Germany has four million Muslim inhabitants but the market for halal food — produced according to Islamic law — is still in its infancy, partly because firms fear the wrath of animal rights groups. But companies are slowly waking up to this fast-growing market.

Gehlenberg is a sleepy village in northern Germany. It has a population of 1,600 and boasts a church, community hall, war memorial and a pub, along with a few wooden crosses by the roadside and a tiny chapel. It’s a staunchly Catholic village, but on three days of the week, the Prophet Muhammad makes the rules — in a white factory building on the outskirts of the village, that is. That is where the Meemken family business produces a broad range of sausage that follows Islamic food standards. The company supplies almost 100 tons of salami and various other types of sausage each week to food retailers in Germany and abroad.

International food companies such as Nestle and Unilever have for years offered a range of products that meet so-called halal food standards. Halal is an Arabic term that means pure, or permissible. The term refers to a way of life that follows Islamic law. German companies are gradually realizing that catering to faith-oriented consumption is a good way to make money. In these times of economic crisis, finding new markets is more tempting than ever.

The potential market for halal food in Germany is huge. An estimated four million Muslims live in Germany, and the community is pre-programmed to grow because Muslims have a higher birth rate than non-Muslims. Halal already accounts for 17 percent of the global food market, according to the World Halal Forum based in Malaysia.

Food Companies Worried About Animal Rights Groups

Market experts say the halal segment is growing faster than any other part of the food market. Sales of food that meets Islamic standards are expected to reach $641 billion in 2010, up from $587 billion in 2004. The European halal food market is expected to reach sales of $67 billion in 2010.

Food companies in other European countries with many Muslim residents have already adapted to their needs. In France, the Casino chain of supermarkets supplies halal meat products. In Britain, halal food is easily found in the top chains like Tesco and Sainsbury’s. French delicatessen stores sell halal goose liver pate and British pharmacy retailer Boots sells halal baby food.

It’s a different story in Germany, where supermarkets offer only a meagre range of halal food. Many retailers are reluctant to slaughter animals according to Islamic rules because they are concerned they might get into trouble with animal protection groups.

German law forbids slaughtering animals that have not been anaesthetized first. For most Muslims, a drugged animal is already dead, and the Koran forbids the eating of carrion. To get around the problem, many German halal producers procure their meat abroad.

But the ritual slaughter of livestock is also controversial within the Muslim community. “One has to take account of the era in which the rules of the Prophet were written and should not blindly follow traditional rules,” says Yusuf Calkara of the European Halal Certification Institute in Hamburg. But other certifiers are more strict. “Industrially processed meat is never halal,” says Mahmoud Tatari of Halal Control in the western town of Rüsselsheim. According to Islamic rules, livestock must not suffer stress or agony, and mass production does not live up to those requirements, he says.

Allah on Tape

Certifiers also have differing standards regarding the requirement that butchers should call out Allah when they kill each animal. Some say it’s enough for the call to be played from a tape, provided that a Muslim starts the tape. Germany’s devout Muslims haven’t yet agreed on uniform halal standards. Because the Islamic faithful in Germany belong to different organizations, there is no overall monitoring body to give a commonly accepted halal certification. As a result, there’s a large market of halal certifiers who control the raw materials, the production process, the hygiene standards and the suppliers.

Meemken, the northern German sausage maker, has just successfully passed its halal audit. Its 60 halal products already account for half of its entire production. The firm mostly supplies food retailers outside Germany but recently added Germany’s Netto chain to its list of halal food customers.

The machines are being painstakingly cleaned to remove any trace of pork from getting into the sausages on the days when halal food is produced. The company plans to install a new machine so that halal food can be produced separately in future. “We’re definitely going to expand this segment,” says managing director Rolf Meemken. “We’re registering disproportionately strong growth with halal.”

Poultry producer Wiesenhof has had its products certified as halal for years. But it’s up to the food retailers to decide whether to label the products as being halal. “German companies are too cautious,” says Levent Akgül of ethnic marketing agency Akkar Media in Hanover. “They don’t know the different culture and they can’t calculate the risks.” In addition, German food retailers are worried that putting halal food products on grocery store shelves will deter non-Muslim customers, says Akgül. Advertising for halal products in Germany is still taboo for many German companies, he says.

Disproportionate Growth With Halal Food

Not for much longer, though. “The halal trend is unstoppable,” says Peter Grothues, head of the food industry segment of Cologne’s trade fair company which will host an exhibition later this month at which 800 of the 7,000 participants will be halal food producers. Most of them are foreign companies that have been exporting to Germany for years. At present their products are still confined to Turkish corner shops in German cities. “But halal is becoming an increasingly important pillar of the trade,” says the Federal Association of German Food Retailers.

That’s not surprising given that people of Turkish descent in Germany have an estimated purchasing power of €20 billion per year. Nestle already earns more from halal products than it does from organic food.

Halal foods aren’t just sausage or meat. All food can be halal, from cheese without animal enzymes to biscuits, herbs and coffee, provided that the producers clean their machines with detergents that contain no alcohol.

“The halal market is far from satiated,” says Derya Altay of the German Federation of Turkish Wholesalers and Retailers. “Where German consumers can choose from countless brands, the Muslim can only choose between two or three.” The German industry would be well-advised to broaden its horizons and embrace the halal market, he says.

Source: Spiegel

This week I reached out for a McArabia grilled chicken sandwich at McDonald’s in the food court at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, where you can go snow skiing — indoors — even when it’s 120 degrees outdoors.

My body went from 120 degrees outside to 72 degrees inside the mall to 26 degrees on the ski slopes. I got brain freeze down to my toes. I didn’t do so well thawing out, either. When you can slalom in the desert wearing earmuffs, that’s one big shopping mall, my friend.

McDonald’s is huge in the Middle East, and especially in Dubai, which culturally is pretty West for the Middle East. And McDonald’s makes itself welcome by creating special items that appeal to local tastes and conform to religious laws — a must in this Islamic country.

Topping the popularity chart is the McArabia. Here’s the blueprint: two patties of grilled white-meat chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and garlic mayonnaise stuffed in an Arabic-style pita bread.

Total calories: 566. Fat grams: 30. Carbs: 50 grams. Dietary fiber: 2 grams. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: about $4.

There are 39 McDonald’s in Dubai, the most populous city on the shore of the Persian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates. It’s a tourist town, so you’ll find the Golden Arches in most shopping malls and beach spots. There you’ll find long lines to buy McArabias, Beefburgers, McFries and the new Ramadan Kareem Brownie Sundae. The brownie was warm, and it was served with vanilla soft ice cream. I had one the second day, too.

The McArabia is the No. 1 sandwich. The McArabia comes in two styles: grilled chicken and grilled kofta, which is spicy ground beef. During my visit to Dubai, which included several trips to McDonald’s, it looked like the chicken was more popular.

The McArabia’s got the aroma and taste of Dubai, with lots of spice and vegetables, and that creamy, garlic-spiked mayo. The Arabic-style pita bread is a little thicker than American fast-food flatbread. The pita carries its weight of the McArabia without getting soppy or falling apart. McDonald’s isn’t known for its adventurous menu, so this is exotic stuff for the world’s caterer.

If you take a big enough bite of the McArabia, you’ll learn something about the halal dietary laws of Islam and the way things run in Dubai. Every McDonald’s in the United Arab Emirates is locally owned and operated by the Emirates Fast Food Company. Everything on the menu is 100 percent halal, inspected and approved by Islamic authorities. They are strict about their food culture, and for a tourist, it’s fun to learn how they do it.

There are no pork products at McDonald’s in Dubai. Breakfast sandwiches are made with turkey bacon and sausage. But halal goes much further than that. Food suppliers must obey precise rules concerning animal welfare. Animals raised for consumption, like cows and chickens, must be vegetarian-fed. No hormones for artificial growth are allowed.

Here’s the part that impressed me the most: Animals are treated with respect and are slaughtered as humanely as possible. Animals must be slaughtered by human hands as quickly as possible. No torture is allowed, and suffering is kept at a minimum. Meat-processing workers, who must be Muslim, keep their knives sharp to ensure a fast death. Workers are not allowed to sharpen their knives in front of the animals. Each animal must be prayed for, and the name “Allah” recited before it is killed.

I’ve eaten food at McDonald’s in many countries, but there was something extra fascinating about sitting in a McDonald’s in a Dubai mall — surrounded by women wearing burkas, men in hijabs, robes and sandals, businessmen (and -women) in Armani, texting-hypnotized teens in torn jeans, and plain, regular tourists in baggy shorts and black socks. Tourism is Dubai’s No. 1 source of income.

You always hear, “No matter where on Earth you are, the food at McDonald’s always tastes the same.” Not true, and it wasn’t because I was eating the McArabia, available only in the Middle East. My first McArabia in Dubai tasted fresher, somehow. Maybe it was an efficient crew on the grill, or the shockingly polite counter person, or maybe halal law, or maybe just my expectations. I went back the next day, and my McArabia tasted just as terrific.

The fries — now, those did taste exactly the same as in America.

Source: Daily Press

people in the kingdom rely on the broadcast media about the proof of the holy month of Ramadan, and the media turn to receive the news through the legitimate astronomical bodies charged with monitoring the lunar crescent. Many of the countries of the world follow the Islamic month of Ramadan, as it was proofed in the Kingdom.

With proven Ramadan ,the joy the hearts spread to everyone in the Kingdom, as well as the phrases of congratulation , saying such as: (Ramadan Mubarak to you)

Usually, the people of the Kingdom the break their fast at sunset time with eating dates and drinking water, and shortly the muezzin at the mosque raises his voice to call for the prayer of Magrib and everyone leave thier food take the initiative of prayer.

After the completion of the prayers, all will go to start thier main course of the breakfast, headed by a plate of beans backed with the finest oils like municipal margarine , olive oil, as an undisputed leader in aditional food.

AND that plate plate of beans in the the kingdom has its own set of arts and Science ;there are usual or plane beans , and the dump, minced meat and beans, andhe tcocktail beans, beans wit eggs , beans and milk. The best types is that cooked beans is on burning coal(jamr) in which a small burning coal is the the margarine of the beans, then they cover dish to give a distinctive flavor.

It is common within the food breakfast table along with a plate of beans ,a dough stuffed with minced meat (Sambousah), soups of different types ,a bread called (Thames) and many other dishes for which people ofthe Kingdom has has been known to make in this holy month . And next to those wonderful dishes , there are the drinks like liquid yogurt and many juices like Alvimto.
The most famous types of confectionery, which are very popular in Ramadan Alknavah with cream) and Alqtaev with cream and Albesbosah and the Sham mussels.

Prior to the Ishaa (evening)and Taraweeh prayers, the people there drink red tea , and a Censer with its arabic fragrance passed around in the House – especially when it there are house guests .

There is tradition in some families to appoint a breakfast each day of Ramadan,starting with the Chief or the gead of family.

After eating breakfast everyone – men and women – go out perform the evening prayers and Taraweeh in the mosque. There is a special section of the mosque for women. The number of Taraweeh Rkaat (kneeling) prayers, IS varies .They pray 20 RAKAH in the Holy mosque and in some of the kingdom they only pray eight Rkaaat,but the majority pray twenty rak’ah. Following the prayers in the mosques, any of the the imam of the mosques are giving religious lessons.

After that people gather there every night in one of the houses, chatting for some time, and then go to sleep, and rise at the around midnight or later to eat suhur, which is characterized by the existence of (local bread) ,(Arab ghee) ,(milk) and (liver) ,(soup) ,(Altqatia) and sometimes (rice and chicken) and other popular dishes.

One of the main things in Saudi ARABIA In Ramadan is the changing working hours and office hours to fit in the muslims in the holy month, in which reduced the amount of working hours by an hour aday or more,taking into account the conditions of fasting.

The charity events (shops) spread all over the kingdom to collect donations , and everyone is invited to contribute to the needy and the poor individulas breakfast. Also Muslim are keen to establish charity banquets, and catering to needies on their own expenses. The cool water is distributed refrigerators that are found almost everywhere.

After the evening prayers and Taraweeh people get back to their social gathering that may last for some people – especially young people – till the suhur. women gather at one home, in the neighborhood a house of relatives or friends, and the place of the evening is called (Herjah).

In the second half of Ramadan, many Saudis wear clothes to perform the ritual pilgrimage, but in the last ten days of it, some of whom pull in the presentations of the Retreat Holy Mosque in Mecca.

And begin tahajjud prayer at mosques around the kingdom in th, and prae midnight it consists of Ten Rkaaat in which the three parts of the Koran is read daily, and those prayers will continue until after midnight or so.

After the twenty-seventh day of Ramadan, people begin distributing Zakah Fitr, and thier give aways on the poor and needy and the wayfarer, and continue to do so until shortly before the Eid prayer.

Has spread widely in the KSA are the breakfast tables, in the Islamic Communities foreign employment and resident in the Kingdom, and tables usually put near the mosques, or in places where there is the presence of such employment.

It is blessed habits in the kingdom to distribute light meals, breakfast at the traffic lights to those who Azan AlMagrib had cach them on the way to their homes, in accordance with the islamic custume to accelerate the break as soon as posisible .

Candle-lit dinners may be romantic, but researchers are warning they could be harmful to health.

South Carolina State University experts analysed the fumes released by burning candles in lab tests.

They found paraffin wax candles gave off harmful fumes linked to lung cancer and asthma – but admitted it would take many years’ use to risk health.

UK experts said smoking, obesity and alcohol were much more important in terms of cancer development.

And even the researchers admitted occasional candle use was not something people should worry about too much.

In terms of cancer, a far more significant type of indoor air pollution is second-hand cigarette smoke Joanna Owens, Cancer Research UK

Lead researcher Amid Hamidi said people who frequently used candles, for instance to help them relax in the bath or provide the right ambience for dinner, were most at risk.

He told the American Chemical Society in Washington: “An occasional paraffin candle and its emissions will not likely affect you.

“But lighting many paraffin candles every day for years or lighting them frequently in an un-ventilated bathroom around a tub, for example, may cause problems.”

To investigate candle emissions, the researchers burned a range of candles in the laboratory and collected the mixture of substances they gave off.

Paraffin-based candles produced “clear sharp peaks” for many chemicals, mainly because burning candles does not produce high enough temperatures to combust hazardous molecules such as toluene and benzene.

The scientists suggested switching to candles made from beeswax or soy, which did not release significant levels of the chemicals.

Evidence

But Dr Joanna Owens, from Cancer Research UK, said: “There is no direct evidence that everyday use of candles can affect our risk of developing cancer.

“In terms of cancer, a far more significant type of indoor air pollution is second-hand cigarette smoke.

“When talking about cancer risk, it’s important to focus on things we have hard evidence for.

“Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, obesity, unhealthy diets, inactivity and heavy sun exposure account for a much larger proportion of cancers.”

Dr Noemi Eiser, medical director at the British Lung Foundation, added: “We would like to reassure people that occasional use of paraffin candles should not pose any risk to their lung health.”

But she added people should still take “sensible precautions” such as ventilating rooms when burning candles.

Source: BBC

picture source: pakirecipes

Source: International Journal of Ramadan Fasting Research

Disclaimer: Wargeys editorial board does not support or oppose the views expressed in this article.

But this week as the FBI netted its first grand jury indictments in the case, many hope the arrests of two Somali men will spell the beginning of the end of an investigation that has wracked their struggling community.

Minneapolis is home about 32,000 Somalis _the largest population of Somali immigrants in the U.S. — most of whom fled the Somalia in the 1990s to escape a brutal civil war that plunged the country into chaos.

But in the last 18 months as many as 20 young men are believed to have left Minnesota to join al-Qaida-linked militants who want to establish an Islamic state in the Horn of Africa country, which is plagued by an ineffective central government. Family members say at least three of the missing men are now dead.

“The image of this community has been hit very hard the in the last few months,” said Farhan Hurre, executive director of the Abubakar As-Saddique mosque in Minneapolis. His mosque fell under suspicion as a recruiting site for some of the missing men.

After a monthslong FBI investigation, grand jury indictments against two men from Minnesota were unsealed Friday. The indictment accused Salah Osman Ahmed and Abdifatah Yusuf Isse of providing material support to terrorists and with conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim and injure. Ahmed is specifically accused of traveling to Somalia to fight with Islamic militants, according to the indictment.

It was not known if Isse also went to Somalia, though at least one community leader has described the two as “foot soldiers” not involved in planning or recruiting.

Attorneys for Ahmed, 26, and Isse, whose age is not known, didn’t respond Tuesday to phone messages or e-mails seeking comment. Both men are in custody, with Ahmed scheduled for a detention hearing Thursday. Family members told a community advocate they believed Isse was cooperating with authorities; neither prosecutors nor the FBI are talking about the case.

Hurre said he didn’t know either of the indicted men but couldn’t say for sure if either spent time at his mosque. But he said the community is relieved that indictments might help ease the mistrust that had been brewing between neighbors.

“A lot of people are looking to go forward with their lives,” he said Tuesday.

But others worry that the men still missing in Somalia could continue to tarnish their community that already faces racial discrimination and religious misunderstanding.

“A few individuals don’t make up the reality of this community,” said Hindia Ali, 23, a college student who knew one of the missing men.

Somalis flocked to Minnesota in large numbers starting in the early 1990s attracted by the state’s generous social services and an active religious community with a history of reaching out to refugees from impoverished and unstable nations.

Many settled in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood directly east of downtown Minneapolis, an area now home to numerous mosques, Somali-owned shops and restaurants, and a series of aging high-rise apartment buildings occupied almost entirely by Somali families. The cities of St. Paul, Rochester and numerous Twin Cities suburbs are also home to sizable and growing Somali populations.

As with many new immigrant groups, Somalis have struggled for an economic and cultural foothold. The state demographer estimates a little more than half of Minnesota’s Somalis live in poverty.

Minneapolis police officers and Somali community activists have reported increasing gang membership among young Somali males, and a series of seven slayings of young Somali men in 2008 has been attributed to gang warfare.

Hurre, the mosque director, said the disappearances have produced not just a negative image of Somalis but friction within the Somali community itself.

“There was some fingerpointing, some asking who could have allowed something like this to happen, an internal tug of war,” he said.

But there is also hope among the families of those who have died or are missing in Somalia that the indictments will deter other young Somali men from making the same mistake.

“They are dying like flies,” said Hussein Samatar, uncle of Burhan Hassan, whose family learned in June had been killed and buried in Mogadishu, the Somali capitol. “Anybody who has any sense would know what has happened to these young men would know that the same thing would be in store for them.”

Ramla Bile

Despite fears of distractions from  the missing Somali youth saga that has engulfed the Somali community in Minnesota, the Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center held its 9th Annual Convention at the Minneapolis Convention Center over the  weekend where thirty speakers addressed 10,000 people over three days. Participants said it was encouraging to see the number of attendees, the breadth of topics, and the scope of talent.

Despite a tumultuous year, the mosque saw increased attendance at this year’s convention and a spike in monetary support. Since last fall, the mosque has come under fire for the “missing youth” debacle, a connection that the mosque administrators and its supporters continue to deny. People close to the mosque did not believe the annual event would occur this year, they feared that the need to address the allegations would distract the administration and volunteers from organizing the convention. But after successfully meeting fundraising goals and having a record attendance with the help of 200 volunteers, the Abubakar community believes it maintains the trust and love of the Somali community. “This crowd and their energy is a testimony to their commitment to the mosque and its respected leaders,” attendee Ali Abdi said.

People travelled from Columbus, Nashville, Toronto, Kansas City, and across the United States and Canada to listen, learn, and meet. Hundreds of others logged-in to a live broadcast through several websites that serve the Somali community. Twenty-year-old Anab Ibrahim travelled from Seattle to attend the convention. “We came because my aunt was impressed with the line-up. When we arrived, we were amazed with the number of people we saw standing and sitting around in the lobby… we were even more shocked to see the packed auditorium,” she said. At the peak of the event on Saturday, an estimated 7,000 thousand people filled the two auditoriums. Anab said she especially enjoyed the English lectures. “Other conferences are only about the politics of Somalia, and often make us feel hopeless. This was applicable to our lives here and our faith. It showed me what we could do for our community and ourselves.”

Speakers addressed a wide range of topics, including the future of Somalis in the diaspora, the prevalence of autism, the importance of knowing your rights, the danger of gangs and extremism, the notion of Islam as mercy among others.

The only wrinkle on the conference was keynote speaker, Sheikh Mustafa Harun, being denied entry to the United States upon landing at Newark airport. He ultimately addressed the audience via webcam the following day. Participants expressed outrage over their revered scholar being denied entry. Harun said he checked in with the U.S. Embassy in Norway weeks prior to his scheduled flight and was told he should not encounter any issues. Norway has a visa waiver program with the United States. Despite his attempt at planning ahead, he did not make it to the convention. After a 9-hour flight, he was questioned for 3 hours and was told that although his identity was cleared, he must leave the country. He was allowed to make a call before boarding another 9-hour flight back to Norway.

Other speakers included imams from around the U.S. including Minnesota, among them Sheikh Abdirahman Sheikh Omar, Sheikh Abdirizak Hashi, Sheikh Jamel Bin Ameur, and others. Audience members were astounded by the knowledge and wit of 12-year-old Mohamud Ahmed Mohamud, who was introduced as “Sheikh Mohamud.” He related the story of Salman Al-Farisi, a historic figure in Islamic history, and spoke on the importance of seeking knowledge and asking questions. He shared the Somali proverb of regret where a person says, “when I had youth, I did not want to learn, and when I had age, I wished I had learned during my youth.” Mohamud says he wanted to send a strong message to the youth, and encourage them to take advantage of their time. “I want young people to step up to the plate because I see so much good in them and it’s time for the youth to rise,” he said. Mohamud spent the past three years helping in the bookstore of the mosque, reading and writing as he could.

Gubernatorial candidate Steve Kelley, and Constituent Advocate to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Siad Ali spoke on the health, education, and anti-immigration sentiment. Klobuchar addressed the audience by video where she touched on the cultural and intellectual wealth Somalis bring to Minnesota. Minneapolis welcomed Abukar Arman, the President of the CAIR chapter in Columbus who did a “know your rights” presentation in Somali, while members of the local chapter of CAIR did a program in English. “It’s important for people to understand their legal rights and the implications of their actions – intentional or not. Wanting a lawyer is not an omission of guilt. We want people to cooperate with law enforcement and we want them to know their rights,” he said. Arman also addressed the allegations against certain mosques in the city, saying that, “we’re finding that people are being judged by public opinion, which is ridiculous because this is a nation of law and order, and rumors should not absolve or condemn people or institutions of allegations. Rather, this should be determined by an established legal process.”

Poets Sara Mohamed and Maryam Warsame made their début at the convention. Warsame is one of three organizers for the mosque’s “Youth to Youth” group, a mentorship program for young women. Sara is a student in the program, and the two began writing together this winter. They rhymed about the situation of women in their homeland, and shared the stories of those who did not find relief. “We don’t want to be famous, we just want to get message out and not forget about those who are suffering,” Warsame said. She added that the convention was a good opportunity for students to share their work.

In addition to the poetry and lectures, the convention also included a fundraising component. In a little over an hour, participants pledged $150,000 to help cover expenses incurred over the construction of the second floor of the mosque, as well as to jump-start the next phase of development. The administration hopes to complete the parking lot and make the exterior of the building more visually pleasing.

It is difficult to imagine that this is the same institution that operated from a garage in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood – the epicenter of the city’s newest wave of immigrants. Founding member Abdulaziz Sugule says this vision for a mosque comprehensively serving the community started over a decade ago and the organization began operations in 2000. Then called the Imam Shafi’i Mosque, the name was changed to the Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center and the organization moved to an abandoned warehouse in South Minneapolis. “Today, that vision is a five million dollar project,” Sugule said. “The mosque plays a major role in advancing the community; it consists of all kinds of social services including providing family counseling, settling community disputes, celebrating Islamic holidays, working with local and national government leaders, mentoring youth, and providing a place of Islamic worship and education,” he said.

Looking up with a smile, he added, “Contrary to what some people are saying, they (the mosque administration) are trying to build a healthy community with good people… they’re starting a movement for positive change and people love the place and its people.”

By Abdulkadir Khalif

That night for the first time in many months, my wife and I were together alone without the kids. There were no late turn-ins of home works to fight about, no making sure that the TV is off and everybody in bed by 10:00PM, and most memorable of all no shrieking screams and high speed chases of beautiful Abdimalik. We both missed that somewhat and were amused by it too. We had no car to get around and no knowledge of the neighborhood either. We were however thankful for the McDonalds around the corner from our hotel. Despite our misgivings about fast food restaurants we decided to indulge a little that night since it was so different from any other. Rosemont is a beautiful city and reminded us of Bloomington, MN in many ways. Crossing the street between Marriott and Westin Hotels was a little inconvenience we could tolerate considering the otherwise impeccable planning of the conference.

The conference started as scheduled on Wednesday 05/19/2009. There was a steady flow of people from all over the world interacting, exchanging business cards, dishing out flyers, displaying merchandise on hurriedly laid out tables and booths. Many who have met before were busy catching up on stories and developments of the past 12 months. We were conspicuous because of Quresha’s attire and my height and many who recognized me from the name tag were eager to hear our stories. We basked in that attention and glory until the rest of our delegation arrived and diluted that somewhat.

While Quresha was mostly busy attending lectures, I was tied up either by welcoming and checking in the new arrivals or seeking out people I have communicated with for nearly a year but never met. The first one I ran into obviously was Teri of Autism One, thus finally connecting the name to a face; ‘one down’ I mused. I had no idea how many more names I would connect to their faces but as it turned out there would be many. By the time all the delegates arrived there would be a total of nine men and nine women representing sixteen families some of who had more than one autistic child. It was the only time in living memory that the Somali people agreed on an equal representation between men and women on anything. It was also the only occasion I could remember where Somali men and women from every region of the Somali territories (Eastern Ethiopia, Northern Kenya, Somalia proper and Djibouti) came together, some conservative, others liberal, some traditional, others not so traditional, but all united for a common cause – the fight against autism and the welfare of their children. Here whether one likes it or not history has been made.

Autism One 2009 was a gigantic undertaking by any standards. In attendance were every private company or organization involved in autism or autism related goods and services. There were countless number of non-profit organizations and individuals each eager to display their wares and services. The hotel lobby was a like a bazaar in Cairo or Mumbai where goods ranging from latest electronic devices to herbs from exotic plants are sold. Doctors and other scientists mingled with the crowds between lectures answering questions by curious and anxious parents.  Many parents who came with their ASD kids clung to them as they elbowed their way through the mass of humanity. Cameras flashed as people took turns for a snapshot with celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy and other household names. Lawyers, Doctors and other professionals held training seminars for their junior partners while parents learned new ways of enriching the nutritional needs of their families. In an impromptu meeting held on the sidelines of the conference our delegation realized that we have to split up and attend different sessions and later compare notes and exchange knowledge.   Those who have limited language proficiency were advised to pick up as much literature as possible. Conspicuously absent were all levels of government agencies that would have autism and other public health issues in their docket.
What did we learn from Chicago2009?

How much of what we learned can we bring back to our communities? How do we now rate our understanding of autism and what might have caused injuries to our children? Is there hope for our kids or should we give up the fight and resign to fate just like government agencies and their supporters are telling us? Is it true that some kids are actually recovering and if so how can we do what those parents are doing? Or is ASD just like HIV AIDS where susceptibility is uniform but treatment is discriminatory? What will happen to all those kids whose parents cannot afford expensive biomedical and other alternative methods of treatment? Are there adequate trained personnel in our communities to handle this epidemic (pandemic?). Did we learn anything that would help us challenge politicians, healthcare workers and school districts? Did we hear anything about possible legal redress for the injury to our kids and if so did we learn where to begin? The answer to all these questions is a resounding YES.

We are empowered and fired up and ready to mobilize. We will find ways to recover our injured children and try to make sure that no more children are injured. We will mobilize resources and rally families. We will tell it the way it is without fear and very eloquently-that irresponsible vaccine administration can and did injure our kids. We can relate to countless cases of kids getting very sick on the day of their vaccination and regressing thereafter. We will seek out all mothers of new born babies and all new couples in order to educate them on potential hazards and what their rights are. We will knock on doors at the Capital and all other corridors of power until our voices are heard and adequate steps are taken to stop any further injuries to our children. We will challenge government and academia to live up to their promise of finding the root cause and possible cures for this new public health crisis. We will demand admittance by public health officials that there is a crises in general and that an autism cluster exists in the Twin Cities Metro area, and that it is much more serious than both the department of education and department of health are willing to admit. We will remind them that they have to some extent already admitted that there is prevalence of autism within the Somali immigrant community of Minneapolis. We will make them realize that the numbers are equally bad if not worse in St. Paul and in all the surrounding suburbs of the Twin Cities. We will seek political intervention if need be to make sure our voice is heard.
What did we do after returning from Chicago 2009?

Dozens of families anxiously awaited our return. A few skeptics did not expect any benefits from our visit and some hoped that we have finally found the miracle cure for our children. Both groups were willing to listen to us and actually sought us out. In numerous gatherings in homes, Halal stores and coffee shops and in countless phone calls desperate parents gathered information on doctors, researchers and products they could seek. Mothers of Somali ASD children formed groups called ‘Ayuuta’ to finance expensive biomedical and other alternative therapies that have worked for so many other parents they met at the conference. Ayuutas are traditional micro-finance instruments that disburse interest free loans to members on a rotational basis. It is a system based solely on trust and is mostly managed and run by women for women. Members contribute a fixed amount of money every month and take turns in borrowing for emergencies such as medical problems or to help with funeral expenses. Some ayuutas even lend money for business investments and education loans. In this particular case several mothers have got together to form an ayuuta to fund their children’s biomedical treatments.

Meanwhile, opportunists and desperate government officials are hurriedly putting together another forum to address the issue of autism within the Somali immigrant communities of the Twin Cities metro area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. A senior official of the CDC was to visit the State and talk with the parents and care-givers in Minnesota. The purpose of the meeting was to once again alley fears about the association between vaccines and autism. It was becoming evident that many families are not vaccinating their children anymore because there was no clear explanation of the causes and cures of autism. While everybody is now in agreement that a cluster of autism exists in Minneapolis, nobody can yet explain why. This unfortunate circumstance is not helpful in reassuring parents that vaccines are safe. As a matter of fact many families are now reluctant to vaccinate their children and are becoming aware that they cannot be forced to do that. Doctors and nurses are at pains to try to explain the safety of vaccines and the only people they rely on to pass the word around is a few individuals and organizations who have not been personally touched by autism or who would rather make a quick buck than worry about the safety and wellbeing of innocent children. Parents United against Autism (PAA) is not one such organization. The Minnesota Department of Health and its associates do not invite us to their meetings and forums, nor are we desperate for their ears. We have good ideas on what caused injuries to our kids and we believe that we have found the right path to their treatment and possible cure. We also believe that we have found partners and well-wishers in our struggle. We are excited by the prospects of rescuing this generation. We hope and pray that our hopes and dreams will not be in vain.

Upon my return I got a long phone call from a father of a 4-1/2 year old autistic boy from Indianapolis, IN. His son was born in Kenya in 2005 and came to the USA two years later. He was a joyous handsome boy who spoke his mother tongue very well. The family lived in Nairobi in a crowded apartment building where one room was used as a prayer room where children from other apartments gathered in the evenings to chant Koranic verses. The little boy picked up a lot of those chants and could repeat them very eloquently. His father who travelled to Kenya to relocate the family was very excited about the prospects for the brilliant little boy in the USA. On arrival in Indianapolis, the family was taken through the usual ritual of ‘cleansing’ by numerous vaccinations. One of the vaccines the little boy got was the MMR, the major suspect in autism causation. A few weeks later, the new arrivals were shocked to see their little talkative boy slowly crawl into a shell of isolation and silence. The boy could not relate to his parents and siblings anymore. He could not repeat the chants he so well knew and proudly repeated to his dad. He lost all eye contacts and was like an elephant in a china shop. The family’s life has been turned upside down. His story was so similar to my own and I could definitely relate to his pain. The only thing I could do was to reassure him that there is hope and he should not give up on his son.

The first night after our arrival back in Minneapolis, I took a hard look at my son Abdimalik as he peacefully slept in his bed. I rearranged his posture so that I could take a better look at his beautiful face. He is a deep sleeper and even snores a little-that is music to our ears. As I stood there looking down at him I heard myself saying to myself:  “Malik. I went to Chicago to learn and visit with other parents. I learned many people and many things. I am more hopeful now that we can find a cure for your condition. I know there is a cure out there somewhere and many parents have found it for their children. I promise you son that I will also find it. Whether it is in far away Fiji Island or high up Fuji Mountain I will find it. So sleep my love and you will be okay soon.”

Abdulkadir Khalif is a contributing editor to Age of Autism and runs Parents United Against Autism in Minnesota.

Bibi Abdalla graduated from the College of Saint Benedict this spring, in the first group of twelve students in the iLEAD program. (Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi)
Frightened and knowing no one, Bibi Abdalla, of St. Paul, entered college with one thought: get in, get her education and get out.

But taking part in the Intercultural Leadership, Education and Development fellowship program at the College of St. Benedict made campus feel like home. Her peers in the program, which helps low-income minority students become the first in their families to go to college, became close friends.

“Family,” is how Abdalla describes them. “I love them the same way I love my siblings.”

This past May, the 20-year-old Abdalla was among the first to graduate through the program known as I-LEAD. A political science major, she is now heading to a public affairs fellowship in Missouri.

Based at St. Benedict and nearby St. John’s University in central Minnesota, the I-LEAD program gives students a yearly $9,000 grant, other financial aid and mentors. Participants take part in seminars and other group activities that promote camaraderie.

Through her school, Abdalla snatched up service opportunities that took her from China to Trinidad to Kenya.

Born in Somalia, Abdalla moved to Kenya as a toddler with her family as they fled a civil war. There, her education was informal. But a math tutor at a refugee camp helped Abdalla succeed when her family settled in the United States in 1997.

She so impressed her teachers at schools in St. Paul that they let her skip a few grades. “(I was) always raising my hand in class,” Abdalla said. She graduated from Arlington High School.

Her college education was a big milestone for a family with a difficult, jumbled history. Two of her nine siblings have died. And one sister nearly drowned trying to escape to Greece.

“War breaks up families,” Abdalla said. “It’s not about staying together; it’s surviving.”

When looking at colleges, Abdalla wanted somewhere close to her family in Minnesota.

While many students in the I-LEAD program are from the Twin Cities, it attracts others from as far as New Jersey and Los Angeles. And they take active roles in campus life, participating in clubs, tutoring and serving in student government.

Theo Hoglund, of St. Paul, once considered dropping out of St. John’s before I-LEAD advisers sat down with him and helped address a financial gap, he said. It was help like that and the positive influence of I-LEAD members that kept him going.

“To be honest, I think I wouldn’t have graduated without them,” Hoglund said.

Abdalla adds that she could always count on Hoglund, too.

In summer 2007, with a campus service group, Abdalla returned to Nairobi, a hometown she no longer recognized.

“It was overcrowded. I had never seen so many beggars,” said Abdalla, who gave to some of the beggars before friends had to pull her away from the swelling crowd. “It honestly tore my stomach apart.”

Abdalla will be among 68 Coro Fellows nationwide when she begins the nine-month public-affairs graduate program at the Coro Leadership Center in St. Louis. The study is part of a lifelong vision, she said.

“I think to myself, ‘Hey, I came into this world at the start of a civil war,’ ” said Abdalla, who is considering United Nations diplomacy as a career option. “But when I leave this world, to have helped stabilized one country — that would mean a lot.”

Source: pioneerpress

Lien Hoang can be reached at 651-228-5480.

TO KNOW MORE

For more information on the I-LEAD program, go online to csbsju.edu/i-lead.

lhoang@pioneerpress.com