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Iraqi Shiite and Sunni clerics meeting in the Muslim holy city of Mecca have called for an end to sectarian violence that many fear could lead to civil war in Iraq. Sponsored by the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the meeting has approved a declaration prohibiting the killing of Muslims in Iraq and called for safeguarding the unity of the country. It has also urged the release of Muslim and non-Muslim hostages. It is not clear what impact the document signed by the dozens of clerics would have on militias that appear to be outside the control of...

WESTERN countries are fighting World War III and it would last a generation, former head of Israel's Mossad spy network, Efraim Halevy, said in Melbourne yesterday. Mr Halevy, who ran Israel's intelligence agency between 1998 and 2002, said a major terror attack was possible in Australia. But he said the public didn't appear to realise the seriousness of the threat. "The threats today are aimed at destroying the whole way of life in democratic societies . . . of turning back the wheel more than 1000 years," Mr Halevy said. The security adviser to former prime minister Ariel Sharon and...

FAMILIES of Australians and others killed in the first Bali bombing four years ago have held an emotional service on the Indonesian resort island. About 150 families, friends and victims of the October 2002 blast gathered to mourn at Garuda Wisnu Kencana on the hills overlooking Kuta. The October 12, 2002, bombings on two bars killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, and were blamed on Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist network. Australia's Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, today extended Australia's sympathies to victims and families of the blast. He pledged that Australia would remain determined to fight terrorism. "We...

AUSTRALIA is a Muslim nation, the head of Prime Minister John Howard's Muslim advisory board says. Dr Ameer Ali says most Australians practise Muslim values but the Muslim community is being alienated and disadvantaged by Islamophobia. Dr Ali said multiculturalism was Australia's destiny but Muslims, as latecomers, were being disadvantaged. "We would like to remain in this country as citizens like anybody else, but with cultural individuality preserved," he said. "We want an Australia which is like a fruit salad with a nice juice in it, not a mega fruit juice." Before addressing a conference on national identity today, Dr...

The Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations had just finished giving a speech, and walked out into the lobby where he met President Bush. They shook hands, and as they walked the Iranian said, ''You know, I have just one question about what I have seen in America.'' President Bush said, "Well, anything I can do to help you, I will." The Iranian whispered: ''My son watches this show 'Star Trek' and in it there is Chekhov who is Russian, Scotty who is Scottish, Uhura who is Black, and Sulu who is Chinese, but no Arabs. My son is very...

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy -- Seeking to end anger in the Islamic world over his remarks on holy war, Pope Benedict XVI told Muslim envoys Monday their two faiths must overcome historic enmities and together reject violence, saying the future of humanity is at stake. The pope also urged ''reciprocity'' in religious freedom, calling for preserving the rights of Christians throughout the Islamic world. ''The circumstances which have given rise to our gathering are well known,'' Benedict said, referring to his remarks on Islam in a Sept. 12 speech at Regensburg University in Germany, which set off protests around the Muslim...

THREE death row prisoners convicted of leading a Christian militia in bloody violence against Muslims in Indonesia will be executed on Thursday, police said today, announcing beefed-up security to head off any unrest. International rights groups, including Amnesty International, have argued that the trials were unfair and called for further investigations, while Pope Benedict XVI has appealed for clemency, but police said it would go ahead. "The execution process will take place Thursday," national police spokesman Paulus Purwoko said, declining to reveal the precise time or location the firing squad would implement the punishment. Indonesia usually carries out executions in...

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...

THE chairman of the government's Islamic advisory committee has warned of more Cronulla-style riots unless the Prime Minister tones down his comments on Muslim migrants. Prime Minister John Howard sparked a backlash in some sections of Australia's Muslim community by saying Muslim migrants needed to conform to Australian values by learning English and treating women with respect. But the head of the government's new Muslim advisory committee, Dr Ameer Ali, warned of trouble unless the Mr Howard backed down. "We have already witnessed one incident in Sydney recently in Cronulla, I don't want these scenes to be repeated because when...

PRIME Minister John Howard today said he had no need to apologise for telling Muslims they needed to embrace Australian values. Mr Howard sparked controversy yesterday by saying on talk-back radio that a small group of Muslim migrants had refused to accept their adopted country's values and had not learned English. His comments sparked fury among some Muslim leaders who say they were offended. But Mr Howard today stood by his comments. "I don't apologise," he told reporters. "I think they are missing the point and the point is that I don't care, and the Australian people don't care, where...

A Lady libertarian wrote a lot of letters to the White House complaining about the treatment of a captive insurgent (terrorist) being held in GuantanamoBay. She received back the following reply: The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20016 Dear Concerned Citizen, Thank you for your recent letter roundly criticizing our treatment of the Taliban and Al Quaeda detainees currently being held at Guantanamo Bay,Cuba. Our administration takes these matters seriously and your opinion was heard loud and clear here in Washington. You'll be pleased to learn that, thanks to the concerns of citizens like yourself, we are creating...

A MELBOURNE Muslim girl condemned by Islamic leaders for entering a beauty pageant has defied protests to be shortlisted for the Victorian final. Ayten Ahmet, 16, advanced to the top 26 of Miss Teen Australia yesterday despite an outcry from some of Victoria's senior Muslims. The year 11 student said she entered the pageant to fulfil her modelling ambition, and was surprised by the objections. Parents Salih and Sarah Ahmet said their daughter was a typical teenager, and her faith was irrelevant to the contest. Ms Ahmet, from Craigieburn, beat hundreds of hopefuls at an open casting session at Federation...

HELLOOOOO.... Are we listening? Now we can add the latest plan to blow up more airplanes with liquid explosives to the list. Does anyone see an "agenda" here? Does it look like they plan on stopping? But let's feel sorry for them until they succeed in taking this country away from us, because that's The American Way. Please pause a moment, reflect back, and take the following multiple choice test. The events are actual cuts from past history. They actually happened!!! Do you remember? -1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by a. Superman b. Jay Lenno c. Harry Potter...

The head of Shin Beth, Israel's Internal Security Service, has warned the Government against strengthening ties between Iran and Hamas. Shin Beth chief Yuval Diskin told the Cabinet that Iranian influence was growing with Gaza and that several tonnes of explosives and weapons had been smuggled into Gaza in recent months via the border with Egypt. He said if Israel did not counter the strengthening of Hamas and the Iranian influence, it will face a strategic threat within three to five years and a Lebanon-like reality. Over the weekend, Israel arrested the Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister and the secretary of...

FEDERAL Treasurer Peter Costello has warned Australians to brace themselves for a war on terror that could exceed the previous 50 years of the cold war. Mr Costello told a Liberal Party conference in Melbourne today that Australians must "steel ourselves" and be clear about their values as they prepare for a long war on terror. "The cold war lasted over 50 years," he said. "The war on terror could last a lot longer." Mr Costello said a free society must be prepared to defend itself against the threat of terrorism. "There are, unfortunately, terrorists who would rather see Australia...

Nearly four in 10 Americans admit having feelings of prejudice against Muslims living in the U.S. – and are in favor of having Muslims carry a special ID, a new Gallup poll reveals. Also, 22 percent of those surveyed said they would not like to have a Muslim as a neighbor. Among the findings of the late-July USA Today/Gallup poll: 31 percent of respondents said they would feel nervous if they noticed a Muslim man on their airplane flight, and 18 percent would feel nervous about a Muslim woman flying with them. Less than half – 49 percent – feel...

FOUR in 10 Australians believe Islam is a threat to our way of life, a national poll has found. And most people say the religion treats women as inferior and encourages violence. But a Muslim leader yesterday said most Australians were ignorant about Islam. Australians' attitudes toward Muslims is revealed in a McNair Gallup Poll, commissioned by the Sunday Herald Sun. The poll of 502 people discovered: ONE in three people are more fearful of Muslims since 9/11. SEVENTY-ONE per cent say women in Islam are treated as inferior. FIFTY-SIX per cent believe Muslims are unfairly discriminated against and two...

The suicide bombers continue and now public executions are beginning. Iraqis continue to kill Iraqis in alarming numbers. Shia Muslims want revenge against Sunni Muslims. Sunni Muslims want their power back. Iraq has a serious problem. The problem in Iraq isn’t the people in general. The problem isn’t the new government or even the presence of coalition forces. The problem in Iraq is Islam. Islam, the self proclaimed “religion” of peace and love cannot stop killing its own people in the name of Islam and Allah. Islam is a religion that proclaims murder is wrong, and the killing of a...

AUSTRALIA must intervene to stop Israel's war against Lebanon and the Palestinians, a Middle Eastern community leader said. Israeli warplanes yesterday struck the runways of Beirut international airport in the city's Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, forcing its closure, after Hezbollah guerrillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight. Islamic Friendship Association of Australia Keysar Trad said Australia had a moral obligation to intervene to stop the war against Lebanon and the Palestinian people. "Australian Muslims, along with the wider community, are greatly disturbed at this escalation and call upon the Australian government to intervene to stop any further acts of war,"...

http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Samaira Nazir was brutally and needlessly murdered. The 25-year-old in Southall, England, was killed in April of last year by her 30-year-old businessman brother — all in the name of "honor." He stabbed her, cutting her throat in front of his young children, ages 2 and 4. Samaira had turned down family arrangements for marriage and ultimately fell for another man, an Afghan her family said was from the wrong — lower — caste. As a prosecutor put it, "It would appear she lost her life for loving the wrong man." Her brother, appropriately, has been found guilty...