Muslim population ‘rising 10 times faster than rest of society’
February 1, 2009 by SAF Desk
The Muslim population in Britain has grown by more than 500,000 to 2.4 million in just four years, according to official research collated for The Times.
The population multiplied 10 times faster than the rest of society, the research by the Office for National Statistics reveals. In the same period the number of Christians in the country fell by more than 2 million.
Experts said that the increase was attributable to immigration, a higher birthrate and conversions to Islam during the period of 2004-2008, when the data was gathered. They said that it also suggested a growing willingness among believers to describe themselves as Muslims because the western reaction to war and terrorism had strengthened their sense of identity.
Muslim leaders have welcomed the growing population of their communities as academics highlighted the implications for British society, integration and government resources.
Jihadists using google earth
February 1, 2009 by SAF Desk
The head of Google Earth has hit back at those who claim that the free virtual mapping program is to blame for aiding and abetting recent acts of terrorism.
They come at a time when India is investigating the circumstances surrounding November’s deadly attack on Mumbai, amid a chorus of calls for access to the service to be restricted or banned entirely.
In December, a petition entered at the Mumbai High Court alleges that Google Earth “aids terrorists in plotting attacks” and asked that Google be directed to blur images of sensitive areas pending all full hearing.
The Jerusalem Post reported in December that a documentary called The Field of Death posted on the Hamas military wing’s website showed terrorists using Google Earth to plot a rocket attack on a fuel depot inside Israel last April that killed two men.
Netanyahu says Iran will not get hands on nukes
ARON HELLER,Associated Press Writer
JERUSALEM – Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s leading candidate for prime minister, said Saturday that Iran “will not be armed with a nuclear weapon.”
In an interview with Israel’s Channel 2 TV, Netanyahu said if elected prime minister his first mission will be to thwart the Iranian nuclear threat. Netanyahu, the current opposition leader and head of the hardline Likud party, called Iran the greatest danger to Israel and to all humanity.
No Israeli apology for defeating Iran’s Islamic proxy
February 1, 2009 by SAF Desk
Looking at Canadian media coverage of Israel’s operation in Gaza, some fundamental Mideast realities were left out. One is that the majority of Israelis and probably the majority of Palestinians support a two-state solution. Hamas does not.
Gaza victims describe being used as human shields by Hamas
February 1, 2009 by SAF Desk
Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook
Members of a Gaza family whose farm was turned into a “fortress” by Hamas fighters have reported that they were helpless to stop Hamas from using them as human shields. They told the official Palestinian Authority daily newspaper that for years Hamas has used their property and homes for military installations from which to launch rockets into Israel, dig tunnels and store arms. According to the victims, those who tried to object were shot in the legs by Hamas.
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Hundreds of Muslims from Azamgarh demand probe into Batla shootout
January 31, 2009 by SAF Desk
New Delhi : Hundreds of Muslims from Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, gathered at the Jantar Mantar here Thursday, demanded an end to the police harassment of youths from the community and a judicial enquiry into the Batla House shootout last year, in which two alleged terrorists were killed.
The protesters, numbering around 3,000, gathered at Parliament Street here and raised slogans against the politicians and the police.
“We want an impartial time-bound judicial enquiry into the Batla House encounter by a sitting Supreme Court Judge. We also want an end to the police atrocities on youth of Azamgarh on the pretext of tackling terror,” said Maulana Amir Rashadi Madni, convener of Ulama Council that organised the Ulema Express
Senate urges govt to bring back Aafia Siddiqui
January 31, 2009 by SAF Desk
By Muhammad Bilal
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Thursday renewed its demand from the United States to repatriate Dr Aafia Siddiqui to Pakistan.
The issue surfaced when two separate reports of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Functional Committee on Human Rights compiled after some senators met Aafia – who is currently detained in a New York jail – were presented in the upper house.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said the government should ask US President Barack Obama to release the Pakistani citizen, as there are no charges of terrorism proved against her.