A game called TAG!

Hello world :-)

Hope that you're all good and well :-)

Lovely Lela from My Getaway has tagged me and although I kinda think I know how this works, bear with me please if I sound amateur, cos I am :-P

I traced the tag back to Sis Nisa and this is basically what I need to do:

To do the Honest Scrap tag... Here's the deal. Tell your readers 10 things about you that they may or may not know, but are true. Tag ten people with the award, and be sure to let them know they've been tagged (a quick comment on their blog will do). Don't forget to link back to the blogger who tagged you.
Okay, here goes:

1. I'm a 23 year old, soon to be 24, British born Bangladeshi Muslim, not necesarily in that order, but hey that's a post for another day. I can speak Bengali, although it is pretty sub-standard and can manage to get by on needs basis. Queen, I hope this has answered the question you asked some days ago :-)
2. I have a really bad sweet tooth, sort of literally. I love desserts, from various cuisines and absolutely adore chocolate. My love for desserts and sweets is so deep in fact, that I have at least two cavities to prove it. Yikes.
3. I can be very optimistic about the situation of others, as in, I will always be hopeful for the best in matters concerning my nearest and dearest or indeed others, but I seem to take a negative stance when dealing with my own ishooes.
4. Talking of shoes (hah, see what I did there!?), my other love of my life, besides the hubs of course, is SHOES. I love them. Love. Love. Love. Last time I counted I had over 50 pair, and this was waay back in 2006/2007. They are literally spilling out of my wardrobe and I just can't resist a hot pair of sandals/shoes.
5. Focusing on wardrobe issues, I also have a passion for fashion, which I have nutured from my more youthful days, hehee. From hijabs to skirts, and bracelets to bags, I love it all - must be hijab friendly of course.
6. I took part in my first ever national demonstration back in January this year and marched through London when the Israel Defence Force (IDF) blazed Gaza city and also attended another march in protest of Gaza thereafter. Soo glad that I did it.
7. I am a secondary school (or high school) teacher of ICT and am currently on my way to completing and gaining, inshaAllah, a Master's degree in Education. The year really has gone by super quick!
8. I love learning new things, although I do get bored rapidly quick! Cooking seems to have become my latest *thirrng*
9. I hate CATS. Yes, you 'erd. I 'ate 'em and I shudder at the thought of bumping into one!
10. And yes, that's my "Northern" lingo in No.9. Most of us northern Brits/English/Wareva sometimes forget to pronounce the letter 'h' and so are often the ridicule of many. I have lived oop north all my life and have only just spent this past year (Sep 2008-Pres) living down South :-)

Okay, now who to tag. I think I may have to bring the number down a little, as although I've been blogging for a few months now, I've not had the opportunity of commenting with many other bloggers, so I do apologise! Something I will hopefully change iA :-)

The one's to be tagged though are:

1. Aimie - TheKnot
2. Queen - TLOABW
3. Zenab - Stylish Muslimah
4. Nazia - Canadian Hijabi
5. Naily - Nails in Aus
   

Okay, ciao for now!

x

A murder that Germany ignored

...infact, almost the whole of Europe for that matter. The following article outlines some of the reactions following the brutal courtroom murder of a 32 year old Egyption mother. Tragic story, filled me with despair, disgust and disbelief.

The headscarf martyr: murder in German court sparks Egyptian fury

• Woman was stabbed 18 times during hijab trial
• Outrage at lack of media coverage fuels protests

It was while Marwa el-Sherbini was in the dock recalling how the accused had insulted her for wearing the hijab after she asked him to let her son sit on a swing last summer, that the very same man strode across the Dresden courtroom and plunged a knife into her 18 times.

Her three-year-old son Mustafa was forced to watch as his mother slumped to the courtroom floor.

Even her husband Elvi Ali Okaz could do nothing as the 28-year-old Russian stock controller who was being sued for insult and abuse took the life of his pregnant wife. As Okaz ran to save her, he too was brought down, shot by a police officer who mistook him for the attacker. He is now in intensive care in a Dresden hospital.

While the horrific incident that took place a week ago tomorrow has attracted little publicity in Europe, and in Germany has focused more on issues of court security than the racist motivation behind the attack, 2,000 miles away in her native Egypt, the 32-year-old pharmacist has been named the "headscarf martyr".

[The rest of the article can be found here]

Urumqi Riots in Xinjiang, China

This past week, I have been observing the violent riots that have taken place in the Xinjiang province, north eastern China; where the two dominant ethnic groups - Uyghur and Han, have fiercely clashed causing blood baths that have lasted days.

The Uyghurs are the indigenous people of Xinjiang and have been settled in the north eastern parts of China for centuries; the Hans are the majority ethnic group in the whole of China.

From my understanding of what's been going on, the Uyghurs have for a while, felt threatened by the Han's growing presence in their indigenous state of Xinjiang. The number of Han's residing in the state has more than tripled from the early 1900's as the region developed enormously in the manufacturing sector. Many Uyghurs feel disgruntled about not prospering with the development of the state capital -Urumqi, and feel that the Government has not done enough for them to prosper both economically and politically in the economic boom.

The more immediate causes for the Urumqi riots seems to have manifested from this long history of mistrust between the two ethnic groups. Reports covering the reasons behind the riots breaking out are still unclear: two Uyghur factory worker deaths and the rape of a Han woman seem to be the two most common stories.

Whatever the immediate cause, things do not look good for the people living in Urumqi. Uyghur and Han people in their thousands are fleeing for their lives, leaving behind everything in the need of safety.


Angry Uyghur women have been compelled to protest on the streets, carrying pcitures of their husbands/sons/brothers/fathers as they fight for their voices to be heard, hoping to be reunited with their loved ones.

Pictures of Han men, strolling through Urumqi streets with cleaver's in hand, are all over the 'net. This particular picture sent a shiver down my spine >>

Tension between the Uyghurs and the rest of China isn't something new. Many Uyghurs in the past have held a very pro-separatist attitude and have fought for their Independence to live in their own state, Turkmenistan; and although they succeeded in doing so, this success was very short lived as the Chinese Government dissolved the newly independent state, merging the Xinjiang province with China.

I just hope things settle down very soon as although the army's presence does seem to have brought a sense of calm amongst the riots, I doubt things will ever be the same again.

All images belong to The Guardian (Online)

Award's day!

I think it's gonna be another great day alhamdulilah, I just recieved an adroable blog award! lol
I don't really know what I'm supposed to do with it, but for now I'd like to thank fab Lela from My Getaway for presenting this award. How cute! :D

I would also like to show a little appreciation for all you bloggers on my blog list who have all in some shape or form, have encouraged me to keep this thing going, so thank you to you all!

Maxi moo

The maxi dress seems to have become the latest must have for hijab friendly summer wear and it makes perfect sense. Long, flowy garms with gorgeous prints, the maxi covers a multitude of do's for the stylish hijabi.

For me, the three big do's the maxis does:

1. It's a one piece garment, covering you from head to toe, okay, more like neck to ankle (minus the sleeves of course)
2. You can style it up or down, i.e. wear with a shrug/bolero cardigan for arm coverage or a cute jumper/top giving to get a skirt/top look
3. Fab crazy patterns, not to mention the great colours maxi dresses - what more do you need for the summer??

Here's one I bought last month and I am yet to wear it, just can't find the right occasion to premier this bargain blingin' beauty:
What do you make of the maxi? Love it or shove it? :D

Want you back MJ!

Almost anyone and everyone who has been in living existence for the past few decades knows a little something about the legend that is Michael Jackson, either through intrigue, exposure or a mix of both.

The star that shot to the highest heights through his musical talent touched millions of ordinary people with his music as he made an astonishing and turbulent journey rfom rags to riches. Even from when I was a little kid, I remember how his music videos would electrify my living room with his superbly wacky dance moves and the infamous "aaW!". His influence was everywhere from his style (the permed hair-do's in the late '80s!) to his genius moonwalk - the man was a living legend. And he's gone.

I have just watched his final send off from start to finish and still can't believe he's gone for good. Whatever the controversy, whatever the accusations, I will always try to remember Michael for all the good he did for the world, and remember him fondly for all the reasons he made me laugh and smile as I grew up watching him perform his greatest hits on my TV screen.

RIP Michael. May Allah forever be in your heart, ameen.

Back up again

Hey hey

I know I haven't blogged in a long time, week maybe? It sometimes feels like a long time but then it also feels like I've never been away, yes I'm a lurker and wander around from time to time without updating my own blog! Too much has been going on since I last logged in to post. I travelled to my 'rents (a whole +3hr train journey from almost one end of the country to the other) last Friday to be there for my younger sis who was taken into hospital last week, suffering from abdominal pains. With my mum being abroad due to family business and dad being ill too, I just had to leave to be with them.

I am so grateful to Allah for blessing me with a very understanding husband and set of in-laws, who despite their own own troubles, encouraged and supported my decision to visit my family.

My sister's condition was very shocking and totally unexpected but alhamdullilah is doing much better since being given the diagnosis and appropraite medication. Please spare a thought for my sis and dad in your prayers :)

On a lighter note: IT IS BOILING! The weather has been superbly sunny and also HOT with temperatures reaching the thirties, even in the northern parts of England! The sunny weather hasn't put a stop to people (self included) complaining about the massive heat wave however! Yes, we (as in Brits!) will complain about the weather come rain or shine, thunder or snow! lol

And on that note, I'm off to grab me a cool lime squash!