activistpost--2019-12-17--Virginia Activates Official Militia in Response to Gun Confiscation Threats. Lawmakers Want To Make

Virginia Activates Official Militia in Response to Gun Confiscation Threats. Lawmakers Want To Make This a Felony.

As Virginia lawmakers prepare to pass a draconian gun control bill that would make most guns in the state illegal, Tazewell County has formed an official active militia as per the Second Amendment to the Constitution.  To all of those who like to mock gun owners and ask if they’re going to fight tyranny in a militia, Virginia’s answer is a clear and adamant “yes.” That’s exactly what they’re planning to do.  A Quick Recap of What’s Happened So Far  Here’s a little bit of background on the proposed weapons ban from my last article.  Unsurprisingly, a lot of Virginians are outraged by the idea of this and discussion of a “grandfather clause” that allows you to keep your semi-autos as long as you register them has done nothing to assuage the ire of gun owners.  Counties across the state quickly organized into Second Amendment sanctuaries – as of Dec. 16, 89 counties, cities, or municipalities have passed “sanctuary” resolutions and 6 have passed resolutions to protect the Second Amendment rights of citizens, but refuse to use the word “sanctuary.” Other locations are still debating their stances.  Then to really stir the pot, State Representative Donald MacEachin had the bright idea of calling up the National Guard to squelch the rebellion.  As you can imagine, that didn’t go over well.  Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia’s National Guard responded rather vaguely via Twitter.  Based on the responses in the Twitter thread, folks found Maj. Gen. Williams’ lackluster response less than comforting.  So now, a militia is forming in Virginia  Tazewell County is taking this threat to the Second Amendment very seriously. Not only did they pass a Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution, but they’ve also officially begun to form a militia. Law Enforcement Today reports:  County Administrator Eric Young explained why the county has opted to form a militia.  This article explains the extensive training being offered by Tazewell County to its citizens in order to make sure everyone is acting safely and responsibly.  I suspect Tazewell County will not be the only one that forms an official militia. The legislature of Virginia may have bitten off more than it can chew when they decided to come after the guns of rural citizens.  “Coincidentally,” there’s an anti-paramilitary bill on the table.  It’s probably no coincidence that at the same time militias are forming, there’s also a bill to make them illegal. SB64 has caused a huge hullabaloo.  Here’s some of the text of that bill.  A person is guilty of unlawful paramilitary activity, punishable as a Class 5 felony if he: 1. Teaches or demonstrates to any other person the use, application, or making of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, knowing or having reason to know or intending that such training will be employed for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder; 2. Assembles with one or more persons for the purpose of training with, practicing with, or being instructed in the use of any firearm, explosive, or incendiary device, or technique capable of causing injury or death to persons, intending to employ such training for use in, or in furtherance of, a civil disorder; or 3. Assembles with one or more persons with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons by drilling, parading, or marching with any firearm, any explosive or incendiary device, or any components or combination thereof. (source)  Obviously, this is not a coincidence. They predicted how rural Virginians would respond to their gun-grabbing shenanigans. The plan all along was to confiscate guns and turn any organized resistance into a felony.  There could hardly be anything more unconstitutional than SB64. I know I already quoted this, but just as a refresher for any legislator that might happen to be reading this:  Our guiding doctrines are the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. At this point, everything the laughable Virginia Congress is proposing is an affront to the principles upon which this nation was founded.  Another reminder – this is the pledge these legislators swore:  Every person in the government who has sworn this oath yet supports these unconstitutional bills should be immediately recalled and possibly even tried criminally to set an example that we will no longer tolerate the systematic dismantling of our rights. (Congressional privilege from arrest is only applicable in civil court, not in criminal court.)  This strategy was orchestrated by someone with a lot of money and power.  This is something that has been thought through, perhaps even by gun control advocate and presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg. The reason I’m suggesting Bloomberg specifically is that his PAC donated millions and millions of dollars to turn the legislatures of 24 states to a Democrat majority. His millions worked in 21 of those cases, and Virginia is one of them. Packing the state legislatures with allies would help his agenda should he actually become the next president.  Bloomberg is rabidly anti-gun and has said that ending “the nationwide madness of U.S. gun violence” is the impetus behind his run for the White House. If he were to be elected, may God help America, because he will destroy everything for which our nation has ever stood.  Here’s the summary on what’s happening in Virginia  Let’s look at all these facts together. • With Michael Bloomberg’s help, the Democrats took over the Virginia state congress. • There’s an anti-paramilitary bill that would disallow armed people to gather or teach others how to use firearms or any technique that could cause injury or death. • Nearly the entire state (aside from the highly populated areas that elected these yahoos) has balked and formed Second Amendment sanctuaries. • A legislator threatened the sanctuaries with the National Guard. • The sanctuaries responded by activating an organized militia.  The only real way to prevent bloodshed and save face for the congress and governor is for these bills not to pass.  That would be difficult, though, given the fact that Bloomberg dumped millions of dollars into getting people elected who promised to pass strict gun control bills. If they suddenly vote against the bill, they will have to face their angry constituents and the wrath of Bloomberg.  Rural Virginians seem unlikely to back down and are willing to fight. They have another month to get organized to defend their communities.  Remember that in situations such as these, the rumor mill works overtime. There are a lot of reports that are exaggerated. The truth is bad enough that we don’t need to add far-fetched theories to the mix. This article is a very good, common-sense breakdown of fact vs. fiction, although some vehemently disagree with the assessment that the government will not turn off communications and power for the sanctuary areas. It’s certainly not impossible to imagine that drastic measures could be taken.  What will happen next remains to be seen, but it is no exaggeration to say that the future of our country is now riding on the response of Virginians, should these unconstitutional laws pass.  Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, globe-trotting blogger who writes about current events, preparedness, frugality, voluntaryism, and the pursuit of liberty on her website, The Organic Prepper, where this article first appeared. She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site, PreppersDailyNews.com. Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and runs a small digital publishing company. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.  Subscribe to Activist Post for truth, peace, and freedom news. Become an Activist Post Patron for as little as $1 per month at Patreon. Follow us on SoMee, Flote, Minds, Twitter, and Steemit.  Provide, Protect and Profit from what’s coming! Get a free issue of Counter Markets today.


aljazeera--2019-01-12--FBI investigated Trumps Russia ties after Comey firing NYT

FBI investigated Trump's Russia ties after Comey firing: NYT

FBI agents were so concerned about Donald Trump's behaviour that they investigated whether the US president was working on behalf of the Kremlin, a report in the New York Times has said, citing former law enforcement officials.  The probe followed Trump's decision to fire FBI chief James Comey, but reportedly came amid a backdrop of suspicions dating back to his successful 2016 campaign for the presidency.  Comey, who was sacked in May 2017, had opened an FBI investigation into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 election and whether the Kremlin officials colluded with the members of Trump's team.  After his dismissal, Trump faced accusations of obstruction of justice, which loudened after he fired FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe the following year.  McCabe said he believed Comey was fired because he refused to give in to Trump's requests to kill the probe.  Comey has since condemned Trump as 'morally unfit' to hold the office of president, and said there was "certainly some evidence of obstruction of justice".  Friday's New York Time's report said the intelligence officials had to consider whether the president's actions had constituted a "threat to national security".  The report says no evidence has publicly emerged that Trump was in contact with or took direction from Russian officials, and FBI officials refused to comment on the alleged investigation.  Trump on Saturday slammed the NYT piece on Twitter, writing that an investigation was opened "for no reason and with no proof".  "Wow, just learned in the Failing New York Times that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI, almost all fired or forced to leave the agency for some very bad reasons, opened up an investigation on me, for no reason & with no proof, after I fired Lyin’ James Comey, a total sleaze!" Trump wrote.  Bruce Fein, former US associate deputy attorney general and a constitutional lawyer, told Al Jazeera that Trump could expect subpoenas regarding this investigation as early as next week.  "Even though this wasn't a crime necessarily, it certainly bares on the fitness of the president for office which means impeachment covers actions that are short of criminal activity," Fein said.  "I can guarantee you that the house government affairs and oversight committee will probably issue subpoenas on Monday to get to the bottom of this - why did the FBI think that the evidence was credible enough to suggest that Mr. Trump was actually spying on the country on behalf of Russia?"  The investigation into alleged Russian meddling was taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller, himself a former director of the FBI, after Comey's firing.  His investigation has resulted in criminal prosecutions and indictments of several former Trump aides, including his ex-campaign chair Paul Manafort, ex-NSA Michael Flynn and former lawyer Michael Cohen, among others.  Trump has dismissed the probe as a "witch-hunt" and many critics fear that he is paving the way to fire Mueller.  The US president has not yet addressed Friday's New York Times report yet but his lawyer, former New York City Mayor, Rudolph Guiliani, said that the fact no findings had been published "means they found nothing".


aljazeera--2019-01-18--Chicago cops acquitted of alleged coverup in black teens killing

Chicago cops acquitted of alleged coverup in black teen's killing

Activists and relatives of Laquan McDonald, a black teenager in the United States who was killed by a white police officer more than four years ago, have decried a court ruling that acquitted three current and former Chicago officers of conspiring to protect a white colleague by lying about the circumstances around the fatal shooting.  The October 2014 killing of 17-year-old McDonald, which was captured on police video, triggered months of protests and became emblematic of longstanding police abuse in Chicago, the country's third-largest city.  On Thursday, Judge Domenica Stephenson acquitted officers Joseph Walsh and Thomas Gaffney and detective David March of trying to cover up the shooting, dismissing as just one perspective the shocking dashcam video of McDonald's killing that also led to a federal investigation of the police department and the rare murder conviction of an officer.  In casting off the prosecution's entire case, the judge seemed to accept many of the same defence arguments that were rejected in October by jurors who convicted officer Jason Van Dyke of second-degree murder and aggravated battery.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, facing up to 20 years in prison for the second-degree murder conviction and up to 30 years for each of the 16 counts of aggravated battery, one for each shot he fired at McDonald, who was carrying a knife.  The judge said the video showed only one viewpoint of the confrontation and that there was no indication the officers tried to hide evidence.  "The evidence shows just the opposite," she said. She singled out how they preserved the graphic video at the heart of the case.  McDonald's family questioned how the two cases could produce such different decisions.  His great uncle, the Reverend Marvin Hunter, told reporters that the verdict means "that if you are a police officer you can lie, cheat and steal", adding that it proved the city's legal system was "corrupt".  "This is not justice," he said. "To say that these men are not guilty is to say that Jason Van Dyke is not guilty," Hunter added, describing the verdict was a step backward for the black community's struggles for justice.  "It is a sad day for America."  Karen Sheley, of the ACLU of Illinois, said in a statement: "The court's decision does nothing to exonerate a police department so rotten that a teenager can be murdered - on video - by one of its officers."  The case has provoked periodic street protests since 2015, when the video came to light, and the acquittals could renew that movement.  Eric Russell, executive director of Tree of Life Justice League, a police accountability advocacy group from Chicago's West Side, said he and other leaders expected hundreds to protest the verdict on Friday before Van Dyke's sentencing.  "We will be down here tomorrow by the hundreds, and we will cry out for justice for Laquan," Russell said.  Special prosecutor Patricia Brown Holmes said she hoped the verdict would not make officers reluctant to come forward when they see misconduct. Her key witness, officer Dora Fontaine, described how she had become a pariah in the department and was called a "rat" by fellow officers.  The trial was watched closely by law enforcement and critics of the department, which has long had a reputation for condoning police brutality.  Walsh, Gaffney and March were accused of conspiracy, official misconduct and obstruction of justice. All but Gaffney have since left the department. They asked the judge, rather than a jury, to hear the evidence.  After the verdict, Walsh would say only that the ordeal of being charged and tried was "heart-breaking for my family, a year and a half".  In her ruling , the judge rejected prosecution arguments that the video demonstrated officers were lying when they described McDonald as moving and posing a threat even after he was shot.  "An officer could have reasonably believed an attack was imminent," she said. "It was borne out in the video that McDonald continued to move after he fell to the ground" and refused to relinquish a knife.  The video appeared to show the teen collapsing in a heap after the first few shots and moving in large part because bullets kept striking his body for 10 more seconds.  The judge said it's not unusual for two witnesses to describe events in starkly different ways. "It does not necessarily mean that one is lying," she said.  The judge also noted several times that the vantage points of various officers who witnessed the shooting were "completely different." That could explain why their accounts did not sync with what millions of people saw in the video.  Both Van Dyke's trial and that of the three other officers hinged on the video, which showed Van Dyke opening fire within seconds of getting out of his police SUV and continuing to shoot the teenager while he was lying on the street. Police were responding to a report of a male who was breaking into trucks and stealing radios on the city's South Side.  Prosecutors alleged that Gaffney, March and Walsh, who was Van Dyke's partner, submitted false reports about what happened to try to prevent or shape any criminal investigation of the shooting. Among other things, they said the officers falsely claimed that Van Dyke shot McDonald after McDonald aggressively swung the knife at the officers and that he kept shooting the teen because McDonald was trying to get up still armed with the knife.  McDonald had used the knife to puncture a tire on Gaffney's police vehicle, but the video shows that he did not swing it at the officers before Van Dyke shot him and that he appeared to be incapacitated after falling to the ground.  Attorneys for Gaffney, Walsh and March used the same strategy that the defence used at Van Dyke's trial by placing all the blame on McDonald.  It was McDonald's refusal to drop his knife and other threatening actions that "caused these officers to see what they saw", March's attorney, James McKay, told the court. "This is a case about law and order (and) about Laquan McDonald not following any laws that night."  City Hall released the video to the public in November 2015 - 13 months after the shooting - and acted only because a judge ordered it to do so. The charges against Van Dyke were not announced until the day of the video's release.  The case cost the police superintendent his job and was widely seen as the reason the county's top prosecutor was voted out of office a few months later. It was also thought to be a major factor in Mayor Rahm Emmanuel's decision not to seek a third term.  The accusations triggered a federal investigation, resulting in a blistering report that found Chicago officers routinely used excessive force and violated the rights of residents, particularly minorities. The city implemented a new policy that requires video of fatal police shootings to be released within 60 days, accelerated a program to equip all officers with body cameras and adopted other reforms to change the way police shootings are investigated.  According to the Washington Post's Fatal Force database, at least 995 people have been killed by the police in the US in 2018. The Post found that more than 980 people were killed by police the previous year.  Nearly a quarter of those killed by police in 2016 were African Americans, although the group accounted for roughly 12 percent of the total US population.  According to watchdog group The Sentencing Project, African American men are six times more likely to be arrested than white men.  These disparities, particularly the killing of African Americans by police, has prompted the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, a popular civil rights movement aimed at ending police violence and dismantling structural racism.


aljazeera--2019-02-27--Exclusive Amid unrest in Ferguson police used text burner app

Exclusive: Amid unrest in Ferguson, police used text burner app

Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit has obtained documents that reveal the wider use of encrypted "self destruct" messaging systems by US law enforcement agencies, raising serious questions about accountability and transparency.  The documents, obtained through public record requests, show Missouri State Highway Patrol equipped their officers in 2014 with a secret messaging application called "Silent Phone" which systematically destroys text messages.  Their patrol officers were on the front line, policing the public unrest that shook the town of Ferguson, near St Louis, after the shooting of an unarmed African American by a white police officer.  Following the protests in Ferguson, Black Lives Matter became internationally recognised for its campaign against the killing of African-Americans by police.  "It's particularly alarming that any police entity would, in a systemic and organised manner, use a burner app for their communications," explained Mark Pedroli, a lawyer with the Missouri Sunshine and Government Accountability Project.  "Police particularly are in a position of significant public trust, and it erodes that trust when we learn they burn their messages to one another."  Al Jazeera revealed the use of a similar disappearing text app called Tiger Text by the Long Beach Police Department in California last year. Long Beach police ceased using the app following the publication of the Al Jazeera report.  Silent Phone, like Tiger Text, destroys messages that are sent between users. The "burn functionality" can be set anywhere between one minute and 90 days, after that they are gone forever.  They can also be burned on demand. A request to the Missouri State Highway Patrol for the content of messages sent and received since January 1, 2014, turned up no responsive documents, suggesting the messages haven't been archived.  "The use of a messaging application that cannot retain messages beyond 90 days violates the states open records act and retention laws," said Pedroli. He said this could "constitute evidence of knowing and purposeful violation of the law".  The latest documents obtained by Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit establish the purchase of Silent Phone - marketed by the company Silent Circle - by law enforcement in Missouri.  In its response, Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson Captain John J Hotz stated, "The silent circle app was utilised by the Patrol to protect and encrypt sensitive operational information during high risk operations such as the law enforcement response in Ferguson and following the Stockley verdict in St. Louis."  The agency wouldn't comment on how many text messages have been sent via the platform.  The primary role of the Missouri State Highway Patrol is to oversee the state's highways but it also carries out sensitive operations such as criminal investigations. It has more than 1,000 troopers and over 1,000 civilian personnel.  "This is the software application that originated with a request by Col. Karsten during the St. Louis protest," wrote a procurement officer in December 2017.  Sandra Karsten was an assistant superintendent with the Missouri Highway Patrol before being promoted to lead the Missouri Department of Public Safety, which manages the Highway Patrol. A spokesperson for the agency didn't reply to a request for comment.  The St Louis protests referenced in the email are referred to as the Stockley protests. Jason Stockley was a white St Louis police officer who was charged with first-degree murder after he killed an African American suspect in a high-speed car chase in 2011. He was acquitted of the charge in 2017 and protesters took the streets.  Representative Bruce Franks is a Missouri Democrat who was arrested during the Stockley protests. He pointed out to the Kansas City Star that four St Louis police officers were indicted last year for an incident in which they attacked a protester.  Federal prosecutors obtained text messages sent between the officers expressing excitement about beating up protesters.  "Imagine if these officers used this app, where we would have no record of any of the egregious things they said," noted Franks. "Imagine if they used disappearing texts to boast about beating up protesters. That's horrible."  Al Jazeera discovered last year that the Long Beach Police Department distributed Tiger Text to over 100 police officers who used the application for years destroying hundreds of thousands of messages in the process.  In an email, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office stated the Justice System Integrity Division is still evaluating the matter.


aljazeera--2019-04-05--Man who said he was missing US boy charged by prosecutors

Federal prosecutors in the United States have charged a 23-year-old former convict with making false statements after he claimed to be Illinois teen Timmothy Pitzen, who went missing in 2011 after his mother committed suicide, a US lawyer said.  Brian Michael Rini was charged with lying to federal agents after he appeared on Wednesday in Newport, Kentucky, outside Cincinnati and claimed he was 14-year-old Pitzen.  Rini was found "wandering the street and looking confused and in need of assistance", according to the six-page affidavit from FBI agent Mary Braun.  After identifying himself as Pitzen, Rini complained of abdominal pain and was taken to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Emergency Room, the affidavit said.  He told federal agents he had escaped an eight-year ordeal at the hands of sex traffickers. Pitzen was last seen when he was six years old.  Rini refused to be fingerprinted on Wednesday and Thursday but agreed to a DNA test which on Thursday identified him as Rini, according to Braun.  Even after Rini was advised of his rights and warned against making false statements, he continued to insist he was Pitzen and that he had escaped from a hotel where he had been forced to have sex with men against his will, the affidavit said.  Rini finally acknowledged his identity after being confronted with the DNA results and said he had watched a story about Pitzen on ABC's 20/20 news programme, and had wanted to get away from his family, according to Braun.  "Law enforcement confronted him with the DNA results, and at that point the person immediately stated that he was not Timmothy Pitzen, and of course law enforcement knew by virtue of the DNA analysis that he was in fact Brian Rini," said US Attorney Benjamin Glassman briefing reporters.  Rini appeared in federal court on Friday morning and is being held without bail until his detention hearing on Tuesday. He faces up to eight years in prison if found guilty, Glassman said.  Rini's lawyer, Karen Savir, did not immediately return calls seeking comment on the charges against her client.  Rini had twice before claimed to be a child sex trafficking victim, according to federal prosecutors. He was released from Ohio's Belmont Correctional Institution on March 7 where he had been serving 14 months for burglary and vandalism, according to public records.  "False reports like this can be painful to the families of missing children and also divert law enforcement resources in order to investigate these untruthful claims," said Herb Stapleton, acting special agent in charge of the FBI in Cincinnati.  Pitzen was last seen in May 2011 with his mother, who pulled him out of school in Aurora, Illinois, a far-west suburb of Chicago, took him on a trip to a zoo and a water park, and then committed suicide in a motel room, leaving behind a cryptic note on her son's whereabouts.  "Tim is somewhere safe with people who love him and will care for him," she wrote in the note, according to reports by ABC7 Chicago. "You will never find him."  In Pitzen's hometown of Aurora, Illinois, police sergeant Bill Rowley said that over the years his department has received thousands of tips about the boy, including false sightings.  "We're always worried about copycats, especially something that has a big national attention like this," Rowley said.  Pitzen's family members said they were heartbroken at the latest twist.  "It's devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again, and Timmothy's father is devastated once again," said his aunt Kara Jacobs.  The boy's grandmother Alana Anderson said, "It's been awful. We've been on tenterhooks, hopeful and frightened. It's just been exhausting."  She added, "I feel so sorry for the young man who's obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was somebody else."


aljazeera--2019-04-10--US Democrats say Barr should retract spying statement

US Attorney General William Barr sparred with Democrats on Wednesday over whether "spying" occurred on President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign in the United States, and said that a redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the election would be out next week.  During questioning by senators, Barr said "spying" on Trump's campaign was carried out by US intelligence agencies, but he later rephrased his comments saying it was "unauthorised surveillance".  Initially using language echoing Trump's attempts to discredit Mueller's probe, Barr pulled back under questioning by Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, who said the use of the term "spying" was "unnecessarily inflammatory".  Barr, a Trump appointee, said, "I want to make sure there was no unauthorised surveillance", modifying his language.  Barr was testifying for a second day at a congressional budget hearing that was dominated by questions about Special Counsel Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation.  He said the Department of Justice (DOJ) would release a redacted version of the Mueller report next week.  "I'm landing the plane right now," Barr said at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. "I've been willing to discuss my letters and the process going forward, but the report is going to be out next week and I'm just not going to get details of the process until the plane's on the ground."  Democrats called on Barr to immediately "disavow and retract" his comments, saying "there is no evidence of spying".  "It's an unfathomable and irresponsible remark," Senator Richard Blumenthal told Al Jazeera.  "He is acting in effect as Trump's lawyer," he said. "He's a political actor and doing the president's bidding, effectively."  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Representative Jerrold Nadler reacted on Twitter saying Barr's "comments directly contradict what DOJ previously told us. I've asked DOJ to brief us immediately. In the meantime, the AG still owes us the full Mueller report."  Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, also called on Barr to retract the comments, saying if not, he needs to produce specific evidence to back it up.  "AG Barr admitted he had no evidence to support his claim that spying on the Trump campaign 'did occur'," Schumer tweeted. "AG Barr must retract his statement immediately or produce specific evidence to back it up. Perpetuating conspiracy theories is beneath the office of the Attorney General."  And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she believes Barr's comments undermine his independence as the nation's top law enforcement officer.  The California Democrat said in an interview with The Associated Press news agency she was "very concerned" about Barr's handling of Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation report and accused Barr of doing Trump's political bidding.  "He is not the attorney general of Donald Trump. He is the attorney general of the United States," Pelosi said. "I don't trust Barr, I trust Mueller."  Barr, appearing before a Senate panel, did not say what "spying" had taken place but seemed likely to be alluding to a surveillance warrant the FBI obtained on a Trump associate.  Barr told the committee that he would review all the intelligence activities directed at Trump's 2016 campaign.  Barr noted much of this has been done already, both in Congress and by the Justice Department inspector general, but that he will pull it all together to see if there may be "remaining questions to be addressed".  With additional reporting by William Roberts in Washington, DC.


aljazeera--2019-08-29--What are Russian special operations forces doing in Idlib

What are Russian special operations forces doing in Idlib?

In mid-July, as fighting was raging on in southern Idlib and northern Hama provinces in Syria's northwest, Reuters reported that Russia has deployed its special forces in the area. Quoting sources from the Syrian opposition, the news agency said that the Russian troops were sent in after Syrian regime forces failed to advance against the rebels.  The Russian defence ministry predictably denied the involvement of Russian "ground forces" and "special forces" in the hostilities in Idlib, calling the report "fake news".  The military pointed out that in line with the Russian-Turkish agreements of 2017, Russian military police is manning observation posts set up around the perimeter of the Idlib de-escalation zone.  Whether Russia has indeed deployed special forces on the ground to fight in northwest Syria is difficult to determine with absolute certainty, but it is quite clear that the defence ministry has had to boost Russian presence on the ground in recent months.  Whenever reports on the alleged presence of Russian special forces operating in Syria appear, they tend to be highly speculative and based on data that is semi-official or hard to verify, often posted on blogs and social media.  The details of Russian military presence are seldom officially disclosed for operational reasons. Identifying Russian security personnel has also proven difficult for one more reason: They often tend to be confused with contractors from private military companies (PMCs).  The rumours about the presence of Russian special forces on the ground in northwest Syria started in May, when, photos and footage of Russian armed men making their way through al-Ghab plain between the Hama and the Idlib provinces were circulated on social networks and media outlets. Some speculated that those were Russian mercenaries and not members of the Russian military.  Then, a few days later, the ANNA News Agency, a Russian media outlet that covers the operations of the Syrian troops with strong pro-Assad bias, reported that Russian special forces actively engaged in fighting in al-Ghab. They reportedly directed aircraft to targets and countered enemy fire with sniper rifles, anti-tank missiles and mortars on their own by using counter-battery radars.  The media outlet added that Russian special forces made a "major contribution" towards the "weakening" of the opposition's defence in the plain but that it was not covered by the media "for security reasons".  Shortly after the defence ministry denied the Reuters report, ANNA News did a u-turn on its "reporting" and claimed that the Russian military presence in Syria was limited to the air force.  The same day, Russia's Nezavisimaya Gazeta noted that Russian mercenaries, with whom "the Russian Ministry of Defense has, in fact, nothing to do", are helping the Syrian forces in their fight against the opposition in Hama and Idlib.  This statement is at the very least misleading: It is unthinkable that any employees of a Russian PMC could carry out any tasks close to the battlefield - or even train local units at the rear - without coordinating their activities with Russian national security, defence and law enforcement agencies.  As Novaya Gazeta, a Russian newspaper known for its criticism of the Kremlin, has reported, PMCs like "Shchit" (Shield), which the media first reported on in 2018, are directly linked to Russian generals and the 45th Spetsnaz (Special Forces) Airborne Brigade.  There appears to be enough evidence to confirm that Russian fighters - whether members of the Russian military or a PMC - are present at the front lines in Idlib and Hama and are taking part in the fighting.  Since 2015, when Moscow launched its military campaign in Syria, personnel from nearly every existing intelligence unit of the Russian armed forces has participated in operations, including the special forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff (GRU) and Special Operations Forces, police and army units of the National Guard of Russia working undercover.  The presence of military police and military advisors, which Moscow officially acknowledges, has provided a cover for other forces to operate, including special operations. It has also been known that Russian officers have staffed Syrian army units devastated by desertion, including the 5th Corps which has now been deployed to Hama and Idlib.  Russian troops have repeatedly used this scheme at different phases of the Syrian war. In the battle of Aleppo, for example, official records show that only Russian military advisers took part in the military operations, but unofficially, reports have circulated that various components of the Russian military also took part, including military engineers.  Although in December 2017 President Vladimir Putin announced "victory" in Syria and the withdrawal of Russian troops, except for "advisors", it is clear that Russian military presence on the ground has continued (whether they be regular soldiers, special ops or mercenaries).  Currently, the Assad regime seeks to establish control over the M4 and M5 highways running through Idlib so that it can open the flow traffic between Aleppo, Damascus and Latakia. To counter that plan, Turkey redeployed opposition forces from northern Aleppo to Idlib and pushed reinforcements to surveillance points.  For weeks on end the advance of the pro-governmental troops was quite slow, accompanied by major losses of troops. This not only motivated Russian commanders to consent to a greater military role of Iran-backed militias and the 4th Armoured Division led by Maher al-Assad, the brother of the Syrian president, who is close to Tehran, but also the use of Russian reinforcements in the more challenging operations against the opposition.  Information on their presence has been purposely kept secret not only because of counterintelligence considerations but also because of possible domestic sensitivities. If their presence in Syria is revealed, this could anger the Russian public, which in its majority wants the country to end its military involvement in Syria.  The ultimate goal of the Kremlin is to help regime forces (with aerial cover and Russian reinforcements) advance against the opposition and to try to corner and fragment it while appearing to negotiate truces with Turkey. At the same time, it is trying to gain more influence and say within the regime and its security structures, so at the end of this conflict, it emerges as the kingmaker in Syria.  The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial stance.


aljazeera--2019-09-05--US judge Terrorist watchlist violates constitutional rights

US judge: 'Terrorist' watchlist violates constitutional rights

The United States government's watchlist of more than one million people identified as "known or suspected terrorists'" violates the constitutional rights of those placed on it, a US federal judge ruled on Wednesday.  The ruling from District Judge Anthony Trenga in Virginia grants summary judgement to nearly two dozen Muslim US citizens who had challenged the watchlist with the help of the civil-rights group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).  But the judge is seeking additional legal briefs before deciding what remedy to impose.  The plaintiffs said they were wrongly placed on the list and that the government's process for adding names is overly broad and riddled with errors.  The watchlist is disseminated to a variety of US government departments, foreign governments and police agencies.  In a statement, CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri described the decision as a "victory".  "CAIR has a half-dozen other watchlist cases pending in federal courts across the country, and this opinion will pave the wave for our continued victories," she said.  The FBI declined to comment on the ruling on Wednesday.  In court, the FBI's lawyers argued that the difficulties suffered by the plaintiffs pale in comparison to the government's interests in combatting "terrorism".  Gadeir Abbas, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, called the ruling a victory. He said he would be asking the judge to severely curtail how the government compiles and uses its list.  "Innocent people should be beyond the reach of the watchlist system," Abbas said. "We think that's what the constitution requires."  Trenga also wrote in his 31-page ruling that the case "presents unsettled issues."  Ultimately, Trenga ruled that the travel difficulties faced by plaintiffs - who say they were handcuffed at border crossings and frequently subjected to invasive secondary searches at airports - are significant, and that they have a right to due process when their constitutional rights are infringed.  He also said the concerns about erroneous placement on the list are legitimate.  The watchlist, also known as the Terrorist Screening Database, is maintained by the FBI and shared with a variety of federal agencies.  Customs officers have access to the list to check people coming into the country at border crossings, and aviation officials use the database to help form the so-called no-fly list, which is a much smaller subset of the broader watchlist.  The watchlist has grown significantly over the years.  As of June 2017, approximately 1.16 million people were included on it, according to government documents filed in the lawsuit. In 2013, the number was 680,000.  The vast majority are foreigners, but according to the government, there were roughly 4,600 US citizens and lawful permanent residents on the watchlist as of 2017.  Abbas argued at a court hearing earlier this year that the intrusions imposed on those listed amounted to naught and that the list was worthless in terms of preventing "terrorism".  He noted that Omar Mateen, the man who shot and killed 49 people at an Orlando nightclub in 2016, was on the list at one time, but then removed from it. Others who have committed ""terrorist acts" acts' have never even been included.  The suit was filed in 2016, and has exposed previously unknown details about the list and how it is disseminated.  In particular, government lawyers acknowledged after years of denials that more than 500 private entities are given access to the list.  Government lawyers describe those private agencies as "law enforcement adjacent" and include university security teams, police forces, security forces and hospitals, railway companies and even animal-welfare organisations.


aljazeera--2019-11-15--Mekong countries and the UN join forces to fight drug scourge

Five Southeast Asian countries, China, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) agreed on Friday to improve intelligence sharing and law enforcement operations to fight drug trafficking in the region by transnational crime groups.  Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle - northern Myanmar and parts of Thailand and Laos - has long been a hub of illicit drug production and trafficking. • Has the decade-old war on drugs in Asia succeeded?  While opium cultivation and heroin refining have fallen in the past decade, the area is now at the heart of the Asia-Pacific methamphetamine trade, which the UNODC estimates to be worth as much as $61.4bn in 2018, up from an estimated $15bn just five years earlier.  The trafficking operations are also being driven by increasingly sophisticated criminal groups, like the Sam Gor syndicate, that can funnel tonnes of drugs from the Golden Triangle to countries stretching from Japan to New Zealand with the ability to adapt to law enforcement methods and able to shift trafficking routes to evade authorities.  "The challenge posed by Sam Gor is massive ... they traffick drugs out using multiple borders at any one time. They are laundering money through various businesses across the Mekong," said Jeremy Douglas, the UNODC's chief in Southeast Asia.  Ministers from Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam agreed at the meeting in Bangkok on Friday to regular intelligence sharing and conducting more integrated cross-border investigations and anti-trafficking operations together.  "Before, cooperation at the operation level has been pretty ad hoc but now we hope it will be more organised, systematic, and efficient," Douglas told Reuters, adding that these cross-border operations will also be better monitored with regular reports every year.  "We have to be on top of the situation. That means good intelligence and good information are necessary," said Deputy Commissioner of China's National Narcotics Control Commission Andy Tsang Wai-hung.  The governments also agreed to work on improving health services, preventive education and to intercept and keep up with the chemicals that are being used as precursors for the production of methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs.


birminghammail--2019-03-15--Christians hand out flowers at Birmingham mosque in support for New Zealand shooting victims

Two Christians say they gave out flowers at a Birmingham mosque in a show of support for the victims of shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.  James Lynch and Marcus Kapers of Riverside Church gave out flowers to worshippers as they left Birmingham Central Mosque after the terror attack that killed 49 people and injured at least 20 others.  Mr Lynch said: "We were just really devastated this morning to hear the news, like a lot of people were, and we just thought there's got to be a way of making a gesture to our friends here at the mosque, so we just wanted to let people to know that we love them, and we're sorry for what happened."  Right-wing extremist Brenton Tarrant, 28, has been charged with murder after opening fire on worshippers attending Friday prayers.  World leaders have sent messages of condolence to the victims and their families.  The Queen stated that she had been "saddened by the appalling events".  The country's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, described the killings as "one of New Zealand's darkest days", adding: "What has happened here is an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence."  In a separate show of support, a fundraiser for the victims of the shooting at two mosques in Christchurch raised more than 380,000 New Zealand dollars (£197,000) within hours of the tragedy.  Created by New Zealand charity Victim Support, the appeal had over 6,000 donors at 2am local time, after a press release was issued at around 9.40pm the previous night.  Mr Lynch said: "It's just a gesture of friendship and acceptance... It's just a flower really but hopefully it means a bit more than that."  Another of the city's mosques issued a statement on the shooting.  Officials at Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre in Small Heath said they were "saddened and shocked to hear of the terrorist attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand today."  A statement sent to Birmingham Live said: "This is an extraordinarily twisted act of violence. It is rooted in an extremist ideology that stretches around the world through the far right and is very prominent now in Western Europe and America. It is a hatred for diversity and culturalism.  "The risk from far right extremists has been on the rise for years now. Governments need to ensure that they address the issue properly. This form of extremism has fallen under the radar in many aspects, including the media. The threat from the far right is very serious and growing and we cannot ignore it."  It continued: "We are well aware of the concerns around this at GLMCC. Only a few years ago in 2013, one of our congregation members (Mohammed Saleem) was murdered by far right extremist Pavlo Lapshyn.  "Our response to such heinous crimes is to show unity rather than allowing the terrorists to cause division. Care and compassion for each other is the best way to counter such evil acts. Community members and a church group have already contacted the mosque showing their solidarity with us.  "GLMCC is working closely with the West Midlands Police and there will be a more visible Police presence today to reassure the community. The general message to the community is to stay calm but vigilant."


birminghammail--2019-03-15--Green Lane Mosque asks police for extra security after 49 killed in New Zealand shootings

Security is being stepped up outside Birmingham's mosques to reassure worshippers following the terror attack in New Zealand.  Police officers plan to be visible outside Green Lane Mosque and Community Centre - and almost certainly other key mosques in the city - on Friday afternoon for afternoon prayers.  Patrols will be supporting the Muslim congregation amid fears about copycat incidents.  A message sent to the congregation on Friday by Kamran Hussain, the mosque's general manager, condemned the "extraordinarily twisted act of extremism" that claimed 49 lives at mosques in Christchurch.  He said: "Green Lane Mosque and Community Centre is saddened and shocked to hear of the terrorist attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand today.  "This is a barbaric act against the Muslim community and people of New Zealand.  "We strongly condemn these terrorist attacks, which are an extraordinarily twisted act of extremism in a place of worship.       "Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased and wounded. We pray that God gives patience to their families through these difficult times and guides the people of New Zealand through this tragedy .       "For those that may be worried about attending Friday prayers at the Masjid today, we have contacted the police for additional security this Friday. We are expecting additional presence from them. The general message to the community is to stay calm but vigilant.        "We seek Allah's help and protection in all matters. Please pray for the martyred, the wounded and their families."  Mr Hussain said the mosque was contacted on Friday morning by concerned Muslims anxious about their safety.  "People have a lot of questions and we want to ensure they feel safe," he said.  "We have spoken this morning to a counter terrorism officer at West Midlands Police and they hope to be able to provide additional officers this afternoon for prayers. We hope it will help people feel a bit safer.  "It is absolutely shocking and is a reminder that far right extremism and Islamaphobia remains a critical concern. We have been ignoring it for some time because of other issues taking precedence but this horrific incident shows it cannot be ignored."  Assistant Chief Constable Matt Ward today reassured Muslim communities in the city that there was no "increased threat" but officers would be "engaging with key religious buildings" to reassure families.  He said: "For us the focus now is the protection of those we serve in the West Midlands. As we are all very aware we face a sustained and determined threat to our security."  "As always we ask our communities to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the Anti Terror Hotline on 0800 789 321 or, in an emergency, dial 999."


birminghammail--2019-05-04--Midlands mosque charity dissolved for facilitating condoning and supporting terrorism

Midlands mosque charity dissolved for 'facilitating, condoning and supporting terrorism'

A charity responsible for running a mosque in the Midlands has been dissolved amid claims it was "facilitating terrorism".  The Fazal Ellahi Charitable Trust was found to be "condoning" - and "supporting" - terror, it has emerged.  A probe into the Trust, which ran a mosque in Tunstall, Staffordshire, was opened last year.  It was launched in 2018 by the regulator after Kamran Hussain preached hate.  The radical Imam was later convicted of six charges of encouraging terrorism and two of encouraging support for a proscribed organisation – the Islamic State.  The two trustees Fazal Ellahi and his son Isbar Ellahi have now been barred from running a charity.  The move from the Charity Commission comes after they "failed to properly manage, administer and protect the trust and its resources, resulting in it being used to facilitate terrorism offences".  It was found the trust did not have a viable future leading to its dissolution with £132,000 funds split between five charities in Stoke-on-Trent which have similar objectives, reports StokeonTrentLive , our sister title.  Michelle Russell, the commission's director of investigations, monitoring and enforcement, said: “What has happened at this charity is unacceptable and a clear failing on the part of the charity’s trustees as custodians for their charity.  "Our actions will reassure the public that abuse of this kind will not be tolerated.  "Whilst instances of abuse of charities for terrorism are rare, such links undermine public trust and confidence in charities, and the vital work that charities do. It is right that those responsible have been held to account for their actions.”  The Fazal Ellahi Charitable Trust was set up in 2003 with the aim of 'educating all people, particularly children and young people, in the Muslim religion and Urdu language and the advancement of the Muslim religion through collective prayer meetings and otherwise'.  As part of the investigation, the Charity Commission carried out an unannounced visit and scrutinised material seized by the police including bank statements.  The report reads: "The inquiry found that the charity’s premises had been misused, by the Imam, to encourage terrorism and encourage support for a proscribed organisation, namely Islamic State.  "The fact that the sermons delivered by the Imam which resulted in his conviction were delivered over a number of months compounds the failure on the part of the charity’s trustees to ensure that the charity and its property were not used for criminal purposes.  "Trustee A [Fazal Ellahi] advised that he was not aware of what the Imam had said and that there had been no complaints made about him by those in attendance at the Mosque.  "It is unclear whether the trustees were present for some or all of the Imam’s sermons between June A and September 2017 which resulted in his conviction; irrespective of whether or not either or both of the trustees were present, the inquiry found that the trustees failed to manage the charity’s resources appropriately and that their failure to do so facilitated their use for terrorist purposes."  Hussain, aged 40, of Knightsbridge Way, Tunstall, was sentenced to six-and-half years in jail at the Old Bailey after telling children as young as three that martyrdom was better than school.  His arrest came after anti-terror police planted an undercover officer in the mosque at 229 High Street over four months.  The officer recorded 17 sermons and six were found to have ‘crossed the line’ by encouraging terrorism and two encouraged support for IS or Daesh.  The court heard he would often he would deliver his speeches in front an ISIS flag and laud the values of terrorist groups.  In one he told the congregation: “Inshallah...we will see the black flag rise over Big Ben and Downing Street.”  The preacher supported the virtues of killing, martyrdom and violent jihad and endorsed the efforts of those who had undertaken such acts.  And he told worshippers the UK government funded far-right groups to attack Muslims.  He said: "The kuffar (unbeliever) will attack you and kill you.  "Stand up and be ready to sacrifice, be ready to stand in the face of the elements of Shaytan (Satan), be ready to spill blood and have your blood spilt."  It is not yet clear what the charity's dissolution means for the mosque, which had around 40 worshippers.


eveningstandard--2019-03-23--Sixth mosque vandalised in Birmingham just two days after others had windows smashed

Another Birmingham mosque has been targeted by vandals, days after five others in the city had their windows smashed.  Police are examining CCTV after criminal damage was caused to a window of the building in Cromer Road, Balsall Heath, around 6.30am on Saturday.  Detectives do not believe the incident is linked to five other attacks on mosques in the city.  An investigation involving counter-terrorism officers was launched after five mosques had their windows broken with a sledgehammer in the early hours of Thursday morning.  Officers received reports of vandalism at Al Habib Trust in Birchfield Road at 2.32am and then attended a second attack at the Ghousia Mosque in Slade Road, Erdington, at 3.14am.  Patrols then started in areas with mosques and police came across further damage to Witton Islamic Centre in Witton Road, Aston, and Masjid Madrassa Faizal Islam on Broadway in Perry Barr.  At 10.04am, officers responded to a smashed window at Jamia Mosque on Albert Road, Aston, after pictures were circulated on social media.  West Midlands Police said a 34-year-old man arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage after handing himself into a city police station on Friday has been detained under the Mental Health Act.  No-one else is being sought in relation to the first five incidents and detectives do not believe the suspect was part of an organised group, although the investigation is ongoing.  A 38-year-old man from Yardley, who was arrested after being detained by members of the community on Friday afternoon, has been released without charge and will face no further action.  Outside the mosque on Albert Road on Thursday, Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe described the attacks as "an abhorrent, despicable act that is clearly designed to create fear in our communities who are actually cherished in Birmingham".  Assistant Chief Constable Matt Ward said: "We continue to work in partnership with mosques and local communities around the West Midlands.  "There will be a visual police presence at key locations to offer reassurance to our communities.  "It is incredibly important that we unite together against those who seek to create discord, uncertainty and fear."


eveningstandard--2019-10-17--William and Kate follow in Diana's footsteps as they meet faith leaders during Lahore mosque vi

William and Kate follow in Diana's footsteps as they meet faith leaders during Lahore mosque visit

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge followed in Diana's footsteps today as they talked with religious leaders about "interfaith harmony" during a visit to a mosque in Lahore.  Kate wore an emerald green headscarf with a matching shalwar kameez by Maheen Khan during the couple's visit to Badshahi Mosque, the second-largest mosque in Pakistan.  Her outfit was similar to that worn by Princess Diana when she visited the mosque in September 1991.  The duke wore a cream linen suit and black socks with his shoes off, while the duchess went bare-foot.  The couple travelled on RAF Voyager from Islamabad to the capital of Punjab for the fourth day of their Pakistan tour.  Their first stop was an SOS Children’s Village, which provides a home for more than 150 orphans. They joined a birthday party for three children, with Kate drawing applause when she addressed them in Urdu.  The duchess also made her first speech of the tour, saying: “We have been really moved by what we have seen, and by the happy home you have made. I’m aware that many of you have experienced extremely difficult times in your lives. But it is inspiring to see how you have used your strength and positivity to help transform the lives of so many young children here.”  William asked one little boy: “How old do you think I am?” The child replied: “21.”  The day aimed to showcase the best of Pakistani culture, from its architecture, its commitment to charity — and its love of cricket.  The couple’s second engagement was at the National Cricket Academy, where they took part in a game with children participating in the British Council’s Dosti programme. Dosti means friendship in Urdu.  Kate swapped her heels for trainers, and wore a white shalwar kameez by Gul Ahmed. William hit a six, while Kate was caught out twice.  The last stop was an emotional visit to the children’s ward of the hospital visited by the Prince’s mother Diana in February 1996, the year before her death.  New: Daily podcast from the Evening Standard  Listen and subscribe to The Leader on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast or your chosen podcast provider. New episodes every weekday from 4pm.


frontpagemagazine--2019-04-16--Fake News Media Equates Small Fire in Mosque Guard Room to Notre Dame Burning

Fake News: Media Equates Small Fire in Mosque Guard Room to Notre Dame Burning

Newsweek was concerned that the fire in Notre Dame was getting too much attention leading to this embarrassing headline. (Though technically any Newsweek headline is embarrassing.)  "Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque Fire Burns at the Same Time As Flames Engulf Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris".  This is ridiculously fake news, even by Newsweek standards (though none of the media's fact checkers will ever challenge it, nor will Facebook intervene to stop its viral spread).  Here's what [actually](https://www.jpost.com/OMG/Fire-breaks-out-near-mosque- on-Temple-Mount-586985) happened.  > The Fire broke out in the guard's room outside the roof of the Marwani Prayer Hall," according to the Wafa news agency. The fire was quickly put out by the Waqf with no injuries or interior damage reported.  To put it bluntly, there's absolutely no parallel here.  But the media has an agenda. And it is often an Islamist one.


frontpagemagazine--2019-08-09--Muslim Brotherhood Mosque Advises German Muslims to Beat Their Wives

I'm as shocked as you are that a [mosque is quoting the Koran](https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2019/08/04/german-islamic-community- recommends-men-hit-unruly-women/).  > The Islamic community in Munich issued guidelines on its website that encourage men to assault their wives or female partners if they are “unruly.”  >  > The Bavarian Broadcasting 24 outlet published the shocking report on Saturday, writing, “In the case of a marriage in great difficulty or when the partner is ‘unruly,’ the Islamic Center Munich [IZM] invokes the Koran. Accordingly, the husband should comply with three steps: First, reprimand. Second, separation in the marriage bed. And third, beating.”  >  > Visitors of IZM’s website have been informed about the permissible beating of women for 15 years, according to the Bavarian Broadcasting 24 journalists Sabina Wolf and Joseph Röhmel, who first reported the story....  >  > The Islamic Center Munich has ties to the Islamic Community of Germany association. German authorities say the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood plays a role in the Islamic Community of Germany organization. Egypt classifies the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist entity...  >  > The Islamic Center Munich told Bavarian Broadcasting 24 that it plans to modify its website within two weeks.  Apparently it takes two weeks to upload a new page to your site.  German media and politicians are[ comically shocked and offended ](https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article197984913/Islamisches- Zentrum-Muenchen-Schlagen-von-Frauen-hat-symbolischen-Charakter.html)at the Koran quote from a mosque linked to the Brotherhood.  > Members of the Munich city council, who were confronted with the statements on the website, expressed shock to BR.  >  > SPD City Councilor Cumali Naz, spokesman for migration, said: "If IZM claims that violence is a legitimate means of resolving marital conflicts, it is fundamentally contrary to the values of our society."  The Koran is contrary to the values of your society. You can either change your values, the Koran, or pretend there's no conflict.


globalresearch--2019-04-17--A Cathedral and a Mosque Engulfed in Fire One Ravages the Past the Other Threatens the Future

A Cathedral and a Mosque Engulfed in Fire; One Ravages the Past, the Other Threatens the Future

The world reacted with shock to the fire that engulfed the Notre Dame Cathedral. A symbol of Paris,  this 13th Century architectural marvel is home to precious historical religious relics and artwork; made even more famous throughout the world  by Victor Hugo’s famous novel, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.  World leaders were quick to react to the tragedy of this fire.  News headlines around the world brought this disastrous incident to every living room around the globe and nations commiserated with the French. The inaudible sigh of relief was palpable when the structure was saved and with it, the history that laid within the walls. The past was not lost.  But another fire may well stop the future. Concurrent with the fire that ravaged Notre Dame, another historical place of worship, the al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem fell victim to a fire of an unknown origin. The Mosque which was completed in 705 CE, is the third holiest site in Islam. But its fate is not shared by Moslems alone – it touches us all.  The world can be forgiven for their ignorance of this tragedy – and the importance of al Aqsa. The media simply dismissed it, as it does with all things that must be kept from the general public. This is not the first fire that was left unmentioned by mainstream media (MSM). A previous fire set to the Mosque by a zealous Australian Christian in 1969 failed to capture headlines. Indeed, the threats to al Aqsa Mosque have accelerated over the years to a point of no return. Given that the fate of this Mosque holds the fate of us all, how can the media be forgiven for their deafening silence?  In 2006, the Israeli government began work on an exact replica of the Hurva synagogue on its original site. The rebuilding of the Hurva is designed to usher in the rebuilding of the Third Temple. Rabbis were tailored for the special kind of garments they would be wearing in a “rebuilt temple” – the ‘end of time’. But the Mosque still stands in the way of building the Third Temple – for now.[i]  It took four years to complete the work on Hurva. When presidential candidate, Barack Obama promised AIPAC an undivided Jerusalem in 2008, the building of the Hurva synagogue was well on the way – which signaled continued future attacks on the al-Aqsa Mosque to make way for construction of the Third Temple.  In 2009, Israeli news headlines reassured Israelis that “Netanyahu would build the Third Temple”. Soon after, in 2010, JTA reported that “Our Land of Israel” party had put posters on 200 city buses in Jerusalem showing an artist’s rendition of the Third Temple on the al-Aqsa Mosque site with the slogan, “May the Temple be built in our lifetime.”  Donald Trump deliverance on Obama’s promise has made these fanatics more hopeful. How could they not be with Senator Broxon telling a cheering crowd  And how do we ignore Benjamin Netanyahu taking ownership of Jerusalem stating that the Bible, the holy book for Jews and Christians, had justified it. Should we then be surprised that rabbis sent a letter of gratitude to Trump, praising him for “fulfilling prophecies”.  In March, as Israeli elections were approaching, it was reported that “The Israeli Third Temple” party had gained traction. And while the mainstream media can ignore the latest fire that broke out at the al Aqsa mosque on April 15, can we afford to ignore the blazing headlines of the same day: “END OF THE WORLD: Jerusalem third temple ‘fulfills Biblical prophecy’ of the end times” and other Israeli news ushering in the building of the Third Temple and the ‘end of times’?  Some may take comfort in the fact that this is all sheer madness, but one cannot ignore the insanity of which we were warned of by Warner D. Farr, LTC, U.S. Army who in 1999 reported his findings in the “Counterproliferation papers, Future Warfare Series No. 2, USAF Counterproliferation Center”.  This fascinating report, among other things, sounded the alarm over the probability of Gush Emunim, a right- wing religious organization, or others, hijacking a nuclear device to “liberate” the Temple Mount for the building of the third temple.  This is powerful insanity with insane powers enabling it.  Is the world ready to embrace this madness and accept this fate at this juncture? Are you?  Note to readers: please click the share buttons below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, internet forums. etc.  Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich is an independent researcher and writer with a focus on U.S. foreign policy and the role of lobby groups in influencing US foreign policy.  [i] Tom Mountain.  Preparing for the Third TempleJewish Advocate.  Boston:Aug 22, 2008.  Vol. 199,  Iss. 34,  p. 9 (1 pp.)