Iranian Rappers Blast Syria's Bashar Al-Assad and Russia's Medvedev

In support of the ongoing massacre in Homs,  Iranian rappers blast Syria's tyrant Bashar Al-Assad and Russia's Medvedev. Translated by Memri.TV

I am linking to the video on Youtube because Google adsense might think it's too graphic.

China Sends Back North Korean Refugees To Face Jail, Torture and Death

It looks like North Korea's Kim Jong-un is following in his "dear" father Kim Jong -il's footsteps.  Jong-il's baby boy is continuing the legacy of torturing, jailing and killing defectors, all with the help of China.
Over the years many North Koreans have fled to China (and elsewhere), to escape the dire conditions created by the late lunatic dictator Kim Jong-il's leadership. But rather than helping these people, China has been sending them back knowing full well it's a death sentence. 

In fact, in the 100 days of mourning for papa Jong-il, Jong-un decided to step up the tracking down of defectors:

As Kim Jong-Un attempts to consolidate his power in North Korea, one of the new regime's focus has been arresting as many North Koreans in China as possible. Right now, North Korea has sent into China a task force of covert agents numbering in the thousands -- a scale simply unprecedented -- who would pretend to be North Korean defectors, only to rat out true defectors to the Chinese police. The Chinese police arrests these defectors and repatriate them back to North Korea. Once back in North Korea, these defectors will face near certain deaths in gulags out of hard labor and starvation. Recently, there was an arrest of 28 North Korean defectors in China, who will be repatriated back to North Korea in just a few days. Right now, even as we speak, these defectors are essentially facing a death penalty if they are sent back to North Korea. Some of the defectors' families in South Korea (who defected before this group of defectors) are pleading that if these defectors are to be sent back to North Korea, they are better off killing themselves in the Chinese prison.

And it's not just North Koreans who hunt down these defector 'refugees', China is actively involved in doing the same thing, in spite of the fact that China is a party to the  U.N. Refugee Convention, its 1967 Protocol and the U.N. Convention Against Torture.  The U.N. is supposed to have access to refugees, but China has categorically refused.

Over 5,000 people per annum are repatriated to North Korea from China, and pregnant women who are deported are forced to abort their babies if they are half Chinese.

But it seems that the lives of North Koreans in China are as tragic as they probably were in their homeland, especially for women. According to Robert Park, a human rights activist, writing for the Mercury News:

Sixty to 70 percent of the North Korean refugees in China are women, 70 to 80 percent of whom, without recourse to legal rights or protections, have become victims of sex trafficking. Their children conceived through rape are considered stateless in China and are vulnerable to trafficking and abandonment. Furthermore, innumerable children who escaped from North Korea with their parents have become orphans because one or both of their parents were found by Chinese officials. These children also usually end up homeless or become victims of exploitation.

Park says that North Korean refugees are welcome in South Korea, and are considered citizens and thus should have diplomatic protection, but that doesn't seem to make any difference to the Chinese who currently have 80 defectors detained in prison ready to be sent home.

Among them are a 16-year-old orphan who escaped North Korea after losing his parents in an attempt to find an older brother in South Korea, and a 19-year-old woman whose parents live in Seoul. If sent back to North Korea, they will be tortured and most likely killed. Kim Jong-un vowed in January to annihilate those who attempt to leave the country and their entire families.

In spite of requests from South Korea not to repatriate nine caputured refugees, last week China sent them back anyway. 

The problem is no-one seems to want to ruffle China's feathers, and so North Korean's will continue to be shipped back to an uncertain fate.

Trouble In Tunisia- Police Clash With Islamist Extremists

Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation in 2010 led to the rise of the Arab Spring.  The Arab Spring, in turn, has led to rise of the Islamist winter.  Back in Tunisia, the people are battling a small, but steadfast group of extremists who are determined to highjack the democratic movement, as they are attempting to do in all the other countries that managed to purge their nations of their autocratic/dictator leaders.

In Jandouba, according to a witness, Police were forced to use tear gas against a mob of Salafi hardliners who set fire to a police station.

“The security forces are chasing about 200 Salafists armed with swords and sticks after an exchange of petrol bombs and tear gas,” resident Omar Inoubli told Reuters by telephone from Jandouba, about 160 km (99 miles) west of the capital.

“These groups set fire to a police station .... (They) are broadcasting recordings through the loudspeakers of mosques calling for jihad (holy war).”

Apparently, the Islamists (who were banned under  former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's regime) have been flexing their muscles since his ouster.  This latest fight was precipitated after police nabbed a Salafist.

“The situation has become serious in the city, which has been living in a state of terror and fear because of Salafist groups seeking to impose a strict way of life,” another witness, a woman who did not want to be named, told Reuters.

One resident said the Salafis had threatened people drinking alcohol and slapped women wearing trousers or skirts.

Even though the so-called moderate Islamist Ennahda Party won a majority of seats in the last elections, and  heads a coalition government, apparently it is too afraid to ruffle the feathers of the ultra-conservative, albeit smaller, Salafists and is doing nothing to reign in their excesses.

The Salafists, who represent a small minority of Tunisians, have profited from the new freedoms. They have attacked brothels, bars and cinemas showing films they consider to be morally suspect, and staged protests to demand an end to mixed-gender classes at universities.

While many renounce violence, some have been linked to al-Qaeda’s north African branch.

Tunisians aren't sitting idly back and allowing their country to be taken over; they are protesting the rise of extremism in the country, and taking to the streets to show their anger, but will that be enough?  If Ennahda doesn't take a stronger stance in controlling the Salafists in their midst, Tunisians will lose the battle, unless that's what Ennahda actually wants.

PA Muslim Judge Mark Martin Dismisses Assault Charges Against Muslim Using Sharia

During Halloween last year in Pennsylvania, some members of an Atheist group joined a local parade dressed as a Zombie Pope and a "Zombie Muhammed". Talaaq Elbayomy (a Muslim immigrant) also happened to be there with his wife and kids, and when he saw Ernest V. Perce dressed up as said Zombie Muhammed, he attacked Perce (all caught on tape) to defend the Prophet's honor.  After the scuffle, both men tracked down a police officer for obviously different reasons: Perce, because he was assaulted for no justifiable reason, and Elbayomy because in his supreme ignorance believed dressing up as Muhammed was a crime.

Now one would think that in America, where it might be tacky but certainly not a crime to dress up as Muhammed, the person who assaulted another individual would have to pay the piper, but not so in Judge Mark W. Martin's court.  You see, Judge Martin also happens to be a Muslim convert who spent several years in Muslim countries while serving in the military. And rather than being able to separate his newly adopted religious beliefs from his constitutional duties as a judge, he dismissed the case against Elbayomy in spite of the police officer's testimony on Perce's behalf, all the while admonishing Perce for his insensitivity and lecturing him on Islam and Sharia (also caught on audio- with the judge's permission.)

Opposing Views, transcribed some of Judge Martin's diatribe:

“Having had the benefit of having spent over 2 and a half years in predominantly Muslim countries I think I know a little bit about the faith of Islam. In fact I have a copy of the Koran here and I challenge you sir to show me where it says in the Koran that Mohammad arose and walked among the dead. I think you misinterpreted things. Before you start mocking someone else’s religion you may want to find out a little bit more about it it makes you look like a dufus and Mr. (Defendant) is correct. In many Arabic speaking countries something like this is definitely against the law there. In their society in fact it can be punishable by death and it frequently is in their society.

“Islam is not just a religion, it’s their culture, their culture. It’s their very essence, their very being. They pray five times a day towards Mecca to be a good Muslim, before you die you have to make a pilgrimage to Mecca unless you are otherwise told you can not because you are too ill too elderly, whatever but you must make the attempt. Their greetings wa-laikum as-Salâm (is answered by voice) may god be with you. Whenever, it’s very common when speaking to each other it’s very common for them to say uh this will happen it’s it they are so immersed in it.

Well,  Judge Martin, this is the U.S. and here we don't execute people for blasphemy, and although we might be offended by someone dressing up as a Zombie Jesus, Pope, Buddha, Muhammed or whomever, it is their right to do so.

Then Martin goes on to say (as per Opposing Views):

“Then what you have done is you have completely trashed their essence, their being. They find it very very very offensive. I’m a Muslim, I find it offensive. But you have that right, but you’re way outside your boundaries or first amendment rights. This is what, and I said I spent about 7 and a half years living in other countries. when we go to other countries it’s not uncommon for people to refer to us as ugly Americans this is why we are referred to as ugly Americans, because we are so concerned about our own rights we don’t care about other people’s rights as long as we get our say but we don’t care about the other people’s say”


“All that aside I’ve got here basically.. I don’t want to say he said she said but I’ve got two sides of the story that are in conflict with each other.”

And,

“The preponderance of, excuse me, the burden of proof… “

And,

“…he has not proven to me beyond a reasonable doubt that this defendant is guilty of harassment, therefore I am going to dismiss the charge”

Apparently, Martin refused to allow the video of the attack to be admissible in court.

As for ignorance of the law, had Elbayomy killed Perce in the melee, would he have sided with Elbayomy?  If Judge Martin is unable to follow the rule of American law, then he has no place in our judicial system.

Video coverage by local news channel.
Perce's video of his ordeal.

You can voice your complaints to the following (H/T Pamela Geller):

Wanda W. Sweigart, Court Administrator
wanda.sweigart@pacourts.us
phone: 717-772-3771

The Court of Judicial Discipline of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Judicial Center
601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 5500
P.O. Box 62595, Harrisburg, PA 17106-2595
Phone: (717) 772-3771 • Fax: (717) 772-3774

Here's the homepage.

The Court of Judicial Discipline of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Judicial Conduct Board
601 Commonwealth Ave
Suite 3500
PO Box 62525
Harrisburg, PA 17106-2525

Pro-Obama Poem Dropped From Houston Public School Programme After Parent Complains

There were plans for a bunch of Houston Kindergartners at Tipps Elementary public school to memorize the following poem to be chanted at a Black History Month programme next week, until one of the kids' dad found out and complained.

The poem was sent to parents (inadvertently, I might add) with a memo meant for fellow teachers stating:

"Attached is a chant about President Barack Obama. All Kindergarteners will be required to learn the chant for the Black History program."

Joseph Beaver, the parent, was not amused- considering the poem far too political for his young child. He told KTRH News:

"You're not learning anything from it."  "I can't sit there and say in 20 years I'm going to need to know his favorite baseball team was this. That's just useless information."

And he's right. Yes, it's Black History Month, and our President happens to be bi-racial (let's remember folks that his mother was white) but this so-called poem is pure drivel. 

Gayle Fallon, of Houston's Cy-Fair teachers union, commended Beaver for complaining, and stated that it should have first been sent to administration for approval, which it wasn't.

"Just like you couldn't put something out advocating a specific religion, you can't with politics either."

"If the poem is overtly partisan political which it sounds like, they have a problem," he says. "If it was just saying we're having a black history program, it probably would not be a problem."

The teacher did apologize, and a statement by Assistant Superintendent Kelli Durham was sent to KTRH News:

"There has been a misunderstanding circulating about kindergarten teachers requiring students to recite a chant at Tipps. This resulted when a teacher inadvertently attached a note, intended for other teachers, to a parent communication that was sent home. A teacher reading the note would understand the inference: only kindergarten students whose parents wanted them to participate were "required" to learn a chant.

However, the chant selected by the kindergarten team of teachers was sent home prior to receiving principal approval. Seeking approval is a school practice for school programs and events. After the principal reviewed the poem, along with the selections that would be performed by students at other grade levels, she selected another activity recognizing President Obama --kindergarten's historical figure to recognize.

Last week, the count for participants was less than 150 students compared to school wide enrollment of more than 1,000 students, and of those 25 were kindergarten students."

Not everyone sees the poem as a problem.  Sylvester Brown of Houston's Black Heritage Society asks,

"Is the teacher using it to express her views?"  "I don't think you can look at it from that side unless you're specifically looking for something to complain about." "If they just sung a song about George Washington in class, would they say the same thing that's political?"  "I mean, where's the contrast?"

Beaver believes there's no comparison:

"The 'cherry tree,' that teaches morals about trying to tell the truth," he says. "This poem didn't teach anything. As a public school system you need to educate people, not teach them little chants and stuff."

Had the poem been a bi-partisan tribute to black Democratic and Republican politicians (including Obama), I'm sure Beaver would never have complained, but it obviously was not.

Pakistani Extremists Call For Boycott Of Ahmadi Owned Juice Company

Shezan is a very popular brand in Pakistan.  The company manufactures everything from soft drinks and juice to ketchup, chutneys, pickles, and jams. Unfortunately, the founders are Ahmadiya  Muslims and Ahmadis are not well loved in Pakistan, or in any other Muslim-majority country for that matter.  Even though they are Muslims (or at least consider themselves to be) they are persecuted and marginalized because they are not the right kind of Muslim.  In fact, in several countries (including Pakistan) they are considered non-Muslims, and as a result they're often victims of violence. In June 2010 the Shezan factory in Lahore was bombed, and Ahmadiya mosques have been targets of suicide bombings in the past.  Now, Shezan is being hit by calls for a boycott of their products by two different groups: a student union at the University of Punjab, and the Lahore Bar Association.

Shezan has been around since 1964 and employs over 1,000 people. Ironically, most of the employees are not even Ahmadi, but that hasn't stopped other boycott efforts of both the company and companies that do business with Shezan.

The latest boycott at the university campus is thought to have been instigated by student members of Islami Jamiat Tulba, which is part of the extremist Jamaat-e-Islami organization.

As for those lawyers,

Media outlets in Pakistan cited Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, the president of the LBA that around 100 members had unanimously supported the boycott, to be applied to all canteens and food outlets in the court complexes under the LBA’s jurisdiction. However, Zulfiqar Ali was quoted in other media reports several days later as saying the boycott would not be enacted until a vote was put to all members. He claims the association is made up of various factional movements, one of whom moved for a resolution on the ban in the last meeting. The group behind the motion goes by the name Khatm-i-Nabuwwat Lawyers’ Forum (KNLF).

The legal profession in Pakistan has become deeply politicized in recent years. The Lahore Bar Association in particular has been in the spotlight, as some of its’ member publicly celebrated Mumtaz Qadri, the body guard who assassinated Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer in January last year.

The more enlightened Pakistanis, however, have balked at the boycotts and have started their own support Shezan campaigns. They've also been highly critical of the lawyers and their bigotry. 

If these extremists can't even get along with fellow believers in Mohammad, how can they ever be expected to get along with the rest of us.

Mom Of Anwar al-Sadat's Killer "Very Proud" Of What Her Son Did

Only in the Arab world are mothers 'proud' of their killer offspring.

The 85-year-old mother of Egyptian Khaled al-Islambouli, the army officer who assassinated President Anwar al-Sadat on October 6, 1981, was recently interviewed by Iran's Fars news agency, and this is what she said of her son:

“I am very proud that my son killed Anwar al-Sadat. The government called him a terrorist, a criminal, and a murderer, but they didn’t say that was he was defending Islam. They didn’t say anything about the oppressed people in Palestine, about Camp David, or how Sadat sold out the country to the Jews and violated the honor of the Islamic nation."

If you remember, Sadat was murdered on the eighth anniversary of the Yom Kippur War with Israel. What prompted the assassination was the fact that Sadat made peace with Israel (through the Camp David Accord in 1979) and Islambouli, a member of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, wanted none of it. So, during the October 6 ceremony,

 gunmen ran from one of the parade vehicles with Islambouli leading an orchestrated hit, leaping from military vehicles to bombard the presidential stand with bullets. Sadat was pronounced dead two hours later and 20 others, including four American diplomats, were injured.

Islambouli and others involved in the assassination plot were executed April 15, 1982.  Naturally, they were lauded as martyrs and inspired future jihadist movements. In fact, he seemed to inspire his murderous brother, Mohamed Showqi, who in 1995 plotted to assassinate Hosni Mubarak and was sentenced to death in absentia.

And the Iranian government certainly was proud of Islambouli, since they had hatred of the Jews and Israel in common.  In fact, they were so proud, in 1981 they named a street after him in Tehran, and when he was executed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called him a martyr. And Qadriya loves Iran, after all Iran helped her get back to Egypt (from Afghanistan), and they paid for her 15-day, all-inclusive trip to Iran. Apparently, her son loved Iran too- he dreamed of an Islamic revolution taking over the Arab world. With the rise of the Islamists as a result of the Arab Spring, his dream just might be coming true.

Afghan Police Rescue 41 Would-Be Child Suicide Bombers

Just last week two 10-year-old would-be child suicide bombers (who had been previously captured and pardoned last year by Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai) were arrested along with 3 adult insurgents. Today, 41 more were 'rescued' by Afghan police from becoming walking bombs.

This time, some were are young as 6!

Dawn.com said

KABUL: The Afghan government said Monday that police had rescued 41 children from becoming suicide bombers as they were about to be smuggled across the mountains into Pakistan.

Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told a news conference that the children aged six to 11 had been released on February 15 from the clutches of four insurgents in eastern Kunar province.

He told AFP their families “were fooled by terrorists”, who promised to send them to seminaries in Pakistan where they would be “brainwashed” and “prepared for suicide bombings against Afghan and international troops in Afghanistan”.

Police arrested the four suspects and the children were returned to their families, the spokesman said.

Sadly, there will be more (and probably some of these same kids), because to the Taliban children (and women) are disposable.

Pakistan To Enact Tough Domestic Violence Law

Here's some surprising news out of Pakistan:  the Senate is finally doing something to protect women and children against domestic violence with a Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill.  The Bill also includes domestic workers in the home, who also are often subject to major mistreatment by their employers.

Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar's DV Bill, which passed unanimously in 2009 in the lower house of parliament and has now passed in the upper house, takes the whole issue of domestic violence one step further.  It won't just be a criminal offence to beat women and children, any act of violence including sexual, physical, or mental, any kind of harassment, hurt, intimidation, or "confinement and deprivation of economic of financial resources" will land someone in jail for up to six months.  They'll also be subject to a fine of at least $1,100 (100,000 rupees).

This is a major step considering it's actually a cultural and religious mandate to beat wives in Islam.




Apparently, prior to this law there were no repercussions for a man who beat his wife or child, it was simply considered a domestic affair and men were never prosecuted.   I'm not sure what took so long for it to finally reach the upper house, and the law still has to be enacted by  President Asif Ali Zardari, but it's very promising.

The U.S. would do well to follow suit and enact tougher DV laws, since we have as great a problem with domestic violence but don't have religion or culture to blame.

Hugo Chavez Cronies Lanch Smear Campaign Against Opposition Candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski

The Venezuelan presidential election is scheduled for October 7 this year, and it's already getting ugly. Hugo Chavez and his cronies, who will do anything to remain in power, have resorted to mudslinging to ensure the newly elected opposition leader, 39-year-old Henrique Capriles Radonski, has no chance of becoming president.

Surprisingly, Chavez (not the sharpest knife in the drawer) is letting his stooges do his dirty work for him, and it's nasty.  Capriles, whose maternal grandparents were Jewish, is actually a committed practicing Catholic, but that hasn't stopped Chavez associates from launching anti-Semitic attacks. Of course this is nothing new for the popular governor who won this latest nomination with an overwhelming 60 plus percent of the vote, and who is Venezuela's greatest hope for defeating Chavez in October. Since he became governor of the state of Miranda in 2008, he has been subject to  anti-Semitic slurs, and it looks like  that won't end any time soon. Since anti-Semitism isn't anything new in Venezuela, many believe bringing up his Jewish roots is a way to play into the anti-Semitic/anti-Israel feelings prevalent in that country.

Chavistas obviously fear Capriles' popularity so the attacks started almost immediately after winning the Coalition For Democratic Unity's primary.  First there were the claims that the he's a "bourgeois" and a "fascist".  Chavista Diosdado Cabello, Congress leader, said of Capriles,

'Now we know who is the candidate of imperialism, of capitalism and the right wing. The anti-patriotic candidate has a face. He won't have an easy election campaign.'

In spite of the fact that Capriles considers himself a centre-left 'progressive',  inspired by former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's form of government.

Then you have the sexual allegations from Mario Silva, the state media commentator on his The Razorblade TV show:

Silva insulted opposition leaders and then read out a purported police document reporting Capriles was caught in a car having sex with another man in 2000. Capriles denied the allegation and said the document was falsified. Police have not commented.

So far, Capriles isn't taking the bait:

'I wasn't elected to fight with anyone but to solve problems. 'The only confrontation I want is against violence, unemployment, corruption and other problems in Venezuela.'

Unfortunately, people are predicting Chavez will still probably win because of his huge support by the poor in Venezuela, but I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Good luck Henrique!!

His blog.

UPDATE:

Chavez has stepped into the fray. In a speech today he called Capriles a "low-life... pig" saying "you have a pig's tail, a pig's ears, and you snort like a pig."

His anti-Semitism rears its ugly head. Muslims have often called Jews descendants of apes and pigs.

Stay classy Chavez.

Persecuted Jews forced to leave Yemen

There are few Jews left in Yemen, and they're running scared. Not that there are many Jews in any Muslim-majority country, in spite of the fact that they pre-date Muslims in the Middle East. Of course, if the Palestinians and Ahmadinejad and the evil Mullahs have their way regarding Israel, there won't be any left in the Middle East at all.

According to historians Yemeni Jews are considered to be one of the oldest communities in the Arab world. It is thought that they wound up in Yemen some 2,500 years ago, pre-Islam, trading for King Solomon.  For the most part they have lived peacefully in Yemen for centuries, until 1947 when dozens of Jews were killed and their homes and shops were destroyed as a backlash to the creation of the state of Israel. So, from 1949 to 1950 most of the Yemeni Jewish population (over 49,000) were sent to Israel to escape the violence. Some 2,000 opted to remain, understandably so, since this had been their home for centuries. Then again in the early 1990s another 1,200 or so left, mostly to Israel, after decades of not being allowed to leave the country. Several hundred stayed behind, by choice.

Fast forward to 2004- persecution of Jews by a rebel Shiite group (Al Houthis) increased in Saada, one of the 2 remote areas of Yemen where Jews lived. In 2007 they were actually threatened by the Houthis,

"We warn you to leave the area immediately... [W]e give you a period of 10 days, or you will regret it," read a letter signed by a Al Houthi representative cited in a Reuters article.

So all 60 of the Jews from Saada fled to the capital where former President Ali Abdullah Saleh took care of them. Meanwhile, the Jews in Raida (the last Jewish enclave) lived in relative peace until December 2008 when a retired air force pilot (Abdul-Aziz al-Abdi) shot a prominent Jew, Moshe Nahari, because he refused to convert to Islam. The violence against Jews escalated when Israel mounted their offensive in Gaza towards the end of December 2008, with men and children being beaten and pelted with rocks. And even though these were not Israelis or Zionists, these were Jews who wanted to remain in Yemen, they were still harassed and persecuted until they were forced to leave. What I find interesting is that the Jews in Raida lived very similar pious, religious lives as their Muslim neighbours. In fact, Jewish women, like their Muslim sisters, rarely appeared in public and when they did they wore the Niqab (the black robes that cover the whole body except the eyes). If you look at the photo above, you can't even tell the women are Jewish.

Then in October 2009, as a result of continued anti-Semitism, the U.S. state department mounted a clandestine mission to save the Jews of Yemen. Some were brought to the U.S, some were to travel to Israel, and some remained under the guardianship of the Yemeni government.

Now, with a total Jewish population of only 450 or so, and Saleh (their protector) gone, the Jews of Yemen are very frightened. 

Community leader Rabbi Yahia Youssef Mussa told Bikyamasr.com that Saleh had over his three decades in power and had always been “kind and compassionate” towards the community, adding that now that he was leaving he feared that “groups” would target his people.

“We were living under President Saleh’s protection so far and I am now worried that the next government will ignore our plight. We don’t have the ability to push back the Shia militants if they attack us. What will become of us?” asked the Rabbi.

According to the Rabbi, the escalating trouble between Israel and Iran could mean increased trouble for them.

“Al-Houthis are financed and groomed by Iran, therefore the Jewish community in Yemen has become their target … they have already pillaged our village and stole all our belongings."

They are already noticing the difference in treatment since Saleh's departure.  Some families who had been provided with  housing after their village was raided have been asked to move.

“We were living under President Saleh’s protection so far and I am now worried that the next government will ignore our plight. We don’t have the ability to push back the Shia militants if they attack us. What will become of us?” asked the rabbi.

It looks like after all these centuries, there might not be any Jews left in Yemen.

Rep Allen West Tells The Truth About Black History and The Republican Party

It's Black History Month, and Rep Allen West, R tells the truth about Black history and the Republican Party, and it's not what the Democratic Party wants you to know.

10-Year-Old Afghan Suicide Bombers Arrested - Again - After Being Pardoned in 2011

Suicide bombers as  young as 8 are being recruited by the Taliban.   Radicalized in Madrassas in Pakistan they are told their bombs will kill the infidels but not themselves.  They figure the kids are great because no-one suspects them.

Last August, Afghan President Hamid Karzai pardoned 20 children (between the ages 8 and 17) who had been recruited as suicide bombers, and failed in their mission. Two of those pardoned kids (both 10) were caught once again, along with 3 armed adults in Kandahar. Of course, it was the children who were destined to blow themselves up, not the despicable adults.

One of the boys, Azizullah who is from Gardez City, Afghanistan said,

"Taliban recruited me last year to target foreign troops but police arrested me and President Karzai set me free and sent to an orphanage in Kabul. After passing sometimes there, I managed to flee and tried to target foreign forces again but again I was captured."  "Some Taliban last year, one day strapped a vest with some electric wires around my body and told me to press the button when you meet foreign soldiers on the streets or bazaar." "By pressing the button several soldiers will be killed and then you return home."

Nasibullah, the other 10-year-old boy from Balochistan, Pakistan, said,

"I along my family used to live in Pishin area of Balouchistan, Pakistan and used to study in a Madressa (religious school) there. One day Taliban recruited me and took me to Afghanistan. They provided training to me in Band-e-Timor area of Miwand district and after few days they took me to a road and told me to detonate whenever the foreign soldiers passing the road and then return home."

Apparently, upon release, these two young boys went straight back to Quetta, Pakistan for more training and were then shipped back to Afghanistan to try again. You can forgive them their youth and ignorance once, for believing the lies they are fed by their religious handlers, but twice?   Why were these kids not de-programmed by the Afghan government before they were pardoned and released? The kid from Pakistan wants to be pardoned again, claiming he had been cheated by a bunch of armed men.  I hope that doesn't happen before he's reeducated, for his sake and the sake of others.





Sources:  CNN blog, Xinhuanet

Bungling Iranian Terrorist Blows Off His Legs In Bangkok

The Iranians have been very busy targeting Israelis in foreign countries: Georgia, India, and now (more than likely) Thailand. Of course, they have denied any involvement in the bombings, and we should believe them because, after all, they don't lie. Remember, the assassination plot against the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S.?  All lies- until a source told Al Arabiya that the Revolutionary Guard was definitely involved. 

And although no-one is quite sure who the Bangkok targets were meant to be, Iranians can't deny it was one of their own since Saeid Moradi was caught red handed, although minus a few legs.

Moradi and two Iranian cohorts had been playing with bombs in their house when something happened and part of the roof  blew up.  The two cohorts escaped leaving a wounded Moradi behind.

According to Reuters, Police General Bansiri Prapapat told them

“He tried to wave down a taxi, but he was covered in blood, and the driver refused to take him.” He then threw an explosive at the taxi and began running.

Police who had been called to the area then tried to apprehend Moradi, who hurled a grenade to defend himself. “But somehow it bounced back” and blew off his legs, Pansiri said.

Oops.  A little instant karma there, since unfortunately four others were injured.

Pansiri claimed they found Moradi's "Iranian" passport, that Phuket was his point of entry on February 8, and that a bag was found with U.S. dollars, Iranian and Thai money.
A second suspect, Mohammad Hazaei, was apprehended at the international airport on his way to Malaysia. The third suspect is still at large.

Iran has remained mum regarding the Bangkok blasts. Guess you can't deny anything when it's quite clear the suspect is Iranian.

But I'm sure this won't be the end of the attacks, and Iran will continue to deny any involvement, if they can.

Other source: Daily Mail

Joke of the day: Chuck Woolery On The Zombie Apocalypse

Ha! 

This comes from Chuck Woolery of The Wheel of Fortune, The Dating Game, The Love Connection and Greed and Lingo fame.  He even has his own website, Save Us Chuck Woolery.

Oliver Stone's Son Sean Converts To Shia Islam While In Iran

Sean/Ali Stone fondling his pendant of Zulfiqar
(the sword of Imam Ali)

Oliver Stone's 27-year-old son Sean, who also happens to be a filmmaker, has been in Iran since early February attending the 30th Fajr International  Film Festival. Back in September of last year he apparently travelled to Tehran to inquire about filming a documentary there. I guess he was so inspired by the Shia Muslim way of life he walked into the office of Ayatollah Mohammad Nasseri Dowlatabadi  and converted to Islam.

All it takes to convert is to recite the Shahada:

“There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.” To convert to Islam, one simply has to recite this while believing it in one’s heart.

No-one knows why he chose to become a Shia Muslim, but maybe he just wanted his family to represent the three major world religions since papa Oliver is Jewish and his mum is Christian.

He claims it's no big deal:

"The conversion to Islam is not abandoning Christianity or Judaism, which I was born with. It means I have accepted Mohammad and other prophets," he said in a brief telephone call from the central Iranian city of Isfahan, where he underwent the ceremony.

Huh?

I wonder if his parents are proud of their son who now wants to be known as Ali.

Source: Teheran Times, France 24

Islamist University Students In Egypt Shut Down TV Production Because Of "Indecent" Attire

Islamist college students were actually able to shut down production on a TV series based on a novel about student union activism in Egypt in the early 1970s!  The novel "Zat" was written by Sonallah Ibrahim and

 focuses on the sit-in staged by Faculty of Engineering students in 1972 and the demonstrations they led in Tahrir Square.

Why were  students at Aim Shams University in Cairo so outraged?  They took offense to the "indecent" tight costumes the actresses were wearing. Of course, it didn't matter to them that this was simply a representation of the times.  And even though the production company had a 6 month permit to shoot on campus, the dean of of the Faculty of Engineering told the director Kamla Abu Zikri that they had to leave.

No-one involved with the production is happy about what they call a major violation of  'freedom of expression'.

Gabi Khouri, the producer has called out the university for pandering to the Islamist students. He said,

“By being passive towards the students’ action even though we were granted permission to shoot, the university is contributing to this clampdown on art and this kind of thuggery that has been prevalent since the revolution."

Apparently, Egypt recently created  an organization- the Egyptian Creativity Front-

which aims at protecting the rights of artists and freedom on artistic expression, as well as all art-related syndicates.

The production company has appealed to the ECF to ensure that this kind of situation is not duplicated, but in the meantime, they are scouting new locations.

The university was wrong to allow a few rabble-rousers to dictate how they run their establishment. Appeasing the Islamists will only serve to empower them.

Egyptian Presidential Candidate Says Women Will Be Forced To Wear Veil Or "Change Creed"

There are no personal freedoms in Islam. And as far as that famous, oft-quoted verse from the Quran "there is no compulsion in religion"? Totally bogus. Sounds like something you'd hear from a critic of Islam, right? But it isn't some so-called Islamophobe that claims such things, it's Hazem Saleh Abu Ismail, an Islamist fundamentalist (with former ties to the Muslim Brotherhood) who wants to be the next president of Egypt. And he promises that if he does get the job, women will be forced to wear the hijab (Islamic veil), or "change creed". Although he didn't get into specifics about the changing creed part of the statement and what that might entail, we all know that if someone did choose to change their religion they'd be facing apostasy charges and a death sentence, as per Shariah law which he is a huge advocate of.

Ismail said regarding personal freedom in Islam, or the lack thereof :

“If you claim that Allah considers it your personal freedom, show me your reference. Nobody has ever said that - except for people who have no understanding of the Shariah.”

The Mubarak regime kept these kinds of extremists under check with good reason.  In fact, Ismail was apparently charged with "endagering national security."   But with the advent of the Arab Spring, and the rise of the Islamists, people of Ismail's ilk are now free to run for office.

Ismail sees forcing women to wear the veil as simply following Allah's commandements.

“You see, this is the difficulty; this is Islam. Does she want to be a Muslim and not obey Allah's rules? Let them say so; that’s all I ask; let them be honorable and just speak up,” he said.

Speak up? Right. The woman wouldn't have to worry about covering her head because she would have no head to cover once it was chopped off.

As for the whole "no compulsion in Islam" that so many Muslims love to quote when trying to mollify the fears of critics, Ismail had this to say"

 following the Shariah (Islamic law) is like being in the military, where a person has to follow a strict code of conduct.

He said that the Islamic saying of “no compulsion in religion” is comparable to “no compulsion in the military, meaning that if someone wants to enter the military, he can enter and if he does not want to, he does not have to enter.”

But once a person enters the military, that person has to respect its rules, the cleric said.

“If you join, then you are obliged to wear their uniform, to attend their classes, to attend the training with them and to obey their leader,” Ismail said.

So who is this man that is bucking for the top leadership position in Egypt? Ismail is a lawyer, a scholar, and a Salafist.  He wants to end the peace treaty with Israel and reestablish relations with Iran. He has also said he will ban alcohol in public, punish immodestly dressed and make-up clad women, and force the non-Muslims in country to pay a jizya (tax) for not converting to Islam. This would effect approximately 12%  of Egyptians who are Christian Copts.  Late last year,  Ismail was seen in an online video calling Osama bin Laden a martyr for  "speaking the word of truth on power," and for "going to the front lines to work in the path of Allah." He also called on Allah to help Muslims "avenge him." 

And this could be the next president of Egypt. 
Women have lashed out against Ismail, but they're going to have to do a lot more than just complain, because if he does win, they're headed for a Saudi Arabian lifestyle.  And after all their fighting for freedom, that would be such a shame.

Gaza's Haniyeh Tells Iranian Crowd They 'Will Never Recognize Israel!"

Ismail Haniyeh, head of Gaza's terrorist leadership Hamas, reiterated (for the umpteenth time) the prime mandate regarding Palestinian/Israeli relations:  they "will never recognize Israel!"

This, of course, is nothing new, but this time around it was announced at a speech Haniyeh gave in Iran to 30,000 people celebrating the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution, or rather the descent from a cultured, civilized nation into the religious hell-hole that it now is.

Ahmadinejad and his mullahs have much in common with Haniyeh and Hamas, they all want Israel wiped off the map, and not much is going to change that mindset.  Haniyeh said to the throng,

“They want us to recognize the Israeli occupation and cease resistance but, as the representative of the Palestinian people and in the name of all the world’s freedom seekers, I am announcing from Azadi Square in Tehran that we will never recognize Israel,” Ismail Haniyeh said.

“The resistance will continue until all Palestinian land, including al-Quds (Jerusalem), has been liberated and all the refugees have returned,” he said.

Which, obviously, leaves no room for Israelis, and makes any peace brokering efforts absolutely pointless. The U.S., U.N., Russia, and more recently the E.U.,  have all played their parts in attempting to bring peace to that region, but negotiations have never been fruitful because Hamas refuses to renounce violence or recognize Israel. 

Looks like things aren't about to change any time soon.

Interpol Aided Saudi Arabia In Apprehending Saudi Mohammed Tweeter In Malaysia

This is outrageous!  It turns out Interpol was indirectly responsible for the apprehension of the Saudi columnist, Hamza Kashgari, who has had calls for his execution for apostasy after tweeting about the Prophet Mohammed. 

Interpol has been accused of abusing its powers after Saudi Arabia used the organisation's red notice system to get a journalist arrested in Malaysia for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

Police in Kuala Lumpur said Hamza Kashgari, 23, was detained at the airport "following a request made to us by Interpol" the international police cooperation agency, on behalf of the Saudi authorities.

[snip]

Kashgari's detention has triggered criticism by human rights groups of Malaysia's decision to arrest the journalist and of Interpol's cooperation in the process.

Jago Russell, the chief executive of the British charity Fair Trials International, which has campaigned against the blanket enforcement of Interpol red notices, said: "Interpol should be playing no part in Saudi Arabia's pursuit of Hamza Kashgari, however unwise his comments on Twitter.

"If an Interpol red notice is the reason for his arrest and detention it would be a serious abuse of this powerful international body that is supposed to respect basic human rights (including to peaceful free speech) and to be barred from any involvement in religious or political cases."

He called on Interpol to stand by its obligations to fundamental human rights and "to comply with its obligation not to play any part in this case, which is clearly of a religious nature".

Interpol, which has 190 member countries, has a series of coloured notice systems that police forces around the world use to pass on requests for help. Contacted at its headquarters in Lyon, France, the organisation did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the Kashgari case.

In response to past criticisms of the red notice system, it has said: "There are safeguards in place. The subject of a red notice can challenge it through an independent body, the commission for the control of Interpol's files (CCF)."

Doesn't Interpol have better things to do, and 'real' criminals to apprehend?! 

Saudi Who Faces Execution For Tweets About Mohammed Arrested In Malaysia

23-year-old Saudi writer/journalist/columnist Hamza Kashgari (aka Mohammad Najeeb A Kashgari) who fled the Kingdom after his tweets about Prophet Mohammed caused a furor, including calls for a death sentence, was arrested in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Airport. I'm not sure what possessed him to fly to Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country that isn't as moderate as it claims to be, because even though the Saudis and Malaysians have no 'formal' extradition treaty, it looks like he will probably be extradited under other security agreements.

Malaysia's Home Minister, Hishammuddin Tun Hussain, said:

“The police have been in contact with authorities in Saudi Arabia to determine further action.”

It all started after Kashgari tweeted:

"I have loved things about you and I have hated things about you and there is a lot I don't understand about you." [then added] "I will not pray for you."

Oops. Not something you want to say in country where apostasy is met with calls for death. Demands for his trial as an "apostate" have come from top clerics and others who want his head for having insulted their beloved prophet. Of course, that's exactly what Shariah law calls for, so no surprise there.  And even though the lad apologized, people were having none of his contrition, even though Shariah law clearly states that someone gets 3 days to repent before his/her head gets chopped off.

The usual suspects have already created a Facebook page: "The Saudi people demand Hamza Kashgari's execution". It apparently has almost 10,000 fans, and the administrators were calling for efforts to increase the number.

"Our page has almost 10,000 members... but we need you to work harder. The prophet deserves more respect," said one post.

Top Saudi clerics, calling him an "infidel" and "apostate" want him tried in a Shariah court (that's so they can execute him).  Their statement said,

"Muslim scholars everywhere have agreed that those who insult Allah and his prophet or the (Muslim holy book) Koran or anything in religion are infidels and apostates."

After a meeting of The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Religious Edicts (Ifta), the Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh also called for action, stating that mocking Mohammad was apostasy, sacrilegious and kufr (infidelity).

"Whoever dares make a mockery of Allah, the Prophet or the Holy Book undermines the religion and displays enmity toward it. It is the duty of the rulers to try such a criminal," the committee said, warning Muslims to stay away from such practices so as to avoid exasperating God.

Then the website, The Prophet's Sunnah and Sciences, piped in:

"This is a sacrilegious action necessitating harsh punitive measures to deter others who might think of doing the same thing," supervisor of the website Faleh Al-Saqeer said. He expressed confidence that the rulers of this Islamic country would not allow the culprit to get off scot-free.

Of 30,000 plus tweets in response to Kashgari's so-called transgression, only a lone voice here and there asked for forgiveness:

"Brothers, the man has repented. If the prophet himself was here he would have forgiven him and ended this," said tweeter Saleh al-Ghamdi.

It's rather telling that most Muslims are calling for his execution or, barring his head, at least some serious form of punishment.  So much for mercy in Islam.

Sources: GulfNews, Breitbart,  ArabNews,

Brussells University Debate Heckled By Muslim Fundamentalists

There is no civil discourse when it comes to Islamic fundamentalists. They allow no room for debate, no freedom of speech, and civility is a word that does not seem to exist in their lexicon. We often witness their uncivilized behaviour at University lectures and debates.  Back in 2010, on the UC Irvine Campus, Muslim students heckled a lecture on American/Israeli relations given by Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Michael B Oren.  The video shows just how disrespectful the students were.

This time their boorish behaviour was captured on tape at a Brussels University (ULB) where French journalist Caroline Fourest (a secularist) was set to debate Hervé Hasquin on the subject: "Has the extreme right become socially acceptable or not?" Fourest, a feminist, anti-racist, anti-Islamic Totalitarianism  received death threats (along with 11 others) in 2006 for signing: Manifesto: Together Facing the New Totalitarianism, a response to the violence that erupted after the Danish Jyllands-Posten Mohammed Cartoons. 

The debate had yet to begin when some rabble-rousers (including some niqab-clad women) started heckling the participants accusing Fourest of Islamophobia.  At about 4:36 on the video below, they start getting rowdy and chanting "Burqa!!"  bla-bla.

At one point, after being goaded by the debate moderator Guy Haarscher into coming on stage to speak, the instigator of the protest, Souhail Chichah, an assistant and researcher in economics at the university, grabbed a veil and continued his harangue.  Apparently, Chichah (who is said to have extremist views) had for several days been calling for "Burqa Pride" on various social networks, and was devoted to the "stoning of Caroline Fourest".

Fourest finally left, escorted by security, saying she would never return.

University officials were so outraged by this clear violation of freedom of expression, that the rector has called for a disciplinary board to look into what actions should be taken against Chichah.

He should be fired.

 


H/T Islam In Europe

Islamist Trouble In The Maldives After President Mohamed Nasheed Forced To Resign

There's trouble in paradise, it seems. The Maldives- the chichi resort destination for the rich and sometimes-famous located in the Indian Ocean- also happens to be exclusively Muslim; no tolerance for other religions here. But the most recent president, Mohamed Nasheed (a human rights, pro-democracy activist who toppled the 30 year reign of his predecessor), was the first democratically-elected president in the history of the Island nation. He also didn't last long. Elected in 2008, he claims he was forced to resign at gunpoint on February 7, 2012 after a mutiny- read, coup d'etat- by police.

Apparently, trouble had been brewing for several weeks after Nasheed ordered the arrest of the Chief Justice of the Criminal Court, Abdulla Mohamed, "for corruption, in particular for allowing his judicial decisions to be determined by political and personal affiliations and interests", and for releasing  Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, a government critic .  Ahmed was said to have made “slanderous” allegations that Nasheed's government was in cahoots with “Jews and Christian priests” to weaken Islam in the Maldives by bringing Christianity to the islands, establishing diplomatic ties with Israel, and doing business with Jews.

The Maldives have always had a somewhat moderate take on Islam, but Islamists are a growing problem there, as they are elsewhere. Nasheed had troubles earlier last year with religious hardliners who believed him to be too liberal, and therefore un-Islamic, calling for more conservative policies. And yesterday, a mob of those Islamic radicals trashed a bunch of statues (including some Buddhist ones) in the national museum, because idolatry is forbidden in Islam.

Nasheed's successor, Vice President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik says he had nothing to do with the change of guard, but that seems unlikely. However, he has promised to protect Nasheed, and has called for peace and a unity government.

Ironically, the country is set for presidential elections next November. 

With an economy that is largely dependent upon tourism, the Maldivians better think twice about allowing their radical, ultra religious elements to gain control.  Religious fundamentalism and tourism don't mix. The current situation is already causing problems with tourism.  There are many beautiful Island paradises without the religious baggage that the Maldive Islands obviously have.

Other sources: Guardian UK, BBC, WebIndia

The Reason Iran Is So Intransigent- The Twelfth Imam

Former CIA agent Charles Faddis, who worked the Near East and South Asia region for 20 years, explains why dealing with Iran in a rational manner is futile. It's all about the Mahdi (the 12th Imam aka the Hidden Imam).

In a commentary in the Tampa Tribune, he writes:

Several years ago, prior to my retirement from the CIA, I was meeting with a senior Iranian asset in the Middle East. I had finished debriefing him on the intelligence he had to provide, and we had launched into a more expansive conversation about the overall direction of American policy toward Iran. I was trying to explain the rationale behind our sanctions regime and the thought process that had led us to conclude that we could persuade the Islamic Republic of Iran to modify its behavior.

The asset interrupted me. "You really don't have any idea who you are dealing with, do you?" he asked. I told him I was not sure I understood what he meant.

The source elaborated. We were under the illusion we were dealing with rational actors. We were not. We were under the illusion we were playing a game, which would stretch out over many years. Our adversaries in Iran shared no such belief. They expected this conflict to reach its climax in the very near future.

They also knew, to a moral certainty, that they would win.

Iran is an overwhelmingly Islamic nation, and almost all Iranians belong to the Twelver sect of the Shia branch of Islam. This sect awaits the return of the 12th Imam, or Mahdi, a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammed anointed by Allah himself. According to the Twelvers, the Mahdi has been in hiding in caves since the 9th century.

The Mahdi has been hidden for 1,200 years now, but he will return just before the Day of Judgment. According to the Hadith, his return will be preceded by three years of chaos, violence and cataclysmic events. He will rule over the world for a period of seven years, eliminate all tyranny and oppression, and usher in an era of peace. He is, in many ways, the Muslim equivalent of the Jewish Messiah or the Second Coming of Christ. He is, however, the only one of these apocalyptic figures who expressly intends violent world conquest.

Some Twelvers, including the current president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameinei, believe that they are to prepare the way for the return of the Mahdi. In order to do so, they are to bring on the state of chaos and destruction, which will precede the Madhi's return. The worse things get; the faster they win.

The source's point was not simply to remind me of the tenets of the Twelver sect, with which I was already familiar. It was to stress the literal sense in which these tenets were understood by Ahmadinejad, Khameinei and their supporters. These were not, the source stressed, metaphors or parables. Ahmadinejad did not understand the story of the Mahdi to be a reference to some end state in which the world would live in peace and harmony. He understood it in a completely literal, simplistic way. He accepted it word for word as the absolute truth.

Read the rest here.

It's fascinating, and reaffirms my belief that the reason Iran is being so intransigent about everything is that they are bucking for a major confrontation that will herald the 12th Imam.

Clint Eastwood Says He's Not Politically Affiliated With Mr Obama

The specially produced commercials are one of the greatest attractions of the Superbowl. People often look forwards to them (and the half-time show) as much as they do the actual game. For some, it's the only reason to watch. The ads get graded and talked about, and one that hit the ground running, in terms of talk, was the Clint Eastwood/Chrysler "It's Half Time In America" ad. The lefty blogosphere and Obama's people were elated, believing it to be an endorsement of Obama and his auto bailout, and perhaps that was Chrysler's intention, but Eastwood's? Nah. 

In an exclusive interview with Ron Mitchell, a producer for Fox's O'Reilly Factor, Eastwood said this:

"I just want to say that the spin stops with you guys, and there is no spin in that ad. On this I am certain.

l am certainly not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama. It was meant to be a message about just about job growth and the spirit of America. I think all politicians will agree with it. I thought the spirit was OK.

I am not supporting any politician at this time. Chrysler to their credit didn’t even have cars in the ad. Anything they gave me for it went for charity.

If any Obama or any other politician wants to run with the spirit of that ad, go for it."

The right feel betrayed by someone they thought was conservative.  However, although a registered Republican, Clint Eastwood is more of a moderate, libertarian-leaning Republican. But, politics aside, what most people fail to remember is that actors are paid to endorse products that they don't necessarily like.  They are cast in movies or plays with different agendas than their own.  I have played 'liberal' parts, but that does not make me a liberal. I remember seeing a local actress in a political ad for a conservative politician, and she's a flaming liberal.  That didn't stop her from claiming her paycheck. 

Yes, Clint donated his money to charity, but he was paid. And I'm sure if it was an outright endorsement of Obama, he would have refused. But Eastwood is a patriot, and obviously liked the can-do, we will prevail "spirit" of the ad. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Syria Releases 7/7 London Terror Attack 'Mastermind' To Get Back At The West

This is how mature leaders act: they release jailed terrorists as a threat and retaliatory measure against their perceived enemies- in this case, the whole Western world.

The man accused of planning the London 7/7 bombings in 2005 has been freed from a Syrian jail by the embattled regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Abu Musab al-Suri had been held in Syria, his country of birth, for six years after being captured by the CIA under its controversial extraordinary rendition program, The Telegraph reported on Sunday.

But his release is now said to have come as a warning to Western allies, the United States and Britain, about the consequences of turning their backs on the Syrian regime.

{snip} (As though we would side with a regime that has killed over 6,000 people in a little less than a year.)

Suri’s release is thought to be part of a Syrian backlash on its new Western foes. The Syrian was also identified as an al-Qaeda operations chief in Europe, also going by the name of Mustafa Setmariam Nasar.

His release was revealed by Syrian opposition website Sooryoon.net last week, citing local sources.

A statement on the site read: “The timing of his release raises a lot of questions and observers believe the release may indicate the regime is stopping security co-operation with the Americans and thus releasing all those Washington considers a threat to its interests.”

Though not as deadly as the 9/11 attack,  7/7 claimed 52 dead and over 700 injured.  Suri was also said to be linked to the train bombings in Madrid in 2004 (191 dead), and the 1995 Paris metro attack. Apparently, Spain has its sights set on Suri, but capturing terrorists has never proved to be easy.

Too bad he wasn't sent off to Guantanamo to join his jihad brothers-in-arms. 

His release, no doubt, will be a boon to al Qaeda.

Iran Now Bans Homer Simpson Dolls

Doh! Those wacky Iranians are at it again. Last month Barbie Dolls were banned and therefore deemed haram (forbidden). This month, it's Homer Simpson and his gang. The dolls, that is.

The Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, (yes, there's actually a governmental agency for this) banned the Homer Simpson dolls because owning them promotes Western culture, and we know how odious Western culture is in the eyes of the mullahs.  Apparently Spiderman and Superman are cool, because they happen to be heroes, and “They help oppressed people and they have a positive stance.”  At least according to Mohammad Hossein Farjoo, secretary of the above agency.

Okay.

Farjoo said of Homer Simpson:

“We do not want to promote this cartoon by importing the toys.” 

He did not elaborate on what was wrong with the Simpsons specifically. But he noted that any doll on which genitals are distinguishable, as well as dolls of adults, are banned. So were toys with speakers that blare out the voices of Western singers, or toy kitchen sets that include glasses for drinking alcoholic beverages.

Dolls of adults? Why?

Last month, they wound up shuttering a bunch of shops for selling Barbies illegally. I'm sure another slew are headed for closure.

Brigitte Gabrielle Video On The Islamization Of Our Schools and Universities

Spitfire Brigitte Gabriel from ACT! For America talks about the Islamization of our universities and schools at an anti-Shariah conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Some very sobering information about indoctrination in our educational system, including a 3 week course for 7th graders where they are taught how to be Muslim through immersion. Gabriel has no problem having her children learn about different religions (including Islam) but believes it should be taught at home not at school.  She also brings up a salient point: if this was a 3 week course on Christianity or Judaism, there would be a huge uproar.

Well worth watching.

Atheist Indonesian Civil Servant Faces Five Years In Jail For Blasphemy

The constitution of so-called 'moderate' Indonesia calls for freedom of religion, with one caveat, however- it has to be one of the 6 state sanctioned faiths. You're good to go if you practice mainstream Islam (minority sects like the Ahmadiyah are a no-no), Buddhism, Catholicism, Confucianism (go figure),Hinduism and Protestantism. I guess you're out of luck if your a Jew. And although Atheism is not a religion, per se, if your an Atheist in Indonesia you better watch out.

30-year-old Alexander Aan, a West Sumatran civil servant and avowed Atheist, created a Facebook Page called Ateis Minang (Minang Atheist) that now has over 2,000 likes. Aan has been very open about his disbelief in God and other religious 'myths' like the devil, angels and heaven and hell. Unfortunately, Aan lives in a heavily Muslim locale and fellow residents took umbrage with a recent post that said "God doesn't exist".  That post was enough to trigger a posse of angry Muslims who trekked on over to his office and beat the man up. He was subsequently arrested, and could face up to five years for blasphemy. He has support from his on-line Facebook 'fans who are encouraging him to stick to his 'beliefs', but extremists, of course, want his head.

The Islamic Society Forum (FUI), an umbrella group for several hardline groups, said that a five-year jail term for Aan would not suffice.

“He deserves the death penalty, even if he decides to repent. What he has done cannot be tolerated,” said Muhammad al-Khaththath, FUI’s secretary-general.

“It is important to prevent this group from spreading atheism in this country,” he added.

He does have the backing of the International Atheist Alliance which has called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to drop all blasphemy charges.

“This is a law that has been used to promote mob violence and intimidation against those who do not agree with... vigilante groups,” said the letter, copies of which were also sent to the United Nations and Human Rights Watch.

Although he has many supporters in those 2,000 plus fans, many who joined after the news of his arrest made headlines are Muslims, and they too are calling for death to all Atheists.

“These atheists should be beheaded, that’s what they deserve,” wrote a man who identified himself as Putra Tama, a Muslim from neighboring Jambi province.

“If you think your arguments are true, why don’t you just have a face-to-face meeting with us, people who still believe in God? You’re just a group of cowards,” taunted a post by another Muslim.

According to local police chief Chairul Aziz, Aan (who was born a Muslim and became an Atheist in 2008) apparently said that he was willing to revert to Islam, but unfortunately it won't make any difference.

“He expressed his intention to convert to Islam but he has not performed an Islamic declaration of faith. Even if he does so, he still can't escape from justice due to his blasphemous act,” Aziz told AFP.

He could also be in trouble for claiming he was a Muslim when he applied for his job, and could be fired.

So much for moderate Indonesia and its bogus freedom of religion.

Sources: Al Arabiya, Jakarta Post

Egyptian Actor Fined For Insulting Islam

Egypt has its own version of frivolous lawsuits but over there you can get jail time. In a suit that would immediately have been thrown out of court in the West, the Arab world's most famous comic film star, 71-year-old Adel Imam, has been fined 1,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $170.00). In addition to the fine, he has also been sentenced to 3 months in jail (in absentia) for insulting Islam. 

The case was brought by Asran Mansour, a lawyer with ties to Islamist groups, and had languished in court for months, judicial sources said.

Mansour accused the actor of offending Islam and its symbols, including beards and the Jilbab, a loose-fitting garment worn by some Muslims, the Egyptian news portal Ahramonline reported.

Among films and plays targeted by the lawyer were the movie “Morgan Ahmed Morgan” and the play “Al-Zaeem” (“The Leader”), the report said.

Another of his criticized works was a production back in 1994 called "The Terrorist" (al-Irhabi), but according to Imam

“All the works in which I have starred went through the censors. Had they been found to be defamatory, the censors would have banned them.”

Apparently this isn't the first time that someone in the entertainment industry has been sued for allegedly disrespecting Islam, it happens all the time to artist/intellectual types. But this case is different because Imam is a celebrity, the case sat around for a long while and was only resurrected since Islamists have come to power. 

Our prisons would be full if this happened in the U.S. There are so many films and plays that people find offensive, but thank God we live in a democracy where you might be black-balled for a while, or criticized but never fined or jailed.

Liam Neeson Thinking Of Converting To Islam?

Update: 1/15/15 Apparently, Liam Neeson is not converting to Islam.

Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson is thinking of converting to Islam?

According to the Australian 'Herald Sun' he is. The 59-year-old Catholic was so inspired by the Islamic call to prayer and the beautiful mosques, while recently filming in Istanbul, that he's toying with the idea of converting to Islam.

"The call to prayer happens five times a day, and for the first week, it drives you crazy, and then it just gets into your spirit, and it's the most beautiful, beautiful thing.

“There are 4000 mosques in the city. Some are just stunning, and it really makes me think about becoming a Muslim."

Either he had one pint too many or he's still grieving the death of his beloved Natasha Richardson, but really, Liam?

It seems he has been challenged of late:

"I was reared a Catholic, but I think every day we ask ourselves, not consciously, what are we doing on this planet? What's it all about? I'm constantly reading books on God or the absence of God and atheism," he said.

And is obviously spiritually seeking, but I hope he finds his way to some other spiritual practice.

Iran's Cyberpolice Arrest Four Facebook Page Administrators Over Beauty Competition

It looks like Iran's cyberpolice have nothing better to do than target young Iranians just trying to have a little fun on Facebook.  After inviting its 27,000 or so fans to take part in a 'hot' Iranian beauty competition, the cyberpolice tracked down the four administrators (two men and two women) of "Daaf and Paaf) and promptly arrested them.

The chief of the cyberpolice, Kamal Hadian, made the announcement on January 30 in a press conference in Tehran.

He said the force had “destroyed” the group, which he accused of spreading corruption and immorality.

The cyberpolice also posted a note on the group's Facebook wall in which it said that the two women and two men who administered the page have confessed to their crimes.

“In the name of God, we inform you that the page 'Daaf and Paaf' is now under the control of [the cyberpolice]," the note said. "The four main managers of this group have been identified and arrested on the charge of inciting and encouraging individuals to access vulgar content through the Internet."

Because beauty, of course, is vulgar.

I wasn't able to track down the Facebook page, but apparently FB users struck back:

“You...took away the right of the youth to be happy in the streets; they are all sitting at home spending their days and nights having online fun. Now you have an issue with this too?" wrote one user.

Others targeted Iran’s supreme leader with comments such as “Down with Khamenei! Down with the dictator!”

Many fear that those who posted their pictures on the Daaf and Paaf wall will be targeted next.