One consistent hallmark of abusive laws is that they lend themselves to new abuses limited only by a spiteful imagination (see also: Pakistan’s blasphemy law). “Saudi man divorces wife over loudspeaker at mall,” from Bikya Masr, March 23 (thanks to The Religion of Peace): CAIRO: A Saudi husband used a loudspeaker to divorce his wife […]
Morocco: Banned Islamic opposition party organizes anti-Israel march
“They chanted: ‘We will never forget you Ahmed Yassin,’ naming an Islamist Palestinian Hamas leader assassinated by the Israelis in 2004.” And so they support Hamas’ aim of destroying Israel. “Moroccan Islamists flex muscles in Rabat march,” by Souhail Karam for Reuters, March 25: RABAT (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Moroccans staged a pro-Palestinian […]
Saudi Arabia: Expat group warns workers to be cautious about expressing non-Muslim faith in wake of grand mufti’s church-destroying fatwa
April Fools Day is coming up. It might be a hoot to tell King Abdullah the exact story that is going on here, but reversing the roles of non-Muslims and Muslims. Tell him that Saudi men and women are stuck working in slave-like conditions and prohibited to publicly express their faith, and the ranking cleric […]
Taliban threatens Pakistani lawmakers’ families over prospect of reopening NATO supply lines
As noted here in a 2010 story about the ISI’s “urging on” of the Taliban, “it’s all fun and games for Pakistan’s ruling elite until the jihadists who found sanctuary on the western frontier are breaking down the gates in Islamabad.” “Taliban warn Pakistan lawmakers over NATO supplies,” by Ishtiaq Mahsud for the Associated Press, […]
Pakistan: 100 women forced to convert to Islam “in recent months”
Not unlike a similar case of bias that has arisen at Bikya Masr, this report talks out of both sides of its proverbial mouth, abruptly shifting the focus to women who say they have “found love.” It is not enough that a Pakistani journalist quoted below says he has spoken to a few women and […]
Toulouse jihad murderer had ties to jihadists in U.K.
Earlier coverage observed that Merah had “been surprised: he thought he’d be able to continue his offensive and carry on with the killings and it’s clear that he hadn’t prepared anything (in the event of a siege).” With any luck, his hubris and lack of preparation may lead to the untangling of a larger web […]
Saudi Arabia: Another Twitter user faces charges for apostasy
“Many scholars and people are now demanding his execution.” That may be about as close to democracy as Saudi Arabia gets: giving the people what they want, at least when it’s death. “Another Twitter user accused of apostasy in Saudi Arabia,” from Emirates 24-7, March 25: An Arab man in Saudi Arabia is accused of […]
France: Preliminary charges filed against brother of Toulouse jihad murderer
Abdelkader Merah Update. “Preliminary charges filed against gunman’s brother,” from the Associated Press, March 25: A Frenchman suspected of helping his brother plot attacks against Jewish schoolchildren and paratroopers was handed preliminary murder and terrorism charges Sunday. But Abdelkader Merah denied any role in the attacks. Investigators looking into France’s worst terror attacks in years […]
Dozens of French nationals being trained by Taliban
There’s more where Mohamed Merah came from. Much is made below of the fact that Merah did not appear religious, and was seen in a nightclub. But it is nothing new for jihadists to make an effort to appear non-religious (see also: Lesson 8 of the “Al-Qaeda playbook”), or to indulge in what they please […]
Toulouse jihad murderer’s brother suspected of complicity
In a prior report, Mohamed Merah’s brother Abdelkader said “I am very proud of my brother. I regret nothing for him and approve of what he did.” This development barely begins to unravel the trail of money and contacts that made it possible for Mohamed, who was on welfare, to travel extensively and amass weapons, […]