Saturday, March 08, 2008

What Credentials Does Blair Have to Teach Religion at Yale?

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Photo of Tony Blair courtesy of The Guardian

THE GUARDIAN: Not content with trying to bring peace to the Middle East - as well as advising an insurance company on the risks of climate change, a bank on crisis management and Rwanda on good governance - Tony Blair is to add another job to his portfolio: teaching God and politics at one of America's most prestigious universities.

Yale, the Ivy League alma mater of his good friend George Bush, confirmed yesterday that the former prime minister is to join the schools of management and divinity at the campus in New Haven, Connecticut, in the autumn. He will teach a course on faith and globalisation, looking at religion in the modern world.

This will also be the theme of his Faith Foundation, which he is to launch in London before his Yale commitment starts. It is intended to promote understanding between Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Peace broker, bank adviser and lecturer, now Blair plans to teach religion at Yale: · Ex-PM to deliver course in faith and globalisation
· Aides express concern at ever-increasing workload >>> By Ewan MacAskill

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Friday, March 07, 2008

Egypt Wants UN Ban on Religious Insults

RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: Cairo - Three Islamic leaders in Egypt have called on the United Nations to adopt a resolution banning all expressions that insult or offend religions. The appeal comes in response to the planned anti-Qur'an film by the Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders.

The appeal has been issued by Egypt's mufti, the minister for religious affairs and the sheik of Cairo's al-Azhar university, one Sunni Islam's most important institutions.

The three leaders say the Dutch government should be careful not to confuse freedom of expression with insulting Islam. They point out that the populist Mr Wilders equates Islam with terrorism.

They warn that Mr Wilders' film only aims to provoke and is bound to fan religious tensions. They also express dismay that "such persistent insults to Islam" have not prompted stronger protests. [Source: Egypt wants UN ban on religious insults >>>]

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Now Iranian Lesbian Who Fled to Britain Faces Deportation

THE INDEPENDENT: An Iranian lesbian who fled to Britain after her girlfriend was arrested and sentenced to death faces being forcibly returned after losing the latest round in her battle to be granted asylum.

The case of Pegah Emambakhsh, 40, comes a day after The Independent reported on the growing public outcry over the plight of a gay Iranian teenager who fears he will be executed if he is deported to Iran.

Both cases have provoked international protests against Britain and led to calls for an immediate moratorium on the deportation of gay and lesbian asylum-seekers who fear they will be persecuted in Iran.

More than 60 MEPs have signed a petition asking Gordon Brown to reverse the decision on Mehdi Kazemi, 19, who escaped to the Netherlands after the Home Office refused him asylum last year. His case is still before Dutch judges who will decide this month whether he should return to Britain where he faces deportation to a country which has already executed his boyfriend.

Gay rights group claim there are dozens more cases of gay and lesbian asylum-seekers living in Britain in fear of persecution and facing harsh punishments if forced to return to Iran.

Ms Emambakhsh came to the UK in 2005 fearing for her life after her partner had been arrested by Tehran police. Iranian gay rights groups have reported that that partner is in custody under sentence of death by stoning. Speaking through her asylum representative in Sheffield yesterday, Ms Emambakhsh said: "I will never, never go back. If I do I know I will die."

Under the Iranian Islamic Punishment Act, lesbians found guilty of sexual relations can be sentenced to 100 lashes. But, for a third offence, the punishment is execution. Now Iranian lesbian who fled to Britain faces deportation >>> By Robert Verkaik, Law Editor

THE INDEPENDENT:
Simon Hughes: No gay person should be sent back to Iran

THE INDEPENDENT:
Leading article: Squalid priorities

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Bavarian Politicians Want to Relax Smoking Ban

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Image courtesy of Google Images

SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL: The leaders of Bavaria's ruling party, the Christian Social Union, want to relax the state's smoking ban -- and very quickly. Many of the party's politicians blame the ban for the CSU's poor showing in recent local elections.

The leaders of the Christian Social Union, the conservative Bavarian sister party to Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, are planning to relax Bavaria's smoking ban -- just two months after it was introduced.

The state's ruling party wants to introduce the relaxation next week, granting special exemptions to beer tents and small pubs. The change in regulation is aimed in particular at large tents, as found in Munich's famous Oktoberfest (more...). Bavarian Politicans Want to Relax Smoking Ban >>>

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Thursday, March 06, 2008

Dutch Raise Terror Alert Over Anti-Isam Film

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Photo of Geert Wilders courtesy of Google Images

THE HAGUE (AFP) — The international uproar about the planned release of an anti-Islam film by a Dutch far-right MP prompted the Netherlands to raise its terrorism alert level on Thursday.

"While there are no concrete indications of impending attacks in the Netherlands, the increased international terrorism threat has prompted to raise the threat level for the Netherlands from 'limited' to 'substantial'," the justice ministry said.

One of the main reasons for the raising of the alert level is the plan by far right deputy Geert Wilders to air his short movie -- which he says attacks the Koran as a "fascist book" -- in March.

"Compounding the threat is the fact that the Netherlands has been cast in a negative light in the Islamic world due to the tone of the debate on Islam in this country, especially since the announcement of a controversial film on the Koran," the ministry explained.

The international media attention for Wilders movie "has led to the posting of death threats against the Freedom Party leader on one of the leading international jihadist web forums", according to the national anti-terrorism coordinator NCTb.

The Wilders film has caused uproar in Muslim countries, some of whom have called for an economic boycott of the Netherlands if the film is shown. Iran, Egypt and Pakistan all voiced criticism about the film.

In Afghanistan hundreds of protesters took to the streets Wednesday to protest the film, whilst the Taliban has already vowed revenge against the 1,600 Dutch soldiers stationed in the country if the movie is shown.

The Dutch government has twice tried and failed to convince Wilders not to broadcast his film, fearing a repeat of the worldwide protests which met the publication of satirical Danish cartoons of the prophet Mohammed.

It has already warned its embassies in Muslim countries to be on the alert. Dutch raise terror alert over anti-Islam film >>>

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It’s All Part of a Crusade, Say the Taliban

REUTERS: KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan Taliban militants have branded the reprinting of a satirical cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad in Danish newspapers and a film on the Koran by a Dutch politician as part of a "Crusader war" against Muslims.

The Islamic movement, which is leading an insurgency in Afghanistan against Afghan and foreign troops led by NATO and the United States, also called for aid for the Palestinians in their conflict with Israel.

"We see the publication of cartoons and insult of the Holy Koran as part of the Crusaders' war," the Taliban said in a statement posted on the group's Web site. Cartoon and Koran film part of "Crusader war:" Taliban >>>

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Adam, a Former Muslim Who Turned to Christ


Hat tip: Ibn Misr

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Businessmen, Financiers, Investment Companies, Mortgage Providers and Banks Are All Rushing In Where Angels Really Would Fear to Tread

The Risky Business of Islamic Finance >>>

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Brussels Wants US to Protect Hirsi Ali

RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: The EU says the United States should ensure the security of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. 
The former Somali-born Dutch politician has received death threats for her criticism of Islam and lives in the US, though Washington insists its not responsible for her safety.

The Dutch government has refused to pay her security bills ever since she decided to quit politics and left the Netherlands. 



But EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini is now planning to turn up the heat on the US so that she and other Europeans are kept safe from danger.

New deal

Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a person in danger and deserves protection wherever she is - that's according to EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini. 



Frattini has told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that he wants Washington to change its rules over the protection of foreigners living in the States. 



Washington has refused to take responsibility for Ms Hirsi Ali's safety on the grounds that she's a Dutch citizen who came under threat because of her work in the Netherlands. 



That's not good enough, says Franco Frattini. There should be a new deal between the two continents to ensure the security of one another's citizens, he says:
"The best option would be to have a bilateral agreement with the US.

I will meet the Homeland Security Secretary (Michael Chertoff) next week and I plan to raise the topic then. As far as I know, we in Europe guarantee the same level of protection that is appropriate for all high-level officials and normal people who are under protection in the US."
Ayaan Hirsi Ali has been living under police protection ever since the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh in 2004, with whom she made a film about Islam's treatment of women. 
A note targeting her by name was found on van Gogh's body. Brussels wants US to protect Hirsi Ali: Netherlands no longer guaranteeing safety of islam critic By Vanessa Mock

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Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Muslim Leaders to Meet Pope

THE GUARDIAN: Religious leaders and scholars from the Islamic world will meet the Pope in Rome for an unprecedented audience in November, it was announced today after historic meetings between Vatican prelates and their Muslim counterparts.

For two days, senior Catholics and Muslims have been preparing for the autumn encounter, deciding upon subjects for discussion and the size of the delegation to meet the pontiff.

The participants involved in this week's meetings confirmed that 24 representatives from each faith would take part in the inaugural seminar of a newly established, permanent Catholic-Muslim Forum, a direct result of their discussions and correspondence.

The forum will meet every two years. The first one will be held in Rome from November 4 until November 6.

On the third day, the seminar will conclude with a public session and a papal reception, quashing rumours of an August meeting at the Pope's summer residence in Castelgandolfo. Muslim Leaders to Meet Pope in Rome >>> By Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent

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”Shari’ah Is the Future for Britain”

THE VOICE OF ISLAM – Sawt ul-Islam: Britain under Islam Conference, Saturday 9th February 2008, 6pm - 7:30pm, Venue: Harmony Hall, Truro Road, Walthamstow, E17 7BY, Speaker: Anjem Choudary, Judge of the Shari’ah Court of the UK and Principal Lecturer at the London School of Shari’ah.

Press Release Dated 8th February 2008


Following the archbishop of Canterbury’s comments yesterday that some elements of Shari’ah seem unavoidable there has been a barrage of attacks against any concept of Shari’ah ever being introduced on the shores of Britain by some and a compromising position being taken by others who have suggested that with checks and balances and as long as British law and values remained paramount then perhaps they might consider Shari’ah law in family matters for example.

Let us be absolutely clear about this. Islam is not subject to dilution, compromise or relegation. It is the perfect system sent to mankind from Allah (SWT) with the last Messenger Muhammad (saw). The Shari’ah is a complete way of life which has rulings on all matters in life from ruling, social and economic relations and even on how the foreign policy should be formulated. There is no room whatsoever for even one law not to based upon the divine text of the Qur’an and the traditions (Hadeeth) of the Messenger Muhammad (saw). For any Muslim to even suggest that the Shari’ah should not be implemented in its entirety is an act of apostasy. The Messenger Muhammad (saw) said clearly that Islam is superior and will never be surpassed.

The idea of non-Muslims offering to implement aspects of Islamic law is not a new phenomenon however. Even in the lifetime of the Prophet the Quraish of Mecca, who were polytheists, offered to mix their own non-Islamic law with the Islamic law, in response the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said: ‘O Kaffirs (non-Muslims) I do not worship that which you worship and nor will you worship that which I worship, and I shall not worship that which you worship and nor will you worship that which I worship, to you be your way of life and to me be mine’ [Chapter 109]

In other words the two systems of secularism and Islam are diametrically opposed, you cannot say that sovereignty and supremacy is for man on the one hand and also that sovereignty belongs to Allah on the other. One must take precedence, and that is Islam. Christians and secularists agree to give unto Caesar what belongs to him and unto God what belongs to him, this is the basis of secularism i.e. the separation of religion from life’s affairs, on the other hand Muslims believe Caesar must be a Muslim implementing Islamic law!

Moreover Islamic jurists agree that even if Gordon Brown were to, for example agree to cut the hand of the thief, unless he did so in response to the command of Allah and in worship to him, it would still be considered kufr (non-Islamic) law, for we have a principle that whatever (in non-Islamic law) agrees with Islam is kufr and whatever disagrees with Islam is kufr.

The implementation of Islam on State level is called the concept of the Khilafah. The Khilafah system of governance existed ever since the lifetime of Messenger Muhammad when he established the first Islamic State in 622 CE. There was then an unbroken chain of Islamic States for 1302 years until the destruction of the Ottoman Khilafah in 1924. The Khilafah system is not implemented anywhere in the world today, rather every country in the Muslim world today implements a form of capitalism, monarchy or other form of dictatorship or secular system. Ever since the destruction of the previous state at the hands of the British stooge Kemal Ataturk in 1924, Muslims have witnessed the conspiracies and plots of the Western governments and in particular the British and French, as they divided the remnants of the Islamic State amongst themselves after the First World War. Shari’ah Is the Future for Britain >>>

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Radical Muslim Preacher Advises His Followers How to Screw the British Government

DAILY MAIL: A radical Muslim preacher has been filmed talking about fraudulently claiming benefits and giving advice on how to cheat the Government.

Self-proclaimed extremist Abu Waleed was speaking at the London School of Shariah event in preparation for Ramadan, during which he also made jokes about Muslims taking backpacks on to the Underground.

The British-born radical retold fables from the Koran before encouraging his audience to hoodwink the Government.

After a story about a wealthy man, he said: "There was one man, he had a lot of money - just like us, we have a lot of money today from the income support and the incapacity benefit. Radical Muslim preacher caught on film giving advice on how to 'hoodwink' the Government over benefits >>>

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EU Braces for Outrage over Dutch Lawmaker's Anti-Koran Film

HAARETZ: The European Commission, fearing violence in Islamic nations over an anti-Koran film being made by a Dutch lawmaker, said Wednesday it has sent a memo to its foreign staff on how to handle inquiries about the film.

The EU's executive office did not put forward a position on the film by
lawmaker Geert Wilders, which has not yet been released. Its memo to EU offices worldwide was meant only to keep them posted on developments in the European Union, the commission said.

In 2006, the appearance in European newspapers of 12 caricatures of the
Prophet Mohammad that originally appeared in a Danish newspaper prompted violent protests in Islamic nations.

EU spokeswoman Christiane Hohmann says the memo on the film suggests that EU staff abroad handle any questions by stressing that tolerance and freedom of speech are issues we value very highly in Europe.

The Dutch government has been working for weeks to limit fallout in the Muslim world.

It has increased security at its embassies and urged Wilders to scrap his film for the sake of Dutch national interests and the safety of Dutch citizens abroad. Wilders, who is extremely critical about Islam, has refused to do so. EU braces for outrage over Dutch lawmaker's anti-Koran film >>> By The Associated Press

RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE:
Pakistan Protests Against Wilders Film

REUTERS:
Anti-Koran Dutch Film "Propagates Hate" – Pakistan | Wed Mar 5, 2008

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Hillary Clinton Defeats Obama in Ohio and Texas

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THE TELEGRAPH: Hillary Clinton has revived her campaign for the White House nomination, winning three primary election votes and seizing back the momentum from Barack Obama.

Mrs Clinton vowed to continue fighting for the Democratic nomination beyond the spring as she won the critical primary poll in Texas.

The former First Lady earlier claimed victory in Rhode Island and Ohio while Mr Obama, who came into the four-state contest with 11 straight victories under his belt, won the small, liberal state of Vermont.

"You know what they say: As Ohio goes, so goes the nation.

"Well, this nation's coming back and so is this campaign," Mrs Clinton said to a cheering crowd in the state capital Columbus, as she celebrated her victory. Hillary Clinton defeats Barack Obama in Ohio and Texas >>> By Toby Harnden in Columbus and Alex Spillius in San Antonio

THE TELEGRAPH:
Hillary Clinton 'willing to have Barack Obama as vice president' By Toby Harnden in Columbus and Alex Spillius in San Antonio

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Shari’ah Strikes Again! Malaysian Woman Jailed for Tea-Pot Worshipping!

THE TELEGRAPH: A sharia court in Malaysia jailed a woman for joining a "tea-pot worshipping" cult.

Kamariah Ali, a 57 year old former teacher, was arrested in 2005 when the government of the Muslim majority country demolished the two storey high sacred tea pot and other infrastructure of the "heretical" Sky Kingdom cult.

For the eccentric sect, which emphasised ecumenical dialogue between religions, the tea pot symbolized the purity of water and "love pouring from heaven".

But in Malaysia, despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of worship, born Muslims such as Mrs Ali are forbidden from converting to other religions. Woman jailed for 'worshipping tea pot' >>> By Thomas Bell, South East Asia Correspondent

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The New-Look German Army: Overweight Chainsmokers!

Whatever happened to Eintopf-Sonntag?

THE TELEGRAPH: A new report has forced Germany to admit that many of its soldiers are not lean killing machines but overweight chainsmokers.

The government-sponsored study indicated that over 40 percent of German soldiers were overweight and 70 percent were heavy smokers who did not engage in regular exercise.

Almost nine percent of professional soldiers, some of whom are involved in dangerous overseas missions such as the one in Afghanistan, were found to be clinically obese. Over 27 percent admitted to never engaging in sports or other physical activities. 



Reinhold Robbe, the German Army Ombudsman, who coordinated the study and whose job is to provide civilian oversight of the armed forces, said: "Plainly put, the soldiers are too fat, do too little sport and take little care of their diet. The revelations are alarming." 



The study, published on Tuesday, sparked a public outcry and calls for a parliamentary debate. Its authors blame a "passive lifestyle" practiced in the Bundeswehr or the Federal Army, as well as a bad diet and a wrong approach to fitness and health.

Instead of fruits and vegetables, the soldiers' diet included fat-rich sausages, the preferred fast-food of Germans, as well as large quantities of beer. The bureaucracy troops were left to deal with on daily basis was also quoted as a factor that contributed to their "alarmingly" poor form. The new-look German army: Fat chainsmokers >>> By Bojan Pancevski in Vienna

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Wilders’ Film Website Goes Online

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RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: The Hague - The website for the anti-Qur'an film Fitna by Geert Wilders is online under the name fitnathemovie. There is little to see at the moment: only the cover of the Qur'an with the text "Allahu Akhbar", which means "God is Great" and "Geert Wilders presents Fitna - Coming Soon" against a black background. Wilders' film website goes online >>>

GEERT WILDERS:
Fitna the Movie

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Dozens of Missing Schoolchildren Could Have Been Forced into Arranged Marriages

DAILY MAIL: Dozens of children are missing from school amid fears they have been forced into arranged marriages, it was revealed yesterday.

In Bradford, 33 children remain "unaccounted for" after being off school for at least two months with no explanation.

The Government is also concerned about another 14 areas of the country where it is feared children under 16 could also be missing from school rolls. Dozens of missing schoolchildren feared forced into arranged marriages >>> By Chris Brooke

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’Muslim Fanatics Benefiting from Public Grants'

THE TELEGRAPH: Muslim extremists should be banned from handing out literature and prevented from sitting on public bodies, David Cameron has said.

The Conservative leader has also accused ministers and councils of allowing fanatics to benefit from public grants to Muslim bodies.

"The Government has allowed hundreds of thousands of pounds to local authorities to improve community cohesion, but there are worrying signs that ministers have taken their eye off the ball," he said.

"I will be making proposals to isolate extremists and make certain they cannot obtain public grants or get invited to sit on public bodies.

"That won't just apply to Islamic extremists. We will be equally vigilant in ensuring that groups linked to the BNP or animal rights militants are excluded too.

"The message should be clear - to those who preach hate, to those who encourage violence, you are not part of the mainstream, you will not get public funding." 'Muslim fanatics benefiting from public grants' >>> By Andrew Porter, Political Editor

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Korruptionsprozess gegen Geldgeber Obamas

NZZ Online: In Chicago hat diese Woche der Prozess gegen einen früheren Freund und Geldgeber des demokratischen Präsidentschaftsbewerbers Barack Obama begonnen. Der Geschäftsmann Tony Rezko ist angeklagt, er habe sich mit Wahlkampfspenden Einfluss in der Regierung des Staats Illinois erkauft und seine Stellung benutzt, um bei staatlichen Aufträgen Gelder abzuschöpfen.

A. R. Washington, 4. März

In Chicago hat diese Woche der Prozess gegen einen früheren Freund und Geldgeber des demokratischen Präsidentschaftsbewerbers Barack Obama begonnen. Der Geschäftsmann Tony Rezko ist angeklagt, er habe sich mit Wahlkampfspenden Einfluss in der Regierung des Staats Illinois erkauft und seine Stellung benutzt, um bei staatlichen Aufträgen Gelder abzuschöpfen. Korruption ist ein notorischer Bestandteil der politischen Kultur in Illinois; wegen einer ähnlichen Affäre sitzt der Vorgänger des jetzigen Gouverneurs im Gefängnis. Korruptionsprozess gegen Geldgeber Obamas: Peinlicher Fall für den demokratischen Präsidentschaftsbewerber

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