Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Radical Islam is growing in Italy, the investigation of Il Giornale, by Francis Chartrand
A full translation of the article journalists Gian Marco and Luca Rocca Chiocci the great Italian daily captures the speed with which Islamism in Italy.
Original Title Terrorismo, le moschee dove si predica-odio the Translation Center of Islamization.
Islamic hate preachers. Supporters of terrorism, preachers of violence, fundamentalist occupation, spiritual leaders on paper, then expelled by government decision and not always "saved" by judicial sentences ambiguous. Some explicitly supported the Shariah, others carry the art of dissimulation, preaching peace, but by spreading the jihad in hand. The "political map" of imams who have chosen our country to spread the Koran in the most extreme, radical and violent, is more extensive that we think.
A recent analysis of cons-terrorism is the center-north of Italy the main area of action of those who urge the faithful to hunt the apostate: They are licensed preachers, self-appointed imams, the spiritual guides or Tabligh "roaming". It begins by Lombardy (12 religious centers) "strategic base of proselytism" and then it goes to the Veneto (11), from Piedmont (10) where in Turin and Ivrea, in the name of freedom of worship, we often foments hatred against the West. Going down to Emily (10), we arrive in Tuscany (6) that with Campania (8) and Lazio (13) is the reservoir of belief extreme Sunni, Shiite and even Wahhabi. And what about Umbria (3) or the Marche coast (12), or Apulia (8 sites, not including the Bari whose head, the imam Nassam Ayachi, was arrested last May for the charge of state "will strike Paris").
Even alarming situation in Sicily (14) and Calabria (11): considered at risk, among all these "sensitive sites" also a number of official mosques and even other non-official, and their respective Imam and pseudo Imam.
In Piedmont, the inspectors' work revolves primarily around the circle 3 of fundamentalist imams expelled the last 5 years, including Mohamed Kohail, expelled in January 2009, which urged Muslims not to integrate Jews and Christians, a like his colleagues Bourik Bouchta and Abdul Qadir Fadallah Mamour, also labeled as undesirable.
Discreetly, a survey was conducted on the basis of the Statement of Parliamentary Souad Sbai about itinerant imams in Piedmont sow hatred, extol the revolt against the Pope, based on charities to cash money that regularly end up on their personal bank account in Morocco. Evidence of investigations against the oaths of hatred Friday unfortunately not always successful. For example, in Bologna, where Nabil Bayoumi, previously director of the An-Nur mosque, has long argued that "civilians in Israel do not exist and that even children are not innocent (...) the suicide bombers are not all excommunication, especially those Palestinians (...) Osama bin Laden says things that can be shared when he says that Americans and their boot lickers Western governments are from Arab countries. " In this sense, the situation remains hot and around Perugia, where the arrest on terrorism charges of Moroccan Imam Ponte Felciano, Mostapha El Korchi, (who commanded the followers to "strike the Italian children until they bleed ") could not overcome the extreme instances reported in several places of worship in the region. But the north is the "base" nature of those who sow resentment against the West. At Vicenza finished in what the court proceedings Yemeni cleric and his colleague also Imam for dealing with individuals suspected of being associated with terrorism, the mosque Venetian street of a thousand. At Udine several imams are involved in an investigation of child pornography. But it is in Rome, with the center mount antenna that serves as a catalyst for the Muslim World League (located in the largest mosque in Europe) that is central "command" for two reasons: Because It is here that we can know what is happening in many places of worship "invisible" or less visited the capital, as the mosque Centocelle managed by Samir Khaldi, close to the Muslim Brotherhood, heard on the investigation of the London bombings to be "received in prayer" one of the bombers, and because in Rome have also held demonstrations against the more significant the "dismissal" of Imam Abdel Samie Mahomud Ibrhim e Andulòwahab Moussa Hussein Gomaa, involved in controversy for the extremism of some sermons in memory of the martyrs of Islam fighters. From here, there was a direct desire to keep under control centers please Tuscia or Latina where over 10 imams belonging to Islamist most agitated.
While most preachers are arrested primarily on issues relating to terrorism, as in Florence, Cremona, Desio, Varese, Brescia, Como and up, needless to mention those who are willing to sacrifice themselves to defend the reputation of those who spread the word of Mohammed. At Ostia, an interception speaks volumes about the current climate, "the imams are too intransigent," yells one Pakistan to one of his compatriots. "You're wrong, the Imams are like angels," answered the second by throwing over boiling water, beating with a bar and then finish it with a knife to the throat. Anti-terrorism continues its on Imam of Gallarate, Mohamed El Mahfoudi, accused of having close relationships with people close to bin Laden, he will eventually convicted and acquitted in cassation. It is also between Naples and Caserta, a major hub of fundamentalism inspired Imam Algerian Amar Sahounane that he had the habit of spreading the good word to his followers, justifying attacks against the Italians abroad reply the ancient Christian Crusades. And even if he says a lot about the imam of Pordenone that have inspired the recent assault by stabbing the young Sanaa, engaged to an Italian, other imams do not act differently. Imams such as that of the Verona region, Wagdy Ghoein, who said several times that he invited the faithful "has ordered women like sheep because they are stupid like animals."
Link
Labels: Europe, Francis Chartrand, Islam, Italy, Religion and fanaticism
Monday, September 28, 2009
The outtakes, by Noemie Cournoyer
Cath's on http://forum-chretien.com/topic3923.html
The eye of God looks through the heart of gay as well as through a remaining pottery seal or paint.
PS: The eternal can also decendre lightning from heaven.
Read on http://dieu-atheisme.over-blog.com/ "the creation by the mere word is possible given today on computers software with possibility Men speak into a microphone and transcribe this speech into a creative writing"
shaena1-forum on religion: It bothers you so that we can still believe in the year 2009 in the West to a Creator?
other issues, some disreputable animists Ebony marry only among themselves, you think that a hundred generations, their descendants will come to clear because they no longer live in Africa and there is less sun in France ?
glaive, forum-religion :
1 - why is it always monkeys?
2 - please consider the same environment there are different animals comletement?
3 - and why men already existed for thousands of years while monkeys still exist?
4 - and the so-called "common forefathers" who created it?
5 - and finally I suggest a cage in a zoo as an animal who always keeps a monkey's brain
glaive, forum-religion :
it is mentioned in the Koran that some people who have disobeyed their prophets, have been transformed into apes and pigs! and this is proof of the credibility of the Qur'an as we now know that these are the two animals which can be organ transplants (eg the vaves porcine heart).
LECHEMAINDROIT, forum-religion :
A woman is a virgin means that this woman has no relationship sexeulle them before. if I ask this question? is what you taste between fresh meat and such with frozen meat. it's like for women when aurrat the first report sexeulle, she finds that it is something very interesting for her.
marie1, forum-religion: and you're all liars, ignorant! You like your theory, keep it for you! and live as you wish! But we do not share the same nonsense, and your evolutionary scientists do not bring us anything good that's brainwashing me, I love haroune Yahiya that you hate! it is normal, you just remove all your myths! I will give out a Nobel Peace Prize for that!
LECHEMAINDROIT, Forum Religion :
Do not forget that the scientific development in the world didn't saw the days after Islam. Catholic Church was a real obstacle for researchers and scholars. Islam by non-cons. it's reality and you can not refuse.
diddl2007 on Top Chrétien
Anti-Zionism = Anti-Semitism = anti-Jew = anti-Israel = Anti-God
Yoda on Top Christian Forum:
[Yoda speaks of psi powers of the pastor's daughter] Small children are certainly very sensitive to spiritual presences. When worship is spiritually heavy they are often quite agitated, but when the Holy Spirit reigns over a meeting, they are quietly and without noise, but stand still either. When I see the small of my pastor (who must be a little less than 28 months of my granddaughter) in moments of prayer during the week, I often say it is inspired: it will take for example a butterfly specific about the display and gives the right person. His attitude says a lot sometimes, if she knows how to smile more moody, but she tends to avoid people spiritually connected.
Gillovy Topchretien the forum:
When I gathered enough information, documentation on these famous ancient animals and hominids, I think the public will decide who is telling the truth and who does not say. (emphasis added)
Nicolas on Forum-Chretien.com:
there is a woman dedicated to you and you should you set aside for it
basically you have no right or kiss a woman or touched before the wedding you wanted sidebar for the limit? I think you already passed the Very Happy
well it's some good strike but I think real
Pierrot on Forum-Chretien.com
And why is it not now "cash" between ape and man, since man evolved from apes?? Bizarre, bizarre!
Willofly on Topchretien forum:
I never deny the existence of dinosaurs, however I do think that Leviatan and some monsters are references to the kinds of dinosaurs. I really meditate on the issue but for now it's like the utility of tardigrades I did not know but it surely exists.
TR on Topchretien Forum:
In all societies, there were gods and worship. While the barbarians and false gods, so lame companies. But now it is a fact. (...) In this world, be reasonable without God is most unfortunate that stupid, ignorant of his condition. That is, what is true.
kalheb on Forum-Religion
2Pet. 3:3 in the last days scoffers will come from it with their mockery, ranging from their own desires and saying where his presence.
Your insults and slurs on your scripture prove once again the veracity of the prophetic word of God without realizing it you participate in prophecies of the Bible.
TR sur TopChrétien:
Not being an atheist, I can afford what little atheists dare do: be clear about their opinions and their outcomes.
Science Building on Topchretien:
A word can have several definitions. I define what I mean when I use the term macro-evolution. As you take note that when I use this word it is this definition which I speak.
LUCM-Forum on Religion:
1. The Quran describes the realities in a manner different from the Bible.
2. The Qur'an said things that the Bible does not contain in the topic while the two treated ..
3. The Qur'an has corrected serious errors found in the Bible.
4. The Quran continet realities exclusively quoted by the Koran.
5. In the case of disagreements between them is always the Qur'an is right, and that the evidence of logic and science.
gillovy on Forum Topchretien
Some question my knowledge of science ... do not go into these useless polemics. I am a "logician", trained in rigorous reasoning.
Pazu on Blogdei:
I just read a book that made me stop to sympathize with the enemies of Israel.
I am for the state of Israel returned all his land. Before I did not know what to make of all this and I followed a bit but the general opinion is now perfectly clear that the state of Israel is part of the plan of God and His promise to Abraham. Canaan belongs to the Jews.
Willofly on Topchretien:
Beginning with the first chapters of Genesis, there is already a lot of research to be undertaken. (...) The scientists if only out of curiosity does not seek to understand, in general, if there is something to be learned from this story completely inspired to guide their research, understanding of the universe, dating system...
Why, what are they afraid to find? I do not think any of the impartiality of a system-way thinking.
Science Building on the Topchretien:
The approach that I advocate regarding the creation vs. evolution issue is to bring the person to recognize that macro-evolution is a belief. From my perspective, it seems, it is dangerous to shake the faith in Christ a person by proving that the Bible must reject macro-evolution.
For because the world in which we live, that person has a good chance to have more faith in what scientists secular, most schools and the vast majority of media and teaching and ultimately reject Christ.
diddl2007 on Topchretien:
A question I should ask all supporters of evolutionism. Why do you wear clothes out to you and why do not you go out naked (except in certain exceptional cases of certain tribal lands and some even hide the most intimate parts of their bodies). Why many companies even before Christianity had time to see the Gallic or other civilizations not as Judeo-Christian Rome and many others ... have required that men and women are covered??
And do not tell me the climate to argue for how we explain the fact that the Roman Empire who were also in very hot regions of the world such as Africa were all dressed?? After all, if man is to ape ancestor, whence come the sense of decency? Animals do not have this feeling, this feeling is typically associated with humans.
Well just look in the Bible and you will see that men and women knew that they were naked after sin and God gave them animal skins to cover them.
superspy on Topchretien:
do not try plunging nails into the "behind" where I do not know where (in my heart), this does not change the truth
there is no Christian, there is not intelligent, there is no executioner, there was not tortured ... it is simply life with his lies and truths
I think I have to do for the moment, people who practice very well lie they lie to themselves and therefore lie to others about themselves
I have one thing to say go or flee the truth by refusing to speak to me for fear of talking to your reflection TRUE!
see ya
ps: and no, I'm not god, I'd rather satan
KingJosias on Topchretien forum:
Regarding the quotes out of context, my ten years of experience in the creation-evolution debate showed me that evolutionists have never demonstrated the quotes "out of context"
Athanasius on Protestant Forum
[On the possibility of women becoming priests:]
Not mitres they need ... but yards (ICor.4/21)!
Commentary on Mr. Kirrmann Blogdei
Chapters 40 and 41 of Job describes two other extinct animals. the King James transcript:
"Behold now Behemot" reflects unfairly by the French as "hippopotamus", giving it a tail like a cedar, a diet high in places, bones like tubes of brass and a sword as a defense (Job 40.10 -- 19)
Then follows the description of Leviathan, reflects unfairly by a crocodile, but similar to what we believe to be a Trex (Job 40.20 to 41) It spits fire, is immune to weapons, breastplates sheet has on its tummy harrow .
(...)
The Bible is not only talking about dragons encounters with men, and the literature is literally crammed. From the Epic of Gilgamesh where the hero kills a dragon and bring his head.
Iron_Coffin on Topchretien:
[Regarding incest necessarily committed by the children of Adam and Eve ...]
In supposes that there is no God. The first man and first woman that we populate the earth have probably had recourse to this procedure.
Science Building on Topchretien:
[He was asked if he believes the story of Genesis is literal (6 days) or symbolic] I chose created in 6 days. So historically, but also symbolic. For example, harvesting a historical fact is used to symbolize. To me the bible is fractal.
mal4 of Topchretien:
[Asked about the symbolic value of "six days of creation"]
Do not be scientific. The things of God are understood by the light of évengile and is the Bible that says: 1d = 1000 years. Is this with or without the sun I know.
frero on Topchretien:
Yes God can regrow a leg, I saw her once. It was an operation of a miracle (the gift of working miracles), The Man in question, he missed both legs and also was a priest Catola.
A man's historical passage in our city were filled with the Spirit of God told him to just go buy a new pair of shoes, the priest is laughed first, but then he obeyed, He gave his shoe size to the vendor size 42 black please footwear. The seller apologized when he saw that the client had no leg but prostheses, but the priest insisted, and the seller finally served.
When the salesman handed him the shoes he looked and he placed a prosthesis in the shoe and at the same moment that formed one leg and he did the same for the second prosthesis and a second leg pushed immediately as the first leg with the foot entirely in the shoe.
Masson.A Topchretien on Forum:
Whether God exists is an object of knowledge and not an object of faith, because we can learn by logical deduction that God exists and what are its key attributes. (...) And of course knowing his perfections, how can we not have faith in God? (if not a neurosis affecting intelligence). So frankly, I do not see where is the problem. God is perfectly fair and everyone is in a position of equality of opportunity before him. We have to explain where the problem is, I frankly do not see it.
diddl2007 on Topchretien:
The name Yeshua has significance for Jews and becomes more accecible to understanding Jewish because too often the Jews believe that the Jesus of the Christians has created another religion when it is false because the Messianism of our Messiah and Savior is integral Judaism Bible ...
Frontline on Topchretien:
molecular biology, increasingly, the question arises .. physics: you know that the earth has a rotational shift of one day among the other planets of the Solar System? and that scientists do not find the explanation in the book of Joshua ...
an excellent documentary made by some guys just go out there called "Expelled". I think it might interest you!
diddl2007 on over Topchretien
I say again, there are 2 kinds of intelligence, there is a human intelligence on IQ and then there's the intelligence that comes from God, that which is most important, that is to follow the Lord God and this is the one that counts to God. Moreover, people who are far from God saying that there is no God is an indescribable stupidity and those claiming there is intelligent. Getting closer to God increases the intelligence and increases away from God stupidity. Consider Darwin's theory, it makes people really stupid to get away from God as to believe that man evolved from apes ...
Salt on the forum Topchretien:
God gives roles and different responsibilities to each, there is no rank or position but from different positions ...
The woman bears the child and the breastfeeding! The man is responsible for the outbreak before God!
The brothers taught in assembly! The sisters in the Privy their family, their guests and their sisters!
Or is the problem ?????????????????????
M3dhi on forum-religion.org:
Class IterationInfinie {
int i = 0;
boolean b = true;
do {
i = i +1;
} while (true);
System.out.println ( "Variable i =" + i) [the red line was Ed]
}
In fact, your compiler (brain) will succeed to compile it. it will therefore generate the binary file that contains your processor (yet logical brain +). After execution: Not the red line will be executed. (it will be too late because you press Alt + F4, otherwise the CPU block and you have to reboot the PC) Basically you will be dead.
You understand the principle?
"All these years of work experience have reinforced the observation that the psychiatrist, in all its forms, is an" effective "very limited despite its many claims and I am now more convinced than ever that she is in many ways a real springboard and a 'ramp' to the world of darkness! " - Excerpt from "Testimony of Annie" Voxdei.
"The changes (in the true sense) is not advantageous for a species, quite the contrary. They did not change either. We can not make a" mistake "and said it will be the rule for any a new generation. Do you know of varieties of five-legged cows, humans of the Third Kind? varieties of flies blind in nature? " - Gillovy, forums Topchretien
"I do not know if you read the book 'eternity in their hearts', but it shows how various peoples, ancient oral traditions were as preparations to receive the gospel." - Clairette2, Topchretien forums.
"The men of science should never interfere in how to read and understand the Word of God. For cons, the Bible illuminates the field of knowledge." - GILLOVY on the Forum Topchretien.
"We are very far from the time of Francis Bacon who believed possible to address the facts without bias. What's really sad is the attitude of the institution so well emphasized by Ben Stein in his film" Expelled: No intelligence allowed ". If creationism is so stupid, why not teach in public schools and demolish the argument by argument throughout the school year? And I talk about recent arguments published in scientific journals, not of old arguments. " - D. Gasser, Topchretien forum.
Link
Labels: Creationism, Noémie Cournoyer, Religion and fanaticism, Science and theory, Secularism
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Defend and protect Atheism around the world, by Anne Humphreys
When I asked to speak on the topic of "Defend and protect atheism around the world, I was immediately struck by the magnitude of the subject. Think about that. Think social barriers, political and cultural that we must overcome. Think about all the work that awaits us. One of the things I say to the American public in discussing these issues is that when you walk around Washington, it is striking to see how every organization and every interest group is represented there. There are over 30 000 registered lobbyists in the capital of our nation. And almost every religious group has an office there. They represent the interests of the churches the mosques and temples, and they spend millions of dollars to ensure that these interests are protected and that their projects become law. This is reproduced in each state capitals across North America.
Religious groups have enormous cultural and political machinery to form effective public opinion and mobilize their supporters. When I speak of "religious fundamentalists", you probably think a person without education, a snake charmer unadorned, foaming at the mouth that curses spewing from the Bible, but the United States, the Christian Evangelists and fundamentalists have become political cadres to the edge. They control the Republican Party. They have radio and television, and even extremists like Pat Robertson and James Dobson are wooed by the secular media. The Association of American Family boasts flood elected to Congress with 50 000 letters, faxes and phone calls in 24 hours - and that helps determine what legislation is passed and is named in the court order. They actually represent a political machine that no politician can ignore. I tell atheists that if we, we want that kind of presence, we should borrow a chapter from the manual "expertise" of the religious right. Us, we started to elect and influence politicians, so I implemented the Political Action Committee of the Godless Americans. For what is to become more effective, we must have more political savvy, we must do with our own ideas what Pat Robertson and Dobson have done with theirs. We must become "actors" of the political process.
I do not come here to tell you to do the same. It's up to you to decide. What I can tell you is that throughout the world, we would be stupid not we seize the opportunities we offer democracy. If you want to change the culture if you want to influence the course of politics must be part of it from within. This does not mean that we neglect other things for which we organized. And if we are realists, we must accept the idea that in the immediate future, at least, we will - in part - as an "outside", as a minority. We like to say how secularism spreads, how atheists "out of the closet - and all this is true - but there are opposing forces working here we have to consider. The issue is that, despite globalization and the fact that particularly in the West we believe that we are modern and universalistic - citizens of the world progresses in the direction of the Enlightenment - the growing religious fundamentalism. There are many reasons for this. But the question remains that the dissemination of "good word" positive messages and humanist atheism and secularism will remain in the course of our lives a hard and bitter battle, with advances and setbacks.
So that brings me back to the question of the beginning: how to defend ourselves and let us advance the cause of atheism and the separation of total, absolute government and religion. Secularism and the separation remains the expression of atheism in the public space. Religious belief should remain a matter of personal choice, and those who practice a religion - as members of a free society - must be free to believe in any deity or deities they choose to worship. They must be free to congregate. They must be free to practice their religion in that it does not violate the civil states "neutral." But religious beliefs should not be elevated to a status of "special duty" with special privileges, this is what happens today in the United States. We have a growing list of everyday laws that give individuals and religious groups of these "special rights" and the American Atheists fight against this legislation at state and federal level in over a decade.
And the flip side is also true. Like religions should be free to express their opinions, as odious and wrong they are, atheists should be free to criticize religion. We must be free to express our opinions in public, as "offensive or provocative or" blasphemous "that could be considered religious. And that's the word I'm looking for: Blasphemy! In his historic work "Commentary on Law ', the eighteenth-century jurist William Blackstone said that blasphemy was made" to deny the providence of God, arrogant reproach to Christ our Savior, to ridicule the holy Scriptures, or exposing to contempt and ridicule".
You can see that this definition was drafted to protect the Christian faith, and certainly in the West, the blasphemy laws have been invoked for this. Mention blasphemy to the average American, many of whom barely know the First Amendment to our Federal Constitution, and it is likely that you will respond that it is an obsolete practice. That it no longer exists. This is not the case. But in the world, laws against blasphemy indeed exist.
With the emergence of fundamentalist religions across the globe, more and more voices are calling for limits on free speech and punish those who "insult" or "defaming" a religion and those who can " Inappropriate "believers by questioning the truth, value or the historicity of these beliefs. Among the most offended many here, there is of course Islam, and let me remind you just one example of this, it should not be forgotten. This is the case of author Salman Rushdie. You remember that Mr. Rushdie is a writer of fiction, and that his novel "The Satanic Verses" which was placed at the center of international culture wars raging at that time. The book was meant to describe Mohammed as a less than favorable. When Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandi has supported the attempt of two Muslims in Parliament to ban the novel manifestations of Islamist groups were held and widespread throughout the subcontinent and in Southeast Asia and even in Great Britain. In London, the Director General of Islamic cultural center called The Satanic Verses like "the book's most offensive, filthy and offensive written by a hostile enemy to Islam".
In Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini and its officers and clerical fascist authoritarian saw red and have seized the opportunity to issue a "fatwa" or death sentence. Muslim groups around the world have demanded not only the supreme punishment for Mr. Rushdie, but also said that the novel should be banned as "blasphemous". It was already very serious. But the real threat against civil liberties would come not only excited crowd composed mostly of young bearded men in distant Arab countries, but the timidity of Western governments and other institutions, and even with the connivance of religious leaders.
Canadian authorities have found a way to please the brutality of Khomeini simply by imposing import taxes on printed copies of Rushdie's novel. In France, Cardinal Decourtray has buried the hatchet of war between sects and has appeared as an ecumenical sympathizer and accused: "Once again, believers have been offended in their faith". The Soviet ambassador in Britain seemed to agree. This is the "official atheism" or the belief that the USSR was, somehow, a model for ensuring non-believers a law firm, consistent and significant criticism of religion. Ambassador Leonid Zamyatin chose not to address the clerical fascist but rather to criticize Mr. Rushdie and those who defended it, saying that the publication of this book clearly shows the need to respect the traditions and religious sentiments. In Rome, the official Vatican newspaper headline declared: "The very attachment to our own faith encourages us to lament that the contents of the book is irreverent and blasphemous."
And then there was the American reaction. We have a conservative columnist and former political framework named Pat Buchanan who aggressively defends the religious right. He accused Rushdie of "writing a novel, defamatory, blasphemous attack against the faith of hundreds of millions of people ... an act of moral vandalism from an offender art.
Despite the notoriety of Rushdie as a progressive intellectual, an atheist who speaks on behalf of the emancipation of women, freedom of expression and values of secular culture, Mr. Rushdie found himself in need sympathy and support, even among many sectors of the elite liberal America and Europe. The silence was deafening. If you take a look at newspaper coverage of the time, you will notice how the campuses were quiet. It is also revealing to see the decision of major chain bookstores do not make or sell copies of Rushdie's novel. A bookstore that had openly and boldly sold the book was burned by a bomb, like the offices of a small weekly that had sided with the author challenged. But the chorus of Western, including many religious leaders who condemned Rushdie and demanded that the book be censored has continued to grow. The Archbishop of Canterbury said some sympathy with the fanatical Muslim instigators of violent demonstrations across Britain, condemned the book while calling for calm the offended Islamists.
To be fair, some groups have very courageously defended Mr. Rushdie, condemned the "fatwa". But yet the Rushdie incident has prompted the birth of a new concept that aims to resurrect what was seen there as a little outdated law against blasphemy. And that threat atheists today, this trend that seeks to flatter the sensibilities of the public and political elites under the cover of the innocent notion of "tolerance". The concept is that the state must intervene to "protect" religious groups and others against the remarks "insulting" or dishonorable. This is the "crime against the Almighty" to the politically correct term for allegedly preventing the "hate speech". Making fun of religion, either through a joke or a hostile intent, becomes a crime of opinion even as an act of aggression. The fact that believers can be "insulted" or "offended" to condemn the author or the critic, while it obscures the deeper truths about the falsehood, absurdity, or even the danger caused by the religion in question.
The Christian and Jewish leaders have defended Mr. Rushdie because it is better to defend any religion than to criticize one of them. They put the carts in a circle, to borrow an old expression of the American West. Can we not learn from this story? If Rushdie had written a story that mocked a politician, you would not find opponents of the politician to demand that books be banned and the author is dedicated to public obloquy. Rushdie had attacked religion. The lesson is clear. In the century that saw the expansion of secularism, religious set aside their doctrinal differences and require protection from the state under the guise of "laws against hate" and other similar laws.
Now, unless you think that the Rushdie affair is somewhat outdated in this new millennium, remember that time when we face today, the Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci goes on trial in Italy for having comments in a new book that would be deemed "patently offensive to Islam and Muslims," which is prohibited in the Criminal Code of the State. Ms. Fallaci was also sued in 2004 by the head of the Union of Italian Muslims supposed to - quote - "lie, insult and defamation of Muslims around the world." And all this is made possible by the Italian law prohibits "outrage to religion." Fortunately, voices, if not in defense of what Ms. Fallaci wrote about Islam, at least to defend the right to express his opinions. The International Herald Tribune published an editorial June 9 this year: "Not everyone will agree with Fallaci or how she expresses her opinions, far from it. But the right to make unpopular statements or inadvertent, is the mark of the seal of a free society". The newspaper added that the issue of the case Fallaci "went beyond the fate of a writer. Even in these times deleterious", said the Tribune, "politicians and Western judges must do everything in their power to make it clear that freedom of expression is not negotiable".
You do not need to go very far in the new archive or on the Internet to see evidence that calls for laws against "blasphemy" grow so shocking. In June, the city Staphost in Holland has approved a law against swearing, citing the passage from Exodus 29: 7 of the Bible: "Thou shalt not take in vain the name of the Lord thy God". The New York Times reported June 27 that even Great Britain was currently examining a draft law against "incitement to religious hatred" that goes hand in hand with a law against inciting racial hatred . And here in France, they report that "public criticism of racial or religious groups is forbidden in the image of a secular nation, homogeneous and free from all sectarian divisions". But back to my country, the United States, a much more serious project has been put forward before the Legislature of the State of New York "makes the crime to ridicule belief and religious practice which constitutes a violation of class B; provides that a person is guilty of the crime when in a public place that person has the deity or the religious beliefs of any class of people in a light or hateful or ridiculous religious beliefs has a lustful way, sacrilegious, lascivious or obscene''.
Fortunately, this proposal has not reached the stage of the committee. But note well that this is an important thing. The terms of this legislation seem not so much directed against the gods or god (imaginary) who could be offended, but rather speak of "ridiculous" and "hatred" of religious believers. In other words, the crime is not against "God" - is to protect the sensibilities and feelings of believers. And that is why it is so dangerous and so attractive compared to contemporary efforts to protect and "not offend" religious groups and believers. Freedom of speech is one of the cornerstones of the Enlightenment when it becomes conditional on religious practices, religious groups or religious feelings. I can deal with the President of the United States of all kinds of names of birds. I can see flashes of humor and even stinging satires in the mass media is regarded as a detail of modern politics. But if you make fun of, let's say, pedophile priests or film bloody Mel Gibson's "Passion of Christ", you'll see groups like the misnamed Catholic League for Civil Rights howl of indignation. I can cite many other examples that cases of Salman Rushdie and Oriana Fallaci. Taslima Nasrim comes to mind as the case of Dr. Younis Shaikh, who spent some time in a Pakistani jail on charges of blasphemy. And in May this year, the group of journalists "Reporters without borders" cited the alarming climate of a number of countries where the writers were hauled before the courts for making remarks "blasphemous or profane. And in India, more than 640 people have been charged with blasphemy since 1988. In Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair seems determined to make a crime of this so-called "religious hatred". Our British comrades could probably enlighten us more about this upcoming threat posed to civil liberties the Government Commission for Equality and Human Rights ", a title that reporter Nick Cohen of the newspaper ' Observer rightly described as so "cuddly liberal". He warned his readers, however, in an opinion piece against the blasphemy law: "Only when they come in such detail as the commission will fight all those who have prejudices against gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion and belief".
Now, understand me well. Discrimination on the basis of gender, race, sexuality, age and other factors is unacceptable, there is no doubt about that. But punishing those who have opinions atheists or anti-religious is to create the offense of "crimes of opinion". It is dangerous enough, but why should we suspend the freedom of expression just to protect the sensibilities of any group whatsoever, especially religious groups?
There is a difference between questioning ideas and tackle people. Telling a group of people they are "dirty, disgusting, bad" and terms like this is hate speech, although I do not think we should criminalize. And neither the atheist nor the theist should not indulge in personal attacks. What the theist is that it protects, is the criticism of his ideas. It is a protection that no person may be entitled. No ideas are sacrosanct. All ideas must be open to free and public examination and restoration in question, even of atheism. It is worth noting that the idea of protecting religious groups from criticism comes amid two ideas which are increasingly reflected in both the secular media as religious sects, even on the bench legislators.
The first idea is the notion that religion is "contested" and that believers are "oppressed" by the government or other civil institutions. In the United States, the religious right points to any court order prohibiting religious exercise is compulsory or religious events involving the state. For example, if believers can not make a public prayer at the announcement of a school sports competition, it is cited as proof that religious rights are violated. If a public school does not classroom teaching of creationism or other religious story of human origins, groups protest that it is both "unfair" and "discriminatory" towards their views. The second concept is the claim that there is a category of so-called "religious rights" that require special protection of the law. The American Atheists are fighting against this type of legislation "special rights" for years, and it is a battle with advances and setbacks. We have a number of laws at the state level, known as the laws ''protection of religious freedom" and "restoration of religious freedom" that require the administration to legally take exceptional precautions before "violate" the exercise and religious rights. This is not the protection of ordinary citizens, as our Bill of Rights. It does not protect private enterprise. It does not even protect the administration? It is exclusively for the legal protection of churches, mosques, temples and other religious groups. In striking down a version of the legislation, Justice John Paul Stevens of the Supreme Court of the United States said that the law provided the religious issue a legal instrument, "that no atheist could do". Clearly, this is discrimination in favor of religion.
So we have a strident chorus of voices that insists that "religion is under attack", that religious institutions are in urgent need of special protections and privileges, and that political power should be used to preserve and extend the scope of religious exercise. Logic dictates the next step - the 'protection' groups and religious sentiments against any form of criticism, ridicule, any questioning. And why not, especially if one accepts the proposition that there are many "religious rights" special. Express a view against religion, even if the remarks were made in terms of selected or in the university setting, it becomes increasingly risky. I do not want to darken the picture. No, at least in the U.S., we're not about to introduce legislation on blasphemy which greatly extend the national or the state ... not yet - but if some people let go ...
And religious fundamentalism comes in our country, if not already. The changing geopolitical landscape, globalization, population movements and the simple movement of people eat not only the rise of militant Islam as friends for different points of view. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, we live really what Samuel Huntington has rightly described as the "Clash of Civilizations". Religious groups have rushed into the political vacuum created by the collapse of oligarchic states and "nations collapsed. Despite the veneer of globalization and the spread of certain Western ideas, institutions and religious ideologies play a greater role in international politics than we could imagine two decades ago.
What then of all this?
Eddie Tabash Counsel, member of American Atheists and someone who has presented to Congress of the United States under a label openly atheist, recently wrote an essay on our website that asked the question: "To bash or not to bash "[" criticize or not criticize, that is the question "]. "There is no rational basis for providing special religious dogmas of their own exemption harsh criticism", he wrote. "Religion is so ingrained in our society that its supporters have managed to impose in popular culture the notion that religion always deserves special treatment. And he continues: "If we allow religion to censor the words and arguments we use in our struggle to educate society in favor of secularism, it is as if we let the fox guard the henhouse. Our society will never be receptive to a secular message so long as popular culture would take the criticism of religion as a forbidden zone ... ".
How are we doing?
Above all, let us be frank and straightforward about what we are. I am an atheist. I lead an atheist organization, and I am proud of the name of atheism. One of our achievements which I think is all the work we have done, especially during the past decade, to bring atheism in American political culture.
You know, one of the most important books I read was titled "Faith in Action" and this book was written by Ralph Reed, who has worked for years as director of the Christian Coalition of America Pat Robertson. And one of the things Reed kept saying to the environment, while it was being organized religious conservatives into a powerful political machine, was how the fundamentalists / evangelicals came out of the closet they had imposed on themselves and had begun to gain political power. Well we need to get out of our closets, and we must start thinking about the direct political participation, and we must do it openly and without fear. I can tell you that in America, atheists - and again I use that term that includes all the different "flavors" of non-believers - love to do things like arguing with Christians, hold discussions, communicate with each in discussion groups on the Internet, to score points against them on religious subjects sharp intellectual and historical and meet friends. However, what I propose is to make less of this and a little more political organization. We need to start thinking about winning elections and not just to win debates. Maybe everyone here is not an atheist, or it may be that you use other words to describe atheism. But no matter the manner with which you present, I think the lesson here is to be open and proud of what you are. Three years ago, the American Atheists have organized an unprecedented action, the March of Americans without a god, the GAMOW. Over 3 000 of us went to Washington DC for the day and we opened our forum for representatives of many organizations, including those not always agree with other non - believers. We put aside our petty quarrels, and we opened up the prospect of working together in the future based on mutual respect. One of the main results that emerged from the GAMOW was the need for atheists, freethinkers and secular humanists and other groups or individuals who are not believers - regardless of how you call - do not engage attacks against other non-believers. Burying the hatchet. Stick to political matters and not persons. Accept the fact that, yes, we have and we have differences ... approaches, different "styles" different, different organizational cultures. But we have much in common and we should consider working together wherever and whenever possible on an ad hoc basis and so we concentrate on issues and specific goals.
Another interesting thing that came out of the GAMOW was the Political Action Committee of Americans Without God, who encourages and supports the atheists to stand for elections and support candidates who are interested in our program either at Local School Council, to plan the state legislature, or Washington DC.
In conclusion, I would like to express how important it is to speak clearly on behalf of freedom of expression. Without freedom of speech, we have no chance whatsoever to send our message to the entire society. Without free expression, we have no opportunity to initiate iron cons religions undermine their message, their program, the claims of their beliefs. Without free expression, we can not offer alternatives: we can not defend and honor what is best in our respective societies. We must defend freedom of expression, no exceptions!
Let me end with a famous quote. She said: "I do not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death for your right to say it".
Generally, this quotation attributed to Voltaire, but most scholars agree that it is an invention of CS Tallentyre, which has a volume of collected letters of French philosopher.
Freedom of speech must be defended by political action as well as academic discussion.
Anne Humphreys
Labels: Anne Humphreys, Atheism, Religion and fanaticism
Illegal arms transfers: Another similar case in 2004, by Fabrice de Pierrebourg
The coincidence is uncanny. During his research, RueFrontenac.com came across another story similar to that reported by Mirabel Indian newspaper The Hindu and Asian Tribune.
End September 2004, Indian authorities have blocked for several days on the tarmac at the airport in Ahmedabad Antonov AN-12 of the same company Vega loaded with explosives (one tonne of a powerful explosive type "plastic" C4) and ammunition, while it was calling to Nepal.
Local authorities have sought more information before allowing the re-launch of the Vega plane to Kathmandu. It must be said that a few months earlier, the Indians had already intercepted another plane loaded with nearly 5 500 weapons acquired by the Government of Nepal in Belgium this time.
A commotion of battle
The case of September 2004, decided to leave rather dubious, India has caused quite a stir with the local press echoed.
A ballet telephone had undertaken between Indian and U.S. diplomats, in addition to involve the secret services of all kinds.
The spokesperson of the Embassy of the United States in the Nepalese capital was then argued that this 'equipment' non-military ships from the United States as part of its "assistance program for training of Nepalese police" to assist in its "fight against terror".
According to reports released thereafter, the Bulgarian cargo plane converted into a flying bomb had departed from Baltimore, Maryland (!), Had stopped at Gander, in Canada, then Shannon (Ireland), Plovdiv (Bulgaria) Oman and finally Ahmedabad.
Link
Labels: Belgium, Fabrice de Pierrebourg, Nepal, Terrorism
Illegal arms transfers: Vega Company banished, by Fabrice de Pierrebourg
Vega Airlines Ltd. owned a small fleet of Russian Antonov aircraft specially equipped for transporting explosives and dangerous.
But Vega had primarily a curriculum vitae "remarkable" for transporting weapons and various military equipment to war zones or disorder (Rwanda, Congo, Bosnia, Cote d'Ivoire, etc.) and sometimes in violation several embargoes.
Vega had sought and obtained in January 2003, December 2004 and December 2005 the necessary approvals from the Office of Transport Canada to use the airport at Mirabel, Hamilton, Gander and Winnipeg to channel the "international freight".
At Transport Canada, indicate that Vega had also during the events recounted by RueFrontenac.com a "permit for equivalent level of safety". A document required in cases of dangerous goods transport to fly over Canadian airspace or make a technical stop, we said Patrick Charette, a spokesman. "Its duration is variable, but it was valid at the time," he said.
Banned company banned
We have traced the website of Transport Canada as a permit for a period of 20 days. It was issued May 11, 2006 for Vega to fly over Canada and a stop with an air-cargo container in her holds the "liquid-propellant thrusters.
Banished in 2007 by the Bulgarian authorities and the European Vega disappeared some time before reappearing in the air as the Air Cargo. The company has stored its old Antonov in favor of Boeing 737-300 acquired from U.S. Airways. But the aircraft in the colors of Vega are still visible on the photo gallery. We see, for example, a tank in the process of entering the bunker.
Cargo Air also shown for some time on its website its "Certificate of Canadian foreign air operator" issued by the Minister of Transportation October 24, 2008.
Link
Labels: Fabrice de Pierrebourg
Arms transfers via Mirabel by the Americans to circumvent a ban, by Fabrice de Pierrebourg
Under the era of George W. Bush, the government of the United States has used Mirabel airport to ship in the greater discretion of weapons and ammunition to the monarchical dictatorship in Nepal to help crush the Maoist rebellion blood.
The following story, revealed by RueFrontenac.com is unclear. Nebula as all cases occurring in the universe opaque and murky network of arms sales.
This is further evidence that deliveries of arms to conflict zones warmer, whether initiated by states or traffickers shamelessly follow tortuous paths to muddy the waters, away from the curious, bypass embargoes or international treaties.
The actors, voluntary or involuntary, of this story worthy of a screenplay adventures are three states, several Canadian federal agencies, police, intelligence service and a former airline Bulgarian considered villainous. So many actors who lock themselves in a circumstance of silence when asked for explanations or comments.
The facts, as they are still carried by RueFrontenac.com, occurred at least twice during the summer and fall 2005. The last confirmed expedition took place at the end of October 2005.
The track of these weapons goes back to Maryland in the warehouse of a company that specializes in the packaging of dangerous goods or weak prior to shipment by air, land or sea. Founded by a veteran of Vietnam, it is one customers different official bodies, including the Department of Defense, the State Department and intelligence agencies.
How many times the company in question has intervened for the shipment of arms to Nepal or elsewhere via Canada? Unsurprisingly, the spokesman for the company declined to answer our questions because, says she, the identity of his client. "I can not reveal such information is confidential," she said.
From Maryland to Mirabel
At the end of October 2005, the first part of this long journey to Nepal was carried by road.
First step: Mirabel Airport. Protected by a sealed diplomatic, this shipment of weapons and ammunition had traveled under heavy guard. After the border of St. Bernard de Lacolle, there would have been escorted by agents from the Border Services Agency of Canada. The agency has also refused to issue a comment on this.
The plan provided that the lethal cargo would then be loaded immediately into the hold of an Antonov cargo plane belonging to the Bulgarian company Vega Airlines Ltd. A company in the roadmap lackluster, as you will see later.
Except at the end of October 2005, a grain of sand has slipped into gear, disrupting this scenario a priori perfect. For some reason, probably a permissions problem in formal Transport Canada, the Vega aircraft could land at the appointed hour. As result, it has been stored for a certain period of time the weapons and ammunition to their arrival in the United States. This was not without posing a serious security problem.
Emergency meeting
All this has not gone unnoticed by some on the tarmac at Mirabel. For its part, Aeroports de Montreal (ADM) had already been informed officially of setbacks. The regional representatives of relevant government authorities, that is to say, Transport Canada, RCMP, SQ and CSIS were in turn briefed. The case seemed so suspicious that these partners met to discuss the case as strange that embarrassing "felt the CIA," whispered in the corridors.
This event occurs when the scandal secret flights by the CIA to transport prisoners to countries subcontractor torture gathered momentum in the world. No wonder some people have even tried Mirabel examine more closely the contents of boxes loaded aboard the Antonov Bulgarian.
It was too late. Vega had succeeded in obtaining the necessary permits and had flown his plane in the Laurentians sky to its final destination. A long journey with stops in Gander, Shannon and Sofia.
ADM confirmed RueFrontenac.com these shipments of arms to a "foreign country". But contrary to claims not to have been "involved in the operation, while some binding procedures - and kept confidential - for special flights would otherwise be due to set in motion, we were told.
Anyway, this little trick has ceased thereafter.
A fierce repression
The case is emphasized when considering the political situation in Nepal at that time. Note that the local security forces had launched a brutal crackdown against the rebels of the Maoist Communist Party of Nepal. Several advocacy organizations Human Rights had repeatedly denounced the atrocities committed over the past decade.
In a report released in June 2005, Amnesty International denounced the "thousands of cases of arbitrary arrests, unacknowledged detentions, torture and" disappearances "attributed to security forces." He added: "The crisis of human rights has worsened in Nepal since 1 February when King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev has taken control of the executive."
Since the early 2000s, the United States, India, Great Britain and even China were among the main suppliers of weapons and ammunition Nepalese security forces. Following the complete takeover by King Gyanendra, India and the United Kingdom have decided to suspend all military aid to the government. On September 13, 2005, the spokesman of the Embassy of the United States in Kathmandu said that the Americans had just notify the Government of Nepal "> their intention to enforce the embargo and to suspend any provision of equipment which could cause death (lethal) as the situation would not be back to normal.
This was not the case in light of events in Mirabel few weeks later.
Unanswered questions
Today, many questions remain. Why, for example, have chosen Canada to ship weapons, ammunition and explosives to Nepal? Is there not enough airports in the United States? How many times has this happened?
We have joined the U.S. State Department to obtain more clarification. The agency has declined, suggesting RueFrontenac.com contact the Department of Defense ... who spent his tour and returned the ball in the State Department.
• In May 2006, Amnesty International and the organization TransArms denounced in a joint report that chain of illegal U.S. arms supply to Nepal. A road "very tortuous via Canada and Europe," we can read.
• The Antonov AN-12 Vega has also been seen several times on the tarmac at several Canadian airports, including July 8, 2005 in Hamilton.
(In collaboration with Valérie Dufour)
Link
Labels: Canada, Fabrice de Pierrebourg, Nepal, Terrorism, United States
Monday, September 07, 2009
International links linger after 'Toronto 18' member imprisoned, by Iba Bouramine
BRAMPTON -- He has been called the Terrorist Mr. Fix-It. Aabid Hussein Khan was an avid al-Qaeda supporter who recruited young Muslims and arranged their passage to Pakistan for terrorist training.
Although he lived in central England, Khan travelled often, including to Toronto, where he intended to rent an apartment for recruits on their way to Pakistan's network of weapons training camps.
"He was always spoken of in the sense of one who could facilitate travel to places for training and was particularly hopeful of having a place near Toronto, where his wife lived," said Mubin Shaikh, who informed on Khan's associates in Toronto for the RCMP.
Now in a British prison, Khan is considered a key figure in a terrorist network that spanned a half-dozen countries, including Canada. He is also one of a growing number of friends, associates and co-conspirators within that network who have been convicted of terrorist crimes following a series of overlapping investigations.
Three years after Canadian police arrested 18 Toronto-area men and accused them of plotting terrorist al-Qaeda-inspired attacks in Southern Ontario, the suspected ringleaders have not yet had their day in court.
But related trials in Britain, the United States and elsewhere have already ended with convictions, and yesterday Saad Khalid was sentenced in a Brampton court to 14 years for his involvement in the Toronto bomb plot.
Khalid was the first of the "Toronto 18" to plead guilty, and the second to be sentenced following last year's conviction of a juvenile, but convictions are accumulating outside Canada as well.
In Atlanta, Ehsanul Islam Sadequee was convicted last month. Another Atlanta man, Syed Haris Ahmed, was found guilty in June. U.S. District Court Judge William Duffey Jr. wrote that the pair had met at least one of the Canadian suspects in Toronto to discuss training in Pakistan and potential terrorist targets.
In London meanwhile, Khan was convicted along with two other British men last August. When he was arrested in 2006, after returning to Britain from Pakistan, police found a video allegedly showing some of the Toronto suspects training at a camp in Ontario. The Atlanta, British and Toronto men were referred to as "co-conspirators" during the U.S. trial, and their online chats (seized from Khan's computer hard drive) were introduced into evidence.
"There were powerful international linkages," Jack Hooper, who was the deputy director of operations at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service at the time of the investigations, said in an interview.
Defence lawyer David Kolinsky, who represents one of the Toronto suspects, said the convictions would not affect the cases of the nine accused still awaiting trial in Brampton.
The jurors must base their verdict solely on the evidence presented in court, and the links between the Toronto suspects and those already convicted were neither strong nor relevant, he said. "The Crown is going to try to introduce meetings of those individuals into evidence and try to prove that as some part of a conspiracy. It might have an impact on the case but I don't see that happening at the trial."
The Canadian investigation was launched by CSIS and targeted Toronto-area youths the agency believed had adopted an al-Qaeda-type extremist ideology. The RCMP began its own investigation, called Project Osage, in 2005 and paid Mr. Shaikh and a second agent named Shaher Elsohemy to infiltrate the group.
While Canadian authorities were following the Toronto suspects, a British investigation called Operation Praline and an FBI investigation known as Northern Exposure were examining the activities of men with suspected links to the Ontario group. Police in Denmark, Bosnia and Bangladesh were also involved.
The police probes targeted small groups of young men who were allegedly using the Internet to discuss plans for paramilitary training and terrorist attacks. Some of them had also met face to face in Toronto and Pakistan. Evan Kohlmann, who testified as an expert witness at the Atlanta trial and attended the London trial as an observer, described the suspects in Toronto, Atlanta and the U.K. as "teammates."
As they became increasingly radical, Mr. Kohlmann said, the youths decided they needed training, which is where Khan came in. Also known as Abu Umar, Khan told the group he could arrange for them to visit camps in Pakistan run by Jaishe Mohamed and Lashkar Tayiba, the terrorist group behind the recent Mumbai attacks.
In his online chats, Khan discussed renting an apartment in Toronto that would be used by recruits going to and from the camps in Pakistan. The two Atlanta men eventually visited Toronto to discuss the training plans. Sadequee and Ahmed took a bus to Toronto in February, 2005 to met three men, including a member of the Toronto 18 group, said a "findings of fact" released last month by the U.S. judge.
"Specifically, they discussed and agreed upon a plan for members of the group to travel to Pakistan to obtain paramilitary training," he wrote. They also discussed "strategic locations" in the United States that could be potential targets for terrorist attacks, such as military bases, oil storage facilities and refineries.
The judge wrote that the Americans later filmed dozens of videos of Washington, D.C., landmarks and sent some of them to Khan, and that "one of the purposes of transmitting the Washington, D.C., videos to Khan was to assist in planning attacks in the United States."
Meanwhile, the Toronto group began building detonators and making plans for a series of bombings in Southern Ontario, according to a "statement of uncontested facts" released by the Crown.
The bombs were to be placed in three rented U-Haul vans and detonated remotely at about 9 a.m. in mid-November 2006 at the Toronto Stock Exchange, the CSIS regional office beside the CN Tower and at a military base off Highway 401 between Toronto and Ottawa, it said.
One of the accused told Mr. Elsohemy, the undercover agent, the bombings would be the "battle of Toronto" and described how "glass will be shattered on the streets, cars will be flipped and streets will be damaged." He said, "there will be blood, glass and debris everywhere."
The purpose of the attacks was to pressure Canada to withdraw from Afghanistan and "screw" Stephen Harper, the government and the military, the statement said.
A suspect also told the agent he had suggested the group film a video that would make it look like "al-Qaeda was the one who did it" and proposed they use the name "al-Qaeda organization in Canada," the statement of facts said.
The alleged ringleader of the bomb plot allegedly intended to leave for Pakistan the day before the Toronto attacks, and then make his way to Afghanistan, where he thought he would be "considered a leader."
But no attacks ever occurred. Khan, Sadequee, Ahmed and the Toronto suspects were arrested in 2006. A Swedish associate in Bosnia known as Maximus, and a Moroccan known as Terrorist007, were also arrested and have since been convicted.
At the trials in London and Atlanta, Khan was portrayed as, if not the leader, at least a central figure in the international network. The judge in the Atlanta case called him a recruiter for Pakistani terrorist groups. The evidence of Mr. Kohlmann, the evidence in the trials in London and Atlanta and the findings of fact by Judge Duffey have not been introduced or tested as evidence at a trial of any of the Toronto 18 in court in Brampton. Mr. Shaikh, the RCMP agent, said an interview Khan was "spoken of as one who had extensive connections" with like-minded youths in Europe, North America and South Asia. "I was shown a CD on which he was in Afghanistan participating in hostilities," he said.
Khan testified he had "strong Islamic beliefs" and had been using computers since a young age to follow the struggles of Muslims around the world. "I felt upset and angry," he said.
Later, he began engaging in online discussions about Muslim issues and jihad but prosecutors said that progressed to talk about training and terrorist attacks. Khan visited Pakistan repeatedly and said he came to Toronto in March 2005 to settle an inheritance and marry.
The Crown Prosecution Service in Britain said Khan was the leader of a British cell that had accumulated a library of terrorist information such as guides on making explosives and step-by-step instructions on how to make a suicide vest.
"Aabid Khan was very much the ‘Mr. Fix-It' of the group," the prosecution service said in a statement following Khan's conviction. "He preyed on vulnerable young people and turned them into recruits to his cause, using Internet chat rooms to lure them in then incite them to fight. He arranged their passage to Pakistan for terrorism training, and talked about ‘a worldwide battle.' "
Labels: Canada, Iba Bouramine, Religion and fanaticism, Terrorism, Toronto
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