Police inspect the site of a blast that occurred during the cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe, near Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan (Reuters)

I found out about a suicide blast in the vicinity of Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan yesterday not from mainstream media but from a tweet to me which read, “one policeman killed, six person injured in a suicide attack outside Gaddafi stadium in Lahore during Pak Zim cricket series.” Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid later confirmed that the incident was indeed a “suicide attack” and a sub-inspector who had allegedly stopped the assault alongside a civilian named Rizwan had both been killed. I tweeted,

PAKISTAN CRICKET… the ‘power transformer blast’ at Gaddafi stadium was apparently a grapple with a suicide bomber!!!

There had been concerns as to whether the cricket team from Zimbabwe would travel to Pakistan in the first place because of security concerns however they decided to make the trip. After the foiled attack, ESPNcricinfo confirmed the following via a PCB spokesman,

“the tour will go ahead as planned and the Zimbabwe team will continue with their usual activities today, though they are not training today. They will play the third match on Sunday and subsequently will fly back in the wee hours of Monday.”

See following link for more information on the cricket and security,

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-zimbabwe-2015/content/story/882329.html

There was reason for the Zimbabwe team to be cautious as on 3 March 2009, a bus carrying members of the Sri Lankan cricket team was fired upon by 12 gunmen, near the Gaddafi Stadium. Six members of the national team were injured along with 6 Pakistani policemen and 2 civilians lost their lives.

When I first tweeted the news of the most recent blast which was confirmed soon after by DAWN media, I was shocked at the response I got from 2 contacts on social media. One person messaged me saying, “kindly share news plz ??? Don’t propagate false news plz” then, “delete your last post”… Another contact asked, “I am sorry to say why you are propagating to defame our country…. please stop it.”

It turned out that those claiming the blast was an “electricity transformer” were the people giving out incorrect information though DAWN stated that,

“the information minister praised the actions of Pakistan Broadcasters Association for ‘covering up’ the news while the cricket match was ongoing so as not to spread panic.”

I resent being falsely accused however when people do not even know what is going on in their own country! Who has the right to withhold news? What if there had been a bomb in the stadium, would the cricket have continued without evacuation?

The news of the incident was not entirely unexpected. I had noted a comment on social media from a well-known militant about welcoming the Zimbabwe team to Pakistan accompanied by photos of armed men in the dark though to date no one has claimed responsibility for the blast.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Relatives of murdered passengers stage sit-in at Governor House (image Express Tribune)

Bus passengers on their way to Karachi, Pakistan could not have imagined how their journey would end. Around 15 armed assailants succeeded in stopping 2 buses in the Mastung region of Balochistan around 40 miles south of Quetta and remove 25 people after checking national identity cards. DAWN media reported Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti who said, “the armed men killed 19 of the passengers after taking them to the nearby mountains…. the attackers were wearing uniform of security forces.” Five persons were later freed.

It is unclear who carried out the attack on the travellers who all came from Pishin and Quetta or the motive. Mastung Levies Force, Frontier Corps, Balochistan Constabulary and police are all involved in the hunt for the killers. Separatists have been waging an insurgency in Baluchistan for more than a decade, there are allegations of abuse by state agencies with persons regularly discovered missing or dead with signs of torture. Balochs also raise concerns that the area’s natural resources are being exploited by outsiders with little of value going back to the locals.

A protest took place outside the Governor House where relatives of the bus passengers staged a sit -in disputing the figures of the deceased, claiming they were higher than reported.

Khudai Noor Nasar a multi-media journalist for the region tweeted the following, alleging that,

UBA (United Baloch Army) spokesman #MoreedBaloch claimed responsibility for KadKocha incident & said it is reaction of #Kalat #Mastung operations @Mashaalradio

This could not be independently verified.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) released a statement condemning that attack, and also said it,

“denounces the overall lack of security and general lawlessness where the killers seem to have little problem in acquiring sophisticated weapons and uniform of security forces to facilitate their killing sprees, especially against bus passengers. Unlike the merely reactive measures on display since Friday night, the disturbing trend of attacks on bus passengers, often by culprits in security forces uniforms, need to be confronted by identifying and bringing to justice the groups involved.”

Earlier bus attack in Karachi

Earlier in May the Ismaili community were victims of a terrorist attack in Karachi when 6 gunmen approached on motorbikes boarded a bus near Safoora Chowk in Karachi shooting dead 45 people and wounding 13 others see following link,

“Pakistan: Deadly bus attack in Karachi targets Ismaili community, dozens killed and wounded”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/05/13/pakistan-deadly-bus-attack-in-karachi-targets-ismaili-community-dozens-killed-and-wounded/

Islamic State released a statement saying, “Islamic State Khorasan claims deadly attack on Ismayili shia in Karachi.” Jundallah and Sajina group also alleged responsibility.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad.  She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Anti-Islam protester Phoenix Arizona (image via Matthew Keys) 

In a modern day scene from a region once known as the “wild west” anti-Islam protesters gathered near an Islamic community centre in Phoenix Arizona exercising their “right to bear arms”. The so called “freedom of speech” rally was organized by ex-Marine Jon Ritzheimer who believes “true Islam is terrorism” and aimed to sell “F..ck Islam T-shirts at the event. Muslims attending the local mosque were advised to steer clear of the event and police presence was stepped up in case of violence. Today it was Muslim communities under attack, for many years it has also been the Native Americans suffering prejudice as I noted during a past trip to Phoenix.

The following photo shows a protester allegedly preparing for the rally.

“United States nationalism such an intolerant society” (image posted by Has’saan Hashmi)

Yesterday I wrote on the background to the anti-Islam and “Draw Muhammad” rally and explained how depicting the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in visual form is seen as highly offensive in Islam, see following link for details of earlier story,

“Ex-marine likely to incite tensions with cartoon portraying tattooed Prophet naked on prayer rug with Obama”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/05/29/arizona-ex-marine-likely-to-incite-tensions-with-cartoon-portraying-tatooed-prophet-naked-on-prayer-rug-with-obama/

Cartoons were posted online yesterday on a page promoting the rally, I wrote,

A perusal of the FB page showed cartoon images likely to cause great offence to many Muslims. One entitled “Obama and Muhammad on a prayer rug” shows a naked President in a compromising position kneeling behind Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who is on all fours wearing nothing but a pakol (Pashtun hat) both bodies are tatooed. Writing accompanying the image reads, “Islam is not a religion. Islam is a stone worshipping cult of hate and oppression.” Another cartoon is entitled the “vile” Prophet Muhammad and depicts the Prophet as a dinosaur carrying a walking stick with Islamic crescents on his ears and a sabre in his right hand with the words, “slay the Kafirs wherever you find them ALLAHU AKBAR.”

Cartoons seemed less in evidence at the actual event.

 Jon Ritzheimer ex-marine who organized the rally

Angry protesters on both sides lined a street in the city separated by the police. The Guardian stated,

“more than 200 protesters, some armed, berated Islam and the prophet Muhammad outside an Arizona mosque on Friday in a provocative protest that was denounced by counterprotesters shouting “Go home Nazis”, weeks after an anti-Muslim event in Texas came under attack by two gunmen”

The Mail Online reported,

“an ugly scene unfolded Friday night as armed anti-Islam protestors defiled the Koran and waved around depictions of the Prophet Muhammad in Phoenix.

In an event that led to angry clashes between protesters and counter-protesters holding a Love Rally across the street, these individuals stood their ground despite threats from Islamic extremists.”

Anti-Islam protesters were keen to highlight that Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi the 2 gunmen who were shot dead after opening fire outside a conference on cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a suburb of Dallas in early May had attended the Phoenix mosque. There were concerns that Islamists might attack demonstrators after an alert from Rita Katz, Director of SITE Intelligence Group that ISIS fighter Junaid Hussain, linked to the Garland shooting was urging an attack on Jon Ritzheimer at the Draw Muhammad contest and had listed his address. Anti-Islam protesters also had a dig at Leftist protesters.

Social Media Comments on Twitter

Kristinn Taylor highlighted media reporting the event tweeting,

At least they finally mentioned why the protest: That the Garland TX terrorists worshiped at (Phoenix mosque)

Dan Gainor tweeted.

Left has spent decades mocking Christians, invading churches, undercutting religious freedom. Now upset about Mohammed cartoons?

Christian Picciolini tweeted his concerns,

This isn’t a “free speech” protest. It’s a Klan rally in front of a mosque. Don’t fall for hate disguised as pride #PHxMosque #PhoenixMosque

Tyler Offerman added,

Throng of gun-toting racists screaming outside a peaceful worship service. Who are the violent extremists? #NotMyAmerica #PhoenixMosque

John Wright stated,

Can you imagine if a group of 100 Muslims marched to the front of a Baptist church armed with guns? #PhoenixMosque

C-Pakistan- Wake-UP said,

I salute the bravery of those Muslims who offerd prayers in #PhoenixMosque while armed anti Muslim bigots were chanting hate slogans outside

(Image via Matthew Keys)

Evan Pogue who lives in Phoenix Arizona stated on his Facebook page, “they are being told to bring guns because they expect confrontations from others. This is white trash at its finest. There is nothing wrong with the Islamic religion.” He also posted the following photo.

(Image via Evan Pogue)

There were allegations a Qur’an was torn up at the event and the following images posted to Twitter.

Phoenix CNN reporting on the rally gave the following comments from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the White House

“The Muslim community in America is here to stay and we are also well aware of the right to speak our mind and worship how we please,” Dr. Yasir Shareef, a board member of the Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said at a press conference.

The White House says there’s no justification for violence at the rally.

“Even expressions that are offensive, that are distasteful, and intended to sow divisions in an otherwise tight-knit, diverse community in Phoenix cannot be used as a justification to carry out an act of violence,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

Shahrukh Wani tweeted the following photo with the message,

A heavily armed men attends a #antiislam protest outside a #PhoenixMosque. We need to promote love & tolerance

The following link from Mashable (below) shows further images from the rally. Despite tensions, the protest did not turn violent. 

http://mashable.com/2015/05/30/anti-islam-biker-protest/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link

Jon Ritzheimer, right, talks to a member of the board, Muhammad Alrokh, left, outside the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix, Friday, May 29, 2015. About 500 protesters gathered outside the Phoenix mosque on Friday as police kept two groups sparring about Islam far apart from each other. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Ex marine Jon Ritzheimer believes “true Islam is terrorism”

Possibly the most controversial event to hit Arizona this year, it starts with a F..ck Islam T shirt and progresses to a Draw Mohammad contest (images of the Prophet Muhammad are strictly forbidden in Islam). Participants are expected to include a biker gang that is encouraged to come armed and the crowds will be gathering outside the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix where Friday prayers are held.

Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi are known to have attended the center mosque in the past, they were the 2 gunmen who were shot dead after opening fire outside a conference on cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a suburb of Dallas in early May.

The event, advertised as a “freedom of speech” rally is being organized by Jon Ritzheimer who believes “true Islam is terrorism”. Some argue the ex-marine is playing right into the hands of the Islamic State narrative of the west being “at war with Islam”? Imraan Siddiqi from the Council on American-Islamic Relations told CNN of the fear of local Muslim communities in the area, stating, “recently the mosques here in Phoenix actually received threatening letters — very specific threats, saying that we are going to massacre your congregations.”

The Facebook page for the Rally event reads,

“ROUND 2!!!!!!! This will be a PEACEFUL protest in front of the Islamic Community Center in Phoenix AZ. This is in response to the recent attack in Texas where 2 armed terrorist, with ties to ISIS, attempted Jihad. Everyone is encouraged to bring American Flags and any message that you would like to send to the known acquaintances of the 2 gunmen. This Islamic Community Center is a known place that the 2 terrorist frequented. People are also encouraged to utilize there second amendment right at this event just incase our first amendment comes under the much anticipated attack.”

A perusal of the FB page showed cartoon images likely to cause great offence to many Muslims. One entitled “Obama and Muhammad on a prayer rug” shows a naked President in a compromising position kneeling behind Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who is on all fours wearing nothing but a pakol (Pashtun hat) both bodies are tatooed. Writing accompanying the image reads, “Islam is not a religion. Islam is a stone worshipping cult of hate and oppression.” Another cartoon is entitled the “vile” Prophet Muhammad and depicts the Prophet as a dinosaur carrying a walking stick with Islamic crescents on his ears and a sabre in his right hand with the words, “slay the Kafirs wherever you find them ALLAHU AKBAR.”

In response to the event announcement, (before sight of the cartoons) Muslims are already feeling riled and Rita Katz, Director of SITE Intelligence Group has tweeted that,

ISIS fighter Junaid Hussain, linked to #garlandshooting urges attack on Jon Ritzheimer at “Draw Muhammad” contest tomorrow & listed address

Ritzheimer has reportedly moved his relatives from the family home. Police are increasing security around the mosque. Jerusalem Post printed a response to an email with questions regarding the event, Phoenix police Sergeant Trent Crump stated,

“dealing with this type of activity is a challenge that is facing law enforcement across the country”

“dealing with groups of protesters and opposing views is not the difficult part. Our goal and the real challenge are trying to anticipate unlawful activities that might occur in conjunction with these events.”

Meanwhile back in the UK, Huffington Post reported that,

“a former Ukip leader has asked the Government if it will support a Prophet Mohammed drawing competition…

Lord Pearson of Rannoch, who led the anti-EU party between 2009 and 2010, formally submitted the question to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) yesterday.”

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Mosque in Damaam, Saudi Arabia attacked during Friday prayers

Islamic State have allegedly claimed responsibility for targeting the Al Anood mosque in the eastern city of Dammam in Aaudi Arabia on Friday according to Reuters news agency. Four people died when a car exploded in the vicinity of the Shiite mosque and several cars caught fire in the blast.

Joyce Karem, a journalist covering US and Middle East tweeted,

ISIS bomber in Damam, Saudi was dressed as a woman , detonated himself, killed 3 others.

Hayder al Khoei, Associate Fellow, Chatham House. Middle East watcher, tweeted the following,

Another terrorist attack on a Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia, Dammam. Suicide bomber blew himself up outside entrance

Reports that suicide bomber was confronted as he tried to enter the Shia mosque. Moment of explosion (4 killed) pt

Aftermath of suicide bombing at Shia mosque in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. “Jalil, Jalil is gone, dead”

Abdul Jalil Arbash was of two men who were reported to have confronted the suicide bomber at the Shia mosque in Saudi

Source at central hospital in Dammam: Two men were martyred in mosque attack. One from Arbash family & another from Bin Eisa. No injuries.

The images below were tweeted following the attack.

This is the second week a mosque has been targeted in the Kingdom. The Imam Ali mosque in al-Qadeeh, Qatif, Saudi Arabia used by the Shia community was the target of an alleged suicide bomber during last week’s Friday prayers. According to Reuters news agency 150 people were believed to be praying at the time and there were up to 30 casualties, see link,

“Saudi Arabia: Shia mosque targeted in suicide bombing Qatif and mosque attacked in Sanaa, Yemen”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/saudi-arabia-shia-mosque-targeted-in-suicide-bombing-qatif-and-mosque-attacked-in-sanaa-yemen/

Link

“Yemen: Islamic State claim responsibility for mosque bombings in Sanaa which kills 140 injuring hundreds”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/yemen-islamic-state-claim-responsibility-for-mosque-bombings-in-sanaa-which-kill-140-people-injuring-hundreds/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Forensic teams investigate the site where Ananta Bijoy Das was killed on a busy street at 8:30am. Picture: AFP PHOTOSource: AFP

A group named Ansar Al – Islam (Helpers of Islam) have released a statement on who they will be targeting following several attacks on bloggers in Bangladesh in recent times. Potential victims include those who insult the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and anyone not allowing the rulings of Shariah or misrepresenting Islam. The group emphasized that, “we DO NOT  and WILL NOT target any people who have different religious view or belief” that is providing they do not come within the categories described in their statement which is included in full on this blog.

A group named ‘Ansar al Islam Bangladesh-2’ claimed responsibility for the killing of Rajshahi University teacher AKM Shafiul Islam in November 2014,

See following link,

“Islamist group claim responsibility of RU teacher murder”,

http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/11/16/islamist-group-claim-responsibility-of-ru-teacher-murder

The Guardian reported on May 12th, 2015 that 3 bloggers have been killed so far this year including Ananta Bijoy Das who was targeted by a group of 4 masked attackers in the street with machetes as he travelled to work. The newspaper reported that,

“Imran Sarker, head of a Bangladeshi bloggers’ association, said Das was an atheist who wrote blogs for Mukto-Mona, a website formerly moderated by Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-born US citizen who was stabbed to death in the capital, Dhaka, in February.”

See following link for full story,

“Third atheist blogger killed in Bangladesh after knife attack”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/12/third-atheist-blogger-killed-in-bangladesh-after-knife-attack

Roy’s attack on February 26th was allegedly claimed by al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Following this attack, Washiqur Rahman, a 27-year-old “atheist blogger” was hacked to death in Dhaka in March. Two madrassa students were arrested in connection with this incident.

Ananya Azad (age 25) fears for his life after receiving a Facebook message which read, “You would be the next person. So be careful.” A hit list of 84 secular and atheist writers emerged in 2013 and his name appears on the document. He has every reason to be concerned as according to an article in Think Progress, “his father, Humayun Azad, sustained serious injuries when he was attacked in 2004 by machete-wielding assailants after he wrote a satirical novel on Islamist extremism.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Asia Program Research Associate Sumit Galhotra, condemned the killings stating,

“the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina must take urgent steps to ensure the security of critical bloggers in Bangladesh given this series of murders. Authorities can show their commitment to curbing this violent trend by finding Ananta Bijoy Das’s killers and bringing them to justice.”

A letter was written to the Guardian from a number of writers including members of PEN which supports “freedom of expression” calling for the Bangladeshi government to take urgent action,

See link,

“Bangladesh must act on these brutal attacks on bloggers”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/21/bangladesh-stop-brutal-attacks-on-bloggers-ananta-bijoy-das

 Statement of Ansar Al – Islam

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

-:- Our Next Targets -:-

All praise due to Allah (S) and peace and blessings to the great man on the earth and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Allah (S) said in the holy Quran

ﻗَﺎﺗِﻠُﻮﻫُﻢْ ﻳُﻌَﺬِّﺑْﻬُﻢُ ﺍﻟﻠّﻪُ ﺑِﺄَﻳْﺪِﻳﻜُﻢْ ﻭَﻳُﺨْﺰِﻫِﻢْ ﻭَﻳَﻨﺼُﺮْﻛُﻢْ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻬِﻢْ ﻭَﻳَﺸْﻒِ ﺻُﺪُﻭﺭَ ﻗَﻮْﻡٍ ﻣُّﺆْﻣِﻨِﻴﻦَ

“Fight them; Allah will punish them by your hands and will disgrace them and give you victory over them and satisfy the breasts of a believing people” (Surat At-Tawbah, Ayat 14).

We are targeting the following people

(1)

Those who are insulting our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Allah (S) and our religion Islam. We have no problem with the atheists bloggers, atheism or with other religions or belief but we will not tolerate insulting out Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). We are targeting those who are insulting our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the name of atheism.

(2)

People who are not allowing to follow the rulings of shariah.

-He/She might be a teacher of a University, College or School.

-He/She might be a leader of a certain area or locality or a political party.

-He/She might be a Judge, Advocate, Engineer or Doctor etc.

(3)

Those who are presenting Islam wrongly in His/Her writings or talks and trying to keep Muslims far from the real teaching of Islam which is one of the main agendas of crusaders in the Muslim nations all over the world.

-He/She might be a well known writer.

-He/She might be a poet or free thinker or so called intellectuals.

-He/She might be an editor of a newspaper of magazine.

-He/She might be a actor, journalist, producer, director or actor etc.

(4)

Those who are opposing, lowing and presenting wrongly the rulings of shariah by his/her talks or writings using media or any other means of publications.

(5)

Those who are trying to destroy Muslim social values by introducing and spreading the nudity and zina among the Muslim youths. “Keep in mind that there is a huge difference between doing something bad personally and spreading it in the society.”

(6)

Those who are tying to remove the shariah rulings from the existing Islamic systems, values, cultures and economics.

(7)

Those who are trying to stop the establishment of Islamic rulings (Shariah).

In short :

Those who are trying to insult our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Allah (S) and our religion by any means such as writings, talks or physical works. We DO NOT  and WILL NOT target any people who have different religious view or belief but those described before in our statement.

May Allah (s) destroy his enemies. May Allah (s) give victory to the mujahideen over crusaders, kuffar and murtaddin and satisfy the breasts of a believing people. Certainly help comes from him (Allah) and He is our only helper and guardian. We only obey Him and pray Him. All praise to Allah (S) and peace and blessing to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

——————————————————————

————————————————————————–

Ansar Al Islam Bangladesh

End

Links

“Blogger hacked to death in busy street in Bangladesh is third killed since February”

http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/blogger-hacked-to-death-in-busy-street-in-bangladesh-is-third-killed-since-february/story-fnh81fz8-1227357486853

“Bangladeshi blogger named on hitlist warned: ‘You will be next’

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/28/bangladeshi-blogger-ananya-azad-named-hitlist

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Yemeni engineer Faisal bin Ali Jaber, whose brother-in-law Salim bin Ali Jaber, an anti-al Qaeda cleric; and 26-year-old nephew Walid Abdullah bin Ali Jaber, were killed in a drone strike in Yemen’s southeastern Hadramawt province on on August 29, 2012, speaks at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington on November 15, 2013. (Photo credit NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

An attempt by 3 Yemenis, Faisal bin Ali Jaber, Ahmed Saeed bin Ali Jaber and Khaled Mohmed Naser bin Ali Jaber to hold Germany accountable for its role in collaborating with the US on drone strikes in Yemen via Ramstein airbase was dismissed by a court in Cologne this week.

According to the Guardian, the men lost relatives in a drone attack and Faisal bin Ali Jaber was awarded “blood money” of $100,000 (£65,000) from the US government for a strike which killed Salim bin Ali Jaber, 43, and his son Walid Abdullah bin Ali Jaber, a 26-year-old policeman who were “meeting representatives of al-Qaida in the Arab Peninsula in the village of Khashamir on 29 August 2012”. A judge ruled that the German government was “not obliged to prohibit US from using Ramstein airbase for relaying drone control signalling but allows campaigners to appeal.

See article below for full story,

“Court dismisses claim of German complicity in Yemeni drone killings”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/27/court-dismisses-yemeni-claim-german-complicity-drone-killings

The European Centre for Consitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) General Secretary Wolfgang Kaleck made the following comment after the hearing,

“today’s decision allows the German government to continue to play the innocent. See nothing, hear nothing, say nothing – with this strategy the government cannot and will not be able to meet its obligation to prevent human rights violations committed by the USA via German territory. On the contrary, with this approach Germany is making itself complicit in the deaths of civilians as part of the US drone war.”

The ECCHR press release and further comments on the case can be read here,

“No end in sight for drone war via Ramstein”

http://www.ecchr.de/drones.html

An appeal may be launched at a future date.

Link

“Yemeni man granted permission to continue case against German government over role in US drone strikes”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/yemeni-man-granted-permission-to-continue-case-against-german-government-over-role-in-us-drone-strikes/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Islamophobia, xenophobia and paranoia, is rife in the media today. There is non-stop scaremongering being spread and it’s causing more harm than good. The latest comments or suggestions rather, made by Britain’s most senior Muslim Chief Mak Chishty, has just added more fuel to an ever enraging fire. According to the Chief, these are a few signs of a Muslim on the path towards radicalisation; showing a negative attitude towards alcohol or stopping its consumption, to stop wearing western clothing, to stop shopping at Marks & Spencer because they are mistakenly perceived to be Jewish owned, or believing that Christmas is forbidden. Chishty expressed the need to monitor the private spaces of the Muslim youth, as children as young as five are being influenced by ‘extremism’.

Based on these comments, I would say that most of the Muslim population in Britain fall under at least half these categories, including myself. Alcohol is impermissible in Islam, Chishty as a Muslim knows that. There are some that drink, but the vast majority stay away from it. Many non-Muslim alcoholics give up drinking. People are killed, suffer long term illnesses, families torn apart and lives are ruined due to alcoholism. For one to give up the habit, he or she is bettering themselves. A Muslim doing it must mean they have been radicalised. Just like cigarettes and drugs, I show a negative attitude towards alcohol. It’s hard to be positive towards intoxicants that kill thousands around the world every year.

What exactly is the definition of western clothing and what’s wrong with not wearing them? What’s this fascination with people that we all have to become western to seem modern or progressive? The west seem to forget that the Middle East will always be the cradle of civilisation, and it’s the resources, riches, intellectual and social advances of the eastern world that has made the west westernised. How does a person not wearing a shirt and trousers anymore (assuming this is western clothing), make one radical? A Muslim woman who decides to cover her modesty is criticised, yet showing your skin and flaunting all you have is ‘liberating’. A Muslim practising their religion the way they should, makes them just that, A Muslim. Another thing a Muslim doesn’t do, is celebrate Christmas. So what if a five year old says they don’t want to mark the celebration because Islam forbids it. It doesn’t mean we hate Christians or disrespect the religion. We don’t force you to fast in Ramadhan or observe Eid. Do you know which other religion that doesn’t celebrate Christmas? Judaism. Maybe you should start monitoring Jewish children (sarcasm).

Muslims boycotting shops such as Marks & Spencer because they are mistakenly perceived to be Jewish owned, well that’s just absurd. Firstly M&S is half Jewish owned, or at least was founded by one. Michael Marks was born into a Belarusian Jewish family. However, that’s not the reason why Muslims (including myself) boycott them. M&S stock products which are grown or produced on illegally occupied territory in Palestine. Occupied by the Zionist, racist and murderous state of Israel. The products are grown by Palestinians, who are what can be best described as an enslaved and abused community. The boycott is a moral conscience. I love how the media forget to mention the key points. Besides, boycotting is nothing new in Britain. Remember Apartheid South Africa? During that time, Britons boycotted products from South Africa or companies that supported the racist regime. Back then it was heroic, back then it was a moral obligation and a democratic right. However today, how dare we Muslims be moral and not support Britain’s ally, Israel.

The British government has introduced some dangerous laws, and let’s be frank, they have one demographic in mind. Scotland Yard report that nearly one arrest is made a day in connection to extremism. How do you nearly make an arrest? You either do or don’t. Maybe it means the police raid a house, tear it up and when they are about to handcuff the person, they change their mind. Nearly arrested. What Scotland Yard forgets to mention, is that majority of them are released without charge. The media has a field day on the news of an arrest, but remains silent when they are released. It’s how you keep the xenophobia alive. The CTS Bill and everything that is related to it, is one of the most audacious laws in recent British history. It allows the police and relevant authorities to imprison Muslims, close down mosques, temporary expel British Muslims, restrict the freedom of speech and monitor the behaviour, with little or no evidence of anything extreme.

Radicalisation comes in many forms. It can be religious, political or social. Games, films and music has radicalised thousands around the world. Some of the content in today’s entertainment business is very disturbing. Messages of sexism, racism, hatred, discrimination, gang culture and violence are widespread. The number of youngsters re-enacting the aforementioned from the virtual world into reality is increasing. From serial killers to rapists, and from gangsters to racists, social radicalisation needs to be addressed and challenged equally. Another common factor is a country’s hypocrisy to foreign and domestic policies. British Jews are allowed to spend their summer holidays in Israel, serving and training with the Israeli Defence Force. This means that if a war does break out, then they can participate. We saw a clear example of that in the summer of 2014. The Israeli army had killed over a thousand civilians, including 500 children. British Jews were complicit. Every single Jew on return to Britain was neither questioned, arrested nor detained. The deaths of Palestinian children obviously hold no value to the British government, then again, Britain does finance the Israeli army. On the other hand, those British Muslims that travel to Syria to fight Assad, who has killed over 200,000 civilians in the last 4 years, are deemed as terrorists and will be imprisoned on their return. Hypocrisy.

Let me be clear, I do accept and understand there is genuine extremism amongst the Muslims, it’s very evident in many cases. The question is what leads a person to such a path, who is responsible and what defines actual extremism? Who you may see as a terrorist, I may see as someone different. It doesn’t mean one is wrong or right necessarily. What it does mean, is that the two viewpoints need to be discussed and a viable solution has to be achieved. I personally have no issue with Muslims travelling to Syria and fighting with a group (ISIS and their ilk’s aside), whose sole purpose is to overthrow the tyrannical government, and protect innocent civilians. Britain doesn’t have an issue with sending its army to invade the Middle East and Asia, and be complicit in the deaths of thousands of Iraqi and Afghan civilians, so why worry about British Muslims in Syria protecting innocent civilians. Is it only Muslims that are subject to radicalisation?

So basically; I’m a Muslim who has changed subtly over the years, I show negative attitudes towards alcohol, I boycott M&S and other products, I don’t celebrate Christmas, I wear western clothing but also loves Islamic clothing, I support Palestine, oppose Israel and disagrees with aspects of British politics. So, am I radicalised?

End

(Thanks to Abdul Hamid Faruki for his guest blog)

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Hancock Ramstein Protest, May 21, 2015, Syracuse NY (image, Times Union)

Reprieve statement (Wed May 27th 2015)

A German court has granted ‘immediate permission to appeal’ to a Yemeni man in his case seeking to expose and put an end to the German government’s role in the U.S. covert drone programme in Yemen.

Faisal bin Ali Jaber, an environmental engineer from Sana’a who had two relatives killed in a 2012 drone strike, had his evidence heard in a Cologne court today. Mr bin Ali Jaber – represented by international human rights charity Reprieve and its local partner the European Center for Human Rights (ECCHR) brought the case against Germany, following revelations that Ramstein air base is crucial to facilitating American covert drone strikes in Yemen.

Although the court ruled against Mr bin Ali Jaber in today’s hearing, it gave him immediate permission to appeal the decision, while the judges agreed with his assertion that it is ‘plausible’ Ramstein air base plays a key role in facilitating drone strikes in Yemen.

Mr Jaber lost his brother-in-law Salim, a preacher, and his nephew Waleed, a local police officer, to a US drone strike which hit the village of Khashamir on 29 August 2012. Salim often spoke out against extremism, and had used a sermon just days before he was killed to urge those present to reject Al Qaeda.

Faisal bin Ali Jaber said: “I had hoped that today the Court would restore Yemen’s faith in the West’s commitment to the rule of law, and that the German government would put a stop to its role in these illegal and immoral operations. It is shameful that they won’t even admit to the part they play in killing innocent civilians and terrorising entire communities. But we will not give up: it is – quite simply – a matter of life or death for us. I am of course disappointed by the outcome today, but remain grateful to the court for hearing my case and am pleased that they have encouraged me to appeal. This is just the beginning of our efforts and I will continue to place my faith in the justice system and the rule of law, to find a peaceful and sustainable way to keep myself and my family safe, and end the devastation brought to my country by drones.”

Kat Craig, Reprieve legal director which represents Mr bin Ali Jaber said: “Without Germany – and other Western allies – the U.S. could not fly the drones that kill innocent civilians like my client Faisal’s family in Yemen.  For too long, the drone programme has been allowed to operate in the shadows – away from judicial and public scrutiny. Whilst we may have lost today, this hearing was an important step in the direction of greater transparency and accountability for the US and its allies in its illegal and immoral drone programme. We may not yet have achieved the end to Germany’s role in the illegal U.S. drone war in Yemen, but this simply means that we must redouble our efforts to support our clients in their attempts to end the death and suffering that drones bring in Yemen.”

ENDS

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Protesting against drones in Yemen (via NODV, Yemen)

Date:     27 May 2015; 1100 Central European Time (0900 GMT)
Location: Administrative Court Cologne; Appellhofplatz, 50667 Cologne

A court in Germany is set to take evidence from a Yemeni victim of the USA’s secret drone programme – following revelations that military bases on German soil play a key role in the strikes.

Faisal bin Ali Jaber, an environmental engineer from Sana’a who lost two relatives to a 2012 drone strike, has won the right to have his evidence heard as part of a constitutional claim filed in Germany.

The claim, filed in October last year by international human rights organisation Reprieve and its local partner, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), seeks measures by the German administration to stop the use of German territory for illegal actions by the U.S. in Yemen. They argue that the German government is acting in breach of the country’s constitution by allowing the U.S. to use its Ramstein air base for illegal drone attacks abroad.

Mr Jaber lost his brother-in-law Salim, a preacher, and his nephew Waleed, a local police officer, to a US drone strike which hit the village of Khashamir on 29 August 2012. Salim often spoke out against extremism, and had used a sermon just days before he was killed to urge those present to reject Al Qaeda.

The case represents the first time that the crucial role of Ramstein in facilitating the US drones programme will have been challenged in court. Earlier this month, President Obama acknowledged that a US drone had killed an Italian and US citizen held in Pakistan, and announced an independent investigation into the strike. Following this, a group of human rights organisations – including Reprieve, ECCHR, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International – wrote to the President urging him to do the same for all other US drone strikes in which civilians have been killed.

ENDS
Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.