Francis Chartrand for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles

During his visit of December 20, 2009 in Oman, the President of European Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering said that democracy in the Middle East evolved from within, it must reflect the traditions and local values and that the West should not exert pressure on countries in the region for them to accept a democratic system of European style. This statement has raised the criticism of Arab intellectuals and the next day, Omran Salman, Director of Arab Reform Aafaq.org site, published an article castigating statements Poettering.

Western officials prefer to preserve the Western dictatorships

"(...) What do statements [like Poettering]? That the European democratic system is suitable for all kinds of countries around the world, but not to Arab countries?

Such statements are obviously not harmless, and they do not serve these alleged exceptions [Arab] and they would rather the manifestation of racist tendencies and selfish goals.

These people [the attitude Poettering] believe that the Arabs deserve nothing better than their current government, they do not deserve democracy enjoyed by civilized nations. It follows that it is better not to put pressure on the dictatorial regimes, but rather to fulfill their wishes, [and receive] in exchange agreements, money and profits, while people may well go devil.

In reality, the president of the European Parliament, who should be ashamed, is not the only villain of this batch [of Western statesmen]. Unfortunately, many European officials and Americans share his views, some even competing to turn a new page [in their relations with] the dictatorial governments, that of [Syrian President] Bashar Assad or [Libyan leader Moammar] Gaddafi or more.

Their positions are based on the following assumptions:

- People are not equal in their ways to achieve democracy, there would be nations first class and second class nations. The "first class" - Europe and the West - deserve the highest level of democracy, while Arab nations belong to the second class are [intrinsically] different constraints to accept the authority of their governments [ respectively].

- The best way to defend Western interests is to preserve the existence of tyrannical regimes and not to provide [these] nations can adopt democracy as such a change could affect those interests [Western].

- The democratic experience is inherently scalable, so it is not useful to promote and facilitate [the way] to democracy, particularly in Arab countries. This however is not true for Eastern Europe, South America or Asia [where democracy was introduced quickly].

- All nations of the region have their own characteristics and cultural traditions, which must be respected and this would be a mistake to impose democracy or push them to adopt [democracy].

As I said before, these are only excuses advanced by some Western politicians to justify their relationship with the corrupt and tyrannical governments in the Arab world. They reveal their contempt for the nations of the region, treated as inferior species.

The Arab people also want freedom and democracy

The truth is - even if these opportunistic [Western] does not see things eye to this - that all nations have also [right] to freedom and democracy. There is no nation that can fight and not fighting for freedom - and the Arab nations are no exception.

Moreover, democracy is not a habit that one has for honoring its traditions, or that it adapts to the climate. It is a universal human value that transcends continents and cultures.

The supremacy of law, a government elected by the people, accountable to [its people], the separation of powers, pluralism, the transfer of power by peaceful means, all these things are not dependent on regional customs . If they are good for the West, they are also the East and all regions of the world whatsoever.

The only thing left to say is that all the Reformers, those who defend democracy and freedom in Arab countries should condemn racism and opportunism of politicians like - the President of the European Parliament included (...)

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Labels: Arab World, Europe, Francis Chartrand, Oman

# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 9:46 PM 0 Comments

Published in Le Soleil, December 9, 2009

In few words the author summarizes the campaign preceding the referendum: "Virtually the entire political class in Switzerland, the right to the left, ecologists to pastors, gauchos bosses, had led the way to call to vote no. We pulled the heavy artillery usual person appears for the ban has been accused of xenophobic, racist, intolerant and Islamophobic .. "

The image of this small and rich enclave in the heart of Europe known for its fondue, raclette its, chocolate, and envied around the world for its ski resorts and peaceful lakes, which are mirrored landscapes and gardens bucolic, would it changing? What about his human flora? The Swiss have they mutated biological accelerated to celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of Darwin's theory of evolution? The Swiss, normally so "pragmatic" to ignite four minarets? Would they simply cowards or more courageous? And they were neither one nor the other? Could they simply fear that the meteoric rise of political Islamism around the world and especially in Europe?

One thing is certain, the Swiss have just created a precedent dealt a blow to the popular folk policy. In fact, their overwhelming vote to ban minarets is not so much a victory of the extreme right a political defeat, unable to refocus the debate on the fundamental values of democracy, namely secularism, l Equality between men and women and equal opportunities. It is clear that this vote reflects a difference of more and deeper between the right people and right-minded elite who swallows, this time very difficult, the pill. Does this mean annul the vote as some claim? And why do not people change? What is thought?

The straw and the beam ...

Yet everything had been put in place so that we "vote right". Virtually the entire political class in Switzerland, the right to the left, ecologists to pastors, gauchos bosses, had led the way to call to vote no. We pulled the heavy artillery usual person appears for the ban has been accused of xenophobic, racist, intolerant and Islamophobic. Some allies have even been called in reinforcements: Ambassador of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is invited to campaign for the "no" after being roundly criticized Switzerland. What has been told the journalist Vincent Pellegrini: "That's really the story of one who sees the mote in the eye of the neighbor and not the beam in his own"! The OIC, where swarm dictatorships and Islamic theocracies, who led a fierce campaign to roll back around the world - and the United Nations in particular - the rights of women and homosexuals, who does everything to reduce the freedom expression and conscience in the name of respect for religions, traditions and cultures, has leapt to defend democracy in Switzerland.

During the campaign, the good people was careful to express their feelings. Mum's the word. Anyway, why bother? For well-meaning, the problem is simple: how the existence of four minarets it threatens the peace of the Swiss? It sounded Jean Charest speaking accommodate the Company's automobile insurance and Quebec (SAAQ) and its Bill 16 or Françoise David, who defends the body and soul the Islamic headscarf in public service in Quebec FFQ or who, hand in hand with Muslim presence, is leading the campaign. Take a tour to Iran and see how much freedom women have in an Islamic theocracy, even in Algeria, which frankly does not look like the land of the mullahs and the plight of women is unenviable. At least for the right people is clear. We can not reduce democracy to a grocer's accounting.

Ugliness and cowardice ...

Whether the burqa in France, the four minarets in Switzerland, in some cases to accommodate the SAAQ or the wearing of religious symbols in the Quebec public service, we can not reduce its many manifestations to "epiphenomena , micro-problems or to perceptions." Everyone knows that the problem lies elsewhere. Numerous studies, reports and books show that Switzerland has been infested with Islamists and that to Geneva as political Islam of the Muslim Brotherhood has an address sponsored by Said Ramadan, which is none other than the son of founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al-Banna and the father of Tariq Ramadan. The first Islamic center - one in Geneva - has been a model for many Islamic centers established since the early 1960s in Europe with the support of Saudi Arabia. Switzerland will in effect assume a dual role in the Islamist strategy: that of "safe" and instead preferred to their propaganda. From that nobody wants to talk. Neither the policy nor the "right-thinking", as it was named Elizabeth Badinter. To the good people, the beauty of the minarets could not hide the ugliness or speeches which are held or the cowardice and especially not the complicity of the right-thinking. May only the good people be heard!

Djemila Benhabib, author of My life cons-Quran (VLB éditeur), winner of the French writers of America and finalist Governor General's Award in 2009.

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Labels: Djemila Benhabib, Europe, Islam, Religion and fanaticism, Secularism

# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 9:23 PM 0 Comments

When the church bells ring in Saudi Arabia, the minarets will rise up in Europe.

TORONTO -

The Swiss have said no to mosques with minarets in a referendum that has just taken place. Nearly 58% of voters were against the minarets. In certain regions of the sequence, the proportion reached 70%! Leaders of the Muslim world have condemned the referendum as usual and have proposed a boycott of Swiss products. Are we going to stop eating cheese and Swiss chocolate or stop buying Swiss watches are renowned for their accuracy?

The referendum is indeed an important occasion for Muslims to seek to understand the deeper meaning of the Swiss rejected it as a warning to undertake major internal changes. Tariq Ramadan, a popular preacher who has recently visited Canada, spoke eloquently of the beauty of Islam, but he always forgets to mention the internal problems that beset the Muslim communities in the West, particularly in Europe: problems that slides under the carpet when addressing large audiences.

And therein lies the problem. Yes, Islam is a beautiful message for me and many Muslims. But it is not as good to many people and that is what we must learn to recognize and accept. The beauty of Islam must be demonstrated in our daily interactions with others, and not aggressively projecting our religion or we cover the face.

We have become people who plan aggressively "Muslimness" and we are the only religious group to use constant religious references with non-Muslims who have no idea what we mean. In so doing, we demonstrate a lack of vision and we continue to show intolerance towards "the other", while making unreasonable demands.

In Canada, they say that "he who sows the wind reaps the storm". Well in Europe, the tide is turning so quickly that if Muslims do not wake up, they will be swept into an abyss from which they are responsible.

The solution is simple.

It is difficult for Muslims to understand and accept that Islam is not the only faith that its message is not the only cause. Islam is the last, the youngest of the three Abrahamic monotheistic religions, yet Muslims are the most spoiled and those who behave the worst. Muslims can only advance if they do not seek out to other religious groups.

Muslims must also understand that criticism of their actions, their behavior is not Islamophobia (a term often used indiscriminately). Islamophobia is the "fear of Islam." Yes, the fear of Islam and Muslims and we do nothing to mitigate or eliminate this fear. Our impulse to defend Muslims, whatever they do is train to discredit us. We are not the guardians of our faith. Our only obligation is to learn to live in peace and harmony with all others, what we do very poorly. For example, it is rare that Muslims take time to discuss how treaties are non-Muslims in Islamic countries. If Muslims could practice their religion in the West and were treated as third class citizens, they would know better what discrimination and harassment mean really. We love to scream at "racism" at every opportunity, but they are silent when others are abused. Thus, in Switzerland, the minarets banned. Does this have any consequences for Islam? No. The first mosques had no minarets. They were added to many mosques after the death of the prophet, when Islam was becoming a political regime. But what is more important from a spiritual point of view is that the Creator does not live in domes or minarets, but in our hearts. Before starting to build minarets, first learn to build bridges with others.

Raheel Raza was one of three panelists for the public lecture organized by Point ROCKING October 2, 2008 in Montreal entitled Political Islam threatens our freedoms is also a member of the Muslim Canadian Congress (MCC), the only Muslim lobby Canadian which is not sponsored by foreign interests or by one or other of the countries of North Africa, Middle East, Persian Gulf countries or the Muslim world in general.

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Labels: Canada, Europe, Islam, Religion and fanaticism, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland

# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 8:12 PM 0 Comments

Europeans have had enough "of minarets"

Polls indicate that the French, Belgians, Dutchmen, Spaniards and Germans have the feeling of being in disagreement with the majority of elites and media. Instead of listening to the wisdom of majorities, one of the foundations of the democratic spirit, the elites are trying to show that people are intolerant, xenophobic and racist as was the case in Quebec with Bouchard-Taylor.

We prefer to call to analysts, academics and non-elected officials of our governments, the UN or worse, the OIC, the bloc of Islamic countries which persecute their several religious minorities and prohibit building places of worship other than mosques. Several of these countries will even prohibit the mere maintenance of places of worship exist. Representatives of these Islamic countries have absolutely no lesson to give to the world on human rights, including freedom of worship and conscience.

The readers of Le Monde, Le Figaro, L'Express, Le Soir, Spiegel, 20minutos, DN Globo ... are tere xenophobic from extreme right, racist and intolerant?

Some media representatives and unelected public service in Quebec and Canada they will again call on these experts or spokespersons of the academic or cultural communities?

Several commentators on the print and electronic media give voice to people who say they are "frightened by the radical positions" of Swiss. They denounce what they consider to be "a lot of falsehoods and amalgam".

The Government of Quebec (or Canada) Will it appeal to these specialists in public communication, experts pluralism citizen, management controversies and religious rhetoric in reconfiguring space contemporary audiences to reinterpret the results of polls yet clear and votes of citizens to block the wishes of the majority?

Probably Richard Martineau, who gave the best explanation to understand this 1 which is actually happening in Europe in his column: The return of the beast, published in the Journal de Montreal June 25, 2009:

"The traditional parties have their hole, close the mouth and dare not deal with issues a little bit difficult, for fear of being cheated in the mud.

What happens then to voters who feel uncomfortable LEGITIMATE against the rise of radical Islam? For citizens who wonder whether their country can afford to absorb all the immigrants it receives? For people experiencing problems with the unreasonable demands of certain groups?"

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Labels: Europe, Islam, Noémie Cournoyer, Religion and fanaticism, Switzerland

# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 9:06 AM 0 Comments

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."

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Labels: Europe, Francis Chartrand, Islam, Italy, Religion and fanaticism

# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 10:39 PM 0 Comments

The European Union should resist British government efforts to gain acceptance for the use of diplomatic assurances against torture in national security deportations and extraditions, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

The 36-page report, titled “Not the Way Forward: The UK’s Dangerous Reliance on Diplomatic Assurances,” calls on the EU to uphold its own guidelines on torture and to refuse to legitimate unreliable promises against torture made by abusive governments.

“The reason there’s a global ban on sending people back to places where they might be tortured is precisely because abusive governments can’t be trusted,” said Julia Hall, senior counterterrorism counsel at Human Rights Watch. “Terrorism suspects at risk of torture in their home countries should have fair trials in the EU.”

The report details the British government’s advocacy in various EU-related forums in favor of broader acceptance of diplomatic assurances, which British officials claim are “an effective way forward” for European countries. The UK is currently leading an effort, through the G6 (group of interior ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK), for broader EU endorsement of its “deportation with assurances” policy. At meetings in Venice and Sopot in 2007, the G6 issued concluding statements urging the further exploration of possibilities for employing diplomatic assurances and seeking consensus on their use in the EU.

The UK also advocated for consideration of national security expulsions in reliance on diplomatic assurances prior to a Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in November 2007. The working group setting the agenda for that meeting declined to put the issue on the agenda, signaling an unease among some member states that the use of such assurances could be enshrined as a matter of EU policy.

In February 2008, the European Commission’s Directorate General for External Relations issued an opinion expressing strong concern that the use of such assurances undermines the global ban on torture and efforts to eradicate such abuse.

“So far, the EU has remained firm and rebuffed the UK’s efforts to weaken the ban on torture,” said Hall.

In addition to documenting the UK’s efforts to advocate at the EU for broad acceptance of diplomatic assurances, the Human Rights Watch report reviews recent European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence in cases involving diplomatic assurances. These cases include Saadi v. Italy, in which the UK intervened in an ill-fated attempt to water down the ban on returns to risk of ill-treatment. The report also explains how other countries –including EU members Denmark, Italy, and Spain, as well as Switzerland, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan – are exploring or already using diplomatic assurances for deportations and extraditions, further weakening the global ban on transfers to risk of torture.

“The British government is setting a bad example at a time when measures designed to prevent torture are under assault,” said Hall. “It is disturbing that other EU countries with long histories of promoting and protecting human rights are following the UK’s lead. All EU member states should be holding perpetrators of torture accountable, not partnering with them.”

The new report highlights two appeals before the upper house of the UK Parliament, the House of Lords, in October 2008. In RB and U v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, to be heard on October 22 and 23, 2008, the potential deportees are two Algerians, and the assurances from the Algerian authorities were negotiated for each individual. On October 28 and 29, the Lords will hear Secretary of State for the Home Department v. OO (Othman) involving Omar Othman (a.k.a. Abu Qatada), a radical Muslim cleric accused of ties to al Qaeda. The UK is seeking to deport Othman in reliance on assurances from the Jordanian authorities in a broad “memorandum of understanding” between the UK and Jordan.

The British government concedes that, but for the assurances, the men would be at risk of torture; it is thus the effectiveness of the assurances that lies at the heart of the appeals. In hearing these appeals, Britain’s highest court will for the first time grapple with the government’s “deportation with assurances” policy, an important component of its counterterrorism strategy. Human Rights Watch and Justice, the London-based affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists, submitted an amicus brief for consideration in both appeals.

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Labels: Europe, Human Rights Watch, Noémie Cournoyer, United Kingdom

# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 1:35 AM 0 Comments

Be careful not to confuse Muslims and Arabs: the Arabs are a minority among Muslims (20 to 25%), and there are Arab Christians (Egypt: 10 to 15% of the population, Lebanon (20 to 40%), Syria ( 10%), Jordan (5%), Palestine (5%), Iraq (3%). There are also Jews Arabic (Morocco, Tunisia ....)

Breakdown by continent

Of a total of 1, 3 billion Muslims around 930 million to almost live in Asia, including 240 million in the Middle East (Fertile Crescent, Iran, Arabian Peninsula and Turkey) and 690 million in South Central Asia, 320 million reside in Africa, including approximately 130 in North Africa and 190 in Sub-Saharan Africa. North America does little more than 5 million Muslims and Latin America a million and a half. For Europe see below.

The majority of Muslims living in Asia.

The Muslim country in Asia with the most Muslims is Indonesia with about 200 million people are Muslim, followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh and India (minority of 13% over 1 billion people).

Shiites and Sunnis

The Shiites are the majority faith in Iran (94%), Iraq (62.5%) and Lebanon (34.1%, compared to 23.4% Maronite, Sunni 21.2% and 11.2% Orthodox), while represent significant minorities in Kuwait (30.3% against 45% Sunni) in the United Arab Emirates (15.9%) and Syria (12%). In Oman, against by the majority of the population is Ibadite faith (or kharédjite) (73.6%).

The Sunnis are the majority in all other countries musulmans. Countries with most Muslims:

Indonesia: 200 million

Pakistan: 139 million

India: 130 million

Bangladesh: 112 million

Turkey: 64 million

Iran: 60 million

Egypt: 58 million

Nigeria: 55 million

Europe

The European Union has 15 million Muslims from 466 million; the European continent as a whole about 32 million.

There are 12 million Muslims of European origin in what is called the arc of Muslim Europe: Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bosnia, Bulgaria.

France is the European country which has the most Muslims, about 4 million people are Muslim. Germany has 2.5 million Muslims, mostly of Turkish origin, the United Kingdom 1,600,000 Muslims mostly from the Indian sub-continent. Spain: 1 million, the Netherlands 850,000 or 6% of the population, as in Denmark, there are about 700,000 Muslims around 5.5 million inhabitants.

Converted into Europe

Their number is difficult to establish and statistics are very unclear.

It is estimated that in France around 3500 people convertiraient to Islam each year. The France would consist of 40,000 to 70,000 converts. It is estimated that in the opposite direction, between 600 and 900 Muslims convertiraient annually to Christianity (1 / 3 to Catholicism, 2 / 3 evangelical Protestantism).

Germany: 15,000 to 100,000 converts.

Belgium: between 6,000 and 25,000 converts.

Spain: 5000 to 20,000 converts.

(Source: Le Monde of 12 September 2007)

Other religions (estimated end-2003): Christianity: 2 billion (1131 billion Catholics [source: Pontifical Yearbook], 440 million Protestants and 220 million Orthodox), Hinduism: 840 million, Buddhism: 380 million, Judaism, 14 5 million

Labels: Arab World, Europe, Iba Bouramine, Islam

# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 5:00 PM 0 Comments