Day: October 3, 2009

Minnesota: Neo-nazi group plans protest of YWCA anti-racism workshop

Minnesota: Neo-nazi group plans protest of YWCA anti-racism workshop
— “Forty people have registered for the workshop, titled ‘More Than Skin Deep: Uprooting White Privilege and White Supremacy One Cell at a Time.'”
— “The white supremacist National Socialist Movement announced the protest on its Web site. The posting said the group’s local branch ‘plans to take action, by defending the rights of Whites not only in Minnesota but nation wide.'”

United Nations: Bulgarian Woman Elected UNESCO Chief – Egypt’s Farouk Hosni Who Called for Book Burning – Blames West, “Jewish Groups” for Defeat

Bulgarian elected first UNESCO woman chief
— UPI reports: “Irina Bokova, a former Bulgarian foreign minister, is the first woman to lead the United Nations’ cultural unit, UNESCO, officials said.”
— “Bokova was elected Tuesday after five rounds of voting saw her prevail over Farouk Hosni of Egypt, Radio France Internationale reported Wednesday.”

— Egypt critics turn against Hosni and regime for UNESCO loss
—- AFP reports: “Some Egyptians are lashing out at the government over the case of Culture Minister Faruq Hosni and his failed bid for the top job at UNESCO, blaming the regime or Hosni himself for the defeat.”
—- “Egypt fought a tough diplomatic battle to get Hosni elected, and when the man lost out to Bulgaria’s Irina Bokova last week, government officials and Hosni blamed ‘Jewish groups’ and some Western states for his defeat.”

—- Wall Street Journal reported: In early May, responding to a question in Parliament from a member of the Muslim Brotherhood about cultural ties with Israel, he said: “I’d burn Israeli books myself if I found any in libraries in Egypt.”

Iran: Women’s rights activist sentenced to six months in jail

Iran: Women’s rights activist sentenced to six months in jail
— AKI reports:
— “A women’s rights activist and journalist has been sentenced to six months in jail by one of Iran’s Revolutionary Courts in the capital, Tehran, for having ‘endangered state security’.”
— “Jelveh Javaheri, arrested in June 2008 for protesting in the centre of Tehran in favour of women’s political and civil rights, was subsequently freed from Iran’s notorious Evin prison and her sentence has only now been made public, Iran’s Radiofarda said.”
— “She was charged with ‘acting against national security by spreading propaganda against the state.'”
— “Javaheri had been previously arrested in May and was freed after posting a bail of 75.000 euros. She was the founding member of the Campaign for Equality.”
— “Javaheri is part of a group of Iranian feminists that begun a national campaign two years ago to abolish all of of Iran’s discriminatory laws against women.”

Thailand: Extremists Murder Buddhist, Muslim Men in Attacks That Have Claimed 3,900 Lives Thus Far

Cop, civilian killed in Thailand
— AFP reports: “SUSPECTED Islamic militants have shot dead two men, including a police officer, in the restive Thai south, police said on Saturday.”
— “A 55-year-old sub-lieutenant, who worked at a police station in Pattani province, was killed on Friday in a drive-by shooting as he left a mosque after prayers, they said.”
— “Also in Pattani, a 51-year-old Buddhist man was shot dead in another drive-by shooting earlier on Friday.”
— “A bloody separatist insurgency has gripped Thailand’s Muslim-majority southern provinces, bordering Malaysia, for the past five years. So far it has claimed more than 3,900 lives.”
— “The shadowy militants, who have never publicly stated their goals, target Muslims and Buddhists alike and both civilians and members of the security forces.”

Malaysia: Muslim NGOs for punishing those questioning Malaysian model’s caning — state Sharia court decision must not be questioned

Malaysia: Muslim NGOs for punishing those questioning Malaysian model’s caning — state Sharia court decision must not be questioned
— ANI reports: “Fourteen Muslim non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Malaysia’s Kuantan state have urged the authorities to act against people who are questioning the caning sentence of part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno”
— “They have also lodged a police report against NGOs that have asked the government to intervene to rescind the sentence, including Sisters in Islam (SIS) and Joint Action Group Against Violence Against Women (JAG), reports the New Strait Times.”
— “The group’s spokesman, Amidi Abdul Manan, said SIS and JAG should retract their statements and tender open apologies to Muslims for insulting Islamic law and the syariah court.”
— “The 14 Muslim NGOs include the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim), Jemaah Islah Malaysia Pahang, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia Pahang, Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association and the Islamic Welfare Organization.”
— “Amidi said they would file an injunction to stop other parties from questioning the decision made by the Syariah High Court here.”

Pakistan Mob Tortures Women, Forces Them to Walk Naked in Public

— Dawn: “Three women tortured, forced to walk naked in public”
— Dawn reports: “No case has been registered against the mob that attacked the women and publicly humiliated them.”
— “LAHORE: Three women, accused of prostitution, were tortured by an angry mob and were later forced to walk naked on Multan Road in Phoolnagar, Kasur, a private television channel reported on Monday.”
— “A large number of people attacked a house in Jambarkalan village, torturing the women — including one Shahnaz — for alleged involvement in prostitution and running a brothel in the village.”
— “The victims said the accusations against them were baseless. They said they had a property dispute ongoing with Union Council Nazim Ilyas Khanzada who wanted to occupy their house illegally. The women have accused him of planning the assault on their home.”
— “Khanzada confirmed the women were tortured by the mob. He, however, denied plotting against them.”
— “Meanwhile, no case was registered against the mob that attacked the women and publicly humiliated them.”