Today, the tear I thought that dried, came out again, I was watching mbc, they were broadcasting a program about late Mustafa Al-Akkad, listening to him while he was speaking about his dreams, I was deeply touched and saddened.

Mustafa Al-Akkad as most of you know was working on making a high budget hit movie about SALAH-ADDIN, the reason that he chose SALAH-ADDIN is because he wanted to show the world that Jerusalem is an Arabic city 100%. Such films can be a very straight to the point shortcut for all Muslims and Arabs to prove a point for the west. The movie that never saw the light I believe was a chance that we might never get again to prove for the west that Jerusalem is an Arabic city, period.
Making a movie is much different than writing a book, because let’s say that a very distinguished author wanted to write a book about Jerusalem. Who will read it? Only those who are either interested or curious about the History of Jerusalem or SALAH-ADDIN will read the book! Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t underestimate the value of books, because in this case eventually the movie will tell the story that this presumed book wanted to tell! So, late Mustafa Al-Akkad wanted to combine the power of the story with the power of movies. Then not only those who are interested or curious in Jerusalem’s history & SALAH-ADDIN will see the movie, the movie will be seen all over the world! The story that we wanted to tell will be heard by millions all over the world. Too bad this will not happen.

What did those murderers, those bastards achieve, or want to prove?!!
Only blinds can’t tell white from black!

May peace be on your soul Mustafa Al-Akkad, a true Muslim, a true Arab hero! A real Arab knight!! May God let you rest in peace and live forever in heaven.

Click on the image below to watch or download the last video part of the program about late Mustafa Al-Akkad.

Eleven top Jordanian officials, including the national security adviser, resigned Tuesday and the government imposed tough new rules aimed at foreigners in the wake of the deadly hotel bombings.

A fourth American died of wounds sustained in the attacks, according to the U.S. Embassy, raising the death toll to 58, plus the three bombers. The American was not further identified.

U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte met top officials in Amman to praise Jordan’s response to the attacks, according to official media, while interrogators questioned the sole surviving member of the attack team about al-Qaida’s network in Iraq.

Two Interpol forensic experts also came to Amman to “exchange information and expertise in the field of fighting crime,” the state-run Petra news agency said.

More details emerged about Sajida Mubarak al-Rishawi, the would-be bomber arrested Sunday following the triple suicide bombings carried out by her husband and two 23-year-old Iraqis on the Radisson SAS, Grand Hyatt and Days Inn hotels.

In a televised confession, al-Rishawi has said her 22-pound explosives belt failed to detonate, though her husband’s did, killing more than 20 wedding partygoers at the Radisson.

Al-Qaida in Iraq, led by Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, claimed responsibility for the Nov. 9 attacks in an Internet statement.

Two of al-Rishawi’s friends said three of her brothers, including a known al-Qaida in Iraq cell leader in the former insurgent bastion of Fallujah, were killed by U.S. forces last year. The friends, from Iraq’s troubled western province of Anbar, spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared retribution from militants.

It was unclear if her brother’s deaths spurred al-Rishawi to take part in the plot or if she was influenced by her 35-year-old husband, who appeared to be the attack cell leader.

Police believe al-Rishawi, who comes from Ramadi in western Iraq, may provide vital clues to al-Qaida in Iraq and possibly al-Zarqawi’s whereabouts. But her interrogation is going slowly among an increasing sense she played only a small part in the operation.

The questioning is expected to last a month and she will be tried in a Jordanian military court, where she could be charged with conspiring to carry out a deadly terrorist attack, a crime that can carry the death penalty.

Interior Minister Awni Yirfas announced new regulations Tuesday aimed at keeping foreign militants from operating covertly in Jordan, including a demand that Jordanians notify authorities within 48 hours of any foreigners renting an apartment or house.

“Violators of this regulation will face legal ramifications,” Yirfas said without elaborating.

The rules require that authorities be given the names, nationalities and passport details of any foreigner renting a property.

“Usually I give such information about any foreign tenants I have, but I think the move is necessary now as a result of the attacks,” said property owner Suleiman Rakan, whose building faced a block in western Amman’s Tlaa’ Ali suburb where the hotel bombers rented a safe house.

No details were given for the resignations of the 11 top officials, who included national security adviser Saad Kheir and Faisal Fayez, the Royal Court chief and a former prime minister.

But the bombings sparked national outrage and raised concerns over the handling of the country’s national security services.

Jordan has also started drafting new anti-terrorism laws that will likely be ready for parliament debate early next year, an Interior Ministry official said.

The laws propose allowing any suspect to be held for questioning indefinitely and imposing penalties on those who put lives or property at risk — inside or outside the country, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Anyone condoning or justifying terror actions or supporting them financially will face penalties under the proposals, he added.

Jordanian security forces already wield far-reaching powers to arrest and hold suspects. The news laws would be the country’s first specifically designed to counter terrorism.

Source: Yahoo News

Thousands of people were gathered earlier today at 3 PM at the 3rd circle area in Jabal Amman, right opposite to Grand Hyatt Amman hotel, whic is about 500 meters away from Radisson hotel, thousands of people were there, many were crying, many were just talking to each other expressing how they feel 4 days after triple coward explosions took place in our beloved city of Amman, but all the people who were there had one thing in common, which is that they all came here to say ‘NO FOR TERRORISM’.

I was there and I brought you many pictures.

Jordan said today that it had arrested the wife of an Amman suicide bomber, caught after she failed to detonate her explosives belt during a wedding reception in one of the hotels targeted in the attacks that killed 57 people.

The woman failed to blow herself up at the Radisson SAS hotel after apparently struggling with the cord on her explosives belt, Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher said. Her husband saw her fumbling and “pushed her out of the ballroom,” he said. “Once she was out, he blew himself up.”

It was unclear where police arrested the woman. Officials said she would confess on state-run TV later Sunday.

Muasher said the three men who blew themselves up Wednesday in three U.S.-based hotels in the capital were Iraqis affiliated with al-Qaida in Iraq, the terror group led by Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The group has claimed responsibility for the attacks and said there were four bombers including a husband-and-wife team.

Muasher identified the woman as Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi, 35, and her husband as Ali Hussein Ali al-Shamari, from Iraq’s volatile Anbar province in Iraq. The woman is the sister of Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi, al-Zarqawi’s right-hand man in Anbar who was killed by U.S. forces in Fallujah, he said.

Source: MSNBC.com

Photo by Nasser Ayoub

Her Majesty Queen Rania continued her visits to the capital’s hospitals Saturday to follow up on the recovery of those injured in Wednesday’s attacks.

During a visit to Al Bashir Hospital, the Queen spoke with patients and offered encouragement to those struggling to come to terms with the tragic loss of their loved ones.

Many of the patients told the Queen of the horrific events that took place on Wednesday evening when three suicide bombers struck the Radisson SAS, the Grand Hyatt and the Days Inn hotels killing 67 people and injuring scores of others.

Speaking with the medical staff, Queen Rania also reiterated the need to deal with the emotional and psychological traumas suffered by the victims through continued counselling and treatment, to enable them to come to terms with the unimaginable and sudden loss of loved ones.

Visiting the Arab Medical Centre, where several of those who were critically injured received treatment, resilient survivors spoke of their determination to resume their normal lives, stressing that the visits and support of Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania had given them the strength to persevere, in spite of the emotional scars brought about by the attacks.

At the Speciality Hospital, Queen Rania met several Arab patients, who were injured, offering them her support and sympathy.

Also yesterday, the Queen visited the Blood Bank, commending the efforts of the medical staff and ordinary citizens who have donated blood to those in need.

Source: The Jordan Times

Anger in the streets of Amman, in Jordan’s ‘Anger Day’
Protestors send a clear message: ‘We will never tolerate such terrorism’

Photos dated 10th and 11th of November 2005. Credits for Jordan TV.

On wednesday we heard that renowned international Syrian filmmaker Mustafa Al-Akkad was severely wounded and his daughter Rima was killed.

Yesterday friday, it was very painful for me to hear that Mustafa Al-Akkad has also passed away after having a heart attack.
He will always be in our hearts and we will always remember him and his great work creating movies like “The Message” and “Lion of the Desert -also known as Omar Al Mohktar-”.

In an interview back in 1976 Mustafa Al-Akkad said:

About ‘The Message’(1976): “I did the film because it is a personal thing for me. Besides its production values as a film, it has its story, its intrigue, its drama. Beside all this I think there was something personal, being Muslim myself who lived in the west I felt that it was my obligation my duty to tell the truth about Islam. It is a religion that has a 700 million following, yet it’s so little known about it which surprised me. I thought I should tell the story that will bring this bridge, this gap to the west.” (1976 Interview)

Mustafa Al-Akkad served Islam through his work and through what he does!! God bless Mustafa Al-Akkad God bless Rima Al-Akkad, rest in peace.

From the news:
Syrian-born filmmaker of “The Message,” died Friday from wounds sustained in the triple hotel bombings in Jordan. He was 75.

Akkad, who lived in Los Angeles, died at 7:30am in a Jordanian hospital where he was being treated, said Dr Yousef Qisous in Amman.

“He had bleeding in the lungs, his ribs were fractured and he died of his wounds and a severe heart attack this morning,” Qisous told AP.

Akkad’s sister, Leila, confirmed her brother’s death in a telephone interview with the Associated Press from Damascus.

His daughter, Rima Akkad Monla, 34, also died in one of the explosions that rocked three hotels in Amman on Wednesday night, according to her mother and Akkad’s ex-wife, Patricia Akkad.

Akkad’s sister said the world was saddened by the tragic death of her brother and called for an end to terrorist attacks on civilians.

“I feel sad and the world feels sorrow with us. This kind of incident rarely happens, but it has happened with Moustapha Akkad,” Leila Akkad told the AP. She spoke from Amman where she had flown to be with her wounded brother.

“These attacks are chaotic and do not differentiate an enemy from a friend. A solution must be found to this problem [terrorist attacks],” she said.

Leila, who teaches journalism at state-run Damascus University, said the attacks clearly had not targeted anyone in particular.

“They were aimed at spreading chaos in the country,” she said.

Akkad, best known for producing all eight films in the “Halloween” franchise, also produced and directed “The Message” (1977) and “Lion of the Desert” (1981).

Both starred Anthony Quinn.

Born in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo in July 1930, Akkad gained fame as a creative movie director and producer in the Arab world and in the West.

After finishing his secondary studies in Syria, Akkad left for America in 1950, according to Leila. He studied movie direction and production at California University and worked in the United States. Akkad’s most serious and creative efforts showed in “Lion of the Desert” and “The Message,” dramas about the history of Islam.

Akkad was the eldest member in a family of six boys and a girl.

With the death of his daughter, Rima, Akkad is survived by three sons, Tarek, Malek and Zeido.

Akkad’s daughter, Rima, grew up in Los Angeles and was an avid polo player who graduated from the University of Southern California in 1995 with a degree in international relations.

She pursued a master’s degree in Middle East studies at the American University in Beirut, where she met her husband Ziad Monla, 35.

Her husband’s family owns the Monla Hospital in Tripoli, northern Lebanon. The couple, married for six years, had two sons, ages 2 and 4.

“Rima is a totally American girl,” Patricia Akkad, 64, said Thursday in a phone interview from her ex-husband’s home in Los Angeles. “Here’s an American who was over there and innocently killed for no reason.” Akkad said her daughter loved living in Beirut. “We all know the problems in the Middle East, and you never think it’s going to touch you,” she said.

Funeral services were scheduled for Friday in Tripoli.

“She was the light of everybody’s life,” Patricia Akkad said. “She put everybody else first.” Funeral services for Akkad were scheduled for Sunday in his hometown of Aleppo, his sister Leila said.