Dutch Muslim Mayor Tells Muslims Who Don't Want Freedom- "F**k Off" "Pack your bags and leave"

The Moroccan-born mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, got it right when he told fellow Muslims in the Netherlands that if they don't want the freedom that is part and parcel of living in the West, then  "pack your bags and leave."  He came out with that pithy remark right after the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris. he also told them to eff-off.

According to the U.K. Daily Mail, Aboutaleb was quoted as saying on live Dutch TV:

“It is incomprehensible that you can turn against freedom." “But if you don’t like freedom, for heaven’s sake pack your bags and leave.”

“..and if you can't accept humorists who create a newspaper, then I would like to say f*** off.”

This is stupid, this so incomprehensible. Vanish from the Netherlands if you cannot find your place here. All those well-meaning Muslims here will now be stared at'.

53-year-old Aboutaleb was a journalist before eventually becoming mayor in 2008.

His message to immigrants:

'stop seeing yourself as victims, and if you don't want to integrate, leave'.

Yes. His is a voice of reason. We need more Aboutalebs. Though who knows how long he'll last being this outspoken.

Video, photos and more info on Mayor Aboutaleb on the UK Daily Mail.

Ex-Muslimah Talks About Freedom and Living In Fear

From the blog of a Lebanese ex-Muslim, atheist who moved to the U.S. 11 months ago.

In this blog post: What it is like to be a Muslim woman, and why we know what freedom is (and you may not), "Marwa"  talks about what it was like to finally experience total freedom, for the first time ever. Fascinating read. I don't think we fully understand what it's like to live in constant, unmitigated fear. She takes you there.

I have keys.

When I first moved to the United States eleven months ago, it took me several weeks to grasp this bit of information.

I have keys.

I have keys to my own front door and I can open this front door and walk down the street whenever I want to.

I can walk down the street without being watched through the windows and without anyone calling my parents and telling them I am roaming loose on the street.

I can walk down the street, sit down on a bench under a tree, and eat an iced cream cone. Then I can stand up and walk back home.

There will be nobody waiting for me at my house to ask me where I have been, refuse to let me in, call me a liar, and use my walk as renewed incentive to rifle through all of my possessions for proof that I am doing something wrong.

Because the simple desire to take a walk cannot but hide something deviant.

Because there is no good reason why a woman should want to walk down the street just to walk, and expose herself to the questioning and predatory eyes of the neighbors and strange men.

I have keys to my front door, now, and I can open my front door and walk down the street whenever I want to.

Read the rest of her essay on her blog  Between a Veil and a Dark Place.

Ad- Hungarian Born Billionaire Warns Americans About Socialism

Thomas Peterffy, Hungarian born billionaire and founder of Interactive Brokers, grew up under Socialism, he has paid for and produced an ad- starring him- warning the American people of the slippery slope we are headed towards.




Source: Townhall

Muslim Voice Of Reason: Progressive Kuwaiti Scholar Says: "Freedom Before Shariah'

Every once in a while a Muslim scholar surprises me with his somewhat enlightened thinking. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it's quite refreshing. Kuwaiti scholar Tariq al-Suwaidan is obviously one of the more progressive, liberal Muslim types willing to take a stand against the increasingly conservative tide in the Middle East. Surprisingly, he believes that freedom trumps Shariah.

Tariq al-Suwaidan, who is head of the Kuwait-based Al-Risala TV station, and has his own TV program, was speaking at the al-Nahdha conference for a graduates association in Kuwait on Saturday when he said “If Islamists start to become tyrants in the countries that were hit by the Arab Spring, we will revolt against them just like we did against their predecessors.”
“Freedom is a holy right and is one of the principles in Islam ... Freedom is to do and say what a person wishes but in a polite manner and without hurting others.”
Suwaidan who was later defensive over his remarks, took to his Twitter page and wrote: “I gave the same lecture three years ago, and [my views] do not represent the views the graduates association or the al-Nahdha Conference, but are my beliefs.”

The scholar, who said that it was liberals who eradicated slavery in Islam and not the Islamists, added, “a human being is free in his movements and where he wants to belong, and convictions are what move people, and not force...”

Suwaidan has spoken before on freedom coming before Sharia on his TV program three years ago and was reiterating his belief.

He also questioned how Muslims shun Christian missionaries in their countries while Christians allow Muslims to propagate Islam on their lands.

Indeed. But they're not only shunned, they're also killed, like teacher Joel Shrum who was murdered in Yemen for proselytizing, even though this was not the case.

Apparently, Suwaidan was also highly critical of the recent call to ban churches in certain Muslim-majority countries. 

One has to wonder how long he's going to last before a fatwa is placed on his head. Or maybe this is the beginning of a trend towards modernizing a religion in major need of change?

Nah.

Video- Message From Iranian Women To Tunisian and Egyptian Women

Interesting YouTube video showing the journey from freedom to oppression (in photos) of Iranian women. Iran was certainly different pre-revolution. I'm sure they had no idea what would eventually happen to them. However, the Egyptians, Tunisians and Libyans have no excuse. If they choose Islamism over democracy, they will suffer the same fate as the Iranians, and it will be their fault.

Sharia for Libya- Arab World Not Ready For Democracy

I'd like to think that the Arab world is civilized enough for democracy, but it is becoming increasingly clear that this is not the case.  At least democracy in the true sense of the word.

What the West has been touting as the "Arab Spring" - revolutions that have toppled regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya- is turning out to be nothing more than a re-awakening of racist, Islamist sentiments in the citizenry and leadership of some of those countries. Rather than embracing the  freedom and equality  that is part and parcel of  democracies, countries like Libya and Egypt are taking a step backwards.

Take Mustafa Abdel Jalil, interim head of Libya's National Transitional Council, who has said that although the new government will not tolerate "extremist ideology": In other words, Libya will become an Islamic state. Sharia Law is most definitely extreme, and lacks any of the fundamentals of equality, as much as Muslims like to claim otherwise. And any country that has Sharia as its rule of law, in no way qualifies to be called a democracy.  Then there are the  allegations of racism  by the so-called rebel liberators of Libya.  Apparently, they have been trying to purge Libya of the black Africans, and as a result have been arresting and murdering them. They deny it, but according to human rights organizations, there is plenty of proof. However, the hatred is definitely there, whether true or not.  According to one rebel "Libyan people don't like people with dark skins." They also don't like Jews, evident in the anti-Semitic cartoons of Gaddafi.

"We seek a state of law, prosperity and one where sharia is the main source for legislation, and this requires many things and conditions."  

And I don't hold much hope for Egypt, as far as Sharia goes, if the Muslim Brotherhood gets its grips on the leadership of that country. And one of the few Middle Eastern lands that was a quasi- friend to Israel is now hurtling in the opposite direction. The current military dictatorship has no love for Israel, and that doesn't seem likely to change.  In fact, Arab Muslim journalist Khaled Abu Toameh, partially blames the government for inciting the recent mob attack on the Israeli Embassy.  According to Toameh, several days before the rampage, 23-year-old  Ahmed al-Shahat climbed 20 floors to the Israeli Embassy and removed its flag.  Rather than punishing the young man, he was honored for his "courageous" deed, and given both a job and an apartment. This, Toameh believes, was more than likely the catalyst for storming the Embassy- individuals hoping to get their praise and piece of the cake in a country with high unemployment.  He fears that it will only encourage more violence.

I'm sure there are some in that region who might possibly possess the intellectual means to embrace freedom and democracy, but I think the vast majority don't and probably never will.





Sources: UKDailyMail, GuardianUK,

Make Mine Freedom: 1948 Pro-Freedom Cartoon Predicted Where The U.S. Is Now Headed

Directed by Hanna/Barbera in 1948, this cold-war era cartoon was produced by Harding College.

It was quite prophetic in terms of the dissolution of our freedoms, and the spiral towards the bad 'isms' that we seem to be headed for. They warned us about this 60 plus years ago. Worth a watch.

Freedom of Speech Canuck-Style- Blue Host Shuts Down Blogger At Behest of Canadian Immigrant Dr. Asad Raza

There are some who obviously have no clue about the concept of 'freedom of speech', or 'public domain', 'fair use' or what the definitions of slander, defamation and libel are. Perhaps it's because freedom, let alone free speech, doesn't exist in the countries they emigrated from, but it's something most Westerners cleave to, like a baby to its mother's breast. It's something we cherish deeply and will defend at any cost. We might disagree with what an individual says or does, but we almost always agree that they have the right to say or do it. That is, as long as it harms no-one physically.

Many non-Western immigrants who move to the West are grateful for their new opportunities and new-found freedom. Many others have a challenging time adapting to certain aspects of Western society including the fact that we are all entitled to criticize anyone or anything we choose, right or wrong. And whether they like it or not it's one of our inalienable rights, at least in the U.S. At least for now. I'm not so sure about Canada, as it seems our poor cousins up north are going the way of the UK, and their freedom of speech is being challenged left and right. Using the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) as a weapon, bloggers are being sued by these people for alleged 'hate crimes' for something that is nothing more than criticism. My Canadian blogger buddy Blazing Catfur has written extensively about the problem there. We haven't quite reached that point in this country, yet, but I'm sure we're not too far behind. Thankfully, we can still blast someone here, including our President, without being thrown in jail or killed, like in Egypt or Pakistan or Iran. And suing is something that is becoming very common with many of these entitled immigrants when they feel they are being criticized or their demands are not met. And with the help of the CHRC in Canada, and organizations like CAIR (Council on American and Islamic Relations) in the U.S., they often win. As a result, all they have to do is threaten to sue and people cave in to their demands.

This is what happened to a Canadian blogger, Marginalized Action Dinosaur (MAD), who wrote a post about one Dr. Asad Raza, founder of a website that no longer seems to exist called notcanada.com . Essentially a site dedicated to griping about being an immigrant in Canada, Dr. Raza wrote a list of top 8 things he hated about his adopted country including the health care crisis, high taxes and cost of living, no jobs, no culture and the bad weather. (U.S. Obamacare proponents take note!) An ingrate, sure, however all that criticism was absolutely within his rights in a free country; although I'm assuming no-one put a gun to his head and forced him to emigrate to Canada. MAD then chose to respond with a post of his own, referencing Raza's gripe-fest and commenting on each gripe made. Absolutely within MAD's rights too, in a free country. No slander, no defamation, no libel. Raza has since left Canada and has been working in the U.S. on an H-1B Visa, though I'm not sure what his legal status is since he was querying about it on online immigration forum just seven months ago.

The bizarre thing is, MAD's post was written back in 2007, but for some reason Raza stumbled upon it, got a bug up his you know what and decided that MAD's criticism was slanderous and defamatory and demanded that he remove it. Hmmm. Lets see. What's the dictionary definition of slander:

a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name.

Since all MAD happened to do was re-post something Raza actually wrote, with a link and attribution along with a few side commentaries (none of which were defamatory, as you can see for yourself), there is quite obviously no slander involved. Had he called him an incompetent, psychopathic pedophile axe murder, that's a totally different story; yes that would be defamation of character and slanderous. But being critical of someone for something they said or did is not defamation of character, nor slander if it's based on unequivocal truth. Gossip maybe, but not slander. And in this case, these were Raza's own words. But when the doc didn't get his way, like a spoiled child, he turned to MAD's ISP BlueHost.Com, which in turn threatened MAD and eventually shut him down. It was re-instated, several days later, but not before causing MAD much grief. He was threatened for publishing

....so called personal and private information from the dear doctors website.

Excuse me, but none of the information MAD published was personal or private. The Internet is a public forum, as was Raza's website notcanada.com, and if you don't want people to access that information then stay away from the world wide web. If you're stupid enough to think that anything you write won't be accessible (forever!) through google's cache, and that you won't eventually be tracked down if you post your email address and deep 'private' thoughts on some public forum, then you deserve what you get. People have been fired because they have posted something critical about their work place or bosses on some forum or social networking site or via email, and their bosses happened to discover it. People have not been hired for the same reason. Word to the wise, nothing is private on the WWW. If you don't want the world to know it, don't write it.

So, as a result of the initial shut-down of MAD's blog by Blue Host, fellow freedom-loving Canuck bloggers became naturally outraged, banded together and took to their respective blog platforms to rally against this obvious attack on freedom of speech. This has sent the already angry doc into paroxysms of rage, and now he's on a rampage threatening to sue everyone for defamation. Good luck with that one.

Message to Asad Raza if you happen to google your name and come across this post:

The West is very different, doc. Please adapt. Get to know our laws. And had you understood the concept of 'freedom of speech', and the notion that if you can criticize so can others, and that this post was three years old, and had you left well enough alone and not forced an ISP to shut down a blogger, none of these people would be writing about you on their blogs, and you wouldn't be threatening to sue them if they refuse to remove their posts about your foolish actions. Don't even think about suing me, because this is a free country and your legal status here is questionable. And yes, I am giving you permission to criticize me for my commentary- you have as much right to criticize me as I have to criticize you, so go ahead, I'm a big girl, I can take it. But please just move on with your life. It's not worth it. You made this non-issue into a huge one by challenging those who embrace freedom with as fierce a will as a lion mama protecting her cub. Just know that we will continue to fight for your right to criticize Canada (and wherever, whatever and whomever else you choose) along with our right to criticize you.

Physician, go in peace. You'll have a much better life.

Student Protests In Iran

Raw footage of the anti-Ahmadinejad student protests in Tehran, December 7th. Warms the cockles of one's heart. Let's all pray for their safety and that they are able to accomplish their dream of democracy in Iran.

International Free Press Day- 9/30/09

In honor of the courage displayed by Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper that had the cojones to publish the Mohammed cartoons on 9/30/05, the International Free Press Society (IFPS) has designated September 30 as International Free Press Day. To commemorate the day, the IFPS is sponsoring 73-year-old Kurt Westergaard on a tour of several U.S. cities-including Yale, Princeton and New York city. Westergaard was one of 12 artists who created cartoons of Mohammed in response to Denmark's caving in to political correctness with regards to Islamic shariah law. Not surprisingly, since publishing his Mohammed with a bomb-atop-his-turban cartoon, Westergaard has needed state security for protection, since his life has been threatened. Because, well, there's no freedom in Islam, let alone freedom of speech.

So here's to Kurt Westergaard and all those who dare to exercise their right to free speech.

URGENT: Stop The Execution Of Farzad Kamangar

"On 25 February 2008, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Farzad Kamangar to death on charges of "endangering national security" and "enmity against God" (moharebe). The death penalty was confirmed by the Supreme Court on 11 July. "

A teacher, former member of a Kurdish teacher's union (until outlawed) and human right's activist, Farzad Kamangar was scheduled to be executed today! Thankfully, according to one source (International Campaign For Human Rights In Iran), he was not, although 10 others (including a woman) were, and there is still the likelihood that Kamangar will be hanged, at some point.

In a letter from prison, Kamangar describes the details of his arrest, and the torture he has endured while incarcerated:

In July of 2006 I came to Tehran to follow upon my brother's medical treatments. My brother is a Kurdish political activist. Upon my arrival in Tehran I was arrested and taken to an unknown place, it was a very small, dark basement. The cells in this place were empty, there were no blankets or rugs or sheets. They took me to a room and as they were interviewing me they asked me about my ethnicity. When I told them that I was of the Kurdish Ethnicity they lashed my entire body. They also lashed me because of the Kurdish music which I had saved on my mobile phone. They would tie my hands, make me sit on a chair and put pressure on the sensitive areas of my body. They would also strip me naked and threaten me with rape by various objects such as wood.

His trial was a farce. According to Khalil Bahramian, Farzad’s lawyer:

“Nothing in Kamangar’s judicial files and records demonstrates any links to the charges brought against him.” He described the trial as “lasting no more than five minutes, with the judge issuing his sentence without any explanation and then promptly leaving the room.” {snip} the closed-door trial violated the Iranian legal requirements that such cases must be tried publicly and in the presence of a jury.

Please send an email to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad requesting, at the very least, that Kamangar get a fair trial. You can email him directly at: dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

or via the Education International website by clicking here, which has a pre-written letter

Being sentenced to death for being Kurdish, a human right's activist or trade union member, or all of the above, is outrageous.

Please take a moment to do this. That moment could save an innocent man's life.

China, Censorship and The Olympics

China just doesn't get it. It has clear goals of becoming a major superpower, has introduced market based economic reforms and is now considered to be the fourth largest economy in the world, and yet it still falls pitifully behind in terms of its political and social reforms. Who cares how much money you have in your pocket if you have no freedom, if you continuously fear what you say might land you in jail, if you have little access to information other than what your government deems appropriate. I'd rather be a pauper with freedom, than a rich person with none. The Chinese government would like the world to think they are evolving as a nation, but other than their economy, not a damn thing has changed.

I am still grappling with the question of why China was awarded the honour of hosting the 2008 Olympic Games, given the government's continuing penchant for flagrantly violating the rights of its citizens. Sure, back when they were bidding to host the games, 7 years ago, government officials assured news organizations that they would have complete freedom to report the games, as they have during past Olympic Games. Right. Easy to pay lip service when you have no intention of complying. Did anyone truly believe those promises? I guess not because, we come to find out, the International Olympic Committee (although they deny it) secretly brokered a deal which allows China to, yes, block certain sensitive websites, even for foreign journalists, who are already complaining they've encountered blocked access to various sites. So much for promises. Then again, did people expect anything different from a government that has exercised such suffocatingly tight control over its own people, for decades. And as for all their assurances they'd improve their human rights record, as a condition for hosting the games- empty promises.

If tourists think they will have carte blanche over there, think again. It's been confirmed that they too will be subject to censorship, and who knows what else. International hotel chains have been ordered to install software that will monitor the Internet activity of their guests, and there will be punishment for those who do not comply. So not only do they subject the Chinese people to censorship, they are forcing those same restrictions on visitors to their country. How's that for a warm welcome.

What I find most appalling is that they blatantly lied to ensure they would win the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, and that the IOC and the world was stupid enough to believe them.

UPDATE: Due to international pressure, as of 8/1/08, the Chinese government has lifted the ban on some sites, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), although others continue to be banned, including any sites relating to Tibet or The Falun Gong. Some progress, but not enough!

Bloggers Unite For Human Rights!

When I witness the many horrors perpetrated against innocents in far off lands, I am filled with a tragic sense of impotence, knowing there is absolutely nothing I can do, as an individual, to prevent such injustices.

However, there are things we can do to help. We can donate to charities, we can educate others, we can continue pressuring groups like the U.N. to make a difference, and as bloggers we can make our collective voices heard above the lazy, politically correct, apathetic fray, by bringing those injustices to light, by blogging about them.

Tomorrow, May 15th, blogcatalog is sponsoring Bloggers Unite For Human Rights. Take a moment to write something. Anything.

And May 21st is Cuba Solidarity Day.

Let us speak out for those less fortunate, who have no choice!

Blessed Be,
Democracy!!

Politics Before People- Another Burmese Disaster

As if the poor Burmese people hadn't already suffered enough under a brutally oppressive, communist regime, they suffered further loss and damage at a catastrophic level due, in part, to the ineptitude of a government that seems to place more importance on politics over people. That seems more intent on maintaining the socialist status quo, than saving people.

Granted, the Myanmar Junta had no control over the fact that Tropical Cyclone Nargis hit landfall in Burma, but it did have control over adequately warning the Burmese citizens of the impending dangers of the storm. It did not. There were few warnings and no evacuations. As a result, 80,000 people have been reported dead in one village alone, 44,000 plus are missing, it is estimated that the deaths will exceed well over 100,000, and at least one million people have been left homeless. Many of them children.

And, it has failed miserably in the aftermath. The government, supposed caretaker and protector of its people, is doing virtually nothing. The military out in force last year, so readily available and willing to shoot innocent monks during their peaceful demonstrations, have been of little or no help. It's been 5 days since the storm, the people are starving, there is very little clean water, bodies are rotting in huge piles, and there are fears many more will die from starvation or disease, creating an even greater humanitarian disaster that could well rival that of the Tsunami of 2004. Unbelievably, the military is thought to be profiting from the catastrophe by grossly inflating the prices of water and food, and "trying to sell things like roofing on the black market."


Relief agencies and aid groups are poised and waiting to enter the country, but the Junta is dragging its feet by insisting on reviewing each and every visa. People are dying, and they are reviewing visas??!!

The junta has insisted that foreign aid workers must "negotiate" their entry to the country. The United Nations said the regime has finally appointed a minister to review visa applications by aid workers, but that no permits have yet been issued.

Many countries have pledged monetary and physical assistance, including the U.S. which has pledged 3 million, but help is being thwarted on every level by a bunch of paranoid generals who somehow feel threatened by allowing an influx of foreigners into a country they've had complete control over for decades. Obviously, they would rather see their people die, than relinquish some control. The Burmese deserve better, and hopefully will finally do something about a group of leaders who have systematically dragged what was once a thriving, prosperous country into darkness and despair.

In the meantime, The Centre for Cross Cultural Research at the Australian National University (ANU) has said that, in spite of the fact that the Junta will more than likely hoard much of the humanitarian aid, this should not stop the world from coming to Burma's aid. The only people who have stepped into action, ironically, are the Buddhist monks. The Junta, threatened by that, has been waging a propaganda war. According to Monique Skidmore , of the ANU,

"There's a bit of a propaganda battle being waged between the military, they're trying to stop pictures of monks helping the population from getting out into the public domain."

The monks have been providing shelter and food at their monasteries for the displaced and suffering people. For those who would rather see their donations go directly to the Burmese people, rather than the military Junta, Avaaz.org is soliciting for the International Burmese Monks Organization and related groups, they

will transmit funds directly to monasteries in affected areas.In many of
the worst-hit areas, the monasteries are the only source of shelter and food for Burma's poorest people. They have been on the front lines of the aid effort since the storm struck. Other forms of aid could be delayed, diverted or manipulated by the Burmese government--but the monks are the most trusted and reliable institution in the country.

For more information, please go to FreeBurma.org

The Death Of Free Speech: Geert Wilders' Anti-Islamization Film "Fitna" Pulled After Threats

Not many, but some do get it, in Europe. Those with enough awareness and foresight to envision the adverse affects the threat that global Islamization will have on the free world as we see it today. Those few brave souls who have the courage to do something about it, and at great personal risk. Those who refuse to allow themselves to succumb to fear or complacency or inertia. One such person is Dutch politician Geert Wilders. He just produced a powerful video entitled "Fitna" which highlights the barbarity of the darker aspects of Islam. And there are many. Quoting Surahs from the Koran, there are graphic and harrowing images of 9/11, the bombings in Spain and London, a beheading, along with preaching of hate from mainstream Imams across the globe. There are photographs of demonstrators with placards boldly stating "Islam Will Dominate The World". And these are not terrorists, or small factions of extremists, these are ordinary Brits and other European Muslims proudly carrying those signs that call for death to all "infidels".

Liveleak.com was the only source that was brave enough to host Wilders' film, no-one else dared. I had the opportunity to watch it a few nights ago, before it was unceremoniously pulled from their servers. Why? Because of serious threats to staff members. One can only assume those threats originated from the Muslim world. It has happened before, and obviously will happen again. If you click on the video below, what was once the film is now an official notice indicating why they can no longer safely allow it to remain on their servers. This is indeed a tragic day for freedom of speech, and just serves as a gross reminder of what we are actually dealing with, and what we have to look forward to.

Any religious ideology that calls for world domination, that resorts to violence and threats of death to achieve those ends, is not a religion but an aberration. Sorry, but there is no one religion that holds the franchise on God. God belongs to all, not just the Muslims, and until they decide they are willing to share Him, that they can play in the global sandbox we call earth with their non-Muslim brethren, in a civilized manner, I will continue to criticize and raise my voice in anger.

I will defend my right to worship as I please! I will NOT submit! And I will NOT be silenced!

UPDATE 3/29/08:

Here's a transcript of the film and it is now on youtube, although who knows for how long.

UPDATE 4/1/08

The video is back up and running, but apparently a modified version is in the works, sans the cartoon.

Does China Deserve The Olympics?

I'm still trying to figure out what possessed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to bestow upon China the honour of hosting the 2008 Olympic Games. A country that continuously, and flagrantly, violates the rights of its own citizens.

The following statement graces the home page of the IOC :

"The Games have always brought people together in peace to respect universal moral principles. The upcoming Games will feature athletes from all over the world and help promote the Olympic spirit."

Peace? Respect? Moral principles? Shouldn't the host country adhere to some, if not all, of those principles? Though China has evolved, somewhat, by joining the global economic community (and it did so out of necessity) it has not changed a whit, when it comes to the darker issues of human rights abuses. China does not respect its citizens, and it certainly has no concept of universal moral principles. I've written about their execution buses, their forced abortions. And witness what's occurring right now in Tibet, a country they have no legitimate rights to, but have been occupying for ages. First-hand accounts (as reported to Radio free Asia -RFA) chronicle the unwarranted brutality perpetrated by Chinese security forces against Tibetans:

"They tried to pull down the Tibetan flag that had been raised by protestors at the town headquarters building on the 17th, and when the protestors peacefully resisted, the security forces opened fire, killing two protestors. Their names were Kyari and Tsedo. Both were from Tseshul village. Another eight persons, including Yeshe Dorje and Tabke, were seriously wounded and were taken to Serthar county hospital."

“Many Chinese security forces have arrived in the Serkar monastery in the Kham Gapa area to impart re-education programs among the monks. But all the monks refused to participate in the program and instead raised slogans demanding religious freedom and human rights. There are around 500 monks. The Chinese army before leaving the monastery threatened the monks that they were going to come back the next day to deal with them. I have not received any further information after that.”

These are not isolated incidents. I posted, back in September, about the shooting of innocent Tibetan refugee/pilgrims crossing the Nepalese border with Tibet. They were headed, in the snow, to India. Caught on tape by some foreign filmmakers, one emotion-filled witness declared, "They are shooting them like... like dogs". And so they were. 2 people were killed, including a young Tibetan nun.

Since the recent anti-China protests in Tibet, there have been crackdowns on Tibetans in China, as well. One Tibetan writer, Tsering Woeser, and her Chinese husband have both been placed under house arrest. And, apparently, her blogs were blocked (last year) after merely publishing a photo of the Dalai Lama.

And, not surprisingly, there is talk of the banning of live broadcasts of the games, and there have been warnings to tourists about Chinese government monitoring of hotels and other public and private areas. I'm not sure who would want to attend the Olympics, given the current circumstances and China's inability to temper its grievous behaviour; but there will obviously be attendees, and China will continue on its merry way.

Frankly, China does not deserve hosting what, in my mind, represents the spirit of friendly competition and universal brotherhood. At least, until they clean up their act.

January 30th, Day of Solidarity For The Imprisoned Iranian Students

Iranian students are still being arrested and imprisoned simply for holding peaceful demonstrations, so Persian bloggers and others are designating January 30th as a Day of Solidarity. This post is dedicated to those who yearn for freedom, but sadly do not have it.

We are so blessed and fortunate to be able to demonstrate peacefully, if we so choose, without being slammed in prison, and then left there to languish.

The following are only some of the many yound students still incarcerated:

Arash Paknejad (m), Mozandaran University
Saeid Habibi (m), as member of student’s human rights reporters
Anoshe Azadbar (f), Tehran University
Elinaz Jamshidi (f), Azad University of central Tehran student of communication
Mehdi Gerilo (m), Tehran geophysics center
Nader Ahseni (m), Mazandaran University
Behroz karimizade (m), Tehran University
Nasim Soltan-beigi (f), Alame Communication University
Ali Sa`lem (m), Polytechnic University, student of Master degree in polymer
Mohsen Qanim (m), Polytechnic University
Rozbeh Saf-Shekan (m), Tehran University
Yaser (Sadra) Pirhaiaty (m), Shahed University
Saeid Aqam-Ali (m), Yazd University
Ali Kolaee` (m), Azad University of Shahriar City
Amir Mehrzad (m), (high School Student)
Hadi Salary (m), Rajaey University
Farshid Ahangaran(m), Rajaey University
Amir Aqai (m), Rajaey University
Milad Omrani (m), Rajaey University
Keivan Amir Eliasy (m), Master of industrial engineer
Soroush Hashem-poor (m), Ahvaz University
Farshad Doosti-poor (m)
Sohrab Karimi (m)
Javad Alizade (m)
Mohammad Salleh Auman (m)
Mehdi al-lahyari (m), Sharif industrial University, student of master degree
Rozbehan Amiri (m), Tehran University, Student of computer sciences
Bahram Shojaee (m), Tehran-south Azad University, Student of Chemistry engineer
Saied Aqakhani (m)
Majid Ashraf Nejad (m)
Peiman Piran (m), by other student report about him*
Aabed Tavanche (m), Polytechnic University
Soroosh Dastestany (m)
Amin Qazaei (m)
Bijan Sabaq (m), Mazandaran University
Anahita hosini (f), Tehran University
Morteza Khedmatlo (m)
Mohamad Pour Abdol-lah (m), Tehran University
Bita Samimi-zad (f), Polytechnic University
Behzad Baqery (m), Mazandaran University
Soroosh Sabet (m), Sharif University
Morteza Eslahchi (m), Allame University
Mostafa Shirvani (m)

From Kamangir's blog:

"In the past month and half, many students from different cities and universities have been arrested, on charges related to holding peaceful ceremonies for the celebration of the 7th of November, the National Day for Students. They have been behind the bars since. During
these days, their families have not been able to visit them and only some of them have been given the chance to have short phone calls with the inmates. This has caused a lot of anxiety and tension for the families and has resulted in their many protests in order to pressure the government to release the students, to no avail.

We honor the freedom-loving students of Iran, some of whom are also
bloggers, and thus on January 30th we rename our blogs to “Bloggers’ Solidarity with Imprisoned Iranian Students”.

Our hopes and prayers are with the students and their families.

HAT TIP: Blazing cat Fur

Iran Clamping Down on Labour Activists

Although I've made my case for the need for unions (at least my various Unions) on this blog before, I realize that, traditionally, conservatives abhor them for some unknown reason. However, in some countries, like Iran, trade unions have a far greater importance. Remember Poland's Lech Walesa and his Solidarity movement in the 1980s? He (and his trade union activities) was the catalyst which ultimately led to democracy and freedom from Soviet-style communism not only for Poland but all other Eastern Bloc countries in Europe. As Bob from Brockley states:

"The labour movement in Iran is important in its own right: as the expression of the working class of Iran. And it is important as a central plank of Iran's repressed civil society and future democracy. The union
that Osanloo represents has 17,000 members: that represents a formidable force for change in Iran."

The "Osanloo" Bob is referring to is Mansour Osanloo, an Iranian labour activist who has been in and out of jail since 2005, after he and his 17,000-strong fellow members of the Syndicate of Workers of Teheran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed) went on strike to protest an edict relegating female passengers to the back of the bus. You see, unlike the U.S., where unions might be be scorned by a certain sector of the government but not threatened, union members in countries like Iran are often jailed, harassed, beaten or killed. Osanloo has been beaten on several occasions and his tongue sliced as a warning to keep mum. This past July, 2007, he was sent back to prison, no specific charges, after he was beaten and abducted from a bus in Teheran. It is thought that what prompted this latest, unwarranted arrest was a recent trip to Europe to meet with officials from the International Transport Workers' Federation:

In Brussels, Mr Osanloo described the intimidation which union members had faced, with some members having been arrested 10 or more times, and family members, including children, being beaten, detained and subjected to inhumane treatment. Asked how he coped with arrests and harassment, he replied: "We decided it is better to die than to live like this."

While in jail this past month, Osanloo almost lost the sight in one of his eyes (as a result of his beating) because the government refused to give him medical treatment. Thanks to a major campaign by Amnesty International, some labour organizations and union members worldwide, Osanloo finally received the surgery he desperately needed. However, against doctor's orders, he was just sent back to prison and sentenced to 5 years, merely for exercising his right to be in a trade union. He has said that unlike other 'political prisoners' he has no political agenda, and has suffered all this harassment simply because he wants better working conditions for transport workers.

He's not the only labour activist in jail: Mahmoud Salehi and Ebrahim Madadi have also been incarcerated. And grocery worker and activist, Majid Hamidi, was recently attacked and shot seven times by several masked assailants. The attack is believed to have been government sanctioned. He is in critical condition.

Although Iran is a member of the International Labour Organization, they have no love or tolerance for labour organizations. Iranian hardliners obviously feel threatened, so are escalating their attacks and persecution of any group/s that might pose a threat to the Islamist status quo, from union activism to the recent student protests.

Regardless of how you feel about Unions, what is happening in Iran is shameful, though not surprising. We are so very fortunate, in the western world, to be able to exercise our right to belong to a Union or not, and to rest easy knowing we won't risk our lives by making that choice.

If you are a member of a any union you can click here to send an urgent message to the International Labour Organization (ILO) calling on Ahmadinejad and others to stop the persecution, harassment and attacks on workers. As I have.

Also blogging about: A second Hand Conjecture

H/T: Bob from Brockley

October 4th, Free Burma blogger campaign!

Bloggers worldwide have started a campaign to support the pro-democracy efforts in Burma, which have turned deadlier over the past few days. They are inviting all bloggers, website owners and commenters to participate by not blogging on October 4th. Instead, they propose that all participants post a "Free Burma" banner on their blog/website with the words "Free Burma" underneath the banner. Detailed info and links for banner graphics can be found here and the official Free Burma site here. I encourage everyone to take part. I know I will.

In the meantime, there were demonstrations, of solidarity, in D.C on Friday and Saturday, in front of the Myanmar Embassy, and Kate over at Colombo-Americana's Perspective has some great photos, as does John of This Aint Hell. Lady Vorzheva also talks about the demonstration they had in Spain, and the Putin/Zapatero connection regarding their views on Burma.

It's now estimated that there have been far more killed then reported, but there is no way to know, for sure, as Internet service has been curtailed, and cell phone service has been disrupted. Much of the information, pictures and videos were being transmitted overseas via Internet and cell phone. Kate has some great updates here and here.

A great inside source of information is Abitsu.org (All Burma I.T. Students' Union). They report that General Than Shwe and his family are staying at the Burj Al Arab, in Dubai (U.A.E) a hotel that rates itself as the best hotel in the world. The cheapest rooms for one night in February 2008 are $2,274 per night on one travel website. With your own chauffeur driven Rolls Royce, what a bargain! For more candid photos by guests staying there, click here. Although I can't confirm if, indeed, Than Shwe and others are actually there, I wouldn't be surprised. Isn't this what most despots do, live in the lap of luxury while their own people suffer?! It's no wonder they refuse to give up power. But it makes it all the more foul.

U.S. Campaign for Burma also has some interesting info, including a video by Jim Carrey calling for U.N. action, and a copy of a letter sent to U.N. Secretary Ban Ki, by 25 Hollywood celebs (and yes, including some of our favorite loud mouthed leftists) asking for his personal intervention in securing help for Burma and Aung San Suu Kyi's release.

Whether any of this makes one iota of a difference, at least those of us who participate can feel that we at least did our part.

UPDATE:

In spite of the imposed censorship, Burmese bloggers both there and abroad keep on blogging. According to this blogger, Internet is back on line, so he continues to receive reports from the area. Here's another report re. General Than Shwe claiming he is in a Singapore Hospital.

H/T: Theospark