Planning On Visiting a Muslim Country During Ramadan? You Might Want to Think Twice …

“Islam is the only religion in the world that forces its adherents, under penalty of law, to keep its religious traditions.

On this Arabic TV show host Rashid recently listed the penalties for eating publicly in Muslim countries during Ramadan. Morocco’s criminal code stipulates that any Muslim found eating in a public place during Ramadan will be fined and imprisoned from one to six months. In Qatar the penalty is not limited to Muslims; anyone including non-Muslim expatriates and foreign workers caught eating, drinking, or smoking in public will be fined and put in prison up to three months. The penalty in the UAE and Kuwait also applies to all, Muslims as well as non-Muslims, although the imprisonment is only one month.

Egypt’s constitution does not ban eating publicly in Ramadan, but 155 Christians were arrested in one province alone, Aswan, in 2009 for eating publicly. With the collapse of the government and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist movements, there is no telling how many will be arrested, persecuted, or harassed this year.

In Iran in 2004, a 14-year old youth died as a result of the 85 lashes he received for eating during Ramadan. In Algeria in 2010, Algerian Christians who were tried for eating publicly during Ramadan were sentenced to three years in prison, although the sentence was commuted as a result of media attention. At the beginning of Ramadan each year in Saudi Arabia, guest workers are warned that if they eat publicly during the month they will be arrested and subject to imprisonment and deportation.” Read more.

European Concerns Over Muslim Immigration Go Mainstream

By Soeren Kern – “A new opinion survey shows that more than half of all Europeans believe there are too many immigrants in their countries and that immigration is having a negative impact on their lives.

The findings – which come as Europeans are waking up to the consequences of decades of mass immigration from Muslim countries – point to a growing disconnect between European voters and their political masters regarding multicultural policies that encourage Muslim immigrants to remain segregated rather than become integrated into their host nations.

The survey results mirror the findings of dozens of other recent polls. Taken together, they provide ample empirical evidence that scepticism about Muslim immigration is not limited to a ‘right-wing’ political fringe, as proponents of multiculturalism often assert. Mainstream voters across the entire political spectrum are now expressing concerns about the role of Islam in Europe.

The ‘Global Views on Immigration’ survey was conducted by the London-based Ipsos global research firm and published on August 4. It polled citizens in nine European countries: Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain and Sweden.

The poll shows a close correlation between the views the natives of a given country have about immigration and the number of, and level of, integration of Muslim immigrants in their countries.

For example, the poll finds that Belgians and Britons hold the most negative views on immigration; these countries also have some of the least integrated Muslim populations in Europe. The poll also shows that among Europeans, Poles have the most positive views on immigration and immigrants; Poland happens to have Europe’s smallest Muslim community, which comprises less than 0.1% of that country’s total population.” Read more.

Russia: Security Forces Foil Plot By Group of Islamists to Blow Up High-Speed Train

“Russian security serves have foiled a plot by a group of Islamists to blow up a high-speed train running between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, the Kommersant business daily said Monday.

A blast on the same route that authorities blamed on Muslim rebels killed 26 people in November 2009.

The respected daily said the group of North Caucasus-based militants had already prepared a fertilizer bomb and were in the closing stages of their operation when they were arrested by Federal Security Service (FSB) agents.

FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov on July 18 reported to President Dmitry Medvedev that his service had averted a ‘major terror act’ in the Moscow region in the preceding days.

Bortnikov added at the time that militants had plans to target public places and ‘transport infrastructure’ in the Moscow region.

Russia is battling a Muslim insurgency in the North Caucasus, and suicide and other attacks have returned to the Russian capital in recent years.” Read more.

Iraq: At Least 80 Dead After a String of Terror Attacks Throughout Country

Facts don’t lie.  Liars lie.

“BAGHDAD—More than 80 people were killed and dozens were wounded Monday in a string of attacks across Iraq, the deadliest day in the country this year, police and government officials said.

In the worst incident, two bombs exploded in a busy market in the city centre of Kut, killing at least 42 people and injuring more than 50.

In an apparently coordinated series of attacks Monday morning, bombings cut a swath from the northern city of Kirkuk to the pricey Mansour district of Baghdad and south to Najaf. Elsewhere, assailants wielding AK-47s targeted anti-terrorism leaders in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad.

As night fell on the capital, the violence continued.” Read more.

Obama: Islam ‘Known for its Diversity and a Commitment to Justice and the Dignity of All Human Beings’ – “‘No matter who we are or how we pray, we’re all children of a loving God,’ he said… ‘To the millions of Muslim Americans across the United States and more – the more than one billion Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time of reflection and a time of devotion,’ Obama said in his brief remarks. ’It’s an occasion to join with family and friends in celebration of a faith known for its diversity and a commitment to justice and the dignity of all human beings. So to you and your families, Ramadan Kareem,’ he said.” Read more.

Ramadan Bombathon 2011 Scorecard (So Far)

Day 15	In the name of The Religion of Peace	In the name of All other Religions	By “Anti-Muslim” Right-Wingers
Terror Attacks	83	0	0
Dead Bodies	321	0	0

Source

Turkey FM Issues ‘Final Words’ Calling on Syria to Halt Violent Crackdowns

This is the final time Turkey tells Syria to behave.  The final time, of course, until they tell them again next week …

By Zvi Bar’el – “Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Syrian President Bashar Assad on Monday that military operations against civilians must end immediately and unconditionally, warning him that these were Ankara’s ‘final words’.

‘This is our final word to the Syrian authorities, our first expectation is that these operations stop immediately and unconditionally,’ Davutoglu told a news conference.

‘If these operations do not stop there will be nothing left to say about the steps that would be taken,’ he said, without elaborating.

Turkish leaders, who had backed Assad in the past, have repeatedly urged him to end violence and make reforms after street protests against his 11 years in power erupted five months ago.” Read more.

Hal Lindsey Falsely Announces the Fulfillment of Daniel 2

By Joel Richardson – “This past week, well-known prophecy teacher Hal Lindsey pointed to a recent development within the European Union, claiming it to be a significant fulfillment of Bible Prophecy. Specifically, Lindsey highlighted the Western European Union (WEU), a group of ten nations including Germany, France, the UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, Greece, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Lindsey claimed was that this group has suddenly been invested with new ‘critical powers’ and that this group is in fact the ten nation coalition of the Antichrist as described in Daniel 2. Following are Lindsey’s comments as they appear on his web site:

… the European Union, though currently gripped in the throes of economic upheaval, is still moving forward to solidify its role in the final days of this Age. In fact, on July 1, 2011, a major milestone was quietly passed in the evolution of that body. Remember Daniel’s interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of an image constructed of various metals? Remember his description of the final kingdom consisting of ‘ten kings?’ Remember hearing that this could not be the EU because it has 27 members? Well, on July 1, the EU formally invested certain critical powers always reserved to the core group known as the ‘Western European Union,’ in a new ‘Permanent Council.’ By its own choice and in its own official documents, that group is hereinafter to be known as ‘The Ten.’

Eerily familiar, isn’t it?

But are events in Western Europe truly as significant as Lindsey is leading his listeners to believe? A simple examination of the facts show just the opposite.

For review, first Lindsey mentioned the ten nation coalition known as the WEU, then he stated that this group has now been invested with new ‘critical powers’, then he connected this development to a passage from the prophet Daniel that speaks of the final ten nation alliance of the Antichrist.

So is Lindsey correct? Is the WEU in fact the final Antichrist alliance as predicted in the Bible?

Sadly, Lindsey is very misinformed on this issue and his report is highly misleading. In fact, when one actually looks up what these new ‘critical powers’ are, they are little more than the provision to oversee their own permanent dissolution, not an exaltation of their collective status. That’s right, on June 30, the WEU was officially declared defunct.

You can read the official statement concerning the cessation of the WEU here.” Read more.

The People of the Prince to Come: A Roman-European Antichrist? – “Many have traditionally believed that since the army that destroyed the city and the sanctuary in 70 AD was considered Roman then this, therefore, must mean that according to Daniel 9:26 the Antichrist would rise out of Europe. The majority of popular Biblical eschatology teachers today, even in light of events happening on the global stage, still teach an Antichrist who comes out of Europe, a charismatic leader that rises from within the European Union to then lead a One World Government. Writers have published novels such as the ‘Left Behind’ series promoting it, even Christian movies have been inspired and produced by this very idea. However, although the people of the prince to come mentioned in Daniel 9:26 may have been considered ‘Roman’ soldiers merely because they were (supposedly) under the command of Rome, many of these same teachers have either ignored or were just not aware of the following very significant fact.” Read more.

Canada: Windsor, Ontario Mystified by Whole Lotta Shakin’ Underground

By Dalson Chen – “WINDSOR — For months, residents of south and west Windsor have been wondering and worrying about vibrations of unknown origin.

And now, those mysterious rumblings under the city have found a new believer — the city’s Ward 10 Coun. Al Maghnieh, who says it’s time to start taking the phenomenon seriously.

‘It’s very present and real,’ he said.

Maghnieh added that those who think the phenomenon is a joke or that its proponents are ‘crazy’ need to grasp the implications in terms of health and the environment.

‘I mean, it’s actually scary to think that this is going on and we still can’t pinpoint what it is,’ he said.

‘This is potentially very dangerous.’

Maghnieh said he first started receiving calls from concerned citizens back in March.

But it wasn’t until the early hours of Friday morning — when he’d arranged to visit the homes of rumble witnesses — that he experienced the sensation himself.

‘It’s a very sharp, consistent rumble sound,’ Maghnieh said. ‘Sometimes it’s like a hum.’

The city councillor said that at one point, he put a half-full water bottle on the ground and could see the vibrations causing ripples on the water’s surface.

At another point, he could hear the aluminum siding of a house rattle due to the vibrations.

‘It was very obvious. It was very evident,’ Maghnieh said. ‘It sent shivers up my spine.'” Read more.

Australia: Locals Worried After Mystery Fish Kill in the Burrum River, ‘One of the Cleanest in the Region’

“A GIANT groper has died in the Burrum River, prompting speculation as to why fish are perishing in an apparently healthy waterway.

The stench of decaying fish hangs over sections of the river and stunned barramundi are reportedly being caught by hand as they swim aimlessly in the shallows.

Lifetime local Peter Pearson said he had never seen anything like it in his time living and fishing in the region.

After finding a dead Queensland estuary groper near his Pacific Haven property on Thursday, Mr Pearson said it was time something was done about the problem.

‘I would have seen 10 dead barra today,’ he said.

‘And that groper, they are hardy critters, it takes a fair bit to knock one of those around.’

After 49 years spent on and around the Burrum, Mr Pearson said the river had always been one of the cleanest in the region.

‘We used to test the water monthly, used to send it away for analysis and never found anything wrong with it,’ he said.

He also dismissed the theory that cold water was responsible for the string of recent fish deaths.

‘It’s not the water temperature; we’ve had colder winters than this and fish didn’t die, plus there were a lot more barra then.'” Read more.

Louisiana: ‘Dead Fish Floating Everywhere, It’s Unreal’ – Officials Investigate Cause of Pearl River Fish Kill

“BOGALUSA, La. – Dead fish lined the banks of the Pearl River at Poole’s Bluff near Bogalusa Saturday. Tiny catfish gasped for breath at the surface. Other vital wildlife, including mussels, turtles, and eels, had washed ashore.

It’s something L.K. Jones has never seen here before.

‘The water’s black, black as paint, dead fish floating everywhere, it’s unreal,’ said Jones, who lives nearby.

Neighbors noticed a film over the river several days ago. Saturday morning, the dark, foamy water proved deadly.

‘I run three nets this morning, tuck ’em up, they had at least 200-250 pounds of dead fish per net, no live ones at all,’ said Freddy Lawrence, a longtime Washington Parish fisherman.

Now, multiple agencies from Louisiana and Mississippi are investigating. The source of the dark liquid appears to be a pipeline a few miles upriver. The water color, and quality, officials say, changes drastically downriver from the pipeline. And one can see the dark liquid bubbling up beneath the surface.

Officials say that pipeline belongs to Temple-Inland, an Austin-based company with a paper plant in Bogalusa. Officials say the company’s allowed to discharge a certain amount of the liquid into the river, but they’ve never seen the water so black.

‘I would suggest people stay off the water until we can find out what happened,’ said Sgt. Darryl Galloway, enforcement division of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.” Read more.