New Iraqi school spans chasms between religions

 HILLA, IRAQ

Just outside the sprawling mosque that used to be known as the Saddam Hussein Mosque in Hilla, a somber memorial recalls the city's dark history. On one end, an outstretched hand rises towards the sky, steel rods jutting from it to signify lost souls rising to heaven.

Just below it lie the 76 graves of unidentified victims of Mr. Hussein's regime found in a mass grave in Hilla last May, separated by a stream from a fountain. Around the statue, scriptures from the Bible, the Torah, and the Koran offer prayers for the victim's souls. For the Hilla School of Religion, which took over the mosque and requisitioned the memorial, it's meant as a dramatic statement in a town that prefers not to discuss the issue of the mass graves. Indeed, in the most unlikely of places, an unlikely school has begun raising critical questions about faith, humanity, and religion.

Founded six months ago by a Shiite scholar, the institution bills itself as the Arab world's only school of theology, teaching Muslim, Christian, and Judaic texts. In a town full of deep-seated sorrow, the statue may best embody the school's credo of breaking down barriers and asking dangerous questions. The school's curriculum ranges from Arabic to science, ethics, philosophy, and, of course, comparative religion. The school is largely funded by Quzwini's earnings from a family farm as well as by donations. Students pay a nominal tuition.

Taken From: http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1007/p01s04-woiq.html

Japan Invites TV Networks to Mark ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year

Bandar Seri Begawan

The government ofJapan has invited Radio Television Brunei (RTB) and other TV stations in the ASEAN to give an insight into the country's development. The invitation is among several programs being arranged to mark the 2003 ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year.

RTB crew's visit toJapan will show in the program “Tinjauan” today after Berita National. Japan is among the countries with the highest standard of living. With a population of more than 126 million people, it is the 9th largest country in the world. Japan has the second biggest economic market in the world after the United States of America.

The capital city isTokyo, the most exciting metropolis inAsia. It is home to one quarter of all Japanese, with 12 million people inTokyo proper alone. Tokyo is the capital as well as the political and economic centre. It couples the features of a modern urban centre, with its streets lined with skyscrapers and traditional elements reflecting 400 years of history.

Jamii Mosque is among the 10 mosques in Japan. It is the largest mosque located in Shibuya,Tokyo. Islam's relation withJapan is quite recent as compared to those with other countries around the world. Islam was firstly known to Japanese people in 1877. The mosque can accommodate more than 200 worshippers at a time and consists of a multi purpose hall, a library, a guesthouse and offices. The old Jamii Mosque was built in 1937.

Taken From: http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/Oct03/071003/nite14.htm

Madina:Qur’an Complex has printed 170m copies of Holy Book

Madina,

The King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex in Madina has, for the last 19 years since it came into existence, printed a total of not less than 170 million copies of the Holy Qur’an, which have been distributed to mosques and Islamic centers throughout the world as gifts from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz. This year, the Complex intends to print ten million copies, including translations, into 44 languages of the world. Meanwhile, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz has directed that 151,660 copies of the Holy Qur’an, including translations, printed at the King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex in Madina be distributed to Islamic organizations in various parts of the world.

Taken From: http://www.islamicnews.org/english/en_daily.html