Perhaps al-Qaeda, the likely suspect whenever closely coordinated, multiple attacks occur, is considering al-Shabaab’s strategy in trying to leverage the Somali famine to its purposes, and Boko Haram’s sustained campaign of destruction in Nigeria: ruling over an empty country with no people left who can stand or survive it would be so much easier. Failing […]
Sweden: Muhammad cartoonist pelted with eggs in lecture on “limits of freedom of expression”
Double standards abound: people who would insist on their right to pelt Lars Vilks with eggs decide that he is not free to speak. Thugs like these attempt to act as censors through violence, intimidation, and disruption, and that censorship must be recognized for what it is, and resisted in all of its forms. “Prophet […]
U.K.-based jihadist hate preacher given “warm welcome” at “one of Amsterdam’s foremost forums for political debate”
As one Moroccan-born writer, Hafid Bouazza, noted: “Islamists have learned that in the West, the best way to proselytize is to say you want to “˜debate.” So, is Bouazza a “racist,” or an “Islamophobe” for pointing that out? “UK-based Palestinian extremist speaks at Amsterdam venue,” by Cnaan Lipshiz for the Jerusalem Post, February 22: AMSTERDAM […]
Report: Execution order may have been issued for Iranian apostate from Islam
By trying to show who’s boss, the Islamic Republic shows how weak, fragile, paranoid, and insecure it is. Even by “winning,” as they might imagine they are doing, they lose. There was a brief attempt to tack on other fanciful charges against Nadarkhani when Iran was under international pressure over his apostasy conviction last fall, […]
Somalia: Al-Shabaab abducting teenage girls to “marry” jihadists
Actually, that’s called rape, not marriage. But the Qur’an provides for sexual relations with “those whom your right hands possess,” whether they are already married or not (4:24). Don’t like it? Don’t blame us. We didn’t write it, and we’re not the ones acting on it. Direct your outrage at those who are. “Al-Shabaab militia […]
Seven dead in Afghan protests over Qur’an burning
There can be no stable or prosperous society — and indeed, no self-government — with such a sense of entitlement to wreak havoc when insulted. Self-government depends on government of the self. Does a lethal rampage un-burn the Qur’ans? Of course not. The inclination to revel in an orgy of self-righteous rage preceded the incident […]
Egypt: Senior judge says fellow judges are eager to apply Sharia
We tried to tell you. The success of a democracy in protecting human rights and civil liberties depends on the values that inform its participants. “Senior judge’s comments about Sharia law stir debate,” from Al Masry Al Youm, February 20: The statements of Ahmed al-Zend, the head of the Egyptian Judges” Club, in which he […]
Egypt: Mother of Sadat’s killer “proud of him”
She explains, “Sadat sold out the country to the Jews and violated the honor of the Islamic nation.” And somehow Egypt wound up bigger for it: they got the Sinai back, thus getting the “do-over” they wanted in compensation for the embarrassment of the military defeat. And they got ample leverage in the two-part package […]
India: Female undergraduate students denied access to library at Aligarh Muslim University
The excuse given here is “overcrowding,” but likely has more to do with the strict separation of men and women. The supposed accommodation of allowing women to request books to be brought to them is not enough. Browsing the shelf and browsing an online catalog are different experiences, and the women are being denied one […]
Report: Afghan police rescue 41 children from becoming suicide bombers
The intrepid, manly mujahedin, outsourcing the jihad to even more child bombers. “Afghans rescue 41 child suicide bombers,” from Agence France-Presse, February 20: Kabul – The Afghan government said on Monday that police had rescued 41 children from becoming suicide bombers as they were about to be smuggled across the mountains into Pakistan. Interior ministry […]