Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Cynical, or Just Plain Naïve?

Here’s another guest-post from our Norwegian correspondent The Observer. In this essay he examines the possible reasons why the politicians in power in Europe are so out of step with the opinions of their constituents.


Cynical, or just plain naïve?
by The Observer


The Ranting ManMany people in Europe are outraged and deeply disturbed by the insane and suicidal decision-making that seemingly moderate politicians, who are supposed to represent them and look after their best interests and well-being, are engaging in. Many Europeans are outraged by what appears to them to be a total meltdown of common sense on issues concerning multiculturalism and immigration.

In a time where there seems to be an open-door policy for unskilled, poor third world immigrants, this outrage is justified. The policies that dictate these matters are for the most part contradictory, very hostile to the indigenous population, and pose a very real danger to the future demographic structure of the continent. But I think it’s wrong to assume that the decision-makers are only acting in accordance with their own conscience in these matters. A more plausible explanation is that they’re toeing the party line, or to put it bluntly, they’re simply doing what they think is expected of them.

What we need to shed some light on is this: To what extent are politicians in mainstream moderate political parties manipulated or simply intimidated by their fellow colleagues, political leadership, and the media to vote in favour of and support legislation that they don’t really believe in personally, and why they go along with it?

To be able to get a better understanding of this issue, we need to take a closer look at the way the various political organizations are built up and we need to take a closer look at the internal dynamics of these organizations and how these dynamics are shaping its members. In my opinion the only thing that makes a political party stand out from that of a private enterprise is the fact that a political party is not driven by the desire to generate money. Apart from that they’re fairly similar. Any functional political organization needs to have a clearly defined hierarchy with a leadership or leader who defines the goals and policy of the organization, and an army of low-ranking politicians/members that invest their time in implementing the recommendations of the leadership. Just as a private corporation needs to have an army of workers that are dedicated to achieve the goals set out by the company’s CEO and the board of directors.

In order to rise within the ranks of the organization/political party the ordinary member/worker will have to earn the trust of the leadership. The only way to achieve this is to stand out and show an unquestionable loyalty to the leadership, be very good at your job, be able to manipulate your way through the hierarchy, or a combination of all three. Needless to say, it would be quite detrimental to one’s career prospects to oppose or speak out against the stated goals of the leadership. This would in most cases lead to the member’s dismissal, or in those cases where the individual has a fairly high seniority, to an internal power struggle.

We also have to keep in mind that a politician is by nature a person who is driven by a desire for power. Just like an employee working for a private enterprise in most cases is driven by the desire for money. The ultimate goal is to climb as high up on the career ladder as possible and gain as much power as possible. In any functional organization politics always comes in to play. And in order to rise up within the ranks the individual member needs to play his cards carefully, and in a lot of cases express or give his support to political issues that don’t always necessarily coincide with his own personal views.
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A person who joins a political organization may be driven by idealism initially, but after experiencing the workings and dynamics of an organization where dirty tricks and backstabbing are an ingrained part of the culture, most will eventually lose some or all of this idealism, and take a more realistic approach to what it means to be a politician. One could argue that the individual would earn his or her battle scars.

A person who has managed to reach the higher echelons of the organization will go to great lengths to ensure that he’s not jeopardizing his position in any way. After all, he has invested a lot of time and effort in reaching this position. What we also need to remember is that this position comes with a lot of perks. High salaries, plenty of free trips to conferences in exotic locations, a lot of publicity (what all politicians thrive on) and a very lucrative pension plan. If by that stage a politician should have a change of heart and decide to follow his own conscience rather than the party line, this would be considered disloyal and would be clamped down on straight away.

There are plenty of ways to get rid of troublesome politicians. One can do it in a civilized way where the party leader invites the press to a press conference and announces the resignation of the politician in question, most often on some bogus personal grounds, or one can do it the dirty way where other members of the party secretly leak damaging information about the politician in question to selected journalists and let them do the dirty work on their behalf.

Public smear campaigns will in most cases ensure the resignation or expulsion of the member in question, and in some cases even lead to a criminal investigation, depending on the severity of the information. In many cases the party doesn’t expel members caught breaking the law or acting in a manner that doesn’t quite fit in with the image the party is trying to convey to the public. Instead they store this information and save it for scenarios like the one mentioned above. These tactics are also used on politicians from other opposing political parties. It’s always handy to have an ace up the sleeve.

We’ve touched a little bit upon the mechanisms that shape the personality of the moderate career-oriented politician. Now let’s take a closer look at the political issues they support. Why is it that seemingly moderate political parties take such a liberal stance on sensitive issues like multiculturalism and immigration, even when they know that it’s damaging and poses a severe threat to the national security of their own countries?

Initially, when the first political parties in Europe started implementing these policies in the 50 and 60’s, their intentions were to a certain extent well-meaning and based upon the principle of the equality of all men. It was a sign of the times. The ideology behind the flower-power culture, the student rebellions and the civil liberty fight of black Americans started to gain influence among the broader population of the western world.

At the time America also liberalized its immigration policies towards non-western immigration and this had probably some impact on the decisions of the governments of Europe to do the same with their own immigration laws. But of course, it was also business-motivated. Big business in Europe wanted cheap labour and the prospect of immigration met this criterion. So the legislation slowly started to change to facilitate this influx of third world residents to the heart of Europe. Other aspects may also be cited for this change of heart by the various European Governments, for example that the European Governments were trying to appease rich middle eastern oil nations and secure a steady and uninterrupted flow of oil to the continent.

In this day and age it’s the special interest groups that keep urging and intimidating politicians to liberalize the immigration laws even further. Political correctness has managed to sink its claws into our societies, making it next to impossible for mainstream politicians to oppose these and still hold on to their political power.

Just as members of the various political parties are bound to obey and support the views of the leadership, the leadership itself is in a lot of ways held hostage by a mostly leftist media and special interest groups that won’t hesitate for a second to come crashing down on those who start contemplating introducing stricter legislation that will stem the flow of immigrants, or reverse some of the crazy laws that are playing into the hands of the multiculturalists.

Another factor: the immigrants themselves have grown in numbers and become a force to be reckoned with. Most of them vote for political parties that support the current immigration laws, and why wouldn’t they? It will enable them to bring the rest of their families over to Europe.

Some of the members of the political leadership in Europe wholeheartedly support this current immigration trend and the liberalizing of the laws, but I suspect that the majority of them are just play along so they won’t lose their political status and perks that come along with the job that they have spent decades to secure.

I’m also of the opinion that the politicians’ eagerness and ruthlessness to stay in power and their willingness to go against their own conscience works in our favour, because it means that this multicultural ideology is not religiously supported, it’s just a tool that they use to maintain power. If enough public support is rallied to stop this unwanted immigration and scrap the multicultural ideology that is currently plaguing Europe, or if massive terrorist attacks, widespread civil unrest, or other similar scenarios were to take place, this would definitely trigger a change in the political climate.

The various national political parties and the EU would then make a U-turn and change their policies without thinking too much about it. People who are willing to sell out their own countries for the sake of personal political gain wouldn’t think twice about reversing the current immigration and multicultural legislation if it meant that they would be able to hold on to their political power, because in the end the desire of power is really the only thing that motivates politicians.

MPAC Demands “Responsible Testimony”

I just received this email alert from ACT for America:


ACTION ALERT! Time Sensitive
Call Congressman Brad Sherman today

DO NOT ALLOW MPAC & ISNA to silence testimony on terrorism. Please read the alerts below demonstrating the efforts of ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) and MPAC, the Muslim Public Affairs Council to prevent such testimony. Pre-empt its effort. Please call Congressman Brad Sherman by phone or fax, thanking him for inviting Steve Emerson to testify; he is one of the most knowledgeable experts in terrorism and one of our most important voices against terrorist proliferation. This is yet another example of how Islamist groups like MPAC & ISNA are trying to silence and undermine anyone who dares to speak out against terrorism in this country by attacking their credibility and accusing them of “Islamaphobia.”

From ISNA AND MPAC: Read their email below sent to their members and ACT today!

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

URGENT ACTION ALERT: DEMAND RESPONSIBLE TESTIMONY IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

Islamic Society of North America

Self proclaimed terrorist expert Steven Emerson is scheduled to testify this Thursday, July 31st, in a congressional hearing entitled “Foreign Aid and the Fight Against Terrorism and Proliferation: Leveraging Foreign Aid to Achieve U.S. Policy Goals.” Emerson has a formidable history of attacking Islam and Muslims in America under the guise of his alleged expertise. Those familiar with Emerson’s legacy state his lack of credentials in foreign aid and foreign policy and are concerned that his testimony will feed Islamaphobia.

The Islamic Society of North America encourages it members and all Americans to contact Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA (pdf)), chairman of the “House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade”, convener of the panel, and request that balanced, qualified testimony be included in the panel or the session be canceled. ISNA is concerned that Emerson’s hate mongering will deter responsible policy making, impede effective security, and detrimentally affect American Muslims.
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Contact Congressman Brad Sherman by phone or fax now before Thursday’s session.

Washington, D.C. Office
2242 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515-0524
Phone: (202) 225-5911
FAX: (202) 225-5879

San Fernando Valley Office
5000 Van Nuys Blvd. Suite 420
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Phone: (818) 501-9200
FAX: (818) 501-1554

MPAC Demands Congressman Sherman Ensure Credible Testimony or Postpone Hearing

July 29, 2008 Muslim Public Affairs Committee

Today, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) released a letter (pdf) urging Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) to either provide credible experts at an upcoming hearing on foreign aid, or postpone the hearing until credible experts can be found.

SEE: Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Hearing Information (U.S. House of Representatives, 7/28/08)

Congressman Brad Sherman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, will call on self-proclaimed “terrorism expert” Steven Emerson to testify at the congressional hearing. Emerson, who has a proven track record of anti-Muslim bigotry, is not a credible expert on foreign aid or foreign policy.

MPAC’s letter (pdf) calls for the Congressman to “ensure that those who are relied upon for knowledge have the requisite expertise, experience, and nuanced outlook. In the interest of maintaining a good balance of views, we urge you to include an additional panelist from an NGO, university, or think-tank that can represent the positive role of civil society organizations in challenging terrorism. If, however, you cannot find any other witnesses that can balance the current witness panel, we request that you cancel or postpone panel until such time as the committee is able to convene an unbiased slate of witnesses.”

“In the interest of effective and informed policy-making, it our sincere hope that the Congressman heeds this request and proceeds accordingly.” said Salam Al-Marayati, MPAC Executive Director. “Misinformation could lead to disastrous initiatives, leading the U.S. further away from realizing its foreign policy objectives.” Click here to read the letter in its entirety. (pdf)

ACT NOW!

Contact Congressman Brad Sherman by phone or fax, let him know that he must either provide unbiased, qualified experts for this Thursday’s hearing — or cancel the panel.

Covering up for Allah

KGS of Tundra Tabloids has translated a report from the Finnish blog Go Rin No Sho about an incident that took place in a children’s park in Helsinki.

Sauna TimeHere’s the context of this story for our American readers: Finns don’t mind public nudity. What might get you arrested in downtown Salt Lake is akin to, say, not wearing socks as far as the Finnish are concerned.

For the provincial among us, those who find travel a burden rather than a pleasure, here is an introduction to Finnish manners and mores. Scroll down to find the section on nudity; it appears to be accurate. On the other hand, since the whole page is done in high droll, perhaps not. You be the judge - if this person is any indication, those Finns are a fun bunch provided you’re not a tee-totaling Baptist.

“Mother forbidden to wear bikini in play park”

A Helsinki mother was taking in the sun in the Tapuli residential park in Tapaninkylä with her two sons, ages 5 and 6. While the boys were splashing in the swimming pool the mother decided to get some sun. She spread her blanket on the grass by the pool, so she could keep an eye on the children.

The mother managed to lied down only for a second, when a member of the park’s staff, a woman, came over and admonished her to dress up. According to the woman an adult is not allowed to be in the park in a bikini.

Why can’t someone get a tan in a play park, director in charge of parks, Leena Timonen? “During the play parks Summer operations all children wear swim wear. It has been agreed about adults, that the staff observe that their dress is also appropriate. Bikinis are not explicitly forbidden, but a bare upper body and string bikinis are not allowed, for moderation. Every staff member interprets for himself what is appropriate.”

Who has created the rules? “This was jointly done between the play park-staff and family-center directors, that all parks would follow the same rules. We have a lot immigrants, for whom too much revealing clothing would offend. But not one rule was made because of them.”

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How often do you have to give notices to under-dressed parents? “I have not heard any situation like this before. Mostly it’s giving notice to those who have gone into the pool with clothes on.”

What kind of fine would be levied for those who refuse to obey? “The police will not be called. It’s quite understandable that this kind of situation happened now that it’s hot. The adults have to understand that this is a child’s play park, and a standard of good taste has to be observed.”


[end of translation]

KGS warns us about the portents for the future contained in this news story:

The woman being interviewed, Leena Timonen, is simply being disingenuous. She just can’t come out and say that it’s actually Islam that is in question, and that immigrant Muslims are dictating to the park officials what is appropriate to wear, and what is not. Children could care less whether a mom is wearing a bikini, or a tank top and shorts.

It’s only a matter of time when the mother of two, besides being forbidden to wear a bikini, will have to bring her two boys to the pool at the gender correct time. The more non-Muslims cave into the whining of the Muslims, the more our own western culture and freedoms are going to be infringed upon.

Since the park director leaves the decision of “what’s appropriate” to the park staff, therefore it would be interesting to know just how many of the park staff are in fact, Muslims themselves? The whole situation is pretty bizarre, especially from a Finnish perspective, due to the Finns’ own sauna culture.


Remember to click on that link above for more information on “sauna culture.”

Can Britain Survive Multiculturalism?

Among other people featured in this CBN news report are Steve Gash of SIOE and Paul Ray (Lionheart).


Hat tip: Steen.

[nothing follows]

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Gates of Vienna News Feed 7/29/2008

There were a lot of tips today, so these are just a few of the headlines. There’s much more material below the fold.

The GoV newsboy
  • TNOYF Presents “Mohammed Brand Condoms”
  • Muslims Storm Protestant School in Jakarta, Injuring 265 Students
  • Bali Terrfausorist: “For Islam, Dying by Decapitation is a Blessing”
  • Injured Pride Could Explain Libyan Actions
  • Sir Salman Rushdie Criticises Britain’s ‘Air of Appeasement’ Toward Extremists
  • Turkey: Secularism Battles It Out With Sharia
  • Italy Puts the Army on the Streets to Fight Crime and Illegal Immigration
  • New Internet ‘Clickable Crime Maps’ Will Show Families Every Incident in Their Neighbourhood
  • Iran: Sixteen Christian Converts Arrested
  • Netherlands: Former Mp Hirsi Ali Seeks Police Protection in Us
  • Arab Princesses Accused of Human Trafficking in Belgium
  • Hope? Change? Yes! Hope Obama Changes!
  • Jordan Gets USD65mln Over Gulf War Environmental Impact
  • Media: Scant Speech Freedom in Our Area, Al Arabiya Director
  • Report: Al Qaeda Operative Killed During Missile Strike in Pakistan

Thanks to Barry Rubin, Dymphna, Fausta, Insubria, Steen, VH, and all the other tipsters who sent these in. Details are below the fold.
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TNOYF Presents “Mohammed Brand Condoms”

Ever since last November’s “incident” in Sudan— when a British school teacher was arrested for insulting Islam by naming a teddy bear Mohammed- TNOYF has been intrigued by the power of the Mohammed Brand name. Here, we proudly present our first Mohammed Brand TV commercial, for Mohammed Brand Condoms.

The video commercial at TNOYF is highly recommended, although it is definitely NSFW.


Muslims Storm Protestant School in Jakarta, Injuring 265 Students

Over the week-end Muslim fanatics target a Christian school in the capital’s east side. Police evacuate the institute to protect students. Hundreds of police agents are now guarding it to prevent further violence.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) — Police evacuated the Christian Theological Arastamar Institute (STT SETIA) which is located in an eastern district of the Indonesian capital after it suffered damages during clashes between Christians and Muslims over the week-end. At least 1,500 students were moved to nearby police headquarters and a local Christian-based political party. The situation remains critical and further violence between opposite factions cannot be ruled out.

“The school foundation urged us to intervene to protect people,” said East Jakarta District Police Chief Senior Superintendent. “For this reason we moved everyone out.”

Last night hundreds of residents from the village of Kampung Pulo had taken up arms threatening to storm the school after being instigated by an imam at a local mosque who claimed that a bunch of Christian gangsters were coming to “protect” the school after it was attacked on Saturday by a Muslim mob, causing damage to the building and hurting hundreds.

In an attempt to solve the problem East Jakarta District Chief Murdani held a close door meeting with the warring parties to discuss the issue. At the same time though, he said that police would conduct a thorough investigation and check if the school’s legal status was in order and that it respected all building regulations. In case of violations he would issue orders to demolish the unlawful structures.

At present hundreds of agents are guarding the school and have orders to stop any act of violence and disarm people.

The Arastamar High School for Theology and Biblical Studies, locally known as STT SETIA, was established by Rev Mathew Mangentang in 1987.

The SST SETIA has more than 29 branches school across the country. In Jakarta alone it has thousands of students, including 265 who were injured in latest clashes.

Tensions between Christians and Muslims flared up on Saturday following rumours that a SETIA student had stolen a motorcycle that belonged to a Muslim from a neighbouring village.

Senny Manafe, a spokesperson for the school, rejected the accusation, claiming instead that the attacks were triggered by a trivial incident. In an attempt to chase a mouse in the street, a student threw a slipper against a house owned by a local Muslim. Outraged by the deed, the latter kicked and punched the student as people gathered drawn by the rumour that a Christian student had tried to steal the Muslim’s motorbike.

“Many students suffered various injuries to the head. Others were burnt by Molotov cocktails,” Manafe said.

The violence and charges against SETIA are the work of Risman Hadi, chairman of Muslim Brotherhood Forum of Kampung Pulo Village, who in the past opposed the opening and continued existence of the Christian institute.

           — Hat tip: Insubria


Bali Terrorist: “For Islam, Dying by Decapitation is a Blessing”

The perpetrators show no remorse for the deaths of more than 200 Western tourists on vacation in the island, and ask to be killed according to the dictates of sharia, which provides for decapitation. The sentence will be carried out in the next few weeks on an island in central Java.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) — According to Islamic law, it is better “to die by decapitation than by gunshot”, and no “repentance or regret” must be shown over violence committed “in the name of holy war”. This is the “spiritual testament” of Imam Samudra, one of the three people responsible for the massacre in Bali in 2002, in which more than 200 people died. The three are awaiting judgment from the Indonesian authorities.

“Until I die, I will show no repentance for my actions”, the terrorist is believed to have said to his brother Lulu Jamaluddin during a recent conversation at the maximum-security prison on the island of Nusakambangan, in central Java. He also added that a holy war, conducted through “the use of bombs” and suicide bombing attacks, is “blessed by God”, for which reason he will never make “appeals to clemency” to avoid the death penalty.

According to a defense attorney, the men have asked for judgment to be carried out according to “the dictates of sharia”, which provides for death by decapitation: another sign of their effort to “promote the values of Islamic law until the end, even at the point of death: dying by decapitation is a blessing”. The lawyer also added that the island of Bali was chosen for the attack because it was under siege by hundreds of “infidels”, meaning American citizens and their closest allies, including the English and Australians, who crowd the island’s beaches and nightclubs every year.

From Jakarta, another lawyer for the three men has asked for the sentence to be overturned, because “the country’s supreme court did not follow the correct procedures to apply the death penalty”. This position was immediately rejected by Andul Hakim Ritonga, the deputy attorney general for the district, according to whom “everything was done according to the law” and only “the last bureaucratic formalities” remain to be arranged. He emphasizes that the site for the execution has already been chosen — the regency of Cilacap, in central Java — and that “we have submitted an official demand to Central Java Police and Bali Police HQ to make decisive actions to prepare their best shooters to do the job”.

The execution by firing squad should take place by the end of next month, before the beginning of the sacred month of Ramadan.

           — Hat tip: Insubria


Iran: Dissident Leader Visit Sparks Row With Italian Politicians

Tehran, 28 July (AKI) — Italian politicians across the spectrum have responded strongly to a hostile attack by an Iranian newspaper that described the government and its institutions as a “Mafioso Italian regime”.

Iranian newspaper, Kayhan, closely linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, attacked the Italian government and institutions for hosting leading dissident Maryam Rajavi last week.

It called the government a “Mafioso Italian regime”, in an article entitled “A cadaver in the Parliament of the Mafia”.

Italian Muslim MP, Souad Sbai from the conservative People of Freedom party responded to the editorial in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).

“Italy and its government are not Mafioso at all,” Sbai said.

“Ours is a democratic country where the rule of law is enforced, and the Parliament is doing well by listening to all the voices, above all the dissenting ones that come from Iranian civil society.”

“Our government strongly defends the sanctity of life and human rights, and cannot receive lessons from someone who carries out the death penalty.”

The dissenting voice to which Sbai referred was Rajavi, leader of the National Resistance Council of Iran, the political arm of the armed opposition People’s Mojahedin Organisation of Iran.

She spoke at a media conference at Italy’s lower house of Parliament on 23 July, to garner support so the PMOI is no longer listed in Europe as a terrorist organisation. The Iranian was invited by Italian MPs to make her remarks in Parliament.

During her speech, Rajavi criticised Britain, China, France, Russia and the US — the five permanent UN Security Council members — plus Germany who have been negotiating with Iran.

The Iranian newspaper was quick to attack Rajavi in the editorial, by saying “The Italian Mafioso regime, on the pretext of defending liberal and democratic movements, supports a terrorist group, that not even the United States, which supports this group covertly, has the courage to take off the list of criminal organisations.”

However, another Italian politician called the provocative Iranian attack an “aggressive reaction”.

“It’s an aggressive reaction that expresses the difficulty and worry of this (Iranian) regime, that being illiberal and totalitarian, does not find other ways of reacting than those of smearing and aggression,” said Elisabetta Zamparutti, and MP from the centre-left Democratic Party, in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).

           — Hat tip: Insubria


Injured Pride Could Explain Libyan Actions

Middle East expert Reinhard Schulze says Libya’s actions towards Switzerland are a measure of the Gaddafi family’s importance and of national pride.

The professor of Islamic studies at Bern University believes the political crisis between Switzerland and Libya — triggered by the arrest in Geneva on July 15 of a son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi — is likely to continue for some weeks.

The Swiss foreign ministry has expressed concern about the detention of two Swiss nationals in Libya. Tripoli also ordered the closure of Swiss companies in Libya and ceased issuing travel visas for Swiss citizens.

There are about 40 Swiss expatriates — most of them have dual nationality — in Libya.

Tripoli wants an official apology for the arrest of Hannibal Gaddafi and his wife. They were charged by a Geneva magistrate with inflicting physical injuries against two of their staff.

           — Hat tip: Insubria


Sir Salman Rushdie Criticises Britain’s ‘Air of Appeasement’ Toward Extremists

Sir Salman Rushdie has criticised what he called an “air of appeasement” towards Islamic fundamentalism in Britain.

Sir Salman, who spent almost a decade underground with a fatwa — or death threat — on his head from Islamic clerics Photo: GETTY/AFP

The Booker Prize-winning author, whose novel the Satanic Verses incensed the Islamic world, told BBC’s Newsnight: “There’s no such thing as a perfect culture. I think sometimes there’s an air of appeasement in this country which I don’t like.”

In an interview to promote his latest novel, The Enchantress of Florence, Sir Salman said Iran ‘might well be’ trying to make a nuclear bomb.

The writer also spoke of how ‘soft power’ including the internet and websites such as YouTube can defeat global tyranny, by bringing people and cultures together.

“The thing I was trying to say in this book, is the things we have in common are greater than the things which divide us,” he added.

Sir Salman, who spent almost a decade underground with a fatwa — or death threat — on his head from Islamic clerics, said he may write about the period in a future novel.

Asked whether it was appropriate for him to have accepted a knighthood from the Queen, he added: “I accepted an honour from the French — it would be absurd not to accept one from my own country. This is just what we give in this country. If it was another country, it would be another form of honour.”

           — Hat tip: Steen


Day of Decision for Turkey Over Future of Secular State

Turkey’s highest court is to make the toughest decision in its 46-year history this week: 11 judges must decide whether to outlaw the ruling party [AKP, “Justice and Development party”] and ban the President [Abdullah Gul, an Islamist whose wife wears the headscarf] the Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip Erdogan, known for saying “our minarettes are our watchtowers, our cupola’s are the helmets and our believers are our soldiers” and adviseing Turkish immigrants in Europe not to assimilate: “Assimilation is a crime against humanity”] and 69 other elected officials, on the grounds that they pose a threat to the secular state.

For the prosecutor who launched the case in March, the government’s ultimate aim “is to establish a state system based on religious principles”, and the country is “in danger as it has never been before”.

The 160-page indictment, comprised mainly of speeches made by members of the AK Party, cites the party’s efforts this February to lift a ban on women’s headscarves in universities among the accusations.

The judges could reach a decision today, but that is unlikely. In similar cases brought against two other Islamic parties, in 1998 and 2002, the court took eight and 11 days to rule for closure.

           — Hat tip: VH


Turkey: Secularism Battles It Out With Sharia

A senior Turkish prosecutor has raised tensions on the eve of a landmark court case that could leave Turkey without a government and deeply divided by warning that it is in danger of an “intolerant” Islamic takeover.

In an interview with the Guardian, Omer Faruk Eminagaoglu, chairman of the association of judges and prosecutors […] said the ruling Justice and Development party [AKP] was seeking a system of Sharia law that would destroy the country’s secular system.

He claimed that the government had exposed its true agenda in a series of measures, including attempts to establish halal standards in food production, signing bilateral agreements underwritten by “Islamic laws” with fellow Muslim countries, increasing religious education in state schools and trying to allow female students to wear headscarves at university.

“The basis of the case against the AKP is intolerance,” he said. “A Sharia system is, by its nature, intolerant of other thoughts, beliefs and practices.

Just like fascism in Italy or Nazism in Germany, Sharia is a sensitive issue in Turkey. With a small spark it can turn into a social movement. We had a Sharia-based system during Ottoman times and our society still has traces of it. We don’t want to go back to that.”

It [the AKP] has won the backing of senior European officials, who have condemned the attempted closure as anti-democratic and warned that it could damage Turkey’s European Union membership bid.

A decision is expected this week.

           — Hat tip: VH


Why Sunday’s Bombings Could Help Erdogan

“A few days ago, Turkish newspaper columnist Mehmed Ali Birand wrote: “Give the AKP a shot across the bows and give Erdogan a second chance.” That may turn out to be exactly the effect of Sunday’s bomb attack.”

           — Hat tip: VH


Muslim Faith Schools Cause Segregation, Say Teachers

‘Hell will freeze over’ before Muslim schools give children a liberal education, teachers were told today.

Faith schools threaten to cause religious segregation and must not be expanded, said Wesley Paxton from teachers’ union Voice.

His remarks follow government moves to give religious groups a greater role in education through an expansion of academies and an offer of state funding for private Muslim schools.

           — Hat tip: VH


Italy Puts the Army on the Streets to Fight Crime and Illegal Immigration

Interior Minister Roberto Maroni and Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa signed a decree that will send 4,000 soldiers on to the streets starting next week.

They will patrol, usually alongside police officers, in large cities such as Rome, Milan, Naples and Palermo. They will also help guard areas like the Vatican, Milan’s cathedral, train stations, embassies and other “sensitive targets” — sites that could be subject to terrorist attacks.

Other soldiers will help guard detention centres where illegal immigrants are sent after they arrive in Italy, mostly on its southern shores.

“This proves that we are determined to eliminate citizens’ fears,” La Russa said of the plan, which will remain in effect for at least six months.

But the opposition criticised it as token window-dressing and warned that it could boomerang, hurt the country’s image abroad and even scare tourists away from coming to Italy.

           — Hat tip: VH


New Internet ‘Clickable Crime Maps’ Will Show Families Every Incident in Their Neighbourhood

Maps will be released to the public showing how many violent attacks have taken place on every street, including how close they were to schools, pubs and cash points.

The Home Office said the project would for the first time give residents a true picture of the state of their community. [Because they don’t have the faintest idea:]

‘We need to make sure that people know what’s happening to crime in their neighbourhood, and how they can get involved and work with their neighbourhood police officers.’

‘It’s really important to enable our communities to understand what’s happening in their areas and to help them influence policing in their local communities.’ [because the police doesn’t have clickable maps:]

Shadow Home Secretary, Dominic Grieve, said: ‘Yet again we see a Government that is out of ideas trying to steal Conservative policy. ‘Our proposals detailed in April will go much further by setting up quarterly beat meetings — along with directly elected commissioners — to restore real local accountability to policing.

           — Hat tip: VH


Italy: Gov’t Rejects Claims of Police Violence in Gypsy Camps

Rome, 29 July (AKI) — Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has denied claims made by a top human rights watchdog that police forces carried out violent raids against Roma-Gypsy camps.

“I reject with indignance, the accusations by (Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights) Thomas Hammarberg. They assert that violent acts were perpetrated against Roma encampments without effective protection by the police forces, and that they carried out violent raids against the settlements.” said Maroni on Tuesday, addressing the Lower House.

“These are outright lies, the police have never committed any act of violence of this nature. Commissioner Hammarberg, tell us what these acts are.”

A note by Maroni’s office, also rejected the claims by Hammarberg.

“It concerns us, the assertion that police authorities carried out violent raids against nomad (Roma-Gypsy) settlements,” read the note from the Italian government.

“The Italian government has already answered the memorandum sent by The Council of Europe following the visit to Rome by the Commissioner for human rights, Thomas Hammarberg, providing all the data that show how the worries about the lack of human rights are completely groundless.”

           — Hat tip: Insubria


Iran: Sixteen Christian Converts Arrested

Tehran, 29 July (AKI) — Sixteen Iranians who converted from Islam to Christianity were arrested on Tuesday in Malakshahr, on the outskirts of the central Iranian city of Isfahan.

The six women, eight men and two adolescents who were arrested were assisting in a conversion ceremony and baptism of three new members of the church at a private house that had been transformed into an evangelical church.

The owners of the home, an elderly couple, were allegedly beaten up before they were locked up in an unmarked lorry.

           — Hat tip: Insubria


Netherlands: Former Mp Hirsi Ali Seeks Police Protection in Us

Amsterdam, 29 July (AKI) — A court in The Hague has approved a request by Somali-born ex-MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali for witnesses to be heard in her claim for the Dutch state to pay for her security in the US, Dutch media reported on Tuesday.

The Dutch government stopped paying for Hirsi Ali’s police protection after she moved to the US permanently last year.

An outspoken critic of Islam and advocate of women’s rights, Hirsi Ali had to live under police protection in the Netherlands after receiving death threats. She now works for a conservative US think-tank.

“Hirsi Ali clearly had protection in the Netherlands because she was in danger and probably still is,” a senior researcher at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations’ security programme, Bibi Van Ginkel, told Adnkronos International (AKI).

           — Hat tip: Insubria


Arab Princesses Accused of Human Trafficking in Belgium

(ANSAmed) — BRUSSELS, JULY 29 — An emir’s widow and her four daughters will have to answer to a charge of trafficking because they enslaved some twenty domestics on the fourth floor of luxury hotel Conrad in Brussels where they had been living for a few months. It was decided by the labour court which ruled after the denouncement of two maids who succeeded in escaping and giving alarm. The case is from July 1. The maids arrived with the princesses aboard a private jet and for months had been employed in conditions of super-exploitation. After the intervention of the police eleven workers received recognition of their status of victims of trafficking. The emir’s family, despite saying they want to cooperate with the Belgian justice, after the intervention of the policemen left the hotel and returned in the United Arab Emirates. According to the charges, the princesses, once the judges after having carried out the inquiry send back the dossiers to the court, risk from two to five years of imprisonment. (ANSAmed).

           — Hat tip: Insubria


Hope? Change? Yes! Hope Obama Changes!

Barack Obama has been to the Middle East. He said he supported Israel and wanted peace.

So I guess everything’s ok, right? Well, if he’s elected president and follows through on these words that’ll be just fine.

But concern about an Obama presidency is hardly dispelled, except in the media systematically ignoring the real issues. Without getting into the debate over Iraq strategy, here are the serious problems:

1. Obama claims there is a “window of opportunity” for successful Israel-Palestinian negotiations. That’s nonsense. But won’t Obama pretend progress and “prove” he’s right: by demanding unilateral Israeli concessions? Equally, Palestinian intransigence won’t prompt him to admit they’re responsible for failure. This isn’t a window of opportunity but a doorway to disaster. Consider this simple question: If Israel withdrew from all the West Bank would anything really change? Would the Palestinians reciprocate, alter their line, stop terrorism, and accept the conflict’s end? No.

2. In this context, Obama’s emerging campaign theme is especially worrisome. He criticizes Bush for not jumping into a peace process from his term’s start. The reason, of course, was President Bill Clinton’s discovery that Palestinian leaders weren’t interested in peace. Obama doesn’t understand why the 1990s’ process failed or that you don’t commit the president’s prestige unless there’s a real chance for progress.

3. Obama thinks it “pro-Israel” to argue that Israel desperately needs peace with the Palestinians above all and that he’d do Israel a favor by pressuring it into concessions. But Israel only benefits from an agreement producing stability, the conflict’s end, no cross-border terrorism, and a moderate Palestinian state. Obama’s approach seems likely to turn into a peace-at-any-price scenario on the pretext of saving Israel in spite of itself. Obama thinks he knows best about Israel’s security needs.

[Eight more items listed in the Gloria Center article]

           — Hat tip: Barry Rubin


AP Falsely Reports Israel Building New Settlement

The AP falsely reported that Israel is building a new settlement on the West Bank and linked this to a wrong-headed spin on an important national leader visiting Israel.

No, not Obama! He’s still just a candidate. I’m referring to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Curiously, Brown’s visit was highlighted for its criticism of Israel by the AP though his trip was seen in Israel as incredibly supportive. Indeed, Brown made the most pro-Israel statements of any British leader since Margaret Thatcher left the scene. This was especially significant since Brown is the Labour party leader and given the incredibly hostile anti-Israel sentiment in the British media and academia.

           — Hat tip: Barry Rubin


Jordan Gets USD65mln Over Gulf War Environmental Impact

(ANSAmed) — AMMAN, APRIL 30 — The UN Security Council handed Jordan USD65 million in compensation for environmental damage caused by the first gulf war, an official said today. In total, Jordan is expecting to receive USD 160 million to be spent on project to rectify damage incurred on various sectors in the aftermath of the war, said minister of environment Khalid Irani. In total, Jordan was awarded a total of $161.9 million of the $4.3 billion claimed for damage to groundwater and terrestrial resources. Jordan’s claims for damage to agricultural, wetland and marine resources were denied. The funds must be spent strictly on project to rectify the damages, said Irani. The total amount is expected to be at the treasury coffers by August this year, said Irani, noting that the ministry has set up a special technical team to determine how the funds will be spent.(ANSAmed)

           — Hat tip: Insubria


Media: Scant Speech Freedom in Our Area, Al Arabiya Director

(ANSAmed) — MILAN, JUNE 30 — In the Arab world quite a lot media exist but not as much freedom of speech, and the reduced advertising market is also to blame as it forces newspapers and TV stations to depend on governments. The denunciation was launched during the Euromed conference by Nakhle El Hage, director of satellite channel Al Arabiya, which is based in the United Arab Emirates. “In the Arab world we have 400 satellite channels and thousands of dailies but I am afraid there is not as much freedom of speech,” El Hage said. “The fault is also of Western countries, which invest little in advertisements in our media. For example, the advertising market in Italy is equivalent to $30 billion against 2.8 billion of the entire Arab world,” the journalist said. El Hage also pointed out how “insufficient pressure is exerted” by Western governments to demand the release of the “numerous journalists held in prison in Arab countries”. “I am surprised, for example, that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is invited in Paris for the summit next month without conditions in this sense being posed,” the journalist concluded. (ANSAmed).

           — Hat tip: Insubria


Report: Al Qaeda Operative Killed During Missile Strike in Pakistan

Intelligence officials are investigating reports that Al Qaeda’s top expert on chemical and biological weapons was among six people killed Monday in a missile strike on Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Al Qaeda operative Abu Khabab al-Masri’s wife told authorities that her husband died in the attack in South Waziristan, according to a Pakistani military intelligence official. The woman was wounded and hospitalized, he said.

U.S. officials told FOX News that al-Masri was a key trainer and expert in chemical and biological weapons, likely to have operational knowledge of a liquid explosive bomb plot thwarted two years ago. He is considered a “top 10” Al Qaeda target and was part of the original team with Usama Bin Laden who fought against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

           — Hat tip: Dymphna

1400 Year Jihad Against the West

Dr. Richard Jansen, who contributed a guest-post about the Balkans here last weekend, returns with this overview of the history of Islam.


1400 Year Jihad Against the West
by Richard Jansen


July 28, 2008

After a few of the comments on my post on the Balkans, a few words on my formal and informal education may be in order. My doctoral degree was in biochemistry. After spending a thirty year career in both industry and the university as a research scientist in the field of nutritional biochemistry, since retirement and especially since the Bosnian war and the attack on our country by Islamic militants on September11, 2001, I have become a student of history. I take seriously that Santayana reminded us that those that who ignore history will pay for that ignorance. For those who already know what I write below, I apologize. For those who don’t know this history, or who need to be reminded, I hope the following will be helpful.

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The United States together with what used to be called the Christian West, Christendom, is under attack from Islamic forces with a worldwide reach. There is dispute as to whether this Islamic movement represents Islam per se, or a radical version of Islam. There is no doubt that these forces get their inspiration, motivation, and indeed instructions from the Koran and the life of Mohammed. This world-wide movement is known as Militant Islam. Other names being used are Radical Islam, Islamic Jihad, Global Jihad, Islamism and Islamo-fascism.

Our enemy sees this struggle as a religious war and refers to the United States with the word “Crusaders”, bringing back into our consciousness a religious war between Islam and Christianity that occurred nearly a millennium ago. The West, for understandable reasons, is slow to acknowledge that we are indeed in a religious war declared against Western Civilization by an Islamic movement based on the Koran and Islamic law. In contrast, Western Civilization is based on Judeo-Christian morality, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment combined with the inheritance from classical Rome and Athens.

This is a continuation of a 1400 year jihad against the Dar al Harb, the world of the infidels, by the Dar al Islam, the world of Islam. From 633 until 1683 Islam conquered Lebanon except for Mount Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, North Africa, Mesopotamia, Persia, most of Eastern Christianity, and most of Spain. At the time of the Reformation Islamic armies had just conquered Hungary and were threatening Germany. In his book On War Against the Turk written in 1529 Martin Luther demonstrated that he had a good understanding of Islam and the threat it posed for all Christians and Christian lands. He understood that in Islamic lands Christians were not allowed to preach or confess Christ.
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Luther in 1529 had a better understanding of the threat to the Christian West posed by Islam than many do today. Unfortunately today many in the West either fail to understand or refuse to understand that we are now involved in a continuation of a 1400 year jihad or holy war against the West that was for the most part in abeyance from 1683 when the Ottoman Empire failed to take Vienna, until the resurgence of Islamic jihad in the 20th century following the upheavals of the First World War. This blog commemorates 1683.

In order to understand the religious wars that Militant Islam has declared on the West we first must go back to the time of Mohammed and his companions in the 7th century. The suras or chapters in the Koran were transcribed first in Mecca and then in Medina. In Mecca Mohammed courted the Jews but in Medina, after they failed to accept Mohammed as their last Prophet, he turned on them. Ibn Ishaq, in the first biography about Mohammed, wrote as follows about the surrender of the Jews at B. Qurayza; “Then they surrendered, and the apostle confined them in Medina in the quarter of d. al-Harith, a woman of B. al-Najjar. Then the apostle went out to the market of Medina (which is still a market today) and dug trenches in it. Then he sent for them and struck off their heads in these trenches as they were brought to him in batches. Among them was the enemy of Allah Huyayy b. Akhtab and Ka’b b Assad their chief. There were 600 or 700 in all although some put the figure as high as 800”. This biography of Mohammed was written by a Muslim about one hundred years after Mohammed’s death.

When Mohammed died in 632 a dispute arose as to who should be the first Caliph, The Prophet had made no provision for his successor. One side favored keeping the leadership in Mohammed’s family by naming Ali, the husband of his daughter Fatima, as Caliph. The other side favored naming Abu Bakr, Mohammed’s loyal assistant, as Caliph. In the end Abu Bakr was named Caliph. Ali later became the 4th Caliph, and was killed in battle.

In a subsequent power struggle Ali’s son Husayn was killed in the Battle of Karbala. The followers of Ali and his son Husayn are known today as the Shi’a, i.e. The Party of Ali. The death of Husayn is commemorated in Karbala as the Shi’a holy day of Ashura.

Shi’a believe that Ali was the first legitimate Caliph. Those that believe that Abu Bakr and the Caliphs that immediately followed him are the first Caliphs are known as the Sunni, or the Tradition of Islam. The family line of Mohammed through Ali and Husayn became extinct in 873 when the last Shi’a Imam Mohammed al-Mahdi disappeared. The Shi’a are waiting for this twelfth Shi’a Imam to re-appear after having been hidden for over a millennium. Today 90% of Muslims in the World are Sunni and 10% are Shi’a.

The Shi’a are found mostly in Iran and Iraq. Theological differences are not large. They relate mostly to the legitimacy of the early Caliphs, the importance of the martyrdom of Ali and his son Husayn, and the concept of the “hidden Imam.” However, the rivalry between these two branches of Islam that has been waxing and waning for fourteen hundred years is becoming increasingly important in these days of asymmetric warfare and nuclear weapons.

By the time World War I began, Serbia and the rest of the Balkans had become free of Ottoman rule. When the war between Serbia and Austria started, Germany allied itself with Austria while Britain, France and Russia allied themselves with Serbia. The Ottoman Empire made a very bad choice by siding with Germany and Austria. When the war was over the victorious powers proceeded to carve up the Ottoman Empire, which already was known as “The Sick Man of Europe.”

Britain was granted Mandates over a newly created Iraq and Palestine, while France was granted Mandates over Lebanon and Syria. Britain through T.E. Lawrence apparently had promised Sharif Husayn of Mecca an Arab homeland in exchange for his help in fighting against the Ottoman Empire. However, Britain with the Balfour Declaration of 1917 had also promised the Jews a National Homeland in Palestine.

In 1919 the Emir Feisal, Sharif Husayn’s son signed an agreement with Chaim Weitzman, the head of the Zionist organization in which he agreed to recognize a Jewish state in Palestine if an Arab state under his authority as Caliph also was formed. This did not come to pass. The fact is none of the Arab states wanted this to happen. The British made Feisal King of Iraq and his brother Abdullah the Emir of Trans-Jordan, which was 80% of the Palestine Mandate, thus pretty much nullifying the 1917 Balfour promise to the Jews. Feisal and Abdullah were both eventually assassinated.

In Iran a military coup in 1921 established a military dictatorship under Reza Khan. In 1926 the Pahlavi dynasty was established with Reza Shah Pahlavi as a hereditary Shah. Egypt became independent from the British in 1922 and Fuad I became King. In 1936 he was succeeded by his son King Farouk. In Arabia Ibn Saud and his forces defeated Sharif Husayn of Mecca. In 1932 the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was formed. The stage was now set for the religious wars of the 20th century to begin. Two interlocking lines of Islamic thought, Salafism and Wahhabism, added fuel to the smoldering fire.

Salafism and Wahhabism

After World War I there was much unhappiness and frustration within the Muslim world in the Middle East. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Britain established hegemony over Egypt, France over Algeria and Morocco, and Italy over Libya. Arabs became aware of their own weaknesses as the Ottoman Empire was defeated in the “great war” of 1914-1918 and carved up by the Western Powers.

Iraq and Palestine became British mandates, and Lebanon and Syria became French mandates. Attaturk saved Anatolia from dissection and established the Republic of Turkey as a secular state. He abolished the Sultanate and the Caliphate thus ending 1400 years of a Caliphate, i.e. an Islamic ruler in a direct line from the political and spiritual rule of Mohammed himself. Jews at this time were moving into Palestine, and it is a core article of belief in Islam that any land that had once been Islamic must remain so.

Western Imperialism became the scapegoat for all the problems in the Muslim world.

There came a renewed longing for the “olden days”, the time of the Prophet and his companions. Salafism provided a theological and historical grounding for this longing. Salafism is a line of thought within Islam which hails the “righteous ancestors” as those who serve as examples of how Islam should be practiced. The term “righteous ancestors” refers to Mohammed, his companions and the first three generations of Muslims. The modern version of Salafism developed in Egypt in the late 19th century. Wahhabism is another closely related movement that is named after Mohammed ibn al Wahhab who lived in the 18th century. The movement claims inspiration and theological descent from ibn Tymiyya, 1263-1328, and is the state religion of Saudi Arabia.

Both Salafism and Wahhabism claim that Islam has gone wrong and strayed from the true path over the centuries. Both advocate emulating the Islam of Mohammed and his companions. This was a confident and aggressive Islam that within one hundred years after Mohammed’s death ruled all of the Arabian peninsula, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, much of Mesopotamia and Persia. Both Salafism and Wahhabism advocate that war should be waged on all unbelievers, i.e. all non-Muslims until they have become Muslim, submitted totally and unconditionally to Islam or have been killed. Islam requires jihad, fighting on behalf of Islam, as a religious duty. Salafism and Wahhabism also discouraged many religious practices that had developed over the centuries such as praying over tombs, invoking anyone in prayer other than Allah and making drawings of human beings.

Muslim Brotherhood.

The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt as a reform movement by Hassan al Banna in 1928. Although a Sufi himself, his views were heavily influenced by Salafism and Wahhabism. His movement strongly opposed the ascendancy of secular, primarily Western ideas in the Arab and Muslim world. Al Banna wanted to see a strong move back to the supremacy of Allah in human affairs. The credo of the Muslim Brotherhood is : “Allah is our objective, the Koran is our law, the Prophet is our leader, Jihad is our way, and dying for the sake of Allah is our highest hope.” The Muslim Brotherhood is worldwide, with branches in essentially all Arab countries and in the United States as well.

Members of the Brotherhood assassinated the Egyptian Prime Minister Mahmud Fahm Nokrashi in 1948. Shortly after Al Banna himself was murdered, presumably by a government agent. In 1954 a member of the Brotherhood attempted to assassinate President Nasser. Nasser’s successor Anwar as-Sadat released from prison members of the Brotherhood and said he would implement Shariah law in Egypt. He failed to do so and, in addition, signed a peace treaty with Israel. The Brotherhood murdered Sadat in 1981.

Sayyid Qutb

In many ways Sayyid Qutb is the father of the modern jihad movement against infidels and all unbelievers, in keeping with Mohammed and the Koran. He strongly opposed Western imperialism and materialism. The immorality and corruption of the Christian West appalled him. He believed in the righteousness of God and the sinfulness of mankind. In his mind the only hope for mankind was the universal adoption of the Shariah law in all countries. Qutb opposed most Western ideas, including both capitalism and socialism, as being materialistic in nature. In his view only Muslims who followed the Koran and Islamic law were truly Muslims. All others were unbelievers and should be dealt with accordingly. For him the Shariah law was a universal law, applicable to all, and an Islamic society was the only civilized society.

The following paragraph from his book Milestones, written while he was in prison, pretty well sums up his beliefs: “It is not the intention of Islam to force its beliefs on people, but Islam is not merely beliefs. As we have pointed out, Islam is a declaration of the freedom of man from servitude to other men. Thus it strives from the beginning to abolish all those systems and governments which are based on the rule of man over men and the servitude of one human being to another. When Islam releases people from this political pressure and presents to them its spiritual message, appealing to their reason, it gives them complete freedom to accept or not to accept its beliefs. However, this freedom does not mean that they can make their desires their gods, or that they can choose to remain in the servitude of other human beings, making some men lords over others. Whatever system is to be established in the world ought to be on the authority of Allah, deriving its laws from him alone. Thus every individual is free, under the protection of this universal system to adopt any belief he wishes to adopt. This is the only way ‘the religion’ can be purified for Allah alone. The word ‘religion’ includes more than belief; ‘religion’ actually means a way of life, and in Islam this is based on belief. But in an Islamic system there is room for all kinds of people to follow their own beliefs, while obeying the laws of the country which are themselves based on the divine authority.”

Sayyid Qutb was executed by hanging August 29, 1966.

Al Qaeda

Al Qaeda, meaning in Arabic “the base”, began as a response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden, a wealthy Saudi businessman, was a prime financial supporter of the fledgling organization. He became radicalized after Iraqi invasion of Kuwait when American forces located in the Islamic holy ground of Saudi Arabia. The government of Saudi Arabia expelled bin Laden in 1991 and he relocated in the Sudan.

Osama bin Laden issued a fatwa, or declaration of war, first published in Al Quds Al Arabi, a London-based newspaper, in August, 1996. The fatwa was entitled “Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places.” On February 23, 1998 the World Islamic Front issued a statement entitled “Jihad against Jews and Crusaders.” This group consisted of : Shaykh Usamah Bin-Mohammed Bin-Ladin, Ayman al-Zawahiri, amir of the Jihad Group in Egypt, Abu-Yasir Rifa’i Ahmad Taha, Egyptian Islamic Group, Shaykh Mir Hamzah, secretary of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Pakistan and Fazlul Rahman, amir of the Jihad Movement in Bangladesh. This was and is a declaration of war against the West and Israel. Unfortunately the West did not start to understand until September 11, 2001. Unfortunately too many people still do not understand.


For a fuller discussion, see this website.

Fighting Back in Tulsa

In recent years CAIR and the various other American front groups for the Muslim Brotherhood have instituted a practice commonly known as “lawfare”. By suing prominent individuals who speak out against Islamization, the deep pockets of the Islamic groups are brought to bear against people who can ill afford the legal fight. Along with libel tourism and the full-court press in the media, it’s an effective way of silencing the critics of Islam.

Now one of the little guys is giving the Islamists a taste of their own medicine, and he’s a Muslim himself.

Jamal Miftah is a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He says that back in 2005 he spoke up condemn Islamic terrorism, and as a result was threatened and assaulted by various members of his mosque.

He has responded by filing suit against the Islamic Society of Tulsa, the local chapter of the Islamic Society of North America, and the North American Islamic Trust, as well as a number of individuals — Farooq Ali, Javed Jaliwala, Sheryl Siddiqui, Sandra Rana, Tariq Masood, Muhammad Ashwait, Houssam Elsoueissi a/k/a Abu Waleed, Mujeeb Cheema and Ahmad Kabbani (directors and officers of the IST, or “Shura”), Abdullah Roe and Nooruddin Doe (believed to be members of the Tulsa Mosque), charging them with assault, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

BatesLine is keeping track of the progress of Mr. Miftah’s case. A few days ago a District Court judge denied a motion by IST to dismiss the suit.

This is a story we will be following with interest. It’s good to know that someone is using one of ISNA’s preferred weapons against them.

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Below are some excerpts drawn from Jamal Miftah’s amended petition (pdf format) as filed on April 2nd of this year:

9. On or about July 15, 2005 six (6) Members of the Islamic Society of Tulsa (IST), including Jamal Miftah, delivered a letter to the Chairman and Members of the Governing Board (Shura) of that Society. Within the letter the six (6) members expressed concern over the “financial status” of the Society and asked that monthly accounts be posted and available to the members.
10. Shortly thereafter the July 15, 2005 letter, another letter was delivered to the Shura. That letter made specific reference to cash donations to outside organizations and the need for financial transparency to “block undue accusations” and “ensure compliance with the laws of the land.”
11. Shortly after a meeting between the Shura and the concerned members, Jamal Miftah followed up with another letter to the Shura, on or about August 23, 2005. Within that letter the Jamal Miftah reiterated his concern that the Society was operating in “grey areas” and raised further concern that cash payments made by the Shura amounted to “money laundering” and donations “can ultimately be funneled to undesirable organizations for illegal activities.” Jamal Miftah further made it clear to the Shura that he was concerned that this type of financial activity would damage Muslims in the USA and the World and “convey yet another wrong message to the world about Islam and Islamic organizations.” Jamal Miftah received no response and the Shura refused to adopt transparent accounting practices.
12. The Shura is the Governing Body of the Islamic Society of Tulsa charged with executing the policies of the parent organization, the Islamic Society of North America on a local level.
13. The Islamic Society of North America is responsible for formulating policy and teaching in North America and directs local Shuras to execute policy and practice consistent with its view.
14. The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is largely funded by the North American Islamic Trust (NAIT), which in turn is largely funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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  […]
17. Defendants IST, through its Shura, ISNA and NAIT were not in agreement with Plaintiff with regard for the need to avoid funneling cash donations to organizations with close links to Jihadist terrorists.
18. Defendants IST, ISNA and NAIT constructed and implemented a policy of intimidating dissident Muslims, by assault, by defamation, by the withdrawal of business opportunities, by ostracizing family members in the USA and abroad, and by putting vocal dissidents in danger of assassination via official or vigilante action with false claims of apostasy.
19. Defendants IST, its Shura, ISNA and NAIT all subscribe to the view that the death penalty is the appropriate punishment for an apostate Muslim and unless he or she is mentally ill or has converted to another religion under duress.
20. Defendants IST, its Shura, ISNA and NAIT are all aware that labeling a person “Anti-Islamic” or “Anti-Muslim” or a “Traitor to Islam” can logically result in that person’s assassination or execution.
21. Defendants IST, its Shura, ISNA and NAIT identified Jamal Miftah as a dissident Muslim in need of “discipline” and or expulsion from the local Mosque.
22. On or about October 29, 2006 Jamal Miftah wrote an “op-ed” piece published in the Tulsa World calling on Muslim clerics and youth to forsake and stand against terrorists whose “heinous crimes (are) not pardonable by any religion and strictly forbidden in Islam…”
23. In the aforementioned op-ed piece Jamal Miftah also alleged that some mosques in the United States and around the world are being used to collect money for terrorists.
24. In response to Plaintiff’s letter the Defendants, acting in concert, directly and through agents, executed a policy and practice common to IST, NAIT and ISNA designed to injure Jamal Miftah by encouraging an atmosphere where he would be physically intimidated at the Mosque, excluded from the Mosque and otherwise destroyed in his name and possibly body.
  For the assault:
26. On or about November 18, 2006 Jamal Miftah went to the Tulsa Mosque owned and operated by the Defendants IST, ISNA and NAIT to offer his last prayer of the day (Ishaa prayer). Following prayers, the Iman of the Mosque, Ahmad Kabbani, a defendant herein, confronted Jamal Miftah in the Mosque and stated that he “should be ashamed” of the aforementioned op-ed piece, which was “anti-Islamic”.
27. Following the lead of Ahmad Kabbani, Houssam Elsouesssi, a defendant herein, and two other members of the Mosque, Abdullah Roe and Nooruddin Doe, defendants herein, confronted Jamal Miftah.
28. These defendants screamed and shouted at Jamal Miftah, alleging that he was “anti Muslim” and a “traitor to Islam,” in an apparent attempt to incite a riot within the walls of the Mosque.
29. Abdullah Roe took his shoe off, waived [sic] said shoe and swung said shoe wildly at Jamal Miftah’s face, calling and shouting that that Jamal Miftah was “anti Muslim” and a “traitor to Islam.”
30. Jamal Miftah was put in imminent fear of serious bodily harm as the aforementioned defendants and others forced him into a wall.
  For the defamation:
33. The day after the assault noted above, Jamal Miftah received word through a member of the Mosque (not a defendant herein) that a Temporary Restraining Order had been issued against him, sworn to by Houssam Elsouessi, and that the restraining order would be removed if he issued a public apology for the op-ed piece, deemed to be “anti Muslim” and “anti Islamic” by the Shura.
  […]
36. On November 24, 2006 a local TV channel published the story of Jamal Miftah’s expulsion from the Mosque. Within that story the Mosque leadership alleged that Miftah was being expelled because he was “loud” and that he would be allowed to return when he apologized, privately, to the Members and Leadership of the Mosque.
37. On November 29, 2006, Sandra Rana, a defendant herein, published a statement where she alleged that Jamal Miftah was physically removed from the Mosque after he threatened violence and cursed during a “discussion” of his published opinion. Rana stated that Jamal Miftah could attend prayers without restriction so long as acted in an “appropriate manner.”
  […]
40. By reason of the published statements of the Defendants, alleging that Jamal Miftah is “a traitor to Islam… anti Muslim… anti Islamic” Jamal Miftah’s life has been put in danger in the sense that he has been labeled apostate from the Muslim Religion by the Defendants and vulnerable to the death penalty in Muslim countries and/or vigilante justice in his adopted homeland.


Many thanks to the alert reader who tipped me to this case.

The EU Lays Down the Law

The recent referendum in Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty was a setback for those who would turn the EU into a single superstate. But it’s not a major setback — the functionaries of the EU are adept at sidestepping such petty annoyances as the will of their peoples — and we can expect the EU’s leaders to regroup and try a different tack.

The next difficulty facing the Lisbon Treaty is the attempt to enforce the “harmonization” of laws on the member states. Some countries, such as the Netherlands and Germany, will have no problem swallowing the entire EU pig, since their existing laws are already in synch with the draconian requirements of the Lisbon Treaty.

However, countries that have held on to some vestige of independence, common sense, and sovereignty may not agree so readily to surrender their own laws. One of the areas of strongest disagreement concerns immigration, and Denmark has the most restrictive immigration laws in Europe, putting it at odds with the mandarins of the EU.

A recent EU court decision concerning Ireland is raising hackles in Denmark. According to the EU Observer:

Danish immigration law under fire after EU court ruling

A recent EU court immigration ruling is causing headaches for the Danish centre-right government and may deliver a blow to the country’s immigration policies, which are amongst the most restrictive in Europe.

What’s instructive here is the assumption that Denmark will automatically cave, and allow the EU rulings to supersede Danish law. But how likely is that? Yes, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who is aiming for a comfortable EU sinecure, will likely kowtow to Brussels. But what about the rest of the Danes?

The article continues:
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The European Union’s highest court ruled last Friday (25 July) in a case of four couples living in Ireland that spouses of EU citizens who are not themselves EU citizens can not be prevented from living in the Republic.

Previously, under Irish law, a spouse from outside the European Union must have lived in another member state first in order to win residency rights. However the court ruled that this is in breach of EU law on the free movement of citizens.

Inspired by the new EU ruling, a number of couples turned up on Monday (28 July) at the Danish Ministry for Integration in Copenhagen demanding a review of the ministry’s rejection of their applications to settle as couples in Denmark.

This is like the gay marriage issue in the United States — the most permissive and activist judges in one state decree the laws, and activists in other states immediately demand that the “full faith and credit” clause of the Constitution be applied, so that the laws must be honored in their own jurisdictions. That’s one of the primary disadvantages of centralization — the rules established by unaccountable bureaucrats at the center ride roughshod over the will of the people in the localities.

Notice the amusing twist in the next excerpt:

Having been denied residence in Denmark, many such couples settle in the city of Malmo in Sweden, about half an hour’s drive from Copenhagen, as Sweden has less restrictive immigration laws.

That’s an understatement; Sweden has almost no immigration restrictions, and a generous welfare package awaits the new arrivals in Malmö. No wonder “persons of Swedish background” are rapidly becoming a minority in the city.

There are indications that the Danes are not yet ready to roll over for the EU as far as immigration is concerned:

In reaction, the Danish minister in charge of immigration, Birthe Ronn Hornbech, has now announced a review of the entire system of immigration in the country.

Morten Messerschmidt“The government must tell the EU system that it was a prerequisite for Danish EU membership to be able to run our immigration policies independently,” said the spokesperson on EU affairs of the right-wing Danish Peoples Party, Morten Messerschmidt, on Danish Radio.

The Liberal-Conservative minority government depends on the support of his party.

Yes, the Danish People’s Party is what stands in the way of complete European integration. Notice that the DPP is only “right-wing” here; apparently they have graduated from being “right-wing extremists” and are inching towards respectability.

Mr Messerschmidt suggested immigration should be covered by a Danish general exemption from EU justice policies, while legal experts have stated that the fundamental principle of free movement of citizens in the EU would supercede this.

So this is a contest of wills, between tiny but pugnacious Denmark on the one hand, and Megatron himself on the other. Who will win?

One suspects that Danish public opinion sides with Mr. Messerschmidt and the DPP:

Danish daily Jyllands-Posten published a comment on Tuesday (29 July) arguing that the EU court is doing the job of elected politicians.

“This practice is a democratic problem”, wrote Ralf Pittelkow, adviser to former Social Democratic Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.

“The judges are crafting a lot of policies because the politicians allow them the margin to do so. Political decisions that ought to be the responsibility of elected representatives are left with the court”.

Denmark, as usual, is the place to watch. The Danes are the wellspring of Western resistance.


Hat tip: Henrik.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Gates of Vienna News Feed 7/28/2008

The GoV newsboy
  • Mideast: PNA, Dozens Hamas Activists Arrested in West Bank
  • Spain: Rabat Insists; Ceuta, Melilla Are Moroccan, Minister
  • Immigrants: Maroni, No General Amnesty
  • West African Immigrants Clashed With Police At the Duomo in Naples
  • Middle East: Jewish Activists Shut Down Hamas’ Military Wing Website
  • Cinema: Film on Islamic-Coptic Relations Divides Egypt

Thanks to Contadina, Insubria, and all the other tipsters who sent these in. Details are below the fold.
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Mideast: PNA, Dozens Hamas Activists Arrested in West Bank

(ANSAmed) — JERUSALEM, JULY 28 — The security forces of the Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) arrested today over fifty Hamas activists in various places on the West Bank, the Islamic movement said. The arrests are apparently a direct consequence to the strong tension between Hamas and al Fatah, the organisation led by Abbas, after last Friday’s attack in Gaza where five Hamas militants and a Palestinian girl were killed. The Islamic movement blamed al Fatah for the attack and arrested some 200 of its activists in Gaza. Al Fatah denied any involvement in the attack. Academics and students of Al-Najah University of Nablus as well as members of the local municipal council appear to be among the people arrested by the Palestinian Authority police. (ANSAmed).


Spain: Rabat Insists; Ceuta, Melilla Are Moroccan, Minister

(ANSAmed) — MADRID, JULY 28 — Ceuta and Melilla ‘‘are Moroccan’’, although the Rabat government, which considers Spain ‘‘a friendly country’’, does not want to ‘‘enter in conflict’’ over the issue, Moroccan Economy Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said at the Europa Forum in Madrid today. ‘‘It is clear that for Morocco Ceuta and Melilla are Moroccan, it is enough to turn to history and geography in order to establish it,’’ Mezouar said, insisting on what he defined ‘‘evidence’’. At the same time the Economy minister said he was convinced that ‘‘the future between Morocco and Spain will be without cultural, geographic or any other type of border’’. ‘‘This is my belief and that of the political class of Morocco,’’ he added. The Maghreb country, Mezouar said, ‘‘is growing’’ and ‘‘within 10 or 20 years it will be on the same level as the European countries’’. It will be in the Euro-Mediterranean integration framework that Morocco will find it ‘‘easier to resolve this type of problems which we experience today’’, he said, referring to the territorial conflicts. Answering a question on the future of the Arab Maghreb Union, the Moroccan economy minister replied without saving criticism at Algeria, which he accused of aiming to ‘‘weaken Morocco’’ stirring an ‘‘unreal conflict’’ over Western Sahara, given that it ‘‘believes that with this and oil it will become a leading country’’ in the area. (ANSAmed).


WTO: Berlusconi, Concerns Continue EU to Ask Guarantees

(AGI) — Rome, July 28 — “In the light of the recent developments in trade negotiations in Geneva at the World Trade Organisation, Premier Silvio Berlusconi confirms the concerns of Italy for the absence of progress regarding the protection of Geographical Marks and access to industrial markets of developing countries”. This is stated in a note issued by the Prime Minister’s office. “The premier” the note continues “confirms the will of Italy to come to a deal which takes the expectations of developing countries into account. But Europe must work on a total result which also offers the Italian and European citizens adequate guarantees regarding the sacrifices they will have to make”.


Immigrants: Maroni, No General Amnesty

(AGI) — Brescia, 28 July — No general amnesty by the Government, is what Minister for the Interior Roberto Maroni has promised, in Brescia today to sign the first step for urban security with local authorities. “In the Pact for immigration and asylum presented by the French presidency which the Government agrees with one hundred per cent, it is stated that no State should grant general amnesties, but should consider them case by case.”


West African Immigrants Clashed With Police At the Duomo in Naples

After occupying the cathedral

They are demanding to be re-housed after the rundown building that they were living in burned down.

Here is a longer article, in Italian.


Middle East: Jewish Activists Shut Down Hamas’ Military Wing Website

Gaza City, 28 July (AKI) — The Islamist Hamas movement’s military wing claims its website was shut down on Sunday due to alleged pressure by the ‘Zionist Lobby’ on the Russian Internet company that hosts the site.

“The Zionist lobby worked around the clock to put pressure on the company which is hosting the site, instigating and accusing it of sponsoring and supporting terrorism,” said the Ezzedeen al-Qassam Brigades in a statement posted to the disabled website.

“Recently, a Zionist parliamentary delegation including eleven Knesset members visited Russia…..and met with the Vice President of the Russian Federal Council Alexandre Rocha, who promised the Zionists to stop hosting [the] al-Qassam website service provided by the Russian company Data Force,” the statement said.

The al-Qassam Brigades said “the Zionists became angry” that the website — hosted by Moscow-based Internet service provider Dataforce — received so much attention and visits.

“After all these contacts and pressure, the company of Russian Data Force decided to stop providing services to the website, considering the website as a danger threat on the lives and the security of people in the world,” it said.

In the statement, the group vows to re-open the website and that “attacks and harrasment” will not deter them from continuing their “electronic resistance.”

“We are aware that the media battle is as important as the battlefield with the Zionist occupation,” the group said.

The al-Qassam brigades are considered a terrorist organisation by the European Union, The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.


Cinema: Film on Islamic-Coptic Relations Divides Egypt

(by Cristiana Missori) (ANSAmed) — CAIRO, JULY 28 — “Have you ever seen a Christian beggar?” One sheikh asks another, complaining a little after that of the fact that in Egypt the Christians control three-quarters of the wealth in the country. Almost at the same time, a Coptic priest asks a colleagues of him: “how many Christian ministers are there in the government?”. These are just some of the sweet and sour lines of “Hassan and Morkos”, the film by Rami Imam — just released in the Egyptian cinema theatres — which tackles with lightness the greatest taboo an Arab country can have: religion. Two mythical figures of Egyptian cinema, Omar Sharif and exhilarating comedian Adel Imam, father of the director, play Al Attar, a Muslim sheikh, and Boullos, a Coptic priest. Threatened by the religious fanaticism of their respective faiths, the two are imposed by the authorities to adopt new identities: thus Boullos becomes Hassan, a very devoted imam, while Al Attar (Omar Sherif) becomes Morkos, a Coptic businessman just returned from the United States. Soon the two, with their families, become neighbours and from then on a series of tragic-comical episodes would expose the ignorance and suspicion which often characterise the relations between Muslims and Christians in a country, Egypt, where the Copts are between 6% and 10% of a population that has already exceeded 80 million residents. And if publicly the most recurring words are “national unity” — because it is about citizens of a single nation — in private there is the wariness to regulate the relations between the two communities. With the arrival of the Islamic extremism in the mid-1970s and, mainly with the exile of Pope Shenouda III in September 1981 in the Monastery of Saint Pishoy (in Alexandriàs desert), which was ordered by President Sadat and lasted until 1985 when, three years after the assassination of the leader, when Hosni Mubarak freed the Patriarch, the relations between the Egyptians of the Muslim faith and the Copts strongly deteriorated, leading to a rise of Christian radicalism. The film has many defamers saying that “despite bringing to the public attention the religious question, it does not tackle in depth the reasons for the anger of the Christians and the hostility of the Muslims at each other”. According to critic Tarek Shennawi the role of the state is not shown. Shennawi actually says it is the state itself, guilty of tackling the social questions like a security problem, thus poisoning the relations between the two communities, that is behind the spreading of corruption of the security apparatuses which control the religious issues — moral degradation which pushes Christians and Muslims to a growing sectarian confrontation. Despite the attacks, “Hassan Wi Morkos” was leader in the box office with some 120,000 euro in the first two days of screening. (ANSAmed).