'. Given we all experience many minds and many material things, but always in one common Space, we are thus required to describe physical reality in terms of Space. We then find there is only one solution, a Wave Structure of Matter (WSM) where the electron is a spherical standing wave. See Wave Diagrams. In hindsight the error was obvious, to try and describe an interconnected reality with discrete 'particles', which then required forces / fields to connect them in space and time. This was always just a mathematical solution which never explained how matter was connected across the universe. I realise that there are a lot of 'crackpot' theories about truth and reality on the internet, but it is easy to show that the Wave Structure of Matter is the correct solution as it deduces the laws of Nature (the fundamentals of Physics & Philosophy) perfectly (there are no opinions). While the Wave Structure of Matter is obvious once known, to begin it will seem strange simply because it takes time for our minds to adjust to new knowledge. For those who are religious / spiritual, I think Albert Einstein expresses the enlightened view of God. He writes 'I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with the fates and actions of human beings.' This harmony arises from a Wave Structure of Matter in Space (we are all interconnected in this space that we all commonly experience). This unity of reality (God, Brahman, Tao, Spirit, Energy, Light, Vibration) is central to all major world religions, thus their common moral foundation of 'Do unto others as to thyself' as the other is part of the self. Please help our world (human society / life on earth) by sharing this knowledge. Clearly our world is in great trouble due to human overpopulation and the resultant destruction of Nature, climate change and the pollution of air, land and water. The best solution to these problems is to found our societies on truth and reality rather than past myths and customs (which invariably cause harm). We are listed as one of the Top Philosophy Websites on the Internet with around 600,000 page views each week, and rank in the top 20 in Google for many academic search terms - so we just need a bit of help to get in the top five. Given the Censorship in Physics / Philosophy of Science Journals (founded on the standard model / particle physics) the internet is clearly the best way to get new knowledge visible to the world. A world now in great need of wisdom from truth and reality. Sincerely, Geoff Haselhurst - Karene Howie - Full Introduction - Email - Nice Letters - Share this Knowledge In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act. (George Orwell) You must be the change you wish to see in the world. (Mohandas Gandhi) All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing. (Edmund Burke) Hell is Truth Seen Too Late. (Thomas Hobbes) Islam / Muslim History & Beliefs of Islamic Religion. Quran / Koran, Muhammad (Mohammed) Quotes There is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God. Allah has revealed to me that you should adopt humility so that no one oppresses another. (Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 1589) Even as the fingers of the two hands are equal, so are human beings equal to one another. No one has any right, nor any preference to claim over another. You are brothers. (Final Sermon of Muhammad) Introduction to Islamic Religion & Arabic Philosophers The religion and philosophy of Islam, is based upon the belief that God (Allah) transmitted knowledge to Muhammad (c. 570–632) and other prophets (Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus). The followers of Islamic religion, muslims, believe that this revelation to humanity was written down in the Quran, which is the flawless word of God. The theology of the Islamic scriptures informs most aspects of muslim life and culture. The Five Pillars of Islam is expressed in the Quran (Koran), which is a practical doctrine that encourages Muslims to pray 5 times a day, fast during Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca, declare 'There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his prophet' and pay money to the poor. Do not turn away a poor man...even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you...God will bring you near Him on the Day of Resurrection. (Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1376) The Hadith is a collection of sayings and stories which are commonly related back to the life and sayings of prophet, Mohammed. With such a strong foundation in revelation and prophets of God, Islamic philosophy benefited in the eighth century a.d. by the translations of ancient Greek philosophy into Arabic. In the ninth century a.d. a school of translators and intellectuals, known as 'The House of Wisdom' was founded in Baghdad. It was here and largely through the translations of these scholars, that the writings of Plato, Aristotle and the Neoplatonists became known to the Arabs, and subsequently to the western world which led to the Renaissance. The influence of the ancient Greek philosophers upon the arabic philosophers / thinkers stimulated them to study and interpret the Quran / Koran from a rational foundation. I think the history of Islamic religion is really interesting (even though I am not Muslim). I hope you find the following information on Islam / Muslim beliefs, the Quran and Mohammed useful. Peace, Karene Howie Islam / Muslim Religion Islam is a monotheistic faith and the world's second-largest religion. In Arabic, Islam means "submission" and is described as a Din, meaning "way of life" and/or "religion." Etymologically, it is derived from the same root as, for example, Salam meaning "peace" (also a common salutation). A more precise translation of the word Islam would be the serenity that is created by submission. The word Muslim is also related to the word Islam and means "one who surrenders" or "submits" to God. Islam / Islamic / Muslim Beliefs Followers of Islam, known as Muslims, believe that God (or, in Arabic, Allah) revealed his direct word for mankind to Muhammad (c. 570–632) and other prophets, including Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muslims assert that the main written record of revelation to mankind is the Qur'an, which they believe to be flawless, immutable and the final revelation of God. Muslims believe that some parts of the Bible and the Torah may have been misinterpreted or distorted by their followers. With that perspective they view the Qur'an as corrective of Jewish and Christian scriptures. Muslims hold that it is essentially the same belief as that of all the messengers sent by God to mankind since Adam, with the Qur'an (the one definitive text of the Muslim faith) codifying the final revelation of God. Islam sees Judaism and Christianity as derivations of the teachings of certain of these prophets - notably Abraham - and therefore see them as fellow Abrahamic religions, and People of the Book. Islam has two primary branches of belief, based largely on a historical disagreement over the succession of authority after Muhammad's death; these are known as Sunni and Shi'ite. The basis of Muslim belief is found in the shahadatan ("two statements"): la ilaha illa-llahu; muhammadur-rasulu-llahi — "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God." In order to become a Muslim, one needs to recite and believe these statements. All Muslims agree to this, although Sunnis further regard this as one of the five pillars of Islam. There are six basic beliefs shared by all Muslims: Belief in God, the one and only one worthy of all worship. Belief in the Angels. Belief in the Book (al-Quran / Koran) (sent by God). Belief in all the Prophets and Messengers (sent by God). Belief in the Day of Judgment (Qiyamah) and in the Resurrection. Belief in Fate (Qadar) The Muslim creed in English: I believe in God; and in His Angels; and in His Scriptures; and in His Messengers; and in The Final Day; and in Fate, that Good and Evil are from God, and Resurrection after death be Truth. I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship but God; and I testify that Muhammad is His Messenger. Islam God / Allah The fundamental concept in Islam is the oneness of God (tawhid). This monotheism is absolute, not relative or pluralistic in any sense of the word. God is described in Sura al-Ikhlas, (chapter 112) as follows: Say "He is God, the one, the Self-Sufficient master. He never begot, nor was begotten. There is none comparable to Him." In Arabic, God is called Allah, a contraction of al-ilah or "the (only) god". Allah thus translates to "God" in English. The implicit usage of the definite article in Allah linguistically indicates the divine unity. In spite of the different name used for God, Muslims assert that they believe in the same deity as the Judeo-Christian religions. However, Muslims strictly disagree with the Christian theology concerning the unity of God (the doctrine of the Trinity and that Jesus is the eternal Son of God), seeing it as akin to polytheism. "O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth . The Messiah , Jesus son of Mary , was only a messenger of Allah , and His word which He conveyed unto Mary , and a spirit from Him . So believe in Allah and His messengers , and say not "three" . Cease! ( it is ) better for you! Allah is only One God . Far is it removed from His transcendent majesty that he should have a son . His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth . And Allah is sufficient as its defender." [Chapter 4 : Surah 171] No Muslim visual images or depictions of God exist because such artistic depictions may lead to idolatry and are thus prohibited. Moreover, many Muslims believe that God is incorporeal, rendering any two or three dimensional depictions impossible. Instead, Muslims describe God by the many divine attributes mentioned in the Qur'an, and also with the 99 names of Allah. All but one Surah (chapter) of the Qur'an begins with the phrase "In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful". These are consequently the most important divine attributes in the sense that Muslims repeat them most frequently during their ritual prayers (called salah in Arabic, and in India and Pakistan called "namaz" (a Persian word)). Prophets of Islam: Muhammad (Mohammed) The Quran speaks of God appointing two classes of human servants: messengers (rasul in Arabic), and prophets (nabi in Arabic and Hebrew). In general, messengers are the more elevated rank. All prophets are said to have spoken with divine authority; but only those who have been given a major revelation or message are called messenger. Notable messengers include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, all belonging to a succession of men guided by God. Islam demands that a believer accept all of the Judeo-Christian prophets, making no distinction between them. In the Qur'an, 25 specific prophets are mentioned. Mainstream Muslims regard Muhammad as the 'Last Messenger' or the 'Seal of the Prophets' based on the canon. However, there have been a number of sects whose leaders have proclaimed themselves the successors of Muhammad, perfecting and extending Islam, or, whose devotees have made such claims for their leaders. However, most Muslims remain unaffected by those claims and simply regard those said groups to be deviant. Islamic Law Muslims in Islamic societies have traditionally viewed Islamic law as essential to their religious outlook. For Muslims living in secular Western countries sharia ceases to be relevant as law, but remains a source of personal ethics (for example, the avoidance of pork and alcohol, and the use of Sharia-compliant banking services). The Qur'an is the foremost source of Islamic jurisprudence; the second is the Sunnah (the practices of the Prophet, as narrated in reports of his life). The Sunnah is not itself a text like the Qur'an, but is extracted by analysis of the Hadith (Arabic for "report") texts, which contain narrations of the Prophet's sayings, deeds, and actions of his companions he approved. One hadith of special importance for Islamic contractual law should be mentioned here. A merchant named Hakim ibn Hizam reported, "I asked the Prophet: O Messenger of Allah! A man comes to me and asks me to sell him what is not with me, so I sell him and then buy the goods for him in the market. And the Prophet said: sell not what is not with you." This hadith has rendered controversial within the Muslim world much of what is considered routine finance outside of it, including the sale of futures and options, both of which might be characterized as the sale of 'what is not with you.' In recent times, traditional Islamic law has often been questioned by liberal movements within Islam. In a related development, Mohammad Hashim Kamali has questioned the reliability and contemporary relevance of the above quoted hadith of Hakim ibn Hizam. Islamic Religious Authority There is no official authority who decides whether a person is accepted to, or dismissed from, the community of believers, known as the Ummah ("Family"). Islam is open to all, regardless of race, age, gender, or previous beliefs. It is enough to believe in the central beliefs of Islam. This is formally done by reciting the shahada, the statement of belief of Islam, without which a person cannot be classed a Muslim. It is enough to believe and say that you are a Muslim, and behave in a manner befitting a Muslim to be accepted into the community of Islam. Islamic eschatology Islamic eschatology is concerned with the Qiyamah (end of the world) and the final judgement of humanity. Like Christianity and some sects of modern Judaism, Islam teaches the bodily resurrection of the dead, the fulfillment of a divine plan for creation, and the immortality of the human soul; the righteous are rewarded with the pleasures of Jannah (Paradise), while the unrighteous are punished in Jahannam (a fiery Hell, from the Hebrew ge-hinnom or "valley of Hinnom"; usually rendered in English as Gehenna). A significant fraction of the Qur'an deals with these beliefs, with many hadith elaborating on the themes and details. The Five Pillars of Islam The Five Pillars of Islam is the term given to the fundamental aspects of Islam. These five pillars are the most important obligations of a Muslim under Sharia law, and which devout all Muslims will perform faithfully, because they are essential to pleasing Allah. The Five Pillars of Islam are: "Shahadah": The Testimony that there is none worthy of worship except God and that Muhammad is his messenger. " Salah": Establishing of the five daily Prayers (salah). " Zakat": The Giving of Zakaah (charity), which is one fortieth (2.5%) of the net worth of possessions kept for more than a year, with few exemptions, for every Muslim whose wealth exceeds the nisab, and 10% or 20% of the produce from agriculture. This money or produce is distributed among the poor. " Ramadhan": Fasting from dawn to dusk in the month of Ramadan (sawm). " Hajj": The Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca during the month of Dhul Hijjah, which is compulsory once in a lifetime for one who has the ability to do it. NOTE: For the Shi'a a sect of Islam, the Five Pillars, or more correctly translated "the principles of religion", are the five fundamental principles of Islam; no more, no less. The Shi'a sect consider the Sunni five pillars to be merely the most important obligations rather than these being the Five Pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars of the Shi'a sect are: The Oneness of God (tawhid). The Justice of God ('adl). Prophethood (nubuwwah). The Leadership of Mankind (imamah). The Resurrection (me'ad). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam The Qur'an (Koran) The Qur'an is the sacred book of Islam. It has also been called, in English, the Koran and the Quran. Qur'an is the currently preferred English transliteration of the Arabic original (قرآن); it means “recitation”. Muslims believe that the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel on numerous occasions between the years 610 and Muhammad's death in 632. In addition to memorizing his revelations, his followers are said to have written them down on parchments, stones, bones, sticks, and leaves. Muslims believe that the Qur'an available today is the same as that revealed to Prophet Muhammad and by him to his followers, who memorized his words. Scholars accept that the version of the Qur'an used today was first compiled in writing by the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, sometime between 650 and 656. He sent copies of his version to the various provinces of the new Muslim empire, and directed that all variant copies be destroyed. However, some skeptics doubt the recorded oral traditions (hadith) on which the account is based and will say only that the Qur'an must have been compiled before 750. There are also numerous traditions, and many conflicting academic theories, as to the provenance of the verses later assembled into the Qur'an. (This is covered in greater detail in the article on the Qur'an.) Most Muslims accept the account recorded in several hadith, which state that Abu Bakr, the first caliph, ordered Zayd ibn Thabit to collect and record all the authentic verses of the Qur'an, as preserved in written form or oral tradition. Zayd's written collection, privately treasured by Muhammad's widow Hafsa bint Umar, was used by Uthman and is the basis of today's Qur'an. Uthman's version organized the revelations, or suras, roughly in order of length, with the longest suras at the start of the Qur'an and the shortest ones at the end. Later scholars have struggled to put the suras in chronological order, and among Muslim commentators at least there is a rough consensus as to which suras were revealed in Mecca and which at Medina. Some suras (eg surat Iqra) were revealed in parts at separate times. Because the Qur'an was first written [date uncertain] in the Hijazi, Mashq, Ma'il, and Kufic scripts, which write consonants only and do not supply the vowels, and because there were differing oral traditions of recitation, there was some disagreement as to the correct reading of many verses. Eventually scripts were developed that used "points" to indicate vowels. For hundreds of years after Uthman's recension, Muslim scholars argued as to the correct pointing and reading of Uthman's unpointed official text, (the rasm). Eventually, most commentators accepted ten variant readings (qira'at) of the Qur'an as canonical, while agreeing that the differences are minor and do not greatly affect the meaning of the text. The form of the Qur'an most used today is the Al-Azhar text of 1923, prepared by a committee at the prestigious Cairo university of Al-Azhar. The Qur'an early became a focus of Muslim devotion and eventually a subject of theological controversy. In the 8th century, the Mu'tazilis claimed that the Qur'an was created in time and was not eternal. Their opponents, of various schools, claimed that the Qur'an was eternal and perfect, existing in heaven before it was revealed to Muhammad. The Mu'tazili position was supported by caliph Al-Ma'mun. The caliph persecuted, tortured, and killed the anti-Mu'tazilis, but their belief eventually triumphed and is held by most Muslims of today. Only reformist or liberal Muslims are apt to take something approaching the Mu'tazili position. Most Muslims regard the Qur'an with extreme veneration, wrapping it in a clean cloth, keeping it on a high shelf, and washing as for prayers before reading the Qur'an. Old Qur'ans are not destroyed as wastepaper, but deposited in Qur'an graveyards. The Qur'an is regarded as an infallible guide to personal piety and community life, and completely true in its history and science. From the beginning of the faith, most Muslims believed that the Qur'an was perfect only as revealed in Arabic. Translations were the result of human effort and human fallibility, as well as lacking the inspired poetry believers find in the Qur'an. Translations are therefore only commentaries on the Qur'an, or "translations of its meaning", not the Qur'an itself. Islam and other religions Non-monotheistic religions The Islamic view of non-monotheist religions differs among scholars and varies according to time and place. For example, the relationship of Islam with Hinduism and non-monotheist religions varied greatly according to the religious outlook of individual rulers. In India, the Mughal emperor Akbar, for example, was very tolerant towards Hindus, while his successor Aurangzeb was less so. This variability persists today; while fundamentalists are often less tolerant, liberal movements within Islam often try to be more open-minded. Islam's view of Jews and Christians The Qur'an uses the term People of the Book to include all monotheists, including Jews, Christians and Muslims. According to Islam, all nations were given a Messenger and guidance from Allah. Muslims believe that Judaism and Christianity started out with the same message as Islam, but that eventually, due to their abandonment of adherence to strict monotheism, the followers of Moses earned God's anger (by worshipping the Golden Calf, mentioned in the Biblical account of Moses, and later Ezra) and the followers of Jesus went astray (by worshipping him). "And when Allah saith : O Jesus , son of mary! Didst thou say unto mankind : Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah? he saith : Be glorified It was not mine to utter that to which I had no right . If I used to say it , then Thou knewest it . Thou knowest what is in my mind , and I know not what is in Thy mind . Lo! Thou , only Thou art the Knower of Things Hidden." [Surah 5:116] It is popularly held by the vast majority of Muslims that the Holy Tawrat (revelation given to Moses) and the Holy Injil (revelation given to Jesus Christ) have been corrupted over time and that the present day Bible and Torah share little or no resemblance to the original message. According to Islam, Muhammad was sent during a time of spiritual darkness and once the Qur'an was finally established, all past revelations were abrogated, making the Last Testament not only for the Arab nation but for all mankind until the Day of Judgement. Some parts of the Qur'an attribute differences between Muslims and non-Muslims to tahref-ma'any, a "corruption of the meaning" of the words. In this view, the Jewish Bible and Christian New Testament are true, but the Jews and Christians misunderstood the meaning of their own Scripture, and thus need the Qur'an to clearly understand the will of God. However, other parts of the Qur'an make clear that many Jews and Christians used deliberately altered versions of their scripture, and had altered the word of God. This belief was developed further in medieval Islamic polemics, and is a mainstream part of both Sunni and Shi'ite Islam today. This is known as the doctrine of tahref-lafzy, "the corruption of the text". Either way the Quran clearly states that the necessary information which was written in the previous scriptures can also be found in the Quran: "And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Qur’aan) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Mohaymin (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures). So judge among them by what Allah has revealed" [Surah 5:48] Historically, Islamic scholars have agreed that the Qur'an gives "People of the Book" special status, allowing those who live in Muslim lands (called dhimmi—protected people) to practice their own religions and to own property. People of the Book were not subject to certain Islamic rules, such as the prohibitions on alcohol and pork. Under the Islamic state, they were exempt from the draft, but were required to pay a tax known as jizyah, part of which went to charity and part to finance churches and synagogues. (They were, however, exempt from the zakat required of Muslims.) This agreement has in the past led to Islamic countries practicing religious toleration for Christians and Jews, although they were never accorded the full status enjoyed by Muslims. Exclusivistic thought in Islam One part—often seen as the largest or at least currently the most vocal—focuses on the differences takes an exclusivistic and aggressive approach to the differences between Islam and the Judeo-Christian community. Like in other faiths, this can lead to parts of the Muslim community holding beliefs like the necessity of bringing them back to the "Straight Path" by persuasion, or even force, and then acting them out. Inclusivistic thought in Islam Another part—often with a lower-profile, if not currently an outright minority—of Muslims focus on the similiarities and believe that people of faith in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism all serve the same God, and cite verses such as the following: "We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to Allah do we bow our will (in Islam)." (Surat Al Imran; 3:84). " Those with Faith, those who are Jews, and the Christians and Sabaeans, all who have Faith in Allah and the Last Day and act rightly, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow." (Surat al-Baqara; 2:62). " The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believes in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His Messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His Messengers." And they say: "We hear, and we obey, (we seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys." (Surat al-Baqara; 2:285). " Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair admonition, and argue with them in the kindest way. Your Lord knows best who is misguided from His way. And He knows best who are guided." (Surat an-Nahl; 16:125). " ...You will find the people most affectionate to those who have faith are those who say, 'We are Christians.' That is because some of them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant." (Surat al-Ma'ida; 5:82). " Only argue with the People of the Book in the kindest way - except in the case of those of them who do wrong - saying, 'We have iman in what has been sent down to us and what was sent down to you. Our God and your God are one and we submit to Him." (Surat al-`Ankabut; 29:46). One verse of the Qur'an says "God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just." (Qur'an, 60:8), which is interpreted as a clear admonition not to be disrespectful or unkind to non-Muslims. According to a hadith, Muhammad said to his people "The one who murders a dhimmi [non-Muslim under protection of the state] will not smell the fragrance of Paradise, even if its smell was forty years travelling distance" [Sahih Ahmed]. The growth of Islam Religion today Based on the percentages published in the 2003 CIA factbook, Islam is the second largest religion in the world. According to the World Network of Religious Futurists (http://www.wnrf.org/news/trends.html), the U.S. Center for World Mission (http://www.religioustolerance.org/growth_isl_chr.htm), and the controversial Samuel Huntington, Islam is growing faster numerically than any other religion. It is a matter of great controversy whether this is due in large part to the higher birth rates in many Islamic countries, or whether a high conversion rate may also be a factor. The Muslim population today comprises over 1.3 billion people; estimates of Islam by country based on US State Departement figures yield a total of 1.48 billion, 22.82% of the world's population. However, only 18% of Muslims live in the Arab world; a fifth is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, about 30% in the Indian subcontinental region of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, and the world's largest single Muslim community (within the bounds of one nation) is in Indonesia. There are also significant Muslim populations in China, Europe (especially in the Mediterranean countries), Central Asia, and Russia. There are approximately 5 million Muslims in North America. The world population is growing at about 1.10% per year, but the percentage of Muslim population is increasing by 1.4% per year, mostly due to higher birth rate of African and Asian countries. Birth rates in many Muslim countries have begun to decline, although more slowly than in other nations, which also may be a factor. Denominations of Islam There are a number of Islamic religious denominations, each of which has significant theological and legal differences from each other. The major branches are Sunni and Shi'a, with Sufism often considered as an extension of either Sunni or Shi'a thought. All denominations, however, follow the five pillars of Islam and believe in the six pillars of faith (mentioned earlier). The Sunni sect of Islam comprises the majority of all Muslims (about 90%). It is broken into four similar schools of thought (madhhabs) which interpret specific pieces of Islamic practice. They are named after their founders Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanafi, and Hanbali. Each school of thought differs slightly on fiqh (thoughts on how to practise Islam) although all accept the fundamentals contained within the Holy Quran. Shi'a Islam comprises most of the Muslims that are not counted among the Sunni. The Shi'a consist of one major school of thought known as the Jafaryia or the "Twelvers", and a few minor schools of thought, as the "Seveners" or the "Fivers" referring to the number of infallible leaders they recognise after the death of Muhammad. The term Shi'a is usually taken to be synonymous with the Jafaryia/Twelvers. While some consider the Islamic mysticism called Sufism to constitute a separate branch, most Sufis can easily be considered Sunni or Shi'a. Sufism is the hardest to understand by non-practitioners because on first sight it seems that sufis are either of Shi'a or Sunni denomination, but it is true that some sects of Sufism can be categorised as both Sunni and Shi'a whilst others are not from either denomination. The distinction here is because the schools of thought (madhhabs) are regarding "legal" aspects of Islam, the "dos" and "don'ts", whereas Sufism deals more with perfecting the aspect of sincerity of faith, and fighting one's own ego. Other people may call themselves Sufis who may be perceived as having left Islam (or never followed Islam). There are also some very large groups or sects of Sufism that are not easily categorised as either Sunni or Shi'a, such as the Bektashi or those that can be categorised as both at the same time, like the Barelwi. Sufism is found more or less across the Islamic world, though bearing distinctive regional variations, from Senegal to Indonesia. According to Shaikh Mahmood Shaltoot, Head of the al-Azhar University in the middle part of the 20th Century, the Ja'fari school of thought, which is also known as "al-Shi'a al- Imamiyyah al-Ithna Ashariyyah" (i.e., The Twelver Imami Shi'ites) is a school of thought that is religiously correct to follow in worship as are other Sunni schools of thought. This position was not generally accepted by mainstream Sunni scholarship, and al-Azhar itself distanced itself from this position. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam Muhammad / Mohammed " Muhammad" is a common male name for Muslims. Muhammad (also transliterated Mohammad, Mohammed, Muhammed, and formerly Mahomet, following the Latin) is revered by Muslims as the final prophet of God. According to his traditional Muslim biographies (called sirah in Arabic), he was born c. 570 in Mecca (or "Makkah") and died June 8, 632 in Medina (Madinah), both cities in northern Arabia. His name is Arabic for "he who is highly praised". Pious Muslims consider that his work merely clarified and finalized the true religion, building on the work of other prophets of monotheism, and believe Islam to have existed before Muhammad. Summary of Muhammad Muhammad is said to have been a merchant who travelled widely. Early Muslim sources report that in 611, at about the age of 40, he experienced a vision. He described it to those close to him as a visit from the Angel Gabriel, who commanded him to memorize and recite the verses later collected as the Qur'an. He eventually expanded his mission, publicly preaching a strict monotheism and predicting a Day of Judgement for sinners and idol-worshippers — such as his tribesmen and neighbors in Mecca. He did not completely reject Judaism and Christianity, two other monotheistic faiths known to the Arabs; he only claimed to complete and perfect their teachings. He soon acquired both a following and the hatred of his neighbors. In 622 he was forced to flee Mecca and settle in Medina with his followers, where he established legal authority as leader of the first avowedly Muslim community. War between Mecca and Medina followed, in which Muhammad and his followers were eventually victorious. The military organization honed in this struggle was then set to conquering the other pagan tribes of Arabia. By the time of Mohammed's death, he had unified Arabia and launched a few expeditions to the north, towards Syria and Palestine. Under Muhammad's immediate successors the Islamic empire expanded into Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, North Africa, and Spain. Later conquests, commercial contact between Muslims and non-Muslims, and missionary activity spread his faith over much of the globe. How do we know about Muhammad? The sources available to us for information about Muhammad are the Qur'an, the sira biographies, and the hadith collections. While the Qur'an is not a biography of Mohammed, it does provide some information about his life. The earliest surviving biographies are the Life of the Apostle of God, by Ibn Ishaq (d. 768), edited by Ibn Hisham (d. 833); and al-Waqidi's (d. 822) biography of Muhammad. Ibn Ishaq wrote his biography some 120 to 130 years after Muhammad's death. The third source, the hadith collections, like the Qur'an, are not a biography per se. They are stories of the words and actions of Mohammed and his companions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad Muhammad Quotes Quran Muslim tradition holds that the Quran is a message of Allah, delivered through Muhammad ibn Abd Allah as dictated to him by the angel Jabreel (Gabriel). It was delivered in Arabic, and all attempts at translation into other languages are deemed inadequate to proper transmission. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek. Show us the straight way, The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray. (The Opening of The Quran as translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali) Hadith Hadith (Sayings) is a term used primarily for collections of sayings of Muhammad ibn Abdullah that have been collected as guidance for followers of the Muslim traditions. There are tens of thousands of hadith that are attributed to him, and a compilation of hadith without commentary alone could fill an encyclopedia of books. A prostitute was forgiven by Allah, because, passing by a panting dog near a well and seeing that the dog was about to die of thirst, she took off her shoe, and tying it with her head-cover she drew out some water for it. So, Allah forgave her because of that. (Bukhari 4:538 This is an extraordinary hadith, because following the Sunnah of Muhammad, prostitutes can be extremely despised figures among most Muslims, yet it expresses the idea that even someone working in one of the most despised of professions, in showing mercy to an animal, can merit the forgiveness of Allah, and the wise. It is in many ways comparable to Yeshua's (Jesus Christ's) parable of the good Samaritan.) All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Final Sermon of Muhammad [Allah] has revealed to me that you should adopt humility so that no one oppresses another. Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 1589. Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to people. Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, #473 Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should not harm his neighbour. Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously. And anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet. Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 47. Avoid cruelty and injustice for, on the Day of Judgment, the same will turn into several darknesses; and guard yourselves against miserliness; for this has ruined nations who lived before you. Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 203. By his good character, a believer will attain the degree of one who prays during the night and fasts during the day. Abu Dawood, Hadith 2233. Do not turn away a poor man...even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you...God will bring you near Him on the Day of Resurrection. Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1376. (Each one) of you should save himself from the fire by giving even half of a date (in charity). And if you do not find a half date, then (by saying) a pleasant word (to your brethren). Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 394. Even as the fingers of the two hands are equal, so are human beings equal to one another. No one has any right, nor any preference to claim over another. You are brothers. Final Sermon of Muhammad Five kinds of animals are mischief-doers and can be killed even in the Sanctuary: They are the rat, the scorpion, the kite, the crow and the rabid dog. Hadith - Bukhari 4:531, Narrated 'Aisha " God does not judge you according to your bodies and appearances, but He looks into your hearts and observes your deeds." " [The man asked] 'Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?' The Prophet said, 'Your mother.' The man said. 'Who is next?' The Prophet said, 'Your mother.' The man further said, 'Who is next?' The Prophet said, 'Your mother.' The man asked for the fourth time, 'Who is next?' The Prophet said, 'Your father.' " Sahih al-Bukhari, 8:2. Happy is the man who avoids dissension, but how fine is the man who is afflicted and shows endurance. Sunah of Abu Dawood, Hadith 1996. He who has been a ruler over ten people will be brought shackled on the Day of Resurrection, until the justice (by which he ruled) loosens his chains or tyranny brings him to destruction. Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1037 " 'I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this,' putting his index and middle fingers together." Sahih Al-Bukhari 8:34. 4 " I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for." Narrated by 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: Sahih Al-Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 1, Number 1: In the name of God, I put my trust in God. O God, I seek refuge in Thee lest I stray or be led astray or cause injustice or suffer injustice or do wrong or have wrong done to me! Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 67b. It is better for a leader to make a mistake in forgiving than to make a mistake in punishing. Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1011 It is a fine thing when a believer praises and thanks God if good comes to him, and praises God and shows endurance if smitten by affliction. The believer is rewarded for (every good action), even for the morsel he raises to his wife's mouth. Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 537. It is better for any of you to carry a load of firewood on his own back than begging from someone else. Riyadh-Us-Saleheen, Chapter 59, hadith 540 Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded. Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 38 Righteousness is good morality, and wrongdoing is that which wavers in your soul and which you dislike people finding out about. An-Nawawi's "Forty Hadith," Hadith 27. Seven kinds of people will be sheltered under the shade of God on the Day of Judgment...They are: a just ruler, a young man who passed his youth in the worship and service of God...one whose heart is attached to the mosque...two people who love each other for the sake of God...a man who is invited to sin...but declines, saying 'I fear God'...one who spends his charity in secret, without making a show...and one who remembers God in solitude so that his eyes overflow. Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 376. Sometimes I enter prayer and I intend to prolong it, but then I hear a child crying, and I shorten my prayer thinking of the distress of the child's mother. Fiqh us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 51b. The example of a believer is like a fresh tender plant; from whichever direction the wind blows, it bends the plant. But when the wind dies down, (it) straightens up again. Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 4, Number 1. The first to be summoned to Paradise on the Day of Resurrection will be those who praise God in prosperity and adversity. Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 730. " '...what is the best type of Jihad [struggle].' He answered: 'Speaking truth before a tyrannical ruler.' " Riyadh us-Saleheen Volume 1:195 " While a man was walking along a road, he became very thirsty and found a well. He lowered himself into the well, drank, and came out. Then [he saw] a dog protruding its tongue out with thirst. The man said: 'This dog has become exhausted from thirst in the same way as I.' He lowered himself into the well again and filled his shoe with water. He gave the dog some water to drink. He thanked God, and [his sins were] forgiven.' The Prophet was then asked: 'Is there a reward for us in our animals?' He said: 'There is a reward in every living thing.' " Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 104. You have seen nothing like marriage for increasing the love between two people. Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 921. You should marry virgins, and verily they are sweeter in tongue, more prolific in wombs, and easily satisfied with little. Al Hadis, Vol. 2. p. 638 You should show courtesy and be cordial with each other, so that nobody should consider himself superior to another nor do him harm. Riyadh-us-Saleheen. Hadith 602. Attributed The last day will not come until very tall buildings are constructed. The last day will not come until the land of Arabia once again returns to meadows and is filled with rivers. Many believe that "meadows" and "rivers" could be references to modern-day gardens/agricultural fields and water pipelines. http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Muhammad Theology Summary & History of World Religions. 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