By Ann Jones | (Tomdispatch.com) Americans who live abroad — more than six million of us worldwide (not counting those who work for the U.S. government) — often face hard questions about our country from people we live among. Europeans, Asians, and Africans ask us to explain everything that baffles them about the increasingly odd […]
Archives for January 2015
Muslim Hero Lassana Bathily Saved Jewish Hostages in Paris
WotchitGeneralNews | — “At a kosher supermarket in Paris, a quick-thinking Muslim employee hides several Jewish shoppers in the basement before sneaking out to brief police on the hostage-taker upstairs. In the town of Dammartin-en-Goele, a poker-faced businessman fools a pair of gunmen into believing they’re alone in the building before being allowed to leave […]
After Paris attacks, could David Duke style Racist Parties Sweep to Power in Europe?
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — Anti-immigrant sentiment and Islamophobia was already raging through Europe before the Kouashi al-Qaeda Cell targeted the staff of the magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish deli in Paris. Although President Francois Hollande insisted that the attacks had nothing to do with the religion of Islam (and rightly so), […]
Despite rising racism, European Muslims embrace democratic values
EurActiv | — “For Muslims, Germany has become a home. But they see themselves being confronted by a negative image, defined by a minority of radical Islamists.” [kellinahandbasket/Flickr] A large portion of Muslims in Germany share the country’s democratic values, a Bertelsmann study shows, but unfortunately this fact is not recognised by a majority of […]
Indian State size of Texas *requires* Solar Panels on Bldgs. by 2015
Times of India | — “The Haryana government has decided to usher in the New Year with one of the biggest pushes for solar power in the country. The state [pop. 25 mn.] has made it mandatory for all buildings on plot size of 500 square yards or more to install rooftop solar power systems […]
Brother of Slain Muslim Policeman: Assassins “Pretend Muslims,” Terrorists
BBC | — “The brother of the Paris policeman [Ahmed Merabet] killed by the Charlie Hebdo shooter urged people not to avenge his death with further violence and reiterated that Islam was not about “terrorism or madness”. He added: “My brother was Muslim and he was killed by people who pretend to be Muslims. They […]
Saudis torture jailed Liberal Blogger w/ 1000 lashes for… Blogging
Human Rights Watch | (Beirut) — More Lashes Pending for Creating Liberal Website, Insulting Religious Authorities King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia should overturn the lashing and prison term for a blogger imprisoned for his views and immediately grant him a pardon. Saudi authorities lashed Raif Badawi 50 times on January 9, 2015, in front of […]
From Yemen to Paris: The al-Qaeda Franchise from the 15th to the 60th Parallel N.
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — Analysts have been understandably cautious about the nature of the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo staff and a Jewish deli in Paris. On the one hand, they appear to be the work of a small cell. On the other, members of the cell have long and clear links […]
French Far Right Poised to Exploit Paris Attacks for Political Gain
By Thomas Scotto | (The Conversation) On the streets of France there is a strong public response to the murders of 12 people at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. But we do not yet know the medium to long-term consequences the attack will have on the nation’s public mood. We conducted a representative […]
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