Page 20 - Pakistan Link - July 30, 2021

P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – JULY 30, 2021 COMMUNITY
Honoring Uncles and Aunts email, texting or just FaceTime.
n By C. Naseer Ahmad them either directly via phone,

uly 26 every year is a very Sometimes this communication
special day around many is through cousins who pass mes-
Jcountries in the world for sages of love back and forth.
honoring Uncle and Aunts. The Since Toronto, Canada is
website National- within driving distance from
Today.com pro- Washington, I have made it a
vides a very good point to visit my Uncle Mubashar
perspective: “Our Ahmad, who is the only one left
aunts and uncles amongst my father’s siblings. His
are unique parts loving wife Aunty Salam is one of
of our family; the two surviving siblings of my
they can be like mother. Since the pandemic has
a second set of parents, or great resulted in travel restrictions, we
friends you happen to be related now meet on FaceTime. They are
to. Often, they’ve watched us my heroes because without their
grow up, and are full of stories financial support, I could not have
about things we did in our youth achieved education in the US.
we might not even remember.” (Left): Col Aziz Ahmad and Begum Hamida Aziz (author’s late parents) with his father’s younger brother Mr Mubashar Ahmad The most impressive thing
People say that in “the Ashan- (Right): Chaudhry Mubashar Ahmad in front of the shed he built all by himself in Toronto about Uncle Mubashar even after
ti tribe of Ghana, aunts and uncles two heart attacks is that he has not
can sometime discipline and raise but there are some human bonds beneficiary of the love and kind- for the elders allows one to build only continued his active life but
their siblings’ children”. They’re that have withstood a lot of stress hearted support of so many aunts a meaningful relationship with also built a shed in his backyard
essentially a second set of par- and the test of time. Among those and uncles. The memories are still them. with bare hands. For a man in his
ents, who your real parents trust bonds is the relationship and re- fresh, and the impressions on our Love and respect for the el- eighties, he has a teenager’s eager-
the most because, well, they were spect for uncles and aunts. character eternally etched. Each ders, which certainly includes ness to learn.
raised together. Some note that “in Quite possibly you might be one taught me something that is uncles and aunts, is not a one-way Life is short so chances are
Polynesian cultures, anyone older thinking about the uncles and not only with me but also made street. Rather, it can become a that when you look at family al-
than you may be addressed as aunt aunts in your own family and me a better human being. gift that keeps on giving. By giv- bums, you might see pictures of
or uncle as a term of respect and through the different stages of life. Believers see guidance in ing love and respect to uncles and people who are not around any-
endearment. For readers of South The smiling faces and the loving their lives often from the sayings aunts, you are setting a path for more. So, look around and if you
Asian origin, these values would embraces of one or more of these of the Prophet who said: “He is the children to follow, and this cy- are lucky to have your uncles and
sound familiar and the natural family elders will come into your not of us who does not have mer- cle of love and respect will forever aunts around be sure to reach out
outcome of what they have expe- mind, not to mention how many cy on young children, nor honor continue in your family. to them. There are many ways
rienced in their own families. times they might have overlooked the elderly” (Al-Tirmidhi). From This writer is lucky to have to be in touch and show respect.
The push and pull in mod- some of your own mistakes. the Prophet’s life and his love for several uncles and aunts who are Spend some quality time with
ern living have in perhaps far too This is certainly true for this his elders one can understand the still around. It is my good fortune them, share a meal or tea together
many ways impacted family life writer who has been the fortunate wisdom which means that respect to be able to communicate with or just call to say thank you.
Noor Mukadam’s Killing Ignites a Wave of Fury Fauci Advises Mask Anti-Muslim Hate

n By Blake Montgomery Indoors in View of Crimes on the Rise,
Delta Claims CAIR
our days after the headless
body of a former Pakistani n By Dr Catherine Schuster-Bruce
Fdiplomat’s young daughter n By Yacob Reyes
was discovered in Islamabad, her
death has ignited a wave of fury ully vaccinated Americans ases of discrimination and
across the globe and sparked calls may “want to consider” harassment against Muslim
for stronger protections for wom- Fmasks indoors, Dr Anthony CAmericans spiked in May
en in Pakistan. Fauci said. and June, according to a report pub-
Near the Toronto waterfront, He said the Delta variant had an lished by the Council of American-
writer and activist Zahra Haider— “extraordinary capability of trans- Islamic Relations.
who grew up with both the 27-year- mitting from person to person.” CAIR publishes an annual report
old victim, Noor Mukadam, and her More fully vaccinated Ameri- documenting anti-Muslim bias inci-
alleged killer, Zahir Jaffer—hosted cans are getting COVID-19, albeit dents but elected to release a mid-year
a vigil in Queen’s Park on Friday with milder, or no, symptoms. report given the recent spike.
night. Dr Anthony Fauci, the US’s top The report, which was released
Haider opened the vigil with infectious-disease expert, said fully on Wednesday, concentrates on 38
a quote from writer Mohammed vaccinated people might “want to of the hundreds of cases CAIR has
Hanif: “There was not a single day— consider” wearing masks indoors to documented, the organization said in
when she didn’t see a woman shot help protect against the Delta coro- a news release.
or hacked, strangled or suffocated, lice and Shaukat Mukadam arrived. tections from domestic violence. navirus variant, which is spreading According to the group, the re-
poisoned or burnt, hanged or bur- “There is no doubt he did it,” Mourners and protesters online fast across the country. port aims to provide “a glimpse of the
ied alive... Most of life’s arguments, it Shaukat Mukadam told Dawn. “My organized around the hashtag #Jus- Fauci, who is President Joe day-to-day lives of Muslims in Amer-
seemed, got settled by doing various daughter was innocent and loved ticeforNoor. In Lahore, demonstra- Biden’s chief medical advisor, told ica who continue to face the deadly
things to a woman’s body.” animals; I have served the nation, tors gathered and held signs reading, CNBC on Wednesday that “if you threat of Islamophobia.”
Haider said she had known and I want justice.” “Let us breath” and “Protect your want to go the extra mile of safe- Details: The mid-year report
both Mukadam and Jaffer for many The circumstances surrounding daughters, Educate your sons.” ty even though you’re vaccinated documented a surge in anti-Muslim
years, but she is speaking out now Mukadam’s death are not entirely The death has also shaken when you’re indoors, particularly in hate crimes following the Israeli-Pal-
about what she knows because she clear. She had told her parents she Pakistan’s upper echelon. Pakistani crowded places, you might want to estinian conflict in May. The group
fears he could get away with the al- was going to Lahore for a few days, Foreign Ministry’s Zahid Chaudhri consider wearing a mask.” also noted a rise in anti-mosque inci-
leged murder. but authorities say cell phone data wrote that he was “deeply saddened” Fauci said wearing a mask in- dents involving vandalism and physi-
“He’s very well-connected. I shows she never left Islamabad. by news of Mukadam’s murder. doors was “suggested” when a virus cal assaults.
want to ensure that he can’t use his Details of the relationship be- The shock of her death was was spreading fast in a community. The report found that bullying
privilege to get out of this,” she told tween Jaffer and Mukadam also deeply felt in Toronto, where Haid- The Delta variant is more infec- against Muslim students continues
The Daily Beast. remain murky. Jaffer, whose fam- er said between 40 and 50 people tious and has mutations that help it to rise at a rapid rate, highlighting an
The body of Mukadam, the ily was reportedly acquainted with gathered in Queen’s Park on Friday avoid the body’s immune response. instance where a Muslim child was al-
daughter of former Pakistani ambas- Shaukat, called the former ambas- to honor Mukadam. Some of her As it spreads in the US, more fully legedly called a terrorist by his teacher.
sador to South Korea Shaukat Mu- sador to say that Mukadam was not extended family was in attendance vaccinated Americans are catching What they’re saying: “Islamopho-
kadam, was found earlier last week with him on July 20, the same night at the vigil, where mourners shared COVID-19 - albeit with milder, or bia should not be normal. I can tell
in Jaffer’s house in one of Islamabad’s her body was discovered. memories of Mukadam, prayers for no, symptoms. you that many Muslims around this
wealthiest neighborhoods. The body Islamabad police have request- her, and tears for roughly two hours. “This virus is clearly different country and around the world, those
bore marks of torture and a stab ed Jaffer be placed on the exit con- “It was the least that I could do,” than the viruses and the variants that who live as minorities, they started
wound in the temple, and police trol list, as he is a citizen of both the Haider said of the vigil. “I just want we’ve had experience with before,” to feel that Islamophobia is part of
have recovered both a knife and a US and Pakistan. He had previously to ensure that it doesn’t die out.” Fauci said. “It has an extraordinary normal life. It should not be, and we
pistol from the home. been deported from the United She said she had felt uncom- capability of transmitting from per- should not accept it,” said CAIR Ex-
Jaffer, the son of an influential Kingdom as the result of a sexual ha- fortable around Jaffer since she son to person.” ecutive Director Nihad Awad, per the
Islamabad businessman, was arrest- rassment and rape case against him, knew him as a child, when she said The Centers for Disease Control news release.
ed at the scene and has been charged according to Dawn. he was “very jumpy.” and Prevention recommends that “Islamophobia is a danger and
with Mukadam’s murder. He had The grisly death, along with the “I wasn’t too friendly with him. fully vaccinated people don’t need to threat not only to Muslims but to all
allegedly attempted to attack those deaths of two other women killed He was always more introverted. At wear masks, except in certain situa- our societies and the peace of our
who first arrived on the scene, and this week in Pakistan, has reignited social gatherings, he was always in tions, for example ,during flights. communities,” he added. - Axios
was subsequently tied up when po- calls for reform and greater pro- MUKADAM, P28 FAUCI, P28 Markets
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