Türkei: Westerwelle will zügige Verhandlungen über EU-Beitritt

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Die Kanzlerin ist skeptisch - doch Außenminister Guido Westerwelle drängt auf Tempo bei den Verhandlungen über einen EU-Beitritt der Türkei. Auch Frankreich will neue Gespräche.

Hamburg - Außenminister Guido Westerwelle (FDP) hat mehr Tempo bei den Verhandlungen über einen EU-Beitritt der Türkei gefordert. "Wenn wir nicht achtgeben, wird die Stunde kommen, in der Europa mehr Interesse an der Türkei, als die Türkei Interesse an Europa haben wird", sagte Westerwelle der "Passauer Neuen Presse".

Es müsse wieder "neue Bewegung" in den Prozess um die Gespräche über einen Beitritt kommen und mit dem Land müsse "fair und respektvoll" umgegangen werden. Der Außenminister sprach sich vor allem dafür aus, rasch neue Kapitel in dem Beitrittsprozess zu eröffnen. Er arbeite bereits mit einigen seiner europäischen Amtskollegen daran, dass "noch im ersten Halbjahr eine Öffnung von bisher blockierten Kapiteln" erfolgen könne, sagte Westerwelle der Zeitung. » | ore/AFP/Reuters | Samstag, 23. Februar 2013

UK's Top Cardinal Accused of 'Inappropriate Acts' by Priests

THE OBSERVER: Three priests and former priest report Cardinal Keith O'Brien to Vatican over claims stretching back 33 years

Three priests and a former priest in Scotland have reported the most senior Catholic clergyman in Britain, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, to the Vatican over allegations of inappropriate behaviour stretching back 30 years.

The four, from the diocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, have complained to nuncio Antonio Mennini, the Vatican's ambassador to Britain, and demanded O'Brien's immediate resignation. A spokesman for the cardinal said that the claims were contested.

O'Brien, who is due to retire next month, has been an outspoken opponent of gay rights, condemning homosexuality as immoral, opposing gay adoption, and most recently arguing that same-sex marriages would be "harmful to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of those involved". Last year he was named "bigot of the year" by the gay rights charity Stonewall.

One of the complainants, it is understood, alleges that the cardinal developed an inappropriate relationship with him, resulting in a need for long-term psychological counselling.

The four submitted statements containing their claims to the nuncio's office the week before Pope Benedict's resignation on 11 February. They fear that, if O'Brien travels to the forthcoming papal conclave to elect a new pope, the church will not fully address their complaints. » | Catherine Deveney | Saturday, February 22, 2013

Islam: The Enemy of Democracy and Freedom
Until 9/11, the western world was largely ignorant of the religion of Islam, of its goals, of its aspirations. Indeed, even since 9/11, most people, and that includes our politicians, would not score very highly in a test of their knowledge on the subject. It should be obvious to all thinking people that our politicians are actually unaware, dare I say blind, to the dangers that Islam will increasingly cause us. It is truly a case of the blind leading the blind! That means to say, uninformed and unthinking politicians leading an ill-informed electorate. But this is what we have right now. The same can hardly be said of Muslims in the Islamic world, though; for their knowledge of Christianity far surpasses - even though much of their knowledge is quite distorted - any knowledge of Islam by the man in the street in the West. Read more »

Geert Wilders Liverpool Australia Speech

Geert Wilders in Liverpool Australia - Protestors

Depardieu s'établit officiellement rue de la Démocratie en Russie
LE NOUVELLISTE: L'acteur français Gérard Depardieu, qui a récemment acquis la nationalité russe après une polémique sur ses impôts en France, a rejoint samedi la région russe de Mordovie. Il y a été enregistré officiellement comme habitant rue de la Démocratie à Saransk.

De retour en Russie depuis jeudi, l'acteur s'est envolé samedi matin de Moscou pour la capitale de la Mordovie, une région à environ 650km à l'est de Moscou surtout connue dans le pays pour ses camps de détention.

Peu après son arrivée à Saransk, M. Depardieu, suivi par une vingtaine de journalistes russes, s'en est pris à deux journalistes français sur place qu'il avait reconnus, leur demandant agressivement de quitter les lieux et d'effacer leurs enregistrements vidéos. Ils ont été empêchés de le suivre pour le reste de la journée. » | Source: ATS | samedi 23 février 2013

George Osborne Insists He Won't Change Course Despite Credit Rating Downgrade

THE GUARDIAN: Chancellor says he 'cannot let up' after move by Moody's which opposite number Ed Balls calls 'humiliating'

The chancellor has insisted that he will not change course despite the downgrade of Britain's credit rating in which he invested great political capital in maintaining.

George Osborne said Britain's situation would get very much worse if the government changed course after Moody's changed Britain's rating from AAA to AA1. The chancellor said previously the rating agency's triple-A rating was an endorsement of his austerity policies.

As far back as February 2010, he told an audience of Tory activists: "What investor is going to come to the UK when they fear a downgrade of our credit rating and a collapse of confidence?" In the Tory manifesto, published weeks later, he said: "We will safeguard Britain's credit rating with a credible plan to eliminate the bulk of the structural deficit over a parliament."

Ed Balls ,the shadow chancellor, described the downgrade as a "humiliating blow" for Osborne who was "ploughing on regardless with a plan which is not working".

In an interview at 11 Downing Street on Saturday, Osborne said: "I think we've got a very clear message, a loud and clear message that Britain cannot let up in dealing with its debts, dealing with its problems, cannot let up in making sure that Britain can pay its way in the world.

"What is the message from the ratings agency? Britain's got a debt problem. I agree with that. I've been telling the country for years that we've got a debt problem, we've got to deal with it."

Labour insisted the government had withdrawn demand from the economy which had slowed growth and increased the debt. » | Conal Urquhart, staff and agencies | Saturday, February 23, 2013

German President Joachim Gauck Uses Major Speech to Call for 'More Europe'

DEUTSCHE WELLE: President Joachim Gauck has used a nationally televised speech to call for greater cooperation among the European Union’s member states. The speech comes a year after Gauck took office as Germany’s head of state.

Speaking in front of 200 invited guests at his official residence, the Schloss Bellevue palace in Berlin, President Gauck called for what he described as “more Europe,” while at the same time addressing some of the fears of ordinary EU citizens, including those regarding the eurozone's sovereign debt crisis.

The president conceded that a "structural flaw led to an imbalance in the European Union which was only patched up by emergency measures, such as the European Stability Mechanism and the fiscal compact."

He also condeded that most of what the EU's 500 million citizens have read or heard about the 27-member bloc over the past few years has tended to be about the eurozone crisis.

However, he also noted that there were many more elements to the crisis than just the economic dimension.

"It is also a crisis of confidence in Europe as a political project. This is not just a struggle for our currency; we are struggling with an internal quandary too." » | Chuck Penfold | Friday, February 22, 2013

Obama kämpft für Zulassung der Homoehe

NEUE LUZERNER ZEITUNG: Die Regierung von US-Präsident Barack Obama hat einen weiteren Schritt auf dem Weg zur Zulassung der Homoehe gemacht. Die Regierung bat den Obersten Gerichtshof der USA am Freitag offiziell, das gesetzliche Verbot der Ehe Homosexueller für ungültig zu erklären.

Washington. Das Gesetz zur Verteidigung der Ehe (DOMA) aus dem Jahr 1996 verstosse gegen die grundlegende in der Verfassung garantierte Gleichheit vor dem Gesetz, heisst es in der Eingabe der Regierung beim Gerichtshof.

DOMA verweigere zehntausenden gleichgeschlechtlichen Paaren, die nach dem Recht einzelner US-Bundesstaaten legal verheiratet sind, eine Reihe von Vorteilen, die auf Bundesebene für legal verheiratete gemischtgeschlechtliche Paaren gelten, argumentiert die Regierung.

Das Gesetz schreibt die Ehe als Verbindung zwischen einem Mann und einer Frau fest und gewährt nur verheirateten heterosexuellen Paaren Vorteile in Bereichen wie Steuern, Erbschaft oder Krankenversicherung. » | sda/afp | Samstag, 23. Februar 2013

Un diplomate iranien demande l'asile en Norvège
LE POINT: Le numéro deux de l'ambassade de la République islamique d'Iran à Oslo a fait défection en décembre, en raison de désaccords avec l'ambassadeur.

C'est le quatrième diplomate iranien à faire défection depuis juin 2009, début de la sanglante répression menée par Téhéran contre les opposants à la réélection de Mahmoud Ahmadinejad à la présidence. Le quotidien norvégien Dagbladet révèle ce vendredi qu'un nouveau diplomate iranien a demandé l'asile à la Norvège. "Il souhaite conserver l'anonymat par considération pour sa famille et pour lui-même", explique au quotidien norvégien son avocat, Jørgen Løvdal. "Il ne veut pas s'exprimer sur les raisons de sa demande d'asile, ainsi que sur les circonstances qui l'entourent", précise l'avocat.

D'après Dagbladet, le diplomate iranien, qui travaillait dans l'ambassade d'Oslo depuis plusieurs années, a fait défection en décembre. Il vivrait depuis reclus avec sa famille dans un lieu tenu secret. L'ambassade de la République islamique d'Iran à Oslo a déjà été le théâtre de pareils incidents. En janvier 2010, Mohammad Reza Heydari, consul général de l'ambassade à Oslo, avait déjà décidé de démissionner de son poste et de demander l'asile à la Norvège. À l'époque, le diplomate avait expliqué avoir agi en protestation aux "assassinats" d'opposant iraniens. » | Par Armin Arefi | vendredi 22 février 2013

Princess Cristina of Spain May Be Named in Corruption Case

THE GUARDIAN: King Juan Carlos's daughter likely to be formally named as a suspect in multimillion-euro scandal ahead of possible indictment

As a financial scandal engulfs the royal family and politicians begin to call for his abdication, Spain's King Juan Carlos faces one of the worst weeks in his 37-year reign, with prosecutors set to ask a judge to formally name his daughter Princess Cristina as a suspect in a multimillion-euro fraud and money-laundering case.

The request, which would be a preliminary step to a possible indictment, is poised to be made next week and will be based on the testimony of Diego Torres, a former business school lecturer who became the partner of Cristina's husband, Iñaki Urdangarin.

Juan Carlos's nightmare week starts in Palma de Mallorca , when Urdangarin must appear before an investigating magistrate who has demanded that he and Torres post a joint bond of €8.1m (£7m).

The size of the bond points to the millions of euros that – via a foundation in which the princess served as a board member – the two men allegedly obtained from fraudulent deals with politicians keen to bathe in the reflected glory of royalty. Part of the money was allegedly then laundered through offshore accounts.

"If the princess sits in the dock, the blow to the monarchy's prestige will be huge," said Miguel Bernad, head of the controversial far-right Clean Hands movement that has sent a prosecutor to join the case and who will ask investigating magistrate José Castro to formally name the king's daughter as a suspect. » | Giles Tremlett in Madrid | Friday, February 22, 2013

EU-Beitrittsdebatte: Türkei drängt Deutschland zum Einlenken

SPIEGEL ONLINE: "Auf Knien" werde ein Kanzler einst nach Ankara robben, um die Türkei zur EU-Mitgliedschaft zu bewegen, sagt der Brüsseler Kommissar Günther Oettinger. Die Türken freut's, Berlin ist verstimmt. Zwei Tage vor Angela Merkels Besuch drängt Ankara Deutschland zu Zugeständnissen auf dem Weg nach Europa.

Diese Vorlage ließ sich die türkische Presse nicht entgehen. Am Donnerstag prangt der deutsche EU-Kommissar Günther Oettinger auf fast allen Titelseiten. "Auf Knien", so hatte Angela Merkels Parteifreund gewettet, werde im kommenden Jahrzehnt "ein deutscher Kanzler oder Kanzlerin mit dem Kollegen aus Paris nach Ankara robben, um die Türkei zu bitten, Freunde kommt zu uns".

Eine solche Demutsgeste käme natürlich an in der stolzen Türkei, die sich seit Jahrzehnten hingehalten fühlt, wenn es um eine Beitrittsperspektive in die Europäische Union geht. Kein Wunder also, dass Oettinger nun genüsslich gelobt wird für seine Prognose, die in Europa für Irritationen sorgte. Er wisse zwar nicht, ob die Europäer eines Tages "gekrochen kommen werden, oder ob sie auf die Knie sinken", um die Türkei um einen EU-Beitritt zu bitten, sagt der türkische EU-Minister Egemen Bagis. "Aber wenn es eine Sache gibt, die ich sicher weiß, ist es, dass sie ganz bestimmt nachgeben werden", sagte Bagis über die Europäische Union. » | Von Jürgen Gottschlich, Istanbul | Donnerstag, 21. Februar 2013

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: 'They Will Give In': Turkey Pressures Germany on EU Accession – A European commissioner's remark that Germany and France would one day come crawling "on their knees" begging Turkey to join the EU has miffed Berlin and thrilled Ankara. As German Chancellor Merkel prepares for a visit to Turkey, the country is pushing for concessions. » | By Jürgen Gottschlich in Istanbul | -- with wire reports | Thursday, February 21, 2013

Bombenterror in Damaskus: "Mein Gott, und wir nennen uns zivilisiert"
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Die Bomben gingen in einem Viertel hoch, in dem zwölf Schulen liegen - unter den Toten sind möglicherweise auch viele Kinder: Ein grauenhafter Anschlag hat das Zentrum von Damaskus erschüttert. Noch ist völlig unklar, wer hinter dem Terrorangriff steckt.

Auch wenige Stunden nach dem Anschlag ist die Straße al-Fayha in der Nachbarschaft des Hayat-Krankenhauses ein Ort des Grauens. Sirenen heulen, es stinkt nach Öl und Benzin, Verletzte hasten vorbei, notdürftig versorgt von den Sanitätern, die unmittelbar nach der Explosion der Bombe herbeigeeilt sind.

Ein Mann sammelt Leichenteile ein, eine kleine Hand, den Teil eines menschlichen Schopfes mit schwarzen Haaren, ein kleiner Klumpen Fleisch. Er sammelt alles in einer Plastiktüte. Neben ihm stöhnt der Imam Khaldun al-Khani unter seinem weißen Turban: "Mein Gott, und wir nennen uns zivilisiert. Was tun Menschen anderen Menschen heutzutage nur an?" » | Aus Damaskus berichtet Thilo Thielke | Donnerstag, 21. Februar 2013

Fotostrecke »

Islam or Death? Egypt's Christians Targeted by New Terror Group

FOX NEWS: A group of Christian priests from a local Coptic church in Egypt were told to convert to Islam or face death, according to an Arabic news site.

The incident, which comes in the midst of continued persecution and pressure on Egypt’s Christian community, took place this week in the town of Safaga, near the Red Sea, the El Balad site reported.

According to El Balad, the threats are from a new group in Egypt, Jihad al-Kufr, whose name translates to Jihad against non-believers or non-Muslims. The group targets non-Muslims, and reportedly pressures them to convert to Islam. » | Lisa Daftari | FoxNews.com | Thursday, February 21, 2013

Vatican Conclave Tainted By Scandal Before It Even Begins

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The conclave, the secretive process by which the Roman Catholic Church will elect a new Pope, has been tainted by scandals affecting Timothy Dolan, a contender for the papacy, and other cardinals.

Cardinal Dolan, the archbishop of New York, has become the latest cardinal to be questioned over his handling of sex abuse by priests and victims in Ireland, US and Belgium.

Of the 116 cardinals who will gather beneath Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, several are embroiled in controversies connected to the Church’s systemic failure to tackle sex abuse against children by paedophile priests.

The question marks over the cardinals’ management of sex abuse cases are an embarrassment for the Holy See, just as Benedict prepares to resign the papacy next Thursday.

Timothy Dolan, the charismatic archbishop of New York, who is considered to have a chance of being elected Benedict XVI’s successor, was formally questioned about abusive priests in his former archdiocese of Milwaukee, just days before his departure for Rome to take part in the conclave. » | Thursday, February 21, 2012

George Galloway Walks Out of Oxford Israel Debate

Related »

George Galloway on Homophobia
George Galloway supports gay rights and gets annoyed at a homophobe.

Pope Benedict Retired after Inquiry into 'Vatican Gay Bishops', Says Paper
THE GUARDIAN: Pope's staff decline to confirm or deny La Repubblica claims linking 'Vatileaks' affair and discovery of 'blackmailed gay clergy'

A potentially explosive report has linked the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI to the discovery of a network of gay prelates in the Vatican, some of whom – the report said – were being blackmailed by outsiders.

The pope's spokesman declined to confirm or deny the report, which was carried by the Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica.

The paper said the pope had taken his decision to resign on 17 December, on the day he received a dossier compiled by three cardinals delegated to look into the so-called "Vatileaks" affair.

Last May, Pope Benedict's butler, Paolo Gabriele, was arrested and charged with having stolen and leaked papal correspondence that depicted the Vatican as a seething hotbed of intrigue and infighting.

According to La Repubblica, the dossier comprising "two volumes of almost 300 pages – bound in red" had been consigned to a safe in the papal apartments and would be delivered to the pope's successor upon his election. The newspaper said the cardinals described a number of factions, including one whose members were "united by sexual orientation".

In an apparent quotation from the report, La Repubblica said some Vatican officials had been subject to "external influence" from laymen with whom they had links of a "worldly nature". The paper said this was a clear reference to blackmail. » | John Hooper in Rome | Thursday, February 21, 2013

Horsemeat Scandal: Welsh Firm Recalls Burgers After Tests Show Illicit Meat

THE GUARDIAN: BMC in Builth Wells, Powys, 'devastated' after one-third of FSA beef burger samples test positive for at least 1% horsemeat.

Thousands of beef burgers made by the Burger Manufacturing Company in Powys, Wales, are being withdrawn from cafes, restaurant, hotels and other outlets as well as wholesalers after three of nine samples ordered by the Food Standards Agency tested positive for at least 1% horsemeat.

Much of the meat used by the company was supplied by Farmbox Meats near Aberystwyth, which was raided by police and FSA officials investigating the horsemeat scandal on Tuesday last week. Two men who worked at Farmbox were arrested on Thursday last week.

The FSA said: "Testing carried out by Powys county council, as requested by the FSA, has shown that three samples of beef burger products made by catering supplier, The Burger Manufacturing Company [BMC], have tested positive for at least 1% horse meat. » | James Meikle | Thursday, February 21, 2013

Hundreds Would Have Died in Attack Plotted by Islamic Fanatics
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: It would have been the most devastating terrorist attack on British soil leaving hundreds dead – and by al-Qaeda inspired but “home-grown” Islamic fanatics.

Up to eight suicide bombers carrying backpacks rammed with explosives and armed with guns were to carry out a horrifying blend of the 7/7 and Mumbai atrocities.

The jihadi gang planned to walk in to crowded, public places shooting indiscriminately before simultaneously detonating their terrible homemade payloads killing hundreds on their wake.

Although no firm target was settled on, the 2012 Olympics may have been one along with soldiers based in this country.

They even boasted about "hitting" David Cameron, his friends and other non – believers in the "land of Satan".

The plot was the most significant since the plans to blow up transatlantic aeroplanes with liquid bombs in 2006 and is likely to have led to the largest loss of life from a terror attack on UK shores. » | Tom Whitehead, Security Editor | Thursday, February 21, 2013

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Suicide bomb gang guilty of plotting 'worst ever terror attack in Britain': The ringleaders of an al-Qaeda backed British jihadi group have been found guilty of plotting the worst terror attack on UK soil. » | Tom Whitehead | Thursday, February 21, 2013


BBC: Police: Birmingham terror trio 'wanted this to be their 9/11' – Three Birmingham men convicted of planning a campaign of terrorist attacks in the UK "wanted it to be their 9/11", according to police. ¶ Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale said all three had set out "to cause some serious harm". ¶ Irfan Naseer, 31, Irfan Khalid, 27, and Ashik Ali, 27 were found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of planning to set off up to eight bombs in rucksacks and possibly detonate bombs on timers. (+ BBC video) » | Thursday, February 21, 2013

George Galloway Accused of Racism after Refusing to Debate with Israeli Student

DAILY EXPRESS: GEORGE Galloway has been accused of "pure racism" after storming out of a debate at Oxford Union shouting "I don't debate with Israelis".

The Respect MP – who is a vocal critic of Israel and its treatment of Palestinian people – had been taking part in the debate at Christ Church college.

Golloway is now facing accusations of racism after his outburst last night.

The MP for Bradford West had been speaking for the motion that "Israel should withdraw immediately from the West Bank", when he learned that Eylon Aslan-Levy, a student opposing it, was Israeli.

Galloway interrupted the student after he used the word "we" in reference to Israel.

"You said 'we'," said Galloway. "Are you an Israeli?"

"I am, yes," Aslan-Levy replied.

"I don't debate with Israelis. I have been misled, sorry," Galloway said, standing and putting on his coat, then reiterating as he walked out: "I don't recognise Israel and I don't debate with Israelis." » | Charlotte Meredith | Thursday, February 21, 2013

Höhere Hürden für Einbürgerungen gefordert
NEUE LUZERNER ZEITUNG ONLINE: Die Hürden für Einbürgerungen in der Schweiz sollen angehoben werden. Dies möchte die Staatspolitische Kommission des Nationalrates (SPK). Sie empfiehlt dem Rat, das Bürgerrechtsgesetz zu verschärfen. » | sda | Donnerstag, 21. Februar 2013

Geert Wilders Offered Multiculturalism Lesson
SBS: Multicultural organisations say anti-Islamic Dutch MP Geert Wilders should use his Australia tour as a learning experience.

Mr Wilders says Islam and freedom are incompatible and is coming with a warning about the dangers of allowing Muslims to immigrate to Australia.

But a range of organisations that work in the multicultural sphere are determined to prove him wrong.

The Q Society is funding Mr Wilders' Australian tour, which will involve speeches in Sydney and Melbourne this month -- about what he calls the Islamisation of Australia.

Far from calling for Gert Wilders to be banned from Australia for his controversial views, Theo Mackaay from the Victorian Council of Churches says he is welcome to look and learn.

"Let us extend our hospitality to Mr Wilders, let us engage with him, offer him the opportunity to learn how multiculturalism takes commitment but can be a wonderful wonderful way forward for any society."

Victoria's Multicultural Affairs Minister Nicholas Kotsiras says Mr Wilders' views are wrong and misinformed. (+ audio) » | Source: Andrew Bolton, SBS | Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Dinner Lady Sacked for Serving Muslim Children with Non-halal Meat at Multi-faith School

MAIL ONLINE: Parents forced headmaster to apologise for 'insulting' their faith / Birmingham school has both Muslim students and those of other faiths / All 1,400 students at Moseley School are served Halal meat only

A dinner lady has been sacked for accidentally serving non-halal meat to Muslim students at a multi-faith school.

The incident outraged parents at the 'halal-only' Moseley School in Birmingham, and they have forced the headmaster to apologise for 'insulting' their faith.

The member of staff has been dismissed after the 'unintentional error' on December 12 last year recently came to light.

All 1,400 students at Moseley school are served halal meat, regardless of their religion.

It has not been specified what type of meat was served, but the person responsible for serving the food was dismissed following a disciplinary hearing last Monday.

Parents were informed of the mistake this month, and reacted with outrage, forcing headteacher Carl Jansen to apologise for the ‘unintentional error'.

However, Muslim parents are demanding others be held accountable for the mistake, which they [say] call 'an insult to our faith’.

‘The school have [sic] failed the children,' one parent said yesterday. ‘How did this meal get into the school system to be fed to the children?

‘It's just shocking that dietary requirements haven't been met.' Read on and comment » | Sara Malm | Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Wilders Warns Australia of 'Dangerous' Islam
AL JAZEERA: Police break up a protest in Melbourne against the visit of controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders.

Protesters have scuffled with police in Melbourne during a visit to Australia by the controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders.

Mounted police restored order as scuffles broke out outside a venue where Wilders was speaking on Tuesday, but authorities said on Wednesday that no arrests were made.

A group of around 40 demonstrators blocked the gate to a function centre where Wilders made his speech, in which he said he was giving Australia a warning about "the true nature of Islam".

During his address, which won him a standing ovation from the audience, Wilders said Islam was "not just a religion".

"It's primarily a dangerous and totalitarian ideology," he said. » | Sources: Agencies | Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Papst soll auf einem Auge fast blind sein

NEUE LUZERNER ZEITUNG: Der Gesundheitszustand von Papst Benedikt XVI. hat sich einem Medienbericht zufolge in den vergangenen Jahren kontinuierlich verschlechtert. Der Papst sei auf einem Auge fast blind und leide zudem an Bluthochdruck.

Vatikanstadt. Dies berichtete der italienische Vatikan-Reporter Marco Tosatti am Mittwoch auf seinem Blog "Vatican Insider". Tosatti bezog sich auf vertrauliche Informationen von Gehilfen des Papstes, die er bis zum Ende des Pontifikats geheimhalten wollte.

Mit der Rücktrittsankündigung Benedikts zum 28. Februar sei er nun von dieser Verpflichtung entbunden, erklärte Tosatti.

Wegen des Bluthochdrucks habe der Arzt des Papstes empfohlen, Flugreisen einzuschränken und auf den Transatlantikflug zum diesjährigen Weltjugendtag in Rio de Janeiro zu verzichten. Der 85-jährige Papst habe zudem oft Schlafprobleme und sei auf Auslandsreisen in der Vergangenheit mehrfach aus dem Bett gefallen. » | NLZ Online | Mittwoch, 20. Februar 2013

Wilders Heckled as ‘Racist Scum’ in Australia
EURONEWS: Demonstrators scuffled with police in the Australian city of Melbourne on Wednesday where Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders was giving a speech.

Dozens of officers formed a ring around the venue as protesters voiced their opposition to his appearance by chanting the words: “Racist scum!”

“These are all the demonstrators who are actually, just peacefully, trying to raise awareness of the fact that we oppose Islamophobia and all the things that Geert Wilders and the people that come to the Geert Wilders’ event, preach,” said one protester. » | Euronews | Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Boko Haram, la secte anti-Occidentaux se radicalise
LE FIGARO: Enlevés au Cameroun, les sept otages Français auraient été transférés aussitôt vers le Nigeria, où sévit la secte islamiste Boko Haram. Ce groupe terroriste, influencé par al-Qaida, se tourne vers le rapt d'Occidentaux.

Vingt-quatre heures après l'enlèvement de sept Français dans le nord du Cameroun, aucune revendication n'est encore parvenue aux autorités françaises. François Hollande, comme Laurent Fabius quelques heures plus tard, a toutefois avancé qu'il pourrait s'agir d'un «groupe terroriste que nous connaissons et qui est au Nigeria». Ce groupe serait Boko Haram. » | Par lefigaro.fr | mercredi 20 février 2013

Prophet Muhammad Saviour Of Humanity!

Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq »

Ex-Muslim: "Islam is a Lie"
Prominent Ex-Muslim and son of Hamas founder 'Sheikh Hassan Yousef' speaks about the religion he was brought up to believe in.

Malmö Mayor Concerned about Islam-critical Show
THE LOCAL (SWEDEN): The mayor of Malmö has slammed an upcoming exhibition of work by controversial Swedish artist Lars Vilks, saying he hoped no one would visit the gallery to see artwork he said was "associated with xenophobes".

"Of course he has the right to display what he calls art anywhere he wants," Mayor Ilmar Reepalu told the TT news agency.

"But as far as I can gather, this is pretty bad art and I think they want to use the gallery for political ends," he added.

"Vilks is increasingly associated in people's minds with xenophobic groups at the far right of the political spectrum. I hope not a single person visits the gallery."

News of the show, set to open in July, prompted representatives from different religions in the multicultural southern city to call an emergency meeting,

Some observers appeared frightened that the show would provoke a violent reaction.

"I urge everyone to avoid violence in their demonstrations, because then the cause will be lost,” said Björn Lagerbäck of the municipal anti-discrimination project Dialogforum.

Vilks has faced numerous death threats since his drawing of the Muslim prophet with the body of a dog was first published by Swedish regional daily Nerikes Allehanda in 2007. It was published to illustrate an editorial on free speech.

The new paintings of Mohammed would show the prophet - still with a dog's body - transplanted into famous works by artists including Claude Monet, Peter Paul Rubens and Anders Zorn, Vilks told the AFP news agency. » | TT/The Local/AFP/og | Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Millionaire Businessman Islamic Creed 'as Obtrusive as McDonald's Sign' Can Stay on His House after Winning Fight with Council
MAIL ONLINE: ‘There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is his messenger,' sign reads / Planners banned slogan saying it was like a McDonald's billboard / But Mahmood Ali, 54, wins right to keep sign after ruling is overturned / 'I wouldn't mind if my neighbours painted a cross on their house,' he says

A millionaire businessman today won his fight to keep a large Islamic slogan which he painted on the side of his house.

Mahmood Ali had been ordered to remove the words because they were a form of advertising comparable to a McDonald's billboard.

But he appealed the ruling, and successfully argued that the slogan was not disproportionately large or garish and did not damage the character of his neighbourhood.

The 54-year-old painted an Arabic message meaning, 'There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his messenger,' on the side of his semi-detached eight-bedroom home in Newport, south Wales.

The council later ruled that he required planning permission to display the slogan, saying that it fell under the same category as a commercial advertisement.

Today planning inspector Tim Belcher overturned that initial ruling, judging that the sign was not so obtrusive that it damaged the interests of other locals. » | Higo Gye and Simon Tomlinson | Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Related »

UK: Islam Channel TV Presenter Said Homosexuality Was An ‘Evil Action’
PINK NEWS: Evidence has emerged of a presenter on the Islam Channel previously describing homosexuality as an “evil action” – with Ofcom subsequently warning the TV station of the need to take “great care” when “discussing sensitive issues such as sexual orientation”.

Last week, the Islam Channel denied that any of its presenters had ever aired offensive views about gay people.

However, PinkNews.co.uk has learnt that in 2009 the channel was investigated by the broadcast regulator Ofcom following a complaint over the advice given by an Islamic scholar to a gay Muslim.

The complaint concerned the ‘IslamiQa’ phone-in programme hosted by Dr Khalid Khan, a scholar, who had been presenting on the channel for over three years. » | Scott Roberts | Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Bernardi Tests Abbott's Patience by Backing Dutch MP Geert Wilders

THE AUSTRALIAN: COALITION Senator Cory Bernardi tested the patience of his parliamentary leader Tony Abbott by affirming his support for Dutch MP Geert Wilders, who has been forced to cancel a speaking engagement in Perth because no venue was willing to provide him a stage.

Senator Bernardi, whom Wilders this week described as an old friend, had distanced himself from the anti-Islam campaigner since late last year, when he was given a visa to visit Australia. However, the cancellation of Wilders' tour date today prompted the Senator to lament the "double standard" of free speech in Australia.

"Dutch politician Geert Wilders' public speaking tour has run into constant problems as venues continue to pull out or refuse to host his events," Senator Bernardi wrote to subscribers of his weekly "common sense" newsletter. "In such a tolerant and open society like Australia, why is it so difficult to accommodate a speaking tour by a member of the Dutch parliament who has a different perspective?" » | Chip Le Grand | The Australian | Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Related »

Senator Backs Wilders Tour

THE SYDNEY MORING HERALD: THE Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has spoken out in support of the anti-immigration Dutch MP Geert Wilders, saying a double standard on free speech is emerging in Australia.

Mr Wilders, who is on a speaking tour of Australia, on Tuesday called the prophet Muhammad a ''warlord, terrorist and paedophile'' and called for a ban on migration from Muslim countries. His comments drew widespread condemnation, and a large group of protesters delayed the onset of his speech in Melbourne.

Senator Bernardi, who has spoken in support of Mr Wilders in the past, said Mr Wilders' views should have an airing ''in such a tolerant and open society like Australia''. » | Bianca Hall | Immigration Correspondent | Thursday, February 21, 2013

Tunisia: Salafist Street Patrols Worry Locals
ALL AFRICA: Tunis — The phenomenon of Salafist security details patrolling cities and neighbourhoods has many citizens wondering whether Ansar al-Sharia is trying to take over law and order in Tunisia.

Bands of baton-wielding salafists have mounted security patrols in Tunisian cities in recent weeks, leaving many citizens to question what is behind the phenomenon.

Salafists say they are patrolling neighbourhoods in the name of safeguarding citizens and their property, amid increased instability in Tunisia that followed the February 6th slaying of opposition leader Chokri Belaid.

Since his assassination, Salafist security patrols became more prevalent in Tunis and other cities. The patrols, which each number dozens of members, move about on foot or on motorcycles, or in cars flying black flags.

An online call by Ansar al-Sharia mobilised salafists to fan out and patrol the streets as unofficial security details. The radical salafist group posted the call on Facebook for its supporters to protect citizens and property in the aftermath of Belaid's killing. » | Monia Ghanmi | Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Proteste und Applaus für Wilders in Australien
EURONEWS: Kurz vor einem Auftritt des Rechtspopulisten Geert Wilders im australischen Melbourne ist es zu Protesten gekommen.

Rund hundert Menschen demonstrierten dabei gegen den Niederländer und bezeichneten diesen als Rassisten.

“Wir versuchen hier nur friedlich darauf aufmerksam zu machen, dass wir gegen Islamophobie sind und gegen all das, was Wilders und seine Anhänger predigen”, so eine junge Frau. » | Euronews | Mittwoch, 20. Februar 2013

Dutch MP Geert Wilders Substantially Wrong about Islam, Tony Abbott Says
AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVE: “There are very few lessons that Holland has to teach Australia when it comes to the integration of newcomers,” federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said on Melbourne radio 3AW today.

Asked by 3AW presenter Neil Mitchell if visiting Dutch MP Geert Wilders was wrong about Islam, Mr Abbott said: » | AC | Wednesday, February 20, 2013

My comment:

Tony Abbott's IGNORANCE of Islam is truly astonishing. How has this man become a leader of a party with this level of ignorance? He would do well to inform himself of the nature of Islam. The future of his still free country depends on it.

I am not an Australian, but were I to be, with the level of ignorance he has shown about the greatest threat to world democracy, I should NEVER vote for him.

He would do well to listen to Geert Wilders. Wilders completely understands the problems we are facing. Abbott can take Geert’s words to the bank. – © Mark

This comment also appears here

Geert Wilders's [sic] Right to Speak
THE AUSTRALIAN – OPINION: FOR a liberal democracy that thrives on liberty, plurality and vigorous political discourse, the visit by controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders to these shores presents an opportunity to reaffirm these fundamental principles. When Mr Wilders was granted a visa last year, then immigration minister Chris Bowen rightly argued that Australian multiculturalism, our political system and our commitment to freedom of speech were strong enough to survive a visit by the Dutch MP.

Mr Wilders's views on the impact of large-scale Islamic immigration in Europe and the challenge that it presents to established cultures and the obligations of citizenship in Western countries are part of an important debate that Australians should be aware of.

Mr Wilders is the founder and leader of The Netherlands Party for Freedom. His political mission is to halt what he says is the "Islamisation" of his country. He argues that Islamism [sic! Mr. Wilders actually argues that ISLAM (not ISLAMISM) is a totalitarian political ideology] is a totalitarian political ideology enforced by violence and rigid adherence to it, quite different from the faith of Islam. In his article in The Australian earlier this week, Mr Wilders outlined his views that many will find challenging, but they were respectfully put and hardly deserve the vilification he has received from extremists. Mr Wilders's [sic] visit provides Australians with a window into a sociopolitico [sic] challenge in the northern hemisphere. How Islam can be absorbed into Western democracies, given the cultural differences between the two, is being debated and discussed in journals such as the centre-left magazine Prospect, where a recent contributor argued: "Islam's accommodation with the liberal-democratic societies of Europe and North America is one of the most urgent questions of our times." » | The Australian | Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Anti-fascist Protesters Greet Speech by Marine Le Pen at Cambridge

THE GUARDIAN: French women [sic] who took over leadership of Front National party from her father, addresses university's debating society

Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far-right Front National party, was greeted by an anti-fascist protest as she addressed a Cambridge University debating group on Tuesday.

The daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen, who took over the party leadership from her father in 2011, spoke to students at the Cambridge Union Society in the afternoon.

Her appearance led the group Unite Against Fascism to organise a demonstration of about 200 people outside the venue. Officers from Cambridgeshire police attended.

Le Pen, 44, who has been an MEP since 2004, spoke about the future of the EU and French politics. A spokesman for the Union Society defended the decision to invite her to speak. » | Press Association | Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Mohamad at Eton
We follow one boy's journey from a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon to the UK's most prestigious public school.

Read the article here | Witness | Monday, January 07, 2013

German Court Expands Scope of Gay Adoption
Judge says one member of a gay partnership should be ble to adopt the partner's stepchild or adopted child.

In 50 Years London Will look Like Islamabad with Major Future Problems, Labour Party to Blame
Liberal policies of the Labour Party's multiculturalism is going to backfire as immigrant births are already outnumbering the ethnic British. In the near future there will be major problems as young Muslims are becoming extremely radicalized and the British government looks the other direction.

In the UK the government does not want to integrate the growing immigrant population into society, but wants them to keep their own culture, but many times, like the Muslim population, that culture clashes with English and western culture. The same thing is happening in Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Italy, USA America, Canada, Russia, the Netherlands, France, Australia, Denmark and all over Europe and the free thinking western world.

Islam is not compatible with western Liberal ideals of freedom speech and freedom from religion. Instead of confronting this growing threat, liberal governments throughout the west have not tackled one of the biggest problems facing them in the near future.

The media, journalists, and others are to blame for this also, but are too arrogant and ignorant to see what is going on.

Australians Converting to Islam
Australians are converting to Islam in growing numbers. The ultimate goal for Muslim leaders in the country is the imposition of Sharia Law.

”You Should Open Your Eyes, Learn from Europe’s Mistakes”: Geert Wilders in Australia

Dutch MP Geert Wilders' Perth Gig Cancelled
NEWS.COM.AU: CONTROVERSIAL Dutch MP Geert Wilders has been forced to cancel the Perth date of his speaking tour after he was unable to find a venue to host him.

The right-wing MP, who wants a ban on Islamic immigration and says the religion is incompatible with freedom, is stirring controversy with his tour of Australia, which began in Melbourne today.

An unnamed four-star CBD hotel had been set to host Wilders but pulled out late this afternoon.

Host of the tour, the Q Society, said finding another venue at short notice was almost impossible because of security needed for the MP and the threat of possible protesters. » | AAP | Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Erstmals Frauen in saudischem Schura-Rat vereidigt
DIE PRESSE: Das beratende Gremium im ultrareligiösen Saudi-Arabien bekommt erstmals weibliche Mitglieder. Die Rechte von Frauen in dem Königreich bleiben aber massiv beschränkt.

Im islamischen Königreich Saudi-Arabien ist zum ersten Mal ein Schura-Rat vereidigt worden, dem auch weibliche Mitglieder angehören. König Abdullah II., der die Zeremonie am Dienstag in Riad wegen seines schlechten Gesundheitszustandes kurz hielt, sagte, er sei sehr froh, nun auch Frauen in dem Gremium zu sehen. Viele, jedoch nicht alle der weiblichen Mitglieder des Rates, erschienen zu der Vereidigung mit einem Gesichtsschleier. » | APA/dpa | Dienstag, 19. Februar 2013

Change Religion, Politician Tells Muslims
WEST AUSTRALIA TODAY: ALL Muslims should renounce their religion immediately in favour of Christianity or atheism - it would be better for them and for everyone else, controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders said in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Insisting politely that he did not want to incite or offend anyone, the anti-Islam campaigner described the prophet Muhammad as ''a warlord, terrorist and paedophile'' and urged Australia to ban the Koran and all migration from Muslim countries.

Told that Premier Ted Baillieu had advised Victorians to ignore him, Mr Wilders said the Premier could ignore the threat of Islam and ''sing Kumbaya'' all day long, but the voters would wake up eventually. (+ video) » | Barney Zwartz | Religion Editor | The Age | Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Protesters Call Dutch MP Geert Wilders a Racist as He Calls for End to Mass Migration from Islamic Countries

THE AUSTRALIAN: PROTESTERS clashed violently with police and guests tonight before a speech by controversial anti-Muslim Dutch MP Geert Wilders.

Activists pushed and shoved guests to stop them entering, and linked arms to try to form a blockade.

One middle-aged invitee was shoved to the ground in the skirmish.

A protester with a blood nose said a guest he'd called "one of the fascist cohort" assaulted him.

The 22-year-old, who would only give his name as James, said: "He threatened to punch me unless I let him through. And he then started clawing at my face."

There were reports of activists ripping up guests' tickets.

Police moved in to clear the gates to allow guests to enter to hear the speech. A line of officers, backed by mounted police, swarmed in to remove protesters from the entrance of the La Mirage Function Centre on the Hume Highway at Somerton, in Melbourne's north.

Up to 60 police then formed a ring of steel around the venue, as Mr Wilders spoke inside.

Senior Sergeant Michael Maloney said there had been no arrests.

Tony Iltis, from the Socialist Alliance, said the group were stopping fascists from entering.

"Police came in pushing us and grabbing shouting 'Move, move' and all that garbage," he said.

Protesters remained beside the venue to continue to voice their opposition, chanting "Racist scum!" About 100 protesters had gathered in the minutes before Mr Wilders spoke.

The venue for the speech had been kept secret, but protesters got wind of it earlier today.

Protesters linked arms to block access, forcing police to use mounted officers to clear the entrance.

Entering the reception centre was like passing through airport-security, with guests forced to be scanned by metal detectors. The serene environment inside contrasted with the violent clashes of the protesters outside, with the 500 guests sitting quietly to hear the speeches.

Mr Wilders, entered the ballroom to a standing ovation, opening his speech with a condemnation of Australian politicians, including Federal Minister Chris Bowen, who had labelled him an "extremist" and a "fringe-figure from the far right".

While he said Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett had even told the press he would not be welcome in the state.

"I am the leader of a party who have nearly one million voters in a country that is known for its tolerance. I am not a fringe figure and I am not a far-right figure either. » | James Dowling | With John Masanauskas and AAP | Herald Sun | Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Islam in Australia: Muslim Aboriginals

Ibrahim Siddiq-Conlon Interview on 60 Minutes

Ibrahim Saddiq Conlon: Islam in Australia and What It Wants

Islamic Sharia Law in Australia with Ibrahim Siddiq-Conlon
Ibrahim Siddiq-Conlon has come out of the gates spreading Islam way too early as they do not have the numbers to push Sharia upon the Australian public. Islam has nothing but time to slowly infiltrate the Western World. You can see this happening in U.S.A, U.K, Germany, Switzerland etc; As the numbers grow larger the voice of Sharia will get louder. Western values and liberties will be destroyed.

Islamic Sharia Law Practised In Australia

Adhésion à l'UE: la Turquie satisfaite du "début de changement" de la France

L’EXPRESS.fr: Ankara salue la levée partielle du blocage de Paris aux pourparlers sur l'adhésion turque à l'Union européenne.

Le "début d'un changement". Le ministre turc aux Affaires européennes Egemen Bagis salue ainsi la position de la France sur l'entrée de son pays à l'Union européenne, après la levée annoncée du veto qu'exerçait Paris sur un des chapitres des négociations d'adhésion.

"C'était une chose logique à faire. Bloquer le processus d'adhésion de la Turquie n'a aucun sens", estime Egemen Bagis dans un entretien accordé à l'AFP à la veille d'une rencontre avec son homologue français Bernard Cazeneuve à Paris.

La Turquie a entamé dès 2005 des négociations d'adhésion à l'UE. Mais les pourparlers patinent en raison de l'hostilité de pays européens comme la France et l'Allemagne à une pleine adhésion turque, et aussi de blocages d'Ankara. La Turquie refuse notamment d'élargir à Chypre, sous administration chypriote-grecque et membre de l'UE, le bénéfice des accords de libre circulation qui la lient au bloc européen. Ce refus a entraîné le gel de plusieurs chapitres de négociation. Sur les 35 prévus, 13 seulement font l'objet de discussions et un seul à été conclu. » | Par LEXPRESS.fr | mardi 19 février 2013

7 Egypt Copts Get Death Sentence Over Anti-Islam Film
MIDDLE EAST ONLINE: Cairo court upholds death sentences for Egyptian Coptic Christians in absentia over their involvement in anti-Islam movie.

CAIRO - A Cairo tribunal on Tuesday upheld death sentences passed on seven Egyptian Coptic Christians in absentia for their involvement in a movie that ridiculed the Prophet Mohammed, a judicial source said.

The accused, including the director of the movie that triggered outrage across the Muslim world when it surfaced last September, are currently living in the United States.

Terry Jones, an American pastor based in Florida who is said to have promoted the film and who had also been sentenced to death in absentia, had his sentence reduced to five years in jail by the tribunal. » | Middle East Online | Monday, February 18, 2013

'Muslim Patrol' Police London Streets
A group of young men are attempting to create 'Muslim zones' in East London.

‘Abuse Cannot Harm Islam, Prophet’
ARAB TIMES: KUWAIT CITY, Feb 18, (KUNA): College of Sharia and Islamic Studies at Kuwait University has organized a conference entitled ‘Insulting Islam and its Sanctities’, within its role in the government program to highlight moderation of Islam, fighting extremism as well as its role in enlightening and informing the Muslim community through studying the phenomenon of insulting Islam and its sanctities.

College Dean Dr Mubarak Al-Hajri recalled in his speech at the conference the numerous cases in which Islam and its sanctities were defamed and insulted as well as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

“We know for sure that these abuses cannot harm our religion, our Prophet and our holy places as it has been proven throughout history that Islam spreads quickly when its enemies start defaming or insulting the faith”. » | Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Drying Out: Islam and the Rise of Prohibition Culture
THE INDEPENDENT: In the Middle Ages Islam had no problem with alcohol, now - from Sharia Patrols in the UK to flat out bans in Egypt - the crackdown is gathering strength

In the last few weeks, Al Jazeera has been posting videos on its global web site of Islamic vigilantes “patrolling”, as it puts it, the streets of Whitechapel ensuring that the various British citizens inhabiting its pavements are doing their best to conform to shar’ia law. A notorious instance involved an unfortunate, and wholly innocent, gay man who was told that he was “dirty” and should get out of the neighborhood immediately. “Yes,” he was forced to say, presumably under the threat of a boot in the groin, “I am dirty.”

The British mosques duly condemned the patrols, and the Metropolitan Police made its usual ineffectual vows. But the videos themselves, as far as I could see by watching them in Dubai that week, evoked very little disgust in readers sharing the Faith. It struck me immediately that there was very little reason that such patrols should not progress from the rarified joys of beating up homosexuals to demanding that people stop drinking in public in the same neighborhoods. Lo and behold, other videos show drinkers being forced to pour the contents of their cans on to the streets.[.]

It would be easy to dismiss these patrols as outliers. But then again, who twenty years ago would have foreseen them ever happening in the first place? The Islamic revival, for want of a better word, which is changing the face of two civilizations at once – ours and Islam’s – has not been flexible on the question of alcohol, any more than it has on the question of gay love.

Writing about Cairo recently, I made so bold as to mildly observe that the number of “baladi” bars in that once bibulous city has noticeably diminished. A few grizzled ex-pats chose to deny it, but most Cairenes are all too ready to lament the gradual erosion of their once free-ranging alcoholic night-life (the sale of alcohol has recently been bannedaltogether from settlements around the capital). The world of Om Khaltoum and Mafouz and Youssel Chahin was saturated in drink, but the Cairo of 2013 is headed in a very different direction. One might even claim that a link exists between the diminishment of overflowing bars and the increase in covered female heads. It is far from preposterous. » | Lawrence Osborne | Monday, February 18, 2013

Islam a 'Dangerous and Totalitarian Ideology': Wilders
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: FAR-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders has called the Prophet Mohammed a murderer and used Anzac soldiers as an example of the courage needed to speak out against Islam at a speech to Melbourne supporters.

Tight security surrounded Mr Wilders' hour-long speech to members of the ultra-conservative local group the Q Society of Australia at La Mirage reception centre in Somerton in Melbourne's north on Monday night.

Fifty police, some on horseback, separated about 100 vocal but peaceful protesters standing on the Hume Highway verge outside the venue.

Protest organiser Feiyi Zhang said: "we're here to show we will not stand for Wilders' racism and Islamophobia". She said his speech could incite violence against Muslims "and general fear of Islam".

Protester Nadia Shamsuddin, a doctor and a Muslim, said she was "repulsed" by Wilders' visit and views. "His promotion of oppression and racism is appalling in civilised world".

Her husband Raj Rao said: "Wilders accuses Islam of promoting hatred and violence but I think that's what he's doing."

Mr Rao said the message of the Qu'ran was of "peace and submission to God".

Inside the venue, audience member Inez, a Dutch immigrant, said she had come from Ringwood to hear Wilders, "because we have built this country into something very, very beautiful but I can slowly see it getting spoiled by people who want to impose their beliefs and laws.

"When I hear Muslim people wanted to introduce Sharia law here, I shudder. I thought it too horrible to contemplate." » | Carolyn Webb | Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Helga Weiss: An Interview with a Holocaust Survivor
Helga Weiss was transported to Terezín concentration camp at the age of 12. She tells Nicholas Shakespeare how she came to write – and draw – the most moving child’s-eye testimony since the diary of Anne Frank.

Read the article here

Hillary Clinton to Make Her Millions on the Speaking Circuit
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Hillary Clinton will turn her experiences as America's Secretary of State and First Lady into millions of dollars by joining the lucrative after-dinner speaking circuit, it has been announced.

Mrs Clinton, who resigned as President Barack Obama's chief diplomat at the end of last month, has joined her husband, former president Bill, at one of the most prestigious speaking agencies in the US.

Having been paid $186,600 (£120,224) per year as Secretary of State, she will command a six-figure sum for less than an hour of anecdotes collected during her 12 years at the heart of Western power.

The 65-year-old will hope to emulate the success of Mr Clinton, who has made an estimated $89 million in fees as one of the prize assets at the Harry Walker Agency since leaving office in January of 2001.

"We are proud to share the exciting news that former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has joined the Harry Walker Agency exclusively for her speaking engagements," the firm – which also represents Dick Cheney, the former US vice-president - said in a brief message posted on its website. Representatives for Mrs Clinton could not be reached for comment.

Mrs Clinton said before stepping down that in addition to public speaking, she expects to write a second memoir and take teaching positions at US universities before considering her long-term future. » | Jon Swaine, Washington | Monday, February 18, 2013

Sean Ali Stone - My Journey to Islam - UMAA Convention 2012

Londres veut trouver «une solution diplomatique» au cas Assange
LA PRESSE: Le Royaume-Uni a réaffirmé sa détermination lundi, au lendemain de la réélection du président équatorien Rafael Correa, à trouver une «solution diplomatique pour sécuriser l'extradition vers la Suède» du fondateur de WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, réfugié à l'ambassade d'Équateur à Londres.

«Le Royaume-Uni est déterminé à trouver une solution diplomatique avec le gouvernement équatorien pour sécuriser l'extradition de Julian Assange vers la Suède», a déclaré le ministre britannique des Affaires étrangères, William Hague, dans un communiqué.

«Je félicite le peuple équatorien et le président Correa pour cette élection qui a été un succès, et je salue la participation élevée et le climat pacifique le jour du scrutin», a-t-il ajouté.

«Le Royaume-Uni et l'Équateur ont une relation bilatérale de grande valeur et nous sommes impatients de travailler davantage avec le gouvernement équatorien sur une variété de sujets», a-t-il encore dit. » | Agence France-Presse | Londres | lundi 18 février 2013

Australia: Praise for Diversity on Eve of Controversial Visit
THE AGE: Multicultural organisations have sung praise for Victoria's cultural diversity on the eve of a controversial talk by anti-Islamic Dutch MP Geert Wilders.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Nicholas Kotsiras said Mr Wilders's views were wrong and misinformed.

"Mr Wilders is opposed to the religion of Islam, not so much to the people, and he believes Islam has no place in democratic society which I believe is wrong."

Mr Kotsiras said while he supported freedom of speech he did not support the incitement of violence.

"We don't support the incitement of violence, the incitement of hatred and we have legislation in place that covers that. But we are multicultural and we are proud of it, we have embraced it over many years and are a prime example of how it can work."

The Q Society is funding Mr Wilders's Australian speaking tour, which will involve a talk in Sydney and Melbourne. » | Henrietta Cook | Monday, February 18, 2013

Anti-muslim campaigner coming to Australia: Ahead of his visit to Australia, far-right Dutch MP Geert Wilders talks to Tony Jones about his opposition to Muslim immigrants in his country. » | Australian Broadcasting Corporation | Broadcast: Wednesday, February 13, 2013


THE TELEGRAPH (AU): I'm no bigot, says anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders ahead of Australian speaking tour: CONTROVERSIAL Dutch MP Geert Wilders has delivered a message to Australia ahead of a series of speaking events across the nation: "I am not the devil." » | Charles Miranda in The Netherlands | News Limited Network | Saturday, February 16, 2013