Cameron: Gay Refugees from Africa Should Be Given Asylum in UK
MAIL ONLINE: Gay refugees from Africa should be granted asylum in the UK, David Cameron has said.

The Tory leader suggested that homosexuals should be allowed to stay in Britain if their lives would be put in danger were they sent home.

Under immigration rules, gay men are often sent back to countries with homophobic regimes - and advised to keep their sexuality a secret in case local police attack them.

But in an interview with gay magazine Attitude, Mr Cameron said the rules should be changed to protect homosexuals fleeing persecution.

He also promised to do more to stop rappers whose songs contain homophobic lyrics from performing in Britain, and said he would force faith schools to teach pupils there was nothing wrong with being gay. >>> Daniel Martin | February 05, 2010

Attitude >>> | Thursday, February 04, 2010

The Pope Is Right About the Threat to Freedom
TIMES ONLINE: We may not agree with the Vatican line on homosexuality. But the State is trampling on our rights as individuals

There are times when human rights become human wrongs. This happens when rights become more than a defence of human dignity, which is their proper sphere, and become instead a political ideology, relentlessly trampling down everything in their path. This is happening increasingly in Britain, and it is why the Pope’s protest against the Equality Bill, whether we agree with it or not, should be taken seriously.

Let me make it clear that I believe homosexuals have rights that need defending. Like Jews, they have been a persecuted minority for far too long. They too, like Jews, were victims of the Holocaust. They have a case that should be heard.

I believe, too, that religious beliefs have no privileged status in a democratic society. Religions should have influence, not power. I do not believe that the religious convictions of some should be imposed on all by force of law. In a free society, the religious voice should persuade, not compel.

We all have an interest in freedom, the freedom to act differently from others. Indeed, at the core of human rights is a religious proposition: that we are all, regardless of colour, creed or culture, in the image of God. That religious vision burned brightly in the minds of those such as John Locke, who first formulated the idea of rights in the 17th century.

It was integral to the American Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal [and] that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” John F. Kennedy made a similar statement in his great inaugural address: “The rights of Man come not from the generosity of the State, but from the hand of God.”

That is why using the ideology of human rights to assault religion risks undermining the very foundation of human rights themselves. When a Christian airport worker is banned from wearing a cross, when a nurse is sacked after a role-play exercise in which he suggested that patients pray, when Roman Catholic adoption agencies are forced to close because they do not place children for adoption with same-sex couples and when a Jewish school is told that its religious admissions policy is, not in intent but in effect, racist, we are in dangerous territory indeed. >>> Jonathan Sacks | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

France Denies Citizenship to Man with Veiled Wife
THE WASHINGTON POST: PARIS -- French authorities have denied citizenship to a man who forced his French wife to wear a face-covering veil, saying he had rejected national values of secularism and gender equality.

The government has been speaking out strongly against head-to-toe veils, and is moving toward banning them in public after a long public debate over French national identity in the age of globalization.

Critics call the face-covering veil a gateway to extremism, but the move to ban it has drawn fierce criticism from some of France's five million Muslims, who say such restrictions are based in fear and intolerance of Islam.

President Nicolas Sarkozy has called the veils degrading to women and unwelcome in France. Sarkozy, a law-and-order conservative whose relations with the Muslim community have often been fraught, has been a vocal proponent of an all-out ban on the burqa, niqab and other face-covering Muslim veils. >>> Jenny Barchfield, The Associated Press | Thursday, January 04, 2010

Une ville d'Allemagne autorise l'appel du muezzin
SAPHIR NEWS: Malgré les vives protestations d'une partie de la population, la ville allemande de Rendsburg, au nord de l’Allemagne, a autorisé l'appel à la prière du muezzin lancé par haut-parleur depuis les minarets de la Grande Mosquée, inaugurée en automne 2009, a annoncé, mardi 2 février, le maire social-démocrate, Andreas Breitner. >>> La Rédaction | Mercredi 03 Février 2010

The Lure of Radical Islam
AINA: According to a recent ABC report, “As many as three dozen criminals who converted to Islam in American prisons have moved to Yemen where they could pose a ‘significant threat’ to attack the U.S., according to a report on al-Qaeda from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. … Also of concern to U.S. officials, the Senate staff found, is a group of ‘nearly 10 non-Yemeni Americans who traveled to Yemen, converted to Islam, became fundamentalists, and married Yemeni women so they could remain in the country.’ … An American official described them as ‘blond-haired, blue-eyed types’ who fit the profile of Americans who al-Qaeda has sought to recruit for terror missions.”

These, of course, are not the first Americans — black, white, or in between — to convert to Islam and join the jihad: John Walker Lindh wound up fighting fellow Americans alongside Taliban forces in Afghanistan; Adam Gadahn became a major character in al-Qaeda’s propaganda machine; Gregory Patterson, Levar Washington, and Kevin James plotted terror strikes against the U.S.; Christopher Paul and Jose Padilla conspired to use weapons of mass destruction.

Then there are the countless European converts, such as the British “shoe-bomber,” Richard Reid, who attempted to achieve “martyrdom” by detonating explosives in his shoes while aboard a passenger aircraft; the late Germaine Lindsay, who did achieve “martyrdom” by killing himself and 56 of his fellow citizens and injuring over 700, in the London bombings of 2005; and Abu Abdullah, the native Briton-turned-fiery-Islamist-preacher who makes no secret of his vitriolic hatred of the West (all, of course, while enjoying that unique Western liberty, freedom of speech).

What causes such men, born and raised in the West, often from Christian backgrounds, to abandon their heritage, embrace Islam, and become radicalized to the point that they conspire to kill their fellow countrymen?

As for Islam’s intrinsic appeal, it has long been argued that, unlike Christianity, which can be “heavy” on theology, Islam is relatively simple and straightforward. Thus while Christianity may revolve around more metaphysical topics — the Trinity, Christology, etc. — Islam, in black-and-white terms, commands its adherents to do this and not do that. In fact, the Arabic word “Sharia,” that comprehensive body of laws Muslims are to obey, is etymologically related to the word for “pathway” — as in, “the pathway to paradise.”

Yet there is another, more subtle, factor that may attract men to Islam: traditional male roles are well preserved in the religion. This may appeal to Western men who find it difficult to assert their “masculinity” in what may be perceived as gender-free Western societies. Harvey Mansfield’s book, Manliness, defines that term as “a quality both bad and good, mostly male, often intolerant, irrational, and ambitious. Our gender-neutral society does not like it but cannot get rid of it.”

Indeed, with an ethical code that coalesced in the seventh century — when the Muslim prophet and “perfect example” walked the earth, enforced his will, and conquered his “infidel” neighbors — Islamic culture can hardly be deemed “gender-neutral.” Even philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who despised religion and preached the need for man to be transformed into an amoral “hyper-man,” professed some admiration for Islam, describing it as “noble and manly” (The Antichrist). >>> Raymond Ibrahim | Thursday, February 24, 2010

Geert Wilders Launches Websites on Political Trial
PARTIJ VOOR DE VRIJHEID: Wednesday February 3rd 2010 Dutch politician Geert Wilders launches two websites on the political trial against him and the freedom of speech. From now on both the Dutch (www.wildersproces.nl) and the international public (www.wildersontrial.com) are able to keep up with the trials’ proceedings.

Both websites not only include the latest news on the trial but also provide background information on the trials’ participants, the summons, the cause and the importance of this trial for freedom of speech in the Netherlands and –possibly- for the whole of Europe.

Geert Wilders: “This trial is not just about me. It is about the future of freedom of speech in the Netherlands. The outcome of this trial affects the freedom of all Dutch citizens. With these websites, I want to make it possible for people to follow the latest developments concerning the trial.” [Source: Partij Voor De Vrijheid] | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Wilders on Trial: A sledgehammer blow to the freedom of speech >>>

Het Wilders process: Aanslag op de vrijheid van meningsuiting >>>

Geert Wilders spreekt de rechtbank toe: Geert Wilder Speaks to the Court

Douglas Murray – The Trial of Geert Wilders: Why We Won't Be Hearing About Camel Urine
THE TELEGRAPH: The trial of the Dutch politician Geert Wilders recommenced yesterday with a ruling on which expert witnesses the defence would be permitted to call.

When the trial opened a fortnight ago, Wilders asked for a rather sparky list of 18 expert witnesses. They included some noted experts on Islam and social cohesion. And also a few, ahem, practitioners of the same. They were to include Mohammed Bouyeri, who shot, stabbed and partly beheaded the film-maker Theo van Gogh in Amsterdam in 2004. And also Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the jihadist cleric who was given the red-carpet treatment in London by former mayor Ken Livingstone a few years back.

Sadly the Dutch court haven’t allowed these witnesses or most of the others, leaving the defence with only three witnesses. They are expert Simon Admiraal and leading Dutch scholar Hans Jansen (author of numerous scholarly books and the hilariously titled recent Islam for Pigs, Donkeys, Monkeys and Other Beasts). Most interestingly the court has allowed Wilders to call as an expert witness the brave and eloquent Wafa Sultan.

Sultan made her name – and garnered her first fatwas – for a blinding hit-the-ball-out-of-the-stadium interview on Al Jazeera a few years ago viewable here. It caused terrible convulsions across the Muslim world, and also apparently in Sheikh al-Qaradawi who described her home-truths session as consisting of “unbearable, ghastly things that made my hair stand on end.”

I much look forward to seeing Wafa Sultan take the stand. Though I slightly pity the prosecution for having to attempt to cross-examine her. Read on and comment here >>> Douglas Murray | Thursday, February 04, 2010

Anger as Cherie Blair Spares Devout Man from Jail
TIMES ONLINE: Cherie Blair has been reported to the office overseeing judges' behaviour for apparently sentencing a man convicted of assault more leniently because he was religious.

The National Secular Society wrote to the Judicial Complaints Office on Friday complaining that Mrs Blair — a prominent Roman Catholic — suspended the six-month prison sentence passed on Shamso Miah, a Muslim who broke a stranger's jaw in row over a bank queue, on the ground that he was devout.

"We think this is discriminatory and unjust and we wish to make a formal complaint about it," wrote Terry Sanderson, the president of the NSS.

Today Mr Sanderson told The Times that the complaints office had acknowledged his letter and confirmed that it was going to investigate the case.

"We feel it's wrong that someone so high profile as Mrs Blair — and she is very high profile as a Catholic — should make such remarks in court," he explained.

"The man was incredibly violent and broke someone's jaw for no apparent reason. She said that he would have got a six-month sentence but was suspending it because he was a religious man and would know he was doing wrong, which we feel implies that a non-religious person wouldn't know it was wrong. >>> Jenny Booth | Thursday, January 04, 2010

Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' to Be Republished in Germany
THE TELEGRAPH: Adolf Hitler's autobiography "Mein Kampf" is to be republished in Germany in 2015 for the first time since being banned under the country's constitution at the end of the Second World War.

Under the post-1945 German constitution, the dissemination of Nazi philosophy has been a crime punishable by fines and imprisonment.

But the copyright, held by the state of Bavaria where the Nazi movement began life in the 1920s, expires in 2015, 70 years after the death of its author in his Berlin bunker.

On Thursday the Munich-based Institute of Contemporary History (IfZ) pledged to publish an "annotated version" with historical notes that it hopes will see the book used in schools and colleges.

The finance ministry in Bavaria said it had still not decided whether to give its permission but it is understood that with the lapse in copyright, the IfZ will not need the green light from it. "Besides, we think our version, with sensible notes and comments pointing out the falsity of much of what he wrote, will be far better than neo-Nazis putting out their own versions," said the IfZ. >>> Allan Hall in Berlin | Thursday, February 04, 2010

Australia: Christian Pastors Taken to Court to Silence Criticism of Islam

Santé : Un peu de poids ne nuit pas
Crédits photo : Le Temps
LE TEMPS: Des études affirment qu’un excès pondéral d’une quinzaine de kilos n’a pas d’incidence notable. Les normes médicales seraient trop sévères

Si vous pesez entre 10 et 19 kilos de trop, mais que votre poids reste stable, rien ne vous oblige à tenter de maigrir! Il vaudrait mieux vous accepter tel que vous êtes. Voilà le message qu’un nombre croissant de médecins et de diététiciens essaient de transmettre au grand public, après des années de mises en garde contre le surpoids et l’obésité.

Fin janvier, une étude publiée dans la revue American Geriatrics Society révélait que les septuagénaires présentant de l’embonpoint avaient une espérance de vie supérieure de 13% à celle de leurs contemporains de poids normal. Selon l’auteur, le Dr Leon Flicker, ce résultat corrobore des observations antérieures selon lesquelles l’indice de masse corporelle ou IMC (BMI en anglais), utilisé pour déterminer le surpoids, est trop sévère. Le même constat avait déjà été dressé par le Journal of the American Medical Association, notamment. Corpulence idéale à la baisse >>> Francesca Sacco | Jeudi 04 Février 2010

TIME: Being Fat May Not Be All Bad — if You're 70: Putting a smile on chubby faces everywhere, a new study by Australian researchers finds that being overweight may be a boon for the elderly: among the 9,240 adults ages 70 to 75 in the study, those who were overweight were the least likely to die over 10 years, compared with people who were of normal weight or obese. >>> Sora Song | Thursday, January 28, 2010

Populist Wilders darf Mörder nicht als Zeugen aufrufen
WELT ONLINE: Berlin - Ein Amsterdamer Gericht hat im Verfahren gegen den niederländischen Oppositionspolitiker Geert Wilders beinahe alle Anträge des Angeklagten abgelehnt. Der Islamkritiker wollte unter anderem den Mörder von Filmemacher Theo van Gogh als Zeugen vor Gericht erscheinen lassen. Dies wurde nicht genehmigt. Auch gilt Wilders Immunität als Abgeordneter nicht uneingeschränkt.

Berlin - Ein Amsterdamer Gericht hat im Verfahren gegen den niederländischen Oppositionspolitiker Geert Wilders beinahe alle Anträge des Angeklagten abgelehnt. Der Islamkritiker wollte unter anderem den Mörder von Filmemacher Theo van Gogh als Zeugen vor Gericht erscheinen lassen. Dies wurde nicht genehmigt. Auch gilt Wilders Immunität als Abgeordneter nicht uneingeschränkt. Wilders reagierte auf die Ablehnung fast aller 18 beantragten Zeugen enttäuscht. Verschiedene radikale Imame und Strafrechtler wurden abgelehnt, nur drei Islamwissenschaftler dürfen aussagen. ,,Dieses Gericht hat kein Interesse an der Wahrheit. Das wird kein ehrlicher Prozess. Ich respektiere das nicht", sagte Wilders. Er spricht von einem "politischen Prozess". >>> Von Rob Savelberg | Donnerstag, 04. Februar 2010

NRC HANDELSBLAD INTERNATIONAL: Van Gogh's killer rejected as Wilders witness: Mohammed B. will not be allowed to testify in the case against Geert Wilders, leader of the populist PVV party, an Amsterdam court has ruled. >>> RNW, NRC | Thursday, January 04, 2010

Gays: Le pape opposé à Londres
leJDD.fr: Benoît XVI a annoncé mardi son voyage en Grande-Bretagne en septembre prochain. Mais le pape a soulevé la polémique en s'opposant à un projet de loi en cours d'examen, qui entend lutter contre la discrimination basée sur l'orientation sexuelle.

Benoît XVI est le pape de la polémique. Ces voyages génèrent souvent des remous, comme en Israël, en Afrique ou aux Etats-Unis. L'annonce de sa visite en Grande-Bretagne a aussi soulevé une vague de protestation. Le souverain pontife s'est en effet adressé aux évêques gallois et anglais et leur a confirmé sa venue à l'automne prochain, en septembre. Certes les visites papales sont très rares dans le pays, ce sera la deuxième en cinq siècles, après celle de Jean Paul II en 1982. Certes l'Eglise anglicane s'est construite par opposition à Rome. Mais la visite ne devait pas susciter une telle polémique.

La levée de bouclier est venue du contenu de l'intervention papale devant les 35 évêques. Benoît XVI a en effet critiqué un projet de loi sur l'égalité des sexes. Le texte, actuellement examiné par la chambre des Lords, interdirait la discrimination basée sur l'orientation sexuelle. "Votre pays est bien connu pour son engagement ferme dans l'égalité des chances pour tous les membres de la société. Cependant, la législation ayant pour objet de parvenir à ce but a eu pour effet d'imposer des limites injustes à la liberté des communautés religieuses d'agir conformément à leur croyance", a-t-il dénoncé. Les catholiques comme les anglicans redoutent notamment de ne plus pouvoir choisir les professeurs sur la base de leur foi dans leurs établissements scolaires. Ils ont aussi exprimé leur préoccupation face à une possible obligation de célébrer le mariage d'un transsexuel. "Par certains aspects, elle (la législation, ndlr) viole en fait la loi naturelle sur laquelle est fondée l'égalité de tous les êtres humains et par laquelle elle est garantie", a ajouté le pape. >>> M.V., leJDD.fr | Mercredi 03 Février 2010

Terrorisme : Obama refuse d'inscrire la Corée du Nord sur la liste des États terroristes
Pyongyang "ne satisfait pas aux critères réglementaires pour être à nouveau désigné comme un Etat qui soutient le terrorisme", assure Barack Obama. Crédits photo : Le Point
LE POINT: Le président américain Barack Obama a indiqué mercredi que la Corée du Nord ne serait pas à nouveau inscrite sur la liste noire américaine des Etats terroristes, malgré des appels en ce sens émanant du Congrès.

L'administration du président George W. Bush avait retiré Pyongyang de cette liste au vu des progrès faits par le pays pour rendre son programme nucléaire plus transparent en 2008. Mais après une série de gestes provocateurs de l'Etat stalinien, dont un essai nucléaire et des tirs de missile l'an dernier, certains parlementaires éminents avaient demandé à Barack Obama de revoir cette décision. En juillet dernier, le Sénat américain avait ainsi adopté une résolution non contraignante appelant le président à réfléchir à une inscription de la Corée du Nord sur la liste, qualifiant le pays de "menace pour l'Asie du Nord-est et pour la paix et la sécurité internationales". >>> AFP | Jeudi 04 Février 2010

L'extrême droite toujours vivace en Autriche
Heinz-Christian Strache, le leader du parti d'extrême droite FPÖ , le 10 janvier lors d'un meeting à Vienne. Crédits photo : Le Figaro
LE FIGARO: Dix ans après les sanctions de l'UE, l'euroscepticisme reste vivace.

Dix ans après, Andreas Khol n'a rien oublié. L'ancien président du Parlement autrichien et député du parti conservateur autrichien (ÖVP) se souvient parfaitement de cette conversation téléphonique avec Jacques Chirac, le matin du 27 janvier 2000. Ce jour-là, le président de la République française a tenté de convaincre l'ÖVP de ne pas s'acoquiner avec le Parti autrichien de la liberté (FPÖ, extrême droite) dans un gouvernement de coalition inédit. L'Europe ne pourrait laisser passer une telle provocation. Andreas Khol a beau expliquer qu'il est impossible à son parti d'ignorer le FPÖ et ses 27 % de voix, voire 33 % d'intentions favorables, rien n'y fait. «On va vous isoler , menace le chef de l'État français. L'Autriche va le payer cher.» Le 4 février 2000, le gouvernement «noir-bleu» de Wolfgang Schüssel est intronisé à Vienne. L'extrême droite se hisse triomphalement au pouvoir, tandis qu'un vent de panique souffle sur l'Europe prise de court. L'Union européenne vote en catastrophe des sanctions. Du jour au lendemain, ministres et diplomates autrichiens affrontent quolibets et portes closes. Des programmes d'échanges scolaires sont annulés. Le Guide du routard barre son édition Autriche 2000 d'un bandeau noir symbolique. Le bras de fer va durer six mois, jusqu'à ce qu'en septembre, de guerre lasse, l'Europe renonce aux sanctions.

Une décennie plus tard, les choses ont bien changé. L'extrême droite a quitté le gouvernement en janvier 2007, usée par le pouvoir. Son leader emblématique, Jörg Haider, s'est tué dans un accident de voiture en octobre 2008. En Europe, le souvenir même des sanctions s'estompe lentement, surtout depuis l'irruption de l'extrême droite au gouvernement en Italie, en Slovaquie ou encore au second tour de l'élection présidentielle française en avril 2002. >>> Maurin Picard, Vienne | Jeudi 04 Février 2010

New Dark Age Alert! Geert Wilders’ Witness List Cut Down To Three In Medieval Amsterdam Trial
The Grim Reaper. Image: News Real Blog
DAVID HOROWITZ’S NEWS REAL BLOG: The Grim Reaper of Sharia is alive and well. His blade is still sharp. The fix is in at the Amsterdam Criminal Court. Today, the Judges hearing the “Inciting to Hatred” trial (read that: No more political free speech in The Netherlands – ever) of Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders slashed the number of witnesses he may call to testify in his defense from eighteen – to three. It’s all right out of the Dark Ages. It’s 632 A.D. again in The Netherlands. >>> John L. Work | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Anti-Islam Dutch Lawmaker Says He’s Being Denied a Fair Trial; Court Rejects Most of His Witness List
CNS NEWS: The Dutch lawmaker on trial for his provocative views on Islam said Wednesday he was being denied the right to a fair trial after the court rejected most of his requested defense witnesses, including a convicted murderer who invoked the Koran to justify his actions.

The Amsterdam District Court ruled that Geert Wilders could only call three witnesses out of the 18 he wanted. Among those it turned down was Mohammed Bouyeri, imprisoned for life in 2005 for murdering a Dutch critic of Islam, filmmaker Theo van Gogh, on an Amsterdam street the previous year.

In a statement released after the brief hearing, Wilders said, “This court is not interested in the truth. This court doesn’t want me to have a fair trial. I can’t have any respect for this. This court would not be out of place in a dictatorship.” >>> Patrick Goodenough, International Editor | Thursday, February 04, 2010

Muslim Women 'Radicalised' in UK
If Muslims cannot live by civilized norms of behaviour, then why should we, the peace-loving majority, accept them here? – © Mark

BBC: On 1 February, a female suicide bomber killed 54 people in north-east Baghdad.

The attack may have happened on another continent, but there are increasing concerns that violent extremism among women may now also be increasing in the UK.

It is believed that the process of radicalisation often takes place at universities.

One Islamist group linked with this practice is Hizb ut-Tahrir.

While not itself connected to any terrorist acts, Hizb ut-Tahrir has courted controversy and politicians have seized on some of its more inflammatory views.

The Conservative Party has said it would ban the organisation altogether.

Nazreen Nawaz is a spokeswoman for the group. She became a member while studying medicine at King's College London.

Today, sitting at her dining table in south London, she teaches her four-year-old daughter how to spell and explains her decision to join.

"The philosophy of Hizb ut-Tahrir offered me a view of Islam that could solve many of the problems in the Muslim world," Dr Nawaz says.

"We don't advocate that British Muslims go over and fight in Palestine and occupied countries.

"What we say is that people in lands such as Afghanistan, Iraq and occupied countries have the right to defend themselves."

'Naive'

There are concerns that hundreds of British Muslim women have been radicalised, many while being students.

Recent intelligence reports about terror plots involving women, and the growing trend of al-Qaeda's use of female suicide bombers, have ignited concerns that some may turn to violent extremism in Britain. >>> Rahila Bano, BBC World Service | Thursday, February 04, 2010

Massachusetts: Asylum Request Redux
THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Barack Obama’s aunt Zeituni Onyango will make a second bid for political asylum as she goes before an immigration judge in Boston on Thursday. Ms. Onyango moved to the United States in 2000. Her first asylum request was rejected, and she was ordered deported in 2004, but she continued to live in public housing in Boston. A judge later agreed to reopen her asylum case. [Source: The New York Times] The Associated Press | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Obama's aunt fights deportation: The Kenyan aunt of President Barack Obama, Zeituni Onyango, is to appear before an immigration judge to fight deportation. >>> | Thursday, February 04, 2010

Perez Hilton Holds Off TechCrunch, Mashable and Twitter Founders in Web Influence List
THE TELEGRAPH: Perez Hilton, the celebrity blogger, has been named the most influential person on the internet - ahead of the founders of TechCrunch, Mashable, Twitter and Digg.

Perez Hilton. Photo: The Telegraph
Forbes magazine's fourth annual web celebrity ranking praised Hilton - real name Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr - for his "off-colour blend of humour, opinion and immature humour".

It noted that his celebrity had begun to spill over into the non-virtual world, following a fracas last year in which he was allegedly assaulted by a manager of the band Black Eyed Peas. >>> Matthew Moore | Thursday, February 04, 2010

Barack Obama Tells Americans 'Don't Go to Las Vegas'
THE TELEGRAPH: A careless remark by President Barack Obama about Las Vegas has triggered a furious backlash from Nevada’s cash-strapped gambling city and a key Democratic ally fighting a tough re-election battle in the state.

Bright lights of Las Vegas cast a shadow over its burgeoning poverty. Photograph: The Telegraph
Speaking about the economy at an event in New Hampshire, Mr Obama told Americans: “When times are tough, you tighten your belts.

“You don’t go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage. You don’t blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you’re trying to save for college. You prioritise. You make tough choices.”

The economy of the world’s most famous gambling and entertainment destination is heavily dependent on tourism and Las Vegans were already incensed by a comment from Mr Obama last year that companies should not use federal bail out money for trips to the city.

Tourism and casino officials said the comment hurt the city after companies cancelled meetings in Las Vegas and re-arranged them elsewhere.

Mr Obama’s latest remark about Las Vegas prompted a swift and angry retort from Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, who has an uphill battle to win re-election in Nevada, which has an unemployment rate of 13 per cent, in the November mid-term elections.

“The President needs to lay off Las Vegas and stop making it the poster child for where people shouldn’t be spending their money,” he said in a statement. >>> Toby Harnden in Washington | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

La Chine menace Obama
lePARISIEN.fr: Pour les dirigeants chinois, le dalaï-lama reste un ennemi. La semaine dernière, des émissaires du leader spirituel tibétain sont venus en Chine dialoguer avec des responsables du Parti communiste. Comme en novembre 2008, ils sont repartis en Inde sans résultat. Hier, en conférence de presse, les délégués chinois à ces conversations se montrent inflexibles.

« Le dalaï-lama ne doit pas se définir à l’étranger comme le représentant légal du peuple tibétain. Il n’est pas habilité à parler avec le gouvernement chinois du bien-être des habitants du Tibet. » Cette fermeté s’accompagne d’un message : une rencontre entre Obama et le dalaï-lama « minerait sérieusement » les relations sino-américaines. Le dalaï-lama sera à Washington autour du 16 février. Hier, la Maison-Blanche a confirmé cette visite. >>> Richard Arzt, à Pékin | Mercredi 03 Février 2010

Irak – Bagdad : 41 pélerins tués par une femme kamikaze
lePARISIEN.fr: L'attentat-suicide qui a tué lundi 41 pèlerins chiites - dont au moins 11 femes et enfants - et blessé 106 autres, lundi, près de Bagdad, a été perpetré par une femme. Celle-ci s'est mêlée aux pèlerins lors d'une étape dans leur procession religieuse à Boub al-Cham, dans la banlieue nord de la capitale, et a actionné la ceinture d'explosif qu'elle portait.

Selon le commandement militaire de Bagdad, les pélerins se rendaient à Kerbala et l'attaque s'est produite à 11h45 locale (9h45 en France). «L'attaque perpétrée par la terroriste qui portait une ceinture d'explosif a eu lieu à l'intérieur d'une cabine de fouille corporelle réservée aux femmes», a précisé l'armée.

Des dizaines de personnes étaient rassemblées près des tentes dressées par des bénévoles pour servir des rafraîchissements et des collations aux pèlerins qui convergent depuis plusieurs jours vers la ville sainte, située à 110 km au sud de la capitale irakienne.

«Nous servions les gens quand l'attaque a eu lieu à l'intérieur de la tente de fouille pour les femmes», a affirmé l'un de ces bénévoles, Allawi Hassan, blessé aux jambes et soigné à l'hôpital al-Kindi de Bagdad. «Quand l'explosion a eu lieu, je me suis senti propulsé dans les airs. J'ai vu de nombreux enfants et femmes blessés avant de m'évanouir. Je me suis réveillé à l'hôpital», a-t-il ajouté. Des explosifs impossibles à détecter >>> Leparisien.fr | Lundi 01 Février 2010

Anti-Muslim Dutch Lawmaker's Trial Tests Freedom of Speech
TIME: A flamboyant populist and founder of a virulently anti-immigrant political party, Geert Wilders sees himself as a champion of free speech in the Netherlands. Others would disagree. Wilders, a member of the Dutch parliament, is in court this week to face five counts of inciting hatred and discrimination for describing Islam as a fascist religion and Moroccan youths as violent, and for calling for the banning of the Quran. The trial, which resumed Wednesday after a two-week break, is being seen as a test of the limits of free speech and the famously tolerant country's commitment to protecting minority rights.

Wilders, a 46-year-old with bleach-blond, bouffant hair, made international headlines in 2008 when he made a short film called Fitna, in which verses from the Quran were displayed against a background of violent film clips and images of terrorism by Islamic radicals. Described as "offensively anti-Islamic" by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the film led to protests in the Muslim world and prompted Britain to ban Wilders from entering the country. But it also brought Wilders more popularity at home. His Party for Freedom finished second in last year's European Parliament elections, winning 17% of the Dutch vote. His party also holds nine seats in the Dutch parliament.

Because of his extreme anti-Muslim views, Wilders is often compared to the leaders of Europe's other far-right parties, such as Nick Griffin of the British National Party and Jean-Marie Le Pen of France's National Front. But he claims (though his opponents strongly disagree) that his policies are rooted in the Dutch tradition of tolerance: he says that Islam is a threat to women's rights and he criticizes Muslims' anti-gay rhetoric. Now under 24-hour surveillance because of the many death threats he's received, Wilders told TIME last year that Islam itself stirs hatred. "The Quran is full of incitements to violence," he said. "Islam wants to dominate every part of life and society. It does not want to integrate or assimilate, but to dominate. It should not be compared to other religions, but with totalitarian ideologies, like communism or fascism." >>> Leo Cendrowicz | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

The Dividing Lines of Uganda's Anti-gay Row
BBC: Newsnight's Tim Whewell has travelled to Uganda where an attempt to punish "aggravated homosexuality" with the death penalty has caused outrage across the world.

Preacher Martin Semper uses his popularity to deliver a vehement message of anti-gay rhetoric to an enthusiastic congregation at a Kampala University. Watch BBC video >>> | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Bram Moszkowicz, Geert Wilders' lawyer. Photo: De Telegraaf
Wilders’ Lawyer Speaks Out
GATES OF VIENNA: Moszkowicz: Court is overestimating itself

The lawyer for Geert Wilders, Bram Moszkowicz, finds that the court overestimates itself, now that it has found it unnecessary to hear some legal experts. “That is quite something, that a court finds that no legal experts are needed,” Bram Moszkowicz said. “With this the court overestimates itself, and when a judge overestimates himself, I start to be afraid.” >>> Baron Bodissey | Translation by VH | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Original article in Dutch in De Telegraaf

Interessante Meldung: Otto Habsburg: Ehefrau starb im Familienkreis
DIE PRESSE: Regina Habsburg ist im Kreise ihrer Familie im bayerischen Pöcking gestorben, sie soll bereits länger an Herzbeschwerden gelitten haben. Sie wurde 85 Jahre alt.

PÖCKING/WIEN. Regina, die Ehefrau Ottos von Habsburg-Lothringen, ist am Mittwoch nach langer schwerer Krankheit im 86. Lebensjahr in ihrem Haus in Pöcking am Starnberger See gestorben. „Sie ist friedlich im Kreis ihrer Kinder eingeschlafen“, berichtet Eva Demmerle, die Büroleiterin Habsburgs. „Mit meiner Mutter verlieren wir eine großartige Persönlichkeit, die uns durch ihren unerschütterlichen Glauben und ihre positive Lebenseinstellung geprägt hat“, erklärt ihr ältester Sohn Karl.

Regina wurde am 6. Jänner [Januar] 1925 als Prinzessin von Sachsen-Meiningen (aus dem Haus Wettin) in Würzburg geboren. Ihr Vater starb 1946 in russischer Gefangenschaft im Alter von 53 Jahren.

Da sie aus einem „ehemals regierenden Hause“ stammte, kam sie für eine Hochzeit mit dem um 13 Jahre älteren Otto von Habsburg in Frage, dem ältesten Sohn des letzten österreichischen Kaiserpaares. Nicht nur seine Mutter Zita, sondern auch die Monarchisten sahen in ihm lange Zeit den österreichischen Thronprätendenten. >>> Von Hans Werner Scheidl, Die Presse | Mittwoch, 03. Februar 2010

Granada: The Magic of the Moors
THE TELEGRAPH: Now's the time to enjoy the stunning sights of Granada, says Anthony Jefferies.

The Alhambra is Spain's most visited tourist attraction but will be relatively quiet in February Photo: The Telegraph
The Alhambra is heart-flutteringly beautiful at any time but with southern Spain warming up in the early spring sunshine and the crowds yet to arrive, this is the perfect season to visit the great Moorish palace complex and the lovely city fanning out from its flanks. Old Moorish and gipsy quarters, vast cathedrals and churches, tree-lined plazas and great restaurants will provide an antidote to the cold British winter. >>> | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Geert Wilders: Israel Protecting West
ARUTZ SHEVA: (IsraelNN.com) In a recent speech in New York City, Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders, who became famous for a film on radical Islam, credited Israel with protecting the West.

“The war against Israel is not a war against Israel. It is a war against the West. It is jihad. Israel is simply receiving the blows that are meant for all of us. If there would have been no Israel , Islamic imperialism would have found other venues to release its energy and its desire for conquest. Thanks to Israeli parents who send their children to the army and lay awake at night, parents in Europe and America can sleep well and dream, unaware of the dangers looming.”

Wilders has since been put on trial in the Netherlands for his film, which opponents have accused of being "hate speech". [Source: ArutzSheva] | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Muslim Demographics

Shocking: Europe Will Become Muslim Eurabia Within 20 Years


Muslim Scholar Says Islam Will Conquer Europe and World

Opinion – Leon de Winter*: Stop the Trial of Geert Wilders
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: A Dutch court is forced to compare Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' and the Quran.

What started as a trial against Geert Wilders for alleged Islamophobia has nearly turned into its opposite: a historical case about the message of the Quran. The Amsterdam court trying the controversial Dutch politician is now preoccupied with the question of whether this book, sacred to more than a billion believers, can be compared to one of the most vile publications in the history of Western civilization—Hitler's "Mein Kampf." What could possibly go wrong?

In his writing and speeches, Mr. Wilders has found these two works to be similar in terms of their anti-Semitism and incitement to hatred, and has thus called for a publishing ban on the Quran similar to the one in place for "Mein Kampf." This is what triggered Mr. Wilders's prosecution for discriminatory and insulting remarks against Muslims and Islam. The Dutch politician, though, denies having insulted Muslims. He insists his focus is on radical Islam and the Quran, which he considers to be not only a religious text but also a political pamphlet encouraging Muslims to discriminate against and, if necessary, kill Jews, Christians, apostates and other unbelievers. That's why Mr. Wilders claims the right to criticize and condemn Islam.

Following complaints brought by mostly Muslim and radical leftist activists, Amsterdam's district attorney in 2008 at first found no legal basis for prosecuting Mr. Wilders. Prosecutors were forced to change course only after an activist appeals court last year ordered Mr. Wilders's prosecution—basically condemning the politician before any trial could even begin and before Mr. Wilders had a chance to defend himself. The court's unusual intervention illustrates the Dutch confusion about the conflict between two essential rights: the right to free speech and the right to protection from discrimination. >>> Leon de Winter* | Tuesday, January 26, 2010

*Mr. de Winter is a Dutch novelist and adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Sicherheits-Warnung! Terrorgefahr in den USA «sehr gross» : US-Geheimdienste rechnen mit bevorstehendem Anschlagsversuch der Kaida
NZZ ONLINE: Die US-Geheimdienste stufen die Gefahr eines Anschlags des Terrornetzwerks al-Kaida in den kommenden Monaten in den USA als sehr hoch ein. Er rechne fest mit einem Anschlagsversuch, sagte US-Geheimdienstkoordinator Dennis Blair am Dienstag.

«Sie werden es versuchen», sagte Blair vor dem Geheimdienstausschuss des US-Senats. Solange Kaida-Chef Osama bin Laden und die Nummer Zwei des Terrornetzwerks, Aiman al-Sawahiri, nicht «festgenommen oder tot» seien, werde al-Kaida am Versuch eines Angriffs in den USA festhalten.

Al-Kaida plane weiterhin, mit einer «grossangelegten» Aktion viele Menschen oder die US-Wirtschaft «oder beides» zu treffen, sagte Blair. >>> sda/afp | Mittwoch, 03. Februar 2010

What Will Muslim Scholars Make of This? Muslims Cannot Eat the Meat from Pigs, But Will They Be Allowed Lung Transplants from Them?
THE TELEGRAPH: The use of pig lungs in transplants into humans has moved a step closer with a medical breakthrough.

Scientists in Melbourne, Australia, used a ventilator and pump to keep the animal lungs alive and "breathing" while human blood flowed in them.

Experts estimated the work could lead to the first animal-human transplants within five years.

Dr Glenn Westall, who helped conduct the experiment, said: “The blood went into the lungs without oxygen and came out with oxygen, which is the exact function of the lungs.

"It showed that these lungs were working perfectly well and doing as we were expecting them to do.

“This is a significant advance compared to experiments that have been performed over the past 20 years."

The breakthrough came after scientists were able to remove a section of pig DNA, which had made the pig organs incompatible with human blood. Pig lungs in human transplants moves step closer >>> | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Geert Wilders Doesn’t Get His Way in Court
RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: Dutch politician Geert Wilders was visibly annoyed when he failed to get what he asked for from the three judges hearing his case at the Amsterdam District Court.

Mr Wilders, through his lawyer Bram Moszkowicz, had requested that 17 witnesses testify as part of his defence against charges that include inciting hatred of Muslims and non-western immigrants.
 


Murderer


Among others, Mr Wilders had asked that Mohammed Bouyeri, the convicted murderer of Theo van Gogh, be called as a expert witness.
 


The judges, however, will not allow Bouyeri to testify. They have also ruled that other 'Muslim extremists' on Mr Wilders' 'wishlist' will not be allowed to testify. The list includes Fawaz Jneid, imam at the Soennah Mosque in The Hague, and Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, chairman of the Guardian Council in Iran.

Ex-Muslims

Mr Wilders will be permitted to call three experts on Islam, out of the total of eight he had actually asked for. However, two ex-Muslims called by his defence team - in part to give their personal view about the impact of Islam - were also rejected.
 


In their ruling, the judges say Mr Wilders will have ample opportunity to tell the court whether he agrees with their decision to disallow some of his chosen witnesses[.] Staying in Amsterdam >>> John Tyler | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Court Limits Wilders' Witness List
DUTCHNEWS.nl: The killer of Theo van Gogh and 14 of the other witnesses anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders wanted to call in his defence against charges of discrimination and inciting hatred have been ruled inadmissible by Amsterdam district court.

But three Islam experts proposed by Wilders will be heard behind closed doors, the judges said on Wednesday afternoon. They include American Syrian psychiatrist Wafa Sultan who believes the world is witness to 'a battle between modernity and barbarism which Islam will lose'.

The court also turned down Wilders' request to hear five legal experts on the grounds that the MP will have ample opportunity to say whether or not he agrees with them during the trial. He had wanted to call 18 experts and Muslim radicals. Truth >>> © DutchNews.nl | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Members of al Shabaab, a militant group that is seeking ties to al Qaeda, display their weapons in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, last month. Photo: The Wall Street Journal
Somalia's Al Shabaab to Ally With Al Qaeda
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: NAIROBI, Kenya—The militant group al Shabaab said it would ally with al Qaeda in a drive to establish an Islamic state in Somalia and fight for Muslims across East Africa, offering a fresh test for U.S.-backed African peacekeepers struggling to defend a weak Somali government.

In a statement Monday, the group said it had agreed, among other things, "to connect the horn of Africa jihad to the one led by al Qaeda and its leader Sheikh Osama Bin Laden." The statement, written in Somali and Arabic, is believed to be the first explicit confirmation of what U.S. and Somali government have long suspected: Militants in one of Africa's least stable places are sharing resources and merging agendas.

It isn't clear whether this new resolution will result in funding or training from al Qaeda, or even if it will lead to an official endorsement from the global terror group. At the very least, the statement signals a tightening embrace with foreign fighters who have been supporting al Shabaab's efforts to topple the Somali government.

The cooperation also could spur Somali militants to assist al Qaeda elsewhere. Al Shabaab has sent fighters to Afghanistan to train with al Qaeda, according to the Somali government. Al Shabaab recently pledged to send fighters across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen, where al Qaeda is active.

Al Shabaab made its announcement a day after Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed marked his first year in office. The past year has offered little respite from the violence that has rocked Somalia for nearly two decades. In the short term, a combined threat is likely to increase pressure on Mr. Sharif's tenuous government and those trying to stave off its collapse.

The U.S supports Mr. Sharif and is the biggest backer of an African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, for which it has provided training and equipment. That support reflects concerns that al Qaeda is attempting to establish a base in Somalia to attack Western targets. >>> Sarah Childress | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Gays in military? Not for McCain
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: WASHINGTON: Three years ago, the Republican senator John McCain was pretty clear about his stand on the military's ''Don't ask, don't tell'' policy on gay service personnel.

The war hero said he would support ending the ban once the top brass told him they were OK with it.

''The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, 'Senator, we ought to change the policy,' then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it because those leaders in the military are the ones we give the responsibility to,'' he told an audience of college students.

That day arrived on Tuesday, with the US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mike Mullen, testifying to senators following President Barack Obama's announcement that he would seek a congressional repeal of the 15-year-old policy.

Admiral Mullen called repealing the policy, which bans openly gay men and lesbians from serving, ''the right thing to do'' and said he was troubled by in effect forcing service members to ''lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens''.

Mr Gates told the armed services committee: ''I fully support the President's decision.'' >>> The Washington Post, Agence France-Presse | Thursday, February 04, 2010

Obama will den Dalai Lama treffen: Peking stösst heftige Drohungen aus
NZZ ONLINE: Der amerikanische Präsident Barack Obama will trotz der Warnungen aus Peking den Dalai Lama treffen. Das teilte ein Sprecher des Weissen Hauses am Dienstag mit, ohne einen Termin für ein Treffen Obamas mit dem geistlichen Oberhaupt der Tibeter zu nennen.

«Der Präsident hat der chinesischen Führung während seiner Reise im vergangenen Jahr gesagt, dass er den Dalai Lama treffen werde», sagte der Sprecher weiter. «Um es klar zu sagen, die USA betrachten Tibet als einen Teil von China.» Die amerikanische Regierung sei jedoch über die Menschenrechte und die Art und Weise, wie die Tibeter behandelt würden, beunruhigt. Die USA forderten die chinesische Führung auf, die einzigartigen kulturellen und religiösen Traditionen zu schützen.

Der Dalai Lama will am 16. Februar für zehn Tage in die USA reisen. >>> sda/dpa | Dienstag, 02. Februar 2010

Le pape en guerre contre un Labour peu catholique
LE MONDE: Le 1er février, le pape est intervenu dans la vie politique du Royaume-Uni ! Benoît XVI, qui rencontrait à Rome les trente-cinq évêques catholiques anglais et gallois, a jugé que les projets de lois britanniques destinées à promouvoir l'égalité des chances "imposent des restrictions injustes à la liberté des communautés religieuses d'agir en accord avec leurs croyances". A cet égard, a ajouté le pape, ils "violent la loi naturelle". Il faut vous battre "avec un zèle de mercenaire" contre ces textes, a-t-il enjoint à ses troupes.

L'attaque du pape, qui a confirmé qu'il se rendrait en visite officielle au Royaume-Uni, sans doute vers la mi-septembre, vise un texte en cours d'examen à Westminster. Celui-ci, dans sa version originelle, prévoyait que les organisations religieuses ne pourraient plus totalement s'exonérer, comme c'était le cas jusqu'ici, des contraintes nationales en matière de lutte contre la discrimination.

Cela concernait spécifiquement les employés de tout ce que la Grande-Bretagne compte d'organisations religieuses, et qui ne font pas partie du personnel clérical. Dans les nurseries ou les écoles affiliées à une religion, arguait le gouvernement, il n'y a aucune raison de ne pas embaucher d'homosexuels ou de transsexuels. >>> Virginie Malingre, Londres Correspondante | Mercredi 03 Février 2010

Großbritannien: Papst will "missionarischen Eifer" gegen Schwule
WELT ONLINE: Papst Benedikt XVI. empört England: Dem Heiligen Vater passt nicht, dass die Briten ein Gesetz gegen die Diskriminierung Homosexueller auf dem Arbeitsmarkt verabschieden wollen. Mit aller Macht sollten sie sich gegen die Regelung stemmen, forderte der Papst seine Amtsbrüder auf der Insel auf.

Große Ereignisse werfen lange im Voraus ihre Schatten. So der bevorstehende Besuch des römischen Pontifex Benedikt XVI. in England, im September dieses Jahres. Es wird der erste Papst-Besuch sein seit 1982. Dazwischen liegen 28 Jahre einer Metamorphose des Zeitgeistes, die den Vorposten Europas zwischen Nordsee und Atlantik, die britische Insel, tief greifender erfasst hat als andere Gesellschaften. Seit den Thatcher-Jahren ist eine "Anything goes"-Mentalität herangewachsen, die Annahme grenzenloser Verfügbarkeit existenzieller Optionen. Kompass ist das säkular-libertäre Prinzip, welches Gleichheit an die Stelle der Rücksicht setzt und Homogenität an die Stelle unterschiedlicher Lebensinhalte.

Papst Benedikt, der sanft spricht aber entschieden markiert, hat in diesen Tagen den britischen Episkopat auf Besuch im Vatikan, und diese Gelegenheit war ihm gerade recht, sogleich zur Sache zu kommen. Im House of Commons wird zurzeit eine Gesetzgebung behandelt, unter dem Titel "Equality Bill", der zufolge im britischen Arbeitsrecht künftig keine Unterscheidung mehr zulässig sein wird zwischen Lebensgruppen diverser Ausrichtung.

In praxi: Niemand, der sich zur Homosexualität oder Transsexualität bekennt, darf in seinen Beschäftigungschancen in irgendeiner Weise zurückgesetzt werden. Dafür hat die Labour-Regierung eine eigene Regierungsbehörde eingesetzt, das "Government Equalities Office".

Das Denken hinter der Gesetzesvorlage spiegelt einen weit gehenden Konsens in der Gesellschaft. Alle Umfragen der letzten Zeit kommen zu dem überwältigenden Schluss, dass Toleranz gegenüber Lebensorientierungen im Sexuellen nicht nur gewachsen sondern zum prägenden Denkmuster der modernen Briten geworden ist. Ermittelt wurde aber auch, dass solche Toleranz nicht immer nur von entschiedenen eigenen Positionen ausgeht, sondern oft mehr einem Achselzucken gleicht, mit dem der Zeitgenosse den Dingen einfach nolens volens ihren Lauf lässt. >>> Von Thomas Kielinger | Mittwoch, 03. Februar 2010

Fouad Ajami on Obama’s Waning Influence


THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: The Obama Spell Is Broken: Unlike this president, John Kennedy was an ironist who never fell for his own mystique. >>> Fouad Ajami* | Tuesday, February 02, 2010

*Mr. Ajami, a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, is the author of "The Foreigner's Gift" (Free Press, 2007).

Dutch Critic of Islam Wants Extremist Killer to Testify at His Trial
CNSNEWS.com: As the trial of Dutch anti-Islamist lawmaker Geert Wilders resumes Wednesday, the crucial question will be whether the court agrees to his request to have a Muslim extremist and convicted murderer testify.

Wilders, who faces charges of discrimination and incitement to hatred over his claims linking the Koran to violence, wants the court to hear from an extremist who cited the Islamic text to justify his crime.

Mohammed Bouyeri is serving a life sentence for murdering Dutch film director Theo van Gogh, who had stoked controversy with a documentary about the treatment of women under Islam.

Van Gogh was stabbed and shot to death on a street in Amsterdam street in 2004. In a note left pinned to his body with a knife, Bouyeri threatened to kill another person reviled by extremist Muslims in Europe – Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somalia-born Dutch politician who worked with Van Gogh on his film.

The lengthy note, which also warned that America, Europe and the Netherlands would be destroyed, included numerous references to the Koran.

Bouyeri, a Dutchman of Moroccan origin, had earlier penned another open letter posted on a Dutch Web site, again quoting from the Koran, threatening Wilders this time and declaring, “May Allah destroy you.”

During his 2005 trial, Bouyeri carried a copy of the Koran, told the court he had acted purely in the name of his religion, and displayed no regret for the murder. >>> Patrick Goodenough, International Editor | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Obama Adviser Stands by Statement That Pope Benedict XVI Is 'Hurting People in the Name of Jesus'
CNSNEWS.com: Harry Knox, an adviser to President Obama’s Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, is standing by a statement he made last March that Pope Benedict XVI is “hurting people in the name of Jesus.” 
 


When asked on Tuesday whether he still holds that view, Knox said, “I do.”
 


In addition to serving on the president’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Knox is the director of the religion and faith program at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a homosexual activist group.
 


At the National Press Club on Tuesday, CNSNews.com asked Knox, “You put out a statement saying Pope Benedict XVI was—quote—‘hurting people in the name of Jesus’ because he did not support promoting the use of condoms as a means to control the spread of HIV. And I was wondering, do you still believe the pope’s position on condoms is ‘hurting people in the name of Jesus’?”
 


Knox answered, “I—I do.” >>> Karen Schuberg | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Zwangsehe mit 80-Jährigem: Zwölfjähriges Mädchen verwirft Scheidungsantrag
WELT ONLINE: Ein 12 Jahre altes, zwangsverheiratetes Mädchen hat in Saudi-Arabien überraschend einen Scheidungsantrag zurückgezogen. Das Kind forderte vor Gericht nur, weiter zur Schule gehen zu dürfen. Ihr Vater hatte für die Hochzeit mit dem 80-jährigen Mann im vergangenen September umgerechnet mehr als 16.000 Euro kassiert.

In Saudi-Arabien hat ein mit einem 80 Jahre alten Mann zwangsverheiratetes zwölfjähriges Mädchen Medienberichten zufolge überraschend seinen Scheidungsantrag zurückgezogen. Trotz Unterstützung durch Menschenrechtsanwälte hätten das Mädchen und seine Mutter ihr Anliegen vor einem Gericht in Buraidah fallen gelassen, berichteten mehrere Tageszeitungen. Demnach hatte der Vater des Kindes die Hochzeit gegen eine Mitgift von 85.000 Rial (mehr als 16.000 Euro) im vergangenen September arrangiert.

„Ich stimme der Ehe zu. Ich habe keine Einwände. Dies geschieht im Respekt einer Tochter vor ihrem Vater und in Gehorsam gegenüber seinem Wunsch“, erklärte das Mädchen laut der Zeitung „Okas“ vor Gericht. Das Kind habe lediglich gefordert, weiter zur Schule gehen zu dürfen, berichtete die Zeitung „al-Riad“.

Der Anwalt des Mädchens, Salah al-Dabibi, sagte laut „al-Riad“, er sei „empört“ über die Entscheidung. Er schloss nicht aus, dass auf Mutter und Kind Druck ausgeübt worden sei. Auch ein Vertreter der staatlichen Menschenrechtskommission, welche die Mutter des Kindes ursprünglich um Hilfe gebeten hatte, zeigte sich überrascht von dem plötzlichen Sinneswandel. >>> AFP/fas | Dienstag, 02. Februar 2010

Pentagon Abandons Two-war Doctrine
THE TELEGRAPH: The US is to abandon its doctrine of always being ready to fight two simultaneous conventional wars.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates during a press conference to announce the Defense Budget Proposal held at the Pentagon. Photo: The Telegraph
Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, said instead the Pentagon will shift its focus to a broader range of challenges including terrorism and cyber-security.

In a sweeping review of US military strategy, he said the Pentagon must prepare for an "uncertain security landscape" where extremists or "non-state actors" sought missile technology or weapons of mass destruction.

Warning that US military power faced new limits and constraints, he said that weaponry, tactics and enemies had overtaken the "familiar contingencies that dominated US planning after the Cold War".

"We have learned through painful experience that the wars we fight are seldom the wars that we planned," said Mr Gates, as he presented the Pentagon's Quadrennial Defence Review and the 2011 budget plan to the Senate armed services committee.

"As a result, the United States needs a broad portfolio of military capabilities, with maximum versatility, across the widest possible spectrum of conflict." >>> Alex Spillius in Washington | Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Harriet Harman Backs Down Over Employment Equality for Churches
TIMES ONLINE: Harriet Harman has backed away from a confrontation with religious leaders over who they can employ, making clear that she will not force contentious amendments to the Equality Bill through Parliament.

Ministers were astonished on Monday when the Pope said that the Bill violated “natural justice” and urged bishops to fight it. But that attack, along with the strength of opposition in the Lords and the limited time left to get Bills passed before the election, has sapped the Government’s enthusiasm to continue the fight.

Ms Harman, the Equalities Minister, has been engaged in a long dispute with churches and religious organisations over their exemption from anti-discrimination employment law, and how it affects “non-religious” posts. >>> Rosemary Bennett, Ruth Gledhill | Wednesday, February 03, 2010

New Dark Age Alert! Waafa Sultan : Charia en Occident

Not a Whiff of Allah’s Compassion and Mercy in the Islamic Republic of Iran
TIMES ONLINE: Nine more dissidents will be executed soon, a senior member of Iran's judiciary declared today, as the regime stepped up its efforts to deter another huge opposition rally planned for next week.

The regime is sufficiently worried that it has ordered state television not to broadcast the usual historic television footage of insurrection on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the Shah, lest the scenes incite today's opposition to follow suit.

Last Thursday it hanged two men for allegedly plotting against the regime - a move condemned internationally but praised by Ayatollah Ahmad Janati, a hardline cleric, during Friday prayers in Tehran. "May God not have mercy on those who are lenient with the corrupt on earth," he said. "There is no room for clemency. It is time for severity."

On Saturday the regime broadcast the trial of 16 opposition supporters, two of them women, for allegedly plotting against the Islamic Republic and conspiring with its foreign enemies.

Today Ebrahim Raisi, a senior member of the judiciary, announced that nine more alleged members of "anti-revolutionary" groups would be hanged soon. "They had participated in riots with the aim of creating disunity and toppling the system," he said. Nine to be executed as Iran plans crackdown >>> Martin Fletcher | Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Imposer la burqa à sa femme le prive de naturalisation
LE FIGARO: Le ministre de l'Immigration a transmis mardi un projet de décret à François Fillon pour rejeter la demande de naturalisation d'un homme qui oblige sa femme à se couvrir d'un voile intégral. Il confirme ainsi les motifs du décret validé par le Conseil d'État en janvier et que Le Figaro a pu se procurer.

Le ministre Éric Besson a fait savoir hier qu'il avait refusé par décret « la naturalisation d'un homme qui obligeait sa femme à porter la burqa ». Le Figaro a pu se procurer les motifs de cette décision, validés en janvier dernier par le Conseil d'État qui avait été saisi de cette affaire. Le document précise que l'homme « adopte au quotidien une attitude discriminatoire vis-à-vis des femmes, allant jusqu'à refuser de leur serrer la main et à préconiser une séparation des garçons et des filles, y compris, au foyer, des frères et des sœurs, dès leur plus jeune âge ». Les magistrats considèrent donc que : « Le mode de vie qu'il a choisi, fût-il justifié par des préceptes religieux, est incompatible avec les valeurs de la République, et notamment le principe de l'égalité des sexes. » Et concluent qu'« il ne remplit pas la condition d'assimilation prévue par l'article 21-4 du Code civil ».
Le Conseil d'État propose donc de refuser la nationalité française à ce Marocain marié à une Française, qui appartient comme lui au mouvement Tabligh. Ce courant prône un islam fondamentaliste et piétiste, calqué sur la vie du prophète et pratique largement la conversion. Au cours de l'enquête, le mari avait affirmé que sa femme devait rester recluse ou sortir entièrement voilée. Des règles que l'épouse approuvait. >>> Cécilia Gabizon | Mardi 02 Février 2010

Éclairage : Débat sur le voile intégral : les yeux des pays musulmans rivés sur la France
LE POINT: Fin janvier, à l'Assemblée nationale, les médias étrangers se pressent. Parmi eux, de nombreux journalistes issus du Moyen-Orient et des pays du Golfe sont venus assister à la remise du rapport Gerin sur le voile intégral . Ils attendent avec impatience les contours de la future loi qui doit limiter le port du voile intégral dans l'Hexagone. "Que cela soit au Proche-Orient ou dans les pays du Golfe, les médias - et surtout Al-Jazira - suivent avec attention le débat et sont assez critiques à l'égard de la France", souligne Barah Mikhaï, spécialiste du Moyen-Orient et du Maghreb à l'Institut de relations internationales et stratégiques (IRIS). 



Denis Bauchard, spécialiste du Moyen-Orient à l'Institut français des relations internationales (IFRI), renchérit : "Dans ces pays à majorité musulmane, viser le voile revient à attaquer l'islam." Le débat sur le voile intégral rencontre aussi un fort écho en Inde, où près de 12 % de la population est de confession musulmane. "Les Indiens sont très choqués que l'on puisse imposer aux musulmans la façon dont ils doivent s'habiller ou pas", explique Denis Bauchard. >>> Par Ségolène Gros de Larquier | Mardi 02 Février 2010

Pat Condell: Interdisez la burqa - version française

America Moves to End Homosexual Law in US Military
THE TELEGRAPH: America has moved towards ending the controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which prohibits openly homosexual men and women from serving in the US military.

Admiral Michael Mullen, the most senior officer in the United States military, said that ending the law was now "the right thing to do".

He added: “For me, personally, it comes down to integrity - theirs as individuals, and ours as institutions.”

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the US Senate that he could no longer back a policy that "forces young men and women to lie about what they are in order to defend their fellow citizens".

He added: “For me, personally, it comes down to integrity – theirs as individuals, and ours as institutions.”

He was speaking just after Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, said that he "fully" supported President Barack Obama's decision to end the policy, which was implemented in 1993 as a compromise after bitter resistance to then President Bill Clinton's pledge to allow open homosexuals to serve.

"We received our orders from the commander-in-chief and we are moving out accordingly." He said that he had ordered a high-level committee, chaired by Jeh (CORR) Johnson, the Pentagon's chief counsel, and Gen Carter Ham, commander of US forces in Europe, to draw up an implementation plan.

Mr Obama directed in last week's State of the Union address that the 1993 law be repealed. This would fulfil a campaign pledge and was also seen as a move to placate the Left, which has long campaigned against the policy. >>> Toby Harnden in Washington | Tuesday, February 02, 2010

VIEWPOINT: Let Gays Defend Their Country >>> Mark | Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Neue Debatte über Schwule im US-Militär: Ein Anstoss Präsident Obamas in seiner Rede zur Lage der Nation
NZZ ONLINE: Der amerikanische Verteidigungsminister Gates hat eine hochrangige Kommission eingesetzt, die bis Ende Jahr einen Plan entwerfen soll, wie die Diskriminierung von Schwulen im Militär beendet werden kann.

Präsident Obama will die Diskriminierung von Homosexuellen in den amerikanischen Streitkräften beenden. Er hatte dies im Wahlkampf versprochen, in seinem ersten Amtsjahr aber nichts unternommen. In seiner Rede zur Lage der Nation am vergangenen Mittwoch kam er auf das Thema zurück und sagte, er wolle das bestehende Gesetz noch in diesem Jahr beseitigt sehen. Zwar könnte Obama auf administrativem Weg Erleichterungen verfügen, doch ist er für die Abschaffung des Gesetzes auf einen Beschluss des Kongresses angewiesen.

Gegenseitiges Stillschweigen

Präsident Clinton hatte seinerzeit versucht, das Militär für Homosexuelle zu öffnen. Die Dienstordnungen definierten Homosexualität damals als Grund für einen Ausschluss aus den Streitkräften. Clinton drang mit seinem Anliegen nicht durch. Er erreichte aber insofern einen Kompromiss, als das Militär nicht länger von sich aus nachfragen durfte, ob jemand homosexuell sei. So entstand 1994 das gegenwärtige, als «Don't ask, don't tell» bekannte Gesetz. Demnach darf das Militär nicht nach der sexuellen Orientierung fragen, und Schwule dürfen sich nicht outen.

Laut Senator McCain, dem einstigen Präsidentschaftskandidaten, funktioniert «Don't ask, don't tell» gut. Als Kriegsheld hat seine Stimme in Militärfragen grosses Gewicht. Jene gut 13 000 Schwule und Lesben, die seit 1994 wegen Homosexualität aus dem Militär ausgeschlossen wurden, teilen McCains Einschätzung der Qualitäten des Gesetzes wohl kaum. Sie vermochten zwar anzuheuern – Amerika hat eine reine Freiwilligenarmee –, doch wurden sie entlassen, nachdem ihre sexuelle Orientierung offenkundig geworden war. Viele outen sich irgendwann doch, andere fallen gegen ihren Willen auf. >>> Beat Ammann, Washington | Dienstag, 02. Februar 2010

USA: Homosexuelle sollen zum Militär dürfen
DIE PRESSE: Bekennenden Homosexuellen ist es derzeit offiziell verboten Soldatin oder Soldat zu werden. US-Verteidigungsminister Robert Gates will das nun ändern und hat eine Studie zur Abschaffung beauftragt.

Die US-Regierung will den Ausschluss praktizierender Homosexueller aus den Streitkräften beenden. Verteidigungsminister Robert Gates wolle eine Studie zur Abschaffung des Verbots in Auftrag geben, verlautete am Dienstag aus Regierungskreisen in Washington. Dabei gehe es nicht mehr um die Frage, ob, sondern wie schnell und in welcher Form die bisherige Politik geändert werden könne. Gates wollte seine Pläne am Abend vor dem zuständigen Ausschuss des Senats bekanntgeben. Obama will Verbot abschaffen >>> APA | Dienstag, 02. Februar 2010


USA: le chef de l'armée pour la levée du tabou homosexuel
LE POINT: Le plus haut gradé américain, l'amiral Michael Mullen, a estimé mardi devant des parlementaires que lever l'interdiction faite aux militaires homosexuels d'évoquer leur orientation sexuelle serait "la bonne chose à faire".

C'est la première fois qu'un haut gradé américain apporte son soutien clair à la levée de l'interdiction.

"Mon opinion est qu'autoriser les gays et lesbiennes à servir ouvertement (dans l'armée) serait la bonne chose à faire", a déclaré devant la commission de Défense du Sénat l'amiral Mullen, chef d'état-major interarmées, précisant qu'il exprimait un "avis personnel".

"Je ne peux m'empêcher d'être troublé du fait que nous avons actuellement une loi qui force les jeunes hommes et les jeunes femmes à mentir (...) pour pouvoir défendre leurs compatriotes", a-t-il ajouté.

L'amiral Mullen a déclaré qu'il pensait que les soldats américains "étaient capables de s'accomoder d'un tel changement", soulignant qu'il avait appris à ne jamais "sous-estimer leur capacité à s'adapter". >>> AFP | Mardi 02 Février 2010

Where Is America's Geert Wilders?

Geert Wilders Gericht Rede auf Deutsch

A German’s View on Islam

The Trial of Geert Wilders: English Translation