Once again, wherever Sharia experiences renewed interest, the observable effect is that tolerance decreases and harassment increases, and morality policing is a cheap, easy way for a government to look busy and shore up its Islamic credentials while reminding the public who’s boss. It is a diversion from larger issues that a real, functioning government […]
Archives for January 2012
Egypt: Salafists refrain from New Year’s greetings to Copts
We already knew there would be no Christmas greetings from them. This is the shape of things to come in Egypt. The Tiny Minority of Extremists always seems to turn out less tiny than advertised, and the Salafists have scored between a quarter and a third of the vote so far, depending on the report. […]
Saudis to apply law allowing women clerks for lingerie sales despite top cleric’s objections
It took a decree from the king himself to end an ironic consequence of the strict separation of men and women, whereby Saudi women actually had to buy lingerie from men because a total ban on female sales clerks. Unsurprisingly, the stores dragged their feet on hiring women, and a top Saudi cleric called the […]
Egypt: Divisions emerge between Islamic parties
The existence of disagreements is well known, but what remains to be seen is how it will affect governance and the crafting of Egypt’s next constitution. A Sharia regime carries a perpetual element of instability in that, as even Imam Rauf knows, Sharia is a package deal. There can always be more of it, and […]
Tajikistan: Muslims shouting “infidel” murder Santa Claus
Misunderstanders of Islam in Central Asia shout “infidel” as they murder a man dressed as Santa Claus, and Tajikistan’s media says the murder didn’t take place on religious grounds. Have they been taking lessons from the U.S. media? “Santa killed by Muslim fanatics for being “˜infidel” in Tajikistan,” from News.am, January 2 (thanks to Silvester): […]
Welcome, DHS agents!
I’ve just learned that the Department of Homeland Security has Jihad Watch under surveillance, along with a broad spectrum of sites all over the ideological and political map, including Live Leak, Vimeo, Youtube, Flickr, Counter-Terrorism Blog, Danger Room, Drudge Report, Foreign Policy, Global Security Newswire, Google Blog Search, Homeland Security Today, Huffington Post, LongWarJournal, MEMRI, […]
Iran: Four still in custody after authorities detained entire congregation at Christmas celebration
Like the cases of Pastor Nadarkhani and of Sakineh Ashtiani, this is another story Iran would like to go away so it can do as it pleases. That must not be allowed to happen. An update on this story. “Concern over condition of four detainees arrested in AOG church of Ahwaz,” from Mohabat News, December […]
Palestinian Authority’s Abbas appoints jihadist freed in prisoner exchange for Gilad Shalit as adviser
Remember, these are supposed to be the “moderate” guys. With “moderates” like these, who needs “extremists?” “Abbas appoints released terrorist as advisor,” from the Jerusalem Post, January 2: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recently appointed as an advisor one of the security prisoners released in exchange for Gilad Schalit this past October. Muhammad Darma, who […]
“I hope that all decent people will support her efforts to live as a free human being”
Since a lot of people have been raising doubts about the veracity of Shakila, the Liberated One, I thought it might be helpful for me to write a note at her site: I just got off the phone with Shakila, the Liberated One, and we agreed that it would be helpful, at least for people […]
Nigeria: Islamic jihadists of Boko Haram warn Christians to leave north within three days
And the Nigerian government continues to be unable and/or unwilling to rein in Boko Haram. “Islamist militants in Nigeria warn Christians to leave north within 3 days,” by Tim Lister for CNN, January 2: (CNN) — The militant Islamist group Boko Haram has issued an ultimatum giving Christians living in northern Nigeria three days to […]