Saturday, March 21, 2015

Islam Critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali Floats Conversion to Judaism


THE JERUSALEM POST: Hirsi Ali says obama [sic] is naïve in his attempt to negotiate a nuclear arms deal with Iran.

Controversial Islam critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali said that she had previously tried to convert to Judaism and suggested that she might attempt to do so again in the future.

At a gathering hosted by Israeli Consul General of New York Ido Aharoni last Thursday, Ali told the crowd that “One day I hope to convert to Judaism,” according to a report by the New York Jewish Week, adding, “I tried it, but it was very difficult.”

Jewish Week Editor and Publisher Gary Rosenblatt, who reported on Hirsi Ali’s comments, noted that it was difficult to tell whether or not she was serious. » | JTA | Saturday, March 21, 2015

Sunni vs. Shia - Differences and Conflict Explained


Sunni and Shia Muslims have enormous conflicts, but the differences between them are frequently misunderstood. The split in Islam after the death of Muhammad is examined, the influence of Ayatollahs, and the political map that is broken down along Shia/Sunni lines are all looked at in this explanation of the wedge in the Muslim world, with Elliot Hill for the Lip News.

Regionalwahlen in Frankreich: Angst vorm Triumphmarsch der Rechten

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Der Front National könnte bei den französischen Regionalwahlen am Sonntag stärkste Kraft werden. Für Parteichefin Marine Le Pen wäre es eine wichtige Etappe auf dem Weg in den Elysée. Präsident Hollande droht ein Debakel.

Eigentlich gehören die Departementswahlen nicht zu den wichtigsten Terminen in Frankreich: Die zu wählenden Räte kümmern sich hauptsächlich um bürgernahe Anliegen wie Haupt- und Mittelschulen, um Straßen, um Altenheime und Feuerwehr.

Doch am Sonntag und eine Woche später wird es anders sein, das Votum wird zu einer Kraftprobe von nationaler Bedeutung. Die Meinungsforscher erwarten, dass der Front National (FN) erstmals landesweit Ratsposten erobert und in zwei, drei Departements sogar die Führung übernimmt. FN-Chefin Marine Le Pen setzt auf eine "Marine-blaue Springflut", die Frankreich überspülen wird. Den regierenden Sozialisten von Staatschef François Hollande droht dagegen ein Debakel. » | Von Stefan Simons, Paris | Samstag, 21. März 2015

Iran Nuclear Talks: Deal Can Be Reached, Says Rouhani

Mr Rouhani said "shared points of view" had emerged
in latest round of talks
BBC AMERICA: Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says that progress made in nuclear talks means a final deal can be reached.

"There is nothing that cannot be resolved," although some differences still remain, Iranian state media quoted him as saying.

US Secretary of State John Kerry also said that "substantial progress" had been made in the talks.

Six world powers are negotiating a deal with Iran aimed at limiting its nuclear activity, with a late March deadline.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes but world powers fear it has military ambitions.

Mr Rouhani said that in the current round of talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, "shared points of view emerged in some of the areas where there had been a difference of opinion".

They could become "a foundation for a final agreement", he said, according to state news agency Irna. » | Saturday, March 21, 2015

Friday, March 20, 2015

Autorin als "Feind Allahs" beschimpft und verprügelt

Thriller sind ihre Spezialität: Schriftstellerin Astrid Korten
DIE WELT: Astrid Korten schreibt Kriminalromane, in einem davon geht es um einen "Ehrenmord". Nach einer Lesung wird die 53-Jährige von jungen Männern überfallen, geschlagen und als "Feind Allahs" beschimpft.

Die körperlichen Schmerzen, gerade am Magen, die nehmen allmählich ab, das wird schon wieder. Astrid Korten nimmt Schmerzmittel, die helfen ganz gut. Viel schlimmer ist im Moment noch die seelische und mentale Aufarbeitung. Der Schock, das Entsetzen darüber, was ihr vor zehn Tagen widerfahren ist. Das Verdauen des Erlebten. Als die Schriftstellerin in Leipzig am Vorabend der Buchmesse von zwei Männern überfallen wurde, attackiert und getreten – kurz nachdem sie aus ihrem neuen Buch eine Passage gelesen hatte, in der es um einen "Ehrenmord" geht.

Bei dem Angriff beschimpfte sie einer der beiden Männer als "Feind Allahs".

Mehr als eine Woche lang hatte Astrid Korten still gehalten. Nichts gesagt darüber. "Ich wollte den Übergriff zunächst tot schweigen", erklärt sie, "um mich und andere zu schützen." Nun aber entschied sie sich nach langem Überlegen, nach Tagen des Zweifels, doch an die Öffentlichkeit zu gehen und darüber zu sprechen. "Ich lasse mich nicht mundtot machen", sagt sie. Deswegen hat sie ihr Schweigen gebrochen und erzählt hier zum allerersten Mal von den Vorfällen des 11. März. » | Von Florian Kinast | Freitag, 20. Marz 2015

Benghazi Committee Officially Requests Hillary Clinton Surrender Her Email Server


The committee investigating Benghazi formally requested Friday that Hillary Rodham Clinton turn her email server over to an independent third party so it can be scrutinized to determine whether she and the Obama administration complied with open-records laws. Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy sent a letter to the former secretary of state's personal lawyer making the request,…


DANIEL PIPES: Islam Bulldozes the Past


The recent bulldozing by the Islamic State (ISIS) of the ancient cities of Nimrud, Hatra, and Korsabad, three of the world's greatest archaeological and cultural sites, is just this group latest round of assaults across the large area under its control. Since January 2014, the flamboyantly barbaric ISIS has blown up Shi'i mosques, bulldozed churches, pulverized…

The Most Dangerous Isis Propaganda Yet? Jihadi Brides with M5s, Fighters Relaxing and Children Playing Used to Present Caliphate as a Utopia


THE INDEPENDENT: The reality of life under Isis is brutal for both fighters and civilians

Much attention is paid to the extreme, distressing and sadistic propaganda disseminated by Isis, who go to great lengths to circulate violent images and videos of the atrocities it commits.

Yet little attention is paid to what could arguably be considered to be the most dangerous propaganda emerging from the group – the pictures and videos that attempt to normalise and even glamorise life within Isis. It is these pictures that are used as a recruiting tool for the extremist group. » | Heather Saul | Friday, March 20, 2015

In Vienna, a Bid to Foster 'Islam of the Austrian Kind'


THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR: European countries are watching closely Austria's governance of Islam, a faith under the spotlight after recent terror attacks in Paris and Copenhagen. Austria's ban on foreign funding of preachers has raised concerns.

VIENNA, AUSTRIA — A controversial legal reform on Islam in Austria could become a beacon of hope in Europe as it rushes to assimilate its growing Muslim population in an age of insecurity and Islamophobia.

Austrian lawmakers say their aim is to create a democratic, self-sufficient Islam free of radical influence from abroad, thus defusing populist fears about the faith and its minority of extremist followers. To that end, the reform fortifies the legal rights of Muslims, while also banning foreign funding for mosques in an attempt to create what Austria’s foreign minister Sebastian Kurz has dubbed “Islam of the Austrian kind.”

These are the same goals shared broadly across Europe, among Muslims and non-Muslims alike. But Austria’s fast-track approach – coming after Islamist extremist attacks in France and Denmark and amid continued fear of returning European jihadists – is also troubling. While it gives Muslims new protections, such as mandating a right to Islamic pastoral care in hospitals and the military, it places limits on the faith in a way that Muslim leaders says is counterproductive at best, and deeply discriminatory at worst.

At least two faith-based groups have vowed to challenge it in court. For its part, Austria’s far-right Freedom Party criticizes the law as not going far enough. And, in a recent Austrian newspaper poll, more than half of respondents said they feared the radicalization of Muslims here. » | Sara Miller Llana, Staff writer | Friday, March 20, 2015

White House: Obama’s Nowruz Message to Iran, Iranians


۱۳۹۴ پیام نوروزی پرزیدنت اوباما به مناسبت نوروز

Ben Carson Forgets Balts Are in NATO, Dates Islam to Before Christ in Flubbed FP Interview


White House Plots New Snub to Bibi with UN Resolution to Force Peace Talks on Palestine


DAILY MAIL: Obama may end US opposition to a UN Security Council resolution designed to force Israel into a two-state solution with Palestinians / White House is upset that Benjamin Netanyahu was re-elected, especially on the U-turn promise that he wouldn't agree to a Palestinian state / Palestinian Authority threatened to file war crimes charges against Israel in the International Criminal Court, related to rocket attacks last summer / US Congress would cut $400 million in annual aid to the PA is it followed through / Obama's spokesman refused to characterize the president's reaction to Netanyahu's reelection on Thursday / He would only say that the Israeli PM's comments on Palestine had lead the president and his advisers to 'evaluate what our path is forward'

The White House is reportedly considering a new power play in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that would paint Benjamin Netanyahu into a corner just days after his stunning come-from-behind victory in his country's hotly contested elections.

In the final days of campaigning, Netanyahu vowed in an historic U-turn that his government would never agree to the creation of a Palestinian state. But now President Barack Obama is contemplating using the United Nations as a trump card to force the issue.

Under a plan outlined by Foreign Policy magazine, the U.S. State Department would ease away from decades of opposition to a Security Council resolution demanding peace talks and a final rapprochement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The White House cautiously avoided commenting on its future plans on Thursday when it was bombarded with questions by reporters on the topic, saying only that it would 'evaluate what our path is forward' is in light of Netanyahu's comments. » | David Martosko, U.S Political Editor and Francesca Chambers for DailyMail.com | Thursday, March 19, 2015

Thursday, March 19, 2015

The Islamist Struggle Behind Tunisia's Suicide Bombings


The Battle for Bizerte: The ongoing struggle between Tunisia's ultra-conservative Islamists and democratic Government

Wie Saudi-Arabien deutschen Salafismus finanziert

Hat Einreiseverbot im Schengen-Raum: Der "Tom Cruise des
Salfismus", Muhammad al-Arifi
DIE WELT: Saudi-Arabien schickt radikale Imame in deutsche Salafistenmoscheen – die Scheichs werden hier wie Popstars verehrt. Manchmal haben die Vorbeter mehr als warme Worte im Gepäck.

Muhammad al-Arifi ist ein Star. Seine Fans liegen dem saudi-arabischen Scheich zu Füßen. An Freitagen sogar im Wortsinne: Dann steht der sunnitische Imam vor mehreren Hundert Gläubigen, die sich gen Mekka neigen, in einer prächtigen Moschee in Riad und leitet die Gemeinde zum Mittagsgebet. Er trägt eine weiße Robe mit Kapuze, aus der sein langer Fusselbart herausschaut.

Seine Botschaften an die Gläubigen: Polygamie sei kein Problem, der Prophet habe schließlich auch mehrere Ehefrauen gehabt. Regelmäßig bete er für Osama Bin Ladens Seele, denn der sei Opfer einer weltweiten Rufmordkampagne. Der Dschihad in Syrien müsse unterstützt werden – weshalb al-Arifi gern zu Geldspenden aufruft für die Kämpfer gegen die von ihm so gehassten Schiiten. » | Von Eva Marie Kogel | Dienstag, 17. März 2015

Une Afghane lynchée pour avoir brûlé le coran


TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Châtiment – Accusée d'avoir brûlé un exemplaire du coran, une femme afghane a été battue à mort et brûlée par une foule en colère à Kaboul.

Une femme afghane accusée d'avoir brûlé un exemplaire du coran a été battue à mort et brûlée par la foule à Kaboul ce jeudi 19 mars , a annoncé le chef de la police criminelle de Kaboul, le général Farid Afzali. Le corps de la victime a été jetée dans une rivière. » | jeudi 19 mars 2015

Small Town Divided after High School Broadcasts Pledge of Allegiance in Arabic to the Outrage of Some Parents and Students


DAILY MAIL: Pine Bush High School in Upstate New York celebrated National Foreign Languages Week by reading the pledge in different tongues / Administrators were forced to apologize after the reading in Arabic stirred outrage in some parents and students / The pledge will henceforth only be read in English, officials said

A small town in Upstate New York stands divided after their high school's decision on Wednesday to broadcast the Pledge of Allegiance in Arabic.

It was meant as a way to celebrate National Foreign Languages Week--each day, the announcements and pledge at Pine Bush High School would be recited in a different tongue.

However, the outrage it caused in some students and parents quickly forced administrators to issue an apology and a promise to henceforth only recite the Pledge of Allegiance in English.

Now, lines have been drawn in Pine Bush (pop. 1,600) as some students and teachers are outraged that an apology was issued at all while others applaud the decision and say the pledge should never have been recited in a language other than English. » | Josh Gardner for DailyMail.com | Thursday, March 19, 2015

IS bekennt sich zu Anschlag in Tunis


TAGES ANZEIGER: Die blutige Attacke in der tunesischen Hauptstadt hätten «Ritter des Islamischen Staates» ausgeführt, heisst es in einer Botschaft. Darin wurde zudem das betroffene Bardo-Museum verunglimpft.

Die Terrormiliz Islamischer Staat (IS) hat sich zum Anschlag auf ausländische Touristen in Tunis bekannt. In einer heute im Internet verbreiteten Audiobotschaft wurden die Angreifer als «Ritter des Islamischen Staates» gewürdigt.

In einer Erklärung der sunnitischen Fanatiker vom so genannten Islamischen Staat war die Rede von einer «geheiligten Invasion in einen Unterschlupf der Ungläubigen und des Lasters im muslimischen Tunesien». » | rub/sda | Donnerstag, 19. März 2015

Saudiarabien lässt keine Schweden mehr ins Land

Kritisiert die saudische Gesellschaftsstruktur: Die schwedische
Aussenministerin, Margot Wallstroem, spricht vor der
UNO über sexuelle Gewalt. (10 Juni 2011)
TAGES ANZEIGER: Da die Aussenministerin Schwedens unter anderem die Stellung der Frau in Saudiarabien kritisiert hatte, stellen die Behörden keine Visa mehr für Schweden aus.

Saudiarabien will schwedischen Staatsbürgern keine Visa mehr ausstellen oder verlängern, weil Aussenministerin Margot Wallström die Menschenrechtslage in dem Golfstaat kritisiert hatte. » | pst/sda | Donnerstag, 19. März 2015

Tunisian Authorities Arrest Nine People Following Wednesday's Deadly Museum Attack


Tunisian authorities said Thursday that they arrested nine people directly connected with Wednesday's deadly museum attack. Authorities raised the death toll to 23 in the shooting at Tunisia's National Bardo Museum, with 50 people estimated to be wounded. Although no group has claimed responsibility, security experts said it is likely to be Islamic State sympathizers who…


Benjamin Netanyahu Win Forces Obama to Re-evaluate Middle East Peace Strategy


Prime Minister's Benjamin Netanyahu's decisive election win triggered a sharp reaction Wednesday from the Obama White House, which skipped the customary congratulations to warn that the Israeli leader's eleventh-hour campaign promise to block the creation of a Palestinian state has forced the administration to re-evaluate its overall strategy toward the Middle East peace process. "This administration…