Muslims are not the enemy

by Poul Højlund, March 18, 2006 at PIA CAUSA

A few basics in these times of conflict:

Muslims are not the enemy, on the contrary, they should be our friends.
Click Continue ..
Yet the paradigm of the orthodox Muslims, that the law already and everlasting has been dictated, is indeed our enemy as it is incompatible with democracy and the right of man to think freely.

If the paradigm was only philosophical, we realy wouldn’t have to bother, but as it is embedded in a religious political system, claiming both spiritual and practical supremacy, actively spreading throughout the whole world, we do indeed bother.

As it also is the ideological background for Islamic terrorism, we must fight both the terrorists and the paradigm with all our might in order simply to let our free societies survive.

Still, Muslims are not the enemy, - they should be our friends.

They will be when the average Muslim begins to fight both the terrorists and the feeding paradigm of Islamic supremacy within the Muslim faith.

From that moment on, we will become true friends.

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Quote of the Day

"But religion must observe the principles of democracy, not the other way around. No religion can be permitted to legislate for everyone about what can or cannot be drawn any more than it can legislate about what may or may not be eaten. No one's religious convictions can be thought to trump the freedom that makes democracy possible."

Closing remark in an article by Ronald Dworkin on US papers dicision not to publish the cartoons - which professor Dworkin finds right. Click headline and read the article to get his arguments and his staunch remarks on the right to ridicule religions.

tip Danish Liberalen

Ronald Dworkin, American philosopher, and professor at University College London and the New York University School of Law. He is especially noted for his contributions to jurisprudence including legal philosophy, political philosophy, and moral philosophy. His theory of law as integrity is one of the leading contemporary views of the nature of law.

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Papers link Saddam to al Qa'idah

The much ridiculed White House claim on Saddam's links to al Qa'idah now seems justified as translations of Iraqi intelligence papers continue to be analyzed.

The papers already documented Saddam's continued planning for WMD, an effort he undertook untill the start of the US Army build up in the area before the invasion.

Newly released papers now point to the Phillipinian al-Qa'idah connection, including an Iraqi diplomat being directly involved in terror.

"Saddam Hussein's regime provided financial support to Abu Sayyaf, the al Qaeda-linked jihadist group founded by Osama bin Laden's brother-in-law in the Philippines in the late 1990s, according to documents captured in postwar Iraq.

An eight-page fax dated June 6, 2001, and sent from the Iraqi ambassador in Manila to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad, provides an update on Abu Sayyaf kidnappings and indicates that the Iraqi regime was providing the group with money to purchase weapons.

The Iraqi regime suspended its support--temporarily, it seems--after high-profile kidnappings, including of Americans, focused international attention on the terrorist group."

Quotes from C.S. Scott, March 18, 2006 at Security Watch Tower; my links.

Click headline to get more interesting details on how an Iraqi diplomat delivered bombs and terrorists to the scene of crime.

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Is al-Asadi heading for martyrdom?

Al-Asadi, Yemen Observer Editor-in-Chief, presently in Cairo, is in real danger, maybe not so much because of the prosecutors’ claim for his death as for the anger among the mislead Muslims in Yemen.

Al-Asadi plans to go back to Yemen to face his prosecutors on March 22, - his wife and three children still resides there.

Is he heading for martyrdom? He seems to be a devote Muslim, unable to accept the fact that Islamists make that faith a mortal one for believers of free speech.

Don’t go back!

From the interview at AGORA:

“All he wanted to do was to go to Friday Prayers, so he walked towards a Mosque in a part of Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, where he doesn’t usually go:

“When I entered, I bowed my head and listened. The preacher warned against a terrible sinner among us, against one in Yemen who has dishonored our religion and our prophet. He talked of how disgraceful this man was. I realised that I was who he was talking about. I was their sinner.

I dared not lift my head. I covered my head with my scarf and looked down. There and then I realised how bad things are. If the others in the Mosque had recognised me, they would have killed me. With their shoes if they had nothing else to do it with.”

Click headline to read all of it; AGORA made a fine job collecting a lot of relevant links and a chronology at the end of his post

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Done with: Computer problems, sorry, no posting until they are solved

Go to AGORA to read an interview with al-Asadi

I hope to be back later today!

Up and running again, Don't know what the problem was, anyhow it's gone now.

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Islam Online twisting news once again

Islam Online's correspondent in Copenhagen, Nidal Abu Aref, seems to be more Islamist than reporter. I mailed this letter to the paper with the motto: Credibility and Distinction .

But be not bewildered as the Danish Radio, yesterday quoting the site as a neutral voice, the sentence continues:

"Our goal is for this site to be worthy of your trust. To reach our goal, a committee of the major scholars throughout the Islamic world, headed by Dr. Yusuf Qardawi, was formed. Its role is to ensure that nothing on this site violates the fixed principles of Islamic law (Shar'ia)."

Click continue to read my mail, click headline to read Nidal Abu Aref's covering.



Sir,

Reading through Nidal Abu Aref’s covering of the Danish Crown’s prosecutor’s decision, I cannot help wondering whether he primarily is a reporter - or a defender of the virtues of Islam. He uses the word “even” in a strange place, quote: “The Danish the attorney general even argued that "the religious writings of Islam cannot be said to contain a general and absolute prohibition against drawing the prophet Muhammad."”

As it is a fact that Islam does not contain a general and absolute prohibition, - why then the “even”?

Quote: “The drawings, considered blasphemous under Islam, have triggered massive and sometimes violent demonstrations across the Muslim world.”

That seems to be very mildly put: “sometimes violent”!

Furthermore he repeats the old distortion on JyllandsPosten turning down caricatures of Jesus; while this is correct, the paper has turned down a lot of bad caricatures and equally accepted a lot of caricatures on Jesus, God and other kinds of religious figures.

I once asked you to correct his misinformation on religious freedom in Denmark; though you answered positively, no such correction ever made it to your paper.

Actually, I was of the impression that Islam Online aimed a little higher.

Yours sincerely

Poul Højlund

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Dutch test on accepting secular hedonism

Paul Belien of The Brussels Journal explains the Dutch test and states:

"I have argued before that Europe is in the middle of a three-way culture war, between the proponents of secular hedonism, the defenders of traditional Judeo-Christian morality and the forces of Islamic Jihadism. For the secular hedonists currently holding sway in the Netherlands, Islamic Jihadism and the traditional morality of civilised people are one and the same thing. During the past decades the Netherlands have become the moral cesspit of Europe. I also pointed out in an earlier analysis that it is no coincidence that the collapse of Western civilisation, complete with political assassinations, has first become visible in the country which, in the past three decades, has taken secularization, multiculturalism, tolerance of alternative lifestyles, drug abuse and other fads to their furthest extremes."

Click headline to get all of it. Adds new meaning to the word Double Dutch!

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Quote of the Day

"Censorship will not be take place, everyone will be able to write whatever they wish. But I call on [journalists] to be free and observe the moral, religious and social sensitivities.”

Imam al Khomeni at a Paris press conference few days after Khomeini arrived in Paris during late 1978. Quoted by Ali Nouri Zadeh in Asharq Al-Awsat

This must free speech with the famous "but .." added.

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The Iranian Press and the Islamic Republic

Interesting and very informative walk through on the conditions for the press trying to cover the proud Islamic republic. The press is really the first frontline, and there's a long way to go in Iran. Dictators of whatever breed hate free speech.

By Ali Nouri Zadeh, London, Asharq Al-Awsat, March 16:

– Recently reformist Iranian journalist, Elias Hadrati, 44 was indicted for encouraging individuals both inside and outside of Iran to work against the security of the Islamic Republic. He has been accused of promoting the distortion of “public opinion” and has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. Etemad, the newspaper for which he writes has stated that he has been charged with “inciting against the regime”. The indictment was based on articles published in 2005, two of which criticized the vetting of candidates and one condemned the death sentence given to Hashem Aghajari. Since 2000, the Iranian judiciary has been responsible for closing down tens of reformist newspapers.

Continue in Asharq Al-Awsat, click headline

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US accepts talking with Iran over Iraq

Yesterday the odd news broke that Iran proposed direct talks with USI on the Iraq situation. This is remarkable since Iran apparently admits being able to control the instigators in Iraq! It would make little sense to offer negotiating unless you had something to offer, i.e. control of the insurgents. NYT emphasizes the nuclear issue, strictly not included in the US acceptance.

NYT / AP published this March 16, 11:33 PM/ET:

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran offered Thursday to enter into talks with the United States aimed at stabilizing Iraq, the first time the Islamic republic has agreed to negotiate with the superpower it calls the ''Great Satan.''

The offer appears to reflect the desire of at least some top Iranian officials to relieve Western pressure over Tehran's nuclear program in return for help on Iraq, which is sliding ominously toward civil war.

The Bush administration said it would talk with Iran -- but only about Iraq, not nuclear issues.
The White House said the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, is already authorized to talk with Iran about Iraq."

Continue in NYT, click headline

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A Short Story of Arabia

"It was late at night on the sixth day, and God had just one more thing to do before turning in for some well-earned rest. For the first time coining the phrase "TGIF", She congratulated herself on inventing the Day of Rest. Now just to finish that parking lot....."
But as She looked at that vat of black semi-liquid and the piles of sand and grit that She was about to mix, She thought "What's the point? It'll be several hundred generations before Bentley and Ford come along and invent the horseless carriage.

Religious Policeman has it; go, go, go!

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Bibliographical details at Daniel Pipes site

To the bibliographical readers of PIA CAUSA, Daniel Pipes with usual thourughness has posted a list of his own relevant comments and some backgorund to the Khartoon War here.

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Youths set fire to posters of Khamenei in Iran capital

Tehran, Iran, Mar. 14 – Young people set fire to pictures of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and former leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran, according to dissidents in the Iranian capital who sent a photo of their activities to Iran Focus.

Protestors gathered and burned down posters of Iranian leaders hung on lampposts in Mirdamad Street in Tehran.

Something different from Iran, - nice picture indeed.
Continue on Iran Focus, click headline.

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Op Blog: Muhammed was a violent figure

By Poul Højlund, March 16, 2006

It is noticeable that the Crown’s Prosecutor in his ruling states that Muhammad was indeed a violent person, spreading his message by the sword. We all knew that, - and now it’s official: Muhammad operates through violence.

New outbursts of violent Muslim reactions are expected in the days to come as the ruling of the Danish Crown’s Prosecutor becomes known.

The government yesterday with short notice summoned all foreign ambassadors in Denmark to a briefing on the ruling of the Crown’s Prosecutor, explaining once again the sealed doors between the government and the legal system.

Likewise all Danish ambassadors were instructed to explain to their hosting countries the legal background for the rejection of the Muslim legal complaint on the cartoons. The Foreign Ministry even issued a new warning for travellers to Muslim countries at their official homepage.

The ruling terminates the legal possibilities for the Muslim plaintiffs, and even if they succeed in taking the whole matter to the European Court on Human Rights, no charges can never be pressed against JyllandsPosten; the decision from the Crown’s Prosecutor is definitive: nothing illegal has taken place.

In other words: No Danish law was ever violated in this case, only Islamic laws that have no bearing in Denmark. On the contrary the whole matter clearly demonstrates that the Muslim world – not only the extremists – actively tried and continues trying to influence the Danish legal system and the Danish daily life in all aspects.

The amount of misinformation and lies distributed by the media throughout the world on Denmark and the treatment of minority groups is unbelievable, and it will take years to establish a more realistic picture of this country again.

The Muslim world and its media bear a heavy responsibility for the campaign, as does the Danish Muslim minority of which a major part still thinks that the Danish government should apologize, thereby clearly demonstrating that despite living in Denmark for decades, educated and in all aspects taken care off, they still haven’t captured the basics of the democratic system here.

The Cartoon War points to the tense and incurable differences between the Islamic world and the democratic world, all summed up in the view on Free Speech and man-given laws as a contrast to the laws derived from an Arab book of the eighth century.

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Arab News: OIC Raps EU for Tepid Response on Cartoons

According to Arab News today, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the OIC secretary-general, says: “Discriminatory legislations and measures are being enacted to narrow the margin of liberties of Muslims living in the West.”

Now, that's a plain out lie without any justification in the world of realities.

The OIC hardliners refuse to deal with the realities of this world and continue their campaign against free speech, - and as the OIC represents the Muslim countries, we better interpret this as the Muslim countries once again denying the real world.

Not surprisingly, but once again emphasizing the enormous hypocracy expressed by the least democratic and the most oppressive countries in the world.

Click Continue .. to get the wholde store from Arab News.

by Siraj Wahab, Arab News

JEDDAH, 16 March 2006 — The highest representative body of the Muslim world yesterday expressed dissatisfaction and disenchantment with the European Union response to the publication of the blasphemous cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Addressing the first ministerial meeting of the executive committee of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the organization’s secretary-general, said by simply regretting that Muslims found the cartoons offensive, EU foreign ministers had not gone far enough at a meeting in Brussels recently.

“We expected the EU to address the issue of cartoons in a more fair way,” Ihsanoglu told the meeting of the OIC executive committee formed last December and comprising the chief diplomats of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Yemen, Turkey, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Senegal.

“I must say that we are not satisfied with the result of the (EU) meeting in Brussels on Feb. 27. The conclusion published by the European Union fell short of our expectations. It was disappointing.”

Ihsanoglu said the publication of the cartoons was clearly meant to demonize Islam and its Prophet. “Animosity against Islam is constantly on the rise in Europe. It has already reached unprecedented and very worrying levels in some countries,” he said.

“Discriminatory legislations and measures are being enacted to narrow the margin of liberties of Muslims living in the West,” he said. “Dialogue does not seem to have rendered any positive results and a strong trend of Islam-bashing is still dominant in the Western press,” he said.

He called upon the foreign ministers to take more action-oriented steps and sustained endeavors to stem this mounting threat. “Member states,” he said, “should take the lead in combating Islamophobia through collective and practical measures, with the same zeal and devotion as combating terrorism.”

On Iraq, Ihsanoglu said: “We stress the need for a smooth and speedy continuation of the political process which will culminate in the formation of a government of national unity... Such an approach may create a climate of trust conducive to encouraging stability and peace and preventing the looming threats of prolonged civil war in the country.”

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, who had also been invited, sent a deputy to the meeting. Ihsanoglu said the Iraqi delegation had asked the OIC to “play an essential role in backing the political process in Iraq” and invited him to visit the violence-plagued country immediately. The foreign ministers unanimously agreed to form a contact group on Iraq.

The OIC condemned Israel’s raid on a West Bank prison on Tuesday, calling it an act of state terrorism. “The Israeli government committed (an act of) arrogance, violence and state terrorism on liberated Palestinian land yesterday,” said Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubakar Al-Qurbi, who co-chaired the key meeting.

“Regrettably, this was totally ignored by the international community, suggesting that Israel has received a green light to deal with the Palestinian issue with the logic of imposing solutions and overlooking the principle of the Palestinian Authority’s sovereignty,” Al-Qurbi said.

“The outrageous Israeli attack on the Jericho prison, immediately after the undeclared withdrawal of the American and British observers ... constitutes a new testament to the rampant non-abidance by Israel of its international commitments in front of the eyes of the international community,” said the OIC secretary-general.

The Yemeni foreign minister criticized the United States and European Union for “refusing to accept” the outcome of January Palestinian elections in which Hamas scored a stunning victory.
Al-Qurbi hoped that the meeting would be the first step toward activating and reforming the organization. He emphasized the need for joint Islamic action to confront challenges posed against the Islamic faith and culture.

“We are not against freedom of expression and opinion. At the same time, we’ll not accept abuse of our Prophet,” he said, referring to the offensive cartoons.

Al-Qurbi said Islam had guaranteed freedom of expression and faith before the announcement of the Human Rights Charter and long before the arrival of Western democratic systems. “To you be your religion and to me my religion,” he quoted a verse from the Holy Qur’an that emphasizes the freedom of faith in Islam.

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Muslims feel deluded by Danish prime

Danish Muslims unwilling to accept ruling from Crown's Prosecutor

According to JyllandsPosten, the original plaintiffs plan to take the cartoon matter to the European Court of Human Rights.

The tone of spoiled children is indeed remarkable, as the plaintiffs struggle to take in the ruling against their case. Clearly they do not understand the nature of the independency of the Crown’s Prosecutor as they emphasize their expectations of the prime.

Translated from JyllandsPosten today:
Click Continue ..

“We expect this to be the next step, since this will signal to Denmark and the international world that the legal path is the correct one. Defamation of people must be taken seriously, and we were constantly told by the prime, that we simply could go to the courts”, says Asmaa Abdol-Hamid, member of the “Enhedslisten” in Odense and among the first to file complaints on the cartoons. [“Enhedslisten” is a far left coalition of communists, socialists and radical green’ists]

In Denmark violations of the penal code are reported to the police. Subsequently the Public Prosecutors – finally the Crown’s Prosecutor – determines whether to take legal action.
Asmaa Abdol-Hamid rejects hair-splitting: “We fully understand the Danish legal system, but we expect the prime’s words to be serious and credible, and I fear that the decision from the Crown’s prosecutor will keep the conflict alive”, she says.

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The Crown’s Prosecutor: Muhammed is a violent figure

Quotes from some central parts with added headlines from the 10 page legal assessment of the cartoon case from the Crown’s Prosecutor, all in strict legal language, provide a highly interesting insight in the Danish legal thinking when it comes to humour, tradition, interpretation of blasphemy and more.

The Crown’s Prosecutor systematically examines the case evaluating the two relevant sections of the penal code, first the “blasphemy-section”, since the “racism-section”.

Readers Digest version, click Continue .., Full version, click headline
Headlines in Italic are added by me

"Section 140 of the Danish Criminal Code
Section 140 of the Danish Criminal Code provides that any person who, in public, mocks or scorns the religious doctrines or acts of worship of any lawfully existing religious community in this country shall be liable to imprisonment for any term not exceeding four months. "

Only in use three times, last sentence passed in 1938
"It should also be noted that when adopted in 1930, section 140 of the Danish Criminal Code was intended to afford protection of the most serious offences against religious feelings and was furthermore implied in subsequent discussions by the Danish Parliament in 1973 and 2005 regarding the necessity for this provision. This has been reflected in practice as well, as since 1930 only three prosecutions have been brought for violation of this provision and the most recent of these cases from 1971 led to acquittal. "

Drawing Muhammed is not illegal
“It cannot then be assumed that a drawing of the Prophet Muhammed in general will be contrary to the religious doctrines and acts of worship of the religion as practised today, although certain groups within the religion comply fully with the ban on depiction. For that reason alone, a drawing of the Prophet Muhammed cannot in itself constitute a violation of section 140 of the Danish Criminal Code. "

A caricature of Muhammed may be in violation
"The drawings in question, which according to the headline illustrate "The Face of Muhammed", are not, however, where some of them are concerned merely a depiction of the Prophet Muhammed, but a caricature of him.

Depending on the circumstances, a caricature of such a central figure in Islam as the Prophet Muhammed may imply ridicule of or be considered an expression of contempt of Islamic religious doctrines and acts of worship. An assessment of whether this is the case must be seen in the light of the text accompanying the drawings.”

Drawings referring to terror in the name of Muhammed are okay
"If Muhammed is taken to be a symbol of Islam, the drawing can be understood to mean that violence or bomb explosions have been committed in the name of Islam. The drawing can therefore be seen as a contribution to the current debate on terror and as an expression that religious fanaticism has led to terrorist acts. Understood in this way, the drawing cannot be considered to express contempt for the Prophet Muhammed or the Islamic religion, but as an expression of criticism of Islamic groups who commit terrorist acts in the name of religion. On this basis, the drawing is clearly not a violation of section 140 of the Danish Criminal Code. "

Muhammed historically was a violent person
"The drawing can also be taken to depict the Prophet Muhammed as a violent person and as a rather intimidating or scary figure.

The historical descriptions of the Prophet's life show that while propagating their religion, he and his followers were involved in violent conflicts and armed clashes with persons and population groups that did not join Islam, and that both many Muslims and others lost their lives in that connection.

The bomb doesn’t correctly reflect on the violent Muhammad, however not illegal
Even against this historical background, a depiction of the Prophet Muhammed as a violent person must be considered an incorrect depiction if it is with a bomb as a weapon, which in the context of today may be understood to imply terrorism. This depiction may with good reason be understood as an affront and insult to the Prophet who is an ideal for believing Muslims.

However, such a depiction is not an expression of mockery or ridicule, and hardly scorn within the meaning of section 140 of the Danish Criminal Code. The concept scorn covers contempt and debasement, which in the usual meaning would not comprise situations depicting a figure as shown in drawing 2, regardless of how it is illustratively to be understood or interpreted. "

"Section 266 b of the Danish Criminal Code
Under section 266 b(1) of the Danish Criminal Code any person who, publicly or with the intention of wider dissemination, makes a statement or imparts other information by which a group of people are threatened, scorned or degraded on account of their race, colour, national or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual inclination shall be liable to a fine or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding two years.

Like section 140 of the Danish Criminal Code, section 266 b should be subject to a narrow interpretation out of regard for the right to freedom of expression."

The accompanying text is not scornful, nor referring to Muslims in general
"The text section of the article does not refer to Muslims in general, but mentions expressly "some" Muslims, i.e. Muslims who reject the modern, secular society and demand a special position in relation to their own religious feelings. The latter group of people must be considered to be comprised by the expression "a group of people" as mentioned in section 266 b, but the text in the article cannot be considered to be scornful or degrading towards this group – even if seen in the context of the drawings.

As mentioned in point 3.2 above, according to the heading, the drawings in the article depict Muhammed. The drawings that must be assumed to be pictures of Muhammed depict a religious figure, and none of them can be considered to be meant to refer to Muslims in general. Furthermore, there is no basis for assuming that the intention of drawing 2 was to depict Muslims in general as perpetrators of violence or even as terrorists. "

"Conclusion
As it appears from point 3.2 and 3.3. above, the Director of Public Prosecutions does not find basis for changing the decision made by the Regional Public Prosecutor of Viborg and therefore concurs in the decision pursuant to section 749(2) of the Danish Administration of Justice Act to discontinue the investigation with regard to section 140 of the Danish Criminal Code as well as section 266 b of the Danish Criminal Code."

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JyllandsPosten satisfied being acquitted by Crown's Prosecutor

The Crown's Prosecutor Henning Fode today dismissed all charges against JyllandsPosten.

The paper did not violate any law in printing the cartoons, he stated, basing his decision on both Danish law and The European Court of Human Rights.

They [people, practicing their right to religious freedom] must tolerate and accept others' denial of their religious conviction and even [tolerate] the dissemination of attitudes, hostile to their faith, reads part of his ruling.

Quotes from Editor-in-Chief Carsten Juste comments:
More, click Continue ..
"The Crown's Prosecutor states clearly based on rulings and comments from the European Court of Human Rights that " ... people, practicing their right to religious freedom, whether part of a religious majority or minority, not with reason may expect to be exempted from criticism.

They must tolerate and accept others' denial of their religious conviction and even [tolerate] the dissemination of attitudes, hostile to their faith.

The Crown's Prosecutor adds that "... it is not unusual in the public debate in Demark to use a blunt and straightforward form where even offensive and abrasive expressions by and large are accepted".

[Carsten Juste:] This is precisely what was expressed by (..) editor Flemming Rose in the text of September 30, last year [the date the cartoons were published]."

A spokesman for the Islamic Faith Community, Kasem Said Ahmad, said that he would consider to bring the case for the European Court of Human Rights.

However, according to the Crown's Prosecutor, his decision as a consequence of section 99(3) of the Danish Administration of Justice Act, finally acquits JyllandsPosten of any charges of violating Danish law.

The decision is published officially in English here.

AGORA has a detailed covering here.

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Cross War Memorial in front of Mosque removed - to be put back again

A sad story of dhimmi to an Amstedam War Memorial,- yet promissing as the ordinary Dutch people protested:

The Brussels Journal, from the desk of Paul Belien on Mon, 2006-03-13 13:59
The Amsterdam authorities have announced that a large cross, which was removed from in front of a supermosque that is currently being built in a western suburb of the city, will be put back in its original place once the construction works are over in a few years’ time.
Click Continue ..
Last week we reported on the decision of the Amsterdam borough of De Baarsjes to permanently remove the white cross which served as a memorial to the Second World War. The cross, with the inscription “Aan hen die vielen” (To those who fell), was situated in front of a place where a huge mosque – the Westermoskee – is currently being built. The cross was removed for the building works, but the authorities decided they would not put it back afterwards and would replace it by a “neutral” memorial, at the price of 50,000 euro.

According to the authorities the cross was offensive to the Muslim and Jewish communities, who had objected to the cross as a war memorial. “The cross is seen as a reference to Christianity. I can understand this,” the local (Christian-Democrat) councillor, Jan Voetberg, said.

However, news of the decision led to an outcry, which prompted the local council to renege on its decision. The local council was swamped with protests from all across the country. While the Pakistani, Moroccan and Turkish communities had, indeed, asked for the removal of the memorial, the Jewish community said it had never objected to the cross. On the contrary. Bloeme Evers, an Auschwitz survivor, said he was shocked by the demand. Three years ago a war remembrance ceremony at the memorial was disrupted by Moroccan youths shouting anti-Jewish slogans.

“We have made an error of judgement and apparently touched an open nerve,” Jan Voetberg said about the decision of the council’s change of mind. Last Friday the council announced that the cross will be returned to its original position “in a few years time,” once the construction of the mosque is completed.

Considering that it is probably intolerable for a Muslim to have a huge white cross in front of a mosque (at least as intolerable as a paper that publishes a drawing of Muhammad) we are curious to see whether the Amsterdam cross will indeed return – and if so – for how long.

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Denmark and Islam: Facts and Fiction

From the official site of the Danish Minister. (Ateist: Thanks for the tip)

By Bertel Haarder
Minister for Education and Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs, Denmark, February 27, 2006

The cartoon controversy has focused media attention on Denmark to an extent we have never known before. The Government of Denmark has made all possible efforts to convey a full and accurate picture of our response to the issues at hand. Generally, the views of the Government and facts about Denmark have been presented fairly and objectively by the media.

However, several myths, misunderstandings and misrepresentation of fact have been allowed to take root. I feel it is time to set the record straight on a number of issues.Click Continue..

It has been argued that Islam is not recognized as a religion in Denmark – and that Muslims cannot practice their beliefs. Myths have it that for twenty years Muslims have been denied permission to build mosques and that they are not allowed to bury their dead.

Nothing could be further from the truth. All citizens in Denmark have the right to form religious communities. There is no need of approval or recognition by any Government authority. Religious communities are not even required to register. All citizens have a constitutional right to manifest their beliefs in worship, observance, practice and teaching. The Danish authorities do not register such religious communities or their members, and these communities are free to build churches, temples, mosques or other houses for their worship.

Although religious communities in Denmark do not need any official recognition, they may seek approval by the authorities. Not to function as religious communities – but for two practical reasons: Firstly, in order to be authorized to conclude marriages with legal effect under Danish law and secondly, for members of these communities to be able to deduct contributions to the community from their taxable income.

The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs has approved around 100 individual religious communities including Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Old Norse congregations. 19 of these are Muslim congregations.

And to set the record even more straight:
In Denmark as a whole there are about 120 mosques or Muslim prayer rooms.
In Copenhagen and a number of other cities in Denmark parts of the public cemeteries are reserved for the burial of Muslims.
Muslim communities are free to establish their own cemeteries according to Danish law, and a large Muslim cemetery in the Copenhagen area is expected to open this year.
No burning of the Koran has taken place in Denmark. Burning the Koran may constitute a criminal offence and result in a prison sentence.
In Denmark there is free access to set up Private Independent Schools, which receives government funding covering 75 – 80 per cent of their expenses. This includes free access to set up Muslim schools. Currently there are 18 Muslim and Arabic Private Independent schools, with approximately 3500 pupils.
Unfortunately, these are not the only misunderstandings confronting us these days. Denmark is also accused of discriminating against Muslims in the labor market, even though Danish law explicitly forbids discrimination in connection with employment, dismissal, promotion or wage and working conditions with regard to religion as well as race, color, political conviction, age, handicap, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.

It is unfortunate when miscomprehensions or misinformation leads to misunderstanding and mistrust. This is not what we need if we want to promote dialogue and cooperation. We for our part truly do. Denmark is a tolerant, open and free society. Freedom as well as respect is at the very heart of our society. And don’t take my word for it: Come and see it for yourself!

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French PMP calls for limitations on free speech in France

«Tout discours, cri, menace, écrit, imprimé, dessin ou affiche outrageant, portant atteinte volontairement aux fondements des religions, est une injure.»

Amendment to the French Constitution proposed to the French Assemblée Nationale by député M. Jean-Marc Roubaud on Feb. 28 2006 banning criticism of religion. Mr. Roubaud specifically refers to the cartoons in his preamble.

I know nothing of Mr. Roubaud, and I need not know more.

You should read the comments on this at DhimmiWatch. I'll quote this from Russel: .. "Does the bill have a chance of succeeding? It's too early to tell...but this bill has been submitted by a member of the large-majority UMP party, the party of Jacques Chirac, France's Dhimmi-in-Chief. This bill is a lot like similar "protection of religion" bills that came up in the UK. " There's a lot more, including an interesting poll on the average French attitude towards the Muslim immigration. Maybe there's still hope.

Tip: DhimmiWatch and David

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Quote of the Day

"We Arabs on the other hand can do nothing but sit and watch as we are too far behind to ask these kinds of vital questions."

Closing sentence in Diana Mukkaled article on the European debate on Freedom of Expression in Asharq Alawsat yesterday.

I guess this is as far as we go in countries without free speech. Her statement is definately well put. Read more, click headline.

"Diana Mukkaled is a prominent and well respected TV journalist in the Arab world, thanks to her phenomenal show "Bil Ayn Al Mojarada" (By The Naked Eye), a series of documentaries around controversial areas and topics which airs on Lebanon's leading local and sattelite channel Future Television".

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Dhimmi Finland to chair EU

Tundra Tabloids....... of Finland points to the most disturbing fact that dhimminised Finland is chairing the EU from July this year. Norway just opened the largest mosque in Scandinavia. Sweden and Finland close down critical sites, Norway, Sweden and Finland excused in general for their existence long ago, - only Denmark fights on. By the way: Denmark will chair the Security Council in July as the Iran affair comes to a head ..

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Democracy before Religon

I published this in today's edition of JyllandsPosten. AGORA did a marvelouss job translating, posting it on AGORA right away. Click the headline to read all of it; here you'll find only a few quotes.

Democracy before Religion
by Poul Højlund, March 15, 2006 in JyllandsPosten today

....
"Apparently a lot of people in high places in our Democracy have a hard time understanding the simple fact that Islam as traditionally interpreted is not compatible with Democracy. In a reversal of priorities, they are defending Islam's Freedom of Oppression by referring to the Freedom of Religion. Some even manage to bring the immigration debate into play: distancing oneself from the lack of Freedom in Islam is the same as discrimination or even racism.

Why is diminished Freedom acceptable when Religion is involved? Did not the Boers of South Africa call apartheid part of their faith? The Ku Klux Klan maintain their right to lynch black people as part of their faith - are they suddenly sacrosanct? No. None can be allowed to justify violations of Human Rights by invoking religious beliefs.

Only when it comes to Islam do some get all respectful and considerate of the intolerable. Where are the wrathful demonstrations against the massive oppression of free thought in the Moslem world? Against the grotesque oppression of women? Against the ongoing human rights violations? The standards by which we judge the Islamic world are obviously lower than the standards we apply to the rest of the world. To me, this seems like some kind of reverse racism, a twisted version of Kipling's old say about The White Man's Burden."
....
"Islam is like a one-way street with no exits. If one goes down that road, there is no turning back, no possibility of reforming or renouncing one's faith, no possibility of seeking other solutions and truths than those prescribed in the unchangeable and eternal laws of the Shari'ah. The system is self-perpetuating and completely closed. Islam was created by Muhammad with the intention of making it everlasting and universal."

Read on at AGORA, click headline. By the way: Muhammed is depicted again in my piece, the marble version from US Supreme Court. Let's see what happens ..

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60 Minutes: Go Dig Your Grave

"This kind of journalism does not have much in common with the tradition of Ed R. Murrow or what his associate, Fred Friendly, taught me at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University when I took my degree there in the late 70ies."

Samuel Rachlin, Danish journalism's anchor of classical virtues, cuts to pieces the scandalous biased programme on Denmark, aired by 60 Minutes anchor: Bob Simon.

"What we got was a presentation so biased, distorted and corrupted by so many inaccuracies and innuendos that it was impossible to recognize Denmark. I am sorry to say it, but it is shameful for the profession that both Bob Simon and I belong to."

Samuel Rachlin is sharp and to the point, - and he sums it up on behalf of all of us:

"We have this disrespectful streak which sometimes gets us into trouble. But quite frankly, we don’t give a damn and, like the little boy in the fairy tale, we will tell anyone that they are naked, if that’s what they are. We don’t care if it is an emperor, an editor - or a correspondent."

MUST READ, at Punditokraterne. Tip: AGORA

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Telegrahp censor article on Shariah in UK

Freedom Zone has the complete article that was removed by Telegraph and replaced with this: This story has been removed for legal reasons (apparently it's now replaced with a standard wrong url note). The original article was headed:

ENGLAND: The day is coming when British Muslims form a state within a state
By Alasdair Palmer The Telegraph Group February 19, 2006

Read and try to etsimate how much time left before anything is shut down! Click headline.

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"Islam Will be Victorious Against the West"

Norwegian Mullah predicts Victory; AGORA translated from Dagbladet.no; short quote here, click headline to read the rest at AGORA:

“We have no fear of the Western mindset. It can never be victorious. In Iraq the two sides are facing each other. On the side of Islam are men who love death and are willing to become martyrs for their beliefs. On the other side are soldiers who fight for a 1000 dollars a day. The number of dead American soldiers are proof of defeats. In Afghanistan the same thing is happening. From 2001 to 2004 five suicide attacks occured. In 2005 it was 17. While the US and their allies are becoming smaller, Islam is expanding the front. And the reports from Guantanamo tell the same story. There they try to rip the faith our of the Moslems’ hearts. They fail. In Denmark they printed those cartoons, but the result is that the backing for Islam increases. I and all Moslems are proof of this. You haven’t managed to change us. We are the ones who will change you.”

“How?”

“Look at the development of the populations in Europe where Moslems are breeding like Mosquitoes. Every western woman produces on average 1.4 children. Every Moslem woman in the same countries produce 3.5 children. In the year 2050, 30 percent of the population of Europe will be Moslems.”

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Massive anti-Semitism in Sweden

New report documents massive anti-Semitism: 41% of all Swedes hold an entirely negative or partly negative view on Jews.
Chocking news indeed from our neighbouring country, who actually hosted the Danish Jews during the WWII. What is wrong in Sweden, - haunted by anti-Semitic sentiments, political correctness and a mutual understanding between establishment and the press to mute and silence on any immigrational problems?

According to Dagens Nyheter anti-Semitism is widespread in Sweden, the country normally criticizing Denmark in harsh words for racism against Muslim immigrants. 41% has a more or less negative view on Jews; 26% find that the Jews influence the world economy, and 15% agrees that the Jews are far to dominant in world politics.

The report carried out polls among 3000 adult Swedes a year ago is a follow up on an "Intolerance Study" from 2004.

At the same time, 59% of the interviewed denies any anti-Semitic sentiments at all.

For those reading Swedish, click headline to go to Dagens Nyheter. Picture: Carl Larsson: Christmas Eve.

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EU and US pay to get beaten up and burned down in Gaza and the Westbank

This is an interesting problem: how much longer will the EU and US pay to get beaten up and burned down? Well, in order to avoid the Iranians to take over, it makes some sense. But paying without enforcing law and order, no corruption and demilitarisation of the area seems awfully naive.

From BBC background: Click headline to go to BBC

Click Continue .. to get the legend

1: Distributed through World Bank $85m
2: For Isr/Pal integration $12m
3: For UN relief (UNRWA) $77m
4: Food aid $35m
5: Humanitarian aid $33m
6: Special projects $24m
7: Infrastructure $72m
8: Other donations by member states $262m

EU TOTAL: $600m


1: Unused funds from 2003/04 financial year $175m
2: To pay PA debts $20m
3: Spending on new Gaza infrastructure $50m
4: USAID projects $155m

US TOTAL: $400m

Sources: EU, US

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Operation in Jericho to Arrest the Murderers of Israeli Minister

Here is the background for the Palestinian unrest:

From IDF News, Tuesday 14/03/2006 12:33:

"In accordance with a decision of the political echelon, and following the violation of agreements by the Palestinian Authority, IDF forces have been operating in Jericho as of this morning to arrest the murderers of Israeli minister Rehavam Zeevi and other senior terrorists.
Click Continue ..
The international inspectors at the prison had left the city as a result of these violations. The inspectors had been supervising the implementation of the agreements made between Israel and Palestinian Authority regarding the imprisonment of the terrorists.

Israel had maintained its commitment to the agreements reached with the Palestinian Authority and decided to take action only when the Palestinian Authority violated its side of the agreement. The terrorists were no longer under the supervision of the American and British inspectors as specified in the agreements.

The IDF, instructed by the political echelon, will act with all means necessary in order to prevent the release of the murderers of Rehavam Zeevi."

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British consulate on Westbank in flames

According to JyllandsPosten 12:27 / 12:46 (Reuter / ritzau) militant Palestinians from the al-Aqsa brigade stormed the EU office in Gaza. The British consulate on the Westbank is on fire.

Palestinian militant spokesman Abu Qusai warns US and UK citizens to leave the area within two hours, or risk facing kidnapping or "other consequences".

The unrest follows the Israeli raid on a Westbank prison with highranking militant Palestinians.

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"As the West enters the twilight hours .."

Can a Value System Supposedly Primitive Pose a Threat to West?

by Reem Al-Faisal, Arab News, Jedda

"As the West enters the twilight hours of its civilization it demonstrates a desperate desire to recapture the glories of a past when the world meant the “West” and the only value system was that dictated by Western powers. According to this way of thinking, modern history started at the Renaissance and Western sciences were the sum of all knowledge."

Continue reading this interesting anti-semitic and anti-western opinion in Arab News today: click headline. She got a few good points ..!

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IslamOnline misleading again?

"Unlike Judaism, Buddhism and some Protestant denominations, Islam is not officially recognized by the state"

Closing sentence in IslamOnline article on Jewish community in Italy, condemning the minister cartoon T-shirt and praised by Italian Muslims.

Now, does this have any practical bearing or is it another IslamOnline almost-true-but-not-at-all-meaningful misguide of their readers? Compare to the mail correspondence, I had with IOL here.

Any Italians to clarify?

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UPDATE: One of ten Muslims in Denmark: Burning flag is okay

AGORA published all the numbers from the poll showing Muslims in Denmark still far more Muslims than Danes of Muslim faith. Click headline to go to AGORA.

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Dhimmi Quote of the Day

"One is allowed to defend strict points of view regarding freedom of expression and freedom of the press. We wonder however whether we should contribute to the fact that a fire is kindled as the result of an exchange of views. We don’t think so."

German Internet provider arguing the close down of German Islam Info site that printed the cartoons. Quoted from Brussels Journal.

Free Speech = Okay, provided you don't use it.

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Swedish Myrdal goes Quisling in Hizbollah Interview

Al Intiqad, official paper from Hizbollah, interviewed Swedish Jan Myrdal. I found the interview on Arab-European Leaque's site, - I'll get back to them later!

Jan Myrdal, son of Gunnar and Alva Myrdal, leftists architects of the Swedish system, is a known defender of totalitarian states. In this interview he goes all the way, defending terror and calling Islamic organisations for resistance figthers.

Myrdal knows quite a lot, and hasn't understood one single bit. I've picked a few quotes, - they are indeed representative. Go on, get the leftist point of view, click the headline.

"Today in many countries of the world - especially in Asia - Moslem or Islamic ideology has become a driving force in the popular resistance against oppression. The situation and thus the ideologies were different for the patriots of Europe or China during the second World War. But then as now: To revolt against oppression is just.I believe that you will ultimately prove successful. Imperialism will in the long run not be able to sustain itself. It conducts its wars on borrowed money. In the long run theirs is a no-win situation. Though the run can be long!"

"What will happen in Iraq? It depends partly on how great the losses - in men and dollars - for the United States will be. You could say that every dead GI increases the possibility of a retreat. But first they will try to get their willing allies do the dirty work (see Afghanistan). At the same time the United States will try to Balkanize, incite one group against another; if they can achieve a civil war between different groups among the people of Iraq, then the US could continue making profits and their troops could stay in their cantonments for a long time to come."

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Obsessed with Constitution as Europe Sinks

A brilliant analasys by Paul Belien from Tuesday, 2006-03-07, The Brussels Journal

Comparing with the Titanic clash and the lower decks first acknowleding the danger, Paul Belien continues:

"While the indigenous lower classes have – in a panic, but rationally – begun to vote in ever growing numbers for so-called populist, “islamophobe” politicians, the European establishment politicians and mainstream media are discussing how to revive the European Constitution which the voters in France and the Netherlands rejected last year."

Go on, read the rest, click headline.

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German website closed down

Brussels Journal: From the desk of Edwin Jacobs on Wed, 2006-03-08 19:17

"The German website euroislam.info has been shut down because it published the Muhammad cartoons. The first page can still be found in Google’s cache. The owner of the website apparently received an e-mail (original in German) from his Internet service provider Neue Medien Münnich, stating that the website was shut down immediately and without giving a period of notice.

The service provider motivates the closing down of his customer's website by referring to complaints he received from third parties and his legal obligations as an Internet service provider, but he also adds:

The complaints we received were decisive [for shutting down your site], and also the fact that people are dying elsewhere because of the simple depiction of the Muhammad cartoons. One is allowed to defend strict points of view regarding freedom of expression and freedom of the press. We wonder however whether we should contribute to the fact that a fire is kindled as the result of an exchange of views. We don’t think so."

Click headline; same article lists websites closed down so far.

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Is al-Asadi actually facing death charges?

Is Yemen Editor-in-Chief al-Asadi actually facing the death penalty for printing thumb nails of the cartoons?

by Poul Højlund, March 13, 2006

I haven’t been able to track the facts in this story: Yemen Observer on the one side, claiming that a death penalty is wanted; NYT and more on the other side, stating that a maximum of one year imprisonment is at stake.

Click Continue ..


If you have further information, verified and accurate, it would be much appreciated. A year in prison is bad, but is nowhere compatible to the death sentence.

As I do not want to engage the public on less than firm grounds, I would really appreciate some more information in this matter.

So is al-Asadi actually facing a possible death sentence? The question follows after Danish daily Politiken on March 9, 21.10 quotes Reporters Sans Frontieres responsible for Mid East, Lynn Tehini: “We’ve spoken with our representative in Sanaa, and he informs that it’s not true, that the public prosecutor claimed a death penalty, as some media have reported.”

Politiken earlier the same day web’ed an article based on the Yemen Observer [without ever crediting the paper and pretending that Politiken actually interviewed al-Asadi] with the headline: ‘Editor risks death penalty for prophet drawings’.

Yemen Observer on March 8 has this report, quoted next day at PIA CAUSA, and obviously the source for Politiken:

"Mar 8, 2006 -

SANA’A – Up to 21 prosecution lawyers called for the death penalty for Mohammed Al-Asadi, the Editor-in-Chief of the Yemen Observer, and the permanent closure of the newspaper, during Al-Asadi’s trial on Wednesday.

The lawyers, commissioned by Sheik Abdul-Majid Zindani, the Chairman of Islah Shura Council and led by Mohammed Al-Shawish, also called for the confiscation of all the newspaper’s property and assets, and for financial compensation to be paid to be the Muslim’s ‘Finance House’, which last existed during the time of the Caliphs, 1200 years ago. "

This blog later documented (tip: American Daughter) that the chief prosecutor, Sheik Zindani, appears on US and UN lists of terrorists for funding al Qaeda. Sheik al-Zindani is the leader of the Islah party, but is by some thought to be quite a problem to the party.

al-Zindani is wanted by US government, according to this
to this report in Yemen Times on Februar 25, quoting al-Jazeera.

NYT on March 9 has this on the death charges against al-Asadi:

(…)
“The lawyers also reminded the court of a story from the days of the prophet in which a woman was executed for insulting him, and he praised her killer, a citation The Observer took as a threat to demand that the editor be sentenced to death. He currently faces a year in jail or a fine.

Mr. Assadi, who once worked as a part-time correspondent for The New York Times, is one of three Yemeni journalists facing criminal charges for republishing the cartoons. The other two are Abdulkarim Sabra, the managing editor of the weekly Al Hurriya, and Yehiya al-Abed, a reporter for that paper. The men were jailed for two weeks last month, before being released on bail. The three stand accused of insulting their faith by publishing the images, a crime approaching heresy. In each case, the editors' stated intention was to condemn the drawings. In the case of The Observer, the images were obscured by a black X.

Lawyers for Mr. Assadi accused the 23 of taking part in a campaign organized by Yemen's main Islamist party, led by Sheik Abdul-Majid al-Zindani. The party has collected about $25,000 to pay for legal action against the journalists.

The court adjourned until March 22, and the judge called on the 23 lawyers to register their suit with the prosecution. Eight other journalists in five countries are facing prosecution for reprinting the cartoons.”

So what to believe: a maximum of one year imprisonment or death?

Please help me sort out this confusion; has the Yemen Observer exagerated in support of their editor-in-chief, and thereby mislead this blog and a lot others?

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Offended, Quisling, Dhimmi Quote of the Day

“I was the host and I said if it was his religion that made him say such things, my religion prescribed as an absolute sacred rite smoking cigars and drinking alcohol before, after, and if need be during, all meals and the intervals between them.”

Winston Churchill, before a dinner party, February 17, 1945 in Egypt hosting king Ibn Saud, when told that the king and his entourage were Wahhabists. Quoted in Daniel Yergin: The Prize - The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power. 1991. S. 405. Tip: Danish blog Uriasposten

Latest Offended Quisling Dhimmi Quote of the Day
Latest Offended Quisling Dhimmi Quote of the Day
Latest Offended Quisling Dhimmi Quote of the Day

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UPDATE: One of ten Muslims in Denmark: Burning flag is okay

UPDATE: AGORA has all the numbers translated etc. Click headline to get the details.
According to a new poll by Catinet, only 2 % of the Muslims in Denmark feel Danish most, the rest either dont know or 53% stating Muslim most.

A huge majority supports the claim for an official government excuse for JyllandPosten's printing of the cartoons, and 36% understands the reactions in the Middle East, leading to Minister of Integration Marianne Hvilshøj suggesting that they may consider re-immegration.

Shocking, is the average reaction from Danish politicians, left to right. Hypocracy and ungratitude sans frontieres, I might add.

Figures from Danmarks Radio and TV2, - I'll update with more figures when the poll is published at length.

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Abbas first rejects program, then Abbas / Hamas discord report denied

From al-Jazeera Web via Gaza Times: Sunday 12 March 2006, 23:09 Makka Time, 20:09 GMT

"A Palestinian official said the Palestinian president has rejected Hamas' proposed government programme for failing to meet his and the international community's demands on relations with Israel, but Hamas and sources close to Mahmoud Abbas have dismissed the claim." Continue on al-Jazeera

The ink wasn't dry before Hamas denied any discord.

Sami Abu Zuhra, a Hamas spokesman in the Palestinian territories, and Nabil Abu Rudeina, Abbas' spokesman, both denied the claim.

They even stated that Hamas never issued an official programme. But immediately the discord was confirmed by a senior Palestinian official, according to al-Jazeera.

"[Abbas] rejected the Hamas government programme ... because the principal political points in it have to be clear for the international community"

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Hamas draft government programme

It seems that Hamas is not intending to give in in any way. Here is the Draft programme from Hamas, - apparently rejected by Abbas. On the contrary Hamas calls for continued terror. The gentleman on the photo is not with KKK, but with Hamas:

To get Haaretz' view, click here.

From al-Jazeera web: The Draft Hamas programme as published Sunday:

The main points of Hamas's draft government programme posted on its website:

1) Pursuit of the armed struggle [against Israel] until achieving our goals.
2) Israel is an occupying power.
3) The truce is a useful tool [a reference to a freeze on attacks between Palestinians and Israelis in February 2005].
4) The Arab and Islamic world support our strategy in all areas.

The main points of our political programme: Read on, click Continue ..
I. The resistance:
a. The resistance is the legitimate right of the Palestinian people.
b. The resistance is a means but not an end in itself.
c. Israel's intransigence has made all preceding negotiations fail.

II. The Right of Return:
a. Violence and force compelled the Palestinian people to give up their land.
b. The right of return is a principle recognised by all people.
c. The right of return is legitimate and cannot be renounced.
d. The right of return and reparations are a right for all Palestinians.
e. The right of return to homes and lands which Palestinians were forced to leave.
f. The right of return of all Palestinians to liberated territory without having to renounce the land they lost.

III. The truce:
a. The truce is a means to realise our national objectives.
b. The truce does not signify our abandoning the right to resist and respond to [Israeli] violations.
c. The truce is tied to conditions. If they are respected, it will endure.
d. The conditions for pursuing the truce:
1. Halt of all types of attacks against the Palestinianpeople.
2. Free all Palestinian prisoners.

IV. The agreements:
a. Our position concerning previous accords [concluded by the Palestinian Authority] is tied to the interests of the Palestinian people.

V. Recognition of Israel:
a. The question of recognising Israel is not the jurisdiction of one faction, nor the government, but a decision for the Palestinian people.

VI. Political negotiations [with Israel]:
a. The negotiations are a means and not an end.
b. The previous negotiations did not satisfy the minimum demands of the Palestinian people.

VII. International decisions:
a. Numerous decisions concerning the Palestinian question have not advanced the rights of the Palestinian people.
b. The Israeli occupier applies decisions which serve only Israel's interests.

(AFP)

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IOL: Copenh. Conf. Demands Gov't Apology for Cartoons

Reuters and Nidal Abu Aref, IOL Correspondent, COPENHAGEN, March 10, 2006

Cannot figure out what the gentleman in the background is on ..

(IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Muslim scholars taking part in a Copenhagen meeting on religious and cultural dialogue demanded the Danish government on Friday, March 10, to apologize for the publication of cartoons lampooning Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him), criticizing the government's mishandling of the crisis.

"The Danish government should do a lot of things. The government should apologize," Egyptian preacher Amr Khaled told reporters Friday at the inauguration of the conference, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

Khaled, who has initiated the one-day meeting, said dialogue and many practical common projects, however, are more important that the apology.

"Denmark needs now to build bridges," he added.

Kuwaiti scholar Tareq Suwaidan also backed Khaled's call for an apology from the Danish government.

"An official apology is absolutely necessary ... because your government has not dealt with them (Muslims) respectfully," he said.

Continue in Islam Online or privious post here.

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Offended Quisling Dhimmi Quote of the Day

Kuwaiti scholar Tareq Suwaidan at the dialogue meeting in Copenhagen, March 10, quoted in Islam Online:

"We are not angry because some of your cartoonists have drawn our beloved Prophet. We are aggravated because of the way your government has mishandled this situation," he said.

This is new. Reasons may vary, feeling offended never.

Latest Offended Quisling Dhimmi Quote of the Day
Latest Offended Quisling Dhimmi Quote of the Day
Latest Offended Quisling Dhimmi Quote of the Day

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Iran says no longer considering Russian proposal

Tip: Iran News

Iran FocusTehran, Iran, Mar. 12 – Iran is no longer considering a Russian proposal aimed at resolving the international standoff over its suspected nuclear weapons program, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi told reporters on Sunday.

“The Russian proposal is no longer on our agenda”, Asefi said in comments that were aired on state television.“We are awaiting the results of the process of the United Nations Security Council”, he said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency referred Tehran to the Security Council on Wednesday after it resumed uranium enrichment at its nuclear installation in Natanz.“The circumstances have changed”, the spokesman said.Moscow’s proposal involved Iran carrying out enrichment exclusively on Russia soil under a strict international monitoring regime.

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Tapes: Saddam's plans for WMD

"Inconveniently for critics of the war, Saddam made tapes in his version of the Oval Office. These tapes landed in the hands of American intelligence and were recently aired publicly.

The first 12 hours of the tapes — there are hundreds more waiting to be translated — are damning, to say the least. They show conclusively that Bush didn't lie when he cited Saddam's WMD plans as one of the big reasons for taking the dictator out.

Nobody disputes the tapes' authenticity. On them, Saddam talks openly of programs involving biological, chemical and, yes, nuclear weapons.

War foes have long asserted that Saddam halted his WMD programs in the wake of his defeat in the first Gulf War in 1991. Saddam's abandonment of WMD programs was confirmed by subsequent U.N. inspections.

Again, not true. In a tape dating to April 1995, Saddam and several aides discuss the fact that U.N. inspectors had found traces of Iraq's biological weapons program. "

Tip: Danish blog Uriasposten. Click headline to get the rest of the amazing story

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Sunday Readings: A Danish Fairy Tale

Denmark is often referred to as a fairy tale country. Well, sometimes it's even true. For my readers from around the globe: You have your own Fairy Tales; take the chance to meet one of ours in the words of Mr. Fairy Tale himself:

By Hans Christian Andersen

Click Continue ..

"In Denmark there stands an old castle named Kronenburg, close by the Sound of Elsinore, where large ships, both English, Russian, and Prussian, pass by hundreds every day.

And they salute the old castle with cannons, “Boom, boom,” which is as if they said, “Good-day.” And the cannons of the old castle answer “Boom,” which means “Many thanks.”

In winter no ships sail by, for the whole Sound is covered with ice as far as the Swedish coast, and has quite the appearance of a high-road.

The Danish and the Swedish flags wave, and Danes and Swedes say, “Good-day,” and “Thank you” to each other, not with cannons, but with a friendly shake of the hand; and they exchange white bread and biscuits with each other, because foreign articles taste the best.

But the most beautiful sight of all is the old castle of Kronenburg, where Holger Danske sits in the deep, dark cellar, into which no one goes. He is clad in iron and steel, and rests his head on his strong arm; his long beard hangs down upon the marble table, into which it has become firmly rooted; he sleeps and dreams, but in his dreams he sees everything that happens in Denmark.

On each Christmas-eve an angel comes to him and tells him that all he has dreamed is true, and that he may go to sleep again in peace, as Denmark is not yet in any real danger; but should danger ever come, then Holger Danske will rouse himself, and the table will burst asunder as he draws out his beard.

Then he will come forth in his strength, and strike a blow that shall sound in all the countries of the world.

An old grandfather sat and told his little grandson all this about Holger Danske, and the boy knew that what his grandfather told him must be true. As the old man related this story, he was carving an image in wood to represent Holger Danske, to be fastened to the prow of a ship; for the old grandfather was a carver in wood, that is, one who carved figures for the heads of ships, according to the names given to them.

And now he had carved Holger Danske, who stood there erect and proud, with his long beard, holding in one hand his broad battle-axe, while with the other he leaned on the Danish arms.

The old grandfather told the little boy a great deal about Danish men and women who had distinguished themselves in olden times, so that he fancied he knew as much even as Holger Danske himself, who, after all, could only dream; and when the little fellow went to bed, he thought so much about it that he actually pressed his chin against the counterpane, and imagined that he had a long beard which had become rooted to it.

But the old grandfather remained sitting at his work and carving away at the last part of it, which was the Danish arms. And when he had finished he looked at the whole figure, and thought of all he had heard and read, and what he had that evening related to his little grandson.
Then he nodded his head, wiped his spectacles and put them on, and said, “Ah, yes; Holger Danske will not appear in my lifetime, but the boy who is in bed there may very likely live to see him when the event really comes to pass.”

And the old grandfather nodded again; and the more he looked at Holger Danske, the more satisfied he felt that he had carved a good image of him. It seemed to glow with the color of life; the armor glittered like iron and steel. The hearts in the Danish arms grew more and more red; while the lions, with gold crowns on their heads, were leaping up.

“That is the most beautiful coat of arms in the world,” said the old man. “The lions represent strength; and the hearts, gentleness and love.” And as he gazed on the uppermost lion, he thought of King Canute, who chained great England to Denmark's throne; and he looked at the second lion, and thought of Waldemar, who untied Denmark and conquered the Vandals. The third lion reminded him of Margaret, who united Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

But when he gazed at the red hearts, their colors glowed more deeply, even as flames, and his memory followed each in turn.

The first led him to a dark, narrow prison, in which sat a prisoner, a beautiful woman, daughter of Christian the Fourth, Eleanor Ulfeld, and the flame became a rose on her bosom, and its blossoms were not more pure than the heart of this noblest and best of all Danish women.

“Ah, yes; that is indeed a noble heart in the Danish arms,” said the grandfather.

And his spirit followed the second flame, which carried him out to sea, where cannons roared and the ships lay shrouded in smoke, and the flaming heart attached itself to the breast of Hvitfeldt in the form of the ribbon of an order, as he blew himself and his ship into the air in order to save the fleet.


And the third flame led him to Greenland's wretched huts, where the preacher, Hans Egede, ruled with love in every word and action. The flame was as a star on his breast, and added another heart to the Danish arms.

And as the old grandfather's spirit followed the next hovering flame, he knew whither it would lead him. In a peasant woman's humble room stood Frederick the Sixth, writing his name with chalk on the beam. The flame trembled on his breast and in his heart, and it was in the peasant's room that his heart became one for the Danish arms.

The old grandfather wiped his eyes, for he had known King Frederick, with his silvery locks and his honest blue eyes, and had lived for him, and he folded his hands and remained for some time silent. Then his daughter came to him and said it was getting late, that he ought to rest for a while, and that the supper was on the table.

“What you have been carving is very beautiful, grandfather,” said she. “Holger Danske and the old coat of arms; it seems to me as if I have seen the face somewhere.” “No, that is impossible,” replied the old grandfather; “but I have seen it, and I have tried to carve it in wood, as I have retained it in my memory.

It was a long time ago, while the English fleet lay in the roads, on the second of April, when we showed that we were true, ancient Danes. I was on board the Denmark, in Steene Bille's squadron; I had a man by my side whom even the cannon balls seemed to fear.

He sung old songs in a merry voice, and fired and fought as if he were something more than a man. I still remember his face, but from whence he came, or whither he went, I know not; no one knows. I have often thought it might have been Holger Danske himself, who had swam down to us from Kronenburg to help us in the hour of danger. That was my idea, and there stands his likeness.”

The wooden figure threw a gigantic shadow on the wall, and even on part of the ceiling; it seemed as if the real Holger Danske stood behind it, for the shadow moved; but this was no doubt caused by the flame of the lamp not burning steadily.

Then the daughter-in-law kissed the old grandfather, and led him to a large arm-chair by the table; and she, and her husband, who was the son of the old man and the father of the little boy who lay in bed, sat down to supper with him.

And the old grandfather talked of the Danish lions and the Danish hearts, emblems of strength and gentleness, and explained quite clearly that there is another strength than that which lies in a sword, and he pointed to a shelf where lay a number of old books, and amongst them a collection of Holberg's plays, which are much read and are so clever and amusing that it is easy to fancy we have known the people of those days, who are described in them.

“He knew how to fight also,” said the old man; “for he lashed the follies and prejudices of people during his whole life.”

Then the grandfather nodded to a place above the looking-glass, where hung an almanac, with a representation of the Round Tower upon it, and said “Tycho Brahe was another of those who used a sword, but not one to cut into the flesh and bone, but to make the way of the stars of heaven clear, and plain to be understood.

And then he whose father belonged to my calling,– yes, he, the son of the old image-carver, he whom we ourselves have seen, with his silvery locks and his broad shoulders, whose name is known in all lands;– yes, he was a sculptor, while I am only a carver.

Holger Danske can appear in marble, so that people in all countries of the world may hear of the strength of Denmark. Now let us drink the health of Bertel.”

But the little boy in bed saw plainly the old castle of Kronenburg, and the Sound of Elsinore, and Holger Danske, far down in the cellar, with his beard rooted to the table, and dreaming of everything that was passing above him.

And Holger Danske did dream of the little humble room in which the image-carver sat; he heard all that had been said, and he nodded in his dream, saying, “Ah, yes, remember me, you Danish people, keep me in your memory, I will come to you in the hour of need.”

The bright morning light shone over Kronenburg, and the wind brought the sound of the hunting-horn across from the neighboring shores. The ships sailed by and saluted the castle with the boom of the cannon, and Kronenburg returned the salute, “Boom, boom.”

But the roaring cannons did not awake Holger Danske, for they meant only “Good morning,” and “Thank you.” They must fire in another fashion before he awakes; but wake he will, for there is energy yet in Holger Danske.

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