Fukushima: Evakuierungszone wird ausgeweitet
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Die japanische Regierung weitet die Evakuierungszone rund um die Atomruine Fukushima nach wochenlangem Zögern nun doch aus. Bislang galt die Sperrzone nur für einen 20-Kilometer Radius um das Atomkraftwerk.

Die japanische Regierung weitet die Evakuierungszone rund um die Atomruine Fukushima aus. Das berichtete die Nachrichtenagentur Kyodo am Montag unter Berufung auf den Regierungssprecher Yukio Edano. Bislang galt die Sperrzone nur für einen 20-Kilometer Radius um das Atomkraftwerk. » | Montag, 11. April 2011

Un frère de l’ex-président Ben Ali a été arrêté
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: L’un des frères de l’ex-président tunisien Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Slah Ben Ali, a été arrêté dimanche à Sousse, à 150 km au sud de Tunis, a déclaré lundi une source autorisée au ministère de l’Intérieur.

Slah Ben Ali a été arrêté dimanche à Sousse et fait l’objet de trois mandats d’amener, dont la teneur n’a pas été précisée. » | ATS | Lundi 11 Avril 2011

La loi sur le voile intégral entre en vigueur
LE POINT: Porter un voile intégral dans la rue est désormais passible d'une amende de 150 euros et/ou d'un stage de citoyenneté.

Les femmes qui porteront un voile intégral dans la rue sont désormais passibles d'une amende de 150 euros et/ou d'un stage de citoyenneté, en conséquence de l'entrée en vigueur, lundi, de la loi du 11 octobre 2010 interdisant la dissimulation du visage. En France, il y aurait environ 2 000 femmes intégralement voilées, selon diverses estimations. » | Le Point.fr | Lundi 11 Avril 2011

Voile : une femme en niqab prend le train
LE POINT: La jeune femme affirme que la loi interdisant le port du voile intégral dans l'espace public est "une atteinte à (ses) droits européens".

Une jeune femme portant le niqab a pris le train lundi matin pour Paris en gare d'Avignon, affirmant s'opposer à la loi interdisant le port du voile intégral dans l'espace public, qui est "une atteinte à (ses) droits européens", a constaté un journaliste. "J'ai été invitée pour participer à une émission de télévision à laquelle je me rends et il se trouve que nous sommes le 11 avril, premier jour de l'application de la loi sur le voile intégral", a expliqué Kenza Drider, 32 ans, bénévole dans une association. » | Le Point.fr | Lundi 11 Avril 2011

Lien en relation avec les articles »

Defying France's Full Veil Ban
After more than a year of controversy, the ban on full face veil in France has just come into effect.



But some women are already vowing to defy the restriction, Al Jazeera's Tim Friend reports from Paris.



As the extreme right wing gains increasing popularity in France, President Sarkozy has been accused of trying to win back votes ahead of next year's presidential election by deliberately stigmatising Muslims.



The government vehemently denies this, and argues that the full veil is a symbol of male oppression.


LE FIGARO: Voile, signes religieux : ce qui est interdit en France : FOCUS [–] La loi sur le voile intégral qui entre en vigueur ce lundi vient s'ajouter à celle déjà existante sur les signes religieux dans les écoles. Récapitulatif des pratiques non-autorisées. » | Par Pauline Fréour | Lundi 11 Avril 2011

Gaddafi Accepts Roadmap to Peace
There has been more than a month of fighting in Libya - and at last there appears to be some hope on the horizon. 



And it has come in the form of the African Union. 



A delegation from the organisation, including South African president Jacob Zuma, has visited the capital, Tripoli.



And they say Muammar Gaddafi has accepted their road map to peace.



Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught reports from Tripoli.

Bradley Manning: Top US Legal Scholars Voice Outrage at 'Torture'
THE GUARDIAN: Obama professor among 250 experts who have signed letter condemning humiliation of alleged WikiLeaks source

More than 250 of America's most eminent legal scholars have signed a letter protesting against the treatment in military prison of the alleged WikiLeaks source Bradley Manning, contesting that his "degrading and inhumane conditions" are illegal, unconstitutional and could even amount to torture.

The list of signatories includes Laurence Tribe, a Harvard professor who is considered to be America's foremost liberal authority on constitutional law. He taught constitutional law to Barack Obama and was a key backer of his 2008 presidential campaign.

Tribe joined the Obama administration last year as a legal adviser in the justice department, a post he held until three months ago.

He told the Guardian he signed the letter because Manning appeared to have been treated in a way that "is not only shameful but unconstitutional" as he awaits court martial in Quantico marine base in Virginia.

The US soldier has been held in the military brig since last July, charged with multiple counts relating to the leaking of thousands of embassy cables and other secret documents to the WikiLeaks website.

Under the terms of his detention, he is kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, checked every five minutes under a so-called "prevention of injury order" and stripped naked at night apart from a smock. » | Ed Pilkington in New York | Sunday, April 10, 2011

Woman Who Cut Internet to Georgia and Armenia 'Had Never Heard of Web'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A 75-year-old woman arrested for single-handedly cutting off the internet in Georgia and Armenia has tearfully insisted she is innocent and had never heard of the internet.

In a case that has attracted worldwide interest, pensioner Hayastan Shakarian is accused of forcing thousands of people in both countries offline for hours after hacking into a fibre-optic cable while digging for scrap metal.

But Shakarian, a Georgian of Armenian origin, told AFP that she was just a "poor old woman" who was not capable of committing such a crime.

"I did not cut this cable. Physically, I could not do it," she said, repeatedly bursting into tears as she spoke.

Ms Shakarian, who lives in the poverty-stricken Georgian village of Armazi, around 10 miles from the capital Tbilisi, said that she had only been collecting firewood.

"I have no idea what the internet is," she added. » | Monday, April 11, 2011

British Muslim Radical Banned from France ahead of Burka Ban
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: A British Muslim radical has been banned permanently from France as the country steps up security before the introduction of a nationwide burka ban on Monday.

Anjem Choudary, head of the outlawed Islam4UK which advocates Sharia law, was turned back as he tried to join an illegal protest against the measure in Paris on Saturday.

He was served with a legal notice informing him that the French Interior Ministry was banning him permanently.

Abu Izzadeen and Omar Bakri, who are similarly controversial figures based in Britain, also tried to get to the event but were stopped by police.

France is on a high state of alert after al Qaeda issued warnings that it would attack the country following the introduction of the ban, which imposes fines of £130 to women caught wearing Islamic veils.

Men who force their wives or daughters to cover up illegally will face up to a year in prison, and fines of up to £25,000.

In October Jacques Myard, a senior member of President Nicolas Sarkozy's ruling UMP party who helped introduce the burka ban in France, said Britain was "losing the battle against Islamic extremism" and thus "opened the door to terrorism". » | Peter Allen in Paris | Sunday, April 10, 2011

Libya: Britain Told US Not to Intervene in Lockerbie Bomber Release
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: The British ambassador to the US told America it should not intervene to stop the release of the Lockerbie bomber from a Scottish prison, according to leaked diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks and passed to the Daily Telegraph.

Nigel Sheinwald told James Steinberg, the US Deputy Secretary of State, that he was "concerned" that the demands of victims' families were unduly influencing US policy.

His comments came during critical negotiations over whether Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, who was convicted of the murder of 270 passengers on Pan Am Flight 103, should be switched to a Libyan jail to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Sir Nigel was Tony Blair's foreign policy adviser between 2003 and 2007 and played a key role, alongside the Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa, in bringing Colonel Muammar Gaddafi back into the international fold. He was at Mr Blair's side for the first meeting with Colonel Gaddafi in 2007 that resulted in a substantial BP oil contract.

The cable, obtained by WikiLeaks and passed to the Daily Telegraph, is dated February 2009. It states: "Sheinwald asked that the US continue to consult with the UK in the possible transfer of ailing Pan Am bomber Abdel-Basset al-Megrahi from the UK to Libya. Specifically, he said HMG supported the discussions this week between UK and US officials to define a common strategy.

"Sheinwald cited concern that the Pan Am victims' families were asking for direct US intervention to stop the transfer. He asked that the United States delay "for a few days" any intervention with the Scottish authorities, who will ultimately decide on the transfer." » | Steven Swinford | Sunday, April 10, 2011

Australia Unveils Ugly Cigarette Packets in Fight against Smoking
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Tobacco companies will be forced to drop logos and branding from cigarette packs in Australia in an attempt to make smoking less glamorous.

As part of the toughest antismoking legislation in the world, which is expected to go before parliament later this year, all packets would be the same colour – an ugly olive green – and will come plastered with graphic health warnings including pictures of diseased eyes, rotting teeth and young children in hospital.

The product's name would appear on the front of the pack in a standard font size and style.

The move is intended to reduce the smoking rate in Australia to 10 per cent in less than 10 years but has been strongly opposed by the tobacco lobby, which has vowed to mount a legal challenge against the proposed laws.

British American Tobacco Australia have warned that the legislation would infringe international trademark and intellectual property laws.

"The new packs have been designed to have the lowest appeal to smokers and to make clear the terrible effects that smoking can have on your health," said Nicola Roxon, the health minister.

"The government knows that big tobacco companies are going to fight this," she said. » | Bonnie Malkin, Sydney | Thursday, April 07, 2011

Here we go again! Why don’t legislators leave people alone, and use education and infomercials to keep informing people of the dangers of smoking, and leave it at that? Why do innocent people have to be subjected to this barrage of attacks on their rights to use a legal substance.

I would be the last person in the world to advocate that anyone smoke. I have myself successfully given up the habit. But some people still enjoy smoking. Let them smoke, for goodness’ sake. Many people have far worse habits than smoking a few cigarettes. Even Prince Harry enjoys a ciggy!

I listened to an interesting story the other day: A mother told me that young people today, because cigarettes have been made so expensive, have taken to rolling their own and lacing the tobacco with illegal substances! If this is the case, aren’t we in danger of trying to stub out one bad habit and replacing it with another habit far worse? We all know about the ‘law of unintended consequences’!

Now regarding this proposal to use ugly cigarette packets Down Under... I predict that it will fail to have the desired result of reducing smoking. What could well happen is this: People could return to the old habit of taking their cigarettes out of the ugly packets and placing them in attractive cigarette cases, as people so often used to do in years gone by. I’d be willing to wager that people will rediscover the fashion. If I were still a smoker, and if I lived in Australia and were confronted with such hideous cigarette packs, I’d find a glamorous cigarette case to fill!

Some enterprising company will no doubt start to market such cases. If this happens, the law will become meaningless. – © Mark

Libya: Rebel Defences 'Failing' as Gaddafi Forces Move towards Benghazi
THE GUARDIAN: Soldiers loyal to Muammar Gaddafi reach heart of strategic town of Ajdabiya, 90 miles from city at centre of revolution

Muammar Gaddafi's forces continued to fight their way toward Benghazi, the city at the heart of Libya's revolution, as five African leaders arrived in Tripoli in an attempt to broker a ceasefire and political settlement.

Rebel defences around Ajdabiya appeared to be failing as Gaddafi's soldiers broke into the heart of the strategic town, 90 miles from Benghazi, and engaged in running street battles after again outmanoeuvring the revolutionaries.

Although western powers continued their air strikes, the strikes did not appear to deter Gaddafi's forces.

Rebels said government forces shot down a Russian-made helicopter sent to the fight by revolutionaries only two days before. Nato forced a rebel MIG jet to land because of the UN-imposed no-fly zone.

Shelling around the southern entrance to Ajdabiya continued , with loud explosions heard and thick black smoke rising over parts of the town.

Much of Ajdabiya was deserted after civilians fled amid the prospect of Gaddafi's troops taking the town for the second time in as many weeks. » | Chris McGreal in Ajdabiya | Sunday, April 10, 2011

Frankreich: Festnahmen im Vorfeld des Burka-Verbots
SCHWEIZER FERNSEHEN: Ab Montag ist in Frankreich das Tragen von Gesichtsschleiern in der Öffentlichkeit verboten. Das Verbot gilt für die muslimischen Schleier wie den Nikab und die Burka. In Paris hat die Polizei am Samstag während einer unbewilligten Demonstration gegen das Verbot über 60 Personen festgenommen, darunter auch 19 Frauen.

59 Personen seien festgenommen worden, als sie auf der Place de la Nation im Osten von Paris demonstrieren wollten. Zudem seien auch zwei Personen festgenommen worden, die von Grossbritannien nach Belgien reisen wollten, hiess es.

Die Kundgebung gegen das Verschleierungsverbot war von der Polizei am Freitag verboten worden, weil sie darin einen Aufruf zu Gewalt und Rassenhass sah. Dieser habe sich weniger auf die Kundgebung an sich, als vielmehr auf die Reden bezogen, hiess es.

In Frankreich sind ab Montag Gesichtsschleier verboten. Dies bezieht sich vor allem auf die muslimischen Schleier wie den Nikab, bei dem nur ein Schlitz für die Augen bleibt, oder den Ganzkörperschleier, die Burka. » | dpa/sda/muei | Sonntag, 10. April 2011

Frankreich beschliesst Burka-Verbot
Das französische Parlament hat ein landesweites Verbot der Burka verabschiedet. Die Abgeordneten stimmten mit 336 zu einer Stimme für das Gesetz, das die Gesichtsverschleierung aus der Öfffentlichkeit verbannt

CNN: French police arrest burqa ban protesters: Paris -- Police in Paris arrested dozens of people for trying to hold an unauthorized demonstration to protest a ban on the wearing of Islamic veils such as burqas, they said Sunday. » | Niki Cook, CNN | Sunday, April 10, 2011

Hamas to Impose Ceasefire with Israel
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Hamas is ready to impose a ceasefire with Israel after the heaviest bombing of the Gaza Strip since the war in 2009 killed 19 Palestinians.

A spokesman for the radical Islamic party said that the group would stop firing at Israeli cities after a punishing set of retaliatory airstrikes. Hamas triggered the outbreak of fighting by carrying out a missile attack on a school bus on Wednesday, severely injuring a teenager and wounding the driver.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli leader, warned that it could step up the assault on the Palestinians. He said: “If the attacks on Israeli citizens and soldiers continue, the response will be far harsher.” » | Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Sunday, April 10, 2011

Prince of Wales 'Abused and Ridiculed' over His Attempts to Promote Inter-faith Dialogue
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Prince of Wales complained of being "abused and ridiculed" over his attempts to promote inter-faith dialogue as he addressed religious leaders in Morocco.

The Prince, who has spent decades trying to encourage better understanding of different religions around the world, said he would not allow the criticism to not [sic] stand in his way.

During a discussion with Islamic scholars at the Al-Qarawiyyin University [جامعة القرويين] in Fez, the Prince said: "One of the hardest things is to remind people of the great truth of traditional Islam, not distorted Islam, and trying to remind people of the great truth of traditional Christianity, not distorted Christianity, and we know there are problems in both religions.

"It's the issue of stereotypes that is difficult. It's so easy to concentrate on the negative and not the positive.

"But what I do is remind people of what we share in common." » | Gordon Rayner, in Fez | Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Ann Barnhardt Rebuts Lindsey Graham's Remarks Regarding the First Amendment

Part 2 »

Moubarak dément s’être enrichi
20 MINUTES ONLINE: L'ancien président s'est exprimé pour la première fois depuis sa chute.

L'ancien président égyptien Hosni Moubarak a démenti avoir abusé de son autorité pour accumuler biens et richesses, dans un message sonore diffusé dimanche par la chaîne Al-Arabiya. C'est la première intervention de l'ex-raïs depuis sa chute le 11 février après 18 jours de manifestations.

Hosni Moubarak se dit prêt à coopérer à toute enquête des autorités égyptiennes pour démontrer, a-t-il souligné, qu'il ne possède pas de biens ni de comptes à l'étranger. L'ancien chef de l'Etat se trouve actuellement en résidence surveillée avec sa famille dans un palais de Charm el-Cheikh, station balnéaire sur la mer Rouge. Enquête sur les avoirs demandée » | ap | Dimanche 10 Avril 2011

Mubarak to Al Arabiya: I Welcome Inquiry into My Assets
Slams critics, denies having assets abroad
AL ARABIYA: In his first public remarks since stepping down as Egyptian president in Ferburary, Hosni Mubarak on Sunday hit back at critics who have accused him and his family of improper activity.



“I have spent my whole life in serving the nation with honesty and integrity,” he said in a recorded message broadcast exclusively on Al Arabiya. “I cannot remain silent in face of the continual campaigns of defamation and false accusations that aim at ruining the reputation and integrity of my family and me.” 



He said he welcomed inquiries into his finances. “I will stick to all my legal rights to have action against everyone who tried to mess with the reputation of me and my family whether inside or outside the country.” » | Abeer Tayel, Al Arabiya | Sunday, April 10, 2011

Western Intervention Has Made an Incredible Mess in Libya - Anti-war Activist

Arab Spring Clearing Path for Iranians?
Apr 8, 2011 – How is Iran taking advantage of unrest?

Medvedev Stresses Islam’s Importance for Russia (July 15, 2009)

Flüchtlingsstrom aus Nordafrika: Bayern droht mit Grenzkontrollen zu Österreich
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Hauptsache nicht zu uns! Bayern will die Einreise von Flüchtlingen aus Nordafrika verhindern - und droht mit Kontrollen an der österreichischen Grenze. Dies sei "das letzte Mittel", sagte Innenminister Herrmann. Vor allem Italiens laxe Visa-Politik nervt Deutsche und Franzosen.

München - "Ihren Ausweis bitte" - diesen Satz könnten Reisende demnächst wieder an der deutsch-österreichischen Grenze zu hören bekommen. Denn Bayern will notfalls mit der Wiedereinführung von Grenzkontrollen die Einwanderung von Flüchtlingen aus Nordafrika verhindern.

Weil die italienische Regierung mit dem Flüchtlingsstrom aus Nordafrika nicht mehr zurechtkommt, kündigte sie an, den Menschen befristete Aufenthaltsgenehmigungen zu geben, mit denen sie auch in andere EU-Staaten einreisen könnten. Das bringt den bayerischen Innenminister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) in Rage. "Wir werden es nicht hinnehmen, dass die italienische Regierung die Tunesier einfach zu Touristen erklärt und sie auf diese Weise in andere Länder schiebt", sagte Herrmann der "Welt am Sonntag". "Die Wiedereinführung von Grenzkontrollen ist das letzte Mittel."

Die gegebenenfalls nötigen "lageangepassten Grenzkontrollen" würden das Verhältnis zwischen Deutschland und Italien aber erheblich belasten, sagte er. "Deshalb erwarten wir von Regierungschef Silvio Berlusconi, dass sein Land das Einwandererproblem selbst regelt und nicht auf andere EU-Länder ablädt."

Italien sei ein so großes Land, dass es auch 23.000 tunesische Migranten aufnehmen könne. Nur zehn Prozent dieser Menschen hätten einen Asylantrag gestellt, sagte Herrmann. "Es handelt sich meist um Wirtschaftsflüchtlinge. Das ist etwas völlig anderes als in Libyen, wo die Menschen vor einem Bürgerkrieg fliehen." Berlusconi würde sich einen Gefallen tun, wenn er Wirtschaftsflüchtlinge konsequent wieder in deren Heimat zurückbringen ließe, sagte Herrmann. "Dazu müsste die italienische Marine wohl in der Lage sein." » | mmq/dapd/dpa | Sonntag, 10. April 2011