News Kashmir Magazine

Pragmatic solutions for the economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic By Sheetal LalotraThe COVID-19 Pandemic has resulted in the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The world economy has been rendered crippled due to unprecedented recession within two years of the COVID-19 outbreak. The measures to slow down the soaring infection rates by governments and public health experts like restrictions on interpersonal contact (i.e., social distancing), wearing masks in public places, directing for sanitation, hygiene, isolation of infected patients, etc. resulted in the implementation of extended lockdowns by the governments which led to stagnation in consumer activities, a huge fall in tourism, hospitality, business, and stock markets collapsed resulting in a global financial crisis that resulted in many people losing their jobs or being furloughed briefly spiking poverty in many developing nations. The recovery from this crisis is deeply multidimensional involves public health, environmental, and economic measures. The COVID-19 pandemic has created numerous financial challenges for nations across the globe. The second wave of the current pandemic COVID-19 had devastating consequences for developing countries, especially India, as we failed to set up robust health infrastructure and arrange adequate relief packages to our people and industry. The first world countries like Germany and Italy have earmarked more than 25% of GDP for post-COVID economic stabilization compared to Indias meagre 10%. The International Labour Organization estimates that around 400 million people in India are at risk of sinking deeper into poverty. With nearly 3.5% of the population being fully vaccinated in the country, Indias current growth seems bracing up from () 7.97% in FY20 to 12.55% in FY21. The informally employed workforce of India, which is nearly 90% of the population, is extremely vulnerable to economic stagnation and requires greater access to formal credits by the government and social safety nets such as insurance and pension schemes to keep the wheel of the economy moving in these difficult times.There is a dire need for central and state governments to intensify the response to this unprecedented crisis and also to gear up for the financial crisis post-COVID-19. Policymakers are making use of successful responses to previous epidemics and financial slowdowns but the COVID-19 response requires a battery of interventions to grapple with its multivariate humanitarian and economic impacts. With more than 6.2% of the world population being fully vaccinated, many economies have begun to reopen. Leaders throughout the world have realized that restoring confidence in public health safety is paramount. Here are few suggestions that policymakers can build on as short and long-term plans for a sustainable and resilient economy.Invest in sustainable infrastructure to boost human welfare and human capital: There is an urgent need to reprioritize budgeted expenditures in favour of health-related expenditures including health infrastructure as recovery depends on protecting public health. Lack of medical facilities in hospitals, paucity of oxygen cylinders during the first wave and second wave respectively, lack of UHC (Universal Health Coverage) calls for reprioritization of investments for saving human lives. 
Bolstering human capital to ease the transition to the post-pandemic economy: Policymakers need to invest in programs that ease labour dislocation, re-skilling of individuals to retain employment by tapping into help from existing institutions, connecting the newly unemployed quickly with talent-seeking industries, and build the workforce skills for the post-COVID economy.
Invest in R&D to build and expand innovation ecosystems: In order to attract innovative, supportive, and resilient ecosystems in the country, the policymakers can rejuvenate growth by investing more inR&D and innovation, encouraging public- and private-sector collaboration, challenge grants and competitions, and open networks and publicly available data and codeto attract talent to their area and promote resilient, innovation ecosystems.
Regulate enabling technologies: It is useful for policymakers to consider e-platforms as the future of education and business. Greater employment in the gig economy, e-commerce sectors, and in new exciting technologies on the horizon-robots, artificial intelligence, internet-of-things, etc. can help support future response and resilience mechanisms will emerge. Thus, supporting the development of such sectors and putting the right regulations in place to ensure data privacy and consumer protection is important.
Build a budget strategy for the ground-up approach: It is important that policymakers do away with the last year plus structured budget approach and incremental changes rather they should undertake long-term strategic goals with discrete objectives for the new post-COVID reality. The budget strategy should be to determine the operating needs of the activities and programs that contribute to it, rather than making comparisons with the previous year.
Invest in green and clean energy: The novel coronavirus has re-established the link between health, environment, and economy. Presently, it might be the biggest threat for humanity but global climate change eventuating in exposure to a variety of viruses/pathogens could have even more impact especially in the developing economies. It is critically important to expand access to clean water and clean air. These will improve life expectancy and increase economic and physical resilience. Therefore, investing in eco-friendly energy can be a field of view for inclusive long-term improvements.An economic rescue package for all: The dependency on fiscal measures to reboot the economy is all time soaring after WWII. The IMF could set short-term fiscal stimuli for developing/poor economies to overcome the financial crisis. India, for instance, to meet budgeted expenditure, the fiscal deficit may have to be increased to 9.2% due to the addition of 0.3% of GDP in stimulus rescue package worth INR 1.7 lakh crore announced under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. As things begin to normalize, there is a need to revise the existing budgetary numbers that have been rendered irrelevant by the onslaught of the global pandemic.
Support for NGOs and local units: The current pandemic has stripped municipalities’ lack of substantial financial resources in meeting the needs during the crisis. NGOs, throughout the country, played a significant role in reaching out to people to combat the deadly virus by providing food, sanitizers, face masks, ppe kits, oxygen cylinders, etc. Policymakers should frame policies pivotal for the smooth functioning of NGOs including grants of FCRA so that they are better equipped to take on future challenges. A collaborative effort by the government along with NGOs and local units is capable of strong and rapid action in the face of an overarching challenge. Such efforts can catapult the extremity caused by the pandemic into the normalcy we look forward to achieve.
Policymakers should provide generous, subsidized loans to businesses to help them survive and cut debts: The economic response needs to focus on maintaining employment for citizens, providing businesses with liquidity support to prevent bankruptcy and closure. Due to insufficient debt deferments, developing countries are facing Sophies choice as they fail to thrust upon providing relief packages and get stuck with paying back debts at high interest rates which cause an even deeper recession.
Lastly, a need for social economy business models: Promoting the social economy models can inspire innovative models of social and environmental concerns and a sense of purpose to businesses operating in the market economy in these difficult times.
Fig1: Social economy business models (Source: Internet)The COVID-19 crisis has called out for policymakers throughout the world to foster humanistic values of solidarity, cooperation, and responsibility and to re-balance, rethink how social, environmental, and economic activities are organized. The thoughtful decision taken by the policymakers today is a golden opportunity that can help provide relief to distressed people and can secure a long-term pathway to sustainable development by economic recovery and increase community resilience.Lets build back better.

               Rising suicide cases

Suhaib Ashraf Bhat

Every suicide is a tragedy. Death by suicide is an extremely complex issue that causes pain to whole family. Dear brothers and sisters, don’t forget, Trouble is inevitable in the life of this world; this is how Allah swt has decreed it and He swt has made it a place of trials and tests, and a bridge to the Hereafter. Even the best of His creation, the prophets, were never free of troubles. Life is never plain sailing for anyone, young or old. You may have reason to rejoice one day, then reason to feel sad for many other days; this is how it always is in the life of this world and this is how people are all the time.
There are certain hotspots of suicide in the world, and the common thread running through these places is poverty and dearth of job opportunities resulting from the lack of development. The lack of jobs and poverty force the poor to search of a better life. But the harsh realities of life shatter their dreams. Wait for a second; this is not only the reason, According to a one report of Lancet, suicide rates in India are highest in the 15-29 age groups of the youth population. The report says that among men, 40% suicides were by individuals aged 15-29, while for women it was almost 60%.
“Stress, anxiety disorder, depression, personality disorder all these result in mental illness that leads a youth towards suicide. This happens when the youth are not satisfied with his or her surroundings.” Relationship breakdown is another leading cause. 
After going through so many researches I found youth with good background also commit suicide, So it’s clear to say that Poverty and dearth of job is not only the reason to commit suicide especially in younger generation. A suicide is merely a mental health issue. Psychiatrists and Psychologists are available in every city to counsel people driven to suicide out of depression caused by economic or personal reasons. I have gone through many studies across the globe which authorities attribute most suicides to depression.
Suicide:  Which is increasing day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute and second by second? Thinkers are thinking; Philosophers making another philosophy out of it yet the rate of the suicide is increasing. Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind.  Life is an unending succession of moments.  At the two extremes there are joyful moments that make our hearts soar and dark moments that plunge us into sadness and worry or even despair.  Gladness and its opposite sadness are part of the human condition, however when we lose control over our emotions we can easily fall into despair.  Despair is the feeling that we get when all hope has disappeared and it is a very dangerous situation. Calamity is part of the natural order of things and hardly anyone is safe from it.
 The Messenger of Allah  swt Muhammad Salalahualihwasalam narrated from his Lord that He Said: “I am as my slave expects Me to be.
Ahmad bin ‘Umar al-Qurtubi Rahimullah said:“It is said that His Saying “I am as my slave expects Me to be” means if one expects an answer when he supplicates, his repentance to be accepted, something repugnant to be repelled from him, his deeds to be accepted that are performed with their proper conditions. And this is supported by his saying: “Call upon Allah swt while you are certain that you will be answered.” Likewise, it is incumbent upon the one who repents, seeks Forgiveness, and does good deeds to exert himself in fulfilling his obligations while he is certain that Allah swt will accept his actions and Forgive his sins, as Allah swt has promised that He will accept any truthful repentance and righteous deeds. So, whoever performs such a deed and believes and expects that Allah swt will not accept it and that it will not benefit him, this is despair from the Mercy of Allah swt, and is from greatest of the major sins. Whoever dies upon this will be delivered to that which he expected.”‘Al-Mufhim li ma Ushkil min Talkhis Kitab Muslim’ (5/267)
Suicide is a complex issue and therefore suicide prevention efforts require coordination and collaboration among multiple sectors of society, including the health sector and other sectors such as education, labour, agriculture, business, justice, law, defence, politics, and the media. These efforts must be comprehensive and integrated as no single approach alone can make an impact on an issue as complex as suicide.

 “And whoever oppresses (commits injustice) among you, We will make him taste a great punishment.” (Quran 25:19)
Prophet Muhammad Salalahualihiwasalam said: “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, so he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor.  Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allah swt will fulfill his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah swt will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever covers the faults of a Muslim, Allah swt will cover his faults on the Day of Resurrection.”
Thus there is certainly a benefit in treating others well, especially in coming to the aid of friends or family members who are overwhelmed by life’s cruelties and injustices.  However what of the people who feel alone, crushed by circumstance and are teetering on the edge of despair.  How can a person suffering from suicidal thoughts bring themselves back from the brink? This can be achieved in many ways; firstly by strengthening one’s relationship with Allah swt. This is achieved by reading the Quran, being mindful of Him and making lots of dua (supplication) to Allah swt. Next a person would do well to recognise Satan’s hand in this matter.  He whispers frightening scenarios of poverty and helplessness.  They are not true for Allah swt’s mercy conquers all.  Cling to Him and to Islam even in the darkest hour and the longest night.
 If you suspect that a family member or friend may be considering suicide, talk to them about your concerns. You can begin the conversation by asking questions in a non-judgmental and non-confrontational way.
Talk openly and don’t be afraid to ask direct questions, such as “Are you thinking about suicide?”
During the conversation, make sure you:
Stay calm and speak in a reassuring toneAcknowledge that their feelings are legitimateOffer support and encouragementTell them that help is available and that they can feel better with treatmentMake sure not to minimize their problems or attempts at shaming them into changing their mind. Listening and showing your support is the best way to help them. You can also encourage them to seek help from a professional.
Offer to help them find a healthcare provider, make a phone call, or go with them to their first appointment.
It can be frightening when someone you care about shows suicidal signs. But it’s critical to take action if you’re in a position to help. Starting a conversation to try to help save a life is a risk worth taking.
 “And do not kill yourselves.  Surely, Allah swt is Most Merciful to you.” (Quran 4:29)

May Allah swt make things easy for us and make us among those who always provide helping hand to others. Aameen Suhaibbhatt85@gmail.com

KASHMIR

By Syed Mustafa Ahmad
My brothers are far away. Streets are closed and red. Springs are gone and never to come. Battles are lost and never to win. Autumns remain all time, Emotions die every time.Gloom welcomes everyone.And sadness has become fun and habit. Mothers are violent While fathers are silent.Every house has a fresh grave.Are not Kashmiris brave?We bade goodbye to our hearts.We leave our hearts in graveyards.The Sun is evident of day to day crimes.Night-long massacres are known by common Kashmiris.The Sky always is sad. A mother in Kashmir is full of sighs. 

Poem By Sushant Kumar B.K.
 O government !
You are visiting Mars?No need,No need,But visit “ Dalits” [1]house To behold the doomed face of humanity

Not due to class Not due to Ski They are Neglected For their Dalit being O government !Now you’re visiting Dalits’ house With some tailoring machines So you can proudly name them “skilled men power”?No need,No need.

Visit them with some educational plans,With some books and pens,And implement fully the privilege they have,Write not just in paper,Speak not merely is words But be an action man.
O government !Adopting social democracy Could utterly be a much better way Than to eulogizing political democracy And incorporate all the marginalized groups of individuals To make better Nepal, New Nepal.

Note: [1]Dalits, the members of the lowest social group in the Hindu caste system who are also known as “untouchables.About poet Sushant Kumar B.K. is a Nepalese poet and freelance writer who resides in Gulariya, Bardiya, Nepal. He has MA degrees in English Literature and Political Science from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. He writes poems in English and Nepali language. He has attended writing workshop jointly organized by Fulbright Nepal and Definitive Initiatives, Kathmandu,Nepal. His poem “An Age of Paradox” has been published in An International Anthology, Pandemic Poetry 2020, and his poems are featured in The Kathmandu Post, The Himalayan Times, The Gorkha Times, My Republica, Indian Periodical, Grey Thoughts, Borderless Journal, Williwash WordPress , Seto Pati, Sahitya Post, Shabdasopan, and Firewordsdaily . Recently, his poem “An Abstract Era” has been accepted by The Piker Press, USA. He can be contacted at bksushant26@gmail.com.

A SOFT HEART IS A STRONG HEART, AND A HARD HEART IS A WEAK HEART.
Suhaib Ashraf Bhat
Soft-hearted people are not fools, they know what people did to them but they forgive again and again because they have beautiful hearts.We live in a time when qualities like humility, sincerity and compassion are being  considered as weak and useless. They say the nice people finish last and that soft-hearted people are the ones who get knocked down and are often mistreated in the society. What will save us on the Day of Judgement? Are we favoured based on our race or colour? No. Then what is it? It is the place in our body which Allah swt made the location of the most valuable possession of a human being: (faith). It is your heart. What favours you in the sight of Allah swt is the state of your heart. What will save you on the Day of Judgement is a sound heart. 
When you say the word ‘Think!”, most of us point to our heads, right? How many of us point to our hearts when we say “Think?” The Messenger of Allah swt Muhammmad (Peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said, “Taqwa is here,” and he pointed to his chest. [Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, Ahmad]
Subhan Allah, one of the functions of the heart is understanding. Allah swt gave us a heart to comprehend, to reflect, and to reason. That brings us back to the central ayah: and have hearts by which to reason.
Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimullah) said that many doctors and philosophers have said that the mind is in the brain, so we think and understand with our brains and not with our hearts. He then said that the centre is actually the heart. Ibn Katheer said: The arrogant philosophers say that the mind is in the brain. [Tafsir ibn Kathir vol 4 p.508] To believe, to disbelieve, to understand, to comprehend, to have tranquillity, to feel confusion, to have tawakkul and to have khushoo’ are all functions of your heart.

The state of your heart will decide what you do with your knowledge. Will you benefit from it by practicing it or not?  For example, if you hear an ayah of the Quran or a hadith, does it make you feel you want to practice it straight away or does it not have much impact on you? Whatever the answer is, it will tell you about the state of your heart. Sins have an effect on your heart; they can cause your heart to be sealed so that the light of knowledge doesn’t reach it anymore and the ayaat of Allah swt don’t affect you anymore. May Allah swt protect us from this. There are many diseases we find in our hearts, like jealousy, envy, greed, lust, and showing off. Our aim should be to strive to purify our hearts and turn back to Allah swt with a sound heart. 
Ibn al-Qayyim, (may Allah swt have mercy on him), said, “In the heart are disorders that cannot be remedied except by responding to Allah swt. In it is a desolate feeling that cannot be removed except by intimacy with Him solitude. In it is sadness which will not leave except by happiness with knowing Him and truthfulness in his dealings. In it is anxiety that is not made tranquil except by gathering for His sake and fleeing to Him from His punishment. In it is a fire of regret which cannot be extinguished except by satisfaction with His commands, prohibitions, and decrees, and embracing patience with that until the time he meets Him. In it is a strong desire that will not cease until He is the only one who is sought. In it is a void that cannot be filled except by His love, turning to Him, always remembering Him, and being sincere to Him. Were a person to be given the entire world and everything in it, that would never fill the void.” Madārij al-Sālikīn 3/156

How beautiful are those hearts which are enlightened and are very soft:Pain and agony is what we see everywhere, on different media. And it can be exhausting. We start to wish that it wasn’t there. But instead of only wishing for better time, you can find a soft-hearted person trying to make your world seemingly distant from the pain. Their positive spirit overshadows the despair and offers light, belief and hope. With so many selfish people in the world, the soft-hearted ones are the ones still willing to offer support. Although some may run to a soft-hearted person not only for support but to take advantage of them, the soft-hearted person still offers a shield to anyone who needs assistance. When you run for support to a person with a soft heart, you will never be rejected. People who are still willing to help others are who hold this world together. It may seem weighty and appear to make them weary, but soft-hearted people are not overwhelmed by the task of carrying lots of responsibility. They appreciate the burden and the treasure that was given to them to carry. No matter how the world sees it, they find this task easier than everyone will think. Philanthropy is never a burden to them.
Conclusion: It would be better if soft-hearted people were in abundance. To have only a few soft-hearted people seems to be a problem on the surface. But on the other hand this offers every soft-hearted person out there an opportunity to showcase their wonderful gifts of love, compassion and kindness. The writer can be reached at  suhaibbhatt85@gmail.com

Act now! End child labour 
Dar Showkat

This day is dispatched by the International Labor Organization (ILO) to focus  in consideration on the overall annihilation of kid work, endeavours and the activity needed to dispense with it. In 2015, world pioneers received the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) wherein they have incorporated a provision to end child  labour . The current year’s World Day Against Child Labor centers around activity taken for the 2021 International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor. It is the principal World Day since the all inclusive endorsement of the ILO’s Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, and happens at time when the COVID-19 emergency takes steps to invert long periods of progress in handling the issue.

In June for the World Day, the ILO and UNICEF will deliver new worldwide gauges and patterns on child work (2016-2020), under the aegis of Alliance 8.7. The report will incorporate an evaluation of how the speed of progress towards finishing kid work is probably going to be influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncommon financial emergency that has went with it. During the current year’s World Day, we will advance “Seven days of Action” around 12 June, beginning with the dispatch of the new worldwide appraisals on child labour . The occasions and exercises did during this week will be a chance for accomplices to exhibit progress in doing their “2021 Action Pledges.” All vows made by provincial, public and authoritative partners and people will be included on the site for the 2021 International Year in April. In 2021, the worldwide local area remains at a halfway point – four years on from the keep going Global Conference on Child Labor in Argentina, and four years to go to accomplish the SDG target 8.7 set to end kid work by 2025. The current year’s World Day, and the activity taken consistently, will add to the following achievement, the Global Conference on Child Labor in 2022, facilitated by the Government of South Africa.

Its Rightly said that Life of little ones are Destroyed when Child work is Employed .The World Day Against Child Labor will be seen on 12 June) to bring issues to light about the situation of kid workers around the world. Many youngsters exit school each year to help their folks acquire an occupation. The more awful ones are constrained into  youngster work by coordinated wrongdoing rackets, while numerous others never will see a school due to outrageous poverty.Let have a Quick look on India’s youngster work scanerio.The 2011  public statistics of India tracked down the complete number of youngster  workers, matured 5–14, to be at 10.1 million.  Youth is viewed as the brilliant time of ones life  however, this doesn’t remain constant for certain youngsters who battle to  make their the two closures meet during their youth years. At the young age, which should be a time of playing and going to class. They are constrained to work in plants,  Industries,offices or as homegrown makes a difference. Kid work implies  work of kids in any sort of work that hampers their physical and mental turn of events, denies them of there  essential instructive and sporting requirements.its a blotch on  our general public and talks volumes about the failure of our  society to give a suitable climate to the development and advancement of the youngsters. Industrialization and urbanization have in a manner empowered  youngster work. Youngsters are utilized in dangerous work, for example,  bidi moving, saltine industry, pencil, matchbox and bangle making industry. This kind of work regularly presents danger to the lives of the children due to their immediate openness to the explosive material. Infact children’s are endured by cellular breakdown in the lungs  and so forth 
Families have a conviction that each kid is a worker in this way,  guardians illiteracy is additionally one of the supporters of this issue.  Education  will in general take a back seat in the existences of these  children.infact Bonded kid work is one of the most exceedingly terrible type of kid work. In this, Children are made to work to pay  off a credit or obligation of the family. It very well may be considered as most exceedingly awful  type of subjugation where the kids help their folks as  acquire the obligation from them. Above more than that neediness is  one of the fundamental justification the reason for kid work in india.  To prohibit the kid work in india Noble prize champ Kailash  satyarti showed a drive. He is the originator of Bachpan Bachaw Andolan an organisation devoted towards the  destruction of kid work in india. Taught residents can contribute fundamentally in doing so away kid work. Wealthy  also, big league salary bunch families can pool in assets to help  the schooling of helpless youngsters. Infact the universities and universities,schools can concoct free educating  programs for the helpless kids. The head of Each one Train one can be fallowed. 
The indian Govt has disintegrated numerous laws to ensure youngster rights  specifically kid and Adolescent work act 1986, the production lines act  1948,the mines act 1952, the fortified work annulment act  2000.Most of these demonstrations focused on prohibit the work of youngsters underneath the age 14 yrs in production lines, dangerous occupation  or in bondage.But Alas after the execution of these demonstrations Still our point of universilization of rudimentary is  not accomplished as expected. India saw universes biggest reasonable and  straightforward laws however where they fizzles is just the area of  execution. Article 39,23,45 arrangements for the insurance of youngster violation. Be that as it may  there ought to be a complete prohibition on the work of little  children’s in any movement other than going to class and getting  taught. The govt needs to guarantee that it has foolproof laws  also, they are appropriately executed just as implemented.Strict  measures should be taken against the individuals who empower youngster  work in any structure.  Children’s are the eventual fate of the country and its the youth  which significantly affects the eventual fate of a youngster. In this way, it turns into the aggregate responsibility of the residents society  what’s more, the public authority to give them a climate which  helps them to draw out the best of their capacities, and  participate  in the country building measure.  A country brimming with destitution ridden illiterate kids can’t make  progress. The need of great importance is to grow the machinery for  implementing the different laws on kid labour.Success can be  achieved just through friendly engineering on a significant scale joined with wide based monetary development. 
In any case, the truth is that youngster work has its  roots  somewhere down in the social customs of our country and for neediness stricken families, that additional pay is the lone thing  among life and passing. Along these lines, it is significant that we raise mindfulness about this issue and endeavour to make India a spot where kid work is rarely an important wickedness. Finally yet not least Child is intended to learn, not to acquire and  their is no explanation and there is no reason youngster work is kid  misuse…
The writer is a research scholar from Handwara .

Life will test you

Sufaya yusuf

Life will test you for everything you knowPeople will play with you and you won’t know

Don’t do things just for sakeFollow your calling and awake
Thorns and roses bothWill be on the ways
Fire and water will beThere by nights and days.
Keep going, even they teaseKeep going even in the winters freeze.
Your feet let not haltPeople might tell you have fault.
Do things which make you wakeThrough the disloyal people don’t make
Break the chains of brain

And fly your plane.

BIT MORE DETERMINATION TO OVERTAKE THE SITUATION!
Faheem Ul Islam

Ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty but it’s the silence of those people who could have done something.
Suhaib Ashraf Bhat

When any innocent person is murdered it is a tragedy, no matter where, no matter when, especially if the victim is a child. The world not acting to end children’s cries is the most shameful act that I know of. The criminal regime committing crimes is understandable to me, since they are racist and fascist beyond imagination, but the poor conviction and low amount of action from “good” people around the world is not understandable, unless they don’t want to be called “good”. Killing of innocent people in communal and sectarian violence is nothing new in any country. A majority of the perpetrators of these horrific crimes enjoyed political patronage and were aided by an indifferent law enforcement agency. The criminals escaped prosecution and punishment.

Crimes against humanity are criminal acts that are directed at an identifiable group of people. Genocide is an example of a crime against humanity. Crimes against humanity are criminal acts that target a group of people based on their religion, ethnicity, or some other trait, which is not a direct result of something that group has done. One of the most common crimes against humanity is genocide, which is the murder of a large portion of the population. Genocide is often either condoned, or carried out by the government. While history looks back to Nazi Germany for its example of crimes against humanity, the truth is, many modern conflicts see some combination of displacement, torture, sexual violence, and death against civilians. In fact, the number of civilian deaths in modern conflicts far exceeds that of armed combatants.
Are you suffering from Islam phobia?
Islam which is based on humanity, The Islamic view of humanity is filled with mercy and compassion, and it cannot be otherwise, because the Islamic religion is the last of the religions that were prescribed by Allah swt, may He be exalted, and He commanded all of mankind to enter this religion. He revealed this religion and sent it down to the most compassionate of mankind, Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah swt be upon him). This is confirmed in the Book of Allah swt, where He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And We have sent you (O Muhammad) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists)”[al-Anbiya’ 21:107]. 
Islam advises us to treat neighbours kindly, even if they are not Muslim.
Al-Qurtubi (may Allah swt have mercy on him) said:
I say: based on that, kind treatment of neighbours is enjoined and is recommended, whether they are Muslim or not. And this is the right thing to do. Kind treatment may be in the sense of helping or it may be in the sense of being kind, refraining from annoyance and standing by them. Al-Bukhaari narrated from ‘Aa’ishah that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Jibreel kept urging me to treat neighbours kindly until I thought that he would make them heirs.” And it was narrated from Abu Shurayh that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah swt be upon him) said: “By Allah swt, he does not believe; by Allah swt, he does not believe; by Allah swt, he does not believe.” It was said: O Messenger of Allah swt, who is that? He said: “The one whose neighbour is not safe from his annoyance.” This is general in meaning and applies to all neighbours, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah swt be upon him) affirmed that the neighbour should not be annoyed by swearing three times and stating that the one who annoys his neighbour is not a believer in the complete sense. Concerning that Allah swt, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allah swt does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily,  Allah swt loves those who deal with equity” [al-Mumtahanah 60:8].
It is not part of Islam to force the non-Muslim to enter this religion, because sincerity is one of the conditions of accepting Islam. And Allah swt, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“There is no compulsion in religion” [al-Baqarah 2:256].

Just a small question for this educated world
Malala got shot & the world went crazy.  Several kids across the world are being murdered & western leader’s thumbs up & let them carry on massacring more children.Does these innocent kids look like a terrorist to you?I am living in a world whose concepts are no longer clear to me. A world where the criminal walks free and the victim is called a terrorist. A world where killing a one year old kid is permissible. A world that has left me baffled about what is right and what is wrong
The same can be said about the torture and violence these blooming kids face in their own country, if these kids were Jewish or American special breed it would be headline news throughout the world.
Are Jewish or American special breed children smarter, prettier and whiter? Are they deserving of sympathy and solidarity, denied to other children or is that kids of Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yeman, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kashmir, are the kids who are very dangerous, threatening, guilty, even dark and ugly, a situation that can only lead to Islamic phobia?

Suhaibbhatt85@gmail.com

ISLAM IS A PANACEA OF ALL THE ILLS.By Sufaya Yousf

Islam is that religion which belongs to every individual and is meant for all ages and situations. It is a solution for every problem. It is a best medicine for every illness whether it is physical illness or spiritual illness. It is a solution for everyone on individual or collective issues irrespective of any race, caste, community.           If we see Islam is oftenly described as “the perfect religion”, Islam is perfect because it is not only a religion but it a way of life. Islam is a perfect guide for guiding us how to spend your precious time on earth. It gives us manners. It shows us difference between halal or haram, right and wrong, truth and false. It shows us how to behave with your parents, what are their rights towards you. In jahaliyah period no one knows how to live their life, it’s only  Islam which gives them the proper way. If we can understand the importance of Islam then only we can understand the importance and purpose of human life.       Islam is the only religion which gives us complete and balanced way of life. It’s principles and teachings can give us the perfect solutions for every problem. Islam is that religion which not only covers the spiritual aspects of life but it covers social, economic, political and even the diplomatic aspects of human life. It gives us the cure of all the ills. Everything is covered in Islam, it gives  proper rights to everyone whether it is oppressed, orphan, women, Muslim or non Muslim living in Muslim land.         Islam gives us the perfect code of conduct of behaviour, ethics and social values which can help an individual to deal with his stressful life. Islam teaches how to live in harmony with others “Seek the life to come by means of what God granted you, but do not neglect your rightful share in this world. Do good to others as God has done good to you. Do not seek to spread corruption in the land, for God does not love those who do this” (Quran, 28:77).         Islam is the religion of peace and truth which never makes anything difficult for the servant but always seeks ease for him. If a physical wellbeing will be adversely affected by the combined effect of fasting and doctor will advice the patient not to fast as Islam exempts them from fasting in such conditions. “And whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, let him fast the same number of other days. Allah desired for you ease; He desired not hardship for you”. (Quran 2:185).           Islam encourages people to stay hopeful, even if someone has committed the worst sin or faced with most troublesome life event as there is always God’s mercy.“And never give up hope of Allah’s soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah’s soothing Mercy, except those who have no faith.” (Quran, 12:87)      In Islam suicide is totally prohibited. It is a sinful act because this life is given by Allah and only He have the power to take this away from us no one else have the right to end his life. Muslims should always remember Allah in the times of suffering and pain and they should have faith on God’s mercy that He will ease this pain and suffering. It’s only Allah who will judge the actions of an individual no one else have the right to do so.Muslims should always believe that all suffering, life, death, joy, and happiness are derived from God and that God is the one who gives us strength to survive. They should believe that any loss or deprivation experience is a form of a test from God to his slave of how he will stand this suffering with patience and full trust in God’s mercy.         We should always be thankful to Allah that he bestowed us with such blessings rather to think that what others have more than us. If we think so it can lead us towards anxiety and depression. And we should not regret over the things which happened in past, which one cannot go back and change, and not to worry about what will happen in future.            Islam is the only religion which prohibits drinking alcohol. Even it prevents the Muslims to follow the path which will lead them to take alcohol. And it also prohibits us to smoke because we know that smoking cause many diseases and it may lead to heart diseases. Homosexuality another great sin prohibited by Islam because Allah has created us in pairs. Man is not homosexual by nature and homosexuality can also cause sexually transmitted diseases. Islam enforces the family role in Muslim’s life and emphasizes the religious, moral, and ethical values. These are some major acts which are strictly restricted in Islam and we can see how these sins affect our health and we know that health is a God’s gift and we should be careful about it.                      Islam is that religion which outlines how man should lead life after accepting Islam. How should he worship Him alone? What morals and values he should follow? How should he behave inside home? How should he behave outside home? How should a person carry himself in the market? How should a man run the government or politics? It also tells us whatever you are doing God keeps an eye on that and watches your all deeds weather good or bad. If a person keeps this thing in his mind while performing a deed he will never do a wrong deed. And After that, we were rewarded or punished for our deeds on the day of judgement.        Islam teaches us that there is no division among you on the basis of colour, caste, place. All are same from one parent Adam and the best among you are those who are best in their deeds. One who is piety. Islam teaches us to do justice with everyone, even to the enemies. There is a solution for every problem in Islam.  The remedy for all our ills are present in Islam.
   By Sufaya yousf Hails from Anantnag kashmir and currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Srinagar kashmir.Sofisufaya1999@gmail.com