“The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars but in ourselves.”

When historians look back on our era and wonder how a relatively small group of Islamist radicals controlled the international agenda for great countries across the globe, they will ask why we failed to heed those words that William Shakespeare wrote four centuries earlier. Last week in Kolkata, India, police arrested the editor and publisher of the city’s most prestigious English-language daily for “hurting the religious feelings” of Muslims.

That’s right, we now live in an age where the state can muzzle press freedom because the newspaper hurt someone’s feelings. Ravindra Kumar and Anand Sinha of The Statesman were hauled before a judge on February 11 and charged under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code which outlaws “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.” The law is unclear, as one might imagine when it comes to specific and objective criteria for determining one’s intentions. It appears that Section 295A trusts this Solomon-like task to whichever bureaucrat happens to take a fancy to pursuing a case. Read more

Pakistani president admits Taliban has “huge” presence in Pakistan

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Taliban has established itself across a large part of Pakistan, forcing the country to fight a war against the hard-line Islamist group that is about Pakistan’s own survival, President Asif Zardari told CBS News.

“(The Taliban) do have a presence in huge amounts of land in our side. Yes, that is the fact,” Zardari told “60 Minutes” in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday, excerpts of which were released on Friday.

U.S. President Barack Obama said this week there was no doubt terrorists were operating in safe havens in the tribal regions of Pakistan, and the United States wanted to make sure Islamabad was a strong ally in fighting that threat.

Obama and Zardari spoke by telephone on Wednesday, the Pakistani foreign ministry said. The two discussed the surge in violence by al Qaeda and the Taliban, which has stepped up its insurgency against U.S. forces and the Afghan government.

Zardari said Pakistan had been in denial about the Taliban in the past. “Our forces weren’t increased … . We have weaknesses and they are taking advantage of that weakness,” he said.
Another sign of changing attitudes is the increasing popularity of books, movies and documentaries that explore sex discrimination, rights advocates say.

“Women do not have a proper status in society,” said Mahnaz Mohammadi, a filmmaker. “Films are supposed to be a mirror of reality, and we make films to change the status quo.”

In a recent movie, “All Women Are Angels,” a comedy that was at the top of the box office for weeks, a judge rejects the divorce plea of a woman who walked out on her husband when she found him with another woman.
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Thousands of Muslims vow to combat terror

BANGALORE: India’s one of the most prominent Muslim organizations, the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind (JUH), organized a massive anti-terrorism convention in Bangalore on Saturday, which strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms.

Attended by thousands Muslims from different walks of life at the historic Palace Grounds the convention was addressed by leading Muslim and Hindu scholars. The Muslims declared their commitment to their faith, solidarity with their leaders and patriotism.

The convention was also addressed by Swami Agnivesh of Arya Samaj, who said Indian Muslims do not need anyone’s certificate to prove their patriotism, contributions to nation building, and allegiance to the tenets of peace and brotherhood.

Sri Ravi Shanker, a Hindu spiritual leader, and Mahesh Bhat, a film director and social activist, also addressed the crowds, praising the efforts of Muslim scholars in decrying terrorism.

The resolution adopted by the convention declared, “Islam is a religion of peace and a blessing for the entire humanity. Islam does not allow the killing of innocent persons.”

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Being politically incorrect

In India it is very unusual and abnormal to write anything in support of Israel because doing so is something portraying itself as politically incorrect. In present circumstances when Israel has waged a war against Hamas in Gaza strip and analysts along with political commentators are busy in writing big articles it is less important to be included in that list but few aspects of this problem has not been addressed so far.

Being a secular and liberal democracy India always has adopted a middle path in Arab-Israel struggle although it always preferred to be seen in favor of Arab camp but for a long time every effort were going on from out of government channels to keep Israel in good humor also. But it is really paradox for Indian democracy to follow the principle of political correctness and secularism in the context of every action of Israel against its hostile neighbors. Since birth of Israel India adopted the policy of condemnation of every act of self defense of this lone Jewish nation along with other Arab nations and European countries. Read more

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