Immigrants Want Cross Removed from Swiss Flag
HUDSON NEW YORK: An immigrant group based in Bern has called for the emblematic white cross to be removed from the Swiss national flag because as a Christian symbol it "no longer corresponds to today's multicultural Switzerland."

Ivica Petrusic, the vice president of Second@s Plus, a lobbying group that represents mostly Muslim second-generation foreigners in Switzerland (who colloquially are known as secondos) says the group will launch a nationwide campaign in October to ask Swiss citizens to consider adopting a flag that is less offensive to Muslim immigrants.

In a September 18 interview with the Swiss newspaper Aargauer Zeitung, Petrusic said the cross has a Christian background and while the Christian roots of Switzerland should be respected, "it is necessary to separate church and state" because "Switzerland today has a great religious and cultural diversity. One has to ask if the State wants to continue building up a symbol in which many people no longer believe."

In the interview, Petrusic said Switzerland needs new symbols with which everyone, including non-Christians, can identify. As an alternative to the current Swiss flag (see image here), Petrusic proposed the former flag of the Helvetic Republic (see image here) which was officially introduced in 1799 and consisted of green, red and yellow colors. "Those colors are similar to the current flags of Bolivia and Ghana and would represent a more progressive and open-minded Switzerland," Petrusic said.

The proposal to change the Swiss flag has been met with outrage across the political spectrum and is sure to fuel anti-immigrant sentiments in Switzerland. » | Soeren Kern | Monday, September 26, 2011

HT: Marisol @ Jihad Watch »

ABNA: Swiss Muslims Speak Out to Defend Swiss Flag against Claims it Offends Immigrants » | Source: Islam Today | Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Palestinians Accuse US of 'Collective Punishment' after $200m in Aid Is Cut Off

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Palestinian Authority has claimed its people are victims of "collective punishment" after accusing the United States of blocking $200million in aid in response to President Mahmoud Abbas's application for UN statehood.

The freeze on funds, which has been unpublicised, was reportedly put in place in August, ahead of Mr Abbas's planned bid at the UN on September 20. The funds were said to have been allocated earlier in the financial year which ends today.

"It is another kind of collective punishment which is going to harm the needs of the public without making any positive contribution," Palestinian Authority spokesman Ghassan Khatib told The Independent.

He told the newspaper: "It is ironic to be punished for going to the United Nations".

The Obama administration is reportedly negotiating with Congressional leaders over unlocking the aid. The White House has reportedly also urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to help keep aid flowing to the Palestinians. » | Telegraph’s Foreign Staff | Saturday, October 01, 2011

An excellent comment well worth reading by ‘Jehudah BenIsrael’ »

Christian Convert in Iran Faces Execution
Iran is coming under growing pressure to free a man sentenced to death for converting to Christianity.

Read the article here
Lien en relation avec l’article »

Tony Blair: A Liability in Britain and the Middle East?

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Disparaged by Palestinians and booed by Labour Party conference delegates, the former prime minister is losing his appeal.

It has been Tony Blair’s unhappiest week since he stepped down as prime minister more than four years ago. When Ed Miliband raised his name during his Labour Party conference speech on Tuesday, it was greeted by boos in the hall – while Miliband himself, at times, seemed to come close to disowning the legacy of the man who secured Labour three consecutive election victories.

And then came the bombshell, disclosed in Wednesday’s Daily Telegraph, that Mr Blair’s prized role as Middle East peace envoy is under severe threat because members of the Palestinian Authority are threatening to sever relations with him.

Such a move would be a crushing blow to the former prime minister. For Mr Blair has only been able to maintain a role as a statesman – and plentiful access to current world leaders – thanks to his job as representative for the Quartet on the Middle East, charged with securing peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

There were many who saw this work as essential to the salvation of Mr Blair’s reputation, so badly damaged by the Iraq invasion and its hideous aftermath. The immediate spur for the move to ditch Mr Blair comes from the belief of many senior Palestinians that he has sided openly with the Israelis over the bid by President Mahmoud Abbas for Palestinian statehood.

But discontent has been simmering for many months. Last July, producer James Brabazon and I spent two weeks in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza investigating Mr Blair’s performance as envoy for a Channel Four Dispatches programme, The Wonderful World of Tony Blair, which was screened this week. We spoke to scores of Palestinians, ranging from street shopkeepers to senior politicians and businessmen, many of whom had had personal dealings with Mr Blair. Most of those we spoke to were moderates, wholly committed to the cause of peace, and reconciled to the long-term existence of Israel. » | Peter Oborne | Additional reporting by Sasha Joelli Achilli | Friday, September 30, 2011

Banned Preacher Can Seek Damages Over Illegal Arrest

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A banned Islamic preacher who entered Britain illegally following a Home Office blunder is entitled to seek damages after being detained unlawfully, a judge has ruled.

Sheikh Raed Salah, a Palestinian activist, could receive thousands of pounds for being wrongfully imprisoned shortly after entering the country in June this year.

Mr Salah, 52, was able to walk through immigration at Heathrow Airport unchallenged despite being banned by Theresa May, the Home Secretary, days before.

His exclusion order had been sent to the wrong terminal at the airport allowing him to arrive unopposed. He was arrested three days later when the error was discovered.

Yesterday, the migration watchdog, Migration Watch UK, condemned the judge’s decision. Sir Andrew Green, its chairman, said: “It is quite extraordinary that someone who had no right to be in Britain in the first place should be able to claim damages for his arrest.” » | James Orr | Friday, September 30, 2011

Syrie : 250 chars entrent à Rastane, 11 personnes tuées à Hama
lePARISIEN.fr: La répression ne cesse de s'intensifier en Syrie. Onze personnes ont été tuées vendredi dans la province de Hama (nord) dans des heurts, alors que plus de 250 chars sont entrés dans la ville de Rastane, plus au sud, a rapporté l'Observatoire syrien des droits de l'Homme (OSDH).

«Cinq civils et six militaires et agents de sécurité ont été tués aujourd'hui dans le village de Kafar Zita, dans le gouvernorat de Hama, dans des heurts qui ont opposé des soldats et des agents de sécurité d'un côté, et des déserteurs de l'autre», a précisé l'OSDH qui cite des militants sur place. » | LeParisien.fr | Vendredi 30 Septembre 2011

$100,000 Prize for Coexist Heroes
COEXIST: Coexist launches a global search today for an unsung hero who has made an exceptional contribution to building bridges between people of different faiths.

The Coexist Prize, worth $100,000, aims to celebrate the positive social role religion plays for so many people in the world.

Coexist, a Foundation with offices in New York and London, will honor an individual who has shown inspirational courage, imagination and commitment, and been nominated by the public, or by its global network of nominating partners. The Prize is completely inclusive and explicitly open to people of all faiths, and those of no religious persuasion. There are also two runners up awards worth $10,000.

The winners’ powerful stories will be featured in short documentaries, which Coexist will showcase at the Prize ceremony on Tuesday March 20th 2012 at New York University. They will also be made available online, so that they can be an inspiration and example for others. Coexist will work closely with the Prize winners to carry on their work and ensure its lasting impact in their society and beyond. » | COEXIST | Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Life for Saudi Women Is a Constant State of Contradiction

THE GUARDIAN: Saudi Arabia's political paradoxes mean that a woman can be elected to parliament – but she'll need a man to drive her there

What's it like being a Saudi woman? A common question I've come to expect from outsiders – even fellow Arabs. The restrictiveness of the guardianship system, gender segregation and a persistently sexist culture add up to create an exotic and mysterious lifestyle that is difficult to not only explain but also to comprehend.

How do you explain the ingrained paradox of the driving ban on women? The point of the ban is that women avoid situations that lead to them mixing with and meeting men. However, the ban then leads to the necessity of hiring a strange man and getting into the car with him on a daily basis.

How do you explain the huge amounts of money the government spends on educating and training women, so much so that 60% of college graduates in Saudi are women – educating and training all these women, despite the fact that gender segregation laws makes employing them virtually impossible.

How do you explain that this is the way of life that the average Saudi wants for his or her country, when anyone getting on a plane leaving Saudi cannot help but notice how quickly the Saudi passengers abandon their abayas and conservative mannerisms?

A country of contradictions; Saudis have coined an Arabic phrase to explain the unexplainable that translates into "Saudi exceptionality". This past week Saudi exceptionality did not disappoint. Continue reading and comment » | Eman Al Nafjan | Thursday, September 29, 2011

Change.org »

USA: Die neue Hoffnung der Republikaner heißt Christie

DIE PRESSE: Der Gouverneur von New Jersey wird bekniet, in den Ring des Präsidentschaftswahlkampfs zu steigen. Der 49-Jährige hat sich eine Reputation als Vorkämpfer gegen Gewerkschaften erworben.

Washington. Alles war vorbereitet für die Weihe des Kandidaten: das Ambiente in der Ronald-Reagan-Bibliothek im kalifornischen Simi Valley; die Rede unter dem pompösen Titel „Die Einzigartigkeit Amerikas“; das Publikum mit Präsidentenwitwe Nancy Reagan, die ihm ihren Segen spenden sollte; schließlich die Liveübertragung im konservativen Haussender Fox News. Einzig der Wunschkandidat war nicht bereit, über seinen mächtigen Schatten zu springen.

Dabei machte Chris Christie, schwergewichtiger Gouverneur von New Jersey und jüngste Hoffnung der Republikaner, alles richtig – zumindest aus der Perspektive der Opposition. Pointiert prangerte er die Politik Barack Obamas an, den er als „Zuschauer im Weißen Haus“ verhöhnte. Was sei mit jenem jungen Senator passiert, der die Versöhnung predigte und nun den Amerikanern das Geld aus der Hose ziehen wolle?

Chris Christie porträtierte sich – nicht nur äußerlich – als Gegenmodell Obamas. Er verneigte sich vor Ronald Reagan, dem konservativen Säulenheiligen, und dessen Leitbild von der „Shining City on the Hill“, das den immerwährenden Glanz der US-Nation symbolisieren soll. Reagans Konflikt mit den Fluglotsen sei ihm als jungem Studenten vor 30 Jahren eine Inspiration gewesen, sagte er. » | Thomas Vieregge, Korresppondent der Presse | Donnerstag 29. September 2011

Iran - La France demande à l'Iran de ne pas condamner à mort un pasteur apostat
LE POINT: Paris "est vivement préoccupée par la possible condamnation à mort de Youssef Nadarkhani", un pasteur accusé d'avoir changé de religion.

La condamnation de Youssef Nadarkhani "constituerait une violation du Pacte international sur les droits civils et politiques auquel l'Iran a librement souscrit ainsi que de la Constitution iranienne qui garantit la liberté de religion et de croyance", a affirmé le porte-parole du ministère des Affaires étrangères, Bernard Valero. Youssef Nadarkhani, 32 ans, musulman converti au christianisme à l'âge de 19 ans et devenu pasteur d'une petite communauté évangélique baptisée "Église d'Iran", a été arrêté en octobre 2009 et condamné à mort par une cour d'appel en septembre 2010 pour apostasie en vertu de la charia (loi islamique) en vigueur en Iran. » | Source AFP | Jeudi 29 Septembre 2011

Related »

France : Les robes longues seraient des tenues "islamiques"

YABILADI.COM: Où va la France avec sa loi interdisant le port à l’école de signes religieux jugés ostentatoires ? Après le voile à l’école, ce sont les longues robes qui dérangent. En mars derniers plusieurs lycéennes musulmanes s’étaient vues interdire de les porter. Une nouvelle affaire a été signalée récemment au lycée Jean Jaurès de Chatenay-Malabry. Le Collectif contre l’islamophobie en France n’exclut pas de saisir la justice afin que les élèves musulmanes puissent étudier en toute tranquillité.

Leur voile dérangeait, et la loi sur le port de signes religieux dans l’espace public est venue l’interdire. A présent, ce sont leurs robes qui sont jugées « indécentes », tout simplement parce qu’elles sont vues comme trop amples et longues, bref « trop islamiques ». Une vingtaine d’élèves musulmanes du lycée Jean Jaurès de Chatenay-Malabry ( Hauts-de-Seine) ont été convoquées « une à une » par la proviseure de leur établissement et son adjointe pour port de tenues vestimentaires enfreignant la fameuse loi qui interdit les signes religieux à l’école et dans tout l’espace public français. » | Par Oumar Baldé | Mardi 27 Septembre 2011

How Powerful Was al-Awlaki?

Related »

Abschied von Europa
Schweizer Politiker entfernen sich immer stärker vom EU-Beitritt

NZZ ONLINE: In ihrem «Vertrag mit dem Volk» wehrt sich die SVP [Schweizerische Volkspartei] gegen einen EU-Beitritt. Das ist derzeit kaum nötig, immer mehr Politiker haben sich in den letzten Jahren von einem Beitritt zur Union abgewendet. Selbst zwischen der Deutschschweiz und der Romandie ist man sich näher gekommen.

«Der EU-Beitritt wird nicht thematisiert, aber klammheimlich vorangetrieben. Sowohl Bundesrat wie Parlament sind nach wie vor sehr europhil», sagte SVP-Präsident Toni Brunner, nachdem seine Delegierten den «Vertrag mit dem Volk» verabschiedet hatten, gegenüber der NZZ. In diesem Vertrag steht als erster von drei Punkten: «Wir wollen der Europäischen Union nicht beitreten». » | Urs Bloch | Freitag 30. September 2011

La mosquée sur la banquise
Comment se portent les relations
entre l'Occident et le monde musulman? Les journalistes de la Cyberpresse, Isabelle Hachey et Martin Leblanc, font le tour de la question. Et de la planète.
Regardez la vidéo ici
Découvrez le documentaire du web ici

Jemen – Sanaa: Al-Qaida-Terrorist Awlaki getötet

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Der radikale Prediger Anwar al Awlaki, einer der meistgesuchten Terroristen der Welt, ist im Jemen getötet worden. Das gab das Verteidigungsministerium in Sanaa bekannt. Er galt als Anführer von Al Qaida auf der Arabischen Halbinsel.

Im Jemen ist der in Amerika geborene und der Terrororganisation Al Qaida nahestehende radikale Prediger Anwar al Awlaki getötet worden. Das teilte das jemenitische Verteidigungsministerium am Freitag auf seiner Website mit. Nähere Einzelheiten wurden nicht genannt. Aus jemenitischen Sicherheitskreisen hieß es, es habe am Morgen einen Luftangriff im Osten des Landes gegeben. Stammesälteste berichteten, Ziel des Angriffs sei eine Wagenkolonne von Al Qaida-Kämpfern gewesen. » | Text: dpa | Bildmaterial: AP | Freitag 30. September 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Radical US-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki 'killed': Anwar al-Awlaki, a US-born al-Qaeda leader, was killed in a drone strike in central Yemen, the country’s military has announced. » | Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Friday, September 30, 2011

CYBERPRESSE: Mort de l'imam terroriste Anwar al-Aulaqi : Les autorités yéménites ont annoncé vendredi la mort de l'imam radical américano-yéménite Anwar al-Aulaqi, lié à Al-Qaïda et recherché par les États-Unis, qui ont confirmé son décès. » | Hammoud Mounassar | Agence France-Presse | Sanaa ,Yémen | Vendredi 30 Septembre 2011

THE GUARDIAN: Profile: al-Qaida leader Anwar al-Awlaki – Islamist cleric who radicalised Roshonara Choudhry » | Vikram Dodd | Wednesday, November 03, 2010

États-Unis : Le FBI à arrêté un Américain qui préparait des attentats

FRANCE SOIR: Le FBI vient d’arrêter un Américain qui préparait des attentats avec des modèles réduits d’avions.

Quand Rezwan Ferdaus, un étudiant américain de 26 ans, célibataire et sans enfant, diplômé de physique de l’université de Boston dans le Massachusetts (nord-est du pays), a remis en mai dernier des clés USB à un membre d’al-Qaida, il était loin de se douter qu’il serait arrêté quatre mois plus tard. Car le membre d’al-Qaida était en réalité un agent du FBI, qui surveillait le jeune homme depuis des mois. Et sur les clés USB étaient détaillés des attentats qu’il avait planifiés contre le Pentagone et le Congrès. » | Par Jean-Michel Comte | Jeudi 29 Septembre 2011

Libye : Le porte-parole de Kadhafi arrêté ?

FRANCE SOIR: Des membres du Conseil national de transition ont indiqué jeudi qu'ils avaient capturé Moussa Ibrahim, le porte-parole de Mouammar Kadhafi.

L'étau semble se resserrer sur Mouammar Kadhafi. Des commandants du Conseil national de transition (CNT) – le nouveau pouvoir en Libye – ont annoncé jeudi qu'ils avait réussi à arrêter Moussa Ibrahim, le porte-parole du leader libyen déchu. Le commandant Moustapha ben Dardef a en effet déclaré : « les combattants de Misrata nous ont contactés pour nous annoncer qu'il avait été capturé ». Des propos corroborés par ceux d'un autre commandant, Mohammed al-Marimi. Celui-ci a ainsi assuré que « Moussa Ibrahim a été capturé par les révolutionnaires de Misrata alors qu'il roulait à bord d'une voiture hors de Syrte ».

Mais tandis que les combattants de cette ville participent actuellement à l'assaut qui y a été lancé, Adel Ibrahim, un porte-parole du Conseil militaire de Misrata a tenu à souligner qu'ils étaient dans l'impossibilité de « confirmer qu'il a été arrêté ». » | Par Actu France Soir | Vendredi 30 Septembre 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Libya: Gaddafi mouthpiece caught 'fleeing dressed as a woman' – Moussa Ibrahim, the mouthpiece of the Gaddafi regime, was captured last night outside the birthplace of the former dictator, according to commanders of the National Transitional Council's forces » | Ben Farmer, Tripoli | Thursday, September 29, 2011

Rick Perry's Execution Record Greeted by Wild Applause from Republicans
The execution of 234 people during Rick Perry's tenure as the governor of Texas was loudly applauded by Republicans during a debate to choose America's next presidential candidate.

Rick Perry: My Wife Prodded Me to Enter Presidential Race
Governor Rick Perry, the Republican presidential contender, has said that "the reason" he is running for the White House was that his wife told him "to do your duty".

Read the article here

Tony Blair: I Could Cash In a Lot More Than I Do
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said he could make a lot more money than he does as he defended his 'jet-set' lifestyle.


The former British leader strongly denied claims that he had used his role as a peace envoy in the Middle East to win private business contracts.

Mr Blair used a wide-ranging interview to declare he had been upset by allegations that he had profited from mobile telephone and gas deals in the Palestinian territories, and that he had lobbied Colonel Gaddafi's Libyan government on behalf of the merchant bank JP Morgan, because they were "untrue" and "absurd."

His comments were made amid growing controversy surrounding his 'billionaire lifestyle' and alleged pro-Israel bias in his role as envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East – in which he mediates on behalf of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.

The Daily Telegraph yesterday revealed his position as envoy is now in jeopardy as the Palestinian Liberation Organisation prepares a proposal to declare him persona non-grata in the next few days.

In an interview broadcast last night on India's CNBC-TV18, in which he also defended his relationship with Rupert Murdoch and blamed the children of alcoholics, drug addicts and prostitutes for Britain's recent riots, Mr Blair said recent allegations against him had been inspired by a left wing media establishment which resented him for creating New Labour, and a right wing establishment which hated him for winning three general elections. Read on and comment » | Dean Nelson, New Delhi | Friday, September 30, 2011

This man is a slime-ball and a me-freak. Does a true word ever make it out of his mouth? How the Americans took to this lying chancer is totally beyond my comprehension. And also beyond my comprehension is how a man so instrumental in creating wars could end up as a Middle East peace envoy. Go figure!

Wherever he has shown his grinning, Cheshire-cat face, he has brought war, disharmony, mayhem, and destruction. The man is slippery beyond description: he’s right-wing to the left; left-wing to the right; self-serving to all that can read his character (or lack of it); money-grubbing beyond belief; and self-deluded.

I just hope and pray that justice will eventually catch up with him. For what he has done to this once great country alone, the man should be incarcerated; and the keys should be thrown away! – © Mark

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MAIL ONLINE: Cherie sets up firm to cash in on Tory health reforms: Ex-PM's wife plans to open clinics in supermarkets » | Sam Greenhill and Inderdeep Bains | Friday, September 30, 2011