Author: A fellow Muslim
“Injustice everywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” – MLK
We live in times where people have become very materialistic and selfish. We are all racing against time to achieve that which we think will earn us success and wealth – to a point where we are often inconsiderate to the people around us who are suffering in poverty. We no longer care about what others are going through – and the only times we do something to help is when someone else takes the lead. Ramy Zamzam was that leader for many of us living in the D.C area. And, although I never got to speak with him one on one – it was crystal clear that he was passionate about helping people in need though words and actions. As the president of D.C Council MSA he organized an event called Project Downtown. This event was aimed at feeding the homeless people in D.C and it gave other MSA’s in Virginia, D.C and Maryland the opportunity to gather and do something for their community. I was an active member of the D.C Council events and project downtown and would often attend because of the great opportunities it gave me and my fellow Muslim youth. In his time at the D.C Council Ramy also organized an event called “The Battle of MSA’s” where MSA’s from the area got to showcase their Islamic Knowledge. It was in these gatherings that I often saw Ramy Zamzam in – he was always smiling and helping people around him. I never knew anything but good of this youth.
His arrest completely came to me as shock – terrorism? You must be kidding me. This wasn’t the kind of person who would indulge in such activities. He helped the poor of D.C and encouraged others to do so when the prominent leaders of the capital were turning their eyes on their own poor people – as if they don’t exist.
Although, I don’t know much about what has caused the arrest of Ramy Zamzam and the other brothers in Pakistan – I do know that time and again innocent people like Ramy have been preyed upon by vultures who wear uniforms be it in America or elsewhere. I might be naïve when it comes to knowing about the political system of Pakistan but I am aware of the corruption that is going on there.
Ramy Zamzam was very practicing Muslim from what I saw and therefore very tolerant of others as well. And, this is not the first time that a Muslim has been framed with allegations of terrorism. Let’s not forget Gitmo Bay – and the thousands of Muslim men who were arrested merely because of their faith. Let’s not forget the numerous false accusations Pakistan has made in the past just to gain that “extra” support from the West.
May the Almighty God give Ramy Zamzam and the rest of the brothers who are trapped in Pakistan the courage to endure this horrible injustice. And, may Allah Ta’aal give the parents of these young men the patience to endure this tragedy. I have no doubt that justice shall be served one day inshAllah either on this world or the hereafter – and that day those who accuse these men will see the truth.
Reporting from Sargodha Live as the current trial is going on…..I just wrote a nice long message to post and stupid facebook didn’t post it….So this one is going to be short but I will keep you guys updated. To keep things simple, All is going well for the 5 brothers and inshAllah we are working on finding 5 nice sisters for them. We all know they wanted to get married, and that too to Pakistani girls, expecially Ramy who has demanded his wife be able to make Golab jamens. They are beng given good food and recreational activities, but a jail cell is no place for a human being to sleep at night, so keep praying that they get released as soon as possible and be able to sleep as free men in their own homes with their families. Sorry for not at least sending some kind of message to those for are concerned for Waqar and the other 4. I know this is going to be hard to do, but I ask that friends and families no longer take stress over the 5 as they are in Allah’s hand, and he knows better than any one else in the world that these kids are extremly nice to anyone they meet including small insects, which they would catch in the mosque and release outside rather than killing the insect, and knowing this I am confident Allah will not let any harm come to them.
Stay strong and keep me in your prayers as well,
Brother and best friend of all 5 brothers,
Talha Chaudhry