יום שבת, 6 באוקטובר 2012

Elder of Ziyon Daily News

Elder of Ziyon Daily News

Link to Elder of Ziyon

Copt teacher in Egypt cleared of "blasphemy". She is VERY lucky.

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 12:55 PM PDT

I mentioned this case a couple of days ago, but the details are chilling. To call this a happy ending would be to ignore all the people who willingly went along with a baseless accusation against a Copt:
A Coptic teacher who was arrested last week on charges of contempt for religion and insulting Prophet Mohamed has been released, and all charges dropped, her lawyer confirmed to Ahram Online.

The case is one of several recent incidents in which Egypt's Coptic minority found itself under fire.

Nevine Gad, a social studies teacher at a preparatory school in Manfalout village, in Assiut in Upper Egypt, was explaining a lesson on Islamic history with a section on the life of the Prophet Mohamed in a class on Wednesday last week.

The next day she was told that a pupil, Mohamed Moustafa Ahmed Hashim, had filed a complaint against her, claiming that she had said something offensive about the Prophet.

Following that, more than 20 teachers working with her at the same school also complained about her to the school administration, based on the student's story.

After investigating, the administration dismissed the complaint because of the conflicting accounts of the students from the class, and a lack of evidence. To avoid problems, Gad was suspended from teaching temporarily.

However, on Sunday afternoon, police arrested Gad and took her to an Assiut police station, on charges of contempt of religion and insulting Prophet Mohamed, following a complaint from Moustafa Ahmed Hashim, the student in question's father, who is known locally to be a Salafist.

Gad denied all charges, but was detained and spent the night in a solitary confinement cell, her lawyer told Ahram Online, causing her family great worry as she is eight months pregnant.

The next day, she went before the attorney-general of Assiut, who asked her about the validity of the statements, and she again denied all the allegations.

Lawyer Magdy Farouk told Ahram Online exclusively that during the investigations, he had noticed inconsistencies in the statements and complaints of the student in question.

In addition, Gad remembered that this student was absent on Wednesday and Thursday, and therefore could not have attended the lesson.

"The educational administration in Assiut supplied us with the official student attendance lists for those two days...it showed that the student, Mohamed Moustafa Ahmed Hashim, who accused her, was absent and didn't attend that lesson. The police then released her yesterday [Wednesday] and closed the case file, considering it a malicious complaint," said Farouk.

"Most lawyers had refused to get involved in this case, fearing for their lives, but I agreed to defend her and to attend the investigations with her after I got security guarantees from a well-known businessman from Upper Egypt," he added.

Farouk cited concerns related to a case a month ago when lawyers defending, Bishoy Kamel, another Coptic teacher accused several months ago of contempt of religion, were attacked at the courthouse in Sohag in Upper Egypt.
Gad was lucky, but look how easily anyone can get someone to be arrested in Egypt! Not only that, but Gad's fellow teachers, instead of acting in solidarity with her, threw her under the bus.

It is apparent that everyone in Egypt is so frightened of being perceived as being soft on blasphemy that the accusers have the cards stacked in their favor.

The question  is whether the student's father will be prosecuted for knowingly endangering an innocent, pregnant Coptic woman.

I think we all know the answer to that.

Mohammed needs defending!

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 11:36 AM PDT

From Egypt Independent:
Mohamed Assem Abdel Maged, a leader of Jama'a al-Islamiya and the al-Ansar movement to defend the Prophet Mohamed, launched on Friday the "Knock on Doors" campaign.

The goal of the campaign is to collect LE1 billion [$160 million] that would be used to create a satellite channel and publishing house to disseminate information about the Prophet Mohamed and defend him from insults. Abdel Maged said he is also considering establishing a film production company abroad as part of the campaign.
Poor Mohammed, needing so much money to defend himself from insults. Isn't this Allah's job?

But here's where things get a little, shall we say, fishy:

"The billion pounds will also be used to support the Syrian people by sending medical convoys and food ... [and] a portion will be allocated to the Syrian families in Egypt," Abdel Maged told Al-Masry Al-Youm.

The movement has already sent a number of medical convoys to Syria, he claimed.
Whoa. A charity to defend Mohammed, and send medical convoys to Syria (how exactly are they entering?), and also to send money to Syrians (presumably refugees) in Egypt?

It is starting to sound like a portion of the money might also be going towards lining Mohamed Assem Abdel Maged's pockets.


Friday links

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 10:00 AM PDT

From Ian:

Palestinian Authority Rigging Courts Canada, UN Complicit by Khaled Abu Toameh
"The Canadian Development Agency, with the help of the UN Development Program, has been funding new courthouses in the West Bank "to improve the Palestinians' access to justice." But justice can be achieved even if the judges, lawyers, prosecutors and defendants sit in a tent. Instead of investing in new buildings, it would be more helpful if the Canadians and the UN agency demanded that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his aides stop obstructing the work of the judges."

State Stands by its Man
Update: Israel critic and terrorist sympathizer 'valued and highly credible,' official says
"Al-Marayati has been a vociferous critic of Israel, once suggesting that Israel should be put "on the suspect list" for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. His organization, MPAC, has requested that militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah be removed from the list of United States-designated terrorist groups.
Al-Marayati's inclusion in the U.S. delegation attracted the ire of Jewish leaders and others who feel he is the wrong person to represent America at a forum focusing on human rights and tolerance."

Anti-Semitism on the Rise in Europe
"We witnessed the terrible massacre in Toulouse earlier this year, the bombing of a community center in Malmo and many other serious attacks against Jews across the continent. The future of Jews in Europe is under threat and being Jewish we shouldn't ask ourselves 'what will happen' but 'what we are going to do about it'."

Experts: Iranian military stuck in the past
Iran may be technologically advanced but its military capabilities are so limited it can't risk war on its own soil, Israeli experts claim

Don't Be Misled By Iran-Hamas Split
"While the spat between two groups of violent Islamist extremists can be viewed with schadenfreude, if not amusement, the West should not be fooled by this development into buying into some incorrect assumptions about Iran, Hamas or the situation in Syria. We should not be deceived into viewing Hamas's decision as a harbinger of moderate behavior by the terrorist group. Nor should we be gulled into thinking Hamas's defection from the Iranian fold will materially damage Iran's hopes to keep Assad in power or lessen the need for a greater Western effort to end his reign of terror in Damascus."

Staff at Palestinian Embassy in Cairo Involved in Drug Trafficking
Ma'an News Agency reports that members of the staff at the Palestinian embassy in Cairo have been arrested for involvement in a major drug trafficking scheme.

Radical Islamic leader claims Burgas suicide bomber for his disciple
"In an interview for the Centre for Middle East studies, published in a Bulgarian daily, the radical Islamic leader Omar Bakri claimed that the suicide bomber who killed five Israeli citizens and a Bulgarian bus driver on the airport of the city of Burgas in July was his disciple."
Furthermore, Bakri was certain that the man of the footage released by the Bulgarian interior ministry was indeed Mehdi Ghezali-a Swedish citizen who has previously been a Guantanamo inmate.

Two reportedly held in Istanbul over US ambassador's killing in Libya
Tunisians arrested by counter-terror forces and found carrying false papers, Turkish media reports

Sharia-Medicine: Egyptian Clinic Treats People with Camel Urine Per Prophet's Advice
On September 16, popular TV persona Wael El-Ibrashi hosted Dr. Zaghlul al-Naggar, a prominent Islamic thinker and Chairman of Egypt's Committee of Scientific Notions in the Quran, on the topic of medical science and Islam. Inevitably the idea of drinking camel urine as a form of therapy—first proposed in the 7th century by Muslim prophet Muhammad—came up.

Israel, Palestinians cooperate on Gaza Internet
For two days, Israel and PALTEL worked together to lay 15 km. of optical cables to provide Gaza high-speed Internet service.

Christians Show Love of Israel in Jerusalem Streets
There was love in the air of Jerusalem on Thursday afternoon. Marching through the streets of Jerusalem, approximately 6,000 Christian friends of Israel made their way with flags and smiles, which they readily shared with Israeli bystanders—from ultra-orthodox to secular Jews of all ages and backgrounds.

Iconic posters of a nation under construction
 

My anti-Obama ad

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 08:13 AM PDT

From the first Obama/McCain debate in 2008.




My major problem with President Obama is his foreign policy naivete, which is demonstrated by this clip.

The Muslim world doesn't hate America because of its policies. It hates America because it is powerful. That is never going to change.

The world doesn't want America as a friend. The world needs America as a leader. Even if that makes us unpopular.

Obama's policy of purposefully diminishing America's leadership role is a mistake that can take generations to repair, if ever.

Arabs riot on Temple Mount

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 07:30 AM PDT

Because throwing stones isn't a desecration of a holy place - but Jews peacefully walking around it is.
Following the conclusion of Friday prayers at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, hundreds of Arabs threw stones at security guards in the area. Police charged through the Mughrabi Gate in the Old City and fired stun grenades to disperse the angry mob.

Unconfirmed Palestinian reports suggested that several people were lightly injured.

Police officials, having restored calm, said that they would arrest some of the stone throwers in the coming days.

Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites of Israel Shmuel Rabinovitch expressed shock following Friday's violent demonstration, assessing that it was meant to prevent Jewish worshippers from praying in the area during Sukkot. He said that it was up to the police to arrest those who "wish to harm the delicate fabric of the holy sites in the Old City, and to harass worshippers."

Rabbi Rabinovitch called on the public to continue observing the holiday at the Western Wall.

On Thursday, a confrontation at the Temple Mount plaza led to six arrests as a group of Muslim worshipers threatened Jewish visitors to the site.

According to a police spokesperson, about 30 Muslims began chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) and tried to attack a group of Jews who were visiting the site. Police broke up the altercation, and arrested five Arabs and one Jew.

Jordan: King dissolves parliament; tribe freaks over Israel envoy appt

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 06:00 AM PDT

From AFP:
Jordan's King Abdullah II dissolved parliament and called early elections on Thursday, the royal palace announced on the eve of a major opposition rally to demand reforms.

"The king has decided to dissolve the chamber of deputies from this Thursday and to call early elections," a statement said. It gave no date, but the monarch has said he wants polls to be held by the end of 2012.

The opposition Muslim Brotherhood said earlier that it was going ahead with its planned rally in central Amman on Friday by an estimated 50,000 supporters.

Numerous demonstrations have taken place in Jordan since January 2011 to call for political and economic reforms and demand an end to corruption. In response, King Abdullah said early elections would be held.

But the Brotherhood says it would boycott the polls as they did in 2010 to protest against the lack of solid reforms, while calling for a parliamentary system where the prime minister is elected, rather than named by the king.

A demonstration in support of the king was called off over fears of unrest as it would have coincided with the Islamist rally, organizers said.

In an exclusive interview with AFP last month, the king said a decision by the Islamists to boycott the vote was "a tremendous miscalculation."

"As constitutional monarch, my mandate is to be the umbrella for all political groupings and all segments of our society, and as part of that responsibility, I am telling the Muslim Brotherhood that they are making a tremendous miscalculation," he said.

"The countdown to the elections has already started. Registration is under way. We have already crossed the one-million person mark. Parliament will be dissolved. The elections date will be announced. And we will have a new parliament by the new year."

"This elections law is not perfect. We all understand that. But there is no better consensus on an alternative. What is critical is that we keep going forward, and -- mark my words -- we will have a new parliament by the new year," the king said.
Jordan's monarchs know how to hold onto office, and for now Abdullah seems safe. But things are happening fast in the Arab world.

In other Jordan news, the Obeidat tribe went crazy over the announcement that one of their members would be the new ambassador to Israel:
Members of the Jordanian Obeidat tribe this week condemned the appointment of Walid Obeidat as Jordan's new envoy to Israel, considering the move 'shameful' and blasted Obeidat's acceptance of the position a grave offense to his tribe.

Following a meeting of a number of Obeidat tribe members in northern Jordan Saturday evening, a statement was issued renouncing Khalid Obeidat from the tribe, stating that "whoever accepts this position, and puts his hand in the hands of those who seized the land, killed and displaced Palestinians... has crossed all prohibitions and red lines."

The statement, a copy of which was sent to Ammon News, considered the acceptance of the post as a grave insult to the nation and the tribe, stressing that this 'shameful' stance contradicts the history and stance of the tribe and its successive generations towards the Palestinian cause.

The announcement came after the government appointed Obeidat last Thursday as ambassador of Jordan in Tel Aviv.

Members of the tribe stressed that the Obeidats will continue to be loyal to its nation and will not make truce with its enemies until the liberation of Palestine, noting that the tribe was among the first to recognize the dangers of the Zionist settlement scheme in the 1920's.

The statement also blasted the Jordanian-Israeli Wadi-Araba peace treaty as 'shameful' and denounced by the tribe and the nation, and condemned the presence of a 'Zionist' embassy in Amman, and the reciprocation of a Jordanian Embassy to the 'Zionist entity.'
Later, the tribe offered incentives for Khalid to reject the position.


Fatah releases video of Hamas "collaborator" shaking hands with IDF officer,

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 04:00 AM PDT

Here's the latest example of how ridiculously immature both Fatah and Hamas are.

Yesterday, Fatah released a short video that they claim proves that Hamas collaborates with Israel, with a known West Bank Hamas member Mahmoud Ramahi along with MP Ahmed Attoun shaking hands with an Israeli soldier.

Fatah spokesman Ahmed Assaf said "The videos leaked to the media, as well as information confirmed to us, prove beyond doubt that MPs and leaders of Hamas in the West Bank are collaborating with the occupation authorities initiated by their leaders in the Gaza Strip and abroad directly or through intermediaries." Assaf added that this Hamas "collaboration" is offensive to the Palestinian public and the Arab and Muslim world.

Hamas is now lashing out at Fatah, saying that the video is taken out of context. Apparently it was taken when Israel released Hamas prisoner Abdel Rahman Zeidan from the Ofer prison last Sunday.

Hamas is threatening to sue the video production company.

This is the level of discourse that Fatah and Hamas engage in all the time, and it is just one tiny proof that Palestinian Arab leaders are simply unable to act like adults.

(For some reason no one in Israel is demanding that the Israeli guard be fired for shaking hands with Hamas members. Must be proof of Zionist weakness, in the bizarre mindset of Palestinian Arabs.)


Syrian rebels threaten to kill 48 suspected Iranian IRGC members

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 02:48 AM PDT

From Al Arabiya:

A brigade of the Free Syrian Army has given the Syrian regime 48 hours to release opposition detainees and stop the shelling of civilians before it begins executing a number of Iranian hostages accused of helping the President Bashar al-Assad's forces, Al Arabiya TV reported on Friday.


In a video aired by Al Arabiya, members of the Bar'a brigade in the East Ghouta, on the outskirts of Damascus, said, "If the Syrian regime, backed by the Iranian regime, does not release detainees and stop the shelling on unarmed civilians and indiscriminate killing of innocent of people within 48 hours from the release of this statement, an Iranian prisoner will be killed for each martyr who is killed."


In a previous video aired by Al Arabiya, the Al Bara'a brigade claimed that it kidnaped 48 members of the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guards and denied Iran's claims that they were pilgrims.

The brigade "captured 48 of the Shabiha (militiamen) of Iran who were on a reconnaissance mission in Damascus," said a man dressed as an officer of the Free Syrian Army, in the video aired by Al Arabiya.

"During the investigation, we found that some of them were officers of the Revolutionary Guards," he said, showing ID documents taken from one of the men, who appeared in the background with a large Syrian independence flag held by two armed men behind them.

Abdel Nasser Shmeir, interviewed later by Al Arabiya and presented as the commander of Baraa Brigade, gave similar details.

"They are 48, in addition to an Afghani interpreter," he said, claiming that the captives were members of a 150-strong group sent by Iran for "reconnaissance on the ground."

Iran has appealed to Turkey and Qatar, both with close relations with the Syrian opposition, for help in securing the release of the hostages it claims were pilgrims visiting the Sayyida Zeinab shrine, a Shiite pilgrimage site in the southeastern suburbs of Damascus.
I have a feeling that Turkey will not be sympathetic to Iranian pleas for help.

I wonder how many other Iranian "pilgrims" are going on visits to shrines in Syria these days?


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