PIA CAUSA

Blogger stopped blogging

2006-04-18T08:15:00.000+02:00

12 days ago, I stopped blogging. It wasn't planned that way, but it happened that way.

The reason: I'm simply too busy doing other things like

Taking care of my family
Looking after my business
Brewing beer, soon at a small commercial scale
Restoring our 200 years old barn
Facing springtime in the garden

I will post from time to time at a highly irregular basis, and I will take the freedom to mail my contributions to some of the more steady bloggers. However, I shall continue to write in Danish papers - in Danish.

A lot af thanks to all my readers, - it has been an amazing experience to be read by so many people in so many countries. The ambition was to defend free speech and to explain why the cartoon war matters. So many fine bloggers are out there to continue the job. Best of luck to all of you, - we need it.

Blogger too Busy to Blog

2006-04-07T08:16:00.000+02:00

Dear Readers:

I'll be back next week ..

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-04-05T05:57:00.000+02:00

Asharq Alawsat
Congratulations Iran : Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed Iran has tested a new missile off the coasts of the Gulf States, bragging it ... more

Iran Tests Second New Torpedo in GulfTEHRAN, Iran, AP -Iran successfully tested its second new torpedo in as many days Monday, the latest weapon to be unveiled during war games in the Gulf that the military said are aimed at preparing the country's defenses against the United States. A ... more

Arab News
Website Launches Campaign to Spread Prophet’s MessageP.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News
JEDDAH, 5 April 2006 — Al-Islam Group, a Jeddah-based cultural organization, plays a significant role in the propagation of Islam by removing misconceptions about the religion through its websites.... Full Story

Iran News
Iran warns “enemies” of consequences of aggression Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Apr. 03 – Senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) warned the West on Monday that any attack on Iran would have dire consequences for the aggressors.

IslamOnline
America Censors Critical Professors - isn't it amazing!

Danish Muslims start to speak out: Arise and Protest

2006-04-05T00:18:00.000+02:00

AGORA is back! Read Naser Khader in English, read Danish Muslim Ibrahim Ramadan defending Khader, attacking the Islamists.

If all Western countries stood up for freedom of faith, we would finally see the sensible Muslims come out in the open. Then suddenly Islam is no problem.

Fight the Islamists. Go read AGORA.

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-04-04T06:19:00.000+02:00

Asharq Alawsat
Political Clashes in Egypt Injure 23 CAIRO, Egypt, AP -The third-place finisher in Egypt's presidential elections last year was arrested Saturday after his supporters clashed with a rival faction of his political party in a fight over the party headquarters. The 10-hour clash was part ... more Check in on Freedom for Egyptians on this one

Hamas says it has met French, Indian officialsTEHRAN (Reuters) -A Hamas spokesman said on Monday Hamas members held talks two months ago with French officials and more recently with an Indian diplomat despite U.S. and Israeli efforts to isolate the Islamic militant group. "Meetings were held ... more

Arab News
Products of Danish Dairy Company Return to Supermarket ShelvesM. Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Arab News
RIYADH, 4 April 2006 — Products of the Danish dairy conglomerate Arla Foods, maker of the popular Lurpak brand butter, will be back on the supermarket shelves in Saudi Arabia from tomorrow. Abdullah... Full Story

IslamOnline
N. American Youths Launch Know Prophet Campaign Oh Happy Day ...

Iranian Missiles: Noise of Empty Wessels?

2006-04-03T17:59:00.000+02:00

Is Iran simply bragging? And if so, why?

Iran March 31st proudly announced the launching of a Fajr-3 - Victory in Farsi - "stealth missile" , allegedly ranging more than 1250 miles, invisible to radar and carrying multiple warheads.

Few days later came the submarine stealth missile. The Islamic Republic claimed to have "developed the world’s “fastest underwater missile” which could destroy both battleships and submarines."

Today they announced the planned firing of a brand new torpedo, again a stealth thing of allegedly enormous speed and range.

Add to this the ongoing nuclear armament and the unhidden desire to become an Islamic world power, - and we all end up with the picture of Nazi-Germany during the late thirties.

October 2005, Telegraph's Con Coughlin wrote this:

"Former members of the Russian military have been secretly helping Iran to acquire technology needed to produce missiles capable of striking European capitals.

The Russians are acting as go-betweens with North Korea as part of a multi-million pound deal they negotiated between Teheran and Pyongyang in 2003. It has enabled Teheran to receive regular clandestine shipments of top secret missile technology, believed to be channelled through Russia.

Western intelligence officials believe that the technology will enable Iran to complete development of a missile with a range of 2,200 miles, capable of hitting much of Europe. It is designed to carry a 1.2-ton payload, sufficient for a basic nuclear device. "

And now, half a year later, Iran announces the Fajr-3 with a range beyond 1250 miles. Is this the missile technology from Russia that Telegraph warned of? Iran at least would like us to think so.

But is it the real picture? Are we heading for war with Iran - as the US and UK military apparently and, it seems, with just cause prepare for preventive strikes?

However, there seems to be good reason to doubt the Iranian skills in the area. Maybe all the missiles were in fact delivered by the Russians as test missiles, maybe by the Chinese, - at least experts are cautious about the Iranian bragging.

Security Watchtower writes on the stealth thing:

"Uzi Rubin, an Israeli missile expert and former director of Israel’s Arrow missile defense program expressed doubts about the claim of the "new missile", saying "the description does not match the picture" shown on television. Rubin instead says the description of the new missile "fits almost word-for-word the way the Russians describe the Iskander-E (SS26), with one exception -- the Russians don’t claim the capability to ‘hit several targets’."

The same goes for the stealth submarine thing:

"The Iranian military did not name the "new" weapon or give its effective range, but again there are serious questions about whether Iran's $ 9 billion defense budget and defense industry could produce such a weapon indingenously. Like the doubts raised about Iran's development of an invisible missile with multiple warheads, this "new" torpedo is likely a Russian-made VA-111 Shkval, which travels at 230 mph, has a range of 7,500 yards and is primarily used in a defensive counter-attack role. China is believed to have purchased 40 of the torpedos from Russia during the 1990s, though this remains unconfirmed. In the event Russia did sell this high tech weaponry to Iran, and not just allow them to use one in a test, it would be alarming."

So what to make of it? Does Iran want to get bombed? Is it a way to raise the terror hell against the Western countries? Are we deluded by some cunning Iranian logic, closely linked to the logic of al Qaeda?

I don't know, - but I wouldn't take the chance.

If they have more than the one missile fired, and if they have nuclear capabilities, we end up with a new North Korea, - yet far more aggressive.

Arab papers have intensified their anti Semitism lately; Hamas is in control in the Palestine territory; the madmen in Teheran daily cry out their hate to the Jews and the state of Israel, - and - provided the double-if - they will be able to nuke them.

I wouldn't take the risk.

Want to read more? Check in on Security Watchtower. Check FAS for detailed coverage of the technical aspects of the missile programme . Check NIT for the history of Iran's missile ambitions.

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-04-03T07:35:00.000+02:00

TF1 /JyllandsPosten / ritzau:
Statues banned by highest Islam scholar in Egypt
Highest ranking Egypt grand mufti, Ali Gomaa, has issued a fatwa calling exibition of statues in private homes "unislamic". His ruling is based on the Hadith: as Muhammed returned to Mekka after his 10 years stay in Medina, he ordered the statues at the Kabala destroyed. More in French ..

Who is Ali Gomaa? A respectfull portrait in Al Ahram, a critical one in Atlantic Online.

Freedom for Egyptians
Al Wafd party headquarters stormed
The Egyptian liberal Al Wafd party headquarters in Dokki was stormed yesterday by the 71 year old disposed leader and last September presidential runner Nomaan Gomaa with 60 armed thugs and gang members. .. more from Freedom for Egyptians, whos asks the question if blood must be shed to introduce democracy.. Background from Al Ahram here

Asharq alAwsat
Hamas government vows to end armed chaos GAZA CITY (AFP) - Palestinian interior minister Said Siam has vowed that his Hamas-led government would put an end to impunity and armed chaos after three people were killed in clashes between rival militants. "We will ensure that nobody is above ... more

IslamOnline
Dutch Authorities Ignore Racist Websites
Apparantly some Dutch site showing the cartoons has offended Dutch so called Human Rights activists, even an MP. Dhimmi, dhimmi, dhimmi ...

And that's about it ..

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-04-02T08:45:00.000+02:00

Yemen Observer:
The Yemen Observer Fights On
By Staff Editor Apr 1, 2006 - The Yemen Observer license has been revoked, and hard copies of the newspaper are banned. Private prosecutors have made a series of extreme and irrational demands, from calling for the editor Mohammed Al-Asadi to be executed, to be prevented from ever practicing journalism again. They have demanded the newspaper be closed permanently, and its assets seized. More ..

Asharq al-Awsat:
Afghan clerics say West meddled in convert case MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghan clerics blamed meddling foreigners on Friday for the release of a Christian convert who they said should be executed for abandoning Islam. The convert, Abdur Rahman, was spirited out of Afghanistan ... more

Bush offers quake aid to Iran, but warns Tehran on nuclear issue WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States offered aid to Iran after a devastating earthquake but also kept up pressure over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme. President George W. Bush made a point of offering sympathy and assistance while at a North ... more

IslamOnline:
French Muslims Get Grand Mosque Hadi Yahmid, IOL Correspondent PARIS, April 1, 2006 - French Muslims in the southeastern city of Villeurbanne will no longer be crammed into vault prayer rooms or perform the weekly Friday prayer in the open as a grand mosque, accommodating 1,000 worshipers, opens its doors on Sunday, April 2. More ..

Arab News:
King Vows to Press Ahead With Reforms Raid Qusti, Arab News RIYADH, 2 April 2006 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah said here yesterday that the “Kingdom cannot remain frozen while the world is changing around us,” and vowed to move ahead with... Full Story

Danish MP Naser Khader declares war on Islamism

2006-04-02T08:27:00.000+02:00

Sunday morning, all papers and media:

Naser Khader of Democratic Muslims yesterday declared war on Islamism in Denmark, defining his goal: to become minister of integration.

Quote from Berlingske: “Because I’m their worst nightmare.” Because I understand what they say, because I know their ideology and their agenda.”

Quote from JyllandsPosten: “We are up against a strong conservative, antidemocratic force, that have launched a massive campaign against us.”

Naser Khader and his Democratic Muslims have received a massive number of death threats, individuals have been physically attacked by Danish Islamists and in general the Muslim societies in Denmark are hesitating to back them up, accusing Naser Khader of splitting the Muslims.

Naser Khader belongs to the opposition party De Radikale, which is a social-liberal party, traditionally known to be very friendly towards immigration. The normally define their worst enemy to be DDP, Danish Peoples Party. Naser Khader stated that DDP is “water compared to the Islamists”.

Naser Khader is extremely popular across politcal parties in Denmark.

Blogger is p.....!

2006-04-01T21:20:00.000+02:00

By Poul Højlund, April 1, 2006

I guess it goes to state that I'm p.....!

I've been reading IslamOnline for some time now, trying to see what it looked like from the other side. It’s what wee demand. To see things our way.

I check in on Arab, Egypt, Yemeni, Iran and Iraq English-newspapers too. What I see the most is an honest job well done, conditions in mind.

But not IslamOnline. It’s deceptive, it’s a mosque disguised as a newspaper.

They have no intension of covering the real world; they don’t want to tell us the facts on what’s going on. First: they don’t bring all the news, just the news that fit. Then thy try to tell you what should be going on - instead of what is going on.

They even run an online Fatwa Shop: skip us a mail; we’ll skip you a fatwa. It's a mosque, not a paper.

They report only from Denmark what fit's the mosque. Victories for Islam in Denmark get big cover. Like veiled leftwing radical Asmaa, now airborne at DR2.

Victory, victory, victory. Big interview. Ending with: “Islam, however, is not recognized by the state unlike Christianity and Judaism. “

It’s the usual, and it’s a lie. It’s a damned lie used to create hate: They don’t recognize us.

I’ve told them a couple of times now. They said they would look into it. They didn’t. Of course they didn’t. How could I be so naïve?

I'll bet all their correspondents in the infidel Europe end that way: “Islam, however, is not recognized by the state unlike Christianity and Judaism.“

And it’s a damned lie every time. Europe enjoys freedom of faith and freedom of speach and every other single freedom in the history of mankind. We have it all. Islam kills converts.

This too is from IslamOnline online today. Some from the staff report on some dialoguetrip to Denmark:

"Some Muslims, especially young women, told us that they did in fact face a lot of racism. They were subjected to physical abuse in the streets, even though some of them were not wearing the hijab. Some were actually beaten and others had their hijabs pulled from their heads. " ..

Physical abuse in the streets .....? Beaten ....? Hijabs pulled off .....? Not my country.

What they say is this: "We are Islam the victim. They, the Christian-Jews attack our sisters and brothers in Palestine, in Iraq, in Sudan; and in their own streets they abuse our women. They tear of our sacred veils. They ridicule our prophet. They hate us and they are infidels plotting against us."

Just the little Goebbels-drop every day and we’re getting there.

It’s a damned lie every time, and it is meant to raise hatred against us, the infidels.

That’s why I’m so p…..!

IslamOnline Continues to spread lies on Denmark

2006-04-01T18:54:00.000+02:00

From todays mail to IslamOnline:

"Beginning of March this year you answered my mail on false information (scroll down) on Denmark by your correspondent: “We will take it up with him”.

Yesterday he repeated his lie on Denmark by simply quoting his previous sentence.

I conclude: Either You have not done as you stated in your answer - Or You don’t care.

Whatever the reason you are left dishonored as honor goes with words like truth, honesty, doing what you say you want to do, and the alike.

My conclusion is very simple: IslamOnline is part of the Islam mobilization against Denmark and for that purpose utilizing the small lies wherever possible to hide the truth for your readers.

Poul Højlund"

Facts here

Iran tested Stealth Missile Friday

2006-04-01T09:43:00.000+02:00

This is alarming news indeed. Now they only need to complete their uranium enrichment programme to follow their desire for supremacy in the Middle East and far beyond. The missile is more powerfull than the former Iranian missile, ranging 1250 miles. It's a multiple warhead thing with stealth qualities.

Iran says it has test-fired missile

CNN: Friday, March 31, 2006 Posted: 1701 GMT (0101 HKT) TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran successfully test-fired a missile that can avoid radar and hit several targets simultaneously using multiple warheads, the military said Friday. Gen. Hossein Salami, the air force chief of the elite Revolutionary Guards, did not specify the missile's range, saying it depends on the weight of its warheads.

U.S. sees latest Iran missile test as aggressive behaviour

Iran Focus: London, Apr. 01 – The United States called Iran’s test-firing of a radar-evading “multiple warhead” missile a demonstration of its “very active and aggressive military program”. More ...

Revolutionary Guards: Iran fires stealth missile

Iran FocusTehran, Iran, Mar. 31 – Iran has successfully fired its first stealth missile, according to a top commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).“Today, we successfully tested a new-generation missile capable of striking several targets simultaneously”, Brigadier General Hossein Salami, who commands the IRGC Air Force, told state television on Friday. More ...

I love this one: A Shahab-2 missile was also fired “to show Iran’s desire for peace and friendship with neighbouring countries”. From Iran Focus coverage.

Death Threats at Democratic Muslims in Denmark

2006-04-01T08:54:00.000+02:00

Police unaware of death threats

According to DR and other media the members of the newly founded Democratic Muslims recieve death threats and experince other abusive behavour from hardcore Muslims in Denmark.

Some report on being spitted at, yelled at and even some kind of scuffle at work. The situation has forced at least one to withdraw from the board, and another to go underground out of fear for his life after having received death threats.

The organisation was founded by MP Naser Khader during the peak of the cartoon crisis.

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-04-01T07:55:00.000+02:00

Hamas defends bombing that killed 4 IsraelisGAZA,(Reuters) - The Islamist group Hamas defended on Friday a suicide bombing that killed four Israelis as "resistance" against Israeli "crimes", putting it at odds with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who condemned the attack. Hours after the ... more

There is No Civil War in Iraq: Here is Why : Amir Taheri Is Iraq in a state of civil war? My notes show that, since the fall of Saddam ... more

First Light at the End of the Tunnel : Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban After a ban of three years, Helen Thomas, the American journalist of Arab origin, ... more This is exactly the opposite of the well reflected views above, dealing with the not muched talked about study linking US foreign policy to Israel and the ...JEWS...! Not amazing though that even a brilliantly educated Syrian minister hold these views og badly disguised anti-semitism.

Back from Denmark: Ask IOL by IOL Staff Members Marwa Elnaggar and Arwa Mahmoud
"They were subjected to physical abuse in the streets, even though some of them were not wearing the hijab. Some were actually beaten and others had their hijabs pulled from their heads. " ... Go on! Read IslamOnline's stories from fairy tale country ...

Israel Lobby" Essay Creates Firestorm in US "Firestorm" .., well ..

First Hijab-clad Presenter on Danish TV Asmaa is a member of the ultra left party of communists, socialists, green'ists etc. She also helped instigate the whole cartoon business. And of course her left radical friends at the DR 2 had to hire her .. By the way: Asmaa several times refused to shake hands with people, - not only men but also women since they were all infidels!

Today the cartoon is the better part from Arab News, though they of course as always cover in depth and with balanced views on a lot of topics. But cartoons sometimes express all of it, as we all should know by now.

Oh yes, the religion of Peace, let's have a dialogue ..

2006-03-31T15:36:00.000+02:00

Dialogue meeting in Damascus between Danish students Union and Arab ditto:

Muhammad, Chairman of the Sudanese Student Union: ".. I would like to inform you that because the Sudanese people are so angry over this affront, they will kill the Danish soldiers before they kill the others."
Ahmad Al-Shater: "Don't translate that word for word. Just say that the Sudanese will put up resistance against them."

MEMRI has transcript and video.
HT Danish blog UriasPosten

Some Up to Date Facts on Denmark

2006-03-31T13:00:00.000+02:00

Denmark finally reaches positive net assets - and ranges number one at the Press Freedom Index

Maybe an odd thing to blog here, but anyhow: for the first time since WW II Denmark has a positive net assets balance. It was announced today by the Central Bank in Copenhagen, and as you may notice, Denmark came from a debt position at almost 50% of GDP in 1988 to a plus at a few percent today.

In 1982 socialdemocrat PM Anker Jørgensen gave up and handed over power to the conservative Poul Schlüter who held office until 1993. His government founded the economic policy, later continued by socialdemocrat PM Poul Nyrup from 1993 till 2001 and present PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen, that wiped out the devastating debt resulting from the irresponsible build up of the welfare society from the beginning of the 1960'es.

And from another corner: Reporters Without Borders recently placed Denmark number one at their World Press Freedom Index - together with Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland.

What do these seven countries hold in common? Well, to mention a few: they are rich, well established democracies from Northern Europa and they are small countries. Execpt Ireland they are all protestant.

Three of them (Ireland, Iceland and Denmark) are at the top 10 of the Economic Freedom Index and all seven are among the countries labeled Free at the World Freedom Index.

Freedom is the key to economic progress, clearly demonstrated by all major indexes in the world. Apart from that, freedom is in fact quite nice!
Click Continue .. to go on with some details on Press Freedom in Denmark versus Saudi Arabia .!

To balance the # 1 position at the Press Freedom Index however, the contry report from House of Freedom on the same topic does have some remarks:

Denmark (2005)
Legal Environment: 2 Political Influences: 3 Economic Pressures: 5 Total Score: 10
Status: Free
Danish media enjoy strong constitutional protections and a long tradition of press freedom. Independent print and broadcast media reflect a wide variety of views and are often critical of the government. However, there are some tensions between the government and the media. In April, Jesper Larsen and Michael Bjerre, two journalists with the conservative daily Berlingske Tidende, faced criminal charges for publishing extracts of confidential military reports passed on by a former intelligence officer. The reports, used by the government when it made its decision to go to war against Iraq, allegedly cast doubt on the existence of weapons of mass destruction. The intelligence officer who leaked the reports was also charged. The government finances four of the five national television networks and several radio stations, though their editorial boards are independent. Several private cable and satellite television channels also exist, as do private radio stations, which are tightly regulated.
The same report for Saudi Arabia reads:

Saudi Arabia (2005)
Legal Environment: 29 Political Influences: 28 Economic Pressures: 23 Total Score: 80
Status: Not Free
Authorities do not permit criticism of Islam or the ruling family by domestic media, and a national security law prohibits criticism of the government. These prohibitions are echoed by a media policy statement that urges journalists to "uphold Islam, oppose atheism, promote Arab interests, and preserve cultural heritage." Newspapers are created by royal decree, and all journalists must register with the 2Ministry of Information, which also appoints all editors in chief. Saudi Arabia's first professional journalists association was granted a charter in 2003, though the Ministry of Information can veto any of its decisions.
The print media are privately owned but publicly subsidized and are often closely associated with members of the royal family. Authorities frequently ban or fire journalists and editors who publish articles deemed offensive to the country's powerful religious establishment or the ruling authorities. Official censorship is common, as is self-censorship. Nevertheless, recent years have seen newspapers report on previously taboo issues-such as crime, corruption, women's rights, religion, terrorism, and elections in neighboring states-without prior authorization. In 2004, newspapers featured extensive coverage of upcoming municipal elections. In addition, two London-based dailies, Al-Sharq al-Awsat and Al-Hayat, were available and read widely, though content was tempered to comply with government guidelines. In March, authorities banned Al-Sharq al-Awsat journalist Faris Hizam Al-Harbi for his reporting on terrorism and corruption. The following month, Al-Harbi was detained and then released after about two weeks in custody. In December, journalists from the domestic newspapers the Saudi Gazette and Al-Madina were detained (and later released) at the trial of arrested advocates of democratic reforms.
The state-owned Saudi Press Agency does not deviate from official government positions. The broadcast media are government owned and subject to rigorous government censors; private radio and television stations cannot broadcast from Saudi soil. However, satellite television-through which Saudi citizens have access to foreign news channels such as Al-Jazeera and CNN-is widespread, despite its illegal status. In January, the government launched an all-news satellite channel, Al-Ikhbariya, which featured a female presenter in its opening broadcast, a first for Saudi media. The channel was established as an alternative to Al-Jazeera, which has repeatedly drawn the ire of authorities and is barred from covering the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
The government continues to censor foreign publications before they enter the country, blacking out and banning some objectionable materials. Foreign broadcasts are similarly censored, and references to politics, pork or pigs, alcohol, sex, and religions other than Islam are removed. The entry of foreign journalists is tightly controlled through the granting of visas, though restrictions have eased significantly in recent years. In June, BBC cameraman Simon Cumbers was shot dead while filming the house belonging to an al-Qaeda terrorist killed in 2003 by Saudi police. A BBC security correspondent, Frank Gardner, was injured in the attack.
The Internet is widely available, but the government has employed a sophisticated filtering system to block access to Web sites deemed morally or politically inappropriate. Some users circumvent these controls by accessing servers based in the more liberal Gulf states. Government officials reportedly ordered mobile phones with cameras to be banned from the country.

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-03-31T07:50:00.000+02:00

Arab summit ends with usual support for Palestinians and Iraqis KHARTOUM (AP) - Arab leaders concluded an annual summit Wednesday with their usual pledges of solidarity with Palestinians and Iraqis. The two-day summit, devalued by the absence of several key heads of state, also backed host Sudan in its opposition ... more

A Summit on Shaky Ground : Opinion by Ghassan Al Imam No longer is it a forlorn summit on a high mountain. More than sixty years ... more

In IslamOnline only the usual distorted so called news, but it's still worth checking to find out exactly how the true believers paint the world. Among the more amusing stuff, you'll find the fatwa-section -fatwa online! -and a Q & A on religious matters. From the latter this interesting part on some of the most critical issues in Islam: Apostasy, Polygamy, and Adultery

Saudi Women Show Their Art at Bahrain Exhibition Mazen Mahdi, Arab News MANAMA, 31 March 2006 — An ambitious plan to bring Saudi and Gulf women artists to the world by giving them wider exposure has been launched by a Saudi princess. Princess Nouf bint Bandar Al-Saud... Full Story

So, what’s happening in the tiny kingdom of Denmark these days?

2006-03-30T19:30:00.000+02:00

Report from a sleepy kingdom

by Poul Højlund, March 30, 2006

The picture is shot in one of the old Viking camps, - from this very interesting French site.

Maybe we should all become a little more vikingish again!

Some 27 Muslim organisations sue Editor-in-Chief Carsten Juste and Editor Flemming Rose, both JyllandsPosten as you might well know at the moment, for the sum of DKK 100.000, app. USD 15.000. Modest indeed, one might add.

The claim is that the two editors through the cartoons have exposed the prophet Muhammad as belligerent and criminal, and that the cartoons make a clear parallel between the prophet and terror.

Furthermore the organisations claim that an article in the paper accuses Islam and the Muslim population to engage in and be an exponent of war and terror.

Well, finally they got the point!

The imam-gang are back in the safe heaven of the little kingdom, and of course interviewed on their latest lies. While they entertain the good people of the kingdom, the Danish police awaits the French police to respond to their request of an interview with the French journalist with the hidden camera who so grimly exposed the imam-gang.

The French journalist several times offered his direct assistance through the papers, but apparently Danish police prefer things to work with red tape, and perhaps the French police is otherwise engaged presently as France goes down the drain.

We’ll have to wait and see whether the police finally arrives at some conclusion at maybe even press charges for issuing death threats.

Meanwhile a young unemployed and consequently state supported leftist received a sentence of 60 days behind bars, but the verdict was immediately made conditional, so the young man was free to leave court. What he had done, the poor fellow? Absolutely nothing, except threatening the Prime Minister with sudden death in an e-mail directly to Mr. Fogh Rasmussen.

It was a joke made because he was bored he said in court - of doing nothing, one may presume - as Akkari said he was onloy joking when he threatened to bomb MP Naser Khader.

Jokes come in funny ways, these days.

And apart from this it seems that the good people of the kingdom - at least according to the ladies and gentlemen of the press - have gone bananas on picking up dead ducks trying to prevent the bird flue to infect us all. So far with some luck as I’m still able to report this

And that’s about it; Holger Danske still sleeping at Kronborg; all is talk and little is for real.

It is a fairy tale country and we would like to keep it that way.

Good news from Iraq - via Washington Post

2006-03-30T14:25:00.000+02:00

Journalist Jill Carroll Released in Iraq American journalist Jill Carroll, who had been held hostage by insurgents in Iraq, was freed Thursday in Baghdad after nearly three months in captivity. Carroll, 28, was turned over to an Iraqi political party and seen by Washington Post reporters.

For more information, visit washingtonpost.com

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-03-30T07:34:00.000+02:00

Lebanese president praises Syria, Hezbollah in summit addressKHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) - In a speech sure to exacerbate divisions back home, pro-Syrian Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Wednesday praised the roles that Syria and the militant Hezbollah guerrilla group play in his country. Addressing heads of state ... more As Lahoud allready has his problems back home, thi is calling for trouble ...

Arab summit opens with sharp divisions over final communique KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) - The annual Arab League summit was sharply divided even before it began Tuesday, with late-night wrangling over the wording of the final declaration and the absence of a number of key leaders at a meeting meant to tackle the region's ... more The summit ended yesterday with the usual resolutions and support for the Palestinians, the Iraqis and some more, - but nothing on the real problems in the Arab world. The Khartoon Cartoon (scroll down) from Arab News was accurate! I will post on the summit in more detail later ..

Blair in Indonesia to Learn More About Islam JAKARTA, Marc 29, 2006 – British Prime Minister Tony Blair was due in Indonesia Wednesday, March 29, for talks with Indonesian officials, expected to be dominated by the promotion of a better understanding and development of Islam. More ... This is IslamOnline and mostly this is the way to get the picture on how Islam would like the news to read. Rarely any connection to real world ...

Mideast Needs $1 Trillion for 100 Million Jobs P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News
JEDDAH, 30 March 2006 — The Middle East needs $1 trillion in investments in productive projects in order to create 100 million new jobs, says Lubna Al-Qassimi, minister of economy and planning in the... Full Story Well, you do have some income on oil ...

Akkari caught in yet another lie ..

2006-03-29T20:38:00.000+02:00

Akkari lies at al-Arabia on conference in Bahrain

Danish TV tonight aired an interview with Ahmed Akkari from al-Arabia where he in Arab states that the Danish foreign ministry should "have forbidden the imams to explain about the conference in Bahrain" last week.

Danish FM denies that he or any in the foreign ministry ever spoke to any of the imams concerning this issue.

May I add that what Akkari claims is straight out impossible. So, here we go again: caught in action once again, Mr. Akkari!

Cartoons and Free Speech Debate at Ayn Rand Institute

2006-03-29T12:59:00.000+02:00

Unveiling the Danish Cartoons A position statement by the Ayn Rand Institute

Religious Terrorism vs. Free Speech Friday, February 24, 2006 By: Leonard Peikoff Muslim death threats against Danish cartoonists echo Khomeini's 1989 fatwa on Salman Rushdie--a death threat renewed this month by Iran's mullahs. Combating such religious terrorism is a moral necessity.

Ayn Rand Institute has a hearing Friday on the Cartoons, - and they are going to show them ..
HT Michelle Malkin

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-03-29T09:41:00.000+02:00

Not much happening, which is the good news!

Straw Praises UK Muslims Contributions, Honors Stars CAIRO, March 28, 2006 – British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw praised on Monday, March 27, valuable contributions by British Muslims to society and honored a number of shinning Muslim stars.

Why not the Catholics, why not the French? Because Islam in UK form a parallel society in its own right, apparently praised by all the politicians.

Arab Summit Backs Hamas KHARTOUM, 29 March 2006 — Arab leaders, at an annual summit in Sudan yesterday, promoted an offer of peace with Israel in return for land and criticized threats to cut aid to the Palestinian Authority... Full Story
The summit will discuss and discuss and discuss and finally issue a closing statement as usual.

Arab News printed this Khartoon-cartoon, - by the way, Arab News print some great cartoons everyday, very ironic, very funny!

French Journalist: Danish Imams are Extremists

2006-03-29T00:01:00.000+02:00

"The man behind the controversial French documentary thinks that Abu Laban and Ahmed Akkari are extremists disguised as moderates."

AGORA is back again ... Go read his translation of the interview with the French journalist. Click Headline ..

Asking the tough questions on Islam

2006-03-28T23:44:00.000+02:00

US online magazine Investor’s Business Daily asking tough questions

I guess we kind of know the answer to these questions, but as Michelle Malkin (hattip) puts it: CAIR, care to answer?

“Generally speaking, those questions focus on whether the Quran does indeed promote violence against non-Muslims, and how many of the terrorists' ideas — about the violent jihad, the self-immolation, the kidnappings, even the beheadings — come right out of the text? But even more specifically:
Is Islam the only religion with a doctrine, theology and legal system that mandates warfare against unbelievers?

Is it true that 26 chapters of the Quran deal with jihad, a fight able-bodied believers are obligated to join (Surah 2:216), and that the text orders Muslims to "instill terror into the hearts of the unbeliever" and to "smite above their necks" (8:12)? More ...

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-03-28T09:58:00.000+02:00

Interview with Saudi Council of Senior Ulama Member Sheikh Abdullah Al Manee - on interpreting the holy texts!

French "Double Standards" on Racism Under Fire

Sleep Divorce Stirs Controversy in India - as mad as it get's!

Should an Apostate Be Put to Death? From Shari'ah Corner - proving that you may derive anything from the collection of texts called the Koran. This time the answer is no!

What Do the Arabs Expect From Summit in Khartoum?Essa bin Mohammed Zedjali, Arab News
The focus of the Arab world, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf, has shifted to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, which hosts the 18th Arab summit starting today. Much is expected of the summit... Full Story

Iran reacts sharply to Rice’s remarks over Iraq Tehran, Iran, Mar. 27 – Iran reacted sharply on Monday to remarks by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice over a possible upcoming meeting between American and Iranian representatives over the situation in Iraq. More..

Harsh critics from FM on Doudou Diéne report

2006-03-28T09:39:00.000+02:00

Report based on government answer from 2005 - and unidentified material

"The report appears as the rapporteur's personal assessment of the situation, based on the answer, the government forwarded to UN January 24, 2005 on the request of this rapporteur and the rapporteur for religious freedom, together with other (unidentified) material. The report has not been forwarded to the Danish government, and we have not been asked of our reaction".

Danish foreign minister Per Stig Møller answering a question on the background of Doudou Diéne's report on racism and xenophobia, in Danish Parliament.

Translated from JP

Blogger: Can Islam be Reformed?

2006-03-28T02:30:00.000+02:00

Reflections of a blogger: What will it take to reform Islam?

by Poul Højlund, March 28, 2006:

Some weeks ago Big Pharaoh pointed out why he was not impressed with Wafa Sultan as she bashed Islam at al Jazeera.

Big Pharaoh stated that as Mrs. Sultan left Islam, no Muslim will listen to her:

“We don't need former Muslims, we don't need atheists, we don't need lesbians, what we need are reform minded Muslim thinkers. Only these people have the necessary legitimacy to pull us from the dark abyss we're in now. “

I understand the logic of the comment, - and I even think he’s right.
Click Continue ..
So to get the Muslims to listen, we must get hold of some reform minded Muslim thinkers, able to say the same in the same way as Wafa Sultan did.

But then the next question follows: Do they exist? Is it possible somewhere to find what Big Pharaoh wants: reform minded Muslim thinkers? Are they not either hardliners in disguise such as Tariq Ramadan, - or simply kicked out of Islam for heresy like Dr. Nawal el-Saadawi?

Is it at all possible to remain Muslim without opting for the whole package including all of the Shari’ah as the law of society?

My answer so far: No.

The answer is based on the simple fact that no Islamic theology exists without all of the Shari’ah, to the very letter.

Check this example among others; its conclusion – after a long and pretty accurate discussion on modernizing Islam:

“Only we are responsible for making our voices heard loud and clear, and to show that we wholeheartedly reject all attempts to alter the ‘objectives’ or the ‘letter’ on which the Shariah is based, for if we do not fulfil our responsibility now, the future generations may never forgive us.”

The crucial point is as always the same - and indeed very simple:

1) God dictated the Koran, and every single word is the word of God – if you have any doubts here, wave goodbye to Islam as the Gabriel dictate is the real proof of God in the system

2) Trying to interpret, modernise or criticise the word of God is – of course - heresy

3) Heresy is a mortal crime due to the same text,

The system is made that way: it’s a circular system of logic deriving both its foundation, its interpretation and its logic from the same text: say no to just one item and the whole cardhouse tumbles.

And of course the system offers the punishment for any act that jeopardizes the system. It’s self-protecting to the level where any critical thinking is mortal, - and furthermore: abandoning the ship is equally mortal.

4) It takes a reform like the one Luther threw upon the then Catholic church to change Islam, - but remember: the Bible by nature and by Jewish tradition was open to interpretation. The Koran is literally the word of God, - not meant for interpretation by man.

Ergo: Islam cannot and can never change.

So, Big Pharaoh, either – or! Either Muslim or not. Attempts to criticize, to reform, to abandon, to moderate etc. are mortal – due to the system’s self-protective nature and self-preservation.

Please, correct me if I'm wrong.

Muslims have 1300 years of experience in this dangerous field, - as do the rest of the world. This is exactly why we need former Muslims more than anything else.

How former Muslims will believe in God, what names they want to call God, how they want to worship God is yet to be seen.

There are plenty of options.

Monday Late Update

2006-03-28T00:56:00.000+02:00

In Denmark, Abu Laban and Ahmed Akkari were interviewed by the Copenhagen Police today, resulting in no charges.

Free to go, free to continue their conspiring against the country that took them in. Politicians agree that Denmark cannot expel them due to signing some UN treaty which for example France and UK haven’t signed. Well then, change the law, withdraw the signature, do something, anything. We cannot continue this way.

In Afghanistan, Abdul Rahman is freed and seeking asylum as a refugee with the help of UN, AP reported from Kabul. HT Michelle Malkin.

Great. Good for Mr. Rahman, and indeed an eye opener to that part of the free world that has not yet realized the true nature of hardcore Islam. Leaving Islam or criticizing Islam is heresy, and heresy is mortal.

In Belgium an Aramaic priest stands trial for stating that truly Islamized Muslim children constitute a time bomb for Europe. Look further down the blog to get the details.

In Sweden the new foreign minister Jan Eliasson today succeeded the unpopular Laila Freivalds, maybe best known for spending her evening in the theatre with her family while the Tsunami killed several hundreds of Swedes. Her departure came as she had to admit knowledge of the close down of the internet site run by Sverigedemokraterne after they planned to publish some well known cartoons.

Jan Eliasson is an UN diplomat, presently and until September chairing the General Assembly.

Belgium prosecuting priest warning on "Muslim timebomb"

2006-03-28T00:07:00.000+02:00

Belgium priest facing trial for "incitement to racist hatred"

The Belgiums really go for it: they prosecute a Turkish born priest warning against the Muslim immigration, calling him a racist. How many times must we explain that Islam is no race, but a political system incompatible with democracy?

Father Samuel has been prosecuted for “incitement to racist hatred” by the Belgian government’s inquisition agency, the so-called Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism (CEOOR), because of a remark he made in a 2002 television interview when he said:

“Every thoroughly islamized Muslim child that is born in Europe is a time bomb for Western children in the future. The latter will be persecuted when they have become a minority.”

The Brussels Journal has it. Click headline

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-03-27T06:49:00.000+02:00

Afghan Convert Sent to Notorious Prison POLICHARKI, Afghanistan, AP - An Afghan man on trial for converting from Islam to Christianity has been moved to a notorious maximum-security prison outside Kabul that is also home to hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaida militants, officials said ... more

Saudi Arabia: Educating Imams on ToleranceRiyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat- The Ministry of Islamic Affairs and the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue will organize short courses for imams throughout Saudi Arabia in order to spread a culture of dialogue and forgiveness, sources told Asharq ... more

Denmark Invites Muslim Leaders to Talk

Conf. Addresses Muslim-Christian Violence in Nigeria

Hundreds arrested in south-east Iran after attack
Sun. 26 Mar 2006
Iran Focus: London, Mar. 26 – Hundreds of people have been arrested in Iran’s south-eastern province of Sistan-va-Baluchistan after a deadly ambush on a government convoy carrying dozens of top provincial officials, an informed source in Tehran told Iran Focus.

Doudou Diéne never came to Denmark

2006-03-27T06:36:00.000+02:00

UN Report on Denmark is a personal statement from rapporteur, says FM

UN Rapporteur Doudou Diéne never came to Denmark before issuing the report accusing Denmark of racism and xenophobia. The report only expresses the rapporteur's personal views on Denmark, says foreign minister, Per Stig Møller according to JyllandsPosten.

The information came in an official answer from the government to a question raised in parliament. According to Per Stig Møller, Doudou Diéne wasn't even in contact with the Danish government before reporting on racism and xenophobia in the country.

Christian convert freed after Afghan court dismisses case

2006-03-26T18:07:00.000+02:00

Ireland Online 26/03/2006 - 15:13:18

"An Afghan court today dismissed a case against a man who converted from Islam to Christianity because of a lack of evidence.He will be released soon, an official said.The official said the case had been returned to the prosecutors for more investigation, but that in the meantime, Abdul Rahman would be released.

“The court dismissed the case against Abdul Rahman for a lack of information and a lot of legal gaps in the case,” the official said speaking on condition of anonymity." more ..

Good news, - but what now as several prominent leaders have sworn to kill Abdul Rahman anyhow? Will the Kabul government be able to protect him? Michelle Malkin has more

Copenhagen Police to question imams Monday

2006-03-26T17:44:00.000+02:00

Charges to be pressed against imams

The Danish imams Ahmed Akkari and Abu Laban will be questioned Monday in Copenhagen. The charges are unknown at the moment but the imams will be interviewed holding the legal rights of an endicted, says chief inspector Per Larsen of the Copenhagen Police, according to JyllandsPosten this afternoon

The police also requested French police to contact the journalist Mohammed Sifaoui who's hidden camera takes documented possible murder threats from the imams against MP Naser Khader and possible connections to a suicide terrorist.

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-03-26T10:28:00.000+02:00

Outcry rises over Afghan Christian convert KABUL, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Growing international pressure on Afghanistan to respect the religious freedom of a Christian convert was met in Afghanistan on Friday by calls for the man to be executed for denying Islam. The controversy over ... more

MUST READ Crowning Conferences : Tariq Alhomayed Undoubtedly, those who were angered by the cartoon drawings were honest; their ... more

Inviting Iran into Iraq May Be Washington's First Major Mistake : Amir Taheri Barring a last minute hitch Iran and the United States are expected to begin ... more

Danish Deputy PM Wants "Radical" Imams Out
Baltic States to Have First Arab Culture Center

Russia Spied for Saddam: Pentagon Barbara Ferguson, Arab News WASHINGTON, 26 March 2006 — The Pentagon said Friday that as US troops moved toward Iraq in 2003, Saddam Hussein received intelligence about their battle strategy and troop movements from a Russian... more

Ahmadinejad: Iran will obtain fuel cycle by end of year Tehran, Mar. 25 – Iran’s hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared on Saturday that the Islamic Republic will obtain nuclear capabilities by the end of the new Persian year (ending: March 21, 2007), the official state news agency reported... more

Not everyone who leaves Islam is automatically killed, says scholar

2006-03-25T09:51:00.000+01:00

Islam makes no secret of the mortality of leaving the faith. This is from IslamOnline's section for Fatwa's, religious rulings on questions alledgedly asked by the readers. Click headline to get all of the fatwa's.

Q: “Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. Non-Muslims often comment about Islam saying that most Muslims are Muslims because of the death penalty for apostasy. Many claim that there is inherent hypocrisy as converts from other religions are eagerly awaited for, while if a Muslim decides not to follow Islam he is put to death. Please clarify.”

A:“ … Moreover, it is incorrect to say that everyone who leaves Islam is automatically killed. Thus, if an apostate causes no harm to the Muslim community and does not call for spreading hostility towards Islam, he is not to be punished, rather he is to be advised kindly and wisely to let him know the true image of Islam. … ”

The site also refers to a similar question on hypocrisy and quotes Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi - one of the main instigators of the boycor against Denamrk - for this:

A: “Hypocrisy is more dangerous than open disbelief. This fact will be clearly discerned when one reflects back to the great danger which the leader of Madinah’s hypocrites, `Abdullah ibn Ubayy, posed to Islam. The Madinah’s hypocrites were more threatening to Islam than Abu Jahl and the pagans of Makkah. It is for this that the Qur’an specified only two verses for dispraising the disbelievers at the beginning of surat al-Baqarah, while hypocrites were given a share of thirteen verses in the same surat. “

Terror connected Abu Laban speaks of suicide mission

2006-03-25T09:41:00.000+01:00

Abu Laban ties the robe around his neck (from AGORA)

ABU LABAN:{He’s doing everything to get contacts.}{He’s contacted Amr Moussa and he means to wreak absolute havoc.}{He wants to join the fray and turn it into a Martyr operation right now.}
[Picture cuts to Abu Laban’s office. Picture of Mohammed Sifaoui in lower right corner. He’s speaking to DR’s TV-Avisen by phone from Paris][Text in yellow box says: “Mohammed SifaouiTV-Journalist, Paris]
Mohammed Sifaoui:{He says, quoting:}{”He wants to blow everything up. He wants to commit a Martyr assassination.”}{To be exact: a Martyr-operation. I.e. a suicide operation.}

Click headline to get all of the translation by AGORA

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-03-25T07:51:00.000+01:00

Gadhafi lashes out at 'backward society' in Middle East NEW YORK (AP) - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, in a rare moment of self-criticism, lashed out at what he described as "backward" societies in the Middle East, arguing that government heavy-handedness in dealing with political opposition stemmed from ... more

Sheikh Al-Sadlan: Ideological extremism is a reality that needs to be dealt with Riyadh - Ideological extremism exists in Saudi Arabia and should be treated, according to Sheikh Saleh Al-Sadlan, professor of law at Riyadh’s Imam Mohammad ibn Saud University and famous mufti. He was commenting on the events at last month’s Book ... more

Int'l Organization, Fund for Defending Prophet MANAMA, March 24, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) - Muslim scholars wrapped up their two-day meeting in the Bahraini capital Manama Thursday night, March 23, announcing the establishment of an international organization and a fund for defending prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) against defamatory attacks in the West... more

Royal Visit to Bridge Cultural Gap RIYADH, 25 March 2006 — Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived in Riyadh last night on a two-day visit to the Kingdom. They were received by Prince Bandar ibn... Full Story

Iraqi forces grow as new operations continue BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi Security Forces are growing more confident and capable as they gain combat experience across Iraq. Coalition members continue to support them, providing training and equipment to the new forces. Soldiers of 4th Iraqi Army Division conducted combined offensive operations in and around Kirkuk Friday. Operation Scorpion began at 4 a.m. with Soldiers searching five villages simultaneously for suspected terrorists... more

Dhimmi March for Free Expression in London

2006-03-24T15:50:00.000+01:00

I've posted on this march earlier and asked how one could march for Free Expression while banning the cartoons.

The Islamists are now calling for the Metropolitan Police to arrest every one with cartoons!

Go there, bring the cartoons, get arrested by your own police, try using that Western Freedom of Expression. Wish I were in London ...

HT: ArchDuke and JimTheKafir in comments on DhimmiWatch

2006-03-24T15:39:00.000+01:00

Khader not underground - just with family

According to JyllandsPosten Naser Khader has not gone underground as earlier reported. He simply needed some days rest and is spending some time with his family.

We fully understand ...

Turkish Bakery Closed in Stavropol Region for Funding Wahhabits

2006-03-24T15:31:00.000+01:00

It's everywhere ...

Kommersant - Russia's Daily Online, Mar. 24,
Turkish Arzu bakery was closed in the Stavropol Region, Russia, by order of Leninsky District Court. The revenues of the bakery “were secretly funneled to back up religious extremism and foreign terrorist centers,” according to Stavropol Federal Security Service. Investigators link the bakery’s owners to the Star Turkish Islamic Lyceum opened in Karachayevo-Cherkess Region. The program of the lyceum “was based on postulates perverting Islam.” More ...

U.S. War Plan Leaked to Iraqis by Russian Ambassador - linked to Oil-for-Food Bribery

2006-03-24T14:18:00.000+01:00

Skeletons continue to tumble out the cupboard as Iraqi intelligence papers are translated

Back in 2003 I was busy writing in JyllandsPosten about the failures of UN's Security Council, and of the Western peacemongers. I accused Germany, France, China and first of all Russia for being so deeply involved financially with Saddam that their stand on the Council was a given matter. Now history documents that I was far to gentle: not only did the countries set up oil deals with Saddam to take effect after the lifting of the sanctions; Russia was bribed and the Russian ambassador to Bagdad, Vladimir Teterenko, revealed the US warplan to Saddam.

Click Continue .. to read far more

From ABC News, click headline to go there
"Two Iraqi documents from March 2003 — on the eve of the U.S.-led invasion — and addressed to the secretary of Saddam Hussein, describe details of a U.S. plan for war. According to the documents, the plan was disclosed to the Iraqis by the Russian ambassador."

Document written sometime before March 5, 2003

The first document (CMPC-2003-001950) is a handwritten account of a meeting with the Russian ambassador that details his description of the composition, size, location and type of U.S. military forces arrayed in the Gulf and Jordan. The document includes the exact numbers of tanks, armored vehicles, different types of aircraft, missiles, helicopters, aircraft carriers, and other forces, and also includes their exact locations. The ambassador also described the positions of two Special Forces units.

Document dated March 25, 2003

The second document (CMPC-2004-001117) is a typed account, signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Hammam Abdel Khaleq, that states that the Russian ambassador has told the Iraqis that the United States was planning to deploy its force into Iraq from Basra in the South and up the Euphrates, and would avoid entering major cities on the way to Baghdad, which is, in fact what happened. The documents also state "Americans are also planning on taking control of the oil fields in Kirkuk." The information was obtained by the Russians from "sources at U.S. Central Command in Doha, Qatar," according to the document.

This document also includes an account of an amusing incident in which several Iraqi Army officers (presumably seeking further elaboration of the U.S. war plans) contacted the Russian Embassy in Baghdad and stated that the ambassador was their source. Needless to say, this caused great embarrassment to the ambassador, and the officers were instructed "not to mention the ambassador again in that context."

Editor's Note: The Russian ambassador in March 2003 was Vladimir Teterenko. Teterenko appears in documents released by the Volker Commission, which investigated the Oil for Food scandal, as receiving allocations of 3 million barrels of oil — worth roughly $1.5 million.

In Kommersant - Russia's Daily Online I came across this background by Alexander Reutov, written in Russian as of Oct. 28, 2005:

"Moreover, the senators said that they have a documents proving the connection of former Chief of Presidential Administration of Russian Federation Alexander Voloshin. The special report pointed out that Voloshin received from Saddam Hussein the rights to sell a certain amount of the oil, which he later sold to the other companies. According the senate sub-committee estimates, in 1999-2003 the profit from this scheme reached
$3 million.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of Liberal Democratic Party of Russia party, was also mentioned in the senate report. The Senate investigators were able to put the hand on the letters signed by Zhirinovsky, where there was a discussion of oil purchase issues, and the documents of Iraqi Oil Ministry, where it said that leader of LDPR and his party are getting vouchers for the sale of the oil. In 1997 Zhirinovsky wrote a letter to Iraqi Ambassador in Russia, where he said that his party is firmly against the UN economic sanctions, and he promised to use all his political influence to persuade the Duma to widen the economical cooperation with Iraq, including the requests of the contracts in the program Oil-for-Food. American Senators think that this zeal brought Zhirinovsky $8.7 million.

Russians were categorically denying the accusation of American lawmakers. Moscow was saying that the Senate investigation was done as a political action and for that reason it cannot be objective. However, if the Senate’s sub-committee conclusions would find the confirmation in Volker's commission report, than Russian lawyers would have to look for more substantial arguments, because the court is unavoidable. "

Hit the Kommersant to read all of it

Hate Quote of the Day

2006-03-24T11:43:00.000+01:00

"Rejecting Islam is insulting God. We will not allow God to be humiliated. This man must die."

Abdul Raoulf, moderate cleric, jailed three times for opposing the Taliban commenting on the Afghan trial on Abdul Rahman, quoted in Washinton Post today.

Rejecting Islam, drawing cartoons, reading in a Bible, - regardless: everything not strictly Sharia'ah is mortal.
Face it and fight it - or we'll all get lost.

Imam gang supports continued boycott - and lies to Danish media

2006-03-24T10:45:00.000+01:00

The Danish Imam Gang in Bahrein did not try to call of the boycott

From al Jazeera:
Raed Hlayhel, who is leading a delegation of Danish imams to the International Conference for Supporting the Prophet, said that the delegation had not asked for the boycott to be lifted, but rather that it should not be expanded.

"Danish people must send a reassuring message to Muslims that they do not agree with what was printed in the newspaper and that they respect Muslims," Hlayhel said. "The ball is in their court... They have to help us to end this boycott." More ..

I'm not surprised at all. The only interesting thing is when the Danes are going to wake up from their position as the most confident people in the world.

Blogger's Reading this Morning

2006-03-24T08:28:00.000+01:00

Iran's Nukes Concern Some Arab Countries KUWAIT CITY -This tiny Gulf country is increasingly nervous — as are some of its neighbors — about Iran's controversial nuclear program, right across the water. But heading into a key summit, Arab leaders are divided, and publicly squabbling, ... more

Israel May Be Next al-Qaeda Battleground JERUSALEM, AP -Signs are mounting that al-Qaeda terrorists are setting their sights on Israel and the Palestinian territories as their next jihad battleground. Israel has indicted two West Bank militants for al-Qaeda membership, Egypt arrested ... more

‘Danes Must Apologize to Muslims’ Mazen Mahdi, Arab News

MANAMA, 24 March 2006 — Danish imams attending an Islamic scholars meeting here will not call for a halt to a Muslim boycott of their country’s goods until Danes apologize for cartoons of the Prophet... Full Story

Musharraf Challenges Al-Qaeda Militants Azhar Masood & Agencies
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD, 24 March 2006 — Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf yesterday warned foreign Al-Qaeda militants to quit Pakistani tribal areas bordering Afghanistan otherwise his forces would kill... Full Story

First European Muslims Charter to See Light
"The document is like a constitution Muslims in Europe are expected to abide by," Al-Banani told IOL.

"The document is like a constitution Muslims in Europe are expected to abide by as it outlines the basis for inter-Muslim relations as well as the relations between Muslims and their European societies," he added... Full Story

Morning News and Smalltalk: Merci, France Deux

2006-03-24T07:50:00.000+01:00

Boycott to continue
The boycott against Denmark continues, was the result of the dialogue meeting in Bahrein, according to Danish Radio. One of the Danish imams, Abdul Wahid Petersen, [Sir-name original, ergo a convertit at no risk] stated that despite having done their best, they didn't succeed.

Having witnessed the standards of fellow travelling imam, Ahmed Akkari, one is allowed to question the value of Mr. Petersen's assertion.

Sue the boycotters
From the silent side of the table, some of the heavy boys in Danish economic life, Ernst Lunding from Leo Pharma, Kurt L. Larsen from DSV and Asger Aamund from Bavarian Nordic and Neurosearch now start speaking, suggestsing the boycotting countries to pay damages according to WTO regulations, and asking some sammenhold from several of their Danish colleagues (ARLA, Grundfoss!).

Great idea; it's time to start hitting back and Saudi Arabia, joining WTO only last year, should indeed learn to play by the rules. But will WTO dare to challenge the oil-producer?

Merci, France Deux!
Last night, Danish TV2 aired the French documentary on the Danish imam-gang. A horrifying insight into the bunker of the enymy, issuing mortal threats case the journalist didn't paint the wanted idealization of Islam and the imams; connecting to well known terror instigators globally, working in accordance with their schedule to undermine the West using Denmark as the lame duck to practise on.

Well done indeed, France Deux! We learn that the Arab-speaking French Algerian-born journalist lives under cover even in France! Europe is increasingly starting to look like Europe during the Nazi-occupation.

ARLA faces new boycot - this time in Denmark

2006-03-24T00:06:00.000+01:00

From JyllandsPosten by PETER SCHOLLERT og ELSE BOELSKIFTE

"Danish women organisations are angry with ARLA, as the dairy company in an ad in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States distances itself from JyllandsPosten's Muhammed cartoons expressing respect of Islamic values:" .. the years, we have spend in your world has taught us that justice and tolerance are fundamental values in Islam".

The chairman of the organisation Women and Freedom, Vibeke Manniche calls it "shamefull" and "an outrage on women all over the world", that ARLA markets this way. ARLA forgets what is seen as women's often troubled conditions in especially Saudi Arabia, she says."

The women organisations published a list of alternative products to replace those of ARLA's.

American Muslim serving in the US Army Speaks Out

2006-03-23T23:53:00.000+01:00

We often seek those truly democratic Muslim voices that dare speak out. Here is one of them, serving proudly in the US Army. Absolutely worth reading, click headline.

Danish soldier killed in Iraq, another wounded

2006-03-23T23:17:00.000+01:00

Thursday evening two soldiers from 2. panser infantery compagny in Iraq were hit by a road side bomb at 16.39 GMT-1 north of Al Hartha near Bashra.

One soldier was severely wounded in the legs and later died during surgery at the British lazaret at Shaiba Log Base. The other soldier suffered only minor injuries.

Information from HOK, Danish Army, Karup, Denmark

UPDATE: Breaking: Naser Khader considers leaving politics

2006-03-23T23:14:00.000+01:00

Danish MP Naser Khader says he considers leaving politics after threats by Ahmed Akkari filmed with hidden camera. The leader of his party, Marianne Jelved states, that it will be “unbearable”.

Update:

According to TV2, "Naser Khader considers his future in Danish politics. He no longer knows if it's worth the risk to continue.

Naser Khader is too chocked to appear on television and has gone underground. The MP already faces a great pressure caused by death threats from Muslims. He is closely guarded by Police Intelligence Forces.

He's considering both his chairing the network Democratic Muslims and his seat at parlament. "

More updates to come.

Liberal Muslim Theologian Pulls Out of Tatchell Lecture After Threats

2006-03-23T20:56:00.000+01:00

from UK Gay News
Lecture cancelled after fears for Sheikh’s safety

LONDON, March 20, 2006 – Liberal Muslim theologian Sheikh Dr Muhammad Yusuf was to have called for a reconciliation of Islam with democracy and human rights, including human rights for women and gay people in a lectures this evening (March 20) in London.

But he has been pressured to pull out of the lecture – the annual Peter Tatchell Human Rights Fundraiser (PTHRF) – at the last moment following protests and warnings by Muslim leaders.
His planned call for an “Islamic Reformation” provoked the wrath of senior Muslim figures, who warned they could not guarantee his safety if the lecture went ahead.

from Nordish Portal
"London’s notoriety as Londonistan has been given a further push today when a liberal Muslim theologian sadly decided not to speak his mind in public, after receiving serious threats by what the establishment would still call “moderate Muslims”. Sheikh Dr Muhammad Yusuf of the Interfaith Alliance was planning to make a call for an Islamic Reformation.

Click Continue .. to read more, click Nordish to read comments, click headline to go to UK Gay News. HT: The Nordish Portal

In place of Sheikh Yusuf, the guest lecture at tonight’s annual Peter Tatchell Human Rights fundraiser will be delivered by exiled Iranian feminist and human rights campaigner, Maryam Namazie. She will highlight the danger posed by to democracy and human rights by the rise of “political Islam”.

Sheikh Yusuf, a research fellow of the Inter-Faith Alliance UK and Chair of the Council of University Imams, was to have delivered a lecture Time for an Islamic Reformation in Britain in which he would have called for the development of an authentically British and European Islam.
“I deeply regret that extreme pressure from some Muslim leaders has forced Sheikh Yusuf to pull out of this evening’s fundraiser,” commented Peter Tatchell. “We were looking forward to welcoming him as an honoured guest.”

Despite Sheikh Yusuf’s absence, Mr Tatchell will use the PTHRF reception to report back on his current campaigns.

“Solidarity with gay and liberal Muslims who are resisting the threats of Islamic fundamentalists, in the UK and abroad; opposition to the government’s demonisation and persecution of asylum seekers; exposure of miscarriages of justice and support for abused prisoners; and solidarity with gay and human rights campaigners in Uganda, Iraq, Darfur, Jamaica, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Algeria, Palestine and Iran will be among the irems covered,” he said.

PTHRF spokesperson Adrian Gillan pointed out that Peter Tatchell’s human rights campaigns had now gone global.

“His successes mean he is deluged with requests for help from activists all over the world. To meet these demands, he is working 16 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Such a huge workload is damaging his health and is unsustainable. We need to raise enough money to get Peter a fully equipped office and full-time staff support. Tonight’s reception will help raise some of the extra funds we need,” he said.

Reverend Richard Kirker, chairman of PTHRF, added that Mr. Tatchell had an unquenchable thirst for justice, and a voracious appetite for work.

“He challenges discrimination fearlessly and helps the persecuted who – in their thousands – seek his advice and support from all parts of the world.

“Moreover, by writing, campaigning, demonstrating and lobbying, he is able to alert the wider public and media to the injustices that still blight the lives of millions. Supporting the PTHRF provides him with financial assistance that he puts entirely at the disposal of his work.

“What could be more worthwhile,” he asked?

Looking forward to Sheikh Yusuf’s lecture, Peter Tatchell had previously said that support for a liberal, progressive Islam was an urgent priority.

“It is the most effective way to counter the fundamentalist attitudes towards women and gay people that characterise many supposedly moderate, mainstream Muslim organisations.

“I hope Sheikh Yusuf’s lecture will demonstrate and encourage the possibility of an Islamic Enlightenment, whereby Muslims and non-Muslims can work together in the defence of universal social justice and human rights,” he said last week.

The PTHRF's annual reception is now a firm fixture in the U’'s socio-political and queer calendar. Past events – at the Royal Festival Hall’s People’s Palace and other prominent venues – have proved a highly enjoyable yet practical way of supporting the work of the UK’s best-known human rights campaigner, whilst allowing Peter himself the opportunity to thank his supporters in person.

March for Free Expression, - now without Free Expression

2006-03-23T16:05:00.000+01:00

In order to have a walk-along-and-sing-a-song-of-freedom with the Muslim's in London, this march for Freedom of Expression decided that Danish cartoons were not invited!

At first, cartoons specifically were welcomed ... , but later it became Freedom of Expression, now with Muslims consequently without Cartoons!

How you support Freedom of Expression without Freedom of Expression must be something very British.

Anyhow, the poster is great and much nicer than the other one, you know which.

The Religious Policeman commented on the march with one of these fantastic cartoons of Jesus and Mo, that apparently is not invited for the happy event.

Click headline to learn more of the Freedom of Expression without Freedom of Expression debate.

CENTCOM: News from the Frontline

2006-03-23T11:52:00.001+01:00

The US Central Command runs an impressive site with newsletter, podcasts, RSS-feeds, video clips, online documentations and every modern communication that serves a free society. I've added it the the left column "Know More..". Click headline to go there right now. Lots of interesting news, Dutch Navy saving the crew of a burning coaster off the Yemen coast, etc. etc.

Please check in from time to time to get the correct picture as opposed the the MSM picture.

Today I just want to ship this picture of U.S. Army 1st Lt Michelle McCaffrey playing with local children during a patrol of East Baghdad, Iraq. McCaffrey is from Bravo Company, 506th Brigade Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team. (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Bart A. Bauer)

Remember the MSM-picture: A country at Civil War!

Quote of the Day

2006-03-23T11:25:00.000+01:00

"I don’t want any part of a culture like that. I don’t want to tolerate it, try to understand it or even share a fucking planet with it. Game over. End of story."

Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler, the Jack Bauer of the Blogosphere commenting on the Afghan trial.
Click headline, get it right from the destillery.

Bush: ".. we can solve this problem .." [Afghan trial]

2006-03-23T10:51:00.000+01:00

White House transcript
President Bush speaking at Capitol Music Hall, Wheeling, West Virginia:

[A firefighter asking:] Q And back during 9/11, I lost over 300 of my brothers in New York. And I was glad that you were our President at that time and took the fight to the terrorists. But as I see you, I said earlier about the guy in Afghanistan that is going to convert to Christianity, he may get killed over there for doing that. Do you have an army of sociologists to go over there and change that country, or are you hoping that in a couple decades that we can change the mind-set over there?

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate the question. It's a very legitimate question. We have got influence in Afghanistan and we are going to use it to remind them that there are universal values. It is deeply troubling that a country we helped liberate would hold a person to account because they chose a particular religion over another. And so we are -- we will make -- part of the messaging just happened here in Wheeling. I want to thank you for that question.

No, I think it's -- we can solve this problem by working closely with the government that we've got contacts with -- and will. We'll deal with this issue diplomatically and remind people that there is something as universal as being able to choose religion.

Click Continue .. to get a great Prez. quote on bloging and Freedom of the Press! Click Headline to get all of the White House transcript.

And another great quote from that Q & A session of yesterday:

"One of the things that we've got to value is the fact that we do have a media, free media, that's able to do what they want to do. And I'm not going to -- you're asking me to say something in front of all the cameras here. (Laughter.) Help over there, will you? (Laughter.)
I just got to keep talking. And one of the -- there's word of mouth, there's blogs, there's Internet, there's all kinds of ways to communicate which is literally changing the way people are getting their information. And so if you're concerned, I would suggest that you reach out to some of the groups that are supporting the troops, that have got Internet sites, and just keep the word -- keep the word moving. And that's one way to deal with an issue without suppressing a free press. We will never do that in America. I mean, the minute we start trying to suppress our press, we look like the Taliban. The minute we start telling people how to worship, we look like the Taliban. And we're not interested in that in America. We're the opposite. We believe in freedom. And we believe in freedom in all its forms. And obviously, I know you're frustrated with what you're seeing, but there are ways in this new kind of age, being able to communicate, that you'll be able to spread the message that you want to spread. "

Prosecution Demand Al-Asadi be Banned from Journalism

2006-03-23T08:49:00.000+01:00

From Yemen Observer by Zaid Al-Alaya'a, March 22, 2006 -

"Mohammed Al-Asadi (center) listens to the judge Sahl Hamza during Wednesday March 22 session. YO Photo/ M. SharabiSANA'A - Prosecution lawyers demanded on Wednesday that Mohammed Al-Asadi, the Editor-in-Chief of the Yemen Observer, be banned forever for writing for a newspaper.

The trial of Al-Asadi, which took place in the General South-West Court in Sana'a, was adjourned for a month, until April 19.

Al-Asadi, who denies all charges, is accused in connection with allegations of republishing insulting cartoons first printed in Denmark of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). He is charged under a press law that bans publication of anything that "prejudices the Islamic faith"."

Good news that the prosecutors no longer claim capital punishment, - still too bad al-Asadi is on trial at all. Click headline to get the full story in Yemen Observer.

UPDATE: Hidden camera: Danish imam suggests blowing up MP Nasher Khader

2006-03-23T08:34:00.000+01:00

UPDATE: Danish police eager to investigate; MP from Social Liberal Party allready filed charges against Akkari, who continue denying remembering having said as quoted.

AGORA is doing an in depth coverage, click here to go there.

According to several sources, French TV2 to night aires a take with hidden camera by journalist Mohamed Sifaoui with Danish imam Ahmed Akkari in Bahrein, chatting in Arab in a car and suggesting:

"If he [Danish MP Naser Khader] becomes minister for foreigners or integration, shouldn't you then ship out two guys to blow him and his ministry up the air?"

It seems to have been said with a smile. Today Akari denies remembering having said the quoted, but Danish politicians expectedly are upset.

MP Naser Khader who founded Democratic Muslims has not commented yet, according to JyllandsPosten too chocked to make a comment.

White House is concerned

2006-03-23T08:09:00.000+01:00

A reader pointed, thank you, to the White House, where Bush yesterday made some remarks on the Afghan trial before moving on to speak of Iraq:

"I'm troubled when I hear, deeply troubled when I hear, the fact that a person who converted away from Islam may be held to account."

It seems that the hypocrisy is limited, after all .. Click headline.

Op-Blog: The collaborator

2006-03-22T23:42:00.000+01:00

By Poul Højlund, March 22, 2006:

It’s funny. Islam caught naked. The hangings in Iran, the beheadings in Saudi Arabia, the capital charges in Afghanistan, the terror, the shari’ah, the fatwas, the killing, the murder of disobedient daughters, the daily suppression in every Islamic country around the globe.

No, that’s not funny. Not funny at all. The funny part is the amount of collaborators on our side.

How dare they be so stupid, how dare they be on the side of the oppressors and the hang men, when even the most innocent child – or not even, but of course the most innocent child knows what this is all about.

In English ~~collaborator~~ collaboration is a positive word. In Danish it’s the opposite. A Kollaboratør collaborated with the Germans during the occupation. Kollaboratør’s were rounded up after the liberation on May 4, 1945. Some were shot, some imprisoned, and all of them for ever shamed.

What blindfolds a collaborator? What makes a collaborator? What does a collaborator do?

Scavenius, the greatest of all Danish collaborators, defence minister during WWI, foreign minister and later prime minister during the first part of WWII, chairman of the board of Politiken – yes, that paper has some traditions – Scavenius, he knew: Unconditional cooperation!

That’s the game of the collaborator. Always cooperate because if you don’t, it might get worse. It’s feeding the crocodile hoping it will eat you last. So Scavenius issued a statement on the great victories of the German army when Churchill was issuing his statement on fighting from our beaches.

Scavenius by no means was stupid. On the contrary, he might have been the highest ranking IQ ever in Danish politics. And he was not a man without principles, nor without humour. But he missed the one most important part: he had no values but to survive.

That’s the stuff collaborators are made of. No values but to survive. Collaborate, because it might get worse. And even when it is bad it might still get worse. So collaborate again. And again. And again. Whilst still claiming to your self and others that you’re not one of them; you’re not the enemy, you’re just trying to prevent things to get worse. For the good of all of us.

That’s a collaborator. Beginning to spot them here and there? Well, they come by the dozen these days. Here in Denmark and abroad. Shame on them.

"Excellent - makes killing the kuffar all the bit easier"

2006-03-22T14:50:00.000+01:00

Manifesto authors need your help on death threats

Ummah.com, the English site with chat rules like this: "Refrain from all expressions of bigotry, racism, hatred, or profanity", has this death threat aginst the authors of the Manifesto.

Irshad Mani, the author of The Trouble with islam Today asks for your help on her website:

Click Continue .. or click headline to go to Ishad Manji's site

Posted March 15, 2006
Violence alert
Friends: By now you know about the Manifesto of 12: Together Facing a New Totalitarianism. I signed it, as did Salman Rushdie, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Taslima Nasrin and several others. On March 11, we received a serious death threat from a chat thread on ummah.com, an Islamic website in Britain. Click here to see evidence of the threat.

The text is crystal-clear:

"Excellent - makes killing the kuffar [infidel]
all the bit easier... [N]ow we have drawn out a hit list of a 'Who's Who' guide to slam into. Take your time but make sure their gone soon - oh and don't hold out for a fatwah it isn't really required here."

Unlike daily threats, this one comes from a place of 'authority,' since ummah.com is known to attract many radicals. That's why the Manifesto signatories need you to fight back with us. If you support freedom, pluralism and secularism, click here and put your name on our petition. We'll publish the petition in the coming days.

Please send this message to your friends, colleagues and list-servs. Now more than ever, we need your courage. And we thank you for showing it.

Op-Blog: Unlimited Hypocrisy Across the World

2006-03-22T11:44:00.000+01:00

By Poul Højlund, March 22, 2006:

Let’s try a brief second of pure madness:

Suppose a Danish citizen converted to Islam and then got arrested and indicted, the prosecutor claiming his death for abandoning Christianity? ?? ??

The mere thought is unthinkable. So no reason to imagine the highly justified uproar from across the world, the condemnations from The White House, UN, EU, UNHRC, OIC, UK, Egypt, Libya, Iran, etc. etc.

The organisations and countries mentioned are not chosen by accident: they are all silent on the madness taking place in Afghanistan at the very moment. An Afghan converted to Christianity is now facing death, and absolutely no comments from The White House, UN, EU, UNHRC, OIC, UK, Egypt, Libya, Iran, etc. etc.

The White House, UN, EU, UNHRC, OIC, UK, Egypt, Libya, Iran, etc. etc. were eager condemning the cartoons and hesitant to support free speech. Some European governments now started to move in support of the Afghan Christian.

But The White House, UN, EU, UNHRC, OIC, UK, Egypt, Libya, Iran, etc. etc haven’t done anything. They are all silent on this the most infamous violation of the fundamental right of mankind: the right to live.

Where is the religious freedom which for the last half year has been quoted again and again - without stating the obvious, that freedom of faith is protecting the individual, not the faith.

Where are all the organisations and countries, condemning Denmark as a country of racism and xenophobia, of violating human rights when it comes to this fundamental violation, this fundamental racism, this fundamental anxiety of everything non Islamic?

Where is UN? Where is Doudou Diéne? Where is Louise Arbour? Where is Kofi Annan?

Too busy with the cartoon war, I presume, - too busy protecting the fascist system of intolerance and supremacy that now threatens the most humble and the most basic right of mankind: the right to live.

France on its way Down the Drain

2006-03-22T09:42:00.000+01:00

The France that most of us love is rapidly moving towards selfdestruction, says Paul Belien of The Brussels Journal. The student protesting today differ from those of 1968 in the most absolue manner: this time its about securing jobs and demanding social safety to the youth at university studies not leading to anywhere ..

Click headline

The true Islam of Love: ".. there may be no need for killing him"

2006-03-22T08:32:00.000+01:00

Quote from IslamOnline coverage of death trial against Abdur Rahman, 41:

Afghanistan's constitution states: "No law can be contrary to the sacred religion of Islam."

Prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi had said that all Muslim jurists agree that the apostate is to be punished. However, they differ regarding the punishment itself.

Well-known Azharite scholar Sheikh `Abdul-Majeed Subh had said that the punishment for apostasy is dependent on the public interest of the Muslim nation and the assessment of scholars to each case.

"If the apostate does not harm the Muslim society, there may be no need for killing him."

Click headline to get the full IslamOnline coverage

Dhimmi Quote of the Day: Prince Charles in Cairo

2006-03-22T08:28:00.000+01:00

"The recent ghastly strife and anger over the Danish cartoons shows the danger that comes of our failure to listen and to respect what is precious and sacred to others," Prince Charles told an audience of some 3,000 people at Al-Azhar University, Islam's most ancient seat of learning.

"I think of the experience of Muslims living in Europe who are subject to varied and continuous expressions of Islamophobia."

IslamOnline has the story

Khaled risking his popularity for seeking dialogue

2006-03-22T08:08:00.001+01:00

Asharq Alawsat reports:

In the process, Khaled is telling the faithful something they're not used to hearing from clerics — that Muslims aren't blameless in the tensions, that the West is not always bad and that dialogue is better than confrontation.

"A young Muslim goes to Europe with a forged visa, takes unemployment insurance there, then goes on TV and says, 'We're going to expel you from Britain, take your land, money and women,'" Khaled said recently on his weekly program on the Saudi satellite TV channel Iqraa, trying to explain the mistrust of Muslims in Europe. "It's a rare example, but it exists."

Well, that's a beginning though a very modest one, and it demonstrates the insanity of the Khartoon Wariors more than anything else. Anyhow, some credits go to Khaled for not being completely insane.

Click headline to continue

Politicians across Europe finally face the reality of Islam

2006-03-22T00:48:00.000+01:00

From the reactions all across Europe it seems that the reality of Islam finally hit the politicians. The reactions came after the story of Afghan Rahman's case broke woldwide.

Some of us have always known that the only reason for the Islamic dictatorship to continue was its base of violence and death. The politicians never took it seriously despite the overwhelming evidence and the continued statements from Islamist even in Europe.

Did our politicians realy think that the Muslims in this world were so stupid that they voluntarily and by their own choice stayed within this framework of hate and death?

Chicago Tribune has an in-depth coverage of the case, which leaves very little hope for the Christian Afghan. Click headline to get the full story:

Judge Ansarullah Mawlawizada, who is handling the case, said he normally takes two months to decide on cases. But because this case is so serious, he expected to hold another hearing within the next week and make a decision.

Mawlawizada, who kept Rahman's green Bible on his desk, said he respected all religions. He emphasized that he did not favor the aggressiveness of the Taliban, who cut the hands and feet off criminals in a soccer stadium. But he said Rahman had to repent.

"If he doesn't regret his conversion, the punishment will be enforced on him," the judge said. "And the punishment is death."

Oh Happy Day: Sweden FM quits over cartoon row

2006-03-22T00:38:00.000+01:00

from BBC, click headline

Laila Freivalds resigned six months before an election

"Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds has resigned in a row related to cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

She was strongly criticised in the press after it emerged that foreign ministry pressure had led to the closure of a far-right party's website."

UN Special Rapporteur Doudou Diene Calls Danes Racists, Xenophobes

2006-03-21T23:43:00.000+01:00

AGORA published a very thorough documentation of the scandalous report of Mr. Diéne and the reactions in Denmark on his report. Click headline.

Mr. Diéne during the past years focused his campaign on countries like Japan, Canada, Switzerland and now Denmark, accusing all of them for racism and xenophobia. In all the countries he was able to find - like in Switzerland «.. une situation de racisme, de xénophobie et de discrimination » having visited the countries for five to nine days.

Mr. Diéne did not take the time to visit Denmark but was able to spot racism and xenophobia from his desk in Geneva.

On various occasions and in a special report on racism, he also managed to forget the anti-Semitism presented on a daily basis towards Israel to a point where he did not support it's right to exist as an independent nation.

That lead the Simon Wiesenthal Centre (SWC) in 2003 to deny UN support for some arrangements and to claim the withdrawal Mr. Diéne's report on racism in the aftermath of 9/11. In a letter dated January 6, 2005, to High Commissioner Louise Arbour, SWC repeated their arguments. I haven't been able to track the answer from the High Commissioner, if any.

Nice fellow indeed. Apparently blinded by his mission, his background and his own agenda. Supported by the corrupted UN system, he no doubt remains in office, continuing to issue his reports on countries with less than small problems while completely overlooking the real problems of discrimination in Muslim countries .

Prince Charles not to meet expelled blogger Kareem

2006-03-21T07:14:00.000+01:00

As Prince Charles makes his don't-know-the-number-of-a-lot visit to praise Islam at the Al Azahr University and to receive some tittle of honour, the famous blogger Freedom for Egyptians has a quite different story of Islamic surpression at the very same university:

"Kareem was a law student in Al Azahr University, the largest Sunni institution in the Muslim world. The university referred him to a disciplinary council that decided on expelling him from the university because of his writings on Islam on his blog and for his progressive views.

Do take time to visit the Free Copts blog where Kareem writes on his plans and thinking. Brave fellow indeed, - help him if possible.

Freedom for Egyptians continues: "Muslim clerics (Sheikhs) has the power to lobby the society against him that may lead to some people taking legal actions against him to jail him. (...) And Karim is not a Danish journalist in Denmark. He is a Muslim Egyptian living in Egypt not Denmark."

Click headline to go to Daily Star Egypt reporting on the Prince's touring

Muslim Religious Reform a Necessity

2006-03-21T07:09:00.000+01:00

I couldn’t agree more with this rare point of view by Ahmed al-Rabei in Asharq al-Awsat; it's not all about Christians..:

"Religious reform is a necessity for the renaissance of nations. A clear example was the extremist interpretations of Christianity that once controlled lives in Europe and had impeded all attempts of development. This lasted until religious reform movements in Europe had emerged to reevaluate these interpretations blocking the extremists and narrow-minded radicals."
Click headline

Breaking: UN Human Rights Commission openly accuses Denmark of Racism

2006-03-20T21:05:00.000+01:00

UN Human Rights Commission now openly accuses Denmark of racism at a poster issued for 21. March The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The symbolic of the poster is simple: Lego Denmark does not fit into to the puzzle of the modern world.

At the official site of the Commission, next to the poster, this quote from Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:

“We must combat all forms of intolerance by celebrating the diversity and the differences that enrich the human family.

But we must work to reduce the differences that are imposed, rather than chosen, that speak of deprivation rather than fulfilment and that fuel the xenophobic discourse about the relative merit and desert of individuals based on stereotypical attributes attached to their race, religion or ethnicity.”

More to follow, click headline to go to UNHRC official site.

My immediate reactions:

So saying NO to subduing to Islamic law has now become RACISM! The corrupted, incompetent and dying Human Rights Commission takes this last opportunity to demonstrate exactly how incompetent and how corrupted they've become.

No doubt the Islamic organisations in Denmark trying to take their case to the Human Rights Commission already have a winner case.

Tragically, for UN and for the free world that founded and paid and still pay for UN, it's a dream lost.

UPDATE: Dhimmi Quote of the Day

2006-03-20T19:53:00.000+01:00

And the winner is .....

"Honored citizens, the years we have been in your world have taught us that justice and tolerance are fundamental values of Islam. We would like to cooperate with Islamic organisation to find a solution to the boycott of Arla’s products. We only ask you to consider this and hopefully, to reconsider your stance towards our company."

Why don't you simply relocate?

UPDATE: Jens Rohde, whom I've criticized earlier in the matter of the Cartoonist's Daughter, definately earned some points lately - I'll blog in full later. As for now just this: Rohde today suggested that ARLA relocates to Teheran!

Quote from ARLA's statetement in Arab papers and TV commercials. AGORA has more.

Hizb-ut-Tahrir endicted for threats against Danish government

2006-03-20T16:03:00.002+01:00

Hizb-ut-Tahrir spokesman endicted for three possible violations of Danish penal code.

The Public Prosecutor today endicted Fadi Abdullativ, spokesman of Danish Hizb-ut-Tahrir, on three counts, one dealing with threatening persons in public service. In a paper distributed at a mosque in November 2004 in Valby, Cohenhagen, the organisation writes: Then set out to help your brothers in Fallujah in Iraq, and exterminate your rulers [Danish:regenter] if they stand in your way".

As the threat is directed against the prime minister and other members of the government, the prosecutor endicted for violation of article 119 in the penal code with a maximum of 8 years imprisonment

The other counts regard antisemitic expressions, of which Fadi Abdullativ in 2003 was found guilty and sentenced to 60 days suspended imprisonment. The sentence was passed partly due to a quotation form the Koran: OQM. al-Baqarah:191 on "killing Jews wherever you find them".

If Abdullativ is found guilty on the new charges, the original sentence will take effect.

In 2004, the Crown's Prosecutor refused to ban Hizb-ut-Tahrir og grounds of lack of evidence. The ban was sought in accordance with the Danish Constitution that makes it possible to ban organisations seeking to implement their goals by violence or the threat to use violence. The clause has never been used.

Sources: Danish Radio, ritzau, papers, wikipedia and more.

Sistani: 'Gays Should Be Killed in Worst Way Possible

2006-03-20T13:49:00.000+01:00

DhimmiWatch, from the Healing Iraq blogspot, with thanks to LGF

"His Eminence, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, the supreme religious authority for Shi'ite Msulims in Iraq and worldwide, decrees that gays and lesbians should be killed in the worst manner possible, according to this news article from a London-based gay rights group.

A quick search through Sistani's official website turns up this page, translated as:

Q: What is the judgement on sodomy and lesbianism?

A: "Forbidden. Those involved in the act should be punished. In fact, sodomites should be killed in the worst manner possible."

Denmark to face UN's Allah-commission

2006-03-20T13:07:00.000+01:00

Why UN's Allah Commission? Well, read on and you'll see! Paul Belien of The Brussels Jornal:

"In 1987 the United Nations changed the logo of its Human Rights Commission from a flame (below, on the left) into something (below, on the right) resembling..., well, that looks strikingly like the Arabic word "Allah."So far, there have been no protests from "offended" Muslims, though the logo definitely looks more like "Allah" than the Nike and Burger King logos.

Click Continue ..
Was the change in the UN Human Rights logo a coincidence? Some specialists do not think so. Apparently it may have been a high-ranking Muslim UN official who changed the logo. It is perhaps as much a coincidence as last week's common declaration signed by EU Foreign Policy Coordinator Javier Solana, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The three men pledged to rewrite the UN Human Rights Charter to “protect the sanctity of religions and the prophets.” About the uproar in Muslim countries regarding the Danish Muhammad cartoons they said: “We understand the deep hurt and widespread indignation felt in the Muslim world. The freedom of the press [...] should respect the beliefs and tenets of all religions.”"

Get the whole story on the logo change here, including the usual lots of offended Muslims whenever a logo bears the slightest similarity with Arab-Allah, - but not this time!

Click headline to go to The Brussels Journal's story of today on Muslims seeking help from the Allah-commission.

2006-03-20T10:03:00.000+01:00

'Only a fraction of Teheran's brutality has come to light'
Maryam Rajavi speaks out from her Paris exile: '21,676 people have died resisting the clerical regime. Another 120,000 people have been executed since the mullahs took power in 1979. Now Iran's rulers are trying to develop a nuclear weapon.'
Iran Focus has it.

Top Malaysian Feminists Slam Injustice in Name of Islam.
Nice to see some criticism from within. Islam Online has it.

Ministry to Start Field Checks on Lingerie Shop
Saudi Arbia of course. Arab News has it.

Saudi continues war on terrorists
Naif: "No end to terrorism unless its roots are starved." Arab News has it.

Sha'ban 'Abd Al-Rahim not aiming to be President of Egypt

2006-03-20T08:22:00.000+01:00

The popular Egypt singer and poet, Sha'ban 'Abd Al-Rahim, is not aiming to become president of Egypt. In an interview he said: "Let's not talk about the role of president. Let's go a little lower, because I don’t want to be president."

Now that's really a consolation for most Danes who haven't slept peacefully since the singer made his latest hit. Some of the lines from this peaceloving gentleman of great artistic skills read:

"Denmark? They are nothing but pagans.
"Who are they to say anything about the Prophet?
..
"Our Islam is a religion of love, not of injustice and terrorism.
"Not of injustice and terrorism.
"When you all meet in Hell, the flames will burn your faces.
"The flames will burn your faces.
"They will burn your faces.

Honestly, Egypt!! Haven't you any laws banning hatefull speech?

By the way: You were Egyptians before you became Muslims. What about going back to being Egyptians again?

MEMRI has the transscript from an interview March 1, click headline.

Malkin: Afghan Christian facing death for leaving Islam

2006-03-19T23:10:00.000+01:00

"An Afghan man who recently admitted he converted to Christianity faces the death penalty under the country's strict Islamic legal system. The trial is a critical test of Afghanistan's new constitution and democratic government. "

Click headline or follow Malkin's hattip: Below the Beltway. Also check AGORA's link on a 1993 Saudi beheading for just possesing a bible.

Ramadan in action: "I won’t talk to this commoner!"

2006-03-19T11:01:00.000+01:00

The Arogant Man: Ramadan goes bananas.

AGORA translated a German interview with Tariq Ramadan, the Swiss Islamist scholar, so entrusted by the EU establishment.

If this is bulletproof, it takes apart the whole EU / British dhimmi with Ramadan in the centre. Ramadan for years worked as the EU expert in Islam, recognised as a scholar trying to build a European Islam.

I dropped Ramadan some years ago having read his book on Euroislam. It's the same old rubbish as always.

He is denied entrance in US. It caused great disturbance at the university where he was invited to lecture. They even sat up support committees. My foot!

Sorg: How are you an Islamist? You talk about universal human rights. That is a Western concept, an idea from the European Enlightenment.

(Quietly, sharply) Totally untrue. Who told you this?

Sorg: So all the books say. Enlightenment is a European post-religious project.

Untrue. Al-Farabi talked of universal rights. Do you know of Al-Farabi?

Sorg: Who?

14th century. You are displaying your ignorance. This is Double Talk (Editor: Al-Farabi was born in the 9th century)

Sorg: In many Moslem countries you would be killed if you talked of universal rights.

I have not been killed in Moslem countries. Who told you this?

So it says every day in the newspapers. In Saudi Arabia you can be executed for the mere possesion of a bible.

Links and editor's comments by AGORA. Read on ..

Great job, AGORA, allow me to link! And dear readers: go, go, go. Click headline.

Sunday Incentive

2006-03-19T10:42:00.000+01:00

Just click headline; you never get too much of brave Wafa Sultan.

Dull Sunday in the Arab papers

2006-03-19T09:50:00.000+01:00

Asharq Al-Awsat: "A two-day conference titled "Constructive Religious Dialogue - Framework for World Order" was opened today in Isfahan, central Iran" . Read on.

Mshari Al-Zaydi has a very interesting article in Al-Awsat on The Courageous Jurist, dealing with Sheikh Gamal Al Banna, the brother of Sheikh Hassan Al Banna who founded the Muslim Brotherhood. Seems that the two brothers didn't agree on how to read the Koran. Read on.

IslamOnline backs their usual agenda with this article on French Muslims Back UMP Anti-Blasphemy Motion. The motion made it's way to PIA CAUSA here. To read more of the courageous French Muslims seeking to limit the freedom in the country that harbours them, read on.

From Yemen Observer the good news on support for al-Asadi: International Press Organization Condemns Al-Asadi Trial. They've written a letter to the president; may I remind you of the option to do the same here.

Readings on a Sunday

2006-03-19T09:43:00.000+01:00

In case you’ve got nothing more important to do, may I point you to a few texts, once again outlining what this is all about.

Can a Muslim really be killed for leaving Islam, a well documented article from Focus on Social Issues, October 11, 2003.

The Dialogue Between Civilizations Revisited, a highly critical article in Muslim Wakeup, MWU, from February 9, 2004.

The non-territorial Islamic States in Europe , a really scary article by by Reuven Paz of PRISM from November 2005.

Is all of Europe really against Denmark?

2006-03-19T06:47:00.000+01:00

According to Berlingske, a former conservative, now only political correct paper in Denmark, leading European papers and politicians across the political spectrum, are highly negative towards the Danish government, its prime minister and the official line in the Mohammad affair.

Danish readers may continue here , but be forewarned: only slightly informative the article is more a disclosure of the opinions of its author, Ole Bang Nielsen, who earlier published articles forcing the office of the prime minister to correct him on its official site (in Danish).

Foreign readers should know that according to the article, the government has fallen victim to Dansk Folkeparti, throughout Europe seen as an radical right wing movement with extreme xenophobic positions.

CBS’ scandalously biased “60 Minutes on Denmark” is part of the evidence held against Denamrk in the article: apparently its author never read the scathing criticism by Danish journalism's anchor: Samuel Rachlin.

Muslims are not the enemy

2006-03-18T17:59:00.000+01:00

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.

Quote of the Day

2006-03-18T17:26:00.000+01:00

"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

Papers link Saddam to al Qa'idah

2006-03-18T16:40:00.000+01:00

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.

Is al-Asadi heading for martyrdom?

2006-03-18T10:52:00.000+01:00

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

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

2006-03-18T10:18:00.000+01:00

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.

Islam Online twisting news once again

2006-03-17T09:24:00.000+01:00

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

Dutch test on accepting secular hedonism

2006-03-17T08:59:00.000+01:00

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!

Quote of the Day

2006-03-17T08:25:00.000+01:00

"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.

The Iranian Press and the Islamic Republic

2006-03-17T08:15:00.000+01:00

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

US accepts talking with Iran over Iraq

2006-03-17T07:41:00.000+01:00

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

A Short Story of Arabia

2006-03-16T16:39:00.000+01:00

"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!

Bibliographical details at Daniel Pipes site

2006-03-16T15:49:00.000+01:00

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.

Youths set fire to posters of Khamenei in Iran capital

2006-03-16T12:39:00.000+01:00

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.

Op Blog: Muhammed was a violent figure

2006-03-16T10:18:00.000+01:00

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.

Arab News: OIC Raps EU for Tepid Response on Cartoons

2006-03-16T09:30:00.000+01:00

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.

Muslims feel deluded by Danish prime

2006-03-16T08:00:00.000+01:00

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.

The Crown’s Prosecutor: Muhammed is a violent figure

2006-03-16T07:49:00.000+01:00

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."