Liwat II: Ratusan mula banjiri mahkamah

Teen Who Idolized Rigby Killers Accused of Beheading Plot

(Bloomberg) -- A London teenager inspired by the brutal murder of a British soldier in 2013 was arrested on his way to commit a copycat attack carrying a knife, hammer and Islamic flag, prosecutors said on the first day of his trial.

Brustholm Ziamani, 19, who referred to one of the Lee Rigby killers as a “legend,” converted to Islam from Christianity last year and used social media to encourage others to “wage war against” the U.K. government as part of the “Islamic States of Ireland and Britain,” Annabel Darlow, the prosecution lawyer, said opening the trial in London Monday.

“His hatred of non-believers and interest in violent jihad began to crystallize into a plan to attack a member of the British military forces,” Darlow said.

The threat of a successful domestic attack is at the forefront of the U.K.’s counter-terrorism strategy. Cities from Ottawa to Sydney have fallen victim to attacks from radicalized Muslims in the past 12 months.

Rigby, 25, was attacked in May 2013 outside a military barracks in the Woolwich neighborhood of southeast London. Televised images of the bloodshed were transmitted around the world as police quickly called it an act of terror on British soil.

“You want war you got it British soldiers heads will be removed and burned u cannot defeat we love to die the way you love to live,” Ziamani wrote in a letter which police seized, Darlow said.
Islamic State

Ziamani pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing to preparing an act of terrorism on or before Aug. 20.

U.K. police arrested record numbers of suspected terrorists in 2014 as the overall threat level was raised to severe by the government. A U.K. jihadist who traveled to Syria to join up with a group affiliated to the Islamic State was sentenced last week to 12 years in prison.

London police arrested Ziamani for a second time in August as he was walking down a street in the east of the city, Darlow said.

In prison he told a security officer that he “had been on his way to kill a British soldier,” and that he was going to “behead the soldier and hold his head up in the air so that his friend could take a photograph,” Darlow said.

Prior to his arrest, law-enforcement tried to include Ziamani in a government program known as Prevent to change the minds of people who have become radicalized.

The efforts failed and Ziamani continued to make inflammatory comments on social media encouraging others to carry out domestic attacks, Darlow said.

“This was no fantasist, but a man who had armed himself with two potentially lethal weapons and prepared himself to carry out his intention of committing an act of terrorism,” Darlow said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jeremy Hodges in London at jhodges17@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anthony Aarons at aaarons@bloomberg.net Peter Chapman, Eddie Buckle

Sharia UK: Police sought names of people who bought Charlie Hebdo

They apologized, but only because they were caught. Their explanation doesn’t make any sense: “Following the terrorism incident in Paris, France on 7 January 2015, Wiltshire police undertook an assessment of community tensions across the county. As part of this work, local sector policing teams were asked to be mindful of business premises, in particular newsagents who may be distributing the Charlie Hebdo magazine and to consider that these shops may be vulnerable.” How does getting the names of those who bought Charlie Hebdo make newsagents less vulnerable? Were British authorities intending to provide protection to the individuals who bought the magazine? That would be the only way the request for their names could make sense in terms of protecting the public, but they don’t say anything about any such plan. Also, if this were all about protecting the public, why did they apologize at all?

That leaves only one other possible explanation: the police sought the names of those who bought Charlie Hebdo intending to target them in some way — place them on a list of potential “Islamophobes,” or put them under surveillance, or do something, whatever it may have been, to harass them for exercising their freedom of speech in a way that offended Muslims.
Sharia Britannia Update: “UK police force apologises for taking details of Charlie Hebdo readers,” by Josh Halliday, the Guardian, February 9, 2015 (thanks to Jules):

A British police force has apologised after an officer told a newsagent to hand over details of customers who purchased copies of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in the wake of the Paris terror attacks.

"Wiltshire police confirmed that one of their officers visited a newsagent in Corsham, Wiltshire, to ask for the names of four customers who ordered the commemorative “survivors’ issue” of the magazine.
The incident came to light when Anne Keat, 77, who bought the special issue from that newsagent, wrote a letter to the Guardian to warn people that wearing badges emblazoned with “Je suis Charlie” may attract police interest.
In the letter, which was published on Monday, Keat wrote: “Your offer of commemorative badges in support of journalistic freedom highlighting Je suis Charlie prompts me to suggest a degree of caution following my experience. Tongue in cheek, I asked my helpful newsagents to obtain a copy of the edition of Charlie Hebdo issued after the dreadful massacre in Paris, if indeed a copy was ever available in north Wiltshire.
“To my surprise, a copy arrived last Wednesday week and although the standard of content in no way matches that of the Guardian I will cherish it. However, two days later a member of Her Majesty’s police service visited said newsagent, requesting the names of the four customers who had purchased Charlie Hebdo. So beware, your badges may attract police interest in your customers.”
In a statement, Wiltshire police apologised to “the members of the public who may be affected by this” and said they had deleted the details from their system.
A spokeswoman said: “Following the terrorism incident in Paris, France on 7 January 2015, Wiltshire police undertook an assessment of community tensions across the county. As part of this work, local sector policing teams were asked to be mindful of business premises, in particular newsagents who may be distributing the Charlie Hebdo magazine and to consider that these shops may be vulnerable.
“There was no specific threat nationally and nothing to suggest newsagents in particular would be vulnerable.”
She continued: “A police officer visited a local shop and post office in Corsham to make an assessment of community tensions and, if appropriate, encourage the newsagent’s owner to be vigilant. During this conversation the officer requested information about subscribers to the Charlie Hebdo magazine.
“Wiltshire police would like to apologise to the members of public who may be affected by this. Information relating to this specific incident has been permanently and securely disposed of.
“Wiltshire police are confident that the police officer’s intention was purely around enhancing public safety and ensuring that the newsagent was advised appropriately.”
It is understood that the officer involved has been given a “word of advice” but will not face disciplinary action. The force said it had received no complaints about the incident….

Islamic State Disfigure 15 Women With Acid

The women were accused of not wearing the niqab

Basnews

MOSUL Al-Khansa, the all-female Islamic State (IS) brigade, have arrested and punished 15 women in Mosul.

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official from Mosul Saed Mamuzini told BasNews that al-Khansa arrested the 15 women for failing to wear the niqab.

They were arrested on Sunday in the Salamiya neighborhood of Mosul.

Mamuzini said al-Khansa militants disfigured the women by pouring acid on their faces.

“They have implemented this punishment so that other women in the city will never consider removing or not wearing the niqab,” he said.

Last month members of IS executed a number of women by stoning. They were accused of adultery.

Police records statement from Ismail Sabri over Facebook post – Bernama

Police yesterday recorded a statement from Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on his controversial boycott call of traders who hiked up prices which went viral on social media recently.

Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said Ismail came to Bukit Aman about 3.15 pm today to give his statement.

"After this, we will call on all parties to record their statements in relation to the case, namely MCA, Gerakan and DAP, which had issued statements in rebuttal to the minister's statement to assist investigations," he told Bernama.

Ismail recently urged consumers to boycott traders who refused to reduce prices of goods and that move would bring benefits to all communities in the country.

But his posting was labeled as racist as it had targeted Chinese traders. – Bernama, February 10, 2015.

Gloomy prospect for Ambiga's olive branch

 

NegaraKu patron Ambiga Sreenevasan's renewed urging for the ruling coalition, opposition and NGOs to make peace may have received a positive response but it appears unlikely to be translated into action.

Political observers cited the absence of political will in both the ruling coalition and opposition as well as the lack of incentive to cooperate with each other.

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) chief executive officer Wan Saiful Wan Jan pointed out that even within the respective coalitions, political will was lacking to get things done.

"In Pakatan Rakyat, there is disunity as they fight among each other, while in BN, there is also no political will to even reprimand a minister for attacking Chinese businesses," he told Malayskini when contacted.

Echoing this, Wong Chin Huat, a fellow at the Penang Institute, said the ruling coalition and opposition are occupied about their own survival.

"For cooperation to happen there has to be assurance of mutual co-existence, this is not the case.

"If they were to work together, the side that becomes the loser (in the election) is worried they will be wiped out.

"So for them, survival is the most important thing and I will not blame the politicians because this is how the system in this country is like," he said.

Another hurdle to such cooperation, Wan Saiful said, is that political leaders sometimes deviate from hard issues when it comes to the topic of cooperation.

For example, he said cooperation is sometimes painted as a unity government  which can take on a racial tone like an Umno-PAS coalition at the expense of other allies.

PAS' central committee member Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who backed Ambiga's proposal, had expressed similar frustration.

"Every time when we talk about cooperation (with the other side), we are asked if we want to join them, that is very low-class (politics).

"It is not about cooperating politically but to discuss about the nation," he said.

Simmering partisanship

Wong said politicians are not the only one to be blamed for their lack of interest in cooperating as voters in general are also partisan and do not advocate such cooperation.

He added that the way the ruling coalition and opposition behave is in some part a reflection of the people's stance.

"Political actors can learn to cooperate if voters punish them for not cooperating, but that is not happening," he said.

While acknowledging that the country was on a "wrong trajectory" and supporting Ambiga's urging, Wan Saiful, too, acknowledged it is a difficult task.

Wan Saiful said NGOs can try to play the intermediary between the two political coalitions.

"If civil society focuses more on issues rather than partisan politics, I think civil society will have the potential to bring people together," he said.

Echoing this, Wong said while civil society is often non-partisan, their supporters may be partisan, which may make it difficult to reach out to the other side.

"It is a question of whether we can rise above partisan interests for the national interest," he said.

Council upset over 'Quran for non-Muslims'

 

A non-Muslim interfaith council is deeply concerned over plans by a Muslim foundation to distribute a million copies of the Quran in various languages to non-Muslims.

Islamic Information and Services Foundation and its patron former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced this plan, which is aimed to counter Islamophobia, last month.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) said it is Muslims who should be exposed to the true teachings of Islam, given the rising involvement of Malaysian Muslims in global terrorism.

"We have to emphasise that non-Muslims have not carried out any acts of terrorism in the name of Islam and thus are not confused," the council said in a hard-hitting statement.

The council also fears that the distribution of the Quran could be a way to propagate the religion to non-Muslims and induce conversions.

When contacted, MCCBCHST said it is releasing the scathing statement with careful consideration following rising complaints of "covert conversions" of non-Muslims to Islam.

In the statement it said there have been complaints of such activities in tertiary colleges and state-backed Muslim organisations are setting targets for Muslim converts.

"The non-Muslims have every right to protect their religion and to alert their children and members of their family of the advances made by the Islamic Information and Services Foundation," it said.

Creating ill-will

Among examples cited is the Hidayah Centre Foundation, which is supported by the Prime Minister’s Department, and reportedly has a target of 3,000 converts this year.

"The role of Jakim, Perkim and Jabatan Agama is well known," it said, noting Jakim's RM800 million budget.

While Article 11(4) of the federal constitution bars propagating to Muslims, it said, but it is no free ticket for Muslims to subject non-Muslims to uninvited propagation.

"Article 11(1) gives every person the right to profess and practise his religion. Therefore he has every right to reject the propagation of other faiths to him…

"MCCBCHST is of the view that the intended distribution of the translated copies of the Quran to non-Muslims is obnoxious as a similar right is not given to non-Muslims."

It also raised concern of "inducement" ,which include monetary support by the state to new Muslim converts which is an offence under Section 298A.

The Section criminalises acts causing ill-will and disharmony on grounds of religion.

Further, it said, non-Muslims may be open to prosecution if copies of the Quran distributed contained words which most states ban non-Muslims from using.

The Bible Society of Malaysia was under investigation for housing copies of the Bible in Bahasa Malaysia and Iban which use the word 'Allah', which a Selangor enactment bans non-Muslims from using.

The law does not state whether non-Muslims can use these words if they are printed in an Islamic text like the Quran.

Zahid urges MIC folk not to drag ROS to court

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today urged disgruntled MIC members not to consider taking legal action against the Registrar of Societies (ROS) over the latter's directive for the embattled party to hold re-elections.

"I hope no individuals will drag ROS to court over this matter.

"ROS is always open for discussion and any issue can always be settled by talking to them," Zahid said during a press conference in Putrajaya today.

He also insisted that ROS did not "take sides" in the internal MIC battle that has caused a stalemate within the party.

Zahid at a special press conference in Putrajaya today announced ROS has ordered re-elections for all MIC's branches, wings, divisions and central leadership, including one for the president's post in May.

Party president G Palanivel and his supporters had previously disputed the ROS directive for re-elections issued in December, and there had been speculations about the battle being taken to court.

Zahid also stressed that ROS was merely being fair to all the relevant parties from within MIC.

Some MIC leaders have trained their guns on the ROS in the past, accusing the investigation into its party elections to be flawed, and also accusing the government body of being involved in corruption concerning the MIC probe.

"I have personally spoken to both Palanivel and his deputy S Subramaniam. They are both good friends of mine.

"We are not siding with anyone. I was just being professional and helping out since the ROS asked me to do so," he said.

"The ROS is only trying to find the best solutions to this problem," Zahid added.

MIC Youth: Azmin not that progressive after all

MIC Youth has expressed “shock” that the opposition led Selangor government has decided not to follow its neighbour in a proposal to enforce a “divorce first, then convert” requirement to Muslim converts.

MIC Youth Chief C Sivarrajah in a statement today took a swipe at Pakatan’s progressive credentials, saying the proposal made last week by Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan last week was a golden opportunity missed.

“Pakatan Rakyat prides itself as a progressive and liberal coalition, and they should be the first one to jump on the new rules and support it and implement it without reservation,” said.

“The benefits of the new rules have been widely hailed by nearly everyone including women's groups except the Muslim fundamentalists and the nation’s extremists.

“But the Selangor government, which is ruled by Pakatan Rakyat, has said it has no plans to implement the proposed new rules that require non-Muslims to dissolve their civil marriages before converting to Islam,” said Sivarraajh, calling Azmin “regressive”.

Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali was reported in various media today saying the suggested rules were not easy to implement and discussions with all parties, including the academicians and religious scholars, would first be needed.

"The Selangor state government has no such plans,” Azmin was reported saying.

Following Negri Sembilan’s announcement last week, Pakatan’s Penang government in contrast said it would discuss and study the proposal to see if it is suitable for the state.

'Azmin regressive'

Sivarraajh said Selangor should have been the one to propose such a move, which the Negri Sembilan MB said was aimed at solving post conversion issues that the country has seen such as custody issues and body snatching.

“So why then is Azmin Ali not jumping into the bandwagon and announce he is also considering similar proposals in Selangor?” he asked.

“We are very shocked and surprised with his regressive ideas,” he added.

Negri Sembilan’s proposal has drawn all-round approval from the public, and has gotten Prime Minister Najib Razak flak for not implementing the same requirement at national level.

PAS’ Kota Raja MP Siti Mariah Mahmud also hailed the move as positive, but certain quarters like MCA have pointed the proposal would have loopholes that can only be plugged if other states have the same requirements.

The most prominent opposition to the idea to date is Islamic NGO Abim, who objected to the would-be convert having his Muslim conversion purportedly delayed by the civil court divorce process.

Anwar: Time for PR to look to the next generation of leaders

We have full confidence he will be acquitted says Anwar's daughter, Nurul Izzah.

FMT

PUTRAJAYA: With the decision of the Sodomy II case expected this morning, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has called on Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to push through the next generation of leaders.

Speaking to over 1,000 supporters in Petaling Jaya last night, Anwar explained that the present leaders who have led PR to date are weighed down by old wounds and “issues that are old and outdated.”

“It is important that we give way to the young leaders in PR, because they are more forward looking,” he was quoted by the Malay Mail Online as saying.

He was referring to recent friction within the Pakatan Rakyat on issues such as the implementation of Hudud law and the need for local council elections.

Also in attendance at the final stop of Anwar’s “Rakyat Hakim Negara” tour were PAS’s Mohamad Sabu, Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Azmin Ali and Rafizi Ramli.

Speaking at a dinner function earlier yesterday, DAP’s elder statesman Lim Kit Siang agreed that the nation should begin its transition to enable younger leaders to assume leadership positions in “all spheres of national life.”

In another interview, Anwar’s eldest daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, yesterday gave reporters a glimpse of the hardship which his family had gone through during his ordeal over the last sixteen years.

Just eighteen years old herself at the time he was first arrested, the current Lembah Pantai MP described the experience as something “no child would ever wish for.”

“Before, we witnessed the individual who protected us hauled to prison. Now, our father, whom we should be protecting may be victimized again. No child would ever want to go through that,” she is quoted by the Malaysian Insider as saying.

She said the pain “would never heal” but that her father’s message to her was to “keep going” – to “not surrender” – to continue to seek change, and to bring “reformasi” (reform) to Malaysia.

She said that despite clouds of grief, the time her family had spent with her father was “full of happiness and warmth” thanks to her father’s “humour, charisma, courage and playful teasing”.

She expressed full confidence that her father would be acquitted, saying that the family’s hopes were high, thanks to the lucid arguments presented during the appeal by Anwar’s legal team of Datuk Gopal Sri Ram, Ramkarpal Singh, Gobind Singh and Sangeet Kaur.

Gobalakrishnan detained by Penang cops

PKR man is detained for an alleged tweet and numerous Facebook postings about the practices of cops in the Penang police force.

FMT

KULIM: Former PKR MP for Padang Serai N Gobalakrishnan was detained by police here today in connection with alleged tweets and Facebook postings accusing some police officers of allegedly protecting hardcore criminals in Penang.

The outspoken Gobalakrishnan was picked up at about 3.10pm at his house in Kulim Golf and Country Resort by a raiding team from George Town city police and taken to the station for his statement.

When contacted, Gobalakrishnan’s son Praveen confirmed his father’s arrest.

Earlier this morning, Penang CPO Senior Deputy Commissioner Abdul Rahim Hanafi told newsmen that Gobalakrishnan would be investigated for intentional insult to provoke a breach of peace under Section 504 of the Penal Code.

Praveen said Gobalakrishnan was first told by police this morning to come to the Jalan Patani police station in George Town to record his statement over his alleged tweet and Facebook postings.

However Praveen explained that his father turned down the request citing illness, and instead invited the police to come to his house instead to record his statement.

“However, the police raiding team, which arrived in two vehicles, detained him and took him to Penang,” Praveen told FMT.

It is learnt that the former PKR local leader made the postings regarding the police in the wake of a police swoop on 33 Indian youths in Penang, who were allegedly partying at a birthday bash.

Last week on February 6, Gobalakrishnan allegedly tweeted: “some Penang Indian police officers are strongly backing the 04 gang, which deals with drugs.”

In his February 4 Facebook posting, Gobalakrishnan allegedly said: “Many Indian youths are hardcore gangsters but when you see their background they would have been arrested for petty problems and badly handled by the police.

“The minute they were arrested they would have been exposed to the harshest conditions, ill treated by the arresting policemen, attacked day and night while in detention, beaten with PVC pipes to admit to many crimes that they did not commit and the policemen would use vulgar words each and every time in interrogation.”

Gobalakrishnan also related the case of a young boy who was arrested in a raid in Penang and allegedly abused continuously for five days by Indian policemen in Penang, then moved to a Kulim lock-up for a further five days of torture in detention.

Gobalakrishnan explained that while in Kulim, the young boy had made enemies with a corrupt policeman who allegedly protected real gangsters involved in criminal activities including drugs.

The former MP said the Indian community could not possibly expect this young boy to emerge unscathed from the abuse he suffered at the hands for the police for over 10 days.

“There is law in the country but not for these poor boys,” Gobalakrishnan said.

In his February 5 Facebook posting, he allegedly said, “What happens when it is the police that is committing the crime.

“The police must wake up and act on irresponsible officers who commit the crimes. Be fair to all (and) the police must be an example by not committing even the smallest crime.”

In a February 7 Facebook posting of his, Gobalakrishnan allegedly said: “Yesterday (February 6), I tweeted about corrupted policemen out to destroy the Malaysian community and the IGP told reporters that I will be called for investigation.

“The day is nearly going to end and the police have not contacted me but many reporters have been calling me since morning.

“Hope that the police do call me or it will be just as if IGP cakap kosong saja.”

Zahid: Fresh MIC polls must be held by July

The party's CWC for 2009-2013 will manage the elections.

FMT

PUTRAJAYA: The MIC has to hold fresh elections for all elected posts between April and July to avert deregistration, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

He said the decision was made by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to ensure that the dispute over the election of the party’s office-bearers could be resolved once and for all.

The party’s central working committee (CWC) for 2009-2013, to be known as the Interim CWC, would manage the elections, he told a news conference here.

“The elections for the party branches must be held in April, the presidential election in May and the elections for the divisions in June.

“The elections for the Wanita, Youth, Putera and Puteri wings have to be held between April and June, and those for deputy president, the (three) vice-presidents and the CWC, as well as the general assembly have to be held in July,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said the failure of the MIC to hold the elections could result in the party’s deregistration under Section 13 of the Societies Act 1966.

MIC leaders, following a meeting with Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Abdul Razak on February 4, agreed to hold fresh elections as a solution to the crisis in the party.

The crisis had erupted over differences of opinion after the RoS nullified the elections for the three posts of vice-president and 23 CWC posts at the general assembly held in Malacca in November 2013 following complaints of irregularities.

In a letter dated December 5, 2014, the RoS ordered the MIC to hold fresh elections for these posts within 90 days.

Ahmad Zahid said the interim CWC was required to set up an elections committee to manage the fresh elections.

“Only the voter list and branches as of 2012 are eligible for the fresh elections. The 800 branches set up last year are invalid and ineligible. A legalisation process must be carried out to ascertain that only the valid and eligible branches take part in the fresh elections,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid also said the MIC was required to submit a list of all the party divisions and branches within the time frame stipulated by the RoS.

He said the notice of the fresh elections, dated February 6, had been sent to MIC president G. Palanivel and deputy president Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said Palanivel had the authority to make new appointments for posts such as secretary-general and treasurer-general.

On this matter, RoS director-general Mohammad Razin Abdullah said the MIC president could make new appointments if the secretary-general had resigned or died.

“The president can make new appointments, but must get the approval of the 2009-2013 CWC,” he said.

– BERNAMA

NY Times Editorial Continues Pattern of Disparaging Hindus HAF Reaffirms Opposition to Predatory Proselytization

HAF Reaffirms Opposition to Predatory Proselytization

HAFSITE

Washington, D.C. (February 9, 2015) - In the wake of President Barack Obama’s mention of religious intolerance in India during his National Prayer Breakfast event, and a New York Times editorial bemoaning alleged religious conversions in India, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) reaffirmed its commitment to the principle of pluralism and asked the New York Times to oppose predatory proselytization in any form. Offices at HAF have seen a flurry of inquiries and outrage this week over the editorial.

“President Obama rightly champions Mahatma Gandhi for his principles of non-violence and religious pluralism, and we must strongly condemn any attack on a house of worship -- whether it be a church in New Delhi -- or temples, mosques, and gurdwaras in the United States,” said Suhag Shukla, Esq., Executive Director of the HAF. “It is difficult, however, to overlook the hypocrisy inherent in the New York Times’ calling out of India over alleged religious conversions to Hinduism when the paper fails to condemn large scale predatory proselytization and religious conversions away from Hinduism and other traditions that are ongoing around the world and funded largely by American institutions.”

As recently as last month, HAF strongly argued that predatory proselytization -- coercing or inducing people to leave their faith with the promise of money, jobs, healthcare, or education in a bid to “harvest souls” -- impacts society as an act of violence. Leaders have also expressed grave concern over the role U.S. and European faith-based groups play in fomenting hate and contributing to global conflict.

According to the Government of India, U.S. and Europe based Christian evangelical organizations send well over $120 million per year to the country for missionary work, indoctrination, and conversion activity. This massive influx of money often leads to mass conversions and disrupts the cohesion of communities, Shukla added. In other countries which evangelical groups have specifically targeted alongside India, such as in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, the impact has been deadly, especially for LGBT communities.

“As Americans, we must never compromise as advocates for pluralism and democracy, values that the United States and India share, but also where both nations have fallen short at times,” said Padma Kuppa, a member of HAF's Board of Directors. “We must remember also that religious conversion to Islam and Christianity has long been a sensitive issue in India. This is especially true in recent times, because American faith organizations alone have declared a focus on the so called “10-40” window that geographically demarcates 2.5 billion “unreached” people, including Hindus, to be evangelized and converted.”

Many Hindus in the United States are concerned over a consistent pattern at the New York Times of disparaging Hindus--whether in deprecating Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Mumbai or blaming Hindu practice for outdoor defecation. The editorial last week was seen as consistent with that pattern. Even President Obama’s ostensible concerns for India at the prayer breakfast fell flat among Hindu Americans.

“President Obama could have asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the prayer breakfast to give perspective on India’s unique history of pluralism, acceptance, and tolerance,” added Shukla. “And in invoking Mahatma Gandhi, our President and the New York Times should remember his famous denunciations of predatory proselytization:

‘It is impossible for me to reconcile myself to the idea of conversion after the style that goes on in India and elsewhere today. It is an error which is perhaps the greatest impediment to the world's progress toward peace. Why should a Christian want to convert a Hindu to Christianity? Why should he not be satisfied if the Hindu is a good or godly man?’”

Facing possible jail time, Anwar concedes Pakatan’s future with younger leaders

The  Malay Mail Online

PETALING JAYA, Feb 10 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim conceded last night that the future of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lies with its young leaders, hours before the Federal Court delivers a decision that might spell the end of his political career.

Speaking to over 1,000 supporters on the grand finale of the “Rakyat Hakim Negara” tour to drum up support for him, Anwar admitted that the recent friction among PR leaders was caused by old wounds that have festered over time.

“Sometimes, the older leadership is dragged by issues that are old and outdated … It is important that we give way to the young leadership in PR, because they are more forward-looking,” Anwar said from a stage erected on Dataran Petaling Jaya here.

“We should ensure that this new and young group can see the future of Malaysia with confidence, and not with outdated mindset that can pit one with each other.”

The disagreement over the third vote is the latest flashpoint to threaten the relationship between PAS and DAP, whose leaders have already been trading barbs over the Islamist party’s plan to enforce hudud Islamic penal law in Kelantan.

A long-overdue presidential council meeting was held by PR on Sunday, but had merely deferred the discussion of the two thorny issues to a later date.

At a dinner before Anwar’s speech last night, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said the young PR leaders who started out after the 1998 Reformasi era were more comfortable of working in a coalition and work out their differences despite each party’s ideologies.

“Isn’t it time for a more youthful population to take over the leadership levels in all spheres of Malaysia’s national life?” Lim asked during a benefit dinner before the rally.

“I am not suggesting any immediate action but I think there is merit in the suggestion that the older leaders like Hadi, Anwar and myself begin to withdraw from the front lines in favour of the post-Merdeka generation.”

The rally last night also saw speeches by among others PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali, and PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, in addition to music performances and poem recital by National Laureate Datuk A. Samad Said.

Today, the Federal Court will deliver its decision on whether to uphold an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal to overturn Anwar’s acquittal of a charge of sodomising his then-aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan six years ago.

The appellate court also slapped a five-year jail sentence on the opposition leader, who had previously spent six years behind bars before he was acquitted in 2004 of sodomising his wife’s driver, Azizan Abu Bakar.

Will he be freed or jailed?

The Star
by CHELSEA L.Y. NG AND M. MAGESWARI

PETALING JAYA: Any court case involving Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will see an avid audience waiting for juicy details and twists and turns.

Today, a curious crowd is expected in Putrajaya as the Federal Court is set to pronounce its verdict on the 67-year-old’s final appeal against his second sodomy case.

There are four likely scenarios.

> His appeal will dismissed and he will be jailed five years;

> The appeal will be allowed and he will be acquitted;

> The Federal Court could hear the prosecution’s appeal for a heavier sentence and Anwar may end up serving a longer jail term; and

> Contempt proceedings may be initiated against Anwar.

Lead prosecutor Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said he had filed written submissions to the apex court yesterday for an enhanced jail term against Anwar.

“It is filed only in the event if the court finds him guilty. If he is (found to be) not guilty, it becomes irrelevant,” he said.

On the possible contempt proceedings, Muhammad Shafee said he had not received any further instructions from the Attorney-General over the matter.

“We will see the verdict first,” he said.

Anwar’s co-counsel Latheefa Koya, however, is confident of the PKR leader’s acquittal based on the way the eight-day appeal went.

“There were three parts of submissions (tendered in court for his acquittal). We attacked the credibility of his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

“These three (main) points were in Anwar’s favour, among other issues raised which could not be answered by the prosecution,” she said.

On the possible contempt, she said had not heard any news.

“Maybe, they are also hoping to see the outcome,” she quipped.

Anwar’s two sodomy trials have been keenly followed, mainly because of the raunchy bits and scandalous details.

In the first case in 1999, a mattress was presented to court, supposedly stained with Anwar’s semen.

This was submitted as DNA evidence of Anwar’s sexual acts. Anwar denied having anything to do with the mattress, although the DNA tests came out positive.

Months before that, a book, 50 Dalil Kenapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Jadi PM (50 Reasons Why Anwar Cannot Become Prime Minister) was circulated among members of the Umno General Assembly, containing graphic allegations as well as accusations of corruption against Anwar.

The details from the book were also used in the trial.

He was then found guilty of having sodomised his family driver Azizan Abu Bakar at Tivoli Villa here in 1994 and sentenced to nine years’ jail by the High Court on Aug 8, 2000.

On Sept 2, 2004, the Federal Court overturned the conviction and acquitted him.

In Sodomy II, in 2008, the Opposition Leader was accused of sodomising his aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Even in the recent appeal hearing in the Federal Court, sexually scintillating bits were aired.

Anwar’s lawyers took a jibe at Saiful’s evidence on the use of KY jelly lubricant. His lawyer argued that Saiful had told the High Court that the act was vigorous and fast and he suffered pain in his anus and stomach which should not happen if lubricant was used.

Who's Who In The Anwar Ibrahim Sodomy Trial II

Datuk Seri Anwar IbrahimPUTRAJAYA, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- The Federal Court on Tuesday delivered the much-awaited verdict on opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's final appeal against his conviction and five-year jail sentence for sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Following are the who's who in the trial:

FIVE-MEMBER PANEL OF JUDGES

1. Tun Arifin bin Zakaria

Chief Justice of the Federal Court. Appointed as the Chief Justice on Sept 12, 2011. Ariffin went to read law at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. Upon graduation he joined the Judicial and Legal Service of Malaysia in September 1974. In 1979 he pursued the Master of Laws course at the University College, London and the Bar Final Course at the Council of Legal Education.

2. Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif

President, Court of Appeal. Appointed as President of The Court of Appeal on Sept 12, 2011. Md Raus obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Malaya in 1976 and his Master of Laws from the London School of Economics in 1987. His career started in the Judicial and Legal Service on 1 July 1976.

3. Tan Sri Abdull Hamid Embong

Federal Court Judge. He was admitted as a Barrister-at-Law of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, London in 1976 after completing his secondary school education at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar. On Oct 14, 2009, Abdull Hamid was appointed as a Judge of The Federal Court, Malaysia. His career in the Judicial and Legal Service began on Oct 18, 1976 when he was appointed as a temporary Legal Officer in the Attorney-General's Chambers.

4. Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar

Federal Court Judge. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws at the Warwick University and Barrister at Law at the Lincoln's Inn, London. He began his career in the Judicial and Legal Service at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. In 2006, he was appointed as a Judge in the Court of Appeal, Malaysia.

5. Datuk Ramly Ali

Federal Court Judge. He obtained his LL.B (Hons) at the University of Malaya in 1978. Between 1978 and 1982, he served as a Magistrate in Perak. From 2001 to April 2009, Ramly served as a High Court Judge before being officially appointed as a Judge in the Court of Appeal, Malaysia.

DEFENCE'S TEAM

1. Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, was the Federal Court Judge from 2009 until Feb 16, 2010. He has the distinction of being the first lawyer in private practice to be appointed straight to the Court of Appeal when it was set up in 1994, having never served as a judicial commissioner or a High Court judge.

2. Gobind Singh Deo, is a prominent Malaysian lawyer and politician and also the Member of Parliament for Puchong, Selangor. He is the second son of the DAP politician and lawyer, the late Karpal Singh. Gobind was admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 1996, a year after returning from Lincoln's Inn.

3. Ram Karpal Singh Deo, is a Malaysian lawyer and politician. He is a son of the late Karpal Singh and brother of Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo. He was admitted to the Malaysian Bar in 2000. Currently, he heads his late father's law firm in Pudu Lama, Kuala Lumpur.

4. N. Surendran, 48, served as a lawyer for 20 years since 1994. He is the Member of Parliament for Padang Serai, Kedah from the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

5. R. Sivarasa is a lawyer and Member of Parliament for Subang, Selangor from the PKR who frequently represented Anwar in civil suit cases. He was the co-founder of Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and a Human Rights activist.

6. Sangeet Deo Kaur

7. J.Leela

8. Latheefa Koya

9. Lim Choon Kim

10. Eric Paulsen.

11. Michelle Yesudas.

12. Sahid Adli Kamaruddin

13. Zaleha Al-Hayat

14. Jeremy Vinesh Anthony

15. Mohamed Aliff Bolkin

PROSECUTION TEAM

1. Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Shafee Muhamad Abdullah is a leading lawyer in Malaysia. He obtained his law degree from the University of Malaya in 1977. Shafee had also pursued further studies at the London School Of Economics and holds a Masters in Law in 1984. In July 2013, he was appointed by the Attorney-General to lead the prosecution team in the appeal against Anwar's acquittal from a sodomy charge.

2. Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria, holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) from the University of Malaya and is Deputy Head of the Prosecution Division (Operations) of the Attorney-General's Chambers. He started service as a magistrate in 1985 and has over 20 years of experience as a Deputy Public Prosecutor.

-- BERNAMA

NYT: PMO cites inheritance source of Najib's wealth

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has "received an inheritance" which is his source of wealth, a statement from his office reportedly said.

The New York Times (NYT) today quoted the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) saying this when asked how Najib acquired his money.

The report concerned businessman Jho Low, his links to Najib’s family and the premier's allegedly lavish lifestyle.

Among others, the prominent newspaper pointed to a series of photos of Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor with a range of expensive handbags that had gone viral on social media.

The Birkin bags - of which there were supposedly at least nine - cost between US$9,000 to US$150,000 (RM32,000 to RM535,000) each, the report said.

The NYT also claimed that it had obtained invoices and other documents amounting to "millions of dollars" in jewellery ordered for Rosmah in Hong Kong in 2008 and 2009.

It also quoted Najib's former aide Ariff Sabri saying that Najib had kept “piles and piles” of cash stacked in his safe.

However, the PMO reportedly responded saying, "Neither any money spent on travel, jewellery purchases nor the alleged contents of any safes are unusual for a person of the prime minister's position, responsibilities, and legacy (of) family assets."

Najib is the son of the late Abdul Razak Hussein, Malaysia’s second prime minister.

His monthly salary as the current prime minister is RM22,826.65, and is also entitled to a range of perks and allowances, such as a pension.