Video - TV Libertés : la christianophobie en France; 90 000 chrétiens tués par haine de la Foi dans le monde !

Dans le dernier épisode de Terre de Missions, diffusé sur TV Libertés dimanche 22 janvier dernier, Guillaume de Thieulloy, qui dirige cette émission alternativement avec Jean-Pierre Maugendre, m’a invité à venir parler notamment de la christianophobie en France. Les lecteurs de L’Observatoire de la Christianophobie y apprendront pas mal de choses d’intérêt sur la christianophobie dans notre pays… C’est à partir de 9’ 05” mais les autres sujets traités sont aussi à découvrir en particulier le dernier sujet qui suit le mien, et dans lequel Charlotte d’Ornellas traite de la situation en Syrie où elle était récemment au titre de SOS Chrétiens d’Orient. HT: christianophobie

Turkey: Emergency Decrees Facilitate Torture! Human rights watch reports.

Turkey: Emergency Decrees Facilitate Torture! Human rights watch reports.  (HRW).

Istanbul – Turkish police have tortured and otherwise ill-treated individuals in their custody after emergency decrees removed crucial safeguards in the wake of a failed coup attempt in July, 2016, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

The 43-page report, “A Blank Check: Turkey’s Post-Coup Suspension of Safeguards Against Torture,” documents how the weakening of safeguards through decrees adopted under the state of emergency has negatively affected police detention conditions and the rights of detainees.

It details 13 cases of alleged abuse, including stress positions, sleep deprivation, severe beatings, sexual abuse, and rape threats, since the coup attempt.


“By removing safeguards against torture, the Turkish government effectively wrote a blank check to law enforcement agencies to torture and mistreat detainees as they like,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia. Read the full report here. Download report PDF here.

FBI Anti-Terrorism Website back Up after Muslim Group 'cleansing', Omission of Islamist Extremists.

FBI Anti-Terrorism Website back Up after Muslim Group 'cleansing', Omission of Islamist Extremists. HT: JudicialWatch.

A government anti-radicalization internet program set to be launched months ago is finally up and running with the changes demanded by Islamic activists that claimed the original version was biased against Muslims.

When the website first went live in early November, 2015 the same Islamic groups that have strong-armed federal and local law enforcement agencies into purging ant-terrorism training material considered offensive to Muslims, expressed outrage. The Obama administration promptly caved in and changes were made.

A few days ago the revamped, Muslim activist-approved version of “Don’t Be a Puppet” quietly went up on the FBI’s website and it omits any reference to Islamist extremism or Islam.

It does, however, list other types of extremism such as white supremacy extremists, environmental extremists, militia extremists, religious extremists and anarchist extremists. The website defines violent extremism as “encouraging, condoning, justifying or supporting the commission of a violent act to achieve political, ideological, religious, social or economic goals.”

A section that addresses why people become violent extremists claims there’s no single reason to explain it “but it often happens when someone is trying to fill a deep personal need.”  Hmmm.......The 'Halal' Islamic extremism version. Read the full story here.

Video - Egyptian-German Scholar Dr. Hamed Abdel-Samad Analyzes "the Birth Defect of Islam"

Video - Egyptian-German Scholar Dr. Hamed Abdel-Samad Analyzes "the Birth Defect of Islam" (MEMRI).

Egyptian-German researcher Dr. Hamed Abdel-Samad published a series of lectures and interviews on his YouTube account under the title “The Box of Islam,” in which he encouraged thinking “out of the box” when analyzing the Islamic religion. In the first two episodes of the series, Dr. Abdel-Samad addressed the early beginnings of Islam, contending that contrary to what is claimed by many liberal researchers of Islam, one must not draw a distinction between Islamic heritage, on the one hand, and the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran. These lectures were posted on the Internet on June 9 and 10, 2015.

800,000 people participate in Grozny rally in support of Kadyrov against cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

800,000 people participate in Grozny rally in support of Chechen strongman Kadyrov against cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. (Asiaplus).

A huge crowd turned out in Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechen Republic yesterday for a demonstration against caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

Some media sources report that the rally drew 800,000 people.

Many demonstrators held uniform signs featuring a crimson heart with "Muhammad" written in Arabic and the words "We Love Our Prophet" in Chechen, Russian, and English.  Young boys wore baseball caps that also said "Muhammad" in Arabic.  Red balloons sailed into the sky near the huge Grozny mosque.

Speaking at the rally, Chechnya President Ramzan Kadyrov said, “This is a protest against those who try to insult the religious feelings of Muslims all over the world. This is a protest against those who deliberately incite a worldwide fire of religious and ethnic hatred.”

Kadyrov said "Europe has not drawn the right lessons" from the Paris attacks.  “Instead of condemning those who opened fire, and those who with their cartoon were the reason for that, the French authorities organized a street show with slogans in support of the permissiveness that led to the bloodshed.”

“It was attended by presidents, prime ministers, and royals," he said, referring to rallies in France.“This gives us a legal right to say that it is the Western powers and intelligence services that may stand behind the incident with the cartoons, interested in triggering a new wave of ISIL recruits of thousands of deceived young people from around the world,” Kadyrov said.

Other leaders reportedly echoed Kadyrov in speeches to the demonstrators.

“We must tell the whole world: We love the Prophet Muhammad and will not allow anyone to offend the religious sensitivities of Muslims," the Grand Mufti of Russia, Ravil Gainutdin, told the crowd in remarks broadcast live on state TV.

Gainutdin also criticized terrorist attacks carried out by Islamist militants.

Non-Muslim clerics also took part in the rally, and one speaker led a chant of “Muhammad and Jesus!”

“The entire Russian Orthodox Church condemns people who make caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad," said Bishop Varlaam, the regional head of the Russian Orthodox Church.  We...say 'no' to the evil that the West is trying to sow between our religions.”

We will recall that rallies in France drew more than 3 million people on January 11 in a demonstration of solidarity with the victims of the attack on the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and support for freedom of speech.

Charlie Hebdo reportedly had a history of publishing controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad that angered Muslim leaders in France, the Middle East and other parts of the world.  The magazine for years received threats from social media users because depictions of the prophet are forbidden in Islam.

The preparation of actions in support of Kadyrov in Grozny became known back on January 18, when Igor Kalyapin, the head of the non-profit organization (NPO) "Committee to Prevent Torture" (CPT), informed about it with reference to a resident of Grozny.

"On Friday, Grozny will host a rally in support of Kadyrov. Unfortunately, I'll have to go, otherwise, a dismissal..." Igor Kalyapin quoted a Chechen resident on his page in the Facebook, adding today that teachers and senior pupils were also ordered to appear at the Kadyrov's support rally on January 22.

Video - By The Numbers - The Untold Story of Muslim Opinions & Demographics.

By the Numbers is an honest and open discussion about Muslim opinions and demographics. Narrated by Raheel Raza, president of Muslims Facing Tomorrow, this short film is about the acceptance that radical Islam is a bigger problem than most politically correct governments and individuals are ready to admit. Is ISIS, the Islamic State, trying to penetrate the U.S. with the refugee influx? Are Muslims radicalized on U.S. soil? Are organizations such as CAIR, who purport to represent American Muslims accepting and liberal or radicalized with links to terror organizations?

Video - Indian Muslim Cleric issues bounty, Calls for Beheading of Hindu Leader over Blasphemy Allegation.

On December 10, an unidentified Indian Muslim cleric declared that 5.1 million rupees would be given to anyone who beheaded Hindu leader Kamlesh Tiwari, who had allegedly called the Prophet Muhammad the world's first homosexual. The cleric was speaking at one of the many protest rallies held in India following Tiwari's alleged remarks. Tiwari himself was arrested for blasphemy.

Video - 'Moderates 101' - TV Host Clashes with Egyptian Atheist Live on the Air: We Don't Want Infidels Here

International Federation of Journalists general secretary: 'Turkey is largest jail for journalists in Europe'.

International Federation of Journalists general secretary: 'Turkey is largest jail for journalists in Europe'. (TZ).

Anthony Bellanger, the general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), said at a press conference in Brussels on Friday that as a result of government pressure on free media, Turkey has become the largest jail for journalists in Europe.

Bellanger noted that Turkey leads Europe for the number of imprisoned journalists and that more complaints are submitted to the European Council about the conditions journalists in Turkey face than any other country. “Turkey is the largest jail for journalists in Europe,” he said.

“It [following the pressure on the media in Turkey] has become our daily routine work. We were concerned about the situation before Nov. 1 election and it continues after the election,” Bellanger said.

Underlining that the IFJ has taken steps to have the UN impose sanctions on countries that violate press freedoms, Bellanger noted that sanctions must not be understood as simply embargoes; there could also be economic sanctions through international financial institutions such as International Monetary Fund (IMF).Read the full story here.

Video - Clarion Project Exposes CAIRs Terror Links

Video - The case against the Prophet

In his latest book, The Case against Mohammed, Hamed Abdel-Samad presents a fierce assessment of the influence of Mohammed. He portrays the Prophet as an ambivalent personality, with the negatives outweighing the positives. In our DW Interview, Abdel-Samad – himself the son of an Imam – describes why he no longer believes that Islam can be reformed. For more go to http://www.dw.com/en/top-stories/s-9097

Geeesh I wonder why? FBI anti-extremist website for kids on hold after Muslim, Arab groups protest.

Source and story here.

Geeesh I wonder why? FBI anti-extremist website for kids on hold after Muslim, Arab groups protest. (RT).

Seeking to enlist students in counterterror operations, the FBI created a games website meant to help children identify someone in the process of radicalization. The site is now on hold as some questioned why it focused almost solely on Islamic extremism.

The website, called Don't Be a Puppet, offers users exercises, as described by the Washington Post, or "a series of games and tips," as reported by the New York Times, that aim to teach children signs to watch for that may indicate someone is falling deeper into extremist behavior. As players answer questions correctly, a pair of scissors cut the puppet's strings until it is set free.

"The quiz asked students: What would be activities that would concern the FBI?" the Post reported.

Some of the options included a youth posting on Facebook that she intended to attend a political protest, a young person posting about feeling emotional about something or a youth with a stereotypically Muslim-sounding name who 'posted that he’s going overseas on a mission [and] does anyone want to chat?'" Hoda Hawa, director of policy and advocacy for Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), told the Post. "All our hands went up, like: What’s with this?” Hawa added.

The FBI would not detail the program or why it decided to hold off on releasing the website, but did offer a statement on Sunday.
“The FBI is developing a website designed to provide awareness about the dangers of violent extremist predators on the Internet with input from students, educators and community leaders,” an FBI spokeswoman said.

MPAC and other Muslim, Arab, Yemeni and Sikh advocacy groups were briefed on the site by the FBI last month. At the meeting, the FBI also discussed its "Shared Responsibility Committees," which would be groups of community leaders and FBI agents who would share information on particular kids. Participating groups said they voiced concern with the agency, and with the US Department of Justice, over the plan.

“We were all on the same page in terms of being concerned,” said Hawa told the Post. “It seems like they’re asking teachers to be extensions of law enforcement and to police thought, and students as well. That was very concerning to us all.”

During "a very tense meeting" between the groups and the FBI, the law enforcement agency included a tutorial of the program various types of potentially-violent groups and ideologies, as well as some personality swings that could lead to extremist behavior, Abed A. Ayoub, legal and policy director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, told the NY Times.

The FBI said during the meeting that it would reach out to schools to promote participation, and that some school districts in Northern Virginia had already committed, Ayoub said.
“The one that should be involved is the Department of Education. The FBI is overreaching its mission,” Ayoub told the Post. “This kind of thing should come from professionals who create educational curriculum. You don’t just have a law enforcement agency get it out to students without thinking about the ramifications on students in schools.”

The groups at the meeting said the program fails to address issues relating to the common occurrence of school shootings in the US, with most of the emphasis on extremism relating to Muslim or Arab communities.

Domestic extremists, such as white supremacists and right-wing groups, have been responsible for twice as many murders in the US since 2001 as "individuals motivated by Jihadist ideology,"according to a June report by the New America Foundation. Hmmmm.........How about .9-11? Read the full story here.

Related: FBI DIRECTOR ESTIMATES 900 ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS OF ISIS OPERATIVES IN U.S.

Erdogan to international media: Mind your own elections.

Erdogan to international media: Mind your own elections. (TZ).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has brushed off criticism from international media organizations about an alarming deterioration in media freedom in Turkey ahead of Sunday's parliamentary election, telling them to focus on elections in their own countries.

“What's that to you?” Erdoğan asked as he spoke to reporters in İstanbul on Saturday. “Mind elections in your own countries.”

Erdoğan's remarks came just a day after dozens of editors from world's leading media organizations wrote to Erdoğan expressing "profound concern" regarding the deteriorating conditions for press freedom in Turkey on the eve of the Nov. 1 vote.

The president claimed that the international media organizations act under orders from what he called a “supreme mind” to attack him and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) that he founded.

“You read statements made by some international media organizations against me and a certain party upon orders from a supreme mind. These are very meaningful,” Erdoğan said. Hmmmm........Obama's BFF. Read the full story here.

'Advanced Islamist Dictatorship' Turkey is the state with most requests for content blocks on Twitter.

'Advanced Islamist Dictatorship' Turkey is the state with most requests for content blocks on Twitter. (HD).

A report that was prepared by academics of TOBB University has revealed that Turkey, as a country, requested the most content-blocks from social media website Twitter in 2015.

The report, named Basın Özgürlüğü Raporu (Press Freedom Report), shows the number of requests to block certain content that were sent to Twitter by the Turkish state since 2012. Having sent seven requests in 2012 and nine in 2013, the courts and state institutions in Turkey dramatically increased requests with 663 in 2014 and 718 in the first 6 months of 2015, making Turkey the state with the most requests of content blocks on Twitter.

The Press Freedom Report that was published by the Ankara-based Freedom Research Association (FRA) was prepared by two TOBB members of staff, Dr. Burak Bilgehan and Dr. Başak Yavcan.

The report also mentioned that a total of 392 journalists were sued for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the past year. The report says that certain articles under the anti-terror law and the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) have been used as the basis for pressuring journalists. Read the full story here.

Turkish Whistle blower: "Erdogan's planning coup will rule as Supreme Commander, shall take over Turkish government"

Turkish Whistle blower: "Erdogan's planning coup will rule as Supreme Commander, shall take over Turkish government" (Bugun).

Having made it no secret his intention to transform Turkey so he can wield absolute authority with no checks and balances, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has allegedly begun the final push to implement a “palace coup” and wrest control of the Turkish government from its parliament.

“Erdoğan is playing his final hand to bring about the palace coup he has been planning for a long time. His plans have been swiftly put into action,” wrote government whistleblower and Twitter phenomenon Fuat Avni Wednesday morning.

Fuat Avni has been a thorn in the side of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for the past two years, having correctly revealed many of their top secret plans.

“The National Intelligence Agency (MİT) law and other similar legislation have already prepared the foundation. He’s establishing a state within a state. The armed force he needs for the coup, he plans to draw from his own special forces and the police,” said Avni.

Critics have often accused the AK Party of politicizing the police force through selective examinations, ideological appointments and purges.

Fuat Avni points out that alternative institutions have been molded so as to support such a palace coup, most notably the intelligence, security and judicial apparatuses. “Cliques bound to Erdoğan's inner circle have already been established within the National Intelligence Agency (MİT), the police and the judiciary.”

“Having tried every other method to realize a palace coup, Erdoğan's current agenda is no longer to be made executive president, but rather Supreme Commander,” Avni added.

Avni said that Erdoğan has dismissed warnings from his inner circle that the Turkish military – which has always played a major role in civilian politics, even enacting multiple coups – might object to an AK Party takeover. “Up till now they have always gotten whatever they wanted. That era is over. Now it's our turn,” Erdoğan allegedly told the skeptics among his advisors.

“They no longer care if various institutions, including the military, object to the palace coup. The plans are going to proceed regardless of their objections,” added Avni.

“The government and the ministries have all been completely dissolved. All plans, all governance, already comes from his inner circle... Erdoğan sees himself as the state. If the president can get his base to accept this new structure, then the palace coup will be announced,” he wrote.

“Ready to pick fights with every institution of the state and declare himself Supreme Commander, Erdoğan seems to have lost his mind,” added Avni, claiming that the few reasonable people who have tried to caution the president have only enraged him further.

“Erdoğan is dragging the country to disaster on his way out. All but two or three people around him see the looming disaster, but they are too terrified to make a peep.” Hmmmm........Well perhaps the EU Cowards will organize his coronation. Read the full story here.

Cowardly Withheld EU report raps Turkey on rights, media, justice.

Cowardly Withheld EU report raps Turkey on rights, media, justice. (TZ).

A European Commission report on Turkey, held back until after next Sunday's election to avoid antagonising President Tayyip Erdoğan, accuses Ankara of backsliding on the rule of law, freedom of expression and judicial independence.

A copy of the draft annual progress report on Turkey's EU candidacy, seen by Reuters, also cites a severe deterioration in the security situation and an increasing politicisation of the state administration as Erdoğan's AK Party, in power for the last 13 years, tightens its grip.

The EU executive, which is urgently trying to secure Erdoğan's help to stem flows of Syrian refugees and other migrants from Turkey to Europe, insisted it had not delayed the report for political reasons.


It also said it was up to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to decide when the progress reports on candidate countries, usually released in October, are approved and published.

In the forensic language of the Commission's department for enlargement negotiations, the draft describes an overall drift towards more authoritarian governance in Turkey.

"The outgoing government has made efforts to reinvigorate the EU accession process," it says. "However, this commitment was offset by the adoption of key legislation in the area of the rule of law, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly that ran against European standards."

"The situation has been backsliding since 2014," it said. "The independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers have been considerably undermined and judges and prosecutors have been under strong political pressure."

Juncker told the European Parliament on Tuesday that, despite human rights concerns, "whether we like it or not, we have to work with Turkey". Hmmm.....In other words 'we are cowards when it comes to Human rights and freedom of speech, bending over for an Islamist dictator'. Read the full story here.

World decries Ankara’s seizure of critical media, says election now suspect

World decries Ankara’s seizure of critical media, says election now suspect.(Bugun).

The largest group in the European Parliament, the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) was quick to condemn the move.

“This attack just five days before the election is a major attack against democracy and shows that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is willing to sacrifice all democratic principles to secure a parliamentary majority,” noted Renate Sommer, the Christian Democrats’ shadow rapporteur on Turkey, in a written statement released Tuesday.

“Any talk of free and fair elections under these conditions is pointless,” she added.

On Monday, less than a week before the Nov. 1 snap election, Ankara ordered the seizure of Koza İpek Holding, which owns several media properties critical of the government. Hmmm.....The World...especially the EU will do nothing, tthe EU is a toothless dog all bark....no bite....Erdogan knows this. Read the full story here.

'Advanced Islamist dictatorship' Turkey - Police raid offices of critical media group days before election. Live Updates

'Advanced Islamist dictatorship' Turkey - Police raid offices of critical media group days before election. (TD).


Turkish riot police stormed the headquarters of critical media outlets in İstanbul shortly after dawn on Wednesday, with journalists from the paper making fruitless efforts to prevent them from entering into the building.

"Dear viewers, do not be surprised if you see police in our studio in the upcoming minutes," an anchor from Bugün TV, which is one of the seized media outlets, said as he narrated the drama unfolding outside the media company.

Hundreds of people, most of them journalists from media outlets affiliated with Koza İpek Holding, thronged outside the headquarters of the company to protest the seizure of the media companies by the Turkish government.

Mahmut Tanal, a lawmaker from the Republican People's Party (CHP), tried to negotiate with police chiefs, but the riot police proceeded to enter the building, where four media outlets are operating. Police routinely used pepper spray and frequent brawls erupted as they occupied the building.

A reporter from the newspaper tweeted his bloody hands to show how he was injured while resisting police who tried to occupy his office.

Another editor, Fatih Akalan, cried at the police outside the building in futile attempts to protest the takeover. A number of reporters just stood outside with tears in their eyes, watching a newspaper or a TV station they had worked at for years being taken over by the riot police.

The takeover of the management of Koza İpek Holding's 22 companies, including critical TV stations Bugün TV, Kanaltürk and two newspapers, comes just days before Turkey is set to have a repeat parliamentary election on Nov. 1. The move has intensified concerns about the deteriorating state of freedom of speech and of the media in Turkey. Hmmm......welcome to Erdoganistan loved by the EU Parliamentarians and his BFF Obama. I hope this make Turkish voters realize what is at stake is their freedom.Read and see the full story here.

Watch last seconds of @BugunTV broadcast as police storm main control room, shutting it. @pressfreedom @MajaEUspox pic.twitter.com/rQ1fKGU2Sh

— Mustafa Edib Yılmaz (@MustafaEdib) October 28, 2015

#Turkey slammed over police violence against journalists https://t.co/TFQaOWqxDV via @CommissionerHR pic.twitter.com/dFiuNP1Bxe

— Stefano Montanari (@StefMontanari) October 28, 2015

This guy stranglehold by one police & held back by another is a veteran court reporter @kamilmaman who knows the law pic.twitter.com/mfygwjaTPA

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) October 28, 2015

@TurkJourno @abdbozkurt Why? He knows the #EU is a toothless dog, all barks no bite.

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) October 28, 2015

#Turkey: Koza İpek asks trustees to leave premises on the ground that their names are not in Trade Registry, a requirement in the law

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) October 28, 2015

Not only disturbing that media are closed in #Turkey but threats expressed by frm advisor Erdogan indicate depth https://t.co/15CILBfkdl

— Marietje Schaake (@MarietjeSchaake) October 28, 2015

The trustees were not published in official Trade Registry. That makes their presence illegal in Koza media offices https://t.co/INkp9ME3xz

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) October 28, 2015

VIDEO: Turkish police raid TV station ahead of election #Turkey - @GrasswireNow pic.twitter.com/jWYAAwZgIu

— Conflict News (@Conflicts) October 28, 2015

#Turkey police use tear gas, water cannon to take control of media company headquarters. https://t.co/SlLgV4FBpW pic.twitter.com/dIMlmnmtKi

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) October 28, 2015

#Turkey: Lawmaker @erenerdemnet says internal polling showed AKP at 37%, making @RT_Erdogan go crazy https://t.co/rNFWVMK3Py

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) October 28, 2015

Police blocked roads but tens of thousands continue pouring near Koza İpek media offices in Istanbul, journo says https://t.co/wK5KUzv2Ak

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) October 28, 2015

This is how Erdoğan's police detain an ISIL suspects (L) and a journalist (R). RT @csagir2015 pic.twitter.com/3tyPYQJU9j

— Turkey Media Review (@TurkeyReview) October 28, 2015

More photos from journalists, media members, during police raid on critical İpek Media HQ, in İstanbul, this morning pic.twitter.com/xxKIkkyfQH

— Celil (@csagir2015) October 28, 2015

#Turkey's top-notch court reporter @kamilmaman taken under custody with police brutality as pictured https://t.co/LvYvwZUjzn

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) October 28, 2015

Head of #Turkish Bar Assosication: This is an open intervention in republican regime, people's response will be harsh #susmayız

— TurkJourno (@TurkJourno) October 28, 2015

@emredemirfr @abdbozkurt Empty worthless words in the wind the #EU fears Erdo and crawls before him.

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) October 28, 2015

This is the best interpretation of what's going on in Turkey today. @pressfreedom @JHahnEU @OSCE @cnni @RSF_RWB pic.twitter.com/guUWIWY49g

— Celil (@csagir2015) October 28, 2015

Iran’s Khamenei appoints new cyberspace council members, outlines Islamic policies

Iran’s Khamenei appoints new cyberspace council members, outlines Islamic policies. (Taz).

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed new members to the Supreme Council of Cyberspace (SCC) and outlined its major policies.

Khamenei said in a decree, posted on his official website Sept. 5, that the main duty of the SCC is to carry out macro-management, take necessary and timely decisions, and oversee the area of interest.

He said the previous similar councils were void and handed over those councils’ tasks to the new one.
Iranian leader also urged to improve the council’s status for it to be able to take necessary decisions and conduct coordination among other government organizations in areas of interest.

Aside from that, he called for a technological improvement of cyberspace in the country and training personnel for areas related to cyberspace.

He also called for providing ample security for cyberspace in the country, developing the Iranian cyberspace in compliance with Islamic norms, and producing content that is in line with the Islamic culture.

On March 7, 2012, Ayatollah Khamenei decreed to establish the SCC.

Under the decree, the SCC is a body responsible for coordinating and implementing cyberspace policy in Iran.

The SCC enjoys significant authority and its decisions are legally-binding.

It has the power to unilaterally dictate policies relating to the Internet, and its actions cannot be obstructed by the Iranian parliament.


The SCC is also able to compel the Commission to Determine the Instances of Criminal Content (CDICC) to pursue particular policies on the Internet censorship, with the body having no choice but to comply with the SCC decisions.

Saudi Arabia reiterated its call to Criminalize vilification of religious symbols at UNESCO organized meeting.

Saudi Arabia reiterated its call to Criminalize vilification of religious symbols at UNESCO organized meeting. (SaudiGazette).

LILLE, France — Saudi Arabia has reiterated its call on the international community to criminalize any act vilifying religious beliefs and symbols of faith as well as all kinds of discrimination based on religion.

Addressing an international symposium on media coverage of religious symbols based on international law, which started in this French city on Saturday, a senior Saudi official said the Kingdom emphasized years ago that the international community must act urgently to confront ethnic, religious and cultural intolerance, which has become widespread in all communities and peoples of the world.

"We have made it clear that freedom of expression without limits or restrictions would lead to violation and abuse of religious and ideological rights," said Abdulmajeed Al-Omari, director for external relations at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

"This requires everyone to intensify efforts to criminalize insulting heavenly religions, prophets, holy books, religious symbols and places of worship," he added.

Al-Omari pointed out that such abuses bred intolerance, extremism and human rights violations and contributed to the growing phenomenon of defamation of religions.

The Kingdom is participating in the forum, with representatives from 16 European countries, a number of international organizations led by UNESCO, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Association of Islamic Universities.

Al-Omari said the Saudi participation in the symposium falls in line with its efforts to support the principles of justice, humanity, promotion of values and the principles of tolerance in the world as well as to emphasize the importance of respecting religions and religious symbols.  Hmmm.....It might turn out to be only concerning 'defamation of Islam'.