Hollywood Director Sean Stone Converted To Islam, US Media Criticizes

Sean Stone, son of controversial director Oliver Stone, converted to Islam in Iran last week and says he’s already experiencing a Hollywood backlash.

The ceremony was held in Isfahan, where he is researching a documentary. He now goes by the name of Sean Christopher Ali Stone.

He told Page Six: “I’ve already experienced the reverse of anti-Semitism, having people within the film industry express a reluctance to work with me now that I have said a simple prayer, ‘There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his messenger.’ I am sure I have [bleeped] off some powerful people.” Speaking over dinner at Barrio 47, Sean told us, “Having read the Koran and having been around the Islamic culture, especially in Iran, I do believe that Mohammed is a prophet of the same god worshipped by other religions.

“I am of a Jewish bloodline, a baptized Christian who accepts Christ’s teachings, the Jewish Old Testament and the Holy Koran. I believe there is one God, whether called Allah or Jehovah or whatever you wish to name him. He creates all peoples and religions. I consider myself a Jewish Christian Muslim.

“What I am trying to do is open up a dialogue about religion. There is such Islamophobia in the West. Islam is not a religion of violence any more than Judaism or Christianity is.”

He said his dad welcomed the move.

“My dad said, ‘Allah be with you.’ My father understands that I am trying to bridge certain gaps and bring about peace.”

But he has been shocked by the reaction from others. Sean, about to release his horror movie “Graystone,” said, “I didn’t realize I would be so vilified. It is almost like I am a criminal for having accepted Islam. I didn’t realize Islamophobia was that deep. People have speculated that I have done this because I am from a spoiled family or that I am lost and trying to find myself. That is ridiculous.

“I don’t care if I get criticized. If I can open up a debate about religion and create some understanding, then it is worth it.”

Via NyPost

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Sri Lanka beat Australia by 9 runs

Melbourne: Sri Lanka beat Australia by 9 runs to qualify for the CB Series finals against the same opposition, knocking India out, on Friday.

Chasing a target of 239, Australia lost Matthew Wade (9) and David Warner (6) early. India's hopes may have been kept alive by Shane Watson who smashed 65 with five boundaries. Once his partner in Michael Hussey left, the hopes of a win for the hosts and a qualification for India began to fade.

David Hussey anchored himself to deny Sri Lanka but failed to find a partner to manage the other end. Daniel Chirstian (3), James Pattinson (12) and Clint McKay (6) left without any intention of mounting a fight.

Earlier in the day, Daniel Christian became the first Australian to take an ODI hat-trick since Brett Lee nearly a decade ago as Sri Lanka struggled to 238 at the MCG.

Sangakkara and Chandimal put on 123 for the third wicket and Lahiru Thirimanne made a useful 51 but too many of the batsmen fell for single figures and Sri Lanka were dismissed from the last ball of the 50th over.

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Is Mohammad Amir in Love with his Lawyer Sajida Malik ?

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Samarah Sets World Record In Arts In CIE Exams

KARACHI: Art reaches beyond all social, cultural and religious bounds and so its significance is far-reaching and profound. Where people may think that the importance of arts is ebbing away, Samrah Tariq proves it otherwise.

Setting a world record in CIE exams 2011 in Arts, Samarah, from Happy Home School, Karachi, is the only student from Pakistan to have set benchmarks of accomplishments and achieved CIE Outstanding Achievers Awards this year.

In a subject less opted in Pakistan yet drawing enormous traction through out the world, Samarah’s achievement has only manifested the fact that despite lack of rudimentary encouragement and incentives, Pakistan’s got burgeoning talent that wins its way through all hurdles.

“It was the best moment of my life to hear my principal breaking the news of my achievement. The only feelings I had were of awe and happiness. My inspirations are my art teacher and my mother who showed faith in my work and skills.”

Rubeena Shafiq, the proud art teacher said, ‘ Where arts as a subject is somehow underrated in terms of the career opportunities it reaps for the students in Pakistan, it is a widely revered discipline and offers a great paths in terms of career as well. By snubbing the importance of art, we in fact limit and underrate the importance of free expression and creativity-things that have led us to reach the state of disillusionment we are in, at present.’

Last year also, the award was secured by another gem from St. Josephs Convent School, Karachi

While these outstanding achievers make us proud, it is hoped that they stay sure-footed to set benchmarks of excellence in both academics and non-academics and continue to make their country proud.

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Voter verification: Election Commission of Pakistan launches SMS service

In a bid to remove errors from electoral lists, 

the Election Commission of Pakistan

 has launched a SMS service to facilitate

 85 million voters to verify their votes

In a bid to remove errors from electoral lists, the Election Commission of Pakistan has launched a SMS service to facilitate 85 million voters to verify their votes.

The service has been launched in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority to help registered voters check the status of their votes and particulars.

Registered voters can send their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNIC) number without hyphens via SMS to 8300 at anytime from anywhere in the country. After sending the SMS, the voter will subsequently receive a message in Urdu containing their name, village, city, tehsil or district, location (electoral area) and the serial number of vote registered in the preliminary electoral rolls.

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ALERT Senior al-Qaeda leader Saif al-Adel arrested in Egypt

Cairo: Senior al-Qaeda leader Saif al-Adel has been arrested at the Cairo airport in Egypt, media reports said on Wednesday.

According to reports, Adel travelled from Pakistan to Egypt via Dubai.

He was among those on the  Most Wanted List of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with 5 million dollar bounty on his head and was  hing ranking leaders of al-Qaeda leaders.

He was also expected  to be new chief of al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden’s demise but Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri was given the charge of global terror outfit.

  Egyptian born Adel was head of the military wing of al-Qaeda .

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