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`Threats are whirling around'
The following is a translated excerpt from an email sent by Santi Soekanto, a former journalist of The Jakarta Post and a participant of the group of aid organizations on board the Mavi Marmara ship in the "Freedom Flotilla", dated May 29, 10:20 p
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em>The following is a translated excerpt from an email sent by Santi Soekanto, a former journalist of The Jakarta Post and a participant of the group of aid organizations on board the Mavi Marmara ship in the "Freedom Flotilla", dated May 29, 10:20 p.m. The email, posted on a friend's blog, in which Santi identifies herself as "a housewife and journalist", provides insight into the motivation of the blockade runners.
On board the M/S Mavi Marmara, Mediterranean, 180 miles from Gaza shore
It has been more than 24 hours since this ship has stopped ... (we're) mainly waiting for another ship from Ireland and a number of European parliamentarians intending to join (us) We're still waiting ... while reports of Israeli threats are whirling around.
There's lots of ways to while away the time ... Many are reading the Koran ... Beyza Akturk from Turkey is holding an Arab language class for Turkish Muslims ....
Activists - mainly veterans of earlier trips to Gaza - are showing off ... There's so much activism, heroism. One participant is even wearing a T-shirt with the words "Heroes of Islam" It feels so important here to guard one's integrity because of Allah ....
The journalists often feel grand just because they get special access to communicate with the outside world ... the parliamentarians and businesspeople maybe feel important because of their big donations ...
If we let riya (hopes for rewards) slip in ... all this hard work will not only go to waste like the foam of the waves hitting the shore, but it become even more lowly as it will be the source of Allah's wrath.
From time to time it is vital for me to remind myself. What are you doing, Santi? Shouldn't you be seeking protection from Allah from riya and insincerity? ... Once you were valued just because you were in a publication. But where did that lead you?
There are so many people here worthy of appreciation ... From the (Turkish NGO) IHH president Fahmi B. Yildrim to a young quiet Muslim woman only busy making sure everyone gets breakfast, lunch and dinner on time ...
Everyone's shouting "For Gaza!" But whose shouts among them have really won Allah's blessings? ...
Gaza does not need me. Palestine does not need me. Palestine only needs Allah. If He wants, it would be easy for Him, right now, to free Aqsha. Free Gaza and all of Palestine.
It is I *and* my husband Dzikrullah who needs to be here, because we want Allah to place us in His list of servants who act - in however a small way - to help His religion. To help free Al-Quds (Jerusalem).
Allah always has the best way to remind me. I went to the bathroom to clean myself a bit ... but the toilet was clogged. I tried to flush it ... There was no other way ... I had to use my own hands with plastic and flushed again ... I cleansed myself as best as I could ... but I still couldn't feel clean ... in my thoughts, my soul.
There was Allah's warning in that incident - to remind me to be humble, so I remember that however grandiose and important my tasks look, without sincerity it has no meaning or it becomes more lowly than that shit that wouldn't be flushed ....
