C L O S E R The ‘Hofstad-group’ Trial: The Mohammed-one-man-show

Posted on February 2nd, 2006 by .
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues.

In the trial against the so called Hofstadgroup today Mohammed B. held his three hour defense. Well defense…It looked more like an expose about violence, violent jihad and Islam (I am told by others; I wasn’t there).

Expatica’s Dutch news in English: ‘I’m no Bin Laden,’ Van Gogh killer says in court speech

The man jailed for life for the murder of filmmaker Theo van Gogh in 2004 insisted in court on Thursday the Prophet Mohammed sanctioned the use of violence.

Dutch-Moroccan Mohammed Bouyeri, 27, spoke for almost two hours and thirty minutes in the high security Amsterdam-Osdorp courthouse. It was the closing stages of the trial of 14 Muslim men accused of membership of a terrorist organisation.

Investigators monitoring the men prior to their arrests dubbed them the Hofstad group or network. The accused men claim they met together only to discuss Islam.

Layers for other defendants have already made closing addresses to the three-judge panel.

Bouyeri, who cannot receive another sentence under Dutch law, opted to make a personal speech. It was expected it would contain some fireworks.

But observers afterwards agreed it was too long and confusing. Bouyeri did not address the prosecution’s contention about the existence of a terrorist organisation, or the central role he allegedly played in it.

Journalists in court estimated 70 percent of his speech consisted of citations taken from a range of writers, including Michael Ignatieff and Jessica Stern. Bouyeri gathered the material from the prison library.

Dressed in a traditional Arabic garment with a red and white scarf on his head, Bouyeri began his address with a Muslim confession of his faith in Arabic. A translator interpreted his words for the court.

“Comparing me to Osama bin Laden does the man a great wrong and extends me too much honour I don’t deserve,” Bouyeri said.

“But it fills me with me with honour, pride and joy that you see me as the standard-bearer of Islam in Europe,” he told the prosecution.

I will listen to the audio-tape of part of his exposé and get back to you about that.

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C L O S E R – Cartoonesque Part 1001

Posted on February 2nd, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News, Public Islam.

Muhammad and Abu Bakr visit poor Bedouins who have no sustenance to share until the Prophet makes their ewe give milk

The row is spreading. On the one hand European media is more and more inclined to show the Danish cartoons. Such as the French newspaper France le Soir.
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | France enters Muslim cartoon row

France Soir said it had published the cartoons to show that “religious dogma” had no place in a secular society.

Their publication in Denmark has led to protests in several Arab nations.

And also the BBC wants to broadcast the cartoons, following other media: Cartoon Controversy: Bomb Shaped Turban Upsets Muslims

The role of the media here, gets more interesting by the day. See for example also the website of Almedina.com where you can send a protestemail:

Dear Minster of Cultural affairs (Norway) Dear Minster of Cultural affairs (Denmark) (Norway) and Magazinet newspaper (Denmark) in Jyllands Posten newspaper (PBUH) The Muslim world has been following with anger and sorrow the humiliating cartoons. That were published for the Nobel Prophet Muhammad harassment!thin a negative attitude and picturing him as a person representing evil force does firmly form a sever compound and complicated act of aggression conducted against our believes, hearts, minds and souls.

Muslims can hardly think of any worse cultural In Islam, embodying Prophet Mohammad PBUH in a picture, drawing or a statue is completely prohibited; even within a context of showing respect, admiration or recognition. As a result, and as you may have found out already, drawing Prophet Mohammed wi slims who consider Prophet Muhammad as the messenger of mercy. We strongly believe in freedom of expression and freedom of press. However, what was published in those two newspapers is inappropriate and goes beyond freedom of expression. It humiliates, without any reason or purpose, approximately one billion Muslims in because publishing them again will cause more tensions between nations, will harm Muslims’ feelings and their beliefs.We forward you this letter to express our strong condemnation for what was published and we hope your respect to others’ beliefs and religious symbols will motivate you to condemn these drawings and make sure that they will not be published once again.

www.almadinapress.com
reporters@al-madina.com

At the same pace the outrage among Muslims seems to spread: Cartoon Controversy: Bomb Shaped Turban Upsets Muslims

And at the same pace call for solidarity with the Danes among non-Muslims spread (France Soir is an example already mentioned) on e.g. Brusselsjournal.com (We are all Danes now!) and Dutch newspapers such as Trouw by Ephimenco It looks like one monolithic bloc against the other. No wonder Ephimenco concludes this time that the Islam does exist: this row is the ultimate proof. Sadly he is wrong and he is wrong because he neglects the voices among Muslims who condemn the actions of for example Saudi Arabia. Among them Radikale Venstre member Naser Khader who wrote an open letter in which he states that it is Saudi Arabia who should apologize for their open contempt for human rights. Also the one of the islamic organizations seems to be out for peace and quiet now.

1 comment.

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Travels with my beard

Posted on February 2nd, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News.

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Travels with my beard

Interesting story by Rajesh Thind

After the 7 July London bombings could growing a beard completely change the way people treated a British Asian? There was only one way to find out.

It’s interesting to see how stereotypes work: among the ‘victims’ of stereotypes and among the people who act because of these stereotypes (who doesn’t?). See als the reactions on this article.
(more…)

0 comments.

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Travels with my beard

Posted on February 2nd, 2006 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Travels with my beard

Interesting story by Rajesh Thind

After the 7 July London bombings could growing a beard completely change the way people treated a British Asian? There was only one way to find out.

It’s interesting to see how stereotypes work: among the ‘victims’ of stereotypes and among the people who act because of these stereotypes (who doesn’t?). See als the reactions on this article.
(more…)

0 comments.

ABC News: Documents Show Army Seized Wives As Tactic

Posted on February 2nd, 2006 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

ABC News: Documents Show Army Seized Wives As Tactic

Documents Show Army Seized Wives of Suspected Insurgents in Hopes of ‘Leveraging’ Surrenders

By CHARLES J. HANLEY AP Special Correspondent
The Associated Press

– The U.S. Army in Iraq has at least twice seized and jailed the wives of suspected insurgents in hopes of “leveraging” their husbands into surrender, U.S. military documents show.

In one case, a secretive task force locked up the young mother of a nursing baby, a U.S. intelligence officer reported. In the case of a second detainee, one American colonel suggested to another that they catch her husband by tacking a note to the family’s door telling him “to come get his wife.”

The issue of female detentions in Iraq has taken on a higher profile since kidnappers seized American journalist Jill Carroll on Jan. 7 and threatened to kill her unless all Iraqi women detainees are freed.

The U.S. military on Thursday freed five of what it said were 11 women among the 14,000 detainees currently held in the 2 1/2-year-old insurgency. All were accused of “aiding terrorists or planting explosives,” but an Iraqi government commission found that evidence was lacking.

Iraqi human rights activist Hind al-Salehi contends that U.S. anti-insurgent units, coming up empty-handed in raids on suspects’ houses, have at times detained wives to pressure men into turning themselves in.

Iraq’s deputy justice minister, Busho Ibrahim Ali, dismissed such claims, saying hostage-holding was a tactic used under the ousted Saddam Hussein dictatorship, and “we are not Saddam.” A U.S. command spokesman in Baghdad, Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, said only Iraqis who pose an “imperative threat” are held in long-term U.S.-run detention facilities.

But documents describing two 2004 episodes tell a different story as far as short-term detentions by local U.S. units. The documents are among hundreds the Pentagon has released periodically under U.S. court order to meet an American Civil Liberties Union request for information on detention practices.

In one memo, a civilian Pentagon intelligence officer described what happened when he took part in a raid on an Iraqi suspect’s house in Tarmiya, northwest of Baghdad, on May 9, 2004. The raid involved Task Force (TF) 6-26, a secretive military unit formed to handle high-profile targets.

“During the pre-operation brief it was recommended by TF personnel that if the wife were present, she be detained and held in order to leverage the primary target’s surrender,” wrote the 14-year veteran officer.

He said he objected, but when they raided the house the team leader, a senior sergeant, seized her anyway.

“The 28-year-old woman had three young children at the house, one being as young as six months and still nursing,” the intelligence officer wrote. She was held for two days and was released after he complained, he said.

Like most names in the released documents, the officer’s signature is blacked out on this for-the-record memorandum about his complaint.

Of this case, command spokesman Johnson said he could not judge, months later, the factors that led to the woman’s detention.

The second episode, in June 2004, is found in sketchy detail in e-mail exchanges among six U.S. Army colonels, discussing an undisclosed number of female detainees held in northern Iraq by the Stryker Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division.

The first message, from a military police colonel, advised staff officers of the U.S. northern command that the Iraqi police would not take control of the jailed women without charges being brought against them.

In a second e-mail, a command staff officer asked an officer of the unit holding the women, “What are you guys doing to try to get the husband have you tacked a note on the door and challenged him to come get his wife?”

Two days later, the brigade’s deputy commander advised the higher command, “As each day goes by, I get more input that these gals have some info and/or will result in getting the husband.”

He went on, “These ladies fought back extremely hard during the original detention. They have shown indications of deceit and misinformation.”

The command staff colonel wrote in reply, referring to a commanding general, “CG wants the husband.”

The released e-mails stop there, and the women’s eventual status could not be immediately determined.

Of this episode, Johnson said, “It is clear the unit believed the females detained had substantial knowledge of insurgent activity and warranted being held.”

On the Net:

First document: http://www.aclu.org/torturefoia/released/t2614 2616.pdf

E-mail exchange: http://www.aclu.org/projects/foiasearch/pdf/DOD044843.pdf

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures

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C L O S E R – Cartoonesque Today

Posted on February 1st, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Misc. News, Public Islam.

C L O S E R

As said yesterday there are many depictions of the prophet Muhammad. Such as this one where angels visit Muhammad to prepare him for the Miraj. It’s a detail from The Progress of the Prophet, Turkey, 16th century.

Today the first company seems to be hit by the boycott: Nordic firm hit by Arab boycott

We have taken 40 years to build up a very big business in the Middle East, and we’ve seen it come to a complete stop in five days
Astrid Gade Niels
Arla spokeswoman

Also more condemnations from the Arab world, this time from 17 Arab countries.

Also the Dutch newspapers have discovered the item. In the Dutch daily De Volkskrant several artists who are reluctant in depicting the prophet. Except for Gregorius Nekschot (pseudonym) who will publish a book soon with a picture of the prophet Muhammad in a compromising situation with Aicha.

The editor of Jylland Posten has published a statement in which he legitimizes himself towards Muslims and says he regrets people felt insulted:

I am sorry that the publication of a few cartoons in the Norwegian paper Magazinet has caused unrest among Muslims. I fully understand that these drawings are seen to give offence by Muslims worldwide. Islam is a spiritual reference point for a large part of the world. Your faith has the right to be respected by us.

The cartoons in the Christian paper Magazinet are not constructive in building the
bridges which are necessary between people with different religious and ethnic backgrounds. Instead they contribute to suspicion and unnecessary conflict.

Let it be clear that the Norwegian government condemns every expression or act which expresses contempt for people on the basis of their religion or ethnic origin. Norway has always supported the fight of the UN against religious intolerance and racism, and believes that this fight is important in order to avoid suspicion and conflict. Tolerance, mutual respect and dialogue are the basis values of Norwegian society and of our foreign policy.

Freedom of expression is one of the pillars of Norwegian society. This includes tolerance for opinions that not everyone shares. At the same time our laws and our international obligations enforce restrictions for incitement to hatred or hateful expressions.

This conflict seems clear: Muslims enraged about depicting Muhammad by Westerners and Westerners enraged by Muslims who disrespect freedom of speech. Nevertheless, several questions have to be asked.

1) The reason for this conflict seems clear: the twelve cartoons of the Jylland Posten. But it is not the first one; there are pictures of the prophet Muhammed that exists for ages. Such as the ones I include on every entry on this issue (made by – mostly Shia – Muslims) but also less friendly ones. Such as the next illustration taken from La vie de Mahomet, by M. Prideaux, published in 1699. It shows Muhammad holding a sword and a crescent while trampling on a globe, a cross, and the Ten Commandments.


So again, we know that this is a sensitive topic, why the conflict now and why in Denmark?

2) The conflict started in October 2005 (correct me if i’m wrong). It’s now January: three months later. Why does it escalate now? In this age of internet, mobile phones and so on, it shouldn’t be that difficult to attrackt attention in let’s say Saudi Arabia. Why do the Arab countries interfere now?

3) The conflict is represented as a conflict between Muslims and non-Muslims or Arabs and Europeans. But the picture is actually a little more diverse. Yesterday I showed comments of a Danish Muslims who disagreed with the major organizations and stated that they do not represent everyone. Also, as my good colleague Robbert told me today, the EU has protested against the cartoons:

Franco Frattini, the Deputy EU commissioner for Justice, Freedom, and Security, noting the publication as “foolishness and indiscretion” condemned the cartoons Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rassmussen backed up on the grounds of “freedom of speech and thought”.

Such publications, Frattini emphasized, will serve to radicalism by fomenting hostility against Islam and foreigners.

In response to the “freedom of press” that Mr. Rasmussen used as an excuse, the EU official said the media is not free to make a news story out of anything. Frattini assessing the issue in his personal perspective said if the publication were about his own values, it would hurt him personally as a Catholic Christian and he would have taken great offence.

To be honest, such codes of behavior will accelerate Islamophobia across Europe, said Frattini, emphasizing his respect for the freedom of speech.

Frattini emphasized the cartoons published in Jyllands Posten did not affect people’s ideas on Islam and noted despite everything he is against restricting the freedom of the press.

Also Bill Clinton protested against the cartoons.

“So now what are we going to do? … Replace the anti-Semitic prejudice with anti-Islamic prejudice?” he said at an economic conference in the Qatari capital of Doha.

“In Europe, most of the struggles we’ve had in the past 50 years have been to fight prejudices against Jews, to fight against anti-Semitism,” he said.

Clinton described as “appalling” the 12 cartoons published in a Danish newspaper in September depicting Prophet Mohammed and causing uproar in the Muslim world.

“None of us are totally free of stereotypes about people of different races, different ethnic groups, and different religions … there was this appalling example in northern Europe, in Denmark … these totally outrageous cartoons against Islam,” he said.

So on both sides the boundaries between us and them are blurred. In many newspapers (Dutch ones) there is no attention to that. Why not?

4) What kind of role does internet play? My colleague Robbert showed me an email today with several not very respectful pictures of the prophet. Some of them were from the Jylland Posten but several other ones (such as one with a pig) you can find here.
It also included two PowerPoint presentations with (I thought) a sort of bio of the prophet. And the following letter:

Danish Consulate
Dubai, UAE
Fax: 04 – 2235751

To Whom It May Concern:

It is with great displeasure that I write to you to express my shock and anger at the extreme disrespect and thoughtlessness your government has shown in reaction to the offensive cartoons published in the Danish daily, Jyllands-Posten.
The blasphemous cartoons picturing Prophet Mohammed were insulting to the 1.3 billion Muslims all over the world, whose feelings you have inconsiderately ignored. What was even more distasteful was your government’s support for the newspaper’s bigotry, calling it “freedom of speech.” Perhaps you could try denying the holocaust and calling that a “freedom of speech”?
The increasing anti-Muslim prejudice in your country is repulsive. It is worth mentioning that the consequences of your insensitivity and passiveness may have skipped your notice: Muslims around the world are campaigning to boycott Danish products. Flyers and pamphlets listing Danish products are being actively distributed everywhere.
As a UAE national, whose country hosts 189 different nationalities living together in harmony, respecting each others’ faiths and cultures, I wish to extend an invitation to your government to learn civilized manners from my country.
The least your government could do now is to apologize to Muslims all around the world, and take disciplinary actions against the newspaper that caused this tension. An appropriate response from your government is demanded.

The authors name is left out here-MdK

That whole message is send troughout the whole world via email conflating several incidents with the prophet Muhammad with the incident of the Jylland Posten. An interesting phenomenon.

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