Contributor’s links post for January 1, 2019

Daily Links Post graphic

Each day at just after midnight Eastern, a post like this one is created for contributors and readers of this site to upload news links and video links on the issues that concern this site. Most notably, Islam and its effects on Classical Civilization, and various forms of leftism from Soviet era communism, to postmodernism and all the flavours of galloping statism and totalitarianism such as Nazism and Fascism which are increasingly snuffing out the classical liberalism which created our near, miraculous civilization the West has been building since the time of Socrates.

This document was written around the time this site was created, for those who wish to understand what this site is about. And while our understanding of the world and events has grown since then, the basic ideas remain sound and true to the purpose.

So please post all links, thoughts and ideas that you feel will benefit the readers of this site to the comments under this post each day. And thank you all for your contributions.

This is the new Samizdat. We muse use it while we can.

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

142 Replies to “Contributor’s links post for January 1, 2019”

  1. This is the blurb for a new show on the History Channel, it has people dressed in full plate armor using sharp swords, maces, axes etc to pound on each other until one wins the fight. Given the way civilization is collapsing how long until they are fighting to the death?

    Knight Fight
    Series Premiere Wed Jan 23 at 10/9c

    https://www.history.com/shows/knight-fight

  2. Eight agencies coordinate efforts to combat ‘tasattur’ (saudigazette, Jan 1, 2019)
    http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/551465/SAUDI-ARABIA/Eight-agencies-coordinate-efforts-to-combat-tasattur

    “The efforts of eight government agencies are consolidated and integrated in the national program for combating “tasattur”, or commercial concealment, where foreigners run business operations in the name of Saudis in return for a fixed payment.

    The move will help and support Saudis to own and run business in various commercial and investment sectors, according to officials.

    They said the move would contribute to eliminate commercial concealment and boost the growth of the private sector…”

  3. Saudi peace forum to promote concept of coexistence (saudigazette, Jan 1, 2019)
    http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/551476/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-peace-forum-to-promote-concept-of-coexistence

    “The two-day Saudi Salam (peace) Forum starting on Sunday aims at promoting the concepts of co-existence and building bridges of communication between Saudi society and those around the world.

    Dr. Fahad Bin Sultan Al-Sultan, executive director of the Salam for Cultural Communication project, said it has been keen since the start of its work to monitor and analyze the issues affecting the image of the Kingdom in some international media because of inaccurate information.

    He said the project aims at highlighting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 which emphasizes the importance and necessity of spreading the culture of coexistence and civilized communication between different peoples and societies.

    The Saudi Salam Forum will highlight the progress, achievements and the efforts made by the Kingdom for the benefit of mankind and for promoting world peace. The forum will be a venue for a number of side events to show the depth of human and cultural heritage of Saudi society and its noble values of coexistence with others.”

  4. Clashes between militants and rebels leave 19 dead in Syria’s Idlib: Monitor (mee, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/clashes-between-militants-and-rebels-kill-19-syrias-idlib-monitor-2048862740

    “Clashes between militants and rebels in northern Syria have killed at least 19 people, a war monitor said on Tuesday.

    The fighting, pitting al-Qaeda-linked coalition Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) against an alliance of rebel groups, flared in western Aleppo province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

    HTS had on Monday accused rebel group Nureddine al-Zinki of killing five of its militants, and launched an offensive against rebel positions close to the country’s last opposition bastion in the northwestern province of Idlib.

    Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based Observatory, said 12 HTS militants and five Zinki fighters had been killed, along with two civilians. A further 35 people were wounded, he said…”

  5. 2019’s first suicide bomber strikes in Libya (memo, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190101-2019s-first-suicide-bomber-strikes-in-libya/

    “A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a police station in Libya’s southwestern town of Ghadwa, a local security source said Tuesday.

    The source, who spoke to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity, said the blast had not left any casualties except for the bomber himself.

    Ghadwa is located roughly 60 kilometers south of the city of Sabha in Libya’s southeastern Fezzan region.

    Notably, the bombing comes only days after forces loyal to military commander Khalifa Haftar, which currently control much of eastern Libya, released 12 members of the Daesh terrorist group near Ghadwa.”

  6. Gunmen attack security base in Pakistan’s Balochistan province (reuters, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-security/gunmen-attack-security-base-in-pakistans-balochistan-province-idUSKCN1OV1ON

    “Gunmen attacked a security forces’ training base in the restive southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan on Tuesday, setting off a gunbattle in which at least four members of the security forces and four attackers were killed, officials said.

    The attackers apparently intended to hit a residential compound at a training center of the paramilitary Frontier Corps in Loralai district but were challenged at the entrance, according to a statement from Inter Services Public Relations, the main military communications unit.

    Four members of the security forces were killed and two wounded in an initial exchange of gunfire before the attackers were isolated in an adjacent compound. Four gunmen, including one who detonated a suicide vest, were subsequently killed…”

  7. Armed men kill 37 civilians in part of Mali hit by ethnic violence (reuters, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mali-security/armed-men-kill-37-civilians-in-part-of-mali-hit-by-ethnic-violence-idUSKCN1OV1RZ

    “Armed men killed 37 Fulani civilians on Tuesday in central Mali, where ethnic violence cost hundreds of lives last year, the government said.

    Violence between Fulani and rival communities has compounded an already dire security situation in Mali’s semi-arid and desert regions, which are used as a base by jihadist groups with ties to al Qaeda and Islamic State.

    The government said in a statement that the attackers, who were dressed as traditional Donzo hunters, raided the village of Koulogon in the central Mopti region and that some of the victims were children.

    Moulage Guindo, the mayor of Bankass, the nearest town, said the attack occurred around the time of the first call to prayer of the new year and targeted the Fulani part of Koulogon.

    He said another part of Koulogon is mostly inhabited by Dogon, an ethnic group to which the Donzos are linked, less than 1 km (half a mile) away.

    Mali has been in turmoil since Tuareg rebels and loosely allied Islamists took over its north in 2012, prompting French forces to intervene to push them back the following year.

    Islamists have since regained a foothold in the north and center, tapping into ethnic rivalries to recruit new members.”

  8. Al-Azhar says Muslims may greet, exchange gifts with Christians during holidays (ahram, Jan 1, 2019)
    http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/321021/Egypt/Politics-/AlAzhar-says-Muslims-may-greet,-exchange-gifts-wit.aspx

    “The International Electronic Fatwa Centre of Egypt’s Al-Azhar Mosque has said that Muslims may greet and exchange gifts with Christians during their religious celebrations and on social occasions.

    In a fatwa, or religious edict, published on its official Facebook page, the centre said that tolerance and coexistence between Muslims and Christians, and courtesy for each other during holidays, weddings and social events, is not only acceptable but “desirable.”

    “The Islamic religion urged followers to strengthen the bonds of friendship and compassion among the people of the same country,” the centre said.

    The centre provided evidence from the hadith that Prophet Muhammad himself used to accept gifts from some kings and emperors during his lifetime.

    Some hardline Egyptian Islamic clerics have argued that Muslims should not greet Christians on religious or social occasions.

    Al-Azhar scholars in recent years have individually stated that greeting Christians and non-Muslims on their celebrations is acceptable, but until now without issuing an official institutional fatwa.

    Coptic Egyptians, who make up 90 percent of all Christians in the country, celebrate Christmas on 7 January. However, several other denominations observe the holiday on 25 December.”

  9. 31% of Migrants Arriving in Spain Were Moroccan in 2018 (moroccoworldnews, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/01/262120/morocco-spain-moroccan-migrants/

    “Moroccans represent the largest number of migrants who crossed the western Mediterranean route to Spain in 2018, according to EFE.

    Guineans and Malians were also among the largest numbers of immigrants who crossed using the westerly route.

    Quoting recent statistics from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Spanish news outlets reported that 31 percent of those who entered Spain irregularly were from Morocco.

    About 20 percent of the irregular migrants were from Guinea, while 16 percent were from Mali.

    In December, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior said that in the first 10 months of 2018, 10,060 irregular Moroccan migrants had arrived in Spain, up from 1,310 in the same period in 2016.

    The number of Moroccans who want to reach Spain may increase. A new study by Gallup estimated that Morocco would lose 19 percent of its adult population and 29 percent of its 15 to 29-year-old if migration were an option.

    Spain has been complaining about irregular migration, seeking help from Morocco’s border security to curb the flow of migrants.

    However, Morocco has also become a final destination for some migrants.

    Last month, the European Commission announced that the European Union would deliver €148 million to Morocco on the migration front.

    “The EU is intensifying its support to Morocco to address irregular migration in response to increased migratory pressure along the Western Mediterranean Route,” the commission said.”

  10. Crackdown Against Muslims: China Closes Three Mosques (moroccoworldnews, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/01/262148/china-closes-muslims-mosques/

    “On Saturday, December 30, Chinese authorities closed three mosques in southwestern where the Hui Muslims live.

    South China Morning Post said that the mosques were closed as they were “illegally established and conducted illegal religious education.”

    The news outlet added that the shutdown of mosques in Weishan comes after several crackdowns against Muslims against Muslims mosques in Ningxia and Gansu.

    Throughout the year, Chinese authorities expanded detention of Uighur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province.

    Authorities justified the mass internment by saying that they were simply intended to bring the Muslim Uighur people into a “modern, civilized” world.

    In a report that the submitted by the UN, over a million Uighurs are currently detained in what the government calls “re-education camps.”

    The Chinese government also imposed legal penalties targeting Muslims in China, a ban on both women wearing headscarves and the religious instruction of children.

    The government of the western Chinese province of Xinjiang said that tat any Muslims who think alcohol, cigarettes or dancing are forbidden need to be arrested.

    A 2018 report from the Humans Rights Watch stated that the “ government restricts religious practice to five officially recognized religions in officially approved religious premises, and the Chinese government retain control over religious bodies’ personnel appointments, publications, finances, and seminary applications.”

    In response, a group of Muslim Uighurs recorded a video to cry for help from scholars, activists and journalists..

    “Muslim countries have economic and political interests, that is why official news outlets pay no mind to this case. That is why scholars and organizations must at least deliver this message to all muslims,” a man representing the community said in the video.”

  11. Pakistan won’t mend its ways anytime soon, says India’s Modi (tribune, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://tribune.com.pk/story/1879226/9-pakistan-wont-mend-ways-anytime-soon-says-indias-modi/

    “Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it would be a “huge mistake to believe that Pakistan would mend its ways anytime soon”, and that his government is working out various strategies to keep the pressure up on Islamabad “to check terrorism”.

    In an exclusive interview to ANI news agency, which was carried by all media outlets in India on New Year’s Day, Modi said that India had a consistent policy that no prime minister ever opposed dialogue with Pakistan.

    “It will be a huge mistake to believe that Pakistan will mend its ways after a war. It will take a lot of time for Pakistan to mend its ways,” Modi said in the interview.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan soon after coming to power invited India to dialogue and pursue peace, terming it the “best way to alleviate poverty and uplift the people of the subcontinent”….”

  12. China against abrupt withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan (khaama, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://www.khaama.com/china-against-abrupt-withdrawal-of-u-s-troops-from-afghanistan-03035/

    “A top Chinese diplomat has expressed opposition with an abrupt withdrawal of the U.S. forces from Afghanistan and has called on Washington for a responsible withdrawal from the country.

    Lijian Zhao, deputy Chinese ambassador in Islamabad made the remarks during an interview with GTV News on Sunday, VOA reported.

    “They [U.S.] have been in Afghanistan for 17 years. If they are leaving the country, they should try to leave in a gradual and a responsible way,” Lijan Zhao said.

    He also emphasized the need for the Taliban and Afghan government to sit together and negotiate a political resolution to a war he said has been going on for nearly 40 years.

    Only an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process supported by international partners of Afghanistan could help end the hostilities, Lijian noted.

    “If a civil war broke out after the U.S. withdrawal, the first countries affected will be Pakistan, will be China, and it will be the immediate neighbors. So, we have to sit together with the parties concerned so that we start a peace process,” he said.

    This comes as reports emerged earlier suggesting that the U.S. President Donald Trump has mulling withdrawal of half of the 14,000 U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan.”

  13. Turkish operations neutralize 2,398 terrorists in 2018: Minister (hurriyetdailynews, Jan 1, 2019)
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-operations-neutralize-2-398-terrorists-in-2018-minister-140161

    “Almost 2,400 terrorists neutralized in 147 major counterterrorism operations in 2018, Turkish defense minister said on Jan 1.

    Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

    Hulusi Akar’s remarks came when he visited military brigades stationed on the border with Syria.

    Turkish Chief of General Staff Ya?ar Güler, Land Forces Commander Ümit Dündar, Air Forces Commander Hasan Küçükakyüz and Naval Forces Commander Adnan Özbal also accompanied Akar.

    The minister said the Turkish airstrikes also destroyed 922 targets which include ammunition depots and shelters used by the terrorists.

    Following his visit to border military brigades, Akar held a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an.

    “You made history in [Syria’s] Jarablus and Afrin cities and I know this process will continue like this after that,” Erdo?an said during the phone call.”

  14. CBC – Canadian man arrested at Amsterdam airport for alleged bomb threat

    A 51-year-old Canadian man was arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on New Year’s Eve after authorities say he claimed he had a bomb.

  15. Turkey nabs over 200 Daesh-linked suspects in December (anadolu, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/todays-headlines/turkey-nabs-over-200-daesh-linked-suspects-in-december/1353607

    “Over 200 suspects linked to Daesh terrorist group were arrested in Turkey in the month of December, as the country continues its fight against the terror group.

    According to data compiled by Anadolu Agency, 13 of 251 arrested suspected Daesh members, including foreign nationals, were remanded in custody while some of them were deported.

    Twenty-one suspects, including foreign nationals, were arrested in simultaneous operations in the capital Ankara, Istanbul, Amasya, Hatay and Kayseri.

    In Istanbul, a senior Daesh member, identified as Naim T., was arrested with a fake Syrian identity card in his possession.

    He was revealed to have fought in conflict zones in Syria and sent to Istanbul. He had been warranted in Turkey since 2015.

    Again in Istanbul, 25 more foreign nationals were arrested in counter-terrorism operations.

    Moreover, eleven of 19 suspects — who had been arrested in police raids in Sanliurfa, Amasya, Zonguldak, Kayseri, Konya, Tokat, Corum, Duzce and Samsun — were remanded in custody.

    Aysenur Inci, a terrorist on Interior Ministry’s wanted list, surrendered to security forces on Dec. 15 at the Habur border gate on the Turkey-Iraq border.

    Inci had been involved in terrorist activities as a Daesh member in Turkey’s southeastern Adiyaman province before she went to Syria to join the terror group’s activities there.

    In addition, a total of 147 suspects were arrested in simultaneous operations in Ankara, Izmir, Samsun and Kayseri and many digital materials were seized during the operations.

    Ten more suspects were arrested in Izmir in operations conducted ahead of New Year…”

  16. Mauritania decries ‘hate speech’ amid row over slavery (anadolu, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/mauritania-decries-hate-speech-amid-row-over-slavery/1353683

    “The Mauritanian government on Tuesday said it would not tolerate “hate speech” amid continued allegations that the practice of slavery still exists in some parts of the North African country.

    In an address delivered at a government-sponsored seminar, government spokesman Sidi Mohamed Ould Mohamed cited what he described as “a recent escalation of hate speech and attempts to sow hatred among the Mauritanian people”.

    He did not specify, however, who he believed was responsible for the alleged “hate speech”.

    Mauritanian officials frequently accuse the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement in Mauritania (IRA-Mauritania), which is ostensibly devoted to fighting modern slavery, of “sowing discord” among Mauritanian society.

    “We will strike hard against any attempt to undermine social cohesion,” Ould Mohamed asserted. “Nor will we tolerate promoters of hate speech.”

    The current government, he added, had made “great strides” toward addressing the country’s “historical injustices”.

    Earlier Tuesday, the authorities released MP Biram Dah Abeid, the leader of IRA-Mauritania, after withdrawing charges of slander and incitement lodged against him by a local journalist.

    Mauritania’s ruling Union for the Republic (UPR) party recently announced its intention to organize a protest march later this month against hate speech and racism “whatever its source”.

    Some Mauritanian activists say slavery still exists in the country. The government, however, strongly denies this, but admits that the practice still has a “lingering presence”.

    In 2015, it approved legislation definitively outlawing slavery.

    Controversy over slavery dates back to the early years of Mauritania’s independence in the early 1960s, when the practice was still relatively common.”

  17. French police nab 14 migrants at Channel port harbour (thelocal, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://www.thelocal.fr/20190101/french-police-nab-14-migrants-at-channel-port-harbour

    “French police caught 14 migrants trying to steal a fishing trawler in the Channel port of Boulogne, a local prosecutor said Tuesday.

    It was the latest in a string of incidents in which migrants have tried to use French vessels to attempt the Channel crossing to England.

    “Those seeking to help them on their way were busy breaking into the trawler” to let them aboard when harbour authorities called police, Pascal Marconville told AFP.

    The migrants, including a mother and her two children, said they came from Iraq.

    Police were still looking for two people they suspected of being the people smugglers involved in the incident, Marconville added…”

  18. Somalia Foreign Ministry Declares UN Special Envoy ‘Persona Non-Grata’ (sputniknews, Jan 1, 2019)
    https://sputniknews.com/africa/201901021071154187-somalia-un-envoy-persona-non-grata/

    “A UN compound was shelled Tuesday in Mogadishu and two UN staff members were injured. UN Special Representative Nicholas Haysom has strongly condemned the attack which “may amount to a violation of international humanitarian law.”

    The Somali Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday that UN Special Representative Nicholas Haysom had become a ‘persona non-grata,’ indicating that he was no longer welcome in the country.

    “Somali notifies UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres that the United Nations envoy Nicholas Haysom is persona non-grata in the country and cannot operate,” the statement said, quoted by the Garowe Online newspaper.

    The ministry accused the envoy of meddling in the country’s sovereign affairs and “blatantly violating protocols.”

    Haysom has been occupying the post of the UN special envoy for Somalia since September 2018.”