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GOVERNOR FASHOLA’S MANY “SINS” AGAINST ISLAM IN LAGOS By Abdur Rasheed Abuba

 Governor Raji Fashola

Between Nudity and Hijab, the choice is yours!

Lagos state is the financial, industrial and commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, home to over 18 million people with diverse culture, religion and ideological background. There are indigenes, or the so-called sons of the soil, but it's an undisputed fact that the settlers constitute more than 60% of the state population and greatly have impact on its economy.

Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is the thirteenth governor of the State otherwise known as the Centre of Excellence. He is a Muslim whether conscious or not, and his Muslim name is Raji, meaning the hopeful. But, like his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Fashola's wife, Abimbola Emmanuela is a devoted Christian, a staunch Redeemer!

Fashola's religious inclination first generated controversy when he was presented by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the 2007 General Elections. He was criticized by many on the basis of religion, amongst other reasons, but several Islamic organisations ignored the reasons, passionately rallied round him to make him the State governor.

Yes, Muslims made him the governor! It's not an overstatement. It's still an irrefutable fact that Muslims are the majority in Lagos State. Little wonder why most politicians love to associate with Islam especially during election periods. We'll start seeing Richard claiming to be Rashidi and all such of Islamic names. There are many Christians in Fashola's cabinet, who use Islamic names as smokescreen to get what they want, but in turn turned to be anti-Islam.

I know a lot of people who voted for Fashola based on religious sentiment. I could remember how I convinced my mum and other siblings to vote for him because he's a Muslim. After all, a weak Muslim is better than a strong kafir, so we learnt from our learned scholars. If this is the case, the Muslim community did nothing wrong to have voted for the man, whom they believe would surpass the achievements of his predecessor, especially in matters of religion.

But, the reverse is the case now. Babatunde Raji Fashola has failed adherents of different religious bodies that voted for him as a result of his unfriendly, uncivilized, in-human policies especially the ones that affect Muslims. I stand to be corrected; this administration has the highest numbers of anti-Islamic policies, which no serious Muslim would not even debate, not to talk of passing it into law.

For instance, an ex-lawmaker who is now the Chief Imam of Lagos State House of Assembly Mosque, Hon. AbdulHakeem Abdul-Lateef used his position as the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary matters to bury the proposed gay marriage bill because he knows the essence of being a Muslim.

Unfortunately, the same House has now turned to an avenue where all such bills are proposed and passed and the most recent and controversial is the cremation bill, which was passed into law in December 2012. That means if you die and nobody claims your corpse, your remains will be burnt! This is ridiculous! Yes and yet it's real and the justification for this, despite condemnation from religious leaders, was that our mortuaries are filled with unclaimed corpses

cremation

No state in this country has ever debated such in-human bill, not to talk of passing it into law. There is nowhere in this country where it's being officially practiced except for some foreigners who practise it as part of their culture. This administration ignored public opinions at a hearing and passed the unpopular cremation bill into law.

Cremation is not only an anti-Islamic policy; it runs contrary to the norms and culture of our society! It is at variance with the laws of God. No true religion will allow such wicked practice because it's only our Creator, God Almighty that has power to punish by fire.

While we are yet to recover from this shocker, this administration also collided with some Christian fanatics to ridicule Islam under the disguise of "no hijab on school uniform", and the agents of this ungodly act, whose loathing for Islam is apparent, began their unholy crusade on innocent female muslim students who only exercise their religious rights. The assaults on Aisha Alabi and Bareerah Sulayman were few cases of molestations against innocent muslims and till today, the criminals are yet to be brought to book.

To me, I see the undue clampdown on hijab as a psychological warfare against southwest Muslims who have hitherto maintained decorum for years and live peacefully with members of other religions. If not, will anyone dare try what Mrs Ukpaka had succeeded in doing to the innocent Aisha Alabi in the North? Or what Mrs Elizabeth did to Bareerah Sulayman in the streets of Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara without being lynched?

Is there any justification for cremation when Lagos is blessed with spacious land? Or does the land belong to government officials or the people? Is there anyway the removal of hijab makes students to be extra-ordinary brilliant or will it improve academic excellence?

Muslim lawyers addressing protesters, as Amir MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit looked on...

The priority of a responsible government is to deliver and make the people benefit the dividends of democracy, such as good health service delivery, good roads and infrastructural­ development, among other life changing programmes and most importantly, quality education for our children, the leaders of tomorrow. The standard of education is rapidly deteriorating, our schools are filled with mediocrities who themselves needed to be taught before teaching someone, yet the government is doing nothing to check the ugly trend!

What is perhaps more disgusting about this administration was when the governor ordered destruction of Mosques over security threat! What he had consciously or unconsciously succeeded in doing was to stop the call to the worship of Allah in the affected mosques, which is tantamount to Kufr (disbelief).

There are many ways to check terrorism activities without insulting any religion, because vandalization of mosques simply concludes that terrorism is from the mosque. Yet, they keep on telling us, "We are also Muslims. We pray, go to hajj and fast in the month of Ramadhan." They told us that their forefathers were Baba Adinnis, great-grand mothers were Iya Sunna, yet continue to display their ignorance publicly.

I am so ashamed to see Muslims being pro-government against Islamic dictates. There is nothing wrong in being pro-government especially when you are civil servants and the government is living to its responsibilitie­s, but not against your religious belief. What Mr. Muhammad Danmole, the Commissioner for Home Affairs exhibited on the day the Muslim students staged peaceful protest to Governor's House, is a blatant sign of hypocrisy! Whereas our Prophet, peace be upon him, said,"the greatest jihad is to say the truth before a tyrant leader". Some Islamic leaders are up till now silent on the government unpopular anti-Islamic policies.

demolished mosque

The brouhaha over the coroner law is still fresh in people's memories. Many families found it difficult to bury their loved ones when the law was introduced in 2009. It was later made optional after Muslim organisations kicked against it. Coroner Law helps to unravel circumstances surrounding mysterious death, but the processes go against the principles of Islam, which encourages immediate burial of corpse in Islamic ways. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, warned against delay in three matters, an-Nikkah, as-Solat and the corpse of a Muslim.

This administration'­s major problem is restricted and selective consultation. Policies are formulated and implemented without regards for religious organisations and other pressure groups. This is contrary to true definition of democracy: the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Except if the definition has changed! An instance of disregard to religious leaders was the proposed bill presented to the state House by Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) seeking to stop slaughtering of animals at homes and other unauthorised places in the state, without exception!

I am not privy of the stage of the bill now, but I'm sure if it had scaled through, that means all the naming ceremonies, marriages, Eidul Fitri and Eidul Adha festivals rams would have to be taken to designated abattoirs in Lagos state for slaughtering! That will definitely mark the beginning of "ram slaughtering traffic" at abattoirs, and most people would have to come early if they must beat the long queue. It sounds ridiculous, because if you must slaughter your nikkah ram a day before, can you do that for Eidul Adha festival's ram? It's the issue of environmental cleanliness, hygiene but at the same time, it's purely religious, the more reasons government needs to engage in wider consultation.

I should rather stop here and see if this piece will bring fruitful results. But, I'm convinced beyond doubt that nobody fights Islam and wins. Allah has assured the believers that Islam will always be victorious even though the enemies plan to extinguish its light. I won't waiver until I see sincere Muslims irrespective of tribes, colours and languages taking over the mantle of leadership and rule us with the undiluted words of Allah, the Glorious Qur'an and the prophetic traditions, which preaches equity, justice, love and unity.

The endless hijab saga: Governor Fashola seeks out of court settlement +'We'll Not Relent Until Victory is Achieved' - Alhaji Qasim Badrudeen By Sulaiman Alamutu

 L-R: mufti CIO, Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafii; Amir, MSSN, Alhaji Qasim Badrudden and Shiekh Qamardeen Ajala

Governor Raji Fashola



The Lagos State Government is seeking an out of court settlement in the suit filed against it by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit over the victimization of Muslim girls wearing Hijab in state public schools.

When the case came up for first hearing before Justice J.O.K Oyewole of the Lagos High Court Ikeja today, counsel to the state government, S.A Ajanaku, said no defense had been filed in the case, but added that steps had already been initiated towards settlement of the matter.

He pleaded with the judge to allow the government more time to consummate the steps already initiated.

However, counsel to the MSSN Lagos State Area Unit Barrister Hassan .A. Fajimite, who led other nine lawyers to the court, expressed surprise at the request of the state counsel, saying that they were not aware or informed of any move by the state government to settle the case. He nevertheless obliged to the option.

Justice Oyewole thereafter asked the parties to meet and work out terms of the settlement and report back to the court on July 10, 2013.

Meanwhile, members of the MSSN and other Islamic organizations, who thronged the court premises for the case, later embarked on a peaceful protest to Ikeja under-bridge and back to the old secretariat mosque beside the high court.

They carried placards with inscriptions like ‘Hijab is our right,’ ‘Why must Lagos State Government compete with God?’ ‘Hijab our pride,’ ‘Nudity is not our way,’ and others.

Addressing the people, the Amir Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit, Alhaji Qasim Badrudeen, urged all Muslims in the state to remain calm and peaceful throughout the period the hearing of the case would last.

He also thanked all Islamic organizations that came to solidarise with the MSSN on the Hijab issue promising that the society would not relent until victory is achieved.

It would be recalled that the MSSN Lagos State Area Unit had taken the state government to court over persistent victimization of Muslim girls using Hijab by some secondary school principals in the state.

One of them Aisha Alabi of Kadara Junior Grammar School, Ebute Metta was given 43 strokes of the cane by her principal, Mrs. E.C Ukpaka for wearing Hijab in the school premises.

Bareera Tajudeen of Mafoluku Senior Grammar School, Oshodi was also harassed by her principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Omidele who removed her Hijab and stepped on it outside the school premises.

THE BEAUTY OF SISTERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY BY BUSHRAH OLAGUNJU

The question of the beauty of sisters is a concept that will take the same format, the same principle and similar logic from the time it has been till the end of time. Do I use this period to clarify that this address is to the humble Muslimah, the ever yearning Muminah, the educated, loyal, trustworthy and dignified salihah, the sister who wants to thread the footsteps of Asiyah, Maryam and Khadijah, the bearer of heroes, the mothers of great men and the one in whose heart the fear of Allah lingers continuously. Take a moment to breathe in, and then exhale gently. That wasn’t too difficult I guess. But when we try to breathe in and out ten times in a second, then we are making a heap out of nothing. It will really be cumbersome. The beauty of sisters is not in their dressing, it’s not in their poise, neither is it in their mode of speaking but in their heart for that is where everything beautiful radiates from. The issue of the beauty of sisters in the 21st century is highly appalling. During the time of the prophet, the dresses or adornment of a female didn’t reflect her beauty even Aisha addressed this issue; A'isha (RAA) the wife of the Prophet (SAAW), addressed some women from the tribe of Banu Tameem who came visiting her and had light clothes on them: "If indeed you are believing women, then truly this is not the dress of the believing women, and if you are not believing women, then enjoy it." Dear sister, no matter how long it takes you to make your face look fresh, or try to apply make ups that eventually makes you artificial, Allah has told us that he is not in need of your good looks but our deeds ,our intentions and our actions. In Islam where utmost respect is given to the dignity of women, what constitutes your outer beauty is not even in the dress you wear or how expensive your hijab is but rather the message that your appearance sends forth. Let’s make it easy, are you trying to spice up a religion that has already been completed by making your hijab decorative, do you say you want to preach the beauty of Islam and put on so many make ups that distract men when you are outside. According to Dr Muhammed Ismail in his book “The Hijab..Why? He opines that the virtues of hijab are numerous. First, he says it’s an act of obedience to Allah’s injunctions. It’s also a means to modesty and purity for it is said that “so that you might be distinguished”. The hijab is a shield, it’s a means to righteousness and at the same time is a mark of eeman, a symbol of bashfulness amidst other things. But Alas! The beauty of Islam is been tainted in the 21st century by the so called beauty of Muslim sister. So many sisters want to put on what is in vogue; we want to compromise the creation of Allah whose infinite mercy has sustained us till this moment. We want to reveal the ‘unreavealables,’ we want to “row” with the crowd so that we can “belong”. Let me ask few questions. Does the heart not cry when you go out of your way and against the commandment of Allah? Does the inner not weep when you try to deface yourself thinking that you are appealing to the eyes of men? It is time to say the truth and be that ideal Muslim lady, let’s search our inner minds and be sure we are doing everything for Allah sake. Are we trying to westernize our Islam also, our dignity and our sense of pride? The beauty of a Muslim sister are priceless, they are not measured by your eye liners of the texture of your skin, not by the fashion of our garments, not by the cost of your face cleansers or your mascara. My dear it lies within you.

The 21st century Muslim should be the strongest Muslim in faith and understanding because the history of Islam is rich and replete with the challenges abound but now the challenge of this era is even greater with the advent of IT. Our focus should be defined, our goals should be concise so that our beauty can shine and light the world.

AL-FAHM NEWSPAPER, THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE ISLAMIC NEWSPAPER, FEBRUARY 2013 EDITION

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AQSA DAY 1434 A.H

1 DAY TO GO REASONS U MUST NOT MISS IT
Over 3billion people (more than half of the world's population) believe that PALESTINE is HOLY!, that's absolute truth PALESTINE is the land of the PROPHETS OF ALLAH (some born, lived, preached and died there) PALESTINE house Al-Aqsa Mosque, the 3rd holy shrine of Islam preceded by Al-Haram in Mecca 'n' the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. A prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque, Muslims first qibla, is equal to 500prayers offered elsewhere.
			Al-Aqsa is the place of Isra' wal Miraj, the miraculous night journey of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to Allah. ...And lots of importance to the Muslims and the World
FOR over six decades now, the holy land has been a place of blood-shed, tears and suffering. Palestine, including Al-Aqsa Mosque have been under siege since the illegal creation of the State of Israel in 1948...
To know what has been happening to the Palestinians in the last 60years, especially the situation in Gaza, Aqsa Mosque, and your responsibilities as Muslims and lovers of justice, freedom and peace, join Muslim Awareness International (MAI) for this year's AQSA DAY tagged, "THE TRUTH LAID BARE". DATE: Thursday, January 24, 2013 (Tomorrow) VENUE: Open Space of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. 1st SPEAKER: Imam Luqman AbdulRaheem, the National Ameer of The Muslim Congress (TMC) TOPIC: Arab Spring and the Palestinian Cause 2nd SPEAKER: Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi'i, the Mufti of Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) TOPIC: Gazatun 'Izzatun (Gaza: Mighty and Honourable) TIME: 10am PALESTINE Branded T-Shirt is also available for N1000 (round-neck) and N1700 (polo) respectively. U're All Invited!!! Louder, "Long Live Gaza, Long Live Palestine"

EXCLUSIVE: 30 WORLD FAMOUS CELEBRITIES THAT EMBRACED ISLAM compiled by Abdur Rasheed Abubakar, Abdul-Kabir Kuye & Akanji Muh’d Jamiu

Seeing young people trooping into the religion of Islam nowadays is very astonishing! Despite the negative portrayal of the religion of peace as violent and the unfortunate events enveloped the world, young men and women could be determined and openly declared shahada (testimony of faith in oneness of Allah and the Messengership of Prophet Muhammad [SAW]) and embraced Islam. This was the feeling on Friday, January 4, 2013 at the popular Syrian Mosque, Falomo, Lagos when two gentlemen declared, La ilaha illa-l-llah, Muhammad rasulu-l-Lah, before the congregation who waited to witness the ritual after solatul Jum’ah. It was indeed a memorable day and manifestation of Allah’s words as established in the glorious Qur’an. “When there comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad [SAW] against your enemies) and the Conquest (of Mekkah). And you see that the people enter Allah’s religion (Islam) in crowds...” Q. 110: 1-2 AL-FAHM’s correspondents were present at the ceremony conducted by the learned and respected Islamic scholar, Imam Muhammad Solih, the Naibul Imam of the Mosque. The converts are identified as Muhammad Yamin and Issa respectively. In a chat with AL-FAHM, Muhammad Yamin, an indigene of Taraba State with a Christian background said he came in contact with Islam through a friend, who convinced him that Allah is one not three-in-one as they believe in Christianity. Expressing his feelings, he said he felt relieved and happy being a Muslim. Conversion to Islam is becoming a global trend. Findings have shown that Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe with conversion rate over 152, 000 people embraced Islam in 2011. With the increase, the UK Daily Mail investigations revealed that Islam is going to dominate many places in USA and Europe in the next years, and is now a fiery revival sweeping much of the planet from Africa to Asia to Latin America to Europe and to USA. The recent amongst such was the famous American singer, Janet Jackson whose conversation to Islam took many by surprise! The 46-year-old singer - younger sister of the late Pop king, Michael Jackson - was reported by several showbiz tabloids and blogs across Europe, including National Enquirer magazine to have converted to Islam December, 2012 in order to marry her Qatari Billionaire fiancé, Wissam Al-Manna. The couple are reportedly planning to tie the knot in Doha, Qatar this year. Although the R&B singer, who now moves around in a ceremonial headscarf, has neither confirmed nor denied the news, AL-FAHM can authoritatively confirmed that Rhythm Nation crooner would not be the first celebrity to have embraced Islam, and will not be the last. Several world famous entertainers, including professional boxers and footballers, even top politicos and creative writers have accepted Islam whole-heartedly, and now harbingers of glad tidings to their teeming fans. In this edition, we x-ray the life of 30 world famous celebrities before and after Islam...

Margret ‘Maryam Jameelah’ Marcus - Former Jewish, Author She died October last year unceremoniously, but what is obvious is that the Muslim world would not easily forget the contributions of Maryam Jameelah to Islam and the development of Muslims through her soul inspiring books. May Allah forgive her shortcomings. Born Margret Marcus on May 23, 1934 in New York to a non-observant German Jewish family, she explored Judaism and other faiths during her teens before converting to Islam in 1961 and emigrated to Pakistan, where she was married to and has five children with Muhammad Yusuf Khan, a leader in the Jamaat-e-Islami political party, and resided in the city of Lahore. Jameelah regards these years (1962-64) to be the formative period of her life during which she matured and began her life's work as a Muslim defender of conservative Islam. Before her death, she authored over thirty books on Islamic culture and history, and later became a prominent female voice for conservative and fundamentalist Islam. She’s also known for her disparaging writings on the west.

Bruno ‘Abdul Karim’Metsu - Former Senegalese Football Coach Bruno Metsu was born on January 28, 1954 in Coudekergue village in France. He is a retired French footballer and coach; he was previously the manager of Al-wasl, Al-Gharafa and Qatari national football team. He is perhaps most notable in Europe for coaching Senegal to a surprise victory over his own country, France in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup. While in the United Arab Emirates coaching their national team, between 2006 and 2008, Metsu formerly announced his conversion into Al-Islam. He made the declaration before the religious scholars of the Department of Awqaf in Dubai, Shikh Ismail Tojo, saying, “This will make me feel comfortable, peaceful and stable.for many years in my coaching career, I was known as Bruno Metsu, but now, I have taken the name, Abdul Kareem.” He is practising Islam with his wife.

Dawud ‘David’ Wharnsby-Ali - Musician He became popular among Muslims, especially children when he dropped a hit album of nasheed titled, “A Whisper of Peace” in 1996, but only few among his million fans worldwide knew that he was born a Christian in Ontario, Canada in 1972. His birth name was David before he changed to Dawud in 1993 after he converted to Islam. Since then, he has become known for his socially conscious songs, notable among them are Sing, Children of the World, Al-Khaliq and I Look I See among others. Chauncey Lamont a.k.a Loon - Former Rapper An African American, Chauncey Lamont Hawking was formerly part of P.Diddy’s Bad Boy records, where he released his self titled debut album, Loon. Born into a Christian family on June 20, 1975 in Harlem, New York, Loon changed his name to Amir Junaid Muhadith after converting to Islam on December 2008 while on tour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He has since been very active doing da’wah through his religious talk show Insight aired on Iqra TV. Visit to his web site, www.loon2amir.com revealed that Amir Junaid was lockdown in a prison in Belgium for charges that predated his conversion to Islam. In one of his quotes, he wrote, “I am just happy to be accepting Islam and finding the peace of mind that I was always searching for in the music industry.

Daniel ‘Brixton Bomber’ Williams - Boxer He was otherwise known by his fans as Brixton Bomber, but his real name is Daniel Williams, an English professional boxer who came to limelight in 1995 for knocking out Vance Ideas in two rounds. He later became very famous when he boxed former world champion Mike Tyson in Freedom Hall, State Fairground, Kentucky in July 2004. Raised alongside his two brothers and a sister by their Christian Indian parents, Brixton turned a new life when he embraced Islam in 1999. An incident in Turkey, when he heard the Adhaan (call to prayer), which guided him towards accepting the faith. Lauren Booth - Journalist I'm now a Muslim. Why all the shock and horror? These were the words of Lauren Booth, a journalist with the Sunday Times and the Daily Mail. News that Lauren Booth has converted to Islam provoked a storm of negative comments. “My own path to Islam began with an awakening to the gap between what had been drip-fed to me about all Muslim life – and the reality.” Born Sarah Booth July 22, 1967, the half-sister of Cherie Blair, wife of the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, her journey into Islam began during her first five years of her visit to Palestine to work alongside charities in Gaza and the West Bank. She became fascinated at the way Muslim treats their females, the calmness in their prayers and their peaceful way of life contrary to what the west hold towards poor Muslim women. When asked about how are family reacted to the news, she replied, My 2 daughters who are very practical asked me, Mummy when you’re a Muslim, will you still be our mummy? I said: When I am a Muslim you know what, I will be a better mummy, they said: "Horrayyy!!" Eric ‘Bilal’Abidal - Footballer Éric Sylvain Abidal (born 11 September 1979) is a French professional footballer, who plays for FC Barcelona as a left or central defender. In his career, he played mainly for Lyon and Barcelona, winning 22 major titles the two teams combined, including two Champions League trophies with the latter. A French international in the 2000s, Abidal represented the nation in two World Cups – finishing second in 2006 – and Euro 2008. Abidal, who was married to the former gymnast Hayet Kebir, confirmed his conversion to Islam to doha stadium newspaper. Abidal, who later changed his name to Bilal said, my conversion was not due to marriage of an Algerian woman but it was an old story. I always had a wish to be a Muslim and now I complete it. Daniel Streich - Former Anti-Muslim Swiss Politician The Swiss politician Daniel Streich, who rose to fame as a result of his opposition to mosques in his homeland, has now embraced the faith he reviled. Daniel Streich was a member of the Swiss People's Party (SVP) in Switzerland. A well-known politician, Streich led the calls for a ban on minarets across Switzerland. He was active in building anti-Muslim sentiments throughout Switzerland. This sustained campaign led to him being given a high ranking position in the Swiss Army. Streich attempted to understand the Qur'an and Islamic teachings in order to argue against Muslims on tenets of their faith. In the course of his efforts the ex-Christian began to agree with and acknowledge the proclamations of the Qur'an. Born in a Christian family, Streich had a comprehensive study of Islam merely to malign and confront, but Islamic teachings had a deep impact on him. Eventually he de-linked himself from political activities and he embraced Islam. Streich later termed the SVO activities against the Muslims as satanic. "Islam offers me logical answers to important life questions, which, in the end, I never found in Christianity," says Streich. He is now a committed Muslim, who attends the mosque, recites the Qur'an and prays five times a day. He is vehemently opposed to the Minaret ban and is hoping to establish Switzerland's fifth mosque and the most beautiful in Europe. Franck Bilal Ribéry - Footballer Franck Bilal Ribéry (born 7 April 1983) is a French football player who currently plays for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. Ribéry primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and is known for "pace, energy, skill and precise passing." Ribéry was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais and raised in a low-income neighbourhood on the fringes of the city. When he was two years old, he and his family were involved in a car accident in his hometown, colliding with a truck. Ribéry suffered serious facial injuries that resulted in more than one hundred stitches and left two long scars down the right side of his face. Prior to joining Stade Brestois in 2003, he worked as a construction worker with his father, which Ribéry referred to as a "learning experience". Ribéry's younger brother François is also a football player, and has played for numerous amateur clubs in France. François plays for Bayonne in the Championnat National. Ribéry's wife, Wahiba, is a French national of Algerian descent and the couple have two daughters and a son. Ribéry is a convert to Islam and, following his conversion, adopted the name Bilal Yusuf Mohammed. James ‘Yusuf’ Yee - Former US Army Muslim chaplain James J. Yee is an American former United States Army chaplain with the rank of captain. He’s best known for being subject to an intense investigation by the United States, but all charges were later dropped. Yee, a Chinese American, was born in New Jersey and raised in Springfield Township, where he attended Jonathan Dayton High School. He converted from Lutheran Christianity to Islam in 1991, undergoing religious training in Syria and meeting his wife Huda, a Palestinian, with whom he now has one child. In his appointment role as chaplain, Yee ministered to Muslims detainees held at Guantanamo Bay detention camp and received commendation from his superiors for his work. When he was returning at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, he was wrongly arrested on September 10, 2003, in Jacksonville, Florida, when a U.S. Customs agent allegedly found a list of Guantanamo detainees and interrogators among his belongings. He was charged for five offenses; sedition, aiding the enemy (his fellow Muslims), spying, espionage, and failure to obey a general order. The charges were later dropped on March 19, 2004, but the military leadership refused to clear his name publicly, forcing Yee to surrender his dream of serving his country. Yee tells his story for the first time in his new book, For God and Country: Faith and Patriotism Under Fire. ... TO BE CONTINUED