Jailed woman criticises 'hypocrisy' of Dubai laws

A British woman jailed for kissing a man in public in Dubai has spoken of the "hypocrisy" of the Emirate's strict decency laws. Charlotte Adams from Essex was arrested with Ayman Najafi last November after a local woman complained they had been seen kissing on the mouth in a restaurant. [Guardian] Read more

Adulterer to be lashed, jailed in Sharjah

The Sharjah Sharia Court of First Instance sentenced an Arab man to 100 lashes, one year in jail and deportation while his partner will be jailed for six months for adultery and one month for staying illegally in the country, followed by deportation.

The Syrian man, identified as B.M., was accused of committing adultery with a Filipino woman, identified as R.S. Both of them were also accused of having a child outside wedlock. [Gulf News] Read more [via Religious Watch]

'Why are Muslims so hypersensitive?'

She says Islam is backward and the Qur'an is terrible. But Ayaan Hirsi Ali – whose provocative new book is extracted here – is not about to let a fatwa intimidate her. It was after fleeing an arranged .... marriage and settling as an asylum-seeker in Holland that Hirsi Ali converted from Islam to atheism with the kind of zeal that usually powers journeys going the other way.

She can, she has said, make statements that a white person simply could not: on the "dangers" posed to the west not just by radical, but by regular Islam; on the "backward" nature of the religion; on how "terrible" the Qur'an is; and, in the most startling argument of her new book, Nomad (a follow-up to her bestselling memoir Infidel), how Muslims would do well to learn from Christianity. [guardian.co.uk] Read more

Islam Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry

.... In general, modern extremist Islam doesn’t hold with psychological explanations for behavior. A culture based on submission doesn’t leave a lot of room for emotional nuance. Thus, when “youths” become entangled with the criminal justice system in the West (be it juvenile or adult), that clanging you hear is the sound of dissonance in the extreme.

Dr. Sennels’ experience, both within the system in which he worked and with individual delinquents, is instructive — sadly so. However, it is inherent in academic pioneering to experience social isolation and even enmity from colleagues who have no desire to risk looking at the truth of the situation. [Gates of Vienna] Read more

Italy: Third council to fine burqa wearers

The northern city of Cossato on Friday became the third local authority in Italy to impose fines on women who cover their faces in public. The head-to-toe Islamic burqa and the niqab, which leaves the eyes visible are not specifically named in the by-law but are understood to be its target.

The fines will range from 25 to 100 euros. Elsewhere in northern Italy, Varallo and Novara city councils have already imposed fines on burqa and niqab wearers. [AKI] Read more

Is there a "liberal" or "radical" Islam?

In Switzerland, a majority voted for a ban on minarets; in France and in Belgium, the Islamic headscarf is being heavily debated; in Italy the crucifix is coming under fire. And also here in Germany the debate surrounding Muslims is often hysterical. Why do Europeans fear religious symbols or "foreign" religions so much? [Globalia Magazine] Read more [via Islam in Europe]

Iran detains 80 youths for illegal "pleasure seeking"

Iranian police detained 80 young men and women for "lustful pleasure-seeking" activities at an illegal concert, Tehran's chief prosecutor was quoted as saying on Friday.

The socially conservative Islamic Republic launched a crackdown two years ago on "indecent Western-inspired movements", such as rappers and satanists, as part of a widening clampdown on conduct the authorities deem immoral. [Reuters - Iran Focus] Read more [via Mick Hartley]

Robber dons burka in Bury jeweller's shop raid

A robber posed as a woman in a burka to get past staff at a jeweller's in Greater Manchester. The man used the disguise to get into Capri Jewellers on Benson Street, Bury, on Wednesday afternoon.

As soon as he was buzzed in he let in three other men, one armed with a gun, and they stole a large amount of jewellery before escaping. Detectives said the robbery showed "detailed planning" and are appealing for information. [BBC] Read more

Taliban cut off hands of three Pakistan tribesmen

Pakistani Taliban facing a fierce government military operation in a tribal area severed the right hands of three alleged thieves after a Taliban Islamic court found them guilty.

The amputees, who were brought to a hospital in the northeastern city of Kohat for excessive bleeding, accused the Taliban of victimizing them for belonging to the area of a former Taliban commander who broke away from the group, according to media reports. [AlArabiya.net] Read more [via Religious Watch]

Migrant contracts show first fruit

Integration contracts for migrants, introduced two years ago, have had some success in Switzerland - but there is still room for improvement, a study has found. Some cantons have taken a harder tack than others. Meanwhile, critics have warned that migrants should not be forced to integrate.

.... It defines the migrant’s aims, such as attaining a language fluency level or attending an integration course. If these goals are not reached, sanctions may be imposed. People from around 45 nations have been involved so far. Study leader .... said that while all five cantons wanted better integration, they had chosen different paths. [SwissInfo] Read more [via Islam in Europe]

The German Connection

.... As a practical philosophy, Islamism can be traced back to an Egyptian schoolteacher named Hasan al-Banna. In 1928 he founded the Muslim Brotherhood, a group devoted to restoring a fundamentalist idea of Islam to government and society alike.

At the time, thinkers in the Muslim world were obsessed by the West's colonial dominance and by their own civilization's decline. Banna was a populist who aimed his idea of Islamic revival at a wide audience by putting his thoughts—and his rigid interpretation of the Koran—into plain words.

The movement tried to broaden its appeal still further by emphasizing social justice and providing welfare services. The Muslim Brotherhood's methods have inspired Islamists ever since, including, today, the members of al Qaeda and Hamas. [The Wall Street Journal] Read more [via Islam in Europe]

Saudi king's photo brings women's rights into focus

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia is not normally associated with radical moves but the 85-year-old monarch is making waves with signals encouraging greater tolerance of women's rights.

In recent days Abdullah's appearance in an unusual group photograph has become a talking point across his realm and the wider Arab world. The king and his brother Crown Prince Sultan were flanked by 40 women dressed in modest abayas but mostly with their faces bare, a novelty that is seen as evidence of rare liberalism at the top. [guardian.co.uk] Read more

For Australia's sake, we need to ban the burqa

The burqa is no longer simply the symbol of female repression and Islamic culture, it is now emerging as a disguise of bandits and n'er do wells.

In Sydney this morning a man was robbed by a burqa wearing bandit who further disguised his (or her) identity by wearing sunglasses. The bandit was described by police as being of "Middle Eastern appearance". [The Sydney Morning Herald] Read more

'I have to keep her indoors now': Muslim husband's shocking response as wife is first to be fined £430 for wearing a burka

A husband has vowed to keep his wife indoors after she became the first woman in Italy to be fined for wearing a burka in public.

Amel Marmouri, 26, was handed the 500 euro (£430) penalty after she was spotted queuing inside a post office by police with her body and face fully covered by the garment. She was warned she would receive another fine if she were spotted again in her burka. [MailOnline] Read more

Imam tells Italy that wearing of veil is in tradition of the Madonna Veiled Muslim women have become the true upholders of western traditions of female dress, says Italy's top imam, who angrily condemned the decision to fine a woman in Italy for wearing a veil that completely covered her features.

The incident, which took place in the northern Italian town of Novara, was the first of its kind in Europe. Izzedin Elzir, the president of the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy (UCOII) and a former fashion designer, said: "If we go and see the beautiful artistic representations of the Madonna, we see her with the veil. We don't see her semi-naked, I think. [guardian.co.uk] Read more

Muslim husband confirms what we already knew: burqa-wearers are mere chattels LAME-BRAINED apologists who argue that Islamic face coverings ought to be tolerated in Western societies because they are a symbol of piety, or of modesty, periodically even go so far as to insist that women aren’t compelled to wear sinister abominations like the burqa. Some even claim that such garments are “empowering”.

This, of course, is utter bullshit – and was exposed as such when a Muslim living in Novara, Italy, declared that he would have no option but to place his wife under house arrest if the law prevented her from venturing out looking like a perambulating black pillar-box. [The Freethinker] Read more

All parties must stand up to Islamophobia

The intolerance towards Muslims must not be tolerated, but the main political parties have not pledged to take sufficient action to combat anti-Muslim prejudice. Legitimate criticism of Muslims who spew extremist rhetoric and commit criminal acts is acceptable.

However, the ugly trend of bigotry against law-abiding Muslims sweeping Europe should not be ignored by whoever comes into power as it is influencing debate here in the UK. …. Recently traffic police in France fined a Muslim woman for wearing a face veil while driving based on her not having sufficient field of vision. She was able to see as well as motorcyclists wearing helmets – but they are not being fined.

[Comment] .... the accusation, so beloved by certain types of commentators, of 'Islamophobia', you've used it too often, it doesn't have any sting anymore, except to mark you out as unable to engage in reasonable discussion with the majority community. So what are you offering to do to adapt yourselves to the majority? [Guardian Cif] Read more

Saudi liberals see hope as clerics argue over gender segregation

Divisions among senior Saudi clerics over the legality of gender segregation could mark a new drive by reformers allied to King Abdullah to push social reforms in the puritanical Islamic state.

The divisions came to the open when the kingdom’s morals police, or the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, reversed a decision to sack Ahmad al-Ghamdi, its regional head for the Mecca region. [Reuters Faith World] Read more

Aceh Drafts Regional Ban on Non-Islamic Broadcasts

Provincial office of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission said it has proposed a draft regulation to ban non-islamic contents of broadcasting the province, to the provincial house which draw partial or total rejection from scholars and journalists.

.... a member of the Provincial Broadcasting .... said the specific law or Qanun will authorize the regional authorities to impose further censorship on “all film or television and radio production despite having past the National Censorship Body.” [TEMPO INTERAKTIF.COM] Read more [via Censor Watch]

Banning hijab no rights violation, court says

Sheriff's deputies did not violate a Muslim woman's rights by forcing her to remove her hijab, a religiously mandated headscarf, in a courthouse holding cell, a federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled Monday.

Souhair Khatib sued Orange County for damages under a federal law that prohibits government agencies from imposing a "substantial burden" on the right to practice one's religion in a prison, jail or pretrial detention facility. She said her religion forbids her to expose her head or neck to men outside her immediate family. [The San Francisco Chronicle] Read more [via Islamophobia Watch]

An £18 million “mega-mosque” at the centre of a far-right protest has been scrapped

Members of the English Defence League blasted out recordings of an Islamic call to prayer after scaling a disused building. Masked extremists ignored threats of arrest for inciting religious and racial hatred and unveiled banners saying “No to the burka” and “No mosque”. [Daily Star] Read more [via National Secular Society]

Dudley mosque plan scrapped Plans to build an £18 million mosque in Dudley town centre have been scrapped, the Express & Star can reveal today. The scheme to build a mosque with 65ft minaret on derelict land in Hall Street attracted huge protests, but has now been ditched by the Dudley Muslim Association.

Deputy council leader, Les Jones, told the Express & Star today the DMA had agreed instead to redevelop the existing mosque in Castle Hill, after months of delicate negotiations. [Express & Star] Read more [via Islam in Europe]

Tan ban in Iran

YOU can always rely on the mad, mad word of Islam to produce the wackiest stories in the world – but for sheer lunacy this month Iran beats all competition.

.... Tehran police chief Brig Gen Hossien Sajedinia – head of what some are now calling the Taniban – has warned that all women sporting a tan will be arrested and imprisoned because the look violates the “spirit of Islamic law.” Thus, any woman that looked like a “walking mannequin” will be punished.

.... And what about this statement, Sue? "We are not going to tolerate this situation, and will first warn those found in this manner and then arrest and imprison them." How the bloody hell can you “warn” someone who has a tan? What are they supposed to do – go home and take it off immediately? [The Freethinker] Read more

A Swiss canton on Tuesday passed legislation preparing the groundwork for a possible ban on the Islamic burqa

The local council in Aargau, a canton (state) in the north of Switzerland along the German border, voted overwhelmingly to work on a state initiative to make wearing the burqa in public places illegal. Most major parties backed the move.

Pushing the motion forward, the centrist and right wing parties in favour said the garment was a "symbol of male dominance over women," according to the Swiss news agency SDA. The parties also said the full body veil prevents the integration of migrants into Swiss society. [The Earth Times] Read more [via Islamophobia Watch]

Controversial Muslim group kept out of dialogue

The controversial Islamic Central Council of Switzerland (ICCS) will not be invited to take part in talks between the justice minister and Swiss Muslim groups. The head of the Migration Office, Alard du Bois-Reymond, met a delegation of the ICCS on Tuesday and said it was “unthinkable in present circumstances” for them to take part in the planned dialogue.

He said the organisation must distance itself explicitly from the stoning of women and give up its demand to create a fatwa council. The ICCS says such a council is needed as a theological authority for dealing with Islamic issues. [SwissInfo] Read more [via Islam in Europe]

'South Park' and the Informal Fatwa

.... Another idea is to do stories of Muhammad where his image is shown as much as possible. These stories do not have to be negative or insulting, they just need to spread the risk. The aim is to confront hypersensitive Muslims with more targets than they can possibly contend with.

Another advantage of such a campaign is to accustom Muslims to the kind of treatment that the followers of other religions have long been used to. After the "South Park" episode in question there were no threats from Buddhists, Christians and Jews—to say nothing of Tom Cruise and Barbra Streisand fans—all of whom had far more reason to be offended than Muslims.

…. In "South Park," this tyrannical rule is cleverly needled when Tom Cruise asks the question: How come Muhammad is the only celebrity protected from ridicule? Now we know why. [The Wall Street Journal Europe] Read more [via National Secular Society]

No-name radicals vs. ‘South Park’ just a distraction .... This is what I mean by saying the best way to counter free speech is with more free speech, not censorship.

…. Sadly, instead of dealing with the real cases of racism, bigotry and xenophobia regularly injected into our public airwaves by some of our political leaders and opinion makers, we have instead allowed ourselves to get sucked into a faux controversy involving two no-name idiots with a radical website taking on four pre-pubescent, fictitious cartoon characters from South Park, Colorado. [loonwatch.com] Read more

Danish law should take Sharia into account, say researchers

Some Muslims in Denmark marry, divorce and live their lives by special religious, cultural and tradition-regulated laws called Sharia. The Danish law system should take that more into consideration, say three professors of law and Islam, who contributed to a new English-language book on the perceptions of Sharia in Europe - a book which argues for that solution.

"It's a question of basic justice. If flexibility is not practiced from case to case, where people's culture, religion and traditions - including elements from Sharia - are also taken into account, some people are excluded in society from equal access to the justice system," says Jørgen S. Nielsen, professor of Islam at Copenhagen University. [Islam in Europe] Read more

Saudi eases ban on unrelated couples in cars

Unrelated couples caught together in the same vehicle will not automatically face prosecution in Saudi Arabia as the conservative Muslim kingdom relaxes strict rules prohibiting mixing of the sexes, the Saudi Gazette reported.

Under the new rules, unrelated men and women caught in the same vehicle could be pardoned if the circumstances in which they are found do not suggest immoral activities and neither has previous convictions, the local newspaper said on Monday. [Maktoob.com] Read more [via Religious Watch]