Woolwich Machete 'Beheading': EDL Leader Tommy Robinson Calls For ‘Feet on the Street’
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES: Right-wing leader exploits tensions in south London as Muslim Council of Britain condemns 'barbaric act'

Tommy Robinson, leader of the English Defence League, has called for supporters to go to Woolwich after a man was believed to have been beheaded there by apparent Islamic terrorists.

Robinson sent a message to his EDL supporters through his Twitter account, which is run by his second in command.

It said: "Message from Tommy - Feet on the streets anyone want to go to Woolwich contact him/me, he will be there around 9pm."

The controversial anti-Muslim leader made a series of tweets regarding the attack, in which a man, believed to be a soldier, was killed with a meat cleaver and a machete.

"There has to be a reaction by the British public to this attack on one of our brave young soldiers.

"When the f**k is this country and its people going to take the threat political Islam poses seriously?" » | Hannah Osborne | Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Two Arrested After Mosque Attacks
SOUTH WALES GUARDIAN: Two men have been arrested after separate attacks on mosques following the terrorist incident in Woolwich.

A 43-year-old man is in custody on suspicion of attempted arson after reportedly walking into a mosque with a knife in Braintree, Essex.

Local MP Brooks Newmark tweeted: "Local mosque in Braintree attacked by man with knives and incendiary device. Man arrested. No one injured." » | Press Association | Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Terror in London: UK 'Soldier' Hacked to Death in Street

Read the Sydney Morning Herald article here | Nick Miller | Europe Correspondent | Thursday, May 23, 2013

Anti-Muslim Reprisals after Woolwich Attack

THE GUARDIAN: English Defence League in street battles with police in Woolwich and mosques attacked in apparent acts of revenge

Scores of supporters of the English Defence League threw bottles at police and chanted anti-Muslim slogans in Woolwich hours after the murder of one man and the shooting of his two suspected assailants.

About 100 men, including some wearing balaclavas printed with "EDL", engaged in running battles with police for less than an hour.

A police commander said officers cited section 60 of the Public Order Act, which allowed them to stop and search individuals within a specific area without evidence of a crime being committed.

EDL leader Tommy Robinson said: "They're chopping our soldiers' heads off. This is Islam. That's what we've seen today. They've cut off one of our army's heads off on the streets of London.

"Our next generation are being taught through schools that Islam is a religion of peace. It's not. It never has been. What you saw today is Islam. Everyone's had enough. There has to be a reaction, for the government to listen, for the police to listen, to understand how angry this British public are." » | Ben Quinn and Conal Urquhart | Thursday, May 23, 2013

This Beheading Should Be a Seminal Moment in Our Tolerance of Islam
The gruesome beheading of one of our soldiers in a London street should be the final wake-up call for those who have been too slow to awaken from their slumbers. It should be plain for everyone to see by now that we are dealing with a force of darkness.

In my book, The Dawning of a New Dark Age, I warned in strong words that something would have to be done to keep Westerners safe from the danger that is Islam. Many might have thought that my words were alarmist. Today’s beheading in Woolwich, London proves them wrong. I have been vindicated.

It is difficult for Westerners who have to toil long and hard to put food on the table for their family to comprehend that there is a ‘culture’ out there which is hell bent on destroying the West, destroying all we stand for. But this happens to be the case. Alas, not all people in this world share our benign values.

I realise full well that the West has a history of its own which showed we could commit heinous crimes in the name of religion. But that was centuries ago. That was then; this is now. We have grown up; they have not. We have become enlightened; they still live in darkness. They are benighted.

Our politicians and leaders of all kinds have been unwilling, reluctant in the extreme, to come to terms with the fact that in Islam we are dealing with such a force of darkness: extreme darkness, in fact.

Islam is a religion which is aggressive and conquering. It brainwashes its adherents. It believes that all the world belongs to Allah and his final messenger; and that it is theirs for the taking. These people will never understand the concept of ‘living and letting live.’ They will never co-exist with Westerners. It is their stated aim to take over the West. It is their stated aim to make the whole world submit to Allah, who they believe to be the one true god.

Muslims divide the world into two: The ‘House of Islam’ (Dar ul Islam) and the ‘House of War’ (Dar ul Harb). We inhabit the ‘House of War.’ Therefore, we have to be conquered and brought into the ‘House of Islam.’ To them, until this happens, until we are conquered, they will be in a constant state of war with us. This tragic beheading today is but one dreadful manifestation of their way of thinking.

Our leaders, our politicians, our establishment will have you believe that there is a difference between Islam and ‘Islamism.’ They mislead you. ‘Islamism’ is a term made up by Westerners for Westerners, in order to lull them into a false sense of security, and to let our weak politicians off the hook. An ‘Islamist’ is a person who is intent on living according to the strict guidelines of Islam. He/she is a devout follower of their prophet. When Westerners refer to ‘moderate Muslims,' they refer to nominal Muslims, or people who are Muslims only in name, Muslims who do not take their religion very seriously. They are not devout. And in the eyes of devout Muslims, these 'moderate Muslims' have fallen by the wayside.

We are going to have to come to terms with this if we are ever to get a handle on the huge problem that we face with Islam. The sad fact is that because our leaders are so reluctant to come to terms with reality, innocent people are being placed in great danger in their own countries. This poor soldier today is a very sad case in point.

The MSM will not help you, because they are more concerned with being politically correct than they are with keeping you and me in safety. This is the sad reality of the Western world that we live in today.

It is high time that we had a reality check in the West. We need to stiffen our resolve to combat this threat to our safety, we need to stiffen our resolve to keep the West western. We have our values too; and barbarism is not one of them. We are better than that. We are civilised. Let us keep it that way. This is what I say: Whatever needs to be done to rid the West of this cancer, it has to be done. Time is not on our side. We have already been infiltrated. So what are we going to do about it?

© Mark Alexander

All Rights Reserved

Horrific 'Beheading' of Man in London Feared to Be Terror Attack, as Suspects Reportedly Chanted 'Allahu Akbar'

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: Two attackers believed shot by police in a brutal confrontation that left one man, belived to be a soldier, murdered on a London street in broad daylight.

Two men attacked a soldier on a London street in broad daylight Wednesday and beheaded him, authorities and witnesses said.

The pair chanted “Allahu Akbar,” or “God is great,” during the sickening attack, according to witnesses.

ITV broadcast footage of a man with bloody hands and a machete addressing the camera and saying: "We swear by Almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you. The only reasons we have done this is because Muslims are dying every day. This British soldier is an eye for an eye a tooth for tooth.”

The two men were shot by cops and taken to a hospital by helicopter.

Prime Minister David Cameron described the killing, which took place in the London suburb of Woolwich, as "truly shocking," and the government is treating it as a terrorist attack, official said. » | Stephen Williams | New York Daily News | Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Woolwich Beheading - Terrorist with Bloody Hands & Knives Rants at Murder Scene in London

Abbruch der Beitrittsverhandlungen: Island wendet sich von der EU ab
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Nach dem Machtwechsel in Reykjavík hat Islands neue Mitte-rechts-Regierung den Abbruch der Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der EU beschlossen. Über eine Wiederaufnahme der Gespräche soll ein Referendum entscheiden - dieses liegt jedoch in weiter Ferne.

Reykjavík/Berlin - Islands neu gewählte Mitte-rechts-Regierung friert die Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der EU auf unbestimmte Zeit ein. Wie Jonmundur Gudmarsson, Sprecher der konservativen Unabhängigkeitspartei, SPIEGEL ONLINE bestätigte, hat sich die Koalition aus Unabhängigkeitspartei und zentristischer Fortschrittspartei unter dem designierten Ministerpräsidenten Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson darauf verständigt, alle Gespräche mit Brüssel auszusetzen. » | Von Claus Hecking | Mittwoch, 22. Mai 2013

Suède : violences entre les forces de l'ordre et des jeunes
LE POINT: La mort d'un homme de 69 ans, abattu par la police alors qu'il menaçait des policiers d'une machette, serait à l'origine des incidents.

Les incidents entre forces de l'ordre et jeunes se sont multipliés à Stockholm et dans sa banlieue dans la nuit de mardi à mercredi, pour la troisième nuit consécutive, amenant le Premier ministre suédois à dénoncer des actes de "hooliganisme". "Lors des 24 dernières heures, une trentaine de voitures ont été incendiées (...) dans la région capitale", a indiqué un porte-parole de la police de Stockholm, Kjell Lindgren. Dans deux des banlieues les plus défavorisées, et où la population d'origine immigrée est la plus forte, les fauteurs de troubles ont provoqué des incendies dans une école, à Skärholmen, et une crèche, à Husby, et ont lancé des pierres sur les pompiers et la police et sur leurs véhicules, a ajouté le porte-parole.

La mort d'un homme de 69 ans, abattu par la police alors qu'il menaçait des policiers d'une machette, serait à l'origine des incidents qui ont éclaté dimanche soir à Husby avant de se propager à d'autres endroits, du nord-ouest au sud de Stockholm. À Husby, la police a arrêté un homme dans le cadre de l'enquête sur l'incendie d'un centre d'expression artistique. » | Source AFP | mercredi 22 mai 2013

Related »

Woolwich 'Machete Attack' Like 'Something Out of a Film,' Says Eyewitness
Michael Atley, who witnessed the aftermath of an apparent machete attack in Woolwich, South East London, says it was "gruesome and shocking".

Cops Shoot 2 as 'Soldier Is Beheaded' in Suspected Terrorist Attack

THE SUN: CHILLING footage has emerged of a man with bloodied hands and carrying knives speaking into a camera in Woolwich - just hours after a soldier was allegedly beheaded.

The tall man speaks into an eyewitness's mobile phone camera, and makes a series of twisted rants.

He says: "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you...Your people will never be safe.

“In our land our women have to see the same. You people will never be safe.

"Remove your governments they don't care about you.

"You think David Cameron is going to get caught in the street when we start busting our guns you think politicians are going to die? No it's going to be the average guy, like you, and your children.

"So get rid of them. Tell them to bring our troops back so can all live in peace.” » | Karen Morrison, Harry Haydon and Jo Sayer | Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Bluttat in London: Mann mit Machete enthauptet - ein Toter, zwei Verletzte
BLICK.CH: LONDON - In London Woolwich kommt es heute Nachmittag zu einer Bluttat: Medienberichten zufolge sei ein Mann enthauptet worden. Danach seien Schüsse gefallen.

Heute Nachmittag in London, Woolwich: Zwei Männer greifen einen Soldaten mit Messern an. Augenzeugen wollen gesehen haben, wie die Täter dem Mann den Kopf mit einer Machete abschlugen. «Sie haben auf ihn eingehackt wie auf ein Stück Fleisch.»

Ein Twitter-User schreibt: «Ich habe gerade gesehen, wie zwei Männer mit einer Machete einen Mann enthaupteten. Krank!» » | Mittwoch, 22. Mai 2013

Woolwich Attackers 'Filmed' Each Other
Attackers filmed each other and asked members of the public to take pictures during the assault, Sky sources say.
SKY NEWS: Two attackers filmed their deadly assault on a man in Woolwich, according to Sky sources.

Senior Whitehall sources said the attackers had also asked passers-by to film them, and they shouted "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is great).

Footage shows the men saying: "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you".

A meeting of Cobra - the government-level national emergency response committee - has been convened, the source added.

Home Secretary Theresa May has described the events in Woolwich, south east London, as "sickening."

Sky Home Affairs Correspondent Mark White said: “There has been a concern for some considerable time about the potential for home-grown terrorist groups.

“These kind of attacks do not need to be sophisticated and in many respects the less sophisticated they are, the more easily an attack can be perpetrated.” » | Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Kriminalität - Terrorismus: Verbrechen in London wird als Akt islamistischen Terrors behandelt
SUEDDEUTSCHE: London (dpa) - Die Ermordung eines Mannes auf offener Straße in London wird von der britischen Regierung als möglicher Terrorakt gewertet. Es gebe Hinweise darauf, dass die Angreifer «Allahu Akbar» - zu deutsch: «Gott ist groß!» ausgerufen hätten. Das berichtete die BBC unter Berufung auf Regierungskreise. Premierminister David Cameron wies Innenministerin Theresa May inzwischen an, das Nationale Sicherheitskabinett Cobra einzuberufen. Zwei Angreifer haben einen Mann auf offener Straße mit einer Machete getötet. Später wurden die mutmaßlichen Täter von der Polizei angeschossen. {Quelle: Sueddeutsche] | Mittwoch, 22. Mai 2013

Londres : un soldat massacré à la machette en pleine rue
LE PARISIEN: Un crime abominable choque la Grande-Bretagne ce mercredi après-midi. Un soldat britannique a été massacré à la machette et au hachoir par deux hommes, en pleine rue, sous les yeux de douzaines de témoins horrifiés, à Woolwich, dans le sud-est de Londres. Les deux agresseurs ont été neutralisés par les policiers qui ont fait usage de leurs armes.

D'après les témoins, tout aurait commencé par un accident de la circulation. Une Vauxhall bleue a percuté un poteau dans la rue. Les témoins ont vu en sortir deux hommes noirs, trainant derrière eu leur victime qui portait un T-shirt barré du slogan «Help for Heroes» — «de l'aide pour les héros», le nom d'une campagne de charité pour venir en aide aux soldats blessés en campagne.

Ils ont tiré leur victime au milieu de la chaussée puis l'ont découpé à coup de couteau, de hachoir et l'ont décapité à la machette. D'après des témoins, les meurtriers criaient «Allah akbar» — «Dieu est grand» en Arabe — et incitaient les passants à les prendre en photo. Après avoir commis ces atrocités, ils sont resté sur place, semblant attendre l'arrivée de la police. Quand les agents sont arrivés 20 mn après le carnage, ils les ont chargés à la machette. C'est à ce moment que les policiers ont tiré et grièvement blessé les assaillants. » | LeParisien.fr | mercredi 22 mai 2013

Police Suspect Two Terrorists in London 'Beheading'
IRISH EXAMINER: A major police operation was launched today after two suspected terrorists murdered a man in the street in broad daylight.

Eyewitnesses said the victim was hacked to death, with some suggesting his attackers tried to behead him, before charging at police when they arrived on the scene in Woolwich, south east London.

A local MP said the victim was believed to be a British soldier.

British Prime Minister David Cameron called a meeting of the Government’s Cobra crisis committee, describing the incident as “truly shocking”.

Cobra meetings are crisis response committees set up to coordinate the actions of different agencies, including the security services, police and local authorities.

Metropolitan Police Commander Simon Letchford confirmed tonight that the two attackers were shot by armed officers. » | Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Major Incident in South London with Reports of Shootings and a Beheading
THE COMMENTATOR: Reports suggest that a serving solider has been "hacked to bits" in Woolwich by two men with "meat cleavers" and guns

Various online reports have confirmed what is being reported as a "major incident" in Woolwich in South East London, as people drop feed information about what the Metropolitan Police has so far described as an "assault".

Eyewitnesses have reported a beheading with a 'machete' or 'meat cleaver' and claimed that police armed units responded to a scene in John Wilson Street, Woolwich.

The shots are said to have been fired close to the Royal Artillery Barracks in London after an alleged sword attack, The Sun reports.

While the incident has yet to be confirmed, local residents and social media users report that two black men ran over a white man in a car, before "hopping out" and attempting to decapitate him. It is not yet known if the attempt was successful, though reports suggest that the two men were shot by armed police arriving at the scene. » | The Commentator | Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Woolwich Police Called to Reports of Beheading, Shots Fired in London Street
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES: Police are currently attending a major incident in Woolwich, south east London, after being called to reports of an "assault".

Further details of the incident on John Wilson St, Greenwich are unknown, but some reports suggest a shooting has taken place.

Other reports suggested a person had been beheaded, but no details have been confirmed.

A man working nearby told News Shopper: "All I heard was a couple of people had been shot.

"It was about an hour or so ago. I heard they were trying to behead someone and were shot by police." » | Hannah Osborne | Wednesday, May 22, 2013

'Machete Attack' on 'Serving Soldier' in Woolwich
CHANNEL 4: Two men are shot in Woolwich after a man wearing a Help for Heroes T-shirt was attacked with a machete-style knife. David Cameron has called an emergency meeting of Cobra.

You may find details in the report below highly distressing

A witness, identified only as James, said he saw two black men attack the young victim with knives, including a meat cleaver.

In a graphic description of events, he told London radio station LBC:

"They were hacking at this poor guy, literally. They were hacking at him, chopping him, cutting him."

One man has been confirmed dead at the scene and two others taken to hospital, one of them in a serious condition, a London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.

Fighting back tears, James said: "These two guys were crazed.

"They were just animals. They dragged him from the pavement and dumped his body in the middle of the road and left his body there."

He said that after the attack, which he described as "horrendous", the two men stood around waving knives and a gun, and asked people nearby to take pictures of them "as if they wanted to be on TV or something". » | Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Woolwich Shooting After Machete Attack

Riots in Sweden Continue after Police Shooting
Police in Sweden have arrested six people after a second night of escalating riots in a Stockholm suburb.

Related »

Russian Newspaper Owner On Trial in Moscow
One of Russia's most powerful newspaper owners is on trial in Moscow - accused of hooliganism.

Ahmadinejad Wants to Resign
There is a serious and growing rift in Iran between Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president, and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader. Ahmadinejad has reportedly asked the Khamenei if he can resign. Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari reports from Tehran.

Analysis: Reformer Candidate Rafsanjani Disqualified
Ex-president Hashemi Rafsanjani and an ally of President Ahmadinejad disqualified from running in presidential polls.

Farage: Germans Keen to Keep UK in EU, Not Brits
Growing British distrust of the EU has got members of the leading Conservatives to start the push for a referendum on whether to quit. A bill's in the pipeline for a 2017 deadline for the public to decide if they want to stay in the debt-ridden EU or not. Britain has rattled some cages by pledging an in-out referendum - with France accusing David Cameron of 'splintering' the EU. Head of the UK Independence party, Nigel Farage believes the sooner UK leaves EU the better.

Pride & Prejudice: Tory Unity Cracked as UK Gay Marriage Row Grows
The UK government's gay marriage bill is to undergo a third and final Commons reading later today. This, after David Cameron saw further dissent from within the ranks of the Conservative Party with little support seen for his flagship same-sex wedding policy. To discuss this more, RT's contributor Afshin Rattansi joins the studio from London.

'Multiculturalism Failing': Violent Riots Engulf Stockholm Suburbs
Sweden could be paying a tough price for its policies on immigrants and multiculturalism. A Stockholm suburb erupted into violence for a few hours, as crowds of angry, masked youths from migrant families burned cars, smashed windows and hurled stones at police officers.

What's believed to have fueled the riot was the death of a 69-year-old man, allegedly shot by police in the area last week. The chairman of Sweden's National Democrats Party Marc Abramsson told RT this new trouble highlights old policy flaws - READ MORE here

German Women Should 'Stay at Home and Have Three or Four Children'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: German women should be encouraged to “stay at home and bring three or four children into the world”, the archbishop of Cologne has declared, rather than relying on immigration to solve the country's demographic crisis.

Cardinal Joachim Meisner compared Angela Merkel’s government’s family policies to Communist East Germany, when he said women who stayed at home were considered “demented”.

Germany, which has the lowest birth rate in Europe, is seeking more workers from crisis-hit countries including Spain to solve its shortage of skilled labour.

In unusually direct criticism of the German chancellor, Cardinal Meisner said: “Where are women really publicly encouraged to stay at home and bring three or four children into the world? This is what we should do, and not – as Mrs Merkel does now – simply present immigration as the solution to our demographic problem.”

In an interview with the Stuttgarter Zeitung the archbishop said Germany should not take away the “youth and future” of Spain and Portugal. » | Jeevan Vasagar, Berlin | Wednesday, May 22, 2013

STUTTGARTER ZEITUNG: „Große Reformen wird es kaum geben“: Köln Die Wunden der Missbrauchsopfer soll ein Glaubensfest Anfang Juni in Köln heilen, sagt Joachim Meisner. Der Theologe beklagt die Gotteskrise und kritisiert die Familienpolitik. Deutschland sterbe aus, habe aber zugleich eine perfekte Gesetzgebung für Abtreibung und dränge die Frauen aus den Familien heraus, um die Produktion zu sichern. » | Michael Trauthig | Montag, 20. Mai 2013

My comment:

The cardinal has spoken an uncomfortable truth. This applies not only to Germany, but also to the West in general. Without more babies, the West will forever be dependent on immigrants, often Muslim immigrants, to fulfil our economic needs. This, in turn, will change the demographic make-up of our countries. It is already happening. We are already being outbred. In the UK, the baby name Muhammad (in all its various spellings) is now more common than Thomas, Richard, or Harry. This is a ticking time bomb. At last someone in the public sphere has spoken some common sense. – © Mark

Switzerland: Multicultural Paradise?
GATESTONE INSTITUTE: In March, the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service announced that a growing number of jihadists are being recruited in Switzerland. The number of robberies and assaults on Swiss trains has skyrocketed to such an extent that the Swiss government recently opted to equip transport police with firearms, and at least 1,400 women in Switzerland have been victims of forced marriages.

A controversial new report by the Swiss government claims that Muslim immigrants are so well integrated into Swiss society that no further federal policies or programs are needed to promote Muslim integration or to counter Islamic extremism.

Published by the Swiss Federal Council [Bundesrat] on May 8, the 102-page study -- known by the short title, "The Situation of Muslims in Switzerland" -- so completely downplays the countless problems associated with Muslim immigration in Switzerland that the report has been ridiculed as being worthy of a "case study in political correctness."

The report was first commissioned by proponents of multiculturalism within the Swiss Cabinet shortly after Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum in November 2009 to ban the construction of minarets, the tower-like structures on mosques that are often used to call Muslims to prayer.

The surprise outcome of the referendum, which passed with a clear majority of 57.5% of the voters, represented a turning point in the debate about Muslim immigration in Switzerland.

Among other matters, the referendum exposed the growing gap between Swiss multiculturalists and ordinary Swiss voters on the issue of Muslim immigration. The Swiss Federal Council had campaigned hard against the ban, arguing it would "endanger peace between religions" and "hinder integration." After the ban was approved, the government launched a multi-pronged effort to "educate" the Swiss populace through taxpayer-funded pro-Islam research.

The latest report estimates the Muslim population of Switzerland to be between 350,000 and 400,000, or around 5% of the total population of 8 million. The vast majority of Muslims in the country originate from the Balkans, Turkey and North Africa, and roughly one-third are Swiss citizens. Many of them are second- and third-generation immigrants firmly establishing themselves in Switzerland. » | Soeren Kern | Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Angela Merkel Under Fire over Communist Links as New Image of Her in Uniform Is Released
MAIL ONLINE: Photo found of her as 17-year-old marching with East German officer / Released as she is forced to play down new book which alleges communist past

German Chancellor Angela Merkel faced fresh speculation over her supposed links to hardline East German communists today after a photo emerged of her marching with the kommisars as a teenager.

Mrs Merkel, who was 17-year-old Angela Kasner when the picture was taken in 1972, is shown in fatigues marching with a group of friends and an East German officer as they prepared to take part in a civil defence exercise.

Her smile is easily recognisable and her forage cap is set at a jaunty angle as she strides along at the High School Hermann Matern in Templin, where she was brought up behind the iron curtain.

All children in the former German Democratic Republic had to take part in such exercises if they wanted to complete the equivalent of A-levels and go on to university. The drills included preparing for gas and nuclear attacks, how to spot enemy paratroopers and caring for wounded East German soldiers.

Not even illness or a death in the family allowed for the youngsters to skip the martial lessons - they were simply postponed but had to be completed. » | Alan Hall | Tuesday, May 21, 2013

BILD.DE: Diese junge Frau in Uniform ist heute unsere Kanzlerin: Templin – Ein Schwarz-Weiß-Foto aus dem Jahr 1972. Es zeigt Schülerinnen der 11. Klasse der Erweiterten Oberschule (EOS) „Hermann Matern“ in Templin. Sie marschieren... » | Von H. Kascha und B. Kolodziej | Dienstag, 21. Mai 2013

Gay Marriage Bill Passes Commons Despite Tory Opposition
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: David Cameron’s plan to allow same-sex couples to marry has passed its final Commons hurdle despite an attempt by almost half of Conservative MPs to block the reform.

Two Cabinet ministers, David Jones, the Welsh Secretary, and Owen Paterson, the Environment Secretary, were among the 133 Conservative MPs who voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.

They were joined by ten other ministers, including John Hayes, who is Mr Cameron's senior parliamentary adviser and a key figure linking the Prime Minister with backbench Tories.

But the legislation was passed by an overwhelming majority of 205 in the free vote on Tuesday night, winning the support of 366 MPs from across the political spectrum. A total of 161 MPs from all parties opposed the reforms in last night's free vote.

Mr Cameron initially championed gay marriage as a personal cause when he surprised his party by announcing his intention to introduce the reforms two years ago.

But he ultimately needed the help of Ed Miliband and Labour MPs to see his Bill pass. » | Tim Ross, Political Correspondent | Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Krawalle in Tunis: Salafisten zetteln Straßenschlachten an
Die Mitglieder der Salafisten-Gruppe Ansar al-Scharia haben mit Krawallen auf das Verbot ihres Jahrestreffens reagiert. Sie blockierten Straßen in Tunis und attackierten die Polizei.

Paris : un essayiste d'extrême droite se suicide dans Notre-Dame

LE POINT: Selon une source policière, la cathédrale a été évacuée peu après le coup de feu. L'homme, âgé de 78 ans, s'est tiré une balle dans la bouche.

Un homme, essayiste d'extrême droite, s'est suicidé avec une arme à feu mardi après-midi dans Notre-Dame de Paris, provoquant l'évacuation de la cathédrale, haut lieu touristique en plein coeur de Paris, a-t-on appris de sources policières et auprès de son éditeur. Cet homme, Dominique Venner, un essayiste de 78 ans apprécié des milieux nationalistes, s'est donné la mort devant l'autel peu après 16 heures à l'aide d'un pistolet à un coup de fabrication belge. Ancien militant de l'OAS, cet homme était une figure respectée au sein de la mouvance d'extrême droite.

La cathédrale a rapidement été évacuée mardi après-midi, sans incident, selon plusieurs sources, mais on ignorait peu avant 17 heures le nombre exact de personnes qui étaient concernées. Greg, un touriste américain venu de Phoenix dans l'Arizona, a expliqué que la cathédrale était pleine au moment du suicide, mais qu'il n'y a pas eu de mouvement de panique lors de l'évacuation de la cathédrale par les gardes en civil. Monseigneur Patrick Jacquin, recteur de la cathédrale, a précisé que le suicidé avait posé une lettre sur l'autel, dans le choeur, à l'attention des enquêteurs, avant son suicide.

Un surveillant a procédé à un massage cardiaque, en attendant l'arrivée des secours. Les enquêteurs ont trouvé sa carte d'identité sur lui. "On ne le connaissait pas, ce n'était pas un fidèle de la cathédrale", a expliqué monseigneur Jacquin, affirmant qu'à sa connaissance c'est la première fois qu'un suicide intervient à l'intérieur de la cathédrale. Toutes les messes ont été annulées jusqu'à 20 heures, lorsqu'une "veillée pour la vie" sera organisée avec les évêques d'Ile-de-France. "On va prier pour cet homme comme pour tant d'autres qui sont à bout", a ajouté monseigneur Jacquin. "C'est terrible, on pense à lui et à sa famille." » | LePoint.fr (avec AFP) | mardi 21 mai 2013

Related »

Britische Regierungspartei uneins: Führung der Tories in Turbulenzen

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Der britische Premierminister Cameron hat das Gesetz zur Einführung der Homo-Ehe nur mithilfe Labours gegen eine parteiinterne Rebellion verteidigt. Die Konflikte bei den Konservativen toben weiter.

Die Führung der britischen Konservativen kommt nicht zur Ruhe. Nicht einmal eine Woche nach einer peinlichen Abstimmung im Unterhaus, in der die Hälfte der konservativen Hinterbänkler einer Rüge über die EU-Politik der Regierung zustimmte, hat die Parteiführung in der Nacht auf Dienstag eine weitere Revolte wieder nur mit Unterstützung Labours abzuwenden vermocht. Diesmal hat sich der Aufstand konservativer Abgeordneter gegen das Gesetz zur Einführung der Ehe unter Gleichgeschlechtlichen ergeben. Ein konservativer Hinterbänkler hatte mit einem raffinierten Zusatz zum Gesetz versucht, jenes zum Entgleisen zu bringen. Als sich im Verlauf des Montags abzeichnete, dass sich erneut etwa eine Hundertschaft von Tory-Abgeordneten gegen die Parteiführung stellen würde, vermochte jene nur dank eiligen Zugeständnissen an Labour die Vorlage zu retten. » | Peter Rásonyi, London | Dienstag, 21. Mai 2013

U.S.-approved ‘Muslims’
THE TRENTONIAN: America is desperate to find un-Muslim-like allies among the world’s Muslims. That is, Muslims who believe as Americans do that no particular religion should have the upper hand in politics and government.

Alas, the Pew Research Foundation polls keep revealing that this search is a chimerical quest. The Pew polling regularly reports overwhelming support in the “Muslim world” for the rule of Sharia, Islamic law, and for Islam-dominated policy and government.

Which inevitably means that Muslim nations are going to be suspicious of, if not hostile to, U.S. notions of what constitutes Islamic extremism.

This perhaps is why President Obama avoids using the modifier “Islamic” when referring to extremism, even extremism obviously based on interpretations of Islam. He perhaps believes such references would be counterproductive. (Perhaps he’s right, perhaps not.)

Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes has a mantra that goes: “Extreme Islam is the problem, moderate Islam is the solution.” Problem is, our notion of “moderate” may bear little resemblance to the notions prevalent in Muslim countries.

What if Muslims endorsed a particular religious perspective for Christians in American — Gnosticism, say? Not only would there likely not be a rush to embrace is, there would likely be a stampede to condemn it — and demands that Muslims mind their own damn business. » | Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Right-wing Historian Shoots Himself in Notre Dame Cathedral 'In Protest at Gay Marriage'
MAIL ONLINE: Man kills himself in iconic Parisian attraction / French media reports say historian Dominique Venner shot himself / He is known to be a virulent opponent of gay marriage / The 78-year-old also fought in a militant paramilitary group / The historic site was close to the public

A right-wing historian shot himself dead in front of hundreds of tourists at the altar of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris today, apparently in protest at France's legalisation of gay marriage.

Dominique Venner, who had recently been campaigning against gay marriage in France, is said to have calmly walked past the crowds milling around the 850-year-old Cathedral, one of the most popular tourist sites in the world, before taking out a Herstal automatic pistol.

The 78-year-old put the gun in his mouth and fired before collapsing on to the altar, according to French media reports.

Mr Venner, who was awarded a prestigious prize by l'Académie française for one of his historical works, was a former member of the Secret Army Organisation (OAS), the paramilitary group which fought against France giving up Algeria as a colony.

He was jailed for 18 months in La Santé Prison as a political undesirable for his role in the ultra-national organisation and was freed in 1962.

A report by Europe 1 radio station reads: 'According to our information, he is Dominique Venner, essayist and former member of the OAS who was close to the anti-gay marriage movement.'

The Cathedral was full of visitors when the horrific incident took place, at around 4pm. 'There was screaming and lot so shouting following a loud bang,' said one witness. 'People were naturally very scared and began to run out in panic. » | Sam Webb | Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Dominique Venner »

Biographie »

Scottish Referendum: Alex Salmond Says Scotland Can Afford Independence

BBC: Scotland can "more than afford' to be a successful independent country, its first minister has said.

Alex Salmond was speaking as he launched a paper outlining the nation's key economic strengths.

He said the document offered a consolidated picture of the country's strong financial foundations, diverse economy, ingenuity and natural resources.

Scotland's electorate will vote in a referendum on independence next year. (+ video) » | Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Arabie saoudite : cinq Yéménites décapités et crucifiés pour meurtre
LE POINT: Les cinq hommes avaient commis une série de vols à travers le pays et assassiné un Saoudien en l'étouffant.

Cinq Yéménites, condamnés pour vols et meurtre, ont été exécutés et leurs corps exposés en public mardi à Jizane, dans le sud-ouest de l'Arabie saoudite, a rapporté l'agence officielle Spa. Les cinq hommes avaient commis une série de vols dans le pays et assassiné un Saoudien en l'étouffant, selon l'agence qui cite un communiqué du ministère de l'Intérieur. "Ils ont été exécutés et crucifiés", selon le communiqué. Le terme de crucifixion en Arabie saoudite, peine prévue pour certains crimes, signifie l'exposition en public des corps des suppliciés.

L'exécution des cinq hommes, dont trois frères, porte à 46 le nombre d'exécutions en Arabie saoudite depuis le début de l'année, selon un décompte de l'Agence France-Presse à partir de communiqués du ministère saoudien de l'Intérieur. Un témoin, qui a vu les corps exposés, a indiqué que l'exécution avait eu lieu sur une place devant le campus de l'université de Jizane. » | Source AFP | mardi 21 mai 2013

Tory Newspapers Turn On Cameron in Wake of Gay Marriage Vote

GUARDIAN – GREENSLADE BLOG: Newspapers that generally support the Tory party have never been wildly enthusiastic about David Cameron. Now, on the evidence of today's leading articles and commentaries, they appear wholly hostile.

The Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph carry extremely critical editorials, as does The Sun. And the Daily Express weighs in with a short rebuff. The Times, more measured as always, advises the prime minister to show greater leadership.

To make matters worse for Cameron, there is yet more favourable press publicity for Ukip, the upstart party now apparently attracting support from disaffected Tories.

I was amused by the Mail's reference to "press baron Lord Beaverbrook" in the intro of its leading article. » | Roy Greenslade | Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Report: Discrimination against Jews and Muslims Rising Everywhere
THE JEWISH PRESS: Discrimination against Jews and Muslims is on the rise around the world, according to the annual U.S. State Dept. report for 2012.

The report points to growing antisemitism, especially in Venezuela, Egypt and Iran.

The BBC noted that the International Religious Freedom Report noted that in Egypt, antisemitic sentiment in the media sometimes included Holocaust denial or, perhaps worse, glorification of the mass murder of Jews.

The report says that traditional forms of antisemitism, such as conspiracy theories, blood libel myths and cartoons demonizing Jews continue to flourish. » | Jewish Press News Briefs | Tuesday, may 21, 2013

A German’s View of Islam
FRONTPAGE MAG: I used to know a man whose family were German aristocracy prior to World War II. They owned a number of large industries and estates. I asked him how many German people were true Nazis, and the answer he gave has stuck with me and guided my attitude toward fanaticism ever since.

“Very few people were true Nazis,” he said, “but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.”

We are told again and again by experts and talking heads that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unquantified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.

The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars world wide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or execute honor killings. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard, quantifiable fact is that the “peaceful majority” is the “silent majority,” and it is cowed and extraneous. » | Paul Marek | Tuesday, May 21, 2013

ISREAL NATIONAL NEWS (ARUTZ SHEVA): Why the Peaceful Majority is Irrelevant » | Paul E. Marek * | Sunday, March 18, 2013

* Paul E. Marek is a second-generation Canadian, whose grandparents fled Czechoslovakia just prior to the Nazi takeover. He is an educational consultant specializing in programs that protect children from predatory adults.

Katastrophengebiet Oklahoma: Mehr als 90 Tote nach Tornado
21.05.2013 - Die Suchaktion in Moore, einem Vorort von Oklahoma City, verlangt den Rettungskräften viel ab: Noch immer werden Dutzende Kinder in einer Grundschule gesucht, die von einem Tornado völlig verwüstet wurde. Einer der schwersten Wirbelstürme der US-Geschichte forderte im US-Bundesstaat Oklahoma mehr als 90 Opfer, mehr als 230 Menschen wurden verletzt.

Obama Urges Myanmar to Stop Violence against Muslims
REUTERS.COM: (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged the president of Myanmar on Monday to take steps to halt violence against Muslims in his country and move ahead with economic and political reforms.

Thein Sein became the first head of Myanmar to visit the White House in 47 years, and he and Obama sat down for talks in the Oval Office.

Obama said the Myanmar leader had assured him that he intends to move forward on releasing more political prisoners and institutionalizing political reforms that have already taken place. Thein Sein also vowed to resolve ethnic conflicts by incorporating all communities into the political process, Obama said.

"I also shared with President Sein our deep concern about communal violence that has been directed at Muslim communities inside Myanmar. The displacement of people, the violence directed towards them needs to stop," Obama said.

Sein, speaking through a translator, said his country faces a "daunting task" in carrying out reforms but said for democracy to flourish in Myanmar the reforms must be carried out in the years ahead. » | Paul Eckert | Washington | Monday, May 20, 2013

Gay Marriage Could Stop Christians Becoming Teachers Or Doctors - Church Leaders
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Hundreds of thousands of Christian young people will be put off becoming teachers, doctors, nurses or other public servants once gay marriage becomes law, a coalition of church leaders claims.

They are calling on MPs to make urgent amendments to the Government’s same-sex marriage bill, which will be debated on Monday, to protect Christians and others with traditional views from being punished in the workplace for their beliefs.

Otherwise, it could have a “chilling effect” on young people’s career choices, deterring many from going into public service or charities in case they are branded homophobic for speaking about their beliefs, they fear.

The call comes in a letter to The Daily Telegraph signed by an informal grouping of Christian leaders ranging from the second most senior Roman Catholic cleric in England and Wales to Anglican vicars and independent evangelical pastors.

It follows an unprecedented letter from more than 500 imams accusing the Government of attacking “the cornerstone of family life”.

And it comes amid mounting anger from grassroots Conservatives, which threatens to split the party.

Young people, will be forced to “choose between their conscience and their career”, the church leaders write.

Unless it is amended, the bill will “cause pain for many, without tackling prejudice against the few”, they add. » | John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor | Sunday, May 19, 2013

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: More than 500 imams in landmark gay marriage protest: More than 500 imams have joined forces to protest against David Cameron’s plans for gay marriage in an unprecedented intervention from the British Muslim community. » | John Bingham, Religious affairs Editor | Sunday, May 19, 2013

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Muslim leaders stand against gay marriage: British imams and Muslim leaders speak out against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill » | Saturday, May 18, 2013

Church of Scotland Votes to Allow Gay Ministers
THE GUARDIAN: General assembly votes to allow congregations to admit gay ministers but only if they specifically elect to do so

The Church of Scotland, the country's largest Protestant church, has narrowly voted to admit gay and lesbian ministers after traditionalists agreed to compromise after four years of division.

The church's ruling general assembly voted to allow congregations to admit gay ministers but only if they specifically elect to do so, in a radical departure from more than 450 years of orthodoxy set in train by the protestant reformer John Knox.

The vote is likely to lead to an end to a four-year controversy which has split the church after an openly gay minister, Scott Rennie, was selected to lead Queen's Cross parish in Aberdeen in 2009.

The general assembly, equivalent to the Church of England's synod, rejected a motion which would have made gay ordination – solely for ministers in civil partnerships or who are celibate - the default position of the Church of Scotland, by 340 votes to 282.

The new deal – which now has to be written into a new church law and authorised by next year's general assembly - affirms the traditional teaching of the church as favouring heterosexual ministers, but will allow congregations to opt in to select gay ministers if they wish. » | Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent | Monday, May 20, 2013

Die Welt hat Islam satt: "Annäherung der Zivilisationen gescheitert"
STIMME RUSSLANDS: Die Ablehnung des Islams sei gegenwärtig ein Phänomen der westlichen Welt, lautet das Urteil der jüngsten sozilogischen Studien. Die Bedrohung durch die Präsenz und die Ausbreitung des Islams fühlten am eigenen Körper alle, von den USA bis Asien.

„Der Islam wird als Eroberer und Sieger nach Europa zurückkehren, nachdem man ihn zweimal vom Kontinent vertrieben hat.“ Dies Erklärung gab nach dem Tod des römischen Papstes, Johannes Paul II., einer der Anführer radikaler Islamisten ab. Er versprach, den Christen „nur die eine Wahl, den Islam anzunehmen, oder die Dschiszya (eine Abgabe, mit der die Nichtmuslime besteuert werden, um berechtigt zu sein, in einem islamischen Land zu wohnen) zu zahlen.“ Es ist offenkundig, dass eine solche Prognose, die einst fantastisch zu sein schien, sich schon heute in eine grobe Realität verwandeln kann. Laut Prognosen mancher Analysten könnte Frankreich, wo die Zahl der muslimischen weißen Franzosen bereits 50.000 Personen übersteigt, in allernächster Zukunft zum ersten islamischen Land Westeuropas werden.

Dessen sind sich auch die Europäer selbst in vollem Maße bewusst, wovon die jüngste Studie spricht, die von der Bertelsmann-Stiftung vorgenommen wurde. Soziologen stellten fest, dass die Ablehnung des Islams gegenwärtig ein Phänomen der westlichen Welt ist. Die Bedrohung durch seine Präsenz und Ausbreitung fühlten am eigenen Körper mehr als die Hälfte Spanier und Israelis sowie 42 Prozent Amerikaner. In Europa wurde der höchste „Grad“ der Zurückweisung des Islams in Spanien und der Schweiz und der niedrigste (45 Prozent) in Großbritannien festgehalten. Was das Vereinigte Königsreich anbelangt, so ist eine solche Loyalität dem Islam gegenüber in vieler Hinsicht darauf zurückzuführen, dass die Studie im Grunde genommen nur die Hälfte der Bevölkerung betraf, denn die zweite Hälfte besteht aus Immigranten und anderen ethnischen Minderheiten. In den letzten zehn Jahren haben übrigens bereits 620.000 weiße Briten London verlassen.

Es besteht die Auffassung, dass der Islam in vieler Hinsicht dank den starken Traditionen und der Gottgläubigkeit sicheren Schrittes durch die Welt schreite, vor deren Hintergrund die Europäer, die unter einer Krise der Familienwerte und dem geistigen Hunger leiden, als weitaus schwächer aussähen. Eine nicht gerade unwichtige Rolle bei der nahezu gewaltsamen Eroberung der Welt spielten auch die finanziellen Ressourcen der islamischen Gemeinde, meint Juri Tabak, Schriftsteller, Religionsforscher, Experte des Moskauer Büros für Menschenrechte:

„Im Unterschied zu anderen Religionen, vom Christentum bis zum Judaismus, stellt der Islam gegenwärtig eine expansionistische Religion dar. Und gemäß seinen theologischen sowie praktischen Vorstellungen, ist der Islam bestrebt, seinen Einflussbereich zu erweitern, wobei dies auf verschiedenen Ebenen geschieht: Sowohl auf dem Weg der Umsiedlung von Migranten als auch auf den Ebenen solcher hinreichend aggressiven Strömungen des Islams, die bestrebt sind, den Koran, ihre geheiligten Quellen in dem Sinne zu lesen, dass sie die Welt buchstäblich gewaltsam erobern und ein weltweites Kalifat errichten müssen.“

» | Lubow Kurjanowa | Dienstag, 14. Mai 2013

Verwandt hier und hier

Deutschland: Warum der Islam bei uns keine Heimat findet
DIE WELT: Gehört der Islam zu Deutschland? Und welcher Islam ist gemeint? Eine Bertelsmann-Studie offenbart eine große Distanz vieler Deutscher zu Muslimen – und deren Distanz zu deutschen Wertehaltungen.

Gehört der Islam zu Deutschland? Eine schwierige Frage, findet Emel Zeynelabidin. "Wenn die Antwort nein lautet, was passiert dann mit den Muslimen, die hier sind, und ihren Kindern?", sagt sie. "Und noch wichtiger: Von welchem Islam sprechen wir hier?"

Für Zeynelabidin gibt es eine konservative Lesart des Islam, von der sie sich heute distanziert. Diese schreibt strikte Richtlinien vor, kein Alkohol, kein Schweinefleisch, kein Sex vor der Ehe, Fasten zu Ramadan. Wer sich daran hält, wird von Gott belohnt, wer die Regeln bricht, wird bestraft. "Ich bin Muslimin und fühle mich heute religiöser denn je!", sagt Zeynelabidin, "Aber mit diesem System habe ich heute nichts mehr am Hut.

Gott ist allgegenwärtig, da muss ich mich nicht mit Ritualen aufhalten." Für sie heißt Islam Freiheit, Liebe, nach dem vorbildlichen Verhalten Mohammeds, der aufrichtig handelte, der sich für die Rechte der Frauen einsetzte.

Die 52-Jährige ist die Tochter des Gründers der deutschen Sektion der türkischen Gemeinschaft Milli Görüs, die vom Verfassungsschutz überwacht wird. Lange Zeit war sie stramme Anhängerin des Islam, bekam sechs Kinder, war Vorsitzende eines Frauenvereins, gründete den ersten islamischen Kindergarten in Berlin, das war 1987. 18 Jahre später legte sie ihr Kopftuch ab. Dass die Hälfte der Deutschen sagt, der Islam passe nicht in ihr Land, überrascht sie nicht. » | Von Miriam Hollstein und Freia Peters | Mitarbeit: Achim Breitenbach | Sonntag, 28. Mai 2013