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Tuesday, February 15, 2011
SUEDDEUTSCHE: Jagdszenen in Teheran: Mit aller Härte geht das Mullah-Regime gegen Demonstranten vor. Abgeordnete fordern den Tod für die Oppositionsführer. US-Außenministerin Clinton spricht den Demonstranten Mut zu - und attackiert die iranische Führung.
Die Nachwehen der Revolutionen in Ägypten und Tunesien greifen auf Iran über - und das Regime reagiert mit Härte. Zehntausende waren am Montag in Teheran auf die Straße gegangen. Bei Zusammenstößen mit Sicherheitskräften wurde ein Passant getötet, mehrere Demonstranten seien mit Schussverletzungen ins Krankenhaus gebracht worden, berichteten Augenzeugen. In der Nacht auf Dienstag patrouillierten Sicherheitskräfte durch die Straßen von Teheran, um die Proteste zu unterdrücken.
Am Montag sei die Menschenmenge zunächst schweigend entlang der Straße der Revolution in Richtung Azadi-Platz marschiert, berichtete der Nachrichtensender CNN. Immer wieder hätten Sicherheitskräfte versucht, die Demonstranten auseinanderzutreiben. Amateurvideos auf Youtube dokumentieren regelrechte Jagdszenen in Teherans Innenstadt. Polizisten gingen mit Knüppeln gegen die Menge vor. Die Sicherheitskräfte setzten Augenzeugen zufolge Tränengas ein, um die Demonstranten vom Azadi-Platz fernzuhalten. >>> | Dienstag, 15. Februar 2011
SUEDDEUTSCHE: "Militärische Diktatur mit theokratischem Überbau": Harsche Worte der Kritik kommen nun aus Washington: US-Außenministerin Hillary Clinton warf der iranischen Regierung Scheinheiligkeit vor. Das Regime habe die Proteste von Regierungsgegnern in Ägypten begrüßt, versuche aber die Opposition im eigenen Land zu unterdrücken, erklärte sie. "Iran ist das Musterbeispiel einer unterdrückten Revolution", sagte Clinton dem Online-Portal politico.com zufolge. >>> sueddeutsche.de/dapd/hai/mati | Dienstag, 15. Februar 2011
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Ägypten hat die EU offenbar gebeten, die europäischen Konten Husni Mubaraks einzufrieren. Diplomaten sollten am Dienstag darüber beraten, hieß es. Ägyptische Zeitungen meldeten, Mubarak sei schwer erkrankt. Unterdessen fordert die Militärregierung ein Ende der Demonstrationen.Ägypten bittet offenbar um eine Sperrung der europäischen Konten von Husni Mubarak. Wie die Nachrichtenagentur dpa am Montagabend aus EU-Kreisen erfuhr, sollen Brüsseler Diplomaten am Dienstag über das Thema beraten. Das EU-Mitglied Großbritannien prüft bereits, ob die Konten hochrangiger Vertreter des Mubarak-Regimes eingefroren werden können. Die Regierung in London habe am Montag eine förmliche Anfrage aus Ägypten erhalten und werde weitere Schritte einleiten, sagte Außenminister William Hague im Parlament, erwähnte den ehemaligen Präsidenten allerdings nicht explizit.
Die Schweiz hat Mubaraks Konten schon gesperrt. Diplomaten in Brüssel berichteten, es habe mehrere Anfragen an EU-Länder gegeben. Namen von Staaten wurden nicht genannt. Ob die EU als Gemeinschaft darüber entscheiden wird, sei noch offen. Die Anfragen kämen von der Justiz in Ägypten mit Hinweis auf eine Konvention der UN gegen Korruption. Sie beinhalteten auch ein Vorgehen gegen frühere Würdenträger des Mubarak-Regimes, hieß es. Details dazu wurden nicht bekannt. Eine offizielle Bestätigung aus Kairo war zunächst nicht zu erhalten. >>> her./FAZ.NET | Dienstag, 15. Februar 2011
SPIEGEL ONLINE: In Marokko liegt das mythische Casablanca, das Land im Westen Nordafrikas gilt als beliebtes Urlaubsziel. Doch hinter schönen Fassaden eröffnet sich ein Land von herben Gegensätzen: Die Kluft zwischen Arm und Reich ist nirgends im Maghreb so groß wie hier. Die Analphabetenrate ist außerhalb der Städte sehr hoch, 50 Prozent der Frauen können weder lesen noch schreiben.
König Mohammed VI. bestimmt im Wesentlichen die Geschicke des Landes. Der 47 Jahre alte Monarch hat sich einen Ruf als Reformer erworben. In seiner ersten Thronrede 1999 kündigte er eine "aktive Sozialpolitik" an. Tatsächlich hat er Frauenrechte gestärkt und ließ das autoritäre Regime seines Vaters aufarbeiten. Doch das Versprechen, sich für mehr Arbeitsplätze, gegen Armut und Korruption einzusetzen, hat er nicht gehalten. >>> [Quelle: Spiegel Online] | Dienstag, 08. Februar 2011
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Die Sicherheitskräfte feuerten Tränengas und scharfe Munition: Bei einem Trauermarsch für einen Oppositionellen in Bahrain hat es ein neues Todesopfer gegeben, auch in Iran starb ein Demonstrant bei Zusammenstößen. Als Vorbild dient den Oppositionellen der Umsturz in Ägypten.
Dubai/Teheran - Es sollte ein Trauerzug für den erst am Vortag bei Protesten getöteten 21-Jährigen werden. Doch dann kam es am Dienstag im Golfstaat Bahrain zu Zusammenstößen zwischen Sicherheitskräften und Demonstranten. Und wieder gab es ein Todesopfer.
Sicherheitskräfte gingen laut Agenturberichten mit Tränengas und scharfer Munition gegen die Prozession vor. Nach Angaben des Krankenhauses, vor dem sich am Dienstag Tausende Menschen versammelt hatten, starb ein 31-Jähriger an Verletzungen durch Schrotschüsse bei Tumulten auf einem Parkplatz des Hauses.
Im Anschluss an den Zwischenfall zogen sich die Sondereinsatzkräfte zunächst zurück und ließen zu, dass sich der Trauerzug weiter durch die Hauptstadt Manama in Bewegung setzte. >>> sef/dapd/Reuters/AFP/dpa | Dienstag, 15. Februar 2011
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Hiobsbotschaft für Silvio Berlusconi: Der italienische Regierungschef muss sich wegen der Sexaffäre um eine junge Marokkanerin in einem Schnellverfahren vor Gericht verantworten. Im Falle einer Verurteilung drohen ihm bis zu 15 Jahre Haft.
Rom - Jetzt wird es ernst für Silvio Berlusconi. Italiens Ministerpräsident muss vor Gericht. Der Vorwurf der Staatsanwälte: Er soll eine 17-Jährige für Sex bezahlt haben. Eine Richterin in Mailand ließ am Dienstag die entsprechende Anklage zu. >>> sef/AP/Reuters/dpa | Dienstag, 15. Februar 2011
REUTERS AFRICA: * Libyan leader says refugees should mass on Israel's shores * 'This is a time of popular revolutions': Gaddafi * Accuses Western powers of being enemies of Islam
TRIPOLI, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Palestinian refugees should capitalise on the wave of popular revolts in the Middle East by massing peacefully on the borders of Israel until it gives in to their demands, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said on Sunday.
Gaddafi is respected in many parts of the Arab world for his uncompromising criticism of Israel and Arab leaders who have dealings with the Jewish state, though some people in the region dismiss his initiatives as unrealistic.
He was giving his first major speech since a popular uprising in neighbouring Egypt forced President Hosni Mubarak to resign, an event which electrified the Arab world and prompted speculation that other Arab governments could also be toppled.
"Fleets of boats should take Palestinians ... and wait by the Palestinian shores until the problem is resolved," Gaddafi was shown saying on state television. "This is a time of popular revolutions."
"We need to create a problem for the world. This is not a declaration of war. This is a call for peace," he said in a speech given to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohamed, a holy day in the Islamic calendar.
He also said: "All Arab states which have relations with Israel are cowardly regimes." >>> Ali Shuaib and Salah Sarrar. Additional reporting by Souhail Karam in Rabat; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Jon Boyle | Sunday, February 13, 2011
LE POINT: Les bénéfices de revente de l'appareil, actuellement en chantier à Bordeaux-Mérignac, devraient revenir à la Tunisie.La Tunisie met en vente le luxueux Airbus A340-500 que Ben Ali se réservait comme avion présidentiel, selon le magazine économique tunisien Investir. Ce très long courrier, actuellement en cours d'aménagement à Bordeaux, est estimé à 200 millions de dollars, auquel il faut ajouter une cinquantaine de millions pour les travaux de transformation en version VIP. Le produit de la vente reviendra au trésor public du pays du jasmin. >>> Par THIERRY VIGOUREUX | Lundi 14 Février 2011
LE POINT: Des centaines d'étudiants yéménites se dirigeaient mardi vers le palais présidentiel à Sanaa, en scandant des slogans réclamant la chute du régime, selon un correspondant de l'AFP sur place. >>> AFP | Mardi 15 Février 2011
LE POINT: Catherine Ashton rappelle que les citoyens ont "le droit de se rassembler pacifiquement".
La chef de la diplomatie européenne Catherine Ashton a appelé mardi l'Iran à respecter le droit de manifester pacifiquement et a critiqué les restrictions imposées à certains membres de l'opposition réformatrice. Catherine Ashton suit de près les événements en Iran, "en particulier les restrictions apparentes à la liberté de mouvement de certains membres de l'opposition et les manifestations qui ont lieu dans les rues", souligne un communiqué de sa porte-parole. "Elle appelle les autorités iraniennes à respecter pleinement et à protéger les droits de leurs citoyens, y compris la liberté d'expression et le droit de se rassembler pacifiquement." >>> Source AFP | Mardi 15 Février 2011
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: MANIFESTATION | L'Union européenne fait pression sur l'Iran pour respecter le droit à manifester du peuple. Les autorités iranienne ont violemment réagit, parlant de complot américano-sioniste et appelant à la mort des chefs de l'opposition.
L’Union européenne a accru la pression mardi sur les autorités iraniennes pour qu’elles respectent le droit de manifester et lèvent les restrictions à l’opposition. Cette première manifestation antigouvernementale en Iran organisée depuis un an par l’opposition réformatrice montre que la population a la même soif de démocratie qu’en Egypte et en Tunisie, a estimé mardi le président du Parlement européen.
"La population iranienne veut la même liberté que celle pour laquelle les citoyens tunisiens et égyptiens ont lutté", a déclaré le Polonais Jerzy Buzek dans un communiqué. >>> AFP | Mardi 15 Février 2011
LE MONDE: Le président du Parlement iranien, Ali Larijani, et les députés de la majorité conservatrice ont lancé, mardi 15 février, de violentes attaques contre les chefs de l'opposition au lendemain de manifestations qui ont fait, selon la police, un mort et neuf blessés. Les députés ont crié "mort à l'Amérique !", "mort à Israël !", mais aussi "mort à Moussavi, Karoubi et Khatami !" (l'ancien président réformateur) lors de la session parlementaire.Des milliers de personnes ont tenté de manifester, lundi après-midi, dans le centre de Téhéran à l'appel des chefs de l'opposition, l'ancien premier ministre Mir Hossein Moussavi et l'ancien président du Parlement Mehdi Karoubi. "Moussavi et Karoubi doivent être pendus !", ont crié les députés lors de la session. >>> LEMONDE.FR avec AFP | Mardi 15 Février 2011
LE MONDE: Le gouvernement égyptien a demandé aux Etats-Unis de geler les avoirs d'anciens responsables égyptiens ayant travaillé pour l'ex-président Hosni Moubarak, a indiqué lundi un responsable du département d'Etat américain. Selon ce responsable, qui a requis l'anonymat, la demande ne concerne pas M. Moubarak lui-même. "Nous avons reçu des demandes concernant d'autres responsables", a-t-il précisé. Les autorités égyptiennes ont également demandé à plusieurs pays européens, notamment l'Allemagne, le Royaume-Uni et la France, de geler les avoirs d'ex-hauts responsables du régime de Moubarak, mais pas du président déchu lui-même. >>> LEMONDE.FR avec AFP | Mardi 15 Février 2011
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Hundreds of riot police officers in Iran beat protesters and fired tear gas Monday to contain the most significant street protests since the end of the 2009 uprising there, as security forces around the region moved — sometimes brutally — to prevent new unrest in sympathy with the opposition victory in Egypt.On Tuesday, thousands of mourners in Bahrain braved tear gas to take part in a funeral procession for a man killed in protests on Monday when the police fired rubber bullets and tear gas into crowds of peaceful protesters from the Shiite majority population. So much tear gas was fired that the officers themselves vomited.
Riot police initially sought to block the funeral but then permitted it to proceed. In the clashes, however, a second protester died. The crowd learned of the death from text messages on their phones from witnesses.
Yemen, too, witnesses a fourth straight day of protests on Monday when hundreds of student protesters clashed with pro-government forces.
In Tehran, a spokesman for Mir Hussein Moussavi, a leading opponent of the government, said Monday’s protests had shown that the so-called Green Movement, formed to challenge the disputed election in 2009, had scored a “great victory” and was “alive and well” despite a huge government crackdown when the government quashed dissent through the shooting of demonstrators, mass trials, torture, lengthy jail sentences and even executions of some of those taking part.
Breaking an official silence on the demonstrations, the Fars news agency, a semiofficial service linked to the powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the demonstrations had been conducted by “hypocrites, monarchists, hooligans and seditionists” whose leaders were puppets of Britain and the United States. It ridiculed them for not chanting slogans about Egypt, the nominal reason for the protests, and said an unspecified number of people had been arrested. >>> NEIL MacFARQUHAR and ALAN COWELL | Tuesday, February 15, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Thousands of people marching illegally through Iran were targeted by police firing tear gas on Monday as the wave of Middle East revolution continued to spread beyond Egypt and Tunisia.
Eye witnesses spoke of shots being fired and scores of arrests as demonstrators in Tehran shouting "Death to the Dictator" approached Imam Hossein Square. One protester was shot dead and several were wounded by gunshots, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Across the region, opposition groups seized on the success of 18 days of protest in the Egyptian capital Cairo and across the country to make demands for more political rights.
In Sana'a, Yemen, several thousand people calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down before the end of his current term in 2013 hurled stones at police who were attacking them with batons. Bahrain police fired buckshot at demonstrators, and there were also protests in Iraq.
In Egypt, military police moved in to clear the last remaining protesters in Tahrir Square, who had pledged to remain to ensure the army kept its promise to hand over power to a democratic civilian regime. Those who resisted were carried away by force to waiting unmarked trucks.
But in place of pro-democracy protests, many government buildings were surrounded by striking workers demanding higher wages and the sacking of bosses perceived as corrupt or as cronies of the collapsed regime of Hosni Mubarak. Read on and comment >>> Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent | Monday, February 14, 2011
AL-MASRY AL-YOUM: Egypt’s largest opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, said on Monday it would establish itself as a political party once the Constitution has been amended to allow it to do so.In a statement, the group asserted its confidence that Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces would honor all its promises pledged in its fifth statement to the nation on Sunday. >>> Mounir Adib Hany ElWaziry | Monday, February 14, 2011
AL-MASRY AL-YOUM: Ousted President Hosni Mubarak went into a coma on Saturday at his residence in Sharm al-Sheikh, according to well-informed sources. >>> | Sunday, February 13, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Vladimir Putin has had a lavish £600 million Italianate palace built for himself near a Black Sea resort with the proceeds of "corruption, bribery and theft", a Russian businessman has alleged.The claim, made in a letter to Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's president, was boosted on Monday after the Novaya Gazeta newspaper obtained what it said was an authenticated copy of the original contract for the palace signed in 2005 by Vladimir Kozhin, the Russian presidential property manager. Mr Putin, now prime minister, was president at the time.
Set in 74 hectares of prime land near the Black Sea coast with its own vineyard, the palace is reported to be almost eight million square feet and has its own helipad. Other features include an indoor cinema, a summer amphitheatre, a casino, swimming pools, a gym and a clock tower. Sergei Kolesnikov, the businessman who claims the palace is Mr Putin's, has likened the structure to a palace built for Russia's Tsars outside St Petersburg. He said that the Russian prime minister had personally approved the design and materials. >>> Andrew Osborn, Moscow | Monday, February 14, 2011
NOVAYA GAZETA: St. Petersburg businessman Sergei Kolesnikov, who wrote to President Medvedev on New Year’s Eve that a sumptuous palace was being built on the Black Sea coast for Prime Minister Putin’s “personal use”, did not choose a very auspicious time for publishing this sensation. Although Mr Kolesnikov, having worked for years in the pool of businessmen close to the Prime Minister, was unquestionably well informed, his letter did not produce the desired effect because of the preparations for the New Year celebrations.After the New Year, Kolesnikov gave a long interview to Novaya Gazeta, and then ruleaks.net, a Russian analogue to WikiLeaks, carried photographs of the palace. That broke the silence and prompted some officials to react. The first was the Chief of the President’s Administrative Affairs Directorate, Vladimir Kozhin, for which we must be very grateful to him: following his public remarks, we have full grounds for not believing another word he says. >>> Roman Anin | Monday, February 14, 2011
The Russians got rid of the real Czar and Czarina last century only to replace them with a pretender to the throne this century: Czar Vlad! – Mark
Monday, February 14, 2011
MAIL ONLINE: 'Muslim Eton' at centre of Channel 4 hate-preaching allegations is forced to shut over far-Right safety fears >>> Daily Mail Reporter | Monday, February 14, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: It costs $160 per night to live next door to defeated Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. In the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh, the beautiful Maritim Jolie Ville Golf and Resort comes with sniffer dogs, and dozens of armed security officers.Near the hotel entrance, along the trimmed driveway framed by gently swaying palm trees, a road is barricaded, guarded by five uniformed police officers, and six burly plain clothes security.
Why so much security? I ask a passing staff member. "Mubarak," he replies nodding towards the blocked road, and moving away quickly before I can ask questions.
From the hotel beachfront more of Mubarak's security detail can be seen guarding his Villa, which lies ensconced behind the cliff. Fully uniformed men with guns in their hilts, pace, incongruous in the serene resort setting of blue waters and sunshine. >>> Ruth Sherlock | Monday, February 14, 2011
VOICE OF AMERICA: A court in Amsterdam on Monday has ruled that the hate speech trial of Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders will go on, with new judges listening to the defense’s preliminary objections to the case. Those objections were already heard by a different panel of judges last year, but a retrial was ordered because of possible judicial bias against Wilders. The populist politician is charged with inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims and other non-Western groups.
If judges accept Mr. Wilders’ objections to the proceedings to be argued at a later date, then his case will be dismissed. If not, the trial will continue with Geert Wilders being allowed to question only some of the witnesses he wanted to call in his defense.
He told judges last week that he wanted to question radical Islamists, what this court referred to as Islamic experts by experience, including convicted murderer Mohammed Bouyeri, who killed filmmaker Theo van Gogh seven years ago. Wilders argues that Bouyeri is living proof that Islam leads to violence. >>> | Monday, February 14, 2011
HT: Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch >>>
SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Bundesbank head Axel Weber's resignation has made one thing clear: The debate about the future of the euro has become intense -- and bitter. Indeed, Chancellor Angela Merkel's efforts at mandating strict monetary discipline for the euro zone may ultimately fail. And German euro skeptics may be gaining ground.
The breakfast for conservative ministers prior to Chancellor Angela Merkel's weekly cabinet meeting is considered the most secretive and concentrated gathering in the day-to-day business of political Berlin. There are no leaks, no mobile phones ringing and no one leaves the room.
Last Wednesday, however, the morning discussion was abruptly interrupted. The ministers belonging to Merkel's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), were just perusing the first items on the agenda when a Chancellery employee told Merkel that she had an urgent call. Jens Weidmann, Merkel's economic advisor, was on the line to tell her that Axel Weber, president of the German Central Bank, the Bundesbank, intended to announce his resignation that day.
When Merkel returned, the cabinet members could tell by the expression on her face that something very unpleasant had happened -- so unpleasant, in fact, that close associates would later call it a "catastrophe." Merkel conferred briefly with Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble before calling Weber. It quickly became clear that there was nothing that could be done.
He had given careful thought to his decision, the banker told Merkel. He said that he felt isolated as a result of his strict, anti-inflation policies, and that he was practically alone in his views within the European Central Bank (ECB). Under these circumstances, Weber explained, he could not continue in office, and certainly could not become ECB president. >>> Christian Reiermann and Michael Sauga | Moonday, February 14, 2011
SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Women, once the most loyal fans of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, are rising up against him. Tens of thousands demonstrated over the weekend against his sex scandals. But their anger won't be enough to bring down the controversial leader.
Some 220 years ago, Johann Wolfgang Goethe was having the time of his life. He traveled to Rome incognito and savored earth's delights to the full, literary historians say, enjoying wine, women and lively discourse. It may be that he had sex for the first time in the eternal city.
If he had been on Piazza del Popolo square, less than a hundred meters from his house in the Via del Corso 18, on Sunday afternoon, he wouldn't have believed his eyes. Once again, the Italians were debating the grand issues of sex, the might of men and morals, but this time they were speechless.
Tens of thousands of women stood in the early spring sunshine and observed a minute's silence for the dignity of their sex. Then someone shouted from a stage: "Se non ora, quando?" If not now, when? It was the motto of the afternoon. The demonstrators punched the air and shouted "Now! Down with Berlusconi, it's enough." Then they played Patti Smith's song "Power to the People," waved their banners and danced.
At least 30,000 people gathered on the Piazza del Popolo. It was one of the biggest women's demonstrations in years. Similar protests took place at the same time in 230 Italian cities, in front of Milan's Duomo cathedral, in Venice, Florence, on village squares in the south. The organizers said more than 1 million Italians took to the streets. There were even demonstrations abroad, in Tokyo, Brussels, London and Paris. The pent-up anger is palpable. Women -- once the most loyal supporters of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi -- are screaming "Ora basta!" They've had enough. >>> Fiona Ehlers in Rome | Monday, February 14, 2011
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Anti-government marches under way in Tehran despite a heavy security presence and police crackdown.There are reports in social media sites and non-state Iranian news sites of clashes between protesters and security forces in Tehran, the Iranian capital.
Thousands of demonstrators were marching on Monday on Enghelab and Azadi streets [which connect and create a straight path through the city centre], with a heavy presence in Enghelab Square and Vali-Asr Street, according to these reports.
Several clashes have been reported on Twitter, the micro-blogging site, with claims of some demonstrators being teargassed and others beaten and arrested.
Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari, in Tehran, confirmed reports that security forces used tear gas, pepper spray and batons against the protesters.
She said up to 10,000 security forces had been deployed to prevent protesters from gathering at Azadi Square, where the marches, originating from various points in Tehran, were expected to converge.
The AFP news agency reported that police fired paintball bullets on protesters. One video, posted on Youtube (claiming to be from Monday's protests) shows people chanting, "political prisoners must be freed" when a woman cries that tear gas has been deployed, dispersing the crowd. >>> Al Jazeera and Agenices | Monday, February 14, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Riot police on Monday fired tear gas and shot paintballs at thousands of protesters who turned what they said was a Tehran rally in support of Arab uprisings into an anti-government demonstration.The clashes broke out at Tehran's prominent Azadi (Freedom) Square when crowds of opposition supporters began chanting "Death to Dictator!" – a slogan used by protesters against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after the disputed 2009 presidential election.
Witnesses said police fired tear gas and also shot paintballs at protesters who had gathered despite a ban by authorities.
Websites and witnesses said thousands of opposition supporters had taken to the streets of the capital in support of Arab revolts despite a heavy police deployment.
Iranian authorities had earlier surrounded the house of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi to prevent him from attending the rally which regime-backers said was a ploy to stage anti-government protests similar to those which shook the foundations of the Islamic republic in 2009.
While Iran has backed the Arab uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, the interior ministry in Tehran banned the Monday rally which Mr Mousavi and fellow opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi had sought to hold.
Witnesses and websites said the opposition supporters had walked in scattered crowds silently to Azadi Square from several parts of the capital as policemen kept a sharp watch and tried dispersing them.
Riot police on motorbikes armed with shotguns, tear gas, batons, paintball guns and fire extinguishers were deployed in key squares in the capital to prevent the gatherings.
One witness said some demonstrators were chanting "Allahu akbar!" (God is great) as they gathered around alleys near Azadi Square. >>> | Monday, February 14, 2011
PBS: "From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians" tells the epic story of the rise of Christianity. The four hours explore the life and death of Jesus, and the men and women whose belief, conviction, and martyrdom created the religion we now know as Christianity.
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE: JHAWARIAN – An informal survey by media reporters and the district administration revealed that a vast majority of residents condemned Valentines Day [sic] celebrations in the area. Several administrators and clerics have threatened public floggings for anyone seen selling or purchasing a red rose on February 14.
“Islam condemns Valentine’s Day and boys presenting flowers to young girls is vulgar and goes against the norms of Islam,” said Maulvi Ibrahim, adding that clerics in the district had made announcements stating that anyone seen purchasing or selling red roses should be punished in public.
“There is no reason for such holidays to be celebrated in Pakistan as they go against our culture and cause ‘moral corruption,” he said. A conference was called by clerics to discuss the ‘problems’ associated with celebrating Valentines [sic] Day in Pakistan. “We should put a ban on selling anything red (roses, chocolates, heart shaped balloons) on February 14th,” said Mufti Nadeem Tabish.
A dispute reportedly broke out between the clerics regarding the origins of Valentines [sic] Day. Several clerics maintained that Valentines Day was a Jewish holiday and others stated that the custom of handing out roses had been derived from Hindu culture. “I see no harm in celebrating Valentines [sic]. Everyone here has been debating where the day comes from even though it is named after a Christian saint. The clerics are trying to paint Valentines Day [sic] as an Israeli conspiracy,” said a high school student Karim.
“Young boys and girls do not interact let alone hand each other presents in our culture and Valentine’s Day has become an excuse for such reprehensible behaviour,” said a district officer Mumtaz Haroon. >>> | Monday, February 14, 2011
INQUIRER GLOBAL NATION: OFWs warned against celebrating Valentine’s Day in Saudi Arabia: MANILA, Philippines—"Don’t wear anything red or be seen in public carrying red roses or heart-shaped balloons and other items symbolizing Valentine's Day." >>> Jerry E. Esplanada | Moonday, February 14, 2011
OFW = Overseas Filipino Workers >>>
VOICE OF AMERICA: Valentine's Day Not Loved in Many Areas of the World: Monday marks the celebration of Valentine’s Day by much of the world. But it is a celebration that is drawing protests in some areas. >>> | Sunday, February 13, 2011
LA TIMES – BLOGS – BABYLON & BEYOND: SAUDI ARABIA: Black market for red roses surges with Valentine's Day crackdown – It isn't often that cynical singles and religious police find themselves on the same side, but this Sunday they will stand united against a common threat: Valentine's Day and its ubiquitous trappings.Saudi Arabia's religious enforcers, backed by the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, have started their annual purge of anything Valentine-related, including flowers, gifts, candy and the color red. >>> Meris Lutz in Beirut | Saturday, February 12, 2011
THE WASHINGTON POST: Indonesian Muslims warned against Valentine's Day: JAKARTA, Indonesia -- An Indonesian Muslic cleric has warned his young followers against celebrating Valentine's Day, saying it is the same as promoting faiths other than Islam and could lead to forbidden sex. >>> nk-kjj, The Associated Press | Monday, February 14, 2011
REUTERS AFRICA: CAIRO - The two sons of Hosni Mubarak almost came to blows last Thursday when the former Egyptian president gave his final speech in an effort to stay in power, a state-owned newspaper said on Sunday.Al-Akhbar said Alaa Mubarak accused his younger brother Gamal, who had held a senior position in the ruling party, of having ruined the 82-year-old leader's final days in office through promoting his business friends in political life.
Alaa reportedly said this had turned Egyptians against their father, who had been in power since 1981.
"You ruined the country when you opened the way to your friends and this is the result. Instead of your father being honoured at the end of his life you helped to spoil his image in this manner," the daily quoted him as saying. >>> | Monday, February 14, 2011
THE JERUSALEM POST: Senior Western intel official to 'The Telegraph': "If he had real money in Zurich, it may be gone by now"; Gamal Mubarak center of family's wealth.
A senior Western intelligence official alleged that deposed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak began moving his family's assets from European banks to Persian Gulf countries several weeks ago, The Telegraph reported Sunday.
"We're aware of some urgent conversations within the Mubarak family about how to save these assets," the official told The Telegraph. "We think their financial advisers have moved some of the money around," he added, "If he had real money in Zurich, it may be gone by now." >>> JPost.com staff | Sunday, February 13, 2011
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Smokers now face another risk from their habit: it could cost them a shot at a job.
More hospitals and medical businesses in many states are adopting strict policies that make smoking a reason to turn away job applicants, saying they want to increase worker productivity, reduce health care costs and encourage healthier living.
The policies reflect a frustration that softer efforts — like banning smoking on company grounds, offering cessation programs and increasing health care premiums for smokers — have not been powerful-enough incentives to quit.
The new rules essentially treat cigarettes like an illegal narcotic. Applications now explicitly warn of “tobacco-free hiring,” job seekers must submit to urine tests for nicotine and new employees caught smoking face termination.
This shift — from smoke-free to smoker-free workplaces — has prompted sharp debate, even among anti-tobacco groups, over whether the policies establish a troubling precedent of employers intruding into private lives to ban a habit that is legal.
“If enough of these companies adopt theses [sic] policies and it really becomes difficult for smokers to find jobs, there are going to be consequences,” said Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor at the Boston University School of Public Health, who has written about the trend. “Unemployment is also bad for health.” >>> A. G. Sulzberger | Thursday, February 10, 2011
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Vince Cable, the British business secretary, has called for international action to locate billions of dollars thought to have been secreted out of Egypt by Hosni Mubarak, the country's ousted dictator.
The Foreign Office said Britain could only act against Mr Mubarak's assets in response to a formal request from Egypt's government, the European Union, or the United Nations.
The Egyptian authorities have so far made no such approach.
"There has to be a request made for any of this action to take place," said Alistair Burt, foreign office minister. "There are things that can be done, but so far there has not been a request made and therefore it is not possible to speculate."
On Sunday night it was announced that a total of 43 people were now subject to orders freezing their assets and banning them from leaving the country. They are understood to include members of the Mubarak family.
"There clearly needs to be a concerted international action on this," Mr Cable said, though he said he had no confirmation there were still Mubarak funds in the UK. "I think it would be great for the reputation for the City of London if those accounts were frozen now."
The Serious Fraud Office is already investigating financial entities linked to Mr Mubarak's sons, Gamal and Alaa. Gamal Mubarak began his business empire from a home in Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, from where he launched a private equity fund.
The sons, along with their mother, Suzanne Mubarak, who is half-Welsh, are widely thought in Egypt to have British passports. >>> Praveen Swami, and Richard Spencer in Cairo | Sunday, February 13, 2011
LE FIGARO: La famille Moubarak garde, pour l'instant, ses milliards: Estimée entre 40 et 70 milliards de dollars, elle fait depuis quelques jours l'objet de toutes les spéculations. >>> Par Tangi Sala | Lundi 14 Février 2011
Related >>>
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Is Egypt's ex-president, Hosni Mubarak, about to join the long list of political exiles who have sought a safe haven in the capital, asks Michael Burleigh.
It was reported at the weekend that a Pakistani court has issued a warrant for the arrest of the former president, Pervez Musharraf. The authorities apparently wish to question him over the protection – or lack of it – surrounding Benazir Bhutto, the opposition leader assassinated by the Taliban in 2007. Leaving aside the merits of the case, it is telling that if they want to find Mr Musharraf, then the place to look is London. Sharp-eyed browsers in one of the capital's smarter stores recently saw him shopping for sofas with his wife. He has joined a long line of foreign exiles who have found a home in the capital, some more welcome than others.
Indeed, the next on the list could be Hosni Mubarak, ousted from power in Egypt. He is currently living in his palatial villa in the resort town of Sharm el Sheikh, and several Arab countries have offered him a bolt-hole should he need to leave the country. But he might consider London to be a more tempting destination (if we'll have him, that is).
The ex-president's family, including his half-Welsh wife Suzanne, already have close connections to the capital. Their son Gamal – nicknamed "Jimmy" by his British chums – has often been sighted in London, where he owns a six-storey, multi-million-pound Regency townhouse a short walk from Harrods. Gamal has a liking for the hospitality of Belgravia's finest restuarants and private clubs, and his wife enjoys shopping in Selfridges.
Mubarak Jnr, a former banker, was being groomed to succeed his father before the Egyptian people took a hand, and, at the height of the popular uprising, he was allegedly seen at Cairo airport with his wife and daughter loading 97 bags on to a private jet bound for London, though this was denied by the embassy.
So, if Mubarak himself is finally forced into exile, will he too be Belgravia-bound? With an estimated $30 billion salted in various foreign banks, he will be any estate agent's dream client – provided he can get his hands on the money.
But should we as a nation be welcoming deposed dictators here? And what is it about London that draws such figures? >>> Michael Burleigh | Monday, February 14, 2011
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Egypt sets six-month target for elections: Egypt's new military rulers tried to reassure protesters they were sincere about political reform, announcing they were suspending the constitution, dissolving parliament, and setting a six-month target for full elections. >>> Richard Spencer, Cairo and Praveen Swami, Diplomatic Editor | Sunday, February 13, 2011
THE TIMES: Democracy will give power to Islamists, but. . .
>>> Bronwen Maddox * | Monday, February 14, 2011 [£]
* Bronwen Maddox is Editor of Prospect Magazine
Middle eastern democracy: Is the middle east ill-suited to democracy? Can America impose it? Or are home-grown models already showing signs of life? >>> | Sunday, April 20, 2003
Islam: The Enemy of Democracy and Freedom >>> Mark Alexander | Friday, April 20, 2007
Sunday, February 13, 2011
20 MINUTES ONLINE: Les milices islamistes ont imposé l'enseignement du djihad (guerre sainte) dans les écoles des territoires sous leur contrôle en Somalie. Elles ont également interdit toute mixité.«A l'école, les garçons et les filles ne sont pas autorisés à étudier dans la même classe, et les cours doivent se terminer dix minutes avant midi pour laisser le temps à la prière», a déclaré samedi un responsable des milices shebab de la région somalienne de Shabelle (sud), devant des professeurs.
«Nous souhaitons également que des cours sur le djihad fassent partie du programme. Les élèves doivent se faire expliquer l'importance de la guerre sainte», a poursuivi ce responsable shebab, Cheik Mohamed Abu-Abdallah. >>> ats | Dimanche 13 Février 2011
THE GUARDIAN: Majority of 26 cantons reject move to ban army rifles from homes, which reformers hoped would lower firearms suicide rate
Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to tighten the country's relaxed gun laws.
With final official results yet to be released, a majority in at least 18 of Switzerland's 26 cantons voted against the proposal to ban army rifles from homes and impose new requirements for buying other guns.
The proposal would have ended the Swiss tradition of men keeping their army rifles at home – even after completing their military service. Supporters of the reform argued this would have reduced incidents of domestic violence and Switzerland's high rate of firearms suicide.
"This is an important sign of confidence in our soldiers," said Pius Segmueller, a lawmaker with the Christian People's party and former commander of the Vatican's Swiss Guard.
The government had argued that existing laws were sufficient to ensure some 2.3m weapons in a country of fewer than 8 million people are not misused.
Opposition against the proposal was strongest in rural and German-speaking parts of the country, which tend to be more conservative and where shooting clubs are popular. >>> Associated Press | Sunday, February 13, 2011
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: When former 'It girl' Alexandra Aitken married a Sikh 'warrior' from the Punjab, it was regarded by many as an unlikely union.
Following a spectacular ceremony near Amritsar – organised at such short notice that her father, Jonathan Aitken, the disgraced former Cabinet minister, and her mother were unable to attend – the former society hell-raiser declared her intention to live a life of humble simplicity with "the most beautiful man I've ever seen".
But while most cross-cultural marriages are likely to bring their own particular strains and difficulties, the union of Alexandra Aitken and Inderjot Singh may have to bear more than most.
Already, some of Mr Singh's relatives have stepped in to denounce the marriage as contravening Sikh traditions, saying that it threatens to dilute the family's bloodline.
Members of his family have also cast doubt on Alexandra's widely publicised claim that her husband is a member of a devout Sikh warrior sect and that dozens of holy men left their caves to attend the wedding.
Furthermore, there are question marks over quite how religious Mr Singh actually is, with friends coming forward to point out that he used to be quite happy living a party lifestyle.
Alexandra Aitken's marriage to Mr Singh is the culmination of a tortuous journey, from party girl to yoga devotee and Sikh convert, that has seen her dabble in Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Kabbalah along the way. >>> Gethin Chamberlain in Ludhiana and Patrick Sawer in London | Sunday, February 13, 2011
THE NEW YORK TIMES: After Hosni Mubarak’s younger son, Gamal, left his job as an executive with Bank of America in London in the mid-1990s, he joined forces with Egypt’s largest investment bank. Today he has a significant stake in a private equity company with interests throughout the Egyptian economy, from oil to agriculture to tourism, corporate records and interviews show.During President Hosni Mubarak’s nearly 30-year rule, he and his family were not flamboyant with their wealth, particularly by the standards of other leaders in the Middle East. While there is no indication that Gamal Mubarak or the bank were involved in illegal activity, his investments show how deeply the family is woven into Egypt’s economy.
Now with Hosni Mubarak out of power, there are growing calls for an accounting to begin.
Within hours of Mr. Mubarak’s resignation on Friday, Swiss officials ordered all banks in Switzerland to search for — and freeze — any assets of the former president, his family or close associates. In Egypt, opposition leaders vowed to press for a full investigation of Mr. Mubarak’s finances.
Tracing the money is likely to be difficult because business in Egypt was largely conducted in secret among a small group connected to Mr. Mubarak.
“Now we open all the files,” said George Ishak, head of the National Association for Change, an opposition umbrella group. “We will research everything, all of them: the families of the ministers, the family of the president, everyone.”
Estimates of the Mubaraks’ fortune vary wildly, including a widespread rumor that they are worth as much as $70 billion. United States officials say that figure is vastly exaggerated and put the family’s wealth at $2 billion to $3 billion. >>> NEIL MacFARQUHAR, DAVID ROHDE and ARAM ROSTON | Saturday, February 12, 2011
THE SUNDAY TIMES: SFO hunts Hosni Mubarak’s missing millions >>> David Leppard and Richard Kerbaj | Sunday, February 13, 2011 [£]
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