http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/effem/ en-us Tue, 1 Jul 2008 21:08:52 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039382/posts Muslims in the Scottish district of Tayside are outraged by the appearance of a wide-eyed, 6-week-old puppy on postcards distributed by the local police force, according to the Daily Mail. Postcards showing police dog-in-training Rebel, a German shepherd born in early December, are causing a furor among the region’s Muslims who believe dogs are "ritually unclean," the Daily Mail reports. The cute cards were meant to notify locals of a new telephone number for non-emergency phone calls but instead have become a flashpoint for a clash of cultures. Shopkeepers are refusing to display the offending ad and a Dundee city... Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039382/posts#comment Tue, 1 Jul 2008 21:08:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030960/posts WASHINGTON — Public opinion in Mexico has turned sharply against the United States over the past decade, and many in America's southern neighbor now hold strongly negative views of President Bush and the candidates vying to replace him, a public opinion survey released Thursday revealed. A Pew Global Attitudes Survey of citizens in Mexico and 23 other countries found that 47 percent of Mexicans have a positive view of the United States, down from 68 percent a decade ago. Nearly half of that decline — 9 percentage points — came since last year, when an anti-immigrant backlash in America inflamed... Houston Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030960/posts#comment Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:02:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004879/posts Muslim scientists and clerics have called for the adoption of Mecca time to replace GMT, arguing that the Saudi city is the true centre of the Earth. ...SNIP... The meeting also reviewed what has been described as a Mecca watch, the brainchild of a French Muslim.br> BBC NEWS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2004879/posts#comment Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:24:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2001294/posts FR rules-link only http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080414/NEWS01/804140302/1002 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2001294/posts#comment Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:18:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1974059/posts Drug cartel hit men have killed a popular Mexican singer, along with his manager and assistant, near the U.S. border, authorities said Wednesday. Jesus Rey David Alfaro, known as the Little Rooster, is one of at least six singers of narcocorrido ballads about drug trafficking who have been slain since Mexico's drug war flared in 2006. "We believe Alfaro had links to the Arellano Felix cartel," said an official with the Baja California attorney general's office, who declined to be named. Alfaro's body was found last week covered with a blanket on the edge of the city, with rope marks... LA Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1974059/posts#comment Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:41:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1936154/posts An official from Sudan says that Westerners going to live in Sudan should have to pass an exam on the local culture ... in other words, be indoctrinated on the Islamic ways of life. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7127128.stm Khalid al Mubarak works at London's Sudan embassy. He says that courses were mandatory in the colonial era and they "worked very well." He says a two-week course could help avoid accidental insults ... like naming a teddy bear after the prophet Muhammad. The courses would be run through government colleges and "should consist of educating somebody of what is acceptable and what is not... Nealz Nuze/WSB Radio http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1936154/posts#comment Fri, 7 Dec 2007 15:45:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1871918/posts "George Mason University: non-Muslim students asked to observe Muslim rules in common prayer area And that's just one of the accommodations being implemented in schools around the country..." Dhimmi Watch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1871918/posts#comment Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:50:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1815995/posts UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Wednesday whether some of the city's police officers could be deployed with U.N. peacekeeping missions. Recruiting police for the U.N.'s 16 peacekeeping missions around the globe has been historically challenging. "New York City has one of the most diversified police forces around and I think the secretary-general would like to explore possibilities," U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said before the meeting. "Getting police to join peacekeeping operations is one of the high priorities for the U.N." Bloomberg left the meeting without speaking to reporters. Stu Loeser, the... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1815995/posts#comment Thu, 12 Apr 2007 05:59:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1788289/posts The War on Terror has radicalised Muslims around the world to unprecedented levels of anti-American feeling, according to the largest survey of Muslims ever to be conducted. Seven per cent believe that the events of 9/11 were “completely justified”. In Saudi Arabia, 79 per cent had an “unfavourable view” of the US. Gallup’s Centre for Muslim Studies in New York carried out surveys of 10,000 Muslims in ten predominantly Muslim countries. One finding was that the wealthier and better-educated the Muslim was, the more likely he was to be radicalised. The surveys were carried out in 2005 and 2006. Along... timesonline http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1788289/posts#comment Wed, 21 Feb 2007 01:53:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1774746/posts The imam of the Taipei Grand Mosque complained to Taiwan's foreign minister for sending him a greeting card for the Chinese New Year showing four pigs, a newspaper said on Saturday. After receiving the New Year card, Imam Ma Hsiao-chi pointed out to the Foreign Ministry that the card was offensive to Muslims, the Liberty Times reported. Muslims do not eat pork and regard pigs as unclean animals. But the ministry defended Foreign Minister Huang Chih-fang's sending out the greeting cards, which were printed because 2007 is the Year of Pig according to the Chinese lunar calendar. "Sending New Year... Playfuls.com | DPA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1774746/posts#comment Sat, 27 Jan 2007 20:39:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1711553/posts MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 30 (AP) — Hundreds of Muslim cabdrivers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport may soon be required to put different colored lights atop their vehicles after refusing to take customers they know are carrying alcohol. The proposal, which would allow airport workers to direct travelers to cabs more efficiently, needs approval from the airport’s taxicab advisory committee, and airport officials hope to have the lights ready by year’s end. If the proposal is adopted, cabdrivers without the light who refuse a fare will be sent to the back of the line, which often means a three-hour wait. Some said... THE ASSOCIATED PRESS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1711553/posts#comment Sun, 1 Oct 2006 12:03:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1703773/posts 18 September, 2006 ISLAM – VATICAN Pope’s explanations not good enough for radical Islam Threats, demonstrations and calls for protest continue in the Muslim world. Iran’s Khamenei talks about a US-Zionist crusade, a Saudi paper evokes a clash of civilisations, al-Qaeda threatens more defeats and an Indonesian group wants to crucify the Pope. Beirut (AsiaNews) – A day of wrath, breaking off diplomatic relations with the Holy See, burning Benedict XVI in effigy, accusing the Pontiff of complicity with the US and Zionism, explanation given not god enough or of no importance, plus other assorted threats, are but some... Asia News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1703773/posts#comment Mon, 18 Sep 2006 21:09:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1703322/posts A spokesman for the Australian Muslim community says Pope Benedict XVI should give a full explanation for his comments about Islam. The pontiff has sparked widespread outrage after last week quoting a 14th century Byzantine emperor who said innovations introduced by the Prophet Mohammed were "evil and inhuman". He has since apologised. The head of the Federal Government's Islamic advisory committee, Dr Ameer Ali, says there is disappointment that Pope Benedict has linked Islam to violence. "We expect the Pope to follow the footsteps of his predecessor, who had been a great builder among communities for so many years, and... Australian Broadcasting Corporation http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1703322/posts#comment Mon, 18 Sep 2006 03:38:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641129/posts The town that voted last year to outlaw spanking voted last night to send President Bush to the woodshed over the Iraq war. Brookline Town Meeting last night voted to impeach the president of the United States in a 104 to 52 vote that was greeted with an eruption of applause and cheers. Jonathan Margolis, who sponsored the article, repeated the embittered claims of the left that Bush lied to the nation and picked and chose which laws his administration would obey. Margolis was forced to defend his proposal against detractors who suggested he was pushing beyond the bounds of... Boston Herald via Brookline townonline http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641129/posts#comment Wed, 31 May 2006 13:25:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1597102/posts Palestinians outraged over "humiliating" way in which PA policemen were treated. IDF soldiers guard Palestinian prisoners during the raid on the Jericho Prison. Photo: AP Hamas legislators are demanding a commission of inquiry into Tuesday's IDF raid on the Jericho prison, as many Palestinians expressed outrage over the "humiliating" way in which scores of Palestinian Authority policemen, stripped to their underwear, surrendered. In a separate development, Hamas spokesman Salah Bardawil announced that the new cabinet could be announced on Thursday. He said Fatah would not join the cabinet, which would consist mostly of ministers who were not members of the... Jerusalem Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1597102/posts#comment Thu, 16 Mar 2006 00:42:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1588419/posts FamilyMediaGuide.com, which tracks incidents of profanity, sex, violence and tobacco use in films, reported Tuesday that "Crash" had 182 expletives, including 99 utterances of the F-word. The movie, about racial tensions in Los Angeles, is nominated for six Oscars, including best picture, best director, best screenplay and best supporting actor. "Brokeback Mountain" ranked second among best picture nominees with 92 curse words, followed by "Munich" with 22, according to FamilyMediaGuide.com. The record for most profanities in a film to win the best picture Oscar is held by the Vietnam War drama "Platoon," with 329. The Vietnam War drama "The Deer... abc13.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1588419/posts#comment Thu, 2 Mar 2006 13:12:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1585063/posts Japan offers U.S. a loan to pay for troop moves Posted: February 23, 2006 The idea of getting US Marines off Okinawa sooner rather than later has reportedly triggered a Japanese offer to front the costs, but on a loan basis. An agreement last Fall called for 7,000 Marines to relocate from the island to Guam, but the $8 billion price tag has caused Japanese lawmakers to blanche. Now, reports circulating through the Japanese capitol suggest the central government will offer to loan the United States the money necessary to make the moves happen quickly. The United States has steadfastly... JapanUpdate.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1585063/posts#comment Fri, 24 Feb 2006 23:16:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1578451/posts Do Muslim prison inmates have a right to specialized meals that include meat? That's the question being asked repeatedly of federal courts in Washington state in a flurry of inmate lawsuits. One case was filed recently by inmate Ronald Keal, and at least three others have been making their way through the courts. Keal and the others say their religion requires that they eat what's known as "halal" meals, which require slaughter of animals in a tightly proscribed manner. Some of the lawsuits ask for substantial monetary damages, while others ask for a change in the meal plan along with... The Seattle Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1578451/posts#comment Tue, 14 Feb 2006 20:37:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1576633/posts RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's top cleric called on the world's Muslims to reject apologies for the "slanderous" caricatures of Islam's Prophet Mohammed and demanded the authors and publishers of the cartoons be tried and punished, Saudi newspapers reported Saturday. Thousands of Muslims, meanwhile, took to the streets in London and several other European cities to protest the drawings that were first published in a Danish newspaper in September and recently reprinted in other European publications. One depicted the prophet with a turban shaped like a bomb with a burning fuse. Denmark also announced it has temporarily withdrawn its... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1576633/posts#comment Sat, 11 Feb 2006 19:55:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1567130/posts The Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) issued a resolution of rejection of the recently House-approved US anti-immigrant law that includes building a wall to curb immigrant entry into the US. The document urges the US Senate to remove regulations which consider immigration a criminal act, violate human rights of illegal immigrants, and establish the construction of a wall in four states bordering Mexico. "The House-approved bill even violates the rights of people yet unborn, as it bans their registration and access to education and health," PARLACEN deputy Alvaro Dubon told Prensa Latina. He said another point of concern is the US... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1567130/posts#comment Sun, 29 Jan 2006 01:34:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1540565/posts MONTERREY, Mexico- President Vicente Fox on Wednesday criticized the United States' decision to strengthen its border security and complete a wall along the border, calling it "shameful and embarrassing." "This situation we're seeing, a shameful, embarrassing moment where walls are being built, security systems are being reinforced, and human and labor rights are being violated more and more, won't protect the economy of the United States," Fox said. On Monday, a U.S. federal judge lifted the final legal barrier allowing for the completion of a border fence along the Mexico-California border. Plans call for two additional fences running parallel to... Corpus Christi Caller-Times/AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1540565/posts#comment Wed, 14 Dec 2005 23:27:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1534946/posts A group of top Muslim clerics have demanded that Orthodox Christian symbols be removed from the Russian coat of arms and have complained about the Russian authorities and power-wielding structures allegedly refusing to abide by the principle of secularity, the Interfax news agency reported. “This is not only a question of the Russian coat of arms. We can say that icons are all but put up on the walls of state offices,” Nafigulla Ashirov, chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Asian Russia, told journalists. He accused units of the Defense and Interior Ministries and the Federal Security Service... Religion News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1534946/posts#comment Tue, 6 Dec 2005 16:24:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1529263/posts A MASSIVE mosque that will hold 40,000 worshippers is being proposed beside the Olympic complex in London to be opened in time for the 2012 Games. The project’s backers hope the mosque and its surrounding buildings would hold a total of 70,000 people, only 10,000 fewer than the Olympic stadium. Its futuristic design features wind turbines instead of the traditional minarets, while a translucent latticed roof would replace the domes seen on most mosques. The complex is designed to become the “Muslim quarter” for the Games, acting as a hub for Islamic competitors and spectators. “It will be something never... The Sunday Times (London) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1529263/posts#comment Sun, 27 Nov 2005 14:44:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1423577/posts Shinnecock Indians In Suit Over Hamptons AP Jun 13, 2005 7:39 am US/Eastern (1010 WINS) SOUTHAMPTON, Long Island The Shinnecock Indians are threatening a lawsuit - claiming they were given title to 36-hundred acres of land in the Hamptons back in 1703 -- and now they want it back. The land includes Southampton College, the Shinnecock Hills Golf Course and some of the most expensive real estate on Long Island's east end. Attorney John Peebles - who represents the Shinnecock Indians - says he will file a lawsuit in U-S District Court in Central Islip this week seeking the land... 1010 WINS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1423577/posts#comment Wed, 15 Jun 2005 21:39:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1414058/posts Some Pakistanis See U.S. As Symbol of Woes By ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press Writer Tue May 31,11:16 AM ET ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - A bomb kills worshippers at a Shiite Muslim shrine, and some mourners shout "Down with America!" Days later, a suicide bomber strikes a Shiite mosque and an angry crowd torches a nearby KFC restaurant. Sectarian violence is nothing new in Pakistan, where a small minority of Sunni and Shiite militants keep up a torrid pace of atrocities each year. Now, however, anger over the bloodshed is being vented at a seemingly unrelated target — the United States. Hatred... yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1414058/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jun 2005 00:16:36 GMT