Ashura and the Arab Nation

A few years ago, I wrote an article entitled 'Ashura, A Call to Action' for the Free Arab Voice, urging the world to oppose the U.S. plans to invade Iraq in the interests of justice. Unfortunately, the world stood aside for the most part as Iraq was invaded, its government, social and economic infrastructure demolished, and a new era of anarchy under a puppet government was brought into being under the auspices of the U.S. and its allies.

Meanwhile, the world has seen another invasion of Lebanon by the Zionists and the heroic stuggle of the Resistance under Hizb'allah. Rather than supporting the Resistance uncompromisingly, there have been the usual petty divisive movements even within the Arab Nation among leaders and other organisations to distance themselves from anything that threatens their precarious standing with the U.S. and its allies.

The lesson of Husayn at Karbala is one that transcends any religion. Husayn is a hero of the Arab Nation. His refusal to compromise with a corrupt government, even in order to save his life and the lives of his family and friends, should be an example for the entire world. Husayn is the ultimate example of the pure martyr. In his death, he bore witness to Honour and Truth. This story does not belong to the Shi'a alone. It belongs to the entire Arab Nation and in fact, to all of humanity.

'Ashura is here again and yet, instead of unity against the U.S. and the puppet government it has installed in Iraq, we see Shi'a and Sunni at one another's throats. We see corruption and unrestrained greed for power and money on both sides. Iran, rather than supporting the Resistance unconditionally, is making a bid for power for itself and its own agents in Iraq. The President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein has been hanged like a common criminal while his enemies rejoice, obviously ignorant of the full significance of this infamous act.

Sect against sect, family against family, and above it all, the pernicious influence of the policy of the U.S. and its allies, which is dedicated to the proposition that a weakened Arab Nation is the best possible result.

There is neither excuse nor justification for this and no one is entirely blameless. Sunni and Shi'a alike co-existed in the Arab Nation as well as in the rest of the world, both members of a single Ummah. Before the Western media began its propaganda campaign to create enmity between Shi'a and Sunni, few non-Muslims even were aware of the distinction between the two. In truth, there is no more distinction than there is between Roman Catholic and Anglican in Christianity. 'La ilaha ilallah wa Muhammadan rasulullah' is the common belief that binds all Muslims in a single Ummah. ('There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet.)

It is not only Shi'a and Sunni who are guilty of allowing these divisions to widen. Now Christians, Muslims and secularists all must unite under the banner of Arab Nationalism to defeat a common enemy.

Saddam Hussein's last words reportedly were 'Palestine is Arab'. He was a secularist and yet he was a Muslim as well. He was President of Iraq and yet the Palestinian people were in his heart always. As long as people pursue their own small selfish interests rather than uniting under the banner of Arab Nationalism, this will lead lead only to the defeat of ALL ultimately.

Shame on the heads of those Shi'a who support the puppet government and corrupt leaders like the criminal Chelabi. Shame on the heads of those Sunni who do not consider Shi'a as their brothers, not only within the Ummah but in the Arab Nation as well. Shame on all those who foment this secularism, whatever their motivations.

Husayn at Karbala stood for justice and the refusal to compromise. Heavily outnumbered, he still choose to fight with honour and to die with honour. A Western writer wrote: 'Husayn marched with his little company not to glory, not to power or wealth, but to a supreme sacrifice and every member of that gallant band, male and female, knew that the foes were implacable, were not only ready to fight but to kill. Denied even water for the children, they remained parched under a burning sun, amid scorching sands yet no one faltered for a moment and bravely faced the greatest odds without flinching.'

With this example before us, how can any one choose personal gain or petty persecution over steadfastness to the noble cause of the Arab Nation? It is not only in Iraq that this poison can be seen at work, but in the Lebanon as well. Sisters and brothers, we must refuse to compromise, whether motivated from fear or by promise of gain. To work for or to support the puppet government that the U.S. has installed in Iraq is to be a traitor. To turn one's back on the Resistance movement in Lebanon would be a betrayal. The strength of the Arab Nation can be found only in Unity. To use the anarchy in Iraq or the political situation in Lebanon at this time in order to build a personal sphere of political, military or social influence is to be a traitor to the people. We must have resistance until death, but there must be Unity in this Resistance or it becomes nothing better than the squabbling of petty chieftains over war trophies that ultimately only will bleed the Nation dry.

There is no distinction between Iraq, Lebanon or Palestine. All are vital parts of a single Arab Nation and to focus on divisions instead of promoting unity is to be blind to the reality of the immense danger that threatens to overwhelm any hope of strength for the future. Strength is found only in a categorical refusal to bow to any foreign pressure whether in the form of intimidation or bribery. It is time for every one to support the cause of liberation. This liberation cannot be achieved at the hands of any foreign intervention or false pretense of 'democracy'. The Arab Nation must be steadfast in Resistance until Victory.

The Murder of Saddam Hussein

"Who bravely falls for his fatherland,
Builds himself an eternal monument
In the faithful hearts of his compatriots
And such monument no storm can break down."
- Theodor Körner

At the Free Arab Voice, our editor Ibrahim Alloush received the following statement from the Nationalist German Youth.

In recognition of this criminal murder of a leader of the Arab Nation, both 'right' and 'left' political organisations and movements must be united.

Here is the statement both in English and in German as sent to Ibrahim, complete with photographs:

Statement of the Nationalist German Youth on the decease of the legitimate President of Iraq, his Excellency Saddam Hussein.

On 30th December 2006 at 6:10 am, the legitimate President of Iraq ended his temporal existence and past on into eternity and into the history of his people. After a perverted, almost ridiculous seeming show trial, where the verdict was already concluded before it even began, he was transferred from the custody of the terrorist USA into the hands of the puppet-regime which they installed and stands in their pay, so that they could finally murder him.

The USA-Terrorists and the criminal Zionist entity in Palestine celebrated this act of murder as a "milestone on the path to democracy".

Even more repulsive was the pretended disgust for the death penalty which the US-Lackeys in Europe voiced. These hypocrites had the nerve to claim that the show-trial against President Saddam Hussein was "fair and just", although the defence was constantly trammeled, Saddams lawyers were even murdered and the leading judge had to resign because of his obvious bias.

In view of the unworthy and dishonourable behaviour of the so called "European elites" the nationalist youth of Germany have decided to set an example of true occidental civilisation and pay their last respect to the Iraqi President.

In the evening of the 31st December 2006, a few minutes before New Year's Eve, a commemorative plaque and a flower arrangement enclosed by candles was placed in front of the embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Vienna.

The plaque has the following text beside his picture:
President Saddam Hussein
Born on 28. 4. 1937
Murdered by USA-Terrorists on 30.12.2006
In faithful memory

We express our sincere condolences to his family, especially his daughters, his comrades of the Baath-Party and the mujahideen who are fighting for the freedom of their Iraqi/Arab fatherland. President Saddam Hussein died upright and proud for his faith, for his convictions and his fatherland. We bow our heads in awe for this great man.

Honour his memory.

Original German text:

"Wer mutig für sein Vaterland gefallen,
Der baut sich selbst ein ewig Monument
In treuen Herzen seiner Landesbrüder
Und dies Gebäude stürzt kein Sturmwind nieder."- Theodor Körner
Erklärung der nationalen deutschen Jugend zum Ableben des rechtmäßigen Präsidenten des Irak, seiner Exzellenz Saddam Hussein.
Am 30. Dezember 2006 um 6 Uhr 10 hat der rechtmäßige Präsident des Irak sein irdisches Dasein beendet und ist in die Ewigkeit und die Geschichte seines Volkes eingegangen.

Nach einem perversen, geradezu lächerlich wirkenden Schauprozeß, bei dem das Urteil schon vorher feststand, wurde er aus dem Gewahrsam der USA-Terroristen an die in ihrem Solde und von ihnen installierte Marionettenregierung ausgeliefert, um von dieser schließlich ermordet zu werden.

Die USA-Terroristen und das verbrecherische zionistische Gebilde in Palästina feierten diesen Mord als einen "Meilenstein auf dem Weg zur Demokratie".Fast noch widerlicher wirkte aber die geheuchelte Abscheu vor der Todesstrafe, welche die europäischen US-Lakaien verlauten ließen. Diese Heuchler hatten den Nerv, den Schauprozeß gegen Präsident Saddam Hussein als "rechtsstaatlich" und "fair" zu bezeichnen, obwohl die Verteidigung behindert, ja sogar Saddams Anwälte ermordet wurden und ein vorsitzender Richter wegen Parteilichkeit zurücktreten mußte.Angesichts des unwürdigen und unehrenhaften Verhaltens der sog.

"europäischen Eliten" hat sich die nationale Jugend Deutschlands entschlossen, ein Zeichen abendländischer Gesittung zu setzen und dem irakischen Präsidenten die letzte Ehre zu erweisen.

Am 31.12. 2006, kurz vor der Jahreswende, wurde bei der Botschaft der Republik Irak in Wien eine Gedenktafel zu ehren Saddam Husseins aufgestellt, sowie ein Blumengesteck umsäumt von leuchtenden Kerzen.

Auf dem Schild stand neben seinem Bild zu lesen:
PräsidentSaddam Hussein
Geboren am 28. 4. 1937
Ermordet von USA-Terroristen am 30.12.2006
Im treuem Angedenken

Wir sprechen seiner Familie, besonders seinen Töchtern, seinen Kameraden in der Baath-Partei, den um die Freiheit des Irakisch/Arabischen Vaterlandes kämpfenden Muhadjedeen unsere aufrichtige Anteilnahme aus.Präsident Saddam Hussein ist aufrecht und stolz für seinen Glauben, seine Überzeugung und sein Vaterland in den Tod gegangen. Wir neigen in Ehrfurcht unser Haupt vor diesem großen Mann.

Ehre seinem Angedenken.

Fotos:

(See photographs above.)

I salute these brave youth who have the courage to speak the truth at a time when many so-called Resistance leaders and organisations have remained mute. I call upon every Arab Nationalist, every Muslim, whether Sunni or Shi'a, every Christian, every Secularist and every other individual of honour and integrity to rise in loud denunciation of the criminal act of murder of a hero whose last words were 'Palestine is Arab'.

Day of Shame

Last night, the legitimate leader of a sovereign nation was hanged and the world did nothing. A puppet government manipulated behind the scenes by U.S./Zionist interests pretended to 'execute' a man over whom it had NO LEGAL OR MORAL JURISDICTION. The heads of State of other nations throughout the world did not make any concerted effort to prevent this shameful crime.

Saddam Hussein is dead but the manner of his death shames only his executioners and all those who failed to protect his legitimacy. Beware! Those who feared him in life should fear him far more in death.