Saturday 23 August 2014
‘James Foley was singled out for extra beating’
charge of holding foreign hostages in Raqqa, Syria, which comes under the control of Islamic State rebels, according to yet-to-be officially confirmed reports quoted in the press. The video of the execution entitled “A message to America” shows a man swathed in black whose British accent puts him as one amongst the hundreds of U.K. citizens who went to fight in Syria with the anti-government rebels, and eventually joined the forces of IS.
The man, who called himself John, is believed to be the main rebel negotiator on hostages for IS. He was described as “intelligent, educated and a devout believer in radical Islamic teachings”, by a former hostage to The Guardian. The group of three U.K.-born militants who were in charge of the hostages were apparently referred to as “the Beatles” because of their nationality, the former captive told The Guardian.
James Foley was taken hostage in 2012. The video of his beheading was publically issued by the IS-run media outlet called Al Furqan.
The U.K. Metropolitan Police have warned that viewing, downloading or disseminating the video could be a crime under the anti-terrorism laws.
Prime Minister David Cameron broke his holiday for the second time to hold briefings on the crisis. From Downing Street he said that it is “increasingly likely” that a British jihadist carried out the killing. “Let me condemn the barbaric and brutal act that has taken place and let's be clear what this act is — it is an act of murder, and murder without any justification,” Mr. Cameron said.
However, he ruled out any change in Britain’s policy towards the escalating crisis in the Middle East, ruling out the possibility of sending troops to the region.
British intelligence agencies are using voice recognition technology to identify the suspected British executioner. His accent suggests that he may be from London.
Meanwhile, two other former hostages of the IS have spoken to the media on the killer’s identity.
One of them, 53-year old Didier Francois, was released this April.
He told Europe 1 Radio that he was warned that if he told the media that he had been held with Mr. Foley and Steve Sotloff (another hostage) reprisals would follow.
Mr. Francois is reported as saying that Mr. Foley had been singled out for extra beating because his captors discovered photographs of his brother, who works for the U.S. Air Force.
This was confirmed by Nicolas Henin a reporter who was also taken hostage by IS forces. He told L’Express magazine that Mr. Foley became the “whipping boy of jailors” because of his brother and the fact that he was American.
Anti-Semitism In Sweden: Jewish Woman Beaten By Angry Group Of Muslims For Wearing Star Of David
Anna Sjogren, who was walking innocently through a predominantly-Muslim suburb of the city of Uppsala in central Sweden, was set upon by the group after they noticed she was wearing a star of David necklace.
Sjogren told the WZO Center: “A Muslim girl saw that I was wearing the Star of David on my neck and she started swearing at me and spat in my face. I got very upset and pushed her off.”
At which point, says Sjogren, a sharp object was thrown at her face and before she knew it she was surrounded by at least 10 angry Muslims. And what were they angry about? The fact that she was Jewish, even though Jews have been living in Sweden far longer than Muslims.
“There were at least ten witnesses to the attack. All ten of them were wearing hijabs or scarfs in the colors of the PLO. Some surrounding witnesses claim that I ‘tripped’ and fell and that no one hurt me. It’s just unbelievable,” the victim of the attack said.
When the vicious and unprovoked attack was ove, the victim suffered more as the group told her: “Shut up or we’ll kill you,” as the ambulance came to take her to the hospital.
Despite the attack Sjogren said she will not stop wearing her star of David necklace, which identifies her as a Jew:
“The Star of David is extremely meaningful and significant. I will never take it down no matter what happens. When other Facebook users show support I will stand up proudly for Israel, I will never let any one silence me. Am Yisrael Chai. We will never forget and never forgive.”The wave of anti-Semitism sweeping Scandinavia follows a similar theme to the same dangerous trend in other parts of Europe and America. That protagonists are hate-filled, violent Muslim groups which feel at liberty, even though they are in a minority themselves, to attack Jews in the streets.
Will the citizens of Sweden wake up soon enough to the threat that extreme Islam poses to them personally, as well as to their Jewish communities.?
Probably not!
Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1422149/anti-semitism-in-sweden-jewish-woman-beaten-by-angry-group-of-muslims-for-wearing-star-of-david/#84VLH0LE8w7A14fH.99
Wan Azizah still awaiting reply from sultan - Malaysiakini
EXCLUSIVE PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is still awaiting a reply from the sultan as to whether she would be granted an audience with the ruler.
Speaking to Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview today, Dr Wan Azizah said the palace has confirmed receipt of the request.
"At the moment, Datuk (Mohamad) Munir (Bani) says the request has been sent to him (the ruler) and we wait for the answer," she said, referring to Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's private secretary.
This is Wan Azizah's second request for an audience with the sultan on the ongoing menteri besar crisis.Her first request, made on her behalf by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, was rejected as the sultan said he had already heard about the matter from sitting Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
The sultan has cut short his trip overseas and is expected to return tomorrow.
It is understood that Khalid could have an audience with the ruler as early as Tuesday, fuelling speculations of a possible dissolution of the assembly and a snap poll.
PAS has revealed that its president Abdul Hadi Awang had an audience with the sultan more than three weeks ago, on July 31.
While the details of the meeting is not revealed, PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat said that it had led to PAS nominating both Wan Azizah and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali for the post.
Hadi's office later clarified that Azmin's name did not crop up during the audience, but Suhaizan had said that a second name was nominated in case of "eventualities between Wan Azizah and the palace".
Hadi's audience with sultan
Speaking at her sparsely-decorated office, Wan Azizah said that Pakatan Rakyat only found out about Hadi's audience "later", albeit before it hit headlines last week.
However, she believes that the PAS leader was not "hiding" it from the coalition.
Rather, she said, the audience happened during the Hari Raya break and was likely linked to the festivities.
“I
think he met the sultan on the third or fourth day of (the Islamic
month of) Syawal, so it was probably a (Hari) Raya meeting. Sometimes
when you meet for Raya, you don’t have to tell.”Asked if Hadi had briefed Pakatan on his audience with the sultan, she said that “maybe” Hadi told PKR de facto leader Anwar “as they (Pakatan leaders) deal with him, rather than with me”.
She also hinted that gender could be a factor in this, saying that when Hadi took over as president and Anwar got out of prison in 2004, she left it “to the men” to deal with the matter.
“He (Hadi), being a tok guru (revered scholar), I felt men will get it sorted out. But I suppose there are things that Ustaz Hadi figured... are to be and certain things are not to be,” she said, not going into specifics.
PAS’ revelation about Hadi’s audience with the sultan has given rise to speculation that the palace may not be keen on Wan Azizah.
Wan Azizah says that this is “touted by people” and “people can say what they want to say”.
“That is what the people have been talking about. They say Tuanku like this, Tuanku like that. I am waiting for an audience with him,” she said.
When speaking about being MB, the Kajang assemblyperson couches her sentences with word “if”.
Asked
what hurdles she may face to become MB, Wan Azizah said that the ruler
has his "preferences" for who will be the state's head of government.However, when asked to clarify, Wan Azizah said, it would be better to give Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah the “benefit of the doubt” and not to second guess his position on the on-going menteri besar crisis.
“Well in our state, we have a ruler of the state. Tuanku is there, and he is a very educated ruler of the state. He does have some preferences, I suppose.
“The constitution says the leader of the majority will lead the state. I think that will weigh heavily on the Tuanku to consider.”
Pakatan’s Plan B
So what is the ‘Plan B’, if indeed what PAS is implying - that the sultan is not keen on Wan Azizah for reasons yet unknown - becomes true?
“Oh, then we have to go back to the party,” Wan Azizah said.
Candidates can only come from PKR, with PAS declining the seat and DAP not qualified as it has no Selangor assemblyperson who is Muslim and Malay - a requirement for an MB under the Selangor state constitution.
But will it be Azmin, the Selangor PKR chief who has served the party and as aide to Anwar for decades? Or will he be surpassed yet again?
Despite being leader of the Selangor backbenchers’ club, Azmin has never figured in PKR plans as the next menteri besar, making it necessary for the Kajang seat to be vacated to allow Anwar passage to replace Khalid.
Anwar’s
sodomy conviction put a spanner in the works, and today, his wife’s
chances to succeed Khalid appear to be in the hands of the palace.Will Azmin finally be named if the palace takes a dim view of Wan Azizah?
“We go back to the Pakatan leadership to choose then,” she said.
Interview by Aidila Razak, Kow Gah Chie and Ahmad Fadli KC.
Singapore urged to end ‘barbaric’ punishment
Human Rights Watch makes a call against caning as appeal begins in Yong Vui Kong's case.
PETALING JAYA: Human Rights Watch (HRW) today urged the Singapore government to “immediately and unconditionally” abolish caning as a punishment for crimes.
The call came just hours before the Singapore Court of Appeal was to hear the case of Malaysian national Yong Vui Kong. Yong was found guilty of drug trafficking in 2008. His death sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment and caning. His lawyer is in court today to challenge the caning part of the sentence.
In a press statement released early today, HRW Deputy Director (Asia) Phil Robertson said he hoped the Court of Appeal would recognise the damage that continued use of caning would do to respect for human rights in Singapore.
Describing caning as a “barbaric, colonial era throwback that constitutes cruel and unusual punishment,” he said the court should rule to end the “heinous” practice.
“Every time a prisoner is caned in Singapore, whether it be for vandalism, illegal entry, or something else, it is a dark stain on Singapore’s justice and its reliance on this systematic use of torture to punish people,” he added.
The call came just hours before the Singapore Court of Appeal was to hear the case of Malaysian national Yong Vui Kong. Yong was found guilty of drug trafficking in 2008. His death sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment and caning. His lawyer is in court today to challenge the caning part of the sentence.
In a press statement released early today, HRW Deputy Director (Asia) Phil Robertson said he hoped the Court of Appeal would recognise the damage that continued use of caning would do to respect for human rights in Singapore.
Describing caning as a “barbaric, colonial era throwback that constitutes cruel and unusual punishment,” he said the court should rule to end the “heinous” practice.
“Every time a prisoner is caned in Singapore, whether it be for vandalism, illegal entry, or something else, it is a dark stain on Singapore’s justice and its reliance on this systematic use of torture to punish people,” he added.
Gender discrimination in sports heats up
MCA says Kelantan PAS thinks all males are immature and just want to ogle.
PETALING JAYA: The gender discrimination debate in Kelantan heated up with Kelantan State Youth and Sports Secretariat director Ahmad Fadhli Shaari saying the organiser’s have the right to ban males from women’s netball competitions.
MCA Religious Harmony Board Chairman Ti Lian Ker took it one step further by saying that if that was the case, Kelantan should also ban mixed doubles badminton and tennis matches.
Ti said Ahmad Fadhli knew nothing about long term sports development, in particular, the participation of women in sports.
“They should remove themselves from consideration to host regional and international competitions like Sukma, SEA Games, Asian Games or Commonwealth Games as it would be impossible to prevent the opposite sexes from seeing each other,” he said in a statement.
Questioning where the line would be drawn, Ti painted a grim picture where fathers and brothers would be prevented from cheering family members in sports, male doctors prevented from treating female patients, female teachers banned from teaching male students, and more.
“The PAS-led state government underestimates all males as immature, like as if they will ogle at the female anatomy when sportswomen are competing,” he said.
MCA Religious Harmony Board Chairman Ti Lian Ker took it one step further by saying that if that was the case, Kelantan should also ban mixed doubles badminton and tennis matches.
Ti said Ahmad Fadhli knew nothing about long term sports development, in particular, the participation of women in sports.
“They should remove themselves from consideration to host regional and international competitions like Sukma, SEA Games, Asian Games or Commonwealth Games as it would be impossible to prevent the opposite sexes from seeing each other,” he said in a statement.
Questioning where the line would be drawn, Ti painted a grim picture where fathers and brothers would be prevented from cheering family members in sports, male doctors prevented from treating female patients, female teachers banned from teaching male students, and more.
“The PAS-led state government underestimates all males as immature, like as if they will ogle at the female anatomy when sportswomen are competing,” he said.
Nurul: My mum is better than Khalid
With Nurul Izzah taking the lead, Wan Azizah is enjoying strong support from members of the PKR Wanita Congress.
SHAH ALAM: PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah said her mother, Wan Azizah, will be a better Menteri Besar (MB) than Khalid Ibrahim because of her caring nature to listen to problems.
“All leaders should show empathy, which is a vital quality,” she told a press conference after launching the PKR Wanita Congress in Stadium Melawati Shah Alam today.
Nurul Izzah said her mother would be able to solve the problems of Selangorians.
Nurul Izzah said she supported her mother after her father, Anwar Ibrahim, was thrown behind bars in 1999.
“The most difficult time for me was when my father was in jail. My mother carried out her duties well as party president and a mother to six children,” she said.
However, she added that the final decision on the MB fiasco was up to Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan).
Nurul Izzah said it was common to have differences in opinion in the coalition but collaboration among the leaders was important.
PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said Wan Azizah was the first woman opposition leader in the Dewan Rakyat and there should not be any doubt of her capability to lead.
Zuraida said with her vast experience of 16 years, Wan Azizah would be able to transform the party.
She believed all Pakatan leaders would abide by the party’s decision despite the PAS Syura Council’s decision to reject a female leader.
“I am confident Pakatan leaders will help her lead the state,” said Zuraida.
Another speaker, Kelantan Wanita representative Norhanazalmah Mat Yusuf hit out at certain contestants in the party elections who sought the support of top leaders to win.
“Such an act is a breach of the people’s trust. The contestants with the right connections won and this will destroy the party,” she said.
“All leaders should show empathy, which is a vital quality,” she told a press conference after launching the PKR Wanita Congress in Stadium Melawati Shah Alam today.
Nurul Izzah said her mother would be able to solve the problems of Selangorians.
Nurul Izzah said she supported her mother after her father, Anwar Ibrahim, was thrown behind bars in 1999.
“The most difficult time for me was when my father was in jail. My mother carried out her duties well as party president and a mother to six children,” she said.
However, she added that the final decision on the MB fiasco was up to Pakatan Rakyat (Pakatan).
Nurul Izzah said it was common to have differences in opinion in the coalition but collaboration among the leaders was important.
PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said Wan Azizah was the first woman opposition leader in the Dewan Rakyat and there should not be any doubt of her capability to lead.
Zuraida said with her vast experience of 16 years, Wan Azizah would be able to transform the party.
She believed all Pakatan leaders would abide by the party’s decision despite the PAS Syura Council’s decision to reject a female leader.
“I am confident Pakatan leaders will help her lead the state,” said Zuraida.
Another speaker, Kelantan Wanita representative Norhanazalmah Mat Yusuf hit out at certain contestants in the party elections who sought the support of top leaders to win.
“Such an act is a breach of the people’s trust. The contestants with the right connections won and this will destroy the party,” she said.
UN's Pillay slams Security Council 'failure'
In final address Navi Pillay says a more responsive UN Security Council could have saved hundreds of thousands of lives.
In her last address to the Security Council, the UN human rights chief sharply criticised the body for its ineffectiveness on Syria and other intractable conflicts, saying its members have often put national interests ahead of stopping mass atrocities.
"I firmly believe that greater responsiveness by this council would have saved hundreds of thousands of lives," said Navi Pillay, whose term as high commissioner for human rights ends on August 30.
Pillay said Syria's conflict "is metastasing outwards in an uncontrollable process whose eventual limits we cannot predict."
She also cited conflicts in Afghanistan, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza.
"These crises hammer home the full cost of the international community's failure to prevent conflict," Pillay said. "None of these crises erupted without warning."
Call for change
Pillay spoke at a meeting where the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution promising more aggressive efforts to prevent conflicts.
However, the resolution said little about the political differences that often paralyse the Security Council, where sharp divisions between veto-wielding members Russia and the United States have often thwarted action on Syria and Ukraine.
Pillay touched on the problem in her remarks.
"Short-term geopolitical considerations and national interest, narrowly defined, have repeatedly taken precedence over intolerable human suffering and grave breaches of - and long-term threats to - international peace and security," she said.
The human rights chief said the use of veto power on the Security Council "to stop action intended to prevent or defuse conflict is a short-term and ultimately counter-productive tactic."
Pillay proposed that the council adopt a menu of new responses, including "rapid, flexible and resource-efficient human rights monitoring missions."
She also suggested building on the Arms Trade Treaty by requiring that, in countries where there are human rights concerns, governments accept a small human rights monitoring team as a condition of purchasing weapons.
Source: AP
 |
| Pillay suggested a number of measures to make UN Security Council more effective [Reuters] |
"I firmly believe that greater responsiveness by this council would have saved hundreds of thousands of lives," said Navi Pillay, whose term as high commissioner for human rights ends on August 30.
Pillay said Syria's conflict "is metastasing outwards in an uncontrollable process whose eventual limits we cannot predict."
She also cited conflicts in Afghanistan, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza.
"These crises hammer home the full cost of the international community's failure to prevent conflict," Pillay said. "None of these crises erupted without warning."
Call for change
Pillay spoke at a meeting where the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution promising more aggressive efforts to prevent conflicts.
However, the resolution said little about the political differences that often paralyse the Security Council, where sharp divisions between veto-wielding members Russia and the United States have often thwarted action on Syria and Ukraine.
Pillay touched on the problem in her remarks.
"Short-term geopolitical considerations and national interest, narrowly defined, have repeatedly taken precedence over intolerable human suffering and grave breaches of - and long-term threats to - international peace and security," she said.
The human rights chief said the use of veto power on the Security Council "to stop action intended to prevent or defuse conflict is a short-term and ultimately counter-productive tactic."
Pillay proposed that the council adopt a menu of new responses, including "rapid, flexible and resource-efficient human rights monitoring missions."
She also suggested building on the Arms Trade Treaty by requiring that, in countries where there are human rights concerns, governments accept a small human rights monitoring team as a condition of purchasing weapons.
Source: AP
Wanita PKR kecewa Khalid lapor ROS
Silap-silap Khalid boleh tanya balik… kira engkau punya kecewa saya…aku punya kecewa macam mana?
Ketua Wanita PKR Zuraidah Kamaruddin berkata Khalid seharusnya menghormati keputusan parti yang mahukan beliau unuk berundur lebih awal sebelum konflik itu semakin memuncak.
Bagaimanapun beliau menyifatkan masalah dalaman membabitkan jawatan Menteri Besar Selangor itu sebagai satu proses mendewasakan pentadbiran parti dan tidak akan menjejaskan sokongan rakyat terhadap PKR dan Pakatan Rakyat.
“Secara peribadinya kami kecewa dengan tindakan Khalid. Kita telah berikan peluang melalui pentadbiran negeri dan pimpinan parti. Beliau kena faham apabila parti suruh berundur maka beliau perlu berbuat demikian. Kami sedih tapi kena teruskan dan hadapi situasi ini,” katanya di sidang media Kongres Wanita PKR di Stadium Malawati Shah Alam Jumaat.
Minggu lalu Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim mengemukakan laporan kepada RoS, mempersoalkan kesahihan tindakan PKR memecat beliau daripada parti itu.
Dalam laporannya Khalid mahukan RoS menyiasat sama ada Lembaga Disiplin dan Majlis Pimpinan Pusat PKR mencabuli perlembagaan parti apabila memecatnya.
Beberapa media melaporkan sekiranya RoS mendapati PKR melanggar perlembaaan, parti itu boleh dibatalkan pendaftarannya dan diisytiharkan haram.
Khalid dipecat oleh PKR namun Sultan Selangor mengekalkannya sebagai Menteri Besar setelah menerima perakuan bahawa beliau masih punya majoriti dalam Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).
Selepas mendapat mandat, Khalid memecat kesemua enam exco DAP dan PKR namun kekalkan empat exco PAS.
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