Category Archives: Global Politics

Paris attacks a reaction to US actions in Syria, Iraq: Azam Khan – The Times of India

When asked if violence as a means to deal with any such “injustice” could be justified, Khan said, “It is debatable. Because people should know who lit the first match stick before they analyze the ravaging fire that is burning across nations. Killing innocents whether in Syria or Paris is a highly deplorable act and the whole world should condemn it. But then, if you created such a situation, you have to face the backlash too.”

Source: Paris attacks a reaction to US actions in Syria, Iraq: Azam Khan – The Times of India

Danish MP: ‘Bomb women and children’ – The Local

Denmark joined the international coalition fighting Isis in October 2014. Danish F-16s have flown 547 missions over northern Iraq and have dropped a total of 503 bombs. The F-16s were recently brought back to Denmark for repairs but Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen has promised that they will return to action in early 2016. Jensen has also expressed an openness for extending the Danish mission to include striking targets in Syria.

Source: Danish MP: ‘Bomb women and children’ – The Local

The Streets of Paris are as Familiar to me as the Streets of Beirut · Global Voices

I come from a privileged Francophone community in Lebanon. This has meant that I have always seen France as my second home. The streets of Paris are as familiar to me as the streets of Beirut. I was just in Paris a few days ago.These have been two horrible nights of violence. The first took the lives of over 40 in Beirut; the second took the lives of over 120 people and counting in Paris.It also seems clear to me that to the world, my people’s deaths in Beirut do not matter as much as my other people’s deaths in Paris.We do not get a “safe” button on Facebook. We do not get late night statements from the most powerful men and women alive and millions of online users.We do not change policies which will affect the lives of countless innocent refugees.This could not be clearer.I say this with no resentment whatsoever, just sadness.

Source: The Streets of Paris are as Familiar to me as the Streets of Beirut · Global Voices

Lebanon arrests five Syrians, one Palestinian suspect in Beirut bombings: security source | Reuters – {World solidarity with victims absent but progress made finding perpetrators.}

Lebanese authorities arrested five Syrians and a Palestinian in connection with the twin suicide bombings in central Beirut on Thursday that killed 43 people, a senior security source said on Saturday.The bombings in a busy residential and commercial area that is a stronghold for Lebanese Shi’ite movement Hezbollah were claimed by Islamic State.”Within 24 hours the network was arrested in the fastest uncovering of a bombing incident in the country,” the source said.

Source: Lebanon arrests five Syrians, one Palestinian suspect in Beirut bombings: security source | Reuters

Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad denounce Paris attacks | News | DW.COM | 15.11.2015

The leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad all issued statements Saturday denouncing the attacks in Paris, where 129 people were killed and more than 350 people were wounded on Friday night.Dozens of Syrian rebel groups have also denounced the attacks in a joint online statement as “against human values.”

Source: Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad denounce Paris attacks | News | DW.COM | 15.11.2015

Cal State Long Beach Student Killed In Paris Attacks: LAist

The L.A. Times reports that Nohemi Gonzalez, from El Monte, was attending an exchange program at the Strate School of Design, according to a statement posted on the school’s Facebook page. Strate’s director, Dominique Sciamma, wrote (in translation):Yesterday, with unbridled violence, women and men are dead, dead simply for living in a free space. Others will continue to be marked for their lives, in their body, their spirit. I hoped with all my heart that no one in our community had been touched in some way by these criminal acts. It is unfortunately not the case. One of our international exchange students was the victim in yesterday’s massacre. Her name was Nohemi Gonzalez. We join in the pain of her family and relatives. There are others who have been injured and are now out of danger. We wish them the courage to overcome such a hardship. Our response must always be the same: Live

Source: Cal State Long Beach Student Killed In Paris Attacks: LAist

 

RIP and bless her soul and all those who died in Paris and in Beirut this week from terrorist attacks.

Cops review security cover as capital put on high alert – The Times of India

Delhi has been told about impending threats from Ansar-ul-Tawhid Fi Bilad Al Hind (AuT), an Indian Mujahideen (IM) offshoot based in Af-Pak region, which has been flirting with ISIS of late. Its founder, Dr Shehnawaj, is learnt to be eyeing Delhi, said sources. It was launched a few years ago by the coming together of jihadi elements in Af-Pak region and IM operatives who had rebelled against the leadership of Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal in Pakistan.

Source: Cops review security cover as capital put on high alert – The Times of India

Taslima Nasreen: ′Wahhabism has invaded Bangladesh′ | Asia | DW.COM | 13.11.2015

For the past 21 years, Nasreen has been living in exile in various countries, including India, Sweden, Germany and the United States.Due to her criticism of Islam, multiple fatwas have been issued against the author calling for her assassination. Still, 53-year-old Nasreen doesn’t mince her words when she talks about freedom of expression and the rise of religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh.The South Asian nation has been afflicted by rising Islamist violence in recent months. Extremists have been blamed for the killings of at least four atheist bloggers and a publisher since the start of this year.In an exclusive DW interview, Nasreen, who recently returned to India from the US, talks about the shrinking space for free thinkers in Bangladesh and said that Islam cannot be exempt from the critical scrutiny that other religions go through.Nasreen also believes Bangladesh will be headed for a complete disaster if the government fails to bring Islamic terrorists to justice.

Source: Taslima Nasreen: ′Wahhabism has invaded Bangladesh′ | Asia | DW.COM | 13.11.2015

ISIS warns Russia, says ‘blood will spill like an ocean’ – Times of India

Isis militant group has released a new video threatening to launch attacks in Russia “very soon”.Issued by the group’s foreign language propaganda wing, the al-Hayat Media Centre, the video combined footage of the Charlie Hebdo shootings and graphic depictions of executions with a threat that “soon, very soon, the blood will spill like an ocean”.

Source: ISIS warns Russia, says ‘blood will spill like an ocean’ – Times of India

Afghan Women’s Writing Project | The Taliban in My Dream

The Taliban is attacking inside my country again: Jaleriz in Maidan Wardak, Kunduz province, in Ishpeshta near Bamiyan province, and in Ghazni province near Kabul. How can they make my motherland suffer such pain?Everybody in my country is scared and it seems that half of the people, especially the young generation, are leaving the country.  Nobody leaves their country without serious thought. But with this fighting, everybody wants to leave Afghanistan. They would rather die in a river or on a mountain on the way to peace than live in Afghanistan and be murdered by Taliban.These are the most terrible days for everybody in Afghanistan. Yesterday I met one of my neighbors who wanted to leave the country. He was saying it is like suicide to stay here. “Let’s go from here,” he said. “It is better to die on rivers than to die by the hands of Taliban. If you drown in a river you die at once, but if you live here and are arrested by Taliban you will die a thousand times.” What he meant was if the Taliban arrests someone, they torture him until he asks for death.Everybody, even in Bamiyan, is afraid of the Taliban. Many people who cannot leave the country are saving food in their homes because they say that if Taliban comes, it will not be safe to go out and buy anything.Some days ago at the University I heard that the Taliban were warning Bamiyan that they would attack. I don’t know if it is true or rumor. If it is true, then it is true. But if it is rumor, it means that everybody is afraid and making up rumors.I myself have never seen Taliban, but I have heard many stories of their violence. During their regime they killed many people in Bamiyan. At that time I was living with my family in Iran. But I am scared of Taliban. I have heard what they do to girls and how they oppose education for girls. Last night I dreamed that the Taliban attacked my family. In my dream I ran away but then lost my family and I was alone with my niece. We were running and hiding from Taliban and then I lost her until I found my family hiding in a cave with many other people. People were talking. I was so scared and I shouted at them to be quiet. “Why are you not scared?” I asked. “You should know better.  You saw them attack many years ago. If they hear you talking they will come and kill us.” Then I started crying. When I opened my eyes, it was time for the morning prayers.  I told my dream to my roommate and she said she also dreamed about Taliban. All of this is almost more than I can put into words. I cannot truly express my feelings and fears. I don’t know how our dear president can bring peace to Afghanistan but I hope he hears our voices and will do something for our country. It is every Afghan’s wish.By Zahra H.

Source: Afghan Women’s Writing Project | The Taliban in My Dream