Turkey's train to Europe slows right down

"Turkey is not a European state, and to admit its accession into the Union would change the character of Europe" - Bavarian Governor Edmund Stoiber

With controversy over Cyprus raging, Turkey's membership in the E.U. fades further into the future

TIME EUROPE EDITION: Early last week, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had reason to be optimistic. During a meeting in Ankara, Pope Benedict XVI said he was in favor of Turkey joining the European Union. This reversed an opinion he had delivered previously as a Cardinal, saying the move would be "a grave error against history." But the good news was short-lived. Just days after the Pope's remarks, Olli Rehn, the E.U.'s Commissioner for Enlargement, recommended that the E.U. suspend a portion of Turkey's membership talks just 13 months after they began. The reason: Turkey's continued unwillingness to open its ports to ships from the Greek-controlled half of the disputed island of Cyprus. Slow Train to Europe by Andrew Purvis

Mark Alexander

Pope's "withdrawal from the debate is a considerable loss for the forces of reason and Western preservation"

MELANIE PHILLIPS: How is it possible that he changed so much, asked a young Islamist girl called Merve Celikkol, who concluded to the New York Times reporters on the ground that the Pope is ‘a hypocrite’. The answer to the charming Merve’s question is clear. He has changed because he has been forced to pacify the Islamic beast, and because support for Turkish entry is clearly in the Pope’s calculation the least he can offer. Papal bull

Mark Alexander

The flip side of Islamic fundamentalism

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: When Polish student Michael Gromek, 19, went to America on a student exchange, he found himself trapped in a host family of Christian fundamentalists. What followed was a six-month hell of dawn church visits and sex education talks as his new family tried to banish the devil from his soul. Here's his story.

"When I got out of the plane in Greensboro in the US state of North Carolina, I would never have expected my host family to welcome me at the airport, wielding a Bible, and saying, 'Child, our Lord sent you half-way around the world to bring you to us.' At that moment I just wanted to turn round and run back to the plane. My Half-Year of Hell With Christian Fundamentalists

Mark Alexander

"There is a stealthy rise of Sharia courts in Britain"

THE TIMES: There is, in a world of uncertainties, at least one comforting and incontrovertible truth. There’s one law for all. isn’t there? Well, no there isn’t. In this country some minority and religious groups have their own courts dispensing justice in commercial cases, neighbour disputes and divorce.

This week there has been a furious debate about whether these courts complement the national law or threaten it. The debate has been stoked by the revelation that in southeast London there is an unofficial Somali court that deals with criminal matters. One UK legal system? Think again by Clive Coleman

Mark Alexander

“We want Turkey to be part of the EU”, Pope tells Erdogan!

THE TIMES: In just three days on his first visit to a Muslim country, Pope Benedict XVI has transformed himself from a hate figure in Turkey into a model of tolerance and politeness spoken of with warmth and affection.

He returned to Rome yesterday, winning more praise for a parting shot that he had “left part of his heart in Istanbul”. Turks warm to model of tolerance and finally learn to love the Pope by Richard Owen and Suna Erdem

Mark Alexander

Der Papst und die Begeisterung der türkischen Presse

Foto dank der NZZ

Benedikt XVI. beendet Türkei-Reise
NZZ: Überschwänglich hat die türkische Presse über den Besuch des Papstes in der Blauen Moschee berichtet, wo Benedikt gemeinsam mit dem Mufti von Istanbul «wie ein Muslim» gebetet habe. Er habe «grosse Sympathien geerntet», schrieb etwa «Hürriyet». Der Papst hat seine Türkei-Reise am Freitag mit einer Messe beendet. Türkische Presse begeistert über Moschee-Besuch des Papstes

Mark Alexander

Our Saudi 'friends' get very tough! Fraud investigation to be halted within 10 days, or contract will be lost to French

THE TELEGRAPH: Saudi Arabia has given Britain 10 days to halt a fraud investigation into the country's arms trade - or lose a £10 billion Eurofighter contract.

The contract supports up to 50,000 British jobs and there are now fears that the deal may go to France.

The Saudi government is on the verge of cancelling the contract - an extension of one brokered by Margaret Thatcher 20 year ago - because of a Serious Fraud Office investigation into allegations of a slush fund for members of the Saudi royal family, according to authoritative sources.

Tony Blair has been told that the deal faces the axe in 10 days unless he intervenes to bring the two-year investigation to a close.

The Saudis are said to be "outraged" by the probe into the activities of companies linked to BAE Systems. The investigation concerns alleged illegal payments made to members of the Saudi royal family and their agents. Halt inquiry or we cancel Eurofighters

Balancing the law against 50,000 jobs

Probe 'threat' to British firms

Saudis pressure stops investigation. Profit wins the day.

Mark Alexander

Britain in a Fix: The White Flight Reality

THE TELEGRAPH: Seeing something you have written as semi-fiction transformed into fact before your eyes is an odd feeling. In my new book, Time To Emigrate?, written as a letter, I explain to an imaginary, liberal-minded daughter-in-law that she is wrong to deny the existence of white flight from inner-city areas, and to ignore the dangers of ethnic mini-states forming around us.

Days later, at a conference on race organised by the Commission for Racial Equality, which he chairs, a real-life Trevor Phillips spoke of a crisis as white minorities bolt from ethnic areas, and warned of the emergence of separate and isolated communities. Phillips has made similar noises before, but never so boldly. White flight is a fact of British life

Mark Alexander

"Christmas" wird in den USA wieder gefeirt!

Foto dank der NZZ

In den USA setzen sich die Weihnachts-Traditionalisten durch

NZZ: Der amerikanische Einzelhandelsriese Wal-Mart verbannt die christliche Tradition nicht mehr aus seinem Weihnachtsangebot. Nachdem im letzten Jahr die Vermeidung des Wortes «Christmas» eine landesweite Protestkampagne ausgelöst hatte, wird die Säkularisierung des Festes nun widerrufen. Dieser Trend setzt sich auf bei Firmen und Behörden durch. Es wird wieder «Christmas»

Mark Alexander

Papst betet Richtung Mekka!

Papst betet in Istanbul in der Blauen Moschee
NZZ: In einer grossen Geste der Versöhnung mit dem Islam hat Papst Benedikt XVI. am Donnerstag in Istanbul die Blaue Moschee und damit erstmals eine muslimische Gebetsstätte besucht. Zuvor hatte sich Benedikt mit dem Oberhaupt der orthodoxen Christen getroffen.

(sda)«Lasst uns für die Brüderlichkeit und die ganze Menschheit beten», sagte Benedikt und verharrte andächtig Seite an Seite mit dem Mufti von Istanbul vor der Gebetsnische in Richtung Mekka. Grosse Geste der Versöhnung

In pictures: Pope in Istanbul

Mark Alexander

First we have "red roses for a blue lady". Now we have a blue mosque for what must surely be a blue pope!

Photo courtesy of the BBC

During his tour of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the pontiff turned towards Mecca in a gesture of Muslim prayer. - BBC

BBC: Pope Benedict XVI has visited one of Turkey's most famous mosques in what is being seen as an attempt to mend relations with the Muslim community.

During his tour of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the pontiff turned towards Mecca in a gesture of Muslim prayer. Pope makes Turkish mosque visit

WATCH VIDEO: Pope visits Turkish mosque

Mark Alexander

Islam, the "religion of peace": Senior Muslim cleric calls for death of Azeri writer
This is yet more evidence of the compassion and mercy of Islam! It also shows how dedicated Muslims are to freedom of thought and expression. And this is the 'religion' our political leaders want to swamp Europe with by allowing Turkey to accede to the European Union! Doesn't it beggar belief that a 'holy' man can call for an innocent man's death? The man's greatest 'crime' is expressing what he thinks.

BBC: One of Iran's most senior clergymen has issued a fatwa on an Azeri writer said to have insulted the Prophet Muhammad.

The call on Muslims to murder Rafiq Tagi, who writes for Azerbaijan's Senet newspaper, echoes the Iranian fatwa against Indian writer Salman Rushdie.

It was issued by the conservative Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Fazel Lankarani. Iran issues fatwa on Azeri writer

Mark Alexander

Don't send the wrong signal to Turkey, warns Cock Sparrow

Photo courtesy of the International Herald Tribune

For a man who has shown, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he has zero understanding of Islam, this warning is pretty rich! He, with his big buddy, Bush, have cocked up BIG time in Iraq, because they tried to bring democracy to a country, nay to a region, which it is not possible to bring democracy to. Now, the same little Cock Sparrow wishes to cock up in Europe too! Now he wants the Europeans to accept his version of how events should unfold, he want us Europeans to accept Turkey into the Union. He says it would be a serious mistake for Europe, long-term, not to allow Turkey to accede. Well, have I got news for Cock Sparrow! He didn't understand Islam then (when he entered Iraq), and he doesn't understand Islam now, either. He has cocked up in Iraq; now, he wants to cock up in Europe, too! Don't listen to the man, folks! He has shown us what he understands about Islam: NOTHING, ZILCH, NIX! His views do not deserve to be listened to!

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE: RIGA, Latvia: Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain said Wednesday that it would be a "serious mistake" to send Turkey a negative message on its bid to join the European Union. Blair warns of sending wrong signal to Turkey on EU bid

EU urged to freeze Turkey talks

Mark Alexander

Saudis get tough! Threat to sue tobacco firms for full cost of patients' treatment

BBC: Saudi Arabia has warned that it will sue global tobacco firms unless they pay the full cost of treating patients suffering from smoking-related illness. Saudi warning over tobacco firms

Mark Alexander

Further evidence of New Dark Age: Shari'ah law gains foothold in Britain!

THE TELEGRAPH: Islamic sharia law is gaining an increasing foothold in parts of Britain, a report claims.

Sharia, derived from several sources including the Koran, is applied to varying degrees in predominantly Muslim countries but it has no binding status in Britain.

However, the BBC Radio 4 programme Law in Action produced evidence yesterday that it was being used by some Muslims as an alternative to English criminal law. Sharia law is spreading as authority wanes by Joshua Rozenberg

Mark Alexander

Pope does U-turn on Turkey's accession to the EU. Islam is a "religion of peace", he says

BBC: ... The Pope told the prime minister he wanted to visit Turkey because it was a bridge between religions and cultures.

"I want to reiterate the solidarity between the cultures," he said. "This is our duty."

During his airport meeting with Mr Erdogan, the pontiff gave Turkey support for its bid to enter the European Union, the prime minister said. Pope begins landmark Turkey visit

NZZ: Papst Benedikt XVI. ist es zum Auftakt seines Besuches in der Türkei offenbar gelungen, seinen Gastgeber positiv zu stimmen. Ministerpräsident Erdogan interpretierte Aussagen des Papstes als Zustimmung zum EU-Beitritt der Türkei. Auch sei dieser der Auffassung, dass der Islam eine «Religion des Friedens» sei. Erdogan erfreut über Papst-Aussagen

Times Online Slide Show: The Pope visits Turkey

Mark Alexander

Pope strikes conciliatory chord in Turkey

THE TIMES: Turkey welcomed the Pope with swept streets, statues and bomb sniffer dogs today, signs of the excitement and hostility that are expected to accompany his first visit to a Muslim country.

The flags of the Vatican and of Turkey flew side by side along the highway leading from Ankara's airport into the city centre as bomb disposal teams scoured bridges and tunnels for explosives. Roads were closed and police in camouflage set up roadblocks. Snipers manned the rooftops.

The official business began immediately, and reflected the awkwardness that is expected to accompany the entire trip. Landing in Ankara at 1pm local time, Pope Benedict XVI was due to have a short, passing meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was on his way to the Nato Summit in Riga. Pope seeks brotherhood in hostile Turkey

Mark Alexander

EU-Turkey talks halted

BBC: Talks between the EU and Turkey over Cyprus have broken down without agreement, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja has said.

EU officials have said that a failure to break the impasse could lead to the collapse of Turkey's EU membership bid.

The EU had given Turkey until 6 December to open its ports to traffic from Cyprus, whose government Turkey refuses to recognise. Cyprus row halts EU-Turkey talks

Mark Alexander

Saudi Royal Family "incandescent with rage"

THE TELEGRAPH: Shares in BAE Systems fell 3pc this morning amid fears the government of Saudi Arabia may hand a £76bn deal to build fighter jets to a French rival.

The Saudis are understood to be poised to hand BAE’s Eurofighter contract to France’s Dassault because of the Serious Fraud Office’s probe into allegations that BAE officials have in the past bribed members of the Saudi royal family in order to win contracts.

Such a move, which the Saudis have threatened to do, would hit the company’s share price hard. The company’s shares have already fallen back from highs of 425p earlier this month and sunk to 392p, below the psychological threshold of 400p today. BAE feels Saudi wrath over bribe inquiry by James Quinn

BAE admits Saudi Eurofighter fear

Mark Alexander

A war to the death!

THE TELEGRAPH: Who would have thought it? Half of Europe – the half that was so smug about having buried God several generations ago – is waiting in real trepidation for the outcome of a theological argument. When Pope Benedict XVI flies to Turkey tomorrow, he will embody the most potentially incendiary confrontation between Islam and the West since the defeat of the Turks at Vienna in 1683 brought an end to Islamic conquest in Europe.

The Pope will take with him an understanding that at the root of our problems in dealing with the Islamist death cult, there is a fundamental debate to be had about the role of human reason in political affairs.

The remarks he made in a lecture in Regensburg, Germany, which implied that Islam rejected rationality while Christianity saw it as essential to faith were contentious (and almost certainly designed to be so), but they raised a question that almost no Western government has the courage to ask, let alone answer. How is a liberal democracy to deal with an illiberal religious minority in its midst? We are in a war to the death - craven concessions won't win it

Mark Alexander