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| Pakistan Embassy Scorns American Muslim Benefactors |
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| Written by Abu Rashid Qadri | |
| Thursday, 05 November 2009 | |
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By Abu Rashid Qadri Islamic Post Staff Writer  It has been well documented, and there is absolutely no question that American Muslims, many of whom are students and professionals, have always come forward and made themselves available in the time of crisis and need. Unlike some Pakistanis, they work solely for the sake of Almighty Allah Ta'Ala and humanity at large, without discriminating or seeking worldly compensation. Shockingly, with no regard for their history of selfless service to the people of Pakistan, when applying for visas, these same individuals are insulted and treated despicably and with utter contempt. Nowhere in the world will you find this type of treatment being inflicted on a people who have worked and even up to today, are working tirelessly to end all pain and suffering while hoping to make the world better and safer. We can cite numerous commendable efforts on the part of indigenous American Muslims who sacrificed much for the betterment of others. For six years, American Muslims ladies, members of the Kashmiri American Friendship Society, helped in refugee camps, delivering food, clothing, and medical supplies as well as monetary assistance to those in need. The refugees, many of whom were widowed ladies with their children, orphans, the infirm, the elderly, and many who had been assaulted and tortured, were all victimized by the Indian brutality and genocide and were forced to flee for their lives. Pakistan was overwhelmed, and American Muslims stepped forth with their person and relief supplies that they collected and purchased in order to assist in the relief effort. They also publicized the plight of the refugees in the western media. When the earthquake struck Pakistan, it was the American Muslim Medical Relief Team (AMMRT) that without "show" hurried forth and helped by sending doctors, nurses, medical practitioners and emergency medical technicians to Ayyub Medical Complex in Abbottabad, Pakistan. There was no equipment there and very few supplies to treat the patients making it necessary for the team to bring its own supplies from America. Conditions were so deplorable that much of the medical supplies they brought never reached the patients because they were stolen and sold on the "black market". Nor was one word of appreciation or gratitude ever expressed by the Pakistani government for the laudable efforts of AMMRT who in fact financed the entire relief effort themselves and received no help from anyone. The Islamic Post, the oldest Muslim newspaper in America, has featured most of the accounts of American Muslim humanitarian efforts as well as many stories never covered in the mainstream western press. It was absolutely appalling when IP correspondents applying for visas were rejected and told to bring back additional information. Each time they complied, they were told to furnish something else and come back. It was obvious that obstacles were being created as they went along. In the end, they were given 30 day tourist visas when in fact they are not tourists but rather Muslim journalists dedicated to bringing news to the public that the mainstream media machine purposely neglects. American Muslims are Muslim by conviction; they choose this way of life, wholeheartedly, and try their utmost to live it, in letter and spirit - something which cannot be said of many Pakistanis. And this is such irony, never mind insult, to those who sacrificed their blood to create the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. There are thousands of Pakistanis and Pakistani businesses that exist in America as a result of help provided by American Muslims. It is hard to understand why the relationship cannot be a reciprocal one. The discrimination against the IP correspondents in recent times is now so obviously blatant that one can only question what master the officials are serving as they invent pretext after pretext to put obstacles in the way of good work from being done. American Muslims appeal to Pakistanis not to hate them and to recognize that one reaps what one sows. If you want good, you must do good. It is obvious that something is wrong and that by just removing the symptom without determining the cause will not accomplish anything. Such prejudice and bigotry must be eradicated as it is our goal to enjoin good and forbid evil, and the festering canker of nationalism and racism cannot be tolerated. Islam replaces all such with true brotherhood….but how quickly we forget. |
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