Saturday, November 01, 2014
Sam Harris’ Response to Reza Aslan Calling Him a Fundamentalist Atheist
Islamic State Executes Scores of Fellow Sunni Muslims
Amid a months-long onslaught by the Islamic State, Iraq is growing ever more violent. The United Nations mission in Baghdad reported Saturday that at least 1,273 Iraqis had been killed in October, about two-thirds of them civilians.
n the latest grisly episode, members of the Albu Nimr tribe were lined up by the militants and shot dead late Friday in the village of Ras al-Maaa, in Anbar province, according to Naim Al-Kaood, an Albu Nimr tribal leader. He spoke to the Iraqi broadcaster Al-Sumariyah.
Social media websites were flooded with pictures of the dead, their blood seeping out onto the pavement from apparent close-range shots to the head. » | Nabih Bulos, Laura King | Reporting from Amman, Jordan | Saturday, November 01, 2014
Why Don’t More Muslims Denounce Their Co-Religionists’ Barbarism?
To paraphrase Raymond Carver, it’s time to talk about What We Talk About When We Talk About Islam.
Sometimes it feels like we are living in a giant self-esteem seminar.
When ISIL started beheading men, crucifying Iraqi Christians and sexually enslaving teen girls, a Facebook page and Tumblr sprang up called #Muslimapologies. Now, you might think the people behind this movement were motivated to bring together the good, peace-loving Muslims to renounce the barbarism being done in the name of their common god and holy book.
But no. The hashtag is a forum in which to assuage their sense of group victimization.
Huffpo culled “The Top Ten” such tweets, which ooze condescension and superciliousness, that would be, needless to say, politically incorrect coming from members of any other of the three dominant religions.
“I’m sorry for inventing surgery, coffee, universities, algebra, hospitals, toothbrushes, vaccinations … “
“I’m sorry if my beard scares you, it’s hormonal, I swear.”
And the most offensive of all: “I’m sorry Muslim women had rights 1,400 years ago while you were still discussing if women had souls.”
Barrel of laughs!
Imagine the outrage if Jews had set up a religiously self-congratulatory hashtag and Tumblr during the bombing of Gaza, or if Christians started patting themselves on the back about their compassion after W. rained Shock and Awe on Baghdad.
Muslims might actually want to, if not apologize for, at least renounce, loudly and frequently, what’s being done in the name of their religion. Yet, in the current climate, to say that is to risk being accused of Islamophobia and much, much worse. Read on and comment » | Nina Burleigh | Wednesday, October 29, 2014
New UK Law Would Ban Critics of Sharia from Broadcasting, Protesting or Even Posting Messages on Facebook
In any case, future free historians, if there are any, will look back at David Cameron and Theresa May as essentially saboteurs and traitors who administered the coup de grace to their own nation as a free society. If Britain were still a sane society, as soon as this law was suggested there would have been a no-confidence vote and the Conservative government would have fallen — followed by the arrest of Cameron and May and criminal proceedings against them. Instead, Britain appears prepared to go quietly, although civil war still very likely looms in its future. Read on and comment » | Roberts Spencer | Friday, October 31, 2014
Related: Sharia Law or Gay Marriage Critics Would Be Branded ‘Extremists’ under Tory Plans, Atheists and Christians Warn »
Pat Condell: Laughing at the New Inquisition
Pat Condell: The Real Enemy Within
Pat Condell: Boo Hoo Palestine
Egypt Jails 'Gay Wedding Video' Men
All eight had denied charges of inciting debauchery and offending public morality.
The video, which was posted to YouTube in September, shows two men exchanging rings on a boat in the Nile. » | Saturday, November 01, 2014
Friday, October 31, 2014
Are Young Western Women the New Face of Terror?
Sharia Law or Gay Marriage Critics Would Be Branded ‘Extremists’ under Tory Plans, Atheists and Christians Warn
Anyone who criticises Sharia law or gay marriage could be branded an “extremist” under sweeping new powers planned by the Conservatives to combat terrorism, an alliance of leading atheists and Christians fear.
Theresa May, the Home Secretary, unveiled plans last month for so-called Extremism Disruption Orders, which would allow judges to ban people deemed extremists from broadcasting, protesting in certain places or even posting messages on Facebook or Twitter without permission.
Mrs May outlined the proposal in a speech at the Tory party conference in which she spoke about the threat from the so-called Islamic State – also known as Isis and Isil – and the Nigerian Islamist movement Boko Haram.
But George Osborne, the Chancellor, has made clear in a letter to constituents that the aim of the orders would be to “eliminate extremism in all its forms” and that they would be used to curtail the activities of those who “spread hate but do not break laws”.
He explained that that the new orders, which will be in the Conservative election manifesto, would extend to any activities that “justify hatred” against people on the grounds of religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability.
He also disclosed that anyone seeking to challenge such an order would have to go the High Court, appealing on a point of law rather than fact.
The National Secular Society and the Christian institute – two organisations with often diametrically opposing interests – said they shared fears that the broad scope of extremism could represent a major threat to free speech. » | John Bingham, Social Affairs Editor | Friday, October 31, 2014
Why It Still Matters That Apple CEO Tim Cook Announced He’s Gay
As Cook noted in an essay for Bloomberg Businessweek, he has been quite open about his sexuality with many people. But there’s a difference between friends and colleagues knowing you’re gay and telling the planet.
Just a few years ago, states were writing into constitutions that marriage was strictly between a man and a woman. Now the CEO of the world’s most valuable company can proclaim that he considers “being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”
“The world has advanced to the point that (sexuality) is a total nonissue,” said Gerald Storch, a former CEO of Toys R Us. “Ten years ago, CEOs might have kept it closer to the vest because of consumer backlash.” » | Thomas Lee | Friday, October 31, 2014
Le FN lève la suspension pour "prosélytisme" de l'un de ses élus
Le Front national a annoncé vendredi avoir "levé la suspension temporaire" d'un de ses élus récemment converti à l'islam qu'il avait suspendu samedi, le parti lui reprochant d'avoir fait du "prosélytisme" en son sein. Devant le "bureau exécutif du parti réuni en commission des conflits", Maxence Buttey "a pu confirmer son engagement comme élu municipal du Front national à défendre les idées de son mouvement, notamment la lutte contre le communautarisme et la promotion de la laïcité", écrit le parti dans un communiqué. "Il lui a été signifié ainsi qu'à l'ensemble des protagonistes de ce dossier que l'envoi de vidéos à caractère religieux dans le cadre de fonctions militantes n'était pas acceptable", poursuit le document, qui conclut qu'"en conséquence, après ce rappel des devoirs qui incombent à un élu du Front national", la suspension est levée. » | Source AFP | vendredi 31 octobre 2014
First Muslim to Be Awarded Victoria Cross Needs Recognition, Say Former Army Chiefs
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| Sepoy Khudadad Khan was awarded the Victoria Cross during World War One |
Two former heads of the Army have called for greater recognition of the first Muslim soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross, in a move intended as a “riposte” to the “sickening extremism” of Isil militants.
General Lord Dannatt and General Lord Richards lead a group of peers, MPs, historians and religious leaders who say children should be told about the role played by Muslim troops in the First World War.
In a letter to The Telegraph they say that the actions of Sepoy Khudadad Khan in a battle at Ypres 100 years ago on Friday “exemplified the courage” of many who served in the war.
The knowledge of his role, together with that of the other 400,000 Muslims who fought alongside British troops, is vital to “fully understand the multi-ethnic Britain that we are today”, they add. » | Edward Malnick | Friday, October 31, 2014
Baroness Tonge Faces Heavy Criticism after Blaming Israel for Middle East Conflicts
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| Lady Tonge, who resigned the Lib Dem whip in 2012 over anti-Israel remarks |
Baroness Tonge suggested Western support for Israel has triggered the growth of extreme Islamic groups “determined to get their own back” through terrorism.
Nor was it a surprise that there had been attacks in Canada and a terrorist plot exposed in Australia since both countries had “unhesitatingly supported Israel” with the UK and US.
“Both of these countries have unhesitatingly supported Israel with the USA and the United Kingdom,” she said. » | Martyn Brown | Friday, October 31, 2014
Report Says Child Sexual Exploitation ‘Normal in Parts of Greater Manchester’
Sexual exploitation of vulnerable children has become the social norm in some parts of Greater Manchester, fuelled by explicit music videos and quasi-pornographic selfies, an MP has warned.
The systematic grooming of boys and girls remains a “real and ongoing problem”, a year after Greater Manchester police (GMP) was forced to admit it had failed abuse victims in Rochdale, said Ann Coffey, a former social worker who is now the Labour MP for Stockport. “My observations will make painful reading for those who hoped that Rochdale was an isolated case,” she writes in a significant report.
She said Britain needed a big change in attitudes towards child sexual exploitation similar to how perceptions of gay rights have changed over recent decades. She believes such exploitation should be declared a priority public health issue, like smoking, obesity, alcohol and drug use, so that a more strategic approach can be developed. » | Helen Pidd, northern editor | Thursday, October 30, 2014
HT: Robert Spencer @ Jihad Watch »
Gov. Huckabee on Why Obama Is Struggling to Lead
Persecution, Torture, Murder: Iran Blasted on Human Rights ahead of UN Hearing
A UN-appointed human rights advocate had already prepared a voluminous account of Tehran's egregious transgressions, including persecution and imprisonment of religious minorities, alarming numbers of executions and systematic disregard of due process by Saturday, when Reyhaneh Jabbari, a 27-year-old woman who had spent the last seven years in prison, was hanged. Jabbari became an international symbol of the regime's brutality, with the UN and rights groups such as Amnesty International decrying her death sentence. Jabbari's execution served to punctuate this week's hearings, including the independent forum in Geneva on Thursday and a procedure today before a UN Human Rights Council panel. » | Jonathan Wachtel | Friday, October 31, 2014
Israël à la Suède : "Le Moyen-Orient est plus compliqué que les meubles Ikea"
Une décision "malheureuse", qui "renforce les éléments extrémistes et la politique de refus des Palestiniens", a jugé Israël jeudi après la reconnaissance par la Suède de l'État de Palestine. "Le gouvernement suédois doit comprendre que les relations au Moyen-Orient sont plus compliquées que le montage des meubles Ikea, et qu'il faut agir en ce domaine avec responsabilité et sensibilité", a déclaré le ministre israélien des Affaires étrangères, Avigdor Lieberman, dans un communiqué. » | Source AFP | jeudi 30 octobre 2014
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