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

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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.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 462359