No Mention of Islam, Mr. Cameron? David Cameron Speaks after Briton Killed in Tunisia Museum Attack

David Cameron says his heart goes out to the family of Sally Adey, the Briton killed in an attack on the Bardo national museum in Tunis which he calls an 'appalling, brutal outrage'. The prime minister says terrorism must be fought 'with everything we have' and says he is confident that values such as freedom of speech, democracy and rule of law will prevail in the fight against extremism

Global War Will Result in 'Banner of Islam' over White House: Khamenei Aide

A top special operations aide to Iran's leader says his troops are in a global war that will one day bring "the banner of Islam over the White House." Ali Shirazi is the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's representative on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, the overseas operations branch that trained Iraqi Shiites to kill…

Danish Nationalists to Help Muslims Leave Islam

SPUTNIK NEWS: The anti-immigration Danish People’s Party calls for a national program to help Muslims leave Islam.

Danish People's Party spokesman Martin Henriksen wants to see the state step in and offer help to Muslims who want to give up on their religion but feel bullied into staying, The Local reported. » | Tuesday, March 17, 2015

L'Arabie Saoudite défend sa «justice pour tous»

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Droits humains – En réponse aux critiques d'une ministre suédoise liées à la flagellation du blogueur Raef Badaoui, Ryad a répliqué que «la liberté d'expression est garantie pour tous à l'intérieur du cadre de la charia».

L'Arabie saoudite a assuré lundi 16 mars garantir une «justice pour tous», en réponse aux critiques proférées par la ministre suédoise des Affaires étrangères à la suite de la flagellation du blogueur Raef Badaoui.

Margot Wallström avait dénoncé début mars les «méthodes moyenâgeuses» de la justice saoudienne contre Raef Badaoui, flagellé pour «insulte envers l'islam».

Ryad avait alors qualifié d'«ingérence flagrante» ces déclarations et rappelé son ambassadeur à Stockholm.

Égalité entre les sexes

Le gouvernement saoudien a «renouvelé (lundi) sa condamnation de ces déclarations insultantes». Le système judiciaire du royaume est «basé sur l'islam et assure la justice pour tous», a affirmé le ministre de la Culture et de l'Information Adel ben Zaid al-Toraifi à l'agence de presse officielle SPA.

«La liberté d'expression est garantie pour tous à l'intérieur du cadre de la charia», la loi islamique, a-t-il encore dit. » | lundi 16 mars 2015

Now ISIS Tears Down the Cross: Chilling Photographs Reveal How Islamic State Thugs Have Ravaged Christian Churches

MAIL ONLINE: ISIS militants pictured toppling crosses and smashing relics in Nineveh / Latest evidence of ISIS trying to cleanse caliphate of Christian heritage / Also attacked ancient city of Nimrud and 2000-year-old fortress city Hatra

Shocking new images released today have shown ISIS terrorists toppling crosses, smashing Christian relics with hammers and erecting the black flag of ISIS on churches in Iraq.

The latest photos show the militants vandalising churches in Nineveh, the ancient capital of the Assyrian empire.

Pictured in civilian clothing, the ISIS thugs are seen overturning statues, destroying religious icons and replacing Christian crosses with the chilling ISIS banner.

The disturbing images - provided by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) - are the latest evidence of ISIS trying to cleanse its caliphate of its Christian heritage. » | Thomas Burrows for MailOnline | Monday, March 16, 2015

Leptis Magna: War-torn Libya's Forgotten Ancient Roman City

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As Libya's war keeps foreign visitors away, the Roman Empire's magnificent capital in Africa lies forgotten, with weeds growing among the cracks of the cobbled stones

For over 900 years Leptis Magna – once the pride of the Roman Empire in Africa – lay hidden, forgotten by man, beneath Libya’s sand dunes.

Now, excavated and magnificent on a promontory overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Leptis Magna stands, once again, alone and almost entirely abandoned.

As political instability besets Libya, the theatre, parliament and wide, straight, cobbled roads of the “best preserved” Roman city in the world are devoid of tourists.

“We haven’t had any tourists since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011,” said Osama Krema, a Libyan tour guide working at the site. “Occasionally aid workers staying in the country come to visit. They factor in only half an hour initially. » | Ruth Sherlock, Leptis Magna, video by Sam Tarling | Monday, March 16, 2015

Netanjahu schließt eigenen Palästinenserstaat aus

Spricht sich im Wahlkampf gegen die Schaffung eines
Palästinenserstaats: Israels Regierungschef Benjamin Netanjahu

DIE WELT: Unmittelbar vor der Parlamentswahl in Israel rückt Ministerpräsident Netanjahu von der Zweistaatenlösung ab. Sollte er Ministerpräsident bleiben, werde es keinen palästinensischen Staat geben.

Offenbar im Bemühen um Stimmen im rechten Lager hat Israels Regierungschef Benjamin Netanjahu einen Palästinenserstaat im Falle einer Verlängerung seines Mandats ausgeschlossen.

"Alle, die die Schaffung eines Palästinenserstaates und die Rückgabe von Gebieten wollen, machen diese Gebiete anfällig für Angriffe des extremistischen Islam gegen den Staat Israel", sagte Netanjahu am Montag, einen Tag vor der Knesset-Wahl, dem Nachrichtenportal NRG. Dies sei "die Wahrheit, die sich in den vergangenen Jahren ergeben hat". Wer dies ignoriere, "steckt den Kopf in den Sand".

Auf die Nachfrage, ob dies bedeute, dass es keinen Palästinenserstaat geben werde, wenn er Regierungschef bleibe, antwortete Netanjahu: "Das ist richtig." » | AFP/mak | Montag, 16. März 2015

Iranian Professor Loses Job due to 'Feminine' Voice

Iranian professor Qasem Exirifard has not had his contract
renewed due to his high-pitched voice.

THE GUARDIAN: Khajeh Nasir Toosi university dismisses Dr Qasem Exirifard on the grounds that his voice would lead to ridicule in classroom, he tells reformist newspaper

A top physics professor in Iran has lost his job because he was told he has a feminine voice that prevents him from effectively communicating with his university students.

Qasem Exirifard has been dismissed from Tehran’s Khajeh Nasir Toosi university after its academic committee, in charge of examining staff’s qualifications, deemed his voice was effeminate and said it could lead to students ridiculing him in the classroom.

According to the reformist Shargh newspaper, the 40-year-old Exirifard is a former national physics olympiad medallist who has a doctorate degree from Italy’s International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA). Shargh described him as a genius in physics with great academic achievements.

He began teaching at the institution in February 2014 but his contract, which was up for renewal last month, was not extended due to the university committee’s ruling.

“I was disqualified, why? Because I have a high-pitched voice, what they [the university] call a feminine voice,” Exirifard was quoted as saying. “They said I would not be qualified to communicate scientific contents to students because they said my voice was effeminate.” » | Saeed Kamali Dehghan | Monday, March 16, 2015

Tony Blair 'Had No Credibility' in Middle East Process, Says US Official

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: All sides in Middle East peace process would roll their eyes at mention of Tony Blair's name, US government official involved in talks tells Telegraph

Tony Blair had “no credibility” left with the parties in the Middle East peace process, a former US government official who was closely involved with trying to revive the talks last year has told The Telegraph.

“Frankly all sides just rolled their eyes at the mention of his name,” the official said as it was reported that Mr Blair was being “eased out” of his role as head of so-called Quartet.

Rumours that Mr Blair was being asked to step down have been circulating for some days, but were apparently confirmed on Sunday night by The Financial Times. Mr Blair’s office has declined to comment.

In his role, which he took up in 2007, Mr Blair represented the United States of America, the United Nations, Russia and the European Union as a Middle East peace envoy working with the Palestinians.

But in the last round of failed negotiations which began after John Kerry took over as US secretary of state 2013 and broke down last year, Mr Blair had become “a standing joke”, the official said, speaking last week. » | Peter Foster, Washington | Monday, March 16, 2015

Iran Deal Could Start Nuclear Fuel Race - Saudi Arabia

BBC AMERICA: A senior member of the Saudi royal family has warned that a deal on Iran's nuclear programme could prompt other regional states to develop atomic fuel.

Prince Turki al-Faisal told the BBC that Saudi Arabia would then seek the same right, as would other nations.

Six world powers are negotiating an agreement aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear activity but not ending it.

Critics have argued this would trigger a nuclear arms race in the region spurred on by Saudi-Iran rivalry.

"I've always said whatever comes out of these talks, we will want the same," said the prince, Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief.

"So if Iran has the ability to enrich uranium to whatever level, it's not just Saudi Arabia that's going to ask for that.

"The whole world will be an open door to go that route without any inhibition, and that's my main objection to this P5+1 [the six world powers] process." With a late March deadline for an Iran deal approaching, Saudi Arabia last week signed a nuclear co-operation agreement with South Korea that included a plan to study the feasibility of building two nuclear reactors in the kingdom.

Riyadh has also signed nuclear co-operation agreements with China, France and Argentina, and intends to construct 16 nuclear power reactors over the next 20 years. (+ BBC video) » | Barbara Plett Usher | BBC News, Riyadh | Monday, March 16, 2015

Iraq Conflict: Saddam's Tomb Destroyed in Tikrit Fighting

BBC AMERICA: The tomb of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been almost completely levelled in fighting near Tikrit.

Footage filmed by the Associated Press shows that all that remains standing of the once-lavish mausoleum in the village of al-Awja are some pillars.

Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia militia are battling to drive Islamic State (IS) militants from Tikrit.

Last year, the local Sunni population said they had removed Saddam's body and taken it to an unknown location. » | Monday, March 16, 2015

Baghdad Hosts First Fashion Show Since 1988

An Iraqi model presents a dress during the 2015 Baghdad
Fashion Show at the Iraqi capital's Royal Tulip Hotel

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Iraqi capital harks back to liberal days of the 1980s with fashion show at luxurious Royal Tulip hotel as war with Isil goes on to the north

Models in designer clothes strutted down a catwalk in front of Baghdad's high society on Friday for a fashion show that tickled one generation's nostalgia and filled the next one with hope.

Umm Mustafa and her husband cancelled all their family duties, bought new clothes and spent a whole week preparing for the first edition of the Baghdad Fashion Show.

"The last show we saw was in 1988 at the Palestine hotel," she said, wearing a burgundy suit with flowery prints and candy floss pink nail varnish assorted to her smartphone cover.

"We love fashion and design... It's the security situation that has affected everything. There's development here but no opportunity to show the world," said her husband, also in his late forties.

Despite Iraq's eight-year war with Iran, Baghdad in the eighties had a vibrant cultural life and its society was less religiously conservative.

Around 500 people turned out in their best attire to watch 16 young Iraqi women model collections by six home-grown designers Friday as an oriental beat shook the walls of the luxurious Royal Tulip hotel's gala hall. » | AFP | Saturday, March 14, 2015

Robert Spencer On Why ISIS Is Islamic

ISIL: Force May Be Necessary Says Vatican Ambassador to Geneva

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Silvano Tomasi says armed response could [be] needed to protect minorities from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

The Vatican's ambassador in Geneva has said the use of force will be necessary to protect minority groups from Islamic State aggression if a political solution cannot be achieved.

In an interview with U.S. Catholic website Crux, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi said the jihadists, who have declared a cross-border caliphate after seizing land in eastern Syria and northern Iraq, were committing "genocide" and must be stopped.

"What's needed is a coordinated and well-thought-out coalition to do everything possible to achieve a political settlement without violence," Crux quoted Tomasi as saying on Friday, "but if that's not possible, then the use of force will be necessary." » | Reuters | Sunday, March 15, 2015

Queen Rania: Let’s Drop The First ‘I’ In ISIS

In conversation with Arianna Huffington, Queen Rania of Jordan says there is nothing Islamic about the self-proclaimed “Islamic State,” or ISIS.

My comment:

With all due respect to Queen Rania, the following has to be said: ISIS beheads those who go against Islam: They kill apostates, they stone people to death, they crucify people too. Further, they amputate limbs for theft. But aren't these practices also carried out in Saudi Arabia, in the home of Islam? Please correct me if I am wrong, but if I understand you correctly, if these barbarous acts are carried out officially in Wahhabi Saudi Arabia, they are Islamic; however, if they are carried out in the name of ISIS, they are unIslamic. I don't get it. Could someone please explain? – © Mark

Jordan’s King Abdullah: What It Means to Be a Muslim : الملك : هذه القيم التي أربّي أولادي عليها

L'EI utiliserait des bombes au chlore

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Irak et Syrie – Les autorités du Kurdistan irakien ont indiqué samedi disposer de preuves que le groupe Etat islamique (EI) a eu recours à des bombes au chlore.

Dans un communiqué publié samedi, la Commission de sécurité de la région du Kurdistan a indiqué que «les forces peshmergas ont fait des prélèvements de sol et des lambeaux de vêtements après un attentat suicide à la voiture piégée le 23 janvier 2015». » | afp/Newsnet | samedi 14 mars 2015

Schlacht um Tikrit: IS steht vor erster großer Niederlage

KRONEN ZEITUNG: Der Islamische Staat steht neun Monate nach seinem Vormarsch im Irak vor seiner ersten großen Niederlage: Die Provinzhauptstadt Tikrit ist offenbar so gut wie gefallen. Iraks Anti- IS- Koalition hat die "vollständige Rückeroberung" der wichtigen Stadt "bis spätestens Dienstag" angekündigt.

Etwa 30.000 Mann hatte die irakische Regierung in die Schlacht um Tikrit - die Geburtsstadt des gehenkten Diktators Saddam Hussein - geworfen. Der Großangriff begann vor rund zwei Wochen. Unterstützt von Luftangriffen der US- geführten Anti- IS- Koalition sowie Militärexperten, Beratern und wohl auch Kampftruppen aus dem Iran (bis vor Kurzem noch der Erzfeind der Amerikaner), konnten die irakischen Einheiten nun bereits bis ins Zentrum der Stadt vordringen. Dort sollen sich nur noch einige Dutzend IS- Terroristen verschanzt haben, umzingelt von den irakischen Truppen, hieß es am Samstag. » | Kronen Zeitung/AG/red | Samstag, 14. März 2015

Junger Türke muss wegen Erdogan-Beleidung ins Gefängnis

DIE PRESSE: Der Student hatte den türkischen Präsidenten wärend der Gezi-Unruhen einen Diktator genannt.

In der Türkei muss ein Student ins Gefängnis, weil er Präsident Recep Tayyip Erdogan einen "Diktator" genannt hat. Wie die Online-Ausgabe der Zeitung "Hürriyet" am Freitag meldete, beläuft sich die Strafe gegen den angehenden Ingenieur Aykutalp Avsar auf 14 Monate Haft. Demnach wurde Avsar am Donnerstagabend im zentralanatolischen Kayseri verhaftet. » | APA/AFP | Freitag, 13. März 2015

Nick Clegg Blocks Terror Laws Banning Extremists from Universities

Mr Clegg said he could not support the new legislation

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Laws to ban extremist speakers have been blocked by the Liberal Democrats for fears of "eroding" free speech after one of the worst Cabinet rows of the Coalition

Nick Clegg has blocked tough new laws intended to stop extremist speakers brainwashing university students for terrorism, raising fears that Britain will be left more vulnerable to attack.

The Deputy Prime Minister personally vetoed the plan during private talks with David Cameron, after one of the worst Cabinet rows in the Coalition’s five-year rule.

Mr Clegg said he could not support moves to require university bosses to vet visiting speakers and prevent impressionable students from falling under the spell of extremists – because Liberal Democrats feared the move would erode “free speech”.

Draft legal guidelines detailing how the ban would work, which were published by the Home Office in December, have now been scrapped. Senior government sources warned that students would remain at risk of radicalisation by preachers visiting campus Islamic societies. » | Tim Ross and Robert Mendick | Saturday, March 14, 2015