May 17th, 2008
No question, it is a tough one… but I tend to disagree with this editorialist.
WSJ: You’d hardly know it from the muted reaction in Washington or the nonexistent press coverage, but a key U.S. ally and one of the Middle East’s most important democracies is sliding inexorably toward crisis. Turkey’s constitutional court is currently considering arguments for closing down the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), and banning its top leadership from politics for threatening the secular nature of the Turkish state. Read the rest of this entry »
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May 16th, 2008
A draft Iranian law would mandate the death penalty for apostasy
TEHRAN, IRAN—Illyas, 20, precariously straddles two worlds. At home with his family, he’s a devout Christian who wears a silver cross around his neck, devotionally reads the Bible, and, on the Sabbath, hums hymns of praise to Jesus. Easter and Christmas are celebrated with homemade grape wine, even though alcohol is banned in Iran. Read the rest of this entry »
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May 16th, 2008
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: A Dutch political cartoonist was arrested this week on suspicion of insulting people because of their race or religion through his work, authorities said Friday. The cartoonist, who works under the pseudonym Gregorius Nekschot, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of violating hate speech laws and held overnight before being released, a spokeswoman for his publisher Uitgeverij Xtra said. Read the rest of this entry »
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May 16th, 2008
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May 16th, 2008
Brussels Journal: An article written in December 2007 and published online in January 2008 has just attracted the attention of the spokesman for Islam, Integration and Extremism in the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The article is by the Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mustafa Ceric, and two things are remarkable about it at first sight. The first is its title, “The challenge of a single Muslim authority in Europe” (more on this in a moment); the second is the place of publication. Read the rest of this entry »
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May 15th, 2008
Its amazing how “Sovereign” Ahmadinejad really believes that the Imam is. As if he is semi-divine.
In a speech to clerics in Mashad last month, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the appearance of the Hidden Imam, the Shi’ite messiah, was imminent, and declared, “The time has come for us to carry out our global duty… With God’s help, Iran will become the center of [global] leadership… The Hidden Imam runs the affairs of Iran and of the rest of the countries of the world… and he is preventing the U.S. from taking over Iraq’s oil and looting it.” Read the rest of this entry »
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May 15th, 2008
THE PRESIDENT: President Peres and Mr. Prime Minister, Madam Speaker, thank very much for hosting this special session. President Beinish, Leader of the Opposition Netanyahu, Ministers, members of the Knesset, distinguished guests: Shalom. Laura and I are thrilled to be back in Israel. We have been deeply moved by the celebrations of the past two days. And this afternoon, I am honored to stand before one of the world’s great democratic assemblies and convey the wishes of the American people with these words: Yom Ha’atzmaut Sameach. (Applause.) Read the rest of this entry »
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May 15th, 2008
“No compulsion in Islam” my foot. Wake up Western world. Historical Orthodox Islam is incompatible with Human Freedoms and Human Rights. The sooner we acknowledge this, the sooner we can begin resisting it together.
MVN: The leader of the religious Adhaalath party scholars’ council has said he advocates the death penalty for those who convert from Islam to another religion, as well as amputation of hands for certain types of theft. In an interview with Minivan News, Sheikh Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari emphasised the need for “advice” and correct legal procedures before the death penalty is implemented, but said Shari’ah law ultimately requires the killing of those who leave Islam.
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May 14th, 2008
FOX: Despite being surrounded by petroleum-rich neighbors, Egypt is suffering the effects of record-high oil prices that have touched off deadly riots over the simplest of commodities: bread. Since the beginning of April, at least 10 people have been stabbed to death while waiting in Cairo bread lines — others have died from exhaustion. Read the rest of this entry »
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May 14th, 2008
TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that Israel is dying and that its 60th anniversary celebrations are an attempt to prevent its “annihilation.” He spoke hours after President Bush arrived in Israel for the anniversary celebrations. Read the rest of this entry »
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