LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
May 14/2019
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
http://data.eliasbejjaninews.com/eliasnews19/english.may14.19.htm
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Bible Quotations For today
God did not call us to impurity but in holiness.
“First Letter to the Thessalonians 04/01-09: “Finally, brothers and sisters, we
ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to
live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and
more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For
this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication;
that each one of you knows how to control your own body in holiness and honour,
not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one
wrongs or exploits a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an
avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and
solemnly warned you. For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness.
Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also
gives his Holy Spirit to you. Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters,
you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught
by God to love one another;”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese
& Lebanese Related News published on May 13-14/19
Happy & Blessed Mathers Day To All Mothers
So long Patriarch Sfeir
Bishop Elias Zaidan's Eulogy In The Event Of Partiarch Sfier's Death
Thursday Declared National Vacation for Sfeir's Farewell
Aoun receives Cardinal Sfeir’s death notice
Arab ambassadors' delegation offers condolences to Rahi upon loss of Sfeir
Kataeb Party Declares Mourning over Passing of Patriarch Sfeir
Hizbullah Offers Condolences over Sfeir in Bkirki
Aoun Receives Cables from Saudi King, Crown Prince
MP Geagea Says Sfeir 'Stood by LF in Darkest Circumstances'
Lebanese Cabinet maintains contributions to health associations
Lebanese Cabinet Raises Fines for Tax Evasion
Bou Saab Says Servicemen Wages Won't be Cut as Govt. Vows 'Reforms'
Bassil Says Steps Taken over 'Washington' Cable Leaks
Boat with 8 Syrians Capsizes off Lebanese Coast; 5 Missing
Hariri Denounces Saudi Ship Attacks off UAE
Retired Servicemen Suspend Sit-in outside BDL
Human Rights Watch Urges Probe into al-Dika's Death in Custody
Geagea Strongly Condemns Attacks on Ships in UAE Waters
In Lebanon, Vintage Film Posters Question Western Cliches
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on May 13-14/19
Saudi Arabia Says 2 Oil Tankers Damaged by Sabotage Attacks
Trump: If Iranians Do Anything, They Will Suffer Greatly
Pompeo to Visit Brussels Monday to Discuss Iran
Europe Rejects U.S. Escalation Strategy against Iran
Britain Warns of ‘Unwanted’ Iran-US Conflict
Sudan Protesters, Military Council Resume Talks
Iran Sentences Woman to Jail for ‘Spying’ for Britain
Paris Discusses with Baghdad Fate of French ISIS Militants
MSP Head Blasts Attempts to Remove Algeria’s Army Chief From Power
Clashes in Northwest Syria Kill More than 40 Fighters
After Caliphate's Fall, ISIS Militants Still Spread Fear
Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on May 13-14/19
Happy & Blessed Mathers Day To All Mothers/Elias Bejjani/May 12/2019
So long Patriarch Sfeir/Dr. Walid Phares/Face Book/ 13/2019
Bishop Elias Zaidan's Eulogy In The Event Of Partiarch Sfier's Death/13/2019
Saudi Arabia Says 2 Oil Tankers Damaged by Sabotage Attacks/Associated Press/Naharnet/May
13/2019/
After Caliphate's Fall, ISIS Militants Still Spread Fear//Asharq Al-Awsat/May
13/2019
"I Don't Know Why They Attacked Our Village": Persecution of Christians In
February 2019"/Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/May 13/2019
Iran and the Difficulty of Dancing with Trump/Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/May
13/2019
The Turkish Lira and Political Crises/Marcus Ashworth/Bloomberg ViewMay 13/2019
Banned from Facebook? A Polish Court May Help/Leonid Bershidsky/Bloomberg
ViewMay 13/2019
War with Iran forthcoming? Most experts say they don’t think so/Jerusalem
Post/May 13/2019
Chinese Sex Trade in Pakistan: Abuse of Christian Girls/Kaswar Klasra/Gatestone
Institute/May 13/2019
How Palestinian Leaders Punish Patients/Bassam Tawil/Gatestone Institute/May
13/2019
Asia Bibi's escape to Canada shines light on Pakistan's controversial blasphemy
laws/CBC/May 14/2019
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese
Related News published
on May 13-14/19
Happy & Blessed Mathers Day To All
Mothers
Elias Bejjani/May 12/2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/74768/elias-bejjani-happy-blessed-mathers-day-to-all-mothers/
Today while in Canada and USA we are happily and joyfully celebrating the
Mothers’ Day, let us all pray that Almighty God will keep granting all mothers
all over the world the needed graces of wisdom, meekness and faith to highly
remain under all circumstances honoring this holy role model and to stay as
Virgin Merry fully devoted to their families.
For all those of us whose mothers have passed away, let us mention them in our
daily prayers and ask Almighty God to endow their souls the eternal rest in His
heavenly dwellings.
In Christianity Virgin Merry is envisaged by many believers and numerous
cultures as the number one role model for the righteous, devoted, loving ,
caring, giving, and humble mothers.
The Spirit Of My mother who like every and each loving departed mother is
definitely watching from above and praying for all of us. May Almighty God Bless
her spirit and the Spirits of all departed mothers.
In all religions and cultures all over the world, honoring, respecting and
obeying parents is not a favor that people either chose to practice or not. No
not at all, honoring, respecting and obeying parents is a holy obligation that
each and every faithful individual who believes in God MUST fulfill, no matter
what.
Almighty God in His 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 ) made the honoring of both
parents (commandment number five) a holy obligation, and not a choice or a favor.
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land
which the Lord your God is giving you”. (Exodus 20:12)
Reading the Bible, both the Old and New Testament shows with no doubt that
honoring parents is a cornerstone and a pillar in faith and righteousness for
all believers. All other religions and cultures share with Christians this holy
concept and obligation.
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, so that
your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD
your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 5:16)
“You shall each revere your mother and father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I
am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:3).
Back home in Lebanon we have two popular proverbs that say:“If you do not have
an elderly figure in your family to bless you, go and search for one”. “The
mother is the who either gathers or divides the family”
How true are these two proverbs, because there will be no value, or meaning for
our lives if not blessed and flavored by the wisdom, love and blessings of our
parents and of other elder members.
He who does not honor the elderly, sympathize and empathize with them,
especially his own parents is a person with a hardened heart, and a numbed
conscience, who does not know the meaning of gratitude.
History teaches us that the easiest route for destroying a nation is to destroy,
its cornerstone, the family. Once the family code of respect is belittled and
not honored, the family is divided and loses all its Godly blessings.
“Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against
itself falls” (Luke 11-17)
One very important concept and an extremely wise approach MUST apply and prevail
when reading the Holy Bible in a bid to understand its contents and observe the
Godly instructions and life guidelines that are enlisted. The concept needs to
be a faith one with an open frame of mind free from doubts, questions and
challenges.
Meanwhile the approach and interpretation MUST both be kept within the abstract
manner, thinking and mentality frame, and not in the concrete way of
interpretation.
We read in (Matthew 15/04: “For God said, Respect your father and your mother,
and If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be put to death).
This verse simply dwells on The Fifth Biblical Commandment: “Honor your Father
and Mother”. To grasp its meaning rightfully and put it in its right faith
content one should understand that death in the Bible is not the death of the
body as we experience and see on earth. DEATH in the Bible means the SIN that
leads to eternal anguish in Hell.
The Bible teaches us that through His crucifixion, death and resurrection, Jesus
defeated death in its ancient human, earthly concept. He broke the death thorn
and since than, the actual death became the sin. Those who commit the sin die
and on the judgment day are outcast to the eternal fire. Death for the believers
is a temporary sleep on the hope of resurrection.
Accordingly the verse “If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be
put to death”, means that those who do not honor their parents, help, support
and respect them commit a deadly sin and God on the Judgment Day will make them
accountable if they do not repent and honor their parents.
God is a Father, a loving, passionate and caring One, and in this context He
made the honoring of parents one of the Ten Commandments.
In conclusion: The abstract and faith interpretation of Matthew 15/04 verse must
not be related to children or teenagers who because of an age and maturity
factors might temporarily repel against their parents and disobey them.
Hopefully, each and every one of us, no matter what religion or denomination
he/she is affiliated to will never ever ignore his parents and commit the deadly
SIN of not honoring them through every way and mean especially when they are old
and unable to take care of themselves.
Happy Mothers’ Day to all mothers
So long Patriarch Sfeir
Dr. Walid Phares/Face Book 13/2019
My sincere condolences for the passing of Cardinal Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, to
the Sfeir family, Bkerke, the Maronite community and all Lebanese.
Patriarch Sfeir was a leader of a Church, of a community and of a nation in the
most difficult times of their history. He mobilized as of 2000, with great
courage, the silent majority of a country that fell under occupation since 1990.
He toured Lebanon and the diaspora relentlessly between 2000 and 2005, to call
for the liberation of the mother country from Syrian occupation and the
disarming of the militias. His words and determination had an impact on US
legislation and on UNSCR 1559, but above all on the millions of citizens who
filled Beirut on March 14, 2005.
I met Patriarch Sfeir when he was a bishop in the 1980s. He was a classmate of
my uncle, Father Paul Phares. He was also a student of my great uncle Father
Joseph Phares at Saint Joseph University in Beirut.
Later I met him several times as a publisher of Mashrek Magazine and when I was
appointed as a Secretary General of the World Maronite Union in 1988. I also met
him several times in the during the 1990s, including in Rome in 2000, in New
York and in Miami.
Patriarch Sfeir will be remembered in history books as a the leader of the
spiritual and national resistance during the dark age of modern Lebanon. To him,
prayers and respects. May his soul rest in peace.
So long ghubtat al batrak
Bishop Elias Zaidan's Eulogy In The Event Of Partiarch
Sfier's Death
Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles/Office of the Bishop
May 13, 2019
Dear Monsignor/Father, Deacon, Brother and Sister
As you know, His Beatitude and Eminence, Mar Nasrallah Peter Sfeir entered into
eternal life yesterday, May 11, 2019. He died in hospital.
Patriarch-Emeritus Sfeir was born May 15, 1920 in Rayfoun, Lebanon. He
was elected Patriarch of Antioch for the Maronites April 27,1986, and his
resignation was accepted on February 26, 2011. He was created a Cardinal on
November 26, 1994 by Pope St. John Paul II and he was the 76th Patriarch of the
Maronite Church with the official title of "His Beatitude and Eminence Maronite
Patriarch of Antioch
and the Whole East".Patriarch Sfeir was educated in Lebanon, first at Mar Abda
School in Harharaya where he completed his primary studies, and Ghazir where he
completed his secondary studiesat St. Maron seminary. He earned a degree in
literature and also graduated in philosophy and theology in 1950 at Saint
Joseph's University in Beirut; he also was awarded a degree in Literature. He
was ordained to the priesthood in the same year on May 7. Thus, he was a priest
for 69 years.
From 1951 to 1955 he served as priest to the parish of Rayfoun. In 1956, he was
appointed the secretary of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerké. In the same
year, he became the professor of translation in literature and philosophy at the
Marist Brothers School in Jounieh. On June 23, 1961Sfeir was appointed Titular
bishop and Patriarchal vicar.
On July 16, 1961, he was consecrated the titular bishop of Tarsus by Patriarch
Paul Peter Meouchi. He then served as Patriarchal vicar under Patriarchs Meouchi
and Khoreiche until his election as Patriarch in 1986.
Patriach-Emeritus Sfeir presided over the Maronite Patriarch Synod from 2003 to
2006 and oversaw the revision and publication of the Maronite Divine Liturgy and
many liturgical rituals. A number of new Maronite Eparchies were created during
his time as Patriarch, including the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los
Angeles. Patriarch-Emeritus Sfeir ordained over 40
bishops and ordained and enthroned Bishop Robert Shaheen as Bishop of our
Eparchy in 2001 in the United States. He made a number of pastoral visits to the
United States and attended Conventions of the National Association of Maronites.
As bishop and as Patriarch he met many religious and civil leaders in the
world. As a Cardinal he served on the boards of various Vatican Congregations
and Councils as well as attended many different Synods of Bishops in Rome.
A number of Maronite saints were beatified and canonized during his time.
He also authored several books.
Patriarch-Emeritus Sfeir was a staunch and out-spoken defender of the freedom
and sovereignty of Lebanon and rights of Christians to live in peace and harmony
in their
With his passing, our Maronite Church loses a cherished icon.
He was a true father and shepherd who capably led.
By word and deed, our Church during very difficult and critical times. History
will definitely mark his name as one of the great Maronite Patriarchs.
At this time we would like to extend our sincere condolences to our
beloved Patriarch, His Beatitude and Eminence, Bechara Peter Cardinal Rai, to
the Maronite Synod of Bishops and to his family. I ask
that all parishes and institutions of the Eparchy include prayers for the repose
of the soul of Patriarch-Emeritus Sfeir at each Divine Liturgy for a period of 7
days. May the Risen Lord reward his faithfulness and
endeavors, and may He grant to him eternal rest among all the Righteous and Jus
in Heaven.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+A. Elias Zaidan
Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles.
Thursday Declared National Vacation for Sfeir's Farewell
Naharnet/May 13/19/ The Premiership has announced that Wednesday and Thursday
will be national mourning days over the death of former Maronite patriarch
Nasrallah Sfeir. According to the decree, flags will be flown at half-mast and
radio and TV programming will be adjusted to suit the situation.
All public administrations and municipalities and public and private
institutions will meanwhile close on the burial day on Thursday.
Aoun receives Cardinal Sfeir’s death notice
Mon 13 May 2019/NNA - President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, received from
Maronite Patriarch, Bechara Boutros Rahi, the death notice of late Patriarch Mar
Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, transmitted by Patriarchal Vicar, Archbishop Boulos
Sayyah, and President of the Catholic Center of the Information, Father Abdo Abu
Kasm.
Arab ambassadors' delegation offers condolences to Rahi upon loss of Sfeir
Mon 13 May 2019/NNA - A delegation of Arab accredited ambassadors to Lebanon
offered on Monday condolences to Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros
Rahi, upon the loss of former Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir. The
delegation included Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Waleed Bukhari, Qatar Mohammed
Hassan Jaber Al Jaber, Sultanate of Oman Badr bin Mohammad al-Mantheri, Kuwait
Abdel Aal al-Qinai, Iraq Ali al-Ameri, Tunisia Mohammed Karim Boudali, Algeria
Ahmed Bouziane, and Egypt Nazih al-Najjari. Speaking on behalf of the
delegation, Dean of the Arab diplomatic corps, Kuwait's Ambassador to Lebanon
Abdel Aal Qinai eulogized the great late Patriarch Sfeir as a man of peace,
devotion and patriotism, saying "his loss is not only for Lebanon but for our
Arab Mashreq."Ambassador Qinai said the late Patriarch was always keen to unite
the sons of the nation living together in peace and coexistence."He was also
very keen on the prosperity of this brotherly country and all the Arab
countries," al Qinai mourned the Patriarch.
Kataeb Party Declares Mourning over Passing of Patriarch
Sfeir
Kataeb.org/Monday 13th May 2019/The Lebanese Kataeb party announced on Monday a
period of mourning over the passing of Patriarch Emeritus Nasrallah Sfeir,
ordering that flags be flown and half mast at the party's offices nationwide. In
a statement issued following its weekly meeting, the Kataeb's politburo called
for a wide participation in the Patriarch’s funeral on Thursday in Bkirki,
hailing the late cardinal as a great national figure. “He has been deeply
engraved in the people’s conscience and in the history of this nation, becoming
a symbol of freedom and faith in Lebanon," read the politburo statement. "He
stood in the face of occupation, injustice and violation of sovereignty."“This
Patriarch turned all dreams into reality. He always spoke up the truth with
strength." Turning to the appeal that the Kataeb bloc submitted to the
Constitutional Council last week along with other lawmakers to contest the
government's power plan, the politburo stressed that the challenge is aimed at
ensuring the proper and flawless implementation of the plan in accordance with
transparency standards, legal norms and constitutional rules.“It is not aimed at
obstructing the power plan as some are claiming,” it affirmed. The Kataeb party
also voiced deep concern over the tension prevailing over the Gulf region which
is threatening security and peace in the region, condemning the recent sabotage
attacks on four UAE commercial ships near the country's territorial waters in
the Gulf of Oman.
Hizbullah Offers Condolences over Sfeir in Bkirki
Naharnet/May 13/2019/A Hizbullah delegation led by political council chief
Sayyed Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed on Monday offered condolences in Bkirki over the
death of former Maronite patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir. "We came to express our
condolences and to be part of the grief that is engulfing Lebanon," al-Sayyed
said. "Lebanon misses figures such as patriarch Sfeir," he added, noting that
Hizbullah might take part in Sfeir's farewell on Thursday. Sfeir died on Sunday
days before turning 99. Wednesday and Thursday have been declared national
mourning days and his body will be laid to rest on Thursday.
Aoun Receives Cables from Saudi King, Crown Prince
Naharnet/May 13/2019/Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz on Monday sent President
Michel Aoun a cable of condolences over the death of former Maronite patriarch
Nasrallah Sfeir. "We express to you and to the late patriarch's family our
warmest and sincerest condolences, wishing you permanent health and success,"
the king said. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent the president a
similar condolences cable. Sfeir died on Sunday days before turning 99.
Wednesday and Thursday have been declared national mourning days a d his body
will be laid to rest on Thursday.
MP Geagea Says Sfeir 'Stood by LF in Darkest Circumstances'
Naharnet/May 13/2019/MP Sethrida Geagea on Sunday described late Maronite
ex-patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir as a "saint" who "stood by the Lebanese Forces
party in the darkest circumstances, especially after the Taef Accord and between
the years 1990 and 2005." "He carved irreversible marks in our history," she
said in a statement mourning the late spiritual leader.
"His role was essential as a resistant patriarch who raised the voice
against tyranny, especially when Samir Geagea was arrested together with Lebanon
as a country," the MP added. She also hailed Sfeir's role in the Bkirki
Declaration in the year 2000 and the Mt. Lebanon reconciliation, saying he stood
by "right and truth in the face of hegemony and in support of the LF's
cause."Geagea finally called on the Lebanese state to declare Sfeir's burial day
a national mourning day because "he worked for the sake of entire Lebanon."
Lebanese Cabinet maintains contributions to health
associations
Mon 13 May 2019/NNA - The Cabinet held today a meeting chaired by the President
of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri, after which the Minister of Information
Jamal Jarrah said: The cabinet completed today its discussions about the
contributions to the institutions, associations and bodies that receive
contributions from the state. The council was very careful not to reduce the
contributions to serious associations and bodies that are fundamental for the
lives of citizens, most importantly the Children’ Cancer Center, the bone marrow
center, Caritas, the Red Cross and other institutions that provide medical,
health and educational services to the citizens. These institutions have not
been affected, and if there had been a possibility we would have increased the
contributions despite the difficult situation. We maintained what the state
contributes to them, because they provide services to the citizens especially in
these difficult circumstances, and they need this money to continue their work
efficiently, and they proved their presence and their relationship with the
people. On the other hand, a reduction has been made to the contributions to
some associations and institutions, but the reduction was also small, maximum 10
to 15%, so that they can continue to serve the citizens. We almost completed
this article. Tomorrow we will discuss the economic proposals and reforms. The
Minister of Finance will give a summary of what we did in the past period, which
means the results of the reductions. The next session will be tomorrow at noon.
Question: Did you take all that time to study the issue of associations?
Jarrah: We started discussing this issue yesterday and we completed it today. It
is a very long and thorny issue.
Question: There are many festival associations in Lebanon. Did you address this
issue?
Jarrah: We discussed it. There were views supporting a reduction and others with
preserving the allocations, due to their importance for tourism, but the article
remained unmodified.
Question: Could you reach salary cuts if the reductions made until now are not
enough?
Jarrah: I cannot answer before the Finance Minister presents his report.
Question: You expected to finish studying the draft project last week but until
now, you did not finish, why?
Jarrah: Unfortunately, things are taking time, but the discussion is useful and
responsible. We have a reformative budget, so there is debate on most of the
items in order to reach an agreement.
Question: There was confusion on the issue of the military and measure No. 3.
You said the issue was approved in the cabinet, while the Minister of Defense
denies that. Is there any clarification on this point?
Jarrah: Measure No. 3 was adopted in the confrontation with the Israeli enemy,
and the ministers of defense and interior will determine the necessary
procedures concerning the other areas. There may be other areas where they see
that measure No.3 applies. They assess the security situation and its
seriousness.
Lebanese Cabinet Raises Fines for Tax
Evasion
Naharnet/May 13/19/In its evening meeting which extended until after midnight,
the Cabinet convened under the chairmanship of Premier Saad Hariri and discussed
the tax articles, said Information Minister Jamal al-Jarrah. “It was a long
today but we thoroughly discussed the tax articles. Decisions were taken on some
articles, for example reducing the registration fees of motorcycles. As you
know, most motorcycles are not registered due to the high fees of registration.
These fees were reduced to the minimum to encourage people to register their
motorcycles,” said Jarrah after the meeting which ended at 2:00 am. “Also, the
state’s contribution to free schools has become subject to the supervision of
Educational inspection. Fines for tax evasion have been raised to control tax
collection. We also raised the fees slightly on work permits for foreigners.
This does not affect the Lebanese, but the foreigners who get work permits in
Lebanon. We also reduced the state’s contribution to public institutions between
10 to 50 for some institutions in order to control their expenses,” added the
Minister.
Jarrah noted “there are decisions that need legal drafting on investment
promotion, especially in information and communications technology. We raised
the fees on planes landing at Beirut airport, in line with the rest of the
airports in the world or the region. These are the most important issues. Some
points need legal drafting and there will be another meeting at noon to continue
the discussions.”Jarrah was asked why hasn’t the Cabinet discussed the issue of
reducing the salaries of ministers, MPs and presidents, and why is the issue of
public sector being postponed. He said: “We did not discuss the salaries because
we want to see first how much the measures we have taken so far will reduce the
deficit. The issue needs more in-depth discussions to decide on it. All the tax
measures we have taken and the reduction of spending in ministries and state
institutions are significant reductions. For the first time we are being harsh
concerning budget cuts to see their financial results and in light of them we
will take decisions.”
Bou Saab Says Servicemen Wages Won't be Cut as Govt. Vows 'Reforms'
Naharnet/May 13/19/Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab on Monday reassured that the
salaries and other compensations of active and retired servicemen will not be
touched, as the Cabinet held another budget session. Bou Saab clarified that a
3% decrease will however affect their medical care compensations, a measure that
"will affect all state employees." Retired servicemen have staged several
protests in recent days to warn against any cut to their salaries and on Monday
they blocked the entrance of Banque du Liban on the vital Hamra Street. The
Cabinet meanwhile slashed social aid by 10 to 15% to associations without
involving "serious associations that truly aid citizens such as the children
cancer center, the red cross and Caritas," Information Minister Jamal al-Jarrah
said. He added that Cabinet will continue its discussions at noon Tuesday,
reassuring that the country is headed for economic recommendations and reforms."
Lebanon has vowed to slash public spending to unlock $11 billion worth of aid
pledged by international donors during an April 2018 conference in Paris. Last
month, Prime Minister Saad Hariri vowed to introduce "the most austere budget in
Lebanon's history" to combat the country's bulging fiscal deficit, sparking
fears among public sector employees that their salaries may be cut. Lebanon is
one of the world's most indebted countries, with public debt estimated at 141
percent of GDP in 2018, according to credit ratings agency Moody's.
Bassil Says Steps Taken over 'Washington' Cable Leaks
Naharnet/May 13/19/Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Monday stressed that
diplomatic cables leak is “impermissible” especially if it comes in a
“systematic or programmed manner.”In reference to the so-called “Washington
leaks,” Bassil said: “Diplomatic cables leak is impermissible whether to the
media or to sources outside the ministry, especially if it comes in a systematic
manner.” “I have sent a letter to the Beirut Prosecutor to investigate the
issue, and lifted the immunity off some individuals starting with the director
of my office, the Secretary-General and the Director of Political Affairs and
all those involved,” added the Minister. “We only seek the truth. The freedom of
the press is protected,” he assured. Last week, three diplomatic reports were
leaked from the Lebanese embassy in Washington to al-Akhbar newspaper.State
Security agents raided the building of the newspaper and the Foreign Ministry in
abid to find the “parties involved.”Six diplomats and an employee were
interrogated during that raid.
Boat with 8 Syrians Capsizes off Lebanese Coast; 5 Missing
Associated Press/Naharnet/May 13/2019/The state-run National News Agency says a
fishing boat that was illegally carrying eight Syrian refugees to the
Mediterranean island of Cyprus has capsized. The report says the incident
occurred on Monday off the northern Lebanese town of Chekka. It says that
Lebanon's navy detained three of the Syrians when they returned to the coast and
that the other five are still missing. Lebanon is host to the highest number of
refugees per capita in the world, with about 1 million Syrians — or nearly a
quarter of the small Arab country's population. In September, a child drowned
after a boat carrying 39 migrants hoping to reach Cyprus capsized off the
northern Lebanese coast.
Hariri Denounces Saudi Ship Attacks off UAE
Naharnet/May 13/19/ Prime Minister Saad Hariri condemned the terrorist acts of
sabotage against oil tankers off the territorial waters of the United Arab
Emirates, saying they pose a serious threat to the safety of navigation in one
of the world's most important waterways, the Premier press office said on
Monday. He said these actions threaten the stability of the global economy and
the international oil markets, in addition to being a direct attack on sister
Arab countries and on joint Arab security. Hariri affirmed full solidarity with
the United Arab Emirates and with all brotherly countries in the Arabian Gulf.
Two Saudi oil tankers were subjected to a sabotage attack in the exclusive
economic zone of the United Arab Emirates, off the coast of the Emirate of
Fujairah, while on their way to cross into the Arabian Gulf," the Saudi Press
Agency cited the Saudi energy minister as saying. The UAE said on Sunday that
four commercial vessels of various nationalities had been targeted by acts of
sabotage off Fujairah. The incident comes amid rising tensions between Iran and
the United States which has strengthened its military presence in the region,
including deploying a number of strategic B-52 bombers in response to alleged
threats from Tehran. It also comes as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is
headed to Brussels to discuss Iran with French, British and German officials.
Retired Servicemen Suspend Sit-in outside BDL
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/May 13/19/Retired servicemen on Monday blocked the
entrances of Banque du Liban branches and blocked the vital highway of Dahr al-Baydar
in protest at possible government plans to cut retirement salaries as part of
austere measures to cut the state’s deficit. The retirees suspended their sit-in
outside BDL's headquarters in Hamra and outside the branches after a meeting
with Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab in the afternoon. The sit-in had blocked
the vital Hamra Street for several hours. The retired servicemen said Bou Saab
promised them that he would ask Cabinet to drop budget articles pertaining to
them. They also said that they would hold general
assemblies to discuss the developments. On Sunday, the servicemen had vowed to
stage protests and block vital facilities the next morning, warning to escalate
their steps “that will paralyze all Lebanese regions.”A Central Bank official
assured earlier on Monday that the bank was functioning normally despite the
protests outside. The Banque du Liban is headquartered
in Beirut and has branches in the various regions of Lebanon. Lebanon is set to
impose austerity measures to combat its bulging fiscal deficit. It is one of the
world's most indebted countries, with public debt estimated at 141 percent of
gross domestic product in 2018, according to credit ratings agency Moody's. The
budget for 2019 has yet to be finalized, but thousands of Lebanese public
employees went on strike last week amid fears that their salaries and benefits
would be cut as part of strict austerity measures to reduce a ballooning budget
deficit and massive national debt. They included employees at Beirut's port,
Social National Security Fund and the main state-run landline telephone company.
Human Rights Watch Urges Probe into al-Dika's Death in
Custody
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/May 13/19/Human Rights Watch on Monday called for
an "impartial investigation" into the death of a Lebanese detainee over
allegations he was tortured while in custody, a charge police have denied.
Hassan al-Dika, 46, was declared dead on Saturday, six months after he was first
detained on charges of drug trafficking. The cause of death was not immediately
clear. He was a father of three girls, the youngest of whom is three years old.
"Before his death, Hassan Dika alleged that he was subjected to torture and
ill-treatment at the hands of the" Internal Security Forces, said Aya Majzoub,
Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch. "But despite
at least two lawsuits filed by Dika's legal representatives, his allegations
were not adequately investigated," she told AFP. An HRW statement on Monday said
"his death in custody highlights the urgent need for an impartial
investigation." Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan, who has pledged to reform
Lebanon's prison system, on Sunday said she has opened an investigation into the
cause of death. Hassan's father Toufic blamed security forces and the judiciary,
saying that the torture he was subject to in custody caused his health to
decline, ultimately resulting in his death. "My son is a victim of torture," he
told AFP. "I blame the security agency that arrested him and the judges who were
aware of the torture he was subject to," said the man, who works as a lawyer.
The Internal Security Forces on Sunday denied the allegations.
It accused Hassan's father of asking an unidentified forensic doctor to
fabricate false medical reports alleging Hassan's body displayed signs of
beating. It said the doctor, who is currently in
custody, had confessed to fabricating the documents. Sahar Mandour of Amnesty
International said "regardless of conflicting narratives, (Dika) did lose his
life in custody.""We call on the Lebanese state to show zero tolerance to the
crime of torture," she said. Lebanon adopted an anti-torture law in September
2017.
But rights groups have routinely documented credible reports of torture in
Lebanon. They say authorities have consistently failed to properly investigate
allegations of torture and ill-treatment by security services.
On March 7, 2019, the government appointed the five members of the
country’s National Preventative Mechanism against Torture, a body tasked with
investigating complaints of human rights violations.
The Cabinet, however, has not yet allocated a budget for the body.
Geagea Strongly Condemns Attacks on Ships in UAE Waters
Naharnet/May 13/2019/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday strongly
condemned the sabotage attacks on four commercial civilian ships in the UAE's
territorial waters. "This development is very dangerous and requires conducting
all the necessary investigations to identify those behind it and prevent its
recurrence," Geagea said in a stateme nt. He also stressed the need to "provide
the necessary protection for international navigation lines," expressing his
"solidarity with the UAE" and "adherence to peace and stability in the
region."Saudi Arabia said Monday two of its oil tankers were damaged in
mysterious "sabotage attacks" in the Gulf as tensions soared in a region already
shaken by a standoff between the United States and Iran. Tehran called for an
investigation into the "alarming" attacks and warned of "adventurism" by foreign
players to disrupt maritime security. The UAE said on Sunday that four
commercial vessels of various nationalities had been targeted by acts of
sabotage off the emirate of Fujairah. Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE gave
details on the nature of the attacks. The UAE minister of state for foreign
affairs, Anwar Gargash, said the Emirates will probe the "deliberate sabotage"
of the ships.
In Lebanon, Vintage Film Posters Question Western Cliches
Beirut/Asharq Al-Awsat/Monday, 13 May, 2019/A pale woman rides through the
desert, flanked by armed men on camels, a palace shimmering in the distance.
This is Lebanon -- or so someone thought in the 1950s. At a Beirut cultural
center, Lebanese film buff Abboudi Abu Jawdeh is exhibiting vintage film posters
from his collection that show off a lost art, but also offer insight into
decades of Western cliches of the Arab world. On a guided tour, the collector
gestures towards the desert scene, which is an Italian poster for the 1956
French movie "The Lebanese Mission". "This is from the artist's imagination,"
the 61-year-old says, standing beside the image featuring the camel riders and a
palace resembling India's Taj Mahal. "He knew Lebanon was in the East, so he did
this," he says, despite the country having ski slopes and sand only on its
Mediterranean beaches. Abu Jawdeh moves along to another poster for the same
film, this time featuring an oil well. "I hope we will have some," he says, as
his country only this year starts exploration for the hydrocarbon off its coast.
A glance at the film's synopsis reveals more inconsistencies. A Frenchman falls
for the daughter of a Lebanese nobleman while in Lebanon hunting for uranium, a
metal not mined in the country.
'Orientalists'
Abu Jawdeh first began collecting posters in his teens, starting with films
starring American actors Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood. Visiting old cinemas
in Lebanon and across the region, he unearthed a world of images -- for more
foreign films, but also thousands of prints advertising films from the Arab
world. Some of his finds in this rare collection date back to 1930s Egypt or
Lebanon in the late 1950s. Today he owns some 20,000 posters, stacked up to the
ceiling at his publishing house, their bright colors shielded from the sunlight.
Different versions of the same poster are especially revealing -- indicating
which country required a change in a film title or a bra to be painted over a
naked back to avoid offense. But as he collected, Abu Jawdeh also started
noticing a trend in some of the Western posters for films set in the Middle
East. They "resembled the paintings that Orientalists painted of the region in
the 18th and 19th centuries," he says. Dozens of these images are on show until
May 25 at the Dar El-Nimer cultural center in Beirut. Titled "Thief of Baghdad",
after a much-remade fantasy film from 1924, the show is replete with turbaned
men, flying carpets, snake charmers and belly dancers. There is Elvis Presley
starring in a film called "Harum Scarum", and a British-Egyptian comedy
reportedly inspired by late Egyptian king Farouk's unrequited passions for a
belly dancer. With captions summarising often outlandish screenplays, the
posters show a fantastical world far removed from the modern Middle East, but
also gross misrepresentation. 'We're not all belly dancers'. "Come to savage
seething Arabia on a terror search for forbidden treasures of the ages," reads
the tagline for the 1957 action film "Forbidden Desert". Late Lebanese-American
academic Jack Shaheen analyzed portrayals of Arabs in Hollywood films. He
watched more than 900 movies spanning a century to the early 2000s, and found
only five percent showed Arab roles as "normal, human characters". Instead, a
whole people was systematically dehumanized or vilified. Often, all Arabs were
Muslims, and all Muslims were Arabs, wrote the researcher of Christian descent.
Female characters were largely belly dancers or enchantresses, silent "bundles
of black" or "terrorists". Abu Jawdeh says that he and others may not have
always rejected such depictions. "We too liked seeing a belly dancer," he says.
But the public now will likely see the posters differently, he adds, welcoming a
fresh-eyed reevaluation of how the West has viewed the Arab world. "They need to
see them to re-examine these human relations," he urged. Round the corner,
Rabbah Faqih, a masters student in archive management, looks at a poster
featuring a skimpily dressed actress. "I'm all for a good expressive poster to
draw people in, but I'm against commodifying women like this," she says. "We're
not all belly dancers in Lebanon," says the 30-year-old, dressed in a long black
robe, her hair covered.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on May 13-14/19
Saudi Arabia Says 2 Oil Tankers Damaged by
Sabotage Attacks
Associated Press/Naharnet/May 13/2019/
Saudi Arabia said Monday two of its oil tankers were sabotaged off the coast of
the United Arab Emirates in attacks that caused "significant damage" to the
vessels, one of them as it was en route to pick up Saudi oil to take to the U.S.
Khalid al-Falih's comments came as the U.S. issued a new warning to sailors and
the UAE's regional allies condemned the reported sabotage Sunday of four ships
off the coast of the port city of Fujairah. The announcement came just hours
after Iranian and Lebanese media outlets aired false reports of explosions at
the city's port. Emirati officials have declined to elaborate on the nature of
the sabotage or say who might have been responsible. However, the reports come
as the U.S. has warned ships that "Iran or its proxies" could be targeting
maritime traffic in the region, and as America is deploying an aircraft carrier
and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf to counter alleged threats from Tehran.
Tensions have risen in the year since President Donald Trump withdrew the
United States from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers,
restoring American sanctions that have pushed Iran's economy into crisis. Last
week, Iran warned it would begin enriching uranium at higher levels in 60 days
if world powers failed to negotiate new terms for the deal.
In his statement, al-Falih said the attacks on the two tankers happened at 6
a.m. Sunday. "One of the two vessels was on its way to be loaded with Saudi
crude oil from the port of Ras Tanura, to be delivered to Saudi Aramco's
customers in the United States," al-Falih said. "Fortunately, the attack didn't
lead to any casualties or oil spill; however, it caused significant damage to
the structures of the two vessels."Saudi Arabia did not identify the vessels
involved, nor did it say whom it suspected of carrying out the alleged sabotage.
Underling the regional risk, the general-secretary of the six-nation Gulf
Cooperation Council described the alleged sabotage as a "serious escalation" in
an overnight statement.
"Such irresponsible acts will increase tension and conflicts in the region and
expose its peoples to great danger," Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani said.
Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen's internationally recognized government similarly
condemned the alleged sabotage.
A statement Sunday from the UAE's Foreign Ministry put the ships near the
country's territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman, east of the port of Fujairah.
It said it was investigating "in cooperation with local and international
bodies." It said there were "no injuries or fatalities on board the vessels" and
"no spillage of harmful chemicals or fuel."
The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, which oversees the region, did not immediately offer
comment. Emirati officials declined to answer questions from The Associated
Press, saying their investigation is ongoing. Earlier
Sunday, Lebanon's pro-Iran satellite channel Al-Mayadeen, quoting "Gulf
sources," falsely reported that a series of explosions had struck Fujairah's
port. State and semi-official media in Iran picked up the report from Al-Mayadeen,
which later published the names of vessels it claimed were involved.
The AP, after speaking to Emirati officials and local witnesses, found
the report about explosions at the port to be unsubstantiated.
Fujairah's port is about 140 kilometers (85 miles) south of the Strait of
Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a third of all oil at
sea is traded. The facility handles oil for bunkering and shipping, as well as
general and bulk cargo. It is seen as strategically located, serving shipping
routes in the Persian Gulf, the Indian subcontinent and Africa.
Sunday's incident comes after the U.S. Maritime Administration, a
division of the U.S. Transportation Department, warned Thursday that Iran could
target commercial sea traffic. "Since early May, there is an increased
possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take action against U.S.
and partner interests, including oil production infrastructure, after recently
threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz," the warning read. "Iran or its
proxies could respond by targeting commercial vessels, including oil tankers, or
U.S. military vessels in the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait or the Persian Gulf."
Early Sunday, the agency issued a new warning to sailors about the
alleged sabotage, while stressing "the incident has not been confirmed." It
urged shippers to exercise caution in the area for the next week.
Publicly available satellite images of the area taken Sunday showed no
smoke or fire. It remains unclear if the previous warning from the U.S. Maritime
Administration is the same perceived threat that prompted the White House to
order the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to
the region on May 4.
Trump: If Iranians Do Anything, They Will Suffer Greatly
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/May 13/19/ U.S. President Donald Trump warned
Monday that Iran would "suffer greatly" were it to "do anything," after U.S.
intelligence suggested Tehran was planning to attack U.S. interests in the
region. "I'm hearing little stories about Iran," Trump told reporters as he
hosted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the White House. "If they do
anything, it would be a very bad mistake," Trump warned. "If they do anything
they will suffer greatly."
Pompeo to Visit Brussels Monday to Discuss Iran
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/May 13/19/US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is to
visit Brussels on Monday to discuss "pressing matters" including Iran, a State
Department official said Sunday. As a result, the top US diplomat is scrapping a
stop expected on Monday in Moscow. But he will still head to the Russian Black
Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday to meet President Vladimir Putin and Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov, the official added just before Pompeo left Washington.
An EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting is scheduled in Brussels on Monday, but
the State Department did not offer specific details of Pompeo's revised agenda.
It simply said talks would be held with officials from France, the UK and
Germany -- the three European signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Iran
announced on May 8, one year after the US withdrew from the deal, that it was
suspending some of its commitments under the agreement. President Hassan Rouhani
issued an ultimatum to the Europeans, threatening that Iran would go further if
they fail to deliver sanctions relief to counterbalance US President Donald
Trump's renewed assault on the Iranian economy within 60 days. The European
powers rejected that ultimatum. The US has continued
to build pressure on Iran, with Pompeo accusing Tehran of planning "imminent"
attacks. The Pentagon announced Friday that it is deploying an amphibious
assault ship and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to bolster an
aircraft carrier force sent to counter alleged threats from Iran.
Pompeo has already canceled in recent days trips to Berlin and Greenland
to focus on the Iran issue. In Moscow, Pompeo had been due to lay a wreath at
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier dedicated to Soviet troops killed in World War
II -- an era when Moscow and Washington were allied.
Europe Rejects U.S. Escalation Strategy against Iran
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/May 13/19/Europe on Monday urged the U.S. not to
further escalate tensions over the Iran nuclear deal, with Britain issuing a
stark warning of the risk of conflict erupting "by accident" in the Gulf.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a last-minute change of plan
scrapping an expected Moscow trip to visit Brussels and meet his counterparts
from Britain, France and Germany. The ministers from the European signatories to
the 2015 accord that curbed Iran's nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions
relief all publicly criticised the hardline U.S. approach. Iran last week
announced it was suspending some of its commitments under the agreement, a year
after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord and imposed swingeing
sanctions on the Islamic republic -- putting the deal in peril. Adding a
military dimension to the diplomatic tensions, Washington is sending an
amphibious assault ship and a Patriot missile battery to the Gulf, having
already deployed an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Berlin "still regards this nuclear
agreement as the basis for Iran not having any nuclear weapons in the future and
we regard this as existential for our security." Maas said he used his
one-on-one meeting with Pompeo to stress that "we are concerned about the
development and the tensions in the region, that we do not want there to be a
military escalation."British foreign minister Hunt called for "a period of calm"
and bluntly warned of the danger of pushing Iran back towards developing nuclear
weapons. "We are very worried about the risk of a conflict happening by accident
with an escalation that is unintended on either side but ends with some kind of
conflict," Hunt said. "Most of all we must make sure we don't end up putting
Iran back on the path to re-nuclearisation, because if Iran becomes a nuclear
power its neighbours are likely to want to become nuclear powers.
"This is already the most unstable region in the world and it would be a
massive step in the wrong direction." The European Union's diplomatic chief
Federica Mogherini, who held her own meeting with Pompeo, stressed the need for
dialogue as "the only and the best way to address differences and avoid
escalation" in the region. "We continue to fully support the nuclear deal with
Iran, its full implementation," Mogherini said. "It has been and continues to be
for us a key element of the non-proliferation architecture both globally and in
the region."French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian joined the criticism
saying Washington's move to step up sanctions against Iran "does not suit us."
'Nuclear bomb'
Mogherini chaired a meeting of the so-called E3 -- Britain, France and Germany
-- to discuss efforts to keep the deal going, including the special trade
mechanism called INSTEX the trio set up to try to enable legitimate trade with
Iran to continue without falling foul of U.S. sanctions. INSTEX was launched in
January but is still not operational and has been dismissed scornfully by the
Iranian senior leadership. After talks with the E3, Mogherini said they aimed to
get INSTEX up and running and have the first transactions "hopefully in the next
few weeks". President Hassan Rouhani issued an ultimatum to the Europeans last
week threatening that Iran would go further if they fail to deliver sanctions
relief to counterbalance Trump's renewed assault on the Iranian economy within
60 days. The European powers rejected that ultimatum. The U.S. has continued to
build pressure on Iran, with Pompeo accusing Tehran of planning "imminent"
attacks and bolstering the military presence in the Gulf. Brian Hook, the U.S.
special envoy for Iran, insisted the Islamic republic was itself an "escalating
threat." "The secretary wanted to share some detail behind what we have been
saying publicly. We believe that Iran should try talks instead of threats. They
have chosen poorly by focusing on threats," Hook told reporters.
Pompeo was to head to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday to
meet President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a State
Department official said.
Britain Warns of ‘Unwanted’ Iran-US Conflict
Asharq Al-Awsat/Monday, 13 May, 2019/Iran and the United States
could trigger a conflict by accident, Britain's foreign minister said on Monday,
urging a period of calm ahead of talks between the European Union and US
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "We are very worried about a conflict, about the
risk of a conflict ... of an escalation that is unintended," Britain's Jeremy
Hunt told reporters as he arrived in Brussels for a meeting of EU foreign
ministers. US President Donald Trump is seeking to
isolate Tehran by cutting off its oil exports after pulling out of a 2015 deal
aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program. Trump has also sent US warplanes and an
aircraft carrier to the Gulf. Hunt, who was due later
to meet Pompeo along with the foreign ministers of France and Germany and the
EU's diplomatic chief, also expressed concern about the risks of a nuclear arms
race in the Middle East if Iran were to acquire such weapons. "We need to make
sure that we don't end up putting Iran back on the path to re-nuclearization,"
Hunt said, calling for "a period of calm so that everyone understands what the
other side is thinking". Trump has sent an aircraft
carrier and B-52 bombers to the Gulf in a show of force against what officials
in Washington have said is a threat to US troops in the region. The EU is trying
to implement a new channel to allow Iran to sell its oil and circumvent
newly-instated US sanctions, but setting it up is proving complex. The US State
Department said in a statement that Pompeo had canceled a planned stopover in
Moscow to go instead to Brussels "to discuss recent threatening actions and
statements" by Iran. After Brussels Pompeo will travel to Russia's Black Sea
resort of Sochi for talks on Iran with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Sudan Protesters, Military Council Resume Talks
Asharq Al-Awsat/Monday, 13 May, 2019/Sudanese protest organizers and the ruling
military council resumed on Monday efforts to find common ground on forming a
transitional government. Shams al-Deen al-Kabashi, a spokesman for the military
council, said the meeting — the first in over a week — is being held "in a more
optimistic atmosphere." The protesters are represented by the Alliance for the
Declaration of Freedom and Change, a coalition of protest organizers and
opposition and rebel groups. The army overthrew longtime president Omar al-Bashir
from power in April after months of anti-government popular protests and set up
a transitional military council. The protesters and council are divided over
what role the military, dominated by Bashir appointees, should play in the
transitional period. The protesters demand a full transfer of power to a
civilian government during this time. The military seeks a two-year transitional
period during which army generals would retain most of the power. Late last
month, the Alliance handed the generals its proposals for a civilian-led
transition. But the generals have expressed "many reservations" over the
coalition’s roadmap.
Iran Sentences Woman to Jail for ‘Spying’ for Britain
Asharq Al-Awsat/Monday, 13 May, 2019/Tehran sentenced on Monday an Iranian woman
to ten years in jail for spying for Britain. “An Iranian who was in charge of
Iran desk in the British Council and was cooperating with Britain’s intelligence
agency... was sentenced to 10 years in prison after clear confessions,”
Gholamhossein Esmaili, a judiciary spokesman, said on the state television.
Esmaili said the woman was in charge of projects for “cultural infiltration” in
Iran. He did not identify her, but said she was a student in Britain before
being recruited by the British Council. Esmaili said the woman had been in
custody for almost a year. He did not specify whether she held British
nationality. The British Foreign Office did not immediately respond to a Reuters
email requesting comment. The British Council is Britain’s cultural agency
overseas. The arrest of Iranians accused of espionage has increased since
supreme leader Ali Khamenei said last year there had been “infiltration” of
Western agents in the country. A British-Iranian woman held in Tehran, Nazanin
Zaghari-Ratcliffe, is serving a five-year prison sentence for allegedly planning
the "soft toppling" of Iran's government while traveling with her young
daughter. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the charity
arm of Thomson Reuters, was arrested in April 2016. Her sentence has been widely
criticized.Iran does not recognize dual nationality.
Paris Discusses with Baghdad Fate of French ISIS Militants
Baghdad - Hamza Mustafa/Asharq Al-Awsat/Monday, 13 May, 2019/France's Ambassador
to Iraq, Bruno Aubert, has discussed with head of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial
Council Judge Faiq Zaidan the fate of French ISIS members.
Aubert and Zaidan discussed efforts to strike a judicial agreement between Iraq
and France, a Council statement said. In February, the US-backed Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF) handed over to the Iraqi authorities 14 French nationals
accused of fighting for ISIS. Iraqi President Barham Salih later announced that
they will be tried in Iraq in accordance with the Iraqi law.
“Aubert discussed with Zaidan the issue of the 14 Frenchmen arrested by
the Iraqi authorities in an intelligence operation,” an official familiar with
the matter told Asharq Al-Awsat. The official, who asked not to be identified,
said the suspects are being prosecuted in Iraq because the crimes they have
committed fall under the jurisdiction of Iraqi courts. He explained that France
wants to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Iraqi government to
repatriate the militants. “Iraq’s Penal Code has defined mechanisms for dealing
with crime and its perpetrators, both in Iraq and abroad,” legal expert Ahmed
Abadi told Asharq Al-Awsat. “Iraq has no jurisdiction over crimes committed
outside its territories, except for ISIS militants,” he said, explaining that
the crimes committed by such extremists has repercussions on Iraq’s national
security. Iraqi ISIS members are subject to Iraqi law
whether they committed their crimes in Iraq or Syria, Abadi added. However, he
noted that foreigners, who have not been accused of terror-related crimes,
cannot be prosecuted by Iraq unless they commit a crime inside the country.
Separately, the Iraqi ministry of interior declared that federal police
discovered an ISIS hideout in Kirkuk’s southern village of Khzefiya where they
found 42 rockets. Leader of Al-Wataniya Coalition Iyad Allawi warned that ISIS
has started to follow new tactics since the collapse of its so-called
"caliphate." He said he has previously warned of the militants’ insurgency
campaign. Allawi also expressed regret that Iraq continues to have an
environment that is incapable of uprooting terrorism.
MSP Head Blasts Attempts to Remove Algeria’s Army Chief From Power
Algiers- Boualam Ghimrasah/Asharq Al-Awsat/Monday, 13 May, 2019/President of
Algeria’s Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP) Abderrazak Makri blasted the
country’s extremist seculars who are vying for full control over the country’s
military command. Makri said that a group of secular elitists was working to
remove Army Chief Ahmed Gaid Salah from power for his Arab nationalist
orientation. On 26 March 2019, following anti-regime
protests, Salah called for President Bouteflika to be declared unfit for office,
a move which succeeded in removing him from power. Speaking at an MSP-endorsed
Ramadan dinner, Makri said: “The movement (MSP) has long fought against
Bouteflika’s reign and regime stalwarts who took over governing when the former
was ill. We fought against the mafia-run economy they oversaw and for a true
democratic transition.” Lauding popular will for
marching onwards with the country and away from internal corruption, Makri said
three goals have been set in motion, one of which already achieved. “The first
goal, he said, was to stop Bouteflika from ruling for a fifth mandate,” Makri
said, adding that “the second step is to bring down the band running a mafia
economy in Algeria.” On the fight against institutional corruption, Algerian
police have arrested Said Bouteflika, the youngest brother of the former
president, and two former intelligence chiefs, Generals Bachir Athmane Tartag
and Mohamed Mediene. Those three were believed to be responsible for the
country’s decision-making process during the time Bouteflika was too sick to
rule. Algeria’s corrupt but wealthy top brass are believed to have made insane
fortunes off being close to the ruling Bouteflika family. As for the third goal,
which is yet to be achieved, Makri said: “It is a true democratic
transition.”“Innocent ordinary civilians who walk in protests without a
political ax to grind will achieve this goal,” he stressed.
Clashes in Northwest Syria Kill More than 40 Fighters
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/May 13/19/Clashes on the edge of a jihadist
bastion in northwestern Syria have killed at least 42 fighters in 24 hours, a
monitor said Monday, after regime bombardment on the region devastated health
services. The northwestern region has come under increasing fire by the regime
and its ally Russia in recent weeks, despite a months-old buffer zone deal
intended to shield it from any government offensive. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS),
Syria's former al-Qaida affiliate, controls most of Idlib province as well as
parts of neighbouring Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. The Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights said 16 loyalists and 19 jihadists died from Sunday to Monday
in clashes in the area of Jabal al-Akrad in Latakia province, which lies on the
bastion's northwestern edge. Russian and regime aircraft bombarded the area on
Monday, while they also hit southern parts of the jihadist stronghold, said the
Britain-based war monitor. Russian air strikes hit a
branch of the White Helmets rescue volunteers in the town of Kafranbel,
rendering it unable to operate, the Observatory and a rescue worker said. At the
White Helmets facility, an AFP correspondent saw a concrete roof had collapsed
in on a bulldozer and other vehicles, and the ground was covered with rubble.
"Two high-explosive missiles hit the centre" just minutes after its personnel
had headed out to the site of strikes in a nearby village, Oneida Zikra, the
civil defence chief for the area, told AFP. To the south, rocket fire killed one
child in the regime-held town of Suqaylabiyah in Hama province, the Observatory
and the state news agency SANA said. HTS and its
allies launched a counter-attack late Monday, bombing areas in the north of the
province and sparking fierce clashes on the ground, according to the
Observatory.
'Brutal offensive'
Idlib's three million inhabitants are supposed to be protected from a massive
regime assault by a September buffer zone deal signed by Russia and rebel backer
Turkey. But an uptick in air strikes and shelling displaced 180,000 people
between April 29 and May 9 alone, the United Nations says. The Observatory says
119 civilians have been killed in the bombardment since late April. On Monday,
the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 18 health
facilities had been knocked out of service in a little over a fortnight, two of
them hit twice. "Attacks on health facilities in northwest Syria continue to
exact a devastating toll on the civilian population," said OCHA spokesman for
Syria David Swanson. "Such violence is appalling. Hospitals are and must remain
a place of sanctuary and unequivocal neutrality," he told AFP.
U.N.-linked aid groups on Saturday said they had suspended activities in
parts of the region, as the violence has jeopardised the safety of humanitarian
workers. In a filmed interview released on Sunday night, HTS chief Abu Mohammad
al-Jolani urged supporters to "take up weapons" to defend Idlib.
The spike in violence signalled "the death of all previous agreements and
conferences," he said. In a joint statement on Monday, Britain, France and
Germany said the military escalation in northwestern Syria "must stop."
"The current brutal offensive by the Syrian regime and its backers on
millions of civilians living in the area is not about fighting terrorism. It is
about pushing forward the ruthless reconquest by the regime," they said.
Damascus has not announced a wide offensive, but analysts believe there
could be a limited military operation. The civil war in Syria has killed more
than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal
repression of anti-government protests in 2011.
After Caliphate's Fall, ISIS Militants Still Spread Fear
/Asharq Al-Awsat/Monday, 13 May, 2019
London- Asharq Al-Awsat/Monday, 13 May, 2019/It was a chilly January evening,
and Khadija Abd and her family had just finished supper at their farm when the
two men with guns burst into the room. One wore civilian clothes, the other an
army uniform. They said they were from the Iraqi army's 20th Division, which
controls the northern Iraqi town of Badoush. In fact, they were ISIS group
militants who had come down from the surrounding mountains into Badoush with one
thing on their mind: Revenge. Around 13 more gunmen
were waiting outside. The fighters pulled Khadija's husband and his two brothers
into the yard and shot them dead, leaving them in a pool of blood - punishment
for providing information to the Iraqi military.
"How can we live after this?" Khadija said. The three brothers were the
providers for the entire family. "They left their children, their livestock,
their wives, and their elderly father who doesn't know what to do now."
A year and a half after the ISIS group was declared defeated in Iraq, the
militants still evoke fear in the lands of their former so-called caliphate
across northern Iraq. The fighters, hiding in caves and mountains, emerge at
night to carry out kidnappings, killings and roadside ambushes, aimed at
intimidating locals, silencing informants and restoring the extortion rackets
that financed ISIS' rise to power six years ago.
It is part of a hidden but relentless fight between the group's remnants waging
an insurgency and security forces trying to stamp them out, relying on
intelligence operations, raids, and searches for sleeper cells among the
population.
The militants' ranks number between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters around Iraq,
according to one Iraqi intelligence official.
"Although the territory once held by the so-called caliphate is fully liberated,
Daesh fighters still exhibit their intention to exert influence and stage a
comeback," said Maj. Gen. Chad Franks, deputy commander-operations and
intelligence for the US-led coalition, using the Arabic acronym for the group.
In towns around the north, Iraqi soldiers knock on doors in the middle of the
night, looking for suspects, based on intelligence tips or suspicious movements.
They search houses and pull people away for questioning.
Anyone is seen as a potential ISIS collaborator or sympathizer. In February,
Human Rights Watch accused authorities of torturing suspects to extract
confessions of belonging to ISIS, an accusation the Interior Ministry has
denied. Detainees are pushed by the thousands into what critics call sham
trials, with swift verdicts - almost always guilty - based on almost no evidence
beyond confessions or unaccountable informants ' testimony. The legacy of guilt
weighs heavily especially on women and children, who face crushing
discrimination because of male relatives seen as supporting ISIS.
AP journalists embedded with a battalion of the 20th Division last month and
witnessed several of its raids at Badoush.
Badoush, on the Tigris River just outside the city of Mosul, is a key
battleground because it was once one of the most diehard ISIS strongholds.
In the summer of 2014, it was a launching pad for the militants' blitz that
overran Mosul and much of northern Iraq. ISIS built a strong financial base by
extorting money from the owners of Badoush's many industrial facilities.
Security officials estimate two-thirds of its population - which numbered around
25,000 before the war - were at one point members or supporters of the group.
Now the population is divided. Residents who suffered at the hands of ISIS or
lost loved ones to the group are suspicious of neighbors they believe still
support the militants. Within families, some members belonged to the group and
others opposed it. The Badoush area alone has seen 20 ISIS attacks, from
bombings to targeted killings, since it was retaken from the militants in March
2017, according to the Kurdish Security Council. The militants brag about the
attacks in videos that show fighters storming houses and killing purported
"apostates" and spies.
"The operations that we do now rely on intelligence by following up the families
of Daesh," said Maj. Khalid Abdullah Baidar al-Jabouri, commander of a battalion
in the 20th Division, speaking at his base just outside Badoush.
Distrust runs deep among the residents.
In one raid witnessed by the AP, troops banged on the door of a man who had
returned to Badoush a day earlier. He had fled town just before the ISIS
takeover in the summer of 2014 and stayed in the Kurdish town of Sulaimaniyah
throughout their rule. But his father and one of his brothers remained and
joined ISIS. When the man returned, a local sheikh immediately notified the
military. In the raid, the soldiers searched the house and checked his phone
records for any suspicious calls abroad. They asked him about his father and
brother. "I swear, they destroyed my life," the man said. When asked about ISIS,
he insisted, "I never came face to face with them." The soldiers took him away
for questioning, as his three little sisters shook and cried with fear. He was
later released. On another occasion, an informant told the army he had spotted
explosives-laden suicide belts in the mountains while out picnicking and looking
for truffles. Presumably, they had been dropped off there for attackers to
retrieve and use. Wearing a balaclava to keep his identity secret, he led the
army to the spot, where they found the belts and detonated them remotely.
"People in the town are very cooperative," says Mohammed Fawzi, an intelligence
officer. "But don't forget that in one house one person was with Daesh and
another member was killed by them. It's very complicated."
Among the most chilling ISIS attacks was the Jan. 3 killing of the three Abd
brothers, carried out with brutal precision. The
strangers claiming to be soldiers who entered the Abd's house said they just
wanted to ask a few questions and that it wouldn't take long.
Khadija Abd was immediately suspicious. Her husband, Inad Hussein Abd and two of
his brothers, Abdulmuhsin and Mohammed, were informants for the Iraqi military
and knew the 20th Division's soldiers personally. So why didn't they recognize
these men?
After searching the house, the intruders turned aggressive. They dragged the
three brothers outside and beat them. When Khadija tried to stop them, she was
beaten too. The fighters put her, the other wives on the farm and their children
in a room and told them, "If anyone comes out, we shoot you in the
forehead."Khadija could hear the men murmuring outside until 10 p.m. in a
dialect of Arabic she couldn't understand. Then it was silent. All they heard
was the barking of dogs. Khadija thought the men had taken the three brothers
away.
At dawn, she went to get water from the well. She spotted her husband's yellow
sleeve in the grass. All three brothers lay on the blood-soaked ground. The
militants had used silencers, so the family never heard the gunshots.
Instinctively, she looked for a mobile to call for help. "Honestly, I couldn't
even cry. I didn't cry or scream," she said. Memories
of the attack return to Khadija in her dreams - how her daughters screamed "Dad!
Dad!" when they saw his body, how one tried to pull out a bullet out of her dead
father's cheek. "Mom, it won't come out," she told Khadija. Her son is now too
afraid to leave his room. To the children, it's the
army that killed their father, she said. "They don't understand anything that's
going on."
Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on May 13-14/19
"I Don't Know Why They Attacked Our Village": Persecution
of Christians In February 2019"
ريموند إبراهيم: تقارير موثقة لشهر
شباط 2019 تحكي أضطهاد المسيحيين في
عدة دول /لا أدري لماذا هاجموا قريتي يقول
رجل مسيحي مستغرباً
Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/May 12, 2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/74824/%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%85%d9%88%d9%86%d8%af-%d8%a5%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%87%d9%8a%d9%85-%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d9%85%d9%88%d8%ab%d9%82%d8%a9-%d8%b9%d9%86-%d8%a3%d8%b6%d8%b7%d9%87%d8%a7%d8%af/
*February witnessed a significant increase of state-sanctioned persecution of
Christians in Iran. In the city of Rasht (pictured), nine Christians were
arrested. One of them, a pastor who took over after his predecessor was
arrested, was himself arrested on February 10 during church service.
During just the first two weeks of February, "[a]t least 10 incidents of
vandalism and desecration of Catholic churches have been reported in France." —
Catholicherald.co.uk, February 15, 2019; France.
"The attack was so terrible that Haroon's kidney was cut into two pieces" from
the stabbings....After he was rushed to hospital, "doctors were forced to remove
his kidney." As is common in such cases, police and local authorities tried to
pressure the family not to press charges against the Muslim youths.... —
Persecution.org; International Christian Concern; February 21, 2019; Pakistan.
"A group of kidnappers meets in a mosque to discuss potential victims. They keep
a close eye on Christians' houses and monitor everything that's going on. On
that basis, they weave a spider's web around [the girls].... I remember a Coptic
Christian girl from a rich, well-known family in Minya. She was kidnapped by
five Muslim men. They held her in a house, stripped her and filmed her naked. In
the video, one of them also undressed. They threatened to make the video public
if the girl wouldn't marry him.... The kidnappers receive large amounts of
money. Police can help them in different ways, and when they do, they might also
receive a part of the financial reward the kidnappers are paid by the
Islamisation organisations." — Testimony by "G", Persecution.org, February 19,
2019, Egypt.
February witnessed a significant increase of state-sanctioned persecution of
Christians in Iran. In the city of Rasht, nine Christians were arrested. One of
them, a pastor who took over after his predecessor was arrested, was himself
arrested on February 10 during church service.
Massacres of Christians
Nigeria: A number of fatal Islamic terror attacks targeting Christians occurred
throughout February:
February 10: Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed 10 Christians and an unborn child.
Armed herdsmen in large numbers had surrounded the Christian village around 11
p.m. the night before. "We heard gun shots, and this forced me and my family to
remain in our bedrooms as it was difficult for us to run out of the house," said
one survivor. "The Fulani gunmen surrounded our house and were shooting and
shouting, 'Allahu akbar' ['Allah is greatest']. They killed my father, mother,
two brothers, and one of my sisters-in-law." The attack came as a complete
surprise, even for the village head: "We have never had any misunderstanding
with the Fulani herdsmen, so I don't know why they attacked our village," he
said. "Ten members of my community, including a pregnant woman, were killed
during the attack, thus making the unborn child to be the eleventh victim."
February 12: In the northeast, Boko Haram jihadis invaded four Christian
communities, killing several Christians and displacing many others. "I saw a man
who I know to be a Christian and a member of the Church of the Brethren in Shuwa,
my home town, shot to death," said one eyewitness. "Also, Bulama, a community
leader in Madagali, was shot dead alongside many Christians."
February 26: Muslim Fulani herdsmen slaughtered at least 32 people in Maro, a
Christian village in north-central Nigeria. Churches were also damaged and a
boarding school shut down. "We ran out of the church building as the shooting
was going on," said a woman who was in a Bible study class when the raid began.
"Many have been killed, and I have not seen my family members since morning. I
have escaped out of the area." Another local Christian said, "The armed herdsmen
are shooting anyone they see and are setting fire on houses and church
buildings."
Reported on February 25: Muslim herdsmen attacked a Christian wedding
celebration, killing 12 people. "From behind the hill overlooking this village
emerged armed Fulani herdsmen who shot indiscriminately at Christians from
various churches here at the venue of the feast," said one local. "Twelve
Christians who are members of various churches were shot dead instantly, while
another five Christians were injured." Six of those murdered were
children.Burkina Faso: Muslim terrorists slaughtered a 72-year-old Christian
missionary in the Muslim-majority African nation. According to the report,
"Antonio Cesar Fernandez was travelling with two colleagues from Togo back to
their community in the capital Ouagadougou when a group of jihadists stopped
their car. After searching the vehicle they made the 72-year get out and took
him to a forested area. A few minutes later there was the sound of shots."
Fernandez had been a missionary in Africa since 1982.
Attacks on Churches
Ethiopia: Angry Muslim mobs attacked ten Christian churches. "The incensed
crowds comprising Muslim residents of all ages from across the town made their
way to the churches chanting 'Allahu Akbar' after being given false information
that a mosque in the surrounding countryside had been fire-bombed," said a
local. "The contents of all the churches were removed from the buildings and set
on fire on the street." According to the report:
"One of the attacked churches, Meserete Kristos Church, has since been
vandalized again, and area Christians have faced intimidation and threats...
While Kale Hiwot Galeto church building was destroyed in the Feb. 9 attack, aid
workers believe the other nine church buildings were not set ablaze only because
of the risk to neighboring Muslim-owned properties. Municipal police were
present during almost every attack but took no action.... More than 9,900
worshippers are estimated to attend the 10 churches. A small number of
Christians sustained minor injuries and returned home after receiving hospital
treatment, including two that were more seriously injured... Huge amounts of
property were destroyed, including Bibles, song books, instruments, benches and
chairs...."
France: During just the first two weeks of February, "[a]t least 10 incidents of
vandalism and desecration of Catholic churches have been reported in France,"
notes a February 15 report. "Vandals in Catholic churches throughout the country
have smashed statues, knocked down tabernacles, scattered or destroyed the
Eucharist, burnt altar cloths and torn down crosses, among other acts of
desecration of religious items." The St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Houilles
was vandalized on three separate occasions in February; a 19th century statue of
the Virgin Mary deemed "irreparable" was "completely pulverized," said a
clergyman, and a hanging cross was thrown to the floor. Vandals also desecrated
and smashed crosses and statues at Saint-Alain Cathedral in Lavaur; they mangled
the arms of a crucified Christ in a mocking manner; an altar cloth was burned.
"God will forgive. Not me," the city's mayor said. The next day, Vandals
plundered and used human excrement to draw a cross on the Notre-Dame des Enfants
Church in Nimes; consecrated bread was found thrown outside in the garbage.
According to Father Emmanuel Pic from Notre-Dame parish, "Nothing of value has
been broken, but it is the intent that is very shocking. This is what
characterizes profanation." The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination
against Christians in Europe added that "It is our sincere hope that the
perpetrators are brought to justice and that awareness of increasing
anti-Christian hostility in France reaches the public square."
Turkey: On Sunday, February 23, threatening graffiti messages were found on the
main entrance door of the Armenian Church of the Holy Mother of God in Istanbul.
The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople said in a statement that, "There
were written racist and hate speeches in both English and Arabic [saying] you
are finished!" One Armenian writer shared images of the vandalism on Twitter. He
wrote, "The walls and the door of the Balat Surp Armenian Church. We built its
entrance with rocks from the historical church in İznik [Nicaea], where the
council met [Council of Nicaea, 325].... Now they say, 'YOU ARE FINISHED.' There
are no local [Armenian] people left. The 'New Turkey!'" Commenting on this
latest church attack, an Armenian Member of Parliament, tweeted:"Every year,
scores of hate attacks are being carried out against churches and synagogues.
Not just the perpetrators, but also the people who are behind them, should be
addressed. For the most important part, the politics that produce hate should be
ended."
Egypt: Due to the closure of their church in December 2018, Coptic Christians
held their third funeral in the middle of the street in February. They had long
tried to get the necessary permits to register their unofficial church, to no
avail. According to the report:
"The village currently has no church, but there are approximately 2500 Coptic
Christians living there... The police had closed the church in order to pacify
the Islamists, who used a nearby mosque's microphone to rally Muslim villagers
against the Christians.... Unfortunately, the situation in Kom al-Raheb is
commonplace throughout Egypt. Police frequently cave to the demands of hardline
Islamists instead of protecting the right of Christians to freely practice their
faith. When churches are closed, Christians are left to worship and hold rites
(such as funerals) in the street."
Attacks on Apostates, Blasphemers, and Evangelists
Kenya: Muslim men beat and raped a Christian woman and mother of four for
leaving Islam. The 41-year-old woman became a secret Christian in 2017; in 2018,
however, the threats began, after Somali Muslims saw her at a church: "We have
known that you are a Christian, and one of us saw you come out of a church on
Sunday," read one message. "If you continue attending the church, then we shall
come for your head soon." She and her four children, who had also converted to
Christianity, quickly relocated. Then, on January 2, four Somali Muslims forced
their way into the Christian family's home:
"I was beaten and then raped by four men who threatened me, telling me not to
say anything about the ordeal that I went through. As they left the house at 1
a.m., one of them said, 'We could have killed you for being a disgrace to Islam
and joining Christianity, which is against our religion, but since you are a
single mother, we have decided to spare your life with the condition that you
should not mention our names.'"
Pakistan: On February 19, four Christian women were falsely accused of
blasphemy, prompting "enraged Muslims" to riot and dislocate approximately 200
Christian families from the village. Problems began when a Christian landlord
asked a Muslim couple to leave, because they had been "causing trouble among the
Christian families in the community," to quote locals. In retaliation, the
Muslim wife accused four Christian women — three of whom were the landlord's
daughters — of desecrating a Koran. "As news of the accusation spread, a mob of
enraged Muslims gathered ... and attacked several Christian properties,
including [the landlord's] house and a nearby church. The mob killed pets,
livestock, and damaged several Christian homes by stoning them." Soon after a
police investigation began, "it was revealed that Samina Riaz [the Muslim
accuser] borrowed a copy of the Quran from Khalid Khan, a nearby shopkeeper,"
explained a local involved with the case. "When she reached home, she threw it
into a water tub in the restroom. She purposely alleged the Christian women of
desecrating the Holy Book of Islam." Even though Samina Riaz confessed to
framing the Christians, "members of the mob are still refusing to allow
Christians to open their churches," says the report.
Meanwhile, Asia Bibi, a Christian mother who was in prison -- and on death row
-- for nearly a decade, was finally acquitted in late 2018. However, apparently
to placate tens of thousands of angry Muslims who rioted and protested all
throughout Pakistan, authorities still kept her a prisoner. In a February 9
report, which until very recently contained the latest information concerning
Asia's whereabouts, AP quoted a human rights campaigner in contact with her: he
said the government had her and her husband locked in a single room where "the
door opens at food time only." She was permitted to make phone calls in the
morning and at night, usually to her daughters. "She has no indication of when
she will leave.... They are not telling her why she cannot leave." Because many
Muslims have vowed to kill her, "At the moment, she has security, but she could
face problems any moment, any time, and it could happen very quickly," said the
contact. On May 8, it was reported that Bibi had finally left Pakistan and was
at long last reunited with her family in Canada.
Ethiopia: "An Ethiopian police officer was arrested, dismissed and forced to
move to another part of the country after he told colleagues about his Christian
faith," states a report. The 25-year-old man, using the pseudonym of Adane, grew
up in Ethiopia's eastern Somali region, which is "nearly 100 percent Muslim."
Although he became Christian two years ago, problems for him began when another
policeman "recently filed a complaint against him with the Somali State Human
Rights Office. He had been heard talking about his newly found Christian faith
while in uniform." The deputy chairman of the Human Rights Office, an ethnic
Somali himself, was reportedly "greatly surprised to discover that there
actually was a Christian within the tribe." He "advised Adane to return to
Islam. Adane refused, claiming a constitutional right to religious freedom. He
was then arrested. Following intervention by the Human Rights Office-chairman,
Adane was released, only to find he had been dismissed from the police force.
The chairman advised Adane to relocate to another area because he had made too
many enemies locally..."
Iran: February witnessed a significant increase of state-sanctioned persecution
of Christians. In the city of Rasht, nine Christians were arrested and detained.
One of them, a pastor who took over after his predecessor was arrested, was
himself arrested on February 10 during church service. Although Rasht has had
its fair share of persecution — at least three Christians from there recently
received a sentence of 80 lashes — "[t]he past month represents the heaviest
wave of publicly known arrests in Rasht within the last three years," says the
report. "It is the policy of the Islamic government not to put thousands of
Christians in jail," explained Dr. Hormoz Shariat, a human rights activist.
"Their policy is to arrest a few and put maximum sentence on minor offenses
[such as holding church meetings in a home]. They then publicize it in order to
put fear in the hearts of Christians. Their strategy is causing fear and
isolation."
In another incident reported on February 1, five women, former Muslims who had
converted to Christianity, were arrested. One of the women, a 65-year-old, was
arrested in her home. According to the report:
"Authorities confiscated several of her personal items, including electronics
and Christian materials (such as Bibles), while searching her residence. She was
detained for ten days and interrogated during that time. She was temporarily
released after paying a bail of 30 million Toman [$600]. However, she was later
charged with 'acting against national security.' The prosecutor forced her to
visit an Islamic religious leader who offered her the opportunity to return back
to Islam."
Another of the apostate women faced the charge of "disturbing public order,
propagating Christianity, and connecting with foreign entities." If convicted,
all these Christians could face up to ten years in prison.
Tajikistan: New amendments to the Muslim majority nation's religion law are
being used to exercise tighter control over its small Christian community. As
one February 25 report explains, "Tajik authorities implementing a new religion
law are barring children from attending religious [church] services and have
burned [five] thousands of calendars with Bible verses."
Hostility for and Violence against Christians
Germany: On February 15, "in the multicultural district of Berlin Neukölln, a
Christian man from Iraq was hit in the face by a Muslim ... and threatened with
a knife because of a Christian tattoo," said a February 17 report (in
translation). Two men approached the 27-year-old Iraqi Christian, "on account of
his religious tattoo," and demanded money. "He did not comply with this request,
whereupon one of the unknown [men] held him and the other hit him several times
in the face," while drawing a knife. The Christian man eventually managed to
escape. One of the two assailants was arrested. According to the police report,
"The arrested person claims to be of Muslim faith."
Pakistan: Muslim students stabbed and nearly murdered a Christian student in
Karachi. Problems for the youth, Haroon Ifhan, began on February 15, when he
reported to the school's headmaster that his classmate, Muhammad Majid, had
stolen and damaged his notebook. "[W]hen the notebook was recovered from Majid's
backpack, he got angry and felt insulted," said Haroon's father. Two days later,
on Sunday, February 17, "When Haroon was alone on the road, Majid and five
others beat Haroon," explained the father. "The attack was so terrible that
Haroon's kidney was cut into two pieces" from the stabbings, added a local
activist. After he was rushed to hospital, "doctors were forced to remove his
kidney." As is common in such cases, police and local authorities tried to
pressure the family not to press charges against the Muslim youths, but the
family insists that "We want justice," even at the risk of their own lives.
In a different incident, a district council in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
unanimously voted to employ only Christians as hospital sweepers, thereby
"reinforcing a stereotype that views Christians as second class citizens," notes
the report.
"The members of the Swabi District Council adopted the measure unanimously and
demanded that all Muslims currently posted as sweepers be transferred to other
jobs, such as guards.... Due to widespread religious discrimination, Pakistani
Christians are often treated as second class citizens. For many Muslims in
Pakistan, Christians are considered spiritually polluted and untouchable because
of the religion that they follow. In the professional setting, this
discriminatory status relegates Christians to menial and dirty jobs.... Although
Christians only make up only 2% of Pakistan's total population, they represent
80% of Pakistan's sweepers and sewer workers."
Egypt: Islamic terrorists abducted another Christian man in the Sinai city of El
Arish. The man was travelling by bus when, according to a February 6 report,
"gunmen stopped the bus ... and examined the identity cards of everyone on board
looking for members of the police or military. When they found the Christian's
ID card they carried him off the bus and let it depart. The man's family said he
had already been forced to flee El Arish in February 2017, along with 355 other
Christian families, after terrorists linked to IS (Islamic State) executed seven
Christians in the city in less than a month. He was returning there on personal
business matters." It is believed that the man has since been killed. A similar
incident occurred in 2018, when another Christian, who had fled El Arish in
2017, returned on business only to be gunned down by masked militants. In
February that year ISIS-linked terrorists issued a threat to slaughter all
Christians found in Sinai.
In a separate incident, an 18-year old Christian girl living south of Luxor was
reported missing. Her family accused a local Muslim man of kidnapping her. Other
local Christians and they gathered in front of the police station to protest her
disappearance, with no result. The disappearance of Christian girls is a growing
epidemic in Egypt. In 2017, an ex-kidnapper explained the systematic process of
how Christian girls are targeted for abduction, forced conversions and
"marriages" to Muslims. According to the report, the man, known only as "G,"
"admits he was in a network actively targeting Coptic girls for years before he
left Islam." Although such networks have been around since the 1970s, they have
reached their "highest levels now, in the era of President Sisi," he said. A
portion of his testimony follows: "A group of kidnappers meets in a mosque to
discuss potential victims. They keep a close eye on Christians' houses and
monitor everything that's going on. On that basis, they weave a spider's web
around [the girls].... I remember a Coptic Christian girl from a rich,
well-known family in Minya. She was kidnapped by five Muslim men. They held her
in a house, stripped her and filmed her naked. In the video, one of them also
undressed. They threatened to make the video public if the girl wouldn't marry
him.... The kidnappers receive large amounts of money. Police can help them in
different ways, and when they do, they might also receive a part of the
financial reward the kidnappers are paid by the Islamisation organisations. In
some cases, police provide the kidnappers with drugs they seize. The drugs are
then given to the girls to weaken their resistance as they put them under
pressure. I even know of cases in which police offered helped to beat up the
girls to make them recite the Islamic creed. And the value of the reward
increases whenever the girl has a position. For example, when she is the
daughter of a priest or comes from a well-known family.... The Salafist group I
knew rented apartments in different areas of Egypt to hide kidnapped Coptic.
There, they put them under pressure and threaten them to convert to Islam. And
once they reach the legal age, a specially arranged Islamic representative comes
in to make the conversion official, issue a certificate and accordingly they
change their ID.... If all goes to plan, the girls are also forced into marriage
with a strict Muslim. Their husbands don't love them, they just marry her to
make her a Muslim. She will be hit and humiliated. And if she tries to escape,
or convert back to her original religion, she will be killed."
Indonesia: In a February 6 interview, "Santoso," a Christian, discussed the
negative evolution of Muslim-Christian interactions: "[I]n the last two years,
we are now seeing that Islam, it's getting more radical and they try to make the
politics combine with the religion," he said. "So they try to make their agenda.
Like before they had [in] their agenda that in 2020 Indonesia [would be]
becoming an Islamic country. But it's not happening, but they are still trying
and getting bigger now, the Islamic radicalization in Indonesia." As one
example, although Muslims used to wish Christians a Merry Christmas, "now many
imams and other Islamic leaders in Indonesia discourage Muslims from
acknowledging the holiday even in speech."
As another example of the growing hatred in Indonesia, a Muslim man who tried to
bomb a church years ago, and was partially maimed for it, remains unrepentant:
"I have no regrets for what happened," he said in a February interview. Eighteen
years earlier, Taufik Abdul Halim and his jihadi colleagues tried to bomb
several targets. One of his friends who was supposed to bomb a church backed
out. "So I decided to deliver it myself," Halim said. "But the package exploded
before it arrived at the intended target." The bomb, hidden in a Dunkin' Donuts
box, exploded prematurely. It blew off part of Halim's right leg and injured six
other people. Although he also ended up serving 12 years in prison, the February
2 report suggests that his experiences have done little to dampen his hate.
*Raymond Ibrahim, author of the new book, Sword and Scimitar, Fourteen Centuries
of War between Islam and the West, is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the
Gatestone Institute and a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14207/persecution-of-christians-february
Iran and the Difficulty of Dancing with Trump
Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/May 13/2019
For four decades, the Iranian revolution danced with seven presidents who
successively took over the decision-making in the land of the “Great Satan.” The
trip was long, thorny and hectic. There have been exchanges of blows, punctuated
by truces and negotiations: the sight of Americans being held hostage at their
country’s embassy in Tehran, the bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut, and the
rubble of the Marines headquarters in the Lebanese capital, not to forget the
Iran-Contra scandal.
During this period, Tehran was able to employ major events in its favor. The
1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon constituted an opportunity for the birth of
Hezbollah. The overthrow of Saddam Hussein facilitated the empowering of
militias that grew up in Iran and were used in defeating the US invasion. The
withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon in the wake of the assassination of
former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was an opportunity for Iran to become the top
player in the Lebanese arena and a necessity for the retreating Syrian regime.
The Yemeni “spring” provided an occasion for Iran to foster the Houthi coup,
their capture of the Yemeni capital and its military arsenal.
Iran found an unprecedented opportunity under Barack Obama. It signed a nuclear
agreement with six countries, including the United States, having succeeded in
keeping its broad regional offensive outside the circle of discussion and
negotiation.
The entry into force of the agreement allowed it to use the proceeds of the
incoming money in the service of its attack, which it said has facilitated the
annexation of four Arab capitals to the Iranian orbit.
It is wrong to believe that Iran can pursue with President Donald Trump the same
dance that it performed with his six predecessors. Trump has changed the
language of communication in America and abroad. At home, he changed his
rhetoric with the other party and the media; and abroad, he is now speaking a
different language with hostile, rival or allied countries.
This is why the repetition of the previous scenes is difficult and very
unlikely, if not impossible. Is it possible, for example, to repeat the hostage
crisis, if even in another country? Can an Iranian agent blow up a US embassy in
the world and risk leaving his fingerprints there? Is it possible, for example,
to assign an Iraqi faction to target the Tanf US air base with an Iranian
missile or repeat the bombing of the US embassy in Beirut? It is unlikely to see
these kind of scenes again. The reason is the Trump method and the difficulty of
predicting his reactions and the extent to which he can go.
Since Trump took over power, Iran has lost its ability to make initiatives in
the thorny relations. The administration has moved to the offensive as if it
were seeking to correct the mistakes made in the previous administration.
Trump’s exit from the nuclear deal signed by Obama was a major development,
especially after it turned out that Iran could not seek refuge in European
promises.
The American president went on to adopt progressive sanctions with the aim to
snuff out Iranian oil exports. At the same time, Washington launched an
unprecedented diplomatic campaign to convince the world that the problem with
Tehran is not limited to its nuclear ambitions, but also includes its
destabilizing behavior in the region through its missile program and the actions
of the militias loyal to it. It even labeled it as the “first sponsor of
terrorism in the world.”
The US attack was not just a media campaign to tarnish the image. Washington
threw its economic weight in the battle and countries had to choose between
dealing with Iran and preserving their economic relations with the United
States. Experience has shown that many countries and major corporations prefer
maintaining their ties with the world’s leading economy. Thus, the US actions
against Iran led to a degree of international and regional isolation.
Amid reports that the American actions were painful this time, the recent US
military mobilization entered the crisis at a more critical stage. Washington
announced it had moved its military forces based on intelligence that Iran was
preparing to target US interests.
The US move was very severe and was much felt by Iraqi officials when they
received US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The latter conveyed stern messages
that Washington would respond firmly to any targeting of its interests by Iran
or its proxies. He also said his country would closely monitor Iran’s attempts
to circumvent the sanctions, including the sale of its oil, claiming it was
Iraqi oil.
In its show of force against Iran, the Trump administration stressed that it was
not seeking war. It also said that its policy was not aimed at overthrowing the
regime, but at pushing Tehran to change its behavior.
Trump explained that he was ready to sit at the table with Iran if it was
prepared to do so. He left the telephone number of the White House with
Switzerland. The Swiss Embassy in Tehran has been sponsoring US interests in
Iran since the breakup of diplomatic relations between the two countries in
1979.
Tension between the US and Iran is nothing new. What is new is the recognition
by Tehran that US sanctions are indeed painful. Let’s set aside the threats from
Iranian officials that US naval vessels would be an easy target for Iranian
missiles in the event of a conflict. What is also new is that Trump cannot back
down if Iran harasses his troops. A move of this kind will harm his image and
chances for a second term if it is not met by a strict disciplinary response.
Iran lost the keys to the initiative in the crisis. The sanctions are painful.
Inciting a dispute to reshuffle the papers seems dangerous. Waiting for the end
of Trump’s mandate is costly, especially if US economic figures continue to
boost his ambition for a second term.
But can we always regulate boiling crises? And what if there is an error that
causes the escalation? What if a third party infiltrates the picture to light
the fuse? And what would happen, for example, if we woke up one day to find that
Israeli fighter jets have bombed Iranian nuclear reactors?
The Middle East lives on the beat of the “mother of crises”. It is not
surprising that Iran feels the difficulty of dancing with Trump. China feels it
too, after it managed to dance with his predecessors. The Chinese president is
annoyed by the US instructions through Twitter. Beijing, however, is considering
showing more flexibility to avoid a trade war that may plant thorns on the Silk
Road.
The Turkish Lira and Political Crises
Marcus Ashworth/Bloomberg ViewMay 13/2019
Turkey’s central bank is again trying to shore up the lira. Its latest effort is
unlikely to ease the pain for the worst-performing currency in emerging markets
this quarter.
On Thursday, the monetary authority attempted to raise interest rates by the
backdoor, suspending its one-week repo auctions and so making it costlier for
commercial lenders to borrow money from the central bank.
But traders who had been caught out when the bank tried the same maneuver just
before the country’s March 31 municipal elections were this time prepared, and
had largely covered their funding needs. This explains the lira’s muted gain on
Thursday. By early afternoon, the currency had risen by only 0.8 percent against
the dollar. The daily auctions of one-week money are the central bank's main way
of providing the financial system with liquidity. By stopping them, policymakers
risk driving short-term borrowing costs skyward as banks race to secure funding.
That’s exactly what happened last month, when overnight rates soared to as much
as 1,300 percent at one point. Then, the central bank was forced to resume the
auctions to regain a semblance of order. Unless it does the same again by the
end of next week, rates are almost certain to move inexorably higher again.
Jamming up the money markets is no way to revive confidence in a financial
system already reeling from the country’s political turmoil. Inevitably, the
main loser will be the currency, which will further undermine the allure of
Turkey for investors.
In April, the impact on the currency was limited to a brief two-week rally –
after which all the gains were unwound and more. This time is likely to be no
different. Liquidity still hasn’t returned to Turkish markets. Investors are
wary the government could, as it did last month, stop the country’s banks from
offering any form of liquidity to non-domestic clients, effectively trapping
foreign investors’ holdings.
If the central bank wants to make a real impact on the lira, it needs to raise
its benchmark rate and show it is willing to tackle the country’s spiraling
inflation. That looks unlikely, at least for now. Last month, the monetary
policy committee removed a commitment to raise rates again from its statement.
At an April 30 press conference, Governor Murat Cetinkaya was forced to insist
another hike was still possible. The currency’s subsequent weakening suggests
investors take a different view. Until policymakers stop meddling in money
markets and start raising benchmark rates, the lira looks set to return to the
depths it plumbed during last year’s political crisis.
Banned from Facebook? A Polish Court May Help
Leonid Bershidsky/Bloomberg ViewMay 13/2019
Facebook is often criticized for not doing enough to police its platform for
hate speech. But the opposite has also been a problem: Mark Zuckerberg’s company
uses rather vague “community standards” as the basis for decision to remove
users and posts. It doesn’t feel compelled to explain exactly how it applies
them, either. Now, a Polish court may decide it should. When Facebook banned
Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos, Louis Farrakhan, Laura Loomer and others last
week, all it said was that “the process for evaluating potential violators is
extensive and it is what led us to our decision.” The prominent right-wingers
with huge audiences on the Facebook-owned platforms didn’t, in other words, get
much in the way of explanation. Those banned from Facebook and Instagram last
week might take a look at Poland, where a local non-governmental organization is
suing Facebook for removing its page. The Polish nonprofit, called the Civil
Society Drug Policy Initiative and known by the Polish abbreviation SIN for
short, filed suit against Facebook’s European arm in the Warsaw District Court
last week. At least in Europe, the case may help set up more transparent
procedures for banning content and its creators from social networks.
The group specializes in “harm reduction,” an approach to fixing drug-related
social problems in part by removing the stigma from drug use and respecting
users’ rights. It may be controversially soft on drug users, but the approach
has been backed by the United Nations and influential private donors and is by
no means illegal.
SIN says Facebook shut down its page last year without explaining what rules it
had broken; the organization used the social network’s appeal procedure but the
ban was upheld, again without a clear explanation – just like in the case of US
right-wingers who were kicked off.
Poland is a country with a right-wing, nationalist government, and the ruling
Law and Justice Party has long grumbled about US-based social networks’ banning
practices. Like those in the US who were banned, its members see a liberal bias
in the platforms’ policies. In 2017, the country's Digital Affairs Ministry
drafted a bill that would make the social networks liable for “over-removal” of
content, but the bill never made it to parliament, derailed by a ministry
reorganization. Panoptykon’s approach, however, is distinct from the right-wing
criticism: It’s trying to stress the nonpartisan nature of the “private
censorship” issue by backing the drug policy nonprofit’s case.
Panoptykon lawyer Dorota Glowacka argues that though social media companies are,
in principle, free to kick people and organizations off their networks on the
basis of their terms of service, Facebook, because of its global dominance and
huge number of users, doesn’t enjoy full discretion in this area. It should,
Glowacka says, “observe human rights standards” – and its freedom to withhold
access to its private forum should be limited because users have so few viable
alternatives.
This line of attack skirts an issue long debated by Facebook and its critics --
whether the company is a tech platform for users’ free expression or a publisher
with its own editorial policy. Publicly, Facebook says it’s a tech platform,
which is supposed to absolve it of responsibility for what appears on it (and
explain why it doesn’t pay for content). But in a US court case last year, its
lawyers argued that it was a publisher and its decisions on what not to publish
should be protected for that reason.
I’d be in favor of treating Facebook and its peers as publishers, holding them
liable for content and getting them to pay news organizations for providing core
material for debate on their platforms. But Panoptykon’s approach – effectively
treating the massive social networks as public utilities – also has its
advantages: If upheld by the courts, first in Poland and then on the European
Union level, it would force the platforms to leave all lawful speech alone and
stop taking down posts, profiles and pages simply because it feels like it,
because a government objects to the content or because an interest group has put
pressure on them with a flagging campaign.
SIN and Panoptykon want the platforms to issue reasoned statements explaining
why they removed a certain post or account and who was responsible for the
decision – a human or an algorithm. Platforms should only remove posts for
violating specific rules, not entire accounts. And users, according to
Panoptykon, should have recourse to courts when they want to appeal the
networks’ decisions. These demands are largely in line with the so-called Santa
Clara Principles, developed by a team of ethics and tech experts and backed by
the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Trying, perhaps somewhat belatedly, to regulate the major tech platforms is
turning into a national sport in many countries, especially European ones. So
many conflicting demands are being made on them that it’s easy to see why they
resist the efforts with all the legal firepower they’ve got.
It’s difficult to comply with demands that they, on the one hand, curb hate
speech, political manipulation and the propaganda of violence – and, on the
other hand, that they act as a free speech utility for which a takedown or a ban
is a rare measure of last resort. But in a sense, it’s good to have the
regulatory competition and all the different court cases in which the platforms
are attacked from every possible angle.
Out of this chaos of adversity, clear definitions for the platforms’ functions,
power, rights and obligations should emerge. The Polish case is one to watch for
those who believe the recent bans of right-wingers were unfair. It’s an issue
that should, ideally, be settled by the courts in the US, too.
The Qatari envoy Mohammed al-Emadi arrived at the Gaza Strip through the Erez
Crossing and handed over $30 million to Hamas on Monday, and families are now
being asked to check whether they received the $100 grant they deserve.
After the last round of fighting last week, the Qatari Foreign Ministry issued
an official statement saying that Qatar would transfer $480 million in support
of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
From the promised budget, Qatar will grant $300 million in grants and loans to
support the Palestinian Authority and its health and education sectors. An
additional $180 million will be transferred for urgent rescue and humanitarian
assistance to residents of the Gaza Strip. Qatar also said that the additional
$180 million was intended to support the United Nations programs in Palestine,
support the electricity services in the Gaza Strip and ensure that the
Palestinian people had access to various sectors
The transfer of funds from Qatar to the Palestinian Authority and the Gaza Strip
takes place a week after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire.
The decision was made in the framework of understandings reached by the parties
through intermediaries. Hamas and Israel reached a decision that the two sides
would stop the fire, and that the previous agreements and understandings would
be fulfilled, including the expansion of the fishing zone and the continued
money transfer through the UN.
War with Iran forthcoming? Most experts say they don’t think so
Jerusalem Post/May 13/2019
WASHINGTON – It’s been an intense couple of weeks in the triangle of the United
States, Iran and the European Union. The immediate trigger is the one-year mark
since US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Trump administration decided to use that anniversary
to impose fresh sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
The Iranians, on the other hand, are trying to save their crumbling economy and
gave the EU 60 days to save whatever is left from the original deal before
they’ll cease to abide the agreement.
In between, the US sent a carrier group to the Middle East as a message to the
Iranians, following intelligence about an Iranian intent to harm US interests in
the region.
But what’s next? Is a war between the US and Iran on the horizon?
Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at the Foundation for
Defense of Democracies think tank in Washington, does not see a direct military
confrontation as an option.
“H.R. McMaster said that, ‘There are two ways of fighting America: One is
asymmetrically, and the other is stupid,’” he told The Jerusalem Post. “In other
words, there’s only one way to fight the United States at this point. And that
is through terrorism and insurgency. The idea that Iran would square off with
the United States in a conventional conflict is not serious.”
He added that sending a carrier group to the Gulf is meant only to send a
message.
“When [US] Ambassador [to Russia] Jon Huntsman talks about carrier groups, he
calls them a hundred thousand tons of diplomacy,” Schanzer said. “When you put
that in into play, it changes the way that your adversary is going to respond to
you. They’re going to be more fearful, and that’s what we call leverage. The
hope is that that’s what we’re talking about here, between the financial
pressure and the deployment of force not to fight, but to influence, we could
potentially start to see changes.”
Ilan Goldenberg, senior fellow and director of the Middle East Security Program
at the Center for a New American Security, expressed similar sentiments. He told
the Post that the US should not expect an immediate crisis, but rather that Iran
will once again take a slow-motion crawl toward a nuclear weapon.
“This is consistent with how they were before the JCPOA and how they have been
for years - slowly, slowly, slowly making progress, while avoiding the worst
consequences of the international community," he said.
According to Goldenberg, while the risk of military confrontation exists, it is
overblown by the media.
"Fundamentally, nobody actually wants a direct military conflict," he said. "I
think that Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu will be okay if the Americans
lead the charge, and I think Trump would be okay if the Israelis lead the
charge, but I don't think Netanyahu or Trump wants to be on their own in a major
conflict like that. So that's the good news. The bad news is you can always have
miscalculation."
“Nobody wants a war,” he continued. “it doesn't mean a war won't accidentally
happen."
However, if there’s no war between the two countries, what’s the alternative? Is
there any chance we could see the Iranian engaging in negotiations on a revised
nuclear agreement with the Trump administration?
Last week, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) told the Post that this is the time to
negotiate a new deal that would address the flaws of the original agreement.
“What is becoming an increasingly precarious situation can be turned into an
opportunity,” he said. “I would turn [Iranian President Hassan] Rouhani’s words
around, and say – ‘Okay, you want to be open to negotiation? We do too.’"
“So, those negotiations have to deal with the failures of the JCPOA,” he
continued.
Schanzer thinks that the Iranians would join the table only if they believe they
can get something out of it.
“When they engaged with the Obama administration, they got quite a lot,” he
said. “With the Trump administration, they may be able to negotiate their
survival, which may be just as important to them right now, given that they seem
to be under quite a bit of pressure. It’s hard to imagine a fruitful negotiation
right now, unless the Iranian regime is willing to change.”
Mike Pregent, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, feels
differently. He thinks that now is not the time to negotiate a new deal.
“This is the most pressure this regime has been under for 40 years,” he told the
Post. “This is the time to continue to put maximum pressure on Iran and watch
what they do over the next 18 months. Every month, the United States will put
new sanctions on individuals and entities of Iran."
According to Pregent, by the time the election happens, “whether Trump wins or
not, the Democrat presidential candidate, if Trump doesn’t win, will have enough
leverage with Iran to get a nuclear deal that could pass Congress. That can pass
as a treaty because it will address ballistic missiles. It’ll address terrorism;
it’ll address sunset clauses. It would address inspections, everything. This is
not the right time.”
The question remains whether or not the EU will save the Iranian economy from
the specter of hyperinflation and thereby save the nuclear deal. Pregent thinks
that the EU will not volunteer to save Rouhani. He said Iran is making threats
against Europe, calling on Europe to invest in the Iranian economy or Iran will
step up its nuclear program.
“It’s such a stupid argument, because the last thing the Europeans are going to
do is try to look weak,” said Pregent. “The last thing you want to do is give
the United States in an argument that Iran is what we said they were. Now
they’re saying we’re going to move towards a weaponized nuclear program that we
denied we ever had. So it’s pathetic in a way.”
If Pregent is right in his assessment, and the EU does not rush to save the
Iranian economy, that means that in 60 days we will see the end of the agreement
as we know it. It is hard to predict what the future will look like, but it is
clear that the Trump administration will not hesitate to confront the Iranians
both with new sanctions and in the diplomatic arena. Whether it will push the
Iranians back to the negotiating table or not, is yet to be seen.
But there is one expert who says that a war might be more likely than the others
think.
Former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said that with no agreement or
negotiations, a military confrontation is more likely.
“If the JCPOA collapsed, you could have new negotiations, and try to get a
better deal,” he said. “But there’s no evidence that Trump really has a concept
of what that deal looks like."
“If it’s Pompeo’s 12 points, it’s essentially regime change,” Shapiro continued.
“If it’s just a longer version of the JCPOA that includes missiles, it seems
unlikely that they will be able to reach that kind of agreement when the
Iranians think they can get maybe a better deal and wait for another
administration in a year and a half.”
Shapiro, a distinguished visiting fellow at Tel Aviv’s Institute for National
Security Studies think tank, said that another reason to force Iran out of the
deal is to create a justification for a military strike, but then added: “That
also isn’t something Trump has shown any appetite for. Some of his advisers may
have, but he himself has been very critical of the Iraq war; tries to get US
troops out of Syria. He doesn’t want to be involved in wars in the Middle East,
which he calls, ‘nothing but sand and death.’”
According to the former ambassador, “It brings us closer to a moment when with
Iran advancing on its nuclear program again, and without a prospect of a
negotiation and with time ticking on Trump’s term in office that there may be no
option other than a military option to slow them down,” he said. “And at that
point it’s not at all unlikely that rather than do it himself, Trump would say
to Netanyahu, ‘You have a green light.’ No Israeli prime minister has ever been
faced with an American president saying, ‘feel free to attack Iran and good
luck.’ That’s a decision no Israeli prime minister ever had to make. But it’s
one that this current scenario brings us closer to every single day.”
Mark Dubowitz is the chief executive of FDD, a Washington-based nonpartisan
policy institute. He told the Post that it is not likely that the Europeans will
help the Iranians to save their economy.
"European companies and banks are not going to do this, regardless of what
European diplomats say," Dubowitz said. "Ultimately, most banks and companies
are going to vote with their feet. The US market is a $20 trillion market. The
Iranian market is $400 billion market. They want to use US dollars, not the
Iranian rial. [The companies] will leave Iran, or certainly not going back into
Iran."
Dubowitz also thinks that the Iranians are starting to realize they could not
wait for Trump to leave office and are likely to search a path for negotiation.
"They were told by the Europeans and by Secretary [John] Kerry for the past two
years, they just need to wait Trump out, that he will be a one-term president,
that a Democrat will come back to the White House in January of 2021 and take
America back to the Iran deal, that there would be sanctions relief,” explained
Dubowitz. “But I think it's dawning on the Iranians, that first of all, Trump
might be reelected. And second of all, they may not even make it to January 2021
without a severe balance of payments crisis."
“They're running out of foreign exchange reserves,” he continued. “The currency
is collapsing, there's severe recession. Inflation is skyrocketing. So maybe the
Europeans can convince them to come back to the table and we'll see
negotiation."
Chinese Sex Trade in Pakistan: Abuse of Christian Girls
Kaswar Klasra/Gatestone Institute/May 13/2019
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14210/chinese-pakistan-sex-trafficking
Once purchased, women and girls are typically locked in a room and raped
repeatedly, with the goal of getting them pregnant quickly so they can provide a
baby for the family. After giving birth, some are allowed to escape -- but
forced to leave their children behind.
That women and girls are being abused throughout Asia is sickening enough, and
warrants immediate attention by the international community. But that Christian
girls in particular are being targeted in Pakistan makes the current
prostitution ring a double human-rights abuse that needs urgent looking into.
That women and girls are being abused throughout Asia is sickening enough, and
warrants immediate attention by the international community. But that Christian
girls in particular are being targeted in Pakistan makes the current
prostitution ring a double human-rights abuse that needs urgent looking into.
(Image source: iStock. Image is illustrative and does not represent any person
in the article.)
The New York-based international non-governmental organization, Human Rights
Watch, warned on April 26 that "Pakistan's government should be alarmed by
recent reports of trafficking of women and girls to China. These allegations are
disturbingly similar to the pattern of trafficking of 'brides' to China from at
least five other Asian countries."
One week later, Pakistani authorities arrested 12 suspects -- eight Chinese
nationals and four Pakistanis -- in a case involving the sex trafficking of
young Pakistani women to China. Many had been sent as so-called "brides." Most
of them, some as young as 13, belong to Pakistan's Christian minority.
After the arrests, Jameel Ahmed Khan, a senior official at Pakistan's Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA), told Gatestone Institute that a preliminary
investigation revealed that the sex traffickers lured young Christian girls from
poverty-stricken families to China by promising them a "better life" there --
and providing their parents with a monthly stipend. Khan said that although it
appears that hundreds of girls have been sold this way into prostitution, the
exact number is under investigation.
Mohammad Azam, FIA assistant director, told Gatestone that the girls, before
being sent to their "husbands" in China, were taken to a base located in a posh
sector of Lahore, where they were given Chinese language classes.
According to VOA News:
"A mainstream Pakistani television station last month aired images of an illegal
matchmaking center in Lahore housing several Chinese men and six Pakistani
women, including two teenage girls, awaiting transit to China as brides.
"The victims told the ARY News channel their families received about $3,000 and
were promised about $280 a month in future payments as well as a Chinese visa
for a male family member."
VOA News also reported that Zhao Lijian, the deputy chief of the Chinese Embassy
in Islamabad, told local media that his government had sent a task force to
Pakistan to work with the FIA. The purpose of this task force -- sources from
the Pakistani government told Gatestone -- was to investigate the "fake
marriages" between Chinese men and poor Pakistani girls.
It is welcome that this Chinese trafficking ring in Pakistan has been exposed
and is being tackled by authorities of both countries. The bad news is that it
appears to be one of many such operations in Asia dealing in the sale of women
to China, where girls are a desirable commodity, due to decades of child-bearing
restrictions and the apparent mass abortion of female fetuses.
As Human Rights Watch reported last December:
"The woman shortage is having harmful consequences in China and sometimes in
neighboring countries... Traffickers prey on vulnerable women and girls,
offering jobs in, and transport to, China. Then they sell them, for around
$3,000 to $13,000, to Chinese families struggling to find brides for their sons.
Once purchased, women and girls are typically locked in a room and raped
repeatedly, with the goal of getting them pregnant quickly so they can provide a
baby for the family. After giving birth, some are allowed to escape—but forced
to leave their children behind.
"There is evidence of similar patterns of bride migration and trafficking in
Cambodia, North Korea, and Vietnam, and more may emerge from other countries
bordering China. Importing women doesn't solve the shortage—it spreads it."
That women and girls are being abused throughout Asia is sickening enough, and
warrants immediate attention by the international community. But that Christian
girls in particular are being targeted in Pakistan makes the current
prostitution ring a double human-rights abuse that needs urgent looking into.
*Kaswar Klasra is a journalist based in Islamabad, Pakistan.
© 2019 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
How Palestinian Leaders Punish Patients
Bassam Tawil/Gatestone Institute/May 13/2019
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14208/palestinian-leaders-punish-patients
"By Allah, even if we have only a penny left it will be spent on the families of
the martyrs and prisoners, and only afterwards will it be spent on the rest of
the people." — Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Media Watch, July
24, 2018.
Evidently, the "rest of the people" includes not only the Palestinian Authority
(PA) employees, but also Palestinian patients who are in need of medical
treatment. Abbas has now decided to punish these patients by depriving them of
medical treatment in Israel.
The PA decision to stop patients from receiving medical treatment in Israel does
not apply to senior Palestinian officials.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has decided that Palestinians will no longer be
able to receive medical treatment in Israel -- with the exception of senior
Palestinian officials. Last week, Jibril Rajoub, a senior official with Mahmoud
Abbas's ruling Fatah faction in the West Bank, was admitted to Ichilov Hospital
(pictured), the largest acute care facility in Israel.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has decided that Palestinians will no longer be
able to receive medical treatment in Israel. Last March, the PA Ministry of
Health in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the de facto capital of the
Palestinians, announced that it was halting medical transfers to Israeli
hospitals and promised to find alternatives for Palestinian patients in private
and government hospitals.
The PA says that it took the decision in response to the Israeli government's
deduction of payments the Palestinian government makes to families of security
prisoners and "martyrs" from tax revenues the Israelis collect on behalf of the
Palestinians.
A new Israeli law allows the government to impose financial sanctions on the PA
for its "Pay for Slay" policy, which encourages terrorists to carry out attacks
against Israelis because they know they and their families will be receiving
salaries (from the PA government) for the rest of their lives.
One report estimated that the PA spent no less than 502 million shekels [USD
$141 million; 126 million euros] of its 2018 budget on salaries and payments to
terrorist prisoners and released inmates. At least 230 million shekels [$65
million; 58 million euros] were paid in salaries to terrorist prisoners, while
another 176 million shekels [$48 million; 44 million euros] were paid in
salaries to terrorists after they were released from prison, the report
revealed. The remaining 96 million shekels [$27 million; 24 million euros]
covers additional salary payments and other benefits to the terrorists and their
families.
Despite the Israeli deductions, the terrorists and their families are continuing
to receive full salaries. The only ones who are paying the price are tens of
thousands of Palestinian public employees, who in the past three months have
been receiving only 50% to 60% of their salaries.
In the past few months, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has vowed
to continue making welfare payments to the terrorists and their families, even
if its costs the Palestinian government its last penny. "We will not accept a
cut or cancellation of salaries to the families of martyrs and prisoners, as
some are trying to bring about," Abbas said. In another statement, Abbas was
quoted as saying: "By Allah, even if we have only a penny left it will be spent
on the families of the martyrs and prisoners, and only afterwards will it be
spent on the rest of the people."
Evidently, the "rest of the people" includes not only the PA employees, but also
Palestinian patients who are in need of medical treatment. Abbas has now decided
to punish these patients by depriving them of medical treatment in Israel.
Osama al-Najjar, spokesman for the PA Ministry of Health, said that the PA
government has decided to stop funding medical treatment for Palestinian
patients in Israeli hospitals in response to the Israeli deduction of the
allowances paid to the terrorists and their families. Al-Najjar estimated the
cost of the medical transfers to Israeli hospitals at $100 million each year.
Palestinian journalist Fathi Sabbah said that the decision taken by the PA
Ministry of Health was "wrong, hasty and ill-considered." Noting that the
decision was taken before finding alternatives to the Israeli hospitals, he said
that the "decision was dangerous because the patients are being denied the right
to receive medical treatment that is not available in Palestinian hospitals,
endangering their lives. This is a heavy price."
Sabbah said that the talk about sending the patients to hospitals in Jordan and
Egypt would increase their suffering. Many of the patients, he said, have
already begun receiving medical treatment in Israel, and now they will be
required to start from the beginning with new medical treatment in Jordan and
Egypt.
"The Jordanian and Egyptian hospitals will not be able to deal with these
patients with the required professional medical care, and the patients will be
forced to return to the starting point and undergo new medical tests," Sabbah
added.
"This means additional suffering for the patients and more expenses for the
Palestinian government. Besides, the patients will have to bear the suffering of
long hours of travelling to Egypt and Jordan. The journey from the Gaza Strip to
Cairo lasts two to three days, while the return trip takes three or four days.
This means that cancer patients will spend a whole week to get a dose of
chemotherapy, while it takes only one day or a few hours to get the same
treatment in Israel."
The PA decision to stop patients from receiving medical treatment in Israel does
not apply to senior Palestinian officials.
Last week, Jibril Rajoub, a senior official with Abbas's ruling Fatah faction in
the West Bank, was admitted to Ichilov Hospital, the largest acute care facility
in Israel. Rajoub, who also heads the Palestinian Football Association and
previously spent 17 years in Israeli prison for terror-related offenses, was
rushed to the hospital for urgent medical treatment despite the PA's decision to
ban Palestinian patients from receiving medical treatment in Israel.
However, while Israeli doctors were working hard to give Rajoub the best
treatment in Ichilov Hospital, the senior Palestinian official sent a letter to
the European and Spanish football associations demanding Spanish football giant
Atletico Madrid cancel a post-season friendly game with an Israeli team in
Jerusalem. "We are not against playing in Israel, but not in occupied
Jerusalem," Rajoub wrote in his letter. Rajoub failed to mention that Teddy
Stadium, where the game will take place on May 21, is actually in west
Jerusalem.
Days before he was admitted to the Israeli hospital, Rajoub also called on Arabs
and Muslims to "halt all forms of sports normalization with Israel."
Rajoub is not the first or last senior Palestinian official to seek medical
treatment in some of Israel's best hospitals. In 2017, PLO Secretary-General
Saeb Erekat, who has accused Israel of "genocide," checked into Israel's
Beilinson Medical Center for treatment after he underwent a lung transplant in
the US.
Palestinian leaders are again engaging in hypocrisy regarding medical treatment.
On the one hand, they do not miss an opportunity to make various forms of blood
libels against Israel. On the other hand, when they fall ill, the first thing
they do is contact Israeli hospitals in the hope of receiving the best medical
treatment in the Middle East. They do not rush to hospitals in Egypt and Jordan:
they know they will not get the best treatment there.
What is disturbing is that Palestinian leaders are now putting their people's
lives at risk by denying them medical treatment in Israeli hospitals. This is
yet another sign of how Palestinian leaders act according to their personal
interests while endangering the lives of patients whose only fault is that they
do not have relatives in senior jobs in the Palestinian Authority leadership who
could help them receive treatment in Israel.
*Bassam Tawil is a Muslim Arab based in the Middle East.
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هروب الباكستانية المسيحية أسيا
بيبي إلى كندا يسلط الأضواء على قانون التجديف المثير للجدل في باكستان
Asia Bibi's escape to Canada shines light on Pakistan's
controversial blasphemy laws
CBC/May 14/2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/74861/%d9%87%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%83%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%ad%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%a3%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%a7-%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%a8%d9%8a/
Asia Bibi held the unfortunate distinction of being the first Pakistani woman
sentenced to death for insulting Islam under that country's blasphemy laws.
She spent eight years on death row before her conviction was overturned by the
Supreme Court of Pakistan in October 2018.
Last week, as Bibi began to settle into her new life in Canada, after arriving
on Wednesday, her lawyer turned his focus to his next court battle against
Pakistan's blasphemy laws.
Speaking from his home in Lahore, Pakistan, Saiful Malook said he knows that
even acting as a lawyer for someone accused of blasphemy in Pakistan could be a
death sentence for himself.
"When you start this type of case, you better start developing a close
relationship to God because you can go to God at any given moment with 100 to 50
bullets," he said.
'A lot of injustice'
Malook's new case involves a dispute over a text message a man received that
allegedly insulted the Prophet Muhammad.
Like Bibi, Malook's new client, Shagufta Kausar, is Christian. The text
allegedly came from a SIM card issued to Kausar. Despite the fact that she
doesn't read or write, Kausar and her husband were sentenced to death for the
message in 2014.
Pakistani human rights lawyer Sarah Suhail says the blasphemy laws are often
used against minorities and other vulnerable people to settle scores and
disputes in the predominantly Muslim country. According to Amnesty
International, between 2011 and 2015, at least 1,200 people were accused of
blasphemy in Pakistan.
"The phrasing of the law, and the way in which evidence about it is collected,
is really highly questionable and it leads to a lot, a lot of injustice," Suhail
said.
Bibi's case would appear to be an example of that.
'Pressure from the religious right'
The confrontation that started the ordeal occurred in 2009, while Bibi was
employed as a farm worker.
For some Muslims in Pakistan, drinking or eating from the same dish or cup as a
Christian is taboo. During a meal at the farm, Bibi touched the cup that her
Muslim co-workers used for water. A heated argument erupted, Malook says, and
two of Bibi's co-workers accused her of insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
She was convicted of blasphemy in 2010 and spent the next eight years on death
row.
Ultimately, the case made it to the country's Supreme Court, which last October
overturned Bibi's conviction, citing inconsistencies in the testimony against
her.
Religious extremists shut down parts of Pakistan in protest that day, and
threatened to carry out Bibi's death sentence themselves.
Prime Minister Imran Khan appealed to protesters to respect the rule of law, but
he has not addressed calls to actually do away with the blasphemy laws.
"The blasphemy law is definitely a really, really big and important issue that
the Pakistani state needs to address," said Suhail. "But so far, the pressure
from the religious right has been so strong that nobody is even willing to touch
this law."
The blasphemy laws started under the British rule of India and Pakistan in 1860.
The government said its goal was to prevent religious violence between Hindus
and Muslims.
"The language of the law was deliberate and [it outlawed] malicious acts
intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class by insulting their
religious beliefs," said Suhail.
Since the 1980s, the blasphemy laws in Pakistan have been revised to make the
punishment harsher. The consequences for those who have opposed the laws
publicly have also been grave.
"Two very important people were murdered over this … that's why this case became
so important," Malook said of Bibi's case.
In 2011, Salman Taseer, the governor of the province of Punjab, denounced Bibi's
death sentence. His bodyguard later shot him dead. Just three months later,
Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian federal minister in Pakistan at the time, was
also killed after speaking out against the laws.
"Four people with shotguns came out from their car, and from both sides they
start shooting him in the daylight," recalled his brother, Peter Bhatti, who
lives in Brampton, Ont. "Then the word spread that this was the punishment of
whoever do the blasphemy against our Prophet, that is the kind of punishment he
will get."
Peter Bhatti had lobbied for Bibi's release since his brother's death. He says
he breathed a sigh of relief when he learned of Bibi's arrival in Canada last
week.
"We are thankful that at least she is free and my brother's sacrifice did not go
in vain."