Afghanistan: The Fog of War

War on Terror

27 Dec 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com

Afghanistan: The Fog of War

When the Americans invaded in 2001 most Afghans welcomed the United States with open arms. …The Americans promised jobs. This is in a country where after nearly 25 years of war there's no economy to speak of. They promised development and reconstruction, an accountable and responsible government and security. The reason the situation has completely deteriorated is that the Americans have utterly failed in meeting every single one of their promises. Today, more than half the country is unemployed. In many places the actual unemployment rate is much higher. There are villages I've gone to where no one has a job. Forty percent of the country earns less than $14 a month and nearly 50 percent is unable to procure enough food to meet their minimum daily requirements. … A lot of these people are crippled from the various wars — the Russian war, the current war — and the women are prevented from working. Usually they'll send their children down from the mountains into the city to either beg or work some small job. In these streets near the mountains you'll see hundreds of children hawking trinkets, selling gum or outright begging. Many of these children are three or four years old, and they're the main breadwinners of the family. You'll occasionally see men trying to sell their daughters. --- Arun Gupta URL of this page: http://newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamWarOnTerror_1.aspx?ArticleID=2289 ------   The Fog of War By Arun Gupta http://www.indypendent.org/2009/12/11/fog-of-war/ Anand Gopal has gone where few others reporters have been. Currently correspondent for The Wall Street Journal based in Kabul, Afghanistan, Gopal embedded with the Taliban in 2008, giving him unique insight into a force that was swept away by the U.S. invasion after the 9/11 attacks but still rules much of the countryside and has battled Western forces to a stalemate. In his writings, Gopal explains that while every "suicide attack and kidnapping is usually attributed to 'the Taliban' … the insurgency is far from monolithic." The United States is battling a diverse group of fighters, Gopal says. "There are the shadowy, kohl-eyed mullahs and head-bobbing religious students, of course, but there are also erudite university students; poor, illiterate farmers, and veteran anti-Soviet commanders. The movement is a mélange of nationalists, Islamists and bandits that fall uneasily into three or four main factions. The factions themselves are made up of competing commanders with differing ideologies and strategies who nonetheless agree on one essential goal: kicking out the foreigners." Gopal notes the Taliban are drawn from the Pashtun ethnic group. "They are motivated by joblessness, bad government and U.S. military violence. They have a good deal of support from the locals and they are a different breed of Taliban from the ones that were there in the 1990s." This past June, at the Socialism 2009 conference in Chicago, Gopal spoke about what motivates the Taliban to fight, how the U.S. reconstruction effort has failed, why neither side can prevail, the role of Pakistan and what further U. S. escalation portends. He began by describing a group of Taliban he embedded with while reporting for The Christian Science Monitor. Apart from the commander of the group, who had been "a low-level government functionary" during the Taliban regime, there were three "very young Muslims guys, too young to even remember the Soviet experience, who joined the Taliban because they didn't have any jobs. They had a small plot of land; nothing grew because of the drought. The Taliban pays their fighters up to $200 or $300 a month to fight so they picked up a gun and started fighting against the Americans." The following text is adapted from that talk and various articles by, and interviews with, Anand Gopal. Two Taliban fighters I met directly experienced American military violence, which is why they joined the insurgent movement. One person, he went home one day and found his house split in two and six family members killed and promptly picked up a weapon and joined the insurgents. The other person also had his family members killed. When I was with the Taliban, we would sit up in the mountains and they would sleep all day and come out at night with their Kalashnikovs and RPGs. They would come down to the roadside and wait for Afghan police or soldiers to drive by, and then they would shoot them with the RPGs and run back up into the mountains. This is what they would do every single day. It's a typical guerilla strategy. When the Americans invaded in 2001 most Afghans welcomed the United States with open arms. Even among people who are in the Taliban now, they tell me that when the Americans first came they wanted them there because the Americans made a series of promises. The Americans promised jobs. This is in a country where after nearly 25 years of war there's no economy to speak of. They promised development and reconstruction, an accountable and responsible government and security. The reason the situation has completely deteriorated is that the Americans have utterly failed in meeting every single one of their promises. Today, more than half the country is unemployed. In many places the actual unemployment rate is much higher. There are villages I've gone to where no one has a job. All the men are sitting outside and passing their time doing nothing. Forty percent of the country earns less than $14 a month and nearly 50 percent is unable to procure enough food to meet their minimum daily requirements. In the mountains that surround the capital of Kabul live hundreds of thousands of people, most of whom don't have any jobs. A lot of these people are crippled from the various wars — the Russian war, the current war — and the women are prevented from working. Usually they'll send their children down from the mountains into the city to either beg or work some small job. In these streets near the mountains you'll see hundreds of children hawking trinkets, selling gum or outright begging. Many of these children are three or four years old, and they're the main breadwinners of the family. You'll occasionally see men trying to sell their daughters. In one case there was a large refugee settlement outside of Kabul with a lot of people who are victims of U.S. airstrikes. One day, I saw a father standing there crying his eyes out. With him was a young girl. Some other refugees came up and asked him why are you crying? He said I have to sell my daughter because things have just gotten that desperate. These other Afghans, who have no money, found whatever money they could and gave it to him and said don't sell your daughter. But most people aren't that lucky. Young girls are often sold as a way either to meet debts or just to earn money in any way. NO DEVELOPMENT, BUT PLENTY OF CORRUPTION To bring jobs, of course, you need development. The United States is spending $100 million a day in Afghanistan but 95 percent goes toward the military. Only 5 percent is earmarked for aid or development. Even that would be a reasonable amount, 5 percent of $100 million for aid. But the problem is, of the 5 percent, 86 cents out of every dollar that the U.S. spends on aid comes back into the United States through contracts to U.S. corporations, through salaries to contractors and so on. With all that money, the United Nations ranks Afghanistan as the fifth-least developed country in the world, and that's a drop from 2004. If you move even 10 miles outside of Kabul, moving south, you enter a time warp. There's no paved roads, no electricity, no running water. Some of the villages are so disconnected that people are living like they've lived for hundreds of years with very little change. When I was with the U.S. troops earlier this year, we entered a village and the villagers thought that we were the Russians. They didn't even know that the Russians have left. The Americans promised to bring in democracy and an accountable government. In reality you have one of the most corrupt governments in the world. The minister of counternarcotics is reputed to be one of the biggest drug traffickers in the country. On top of that the Americans are killing lots of people, many of them civilians. I was out with the 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y., in the spring of 2009. At one point we were caught in a firefight. On one side were the troops, and on the other side the Taliban were there, firing back and forth. In the middle of that a car sped away, so the soldiers turned and started firing at the car and sprayed it full of bullets. And the car sat there mangled. All of a sudden the door swung open and an old man came out holding a baby and the baby had been killed. This wasn't reported; this is a daily occurrence. It's important not to underestimate the effect these killings have in eroding support for the United States and building support for the Taliban. THE STORY OF A SUICIDE BOMBER I want to tell you about one child, probably around 15 years old. I'll call him Zubair. One day about three years ago, Zubair was walking home from school. As he approached his house he saw just shards of concrete and mangled wires. A U.S. airstrike had hit the house a couple of hours before. His home was completely destroyed and he panicked and he started sifting through the rubble, looking for family members. He came across his mother's severed head in the rubble. At the time he was maybe 11 or 12. He didn't scream. Instead, the sight induced a sort of catatonia; he picked up the head, cradled it in his arms, and started walking aimlessly. He carried on like this for days, until tribal elders pried the head from his hands and convinced him to deal with his loss more constructively. He decided he would get revenge by becoming a suicide bomber and inflicting a loss on some American family as painful as the one he had just suffered. He joined the Taliban. He was an ideal subject for a suicide bombing because he's young, he's in a distraught mental state and he feels like he has nothing left to live for. He trained in the suicide camp for a couple of months and finally they dispatched him to Kabul. One morning, he made his way, as directed, toward an office building where American advisors were training their Afghan counterparts, but before he could detonate his vest, a pair of sharp-eyed intelligence officers spotted him and wrestled him to the ground. Today Zubair is living in an Afghan prison with Al Qaeda members and all sorts of other people. His story is not unique. If you visit the prisons you can see that many people have the same sort of experience. A WORSE LIFE FOR WOMEN For the majority of Afghan women, life is either exactly the same as it was under the Taliban, or it's worse. If you travel outside of Kabul you'll see only men and boys outside, there are no women or girls anywhere to be seen. In these areas women are not allowed to leave the house and they are not allowed to find work and most women cannot go to school after puberty, if at all. The statistics are bleak. Eighty-seven percent of Afghan women complain of domestic violence; 60 to 80 percent of all marriages are forced; 57 percent of brides are under the age of 16. Afghan women have the lowest literacy rate and the highest suicide rate of any country in the world. The average life expectancy of an Afghan woman is about 42 or 43 years old. AGAINST THE WALL: While life has improved for some women, such as these schoolgirls in Kabul, for most women their situation has deteriorated since the U.S.-led invasion began. Just like under the Taliban, women remain prisoners in their homes, but now they suffer the brunt of the war. PHOTO: FLICKR.COM/MICHAEL FOLEY AGAINST THE WALL: While life has improved for some women, such as these schoolgirls in Kabul, for most women their situation has deteriorated since the U.S.-led invasion began. Just like under the Taliban, women remain prisoners in their homes, but now they suffer the brunt of the war. PHOTO: FLICKR.COM/MICHAEL FOLEY The hospitals are full of cases of the latest epidemic, which is self-immolation. I'll tell you the story of one young woman, Fatima. She was in her home one day when her uncle broke in and raped her. She told her parents, who said, "Well, this is horrible. We need to regain our family's honor in some way." They decided that the best course of action would be for her to light herself on fire. The mother poured gasoline on her and then Fatima lit a match and set herself on fire. Today she's sitting in a hospital ward and she looks like a slice of pizza with bandages. I go to the hospitals in rural areas and ask the women, would you prefer living back under the Taliban or do you prefer the American occupation? Almost across the board they say they preferred the Taliban. THE PAKISTANI TALIBAN There is an indigenous insurgency in Pakistan that is distinct from and independent of the insurgency in Afghanistan. Pakistan is a society where there are landlords who have had immense wealth for generations and large numbers of dispossessed and disenchanted people. It's also a society in which the Pakistani state has failed to meet the needs of its citizens. There's a generation of Pakistanis, especially Pashtuns in the tribal areas, who have grown up with a radicalized interpretation of Islam, thanks to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, the CIA and Saudi Arabia, which promoted this in their war against the Soviet Union. Afghanistan is not marked by the extreme class inequalities that you see in Pakistan, not to the same degree. In Afghanistan, everybody is poor, even the landlords are poor. The Pakistani Taliban plays on the class anger. In many cases they'll attack landlords and break up their holdings. Many people view them as Robin Hood figures. In Afghanistan, the Taliban ally with the landlords and with the tribal chiefs. The goals of the two movements are different. The Afghan Taliban's aim for the most part is to kick out the foreigners from their country. The Pakistani Taliban's aims are a lot more complex. The Pakistani Taliban is at war with the state of Pakistan. When I first started going to the Pashtun areas in Pakistan a couple of years ago, everybody loved the Taliban. They were viewed as a moral force to get rid of the corrupt government and redistribute wealth. Everybody hated the Americans and loved the Taliban. Since this spring, there has been a perceptible shift. The Pakistani Taliban were close to the height of their power, but they seem to have overplayed their hand. First, their rather brutal regime induced a popular backlash — many ordinary Pashtuns in these areas who initially supported the Taliban started to turn against them. Second, they moved close to the province of Punjab, which is the heart of Pakistan and the seat of the ruling establishment. This induced a backlash by the state, which dealt a swift defeat to Taliban forces in Bajaur agency and later moved into Swat and removed Taliban rule there. The setbacks for the Pakistani Taliban have continued. Last summer, their leader Baitullah Mehsud was killed by a U.S. drone strike, and he was the glue holding together a very fractured movement. THE END GAME Every time the Americans come into an area the bombing increases. After Obama sent 21,000 troops earlier this year, there was a 60 percent increase in violence over last year, which was already at record levels. Despite the fact that every time the troops go into an area the violence increases and Pashtuns don't want the Americans there, Obama is still putting more troops into the situation. What's the end game in all of this if they just keep throwing troops into it and the Pashtuns keep fighting back? The Taliban will not be able to just keep spreading and getting larger every single year until one day they eventually take over the country. The Taliban in Afghanistan have support only in the Pashtun areas. They lack the roots and the support to move beyond the Pashtuns to other groups. Neither will the Taliban march into Kabul. They lack the ability to take over an urban area. They're a rural guerrilla force and Kabul is not a Pashtun city. At the same time, the United States is not going to be able to go into the Pashtun areas and dislodge the Taliban. The experience of the last eight years of war and occupation is not going to be erased very easily. The Taliban have real support. We're faced with a war of attrition where you're going to see every year more and more Afghan civilians killed and more and more U.S. soldiers coming back in body bags. URL of this page: http://newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamWarOnTerror_1.aspx?ArticleID=2289

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Asadullah Syed

The Theology of Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Speech

Current affairs

27 Dec 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com

The Theology of Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Speech

... And most dangerously, we see it in the way that religion is used to justify the murder of innocents by those who have distorted and defiled the great religion of Islam, and who attacked my country from Afghanistan. These extremists are not the first to kill in the name of God; the cruelties of the Crusades are amply recorded. But they remind us that no Holy War can ever be a just war. For if you truly believe that you are carrying out divine will, then there is no need for restraint—no need to spare the pregnant mother, or the medic, or the Red Cross worker, or even a person of one's own faith. Such a warped view of religion is not just incompatible with the concept of peace, but I believe it's incompatible with the very purpose of faith—for the one rule that lies at the heart of every major religion is that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Plus: American-style syncretism, public view of clergy takes a hit, and other stories from online sources around the world. Compiled by Ted Olsen URL of this page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamUrduSection_1.aspx?ArticleID=2288   ------   Top Five News Stories  The Theology of Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Speech Plus: American-style syncretism, public view of clergy takes a hit, and other stories from online sources around the world. Compiled by Ted Olsen | posted 12/11/2009 09:48AM http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/decemberweb-only/150-52.0.html 1. Religion plays major role in Obama's Peace Prize acceptance speech President Obama's speech upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize is getting a lot of attention for its (ironic for the occasion) defense of war. But religion pundits are weighing in on what was a very religion-heavy speech. (There have been a number of these from the President lately: At the lighting of the White House Christmas tree, Obama spoke of the Christmas story as "a story that is as beautiful as it is simple. The story of a child born far from home to parents guided only by faith, but who would ultimately spread a message that has endured for more than 2,000 years—that no matter who we are or where we are from, we are each called to love one another as brother and sister." Then, as Ed Stetzer noted, the President's first words at his first state dinner were to point out that he was the first President to celebrate Diwali (the Hindu Festival of Lights) and the birth of the founder of Sikhism.) Here's the relevant section, which evokes the "cling to guns and religion" remark that caused a furor during his campaign: [S]omehow, given the dizzying pace of globalization, the cultural leveling of modernity, it perhaps comes as no surprise that people fear the loss of what they cherish in their particular identities—their race, their tribe, and perhaps most powerfully their religion. In some places, this fear has led to conflict. At times, it even feels like we're moving backwards. We see it in the Middle East, as the conflict between Arabs and Jews seems to harden. We see it in nations that are torn asunder by tribal lines. And most dangerously, we see it in the way that religion is used to justify the murder of innocents by those who have distorted and defiled the great religion of Islam, and who attacked my country from Afghanistan. These extremists are not the first to kill in the name of God; the cruelties of the Crusades are amply recorded. But they remind us that no Holy War can ever be a just war. For if you truly believe that you are carrying out divine will, then there is no need for restraint—no need to spare the pregnant mother, or the medic, or the Red Cross worker, or even a person of one's own faith. Such a warped view of religion is not just incompatible with the concept of peace, but I believe it's incompatible with the very purpose of faith—for the one rule that lies at the heart of every major religion is that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Adhering to this law of love has always been the core struggle of human nature. For we are fallible. We make mistakes, and fall victim to the temptations of pride, and power, and sometimes evil. Even those of us with the best of intentions will at times fail to right the wrongs before us. But we do not have to think that human nature is perfect for us to still believe that the human condition can be perfected. We do not have to live in an idealized world to still reach for those ideals that will make it a better place. The non-violence practiced by men like Gandhi and King may not have been practical or possible in every circumstance, but the love that they preached—their fundamental faith in human progress—that must always be the North Star that guides us on our journey. … Let us reach for the world that ought to be—that spark of the divine that still stirs within each of our souls. At Touchstone, James Kushiner is troubled. "No one believes human nature is perfect. But can it be perfected? He's not saying it can be. He's saying the general human condition can be perfected. So who's going to do that? The only way to do this is for some arrangement of human affairs and institutions that in the aggregate allow for a perfection of condition in which imperfect human beings can live without spoiling that condition. And the only way for such a condition to be arranged is for people who are specially gifted to make those arrangements on the behalf of the imperfect, people who see and understand the complexity of the issues, wiser men whom we can trust. This is an elitism that leads not to the abolition of war by a man of peace, but to the abolition of Man, which violates the Golden Rule, to put it mildly." At National Review Online, David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey say Obamas Crusades reference was misplaced. "The Crusades were no more or less violent and cruel than any other form of medieval warfare and, in contrast to the naked aggression of al-Qaeda, the Crusaders' stated goal was to recover areas that had been violently conquered during the first wave of Islamic Jihad, from the 7th to 11th centuries. Whether this effort was justified is a question for medievalists," they write. "More to the point, the Crusades have nothing at all to do with the rise and spread of radical Islamicist ideologies and groups today. … References to the Crusades and Crusaders are nothing but propaganda, and apologetic statements by Western leaders simply serve to legitimize the preposterous notion that today's Islamicist violence is somehow understandable, if not justifiable, because of events nearly 1,000 years in the past." Obama's defense of "just war" ("Evil does exist in the world. A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies.") has Reuters religion editor Tom Heneghan arguing, "If there were a Nobel Prize for Theology, large parts of President Barack Obama's Oslo speech could be cut and pasted into an acceptance speech for it." It's this section of the speech that's getting the most attention (and had another religion line: "Of course, we know that for most of history, this concept of 'just war' was rarely observed.  The capacity of human beings to think up new ways to kill one another proved inexhaustible, as did our capacity to exempt from mercy those who look different or pray to a different God.") But Kushiner says the just war part of the speech seemed to be at odds with Obama's statement that "if you truly believe that you are carrying out divine will, then there is no need for restraint--no need to spare the pregnant mother, or the medic, or the Red Cross worker, or even a person of one's own faith." The whole idea of just war doctrine is that it's possible for a soldier to go to war believing that he is carrying out Divine Will without killing medics or mercilessly targeting pregnant mothers. Christian just war doctrine (as articulated by Augustine and others) suggests that the Divine will requires such restraint (jus in bello). 2. Pew Forum confirms American syncretism Three years ago, the Baylor Religion Survey found that American evangelicals were nearly as likely as their neighbors to believe in astrology, communicating with the dead, and other paranormal activities. For example, 12.8 percent of Americans who believe astrologers, palm-readers, tarot card readers, fortune tellers, and psychics can foresee the future. (12.5% have consulted one of these or a medium.) By contrast, 8.8 percent of evangelicals believe such people can forsee the future, and 8.9 percent admitted consulting one. (You have to wonder about the evangelical respondent who apparently paid for a consultation he didn't believe in.) Oddly, evangelicals were more likely to say they believe astrology "impacts one's life and personality" (12.3% of Americans overall said so, 13.6% of American evangelicals said so.) Also odd: 19.9 percent of Americans believe it is possible to communicate with the dead, but only 15.7 percent of American evangelicals believe so, even though the Bible contains at least one instance of communicating with a dead person. Anyway, a Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey released Wednesday found similar numbers: About 10 percent of evangelicals say they have consulted a fortuneteller or psychic, compared to about 15 percent of the American population as a whole. And about 13 percent of evangelicals say they believe in astrology, while about 16 percent of the American population said so. (Evangelicals who attend church weekly are far less likely to agree.) Beyond the evangelical numbers, Pew found that the proportion of Americans who say they have interacted with a ghost has doubled over the past 13 years. And the percentage of Americans who say they have had a "moment of sudden religious insight or awakening" is nearly double what it was in 1962, having made significant leaps in 1976 and 1994 surveys. The survey also found that one out of four Americans sometimes attends religious services of a faith different from their own. 3. Only half of Americans think clergy are "highly" honest or ethical. A new survey from Gallup finds that only 50 percent of Americans rate clergy has having "high" or "very high" honesty and ethics. That's down from the 60s in the 1980s, and down from 56% last year. Gallup notes that the clergy ratings are even "are below where they were earlier this decade during the priest sex-abuse scandal. Ratings of the clergy dropped from their 2008 levels among both Catholics and Protestants, as well as among regular and non-regular churchgoers" However, the decline for clergy has been gradual, and only 10 percent of Americans give them a "low" rating. The rating for bankers, on the other hand, fell off a cliff: from 41 percent saying "high" or "very high" in 2005 to 19 percent this year. One out of three Americans now gives bankers a "low" rating—and you know it's bad when they rate you lower than journalists (31%). 4. Mormon Church to add "care for the poor and needy" to core mission The Mormon "threefold mission," as articulated by Latter Day Saints president Spencer W. Kimball in 1981 (though its origins seem to go back at least to 1939) is to proclaim the gospel to every nation, to perfect the Saints through ordinances (like baptism) and instruction, and to redeem the dead through vicarious ordinances. Now, The Salt Lake Tribune reports, Mormon Church President Thomas Monson will add "to care for the poor and needy" as part of its core mission. The change will appear in the next edition of the Mormon Handbook of Instructions. Historian of Mormonism Jan Shipps told the Tribune that the prioritizing of humanitarian work seems at least in part to be tied to the church's effort at mainstreaming itself. "It's a move that tells the world that Mormonism is Christian more effectively than changing the logo to make the words 'Jesus Christ' stand out," she said. It also may echo recent evangelical Protestant discussions (and other longstanding Christian debates) on whether works of compassion and justice are core to the gospel itself or are an important implication of the gospel. (See, for example, the recent squabble over The Manhattan Declaration.) 5. Minnesota church says Lutheran CORE Urland Lutheran Church is one of the 15 or so Minnesota churches reportedly leaving the Evangleical Lutheran Church in America over the denomination's recent votes to allow clergy in same-sex relationships. Or maybe it isn't. The Minnesota Independent reports that Pastor Arthur Sharot asked Lutheran CORE—the group that opposes the change and is creating a new Lutheran body—to take the church's name off of its membership liste. But Lutheran CORE won't do it. Mark Chavez, Lutheran CORE's director, "said that we needed a congregational vote to have our name removed. My council president phoned Lutheran CORE's office and was told the same thing," Sharot told the website. "We are sending a letter requesting our removal. We have no reason or necessity to have a vote to have our name removed from an organization we never asked to be a part of." The congregation voted the join Lutheran Churches of the Common Confession before Sharot became pastor. Since then, that body merged with Lutheran CORE. (So far there is no mention of the controversy on the Lutheran CORE website.) So who gets the final say on whether the church is a member of Lutheran CORE? It's an odd twist on the question that some mainline churches are fighting over. Who gets to say whether a congregation is part of the denomination? If a pastor says his congregation wants out, can the denomination (or reform body) simply say, "No it doesn't"? URL of this page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamUrduSection_1.aspx?ArticleID=2288

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Asadullah Syed

'New Age Islam', 'Moderate Islam' or 'Satanic-Illuminati-Masonic-Islam

Letters to the Editor

27 Dec 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com

'New Age Islam', 'Moderate Islam' or 'Satanic-Illuminati-Masonic-Islam'

Apropos: Anti-Christmas' Fatwa Troubles Egyptians, New Age Islam, 25 Dec, 2009,   No. It doesn't trouble them (Egyptians). It troubles you.   You want 'New Age Islam', 'Moderate Islam' 'Satanic-Illuminati-Masonic-Islam'.   Probably you don't know but you people are playing in the hands of Zionists. They used similar tactics on Christians and now Muslims are the last target.   You are brain-washed sheep.   With the grace of Allah I recognise B.S. when I see one spreading it.   I requested you before and I am saying it again.....delete my email address from your delusional group. i don't wanna hear from you.   Regards   Qalan Bab   -- Anti-Christmas' Fatwa Troubles Egyptians By Rachelle Kliger December 24, 2009   Muslims told to refrain from buying Christmas gifts by high-profile cleric. Islamic ruling forbidding Muslims to participate in Christmas celebrations or mark the holiday is troubling Egypt's Christians. The call, which is being described as a fatwa, or Islamic decree, came from Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradawi, an influential firebrand cleric criticized in the West for his controversial rulings. "Egypt has over the last two decades been infiltrated by Wahhabism," Magdi Khalil, executive editor of Watani International and the Middle East Freedom Forum told The Media Line. "This culture and atmosphere is new in Egypt." The Egyptian-born Al-Qaradawi denounced the purchasing and selling of Christmas gifts, including Santa Claus dolls, Christmas trees and turkeys for Christmas dinner as "Christian and Western." Sales of Christmas gifts in Egypt have gone down by nearly a third this year because of the edict, according to one news report. Christians contacted by The Media Line said they were unaware the fatwa had affected the celebrations or the Christmas revenues, but did express concern over the wider ramifications the fatwa may have on Christian minorities in Egypt and elsewhere. In a Friday sermon, Al-Qaradawi criticized public celebrations of Christmas in Qatar and elsewhere in the Muslim world, claiming they undermined Islamic identity. "Such appearances are prohibited by Islam," he said. "Muslims participating in them are ignorant of Islamic teachings in this regard." George Ishaq, an Egyptian Christian and one of the founders of the opposition Kefaya movement, rejected the cleric's sermon. "He's Egyptian but he doesn't live here and we reject what he's saying," he told The Media Line. "There are many people in Egypt who are very tolerant. The people are celebrating Christmas and we're sharing the celebration. I haven't encountered any objections to what we're doing." "Al-Qaradawi is ignorant and we cannot rule against what he said but we're against what he said, both Muslims and Christians." Khalil said the fatwa reflected a wider problem of persecution against Christians in Egypt. "The [Egyptian Christians] are always under threat," he said. "They lack religious freedom, and according to all international definitions, Christians in Egypt are under persecution and suffer from racism." "There are a lot more things that will affect the people than this fatwa," Khalil said. "The state police and intelligence persecute the Christians directly and this is more dangerous than Al-Qaradawi's fatwa." One of Sunni Islam's most prominent clerics, Al-Qaradawi, is head of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), and a spiritual guide for many Islamist organizations, including the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt's 83-million strong population has a sizeable Christian minority - mainly Copts - constituting almost a tenth of the population. They complain of consistent discrimination from the government. Muslims do not celebrate Christmas, but shops tend to be filled with decorations and gifts for the holiday season. URL: http://newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamLetters_1.aspx?ArticleID=2284

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Asadullah Syed

That Girl In Swat: Ideological Struggle is the Key

Radical Islamism & Jihad

26 Dec 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com

That Girl In Swat: Ideological Struggle is the Key

As I watched the footage later I was convinced, more than before, that Swati women are not just beautiful, they have it in them to turn Swat around. If only the government could understand this. Ironically, Fazlullah, the Radio Mullah, did. When he began his FM broadcasts, his first target were women. He used them for funding as well as to motivate their men-folk. That was 2002. Six years and much bloodshed later, the people of Swat are waking up from that nightmare. This is the time for the government to use Fazlullah's strategy to reverse that process. The army realises this, to some extent, if not fully... It is very difficult to counter the suicide bomber, an army officer told me. That's where investing in the people, in the Faiza Khans, becomes so important. The only way to stop the suicide bomber is to ensure a society where he can't be found, bred and trained. -- Ejaz Haider URL of this page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamUrduSection_1.aspx?ArticleID=2281 ------ That girl in Swat By Ejaz Haider Dec 26, 2009 Faiza Khan is my metaphor for Swat's future. And if I am right, turning Swat around post-military operation should not be difficult. I was standing in the open quad of the Government High School for Girls in Mingora, my crew setting up cameras for the shoot there, and I could see girls peering through the windows of the classrooms all around. Getting there was not easy. I had to earlier meet with the district's education officer to get his permission. There were two problems: schools have armed police guards throughout the area and, in this particular case, cultural sensitivities were involved. "You cannot move freely," the principal told my producer, a young woman who was my only hope to get through the cultural shackles. With the weight of the education officer's permission behind me and a lot of persuasion, I was told I would get limited access to a group but only after the girls had themselves covered properly. They were told to stay inside the classrooms while we set up the cameras, and yes, to keep their heads down. Curiosity and their vigour to challenge the principal's order came to my rescue. I could see them looking out, faces uncovered and exhibiting the artless freedom that comes natural to young women. And then one of the doors opened; I heard giggles; some girls were trying to push another out of the classroom. But then the sluice gates went up. Another door opened and out walked this girl, uncovered head and face, confidence bordering on cheekiness. She walked up to me, extended her hand to shake mine and said in accented Urdu: "I hope I am not disturbing you, sir. But would you tell me when your programme is aired and on what TV channel?" I shook hands with her and asked her name: "My name is Faiza Khan." I wrote down the details of my programme for her in a notebook and while I was doing that, doors opened one after another and girls came rushing out, surrounding me, shaking hands and chattering animatedly. As I watched the footage later I was convinced, more than before, that Swati women are not just beautiful, they have it in them to turn Swat around. If only the government could understand this. Ironically, Fazlullah, the Radio Mullah, did. When he began his FM broadcasts, his first target were women. He used them for funding as well as to motivate their men-folk. That was 2002. Six years and much bloodshed later, the people of Swat are waking up from that nightmare. This is the time for the government to use Fazlullah's strategy to reverse that process. The army realises this, to some extent, if not fully. It has done two things. It suggested that Radio Pakistan set up FM96, known as Radio Swat, to start broadcasting just before the operation began. Radio Swat was beamed from Islamabad through satellite and began its transmissions on March 1. Within weeks Fazlullah felt the pinch. Not only would he and his cohorts appear on the channel to present their viewpoint, Fazlullah himself allowed his men, restrictedly, to play Pashto music to counter the RJ on Radio Swat whose programme was becoming a hit. Radio Swat is now immensely popular with its multiple programmes that target women and the youth. The army's second post-operation contribution is the setting up of Sabaoon, Pashto for "a new dawn". Sabaoon is a rehab centre for captured youth who were either being trained as fighters and suicide bombers or spies for Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat. I met the doctor and her staff, all female, who are working with these boys and the results are promising. The exercise is also very useful because it is the first attempt to seriously study the phenomenon and get data on the background of these boys and the techniques used to indoctrinate them. The checkpoints are still there, manned by the army, Frontier Corps jawans and local police. As I drove to Kanju, crossing Swat River east to west and then drove up north along the western bank of the river to various other towns and villages, it was overcast. But from the east, where the clouds were thin, a ray of sunlight had penetrated and was falling on the eastern bank. It was a perfect setting, nature depicting Swat, the murkiness of fear combined with hope. The people are back, life is picking up, the markets have come alive, roads are too often blocked because of rising traffic. But the pickets are there, soldiers ready with guns and suspecting everyone. The suicide bomber is the lurking fear and he can penetrate through all cordons and security measures. That is exactly what happened at the hujra of Shamsher Ali Khan, the Awami National Party member of the provincial assembly. Just as the gate opened and he was getting into his car, the lone bomber entered the compound and blew himself up. It is very difficult to counter the suicide bomber, an army officer told me. That's where investing in the people, in the Faiza Khans, becomes so important. The only way to stop the suicide bomber is to ensure a society where he can't be found, bred and trained. The writer is a consulting editor at 'The Friday Times', Lahore express@expressindia.com © 2009 The Indian Express Limited. All rights reserved URL of this page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamUrduSection_1.aspx?ArticleID=2281

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Asadullah Syed

Basement Islam: France’s real attitude towards its six million Muslims

Islamic World News

26 Dec 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com

Basement Islam: France's real attitude towards its six million Muslims

US plane attack suspect quizzed after 'terror attempt' Nigerian arrested in failed plane attack claims links to al-Qaeda Christians 'forced to be Muslim' Who are Egypt's Christians? Renewed clashes reported in Iran Six Palestinians killed in West Bank, Gaza attacks Rawalpindi: Muslim attackers injure 65 Christians during Christmas services Muslim holy day Ashura grows more popular worldwide France opens a racial Pandora's box Dance form - Taiwanese drama on a Buddhist's journey 2 Pak Army officers gave Headley $25,000 for India trip: FBI dossier Birmingham Mosque alarmed at Quilliam Foundation allegations that it will host 'two extreme Wahhabi clerics who bolster al-Qaeda narratives' Zardari pledges to fight for rights of minorities Indian police stop Kashmir procession, 60 hurt Taliban releases video of captured US soldier Pilgrims killed in Baghdad bombing Shiite pilgrims pour into Iraqi city for Ashura Shia mourning procession dispersed in Srinagar, several hurt in clashes Israel drops terror alert on India 'US plane incident an attempted terror attack' US to scrap Iraq pregnancy rule Pakistan releases 100 Indian fishermen Suspected US Missiles Kill 3: Pakistan Officials BJP slams J&K autonomy report, calls it a farce DHAKA: Khaleda party leaders have terror links: Minister Pakistan PM:  'Army, ISI working under me' Vatican top cleric in Abu Dhabi walks thin line Osama daughter at Saudi mission free to leave Iran: FM Course correction: Catholic body seeks change in education Act India: Centre sits on Hamid minority report Peaceful Xmas for Kandhamal, Orissa Pope knocked down, delivers Christmas message Yemeni director combats terrorism with propaganda Auschwitz sign stolen to fund terror attacks? Compiled by Aman Quadri URL of this page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamUrduSection_1.aspx?ArticleID=2283 ------ Basement Islam: France's real attitude towards its six million Muslims By David Chater in December 26th, 2009 The Battle of the Minarets is spreading across the borders of Switzerland and spilling into France where it's starting to shine an uncomfortable spotlight on the country's real attitude towards its six million Muslims. Bernard Kouchner, the French Foreign Minister, is a champion of his country's Republican values, forged in the Age of Reason and Enlightenment. He was quick to declare that he was shocked and scandalized by the result of the Swiss referendum last month which backed a ban on the building of minarets. But one of the men who shares the same cabinet table as him, the Industry Minister, Christian Estrosi has a radically different attitude. He  also happens to be the Mayor of Nice - a minaret-free zone - and he's vowed to keep it that way. The issue has arisen in the midst of a government-sponsored national debate on what it means to be French. It's a debate that has had some unfortunate side-effects. It has allowed the country's xenophobes to emerge from under their stones and give their extremist views the oxygen of publicity. The Mayor though is an eloquent convert to that debate, speaking amidst the elegant frescoes of his City Hall he told me: "Why not always nourish the debate around the humanist vision of France so that everybody can feel proud to be French, to share the same national identity? Look at me… I'm the son of an immigrant." President Nicolas Sarkozy has refused to condemn the result of the referendum in Switzerland and has called on all believers to practice discretion in their religious observance. He has said politicians should start trying to understand what so many people in Europe - and in France - are now feeling. The President's political opponents accuse him of a poorly camouflaged attempt to steal some the extreme right's clothes with local elections due in just three months time. Nationalists in Nice like Phillipe Vardon don't mince their words: " Minarets are just the visible tip of an iceberg of Islamisation - like burkas in the streets of France, halal meals being served in prisons, schools and hospitals. It's becoming almost obligatory," he told me. In a suburb in western Nice we found equally uncompromising opinions amongst the residents of what was supposed to be a temporary re-settlement camp - set up in the early sixties for immigrants following the Algerian war of independence from France. The fact that it has become a permanent ghetto for Araba from all over North Africa is a testament to the failures of integration in the city. One young man there said since Sarkozy came to power the police had started treating them like thieves. "They see an Arab face and that's it. You get it" In Marseille the local administration has given permission for the Muslim community to build a Grand Mosque with a twenty-five metre high minaret. It's a decision that has enraged the National Front in the city. One of their leading activists told me: "We must have no minarets and no cathedral like mosques. They are for us a symbol of a Muslim desire for political conquest. It goes way beyond just religious expression." Muslim activists in the city say they've seen it all before. Ahmed Najjar told me he wished they could go back to quietly practicing Islam in their basements again: " The recipe before every election in France is to wave the scarecrow of immigration … but not every kind of immigration. It's only the Arabs from North Africa and the blacks. Immigrants the establishment here think practice a kind of religion that is not able to integrate successfully in France … non-solvent religions" The Muslim community in Marseille still need to find twenty million dollars before they can start to build their Grand Mosque. But no Quranic verses will be broadcast from the minaret. Instead a bright light will sweep the city for the call to prayers. http://blogs.aljazeera.net/europe/2009/12/26/basement-islam ------ US plane attack suspect quizzed after 'terror attempt' 26 December 2009 Passengers from the flight describe what they saw during the incident A Nigerian reported to have links to al-Qaeda is being questioned after an attempted act of terrorism on a plane arriving in the US, officials say. They say the 23-year-old man was trying to ignite an explosive device as the jet approached Detroit from Amsterdam. He was overpowered by some of the 278 passengers and 11 crew. Reports say he burnt his leg. No-one else was hurt. Police in the UK are conducting searches and inquiries into the man, believed to be a London student. Nigeria has ordered its security agencies to investigate the incident and verify the suspect's identity and motives. It has also said they will "co-operate fully" with the US investigations. The Nigerian, named as Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, had third-degree burns, said Peter King, a Congressman on the US House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee. The Metropolitan Police said its officers were liaising with the US authorities, and University College London says it has a student of the same name. Officials have described the device as a mixture of powder and liquid which failed to go off properly. One terrorism expert said it looked as though a new way of concealing explosives on the body was involved. President Barack Obama, on holiday in Hawaii, has ordered increased security for air travel. White House spokesman Bill Burton said the president was monitoring the situation. The suspect's name was in a database indicating "a significant terrorist connection" although it did not appear on a "no-fly" list, said Mr King. Mr Abdulmutallab reportedly told investigators he had links to al-Qaeda and had received the explosives in Yemen. Mr King also said investigators were looking into whether the incident was part of a larger plot and a "worldwide alert" had been raised. The US Department of Homeland Security said "additional screening measures" had been put into effect since the incident. Northwest Airlines Flight 253 had begun its descent towards Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Friday afternoon when the incident occurred. The Airbus 330, which had originated in Amsterdam, was about 20 minutes from landing when passengers noticed something was wrong. One of them, Syed Jafri, said he had been seated three rows behind the suspect and had seen a glow and smelled smoke. Then, he said, "a young man behind me jumped on him". "Next thing you know, there was a lot of panic," Mr Jafri added. As the suspect was being tackled, he was reportedly shouting and a passenger said she had heard the word "Afghanistan". Another unnamed passenger heard a "little pop", then saw "a bit of a smoke and then some flames". After "yelling and screaming", the passenger added, "they took him out and it was really quick". Fellow passenger Melinda Dennis said the man had been severely burned on one leg, and a fire extinguisher and water were used to put out the fire. The suspect later told the US authorities he had had explosive powder taped to his leg and used a syringe of chemicals to mix with the powder that was to cause explosion, the ABC television network reports. Dr Sally Leivesley, an adviser on terrorism and public protection, told the BBC: "This has looked as though it's a first attempt of a new way to use the body to conceal explosives." "They may be concealing the explosives on the human body - but on the inside upper leg, and we only know this by seeing a very badly burnt leg on the suspected perpetrator." Were you on the plane? Were you affected by the incident? Send us your stories using the form below. A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8430699.stm ------ Nigerian arrested in failed plane attack claims links to al-Qaeda By Michael Leahy and Spencer S. Hsu December 26, 2009 A Nigerian man, claiming to be linked to al-Qaeda, allegedly tried to set off an incendiary device aboard a transatlantic airplane Friday as it descended toward Detroit's airport in what the White House called an attempted act of terrorism. The man was quickly subdued after another passenger leapt on top of him, others on the plane said, and Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam landed safely around 1 p.m. Friday. The suspect was being treated at a hospital for burns he suffered while igniting the device, the Transportation Security Administration said. The FBI is investigating the incident. President Obama, celebrating Christmas in Hawaii, was informed about it, a spokesman said, and he asked aides to ensure that all measures are in place to provide secure air travel. Officials said they are not prepared to raise the terrorism alert level, currently at orange -- or the second-highest of five levels -- for domestic and international air travel. However, the Homeland Security Department said late Friday that passengers "may notice additional screening measures, put into place to ensure the safety of the traveling public on domestic and international flights." The suspect is Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, a federal official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. ABC News and NBC News reported that Abdulmutallab, 23, attends University College London, where he studies engineering. Although not on the TSA's "no-fly" list, Abdulmutallab's name appears to be included in the government's records of terrorism suspects, according to a preliminary review, authorities said. Abdulmutallab has told federal investigators that he had ties to al-Qaeda and traveled to Yemen to collect the incendiary device and instructions on how to use it, according to a federal counterterrorism official briefed on the case. Authorities have yet to verify the claim, and they expect to conduct several more interviews before they determine whether he is credible, the official said. Federal authorities have been told that Abdulmutallab allegedly had taped some material to his leg, then used a syringe to mix chemicals with the powder while on the airplane, one official said. But doing so "caused him to catch on fire," Richelle Keepman, who sat a few rows in front of Abdulmutallab, told WDIV-TV. Another passenger on Flight 253, Syed Jafry of Holland, Mich., told the Detroit Free Press that he noticed a glow three rows ahead in the Airbus 330, then smelled smoke. The next moment, Jafri recounted, "a young man behind me jumped on" Abdulmutallab. Jafry said there was a lengthy commotion, after which the passenger was restrained in a first-class seat as the plane continued its landing at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Michigan native Melinda Dennis, who was sitting in across the aisle from Abdulmutallab, told the Free Press that he "was burned very severely on his leg" but remained "very calm and didn't show any reaction to pain." At the airport, the wide-body jet was met by police cars, an ambulance and some trucks, according to a spectator, J.P. Karas, of Wyandotte, Mich. (The Northwest flight was aboard a Delta airplane; the two companies are in the process of merging.) There were 278 passengers and 11 crew members on board the plane. Officials described the device as incendiary rather than explosive, pending tests by forensics experts at the FBI. Incendiary devices generally deliver less of an impact than explosive devices. The remains of the device used are being sent to an FBI explosives lab in Quantico for analysis, federal law enforcement and airline security sources told CNN. For many national security analysts, the Christmas Day incident called to mind the bizarre case of Richard C. Reid, a British citizen who trained at an al-Qaeda camp in Afghanistan. Reid attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami in December 2001. Reid was arrested in Boston, subsequently pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. In August 2006, authorities in the United Kingdom disrupted a plot to blow up several transatlantic airliners using improvised liquid explosives. The discovery that al-Qaeda was developing new methods to bring down aircraft led to the banning of most liquids in carry-on baggage and prompted research into new detection technologies. The Northwest incident also comes after a hectic six months in domestic terrorism cases, from the arrest of a Colorado shuttle bus driver, Najibullah Zazi, in an alleged plot to target New York with hydrogen-based chemical mixtures to smaller efforts by groups in Minnesota, Northern Virginia and North Carolina to allegedly translate radical beliefs into action on foreign soil. Obama was alerted to Friday's incident between 9 and 9:30 a.m. in Hawaii, which is five hours behind the East Coast. After being informed by his military aide, the president convened a secure conference call with John O. Brennan, his counterterrorism adviser, and Denis McDonough, chief of staff at the National Security Council. He later received updates from each man, senior officials said. Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) announced late Friday night that the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, which he chairs, would "hold hearings in January to look in to this incident and related security matters." Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the ranking member on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the incident was "a disturbing reminder that the terrorist threat is still very real and that we must continue to be vigilant and alert." Staff writers Carrie Johnson, Anne E. Kornblut, Sholnn Freeman and Scott Butterworth contributed to this report. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/25/AR2009122501355.html?hpid=topnews ------ Christians 'forced to be Muslim'   Coptic Christians in Egypt are being forced to convert to Islam, and refused the right to return to their faith by the Egyptian government, according to charities. Correspondent Christian Fraser investigates the claims. http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8430000/8430722.stm ------ Who are Egypt's Christians? 26 February, 2000 Roman Catholics are less than a thousand in Egypt By Middle East correspondent Frank Gardner Pope John Paul II's visit to Egypt is the first in 2000 years of Christianity by a pontiff from Rome. Nearly 90% of Egypt's 64 million people are Muslims, with the vast majority following the mainstream Sunni branch of Islam. But the country also has the largest and oldest Christian community in the Middle East. Complex community Workers carry church benches into the Coptic Christian Notre Dame in Cairo Egyptian Christians are known collectively as 'Copts', a word derived from the Greek word 'Aigyptos', meaning 'Egypt'. They trace their history to the first century AD when St Mark introduced Christianity to Egypt. This Christian community is divided into several groups: Coptic Orthodox, Coptic Catholics, Coptic Evangelicans (Protestants) and other minorities. The largest group of Egyptian Christians belongs to the Coptic Orthodox church. They number 6-7 million and account for an estimated 93% of Egypt's Christians. Own pope They have their own pope, Pope Shenouda III, and give allegiance to him rather than to Rome. No mass for the pope at the Monastery of St.Catherine Orthodox Copts are patriotically Egyptian and some even resent the coming visit by a Pope from Rome, seeing it as a form of global domination by the Vatican. Prominent Orthodox Copts include the former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali and the heart surgeon Dr Magdy Yacoub. Independent from Rome Egypt's Catholics are nearly all 'Coptic Catholics', a group independent from Rome. They number between 200,000 and 250,000 and are led by Patriarch Stephanos II Ghattas, although they see the Pope in Rome as their spiritual leader. Their community dates from the days of French and British colonisation of Egypt, and today they run over 150 schools throughout the country. The coming visit by Pope John Paul II means the most to them, and some Coptic Catholics have already begun travelling hundreds of kilometres from southern Egyptian villages to Cairo for the open-air mass on Friday. Roman Catholics Egypt's Roman Catholics are thought to number less than a thousand. The Coptic Evangelicans are the Protestants of Egypt and they number around 150,000. They have close historic links with churches in America, dating back to the work of nineteenth century missionaries. Today they are heavily involved in education and healthcare for low-income Egyptians. Orthodox Greek Orthodox Christians number only a few thousand, down from a peak of 150,000 two centuries ago. Their decline was spurred by the nationalisation policies of Egypt's first president, Gamal Abdul Nasser. The best-known Greek Orthodox Christians in the country are the monks who inhabit the fortified Monastery of St Catherine high on Mt Sinai. This site will form the climax of Pope John Paul II's Egyptian visit on Saturday as he performs what the Vatican is calling "a Jubilee Pilgrimmage" to celebrate the millennium. Like the Orthodox Copts, these monks owe no allegiance to Rome and the Vatican, and Pope John Paul II has not been allowed to hold mass inside the monastery. Minorities The remaining Christian communities make up a tiny minority, totalling a few thousand. Renewed clashes reported in Iran Clashes were earlier reported in Qom after Ayatollah Montazeri's funeral Iranian security forces and opposition activists have clashed in the centre of the capital Tehran, according to reformist websites and witnesses. Some reports say shots have been fired in the air to disperse demonstrators. The opposition had been planning to use Shia religious festivals this weekend to show their continued defiance of President Ahmadinejad's government. Tensions have risen since influential dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri died a week ago aged 87. Clashes were reported after his funeral in Qom, and in other cities since then. Police chief Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam has been quoted as warning that police would crack down hard against any attempts to use Shia religious processions to stage fresh protests against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government. Opponents insist there was massive rigging when Mr Ahmadinejad was re-elected in June - a charge he rejects. 'Aggressive' BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne says opposition sources are building a picture of increasingly widespread and violent clashes. ANALYSIS Saeed Barzin, Iran analyst - BBC Monitoring This was expected to happen - opposition websites have been agitating, calling on people to come onto the streets for these particular days, although the opposition leaders have not issued statements calling on people to do so. Nevertheless we are seeing people taking risks to join the demonstrations. The police are trying to take the initiative early in the day, prevent the crowds from building up and keeping crowds in neighbourhoods, localising the situation; the police commander has said they will be firm but they will try to use minimal force against protesters. Unconfirmed reports on reformist websites said there were protests in several areas of the capital, including the poorer areas of south Tehran, and that government forces were using tear gas to try to disperse demonstrators. A witness quoted by Reuters news agency said opposition supporters had gathered in groups along a stretch of a main city centre route several kilometres long, but that police were not letting them join each other. AFP news agency said police had "sought to disperse about 200-300 people" planning to demonstrate in central Enghelab square as part of a Shia festival. Government forces are said to reacting aggressively - beating protesters with batons and smashing the windscreens of cars. Iran's former pro-reform President, Mohammad Khatami, is expected to speak at a Shia gathering in Tehran this evening. Shia religious festivals on 26-27 December mark the death of a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th Century. The main date set by reformists for demonstrations is Sunday. Are you in Tehran? Have you witnessed any of the unrest? How are you affected by this story? Please send us your comments using the form at the bottom. Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location. If you would like to remain anonymous, please say so in your message http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8430786.stm ------ Six Palestinians killed in West Bank, Gaza attacks Street scenes in Nablus Israeli troops have killed six Palestinians - three in the Gaza Strip and three in the West Bank. The Israeli military said three Palestinians suspected of trying to infiltrate from Gaza were killed in an air strike near the Erez crossing. It is the largest number of deaths in a day since the Gaza conflict a year ago. Separately, Israeli forces said they had killed three men - who were suspected of killing a Jewish settler - in the West Bank city of Nablus. Palestinian sources in Nablus say two of those killed were militants from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the militant faction of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party. The faction was one of two groups which said they had killed the settler, a father of seven, two days ago - the first fatal shooting of an Israeli by militants in the occupied West Bank for eight months. Eyewitnesses said the Israeli raid began in the early hours of the morning and lasted for several hours. They said there had not been a raid like this in Nablus for about a year and a half, the BBC's Bethany Bell reports from Jerusalem. The violence came a day before the first anniversary of the Gaza war that killed some 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8430688.stm ecause of the historic rivalry between the Orthodox and Catholic branches of the Christian faith, Pope John Paul II's visit is controversial for some Egyptian Christians. While they welcome him as a man of peace, they fear the massive media attention will give the impression that Egypt's own Pope Shenouda III is somehow subordinate to Rome. Nationalism is deeply ingrained in Egyptian Christianity and is likely to remain so. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/653574.stm ------ Rawalpindi: Muslim attackers injure 65 Christians during Christmas services December 26, 2009 The Muslims attacked Christian worshipers during Christmas prayers in Kalar Kahar Town, near the motorway, about 125 Km from Islamabad. In a press conference called at local community center, PCC Joint Secretary Mr. Xavier along with Mr. Mehboob Alam informed details of attack and urged for immediate enquiry in incident. According to details, on 25th June 2009, the Government of Pakistan allotted a piece of land to the Christian Community for building a Church next to the Motorway at Kalar Kahar. The transfer letter and the allotment letter were given to the local Pastor, Pastor Naveed John. The Pastor raised some money for the boundary wall, but couldn't raise enough money to start the construction of the Church. They collected some donations from different organizations and gathered enough funds to start the construction. On 4th December 2009, the Church committee laid the foundation to start the construction. On the morning of 6th December some Muslim religious fundamentalists came and stopped the workers and threatened them of dire consequences. Pastor Naveed John came to the scene and told them that he has the property papers, so they cant stop the construction. 2 days latter a larger group of the Islamic fundamentalists came and threatened the workers. The Church Committee contacted the local police for assistance and filed a complaint, they sent 5 armed policemen. They stood at the site of construction, after a few days the same thing happened, but the police was unable to stop them. The Pastor Naveed sent a complaint to the DCO, but he didn't respond. On the eve on 24th December 2009 the people were gathered at the Church site for worship, a mob of the extremists attacked the worshipers and injured around 65 Women and Children. The young men tried to protect the women and Children, but couldn't stop them as they were armed. Full report at: http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/headlinenewsd.php?hnewsid=1609 ------ Muslim holy day Ashura grows more popular worldwide By Niraj Warikoo Dec. 26, 2009 The traditions of Ashura -- a holy day Shi'ite Muslims will observe Sunday -- started in the Middle East and spread to Iran and South Asia, where they have been practiced for centuries. But in recent years, the ceremonies have become more popular in other parts of the world as populations of Shi'ite Muslims grow elsewhere. From metro Detroit to Europe and Japan, some people cross national boundaries to commemorate the 10 days that lead up to Ashura. Ashura commemorates the 7th-Century death of the grandson of Islam's prophet. Imam Hussain died in Karbalaa, Iraq, at the hands of an unjust ruler. "It's about standing up for justice, standing up for democracy, standing up for peace and equality," Mohamed Al-Najjar explained at the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center in Dearborn. The center is named after the city in Iraq. The commemoration ends Sunday with special prayers and lectures inside mosques across Michigan, known as a major center for Shi'ite Islam. In Dearborn, a scholar from Australia, Sheikh Jehad Ismail, has been speaking to American-born Muslims in metro Detroit. In Tokyo, an imam from England, Jafar Ali Najam, spoke to Japanese-speaking Muslims with roots in Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. And a Muslim leader from Dearborn, Imam Husham Al-Husainy, lectured at a mosque in Toronto. At Hussaini Imam Bargah in Tokyo, about 50 Shi'ite Muslims gathered Saturday night to hear lectures and perform a lamentation ritual known as latmiya. "It's getting bigger" in attendance, said Bijan Shalchi, 49, an Iranian-born Muslim who lives in Japan. Mosques throughout Dearborn also are seeing more people attending Ashura services, said Tarek Baydoun, 25, of Dearborn. About 700 people have been attending the English-language Ashura programs at Byblos Banquet Hall in Dearborn. "The message is for all people," Baydoun said of Ashura. "It's about the universal cause of justice." Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO: 313-223-4792 or warikoo http://www.freep.com/article/20091226/NEWS05/912260330/1322/Muslim-holy-day-Ashura-grows-more-popular-worldwide ------ France opens a racial Pandora's box Sat Dec 26 2009 Tiny town Mosque vandalism fuels national debate in a country uneasy with its Muslim population CASTRES, FRANCE–When Muslim worshippers showed up at the Bilal Mosque early Sunday morning, they found two pig's ears and a poster of the French flag stapled to the door; a pig's snout dangled from the doorknob. "White power" and "Sieg heil" were spray-painted on one side, they recalled, and "France for the French" on the other. The desecration of the main mosque in Castres, a tranquil provincial town east of Toulouse, was an ugly exception in generally easygoing relations between the native French population and a pocket of about 10,000 Muslims who have made Castres their home. Mayor Pascal Bugis was quick to condemn the outrage, and police vowed a swift arrest of those responsible. But for Abdelmalek Bouregba, head of the Castres Islamic Association that administers the mosque, the vandalism was a troubling sign of the times. Signals are flashing everywhere that France is increasingly uneasy with its more than 5 million Muslims, he said, and the atmosphere has soured particularly since President Nicolas Sarkozy's government began last month its "great debate on national identity." In parallel with the government-organized debate, he noted, a parliamentary committee is holding hearings to determine whether legislation is necessary to forbid Muslim women from wearing full veils in public. Its chairman, André Gerin, said at a session Wednesday that such veils are "barbaric" and Sarkozy's friend and confidant, Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux, urged a ban in public buildings, saying "there is no place in France for burqas." A group of legislators from Sarkozy's coalition, the Union for a Patriotic Movement, have proposed a law to forbid foreign flags during immigrant weddings in city halls. And a small-town mayor from the Sarkozy coalition, Andre Valentin, warned during a government-sponsored national identity debate that "we are going to be gobbled up" unless something is done to halt the influx of immigrants, who he said "are paid to do nothing." "All this encourages this kind of thing," Bouregba said. "This gives ideas to extremists. Otherwise, they might have anti-Muslim ideas, but they would never act on them ... In my view, the national identity debate has stoked tensions." The government-endorsed French Council for the Muslim Religion issued a similar warning the day after the desecration. "The exploitation of these debates by some people presents a real danger of stigmatization against France's Muslims," it said. Outside the Muslim world, SOS Racisme, a non-governmental advocacy group, deplored what it called the "liberation of racist expressions, a liberation that the national identity debate permits and organizes." The Socialist Party, France's main opposition group, called on Sarkozy to close the debate before it does further damage. Even within the governing coalition, some parliamentary figures Sarkozy suggested it is becoming a Pandora's box. A recent poll taken for Nouvel Observateur magazine showed 55 per cent of those queried think the debate is at best unnecessary. Another 42 per cent expressed fear that it has gone off in the wrong direction, focusing on problems caused by Muslims and immigrants rather than on what it means to be French. http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/742792--france-opens-a-racial-pandora-s-box ------ Dance form - Taiwanese drama on a Buddhist's journey   ATaiwanese opera is in town. The musical called `One Step, One Mind' is a two-anda-half-hour play that will be enacted by 20 performers of Trinity Culture Center, led by internationally feted director Yang Ching-liang from Taiwan. The play tells the story of Master Xuanzang, or Hieun Tsang, the Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller and translator who came from China to India in the early 7th century. The drama depicts the monk's journey on foot from present-day Xian to what they called "the West" some 1,400 years ago. Xuanzang followed the Buddhist trail from Afghanistan to Nalanda in Bihar, and back, over 16 years. He learnt Sanskrit and translated hundreds of Buddhist texts into Chinese. He also left a vital historical account of his journeys along the Silk Route. The play tries to communicate the Mahayana spirit of Buddhism through music, dance and drama. It traces the monk's physical journey as well as his inner, spiritual one. According to director Yang, the aim of the opera is to touch hearts and minds, and deepen the audience's affection for drama, dance and music. http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleText.aspx?article=26_12_2009_014_003&kword=&mode=1 ------ 2 Pak Army officers gave Headley $25,000 for India trip: FBI dossier Subrata Nagchoudhury Dec 26, 2009 Kolkata : The FBI dossier on David Coleman Headley, the Lashkar-e-Toiba operative charged in United States with helping plan the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, states that two serving Pakistani Army officers, Major Iqbal and Major Sameer Ali, were actively involved in handling Headley, directed the terror plots, and that Major Iqbal handed him $25,000 before sending him to India. Sources said the Headley dossier shared with India also states that Abdurrehman Syed, a Lashkar commander, was attached to 6 Baloch of the Pak Army. He joined the Lashkar in 2002. It is believed that Syed and another Lashkar commander, Sajid Mir, with whom Headley was in regular touch, were part of a reconnaissance mission to India in April, 2004. The FBI learnt that Headley made as many as eight trips to India as a Lashkar operative between September 2006 and July 2008 and once after the Mumbai terror attacks — in March 2009 — for reconnaissance of potential targets. Headley was said to have joined the Lashkar in 1999, motivated by speeches of Lashkar founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. After his initiation, Headley underwent training from 2002 to 2004. He wanted to go to Kashmir but Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Lashkar operations commander, had other ideas. It was on Lakhvi's direction that Headley visited India eight times for reconnaissance work. Unlike Headley, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, his alleged accomplice, visited India only once — a week before the Mumbai terror attacks. Headley surveyed 30 potential targets and submitted details and photographs to his handlers. These included: * Hotels Taj and Oberoi, Leopold Cafe, Nariman House and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus * He was specifically told to do a recce of the Ruby Room, Crystal Ballroom at the Taj * Shiv Sena headquarters * Siddhivinayak temple * Maharashtra Assembly * Bombay Stock Exchange * Bhabha Atomic Research Centre * World Trade Centre, Mumbai * National Defence College, New Delhi. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/2-pak-army-officers-gave-headley-25-000-for-india-trip-fbi-dossier/559399/ ------ Birmingham Mosque alarmed at Quilliam Foundation allegations that it will host 'two extreme Wahhabi clerics who bolster al-Qaeda narratives' 26th December 2009  A mosque has been criticised for hosting a visit by two world-renowned clerics. However, the Green Lane mosque in Birmingham has hit back saying it is alarmed at the seriousness of the allegations and this is simply a case of fear-mongering. The Quilliam Foundation which claims to be Britain's first counter-extremism think tank says the mosque will host 'two extreme Wahhabi clerics who bolster al-Qaeda narratives'. Sheikh Faisal al-Jassim and Abdul Aziz As-Sadhan are both named by the organization. In a statement the organisation said, 'We recognise that many Wahhabis do not share these extreme views. "Similarly, the vast majority of British Muslims will find this hatemongering despicable. "The principle of taking up arms in order to impose a single religious interpretation on others is at the core of al-Qaeda's jihadist ideology. British Muslims do not need al-Qaeda's fellow-travellers lecturing us on history, politics or religion in British mosques. 'The Green Lane Mosque has previously been exposed as a centre of hate-preaching. Muslims need to challenge the hateful and divisive rhetoric of such extremist Saudi clerics and those people who promote them. "Such events risk undermining the good work that many people in Birmingham are doing to tackle extremism and bring different communities closer together.' Quilliam goes on to praise the actions of British Muslims for Secular Democracy which it says 'is creating a coalition of faith and humanist leaders to oppose the event and is preparing to send out a joint letter on their behalf.' However the mosque said 'the Quilliam Foundation 'had absolutely no credibility within the British Muslim community and has no legitimacy or qualifications to speak on Islamic matters. It added it was regrettable that 'this supposedly independent 'think-tank' is funded by hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayer's money and is not accountable to the tax payer.' In a statement the mosque said, "As a responsible organisation Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre is fully aware of the responsibilities it has towards the diverse communities it serves. "To this extent Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre has various policies and controls in place to ensure it fulfils its aims and objectives in a responsible manner and that it complies with the law including the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006. 'Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre was alarmed at the serious nature of the allegations made by the Quilliam Foundation which insinuated that we are a divisive force in the community. As a result, Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre has conducted its own internal inquiry into the claims made by the Quilliam Foundation. 'As part of the inquiry, Sheikh Faisal Al-Jassim and Dr Abdul Aziz Al-Sadhan were contacted to seek clarification about the allegations levelled against them.Both speakers regret the way in which the Quilliam Foundation has chosen to handpick a few statements from hundreds of hours of lectures to portray them in a negative light. 'Sheikh Faisal Al-Jassim has clearly stated that the understanding of Jihad in Islam is one of the most misunderstood concepts in current times; especially by many Muslims. 'Dr Abdul Aziz Al-Sadhan has stated that his teachings are openly available on his website and in the many books he has authored, and the few statements that have been highlighted are not representative of him. Dr Al-Sadhan has also stated that he is a fierce opponent of terrorism in all its forms, irrespective of the perpetrators. "As such he has made it clear that when he referred to 'the Jews', this reference was not to Jews in general, but to those elements that have shown hostility to Muslims and resorted to violence. "Neither of the speakers condone disseminating divisive and destructive message, nor do they consider it permissible to break the law of the land. In light of the above, Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre is satisfied with the clarification given by the invited speakers. "Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre has always condemned incitement to terrorism, extremism, racism and intolerance. We ask others to join us in this struggle to free our society of such evils. "Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support it has received from countless organisations, from within the Muslim and non-Muslim communities. We urge these organisations to publicly voice their objections where established mainstream Muslim institutions are targeted in such a manner." http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/4821465.Mosque_alarmed_at_allegations/ ------ Zardari pledges to fight for rights of minorities Dec. 25: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated his commitment to fight for the rights of the Christians and other minorities in the country. "Together we will struggle for establishing a liberal and pluralistic society in Pakistan in which every citizen is allowed to participate freely in the social, political and economic development of the country irrespective of his cast, creed and colour," the President said in his message to the Christian community on Christmas day. "I wish to felicitate the Christians all over the world particularly our Christian brothers and sisters in Pakistan on the auspicious occasion of Christmas. It is time for festivity, celebration and rejoicing," he said. The President said, "It is also a reminder for all of us about the teachings of Jesus Christ who always spread the message of love, forgiveness and brotherhood among the people without any prejudice and discrimination." He hoped that the Christian community in Pakistan would renew the pledge to follow the true teachings of Jesus Christ and would continue to play their positive and constructive role in the society. "They are a law-abiding and loyal community and we are proud of their tremendous contributions to the advancement and development of the country," Mr Zardari said. He added, "Let me also reiterate on this occasion our pledge that Pakistan People's Party will continue to uphold the right of the Christians, indeed of all minorities, to be treated as equal citizens of the state and allowed to partake in its development on an equal footing." http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/international/zardari-pledges-to-fight-for-rights-of-minorities.aspx ------ Indian police stop Kashmir procession, 60 hurt December 26, 2009 SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - At least 60 mourners were injured on Saturday when police used batons, firing in the air and tear gas to break up a procession by hundreds of Shi'ite Muslims in Indian Kashmir's main city, officials said. During the first Muslim month of Muharram, Shi'ites across the world mourn the death of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson Imam Hussein in the Iraqi city of Kerbala in the year 680. But in Kashmir, Muharram processions and public gatherings by separatists have been banned since a rebellion against Indian rule broke out in 1989. "More than 50 people were also detained," police officer Ali Mohammad said. Saturday's procession in Srinagar was headed by members of Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen Jammu Kashmir, part of the region's main separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference. Stone-throwing Shi'ites clashed with police in several parts of Srinagar after the procession was stopped, forcing police to fire tear gas shells, witnesses said. The mourners were beating their chests with their fists, and chanted "La ilaha illalah" (There is no god but Allah). "We strongly condemn the police brutality," said Moulana Abbas Ansari, a leading Shi'ite priest and chief of Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen. The injured included at least six photojournalists, police said. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority state since an anti-India insurgency broke out two decades ago. (Reporting by Sheikh Mushtaq; Editing by Bappa Majumdar) http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BP0PL20091226 ------ Taliban releases video of captured US soldier AP 25 December 2009 KABUL: The Taliban released a video today purporting to show captured US soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who disappeared more than five months ago in eastern Afghanistan. Bergdahl, a US airborne infantryman, was captured by the Afghan Taliban in Paktika province on June 30. It could not be confirmed immediately that it was Bergdahl in the new video, which was e-mailed to AP and other news organisations. A man is shown seated, facing the camera, wearing sunglasses and what appears to be a US military helmet and uniform. A caption below the man speaking says "War prisoner: Bowe Robert Bergdahl". On one side of the image it says: "An American soldier imprisoned by the Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan". The man identifies himself as Bergdahl, born in Sun Valley, Idaho, and gives his rank, birth date, blood type and mother's maiden name. In an earlier portion of the video he says, "This is just going to be the next Vietnam unless the American people stand up and stop all this nonsense." The insurgents also released a video of Bergdahl a few weeks after he was captured. Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, said in a telephone interview that he had not seen the video, but that it "shows the same soldier captured this year". In the video, "a demand" is made, Muhahid said. He did not indicate if the demand was from the Taliban or from Bergdahl. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Taliban-releases-video-of-captured-US-soldier/articleshow/5378388.cms ------ Pilgrims killed in Baghdad bombing December 26, 200 Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- Two Shiite pilgrims were killed in a roadside bombing in Baghdad on Saturday afternoon, the latest strike targeting people marking Ashura, one of the most important annual holy periods for Shiite Muslims across the globe. Eight other people were wounded in the strike, which occurred in the New Baghdad district of southeastern Baghdad, Interior Ministry officials said. The incident comes amid a large troop presence on the streets of Baghdad and several outlying regions, such as the holy city of Karbala, to protect Shiite pilgrims from attacks. Hundreds of thousands of the pilgrims are expected in Baghdad and Karbala for the commemoration, which reaches its peak over the next 24 hours. The period commemorates the martyrdom of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed who was killed in battle in Karbala in 680, one of the events that helped create the schism between Sunnis and Shiites, the two main Muslim religious movements. From Saturday evening until Sunday in Karbala and Baghdad, Shiite pilgrims will be chanting, beating their breasts in penance, cutting themselves with daggers or swords and whipping themselves in synchronized moves until next morning. Brig. Gen. Qassim Atta, the spokesman of Baghdad Operations Command, told CNN around 100,000 security forces in and around Baghdad are on full alert. Four security rings were in place around Kadhimiya in northwestern Baghdad, where more than one million visitors are expected Saturday night and Sunday, he said. Atta said 300 female security forces were stationed at a number of checkpoints to ensure the proper searching of women. Gen. Othman al-Ghanimi, the Karbala police commander, told CNN that 25,000 Iraqi security forces from the army and police were deployed in Karbala province. He said the region was divided into nine security sections and, as in Baghdad, four main security rings were set up around the city. Pilgrims must pass through at least four checkpoints before reaching the holy shrine of Imam Hussein. Around one million pilgrims are expected to be in Karbala. The marking of Ashura was banned for many years under Saddam Hussein, but observances resumed after he was toppled in 2003. In the first public Ashura demonstrations in Karbala after Saddam's fall, in 2004, violence erupted and authorities blamed Sunni extremists. In 2005, nearly 1,000 Shiite pilgrims were killed in a stampede over a bridge in northeastern Baghdad, a panic triggered by rumors of a suicide bomber in the crowd. This year, dozens of Shiite pilgrims were killed in a number of attacks across the country. The Iraqi government believes al-Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni extremist insurgent groups are behind these attacks. In another incident on Saturday, officials said local police officers were wounded when a roadside bomb struck their convoy in Zafaraniya district in southeastern Baghdad on Saturday. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/12/26/iraq.bombing/ ------ Shiite pilgrims pour into Iraqi city for Ashura By Abdelamir Hanoun (AFP) Dec 26, 2009 KARBALA, Iraq — Hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims descended on Iraq's holy shrine city of Karbala on Saturday for the climax of Ashura commemorations, despite fears of violent attacks by Sunni extremists. Security forces have beefed up their presence in the central city and authorities are also checking on the 60,000-odd foreign worshippers expected to attend the ceremonies to ensure they do not have swine flu. Black flags, representing the sadness of Shiites during Ashura, were seen all over the city, 110 kilometres (70 miles) south of Baghdad, along with pictures of Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas, who are both buried here. "I came to show my belief in Imam Hussein -- this event has nothing to do with personal motivations or politics," said 40-year-old Mohammed Abdul Hussein, who travelled from neighbouring Babil province. Karbala police chief General Ali Jassim Mohammed said that around 25,000 policemen and soldiers had been deployed to secure the commemoration ceremonies, which climax on Saturday and Sunday and mark the death of Imam Hussein in 680 AD. Security perimeters have also been formed throughout the city, while helicopters are providing extra surveillance and bomb-sniffing dogs are being used at checkpoints. To counter women suicide attackers who have struck Karbala before, security forces have deployed 600 female personnel on three roads into the city. Cameras are also monitoring pilgrims' movements across Karbala. During Ashura in March 2004, near-simultaneous bombings at a Shiite mosque in Baghdad and in Karbala killed more than 170 people. Since Tuesday, 25 people have been killed and more than 120 wounded in violence targeting Ashura, including attacks on worshippers in Karbala and the predominantly Shiite neighbourhood of Sadr City in Baghdad. In Sadr City on Friday, a roadside bomb killed six people, most of them children, and wounded 26 others when it struck a procession marking Ashura. And a day earlier in Karbala, a bomb killed one person and wounded 12. Security chiefs have also vowed to prevent any political exploitation of the festival as Iraq prepares to go to the polls for parliamentary elections on March 7. Authorities are also concerned about the spread of swine flu from foreign worshippers, the majority of whom are arriving from Iran, Pakistan and Arab Gulf countries. "We expect more than 60,000 foreign pilgrims to come, and we have ordered them to visit health centres to be sure they do not have any diseases," said provincial governor Amal Adin al-Her. "All hotel owners must inform authorities about any cases of illness among their residents." He estimates that 1.5 million pilgrims will visit Karbala on Saturday and Sunday. Ashura, which means tenth in Arabic, falls on the 10th day of the Muslim month of Muharram. Tradition holds that Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, was decapitated and his body mutilated by the armies of the caliph Yazid. To express remorse and guilt for not saving Hussein, Shiite volunteers flay themselves with chains or slice their scalps during processions to the Karbala shrines. Shiites make up around 15 percent of Muslims worldwide. They represent the majority populations in Iraq, Iran and Bahrain and form significant communities in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. ------ Shia mourning procession dispersed in Srinagar, several hurt in clashes IANS 26 December 2009 SRINAGAR: Police used batons and tear smoke shells to disperse a Shia mourning procession here Saturday. Over two dozen people were injured and an equal number taken into custody when Shia mourners gathered in the uptown Pratap Park here, adjacent to city centre Lal Chowk, to take out a procession commemorating the martyrdom of the Prophet's grandchildren in Karbala (Iraq) 1,360 years ago. Since the eruption of armed violence here in 1989, the authorities have not allowed the Shia mourning procession which was traditionally carried out here on 8th of Muharram according to the Muslim calendar. Tension gripped Lal Chowk as traffic halted in the area because of the clash between the Shia mourners and police. "The protesters tried to violate the law and police had to intervene to restore order," a senior police officer told IANS. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Shia-mourning-procession-dispersed-in-Srinagar-several-hurt-in-clashes/articleshow/5381693.cms ------ Israel drops terror alert on India Shubhajit Roy Dec 26, 2009 New Delhi : Israel has dropped its two-month-old terror alert for its nationals visiting India. The move is being seen by India as an outcome of unravelling of the 26/11 terror plot, following FBI's charges against David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana. The terror alert was called off early this week by the counter-terrorism bureau in the Israeli National Security Council — which comes directly under Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office — after it said, "successful counter-terrorism activity". This, officials in New Delhi believe, is going to have a huge positive impact on the ongoing tourist season, especially since Goa in India is an extremely popular destination for Israeli nationals. The alert was issued on October 15 this year and had been classified as "very high level concrete threat" and had recommended that Israelis refrain from frequenting popular tourist spots, Chabad-Lubavitch centres and other Jewish sites. This warning had stated that the terror organisation that was responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks was plotting several more attacks in India, targeting tourist sites, Chabad centers and also Goa. In the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks last year, terrorists had gone into the Chabad House in the city and killed six people, including Rabbi Gabriel and his wife Rivka Holtzberg. Their son, Moshe, had a miraculous escape. In New Delhi, security and intelligence agencies are reading this development of cancelling the travel alert as a consequence of charges filed by American prosecutors against Chicago-resident David Headley, accused of reconnaissance of more terror targets and helping the terrorists in carrying out Mumbai attacks. Israel, however, still advises its citizens to refrain from going to Jammu and Kashmir. The advisory also recommends that Israelis avoid sites that do not have official security personnel screening people at the door. "Despite the suspension of the warning, it is best to remain in secure places¿ and exercise extreme caution at all times," states the bulletin. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Israel-drops-terror-alert/559396 ------ 'US plane incident an attempted terror attack' AFP 26 December 2009 WASHINGTON: A man who attempted to light an explosive aboard a US airplane as it landed in Detroit on a flight from Amsterdam told investigators he was affiliated with al-Qaeda, US media reported on Friday. CNN, citing a federal bulletin, said the man told investigators he had acquired the explosive in Yemen, along with instructions as to when it should be used. President Barack Obama, who is vacationing with his family in Hawaii, was notified about the incident and held a conference call with his national security team, the White House said. Sandra Berchtold, an FBI spokeswoman in Detroit, told AFP the incident was under investigation. The incident unfolded around noon local time (1700 GMT) aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253, which was carrying 278 passengers from Amsterdam. A spokewoman for Northwest's parent company Delta told AFP the man tried to light what appeared to be firecrackers. "A passenger caused a disturbance on board by igniting some firecrackers," said Susan Elliott. "The passenger was immediately subdued and Delta is cooperating with authorities in the investigation," she added. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/US-plane-incident-an-attempted-terror-attack/articleshow/5380173.cms ------ US to scrap Iraq pregnancy rule 26 December 2009 BAGHDAD: The US military in Iraq will scrap a policy early next year that has led to the punishment of some soldiers serving in Iraq for becoming pregnant, the commander of US forces in Iraq said. General Ray Odierno said the new, Iraq-wide guidelines would take effect beginning January 1, lifting rules enacted by the US commander in northern Iraq, who reports to Odierno, that laid out possible punishments for pregnancy among his soldiers. The policy had been criticized by some women's advocates and on Tuesday four US senators wrote to the secretary of the US army asking that it be rescinded. "That will not be in my orders from January 1," Odierno said in Baghdad. According to US policy now, individual commanders can issue rules on behavior for troops under their command that are more strict than those issued by their military superiors. Major General Tony Cucolo, in charge of 22,000 US troops in northern Iraq, has defended his policy, saying that he could not afford to lose soldiers to pregnancy while the US military draws down its soldiers from Iraq. Possible punishments for becoming pregnant, or getting another soldier pregnant, ranged from an administrative reprimand to court martial. His policy had been in effect since November 4. Four of his soldiers had been found to be pregnant since then. Three male soldiers involved were also reprimanded, one more seriously because he had committed adultery. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/US-to-scrap-Iraq-pregnancy-rule/articleshow/5379425.cms ------ Pakistan releases 100 Indian fishermen Dec 26, 2009 Nirupama Subramanian ISLAMABAD: Pakistan released 100 Indian fishermen from a Karachi prison on Friday, prior to their repatriation. The fishermen were being taken in buses to the India-Pakistan border at Wagah and scheduled to reach there on Saturday morning. They are to cross over into India some time during the day on Saturday after completing immigration formalities. The release was a "goodwill gesture" announced by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani earlier this week. Hundreds more Indian fishermen remain in Pakistani jails, besides other Indian prisoners. Mr. Gilani's gesture invited some adverse remarks in Pakistan's parliament on Thursday. A senate committee was informed that there were more than 1,000 Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails, and the Indian government was not showing any interest in releasing them. Members of the committee are reported to have observed that "the Pakistan government is releasing the Indian inmates in Pakistan as a goodwill gesture, while we are getting the bodies of Pakistanis in response," a reference to the deaths of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails. http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/26/stories/2009122659571000.htm ------ Suspected US Missiles Kill 3: Pakistan Officials December 26, 2009 MIR ALI, Pakistan (AP) -- Intelligence officials say a suspected U.S. missile strike has killed three people in a northwest Pakistani tribal region. The strike occurred in North Waziristan, a hotbed of militant groups engaged in the fight against Western troops across the border in Afghanistan. Two intelligence officials said the Saturday strike also wounded two people. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to media on the record. The U.S. has launched numerous missile strikes on militant targets in Pakistan's tribal regions. Pakistan publicly protests the strikes but is believed to secretly aid them. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/26/world/AP-AS-Pakistan.html ------ BJP slams J&K autonomy report, calls it a farce TNN 26 December 2009, NEW DELHI: The principal opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party, on Friday stepped up its opposition to the recommendation for greater autonomy to J&K made by a panel set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh under former Supreme Court judge, Justice (retd) Saghir Ahmad. In a sharply-worded letter, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, who was a member of the Working Group led by the retired SC judge, questioned the validity of the recommendation made by him, calling it a farce. Jaitley pointed out that the Working Group never met after September 3, 2007 and no draft report was prepared. "The report at best is the personal opinion of Justice (retd) Saghir Ahmad or of those who helped him draft it. It is certainly not a consensus document of the Working Group. The report is a farce in so far as it claims to be the recommendation of a Working Group. It deserves to be fully ignored," Jaitley said in a letter to the Prime Minister. He also suggested that those behind the report were playing to the international gallery which wants India to make concessions on J&K. "The crucial question, however, would be as to why over two years after the virtual abandonement of the Working Group, this report was unilaterally authored? What was the compulsion to by-pass the Working Group and produce the report? I have an uneasy feeling that the government wants to show to some sections of the international community that it is willing to dilute the Indian position on Jammu and Kashmir. Is this report showcased for that purpose?" He also criticised the retired judge. "It is improper for a retired judge to have drafted a report on a sensitive issue impinging on national sovereignty, that too two years after the last meeting of the group without bothering it to discuss it with any member of the group." Justice (retd) Ahmad has recommended restoration of autonomy "to the extent possible" to J&K, saying that National Conference's stand could be the basis for determining what kind of powers should be delegated to the sensitive border state. The NC has called for the revocation of all the central laws extended to the state since 1953. BJP, which calls for the abrogation of Article 370 and is opposed to rolling back of Centre's jurisdiction, is planning to launch a campaign in Jammu on the issue. It also expects support from Panthers' Party that was also represented on the Group. Peoples' Democratic Party is also sure to oppose the recommendation, though for a different reason. It is demanding "self-rule" for the state and feels that NC's autonomy plank falls far short of that. In his letter to the Prime Minister, Jaitley pointed to the representation of diverse groups on the Working Group, to say that the panel could never have agreed to make the recommendation Justice (retd) Ahmad has made. "Whose report is it that has now been presented to the state government? Is it an opinion of a retired judge of the Supreme Court?" asked Jaitley. The Leader of Opposition also questioned the competence of judges to be the arbiter of deeply fraught political issues. "A judge by training is not competent to comment on sensitive political issues. He can only adjudicate issues that are judicially determinable. It is an improper practice to drag judges into the political thicket. The practice of providing assignments to retired judges and using them to rubber-stamp a government's agenda has to be deprecated." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-slams-JK-autonomy-report-calls-it-a- ------ DHAKA: Khaleda party leaders have terror links: Minister PTI 26 December 2009 DHAKA: Some leaders of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its radical ally Jamaat-e-Islami have been "involved in militant activities", the home minister said on Friday. "Some leaders of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami were found involved with militant activities when the (BNP-led) four-party alliance was in power," Sahara Khatun said. She added that the Awami League led government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was determined to bring them to justice "to make sure that militancy does not grow in the country." The ruling party has accused a section of the past BNP regime of patronising militancy during its 2001-2006 tenure. Two junior ministers of Khaleda Zia's government are in jail facing trial for their alleged links to banned Islamist groups Harkatul Jihad (HuJI) and Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Former state minister for home Lutfuzzaman Babar last month reportedly claimed that Zia's elder son Tarique Rahman was involved in the deadly August 21, 2004 grenade attack on Hasina' rally that killed 24 people and injured over 300. Media reports quoting investigators said that former junior minister for home Babar told them that Zia's son Rahman had asked him not take actions following the attack. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Khaleda-party-leaders-have-terror- ------ Pakistan PM:  'Army, ISI working under me' Shafqat Ali Dec. 25: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that the powerful Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are working under him and are not taking independent decisions. "The ISI and the Ar-my are working under me. There is no political role of these institutions and the government is taking all the decisions," Mr Gilani said. He added "Some people think otherwise but there was no role of Pakistan Army in reinstating the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry." In an interview with a private television channel here, Mr Gilani said the ISI is working effectively under his control and command and he is satisfied with it. "I have visited nuclear plant many times," he added. When asked about Kerry-Lugar bill which was openly opposed by the Army, the PM said, "There is no difference between stance of army and government over the bill. The Army is with us and would support us." The Prime Minister said that the Pakistan Army — which has directly ruled the country for more than half of its age as an independent nation — is bound to ensure implementation of the elected government's orders un-der the Constitution. "For the first in history of Pakistan, the ruling Pakistan People's Party has cordial relations with the general headquarters," he said. The PM said that Army Chief General Ashfaq Par-vez Kayani is in favour of democracy and the biggest example in this respect was resignation of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. "General Kayani had a chance to support Pervez Musharraf but he instead of doing that he supported democracy," he said. http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/international/%E2%80%98arm ------ Vatican top cleric in Abu Dhabi walks thin line Barbara Surk Dec. 25: The Vatican's top cleric in the heart of Muslim Arabia tends to a flock of 2 million Christians spread around six desert nations. But he has to do it quietly: Most of them must still pray in secret and are forbidden to display crosses and other symbols of their faith. From his base in the emirate of Abu Dhabi on the Persian Gulf, Archbishop Paul Hinder travels the Arabian Peninsula, even slipping in and out of Saudi Arabia — the birthplace of Islam, where restrictions on Christianity are the toughest. "We are tolerated, but not popular here," Archbishop Hinder said in an interview in the archbishop's living quarters inside a Christian compound in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. He spoke wearing the traditional hooded robe of his Capuchin order. The white garb blends in just fine with the Arab robes worn by men in the region, so he wears it in public — but without a cross around his neck or the belt of three knots that also mark the order. "People here know who I am, although I never wear a cross when I go outside out of respect for local conditions," said Archbishop Hinter, a Swiss citizen. Still, he says, there are signs of slow change, even in Saudi Arabia, where small groups who in the past would have been punished or deported if caught practising the Christian services are now left in peace to pray privately. The UAE and the neighbouring Gulf nations of Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman have taken greater steps. They have allowed churches to be built on land donated by the countries' rulers, though there are no outward signs that the buildings are houses of worship. On Thursday night, Archbishop Hinder led a midnight Christmas Eve Mass for several thousand the faithful at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi. Reflecting the diversity of the community, more than a dozen Christmas Day services will be held for 10,000 worshippers in at least eight different languages. The cathedral is in a downtown compound that's also home to Anglican, Greek Orthodox and Egyptian Coptic churches. Crucifixes, icons, rosaries and other religious symbols are allowed within the walled compound. —AP http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/international/vatican-top-cleric- ------ Osama daughter at Saudi mission free to leave Iran: FM Tehran, Dec. 25: Osama bin Laden's daughter who has taken refuge at the Saudi mission in Tehran is free to leave Iran once her identity is confirmed, foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki was on Friday quoted as saying. "A while ago the Saudi embassy here said the one of Bin Laden's daughters is in the compound, so the foreign ministry told the embassy that based on international conventions if her identity is confirmed she can leave Iran with passage documents," ISNA quoted Mr Mottaki as telling state television late Thursday. "We were not able to confirm her identity but the embassy says she is" the daughter of Bin Laden, he added. Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat earlier this week quoted Omar bin Laden, the fourth son of the Al Qaeda chief, that one of his siblings, Iman, 17, had recently sought asylum at the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Mr Fuad Qassas, the Saudi charge d'affairs at the kingdom's embassy in Tehran, confirmed Iman was staying there, according to the newspaper, which said she has been seeking permission to leave Iran, so far without success. Omar bin Laden also said that five other siblings plus one of his father's wives who had been missing since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan had been traced to Tehran, where they are living under house arrest. Omar, who lives in Qatar, said he only learnt his family members were still alive after receiving a call last month from his brother Uthman, who had been secretly given access to a mobile phone by a young Iranian. British newspaper the Times reported 11 of Bin Laden's grandchildren were also living in the high-security compound outside Tehran. The group fled Afghanistan just before the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and walked to the Iranian border, where they were detained and taken to the walled compound by guards, the Times said. His relatives are said to be living as normal a life as possible, cooking meals, watching television and reading, but they are allowed out on shopping trips only rarely. The Times said Iman escaped from the compound during one such trip last month and fled to the Saudi embassy. —AFP http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/news/international/osama-daughter- ------ Course correction: Catholic body seeks change in education Act Maroosha Muzaffar Dec 26, 2009 New Delhi : The Catholic Bishop's Conference of India (CBCI), which had raised objections to a clause in the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, will press for an amendment to safeguard the constitutional right of minorities, the organisation spokesperson told Newsline. Clause 21 of the Act deals with setting up of management committees. "Under the clause, such committees should comprise elected local representatives and those of teachers and parents," said Father Babu Joseph Karakombil. "It, however, makes no mention of the role of the owner or manager of school." Karakombil said the inclusion of a local elected representative will "violate the constitutional rights granted to the minorities". "Our constitution gives minorities the right to establish and administer an institution of their choice. However, if a management committee is formed as mentioned in the clause, the owner or management of school loses the right to administer. This is violation of minority rights." There are nearly 30, 000 catholic educational institutions in the country and 45-50 in Delhi. "We are asking the government to amend this particular clause so that minority-run educational institutes are exempted," Karakombil said. The CBCI has also met HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and Minister for Minority Affairs Salman Khursheed. "Sibal had promised to bring in the amendment but nothing has been done so far. If they fail, we will have no other option but to challenge this in the court of law," the spokesperson said. The Act, which was notified this year, makes it mandatory for every child in the age group of 6-14 to get elementary education. "Rules are yet to be framed to enforce the Act. We will wait and then take appropriate measures." "Political interference in educational institutions has to be reduced. It is not a welcome thing," Karakombil added. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/course-correction-catholic-body-seeks-change-in- ------ India: Centre sits on Hamid minority report By Naseer Ganai in Srinaga Panel wanted AFSPA in J& Kto go in 2007 TWO DAYS after the Prime Minister's working group on Centrestate relations recommended autonomy for Jammu & Kashmir, it was revealed on Friday that another of his panels had suggested that the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act ( AFSPA) be revoked from the valley. However, nothing was done after the group, headed by Hamid Ansari, the then chairperson of the national commission for minorities, submitted its recommendations to Manmohan Singh in 2007. In fact, most of the recommendations of Singh's three other working groups, which submitted their reports directly to him two years ago, were implemented. The panels were constituted following an announcement made by him at a roundtable conference held in Srinagar in May, 2006. The group headed by Ansari, now the country's Vice- President, focused on confidence- building measures across segments of society in the state. Its major recommendation was the revocation of the AFSPA and the Dis turbed Areas Act. " Certain laws made operational during the period of militancy impinge on the fundamental rights of citizens and adversely affect the public. They should be reviewed and revoked. Law and order matters should be dealt with, to the maximum extent possible, through normal laws," it said. The panel suggested that a comprehensive list of widows and orphans hit by militancy should be compiled before framing effective schemes for their rehabilitation. " The data should also include wives and children of missing persons or those presumed dead. Setting up of a special cell for their identification should be considered," it said. The group also wanted the right of Kashmiri Pundits to return to their places of origin be recognised and made part of the state policy. So far, the Centre has done little to revoke the two Acts despite both the National Conference and the Peoples' Democratic Party seeking its withdrawal. In fact, even the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, led by Mirwaiz Umar, has put the Act's revocation as one of the conditions for entering into peace talks with the government. ------ Peaceful Xmas for Kandhamal, Orissa By Ashutosh Mishra in Bhubaneswar PUTTING bitter memories of last year's communal riots behind them, Christians in Kandhamal celebrated Christmas peacefully on Friday. There were no reports of any untoward incident from the tribal- dominated Sundergarh and Mayurbhanj districts, where Christian missionaries and Sangh Parivar outfits have been at war. " We have not received any report of untoward incidents so far," said senior community leader Father Joseph Kalathil. In Kandhamal, people poured into churches across the district since Thursday night braving the chill. The churches brimmed with the faithful who found a new joy in celebrating the occasion after disruptions during the last two years. With no trace of tension or fear, Christians turned up in large numbers for the midnight mass even at the churches located in remote areas. Kandhamal superintendent of police Praveen Kumar said security had been beefed up throughout the district in view of the festival and patrolling was also intensified. Ten checkposts had been set up at various points in sensitive areas such as Phulbani Sadar and Shankarakhol, Kumar added. Sources said 34 platoons of Orissa Special Strike Force, India Reserve Battalion, Orissa Special Armed Police and the state police force was deployed in the district. There were special security arrangements at sensitive places including G. Udaygiri, Tikabali, Raikia, Baliguda, Daringbadi and Kotgarh, a police officer said. Sources said the snapping of ruling Biju Janata Dal's ties with the BJP, and the consequent weakening of Sangh Parivar elements — who earlier enjoyed official patronage — was majorly responsible for the change in Kandhamal's ground reality. " Sangh leaders are aware they will be booked the moment they try to cause any trouble. That's why they are being cautious," said a police officer. Besides, the lapse of time after the riots has allowed the wounds to heal. Communal sentiments are no more running high in Kandhamal as they did in the wake of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati's death in August last year. ------ Pope knocked down, delivers Christmas message Woman repeats last year's stunt. Jumps barricade to attack pontiff POPE Benedict XVI delivered his traditional Christmas Day blessing on Friday, looking tired and unsteady but otherwise fine hours after being knocked down by a woman who jumped the barrier at the start of Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican said the 82- year- old pope was unhurt in the fall and that his busy Christmas schedule would remain unchanged. French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, an 87- year- old Vatican diplomat, fractured his hip in the commotion and will be operated on at Rome's Gemelli hospital, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said. Benedict appeared a bit unsteady on Friday as he approached his chair on the loggia overlooking St. Peter's Square to deliver his traditional Christmas blessing and was steadied by an attendant. But he then spread open his arms, blessed the crowd and delivered his " Urbi et Orbi " speech, Latin for " To the city and the world," without any problem. He followed with Christmas greetings in 65 different languages that drew sustained cheers from the crowd. In the speech, the pope decried the effects of the world financial crisis, conflicts in the Holy Land and Africa, and the plight of the " tiny flock" of Christians in Iraq. Lombardi identified the woman who toppled Benedict as Susanna Maiolo, 25, a Swiss- Italian with psychiatric problems. He said Maiolo, who was not armed, was taken to a clinic for necessary treatment. She was the same woman involved in a similar incident at last year's Midnight Mass, Vatican officials said. In that case, Maiolo jumped the barricade but never managed to reach the pope and was quietly tackled to the ground by security. In both cases, she wore a red sweatshirt. During Thursday night's service, Maiolo jumped the barricade and lunged for the pope as he came down the aisle toward the altar. As security guards brought her down, she grabbed the pope's vestments and pulled him down with her, according to witness video obtained by The Associated Press . After a few seconds on the floor, Benedict stood up with the help of attendants, put back on his miter and took hold of his staff, and continued to process down the aisle to the cheers of " Viva il Papa! ( Long live the pope)". It was the first time a potential attacker came into direct contact with Benedict during his nearly five- year papacy. Security analysts have frequently warned the pope is too exposed in his public appearances. After getting up, Benedict, flanked by tense bodyguards, reached the basilica's main altar to start the Mass. The pope, who broke his right wrist in a fall this summer, appeared unharmed but somewhat shaken and leaned heavily on aides and an armrest as he sat down in his chair. He made no reference to the disturbance after the service started or on Friday. The pope is protected by a combination of Swiss Guards, Vatican police and Italian police. Since the 9/ 11 attacks, the Vatican has tightened security at events where the pope is present. All visitors must pass by police to get into the square, with those entering the basilica going through metal detectors or being scanned by metaldetecting wands. However, Sister Samira, an Indian aide to Vatican officials who attended the service and saw the incident, said she was never searched by security when she attends papal Masses, and said the same held true for other people in religious garb. ------ Yemeni director combats terrorism with propaganda By Jeffrey Fleishman December 26, 2009 Government filmmaker Fadhel al-Olofi's 2008 hit, 'The Losing Bet,' seeks to show the follies of the terrorists' ways, articulating the battle within Islam between moderates and radicals. Reporting from Sana, Yemen Al Qaeda is toast, roll the credits. If you can't annihilate the enemy on the battlefield, take the battle to a new dimension, complete with rousing music, saluting children, waving flags and soldiers so heroic you keep looking for pedestals beneath their boots. Good prevails in the scripts of Fadhel al-Olofi, a producer and film director for the Yemeni government, which lends him helicopters and ammo to destroy whatever bad guy haunts the imagination of a country stuck in a real-life civil war and bloodied by attacks by Islamic extremists. Olofi creates unapologetic propaganda to comfort Yemenis craving repose and a story line that doesn't end with a funeral. What's wrong with that? Enter Jamal Jubran al-Thawi, brooding journalist and critic. (Wait, let's keep him stewing in the wings a bit longer.) "The Losing Bet" is Olofi's challenge to Al Qaeda and militant networks seeking to exploit Yemen's poverty, unrest and political chaos. The 2008 hit film is a morality tale of enlightened security officials and reformed extremists bringing to heel a band of bearded men with rippling eyebrows who clasp Kalashnikovs and mutter lines such as "strike with an iron hand" and "cunning atheists." Oh, those cunning atheists. They're tourists with cameras, the target of a suicide bomber. But on Olofi's screen, at least, this young nation's good and stoic citizens will not stand for the perversion of Islam by prophets of jihad. So he kills the hardened ones and brings those less committed back to the righteous fold, the folly of their ways laid bare by wise old men: "Is this jihad?" asks a father of his zealous son, who appears amid gnashing string instruments. "Your thoughts are neither religion nor Islam." Like other Arab countries, Yemen is "suffering from terrorism," said Olofi, who is busy these days producing patriotic public service announcements for television. "It's destroying our national economy and infecting our youth. . . . Art has a great message. It can be more powerful than weapons." What unfolds on screen crudely articulates the struggle within Islam between moderates and fundamentalists. The film's mission is to turn the lens inward to show that extremism is not only a futile strike against the West, but a damaging blow to the future of Muslim societies. Never mind that the movie doesn't examine the corruption and authoritarian governments across the Middle East that breed radicalism; the director is concerned with the more opaque question of who is truer to the Koran. Full report at: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-losing-bet26-2009dec26,0,860099.story ------ Auschwitz sign stolen to fund terror attacks? AGENCIES 26 December 2009 The Nazi gang that ordered the theft of the infamous 'Arbeit Macht Frei' sign from the gates of Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland planned to sell it to fund violent attacks against the Swedish PM and Parliament, it was claimed on Friday. A spokesman for the Swedish security police confirmed that the authorities were taking seriously a threat by a militant Nazi group to disrupt national elections next year, reports Times Online. The wrought-iron sign, whose inscription — translated as 'Work sets you free' — was viewed by hundreds of thousands of Jews as they entered the Nazi death camp where they met their deaths during the Second World War. It was stolen from the camp — now a museum — last Friday, provoking worldwide expressions of dismay and revulsion. It was recovered on Monday, hacked into three pieces and wrapped in cloth. Allegations concerning who ordered the theft, and why, surfaced on Friday in Swedish newspapers after the former leader of a Swedish Nazi group claimed it had been stolen to order for a collector in England, France or the United States. The Nazi source said that the money would pay for an attack on the home of Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish PM who has held the rotating presidency of the European Union for the last six months, and on the Swedish Foreign Ministry, the paper reported. A third attack allegedly involved plans to bombard Swedish MPs from the public seats of the parliament. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Auschwitz-sign-stolen-to-fund-terror- URL of this page: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamUrduSection_1.aspx?ArticleID=2283

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Asadullah Syed