All entries by this author

Warsi stands with pope in fighting for faith

Feb 13th, 2012 4:11 pm | By

Oh vomit. Sayeeda Warsi is off to visit the pope, and by way of preparation she and the Telegraph unite in telling us all that we need more religion and less “militant secularism.” Warsi says it in her own article, and the political editor says it all over again in an article about her article. Why two articles where one would do? I have no idea.

First Warsi’s bullying theocratic shit, under the sinister threatening headline We stand side by side with the Pope in fighting for faith:

Today I have the honour of leading the largest ministerial delegation from the United Kingdom to the Vatican – our reciprocal visit following the momentous State Visit of His

… Read the rest

(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)

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Sayeeda Warsi will tell the pope of need for religion *

Feb 13th, 2012 | Filed by

And how evil “militant secularism” is. Telegraph wets itself with joy.… Read the rest

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India: Former RSS activist held for train bombing *

Feb 13th, 2012 | Filed by

Many members of the group were long-serving RSS activists who became disillusioned with the Hindu right-wing’s refusal to replicate the 2002 communal killings in Gujarat nationwide.… Read the rest

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Interpol as theocracies’ little helper

Feb 13th, 2012 11:18 am | By

Interpol has said it had nothing to do with the extradition of Hamza Kashgari, but Dennis McShane MP apparently didn’t get the memo – or got the memo and didn’t believe it.

The charge of apostasy was maintained, his home was attacked and, again, sensibly enough, Kashgari decided it was time to leave Saudi Arabia. The response of the Saudis was to approach Interpol and ask them to issue an international search and arrest warrant.

Interpol is meant to be tackle serious crime, not act as the little helper for régimes that want to kill journalists.

Maryam too finds the memo not entirely convincing:

If it says so – though I am skeptical especially since its has done

… Read the rest

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The real agenda behind Kashgari’s arrest *

Feb 13th, 2012 | Filed by

Fostering a climate of fear and oppression is the best guarantee of compliance and Islam is a traditional rallying cry for the masses.… Read the rest

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Denis MacShane MP rebukes Interpol *

Feb 13th, 2012 | Filed by

Interpol is meant to tackle serious crime, not act as the little helper for régimes that want to kill journalists.… Read the rest

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Known for his reformist views

Feb 13th, 2012 10:50 am | By

PEN International on Kashgari.

PEN demands his immediate and unconditional release, in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also calls upon the Saudi authorities to provide him with immediate and effective protection.

According to PEN’s information, Kashgari, a 23-year-old writer from Jeddah, tweeted a series of messages addressed to the Prophet Mohammed on the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth on 4 February 2012, some of which conveyed questions about his faith. Twitter registered more than 30,000 responses to his tweets, many of which accused him of blasphemy and called for his death. On 5 February 2012 Nasser al-Omar, an influential cleric, called for Kashgari to be tried in a Sharia court

… Read the rest

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The gap between rhetoric and reality in the Karnataka BJP *

Feb 13th, 2012 | Filed by

The hypocrisy in Karnataka is almost Victorian in its intense public sanctimony and its private flouting of those norms.… Read the rest

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BJP ministers found watching porn during meeting *

Feb 13th, 2012 | Filed by

They claimed to have been watching the clip as part of their homework on an upcoming debate on rave parties in the assembly. Riiight.

… Read the rest

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BBC apologizes for broadcasting promotional material *

Feb 13th, 2012 | Filed by

The Malaysian PM’s office had paid FBC  to promote BN and Malaysia’s oil palm industry on news shows that it was producing for the BBC.… Read the rest

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Those who are wanted by their countries of origin

Feb 13th, 2012 9:27 am | By

Malaysia today is defending its extradition of Hamza Kashgari back to Saudi Arabia where he could easily be executed for saying he has questions about Mohammed.

International rights groups have slammed the deportation but Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Malaysia was not a safe haven for fugitives.

Jiddah-based newspaper columnist Hamza Kashgari, 23, was detained Thursday at the Malaysian airport while in transit to New Zealand. He was deported Sunday despite fears from rights groups that he may face the death penalty if charged with blasphemy over remarks he tweeted that many considered offensive.

“I will not allow Malaysia to be seen as a safe country for terrorists and those who are wanted by their countries of origin, and also

… Read the rest

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Malaysia defends extradition of Hamza Kashgari *

Feb 13th, 2012 | Filed by

Allegations that Kashgari could be tortured and killed if he were sent back home are “ridiculous” because Saudi Arabia is a respectable country, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.

… Read the rest

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PEN International fears for the safety of Hamza Kashgari *

Feb 13th, 2012 | Filed by

PEN demands his immediate and unconditional release, in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights… Read the rest

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Moderation and tolerance

Feb 12th, 2012 6:18 pm | By

Someone called Daisy Khan* had a really fatuous piece at Comment is Free on Thursday about “Islamophobia” in the US.

She started by making the issue entirely one of terrorist violence. There isn’t much, she said. Therefore, no issue.

But terrorist violence is not the only issue. It’s much more complicated than that. There is also the issue of women’s rights, and the issue of gay rights, and the matter of apostasy, and then there’s blasphemy. You’d never know any of that mattered from reading Daisy Khan.

Our allies in the interfaith and civil rights communities are working to counteract the fabricated opposition to Islam that is gaining strength in America today.

To counteract opposition to Islam? Really? We’re not … Read the rest

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Free Hamza Kashgari

Feb 12th, 2012 5:41 pm | By

You know the drill – same old same old. Join this Facebook group. You know the media report it when causes get big support on Facebook, so join. I added a few people, because you can’t just invite any more – but I’m shy about adding because it seems so presumptuous, so if I neglected to add you, add yourself. And all your friends. Don’t be shy!

And sign the petition.

And say harsh things about Malaysia as well as Saudi Arabia.… Read the rest

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At Maryam’s place

Feb 12th, 2012 12:53 pm | By

Maryam’s post on the Free Expression Rally is up.

So is her post on Malaysia’s outrageous deportation of Hamza Kashgari.

Malaysia’s home ministry has said that ‘The nature of the charges against the individual in this case are a matter for the Saudi Arabian authorities’. Which basically means that any asylum seeker or refugee must be returned as it is a case for the government in question!?

Maryam is kept very busy by all these attacks on our right to say what we think.… Read the rest

(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)

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Malaysia extradites Kashgari

Feb 12th, 2012 12:18 pm | By

Malaysia has deported Kashgari back to Saudi Arabia.

Police confirmed to the BBC that Hamza Kashgari was sent back to Saudi Arabia on Sunday despite protests from human rights groups.

Mr Kashgari’s controversial tweet last week sparked more than 30,000 responses and several death threats.

That’s the BBC doing it again – his tweet “sparked” more than 30,000 calls for him to be executed (or “responses” as the BBC put it). It’s just a little bit his fault for being controversial. Just ever so slightly.

Insulting the prophet is considered blasphemous in Islam and is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.

Slightly random, since Kashgari didn’t actually “insult” Mo. But the BBC wants to make sure everyone realizes it … Read the rest

(This is a syndicated post. Read the original at FreeThoughtBlogs.)

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Malaysia has deported Hamza Kashgari to Saudi Arabia *

Feb 12th, 2012 | Filed by

“Insulting the prophet” is considered blasphemous in Islam and is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.… Read the rest

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Republicans vote against Domestic Violence bill *

Feb 12th, 2012 | Filed by

“Family Values” in action.… Read the rest

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Over 8000 sexual abuse victims in Milwaukee archdiocese *

Feb 12th, 2012 | Filed by

The charges cover a span of 60 years and implicate a group of 100 alleged offenders, including nuns, church workers and some 75 priests.… Read the rest

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