Islam And The West

Blogging Islam And West Since 2005

Entries for the ‘Western-World’ Category

Veiled Muslim Women Face $1,000 Fines In France

Under new proposals by the ruling party in France, Muslim women who wear face veils in public will be liable to pay a fine of upto 750 Euros ($1,000). Jean-Francois Cope the leader of the ruling party in the National Assembly says the proposals will address a “security issue”:

Muslim women who wear the full Islamic veil in France will face a possible 750-euro ($1,000) fine, according to a draft bill unveiled Thursday by the leader of the parliamentary majority.”

Jean-Francois Cope, who heads the governing UMP party in the National Assembly, told Le Figaro newspaper’s weekly magazine that men who force their wives to wear the burka or niqab could face an even heavier fine.

“The law will address an issue of security,” Cope said in an interview with the magazine.

“The proposed measure would prohibit the covering of the face in public places and on the streets, with the exception of special cultural events or carnivals.”

The draft legislation will be presented in the next two weeks and should come up for debate in parliament after the March regional elections, he said. ” [Source: Al-Arabiya]

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Popularity: 3% [?]

Mark LeVine On The Swiss Minaret Ban

The minaret of the Geneva mosque

Here’s more analysis from Mark LeVine, a visiting professor at the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies at Lund University, Sweden. LeVine asserts that the Swiss ban is symptomatic of Europe’s fear of economic neo-liberalism and globalisation:
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Popularity: 1% [?]

Italy Eyes Referendum To Ban Minarets

The minaret of the Geneva mosque

For those Italians feeling left out after the Swiss voted to ban minarets, here comes  news that Italy’s Northern League maybe eyeing up a referendum to ban minarets also:

Italy could be the next European country to consider a referendum on the building of Islamic minarets following the Swiss vote to ban the structures.

Cabinet minister Roberto Calderoli, of the xenophobic Northern League, said Italy should confirm its Roman Catholic roots and hold a vote as soon as possible….

Like the Swiss, Italian voters can have a direct say on an issue if a minimum number of signatures are gathered calling for a referendum….

..Calderoli said the Swiss decision was a triumphant ‘yes to bell towers and no to minarets’ that served as an important example for other European countries losing touch with their Christian identities.

He added: ‘Respect for other religions is important, but we’ve got to put the brakes on Muslim propaganda or else we’ll end up with an Islamic political party like they have in Spain.’

Others within the anti-immigration Northern League have called for a cross to be inserted on the Italian national flag to symbolise the deep Christian roots of the country.” {Source: Daily Mail}

Yipee, finally Europe is awakening to the threat posed by inanimate structures Nazi Islamofascist supremacy.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Liveleak Bigots Gloat Over Possible Muslim Deaths

Arab Car Crash On The Dunes Of Arabia

The video sharing site Liveleak is carrying a video entitled “Several occupants killed in terrible rollover drifting accident (Qatar)“.

The piece shows a car traversing a dune in what I can only presume is Arabia. The 4-wheel drive car then collides with another vehicle. This results in one of the cars  tumbling down the dune and its occupants being crushed.

Lets see  how some of the commentators at Liveleak received the information that Muslims in the car may have been killed :

  • WhopperJR: Why are they all still wearing their pajamas?
  • Fire37Rescue: Damn, how humiliating is that? To die a mans death wearing a dress?
  • Neinkenheimer: At least they’re already in their burial dresses.
  • SeeNoEvil: God willing, all the Arabs will take up this sport! Inshall’ah!
  • jumpingforJoy: What’s the matter, flying carpets not good enough?
  • icebox410: This is EXACTLY what happens when you mix people with a 12th Century perspective on life with 20th century motorized transport. Add in all that revenue they get from oil sales profits and what else are we to expect? I guess the best way to look at is there’s 2 less potential future recruits for the Taliban or Al Quaada.
  • ItsOnlyAFleshWound: hahaha Stick to riding camels its what ya’s are good at!
  • madmat35: Cool, all that is missing is an airstrike.
  • skam: there is nothing “terrible” about watching filthy muslims die.
  • MadMiff: I love it when Arabs die, pity it doesn’t happen more often until there are none left, then all the Polish scum can go live there instead of stealing jobs in the UK. {Source: Liveleak}

Wouldn’t you say their condolences to the injured and/or dead are overwhelming ?

Popularity: 2% [?]

Survey: Pakistan And Sudan More Peaceful Than Israel

Vision of Humanity has released it’s Global Peace Index for 2009 (link opens to  PDF file). In results that many will find disappointing Israel and the United States are ranked 141 and 83.

In findings that will prove to be embarrassing for those wanting to portray all Muslims as blood thirsty barbarians countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Oman and Qatar are all more peaceful than both Israel and the United States:

“For the third year in a row, Israel fared very poorly in the Global Peace Index, being placed just 141 out of 144 countries, and ranked more peaceful than only Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia….

…In a breakdown of the Israeli score, which is based on the indicator results from the past five years, Israel is seen to maintain a very high level of “organized conflict,” and a very low respect for “human rights.” In addition, the Jewish state is deemed to have very poor relations with its regional neighbors….” {Source: Jerusalem Post}

Popularity: 1% [?]