Thursday, January 23, 2014
Iran's President Announces New Policy of 'Constructive Engagement' with Outside World
Jeremy Browne: Ban Muslim Women from Wearing Veils in Schools and Public Places
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| Jeremy Browne |
Jeremy Browne, a Liberal Democrat, said there needs to be a national debate about whether the state should step in to protect young women from having the veil “imposed” on them.
Mr Browne said he is “instinctively uneasy” about banning behaviour, but suggested the measure may still be necessary to ensure freedom of choice for girls in Muslim communities.
The Home Office minister is the first senior Liberal Democrat to raise such deep concerns about Islamic dress in public places. A growing number of Conservative MPs also want the Government to consider a ban.
Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, has suggested he may support banning the veil in classrooms, but downplayed the chances of wider restrictions.
He said: “My own view, I don’t think we should end up like different countries where we tell people how they go about their business. I do think there is an issue with teachers in the classroom…that might be an area where a full veil might be inappropriate.” » | Steven Swinford and Christopher Hope | Wednesday, September 15, 2013
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
German Army Rules on Beards and Tattoos
"Ordinance A.26301.1l, on the Appearance of Federal Troops" caught the eye of military blogger Thomas Wiegold - "something of a weathervane of army opinion" according to Der Spiegel magazine. The 200-plus comments from soldiers on his blog post outnumber those on more serious issues.
As well as the ban on mohawks and bushy beards, new rules on tattoos proved particularly controversial. They are permitted, but "discriminatory, pornographic and unconstitutional" images must always be covered up when soldiers are in uniform. The rule applies even if they appear on the hands, neck or face - which, as the comments note, could prove difficult. » | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Jihadists Construct the Atomium Bomb: YouTube Video Threat to Belgian Tourist Attraction
The video clip posted on the YouTube account of Belgian teenager Brian De Mulder was brief, but the threat to one of Belgium’s biggest tourist attractions was chilling and clear.
Over the black-and-white flag of one of Syria’s Islamist rebel groups, a voice chants: “Bombs are falling.Atomium, I hear a bang. Body parts are everywhere.”
Mr De Mulder, 19, is one of hundreds of Europeans currently in Syria and believed to be fighting alongside the rebel groups trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
While it is not clear if he himself posted the threat against the Atomium, a huge monument of stainless steel spheres built for the 1958 World Fair, the video reflects the worst fears of law-enforcement agencies and governments across Europe.
Since Syria splintered into civil war in 2011, European Muslims – including up to 300 Britons – with motives ranging from idealism to more radical ideologies have been travelling there in increasing numbers. Now, dozens are returning home, and the fear is that they are no longer impressionable youngsters, but battle-hardened extremists.
“By the time they have returned,” says Rob Wainwright, director of the EU-wide policing body Europol, “their extremist views might have been more entrenched and there is clearly a potential danger to society in terms of how they might manifest their views in direct action.” » | Charlotte McDonald-Gibson | Brussels | Sunday, January 19, 2014
A Living History Lesson: Holocaust Survivor Eve Kugler Talks to Pupils around the Country Prior to Holocaust Memorial Day
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| Eve Kugler |
"My experience during the Holocaust wasn't as horrendous as what you have seen," says 83-year-old Eve Kugler as she begins to speak.
She is at a cinema in Clapham, south-west London, to talk to secondary-school pupils who have assembled to hear first-hand accounts of the persecution of the Jews under Hitler. The pupils had just watched Hide and Seek, a 50-minute film about Jews' experiences during the Holocaust and how they had been forced to go into hiding to escape being sent to the death camps. They had heard the tale of one mother who had been given an ultimatum to kill her baby or leave the hideout for fear that the Nazis would hear the infant's crying and wreak even more terror on the people assembled there. She chose to smother her baby. Then there were the children who grew up in the sewers with rats as daily companions as they hid away.
Kugler herself is a Holocaust survivor. After speaking for nearly 50 minutes, she is asked by one pupil how many family members she had lost during Hitler's time in power. "Both my grandfathers, two uncles, five aunts and I don't know how many cousins," she replies.
Maybe it is not as horrendous as some of the stories in the documentary but it is pretty harrowing nevertheless, as the reaction of the pupils who have listened to her indicates. Kugler is one of the Holocaust survivors still going into schools to relate what happened to them. She has been doing it "for eight or nine years" now and does two or three visits in the run-up to Holocaust Memorial Day – which takes place next Tuesday. » | Richard Garner | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Nicolas Sarkozy Plans 2017 Comeback
That Nicolas Sarkozy is contemplating his comeback is hardly a secret in France.
Now one of the former president's most high-profile supporters and confidantes, the former first lady Bernadette Chirac, has confirmed Sarkozy is planning a return to the political fray.
Asked by Europe 1 radio on Wednesday whether she thought he would stand against the Socialist president François Hollande in three years, Chirac, replied: "I hope so!"
Pressed as to whether she had inside information, she said: "Ah, but I'm not allowed to say it," before finally admitting that Sarkozy had spoken to her and was indeed planning to stand in 2017.
"Well obviously," she told the radio station, adding: "But, he's going to tell me off for this."
Chirac, whose husband Jacques was president between 1995 and 2007 when he was succeeded by Sarkozy, has made little secret of her hopes of seeing the centre-right candidate make a comeback. While Sarkozy has refused to comment, he has indicated to friends that he is inclined to stand for a second term in office in 2017. » | Kim Willsher in Paris | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Multicultural Britain Rejecting Foreign Conflict, MoD Admits
A growing reluctance in an increasingly multicultural Britain to see UK troops deployed on the ground in future operations abroad is influencing the next two strategic defence reviews, according to senior figures at the Ministry of Defence.
As well as a general war weariness, sources say they have sensed a resistance in an increasingly diverse nation to see British troops deployed in countries from which UK citizens, or their families, once came.
There is also concern that British troops have been seen taking action mainly in Muslim societies. » | Patrick Wintour | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Turkey Continues with Huge Purge of Judges and Police
Turkey launched the biggest purge of the judiciary in the country's history on Wednesday, firing and reassigning senior judges and prosecutors, despite warnings that the actions are damaging the country's accession to the European Union.
The move came as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was in Brussels promoting Turkey's EU membership bid to, increasingly sceptical, officials who see the sackings, and a new, controversial bill that would give the executive authority over the judiciary, as eroding the country's rule of law, a key criteria for admission.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said he had urged Mr Erdogan "not to backtrack on achievements and to assure that the judiciary is able to function without discrimination or preference, in a transparent and impartial manner". » | Ruth Sherlock | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Water Cannon Set to Be Deployed across Britain amid Fears of More Riots
Concerns about future violent protests over the Government’s austerity measures have prompted chief constables to ask Theresa May, the Home Secretary, for authorisation to deploy water cannon in mainland Britain for the first time.
Chief constables have concluded the machines would be a valuable addition to their armoury after carrying out detailed research, including a scientific analysis of injuries that members of the public can suffer when hit by the powerful water jets.
Documents disclosed by the Association of Chief Police Officers show plans have been drawn up for the cannon to be used against protesters and rioters in the future.
Police warn they expect water cannon will be required because “the ongoing and potential future austerity measures are likely to lead to continued protest”.
They claimed the machines would have given them an “operational advantage” in the 2011 riots. Read on and comment » | David Barrett, Home Affairs Correspondent | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Muslim Defendant Must Remove Veil to Give Evidence, Jury Hears
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| Rebekah Dawson |
A Muslim woman accused of witness intimidation has been ordered by a judge to remove her veil if she chooses to give evidence.
Rebekah Dawson, 22, attended the start of her trial at Blackfriars Crown Court in London on Wednesday wearing a full-face veil.
Judge Peter Murphy warned the jury hearing the case that it was “quite wrong” to be prejudiced against anybody because of their expression of religious faith.
He said Ms Dawson was “fully entitled” to dress as she chose and warned them to put aside any personal feelings they had about her attire.
However, he told jurors that he had ruled that she must remove her veil if she chooses to give evidence. » | Sam Marsden, and agencies | Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Woolwich: War without Borders?
Inside Story: US Marijuana: Pot Luck or Politics?
Going Underground: GCHQ Knows Your Online Porn Habits!
'Warzone': Open Street Battles in Kiev as Rioters, Police Face-off
German Region of Saarland Moves towards Bilingualism
It is part of a strategy to deepen economic ties with France, which borders the region.
Proposals by the regional government include bilingual teaching from pre-school age and requiring new state employees to be able to work in French.
Government jobs would be open to French citizens too under the proposals which are being put out to consultation. » | Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Tucker Carlson Confronts Islamic Preacher Who Wants to Implement "Sharia Law"
Choudary pushed back against Western "propaganda," saying he is simply trying to encourage the following of Islamic law in a "den of iniquity." Carlson shot back, "This isn't Pakistan, this is Great Britain!"
He continued on to say that "troublemakers like you are thrown in prison in Pakistan," and called him out for being a beneficiary of social services in the country he's condemning as decadent. Choudary said the legal notice is actually "intended to provoke discussion" and warn of ultimate punishment in the afterlife.
Carlson concluded by asking, "Will you concede that your unwillingness to denounce violence makes your program repulsive to people in the West and decent people everywhere?" Choudary insisted that "we're not threatening anyone with violence."
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