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The 19th-century Montazah palace is off-limits, but the surrounding lush gardens are prime strolling territory. There’s an attractive sandy cove here with a semiprivate beach flic.kr/p/2aGfT2v well suited for kids (although it’s not particularly clean), and an eccentric Victorian-style bridge flic.kr/p/NjTnfK running out to a small island of pylons.
In all, it’s a pleasant escape from the city centre. There are several restaurants and picnic places, and a second royal residence, the Salamlek, has been converted into a luxury hotel, but the hotel is under renovation. flic.kr/p/2aGdD32
Khedive Abbas Hilmy (1892–1914) built Montazah as his summer palace, a refuge for when Cairo became too hot.
It’s designed in a pseudo-Moorish style, which has been given a Florentine twist with the addition of a tower modelled on one at Florence's Palazzo Vecchio. flic.kr/p/S8oFjL
The Al-Montaza Park, the former expansive royal gardens of 150 acres (61 ha), are open as a public landscape park and forest reserve.
The Aqsunqur Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque or the Mosque of Ibrahim Agha) is located in Cairo, Egypt and is one of several "blue mosques" in the world. It is situated in the Tabbana Quarter in Islamic Cairo, between Bab Zuweila and the Citadel of Saladin (Cairo Citadel.) The Aqsunqur Mosque also serves as a funerary complex, containing the mausoleums of its founder Shams ad-Din Aqsunqur, his sons, a number of children of the Bahri Mamluk sultan an-Nasir Muhammad and that of its principal restorer, Ibrahim Agha al-Mustahfizan.
"There was no bridge between the worlds that separated them. They had traveled too far from each other and there was no turning back. There wasn't now, there never would be."
Sidney Sheldon
The extensive Montaza Palace grounds first had the Salamlek Palace, built in 1892 by Khedive Abbas II, the last Muhammad Ali Dynasty ruler to hold the Khedive title over the Khedivate of Egypt and Sudan. It was used as a hunting lodge and residence for his companion.
The larger Al-Haramlik Palace and royal gardens were added to the Montaza Palace grounds, being built by King Fuad I in 1932, as a summer palace. It is in a mixture of Ottoman and Florentine styles, with two towers. One of these towers rises distinctively high above with elaborated Italian Renaissance design details. The palace has long open arcades facing the sea along each floor.
This lighthouse, although not believed to be an official aid to navigation, is believed to have been built by King Farouk I on a small islet in front of his palace in Alexandria, Egypt (Montazah Palace). It appears that he tried to creat a small replica of the orignal Pharos Lighthouse. It is visible from the palace grounds and a nearby hotel and is adjacent to a yacht harbour.
The Al-Montaza Park, the former expansive royal gardens of 150 acres (61 ha), are open as a public landscape park and forest reserve.
Al-Montazah Palace is surrounded by lush gardens with a Victorian bridge that takes you to a sandy cove and to a small island of Pylons.
The extensive Montaza Palace grounds first had the Salamlek Palace, built in 1892 by Khedive Abbas II, the last Muhammad Ali Dynasty ruler to hold the Khedive title over the Khedivate of Egypt and Sudan. It was used as a hunting lodge and residence for his companion.
The larger Al-Haramlik Palace and royal gardens were added to the Montaza Palace grounds, being built by King Fuad I in 1932, as a summer palace. It is in a mixture of Ottoman and Florentine styles, with two towers. One of these towers rises distinctively high above with elaborated Italian Renaissance design details. The palace has long open arcades facing the sea along each floor.
this series "dtv" is shot entirely from the tv set. a few are cropped
from PBS NewsHour about the Muslim Faith. it is not meant to be political. it was a segment about groups that help people caught up in the extremism of the religion
language changes every 12 miles so it makes sense that religions all over the world are so different. i am hardly one to judge. this program was about extreme sharia law and how it is practiced and it was very "extreme" in some places.
Situated to the North of the Roman theatre, there are large mud brick structures and these are ruins of the Roman baths that were constructed near the amphitheater in the period from the 2nd to the 4th century AD.
This is what happens when I don’t touch my camera for a few weeks.
Fortunately, my camera was temporarily orphaned unlike those of these journalists:
Ahmed Abu Aziz
Mohammed Salama
Moaz Abu Taha
Hussam al-Masri
Mariam Abu Dagga
Anas al-Sharif,Mohammed Noufal
Ibrahim Zaher
Mohammed Qreiqeh
Moamen Aliwa
Mohammad al-Khaldi
Ismail Abu Hatab
Moamen Abu AlOuf
Ahmad Qalaja
Ismail Baddah
Suleiman Hajjaj
Hassan Abu Warda
Hassan Samour
Ahmed al-Helou
Yahya Sobeih
Noureddine Abdo
Fatma Hassouna
Hilmi al-Faqaawi
Ahmed Mansour
Mohammed Mansour
Hossam Shabat
Mahmoud Islim al-Basos
Ahmed al-Shayyah
Ahmed Abu al-Rous
Mohammed al-Talmas
Saed Abu Nabhan
Omar al-Dirawi
Areej Shaheen
Hassan al-Qishawi
Ayman al-Gedi
Faisal Abu al-Qumsan
Mohammed al-Ladaa
Fadi Hassouna
Ibrahim Sheikh Ali
Mohammed al-Sharafi
Ahmed al-Louh
Mohammed al-Qrinawi
Mohammed Balousha
Iman al-Shanti
Maisara Ahmed Salah
Mamdouh Qanita
Ahmed Abu Sharia
Mahdi al-Mamluk
Ahmed Abu Skheil
Zahraa Abu Skheil
Bilal Rajab
Amr Abu Odeh
Saed Radwan
Nadia Emad al-Sayed
Haneen Baroud,Tareq AlSalhi
Mohammed al-Tanani
AlHassan Hamad
Abdul Rahman Bahr
Nour Abu Oweimer
Wafa al-Udaini
Mohammed Abed Rabbo
Hussam al-Dabbaka
Hamza Murtaja
Ibrahim Muhareb
Tamim Abu Muammar
Mohammed Issa Abu Saada
Rami al-Refee
Ismail al-Ghoul
Mohammed Abu Daqqa
Mohammed Abu Jasser
Mohamed Meshmesh
Mohamed Manhal Abu Armana
Amjad Juhjouh
Wafaa Abu Dabaan
Rizq Abu Shakian
Saadi Madoukh
Mohammed al-Sakani
Mohammed Abu Sharia
Rasheed Albably
Ola Al Dahdouh
Mahmoud Juhjouh
Bahaaddine Yassine
Mustafa Ayyad
Salem Abu Toyour
Ibrahim al-Gharbawi
Ayman al-Gharbawi
Mohammed Bassam al-Jamal
Mustafa Bahr
Mohamed Adel Abu Skheil
Saher Akram Rayan
Mohamed el Sayed Abu Skheil
Tarek El Sayed Abu Skheil
Mohamed el-Reefi
Abdul Rahman Saima
Muhammad Salama
Mohamed Yaghi
Zayd Abu Zayed
Ayman al-Rafati
Angam Ahmad Edwan
Alaa al-Hams
Yasser Mamdouh el-Fady
Nafez Abdel Jawad
Rizq al-Gharabli
Mohammed Atallah
Tariq al-Maidna
Iyad el-Ruwagh
Yazan al-Zuweidi
Mohamed Jamal Sobhi al-Thalathini
Ahmed Bdeir
Shareef Okasha
Heba al-Abadla
Abdallah Iyad Breis
Mustafa Thuraya
Hamza al-Dahdouh
Akram ElShafie
Jabr Abu Hadrous
Ahmed Khaireddine
Ahmad Jamal al-Madhoun
Mohamad al-Iff
Mohamed Azzaytouniyah
Mohamed Naser Abu Huwaidi
Mohamed Khalifeh
Adel Zorob
Abdallah Alwan
Haneen Kashtan
Assem Kamal Moussa
Samer Abu Daqqa
Ola Atallah
Duaa Jabbour
Shaima el-Gazzar
Hamada al-Yaziji
Hassan Farajallah
Abdullah Darwish
Montaser al-Sawaf
Adham Hassouna
Marwan al-Sawaf
Mostafa Bakeer
Mohamed Mouin Ayyash
Mohamed Nabil al-Zaq
Assem al-Barsh
Jamal Mohamed Haniyeh
Ayat Khadoura
Bilal Jadallah
Mossab Ashour
Sari Mansour
Mostafa al-Sawaf
Hassouneh Salim
Abdel Rahman al-Tanani
Amal Zohud
Abdelhalim Awad
Amro Salah Abu Hayah
Yacoup al-Borsh
Moussa al-Borsh
Ahmed al-Qara,Yahya Abu Manih
Mohamed Abu Hassira
Mohamad al-Bayyari
Mohammed Abu Hatab
Majd Fadl Arandas
Iyad Matar
Imad al-Wahidi
Majed Kashko
Nazmi al-Nadim
Yasser Abu Namous
Duaa Sharaf
Jamal al-Faqaawi
Saed al-Halabi
Ahmed Abu Mhadi
Tasneem Bkheet
Ibrahim Marzouq
Mohammed Imad Labad
Roshdi Sarraj
Mohammed Ali
Khalil Abu Aathra
Sameeh al-Nady
Issam Bhar
Mohammad Balousha
Abdulhadi Habib
Yousef Maher Dawas
Salam Mema
Husam Mubarak
Ahmed Shehab
Hisham Alnwajha
Mohammed Sobh
Saeed al-Taweel
Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi
Mohammad Jarghoun
Mohammed al-Salhi
La Puerta de la Justicia, Bab al-Sharia, es una de las cuatro puertas que dan entrada al recinto palaciego de la Alhambra, e integrada en la Torre de la Justicia. Mandada a construir por orden del rey Yusuf I, finalizando su edificación en 1348.
Junto a la Puerta de la Justicia, y a su izquierda se encuentra un baluarte circular de artillería, tras el cual se haya el Pilar de Carlos V. A la derecha una pequeña fuente dedicada al escritor Washington Irving.
rinconesdegranada.com/puerta-de-la-justicia
The Gate of Justice, Bab al-Sharia, is one of the four gates that lead into the palace complex of the Alhambra and is part of the Tower of Justice. It was commissioned by King Yusuf I and completed in 1348.
Next to the Justice Gate, and to the left of it, is a circular artillery bastion, behind which is the Pillar of Charles V. On the right is a small fountain dedicated to the writer Washington Irving.
The Al-Montaza Park, the former expansive royal gardens of 150 acres (61 ha), are open as a public landscape park and forest reserve.
The Al-Haramlik—Montaza Palace is a public museum of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty family history and objects d'art.
The Salamlek Palace is now an adjacent hotel.
La Puerta de la Justicia, Bab al-Sharia, es una de las cuatro puertas que dan entrada al recinto palaciego de la Alhambra, e integrada en la Torre de la Justicia. Mandada a construir por orden del rey Yusuf I, finalizando su edificación en 1348.
Junto a la Puerta de la Justicia, y a su izquierda se encuentra un baluarte circular de artillería, tras el cual se haya el Pilar de Carlos V. A la derecha una pequeña fuente dedicada al escritor Washington Irving.
rinconesdegranada.com/puerta-de-la-justicia
The Gate of Justice, Bab al-Sharia, is one of the four gates that lead into the palace complex of the Alhambra and is part of the Tower of Justice. It was commissioned by King Yusuf I and completed in 1348.
Next to the Justice Gate, and to the left of it, is a circular artillery bastion, behind which is the Pillar of Charles V. On the right is a small fountain dedicated to the writer Washington Irving.
The extensive Montaza Palace grounds first had the Salamlek Palace, built in 1892 by Khedive Abbas II, the last Muhammad Ali Dynasty ruler to hold the Khedive title over the Khedivate of Egypt and Sudan. It was used as a hunting lodge and residence for his companion.
The larger Al-Haramlik Palace and royal gardens were added to the Montaza Palace grounds, being built by King Fuad I in 1932, as a summer palace. It is in a mixture of Ottoman and Florentine styles, with two towers. One of these towers rises distinctively high above with elaborated Italian Renaissance design details. The palace has long open arcades facing the sea along each floor.
Kom El Deka is a neighborhood in Alexandria, Egypt.
Archaeological Site in Alexandria, Kom Al Dikka was a well-off residential area in Graeco-Roman times, with villas, bathhouses and a theatre. The area was known at the time as the Park of Pan, a pleasure garden where citizens of Alexandria could indulge in various lazy pursuits. The ruins include the 13 white-marble terraces of the only Roman amphitheatre found in Egypt. It contains a historical theater that dates back to the Roman era.
Model: Cris
Una volta Nana le aveva detto che ogni fiocco di neve era il sospiro di una donna infelice da qualche parte del mondo. Che tutti i sospiri che si elevano al cielo, si raccoglievano a formare le nubi e poi si spezzavano in minuti frantumi, cadendo silenziosamente sulla gente. “A ricordo di come soffrono le donne come noi" aveva detto. "Di come sopportiamo in silenzio tutto ciò che ci cade addosso”.
“Mille splendidi soli” - Khaled Hosseini
All rights reserved ©
Welcome to Helnan Palestine Hotel at Montaza Park, in Alexandria, Egypt.
The civic & social center of Alexandria, known for its commitment to excellence in service & hospitality, Helnan Palestine hotel is a five star deluxe hotel, situated in a unique location and embracing the Mediterranean and providing harmonious scenery.
The vast magnificent gifts of nature, 350 acres of gardens and golden sandy beaches surround its bay.
The hotel faces one of the most famous historical landmarks in Alexandria, "Montaza Royal Palace" which was once the site where the late Egyptian royal family vacationed.
this series "dtv" is shot entirely from the tv set. a few are cropped
from PBS NewsHour about the Muslim Faith. it is not meant to be political. it was a segment about groups that help people caught up in the extremism of the religion
language changes every 12 miles so it makes sense that religions all over the world are so different. i am hardly one to judge. this program was about extreme sharia law and how it is practiced and it was very "extreme" in some places.
Al-Azhar Mosque, known in Egypt simply as al-Azhar, is a mosque in the historic Islamic core of the city of Cairo, Egypt. Commissioned as the new capital of the Fatimid Caliphate in 970 CE, it was the first mosque established in a city that eventually earned the nickname "the City of a Thousand Minarets".[b] Its name is usually thought to derive from az-Zahrāʾ (lit. 'the shining one'), a title given to Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad.
After its dedication in 972, and with the hiring by mosque authorities of 35 scholars in 989, the mosque slowly developed into what it is today.
The affiliated Al-Azhar University is the second oldest continuously run one in the world after Al-Qarawiyyin in Idrisid Fes. It has long been regarded as the foremost institution in the Islamic world for the study of Sunni theology and sharia, or Islamic law. In 1961, the university, integrated within the mosque as part of a mosque school since its inception, was nationalized and officially designated an independent university, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, following the Egyptian Revolution of 1952.
Over the course of its over a millennium-long history, the mosque has been alternately neglected and highly regarded. Because it was founded as a Shiite Ismaili institution, Saladin and the Sunni Ayyubid dynasty that he founded shunned al-Azhar, removing its status as a congregational mosque and denying stipends to students and teachers at its school. These moves were reversed under the Mamluk Sultanate, under whose rule numerous expansions and renovations took place. Later rulers of Egypt showed differing degrees of deference to the mosque and provided widely varying levels of financial assistance, both to the school and to the upkeep of the mosque. Today, al-Azhar remains a deeply influential institution in Egyptian society that is highly revered in the Sunni Muslim world and a symbol of Islamic Egypt.
Aswan Souk is a colorful bazaar that offers Egyptian and African goods, Locally known as Sharia as-Souq,
it is the cheapest place to buy souvenirs in Aswan.
Located about four blocks from the Nile and running about 7 blocks in parallel to the river, the bazaar has plenty of Egyptian and African goods.
Der Hauptmarkt von Assuan, der Souk, erstreckt sich drei Querstraßen vom Nil entfernt parallel zum Fluss in der Sharia as-Souq. Das Angebot in der etwa 700 Meter langen Marktstraße reicht von nubischen Handwerksarbeiten über Parfüms, Duftöle, Lampen, Bekleidung, Tüchern aus Leinen und Seide bis zu Gewürzen und Früchten.
Al-Azhar Mosque, known in Egypt simply as al-Azhar, is a mosque in the historic Islamic core of the city of Cairo, Egypt. Commissioned as the new capital of the Fatimid Caliphate in 970 CE, it was the first mosque established in a city that eventually earned the nickname "the City of a Thousand Minarets".[b] Its name is usually thought to derive from az-Zahrāʾ (lit. 'the shining one'), a title given to Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad.
After its dedication in 972, and with the hiring by mosque authorities of 35 scholars in 989, the mosque slowly developed into what it is today.
The affiliated Al-Azhar University is the second oldest continuously run one in the world after Al-Qarawiyyin in Idrisid Fes. It has long been regarded as the foremost institution in the Islamic world for the study of Sunni theology and sharia, or Islamic law. In 1961, the university, integrated within the mosque as part of a mosque school since its inception, was nationalized and officially designated an independent university, Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, following the Egyptian Revolution of 1952.
Over the course of its over a millennium-long history, the mosque has been alternately neglected and highly regarded. Because it was founded as a Shiite Ismaili institution, Saladin and the Sunni Ayyubid dynasty that he founded shunned al-Azhar, removing its status as a congregational mosque and denying stipends to students and teachers at its school. These moves were reversed under the Mamluk Sultanate, under whose rule numerous expansions and renovations took place. Later rulers of Egypt showed differing degrees of deference to the mosque and provided widely varying levels of financial assistance, both to the school and to the upkeep of the mosque. Today, al-Azhar remains a deeply influential institution in Egyptian society that is highly revered in the Sunni Muslim world and a symbol of Islamic Egypt.
The mosque-cathedral's hypostyle hall dates from the original mosque construction and originally served as its main prayer space for Muslims. The main hall of the mosque was used for a variety of purposes. It served as a central prayer hall for personal devotion, for the five daily Muslim prayers and the special Friday prayers accompanied by a sermon. It also would have served as a hall for teaching and for Sharia law cases during the rule of Abd al-Rahman I and his successors.
The hall was large and flat, with timber ceilings held up by rows of double-tiered arches (arcades) resting on columns. These rows of arches divided the original building into 11 aisles or "naves" running from north to south, later increased to 19 by Al-Mansur's expansion, while in turn forming perpendicular aisles running east–west between the columns. The approximately 850 columns were made of jasper, onyx, marble, granite and porphyry. In the original mosque, all of the columns and capitals were reused from earlier Roman and Visigothic buildings, but subsequent expansions (starting with Abd al-Rahman II) saw the incorporation of new Moorish-made capitals that evolved from earlier Roman models. The nave that leads to the mihrab – which was originally the central nave of the mosque until Al-Mansur's lateral expansion of the building altered its symmetry – is slightly wider than the other naves, demonstrating a subtle hierarchy in the mosque's floor plan. The double-tiered arches were an innovation that permitted higher ceilings than would otherwise be possible with relatively low columns. They consist of a lower tier of horseshoe arches and an upper tier of semi-circular arches. The voussoirs of the arches alternate between red brick and white stone. Colour alternations like this were common in Umayyad architecture in the Levant and in pre-Islamic architecture on the Iberian Peninsula. According to Anwar G. Chejne, the arches were inspired by those in the Dome of the Rock. Horseshoe arches were known in the Iberian Peninsula in the Visigothic period (e.g. the 7th-century Church of San Juan de Baños), and to a lesser extent in Byzantine and Umayyad regions of the Middle East; however, the traditional "Moorish" arch developed into its own distinctive and slightly more sophisticated version.
The mosque's architectural system of repeating double-tiered arches, with otherwise little surface decoration, is considered one of its most innovative characteristics and has been the subject of much commentary. The hypostyle hall has been variously described as resembling a "forest of columns" and having an effect similar to a "hall of mirrors". Scholar Jerrilynn Dodds has further summarized the visual effect of the hypostyle hall with the following.
Interest in the mosque's interior is created, then, not by the application of a skin of decoration to a separately conceived building but by the transformation of the morphemes of the architecture itself: the arches and voussoirs. Because we share the belief that architectural components must by definition behave logically, their conversion into agents of chaos fuels a basic subversion of our expectations concerning the nature of architecture. The tensions that grow from these subverted expectations create an intellectual dialogue between building and viewer that will characterize the evolving design of the Great Mosque of Cordoba for over two hundred years.
Reconstructed mosque ceiling, as seen in the southwestern part of the building today
The mosque's original flat wooden ceiling was made of wooden planks and beams with carved and painted decoration. Preserved fragments of the original ceiling – some of which are now on display in the Courtyard of the Oranges – were discovered in the 19th century and have allowed modern restorers to reconstruct the ceilings of some of the western sections of the mosque according to their original style. The eastern naves of the hall (in al-Mansur's expansion), by contrast, are now covered by high Gothic vaults which were added in the 16th century by Hernan Ruiz I. On the exterior, the building has gabled roofs covered in tiles.
Cairo, Egypt. February 8th 2009
Beautiful Arabesque architecture along Sharia Al Muizzl Li Din Allah, Near the famous Khan el khalili Bazaar, Cairo, Egypt.
A long overdue Child Sexual Abuse Act was passed recently in the Maldives. It contains sentences of up to 25 years for those convicted.
But under Article 14, if an adult is "legally married" to a child under Islamic Sharia, the offences specified in the Act will not be considered a crime.
[ see my comment below ]
Aswan Souk is a colorful bazaar that offers Egyptian and African goods, Locally known as Sharia as-Souq,
it is the cheapest place to buy souvenirs in Aswan.
Located about four blocks from the Nile and running about 7 blocks in parallel to the river, the bazaar has plenty of Egyptian and African goods.
Der Hauptmarkt von Assuan, der Souk, erstreckt sich drei Querstraßen vom Nil entfernt parallel zum Fluss in der Sharia as-Souq. Das Angebot in der etwa 700 Meter langen Marktstraße reicht von nubischen Handwerksarbeiten über Parfüms, Duftöle, Lampen, Bekleidung, Tüchern aus Leinen und Seide bis zu Gewürzen und Früchten.
Pakistani marriage is usually a very colorful and costly event. It takes several days to conclude nuptials completely. While Nikah and Walima are the only Islamic Sharia requirements; mehndi, mayon, barat along with many other cultural traditions are practiced widely. One of the many ill practices followed, dowry takes its toll the most. More often than not, it is an unimaginable burden borne by the women’s side. A social awareness against this hideous ‘crime’ is getting its roots which seems to be a positive change.
Welcome, travelers! Let's journey to the Kom al-Dikka Complex, where history whispers from weathered stones. Here, nestled among ancient ruins, stands the Roman Amphitheater of Alexandria, a testament to the city's vibrant past.
Imagine yourself transported to 2nd century AD. You'd be among the throngs cheering gladiatorial combats, awed by theatrical performances, or buzzing with anticipation at public assemblies. This wasn't just entertainment; it was the beating heart of Roman Alexandria, a place where citizens gathered, stories unfolded, and empires echoed.
Today, the amphitheater may whisper instead of roar, but its magic remains. Walk through the elliptical arena, picturing the sand beneath your feet and the roar of the crowd. Explore the orchestra, where musicians once captivated audiences, and marvel at the intricate mosaics that still adorn the floor.
Intrigued by history? Climb the limestone tiers, each one a layer of time, and imagine the cheers that once surged through the air. Wonder how emperors addressed their people, where gladiators awaited their fate, and how this stage witnessed Alexandria's triumphs and struggles.
Seek unique beauty? Wander through the amphitheater's embrace, bathed in the golden light of the Mediterranean sun. Admire the weathered columns, each a silent storyteller, and let the whispers of the past transport you to another era.
The Roman Amphitheater isn't just a ruin; it's a portal. It's a window into Alexandria's glorious past, a reminder of a city that pulsed with life and passion. So come, explore, and let history come alive beneath your feet.
Beyond the Amphitheater:
Don't miss the Villa of the Birds, a stunning Roman home adorned with exquisite mosaics.
Visit the Kom al-Dikka Museum to delve deeper into the archaeological treasures unearthed here.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of modern Alexandria, a city that blends ancient echoes with contemporary charm.
Ready for your Roman adventure? The Alexandria Amphitheater awaits!
The community board meeting took place in order to discuss the proposed mosque to be built next to ground zero. While the project is usually referred to as the “mosque at ground zero”, the project’s official name is the Cordoba Initiative. The Imam and the developers were in attendance to present the project, and many politicians (or rather their representatives) were on hand, along with many of those in favor or opposed.
First spoke the elected officials, who—in the typical New York political elitist fashion— slandered and insulted their opposition. Councilwoman Margaret Chin spoke before a single opponent of the mosque ever came up to the microphone to state their position, but that didn’t stop her from accusing those against it of “bigotry”.
And while Margaret Chin chose to offend the opposition to the mosque (most of whom present were families of 9-11 victims and first responders) in person, other local figures sent their cronies. A representative of Scott Stringer, President of the Borough of Manhattan, handed out a letter to everyone prior to the meeting in which he refers to the mosque as a “multi-faith community and cultural center” and claims that this “center has been the subject of bigoted attacks that contain a strain of religious and racial hatred more extreme than anything we have seen in NYC for some time.” I guess an attempt to kill hundreds of New Yorkers and tourists at Times Square by an Islamist Faisal Shahzad less than a month prior was not extreme enough for Stringer and, instead of jihadism, Stringer seems to have identified the enemy as a TEA Party leader whom he rips apart throughout this unsolicited letter. While the TEA Party’s opposition is referred to as a “bigoted agenda”, the mosque itself is referred to as a “vibrant and world-class facility in NYC which will promote tolerance and pluralism”. Of course he fails to provide any example of mosques in NYC or in the world that have EVER promoted tolerance or pluralism, but perhaps he didn’t think that any attendee would dare question his superior judgment in the matter. Please be sure to read his disgusting letter
After the political cronies spoke, Feisal Abdul Rauf', the Imam in charge of this “community center” was given time to present his proposal. He started his speech with “for many years I’ve had a dream…” (I wonder what Dr. King would have thought of a ‘grand wizard’ proposing to build a “community center” at the site of the bombed 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama). The Imam also claimed that this “community center” would promote multi-culturalism; he was so sure of it that his speech was sprinkled throughout with that deceiving phrase. But his presentation brought with it an unexpected turning point. Not because of anything he planned to share with us in his carefully prepared PC jargoned speech, but because of a question by one of the board members who wanted to know if the proposed “community center” would hold prayer. The Imam said “yes”, to which the board member replied, “then it is a house of worship, not a community center”.
Without any objection to that by the Imam or speakers that followed, the term “community center” began to very gradually disappear. But don’t think that anyone’s opinion actually changed as a result. The supporters of the project “formerly” known as a “community center” still believed that it was somehow related to diversity and that it would in no way be an insult to those who died due to Islamist ideology, nor would it serve as a monument of jihadist victory.
But neither the councilwoman nor the Imam were the most offensive or distasteful of the proponents of the mosque. Daisy Khan of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, who also happens to be Imam’s wife, blew their insults and lies out of the water. (I don’t recall her being introduced as Rauf’s wife at the meeting, but I can’t be sure.) She lectured and she yelled – yes, yelled – at the families of victims, the first responders, and her fellow New Yorkers. She yelled that she is “tired of bearing the cross [and will do so] no longer” because apparently she and the Muslim community were the real victims of the 9-11 attacks—not the families who lost their loved ones, not the cities that lost their monuments, and not the country that lost its feeling of security.
Without a single mosque destroyed and with very few anti-Muslim incidents, hearing from this woman about her supposed victimization in that auditorium was absolutely sickening. It didn’t help when for weeks after (and prior) she dominated the time on television appearing calm and together and claiming among other nonsense – I kid you not – that the reason they chose the ground zero site to build a mosque is to provide a “blow to the extremists”. I’m sure radical Muslims would just hate it if New York built a mosque on the ground where American buildings were destroyed and thousands of Americans were murdered by jihadists … right? READ HER RIDICULOUS QUOTE AGAIN. Now listen to it for yourself from the horse’s mouth because I wouldn’t have believed it either. (starts at 1:10) www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7WbTv_gsx4&playnext_from=TL&...
Other supporters of the mosque included two priests and a rabbi (no, it isn’t a start to a joke – although I wish it was) of the leftist “co-exist” variety all of whom supported the mosque. And while there were some clergy present that (judging by applause and reactions) opposed the mosque, they did not come up to the microphone. The supporting clergy seemed to have gone to the same rhetoric school as the Imam, using terms like “multi-culturalism”, “tolerance”, “community relations and understanding”, and other jargon that had no actual relevance to the topic.
There was also a Caucasian woman with a baby who introduced herself as someone who had converted to Islam … in 2006, if I’m not mistaken. She lied about how difficult it is to find information and resources on Islam in NY. I say she lied not only because there are hundreds of mosques in the 5 boroughs, but also because as a recent convert she is a prime example of someone who was able to find and act on this information. Of course, she didn’t specify why ground zero is a better location than any other for this apparently “valuable to the city” information about the religion all 911 hijackers belonged to.
Now that I have gone on and on about the supporters of the mosque (aka “community center”) and the temple’s money changers, let me talk about the opponents of a mosque being build at ground zero ... Not a single one of them opposed a mosque being built; the prevailing request was simply “build it somewhere else”.
First opponent to speak was the celebrated publisher, editor, and columnist Pamela Geller. She was the one to point out what Cordoba means to the Muslim world. Cordoba is a city in Spain that was the first major city to fall to Muslim conquerors and become an Islamic caliphate and a symbol of Islamic conquest of the West. She also called the mosque “a shrine to the very ideology that inspired 9-11”. Sure seems a lot more plausible than Daisy’s explanation for why the mosque has to overlook ground zero.
A gentleman who lost his brother in WTC and represents the largest ‘families of victims of 9-11’ groups introduced some of those present who lost loved ones at ground zero. He protested the lectures and the labels that were bestowed on these families for their “legitimate, legal opposition to this Muslim ‘multi-cultural center’”. He pointed out that while there is proposed building of this mosque at ground zero, the committees have refused to allow monuments to the tragedy of 9-11, including the WTC sphere which was heavily damaged during the terrorist attack and has become an iconic symbol of the tragedy. At this time the sphere is temporarily housed at Battery Park. “If we should honor multi-culturalism and diversity at ground zero, we should honor and remember victims of 9-11,” he concluded.
Tim Brown, a former NYC firefighter who lost dozens of his friends and colleagues, fellow first responders, to the jihadist terrorist attack, has been a tireless voice for memories of victims and their loved ones. He questioned where the money for the mosque was coming from. He had received “5 different answers on 5 different occasions from them”, which included my favorite “we don’t have to tell you, talk to our lawyers”, as well as “three different organizations, but [the Imam] refused to name them” and “from American taxpayers”. Mr. Brown also pointed out that Cordoba Initiative has been very deceiving in other ways, such as removing the word “mosque” from their web site despite the fact that they explicitly wrote initially that there will be a mosque at the top of the building (overlooking ground zero).
Questions were also raised about the Imam Rauf, his public statements, and his pro-Sharia stance as described in his publications and interviews. His travels to countries that openly support terrorism and forced Islamization of the West were also questioned and may indicate where funding from the mosque could be coming from.
Follow up note: Listening to the Imam Rauf speak to various news organizations in the days following the meeting, he offered even more non-specific answers to where the money comes from, such as it comes from people who “want to see peace between Muslims and non-Muslims”. Again, nice politically savvy keywords… but no actual answer to a rather direct question he obviously knows the answer to. Trying to hide something, Faisal Abdul?
One of the many victim’s families present was a woman with a photo of her son who was murdered by the Islamic terrorists. She didn’t yell like Daisy, the Imam’s wife, and she did not dish out insults like Congresswoman Chin. Her voice trembled as she mentioned her son’s name and held his photo towards the committee, “this is my son”, she said, “this is firefighter George Kane.” She held back tears as she spoke. She said that “the location [of the mosque] is insensitive to families. It is also insensitive to the voiceless victims the possibility that anyone who supports Islamic extremism could walk on graves of the victims … [it is] an outrage.”
Another woman spoke with a similar shaking voice about her 23-year-old son who “was murdered on September 11th”. She also wasn’t a bigot, but wanted to know “why are you suggesting that it be two blocks from ground zero?”
Mrs. Kane and the others who spoke through tears and with photos of their murdered children in their trembling hands, made me think of what they were being asked to do. Nine years later, they were being asked to “move on” or “heal”, as mosque supporters were suggesting. I can’t even begin to imagine what that ignorant request could do to an eternally grieving mother.
A sweet elderly couple’s last conversation with their son was via cell phone while he was on a hijacked plane… just before he was murdered. They mentioned that there were 20 mosques that located around the area where they lived, and that they would be ok with another one being built close to them, but they also asked for “understanding and sensitivity” when it comes to building one near ground zero.
Yet from the comments of NYC politicians and supporters of the mosque, we know that understanding and sensitivity will not be shown to the victims’ families nor reflect the wishes of voting New Yorkers. They will instead be shown to others who are apparently deemed more – not even equally but more – crucial to the future of NYC and the memories of those who perished in the terrorist attacks.
Here are a few youtube links on regarding this meeting:
Pamela Geller's full 2 minute speech from the meeting
a firefighter and first responder Tim Brown speaks A MUST SEE
The perfect lunch stop to scoff fuul (fava bean paste) and falafel. Mohammed Ahmed is the undisputed king of spectacularly good and cheap Egyptian standards. Select your fuul (we recommend iskandarani, mashed up with lots of lime juice and spices), add some falafel, choose a few accompanying salads and let the feasting begin.
There's an English menu to aid your selection. The tahini, banga (beetroot) and torshi (bright-pink pickled vegetables) are all good choices to add to your meal. Note that the street sign on the corner of Saad Zaghloul calls this Sharia Abdel Fattah El Hadary.
My last decent lunch in Alexandria, in Egypt and with the company of my wonderful private guide, in this aventure, Mr Muhammad Saeed Gomaa.
Thank YOU for the lesson, meu professor de egiptologia e islamismo.
The audience section has a diameter of about 33 meters and consists of 13 rows made of European white marble with the uppermost part being a portico made out of granite columns that were brought from Aswan and some of them are still standing until today. The thirteen rows of the Roman Amphitheatre of Alexandria were numbered with Roman digits and letters to regulate the seating of the audience on different occasions.
If I knew where I was going to...
The Northern Cemetery is the more interesting half of a vast necropolis known popularly as the City of the Dead. The titillating name refers to the fact that the cemeteries are not only resting places for Cairo's dead, but for the living too. Visitors expecting morbid squalor may be disappointed; the area, complete with power lines, a post office and multistorey buildings, is more 'town' than 'shanty'.
Some estimates put the number of living Cairenes here at 50,000; others, at 10 times this number. As Max Rodenbeck notes in Cairo: The City Victorious, some of the tomb dwellers, especially the paid guardians and their families, have lived here for generations. Others have moved in more recently, trying to make their way back to the centre from bleak low-income suburbs. On Fridays and public holidays visitors flock here to picnic and pay their respects to the dead – this is undoubtedly the best time to come. At all times, remember you're in a private, residential space, and a very low-income one; dress modestly and don't flaunt costly jewellery or gadgets.
The cemetery first appealed to Mamluk sultans and emirs because it afforded the sort of building space that was unavailable inside the densely packed city. The vast mausoleums they built were more than just tombs; they were also meant as places for entertaining – a continuation of the Pharaonic tradition of people picnicking among the graves. Even the humblest family tombs included a room for overnight visitors. The dead hoped they would be remembered; the city's homeless thanked them for free accommodation. This coexistence of the living and the dead was happening as far back as the 14th century; in some tomb-houses, cenotaphs serve as tables and washing is strung between headstones.
The easiest way to the Northern Cemetery is heading east from Midan Al Hussein along Sharia Al Azhar. As you breast the top of the hill, bear right, walk below the overpass and go straight along the road between the tombs. Follow this road to the left, then right. You'll pass by the crumbling, domed Tomb of Emir Tashtimur on your left. About 150m further on, a narrow lane goes left, passing under a stone archway. This is the gate to the former compound of Qaitbey, whose splendid mosque is immediately ahead.
La Puerta de la Justicia, Bab al-Sharia, es una de las cuatro puertas que dan entrada al recinto palaciego de la Alhambra, e integrada en la Torre de la Justicia. Mandada a construir por orden del rey Yusuf I, finalizando su edificación en 1348.
Junto a la Puerta de la Justicia, y a su izquierda se encuentra un baluarte circular de artillería, tras el cual se haya el Pilar de Carlos V. A la derecha una pequeña fuente dedicada al escritor Washington Irving.
rinconesdegranada.com/puerta-de-la-justicia
The Gate of Justice, Bab al-Sharia, is one of the four gates that lead into the palace complex of the Alhambra and is part of the Tower of Justice. It was commissioned by King Yusuf I and completed in 1348.
Next to the Justice Gate, and to the left of it, is a circular artillery bastion, behind which is the Pillar of Charles V. On the right is a small fountain dedicated to the writer Washington Irving.
Der Hauptmarkt von Assuan, der Souk, erstreckt sich drei Querstraßen vom Nil entfernt parallel zum Fluss in der Sharia as-Souq. Das Angebot in der etwa 700 Meter langen Marktstraße reicht von nubischen Handwerksarbeiten über Parfüms, Duftöle, Lampen, Bekleidung, Tüchern aus Leinen und Seide bis zu Gewürzen und Früchten. Die Preise sind aufgrund weiterer Lieferwege allgemein etwas teurer als in den nördlichen Landesteilen Ägyptens. Wikipedia
Der Hauptmarkt von Assuan, der Souk, erstreckt sich drei Querstraßen vom Nil entfernt parallel zum Fluss in der Sharia as-Souq. Das Angebot in der etwa 700 Meter langen Marktstraße reicht von nubischen Handwerksarbeiten über Parfüms, Duftöle, Lampen, Bekleidung, Tüchern aus Leinen und Seide bis zu Gewürzen und Früchten. Die Preise sind aufgrund weiterer Lieferwege allgemein etwas teurer als in den nördlichen Landesteilen Ägyptens. Wikipedia
Aswan Souk is a colorful bazaar that offers Egyptian and African goods, Locally known as Sharia as-Souq,
it is the cheapest place to buy souvenirs in Aswan.
Located about four blocks from the Nile and running about 7 blocks in parallel to the river, the bazaar has plenty of Egyptian and African goods.
Der Hauptmarkt von Assuan, der Souk, erstreckt sich drei Querstraßen vom Nil entfernt parallel zum Fluss in der Sharia as-Souq. Das Angebot in der etwa 700 Meter langen Marktstraße reicht von nubischen Handwerksarbeiten über Parfüms, Duftöle, Lampen, Bekleidung, Tüchern aus Leinen und Seide bis zu Gewürzen und Früchten.