Palestine: Muslim calligrapher to present Arabic Gospel of Luke to Pope Benedict XVI next month

Sun Apr 26, 8:22 AM ET

In this photo taken on Friday, April, 24, 2009, Palestinian calligrapher Yasser Abu Saymeh is seen in his shop in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Abu Saymeh is a devout Muslim, but has dedicated the past two months to Christian art: he’s writing the Gospel of Luke in ornate Arabic script, to be presented to Pope Benedict XVI when he visits Jesus’ traditional birth place next month.(AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)

Sun Apr 26, 8:21 AM ET

In this photo taken on Friday, April, 24, 2009, Palestinian calligrapher Yasser Abu Saymeh works in his shop in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Abu Saymeh is a devout Muslim, but has dedicated the past two months to Christian art: he’s writing the Gospel of Luke in ornate Arabic script, to be presented to Pope Benedict XVI when he visits Jesus’ traditional birth place next month.(AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)

Sun Apr 26, 8:22 AM ET

In this photo taken on Friday, April, 24, 2009, Palestinian calligrapher Yasser Abu Saymeh works in his shop in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Abu Saymeh is a devout Muslim, but has dedicated the past two months to Christian art: he’s writing the Gospel of Luke in ornate Arabic script, to be presented to Pope Benedict XVI when he visits Jesus’ traditional birth place next month.(AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)

 

Photos: Jews burn Israeli flag in Jerusalem

Wed Apr 29, 2:57 PM ET

Jewish followers of Neturei Karta burn an Israeli flag against Israel’s Independence Day in Jerusalem, Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Neturei Karta, which means ‘Guardians of the City’, is a small group of Haredi Jews who oppose Zionism and believe that Jews are forbidden to have their own state until the coming of the Messiah. Israel is celebrating its annual Independence Day, marking 61 years since the founding of the state in 1948.(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Wed Apr 29, 9:43 AM ET

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish followers of Neturei Karta burn an Israeli flag against Israel’s Independence Day in the central Israeli town of Beit Shemesh, Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Neturei Karta, which means ‘Guardians of the City’, is a small group of Haredi Jews who oppose Zionism and believe that Jews are forbidden to have their own state until the coming of the Messiah. Israel is celebrating its annual Independence Day, marking 59 years since the founding of the state in 1948.(AP Photo/Ashraf Abu Turk)

 

Wed Apr 29, 10:55 AM ET

Members of Neturei Karta, an anti-Zionist Jewish movement, holds a sign during a demonstration against the State of Israel during Israeli Independence Day in Bet Shamesh April 29, 2009. REUTERS/Mahfouz Abu Turk (ISRAEL RELIGION POLITICS CONFLICT)

 

CNN: FBI running COINTELPRO operations on Muslim community

FBI planting spies in U.S. mosques, Muslim groups say

• Story Highlights
• Ten Muslim groups say they may suspend ties with FBI
• FBI: “Limiting honest dialogue … is generally not an effective advocacy strategy”
• Group wants probe into arrest of Afghan man whom FBI accuses of terrorist ties
• Statement expresses fear that FBI “programs are quelling lawful dissent”

By Eliott C. McLaughlin
CNN

(CNN) — Ten U.S. Muslim organizations threatened this week to cease working with the FBI, citing “McCarthy-era tactics” by the agency, including efforts to covertly infiltrate California mosques.

The groups claim the FBI has sent undercover agents posing as worshippers into mosques, pressured Muslims to become informants, labeled civil rights advocates as criminals and spread misinformation.

The FBI declined to comment on specific allegations but called the proposed move unproductive.

“Limiting honest dialogue, especially when complex issues are on the table, is generally not an effective advocacy strategy,” spokesman John Miller said in a statement. “The FBI has continued our outreach efforts, across the board, with a number of concerned groups and where we agree — or disagree — most have concluded the best results are achieved through continued conversation. We believe that, too.”

The group’s statement, dated Tuesday, said several incidents of the FBI “targeting Muslim Americans lead us to consider suspending ongoing outreach efforts.”

The statement was issued by the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections, whose director, Agha Saeed, couldn’t immediately comment because of a family emergency.

The FBI has sent “agents provocateur” into California mosques, according to the statement, which says an FBI agent threatened to make one mosque member’s life a “living hell” if he did not become an informant.

Though the statement does not name the mosque member, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said last month it would seek an investigation into the February 21 arrest of Ahmadullah Niazi, an Afghanistan native.

“Mr. Niazi previously reported to [CAIR's Los Angeles office] and other community members that, during a raid of a friend’s house, an FBI agent urged Mr. Niazi to work with the agency, saying that if he refused to cooperate his life would be made a ‘living hell,’ ” a news release said.

Niazi, a member of the Islamic Center of Irvine, told CAIR his arrest was retaliation for his refusal, the release said.

The FBI directed questions about Niazi’s arrest to the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles, California, which declined comment.

Niazi, 34, was indicted last month on charges of perjury, procuring naturalization unlawfully, using a passport procured by fraud and making false statements. A search warrant for Niazi’s Tustin, California, home said Niazi became a naturalized citizen in 2004 and made false statements about his past aliases and international travel.

He also made false statements about contact with his brother-in-law Amin ul-Haq, the indictment said. Ul-Haq is said to be Osama bin Laden’s security coordinator and has been labeled a “specially designated global terrorist” by the U.S. government, the indictment said.

An FBI agent said in open court that Niazi also had discussed terrorist plots with an undercover informant, according to media reports. Niazi has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

CAIR’s problems with the FBI began before Niazi’s arrest. Last year, the FBI discontinued its “formal contact” with CAIR.

The Tuesday statement said the FBI unjustly designated CAIR and other organizations as “unindicted co-conspirators” in the Holy Land Foundation case. A jury convicted Holy Land Foundation leaders last year of conspiring to support terrorism and launder money for a terrorist group.

“Making this unjust designation public violates the Justice Department’s own guidelines and wrongly implies that those listed are somehow involved in criminal activity,” the statement said.

The FBI’s Miller declined to comment on specifics, but said the FBI wants to avoid “formally constructed partnerships” with CAIR.

“Our concerns relate to a number of distinct narrow issues specific to CAIR and its national leadership,” Miller said.

Before the FBI severed formal ties, CAIR officials had met with the FBI to discuss hate crimes targeting Muslims. On occasion, CAIR offered assistance in investigations. The group also held training sessions for FBI agents on Islamic culture and ways to improve interactions with the Muslim community.

CAIR this week called the FBI allegations a “campaign of smears and misinformation,” a remnant of the Bush administration.

“It is not surprising that we would be targeted in a purely political move by those in the previous administration who sought to prevent us from defending the civil rights of American Muslims,” said a statement from the group’s national communications director, Ibrahim Hooper.

Tuesday’s group statement also mentioned “a flourishing of anti-Muslim activity” during the previous administration and expressed fear that “counterintelligence programs are quelling lawful dissent.”

Unless the FBI affords fair treatment to all mosques, Muslims and Muslim groups, the statement said, Muslims should consider suspending ties to the agency.

“This possible suspension, of course, would in no way affect our unshakable duty to report crimes or threats of violence to our nation,” it said.

All AboutFederal Bureau of Investigation • Council on American-Islamic Relations • Islam

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad discusses EU role in ‘Land for Peace’ and ‘Two State Solution’ for ME peace process with Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic

President al-Assad Says Peace Process can not remain confined to Slogans and General Titles   Apr 29, 2009

Bratislava, (SANA)-President Bashar al-Assad and President Ivan Gasparovic of Slovakia held Wednesday a press conference to sum up the issues discussed during talks. President al-Assad said that his visit to Slovakia is an opportunity to continue talks with President Gasparovic which began in 2007, especially in light of the big changes in the international circumstances. “Talks dealt with bilateral relations, particularly in the economic domain, in addition to the situation in the Middle East,” President al-Assad added, pointing out to the objectivity of Slovakia’s stance especially with regard to its support to the Land-for-Peace Principle and the international legitimacy resolutions. In response to a question about the European role in solving the current issues in the Middle East, President al-Assad said, “the European role is twofold: the first one has to do with the dialogue with Arab countries on the peace process, mainly those directly concerned, one of them is Syria.   The second one is related to dialogue with USA and Europe about the peace process, as US being its sponsor.” His Excellency indicated that this visit comes under the first side since “Peace can not remain confined to slogans and general titles.” In his response to a question concerning the economic situation in Syria and the possibility of making use of the Slovakian experience in this regard, President al-Assad made clear that the issue of economy will be touched upon on a larger scale during the meeting of the Syrian and Slovakian businessmen on Thursday. “Slovakian experience can be made use of, especially with regard to the shift in Slovakian economy from total dependence on agriculture to the variety of economic resources,” said President al-Assad, adding that Syria is an agricultural country and similar in its situation to Slovakia, which makes it possible to benefit from Slovaki’s experience. “Discussions dealt with the situation in the Middle East, where viewpoints were identical in most cases. Economic issues of interest for both countries were also discussed,” President Gasparovic said after he began his speech with a salute to President al-Assad, adding that Slovakia has a strong desire to make this visit a success and let it be a motive to activate bilateral relations in all fields. President Gasparovic answered a question about the possible role Slovakia may play in EU to urge efforts seeking to support the peace process in the Middle East saying, “Today’s meeting touched upon the European role in the peace process.” The Slovakian President expressed pleasure` that Slovakia, as an EU member, was the first to be visited by President Bashar al-Assad, adding that the outcomes of Today’s meeting with the Syrian President and Tomorrow’s meeting of the Syrian and Slovakian Foreign Ministers will be conveyed to the EU meetings. “Syria’s attitude toward peace is not elocutionary or oral. It is an attitude seeking solutions,” said President Gasparovic. On how EU can exert pressure on Israel, especially in light of its rejection of the two-state solution, President Gaspparovic replied that Slovakia and EU are with establishing both a Palestinian state and an Israeli state, voicing hope that US President Barack Obama will work to achieve this goal. Haifa Said /Mazen

Malaysia at NAM summit seeks to make Palestinian question a top priority for U.N. Security Council, urges NAM to pressure UN secretary-general making public the report by the Board of Inquiry on attacks on U.N. facilities in Gaza

MALAYSIA URGES NAM TO ADDRESS PALESTINE QUESTION

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia April 30 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia has proposed that the Non-Aligned Movement’s (NAM) Caucus address the Palestinian issue as a top priority in the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said that NAM should also join efforts to push for an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice regarding the prolonged occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel since 1967. Speaking at the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of NAM in Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday, Anifah said the 118-member movement should insist on the UN secretary-general making public the report by the Board of Inquiry established to investigate incidents involving attacks on UN premises and staff in Gaza. The report should be deliberated upon by both the General Assembly and the Security Council, he added. Anifah said the new administration of Israel was not interested in a negotiated peace, which would lead towards the achievement of the two-state solution, despite it being the will of the international community. “The question of Palestine remains a paramount concern of NAM. Concrete action must be taken through the Security Council,” he said. His speech text was released here today. – NNN-BERNAMA

Scottish MSP Pauline McNeill calls Gaza devastation “absolutely shocking”

GMT: 4/30/2009 1:42:42 PM

---

Gaza devastation ‘absolutely shocking,’ says Glasgow MSP

London, Apr 30, IRNA – The convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on Palestine has returned from a mercy trip to Gaza speaking of the horrendous devastation wreaked during Israel’s latest massacre of more than 1,400 Palestinians.

 

“The devastation in Gaza is absolutely shocking. The extent of the destruction of Gaza families and homes is unbelievable,” Labour member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Pauline McNeill said.

“Every single person we met pleaded with us to do what we could to lift the Israeli siege on their country,” said McNeill, who also visited Lebanon in the aftermath of Israel’s latest invasion in 2006.

The MSP from Glasgow led a delegation to Gaza to deliver the first trenche of medical aid from Scotland last week after spending 14 days of negotiations with Egyptian Authorities to open Rafeh crossing.

“The victims were tremendously heartened by the response of the people of Scotland to their needs,” she told the local Glaswegian newspaper.

Her delegation included four members of Glasgow Central Mosque, Sid Khan, Shalim Mohammed and Shamim Ahmed, who helped collect ten of thousands of pounds in an emergency appeal for aid that was largely spent on desperately needed medical supplies.

A second aid consignment of Scottish aid led by Denis Rutovitz, chair of Edinburgh Direct Aid (EDA), is expected to enter Gaza this week with the assistance of the Egyptian Red Crescent after bing flown to Cairo.

The total aid being flown in amounts to some seven tonnes of medicines such as antibiotics, vitamins and food supplements for children and expectant mothers.

Other items include sutures, syringes and needles, surgical gloves, dressings and many different types of medical and surgical consumables. Almost all are intended for primary care centres and will be donated to the Palestine Medical Relief Society’s clinics.

McNeill, who has been an MSP since 1997, has been involved in seeking justice for the Palestinians since her student days. She was a strident opponent of the Iraq war and has also spoken out against US and Israeli threats against Iran.
2220**345**1424

 

End News / IRNA / News Code 462359

Anti-Zionist Jews protest Israeli Independence Day (Yom Atsmaut)

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/04/29/18591862.php

 

Anti-Zionist Jews protest Israeli Independence Day (Yom Atsmaut)

by al-masakin
Wednesday Apr 29th, 2009 3:20 PM

Statement of late Satmar Rebbe
Joel Teitelbaum יואל טייטלבוים‎ (1887-1979)
Concerning Yom Atsmaut (Israel Independence Day)

neturei.karta.29april09.pdf
download PDF (181.1 KB)

A STATEMENT FROM
THE LATE SATMAR REBBE JOEL TEITELBAUM
CONCERNING THE ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE DAY
We must not minimize the seriousness of the grave sin of rejoicing, or appearing to rejoice and making a festival on the terrible Day of Blasphemy, that they call: “Yom Atsmaut” (Israeli Independence Day). The day that the members of the conspiracy against G-d and His Messiah, established their Kingdom of Atheism over the Jewish People, by uprooting the Holy Torah and the Faith. At that time, the shedding of blood of myriad’s upon myriad’s of Jews began.

This is much worse than accepting idolatry, because they not only accept it, but celebrate and rejoice in the terrible rebellion against G-d and His Holy Torah. There are many sinners and even deniers of the Faith, whose hearts trouble them, because they are not serving G-d, but they are unable to stand up against temptation and against deceitful ideologies that confuse them. However, those who rejoice in this sin, are guilty of much worse, blasphemy.

May the Merciful save us from them and from their followers, and strengthen our hearts and enlighten our eyes in His Torah and in His Service.

May His name be blessed.

Va’Yoel Moshe, vol 2 chap. 157, by The Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of Satmar ZT”L

Statement of Neturei Karta,
Yom Atsmaut 2009

ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE DAY

A Day of Mourning for Torah Faithful Jews
While the Zionists celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the so called “State” of Israel, the worldwide Jewish community, faithful to the teachings of G-d and the Torah, gather to commemorate this anniversary as a day of sorrow and tragedy.
The founding of the Zionist State is in direct contradiction to the teachings of the Torah, which forbids the establishment of a Jewish State and commands Jews to remain in exile until released from that exile by G-d Himself without any human intervention. At which time all Nations of the world will live together in peace.

Two thousand years ago, at the time of the destruction of the holy Temple, the Jewish people were commanded by the Creator (kesubos 111a)
 Not to go up en masse to the land of Israel
 Not to rebel against the nations
 Not to in any way attempt to end the exile
Torah faithful Jews are to behave in a civil, honest and grateful manner towards their host nations throughout the world.
The Zionist intervention against G-d’s will by establishing the ‘State of Israel’, represents a direct rebellion against G-d and the Torah, a rebellion which has generated untold pain and suffering, to Jew and non-Jew alike.

On the anniversary of the founding of this heretical Zionist State, Torah true Jews mourn the attempt to transform Judaism from a religion into a secular entity and the attempt to uproot the Torah teachings. We mourn the sacrilege it has produced: desecration of the Sabbath, loss of modesty, and a litany of violations against many laws of our faith and Jewish teachings, amongst them the command of compassion for our fellow beings.

We mourn the subjugation, expulsion and horrific oppression of the Palestinian people, in a continuing chain of events, from the time of the foundation of the ‘State’, culminating in the recent tragic onslaught on Gaza. The list goes on and on…
On the tragic day of this anniversary, we fast and gather in Synagogues around the world, praying for a total, speedy and peaceful dismantlement of the heretical Zionist ‘State of Israel’, to be replaced by a free Palestine and a free Jerusalem entirely in accordance with the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

May we then merit that this year will be the year when the glory of the Almighty will be revealed over the whole world, when all nations will live in peace and join together in the service of one G-d, soon in our days. Amen.

Israeli Independence Day 2007 on the streets of Jerusalem. The big banner reads in Hebrew: “We mourn 59 years of Zionist rebellion against G-d and His Torah.”

Israeli Independence Day Events currently scheduled (more are planned but not finalized):
Date: Wednesday, April 29th 2009
Jerusalem 7:00 PM – Ein Yakov, Me’a She’arim
Beit Shemesh 1:15 – PM 4 Hilel St. Ramat Beit Shemesh 2,
Downtown Montreal – April 29 in front of the Israeli consulate at noon
Protest against the Salute to Israel Parade 2009 – Sunday May 31st
New York City: 5th Av and 59th St at 12 noon
————————————————————
Al-Masakin News Agency
http://almasakinnnewsagency.wordpress.com

At least three dozen CIA ghost detainees are missing

 

RIGHTS-US: Dozens of CIA “Ghost Prisoners” Missing
By William Fisher

NEW YORK, Apr 24 (IPS) – At least three dozen detainees who were held in the CIA’s secret prisons overseas appear to be missing – and efforts by human rights organisations to track their whereabouts have been unsuccessful.

The story of these “ghost prisoners” was comprehensively documented last week by Pro Publica, an online investigative journalism group.

In September 2007, Michael V. Hayden, then director of the CIA, said, “fewer than 100 people had been detained at CIA’s facilities.” One memo released last week confirmed that the CIA had custody of at least 94 people as of May 2005 and “employed enhanced techniques to varying degrees in the interrogations of 28 of these.”

Former President George W. Bush publicly acknowledged the CIA programme in September 2006, and transferred 14 prisoners from the secret jails to Guantanamo. Many other prisoners, who had “little or no additional intelligence value,” Bush said, “have been returned to their home countries for prosecution or detention by their governments.”

But Bush did not reveal their identities or whereabouts – information that would have allowed the International Committee for the Red Cross to find them – or the terms under which the prisoners were handed over to foreign jailers.

The U.S. government has never released information describing the threat any of them posed. Some of the prisoners have since been released by third countries holding them, but it is still unclear what has happened to dozens of others, and no foreign governments have acknowledged holding them.

Gitanjali Gutierrez, an attorney with the Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR), which represents Majid Khan, a former ghost detainee at Guantánamo, told IPS, “The Obama administration must change course from its ‘forward-looking’ path because it leaves too many critical questions unanswered, including those about the fate of ghost prisoners held by the United States.”

“The United States is strong enough to examine the CIA and other agencies’ activities, to punish individuals who violated our laws, and to ensure that our nation does not slip to the dark side again,” she said.

Pro Publica reported that former officials in the Bush administration said that the CIA spent weeks during the summer of 2006 – shortly before Bush acknowledged the CIA prisons and suspended the programme – transferring prisoners to Pakistani, Egyptian and Jordanian custody.

The organisation said the population inside the programme had been shrinking since the existence of the prisons was detailed in a Washington Post article in November 2005. Renewed diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Libya in May 2006 made it possible for the CIA to turn over Libyan prisoners to Moammar Gadhafi’s control.

Joanne Mariner, director of the Terrorism and Counterterrorism Programme at Human Rights Watch, said, “If these men are now rotting in some Egyptian dungeon, the administration can’t pretend that it’s closed the door on the CIA programme.”

“Making the Justice Department memos on the CIA’s secret prison programme public was an important first step, but the Obama administration needs to reveal the fate and whereabouts of every person who was held in CIA custody,” she said.

The Red Cross has had access to and documented the experiences of only the 14 so-called “high value detainees” who were publicly moved out of the CIA programme and into the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

In June 2007, human rights groups released the names of three dozen people whose fates remained unknown.

“Until the U.S. government clarifies the fate and whereabouts of these individuals, these people are still disappeared, and disappearance is one of the most grave international human rights violations,” said Margaret Satterthwaite, a law professor at New York University. “We clearly don’t know the story of everyone who has been through the programme. We need to find out where they are and what happened.”

In a related development, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has asked the Obama administration to make public records pertaining to the detention and treatment of prisoners held at the Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

The ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records pertaining to the number of people currently detained at Bagram and their names, citizenship, place of capture and length of detention. The ACLU is also seeking records pertaining to the process afforded those prisoners to challenge their detention and designation as “enemy combatants.”

“The U.S. government’s detention of hundreds of prisoners at Bagram has been shrouded in complete secrecy. Bagram houses far more prisoners than Guantánamo, in reportedly worse conditions and with an even less meaningful process for challenging their detention, yet very little information about the Bagram facility or the prisoners held there has been made public,” said Melissa Goodman, staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project.

She told IPS, “Without transparency, we can’t be sure that we’re doing the right thing – or even holding the right people – at Bagram.”

Recent news reports suggest that the U.S. government is detaining more than 600 individuals at Bagram, including not only Afghan citizens captured in Afghanistan but also an unknown number of foreign nationals captured thousands of miles from Afghanistan and brought to Bagram.

Some of these prisoners have been detained for as long as six years without access to counsel, and only recently have been permitted any contact with their families. At least two Bagram prisoners have died while in U.S. custody, and Army investigators concluded that the deaths were homicides.

“When prisoners are in American custody and under American control, no matter the location, our values and commitment to the rule of law are at stake,” said Jonathan Hafetz, staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project. “Now that President Obama has taken the positive step of ordering Guantánamo shut down, it is critical that we don’t permit ‘other Gitmos’ to continue elsewhere.”

The ACLU’s request is addressed to the Departments of Defence, Justice and State, as well as the CIA.

A federal judge recently ruled that three prisoners being held by the U.S. at Bagram can challenge their detention in U.S. courts, in habeas corpus suits brought by a group of human rights legal advocates.

The prisoners, who were captured outside of Afghanistan and are not Afghan citizens, have been held there for more than six years without charge or access to counsel. The Obama administration is appealing the ruling.

(END/2009)

Palestinian man breaks record as longest held political prisoner, 31 years

 

Palestinian to break record for longest-held political prisoner

Date: 29 / 04 / 2009  Time:  12:54

Bethlehem – Ma’an – On Friday, 1 May, Palestinian Nael Barghouthi will become the world’s record-holder as the longest-held political prisoner. Barghouthi will have completed more than 31 years in Israeli custody by May, said Abd An-Nasser Farawna, a Palestinian specialist in prisoners affairs. On Friday, Barghouthi will break the Guinness World Record, which is currently held by Sa’id Al-Ataba, a Palestinian who was also in Israeli custody. According to Farawna, Barghouthi was detained on 4 April 1978. He became the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner after his fellow prisoner, Sa’id Al-Ataba, was released on 25 August 2008 after efforts made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Al-Ataba spent 31 years and 26 days in Israeli custody. Barghouthi was born in 1957 in Ramallah in the central West Bank. He was detained on 4 April 1978 at the age of 21, and an Israeli military court later sentenced him to life imprisonment. He has already been in prison ten years longer than he was free. ***Get breaking news from Palestine: Click to follow Ma’an on Twitter.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calls Zionists world’s most hated group, calls Zionism a form of racism

News number: 8802091355 18:38 | 2009-04-29 Politics

President Calls Zionists “Most Hated Group” TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underlined on Wednesday that Zionists are the most hated group in the world.

“Today, Zionists and their masters know that they are the most hated groups in the view of the world nations,” Ahmadinejad told a large and fervent congregation of people of Shiraz in the southern province of Fars. “At the (anti-racism Durban Review) Conference in Geneva Zionists endeavored to omit the phrase “The Zionist regime (of Israel) is equal to Racism” and tried to repeat what they had done to Holocaust on racism,” he added. The Iranian president further strongly criticized supporters of the Zionist regime’s behavior towards those who question the Holocaust, and said, “They said that the Holocaust is a reality and nobody has the right to question or raise doubt about it.” Regarding events during his speech in Durban 2 conference, Ahmadinejad noted, “Those who claim to be advocates of freedom of expression intended to disrupt a meeting which was held for the free expression of ideas.” As the Iranian president was delivering a speech to the conference, a participant sought to insult him by throwing an object to his face, but over 4500 representatives of the NGOs and human rights activists attending the convention asked the Iranian president to continue his address and gave him repeated applause. Following the incident, a minority of representatives from 23 organizations and states left the hall in protest at Ahmadinejad’s speech. But thousands of others, including the United Nations representatives remained in the hall as Ahmadinejad continued, calling Israel a cruel and racist state and accusing Zionists of using the Holocaust as an excuse to steal Arab land. Ahmadinejad also called Zionism a form of racism.

FNA to open Tajik Bureau Thursday

FNA’s Office in Tajikistan to Kick off Work Tomorrow TEHRAN (FNA)- Fars News Agency will open a corresponding office in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe on Thursday to cover developments in Central Asia.

The office will be officially inaugurated in a ceremony to be attended by FNA Managing Director Hamid Reza Moghaddam-Far and a number of ranking Tajik officials. The Dushanbe office will be the first in a series of corresponding offices to be opened in the Central Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and Afghanistan by FNA’s regional office.

Photos: Non-Aligned Movement in Havana, April 29

 

 

Wed Apr 29, 1:25 PM ET

Members of the presidential coordinating bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement summit attend in Havana April 29, 2009. Cuban President Raul Castro repeated on Wednesday an offer to discuss “everything” with the United States to try to improve ties, but said Cuba did not have to make conciliatory “gestures” to its long-time enemy.REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa (CUBA POLITICS)

 

Wed Apr 29, 3:07 PM ET

Foreign Ministers and representatives of the 116 member nations of the Non-Aligned Movement pose for a group photo in Havana April 29, 2009.REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa (CUBA POLITICS)

 

 

Wed Apr 29, 2:58 PM ET

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro attends a group photo session at the Ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana April 29, 2009.REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa (CUBA POLITICS)

 

 

Wed Apr 29, 1:49 PM ET

 

 

Members of the Myanmar delegations attend the opening of a ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana April 29, 2009.

REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa (CUBA POLITICS)

 

Wed Apr 29, 1:30 PM ET

Members of Syria delegation attend the opening of a ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana April 29, 2009.REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa (CUBA POLITICS)

 

 

Wed Apr 29, 1:06 PM ET

Cuba’s President Raul Castro (R) arrive for a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana April 29, 2009.REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa (CUBA POLITICS

 

 

Wed Apr 29, 12:50 PM ET

Cuba’s President Raul Castro attends the opening of a Ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana April 29, 2009.REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa (CUBA POLITICS)

 

 

Wed Apr 29, 1:11 PM ET

United Nations General Assembly Chief Miguel d’Escoto addresses the audience during the opening of a Ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana April 29, 2009.REUTERS/Enrique De La Osa (CUBA POLITICS)

 

 

 

Wed Apr 29, 12:32 PM ET

Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki attends a ministerial meeting for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Havana, Wednesday, April 29, 2009. The delegates are meeting in preparation for the upcoming 15th NAM summit, to take place in Egypt July 11-16.(AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

Photo: Palestinian children celebrate “Jerusalem, Capital of Arab Culture 2009″ in Tulkarem

Mon Apr 27, 12:51 PM ET

Back-dropped by a mural painting of Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock Mosque, Palestinian school children dressed in traditional clothes hold up toy swords as they participate at a cultural event to mark Jerusalem as the capital of Arab culture for 2009, in the West Bank city of Tulkarem, Monday, April 27, 2009.(AP Photo Mohammed Ballas)

Mon Apr 27, 12:46 PM ET

Back-dropped by a mural painting of Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock Mosque, Palestinian school children dressed in traditional clothes wave flags as they participate at a cultural event to mark Jerusalem as the capital of Arab culture for 2009, in the West Bank city of Tulkarem, Monday, April 27, 2009.(AP Photo Mohammed Ballas)

 

Iran’s former President Mohammad Khatami: attempt to change name of Persian Gulf is a move by Arab expansionists

Arab states moves on Persian Gulf, political action: Khatami Service: Foreign Policy 1388/02/09 04-29-2009 14:25:49 News Code :8802-06224

ISNA – Tehran Service: Foreign Policy TEHRAN (ISNA)-Iran’s former President Mohammad Khatami said movements of certain Arab states on Persian Gulf are political actions sponsored by expansionists.     There is no doubt that the name of the Iranian sea will be never changed since changing the historical name of a place is a political move which casts doubt on territorial integrity and identity of Iranians, Khatami told reporters after Persian Gulf meeting for arrangement of Persian Gulf encyclopedia in Tehran Wednesday. No honorable person can permit his national interests and identity be violated, he said. Iran’s presence in the issue does not mean it is seeking a share, but it defends freedom and justice, Khatami added. Also Iran’s Supreme Leader Advisor on International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati taking part at the conference said the issue of Persian Gulf is so important that Iran should keep its stance even if some Arab countries refuse to attend Islamic Solidarity Games in Iran. Saudi Arabia has recently said it will take part in the matches if Iran removes the name of Persian Gulf on medals and brochures of the competitions. The name of Arab Gulf was first used by British agents working in mandated Arab Sheikhs territories, he said adding a British political representative in Persian Gulf Roderick Oven wrote his book “Golden Bulbs at Arabic Gulf” in 1958 in which he said “I had not seen any name expect Persian Gulf in geographical books and maps before, but having lived in Persian Gulf coasts I found only Arab people live there, so it is polite to call it Arab Gulf.” Also Sir Charles Belgrio who served as British political representative in Persian Gulf for 30 years published a book and claimed Arab people prefer to name the sea Arab Gulf, he added. The former Foreign Minister continued historical documents including Arab and European books all stress that the name of the area has always been Persian Gulf. Also the former Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Akbar Neteq Nouri speaking to the reporters said Iran will not exchage the name of Persian Gulf with anything even if some countries decline to take part in sport competitions in Iran. End Item News Code: 8802-06224

Syria at NAM summit today in Havana, Cuba

Syria Participates in Ministerial Meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the NAM   Apr 29, 2009

Havana, (SANA) – The Ministerial Meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) kicked off on Wednesday at the Cuban capital Havana with the attendance of Cuban President and current Secretary General of the NAM Raul Castro Ruz, with the participation of a Syrian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mikdad. President Raul Castro gave an opening speech defining the priorities of the NAM in the upcoming stage, stressing the importance of respecting sovereignty, not interfering in the internal affairs of countries, and respecting peoples’ rights of self-determination away from military interference and foreign occupation. He also called for holding those responsible for aggression and war crimes accountable, particularly the crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people. President of the UN General Assembly Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann gave a speech affirming that the principles that the NAM was founded upon are still valid after 60 years, underlining the need to end all forms of domination, aggression and hegemony which are represented most clearly by Zionism. He also criticized the current international system, calling for a more just and fair system. Syria was elected as Deputy President of the Ministerial Meeting, which will discuss the reports listed on its agenda and a number of political, economic and social resolutions that will specify the NAM’s stance regarding various issues on the international scene. H. Sabbagh / Mazen

Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki to attend NAM summit in Havana on Thursday

Mottaki to attend NAM meeting Thursday Service: Foreign Policy 1388/02/09 04-29-2009 15:29:42 News Code :8802-06379

ISNA – Tehran Service: Foreign Policy TEHRAN (ISNA)-Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will participate in Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting in Havana on Thursday.   The previous NAM meeting was held in Tehran in which over 100 countries participated. NAM summit will also be held in Cuba soon. End Item News Code: 8802-06379

Iran rejects Saudi attempt to change name of Persian Gulf to Arabian Gulf

Larijani Calls Attempts to Change Persian Gulf Name “Worthless” TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Tuesday that attempts to change the name of the Persian Gulf are worthless and harmful to the region.

“The name of Persian Gulf will not change by worthless attempts, forums and debates. Countries should wisely and intelligently protect regional interests,” Larijani told reporters.

He underlined that such provocative moves will be harmful to the region, and added, “The problem of Arab countries will not be solved by such actions.”

“Arabs pose themselves to useless tests by changing the name of this large Gulf,” Larijani noted.

Saudi Arabia has announced that it would take part in the Islamic Solidarity Games, if only Iran uses the term Arabian Gulf in lieu of the original Persian Gulf.

The Islamic Solidarity Games is a multinational, multi-sport event, governed by the Islamic Solidarity Games Federation (ISSF).

In a meeting held in Tehran, ISSF Secretary General Saleh Gazdar and ISSF Technical Committee Chairman Mohammad Bashir Al-Trabosli asked Iranian officials to remove the term Persian Gulf from all game medals and brochures.

The Iranian parliament speaker further highlighted Tehran’s friendly behavior towards the Arab countries, and stressed that Iran believes in its brotherly ties with the Arab world.

Larijani further called for convergence and solidarity among regional states.

Historians and ancient texts refer to the waterway as the Pars Sea and the Persian Gulf since the Achaemenid Empire was established in Iran.

Although no written document exists pertaining to the time before the Persian Empire, the oral history and culture has always referred to Iran’s southern waters as ‘Jam Sea’, ‘Iran Sea’ and ‘Pars Sea’. Jam or Jamshid has been one of most well-known and revered kings of Ancient Persia.

Round five of Fatah-Hamas talks to be held in Cairo May 16-17

Next round of Palestinian dialogue on May 16 — official source

Politics    4/28/2009 11:11:00 PM

CAIRO, April 28 (KUNA) — The fifth round of dialogue between the two major Palestianian organizations will be held in Cairo on May 16-17 to thrash out some of the remaining pending issues, an official source said on Tuesday. The source told the official Egyptian news agency, the Middle East News Agency (MENA), that the the fourth round of dialogue that involved officials of Fatah and Hamas, held under Egyptian sponsorship, ended with a consensus on a number of topics. Further talks are needed to reach agreements on some matters, the source added. Officials indicated that the two sides discussed mechanisms of elections for membership in leading authorities. (end) rg.rk KUNA 282311 Apr 09NNNN

New York prayer leader meets SG of Association of Terror Victims’ Families (Habilian) and Iranian FM Mottaki to discuss American support for terrorist MKO

New York Friday prayer leader meets Secretary General of Habilian

According to Habilian Association (terror victims’ family) database, in a meeting with Feisal Abdol Rauf, New York Friday prayer leader, Secretary General of Habilian Association disclosed new aspects of MKO crimes inside Iran as well as Iraq.
Mr. Abdol Rauf who is a prominent Islamic leader in the West is also an Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at St. Joseph’s College’s Brooklyn Campus in Brooklyn, New York and founder of the Cordoba Initiative which aims to connect the Muslim world with the West. He has also founded American Society for Muslim advancement.

In this meeting and along with enumerating MKO crimes in both Iran and Iraq, Seyyed Mohammad Javad Hshemi Nejad asked Abdol Rauf:” How is it that America hails change and establishing relationships with Iran while takes advantage of terrorist groups in order to cause insecurity and instability inside Iran? Isn’t it America’s double standard to designate a group as terrorist and support it at the same time?

Secretary General of Habilian Association referred to the last year report by distinguished American journalist and news writer Seymour Hersh which unveiled that the U.S Congress had agreed to a request from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran for which the President sought up to four hundred million dollars in order to covertly destabilize the Islamic Republic in Iran via applying terrorist groups like MKO, Jundollah and P.K.K and said: after the downfall of Saddam, it was supposed that terrorist groups be uprooted from Iraq;

but not only it didn’t happen but also America changed into major support for terrorists in Iraq making obstacles on the way of their expulsion from Iraq.
In this meeting Feisal Abdol Rauf condemned, in his turn, terrorism in all shapes and demanded the expulsion of all terrorist groups from Iraq. He also hoped that he could enlighten American politicians and make those who have been deceived by terrorist groups not to support them any more.
Note worthily New York Friday prayer leader also had a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Sunday.

Lebanon to file complaint against Israel for violation of U.N. Resolution 1701

Lebanon Plans to Complain to U.N. About Israel-Linked Cells

Lebanon could file a complaint to the United Nations after documenting the results of investigations that authorities are carrying out on several networks accused of spying for Israel. Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said Tuesday that Lebanon could resort to the U.N. and inform it about results of probes on several cells accused of working with the Israeli Mossad, in violation of Security Council Resolution 1701. Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities continued questioning several members of a cell arrested in the past few days in Sidon, Zebdin, Nabatiyeh and Marjayoun. Al-Liwaa newspaper said several other people were arrested in a number of southern and eastern towns. Authorities are questioning them in secrecy to find out their relations with some of the accused.

Beirut, 28 Apr 09, 09:4