Her crime was to fall in love. She paid with her life

When 17-year old Rand Abdel-Qader met a British soldier in Basra, she dreamt of romance. But five months later she was murdered in a savage attack by her father. But there will be no trial: this was an 'honour killing'. Investigation by Afif Sarhan in Basra, Mark Townsend and Caroline Davies

Rand Abdel-Qader, 17, told her closest friend that she was in love from the moment she set eyes on the young British soldier working alongside her in Basra, and she dreamed of a future with him.

It was an innocent infatuation but five months after Rand, a student of English at Basra University, met Paul, a 22-year-old soldier posted to southern Iraq, she was dead. She was stamped on, suffocated and stabbed by her father. Several brutal knife wounds punctured her slender, bruised body - from her face to her feet. He had done it, he proclaimed to the neighbours who soon gathered round, to 'cleanse his honour'.

And as Rand was put into the ground, without ceremony, her uncles spat on her covered corpse because she had brought shame on the family. Her crime was the worst they could possibly imagine - she had fallen in love with a British soldier and dared to talk to him in public.

Rand was murdered last month. That the relationship was innocent was no defence. She had been seen conversing intimately with Paul. It was enough to condemn her, because he was British, a Christian, 'the invader', and the enemy. The two met while he was helping to deliver relief aid to displaced families in the city and she was working as a volunteer. They continued to meet through their relief work in the following months.

Rand last saw Paul in January, two months before her death. It was only on 16 March that her father, Abdel-Qader Ali, learned of their friendship. He was told by a friend, who worked closely with police, that Rand had been seen with Paul at one of the places they both worked as volunteers. Enraged, he headed straight home to demand an explanation from his daughter.

'When he entered the house, his eyes were bloodshot and he was trembling,' said Rand's mother, Leila Hussein, tears streaming down her face as she recalled her daughter's murder. 'I got worried and tried to speak to him but he headed straight for our daughter's room and he started to yell at her.'

'He asked if it was true that she was having an affair with a British soldier. She started to cry. She was nervous and desperate. He got hold of her hair and started thumping her again and again.

'I screamed and called out for her two brothers so they could get their father away from her. But when he told them the reason, instead of saving her they helped him end her life,' she said.

She said Ali used his feet to press down hard on his own daughter's throat until she was suffocated. Then he called for a knife and began to cut at her body. All the time he was calling out that his honour was being cleansed.

'I just couldn't stand it. I fainted.' recalled Leila. 'I woke up in a blur later with dozens of neighbours at home and the local police.'

According to Leila, her husband was initially arrested. 'But he was released two hours later because it was an "honour killing". And, unfortunately, that is something to be proud of for any Iraqi man.'

At the police station where the father was held Sergeant Ali Jabbar told The Observer last week: 'Not much can be done when we have an "honour killing" case. You are in a Muslim society and women should live under religious laws.

'The father has very good contacts inside the Basra government and it wasn't hard for him to be released and what he did to be forgotten. Sorry but I cannot say more about the case.'

Rand, considered impure, was given only a simple burial. To show their repugnance at her alleged crime, her family cancelled the traditional mourner ceremony.

Two weeks after the murder, Leila left Ali. She could no longer bear to live under the same roof as her daughter's killer and asked for a divorce. 'I was beaten and had my arm broken by him,' she said. 'No man can accept being left by a woman in Iraq. But I would prefer to be killed than sleep in the same bed with a man who was able to do what he did to his own daughter, who, over the years, had only given him unconditional love.'

Now she works for a women's organisation campaigning against honour killings. 'I just want to try to stop other girls having the same fate as my beloved Rand,' said Leila who is forced to move regularly from friend to friend

A colleague of Leila's said: 'We prefer to change places each two weeks to prevent targeting. She has been threatened again by her husband's family and is very scared.'

Throughout her friendship with Paul, Rand confided in only one person, her best friend Zeinab, 19. 'She used to say that her charity work had more than one meaning now. From the first time she saw him, she was helping needy families but also that Paul was helping her. With just a simple, caring smile, he was able to give her the sense of love, making her forget all about the hard and depressing life in Iraq,' said Zeinab.

The two teenagers had spent hours talking about him,' she said. 'She loved to speak about his blond hair, his honey eyes, his white skin and the sweet way he had of speaking.

'He was very different from the local men who usually are tough and illiterate. I was in heaven when she was speaking about him. Everything looked so beautiful.

'But, I always had to remind Rand that she was a Muslim and her family was never going to accept her marrying a Christian, British soldier'.

'Unfortunately she never wanted to hear me. Her mind was very far from reality, but closer to an impossible dream.'

Paul gave Rand gifts. She kept them - and him - secret from her family and asked Zeinab to take care of these small tokens of his affection for her. He gave her a charming cuddly animal. 'She couldn't take it home so she asked me to keep it for her,' said Zeinab. 'It's hard to look at it every day,' she said.

Rand told Zeinab she and Paul had met only four times, though Zeinab doubts this. Their meetings were always in public and through the voluntary work that Paul carried out as part of his regiment's peacekeeping duties.

Rand had an excellent command of English and spoke it fluently and that, said Zeinab, allowed them to communicate freely without others around understanding what they were saying. 'She was the only one who could speak English and it made it easier for her to get closer "through words" to him,' she said.

Soon Rand began giving different and elaborate excuses to her family to enable her to continue her voluntary work. She persuaded her father that her work was vital in helping families. And she began paying daily visits to displacement camps, local aid agencies and hospitals in the hope of bumping into Paul.

'He used to tell her all about England. She told me his father had died from a disease and that it was a really sad story,' said Zeinab.

'She liked to speak about how couples could live together in his country. He told her that flowers could be found on every corner and he promised to take her one day to buy some in the streets of London. She was a fan of London and he told her about all the tourists attractions there.'

'But the thing she used to like talking about best was how he praised her beauty and her intelligence. She told me he called her "princess".'

Despite knowing how dangerous the consequences of her actions could be, and the punishment she faced if caught, her passion for Paul grew stronger, said Zeinab. 'She never did anything more than talk to him. She was proud to be a virgin and had a dream to give herself to the man she loved only after her marriage. But she was seen as an animal,' said Zeinab.

'What they did to her was ugly and pathetic. Rand was just a young girl with romantic dreams. She always kept her religion close to her heart. She would never even hurt a petal on a rose.'

Last year 133 women were killed in Basra - 47 of them for so-called 'honour killings', according to the Basra Security Committee. Out of those 47 cases there have been only three convictions for murder.

Since January this year, 36 women have been killed.

Teenagers get life for Goth murder

© ITN 2008

Two teenagers have been jailed for life for the murder of a 20-year-old woman who was killed because she was dressed as a Goth.

Ryan Herbert, 16, of Rossendale Crescent, Bacup, who admitted the murder of Sophie Lancaster, received a 16-year minimum term at Preston Crown Court.

His accomplice Brendan Harris, 15, of Spring Terrace, Bacup, Lancashire, who was convicted after a trial last month, was given a minimum of 18 years.

Sophie was kicked and stamped to death as she begged the pair to stop beating her boyfriend Robert Maltby, 21, in a park in Bacup, Lancashire.

Three other teenagers who took part in the initial attack on Mr Maltby were also named. Brothers Joseph, 17, and Danny Hulme, 16, both of Landgate, Whitworth, near Bacup, and Daniel Mallett, 17, of Rockcliffe Drive, Bacup, all pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent on Mr Maltby. They did not take part in the attack on Sophie, the court was told.

Judge Anthony Russell jailed Mallett for four years and four months and the Hulme brothers for five years and 10 months each.

Passing sentence Judge Russell QC said: "This was feral thuggery. It raises serious questions about the sort of society which exists in this country at the start of a new millennium which was heralded with such optimism.

"At least wild animals, when they hunt in packs, have a legitimate reason for so doing, to obtain food. You have none and your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself."

Gap year student Miss Lancaster and her boyfriend Mr Maltby were attacked in Stubbylee Park last August.

Neither of the defendants knew the couple, who were both Goths, and the only motive for the violence was they simply looked different to them, a jury was told last month.

Harris punched Mr Maltby when someone in his gang shouted "let's bang him".

Herbert and three other youths joined in by kicking and stamping on him as they beat him unconscious.

When Miss Lancaster cradled her boyfriend in her arms and pleaded for mercy, Harris delivered a flying kick to her head and Herbert volley-kicked her in the face "like a ball in flight".

The injuries to both victims were so severe that paramedics could not tell which sex either was. A clear footwear pattern was visible on Miss Lancaster's head.

Both fell into comas, but Miss Lancaster never regained consciousness and died in hospital 13 days later.

The picture of the devil homself

CREDIT: REUTERS/HO/Police An Austrian police handout picture released April 28, 2008 shows a man suspected of keeping his daughter prisoner and abusing her for 24 years in the basement of a house in the small Austrian village of Amstetten. AMSTETTEN, Austria (Reuters) - A 73-year-old Austrian electrical engineer has confessed to holding his daughter captive in a secret, windowless cellar for 24 years and fathering seven children by her, police said on Monday. The case, centered on a nondescript two-storey building in the small industrial town of Amstetten, bears chilling similarities to that of Austrian Natascha Kampusch who spent eight years locked up in a basement before escaping in 2006. Some parts of the cell in which the family were kept were no more than 1.70 meters (5 ft 6 in) high and officials said the basement even contained a padded cell. "This is an appalling crime. I know of no comparable case in Austria," Franz Prucher, head of security for Lower Austria told a news conference. Elisabeth Fritzl, 42, says her father, Josef Fritzl, lured her into the basement of the block in 1984 and drugged and handcuffed her before imprisoning her. Three of her children, aged 19, 18 and 5, had been locked up in the basement with her since birth and had never seen sunlight, police said, raising worries about their physical and mental state. The younger two were boys, the eldest a girl. Three other children -- two girls and one boy -- were brought up by Josef and his wife. As well as confessing to locking up his daughter for 24 years and siring the seven children, Fritzl also admitted to burning the body of the seventh child in the heating system when it died soon after birth, said Franz Polzer, head of criminal investigations in the state of Lower Austria. All the victims are receiving medical treatment, said police. State prosecutors said Fritzl would be summoned before a judge later on Monday. Investigators spent the day combing through the cells where the victims had been held captive. Forensic experts in white uniforms and gloves carried out boxes of evidence from the house which is on a busy street with shops. Fritzl had hidden the entrance to the cell behind shelves and only he knew the secret code for the reinforced concrete door, said officials. Photographs showed a narrow passageway leading into other rooms which included a cooking area, sleeping area and a small bathroom with a shower. A tube provided ventilation. Amstetten, located in rolling hills about 130 km (80 miles) west of Vienna, is an industrial town of about 22,000 people. HOSPITAL VISIT The case unfolded when the 19-year-old girl became seriously ill and was taken to hospital, prompting doctors to appeal for the girl's mother to come forward to provide more details about her medical history. Fritzl then brought Elisabeth and her remaining two children out of the basement, telling his wife -- who thought their "missing" daughter had chosen to return home, police said. Elisabeth agreed to make a comprehensive statement to the police after receiving assurances she would have no further contact with her father, who she said abused her from the age of 11. Kampusch, who spent her teenage years held captive, offered to help the victims and told ORF radio she might talk to the family. "I can imagine that it is very difficult both for the mother of the children as well as for the wife of the perpetrator to get through this," she said. Psychiatrist Max Friedrich, who treated Kampusch, said the children were undergoing tests in hospital, in particular for problems with their eyes and skin due to the lack of daylight. "And socially ... the (children) could not develop any sort of sense of community which they would get from going to school or playgroup," Friedrich told Reuters. SHAME The case has raised questions about how authorities and neighbors failed to notice anything unusual in the "house of horrors," not least because officials said Fritzl had over the years built extensions to the secret cellar. "The community of Amstetten should drown in shame ... The neighbors are turning a blind eye," the Oesterreich newspaper wrote in an editorial. The daily Der Standard wrote: "The whole country must ask itself what is really, fundamentally going wrong." Another puzzle is how Josef's wife Rosemarie could have been unaware of what was going on. Police have said they believe Rosemarie did not know what happened to her daughter when she disappeared in 1984. It was assumed Elisabeth had left voluntarily when her parents received a letter from her saying they should not search for her.

Untouchable' woman dies after Indian medics refuse treatment

LUCKNOW, India (AFP) — An "untouchable" woman who gave birth outside an Indian hospital because doctors would not treat her died Thursday, a day after her baby, officials admitted.

The newborn boy of Maya Devi, 28, died Wednesday due to lack of medical help minutes after being born outside the maternity wing of Kanpur Medical College in northern Uttar Pradesh state.

Devi was only put in intensive care after giving birth but she died of a heart attack early Thursday morning.

Several doctors, including the hospital's chief medical superintendent, had refused to touch her or provide medical care as she delivered her baby, the Press Trust of India reported.

Devi was a Dalit, or "untouchable", a group at the bottom of the caste social ladder who have long been ostracised and forced into menial professions despite laws banning discrimination. Many high-class Hindus fear coming into contact with them.

Dr Kiran Pandey, head of gynaecology at the hospital, told AFP she was an hour's drive away in state capital Lucknow at the time and rushed back.

"We provided her the best medicines and treatment but she succumbed to two cardiac arrests," Pandey said.

College principle Anand Swaroop has ordered an inquiry, as has a district magistrate.

The state's chief minister, Mayawati, who won elections last year, has ordered the doctors to be suspended and demanded an investigation.

Man shot 'for Christian beliefs'

Mr Ali had moved to Kings Heath in Birmingham in 1990

A man killed by Islamist fighters in Somalia was shot because he had converted from Islam to Christianity, his widow has claimed.

Daud Hassan Ali, 64, of Kings Heath, Birmingham, was found dead at the school his charity had built in Beledweyne on Monday.

Margaret Ali said she was "certain he was killed because he was born a Muslim but converted to Christianity".

Rehana Ahmed, 32, from Birmingham, and two Kenyan teachers were also killed.

Mr Ali had left Somalia in 1967 and became a Christian after meeting missionaries.

Mrs Ali, 64, said that some Islamists "believe it is ok to kill any man who was born into Islam and left the faith".

'Life-long dream'

She added her husband knew it was a risk going back to Somalia as a Christian but said he was there to teach not convert others to his faith.

She said: "He was a teacher, he never made any attempt to convert anyone to Christianity, and only practised his faith in private.

"Most people didn't give tuppence about him being an apostate (someone who has renounced the religion of their birth), but some Muslims interpret the Koran differently.

"I just hope they died quickly and didn't suffer too much. But I hear their bodies are riddled with bullet holes."

She said the last time she spoke to him was Friday evening when he phoned her to wish her happy birthday.

The father-of-two had left the country of his birth in 1967 and worked across the Middle East and Europe before studying in the UK and working as a primary and secondary school teacher.

He eventually settled in Birmingham where he worked for the city council as an educational psychologist before retiring in 2004.

Mrs Ali said it had been her husband's "life-long dream" to go back to Somalia and set up a school to "help his people".

She said they decided to set up the Hiran Community Education Project charity after discovering there were about 20,000 children in central Somalia getting no education.

The Hakab Private English School was only completed one month ago.

Mrs Ali said Ms Ahmed, who was a graduate of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, had joined her husband at the school to teach English.

She said she was a "gifted student" who was "loved by all the people at the school".

She is survived by a brother and sister.

The Islamist al-Shabab Movement, the armed youth-wing of the Council of Islamic Courts movement, has admitted taking the town.

But a spokesman said: "We heard that the foreigners were killed but we do not claim responsibility."

British officials in Kenya and staff from the High Commission in Nairobi are investigating.

Sick man in this sick world

Austrian 'hid daughter in cellar'

The house where the man and his daughter lived A 73-year-old Austrian is under arrest on suspicion of hiding his daughter in a cellar for 24 years and fathering seven children with her, police say. The existence of the woman, believed missing since 1984 and now 42, emerged after a teenage child fell ill and had to be taken to hospital. Both the woman and teenage girl are receiving medical treatment and the other children are in care. A police investigation in Amstetten, Lower Austria Province, is continuing. The suspect, named only as Josef F, was arrested on suspicion of incest and keeping his daughter in captivity. He has not responded to the charges against him, police say. One of the children the man allegedly fathered died in infancy, police believe. Three children, including the 19-year-old, were allegedly kept in the cellar with their mother while the other three reportedly grew up with their grandparents. DNA tests will be taken to establish whether Josef F was indeed their father. Placed in care The alleged crimes came to light after the teenager, named as Kerstin F, was dropped off at the Amstetten hospital last weekend. Police are searching the house Finding Kerstin seriously ill, doctors appealed for her mother, who at that time was assumed to be missing, to come forward to provide more details about her medical history. Josef F allegedly then released the mother and two other children from the cellar, telling his wife Rosemarie that she had chosen to return home, police say. It was not immediately clear how police were alerted. The mother, named as Elisabeth F, has been receiving medical and psychological treatment since being discovered. She appeared "greatly disturbed" psychologically during questioning and agreed to talk only after authorities assured her that she would no longer have to have contact with her father, and that her children would be taken care of, police added. The six children are three boys and three girls aged between five and 20. Police spokesman Franz Polzer told reporters they had been taken to a safe location. "They are all in psychological care in a secure institution in a clinic here in this area," he said. "They are being cared for individually - those between 12 and 16 years of age who grew up with their grandparents, and two boys who, when they came out yesterday with their mother, saw the daylight for the first time in their lives." The three children who grew up with their grandparents were left at birth outside the house, the first accompanied by a note from Elisabeth in which she said she could not care for the baby herself. All three were taken in by Josef and his wife as foster or adopted children, police said. 'Dead baby burnt' The police issued a statement giving details of the alleged abuses Elisabeth recounted to them. Cellar case timeline She said she had been sexually abused by her father since the age of 11. Josef allegedly lured her into the cellar of their house in Amstetten on 28 August 1984, drugging and handcuffing her before locking her up. It was assumed she had disappeared voluntarily when her parents received a letter from her asking them not to search for her. "Abused continuously during the 24-year-long imprisonment", Elisabeth bore six children while a seventh, one of a set of twins, died soon after birth. The dead baby was allegedly taken out of the cellar and burnt by Josef. Elisabeth said Josef had provided her and three of her children, who were locked up along with her, with clothing and food. His wife Rosemarie had allegedly not been aware of what was going on. The discovery of another Austrian woman, who was held captive in a cellar by an abductor for more than eight years, gripped the country in 2006. Natascha Kampusch finally escaped from her kidnapper, 44-year-old Wolfgang Priklopil, who killed himself shortly afterwards. Ms Kampusch was abducted at the age of 10 in 1998 and held in a small, windowless cellar beneath Priklopil's garage in the commuter town of Strasshof, 25km (15 miles) outside Vienna.

Usa Seem to be everywhere opressing people

US marine charged over Japanese rape The allegations of rape in February caused outrage in Japan A US marine is to face court martial after being accused of raping a 14-year-old girl on the Japanese island of Okinawa, the US military says. Staff Sergeant Tyrone Hadnott, 38, was first arrested for the offence by police in February. He was released by Japanese prosecutors after the girl dropped the case. Sgt Hadnott has been charged under the US military justice code "as a result of a Marine Corps investigation". No date was set for the hearing. He is charged with rape, abusive sexual contact with a child under 16, and kidnapping through inveigling. The case has already caused outrage in Japan, and led to calls for stricter discipline on US troops. More than 40,000 American troops are stationed in Japan under a security treaty, about half of them on the southern island of Okinawa. In a separate case, four other marines are facing a court martial over the alleged rape of a Japanese woman last year. Soon after Sgt Hadnott's arrest on 11 February, Japanese police said he had admitted forcing the girl down and kissing her, but that he denied the rape.

Stop eating meat , have compassion!

You are what you eat, you eat a carcass you will think like a savage too. Your belly aint a graveyard. Fix up you meat-eater argghh nasty!

Just say someone done that to you family to eat. would you like it, so why do we do it to them!

Every one must bath, but do they take the real bath?

Some religions believe that you can cleanse your soul by bathing at holy rivers etc. A Sikh must bath once a day for hygiene and to keep clean. How ever our bath is just to keep our body clean (it is a physical thing). But to clean our soul, we are given Gubani and Gurmantar

After bathing, the Muslims recite their prayers, and after bathing, the Hindus perform their worship services. The wise always take cleansing baths. Ang 150 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Guru Ji has told us that physical bathing is important to look after the body, otherwise diseases start occurring and you start stinking. Always wash you hands and face before picking up a gutka Sahib.

You have not cleansed the filth from within yourself, although outwardly, you wear the dress of a renunciate. Ang 525 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

But what is the use of bathing at sacred shrines of pilgrimage, when the filth of stubborn pride is within the mind? Ang 61 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

But you do not remember the Fearless, Formless Lord - you are like an elephant bathing in the mud. Ang 213 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

O Siblings of Destiny, filth is washed away by bathing in the Pure Water of the Name. Ang 57 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The True Guru is the True Pool of Nectar; bathing in it, the mind is washed clean of all filth. Ang 113 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The Guru is the ocean, and all His Teachings are the river. Bathing within it, glorious greatness is obtained. Ang 150 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The True Guru, the Primal being, is the Pool of Ambrosial Nectar. The very fortunate ones come to bathe in it. Ang 40 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Taking my cleansing bath in the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, I have been purified. Ang 197 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

One who calls themselves a Sikh of the Guru, the True Guru, shall rise in the early morning hours and meditate on the Lord's Name. Upon arising early in the morning, they are to bathe, and cleanse themselves in the pool of nectar. Following the Instructions of the Guru, they are to chant the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. All sins, misdeeds and negativity shall be erased. Then, at the rising of the sun, they are to sing Gurbani; whether sitting down or standing up, they are to meditate on the Lord's Name. One who meditates on my Lord, Har, Har, with every breath and every morsel of food - that GurSikh becomes pleasing to the Guru's Mind. That person, unto whom my Lord and Master is kind and compassionate - upon that GurSikh, the Guru's Teachings are bestowed. Servant Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of that GurSikh, who themselves chants the Naam, and inspires others to chant it. Ang 305 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

One who praises his God, receives honor. He drives out egotism from within himself, and enshrines the True Name within his mind. Through the True Word of the Guru's Bani, he chants the Glorious Praises of the Lord, and finds true peace. He is united with the Lord, after being separated for so long; the Guru, the Primal Being, unites him with the Lord. In this way, his filthy mind is cleansed and purified, and he meditates on the Name of the Lord. Ang 791 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

One who cleanses himself within, knows the True Lord. Ang 414 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The Natural Form

As a Sikh we are taught that God is a perfect creator and created every thing on our body for a reason. If we alter our body with human made modifications we are going against the will of God. It is disrespectful to God in away, as we think we know better. That is why Sikhs do not have tattoos, jewellery, make up or cut their hair. A Sikh stays in the natural form God sent us in, as every thing has a particular function. A Sikh sees make up as fake up, cutting their hair as devil like behavior and the wearing of jewellery as a way of just showing off. The Sikh does however cut the dead mass on their nails as life would be unfunctional with them uncut.

Do not wear make-up or jewellery. Do not commit adultery. Rehatnama Bhai Daya Singh Jee

Historic fact:

When Sikh woman were captured by the Evil Mughal Government, they pierced her nose and put a ring on her as a sign of slavery (just like people do when they own a cow etc). They also put all types of noise making jewellery like bell ear rings etc so that when they made them dance, the noise made would add to their enticement. Our women used to be forced to wear this crap to satisfy the enemies’ evil desires, but now our women become slaves themselves.

She becomes His soul-bride forever, with the Word of the Shabad in her mind; she makes the Fear of God and the Love of God her ornaments and decorations. Ang 787 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Discarding worldly adornments, she meets her Husband Lord, and she celebrates joyfully with Him. She is adorned forever with the Name in her mind, and she does not have even an iota of filth. Ang 642 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The hair, moustache and beard are created within God's order. How can those who violate their natural form by cutting their hair ever be accepted by the Lord? Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh

A Sikh must be distinguished by a turban, a fine flowing beard, and an uncut kes. He must never use a razor or remove his beard. Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh

However Some Sikhs have to tie up their beards in factory jobs etc for their own safety (Which is understandable).

On each and every hair, the Lord abides. Ang 344 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Comb your hair twice daily and re-tie your turban each time your wear it. Rehatnama Bhai Nand Laal Jee

He who as a Sikh places a hat on their head; will be reborn seven times as a leper. Thankhaanama Bhai Nand Laal Jee

So that hat type starch things (so called turban) that people wear are of no use as they are the same as a hat. However to disguise themselves some Sikh warriors have worn hats etc for survival, even Sri Guru gobind Singh Ji dressed as a Muslim peer to escape from enemy hands to safety (So a hat as a disguise seems to be understandable).

Worship the Divine, Supreme Soul, with the intuitive peace and poise of the Guru. If the individual soul has faith in the Supreme Soul, then it shall obtain realization within its own home. The soul becomes steady, and does not waver, by the natural inclination of the Guru's Loving Will. Ang 87 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Lion of the Guru In natural form

Sheep In unatural Form

Lioness in Nataural Form


Whisle faked up

What are you Going to be?

Your Sikh Remain Distinct!!!!!!

In Kuljug, god has put the fire of Sin in our bodies, the objective of this game is to extinguish this fire and be content. The fire contains dark energies as such as greed, lust, ego, anger and attachment. These Dark energies keep up trapped in Sin and falsehood. They cause the destruction of our souls and bodies. Gurbani tells us that by reading Gurbani, doing Sangat, doing our Nitnem, asking Guru Ji for help, meditating at Amrit-vela, and doing Kirtan we can extinguish this fire. Only with Guru’s grace we get liberated for this fire, but once we do the false desires and world pleasure no longer bother us. One feels a soothing and poise peace, which brings contentment. But this test that God created is not easy, as temptations and evilness is all around us in society.

As a Sikh we may see and hear of our friends and family having boyfriends, girlfriends and sex before marriage. But we must remain distinct as Guru Ji said:

Without having Anand Karaj those who have sexual relationships. Listen O' Sikh the Guru states, he is not my Sikh.Rehatnama Mukhthnama

Our friends may go KFC and but chicken, wear a base ball hat and take all types of drugs. But a Sikh must stay vegetarian, drug free and wear a turban.

Meat, opium, drugs and tobacco. Ganja, wearing hats, another's woman and alcohol. He who never even gazes at these evils. Recognize them as my disciplined Singh. Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh

While your friends are coming back from clubbing, you must awake and worship the lord in order to destroy all the negative energies within us. In this way we will not be corrupted by falsehood and reach the true destination (Merging back with waheguru).

They are the Khalsa who destroy the five evils. They are the Khalsa who burn away delusion. Thankhaanama Bhai Nand Laal Jee

With the sword of spiritual wisdom, kill the five demons. Remain awake and aware to the Guru's Teachings. Ang 1413 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

As your friends earn money by credit card frauds, selling intoxicants or whatever corrupted deed they do. You must have a respect job and give to charity.

Those who do not give one tenth of their earning to the Guru and earn a living of deceit and corruption. Listen carefully Nand Lal as Guru Gobind Singh speaks, they will suffer thousands of hells at death. Rehatnama Bhai Nand Laal Jee

Sikhs should not be selfish and greedy and must share with others. People spend thousands on luxuries while next man hasn’t even got a sack of rice, keep that in mind. A flash car will get you a speeding ticket, a 100 bags of rice sent to the deprived might get you united with Waheguru.

Do not just eat on your own; always try to share with others. Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh

Adultery, gambling, dishonesty, stealing and intoxicants; these are five sins of the world which the Singh abandons. Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh

Those who praise the Lord in the early hours of the morning and meditate on Him single-mindedly are the perfect kings; at the right time, they die fighting. Ang 145 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

This man needs help

26 year old Kanwarjeet Singh Bhullar needs Bone Marrow transplant in order to survive Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Kanwarjeet was born in Amritsar, Punjab (India) on 30-oct-1981 to Lakhwinder Kaur and Gursharan Singh. He completed his preliminary education from Shri Guru Harkrishan Sr. Secondary Public School and Khalsa College, Amritsar before graduating from Shaheed Udham Singh College Of Engineering & Technology, Mohali(2000-2004) with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Kanwarjeet then went to Central Queensland University, Australia to pursue Masters Degree in Accounting (2005-2006). It was during his visit to India in year 2006, to get married, he fell ill. All his tests were done but nothing was diagnosed. He then suddenly lost a lot of weight without any reason. His blood tests were done again with a bone marrow aspiration and on August 6^th, 2007 he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), also known as BLOOD CANCER in common man’s language.

He has since been given 3 chemotherapies but there was not much effect on cancer cells so his doctor advised that he must undergo Bone Marrow Transplant. Unfortunately his bone marrow did not match with any of the immediate family members. He now needs to undergo Matched Unrelated Donor Therapy, facility currently unavailable in India. He has to come to America for treatment. Since he is not insured and is not American citizen he will have to pay everything upfront. The cost of treatment is estimated to be $500,000.

His family has been very supportive but it is hard for them to arrange such a huge amount of money for their son’s treatment which might even go higher depending on his condition. As of now Kanwarjeet and his family are helpless. He is isolated from rest of the world being restricted to his room because of his poor resistance to infections. Only his wife goes in and out of his room and that also with great precautions. No one is allowed to meet him and he just sits in his room all day long by himself.

It is hard to imagine what is going through his mind. We are talking about a 26 year old, who has much ahead and with blessing of god and all of you we can make his dreams true and help him lead a healthy life. We as Kanwarjeet’s family and friends want to raise money for his treatment. We don’t want to leave any stone unturned. We have talked to many charities and companies for donations. We will really appreciate your help. If you have any other question please feel free to contact us.

To donate visit the below site:

http://helpkanwarjeet.org/help/

God Protects Honour of His Devotees

Once Namdev went to Avandanagnath Temple situated in Maharastra. The Hindu priests of that temple believed in the caste system. After reaching the temple, Namdev sat and started worshipping God but the Hindu priests grabbed his arm and drove him out of the temple. The priests said that Namdev could not visit the temple because he was of a low class.

Namdev was deeply hurt so he went to the back on the outside of the temple and started worshipping God. In his prayer he said:

"Joyfully, I came to Your Temple, O Lord. While Namdev was worshipping, he was driven out. I am of a low social class, O Lord; why was I born into a family of fabric dyers? I picked up my blanket and went back, to sit behind the temple" Ang 1164 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Namdev also said:

"O Lord, please do not forget me because if You forget me then where should I go. There is nowhere else to go and no one else to believe in except You.Please do not forget me, do not forget me, please do not forget me, O Lord. The temple priests have doubts about this, and everyone is furious with me. Calling me low-caste and untouchable, they beat me and drove me out; what should I do now, O Beloved Father Lord? If you give me salvation after I am dead, no one will know that I attained salvation. These Priests, these religious scholars, call me low-born; when they say this, they tarnish your honour as well. You are called kind and compassionate; the power of Your Arm is absolutely unrivalled" Ang 1292 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

"As Naamdev uttered the Glorious Praises of the Lord, the temple turned around to face the Lord's humble devotee" Ang 1164 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

"The Lord turned the temple around to face Namdev and its back to the priests" Ang 1292 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

That temple is still rotated. This is the symbol of the true love of God towards His true devotee.

Laughing and playing, I came to Your Temple, O Lord.
While Naam Dayv was worshipping, he was grabbed and driven out.
I am of a low social class, O Lord;
why was I born into a family of fabric dyers? I picked up my blanket and went back,
to sit behind the temple.
As Naam Dayv uttered the Glorious Praises of the Lord,
the temple turned around to face the Lord's humble devotee.
Ang 1164 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Where did our lust come from?

Lust is a dark energy within us; it is in all of us and has been created by God as a part of his game. Lust causes many people to fail the test of life, as they remain attached to its pleasures and therefore remaining attached to falsehood (worldly illusion). Lust is extremely powerful and one of the main tools Maya (illusion of Kaljug) uses to keep us away from God. However with the Grace of Guru Ji and Sangat, lust can be overcome and therefore no longer remain a barrier between the mortal and God. We must pray to Guru Ji and ask him to help us overcome obstacles in the way of us and God.

Sexual desire and anger are diffused throughout the universe. Coming and going, people suffer in pain. Ang 129 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

I am called a lustful being of the Dark Age of Kali Yuga. Ang 710 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The lustful, lecherous man desires many women, and he never stops peeking into the homes of others. Ang 672 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

You are overflowing with sexual desire, and your intellect is stained with darkness; you are held in the grip of Shakti's power. Your eyes water, and your intellect and strength have left you; but still, your sexual desire churns and drives you on. Ang 93 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Day and night, you are engrossed in sexual desire, O my merchant friend, and your consciousness is blind to the Naam. Ang 75 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

You filthy, heartless, lustful donkey! Haven't you heard of the Righteous Judge of Dharma? Ang 1001 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Lust, anger, egotism, jealousy and desire are eliminated by chanting the Name of the Lord. Ang 1389 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The Guru has cut out the sinful mistakes of sexual desire and anger, and my hopes have been fulfilled. Ang 108 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

They control their sexual desires, and their lifestyle is the self-discipline of Truth. Ang 122 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

First, the baby loves mother's milk;
second, he learns of his mother and father;
third, his brothers, sisters-in-law and sisters;
fourth, the love of play awakens.
Fifth, he runs after food and drink;
sixth, in his sexual desire, he does not respect social customs.
Seventh, he gathers wealth and dwells in his house;
eighth, he becomes angry, and his body is consumed.
Ninth, he turns grey and his breathing becomes labored;
tenth, he is cremated, and turns to ashes.
His companions send him off, crying out and lamenting.
The swan of the soul takes flight, and asks which way to go.
He came and he went, and now, even his name has died.
After he left, food was offered on leaves, and the birds were called to come and eat.
O Nanak, the self-willed manmukhs love the darkness.
Without the Guru, the world is drowning.

Ang 137 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Who are the real Nihangs?

Who are ‘Nihangs'?

Anyone who lives free from fear is called a ‘Nihang'. In Raag Aasa Guru Arjan dev Ji has described ‘Nihang' in this very manner:

“Being fearless, he becomes a ‘Nihang' (bold and daring person).” (Ang 392, SGGS)

Describing the Nihang the old Panth Prakaash states:

“A person who has forsaken the fear of death and is always ready to embrace martyrdom is called a Nihang.”

Nihang Singh’s are unattached to worldly materials. They wear blue clothes and tie a turban that is a foot high with a “dumala” on top of it. They always keep several weapons like chakar, khanda, bow & arrows and guns etc. on them. The Nihangs are the vanguards of the Sikh nation, whose vocation in life is to be warriors, protect the Gurdwaras and be on the forefront of battles. Though there is no concrete account of how the Nihangs came into being, it is told by many Singhs that one day the three Sahibzaadey (princes of Guru Gobind Singh Ji) were practicing their battle skills and the youngest of them all Baba Fateh Singh Ji also wanted to participate with his brothers. The other brothers replied: “At the moment you are too small.”

Baba Fateh Singh ji felt so let down that he went inside the palace and tied a dastaar (turban) as tall as 1ft. He put on a blue dress. Placing a Chakar (round disc carried on a belt or worn on the turban) on himself, he adorned himself with a small Khanda. Over his dastaar he wrapped a ‘dumalla' and held in his hand a spear, and to complete his warrior's dress he wore his Kirpaan. He then went to where his brothers were playing and said, “Now I don't look small.”

Observing him looking so handsome and beautiful, Guru Ji said: “From this dress the Nihangs will be formed.” For this reason up to this day Nihang Singhs are called ‘Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Laddleeaa Faujaa(n) (Beloved Army)'. Guru Gobind Singh Ji said that the Nihangs will be generous, and strictly adhere to Dharma. When the sword is wielded, it will give out sparks like fireworks. Fighting in the battlefield in this way it will seem like a crocodile is coming out of the sea:

They used to lead such an intrepid and unpredictable lifestyle that even their family did not know of their whereabouts. While riding or fighting they always uttered “Akaal, Akaal”. That is why they also became known as “Akaalis”. Their language (the distinct language of the Khalsa) indicated their positive (Chardikala) attitude.

By merely wearing a blue chola (dress) and learning Shastar Vidhiya (the art of Sikh weaponry) does not make one a Nihang. Unfortunately, in recent years, many people who don't follow the Khalsa rehat (way of life) strictly and lack good moral characters have brought shame to the ‘Nihang's by falsely claiming to be Nihangs or by simply associating themselves to the Nihang Singhs. In particular, in the UK, a group of young Sikhs call themselves Nihangs on the basis that they look the part and know how to swing a Kirpaan, however upon closer inspection, they do not have the strict Rehat (disciplined way of life), Naam abhiyaas, knowledge, and Jeevan (spiritual life) of true Nihangs.

A number of modern so called Nihang Singhs observe some rituals and practices, which are contrary to Gurmat, for example the consumption of marijuana (‘bhang'). These customs and 'traditions' crept in to Nihangs during the period when the Mahants (Hindu caretakers) managed and maintained our Gurdwaras in 18 th – early 20 th century. During this period the Sikh religion was distorted and many non-Sikh practices infiltrated into the Sikh Panth. Those who follow these anti-gurmat practices claim that they are ‘old traditions' (Puraatan Maryada) from the Guru's time; however Gurbani sheds true light on whether these practices and observances are Gurmat (according to the guru's teachings) or Manmat (self-willed). Reading and understanding Gurbani it becomes apparent that some distortions have entered the traditions of the Nihangs and the wider Sikh community.

‘Bhang' or ‘Sukhnidhaan', which is marijuana (cannabis) used by a large number of Nihangs nowadays is often justified through various means such as the quoting of tales and stories and then claiming these to be 'early traditions'. However, our Guru is eternal and with us forever. Why do we need to refer to stories and justifying traditions by claiming they are ‘old traditions' passed down when we have Guru Granth Sahib Ji with us to tell us what is in accordance to Gurmat. Gurbani clearly condemns the consumption of marijuana. Furthermore, medical studies bear out that consumption of marijuana and cannabis on regular basis leads to schizophrenia, and mental problems such as memory loss. The sad fact is that nowadays if you go to India you can observe some Sikhs claiming to be Nihangs, who drink ‘Bhang' have become mentally unstable.

“Tilang, First Mehl, Second House: One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru: The Fear of You, O Lord Waheguru, is my marijuana (cannabis); my consciousness is the pouch, which holds it. I have become an intoxicated hermit. My hands are my begging bowl; I am so hungry for the blessed vision of Your Darshan. (Ang 721, SGGS)

“The Great Giver has given the intoxicating drug of falsehood. The people are intoxicated; they have forgotten death, and they have fun for a few days. Those who do not use intoxicants are true; they dwell in the Court of Waheguru. ||1||” (Ang 15, SGGS)

Bhai Kahn Singh Ji beautifully describes the true character of an Akali as someone who associates themselves to Akal (the Immortal). This passage in particular is used relating to Nihang Singhs in the Gur Shabad Ratnaakar Mahaan Kosh (1931) :

“The Khalsa belongs to Vaheguru.

He who loves all and whose ways are distinct from all,

He who eats only that which he earns and considers begging a sin,

He who in difficult times has faith in True Guru and remains happy,

He who guards the Sikh temples without a desire for material gain,

He who is always eager to fight a just and righteous war,

He who worships only the Timeless one and not gods or goddesses,

Know such a Sikh of the tenth Guru as an Akali.”

In summary it can be concluded that Nihangs are the official army of the Sikh Panth, who are trained in Shastar Vidiya and live a life dedicated to serving the Sikh Panth through their battle skills. They were blessed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to remain distinct and be fearless warriors, like an official unpaid army without the desire of material gain.

The true Nihang Singhs who observe the Sikh Rehat Maryada (Sikh way of life) and keep a high moral character and serve to protect the Gurdwaras and the Sikh community (and humaninity) should be given respect and acknowledged as the ‘Guru's laddleeaa faujaan(n)' (the Guru's Beloved army). However, we should also be wary not to confuse Nihang Singhs for “Nangs”, impostors, who dress in blue attire, practice Shastar Vidiya (Sikh weaponry), follow ‘Sanatan mat' (ancient Hindu traditions and belief) and have little or no respect for living the Sikh Rehat and maintaining a high moral character. In particular, in the UK, the small group of people claiming to be ‘Nihang Singhs' are teaching young Sikhs their own version of Sikh history and philosophy which is far from Gurbani's teachings. “Nangs” have a lax approach to Sikh Rehat and justify using drugs, alcohol and meat. Many of these “Nangs” are using the university scene and Sikh camps to spread their distorted version of Sikhi and confuse young Sikhs. Let us be aware of the distinction between a true Nihang and a “Nang” (fake Nihang Singh).