Palmyra: IS Threat to 'Venice of the Sands'

Palmyra is one of the best-known ancient sites in the world

BBC AMERICA: Palmyra is in danger. As Islamic State fighters clash with Syrian government forces around the historic site, it is worth considering what the loss of this wonder, dubbed the "Venice of the Sands", would mean for the world's cultural heritage.

Palmyra is the last place anyone would expect to find a forest of stone columns and arches. Travellers in the 17th and 18th centuries were repeatedly astonished by what they saw: a vast field of ruins in the middle of the Syrian desert, roughly half-way between the Mediterranean coast and the valley of the River Euphrates.

For anyone visiting, however, the key reason for the site's prosperity is immediately apparent: ancient Palmyra sits at the edge of an oasis of date palms and gardens.

It was as a watering place on a trade route from the east that Palmyra's story begins, and the very name Palmyra refers to the date palms that still dominate the area (the origin of its Semitic name, Tadmor, is less certain; a derivation from tamar - date palm - is favoured). » | By Prof Kevin Butcher *, Warwick University | Friday, May 15, 2015

* Kevin Butcher is a Professor in the Department of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick and a specialist in the Roman Near East. He is author of Roman Syria and the Near East (2003).

Islamic State 'Enters Town Next to Syria's Palmyra'

Rising out of the Syrian desert, Palmyra contains the
monumental ruins of a great city

BBC AMERICA: Islamic State militants are reported to have seized a third of the Syrian town next to Palmyra, one of the the Middle East's greatest archaeological sites.

Activists said IS had overrun much of the north of Tadmur after fierce clashes with government forces.

Syria's head of antiquities said the world had a responsibility to save Palmyra, a Unesco World Heritage site.

Hundreds of statues had been moved to safety, but large monuments could not be moved, Maamoun Abdul Karim warned.

IS militants have ransacked and demolished several ancient sites that pre-date Islam in Iraq, including Hatra and Nimrud, leading to fears that it might attempt to damage or destroy Palmyra. » | Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Almost a Third of School Pupils Believe 'Muslims Are Taking Over Our Country', Study Claims

THE INDEPENDENT: Charity sent questionnaires to just under 6,000 pupils across England

Almost a third of schoolchildren believe that Muslims are “taking over our country” according to the largest study of its kind carried out in the UK.

A survey of almost 6,000 children aged 10 to 16 across England found that negative attitudes towards migrants and Muslims were widespread among school pupils. » | Rose Ytroup Buchanan | Tuesday, May 19, 2015

'A Crime Is a Crime Is a Crime': Tony Abbott Warns No Mercy for Remorseful Jihadis

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: Remorseful jihadis who have joined Islamic State but want to return home will be welcomed back only to a jail cell, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned.

Three Australians who have joined Islamic State in Syria or Iraq are in talks with the government about potentially returning home.

Officials are suspicious about whether the trio is genuinely reformed and the immediate danger they could pose for embassy staff in the event they were assisted in coming back to Australia.

Mr Abbott said the men would be "arrested, prosecuted and jailed" should they return home, because they could easily "become a terrorist in Australia".

"A crime is a crime is a crime," Mr Abbott said. » | Latika Bourke, Marissa Calligeros | Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Aldi Apologises after Black Pudding Is Incorrectly Labelled as Halal-certified

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Muslim customers were left fuming by the blunder that saw supposedly halal black pudding being sold containing pig blood and skins

A supermarket chain has apologised after a black pudding product was incorrectly labelled as halal-certified.

Muslim customers at Aldi were left fuming by the blunder that saw supposedly halal black pudding being sold containing pig blood and skins, the Mirror reported. Pork is forbidden in Islam.

"This is absolutely outrageous and I am deeply offended by this," Manahil Khan told the Mirror.

"I am pretty sure many others of the Muslim community are also very offended by this.

"It is demoralising and goes against one's religious morals and scripture.... and I speak on behalf of every Muslim and human that does not deserve to be misled by any sort of false claim of halal food or lies about what we consume."

Manufacturer Punjab Pakora, based in Ayr, apologised for the incident, saying it was a printing mistake which had now been rectified, as did Aldi. Read on and comment » | Agency | Monday, May 18, 2015

Saudi Arabia a 'Prime Target' for Islamic State

Saudi Arabia is a member of the US-led coalition battling the jihadists who call themselves Islamic State, in Iraq and Syria.

However there has long been concern that ultra-conservative Saudi theologians foster the ideology that fuels such Islamist extremism. Barbara Plett Usher reports.

Why Saudi Arabia Has Lost Faith in the US

Gulf leaders perceive the Americans to be naive when
it comes to Iran

BBC AMERICA: One key sentence in President Barack Obama's press conference at Camp David last week clearly illustrates the gulf between Washington and its allies on the Arabian Peninsula when it comes to Iran.

"We gave [our allies] our best analysis of the enormous needs that Iran has internally and the commitment that Iran has made to its people in terms of shoring up its economy and improving economic growth," said President Obama, when asked about concerns that Iran would use the money from sanctions relief for nefarious aims in the region.

He added that "most of the destabilising activity that Iran engages in is low-tech, low-cost activity".

It was just as well that Mr Obama gave the press conference on his own. The Gulf leaders had just departed after a full day of talks at the Maryland retreat or they would have had a hard time resisting a collective eye roll at what they perceive to be American naivety about Tehran.

As it pursues a nuclear deal with Iran, Washington has been trying hard not to adhere to the positions, fears and sometimes paranoia of Arab countries vis-à-vis Iran.

At Camp David, the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council received assurances that Washington had their backs, with pledges about more military cooperation and hardware. But nothing can bridge what are essentially opposing world views.

Riyadh has accepted that there is little it can do about stopping a nuclear deal, but it's gearing up to push back more forcefully against its arch-nemesis, as Tehran boasts of a new Persian empire with influence over four capitals: Beirut, Baghdad, Damascus and Sanaa. » | Kim Ghattas, BBC News, Washington | Monday, May 18, 2015

«Homeschooling» - Privatschule für kleine Leute

Mütter oder Väter, die ihre Kinder zu Hause unterrichten, machen «Homeschooling». In der Schweiz ist dieses nicht einheitlich geregelt. Als besonders liberal bei der Zulassung von Heimunterricht gelten die Kantone Bern, Aargau und Appenzell Ausserrhoden. Im Appenzellerland hat sich die Zahl der Kinder, die daheim zur Schule gehen, vervielfacht.

Schwule Ehen im katholischen Irland

Die homosexuelle soll der heterosexuellen Ehe gleichgestellt werden: Über drei Millionen Bürgerinnen und Bürger der Republik Irland sind am 22. Mai aufgerufen, über diesen Verfassungszusatz abzustimmen. Meinungsumfragen verheissen der Reform einen klaren Durchbruch.

Anjem Choudary: Bill O’Reilly Defiles Islam

BREITBART.COM: (THE UNITED WEST) According to UK Imam Anjem Choudary, Bill O’Reilly has defiled Islam by displaying the image of the Islamic Prophet Isa (Jesus) in his movie and Killing Jesus. Choudary stated, “The depiction of Mohammad, Moses, or Isa requires the death penalty.” » | Breitbart TV | Thursday, May 07, 2015

French Mayor Suspended after Calling for Islam to Be Banned

THE INDEPENDENT: Robert Chardon tweeted the extreme view as part of a discussion with former president Nicolas Sarkozy

A French mayor has been suspended from his party after calling for the country to ban Islam.

Robert Chardon, the UMP mayor of Venelles in southern France, tweeted: “The Muslim religion must be banned in France” and added that anyone practising the religion must be “immediately escorted to the border”.

He also claimed Islam will be banned in France by 2027. » | Ben Tuffy | Sunday, May 17, 2015

Related »

Saudi Arabia Advertises for Eight New Executioners

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Islamic kingdom advertises for eight new executioners amid sharp increase in number of death sentences

Saudi Arabia is advertising for eight new executioners, recruiting extra staff to carry out an increasing number of death sentences, usually done by public beheading.

No special qualifications are needed for the jobs whose main role is "executing a judgement of death" but also involve performing amputations on those convicted of lesser offences, the advert, posted on the civil service jobs portal, said. » | Reuters | Monday, May 18, 2015

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Steep rise in Saudi Arabia executions as 2015 tally reaches 45: The Gulf kingdom has executed 80 people annually since 2011, with 87 recorded in 2014 » | AFP | Saturday, May 16, 2015

Queen's Germany Trip Will Include Tour of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp

During her trip to the concentration and prisoner of war camps,
the Queen will lay a wreath at a memorial dedicated to Anne Frank.

THE GUARDIAN: British monarch to visit site, liberated by British troops 70 years ago, as part of four-day trip which will also involve a meeting with chancellor Angela Merkel

The Queen will visit the site of the Bergen-Belsen prisoner of war and concentration camps during her state visit to Germany, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The camps were liberated 70 years ago by British troops and the Queen will be joined by the Duke of Edinburgh during her tour of the site, now a memorial to those who died at the hands of the Nazis. It will be a personal and reflective visit for the monarch and will be kept low-key.

British troops arrived at the site in northern Germany on 15 April, 1945 to find thousands of unburied bodies and severely ill prisoners who had been interned there.

Tens of thousands of prisoners from across Europe were killed at Bergen-Belsen or died following is liberation as a result of their treatment. » | Press Association | Sunday, May 17, 2015

Verwandt »

Royaler Reiseplan in Deutschland: So bekommen Sie ein Date mit der Queen

Queen Elizabeth und Prinz Philip: Vier Tage zu Besuch in Deutschland

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Staatsbankett, Sightseeing und viel Bürgernähe: Der Terminplan für die Deutschlandreise von Queen Elizabeth II. steht. In vier Tagen besucht die Monarchin drei Städte - und sucht noch Menschen, die sich mit ihr treffen wollen.

Deutschland bekommt wieder Besuch von einer Königin - und nun steht auch fest, wo Queen Elizabeth II. und Prinz Philip sich im Juni zeigen werden. Laut offiziellem Reiseplan bereisen die 89-Jährige und ihr vier Jahre älterer Ehemann drei Bundesländer in vier Tagen. Vom 23. bis 26. Juni kommen die beiden nach Berlin und nach Frankfurt am Main, sie besichtigen die KZ-Gedenkstätte Bergen-Belsen bei Celle und treffen Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel sowie Bundespräsident Joachim Gauck.

"Das Programm ist so angelegt, dass möglichst viele Menschen Gelegenheit erhalten, die Königin zu sehen", versicherte der britische Botschafter Simon McDonald. Zuletzt hatte die Queen Deutschland 2004 besucht. » | brk/dpa | Montag, 18. Mai 2015

Islamic State 'Seizes Iraqi City of Ramadi'

BBC AMERICA: The Iraqi city of Ramadi has fallen to Islamic State (IS) after government forces abandoned their positions, officials say.

The police and military made a chaotic retreat after days of intense fighting.

But the US refused to confirm the capture, saying the situation was "fluid and contested" and it was too early to make "definitive statements".

Ramadi is the capital of Iraq's largest province, Anbar, and is just 70 miles (112km) west of Baghdad.

A statement purportedly from IS said its fighters had "purged the entire city". It said IS had taken the 8th Brigade army base, along with tanks and missile launchers left behind by troops.

A very well-placed source in the Anbar governor's office told the BBC Ramadi was now under the full control of Islamic State, and all government troops had withdrawn. (+ BBC video) » | Sunday, May 17, 2015

L'Europe divorcée sur le mariage homo

LE JOURNAL DU DIMANCHE: François Clemenceau, rédacteur en chef du service "International" du JDD, décrypte chaque semaine les photos de l'actualité mondiale ou de ses coulisses. Cette semaine, il revient sur le mariage gay, qui divise l'Europe.

Les Irlandais s’apprêtent à voter par référendum le 22 mai pour ou contre la légalisation du mariage homosexuel. Le oui est en tête dans les sondages, et s’il l’emporte, l’Irlande sera le 12ème pays membre de l’Union européenne à autoriser le mariage gay. Mais il reste encore une dizaine d’Etats réfractaires, et pas forcément pour des raisons religieuses.

C’est d’ailleurs intéressant de noter que parmi les premiers pays à avoir adopté le mariage homosexuel depuis 2001, certains abritent des populations à forte pratique religieuse. C’est le cas de l’Espagne en 2005 ou du Portugal en 2010. En France, en revanche, où la pratique religieuse est en baisse, il a fallu attendre 2013. Idem pour la Finlande qui a légalisé le mariage gay cette année et qui attendra 2017 pour sa mise en œuvre. » | François Clemenceau - leJDD.fr | samedi 16 mai 2015

A Palmyre, "la perte d'un trésor inestimable"

LE JOURNAL DU DIMANCHE: INTERVIEW - Cheikhmous Ali, docteur en archéologie du Proche-Orient ancien et fondateur de l’Association pour la protection de l’archéologie syrienne, s’alarme de la situation à Palmyre.

La cité antique de Palmyre, chef-d'œuvre archéologique miraculeusement préservé au cœur du désert syrien, sera-t-elle à son tour victime de la guerre civile qui déchire le pays depuis 2011? Samedi soir, les djihadistes du groupe État islamique, déjà auteurs de destructions de sites emblématiques comme Nimroud, Hatra ou ­Mossoul, auraient pris le contrôle du nord de la ville selon l'Observatoire syrien des Droits de l'homme. Dimanche, les forces armée du régime ont repoussé les djihadistes au nord de la ville. L'Unesco, qui a classé le site au patrimoine mondial de l'humanité en 1980, avait sonné l'alerte vendredi. En contact quotidien depuis la France avec ses correspondants à Palmyre, l'archéologue d'origine syrienne Cheikhmous Ali est consterné. » | Juliette Demey - Le Journal du Dimanche | dimanche 17 mai 2015

Charlie Hebdo Accused of Hypocrisy as It Suspends Journalist after Death Threats over Her Articles Attacking Islam

Charlie Hebdo columnist Zineb El Rhazoui, 33, (center) has
been suspended by the satirical magazine

DAILY MAIL: Charlie Hebdo columnist Zineb El Rhazoui, 33, has been suspended / She has received death threats for her articles attacking Islamic extremism / Thousands have accused magazine of 'hypocrisy' for not supporting writer / Mrs El Rhazoui 'shocked' by decision which comes months after attack

Satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has been accused of hypocrisy after it suspended a journalist who has received death threats for her articles attacking Islamic extremism.

Zineb El Rhazoui, 33, was called to a preliminary dismissal hearing to remind her of her 'obligations' towards the French weekly following 'numerous incidents'.

The French-Moroccan columnist accused her employers of trying to 'punish her' for speaking out about the direction of the magazine four months after the jihadist attack which left 12 dead.

'I am shocked and appalled that a management that has received so much support after the January attacks could show so little support for one of its employees, who is under pressure like everyone in the team and has faced threats,' she told Le Monde.

'My husband lost his job and had to leave Morocco because the jihadists revealed his workplace. I am under threat and having to live with friends or in a hotel and the management is thinking of firing me. Bravo Charlie.'

The move has prompted outrage on social media with thousands calling the decision 'absurd' and bewildering'. Read on and comment » | Jenny Awford for MailOnline | Saturday, May 16, 2015

Islamists Warn of Backlash over Mohamed Morsi Death Sentence

THE OBSERVER: Muslim Brotherhood say prison break sentences are act of revenge by Egyptian regime as crackdown intensifies


Egyptian Islamists have warned that the world should brace itself for a backlash after the country’s first freely elected president, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi, was given a provisional death sentence nearly two years after he was overthrown by the army following mass protests against his rule.

Morsi was among over 100 men sentenced to death on Saturday for allegedly escaping prison during the 2011 uprising that toppled Morsi’s predecessor, Hosni Mubarak. Morsi and his colleagues were convicted of conspiring with Hamas, the Brotherhood’s Palestinian offshoot, whom judges decided had helped the prisoners leave jail in January 2011.

The sentence is provisional until the government’s most senior Islamic cleric gives his opinion. A final decision is due on 2 June. Even if the execution is upheld, analysts doubt that the Egyptian regime will follow through with such a provocative act. In a separate espionage case on Saturday, Morsi was sentenced to life in prison and, in a third case last month, to 20 years for incitement to violence. » | Patrick Kingsley in Cairo | Saturday, May 16, 2015

Islamic State Militants 'Smuggled to Europe'

Smugglers hide IS militants on boats filled with migrants,
Abdul Basit Haroun says

BBC AMERICA: Islamic State (IS) fighters are being smuggled into Europe by gangs in the Mediterranean, a Libyan official has told the BBC.

Government adviser Abdul Basit Haroun said smugglers were hiding IS militants on boats filled with migrants.

He based his claim on conversations with boat owners in parts of North Africa controlled by the militants.

He alleged that IS was allowing them to continue their operations in exchange for 50% of their income.

The UN estimates that 60,000 people have already tried to cross the Mediterranean this year. » | Sunday, May 17, 2015

ISIS Barbarism. When Will the Civilised World Put a Stop to This Crap?

Read the Daily Mail article here | Jay Akbar for MailOnline | Saturday, May 16, 2015

Bill Maher Asks Ayaan Hirsi Ali Why Liberals 'Blame the Victim' When It Comes to Radical Islam

HBO "Real Time" host Bill Maher criticized liberals on Friday for "blaming the victim" when it comes to radical Islam. Speaking with author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Mr. Maher asked why so many liberals, who normally "hate blaming the victim," do so when it comes to radical Islam. He cited liberals who criticized the Muhammad cartoon contest…

Pope Calls Palestinian Leader Abbas 'Angel of Peace' at Vatican Meeting

Pope Francis meets Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas
during an audience in the Vatican

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Meeting comes days after Vatican recognises "Palestinian state" in treaty, and precedes canonisation of first Palestinian Arab saints

Pope Francis met Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority leader, in the Vatican on Saturday, calling him "an angel of peace".

The meeting between the Pope – who visited both Israel and the occupied West Bank a year ago – and Mr Abbas came days after the Vatican confirmed it had concluded a treaty which effectively recognises Palestinian statehood.

The treaty – which has yet to be signed – states that the Vatican has switched its diplomatic relations from the Palestine Liberation Organisation to the "state of Palestine", thus giving further impetus to growing international calls to recognise a Palestinian state. » | AFP | Saturday, May 16, 2015

Iranian Official Says Saudi King 'Traitor to Islam,' Iterates Support for Assad

Saudi King Salman

THE JERUSALEM POST: "He should be called the traitor of the Islamic nation and against all the teachings," Iranian official says.

DAMASCUS - A senior Iranian official branded Saudi Arabia's King Salman a traitor to Islam on Thursday and equated the Gulf state's military assault on Iranian-allied fighters in Yemen with Israeli actions against Palestinians.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of Iran's national security and foreign policy committee, speaking in Damascus, also reiterated his country's support for the Syrian government, which is battling an insurgency backed by Saudi Arabia.

Shi'ite Islamist Iran has been a vital ally for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the four-year Syrian war, providing crucial military and economic support.

Syria is a focal point in a wider regional struggle between Tehran and Riyadh and which is also playing out in Yemen.

"We are here to announced anew that our support for Syria - government and nation - is solid and continuous, and we are proud of this support," Boroujerdi said, according to a report on the Syrian state news agency SANA.

In fierce rhetoric, Boroujerdi said "God would take revenge" against the Saudi monarch for serving what he called US-Israeli interests in the war against the Shi'ite Houthi rebels. » | Reuters | Thursday, May 14, 2015

Rachida Dati Embroiled in Row over Thousands Spent on Luxury Clothes and Gifts While Justice Minister

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: France's state auditor refuses to validate €9,000 spent on luxury clothes, accessories, gifts and food and drink while Rachida Dati was justice minister as the glamorous MEP claims she is the victim of a "political cabal".

Rachida Dati, France's glamorous former justice minister, has hit back at the country's state auditor after it refused to pay for almost €9,000 (£6,500) her ministry spent on luxury clothes, scarves, "gifts", restaurants and patisserie while she was in office.

The Cour des Comptes ruled the state should not pay for Hermès scarves, ties and other luxury items, and also rejected a further €180,000 Ms Dati's ministry spent on "communication consulting" between 2007 and 2010 – most of it going to a company run by a friend of then-president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Ms Dati, whose love of designer clothes saw her appear in a Dior dress and fishnet stockings on the front page of Paris Match while in office, furiously denied any of the luxury garments were for her, saying they were all "presents" for foreign judicial dignitaries. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Thursday, May 14, 2015

Schwuler EU-Regierungschef: Luxemburgs Premier Bettel heiratet langjährigen Freund

Ehemänner Destenay, Bettel: Hochzeit in der
luxemburgischen Hauptstadt

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Xavier Bettel hat als erster Regierungschef in Europa einen Ehemann: Der luxemburgische Premier hat seinen langjährigen Partner Gauthier Destenay geheiratet. Die Flitterwochen fallen allerdings aus.

Luxemburgs Ministerpräsident Xavier Bettel hat seinen Lebensgefährten Gauthier Destenay geheiratet. Das Paar trat am Freitagnachmittag nach der standesamtlichen Trauung vor das Rathaus der luxemburgischen Hauptstadt. Es folgte ein Fotoshooting, anschließend wurde im privaten Kreis gefeiert. Die Eheschließung übernahm die Bürgermeisterin der Stadt, Lydie Polfer. » | mxw/dpa/AFP | Freitag, 15. Mai 2015

Verwandt »

Le Congrès des Etats-Unis va contrôler Obama sur l’Iran

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Accord sur le nucléaire – Une loi approuvée jeudi permet aux parlementaires de refuser, sous certaines conditions, un accord sur le nucléaire iranien

Le Congrès américain s’est offert jeudi un droit de regard sur l’accord nucléaire avec l’Iran. La Chambre des représentants a accepté à une large majorité (400 voix contre 25) un projet de loi qui empêchera Barack Obama de lever les sanctions visant Téhéran pendant les trente jours suivants la signature de l’accord. La démarche a pour but de permettre aux parlementaires d’accepter ou de désapprouver le deal. » | Par Jean-Cosme Delaloye | vendredi 15 mai 2015

Mayor Wants to BAN Islam 'To Solve the Country's Problems'

Robert Chardon is the mayor of Venelles,
a town in southern France

DAILY EXPRESS: A MAYOR is pushing for a law to ban Islam – explaining that it is "the only solution for most of France's problems".

Robert Chardon, mayor of Venelles, a town in the south of France, tweeted: "We must ban the Muslim faith in France."

He called for the country to removal a secularism law dating back to 1905 – and instead "promote the practice of the Christian faith".

Chardon added: "We also need a Marshall Plan to send Muslims to countries where the religion is practiced." » | Tom Parfitt | Saturday, May 16, 2015

Luxemburger Regierungschef heiratet seinen Freund

Frischvermählt: Xavier Bettel (r.) mit seinem Mann
Gauthier Destenay

DIE WELT: Erst seit Kurzem erlaubt Luxemburg die Ehe auch für gleichgeschlechtliche Paare. Nun nimmt Regierungschef Bettel das neue Recht in Anspruch: Er gibt seinem belgischen Lebenspartner das Ja-Wort.

Luxemburgs Ministerpräsident Xavier Bettel (42) hat seinen Lebensgefährten Gauthier Destenay geheiratet. Das Paar trat am Freitagnachmittag nach der standesamtlichen Trauung vor das Rathaus der luxemburgischen Hauptstadt.

Es folgte ein Fotoshooting, anschließend wurde im privaten Kreis gefeiert. Die Eheschließung übernahm die Bürgermeisterin der Stadt, Lydie Polfer. In Luxemburg können sich homosexuelle Paare seit Anfang des Jahres das Jawort geben. Bettel und der belgische Architekt Destenay waren seit August verlobt, seit 2010 lebten sie in einer eingetragenen Partnerschaft. » | dpa/AP/mak | Freitag, 15. Mai 2015

Islamists Eat Your Bloody Hearts Out! Heidis Erben - Mein Vater ist ein Wandersmann / Wo ist die Kokosnuss

Slain Charlie Hebdo Editor's Lover Releases Book Criticising Islamists' Treatment of Women

The partner of slain Charlie Hebdo editor Charb, Jeannette Bougrab

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Jeannette Bougrab, ex-lover of Charlie Hebdo editor Charb, claims her dead partner's entourage cut her out because her Right-wing credentials didn't fit his image as a Leftist "womanising bachelor"

Jeanette Bougrab, the ex-lover of slain Charlie Hebdo editor Charb, has released a book criticising Muslim countries’ treatment of women and Islamists who brandish the Prophet Mohammed's marriage to a child as sanctioning child brides.

Ms Bougrab, 41, a minister of Algerian origin in the previous administration of conservative president Nicolas Sarkozy, also hit back at the entourage of Charb, whose real name was Stéphane Charbonnier, saying they had excommunicated her after his death because she was a Right-winger.

In Maudites (Cursed), out on Wednesday, Ms Bougrab wrote about what she says is the misfortune of many girls born in Muslim countries, from Yemen to Pakistan. She paid tribute to a series of women including her mother, Zohra Trari, who was forcibly married at 13, abused, and today has terminal cancer.

“Is it blasphemy to say we should move away from the archaic practices of seventh century Arabia?,” she asked, referring to the Prophet Mohammed’s marriage to Aisha, adding that she has no intention of dropping her fight for secularism and women’s rights. Charlie Hebdo was targeted by Islamists after publishing front page cartoons depicting the Prophet. » | Henry Samuel, Paris | Friday, May 15, 2015

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Gets Death Penalty in Boston Marathon Bombing

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

THE NEW YORK TIMES: BOSTON — Dzhokhar Tsarnaev sat stone-faced in a federal court here on Friday as a jury sentenced him to death for setting off bombs at the 2013 Boston Marathon that killed three people and injured hundreds more in the worst terrorist attack on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001.

The jury of seven women and five men, which last month convicted Mr. Tsarnaev, 21, of all 30 charges against him, 17 of which carry the death penalty, took more than 14 hours to reach its decision.

In reaching its decision, the jury found that Mr. Tsarnaev had shown no remorse for actions, and it rejected the defense argument that his older brother, Tamerlan, had brainwashed him into joining in the bombings.

It was the first time a federal jury had sentenced a terrorist to death in the post-Sept. 11 era, according to Kevin McNally, director of the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel Project, which coordinates the defense in capital punishment cases.

Prosecutors portrayed Mr. Tsarnaev, who immigrated to Cambridge, Mass., from the Russian Caucasus with his family in 2002, as a coldblooded, unrepentant jihadist who sought to kill innocent Americans in retaliation for the deaths of innocent Muslims in American-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. » | Katharine Q. Seelye | Friday, May 15, 2015

Nicolas Sarkozy's #NSDIRECT Twitter Q&A Backfires Wildly

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Nicolas Sarkozy's bid to harness the power of Twitter backfires when his #NSDIRECT account is flooded with spoofs and a call by a fellow Right-wing mayor to ban Islam in France

Nicolas Sarkozy’s bid to engage with public via a Twitter chat backfired wildly on Friday after his account flooded with trolls and a Right-wing mayor dropped an unwanted bombshell by calling for Islam to be outlawed in France[.]

The communications team of France’s former president and current leader of the centre-Right UMP opposition thought it would a good idea to spruce up his image by asking the public to pose questions via Twitter, ahead of a key party conference on May 30.

However, it appears they got more than they bargained for when the #NSDIRECT hashtag - where Twitter users were told to pose their questions - was inundated with tens of thousands of spoof questions, jokes and cartoons - many of them unflattering to say the least. » | Henry Samuel | Friday, May 15, 2015

Islamic State Crisis: Militants Seize Ramadi Stronghold

BBC AMERICA: Islamic State militants have seized the main government building in Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's largest province.

As many as six suicide car bombs and mortars were used in the assault on the compound that houses the main police HQ and governor's office.

At least 50 security personnel are reported to have been taken prisoner at the site.

IS and Iraqi troops have been battling for months to take control of the strategically important Anbar province.

The attack by IS militants began overnight when the suicide car bombs were driven into compound housing a number of government buildings, killing at least 10 people and wounding a number of others. » | Friday, May 15, 2015

BBC Reporter Slammed for Comparing Hate Preacher Anjem Choudary to Gandhi and Mandela

Mark Easton compared Anjem Choudary to Gandhi and Mandela

DAILY EXPRESS: THE BBC has come under fire after one of its chief reporters shockingly compared extremism preacher Anjem Choudary to civil rights heroes Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.

Stunned viewers watched home affairs editor Mark Easton criticising the Government's plans to silence hate-mongers such as Choudary, who has refused to condemn the killing of Lee Rigby, by asking whether great historical figures would pass the proposed test.

The newsman carried on by saying extreme views were needed in order to "challenge very established values".

Speaking on BBC News at Ten last night, the home affairs editor went further and, following a news piece on Choudary, Mr Easton said: "It's one thing to ban someone for inciting hatred or violence, but quite another to pass a law that silences anyone who challenges established values.

"I was in Parliament Square today - a statue of Gandhi looking down at me who was jailed for being extremist; Mandela who was jailed for being an extremist.

"History tells us that extreme views are sometimes needed to challenge very established values that people at the time hold so dear."

Mr Easton's comments have provoked anger against the public service broadcaster.

There was also upset regarding the air-time given to Choudary on last night's news.

It is not the first time the BBC has been criticised for allowing the British-born extremist to promote himself. » | Rob Virtue | Thursday, May 14, 2015

Isil Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi 'Releases Audio Message'

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isil, addresses his followers
in Mosul in July 2014 - his one and only public appearance

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Islamic State leader has not been seen or heard from in months, amid rumours of his death or severe injury in a US-led air strike

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), appeared to urge Muslims to emigrate to his self-proclaimed “caliphate”, in what would be the jihadist leader’s first audio recording in six months.

“And we call upon every Muslim in every place to perform hijrah (emigration) to the Islamic State or fight in his land wherever that may be,” the voice, which cannot be verified as Baghdadi’s, said.

The recording calls Islam a “religion of war”, adding that “coexistence with Jews and Christians” is impossible. » | Louisa Loveluck, Cairo | Thursday, May 14, 2015

Related »

Alleged Audio of Al-Baghdadi Surfaces

Jean-Marie Le Pen condamne les homosexuels qui chassent en meute

Lors d’une interview de Ruth Elkrief, Jean-Marie Le Pen a reconnu qu’il y avait beaucoup de gens homosexuels à la direction du Front national. Jean-Marie Le Pen n’apprécie pas quand ils se conduisent comme hétérophobes.

Women Who Reject the Hijab Are ‘Stupid, Naïve and Ignorant’ Says Top Islamic Scholar

EGYPTIAN STREETS: The debate around Islamic headscarves (Hijab) and an Islamic dress code for women is still raging in Egypt. Sheikh Ali Gomaa, an internationally known Islamist jurist and Egypt’s ex-Grand Mufti (top interpreter of religious edicts issued by Muslim clerics), recently joined the debate with some very surprising and alarming comments.

On live television, Sheikh Gomaa not only reaffirmed that headscarves (Hijab) are mandatory in Islam; he labeled any woman who disputes this interpretation as an infidel. Moreover, he said women who reject the Hijab are “stupid, naive and ignorant.”

His comments have raised fears among non-Islamist Egyptians that supposedly moderate mainstream scholars are now giving their blessing to new institutionalized Islamism.

In Egypt, the dress code for women has been controversial for nearly 100 years. The controversy started in 1919, when many women took off their veils as a gesture of support for Egypt’s freedom from British occupation. Political Islamist groups, however, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, have always campaigned for a strict Islamic dress code that includes covering the head as a minimum requirement for Muslim women. The group’s supporters resorted to social coercion to spread their message, using fear tactics (such as threats of punishment in the afterlife) to ensure adherence to the dress code. Salafists have opted for an even blunter approach, with a sharper dose of social coercion against women in their social circles. » | Nervana Mahmoud | Doctor, Commentator and Writer on Middle East Issues | Wednesday, May 13, 2015

'I Will Slit Your Throat:' Gambian President to Gay Men

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh

ADVOCATE.COM: It's among the most direct, graphic threats the dictator has made in his long history of homophobic public remarks.

Gambia's infamously homophobic dictator, President Yahya Gammeh, has threatened to personally slit the throats of any man who wants to marry another man in Gambia, reports Vice News.

Ironically, the personal threat made against his gay countrymen in a public speech was supposed to be about "fostering a healthy atmosphere" for Gambia's youth.

"If you do it [in the Gambia] I will slit your throat — if you are a man and want to marry another man in this country and we catch you, no one will ever set eyes on you again, and no white person can do anything about it," said Jammeh, speaking in the Wolof language at Farafenni, a market town near the Senegal border. » | Thom Senzee | Wednesday, May 13, 2015

David Cameron Appoints First Lesbian to a Conservative Government

Margot James was appointed as an
Assistant Government Whip

PINK NEWS: The Prime Minister has promoted the first out lesbian MP to a Conservative Government as an Assistant Government Whip.

Margot James, the MP for Stourbridge, was promoted by David Cameron in this week’s ongoing reshuffle.

On winning Stourbridge in 2010, Ms James was one of two out lesbian MPs in the last Parliament, and today becomes the first lesbian in the current Government, and the first to serve under a Conservative Prime Minister. » | Joseph Patrick McCormick | Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Sheep Ranchers Count On American Muslims To Keep Lamb On Menu

NPR: Sheep ranchers, feedlot owners, and processors in states like Colorado, Nebraska and Illinois are banking on America becoming a more diverse place.

Specifically, they want American Muslims to buy more of their lamb.

Today, the average American eats roughly a half pound of lamb per year. That number has been dropping for decades. Compare that with the more than 50 pounds of beef and almost 90 pounds of chicken each American eats every year. Megan Wortman, executive director of the American Lamb Board, the industry's producer-funded promotional arm, says lamb is saddled with perception problems.

"We've lost a couple generations that just do not have any experience with lamb, or they've had a really bad experience with lamb," Wortman says. "The grandmother who overcooked it, and it was tough and brown and dull and gamey. They put mint jelly all over it."

A report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Research Center puts it bluntly: "The majority of U.S. residents do not consume any lamb." For the most part, growing ethnic populations in the Northeast and on the West Coast have kept the American lamb industry afloat, the report notes. » | Luke Runyon | Tuesday, May 12, 2015

My comment:

It is not surprising that lamb consumption in the US has declined. In my experience, when you buy 'lamb' in the US, you often end up with mutton. The meat is strong, chewy and often tough. Lamb, on the other hand, should be tender and succulent. Even in the article above, the words sheep and lamb are used almost interchangeably. They shouldn't be: The meat you get from sheep is mutton. Mutton is old and strong, and perhaps 'gamey' too. Lamb doesn't come from sheep; it comes from young lambs. There's a huge difference! – © Mark

European Anti-Semitism 'Has Reached Critical Mass,' Expert Warns

ARUTZ SHEVA: With Jews murdered in Europe with increasing frequency, ADL head Abraham Foxman says anti-Semitism levels the worst since 1930s.

Anti-Semitism has reached "critical mass" in Europe, and stands at its worst levels globally since the 1930s, a senior anti-hate campaigner has warned.

Speaking to Arutz Sheva at the 5th Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism on Wednesday, ADL National Director Abraham Foxman said that although anti-Semitism was not yet at the same levels as it was immediately prior to the holocaust, Jews are certainly being subjected to the worst levels of hatred since then.

"It's not like the thirties, but it's the worst its been since the 30s," Foxman said.

Explaining his alarming analysis, Foxman noted the growing numbers of deadly attacks against Jews, particularly in Europe, which - combined with other violent attacks - represents a wave of Jew-hatred unprecedented since the end of the Second World War.

"We're living in an era where again anti-Semitism presents a clear and present danger to Jews in various communities.

"It's global in its nature, and it's endangering the lives of Jews - not just where they live or their livelihoods - and it has a dimension of terrorism, jihadism." » | Ari Soffer | Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Vatican to Recognise Palestinian State in Treaty

Pope Francis delighted his Palestinian hosts by referring to the
"state of Palestine" during a three-day visit to the Middle East
a year ago

BBC AMERICA: The Vatican is to formally recognise Palestinian statehood in a treaty that will be signed shortly, officials say.

Israel has expressed its disappointment at the decision which it says will not advance the peace process.

Talks between the Palestinians and the Vatican - which favours a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - have gone of for 20 years.

President Abbas meets the Pope this weekend when two 19th Century Palestinian nuns will be canonised.

The Vatican is eager that property and civil rights of the Catholic Church in the Palestinian state is protected, correspondents say. According to the New York Times, it has strong religious interests in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories that include Christian holy sites. » | Wednesday, May 13, 2015

ARUTZ SHEVA: Vatican Preparing to Recognize PA as 'Palestine': Foreign Ministry warns that the Vatican's step will not bring peace, may change Israel-Vatican relations. » | Nitzan Keidar | Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Cameron Crackdown on 'Poisonous' Islamic Extremists Could See Mosques Closed Down

Radical preacher Anjem Choudary has claimed that all
Muslim MPs and voters are 'apostates'

DAILY EXPRESS: DAVID Cameron has vowed to wage war against British Islamic extremism in a decisive first move by the new Conservative government.

The Prime Minister will act quickly to curb the powers of known hate preachers and terrorists - moves that were blocked by the Liberal Democrats.

Unshackled from coalition government, Mr Cameron has free rein to launch a much-anticipated crackdown on those who seek to brainwash British youngsters, warning against a "passively tolerant" society.

Among the options being considered is a ban on radical clerics mixing with vulnerable young muslims, introducing banning orders for organisations that use hate speech in public and powers to close premises – even mosques - where extremists meet.

Mr Cameron will meet with security chiefs to outline the plans, and is expected to include the measures in his majority government’s first Queen’s Speech on May 27. » | Tom Batchelor | Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Kuba trumpft mit Impfstoff gegen Lungenkrebs auf

Lungenkrebs ist eine der häufigsten Krebserkrankungen weltweit,
Rauchen gilt als eine der Hauptursachen

DIE WELT: Kuba ist das erste Land, das einen vielversprechenden therapeutischen Impfstoff gegen Lungenkrebs entwickelt hat. Die USA wollen ihn nun auch haben. Bis vor kurzem, zu Zeiten der Feindschaft, undenkbar.

Vom Ende der jahrzehntelangen Feindschaft zwischen den USA und Kuba könnten nicht nur die Menschen auf der Karibikinsel, sondern auch weitere Länder, u. a. auch Deutschland, profitieren: und zwar auf einem Gebiet, auf dem man es nicht erwartet: im Kampf gegen den tödlichen Lungenkrebs.

Bei der Entwicklung eines therapeutischen Impfstoffes für fortgeschrittenen Lungenkrebs nimmt Kuba weltweit eine führende Position ein. Der Impfstoff mit dem Namen Cimavax, an dem kubanische Wissenschaftler mehr als 15 Jahre gearbeitet haben, ergänzt traditionelle Behandlungsmethoden. » | Von Oliver Creutz Wissenschaftsredakteur | Dienstag, 12. Mai 2015

Les Français séduits par l'ouverture de Cuba

Une voiture dans les rues de La Havane à Cuba, photo d'illustration.

LE POINT: Cinq mois après le dégel annoncé entre Washington et La Havane, les voyagistes français constatent un engouement réel pour cette destination ensoleillée.

Le réchauffement des relations entre Cuba et les pays occidentaux séduit de plus en plus de touristes français qui souhaitent profiter d'une certaine authenticité, de peur de voir se développer dans quelques années un tourisme de masse qui pourrait défigurer l'île. Cinq mois après le dégel annoncé entre Washington et La Havane, et deux ans après les prémices d'un réchauffement, les voyagistes français constatent un engouement réel de leur clientèle pour cette destination ensoleillée. » | Le Point | mardi 12 mai 2015

Cameron Declares War on EU

David Cameron will demand for changes to be made in the EU

DAILY EXPRESS: DAVID Cameron vowed yesterday (Tue) to use a Brussels showdown with European leaders to demand major changes to the EU.

The Prime Minister will also hold an early referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union if his demands are met.

Mr Cameron will use a crunch summit next month to spell out his plans for Britain to have much looser ties with the EU.

The Prime Minister has already begun a six-week blitz to shore up support for renegotiations, speaking to key EU figures immediately after last week’s historic election victory.

He will ramp up efforts next week by meeting European allies in a further attempt to strengthen his position to get a new deal.

The onslaught will culminate at next month’s European Council summit - already being dubbed the “Battle of Brussels” – putting him on a collision course with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. » | Martyn Brown | Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Vienna Replaces Pedestrian Traffic Light Figures with Gay Couples

A new traffic light, showing a same-sex couple, in Vienna

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: In a gesture to coincide with the city hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, hundreds of pedestrian signals around the Austrian capital will be replaced with new lights showing couples hand in hand

Vienna is preparing to give its pedestrian traffic lights a love life – by replacing the red and green men with couples.

And in a move intended to show the Austrian capital's tolerance and openness, the couples will come in three varieties: straight, gay and lesbian.

Hundreds of the signals around the city will be replaced with new lights showing various different couples hand in hand: a man and a woman, two men, or two women.

To complete the picture they will be adorned with romantic hearts.

The Ampelmännchen, or little traffic signal man, is something of an obssession in the German-speaking world.

Cities in Germany have installed lights featuring red and green women, in an effort to redress the gender imbalance of the traditional signals.

But Vienna has gone a step further, introducing a sexual orientation for the little red and green people. » | Justin Huggler, Berlin | Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Why Farhan Left Islam?

Farhan is an American born to a Muslim Pakistani family, he started as an Ahmadi Muslim, then he found out that Ahmadiyya is just a sect far from the main stream Islam. He left Ahmadiyya to be a Sunni Muslim. His journey continued when he found out that Islam is not what Muslims in the west claim it to be; it is not “the religion of peace”, he left Islam, now he is agnostic.

Gulf Leaders Back Out of Camp David Summit in 'Snub' to Obama

President Obama had planned to meet with the Saudi
King Salman on Wednesday

BBC AMERICA: Many Gulf heads of state have said they will not attend the summit of US and allied Arab leaders at Camp David later this week.

Their substitution with more junior leaders is being seen as a rebuff to President Obama's negotiations with Iran over its nuclear ambitions.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that he would not attend.

The White House, which has not publicly commented, previewed the king's visit as recently as Friday.

The talks, which will now be largely attended by leaders at the ministerial level, were designed to reassure the Arab allies of US support on a number of issues including talks with Iran and instability in several Arab states. » | Monday, May 11, 2015

Doctor Who Joined Islamic State Still a Registered Practitioner in Australia

THE GUARDIAN: Tareq Kamleh, under investigation by the Australian medical board in liaison with the federal police, is listed as a registered practitioner on AHPRA database

An Australian doctor who joined Islamic State is still listed as a registered practitioner, despite vowing never to return to Australia.

Tareq Kamleh worked in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia before being recruited to the extremist group. On Monday, the Adelaide-trained physician was still listed on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency database.

According to online records, his registration started in December 2010 and will expire in September. » | Australian Associated Press | Sunday May 10, 2015

Nick Clegg Should Do 'Donkey Work' for Five Years to 'Repay' Party for Failure, Says Former Lib Dem MP

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Former Deputy PM told it would be an 'insult' if he quit parliament for Europe or the Lords as his legacy becomes central topic in leadership race


Nick Clegg must "repay" his party for taking them into government by doing "the donkey work of being a good constituency MP" for the next five years, furious Liberal Democrats have said.

Amid rumours that Mr Clegg is considering stepping down as an MP after leading the party to electoral wipeout, Lib Dems have told The Telegraph he must serve as a backbencher to atone for his disastrous decision to form a coalition.

It comes as the strategist credited with turning the Lib Dems into a party of government criticised Mr Clegg for repeating the “mistakes” of previous campaigns.

Lord Rennard, the Lib Dem peer, said there was “real anger” the party had lost so many MPs after talking about forming coalitions rather than its vision for the country before the vote.

A fierce battle over Mr Clegg’s legacy as party leader is due to take place over the coming weeks as the remaining Lib Dems decide who should be his succcessor. » | Ben Riley-Smith, Political Correspondent | Sunday, May 10, 2015

Fox’s Bolling On Geller: Stop Worrying About ‘Offending Muslims’

Chodorkowski schließt Einigung mit Putin aus

Kreml-Kritiker Michail Chodorkowski warnt vor Allianzen
mit Putin

WELT AM SONNTAG: Er war einer der mächtigsten Unternehmer Russlands. Als er sich gegen Präsident Putin stellte, kam er ins Gefängnis. Jetzt warnt Michail Chodorkowski offen vor zu viel Toleranz im Umgang mit Putin.

Der ehemalige russische Oligarch Michail Chodorkowski warnt die Europäische Union und die Vereinigten Staaten davor, auf langfristige Abkommen mit dem russischen Präsidenten Wladimir Putin in der Ukraine-Krise zu setzen. "Wenn jemand im Westen sagt, dass man mit dem heutigen Regime im Kreml eine langfristige Vereinbarung erreichen kann, dann ist er entweder dumm oder ein Betrüger", sagte Chodorkowski im Interview mit der "Welt am Sonntag" in Berlin.

Die Hoffnung auf eine verlässliche Einigung sei illusorisch, weil die Führung unberechenbar sei. "Putin hat die staatlichen Institutionen zerstört. Das hat dazu geführt, dass es in Russland keinerlei gegenseitige Kontrolle der Verfassungsorgane mehr gibt, keinerlei Gewaltenteilung." » | Von Jörg Eigendorf , Boris Reitschuster, Julia Smirnova | Sonntag, 10. Mai 2015

Pamela Geller With Judge Jeanine, Responds To Critics

Malzberg | Anjem Choudary Discusses His Claim That Pam Geller Deserves to Die

Read the Mediaite article here | Josh Feldman | Saturday, May 09, 2015