A fascinating read indeed on a 7 hour flight. The topics touched on were so relevant to today's Somalis in Britain and the wider muslim population thereof that i would recommen everyone to read. Thought provoking when one thinks of his own circumstances and similarities to other Somalis during those initial days of settling in the UK. The situation back home at the time, the misrepresentation of muslims in the media today, the platforms given to those who preach hate against muslims, the conflict in Iraq, a great read it was. ps i'm not much of a book reviewer,,,,

This as well as Gaza has been an opportunity that has presented its self to the Isrealis. The kidnapped soldiers have been used as an exuse to weaken both Philastiin and Lubnaan. By bombing roads, bridges and electricity stations, this will have a lingering effect on the those areas and it is seen by the Isrealis as weakening the enemy. We have seen people like Bush and the US prostitute Koffi Annan condemning the kidnappings but we have not heard anything with regard to the killing of innocents (14 died in Gaza the other day) nor for the total disregard for the infrastrutures of two countries damaged by Isreali bombs from any Muslim leaders! With the exception of Iran no one has uttered a word! Very sad indeed.

Would have been better to see him lift the World Cup,,,,,,,then do a flying headbutt on Materazzi!

^^I know your an Arsenal fan but dont you think going to players weddings is a little too far? You will be stalking Henry next :rolleyes:

Dabshid and The Rendevous, thanks. I know a few families who have recently moved to Dubai/Sharjah (over the last 2 years or so) and i know there are many more from the West and Aus. It will be interesting settling in and Sharjah is the place for me rather than Dubai. Dubai will be for shopping/eating and driving like crazy but Sharjah shall be 'home'. There are alot industrial areas to the west of the city, look like north Sharjah will do with planty of green spaces, the creek and the beach. Just got back to Oman, time to cancel visas and pack!

ME asks: Haven’t we always been a part of the ummah and are you suggesting that we shouldn’t care and that we should jeopardize the security of two of Islam’s holiest places? Since when did supporters of the TFG and its warlords become so concerned with the rest of the ummah? Kill fellow Somalis, be against the latest developments in the south (where some semblance of peace is being formed) but lets protect the other muslims seams to be the tune your hopping to, just does'nt make sense mate. Hypocracy? If you wish to be taken seriously, produce authentic material in order for a dicussion to take place otherwise it will just be another,,,,erm,,well,,,,,whatever. The only interesting thing that has come out of this is the folowing question. Can one be considered part of the ummah when he openly supports oppression against that same ummah? ie support for the warlords?

lol, some people never give up do they? Talk of an obsession :rolleyes: Since when did we become concerned with muslims and the ummah? Since the up-rooting of the warlords?

The Rendevous, i need a quiet area on the west side of Sharjah preferably with no westerners and good road links. Any ideas?

Today i'm wearing my 1998 Zizou shirt! :cool:

Who is Ludacris? A young northerner met Nas, Jay Z, Busta Rymes, EPMD, Jeru But that was a long time ago

I applaud Zidane, a great man and will always get a great amount of respect. I would have have done the same if not worse and i'm sure even LST would given Materazzi a swift right hook if he was called a 'terrorista' :mad: Take that pasta boy,,,,,,,,,,,, It wasnt seen by any of the official and it is thought the fourth official saw a replay then told the linesman who told the ref :confused: Sent-off Zidane named best player Zinedine Zidane won the Golden Ball award for the World Cup's best player, despite being dismissed for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the final. What a player, he still get the best player award after his rock and roll exit Viva Zizou!

All this week news media have been building up to this day with some well timed revelations by the govnt. HAve your say on the BBC regarding todays video release

^^They often do but you know when just have that feeling Zidane's swansong will be spoiled? Look at the Italian team, they have some truly world class players and they have a point to prove and revenge for Euro 2000.

Somalia soccer shooting arrests The Islamists made rapid advances last month The Somali gunmen who shot dead two people watching a World Cup match have been arrested and will face Islamic justice, an Islamist leader has said. Hardliner Sheikh Dahir Aweys says the killing of a cinema owner and a young girl was an accident. The gunmen could face the death penalty. The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) controls much of southern Somalia. The World Cup broadcast ban is not official UIC policy, but some courts do not allow matches to be shown. Somalia has had no effective central government since 1991. Meanwhile, video evidence has emerged that apparently shows foreign Islamist fighters helping the UIC in its fight for control of the capital, Mogadishu and Jowhar last month. The [training] camp exists... but there are no foreigners Sheikh Sharif Ahmed The new rulers of Mogadishu have denied the persistent allegations by members of the interim government that it is in league with foreign militia. For the first time since last month's fighting, a delegation of diplomats have been in Mogadishu to try to persuade the UIC leaders to agree to the deployment of an African peacekeeping force. But the Islamists still fiercely oppose the move, requested by interim President Abdullahi Yusuf. His government is confined to the town of Baidoa and is unable to relocate to Mogadishu, now under the courts' control. The diplomats are from the Arab League, African Union and the East African regional organisation, Igad, which last month said it intended to send a peacekeeping force of Ugandan and Sudanese troops. However, a Ugandan army spokesman has said no troops would be deployed until it is safe to do so. 'Stones thrown' Mr Aweys confirmed that the gunmen from a militia loyal to the UIC had arrived to close down the cinema in the town of Dhuusa Marreeb in central Galgadud district, where a crowd had gathered to watch the Germany-Italy World Cup semi-final on Tuesday. Some of the football fans began to protest and the gunmen fired in the air in an attempt to disperse them. After this the angry crowd began to throw stones at the militia, who then fired at the demonstrators. Mr Aweys told the radio station HornAfrik that he had been talking to elders in the area - his home region - and it was agreed that those responsible for killing the football fans would be dealt with by Sharia. The Islamic courts have introduced Sharia in areas under their authority. In some places, this has included a ban on cinemas and on broadcasts of World Cup games because they have carried advertisements for alcohol. Last week, another UIC leader, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, denied that a World Cup ban was official policy. Mr Aweys, who denies US accusations that he has links to al-Qaeda, has called on the interim government to impose Sharia law. But Mr Ahmed has offered assurances that the UIC does not want a Taleban-style state. Training camp Over the weekend, the UIC leadership distanced itself from remarks by Osama bin Laden in the al-Qaeda's leader's most recent audio tape praising efforts to create an Islamic state in Somalia. Facts and figures about life in Somalia At-a-glance Now a promotional Islamist video in Arabic depicts what appears to be foreign fighters supporting the Islamic courts in fighting last month. The video, a copy of which has been acquired by the Associated Press news agency, is done with a hand-held camera in the same style as similar films showing fighting in Iraq from the perspective of the insurgents. It shows fighting in Somalia and what appears to be armed Arabs training at a camp in Somalia. But Mr Ahmed has denied this: "This is related to misconceptions and bad information... To tell you the truth that camp, it exists as a camp - but there are no foreigners." Somalis, weary after 15 years without an effective national government, are worried about a possible new conflict between Islamist and secular forces in their country, possibly backed by Ethiopia and the US, concerned about the spread of radical Islam.

Its going to be the Italians. Forza Italia, sorry Zidane,,,,,

^^The westerners have taken over already thats why i'm hoping to find a place in Sharjah It should be good,,,,IA

The girl recently arrived in the UK, lived in an all white nighberhood, went to an all white school, got bullied and beaten by the white girl and her freinds the day before with the teachers looking on. The next day is when she did what she did. I dont think Somali kids get bullied in schools except for the unlucky ones who are bullied for their colour/language difficulties.

^^i have gotten used to it

The new boys Dhino, Kaka and Bhino were simply outclassed by the master Zidane. Beautiful to watch.

Hello all Not a good first game yesterday but i have been lucky enough to expect it and i have also missed all the hype leading up to the world cup. England had their chances but didnt score and who would have though Stevie G would have missed a pen??? :eek: Alles le blue all the way and today i'm wearing that blue Zidane shirt again

I shall be enjoying the 'plastic city' soon as i will be moving there in August IA

^^Ditto

lol@Valenteenah, France WILL beat Brazil and they will beat then convincingly! Germany will be outplayed by the Argies England will win 2-0 vs Portugal with goals from Rooney and Lampard Italia will beat Ukraine

Note the following case where ‘brutality’ against the convict was not needed. There was recently a case here in the UK which went something along these lines A man was convicted 3 years ago of pedophelia against a 6 years old girl and he received a 7 year sentence. After serving half he was released on good behaviour and moved back to his old neighborhood. Here he met up with a woman he knew and she invited him to her house were he enjoyed a meal with her and her young kids. He boasted of his previous conviction before she went into another room and called the police. Before she could blink he kidnapped her 3 yr old daughter. He kept her in a flat and sexually abused her for days on end with other men of his kind looking on. After a massive hunt and a car chase when the young girl was thrown out of the car, the police finally caught him and guess what? He in jail again. This was made possible by the man made laws of the countries we reside in today and maybe this is what certain people in here would like. Nagaar says: whats not modern is not is Islam or its laws but his medieval mentality is. Stoning people to death, cutting limbs of children with kichen knifes, cutting the hair of old man, teens beatings their elders for exposing their legs, stoping woman from working or educating themselfs, dictating what people were, beating or arresting of people who do not fast, Let me try to briefly work through this,,,, Stoning to death – certain crimes after clear evidence is obtained (see Quran and Sunnah) Cutting off limbs of children – thieves of over a certain age who ‘know’ of the punishment wa allahu aclam Cutting the hair of old men – not sure about this as I have never heard of it, please give more details Teens beating elders – ditto as above Stopping women from working – not sure where you got this from but if you read a little then you will realise that’s infact a load of nonsense. Do not confuse the culture of certain countries with Islam. Dictating what people wear – and what should the people wear? That which is described in the Quran and Sunnah? You may have an argument here of how much a govnt should encourage/force it but thats another debate. Beating or arresting people who do not fast – if you are healthy then you have no excuse. I havnt seen or heard of people being beaten for not fasting. Please do not confuse the cr*p you read in the west with 'real' Islam. Please also note that 'real' Islam is not being practiced in many countries who are reffered to as 'Islamic' states.

Zizoou is in the dog-house as his wife is Spanish I saw France for the first time last night and thought they played well enough to win the game. Zizzou scored a nice goal! wears his Zidane shirt :cool: