'Allah' By Any Other Name
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: The government's censorship has only compounded Malaysia's troubles.

Religious violence is rare in Malaysia, and so its people are rightly alarmed at the current spate of attacks on churches, which can conjure up memories of the 1969 race riots. The government has strongly condemned the attacks, but its policy of trying to coddle its Muslim population undermines its stated goal of an open Islam and stokes the very religious tension that it wants desperately to avoid.

The violence is the latest consequence of attempts to ban the use of the word "Allah" by Christians. In 1986, the Interior Security Ministry barred the word from non-Islamic publications on the grounds that it could confuse Muslims, but the ordinance was usually not enforced. However in December 2007, the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association and the Islamic religious councils of seven states invoked it in a lawsuit against the Malay language weekly, the Catholic Herald. The government sided with the councils, saying that Christians' use of the term "could increase tension and create confusion among Muslims." Authorities also asked the Herald to put on its front page the word terhad, "restricted," meaning solely for distribution to Christians.

Christians and others responded that "Allah" has been used by Christians for centuries to refer to God, including in Malaysia. No other country has such a ban; even the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) says it opposes one. "Allah," the Arabic word for God, is used by Christians in Egypt and Syria, and, of course, neighboring Indonesia. On Dec. 31, 2009, the High Court ruled that Christians had a constitutional right to use "Allah." The government called for calm, but quickly said it would appeal and, on January 6, the judge suspended her ruling pending an appeals court decision. Subsequently, nine churches have been attacked, most of them firebombed. There have also been attacks on the Catholic Herald's legal team, whose offices were vandalized yesterday.

This is not the only federal government attempt to repress anything that could be perceived as deviating from the state-sanctioned version of Islam. In 2005, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi proposed that Malay-language bibles have "Not for Muslims" on the front. In 2003, the government banned publication of a Bible in Iban, an indigenous language, although the ban was later lifted. In March 2009, customs officials seized Christian books and other materials containing "Allah," and now some 15,000 volumes have been impounded. Since Indonesian Christian books in Bahasa contain the word "Allah" they cannot be imported. The government has also rebuffed calls for a state interfaith advisory council. >>> Paul Marshall* | Thursday, January 14, 2010

*Mr. Marshall is senior fellow at the Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom in Washington.

Haiti Survivors Desperately Wait for Aid


Haiti Earthquake Appeal: YOUR HELP Is Needed! >>>

Livni: Turkey Must Choose Between ME Moderates and Fundamental Islam
THE JERUSALEM POST: As the most recent confrontation with Turkey began to abate, Kadima and opposition leader Tzipi Livni said Thursday that Ankara would have to decide which side to align itself with.

"Every country in the region must decide which side it is on. This goes for Turkey, too," Livni said. "The choice is not between Israel and the Palestinians or the Jews and the Arab but between Israel, the legitimate Palestinian Authority, Egypt, and Jordan and the world of fundamental Islam."

Livni was adamant that Valley of the Wolves, the Turkish TV series depicting Mossad agents as kidnappers and baby-killers, could only serve to incite violence. "Erdogan's words are also very worrying," she said.

"If anyone thinks that games of [musical] chairs are the way to defend Israel's interests ... they are making a strategic mistake," Livni concluded. [Source: The Jerusalem Post] JPost.com Staff | Thursday, January 14, 2010

Gay Marriage: Courtroom Drama
THE ECONOMIST: A vital case gets under way in California

LOS ANGELES – THE venue, gay-friendly San Francisco, is a predictable one for a legal challenge that may lead to the legalisation of gay marriage in America. But that hardly detracts from the drama of the trial of Perry v Schwarzenegger, which began on January 11th. Pitting two gay couples (including Kristin Perry) against the state of California (represented by its governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger), it is a federal review of whether Proposition 8, a Californian voter initiative of 2008 that outlawed gay marriage in the state, is constitutional.

Whatever the outcome, the case is likely to end up in the Supreme Court. But first the trial will do two things: it will establish for the first time a body of expert evidence which appellate courts can use to evaluate claims by supporters and opponents of gay marriage. And it will blur the existing partisan divide on the issue between conservatives and liberals.

This is thanks to the unusual pairing of lawyers who are arguing in favour of gay marriage for the plaintiffs. David Boies, a well-known liberal who acted for Al Gore in his 2000 court fight against George Bush over the presidency, is an unsurprising choice. But his partner, Theodore Olson, is a prominent conservative and was Mr Boies’s courtroom adversary in 2000. Now he has teamed up with Mr Boies to argue for legalising gay marriage based on what he considers an arch-conservative interpretation of the constitution. >>> | Thursday, January 14, 2010

Giacomo Puccini: O mio babbino caro

Supermarkets Criticise Government Plans to Raise Cost of Alcohol
Socialist governments just can’t help themselves, can they? They believe that for every societal ill, there is a tax that will solve the problem. Either that, or they come with an outright ban, as has been done for all smoking in public places, and fox-hunting.

Now they come with this hare-brained idea to put even more tax on alcohol in order to combat the ugly binge-drinking ‘culture’ if culture it can indeed be called!

Binge-drinking has its causes deeply-rooted in the way we bring up our children today. We in the West have forgotten that children need to be raised by full-time mothers, not part-time ones. A part-time mother is as much use as a part-time lover!

If this government is really serious about tackling binge-drinking, it needs to find a way to encourage mothers to return to being there full-time for their children in the formative years. The government also needs to find a way of reversing the trend of the break-up of the family, for without a strong family unit, there is no sanction on dreadful behaviour by our young people.

It’s time that we stopped deluding ourselves. Good, responsible behaviour is learnt in the home, and from good, solid mothers and fathers. No tax from a socialist government wll ever be a substitute for that! – © Mark

THE TELEGRAPH: Britain’s biggest supermarkets have criticised Government proposals to introduce a minimum price for alcohol saying it will fail to curb the country’s binge drinking culture.

They are outraged at the plans which they claim will end up targeting the wrong people and penalize middle-class consumers who drink responsibly instead.

A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said: “We believe that minimum pricing will unfairly penalise our shoppers, the vast majority of whom buy alcohol as part of their weekly shop and drink responsibly in their own homes.”

And a spokesman for Tesco agreed, saying: “We accept that the country has a binge drinking problem, but the vast majority of alcohol bought at our stores is by responsible people who enjoy a bargain.”

Yesterday, the Daily Telegraph revealed the Government was planning to fight the next election on proposals to cut alcohol abuse with a staged scheme including tougher warnings on labels and bans on discounting drinks which would culminiate in minimum prices.

But the price-fixing scheme could lead to a doubling in price of the cheapest alcoholic drinks sold in supermarkets.

Tesco said the doubling of prices would not stop alcohol abuse and would just encourage consumers to buy elsewhere.

The British Retail Consortium said cheap alcohol sold by supermarkets was not to blame and described the introduction of minimum prices as “unfair”.

Andrew Opie, food director at the British Retail Consortium, said: “Any change in alcohol policy must be based on evidence and not disadvantage the millions of people who drink responsibly and would be unfairly affected by price hikes.

“Simply putting prices up will not tackle problem drinking. It has cultural causes and they are what must be addressed. The UK already has some of the highest alcohol taxes in Europe. >>> Myra Butterworth, Rosa Prince and Simon Johnson | Thursday, January 14, 2010

Barack Obama Imposes Tax on Big Banks
THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama has unveiled a new tax on the country's biggest banks to recoup the money spent bailing the system out, putting the administration on a collision course with Wall Street.

Barack Obama, the US president, is imposing a levy on banks to recoup bail-out costs. Photograph: The Telegraph
The plan, if approved by Congress, would levy the tax on up to 50 financial services companies based on the total size of their liabilities. White House officials estimates it will raise at least $90bn over the next decade and wrest back for the taxpayer the money given the banks as part of the $700bn Troubled Asset Relief Programme (TARP).

Mr Obama said the move is aimed at preventing Wall Street firms from going back to "business as usual" and resuming high-risk lending practices and huge bets on mortgages and other instruments he blames for igniting the financial crisis.

"My commitment is to recover every single dime the American people are owed," said Mr Obama.

"My determination to achieve this goal is only heightened when I see reports of massive profits and obscene bonuses at the very firms who owe their continued existence to the American people – have not been made whole, and who continue to face real hardship in this recession."

His announcement comes amid rising public anger in America at the prospect of the titans of Wall Street handing out multi-million dollar bonuses to staff little more than 12 months after the financial system was rescued by the brink. >>> Telegraph Staff | Thursday, January 14, 2010

Islam in Poland

Dark Age Alert! Poland: Gay Discrimination
Watch YouTube video: >>> AFP | Saturday, May 16, 2009
European Parliament Debate on Homophobia in Poland

Le mariage gay fait encore débat en Californie
Des partisans du mariage gay ont manifesté devant le tribunal fédéral de San Francisco où s'ouvrait, lundi dernier, un procès contre le mariage homosexuel. Crédits photo : Le Figaro
LE FIGARO: La légalité d'un référendum ayant banni les unions homosexuelles est en jeu devant la Cour suprême de l'État.

Un procès, dont l'objectif est de prouver l'inconstitutionnalité de l'interdiction pour les personnes du même sexe de se marier civilement en Californie, s'est ouvert cette semaine devant un tribunal fédéral de San Francisco. L'objet du litige entre militants pro et anti mariage gay est la Proposition 8. Adoptée par 52% des électeurs en novembre 2008, cette loi stipule que «seul le mariage entre un homme et une femme est valide ou reconnu en Californie».

Au moment du passage de la mesure, désormais inscrite dans la Constitution californienne, quelque 4.000 couples homosexuels avaient déjà profité d'une décision adverse et antérieure de la Cour suprême pour légaliser leur union devant le maire. La loi n'étant pas rétroactive, ces mariages n'ont pas été invalidés, même si, un an plus tard, la même Cour suprême revenait sur sa décision pour valider la victoire de la Proposition 8. Un manège judiciaire qui donne le tournis aux Californiens.

Présidé par le juge fédéral Vaughn Walker, le procès pourrait mettre un terme au débat houleux qui n'en finit pas de refaire surface depuis que, un jour de février 2004, le maire de San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, décida, pour la première fois dans l'histoire des États-Unis, de marier tous les couples gays qui se présenteraient sur les marches de son hôtel de ville. À moins que le cas n'atterrisse en appel devant les juges de la Cour suprême des États-Unis à Washington, ce qui est probable. Ténors du barreau >>> Armelle Vincent, à Los Angeles | Jeudi 14 Janvier 2010

LE FIGARO: USA : l'opinion se convertit peu à peu au mariage gay : Alors que se multiplient les initiatives locales, un sondage révèle que désormais 49 % des Américains ne sont plus opposés aux unions entre personnes du même sexe. >>> À New York, Adèle Smith | Vendredi 01 Mai 2009

Google Jihad
THE WASHINGTON TIMES – Editorial: Religions aren't all equal on popular search engine

Google isn't carrying water for jihad. That's what the company says, and they're sticking to it. Still, many Internet surfers wonder: Is there something bad about Islam the Google search engine doesn't want you to know?

Google has been accused of pandering to Muslims by censoring negative search suggestions in its main search box. Type "Christianity is" in the search bar, and Google suggests helpful endings to your query, such as "not a religion," "a lie," "a cult," and so on. Google makes similar adverse suggestions for Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism, among other religions. But type "Islam is" - and all you get is a big blank bar.

Google says there is no Islamic kowtowing involved, and that the omissions are a result of a program bug. If so, the bug is pretty selective. Typing "Muslims are" gives the same blank result. A Google representative said that the company is "working to fix it as quickly as [they] can." >>> The Washington Times | Thursday, January 14, 2010

Wilders to Be Tried for Hate Speech
NRC HANDELSBLAD: Geert Wilders will be tried for hate speech and inciting discrimination in a Dutch court next Wednesday.

A ruling on Tuesday took away the last obstacle standing in the way of the case against anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, when the court dismissed his objections against prosecution.

Wilders’ lawyer, Bram Moszkowicz, had argued his client could not be prosecuted for discriminatory insults since the Dutch supreme court had very narrowly defined that concept in a ruling last March. The supreme court then found that insulting a religion did not automatically imply an insult to its believers, meaning it could be legal.

Last Tuesday however, the lower court hearing Wilder’s objections found that the supreme court ruling did not stand in the way of Wilder’s prosecution.

The ruling paves the way for the case against Wilders to be tried, which has been long in the making.

The case against Wilders originates in several complaints filed by the Dutch lawyer Gerard Spong on behalf of several clients, including the well known Dutch comedian Jörgen Raymann and the board of the As Soennah Mosque in The Hague. >>> NRC Handelsblad’s News Staff | Thursday, January 14, 2010

Niederlande: Bahn frei für Prozess gegen Wilders

DIE PRESSE: Der niederländische Rechtspopulist Geert Wilders muss sich im März wegen Aufstachelung zum Hass gegen Muslime vor Gericht verantworten. Seine Beschwerde gegen den Prozess ist zurückgewiesen worden.

Der niederländische Rechtspopulist Geert Wilders muss sich im März in einem mit Spannung erwarteten Prozess für die mutmaßliche Aufstachelung zum Hass gegen Muslime verantworten. Eine Beschwerde gegen das Verfahren wurde am Mittwoch von einem Gericht in Amsterdam zurückgewiesen. Wilders habe keine neuen Beweise vorgelegt, die zu einer Abschwächung der Anklage führen könnten.

Vorwurf eines "Schauprozesses"

Er habe keine Volksverhetzung betrieben, sagte der Chef der erstarkten rechtsgerichteten "Partei für die Freiheit" in der Gerichtsanhörung. Das, was er gegen Islam und Koran gesagt habe, sei von der Meinungsfreiheit geschützt. Nach der Anhörung warf er der niederländischen Justiz vor, einen politischen Schauprozess gegen ihn zu inszenieren. 

Selbst "das Rechtssystem in Nordkorea ist besser als das der Niederlande". Die Rahmenbedingungen bei der Anhörung zu seinem bevorstehenden Prozess in Amsterdam nannte Wilders "schlimmer als im Archipel Gulag", berichtete die Zeitung "de Volkskrant" am Donnerstag. Koran wie "Mein Kampf" verbieten >>> Ag. | Donnerstag, 14. Januar 2010

Pays-Bas: le député Wilders débouté
LE FIGARO: Un tribunal d'Amsterdam a rejeté mercredi une requête du député d'extrême droite néerlandais Geert Wilders, réalisateur du film anti-islam "Fitna", contre l'acte d'accusation du parquet qui le poursuit notamment pour incitation à la haine raciale. La requête de M. Wilders, qui conteste les poursuites dont il fait l'objet, est "non recevable", a indiqué le tribunal.



M. Wilders, 46 ans, est accusé d'avoir insulté les musulmans et d'avoir incité à la haine et à la discrimination à leur égard pour avoir comparé le Coran au "Mein Kampf" d'Adolf Hitler, selon l'acte d'accusation dont l'AFP a obtenu une copie. Il est également poursuivi pour incitation à la haine et à la discrimination envers les personnes d'origine étrangère, notamment marocaine, pour des propos tenus dans la presse et sur internet. >>> AFP | Mercredi 13 Janvier 2010

Lights Dim on West: Prosecution Widens Charges Against Free Speech in Geert Wilders Trial
ATLAS SHRUGS: They are creating new charges against Geert Wilders, this century's Winston Churchill. This is bad news for Wilders, but worse news for us. For Wilders is merely our proxy in this war on Western civilization and values. This is our battle.

The escalation in the persecution of Wilders is directly related to his popularity. He is now the number one party in the Netherlands (origin of recent Muslim plane attackers). So not only is Wilders being prosecuted, but so are a majority of beleaguered Dutch folks.

Islamic jihad can keep up its relentless destruction of the West but do not dare talk about it.

The trial begins January 20th. >>> Pamela Geller | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Common Sense Trumps Theory and Experimentation
Now we need to find the politicians with enough courage to put this soupçon of common sense into practice. Don't hold your breath while we're looking, though! Please note that I have been calling for this ever since this blog was started, and ever since my book came onto the market. – © Mark

THE TELEGRAPH: All new immigrants should accept Britain’s traditional Christian values and be willing to adapt to them, according to a prominent clergyman.

The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester, said the country must never again repeat the multicultural experiment of recent decades.

He also called for an end to the segregation of Muslims in British cities, which he warned provides a breeding ground for extremists.

The bishop made his strongly-worded comments after Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, backed a campaign by the cross-party Balanced Immigration Group to stop Britain’s population reaching 70 million.

Bishop Nazir-Ali, who grew up in Pakistan before joining the Church of England, said in a statement: “Both he and the group are right that every country has limits to the numbers of new arrivals that it can accommodate and the UK, in particular, as a small country cannot take an indefinite number of people who wish to live here.

“Not only is there over-crowding, especially of metropolitan areas, but social, educational and medical services are placed under increasing strain and there is always the concern about jobs and housing for the indigenous population, particularly from its poorer sections.

“The question, however, is not simply one of numbers but also of the quality of would-be immigrants. One of the missing features of the mass immigration of the 50s and 60s was any concern for the congruence of such immigration with the values, culture and language of the host country. We must never again allow this to happen.” Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali: Immigrants should accept Britain’s Christian values >>> Martin Beckford | Thursday, January 14, 2010

Stop the Islamization of Europe! Stop the Islamization of the West! >>> Mark Alexander | Monday, May 28, 2007

Voile intégral – Interdiction de la burqa : Nicolas Sarkozy favorable à une loi
Nicolas Sarkozy serait favorable à une loi interdisant la burqa. Crédits photo : Le Point
Merci beaucoup, Monsieur le Président! C'est une décision très courageuse. – Mark
LE POINT: Comme le révélait en exclusivité lepoint.fr mercredi après-midi, Nicolas Sarkozy a tranché. En adressant ses voeux aux parlementaires, le chef de l'État a indiqué qu'il souhaitait une résolution parlementaire "sans ambiguïté", puis une loi pour interdire le port du voile islamique intégral en France.

Évoquant la mission d'information parlementaire sur ce sujet, qui doit rendre ses conclusions le 26 janvier prochain, le chef de l'État a d'abord indiqué "souhaiter que le Parlement en tire des conclusions par une résolution sans ambiguïté parce que la réforme constitutionnelle vous en a donné le pouvoir". "Il faudra ensuite tirer les conséquences de cette résolution, d'un point de vue législatif et réglementaire. Le Parlement aura alors à débattre d'un texte de loi adapté à la situation", a-t-il ajouté, en réaffirmant que "le voile intégral n'est pas le bienvenu en France". >>> Par Saïd Mahrane | Mercredi 13 Janvier 2010

Westerwelle: Atomwaffen sollen raus aus Deutschland
DIE PRESSE: Der deutsche Außenminister Guido Westerwelle setzt sich für den Abzug von in Deutschland stationierten Atomwaffen ein. Westerwelle gibt sich zuversichtlich, seit dem Amtsantritt Obamas gebe es Bewegung.

Der deutsche Außenminister Guido Westerwelle hat seine Forderung nach einem Abzug aller Atomwaffen aus Deutschland bekräftigt. "Dazu habe ich bereits erste Gespräche mit unseren Partnern geführt", erklärte der FDP-Politiker am Mittwoch zur Vorstellung des Jahresabrüstungsberichts 2009. >>> Ag. | Mittwoch, 13. Januar 2010

Barbara Cherish: My Father, the Auschwitz Commandant
BBC: Barbara Cherish tells Fergal Keane about the painful decision to uncover the full truth about her father, a man she had never known, former Auschwitz Commandant Arthur Liebehenschel. Listen to BBC audio >>> | Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The Child of Auschwitz's Kommandant
Photographs: BBC
BBC: Barbara Cherish is a child of the SS, and the burden lies heavily upon her.

She knew early in her life that her German father, Arthur Liebehenschel, was involved in something terrible, something the family did not discuss.

Only later, as an adult, did she discover he had run part of the Auschwitz concentration camp for five months during World War II.

The knowledge gnawed at her, but it took a life crisis - her divorce and the death of her sister - to spur her to delve into the past and piece together her father's story.

The result is a book in which she struggles to reconcile her love for the father she never knew with the knowledge of his crimes, which saw him sentenced to death in Poland after the war.

"As a child, I was never really allowed to talk about my past with my family. I heard some things as a small child, about the mystery father, about Auschwitz. I never really processed it because I was so young. I knew it was something bad.

"There was a guilt there, I think that we all have. That we carry the guilt, being the…" she hesitates, "the children of the perpetrators".

Born in 1943, she was placed in foster care aged six. Her new family emigrated in 1956 to the US, where she has remained.

Stylishly dressed, Barbara arrives early at a San Diego cafe and apologises in advance, saying that "sometimes I get emotional" while telling her father's story. As predicted, she later becomes tearful. >>> Mario Cacciottolo, BBC News | Monday, November 16, 2010

Iranian MPs Demand Iran Cuts Ties with Britain
THE TELEGRAPH: A group of Iranian MPs is demanding that the country cut its diplomatic ties with Britain in a sign of the country's deteriorating relations with the West.

The proposal, backed by up to 40 members of the Iranian parliament, came as Iran continued to accuse America and Israel of orchestrating the murder of a nuclear physicist on Tuesday.

Iranian leaders regularly accuse Britain of being the "Little Satan" to the American "Great Satan". They have also been particularly enraged by the leading role the Foreign Office has played in both urging sanctions over the country's nuclear programme and in protesting at the treatment of pro-opposition demonstrators following last year's presidential election.

The Iranian Speaker, Ari Larijani, said international relations were the responsibility of foreign policy and national security commission.

The commission described the proposal as "hasty" but said it would consider it.

Meanwhile more evidence has emerged of the links forged between the murdered physicist, Dr Moussad Ali-Mohammadi, and opposition groups.

Friends said he had been a committed supporter of the revolution but had been driven into the arms of the reform movement by the treatment of universities and students by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. >>> Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Haiti Earthquake Appeal: YOUR HELP Is Needed


BRITISH RED CROSS: A devastating earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck Haiti on 12 January 2010, killing hundreds and affecting thousands more. Please give what you can today to help thousands of people in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Donate Now! >>>

Donation Hotline: 0845 053 5353 (24 hours)

AMERICAN RED CROSS: Washington – The American Red Cross is sending money, supplies and staff to Haiti to support relief efforts there after yesterday’s earthquake, which caused catastrophic damage and loss of life.

According to reports, as many as three million people may have been affected by the quake, which collapsed government buildings and caused major damage to hospitals in the area.

The Red Cross is contributing an initial $1 million from the International Response Fund to support the relief operation, and has opened its warehouse in Panama to provide tarps, mosquito nets and cooking sets for approximately 5,000 families. Donate Now! >>>

You may also call:

1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) – English

1-800-257-7575 – Spanish

For Google Checkout click here: Donate Now! >>>

SCHWEIZERISCHES ROTES KREUZ: Nothilfe für Erdbeben Haiti
Helfen Sie den Opfern: Nach dem schweren Erdbeben wird in Haiti eine Katastrophe befürchtet. Über die Zahl der Opfer und das Ausmass der Schäden herrscht noch Unklarheit. Das Rote Kreuz steht im Rettungseinsatz. Hier spenden >>>

AKTION DEUTSCHLAND HILFT: Aktion Deutschland Hilft ist das Bündnis renommierter deutscher Hilfsorganisationen. Gemeinsam helfen wir den Opfern des schweren Erdbebens in Haiti. Erdbeben Haiti: Sicher online spenden. Sicher Online spenden hier >>>

COMITÉ INTERNATIONAL DE LA CROIX-ROUGE: Haïti : le CICR contribue aux efforts déployés pour venir en aide aux victimes du séisme: Genève (CICR) – Le Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (CICR) coopère avec ses partenaires du Mouvement international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge pour venir en aide aux victimes du tremblement de terre qui a frappé Haïti. L'institution mobilise des ressources humaines et matérielles pour faire face à cette catastrophe. [Source] Faire un don ici >>>

Nick Clegg: Faith Schools Should Teach Children That Homosexuality Is ‘Normal’
THE TELEGRAPH: Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, has said that children attending faith schools should be taught that homosexuality is "normal and harmless".

In a pitch for the “pink vote,” he called on all the parties to prove that they supported full equality for homosexuals, and accused David Cameron, the Conservative leader, of being untrustworthy on the issue.

The Liberal Democrats support measures forcing teachers, including those working in faith schools, to implement policies to combat homophobic bullying, with lessons teaching that same-sex relationships are “normal”.

Mr Clegg said: “Crucially faith schools should have a requirement to have an anti-homophobic bullying policy at their school.”

In an interview with Attitude magazine, the Liberal Democrat leader also called for lesbians and homosexual men who have undergone a civil partnership ceremony to be given the formal and symbolic status of a “married” couple. >>> Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Politikerwitwe Jehan Sadat: «Fanatiker haben keine Religion»
WELTWOCHE: Jehan Sadat vertritt unermüdlich das politische Erbe ihres Mannes, des ermordeten Präsidenten Anwar Sadat. Sie setzt sich für Frieden und Versöhnung im Nahen Osten ein. Und betet dafür, dass ihr Traum noch zu ihren Lebzeiten Realität wird. Von Pierre Heumann

Termin bei Madame Jehan Sadat, der Witwe des erschossenen ägyptischen Präsidenten. Sie gilt immer noch als First Lady Ägyptens. Ein Gemälde von Anwar Sadat dominiert die geräumige Eingangshalle, das ihn in stolzer Generalstracht und mit glitzernden Medaillen zeigt. Die zehn Minuten bis zum Eintreffen von Madame nutzt General Mahmoud Seoud, um die Empfangsräume der dreistöckigen Präsidentenvilla in Kairo zu zeigen. Seoud, der schon für Anwar Sadat arbeitete, ist jetzt Bodyguard von Madame, amtet aber gleichzeitig als ihr Sekretär. «Der Schreibtisch, an dem der Präsident über Krieg und Frieden entschied, steht noch an seinem Platz, ebenso die Sitzgruppen, die Anrichte, die Porzellanvasen und die Uhr», sagt Seoud. Neu hinzugekommen seien lediglich Fotos von Enkeln. Dann lässt er von einem Diener arabischen Kaffee servieren. Pünktlich um elf Uhr betritt Madame den Raum, begleitet von einer der zehn weissen Perserkatzen, die den Besucher beschnuppern. Seoud zieht sich diskret zurück. >>> Von Pierre Heumann | Dienstag, 22. Dezember 2009

Kommentar: Europa will einfach nicht klüger werden
WELT ONLINE: Die EU wächst und wächst, aber stärker wird sie nicht. Wenig könnte das deutlicher machen als die beiden neuen Funktionsträger der Union. Herman Van Rompuy und Baronin Ashton of Upholland gehören dem Typus Zellophan-Politiker an: Ernst und gewissenhaft, aber so unscheinbar, dass man sie kaum wahrnimmt.

In dem Musical „Chicago“ gibt es eine wahrlich triste Figur – den Mann von Roxy Hart, der Hauptdarstellerin. Mr. Hart ist ein total unscheinbarer Mensch, lieb bis zur Selbstverleugnung, aber niemand nimmt irgendwie Notiz von ihm. In einer ergreifend anrührend gesungenen Nummer nennt er sich daher „Mr. Cellophane“, Mister Zellophan. Man sieht förmlich durch mich hindurch, klagt er, als gebe es mich nicht, man geht achtlos an mir vorbei wie an einem Phantom.

Dieses Bild fällt einem ein, wenn man an die beiden neuen Funktionsträger der EU denkt, den Präsidenten sowie die Hohe Repräsentantin für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik. Herman Van Rompuy und Baronin Ashton of Upholland werden pflichtbewusst an ihre Arbeit gehen, wie Catherine Ashton bei ihrer Anhörung im Brüsseler Parlament gestern glaubhaft bekannte. Dem europäischen Demos freilich wird ihre Tätigkeit weitgehend schleierhaft bleiben, weil sie sich im Herzen einer Bürokratie abspielt, die mit jedem neuen EU-Vertrag undurchsichtiger und entrückter geworden ist.

Fragt man die Briten, ob sie schon einmal von Lady Ashton – und sie war eine echte, mit Sitz im Oberhaus – gehört hätten, wird man in 99 von 100 Fällen zur Antwort bekommen: Wie bitte – Catherine who? Lady Zellophan könnte sich durch die Menge bewegen, und niemand würde von ihr Notiz nehmen. Die Hoffnung, ihre Kandidatur könnte die Briten wenigstens mit ein wenig Stolz erfüllen und das Land damit etwas enger an die EU gebunden haben, ist weit gefehlt. >>> Von Thomas Kielinger | Dienstag, 12. Januar 2010

Islam: «Wir waren zu naiv»
WELTWOCHE: Der Genfer Theologe Shafique Keshavjee* denkt über die Grenzen des interreligiösen Dialogs nach. Von Stéphane Zindel

Kurz nach Annahme der Minarett-Initiative haben Sie ein Dokument publiziert, in dem Sie die Muslime in der Schweiz auffordern, klarer Position zu beziehen gegenüber problematischen Stellen im Koran und in anderen Referenztexten des Islam. In diesem Dokument geht es unter anderem um die Praxis der Steinigung, die Stellung der Frau und die Rechtfertigung der Gewalt. Was bewog Sie dazu?

Ich war zwar gegen die Minarett-Initiative. Aber ich bin der Auffassung, dass man die Botschaft des Volks ernst nehmen sollte. Insbesondere die muslimische Gemeinschaft sollte das. Das Abstimmungsergebnis ist keine Abwehrreaktion gegenüber den Muslimen im Allgemeinen. Im Islam gibt es aber eine kleine und einflussreiche Minderheit, deren Werte nicht mit unseren in Einklang zu bringen sind. Die Bevölkerung erwartet von den Verantwortlichen der islamischen Zentren, dass sie sich davon klarer abgrenzen.

War der Westen lange zu tolerant gegenüber dem Islam?

Der interreligiöse Dialog liegt mir am Herzen. Ich habe auch viel dafür getan in den letzten Jahren. Jetzt stösst er aber an gewisse Grenzen. Wir waren zu naiv. Der Dialog mit dem Islam darf sich nicht mehr darin erschöpfen, Floskeln in höflichem Ton auszutauschen, die sich auf harmlose Stellen des Korans beziehen. Gut gemeint genügt nicht mehr. Wir müssen über die konkreten Auswirkungen reden und die Realität im Auge haben.

Machen Sie ein Beispiel.

Mohammed ruft die Muslime auf, jene, die sich zu einer anderen Religion bekennen, zu töten. Das ist nicht bloss Theorie. Leute werden wirklich getötet in Ländern, wo dieses Prinzip gilt. Die Imame im Westen versichern, dass dieses Prinzip hier nicht angewendet wird. Aber das genügt nicht. Sie müssten sich auch zum Inhalt äussern und aufzeigen, wie man diese Aussage konstruktiv interpretieren könnte.

Haben Sie ein Beispiel, das in der Schweiz zu konkreten Problemen führt?

Nach muslimischem Recht müssen sich Nichtmuslime zum Islam bekennen, wenn sie eine Muslimin heiraten wollen. In solchen Ehen wird auch grosser Druck auf die Kinder ausgeübt, die ebenfalls zum Islam übertreten sollen. Das führt zu einer schleichenden Islamisierung und ist nicht akzeptabel. >>> Von Stéphane Zindel | Mittwoch, 06. Januar 2010

* Shafique Keshavjee ist Theologieprofessor an den Universitäten von Genf und Lausanne und protestantischer Pfarrer. Er stammt aus Indien, wurde aber in Kenia geboren. Ein Teil seiner Familie gehört der islamisch-schiitischen Glaubensgemeinschaft an. Zwei seiner Bücher sind auf Deutsch erschienen: «Der König, der Weise und der Narr: Der grosse Wettstreit der Religionen», Goldmann, und «Unterwegs zu einer Sinfonie der Kirchen», Lembeck.

Nicolas Sarkozy est grand-père d'un petit garçon
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: FRANCE | Le fils cadet du président de la République, Jean Sarkozy, et son épouse Jessica sont devenus mercredi matin les parents d'un petit garçon, selon une source proche de la présidence.

Le prénom du petit garçon n'a pas été dévoilé.

Jessica Sebaoun-Darty, héritière du géant de l'éléctroménager, et Jean Sarkozy, 23 ans, se sont mariés le 10 septembre 2008 à la mairie de Neuilly-sur-Seine. Jean Sarkozy, élu conseiller général des Hauts-de-Seine en mars 2008, est le deuxième fils de Nicolas Sarkozy et de sa première épouse Marie-Dominique Culioli. >>> AP | Mercredi 13 Janvier 2010

Eine entstellte Banknote. Bild: NZZ Online
Banknoten als Flugblätter: Parolen der Opposition auf iranischen Rial-Scheinen
NZZ ONLINE: Trotz Zensur und Störmanövern des Regimes findet die iranische Opposition neue Wege, um ihre Botschaften unters Volk zu bringen. Ausgerechnet auf Banknoten wird zu neuen Demonstrationen am 11. Februar aufgerufen.

Wenn es immer gefährlicher wird, zu Demonstrationen auf die Strasse zu gehen, suchen Oppositionelle im Iran andere Wege, ihrem Unmut Luft zu machen: Sie versehen Geldscheine mit Parolen wie «Tod dem Diktator», «Nieder mit Khamenei» oder dem Siegeszeichen V. Ein 2000-Rial-Schein (knapp 20 Eurocent) trägt das V-Zeichen und die Botschaft «Wir sind unzählige». Die Behörden haben ihre liebe Mühe, diese Protest-Noten aus dem Verkehr zu ziehen. >>> ddp | Mittwoch, 13. Januar 2010

France: Vous êtes Français, prouvez-le!
LE TEMPS: Les Français nés à l’étranger ou dont l’un des parents est né ailleurs sont de plus en plus appelés à prouver leur nationalité

Il y a Robert, né à Tarascon-sur- Ariège mais dont les parents ont vu le jour en Espagne (lire ci-contre); Michka, malheureux descendant de grands-mères ayant accouché à l’étranger; Emmanuelle, éclose à Berne d’une mère française ou bien encore Antoine, adopté dans l’Hexagone après deux années passées au Gabon. Tous se croyaient Français depuis – presque – toujours. Paris les somme aujourd’hui de le prouver.

Fameux «certificat»

Le scénario est chaque fois identique. Un simple renouvellement de pièce d’identité se transforme en imbroglio administratif. Montrer son ancien passeport ne suffit plus à en obtenir un nouveau. Selon le code de nationalité, un Français né à l’étranger, ou dont l’un des parents est né ailleurs, doit justifier de son appartenance à la Nation. Seule preuve recevable: le «certificat de nationalité» délivré par le tribunal d’instance. La loi, établie pour l’essentiel en 1945, est loin d’être nouvelle, mais elle est désormais appliquée.

Des milliers de Français se retrouvent ainsi sans papiers. «Obtenir ce certificat relève parfois d’un travail de titan. Il faut remonter sur des générations et les documents peuvent avoir disparu, souligne Cécile Madeline, avocate spécialisée. C’est le cas pour l’Algérie, où nombre d’habitants ont été naturalisés au mérite au XIXe siècle. Beaucoup de mairies, en Kabylie notamment, ont brûlé pendant la guerre d’indépendance puis la guerre civile. Nous savons que certaines personnes sont Françaises, mais qu’elles n’arriveront pas à le prouver!» >>> Caroline Stevan | Mardi 12 Janvier 2010

Le profiling débarque dans les aéroports français
LE FIGARO: Les passagers vont être scrutés à la loupe. Au moindre signe de nervosité, ils seront soumis à des questions pièges des agents de sûreté.

Profiling ou profilage : «Technique policière qui consiste à dresser le profil psychologique d'un criminel récidiviste inconnu », dit Le Petit Robert. Le mot est américain. La méthode fait fureur en Israël. Adaptée à la lutte antiterroriste, elle intéresse au plus haut point les autorités en France depuis l'attentat manqué contre le vol 253, le 25 décembre dernier. Le secrétaire d'État aux Transports annonce ainsi que cette nouvelle façon de travailler va s'étendre à l'ensemble des contrôles français, nécessitant d' «améliorer les efforts de formation de toutes les équipes» . Et Dominique Bussereau d'ajouter : «Il y a certainement une meilleure analyse comportementale des gens à avoir». Comme si un kamikaze pouvait se détecter à l'œil nu. >>> Jean-Marc Leclerc | Mardi 12 Janvier 2010

LE FIGARO: Des contrôles toujours plus draconiens dans les aéroports >>> Fabrice Amedeo | Mercredi 13 Janvier 2010

This Meddlesome Woman: Harriet Harman’s Direct Assault on the Roman Catholic Church
THE TELEGRAPH: The Roman Catholic ban on women entering the priesthood will become illegal under Harriet Harman's controversial Equality Bill, according to Christian charity, CARE.

A new report by the leading charity – backed by a legal opinion from a leading QC – says the Bill will make it impossible for all churches and faith-based charities to insist that their senior staff lead private lives in accordance with their religious beliefs.

CARE said that, under the Bill, which will be considered by the House of Lords on Monday, it would be illegal for a Christian charity to sack a senior manager for adultery or living an openly gay lifestyle.

The same rules would, it added, apply to Muslim and Jewish churches and charities.

However, the biggest potential showdown is likely to be between the government and Britain's 4.3 million Catholics over the church's tradition of an all-male, celibate priesthood.

Previous legislation in 2007, also backed by Ms Harman, the Commons Leader and equality minister, forced the closure of two Catholic adoption agencies for refusing to comply with new laws requiring them to place children with gay couples.

CARE's report – A Little Bit Against Discrimination? – warns that the proposals contained in the Bill are a serious threat to religious liberty in Britain.

John Bowers QC said in a legal opinion for CARE that the Bill could make it unlawful for a church to require a priest or minister to be male, celibate and unmarried, or not in a civil partnership. Catholic ban on women priests 'illegal under Harriet Harman equality bill' >>> Patrick Hennessy, Political editor | Sunday, January 10, 2010

Labour's Equality Bill Should Not Be Tolerated
THE TELEGRAPH: Telegraph View: ambiguities in the wording may penalise the Catholic Church and institutions linked to it

Toleration is one of the most fundamental values of a liberal society. It is also appears to be the one that some Labour ministers find hardest to understand. It requires accepting that other people are entitled to arrange their lives and institutions around their religious beliefs – even when those beliefs appear, to those who do not adhere to the religion in question, to be wrong-headed, or even discriminatory.

As we report today, there are serious concerns that Labour's new Equality Bill is incompatible with the value of toleration. According to one QC, it will make it illegal for a religion to insist on celibacy from some of its members, or to prevent women from becoming priests or holding other offices. There is enough ambiguity in the wording of the new law to make that intolerant result a real possibility. It would not be the first time that Labour's quest to achieve "fairness" has led to the imposition of prohibitions on religious organisations. A law passed in 2007 forced the closure of two Catholic adoption agencies for their refusal to place children with gay couples. >>> Telegraph View | Sunday, January 10, 2010

Muslim Prisoners 'Refuse to Take Part in Group Therapy as It's Against Religion'
THE TELEGRAPH: Muslim prisoners are refusing to take part in group therapy sessions saying it's against their religion to talk about their 'past crimes' in front of others.

Scores of Britain's 10,000 Muslim prisoners - one in eight of all inmates - are refusing to take part in Offending Behaviour Programmes (OBPs ), claiming it is 'forbidden' or 'Haraam'.

Haraam refers to anything that is prohibited by faith [Allah], and in Islamic culture criminals are barred from discussing their offences with others.

Previously, Muslim prisoners refused to take part in Sex Offender Treatment Programmes because it involved talking about offences against women, but now some are refusing to take part in all rehabilitation sessions where they have to 'open up' in front of other cons.

Among the courses some Muslims are declining to take part in are the Cognitive Self Change Programme (CSCP), just one of 13 OBPs on offer from the prison service,

The CSCP, which treats 7,000 prisoners each year, targets 'high risk violent offenders' and offers individual and group sessions to prisoners.

The course claims to: "Equip prisoners with skills to help them control their violence and avoid reconviction.

"It is aimed at offenders with a history of violent behaviour and is suitable for those whose violence is reactive and/or instrumental."

Other programmes on offer include Enhanced Thinking Skills, Cognitive Skills Booster Programme, Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it and various motivational courses.

One Muslim prisoner, Abu Dira, a maximum security prisoner at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire, said this week: "Muslims cannot speak about their past crimes in a group setting. >>> | Monday, January 11, 2010

Allergic to Clothes!
THE TELEGRAPH: The naked rambler, Stephen Gough, has been told he will spend the rest of his life behind bars if he continues refusing to wear clothes in public.

Stephen Gough on his naked ramble from Land's End to John O'Groats with his then girlfriend Melanie Roberts. Photograph: The Telegraph
The former Royal Marine, who became notorious for his naked hike from Land's End to John O'Groats in 2003, has spent much of the past seven years in prison for repeatedly appearing nude in public.

He was yesterday found guilty of breaching the peace when he walked naked from Perth prison in December after finishing a 12 month sentence for the same offence. Mr Gough was warned he will continue to be jailed every time he steps out of prison without any clothes on.

The 50-year-old, who conducted his own defence while appearing in court completely naked, turned down an offer to walk free yesterday on the condition that he got dressed.

Perth Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told Gough she would consider granting him bail to go home to his "warmer" house in Eastleigh, Hampshire, if he agreed to put some clothes on. The former lorry driver refused the offer and was remanded in custody. Naked rambler faces life in prison >>> Heidi Blake | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Matt Frei's Diary: Dangerous Minds
BBC: The Virginia Five, currently imprisoned in Pakistan, the Nigerian "underpants bomber" whose name everyone - including President Obama - is stumbling over; the Jordanian doctor who turned out to be a double agent with a suicide vest in a CIA compound in Afghanistan; what do they all have in common apart from a profound hatred of America and its allies?

They are all the products of relative prosperity and higher education. After all, Osama Bin Laden and his deputy also came from a privileged background.

None of the recent suspects are high school drop-outs or desperate refugees who have nurtured hatred of the West in the frayed lining of an empty stomach.

None have had to watch relatives die in stray American bomb attacks. They have all had a lot to lose and yet they were prepared to lose their own lives for a cause.

So, what makes the 23-year-old son of a prominent Nigerian banker pack his underpants with explosives in pursuit of martyrdom? >>> Matt Frei, BBC News, Washington | Thursday, January 07, 2010

'Decision to Blog Is Risky But Neccessary'
BBC: Wael Abbas is an Egyptian Journalist and a highly influential political blogger. His blog, Misr Digital (Egyptian Awareness), regularly covers political protests, corruption, and police brutality - subjects generally avoided by the mainstream media.

Egypt has the most developed political blogosphere in the Arab world but just how much truth is there in a blog?

Wael Abbas tells Zeinab Badawi that bloggers in Egypt are a vital, independent voice, constantly pushing the limits of freedom of speech. Watch BBC video >>> | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Turkey Demands Apology from Israel Over Envoy 'Slight'
BBC: Turkey has demanded that Israel apologise over what it called the "discourteous" way its ambassador was treated during a diplomatic meeting.

Israel summoned Turkey's ambassador to rebuke him over a TV series but ensured he was photographed on a lower chair.

Jonathan Head reports. Watch BBC video >>> | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

BBC: Turkey threatens diplomatic action over Israel 'snub': Turkey has said it will recall its ambassador unless a row over his treatment by Israel's deputy foreign minister is rapidly resolved. >>> | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

WELT ONLINE: Diplomatische Verstimmung – Türkischer Präsident stellt Israel ein Ultimatum: Die Spannungen zwischen Israel und der Türkei drohen zu eskalieren. Nachdem Vize-Außenminister Ajalon den türkischen Botschafter öffentlich gedemütigt hat, fordert Präsident Abdullah Gül eine Entschuldigung. Sonst will er die diplomatischen Beziehungen abbrechen. Ajalons bisherige Stellungsnahme sei unzureichend. >>> AFP/ks | Mittwoch, 13. Januar 2010

WELT ONLINE: Botschafter einbestellt – Israel rächt sich für hetzerische TV-Serie: Seit einiger Zeit versuchen Israels Handels- und Verteidigungsminister, die angeschlagenen Beziehungen zur Türkei wieder zu verbessern. Eine andere Straegie verfolgt Außenminister Avigdor Lieberman. Er bestellte den türkischen Botschafter ein – und ließ diesen nach Strich und Faden demütigen. >>> Von Michael Borgstede | Dienstag, 12. Januar 2010

TIMES ONLINE: Israel forced to apologise to Turkey over humiliation of its envoy >>> James Hider in Jerusalem | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Uganda President Museveni Wary of Anti-gay Bill
BBC: Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has distanced himself from a bill proposing execution for some gay people.

He stressed that the MP who proposed the bill, who is a member of the ruling party, did so as an individual and was not following government policy.

Mr Museveni, who admitted coming under international pressure, said the bill was now a "foreign policy issue" and would be discussed by the cabinet.

The proposals have caused a storm of criticism across the world.

Sweden has threatened to cut aid and other countries have contacted Mr Museveni directly to put their objections. >>> | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

BBC: Uganda fear over gay death-penalty plans >>> | Tuesday, December 22, 2010

Thousands Feared Dead as Huge Earthquake Devastates Haiti
TIMES ONLINE: Thousands of people were feared dead after a powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 rocked the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti last night, toppling buildings and causing widespread damage and panic.

The United Nations headquarters was one of scores of buildings that were toppled, including the presidential palace, the World Bank, government buildings and a cathedral. Roads and bridges also lay in ruins after the largest earthquake in 200 years struck just 10 miles (16 km) from the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Communications were widely disrupted, making it impossible to get a clear picture of the damage as violent aftershocks shook the country, where many buildings are flimsy. Electricity was lost in some places.

A thick pall of dust lay over the city as panic stricken residents poured into the streets screaming, with buildings crumbling around them. As night fell, thousands squatted in sports grounds and on the streets, too terrified of aftershocks to return to their homes. >>> | Wednesday. January 13, 2010

US Cult of Greed Is Now a Global Environmental Threat
THE GUARDIAN: The average American consumes more than his or her weight in products each day, fuelling a global culture of excess that is emerging as the biggest threat to the planet, according to a report published today. In its annual report, Worldwatch Institute says the cult of consumption and greed could wipe out any gains from government action on climate change or a shift to a clean energy economy. >>> Suzanne Goldenberg US environment correspondent | Wednesday, January 13, 2009

A Relationship with God, My Foot!
THE INDEPENDENT: To some it is a symbol of female subjugation. But these women believe that their Islamic headwear is a versatile, liberating way of expressing their identities.

Jilbab. Niqab. Al Amira. Dupatta. Burqa. Chador. Even the language used to describe the various kinds of clothing worn by Muslim women can seem as complicated and muddied as the issue itself. Rarely has an item of cloth caused so much consternation, controversy and misunderstanding as with the Islamic headscarf or veil.

For those Muslims who literally wear their religion on their sleeves, hijab (from the Arabic for curtain or screen) can be many things. For some it is a cultural practice handed down through the generations, an unquestioned given that is simply adopted. For others the need to dress and behave modestly can define a person’s relationship with God, their religious devotion or even their politics. For others still hijab is a complicated journey, one with twists and turns where veils are briefly discarded on the ground or taken up with willing fervour.

“Muslim women wear hijab for many reasons including piety, identity and even as political statements,” says Tahmina Saleem, the co-founder of Inspire, a consultancy which helps Muslim women become vocal members of their communities. “Most do so willingly, some unwillingly”. The many faces behind the veil >>> Arifa Akbar and Jerome Taylor | Wednesday, January 13, 2010

24-hour Guard on Hate Cleric Anjem Choudary: Police 'Fury' Over Security Patrols
MAIL ONLINE: Hate preacher Anjem Choudary is being given round-the-clock police protection following his controversial threat to march through Wootton Basset, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Even though the extremist cleric has now called off plans to stage the protest, carrying empty coffins through the town where Britain honours its war dead, he still receives hourly security checks at his East London home.

Metropolitan police officers have been told to give his protection priority above other local policing jobs such as muggings, theft and foot patrols.

The protection was revealed after Home Secretary Alan Johnson yesterday banned Choudary's Islam4UK group, making it a criminal offence to be a member.

As Choudary held a press conference to react to the ban, patrol cars and unmarked vehicles were still instructed to drive past his empty £320,000 rented home - which is funded by council benefits.

Officers tasked with carrying out these patrols have privately expressed their fury at being diverted away from what they regard as 'proper policing'.

But the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism unit fears a far-Right group may be plotting an attack on the fanatic.

Their concerns intensified after a Facebook campaign against the march attracted the support of more than 250,000 Britons and led to threats against Choudary's life. >>> Emily Andrews, Rebecca Camber and Claire Ellicott | Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Vatican Accuses Italians of Racism After Southern Riots
THE TELEGRAPH: The Vatican's newspaper on Tuesday accused Italians of being racist in the wake of riots sparked by tensions between locals and African immigrants in southern Italy.

In an unusually forthright attack, the Holy See's official mouthpiece, L'Osservatore Romano, said the violence of local residents towards the migrant farm labourers had revealed a "mute and savage hatred towards another skin colour that we thought we had overcome".

More than 1,000 Africans had to be evacuated to safety from the town of Rosarno in the southern Calabria region at the weekend after they clashed with local residents.

The violence was sparked by a group of Italians shooting at some of the Africans with air rifles and pellet guns on Thursday. There was another, similar attack on Saturday.

Angry immigrants burned cars and shop windows. Locals retaliated by beating them with bars, trying to run them over and setting up barricades.

In an editorial entitled "Italians and Racism", L'Osservatore Romano said: "For once, the press is not exaggerating... We have never excelled in our sense of openness, we Italians, from the north to the south.

"The American example has been futile: Obama-mania has taken hold from politics to art, from style to language, but has not breached the gap in showing the value of bringing different races together," the paper said. >>> Nick Squires in Rome | Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Google Will Quit China Unless Web Censorship Ends
THE TELEGRAPH: Google, the internet search engine, has set itself at odds with the authorities in China by declaring that it will stop censoring search results on its Chinese website.

In a surprise announcement, the group issued a veiled attack at Chinese censors and said it was prepared to shut down its operations there entirely if the authorities do not allow it to create an unfiltered search engine.

The company courted controversy in 2006 when it launched in China but, as a concession to the Communist government, agreed to filter the results available on its website for "inappropriate" content. It does not operate such filters in other major countries. >>> Edmund Conway | Tuesday, January 12, 2010

New Dark Age Alert! Studie: Mehr als 2,3 Milliarden Menschen sind nicht frei
WELT ONLINE: Mehr als die Hälfte der Weltbevölkerung muss auf freie Lebensbedingungen verzichten. Die Organisation Freedom House zählt weltweit nur 89 Staaten, in denen die Menschen frei sind – Tendenz sinkend. Selbst in Europa rügt die "Weltpolizei" mit Hauptsitz in Washington mehrere Länder.

Weltkarte: Welt Online
Freedom House, die namhafte Forschungseinrichtung mit Hauptsitz in Washington D.C., beklagt eine „weltweite Erosion der Freiheit“. Weniger als die Hälfte der Weltbevölkerung lebt unter Bedingungen, die man als „frei“ bezeichnen kann, heißt es im Jahresbericht 2010 der Organisation. Im vierten Jahr in Folge überwiege der Rückgang bürgerlicher Freiheiten den Fortschritt demokratischer Grundrechte – die längste Periode kontinuierlicher Freiheitseinbußen in der fast 40 Jahre langen Geschichte der Bestandsaufnahme.

In 40 Staaten registrierte Freedom House eine Verschlechterung der Lage, vor allem in Afrika, Lateinamerika, im Nahen- und Mittleren Osten sowie in den Staaten der ehemaligen Sowjetunion. Der Iran, Russland, Venezuela und Vietnam – ohnehin schon in der untersten Kategorie geführt – hätten ihre Repressionen noch einmal angezogen. Bahrain, Jordanien, Marokko, Kenia und Kirgistan haben ihre zuletzt positiven Tendenzen nicht mehr halten können und wurden gegenüber dem Report von 2009 heruntergestuft. >>> Von Dietrich Alexander | Dienstag, 12. Januar 2010

Freedom in the World 2010 Survey Release
FREEDOM HOUSE: On January 12, Freedom House released its findings from the latest edition of Freedom in the World, the annual survey of global political rights and civil liberties. According to the survey’s findings, 2009 marked the fourth consecutive year in which global freedom suffered a decline—the longest consecutive period of setbacks for freedom in the nearly 40-year history of the report. >>> Release of Findings, Tuesday, January 12, 2010

In einem fremden Kleid
Eine afghanische Burka. Bild: NZZ Online
NZZ am SONNTAG: Der Schleier ist im Westen Symbol von Fundamentalismus und Unterdrückung der Frau. Die Debatte über ein Verbot ist im Gang. Wie ist es in der Schweiz, eine Burka zu tragen? Ein Tag undercover.

Das Tram ist voll. Sie sitzt am Fenster. Draussen flirren Häuserfassaden vorbei. Der nächste Halt. Leute steigen ein. Einer, Typ Sportlehrer mit Rucksack, steuert den Sitz neben ihr an. Bis er sie sieht. Dann steuert er doch lieber daran vorbei. Ebenso eine feste Dame, die sich mit einem Gehstock durch den Gang schiebt. Obwohl das Tram schon wieder fährt. Sechs Stationen, der Platz neben ihr bleibt frei.

Umsteigen. Sie geht wie eine Greisin, um ihr Ziel sicher zu erreichen: die Tür. Unten auf dem Trottoir herrscht ein geschäftiges Durcheinander von Moonboots, Stiefeln, Lederschuhen. Es ist ziemlich kalt an diesem Morgen. Einen Fuss auf die erste Stufe, den anderen auf die zweite. So weit, so gut. Keine dreissig Sekunden vergehen, dann schreit eine sehr kleine Frau mit einer sehr grossen Sonnenbrille in ihr Gesicht: «Gopfertami!» Was ist passiert? Sie sind zusammengeprallt. Versehentlich.

Einen Tag lang bin ich in Zürich unterwegs, fahre Tram, gehe in den Strassen, kaufe ein, in der Apotheke, der Migros. Nichts Besonderes. Besonders aber ist meine Erscheinung: total verhüllt. Über Thermohosen trage ich einen Rock und über dem Rock eine Burka. Eine afghanische, um genau zu sein: blau, hinten boden-, vorne hüftlang, aus einem synthetischen, bestickten Stoff. Mein Gesicht ist bedeckt. Sogar die Augenpartie, wo sich ein Fliegengitter-artiges Fenster befindet. Ein Kollege hat sie an Kabuls «Chicken Street» gekauft, einem Hippieparadies, vor der Herrschaft der Taliban.

«Salam alaikum»

Eigentlich hätte ich sie daheim ein bisschen tragen wollen. Zur Vorbereitung. Habe ich dann doch immer irgendwie aufgeschoben. Wahrscheinlich weil dieser Fetzen Stoff alles ist, was mir, meiner Kultur, meinem Geschlecht, meiner Generation fremd ist. Freiheit? Gleichberechtigung? Selbstverständlich. Wie das Studieren an der Uni oder das Ausüben eines Berufs, den wir uns aussuchen. Niemand sonst. Schon gar nicht ein Mann. Selbstverwirklichung ist unsere Religion. Vielleicht auch Liebe. Trotzdem oder gerade deshalb will ich wissen: Wie ist es, eine Burka zu tragen? In einer Zeit, in der man sich wieder besonders ängstigt vor islamischem Fundamentalismus. In einem Land, dessen Mehrheit schon allein gegen den Bau von Minaretten stimmt. Das nun darüber debattiert, auch dieses Gewand nicht mehr zu tolerieren. >>> Von Carole Koch | Sonntag, 10. Januar 2010

François Fillon se prononce pour une loi sur la burqa
François Fillon a fait un pas vers Jean-François Copé pour tenter de mettre fin à la cacophonie sur le dossier de la burqa. Crédits photo : Le Figaro
LE FIGARO: Le premier ministre s'est prononcé mardi pour une «résolution ferme» assortie de «textes législatifs et de décisions réglementaires». Il prend à contre pied les cadres de l'UMP qui jugeaient la proposition de loi de Jean-François Copé prématurée.

L'interdiction de la burqa n'en finit plus de faire parler d'elle. Fin décembre, Jean-François Copé avait surpris les députés, notamment dans les rangs de l'UMP, en annonçant le dépôt en janvier d'une proposition de loi interdisant le port du voile dans l'espace public sans attendre les conclusions de la mission parlementaire, prévues pour fin janvier. Mardi, alors que les parlementaires faisaient leur rentrée, le sujet était encore sur toutes les lèvres.

Mardi matin, la majorité des cadres de l'UMP ont d'abord reproché à Jean-François Copé d'avoir agi trop vite. Le secrétaire d'Etat à l'Emploi Laurent Wauquiez a ainsi accusé le député-maire de Meaux de vouloir utiliser le débat pour une «opération d'autopromotion». Le président de l'Assemblée nationale lui-même est intervenu mardi : Bernard Accoyer assure qu'il «serait prématuré de déposer une proposition de loi par un seul groupe politique ou par quelques députés alors qu'il y a possibilité de trouver une solution partagée».

D'autres émettaient des doutes sur la légitimité d'une loi. A l'image de Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet qui a estimé qu'une loi précipitée risque de tomber sous le coup d'une annulation du Conseil constitutionnel». La secrétaire d'Etat a plaidé pour «une résolution adoptée à l'unanimité» contre le port du voile intégral. La résolution parlementaire permet aux députés de s'exprimer solennellement sur une question de leur choix. Mais reste non-contraignante.

Une disposition pas assez contraignante pour François Fillon, qui est venu recadrer la majorité. S'exprimant mardi à huis clos lors de la réunion hebdomadaire des députés UMP, le premier ministre a déclaré que l'interdiction du port du voile intégral devait «passer par une résolution suffisamment ferme pour fixer les principes, ainsi que des textes législatifs et des décisions réglementaires pour appliquer ces principes». «L'objectif, c'est de faire en sorte que la burqa n'ait pas sa place en France», a assuré François Fillon. «Il faut que la mission parlementaire aille à son terme au plus vite, ça n'empêche pas les uns et les autres d'exprimer les positions», a ajouté le premier ministre. L'UMP peine à trouver une unité >>> Jim Jarrassé (lefigaro.fr) | Mardi 12 Janvier 2010

Even My Parents Think I'm Overpaid, Admits RBS Chief Executive
THE GUARDIAN: But Stephen Hester tells MPs that although his bonus package could be worth up to £10m, it is currently worthless as shares in the state-controlled bank have failed to rise

Stephen Hester giving evidence to the Treasury select committee today. Photo: The Guardian
Stephen Hester, chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, admitted today that his parents believe he is paid too much as he stressed that his bonus package was currently worthless because the bank's shares had failed to rise.

Asked by the Treasury select committee of MPs whether he understood why the government wants to restrict bonuses at the state-controlled bank, Hester replied: "Yes".

He insisted that the bank did not yet know the size of the bonus pot that would be split between its 22,000 investment bankers. Hester also revealed that a "handful" of highly paid bankers would avoid the restriction placed on the bank not to pay cash bonuses to anyone earning more than £39,000 because of legal commitments made to them.

He told the MPs, who are also taking evidence from his counterparts at Lloyds Banking Group and Northern Rock, that his "biggest single business problem" was recruiting people who were concerned about the criticism they might encounter if they work for RBS.

Institutional investors had "raised concerns about our ability to keep and motivate good people".

The bank would not tell staff whether they will get a bonus and how large it would be until the end of February, he said.

The Treasury has a power to veto bonuses at the bank under the terms of insuring £282bn of troubled loans through the asset protection scheme (APS). Hester insisted no board directors have threatened to resign as a result of this restriction and insisted he wanted to pay "the minimum possible while keeping staff engaged".

Of his own pay deal, which is linked to the RBS share price but could be worth almost £10m over three years, Hester said: "If you ask my mother and father about my pay they'd say it was too high as well, so some people close to me have that view of bankers." >>> Jill Treanor | Tuesday, January 12, 2010

THE GUARDIAN – BUSINESS BLOG: Bank pay row reaches a crescendo: Banks are preparing to snub the politicians and begin a bumper bonus round later this week. First they have to brave a few final assaults: Obama's threatened tax in America and the House of Commons Treasury committee >>> Dan Roberts | Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Wootton Bassett Protest Group Islam4UK to Be Banned
THE TELEGRAPH: Islam4UK, the Islamist group which provoked outrage with its plan to march through Wootton Bassett will be banned under counter-terrorism laws, Home Secretary Alan Johnson has announced.

The groups leader Shajjadar Choudhury (2nd from left) arriving at Luton Magistrates Court. Photo: The Telegraph
The order will come into effect on Thursday and make it a criminal offence to be a member, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Mr Johnson said the group had tried to escape proscription simply by changing its name.

He said the order would apply to the group's other names, including Al Muhajiroun.

"I have today laid an order which will proscribe Al Muhajiroun, Islam4UK, and a number of the other names the organisation goes by," he said.

"It is already proscribed under two other names - Al Ghurabaa and The Saved Sect. >>> | Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Islam4UK Loses the 'Freedom' It Claimed to Despise
THE TELEGRAPH – BLOGS: Islam4UK has been banned. It is now an illegal organisation membership of which is prohibited under anti-terrorisim law. Its spokesman, Anjem Choudary was quick to issue a statement denouncing this move by the Home Secretary as an outrage against democratic freedom – presumably this is the same democratic freedom which his organisation openly professes to loathe. Read further & comment >>> Janet Daley | Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Anjem Choudary Discusses the Islamic March That Would Have Taken Place


THE TELEGRAPH: To what extent does Anjem Choudary represent the Muslim population? : Who represents whom within Muslim communities, indeed any community, is contested ground, writes Jamie Bartlett. >>> Jamie Bartlett | Thursday, January 07, 2010

Yemeni Officials Admit They Are Losing the Battle Against al-Qaeda
THE TELEGRAPH: Yemeni officials have admitted they are losing the battle against al-Qaeda and the terror group is extending its reach into remote regions where state control has all but disappeared.

Men claiming to be Al-Qaeda members address a crowd in Yemen's southern province of Abyan. Photo: The Telegraph
Regional politicians have presented a much bleaker prognosis than the authorities in the capital Sana'a, who have repeatedly sought to play down the threat posed by extremists in the wake of the Detroit terror attack.

They say al-Qaeda has forged its strongest relationship with local tribes in the sparsely populated mountains and desert of the south, where long simmering resentment of the government has given way to near-rebellion.

On the outskirts of Zinjibar, the ramshackle principal town of Abyan province, the gates of an ageing villa set deep in a banana plantation are guarded by more than a dozen Yemeni soldiers and policemen.

Sitting inside his heavily protected official residence, Ahmed al-Misri, Abyan's governor, is a gloomy man who frankly admits he regrets ever having taken up the job.

As well he might, Yemen observers say. Along with the provinces of Shabwa and Marib, Mr Misri's fiefdom forms an ungovernable crescent east of Sana'a and Aden, Yemen's main cities, which many commentators have described as "the new Waziristan". >>> Adrian Blomfield in Zinjibar | Monday, January 11, 2010

Wiki: Zinjibar >>>

US Gay Marriage Ban Challenged in Federal Court
Two gay couples are testifying at the trial. Photograph: BBC
BBC: The first US federal court case to determine whether states are allowed to ban same-sex marriages has opened in San Francisco, California.

Any ruling reached is expected to be challenged, possibly taking the case all the way to the US Supreme Court.

A Supreme Court ruling would determine the fate of gay marriages nationwide, without the possibility of appeal.

The suit, filed by two gay couples, challenges Proposition 8 - a ban on gay marriage in the state of California.

The law amended California's constitution to restrict marriage to a union between a man and a woman.

Supporters of the challenge are comparing it to landmark cases which ended segregation in US schools and overturned a ban on interracial marriage, the BBC's Rajesh Mirchandani reports.

They say the Constitution enshrines the right to marry but, by limiting it to heterosexual couples, it discriminates against gay people. >>> | Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Anne Frank Protector Miep Gies Dies Aged 100
THE TELEGRAPH: Miep Gies, the last surviving member of the group who helped Anne Frank and her family hide from the Nazis, has died in the Netherlands. She was 100.

Miep Gies died in a nursing home after suffering a fall before Christmas. Photograph: The Telegraph
Gies and other employees of Anne's father, Otto, smuggled food and books to the Franks as they hid with the van Daan family for two years, from 1942 to 1944, in a secret annex above Frank's business premises in Amsterdam.

Anne's diary, a log of life in hiding, which ended in betrayal, is one of the most enduring records of the Holocaust. Anne was sent to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where she died of typhus.

Mrs Gies found Anne's diary after the family was deported and locked the papers away, handing them over to Otto Frank, the family's sole survivor, after the war. >>> | Tuesday, January 12, 2010