Wednesday, October 02, 2013
'Iran's Rouhani Is Wolf in Sheep's Clothing' – Netanyahu to UN General Assembly (Full Speech)
Golden Dawn...or Dusk? Greek Far-right Party Faces Criminal Charges
Alastair Campbell Savages Mail Editor Over Miliband Slur
The row between Ed Miliband and the Daily Mail continued on Tuesday night as a senior executive from the newspaper refused to apologise for its attack on the Labour leader's late father but admitted that publishing a photograph of his gravestone with a pun about him being a "grave socialist" was an error of judgment.
In an interview on BBC2's Newsnight, the paper's deputy editor, Jon Steafel, refused to retract the paper's savage attack on Ralph Miliband in an article in Saturday's edition headlined: The man who hated Britain.
Steafel's appearance was an unprecedented public outing for a Mail executive. The paper's editor pursues a strict policy of being an "outsider" who believes his journalism can speak for itself and refuses to publicly pronounce on his paper over the decades he has been at the helm.
He said the piece was based on Miliband's public views and was justified. "Ralph Miliband's views were spread widely. His views on British institutions, from our schools to our royal family to our military, to our universities to the church. What he said was, he felt that all of those things were bad aspects, were unfortunate aspects of British life," Steafel said.
He said Miliband's father's views expressed in his "writings, his diaries, his books, his speeches", combined with his Marxist ideology, showed he was "very antipathetic to the views of a lot of British people". He added: "We thought it was reasonable to highlight those views." » | Lisa O’Carroll | Wednesday, October 02, 2013
Related »
Daily Mail Deputy Editor Defends Miliband Father Profile, But Concedes 'Error of Judgement' Over Grave Image
Related »
WIKI: Alastair Campbell »
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Benjamin Netanyahu: Nuclear-armed Iran 'As Dangerous As 50 North Koreas'
Delivering a trenchant address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Israeli prime minister rounded on President Hassan Rouhani of Iran. The Islamic Republic's new leader has offered "peace and friendship" to America and held out the prospect of settling the confrontation over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
But Mr Netanyahu recalled how North Korea agreed in 2005 to freeze its nuclear programme. "A year later, North Korea exploded its first nuclear weapons device," he said. "Yet as dangerous as a nuclear-armed North Korea is, it pales in comparison to the danger posed by a nuclear-armed Iran."
An Iran with nuclear weapons would disrupt global energy supplies and turn the "most unstable part of the planet into a nuclear tinderbox" by triggering a regional arms race, predicted Mr Netanyahu. "A nuclear-armed Iran in the Middle East would not be another North Korea. It would be another 50 North Koreas." » | Robert Tait, Jerusalem, and David Blair | Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Hassan Rouhani’s Full Interview with Christiane Amanpour
États-Unis : Obama dénonce une "croisade idéologique"
Le président Barack Obama a exhorté les républicains à mettre fin à la paralysie des administrations américaines, la première du genre en 17 ans, entrée en vigueur dans la nuit faute d'accord au Congrès sur une loi d'orientation budgétaire. Lors d'une intervention dans la roseraie de la Maison-Blanche, le dirigeant démocrate a accusé ses adversaires républicains au Congrès d'avoir provoqué mardi la fermeture partielle des administrations américaines au nom d'une "croisade idéologique". » | Source AFP | mardi 01 octobre 2013
Daily Mail: An Evil Legacy and Why We Won’t Apologise
Nor did he see the funny side when we ridiculed the yucky, lovey-dovey photographs of him and his wife, behaving like a pair of hormonal teenagers in need of a private room.
But what has made him vent his spleen — indeed, he has stamped his feet and demanded a right of reply — is a Mail article by Geoffrey Levy on Saturday about the Labour leader’s late father, Ralph, under the arresting headline ‘The Man Who Hated Britain’.
Of course, it was not the Mail that first drew the prominent Marxist sociologist Professor Ralph Miliband — a man who was not averse to publicity — into the public arena. This was the decision of his son who, for two years running, has told Labour conferences how his refugee father fled Nazi persecution to Britain.
More pertinent still, McBride argues that Miliband Jnr is obsessed with maintaining Ralph’s legacy.
Winning the leadership, he writes, was Ed’s ‘ultimate tribute’ to his father — an attempt to ‘achieve his father’s vision’.
With this testimony before us, from a former Labour spin doctor who knew Mr Miliband inside out, the Mail felt a duty to lay before our readers the father’s vision that is said to have inspired our would-be next Prime Minister.
Today, we stand by every word we published on Saturday, from the headline to our assertion that the beliefs of Miliband Snr ‘should disturb everyone who loves this country’. » | Daily Mail Comment | Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Ed Miliband Reacts Angrily »
As the Labour Leader Reacts Angrily to Our Critique of His Marxist Father... We repeat: This Man Did Hate Britain
In his own words: ‘The cemetery was utterly deserted . . . I remember standing in front of the grave, fists clenched, and swearing my own private oath that I would be faithful to the workers’ cause.’
It was a lifelong cause the 16-year-old immigrant, who fled here with his father from Belgium to escape the Nazis, never deserted.
Ralph’s Marxism was uncompromising. ‘We want this party to state that it stands unequivocally behind the social ownership and control of the means of production, distribution and exchange,’ he declared to the 1955 Labour Party conference as the delegate from Hampstead. ‘We are a Socialist party engaged on a great adventure.’
Of course, he could only embark on this ‘adventure’ because of the protection, the education and, crucially, the political freedom, that this country gave him.
So how did he view this country? As an already politically aware 17-year-old, he wrote in his diary: ‘The Englishman is a rabid nationalist. They are perhaps the most nationalist people in the world . . . you sometimes want them almost to lose [the war] to show them how things are. They have the greatest contempt for the Continent. To lose their empire would be the worst possible humiliation.’
To help defeat Hitler, Ralph Miliband volunteered and served three years in the Royal Navy. When Labour, under Clement Attlee, swept to power after the war in 1945, he joyfully described the victory as ‘the country’s capture from its traditional rulers’. » | Geoffrey Levy | Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Ed Miliband Accuses Daily Mail over ‘Lie’ about Father »
Ed Miliband Accuses Daily Mail over 'Lie' about Father
BBC: Ed Miliband has accused the Daily Mail of lying about his father after the newspaper headlined an article about him as "The man who hated Britain".
The Labour leader said he was "appalled" that after offering him a right of reply, the paper had repeated its original article and also now "described my father's legacy as evil".
He said it raised questions about morality and boundaries for newspapers.
The Mail says it will not apologise and stands by the story.
In Saturday's article, journalist Geoffrey Levy questioned how the beliefs of Ralph Miliband, a Marxist academic who died in 1994, may have influenced the Labour leader and his brother, former Foreign Secretary David Miliband. » | Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Pope Francis Eager to Lose 'Narcissistic' Nature of Papal Court
Pope Francis has said he will do everything he can to change the "introspective and Vatican-centric" nature of the Holy See, criticising the Roman curia for neglecting the wider world and its 1.2 billion Catholics.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica – his second in as many weeks – the pontiff hit out at the historic pomp of some of his "narcissistic" predecessors, describing the papal court as "the leprosy of the papacy".
He also said that, in a moment of great anxiety, after being elected head of the church in March, it occurred to him to not accept the role offered. But the moment soon passed, he said, and he then had no more anxiety or emotion.
Speaking to Eugenio Scalfari, a co-founder of the Italian daily, and an atheist, who had exchanged letters with him over the summer, the Argentinian pope said he agreed it would be difficult to reform the Vatican.
But he said that, while not St Francis of Assisi, who also had to "negotiate with the Roman power elite", he was the "bishop of Rome and the Catholic pope" so would try his best to shake up the Vatican. » | Lizziy Davies in Rome | Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Monday, September 30, 2013
Oslo: Norwegens Konservative wollen mit Rechtspopulisten regieren
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| Erna Solberg, Chefin der konservativen Partei Høyre |
Oslo - In Norwegen tritt an die Stelle der langjährigen moderaten Regierung von Premier Jens Stoltenberg voraussichtlich eine Koalition des rechten Parteienflügels. Erna Solberg, Chefin der konservativen Partei Høyre, will mit der rechtspopulistischen Fortschrittspartei FRP ("Fremskrittspartiet") über die Bildung einer Minderheitsregierung verhandeln.
Mit den anderen beiden bürgerlichen Parteien - Christenpartei und der liberalen Partei Venstre - habe man sich auf eine enge Zusammenarbeit geeinigt, erklärte Solberg am Montag bei einer gemeinsamen Pressekonferenz der Parteien in Oslo. Am liebsten hätte Solberg mit allen drei anderen bürgerlichen Parteien regiert. Deren Positionen lagen jedoch zu weit auseinander. Rigide Einwanderungspolitik » | bos/dpa/Reuters/AP | Monday, September 30, 2013
'Terrorists from 83 Countries Fighting in Syria' – Foreign Minister to UN Assembly 2013 (Full Speech)
'Rights Hypocrisy': UK May Quit European Convention, Still Lecture Others
Syria-Born Muslim Finds Jesus Christ, Converts From Islam to Christianity After Brain Aneurysm
These would be the words that catalyze an almost 20 year journey that would eventually lead Shamsi-Basha to Jesus Christ.
Shamsi-Basha's new book, Paul and Me, tells of this quest, and recounts how he spent close to two decades of his life discovering Jesus and learning his purpose, which he now testifies is "to share God's love with people and let them know He loves all his children."
Released last month, the book intersperses chapters of Shamsi-Basha's own life and walk with God, with various theologians' thoughts about Paul, one of the Bible's most central figures, whose own conversion experience took place in the ancient Syrian city of Damascus.
Shamsi-Basha grew up in a Muslim family in a Syria he says was tolerant of all faiths. Indeed, his best friend was a Christian, the two were frequently at each other's houses, and had all sorts of discussions and arguments with each other about faith, though no one ever succeeded in converting the other. » | Morgan Lee, CP Contributor | Saturday, September 28, 2013
Saudi Arabia to Expel Students Mocking Islam
Students will be barred from any Saudi education institution for a year, the ministry said.
School principals also were told to report any suspect cases, which would be investigated.
Several students had reportedly mocked the rituals of Islam and been found discussing subjects and ideas that violate Islamic law. » | Courtney Trenwith | Monday, September 30, 2013
ARAB NEWS: Ministry warns students against mocking Islam: The Ministry of Education has warned that it would expel any student found mocking Islam or spreading illicit ideas at school. Penalties for violating the code of behavior include preventing a student from pursuing studies for one academic year. The ministry would notify all education departments of its decision without naming the accused. » | Ibrahim Nafee | Jeddah | Monday, September 30, 2013
Mosquées : une nouvelle salle de prière chaque semaine en France
Suisse: Le vote sur la burqa inquiète les milieux touristiques
Le secteur touristique suisse s'inquiète de la réaction des riches touristes provenant des pays arabes après l'acceptation, il y a une semaine par les Tessinois, de l'interdiction du port de la burqa. Le président de l'usam Jean-François Rime n'y voit, lui, aucune influence.
«Cette menace est exagérée», explique le conseiller national UDC dans le SonntagsBlick. Il ne pense pas que les touristes des pays arabes vont bouder la Suisse.
Le Fribourgeois n'a vu que peu de femmes portant la burqa dans les pays arabes. «C'est pourquoi je ne crois pas que les touristes voilées de ces Etats apportent beaucoup d'argent en Suisse. La burqa et le niqab ne sont ni un thème important pour l'économie ni un problème économique», ajoute M. Rime.
La directrice de la Fédération suisse du tourisme Barbara Gisi pense tout le contraire dans le même journal: «Les touristes des Etats du golfe Persique se demandent s'ils doivent venir en Suisse à l'avenir», s'inquiète-t-elle. «Une interdiction nationale de la burqa pourrait avoir un impact négatif», estime-t-elle. Selon la fédération, les Arabes dépensent particulièrement beaucoup d'argent en Suisse. » | ats/Newsnet | dimanche 29 septembre 2013
Un hiver sibérien est annoncé
Stockez manteaux, moufles et bonnets: l’hiver à venir sera glacial, polaire, sibérien! Pour l’Europe, ce sera même «le plus froid depuis un siècle»! Tel est en tout cas l’avis de quelques spécialistes russes et allemands, dont les prévisions sont actuellement reprises partout dans le monde.
Ainsi, à en croire par exemple le météorologue allemand Dominik Jung, qui s’appuie sur un logiciel américain, nous grelotterons surtout en janvier et février. Par la faute d’imposantes masses d’air arctique qui vont fondre sur l’Europe. » | Par Renaud Michiels | mercredi 25 septembre 2013
Julia Gillard Reveals Her 'Murderous Rage' at Sexist Attacks
In her first public outing in Australia since she was deposed as prime minister in June, Ms Gillard appeared upbeat and buoyed by a strong show of support in a packed hall at the Sydney Opera House.
During a candid question and answer session, Ms Gillard, 52, was asked by an eleven-year-old girl how she coped with “all that horrible sexism”.
The former Labor prime minister said one of her strongest motivations when she left office was not to give her most strident critics the pleasure of seeing her publicly cry.
“In moments of some stress and pressure… I certainly did say to myself that I would not give those people the satisfaction of seeing me shed a tear,” she said. “[It was] some iteration of ‘don’t let them get you down’”.
Ms Gillard also revealed her reasons for making her famous “misogyny” speech in parliament last year in which she stared down then opposition leader Tony Abbott, now the prime minister, telling him: “I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not.” The speech made global headlines and is set to go down as one of the defining moments of her leadership. » | Jonathan Pearlman, Sydney | Monday, September 30, 2013
Inside Story: Facing Up to Greece's Far Right
Jordan Showcases Late King's Car Collection
Cuba Permits Athletes to Play Abroad
Diet-related Illnesses Near Epidemic Levels in Mexico
New Wave of Bombings Tears through Baghdad
Les Gardiens de la révolution mettent en garde le président iranien
Le chef des Gardiens de la révolution a lancé lundi la première mise en garde d'un haut responsable du régime au président Hassan Rohani, qualifiant d'"erreur tactique" son contact téléphonique historique avec Barack Obama. "Le président a eu une position ferme et appropriée lors de son séjour, mais, tout comme il a refusé de rencontrer (Barack) Obama, il aurait dû aussi refuser de lui parler au téléphone et attendre des actes concrets du gouvernement américain", a déclaré le général Mohammad Ali Jafari au site d'information Tasnimnews.com. "Dans son action, le gouvernement peut faire des erreurs tactiques, comme l'entretien téléphonique, mais cela peut être réparé", a-t-il dit. "Si l'on constate des erreurs chez les responsables, les forces révolutionnaires donneront les avertissements nécessaires", a mis en garde le militaire, sans donner plus de précisions.
Cette critique est une entorse aux souhaits de M. Rohani et du guide suprême iranien, Ali Khamenei, qui avaient demandé aux dirigeants de l'armée d'élite du régime iranien de ne pas s'occuper de politique. » | Source AFP | lundi 30 septembre 2013
Am Iran scheiden sich die Geister
Türkei erlaubt Kopftücher für Frauen im Staatsdienst
Verwandt »
Boko Horror: Islamists Storm Dorm, Shoot Sleeping Students in Nigeria
Viewpoint Africa »
Israel on Counter-offensive: Netanyahu Vows to Rebut Iran's 'Sweet Talk'
Reaching Out: Obama's Ambitious Mideast Diplomatic Offensive
The historic moment was carefully choreographed. The foreign ministers of the five permanent member states of the United Nations Security Council, Russia, China, Great Britain, France and the United States, along with Germany, met at 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. After 15 minutes the host, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, called Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif into the recently renovated Security Council Chamber. The Iranians shouldn't feel excluded -- but they shouldn't feel too much a part of the global community either.
Zarif, who lived in New York for many years, dispensed with the usual polite remarks. He said that he didn't want to waste any time, and that much had changed in his country as a result of recent elections. He told the assembled members that his mission was to peacefully resolve the conflict over Iran's nuclear program. He even suggested a timeframe, saying that a compromise could be reached "within a year," and that his country was "determined to make this possible." After his remarks, Zarif met privately with US Secretary of State John Kerry. » | Dieter Bednarz, Matthias Gebauer and Holger Stark | Monday, September 30, 2013
Populists Gain Ground: Austrian Voters Shift to the Right
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| Heinz-Christian Strache, FPÖ |
Austria's governing parties were voted back into office in national elections on Sunday, despite losses and an unmistakable shift to the right in the country.
Preliminary official results show Chancellor Werner Faymann's center-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ) as the strongest in parliament, with 27.1 percent of votes. Its coalition partner, the center-right Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) scored 23.8 percent of the vote.
The right-wing populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) has once again secured its slot as the third biggest party in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, with 21.4 percent of the vote. The party also registered a 3.9 percent increase in votes compared to 2008 elections. The Green Party will be fourth largest, with 11.5 percent of the votes. » | dsl -- with wires | Monday, September 30, 2013
Related video »
Türkische Staatsbedienstete dürfen Kopftuch tragen
Ankara - Der türkische Ministerpräsident Recep Tayyip Erdogan hat angekündigt, das Kopftuchverbot für Frauen im Staatsdienst zu beenden. Das kündigte er am Montag in Ankara an. Richterinnen, Staatsanwältinnen, militärisches Personal und Polizistinnen sind von der neuen Regelung aber ausgenommen.
Zu den Fundamenten der modernen Türkei gehört die Trennung von Staat und Religion, in deren Zusammenhang bisher auch das Kopftuchverbot für Staatsdienerinnen gehörte. » | kaz/heb/dpa/Reuters | Montag, 30. September 2013
Nétanyahou veut mettre en garde Obama contre Rohani
Benyamin Nétanyahou va se livrer lundi à un périlleux exercice d'équilibre diplomatique. Lors de sa rencontre avec Barack 0bama à la Maison-Blanche, son double objectif sera de convaincre le président américain de ne pas se laisser séduire par l'«offensive de charme» menée avec succès par le président iranien, Hassan Rohani, la semaine dernière aux États-Unis, et de maintenir la pression sur Téhéran, y compris par des menaces d'attaques militaires contre les installations nucléaires iraniennes.
Mais Benyamin Nétanyahou doit aussi éviter de donner l'impression de faire la leçon au président américain avec lequel les relations n'ont jamais été très cordiales. Une manœuvre d'autant plus compliquée qu'Israël a perdu un sérieux atout avec le départ de Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, le précédent président iranien, qui servait d'épouvantail avec ses déclarations niant la Shoah et ses appels à la destruction d'Israël. » | Par Marc Henry | dimanche 29 septembre 2013
Benjamin Netanyahu Flies to US in Bid to Block Iran’s Return to Diplomacy
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will tomorrow try to foil Iran’s moves towards rehabilitation in the international community during a speech at the UN General Assembly aimed at reversing the diplomatic and public opinion gains made by the new Iranian president Hassan Rouhani.
In remarks late on Saturday before departing for the United States, where he will meet US President Barack Obama later today, Mr Netanyahu signalled that as far as Israel is concerned, nothing has changed but the rhetoric from the years of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who denied the Holocaust and spoke of Israel’s removal. Above all, Mr Netanyahu will stress that Iran is still intent on attaining a nuclear bomb, something Israel views as an existential threat.
“I will tell the truth in the face of the sweet talk and the blitz of smiles. One must speak facts and one must tell the truth,” Mr. Netanyahu said. » | Ben Lynfield | Jerusalem | Sunday, September 29, 2013
Golden Dawn MP Christos Pappas Surrenders to Greek Police
A Greek MP said to be the second in command of the far-right Golden Dawn party has surrendered after authorities arrested the organisation's leader and other key members on charges of running a criminal gang.
Christos Pappas, the party's parliamentary spokesman and unrepentant holder of many of its most hardline views, handed himself over to police more than 24 hours after an unprecedented crackdown on the neo-fascist group began.
Appearing at Athens's central police headquarters in a taxi, the politician insisted the vehemently anti-immigrant party would "survive … the political persecution" it was being subjected to.
"I present myself voluntarily. I have nothing to hide, nothing to fear," he told reporters waiting outside the building where five other Golden Dawn MPs, including Nikos Michaloliakos, its leader, were taken into custody on Saturday. "The truth will shine. Nationalism will win. We will wage a non-stop political struggle and we will survive."
Like other members who appeared in court in handcuffs hours after their arrest, Pappas faces charges of murder, money laundering, extortion and intent to commit crimes. » | Helena Smith in Athens | Sunday, September 29, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Golden Dawn Supporters Protest Arrests in Greece
Prince Charles Faces Scrutiny by UK MPs
Duchy of Cornwall »
Leaning Right? Far-right Parties On Rise in Europe as Austria Votes
First Food Aid: Starving Portuguese Turn to Charity
New Dark Age Alert! Special Report: The Punishment Was Death by Stoning. The Crime? Having a Mobile Phone
Two months ago, a young mother of two was stoned to death by her relatives on the order of a tribal court in Pakistan. Her crime: possession of a mobile phone.
Arifa Bibi's uncle, cousins and others hurled stones and bricks at her until she died, according to media reports. She was buried in a desert far from her village. It's unlikely anyone was arrested. Her case is not unique. Stoning is legal or practised in at least 15 countries or regions. And campaigners fear this barbaric form of execution may be on the rise, particularly in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Women's rights activists have launched an international campaign for a ban on stoning, which is mostly inflicted on women accused of adultery. They are using Twitter and other social media to put pressure on the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to denounce the practice.
"Stoning is a cruel and hideous punishment. It is a form of torturing someone to death," said Naureen Shameem of the international rights group Women Living Under Muslim Laws. "It is one of the most brutal forms of violence perpetrated against women in order to control and punish their sexuality and basic freedoms." » | Emma Batha | Sunday, September 29, 2013
Blair Force One: Former Prime Minister Rents £30million Private Jet for Globe-trotting at a Cost of £7,000 An Hour
Tony Blair has been spotted globe-trotting in a black and gold jet complete with a state room, lounge and even a kitchen.
The plane is thought to be a top-of-the-range Bombardier Global Express owned by a private businessman which can fly for 13 hours non-stop at 581mph.
It can be rented at a rate of £7,000 an hour, meaning the plane could fly from London to Bangkok - where Mr Blair recently gave a speech - without stopping at a cost of £90,000.
Blair was greeted in Bangkok with protests when it was alleged that the Thai government had paid him £400,000 at attend. The claims have since been denied.
Blair, now multi-millionaire consultant, has also been spotted attending conferences and business engagements in the jet as fair afield as Sardinia and New York state.
Internet plane spotters have also tracked the aircraft to Ukraine, Israel and Switzerland on dates that Blair was due to visit.
Owning a jet has been a longstanding ambition of the former Labour leader who attempted to purchase one at the taxpayer's expense in 2005, until outcry at the £80million costs forced the plan to be shelved.
His high-flying ambitions have since gotten him into trouble when he caught using planes owned by ex-Middle Eastern dictator Colonel Gadaffi between 2008 and 2009. » | Chris Pleasance | Sunday, September 29, 2013
Miss Monde : la beauté triomphe des islamistes
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| Megan Young, Miss Philippines : la nouvelle Miss Monde |
Miss Philippines, Megan Young, a remporté hier le titre de Miss Monde, au cours d'une cérémonie sur l'île indonésienne de Bali placée sous haute protection en raison de l'opposition d'islamistes. La jeune femme à la beauté brune, plus occidentale qu'asiatique, a mis en échec cinq autres finalistes, notamment la Française Marine Lorphelin[.] La station balnéaire huppée de Nusa Dua, dans le sud de Bali, s'était transformée en Fort Knox avec quelque 675 policiers déployés. Les ambassades américaine, britannique et australienne avaient averti leurs ressortissants d'un possible "attentat" contre la compétition, sans plus de précisions. Bali, qui avait été le théâtre en 2002 du pire attentat islamiste qu'ait connu l'Indonésie, avec 202 morts dans une discothèque, craignait la colère des islamistes, qui avaient juré de perturber le concours. » | Karen Lajon - Le Journal du Dimanche | samedi 28 septembre 2013
Zersplitterung der Gesellschaft: Wurzeln des syrischen Bürgerkriegs
Seit Jahrhunderten leben im Gebiet des heutigen Syriens Menschen mit verschiedenen Religionen zusammen. Laut dem syrischen Architekturprofessor Nasser Rabbat, der am Massachusetts Institute of Technology lehrt, hatten sich zahlreiche Religionsgemeinschaften gerade deswegen in Syrien niedergelassen, weil sie sich hier vor den Verfolgungen, die ihnen anderswo widerfahren sind, sicher fühlten. In Syrien trafen griechische, römische und semitische Einflüsse aufeinander. Ausdruck davon ist die religiöse Vielfalt. » | Emanuel Schäublin | Freitag, 17. September 2013
Nigeria Attack: Students Shot Dead As They Slept
The students were shot dead as they slept in their dormitory at the College of Agriculture in Yobe state.
North-eastern Nigeria is under a state of emergency amid an Islamist insurgency by the Boko Haram group.
Boko Haram is fighting to overthrow Nigeria's government to create an Islamic state, and has launched a number of attacks on schools. » | Sunday, September 29, 2013
Women's Rights Supporters Condemn Saudi Arabia as Activists Ordered to Jail
Two prominent female rights activists who went to the aid of a woman they believed to be in distress are expected to go to jail in Saudi Arabia on Sunday after the failure of their appeal against a 10-month prison sentence and a two-year travel ban.
Wajeha al-Huwaider, a writer who has repeatedly defied Saudi laws by driving a car, and Fawzia al-Oyouni were arrested for taking a food parcel to the house of someone they thought was in an abusive relationship. In June they were found guilty on a sharia law charge of takhbib – incitement of a wife to defy the authority of her husband, thus undermining the marriage.
Campaigners say they are "heroes" who have been given heavy sentences to punish them for speaking out against Saudi restrictions on women's rights, which include limited access to education and child marriage as well as not being able to drive or even travel in a car without a male relative being present.
In 2007 a Saudi appeal court doubled a sentence of 90 lashes to be given to a teenager because she had been in a car with a male friend when they were abducted and gang-raped by seven men.
Suad Abu-Dayyeh, an activist for the group Equality Now, said the authorities had been trying to silence the two women for years and their sentence "is unfortunate and scandalous". It marked a dangerous escalation of how far Saudi authorities were willing to go. » | Tracy McVeigh | Sunday, September 29, 2013
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