Friday, March 08, 2013
INDEPENDENT.ie: Robert Fisk: The West has never understood Syria so we’re unlikely to start now » Roberts Fisk | Monday, March 04, 2013
ISLAM STORY – EXTRACTS: “I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger”
By this phrase the ex-member of Geert Wilders’s right-wing anti-Islam Freedom Party, Arnoud van Doorn, surprisingly declared his conversion to Islam.
…
‘After communicating with a Muslim colleague at The Hague’s city council- and after long discussions in fact- he directed me to the Sunni mosque where I was embraced with all kindness and affection. My decision came later as I freely embraced Islam. And it is one of my own, out of the question.”
And on quitting a party known with its open enmity against Islam, and being at time one of its voices, Doorn said: ‘We all make mistakes. But, regardless of that, I see for every life experience there’s a meaning. And my own experience has its relevance to my new choice.’
‘I’ve learned so much from such experience. And I believe it is the reason why I am a Muslim now. It is a new beginning of my life I ask God to guide me through’, He concluded. … » | Tuesday, March 05, 2013
''And by my conversion to Islam I have the feeling that I finally found my path. ¶ ''I realize that this is a new start and that I still have much to learn as well.'' ¶ Departing from his earlier life as a PVV member, Doorn expects much resistance in his political life. ¶ ''The expectation is that I will continue to face much resistance, also from certain government institutions,'' he said. ¶ ''I have all faith in Allah to support me and to guide me through these moments.'' Read all »
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SPIEGEL ONLINE: Der Sieger steht noch nicht fest, aber einen Verlierer haben die Wahlen in Kenia bereits hervorgebracht: Malik Obama. Der Halbbruder des US-Präsidenten kandidierte für einen Gouverneursposten - holte in seinem Bezirk aber nicht einmal 700 Stimmen.
Nairobi - Bittere Niederlage für Obama: Bei den Wahlen in Kenia kam der ältere Halbbruder von US-Präsident Barack Obama auf schlappe ein Prozent der Stimmen. Malik Obama hatte sich in seinem Heimatbezirk Siaya im Westen des Landes um einen Gouverneursposten beworben. Von insgesamt 55.000 Wählern gaben nur 694 dem 54-Jährigen ihre Stimme. Der Sieger, William Odhiambo Oduol, erzielte stolze 56 Prozent.
Der Politiker mit dem prominenten Namen hatte im Wahlkampf die Bekämpfung der Armut, eine Verbesserung der Infrastruktur und die Schaffung von neuen Arbeitsplätzen versprochen. Er fühle sich durch die Leistungen seines jüngeren Bruders inspiriert, hatte er betont: "Es ziemt sich für den Erstgeborenen, ebenfalls einen Beitrag zu leisten, und ich möchte das hier in Kenia tun, in Afrika." » | vme/dpa/Reuters | Freitag, 08. März 2013
FIRST THINGS: Tariq Ramadan emerged after September 11 as an apologist for a liberal, peaceful interpretation of Islam, earning him plaudits from the Western media, including the title of the “Muslim Martin Luther” in a 2004 Washington Post op-ed. In his new book, Islam and the Arab Awakening, he is at pains to stay on script. More than anything, he means to show that the Arab Spring is not a catalyst for the rise of Islamist regimes, but instead could be the initial step in throwing off the yoke of European colonialism and American imperialism in favor of new political arrangements that embody both democratic pluralism and a reinvigorated sense of Islamic identity and culture.
For Ramadan, there is no inherent contradiction between a society rooted in Islamic ideals on the one hand, and the democratic principles of equality, liberty, and pluralism, on the other. Indeed, Ramadan has made a career out of interpreting his religion in progressive, sometimes innovative ways, always insisting that Islam is apolitical and humanistic: that it should be a force for equality (especially for women), public education, consensual government, social justice, and the general elevation of the human condition. Read on and comment » | John Daniel Davidson | Thursday, March 07, 2013
MARK ALEXANDER: Islam: The Enemy of Democracy and Freedom »
Read more of my essays here and here
REUTERS.COM: A son-in-law of Osama bin Laden faces arraignment on Friday in a federal court in New York, where he is charged with conspiracy to kill Americans.
Suleiman Abu Ghaith, a militant who appeared in videos representing al Qaeda after the September 11, 2001 attacks, was arrested in Turkey and brought to New York City to stand trial, U.S. government sources said.
Abu Ghaith is one of the highest-ranking al Qaeda figures to be brought to the United States to face a civilian trial.
"Among other things, Abu Ghaith urged others to swear allegiance to bin Laden, spoke on behalf of and in support of al Qaeda's mission, and warned that attacks similar to those of September 11, 2001 would continue," according to the indictment, which was announced on Thursday. » | Reuters | New York | Friday, March 08, 2013
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Archbishop of Canterbury voiced opposition to same-sex couples adopting children and insisted that the Bible is “clear” that gay couples should not have sex, previously unpublished writings show.
Justin Welby also privately warned of a crisis facing the Church of England as a result of dwindling numbers and financial pressure which could even pose “serious questions of viability” within the next seven to 10 years.
And he openly questioned the formality of the Established Church, wondering aloud whether Jesus would have approved of “big buildings” and elaborate clerical dress.
His comments are disclosed in the first biography of the new leader of the world’s 77 million Anglicans, who will be formally enthroned in Canterbury later this month.
It charts his transformation from a highly paid City oil executive to life on a clerical stipend before his rapid promotion through the ranks of the Church.
It also reveals some of the most unguarded comments of the future Archbishop yet published, dating from his time as a little known parish priest just over a decade ago.
More recently, he voiced frustration at being branded a homophobic “European Taliban” for advocating traditional views on sex.
Archbishop Welby comes from the evangelical wing of the Church of England, which espouses traditional views on such issues. » | John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor | Friday, March 08, 2013
AL KANZ: Arnoud van Doorn. Parfait inconnu hier, cet homme politique néerlandais est aujourd’hui mondialement connu. Explications.
Arnoud van Doorn. Ce nom ne dira pas grand-chose au plus grand nombre. Parfait inconnu jusqu’au 27 février dernier, date à laquelle cet homme politique néerlandais a tweeté la shahada (attestation de foi) en arabe, Arnoud van Doorn est aujourd’hui un homme célèbre, à tout le moins dans le monde musulman.
Au moment où nous rédigeons ce billet, ce message sur Twitter a été retweeté, c’est-à-dire posté une nouvelle fois par d’autres internautes, 8 757 fois et mis en favoris 3 573 fois. Il n’est généralement que les célébrités (show business, sport, politique, etc.) ayant plusieurs centaines de milliers ou plusieurs millions de followers (internautes sur Twitter qui suivent un compte) qui voient parfois leurs messages atteindre de tels sommets.
Or Arnoud van Doorn n’est ni une star du show business ni un sportif connu. Mieux, le 21 février dernier, il ne comptait que 985 followers contre 14 679 aujourd’hui.
Arnoud van Doorn est un homme politique qui militait dans un parti. Pas n’importe quel parti, au regard de sa conversion à l’islam. Arnoud van Doorn était proche de… l’islamophobe Geert Wilders, chef de file du PVV (Partij voor de Vrijheid), un parti nationaliste néerlandais qui milite férocement contre l’islam et les musulmans. D’où la coloration toute particulière que prend cette conversion. » | vendredi 08 mars 2013
Lien en relation avec l’article ici »
THE SUN: HATE preacher Anjem Choudary was caught on camera ranting at a MUSLIM anti-terror cop at a rally.
The extremist and his henchmen accuse the uniformed Asian officer of “spying” on his fellow Muslims. They also call him a liar and accuse him of intimidation.
A video of the clash — insultingly entitled “Munafiq police officer exposed” — has been posted online. In Arabic a munafiq is a religious hypocrite. The hostile exchanges begin as someone asks the unidentified officer — one of three counter-terrorism cops called to the meeting in a Birmingham hall — his name.
After the policeman indicates his collar number, he is asked the question again, before another voice asks: “Are you a Muslim?”
The officer says he is not there to discuss religion and was called by the hall’s owner. A voice then says: “You’re lying, you’re lying.”
As the exchanges continue the officer confirms he is a Muslim — and is branded a “mushrik” or plotter against Islam.
Choudary is then filmed saying: “You come in and you intimidate people. That’s the reason why the Muslim community hate munafiqs and kuffar (non-believers).” (+ video) » | Simon Hughes, Chief Investigative Reporter | Thursday, March 07, 2013
Thursday, March 07, 2013
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, held a private dinner with Rupert Murdoch earlier this week in which he suggested he would form an electoral pact with the Conservatives if the Prime Minister stepped down.
The media tycoon invited Mr Farage to a dinner at his central London flat on Tuesday evening in the wake of Ukip’s strong performance at the Eastleigh by-election.
It was the pair’s first meeting and underlines the growing political influence of the fringe party. The Ukip leader is understood to have told Mr Murdoch that he hopes to win half of the seats in next year’s European election.
He said he will then set out plans to join forces with the Conservatives to fight Labour in the 2015 general election, but only if David Cameron agrees to step down as the party leader, well-placed sources said.
Mr Murdoch is said to be supportive of Mr Farage’s views towards Europe and his backing for new grammar schools, but more sceptical about Ukip’s stance on immigration. The emergence of the secret meeting is likely to add to the growing pressure on the Prime Minister amid speculation that Cabinet ministers are positioning themselves for future leadership bids. » | Robert Winnett, Political Editor | Thursday, March 07, 2013
GATESTONE INSTITUTE: The ruling denotes a step forward in the continuing efforts to establish Islam as a mainstream religious and political system in Spain.
The Spanish Supreme Court has ruled that a municipal ordinance banning the wearing of Islamic burqas in public spaces is unconstitutional.
In its 56-page ruling, made public on February 28, the Madrid-based Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) said the Catalan city of Lérida exceeded its authority when, in December 2010, it imposed a burqa ban.
The court said the ban on burqas, a traditional Islamic costume that covers women from head to toe, "constitutes a limitation to the fundamental right to the exercise of the freedom of religion, which is guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution." The court said that the limitation of a fundamental right can only be achieved through laws at the national level, not through local ordinances.
The decision, which the court said addressed a "profoundly political problem," represents a significant victory for Muslims in Spain. Although it is unclear how many women actually wear the burqa there, the ruling denotes a step forward in the continuing efforts to establish Islam as a mainstream religious and political system in Spain.
In recent years, more than a dozen municipalities in Spain have enacted burqa bans and other legal measures to push back against the ongoing Islamization of Spanish society. The rise of Islam has been especially notable in the Spanish autonomous region of Catalonia, home to the largest concentration of radical Islamists in Europe, and which has emerged as ground-zero for Salafi-Jihadism on the continent. » | Soeren Kern | Monday, March 04, 2013
WORLD | TODAY’S NEWS | CHRISTIAN VIEWS: Secular Europe’s Islamic Spiritual Fix: In secular Europe, countries are starting to see a blowback, not toward their historic Christian roots, but toward Islam. ¶ Islam has been growing in European countries—especially the urban areas of France, the U.K., and Spain—through increased immigration and higher birth rates. But native Europeans also are converting to Islam, either to fit in to Muslim-dominated neighborhoods, for marriage, or to counter the spiritual emptiness in the secular countries, according to an article in last weekend’s ‘New York Times’. » | Angela Lu | Thursday, February 07, 2013
EMIRATES 24|7: A group of 45 Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia converted to Islam after they were taught about the religion during a visit to their company by preachers from a government religious centre in the Gulf Kingdom, a newspaper reported on Thursday.
The preachers from the Islamic Guidance Centre in the capital Riyadh said the 45 Filipinos decided to embrace the new religion after listening to a brief lecture by one of the preachers at their company on Monday. » | Correspondent | Thursday, March 07, 2013
NEWS.AZ: A Turkey-based Armenian journalist is going to face a court proceeding for using an insulting remark against Prophet Mohammed on his personal website.
According to the Turkish-Armenian publication Agos, the complaint against Sevan Nishanyan has been filed by 15 Turkish citizens.
The court has approved a seven-page bill of indictment prepared during the inquest but Nishanyan won’t reportedly admit the accusations despite being declared a suspect. If found guilty, he will face 1.5 years in jail. » | Tert.am | Thursday, March 07, 2013
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