THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nazi Auschwitz camp officer, 93, to face trial over 300,000 deaths » | AFP | Monday, February 02, 2015
Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Oskar Gröning – German SS-Private at Auschwitz – MSG to Holocaust Deniers
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nazi Auschwitz camp officer, 93, to face trial over 300,000 deaths » | AFP | Monday, February 02, 2015
Anti-Islamist Pegida Group Holds First March in Austria
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| Only a few hundred people attended Pegida's first rally in Vienna, observers say. |
But while rallies in Germany have often attracted more than 20,000 people in recent weeks, only a few hundred took part in Monday's rally in Vienna.
They found themselves outnumbered by police - and even more so by about 5,000 people who had gathered for a counter-demonstration.
Austria is the latest European country to see anti-Islamisation protests.
Supporters of Pegida gathered in a square in central Vienna's shouting "We are the people", the BBC's Bethany Bell reports.
Some gave Nazi salutes while riot police separated them from rival protesters changing "down with Pegida". » | Monday, February 2015
Monday, February 02, 2015
Iceland to Build First Temple to Norse Gods in 1,000 Years
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| The high priest of the Asatru Association Hilmarsson leads a procession of Asatru Association at Pingblot |
Icelanders will soon be able to publicly worship at a shrine to Thor, Odin and Frigg with construction starting this month on the island's first major temple to the Norse gods since the Viking age.
Worship of the gods in Scandinavia gave way to Christianity around 1,000 years ago but a modern version of Norse paganism has been gaining popularity in Iceland.
"I don't believe anyone believes in a one-eyed man who is riding about on a horse with eight feet," said Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson, high priest of 'Asatruarfelagid', an association that promotes faith in the Norse gods.
"We see the stories as poetic metaphors and a manifestation of the forces of nature and human psychology." » | Reuters | Monday, February 02, 2015
Anne Will | Die Glaubensfrage - Gehört der Islam zu Deutschland? | 28.01.2015
Mitten in der aufgeheizten Diskussion um die Pegida-Bewegung hat Kanzlerin Angela Merkel mit der Äußerung, der Islam gehöre zu Deutschland, Kritik aus den eigenen Reihen geerntet.
Brokered It & Broke It: Obama on Kiev Deal That Paved Path to Bloodshed
Ex-State Dept Executive: US Leadership Is Inept & Incompetent, Including President
Gorbachev Warns Ukraine Could Ignite World War III
Gorbachev made his comments as fighting escalated in Ukraine between forces directed by the US- and European Union-backed government in Kiev and pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Donbass region.
“Plainly speaking, the US has already dragged us into a new Cold War, trying to openly implement its idea of triumphalism,” the former Soviet leader told Interfax. “What’s next? Unfortunately, I cannot be sure that the Cold War will not bring about a ‘hot’ one. I’m afraid [the United States] might take the risk.”
He criticized the US and the EU for continuing to press for more economic sanctions against Russia. “All we hear from the US and the EU now is sanctions against Russia,” he continued. “Are they completely out of their minds? The US has been totally ‘lost in the jungle’ and is dragging us there as well.” » | Niles Williamson | Saturday, January 31, 2015
Der IS-Terror erreicht Japan
Die Japaner leben in einem der sichersten Länder der Welt. Doch die mutmassliche Tötung zweier japanischer Geiseln durch die Terrormiliz Islamischer Staat lässt sie nun direkt eine der grössten Bedrohungen weltweit spüren. Die Videonachricht der Extremisten über die mutmassliche Enthauptung des Journalisten Kenji Goto wirkte wie ein Schock.
Eine erste japanische Geisel - Haruna Yukawa - soll vom IS bereits vergangene Woche hingerichtet worden sein. Verhandlungen über ein Lösegeld und einen Gefangenenaustausch, um die Leben der beiden Japaner zu retten, waren ohne Erfolg geblieben. » | Von Ken Moritsugu | AP | Sonntag, 01. Februar 2015
They Can’t Stop Keeping On, Can They? Smokefree Zones Trialled In Bristol
Two city squares will become Britain's first major public outdoor spaces to go smokefree when a voluntary pilot launches today.
The initiative will come into effect in Millennium Square and Anchor Square - both popular with families - on Bristol's harbourside.
It follows a major report last year by former health minister Lord Darzi which suggested that London and other UK cities should ban smoking in public spaces and parks.
Cities including New York, Toronto and Hong Kong have already banned smoking in key outdoor locations but Bristol is the UK's first to pilot smokefree zones. » | Press Association | Monday, February 02, 2015
The True Nature of Islam: Cathy Newman 'Ushered Out of Mosque' on National Open Day
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| Cathy Newman, the Channel 4 News presenter |
Cathy Newman, the Channel 4 News presenter, was ushered out of a London mosque, despite being “respectfully” dressed on Visit My Mosque Day, she has revealed.
The journalist expressed surprise that she had been turned away and explained that she was there to mark the nationwide event organized by The Muslim Council of Britain.
She revealed on Twitter that she had later been given a “warm welcome” at another mosque nearby.
A number of mosques across the country have opened their doors to the general public for Visit My Mosque Day. » | Victoria Ward | Sunday, February 01, 2015
Sunday, February 01, 2015
L'Etat islamique appelle à de nouvelles attaques
Nouvelles menaces contre les pays occidentaux. "Nous appelons les musulmans en Europe et dans l'Occident infidèle à attaquer les croisés où qu'ils soient (...) nous promettons aux bastions chrétiens qu'ils continueront de vivre dans un état de terreur, de peur et d'insécurité", a affirmé Abou Mohammad al-Adnani, porte-parole de l'EI dans un message audio diffusé sur internet. "Vous n'avez encore rien vu", a-t-il prévenu. » | AFP – leJDD.fr | lundi 26 janvier 2015
Islamfeinde in Österreich: Wien rüstet sich für Marsch des Pegida-Ablegers
München/Wien - Für die Polizei in Wien wird es der zweite Großeinsatz binnen weniger Tage: 1000 Beamte sollen am Montagabend für Sicherheit sorgen, wenn der österreichische Ableger der islamfeindlichen Pegida-Bewegung seinen "ersten Spaziergang" veranstalten will.
Die Organisatoren versprechen eine friedliche und sichere Veranstaltung, doch die Behörden sind alarmiert. Erst vergangenen Freitag war es in der Stadt zu Krawallen gekommen: Eine zunächst friedliche Gegendemonstration gegen den von der rechtspopulistischen FPÖ organisierten Akademikerball mündete in Auseinandersetzungen zwischen linken Aktivisten und Polizisten. Mehrere Beamte erlitten Verletzungen, insgesamt waren 2500 Sicherheitskräfte im Einsatz. Auch gegen den Pegida-Marsch am Montag ist eine Gegendemonstration angemeldet.
Während die Anti-Islam-Bewegung sich in Deutschland derzeit selbst zerlegt, versucht sie sich in Österreich zu etablieren. In einem Positionspapier spricht sich Pegida Wien unter anderem für einen Stopp der "Massenmigration nach Europa" und für ein "Asyl nur auf Zeit" aus. Zudem fordert Pegida Wien, das Asylrecht langfristig auf den jeweiligen Kontinent zu beschränken. » | Von Björn Hengst | Sonntag, 01. Februar 2015
Unconvincing, Mr. President! Obama Says Terrorists Not Motivated by True Islam
“I think that for us to be successful in fighting this scourge, it’s very important for us to align ourselves with the 99.9 percent of Muslims who are looking for the same thing we’re looking for: order, peace, prosperity,” Mr. Obama said on CNN. “And so I don’t quibble with labels.” » | Dave Boyer | The Washington Times | Sunday, February 01, 2015
Japan Outraged at IS 'Beheading' of Hostage Kenji Goto
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| Kenji Goto, pictured in October 2014, is a well-known freelance journalist and filmmaker |
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan "would not give in to terrorism" and that he would expand his support to countries fighting IS.
IS has cited Japanese aid as a reason for the hostage taking. The video comes less than a week after the apparent beheading of another Japanese man, Haruna Yukawa.
Mr Goto, 47, a respected journalist known for his work covering the suffering of civilians in war zones, went to Syria in October, reportedly to try to secure Mr Yukawa's release.
The video, which has all the hallmarks of previous IS propaganda videos, has not been authenticated, but Japanese officials believe it is genuine. » | Sunday, February 01, 2015
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Pour un chef d'al-Qaida, la France est devenue l'ennemi numéro un de l'islam
Avec l'"affaiblissement" des États-Unis ces dernières années, "la France a remplacé l'Amérique dans sa guerre contre l'islam", a déclaré un chef d'al-Qaida dans la péninsule arabique (Aqpa), Ibrahim al-Rubaish, dans un enregistrement audio diffusé vendredi par la branche médiatique d'Aqpa, Al-Malahem, sur YouTube. Aqpa, considérée comme la branche la plus active et la plus dangereuse d'al-Qaida par Washington, avait revendiqué à la mi-janvier l'attaque à Paris contre le journal français Charlie Hebdo qui a fait 12 morts. » | Source AFP | vendredi 30 janvier 2015
Resentment Grows between Christians and Muslims in France
Compulsory Income Tax on Christians Drives Germans away from Protestant and Catholic Churches
Hundreds of thousands of German Christians are formally renouncing their faith and leaving the church in order to escape a controversial change in the tax laws.
Up to 200,000 Germans are believed to have filed official declarations last year renouncing their membership of the Protestant church, the highest number in almost two decades. A similar number are thought to have left the Catholic Church.
Church members in Germany are required by law to pay tax to fund church activities, which is collected by the government.
Under German law, anyone who was baptised as a child is automatically a member of the church and obliged to pay the tax, charged as a percentage of their income, regardless of their beliefs or whether they attend church services.
Until recently, many Christians have been prepared to pay the extra tax for the benefits it brings them, including access to church schools and day care facilities that are funded by the state.
But the only way out of paying the tax is to make a formal declaration renouncing your membership of the church – and there is a government fee for this as well. » | Justin Huggler in Berlin | Friday, January 30, 2015
Friday, January 30, 2015
Hollande en Hitler dans un journal marocain : «Consternant», selon le Quai d'Orsay
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| Al Watan Al Ane, un magazine arabophone marocain, a grimé le président de la République française en Adolph Hitler en Une de sa dernière édition du 29 janvier. DR |
C'est l'image qui tombe au plus mal alors que les relations entre Rabat et Paris tentent de se réchauffer après une année de couacs entre les deux pays. Al Watan Al Ane, un magazine arabophone marocain, tiré à quelques milliers d'exemplaires, a grimé le président de la République française en Adolf Hitler en Une de sa dernière édition du 29 janvier.
Soit deux jours après la commémoration des 70 ans de la libération de camp d'Auschwitz, en présence de François Hollande.
Tout y est ou presque : la petite moustache que portait le dictateur nazi, la tenue brune, le brassard floqué d'une croix gammée. Ne manque que la raie plaquée sur le côté. La photo est accompagné du titre suivant : « Les Français vont-ils faire renaître les camps de concentration d’Hitler pour exterminer les musulmans ? » » | R.B et S.Ld | vendredi 30 janvier 2015
Canada PM Harper Calls for Expanded Terror Laws
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| "Violent jihadism is not a human right," Stephen Harper said. "It is an act of war." |
The measure will also expand the powers of the country's spy agency, allowing it to take direct action to stop attacks.
Work began on the bill after two attacks days apart last year. It is expected to be passed by Mr Harper's Conservative majority in Parliament.
Under current law it is a crime to make a specific threat. The new measure would make it crime to call for a terror attack against the country or Canadians generally, including online.
"We cannot tolerate this any more than we tolerate people that make jokes about bomb threats at airports," Mr Harper said.
"Anyone engaging in that kind of activity is going to face the full force of the law in the future."
The maximum prison sentence for those convicted under the new measure would be five years. » | Friday, January 30, 2015
Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi Flogging Postponed Second Time
No reason has been given, but last week Mr Badawi was reported to be physically unfit to face the penalty after receiving the first flogging. He was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for insulting Islam.
Raif Badawi's punishment has caused international outcry. Last week the case was referred to the Supreme Court by the then-King Abdullah's office.
A decree by the new Saudi King Salman has pardoned what are described as "public right" prisoners, which could eventually include Mr Badawi.
A Saudi rights activist and lawyer, Suad al-Shammary, who worked with Mr Badawi on his blog, was released on Friday.
She had been held for three months without charge over comments she made on Twitter, which her opponents portrayed as anti-Islamic. (+ BBC video) » | Friday, January 30, 2015
Russland rüstet auf
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| Mehr Waffen, mehr Soldaten: Russlands Verteidigungsminister Sergei Schoigu will aufrüsten. |
Bei einer Tagung in seinem Ministerium in Moskau hat der russische Verteidigungsminister Sergej Schoigu klargestellt: Er werde nicht zulassen, dass irgendjemand militärisch die Oberhand über sein Land gewinne.
Trotz der wirtschaftlich schwierigen Lage werde er deshalb die Streitkräfte aufrüsten und dafür sorgen, dass sie bis 2020 über die beabsichtigte Zahl moderner Waffensysteme verfügen. Zudem würden die russischen Truppen in strategisch wichtigen Regionen des Landes verstärkt. Auslöser für die Pläne sei die militärische und politische Situation rund um Russland. » | SRF 4 News, 11:00 Uhr; reu/sda/cukj; morr | Freitag, 30. Januar 2015
La Suisse: L'initiative du 9 février pourrait être jugée illégale
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| Le slogan d'origine a figuré sur le site internet jusqu'à fin 2013 |
En raison d'une annonce intitulée «Les Kosovars poignardent les Suisses!», diffusée par l'UDC pendant la campagne sur l'initiative contre l'immigration de masse, la votation du 9 février pourrait être jugée illégale par le Tribunal fédéral. S'il qualifie ce slogan de raciste, l'électorat aurait alors été manipulé par un acte punissable. » | vendredi 30 janvier 2015
Saudi Arabia: No Religious or Personal Birthday Celebrations Allowed
Royal Magnanimity: Bonuses and Other Incentives Announced
The King ordered the payment of two basic salaries to all Saudi state employees, including civilians and military officers, and two-month stipend to all government students inside and outside the Kingdom, and two-month pension for Saudi retirees.
By issuing 37 royal decrees, he also announced two-month remuneration for social insurance beneficiaries, two-month assistance to the handicapped, and SR2 billion for charities registered with the Social Affairs Ministry. » | Arab News | Jeddah | Friday, January 30, 2015
American Man Shot and Wounded in Saudi Arabia, Police Say
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: JEDDAH—An American citizen was shot and wounded Friday in eastern Saudi Arabia, the police said in a statement carried by the state news agency.
A vehicle carrying two U.S. citizens came under fire from an unknown source while driving in the eastern region of Al Ahsa, police said, adding that the man who was wounded was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition.
An investigation is under way, the statement said.
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh said “we are aware of the reports and are looking into them.” » | Ahmed Al Omran | Friday, January 30, 2015
Texas Muslims Heckled at Democracy Rally
USA TODAY: AUSTIN -- Hundreds of Muslim Texans faced a constant stream of heckling during a rally at the Texas Capitol Thursday that was organized to encourage more Muslims to take part in the democratic process.
Roughly two dozen sign-wielding protesters repeatedly tried to vocally overpower speakers at Texas Muslim Capitol Day, which was hosted by the Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
One protester used the podium microphone for a screaming condemnation of Islam before being escorted back to her fellow demonstrators by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, who were out in force to prevent violence. » | Mark Wiggins, KVUE-TV, Austin | Friday, January 30, 2015
Related »
Sir Winston Churchill's Funeral Marked 50 Years On
Members of the Churchill family were aboard the Havengore, which travelled to Westminster in central London.
Earlier, Prime Minister David Cameron laid a wreath in memory of Churchill, who, as prime minister, led Britain to victory in World War Two.
A service will also take place later at Westminster Abbey.
Speaking at a service in Parliament at the start of a day of commemorations, Mr Cameron said Churchill would be remembered as a "great leader and great Briton".
"If there is one aspect of this man I admire more than any other - it is Churchill the patriot," he said.
Mr Cameron said the UK needed to draw on the "courage and resolve" of Churchill to battle "every affront to freedom in this century". (+ BBC videos) » | Friday, January 30, 2015
L'état de santé du blogueur Raef Badaoui se détériore
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| Raef Badaoui devait subir une deuxième séance de 50 coups de fouet vendredi 30 janvier. Ici, une manifestation d'Amnesty au Québec. |
L'état de santé de Raef Badaoui, le blogueur saoudien condamné à dix ans de prison et 1000 coups de fouet en Arabie saoudite pour «insulte à l'islam», empire, a estimé jeudi 29 novembre à Ottawa son épouse Ensaf Haidar.
Raef Badaoui, qui devait subir une deuxième séance de 50 coups de fouet vendredi, souffrirait d'hypertension et une nouvelle flagellation risquerait de l'affaiblir davantage, a-t-elle indiqué lors d'une conférence de presse entourée de parlementaires canadiens.
«L'état de santé de Raef est mauvais et il empire», a déclaré Ensaf Haidar, réfugiée au Québec avec ses trois enfants. » | jeudi 29 janvier 2015
King Abdullah Embodied the Wickedness of Saudi Arabia’s Regime
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| Members of the Saudi police force in Mecca. 'Saudi Arabia's influence is almost wholly malign.' |
We can always look on the bright side of the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and the accession of Prince Salman. It shows that, if reports of his ill-health are true, dementia can’t stop you reaching the very top – at least if you have the right parents. It is a danger for many political systems that they end up being run by men whose faculties are no longer up to it: think of Pope John Paul II in his long decline, Churchill after his strokes, Ronald Reagan or the Soviet gerontocracy. But Saudi is unique in the modern world in choosing as leader a man believed to be in decline even before he comes to power.
It is a final touch of absurdity in a kingdom that is wicked in itself, and a source of wickedness and corruption elsewhere in the world. Saudi Arabia practices torture and arbitrary judicial murder. Women are beheaded in the street, liberal thought is punishable by flogging, which can be a death sentence even more horrific, because it is more prolonged than having your head hacked off with a sword. It is a raft of fear and hatred lashed together, floating on unimaginable amounts of money, at least for the lucky few. Among the poor, not all of whom are slaves or foreigners, there is tufshan, a special word defined by an anthropologist as “subtle and incapacitating torpor”. » | Andrew Brown | Friday, January 23, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
West's Nauseating Hypocrisy Sucking Up to the Saudis
If he happens to be Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, self-appointed caliph of Islamic State (Isis), the answer is one of the world's most wanted terrorists. If he is King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, the proper form of address is "Your Majesty". Are we all clear about that? Me neither.
The Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister turned up in Riyadh at the weekend to pay their respects to Salman's half-brother, King Abdullah, whose death was announced on Friday. Abdullah's demise at the age of 90 unleashed a nauseating display of hypocrisy among world leaders.
Flags flew at half-mast in Whitehall while David Cameron - sorry, pass-the-sick-bag moment coming up - praised the deceased despot's efforts towards "strengthening understanding between faiths".
This is the same David Cameron who marched in Paris two weeks ago in solidarity with the victims of al-Qaida-inspired terrorism. Then, there was much talk about human rights and free expression, both of which get short shrift in Saudi Arabia. Barack Obama - a conspicuous no-show in Paris - found the time to praise the absolute monarch and hailed the US-Saudi relationship "as a force for stability and security in the Middle East".
Funnily enough, none of these busy men had time to mention Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger whose flogging was postponed on the very same day because he hadn't recovered from the 50 lashes he received two weeks earlier. » | Joan Smith | Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Protester at Texas Muslim Capitol Day
THE TEXAS TRIBUNE: Rep to Staff: Ask Muslim Visitors to Pledge Allegiance » | Reeve Hamilton and Alexa Ura | Thursday, January 29, 2015
Germany After The War, 1945-49
Facebook to Censor Images of Prophet Mohammed in Turkey Just Two Weeks after Mark Zuckerberg Wrote Passionate Message Defending Right to Free Speech
Facebook has reportedly agreed to censor cartoons of Prophet Mohammed just two weeks after its founder defended the right to free speech in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks.
The social network made the decision after Turkish authorities threatened to block the site entirely if it did not remove the images - some of which come from Charlie Hebdo magazine.
The dramatic about-face will be personally embarrassing for Zuckerberg, coming weeks after he defiantly said: '[Facebook] will never let one country or group dictate what people can share.' » | Chris Pleasance for MailOnline | Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Newt for President! Newt Gingrich: We Are At War with Radical Islamism
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
On the Streets with Far-right Extremists Britain First | Channel 4 News
La France lance un clip choc contre le djihadisme
#Stopdjihadisme : Ils te disent… by gouvernementFR
«Ils te disent : sacrifie-toi à nos côtés, tu défendras une juste cause. En réalité, tu découvriras l'enfer sur terre et mourras seul loin de chez toi.» Le gouvernement français vient de lancer ce mercredi 28 janvier un clip choc, empruntant aux codes de la propagande djihadiste, pour tenter de dissuader les jeunes de s'enrôler dans les rangs du groupe Etat islamique.
La vidéo, qui fait environ 2 minutes a été publiée sur le site stop-djihadisme.gouv.fr. Elle sort trois semaines après les attentats de Paris perpétrés par les frères Kouachi et Amedy Coulibaly. Paris veut ainsi affronter les djihadistes sur le web, terrain de prédilection pour séduire les jeunes. » | Par Christine Talos | mercredi 28 janvier 2015
STOP-DJIHADISME.gouv.fr : Agir contre la menace terroriste »
Pegida Loses Second Leader in a Week
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| Kathrin Oertel has quit the leadership of Pegida 'due to massive hostility'. |
German anti-Islam movement Pegida lost its second leader in a week on Wednesday when Kathrin Oertel, who took over after the founder quit for posing as Hitler, also stepped down, citing media pressure.
The Dresden-based group announced on its Facebook page that Oertel and another board member were resigning. The 37-year-old became Pegida’s national figurehead after founder Lutz Bachmann resigned a week ago after news that he was being investigated.
Pegida said that Oertel had quit “due to the massive hostility, threats and career disadvantages”, adding: “Even the strongest of women has to take time out when at night photographers and other strange figures are sneaking around outside her house.”
The group added that its cause remained “good and just”. » | Reuters in Berlin | Wednesday, January 28, 2015
YNET NEWS: PEGIDA spokesman: We are no Nazis: In exclusive Ynetnews interview, spokesperson of anti-Islamization grassroots initiative addresses Jewish world's concerns about the movement, says 'we want Jews and Israelis to feel safe in Europe.' » | Moritz Josef Schulman | Saturday, January 24, 2015
Egyptian Poet Goes On Trial Accused of Contempt of Islam
Fatima Naoot described the Prophet Abraham's dream - in which, according to Islamic belief, God tells him to sacrifice his son as a test of his faith - as a "nightmare". Before Abraham can carry out the deed, God provided a sheep instead as a sacrifice.
In her post, the poet criticized the sacrifice of animals at Eid al-Adha, also called the Feast of the Sacrifice, a festival that honors Abraham's willingness to obey God.
"Millions of innocent creatures will be driven to the most horrible massacre committed by humans for ten-and-a-half centuries," she said. "A massacre which is repeated every year because of the nightmare of a righteous man about his good son."
The poet - whose trial began on Wednesday - has been charged with contempt of Islam, spreading sectarian strife and disturbing public peace, judicial sources and Naoot said.
She denies the charges. If convicted she could face jail terms ranging from six months to three years, the sources said.
"I will not be defeated even if I'm imprisoned," Naoot, who did not appear in court, told Reuters on Wednesday. "The loser will be the cultural movement." » | Mahmoud Mourad | Cairo | Wednesday, January 28, 2015
GULF NEWS: Egypt writer Fatima Naoot’s trial for Islam defamation started: Case raises rights advocates’ concerns over free speech » | Ramadan Al Sherbini, Correspondent | Wednesday, January 28, 2015
German Football Player Converts to Islam
“Islam gave me strength. Pray calms my soul,” the 24-year-old said.
“I was short tempered, erratic and did not know where I belong,” he added.
Blum joined his team FC Nurnberg last year. The team plays in the German Bundesliga’s Second Division. » | Tuesday, January 27, 2015
BILD: Nürnberg-Profi wechselt zum Islam: Danny Blum (24) steht in einer Moschee im türkischen Belek. Er schließt die Augen, hält die Handflächen vor sich nach oben gerichtet. Er streicht sich die Hände durchs Gesicht, über den Oberkörper, dann kniet er nieder. Danny Blum betet. » | Montag, 26. Januar 2015
The Female Face of Terror
Since last summer, hardly a week has passed without news of a woman participating in extremism or terrorism. The violent group Boko Haram is using female suicide bombers to wreak havoc in Nigeria. From Denver to Vienna, "Caliphettes" – young girls pledging their support to Isil’s so called "Caliphate" on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr – are escaping to marry Jihadis in Syria.
And most recently, Hayat Boumeddiene, the wife of one of the perpetrators of the recent terrorist atrocities in Paris, is the most wanted terror suspect in the world today.
Despite this growing trend, women have largely failed to be incorporated into counter-extremism strategies.
For too long Western societies have viewed women, particularly Muslim women, singularly as victims of fundamentalist ideology. There is collective shock over the fact that they are now proving to be as much agents of that ideology as men – as proxy soapbox orators, encouraging those who cannot get to the battleground, to do as much damage as possible at home, as brutal, sometimes violent, enforcers of strict Islamic codes (the Al-Khansaa all-female moral brigade in Raqqa), and as the mothers of the next generation of Jihadists. Online, where Institute for Strategic Dialogue has been tracking the social media accounts of women living in Isil territory, a Jihadi girl power subculture has emerged: becoming a Caliphette is portrayed as empowering.
Indeed, the spectre of radicalised Western women streaming to the battlegrounds of Syria should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Isil’s highly sophisticated, tech[-]savvy radicalisation and recruitment machinery. They deploy peer-to-peer, in this case girl-to-girl, marketing strategies, Twitter amplification apps, iconic memes, gaming imagery and go-pro footage from the field. » | Farah Pandith and Sasha Havlicek | Wednesday, January 28, 2015
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