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Signs of The Hour which have Happened !

By this we mean signs which came and gone, and will not be repeated. There are many such signs, some of which we would like to mention here.

1 - The Sending of the Messenger (saws) and his Death

One of the Signs of the Hour is the sending of the Messenger (saws) and his death. According to the hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim, Sahl ibn Sa'd (ra) said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) gesturing with his fingers like this, the middle finger and the finger which is next to the thumb (i.e., the index finger), and he said, 'I and the Hour have been sent like these two.’"

According to another report he said: "I and the Hour have been sent like these two," and he gestured with his two fingers, stretching them out. [Jaami' al-Usool, 10/384] In Bukhari, Muslim and Sunan at-Tirmidhi it is narrated that Anas ibn Maalik (ra) related: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: 'I and the Hour have been sent like these two, like the difference between the one and the other,' and he held his forefinger and middle finger up together." [Ibid]

In the books of Seerah it is narrated that the Jews used to say of the Messenger (saws) that he would be sent with the Hour.

In the previous chapter we quoted the hadith of 'Awf ibn Maalik (ra) narrated by Bukhari, in which the Messenger (saws) is reported to have said, "Count six things just before the Hour: my death ..."

The warm welcoming by the Ansaar...

After an eight-day journey, the Prophet (saws) arrived at Quba' on Rabia al-Awwal 8, the 14th year of Prophethood (corresponding to September 23, 622 CE) at noon. Quba' lies at a distance of a few miles from Al-Madeenah and was generally taken as the locality of Al-Madeenah. It was largely inhabited by Banu Amr bin Auf (an Arabic tribe) who had already been enlightened by Islam. A few days before the departure of the Prophet (saws) from Makkah, the news of his anticipated arrival in Al-Madeenah was in the air. The “Ansar” (Supporters of the Prophet) of Al-Madeenah would come out of their dwellings early in the morning and kept waiting till noon everyday. Thus, when the Prophet (saws) arrived at Quba' at noon, they had already gone back after waiting for some time.

A certain Jew who was watching the crowds of Muslims coming out of their settlement as if they were waiting for someone knew that Muhammad (saws) was approaching from Mecca. This Jew was then, by chance, upstairs when he witnessed the small caravan moving into Quba'; guessing it to be the caravan of the Prophet (saws) he cried at the top of his voice: "O people of Arabia, O those taking rest at noon, there has come your object of love." Having heard this call, the people rushed out of their dwellings and waves of joy gripped the whole atmosphere of Quba'. He (saws) was emerging from an orchard of dates. Bearing in mind that the people might fall into confusion regarding the identification of the Prophet (saws) Abu Bakr drew himself back and shaded the Prophet (saws) with his mantle, thus making a clear distinction between the Prophet and the companion.

The Prophet (saws) was now entering Quba' and the young girls of the “Ansar” were reciting in great fervor and boundless joy:

Motivation to Repentance !

Sinning may be recognized as a hereditary trait, for who resembles his father and does no evil? But if the father is restored after failing, let the emulation of him be at both poles, of the negative and the positive. Prophet Adam was struck with remorse and filled with repentance over his past deeds. Any of his children who follows him as a model of sinning only, and not in repentance, is mistaken.

Dedication to untainted goodness is from the traits of the Angels. Devotion to uncorrected evil is in the nature of devils. But, returning to good and correctness after slipping into evil and fault is human. So, inherent in man's nature is a duality of disposition, two traits joining in him.

Every human being verifies his relationship with the Angel, Adam or the Devil. By keeping to the definition of man; the repentant proves he is related to Adam may Allah exalt his mention and the persisting in iniquity proves his relationship to the Devil. Confirmation of relationship to the Angels, however, by being exclusively dedicated to the good, is beyond the realm of possibility; for evil is firmly kneaded with good in man's nature, and it can only be refined by one of the two fires: the fire of repentance, or the fire of Hell. And it is up to you now to choose the easier fire, and to be prompt in embarking on the lesser discomfort before the choice is withdrawn to give way to the inevitability of either Paradise or Hell.

Since repentance holds such a place within the faith, it must be given the importance it deserves by explaining its true nature, requisites, motivation, manifestation, benefit, the difficulties barring it and the ways that facilitate it.

The nature of repentance

ARTICLE : Alaska Muslim Prisoners being served PORK products during Ramadaan!

A nonprofit that advocates for the civil rights of Muslims filed a lawsuit against the Alaska Department of Corrections in federal court this week, saying inmates at the Anchorage jail observing Ramadan are being given dangerously meager meals, including being served bologna sandwiches containing pork.

The DOC says the bologna was made of turkey and the department is making every effort to accommodate the religious practices of Muslim prisoners.

Muslim inmates at the Anchorage jail "are being starved," said Gadeir Abbas, a senior litigation attorney with the Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.

CAIR got involved after hearing reports that Muslim inmates in Alaska weren't getting enough food during Ramadan, Abbas said. In 2017, the group settled a similar lawsuit against Michigan correctional authorities.

The Alaska lawsuit, filed Tuesday, asks for an emergency order that would force the DOC to change its Ramadan dietary policy. 

"We're hoping the courts will see this for what it is — a dire emergency," Abbas said.

Enhancing Zuhd in Ramadaan !

Let this Ramadaan be a fresh commitment to our Merciful Creator and Sustainer to reorient our lives in His way. The most salient lesson of this month of divine training for the believers is self-restraint and abstinence. As we train ourselves in abstinence from the necessities of life for part of a day through the month, we consequently strengthen our physical as well as mental abilities to abstain from not only what is illicit (Haraam), but also from all that distracts us from the pursuit of Allah's pleasure. This mental and spiritual attitude –Zuhd - is a necessary weapon for us to fight off the onslaughts of materialism and snares of Shaytaan.

What is Zuhd

Imam Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi defines Zuhd as: 'giving up' something for something better, while what is given up is itself of value in some way. In other words, Zuhd means to give up B in return for A, either because one values A too much or values B too little in comparison. Commonly, Zuhd means to refrain from an object of desire in the pursuit of a nobler objective, particularly refraining from the desire of this world and pursuing the desire of the Hereafter. He further says that "the best and most perfect of Zuhd is to give up everything for the sake of Allah. The next in grade is to give up this world to seek Allah's Paradise."

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim defines Zuhd as: "An attitude that is the opposite of being eager and con­cerned about the life of this world. In the Arabic language, it means abandoning a matter while despising it and belittling its significance, so that one will exchange it for what is more significant."
He further says: "I heard Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah say: 'Zuhd is abandoning what does not bring about benefit in the Hereafter. Wara' is abandoning what you fear will have consequences in the Hereafter.' This statement is one of the best and most comprehensive definitions of Az-Zuhd and Al-Wara'."

Quraan - source of glory and happiness!

Praise be to Allah Who Revealed His Noble Book in the best style and Impressed hearts with its good wording and eloquent compositions. He Revealed it in the form of clear verses, Segmented it into Surahs and Ayaat, Arranged it in the best way with His Extensive Wisdom and Composed it in the greatest way with the most eloquent words and sublime structure. Blessings and peace be upon the Prophet (saws) to whom the Quraan was revealed to warn and remind. Allah Revealed the Quraan to his noble heart and this alleviated his hardship and expanded his breast. Also, blessings and peace be on the Prophet’s (saws) family and Companions from among the Muhajiroon and the Ansar.

Despite technical advancement, the prosperity of industries and inventions and the new world order, the world today is failing with all its organizations, institutions and innovations to bring happiness to humankind or provide it with security and comfort. Here are the ratios of the disease of the age; anxiety and depression, increasing day after day. Here are also the ratios of poverty, ignorance, hunger, killing, suicide as well as the collapse of values, principles and morals multiplying year after year.
Villa Spaza, a Spanish scientist, said, "All the amazing discoveries of the West are neither able to prevent even one tear nor to make even one human smile...”

Alexis Carrel said, "Modern civilization does not suit us …. Although it was established through our contributions, it does not suit us. We are indeed unhappy people because we have morally and mentally deteriorated.”

The same applies to some of those who are called Muslims. They have their wealth, positions and dreams, though they live in worries, anxiety and pain. What is the solution? What is the refuge? It is the Quraan!

The Quraan is the source of glory and happiness for the Ummah, the basis of knowledge, action and tranquility, and the spring of steadfastness at the time of conflicting ideas and changing concepts. It is the fortified dam in facing temptations, allegations and desires.

Oppression and Intrigue and the Ultimate Punishment !!!

The tradition of Allah has no scope for favoritism or flattery, as He says: "You will not find in the way of Allah any change" [33:62], and, in fact, stresses in another place, "You will never find in the way of Allah any change." [35:43] The fair Shari‘ah neither distinguishes between equals nor renders the unequal as equivalent.

Thus, the inevitable destruction of the evil planner, the one who breaks his word and the unjust person is only a question of time, which, in itself, is a chance for reform. However, that does not reflect a change in principles and what has been established as the tradition of Allah.

Muhammad ibn Ka’b Al-Qurathi says, “Three traits beset those who possess them: scheming, as Allah says: "Evil plans shall not beset any save the authors of it" [35:43]; injustice, as in the verse: "O mankind, your injustice is only against yourselves" [10:23]; reneging, as Allah says: "So he who breaks his word only breaks it to the detriment of himself" [48:10].”

Why these attributes particularly, and others in general, affect their bearer is because consequences are closely related to the causes, as Allah says: "Whoever does a good deed - it is for himself; and whoever does evil - it is against the self." [45:15] Similarly, He says: "(And said), "If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, (you do it) to yourselves."" [17:7]

Prophet (saws) narrated that Allah said: "O My servants, indeed, I enumerate and record your deeds for you, then I grant you your reward or punishment in full, correspondingly. Therefore, anyone who finds (in life) delight and good reward, should praise Allah (for His enabling him or her to do good). Likewise, whoever finds otherwise, should blame none but him/herself." [Muslim/ Hadith Qudsi]

Once, a man went to a scholar and said, "The people of so-and-so have collaborated to harm me, as if they are a single hand." So, he read out the verse: "The hand of Allah is over their hands." [48:10] The man then complained, "They hatch plots", so the scholar recited: "The evil plot does not encompass except its own people." [35:43] Then, when he said: "They are so many", the scholar recited the verse: "How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah." [2:249]

Tips on Safeguarding and Improving our Prayers

The following is some advice to help you preserve and safeguard your prayer, and perform it in a proper manner, which makes it more likely to be accepted,

• Perform Wudhoo’ properly because the Prophet (saws) said: “Allah made compulsory upon Himself to Admit into Paradise any Muslim who properly performed Wudhoo’, then prays two Rak’ah with attentiveness and submissiveness.” [Muslim]

• Leave your house in the state of Wudhoo’ because the Prophet (saws) said: “The one who leaves his house in a state of Wudhoo’ to perform an obligatory prayer will get the reward of pilgrimage.” [Ahmad]

• Be keen to perform it as soon as its time is due because the Prophet (saws) said: “The best of deeds is performing prayer on its due time.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

• Be keen to perform it with the congregation because the Prophet (saws) said: “Prayer with the congregation is twenty seven multiples better than praying alone.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

• Be keen to reach before the Imaam utters the initial Allahu Akbar because the Prophet (saws) said: “Whosoever prays forty days with the congregation, attending the initial (Allahu Akbar) of the prayer, will be free of two things: Hell Fire and hypocrisy.” [Ahmad]

• Be keen to walk to the mosque because the Prophet (saws) said: “Give glad tidings to those who walk to the mosque during dark with complete light on the Day of Resurrection.” [Abu Dawood and At-Tirmithi]

NEWS : US Government has 30 Days to respond for Dr. Ali al-Tamimi’s acquittal !!!

ALLAHU AKBAR WA LILLAHIL HAMD !!! WE PRAY THAT ALLAH WILL INDEED ACCEPT ALL OUR DUA'A FOR OUR EACH AND EVERY MUSLIM ASEER IN THIS BLESSED MONTH OF RAMADAAN ! AMEEN !!! LET'S INSHA'ALLAH CONTINUE OUR DUA'A AND PRAY FOR THE RELEASE OF OUR HONORED SHAYKH ALI AL-TAMIMI (HAFIDHAHULLAH).

US Government has 30 Days to respond for Dr. Ali al-Tamimi’s acquittal !

Thursday 26th April marked the 13th year in which cancer researcher and Islamic Scholar,[1] Dr. Ali al-Tamimi was convicted on spurious charges.[2] However, according to Ismail Royer, one of Dr. Ali al-Tamimi’s co-defendant, al-Tamimi could walk free in the very near future.

After being convicted of 10 counts of conspiracy to commit treason and firearm related charges the judge, Leonie Brinkema, sentenced Dr. al-Tamimi to life imprisonment.[3] Dr. al-Tamimi was sentenced according to the United States Code Title 18, Section 924(c),[4] which implements a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years for any firearm related charge.[5] It was this clause which forced Judge Brinkema to sentence Dr. al-Tamimi and his co-defendants a long prison term in order to comply with the legal code that the judge herself called “draconian”.[6]

Dr. al-Tamimi’s case has been bogged down in appeals since 2005, on the basis of wiretaps that his defence attorney, Jonathan Turley, says were illegal. Turley has also been trying to ascertain the existence of a recording of a 2002 meeting between Dr. al-Tamimi and Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.[7] Dr. al-Tamimi’s defence allege that the FBI may have had some dealings with al-Awlaki in which case they should have disclosed the information in the trial. In 2015 the case was placed on remand by the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and Dr. al-Tamimi’s defence obtained some of the requested documents which are awaiting further scrutiny by the courts.[8]

ARTICLE : Inside the camps where China brainwashs Muslims...

Inside the camps where China tries to brainwash Muslims until they love the party and hate their own culture.
Former detainees, including foreign nationals, describe brutal treatment and ‘re-education’ sessions inside mass detention centres.

Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China’s new indoctrination camps had to disavow their Islamic beliefs, criticise themselves and their loved ones and give thanks to the ruling Communist Party.

When Bekali, a Kazakh Muslim, refused to follow orders each day, he was forced to stand by a wall for five hours at a time.

A week later, he was sent to solitary confinement, where he was deprived of food for 24 hours. After 20 days in the heavily guarded camp, he wanted to kill himself.

“The psychological pressure is enormous, when you have to criticise yourself, denounce your thinking – your own ethnic group,” said Bekali, who broke down in tears as he described the camp.

“I still think about it every night, until the sun rises. I can’t sleep. The thoughts are with me all the time.”

Since last spring, Chinese authorities in the heavily Muslim region of Xinjiang have ensnared tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of Muslim Chinese – and even foreign citizens – in mass internment camps. This detention campaign has swept across Xinjiang, a territory half the area of India, leading to what a US commission on China last month said is “the largest mass incarceration of a minority population in the world today.”

Some important Q&A's related to ZAKAAT

Q: Who is considered eligible to receive the Zakaat ?

ANS: It does not befit that the Zakaat be given to the one who does not utilize it for obedience to Allah. For indeed Allah The Most High has obligated it as an aid towards obedience to Him for whosoever is in need of it from the believers, such as the poor and those under debt or one who helps the believers.

So whoever does not pray from the people who are needy should not be given anything until he repents; and until he adheres to the performance of the prayers in their correct times.

[Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah - Ikhtiyaaraat al-Fiqhiyyah min Fataawaa Shaikh ul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah page 103]

Q: What is the ruling on paying Zakah (obligatory charity) money for helping to build a Masjid (mosque) whose construction was halted due to lack of financial resources?

ANS: According to the opinion of the majority of Muslim scholars and the Ijma` (consensus) of our Salaf (righteous predecessors), Zakah is not to be paid for constructing Masjids, buying books, etc.

Rather, Zakah must be spent on the eight categories which are mentioned in the Ayah (Qur’anic verse) of Surah Al-Tawbah, i.e. the poor, the needy, those employed to collect (the funds), to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm), to free captives, for those in debt, in the cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything).

It is worth mentioning that scholars are of the view that the category of “in the cause of Allah” refers only to Jihad (fighting/striving in the Cause of Allah) and this does not include constructing Masjids, schools, roads, etc.

[Shaykh `Abdul `Azeez Bin Baz - Majmoo’ Fatawa wa Maqalaat Mutanawwa’ah (14/294)]

Patience: The Path to Paradise !

Paradise is the reward of patience. Allah says:

• "And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive (to Allah). Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him." [2:45-46]
• "O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient." [2:153]
Commenting on the last verse, Mujaahid said, “Patience in this verse means fasting. That is why Ramadaan is called the month of patience. Therefore, both fasting and prayer are firmly connected in this verse, since fasting curbs desire and makes one abstinent regarding this worldly life, while prayer inspires humbleness and submission, removes arrogance and encourages love for the Hereafter.”

It is narrated through an authentic Hadeeth that the Prophet (saws) said: “Fast the month of patience and three days each month…”

Ramadaan is the month of patience as the person who observes fasting is patient regarding acts of obedience and avoiding acts of disobedience. He abstains from the permissible things he used to enjoy out of obedience to Allah and in fulfillment of piety. Meanwhile, he stops himself from doing acts of disobedience and forces himself to do many righteous acts which bring one closer to Allah, such as observing the voluntary night prayers, giving in charity, maintaining kinship ties, providing food for the needy and bearing the suffering of hunger and thirst.

It is also the month of Jihaad (striving in the cause of Allah, and Jihaad is a form of patience. The Prophet (saws) conducted two battles during the month of Ramadaan, the ever greatest battles: the Battle of Badr and the Conquest of Makkah.

The Companions realized that Ramadaan is the month of patience. They showed great patience in bearing the responsibility of calling to Allah The Almighty, performing Jihaad, obeying Allah, avoiding acts of disobedience and being satisfied with the decree of Allah. The Prophet (saws) as well as the Companions used to reach the highest degree of patience during the month of Ramadaan, which is the month of patience.

Have we learnt this lesson from observing the fast and the night voluntary prayers during the month of Ramadaan?

The patient will be given their reward without account:

Do they not then reflect on the Qur’an ?!?

"And if We had ordered them (saying), "Kill yourselves (i.e. the innocent ones kill the guilty ones) or leave your homes," very few of them would have done it; but if they had done what they were told, it would have been better for them, and would have strengthened their (Faith); And indeed We should then have bestowed upon them a great reward from Ourselves. And indeed We should have guided them to a Straight Way." [4:66-68] 
In this section of Surah an-Nisa’, after exposing the hypocrites and their desire to refer judgment to the Taghout rather than to Allah’s Book and His Messenger (saws), Allah states that if He had commanded them to kill themselves as atonement for associating partners with Allah in judgment – just as He had commanded the people of Musa (as) to kill one another as atonement for associating partners with Allah when they worshiped the calf – the hypocrites would not have done so except for a few of them. In his Tafseer of the statement of Allah "And if We had decreed upon them, “Kill yourselves” or “Leave your homes,” they would not have done it, except for a few of them", Imaam at-Tabari (rahimahUllah) paraphrases the meaning, saying, “And if We had obligated upon these ones who claim that they have believed in what has been revealed to you – those who refer judgment to the Taghout – that they must kill themselves, and had ordered them to do that, or that they must leave their lands, emigrating there from to another land, they would not have done so. He is saying: They would not have killed themselves by their hands nor would they have made Hijrah from their lands, departing from them to Allah and His Messenger out of obedience to Allah and His Messenger, except for a few of them.” 
 

ARTICLE : Torture on US soil exposed for the first time in shocking CAGE report

Advocacy group CAGE have today revealed chilling details and unprecedented evidence of torture which their International Director Muhammad Rabbani risked prison in order to protect. [1] CAGE has published a report where it presents evidence of abuse involving notable US agents in the torture of a Qatari businessman on American soil.

On 20 November 2016, Rabbani was stopped under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act and subsequently arrested for refusing to hand over his passwords to protect confidential information relating to a client’s torture case. [2]

Muhammad Rabbani stated:

 “We have been investigating this case for over 3 years, and today we will finally see this information coming to light. Refusing to divulge the passwords and protecting this evidence was the first step in achieving accountability for our client, now the release of this information is the next.” 

“We are releasing this information now due to a climate under US President Donald Trump which seeks to normalise torture and even reward its advocates, such as Gina Haspel.  Our work, including the personal risks taken to bring this evidence to light is a warning to all torturers and their enablers that we are determined to bring such criminals to the public eye and the courts.” [3]

Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, a Qatari national, was arrested in the year 2001. He was tortured, imprisoned and held in solitary confinement without charge. [4] He was for a number of years among at least three individuals held in the US as an “enemy combatant”, and was tortured on US soil. He was held without basic necessities such as a pillow, mattress, suitable clothing, toilet paper and even prevented from having access to a lawyer. [5] 

Shirk of Obedience !

Our lesson today, if Allāh wills, is with regards to shirk in at-tā’ah (obedience). So seeking the help of Allāh: this is a word built on two parts: shirk and obedience. What is the meaning of shirk? And what is the meaning of at-tā’ah? And what is the meaning of shirk at-tā’ah?

The meaning of shirk: it comes in the narration of ‘Abdullāh ibn Mas’ūd (ra) when he asked the Prophet (saws), “What is the greatest sin?” The Messenger (saws) said, “That you set up a partner with Allāh, when He created you.” [Agreed upon]

The meaning of a partner: a like, equal, and peer. So whoever sets up a partner for Allāh in His rubūbiyyah has committed shirk. And whoever sets up a partner with Allāh in His ulūhiyyah has committed shirk. And whoever sets up a partner with Allāh in His asmā was-sifāt has committed shirk. This is the meaning of shirk.

As for the definition of at-tā’ah: its meaning with regards to the Arab (i.e., in the Arabic language) is compliance and yielding. As for the definition of shirk at-tā’ah: it is to consent to constitutions, fabricated man-made laws, and tribal codes. So whoever affirms belief in the constitutions that govern the lands and the people today, follows the man-made laws (like them the tribal codes), has committed shirk with Allāh and the type of shirk here is called shirk at-tā’ah.

Before going further into this kind of shirk, one must know what the existence of shirk means in relation to the book of deeds man will have on the Day of Resurrection, and it can be arranged into three issues:

The first issue: that this type of sin is not forgiven by Allāh and the evidence for that is His saying, “Indeed Allāh does not forgive shirk, but forgives what is less than that from what He wills.” If anything comes but it is less than shirk than it is forgivable, falling under His will (mashī-ah), as for shirk than it is absolutely not forgivable in front of Allāh.

The second issue: the presence of shirk in the book of deeds for man means his deeds will become worthless. In other words, this man who commits shirk with Allāh, whether shirk of du’ā, shirk of tā’ah, shirk in love, shirk in will and intent, shirk in likening, shirk in fear, if there is shirk present in his book of deeds it will ruin the rewards of all the acts of worship that is found with those who are affiliated with Islām. He could have performed salāh, fasted, and memorized the Book of Allāh, and usually these deeds gain rewards, but because of the presence of major shirk they will all become worthless. The evidence for that from the Book of Allāh is in sūrah al-An’ām where Allāh mentioned eighteen prophets by name then at the end of narrating their blessed names He said, “But if they had committed shirk (ashrakū) all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.” The meaning of no benefit: all their deeds that would have been rewarded would become futile.

NEWS : Muslims in detention in Xinjiang, China!

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims reportedly in detention in Xinjiang, China!

US Diplomat Laura Stone said last week that the crackdown and curtailment of rights of the Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in China is worsening, amidst reports that several thousand people are being held in so-called re-education centres.[1] She acknowledged that the lack of public information made it hard to assess the scale of the clampdown, but put it as “at the very least in the tens of thousands”.

Although the Chinese Foreign Ministry were quick to dismiss her comments, only a few weeks earlier the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China published a letter urging the US Ambassador to urgently address the issue of “mass surveillance and detention” in the region.

The letter spoke of the treatment of Uyghurs, who have been “subjected to arbitrary arrest, egregious restrictions on religious practice and culture, and a digitized surveillance system so pervasive that every aspect of daily life is monitored”.
 

“There are credible media reports that as many as 500,000 to a million people are or have been detained in what are being called ‘political education centres’, the largest mass incarceration of a minority population in the world today.”[2]

Earlier this month, the Open Technology Fund reported that Muslims in the region were being forced to install a surveillance application on their phones to enable the state to track their movements and access their personal data. Voice samples were said to have been collected too, in order to identify voices on phone calls.[3] Omer Kanat of the World Uyghur Congress was quoted saying: