Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Niere an reiche Saudis verkauft – mit fatalen Folgen

TAGES ANZEIGER: Arme Ägypter sind in der Zange von Organhändlern, und es entstand ein grosser Schwarzmarkt für illegale Transplantationen. Aus bitterer Armut verkaufte ein junges Ehepaar aus einem Slum von Kairo seine gesamten Habseligkeiten. Und mehr.

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Krank, mutlos, desillusioniert: Abdel Rahman Abdel Asis. Bild dank dem Tages Anzeiger

Als das immer noch nicht reichte, verkauften die beiden je eine ihrer Nieren. Heute sind sie ärmer als je zuvor und dazu schwer krank. Jede Bewegung wird ihnen schon zu viel, so dass sie die meiste Zeit nur noch im Bett verbringen. «Wenn mich jemand über die Gefahren aufgeklärt hätte, hätte ich das nie gemacht», klagt der 24-jährige Abdel Rahman Abdel Asis, der wegen seiner Krankheit viel älter wirkt.

Der Organhandel floriert in Ägypten, wie die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) unlängst in einem Bericht kritisierte, in dem noch weitere Länder diesbezüglich angeprangert werden. Unter internationalem Druck haben China, Pakistan und die Philippinen ihre Gesetze inzwischen geändert und sowohl den kommerziellen Verkauf von Organen als auch deren Verpflanzung an Ausländer verboten. Dies scheint in Ägypten angesichts eines gesetzlichen Vakuums einen regelrechten Transplantationstourismus ausgelöst zu haben.

Die Empfänger von Organen sind häufig Ausländer, besonders Saudi-Araber. Sie zahlen auf dem Schwarzmarkt umgerechnet gut 12'000 Euro für eine Spenderniere, wie Experten schätzen. Die Spender kommen zumeist aus den Slums von Kairo und erhalten manchmal nur ein Zehntel dieser Summe. Über die Gefahren des Eingriffs werden sie kaum aufgeklärt, und eine medizinische Nachbehandlung wird ihnen nicht zuteil. Sollten also Komplikationen eintreten, sind die Spender, die zumeist keine Krankenversicherung haben, völlig allein gelassen. >>> ap | Mittwoch, 18. März 2009

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Pat Condell: Free Speech Is Sacred


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VTB Mulls Russian Debut on Sukuk Market

REUTERS: MOSCOW - Russia's second largest bank VTB (VTBR.MM) may become the country's first issuer of sukuk or Islamic bonds and is considering a deal worth several million dollars, VTB's investment banking head said on Wednesday.

Russian companies need to be more creative about raising capital as usual sources of funding have dried up in the global credit crunch and around $100 billion of foreign corporate debt payments are due this year. "We are looking at the possibility of entering this market (Islamic finance) -- both for us and for our clients," VTB Capital head Yuri Solovyov told journalists, adding that an issue from VTB could be worth several million dollars.

He declined to name which other Russian companies had expressed interest in such financing.

Globally, $14.9 billion worth of sukuk were issued last year, less than half 2007's issuance, according to Standard & Poor's.

To comply with Islam's ban on interest, sukuk are structured as profit-sharing or rental agreements, and returns are derived from underlying physical assets such as commodities or real estate. Investment, pork, alcohol, gambling and pornography is banned.

To date there have been no Russian issuers of sukuk. >>> © Thomson Reuters 2009 | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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UK MP Calls for Immigration Limits

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: Britain should adopt Australian-style limits on immigration in light of the global financial crisis, the UK opposition said on Wednesday.

Opposition immigration spokesman Damian Green said figures showing one in seven pupils in British primary schools does not speak English as a first language illustrated the need to curb immigration.

"These shocking figures illustrate how difficult life is for many teachers because of the government's long-term failure to control immigration," the Conservative Party MP told the Daily Mail.

"They show why we badly need an annual limit on immigration.

"Australia has a limit which it has just reduced because of the recession - Britain should be able to do the same thing. >>> © 2009 AAP | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Syria's Assad Praises Obama, Wants Meeting

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Photo of Bashar al-Assad courtesy of Reuters

REUTERS: ROME - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he hoped to meet U.S. President Barack Obama and expressed his willingness to help mediate between the West and Iran.

Assad, in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica published on Wednesday, also confirmed he was ready to resume peace negotiations with Israel but expressed concern about the political climate there.

"With the pullout in Iraq, the will for peace, the closing of Guantanamo, (Obama) has shown himself to be a man of his word," he said, referring to the U.S. naval base in Cuba where hundreds of suspected Islamist militants have been held, most for years without trial.

But Assad said it was too soon to speak of a "historic shift" in U.S. foreign policy.

Asked about meeting Obama, Assad said: "Yes, in principle. It would be a very positive sign. But I'm not looking for a photo opportunity. I want to see him, to talk." >>> Writing by Phil Stewart; Editing by Matthew Jones | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Egypt Ready to Forget Lieberman's 'Go to Hell' Remarks

HAARETZ: The Egyptian ambassador to Israel said this week that his country is ready to forget previous threatening statements by Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman, who appears likely to be foreign minister in the incoming Israeli government.

Cairo was particularly incensed by Lieberman's statement several years ago that should Arab countries launch an attack on Israel, Israel would be justified in responding by bombing Egypt's Aswan Dam, among other targets. Egypt was also infuriated by his statement in the Knesset last October that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak "could go to hell."

Yasser Rida, speaking at the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv at the beginning of the week, said that Egypt would be ready to cooperate with the new government and would judge it by its actions, rather than by past statements. He added that Egypt would invite Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu to Cairo for an official visit as soon as he takes office. >>> By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Jewish Group: Dialogue with Muslims More Urgent Than Ties with Vatican

HAARETZ: A top Jewish umbrella organization in the United States is launching a campaign to initiate dialogue and cooperative efforts with the Muslim community.

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs announced the initiative as part of a bid to shift the focus from the community's recent rapprochement with Pope Benedict XVI. While restoring good ties with the Catholic Church is seen as important, especially following the fallout over the bishop who was reinstated despite his past statements denying the Holocaust.

There is a growing sense among activists and rabbis in the Jewish community that reaching out to American Muslims is a more urgent need than relations with Catholics.

The JCPA says it seeks to foster greater Jewish-Muslim cooperation in promoting civil rights, defending civil liberties, and combating terrorism.

The JCPA also says it seeks to join forces with Muslims to combat anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and anti-Islamic prejudice. >>> By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Denmark Moves to Allow Gay Couples to Adopt

THE EARTH TIMES: Copenhagen - A Danish parliament vote allowing same-sex couples to adopt children continued Wednesday to generate reaction from opponents and supporters. The legislation was passed Tuesday by a 63 to 52 vote after six members of the Liberal Party, the main force in the minority government, broke ranks and voted for the proposal.

The government must now draft a bill to be presented to parliament.

The populist Danish People's Party that backs the government was Wednesday critical that six members of Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's Liberal Party broke file. >>> DPA | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Working Paper Presented at the First Business Forum on Islamic Finance in Spain; Focusing on Finance as Bridge between Arab and Western Worlds

AL BAWABA (البوابه): Event is sponsored by the King Abdul-Aziz University and the Spanish IE Business School

Al-Khabeer, a leading sharia’a compliant investment bank that operates in both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, has been invited to participate as the only private company from the Arab World in the first-ever Business Forum on Islamic Finance, organized by the IE Business School, one of the top ranked business schools in Europe in collaboration with the King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah.

The forum, which is being held today (Wednesday, March 18, 2009) at the IE Business School in Madrid, Spain, is sponsored by Expansion newspaper, the most influential and widely read daily financial Spanish newspaper, and will be attended by a powerful gathering of decision makers from the Spanish and Latin American business communities. Al Khabeer Merchant Finance Corporation in Saudi Arabia and its sister company Al-Khabeer International in Bahrain was invited by its Executive Director Mr. Amar Shata to attend the forum to present a working paper on Islamic finance outside the Islamic world, focusing on its impact in strengthening ties between the Arab and Western Worlds. >>> © 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com) | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Sources: US to Sign UN Gay Rights Declaration

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE: Washington (AP) – The Obama administration will endorse a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality that then-President George W. Bush had refused to sign, The Associated Press has learned.

U.S. officials said Tuesday they had notified the declaration's French sponsors that the administration wants to be added as a supporter. The Bush administration was criticized in December when it was the only western government that refused to sign on.

The move was made after an interagency review of the Bush administration's position on the nonbinding document, which was signed by all 27 European Union members as well as Japan, Australia, Mexico and three dozen other countries, the officials said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Congress was still being notified of the decision. They said the administration had decided to sign the declaration to demonstrate that the United States supports human rights for all.

"The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world," said one official.

"As such, we join with the other supporters of this statement and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora," the official said.

The official added that the United States was concerned about "violence and human rights abuses against gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual individuals" and was also "troubled by the criminalization of sexual orientation in many countries." >>> By Matthew Lee, Associated Press Writer | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Pjongjang will keine US-Nahrungshilfen mehr: Möglicherweise plant Nordkorea Langstrecken-Raketentest

NZZ Online: Nordkorea will nach Angaben der amerikanischen Regierung keine weiteren Nahrungshilfen aus den USA erhalten. Dies habe die Regierung des ostasiatischen Landes mitgeteilt, eine Begründung habe es nicht begeben, sagte der Sprecher des US-Aussenministeriums.

«Es handelt sich um ein Programm, das als Ziel hat, Lebensmittel zur notleidenden Bevölkerung zu bringen», sagte der Sprecher, Robert Wood, am Mittwoch in Washington weiter.

Die jüngste Ankündigung Nordkoreas, einen eigenen Satelliten zu starten, hatte die Spannungen zwischen beiden Ländern erheblich erhöht. Die USA hatten Nordkorea aufgefordert, auf den geplanten Start zu verzichten, es handle sich um einen «provokativen Akt». Die USA sowie Südkorea und Japan vermuten, in Wirklichkeit wolle Nordkorea eine militärische Langstreckenrakete testen, die theoretisch auch US-Gebiet erreichen könnte. >>> sda/dpa/Reuters | Mittwoch, 18. März 2009

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Une veuve syrienne divise l'Arabie saoudite

LE FIGARO: En condamnant à 40 coups de fouet cette femme de 75 ans, la police religieuse veut montrer son pouvoir au moment où le roi annonce des réformes libérales.

Khamisa Sawadi, une veuve de nationalité syrienne, a été lourdement condamnée : 40 coups de fouets et quatre mois de prison, suivis d'une expulsion définitive d'Arabie saoudite. Son crime : avoir reçu chez elle deux jeunes hommes qui n'appartenaient pas à sa famille directe, en contravention avec les lois en vigueur. Fahd al-Anzi et Hadiyan Bin Zein ont eux aussi écopé d'une peine de prison et de coups de fouet.

Le cas de Khamisa Sawadi, âgée de 75 ans, divise l'Arabie saoudite, au moment où le roi Abdallah vient d'annoncer des réformes libérales. «Encore une histoire absurde», s'indigne Hatoun al-Fassi, professeur à l'université du Roi-Saoud et militante de la cause des femmes. Dans la ville d'al-Shamli, au nord du royaume, les deux jeunes ont été arrêtés au moment où ils sortaient de la maison de Khamisa par la police religieuse, les mutawa, reconnaissables à leur barbe broussailleuse et à leur robe s'arrêtant au mollet.

Les deux «coupables» ont expliqué qu'ils faisaient les courses pour la vieille dame. L'un des deux, Fahd, est en outre le neveu du défunt mari de Khamisa. Mais la charia (la loi islamique), c'est la charia, indique un avocat interrogé par la presse, Me Ibrahim Zamazami. Certes, une femme de 75 ans n'est «habituellement pas considérée comme séduisante, reconnaît l'avocat, mais l'âge n'est pas une raison suffisante pour un acquittement». En revanche, les charges pourraient être rejetées en appel si Khamisa a bien été la nourrice de Fahd, comme celui-ci l'affirme, ce qui ferait de lui l'équivalent du fils de la vieille dame. >>> Pierre Prier | Mardi 17 Mars 2009

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Hamid Karzai Warns World Leaders Not to Interfere in Afghanistan Government

THE GUARDIAN: President tells foreign partners to respect his country's independence

The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, today warned the international community not to meddle in the government of his country as it prepares to go to the polls for presidential elections this summer.

Speaking alongside the Nato secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, at a news conference in Kabul, Karzai said the government's foreign partners should respect his country's independence.

"Afghanistan … will never be a puppet state," he said.

The president faces a battle for re-election in August, with Afghanistan embroiled in a Taliban-led insurgency and his government being criticised by the US and other nations as inefficient and corrupt.

As the new US administration shifts the focus from Iraq to Afghanistan, the US president, Barack Obama, has also ordered a review of strategy in the region.

The results of the review are expected to be revealed later this month.

In response to the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, Obama has sent thousands of extra troops to the country's south – the Taliban's heartland – and urged Nato allies to do more. >>> Associated Press | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Jobless Total Rockets to Two Million

TIMESONLINE: The number of people signing on for jobless benefits jumped at the fastest rate since 1971 last month as the number of people out of work rose to more than two million, the highest level since Labour came to power in 1997, official figures show.

The number of people claiming jobless benefits rose by a record 138,400 last month, taking the total number in dole queues to 1.39 million, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.

The wider survey-based measure of unemployment showed that the number of people out of work jumped by 165,000 in the three months to January, to 2.03 million, the highest level since Tony Blair became Prime Minister.

Some City economists forecast that unemployment is set to spiral much higher, to about 3.3 million, levels not seen even during the 1980s recession.

Sterling fell to fresh seven-week low against the euro of 93.96 pence, while the pound hit a session low against the dollar at $1.3848 as investors digested the bleak figures. >>> Grainne Gilmore | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Simon Heffer: President Barack Obama: Perhaps He Can't Fix It...

THE TELEGRAPH: President Obama has been in power for just over 50 days, but already critics believe his plans to save America from disaster are doomed

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Photo by Reuters courtesy of The Telegraph

Even in the worst economic crisis since the 1930s, New York knows how to throw a party. For most of yesterday hundreds of thousands of people made a sea of green that paraded up Fifth Avenue to mark St Patrick’s Day. Tens of thousands lined the street to watch them. The all-day party, fuelled by imports of Guinness and whiskey, seemed the more intensely engaged upon as an escape from omnipresent financial gloom.

Away from the party, the mood in America’s cultural and business capital is more firmly anchored in stark reality, and quite different from the euphoria that pervaded it when I was last here, on election day. President Obama still enjoys the popularity that comes with not being George Bush, especially in a city top-heavy with Democrats. But his initial response to the global calamity that he found on entering the Oval Office has not inspired popularity’s more sober elder brother, confidence. Large constituencies, notably business, are voicing their scepticism openly. The President’s much-vaunted $787 billion stimulus package is being widely interpreted, even by some of those (such as Warren Buffett, America’s second-richest man) who openly supported Mr Obama for the presidency, as a serious failure. And we are only just past the first 50 days.

Mr Obama is lucky that his Republican opponents in Congress are disorganised, incoherent and without ideas of their own. The White House branded Rush Limbaugh, the populist talk radio host, leader of the opposition, following an assault Limbaugh had made on the President’s neo-socialist policies. This remark was designed not just to humiliate elected Republicans for their impotence, but also to attempt to terrify the American public at the thought of a man widely seen as a demagogue and an extremist leading a main political movement. It should worry Mr Obama that while the former part of the strategy has hit home, the latter hasn’t. >>> Simon Heffer | Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Partagez le dîner donné en l'honneur du président libanais

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GALA.fr: Venu spécialement de Beyrouth, Michel Sleimane a entamé lundi un séjour officiel dans notre charmant pays. Pour cette première visite d'un chef d'Etat arabe depuis l'élection du Président la République, pas question pour le couple Sarkozy de recevoir entre deux portes du Château. Dorures, VIP, et Grand Croix de la Légion d'honneur étaient donc de la partie.

Arrivés dans l'après-midi à Paris, le Général et son épouse Wafaa ont été immédiatement escorté en grande pompe par un détachement à cheval de la Garde républicaine jusqu'à leurs quartiers de l'hôtel de Marigny. Après un repos bien mérité, les invités libanais ont retrouvé Nicolas et Carlita sur le perron de l’Elysée. Fourreau de velours noir pour Madame, smocking et nœud-pap’ assortis pour Monsieur, les hôtes français ont ensuite orchestré un véritable défilé de stars politiques. Qui a eu la chance d’assister à cette réception de prestige? Qui a osé la robe fendue jusqu’à l’indécence? Qui a préféré rivaliser d’élégance avec notre First Lady?

Regardez les clichés inédits de cette soirée d’exception. Et découvrez les célébrités du gouvernement sous un autre jour. Sexy et ultra glamour!

Par Justine Boivin
Mardi 17 mars 2009


Bienvenue chez les Sarkozy! >>>

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

BS from Obama: O'bama? Barack Reveals Irish Roots

US President Obama revealed to the Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowan that one of his distant relations came from the same county in Ireland.

Mr Obama was speaking at the the Shamrock Ceremony at the White House to celebrate St Patrick's Day. >>>
| Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Gaffney: Embracing of Shariah?

THE WASHINGTON TIMES: 'Respect' should be a two-way street

President Obama on Friday reiterated for the umpteenth time his determination to develop a “new relationship” with the Muslim world. On this occasion, the audience were the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Unfortunately, it increasingly appears that, in so doing, he will be embracing the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood - an organization dedicated to promoting the theo-political-legal program authoritative Islam calls Shariah and that has the self-described mission of “destroying Western civilization from within.”

As part of Mr. Obama's “Respect Islam” campaign, he will travel to Turkey in early April. While there, he will not only pay tribute to an Islamist government that has systematically wrested every institution from the secular tradition of Kemal Ataturk and put the country squarely on the path to Islamification. He will also participate in something called the “Alliance of Civilizations.”

The Alliance is a United Nations-sponsored affair that reflects - as, increasingly do most things the United Nations is involved in - the views of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The OIC is made up of 57 Muslim-majority nations. Thanks to support from Saudi Arabia and its proxies, the Muslim Brotherhood has become a driving force within the Conference and their agendas largely coincide. >>> Frank Gaffney Jr. | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Pope Claims Condoms Could Make African Aids Crisis Worse

THE GUARDIAN: Pontiff's remarks on first visit to continent outrage health agencies trying to halt spread of HIV and Aids

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Pope Benedict XVI: Remarks have angered health workers trying to fight outbreak. Photo courtesy of The Guardian

The Pope today reignited the controversy over the Catholic church's stance on condom use as he made his first trip to Africa.

The pontiff said condoms were not the answer to the continent's fight against HIV and Aids and could make the problem worse.

Benedict XVI made his comments as he flew to Cameroon for the first leg of a six-day trip that will also see him travelling to Angola.

The timing of his remarks outraged health agencies trying to halt the spread of HIV and Aids in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 22 million people are infected.

The Roman Catholic church encourages sexual abstinence and fidelity to prevent the disease from spreading, but it is a policy that has divided some clergy working with Aids patients.

The pontiff, speaking to journalists on his flight, said the condition was "a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems". >>> Riazat Butt | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

LEXPRESS.fr: Benoît XVI crée de nouveau la polémique

En route vers le Cameroun, première étape de son voyage d'une semaine sur le continent africain, Benoît XVI a lancé une nouvelle polémique. Dans la lutte contre le sida, qui fait des ravages en Afrique, la distribution de préservatifs "accroît le problème", a indiqué le Saint Père.

C'était son premier voyage en Afrique. Il devait évoquer les thèmes de la justice, de la réconciliation et de la paix. Patatras! Dans l'avion qui l'amenait au Cameroun, Benoît XVI a lâché "la" phrase de trop. Interrogé sur la bataille contre le sida sur le continent, le Saint-Père a répondu aux journalistes: "On ne peut la résoudre avec la distribution de préservatifs. Au contraire, cela accroît le problème." L'entourage du pape ne pouvait ignorer qu'il serait interrogé sur le sujet du sida, extrêmement sensible en Afrique, où les prêtres sont régulièrement confrontés à des cas de conscience, et parfois amenés à distribuer eux-mêmes des capotes. Il savait aussi combien Jean-Paul II fut maintes fois critiqué dans les médias occidentaux pour ne pas avoir pris position plus clairement sur l'usage du préservatif -ce qui, soit-dit en passant, eût été inconcevable de la part d'un pape. Benoît XVI était donc, pour parler clairement, "attendu au tournant". Sa réponse n'en a été que plus maladroite. "Il s'est mal exprimé, c'est vrai, mais il veut simplement dire que la fidélité au sein du couple est la seule façon efficace de combattre la pandémie", glisse un prêtre d'une paroisse rurale. >>> Par Claire Chartier | Mardi 17 Mars 2009

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Avigdor Lieberman - Branded Arab-hating Racist - Set to Be Israeli Foreign Minister

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Photo of Avigdor Lieberman courtesy of TimesOnline

TIMESONLINE: Israel's next foreign minister looks set to be Avigdor Lieberman, the Soviet immigrant whose controversial policies have been condemned widely by the country's regional neighbours. His critics accuse him of being an Arab-hating racist but he is hailed by supporters as a strongman who will deal harshly with the state's enemies, in particular Iran, which he has threatened to bomb.

Mr Lieberman has threatened to bomb a number of Israel's neighbours, including Egypt, with whom the Jewish state has a peace treaty. During a parliamentary debate last year Mr Lieberman also criticised Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's President, for never visiting the Jewish state.

Egypt was the first country yesterday to warn that the appointment could cause more setbacks for the peace process. “We are standing before a negative factor that is likely to damage the peace process,”Ahmad Abul Ghait, the Foreign Minister, said during a visit to the European parliament.

The appointment appeared to be on track though after Mr Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party, which came third in February's elections, cut a deal with Likud to form a coalition.

Under the agreement Yisrael Beitenu would receive five ministerial posts, including the Foreign Ministry, which its leader is set to take. >>> James Hider in Jerusalem | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Egypt's Step Towards Freedom of Belief

THE GUARDIAN: A court ruling that Egyptians will no longer be forced to pick from three approved religions is a crucial victory for equal rights

Egypt took a small but important step towards freedom of belief and equal rights yesterday when a court ruled that the "religion" section on national identity cards can be left blank.

In 1995 the Egyptian government began introducing computerised ID cards which forced everyone to identify themselves as belonging to one of the three "heavenly" religions: Islam, Christianity or Judaism. Cards could not be issued to anyone who refused to accept this, with the result that they effectively became non-citizens, unable to work legally, study beyond secondary school, vote, operate a bank account, obtain a driver's licence, buy and sell property, collect a pension, or travel.

The practice of restricting religion on ID cards to three officially approved choices had no basis in Egyptian law but was derived from the interior ministry's own (possibly erroneous) interpretation of Islamic teaching. It was challenged in the courts by several members of the Baha'i faith, which is thought to have around 2,000 followers in Egypt.

The Baha'i originated in Iran during the 19th century and by the early 20th century also had a flourishing community in Egypt.

Although the Baha'i faith is often regarded as a heretical offshoot of Islam, the Egyptian community was initially tolerated, but its position worsened in the 1950s – partly because of its accidental connections with Israel. In 1868, after being banished from his native Persia, the founder of the faith, Baha'u'llah, was exiled with his family and a small band of followers to the Turkish penal colony of Acre. As a result of this, the faith's international headquarters was established in the Acre/Haifa area, which later became part of Israel.

In the 1960s, President Nasser issued a decree which, in effect, withdrew state recognition from the Baha'i community and confiscated their property. Nasser's decree was reaffirmed by the supreme court in 1975 in a ruling which said that only the three "revealed" religions were protected by the constitution: the Baha'is were entitled to their beliefs but practice of the Baha'i faith was a "threat to public order" and therefore fell outside the constitutional protection for freedom of religion.

Yesterday's victory by the Baha'is in the supreme administrative court appears to mark the end of a five-year battle over the ID cards, since there is no route for further appeals by the Islamist lawyers who have been fighting them since the government dropped out. "The significance of [yesterday's] decision… >>> Brian Whitaker | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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European Rights Court Rules Turkey Abused Women

REUTERS: ISTANBUL - The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that Turkish police had abused two teenage girls suspected of supporting Kurdish separatism and authorities had failed to investigate their complaints properly.

Judges found credible the claims that Nazime Ceren Salmanoglu and Fatma Deniz Polattas, who were 16 and 19 at the time, were physically and sexually abused when police arrested them in 1999 during an operation against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), according to a statement from the court.

The abuse included sodomy and forced virginity tests, which violate conventions against discrimination, the statement said.

Turkey has vowed to wipe out torture to meet European Union membership criteria on human rights. The European Commission said in its annual progress report it was "concerned" about an increase last year in the number of complaints of abuse. >>> © Thomson Reuters 2009 | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Bulgaria: Radical Islam Row Continues

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Ahmed Bashev, mayor of Gurmen municipality in south-western Bulgaria, receives a warm welcome by Ribnovo residents upon his return from the State Agency for National Security. Photo courtesy of The Sofia Echo

THE SOFIA ECHO: A hero's welcome greeted the mayor of Gurmen municipality in southwestern Bulgaria, Ahmed Bashev, and Mourat Boshnak, a teacher of Islam in the village of Ribnovo, on their return on March 16 2009 from the State Agency for National Security (SANS).



The two were taken to SANS's headquarters in the early hours of March 16 2009 for questioning after a request from prosecutors in relation to tip-offs that the two had been preaching radical Islam and forcing youngsters to adhere to an Islamic dress code and way of life. 



The tip-off came from independent MP Yane Yanev who, on March 14 2009, almost got into a fight with Boshnak during a debate on private national bTV broadcaster about whether radical Islam was on the rise in the western Rhodopi mountains, where the population is predominantly Muslim.



Yanev claimed that people from the area had told him about both Bashev and Boshnak forcing students and teachers to wear Muslim clothes (headscarf for the girls) when coming to school and that all students were forced to sign up to Boshnak's lessons in Islam. >>> Petar Kostadinov | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Transsexual’s Fight for Education Pits Egypt Law Against Islam

BLOOMBERG: To the Egyptian government, to her doctors, and especially to herself, Sally Mursi is a woman. To al-Azhar University, the most prestigious Islamic school in Egypt and the Middle East, she’s a man.

Twenty-one years ago, Mursi, 43, went through a sex-change operation as she was about to enter her fourth year at al-Azhar’s medical school, where classes are segregated by gender under Muslim traditions of piety. Al-Azhar officials expelled her, saying she couldn’t go to the men’s classes because she was impersonating a woman -- or to the women’s classes because she was actually a man.

Since then, al-Azhar has refused to abide by repeated court orders to readmit Mursi, filing appeals. The contest has become a battle between civil law and religious fiat, reflecting conflicting attitudes about sexuality in an increasingly pious country.

For Mursi, the struggle is a singular and lonely quest for self-worth as she challenges a major Islamic institution and copes with public curiosity.

“Mursi is suffering from being the first Egyptian transsexual to go public, combined with the fact that Egypt has not worked out the relation between state and religion,” said Hossam Baghat, 29, legal officer for the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, an independent civil-rights organization.

Two years ago, Ali Gomaa, al-Azhar’s top religious official, issued a decree describing Mursi as corrupt and unfit “to live among men or women.” The edict hit all the newspapers, with photos of Mursi as a belly dancer -- a job she took to make money after her expulsion. >>> By Daniel Williams | Monday, March 17, 2009

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Wilders’ Supporters - What Do They Want?

RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: "I want to become prime minister." That's what Geert Wilders said after a private meeting with 200 followers in his home town of Venlo on Monday. "One day my party will be the biggest, and then it will be an honour to accept the prime-ministership."

According to a recent poll, Geert Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) is the most popular party in the Netherlands. But exactly who supports this party is unclear. Two Volkskrant journalists tried to find out.


If there were elections today, the right-wing populist PVV would get 27 of the 150 seats in the Dutch parliament. That, at least, was the outcome of a poll conducted by Dutch researcher Maurice de Hond a few weeks ago. This sudden rise of popularity is mainly due to the fact that party leader Geert Wilders was recently denied access to the UK.

But who really are the supporters of Geert Wilders? As the Freedom Party does not have members, the profile of his followers remains a bit unclear. The stereotype image is that of the low-paid and low-educated inhabitants of poor neighbourhoods who saw their familiar surroundings change beyond recognition by the coming of immigrants.

But a recent poll [TNS NIPO] reveals that the Freedom Party is also attracting increasing numbers of voters with a higher education. Thirteen percent of Mr Wilders' current followers have received higher education, in contrast to nine percent at the time of the elections of 2006. Also, it turns out that the average Freedom Party supporter is now earning more than before. >>> By Michael Hoebink | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Jagland Attacks Own Party in Islam Debate

THE NORWAY POST: President of the Norwegian Storting (Parliament) and former Labour party leader, Thorbjoern Jagland, has strongly attacked his own party for its role in the ongoing debate on Islam, saying it is creating fear.

Jagland says the party's leadership is trying to create a fear that is not real, in order to capture votes.

Last week outgoing Labour party secretary, Martin Kolberg said in a speech that Labour would enter into a fight with what he called "radical Islam", but Jagland claims that Koberg does not even know what radical Islam actually is.

There is absolutely no threat from Islam in Norway, but it is quite possible to create a threat, Jagland said, about the latest leads from the party leadership.

Jagland also reacts to his own party trying copy the Progress Party in order to gain politically by "mixing concepts and ideas" and thereby creating fear. [Source: The Norway Post] NRK/ Rolleiv Solholm | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Malaysian Court Accepts Woman's Decision to Convert from Islam

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION (ABC): On the Malaysian island state of Penang, an Islamic court has upheld a controversial decision - allowing a woman to revert from Islam to Buddhism. 



It's one of the rare ocassions a Syariah court has allowed someone to leave Islam - a practice usually viewed very seriously under Malaysian law. The court said the woman had a unique case because her conversion to Islam had not been valid, but the case has touched on a sensitive issue that has long divided the Malaysian public. >>> | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Listen to ABC audio: here

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Isi Leibler’s Opinion: Can Bibi Do It?

YNET NEWS: Will Benjamin Netanyahu be able to overcome major challenges ahead?

Tzipi Livni is betraying her primary electoral pledge to promote the national interest above any personal or political ambitions. Worse, she is basing her strategy on the premise that under the pressure of events, a narrow Netanyahu government will soon collapse which is tantamount to wishing a plague on all our houses to further her own selfish benefit.

Today, in the midst of a genuine state of national emergency, Livni is brazenly displaying contempt to her constituents, the vast majority of whom passionately yearn for a broad national unity government. She has also deprived us of the opportunity of instituting desperately needed reforms in the electoral system and promoting legislation to bring an end to the exclusive and inflexible haredi control of marriage and conversion. In addition, she has enabled small one-dimensional parties to continue leveraging their sectional interests at the expense of the community.

Livni must regard us as imbeciles when she hypocritically pleads that joining a Netanyahu government would compromise her “political principles.” We are aware that she had no problem in acquiescing to virtually all of Lieberman’s demands when she begged him to support her. The reality is that her party is overwhelmingly dominated not by ideologues, but by pragmatists and yes, opportunists, few of whom would have moral dilemmas in joining a government headed by Netanyahu.

Livni also alleges that her main obstacle against joining the government is that Netanyahu refuses to utter the mantra “two states for two peoples." Yet, Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed his intention to continue negotiations and reiterated his preference not to rule over Palestinians. Besides, as foreign minister, Livni had years of negotiations to adopt a two-state plan. Not only did she fail, but to this day we are still in the dark as to what concessions she offered Mahmoud Abbas behind locked doors.

All we know is that like Hamas, Fatah still adamantly refuses to recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people, continues to insist on the right of return for Arab refugees, and demand that we retreat to the indefensible ‘67 borders. It is also now abundantly clear that it is only a matter of time before Fatah becomes submerged into Hamas. Would any responsible Israeli political party conceivably endorse the creation of such a terrorist state?

Prophets of doom

In the midst of this maelstrom, we have a new American administration determined to demonstrate progress and “engage” diplomatically with rogue states like Syria and Iran. A nuclear Iran unquestionably poses an acute existential threat to us and Netanyahu is utterly sober when he appeals for unity in the face of the greatest threat confronting Israel since 1948. This is surely a time when all responsible politicians should set aside their differences and create a unity government.

Netanyahu, who has consistently been vilified as an opportunist, must be commended for displaying leadership, acting like a statesman and promoting the national interest. Alas, he is being forced to establish a narrow government which will be dependant on the support of Yisrael Beiteinu and the haredi and small right-wing parties. This is hardly ideal but there is no alternative. >>> Isi Leibler | Tuesday, March 10, 2009

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Seattle P-I to Publish Last Edition Tuesday


SEATTLE PI.COM: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer will roll off the presses for the last time Tuesday.

The Hearst Corp. announced Monday that it would stop publishing the 146-year old newspaper, Seattle's oldest business, and cease delivery to more than 117,600 weekday readers.

The company, however, said it would maintain seattlepi.com, making it the nation's largest daily newspaper to shift to an entirely digital news product.

"Tonight we'll be putting the paper to bed for the last time," Editor and Publisher Roger Oglesby told a silent newsroom Monday morning. "But the bloodline will live on."

In a news release, Hearst CEO Frank Bennack Jr. said, "Our goal now is to turn seattlepi.com into the leading news and information portal in the region."

The new operation will be more than a newspaper online, Steven Swartz, president of Hearst Newspapers, said. The so-called "community platform" will feature breaking news, columns from prominent Seattle residents, community databases, photo galleries, 150 citizen bloggers and links to other journalistic outlets.

On Jan. 9, New York-based Hearst put the Seattle P-I up for sale and said that the paper would stop printing if a buyer were not found within 60 days.

Despite community concern, no buyer emerged. The P-I lost $14 million last year.

"The thing that should not be missed here is that the P-I is not going away. The P-I is going online," Oglesby said in an interview. "Nobody is happy about the newspaper going away. That's a sad thing. The editorial voice is still going to be here." >>> Monday, March 16, 2009

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Russland fühlt sich von der Nato bedroht: Massive Aufrüstung der Streitkräfte geplant

NZZ Online: Russlands Präsident Dmitri Medwedew hat eine massive Aufrüstung der Streitkräfte des Landes angekündigt.

Dies bedeute vor allem auch die Modernisierung des Atomwaffenarsenals, sagte Medwedew am Dienstag laut russischen Nachrichtenagenturen bei einem Treffen mit führenden Militär- Vertretern in Moskau.

Die Nato versuche weiterhin, ihre Präsenz nahe der russischen Grenzen auszubauen, kritisierte der Präsident. Deshalb habe er eine Aufrüstung von Armee und Marine “im grossen Umfang“ ab dem Jahr 2011 angeordnet. >>> sda/afp | Dienstag, 17. März 2009

WELT ONLINE: Russland: Kreml droht dem Westen mit Atomwaffen

Russland lässt die Muskeln spielen. Präsident Dmitri Medwedjew will das Land in den kommenden Jahren massiv aufrüsten. Im Mittelpunkt steht dabei die Modernisierung der Atomwaffen. Die Drohung der Russen zielt auf die Nato. Die Zeichen stehen auf Konflikt. >>> AFP/dpa/dsi | Dienstag, 17. März 2009

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Organspenden sind nicht Islam-widrig: Fatwa des ägyptischen Gross-Scheichs Tantawi

NZZ Online: Der Gross-Scheich der Azhar-Universität in Kairo, Mohammed Tantawi, hat in einer Fatwa Stellung zur Frage bezogen, ob der Islam Obduktion und Organspenden gestattet. Er bejahte dies, erteilte aber dem kommerziellen Organhandel eine klare Absage.

ber. Kairo 16. März

Der Gross-Scheich der Azhar-Universität in Kairo, Mohammed Tantawi, hat sich zu den Themen Obduktion und Organverpflanzung geäussert. Der Gross-Scheich gilt als oberste religiöse Autorität Ägyptens und darüber hinaus des ganzen sunnitischen Islams. Seine Stellungnahme erlaubt eine Neufassung des geltenden ägyptischen Gesetzes gegen die Obduktion und den Organhandel. Laut Tantawi soll die Verpflanzung von Organen frisch Verstorbener, sofern es sich um eine Spende handelt, künftig gestattet werden. Lebende sollen allerdings nur Verwandten Organe zur Verfügung stellen dürfen. Tantawi möchte den kommerziellen Handel mit menschlichen Organen weiterhin verboten wissen, da dieser dem islamischen Recht widerspreche. >>> | Dienstag, 17, März 2009

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Präsidentschaftswahl: Reformer Chatami verzichtet auf seine Kandidatur

WELT ONLINE: Weil er die Reformkräfte nicht spalten will, hat der ehemalige Präsident des Iran, Mohammed Chatami, seine Kandidatur für die Präsidentschaftswahl zurückgezogen. Zugleich sprach er sich für die Wahl von Mir Hossein Musawi aus. Experten sehen in Chatamis Rückzug einen großen Rückschlag für das Reformerlager.

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Foto von Mohammed Chatami, der seine Kandidatur für die Präsidentschaftswahl zurückgezogen hat, dank der Welt

Drei Monate vor der Präsidentschaftswahl im Iran hat der Reformpolitiker Mohammed Chatami seine Kandidatur zurückgezogen. Mit seiner Entscheidung wolle er die Reformkräfte bei der Wahl am 12. Juni stärken, erklärte der Expräsident. Zugleich sprach er sich für die Wahl des früheren Ministerpräsidenten Mir Hossein Musawi aus.

Dieser bringe die nötigen Voraussetzungen für einen Wandel mit, erklärte Chatami. „Wenn wir mit Weisheit und Realismus handeln, kann er die Stimmen des Volks gewinnen und gewählt werden“, hieß es in einer am Montagabend verbreiteten Erklärung des Politikers. >>> | Dienstag, 17. März 2009

THE ECONOMIST: Stepping Aside in Iran

Reformists will struggle in the presidential race in Iran

AS IRAN heads towards presidential polls in June, the contest is shaping into something of a referendum on the nature of the Islamic Republic. Thirty years after the fall of the shah, pride in the revolution is tempered by a widely shared sense that it has gone astray. Yet views differ radically over what ails Iran’s hybrid theo-democracy. More Islam is what some want, with a reimposition of puritanism at home, and boldness in foreign affairs. Others demand more republic, with a widening of civic freedoms and a government focused on bringing worldly rewards rather than achieving eternal glory.

Outside these two groups, known as principlists and reformists, stands a third camp. Sizeable and growing, it shuns politics altogether, judging that the non-elected theocratic elements of the state have simply grown too strong to dislodge by constitutional means. With the principlists, led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, currently dominant, any electoral challenge to their rule would need to mobilise not just reformists committed to the system, but large numbers of those fence-sitters. >>> AFP, Cairo | Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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Studie: Jeder siebte Schüler ist sehr ausländerfeindlich

SUEDDEUTSCHE.DE: Alarmierender Befund des Kriminologischen Forschungsinstituts Niedersachsen: Eine Befragung von 53.000 Jugendlichen zeigt, wie ausgeprägt neonazistische Tendenzen und Fremdenhass unter deutschen Teenagern sind. Vor allem Hauptschulen sind betroffen.

Alarmierender Befund des Kriminologischen Forschungsinstituts Niedersachsen: Rund jeder siebte Jugendliche in Deutschland hat eine massive Abneigung gegen Fremde. 14,4 Prozent aller befragten Jugendlichen seien als "sehr ausländerfeindlich" einzustufen, berichten Bundesinnenminister Wolfgang Schäuble und Christian Pfeiffer, Direktor des Kriminologischen Forschungsinstituts.

Der CDU-Politiker und der Wissenschaftler stellten in Berlin erste Ergebnisse des Forschungsprojekts "Jugendliche in Deutschland als Täter und Opfer von Gewalt" vor.

Demnach gaben 4,9 Prozent der befragten Jungen an, Mitglied einer rechtsextremen Gruppe oder Kameradschaft zu sein. Bei den Mädchen waren es 2,6 Prozent.

Minister Schäuble zeigte sich "erschrocken" über die hohe Zahl der starken Bindungen an rechte Gruppierungen. Hier müssten die Bemühungen weiter intensiviert werden. >>> sueddeutsche.de/dpa/AFP/odg | Dienstag, 17. März 2009

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Oil-rich Nigeria Will Become Islamic Soon, Warn Dutch MPs

DIGITAL JOURNAL: Oil-rich Nigeria, population 140-million, now is very close to an all-out"Islamic takeover', warn two Dutch MPs. And this would have a massive impact: from Nigeria, Africa's islamisation would spread fast -- resulting in hundreds of millions of refugees.


This would have a massive impact on the future of all of Africa and of the West, warn Dutch parliamentarians Geert Wilders and Martin Bosma of the Party for Freedom, writing in an editorial in the Dutch religious daily, the Reformatorisch Dagblad. >>> Adriana Stuijt | Monday, March 16, 2009

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Monday, March 16, 2009

Anti-dhimmitude: Senior Judge Condemns Use of the Word 'Honour' to Describe Abuse and Murder within Muslim Families

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Lord Justice Wall states that the notion of honour killings is an affront to English law. Photo courtesy of the MailOnline

MAIL Online: A senior judge today condemned the notion of honour killings as an affront to English law.

Lord Justice Wall declared that 'they are acts of simply sordid criminal behaviour' and 'had nothing to do with any concept of honour known to English law'.

In an Appeal Court test case he ruled that the welfare of children should not be put at risk because of the 'honour' idea held in some Muslim families.

The judge added: 'Arson, domestic violence and potential revenge likely to result in abduction or death are criminal acts which will be treated as such.' >>> By Steve Doughty | Monday, March 16, 2009

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Good News! Barack Obama Attacks 'Outrage' of AIG Executive Bonuses

TIMES ONLINE: President Obama expressed outrage today over hefty bonus payments awarded to executives from the stricken insurance giant AIG and said that he had directed his Treasury Secretary to take all legal measures to block them.

The insurer received some $173 billion in government bailout money and is now paying $165 million in employee bonuses, prompting a storm of political protest that has echoes of the row in Britain over Sir Fred Goodwin's pension from RBS[.]

“This is a corporation that finds itself in financial distress due to recklessness and greed,” Mr Obama said of AIG in remarks at the White House.

“Under these circumstances, it’s hard to understand how derivative traders at AIG warranted any bonuses, much less $165 million in extra pay. How do they justify this outrage to the taxpayers who are keeping the company afloat?”

Mr Obama said he had asked Timothy Geithner, the Treasury Secretary, to use the leverage the government had to pursue “every legal avenue” to push back against the bonus payments. >>> Philippe Naughton and Christine Seib in New York | Monday, March 16, 2009

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Anjem Choudary on the Downfall of the Western Economy


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Pat Condell: A Word about the Soldiers


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The Young Turks’ (TYT) – Viewpoint: Republican Politician Gives His Thoughts On "The Gay"


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Cheney attackiert Obama: «USA sind unsicherer geworden»

BERNER ZEITUNG: Der frühere US-Vizepräsident Dick Cheney sieht wegen der Sicherheitspolitik des neuen US-Präsidenten Barack Obama ein erhöhtes Risiko neuer Terroranschläge gegen die USA.

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Foto von Dick Cheney, der letzte Vize-Präsident Amerikas dank der Berner Zeitung

In einem Fernsehinterview mit dem Nachrichtensender CNN hat der ehemalige Vizepräsident der USA, Dick Cheney, den neuen US-Präsidenten Barack Obama scharf kritisiert. Die Massnahmen bezüglich der Schliessung von Guantanamo und dem Verbot von Verhörmethoden hätten die USA unsicherer gemacht. Ebenfalls negativ beurteilte Cheney die geplante Schliessung von CIA-Gefängnissen im Ausland. «Die USA sind unsicherer geworden.» >>> vin/ap | Sonntag, 15. März 2009

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Rotes Kreuz wirft Bush-Regierung Folter vor

SUEDEUTSCHE.DE: Das Internationale Komitee des Roten Kreuzes hat die Verhörmethoden der CIA als Folter eingestuft. Dies legt ein bisher geheimer Bericht offen.

Laut einem bislang geheimgehaltenen Bericht hat das Internationale Komitee vom Roten Kreuz (IKRK) Verhörmethoden des US-Geheimdienstes CIA als Folter eingestuft, die dieser unter der Regierung von George W. Bush im Gefangenenlager Guantanamo und in Geheimgefängnissen angewendet hatte. >>> Von Reymer Klüver | Montag, 16. März 2009

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Frankreich: Neue Krawalle in Pariser Vorstädten

DIE PRESSE: In den Vorstädten der französischen Hauptstadt Paris toben erneut Ausschreitungen zwischen Jugendlichen und den Sicherheitskräften.

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In der Nacht auf Sonntag ist es in Paris erneut zu Krawallen gekommen. Es wurden wieder Wagen in Brand gesetzt. Bild dank der Presse

PARIS. Bei Krawallen in der Nacht auf Sonntag wurden in Les Mureaux im Departement Yvelines 21 Polizisten leicht verletzt und acht Personen festgenommen. In Montegron feuerten Unbekannte Gewehrschüsse auf ein Polizeikommissariat ab. In dem Kommissariat saß ein Verdächtiger in Beugehaft.

In Les Mureaux waren Polizisten in einen Hinterhalt geraten. Die Beamten waren wegen eines brennenden Autos im Stadtviertel Les Musiciens angerückt. Plötzlich wurden sie von hunderten Jugendlichen mit Steinwürfen und Gewehrschüssen attackiert. Die Ausschreitungen dehnten sich im Laufe der Nacht auf benachbarte Wohnviertel aus. >>> APA | Sonntag, 15. März 2009

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Bill Muehlenberg: The Islamic Assault on Free Speech

QUADRANT Online: It is one of the many benefits of Christianity that the West enjoys religious freedom and freedom of conscience. The properly understood notion of the separation of church and state arose from the Christian worldview, and goes back to the words of Jesus: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s”.



Islam of course knows of no such separation. Church and state are one in Islam. There is no sacred-secular distinction in the Muslim world. Everything is religious and everything is political. As Rodney Stark wrote, “Muhammad was not only the Prophet, he was head of state. Consequently, Islam has always idealized the fusion of religion and political rule, and sultans have usually also held the title of caliph” (The Victory of Reason).



Or as Dinesh D’Souza put it, “The prophet Muhammad was in his own day both a prophet and a Caesar who integrated the domains of church and state. Following his example, the rulers of the various Islamic empires, from the Umayyad to the ottoman, saw themselves as Allah’s viceregents on earth” (What’s So Great About Christianity?).



As Bernard Lewis explains, “In classical Arabic and in the other classical languages of Islam, there are no pairs of terms corresponding to ‘lay’ and ‘ecclesiastical,’ ‘spiritual’ and ‘temporal,’ ‘secular’ and ‘religious,’ because these pairs of words express a Christian dichotomy that has no equivalent in the world of Islam” (Islam and the West).

It is the genius of the West to have run with the Christian version of events in this regard, and not the Islamic one. But these cherished freedoms are ironically now being whittled way in the West as we increasingly seek to appease militant Islamists. 



In many parts of the Western world Muslims are demanding, and getting, preferential treatment. And in the process, freedom of religion is slowly being eroded. A classic example of this can be seen in Victoria’s Racial and Religious Tolerance Act.



This bit of scurrilous legislation has been used to silence Christians from proclaiming their faith, and from making rational criticism of Islam. The nefarious Victorian law effectively cramps real freedom of speech and religious diversity.



Of course hyper-sensitive Muslims around the world are seeking to implement such censorship on all non-Muslims. At the UN level, for example, Muslims are hoping to use UN Resolution 62/154, which has to do with "combating defamation of religions” to allow Islam to be above all criticism and critique. >>> By Bill Muehlenberg | Monday, March 16, 2009

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Egyptian Lawyer Files Suit for Rights of Christian Converts

CHRISTIAN TODAY: An Egyptian lawyer has filed a lawsuit against the country’s Minister of the Interior, in a bid to gain legal acceptance for converts to Islam who decide to convert back to their original Christian faith.

According to Civil Law in Egypt, Muslim converts can return to Christianity only by producing a certificate from a ‘body of jurisdiction’ confirming their latest conversion. The lawsuit is seeking to force the government to accept such certificates from the Coptic Patriarchate, which represents most of Egypt’s Christians.

Dr Naguib Gibraeel, a lawyer and President of the Egyptian Union of Human Rights, said that the Minister of the Interior should create equality for those who wish to convert to Islam and those who wish to convert to Christianity.

According to Dr Gilbraeel, the legal process of converting to Christianity is much harder than for those wishing to convert to Islam.

He said, "For the person converting into Islam it is enough to have a decree from Al-Azhar, while the issue becomes more complex when a Christian needs to prove his reconversion back to Christianity, as he should have a court verdict. This proves that practically they completely refuse any conversion except into Islam," reports Voice of the Copts. >>> By Charles Boyd | Monday, March 16, 2009

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Lord Carey Calls on Brown to Apologise for Recession

CHRISTIAN TODAY: Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to apologise for his role in the current economic crisis to boost his standing among the general public.

Lord Carey said that Brown needed to accept responsibility for the recession, but added that the Prime Minister would only “bounce back stronger” if he admitted his role in the current crisis.

The former Archbishop, writing in the News of the World, said, "I am puzzled and frankly saddened by Gordon Brown’s inability to acknowledge that he played a part in the awful events that brought about the current economic turmoil.

"All he needs to do is to say simply: ‘Yes, during my time as Chancellor I got it wrong. I apologise to the British people that, without knowing, I weakened the UK economy. I regret that I failed to take the steps that other leaders saw coming.’

"A church minister’s son, Gordon would know that ‘confession’ is but the prelude to the restoration of relationships with Almighty God; it works similarly in politics as it does in all walks of life." >>> By Jennifer Gold | Monday, March 16, 2009

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Bulgarian Mayor Questioned Over Radical Islam Issues

THE SOFIA ECHO: The mayor of Gurmen municipality in southwestern Bulgaria, Ahmed Bashev, has been detained for questioning by the State Agency for National Security (SANS) as a result of a prosecutor's probe into allegations of causing religious and national hatred, Bulgarian news agency BTA said on March 16 2009. >>> By Petar Kostadinov | Monday, March 16, 2009

THE SOFIA ECHO: New ‘Radical Islam in Bulgaria’ Claims

Just days after Sofia hosted a forum on how teaching at schools could be used to forestall radical Islam, a researcher gave an interview alleging that extremist Islamic sects were operating in eastern Bulgaria.

In an interview with Bulgarian news agency Focus, associate professor Tatyana Dronzina - described as an expert on conflict and terrorism research - was quoted as saying that Turkish-linked radical sects Nurju, Suleymandj and Miligurush were believed to be active in the eastern part of the country.

There were some grounds for believing that people linked to these sects were trying to make contact with pupils in Muslim religious schools in Shoumen, Rousse, Momchilgrad and in the Islamic Institute in Sofia as well, Focus quoted Dronzina as saying

While several intelligence and media reports have highlighted the rise of radical Islam in the former Yugoslavia and especially in Bosnia, earlier in 2008 US journalist Christopher Deliso said in his book The Coming Balkan Caliphate: Threat of Radical Islam to Europe and the West that Bulgaria was among Balkan countries where radical Islam activists were present.

Most intelligence reports have suggested that any such activity in Bulgaria is on a small scale.

After the forum in Sofia, Bulgarian National Radio interviewed Kamen Velichkov of the Foreign Ministry, who is in charge of the country's participation in the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations Initiative.

"The prevention of radicalisation in all creeds from an early school age is paramount, if we wish to have a dialogue among the various religions and cultures not only within the European Union," Velichkov told BNR.

"The issue of Islam's radicalisation is a complex one. It is above all within the competence of the state administration. Bulgaria has been trying to draw on the European experience, and in particular that of Spain, as well as non-European countries by participating in various formats, such as the Mediterranean Co-operation. >>> By Clive Leviev-Sawyer | Sunday, October 8, 2008

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