A power play by the Shi’ite majority, or something more? “Tension rise as Iraq seeks Sunni VP arrest,” by Rania El Gamal for Reuters, December 19: BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi authorities issued an arrest warrant for Sunni Muslim Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi on Monday for suspected ties to assassinations and bombings, a decision likely to fuel […]
President of non-moderate Maldives pushes back against even less moderate Maldivian Muslims
As this report notes, “the country of 300,000 people forbids practice of religions other than Sunni Islam,” and our archives chronicle numerous other abuses. While the president lodges his protest here against stonings and amputations, the country’s foreign minister has said that Sharia’s punishments such as flogging for adultery are basic Islamic principles not up […]
Pakistan: Man cuts off teenage wife’s lips and nose; police refuse to register a case against him
As this story notes, resistance to stronger legislation against domestic violence has come from “religious parties” — that is, those who will tolerate no limitations on the reach of Islamic law. Moving against domestic violence threatens to criminalize what Allah made lawful: the principle that a man can hit (yes, hit) a woman in his […]
Report: Secret talks between U.S. and Taliban may lead to transfer of Taliban prisoners to Afghan prisons
The Taliban don’t want this so they can visit. They know that in Afghan custody, they stand a good chance of seeing the detainees escaping or being released outright. Failing that, they can attempt to organize a prison break of their own, which they did in Kandahar “with inside help.” “Exclusive: Secret U.S., Taliban talks […]
Egypt: Islamic parties continue to dominate in second round of elections
The White House has said the democratic process is the important thing here. But a democracy’s ability to protect human rights and civil liberties is only as good as the values that inform its participants. These elected officials are the people who are set to draft the country’s next constitution. “Islamist parties dominate Egypt election,” […]
India: Muslim men lure Hindu girls with promises of marriage, then they disappear: 84 Hindu girls missing this year
The so-called “love jihad” continues. “Love jihad sparks hate,” from the Times News Network, December 17 (thanks to The Religion of Peace): BANGALORE: There was pandemonium in the legislative assembly on Friday with ruling and opposition members locked in a heated argument over love jihad (the term used for recent incidents in which Muslim youth […]
Aceh: Punk rockers deemed “threat to Islamic values” held incommunicado in “re-education camps”
According to the detainees who were interviewed, they are missing school, and they cannot contact their parents. Jakarta, which consistently takes the path of least resistance with homegrown “extremism,” may or may not be motivated to rein in the proliferating abuses in Sharia-ruled Aceh. An update on this story. –˜Punk’s Not Dead” Despite Aceh Arrests,” […]
Feel-good news: Hizballah “in dire financial straits”
Awwww. “Report: Hezbollah in dire financial straits,” from YNet News, December 18: While Hezbollah General Secretary Hassan Nasrallah appeared to be in high spirits recently during a rare public appearance in a suburb of Beirut, his organization is experiencing a severe financial crisis, French daily Le Figaro reported over the weekend. According to the article, […]
Egypt: First they came for the Christians…
… and now Egypt’s army is turning on the rest of the country. Women, of course, are fair game in Egypt the moment they step out of line and thus forfeit their right to protection, as is shown once again below. The army’s first massive assault on its people was against Christians demanding their rights, […]
Iraq: Hizballah commander believed responsible for deaths of American soldiers handed over to Iraqi authorities, will be charged with having a forged passport
An all too predictable update on this story. “Hezbollah Prisoner Held by Iraq Faces Minor Charge,” from the Associated Press, December 17: BAGHDAD — A Lebanese Hezbollah commander allegedly responsible for killing four U.S. soldiers in Iraq will be prosecuted for a lesser charge of illegal entry with a forged passport, Iraqi officials said Saturday. […]