Neuer Trick gegen Aung San Suu Kyi: Burmas Oppositionsführerin muss vor den Wahlen die Partei verlassen
NZZ ONLINE: Die burmesische Militärjunta lässt offenbar nichts unversucht, um der Oppositionsführerin Aung San Suu Kyi zu schaden. So hat sie nun ein Wahlgesetz erlassen, gemäss dem Aung San Suu Kyi vor den Parlamentswahlen ihre Partei verlassen muss.

Burmas Oppositionsführerin Aung San Suu Kyi muss gemäss dem neuen Wahlgesetz der burmesischen Militärregierung vor den geplanten Parlamentswahlen ihre Partei verlassen. Wer zu einer Gefängnisstrafe verurteilt wurde, darf gemäss dem Gesetz nicht einer Partei angehören. >>> sda/afp | Mittwoch, 10. März 2010

'Jihad Jane' Accused of Terror Ties


'Jihad Jane' From Suburbs Facing Terror Charges

Middle East Peace Talks in Doubt Over Israeli Homes Plan
THE TELEGRAPH: Plans to restart Middle East peace talks have been thrown into doubt after Israel received worldwide condemnation over plans to build 1,600 homes in the occupied West Bank.

President Shimon Peres (R) with the visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden at the President's residence in Jerusalem. Photo: The Telegraph
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of "the ruining of trust" and said there were questions over whether fresh negotiations could now take place.

Israel's announcement left visiting US Vice President Joe Biden deeply embarrassed after a day in which he had heaped praise and affection on the country's leaders.

He expressed his fury by arriving 90 minutes late for a private dinner with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, on Tuesday night and reiterated his condemnation yesterday.

Speaking in Ramallah after meeting Mr Abbas, he accused Israel of "undermining the trust that we need right now" and complicating efforts to restart peace talks with the Palestinians after a year in deep freeze.

Mr Netanyahu claimed he knew nothing about the announcement of the planned construction in a Jerusalem suburb in the occupied West Bank.
But it threatened to torpedo plans for indirect peace talks that should have crowned the first visit to the region by Mr Biden.

In Strasbourg, EU high representative for foreign affairs Baroness Ashton told the European parliament she wanted to "join Vice-President Biden in condemning the decision." UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said settlement activity "undermines any movement towards a viable peace process." >>> Matthew Kalman in Jerusalem | Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Dutch Plan to Let Healthy Elderly People Commit Suicide
THE TELEGRAPH: Healthy elderly people who are simply "tired of living" could be allowed to end their lives with a lethal injection under new euthanasia laws being debated by the Dutch parliament.

The country's MPs will discuss the "right to die" proposals after a campaign forced a debate by collecting over 100,000 signatures in support.

The influential Dutch "Right to Die" campaign, active since 1973, has launched new "vrijwillig levenseinde", or "of free will" [sic] [ending one’s life voluntarily], demands to extend euthanasia beyond assisted suicide for terminally ill people.

The group has proposed training non-medical staff to administer a lethal injection to healthy people over the age of 70 who "consider their lives complete" and want to die.

Under the plans, the suicide assistants would be certified and would be required to make sure that patients were not temporarily depressed and had a "heartfelt and enduring desire" to die. >>> Bruno Waterfield in Brussels | Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Muhammad Cartoonist Lars Vilks Installs Panic Room and Booby-trapped Art
TIMES ONLINE: A Swedish cartoonist whose controversial image of the Prophet Muhammad led to a series of death threats said today that he had secured his property with a homemade panic room and booby-trapped artwork.

The latest threat to Lars Vilks emerged yesterday when seven people were arrested in Ireland accused of plotting to kill the 63-year-old artist.

Mr Vilks responded by saying that he was ready for them. “If something happens, I know exactly what to do,” he said.

His home in southern Sweden now contains a barbed-wire sculpture that could electrocute potential intruders, a secure space to hide in and an axe which will allow him “to chop down” anyone breaking in through his windows.

He said he had learned from American media reports that the woman held in the US Colleen R. LaRose, who had called herself Jihad Jane in a YouTube video, had visited the area where he lives, but he did not know whether that was true. “I’m glad she didn’t kill me,” Mr Vilks said.

The artist, who has dishevelled hair and thick-lenses glasses, said his life was like the plot of a film. “It’s a good story,” he said. “It’s about the bad guys and a good guy, and they try to kill him,” he said.

“They have this woman also which I think is a good part of the plot with this fantastic name, ‘Jihad Jane’ who is actually doing some scouting there in the surroundings,” Mr Vilks added. “As I can see it, you have something of a film there. But as I said, I believe they’re a bit low-tech.”

Three leading Swedish newspapers and the national broadcaster today carried the notorious cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad with a dog's body. >>> Nico Hines and David Charter | Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Prize comment of the day in The Times apropos of this story:

The "Peaceful" religion of Islam strikes again. The Islamic religion/Muslims are the MOST intolerant of ALL people/religions in the world. The fact that their "moderate" wing doesn't stand up and protest their own extremists proves they are also gutless and cowards. Warm Regards, Eric [Simpson] [Source: The Times] | Wednesday, March 10, 2010

PM Report: Pressure Grows on Iran

Carla Bruni: 'Who Knows If It's Forever*'
THE TELEGRAPH: Carla Bruni has done little to end speculation about her relationship with Nicolas Sarkozy by giving a half-hearted response when questioned about whether her marriage "was forever".

In an interview with Sky News, the French first lady described her relationship as a "fairy tale" but went on to say she did not know how long it would last.

While discussing her husband, she was asked: "Is he for keeps – is he forever?"

After a long pause, she replied: "I guess marriage should be forever but who knows what happens. I wish it was forever, that's my hope ... but we could be dead tomorrow." >>> Henry Samuel in Paris | Wednesday, March 10, 2010

*By Carla Bruni-Sarkozy’s own admission, she has always found the idea of monogamy boring. What reason have we got to believe that she has changed her mind? It is my belief that she will probably stick with Nico for as long as he is Président de la République. Being la première dame de la République, after all, is too good to miss out on. Isn’t living in the elegant Élysée Palace and all the trappings that come with the position the real "fairy tale"? One doesn’t usually walk away from a fairy tale while it's unfolding; but when the time comes that she’ll have to move out of there, when the fairy tale will be at an end, possibly with Nico at her side, it will be a different story. If I’m not greatly mistaken, when that time comes, she’ll cast Nico aside like an old shoe, and she’ll go for a newer model! Nicolas will be unable to offer her the excitement any longer, the excitement she so obviously craves. – © Mark

THE TELEGRAPH: To the picture gallery / À la galerie de photos / Zur Fotogalerie >>>

TIMESONLINE: Carla Bruni denies affair rumours sparked by Twitter and internet gossip >>> Charles Bremner, Paris | Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Baroness Ashton drops opposition to Euro-army headquarters
THE TELEGRAPH: Baroness Ashton has dropped her opposition to a permanent European Union military headquarters that many believe will be the first step towards a Euro-army.

Baroness Ashton has not flourished in her current job. Photo: The Telegraph
Britain is staunchly opposed to a standing military headquarters in Brussels claiming it would duplicate Nato and be "an unnecessary use of resources".

But since becoming EU foreign minister last year, Lady Ashton has gone from "being unconvinced" to having an "open mind" over the move. It has been demanded by French and German supporters of a European army.

"People raise the question whether the EU should have its own permanent operations HQ. This is a serious issue that deserves a serious debate," she said to MEPs on Wednesday.

The Conservatives have accused Lady Ashton of "going native" and succumbing to pressure from France. >>> Bruno Waterfield in Brussels | Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Affaire Kadhafi : La Libye accepte les excuses de Washington
20MINUTES.ch: La Libye accepte les excuses présentées par le département d'Etat américain après la querelle diplomatique qui a opposé Tripoli et Washington, a annoncé mercredi le ministère libyen des Affaires étrangères.

Un porte-parole américain avait ironisé sur l'appel au djihad contre la Suisse lancé par le colonel Kadhafi.

Le ministère libyen des Affaires étrangères «déclare qu'il accepte les excuses et les vifs regrets exprimés par le département d'Etat» américain, selon un communiqué diffusé mercredi.

Tripoli «accueille favorablement la reprise des échanges de visites de responsables des deux pays et insiste sur sa volonté de développer des relations bilatérales dans tous les domaines et dans le cadre d'un respect mutuel».

Le porte-parole du département d'Etat, P. J. Crowley, a présenté mardi des excuses pour les propos qu'il a tenus au sujet de l'appel au djihad (guerre sainte) lancé par Mouammar Kadhafi contre la Suisse le 25 février.

Le journal gouvernemental libyen «Al-fajr Al-Jadid» a qualifié mercredi de «victoire» les excuses de Washington. Selon le quotidien, les excuses ont «prouvé le bien-fondé de la position» de la Libye et sa «capacité à préserver sa dignité». Les «deux pays tournent ainsi la page de ce différend qui menaçait les relations bilatérales». «Pas beaucoup de sens» >>> ats | Mercredi 10 Mars 2010

Lien(s) en relation avec l’article:

BBC: US Apologises Over Gaddafi Comments >>> | Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Minarets : La Suisse sur le banc des accusés à l'ONU
20MINUTES.ch: La Suisse va être mise au banc des accusés devant le Conseil des droits de l'homme de l'ONU pour son interdiction de construire de nouveaux minarets.

Le projet de texte, actuellement mis en consultation par des Etats musulmans et africains, prévoit de «condamner fermement l'interdiction de la construction de nouveaux minarets», considérée comme une «manifestation d'islamophobie qui contrevient clairement aux obligations internationales en matière de droits de l'homme en ce qui concerne la liberté de religion», [,] selon un projet de résolution auquel l'AFP a eu accès mercredi.

De telles mesures sont de nature à alimenter «la discrimination, l'extrémisme et les préjugés, conduisant à la polarisation et à la division avec de dangereuses conséquences non voulues et inédites», avertit le projet de texte, qui devrait être soumis au Conseil des droits de l'homme avant la fin de sa session plénière, en cours jusqu'au 26 mars. >>> afp | Mercredi 10 Mars 2010

Schweiz droht Schelte von der Uno
TAGES ANZEIGER: Wegen des Minarett-Verbots muss sich die Schweiz auf deutliche Kritik des Uno-Menschenrechtsrats einstellen. Das EDA will die Verurteilung nicht einfach hinnehmen.

Umstritten: Plakat der Anti-Minarett-Initiative. Bild: Tages Anzeiger
Die Schweiz werde ihren Unmut über eine Resolution zum Ausdruck bringen, allerdings erst, wenn der Vorstoss im Menschenrechtsrat behandelt werde, sagte EDA-Sprecher Raphaël Saborit auf Anfrage der Nachrichtenagentur SDA. In der Schweiz erlaubte die Religionsfreiheit jedem Bürger, seine Religion frei auszuüben.

In einem Resolutionsentwurf, der am Mittwoch der Nachrichtenagentur AFP vorlag, verurteilt das Gremium das Minarett-Verbot als «Ausdruck der Islamophobie». Ausserdem wird das Verbot als Verstoss gegen «internationale Verpflichtungen im Bereich der Menschenrechte und Religionsfreiheit» bezeichnet. Die Massnahme nähre «Diskriminierung, Extremismus und Vorurteile, die zu Polarisierungen und Spaltungen mit gefährlichen Folgen führen», heisst es. Abstimmung über Text >>> vin/sda | Mittwoch, 10. März 2010

Suisse – Affaire Kadhafi : Max Göldi a déposé un recours devant la Cour suprême
20MINUTES.ch: Le Suisse Max Göldi, condamné en appel à quatre mois de prison pour «séjour illégal» en Libye, a déposé un recours devant la Cour suprême, a indiqué mercredi son avocat libyen Salah Zahaf.

Il avait déjà présenté une demande de grâce auprès de la haute cour de justice libyenne.

«Nous avons déposé lundi un recours devant la cour suprême», a indiqué Me Zahaf. «La grâce peut être accordée sur décision politique, tandis que le recours que nous avons déposé devant la Cour suprême est une affaire de justice», a précisé l'avocat. >>> ats | Mercredi 10 Mars 2010

Mali : Al-Qaïda libère deux otages
20MINUTES.ch: La branche maghrébine d'Al-Qaïda a libéré mercredi une Espagnole et une Italienne retenues en otage dans le nord du Mali depuis novembre et décembre.

Mais trois autres Européens - deux Espagnols et un Italien - demeurent aux mains des islamistes.

«Je peux vous dire que les deux otages sont libérées. Une autorité espagnole les attend à Ouagadougou», au Burkina Faso, a indiqué à Bamako une source diplomatique sous couvert de l'anonymat.

La ressortissante italienne, âgée de 39 ans, est d'origine burkinabè. Selon des sources proches de la négociation, elle avait dans un premier temps refusé d'être libérée pour rester avec son mari italien, toujours détenu. ONG espagnole >>> ats | Mercredi 10 Mars 2010

In Solidarity: Lars Wilks’ Cartoon
Muhammad as roundabout dog. Image: Google Images

Muhammad Cartoonist Had $100,000 Bounty on Head
THE GUARDIAN: Lars Vilks's sketches drew a furious reaction from Muslim groups and countries, and death threats from al-Qaida

Lars Vilks, the Swedish artist at the centre of an alleged assassination attempt, was put under police protection in 2007 when al-Qaida offered a reward for his "slaughter". Vilks's depiction of the prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog in a series of drawings prompted the terrorist group to put a $100,000 bounty on his head.

The sketches had sparked a furious reaction from Muslim groups and countries including Pakistan and Iran. Some Islamic traditions consider it blasphemous to make or show an image of the prophet, and Vilks's drawings were regarded as especially derogatory as dogs are a symbol of filth for many Muslims.

In 2006 there were riots over Danish cartoons of the prophet, including one by Kurt Westergaard depicting Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb. Westergaard was subjected to death threats and attempts on his life. >>> Matthew Weaver and agencies | Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Swedish Media Reprint Cartoon That Inspired Alleged Murder Plot
TIMES ONLINE: Three leading Swedish newspapers and the national broadcaster today carried a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad with a dog's body after an alleged plot to murder the artist was unveiled in Ireland.

The threat to Lars Vilks was a threat against all Swedes, the country's biggest daily, Dagens Nyheter, proclaimed, adding that the New Year axe attack on a Danish cartoonist for drawing the Prophet meant that Scandanavian values of openness were being assaulted.

The drawing by Mr Vilks was published in the Stockholm-based Dagens Nyheter and Expressen newspapers and the Malmo daily Sydsvenska Dagbladet in defence of one of the cornerstones of Sweden's constitution. This states that Swedes have the right to freedom of speech and cannot be restrained from the lawful expression of their views.

But the newspapers stopped short of running the controversial cartoon on their websites because of their wider accessibility around the world. Islam forbids representations being made of the Prophet.

"In September 2007, al Qaida leaders set a price on Swedish artist Lars Vilks’ head," said Dagens Nyheter in an editorial comment. His "alleged crime" was to draw a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad as a "roundabout dog", a type of street installation popular in Sweden where sculptures are often placed in the middle of roundabaouts.

It added: "The latest development including the arrests in Ireland stresses the serious situation and the failed axe attack on Danish Mohammad cartoonist Kurt Westergaard further emphasises the weight of the threat.

"If anyone views the attacks on Westergaard and Vilks as individual criminal cases it is time for them to think again. The threats are attacks on one of the most fundamental rights – the freedom of speech – and should be viewed as a wider treat against an open and free society.

"The al-Qaeda individuals who would like to silence the Scandinavian artists are denying the most basic values which upholds a democracy. A threat against Lars Vilks is a threat against all Swedes*." >>> David Charter, Europe Correspondent | Wednesday, March 10, 2010

*This is a threat against all Westerners, not just against Swedes. For this reason, all Western newspapers should publish all the cartoons. But they haven’t; and they won’t. The reason: They are too cowardly to stand up for the freedoms they espouse. Shame on them all! – © Mark

Seven Arrested in Plot to Kill Swedish Cartoonist

Ägypten: Höchste Autorität des sunnitischen Islam gestorben
WELT ONLINE: Das Oberhaupt des bedeutendsten Islam-Instituts der Welt ist tot. Der 81-jährige Großscheich Mohammed Sajed Tantawi erlag in Riad einer Herzattacke. Er galt als Liberaler, der Selbstmordattentate und die Vollverschleierung muslimischer Frauen ablehnte und den Dialog zu anderen Religionen suchte.

Der Großscheich Tantawi möchte nicht in seiner Heimat Ägypten begraben werden, sondern im muslimischen Pilgerort Medina. Bild: Welt Online
Der im sunnitischen Islam als oberste religiöse Autorität anerkannte Scheich Mohammed Sajed Tantawi ist tot. Der 81-Jährige erlitt am Mittwochmorgen auf dem Flughafen der saudiarabischen Hauptstadt Riad eine Herzattacke und starb kurz darauf in einem Militärspital, wie ägyptische Medien berichteten. Tantawi hatte demnach in Riad an einer Preisverleihung teilgenommen und befand sich auf dem Rückweg nach Kairo.

Tantawi war seit 1996 Oberhaupt des El-Azhar-Instituts in Kairo. Dieses ist für die Sunniten die oberste Instanz für religiöse und rechtliche Fragen und gilt als einflussreichstes Islam-Institut der Welt.

Tantawi galt als moderater Islamgelehrter und befürwortete den Dialog mit anderen Religionen. Durch seine von vielen Muslimen als zu liberal empfundenen Ansichten hatte er sich in den vergangen zehn Jahren Feinde gemacht. Tantawi, der sich gegen Selbstmordattentate und für den Widerstand gegen die US-Besatzung im Irak ausgesprochen hatte, eckte bei seinen Landsleuten vor allem mit Kommentaren über die Bekleidungsvorschriften für muslimische Frauen an.

2003 brachte der Geistliche viele Ägypter gegen sich auf, als er erklärt, die französische Regierung habe das Recht, das Tragen von Kopftüchern in staatlichen Schulen zu verbieten. Im vergangenen Jahr löste er eine neue Kontroverse aus, als er eine Schülerin zwang, im Klassenraum ihren Gesichtsschleier abzunehmen. Die Vollverschleierung muslimischer Frauen bezeichnete er als „Tradition“, die in „keiner Verbindung zur Religion“ stehe.

Unter Religionswissenschaftlern genoss er wegen seiner umfassenden Kenntnisse einen guten Ruf, obwohl auch viele Kollegen mit ihm nicht einer Meinung waren. >>> AFP/dpa/br | Mittwoch 10. März 2010

LE TEMPS: Le Caire : Décès de l'imam Tantaoui, chef de la grande institution sunnite d'Al-Azhar >>> AFP | Mercredi 10 Mars 2010

„Die Botschaft von Osama bin Laden an die Völker Europas" – September 2009
Bin Laden Botschaft – Video anschauen: Zu den europäischen Völkern >>> | Friday, 25. September 2009

Amerikanerin vor Gericht: "JihadJane" rekrutierte Terroristen übers Internet
WELT ONLINE: In Pennsylvania muss sich eine US-Amerikanerin vor Gericht verantworten, weil sie mit fünf über den Erdball verstreuten Komplizen Männer für Terroranschläge in Europa und Südasien angeworben haben soll. Colleen LaRose wollte auch selbst morden. "JihadJane" habe dafür einen "direkten Befehl" erhalten.


”Jihad Jane”, auch als Fatima LaRose bekannt. Foto: Welt Online
In einschlägigen Kreisen ist sie als „JihadJane“ und „Fatima LaRose“ bekannt. Ihre Mission: Mit Hilfe des Internets, Kämpfer für den islamischen „Heiligen Krieg“ (Dschihad) zu finden. Jetzt klagte die US-Justiz Colleen LaRose aus dem US-Staat Pennsylvania an, weil sie mit fünf über den Erdball verstreuten Komplizen Männer für Terroranschläge in Europa und Südasien angeworben haben soll.

Die Gruppe habe zudem Frauen rekrutiert, die mit unverdächtigen Pässen in Europa umherreisen und den „Dschihad“ unterstützen könnten, teilte das US-Justizministerium mit.

Die 1963 geborene Frau habe überdies einen „direkten Befehl“ erhalten, einen schwedischen Staatsbürger in seiner Heimat zu ermorden. Damit solle „die ganze Welt der Ungläubigen“ das Fürchten gelehrt werden, hieß es in der Mitteilung, allerdings ohne näher zu erwähnen, wer den Befehl erteilte. LaRose sei daraufhin nach Europa gereist und habe das potenzielle Opfer über das Internet ausgekundschaftet, „mit dem Ziel, die Aufgabe zu Ende zu bringen.“ Im Falle einer Verurteilung muss sie mit lebenslanger Haft und einer Geldstrafe von bis zu einer Millionen Dollar (741 000 Euro) rechnen. >>> dpa/fas | Mittwoch, 10. März 2010

Verbunden mit diesem Artikel:

US 'Jihad Jane' Charged With Planning Terror Attacks in Europe >>> Tom Leonard in New York | Thursday, March 09, 2010

WELT ONLINE: "JihadJane" plante Mord an Mohammed-Zeichner >>> dpa/jm | Mittwoch, 10. März 2010

Jihad Jane: American Blonde Accused of Terror Plot
Colleen LaRose, as shown in a police mugshot. Photo: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: A blonde American woman who went under the online alias "Jihad Jane" has been accused of plotting to murder a Swedish cartoonist for drawing a picture of the Prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog, it emerged today.

Colleen LaRose, a 46-year-old Muslim convert from Pennsylvania, was said by prosecutors to have used the internet to make contact with jihadists overseas and was persuaded to use the fact that she was a white American to get through security surrounding the artist, Lars Vilks.

A US Justice Department official said last night that the case "shatters any lingering thought that we can spot a terrorist based on appearance".

Ms LaRose was arrested in Philadelphia in October last year, but her indictment remained sealed until after the arrest in Ireland yesterday of seven people - three women and four men - involved in a suspected plot to murder Mr Vilks.

The cartoonist has been holed up in a rural hideout since his cartoon appeared in a Swedish newspaper in 2007, a year when the publication of similar cartoons in Denmark sparked violent protests across the Islamic world.

Islamic law generally opposes any depiction of the Prophet - even favourable - for fear that it could lead to idolatry, and al-Qaeda put a bounty of $100,000 on Mr Vilks's head.

Three Swedish papers reprinted his image today in a gesture of solidarity. One, Dagens Nyheter said in an editorial that "Vilks doesn’t stand alone in this conflict. A threat against him is, in the long term, also a threat against all Swedes."

A federal indictment charges that Ms LaRose, who also called herself Fatima Rose, agreed to kill Mr Vilks on orders from the unnamed terror contacts and went to Europe to carry out the killing.

It also alleged that Ms LaRose, who has blond hair and blue-green eyes, indicated in her online conversations that she thought her appearance would help her move freely in Sweden to carry out the attack. >>> Philippe Naughton | Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Etats-Unis : le nombre de millionnaires a augmenté
lePARISIEN.fr: Les riches ignorent la crise. A croire même qu'elle leur profite... Aux Etats-Unis, en tout cas, les millionaires (en dollars) sont de plus en plus nombreux. Selon une étude publiée mardi par la société de conseil Spectrem Group, leur 
nombre a augmenté de 16% en 2009, alors qu'il avait chuté de 27% l'année précédente.

En 2009, environ 7,8 millions de ménages américains disposaient d'avoirs équilanets ou supérieurs à un million de dollars, sans compter le capital investi dans leur résidence principale. C'est donc 1,1 million de ménages en plus qu'en 2008, année où l'économie atteignait son plus bas niveau depuis 2003 et où le nombre de millionnaires américains chutait.

«Bien que (le nombre de millionnaires) soit encore loin de son record de 9,2 millions de personnes en 2007, la hausse observée cette année (2009) n'en constitue pas moins une nouvelle bienvenue pour une économie encore en phase de reprise», a commenté George Walper Junior, président de Spectrem Group. >>> Ph.L. | Mercredi 10 Mars 2010