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Fighting against odds: Pakistani-American woman realises her Israel’s Jerusalem Dream

Dawood Ibrahim

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A Pakistani-American woman has realised her dream of visiting Jerusalem’s holy sites while many of us cannot even think about setting foot in Israel.

Washington-based journalist Madeeha Anwar Chaudhry harboured a longstanding desire to visit the city because of her father. “My dad was an avid traveler who was extremely keen on visiting Jerusalem. He couldn’t because he had a Pakistani passport,” she told media.

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Soon after her visit, Chaudhry posted over 70 pictures on Facebook featuring a number of sacred sites. Her travel photo album A visit to the ‘Forbidden Land’ (Israel & Palestine) has garnered over 19,000 likes from people the world over. Talking about her father, who passed away in 2014, she said he would have been ecstatic had he lived “to see this day”.

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Upon emigrating to the United States, Chaudhry said, she had vowed to visit the fabled city as soon as she obtained an American passport. “A few months after becoming a US citizen, I visited Israel and prayed at Masjid-e-Aqsa, Dome of the Rock and explored the old streets of Jerusalem,” she said.

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Chaudhry said she had come to realise that Jerusalem residents — Jews, Christians and Muslims associated distinct stories with the city. This, she said, was emblematic of the “unique and sacred” connection they had with the promised land.

“I felt the force of history in Bethlehem, Hebron, the Dead Sea area and Jericho — places steeped in antiquity. I got to interact with locals of all Abrahamic faiths,” Chaudhry said.

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Pakistani-American beats the odds to realise her Jerusalem dream
By Tashkeel Ahmed Farooqui
Published: January 12, 2017
15SHARES
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Madeeha Anwar Chaudhry at the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

While many of us cannot even think about setting foot in Israel, a Pakistani-American woman has realised her dream of visiting Jerusalem’s holy sites.

Washington-based journalist Madeeha Anwar Chaudhry harboured a longstanding desire to visit the city because of her father. “My dad was an avid traveler who was extremely keen on visiting Jerusalem. He couldn’t because he had a Pakistani passport,” she told The Express Tribune.

Soon after her visit, Chaudhry posted over 70 pictures on Facebook featuring a number of sacred sites. Her travel photo album A visit to the ‘Forbidden Land’ (Israel & Palestine) has garnered over 19,000 likes from people the world over. Talking about her father, who passed away in 2014, she said he would have been ecstatic had he lived “to see this day”.

Upon emigrating to the United States, Chaudhry said, she had vowed to visit the fabled city as soon as she obtained an American passport. “A few months after becoming a US citizen, I visited Israel and prayed at Masjid-e-Aqsa, Dome of the Rock and explored the old streets of Jerusalem,” she said.

Chaudhry said she had come to realise that Jerusalem residents — Jews, Christians and Muslims associated distinct stories with the city. This, she said, was emblematic of the “unique and sacred” connection they had with the promised land.

“I felt the force of history in Bethlehem, Hebron, the Dead Sea area and Jericho — places steeped in antiquity. I got to interact with locals of all Abrahamic faiths,” Chaudhry said.

“It was amazing to be somewhere so far removed from most Pakistanis,” she said. A former Express News staffer, Chaudhry is currently associated with Voice of America Urdu. She is penning a travelogue documenting her visit to the promised land.

Here is a pictorial glimpse to her tour to the “forbidden land”:

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Chaudhry at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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An inside view of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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A pulpit in Al-Aqsa Mosque. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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An inside view of Al-Aqsa Mosque. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Chaudhry inside Al-Aqsa Mosque. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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An interior shot of the dome of Al-Aqsa Mosque. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar
 
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An exterior shot of Al-Aqsa Mosque. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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View of Dome of the Rock from Al-Aqsa Mosque. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Women entering Dome of the Rock for Friday prayers. PHOTO: FACEBOOK

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The foundation stone in Dome of the Rock from where, it is believed, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ascended to the heavens on Shab-e-Mairaj. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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The bottom of the foundation stone opens into a small room where Muslims pray. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Chaudhry sits in the room under the foundation stone in Dome of the Rock. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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An inside view of Dome of the Rock. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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An outside view of Dome of the Rock. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar
 
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Chaudhry outside Dome of the Rock. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Chaudhry at the Israeli West Bank Barrier in Bethlehem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Chaudhry outside Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Chaudhry inside Church of the Nativity. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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At the Milk Grotto Chapel in Bethlehem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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A view of a street in Bethlehem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar
 
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A Christmas tree outside Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Falafel, traditional Middle Eastern food, being prepared in Bethlehem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Falafel, a traditional Middle Eastern food. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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$100 conversion to 370 Israeli Shekels. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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An outside view of the Mosque of Prophet Yunus (AS) located in Halhul, 5 kilometres north of Hebron (al-Khalil). PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Symbolic tomb of Prophet Yunus (AS) in Hebron. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Tomb of Prophet Sara (AS) (Prophet Ibrahim’s wife) at Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar
 
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Tomb of Prophet Ishaq (AS) in Hebron, Palestine. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Tomb of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) in Hebron, Palestine. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Cenotaph of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Kunafa, a Middle Eastern cheese pastry soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup, at Hebron. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Madeeha Anwar Chaudhry at Yardenit, Jesus Baptism Site, along the Jordan River in the Galilee region of northern Israel. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Yardenit Baptismal Site along the Jordan River in Galilee region of northern Israel. Christians believe Jesus was baptised here. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar
 
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An outside view of Prophet Musa (AS) Mosque. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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An inside view of Prophet Musa’s (AS) tomb. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Chaudhry at the border region between Israel and Palestine in Almog. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Chaudhry at Jericho. Located near the Jordan River in the West Bank, Jericho is believed to be one of the oldest inhabited cities of the world. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Chaudhry at the Dead Sea, Israel. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Dead Sea, Israel. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar
 
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A roadside vendor sells Jerusalem Bagels outside Al-Aqsa Mosque after Friday prayers in Jerusalem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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A view of Dome of the Rock and Dome of Al-Aqsa Mosque from Mount of the Olives in Jerusalem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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An outside view of Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Old Jerusalem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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The Stone of Anointing, inside Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which tradition believes to be the spot where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial by Joseph of Arimathea. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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An inside view of Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Old Jerusalem, Israel. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Chaudhry inside Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Old Jerusalem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar
 
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An inside view of Church of Virgin Mary in Old Jerusalem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Entrance of the WesternWall (Wailing Wall) in Old Jerusalem. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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A view of Western Wall in Old Jerusalem. The Western Wall is considered holy due to its connection to the Temple Mount. Because of the status quo policy, the Wall is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray, though it is not the holiest site in the Jewish faith, which lies behind it. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Jewish men pray at the Western Wall on Sabbath, a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Jewish men pray at the Western Wall on Sabbath, a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

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Chaudhry stands outside the Western Wall. Dome of Al-Aqsa Mosque can be seen in the background. PHOTO COURTESY: facebook.com/MadeehaAnwar

Very nice, while sitting here got a virtual tour of the history:tup:....
 
One day we will conquer there and then you will not need American passports to visit Islamic land of Palestine.
That day is too close and destruction of Israel comes with it.
Sorry to say that but her hijab sux.
hahah let me not forget those schizophrenic black wearing Jews :rofl: Occupier bastards o_O
 
Minor correction here

"Pakistani American citizen, visits Palestine and Aqsa mosque. Presently in Occupied Region by Un Recognized country by Pakistan"

It is not any Pakistani's dream to have that Israeli stamp on their passport untill they fix the two state solution

After the 2 states are formed don't see any issue with jews visiting their own section which they normally visit now and then


  • Finally congradulation to the lady on visiting Aqsa Mosque certainly a great ocassion for the lady, amazing pictures
 
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I haven't see Wall chocking of " Chalo Chalo Israel Chalo " on the streets of Karachi :D
 
What's the big deal, she has an American passport and no visa is required. Countless Muslims from Western countries have visited Israel with no problem. And Israel doesn't stamp passports these days as an Israeli stamp may cause problems when visiting certain Muslim countries.
 

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