Hat tip to Always On Watch
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
Sunday, March 09, 2008
THE SUNDAY TIMES: A Hamas leader admits hundreds of his fighters have travelled to Tehran
The Hamas commander was in a hurry. Hunched forward in a navy-blue parka, with the wind-chapped skin and drawn eyes of someone who had been outdoors all night, he had just returned from the front line with Israel. The whine of drones overhead signalled that his enemy was hunting for blood.
For someone who had survived the fiercest fighting between Israelis and Palestinians since 2000 and the deaths of scores of his fellow fighters, the commander, already a senior figure in his late twenties, appeared remarkably composed.
He is in the vanguard of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas which is growing into a disciplined army, trained to fight for victory rather than be consigned to the “martyr’s death” of the suicide bomber.
Israel has long insisted that Iran is behind this training. Last week Yuval Diskin, the head of the Israeli internal security service Shin Bet, said as much when he claimed that Hamas had “started to dispatch people to Iran, tens and a promise of hundreds”. He provided no evidence.
The Hamas commander, however, confirmed for the first time that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has been training its men in Tehran for more than two years and is currently honing the skills of 150 fighters.
The details he gave suggested that, if anything, Shin Bet has underestimated the extent of Iran’s influence on Hamas’s increasingly sophisticated tactics and weaponry. Hamas wages Iran’s proxy war on Israel >>> By Marie Colvin in Gaza City
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
THE SUNDAY TIMES: Alan Duncan is the first Conservative MP to enter a civil partnership. He tells how his nuptials are going down with the blue-rinse brigade
In the dying days of her leadership, Margaret Thatcher was fleetingly celebrated as a gay icon after being admired by the camp artists Gilbert and George. But her private views on homosexuality were assumed to be anything but liberal, particularly after she helped to power through a law that banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools.
Now, however, the Iron Lady could have the opportunity to set the record straight – by accepting an invitation to attend the gay “wedding” of her old friend Alan Duncan.
In a few months the dapper shadow enterprise secretary will become the first Tory MP to enter into a civil partnership when he ties the knot with his boyfriend, James Dunseath. (MPs who have already taken the plunge include Ben Bradshaw and David Borrow, both Labour.)
Apparently, at least 300 guests will be attending the ceremony, due to take place before the end of July. Duncan won’t say if Lady Thatcher’s invitation will be dropping through her letterbox soon, but it would be odd if she were left out. He and Thatcher have been close for years and often dine together.
There is no doubt, though, that section 28, the legislation that her government introduced to stop “loony lefties” teaching schoolchildren about gays, gave the Conservative party a long-standing and damaging reputation for homophobia. It is only now, under the leadership of David Cameron, that the party has finally shaken off that image, promoting instead an inclusive, nondiscriminatory attitude towards gays.
Duncan, for his part, claims that he hasn’t detected the slightest whiff of disapproval about his forthcoming civil partnership from even the most traditional figures in the party. “You should see my mailbag. I’ve had so much support,” he says. “People are saying, ‘Thank God for that – at last we can see off the last vestiges of sniping, sneering and disapproval.’ They are just writing to say, ‘Thank you, now the world can grow up and get real’ – and it’s great.” My big fat gay Tory wedding >>>
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
PRESS TV (IRAN): Oman has boycotted this year's Paris International Book Fair in protest at the invitation of the Zionist regime as the fair's guest of honor.
“Oman has taken part in the fair twice before but is declining to do so this year after the Arab League urged its members to shun the event because of Israel's special designated status”, culture ministry official Khaled al-Ghasani told AFP.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have already announced their decisions to boycott the fair.
On February 27, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) called upon all its 50 member states to boycott the fair.
Thirty-nine Israeli writers have been invited to participate in the fair to mark the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Zionist regime.
The Paris Book Fair will run from March 14 to 19. [Source: Oman boycotts Paris Book Fair >>>]
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
PRESS TV (IRAN): The Hague holds talks with envoys from 30 Muslim states to discuss the imminent release of an anti-Islam film made by a Dutch politician.
Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen met with the ambassadors at the request of the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) over the Web and possible television broadcast of the anti-Islam clip made by the maverick politician Geert Wilders.
The talks were held amidst vehement protests from Muslim nations, including Egypt, Iran and Pakistan which have threatened an economic boycott of the Netherlands if the short film is shown.
The latest of Wilders' provocative actions against Islam has escalated another worldwide outrage similar to the one following the publication of the Danish caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Dutch government, which tries to maintain its 'freedom of expression', has tried but failed to persuade Wilders not to broadcast the film. [Source: Hague on hot bricks over Wilders' clip >>>]
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
EXPATICA: Nicolas Sarkozy voiced his solidarity with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who fears a Muslim backlash over a film criticising Islam made by a far-right Dutch MP.
PARIS, March 6, 2008 - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday voiced his solidarity with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who fears a Muslim backlash over a film criticising Islam made by a far-right Dutch MP.
Sarkozy assured Balkenende of his "support" over lunch at the Elysee Palace, saying he was "highly aware of the question of Islam's place in European societies, and French society in particular," a presidential spokesman said.
Balkenende stressed once again that he was in "total disagreement" with the film's author Geert Wilders, warning it could spark protests similar to those unleashed by the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in Denmark.
"Obviously, we need to be careful of what is happening in other countries," he said.
Wilders, head of the Dutch far-right Freedom Party, said that if he finds a Dutch broadcaster to show the film uncut it could be on the air within a couple of days, and that he will otherwise present it at a press conference later this month and on the Internet. Sarkozy voices 'support' for Dutch PM in anti-Islam film row >>>
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
BOSTON HERALD: What can a 19-year-old guy in jogging shorts do at Harvard that a rich Saudi sheik who sponsors terrorism can’t?
Get banned from the building.
Six times a week, Harvard kicks all the guys out of the Quadrangle Recreational Athletic Center at the request of the Harvard Islamic Society. This is to accommodate those female Muslim students whose faith won’t let them work out in front of men.
In the old days, Harvard would have laughed if some Catholic or evangelical mother urged “girls-only” campus workouts in the name of modesty. Today, Harvard happily implements Sharia swim times in the name of Mohammed.
At Harvard, that’s called progress.
When I asked Harvard spokesman Bob Mitchell about this new Sharia-friendly policy, he denied that they were banning anyone.
“No, no,” he told me, “we’re permitting women to work out in an environment that accommodates their religion.”
By banning all men from the facility, right?
“It’s not ‘banning,’ ” he insisted. “We’re allowing, we’re accommodating people.”
The Harvard story, broken by the intrepid staff at Boston University’s Daily Free Press, is sadly par for the liberal campus course. U-Cal Berkeley is working on a joint program with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, which practices religious and sexual discrimination. The Archbishop (and arch-liberal) of Canterbury has called for Britain to accommodate Sharia law. An exercise in discrimination at Harvard >>> By Michael Graham
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
LE FIGARO: La Dame de Fer a passé une nuit en observation pour des examens médicaux préventifs.
L'état de santé de l'ancien premier ministre britannique Margaret Thatcher, hospitalisée vendredi soir pour subir des examens médicaux, est sortie de l'hôpital samedi après-midi. Elle marchait sans aide, a salué les quelques personnes assemblées près de l'hôpital Saint Thomas à Londres, avant de prendre place dans sa voiture. Margaret Thatcher est sortie de l'hôpital >>>
THE TELEGRAPH:
Margaret Thatcher released from hospital By Patrick Hennessy, Political Editor, and Megan Levy
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
Although this article does not mention the group by name, we all know who the greatest offenders of forced marriages are. Political correctness triumphs again. For heaven’ sake, don’t mention who the offenders are lest they themselves be offended!THE GUARDIAN: At least 3,000 young women in Britain are the victims of forced marriages each year, with the scale of the problem far bigger than originally thought, according to a groundbreaking report out this week.
Have you noticed how the term ‘South Asian’ is so often used to avoid the ‘M’ word? And then we have the “problem spread across different ethnic minorities” frequently so stated!
To my knowledge, the practice of forced marriages is far more widespread in the Muslim communities, so for God’s sake just let’s say so. Let’s stop the pussyfooting. - ©Mark
The first study ever conducted in the UK into the prevalence of the custom shows that there are far more victims, spread across different ethnic minority communities, than official figures suggest.
Teachers should be given a key role in talking confidentially to young girls whom they believe may be at risk of being coerced into marriages, particularly if there is suspicion that an older sister has been married off against her will, the report recommends.
But there also needs to be more determined effort within communities to end the practice, so that forced marriages become a matter of shame and humiliation for parents, instead of being a matter of pride.
The Home Office-funded study calls on authorities to take the institution more seriously, so that it is treated as an issue of illegality, domestic violence and bullying.
The study, which looked at cases in Luton, a town with a large south Asian community, found at least 300 cases where victims had contacted community organisations. Yet the government's forced marriage unit, set up to tackle the problem three years ago, handles only 300 cases a year nationwide. 3,000 women a year forced into marriage in UK, study finds >>> By Jo Revill and Anushka Asthana | Saturday March 8 2008
TIMESONLINE:
Forced marriage fear prompts a national count of missing girls By Lucy Bannerman
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
THE GUARDIAN: Not content with trying to bring peace to the Middle East - as well as advising an insurance company on the risks of climate change, a bank on crisis management and Rwanda on good governance - Tony Blair is to add another job to his portfolio: teaching God and politics at one of America's most prestigious universities.
Yale, the Ivy League alma mater of his good friend George Bush, confirmed yesterday that the former prime minister is to join the schools of management and divinity at the campus in New Haven, Connecticut, in the autumn. He will teach a course on faith and globalisation, looking at religion in the modern world.
This will also be the theme of his Faith Foundation, which he is to launch in London before his Yale commitment starts. It is intended to promote understanding between Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Peace broker, bank adviser and lecturer, now Blair plans to teach religion at Yale: · Ex-PM to deliver course in faith and globalisation · Aides express concern at ever-increasing workload >>> By Ewan MacAskill
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
Friday, March 07, 2008
RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: Cairo - Three Islamic leaders in Egypt have called on the United Nations to adopt a resolution banning all expressions that insult or offend religions. The appeal comes in response to the planned anti-Qur'an film by the Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders.
The appeal has been issued by Egypt's mufti, the minister for religious affairs and the sheik of Cairo's al-Azhar university, one Sunni Islam's most important institutions.
The three leaders say the Dutch government should be careful not to confuse freedom of expression with insulting Islam. They point out that the populist Mr Wilders equates Islam with terrorism.
They warn that Mr Wilders' film only aims to provoke and is bound to fan religious tensions. They also express dismay that "such persistent insults to Islam" have not prompted stronger protests. [Source: Egypt wants UN ban on religious insults >>>]
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
THE INDEPENDENT: An Iranian lesbian who fled to Britain after her girlfriend was arrested and sentenced to death faces being forcibly returned after losing the latest round in her battle to be granted asylum.
The case of Pegah Emambakhsh, 40, comes a day after The Independent reported on the growing public outcry over the plight of a gay Iranian teenager who fears he will be executed if he is deported to Iran.
Both cases have provoked international protests against Britain and led to calls for an immediate moratorium on the deportation of gay and lesbian asylum-seekers who fear they will be persecuted in Iran.
More than 60 MEPs have signed a petition asking Gordon Brown to reverse the decision on Mehdi Kazemi, 19, who escaped to the Netherlands after the Home Office refused him asylum last year. His case is still before Dutch judges who will decide this month whether he should return to Britain where he faces deportation to a country which has already executed his boyfriend.
Gay rights group claim there are dozens more cases of gay and lesbian asylum-seekers living in Britain in fear of persecution and facing harsh punishments if forced to return to Iran.
Ms Emambakhsh came to the UK in 2005 fearing for her life after her partner had been arrested by Tehran police. Iranian gay rights groups have reported that that partner is in custody under sentence of death by stoning. Speaking through her asylum representative in Sheffield yesterday, Ms Emambakhsh said: "I will never, never go back. If I do I know I will die."
Under the Iranian Islamic Punishment Act, lesbians found guilty of sexual relations can be sentenced to 100 lashes. But, for a third offence, the punishment is execution. Now Iranian lesbian who fled to Britain faces deportation >>> By Robert Verkaik, Law Editor
THE INDEPENDENT:
Simon Hughes: No gay person should be sent back to Iran
THE INDEPENDENT:
Leading article: Squalid priorities
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL: The leaders of Bavaria's ruling party, the Christian Social Union, want to relax the state's smoking ban -- and very quickly. Many of the party's politicians blame the ban for the CSU's poor showing in recent local elections.
The leaders of the Christian Social Union, the conservative Bavarian sister party to Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, are planning to relax Bavaria's smoking ban -- just two months after it was introduced.
The state's ruling party wants to introduce the relaxation next week, granting special exemptions to beer tents and small pubs. The change in regulation is aimed in particular at large tents, as found in Munich's famous Oktoberfest (more...). Bavarian Politicans Want to Relax Smoking Ban >>>
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
Thursday, March 06, 2008
THE HAGUE (AFP) — The international uproar about the planned release of an anti-Islam film by a Dutch far-right MP prompted the Netherlands to raise its terrorism alert level on Thursday.
"While there are no concrete indications of impending attacks in the Netherlands, the increased international terrorism threat has prompted to raise the threat level for the Netherlands from 'limited' to 'substantial'," the justice ministry said.
One of the main reasons for the raising of the alert level is the plan by far right deputy Geert Wilders to air his short movie -- which he says attacks the Koran as a "fascist book" -- in March.
"Compounding the threat is the fact that the Netherlands has been cast in a negative light in the Islamic world due to the tone of the debate on Islam in this country, especially since the announcement of a controversial film on the Koran," the ministry explained.
The international media attention for Wilders movie "has led to the posting of death threats against the Freedom Party leader on one of the leading international jihadist web forums", according to the national anti-terrorism coordinator NCTb.
The Wilders film has caused uproar in Muslim countries, some of whom have called for an economic boycott of the Netherlands if the film is shown. Iran, Egypt and Pakistan all voiced criticism about the film.
In Afghanistan hundreds of protesters took to the streets Wednesday to protest the film, whilst the Taliban has already vowed revenge against the 1,600 Dutch soldiers stationed in the country if the movie is shown.
The Dutch government has twice tried and failed to convince Wilders not to broadcast his film, fearing a repeat of the worldwide protests which met the publication of satirical Danish cartoons of the prophet Mohammed.
It has already warned its embassies in Muslim countries to be on the alert. Dutch raise terror alert over anti-Islam film >>>
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
REUTERS: KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan Taliban militants have branded the reprinting of a satirical cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad in Danish newspapers and a film on the Koran by a Dutch politician as part of a "Crusader war" against Muslims.
The Islamic movement, which is leading an insurgency in Afghanistan against Afghan and foreign troops led by NATO and the United States, also called for aid for the Palestinians in their conflict with Israel.
"We see the publication of cartoons and insult of the Holy Koran as part of the Crusaders' war," the Taliban said in a statement posted on the group's Web site. Cartoon and Koran film part of "Crusader war:" Taliban >>>
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
Hat tip: Ibn Misr
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: The EU says the United States should ensure the security of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The former Somali-born Dutch politician has received death threats for her criticism of Islam and lives in the US, though Washington insists its not responsible for her safety.
The Dutch government has refused to pay her security bills ever since she decided to quit politics and left the Netherlands.
But EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini is now planning to turn up the heat on the US so that she and other Europeans are kept safe from danger.
New deal
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a person in danger and deserves protection wherever she is - that's according to EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini.
Frattini has told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that he wants Washington to change its rules over the protection of foreigners living in the States.
Washington has refused to take responsibility for Ms Hirsi Ali's safety on the grounds that she's a Dutch citizen who came under threat because of her work in the Netherlands.
That's not good enough, says Franco Frattini. There should be a new deal between the two continents to ensure the security of one another's citizens, he says:
"The best option would be to have a bilateral agreement with the US.Ayaan Hirsi Ali has been living under police protection ever since the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh in 2004, with whom she made a film about Islam's treatment of women. A note targeting her by name was found on van Gogh's body. Brussels wants US to protect Hirsi Ali: Netherlands no longer guaranteeing safety of islam critic By Vanessa Mock
I will meet the Homeland Security Secretary (Michael Chertoff) next week and I plan to raise the topic then. As far as I know, we in Europe guarantee the same level of protection that is appropriate for all high-level officials and normal people who are under protection in the US."
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
THE GUARDIAN: Religious leaders and scholars from the Islamic world will meet the Pope in Rome for an unprecedented audience in November, it was announced today after historic meetings between Vatican prelates and their Muslim counterparts.
For two days, senior Catholics and Muslims have been preparing for the autumn encounter, deciding upon subjects for discussion and the size of the delegation to meet the pontiff.
The participants involved in this week's meetings confirmed that 24 representatives from each faith would take part in the inaugural seminar of a newly established, permanent Catholic-Muslim Forum, a direct result of their discussions and correspondence.
The forum will meet every two years. The first one will be held in Rome from November 4 until November 6.
On the third day, the seminar will conclude with a public session and a papal reception, quashing rumours of an August meeting at the Pope's summer residence in Castelgandolfo. Muslim Leaders to Meet Pope in Rome >>> By Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
THE VOICE OF ISLAM – Sawt ul-Islam: Britain under Islam Conference, Saturday 9th February 2008, 6pm - 7:30pm, Venue: Harmony Hall, Truro Road, Walthamstow, E17 7BY, Speaker: Anjem Choudary, Judge of the Shari’ah Court of the UK and Principal Lecturer at the London School of Shari’ah.
Press Release Dated 8th February 2008
Following the archbishop of Canterbury’s comments yesterday that some elements of Shari’ah seem unavoidable there has been a barrage of attacks against any concept of Shari’ah ever being introduced on the shores of Britain by some and a compromising position being taken by others who have suggested that with checks and balances and as long as British law and values remained paramount then perhaps they might consider Shari’ah law in family matters for example.
Let us be absolutely clear about this. Islam is not subject to dilution, compromise or relegation. It is the perfect system sent to mankind from Allah (SWT) with the last Messenger Muhammad (saw). The Shari’ah is a complete way of life which has rulings on all matters in life from ruling, social and economic relations and even on how the foreign policy should be formulated. There is no room whatsoever for even one law not to based upon the divine text of the Qur’an and the traditions (Hadeeth) of the Messenger Muhammad (saw). For any Muslim to even suggest that the Shari’ah should not be implemented in its entirety is an act of apostasy. The Messenger Muhammad (saw) said clearly that Islam is superior and will never be surpassed.
The idea of non-Muslims offering to implement aspects of Islamic law is not a new phenomenon however. Even in the lifetime of the Prophet the Quraish of Mecca, who were polytheists, offered to mix their own non-Islamic law with the Islamic law, in response the Messenger Muhammad (saw) said: ‘O Kaffirs (non-Muslims) I do not worship that which you worship and nor will you worship that which I worship, and I shall not worship that which you worship and nor will you worship that which I worship, to you be your way of life and to me be mine’ [Chapter 109]
In other words the two systems of secularism and Islam are diametrically opposed, you cannot say that sovereignty and supremacy is for man on the one hand and also that sovereignty belongs to Allah on the other. One must take precedence, and that is Islam. Christians and secularists agree to give unto Caesar what belongs to him and unto God what belongs to him, this is the basis of secularism i.e. the separation of religion from life’s affairs, on the other hand Muslims believe Caesar must be a Muslim implementing Islamic law!
Moreover Islamic jurists agree that even if Gordon Brown were to, for example agree to cut the hand of the thief, unless he did so in response to the command of Allah and in worship to him, it would still be considered kufr (non-Islamic) law, for we have a principle that whatever (in non-Islamic law) agrees with Islam is kufr and whatever disagrees with Islam is kufr.
The implementation of Islam on State level is called the concept of the Khilafah. The Khilafah system of governance existed ever since the lifetime of Messenger Muhammad when he established the first Islamic State in 622 CE. There was then an unbroken chain of Islamic States for 1302 years until the destruction of the Ottoman Khilafah in 1924. The Khilafah system is not implemented anywhere in the world today, rather every country in the Muslim world today implements a form of capitalism, monarchy or other form of dictatorship or secular system. Ever since the destruction of the previous state at the hands of the British stooge Kemal Ataturk in 1924, Muslims have witnessed the conspiracies and plots of the Western governments and in particular the British and French, as they divided the remnants of the Islamic State amongst themselves after the First World War. Shari’ah Is the Future for Britain >>>
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
DAILY MAIL: A radical Muslim preacher has been filmed talking about fraudulently claiming benefits and giving advice on how to cheat the Government.
Self-proclaimed extremist Abu Waleed was speaking at the London School of Shariah event in preparation for Ramadan, during which he also made jokes about Muslims taking backpacks on to the Underground.
The British-born radical retold fables from the Koran before encouraging his audience to hoodwink the Government.
After a story about a wealthy man, he said: "There was one man, he had a lot of money - just like us, we have a lot of money today from the income support and the incapacity benefit. Radical Muslim preacher caught on film giving advice on how to 'hoodwink' the Government over benefits >>>
Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)
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