Reader’s Links for January 25, 2020

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

66 Replies to “Reader’s Links for January 25, 2020”

  1. “Dr Mark Christian, Global Faith – Shia, Sunni, Immigration, and WHAT is happening to America”
    Sharia Crime Stoppers – January 24, 2020

  2. If the latest reports are correct(haemoptysis in patients) then this virus IS dangerous. Ebola lives naturally in African fruit bats. Coronavirus lives naturally in Chinese fruit bats. There is a level 4 biological research centre in Wuhan,. I so hope that some Chinese virologist has not been playing with the two viruses to create a virus that is as lethal as Ebola but as contagious as the Coronavirus. Then again had such an African fruit bat escaped from captivity and joined the locals, it could have happened via mother Nature who has decided to teach us a lesson. Whatever the source this could rapidly become very nasty and the 36 official dead out of 860 IMO is rubbish. No need for hysteria yet but do keep an eye open (and a cellar stocked).

  3. The evils of Socialism:

    “When the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act 2019 comes into force in Spring 2020, anyone who dies will be presumed to have consented to donate all their organs unless they have specifically opted out or their relatives refuse permission.

    Similar rules have already been in force in Wales since 2015.

    Presumed consent will be limited to routine transplants and will not extend to rare procedures such as face or hand transplants.”
    https://www.furleypage.co.uk/new-organ-donation-law-giving-you-control/

    The State controlled health system.

    Imagine a State run minicab system forcing you to ride…
    Or a Police State forcing what opinions you can and cannot say…

    These default-from-birth prisons lead to Communism, with the Chinese government stealing organs:
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/17/china-is-harvesting-organs-from-detainees-uk-tribunal-concludes

    • The Jigsaw Man by Larry Niven short story
      The Immortals by James Gunn…novel
      I have it both full but I do not dare post the first one (56 kbs)

      • I used to be a huge Larry Niven fan. Can you give a synopsis of the Jigsaw Man? I don’t remember it but I haven’t read him for decades.

        • It is about people being kidnapped for their organs, if memory serves me right it is one of the Gil the Arm stories.

          The Gil the Arm stories are cautionary stories about a future where jaywalking and too many parking tickets are capital crimes because of the market for body parts. The problem was finally solved when they learned how to grow body parts for transplant.

          Right around the time that Niven was writing these stories another author (I can’t remember the name) wrote a short story about a time when the government had the laws set up so unless you opted out (by wearing a medallion) you were presumed to have agreed to have your body parts used for transplants.

        • I have it on a notebook page and it is an easy copy/paste. Do you want me to post it(56kbs) or just send you a copy? If the latter it will have to wait as this PC has no email and will never have any.(segregated functions for security).

  4. Spanish Court Orders Pension Payments to Moroccan Polygamist’s Two Widows (breitbart, Jan 25, 2020)
    https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/01/25/spanish-court-give-pension-cash-moroccan-polygamists-two-widows/

    “The Spanish supreme court has granted two women, the widows of a Moroccan polygamist, the rights to widows’ pensions in a landmark ruling, claiming that polygamy does not prevent pension allocation despite it being illegal.

    The Moroccan man had died in 2012 and the two women he had been married to both claimed to be eligible for a widow’s pension from the Spanish state.

    The court ruled that both women were eligible as they had been legally married to the man but that they would have to split the pension among themselves, Spanish newspaper El Pais reports.

    The ruling comes after the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid had initially rejected the claims of one of the widows who then appealed the case to the national Supreme Court.

    The case is not the first of its kind in Spain. In 2018, the Supreme Court recognised the right for two widows to collect the pension for their deceased husband, also Moroccan, who had previously served in the Spanish armed forces.

    The case referred to Article 23 of the Social Security Agreement signed between Spain and Morocco in November 1979 which states: “The widowhood pension caused by a Moroccan worker will be distributed, where appropriate, equally and definitely among those who turn out to be, according to Moroccan legislation, beneficiaries of said benefit.”

    Polygamy is illegal in most countries across Europe, including Spain, although certain countries like Sweden have accepted some polygamous marriages that were carried out overseas before those involved moved to the country.

    Swedish politician Jonny Cato, a member of the Centre Party, went even further, saying that he saw both “disadvantages and advantages” to polygamous marriages.

    “I think it is a difficult question and it is honestly not something I have thought so much about. I see both the advantages and disadvantages of it,” he said in November of last year.”

    • First step in the implementation of sharia was allowing polygamy.Tthis is the second step. IIRC having multiple wives and children on welfare (and thus never having to work) is already endemic in the UK . Allowing total freedom of worship anywhere , anytime irrespective of the law of public inconvenience is the third

  5. “It was from my parents too, that I inherited the sense that the Old Testament was the first written history of all, that the poetic excesses of miracles, it was the scroll of enslavements and liberations, of royal hubris and filial rebellions, of sieges and annihilations, of lawgiving and lawbreaking: the template on which every subsequent history would be laid. If my dad had written it, his history would have been called ‘From Moses to Magna Carta’. But he didn’t.”
    Forward for The Story of the Jews, finding the words 1000BCE – 1492CE by Simon Schama.
    https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/26/why-jewish-history-is-so-hard-to-write

    Now, obviously there are earlier recorded histories from India, China, Persia and so on. And it is the very history that we are exposed to, taking the best of all that inspires and informs of generations’ successes and failures. From Moses to Magna Carta, or Confucius to Bill of Rights. The mixture of ‘ah ha’ moments from recorded events.

    islam and Communism remove history.

    How much poorer then, and more prideful therefore, their willing Slaves.

  6. Coronavirus Outbreak: 7 Under Observation In Kerala, Over 20,000 Screened For Symptoms In India

    • Seven fled China and flied to Russia, Moscow I think. They stayed in a hotel. Now, all seven are confirmed positive for the virus.

  7. DAILY MAIL – Delta Airlines is ordered to pay $50,000 fine for kicking three Muslims off two separate flights because passengers complained they made them ‘nervous’

    In one case, an American Muslim couple wasn’t allowed to fly home from Paris
    Faisal and Nazia Ali of Cincinnati area were removed from plane in July 2016
    Nazia Ali was wearing a headscarf and her husband texted ‘Allah’ in his phone
    A passenger complained to a flight attendant that the couple made her ‘nervous’
    The other incident took place five days later in Amsterdam
    Muslim passenger was removed after others on the flight complained to captain

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7926993/US-fines-Delta-50-000-booting-3-Muslim-passengers.html

    =================================================

    Delta fined $50,000 for discriminating against Muslim passengers

    WASHINGTON: Delta Air Lines was Friday fined $50,000 by the US Department of Transportation to settle allegations it discriminated against three Muslim passengers who were ordered off their planes.

    In its consent order, the department said it found Delta “engaged in discriminatory conduct” and violated anti-discrimination laws when it removed the three passengers.
    In one incident on July 26, 2016, a Muslim couple were removed from Delta Flight 229 at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris after a passenger told a flight attendant their behavior made her “very uncomfortable and nervous.”

    “Mrs X” was wearing a head scarf and the passenger said “Mr X” had inserted something into his watch.

    The flight attendant said she saw Mr.X texting on his cell phone using the word “Allah” several times.

    The captain then spoke with Delta’s corporate security, who said Mr.and Mrs.X were US citizens returning home and there were “no red flags.”

    However the captain refused to let them re-board the plane.

    The Department of Transportation said the captain had failed to follow Delta’s security protocol and it appeared that “but for Mr. and Mrs.X’s perceived religion, Delta would not have removed or denied them reboarding” of their flight.

    The second incident covered in the order involved another Muslim passenger who boarded Flight 49 at Amsterdam heading for New York on July 31, 2016.

    Other passengers and flight attendants complained about him but the first officer saw nothing unusual about him and Delta security also said “Mr A“’s record had “no red flags.”

    The captain prepared the plane for departure but then returned to the gate and had Mr.A removed and his seat searched.

    The Transportation Department said the captain had not followed Delta’s security protocol and the removal of Mr.A “after being cleared was discriminatory.”

    Delta disagreed that it engaged in discriminatory conduct but “does not dispute that each of these two incidents could have been handled differently,” the order said.

    The government said the fine “establishes a strong deterrent against future similar unlawful practices by Delta and other carriers.”

    Following the July 2016 incidents, Delta said it had reviewed and enhanced its procedure to investigate suspicious activity “to make it more collaborative and objective.”

    https://www.arabnews.com/node/1617991/world

    ============================================
    video AUG 2016

  8. Xi says China faces ‘grave situation’ as virus toll hits 41

    BEIJING (Reuters) – President Xi Jinping said China was facing a “grave situation” as the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak jumped to 41, overshadowing celebrations of the Lunar New Year that began on Saturday.

    With more than 1,400 people infected worldwide, most of them in China, Hong Kong declared a virus emergency, scrapped celebrations and restricted links to mainland China.
    Report Ad

    Australia confirmed its first four cases on Saturday, Malaysia confirmed three and France reported Europe’s first cases on Friday, as health authorities around the world scrambled to prevent a pandemic.

    The United States is arranging a charter flight on Sunday to bring its citizens and diplomats back from Wuhan, the central Chinese city that is the epicenter of the outbreak, the Wall Street Journal reported.

    In Hong Kong, with five confirmed cases, the city’s leader Carrie Lam said flights and high speed rail trips between the city and Wuhan will be halted. Schools in Hong Kong that are currently on Lunar New Year holidays will remain closed until Feb. 17.

    Xi held a politburo meeting on Saturday on measures to fight the “accelerating” outbreak, state television reported.

    https://www.oann.com/china-virus-death-toll-rises-to-41-more-than-1000-infected/

  9. Virus anxieties cast shadow over Year of the Rat festivities

    SYDNEY/MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Chinese communities in Australia and New Zealand were among the first to greet the Year of the Rat on Saturday but Lunar New Year celebrations globally were marred by anxieties about the virus outbreak that has disrupted festivities in China.

    Sydney, home to a large and growing Chinese population, started its Lunar New Year festivities in subdued fashion after China canceled many large-scale celebrations of the holiday on concerns about the coronavirus, which has also reached Australia.

    https://www.oann.com/virus-anxieties-cast-shadow-over-year-of-the-rat-festivities/

  10. DAILY MAIL – Disturbing footage shows diner calmly dipping a baby MOUSE in a bowl of sauce before eating it alive as part of banned Chinese delicacy known as ‘Three Squeaks’

    An Asian man was filmed dipping a live baby mouse into sauce and eating it
    The revolting meal is a delicacy in the Guangdong province of southeast China
    The dish is banned, but it can still be found in backstreet restaurants
    It comes just days after a video of a woman eating a bat went viral online
    WARNING: Graphic content

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7927747/Asian-man-dips-baby-mouse-bowl-sauce-eating-ALIVE.html

  11. Debate Over Freedom of Speech in France as Girl Faces Threats for Branding Islam ‘Religion of Hate’ (sputniknews, Jan 25, 2020)
    https://sputniknews.com/europe/202001251078137570-freedom-france-girl-threats-islam-religion-of-hate/

    “The new hashtag #jesuismila is trending on Twitter as netizens have stood up for 16-year-old Mila from eastern France, bullied online for lambasting Islam as a religion of hate on her social media. The scandal has brought back memories of the Charlie Hebdo attack, as well as sparked debate about blasphemy and freedom of speech.

    A teenager from the department of Isère in eastern France was forced to drop out of school and be provided with psychological support following a wave of death threats and harassment over her anti-Islam video. As The Times reports, it is understood that she was advised by officials to avoid being seen in public.

    The 16-year-old schoolgirl, known as Mila, said in her Instagram stories: “I hate the religion, the Koran is a religion of hate […] Your religion is s**t”.

    Although the video vanished recently, the clip started circulating online, prompting hatred and hundreds of death threats, according to Le Parisien. The girl’s identity and address were also revealed.

    Bullied Teen Investigated
    At the same time, two separate investigations have reportedly been opened by the local public prosecutor’s office. One of them seeks to identify, with the help of cybercrime specialists, the perpetrators who are sending the girl threats. The second one is said to probe into whether the teenager had provoked “racial hatred” to find out if the comments of discord comply with freedom of expression, which is a constitutional principle. The outlet cites a source close to the case as saying that the investigators are studying the online video address to evaluate the context and determine the teenager’s intentions.

    Response to Harassment
    Mila explained her remarks to the outlet Liberation and in the blog Bellicca, which is considered to be close to the right-wing. According to her, it all started with a video in which she tries to avoid a man who was attempting to flirt with her.

    “I didn’t want to answer him simply because I don’t like being asked my age repeatedly. It’s annoying. He started to insult me”, she said.

    After receiving insults and threats from several individuals, the situation is said to have escalated as a guy called her a dirty lesbian, racist, and then the row shifted to religion.

    “So, I said what I thought about it”, she said.

    Following the exchange, the girl, who has been called a lesbian, has been overwhelmed by homophobic, racist, and sexist insults, like “Go die in hell, dirty lesbian whore”, “dirty French”, “French s**t”, as well as calls for her to apologise.

    The manager of the Bellica blog, Solveig Mineo, told the French outlet that the girl’s parents have asked her to remain silent while they are seeking a lawyer.

    “Her statements on Islam are a response to extremely violent lesbophobic and misogynistic harassment […] This is what a young girl risks in 2020 for having said no to a boy”, Solveig Mineo insisted.

    Debate Around Blasphemy and Freedoms
    As the head of the secular watchdog l’Observatoire de la laïcité, Nicolas Cadène, told the outlet, blasphemy is not a crime in France, so one can insult a religion, albeit not citizens due to their religious affiliation. This is what allowed writer Michel Houellebecq to be let off the hook in 2002 after having called Islam “the most stupid religion in the world”.

    Mila’s case, however, has not only sparked debate in France about the freedom of expression, but has also stirred memories of the Charlie Hebdo attack in January 2015, when journalists were killed for having made a caricature about Islam.

    Former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, who heads the right-wing National Rally party, compared Mila’s speech with the satirical newspaper.

    “The words of this young girl are the verbal description of Charlie’s cartoons, no more no less”, she tweeted.

    Many netizens backed the girl as well, sharing comments of support under the hashtag #jesuismila (I am Mila).

    However, many blasted her comments about Muslims as offensive, posting their criticism under the hashtag #jesuispasmila (I am not Mila).”

  12. Police arrest Lebanese-born man, 68, who threatened to attack ‘UK interests in Spain’ in series of chilling calls to British Embassy in Madrid as he is branded ‘an extreme danger’ to diplomats (dailymail, Jan 25, 2020)
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7928411/Police-arrest-Lebanese-born-man-68-threatened-attack-UK-interests-Spain.html

    “A 68-year-old man has been arrested after he threatened to ‘attack UK interests in Spain’ following a series of chilling calls to the British Embassy in Madrid.

    The Beirut-born man is said to have targeted the British consulate in Malaga after being refused permission to travel to the UK to see his children.

    Spanish police arrested the pensioner in the holiday resort of Benalmadena, and he has only been identified by his initials of S.Y.

    He is the same man that was held in 2009, after shooting at the British Consulate building in Malaga, Spanish officers said.

    Detectives revealed today the man had been categorised as an ‘extreme danger’ to diplomats.

    A spokesman for National Police in Madrid confirmed the arrest of the man, saying: ‘Spanish National Police have arrested a man as the author of serious threats to British diplomatic interests and buildings in our country.

    ‘The detainee made a series of phone calls to the UK embassy in the Spanish capital warning diplomats of a specific attack within the following 72 hours.

    ‘Officers began an immediate investigation and together with staff responsible for security at the British Embassy, they managed to identify the author very quickly.

    ‘They discovered he was the same man who had participated in a similar incident in 2009 against the British Consulate building in Malaga, where identical threats were made.’

    The spokesman added: ‘The investigation began on January 11 when the British Embassy in Madrid received several calls from a person who said: ‘I will attack British interests in Spain in the next 72 hours, I have nothing to lose and I don’t care about the consequences.’

    ‘In the incident in Malaga in 2009 the same man fired several shots against the front and the flag of the British Consulate building there, and was filmed in action by a person who published the videos on different social media.

    ‘For this reason he was considered a potential and extreme danger to the security of diplomatic representatives and their legitimate interests.’

    Reports at the time of the September 1 2009 shooting said he had fired five shots, targeting the Union Jack flag.

    No-one was injured in the incident and the gunman was described at the time as a ‘stateless Lebanese man.’

    They also confirmed he was well-known to several police forces because of his ‘extensive criminal record’ and revealed he had used ten different identifies to prevent his arrest.

    It was not immediately clear what had sparked the latest round of threats.

    A judge has already banned the detainee from going within 1,640 feet of British diplomats and British embassy and consular buildings as a result of his latest action.

    He has also been handed a restraining order preventing him from phoning British embassies and consulates.

    A source said today: ‘If he hasn’t got permission to travel to the UK it would probably be because of his criminal record.’

    A British Embassy spokesman said: ‘We are grateful for the quick response taken by the Spanish Police and for their work to protect our staff.'”

  13. Sky News – Coronavirus: President Xi warns of ‘grave situation’ as infection spreads

  14. Turkey’s troops to remain in Libya – Erdogan (cgtn, Jan 25, 2020)
    https://newsaf.cgtn.com/news/2020-01-26/Turkey-s-troops-to-remain-in-Libya-Erdogan-Nyg7XqAb3W/index.html

    “Turkey has no plans of withdrawing its troops from Libya, and will continue offering support to the United Nations-recognised Government of National Accord, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

    The Turkish leader made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Istanbul.

    “We are determined not to leave our Libyan brothers alone during these difficult days,” President Erdogan said in the Friday briefing.

    “Supporting Libya’s Government of National Accord [GNA] is not an option, but an obligation pursuant to the UN Resolution 2259.”

    On her part, Merkel urged the Libyan warring factions to build on the ceasefire to ensure lasting peace in the North African country…”

  15. Iran Has Capacity to Enrich Uranium at Any Percentage, Says Nuclear Agency (aawsat, Jan 25. 2020)
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2099201/iran-has-capacity-enrich-uranium-any-percentage-says-nuclear-agency

    “Iran has the capacity to enrich uranium at any percentage if Iranian authorities decide to do so, the deputy head of the country’s nuclear agency said in a report posted on its website on Saturday.

    “At the moment, if (Iranian authorities) make the decision, the Atomic Energy Organization, as the executor, will be able to enrich uranium at any percentage,” Ali Asghar Zarean said.

    Iran said earlier this month it would scrap limitations on enriching uranium, taking a further step back from commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers, but pledged to continue cooperating with the UN nuclear watchdog.

    Since Iran took the latest step in reducing commitments to the accord, the country’s stock of uranium produced has passed 1,200 kilograms and it will quickly be added to the stock of enriched uranium, Zarean said.

    Washington withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions to throttle Iran’s oil exports as part of a “maximum pressure” policy.

    The United States says it aims to force Tehran to agree a broader deal that puts stricter limits on its nuclear work, curbs a ballistic missile program and ends regional proxy wars. Iran says it will not negotiate while sanctions remain in place.

    Tehran has steadily been reducing its compliance with the deal, which prompted Britain, France and Germany to formally accuse it in mid-January of violating the terms and activating a dispute mechanism in the deal, which could eventually lead to the reimposition of UN sanctions.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said last week that if Iran’s nuclear file is sent to the UN Security Council, the country will withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), according to the official IRNA news agency.

    Iran denies any intent to acquire nuclear weapons and says its breaches of the deal would be reversed if Washington lifts sanctions.”

  16. Several killed as Iraqi forces raid Baghdad protest camp (france24, Jan 25, 2020)
    https://www.france24.com/en/20200125-iraq-forces-al-sadr-tahrir-square-raid-baghdad-protest-camp-kill-moqtada-al-sadr-tahrir-square-basra-saddam-hussein

    “Iraqi security forces raided Baghdad’s main protest site on Saturday and tried to eject protesters in southern cities, firing tear gas and bullets killing four people and wounding dozens more, police and medical sources said.

    The new push to end the sit-ins and restore order came hours after populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who counts millions of supporters in Baghdad and the south, said he would halt his involvement in anti-government unrest.

    Sadr’s supporters, who had bolstered the anti-government protesters and sometimes played a role in protecting them from attacks by security forces and unidentified gunmen, began withdrawing from sit-ins early on Saturday after Sadr’s announcement.

    Clashes then took place after authorities began removing concrete barriers near Tahrir Square where anti-government demonstrators have camped out for months, and across at least one main bridge over the Tigris River in the capital, Reuters reporters said.

    In the southern city of Basra, security forces raided the main anti-government sit-in overnight and deployed in force to stop protesters gathering there again, security sources said. Police arrested at least 16 protesters in the city, they said.

    In Baghdad, at least one person was killed and more than 30 injured in clashes between police and protesters near Tahrir Square. Another three died and 14 were wounded in the southern city of Nassiriya when security forces took control of a bridge occupied for days by demonstrators, security sources and medics said.

    Iraq’s security forces have used tear gas and live ammunition against mostly peaceful protesters since anti-government unrest broke out in Baghdad on Oct. 1. More than 450 people have died in the violence, according to a Reuters tally from police and medics.

    Months of demonstrations

    The demonstrators demand the removal of what they see as a corrupt Iraqi ruling elite and the end of interference in politics by foreign powers, especially Iran which has come to dominate state institutions since the toppling of Saddam Hussein in a 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

    The actions of the security forces appeared to be an attempt to fully clear anti-government sit-ins and end months of demonstrations. The raids began hours after al-Sadr said he would halt the involvement of his supporters.

    Sadr had supported the demands of protesters for the removal of corrupt politicians and for the provision of services and jobs soon after the demonstrations began in October, but stopped short of calling all his followers to join in.

    Many of Sadr’s millions of supporters, often hailing from Baghdad’s slums, have however been involved in the protests.

    Sadr’s followers, in a rally on Friday separate from the anti-government protests, called for the removal of U.S. troops from the country. The march dissipated after several hours.

    Sadr wrote on Twitter late on Friday he would “try not to interfere in the issue (of protesters), either negatively or positively, so that they can shepherd the fate of Iraq.” He did not elaborate.

    In Basra, protesters urged Sadr to reconsider what they said was a withdrawal of support for popular demonstrations. In a letter circulated on social media, they called for the support of Sadrists, without which they feared attacks by security forces.”

  17. Man arrested after stealing airport employee’s wallet, then car with baby inside

    Addi Maqableh faces multiple charges after he allegedly stole an airport worker’s wallet and then sped off in a stolen car, dragging a man and a woman.

  18. twitter

    Here’s that clip of Toobin mocking the Trump legal team as “White House and white people” and “a lesson in the diversity of the two parties” (so ignoring how all lead 2020 Dems are white)

    He also went the sexism route, wondering if the female lawyers will be “allowed to argue”

    https://twitter.com/CurtisHouck/status/1221131311181713409

    =============================================

    CNN Jeffrey Toobin on impeachment trial: Trump is winning here

  19. Hundreds of plastic crates used to build small mosque in Indonesia

    Hundreds of colourful plastic bottle crates have been re-purposed to create a building that houses a small mosque in the Indonesian city of Tangerang.

    Worshippers were seen praying on Friday inside the Kotakrat Pavilion, which is described by its creators as a ‘space of kindness’ that can be used for a range of associated purposes including prayer.

    The space inside includes an area for washing feet and removing footware, as well as a covered prayer room.

    The Parisauli Arsitek Studio designed the 440-square-foot (134 sqm) Kotakrat Pavilion to provide new and useful life to hundreds of discarded crates that would otherwise end up as landfill.

    The plastic crates are stacked on top of each other before being screwed together and supported with metal pillars, while other plastic crates attached to the exterior serve as holders for plants.

    The structure is located in the grounds of Kebunide, a sprawling cafe and garden space.
    “The first time I saw these bottle crates I felt that it is very unique, unthinkable but present. It’s just mind-blowing that this was built up from bottle crates,” said Lili, a Kebunide employee.

    Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population, the vast majority of whom adhere to Sunni Islam.<

  20. Three Al-Qaeda Syrians Arrested in Dallas With Fake Colombian Passports
    by Faye Higbee Jeff Dunetz | Jan 24, 2020 | Foreign Policy/Terrorism

    al-Qaeda Syrians
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    Tell me again how we don’t need to do a better job regulating who and how people come into this country. al-Qaeda Syrians

    The latest example that should scare the heck out of you happened in the great state of Texas. While our legislators were concentrating on a fake impeachment trial, three Syrians nationals were arrested in Dallas had counterfeit Colombian passports. That was the good part. They are allegedly linked to Al-Qaeda and supposedly entered the US at Dallas, Texas. The report appears a bit sketchy at this time, due to some differences in who reported what. None of the reports state precisely where the men were arrested,al-Qaeda Syrians

    The three Stooges, I mean three Syrian nationals, first raised the suspicions of the American authorities when they applied for travel visas from Colombia, as their suspicious documents gave them away. These potential terrorists were not too smart. The American authorities detected a fraud when the fake passports’ birth dates failed to match up with the identification numbers used by the Colombian government.

    Latest: Laura Ingraham Report On 2016 WH Ukraine Meeting Arranged By Assumed Whistleblower

    Per Colombian reporter, Luis Carlos Vélez published images of the counterfeit passports on Twitter (below), noting that the men got into Colombia through the La Guajira border crossing with Venezuela.

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    Will you be watching the impeachment hearings?
    Vélez reportedly stated that the U.S. embassy identified them as al-Qaeda terrorists when they attempted to procure U.S. visas, which does not align with the RCN report that police arrested them in Dallas. The RCN report does not note if Dallas authorities stopped them at the airport, which would suggest the men did receive U.S. visas and got onboard a flight to the country, or if they arrived by other means.

    Three #AlQaeda members obtained Colombian passports to enter the US. The American Embassy identified them when they applied for US visas. They entered Colombia through La Guajira and allegedly came from Venezuela #Breaking #Terrorism pic.twitter.com/b4czaf6pnn

    — Luis Carlos Vélez ? (@lcvelez) January 23, 2020

    Vélez reported that the U.S. embassy identified them as al-Qaeda terrorists when they attempted to get U.S. visas. But they somehow got visas and heeded to Dallas where they were arrested.

    RCN reports that American law enforcement identified the three bumbling terrorists as Al Raefee, Tuameh Tuameh, and Al Harari, and the three are believed to be in U.S. custody. They will soon be charged with being members of a terrorist organization.

    Syria has an Al-Qaeda branch, primarily Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham), according to the Washington Institute.

    Colombian prosecutors and Colombian migration officials are reportedly investigating the source of the fraudulent documents. The Maduro regime in Venezuela has been known to create fake documents for numerous jihadists. They usually work with Hezbollah rather than the Sunni Al-Qaeda, but there’s a first time for everything.

    This time the three possible terrorists weren’t smart enough to make sure their ages matched, so they were arrested. But now that they learned their lessons the next time, who knows. Thank goodness we have a president who is trying to protect us by vetting who comes in and out of the country. Too bad the liberals are trying to stop him at every turn.

    Parts of this post were first seen at Conservative Firing Line

    https://lidblog.com

  21. Gun Companies Ready to Increase Production as Election Season Heat is Turned Up

    Under the current Republican-dominated political narrative, gun enthusiasts have not engaged in nearly as much panic buying as they did in previous cycles, following mass shootings or in the aftermath of heightened Democrat party rhetoric on tightening gun ownership laws,” analyst Scott Stember said in a note.

    “While the lion’s share of industry players prefer not to run their businesses based on politically-fueled surge activity,” he said, many are “prepared to pick up the pace from a production standpoint, if rhetoric in the upcoming election cycle starts to heat up and creates a new lift in demand by way of panic buying.”

    https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-companies-ready-to-increase-production-as-election-season-heat-is-turned-up/?utm_source=wideopen&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wos_daily&utm_content=%5B%5Brssitem_title%5D%5D

  22. Iran Condemns Illegal Treatment of Nationals at US Borders
    https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/01/25/2188899/iran-condemns-illegal-treatment-of-nationals-at-us-borders

    “Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi lashed out at the US Customs and Border Protection for the “illegal and inhumane” treatment of Iranian nationals which is a clear violation of human rights.

    In a statement on Saturday, Mousavi denounced the US Customs and Border Protection’s recent illegal and inhumane treatment of Iranian nationals and citizens.

    “Such absolutely discriminatory measures that are taken only because of the race, nationality or maybe the faith of people are totally rejected in terms of international human rights laws and principles, and would result in accountability for the US government,” he added.

    “Since those (Iranian) individuals have been questioned by the US border guards and security forces about their political and ideological beliefs and their accounts in the virtual space have also been investigated coercively, such a measure amounts to an example of inquisition and a blatant violation of human rights,” the spokesman deplored.

    Mousavi strongly condemned the US Customs and Border Protection’s harassment of the Iranian citizens, adding, “Such measures against Iranians are part of the US regime’s hostile and vindictive policy towards Iran and its identity and existence that transpires once in the shape of the decision to ban Iranians from entering the US, once in the threat of attack on Iran’s cultural and civilizational centers, another time in the cowardly assassination of the mythic hero of the fight against terrorism, and most recently in another form in the harassment of Iranians at the borders of the US.”

    “Such behavior from the US government could be definitely brought to and sued by the human rights tribunals,” the spokesman concluded.

    The statement came after reports that the US border officers working at Canadian border crossings were directed to stop travelers of Iranian descent for questioning following the assassination of top Iranian commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani.

    According to CNN, dozens of American citizens of Iranian descent were stopped at a port of entry in Blaine, Washington, in the days following the January 3 assassination of General Soleimani. Some were detained for hours and reported they were asked detailed questions about their country of birth.”

  23. French Militant Recruiter Handed Long Jail Term
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2098801/french-militant-recruiter-handed-long-jail-term

    “A Frenchman has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for seeking to recruit dozens of youths to fight in Syria and for leading a brigade of French-speaking extremists in the war-torn country.

    Mourad Fares, 35, fled Syria in 2014, and was arrested in Turkey and handed over to French authorities the same year, Agence France Presse reported.

    Prosecutors said he played a “crucial” role in the recruitment of young people to fight as militants in Syria, and noted a lack of any “real regret” for his actions.

    Fares appeared unmoved as the verdict was read out at a special court Friday evening, AFP said.

    He admitted to the court that he “indirectly” recruited youths via his propaganda videos and “facilitated” the entry of a number of people into Syria.

    He denied taking part in combat operations in Syria, where he traveled in 2014.

    But prosecutors said he “participated in armed actions” with ISIS before leaving to join a cell of French-speaking extremists.

    The court also found Fares guilty of leading this cell.

    Dozens of French citizens left to join ISIS in Syria and Iraq before US-led coalition forces dislodged the extremists from their so-called “caliphate” last year.”

  24. Khalid bin Salman Distinguishes between Saudi Vision 2030, Iran’s ‘Vision 1979’
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2097871/khalid-bin-salman-distinguishes-between-saudi-vision-2030-iran%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98vision-1979%E2%80%99

    “Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman explained on Friday the difference between Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and “vision 1979” that the Iranian regime has been working on for the past four decades.

    Vision 2030 was launched in 2016 and is being spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister.

    Speaking to Vice television, Prince Khalid stressed: “We have a forward-looking vision to improve our economy, to make our peoples’ lives better in the Kingdom, and to move our society forward. To be able to achieve that objective we want to have a stable, peaceful region around us, a prosperous region. We want to increase basically the economic cooperation.”

    “Iran wants to do the opposite. Iran has expansionist policies. They want to basically take over countries in the region. They have these destructive activities in the region that is pulling the region backward, not forward. This is the cause of friction.”

    “They want to export the revolution through any means possible, and that’s what they’ve been doing since 1979. The strategic goal never changed. Their tactics have changed throughout the 40 years that have passed. And that’s what they’ve been doing since 1979,” the date of the country’s revolution.

    Prince Khalid added: “I believe the biggest threats to the region, and to international security, is basically Iran.”

    “The Iranian regime and its proxies on one side, and ISIS, al-Qaeda and terrorist organizations on the other side. We believe that they’re both two sides of the same coin,” he remarked.

    “They believe in the same concept, not necessarily exactly the same ideology, but they both do not believe in the sovereignty of nations, they both believe in a transnational ideological state, they both do not believe in international law, and sometimes they compete with each other, and they fight each other, but when it comes to us, we’re the common enemy, and they cooperate.””

  25. Saudi Boosts Arabian Gulf Security by Acquiring World’s Fastest Interceptor Speedboats
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2097361/saudi-boosts-arabian-gulf-security-acquiring-world%E2%80%99s-fastest-interceptor

    “The Royal Saudi Navy reinforced its fleet with the world’s fastest speedboats and is preparing to receive a new batch of combat aircraft. The military boost is aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Arabian Gulf and protecting vital and strategic interests of Saudi Arabia.

    On Thursday, the Saudi Navy organized a celebration at the Ras Mashaab military port, located 236 km north of Dammam. During the event, three speedboats joined the fleet of marine vessels.

    The Kingdom has signed an agreement with French company CMN to manufacture and supply a number of the HSI32 boats.

    Some of the vessels will be made in France and the rest will be made in Saudi Arabia as part of a technology transfer program.

    Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Gen. Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Ghufaili said: “We are now seeing the first signs of large naval projects.”

    He stated that the interceptor vessels were the first of such initiatives.

    These boats will raise the level of combat readiness, enhance maritime security in the region, contribute in carrying out operations in important areas, and protect vital strategic interests and Saudi Arabia, he added.

    Al-Ghufaili also said that the Kingdom will receive a number of military helicopters in the coming months to “support the naval forces.”

    The Saudi Navy is working on a comprehensive development of combat capabilities through various armament and training contracts.

    It also seeks to raise combat efficiency and overall capabilities to be among the ranks of the world’s advanced marine forces. This is in order to protect Saudi interests in regional waters through the implementation of future projects in line with Vision 2030.”

  26. US Measures on Syria-Iraq Border to Confront Iran
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2098751/us-measures-syria-iraq-border-confront-iran

    “The administration of US President Donald Trump is looking to enhance its military presence on the Syrian-Iraqi border for a range of reasons, mainly to “confront Iran.”

    The US presence in Iraq was a main item on the agenda of two separate meetings held by Trump with his Iraqi and Kurdistan Region counterparts, respectively Barham Salih and Nechirvan Barzani on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

    However, there were conflicting positions following the meetings. The White House stressed the “ongoing economic and security partnership with Iraq” and cooperation with Kurdistan in the war against ISIS, while Salih spoke about his country’s “sovereignty.”

    Western officials told Asharq Al-Awsat that Washington has made a 10-point proposal to deal with the demands of Iraqi politicians on the pullout of US forces from the country while taking the necessary measures to confront Iran.

    The first point confirms what James Jeffrey, Trump’s special envoy to the anti-ISIS coalition, said two days ago. “Any conversations that the Iraqis want to have with us about the United States in Iraq, we believe, should and must cover the entire gamut of our entire relationship, which goes way beyond our forces,” he stated.

    Other proposals include pushing NATO to play a larger role in fighting ISIS, discussing the increase of military bases and troops with the presidency of the Kurdistan Region, protecting the Tanf base near the Syrian-Iraqi-Jordanian border and cutting off access to the Tehran-Baghdad-Damascus-Beirut road.

    Among the other US suggestions are considering the coalition’s presence in the airspace of northeast Syria as necessary to fight ISIS, preventing Syrian forces and Iranian groups from advancing to the Tanf base, keeping Russian forces away from the line stretching from the Faysh Khabur to the north of Bukamal on the Euphrates River.”

  27. Moroccan-Spanish Talks on Demarcation of Maritime Border
    https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2098936/moroccan-spanish-talks-demarcation-maritime-border

    “Morocco exerted its sovereign right when it decided to demarcate its maritime borders, which is guaranteed by international law, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita has announced.

    “Morocco delineated its frontiers… as Spain did before it. This could lead to some overlaps and that is why we seek dialogue,” he said Friday.

    At a joint press conference with Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya, her first visit outside the EU since her appointment as Spain’s diplomacy chief in mid-January, Bourita said that the law permits dialogue on issues relating to maritime borders.

    Morocco rejects unilateral solutions and therefore dialogue is key, stated the Moroccan FM, adding that the two countries will work according to the Convention of the Law of the Sea.

    Bourita assured the Spanish official “there will be no politics of faits accompli or unilateral decisions” and that dialogue will prevail to reach common solutions that satisfy all parties.

    “We are ready to engage in dialogue with Spain in the framework of our essential rights and sovereignty,” asserted the Moroccan FM.

    Morocco has exercised its right by initiating a legal process intended to delineate its maritime borders, said the Spanish minister.

    She also stressed that Morocco has reiterated its commitment not to impose any unilateral measures, noting that the two countries will work in this direction.

    “Morocco has the right to delineate a territorial maritime zone… (but it must) respect the rules and norms of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea… and international law,” Spain’s top diplomat said.

    Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine El-Othmani also met with the visiting Spanish FM and praised the solid friendship and the dynamics of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

    Othmani and Gonzalez renewed their determination to coordinate at various levels to enhance bilateral development, and social and political relations.

    The meeting was attended by the Moroccan Ambassador to Spain and the Spanish Ambassador to Rabat.

    A Moroccan-Spanish high level meeting is expected to be held within the coming months to enhance the strategic cooperation between the two countries and establish new economic partnerships, especially after the agreements signed during the visit of the Spanish King to Morocco last year.

    Othmani and Gonzalez also discussed on Friday ways to promote multilateral cooperation, as well as the prospects for partnership to enhance tripartite cooperation to benefit other African countries.”

  28. Saudi Arabia in bid to buy Newcastle football club: Reports
    https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-bid-buy-newcastle-football-club-reports

    “A Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund is in talks to buy English Premier League club Newcastle United in a £340m ($445m) deal, according to reports.

    The Public Investment Fund, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s key investment vehicle, has launched the bid with a group of investors organised by a British financier, Amanda Staveley, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

    The deal could be “days or weeks away,” sources told the Journal.

    The club, owned by British tycoon Mike Ashley, has refused to comment on the report.

    The acquisition would be a major coup for Saudi Arabia and for the crown prince in particular, who has sought to recast the country’s image with investments in entertainment and sports, the latest being the Dakar Rally, which took place in the kingdom for the first time this month…”

  29. Saudi Arabia to stop funding mosques in foreign countries
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200125-saudi-arabia-to-stop-funding-mosques-in-foreign-countries/

    “Former Saudi minister of justice, Mohammed Bin Abdul-Karim Issa, has announced that his country will stop funding mosques in foreign countries, Arabi21.com reported on Friday.

    According to the Swiss newspaper, Le Matin Dimanche, Saudi Arabia is to establish local administrative councils for each mosque, in cooperation with the local authorities, in order to hand over these mosques to “secure hands”.

    The minister added: “The time has come to hand over the Geneva Mosque to a Swiss administrative council that represents Muslims in the area. It should have an elected cleric.”

    He disclosed that Saudi Arabia is to take the same measures with all the mosques all over the world, referring to “security reasons”.

    It is worth noting that the minister led a delegation on Thursday to visit the Auschwitz camp on the 75th anniversary of its liberation. He honoured the Jewish victims of the Holocaust who perished during WWII.”

  30. Al-Sadr announces halt of resistance against US in Iraq
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200125-al-sadr-announces-halt-of-resistance-against-us-in-iraq/

    “Iraqi Shia Cleric, Muqtada Al-Sadr, announced on Friday a “temporary halt” of resistance against the US occupation in Iraq, in an endeavour to avoid leading the country to war, Arabi21.com reported.

    After thousands of Iraqis had taken to the streets against the US occupation in response to his call, Al-Sadr affirmed: “We will do our best to prevent taking Iraq to another possible war.”

    He called for the Iraqi government to take several measures in order to end the foreign existence in Iraq.

    “We will exhaust all peaceful means in order to obtain a schedule for the exit of the occupation forces,” Al-Sadr disclosed in a statement, calling for the government to close all the US military bases and the head offices of foreign companies in Iraq.

    Al-Sadr also called for the government to close the airspace to the “occupation’s intelligence and war planes”, and demanded cancelling all security deals and for the neighbouring countries not to interfere with Iraq’s treatment of the occupation if it does not leave the country.

    Meanwhile, he requested protection for the diplomatic missions and their employees, as well as to punish anyone who may attack them.”

  31. “Cindy McCain admission about Jeffrey Epstein: ‘We All Knew What He Was Doing.’ No one would go after him because they were afraid of him.
    She predicts others like him will be caught and ‘made an example of.'”
    Praying Medic – January 24, 2020
    https://mobile.twitter.com/prayingmedic/status/1220886493834559489

    Article Link & Video:
    “Cindy McCain Admits the Unthinkable About Epstein: ‘We All Knew What He Was Doing’”
    Chicks On The Right – January 24, 2020
    https://www.chicksonright.com/blog/2020/01/24/cindy-mccain-admits-the-unthinkable-about-epstein-we-all-knew-what-he-was-doing/