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Friday, October 17, 2008
BBC: Human rights campaigners have welcomed an announcement by Iran that appears to end the execution of juveniles.
Iran is believed to be the country that executes the largest number of juvenile offenders - defined as those aged under 18 - in the world.
At least six youths have been executed in Iran this year alone.
The development came in the form of a directive announced by Iran's deputy prosecutor general, Hossein Zebhi, broadcast by the state news agency.
He said that judges had been instructed to no longer impose the death penalty on juveniles.
But it is not clear yet precisely what legal force it has or whether a new law must go through parliament.
A lawyer who represents 25 juveniles under threat of execution said he had heard no word yet of the new directive. >>> By Jon Leyne, BBC News, Tehran | October 17, 2008
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BBC: A new mosque in the Russian region of Chechnya - described by the authorities as the biggest in Europe - has opened.
The Heart of Chechnya mosque has been built in the centre of the capital, Grozny - on a spot where civil war raged only a few years ago.
Hundreds of local people attended the opening of the mosque, which was built in memory of Chechnya's assassinated pro-Kremlin leader Akhmad Kadyrov.
His son Ramzan - the present ruler - led the inauguration ceremony.
Muslims played traditional instruments outside the mosque, built in the classical Ottoman style, and reminiscent of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul. >>> | October 17, 2008
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CNS NEWS: Jerusalem - A number of prominent American Christians are joining forces with Jewish efforts to indict Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on charges of incitement to genocide, Jews and Christians said in Jerusalem on Thursday.
Ahmadinejad has called Israel a “fake regime” that “must be wiped off the map.” He has called the murder of six million Jews during World War II a “myth.” In September he said that Israel was “on a definite slope to collapse” and there was no way out of the “cesspool” it had created for itself. He recently he called the Jewish State a “stinking corpse.”
His comments, coupled with Iran’s aggressive civilian nuclear program, which the West believes is a cover up for obtaining nuclear weapons, has prompted the grassroots effort to indict the Iranian leader. Several rounds of international sanctions have not stopped Iran’s enrichment of uranium, which can be used to make a nuclear bomb.
“It is disturbing to see the inactivity of the international community in reacting appropriately to the alarming threat that grows day by day,” said Malcolm Hedding, executive director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.
Hedding compared the comments of Ahmadinejad to those of former German dictator Adolf Hitler, who used “similar words” and “caused the destruction of the Jewish people.” At the time, there were those who rushed to meet with him and appease him, even declaring “peace in our time,” Hedding told journalists here.
“There has to be a grassroots movement that sends a message to politicians and leaders in Europe that there are millions of people who are demanding action on this issue [Iran],” said Hedding. >>> By Julie Stahl | October 17, 2008
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CNS NEWS: Dialogue is good and necessary, but until the Western “lust for power” is curbed, the world’s problems will remain, Iran’s leaders have told foreign visitors.
“The world will only see peace once calls for justice and the fight against oppression become an integral part of the quest for peace,” spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told a group that included political and religious figures.
Dialogue and visits and discussions could help overcome misunderstandings but are not enough “to control and check unpleasant features of global hegemonic powers,” which pursue superiority over others by exerting economic and political pressure or intervening militarily, he said.
Referring to what he called the “heinous massacre” of Iraqis, Afghans and Palestinians, Khamenei asked whether such “painful catastrophes” occur because of misunderstandings between nations or because of world powers’ “lust for power,” the Irna news agency reported.
The visitors are in Tehran for a religious conference hosted by former president Mohammad Khatami, who runs a “dialogue among civilizations” initiative and is expected to seek another presidential term next year.
The group includes former U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan, former Norwegian and Italian prime ministers Kjell Magne Bondevik and Romano Prodi; former presidents of Ireland and Portugal Mary Robinson and Jorge Sampai; and Episcopal Bishop of Washington John Bryson Chane. >>> By Patrick Goodenough, International Editor | October 15, 2008
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BLICK ONLINE: DOHA – Unsere Banken wanken, müssen sich in die starken Arme des Staats retten. Ist das islamische Banken-System das Modell der Zukunft?
Wer den Schaden hat, braucht für den Spott nicht zu sorgen: Über den Westen fegt die Finanz-Krise hinweg, in muslimischen Ländern hingegen läuft das Geschäft prächtig: «Die islamischen Banken handeln nicht auf Pump, sondern mit tatsächlichen Guthaben», sagte der Chef der Qatar International Islamic Bank, Abdel Bassat El Schibi.
«Das bewahrt sie vor den Problemen, mit denen die Banken in Amerika und Europa gerade Bekanntschaft machen». Zum Glück für die Credit Suisse: Für sie nahte Hilfe in Form eines Staatsfonds aus Qatar in Höhe von 10 Mrd. Franken.
Bei einer «radikalen Umgestaltung» des weltweiten Finanzwesens biete der Islam deshalb zum Kapitalismus eine Alternative zur Verringerung der Risiken, sagte der Theologie-Dekan in Doha, Hatem El Nakraschaui. >>> SDA/zeb | 16. Oktober 2008
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DIE PRESSE: Österreich ist für zwei Jahre eines der fünf nicht ständigen Mitglieder im Sicherheitsrat. Auch die Türkei wird nicht ständiges Mitglied.
Die Vereinten Nationen haben Österreich am Freitag für zwei Jahre als eines der fünf nicht ständigen Mitglieder in den Sicherheitsrat gewählt. Bei der geheimen Abstimmung konnte sich Wien schon beim ersten Durchgang mit 133 Stimmen durchsetzen. >>> APA | 17. Oktober 2008
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BBC: Kenyan MPs have called for an airport in the west of the country to be upgraded for Air Force One in case Barack Obama wins the US elections.
Mr Obama's father was born in Nyanza Province and the MPs say the local Kisumu airport should be expanded in case he wants to visit.
The Illinois senator is a local hero in his father's homeland, where a local beer has been named after him.
Mr Obama has never lived in Kenya and he has visited just three times.
The MPs from Nyanza Province said it was clear that Mr Obama was going to clinch the US presidency, the private Nairobi Star newspaper reported. >>> | October 17, 2008
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ASSOCIATED PRESS: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — An influential council of Malaysia's state rulers has warned people not to question the supremacy of Islam or the special privileges enjoyed by the country's ethnic Malay majority.
Racial and religious tensions have increased in the past year as minorities have become more vocal in their complaints about an affirmative action program that they say unfairly favors Malays. They also complain that their religious rights are being ignored.
In an unprecedented comment on current affairs, the sultans of nine states did not directly accuse the Chinese and Indian minorities of stoking anti-Malay feelings, but said recent statements and forums "held by certain quarters" had "caused provocation and uneasiness among the people."
Questioning the special position of Malays "can lead to disunity and racial strife that can undermine the peace and harmony," the state rulers said in a statement. >>> By Vijay Joshi | October 17, 2008
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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD: David Horowitz opened his lecture on terrorism - part of "Islamofascism Awareness Week," a program of the David Horowitz Freedom Center - with a joke.
"I hope you checked your pies at the door," he quipped, recalling the incident in which New York Times Columnist Thomas Friedman was pied as he began his lecture in Salomon 101 last spring.
Three uniformed officers at the back and three at the front of the largely empty MacMillan 117 and Horowitz's own private bodyguard made any pies-to-the-face unlikely.
Horowitz, a Jewish writer and activist who holds adamantly pro-Israel views, said the purpose of his lecture was to counter "liberal orthodoxy" on campus. "You have one of the worst faculties in the United States," he said. "These people are communists - they are totalitarians."
The lecture was titled "Helping the Enemy to Win: Support for the Jihad on American Campuses."
"Islam is a fundamentalist religion," Horowitz said, adding that the Quran left very little room for interpretation when compared to the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. >>> By Ben Schreckinger | October 17, 2008
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THE BULLETIN: Most of my mail from readers asks an important question: How has the greatest fraud, faker, liar and hypocrite in American presidential history managed to fool so many Americans? It is something that is constantly on my mind, as I consider Sen. Barack Obama to be the least qualified and most dangerous candidate in our history and that danger is compounded by our being in the most dangerous and uncertain times in our history.
Here's how I answer that question:
* The mainstream media has perpetrated the greatest piece of journalistic malpractice in history by converting itself to part of Sen. Obama's campaign apparatus. As they say, it is in the tank for Sen. Obama, and even if he were proven to be a pedophile, the mainstream media would merely praise his interest in children. There has always been some bias in political coverage, but the mainstream media is clearly over the edge and is deep into the worst kind of biased, fraudulent and dishonest reporting.
The mainstream media represents the major source of information for a huge segment of the population. I suspect if Sen. Obama supporters had been exposed to fair and balanced reporting during this campaign, Sen. Obama would have been laughed off the stage long ago, branded as unqualified, un-American and dangerous.
* Sen. Obama is a smooth and slick speechmaker and can be wound up by his handlers to say what people want to hear. For example, in the third debate, he didn't want to say he opposed offshore drilling, as he knows most voters favor it. So he slickly said he would consider it. That is the equivalent of the present vote he cast 130 times in the Illinois legislature - neither yes or no, a typical copout of the phony politician that he is. Many, unfortunately, judge candidates on their speeches, style, and charisma and don't bother to look at their record, associates, character and values. They judge the book by its cover and the easiest thing in the world is to phony up an attractive cover and title for a book. Unfortunately, few read the book or even scan a chapter or two. Yes, we may be on the brink of electing a blank slate.
* Sen. Obama has not been vetted but there is abundant evidence to indicate his actions, record, associates, character, and values are almost the precise opposite of rhetoric. He positions himself as a centrist, but has always been a far leftist. The classic example is his claim to be the nonpartisan savior that will rise above party and other divides and bring us altogether into an Obama-fashioned utopia.
In fact, he is a pure partisan, who almost always follows the party line (96 percent of the time according to one publication), who has never once took a strong stand against his own party on a significant issue and who has never once demonstrated a non-partisan approach to any significant issue.
He the most liberal man in the Senate, running with the third most liberal as his running mate. He has a history of extreme positions such as, in effect, voting in favor of infanticide and murder (his clear record against passage of the "Born Alive" bill in the Illinois legislature, to give infants born during a botched abortion the right to medical care and the right to life). He admitted during the debate that he voted present (not yes and not no) on that bill as well as on a bill to outlaw partial-birth abortion. He preaches on the difficult moral issue abortion presents but favors a bill that would outlaw all state restrictions on abortion. He views the main purpose of the U.S. Constitution to be the legalization of all forms of abortion and has never voted to restrict it in anyway (such as by requiring parental consent for minors). >>> By Herb Denenberg | October 17, 2008
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RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: Rotterdam City Council has voted Ahmed Aboutaleb as its mayor. The current deputy social affairs minister and member of the Labour party will be the first ever Dutch mayor of Moroccan origin. The appointment still has to be officially approved by the interior minister. Mr Aboutaleb will succeed Conservative VVD party member Ivo Opstelten, who has been in office for ten years. >>> | October 16, 2008
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THE JERUSALEM POST: The United Nations General Assembly will hold a vote Friday on Iran's request to become temporary member of the organization's Security Council.
Iran may be under three sets of sanctions from the UN Security Council over its nuclear program, but that has not stopped it from campaigning for the temporary membership.
The chances of Iran winning the Asian regional seat against rival Japan in Friday's voting are widely viewed as slim-to-none: Victory would require support from two-thirds of all General Assembly member countries that turn up for the secret ballot.
Yet experts said just being in the race at all may be prize enough for Teheran, which announced its candidacy in September 2007.
"As with many governments, the Iranian government sometimes finds it advantageous to portray itself as an outsider that's challenging the status quo," said Ian Hurd, a political scientist at Northwestern University in Chicago who has written about legitimacy and power on the Security Council.
"They may want to run and lose to keep that outsider status," he said.
Iran, which last sat on the Security Council in 1956, may be the only country to vie for one of the body's 10 rotating seats while under active sanctions. Rwanda already held a seat on the Security Council when genocide erupted there in 1994. Libya, which currently holds a seat, expressed interest but did not make a formal bid until after sanctions linked to the investigation of the 1988 Pan Am jet bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland were lifted in 2003, according to analysts with the Columbia University-affiliated Security Council Report.
UN rules allow any member country to declare its candidacy, but the charter instructs representatives to consider candidates' contribution to the "maintenance of international peace and security." >>> By Allison Hoffman, New York | October 17, 2008
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BBC SPORT: Football matches in France will be called off immediately if spectators jeer during the French national anthem, says the country's sports minister.
France's national anthem was booed in Tuesday's friendly win over Tunisia.
"Any match at which our national anthem is whistled at will be immediately stopped," said Roselyne Bachelot.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the booing was "insulting" and that in the event of a repeat it would be necessary "to call off matches".
"It's insulting for France, it's insulting for the players of the French team, it should not be tolerated," he added.
"I think we should stop the matches when the anthems, whichever they are, are booed." >>> | October 15, 2008
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Thursday, October 16, 2008
IL MATTINO DI PADOVA: C’è poco da contestare a Magdi Allam, gran parte di quel che dice sull’Islam è purtroppo tragicamente vero. Ha indicato imam che predicano dalle moschee tesi inconciliabili con la nostra civiltà
C’è ben poco da contestare a Magdi Allam, gran parte di quel che dice sull’Islam è purtroppo tragicamente vero. Ha indicato imam che predicano dalle moschee tesi inconciliabili con la nostra civiltà (anzi, di più: con la nostra sicurezza), e aveva sempre ragione, su quegli imam lo Stato ha aperto gli occhi con anni di ritardo, e quando li ha espulsi lo ha fatto male, con esitazione.
Ha sempre sostenuto che non qualche frangia dell’islam solitaria, separata e scismatica, è inconciliabile con la nostra tradizione e il nostro diritto, ma l’Islam tout court, e ciò che il cuore dell’I slam non si prepara alla conciliazione e alla convivenza, ma alla sostituzione della nostra civiltà. Ha detto che l’Ucoii predica la separatezza da noi, la non-conciliabilità, e talvolta ospita e protegge membri del terrorismo. Indicava i nomi.
Questo ha fatto sì che nella Consulta per l’Islam, che il governo interpella quando prepara dei provvedimenti sull’attività dell’I slam in Italia, l’Ucoii non c’è. Ha anche rivelato (pesco nella memoria) che l’Ucoii ha infiltrazioni in una moschea già attiva nel padovano e in un’altra che sta per sorgere. Magdi Allam ha toccato la punta più avanzata della sua contestazione all’Islam quando ha detto che (cito tra virgolette, uso parole sue) «l’estremismo si alimenta di una sostanziale ambiguità insita nel Corano e nell’a zione concreta svolta da Maometto». >>> di Ferdinando Camon | Venerdì 17.10.2008
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WELT ONLINE: Die Pläne der französischen EU-Ratspräsidentschaft, ein neues Partnerschaftsabkommen mit Russland auszuhandeln, gehen Italiens Ministerpräsidenten nicht weit genug. Berlusconi will, dass Russland vollwertiges Mitglied der EU wird. Ein EU-Beitritt der Russischen Föderation sei schon seit langer Zeit sein "Projekt".
Italiens Ministerpräsident Silvio Berlusconi hat sich für einen Beitritt Russlands zur Europäischen Union ausgesprochen. "Ich betrachte Russland als westliches Land und mein Plan für die Russische Förderation ist es, dass sie in den kommenden Jahren ein Mitglied der Europäischen Union wird“, sagte Berlusconi am Mittwoch vor Journalisten in Brüssel.
Zunächst müsse die EU deshalb ihre Gespräche mit Moskau über ein Partnerschaftsabkommen wieder aufnehmen, die nach dem Kaukasus-Konflikt ausgesetzt worden waren. "Ich will noch weiter gehen. Ich habe diese Vision seit Jahren“, führte Berlusconi bei seiner Ankunft beim EU-Gipfel fort.
Berlusconi pflegt seit Jahren eine freundschaftliche Beziehung zu Russlands Regierungschef Wladimir Putin und hat den früheren Präsidenten bereits mit seiner Familie auf sein Privatanwesen auf der Mittelmeerinsel Sardinien eingeladen. Europäische Union>>>> | 16. Oktober 2008
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WELT ONLINE: In Jerusalem demonstrieren Tausende Christen aus aller Welt ihre Solidarität mit Israel. Sie sind willkommen, auch wenn sie bunt geschminkt und mit der Bibel in der Hand auf der Straße für Chaos und Verwirrung sorgen. Unser Autor hat sich unter die Gläubigen gemischt und wird sogleich belehrt.
Wer den fatalen Fehler beging, am Mittwochnachmittag mit dem Auto nach Jerusalem zu fahren, war für einige Stunden beschäftigt. Die Innenstadt war abgeriegelt, Dutzende ahnungsloser Polizisten schickten zunehmend enervierte Autofahrer von A nach B und wieder zurück und die einzige zugängliche Ausfahrt führte ins palästinensische Bethlehem. Zur „Jerusalem Wanderung“ trieben sich 35.000 Fußgänger auf den Straßen der Heiligen Stadt herum.
Für die meisten israelischen Teilnehmer ist das so eine Art Wandertag: man packt sich den Rucksack mit Leckereien voll und treibt die Kinder bis zum Sacher-Park in der Innenstadt vor sich her. Doch für rund 7000 meist evangelikale christliche Teilnehmer, die aus aller Herren Länder angereist waren, um ihre Solidarität mit Israel zu bekunden, ist es ein ganz besonderes Ereignis. „Wir sind aus Kentucky hierher gekommen, weil wir Israel lieben“, sagt Jenny Robarge und zieht sich die Davidsstern Baseballmütze aus dem Gesicht. Es sei einfach Wahnsinn, hier auf den Spuren Jesu zu wandeln.
Unter den Christen herrscht Karnevalsatmosphäre, viele haben sich verkleidet oder geschminkt. Ausgelassen zieht die bunte Menge durch die Heilige Stadt, Männer und Frauen tanzen auf den Straßen und singen fröhliche Lieder. Sie schwenken Transparente: „Gott liebt sein Volk“ steht darauf oder auch nur „Genesis 12,3“. In jenem Vers verspricht Gott nämlich dem Volk Israel die Treue: „Ich will segnen, die dich segnen; wer dich verwünscht, den will ich verfluchen. Durch dich sollen alle Geschlechter der Erde Segen erlangen.“ Jenny Robarge und ihre Glaubensgenossen wollen nicht verflucht werden, und deshalb gehört dem jüdischen Staat ihre bedingungslose Solidarität. >>> Von Michael Borgstede | 16. Oktober 2008
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LE FIGARO: Le président français juge nécessaire de poursuivre «le cercle vertueux» de la coordination économique engagé à la faveur de la crise financière par les partenaires européens, qui ont répondu plutôt positivement à son appel.
Après que l'Eurogroupe a adopté le plan de sauvetage des banques, Nicolas Sarkozy tient à rester au cœur de l'action européenne. Le chef de l'Etat a annoncé jeudi qu'il prendrait avant la fin de l'année des «initiatives» pour la coordination de la politique économique des 27 pays de l'UE. Le président en exercice de l'Union européenne juge en effet nécessaire de poursuivre «le cercle vertueux» engagé à la faveur de la crise financière.
«J'ai plusieurs idées en la matière (mais) ce n'est pas le moment, ce n'est pas le lieu de les mettre sur la table», a-t-il indiqué lors de la conférence de presse clôturant le sommet européen de Bruxelles. «L'émergence du gouvernement économique de l'Europe, qu'on attend depuis si longtemps, qui a commencé dimanche dernier (lors du sommet de l'Eurogroupe à Paris, Ndlr), il ne faut pas l'arrêter. La question, en tant que président du Conseil, que j'ai posée aux chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement, c'est : si on a pu apporter une réponse coordonnée à la crise financière en Europe, ne faudrait-il pas apporter une réponse coordonnée à la crise économique en Europe ? Du point de vue de la présidence française, la réponse est oui, oui, oui. Est-ce que c'est pour l'instant l'unanimité : non, non, non». >>> S.P. (lefigaro.fr), avec AFP | 16.10.2008
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ARAB NEWS: RIYADH: An international book show on Islam and Saudi Arabia will start in London today to enhance understanding between the West and the Kingdom.
Ghainaa Communications and Studies is organizing the show in collaboration with Saudi student clubs and schools in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
"The show is designed to give a clearer view about Islam and Saudi Arabia, and will remove any misconceptions in the West," said Mohammed Al-Bishr, head of the research team overseeing the project. "This is the second show of its kind after the one held in Riyadh last year."
He added that the books to be displayed are in English and French and would tackle issues often raised in Western media about Islam and the Kingdom.
Al-Bishr noted that 77 scholars, intellectuals, politicians and media persons from the Kingdom, the rest of the Arab world, Russia, Japan, Greece, France and the United States have taken part in the project. He added that the participants expressed unbiased viewpoints on contemporary issues concerning Islam and Saudi Arabia. London Hosting Book Show on Kingdom and Islam >>> Md Rasooldeen | Thursday, October 16, 2008
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HERALD SUN: UP TO 1000 Muslim students at RMIT* are protesting against sharing a multi-faith prayer room with Christians, Jews and worshippers of other faiths.
RMIT Islamic Society vice-president Mohamed Elrafihi said the university had promised Muslim students their own prayer room at the Swanston St campus.
Five refurbished multi-faith prayer rooms -- including a foot-wash room for Muslims and a prayer room with Arabic signs and oriented towards Mecca -- were opened to students earlier this year.
But Mr Elrafihi said the Islamic-themed prayer room can be booked by other religions, which would interrupt evening Muslim prayer times.
Islamic students have refused to use the new facilities, insisting one room be dedicated for use by Muslims.
"We have nothing against multi-faith, we support multi-faith," Mr Elrafihi said.
He said RMIT had misled international students in previous promotions about Muslim prayer facilities.
"The Muslims were promised a dedicated room and that was taken from them. That has caused a lot of stress," Mr Elrafihi said.
While refusing to use the new prayer facilities for the past eight months, up to 600 Muslim students have been worshipping outdoors each Friday in nearby Bowen St, or on other days on the lawns outside RMIT's prayer halls in part of the old Melbourne jail. Muslim Students Protest about Prayer Room at RMIT >>> Mark Dunn | October 14, 2008
*Melbourne University
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THE GUARDIAN: I enjoyed a rare privilege last Friday, October 10 (which was world day against the death penalty), attending a gathering of brave and principled people to whom the death penalty might be applied in a number of countries around the world because of their beliefs or lack of them. This was the conference organised the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain to discuss apostasy – the "crime" of which all members of the Council are guilty – and associated questions about the place of religion and free thought in civil society.
The members of the Council of Ex-Muslims are people who, having thought things through for themselves, have put aside the religion they were made to accept as children – a common enough feature of the adult attainment of reason among many – but in this case the religion is Islam, which regards apostasy as punishable by death.
I wonder how many reading these words have sat in a gathering of people not a few of whom have received death threats because they think for themselves, and who have chosen a path not only personally dangerous but full of difficulty in relation to their families and communities – and who have done so because of reflectively chosen principle. It is a striking experience. In our relatively peaceful and tolerant western dispensations, disagreements of principle are rarely matters of murder; which is why some people find themselves incapable of grasping what last Friday's gathering signified.
The symbolic import of the conference was great; the substance of the discussions was absorbing and important. It was about the nature of apostasy, the freedom to choose whether or not to have a religion, and to criticise religion whether or not one subscribes to it; the question whether there should be one and the same law for all or whether Britain's Muslim minority should be allowed to apply sharia law to itself; and the question of faith schools, religious education and creationist doctrine. The themes all related to the place of the individual in civil society, and whether religious doctrine should be allowed to impose itself on those unwilling to be governed by it or – as with children – powerless to resist it.
The conference was opened by the head of the Iranian Secular Society, Fariborz Pooya, and addressed by the extraordinary and courageous Maryam Namazie, spokesperson of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, who subjected Islamism – political Islam – to scrutiny, arguing that it serves as an agency of Islamic states with serious implications for the lives, rights and freedoms of individuals, many of whom have left their countries of origin precisely to escape the repressive political and social climates there – countries with "moral police" and the death penalty for, among others, gay people, lovers who engage in extra-marital sex and people who reject religious orthodoxy.
A source of frustration for many is that they are lumped into "the Muslim community" whose self-elected spokespeople are more representative of the Islamic states that many in their "Muslim community" have fled: which is why the Council of Ex-Muslims makes a point of calling itself this, to reinforce the point that not everyone who was born into a Muslim community has to be permanently forced into homogenised membership of it. Another reason is to encourage the many closet "apostates" in that community that there is life and succour outside it. Free to Think for Themselves >>> AC Grayling | October 16. 2008
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THE NEW YORK TIMES: McCain Presses Obama in Final Debate
Senator John McCain used the final debate of the presidential election on Wednesday night to raise persistent and pointed questions about Senator Barack Obama’s character, judgment and policy prescriptions in a session that was by far the most spirited and combative of their encounters this fall.
At times showing anger and at others a methodical determination to make all his points, Mr. McCain pressed his Democratic rival on taxes, spending, the tone of the campaign and his association with the former Weather Underground leader William Ayers, using nearly every argument at his disposal in an effort to alter the course of a contest that has increasingly gone Mr. Obama’s way.
But Mr. Obama maintained a placid and at times bemused demeanor — if at times appearing to work at it — as he parried the attacks and pressed his consistent line that Mr. McCain would represent a continuation of President Bush’s unpopular policies, especially on the economy.
That set the backdrop for one of the sharpest exchanges of the evening, when, in response to Mr. Obama’s statement that Mr. McCain had repeatedly supported Mr. Bush’s economic policies, Mr. McCain fairly leaped out of his chair to say: “Senator Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago.” >>> By Jim Rutenberg | October 15, 2008
THE TELEGRAPH: US Presidential Debate: John McCain Attacks Barack Obama as High-spending Liberal
Republican nominee Senator John McCain has fulfilled the wishes of his supporters, aggressively demanding that Senator Barack Obama explain his relationship with a 1960s radical and attacking his Democratic rival as a high tax, high-spending liberal.
Saving their sharpest encounter for the final debate, the US presidential candidates offered clear differences in their visions for the country one of them will be soon be governing.
Much of their disagreement centred around an Ohio plumber, Joe Wurzelbacher, whose recently confronted Mr Obama about the higher taxes he would face under the Democrat’s plans. Several times both candidates addressed their comments to "Joe the Plumber" – "if you are watching".
Slipping further behind in the polls, Mr McCain came out fighting and repeated to Mr Obama's face some of the most negative campaign allegations about the Illinois senator.
He demanded to know the full extent of Mr Obama’s relationship with Bill Ayers, now an education professor who was the founder group of anti-Vietnam War militants called the Weather Underground that bombed government buildings in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
"I don't care about an old washed-up terrorist, but as Senator Clinton said in her debates with you, we need to know the full extent of the relationship with you," said Mr McCain. >>> By Alex Spillius in Hempstead, New York | October 16, 2008
BBC:
McCain and Obama in Tense Final Debate >>> | October 16, 2008
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THE GUARDIAN: A British man and woman were today jailed for three months after being convicted of having sex on a Dubai beach.
Vince Acors, 34, of south-east London, and Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, were arrested on Jumeirah beach in the early hours of July 5, having met that night at a £60 all-you-can-drink champagne brunch.
As well as jailing the pair, Judge Hamdi Abul Kharr fined them 1,000 dirhams (£155) and ordered their deportation after they had completed their jail sentences.
Prosecutors said the pair were seen having sex on the each after being dropped off by a taxi.
But Palmer, who works on [sic] the emirate as a publishing executive, claimed they were "just kissing and hugging".
The pair's lawyer, Hassam Matter, had said witness statements, including one from a police officer, were wrong.
He said medical examinations proved Palmer did not have sex.
Matter said the pair were "upset" by the prison sentence and he would appeal against the verdict. Dubai Beach Sex Lands British Pair in Jail >>> Elizabeth Stewart and agencies | October 16, 2008
BBC: Dubai: Britons Guilty of Having Sex on the Beach
A British man and woman have been sentenced to three months in jail in Dubai after being found guilty of having sex on a beach.
Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, and Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, were arrested on 5 July.
The pair had denied charges of public indecency and having unmarried sex.
They were fined 1,000 dirhams (£160;$350) and will be deported after serving their sentences.
The pair were not at Dubai's Court of First Instance to hear the ruling but had been ordered not to leave the emirate.
Their defence lawyer Hassan Matter had insisted they would be proved innocent and said they were upset by the verdict.
"We are making an appeal against the verdict. They have not been arrested and taken into custody yet," he said. Sex-on-Beach Trial Britons Guilty >>> | October 16, 2008
THE TELEGRAPH:
British Couple Jailed for Sex on Dubai Beach >>> By Ben Leach | October 16, 2008
Watch BBC video: Migrant workers abused in Dubai: There is growing evidence of the abuse of Asian and African domestic workers in Dubai, one of the richest destinations in the world: Christian Fraser reports from Dubai >>> | October 16, 2008
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MAIL Online: New 'strip search' full body scanners being trialled in Australia will show people's private parts, officials have admitted.
But to spare their blushes, the faces of passengers will be blurred.
Domestic travellers leaving Melbourne airport over the next six weeks will be asked to test the new security scanners that can see through clothing.
The X-ray backscatter body scanner has been described by critics as a "virtual strip search."
The scanner is similar to one that was trialled at Paddington station in London in 2006 in direct response to the tube bombings in July 2005.
Similar systems have also been tested at Gatwick airport.
Cheryl Johnson, general manager of the Office of Transport Security, said:' It will show the private parts of people, but what we've decided is that we're not going to blur those out, because it severely limits the detection capabilities. '
'It is possible to see genitals and breasts while they're going through the machine, though,' she admitted[.] Airport Admits ‘Strip Search’ Body Scanners WILL Show People Naked >>> By Richard Shears | October 15, 2008
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THE GUARDIAN: Western publishers are launching a drive to tap the Arab world for new stars, hoping to bridge the language gap with more than 200 million native Arabic speakers - and make money from selling books.
Bloomsbury announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair yesterday that it is to launch a new Arabic-language publishing house, Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing, in partnership with the Gulf state. "The emphasis so far in Qatar has been on literacy, and our second challenge is how to move from literacy to literature to create a culture," said Abdel-Rahman Azzam, a spokesman for Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, the emir's consort and the chair of the Qatar Foundation.
The venture hopes to find new talent to build on the success of Egypt's Alaa Al-Aswany and Afghanistan-born Khaled Hosseini, whose respective novels The Yacoubian Building and The Kite Runner have been international bestsellers.
Azzam said the Arabic literary world was on the cusp of a boom similar to that enjoyed by India, home of this year's Booker prize winner, Aravind Adiga.
Western interest in Arabic literature has been growing despite a paucity of published new works. Arabic is the fifth-most spoken language worldwide, with 206 million native speakers. Many feel that globalisation and the domination of English have negatively affected their native tongue. But Gulf oil and gas wealth - and the competitive urge to create and buy signature international brands - has opened up possibilities. Publishers Seek New Talent in Arab World >>> Alison Flood in Frankfurt and Ian Black | Thursday, October 16, 2008
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Wednesday, October 15, 2008
UPI: CHICAGO -- A Muslim group called Gain Peace has spent nearly $30,000 to place ads for Islam on Chicago Transit Authority buses serving the city's North Side.
The move is part of a monthlong campaign to dispel popular misconceptions about the religion, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.
Though most people interviewed by the Tribune said they hadn't noticed the ads, Gain Peace is calling the campaign a success. Group Places Ads for Islam on Buses >>> | October 15, 2008
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MSNBC: Aide says far-right politician was above legal limit when car veered off road
VIENNA, Austria - Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider was drunk at the time of his fatal car crash, his spokesman said Wednesday.
Stefan Petzner said Haider's blood alcohol level was significantly above the legal limit when he crashed his car early Saturday in the southern province of Carinthia, where he was governor. Police said his high-powered Volkswagen Phaeton was speeding at twice the posted limit when it veered off the road, crashed and flipped.
Petzner said he felt obliged to confirm widespread speculation that the former Freedom Party leader was intoxicated. Austria’s Haider Was Drunk during Fatal Crash >>> AP | October 15, 2008
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INQUIRER.NET: MANILA, Philippines -- A day after an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was beheaded in Jeddah for killing a Saudi national, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said it is closely monitoring the capital case of two more OFWs that is now going through final court procedures.
In a press conference, Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos said the case is one of 34 in varying court stages that the DFA is monitoring. He did not name the two OFWs or where they are.
"Since January 2006, the department under my watch has handled 64 probable death-row cases. Of the 64, 24 have been commuted. Of the remaining 40 cases, 34 are already filed in court and the rest are still in preliminary investigation stage," he said.
Since then, he said the other unsuccessful attempt to have a death sentence commuted was that of Reynaldo Cortez, who was executed June 2007.
At the same time, Conejos said the Philippine government has sent a note verbale to the Saudi government for the possible repatriation of the remains of Jenifer Bidoya, who was beheaded Tuesday afternoon. Saudi Arabia: Two More Filipinos Face Execution >>> By Veronica Uy | October 15, 2008
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Gains by radical parties around the globe highlight democracy’s ongoing vulnerability to anti-democratic movements. Indonesia – with its free press, stable economy, free elections, tolerant and inclusive policy – is no exception. But in local Indonesian politics, the radical Islamic Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has made dramatic gains, with extremists pressing for dress codes, Koran reading tests, laws based on sharia and other religious standards. “The PKS has taken just 10 years to transform itself from a bit player to a major force in national politics,” explains author Sadanand Dhume. Politics driven by fear, disunity among moderates due to policy differences or personal ambitions, along with governments that succumb to corruption and fail to provide basic services can boost extremist parties. Dhume warns that extremism eventually leads to a downward cycle, stifling scientific inquiry, open debate on policies and economic investment. He concludes that a moderate path requires vigilant respect for multiculturalism, tolerance and individual rights. – YaleGlobal
YALE GLOBAL ONLINE: Democracy remains highly vulnerable to determined anti-democratic movements
WASHINGTON: Against the backdrop of carnage at Islamabad’s Marriott hotel, terrorist attacks on the US embassy in San’a and the Indian embassy in Kabul, and the resurgence of Al Qaeda in Algeria, few places in the Muslim world appear as placid as Indonesia. It’s been three years since the country’s last major terrorist bombing; Al Qaeda’s local affiliate, Jemaah Islamiyah, is on the run. Democracy has blossomed: Parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 2009 will be the third consecutive free ballot since the end of General Suharto’s 32-year reign in 1998. Both the president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and the principal opposition leader, Megawati Sukarnoputri, reflect the principles of tolerance and inclusiveness bequeathed to the country by its founding fathers at independence. The Indonesian press is Southeast Asia’s freest, its cinema the region’s most vibrant.
Beneath the surface, though, Indonesian society is in ferment. Earlier this year, clerical diktats and repeated mob violence forced the government to effectively ban the Ahmadiyya, a beleaguered Islamic sect considered “heretical” by some Muslims for revering its founder alongside the prophet Mohammed. In June, in an incident rich with irony, members of the vigilante group Islamic Defenders Front, wielding bamboo staves, attacked peaceful demonstrators rallying for religious freedom at the National Monument, an iconic symbol of Indonesian unity. Dozens of district governments have enacted sharia-inspired regulations including mandatory dress codes, compulsory Koran reading tests for students and couples seeking to marry, and vice squads loosely modeled on those in Saudi Arabia and Taliban-era Afghanistan. In September, protesters from the Hindu island of Bali took to the streets to force parliament to postpone passage of a so-called anti-pornography bill whose broadly worded restrictions on clothing and artistic expression could potentially penalize Balinese culture and jeopardize its tourism-dependent economy. Bali contributes the lion’s share of Indonesia’s tourism earnings, estimated at $5.3 billion in 2007. Islamic Challenge to Indonesia’s Democracy >>> Sadanand Dhume | October 15, 2008
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NEW YORK POST: Evian, France - PREPARE for a new America: That's the message that the Rev. Jesse Jackson conveyed to participants in the first World Policy Forum, held at this French lakeside resort last week.
He promised "fundamental changes" in US foreign policy - saying America must "heal wounds" it has caused to other nations, revive its alliances and apologize for the "arrogance of the Bush administration."
The most important change would occur in the Middle East, where "decades of putting Israel's interests first" would end.
Jackson believes that, although "Zionists who have controlled American policy for decades" remain strong, they'll lose a great deal of their clout when Barack Obama enters the White House.
"Obama is about change," Jackson told me in a wide-ranging conversation. "And the change that Obama promises is not limited to what we do in America itself. It is a change of the way America looks at the world and its place in it." The O Jesse Knows: Jackson on Obama’s America >>> Amir Taheri | October 14, 2008
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Mark Thompson appears to be unaware that many Muslims are out to destroy Western civilization. Or is this fact of little consequence to the man? What a ridiculous, soft, appeasing attitude he has!
For God’s sake (not Allah’s) don’t use public funds to tread softly softly on the enemy like this. Did the BBC go easy on Hitler and the Nazis in the late Thirties and Forties? Of course not. But then, that was an altogether different time – a time when people had strength and courage, and the determination to overcome the forces working against them. - ©Mark
THE TELEGRAPH: Islam should be treated more sensitively by the media than Christianity, according to the director general of the BBC.
Mark Thompson claimed that because Muslims are a religious minority in Britain and also often from ethnic minorities, their faith should be given different coverage to that of more established groups.
His comments come after the comedian Ben Elton accused the BBC of being scared of making jokes about Islam, while Hindus have claimed it favours Muslims over other religions.
But Mr Thompson, speaking at the annual public theology lecture of the religion think-tank Theos, insisted the state broadcaster would show programmes that criticised Islam if they were of sufficient quality.
The director general, whose corporation faced accusations of blasphemy from Christians after it allowed the transmission of the musical Jerry Springer -The Opera, also said his Christian beliefs guided his judgments and disclosed that he had never watched the Monty Python film Life of Brian which satirises the story of Jesus.
In his speech last night, Mr Thompson claimed there are now more programmes about religion on BBC television and radio than there have been in recent decades, whereas coverage has declined on ITV.
But asked whether it was correct that the BBC "let vicar gags pass but not imam gags", as Elton claimed, he admitted it did take a different approach to Islam, which has 1.6million followers in Britain, compared to its approach to the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church.
Mr Thompson said: "My view is that there is a difference between the position of Christianity, which I believe should be central to the BBC's religion coverage and widely respected and followed.
"What Christian identity feels like it is about to the broad population is a little bit different to people for whom their religion is also associated with an ethnic identity which has not been fully integrated. BBC Boss Says Islam Should Be Treated More Sensitively than Christianity >>> By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent | October 15, 2008
MAIL ONLINE: The BBC Will Tackle Islam Differently to [sic] Christianity … and We Won’t Make Jokes about It, Admits Director General
BBC director general Mark Thompson has admitted that the broadcaster has to tackle Islam differently to [sic] Christianity and is reluctant to broadcast jokes about it.
He suggested that coverage needed to consider the feelings of Muslims because they are a religious minority, and had not fully integrated in to British society.
Mr Thompson was responding to comments made by comedian Ben Elton earlier this year who accused the BBC of being too scared to joke about Islam.
He said the corporation was too concerned with political correctness to poke fun at imams but were happy to satirise vicars.
Speaking at an annual theology lecture for religious think tank Theos, Mr Thompson said: 'My view is that there is a difference between the position of Christianity, which I believe should be central to the BBC's religion coverage and widely respected and followed.
'What Christian identity feels like to the broad population is a little bit different to people for whom their religion is also associated with an ethnic identity which has not been fully integrated.
'There's no reason why any religion should be immune from discussion, but I don't want to say that all religions are the same. To be a minority I think puts a slightly different outlook on it.'
Elton made his comments earlier this year in an interview with Christian magazine Third Way when he was asked if too much deference was shown to religious people.
'I think it all starts with people nodding whenever anybody says, 'As a person of faith ...',' he said.
'And I believe that part of it is due to the genuine fear that the authorities and the community have about provoking the radical elements of Islam," he said.
'There's no doubt about it, the BBC will let vicar gags pass but they would not let imam gags pass. They might pretend that it's, you know, something to do with their moral sensibilities, but it isn't. It's because they're scared. I know these people.'
However Thompson's admission was met with derision by Christian and media groups.
Stephen Green, director of Christian Voice, said: 'Mr Thompson seems to be saying that because Islam is a minority religion it should be treated with kid gloves.
'This is ridiculous. All religions should be treated with equally and with the same approach. I think the reality is that the BBC treats coverage of Islam and Muslims differently because it is terrified of offending them. It is political correctness. The BBC is simply not bothered about offending Christians despite the majority of this country being of that faith.'
John Beyer, director of Mediawatch, said: 'All religions need to be treated in the same way, otherwise how can the BBC claim to be impartial?
'I think that any approach to religious debate and discussion that is not impartial is not what the BBC should be doing.' >>> By Liz Thomas | October 15, 2008
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THE TELEGRAPH: A Muslim convert has admitted trying to blow himself up at a shopping centre with a home-made nail bomb.
Nicky Reilly, 22, who uses the Muslim name Mohamed Abdulaziz Rashid Saeed-Alim, pleaded guilty to launching the failed attack on a busy family restaurant at the Princesshay shopping centre in Exeter in May this year
Reilly researched how to make a bomb, acquired the components and made three devices using caustic soda, paraffin and aluminium foil, along with nails, which he had put in glass soft drink bottles.
But when he attempted to assemble one of the soft drink bottle bombs in the toilet cubicle of the restaurant it exploded in his hands.
Reilly appeared at the Old Bailey via a video link and pleaded guilty to attempted murder at the Giraffe restaurant.
He also admitted engaging in preparation for terrorism in that he researched targets and how to make bombs and prepared three of them in the restaurant.
Two charges under the Explosives Act were not put to him because prosecutor Stuart Baker told the court that they were alternatives to the more serious charges. Muslim Convert Admits Attempted Suicide Terror Attack >>> By Duncan Gardham, Security Correspondent | October 15, 2008
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Tuesday, October 14, 2008
BRUSSELS JOURNAL: The French government is strongly advocating the teaching of Arabic language and civilization in French schools. Not surprising, considering the number of Arabs and Muslims in France, and the unctuous deference with which they are treated by officials, beginning notably with Nicolas Sarkozy, who cannot praise enough the splendor of Arabic contributions to the world.
The French National Assembly was the scene of a meeting earlier this month of the first Conference on the Teaching of Arabic Language and Culture, attended by a variety of interested parties. There was much wearisome blather about the need for "dialogue."
In his message to the participants, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Arabic the "language of the future, of science and of modernity," and expressed the hope that "more French people share in the language that expresses great civilizational and spiritual values." Sarkozy: Arabic Is the Language of the Future >>> From the desk of Tiberge | October 14, 2008
Hat tip: Tundra Tabloids >>>
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WIENER ZEITUNG: FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian Strache has said that he sees himself as the only heir of former BZÖ leader and Carinthian Governor Jörg Haider in the so-called "Dritte Lager" or right-wing Third Camp of Austrian politics.
The "Dritte Lager" includes right-wing, nationalist and economically-liberal voters in Austria and is the country’s third big camp after Social Democrat (SPÖ) and People's Party (ÖVP) members and sympathisers, respectively.
Strache said that the BZÖ had represented only Haider himself after he split from the FPÖ and formed the BZÖ in 2005.
Strache added that he was inviting "all reasonable forces", voters and politicians to support the "solid path of the FPÖ".
Strache expressed appreciation for the work of his former mentor Haider, with whom he fell out before the BZÖ was founded.
Strache said that Haider had created a new style of politics and made the FPÖ into a strong party.
Strache claimed that he was very pleased that he had had an opportunity to discuss issues with Haider in a meeting last week. Strache, however, ruled out reunification of Austria’s right-wing parties. [Source: Wiener Zeitung] | 14. October 2008
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BBC: For middle aged and older people at least, using the internet helps boost brain power, research suggests.
A University of California Los Angeles team found searching the web stimulates centres in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning.
The researchers say this might even help to counter-act the age-related physiological changes that cause the brain to slow down.
The study features in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
As the brain ages, a number of changes occur, including shrinkage and reductions in cell activity, which can impact on performance.
It has long been thought that activities which keep the brain active, such as crossword puzzles, may help minimise the impact - and the latest study suggests that surfing the web can be added to the list.
Lead researcher Professor Gary Small said: "The study results are encouraging, that emerging computerized technologies may have physiological effects and potential benefits for middle-aged and older adults.
"Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function." Internet Use ‘Good for the Brain’ >>> | October 14, 2008
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SUEDDEUTSCHE: Angst vor dem Staatsbankrott: Die Isländer fürchten die Zahlungsunfähigkeit ihres Staates und decken sich mit dem Nötigsten ein. Die Lebensmittelpreise steigen bereits - bald könnte Nahrung knapp werden.
Islands Kaufrausch der vergangenen Jahre hat längst ein Ende gefunden. Nun setzt in diesen Tagen ein letzter Spurt auf die Geschäfte ein - einige Ladenbetreiber melden doppelt so hohe Umsätze. Der Ursprung ihres Handelns bereitet allerdings Grund zur Sorge: Die Isländer decken sich mit Lebensmitteln ein - bevor das Land möglicherweise Bankrott anmelden muss. Folgen der Finanzkrise: Isländer horten Nahrung >>> | 14. Oktober 2008
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THE GUARDIAN: Poor foreign workers bear the brunt of "the stark horror" of Saudi Arabia's secretive death penalty system, Amnesty International said today, with a Saudi citizen up to eight times more likely to escape execution through a "blood money" payment than a foreigner.
Foreign nationals, mostly Asians and Africans, who face capital trials in the conservative kingdom are frequently unable to understand court proceedings if they are not Arabic speakers, are often not represented by a lawyer and are routinely held for long periods in harsh conditions and coerced into false confessions.
"Poor foreign workers are literally paying with their lives when accused of capital crimes in Saudi Arabia," said Amnesty International's UK Director Kate Allen. "Frequently bamboozled by secretive and unfair trials conducted in a language they don't even understand, they go to their deaths with little assistance from their home countries and little mercy from a grossly unfair Saudi justice system."
The Saudi authorities do not provide statistics on the use of the death penalty but Amnesty recorded at least 1,695 executions between 1985 and May 2008. Of these, 830 were foreign nationals and 809 Saudis (with the nationality of 56 unknown). Foreigners make up about a quarter of the country's population of 28 million.
Executions are currently carried out at an average of more than two per week, most by beheading and many in public. Two beheadings last Sunday brought to 74 the number carried out this year. Last year a record 153 people were executed, compared with 37 in 2006. The previous record, of 113, was in 2000.
Saudi Arabia is one of the few states in the world with a high rate of executions for women. It is also one of the few to execute people for crimes they committed when they were still under the age of 18. Amnesty Condemns ‘Horror’ of Saudi Executions >>> Ian Black, Middle East Editor | October 14, 2008
GMA News.TV: Saudi Arabia: Filipino and Saudi Man Executed
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi authorities have announced the beheading of a Saudi and a Filipino man.
The Interior Ministry says Finansho Ladion, from the Philippines, was convicted of murdering a Saudi man in the holy city of Mecca by suffocating the man and piercing his neck with a pen.
Saudi national Fahd al-Shadoukhey was convicted of theft and rape while under the influence of alcohol. >>> AP | October 14, 2008
More on the executed Filipino >>> GMANews.TV | October 14, 2008
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