Greece's Defence Minister Threatens to Send Migrants Including Jihadists to Western Europe

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Panos Kammenos, Greece's defence minister, threatens to open country's borders to refugees – including potential members of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) - unless Athens receives debt crisis support

Greece will unleash a “wave of millions of economic migrants” and jihadists on Europe unless the eurozone backs down on austerity demands, the country[‘s] defence and foreign ministers have threatened.

The threat comes as Greece struggles to convince the eurozone and International Monastery Fund to continue payments on a £172billion bailout of Greek finances.

Without the funding, Greece will go bust later this month forcing the recession-ravaged and highly[-]indebted country out of the EU’s single currency.

Greece’s borders with Turkey is the EU’s frontline against illegal immigration and European measures to stop extremists travelling to and from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) bases in Syria and Iraq.

Panos Kammenos, the Greek defence minister, warned that if the eurozone allowed Greece to go bust it would give EU travel papers to illegal immigrants crossing its borders or the 10,000 currently held in detention centres. » | Bruno Waterfield, Brussels | Monday, March 09, 2015

Saudi Man Faces Death for Ripping Up Koran, Renouncing Islam

FOX NEWS: A Saudi court has sentenced a man to death for renouncing his Islamic faith along with other reported acts of blasphemy which included ripping up a Koran and cursing Mohammad.

The Saudi Gazette reported the unnamed man in his 20s posted a video online on the social networking site, Keek, where he ripped up a copy of the Koran, hit it with a shoe and cursed Allah and the Islamic Prophet Mohammad – all considered crimes in the Saudi Kingdom. Under Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabi system of Islamic Sharia law, those convicted of crimes of apostasy receive the death penalty, often carried out by public beheading.

One of the United States’ key allies in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has received a criticism over lack of transparency in its legal proceedings and utilization of beheadings as the main method of execution. Last August, NBC reported that the Kingdom’s rate of executions had increased to one per day and, last month, a top Saudi official protested over comparisons between the county and ISIS. However, Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki, told NBC News that Saudi criminal punishments were legitimate because they are based on "a decision made by a court" as opposed to ISIS' "arbitrary" killings. " » | FoxNews.com | Monday, March 09, 2015

Using Sign Language, ISIS Appeals to the Deaf

YNET NEWS: New video shows deaf jihadists urging Muslims of Europe to join group and vowing to slaughter West and leaders of its Arab allies.

The Islamic State released a new recruitment video over the weekend in an attempt to court a new group – the deaf. The video shows two militants from the organization's ranks – both deaf themselves – addressing the audience in sign language. (+ video) » | Roi Kais | Monday, March 09, 2015

'Jihadi John' Issues Apology - For 'Shaming His Parents'

"Jihadi John" a.k.a. Mohammed Emwazi is sorry - for upsetting
his parents

ARUTZ SHEVA: ISIS executioner sends note to his family expressing remorse for damage to their honor - but doesn't apologize for callous acts of murder.

Mohammed Emwazi, the man revealed as ISIS executioner "Jihadi John", has reportedly written a letter to his family apologizing for "shaming" them - but not for his murderous acts.

According to the UK's Sunday Times, Emwazi sent a letter to his family - who, since he was outed as the face behind the black-clad jihadi killer have fled Britain back to Kuwait - in which he said he was sorry for the "problems and trouble the revelation of his identity has caused."

The letter reached his family via a third party from Syria, where Mohammed is based.

But notably he did not express any remorse whatsoever for the gruesome beheadings of a series of western and Japanese hostages, mainly aid-workers and journalists. » | Ari Soffer | Monday, March 09, 2015

The Time When Americans Drank All Day Long

BBC AMERICA: A new exhibit looks at the history of drinking in America.

The Puritans get a bad rap in America - especially when it comes to alcohol. They are generally blamed for putting the dampeners on any form of fun, and many people assume that it was the nation's puritanical roots coming to the surface when Prohibition was introduced in 1917.

But while they weren't exactly party animals, a new exhibition at the US National Archives reveals that the Puritans actually approved of drink.

"One of the things we understand now is that the initial ship that came over from England to Massachusetts Bay actually carried more beer than water," says Bruce Bustard, senior curator of Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History.

In fact Increase Mather, a prominent Puritan minister of the period, delivered a sermon in which he described alcohol as being "a good creature of God" - although the drunkard was "of the devil."

Early Americans even took a healthful dram for breakfast, whiskey was a typical lunchtime tipple, ale accompanied supper and the day ended with a nightcap. Continuous imbibing clearly built up a tolerance as most Americans in 1790 consumed an average 5.8 gallons of pure alcohol a year. » | Jane O’Brien | BBC News, Washington | Sunday, March 08, 2015

La lutte pour le contrôle de l’or noir devient féroce

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Libye – Attaques, meurtres, kidnappings et sabotages: la production de pétrole est au cœur de la crise politico-militaire libyenne.

Quatre champs pétroliers ont été attaqués ces derniers jours. Sept étrangers auraient été kidnappés et huit gardes tués. La Libye, 12e producteur mondial de pétrole, devient peu à peu un enfer pour les compagnies pétrolières. L’insécurité se mêle à une forte baisse de production avec 531 000 barils par jour en février contre 1,7 million en 2010.

Bahi, Dahra et Ghani- dans le bassin de Syrte, ont été visés. Vendredi, huit gardes ont été tués dans une nouvelle offensive contre Ghani où travaille Petro-Canada. Sept étrangers, dont un Tchèque et un Australien, auraient été kidnappés. Aucune de ces actions n’a été revendiquée, mais le gouvernement de Tobrouk pointe du doigt l’Etat Islamique, bien implanté dans la région. Son rival basé à Tripoli accuse les kadhafistes. » | De Maryline Dumas, Tripoli | dimanche 08 mars 2015

Austria Defends New Law on Foreign Funding of Mosques

THE GUARDIAN: Foreign minister Sebastian Kurz has defended a new Austrian law which restricts foreign funding for Austrian mosques and Islamic communities

Austria’s foreign minister has rejected criticism of the country’s new law on Islam aimed at cutting off foreign influence and funding, arguing that the legislation should become a model for the rest of Europe.

In an interview with the Guardian, Sebastian Kurz, whose role in the Austrian government also includes the portfolio for social integration, took particular aim at the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, suggesting Erdogan’s opposition to the law was motivated by fear of losing political influence on Austrian Muslims.

“I‘m not surprised by the criticism from President Erdoğan. This was to be expected,” Kurz said. “In our opinion, imams should be role models for young Muslims and must show that it is possible to be a proud Austrian and a believing Muslim at the same time and so there will be no need for Turkish imams in the future.

“And this is maybe the point why Erdoğan is so critical about our Islam law. At the moment we have more than 60 imams from Turkey and in the future we will have our own Austrian imams,” Kurz said. “It will not be possible in the future to have imams employed by the Turkish government.” » | Julian Borger Diplomatic editor | Sunday, March 08, 2015

Präsidentenwahl in Frankreich: Premier Valls warnt vor Sieg der Rechtspopulisten

Frankreichs Premier Valls: "Ich habe Angst um mein Land"

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Der rechtspopulistische Front National ist in Frankreich auf Erfolgskurs. Nun hat Premierminister Manuel Valls davor gewarnt, die Partei von Marine Le Pen könnte bei der Präsidentschaftswahl stärkste Kraft werden.

Paris - Frankreichs Premierminister Manuel Valls hat vor einem Siegeszug des rechtsextremen Front National (FN) gewarnt. Es sei nicht auszuschließen, dass der FN schon die kommende Präsidentschaftswahl im Jahr 2017 gewinnen könnte, sagte der Regierungschef im TV-Interview bei iTéle. » | vek/AFP | Sonntag, 08. März 2015

Le Grand Rendez-Vous (partie 1) du 08/03/2015 -

Blogger Lashing: Saudi Rejects Criticism of Badawi Case

Raif Badawi's punishment has drawn condemnation around the world

BBC AMERICA: Saudi Arabia has expressed "surprise and dismay" at international media reports criticising the flogging of a Saudi blogger for insulting Islam.

In its first official statement on the case the foreign ministry said it rejected any interference in its internal affairs.

Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail last year.

He received the first 50 lashes in January prompting strong criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record.

The foreign ministry said it could not accept any impingement on the country's sovereignty, or on the impartiality of its judiciary system.

"The kingdom unequivocally rejects any aggression under the pretext of human rights," it added. » | Sunday, March 08, 2015

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Saudi-Arabien-Reise: Gabriel setzt sich für Blogger Badawi ein: Heikle Mission für den SPD-Chef: Bei seiner Saudi-Arabien-Reise kritisiert Sigmar Gabriel die harte Strafe für den Blogger Badawi - und irritiert mit der klaren Haltung die Scheichs. » | Von Gerald Traufetter, Riad | Sonntag, 08. März 2015

Margaret Thatcher, Life, Love & Letters

President Obama Pays Tribute at Selma, 50 Years On

America's first black president says nation's racial history still casts a long shadow during powerful speech to mark anniversary of civil rights era clashes
Read the Telegraph article here | Rob Crilly, New York | Saturday, March 07, 2015

Polygamous Gay Marriage Ceremony Held in Thailand: 'We All Had a Lot of Feelings for Each Other'

What may be the world's first polygamous gay marriage took place in Thailand on Valentine's Day, as three gay men were married in a religious ceremony. The men, identified only by their first names as Joke, 29, Bell, 21 and Art, 26, say their marriage is recognized by Buddhist law. The marriage is not recognized by…

ANNE R. PIERCE: Iran's Rising Star

Iran is taking full advantage of the opportunities created by US appeasement and retrenchment. Indeed, many of Iran's foremost strategic and ideological goals have already been achieved. Among them: the (2011) withdrawal of US forces from Iraq and the end of the US "freedom agenda;" the repression of the Green Movement and the subsequent successful crackdown…

Extremism in Britain: Now the Crackdown Is Launched

Police escort an Islamist demonstrator marching to protest
outside the US embassy in London

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Ministers are planning a raft of new measures to help stem the tide of Islamic extremism and radicalisation

The Government is planning a series of tough new measures to combat the growing threat from Islamist extremists.

A leaked draft of the Home Office’s new counter-extremism strategy, seen by The Telegraph, targets Sharia courts and calls for a ban on radicals working unsupervised with children over fears the young could be brainwashed.

Other measures include a requirement that staff at job centres identify vulnerable claimants who may become targets for radicalisation, after public outrage at people who hate Britain being able to live off the state.

There will also be an introduction of penalties in the benefits system to make people learn English to improve their integration into British society.

The rules on granting citizenship will also be tightened to ensure new residents embrace “British values”.

The crackdown is part of a new “get tough” strategy to deal with the perceived growing threat to the UK from Islamist extremists. » | Andrew Gilligan, Robert Mendick | Saturday, March 07, 2015

Egyptian TV Host Ahmed Moussa: The US, Turkey, and Qatar Constitute the Axis of Evil

In a February 16, 2015 address on the Egyptian Sada Al-Balad TV channel, TV host Ahmed Moussa said that the U.S., Turkey, and Qatar constituted the axis of evil, because they were countries that supported terrorism.

Al-Aqsa Mosque Address: May the Muslims Wage War on America, and Raid It on Its Own Land

Saudi Historian Al-Saadoon: Women Share Responsibility If Raped by Foreign Taxi Drivers

Lebanese TV Host Rima Karaki Cuts Short London-Based Islamist's Interview Following Insolent Remarks

ISIS Reportedly Demolishing Another Ancient Archaeological Site In Iraq

FOX NEWS: Islamic State militants were reportedly demolishing another ancient archaeological site in Iraq on Saturday, the latest in a series of efforts to rid what the terror group says are symbols that promote idolatry.

An official with the ministry of tourism and antiquities' archaeological division in Mosul told The Associated Press that multiple residents living near Hatra heard two large explosions Saturday morning, then reported seeing bulldozers begin demolishing the site. He spoke anonymously for fear of reprisal.

Saeed Mamuzini, a Kurdish official from Mosul, told the AP that the militants had begun carrying away artifacts from Hatra as early as Thursday and on Saturday, began to destroy the 2,000-year-old city. » | FoxNews.com | Saturday, March 07, 2015

DIE WELT: Terrormiliz zerstört weitere Kulturstätte im Irak: Die Ruinen der jahrtausendealten Stadt al-Hadra nahe Mossul sind der Terrorgruppe Islamischer Staat zum Opfer gefallen. Es ist bereits die zweite Zerstörungsaktion dieser Art binnen weniger Wochen. » | dpa/tan | Samstag, 07. März 2015

LE POINT: Les vestiges archéologiques de Hatra, nouvelle cible de l'organisation État islamique : Après des statues et des sculptures du musée de Mossoul, le groupe terroriste État islamique (EI) entreprend de raser cette cité vieille de 2 000 ans. » | 6Medias | samedi 07 mars 2015

Muslim Rights Activist Who Defended Jihadi John Refuses to Condemn Female Stoning

CAGE director Asim Qureshi refused to condemn the
stoning of adulterous women

DAILY EXPRESS: THE Muslim activist who described Islamic State (IS) murderer Jihadi John as "beautiful" has refused to condemn the stoning of adulterous women.

Asim Qureshi, director of Muslim rights group CAGE, was asked about views advocated by an Islamic scholar he had described as a mentor.

These included positions of female genital mutilation, domestic violence and stoning women as punishment for adultery. When questioned repeatedly about these views on BBC's This Week programme by presenter Andrew Neil Mr Qureshi refused to condemn the opinions.

Others extreme positions he refused to condemn included horrifying claims that Jews are descended from pigs and that homosexuality is evil.

Asim Qureshi, director of Muslim rights group CAGE, was asked about views advocated by an Islamic scholar he had described as a mentor.

These included positions of female genital mutilation, domestic violence and stoning women as punishment for adultery.

When questioned repeatedly about these views on BBC's This Week programme by presenter Andrew Neil Mr Qureshi refused to condemn the opinions.

Others extreme positions he refused to condemn included horrifying claims that Jews are descended from pigs and that homosexuality is evil. » | Dion Dassanayake | Friday, March 06, 2015

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