Recent "International Religious Freedom Act" In The U.S. Indicates World Has Had Enough Of Muslim Religious Extremism. Kuwaiti Writer.

Kuwaiti Writer: Recent Passing Of The International Religious Freedom Act In The U.S. Indicates World Has Had Enough Of Muslim Religious Extremism. (MEMRI).

In an article in the Kuwaiti daily Al-Qabas, journalist Ahmad Al-Sarraf wrote about the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act recently passed by the U.S. administration. The act, which was signed into law in December 2016, is an amendment to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, which authorizes the U.S. to impose sanctions on foreign countries in response to violations of religious freedom.[1] The amendment broadens the application of the International Religious Freedom Act by specifically extending protection to non-theists as well as those who do not profess or practice any particular religion. [2]

Al-Sarraf wrote that today, after the passing of the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act, Arab and Muslims states will be more vulnerable to U.S. sanctions. 

He added that the passing of the act at this time indicates that the world has had enough of Muslims' religious extremism and their involvement in terrorist attacks, and called to "end all this madness." 

He stated that the law would not have passed had the Muslims countries understood and applied the principles of human rights, and expressed a belief that it would help to promote religious freedom worldwide. 

The meaning of this law is that we in the Muslim countries, and especially the Arab countries, will be more vulnerable to persecution by the U.S. administration. We have poor commerce and industry and a weak healthcare system, and if we stubbornly insist on refraining from developing and improving, we will be exposed to sanctions that we will not be able to endure.

"This is a serious matter, and it would be foolish to respond to this law by saying that we will starve rather than capitulate [to U.S. dictates], or go back to the desert and live on milk and dates. In fact, we must deeply contemplate this matter and realize that the world has had enough of us, of our extremism and of our involvement in most terror operations that take place on a daily basis. It's time to end all this madness. This law would not have passed in this manner, which many regard as blunt interference in the internal affairs of other countries, had we really understood the essence of human rights in our countries and applied the principles [of human rights] to everyone, without discrimination." Read the full story here.

Pakistan - 700-strong 'Islamic' lawyers' alliance remains pro Trial & execution of 'blasphemers'.

Pakistan - 700-strong 'Islamic' lawyers' alliance remains pro Trial & execution of 'blasphemers'. (ET)

A little-known alliance of hundreds of lawyers in Pakistan is behind the rise in prosecutions for blasphemy, a crime punishable by death that goes to the heart of an ideological clash between reformers and religious conservatives.

The group, whose name translates as The Movement for the Finality of the Prophethood, offers free legal advice to complainants and has packed courtrooms with representatives, a tactic critics say is designed to help it gain convictions.

The stated mission of the Khatm-e-Nubuwwat Lawyers’ Forum and its leader Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry is uncompromising: to use its expertise and influence to ensure that anyone insulting Islam or  Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is charged, tried and executed.

“Whoever does this (blasphemy), the punishment is only death. There is no alternative,” Chaudhry told supporters crammed into his small office behind the towering red-brick High Court building in the eastern city of Lahore.

The campaign could complicate the government’s tentative efforts to reform blasphemy legislation, a tough task in a country where support for the law is widespread.


Chaudhry was the defence lawyer for Mumtaz Qadri, executed on Monday for gunning down the popular governor of Punjab province in 2011 over his criticism of the blasphemy law.

In death, Qadri was a hero for many. Tens of thousands of people gathered in a park in the city of Rawalpindi for his funeral on Tuesday, showering his casket with flowers. “He lives! Qadri lives!” supporters around the coffin cried. ”From your blood, the revolution will come!” Read the full story here.

PMW YouTube account reinstated.

Source

PalWatch got booted off YouTube for exposing Palestinian incitement videos. (JPost)

An NGO media watchdog that monitors Palestinian incitement claimed on Sunday that the video-sharing website YouTube has "terminated" their account after they released a Palestinian Authority broadcast featuring a little girl reciting a provocative anti-Zionist  poem.

The NGO Palestinian Media Watch said in a press release that after they had uploaded a video on Thursday showing a Palestinian girl recite a poem on PA TV which calls for a "war that will smash the oppressor and destroy the Zionist's soul," YouTube terminated the NGO's account for violating their "terms of service."

PMW added that the account contained virtually all of their videos which were no longer accessible. Read the full story here.

Dutch Cops Visit Critics of Dutch Migration Policy.

Dutch Cops Visit Critics of Dutch Migration Policy. (SP).

Critiquing the Dutch government's policy on migrants via social networking websites and elsewhere is now considered a criminal offense in Holland.

Dutch police have raided critics' homes, media outlets reported, citing a recent mass protest in the town of Kaatsheuvel and how some citizens of the town of Sliedrecht had been targeted by the authorities for voicing their criticism of mass migration online.

A police spokesperson admitted that visits to the protesters and requests to delete anti-government posts on social networking websites are "unusual" practices, but maintained that police will continue to monitor the protesters' accounts in order to uncover the further intentions of their authors.Read the full story here.

"I cannot approve of monarchs who want to rule over the conscience of the people, and take away their freedom of choice and religion." Willem De Zwijger.

Reporter Threatened by Belgian gov for Asking Turkish Pres. About Jailed VICE News Journalist.

Reporter Threatened  by Belgian  gov  for Asking in Belgium Turkish Pres. About Jailed VICE News Journalist. (Vice).

A Belgian television network was threatened by the government after a reporter asked the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a question about Mohammed Ismael Rasool, the VICE News journalist who has now been imprisoned in Turkey for seven weeks.

The incident, all caught on camera, caused a storm in Belgium and prompted the European Federation of Journalists to report the Belgian government to the European Council for "intimidation."

A video published at the weekend by the RTBF station — for which Rasool also worked while in Turkey and Iraq — shows a reporter shouting a question in the direction of Erdogan as he walks towards his car. "Mr. Erdogan — why is Mohammed Rasool still in prison in Turkey?" she says, as the Turkish leader looks over before disappearing into his vehicle.

A voiceover on the RTBF video explains that the encounter followed a press conference during an official visit to Belgium by Erdogan earlier this month, at which journalists had not been permitted to ask questions.

Immediately afterward, a Turkish embassy official reprimands a representative of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel for having let the journalist ask the question.

The Belgian government representative then tells RTBF, which is still filming, that it is not allowed to film and that she will complain to the director of the station.

Michel's communications director Frédéric Cauderlier then takes the journalists aside and threatens them, telling them that if the footage is aired, "we have a grave situation" and that there will be "consequences."

François Mazure, the host-editor of the Belgian television show 7 à la Une, which published the video, said although there was a typical "love/hate relationship" between the press and the government in Belgium, the station had been surprised by how the government had reacted.

"The tone of the Belgian government spokesperson this time was really harsh," Mazure said. "The prime minister reprimanded his spokesperson, because our video got massive attention in Belgium. We had 400,000 views — which is huge for a small country like Belgium."

Michel later told a Belgian news agency he had told off Cauderlier for using "unacceptable words" towards RTBF. Hmmm...........Freedom of the press in the EU not so much when their 'Un official' new Gas provider comes visiting. If they honestly think that Iran and Turkey are more reliable partners than Russia as Gas providers for Europe they have another thing coming.

Related: Platform to strengthen the protection of journalism and journalists' safety.

The press service of the Belgian Prime Minister threatens journalist

#Turkey ranked 80 out of 102 in the rule of law in global ratings according to @TheWJP pic.twitter.com/ddIafudVdR

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) October 17, 2015

If you air this we'll have a serious problem!

This thing better not be aired!

US urges #Turkey to uphold due process in journalist case. #FreeRasool https://t.co/1Wev3IZT1C

— Lucy Kafanov (@LucyKafanov) October 17, 2015

Video - The Invasion of Europe - Pat Condell

Free speech? - Merkel presses Zuckerberg to monitor racist posts on Facebook.

Free speech? - Merkel presses Zuckerberg to monitor racist posts on Facebook. (RT).

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she wants more action from Facebook when it comes to filtering hateful racial posts. The comments were overheard by media as Merkel was speaking to CEO Mark Zuckerberg on the sidelines of the UN summit.

Merkel’s request could be heard on a live transmission broadcast seconds before the introductory remarks at a luncheon in New York on Saturday.

The German leader asked Zuckerberg about hate speech posts, with the Facebook CEO responding: “We need to do some work.”

Merkel followed up: “Are you working on this?” Zuckerberg was heard replying: “Yeah.”

The transmission was then cut off as the luncheon began.

This is not the first time Merkel has called on Facebook to curtail hate speech comments on the social network.

“When people stir up sedition on social networks using their real name, it’s not only the state that has to act, but also Facebook as a company should do something against these [people],” Merkel told regional newspaper Rheinische Post earlier in September.

The German leader added that the social media company has the tools to track hate speech, but is lacking in enforcement. “The rules need to be implemented,” Merkel said.

The increased attention towards online hate is believed to have been triggered by an influx of refugees traveling to Germany, with around 1 million migrants expected to come to the country this year. The rise in immigrants and refugees from war zones has divided the population, with massive pro- and anti-refugee rallies hitting the country amid intensifying hate rhetoric.

Following criticism, Facebook committed to improve its efforts to fight racism online. On September 14, the company announced its cooperation with German Internet watchdog, Voluntary Self-Monitoring of Multimedia Service Providers, to keep an eye on hate speech posts. Hmmmm......I warned that the flood of refugees would bring a massive increase of extreme right, just wait till the next elections in Europe, and limiting free speech won't stop it on the contrary. I don't approve of hate speech but free speech is a must in a democracy.

'Islamophobia 101' - Third blogger hacked to death in Bangladesh by Muslim extremists for speaking out against Islam.

'Islamophobia 101' - Third blogger hacked to death in Bangladesh by Muslim extremists for speaking out against Islam. (DM).

A Bangladeshi blogger who spoke out against religious extremism has been hacked to death in the northeastern city of Sylhet, the third victim of such attacks in three months.

Ananta Bijoy Das had left his home and was riding to town in a rickshaw when four men armed with machetes jumped on him and hacked him to death, according to police.

The attack took place at around 8.30am local time, and is believed to be linked to secular blog Mukto-Mona, which Das wrote for.

In February Dr Avijit Roy, an American-born Bangladeshi who created the Mukto-Mona blog, was killed by machete-wieling thugs in Dhaka.

Roy, 42, had his head sliced open and was left for dead in the streets while his wife, who was with him at the time, was left with a deep gash to her head.

Obscure militant group Ansar Bangla 7 claimed responsibility at the time of the attack, and said it had drawn up a list of other bloggers it wanted to target.

However, since then Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent has also claimed responsibility. Police say an Islamist is being held over the attack.

Das had previously written about Roy's death, and on Monday night he posted a Facebook status update questioning the police’s role in his killing.

His last post, minutes before his murder, was on a ruling party MP’s comment that he wanted to whip a teacher, according to the Dhakar Tribune.

Das was also a member of Gonojagoron Moncho, a political movement calling for the execution of war criminals and opposing Islamist political parties.

Following the announcement of his death local Gonojagoron activists organised a protest rally, demanding immediate arrest of the killers. Read the full story here.

'Advanced Islamist Democracy' Turkey blocks Twitter, YouTube over hostage photos.

'Advanced Islamist Democracy' Turkey blocks Twitter, YouTube over hostage photos. (BBC).

A Turkish court has ordered blocks on Twitter and YouTube for sharing photos of a hostage taken during an armed siege last week.

The blocks have been imposed because images of a deadly siege were being shared via the social networks.

Before imposing the blocks on the websites, Turkish authorities had moved to stop newspapers printing images taken during the siege last week.

The newspapers were accused by the government of disseminating "terrorist propaganda" for the DHKP-C group that was reportedly behind the attack on the courthouse.

In total, 166 websites which shared the images were blocked by the court order.

YouTube published the text of the court ruling on its website saying an "administration measure" had been enacted by Turkey's telecoms authority.

Facebook was also subject to the same block but it is believed the restrictions on it have been lifted after it removed the images. Hmmmm.....How much longer will EU politicians allow the 'Islamist dictator' to trample human values and rights in order to get cheap gas?Read the full story here.

Social media inaccessible for many users in #Turkey. Hurriyet says access providers got prosecutor order to block YouTube, Facebook, Twitter

— Benjamin Harvey (@BenjaminHarvey) April 6, 2015

Erdogan spokesman says #Turkey's social media ban has nothing to do with freedom of speech, curbed freedoms

— Lucy Kafanov (@LucyKafanov) April 6, 2015

Erdogan spokesman blames "irresponsible" news outlets for Twitter, YouTube ban. Says publishing hostage pics amounts to terrorist propaganda

— Lucy Kafanov (@LucyKafanov) April 6, 2015

#Turkey's ban on Twitter, YouTube come as 7 Turkish newspapers investigated for "terrorist propaganda" in publishing slain prosecutor photo

— Lucy Kafanov (@LucyKafanov) April 6, 2015

Canadian PM Harper preparing anti-terror bill to criminalize the ‘promotion of terrorism’.

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Canadian PM Harper preparing anti-terror bill to criminalize the ‘promotion of terrorism’. (GM).

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his government will introduce promised new national-security legislation on Friday, including a provision that draws a line between free expression and endorsing terrorism.

Highlighting the new bill in a speech on Sunday, Mr. Harper said he will protect Canadians from homegrown extremists by giving authorities new powers – including the ability to prosecute people for “the promotion of terrorism.”

“Jihadist terrorism is not a future possibility, it is a present reality,” Mr. Harper said.

“These measures are designed to help authorities stop planned attacks, get threats off our streets, criminalize the promotion of terrorism and prevent terrorists from travelling and recruiting others.”

It’s the first time that the government has so clearly spelled out what will be included in the new bill. The Conservatives hope the moves will position them as tough on security issues; the measures come ahead of this year’s federal election campaign.

Legislation that criminalizes the promotion of terrorism is a concern for legal experts who worry that Ottawa would curtail fundamental freedoms in the name of national security.

Two top Canadian law professors, in a paper this month, urged the government to proceed cautiously when it comes to any attempt to fetter free speech.

“On several occasions since 2007, government politicians have expressed interest in a terrorism ‘glorification’ offence … we conclude that a glorification offence would be ill-suited to Canada’s social and legal environment,” write professors Craig Forcese and Kent Roach in the recent paper.

The text of the coming bill has not been released, so it isn’t clear whether the Prime Minister’s language about criminalizing the “promotion of terrorism” is a direct parallel to past discussions of the “glorification” offence.

Overseas, “glorification of terrorism ” prosecutions have included offences ranging from inciting crimes, to selling extremist propaganda, to publishing documents or drawings that are seen as applauding terrorist attacks. Such laws exists in Europe and Britain, but could be difficult to reconcile with the freedom-of-expression provisions in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Some of the details of the proposed legislation have already come to light. The Globe and Mail reported last week that the new law would seek to lower the legal thresholds used for some preventive police powers, while expanding the criteria that would allow officials to blacklist people on the Canadian government’s “no-fly” list.

In their new paper, Prof. Forcese and Prof. Roach urge the government to consider checks and balances if it is considering any laws that would affect free speech. For example, they say judicial orders could allow police to compel Internet providers to scrub dangerous jihadi messages from public view and pass identifying information to appropriate authorities. Read the full story here.