iFaqeer's Blog

iFaqeer's Blog<a href="http://blog.ifaqeer.com/p/about-me.html">Taking the guise of the poor, the dervishes, we, O <i>Ghalib</i>,<br> Watch the spectacle of the blessed; of power and pelf<br></a>noreply@blogger.com (iFaqeer)Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:48:53 -0700Blogger http://www.blogger.com631125http://blog.ifaqeer.com/en-usnoMost rights reserved. Identify source when quoting. For commercial use, obtain permission, rights, etc.Islam,Muslims,Moderate,Pakistan,USA,Progressive,South,Asia,IndiaA writer, blogger and journalist currently based in Silicon Valley, I have lived in Pakistan, Nigeria (including Sokoto and Gusau), and on both coasts in the US. I therefore have my own views and insights on a lot of what is happening in the world today. See http://iFaqeer.wikispaces.comA writer, blogger and journalist currently based in Silicon Valley, I have lived in Pakistan, Nigeria (including Sokoto and Gusau), and on both coasts in the US. I therefore have my own views and insights on a lot of what is happening in the world today. iFaqeer/Sabahat AshrafiFaqeer@gmail.comiFaqeer/Sabahat AshrafChronicles of the Camps: 2017 http://blog.ifaqeer.com/2016/06/chronicles-of-camps-2017.htmlWed, 8 Jun 2016 15:31:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-3816302193344501463 It's been a while since I put out an update on writing. It's been a bit tough the last free years and a challenge figuring out what I want to do next. One idea is to actually write in a more formal and structured way. And it seems Medium.com is a platform worth looking at. So. With so much in the air about minorities, Muslims, deportations, a lot of our minds turn to internment--or, to use 6iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Ben Carson, a Muslim President, Sharia Law and the US Consitutionhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2015/09/ben-carson-muslim-president-sharia-law.htmlWed, 23 Sep 2015 17:46:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-6332809713373456614 Wrote the following on a thread where a retired, very religious tech writer friend (a Christian that has problems with the Trinity, btw) had tagged me for a response: On the question raised by Ben Carson, the correct answer remains that given by Colin Powell (a Republican, it should be pointed out) or the one given by a Founding Father (that I am still looking for an exact reference for; 5iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Syrian Refugees and the "Wealthy Gulf State" Questionhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2015/09/syrian-refugees-and-wealthy-gulf-state.htmlThu, 10 Sep 2015 14:18:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-7772131423937666975(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));Really, people? You want the rich monarchies and The Establishment of Western countries to be the ones to help0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)It takes an Africanhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2015/07/it-takes-african.htmlWed, 29 Jul 2015 15:16:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-538002984504297252 Federal Government College, Sokoto student c.1983 Been reconnecting with school chums from back in Nigeria. And I have to say; it's been gratifying and, well, completing in a way. I will say more about the experience, but something came up in discussions around alumni networking that I am surprised I don't seem to have said on this blog before. And part of the experience overlaps with the 1iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Inclusive Eidhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2015/07/inclusive-eid.htmlFri, 17 Jul 2015 17:00:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-4674262734206861619 The rainbow has belonged in our affairs all along I posted this on a couple of progressive and radical Muslim groups on social media, and thought it belonged here, too:To all our fellow Muslims feeling like they don't have a congregation, a community that really owns them on a day like this: THIS is your congregation; THIS is your community ; THIS is your ummah. You are our community; you are7iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Eid ul Fitr 2015http://blog.ifaqeer.com/2015/07/eid-ul-fitr-2015.htmlFri, 17 Jul 2015 12:07:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-6842917742640813764(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));"Haza Eiduna"—"This is our festival." Taqabbalallâhu minnâ wa minkum. &0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Hope—vs The Lack Thereofhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2015/05/hopevs-lack-thereof.htmlThu, 28 May 2015 14:27:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-2628808604994239150 This bears capturing: @mkatju @beenasarwar @latimes I am not swayed by your hopelessness. I am moved by my beliefs. Thank you for sharing your thoughts though — Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) May 28, 2015 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Respect what others adore—even the Flying Spaghetti Monsterhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2015/05/respect-what-others-adore-even-flying.htmlMon, 4 May 2015 10:48:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-966153422940409135(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));As a Muslim, I have always considered myself under clear directives from The Prophet himself not to diss 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)An Emigrant's Reasonshttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2015/04/an-emigrants-reasons.htmlTue, 21 Apr 2015 12:49:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-5039209851479867902 Rangers (Pakistan's paramilitary Border Security Force) warn Karachiites to carry computerised ID cards at all times Immigrants from the #ThirdWorld and those "at home" often agonize about why we left. People from Karachi, we often observe in Silicon Valley and other places, often do not move back home--even less so than, say Lahorewallas. See, for example the poem"Jo thha kya thhora 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)ISI Has LUMS Balochistan Panel Cancelledhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2015/04/isi-has-lums-balochistan-panel-cancelled.htmlWed, 8 Apr 2015 12:04:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-3271064091335353367[View the story "ISI Has LUMS Balochistan Panel Cancelled" on Storify]0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)@Khawer_Khan on #Peshawar, #Oakland, and Beyondhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/12/khawerkhan-on-peshawar-oakland-and.htmlFri, 26 Dec 2014 14:35:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-6852619629541606133 History IS the haunting of our nightmares. Lets not forget who created these monsters. Various imperialist powers representing global Capital and the comprador Pakistani state. These monsters are not some organic expression of our people struggling in some distorted way for freedom. This is literally a Frankenstein's monster gone amok. Arms from the Pakistani state, a heart and brain from 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)@ARRrafiq on Fighting Back in Pakistanhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/12/arrrafiq-on-fighting-back-in-pakistan.htmlTue, 23 Dec 2014 12:11:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-5981667268023736217 (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Post by Abdulrahman Rafiq. 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Ideology of #Pakistan in Four Quotationshttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/12/ideology-of-pakistan-in-four-quotations.htmlTue, 23 Dec 2014 11:19:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-8094022569323243535 "Democracy is not just a new thing we are learning," said Jinnah Saahab to American journalist Margaret Bourke-White, "[o]ur Islamic ideas have been based on democracy and social justice since the thirteenth century." "... we have proved it to the world more than once. We established Pakistan because of our passion for what we call the Islamic way of life. This is no narrow sectarian, or 1iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)#Christmas Carols in #Karachi for #Peshawarhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/12/christmas-carols-in-karachi-for-peshawar.htmlSat, 20 Dec 2014 13:16:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-2184967598545108812This is the Pakistan we all want; it takes a tragedy to bring it together. But don't be fooled it exists and has existed all along in our hearts. #Christmas Carols by 300 children of Archdiocese of #karachi #Pakistan Carnival of Carols 2014 dedicated to #Peshawar pic.twitter.com/L0z1XNqRI1 — norbalm ɯןɐqɹou ™ (@norbalm) December 20, 2014 Here's the video: (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs =0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)#Pakistan Fights Back: The People Must Acthttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/12/pakistan-fights-back-people-must-act.htmlFri, 19 Dec 2014 17:03:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-128103771892977383 [View the story "#Pakistan Fights Back: The People Must Act" on Storify] 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)#PeshawarAttack: @CAIRNational, @ISNAhq, @ICNA Round-Uphttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/12/peshawarattack-cairnational-isnahq-icna.htmlFri, 19 Dec 2014 12:25:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-7094109192340177527[View the story "#PeshawarAttack: @CAIR, @ISNAhq, @ICNA Roundup" on Storify]0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)#2016: @JebBush Just Announced—on Facebookhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/12/2016-jebbush-just-announcedon-facebook.htmlTue, 16 Dec 2014 13:09:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-6242020888956636948 [View the story "#2016: @JebBush Just Announced—on Facebook" on Storify] 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)#PeshawarAttack: Imran Khan, Pervez Musharraf, Delhi's Khudai Khidmatgar (Storify)http://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/12/peshawarattack-imran-khan-pervez.htmlTue, 16 Dec 2014 10:45:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-3035613801363645415 [View the story "Imran Khan on #PeshawarAttack" on Storify] 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Qadri and Imran--A Match That Just Could Not Be?http://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/11/qadri-and-imran-match-that-just-could.htmlTue, 18 Nov 2014 17:00:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-5807911040553748986 Graphic from Saach.tv The headlines say "Tahirul Qadri ends alliance with Imran Khan's party" and Qadri parts ways with Imran Khan and he might have said this more strongly this time, saying things like “Those who are part of status quo and involved in corruption could not become our allies”. But despite the "cousinly" coordination they might have had—maybe encouraged by the Third Umpires1iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Haroon Moghul (@hsmoghul) on the Islamic State and the 7th Century Canard:http://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/11/haroon-moghul-hsmoghul-on-islamic-state.htmlMon, 17 Nov 2014 12:58:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-1559241261107134408 Haroon Moghul; Twitter Profile Photo Whenever anyone takes the line that neo-purist fanatics of any ilk are "taking us back to the 7th--or 13th--century", I would like them to read this rather intellectual piece from Haroon Moghul. It's from back in June 2014, when the IS declared itself a Caliphate, but it's a good introduction. There is a new declared Islamic State–and Caliph–what does 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)"The Means of Information": Freedom of the Press and Control of Social Mediahttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/11/freedom-of-press-and-control-of-social-media.htmlFri, 14 Nov 2014 20:34:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-2586822098338355617 Freedom is guaranteed only tothose who own a (Word)Press? One of the most relevant--and trenchant--things I have heard on this topic is the quote: Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one. That quote is from an older age, and I feel that in this day, age, and point in our technological evolution, you should read that with "media" instead of the first "press" and1iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Friday, Juma, Prayers at the Washington National Cathedralhttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/11/friday-juma-prayers-at-washington.htmlFri, 14 Nov 2014 14:09:00 -0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-2195308880770388103 (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Post by Sabahat Ashraf. 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)APEX Express Radio Report on Taking on the Pakistan Taliban: Context and Prospectshttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/07/apex-express-radio-report-on-taking-on.htmlThu, 10 Jul 2014 18:41:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-3814206124488400422 Filed a radio report recently for APEX Express, a weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders that airs each week on KPFA 94.1FM in the San Francisco Bay Area. Starts about exactly 23 minutes into this (with a pashto song): http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/104388 Here's a direct link to the audio file for the 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Mr Modi, Let's End Colonialism in India—and Elsewherehttp://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/06/mr-modi-lets-end-colonialism-in.htmlMon, 30 Jun 2014 16:04:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-5540247876763067759 For SF Pride this year, Trikone (www.trikone.org), the oldest South Asian LGBTQ organization in the world, and ASATA, the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, a San Francisco Bay Area group working to educate, organize, and empower the Bay Area South Asian communities, have teamed up to put out a press release calling on India's new Prime Minister, Narendra Modi of the BJP, to "End 377"0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)Why "dan Boko"?http://blog.ifaqeer.com/2014/06/why-dan-boko.htmlFri, 27 Jun 2014 14:44:00 -0700tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6742850.post-8464285133040773796 Several friends have asked why my Facebook name currently says "Dan Boko" (and my Twitter name is "S. danBoko Ashraf". Here's the original Facebook status that I put up when I switched: (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; 0iFaqeer@gmail.com (iFaqeer/Sabahat Ashraf)