We say No to the President of Somaliland for his illegitimate dismissal of Hargeisa Regional Health Board

We say No to the President of Somaliland for his illegitimate dismissal of Hargeisa Regional Health Board

http://samotalis.blogspot.com/

We say No to the President of Somaliland for his illegitimate dismissal of Hargeisa Regional Health Board

We say No to the President of Somaliland for his illegitimate dismissal of Hargeisa Regional Health Board

http://islaamdoon.blogspot.com/

We say No to the President of Somaliland for his illegitimate dismissal of Hargeisa Regional Health Board

The Hargeisa Regional Health Board has been rehabilitating and rebuilding Hargeisa Group Hospital -the biggest referral hospital in Somaliland from 1991-up to now on a volunteer basis. The president disbanded and reprimanded them without consulting the community who selected them, or not even saying thank you.

This misuse of power tantamount to dictatorial tendency of President Riyale, and if not checked will damage the health of our nascent democracy, Democracy cannot survive without good governance build upon accountability, transparency and respect of law.

We say No to that, and no to a group selected by the government without consulting the people in Hargeisa region. Please sign this and add your voice.

We say No to the President of Somaliland for his illegitimate dismissal of Hargeisa Regional Health Board

Samotalis

http://www.facebook.com/pages/SAMOTALIS/238585618589?ref=nf

UN CHIEF ACCEPTS PAKISTAN’S REQUEST TO DELAY RELEASE OF REPORT ON BHUTTO KILLING

UN CHIEF ACCEPTS PAKISTAN'S REQUEST TO DELAY RELEASE OF REPORT ON BHUTTO KILLING

The presentation of the report of the independent United Nations probe looking into the facts and circumstances of the December 2007 assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, which had been scheduled for today, has been delayed until 15 April at the request of the country's President.

"The Secretary-General has accepted an urgent request by the President of Pakistan [Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of Ms. Bhutto] to delay the presentation of the report of the Commission of Inquiry," a spokesperson for Ban Ki-moon said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=4465">statement.

The three-member Commission, headed by Chilean Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz, was set up following a request from the Pakistani Government and began its work in July 2009.

Mr. Ban met today in New York with the members of the Commission, which also includes Marzuki Darusman, the former attorney-general of Indonesia, and Peter Fitzgerald, a veteran of the Irish National Police who has also served the UN in a number of capacities.

"The Commission has informed the Secretary-General that, as of today, all relevant facts and circumstances have been explored, and the report is now complete and ready to be delivered," the statement added.

The Commission, whose term ends tomorrow, will submit its report to Mr. Ban, who will share the report with the Pakistani Government and submit it to the Security Council for information.

Guinean Lawyers Call for Improvements to Justice System

Guinean Lawyers Call for Improvements to Justice System

Anne Look | Dakar VOA

UN Mission in West Africa Encouraged by Guinea Vote Preparations
Guinea Interim Military Leader Will Not Run in June Elections
Military Leader Warns Guinea Soldiers About Sabotaging Transition

Guinea's legal community took advantage of the opening of this year's first criminal court session in Conakry to call for an end to years of interference by the executive branch in the justice system.  

Guinea opened its first 2010 session of criminal court this week to hear 115 cases, four of which are cases of international drug trafficking.  Other charges include murder, rape, arson and armed robbery. 

Guinea's legal community expressed hope this new court session and the country's new transitional, power-sharing government under Prime Minister Jean-Marie Dore would usher in much-needed improvements to the country's justice system, including increased respect of legal protocol and a decrease in executive influence on the judiciary. 

Court chairman Doura Cherif called for the application of a law that lays out the proper procedure for appointing judges.

He says in 19 years, no president or government minister has been able to apply this measure.  He says dominating the justice system is part of an old power structure based on traditional chiefdom that is difficult to reconcile with principles like the separation of judicial and executive powers. 

Guinea's bar association president Mohamed Sampil says the four drug trafficking cases before the court present particular challenges. 

Sampil says the impending trial is marked by issues like serious procedural violations, human rights violations, interference by the executive branch, the summoning of the judges assigned to the cases, and excessive media coverage of those accused of drug trafficking. 

Sampil deplored the dysfunctional state of Guinea's legal system, particularly its lack of regularity in holding criminal courts and the subsequent long detentions of prisoners awaiting trial. 

State Prosecutor Paul Fofana responded that by law prisoners can not be detained more than 12 months before trial, excluding those charged with crimes like drug trafficking and pedophilia who can be held up to 24 months. 

Fofana says despite incidents that have drawn out the process, judicial standards with regards to detention have been observed up to this point. 

The state prosecutor says the trials are also an opportunity to demonstrate Guinea's commitment in the fight against international drug trafficking.

Iraq's Elections Show Hope of a Developing Democracy

Iraq's Elections Show Hope of a Developing Democracy 
Following the Iraqi elections, 15 Iraqi female provincial council members met with USIP experts to discuss ways to advance women's rights in Iraq and their hopes for the incoming Iraqi government. Several of the provincial council members are part of the USIP Network of Iraqi Facilitators or participated in the Diyala Declaration process. Learn more about the Diyala Declaration andNetwork of Iraqi Facilitators. Additionally, read USIP's Manal Omar analysis of the Iraqi elections, their significance for Iraq, U.S. relations and the region. Omar also discusses the Institute's work to foster women's representation and participation in Iraq.

President Obama Asks Afghan President for Greater Cooperation on Corruption

President Obama Asks Afghan President for Greater Cooperation on Corruption 
President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan over the weekend, marking his first trip there as commander-in-chief. He noted that progress has been made, but cited a need for more work in civilian-related areas, such as the rule of law. The president specifically called upon Afghan President Hamid Karzai to do more to combat corruption. 
Learn more about USIP's initiatives to help stabilize the country.

Autism and the Somali Community: What You Need to Know

Autism and the Somali Community: What You Need to Know

By now, most of you have heard about this disorder commonly referred to as Autism. This is a disorder most of us were unfamiliar with before migrating to the West. Yet it has affected many of our children. Most of us know children or families who've been afflicted with this disorder. This article will be focusing on what the signs and symptoms are, as well as the services currently available for children living with Autism. What is Autism? Autism spectrum disorders are a range of disorders which manifest in three ways: impaired social interaction, problems with communication and abnormal behaviors (e.g., repetitive behavior). The most common is Autism, which will be focused on in this article. Why Somalis should be concerned Recently, the Center for Disease Control raised the number of children in the US with Autism, from 1 in 150, to 1 in 110. This is a staggering jump in a country with a population of 315 million. Unfortunately, since many Somalis are recent immigrants, research has been very limited in this field. Despite this, there have been some media reports; the NY Times profiled Minnesota Somalis twice last year, regarding a possible cluster of Autism in Minneapolis's Somali community. In April 2009, the Minnesota Department of Health confirmed the fears of Somali families: Somali children were found to be represented in Autism education programs 2 to 7 times greater than non-Somali students. Researchers in Minneapolis and neighboring St. Cloud are presently trying to determine what the true prevalence of Autism is amongst Somalis in Minnesota. Amongst Ohio Somalis, no formal studies have been commissioned as of yet. In my work at Nationwide Children's Hospital in the Speech Therapy Department, I can confidently say that the Somali children we serve are increasingly children with a diagnosis of Autism. Signs and Symptoms? ·       Little or no eye contact ·       For infants, no babbling or pointing to different things ·       No single words by 16 months, or 2-word phrases by 2 years of age ·       No response to one's name or simple directions ·       Lining up of toys and other rigid, repetitive behavior ·       Child may have had language/social skills at one time, but lost those skills ·       Echolalia: the child will repeat words, phrases or sentences which you say several times. Children may also repeat lines from TV shows or movies several times. Most of us have heard Somali people say the following: "if the child's not talking, don't worry! The child will grow out of it." I've heard this first hand from Somali mothers of children with Autism. While this may be true for a few children, late talking is one of the symptoms of Autism. If you recognize these signs/symptoms in your children, you should contact your family doctor right away. Your family doctor will refer you to professionals trained in diagnosing Autism (developmental doctors, psychologists etc). If a diagnosis is made, your doctor will write you referrals for services, depending on the age of the child. What treatments are available? Typically for young children (0-3), services are administered through early intervention where the child will have access to occupational therapists, speech therapists, and other professionals. Once a child reaches the age of 3, there are special needs preschools and kindergartens designed to provide intensive services. Once a child is school aged, an assessment will be completed to see if the child qualifies for what is called an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The symptoms of children with Autism vary from case to case; some children display average language skills, while others will be severely delayed. Children with more moderate to severe Autism are usually provided an IEP. The creation of an IEP leads to greater accommodations made for the student in the classroom and additional services which may include occupational therapy, ABA therapy, and speech therapy. Early intervention is key! Research has shown that outcomes are best for children who receive an early diagnosis, and start receiving treatment early. The earlier a child is assessed (and treated), the better. What you can do 1.    Contact the departments of health and education in your own city, and encourage them to commission studies looking into the autism prevalence in the Somali community. The key to the positive response of the local and state government in Minnesota was due in large part to the advocacy of Somali parents with children with Autism. More studies need to be done to assess the prevalence of Autism. Once researchers and health professionals better understand the numbers, treatment options will become more customized to the Somali population. 2.    Become more involved in your children's schools and hospitals. Engagement with the greater community will provide Somalis with a greater voice wherever they may be. 3.    Spread this information to all of your family members. Sirad Shirdon Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus, OH  Sirad.shirdon@nationwidechildrens.org

Norway: Bushra Ishaq & Abid Q. Raja to receive Fritt Ord Award

Norway: Bushra Ishaq & Abid Q. Raja to receive Fritt Ord Award Ishaq and Raja were both involved in the public debate regarding Islam in Norway, but both had also been accused of being extremists (see here and here, for example).  The Fritt Ord (Free Speech) award for 2010 goes to Bushra Ishaq and Abid Q. Raja. Raja will get the award for creating arenas for dialog-meetings with themes which are important to the public debate.  He's been an energetic debater in a time full of conflicts, according to the Fritt Ord organization. According to the Fritt Ord board, Ishaq gets the prize because clearly rooted in her Muslim faith and community and with her arguments and bridge-building form, she's contributed to further developing understanding of what it means to live in today's multicultural society. Isaq was born in 1985 and studies medicine and physiology at the University in Oslo.  She's a peace-worker in the international organization Youth Global Harmony Association.  She's also a member of the women's panel in the Children, Equality, and Inclusion Ministry. Since 2007, Ishaq has been a dialog-worker in the contact group for the Church council and Islamic council in Norway, and is a former leader of the Muslim student society. Raja was born in 1975 and works today for the Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board.  He's a trained lawyer and deputy representative for the Liberal Party in parliament. Raja had arranged several dialog meetings on equality of minority women, banned love, imam's social responsibility, women's oppression, freedom of expression, hate among minority groups and violent demonstrations, and he's been engaged in creating arenas where minority youth can meet politicians, journalists and decision makers. Fritt Ord is a private organization which works to promote freedom of speech and public debate.  The Fritt Ord award is the institution's highest award.  Both recipients will receive a prize of 200,000 Norwegian kroner.  They will also get the Fritt Ord statue, created by Nils Aas. The award will be given Monday, May 10 in Oslo. Source: VG (Norwegian)

View article...

Female Muslim doctors allowed to wear disposable sleeves

UK: Female Muslim doctors allowed to wear disposable sleeves For more on this story see: * UK: Radiographer quits over bare arms * UK: Medical students refusing to follow new hygiene rules * Den Bosch: Muslim nurse fired for not wearing short sleeves Female Muslim doctors and nurses are to be allowed to wear disposable sleeves in order to comply with NHS rules to prevent the spread of hospital superbugs.   All staff involved in caring for patients should be 'bare below the elbows' to ensure sleeves do not become contaminated and hands can be washed thoroughly to prevent infections passed around the ward. However female Muslim staff had been concerned about the rule as exposure of their forearms is seen as immodest. Staff in several hospitals had reportedly refused to expose their arms for hand washing and 'scrubbing in' procedures before surgery. New guidance from the Department of Health said staff can wear disposable sleeves which are elasticated at the wrist and elbow when in contact with patients. The guidance also states that using alcohol gel to cleanse hands between treating patients does not contravene strict Muslim rules on alcohol. The guidance was drawn up following meetings between the Muslim Spiritual Care Provision in the NHS group and Islamic scholars, chaplains, multi-faith representatives and infection control experts. It said: "Use of hand disinfection gels containing synthetic alcohol does not fall within the Muslim prohibition against natural alcohol (from fermented fruit or grain)." The guidance added Muslim staff could wear uniforms with full length sleeves when not directly engaged in patient care and that they might not be loose or dangling. The sleeves should be able to be pulled back and secured for hand washing and direct patient care. The Sikh bangle should also be pushed up the arm and secured for hand washing, the guidance said. If Muslim women wish to cover their forearms during direct patient care they can wear disposable sleeves but washing of hands and wrists should still be observed. The General Medical Council has said that female Muslim doctors must be prepared to remove their veil to treat patients effectively as religious clothing must not be a barrier to good care. The guidelines say women can wear the hijab which covers the head and hair but not the face. (more) Source: Daily Telegraph

View article...

Human Rights Council condemns Swiss minaret ban

UN: Human Rights Council condemns Swiss minaret ban In a tight vote Thursday, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted in favour of a resolution condemning so-called "defamation of religion." A coalition of 17 mostly Western nations, including the United States and the Netherlands, opposed the resolution, but 20 states, including China, Cuba and Saudi Arabia, voted in favour. Eight states abstained. The resolution adopted by the 47-member council was similar to one passed last year, but also included a section slamming the recent Swiss vote to ban the construction of minarets in the country. The resolution has drawn criticism from liberal groups over concerns of infringements on freedom of speech and a bias in favour of Islamic states. No mention of discrimination, other than anti-Muslim practices, were in the resolution. Opponents noted tight restrictions on Christians, Jews and others in states such as Saudi Arabia and Libya, which did not make it into the adopted text. (more) Source: EarthTimes

View article...

Iraqi foreign minister walks out of Libya meeting

Iraqi foreign minister walks out of Libya meeting

By KHALED AL-DEEB (AP) – 

SIRITE, Libya — Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari briefly walked out Thursday of an Arab League ministerial meeting held in Libya to protest against Moammar Gadhafi's declared support for Saddam Hussein loyalists, delegates said.

They said Zebari stormed out after he told his Arab peers that his government was angry over public comments by Gadhafi pledging support to a group of Saddam loyalists he met in Libya earlier this week.

The group included senior commanders of Iraq's Saddam-era army and officials from his outlawed Baath Party.

On Wednesday, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh condemned Gadhafi's Sunday meeting with the 29 Saddam loyalists, describing the move as "undiplomatic" and an "insult" to the people of Iraq.

Iraq's post-Saddam governments are particularly sensitive to any contacts between foreign governments and Saddam loyalists. It views such meetings as an attempt to undermine their legitimacy and casting doubt on the right of the country's Shiite Muslim majority to be the country's most dominant political group.

The Saddam loyalists are almost exclusively from the rival Sunni branch of Islam.

Zebari later rejoined the meeting following a mediation by the foreign ministers of Bahrain and Kuwait, according to the delegates. They had no details on the mediation.

The annual Arab League summit and meetings held just before them are often plagued by no-shows — mostly because of personal disputes among leaders — and on-camera spats.

The meeting that Zebari walked out on was trying to hammer out an agenda for the Arab summit scheduled for Saturday and which is expected to be dominated by the stalled Middle East peace process.

In an opening statement, Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Kosa blamed the deadlock on Israel's "obstinacy" and the "bias" by the West against Arabs.

The Palestinians are seeking a strong Arab stance in the face of Israel's plans to expand Jewish housing in east Jerusalem. They also want millions of dollars in funding for Palestinians living in that section of the city. Arabs view Israeli building in east Jerusalem as disruptive to Mideast peacemaking.

The ministers agreed to recommend to their leaders fulfilling a request by the Palestinian Authority to raise funding for Palestinians living in east Jerusalem from $150 million to $500 million annually, according to Secretary General Amr Moussa afterwards.

They will also recommend creating a new permanent Arab League commissioner position to follow the issue of Jerusalem.

Earlier this month, Arab nations opened the door for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to enter four months of indirect, American-brokered peace talks with Israel. But they later threatened to withdraw support for the indirect talks because of recent Israeli announcements on plans for new settlement building.

Jordan's King Abdullah II warned Israel on Thursday that it is playing with fire over its settlement policy and that the Jewish state must decide whether it wants peace or war.

Abdullah said Israel must take "tangible actions" toward ending settlements and returning to negotiations with Palestinians if it wants peace.

Israel recently announced new housing plans for east Jerusalem, which it captured from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed shortly after. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.

The summit's agenda also deals with other Middle East issues such the West's standoff with Iran over its nuclear program, the situation in Iraq and Sudan.

The summit is likely to register a higher-than-usual no-shows by Arab leaders.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, recuperating from a gall bladder operation in Germany, will not go and is sending his prime minister in his place. Lebanon's top leaders are staying away over a decades-old dispute with Tripoli over the 1978 disappearance of a top Lebanese Shiite cleric who was last seen in Libya.

Tripoli denies having any connection with the case.

Instead Lebanon is sending its Arab League's envoy to the March 27-28 summit.

Associated Press writer Salah Nasrawi contributed to this repo

Arab League Summit:Back to the sixties ... Gaddafi style!

Back to the sixties ... Gaddafi style!

By Amr El Kahky in

Photo from AFP

The atmosphere is that of the sixties.

That's what journalists felt while covering the 22nd Arab League summit in the Libyan city of Sirte, while listening to those songs - songs by Abdel-Halim Hafez, the famous Egyptian singer who used to sing for late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser in the fifties and sixties and who sang long for pan-Arab nationalism.

These songs were played many times in the conference corridors and inside the press centre with video of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

This apparently suggests he's the new unifier of the Arab World that's been sharply divided on almost every issue in today's world.

This isn't strange for those who travel to Libya a lot. The North African Arab country has been ruled by Gaddafi for more than four decades since he came to power on the first of September 1969 overthrowing King Idris Senoussi.

Gaddafi has always seen himself as Nasser's natural successor as a unifying  factor and the leader of the ummah.

The longest serving Arab leader  has tried to forge several unity projects with a number of Arab nations such as Egypt, Syria and Sudan.

These attempts were no doubt a failure due to the lack of political will, and perhaps because leaders of these nations refused  to allow such a maverick politician to lead them even if that was on rotational basis.

But Gaddafi succeeded in forging one Arab Union, namely the Maghreb Union. But that gathering has finally stopped functioning. Now it's just ink on paper.

Turning to the poor African Continent, Gaddafi managed to achieve his ambition - the creation of the African Union to replace the Organization of African Unity.

That took place on 9/9/99 in Sirte, the city that's hosting the Arab summit in 2010.

This is the first time ever, Libya hosts the most prestigious Arab gathering, and unity was on Gaddafi's mind as well as on banners and slogans of the small, quite city.

He's called it the summit of unity and solidarity, asking all Arab leaders to put aside their differences, get together and agree on a unified stand on all issues.

Gaddafi's opening speech at the summit lasted almost twenty minutes, one of his shortest.

Half of the speech was dedicated to explain the history of Sirte, his home town.

He made the odd joke here and there, with the Emir of Qatar and the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

But he did not make scenes like those in Doha in the 2009 summit, when he had an exchange with the Saudi King. Maybe because he's the host.

But the summit is lasting for two days and there's still time for such scenes - scenes that are said to have created tension among organisers and Arab league officials.

"Oh unifier of the Arabs", still comes Abdel Halim Hafez's voice through the speakers of the conference hall in Sirte, bringing to memories those feelings of the sixties: nostalgic for some, notorious for others.

Aljazeera.net

Iraqi vote winner hopes to form government soon

BAGHDAD: The top vote-getter in Iraq's parliamentary elections says he wants to negotiate with all parties to form a government that can restore Iraq's place in the Arab and Muslim world.

2 comments

Allawi's coalition tops Iraq's parliamentary election

Peace process may be a total failure: Moussa

Peace process may be a total failure: Moussa

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa addresses to media during a press conference in Sirte, Libya. (EPA)

By AGENCIES


SIRTE, Libya: Arab leaders opened a summit on Saturday determined to send a clear warning that the Middle East peace process is doomed unless Israel freezes Jewish settlements in annexed east Jerusalem.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said Arab states should prepare for the possibility that the Palestinian-Israeli peace process may be a total failure and come up with alternatives.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas set the tone when he ruled out US-brokered peace talks with Israel unless the Jewish state backs down on settlements and pleaded with Arab leaders to "rescue" Jerusalem.

"We cannot resume indirect negotiations as long as Israel maintains its settlement policy and the status quo," Abbas said in a speech at the start of the two-day summit.

Abbas, who was speaking after UN chief Ban Ki-moon, urged Arab leaders to help facilitate the US-brokered talks, accused Israel of working to alter the Arab identity of Jerusalem with "ethnic cleansing."  "We have always said that Jerusalem is the jewel in the crown and the gate to peace," Abbas said, who insisted that Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem must be the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Moussa did not say what the alternatives to the peace process might be, but one option is to revive an eight-year-old initiative under which Arab states would normalize ties with the Jewish state in exchange for Israeli concessions on territory.

The alternative to the stalled peace process, which is favored by many states in the region is the Arab Peace Initiative, first proposed by Saudi Arabia at an Arab League summit in Beirut in 2002.

Under that initiative, Arab countries would normalize relations with Israel in return for a complete Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and a fair settlement for Palestinian refugees.

Speaking to Arab leaders at a summit of the Arab League in the Libyan town of Sirte, Moussa said a fresh approach was needed.

"We have to study the possibility that the peace process will be a complete failure," Moussa said. "It's time to face Israel. We have to have alternative plans because the situation has reached a turning point.

"The peace process has entered a new stage, perhaps the last stage. We have accepted the efforts of mediators. We have accepted an open-ended peace process."   "But that resulted in a loss of time and we did not achieve anything and allowed Israel to practise its policy for 20 years," he said.

The UN chief, also addressing the summit, appealed for Arab backing for the "proximity" indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians, saying "our common goal should be to resolve all final-status issues within 24 months."  Ban also reiterated that Israel's settlement activity in east Jerusalem was "illegal" and stressed "Jerusalem's significance to all must be respected, and it should emerge from negotiations as the capital of two states."

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, another guest speaker, blasted Israel's policy of considering and treating with the whole of Jerusalem as its united capital as "madness."  "Jerusalem is the apple of the eye of each and every Muslim ... and we cannot at all accept any Israeli violation in Jerusalem or in Muslim sites," Erdogan said.

"If Jerusalem burns, all of Palestine will burn, and if Palestine burns then all of the Middle East will be afire," Erdogan warned.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was likewise invited by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to address the summit, said "now is the time to give peace a chance."  "We have the possibility, we have the responsibility and we feel the urgency," Berlusconi said.

He hoped that hardline Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "will respond to the call made by the international community to improve the living conditions of Palestinians," especially in the Gaza Strip.

The 13 Arab leaders along with Gaddafi attending the summit are expected to adopt a resolution to raise 500 million dollars in aid to improve living conditions for Jerusalem Palestinians as part of a "rescue plan." 

The Arab League chief also said the 22-member organization should start talking to Tehran to address concerns, especially strong among Iran's neighbors across the Persian Gulf, about its nuclear program. "I know there is a worry among Arabs regarding Iran but this situation confirms the necessity of a dialogue with Iran," Moussa said in his speech.

Erdogan, whose country's traditionally warm relations with Israel have soured in the past few months, was a guest at the summit and he accepted an offer to form a new regional grouping of Turkey and the Arab League.

Israelis quit Gaza after worst clash in over a year

Israelis quit Gaza after worst clash in over a year

Islamic Jihad militants take part in a rally in Gaza City. (REUTERS)

By NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI | REUTERS

GAZA: Israeli troops and tanks left the Gaza Strip on Saturday, witnesses said, after the bloodiest clash in the Hamas-ruled enclave in 14 months killed two soldiers and a Palestinian.

The violence underscored the deadlock in US-mediated contacts between Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose peacemaking bids have been sapped by Hamas hostility along with continued Israeli settlement construction on occupied land.

Resisting US pressure in what analysts called a bruising encounter with President Barack Obama in Washington this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not stop building in West Bank areas it annexed to East Jerusalem.

Obama wants Israel to halt settlement in East Jerusalem, an issue that created new friction when a plan to build 1,600 more houses was published as Vice President Joe Biden visited to urge "proximity talks" with US mediation. The Arab League, which had given its blessing to indirect Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, signalled a major review in strategy.

"We have to study the possibility that the peace process will be a complete failure," League Secretary-General Amr Moussa told Arab leaders gathered in the Libyan town of Sirte.

"It's time to face Israel. We have to have alternative plans because the situation has reached a turning point," he said.

The impasse has triggered sporadic rocket attacks this month from Gaza which drew Israeli airstrikes. On Friday, Palestinians ambushed soldiers who, the army said, had crossed the border to dismantle a mine. Two infantrymen were killed and two wounded.

MAXIMUM RESTRAINT The clashes, in which the army said it believed it had killed two gunmen, was the fiercest since the three-week Gaza war of early 2009. Some 1,400 Palestinians, mainly civilians, and 13 Israelis, mainly troops, died in that conflict.

Islamist Hamas spurns the Jewish state but has largely held fire since the war. It said its men took part in Friday's fighting, but only in order to repel the Israeli incursion.

"We have been used to seeing breakaway (Palestinian) groups doing the firing, and Hamas trying to calm things down. Possibly it is loosening its grip, for all sorts of reasons," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in a television interview.

"Should that indeed prove to be the case, then there will also be ramifications for Hamas," he said, but added: "We have no interest in returning the region to what was in the past." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who during a visit to the region this month urged Israel to lift a Gaza embargo tightened after Hamas took over in 2007, also voiced concern.

"I reiterate my appeals ... for maximum restraint and an end to all violence, in particular at this critical time when we are engaged in efforts to revive peace talks," he said in Sirte, on the sidelines of the Arab League summit.

Gazan doctors said a 23-year-old Palestinian was killed in the clash near the town of Khan Younis, and five others wounded.

The dead man, identified as a civilian, was given a hero's funeral on Saturday, with scores of masked gunmen marching among the hundreds of mourners. "Martyr, rest in peace, and we will continue the struggle," they chanted.

Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Egypt and Jordan in a 1967 war. It withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but has expanded Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestinians want statehood in all the territories.

11 tips for Muslim couples dealing with marital disputes in the West

11 tips for Muslim couples dealing with marital disputes in the West

Marriages usually start off so nicely. Everyone cooperates-the couple, their parents, other relatives, friends. Things usually run smoothly.

But somewhere along the way, marital disputes pop up. This is of course natural, but these can escalate to dangerous levels if not dealt with correctly.

Sound Vision spoke to Shahina Siddiqui of the Islamic Social Services Association of the United States and Canada (ISSA) about tips for couples dealing with marital disputes. She pinpointed some problems and provided tips on how to deal with them.

1. Money

Couples argue over many things but money is by far one of the most frequent and serious. The solution is to discuss issues openly and consult within the family.

For instance, the issue of a wife working outside the home can become a contentious one. This should preferably be discussed before marriage. Also, if she does decide to work and the husband agrees, does she want to contribute a certain portion to household expenses or will she keep all of the money for herself (which is her right)?

One of the ways to avoid arguments about money is to simply make an easy budget which tracks expenses, income, investments, and establishes a framework for taking care of regular family necessities (see asample budget for a family.

Also, learn how to make a budget and deal with debt. If you are a young student, keep in mind you have to pay off student loans. You should also know where to get interest-free loans and what assistance is available (for more information about Islamic money issues, check out Sound Vision's money page.

2. In-laws

In-laws are the focus of blame and reproach when there are marital disputes. But there are ways to maintain a good relationship with them. Here are some tips:

a. Remember your spouse's parents have known them longer and loved them longer. Never make an issue about "me or them".

b. Let respective parties settle their own disputes. If your mother-in-law has a problem with her husband, let them deal with it. Don't interfere

c. Don't tell your spouse how to improve their relationship with their parents.

d. Expect some adjustment time for parents after marriage to adjust to this new relationship.

e. Remember that mothers are usually skeptical about daughter-in-laws and fathers about son-in-laws.

e. Always treat your in-laws with compassion, respect and mercy.

f. Maintain a balance between your needs and that of your in-laws.

g. Never compare your wife to your mother or your husband to your dad.

h. Do not go to your parents with your quarrels.

i. If you are supporting your parents financially inform your spouse as a matter of courtesy and clarity.

j. Do not forbid your spouse from seeing family unless you fear for their religion and safety.

k.Do not divulge secrets.

l. Make time to know your in-laws but stay out of their disputes.

m. Maintain the Adab (etiquettes) of Islam with your sister- and brother-in-laws (i.e.no hugging or kissing).

n. You are not obliged to spend every weekend with your in-laws.

o. Give grandparents easy and reasonable access to their grandchildren.

p. Be forgiving and keep your sense of humor.

q. Remember that nobody can interfere or influence your marriage unless you allow them to.

r. Invite in-laws at least once a month for a meal.

s. Visit them when you can and encourage your spouse to visit their parents and regularly check on them.

t. When parents become dependent on their children, a serious discussion with all parties present should take place. Expectations and requirements of such a living arrangement must be worked out.

3. Parenting

The tug of war that results from differing understandings of parenting are also a source of tension in marriage. One solution is to start learning about Islamic parenting before having children. If you already have kids, you can still learn. Check outSound Vision's parenting page. Or contact organizations like ISSA for resources.

4. Stress

Stress is an almost constant factor in most people's lives in North America. Muslim couples are no exception. Stress from work, for example, is carried into the home.

Couples and families need to work out a coping mechanism in the family. For instance, couples can take a walk to talk about the day or go to the Masjid for at least one prayer. They can read Quran individually or together. The methods can vary, but as long as they are Halal and work, they can be used.

5. Domestic violence

This is an extremely sad reality and unless it is dealt with promptly by victims, perpetrators and/or those concerned about the two, then the family will break. Seeking help is necessary and if domestic violence is not stopped, the destructive effects will not only be harmful to the husband and wife, but to their children as well.

Family members, friends and Imams need to stop the abuse. They must intervene and work on getting help for the husband and the wife.

6. Spiritual incompatibility

This is a growing problem in North America, where Muslims from all around the world live and different understandings of Islam are present. There is a disturbing lack of tolerance amongst young Muslims, especially, who may get sucked into cult-like groups which preach a "we're right and everyone else is wrong" mentality, whether the issue is where you put your hands in prayer or whether you decide to wear Western clothes or traditional Eastern ones.

This intolerance is being transferred to marriages, where a couple may differ on minor points of faith. Married couples must understand the difference between an Islamically acceptable difference of opinion and one that is not. They must develop a tolerance, balance and respect for their differences on that basis.

7. Sexual dysfunction

This is one of the least talked about problems, but it is one that is wreaking havoc in a number of marriages. Many couples who are marrying are not learning the Islamic perspective on sex and marriage. As a result, when they are not satisfied with their spouse, a number of them may turn to others or seek easy divorce, instead of a solution.

Couples have to understand that the marital relationship in this area, as in others, needs work and patience and cannot be the subject of whims and impatience. Knowledge, practice and if possible, the advice of a wise, compassionate scholar are two key elements in finding a solution to this problem.

8. Interfaith marriages

Islam forbids marriage between Muslim women and non-Muslim men. There are a number of Muslim women who have taken this step and regretted it later. Such an action, in most Muslim families, results in the woman being isolated from her family with no support. As a result, when marital disputes do arise, parental support, which is there for many Muslim couples, is not there for these women. These Muslim women may also experience guilt for disobeying Allah and hurting their parents.

In other cases, Muslim women ask non-Muslim men they want to marry to convert shortly before the marriage to appease their parents. Again this can lead to marital disputes. Two things usually happen. Either the man becomes a truly practicing Muslim and the couple is no longer compatible; or he's bombarded with Muslims from the community wanting to invite him to Islam and he gets upset and may hate Islam.

In the case of Muslim men marrying Jewish and Christian women, the situation is different. While Islam does allow this, Muslim men marrying Jews and Christians need to remember that living in the West, if they end up divorcing, the children will almost automatically be given to the mother. Also, remember that the mother is the child's most important school. If you want your kids to grow up as practicing Muslims, you are better off marrying a practicing Muslim woman, especially in the West, where the unIslamic cultural influences outside the home are strong enough. Inside the home, it will become even harder to maintain Islamic influences if a mother is not a practicing Muslim herself.

9. Intercultural marriages

While Islam does not forbid intercultural marriages, they can become a source of tension when Muslims, primarily the couple, but also their families, make their culture more important than Islam. If parental support is there for an intercultural marriage, things are smoother for the couple. If there is not, and if there is even hostile opposition on the part of one or both sets of parents, it could be better to not marry the person in the long run.

10. Lack of domestic skills

While girls are being encouraged to become scientists, engineers and doctors, for instance, there is little to no emphasis being placed on gaining domestic skills. It should be remembered that in Islam, while women are not forbidden from working within Islamic guidelines, and men are encouraged to help with housework, women's primary duty is within the home as a home manager and mother. As a result of the lack of domestic skills, many married couples find themselves in messy homes, where meals lack proper nutrition and in general, there is frustration.

If a married couple is working, husbands need to pitch in more in the home and remember that their wife is a not a machine, but a human being who also needs rest after a hard day of work.

11. The modern Muslim woman meets the old-fashioned Muslim man

While young Muslim women of the West are being encouraged to be strong and confident, boys are being raised in the same way and with the same cultural expectations as their fathers. As a result, young couples face a tug of war, when the old-fashioned, young Muslim boy won't lift a finger around the house (since he never saw his dad do this) and his young Muslim wife expects him to pitch in, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) did with his wives.

As well, a number of young Muslim men expect their wives not to argue with them since they never saw their mother cross their father. This is once again cultural. But what is clear is that boys and girls are being raised very differently. Parents have to be more careful to give proper training 

SoundVision.Com

IRAQI ELECTIONS AN HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT, UN SAYS AS RESULTS OF VOTE ARE ANNOUNCED

IRAQI ELECTIONS AN HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT, UN SAYS AS RESULTS OF VOTE ARE ANNOUNCED

Iraqi parliamentary elections this month were credible and no evidence has been found of any systematic or widespread fraud during the vote count, the top United Nations official in the country said today after authorities announced the final election results.

Ad Melkert, the Secretary-General's Special Representative to Iraq and the head of the UN political mission (known as <"http://www.uniraq.org/">UNAMI) to the country, said in a statement that Iraqis deserved credit for "an historic achievement."

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of Iraq unveiled the results tonight local time for the national polls on 7 March, in which more than 6,000 candidates competed for 325 seats in the Council of Representatives. At least 12 million people cast their votes.

Media reports indicate that the party headed by Iyad Allawi, the former prime minister, holds a narrow lead over the party of Nuri al-Maliki, the current premier, in the number of parliamentary seats won.

Mr. Melkert called on all candidates to accept the results of the polls and "to assume responsibility to lead Iraq to the next stage of democracy, stability and prosperity for all. Whether winning or losing, participation in the elections has been a collective victory."

UNAMI assisted IHEC with advice and support during the pre- and post-election process, and the Special Representative said the independent authority carried out its responsibility of staging the elections with dedication.

"No election in the world is perfect. There were imperfections and at some places serious issues. We condemn acts of intimidation that have occurred in the course of the process."

In his statement Mr. Melkert said UN officials were confident that the counting process contained the necessary checks and balances, and "there is now a solid basis for ratification by the Supreme Court" of the results.

"All results of almost 50,000 voting stations have been checked at least eight times. On the basis of specific complaints submitted by different entities, specific audits have been held on places with indications of irregularities. Ballot boxes that could not stand the test have not been included in the count. We have not found evidence of systematic failure or fraud of widespread nature."

Mr. Melkert added that the conclusion was therefore that the overall election process, including the campaigning period, polling day and the count "has met reasonable demands and standards, with errors and doubts remaining within normal margins."

Mr. Melkert, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Security Council members congratulated Iraqis in the immediate aftermath of polling day earlier this month for exercising their democratic rights and for the relative lack of violent incidents.

Allawi's coalition tops Iraq's parliamentary election

Allawi's coalition tops Iraq's parliamentary election

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi is all smiles as the full election results released Friday for Iraq's parliament showed his party winning the most seats. (AP)


By AGENCIES

BAGHDAD: Secularist challenger Iyad Allawi's coalition won the most seats in Iraq's parliamentary election with Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki running a close second, according to preliminary results released on Friday.

Allawi's cross-sectarian Iraqiya coalition won 91 seats to 89 seats for Al-Maliki's State of Law bloc.

Al-Maliki said he did not accept the results released on Friday because they were "not final."

"The election results are not final," Al-Maliki told a press conference in Baghdad. "Of course we don't accept this result because it is preliminary."

The tight race and Allawi's strong support in Sunni-dominated northern provinces raised the prospect of long and potentially divisive talks on forming a new government.

The Iraqi National Alliance, a Shiite grouping whose leaders have close ties to neighboring Iran, came third with 70 seats and Kurdistania, comprised of the autonomous Kurdish region's two long-dominant blocs, won 43 seats, according to the full preliminary results released by the Independent High Electoral Commission, 19 days after the parliamentary election.

The US ambassador to Baghdad and the top American military commander in Iraq, in a joint statement, gave their blessing to the outcome. "We support the findings of international and independent Iraqi observers, who ... have found that there is no evidence of widespread or serious fraud," said ambassador Christopher Hill and General Ray Odierno.

Allawi's victory in the March 7 poll signals he will be given the first opportunity to form a government, which would require a coalition holding at least a majority of 163 seats. If he fails to do so within 30 days, Iraq's president, who himself is elected by Parliament, would choose the leader of another bloc to try to form a coalition government.

The top official for the United Nations in Iraq said the UN has determined Iraq's elections were credible and called on all sides to accept the results. The comments by Ad Melkert came hours after a twin bombing near a restaurant in a city north of Baghdad killed at least 40 people.

The police spokesman for Diyala province, Capt. Ghalib Al-Karkhi, said dozens more were also injured in the blasts in the town of Khalis, some 80 km north of the capital. Another police official, Salah Mohammed, said one of the explosions was a car bomb and the other a suicide bomber.

Civilians in Somalia face ongoing human rights violations

Civilians in Somalia face ongoing human rights violations

Thursday, March 25, 2010 Clear patterns of human rights abuse have emerged during the latest cycle of violence in Somalia, which began when armed opposition groups launched a major offensive against the government in Mogadishu in May 2009, Amnesty International said on Thursday. In the document, No end in sight: The ongoing suffering of Somalia's civilians, Amnesty International reviews violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed over the past six months, primarily by armed groups opposed to the Somali government and African Union (AU) forces.  The document also lists allegations of indiscriminate fire by government and AU forces that need to be investigated. Thousands of civilians have been killed and injured by shelling and other heavy bombardment, as armed opposition groups al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam have fought Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and AU forces, primarily in the capital Mogadishu.  "We believe reported cases represent the tip of the iceberg, continuing insecurity has made it desperately difficult to obtain reliable information," said Erwin van der Borght, Africa Programme Director.  UN figures estimate that fighting between government forces and insurgents in the city has killed scores of civilians and forced more than 55,000 to flee their homes since the beginning of February 2010.  Armed groups fire mortars and heavy artillery from residential and public areas in Mogadishu, targeting TFG and African Union (AMISOM) bases near civilian areas, which in turn leads to retaliation and results in continuous displacement after those who survive have fled for their lives.  Some attacks target civilians deliberately. Twenty-three people were killed and 60 injured on 3 December 2009 when explosives ripped through Shamo hotel, which was hosting a medical students' graduation ceremony. "No party to this conflict appears to take the necessary precautions to avoid loss of civilian life and injury, despite their obligations to do so under international humanitarian law," said Erwin van der Borght. "All sides must stop targeting civilians that continue to be unlawfully killed with impunity." People living in areas controlled by armed opposition groups are under growing threat of torture and unlawful public killings, including stoning to death, amputations and floggings, under the pretext of maintaining law and order. "These abhorrent, public displays of cruelty and violence appear to be attempts by armed groups to intimidate and instil fear in the population in order to assert their control over territory," said Erwin van der Borght.  Delivery of humanitarian aid, desperately needed by those displaced by the conflict, is being seriously hampered by opposition groups that often accuse aid organisations of spying for the international community.  Armed groups also continue to intimidate journalists and impose strict rules on media outlets in a systematic attempt to suffocate freedom of expression.  Amnesty International has urged the TFG, armed opposition groups, the African Union and the international community to implement a set of recommendations in a bid to reduce human rights abuses against civilians and allow safe access to humanitarian organizations. Full report Click Amnesty link under: Somalia: No end in sight: The ongoing suffering of Somalia's civilians (Document, 25 March 2010)

Almere: Immigrant children fear Wilders

Almere: Immigrant children fear Wilders Teachers in the Netherlands are struggling to explain to their students that anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders is allowed to say things that would not be tolerated in school. A boy with short cropped brown hair raised his hand to ask teacher Mohammed Kaaouass a question about the anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders. "Sir, why is Wilders only taking on Moroccans. Why aren't French people being kicked out of the country?" The student was a member of a class of 10 to 12-year-old boys at the Islamic primary school Al-Iman discussing the populist politician on a recent Friday morning, little over a week after Wilders' Party for Freedom (PVV) had become the biggest party in the municipal government in their city, Almere. The headscarf-clad girls in the class had just left for physical education, which is taught separately to boys and girls. Geert Wilders' PVV won 20 percent of the votes in this city of 188,000. As in the upcoming national elections, the PVV ran on an anti-immigration platform and has announced it wants to tax or ban headscarfs and deport criminal youths who hold passports from other countries. Wilders is currently being prosecuted in the Netherlands for hate speech and inciting discrimination after he compared the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf and made a controversial video that juxtaposed Koranic verses with images of Islamic terrorism. Kaaouass teaches religion, but after the local election he decided to talk to his students about politics. "That Wilders has become big," Kaaouass said. "Has to do with us." The teacher went on to tell them about society in 1985, when he moved to the Dutch town of Zeist. "If the milkman came by and people were not home, he would leave the milk at the door. Then we, Moroccan boys, would come to deliver newspapers and we saw that milk by the door," Kaaouass said as he acted out walking up to a house and seeing something at the front door. "Hey, something to drink," he said with amazement and picked up the imaginary bottle. The boys laughed. "So what do you think?" the teacher asked. "Is the news in the papers about loitering youth and robberies true?" In a high school nearby, teacher Joël de Bruijne talked to his class of 20 about a similar subject. De Bruijne usually teaches PE at Echnaton high school, but also holds sessions twice a week to discuss topics like manners, choices, and respect as well as current issues like Wilders' anti-Islam video Fitna, a possible headscarf ban and the local elections. In Monday's class, he explained how the Labour party had replaced its leader Wouter Bos by Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen and that Wilders has accused Cohen of being to soft on immigrants. "He calls him a 'multi-cultural bleeding heart' because he drinks tea with people of all cultures," De Bruijne said. The rise of Wilders is an issue for children of all creeds at different schools in Almere. Their teachers are busy clarifying and comforting. But how can they explain that Wilders is allowed to say things that would not be tolerated in school? De Bruijne recalled his own classes at the teachers' training college to explain how hard it is for teachers to deal with the turbulent political situation in the Netherlands. "We learnt that we could disapprove of behaviour, but never of an individual," he said. While De Bruijne believes politicians especially should set an example: "Wilders stigmatises whole groups of the population". On the day of the elections he bumped into two boys in the corridor. They had been expelled from their class after they had said "Moroccan scum" should leave the country. They felt they had every right to say this, as Wilders does the same, De Bruijne said. He was struck by the incident, because the boys are right: they should be allowed to quote a politician. But Wilders' remarks go against school rules. Having respect for one another is something the school with children from all parts of the world holds high. Moroccan scum and other derogative terms used by Wilders are not in line with that policy, according to De Bruijne. "Fortunately, I can tell them that Wilders has yet to account for his remarks, because the case against him is in court." (more) Source: NRC (English)

View article...

Chaplains answer to Muslim extremism, says minister

UK: Chaplains answer to Muslim extremism, says minister See also: * Denmark: Moderate imams answer to prison radicalization * Copenhagen: Prison imam guides husbands on wife-beating * Norway: Employ imams against prison extremism Chaplains in universities, prisons and hospitals are an important weapon in the battle against Muslim extremism, according to a Government minister. Shahid Malik, a junior communities minister, said staff who provide spiritual care can help guide those who have a "distorted view of religion or society". It comes amid growing concern about the ability of radical preachers and terrorists to infiltrate public institutions in Britain. "Recent events have led to questions about the influences at work in some of our institutions," said Mr Malik. "We know that chaplains are not the problem when it comes to tackling extremism but they can be part of solution. "By offering the support, advice and theological guidance to individuals who may be attracted to a distorted view of religion or society they have an important role to play in ensuring that extremists do not gain any traction in our public institutions." He welcomed a new report on the role of chaplains in public sector organisations, funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government, which focused on the experience of Muslims. (more) Source: Daily Telegraph

View article...

Netherlands: The effects of a mixed neighborhood

Netherlands: The effects of a mixed neighborhood One interesting finding is that almost 60% of Turks think there are too many foreigners.  See also: Hague: Too many foreigners Non-Western immigrants who live in 'black' neighborhoods, have less contact with ethnic Dutch than immigration who live in 'white' neighborhoods.  That is the conclusion of the study 'Maakt de buurt verschil?'(Does the neighborhood make the difference?) by the Social and Cultural Planning Bureau (SCP).  The report was presented Wednesday.  The study was prepared for the Ministry of Housing and Integration. According to the researchers, mixing ethnic Dutch and immigrations increases the chances for contact.  The report also shows that education, language, employment and generation are important explanations for the existence of mutual contact. The ethnic composition of the neighborhood doesn't only influence the level of contact between ethnic Dutch and immigrants in the neighborhood itself, but also the contacts that the residents make at work, in clubs, while doing sports or in friendships and choosing partners.  The more non-Western immigrants the neighborhood has, the less contact immigrant residents have with ethnic Dutch.  Ethnic Dutch in a 'black' neighborhood associate more with immigrants than ethnic Dutch who live in a 'white' neighborhood. The researchers say that 52% of ethnic Dutch never associate with non-Western immigrants for leisure activities.  35% of Turkish-Dutch, 29% of Moroccan-Dutch, 17% of Antillian-Dutch and 14% of Surinamese-Dutch never associate with ethnic Dutch out of work. The researchers say that the ethnic composition of the neighborhood doesn't influence much the image the ethnic Dutch and immigrants have of each other.  Personal characteristics were much more important for forming that image. About 40% of the respondents of Turkish, Moroccan and Antillean origin and 33% of Surinamese-Dutch personally experienced discrimination. About 40% of Turkish-Dutch and 35% of Moroccan-Dutch would oppose it if their children would choose an ethnic Dutch spouse.  Surinamese and Antilleans don't think it's as bad, respectively 5% and 3% would make a point of it.  22% of the ethnic Dutch weren't charmed by the idea that their children would choose an immigrant partner. Ethnic Dutch were least positive about Moroccan and Antillean Dutch [ed: both groups appear quite often in the news regarding crime].  On a scale of 0-100, Moroccans got 45 points, Antilleans 48, Turks 55 and Surinamese 58.  Non-Western immigrants were in general more positive about ethnic Dutch. 58% of the Turks think that the Netherlands is full and should not accept more immigrants, compared to 44% of ethnic Dutch and about 33% of Moroccan, Surinamese and Antilleans who think there's too many foreigners. The researchers concludes that a huge concentration of immigrants in a neighborhood does not affect one's opportunities, and that employment vs. welfare depends more on such things as education and language. However, it does affect such things as crime and quality of life.  In neighborhood with little mutual contact and a quickly changing composition, crime increases and quality of life declines. Sources: Telegraph, Stentor (Dutch)

View article...

Finland: Foreign Minister Stubb defends immigration and multiculturalism

Finland: Foreign Minister Stubb defends immigration and multiculturalism See also: Finland: 59% against more immigration "Finland needs to be international and multicultural", says Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party). In his view, Finland's current debate on immigration has taken on a negative slant. "The point of view that is critical to immigration, the extreme part of it, dominates debate. The debate is excessively one-sided. It reeks of racism, nationalism, populism, and xenophobia. It is very unpleasant", Stubb says.      Stubb gave his interview at his own initiative. "The topic is close to my heart", Stubb says, explaining why he is commenting on a matter that does not directly pertain to his ministerial portfolio. "I have seen few people lately who would have said that immigration would be a good thing for Finland", Stubb says. He states unequivocally: "Granting asylum is just and humane. Helping refugees is ethically right. Work-based immigration is a tremendous asset for Finland."      According to Stubb, the problem with immigration debate in Finland is that the various nuances of immigration are not distinguished. Stubb lists the variants; people come to Finland for work, as asylum seekers, as refugees, and as quota refugees. He denounces as low-brow populism the linkage of asylum seekers with abuse of social welfare.      While emphasising the benefits of multiculturalism and internationalism, Stubb also feels that open debate is necessary on problems that are linked with immigration. "There are two problems. Finnish society has attitude problems in accepting immigrants. On the other hand, the Finnish system has been poorly prepared to take asylum seekers in a situation in which their numbers have grown significantly. We need to take issue with these problems." (more) Source: HS (English)

View article...

Cousin marriages on the rise

UK: Cousin marriages on the rise A rise in the number of marriages between cousins in Britain has prompted calls for a crackdown on the practice amid warnings it is putting children's health at risk. Crossbench peer Baroness Deech has called for a 'vigorous' public campaign to deter marriages between family members, which is common in Muslim and immigrant communities. Her comments come as figures show up to 75 per cent of British Pakistanis in some areas are married to first cousins. In a speech to be made next week, obtained by The Times, the leading family lawyer will warn that such marriages can be a barrier to the integration of minority communities and increases the risk of birth defects in children. She is also expected to call for testing for genetic defects when marriages between family members are arranged and for a register of people carrying genetic diseases to be set up in order for two carriers not to be introduced. She said such a scheme could be possible in Bradford, which has the UK's highest population of Pakistanis. Up to three-quarters of Pakistanis in Bradford are married to their first cousins. The trend is also evident in Birmingham, where figures show that one in ten of all children born to first cousins died in childhood or suffered from a serious genetic disorder. British Pakistanis, half of whom marry a first cousin, are 13 times more likely to produce children with genetic disorders than the general population, according to Government-sponsored research. Although British Pakistanis account for three per cent of the births in this country, they are responsible for 33 per cent of the 15 to 20,000 children born each year with genetic defects. Baroness Deech will also suggest that married first cousins use in-vitro fertilisation so that embryos can be tested for recessive diseases. 'Human right and religious and cultural practices are respected not by banning cousin marriage,' she will argue. 'But those involved must be made aware of the consequences.' In next week's speech, she will say that marriages between cousins is on the rise and the practice is 'at odds with freedom of choice, romantic love and integration.' But she said the practice was continuing because of financial reasons - either to settle debts or provide financial support for relatives abroad; helping relatives to migrate to Britain or wanting to provide a 'ready-made' family for an immigrant spouse. (more) Source: Daily Mail (English), h/t London Muslim

View article...

Militants exhume cleric to stop worshippers (The Scotsman)

WITNESSES said Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked militant group yesterday exhumed the remains of a moderate cleric in the capital to stop people worshipping him.

View article...

Riyadh says arrests militants planning attacks (Reuters via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News)

Saudi Arabia said it had arrested 113 al Qaeda militants including suicide bombers who had been planning attacks on energy facilities in the world's top oil exporter.

View article...

UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO GAZA CONFLICT

UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO GAZA CONFLICT

The United Nations <"http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/">Human Rights Council today, echoing the General Assembly, called on the Israeli Government and the Palestinian side to carry out independent and credible investigations into the deadly conflict in the Gaza Strip that ended early last year.

Those inquiries, the Council said in Geneva, must look into the serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law reported by the fact-finding mission into the Operation Cast Lead, the three-week Israeli military offensive starting at the end of 2008 that had the stated aim of ending rocket attacks by militants operating in the area.

The fighting left more than 1,400 people dead, injured 5,000 others and reduced homes, schools, hospitals and marketplaces to rubble.

The Goldstone Report, as it has become known, found that both Israeli forces and Palestinian militants were guilty of serious human rights violations and breaches of humanitarian law during the Gaza conflict, which began in late December 2008. The General Assembly has endorsed the mission's findings.

The four-member fact-finding team headed by former UN war crimes prosecutor Justice Richard Goldstone, set up at the request of the Human Rights Council, called on the two sides to carry out independent investigations into their actions during the conflict.

The Human Rights Council today also called on the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, to look into setting up an escrow fund to provide reparations to Palestinians who suffered losses as a result of unlawful Israeli actions during the conflict.

It also decided to establish a committee of independent experts to monitor the independence, effective and genuineness of the investigations and their conformity with international standards.

Earlier this month, the General Assembly also appealed for independent investigations by Israel and the Palestinians, reiterating a call by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a follow-up report to the Goldstone Report that they must conform with "international standards into the serious violations of international humanitarian and international human rights law reported by the fact-finding mission, towards ensuring accountability and justice."

During its meeting in Geneva today, the Human Rights Council also took action on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur covering the Asian nation for one year, Vitit Muntarbhorn.

RAPE MUST NEVER BE MINIMIZED AS PART OF CULTURAL TRADITIONS, UN ENVOY SAYS

RAPE MUST NEVER BE MINIMIZED AS PART OF CULTURAL TRADITIONS, UN ENVOY SAYS

Sexual violence during conflicts is all too often downplayed and treated as part of local cultural traditions instead of being viewed as a war crime, a senior United Nations official has warned as she called for much greater international action to defeat the scourge.

Margot Wallström, the recently appointed Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, voiced concern about the "lingering assumption that sexual violence is a tradition, rather than a tactic of choice" by groups engaged in war.

"Prevailing opinion would have us believe that what happens in a 'private hut' has nothing to do with security," she wrote in the Oslo newspaper <i>Dagsavisen</i> on Tuesday in a column jointly authored with Jonas Gahr Støre, Norwegian Foreign Minister.

"While bullets, bombs and blades make the headlines, women's bodies remain invisible battlefields. Yet it is utterly indefensible to downgrade the threat level of sexual violence because it primarily targets women and girls. What makes forced displacement part of the war, and mass rape an intractable cultural trait?"

Ms. Wallström and Mr. Støre wrote that there are only cultures of impunity, and not cultures of rape, as some commentators have argued in certain countries or conflicts.

"Cultural relativism legitimizes the violence and discredits the victims, because when you accept rape as cultural, you make rape inevitable. This shields the perpetrators and allows world leaders to shrug off sexual violence as an immutable – if regrettable – truth. It is time to state, once and for all, that mass rape is no more inevitable, cultural or acceptable than mass murder."

The Special Representative – who is visiting Norway on her first official visit since being appointed by the UN – and the Foreign Minister stressed that the best way to overcome this problem is to ensure that perpetrators of rape and other forms of sexual violence are held accountable.

"We are convinced that where there's a political will, there's a way. Every rape – even in the midst of war – is a crime that can be commanded, condoned or condemned. That is a choice made by those in power, and it is a matter that concerns the guardians of global peace and security.

Madaxweyne, Wasiir aan Wax Ku Tari Karin Waxba Kuma Yeeli Karo..!

Madaxweyne, Wasiir aan Wax Ku Tari Karin Waxba Kuma Yeeli Karo..!
Waa Sunnaha dawladnimo Sannadkiiba mar ama wax ka badan in la isku shaandheeyo ama'se qaarkood xilkaba laga xayuubiyo Golaha Xukuumadda ee markaa jira, si markaa talaabadaasi u noqoto mid kalsooni cusub ku abuurta shacbi-weynaha.

Geesta kale-na u noqoto mid wax ka bedesha dhaqanka ama dareenka Wasiirada ku digo-jabsaday Wasaaradaha qaarkood. Sidaa darteed talaabadii Madaxweyne Rayaale uu xilalkii ay hayeen ugu kala wareejiyey xubno ka mid ah Golaha Wasiirada iyo Aggaasimayaasha Guud ee Wasaaradaha qaarkood, ayaa noqotay mid dad badani soo dhoweeyeen una arkeen Madaxweyne Rayaale shaqsi ku baraarugsan dareenka bulshadiisa.

Dadka aaminsan in arrintaa Madaxweynuhu ku talaabadsaday tahay mid waqti ku haboon timi, waxay doodahooda daliil uga dhigayeen khilaafkii ka dhex aloosnaa Masuuliyiinta Wasaaradda Caafimaadka, khilaafkaa soo markii danbe sababay inuu gebi ahaan-ba uu is taago xidhiidhkii wada shaqayneed ee Wasaarada iyo inuu hakad galo addeegii Caafimaad ee Cisbitaalka Guud ee Magaalada Hargeysa, halkaa soo maalin walba addeeg Caafimaad u soo doona jireen Boqolaal oo dan'yar ah, oo iyagu aan awood inay tagaan goobaha Caafimaadka ee loo yaqaano PRIVET-KA.

Haddaba, markaa taa laga yimaado, waxa jira Wasiiro, Wasiir-ku-xigeeno ama Aggaasimayaal kale oo kuwaa aynu soo sheegnay aan waxba dhaamin, tusaale ahaan marka loo eego dhinaca waxqabadkooda, kuwaa soo Boqolkiiba Sagaashan aan fulin adeegii looga baahnaa inay bulshada u qabtaan, isla markaana waqtigoodu ku dhammaysta faro gelinta hawlo iyo siyaasado kale oo aanay Xukuumadu u igman. Sida safaro ay ugu baxaan meelo dalka dibadiisa ama gudihiisa iyo mararka qaarkood oo ay Sheeko la dhex fadhiistaan Xafiisyada Wasaaradahooda, halka qaar kale ay xafiisaydooda uga maqnaadaan, iyagoo ka cararaya SHAXAAD.

Dhinaca kale, waxa jira Wasiiro, Wasiir-ku-xigeeno ama Aggaasimayaal aad moodo inay DHAXAL ama YARAD u heleen xilalka ay hayaan, kuwaasoo qaarkood ay Xafiisyada fadhiyeen muddo Toddoba sanno ku dhow, iyadoo haba yaraatee aanay jirin wax wanaag ah oo lagu xushay, isla markaana ay KHAATI BILAA bulshadu ka taagan tahay.

Masuuliyiintaa soo marka dadweynuhu iska warsado sababta Madaxweyne Rayale ugu dhegan yahay, dadka qaarkood ku micneeyaan in Madaxweynuhu uga habranayo arrimha doorashada awgood, isagoo aaminsan in Wasiirka ama Aggaasimaha uu xilka ka qaadaa inuu taageerayaal badan oo Codadkooda siin lahaa ka lumin doonaan marka la gaadho Doorashada, balse arintu sidaa maaha, waxay'se xaqiiqadu tahay "TIISABA DARYEELAA TU-KALENA KU DARA." Markaa Madaxweyne Wasiir ama Aggaasime markii uu xilka hayey aan waxba tarin [Xukuumada], markuu kaa tagana waxba ma yeeli karo Xukuumada iyo Adiga toona.

Waxa kaloo, xusid mudan in Wasaarada Madaxtooyadu oo iyadu hadda aan shaqo badan qaban ay ku dhaqaaqdo sidii ay dabogal ugu samayn lahayd Wasiirada ama Wasaaradaha si markaa ay warbixin sugan uga siiso Madaxweynaha Wasiirada ama Wasaaradaha fadhiidka ah.

Si kastaba ha ahaatee, waxa Madaxweyne Rayaale la gudboon inuu ku dhiirado sidii uu arimahaa u surto-gelin lahaa si la mid ah talaabadii uu ku kala wareejiyey masuuliyiintii Wasaarada Caafimaadka, arintaa soo dad badani ku boogaadiyeen Madaxweynaha Rayaale

Wargeyska Yool