Note: Canada leads the way in turning away this putrid imam. This site has consistently identified the ignorant and murderous imams as the source of the trouble between muslims and non muslims in the West. Keep them all out; expel all those who are here.
Canadian Government To Bar Homophobic Imam From Entering Country
June 29, 2006 - 7:00 pm ET
(Ottawa) A British imam, scheduled to address a Muslim youth conference in Toronto this weekend reportedly has been told he is not welcome in the country.
The federal government has instructed the immigration department to block his entry if he decides to ignore the warning the CTV television network reported on Thursday.
Sheikh Riyadh ul-Haq, the Imam at Birmingham's Central mosque, has a long history of inflammatory speech aimed at gays, Jews and moderate Muslims.
CTV reports that ul Haq was recently called into the Canadian High Commission in London and was told he would not be admissible to Canada on grounds that his views could incite hatred and violence.
Under Canada's promotion of hate law it is a federal offence to advocate violence against any minority including members of the LGBT community.
As a British citizen Ul Haq does not need a visa.
The government acted after receiving a joint letter from the Muslim Canadian Congress, Canadian Jewish Congress, Hindu Dharma Mission and LGBT rights group Egale saying that ul Haq's history of "dangerous and inflammatory" statements are an affront to Canadian values.
Ul Haq has made at least four previous speaking visits to Canada. He was scheduled to speak last Sunday at a Montreal Islamic youth conference, but organizers cancelled the appearance following a public outcry.
The Youth Tarbiyah Conference to held by the Islamic Foundation of Toronto this weekend is defending its invitation to Ul Haq calling him an "inspirational speaker."
Comment: In Australia we hear this kind of poisonous and primitive stuff from all imams all the time. Kick them all out; ban any replacements. The local muslims should use their own internal resources in running the mosques and not import foreign anti Australian rubbish and poisoners.
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Friday, June 30, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Islamic Wowserism...Pathetic And Backward.
Note: In these days of 'Soccer Madness' when much of the world is celebrating peaceful unity with marvellous sport, the anti-human impulse in Islam comes out. When readers ever see the word 'idol' used by some moronic muslim, the reader can be assured that the speaker is a fascist Wahhabi. Their fascist world view (and money) has taken over most of Sunni Islam around the world. They are already in charge in Australian Sunni Muslim communities.
Read, and pity these backward fools...
Islamist group protests World Cup
Tuesday 27 June 2006,
An Islamist group in southern India believe many youths in the region have "gone mad" over football during the World Cup Finals and are trying to dissuade them from watching matches.
"Wherever you go, you see (youths) wearing jerseys of various teams. It's like idol worship which our religion doesn't promote in any form," said Sattar Pathallur, secretary of the Sunni Students Federation in Malappuram district of Kerala state.
"Youths and students are behaving as if they had gone mad," said Pathallur.
"I firmly believe that there is a conspiracy to divert the attention of Muslim youth to an unproductive exercise."
Some 63 percent of the 3.62 million population of the district are Muslims, many of whom prefer football to cricket, India's national sport.
The organisation is keen to stress that they are not against the principle of following football but felt many youths were taking it to extremes.
"We are not against football. But we are worried about the soccer mania gripping our people. It's unprecedented," said Hameed Ali Shihab Thangal, regional president of the federation.
To achieve its aims the organization has been holding religious lessons, rallies and public meetings to encourage youths to tone down their passion for the World Cup.
However, not everyone agrees with the actions of the federation.
"It's absurd. These people are talking nonsense. Malappuram people are great fans of soccer. It's natural for them to watch their great heroes in action," said schoolteacher Labeed Areekode, also a football player.
Others were simply unimpressed.
"The critics of soccer are scoring only own goals as nobody is going to listen to them," said Najimudeen Koya, a World Cup enthusiast.
Others said the group were also worried that the sport was becoming increasingly popular among women.
Comment: These fascist Wahhabis are everywhere, including Australia. Stop them coming here and expel those already here. They have nothing to offer Australia and deserve to be treated like the West treated the European fascists after 1945.
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Read, and pity these backward fools...
Islamist group protests World Cup
Tuesday 27 June 2006,
An Islamist group in southern India believe many youths in the region have "gone mad" over football during the World Cup Finals and are trying to dissuade them from watching matches.
"Wherever you go, you see (youths) wearing jerseys of various teams. It's like idol worship which our religion doesn't promote in any form," said Sattar Pathallur, secretary of the Sunni Students Federation in Malappuram district of Kerala state.
"Youths and students are behaving as if they had gone mad," said Pathallur.
"I firmly believe that there is a conspiracy to divert the attention of Muslim youth to an unproductive exercise."
Some 63 percent of the 3.62 million population of the district are Muslims, many of whom prefer football to cricket, India's national sport.
The organisation is keen to stress that they are not against the principle of following football but felt many youths were taking it to extremes.
"We are not against football. But we are worried about the soccer mania gripping our people. It's unprecedented," said Hameed Ali Shihab Thangal, regional president of the federation.
To achieve its aims the organization has been holding religious lessons, rallies and public meetings to encourage youths to tone down their passion for the World Cup.
However, not everyone agrees with the actions of the federation.
"It's absurd. These people are talking nonsense. Malappuram people are great fans of soccer. It's natural for them to watch their great heroes in action," said schoolteacher Labeed Areekode, also a football player.
Others were simply unimpressed.
"The critics of soccer are scoring only own goals as nobody is going to listen to them," said Najimudeen Koya, a World Cup enthusiast.
Others said the group were also worried that the sport was becoming increasingly popular among women.
Comment: These fascist Wahhabis are everywhere, including Australia. Stop them coming here and expel those already here. They have nothing to offer Australia and deserve to be treated like the West treated the European fascists after 1945.
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Why We Need A New Cold War...Against Islam.
Note: This article sums up what the West is fighting against when it resists Islam.
Arab Intellectual on the Worsening Situation of Christians in the Muslim World
Arab intellectual of Palestinian origin George Catan discusses the discrimination against Christians in the Arab countries today, describing their deteriorating status and diminishing numbers in comparison with previous eras in the region's history. He warns that the Christian population of the region may vanish as Christians emigrate to the West rather than tolerate the backwardness and tyranny of their home countries. Further, he calls upon the Christian communities to stay put and fight for democracy and human rights in their own countries. [1]
The following are excerpts from the article:
The Spread of the Islamic Movement and Extremist Salafi Views Led to Copts' Removal From Prominent Positions in Egypt
"Christians played a key role during the Umayyad, Abbasid and Fatimid periods by [facilitating] mutual enrichment between the civilizations and introducing the thought and science of the [ancient] civilizations into the Arab world.
"During the [Arab] Renaissance, many Christians played a prominent role in introducing concepts from the Enlightenment [into the Arab world], reexamining the Arabic language, highlighting the uniqueness of Arab culture, challenging Ottoman backwardness and tyranny, and calling for the establishment of a modern state based on national, rather than religious, affiliation...
"Their unique participation [in public life] reached its peak in the 'liberal period,' during the second half of the previous century, when there were prominent [Christian] philosophers, intellectuals, ministers, parliament members and party members.
"With the ascent of the semi-secular military regimes, with their pan-Arab and socialist slogans - especially in Egypt, Iraq and Syria - there was a decrease in the participation of Christians in the political arena. Though these regimes did not persecute the Christians, their absolute tyranny was the main reason for the advent of extremist fundamentalist Islamism, which calls for [the establishment of] an Islamic state that would discriminate against religious minorities, marginalize them and encourage them to emigrate...
"The spreading of the Islamic movement and extremist Salafi views throughout Egyptian society led to the removal of Copts from the Parliament, municipalities, labor unions and [other] prominent positions, and limitations began to be imposed on the building and renovation of churches. Some [churches] were [even] attacked and burned down, and Christians were accused of heresy...
"It should also be noted that the curricula [in Egyptian schools] ignored the 600 years of Coptic history in Egypt. [Furthermore], the former supreme leader of the Egyptian [Muslim] Brotherhood called to ban [Christians] from the army and from the bureaucracy, to apply to them the Islamic law concerning dhimmis [Christians and Jews living under Islamic rule], and thus to reinstate the jizya [poll tax], turning [the Christians] into second-rate citizens."
"Are We Moving Towards Exclusively Muslim Societies?"
"During its last years in power, Saddam's regime in Iraq gave the Salafi movements freedom of action, and after its fall [these movements] led the terrorist activity along with the remnants of the old regime... Among their most conspicuous actions was the bombing of six churches on a single Sunday, resulting in massive Christian emigration. Since the Gulf War, at least a third of Iraq's Christian population has emigrated [to other countries]...
"In the West Bank and Gaza, armed Islamic movements regard Palestine as a Muslim waqf [religious endowment], and call to defend the places holy to the Muslims while disregarding places holy to the Christians... The few Christian women living in Gaza have to wear a veil out of fear of the extremists. A few weeks ago, the last shop selling wines in Gaza was bombed, even though it belonged to international organizations...
"The Christians of Saudi Arabia were rooted out centuries ago. The hundreds of thousands of Christians who now work in Saudi Arabia, arriving from the neighboring countries or from far-away lands, are not allowed to build churches there. [Moreover], they risk beatings, imprisonment, and deportation, [even] if they hold their ceremonies in secret, in their own homes. At the same time, the Saudi regime uses its oil profits to build grandiose mosques all over 'heretical' Europe.
"The Christians in Lebanon have diminished from 50% before the civil war to 35% today. Christians comprise 3.5 million out of the 5 million Lebanese emigrants living in the West...
"While in ancient times, discrimination, marginalization, accusations of heresy, and persecution drove many [Christians] to convert to Islam, today they are driven to emigrate, as long as the gates remain open. This may cause Christianity to decline in its original home in the East...
"Are we moving towards exclusively Muslim societies? Will this deterioration stop here, or will it lead, after the Eastern countries are emptied of Christians, to [a state] of sectarian purity in each country? Are there solutions that will allow coexistence without the majority hating [the minorities] that differ in their religion and ethnicity? Will we progress towards integrated humanist and democratic societies that accept political, religious, and ethnic pluralism, or slide back into the darkness of old concepts out of religious, nationalist and pan-Arab narcissism?..."
"The Fundamentalists Have Defined Their Adversaries: Modern Society, Women, and Non-Muslims"
"The pan-Arab solution is no longer feasible now that the pan-Arab movements have embraced Islamism, and most of them agree that the term 'Arab' is synonymous with 'Muslim.' This excludes Christians almost completely from the dominant Islamic Arabism - to the point where, in some countries, Christian teachers have been banned from teaching Arabic, since it is the language of the Koran...
"The Christians have no political plan to [establish] a local or regional entity. The renewal of their cultural and humanist role depends on the completion of the [cultural] renaissance... which will ensure [people's] freedom to build places of worship, hold religious ceremonies, engage in peaceful religious preaching, change their religion without coercion, interpret their religious texts without accusing others of religious or sectarian heresy... [and will also allow us to] end the discrimination in the constitutions which turns the presidency into a Muslim monopoly... and the Islamic Shari'a into the basis for legislation...
"The [only] option left to the Christians is to stay put and promote [the development of] modern democratic states that guarantee human rights by [guaranteeing] full and equal citizenship to all sectors of society, and [by establishing] national unity which accepts social diversity and turns it into a factor that enriches the shared [social] fabric... In [this] interim stage, there may be liberal democratic Christian parties that will prevent religion from interfering with state affairs, and will protect freedom of worship and religious education [based on] tolerance for others...
"The fundamentalists have defined their adversaries: modern society, women, and non-Muslims. Therefore, the coalition opposing them may include secular democratic political forces, women's empowerment organizations, minorities, and global human rights organizations which promote freedoms and fight discrimination against minorities."
Comment: The West fought the Cold War against the Soviet Union for 44 years and in the end brought down communism in Europe. There was no war to make this happen; it occurred because the West stood firm and fought with all the other weapons available...information,high standards of living, freedom, the rule of law. None of these are available in the Islamic countries. True Islam, the Islam of the terrorists promoting sharia, do not have any answer to these weapons. We must use them now to defeat the Islam of terrorists and sharia fascism.
Australia can play its part in this new cold war.
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Arab Intellectual on the Worsening Situation of Christians in the Muslim World
Arab intellectual of Palestinian origin George Catan discusses the discrimination against Christians in the Arab countries today, describing their deteriorating status and diminishing numbers in comparison with previous eras in the region's history. He warns that the Christian population of the region may vanish as Christians emigrate to the West rather than tolerate the backwardness and tyranny of their home countries. Further, he calls upon the Christian communities to stay put and fight for democracy and human rights in their own countries. [1]
The following are excerpts from the article:
The Spread of the Islamic Movement and Extremist Salafi Views Led to Copts' Removal From Prominent Positions in Egypt
"Christians played a key role during the Umayyad, Abbasid and Fatimid periods by [facilitating] mutual enrichment between the civilizations and introducing the thought and science of the [ancient] civilizations into the Arab world.
"During the [Arab] Renaissance, many Christians played a prominent role in introducing concepts from the Enlightenment [into the Arab world], reexamining the Arabic language, highlighting the uniqueness of Arab culture, challenging Ottoman backwardness and tyranny, and calling for the establishment of a modern state based on national, rather than religious, affiliation...
"Their unique participation [in public life] reached its peak in the 'liberal period,' during the second half of the previous century, when there were prominent [Christian] philosophers, intellectuals, ministers, parliament members and party members.
"With the ascent of the semi-secular military regimes, with their pan-Arab and socialist slogans - especially in Egypt, Iraq and Syria - there was a decrease in the participation of Christians in the political arena. Though these regimes did not persecute the Christians, their absolute tyranny was the main reason for the advent of extremist fundamentalist Islamism, which calls for [the establishment of] an Islamic state that would discriminate against religious minorities, marginalize them and encourage them to emigrate...
"The spreading of the Islamic movement and extremist Salafi views throughout Egyptian society led to the removal of Copts from the Parliament, municipalities, labor unions and [other] prominent positions, and limitations began to be imposed on the building and renovation of churches. Some [churches] were [even] attacked and burned down, and Christians were accused of heresy...
"It should also be noted that the curricula [in Egyptian schools] ignored the 600 years of Coptic history in Egypt. [Furthermore], the former supreme leader of the Egyptian [Muslim] Brotherhood called to ban [Christians] from the army and from the bureaucracy, to apply to them the Islamic law concerning dhimmis [Christians and Jews living under Islamic rule], and thus to reinstate the jizya [poll tax], turning [the Christians] into second-rate citizens."
"Are We Moving Towards Exclusively Muslim Societies?"
"During its last years in power, Saddam's regime in Iraq gave the Salafi movements freedom of action, and after its fall [these movements] led the terrorist activity along with the remnants of the old regime... Among their most conspicuous actions was the bombing of six churches on a single Sunday, resulting in massive Christian emigration. Since the Gulf War, at least a third of Iraq's Christian population has emigrated [to other countries]...
"In the West Bank and Gaza, armed Islamic movements regard Palestine as a Muslim waqf [religious endowment], and call to defend the places holy to the Muslims while disregarding places holy to the Christians... The few Christian women living in Gaza have to wear a veil out of fear of the extremists. A few weeks ago, the last shop selling wines in Gaza was bombed, even though it belonged to international organizations...
"The Christians of Saudi Arabia were rooted out centuries ago. The hundreds of thousands of Christians who now work in Saudi Arabia, arriving from the neighboring countries or from far-away lands, are not allowed to build churches there. [Moreover], they risk beatings, imprisonment, and deportation, [even] if they hold their ceremonies in secret, in their own homes. At the same time, the Saudi regime uses its oil profits to build grandiose mosques all over 'heretical' Europe.
"The Christians in Lebanon have diminished from 50% before the civil war to 35% today. Christians comprise 3.5 million out of the 5 million Lebanese emigrants living in the West...
"While in ancient times, discrimination, marginalization, accusations of heresy, and persecution drove many [Christians] to convert to Islam, today they are driven to emigrate, as long as the gates remain open. This may cause Christianity to decline in its original home in the East...
"Are we moving towards exclusively Muslim societies? Will this deterioration stop here, or will it lead, after the Eastern countries are emptied of Christians, to [a state] of sectarian purity in each country? Are there solutions that will allow coexistence without the majority hating [the minorities] that differ in their religion and ethnicity? Will we progress towards integrated humanist and democratic societies that accept political, religious, and ethnic pluralism, or slide back into the darkness of old concepts out of religious, nationalist and pan-Arab narcissism?..."
"The Fundamentalists Have Defined Their Adversaries: Modern Society, Women, and Non-Muslims"
"The pan-Arab solution is no longer feasible now that the pan-Arab movements have embraced Islamism, and most of them agree that the term 'Arab' is synonymous with 'Muslim.' This excludes Christians almost completely from the dominant Islamic Arabism - to the point where, in some countries, Christian teachers have been banned from teaching Arabic, since it is the language of the Koran...
"The Christians have no political plan to [establish] a local or regional entity. The renewal of their cultural and humanist role depends on the completion of the [cultural] renaissance... which will ensure [people's] freedom to build places of worship, hold religious ceremonies, engage in peaceful religious preaching, change their religion without coercion, interpret their religious texts without accusing others of religious or sectarian heresy... [and will also allow us to] end the discrimination in the constitutions which turns the presidency into a Muslim monopoly... and the Islamic Shari'a into the basis for legislation...
"The [only] option left to the Christians is to stay put and promote [the development of] modern democratic states that guarantee human rights by [guaranteeing] full and equal citizenship to all sectors of society, and [by establishing] national unity which accepts social diversity and turns it into a factor that enriches the shared [social] fabric... In [this] interim stage, there may be liberal democratic Christian parties that will prevent religion from interfering with state affairs, and will protect freedom of worship and religious education [based on] tolerance for others...
"The fundamentalists have defined their adversaries: modern society, women, and non-Muslims. Therefore, the coalition opposing them may include secular democratic political forces, women's empowerment organizations, minorities, and global human rights organizations which promote freedoms and fight discrimination against minorities."
Comment: The West fought the Cold War against the Soviet Union for 44 years and in the end brought down communism in Europe. There was no war to make this happen; it occurred because the West stood firm and fought with all the other weapons available...information,high standards of living, freedom, the rule of law. None of these are available in the Islamic countries. True Islam, the Islam of the terrorists promoting sharia, do not have any answer to these weapons. We must use them now to defeat the Islam of terrorists and sharia fascism.
Australia can play its part in this new cold war.
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Another Arab Voice Of Sanity
Note: The forces of sanity and reform in the Arab and muslim worlds are actually very strong. Western support should be given to these forces.
Read and learn...
June 28, 2006 No.1193
Interview With Editor in Chief of the Reformist Website Metransparent.com
Pierre Akel, founder and editor of the influential reformist website metransparent.com, discussed the role of liberal Arab voices in shaping the Arab public opinion [1] as well as the ideological and moral "death" of dictatorships in the Middle East, in a recent interview.
The following are excerpts as they appeared in English on metransparent.com:
"An Independent Web Site was Necessary… to Allow People to Write What They Really had in Mind, Not Merely What They Were Allowed to Write"
"Lebanese Pierre Akel hosts the popular Web site Middle East Transparent, which receives 50,000-60,000 hits a day. While the Paris-based site is trilingual (Arabic, English, French), its particular value is that it has become a forum for Arab liberals who would otherwise have no outlet for their writings.
"Akel himself has written for Arabic newspapers in London and Paris. He moved to France in 1976, after studying economics at the American University of Beirut and philosophy at the Lebanese University. He also took history at the… Sorbonne. He finances the site himself, and for the moment, only the enthusiasm of his readers and writers keeps him going."
Pierre Akel: "In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, it seemed to me that Arab liberals had to take a stand against the barbarian wave threatening to engulf the region. The danger was imminent…I myself was much more familiar with the Islamic fundamentalist movement than with liberal currents. I had talked to the 'Londonstan' leaders, read their writings, and explored the many fundamentalist Web sites in Saudi Arabia.
"Metransparent was an attempt to explore such liberal currents as exist inside the Middle East. I discovered the different strains of Arab liberalism along with my readers. An independent Web site was necessary in order to allow people to write what they really had in mind, not merely what they were allowed to write. It was also necessary as a forum for the diverse currents in the region."
"To Understand Arab Liberalism, One has to Understand…Where it Emerged From"
Akel: "To understand Arab liberalism, one has to understand not only what it now represents but where it emerged from: In Syria, it mostly comes from the remnants of the communist or Marxist left - just like the Eastern European dissidents of 30 years ago. In Saudi Arabia, it comes from the very heart of Islamic fundamentalist culture, but also from the orthodox Sunnis originating in the Hijaz, where the cities of Jeddah, Medina and Mecca are located. Hussein Shobokshi is a good example. It also comes from the Shi'ite minority in the oil producing Eastern Province. In Tunisia, it comes from the reformed Islamic university Al-Zaitouna. In Egypt, liberals are inspired by the great liberal tradition that was crushed by the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser."
Question: "What's your average day like when it comes to finding articles? Whose articles do you tend to run?"
Akel: "We get our articles by email from practically every Arab country. Right now we have too many opinion pieces and are late in publishing what we receive. Most of the authors - we have more than 200 - write exclusively for us; some send their articles to Arabic newspapers and to us, and we publish complete, uncensored versions. I believe we have something like 25 opinion articles from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates per week, a bit more from Egypt, and many more from Syria, which has a formidable civil society movement. Tunisians also contribute quite a bit, as well as Moroccans, especially Berber intellectuals, and Yemenis, Algerians, etc."
"I Believe We are the Most Daring Site in Advocating an Islamic Reformation"
Akel: "I am especially proud to say that soon, half of our writers shall be women. Usually, I receive letters from potential authors asking what 'our conditions' are for accepting contributions. We answer back that we are a democratic and liberal Web site, with no censorship or red lines.
"The Web site also has a reputation as a forum for liberal Shi'ites, both Saudi and Lebanese. But, most importantly, I believe we are the most daring site in advocating an Islamic Reformation, as represented by such writers as Gamal Banna [the brother of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al-Banna], Judge Said al-Ashmawy, and Sayyid al-Qimny, all from Egypt; and by many writers in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Islamic reformers are part and parcel of the Arab liberal movement. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are the two countries where calls for an Islamic Reformation are the most advanced."
"Dictatorships are Dead"
Question: "Is there room for Middle Eastern liberalism today, between dictatorships and Islamists?"
Akel: "Remember the novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The Autumn of the Patriarch, where people open the palace doors to discover that the dictator has been dead for a long time? This applied to the Soviet Union and now to Arab dictatorships as well. Dictatorships are dead; they lost the ideological and moral high ground years ago. The battle is between fundamentalists and liberals. Liberalism is the wave of the future. The Middle East is not like Afghanistan, if only because of oil, and [it] cannot be allowed to turn into a Taliban-led region. Since 9/11, both Afghanistan and Iraq have been liberated. This is the trend."
Question: "Who do you feel are the liberal heroes in the region? Who do you find most interesting among political commentators?"
Akel: "You can find liberals in unexpected places. Ahmad bin Baz, the son of the late mufti of Saudi Arabia, is certainly a liberal. He wrote stunning articles in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, but then was shelved. He was probably 'advised' by the religious scholars to stop writing. Mansour al-Nogaidan and the great Wajeeha al-Khuweider, the best Arab feminist nowadays, are brilliant Saudi liberal examples. Ali Doumaini is another. In Egypt, I already mentioned a few names, and can add to them Sa'd Al-Din Ibrahim, Abdel Moneim Said, Ali Salem, and others.
"Of course, in Syria, Riad Turk is a brilliant example of Arab liberalism. Though he spent some two decades in prison for his communist convictions, I talked to him for four hours and he never once mentioned Marx or Lenin. He even criticized the Lebanese Democratic [leftist] Party,... because for him being of the left is not necessary at this historical moment; a democratic movement, he told me, was enough and more adequate.
"The Tunisian Lafif Lakhdar is another radiant example. The Lebanese Shi'ite Sheikh Hani Fahs is a liberal writer. And of course the late Samir Kassir, whose assassination last June was a terrible blow to us all, both in Lebanon and in Syria. Kassir was the intellectual most aware of the organic relationship between the modern democratic movement in the contemporary Levant and the 19th-century Arab liberal renaissance known as Al-Nahda."
"The [Arab] Book Market is Practically Dead"
Question: "How has the Internet been able to affect political attitudes in the Middle East? …"
Akel: "In the Arab world, much more than in the West, we can genuinely talk of a blog revolution. Arab culture has been decimated during the last 50 years. Arab newspapers are mainly under Saudi control. The book market is practically dead. Some of the best authors pay to have their books published in the order of 3,000 copies for a market of 150 million. This is ridiculous. Even when people write, they face censorship at every level… Meanwhile, professional journalism is rare.
"In the future, I would like Metransparent to promote tens (or even hundreds) of blogs representing human rights and activists groups in many Arab cities. This has already started…"
The Regimes' Monopoly on Information has Been Broken; There are No Red Lines on the Internet
Question: "In recent years, the Middle Eastern satellite media has gained much prominence. How does the Internet compare to it, in your experience?"
Akel: "When it comes to satellite television in the region, Al-Jazeera is controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood, while many of the rest are under Saudi control. Al-Arabiya, for example, is owned by… the brothers-in-law of the late King Fahd. Even the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation cannot cross certain Saudi red lines. Yes, you can hear a liberal point of view here and there. But, to take one example, both Abdul Halim Khaddam, the former Syrian vice president who turned against the regime of President Bashar Assad, and Riad Turk, the Syrian dissident, have been under a Saudi ban from Al-Arabiya for the last month, because the Saudi leadership does not now want to annoy the Assad regime. For once, Al-Jazeera has also banned them, but for Qatari political reasons...[Al-Jazeera is owned by the Qatari government].
"On the Internet, people can publish whatever they want: no red lines. They can use pen names if they want. People read, send comments, and they [forward] information to their friends by email and fax, etc. The regimes' monopoly on information has been broken. Remember: Three months ago a Libyan writer was assassinated and his fingers cut for writing articles on an opposition Web site. The Internet is a historical opportunity for Arab liberalism."
"Of Course, Liberals Cannot Compete With Al-Jazeera"
Akel: "Of course, liberals cannot compete with Al-Jazeera. We do not have the financial means to start a liberal satellite channel. Hundreds of Arab millionaires are liberals, [but] they cannot stand up to their regimes. Arab capitalism is mostly state capitalism. If you are in opposition, you are not awarded contracts by states. So, for the near future, we do not expect much help from these quarters."
Question: "How is Metransparent funded?"
Akel: "We are not funded and are surviving by personal means. I have been paying all the expenses, because promises from a number of Arab businessmen never materialized… The burden is getting heavier every day. We are trying to get financial support free of political conditions, but that is not easy. The advertisement market is smaller when you are mostly an Arabic-language Web site. What keeps the site alive is the amazing reaction from the readers. Metransparent has 50,000-60,000 hits per day, with no publicity and no mailing campaigns on our part. This means there is demand. Plus, I find it hard to disappoint all those generous writers who have been with us for two years. Some of the Syrian writers do not even own a computer. They have to beg friends to type and email their articles. We shall keep on as long as possible. There is, probably, a light at the end of the tunnel. Or, we will close down."
Question: "Liberals have been among the most severe critics of the war in Iraq. However, one might say that for the first time the U.S. has rejected alliances with regional despots; that Iraq was a start; and that liberals have missed an opportunity by so vocally opposing the U.S.? How would you respond?"
Akel: "Most liberals, at least among our writers, favored the U.S. military intervention in Iraq. I myself have written articles in support of it, before and after the invasion. I didn't support it because of Iraqi WMD…, but for democracy. We would have liked President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair to say openly that they were invading to liberate the Iraqi people. Remember, even Riad Turk was not against the U.S. intervention. A Syrian, Abdul Razzaq Eid, who spent most of his life in the doctrinaire Syrian Communist Party of Khaled Bekdash, even wrote articles welcoming it…"
"It's Either Democracy - or Many Future Osama bin Ladens Striking… U.S. Interests"
Akel: "It's either democracy or many future Osama bin Ladens striking against U.S. interests.
"I admit some liberals took longer to overcome the Arab-Islamic taboo against approving foreign intervention. This is increasingly behind us. Yet, what Iraq proved was that the U.S. could not do the job alone. Internal democratic forces had to be mobilized. We are part of this 'internal' process. I should add that outside intervention should not only be military. Ideally, we would like something like the Helsinki Accords, where the international community's relations with the Arab world involve spreading democracy, defending Arab dissidents, human rights, women's rights and minority rights. Syrian dissidents have been calling for this for years. Last year, Metransparent circulated a petition asking the United Nations to create an International Court to judge the authors of fatwas condemning people to death."
The Major Challenge for Arab Liberals: "Managing Relations With the Islamists"
Question: "If you had to cite in one sentence the major challenge for Arab liberals in the coming year, what would it be?"
Akel: "Managing relations with the Islamists. They are the liberals' adversaries but also, in certain cases, their necessary partners. To take an example from a completely different context: In the 1980s, French President François Mitterrand co-opted the French Communist Party and accelerated its implosion. Sa'd Al-Din Ibrahim in Egypt and Riad Turk in Syria are wagering on a similar development in the Middle East. You bring Islamists into the open, encourage them to take part in the political life of a country, and they are bound to disintegrate into their various component elements.
"For example, the leader of the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, Ali Sadruddin al-Bayanouni, recently opted for peaceful negotiations with Israel and even for a possible recognition of Israel. This would not go down well with other Syrian Islamists. Dissension shall occur over issues like this one and others. It is either this or the Assad and Mubarak regimes will last for a long time. The same applies to Hamas.
"Co-opting Islamists is a risky proposal, of course. Where liberals should never make concessions is where Islamists tend to be harshest: the status of women. In that domain no concessions should be made."
Comment: Australian public officials could make themselves useful in relation to Islam in Australia by promoting this French web site and others like it. Buying appropriate articles from this web site and reprinting them in local arabic newpapers and magazines in Australia would be a most helpful and cost effective way of undermining the crazy and fascist poison of the imams.
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Read and learn...
June 28, 2006 No.1193
Interview With Editor in Chief of the Reformist Website Metransparent.com
Pierre Akel, founder and editor of the influential reformist website metransparent.com, discussed the role of liberal Arab voices in shaping the Arab public opinion [1] as well as the ideological and moral "death" of dictatorships in the Middle East, in a recent interview.
The following are excerpts as they appeared in English on metransparent.com:
"An Independent Web Site was Necessary… to Allow People to Write What They Really had in Mind, Not Merely What They Were Allowed to Write"
"Lebanese Pierre Akel hosts the popular Web site Middle East Transparent, which receives 50,000-60,000 hits a day. While the Paris-based site is trilingual (Arabic, English, French), its particular value is that it has become a forum for Arab liberals who would otherwise have no outlet for their writings.
"Akel himself has written for Arabic newspapers in London and Paris. He moved to France in 1976, after studying economics at the American University of Beirut and philosophy at the Lebanese University. He also took history at the… Sorbonne. He finances the site himself, and for the moment, only the enthusiasm of his readers and writers keeps him going."
Pierre Akel: "In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, it seemed to me that Arab liberals had to take a stand against the barbarian wave threatening to engulf the region. The danger was imminent…I myself was much more familiar with the Islamic fundamentalist movement than with liberal currents. I had talked to the 'Londonstan' leaders, read their writings, and explored the many fundamentalist Web sites in Saudi Arabia.
"Metransparent was an attempt to explore such liberal currents as exist inside the Middle East. I discovered the different strains of Arab liberalism along with my readers. An independent Web site was necessary in order to allow people to write what they really had in mind, not merely what they were allowed to write. It was also necessary as a forum for the diverse currents in the region."
"To Understand Arab Liberalism, One has to Understand…Where it Emerged From"
Akel: "To understand Arab liberalism, one has to understand not only what it now represents but where it emerged from: In Syria, it mostly comes from the remnants of the communist or Marxist left - just like the Eastern European dissidents of 30 years ago. In Saudi Arabia, it comes from the very heart of Islamic fundamentalist culture, but also from the orthodox Sunnis originating in the Hijaz, where the cities of Jeddah, Medina and Mecca are located. Hussein Shobokshi is a good example. It also comes from the Shi'ite minority in the oil producing Eastern Province. In Tunisia, it comes from the reformed Islamic university Al-Zaitouna. In Egypt, liberals are inspired by the great liberal tradition that was crushed by the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser."
Question: "What's your average day like when it comes to finding articles? Whose articles do you tend to run?"
Akel: "We get our articles by email from practically every Arab country. Right now we have too many opinion pieces and are late in publishing what we receive. Most of the authors - we have more than 200 - write exclusively for us; some send their articles to Arabic newspapers and to us, and we publish complete, uncensored versions. I believe we have something like 25 opinion articles from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates per week, a bit more from Egypt, and many more from Syria, which has a formidable civil society movement. Tunisians also contribute quite a bit, as well as Moroccans, especially Berber intellectuals, and Yemenis, Algerians, etc."
"I Believe We are the Most Daring Site in Advocating an Islamic Reformation"
Akel: "I am especially proud to say that soon, half of our writers shall be women. Usually, I receive letters from potential authors asking what 'our conditions' are for accepting contributions. We answer back that we are a democratic and liberal Web site, with no censorship or red lines.
"The Web site also has a reputation as a forum for liberal Shi'ites, both Saudi and Lebanese. But, most importantly, I believe we are the most daring site in advocating an Islamic Reformation, as represented by such writers as Gamal Banna [the brother of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al-Banna], Judge Said al-Ashmawy, and Sayyid al-Qimny, all from Egypt; and by many writers in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Islamic reformers are part and parcel of the Arab liberal movement. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are the two countries where calls for an Islamic Reformation are the most advanced."
"Dictatorships are Dead"
Question: "Is there room for Middle Eastern liberalism today, between dictatorships and Islamists?"
Akel: "Remember the novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The Autumn of the Patriarch, where people open the palace doors to discover that the dictator has been dead for a long time? This applied to the Soviet Union and now to Arab dictatorships as well. Dictatorships are dead; they lost the ideological and moral high ground years ago. The battle is between fundamentalists and liberals. Liberalism is the wave of the future. The Middle East is not like Afghanistan, if only because of oil, and [it] cannot be allowed to turn into a Taliban-led region. Since 9/11, both Afghanistan and Iraq have been liberated. This is the trend."
Question: "Who do you feel are the liberal heroes in the region? Who do you find most interesting among political commentators?"
Akel: "You can find liberals in unexpected places. Ahmad bin Baz, the son of the late mufti of Saudi Arabia, is certainly a liberal. He wrote stunning articles in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, but then was shelved. He was probably 'advised' by the religious scholars to stop writing. Mansour al-Nogaidan and the great Wajeeha al-Khuweider, the best Arab feminist nowadays, are brilliant Saudi liberal examples. Ali Doumaini is another. In Egypt, I already mentioned a few names, and can add to them Sa'd Al-Din Ibrahim, Abdel Moneim Said, Ali Salem, and others.
"Of course, in Syria, Riad Turk is a brilliant example of Arab liberalism. Though he spent some two decades in prison for his communist convictions, I talked to him for four hours and he never once mentioned Marx or Lenin. He even criticized the Lebanese Democratic [leftist] Party,... because for him being of the left is not necessary at this historical moment; a democratic movement, he told me, was enough and more adequate.
"The Tunisian Lafif Lakhdar is another radiant example. The Lebanese Shi'ite Sheikh Hani Fahs is a liberal writer. And of course the late Samir Kassir, whose assassination last June was a terrible blow to us all, both in Lebanon and in Syria. Kassir was the intellectual most aware of the organic relationship between the modern democratic movement in the contemporary Levant and the 19th-century Arab liberal renaissance known as Al-Nahda."
"The [Arab] Book Market is Practically Dead"
Question: "How has the Internet been able to affect political attitudes in the Middle East? …"
Akel: "In the Arab world, much more than in the West, we can genuinely talk of a blog revolution. Arab culture has been decimated during the last 50 years. Arab newspapers are mainly under Saudi control. The book market is practically dead. Some of the best authors pay to have their books published in the order of 3,000 copies for a market of 150 million. This is ridiculous. Even when people write, they face censorship at every level… Meanwhile, professional journalism is rare.
"In the future, I would like Metransparent to promote tens (or even hundreds) of blogs representing human rights and activists groups in many Arab cities. This has already started…"
The Regimes' Monopoly on Information has Been Broken; There are No Red Lines on the Internet
Question: "In recent years, the Middle Eastern satellite media has gained much prominence. How does the Internet compare to it, in your experience?"
Akel: "When it comes to satellite television in the region, Al-Jazeera is controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood, while many of the rest are under Saudi control. Al-Arabiya, for example, is owned by… the brothers-in-law of the late King Fahd. Even the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation cannot cross certain Saudi red lines. Yes, you can hear a liberal point of view here and there. But, to take one example, both Abdul Halim Khaddam, the former Syrian vice president who turned against the regime of President Bashar Assad, and Riad Turk, the Syrian dissident, have been under a Saudi ban from Al-Arabiya for the last month, because the Saudi leadership does not now want to annoy the Assad regime. For once, Al-Jazeera has also banned them, but for Qatari political reasons...[Al-Jazeera is owned by the Qatari government].
"On the Internet, people can publish whatever they want: no red lines. They can use pen names if they want. People read, send comments, and they [forward] information to their friends by email and fax, etc. The regimes' monopoly on information has been broken. Remember: Three months ago a Libyan writer was assassinated and his fingers cut for writing articles on an opposition Web site. The Internet is a historical opportunity for Arab liberalism."
"Of Course, Liberals Cannot Compete With Al-Jazeera"
Akel: "Of course, liberals cannot compete with Al-Jazeera. We do not have the financial means to start a liberal satellite channel. Hundreds of Arab millionaires are liberals, [but] they cannot stand up to their regimes. Arab capitalism is mostly state capitalism. If you are in opposition, you are not awarded contracts by states. So, for the near future, we do not expect much help from these quarters."
Question: "How is Metransparent funded?"
Akel: "We are not funded and are surviving by personal means. I have been paying all the expenses, because promises from a number of Arab businessmen never materialized… The burden is getting heavier every day. We are trying to get financial support free of political conditions, but that is not easy. The advertisement market is smaller when you are mostly an Arabic-language Web site. What keeps the site alive is the amazing reaction from the readers. Metransparent has 50,000-60,000 hits per day, with no publicity and no mailing campaigns on our part. This means there is demand. Plus, I find it hard to disappoint all those generous writers who have been with us for two years. Some of the Syrian writers do not even own a computer. They have to beg friends to type and email their articles. We shall keep on as long as possible. There is, probably, a light at the end of the tunnel. Or, we will close down."
Question: "Liberals have been among the most severe critics of the war in Iraq. However, one might say that for the first time the U.S. has rejected alliances with regional despots; that Iraq was a start; and that liberals have missed an opportunity by so vocally opposing the U.S.? How would you respond?"
Akel: "Most liberals, at least among our writers, favored the U.S. military intervention in Iraq. I myself have written articles in support of it, before and after the invasion. I didn't support it because of Iraqi WMD…, but for democracy. We would have liked President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair to say openly that they were invading to liberate the Iraqi people. Remember, even Riad Turk was not against the U.S. intervention. A Syrian, Abdul Razzaq Eid, who spent most of his life in the doctrinaire Syrian Communist Party of Khaled Bekdash, even wrote articles welcoming it…"
"It's Either Democracy - or Many Future Osama bin Ladens Striking… U.S. Interests"
Akel: "It's either democracy or many future Osama bin Ladens striking against U.S. interests.
"I admit some liberals took longer to overcome the Arab-Islamic taboo against approving foreign intervention. This is increasingly behind us. Yet, what Iraq proved was that the U.S. could not do the job alone. Internal democratic forces had to be mobilized. We are part of this 'internal' process. I should add that outside intervention should not only be military. Ideally, we would like something like the Helsinki Accords, where the international community's relations with the Arab world involve spreading democracy, defending Arab dissidents, human rights, women's rights and minority rights. Syrian dissidents have been calling for this for years. Last year, Metransparent circulated a petition asking the United Nations to create an International Court to judge the authors of fatwas condemning people to death."
The Major Challenge for Arab Liberals: "Managing Relations With the Islamists"
Question: "If you had to cite in one sentence the major challenge for Arab liberals in the coming year, what would it be?"
Akel: "Managing relations with the Islamists. They are the liberals' adversaries but also, in certain cases, their necessary partners. To take an example from a completely different context: In the 1980s, French President François Mitterrand co-opted the French Communist Party and accelerated its implosion. Sa'd Al-Din Ibrahim in Egypt and Riad Turk in Syria are wagering on a similar development in the Middle East. You bring Islamists into the open, encourage them to take part in the political life of a country, and they are bound to disintegrate into their various component elements.
"For example, the leader of the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, Ali Sadruddin al-Bayanouni, recently opted for peaceful negotiations with Israel and even for a possible recognition of Israel. This would not go down well with other Syrian Islamists. Dissension shall occur over issues like this one and others. It is either this or the Assad and Mubarak regimes will last for a long time. The same applies to Hamas.
"Co-opting Islamists is a risky proposal, of course. Where liberals should never make concessions is where Islamists tend to be harshest: the status of women. In that domain no concessions should be made."
Comment: Australian public officials could make themselves useful in relation to Islam in Australia by promoting this French web site and others like it. Buying appropriate articles from this web site and reprinting them in local arabic newpapers and magazines in Australia would be a most helpful and cost effective way of undermining the crazy and fascist poison of the imams.
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
The Violent Core Of Islam Comes From The Koran.
Note: This posting concerns the real attitude of mainstream muslims to religious 'others'...violence, arson and murder. Are you surprised? Read the Koran.
26 June, 2006
PAKISTAN
Pakistan: Allegedly blasphemous Ahmadis attacked
by Qaiser Felix
Word that the Koran had been desecrated in an Ahmadi village in Punjab provoked the wrath of a crowd of integralists: they wounded three people and burned down homes, shops and a mosque. The victims claimed the incident was the fruit of a defamatory campaign against the minority community.
Lahore (AsiaNews) – The Ahmadi minority has been subject to aggression at the hands of Muslims once again. On Saturday, 24 June, a crowd attacked the village of Jhando Sahi in Daska – in Pubjab, Pakistan – after hearing rumours that some Ahmadi residents had burned a copy of the Koran. Three people were wounded in the attack, houses were destroyed, and shops and a mosque burned.
Arriving at the scene of the violence, the police arrested seven Ahmadis and registered the incident under the notorious Section 295-b of the Criminal Code (the blasphemy law), under which desecration of the Koran is punishable by life imprisonment. According to the village residents, the attack was the result of defamatory propaganda mounted by some fundamentalists against them and they denied any desecration of the Holy Book of Islam.
The Ahmadi community describes itself as Muslim but it does not recognize Muhammad as the last prophet; thus, it is submitted to persecution by integralists in Bangladesh and Indonesia too.
According to reports by local media, Waqar and Nawaz were burning pages of the Koran outside the Bait-ul-Zikr Ahmadi mosque. After seeing this, a neighbour spread the word among participants of a Muslim festival taking place nearby. Immediately a crowd of people rushed to the Ahmadi area of the village and beat the two men. As if this were not enough, they also set some cars, two shops and homes on fire. Seeing this, around 70 Ahmadi villagers left their homes and later, hundreds of people from the surroundings demonstrated, chanting anti-Ahmadi slogans.
Yesterday, the situation in Jhando Sahi remained tense: a large contingent of police was deployed to avert any more unrest. Protesters from nearby areas started arriving to the village on Saturday night to express their condemnation for the alleged blasphemy, one local newspaper reported.
A press release issued yesterday by the Jamaat-i-Ahmadiyya described the arrest of seven Ahmadis as “unjustified”. The group’s spokesman said no desecration had taken place: it was only pages of old magazines thrown out after cleaning of the premises that were being burnt at Ahmadiyya Bait-ul-Zikr mosque. He said: “Somebody saw us from his roof-top and raised an alarm, spreading the ‘rumour’ also at a festival nearby.” He said the crowd that came to the village severely injured three Ahmadis – Nawaz, Waqar and Zahheer – apart from setting fire to 10 homes, a tractor, some shops and the Bait-ul-Zikr mosque. After the attack, at least 10 families left their villages in search of shelter. The Jamaat-i-Ahmadiyya is calling on the government to take all necessary measures to prevent the repetition of such incidents.
Comment: The Achmadiyya sect of Islam are basically Shi'ite heretics. The mainstream muslims do not consider them to be muslims, just as the mainstream Christians do not consider Mormons to be Christians. The difference is that Mormons are not subject to being killed by mainstream Christians. There is no part of the New Testament which mandates, allows or even suggests such violence. The Koran is full of mandates for violence, allowances for violence and suggestions for violence.
There are Achmadiyya muslims in Australia. They are protected from local muslim violence by Australian laws. Nothing in muslim law protects them.
26 June, 2006
PAKISTAN
Pakistan: Allegedly blasphemous Ahmadis attacked
by Qaiser Felix
Word that the Koran had been desecrated in an Ahmadi village in Punjab provoked the wrath of a crowd of integralists: they wounded three people and burned down homes, shops and a mosque. The victims claimed the incident was the fruit of a defamatory campaign against the minority community.
Lahore (AsiaNews) – The Ahmadi minority has been subject to aggression at the hands of Muslims once again. On Saturday, 24 June, a crowd attacked the village of Jhando Sahi in Daska – in Pubjab, Pakistan – after hearing rumours that some Ahmadi residents had burned a copy of the Koran. Three people were wounded in the attack, houses were destroyed, and shops and a mosque burned.
Arriving at the scene of the violence, the police arrested seven Ahmadis and registered the incident under the notorious Section 295-b of the Criminal Code (the blasphemy law), under which desecration of the Koran is punishable by life imprisonment. According to the village residents, the attack was the result of defamatory propaganda mounted by some fundamentalists against them and they denied any desecration of the Holy Book of Islam.
The Ahmadi community describes itself as Muslim but it does not recognize Muhammad as the last prophet; thus, it is submitted to persecution by integralists in Bangladesh and Indonesia too.
According to reports by local media, Waqar and Nawaz were burning pages of the Koran outside the Bait-ul-Zikr Ahmadi mosque. After seeing this, a neighbour spread the word among participants of a Muslim festival taking place nearby. Immediately a crowd of people rushed to the Ahmadi area of the village and beat the two men. As if this were not enough, they also set some cars, two shops and homes on fire. Seeing this, around 70 Ahmadi villagers left their homes and later, hundreds of people from the surroundings demonstrated, chanting anti-Ahmadi slogans.
Yesterday, the situation in Jhando Sahi remained tense: a large contingent of police was deployed to avert any more unrest. Protesters from nearby areas started arriving to the village on Saturday night to express their condemnation for the alleged blasphemy, one local newspaper reported.
A press release issued yesterday by the Jamaat-i-Ahmadiyya described the arrest of seven Ahmadis as “unjustified”. The group’s spokesman said no desecration had taken place: it was only pages of old magazines thrown out after cleaning of the premises that were being burnt at Ahmadiyya Bait-ul-Zikr mosque. He said: “Somebody saw us from his roof-top and raised an alarm, spreading the ‘rumour’ also at a festival nearby.” He said the crowd that came to the village severely injured three Ahmadis – Nawaz, Waqar and Zahheer – apart from setting fire to 10 homes, a tractor, some shops and the Bait-ul-Zikr mosque. After the attack, at least 10 families left their villages in search of shelter. The Jamaat-i-Ahmadiyya is calling on the government to take all necessary measures to prevent the repetition of such incidents.
Comment: The Achmadiyya sect of Islam are basically Shi'ite heretics. The mainstream muslims do not consider them to be muslims, just as the mainstream Christians do not consider Mormons to be Christians. The difference is that Mormons are not subject to being killed by mainstream Christians. There is no part of the New Testament which mandates, allows or even suggests such violence. The Koran is full of mandates for violence, allowances for violence and suggestions for violence.
There are Achmadiyya muslims in Australia. They are protected from local muslim violence by Australian laws. Nothing in muslim law protects them.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Fair Dinkum Islam Direct From The Koran.
Note: Study of the actual content of the Koran is very rarely undertaken by supporters of the 'Islam is OK' school of deludees. When the Koran is studied you will encounter this sort of 'Islamic Truth'.
How many Australian education journalists or politicians will write (or read) about this issue, based on the 39 page report issued in America? None.
Read this posting if you dare...
Christians still 'swine' and Jews 'apes' in Saudi schools.
Another story on Saudi dissembling about their textbooks. And of course, why wouldn't this material be in them? It's in the Qur'an (2:62-65; 5:59-60; 7:166).
From the Telegraph, with thanks to Anon:
Saudi Arabia has been accused of continuing to foster religious hatred in its schools, despite its repeated assurances since the September 11 attacks that it would rewrite textbooks that refer to Jews as "apes" and Christians as "swine".
The charges come after Freedom House, a non-partisan American research group which monitors civil rights worldwide, examined textbooks that it smuggled out of Saudi Arabia. The group found that despite promises of change from leading Saudi officials, including Saud al-Faisal, the foreign minister, and Turki al-Faisal, the ambassador to America, schoolbooks in the kingdom still promote hatred of those who do not practise its strict form of Wahhabi Islam.
The report also alleged that some of the textbooks are used in official Saudi schools around the world. Senior staff at the King Fahd Academy in Acton, west London, which has 750 pupils, said that it was not for the school to comment.
"Even if only a small percentage of the people who are exposed to this take it to heart and act on it, that's still a lot of people," said Nina Shea, Freedom House's director, after the release of the 39-page report, Saudi Arabia's Curriculum of Intolerance.
The report cites extracts from textbooks used in religious education classes for children aged between five and 16. It quotes the following exercise for the youngest children: "Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words (Islam, hellfire): Every religion other than ------- is false. Whoever dies outside of Islam enters -------."
It claims that older students are taught: "It is part of God's wisdom that the struggle between the Muslim and the Jews should continue until the hour (of judgment)."
The report is an embarrassment for the Saudi government, which has made great efforts to restore its image since being painted as a bastion of extremism after September 11. When it emerged that 15 of the 19 hijackers that day were Saudi, many blamed the kingdom's education system for breeding hatred.
Last month, however, only days before the report was released, the Saudi education minister gave a joint press conference with the American secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, in which he boasted of Saudi school reform.
"The education reforms in Saudi Arabia go beyond textbook rewriting," he said. "They go into teacher training [and] the messages that are given to children in the formative years… The whole system of education is being transformed from top to bottom."
When asked about offensive language in textbooks, he said: "This is taken out." But, according to Miss Shea, this is not true. "Teaching methods that ask kindergarten children to give examples of 'false religions', like Judaism and Christianity, add up to an ideology that runs throughout," she said. "It is not hate speech here and there. It adds up to an argument, an ideology of us versus them."
Comment: The Australian government still persists in giving visas to Saudi and Egyptian Wahhabi fascist 'lecturers' to come to Australia and spread this poison (which is authentic Islam)among emotionally vulnerable muslim boys in this country. Why? Will it take a bomb outrage in Australia before 'the penny drops' for these dopes in Canberra figure out the connection between advocacy and action?
How many Australian journalists or politicians will ask this question of Senator Vanstone? None.
How many Australian education journalists or politicians will write (or read) about this issue, based on the 39 page report issued in America? None.
Read this posting if you dare...
Christians still 'swine' and Jews 'apes' in Saudi schools.
Another story on Saudi dissembling about their textbooks. And of course, why wouldn't this material be in them? It's in the Qur'an (2:62-65; 5:59-60; 7:166).
From the Telegraph, with thanks to Anon:
Saudi Arabia has been accused of continuing to foster religious hatred in its schools, despite its repeated assurances since the September 11 attacks that it would rewrite textbooks that refer to Jews as "apes" and Christians as "swine".
The charges come after Freedom House, a non-partisan American research group which monitors civil rights worldwide, examined textbooks that it smuggled out of Saudi Arabia. The group found that despite promises of change from leading Saudi officials, including Saud al-Faisal, the foreign minister, and Turki al-Faisal, the ambassador to America, schoolbooks in the kingdom still promote hatred of those who do not practise its strict form of Wahhabi Islam.
The report also alleged that some of the textbooks are used in official Saudi schools around the world. Senior staff at the King Fahd Academy in Acton, west London, which has 750 pupils, said that it was not for the school to comment.
"Even if only a small percentage of the people who are exposed to this take it to heart and act on it, that's still a lot of people," said Nina Shea, Freedom House's director, after the release of the 39-page report, Saudi Arabia's Curriculum of Intolerance.
The report cites extracts from textbooks used in religious education classes for children aged between five and 16. It quotes the following exercise for the youngest children: "Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words (Islam, hellfire): Every religion other than ------- is false. Whoever dies outside of Islam enters -------."
It claims that older students are taught: "It is part of God's wisdom that the struggle between the Muslim and the Jews should continue until the hour (of judgment)."
The report is an embarrassment for the Saudi government, which has made great efforts to restore its image since being painted as a bastion of extremism after September 11. When it emerged that 15 of the 19 hijackers that day were Saudi, many blamed the kingdom's education system for breeding hatred.
Last month, however, only days before the report was released, the Saudi education minister gave a joint press conference with the American secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, in which he boasted of Saudi school reform.
"The education reforms in Saudi Arabia go beyond textbook rewriting," he said. "They go into teacher training [and] the messages that are given to children in the formative years… The whole system of education is being transformed from top to bottom."
When asked about offensive language in textbooks, he said: "This is taken out." But, according to Miss Shea, this is not true. "Teaching methods that ask kindergarten children to give examples of 'false religions', like Judaism and Christianity, add up to an ideology that runs throughout," she said. "It is not hate speech here and there. It adds up to an argument, an ideology of us versus them."
Comment: The Australian government still persists in giving visas to Saudi and Egyptian Wahhabi fascist 'lecturers' to come to Australia and spread this poison (which is authentic Islam)among emotionally vulnerable muslim boys in this country. Why? Will it take a bomb outrage in Australia before 'the penny drops' for these dopes in Canberra figure out the connection between advocacy and action?
How many Australian journalists or politicians will ask this question of Senator Vanstone? None.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Both Sides Are Correct In Their Assessments.
Note: These are interesting facts and statistics from the Pew Organisation in America. These reults can be believed. This is nutritious food for thought.
Last update - 02:08 25/06/2006
Poll: Relations between Muslims and West are poor
By The Associated Press
Muslims view people from the West, especially the United States and Europe, as selfish, immoral and greedy. People from the U.S. and Europe view Muslims as arrogant, violent and intolerant.
The deep divide between Muslims and the West was clearly illustrated in the findings of a new 15-country poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
A solid majority in most of the 15 countries polled, both in Europe and in the Mideast, said relations between Muslims and Westerners are generally bad. And each side blames the other.
Advertisement
One of the more surprising findings in the poll was that solid majorities in Indonesia (65 percent), Turkey (59 percent), Egypt (59 percent) and Jordan (53 percent) said they do not believe the 9/11 attacks on the United States were carried out by groups of Arabs.
But Muslim support for terrorism is dropping in some countries. In Indonesia, Pakistan and especially in Jordan, there have been declines in the number of people who say suicide bombings can be justified.
Among the other findings:
* Anti-Jewish sentiment remains overwhelmingly high in Muslim countries.
* Majorities in the Muslim countries polled say the victory of Hamas in Palestinian elections will be helpful to a fair settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. That position is solidly rejected in the non-Muslim
countries.
* Overwhelming majorities in Muslim countries blame the controversy over cartoons depicting Mohammad on Western disrespect for the Muslim religion.
Majorities in Western countries tend to blame Muslim intolerance.
The polling in 15 countries of samples ranging from about 900 to 2,000 adults was conducted in April and May and has a margin of error ranging from 2 to 6 percentage points. The polling included Muslim oversamples in the European countries. In China, India and Pakistan, the polling was based on urban samples.
The nations in which polling was conducted were China, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Spain, Turkey and the United States.
Comment: It would be good for the government to pay the Pew Organisation to do a specific poll in Australia among local muslims and non muslims. I suspect it would show that the strong majority of local muslims want to intergrate fully into Australia. The local poisonous imams would ensure that the government therefore did not arrange for such a poll.
Last update - 02:08 25/06/2006
Poll: Relations between Muslims and West are poor
By The Associated Press
Muslims view people from the West, especially the United States and Europe, as selfish, immoral and greedy. People from the U.S. and Europe view Muslims as arrogant, violent and intolerant.
The deep divide between Muslims and the West was clearly illustrated in the findings of a new 15-country poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
A solid majority in most of the 15 countries polled, both in Europe and in the Mideast, said relations between Muslims and Westerners are generally bad. And each side blames the other.
Advertisement
One of the more surprising findings in the poll was that solid majorities in Indonesia (65 percent), Turkey (59 percent), Egypt (59 percent) and Jordan (53 percent) said they do not believe the 9/11 attacks on the United States were carried out by groups of Arabs.
But Muslim support for terrorism is dropping in some countries. In Indonesia, Pakistan and especially in Jordan, there have been declines in the number of people who say suicide bombings can be justified.
Among the other findings:
* Anti-Jewish sentiment remains overwhelmingly high in Muslim countries.
* Majorities in the Muslim countries polled say the victory of Hamas in Palestinian elections will be helpful to a fair settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. That position is solidly rejected in the non-Muslim
countries.
* Overwhelming majorities in Muslim countries blame the controversy over cartoons depicting Mohammad on Western disrespect for the Muslim religion.
Majorities in Western countries tend to blame Muslim intolerance.
The polling in 15 countries of samples ranging from about 900 to 2,000 adults was conducted in April and May and has a margin of error ranging from 2 to 6 percentage points. The polling included Muslim oversamples in the European countries. In China, India and Pakistan, the polling was based on urban samples.
The nations in which polling was conducted were China, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Spain, Turkey and the United States.
Comment: It would be good for the government to pay the Pew Organisation to do a specific poll in Australia among local muslims and non muslims. I suspect it would show that the strong majority of local muslims want to intergrate fully into Australia. The local poisonous imams would ensure that the government therefore did not arrange for such a poll.
Real Islam In Action, Continued...
Note: This expresses the real view of Islam toward religious freedom. When readers hear words to the contrary, remember this deed. Deeds speak louder than words, and far more accurately.
June 24, 2006
Pakistan: Woman Raped for Leaving Islam
Another story about the desperate trouble in which apostates from Islam all too often find themselves.
June 23 (Compass Direct) – Attacked by her own family, one Muslim’s decision to convert to Christianity highlights the precarious situation of Muslims in Pakistan who leave their faith.
Sehar Muhammad Shafi, 24, has fled her home city of Karachi with her husband and two young daughters after being attacked and raped for changing her faith.
With help from the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement, the Christian couple has relocated to another city. But as long as Shafi and her family remain in Pakistan, they must hide the truth of Shafi’s conversion.
Shafi was born the fourth child of a Muslim proselytizer in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi. Her family belonged to Ahle Sunnat wa-al Jimmat, a non-violent Muslim group that focused on converting non-Muslims. Members were instructed not to share food and eating utensils with “pagans” considered unclean.
Shafi’s father taught fellow members of his religious community how to proselytize. As a teenager, Shafi often attended her father’s training sessions on how to convert non-Muslims.
“It wasn’t normal for a girl to participate in those sessions,” the young woman told Compass. “But I was the daughter of an ‘evangelist’ and was eager to bring others to my faith.”
In 1999, Shafi began work for a medical company, Glaxo Wellcome plc, where she focused her energy on proselytizing a co-worker, a Christian named Naveed Paul. Paul had an interest in apologetics and engaged Shafi in religious discussions, inviting her to church with him.
Four years later, Shafi decided to become a Christian, and a local pastor secretly baptized her. “I had shared Islam with [Paul] and wanted to convert him, but instead I realized that my life was empty without Jesus,” Shafi said.
Secret Marriage
Shafi’s family was not aware of her conversion, but sometimes they would beat her when they found her singing Psalms to herself. Once they ripped up a Bible they discovered her reading.
Comment: Clearly the best reponse to Islam is a program of preaching Christianity and protecting converts from Islam.
The Australian government should give financial support to Christian groups in South East Asia for this purpose. It is in our national interest to weaken the Islamic Empire on our doorstep...it does NOT wish us well.
I won't ask whether anyone is awake in Canberra on a day when John Howard is away in Indonesia grovelling to their government.
June 24, 2006
Pakistan: Woman Raped for Leaving Islam
Another story about the desperate trouble in which apostates from Islam all too often find themselves.
June 23 (Compass Direct) – Attacked by her own family, one Muslim’s decision to convert to Christianity highlights the precarious situation of Muslims in Pakistan who leave their faith.
Sehar Muhammad Shafi, 24, has fled her home city of Karachi with her husband and two young daughters after being attacked and raped for changing her faith.
With help from the Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement, the Christian couple has relocated to another city. But as long as Shafi and her family remain in Pakistan, they must hide the truth of Shafi’s conversion.
Shafi was born the fourth child of a Muslim proselytizer in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi. Her family belonged to Ahle Sunnat wa-al Jimmat, a non-violent Muslim group that focused on converting non-Muslims. Members were instructed not to share food and eating utensils with “pagans” considered unclean.
Shafi’s father taught fellow members of his religious community how to proselytize. As a teenager, Shafi often attended her father’s training sessions on how to convert non-Muslims.
“It wasn’t normal for a girl to participate in those sessions,” the young woman told Compass. “But I was the daughter of an ‘evangelist’ and was eager to bring others to my faith.”
In 1999, Shafi began work for a medical company, Glaxo Wellcome plc, where she focused her energy on proselytizing a co-worker, a Christian named Naveed Paul. Paul had an interest in apologetics and engaged Shafi in religious discussions, inviting her to church with him.
Four years later, Shafi decided to become a Christian, and a local pastor secretly baptized her. “I had shared Islam with [Paul] and wanted to convert him, but instead I realized that my life was empty without Jesus,” Shafi said.
Secret Marriage
Shafi’s family was not aware of her conversion, but sometimes they would beat her when they found her singing Psalms to herself. Once they ripped up a Bible they discovered her reading.
Comment: Clearly the best reponse to Islam is a program of preaching Christianity and protecting converts from Islam.
The Australian government should give financial support to Christian groups in South East Asia for this purpose. It is in our national interest to weaken the Islamic Empire on our doorstep...it does NOT wish us well.
I won't ask whether anyone is awake in Canberra on a day when John Howard is away in Indonesia grovelling to their government.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Terrorist Imams In Their Terrorist Mosques.
Note: An article from America on the problem with mosques. The problem is the imams in the mosques. The mosques are used to promote the problems that the imams foment.
Read all about it...
Some day we will be forced to deal fully with the war we are in, and when that happens we’re going to discover a lot of very nasty problems about the future of America. One of them has to do with, of all things, the First Amendment. Consider this story from Wednesday’s London Times:
AN AMERICAN al-Qaeda operative who was a close associate of the leader of the July 7 bombers was recruited at a New York mosque that British militants helped to run.
British radicals regularly travelled to the Masjid Fatima Islamic Centre, in Queens, to organise sending American volunteers to jihadi training camps in Pakistan.
Investigators reportedly found that Mohammad Sidique Khan had made calls to the mosque last year in the months before he led the terrorist attack on London that killed 52 innocent people....
Mohammad Junaid Babar, one recruit from the Masjid Fatima Islamic Centre, has told US intelligence officials that he met Khan in a jihadi training camp in Pakistan in July 2003. He claims that the pair became friends as they studied how to assemble explosive devices.
Babar, 31, a computer programmer, says that it was at the Masjid Fatima centre that he became a radical.
It’s interesting that British jihadis came to Queens to recruit Americans — and no doubt some of them, fully trained in slaughter, have returned to these shores — but the important thing is the mosque. Because there’s always a mosque, as my Italian friend Magdi Allam has been repeating for several years. Not all mosques are jihadi, but all jihadis come from a mosque.
Look at the 9/11 terrorists, look at the killer of Daniel Pearl, and you will find well-off, educated men who became radicalized in a mosque. And I’ll bet you a good-sized farm that if we ever get to the bottom of 9/11 we’ll discover that mosques were central in maintaining contact with and discipline over the terrorists.
So mosques can be very dangerous places when the local imam preaches jihadism, as is done in the thousands of Saudi-sponsored Wahhabi mosques all over the world, including the United States. It is clearly a matter of some urgency to put an end to the sort of indoctrination and recruitment that took place at the Masjid Fatima Islamic Center in New York. But that is easier said than done, because the absolutist interpretation of the First Amendment protects the imams and the incendiary sermons preached at such mosques. Freedom of religion forbids the state from meddling in the religious activities of the mosques, and freedom of speech forbids the state from telling the imams “you can’t say that.”
Freedom House should get a medal for publishing what I believe to be the only serious analysis of the contents of the literature distributed by some of these frightening places, and Nina Shea, who has driven this research for years, should have one personally engraved. As a result of this excellent work, along with that done by, inter alia, Steven Emerson, Daniel Pipes, Diana West, and Robert Spencer, we have a pretty complete picture of the dimensions of this threat. And as the London Times story illustrates quite convincingly, this is not just a theoretical matter. The evil words translate into evil action.
The all-out defenders of free speech and free religion will say that we are only entitled to go after the evil actions, because it is a greater evil to suppress the words and the thoughts that accompany them. Repressing these people and these words and thoughts today will make it possible for somebody to repress us and our thoughts and words tomorrow. I’ve got a lot of sympathy for that view, which I held throughout the Cold War with regard to Communism. And yet it seems suicidal to say “hands off all the mosques,” knowing that the radical mosques will manufacture slaughterers. Jefferson has some deep thoughts on both sides of this question.
As I say, it’s a very nasty problem. There are several things we can do right away, however, until some brilliant jurist finds a way through the fog. We can tell the Saudis to stop funding these fanatics. We can relentlessly expose the poison they are spreading (something useful for investigative journalists). We can challenge the doctrines in public fora. We can monitor the mosques, the better to spot the recruits.
But all this requires recognition that we are actually at war. At present, the most likely response from our leaders is to ask the Brits, Germans, and French to negotiate for us with the imams.
Comment: This site has consistently called for the deportation of all the imams in Australia. Don't worry about the good ones, there are no good ones.
Force the local muslims to fall back on their own spiritual resources. This will bring the reformers to the fore. Deport the imams and the political problems and security problems associated with mosques will evaporate over night.
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Read all about it...
Some day we will be forced to deal fully with the war we are in, and when that happens we’re going to discover a lot of very nasty problems about the future of America. One of them has to do with, of all things, the First Amendment. Consider this story from Wednesday’s London Times:
AN AMERICAN al-Qaeda operative who was a close associate of the leader of the July 7 bombers was recruited at a New York mosque that British militants helped to run.
British radicals regularly travelled to the Masjid Fatima Islamic Centre, in Queens, to organise sending American volunteers to jihadi training camps in Pakistan.
Investigators reportedly found that Mohammad Sidique Khan had made calls to the mosque last year in the months before he led the terrorist attack on London that killed 52 innocent people....
Mohammad Junaid Babar, one recruit from the Masjid Fatima Islamic Centre, has told US intelligence officials that he met Khan in a jihadi training camp in Pakistan in July 2003. He claims that the pair became friends as they studied how to assemble explosive devices.
Babar, 31, a computer programmer, says that it was at the Masjid Fatima centre that he became a radical.
It’s interesting that British jihadis came to Queens to recruit Americans — and no doubt some of them, fully trained in slaughter, have returned to these shores — but the important thing is the mosque. Because there’s always a mosque, as my Italian friend Magdi Allam has been repeating for several years. Not all mosques are jihadi, but all jihadis come from a mosque.
Look at the 9/11 terrorists, look at the killer of Daniel Pearl, and you will find well-off, educated men who became radicalized in a mosque. And I’ll bet you a good-sized farm that if we ever get to the bottom of 9/11 we’ll discover that mosques were central in maintaining contact with and discipline over the terrorists.
So mosques can be very dangerous places when the local imam preaches jihadism, as is done in the thousands of Saudi-sponsored Wahhabi mosques all over the world, including the United States. It is clearly a matter of some urgency to put an end to the sort of indoctrination and recruitment that took place at the Masjid Fatima Islamic Center in New York. But that is easier said than done, because the absolutist interpretation of the First Amendment protects the imams and the incendiary sermons preached at such mosques. Freedom of religion forbids the state from meddling in the religious activities of the mosques, and freedom of speech forbids the state from telling the imams “you can’t say that.”
Freedom House should get a medal for publishing what I believe to be the only serious analysis of the contents of the literature distributed by some of these frightening places, and Nina Shea, who has driven this research for years, should have one personally engraved. As a result of this excellent work, along with that done by, inter alia, Steven Emerson, Daniel Pipes, Diana West, and Robert Spencer, we have a pretty complete picture of the dimensions of this threat. And as the London Times story illustrates quite convincingly, this is not just a theoretical matter. The evil words translate into evil action.
The all-out defenders of free speech and free religion will say that we are only entitled to go after the evil actions, because it is a greater evil to suppress the words and the thoughts that accompany them. Repressing these people and these words and thoughts today will make it possible for somebody to repress us and our thoughts and words tomorrow. I’ve got a lot of sympathy for that view, which I held throughout the Cold War with regard to Communism. And yet it seems suicidal to say “hands off all the mosques,” knowing that the radical mosques will manufacture slaughterers. Jefferson has some deep thoughts on both sides of this question.
As I say, it’s a very nasty problem. There are several things we can do right away, however, until some brilliant jurist finds a way through the fog. We can tell the Saudis to stop funding these fanatics. We can relentlessly expose the poison they are spreading (something useful for investigative journalists). We can challenge the doctrines in public fora. We can monitor the mosques, the better to spot the recruits.
But all this requires recognition that we are actually at war. At present, the most likely response from our leaders is to ask the Brits, Germans, and French to negotiate for us with the imams.
Comment: This site has consistently called for the deportation of all the imams in Australia. Don't worry about the good ones, there are no good ones.
Force the local muslims to fall back on their own spiritual resources. This will bring the reformers to the fore. Deport the imams and the political problems and security problems associated with mosques will evaporate over night.
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Real Islam In Action.
Note: All the dopey Australians who think Islam is 'OK' should look at this story, happening in 'modern' Malaysia and compare it with the words they have heard from Australian supporters of Islam. Compare words with deeds.
23 June, 2006
MALAYSIA
Prayer campaign for Lina Joy, the law does not allow her to convert to Christianity
National Registration Department and Court of Appeal refused to accept her conversion. Federal Court is set to rule next week on her case.
Kuaka Lumpur (AsiaNews) – Malaysia’s Churches are committed one and all to a prayer campaign on behalf of Lina Joy, a Malay woman who converted to Christianity from Islam. Next Monday Malaysia’s federal Court will rule whether the law recognises her conversion or not.
After becoming Christian in 1998, Lina Joy (formerly Azlina Jailani) applied first to the National Registration Department (NRD) and then the Court of Appeal to change her identity papers to remove ‘Islam’ as her religion. She was refused in both cases because as an ethnic Malay she was legally Muslim and “could not change religion”.
Religious issues involving Malays, including conversions to other religions, fall under the jurisdiction of Islamic courts and not the country’s general laws.
Lina Joy’s problem is that if she is not recognised as Christian she can only marry a Muslim man in a Muslim ceremony and will be subject to Islamic family and inheritance laws.
Her case has opened up the debate as to the extent to which religious freedom is guaranteed in Malaysia, a country that is also home to Chinese and Indian groups who generally belong to other religions.
De facto, two legal systems coexist in the country: one based on Islam; the other, on the constitution. And the two are often in conflict. Lina Joy’s case illustrates this clearly. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion; Islamic law prohibits conversion to any other religion.
Given the seriousness of the situation, Mgr Paul Tan Chee Ing, Catholic bishop of Melata-Johor and chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, is appealing to Christians to support Lina Joy through prayers.
In a prepared prayer, the prelate asks the faithful to call on God to support Lina Joy, whatever the judges’ verdict may be, and grant the judges the wisdom they need to pass judgement in the case and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi the strength to “uphold the Constitution”.
Comment: Australia should offer a refuge to those who leave Islam and are subjected to persecution (now only administrative, but soon enough it will get violent).
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
23 June, 2006
MALAYSIA
Prayer campaign for Lina Joy, the law does not allow her to convert to Christianity
National Registration Department and Court of Appeal refused to accept her conversion. Federal Court is set to rule next week on her case.
Kuaka Lumpur (AsiaNews) – Malaysia’s Churches are committed one and all to a prayer campaign on behalf of Lina Joy, a Malay woman who converted to Christianity from Islam. Next Monday Malaysia’s federal Court will rule whether the law recognises her conversion or not.
After becoming Christian in 1998, Lina Joy (formerly Azlina Jailani) applied first to the National Registration Department (NRD) and then the Court of Appeal to change her identity papers to remove ‘Islam’ as her religion. She was refused in both cases because as an ethnic Malay she was legally Muslim and “could not change religion”.
Religious issues involving Malays, including conversions to other religions, fall under the jurisdiction of Islamic courts and not the country’s general laws.
Lina Joy’s problem is that if she is not recognised as Christian she can only marry a Muslim man in a Muslim ceremony and will be subject to Islamic family and inheritance laws.
Her case has opened up the debate as to the extent to which religious freedom is guaranteed in Malaysia, a country that is also home to Chinese and Indian groups who generally belong to other religions.
De facto, two legal systems coexist in the country: one based on Islam; the other, on the constitution. And the two are often in conflict. Lina Joy’s case illustrates this clearly. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion; Islamic law prohibits conversion to any other religion.
Given the seriousness of the situation, Mgr Paul Tan Chee Ing, Catholic bishop of Melata-Johor and chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, is appealing to Christians to support Lina Joy through prayers.
In a prepared prayer, the prelate asks the faithful to call on God to support Lina Joy, whatever the judges’ verdict may be, and grant the judges the wisdom they need to pass judgement in the case and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi the strength to “uphold the Constitution”.
Comment: Australia should offer a refuge to those who leave Islam and are subjected to persecution (now only administrative, but soon enough it will get violent).
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Friday, June 23, 2006
Good Advice On Handling The Muslim Problem.
Note: This result from a Conference organised by the Vatican establishes the policy framework for the Catholic church in dealing with the muslim problem.
Special interest should be shown to sections 10/11/13/35/36/and 37. The advice in these sections is very applicable to Australia's situation.
Conclusions on Migration to and From Islamic Countries
From Plenary Session of Pontifical Council
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 22, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here are the conclusions and recommendations issued by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, after its plenary assembly May 15-17, on the theme "Migration and Itinerancy from and towards Islamic Majority Countries."
The Vatican press office issued the document today.
* * *
Conclusions and Recommendations
Muslim Migrants in countries of Christian majority
1) In this regard, an increase in immigration of Muslims was observed in European and North American countries, of ancient Christian tradition (see instruction "Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi" -- henceforth EMCC -- Nos. 59 and 65). They come in search of a job or democracy, or for family reunification.
2) From this came the encouragement of integration (not assimilation) of Muslim immigrants (cf. EMCC 2, 60-61).
3) In consequence Catholics, in particular, are called to practice solidarity with Muslim immigrants, to be open to sharing with them and to know more about their culture and religion. At the same time they are to bear witness to their own Christian values, also in view of a new evangelization which of course respects freedom of conscience and religion (cf. EMCC, 59 and 69).
4) This means that Christians must get to know more deeply their identity (cf. EMCC, 60) as disciples of Christ, bearing witness to this in their lives and rediscovering their role in the new evangelization (cf. EMCC, 86-88).
5) It is therefore important to affirm the necessity of mutual respect and human solidarity, in an atmosphere of peace, based on the centrality of the human person, his/her dignity, rights and duties.
6) Naturally, each one's human rights and freedoms go hand in hand with those of others.
Dialogue
7) The participants in the Plenary Session strongly showed awareness of the need for authentic dialogue between believers of different religions, especially between Christians and Muslims (cf. EMCC, 69).
8) In this context, relations based on "spiritual emulation" were considered important.
9) Thus, if dialogue between Christians and Muslims is indispensable everywhere, it is especially so in Western societies, in order to improve mutual knowledge and understanding, as well as reciprocal respect and peace.
10) In any case, while it is necessary to welcome Muslim immigrants with respect for their religious freedom, it is likewise indispensable for them to respect the cultural and religious identity of the host societies.
11) It was also deemed vital to distinguish between what the receiving societies can and cannot tolerate in Islamic culture, what can be respected or shared with regard to followers of other religions (see EMCC, 65 and 66), and to have the possibility of giving indications in this regard also to policymakers, toward a proper formulation of civil legislation, with due respect for each one's competence.
12) This means also proposing a model of religious dialogue which is not only conversation, nor just listening to one another, but which reaches a mutual revelation of each one's own profound spiritual convictions.
13) It is therefore important to accompany the dialogue partner in the process of thinking out the ethical and actual dimensions, and not only the theological and religious ones, of the consequences of requests addressed to civil society, while duly respecting the distinction between civil and religious dialogue.
14) Given the reaffirmed importance of the principle of reciprocity (see EMCC, 64), confirmed by the Holy Father in his talk to the participants in the plenary session, it is thus necessary to move toward a distinction between the civil and the religious spheres also in Islamic countries.
15) In any case, it is fundamental, in this context, to distinguish between the West and Christianity, because often Christian values no longer inspire the attitude, position or actions (also with regard to public opinion) in the so-called Western world (see EMCC, 60).
16) The participants of the plenary session also expressed the hope that in those areas where Christian and Muslims "live together," they may unite their efforts, together with all their other fellow citizens, to guarantee everyone, without distinction of religion, the full exercise of his/her rights and individual freedoms, personally and as a member of a community.
Situation in some Islamic majority countries
17) On the other hand, in Islamic majority countries, Christians and immigrant workers, in general, who are poor and without real contractual power, have great difficulty in having their human rights recognized. The latter, moreover, have very little possibility of having their cause respected before justice, because they can easily be punished or deported.
18) The Church is therefore called to help Christian migrants in those countries, as well as in the whole world, in a context of due respect for legality and an interest in the formulation of just legislations concerning human mobility and the legal protection of all those involved. However, there were participants who called to mind that, in the different countries, the situation should be such that it would not be necessary for their citizens to go abroad in order to survive.
19) Moreover, in conformity with the directives of the conciliar decree "Christus Dominus" (No. 18), the Church has to ensure that the faithful who are not adequately catered for by the ordinary, i.e. territorial, pastoral ministry on account of their mobility, or are entirely deprived of it, are provided with a specific and even integrated pastoral care. This is true also in Islamic-majority countries.
20) In these countries, it is the task of the local Church to welcome immigrants and itinerants, in spite of a scanty personnel and perhaps inadequate structures.
21) In this respect, dialogue and collaboration are necessary between the Church of origin of migrants and itinerants and that in their destination countries, for their spiritual care. This is in fact a general rule for all countries (cf. EMCC, 70 and 50-55).
22) In addition, international migrants must also be helped to make their own contribution to the community where they live, and to the local portion of the People of God.
23) At the same time, the receiving community should develop a sense of solidarity toward immigrants and others who are in similar circumstances.
Solicitude of the Church in the various sectors of human mobility
The participants in the plenary session also considered the various sectors of migration and itinerancy. Everyone was convinced that with regard to migrants:
24) The Church must take care that they are properly integrated, with due respect for each one's culture and religion (cf. Pope John Paul, Message for the World Day of Peace 2001, No. 8, and Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2005, No. 3).
25) Therefore the Church must encourage dialogue that is intercultural and social, as well as interreligious, with respect for due distinctions (cf. Pope John Paul II, Message for the World Day of Peace 2001, No. 12).
For the various sectors, the following were observed particularly:
26) The need to create bonds of friendship, in an atmosphere of respect for cultural and religious differences, also with people who think of going back to their place of origin, like migrants, or with foreign (international) students who will be the future leaders of their countries.
27) For refugees and foreign students, but not only for these, it was felt desirable to set up chaplaincies.
28) With regard to pilgrimages, the need was underlined to urge pilgrims to seek God's countenance also in the believers of other religions.
29) In airports, crossroads of varied people, and in railway stations, hope was expressed for the presence of specifically Catholic chapels there, or places of prayer, even multi-religious ones, when only those are possible.
30) In Stella Maris Centers (Apostleship of the Sea), it is worthwhile to continue welcoming also Muslim seafarers, with respectful spiritual assistance, when requested.
31) With respect to the gypsy population, object of marginalization, xenophobia and racism, it was deemed necessary to fortify the maturity of democratic societies and their capacity to understand and respect the social, cultural and religious diversity of this people (cf. Guidelines for a Pastoral Care of Gypsies, No. 50).
32) As far as the "women of the street" are concerned -- given that poverty and the trafficking of human beings often lead to selling one's body, and that prostitution may depend on Christians and Muslims -- it is considered necessary to build awareness with the whole society as target.
33) However, a renewed commitment is called for to involve women in decision making, especially in issues affecting them, as well as in the work of convincing parents [to] provide girls with education equivalent to that given to boys, which should obviously include ethical formation.
Schools and education
The participants in the plenary session laid great emphasis on the fact that:
34) It is important to ensure education to the new generations, also because the school has a fundamental role to play in overcoming the conflict of ignorance and prejudices, and to have a correct and objective knowledge of the other's religion, with special attention to the freedom of conscience and religion (cf. EMCC, 62). Moreover, for Christians, provisions will be made to give them the basis for an evangelical discernment of the religious experience of believers in other religions (cf. EMCC, 65) and of the signs of the times.
35) It is therefore indispensable to work for a verification of textbooks also regarding the presentation of history in relation to the religions, which shapes one's identity, and transmits an image of the other's religious identity.
36) In any event it is necessary to delve more deeply into studies, teachings and research regarding the various faces of historical and/or contemporary Islam, including the varying degrees of its acceptance of sound modernity (cf. EMCC, 66).
37) Muslim parents and religious leaders must be helped to understand the righteous intentions of the Western educational systems and the concrete consequences of their refusal of the education imparted in the schools of these systems within which their children live.
States and religious freedom
38) Since, very often, it is the state that gives "form" to Islam in certain countries of Islamic majority, organizes its worship, interprets its spirit, transmits its heritage, thus giving the whole of society a globally Islamic character, the non-Muslims very often feel that they are second-class citizens. For Christian immigrants therefore the difficulty is even greater.
39) It is therefore necessary to work hard everywhere so that what prevails would be a culture of "living together" between host and immigrant populations, in a spirit of mutual civic understanding and respect for everyone's human rights. It is also necessary to search ways for reconciliation and of purifying memories (cf. EMCC, 65). We must also become advocates in defense of religious freedom -- our constant imperative -- and of common good, and procure respect for minorities, which is an unquestionable sign of true civilization.
40) It was observed with satisfaction that many states of Islamic majority have established diplomatic relations with the Holy See, thus becoming more sensitive in guaranteeing human rights, affirming the will to establish intercultural and interreligious dialogue, in the framework of sound plurality.
41) In this context, it is necessary to deplore, in some countries, the restrictions of human rights, especially when linked to religious differences, and the absence of the freedom also to change one's religion. It is hoped, however, that the public authorities of the countries of origin of Christian emigrants will help their citizens, in Islamic countries, achieve the effective exercise of religious freedom.
42) Those countries are thus encouraged to create spaces for exchange with countries of Islamic majority, on themes regarding universal common good, respect for minorities, human rights and especially religious freedom, foundation of all freedoms.
43) In any case, the Church must continue its initiatives of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, at different levels, especially when these are facilitated by political leaders.
44) Collaboration between Christian and Muslim institutions to bring aid to individuals and populations in need, without any discrimination, is an effective sign that destroys prejudices and closure toward mutual and reasonable openness.
45) The growing extent to which Muslims and Christians "live together" can provide an opportunity for collaborating together in view of a more peaceful world, respectful of each one's identity and more united in the service of common good, seeing that we all constitute one human family, which is in need of hope (cf. EMCC, 101-103).
46) In this context, collaboration among the various dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the episcopal conferences and the particular Churches is of capital importance.
47) A factor of unity, in legitimate diversity, will be the awareness of the dignity of every human person, whatever may be his race, culture, citizenship or religion. This is a value that is being affirmed more and more universally, in spite of all the incoherence and its practical denial in daily life.
48). In this context the participants in the plenary session paid particular attention to the African continent, which is in special need of political stability and multilateral cooperation, toward its peaceful and integral development.
49) In this respect, too, some causes of tension and conflict were considered, with the hope that these situations would be resolved justly and quickly, also to prevent war, violence and terrorism. It is in any case necessary to avoid the abusive use of religion to inculcate hatred for believers of other religions or for ideological and political reasons.
50) It is therefore hoped that Muslim and Christian intellectuals, in the name of a common humanism and of their respective beliefs, would pose to themselves the dramatic questions linked to the use of violence, often still perpetrated in the name of their religion.
The role of mass media
51) It is recognized that the media are particularly important for the creation of an appropriate climate of understanding and respect as they give information on religious matters. Journalists and mass media operators, in general, should therefore assume their own responsibilities especially with regard to information, and not only concerning freedom of speech, in a world that is becoming more and more globalized.
52) Mass media can also give an important contribution to the "formation" (and, unfortunately, vice versa, the deformation) of Christians and Muslims.
We conclude this final document noting the great satisfaction of the participants regarding the content, work method and up-to-dateness of this plenary session, which roused great interest.
Vatican City, 19 June 2006
Comment: The overall tenor of these pieces of advice is directed at a policy of 'normalising' the daily life of muslims in the West, and Christians in the muslim lands.
This is contrary to the current foolish Australian policy of pandering to Islamic fascist demands for the recognition of 'muslim exceptionalism'. These demands come from the imams, who totally monopolise the 'ear' of all governments in Australia. The imams are the core of the muslim problem; they are not part of any solution to that problem.
By sidelining the imams and dealing only with locally born and educated secular muslim men and women the various governments in Australia will be able to quickly come to an arrangement whereby the muslim problem in Australia fades away and is replaced with the normalisation of the lives of those Australians who happen to be muslims, to a greater or lesser degree.
This site advocates the proper integration and conformity to mainstream Australian life by all the people who live here. Current government policies are still moving in the opposite and wrong direction: the direction of 'muslim exceptionalism'.
The demand for 'muslim exceptionalism' is not an example of multiculturalism; it is Islamic imperialism. One would think that the governments in Australia could see this; but they do not. The eventual failure of their current policies will ultimately force them to change. Sadly, the governments do not appear to be smart enough to change before a disaster occurs.
Is anyone smart working in Canberra?
Special interest should be shown to sections 10/11/13/35/36/and 37. The advice in these sections is very applicable to Australia's situation.
Conclusions on Migration to and From Islamic Countries
From Plenary Session of Pontifical Council
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 22, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here are the conclusions and recommendations issued by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, after its plenary assembly May 15-17, on the theme "Migration and Itinerancy from and towards Islamic Majority Countries."
The Vatican press office issued the document today.
* * *
Conclusions and Recommendations
Muslim Migrants in countries of Christian majority
1) In this regard, an increase in immigration of Muslims was observed in European and North American countries, of ancient Christian tradition (see instruction "Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi" -- henceforth EMCC -- Nos. 59 and 65). They come in search of a job or democracy, or for family reunification.
2) From this came the encouragement of integration (not assimilation) of Muslim immigrants (cf. EMCC 2, 60-61).
3) In consequence Catholics, in particular, are called to practice solidarity with Muslim immigrants, to be open to sharing with them and to know more about their culture and religion. At the same time they are to bear witness to their own Christian values, also in view of a new evangelization which of course respects freedom of conscience and religion (cf. EMCC, 59 and 69).
4) This means that Christians must get to know more deeply their identity (cf. EMCC, 60) as disciples of Christ, bearing witness to this in their lives and rediscovering their role in the new evangelization (cf. EMCC, 86-88).
5) It is therefore important to affirm the necessity of mutual respect and human solidarity, in an atmosphere of peace, based on the centrality of the human person, his/her dignity, rights and duties.
6) Naturally, each one's human rights and freedoms go hand in hand with those of others.
Dialogue
7) The participants in the Plenary Session strongly showed awareness of the need for authentic dialogue between believers of different religions, especially between Christians and Muslims (cf. EMCC, 69).
8) In this context, relations based on "spiritual emulation" were considered important.
9) Thus, if dialogue between Christians and Muslims is indispensable everywhere, it is especially so in Western societies, in order to improve mutual knowledge and understanding, as well as reciprocal respect and peace.
10) In any case, while it is necessary to welcome Muslim immigrants with respect for their religious freedom, it is likewise indispensable for them to respect the cultural and religious identity of the host societies.
11) It was also deemed vital to distinguish between what the receiving societies can and cannot tolerate in Islamic culture, what can be respected or shared with regard to followers of other religions (see EMCC, 65 and 66), and to have the possibility of giving indications in this regard also to policymakers, toward a proper formulation of civil legislation, with due respect for each one's competence.
12) This means also proposing a model of religious dialogue which is not only conversation, nor just listening to one another, but which reaches a mutual revelation of each one's own profound spiritual convictions.
13) It is therefore important to accompany the dialogue partner in the process of thinking out the ethical and actual dimensions, and not only the theological and religious ones, of the consequences of requests addressed to civil society, while duly respecting the distinction between civil and religious dialogue.
14) Given the reaffirmed importance of the principle of reciprocity (see EMCC, 64), confirmed by the Holy Father in his talk to the participants in the plenary session, it is thus necessary to move toward a distinction between the civil and the religious spheres also in Islamic countries.
15) In any case, it is fundamental, in this context, to distinguish between the West and Christianity, because often Christian values no longer inspire the attitude, position or actions (also with regard to public opinion) in the so-called Western world (see EMCC, 60).
16) The participants of the plenary session also expressed the hope that in those areas where Christian and Muslims "live together," they may unite their efforts, together with all their other fellow citizens, to guarantee everyone, without distinction of religion, the full exercise of his/her rights and individual freedoms, personally and as a member of a community.
Situation in some Islamic majority countries
17) On the other hand, in Islamic majority countries, Christians and immigrant workers, in general, who are poor and without real contractual power, have great difficulty in having their human rights recognized. The latter, moreover, have very little possibility of having their cause respected before justice, because they can easily be punished or deported.
18) The Church is therefore called to help Christian migrants in those countries, as well as in the whole world, in a context of due respect for legality and an interest in the formulation of just legislations concerning human mobility and the legal protection of all those involved. However, there were participants who called to mind that, in the different countries, the situation should be such that it would not be necessary for their citizens to go abroad in order to survive.
19) Moreover, in conformity with the directives of the conciliar decree "Christus Dominus" (No. 18), the Church has to ensure that the faithful who are not adequately catered for by the ordinary, i.e. territorial, pastoral ministry on account of their mobility, or are entirely deprived of it, are provided with a specific and even integrated pastoral care. This is true also in Islamic-majority countries.
20) In these countries, it is the task of the local Church to welcome immigrants and itinerants, in spite of a scanty personnel and perhaps inadequate structures.
21) In this respect, dialogue and collaboration are necessary between the Church of origin of migrants and itinerants and that in their destination countries, for their spiritual care. This is in fact a general rule for all countries (cf. EMCC, 70 and 50-55).
22) In addition, international migrants must also be helped to make their own contribution to the community where they live, and to the local portion of the People of God.
23) At the same time, the receiving community should develop a sense of solidarity toward immigrants and others who are in similar circumstances.
Solicitude of the Church in the various sectors of human mobility
The participants in the plenary session also considered the various sectors of migration and itinerancy. Everyone was convinced that with regard to migrants:
24) The Church must take care that they are properly integrated, with due respect for each one's culture and religion (cf. Pope John Paul, Message for the World Day of Peace 2001, No. 8, and Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2005, No. 3).
25) Therefore the Church must encourage dialogue that is intercultural and social, as well as interreligious, with respect for due distinctions (cf. Pope John Paul II, Message for the World Day of Peace 2001, No. 12).
For the various sectors, the following were observed particularly:
26) The need to create bonds of friendship, in an atmosphere of respect for cultural and religious differences, also with people who think of going back to their place of origin, like migrants, or with foreign (international) students who will be the future leaders of their countries.
27) For refugees and foreign students, but not only for these, it was felt desirable to set up chaplaincies.
28) With regard to pilgrimages, the need was underlined to urge pilgrims to seek God's countenance also in the believers of other religions.
29) In airports, crossroads of varied people, and in railway stations, hope was expressed for the presence of specifically Catholic chapels there, or places of prayer, even multi-religious ones, when only those are possible.
30) In Stella Maris Centers (Apostleship of the Sea), it is worthwhile to continue welcoming also Muslim seafarers, with respectful spiritual assistance, when requested.
31) With respect to the gypsy population, object of marginalization, xenophobia and racism, it was deemed necessary to fortify the maturity of democratic societies and their capacity to understand and respect the social, cultural and religious diversity of this people (cf. Guidelines for a Pastoral Care of Gypsies, No. 50).
32) As far as the "women of the street" are concerned -- given that poverty and the trafficking of human beings often lead to selling one's body, and that prostitution may depend on Christians and Muslims -- it is considered necessary to build awareness with the whole society as target.
33) However, a renewed commitment is called for to involve women in decision making, especially in issues affecting them, as well as in the work of convincing parents [to] provide girls with education equivalent to that given to boys, which should obviously include ethical formation.
Schools and education
The participants in the plenary session laid great emphasis on the fact that:
34) It is important to ensure education to the new generations, also because the school has a fundamental role to play in overcoming the conflict of ignorance and prejudices, and to have a correct and objective knowledge of the other's religion, with special attention to the freedom of conscience and religion (cf. EMCC, 62). Moreover, for Christians, provisions will be made to give them the basis for an evangelical discernment of the religious experience of believers in other religions (cf. EMCC, 65) and of the signs of the times.
35) It is therefore indispensable to work for a verification of textbooks also regarding the presentation of history in relation to the religions, which shapes one's identity, and transmits an image of the other's religious identity.
36) In any event it is necessary to delve more deeply into studies, teachings and research regarding the various faces of historical and/or contemporary Islam, including the varying degrees of its acceptance of sound modernity (cf. EMCC, 66).
37) Muslim parents and religious leaders must be helped to understand the righteous intentions of the Western educational systems and the concrete consequences of their refusal of the education imparted in the schools of these systems within which their children live.
States and religious freedom
38) Since, very often, it is the state that gives "form" to Islam in certain countries of Islamic majority, organizes its worship, interprets its spirit, transmits its heritage, thus giving the whole of society a globally Islamic character, the non-Muslims very often feel that they are second-class citizens. For Christian immigrants therefore the difficulty is even greater.
39) It is therefore necessary to work hard everywhere so that what prevails would be a culture of "living together" between host and immigrant populations, in a spirit of mutual civic understanding and respect for everyone's human rights. It is also necessary to search ways for reconciliation and of purifying memories (cf. EMCC, 65). We must also become advocates in defense of religious freedom -- our constant imperative -- and of common good, and procure respect for minorities, which is an unquestionable sign of true civilization.
40) It was observed with satisfaction that many states of Islamic majority have established diplomatic relations with the Holy See, thus becoming more sensitive in guaranteeing human rights, affirming the will to establish intercultural and interreligious dialogue, in the framework of sound plurality.
41) In this context, it is necessary to deplore, in some countries, the restrictions of human rights, especially when linked to religious differences, and the absence of the freedom also to change one's religion. It is hoped, however, that the public authorities of the countries of origin of Christian emigrants will help their citizens, in Islamic countries, achieve the effective exercise of religious freedom.
42) Those countries are thus encouraged to create spaces for exchange with countries of Islamic majority, on themes regarding universal common good, respect for minorities, human rights and especially religious freedom, foundation of all freedoms.
43) In any case, the Church must continue its initiatives of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, at different levels, especially when these are facilitated by political leaders.
44) Collaboration between Christian and Muslim institutions to bring aid to individuals and populations in need, without any discrimination, is an effective sign that destroys prejudices and closure toward mutual and reasonable openness.
45) The growing extent to which Muslims and Christians "live together" can provide an opportunity for collaborating together in view of a more peaceful world, respectful of each one's identity and more united in the service of common good, seeing that we all constitute one human family, which is in need of hope (cf. EMCC, 101-103).
46) In this context, collaboration among the various dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the episcopal conferences and the particular Churches is of capital importance.
47) A factor of unity, in legitimate diversity, will be the awareness of the dignity of every human person, whatever may be his race, culture, citizenship or religion. This is a value that is being affirmed more and more universally, in spite of all the incoherence and its practical denial in daily life.
48). In this context the participants in the plenary session paid particular attention to the African continent, which is in special need of political stability and multilateral cooperation, toward its peaceful and integral development.
49) In this respect, too, some causes of tension and conflict were considered, with the hope that these situations would be resolved justly and quickly, also to prevent war, violence and terrorism. It is in any case necessary to avoid the abusive use of religion to inculcate hatred for believers of other religions or for ideological and political reasons.
50) It is therefore hoped that Muslim and Christian intellectuals, in the name of a common humanism and of their respective beliefs, would pose to themselves the dramatic questions linked to the use of violence, often still perpetrated in the name of their religion.
The role of mass media
51) It is recognized that the media are particularly important for the creation of an appropriate climate of understanding and respect as they give information on religious matters. Journalists and mass media operators, in general, should therefore assume their own responsibilities especially with regard to information, and not only concerning freedom of speech, in a world that is becoming more and more globalized.
52) Mass media can also give an important contribution to the "formation" (and, unfortunately, vice versa, the deformation) of Christians and Muslims.
We conclude this final document noting the great satisfaction of the participants regarding the content, work method and up-to-dateness of this plenary session, which roused great interest.
Vatican City, 19 June 2006
Comment: The overall tenor of these pieces of advice is directed at a policy of 'normalising' the daily life of muslims in the West, and Christians in the muslim lands.
This is contrary to the current foolish Australian policy of pandering to Islamic fascist demands for the recognition of 'muslim exceptionalism'. These demands come from the imams, who totally monopolise the 'ear' of all governments in Australia. The imams are the core of the muslim problem; they are not part of any solution to that problem.
By sidelining the imams and dealing only with locally born and educated secular muslim men and women the various governments in Australia will be able to quickly come to an arrangement whereby the muslim problem in Australia fades away and is replaced with the normalisation of the lives of those Australians who happen to be muslims, to a greater or lesser degree.
This site advocates the proper integration and conformity to mainstream Australian life by all the people who live here. Current government policies are still moving in the opposite and wrong direction: the direction of 'muslim exceptionalism'.
The demand for 'muslim exceptionalism' is not an example of multiculturalism; it is Islamic imperialism. One would think that the governments in Australia could see this; but they do not. The eventual failure of their current policies will ultimately force them to change. Sadly, the governments do not appear to be smart enough to change before a disaster occurs.
Is anyone smart working in Canberra?
Thursday, June 22, 2006
An Arab Doctor Writes About The Effects Of Islam.
Note: An arab doctor points out the mental illness factor in contemporary Islam. Australian public officials and media please note.
Special Dispatch Series - No. 1190
June 21, 2006 No.1190
Iraqi Reformist on Arab Society and Social Schizophrenia
In an article titled "Arab Society and Schizophrenia," Iraqi reformist Dr. Abd Al-Khaleq Hussein, who writes on several reformist websites, argues that Arab society suffers from "social schizophrenia," - the symptoms of which are similar to those of individuals suffering from actual schizophrenia. He further argues that the Arab governments must immediately launch social and political reforms which will gradually lead to democracy in the Arab world. If significant reforms are not carried out, he says, disasters will continue to strike the Arab word, and democracy will ultimately be imposed upon it through violent upheavals, as occurred in Iraq. In the article, he also called upon the Arabs to accept the help offered to them by the West - and especially by the U. S. - with the aim of facilitating positive change that will permit them to integrate into the international community.
The following are excerpts from the article: [1]
"This Split Personality Disorder Characterizes Not Only Specific Sectors of Arab Society, But [Also] the Governments, the Institutions of Civil Society, and the [Political] Parties"
"'Schizophrenia' is a word in ancient Greek that means 'split personality'... but it is also used in the social sciences to describe societies afflicted by severe duality in their behavior and their [moral] standards. In fact, if we carefully compare the medical and social forms of this disorder, we will find that the symptoms are very similar...
"Iraqi social scientist Ali Al-Wardi was the first to characterize the Iraqi people as suffering from this severe social illness, which he labeled 'split personality.' According to his theory, Iraqis suffer... from a conflict between the Bedouin values that have been passed down through the generations and the cultural values that the Iraqi society has acquired...
"As an illustration, he presents the example of a young Iraqi who wishes to choose his own wife, just like an enlightened Western man, and to exchange love letters with her,... but when he hears that some other man has similar relations with his sister or cousin, he immediately turns into a 'Bedouin' and murders his beloved sister and her lover...
"This split personality disorder characterizes not only specific sectors of Arab society, but [also] the governments, the institutions of civil society, and the [political] parties, especially the Islamic ones...
"The social and medical forms of this disorder have similar symptoms. The most important of these is delusions from which the patient suffers... For example:"
"Delusions of Grandeur"
"A [schizophrenia] patient believes that he is exceptional and that others should treat him as though he is an important person. The Arabs also believe that they are more important than others in every respect. They [believe that they] are the best among nations..., and regard other nations with contempt. They acknowledge no religion [but their own] and are unwilling to coexist peacefully with other religions. [They believe] that their faith is the only faith that mankind should embrace, and that whoever fails to embrace it is an infidel.
"In other words, all other religions are heathen, heretical and fabricated, and their followers should abandon them and embrace the Arabs' religion - Islam. If they fail to embrace Islam, the Muslims are entitled to wage war upon them, to kill their men or convert them by force, to take their women hostage, to sell their children in the slave market and to plunder their property...
"This disparaging view applies not only to non-Muslims, but also to other schools of thought within Islam. Each Islamic school of thought is full of contempt and hostility towards the others. The Salafis and Wahhabis, for example, are convinced that the Shiites must be killed, and that whoever kills them will be rewarded in the world to come..."
"Paranoia"
"A schizophrenia patient believes that others are plotting against him with the aim of harming and killing him, even though he hasn't a shred of evidence to prove this. This is exactly what happens with the Arabs, who are addicted to conspiracy theories. Whenever a disaster befalls them, they claim that it was brought about by a 'hostile Western Crusader-Zionist' conspiracy. They [say this] without bothering to think rationally and determine the true causes for their defeat...
"A schizophrenic imagines that people have nothing better to do than to talk about him, gossip about him, and plot against him. Consequently, he lives in a constant state of intense doubt and suspicion towards others, including the people closest to him, such as his wife, whom he suspects of cheating on him... The patient believes that even broadcasts on TV or on the other media are directed personally at him.
"This is exactly what happens in the Arab society with respect to foreign ideas and books. No society places books and ideas under siege the way Arab society does. Arab airports and sea ports are known for seizing books from the passengers. The Arabs are famous for translating the fewest books and for showing the greatest hostility towards the foreign sciences, to which they refer contemptuously... as 'imported ideas.' In addition, no people burn books and persecute intellectuals with more gusto than the Arabs."
"Somatic Delusions"
"The patient imagines strange and illogical things, for instance that foreign bodies are moving inside him, even though there is no evidence to suggest this. Similarly, Arab societies and governments suffer from the illness of [constantly suspecting] espionage by foreign agents. This is why the Arab jails are full of political prisoners and oppositionists accused of spying for other [countries]. In the eyes of the Arab governments and societies, the political opposition and the liberal intellectuals are traitors and agents of foreign intelligence [apparatuses]..."
"Disorganized Speech"
"A [schizophrenic] patient's speech makes no sense. There is no connection between the sentences, and the hearer or reader cannot understand what [the patient] means to say. The Arab societies display the same symptom - [it is] even [displayed by] people who present themselves as intellectuals and writers. We read them with the hope of understanding what they mean to say, but to no avail... And when you dispute [their claims], they say that the problem lies not with the writer but with the reader, since he is shallow and insufficiently educated, and that is why he fails to understand the ideas of the important writers and intellectuals..."
"Loss of Human Feeling"
"This is another phenomenon spreading through the Arab societies. Unrestrained terrorism and cold-blooded butchering of innocent people in front of the TV cameras provide [further] indisputable proof that Arab society is afflicted with this dangerous disease. It should be noted that the famous religious scholar Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi advised to refrain from showing the killings on TV. This means that he supports these acts, but advises not showing them in this manner, since they give Islam and the Muslims a bad reputation. In the eyes of some, this makes Al-Qaradhawi a moderate cleric."
"The Patient Loses the Ability to Enjoy Activities He Enjoyed in the Past"
"This is also true of the Arab society today. During the course of their history, the Arabs used their powers of reasoning and exercised independent judgment in religious ruling [ijtihad]... in order to find rational solutions for existing problems. But a few hundred years ago... the gates of ijtihad were shut, the mind was shut down, and [clerics] began to rely exclusively on what was said by the founding fathers [of Islam] over 1,400 years ago, even if their solutions were inapplicable to contemporary problems..."
"Inactivity and Lethargy"
"Schizophrenia patients spend most of their time in idleness or slumber. Laziness,... sleepiness, fatalism and lack of productivity are also widespread in the Arab countries. A study published a number of years ago found that a Western worker is five times more productive than an Arab worker..."
"Loss of Zest for Life"
"This is a well-known tendency in Arab society. As bin Laden said in his address to the West, 'you love life, while we thirst for death.' This is an integral part of Arab heritage... This is why preachers in the mosques glorify death [in their sermons] to young people, [teach] them to hate life, and encourage them to carry out jihad terrorist operations..."
"Isolation From the World"
"Schizophrenia patients prefer to live in isolation from the rest of the world, and spend most of their time alone, detached from other people. They are uninterested in the company of friends and relatives, are unable to form friendships with other people or to maintain previous friendships, and do not care that they have no friends.
"All these symptoms are also prevalent in the Arab society, and are due to faulty education from an early age. Most textbooks for children and youth teach hatred towards others, and [encourage the reader] to avoid the company of non-Muslims. More than that, [they instruct the reader] to avoid greeting a non-Muslim, and, if greeted by a non-Muslim, to reply in an aloof and contemptuous manner. [They also teach that] if you shake hands with a non-Muslim, you must afterwards wash your hands. Directives of this sort are published by all religious schools - even by moderate clerics, and certainly by extremist ones.
"Arab culture also encourages isolation from the world. The world is divided into two camps: 'believers' and 'infidels'... Sheikh Al-Islam ibn Taymiyya encouraged [the Muslims] to hate the unbelievers, saying: 'When you spend time in the camp of the unbelievers - for purposes of medical [treatment], study or trade - harbor hostility towards them in your heart.'..."
"Denial of the Disease"
"Schizophrenia patients deny that they are ill, and believe that they are completely well. They are hostile towards anyone who tries to treat them or wishes to help them. Similarly, the Arabs are unaware of the duality in their behavior and standards, and do not realize that they are backward and require immediate treatment in order to overcome their backwardness and [to avoid] the disasters that befall them. Anyone who tries to draw their attention to their own backwardness... is accused of treason and of being a foreign agent, usually [an agent of] the 'imperialists,' 'Crusaders.' or 'Zionists.' Consequently, intellectuals have been persecuted in Arab countries throughout the ages..."
"Mental Paralysis"
"A [schizophrenia] patient is utterly convinced that his notions are correct, to the point of [mental] paralysis... The same [phenomenon] is also widespread in the Arab society, which believes that only its own culture and notions - which have been handed down from generation to generation - are valid, and tries to eliminate those who think differently... [Schizophrenia] patients are unable to understand abstract ideas according to their context, and take everything literally....
"A similar situation exists in Arab society, which cannot differentiate among various situations. Occupation of one country by another is a vile thing, but there are exceptional cases in which the occupation is necessary since it is for the good of the occupied country. This is true for Iraq, and for Europe during the Second World War. But Arab society regards the liberation of Iraq from an extremely vile, fascistic regime as an [act of] colonialism aimed at plundering [Iraq's] treasures and killing its people…"
Al-Zarqawi, bin Laden, and Al-Zawahiri Could Not Have Perpetrated Their Atrocities Without Extensive Popular Support
"Some may object [to my arguments], asking why I take the behavior of a single individual, a handful of people, or a group, [and present it] as the behavior of entire nations. Why do I ascribe the behavior of Al-Zarqawi, bin Laden or Al-Zawahiri to all Arabs? Why do I present the sin of one cleric as the sin of all clerics?
"[But] the truth is that what happened in Algeria and what is currently happening in Iraq and in other parts of the Arab world does not result from the deviant behavior of individuals, but from general behavior that is inevitably caused by [our] culture.
"Barbaric acts of mass murder were rampant in Algeria, with the number of victims reaching a quarter of a million. School girls were murdered for not wearing the veil. The murders carried out by 'jihad fighters' in Iraq have come to symbolize [the general situation there], which is condoned by Arab societies.
"Needless to say, Al-Zarqawi, bin Laden and Al-Zawahiri could not have perpetrated all these atrocities without extensive popular support, without constant recruitment [of new jihad fighters], and without the cultural and ideological support that is [ingrained] in the [Arab] heritage and education. Surveys conducted in a number of Arab countries showed that the majority supports the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization, and that bin Laden himself enjoys great popularity, especially in the Gulf countries…"
If Arab Governments Do Not Begin to Lead Their Peoples Towards Democracy, History Will Force It on Them
"Based on the above, I believe that Arab societies… suffer from duality in their standards, their views, and their behavior, and require immediate treatment if they want to heal, to overcome their backwardness, and to live in peace with the international community…
"Obviously, it is difficult to change the people's entire outlook overnight, especially when the governments constitute an obstacle to reform. The process is difficult and will take a long time, but there is nothing to prevent it from starting today… The ball is in the court of the Arab governments, who must understand the reasons for their backwardness and the backwardness of their people.
"The problem with these governments is that they have always objected, and still object, to gradual and peaceful development… [which occurs naturally] in the course of history. Democracy is the order of the day, and if the Arab governments do not begin to gradually lead their peoples towards democracy, history will force it on them through violent [upheavals], as occurred in Iraq...
"It should be noted that over 200 years ago, the Western peoples went through what the Arab peoples are experiencing now. They managed to resolve their problems, to build an advanced civilization, and to make economic, social, scientific and technological progress - but [this happened] only after reason was liberated from [the shackles of] fairytales and lies, [and after they] separated religion and state, established regimes that were secular, liberal and democratic, and gave freedom of speech and thought to [their] intellectuals."
Comment: This excellent article is not news for those of us with actual personal experience of witnessing Islamic societies close up. Readers who have never spent actual 'quality time' in Islamic countries cannot fully appreciate the truth of what the doctor has written.
Reform of Islam...much needed but probably not possible...is the final option for muslims in Australia. If this fails, apostacy looms as the only way to salvage personal mental health and the prospect of ordinary living in Australia.
Does it make sense adding to the numbers of muslims in Australia when we are just adding to the numbers of people who are lost in this miasma of mental illness and pointless backwardness?
At least do something about the poisonous imams in Australia who are the key source of all troubles for Australia and the local muslims in the poor neglected muslim communities. Start by kicking them out and do not allow replacements. Force the local muslims to fall back on their own resources.
Without the imams, who are the political 'bosses' in the political party called 'Islam', the politics of local Islam will start falling apart. If there is actually any 'religious' content to Islam, let the local muslims draw it out without the involvement of the fascist imams.
They cannot do this alone. Governments in Australia must help them.
Can we please show some mercy to the imam-oppressed muslims in Australia?
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Special Dispatch Series - No. 1190
June 21, 2006 No.1190
Iraqi Reformist on Arab Society and Social Schizophrenia
In an article titled "Arab Society and Schizophrenia," Iraqi reformist Dr. Abd Al-Khaleq Hussein, who writes on several reformist websites, argues that Arab society suffers from "social schizophrenia," - the symptoms of which are similar to those of individuals suffering from actual schizophrenia. He further argues that the Arab governments must immediately launch social and political reforms which will gradually lead to democracy in the Arab world. If significant reforms are not carried out, he says, disasters will continue to strike the Arab word, and democracy will ultimately be imposed upon it through violent upheavals, as occurred in Iraq. In the article, he also called upon the Arabs to accept the help offered to them by the West - and especially by the U. S. - with the aim of facilitating positive change that will permit them to integrate into the international community.
The following are excerpts from the article: [1]
"This Split Personality Disorder Characterizes Not Only Specific Sectors of Arab Society, But [Also] the Governments, the Institutions of Civil Society, and the [Political] Parties"
"'Schizophrenia' is a word in ancient Greek that means 'split personality'... but it is also used in the social sciences to describe societies afflicted by severe duality in their behavior and their [moral] standards. In fact, if we carefully compare the medical and social forms of this disorder, we will find that the symptoms are very similar...
"Iraqi social scientist Ali Al-Wardi was the first to characterize the Iraqi people as suffering from this severe social illness, which he labeled 'split personality.' According to his theory, Iraqis suffer... from a conflict between the Bedouin values that have been passed down through the generations and the cultural values that the Iraqi society has acquired...
"As an illustration, he presents the example of a young Iraqi who wishes to choose his own wife, just like an enlightened Western man, and to exchange love letters with her,... but when he hears that some other man has similar relations with his sister or cousin, he immediately turns into a 'Bedouin' and murders his beloved sister and her lover...
"This split personality disorder characterizes not only specific sectors of Arab society, but [also] the governments, the institutions of civil society, and the [political] parties, especially the Islamic ones...
"The social and medical forms of this disorder have similar symptoms. The most important of these is delusions from which the patient suffers... For example:"
"Delusions of Grandeur"
"A [schizophrenia] patient believes that he is exceptional and that others should treat him as though he is an important person. The Arabs also believe that they are more important than others in every respect. They [believe that they] are the best among nations..., and regard other nations with contempt. They acknowledge no religion [but their own] and are unwilling to coexist peacefully with other religions. [They believe] that their faith is the only faith that mankind should embrace, and that whoever fails to embrace it is an infidel.
"In other words, all other religions are heathen, heretical and fabricated, and their followers should abandon them and embrace the Arabs' religion - Islam. If they fail to embrace Islam, the Muslims are entitled to wage war upon them, to kill their men or convert them by force, to take their women hostage, to sell their children in the slave market and to plunder their property...
"This disparaging view applies not only to non-Muslims, but also to other schools of thought within Islam. Each Islamic school of thought is full of contempt and hostility towards the others. The Salafis and Wahhabis, for example, are convinced that the Shiites must be killed, and that whoever kills them will be rewarded in the world to come..."
"Paranoia"
"A schizophrenia patient believes that others are plotting against him with the aim of harming and killing him, even though he hasn't a shred of evidence to prove this. This is exactly what happens with the Arabs, who are addicted to conspiracy theories. Whenever a disaster befalls them, they claim that it was brought about by a 'hostile Western Crusader-Zionist' conspiracy. They [say this] without bothering to think rationally and determine the true causes for their defeat...
"A schizophrenic imagines that people have nothing better to do than to talk about him, gossip about him, and plot against him. Consequently, he lives in a constant state of intense doubt and suspicion towards others, including the people closest to him, such as his wife, whom he suspects of cheating on him... The patient believes that even broadcasts on TV or on the other media are directed personally at him.
"This is exactly what happens in the Arab society with respect to foreign ideas and books. No society places books and ideas under siege the way Arab society does. Arab airports and sea ports are known for seizing books from the passengers. The Arabs are famous for translating the fewest books and for showing the greatest hostility towards the foreign sciences, to which they refer contemptuously... as 'imported ideas.' In addition, no people burn books and persecute intellectuals with more gusto than the Arabs."
"Somatic Delusions"
"The patient imagines strange and illogical things, for instance that foreign bodies are moving inside him, even though there is no evidence to suggest this. Similarly, Arab societies and governments suffer from the illness of [constantly suspecting] espionage by foreign agents. This is why the Arab jails are full of political prisoners and oppositionists accused of spying for other [countries]. In the eyes of the Arab governments and societies, the political opposition and the liberal intellectuals are traitors and agents of foreign intelligence [apparatuses]..."
"Disorganized Speech"
"A [schizophrenic] patient's speech makes no sense. There is no connection between the sentences, and the hearer or reader cannot understand what [the patient] means to say. The Arab societies display the same symptom - [it is] even [displayed by] people who present themselves as intellectuals and writers. We read them with the hope of understanding what they mean to say, but to no avail... And when you dispute [their claims], they say that the problem lies not with the writer but with the reader, since he is shallow and insufficiently educated, and that is why he fails to understand the ideas of the important writers and intellectuals..."
"Loss of Human Feeling"
"This is another phenomenon spreading through the Arab societies. Unrestrained terrorism and cold-blooded butchering of innocent people in front of the TV cameras provide [further] indisputable proof that Arab society is afflicted with this dangerous disease. It should be noted that the famous religious scholar Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi advised to refrain from showing the killings on TV. This means that he supports these acts, but advises not showing them in this manner, since they give Islam and the Muslims a bad reputation. In the eyes of some, this makes Al-Qaradhawi a moderate cleric."
"The Patient Loses the Ability to Enjoy Activities He Enjoyed in the Past"
"This is also true of the Arab society today. During the course of their history, the Arabs used their powers of reasoning and exercised independent judgment in religious ruling [ijtihad]... in order to find rational solutions for existing problems. But a few hundred years ago... the gates of ijtihad were shut, the mind was shut down, and [clerics] began to rely exclusively on what was said by the founding fathers [of Islam] over 1,400 years ago, even if their solutions were inapplicable to contemporary problems..."
"Inactivity and Lethargy"
"Schizophrenia patients spend most of their time in idleness or slumber. Laziness,... sleepiness, fatalism and lack of productivity are also widespread in the Arab countries. A study published a number of years ago found that a Western worker is five times more productive than an Arab worker..."
"Loss of Zest for Life"
"This is a well-known tendency in Arab society. As bin Laden said in his address to the West, 'you love life, while we thirst for death.' This is an integral part of Arab heritage... This is why preachers in the mosques glorify death [in their sermons] to young people, [teach] them to hate life, and encourage them to carry out jihad terrorist operations..."
"Isolation From the World"
"Schizophrenia patients prefer to live in isolation from the rest of the world, and spend most of their time alone, detached from other people. They are uninterested in the company of friends and relatives, are unable to form friendships with other people or to maintain previous friendships, and do not care that they have no friends.
"All these symptoms are also prevalent in the Arab society, and are due to faulty education from an early age. Most textbooks for children and youth teach hatred towards others, and [encourage the reader] to avoid the company of non-Muslims. More than that, [they instruct the reader] to avoid greeting a non-Muslim, and, if greeted by a non-Muslim, to reply in an aloof and contemptuous manner. [They also teach that] if you shake hands with a non-Muslim, you must afterwards wash your hands. Directives of this sort are published by all religious schools - even by moderate clerics, and certainly by extremist ones.
"Arab culture also encourages isolation from the world. The world is divided into two camps: 'believers' and 'infidels'... Sheikh Al-Islam ibn Taymiyya encouraged [the Muslims] to hate the unbelievers, saying: 'When you spend time in the camp of the unbelievers - for purposes of medical [treatment], study or trade - harbor hostility towards them in your heart.'..."
"Denial of the Disease"
"Schizophrenia patients deny that they are ill, and believe that they are completely well. They are hostile towards anyone who tries to treat them or wishes to help them. Similarly, the Arabs are unaware of the duality in their behavior and standards, and do not realize that they are backward and require immediate treatment in order to overcome their backwardness and [to avoid] the disasters that befall them. Anyone who tries to draw their attention to their own backwardness... is accused of treason and of being a foreign agent, usually [an agent of] the 'imperialists,' 'Crusaders.' or 'Zionists.' Consequently, intellectuals have been persecuted in Arab countries throughout the ages..."
"Mental Paralysis"
"A [schizophrenia] patient is utterly convinced that his notions are correct, to the point of [mental] paralysis... The same [phenomenon] is also widespread in the Arab society, which believes that only its own culture and notions - which have been handed down from generation to generation - are valid, and tries to eliminate those who think differently... [Schizophrenia] patients are unable to understand abstract ideas according to their context, and take everything literally....
"A similar situation exists in Arab society, which cannot differentiate among various situations. Occupation of one country by another is a vile thing, but there are exceptional cases in which the occupation is necessary since it is for the good of the occupied country. This is true for Iraq, and for Europe during the Second World War. But Arab society regards the liberation of Iraq from an extremely vile, fascistic regime as an [act of] colonialism aimed at plundering [Iraq's] treasures and killing its people…"
Al-Zarqawi, bin Laden, and Al-Zawahiri Could Not Have Perpetrated Their Atrocities Without Extensive Popular Support
"Some may object [to my arguments], asking why I take the behavior of a single individual, a handful of people, or a group, [and present it] as the behavior of entire nations. Why do I ascribe the behavior of Al-Zarqawi, bin Laden or Al-Zawahiri to all Arabs? Why do I present the sin of one cleric as the sin of all clerics?
"[But] the truth is that what happened in Algeria and what is currently happening in Iraq and in other parts of the Arab world does not result from the deviant behavior of individuals, but from general behavior that is inevitably caused by [our] culture.
"Barbaric acts of mass murder were rampant in Algeria, with the number of victims reaching a quarter of a million. School girls were murdered for not wearing the veil. The murders carried out by 'jihad fighters' in Iraq have come to symbolize [the general situation there], which is condoned by Arab societies.
"Needless to say, Al-Zarqawi, bin Laden and Al-Zawahiri could not have perpetrated all these atrocities without extensive popular support, without constant recruitment [of new jihad fighters], and without the cultural and ideological support that is [ingrained] in the [Arab] heritage and education. Surveys conducted in a number of Arab countries showed that the majority supports the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization, and that bin Laden himself enjoys great popularity, especially in the Gulf countries…"
If Arab Governments Do Not Begin to Lead Their Peoples Towards Democracy, History Will Force It on Them
"Based on the above, I believe that Arab societies… suffer from duality in their standards, their views, and their behavior, and require immediate treatment if they want to heal, to overcome their backwardness, and to live in peace with the international community…
"Obviously, it is difficult to change the people's entire outlook overnight, especially when the governments constitute an obstacle to reform. The process is difficult and will take a long time, but there is nothing to prevent it from starting today… The ball is in the court of the Arab governments, who must understand the reasons for their backwardness and the backwardness of their people.
"The problem with these governments is that they have always objected, and still object, to gradual and peaceful development… [which occurs naturally] in the course of history. Democracy is the order of the day, and if the Arab governments do not begin to gradually lead their peoples towards democracy, history will force it on them through violent [upheavals], as occurred in Iraq...
"It should be noted that over 200 years ago, the Western peoples went through what the Arab peoples are experiencing now. They managed to resolve their problems, to build an advanced civilization, and to make economic, social, scientific and technological progress - but [this happened] only after reason was liberated from [the shackles of] fairytales and lies, [and after they] separated religion and state, established regimes that were secular, liberal and democratic, and gave freedom of speech and thought to [their] intellectuals."
Comment: This excellent article is not news for those of us with actual personal experience of witnessing Islamic societies close up. Readers who have never spent actual 'quality time' in Islamic countries cannot fully appreciate the truth of what the doctor has written.
Reform of Islam...much needed but probably not possible...is the final option for muslims in Australia. If this fails, apostacy looms as the only way to salvage personal mental health and the prospect of ordinary living in Australia.
Does it make sense adding to the numbers of muslims in Australia when we are just adding to the numbers of people who are lost in this miasma of mental illness and pointless backwardness?
At least do something about the poisonous imams in Australia who are the key source of all troubles for Australia and the local muslims in the poor neglected muslim communities. Start by kicking them out and do not allow replacements. Force the local muslims to fall back on their own resources.
Without the imams, who are the political 'bosses' in the political party called 'Islam', the politics of local Islam will start falling apart. If there is actually any 'religious' content to Islam, let the local muslims draw it out without the involvement of the fascist imams.
They cannot do this alone. Governments in Australia must help them.
Can we please show some mercy to the imam-oppressed muslims in Australia?
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
islamic Political Uniforms Banned In Norwegian Schools.
Note: Islamic political uniforms are banned in Norwegian schools and the push back against Islamic imperialism has another victory.
Oslo bans burqas at school
Wednesday 21 June 2006, 20:36
Several European countries have already banned face coverings.
Schools in the Norwegian capital will ban Muslim girls from covering their faces, adding to the list of European cities and states that have banned the garment.
Toerger Odegaard, the head of the city's education department, said Oslo's city council wants to ban the burqa and niqab, garments which cover the face.
He said teachers could not do their job properly without seeing their students' faces.
"We will introduce a ban after the summer holidays at the end of August," he told Reuters on Wednesday.
Lawyers at the education ministry had just told the council it would not be illegal under Norwegian law to ban the headdress.
Religious symbols
France has banned overt religious symbols at school. In December, the Dutch parliament voted in favour of banning burqas, and the Belgian town of Maaseik has forbidden them through an existing law which required people to be identifiable in public.
Muslims in Norway - which has large Pakistani and Somali minorities concentrated mainly in Oslo - said the move was an encroachment on personal freedom.
Fakhra Salimi, the head of MiRA a partly state-sponsored group that helps female immigrants in Norway, said: "We have been having a discussion about whether you should wear the niqab or not, but making laws which ban it is just going too far."
She said women over the age of 16 should be able to wear the niqab if they chose.
Comment: Australian schools have to follow suit and ban Islamic political uniforms in Australia.
Anyone awake in Canberra?
Oslo bans burqas at school
Wednesday 21 June 2006, 20:36
Several European countries have already banned face coverings.
Schools in the Norwegian capital will ban Muslim girls from covering their faces, adding to the list of European cities and states that have banned the garment.
Toerger Odegaard, the head of the city's education department, said Oslo's city council wants to ban the burqa and niqab, garments which cover the face.
He said teachers could not do their job properly without seeing their students' faces.
"We will introduce a ban after the summer holidays at the end of August," he told Reuters on Wednesday.
Lawyers at the education ministry had just told the council it would not be illegal under Norwegian law to ban the headdress.
Religious symbols
France has banned overt religious symbols at school. In December, the Dutch parliament voted in favour of banning burqas, and the Belgian town of Maaseik has forbidden them through an existing law which required people to be identifiable in public.
Muslims in Norway - which has large Pakistani and Somali minorities concentrated mainly in Oslo - said the move was an encroachment on personal freedom.
Fakhra Salimi, the head of MiRA a partly state-sponsored group that helps female immigrants in Norway, said: "We have been having a discussion about whether you should wear the niqab or not, but making laws which ban it is just going too far."
She said women over the age of 16 should be able to wear the niqab if they chose.
Comment: Australian schools have to follow suit and ban Islamic political uniforms in Australia.
Anyone awake in Canberra?
Another Example Of Why Islam Needs Reforming.
Note: This fake 'religious' rubbish which is 'Islam in the real world' has no future. Unless reform is undertaken, Islam will fall further and further behind the rest of the world. The evil imams do not recognise that as muslims experience the real world they will reject the pigswill in which they currently live.
But who can reform Islam?
21 June, 2006
PAKISTAN
Government silent as blasphemy law continues to kill, say Pakistani bishops
In a statement released by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan the government’s negligence vis-à-vis crimes committed in the name of religion and on the basis of blasphemy laws is described as a “real sin”.
Lahore (AsiaNews) – The Justice and Peace Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan has expressed “profound concern” for the evident negligence by the authorities and elected officials who should uphold the law regarding the growing intolerance associated with blasphemy laws.
Fr Emmanuel Yousaf and Peter Jacob, respectively director and executive secretary of the bishops’ commission, said in a joint statement that “the horrible murder of Mohammad Sadiq, an elderly school teacher killed last Sunday whilst trying to save someone else from the blasphemy laws, and that of Abdul Sattar, who was killed the next day when he was under police protection, underscore the alarming level of insecurity Pakistani citizens feel as a result of the abuse of religion”.
“It is extremely sad that two other lives were sacrificed owing to a legislative void created by the blasphemy laws,” the added.
“In the first case we have a respected citizen killed by the people of Hasilpur whilst trying to rescue from a lynch mob the imam of the local mosque, Hafiz Mohammad Qamar, who was being tortured by some miscreants.”
“In the second,” the statement reads, “we have a man who gets himself killed for allegedly insulting the prophet when in fact all he wanted was a driver to pay his fee.”
The so-called blasphemy law or laws refer to article 295, sections B and C, of the Pakistan Criminal Code. The first section covers offences against the Qur‘an, a crime punishable with life in prison. The second section imposes either the death penalty or life in prison on anyone found guilty of defaming the Prophet Muhammad.
Since 1996 when the two sections came into effect, a lot of Christians have been killed for defaming Islam. Altogether some 560 people have been charged with 30 still waiting for trial.
Very often the law is used to eliminate adversaries.
According to data provided by different human rights groups, 23 people have died as a result of blasphemy charges, 18 of whom were Muslim. In each case law enforcement authorities did not intervene to stop the murder.
“It is a real sin that the government has allowed this kind of ‘unlawful legality’ to exist in name of religion, abdicating its duty to tell the people how often the law is misused,” the statement said.
“It is important that those guilty of these crimes be brought to justice. For this reason, we call for an immediate inquiry to unmask those responsible for this situation.”
Comment: Australia does not need this pigswill 'religion' here. We should stop letting Pakistani Muslims into Australia. Only allow Christians and Achmadiyya to come here from that hopeless backward place.
But who can reform Islam?
21 June, 2006
PAKISTAN
Government silent as blasphemy law continues to kill, say Pakistani bishops
In a statement released by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan the government’s negligence vis-à-vis crimes committed in the name of religion and on the basis of blasphemy laws is described as a “real sin”.
Lahore (AsiaNews) – The Justice and Peace Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan has expressed “profound concern” for the evident negligence by the authorities and elected officials who should uphold the law regarding the growing intolerance associated with blasphemy laws.
Fr Emmanuel Yousaf and Peter Jacob, respectively director and executive secretary of the bishops’ commission, said in a joint statement that “the horrible murder of Mohammad Sadiq, an elderly school teacher killed last Sunday whilst trying to save someone else from the blasphemy laws, and that of Abdul Sattar, who was killed the next day when he was under police protection, underscore the alarming level of insecurity Pakistani citizens feel as a result of the abuse of religion”.
“It is extremely sad that two other lives were sacrificed owing to a legislative void created by the blasphemy laws,” the added.
“In the first case we have a respected citizen killed by the people of Hasilpur whilst trying to rescue from a lynch mob the imam of the local mosque, Hafiz Mohammad Qamar, who was being tortured by some miscreants.”
“In the second,” the statement reads, “we have a man who gets himself killed for allegedly insulting the prophet when in fact all he wanted was a driver to pay his fee.”
The so-called blasphemy law or laws refer to article 295, sections B and C, of the Pakistan Criminal Code. The first section covers offences against the Qur‘an, a crime punishable with life in prison. The second section imposes either the death penalty or life in prison on anyone found guilty of defaming the Prophet Muhammad.
Since 1996 when the two sections came into effect, a lot of Christians have been killed for defaming Islam. Altogether some 560 people have been charged with 30 still waiting for trial.
Very often the law is used to eliminate adversaries.
According to data provided by different human rights groups, 23 people have died as a result of blasphemy charges, 18 of whom were Muslim. In each case law enforcement authorities did not intervene to stop the murder.
“It is a real sin that the government has allowed this kind of ‘unlawful legality’ to exist in name of religion, abdicating its duty to tell the people how often the law is misused,” the statement said.
“It is important that those guilty of these crimes be brought to justice. For this reason, we call for an immediate inquiry to unmask those responsible for this situation.”
Comment: Australia does not need this pigswill 'religion' here. We should stop letting Pakistani Muslims into Australia. Only allow Christians and Achmadiyya to come here from that hopeless backward place.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Jewish Hatred Of Christianity Starting to Show.
Note: The reactionary nature of Jewish religious politics in Israel shows up starkly in these developments. The Jewish religious establishment in Israel is better educated than the backward imams and mullahs of the muslims, but just as vicious. Do not expect much progress in this matter; it shows clearly the real value of the word of an Israeli government.
Influential US MP tells Bush: let’s ask Israel to reach accord with Holy See
by Arieh Cohen
Henry Hyde, Chairman of the Committee on International Relations of the US House of Representatives, has expressed concern about the lack of progress in negotiations between the Israeli state and the Holy See towards accepting the Fundamental Agreement and for the conclusion – stipulated in it – of a comprehensive accord about pending claims on economic and property matters.
Tel Aviv (AsiaNews) – A year or so after his letter to then Secretary of State Colin Powell, which helped re-start the negotiations earlier suspended by Israel, the Chairman of the Committee on International Relations of the U.S. House of Representatives, Henry Hyde, has written to President George W. Bush, to express once more his concern for the Catholic Church in the Holy Land. Chairman Hyde, one of the most highly respected Member of the U.S. Congress, and a devout Catholic, shares, among other things, with the American President, his "concerns regarding negotiations between the Holy See and the State of Israel."
AsiaNews has now obtained from a reliable source a copy of that letter.
The influential Catholic statesman sends the President, together with his letter, a report on, among other things, Israel's attitude to the "Fundamental Agreement [which] is an historic international treaty signed by the Holy See and Israel ...[which] entered into force in 1994..." In spite of the many years that have passed since then, "The agreement has not been ratified by the Israeli Knesset [i.e. parliament], making it impossible for church institutions to uphold the provisions of the agreement in Israeli courts. As a result, these institutions are vulnerable." Moreover, the Fundamental "Agreement ... mandates a comprehensive agreement on all outstanding claims concerning economic and property matters" pending between the State of Israel and the Catholic Church. It was to have been achieved "within two years" of the entry into force of the Fundamental Agreement in 1994. Many more years "have passed since the treaty [i.e. the Fundamental Agreement itself] has entered into force, and still there is no comprehensive agreement" on those vital fiscal and property matters. As a consequence of that, the report concludes, there is a "need for the United States to urgently extend its political support for the successful resolution of the negotiations between the Holy See and the State of Israel. It is vital that there be a comprehensive settlement of all outstanding claims so the various agreements may be written into Israeli law, permitting the Church access to due process in Israel's democratic government, allowing Christian institutions to focus on serving the communities they serve". To this end Israel's "newly elected Prime Minister... should ensure that there is a team in place that is empowered [to negotiate] " and there should be allocated "sufficient time to negotiate an agreement."
As reported several times by AsiaNews over the years, the negotiations are principally aimed at obtaining Israel's recognition of the rights possessed by the Catholic Church at the time the State of Israel was created in 1948. Although the U.N. Resolution that authorised the creation of the Jewish State (Resolution 181 of 29 November 1947) had laid down, for example, that no taxes should be imposed on the Church's institutions, from which they were previously exempt, Israel has never formally acknowledged that the Church possessed any such "existing rights." Involved, in addition to internationally recognised tax exemptions, are matters concerning Church property, especially sacred places. As an essential part of normalising relations with the State, the Church is claiming restitution of lost religioius property, including the church-shrine in Caesarea - confiscated by the State and razed to the ground in the 1950's - and an important convent of Franciscan Sisters in Jerusalem, occupied since 1948 by the national university, the Hebrew University.
Even more importantly, the Church's possession of all sacred places is jeopardised by an Israeli law which reserves jurisdiction to the Executive - i.e. to politicians - in all disputes concerning "religious building or sites." This means that the Government may arbitrarily deny the Church access to the Israeli courts, and instead decide such cases in accordance with electoral or any other extraneous considerations, rather than in accordance with the laws governing property. In this matter the Church is not asking for any privileges, but only for the right of any property owner to have disputes decided in the courts and according the law.
The negotiations on all of these questions were formally begun only on 11 March 1999, and have continued sporadically since then. As reported in the media, Israel has repeatedly cancelled planned meetings, asked for extended intervals, and on 28 August 2003 Israel withdrew from the negotiations altogether. American interest in the matter greatly helped in bringing Israel back to the negotiating table (although meetings continue to be held only sporadically). Nonetheless – reliable sources tell AsiaNews – there is no end in sight. Meanwhile, on the ground, problems have multiplied for Church institutions, explaining the sense of urgency emphasised by the Hyde letter to President Bush.
Americans feel closely involved, both because of the large number of Catholic citizens in the U.S., and because American Catholics are generous donors to the Catholic Church in Israel, and want to be sure that their hard-earned money goes to the purposes, for which it is given, and not gobbled up in taxes, from which, in the U.S. itself, the Church (along with the Synagogue and the Mosque) is exempt, or to which the Church throughout the Holy Land has "existing rights" to exemption.
It remains to be seen whether the combination of the extraordinary abilities of Vatican diplomacy and the weight of American support, together with fresh thinking on the part of Prime Minister Olmert and his new Foreign Minister Tzippi Livni, will finally achieve the too-long-delayed "comprehensive agreement."
Comment: It is not only Islam in the Middle East which is a source of long term trouble. Fundamentalist Judaism is working day and night to avoid having to live in the modern world.
I wonder if any Australian politicians are willing to add their voices to the chorus for Israel to 'keep its word', and negotiate in good faith?
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Influential US MP tells Bush: let’s ask Israel to reach accord with Holy See
by Arieh Cohen
Henry Hyde, Chairman of the Committee on International Relations of the US House of Representatives, has expressed concern about the lack of progress in negotiations between the Israeli state and the Holy See towards accepting the Fundamental Agreement and for the conclusion – stipulated in it – of a comprehensive accord about pending claims on economic and property matters.
Tel Aviv (AsiaNews) – A year or so after his letter to then Secretary of State Colin Powell, which helped re-start the negotiations earlier suspended by Israel, the Chairman of the Committee on International Relations of the U.S. House of Representatives, Henry Hyde, has written to President George W. Bush, to express once more his concern for the Catholic Church in the Holy Land. Chairman Hyde, one of the most highly respected Member of the U.S. Congress, and a devout Catholic, shares, among other things, with the American President, his "concerns regarding negotiations between the Holy See and the State of Israel."
AsiaNews has now obtained from a reliable source a copy of that letter.
The influential Catholic statesman sends the President, together with his letter, a report on, among other things, Israel's attitude to the "Fundamental Agreement [which] is an historic international treaty signed by the Holy See and Israel ...[which] entered into force in 1994..." In spite of the many years that have passed since then, "The agreement has not been ratified by the Israeli Knesset [i.e. parliament], making it impossible for church institutions to uphold the provisions of the agreement in Israeli courts. As a result, these institutions are vulnerable." Moreover, the Fundamental "Agreement ... mandates a comprehensive agreement on all outstanding claims concerning economic and property matters" pending between the State of Israel and the Catholic Church. It was to have been achieved "within two years" of the entry into force of the Fundamental Agreement in 1994. Many more years "have passed since the treaty [i.e. the Fundamental Agreement itself] has entered into force, and still there is no comprehensive agreement" on those vital fiscal and property matters. As a consequence of that, the report concludes, there is a "need for the United States to urgently extend its political support for the successful resolution of the negotiations between the Holy See and the State of Israel. It is vital that there be a comprehensive settlement of all outstanding claims so the various agreements may be written into Israeli law, permitting the Church access to due process in Israel's democratic government, allowing Christian institutions to focus on serving the communities they serve". To this end Israel's "newly elected Prime Minister... should ensure that there is a team in place that is empowered [to negotiate] " and there should be allocated "sufficient time to negotiate an agreement."
As reported several times by AsiaNews over the years, the negotiations are principally aimed at obtaining Israel's recognition of the rights possessed by the Catholic Church at the time the State of Israel was created in 1948. Although the U.N. Resolution that authorised the creation of the Jewish State (Resolution 181 of 29 November 1947) had laid down, for example, that no taxes should be imposed on the Church's institutions, from which they were previously exempt, Israel has never formally acknowledged that the Church possessed any such "existing rights." Involved, in addition to internationally recognised tax exemptions, are matters concerning Church property, especially sacred places. As an essential part of normalising relations with the State, the Church is claiming restitution of lost religioius property, including the church-shrine in Caesarea - confiscated by the State and razed to the ground in the 1950's - and an important convent of Franciscan Sisters in Jerusalem, occupied since 1948 by the national university, the Hebrew University.
Even more importantly, the Church's possession of all sacred places is jeopardised by an Israeli law which reserves jurisdiction to the Executive - i.e. to politicians - in all disputes concerning "religious building or sites." This means that the Government may arbitrarily deny the Church access to the Israeli courts, and instead decide such cases in accordance with electoral or any other extraneous considerations, rather than in accordance with the laws governing property. In this matter the Church is not asking for any privileges, but only for the right of any property owner to have disputes decided in the courts and according the law.
The negotiations on all of these questions were formally begun only on 11 March 1999, and have continued sporadically since then. As reported in the media, Israel has repeatedly cancelled planned meetings, asked for extended intervals, and on 28 August 2003 Israel withdrew from the negotiations altogether. American interest in the matter greatly helped in bringing Israel back to the negotiating table (although meetings continue to be held only sporadically). Nonetheless – reliable sources tell AsiaNews – there is no end in sight. Meanwhile, on the ground, problems have multiplied for Church institutions, explaining the sense of urgency emphasised by the Hyde letter to President Bush.
Americans feel closely involved, both because of the large number of Catholic citizens in the U.S., and because American Catholics are generous donors to the Catholic Church in Israel, and want to be sure that their hard-earned money goes to the purposes, for which it is given, and not gobbled up in taxes, from which, in the U.S. itself, the Church (along with the Synagogue and the Mosque) is exempt, or to which the Church throughout the Holy Land has "existing rights" to exemption.
It remains to be seen whether the combination of the extraordinary abilities of Vatican diplomacy and the weight of American support, together with fresh thinking on the part of Prime Minister Olmert and his new Foreign Minister Tzippi Livni, will finally achieve the too-long-delayed "comprehensive agreement."
Comment: It is not only Islam in the Middle East which is a source of long term trouble. Fundamentalist Judaism is working day and night to avoid having to live in the modern world.
I wonder if any Australian politicians are willing to add their voices to the chorus for Israel to 'keep its word', and negotiate in good faith?
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
Monday, June 19, 2006
Canary Sings In The European Mine.
Note: This post from a high ranking member of the British Navy should give Australians pause for thought. We also are on the edge of an area with lots of impoverished muslims...Indonesia. Grovelling to them is never a solution.
The Sunday Times June 11, 2006
Beware: the new goths are coming
Peter Almond
ONE of Britain’s most senior military strategists has warned that western civilisation faces a threat on a par with the barbarian invasions that destroyed the Roman empire.
In an apocalyptic vision of security dangers, Rear Admiral Chris Parry said future migrations would be comparable to the Goths and Vandals while north African "barbary" pirates could be attacking yachts and beaches in the Mediterranean within 10 years.
Europe, including Britain, could be undermined by large immigrant groups with little allegiance to their host countries — a "reverse colonisation" as Parry described it. These groups would stay connected to their homelands by the internet and cheap flights. The idea of assimilation was becoming redundant, he said.
The warnings by Parry of what could threaten Britain over the next 30 years were delivered to senior officers and industry experts at a conference last week. Parry, head of the development, concepts and doctrine centre at the Ministry of Defence, is charged with identifying the greatest challenges that will frame national security policy in the future.
If a security breakdown occurred, he said, it was likely to be brought on by environmental destruction and a population boom, coupled with technology and radical Islam. The result for Britain and Europe, Parry warned, could be "like the 5th century Roman empire facing the Goths and the Vandals".
Parry pointed to the mass migration which disaster in the Third World could unleash. "The diaspora issue is one of my biggest current concerns," he said. "Globalisation makes assimilation seem redundant and old-fashioned . . . [the process] acts as a sort of reverse colonisation, where groups of people are self-contained, going back and forth between their countries, exploiting sophisticated networks and using instant communication on phones and the internet."
Third World instability would lick at the edges of the West as pirates attacked holidaymakers from fast boats. "At some time in the next 10 years it may not be safe to sail a yacht between Gibraltar and Malta," said the admiral.
Parry, 52, an Oxford graduate who was mentioned in dispatches in the Falklands war, is not claiming all the threats will come to fruition. He is warning, however, of what is likely to happen if dangers are not addressed by politicians.
Parry — who used the slogan "old dog, new tricks" when he commanded the assault ship HMS Fearless — foresees wholesale moves by the armed forces to robots, drones, nanotechnology, lasers, microwave weapons, space-based systems and even "customised" nuclear and neutron bombs.
Lord Boyce, the former chief of the defence staff, welcomed Parry’s analysis. "Bringing it together in this way shows we have some very serious challenges ahead," he said. "The real problem is getting them taken seriously at the top of the government."
Comment: The last line says it all...'The real problem is getting them taken seriously at the top of government'.
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
The Sunday Times June 11, 2006
Beware: the new goths are coming
Peter Almond
ONE of Britain’s most senior military strategists has warned that western civilisation faces a threat on a par with the barbarian invasions that destroyed the Roman empire.
In an apocalyptic vision of security dangers, Rear Admiral Chris Parry said future migrations would be comparable to the Goths and Vandals while north African "barbary" pirates could be attacking yachts and beaches in the Mediterranean within 10 years.
Europe, including Britain, could be undermined by large immigrant groups with little allegiance to their host countries — a "reverse colonisation" as Parry described it. These groups would stay connected to their homelands by the internet and cheap flights. The idea of assimilation was becoming redundant, he said.
The warnings by Parry of what could threaten Britain over the next 30 years were delivered to senior officers and industry experts at a conference last week. Parry, head of the development, concepts and doctrine centre at the Ministry of Defence, is charged with identifying the greatest challenges that will frame national security policy in the future.
If a security breakdown occurred, he said, it was likely to be brought on by environmental destruction and a population boom, coupled with technology and radical Islam. The result for Britain and Europe, Parry warned, could be "like the 5th century Roman empire facing the Goths and the Vandals".
Parry pointed to the mass migration which disaster in the Third World could unleash. "The diaspora issue is one of my biggest current concerns," he said. "Globalisation makes assimilation seem redundant and old-fashioned . . . [the process] acts as a sort of reverse colonisation, where groups of people are self-contained, going back and forth between their countries, exploiting sophisticated networks and using instant communication on phones and the internet."
Third World instability would lick at the edges of the West as pirates attacked holidaymakers from fast boats. "At some time in the next 10 years it may not be safe to sail a yacht between Gibraltar and Malta," said the admiral.
Parry, 52, an Oxford graduate who was mentioned in dispatches in the Falklands war, is not claiming all the threats will come to fruition. He is warning, however, of what is likely to happen if dangers are not addressed by politicians.
Parry — who used the slogan "old dog, new tricks" when he commanded the assault ship HMS Fearless — foresees wholesale moves by the armed forces to robots, drones, nanotechnology, lasers, microwave weapons, space-based systems and even "customised" nuclear and neutron bombs.
Lord Boyce, the former chief of the defence staff, welcomed Parry’s analysis. "Bringing it together in this way shows we have some very serious challenges ahead," he said. "The real problem is getting them taken seriously at the top of the government."
Comment: The last line says it all...'The real problem is getting them taken seriously at the top of government'.
Is anyone awake in Canberra?
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