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Mexican electrical workers union faces destruction as police seize hundreds of installationsOn Saturday, October 10, thousands of Mexican Federal Police seized control of hundreds of installations of the state-owned Central Light and Power Company (Luz y Fuerza del Centro), which supplies electricity to Mexico City and several neighbouring states. Minutes later the government announced that the company was being liquidated and the 40,000 unionized workers dismissed. If allowed to stand, the government's decree could lead not only to the privatization of the country's electrical industry, but also to the destruction of the Mexican Electrical Workers' Union (SME) and elimination of its members' collective agreement and pension benefits for 15,000 retirees. The SME is one of Mexico's oldest independent trade union organizations with one of the best collective agreements in the country. It has been playing a leading role in the fight against privatization, proposed regressive reforms to the Federal Labour Law, and other neoliberal policies. Its destruction would therefore represent a major setback for Mexico's independent labour movement and for all Mexican workers. Please click here to send on your protest PAKISTAN: VIOLENCE TARGETS LIPTON TEA WORKERSPAKISTAN: VIOLENCE TARGETS LIPTON TEA WORKERS The ongoing struggle by Lipton Tea workers in Pakistan has turned ugly, as contractors collude with factory management to instigate violent attacks on the workers. The IUF is calling on Unilever (which owns Lipton) to stop the violence and negotiate with the workers. They need all of us to sign up to the latest online campaign: http://tinyurl.com/qyetop USA/UK: TRADE UNION CONGRESSES GO ALL WEB 2.0 Two of the world's largest and most important trade union movements are holding their national congresses this week -- the AFL-CIO is meeting in Pittsburgh and the Trades Union Congress meets in Liverpool. Both organizations are making exceptional use of the Internet, with dedicated websites featuring streaming video, integration of social networking tools Twitter, Flickr and Facebook, and more. The TUC takes things a step forward by allowing visitors to the congress website to actually post comments and get involved in the discussion. The sites can be found at http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/thisistheaflcio/convention/2009/ and http://www.congressvoices.org/ ISRAEL: SUCCESS FOR ARAB RAILWAY WORKERS, ANTIQUITIES WORKERS FIGHT CONTINUES Several months ago we told you about the struggle being waged by Israeli Arabs employed by the country's railways who were threatened with dismissal due to the fact that they had not served in the army. This week a long struggle by those workers and their supporters has resulted in a major win. According to a press release issued by Sawt el-Amel (The Laborer's Voice), "This morning, [the] Tel Aviv Labour Court ruled that until a final court decision, Israel Railways cannot lay off any Arab railway crossing guard as a consequence of its new employment policy." For the full statement, go here: http://www.laborers-voice.org/article_details.aspx?TopID=1074&catid=45 We have also been telling you about the struggle of low-paid workers employed by the Israel Antiquities Authorties (both Arabs and Jews) who have become the latest victims of the process of casualization that affects workers around the world. Their struggle has included legal battles, street demonstrations and a big LabourStart campaign, In the next few weeks we should see some legal decisions -- including results of the libel action brought by the employer against our partners in the Workers Advice Center (WAC). WAC has written up a detailed account which I encourage you to read: http://www.labourstart.org/israel/wac.pdf UNHCR Canada collecting aid for Pakistan's refugeesPlease click the link below and send some money to these suffering people through UN Canada. In the form, where it says, "Donation goes toward:", please select "Pakistan" from the drop-down list. Please be wary of Islamic charities asking for money. They are the problem, not the solution.
ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2009, Match 16, Group BTal da we Afghanistan! As of 07:56 EST Afghanistan need 263 runs in 279 balls Support the Iraqi Teachers Union facing the threat of a government takeoverPlease take a moment to visit LabourStart's online campaign in support of the Iraqi Teachers Union which is involved in a fight to defend its independence.
The campaign is located here:
If you haven't yet done so, please sign up to UnionBook (http://www.unionbook.org) and there you can join the group we've set up for supporters of the Iraqi teachers in their struggle, here:
Brutal Murder of Ahmadi Muslim Husband and Wife In PakistanWASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire- USNewswire/ -- It is with great pain that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community confirms that two of its members were brutally murdered in Multan yesterday. The deceased, Dr Shiraz Ahmad Bajwa and Dr Noreen Bajwa were husband and wife and were both trained as doctors. Both martyrs were under the age of forty. Yesterday at around 2.30pm local time, unknown assailants attacked Dr Shiraz and Dr Noreen at their home in Wapda Colony, Multan Road. The assailants first taped together the hands, feet and mouths of both victims. They then tied rope around their necks and strangled them to death. Following death Dr Shiraz was hung from a nearby fan.
The brutality of these murders was further exacerbated by the fact that Dr Shiraz and Dr Noreen were expecting their first child. Dr Shiraz was an eye-specialist who had served at various hospitals including the Fazl-e-Umer Hospital in Rabwah. At the time of his death he was working at a hospital in Wapda. Similarly Dr Noreen was working at a local children's hospital. What occurred in Multan yesterday was an act of such cruelty that it can never be comprehended by decent and peace loving people. Dr Shiraz and Dr Noreen had been married for just three years and were expecting their first child together. They had both chosen career paths which allowed them to serve their fellow men, women and children. Pakistan is a country that is currently facing absolute ruin. Amongst this chaos the hateful acts of religious extremists are ever increasing, to the extent that loving, caring and innocent people are being murdered because they belong to a community whose motto is "Love for All, Hatred for None." The International Community, Media and Human Rights organizations are all urged to take action to protect the lives and rights of Ahmadi Muslims both in Pakistan and in other countries where they face discrimination. In an era where freedom of religion and belief is accepted as a basic human right throughout the world it is of disbelief that Ahmadi Muslims are being murdered for no other reason than their choice of religion.
Further info: Zinda M Bajwa, Secretary Public Affairs USA zmbajwa@yahoo. com (646) 498-8960 SOURCE Ahmadiyya Muslim Community US Contact: Zinda M Bajwa, Secretary Public Affairs USA, +1-646-498-8960 From: Din Shahed [mailto:...]
Sent: March 23, 2009 9:12 PM To: Dave Mann Subject: Persecutionin Pakistan Dear Dave Mann Peace be with you. Yes, you are given permission to publish the story along with this attached Friday Sermon.
Yours
Din Muhammad Shahed
Persecution in Pakistan Summary of Friday Sermon
Delivered by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad at, the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
March 20 th, 2009
In his Friday Sermon today Huzur said it was a hundred and twenty years ago, on 23rd March 1889, that the magnificent prophecy of the Holy Qur’an which the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) foretold was fulfilled. It was after a thousand years of spiritual darkness during which the religion of Islam remained but in name for the majority of its adherents that the ‘luminary’ arose who was to seek light from the luminous sun that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was.
With the beauty and the light of the Shariah brought by his master, the followers and those who learned from the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) are ever engaged in spreading the message to the world.
The first era of the community began on 23rd March 1889. Allah revealed to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that once he had resolved to undertake the service he should put his trust in God Who would steer the ‘vessel’ Himself.
According to the commandment of God, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) took his bai’at (pledge of allegiance) on 23rd March 1889 and hundreds embarked his ‘vessel’. The community grew in hundreds of thousands during his lifetime. His followers honoured the bai’at and traversed spiritual stages. Meanwhile there was considerable opposition and many were martyred for the crime of entering into bai’at. Notable among the early martyrs was Sahibzada Syed Abdul Lateef shaheed whose death was ordered by the King of Afghanistan after the maulwis issued a fatwah. He was martyred in a merciless way reminiscent of the persecution the early Muslims endured. Despite all opposition the movement grew from strength to strength until on 26th May 1908 the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) passed away. Then, just as he had assured his community about a ‘second manifestation’ that was to follow him, the second era of the community began. Some unfortunate people were embroiled in egotistical matters and were admonished by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him). However these ill-fated people, despite possessing intellect and wisdom, rejected the second Khilafat e Ahmadiyya. They did not realise that only those will be saved who will stay on the ‘vessel’ and adhere to the ‘second manifestation’ and that the significance of the term ‘second manifestation’ was not an executive body but was Khilafat.
Huzur said we are fortunate that today we are on board this vessel and are thus saved from drowning and Allah’s hand is on us. Since 1908 the opponents have tried all sorts of different and varied ploys to obliterate us but Allah has always saved us from the bad consequences of these trials and tribulations. As we continue to grow all over the world, the envy of the opponents is also mounting and wherever in the world the mullah can yield some power, he does not desist from committing cruelty in the name of God, against the Ahmadis. However, each such act of the mullah only increases Ahmadis in their faith.
Expounding the matter through the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Huzur said the Qur’an makes it clear that it is essential for the completion of faith that one faces trials – it is stated in verse 3 of Surah Al Ankabut ‘Do men think that they will be left alone because they say, ‘We believe,’ and that they will not be tested?’ (29:3). None who joins this community remains free from trials. Some have to endure separation from parents. When severe trails are faced and one stays steadfast and patient for the sake of God, the spiritual rewards are immense. It is not possible to develop in spirituality without trials and tribulations. Huzur said this is the counsel of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) which the Ahmadis adhere to and they realize that they stimulate and nourish their faith during opposition.
Huzur said last Friday he mentioned the opposition faced by the community in Bulgaria. On the behest of the Mufti of the country the police are harassing the local Ahmadis. When Huzur sent his Salaam to the Bulgarian Ahmadis the local murabbi sahib contacted them individually. In response the Bulgarian Ahmadis said they remained firm of faith – some became emotional and said that Huzur should not worry, they will endure all hardship. Huzur said those who ask what revolution did the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) bring should say if this is not a revolution, then what is? These Bulgarian Ahmadis – who have lived their lives in Europe and under Communism - have truly understood the teachings and are granted the insight that in order to have Divine nearness they have to go through trials. This only comes about with the grace of God and this grace is through joining the community of the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
In India, those who have newly come into the fold of Ahmadiyyat are also being persecuted. This is again done on the behest of the mullah and the government is not taking any concrete measure against it because this is an election year and they are interested in the votes of the mainstream Muslims. Those who persecute and those who turn a blind eye to them should remember that although we do not have any worldly power, but Allah is our Lord and when His help comes everything is blown away like dust. Huzur urged the Indian Ahmadis to engage in sincere prayers.
In Pakistan the opposition is at its height. It is astonishing that each time the mullah has driven a government towards persecution of Ahmadis in the Indian sub-continent in particular the community has moved towards greater progress. This proves that this community has been formed by God and is a sign among His many signs. Addressing these people Huzur said they should come to their senses and desist from contending with God and should becomes helpers of the one who God has sent. However, Huzur said their eyes are shut, they are in fact perpetrating the injustice in the name of God. They are forgetting that when cruelty exceeds all limits the believers raise the call ‘when will come the help of Allah?’ – to which the response is ‘Yea, surely the help of Allah is nigh.’ (2:215).
After the partition of India the majority of the mullah came to Pakistan and have always created some form of mischief or the other in the country. Currently, a furore is being raised and the persecution of the Ahmadis aside, the country is suffering huge notoriety. The Ahmadis in Pakistan are given the option to either abandon their faith or leave the country otherwise risk losing their lives. The worst aspect of it all is that this is being done in the name of Islam and to establish the status of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as the Khatamun Nabiyeen (Seal of all the prophets). These killings are being carried out as an expression of a sense of honour for Islam in the country that was specifically created in the name of Islam.
The truth is that it is the Ahmadis who are demonstrating a sense of honour for religion while the others are not even achieving a fraction of it. The oil-rich Muslim countries are helping the mullah but the mullah is either using that for his personal gain or channelling it towards terrorism while there is no effort to spread the message of Islam. Let it be very clear to the mullah who today exerts the greatest claim on Pakistan that Ahmadis made great endeavours in the creation of Pakistan and this is acknowledged by all decent people, regardless of religious persuasion. While these endeavours for the creation of Pakistan were being made the mullah was even against the very concept of Pakistan. Putting the matter in context Huzur said 23rd March is also commemorated as Pakistan Day. Huzur quoted from the writing of renowned academics and journalists of the time (Muhammad Ali Johar, Maulana Abdul Majeed Salik) who acknowledged the esteemed contribution of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) to the world of Islam. Huzur said everyone is aware of the participation of Qaid e Azam [Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the state of Pakistan] in the creation of Pakistan. However, there had come a time when he too was disheartened by the circumstances and went to England with the thought that he could no longer help. The Muslims were badly shaken by this. Hadhrat Khalifatul Maish II (may Allah be pleased with him) made great effort in the matter and through our resident Imam in London at the time, Maulana Abdul Raheem Dard sahib he pressurised Qaid e Azam and convinced him to return to India. Indeed Qaid e Azam himself acknowledged that it was the persuasion of Maulana Dard that left him with no option but to return to India and resume his efforts for the creation of Pakistan. Justice Munir, who presided over the judicial commission regarding the troubles of 1953 in Pakistan also spoke up against the ill-founded allegations against the community.
History bears witness to the endeavours of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) and other Ahmadis in the creation of the state of Pakistan (land of the pure) that was created for Muslims and thus called while the ilk of the mullah labelled it ‘land of the impure’ at the time. Khilafat e Ahmadiyya has been at the forefront of efforts made for people of Kashmir and Palestine etc. On the other hand, if one is to look at the statements of our opponents they speak for themselves. Ata ullah Shah Bukhari, a leader of the Ahrar Movement, said that the state of Pakistan was like a prostitute that the Ahrars had accepted. He also likened those who associated with the Muslim League to swine. Maulana Maudoodi opined that in the state of Pakistan there would be ‘Kafirana (impious/based on unbelief) government of the Muslims’. Huzur said now they are trying for the very Kafirana government. Whoever comes in power [in Pakistan] makes alliances with the mullah and foremost on the agenda of the mullah is to oppose Ahmadis. Huzur said during the troubles of 1953 there were some fair-minded people around but in 1974, the government of the time joined the mullah and in the name of Islam committed grace injustice and barbarity. Equitable future historians will chronicle that period as a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan. In 1984, a despot made a further amendment in the legislative alternation of 1974 and claimed that he would obliterate Ahmadiyyat. While Ahmadiyyat is going from strength to strength those who committed grave injustices against us are either eliminated or are being grinded down. The Ahmadiyya community, gathered on the hand of Khilafat and demonstrated -and indeed is demonstrating - steadfastness which is a proof that it is fulfilling the pledge of the bai’at of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).
The provincial and the central governments of Pakistan should remember that if the permanence of Pakistan is dear to them – for which the Ahmadis sincerely pray – then they should establish the principles on which Qaid e Azam wanted to establish the country. Indeed the Qaid e Azam said that if Pakistan was to flourish then the prosperity of all the people, rich and poor was significant. He aspired to break the chain of prejudices and the differences of those in the majority and the minorities and have no disparity between different sects. He spoke of independence that enabled people to go freely to their temples, their mosques and their places of worship. He said he believed that this should be kept in view as the ideal. However, Huzur said, the legislative body of 1974 worked completely contrary to this. Huzur said it is not the task of a legislative body to determine and decide on the religion of people. The day the government of Pakistan comprehends the principle and starts working on it will be the day of establishing progress of Pakistan. When the sectarian divisions will break then alone will the Pakistanis be able to see the real Pakistan. Huzur said neither Islam nor the great personality who gave the Muslims a separate country gave the permission to pass verdicts on the religious faith of others. Each Pakistani should have the basic rights of citizenship, the law should be the same for all. Peace will only be achieved when equal rights are given to all. Since the legislation of 1974 and the ‘amendment’ of 1984 the country has been in decline. Ahmadis are going to but pray for the country despite the persecution. However, those who persecute Ahmadis should be mindful that Allah’s decree shall certainly get even. As it is cited in verse 94 of Surah Al Nisa, ‘And whoso kills a believer intentionally, his reward shall be Hell wherein he shall abide. And Allah will be wroth with him and will curse him and will prepare for him a great punishment.’ (4:94). Huzur said a Hadith cites that the most excellent part of faith is ‘La ilaha illala’ (there is none worthy of worship except Allah). The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was furious when a Companion killed a disbeliever during war despite the person professing to accept Islam. The Companion thought the man was so professing only to save his life. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) however was indignant and asked whether the Companion had torn the man’s heart open to see what was in it. Huzur said despite these blessed models the Muslims today continue to take the lives of Ahmadis. Last week they martyred a young couple, both doctors, only because they believed in the Imam of the age. Dr. Shiraz Bajwa was 37 years old and Dr. Noreen Bajwa was 28 years of age which makes her the youngest female Ahmadi martyr. Both were well-liked and popular. On 14 March 2009 their bodies were discovered by their housekeeper at their home. The body of Dr Shiraz Bajwa was found lying in the bedroom, hands tied behind his back, mouth gagged, eyes blindfolded and with visible marks of strangulation. The body of Dr Noreen Bajwa was found in the living room. Huzur said they lived in a gated residential area with security arrangements, so it seems as if it was an ‘inside job’.
Huzur said the Ahmadi are being martyred for a reason – however, due to the rejection of the truth that the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) has come the disorder and multitude killings in the country is nature’s vengeance. As a result, although they do not recognize us as Muslims, other Muslims are killing Muslims, what would then be Allah’s treatment with them in light of the aforementioned verse (4:94). There is much conflict in the country and the government has conceded in the Swat Valley (a region of Pakistan) and has let the mullah implement Shariah system there. The mullah has now decreed that no judicial judge should try and intervene. Huzur said this is not a matter that can be halted; it can engulf the whole country ensuing in loss of peace and terrorism. The British Foreign Secretary has recently said that Pakistan should unite against the internal ‘mortal threat’ of extremism. As the mullah once labeled it the ‘land of impure’ – Allah have mercy – if it stays in their hands then will they let the name of Pakistan be? The Ahmadiyya Khulafa have been cautioning them against the mullah. They aspire to democratic ways yet they do not identify the dangerous alliance of the mullah.
We can but pray for the country, that may Allah save it. If the mullah thinks they can achieve something by the martyrdoms of Ahmadis, it is a vain and crude notion. The ‘vessel’ that was made by God will be protected by Him alone. As for the martyrdoms, yes, there will be trails and those who are sacrificing their lives are attaining the love of God. Pakistani Ahmadis should pray for the country which stands on the edge of fire, the prayer of Ahmadis can alone save the country. The Ahmadis had a great share in the creation of Pakistan and it will be the prayer of Ahmadis alone that will be useful in saving it.
Huzur said he would lead the funeral Prayer in absentia of the two martyrs as well as a Dr. Aslam Jehangiri and a Syeda Nasira Begum sahiba. Huzur prayed may Allah elevate the status of all the deceased.
For further information,regarding Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, and to know the answer to questions and allegations and to know the progress and preaching of Islam throughout the world,And to hear live friday sermons by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad,Khalifa-tul-Masih-ul-Khamis [may Alah help him]
please visit: WWW.ALISLAM.ORG The Children of AsadabadWe had arrived in Afghanistan only a few months before and it hadn’t occurred to us that schoolchildren would be among the Taliban’s targets. But we soon learned that the Taliban routinely burned school buildings, assassinated teachers, and even singled out the children themselves for maiming, dismemberment and attack. As the Taliban see it, boys should not be educated beyond rote learning of narrow theology, and girls must not be educated at all. The Asadabad attack — although one of the most severe to date — was hardly unique.
Jack Layton: What Canada should really be doing in AfghanistanHe's not exactly where I'd want him to be but this thoughtful constructive statement is encouraging. El Salvador Elections March 15Reports and analysis about the January and March elections http://cispes.org/09electionsblog/ Afghan CTV journalist, 23-year-old Javed Ahmad Azimi, AssassinatedJournalist associations, Afghan government and the Human Rights Watch Wednesday strongly condemned the assassination of a local journalist by unknown gunmen in Kandahar Tuesday evening. The 23-year-old Javed Ahmad Azimi, a local journalist working with the Canadian television network CTV and once held by the US military was gunned down by the unidentified motorcyclists late Tuesday evening. Abdul Hamid Mubariz, head of National Journalists Association condemned killing of the local journalist and said his killing was a big loss in the sector of journalism. He urged the Afghan government to investigate into the incident and net the perpetrators. "Such cowardly attacks would never refrain the mediamen from performing their sacred duties," he went on. Abdul Samad Rohani, another journalist working for the Pajhwok Afghan News and BBC was found dead in the southern province of Helmand with a gunshot wound to the head a year ago; however, perpetrators of Rohani assassination are still unknown and no one had so far claimed responsibility. A example of defeatist nonsense via Registan.netMost journalism coming from Afghanistan is defeatist nonsense. Getting the real facts can be expensive and journalist are lazy as demonstrated by Registan.net:
What is the Pink Chaddi Campaign?MUMBAI (Reuters) – Thousands of Indians, many fuming over a recent assault on women in a pub, are vowing to fill bars on Valentine's Day and send cartons of pink panties to a radical Hindu group that has branded outgoing females immoral.MUMBAI (Reuters) – Thousands of Indians, many fuming over a recent assault on women in a pub, are vowing to fill bars on Valentine's Day and send cartons of pink panties to a radical Hindu group that has branded outgoing females immoral A "consortium of pub-going, loose and forward women," founded by four Indian women on social networking website Facebook has, in a matter of days, attracted more than 25,000 members with over 2,000 posts about the self-appointed moral police. --------------------- The Pink Chaddi Campaign kicked off on 5 February 2009 to oppose the Sri Ram Sena. The campaign is growing exponentially (31,888 members at this point in the life of our Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women) and that is not surprising. Most women in this country have enough curbs on their lives without a whole new franchise cashing in with their bully-boy tactics. Of course, a lot of men have joined the group as well. Here is we want to do with the Pink Chaddi Campaign. Join in. Be imaginative, have fun and fight back! Step 1: It does not matter that many of us have not thought about Valentine's Day since we were 13. If ever. This year let us send the Sri Ram Sena some love. Let us send them some PINK CHADDIS. Look in your closet or buy them cheap. Dirt-cheap. Make sure they are PINK. Send them off to the Sena. The address to send the package is: From: The Pink Chaddi Campaign, To: Pramod Muthalik, Sri Rama Sene Office No. 11, Behind New Bus Stand, Gokhul road, Lakshmi park, Hubli Karnataka PIN 580030 If you don't want to mail it yourself, you can drop it off at the Chaddi Collection Points. We will be collecting across the country through this week and sending the packages on February 12. More information about Chaddi Collectors in your city soon on our blog: http://thepinkchaddicampaign.blogspot.com/ Step 2: Send the Pink Chaddi Campaign a photograph of the package. Tell us how many chaddis you are sending out and inspire other women in other cities. You can either mail the information to freelancehabba (at) gmail (dot) com or you can mail it at our facebook address. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49641698651&ref=mf Step 3: On Valentine's Day we do a Pub Bharo action. Go to a pub wherever you are. From Kabul to Chennai to Guwahati to Singapore to LA women have signed up. It does not matter if you are actually not a pub-goer or not even much of a drinker. Let us raise a toast (it can be juice) to Indian women. Take a photo or video. We will put it together (more on how later) and send this as well to the Sri Ram Sena. What happens after Valentine's Day? After Valentine's Day we should get some of our elected leaders to agree that beating up women is ummm... AGAINST INDIAN CULTURE. For right now, ask not what Dr VS Acharya, Home Minister of Karnataka can do for you. Ask what you can do for him. Here is his blog. Send him some love. Nisha Susan For the Pink Chaddi Campaign On bans, boycotts and NDP activistsIn an effort to be relevant, many Canadians have reacted to the scenes of carnage televised from Israel and Gaza by marching and proposing boycotts. This is not new but for myself and other NDP supporters who also support the efforts of Canada's NGOs and our Armed Forces in Afghanistan it has intensified our alienation from the more visible elements in our Party. Bans and boycotts, which seem popular in academia, do not promote the interests of Gazans or Palestinians. They do however serve the domestic agenda of swamp dwelling, Hamas cheerleaders and the egos of fascist-allied activists from the decrepit-left. The killing of civilians in Israel, Palestine and Gaza are happening because (the Israeli centre-right party) Kadima and (the Fascists-who-pervert-Islam) Hamas both need the same thing - to remain in power. How convenient for the decrepit-left that photos of dead Gazan children are easily available to bolster their self-image as revolutionaries. Do the same standards of conduct apply to the Taliban, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and Hamas? Why are the weak morally superior or at least less responsible? Since the Canadian Armed Forces are in Kandahar should they not be employed in rendering the Taliban incapable of inflicting more misery on the people of Afghanistan or are human rights violations committed by illiterate religious fanatics to be judged less severly than human rights violations committed by democratically elected governments? My answer is that if Hamas and the Taliban respected human rights, engaged in democratic politics rather than terrorism, then none of this would be happening. While criticism of Canada and our allies in Afghanistan and the IDF's specific actions are often constructive, there should be no doubt that the loyalty and sympathy of Canada's New Democrats is with those forces that promote democracy - not democracy's enemies. A few activists, Sid Ryan for example, encourage the thought that my Party (the NDP) is unable to hold Hamas and the Taliban to the same standards as Israel. From the Party of the committed anti-Fascist and anti-Stalinist David Lewis this is profoundly disheartening. Dave Mann I promise Ezra, next time the condom wont break.I promise Ezra, next time the condom wont break.
Some weak minded gumby marxists say that under capitalism we are all prostitutes; Ezra Levant has outed himself as one of them. At least he's no longer in the closet.
Airhead Miss Pakistan "condones" terrorism.Good thing John Stewart is on holiday. Airhead Miss Pakistan "condones" terrorism, as an ambassador "to" Pakistan.
Miss Pakistan World speaks out Tooryalai Wesa, Governor of KandaharThe Governor of Kandahar is a Canadian and UBC professor:
Tooryalai Wesa
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TOORYALAI-WESA/107442540270 Australia in Afghanistan "for the long haul"KEVIN RUDD, the Australian Prime Minister and Leader of Australia's Labor Party, congratulated Barack Obama in a short telephone conversation yesterday... Mr Rudd said he had told Mr Obama that Australia would be in Afghanistan "for the long haul". The Obama administration is expected to place a high priority on the war against Islamist insurgents in Afghanistan. Mr Obama has characterised the conflict in Afghanistan as "the war we need to win"
Sydney Morning Herald
Rudd joins the queue for a brief, friendly chat Mark Davis Political Correspondent November 8, 2008 Solidarity with the Ahwazi Arabs of IranLeading Ahwazi Arab writer and journalist Yousef Azizi Bani Torouf is facing imminent imprisonment. He was recently sentenced to five years imprisonment for "threatening national security" in relation to his criticism of the Iranian regime's brutal treatment of Ahwazi Arab protestors in April 2005. He is currently free and waiting the results of his appeal, which is likely to fail any day now. Yousef Azizi's case is just the latest in a number of ethnic minority journalists facing imprisonment and even the death penalty for speaking out against the persecution of non-Persian ethnic groups. None of these journalists have ever called for regime change or advocated armed resistance. According to the worldwide media freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders, "President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is systematically exploiting the judicial system to crack down on journalists from the minority communities, for whom they often act as spokesperson." OTHER MINORITY JOURNALISTS Azerbaijan: Azeri journalist Said Matinpour of the leading Azeri weekly newspaper Yarpagh was recently given an eight year suspended sentence for "having dealings with foreigners" and for "publicity against the government". Kurdistan: Several Kurdish journalists are currently detained, including Kaveh Javanmard, Adnan Hassanpour and Ejlal Qavami. Kurdish journalist Mohammad Sadegh Kabovand was also sentenced to 11 years in the notorious Evin prison for ‘threatening national security’ after he set up the Kurdish Human Rights Organization (RMMK). He was also the editor of Payam-e Mardom-e Kurdestan (Kurdistan People's Message), a weekly newspaper published in Kurdish and Persian which was banned on 27 June 2004 after only 13 issues for 'disseminating separatist ideas and publishing false reports'. He was originally given an 18 month suspended sentence, but this sentence has progressively lengthened as more charges are brought against him in order to ensure his silence. Balochistan: Earlier this month Yaghub Mehrnahad, a 28 year old Balochi journalist and cultural activist, was finally executed following months of torture. He had criticised the regime’s treatment of the Balochi ethnic group and formed the Javanan Sedayeh Edalat (Youth Voice of Justice) non-governmental organisation, which was recognised and registered by the Iranian government. The group organised events such as music concerts and educational courses for young Balochis and also tackled issues such as the spread of AIDS and other diseases and supporting healthcare for Balochi women and children. There was no official announcement of the death sentence nor the charges brought against him, with his trial held in secret and without legal representation. The local media claimed he had links with the Balochi armed group Jundullah (Army of God) after he criticised the treatment of Balochis during a conference. TAKE ACTION! Please write to your parliamentary or congressional representative and urge them to call for the following: - The Iranian government should drop its case against Azizi - It should abide by the Iranian Constitution, which enshrines cultural and linguistic rights for non-Persian groups - It should free all journalists from prison, most of whom are from non-Persian groups - The persecution of non-Persian groups, not campaigning journalists like Yousef Azizi, is the root cause of unrest and should end. YOUR REPRESENTATIVE - Member of the British Parliament: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/commons/l/ Member of the US Congress: http://whoismyrepresentative.com/ Member of the European Parliament: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public.do?language=en FURTHER INFORMATION - Urgent Action from the Ahwaz Human Rights Organisation: http://ahwazhumanrights.org/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1862&Itemid=54&lang=EN Reporters Without Frontiers report: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=28327 Iran Human Rights Voice: http://www.ihrv.org/inf/?p=661 IPS report on the treatment of minority journalists: http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41247 IFEX appeal: http://www.ifex.org/fr/content/view/full/84936 Iranian Workers' Solidarity Network appeal: http://www.iwsn.org/campaigns/mehrnahad-04aug08.htm |
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