To understand the urge for ‘the Arab Spring’ one has to understand the role of the ‘Mukhabarat’ (secret police) in Arab countries.
This essay dates from November, 2005, but is still very valid. Stirrings in the Desert Heavy Hand of the Secret Police Impeding Reform in Arab World By NEIL MacFARQUHAR AMMAN, Jordan, Nov. 13 – At a cultural festival last year, Sameer al-Qudah recited a poem of his depicting Arab rulers […]
A conversation in the garden of the Pakistani Ambassador to Thailand
It was probably in the year 1995 when I attended a reception by the Ambassador of Pakistan to Thailand on the occasion of the Pakistani Independence Day. Tables and chairs were placed around the garden. On the next table some Quranic verses were quoted in a conversation. When I overheard […]
On the Battlefields of a New Century, Europe’s Role Will Matter Less and Less
When US Defense Secretary Robert Gates devoted his final policy speech this month to berating NATO and America’s European allies, he was engaging in a time-honored tradition: Americans have worried about Europeans shirking their share of global burdens since the start of the 60-year-old alliance. Gates sounded a pessimistic note, […]
When It Comes to Global Governance, Where Are Emerging Economies Hiding?
The world is witnessing a chaotic transition to uncertainty. While there is a profound transformation in the balance of global economic power, the lack of leadership has created a serious vacuum. Not much more than a decade ago, the emerging economies — China, India, Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, […]
Freedom at last! Calling for religious persecution in the Netherlands is now allowed (against Muslims)
http://rnw.bbvms.com/p/embedPlayout/c/1153538.js Addition: Man replaced ‘Muslims’ with ‘Jews’ in Wilders pamphlet, got arrested On March 24, 2008, a man was arrested in Amsterdam for ‘making discrimanatory statements against Jews’. He had taken a text from Geert Wilders and replaced the words ‘Islam’ and ‘Muslims’ with ‘Judaism’ and ‘Jews’. This resulted in […]
Humanity First Germany – 100 cataract operations in Benin
The cataract operations in Benin reached the 100 mark, after more than 1000 patients were assisted in Burkina Faso. Humanity First is planning to reach the 1000 mark in Benin this year also. read here … (ok, in German).
House Rejects Resolution Authorizing U.S. Mission in Libya
Jennifer Steinhauer June 24, 2011 The House on Friday resoundingly rejected a measure that would have authorized the United States’ mission in Libya, with 70 Democrats deserting President Obama on an issue that has divided their party and became a major Constitutional flash point between Congress and the White House. […]
Jeddah woman driver accelerates campaign
By RIMA AL-MUKHTAR | ARAB NEWS JEDDAH: The Women2Drive campaign continued down a rocky road with some sustaining the campaign a week after it was launched with sporadic efforts on Friday. Meanwhile a dawa (Islamic propagation) group, in Riyadh made clear its belief that women driving cars is against Islamic […]
30% increase in visit visa requests
By GALAL FAKKAR | ARAB NEWS JEDDAH: Requests for visit visas so far are up 30 percent compared to the same period last year, according to sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry’s branch in Jeddah is struggling to handle the number of foreigners wanting to bring their […]
Expat govt employees to be paid cost-of-living allowance
By ARAB NEWS JEDDAH: Foreign workers contracted by various government bodies will by paid the 15 percent cost-of-living allowance on equal footing with their Saudi colleagues, local daily Al-Watan reported Friday, citing the Ministry of Finance. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah recently ordered a 15-percent increase in […]
Close to 3 million arrive for Umrah
By MD HUMAIDAN | ARAB NEWS JEDDAH: The Haj Ministry has said that between Jan. 19, the start of the Umrah season, and last week the number of pilgrims was 34 percent higher than the same period last year. About 2.84 million pilgrims have come for the lesser pilgrimage so […]
Israeli PM’s son posted derisive comments about Arabs and Muslims
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli prime minister’s 19-year-old son — a military spokesman — posted derisive comments about Arabs and Muslims on his Facebook page, drawing a slap on the wrist from his superiors and focusing new attention on the controversial first family. Earlier this year, Yair Netanyahu posted that […]
Former ‘Playboy’ editor walks free on historical ruling
Former Playboy Indonesia chief editor Erwin Arnada finally walked out of prison a free man on Friday following a Supreme Court acquittal. Many greeted his release as a triumph for freedom of the press in this predominantly Muslim country. Human rights activist and head of Erwin’s legal team, Todung Mulya […]
Turmeric Can Combat Cancer
…….. Having “bad genes,” does not at all mean you’re doomed to suffer some inevitable fate. Genes are merely blueprints, and these blueprints are activated and controlled by something else entirely, namely their environment. This environmental information—which includes diet, toxic exposures, as well as thoughts and emotions, and more—can create […]
Type 2 diabetes in newly diagnosed ‘can be reversed’
An extreme eight-week diet of 600 calories a day can reverse Type 2 diabetes in people newly diagnosed with the disease, says a Diabetologia study. Newcastle University researchers found the low-calorie diet reduced fat levels in the pancreas and liver, which helped insulin production return to normal. Seven out of […]
Ahmadiyya Muslim Convention in Germany to be attended by 30,000
The convention (Jalsa Salana) will take place from June 24 to 26, 2011 in Karlsruhe. Frankfurt: The annual convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Germany, the Jalsa Salana, will be held this year in the Messe Karlsruhe area. The Jalsa Salana, the largest regularly scheduled annual gathering of the Muslims in Germany, is […]
Call for increased street patrols to stop abductions
By GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN | ARAB NEWS RIYADH: Human rights officials and social workers have called for increased police patrols to prevent abductions and other crimes. They also called for a review of laws to ensure speedy trials of suspected rapists. “About 200 cases of child rape are reported annually […]
Deportation to Afghanistan ruled out
The Federal Court says the humanitarian situation in most regions of Afghanistan is too critical to send back asylum seekers whose requests were rejected by Switzerland. A court statement said security had deteriorated in all regions of Afghanistan over the past few years. It added the return of an asylum […]
Dutch verdict leaves the country to God’s Judgment
Image: monument for the Dutch workers who were working on the dams to protect the country. The following is an extract from the friday Sermon of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba), delivered from Nunspeet, the Netherlands, on August 24, 2007: As most of you must already know, a politician from here (Holland) […]