Contributor’s Links post for February 22, 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 February 22, 2019”

  1. Southern Poverty Law Center Blames Trump for Increase in Black Nationalist Hate Groups
    February 21, 2019
    Daniel Greenfield
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    Every year, the grifters of the Southern Poverty Law Center release their new “hate map” and claims a huge rise in “hate groups”, even if they have to fake the increase. And, ever since Trump’s victory, the SPLC invariably blames the increase on President Trump.

    Even if it makes no sense.

    This time around, the Southern Poverty Law Center blames the increase in white nationalist hate groups on Trump. And then, confusingly, the increase in black nationalist hate groups on Trump.

    In its Rage Against Change report, the SPLC claims that, “The total number of hate groups rose to 1,020 in 2018, up about 7 percent from 2017. White nationalist groups alone surged by nearly 50 percent last year, growing from 100 chapters in 2017 to 148 in 2018. But at the same time, Trump has energized black nationalist hate groups — typically antisemitic and anti-LGBT organizations — with an increase to 264 from 233 in 2017. ”

    Trump has energized black nationalist hate groups?

    https://www.frontpagemag.com/point/272950/southern-poverty-law-center-blames-trump-increase-daniel-greenfield

  2. Protests in Algeria against president’s bid for 5th term (abcnews, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/protests-algeria-presidents-bid-5th-term-61238409

    “Thousands of Algerians have taken to the streets in several towns to denounce ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s bid for a fifth term.

    Security was tight Friday in the capital, Algiers, where thousands of protesters headed to Martyrs Square in the city center. The crowd of mostly young people shouted slogans like “No fifth term!” and “No to corruption!”

    Demonstrations are rare in Algiers, where police usually prevent protesters from gathering.

    The 81-year-old Bouteflika announced this month that he plans to seek a new term in the April 18 presidential election despite serious questions over his fitness for office after a 2013 stroke left him largely infirm. He has been seen in public only a few times a year during his entire fourth term.

    Yet many Algerians likely would vote for Bouteflika again, fearing that his departure could lead to government instability.

    Other demonstrations took place Friday in Oran, the country’s second-most important city, and the northern towns of Annaba and Akbou.

    In Annaba, 500 kilometers (310 miles) east of Algiers, hundreds of people marched on the main street with posters of Bouteflika that had a cross over them.

    Protesters used tires and other materials to block some streets in Akbou, in the Kabylie region, which is historically hostile to Algiers’ central power.

    Another demonstration is planned for Sunday in Algiers by Mouwatana, a group gathering opposition parties and activists. Organizers want Bouteflika to “renounce” his decision to seek a new term, notably because of his health.”

  3. “Make Turkey Great Again” Collides with the U.S.

    by Burak Bekdil
    February 22, 2019 at 5:00 am

    https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13788/make-turkey-great-again

    The summer peak of the crisis between Turkey and the United States, two NATO allies in theory, has been replaced by cautious pessimism. Few Turks today remember the days of massive Turkish protests against President Donald Trump and his administration, often exhibited in childish ways such as groups gathering to burn fake U.S. dollars or smashing iPhones in front of cameras. This is, however, an extremely fragile tranquility.

    On February 25, after keeping the position vacant since October 2017, Washington nominated David Satterfield, a career diplomat, as new ambassador to Ankara, an appointment that still needs to be confirmed by the Senate. In Ankara, a complex puzzle awaits Ambassador Satterfield.

    There are no signs that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an may rethink — or even recalibrate — his assertive neo-Ottoman foreign policy calculus. As the country awaits its critical local elections on March 31, his popularity is augmented by supportive masses who want to “Make Turkey great again.” A surprise defeat at the ballot box could be the beginning of the end of Erdo?an’s 17-year-old rule.

  4. Turkish Rights Crackdown, Global Outcry Both Intensify (voanews, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://www.voanews.com/a/turkish-rights-crackdown-global-outcry-both-intensify/4800393.html

    “Turkish authorities have issued hundreds of arrest warrants for military personnel accused of involvement in a 2016 failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. All are accused of links to the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed for masterminding the botched takeover.

    Security forces carried out simultaneous raids on the homes of 295 military personnel early Friday, with senior officers, including colonels, being among those sought by authorities.

    The prosecutor’s office said the arrests were the result of a surveillance operation centering on the use of public pay phones, allegedly by members of an underground network affiliated with Gulen.

    Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in the United States, is accused of using his network of followers within the security forces to try to seize power, a charge he denies.

    70,000 jailed

    Mass arrests are continuing across Turkish society in connection with the attempted coup, with more than 70,000 people currently jailed. As the crackdown intensifies, however, critics increasingly accuse the government of seeking to stifle dissent rather than protect democracy.

    On Tuesday, a Turkish appeals court upheld the convictions of 14 journalists and officials working for Cumhuriyet, the last critical mainstream newspaper. All face jail sentences on terrorism charges, linked to supporting Gulen.

    The convictions have provoked widespread criticism and incredulity given the paper has been an outspoken opponent of Gulen for decades, writing exposes on his followers’ alleged infiltration of the Turkish state.

    “We only have two days to live. It is not worth it to spend these days kneeling in front of vile people,” said journalist Ahmet Sik in reaction to his conviction and a seven-year jail sentence. Sik is now a member of parliament of the pro-Kurdish HDP.

    Four of those convicted face jail, with their appeals process exhausted. The remaining continue to challenge their verdicts.

    Since the failed coup, scores of journalists have been jailed, and international human rights groups and media rights groups regularly cite Turkey as the world’s worst jailer of journalists. Ankara maintains that all those in prison were put there for non-journalist activities.

    Turkey vs. PKK

    The convictions Thursday of 27 academics by an Istanbul court on terror charges is adding further to criticism of the crackdown. The academics were jailed for two years because they signed a petition calling for an end to a decades-long conflict between the Turkish state and Kurdish rebels of the PKK. Turkey, the United States and European Union have designated the PKK as a terrorist organization.

    So far, 129 academics have been convicted, with hundreds more still standing trial. Their prosecutions have drawn worldwide condemnation.

    The European Parliament’s patience with Ankara appears to be running out. The parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs called Tuesday for a full vote in March to suspend Turkey’s membership bid, citing the deterioration of human rights and the establishment of a partisan judiciary.

    “Human rights violations and arrests of journalists occur on an almost daily basis while democracy and the rule of law in the country are undermined further,” European Parliament member Marietje Schaake said in a statement.

    “Baseless allegations [are] a new sign of the European Parliament’s prejudice against our country,” Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hami Aksoy responded.

    The European Parliament vote, however, is not binding, with Europe’s leaders having the final say on the fate of Turkey’s membership bid.

    With Turkey an important gatekeeper to migrants seeking to enter Europe, analysts suggest European leaders will be reluctant to incur Ankara’s wrath.

    On Wednesday, the legal crackdown widened further, with Osman Kavala, a leading philanthropist and millionaire businessman, accused of sedition, a charge that carries punishment of life in prison without parole upon conviction. He has been in jail for more than a year pending charges.

    Kavala is one of the main supporters of civil society in Turkey, seeking to build bridges across cultural, religious and ethnic divides.

    Alleged Gezi ties

    In a 657-page indictment, Kavala and 15 others are accused of supporting and facilitating the 2013 nationwide anti-government protests known as the Gezi movement.

    The Gezi protests were one of the most dangerous challenges to Erdogan, who was then prime minister.

    With the Turkish economy facing a deep recession and soaring inflation, the broadening of the legal crackdown to cover the 2013 civic protects is seen by analysts as a warning.

    “The government realizes more and more that things are definitely not going the right way,” said political scientist Cengiz Aktar. “The government sends the message: Don’t dare to take to the streets and protest against my policies. I will be very harsh in repressing these kinds of protests.”

    International outrage over Kavala’s prosecution continues to grow, with condemnation from the Council of Europe and European parliamentarians.

    “Shocked, outraged and sad at the same time … accusing him of attempting to destroy the Republic of Turkey is totally crazy,” tweeted Kati Piri, European Parliament deputy and rapporteur on Turkey.

    “President Erdogan and his government have concocted an entirely politically motivated case against Osman Kavala and 15 others,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of U.S.-based Human Rights Watch. “Reinventing the Gezi protests as an externally funded coup attempt organized by Kavala is a cynical attempt to rewrite history and justify decimating Turkey’s independent civil society.””

  5. What the Smollett saga tells us about America in the Trump era
    By Howard Portnoy February 21, 2019

    The saga of “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett came to an inglorious end at 5 a.m. CT on Thursday when the actor was taken into custody by Chicago police for allegedly filing a false report. The arrest follows a nearly month-long odyssey that began with news reports indicating that Smollett, who is black and gay, was attacked by two men, one of them masked, on a Chicago street in the small hours of January 29. “He alleged they yelled racist and homophobic slurs, tied a rope around his neck and poured an unknown substance on him.”

    In addition to the sworn statement by Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo, the two brothers he hired to stage the attack, police have recovered security camera video of the men purchasing the mask and more, reportedly at Smollett’s instructions.

    https://libertyunyielding.com/2019/02/21/what-the-smollett-saga-tells-us-about-america-in-the-trump-era/

  6. This video is from 2006, it might have been made yesterday

    The European Union – the New Soviet Union?
    HT Computing Forever

  7. The Christmas Market attacker Anis Amri had an accomplice, Moroccan secret agent Bilel Ben Ammar:
    https://www.dw.com/en/terrorist-accomplice-in-anis-amri-berlin-attack-deported-according-to-report/a-47630802

    “According to the document seen by Focus, Ammar met Amri a day before the attack, and took photos of the market in its aftermath, which he sent to an unknown phone number two hours later. Ammar may even have helped the attacker to escape; CCTV footage mentioned in the document showed a man “with the appearance of Ben Ammar” hit a man on the head with a piece of wood in order to clear a path for the escaping attacker. The man is still in a coma now, Focus reported. All this would be new evidence for the parliamentary committee tasked with investigating the attack, whose members have no knowledge of the video, though they did not rule out that it exists.”

    “The report goes on to say that nine days later, the decision was made to get Ammar, both a suspect and an informant for the Moroccan intelligence agency, out of the country.”

    “Benjamin Strasser, a committee member and parliamentarian for the Free Democratic Party (FDP), pointed out some of the many inconsistencies in the government’s actions.
    “With Amri we were told that it took months to get a deportation, then in the case of Ben Ammar it happens very suddenly,” he told DW.
    Both Strasser and the Green party’s Konstantin von Notz, also on the committee, called the government’s procedure and excuses “highly dubious.” Strasser also added that the government and the security forces were using “tactics of trickery, deception, and hiding,” to make their work difficult. He said they were being sent redacted files and refusing to send important witnesses, such as contact men for the informants in Berlin’s Islamist scene.”

    “The report has drawn anger from several members of the parliamentary committee.
    “This is an extremely disturbing case,” said Martina Renner, the Left party parliamentarian on the committee. “At the time the investigations were not yet completed … which means the criminal prosecution and possibly the prosecution against this potential terrorist helper were essentially sabotaged.””

  8. French forces kill JNIM deputy leader El Hamame in Mali, Parly says (thedefensepost, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://thedefensepost.com/2019/02/22/al-qaeda-jnim-deputy-leader-el-hamame-killed-mali-parly/

    “French forces have killed a top jihadist group leader, Yahya Abou El Hamame, in an operation in Mali, French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly said Friday.

    The Algerian, believed to be the deputy leader of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM), was reputedly responsible for kidnapping a number of Westerners in North and West Africa.

    El Hamame was believed to be second in command of JNIM, also known as Nusrat al-Islam, led by Iyad Ag Ghali.

    JNIM is Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’s branch in Mali, and was formed in 2017 by the merger of several smaller groups including the Sahara branch of AQIM, Ansar Dine and Al-Mourabitoun. Its leadership has pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

    A ministry statement issued in Paris said he was “the mastermind and financer of several attacks.”

    El Hamame was killed Thursday, February 21 when French land and air forces ambushed a column of vehicles he was traveling with north of Timbuktu, Parly said.

    The defense ministry said that a Reaper drone supported the operation.

    He reportedly served as AQIM’s “governor” in Timbuktu when the city was held by Islamist rebels from April 2012 to January 2013.

    A number of other “terrorists” were “neutralized,” Parly added…”

  9. US gas company Anadarko’s convoy attacked in Mozambique (thedefensepost, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://thedefensepost.com/2019/02/22/us-anadarko-convoy-attacked-mozambique-palma/

    “One person was killed and six others injured when two convoys operated by U.S. gas giant Anadarko came under attack in northern Mozambique, an area which has been rocked by a spate of violence, the company said Friday.

    The convoys were targeted Thursday, February 21 on a road linking Mocimboa da Praia to Afungi bay in Palma, the nerve center of Mozambique’s nascent gas industry following the discovery of huge reserves.

    Armed men blocked the road and attacked the convoy with firearms, company sources told AFP, with local media suggesting more than a dozen attackers were involved…”

  10. Iran’s security forces capture 13 ISIS terrorists (abna, feb 22, 2019)
    http://en.abna24.com/news//irans-security-forces-capture-13-isis-terrorists_930219.html

    “Iranian Intelligence Ministry issued a statement last night, saying two ISIS-affiliated terrorist cells had been busted before the members could carry out acts of assassinations and bombings.

    According to the Public Relation Department of Iranian Intelligence Ministry, during the operations, two teams comprised of 13 ISIS members were identified and arrested before they could carry out their assassination plots against Sunni clergymen in the western province of Kurdistan province. According to the statement, the terrorists were also trying to plant bombs in public places.

    It also added that some of these 13 terrorists had been trained outside the country and were attempting to carry out terrorist acts under the guidance of an ISIS ringleader.

    Some booby traps as well as weapons and ammunition were confiscated from the terrorists, the statement added.”

  11. 13 French ISIL Ringleaders Arrested by Iraqi Intelligence Forces inside Syria (farsnews, feb 22, 2019)
    http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13971203000214

    “Iraqi intelligence forces detained 13 notorious commanders of the ISIL, who are French nationals, as well as a members of a grouplet which provided financial support to the terrorist group during operations in Iraq and Syria, Arab media sources reported.

    The Arabic-language website of Sputnik quoted al-Arabiya as reporting on Thursday that the Iraqi intelligence agency has disbanded the biggest grouplet which provided financial support to the ISIL and arrested its members in operations inside and outside the Iraqi territories, specially in Syria, and other countries.

    It added that most of those captured are Iraqi nationals, noting that a large number of banking notes have been seized from them…”

  12. Turkish Army, Affiliated Militants Continue Plundering People’s Properties in Afrin (farsnews, Feb 22, 2019)
    http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13971203000304

    “The Turkish army and terrorists supported by Ankara continued forceful seizure of people’s properties in Northwestern Aleppo, media sources said, adding that differences have increased among the militants in Turkish-occupied areas.

    The Kurdish-language Hawar news quoted local sources in Afrin as saying on Thursday that the Ankara-backed militants have cut nearly 1,050 fruit trees belonging to the civilians in the village of Qorneh Foqani in Bolboleh region.

    They also added that the terrorists have also cut the old trees near Meidanaki Lake in Shara region.

    The sources said that the terrorists in Afrin region and other occupied areas in Northern Aleppo have engaged in severe differences and several of them in Afrin, al-Bab and, specially Jarabulus, have defected their groups and joined other groups affiliated to the Turkish army…”

  13. SDF to Extradite over 500 ISIL Militants to Iraq (farsnews, Feb 22, 2019)
    http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13971203000254

    “A senior commander of Hashd al-Shaabi (Iraqi popular forces) in al-Anbar province announced that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are due to extradite hundreds of ISIL terrorists to Iraq.

    Qatari al-Obaidi was quoted by the Arabic-language al-Ma’aloumeh news website as saying on Thursday that 502 ISIL members will be delivered to the Iraqi forces based on an agreement with the SDF.

    He added that the SDF has already extradited 151 ISIL members to the command center of al-Jazeera operations forces and Iraq’s Division 7.

    Al-Obaidi said that 23 senior ISIL commanders from different Iraqi provinces who were wanted by Iraq’s judiciary were among the extradited terrorists.

    Hashd al-Shaabi forces have been actively helping the Iraqi and Syrian armies in fighting the ISIL…”

  14. Egypt: Court of Cassation Upholds Ruling on 23 Muslim Brotherhood Convicts (aawsat, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1603321/egypt-court-cassation-upholds-ruling-23-muslim-brotherhood-convicts

    “While Egyptian prosecutors recommended on Thursday upholding the rulings against defendants in the murder case of journalist Mayada Ashraf, the country’s Court of Cassation deferred its decision on the appeals to April 18.

    On the other hand, the Cairo Criminal Court sentenced 17 Muslim Brotherhood defendants to life in prison, while others were served of prison sentences ranging between 3-15 years, and cleared 15 defendants charged with violence at a rally in Ain Shams (east of Cairo) which resulted in the killing of Ashraf and others.

    Public Prosecution had ordered investigating a ring of 48 suspects in 2014 and later confirmed that between January and June of the same year they assumed participation in an unlawful group.

    The group was focused on promoting disorder, defiance provisions stipulated by the justice system and the national constitution, impairment of state institutions and public authorities against carrying out duties, and the attacking of personal freedoms of citizens. The ring is also believed to have plotted against national unity and social peace.

    The Court of Cassation, on the other hand, reduced the death penalty for the three perpetrators involved in the shooting which targeted the Abu El Matamir police station to 10 years in prison, but upheld the life imprisonment sentence for another defendant and the 10 years imprisonment sentence for three others…”

  15. Plans in Place to Teach Chinese at Saudi Schools (aawsat, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1603511/plans-place-teach-chinese-saudi-schools

    “An agreement was reached on Friday for the Chinese language to be taught at all levels in Saudi schools and universities, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

    The plan aims to bolster cooperation ties between Saudi Arabia and China and deepen their strategic partnership in all fields.

    The move will help bolster cultural diversity among students in the Kingdom in line with education goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

    The deal was reached during the meeting held in Beijing between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and Vice Premier of the State Council of China Han Zheng. The two officials chaired the third round of the China-Saudi Arabia High-level Joint Committee.”

  16. Saudi Arabia strikes $10bn China deal (saudigazette, Feb 22, 2019)
    http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/559765/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabia-strikes-$10bn-China-deal

    “Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense cemented a $10 billion deal for a refining and petrochemical complex in China on Friday, meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    The Saudi delegation, including top executives from Saudi Aramco, arrived on Thursday on an Asia tour that has already seen the Kingdom pledge investment in Pakistan and seeks to make additional investments in India’s refining industry…”

  17. 35 agreements signed, 4 licenses granted to Chinese firms (saudigazette, Feb 22, 2019)
    http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/559766/SAUDI-ARABIA/35-agreements-signed-4-licenses-granted-to-Chinese-firms

    “The Saudi-Chinese Investment Forum concluded its deliberations here Friday by signing 35 joint bilateral economic cooperation agreements between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China, worth more than $28 billion and granting 4 licenses to Chinese companies, specialized in a number of fields, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

    The forum witnessed participation of more than 1,000 decision makers, investors and people interested in the economic field.

    It coincided with the current state visit of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, to China, aiming at enhancing joint cooperation opportunities between the two countries in various political, economic, social and cultural fields.

    Furthermore, over 25 entities representing government and private sectors in the Kingdom took part in an exhibition accompanying the forum, titled “Invest in Saudi Arabia”.

    During the panel discussions and workshops accompanying the forum, participants from the Chinese and Saudi sides reaffirmed their resolve to further expand the areas of partnership and the horizon of cooperation between the two countries.

    Cooperation agreements, signed in the forum, covered sectors targeted by Saudi Arabia, such as renewable energy applications, the petrochemical industry, information technology and infrastructure. A number of decision makers in the Kingdom, senior economists and representatives of Chinese international companies attended the forum. The sessions discussed a number of issues of common interest, in the investment sector.

    Meanwhile, the first session focused on the opportunities for achieving a more favorable economic environment for the Chinese investors in the Kingdom, while the second session dealt with the investment and young entrepreneurs’ activities.

    Compatibility between the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the China Belt and Road Initiative was the main theme of the third session.”

  18. Report: Enforced disappearance, detentions rising under Syria YPG (memo, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190222-report-enforced-disappearance-detentions-rising-under-syria-ypg/

    “The number of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions are increasing in areas under the administration of the Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG), the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) has confirmed in a report published earlier this week…”

  19. Egypt building Sharm El-Sheikh wall to protect tourists (memo, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190222-egypt-building-sharm-el-sheikh-wall-to-protect-tourists/

    “Egypt has started the construction of a six metre wall around the popular tourist hotspot Sharm El-Sheikh, in a bid to protect foreign tourists from the ongoing conflict in the Sinai Peninsula.

    Despite Egyptian officials denying the existence of the project, the Guardian shared verified pictures and videos of the wall taken by local residents showing completed and unfinished parts of the barrier.

    “It’s not a wall, who told you it’s a wall. We don’t have a wall,” General Khaled Fouda said of project, describing it instead as a mix of high concrete barriers and at least 37 kilometre of razor-wire fence, with “four very beautiful doors” to access the town.

    It was intended to “beautify and secure Sharm El-Sheikh”, he said. “We are doing this for the future. The project will help Sharm El-Sheikh recoup lost tourism revenues.”

    However local residents decried the construction, saying that it was destroying the region’s natural beauty.

    “This security barrier isn’t going to make a difference, it will just annoy people more and it won’t stop terrorism. It’s a joke. Any tourist coming out of the city will be worried they’re not safe,” one local told reporters…”

  20. UN: 8,000+ refugees enter Europe in 7 weeks of 2019 (memo, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190222-un-8000-refugees-enter-europe-in-7-weeks-of-2019/

    “Nearly 8,300 irregular migrants and refugees have reached Europe by sea in the first seven weeks of 2019, the UN migration agency said on Friday, Anadolu Agency reports.

    During the same period last year, nearly 9,800 refugees and migrants entered Europe and 435 others drowned in the Mediterranean Sea, according a report published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

    In the first twenty days of February, some 1,747 migrants arrived Europe. In the first twenty days of January, number of irregular migrants and refugees entering Europe was 4,883.

    IOM Italy said on Thursday that 227 migrants and refugees entered Italy this year, according to Italian Interior Ministry and some 855 migrants returned to Libya.

    According to IOM Spain’s Ana Dodevska, around 106 migrants arrived Spain each day.

    “Irregular migrant arrivals by sea to Spain are about 60 percent of all Mediterranean arrivals of this type,” she added.

    Some 30,510 migrants died between 2014 and 2018 while making the treacherous journey to Europe, the UN agency reported early January.”

  21. France’s Eric Zemmour: Moroccan Migrants Ignite Terrorism, Anti-Semitism (moroccoworldnews, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/02/266470/france-zemmour-moroccan-migrant-terrorism-anti-semitism/

    “In the wake of rising anti-Semitism concerns in France, Eric Zemmour has again hit at the country’s immigrant community with his usual anti-immigration and Islamophobic rhetoric.

    A polarizing essayist and well-known media figure in France, Zemmour is most famous for his trenchant criticism of immigration and Islam. Zemmour is also a strong believer in France’s “assimilation” policy, maintaining that non-Judeo-Christian names like Mohammed put the survival of France’s history and culture in jeopardy.

    But this time, Zemmour particularly angered a number of Franco-Moroccan figures with Islamophobic slurs that appeared to single out “migrants coming here from Morocco” as champions of terrorism and anti-Semitism.

    Earlier this week, political parties, civil society organizations, and “anonymous citizens” marched in Paris to “express indignation” at the country’s rising anti-Semitic attacks. The march came in support of Alain Finkielkraut, a French writer of Jewish origin who was recently a victim of anti-Semitic insults during a yellow vest protest.

    Speaking on a morning show on LCI television channel on February 19, Zemmour dismissed the march against anti-Semitism. Zemmour argued that rather than fighting against anti-Semitic abuses, leftist political parties and civil society groups have been the allies of an “Islamic-leftist agenda to colonize and Islamize France.”

    According to Zemmour, France’s leftist parties’ repeated calls for diversity and immigration-friendly policies have become the “breeding ground of terrorism and anti-Semitism.”

    “We are regularly witnessing attacks on Jews and churches,” Zemmour said. He added that “there are verses in the Qur’an which openly call on Muslims to kill Jews.”

    On the LCI morning show, Zemmour maintained that immigration, especially from Africa and the Arab world, is the greatest threat to France’s social and cultural identity.

    He pointed out that France “keeps taking in migrants, especially those coming here from Morocco” who he said threaten the core of France’s social fabric, in addition to being “the root causes of insecurity and terrorism.”

    Zemmour noticeably said that the claim that Islam is a religion of peace is a “lie” used by leftist politicians and elites who put their “globalist views” and economic interests before those of France.

    ‘Shameful and irresponsible’

    Zemmour’s remarks ignited a social media storm. Many in France’s Muslim and immigrant community took to various social media platforms to denounce the polemist’s “Islamophobic,” “irresponsible,” and “fascist” comments.

    But the most notable reaction to Zemmour’s LCI interview came from Yassine Belattar, a French-Moroccan comedian who hosted a show on the same television channel that aired Zemmour’s latest comments.

    In a series of tweets just hours after LCI aired its interview with Zemmour, Belattar vented his “anger” and “disappointment” at LCI for giving a platform to a “liar” and “irresponsible” polemist.

    “There is a difference between freedom of expression and freedom of provocation,” Belattar wrote. He said that he longer wanted to be part of the LCI team because the channel was indirectly legitimizing Zemmour’s “outrageous” views.

    “I am so very angry. I resign from LCI. This is so shameful,” he added.”

  22. Punjab govt takes over control of alleged JeM headquarters (tribune, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://tribune.com.pk/story/1916317/1-punjab-govt-takes-control-jaish-e-muhammad-headquarters/

    “The Punjab government has taken over the administrative control of a madrassah and an adjacent mosque that India alleges is the headquarters of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militant group.

    The action was taken in the southern Punjab district of Bahawalpur on Friday as part of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism, according to the federal interior ministry…”

  23. AKP to give lesson to those attempting economic attack on Turkey: Erdo?an (hurriyetdailynews, Feb 22, 2019)
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/akp-to-give-lesson-to-those-attempting-economic-attack-on-turkey-erdogan-141430

    “The upcoming March 31 elections will be a slap on the faces of those who are attacking Turkey’s economy, President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said on Feb. 22.

    “We will snub those who are attacking our economy,” Erdo?an said at a rally in the southwestern Mu?la province of Turkey.

    This nation will “spoil the game” in the March elections, and the People’s Alliance of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will garner record-high votes, he stated…”

  24. FETO-linked daily in Macedonia terminates print edition (aa, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/feto-linked-daily-in-macedonia-terminates-print-edition/1400563

    “A newspaper in Macedonia linked to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) ended its print publication Friday.

    The decision was prompted by Turkey’s active struggle against FETO, declining sales and financial difficulties.

    Zaman Macedonia will move its operation online to social media, according to a statement on its website…”

  25. Nearly 200,000 terror, drug raids in Turkey in 2018 (aa, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/nearly-200-000-terror-drug-raids-in-turkey-in-2018/1400209

    “Turkey conducted nearly 130,000 operations against terror groups and just shy of 148,000 against drug trafficking in 2018, the country’s interior minister said Friday.

    Suleyman Soylu said the value of drugs seized in is around 3.5 billion Turkish liras ($656 million).

    Drug-related deaths increase incrementally globally, he noted at a police training center in Erzincan province.

    He said 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey last year, underlining terrorism, immigration, irregular migration and especially drug trafficking in the 21st century seriously threatens humanity.

    Regardless of being in Afrin, Azaz and Jarabulus city in Syria, Turkey would intervene where there is a threat without asking permission from anyone, Soylu said.”

  26. On Greek island of Lesbos, migrants’ dreams turn to disillusion (france24, Feb 22, 2019)
    https://www.france24.com/en/20190222-video-revisited-greece-island-lesbos-migrants-
    dreams-disillusion-refugees-waiting-camps

    “A gateway to Europe, the Greek island of Lesbos saw tens of thousands of refugees arrive in 2015. Back then, the islanders rushed to help the new arrivals. But today, sympathy has given way to exasperation. Many migrants are stuck on the island, waiting for their asylum requests to be processed. Their living conditions are dire; some have lost everything in a fire. Our reporters went to Lesbos, where they witnessed the migrants’ plight, but also the growing frustration of local residents.”

  27. ISIS FURY: More than 550,000 sign petition to BAN all ISIS members from returning to UK (express, Feb 23, 2019)
    https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1091224/Shamima-Begum-ISIS-latest-news-terror-UK-return-petition-javid-Bangladeshi-citizenship

    “A PETITION to “ban all ISIS members from returning to the UK” had garnered a massive 550,465 signatures at the time of writing amid the controversial case of ISIS bride Shamima Begum.

    The petition, which has a deadline of May 6 2019, has already attracted an official Government response due to it receiving more than 10,000 signatures. The response, issued on November 27 2018, reads: “British citizenship can be removed if it does not render the individual stateless. Any risk posed by those who return from Syria will be managed and they may be investigated for criminal offences.”

    But the official UK Government and Parliament appeal has apparently experienced a resurgence in activity since the contentious case of ISIS bride Shamima Begum came to light last week, with the online document appearing as “popular” on the Government website’s homepage

    Introducing the petition, its creator Stephen Kent writes: “By banning all returning ISIS members and by removing their citizenship and passports it would help keep the UK safe from terrorists and their actions.

    “It would also save hundreds of thousands of pounds and time of the police and security services.

    “It would also send a message to others that membership of terrorist organisation will not be tolerated.”

    Under the rules of the Government website launched under David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s coalition Government in 2011, Parliament must debate petitions that garner more than 100,000 sign-ups.

    It is therefore expected a debate will be held on the subject within days.

    On the petition’s webpage, it says: “Waiting for seven days for a debate date.”

    Home Secretary Sajid Javid this week vowed to rescind the citizenship of ISIS bride Shamima Begum in response to her plea to return home so she can care for her newly-born child, Jerah, after travelling to Syria to wed an ISIS fighter there.

    But the Home Office has insisted the Londoner could be denied the right to return on the basis she has dual Bangladeshi heritage.

    However, the Bangladeshi authorities assert she is not a citizen of their nation and the 19-year-old from east London says she has never been there.

    In a strongly-worded statement, Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh’s state minister of foreign affairs, said: “The government of Bangladesh is deeply concerned that Begum has been erroneously identified as a holder of dual citizenship.

    “Bangladesh asserts that Ms Shamima Begum is not a Bangladeshi citizen.

    “She is a British citizen by birth and never applied for dual nationality with Bangladesh.

    “There is no question of her being allowed to enter into Bangladesh.”

    At the end of a second interview with the BBC, Ms Begum said: “I don’t know where I’ll end up.””

    • Shamima Begum: Sajid Javid to create new TREASON ACT to jail ISIS fighters FOR LIFE (express, Feb 23, 2019)
      https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1091225/shamima-begum-latest-isis-fighters-sajid-javid-treason-act

      “SAJID Javid is planning to make a new Treason Act to jail ISIS fighters who have betrayed the UK.

      The Home Secretary has already begun working on the act by asking officials to close down current legal loopholes. The law would also be used to prosecute any foreign spies on missions in the UK, such as agents of Russia’s infamous GRU intelligence agency, The Sun revealed. The modern-day Treason Act is currently defined by anyone using violence or attempting to, against the people of the UK.

      But the new Act will be punishable with the maximum term of life imprisonment.

      Current legal loopholes will also be filled after they have allowed dozens of returning jihadis to walk free due to there being too little evidence to prosecute them.

      Tory MP and Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat made the proposal for a new Act in an academic paper in July last year.

      Mr Javid has reportedly asked to study the paper since ministers have highlighted the plan after jihadi bride, Shamima Begum, has pleaded to come back to the UK.

      Mr Tugendhat told BBC Radio 4’s Week in Westminster programme: “In the last week or so, there has been a lot more interest in this from Government than there has been in the previous five and a half months.

      “It wouldn’t be used very often. But the crime of betrayal should be a distinct and particular offence.

      “The charge of treason today would be a betrayal of the duties we have towards each other – such as the right not to do violence against each other.”

      A senior Home Office source told The Sun the new Treason Act could be introduced along with a new Espionage Bill to counter hostile states’ activities after the Salisbury nerve agent attack.

      The new laws are expected to match the US’s Foreign Agents Registration Act which is used to prosecute all spies and terrorists.

      The source added: “It is very difficult to obtain UK standards of evidence from a war zone.

      “That is why we have only been able to prosecute 40 of around 400 who have returned from Syria and Iraq.”

      Australia and New Zealand have also updated their treason laws in order to prosecute jihadis.”

  28. BREAKING: Triple stabbing as boys attacked at London church party (express, Feb 23, 2019)
    https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1091230/london-stabbing-london-crime-southwark-church-met-police

    “POLICE were called to a Methodist Church in Southwark, London, last night after reports of a stabbing which left three teenagers injured.

    A 16-year-old boy and girl were found with stab injuries and slash wounds. A third 14-year-old boy was found with non-life-threatening head injuries. A Met Police spokesperson said they were still waiting for an update on their conditions, a Met Police spokesman told Express. co. uk.

    Currently, no arrests have been made.

    A Met Police spokesman said the incident took place last night at around 9pm.

    He said: “Police were called to Grosvenor Terrace, off Camberwell Road, Southwark, at 21.11hrs on Friday, 22 February to reports of a stabbing.

    “Officers and the London Ambulance Service (LAS) attended.

    “A male, believed to be 16 years old, was found with a stab injury.

    “A female, believed to be 16 years old, was found with a slash wound. They were both treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

    “The female’s condition has been deemed non life-threatening. We await an update on the male’s condition.

    “A third male, believed to be 14 years old, was found with a head injury. This is not believed to be a stab injury.”

    “He has also been taken to hospital. His condition has been assessed as non life-threatening.

    “A crime scene has been put in place in Grosvenor Terrace. There have been no arrests. Enquiries continue.””

  29. CBC – Victims of Danforth shooting call for gun ban

    Victims and families of the deadly Danforth shooting in Toronto are calling for a Canada-wide ban on handguns and assault rifles.

    Campaigners said there has been a lack of government action to combat gun violence in the aftermath of last year’s shooting.

    The deadly rampage in the Greektown neighbourhood left two people dead and 13 wounded.

    • The gun laws already on the books didn’t work so lets put pass another one for the criminals to ignore.

  30. Conservative senator won’t apologize for telling protesters to ‘roll over every Liberal’

    A Conservative senator says he will not apologize for controversial comments he made at the United We Roll protest.

    Speaking to the pro-pipeline crowd on Parliament Hill Tuesday, Sen. David Tkachuk urged the group to “roll over every Liberal left in the country.”

    ”I know you have rolled all the way here and I am going to ask you one more thing: I want you to roll over every Liberal left in the country,” he said to loud applause. “When they are gone, these bills are gone.”

    Tkachuk says he was speaking “figuratively not literally” and the crowd was well aware of his intentions.

    “I was referring to defeating every single Liberal in the upcoming election,” the senator wrote in a statement to CTV National News.

    “I was not advocating violence and I think everybody knows that, except those for whom it serves a purpose to interpret them otherwise; certainly the people at the rally knew what I meant.”

    The Saskatchewan senator says he spoke at the event to highlight the harmful effect the Liberal government’s bills, specifically Bill C-69 and C-48, are having on the oil and gas industry.

    Members of the roughly 150-truck convoy left Red Deer on Feb. 14 and arrived on Parliament Hill five days later. The group wants the federal government to scrap the carbon tax; Bill C-48, which would ban tankers carrying crude oil on British Columbia’s North Coast; and Bill C-69, which alters how natural resource projects are approved.

    “I am not going to apologize for my remarks,” Tkachuk said. “The words I used may not have been as artful as I would have liked and certain individuals are happy to misinterpret them to suit their own self-interest, but I am not going to apologize for that.”

    Speaking before the House Justice and Human Rights Committee Thursday, the Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick strongly condemned the comments.

    “I think it’s totally unacceptable that a member of the Parliament of Canada would incite people to drive trucks over people after what happened in Toronto,” Wernick said in his opening remarks, referring to the van attack that killed 10 people on April 23 .” Totally unacceptable and I hope that you as parliamentarians are going to condemn that.”

    An edited video clip of Tkachuk’s remarks has had 12,400 views on Twitter since it was posted on Tuesday. A number of people in the comment section have said they filed complaints with the Senate Ethics Officer. The office told CTV News it is bound by confidentiality and cannot comment on the specific case of any senator.

    https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/conservative-senator-won-t-apologize-for-telling-protesters-to-roll-over-every-liberal-1.4307250