Muslims in New York City Unite on Push to Add Holidays to School Calendar

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The meeting opened with a pledge from the podium to try to end, God willing, by the hour of the evening prayer. Clusters of colorfully veiled women kept watch over jittery young children. Rows of men conversed in a jangle of languages.

They were Muslims from Bosnia and Montenegro, Egypt and Syria, Pakistan and Bangladesh — several hundred in all.

It was a gathering remarkable in its diversity from among New York City’s Muslims, a growing group whose members often find it difficult to work together politically because of differences in national origin, language, sect and class. But a single issue has managed to unify them: the push to close the city’s public schools for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, the most sacred Muslim holidays.

The issue might seem of modest importance alongside deeper concerns among many Muslims in the city, including the Police Department’s monitoring of their community since the Sept. 11 attacks. But the rally, held recently in a public school auditorium in Queens and organized in barely a week’s time, was a testament to how the city’s Muslim community is gaining a measure of political confidence. » | Sharon Otterman | Thursday, April 17, 2014

Penny Pinching Prince? Britain's Charles Won't Share Riches with Public

Prince Charles is a member of one of the richest monarchies in the world but he faces questions for being penny-pinching. His private income from a swathe of inherited land and laws rakes in a tidy sum. Polly Boiko reports on calls to share the money with the public who pay for it.

Islam Fastest-growing Religion in UK as Churches Decline

While Christian Churches in the UK are struggling to draw people to worship, the Islamic community there is burgeoning. Some Muslim groups are doing all they can to counter fears the rapid growth is a challenge to British traditions.

New Dark Age Alert! Jews, Christians, Atheists & the Khilafah

Ibrahim Hewitt: My Journey to Islam

Related »

Private School Chief Linked to Islam Trojan Horse Plot Says: Stone All Adulterers to Death

Ibrahim Hewitt, chairman of Al-Aqsa school,
said that all adulterers should be stoned to death
and fornication should be punished with 100 lashes

MAIL ON SUNDAY: Fees at the school where boys and girls are segregated are £1,800 / School chairman claims fornication should be punished with 100 lashes / Ibrahim Hewitt runs the controversial Leicester school with his wife Adeba

A Muslim hardliner who says adulterers should be stoned to death and that gay men and fornicators should be lashed 100 times has set up an Islamic school that has received almost £1million of taxpayers’ money.

Ibrahim Hewitt, one of Britain’s most prominent Islamic firebrands – who also heads a charity branded a ‘terrorist’ organisation by the US – is the founder and chairman of trustees of the Al-Aqsa school in Leicester, which teaches 250 boys and girls aged between three and 11.

He has vilified homosexuals as paedophiles and said a man can take on a second wife if his first fails to satisfy him sexually. Mr Hewitt has published his views in a book on Islam, which he claims has sold more than 50,000 copies in Britain.

The preacher is the founder of another controversial organisation called the Association of Muslim Schools (AMS), whose leader has been accused of orchestrating a plot in Birmingham called ‘Operation Trojan Horse’ in which Islamic extremists have allegedly taken over 25 state schools in the city. » | Tom Worden and Abul Taher | Sunday, April 20, 2014

Ibrahim Hewitt: What does Islam say? »

Son of Distributor of Anti-Islam Film Fitna Accepts Islam

Iskander with his father, Arnoud.

KHALEEJ TIMES: Arnoud van Doorn's son, Iskander Amien De Vrie, was one of the 37 people who converted to Islam during the Dubai International Peace Convention.

The son of Arnoud van Doorn, the famous Dutch policy maker and distributor of an anti-Islam film Fitna that caused unrest in 2008, surprised the audiences at the three-day Dubai International Peace Convention by 
embracing Islam.

Arnoud’s son, Iskander Amien De Vrie, was one of the 37 people who converted to Islam during the convention.

“I bear witness that there is no God to be worshipped but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is his worshipper and last messenger,” said Iskander in his Shahadah (testimony) to become a Muslim.

…

“I saw my father become more peaceful after converting to Islam. That’s when I realised there is something good in this religion and it made me change my perception of Muslims. I started studying the Holy Quran and going through lectures of important scholars,” said Iskander in an interview with Khaleej Times. » | Muaz Shabandri | Monday, April 21, 2014

David Cameron ‘Fuelling Sectarian Division by Bringing God into Politics'

David Cameron bringing God into politics.

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Dozens of public figures accuse David Cameron of fostering alienation and division with call to view Britain as a Christian country

David Cameron is sowing sectarianism and division by insisting that Britain is still a “Christian country” an alliance of writers, scientists, philo[oso]phers and politicians has claimed.

In a letter to The Telegraph, 55 public figures from a range of political backgrounds accuse him of fostering “alienation” and actively harming society by repeatedly emphasising Christianity.

The group, which includes writers such as Philip Pullman and Sir Terry Pratchett, Nobel Prize winning scientists, prominent broadcasters and even some comedians argue that members of the elected Government have no right to “actively prioritise” religion or any particular faith.

It comes after a series of public statements in which Mr Cameron has been increasingly vocal about his own faith.

Last week, in an article for the Church Times, the Prime Minister said Britain should be unashamedly “evangelical” about its Christianity. » | John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor | Sunday, April 20, 2014

NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’: Ukraine’s PM Yatsenyuk: ‘Putin Trying to Restore the Soviet Union’

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Worlds Apart: Oksana Interviews Saudi Expert, Dr. David Weinberg (March 2014)

US-Saudi relations have long been grounded in an oil-for-security exchange. But with U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil diminishing and Saudi power rising, is there a growing gulf in the Gulf? Has the US spat with Russia affected this relationship, and could it lead to a change in the Syrian deadlock? Oksana is joined by Dr David Weinberg, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, to drill into these issues.

Worlds Apart: Robert Spencer, Jihad Watch Director Interviewed by Oksana about Islamic Terror and the Jihad

A recent US report blamed Russia for the failure to prevent the Boston Marathon bombing, despite multiple warnings given to US authorities. And while the need for a foreign scapegoat is clear, perhaps the blame lies closer to home. What's fueling the global Jihad? Is it US foreign policy or Islam itself? Oksana is joined by Robert Spencer, an author and director of Jihad Watch, to untangle these issues.

Happy Easter! Joyeuses Pâques! Frohe Ostern! Buona Pasqua! ¡Felices Pascuas! Pasg Hapus!

Wishing all my visitors, followers, and Twitter followers a very Blessed and HAPPY EASTER. – Mark

Le pape exhorte à porter la foi «à tous»

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Samedi soir lors de la veillée pascale à Rome, le pape François a appelé les catholiques à porter la foi «jusqu'aux confins de la Terre».

Le pape François a appelé les catholiques à porter la foi «jusqu'aux confins de la Terre», samedi soir lors de la veillée pascale dans la basilique Saint-Pierre à Rome. Lors de son homélie, il a affirmé que Pâques signifie «puiser une énergie nouvelle à la racine de notre foi».

Son message rappelait son souhait répété d'une Eglise catholique plus proche des gens ordinaires, plus internationale et moins auto-centrée sur le Vatican. François a ainsi appelé les fidèles à devenir des «témoins» de la résurrection du Christ. » | Samedi 19 avril 2014

Abba: Under Attack

Islamist Plot: Six Schools Face Ofsted Special Measures

Four of the Birmingham schools at the centre of an alleged
Islamic takeover plot.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Six schools implicated in the so-called 'Trojan Horse' plot by extremists to 'Islamise' secular state education face being placed in special measures

At least six Birmingham schools at the centre of an alleged Islamic takeover plot are set to be placed in “special measures” by Ofsted in a move that could see their entire leadership removed.

The six schools are implicated in the so-called “Trojan Horse” plot by extremists to “Islamise” secular state education in Birmingham which has allegedly seen the illegal segregation of pupils and discrimination against non-Muslim pupils.

The Telegraph understands the six will be rated “inadequate” by the schools inspectorate after a series of snap inspections over the past few weeks.

The label usually leads to “special measures”, which in turn give Ofsted the power to remove senior managers or even close the schools.

Ofsted will also take action, although less drastic, at a further nine schools in the city where the attempted Islamic takeover is less advanced, or where secular head teachers are resisting it. Read on and comment » | Andrew Gilligan | Saturday, April 19, 2014

Abba: I Have A Dream

The Queen at 88: Healthy, Happy, Witty and Wise

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As Her Majesty celebrates her 88th birthday, the Queen seems to be enjoying her life more than ever

The Queen will be 88 on Monday. Long live the Queen! That’s what we want and, happily, having seen Her Majesty at close quarters this week, I reckon that’s what we are going to get.

Indeed, the actress Angela Lansbury, also 88, who came face to face with the Queen when she collected her DBE this week, tells me: “She’s clearly fighting fit. She has that incredible stamina and that flawless complexion. She’s a marvel.” It takes one remarkable old trouper to recognise another.

The late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother lived to be 101, and there is no reason to think that the Queen – with a better diet and more vigorous lifestyle – won’t live even longer. On September 11 next year, Elizabeth II is set to outlast Queen Victoria by becoming the longest-reigning monarch in our history.

And the Queen, as she approaches her 10th decade, is a lot busier than her great-great-grandmother ever was. This month alone she has hosted an assortment of receptions and dinner parties, unveiled plaques, greeted ambassadors, saluted sea cadets, flown to Rome for lunch with the Italian president and to meet the new Pope, and hosted a three-day state visit by the President of Ireland. » | Gyles Brandreth | Saturday, April 19, 2014

Abba: Super Trouper

‪Abba‪: Thank You For The Music‬

China On Course to Become 'World's Most Christian Nation' within 15 Years

Christian congregations in particular have skyrocketed since
churches began re-opening when Chairman Mao's death in
1976 signalled the end of the Cultural Revolution.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The number of Christians in Communist China is growing so steadily that it by 2030 it could have more churchgoers than America

It is said to be China's biggest church and on Easter Sunday thousands of worshippers will flock to this Asian mega-temple to pledge their allegiance – not to the Communist Party, but to the Cross.

The 5,000-capacity Liushi church, which boasts more than twice as many seats as Westminster Abbey and a 206ft crucifix that can be seen for miles around, opened last year with one theologian declaring it a "miracle that such a small town was able to build such a grand church".

The £8 million building is also one of the most visible symbols of Communist China's breakneck conversion as it evolves into one of the largest Christian congregations on earth.

"It is a wonderful thing to be a follower of Jesus Christ. It gives us great confidence," beamed Jin Hongxin, a 40-year-old visitor who was admiring the golden cross above Liushi's altar in the lead up to Holy Week.

"If everyone in China believed in Jesus then we would have no more need for police stations. There would be no more bad people and therefore no more crime," she added. Read on and comment » | Tom Phillips, Liushi, Zhejiang province | Saturday, April 19, 2014

My comment:

What better could the Christian world wish for than for the Chinese to turn en masse to our Lord Jesus Christ? He has been a wonderful, civilising influence on mankind/humankind for 2,000+ years. Long may His influence continue! – © Mark

This comment appears here too.

Non-Muslim Bruneians Can’t Drink in Public Abroad

BORNEO BULLETIN: ALCOHOL consumption in the public by non-Muslim citizens and/or permanent residents during their time abroad would be punishable under the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction of the Syariah Penal Code Order 2013, which will be implemented in Brunei on April 22. This was made clear by the panel of speakers at the Syariah Briefing conducted especially for the International Students Association in Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) yesterday.

However, it was said that for crimes that fall under the Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction in Chapter 184 of the Syariah Penal Code of 2013, “It is not the local authorities’ responsibility to go to every other country in the hope of keeping tabs of these misconducts committed by citizens and permanent residents of Brunei”, essentially clarifying that those who have committed such crimes will be charged should a complaint be made against them by the nation’s citizens or permanent residents for their public alcohol consumption in countries outside of Brunei.

In relation to that, it was clarified at the briefing that private alcohol consumption among non-Muslims is not a crime, be it in or out of the country.

Another most sought after clarification at the briefing was that of adultery, and what circumstances would qualify for the act to be fully punishable under the penal code. In the briefing, the panel of speakers clarified that circumstantial evidence will not suffice to fully prosecute an individual for the crime of adultery, thus giving an exemplary scenario in which four male witnesses would be present to testify against the adulterers. “Unless these four male witnesses can provide proof of penetration, the accused individuals will not be charged with adultery,” they said. » | Khal Baharulalam | Thursday, April 17, 2014

New Dark Age Alert! Campaigners Warn of 'Breast Ironing' in the UK

While attention is finally turning to FGM, campaigners warn that breast ironing, which involves placing hot objects on girls' chests, is also happening in the UK. Channel 4 News speaks to one victim.

Read the Channel 4 article here | Friday, April 18, 2014

A Weak Establishment Is Letting Islamists Threaten British Freedoms

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Birmingham council and police must do all they can to uncover extremist subversion in the city's schools. All Islamist schools of thought are hostile to democracy

Sunday is Easter Day, but the pupils of 25 or so state schools in Birmingham probably do not know what that means for Christians. Argument rages about Islamist infiltration of these schools, and the exclusion of non-Muslim beliefs that results. There is an apparent plot by Muslim extremists to get their people into school governorships and install like-minded heads. This week, Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, boldly appointed Peter Clarke, a former senior policeman, as his commissioner to look into the whole thing. » | Charles Moore | Friday, April 18, 2014 (Good Friday)

My comment:

"A weak establishment is letting Islamists threaten British freedoms" – Charles Moore

I, and many others, have been saying this for aeons. But we have been shouted down for being Islamophobic. But it is very refreshing indeed that MSM journalists, especially journalists of such repute as Charles Moore, are at last having the courage to say what we have been saying for so long.

Tony Blair made a very big mistake to encourage the proliferation of such faith schools. Faith schools, as long as they were CofE or even Jewish schools, were pretty benign, and offered some excellent educational opportunities to our young people. But Islamic schools are a very different story. Islamic schools are subversive and exclusive. They do not foster broad thought, and encourage pupils to have a feeling of superiority. Further, they discourage integration of pupils into the mainstream of society, to say nothing of their effects on girls' education. These schools need to be monitored and their negative effects checked constantly; and if necessary, they should be closed down. – © Mark

This comment appears here too.

People & Power: Algeria: The Revolution That Never Was

Does 'progressive leadership' or something more complex and sinister explain why Algeria's 'Spring' never materialised?

Bible Prophecy and the Coming Muslim Anti-Christ

The Christian Bible and Christian Bible Prophecy predict that in the end times the Antichrist, a beast, an dreaded evil man, more evil than any who ever walked the earth in history, will be thrust upon the world scene, and that billions of people on planet earth will die between natural cataclysms and those killed by the Antichrist--including gruesome beheadings for those who refuse to bow to his religious-government system.

Millions of American evangelicals believe that the Antichrist will rise from Europe from a 'born again' Roman Empire, as depicted in the immensely popular Left Behind book series.

But what most people don't know is that the Muslim Bible and Islamic Prophecy also predicts the coming of a person fitting nearly that identical description: The Madhi, the Muslim Messiah! How can this be?

Walid Shoebat is a scholar of both Islamic and Christian religions and he does not believe the Antichrist will rise from Europe. Rather, he teaches in this video that the Antichrist will arise from Turkey in resurgence of the Ottoman Empire.


Walid Shoebat »

Douglas Murray – Islam Has Failed Europe

George Galloway | The State of Britain | Oxford Union (October 2013)

David Cameron Says Christians Should Be 'More Evangelical'

David Cameron: Christians should be 'more evangelical' about their faith

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: David Cameron says that in a secular age Christians should be even 'more evangelical' about their faith and says he has felt the 'healing power' of the Church.

Christians should be "more evangelical" about their faith and "get out there and make a difference to people's lives", David Cameron has said.

In his strongest intervention on religion to date, Mr Cameron said that in an increasingly "secular age" Christians need to be even "more confident" and "ambitious".

He said that he has personally felt the "healing power" of the Church of England's pastoral care and highlighted its role in "improving our society and the education of our children".

He said he wants to "infuse politics" with Christian "ideals and values" such as "responsibility, hard work, charity, compassion, humility and love".

Mr Cameron's comments go significantly further than his previous comments on his faith, when he said that his belief in God is a "bit like the reception for Magic FM in the Chilterns: it sort of comes and goes". » | Steven Swinford, Senior Political Correspondent | Wednesday, April 16, 2014

The US Is An Oligarchy, Study Concludes

Researchers concluded that US government policies rarely
align with the preferences of the majority of Americans

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Report by researchers from Princeton and Northwestern universities suggests that US political system serves special interest organisations, instead of voters

The US government does not represent the interests of the majority of the country's citizens, but is instead ruled by those of the rich and powerful, a new study from Princeton and Northwestern Universities has concluded.

The report, entitled Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens, used extensive policy data collected from between the years of 1981 and 2002 to empirically determine the state of the US political system.

After sifting through nearly 1,800 US policies enacted in that period and comparing them to the expressed preferences of average Americans (50th percentile of income), affluent Americans (90th percentile) and large special interests groups, researchers concluded that the United States is dominated by its economic elite. Read on and comment » | Zachary Davies Boren | Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Is Putin Making President Obama Look Weak?

Apr. 15, 2014 - 4:14 - Ukraine military clashes with pro-Russia militants; takes back airport

Documentary: Margaret & Denis

Prince Charles Turned His Back on Sir Salman Rushdie over The Satanic Verses 'Because He Thought Book Was Offensive to Muslims'

THE INDEPENDENT: Revelations made by author Martin Amis

Prince Charles turned his back on Sir Salman Rushdie during his fatwa over publication of The Satanic Verses because he thought the book was offensive to Muslims, it has been claimed.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, the author Martin Amis claims that the Prince’s views caused a row at a dinner party after Rushdie was issued with the death sentence by Islamic clerics in 1989. Amis claims that Charles told him that he would not offer support “if someone insults someone else’s deepest convictions”.

Amis attempted to remonstrate with him, but the Prince offered little beyond insisting he would “take it on board”. Rushdie went into hiding for a decade after Iran's late spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa in 1989 calling for the author's assassination. » | Kunal Dutta | Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Iran Considers Ban on Vasectomies in Drive to Boost Birthrate

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

THE GUARDIAN: Supreme leader sees family planning policy as an imitation of western lifestyle and aims to double Iran's population

Iran's parliament is seeking a ban on vasectomies and a tightening of abortion rules as the country moves away from its progressive laws on family planning in an attempt to increase the birthrate.

Two decades after Iran initiated an effective birth control programme, including subsidised male sterilisation surgeries and free condom distribution, the country is to make a U-turn.

Last year the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, criticised existing policy on contraception, describing it as an imitation of western lifestyle.

The 74-year-old has urged the government to tackle what he believes to be an ageing population and to double the number of people in Iran from 77 million to at least 150 million.

This week Tehran's conservative-dominated parliament, the Majlis, voted to discuss banning vasectomies and introducing punishments for those involved in encouraging contraceptive services and abortions, local agencies reported. » | Saeed Kamali Dehghan | Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Margaret Thatcher: Feisty Interview 1995

One Resolute, Determined, Feisty Lady! Margaret Thatcher – The Walden Interview 29/10/1989

Margaret Thatcher appearing for interview on 'The Walden Interview' following the controversial resignation of her Chancellor Nigel Lawson.

The First part of the interview is non political and demonstrates excellent interview technique under pressure. Regardless of your political beliefs you have to admire her composure.

President Obama Stoking Resentment?

Apr. 14, 2014 - 5:00 - Bernie Goldberg weighs in

President Obama and Stoking Resentments » | Bernard Goldberg | Sunday, April 13, 2014

Barack Obama & The White House: Playing the Race Card to Deflect Criticism

Apr. 14, 2014 - 6:07 - Dr. Ben Carson on the Obama administration playing the race card

How the Media Protects President Obama

Apr. 11, 2014 - 4:34 - Howard Kurtz on why the media covers for the President

Feindbild Islam – Wird die Angst zum Hass?

Religionsfreiheit in Salzburg – Islam in Österreich

Ukraine Crisis: Obama Warns Putin That Moscow Faces Further Action

THE GUARDIAN: Presidents clash in tense telephone call as armed separatists seize more buildings in eastern Ukraine

Barack Obama has told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a tense phone call that Moscow would face further costs for its actions in Ukraine and should use its influence to get separatists in the country to stand down.

Armed pro-Russian separatists seized more buildings in eastern Ukraine earlier in the day, expanding their control after the government failed to follow through on a threatened military crackdown.

In a call on Monday night that the White House said Moscow requested, the US president told Putin that those forces were threatening to undermine and destabilise the government in Kiev.

"The president emphasised that all irregular forces in the country need to lay down their arms, and he urged president Putin to use his influence with these armed, pro-Russian groups to convince them to depart the buildings they have seized," the White House said in a statement. » | Reuters | Tuesday, April 15, 2014

BBC Whitewash? Trojan Horse: 25 Schools Probed Over Alleged Takeover Plot

BBC: An investigation into an alleged hard-line Islamist takeover plot of Birmingham schools has widened, with 25 schools now under the spotlight.

Birmingham City Council said it had received more than 200 reports in relation to its inquiry.

It has appointed former head teacher Ian Kershaw as its chief advisor.

Anonymous claims hard-line Muslims were trying to take over the running of some city schools were made in a letter sent to local authorities last year.

The 25 schools now being looked at include primaries, secondaries and academies.

The 200-plus reports to the council include emails and calls from staff, parents and governors. (+ BBC video) » | Monday, April 14, 2014

Margaret Thatcher: Death of a Revolutionary

A documentary about the late former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, which could be criticised for being an uncritical hommage rather than a balanced view of her premiership. Most of the negative impacts caused by the fundamental changes she brought to Britain have been "elegantly" omitted, but her motives, her basic believes, her encouraging message and everything positive she stood for are beautifully summarised and one understands why despite her errors and some misjudgement she could be praised as a great and visionary politician who not only changed Britain for the better (on balance) but had an influence on the world like few other politicians can claim.

A Channel 4 documentary by Martin Durkin with contributions by Kenneth Baker, Cecil Parkinson, Neil Kinnock, Kelvin MacKenzie, Norman Tebbit, Bernard Ingham, Charles Powell, Nigel Lawson and David Cameron.

Dead Swedes Provide Home Heating for the Living

A crematorium in Stockholm is helping people in the city keep warm - by burning dead residents. Environmentalists hail it as a progressive way of generating energy. And as RT's Paul Scott reports, the idea is catching on.

Ukraine : l'UE élargit la liste des sanctions ciblées

LE POINT: Bruxelles a décidé lundi d'élargir la liste des personnalités russes et ukrainiennes pro-russes sous le coup de sanctions, a annoncé Catherine Ashton.

L'Union européenne a décidé lundi d'allonger la liste des Russes et des Ukrainiens pro-russes visés par des sanctions ciblées, mettant directement en cause la Russie pour "l'escalade" de la situation dans l'est de l'Ukraine. Réunis à Luxembourg, les ministres des Affaires étrangères ont insisté sur "l'importance décisive" de la réunion prévue pour jeudi à Genève entre Ukrainiens, Russes, Américains et Européens.

"Il est crucial que la Russie et l'Ukraine s'engagent dans un dialogue utile" pour "lancer le processus de désescalade", a déclaré Catherine Ashton, qui dirige la diplomatie européenne. Si, à l'issue de la rencontre de Genève, une extrême tension devait persister dans l'est de l'Ukraine, les Européens pourraient décider de passer à la "phase 3" des sanctions, celles d'ordre économique, susceptibles de frapper plus durement la Russie. » | Source AFP | lundi 14 avril 2014

Israel: Lieberman enthüllt Geheimgespräche mit arabischen Staaten

Außenminister Avigdor Lieberman: "Sie haben mein Wort"

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Avigdor Lieberman hetzt gerne gegen Araber. Umso überraschender sind die jüngsten Äußerungen des israelischen Außenministers. Seine Regierung führe Geheimverhandlungen mit Saudi-Arabien und Kuwait. Das Ziel ist die Aufnahme diplomatischer Beziehungen.

Jerusalem - Israels Außenminister Avigdor Lieberman hat erstmals bestätigt, dass seine Regierung Geheimgespräche mit verfeindeten arabischen Staaten führt, unter ihnen Saudi-Arabien und Kuwait. Ziel der Verhandlungen sei die Normalisierung der Beziehungen und die Aufnahme diplomatischer Kontakte, sagte Lieberman der Zeitung "Jediot Acharonot".

Grundlage der Gespräche seien die gemeinsame Furcht vor der wachsenden Stärke Irans und die Bedrohung durch islamistischen Extremismus, sagte der israelische Außenminister weiter. "Erstmals verstehen die Araber, dass nicht Israel oder die Juden oder der Zionismus die Bedrohung sind - sondern Iran, der weltweite Dschihad, die Hisbollah und al-Qaida", so Lieberman. » | syd/Reuters | Montag, 14. April 2014

Türkei: Erdogan plant Sondergefängnis für Homosexuelle

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Die Regierung in Ankara spricht von "Schutz der Verurteilten": Inhaftierte Schwule, Lesben und Transsexuelle sollen in der Türkei künftig in einem speziellen Gefängnis untergebracht werden. Die Opposition ist empört.

Ankara - Die türkische Regierung von Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan sorgt mit einem neuen Vorhaben für Aufsehen: Justizminister Bekir Bozdag hat bekanntgegeben, dass Ankara den Bau eines Sondergefängnisses plane, in dem ausschließlich Homosexuelle untergebracht werden sollen.

Ziel der Trennung sei der "Schutz der Verurteilten", sagte der Minister auf Anfrage eines Oppositionsabgeordneten. Fortan müsse jeder Gefangene bei Haftantritt seine sexuelle Orientierung angeben. Insassen, die bei Haftantritt erklären, homosexuell zu sein, sollen künftig in einem eigenen Knast eingesperrt werden. » | syd/dpa | Montag, 14. April 2014