Canadian Conservatives introduce anti-terror bill
Currently, there are five Muslim men in Canada subject to strict controls under anti-terrorism legislation which the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional. One, Hassan Almrei, is still held in prison. All are resisting deportation, claiming serious mistreatment if returned to their countries. The court gave the government till...On the eve of destruction, Bush owes world an explanation
Don't worry, the White House is telling us. The world's most powerful leader was simply making a rhetorical point. At a White House press conference last week, just in case you haven't heard, President Bush informed the American people that he had told world leaders "if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought...Canadian Conservatives seek minority votes
The Conservatives are reaching out to increase their support among various ethnic and religious groups. An internal party document makes this effort clear. The document also suggests that there is no hope in making inroads with some. Where do Muslims stand in this strategy? Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent out Rosh Hashanah greeting...Veil: French Arabs more targeted than Jews
Simone Veil, speaking at a luncheon in Montreal sponsored by the Azrieli Foundation, said that "Anti-Arab sentiment is much stronger in France than anti-Semitism." Veil, a Holocaust survivor from Auschwitz, served in cabinet positions in various French governments and was president of the European Parliament. The Azrieli Foundation is a...Inquiry urged on Hunt Oil contract in Iraq
Democrats say Bush ties may have led to Iraq oil contract Washington — Democratic lawmakers moved Monday toward investigating Hunt Oil's oil exploration contract in Iraq, saying the company's ties to President Bush raised questions about whether it had insider information that helped it reach the deal. U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman,...Celebrating the Eid in outer space
Decisions by a conference of Muslim leaders and scientists will help a Malaysian doctor stay observant in outer space. Allah is watching — even in outer space. And that poses a problem for a devout Muslim astronaut who is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a Russian rocket this week. Imagine trying to...Ontario stands pat
In the Ontario elections held on October 10, the Liberals led by Dalton McGuinty returned to power. The results were not very different from those in the previous election, though the Liberals won this time with a smaller percentage of the vote. Funding for religious schools was the issue that had the attention of voters, apparently....
Nuclear flyover ‘mistake’ was really aborted attack on Iran
October 10th, 20070 Wayne Madsen Reports (WMR) has learned from U.S. and foreign intelligence sources that the B-52 transporting six stealth AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missiles, each armed with a W-80-1 nuclear warhead, on August 30, were destined for the Middle East via Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. However, elements of the Air Force, supported by...Mideast meet has ambiguous agenda
WASHINGTON (IPS) — As the George W. Bush administration prepares to host its much-publicized Middle East conference, Israeli experts gathered on Capitol Hill this week to discuss whether Washington's latest diplomatic attempts would pave the way for a solution to the long-moribund Palestinian-Israeli peace process. But with less than...Bizarre allegations about Toronto 18
Unorthodox decisions are raising questions about Crown's case Ottawa's abrupt decision to cancel a preliminary inquiry into Canada's most spectacular post-9/11 terror allegations and instead move directly to trial raises new and troubling questions. Everything about the case of the so-called Toronto 18 is shrouded in mystery....Religion an issue in Ontario election
Ontario's Conservative Party leader John Tory has created a storm in the election campaign by raising the issue of provincial funding for private faith-based schools. The Conservatives have come out in favor of such funding, while the governing Liberals are strongly opposed. Ontario's third party, the socialist New Democrats, are also...Why we must stop the war against Iran
To bomb or not to bomb Iran, that's the question the Bush administration appears to be debating these days, once again revealing the extraordinary disconnect between the White House and the American people. With a catastrophic occupation of Iraq and polls showing the American public so skeptical about the use of military force that only...Making Ahmadinejad public enemy No. 1
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly has become a media circus. But the controversy does not stem from the reasons usually cited. The media has focused on debating whether he should be allowed to speak at Columbia University on Monday, or whether his request to visit...Abizaid: World could abide nuclear Iran
Every effort should be made to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but failing that, the world could live with a nuclear-armed regime in Tehran, a recently retired commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East said this week. John Abizaid, the retired Army general who headed Central Command for nearly four years, said he was...Islamic banks in Canada?
The Canadian Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions is considering two proposals to open sharia-compliant banks. Such institutions would neither give nor charge interest and would not engage in speculative transactions. As well, they would not be involved in transactions having to do with pork products, alcohol,......
Copts arrested in Egypt
The Toronto-based Middle East Christians Association (MECA), a Copt organization, reports that three of its members in Egypt have been arrested. Founder Nader Fawzy says that the charges against the three — Adel Fawzi, Peter Ezzat Mounir, and Adeeb Ramses—are not exactly known, but it appears that they may be accused of insulting Islam...Canadian interview shuts down Iranian paper
When Iran's most important liberal newspaper Sharg ran an interview with Iranian-Canadian Saghi Ghaharaman, it did not foresee the consequences. The Tehran government shut the paper down. Why? According to Alireza Malekian, an official with the government's "culture" ministry, the punishment was for "an interview with a......
Arab-Canadian released from Israeli jail
Jamal Akkal, a Canadian citizen born in Gaza, returned home to Windsor on August 30, having been released from an Israeli prison where he spent close to four years. Akkal was convicted of plotting with Hamas to shoot prominent Jews in North America. While he refused to be interviewed by the Windsor Star on his arrival, he previously...Khadr case back on
On September 24, the U.S. Court of Military Review, set up for appeals on Guantanamo cases tried by military courts, reversed the military court decision throwing out charges against Omar Khadr. The lower court had ruled that it could not deal with the charge of his being an "enemy combatant" because it had been established to try people...Iran: Petrol rationing is bumpy ride
TEHRAN (IPS) — Two months after the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began rationing petrol to "vaccinate" itself against possible sanctions, critics say the plan has failed to cut down gasoline consumption. Instead it has hurt the agriculture, tourism, transportation and other sectors of the economy. Rationing did push...Neocons tie North Korea to Israeli strike on Syria
WASHINGTON (IPS) — Nearly two weeks have passed since Israeli warplanes conducted a mysterious raid against an as yet unidentified target in northeast Syria. Details of the incident have been slow to come, as officials from both countries have remained tight-lipped. In the absence of a clear picture of what happened in the early hours......
Time for Canada to exit NATO
NATO has recently had one of its regular meetings of the "Military Committee" in Victoria, B.C., Canada, with appropriate demonstrations against it for Canada's role within NATO and Afghanistan. Phil Lyons, the organizer of the demonstration, which ended peacefully, says "NATO is now a weapon of American imperialists." Another...Benamar Benatta sues Canada for torture
Benamar Benatta has decided to sue Canada for his treatment at the hands of Canadian and U.S officials. He is asking $35 million. His story begins back in his homeland. Benatta was in a tight spot back in Algeria. In 1992 he joined the air force, but that was the year that the military seized power to prevent the Islamic Salvation......
U.S. denies visas to Iranian religious leaders
WASHINGTON (IPS) — A religious delegation from Iran has canceled a scheduled visit to the United States this week after members of the group were denied visas by the State Department. The denial of the visa applications of four of the 14 delegation members was denounced by one of one of the trip's sponsors, who suggested Washington's...An important marker has been passed in global boycott effort against Israel
From a limestone hill rising above Qalandia refugee camp, you can see Jerusalem. I watched a lone figure standing there in the rain, his son holding the tail of his long tattered coat. He extended his hand and did not let go. "I am Ahmed Hamzeh, street entertainer," he said in measured English. "Over there, I played many musical......