Contributor’s links post for May 4, 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 must use it while we can.

About Eeyore

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

95 Replies to “Contributor’s links post for May 4, 2019”

  1. National Iranian Oil Company to Open Office in Iraq (aawsat, May 4, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1707661/national-iranian-oil-company-open-office-iraq

    “The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) will open an office in Iraq, the semi-official Fars News Agency said on Saturday.

    The new office “will facilitate cooperation in the oil industry and the transfer of engineering and technical services” to Iraq, it said.

    The announcement comes as Iran faces US sanctions on its oil exports…”

  2. Iran President’s Brother Sentenced to Prison for Corruption (aawsat, May 4, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1707656/iran-presidents-brother-sentenced-prison-corruption

    “Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s brother was sentenced to an unspecified term in prison for corruption, reported the semi-official ISNA news agency on Saturday.

    Hossein Fereidoun, a close confidante of the president, will be able to appeal the verdict.

    The financial misconduct charges date back to 2016, and were brought by hardliners who dominate the country’s judiciary.

    Rouhani changed his surname decades ago.

    Fereidoun’s trial began in February, and he’s been free on bail since spending a night in prison in 2017.

    He had played a role as part of the team that negotiated Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers.

    Iran has in the past jailed allies of former presidents for similar charges.”

  3. UAE Refutes Qatar’s Accusations of Racial Discrimination (aawsat, May 4, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1707566/uae-refutes-qatar%E2%80%99s-accusations-racial-discrimination

    “The United Arab Emirates on Friday strongly refuted the racial discrimination allegations made by Qatar to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva.

    “Qatar’s complaints have no legal basis,” a statement by the UAE declared.

    “Doha’s complaint before the Committee is part of a malicious Qatari campaign based on falsehoods and aimed at distracting attention from the dire consequences of Qatar’s state-sponsored terrorism,” the statement added, according to the WAM news agency.

    UAE further outlined in its statement the measures taken to facilitate the entry of Qatari nationals to the country in spite of Doha’s destructive policies and promotion of extremism in the region.

    “When it severed its relations with Qatar in 2017, the UAE took a series of measures in compliance with international law and in response to Doha’s refusal to honor its international obligations. These measures were not meant to target the people of Qatar.”

    The statement read: “The UAE has instituted a requirement for all Qatari citizens overseas to obtain prior permission for entry into the UAE. Qatari citizens already resident in the UAE need not apply for permission to continue residence in the UAE. However, all Qatari citizens resident in the UAE are encouraged to obtain prior permission for re-entry into UAE territory. All applications for entry clearance may be made for free online or through a telephone hotline.”

    Abdullah Hamdan al-Naqbi, Director of the International Law Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and UAE representative before the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, said that the complaint should not have been lodged with the panel in the first place as it had no connection to any form of racial discrimination.

    He said that it was yet another Qatari attempt to politicize the committee.

    Naqbi continued: “The UAE measures regarding Qatari citizens are compliant with international law and cannot be classified under any forms of racial segregation combated by the Committee whose mandate is to fight all forms of distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin. Accordingly, the UAE can never be accused of violating the agreement in any way.”

    The statement drew the Committee’s attention to the fact that Qatar is simultaneously filing a similar complaint with the International Court of Justice, urging it to consider Doha’s two complaints as an abuse of the complaint system.”

  4. Cyprus: Turkey’s Drilling Bid Violates International Law (aawsat, May 4, 2019)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1707866/cyprus-turkeys-drilling-bid-violates-international-law

    “Cyprus’ foreign ministry said Turkey’s bid to drill for natural gas in waters where the island nation has exclusive economic rights is a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty under international law.

    The ministry in a statement on Saturday stated the bid shows Turkey’s “real intentions” of undermining efforts to restart talks aimed at reunifying the ethnically divided country, reported The Associated Press.

    The ministry added Cyprus, a European Union member, is taking “all necessary measures” to deal with the situation.

    EU Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini expressed the bloc’s “grave concern” over Turkey’s intention to drill inside Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone.

    Mogherini said the EU urgently calls on Turkey to show restraint, respect Cyprus’ sovereign rights and refrain from any illegal action to which the bloc “will respond appropriately in full solidarity” with Cyprus.”

  5. UN-backed Libya government calls on Turkey for support (memo, May 4, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190504-un-backed-libya-government-calls-on-turkey-for-support/

    “Spokesperson for the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), Mohamed Gnounou, stressed on Thursday that Tripoli has reactivated old agreements with Turkey regarding military cooperation.

    This came at a press conference held after a government meeting to discuss the developments in Tripoli.

    The Libyan official pointed out that Tripoli has asked Turkey and other countries, which he did not name, for assistance on matters. No further details were revealed.

    Gnounou explained that “Libya has reactivated old agreements with Turkey and also made demands on new matters.”

    He added that the GNA has spared no effort in communicating with “countries that support it, and asked them to make all efforts to repel the attack of the forces of the dissident Major General, Khalifa Haftar, on Tripoli.”

    On 4 April UAE-backed Libyan strongman, General Khalifa Haftar, launched a military offensive against the capital Tripoli.

    The UN-backed GNA which governs the city has since been calling on international players to help it respond to the attack.”

  6. Morocco to send 422 imams to Europe for spread religious guidance (memo, May 4, 2019)
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190504-morocco-to-send-422-imams-to-europe-for-spread-religious-guidance/

    “Morocco’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is sending 422 imams to Europe for religious guidance during Ramadan.

    Ramadan, which starts either on Sunday or Monday depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, will see scholars being sent to France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, among other countries, in an effort to ensure the unity of their community and the preservation of their mosques abroad, the ministry explained.

    The Moroccan authorities are also seeking to ensure that activity within mosques respects European laws.

    Morocco has marketed itself as an oasis of religious tolerance and has offered training to imams and male and female preachers of Islam from Africa and Europe on what it describes as moderate Islam.”

  7. Fighting in southern Tripoli kills 187, more than 1,000 wounded: spokesman (reuters, May 4, 2019)
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-casualties/fighting-in-southern-tripoli-kills-187-more-than-1000-wounded-spokesman-idUSKCN1SA0PK

    “Recent fighting in southern Tripoli in Libya has killed 187 people and wounded 1,157, a spokesman for the ministry of health said on Saturday.

    The government has also transferred a number of wounded to Tunisia, Turkey, Italy and Ukraine for medical treatment, said Tarek al-Hamshiri, the head of the government forces’ Field Medical Centre.

    The offensive launched by eastern Libya-based military commander Khalifa Haftar to take control of Tripoli is now in its fifth week.

    The U.N.-backed government of national accord (GNA) in Tripoli issued a statement earlier on Saturday recognizing 710 fighters killed in Libya’s civil war in 2014 as “martyrs”, in a move a Tripoli government source said was aimed at winning the backing of forces in nearby Zintan in the fight against Haftar.

    “The GNA took this step in a bid to get support from the mountain town of Zintan to strengthen its forces in confronting the eastern forces deployed by military commander Khalifa Haftar,” the government source said.”

  8. Damascus presses Idlib attack, artillery hits Turkish position (reuters, May 4, 2019)
    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-northwest/damascus-presses-idlib-attack-artillery-hits-turkish-position-idUSKCN1SA0EG

    “Syrian government forces and their Russian allies pounded the rebel-held northwest of Syria with air strikes on Saturday, sources in the area said, as artillery hit a Turkish military position there, underlining the risk of wider escalation…”

  9. New Zealand official lauds status of Emirati women (gulfnews, May 4, 2019)
    https://gulfnews.com/uae/new-zealand-official-lauds-status-of-emirati-women-1.63741540

    “ABU DHABI: Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of Federal National Council (FNC), met Helene Quilter, Secretary of Defence of New Zealand, and her accompanying delegation at the FNC headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The FNC speaker commenced the meeting by first expressing her condolences to the government of New Zealand and its people, and the families of the victims of the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch. She praised the New Zealand government’s actions carried out to stand by the families of the victims following the violent terrorist attack. Dr Al Qubaisi affirmed that the UAE’s stance towards ending crises, both regionally and globally, is through political and diplomatic solutions. She said the UAE is a model for tolerance and co-existence, noting that the country was the first in the world to form a Ministry of Tolerance. Quilter lauded the status of Emirati women, especially regarding their empowerment and the raising of their representation to 50 per cent within the FNC for the next parliamentary session.”

  10. Egypt’s Sisi set to inaugurate mega tunnels, floating bridges connecting Sinai to Nile Delta (ahram, May 4, 2019)
    http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/331029/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-Sisi-set-to-inaugurate-mega-tunnels,-floati.aspx

    “Egypt’s President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi is set to inaugurate on Sunday major projects which will connect Sinai to Nile Delta; a step which comes under the country’s pursued Sinai Peninsula development project.

    In press statements carried out by Ahram Daily, Presidency spokesman Bassam Rady said El-Sisi will inaugurate four tunnels in Ismailia and Port Said, and a number of floating bridges, which seek to ease crossing from and to Sinai.

    The tunnel projects, executed under the Suez Canal, is the biggest in the history of Egypt, and worldwide, in terms of lengths and diameters, the workload, and the record time for execution.

    He added that the tunnels will connect Sinai with areas nationwide, meeting also discuseed development plans in the peninsula and facilitating transport and trade movement as it reduces crossing time between both sides of the canal to ten minutes instead of the previous overcrowding on ferries.

    Crossing between Sinai and the Nile Valley was only limited to Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, and the Peace Bridge in Ismailia, as well as ferries, which Rady said did not accommodate the size of growing transport and trade from and to Sinai.

    Each tunnel will accommodate the crossing of 50,000 cars daily, he said, stressing that they will achieve giant economic revenues.

    Sunday’s eyed inauguration of the mega tunnels comes less than two years after the Egyptian President inaugurated similar projects, including tunnels and two floating bridges to facilitate commercial and civilian access to Sinai and the East Suez Canal Development Zone.

    The East Suez Canal development project, which is part of the larger Suez Canal development plans, was launched in 2015. The project aims to develop major residential and industrial centres in the central Suez Canal governorate of Ismailia.

    Egypt has also embarked on a mammoth Sinai Peninsula development plan, which is set to be completed by 2022 at a cost of EGP 275 billion Egyptian pounds (approx. $16 billion), as part of efforts to fight off terrorism in the northern part of the peninsula.”

  11. Taliban commander kills the wife, son of an Afghan soldier after inviting them to his wedding ceremony (khaama, May 4, 2019)
    https://www.khaama.com/taliban-commander-kills-the-wife-son-of-an-afghan-soldier-after-inviting-them-to-his-wedding-ceremony-03883/

    “A Taliban commander has killed the wife and 13-year-old son of an Afghan soldier after inviting them to a wedding ceremony in South-eastern Paktia province.

    The provincial government media office in a statement said the incident took place late on Friday afternoon in Ahmad Khel district.

    The statement further added that the Taliban commander Qari Aziz had invited the wife and 13-year-old son of an Afghan soldier to a wedding ceremony and murdered the two after they participated in the wedding reception.

    Deedar, the soldier whose wife and son were murdered had also helped with the wedding reception of Qari Aziz by contributing 30,000 Afghanis which he had taken as a loan from another friend, the statement added.

    The security and intelligence forces have launched an operation to arrest Qari Aziz, the provincial government said, adding that the perpetrator will be handed over to the judiciary institutions so that he could be prosecuted for the crime he has committed.

    In the meantime, the Taliban group spokesman has rejected the involvement of the group’s commander in the incident, claiming that the murder of the two individuals has links with personal feuds.”

  12. 41 militants killed in Afghan Special Forces operations, airstrikes: sources (khaama, May 4, 2019)
    https://www.khaama.com/41-militants-killed-in-afghan-special-forces-operations-airstrikes-sources-03885/

    “At least 41 Taliban militants were killed and 13 others including a leader of the group were arrested in latest counter-terrorism operations.

    Informed military sources said Saturday that 15 Taliban militants were killed during the operations of the Afghan Special Forces in Deh Yak and Zanakhan districts of Ghazni province.

    The sources further added a strike near the Borka District of Baghlan province killed 19 Taliban fighters.

    “An Afghan Special Force raid in Garm Sir District of Helmand to disrupt Taliban offensive operations, resulted in 7 Taliban fighter killed, multiple weapons, explosives and IED’s destroyed. Additionally, 209kg of opium was destroyed,” the sources said.

    The military sources also added that a clearing operation by the Afghan National Army 203rd Corps in Sperah district of Khost province resulted into the capture of 1 Taliban leader while 3 Taliban fighters and 9 persons of interest were also arrested.”

  13. One soldier killed, another wounded in Syria (hurriyetdailynews, May 4, 2019)
    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/one-soldier-killed-another-wounded-in-syria-143157

    “One Turkish soldier was killed and another wounded in northern Syrian region of Tel Rifaat on May 4, during an attack by the YPG militants, the defense ministry said in a statement.

    The attack took place in a region where Turkey carried out a cross-border operation dubbed Euphrates Shield in 2016, aiming to drive ISIL and YPG from its border with Syria, the ministry said.

    The ministry said the army had retaliated with artillery fire but gave no further details on the whereabouts of the attack.

    Turkish forces shelled YPG positions in the Tel Rifaat region earlier this year in response to YPG fire.

    Tel Rifaat is controlled by the YPG- which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU- and is located some 20 km east of Afrin, which has been under the control of Turkey and THE Free Syrian Army (FSA) since an operation- Operation Olive Branch- last year to drive out the YPG. YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the illegal PKK.”

  14. Turkey: 3 soldiers martyred in PKK terror attack (aa, May 4, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkey-3-soldiers-martyred-in-pkk-terror-attack/1469918

    “Three Turkish soldiers were martyred and one was injured in a PKK terrorist attack in southeastern Turkey on Saturday, the National Defense Ministry said.

    PKK terrorists in northern Iraq launched mortar fire into Turkey’s southeastern Hakkari province, the ministry said.

    An operation was launched in the area to apprehend the terrorists.

    In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU — has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women and children.”

  15. Turkey rejects EU statement on drilling in Eastern Med (aa, May 4, 2019)
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkey-rejects-eu-statement-on-drilling-in-eastern-med/1469970

    “Turkey on Saturday rejected an EU statement on its plan to do hydrocarbon drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean.

    “We reject the statement made today by Ms. Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, regarding our hydrocarbon exploration activities in the Eastern Mediterranean,” said a Foreign Ministry statement.

    As the country with the longest coastline in the region, Turkey is determined to protect its “own rights and interests within our continental shelf” as well as those of the Turkish Cypriots on the island of Cyprus, said the statement.

    Turkey also said its hydrocarbon activities in the Eastern Mediterranean are based on its legitimate rights under international law.

    “To date Turkey has not refrained from taking necessary steps in this context, and will not do so in the future,” the statement added.

    It explained: “In fact, it is the Greek Cypriot administration which has not abstained from irresponsibly jeopardizing the security and stability of the Eastern Mediterranean region, by disregarding the inalienable rights of the Turkish Cypriots, who are the co-owners of the Cyprus Island, over the natural resources.”

    The ministry accused the Greek Cypriot administration of “refusing every proposal of cooperation and insisting on its unilateral activities in the region despite all our warnings.”

    On Saturday, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement: “We express grave concern over Turkey’s announced intention to carry out drilling activities within the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus.”

    Turkey’s statement also urged that all actors outside the region “acknowledge the fact that Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus cannot be excluded from the energy equation in the Eastern Mediterranean, and they should stop providing unconditional support to the Greek Cypriot administration.”

    “Furthermore, those who have not taken any steps towards the resolution of this issue for years do not have the right to give advice to us,” the statement concluded.

    Turkey blames Greek Cypriot intransigence for the failure of peace talks, also faulting the European Union for admitting Cyprus as a divided island into the union in 2004 after Greek Cypriot voters rejected a UN-brokered peace deal.”

  16. Muslim American Society investigating ‘oversight’ following controversial video at Philly Islamic center

    A national Muslim group says it will conduct an investigation into an event at a Philadelphia Islamic center last month during which a group of youngsters sang songs it said were not “properly vetted,” calling that “an unintended mistake and an oversight.”

    Youngsters at the Muslim American Society Islamic Center in North Philadelphia are shown in video footage speaking in Arabic during a celebration of “Ummah Day,” said the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a Middle East monitoring organization. One girl says “we will chop off their heads” to “liberate the sorrowful and exalted Al-Aqsa Mosque” in Jerusalem, according to the MEMRI.

    An English translation of the Arabic is included on the video. The Inquirer has not independently verified the translation.

    Ummah is an Arabic word that can mean “community” or “nation.”

    “While we celebrate the coming together of different cultures and languages, not all songs were properly vetted,” the Muslim American Society, based in Washington, said in a statement issued Friday. “This was an unintended mistake and an oversight in which the center and the students are remorseful. MAS will conduct an internal investigation to ensure this does not occur again.”

    The statement was also posted on the Facebook page of MAS-Philadelphia Center late Friday night.

    Representatives of MAS did not respond to requests for additional comment Saturday. The nonprofit has more than 50 chapters throughout the United States, according to its website.

    “As a faith-based organization dedicated to moving people to strive for God-consciousness and a just and virtuous society, we affirm our long-standing position on our shared values of humanity. We stand resolutely in our condemnation of hate, bigotry, Islamophobia, xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism and all the illnesses of hate that plague our society,” MAS said in its statement.

    According to MEMRI, one girl reads: “We will defend the land of divine guidance with our bodies, and we will sacrifice our souls without hesitation. We will lead the army of Allah fulfilling his promise, and we will subject them to eternal torture.”

    In other videos, students sing songs about the “blood of martyrs” and “Rebels, rebels, rebels.” The videos were posted on the center’s Facebook page, the media monitoring group said, but the videos included in the MEMRI report appear to have been taken down from the center’s page.

    The Anti-Defamation League in Philadelphia called the incident “extremely disturbing.”

    “Children should not be indoctrinated to hate. These young people should never have been asked to make speeches and dance and lip-sync to songs that glorify violence against Jews and the State of Israel. The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is deeply complex and painful on all sides, and the only chance for a peaceful future is to teach our children to pursue peace,” the statement read.

    The ADL called another report about the event “misleading.” An Arutz Sheva/Israel National News story includes a photo of children in front of what the ADL describes as “a bazooka-wielding extremist,” an image that does not appear to have been taken at the Philadelphia event, the ADL statement read. The article also implies that the event occurred at a Philadelphia school when it occurred at a private religious institution.

    https://www.philly.com/news/muslim-american-society-philadelphia-children-investigation-20190504.html