Islamic Perspective: Table Talk with David Cameron
Photo: Emel
EMEL: David Cameron has made a fair few headlines recently. His comparison of extremist Muslim groups with the British National Party, his memorial service for multi-culturalism and his pronouncements on Britishness have kept the media focus on Muslims. Sarah Joseph meets him to find out what he really understands of the Muslim community.

David Cameron likes lines and boxes. They crop up a lot in our conversation as he details the struggle to find appropriate categories for Muslims. Finding the right box in which to fit him, however, is not easy either. He wants a new “compassionate Conservative Party”, but he is surrounded by “new” Conservatives of the “neo” kind. He says he is not a deeply ideological person, but there are plenty of ideologues around him. He says he’s not a Thatcherite, but Thatcher remains one of his role models.

So what is it to be? The kind, liberal front man of a centre ground conservatism, or a closet right-winger – “a rightwing wolf in compassionate sheep’s clothing”, as he has been called?

As I sit in the back of his Lexus racing from Brighton to Horsham and then London – two legs of a bustling round of speeches and hand shakes, meeting the local Conservatives, I ask if he is leading a government in waiting, “We’ve definitely turned a corner.” Indeed even if Labour spin the current opinion polls around and scrape that historic fourth election victory, the Conservatives will surely hold onto David Cameron. One must surely recognise the prospect that he will one day lead them to power. >>> Sarah Joseph* | Republished May 2010; First published March 2007

* Sarah Joseph (photograph inserted) is a British convert to Islam, and editrix of Emel.

Charles to Deliver Islam Speech
PRESS ASSOCIATION: The Prince of Wales is to give a lecture on Islam and the environment.

Charles, patron of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, will make the speech in the Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford University. >>> UKPA | Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Anti-Islam MP Could Join New Dutch Coalition
THE INDEPENDENT: Voters seeking fiscal discipline and tighter immigration laws appear set to back a new right-wing government in a national election today, and may even double their support for the anti-Islamic politician Geert Wilders.

The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, an immigrant-wary, free-market party that has not led a government in nearly 100 years, has taken a commanding lead in the polls. Read on and comment >>> | Wednesday, June 09, 2010

NYPD Arrests Two Would-be Terrorists at JFK Heading to Somalia


The Faces of Hate
NEW YORK POST: Jersey jihadis junior hellions

These are the faces of evil.

Officials last night released the mug shots of New Jersey terror suspects Mohamed Alessa, 20, and Carlos "Omar" Almonte, 24.

They were taken after the two hate-spewing terrorist wannabes were captured as they headed to Somalia, allegedly to wage holy war on Americans.

Their neighbors weren't surprised -- they said jihad started early for the two.

They were terrors in their suburban communities years before they were busted last Saturday at Kennedy Airport.

Not a single school could handle Alessa. He openly talked of blowing up his schools in the name of Islam.

Almonte was picked up by cops several times for increasingly violent behavior.

The duo are due back in Newark federal court today for a bail hearing on charges of plotting to murder, maim and kidnap people overseas. >>> Carolyn Salazar, Perry Chiaramonte and Chuck Bennett, AP | Wednesday, June 09, 2010

David Cameron Faces EU Fight Over Budget Vetting
THE TELEGRAPH: David Cameron is facing a fight with European leaders at his first summit next week over demands for Britain to have its budget vetted by the EU before it is presented to parliament.

He will refuse to sign up to plans, supported by all Europe's finance ministers except Britain's, in which officials would assess the "main assumptions" of a budget before it was seen by MPs and the public.

The "budgetary surveillance" demand will overshadow the prime minister's first EU meeting next Thursday and will put him at odds with Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor and Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President.

Herman Van Rompuy, the EU President, and the European Commission have proposed that all treasuries must discuss their budget plans with other European finance ministers and officials before they are presented to national parliaments.

Mr Van Rompuy said: "The main assumptions underlying the budgetary plans, like the levels of growth or inflation, would be examined. So would the main aggregates, like total revenues, total spending and deficit targets.

"A government presenting a budgetary plan with a high deficit will have to justify itself in front of its peers. There would still be time to adjust the plans before the final budget is presented."

Mr Van Rompuy has defended the plan saying it will help national parliaments to better judge complicated budgets. "A national parliament would be able to judge its governments' budget plans knowing fully their credibility," he said.

The measure is intended to prevent a repeat of the Greek debt crisis and to help the EU police rules, applying to all 27 member states, limiting public spending in order to safeguard the euro. >>> Bruno Waterfield in Brussels | Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Is this one of the virtues of Islam? Female genital mutilation? Gruesome photo courtesy of Google Images
London Taxis to Extol Virtues of Islam
TIMES ONLINE: Fifty eight per cent of the British public associate Islam with extremism but a new campaign is promoting the religion on London transport

The purple, pink and green sign on the yellow London taxi reads: “The rights of women are sacred.”

This is not some spiritual feminist mantra born of the New Age, but comes out of one of the most traditional religions in the world.

The advertisement marks the launch of a campaign to promote a positive image of Islam, a religion not widely known for its promotion of the rights of women.

The negative view of a faith followed by nearly 1.6 billion people, or one fifth of the world’s population, is the main reason for the launch of the Inspired by Muhammad campaign.

Besides London taxis, the advertisements are to appear on Underground trains and bus stops.

After a new poll showed that 58 per cent of people associate Islam with extremism and 50 per cent with terrorism, the campaign is intended to promote a positive Islamic message about the environment and social justice as well as women.

The campaign was launched by the Exploring Islam Foundation, a new and privately funded group run by young British Muslim professionals.

The YouGov poll of 2,152 adults found that just 13 per cent of those questions believed Islam to be a religion of peace and even fewer, six per cent, associated it with justice.

More than four in 10 disagreed that Muslims have a positive impact on British society, nearly seven in ten said Islam encourages the repression of women and fewer than two in ten said Islam promotes fairness and equality.

The campaign was launched at Tower Bridge, an image of London used on postcards throughout the world. >>> Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent | Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Young. British. Female. Muslim.
TIMES ONLINE: Thousands of young British women living in the UK decide to convert to Islam - here are some of their stories

From left: Sukina Douglas, Catherine Heseltine, Aqeela Lindsay Wheeler, Catherine Huntley and Joanne Bailey. Photo: Times Online
It’s a controversial time for British women to be wearing the hijab, the basic Muslim headscarf. Last month, Belgium became the first European country to pass legislation to ban the burka (the most concealing of Islamic veils), calling it a “threat” to female dignity, while France looks poised to follow suit. In Italy earlier this month, a Muslim woman was fined €500 (£430) for wearing the Islamic veil outside a post office.

And yet, while less than 2 per cent of the population now attends a Church of England service every week, the number of female converts to Islam is on the rise. At the London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park, women account for roughly two thirds of the “New Muslims” who make their official declarations of faith there – and most of them are under the age of 30.

Conversion statistics are frustratingly patchy, but at the time of the 2001 Census, there were at least 30,000 British Muslim converts in the UK. According to Kevin Brice, of the Centre for Migration Policy Research, Swansea University, this number may now be closer to 50,000 – and the majority are women. “Basic analysis shows that increasing numbers of young, university-educated women in their twenties and thirties are converting to Islam,” confirms Brice.

“Our liberal, pluralistic 21st-century society means we can choose our careers, our politics – and we can pick and choose who we want to be spiritually,” explains Dr Mohammad S. Seddon, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Chester. We’re in an era of the “religious supermarket”, he says. >>> Sarah Harris | Saturday, May 10, 2010

Baroness Thatcher Welcomed by David Cameron at Downing Street
THE TELEGRAPH: David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has welcomed his predecessor Baroness Thatcher to 10 Downing Street for a private meeting.

The PM came to the door of Number 10 to welcome Lady Thatcher and helped the visibly frail former premier from her limousine.

Lady Thatcher, 84, waved to waiting photographers but made no comment as she entered the address from which she led Britain between 1979 and 1990. >>> | Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Disaster in the Gulf

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Obama on Oil-regulation 'Scandal'

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

New Dark Age Alert! Prisoners Convert to Islam for Jail Perks
TIMES ONLINE: Inmates are converting to Islam in order to gain perks and the protection of powerful Muslim gangs, the Chief Inspector of Prisons warns today.

Dame Anne Owers says that some convicted criminals are taking up the religion in jail to receive benefits only available to practising Muslims.

The number of Muslim prisoners has risen dramatically since the mid-1990s — from 2,513 in 1994, or 5 per cent of the population, to 9,795 in 2008, or 11 per cent. Staff at top-security prisons and youth jails have raised concerns about the intimidation of non-Muslims and possible forced conversions.

Dame Anne’s report, Muslim Prisoners’ Experiences, published today, says that, although several high-profile terrorists have been jailed recently, fewer than 1 in 100 Muslim inmates have been convicted of terrorism.

She says that prison staff are suspicious about those practising or converting to the faith and warns that treating Muslim inmates as potential or actual extremists risks radicalising them. The report says: “Many Muslim prisoners stressed the positive and rehabilitative role that Islam played in their lives, and the calm that religious observance could induce in a stressed prison environment. This was in marked contrast to the suspicion that religious observance, and particularly conversion or reversion, tended to produce among staff.”

All prisons offer a halal menu, which some inmates see as better than the usual choices. Muslims are excused from work and education while attending Friday prayers. Some converts, who are known as “convenience Muslims”, admitted that they had changed faith because they got more time out of the cells to go to Friday prayers. One quoted in the report said: “Food good too, initially this is what converted me.” Read on and comment >>> Richard Ford, Home Correspondent | Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Proche-Orient : Israël entend mener sa propre enquête sur l'assaut de la flottille
LE POINT: Le gouvernement israélien annonce qu'il mènera sa propre enquête sur l'abordage sanglant par la marine israélienne d'une flottille turque qui transportait une aide humanitaire destinée à Gaza. Il va également examiner comment maintenir avec des moyens différents son blocus de l'enclave palestinienne. Ces annonces ont été faites par le ministre de la Défense, Ehoud Barak, lors d'un débat à la Knesset sur une motion de censure déposée par l'opposition à propos de l'opération du 31 mai, qui a coûté la vie à neuf militants pro-palestiniens. >>> Le Point.fr | Lundi 07 Juin 2010

Americans Like to Supersize Everything. Now They’ve Got Supersized Debt
MAIL ONLINE: America's $13trillion debt is set to overtake the country's GDP within the next two years as economists warn of a 'debt super cycle.'

Forecasters predict the U.S. debt will grow to surpass gross domestic product in 2012, based on data from the International Monetary Fund.

According to Bloomberg, the world's largest economy will expand at a slower pace than the 3.2 per cent average of the past five decades.

It comes as Barack Obama borrows record amounts to fund spending programs to help the economy recover from its longest recession since the 1930s.

'Over the long term, interest rates on government debt will likely have to rise to attract investors,' said Hiroki Shimazu, a market economist in Tokyo at Nikko Cordial Securities Inc.

'That will be a big burden on the government and the people.'

The forecast prompted warnings the country will be plunged into a debt 'super cycle' - which occurs when a debt exceeds the value of a nation's annual economic output. U.S. facing debt 'super cycle': $13trillion black hole to overtake country's GDP 'within two years' >>> Mail Foreign Service | Monday, June 07, 2010

Obamonomics©: A Definition >>> Mark Alexander | Saturday, March 07, 2009

Veteran White House Reporter Helen Thomas Retires After Israel Remarks
LOS ANGELES TIMES – BLOGS: Helen Thomas, the legendary White House reporter who broke down barriers against female journalists covering politics, will retire after controversial remarks criticized by many as anti-Israel.

Hearst News Service, her latest employer, on Monday announced the immediate retirement of Thomas, who will be 90 in August.

Thomas told a rabbi at a White House event last week that Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine" and go back to Germany and Poland or the United States. Her comments were caught on videotape and widely distributed.

The remarks caused a furor even though she immediately apologized. Her invitation to speak at a local graduation was rescinded. Jewish groups called her remarks ignorant and insensitive and said her apology did not go far enough. Read on and comment >>> Michael Muskal | Monday, June 07, 2010

Related here

Heaven Forbid That We Should Ever Be Led by This Firebrand! John McDonnell Says He Would Like to 'Assassinate' Margaret Thatcher
THE TELEGRAPH: A candidate for the Labour leadership has said that he would like to go back in time and assassinate Margaret Thatcher.

John McDonnell drew loud applause from an audience of union members as he described himself as a victim of the former Conservative Prime Minister's policies. Having worked for the Greater London Council and National Union of Mineworkers, Mr McDonnell, MP for The Hayes and Harlington, said he would be glad to "go back to the 1980s and assassinate Thatcher".

Debating together for the first time at a hustings, five of the six MPs bidding to take over from Gordon Brown sought to appeal to the left wing tendencies of their audience. >>> | Monday, June 07, 2010

Dubai Court Sentences British Man to 15 Years for Murder of South African Girlfriend
THE TELEGRAPH: A British executive has been jailed in Dubai for 15 years for killing his ex-girlfriend and dumping her body in the Gulf after a row.

Mark Arnold denied the allegations made against him in a long-running court case despite the prosecution's use of a confession made after he was arrested at Dubai airport following a trip to Britain.

He admitted arguing with Kerry Winter, a South African, but claims she was alive when he last saw her.

Judge Hamad Abdul Latif told him he would be jailed for 15 years after a brief hearing at Dubai's Court of First Instance on Monday.

The sentence is regarded as lenient as the death penalty remains in force for premeditated murder. The full judgement will be released later this month.

But afterwards Arnold told his lawyer: "There is no evidence - how can the court find me guilty?" >>> Richard Spencer in Dubai and Aislinn Laing in Johannesburg | Monday, June 07, 2010

Niqab au volant: la conductrice et son compagnon en garde à vue
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Les deux individus sont soupçonnés de polygamie.

Liès Hebbadj et sa compagne. Photo : Tribune de Genève
Une femme qui avait été verbalisée parce qu'elle conduisait voilée près de Nantes et son mari, soupçonné de polygamie, ont été placés lundi en garde à vue. Un collaborateur de l'époux a aussi été placé en détention, a déclaré le procureur de la République de Nantes, Xavier Ronsin.

Tous trois sont entendus dans le cadre de l'enquête sur «une suspicion de relations polygames» de l'époux, Liès Hebbadj, et des «interrogations sur la régularité des aides sociales dont bénéficieraient plusieurs personnes de sexe féminin qui seraient en relation» avec lui. L'affaire avait éclaté en avril dernier. >>> ATS | Lundi 07 Juin 2010

Premier mariage homosexuel au Portugal
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Le premier mariage homosexuel a été célébré lundi au Portugal, pays à forte majorité catholique doté depuis mai dernier d’une loi autorisant les unions entre personnes du même sexe.

Le premier mariage homosexuel a été célébré ce lundi au Portugal, pays à forte majorité catholique doté depuis mai dernier d’une loi autorisant les unions entre personnes du même sexe.

Teresa Pires et Helena Pixao, deux mères divorcées d’une trentaine d’années qui sont ensemble depuis 2003, se sont mariées en mairie lors d’une cérémonie d’une quinzaine de minutes à Lisbonne. «C’est une grande victoire, un rêve devenu réalité», a déclaré Teresa Pires en embrassant sa compagne.


«Maintenant, nous sommes une famille, c’est la chose importante», a-t-elle ajouté, précisant que son couple continuerait de se battre en faveur de l’égalité des droits pour les homosexuels, y compris en matière d’adoption. >>> AP | Lundi 07 Juin 2010

Iran will Schiffe nach Gaza schicken
DIE PRESSE: Die iranische Sektion der Hilfsorganisation Roter Halbmond will zwei Schiffe mit Hilfsgütern zum Gazastreifen entsenden. Die paramilitärischen Revolutionsgarden sollen die Flottille eskortieren.

Die iranische Hilfsorganisation Roter Halbmond will der israelischen Gaza-Blockade trotzen und zwei Schiffe mit Helfern und Hilfsgütern in das palästinenssche Gebiet schicken. Die Schiffe würden Ende der Woche auslaufen, sagte der internationale Leiter des iranischen Roten Halbmondes, Abdolrauf Adibzadeh, am Montag. Eines der Schiffe werde Medikamente und Nahrungsmittel, transportieren das andere Helfer. Die Freiwilligen wollten im Gazastreifen "dem unterdrückten Volk des besetzten Palästina" helfen.

Die paramilitärischen iranischen Revolutionsgarden stünden bereit, die Flottille zu eskortieren, hieß es in Teheran. Es sei die Pflicht des Iran, die unterdrückten und unschuldigen Menschen von Gaza zu verteidigen. >>> Ag. | Montag, 07. Juni 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Iran raises Gaza threat by vowing to challenge Israel's blockade: Iran sought to push Israel into a potentially explosive confrontation in the Mediterranean Sea after a charity close to the Islamic regime announced plans to send two aid ships to Gaza. >>> Adrian Blomfield in Jerusalem | Monday, June 07, 2010

Geert Wilders Warning to America
Part 1:



Part 2: