Reader’s Links for October 19, 2020

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

132 Replies to “Reader’s Links for October 19, 2020”

  1. the guardian – Revealed: chaining, beatings and torture inside Sudan’s Islamic schools

    Two-year BBC News Arabic investigation uncovers horrific conditions, with boys as young as five facing violence and sexual abuse

    An April evening in the suburbs of Khartoum. After months of undercover work, I had learned to time my visits to khalwas, Sudan’s Islamic schools, to coincide with evening prayers. I entered while the sheikhs (teachers) and 50-odd boys dressed in their white djellabas were busy praying. As they knelt, I heard the clanking of chains on the boys’ shackled legs. I sat down behind them and started filming, secretly.

    I began investigating after allegations emerged of abuse inside some of these schools: children kept in chains, beaten and sexually abused. Khalwas have existed in Sudan for centuries. There are more than 30,000 of them across the country where children are taught to memorise the Qur’an. They are run by sheikhs who usually provide food, drink and shelter, free of charge. As a result, poor families often send their children to khalwas instead of public schools.

    I had been working as a journalist in Sudan for five years, but this was the first time an assignment really felt personal. I was taught at a khalwa: a place where I would try to get through each day without being beaten.

    In 2018, I began what would become a two-year investigation with BBC News Arabic and take me to 23 khalwas across Sudan. Before proper undercover equipment from the BBC arrived, I taped my phone inside a notebook, to secretly film.

    Despite having gone to a khalwa myself, I was shocked by what I found. I saw children – some as young as five – beaten and shackled like animals. One boy with deep, raw wounds around his ankles told me: “We can be in groups of six or seven all chained together, and they [the sheikhs] make us run around in circles. Whenever one of us falls over we have to get up again because they keep whipping us … They say that this is good for us.”

    One of the worst experiences I had was in 2018 at Ahmed Hanafy, a well-respected khalwa in Darfur. In a study room, under a hot corrugated iron roof, a small boy was held down and whipped more than 30 times by a teacher. The only sound in the room was the lashing of the whip and the boy’s anguished cries. I wanted to grab the whip and hit the sheikh, but I knew I couldn’t. When I later contacted the school, the sheikh confirmed they do beat children but denied this incident ever took place.

    Another disturbing case was that of two 14-year-old boys, Mohamed Nader and Ismail. When I visited them in hospital they were lying on their stomachs, unconscious, their backs stripped of flesh. They were beaten and tortured so badly they nearly died.

    “They kept them in a room for five days without food or water,” Mohamed Nader’s father, Nader, told me.

    d tar all over their bodies. [Mohamed Nader] has been so badly beaten you can even see his spine.”

    I had filmed inside the same khalwa where this had happened, al-Khulafaa al-Rashideen, run by a man called Sheikh Hussein. The conditions there were the worst I had seen. Most of the boys were shackled and teachers hovered over them with whips in case they made any mistakes. One student pointed out a room with barred windows, which he described as a prison. It was the room in which Ismail and Mohamed Nader had been kept.

    I kept in regular contact with the boys. Several months after the attack, as we played on a PlayStation together, Mohamed Nader began to tell me what happened when he was caught trying to escape with Ismail.

    “They tied me up and laid me on my stomach before whipping me”, he said. The beatings went on for days. “A lot of people came to beat us while the rest of the khalwa was asleep. After that, I don’t know what happened, I woke up in the hospital.”

    The police charged two teachers with assault, who were later released on bail. The khalwa remained open.

    As he stared at the screen, Mohamed Nader said: “There is rape in the khalwa. They would call you for it, in a macho way.” He said the smaller or weaker boys were abused by older students.

    Mohamed Nader and Ismail were not sexually assaulted, but several other people also told me that rape happened in the khalwa under the management of Sheikh Hussein.

    When I returned to the khalwa to talk to him, Sheikh Hussein admitted that it was wrong to imprison children, but maintained that shackling was “packed with benefits” and that “most khalwas use chaining, not just me”. He told me he had stopped using chains and that “the prison” was now a storeroom. When I asked about allegations of sexual abuse he became angry, categorically denying these claims and accusing me of attacking the Qu’ran.

    The sheikh died in a car accident earlier this year.

    The new transitional government is now conducting a survey of all khalwas in Sudan. The minister of religious affairs, Nasreddine Mufreh, said they would be reformed. There should be “no beating, torture, violation of human rights or children’s rights whatsoever” inside khalwas.

    When I told him about the abuse I had seen, he replied: “The old regime didn’t have laws regulating khalwas. I can’t solve a problem caused by 30 years of the old regime overnight.”

    With the influence that sheikhs hold, it’s rare for families to seek justice. However, Mohamed Nader’s parents have decided to press charges. Although the public prosecutor’s office is obliged to look into all cases of violence against children, Mohamed Nader’s parents have had to hire a lawyer to fight their case.

    On the way into court his mother, Fatima, said the 2018 revolution had made her more optimistic: “In the past, we had no rights but now it’s different. With the new government, we will get our rights, God willing.”

    After several hours inside she emerged disappointed. One of the defendants had failed to turn up and the hearing was postponed. The teachers accused of beating the boys still haven’t entered a plea. The khalwa is now run by Sheikh Hussein’s brother who told me that under his management the beating of children would not be tolerated.

    Mohamed Nader and Ismail are on a slow road to physical recovery. But thousands of other children across Sudan are still at risk.

    https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/oct/19/revealed-chaining-beatings-and-torture-inside-sudans-islamic-schools

  2. US Blacklists Chinese, Australian Citizens and Organizations Over Iran (sputniknews, Oct 19, 2020)
    https://sputniknews.com/world/202010191080819062-us-blacklists-chinese-australian-citizens-and-organizations-over-iran/

    “On Sunday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington would sanction “any individual or entity that materially contributes to the supply, sale, or transfer of conventional arms to or from Iran” after a decade-long UN arms embargo on Iran expired.

    The US has imposed Iran-related sanctions on five Hong-Kong shipping companies, one Australian entity and one Chinese investment group, the US Department of the Treasury said.

    Delight Shipping Co Ltd, Gracious Shipping Co Ltd, Noble Shipping Co Ltd, Reach Holding Group, Reach Shipping Lines, Supreme Shipping Co Ltd were added to Specially Designated Nationals list, according to the statement.

    The Treasury also slapped three individuals with sanctions for dealings with Iran.

    On 18 October, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US was ready “to use its domestic authorities to sanction any individual or entity that materially contributes to the supply, sale, or transfer of conventional arms to or from Iran.” He added that if a country supports the fight against terrorism it “should refrain from any arms transactions with Iran.”

    Pompeo’s statement came after a decade-long UN arms embargo on Iran expired, allowing Tehran to buy foreign weapons.”

    • Solid and sobering. Especially in context.

      On Oct 6, 2019 PT gave the filthy Turk a green light for his incursion into northern Syria. It meant ethnic cleansing of the Kurds, Aramean Christians, and other minority populations.

      They had been our allies.

      Easy to trash them all as “communist terrorists”, to repeat Turk-talking points without bothering to observe the reality on the ground. But others took our reversal as a message. It was as clear as 0’s speech in Cairo in 2009, ditching Mubarak for the MB.

      Sops to domestic isolationists reverberated. Taiwan watched, recoiled in horror. Japan, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and China. They were all paying attention.

      Bottom line: We’re not reliable.
      Our foreign policy is not only constrained by relatively short election cycles, but it can also be upended within a single term of one administration.

      That’s encouraged maximal Turkish ambitions. At a real cost to real people. It’s a freebie that Putin’s exploited in the information battle-space. The Dragon licks its chops.

  3. HERVE MORIN

    «?Les fichés S doivent être dégagés du territoire national quand ils ne sont pas Français?»

  4. BREAKING: Trudeau family received over $427,000 from WE Charity in payments and amenities

    New documents submitted to the Finance Committee on Monday reveal that WE Charity spent over $427,000 on the Trudeau family in the form of payments, amenities, and gifts.

    The documents were submitted by Mark Kielburger, one of the two brothers who co-founded WE Charity.

    Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Margaret Trudeau, and Alexandre Trudeau collectively made $217,500 in speaking fees from WE Charity, which also provided them with $209,620.92 in amenities such as flights, hotel rooms, and food services, as well as $630 in gifts.

    The documents reveal that Margaret and Alexandre Trudeau were paid for a collective total of 36 engagements, during which they averaged three to five events per engagement. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau was paid for eight total engagements

    The revelation comes as opposition parties seek to continue the investigation into the WE scandal, a process which has been hindered by Liberal Party obstruction. MPs from various opposition parties have accused the Liberals of attempting to cover up evidence of corruption.

    The enrichment of the Trudeau family was not the only revelation from the documents.

    It was also revealed that former Finance Minister Bill Morneau, who was reported to have paid back WE Charity over $41,000 only hours prior to a hearing on the scandal, did not receive an invoice at all. Morneau failed to recuse himself from a cabinet meeting regarding the WE Charity despite not having yet paid back the funds and having two daughters who worked for the charity.

    Morneau, a multi-millionaire who inherited much of his wealth, likely overpaid WE Charity based on an estimation of the maximum likely cost his travel expenses with WE may have accrued. According to the documents, the “actual costs incurred by WE Charity would be less than $41,000,” which covered a trip to Kenya and a trip to Ecuador.

    The documents additionally revealed that WE Charity had signed 11 previous contracts with the government of Canada, eight of which were signed during the Premiership of Justin Trudeau.

    Mark Kielburger also revealed in the documents that he and his brother had conversations with six cabinet ministers on eight occasions in the two years preceding the scandal, including Jean-Yves Duclos, Mary Ng, Bill Morneau, Bardish Chagger, Amarjeet Sohi, and Pablo Rodriguez.

    The documents show that the Kielburgers had a total of 65 conference calls with public servants between April 17 and July 7.

    The brothers had conversations with Bill Morneau on three separate occasions, the latest of which took place less than two months prior to being chosen to administer the Canada Student Service Grant program and after Trudeau and Morneau had initially spoken about providing a relief program to students.

    The Kielburgers maintain, however, that the CSSG was not discussed in the phone call with Morneau, and that the call was “part of a series of phone calls checking in with businesses and non-profits on the impact of COVID-19.”

    To substantiate this claim, the Kielburgers included within the documents an email to Morneau which was sent following the April 25th phone call. While the email does allude to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it makes no mention of the CSSG.

    “WE Charity has filed an in-house lobbyist registration that covers the time period in question,” the documents continue. However, the documents claims that the Kielburgers cannot be considered lobbyists since their work with the organization is volunteer work and they do not receive a salary.

    https://thepostmillennial.com/trudeau-family-received-over-427-000-from-we-charity-in-payments-and-ammenities

  5. Dialogue Possible With Certain Sahel Jihadists: UN Chief
    https://www.thedefensepost.com/2020/10/19/dialogue-sahel-jihadists/

    “Dialogue may be possible with certain jihadist groups active in Africa’s Sahel region, but not “radical” ones such as the Islamic State (IS) group, UN chief Antonio Guterres said Monday.

    “There will be groups with which we can talk, and which will have an interest in engaging in this dialogue to become political actors in the future,” Guterres said in an interview with French daily Le Monde.

    “But there are still those whose terrorist radicalism is such that there will be nothing to be done with them,” he added, citing IS.

    Much of the vast Sahel region is prey to insecurity and jihadist violence, which erupted after a rebellion in northern Mali in 2012.

    The conflict has since spread to the center of the country, as well as neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, claiming thousands of lives.

    Last week, African Union Peace and Security Commissioner Smail Chergui urged dialogue with extremists in the conflict-ridden region.

    He pointed to Afghanistan, where the United States and the Taliban agreed a truce in late February, as a possible template.

    Chergui’s appeal came after Mali’s government this month swapped some 200 prisoners for four hostages held by an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group.

    The last French citizen held hostage in the world, Sophie Petronin, was released alongside Mali opposition figure Soumaila Cisse, along with two Italians.

    ‘Stronger International Response Needed’
    “In Afghanistan, there is a terrorist group with which dialogue is impossible, it is the Islamic State,” said Guterres. “Its vision is so radical that there is no prospect of discussion.”

    He underlined there was “insufficient” security deployment in the Sahel, and called for “more international solidarity” with the region.

    A high-level donor conference will be held Tuesday for the Sahel region, where the years-long fighting, climate change, and COVID-19 have plunged millions of people into hunger.

    The UN has said it hopes the ministerial-level videoconference will mobilize $2.4 billion.

    Guterres said the UN’s MINUSMA force in Mali had too limited a mandate to allow “an effective fight against the terrorist threat.”

    Similarly, France’s Barkhane force of some 5,000 soldiers was “limited given the extent of the territory to be controlled,” he said.

    As for the combined G5 Sahel regional force, it “lacks the means and capacity to respond to this gigantic security challenge,” said the UN secretary-general. “The international response must be stronger,” he told the newspaper.”

  6. Pompeo Warns Arms Sales to Iran Will Result in Sanctions as Embargo Expires
    https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2572871/pompeo-warns-arms-sales-iran-will-result-sanctions-embargo-expires

    “US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that Washington will impose sanctions for selling arms to Iran even as the United Nations embargo against sales to the nation expires.

    “The United States is prepared to use its domestic authorities to sanction any individual or entity that materially contributes to the supply, sale, or transfer of conventional arms to or from Iran, as well as those who provide technical training, financial support and services, and other assistance related to these arms,” Pompeo said.

    He added that for the past 10 years, countries have refrained from selling weapons to Iran under various UN measures.

    “Any country that now challenges this prohibition will be very clearly choosing to fuel conflict and tension over promoting peace and security,” the US Secretary of State added.

    His comments came as Tehran confirmed that the United Nations sanctions on buying and selling conventional weapons has been lifted “automatically”. An Iranian Foreign Ministry statement published by the Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, earlier on Twitter, said, “Today’s normalization of Iran’s defense cooperation with the world is a win for the cause of multilateralism and peace and security in our region.”

    He added it was “a momentous day for the international community, which— in defiance of malign US efforts—has protected UNSC Res. 2231 and JCPOA.”

    For its part, Reuters said Iran announced it was self-reliant in its defense and had no need to go on a weapons buying spree as a United Nations conventional arms embargo was due to expire on Sunday despite strong US opposition.

    “Iran’s defense doctrine is premised on strong reliance on its people and indigenous capabilities … Unconventional arms, weapons of mass destruction and a buying spree of

    conventional arms have no place in Iran’s defense doctrine,” said a Foreign Ministry statement carried by state media.

    The arms embargo on Iran was due to expire on Sunday…”

  7. Sudan, ICC Explore Options for Ousted Bashir to Face Darfur Trial
    https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2573996/sudan-icc-explore-options-ousted-bashir-face-darfur-trial

    “Sudan said Monday that talks with the International Criminal Court have covered options ranging from a handover to forming a hybrid court to try ousted president Omar al-Bashir over the Darfur conflict.

    The options have been discussed during a visit to Khartoum since Saturday by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda aimed at putting to trial those accused in the conflict that cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

    Bashir, 76, has been wanted by the ICC for nearly a decade over charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the ravaged region of western Sudan.

    “We discussed several options and suggestions relating to ICC cases and we are looking forward to reaching a common vision,” Justice Minister Nasreddin Abdelbary told a news conference.

    “These options include handing (them) over, appearance (before the court), forming a hybrid court or a special court following consultations with state institutions and families of the victims,” he said.

    An ICC delegation headed by Bensouda is due to stay until Wednesday and has been meeting senior Sudanese officials.

    Two other suspects, Ahmed Haroun, an ex-governor of South Kordofan state, and Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein, an ex-defense minister, also face ICC charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

    Both are in custody in Sudan.

    A fifth man wanted by the ICC, rebel leader Abdallah Banda, remains at large.

    Bashir, who ruled Sudan for 30 years, was ousted in April 2019 by the military following months of mass street protests against his rule.

    His tenure was marred by multiple conflicts including in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile states.

    Darfur was the scene of a bitter conflict that broke out in 2003 between African minority rebels, complaining of the region’s marginalization, and government forces.

    The United Nations estimates the fighting killed 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million others.

    Militia leader Kushayb, a top commander of the government-backed Janjaweed forces accused of carrying out some of the worst atrocities in Darfur, surrendered to the ICC in June, and he is now also in custody.

    He faces trial on 53 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

    Since his ouster, Bashir has been jailed in Khartoum’s intensive security Kober prison.

    Last December, he was convicted of corruption and faces a second trial in Khartoum over the 1989 Islamist-backed coup that brought him to power.

    If convicted, Bashir and 27 other co-accused — including former top officials — could face the death penalty.”

  8. Under Attack and Losing Hope, Iraqi Activists Flee Abroad
    https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2573951/under-attack-and-losing-hope-iraqi-activists-flee-abroad

    “Hasanain Alminshid had received death threats for his human rights activism for years, but ignored most of them. After his mentor was gunned down outside a police station, he finally made the difficult choice to flee Iraq.

    “It’s too dangerous now. There have been killings in the open in front of security forces,” he said, speaking by ‘phone from Istanbul, where he has based himself since that incident in November last year.

    Alminshid, 29, his mentor Amjad Aldhamat and several other activists had attended a meeting with police to discuss a planned protest in their hometown of Amara in southern Iraq during some of the deadliest anti-government unrest that swept Iraq last year.

    As Aldhamat walked out, gunmen sped past in a car with tinted windows and no license plates and shot him dead. Alminshid left the country five days later.

    It was one of dozens of targeted killings that have pushed more and more young Iraqi civil society activists, rights workers and journalists to flee what they say is a continuing onslaught by militia groups.

    Rights groups say the departure of people whose activities range from educating Iraqis about their right to vote to leading protests against perceived abuses has further weakened civil society movements that have been active for decades.

    The independent rights organization Al-Amal says at least 44 kidnappings and 74 attempted killings of activists have taken place, mostly in Baghdad and southern Iraq, in the last year.

    It has documented at least 39 killings since October 2019, when thousands of Iraqis took to the streets in mass anti-government protests demanding jobs and the departure of the ruling elite which they said was corrupt.

    The protests toppled former prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi in December but lost steam after more than 500 people were killed in a crackdown by security forces and unidentified gunmen, and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Assassinations escalated with the beginning of the protests last year,” said Hassan Wahab of Al-Amal. “We have started losing our sources on the ground.”

    Reuters spoke to seven activists who fled Iraq in recent months, five of whom said that they were advised by local police to leave because they could not guarantee protection from armed groups.

    A military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that security forces were often powerless to protect activists from rogue militias, because those groups had powerful political backers whom he did not name.

    Militias linked to political parties, some backed by Iran, have tightened their grip over state institutions since the US invasion that toppled President Saddam Hussein in 2003.

    Lost hope

    Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who took office in May, has pledged justice for activists killed or abused by armed groups, and has faced off against some Iran-backed parties.

    But the formation of nearly 35 committees by the new government to tackle the challenges, including pursuing those responsible for protesters’ deaths, has resulted in no prosecutions so far.

    “I’ve lost all the hope I had in Kadhimi,” Aldhamat’s brother, Mohammed Aldhamat, told Reuters in Amara.

    Speaking in Amjad’s home, where their mother also lives, he added that his family had been told they would see the results of the investigation into his brother’s death within three months. Four months have passed with no word.

    An Iraqi government spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.

    A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said state institutions were “infiltrated” by parties and militia groups that had no interest in punishing the killers of protesters.

    The government has vowed to crack down on what it says are criminal armed groups trying to destabilize the country, and to impose state control over weapons as part of efforts to reduce the influence of militias.

    Alminshid said a police officer at the hospital where Aldhamat was pronounced dead asked him a few questions, but no one has contacted him since.

    The day after Aldhamat’s killing, military authorities in Amara sent a memo to the interior ministry recommending that security forces protect nine other activists it said were on a hit list, according to a document seen by Reuters.

    A military official confirmed the document’s authenticity.

    One of the activists on that list, 28-year-old Hamza Qassem, got wind of the memo through a friend in the Amara police force and left for Istanbul, where he, Alminshid and other exiled Iraqis who used to run a rights NGO in Amara now reside.

    That NGO no longer exists. Seven of its founders are in Turkey and three have been killed.

    “Amara has become a terrifying city,” Qassem said.

    The main protest site in Amara, which was occupied a year ago by throngs of anti-government protesters, is now sealed off by security forces and metal gates.

    “We took to the streets and asked for a nation, but the authorities gave us a cemetery,” said one of the protesters, Haider Halim. “The only solution is to leave.””

  9. Turkey arrests suspected UAE spy
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201019-turkey-arrests-suspected-uae-spy/

    “The Turkish intelligence services have arrested a Palestinian man suspected of spying on behalf of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Arab nationals living in Turkey.

    A senior Turkish security official, who asked not to be named, on Friday disclosed that the man confessed to spying on Arab citizens and provided a set of documents that prove his association with the UAE intelligence service…”

  10. Daesh urges supporters to attack Saudi Arabia over normalisation with Israel
    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201019-daesh-urges-supporters-to-attack-saudi-arabia-over-normalisation-with-israel/

    “Daesh has urged its followers to target Saudi Arabia’s oil pipelines and factories in a statement denouncing the normalisation of relations between the UAE and Bahrain, and Israel. The terror group said that the so-called Abraham Accords formalised last month in Washington are a betrayal of Islam and accuse Riyadh of being complicit in the normalisation process.

    “Targets are plenty… Start by hitting and destroying oil pipelines, ??factories, and facilities which are the source [of income] of the tyrant government,” said Daesh spokesman Abu Hamza Al-Quraishi in a recording that was posted on Telegram social media app.??

    Saudi Arabia is under pressure to follow its Gulf neighbours and normalise relations with the Zionist state. Riyadh, however, continues to insist that Israel would need to end its occupation of Palestine and allow the establishment of a Palestinian state before it agrees to such a move…”

  11. Qatar has no Civil Society due to severe restrictions: Egypt’s SIS study
    http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/388699/Egypt/Politics-/Qatar-has-no-Civil-Society-due-to-severe-restricti.aspx

    “Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) said on Monday that the Qatari regime considers Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and associations as tools that it can exploit in order to meddle in the affairs of other countries.

    ‘This Qatari interference did not only take place in various Arab and Islamic countries, but it extended to Europe and the West too,’ the SIS said in a study released on Monday.

    It added that the rulers of Qatar have placed huge restrictions on the Qatari people’s right to freedom of association, and made it practically impossible to establish an independent Non-Governmental Organization.

    The study said that the Qatari Emir and his entourage use Qatar foundation to spread chaos and extremism all over the world to the extent that this organization become synonymous with terrorism,” the study pointed out.

    The study also shed light on what it called the “crippling restrictions” imposed by Qatari laws on the right to freedoms, banning all civil society activity in Qatar, and granting the Qatari regime absolute powers to freely repress and stifle civil society movements with impunity.

    Full Text:

    Due to severe restrictions: Qatar has no Civil Society

    A Study by the State Information Service

    The Qatari regime considers non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations as mere tools that it can exploit in order to meddle in the affairs of other countries. This comes in the form of funding extremist organizations and shady associations.

    This Qatari interference did not only take place in various Arab and Islamic countries, but it extended to the western world too.

    On the other hand, the rulers of Qatar have placed huge restrictions on the Qatari people’s right to freedom of association and actually made it practically impossible to establish an independent NGO.

    Qatar basically has no active NGOs, however it does have the Qatar Foundation, which is run by the government. The Emir and his entourage use this foundation to spread chaos and extremist all over the world to the extent that the name “Qatar Foundation” has become synonymous with terrorism.

    This study prepared by the State Information Service reveals the crippling restrictions imposed by Qatari laws on the right to freedom of association, and it reveals as well the true colours of the repressive Qatari regime that stifles their people’s right to form NGOs without remorse or shame.

    Attempting to register an Association…. An adventure that ends in rejection

    At an age where responsible governments facilitate the regulations of registering an association through obliging the founders to only notify the competent authorities; the Qatari regime arbitrarily imposes stiff regulations through sub-article 12.8 of the law that requires applicants to submit a request for a NGO permit to the Minister that also has to be approved by the Prime Minister. The government may approve or reject such a request within a month, and if the government does not respond to the request it entails rejection, thus placing unnecessary restrictions to form associations.

    Appealing to the oppressor

    Qatari legislation allows citizens wishing to form a civil association to appeal the rejection before the same minister who issued it, according to the second paragraph of sub-article 12.7. Which defeats the purpose of submitting an appeal in the first place.

    Associations may be disbanded on the whim of the authorities

    Sub-article 12.27 of the law prevents associations from investing their funds as they see fit without the approval of the government. Sub-article 12.35 gives the government the power to disband an NGO if it loses 20 members, violates the entirety of article 12, or engages in any activities that are deemed political. The government may also suspend an NGO’s board of trustees for a whole year and appoint a temporary board of their choice to administer it.

    If you engage in civil activities you may pay a fine or go to jail

    According to sub-article 12.43, anyone who runs an unregistered NGO, or engages in activities deemed illegal by the regime, or illegally raises funds for an NGO can be imprisoned for up to a year, and has to pay a hefty fine that can reach up to QR 50,000.

    Article 12 basically bans all civil activities in Qatar, and grants the Qatari regime absolute powers to freely repress and stifle civil movements with impunity. The world wonders how does Qatar preach freedom and democracy through its media trumpets, while it fails to grant its citizens the most basic rights and freedoms, including the right to freedom of association.”

  12. “Last night in Sweden” type video, on the questionable / disturbing site bestgore.

    This is a gang related murder in the area around Malmo, Sweden sometime in the summer of 2018. Footage is from the cousin of @rampagingnegro, who told him it was beef between Arabs / Middle Eastern immigrants.

    @rampagingnegro notes:

    Sweden is a nice country with lots of hot girls, but they are going to have a lot more real trouble with this kind of thing soon. My cousin is involved in a bit of the rough stuff out there, and the violence is heating up especially with second and third generation African & Arab immigrants like him. Sweden offers them all a good life and decent opportunity, or at least great welfare to sit on their asses and smoke Weed or Hookah all day like they would be doing in their home nations anyway.
    So they have decided to whack each other out of pride and “respect” due to the lax laws in prosecuting murders and killings.
    https://www.bestgore.com/murder/immigrant-gang-related-murder-malmo-sweden/

  13. Biden is the Right Candidate for Moroccan-Americans this November
    https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/10/323077/biden-is-the-right-candidate-for-moroccan-americans-this-november/

    “The stakes in a presidential race have never been as high as the ones before us this November, with incumbent Donald J. Trump facing former Vice President Joseph Biden. Never before has an election felt so urgent and so personal.

    As Moroccan-Americans who call the United States home, our every identity and values are on the ballot this November, and we know that Biden is the only candidate who will ensure our priorities and needs are met. With the election only days away, we urge the rest of the Moroccan-American community who is able to vote to do so, and to vote to get Trump out of office.

    As Muslims, we are writing because we are concerned about young children having to worry about getting bullied at school for their religion. We’re also saddened by members of our community whose mosques have been vandalized, and the parents who lost their children to Islamophobic violence and hate crimes.

    While Trump continues to spew bigoted rhetoric and hate, Biden has a plan to ensure that Muslims feel welcome in this country including repealing the Muslim Ban on Day 1; increasing investments towards combating white nationalist terrorism; and reviewing watchlist and no-fly lists to ensure they are not discriminatory based on a person’s national origin, race, religion, or ethnicity. But beyond Islamophobia, there are other issues that also affect us directly. Like other Americans, we care about access to quality healthcare, making sure that our children receive a good education without enduring crippling debt, and humane immigration reform.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has really shed a light on the weaknesses in global health systems, including the American model. Many of us have had to deal with the uncertainty and fear of seeing loved ones get sick from the virus overseas in Morocco as well as here. Like other Arab-Americans, Moroccans are more prone to COVID-19 complications due to comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension.

    The Trump administration has downplayed the severity of the virus in this country, while ignoring the guidance of doctors and scientists, and overseeing a weak response, leading to more than 200,000 deaths. Not only will Biden implement a compassionate, science-driven response to this crisis — including free testing; overturning Trump’s public charge policy, which discourages immigrants from seeking health services; and increased unemployment benefits — but he will also ensure that all Americans are properly covered by affordable healthcare.

    While Trump is obsessed with getting rid of the Affordable Care Act — without offering any alternatives — Biden’s plan includes lowering health care deductibles and out-of-pocket spending; ensuring that prescription drugs are affordable; and preventing insurance companies from denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions.

    Education is another issue that deeply impacts immigration populations and their children. The Moroccan population is no different — we also want our children to receive a quality education that does not place our families into deep debt. While student debt in the U.S. increases, Trump’s administration has continued to make cuts to programs designed to provide debt relief. He’s called for roughly 8% cuts in education budgets, and $170 billion in cuts to student loan forgiveness programs.

    These cuts are a stark difference to the policy proposals of Biden, who knows that getting a college education is expensive in the United States. For families making less than $125,000, Biden will make public college tuition-free. He will also forgive student debt for low-income and middle class families who attended public colleges. These are policies that speak to our communities and their needs — not the pro-wealthy, pro-1% policies of Trump.

    Another major issue for the Moroccan-American community are cruel immigration policies — from unlawful detention to deportations that were heightened under President Trump’s administration. His crackdown is about more than profiling based on race or religion — it is questioning the very legality of deportation and basic precepts of due process.

    Today, our immigration system is under greater stress, and as Moroccan-Americans we have a say and stake in this debate. We saw the heartbreaking images of children placed in protective child custody — well, that was the reality for many Moroccan families and children who had to endure Trump’s immigration crackdown. The reality of a transformational agenda rests, as a first step, on our vote to put a stop to Trump’s misguided policies. This means a vote for Joe Biden.

    Biden’s immigration plan recognizes the pain of families that had to go through deportation and separation from loved ones, and he pledges to uphold laws humanely and preserve the dignity of immigrant families. Biden’s immigration plan pushes for further oversight and regulation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Protection to ensure that accountability for inhumane treatment is actually enforced.

    He will immediately begin working with Congress to modernize our immigration system, with a priority on keeping families together, and setting a “roadmap” to citizenship for nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants. Our Moroccan brothers and sisters in this country are part of the undocumented population still living here, illegally.

    Compared to other immigrant groups in the United States, Moroccan-Americans are still in the nascent stages of political engagement in this country. Much of the population did not arrive here until the end of the 20th century, making their concerns and priorities unique. As the second generation of Moroccan-Americans reaches voting age — and in some cases, the third generation, though concrete numbers related to this community are difficult to come by — it is this November presidential election that we must make our voices heard.

    Never has an election been more vital to a nation nor to immigrant and minority groups as this one, and never has the choice been more clear: Biden is the only candidate who will property fulfill the needs of our community.

    Leila Hanafi is a Moroccan-American international development lawyer and post-doctoral researcher and lecturer in law. Dr. Hanafi is the principal of ARPA law firm and Morocco World News Board member.

    Sarah Alaoui is completing a PhD in the Middle East Studies department at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She is also a global public affairs and communications consultant.

    The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial views.”

    • LOL
      Can you imagine Moroccans in Morocco choosing former VP Biden as their head of government? They know a ruler needs a strong hand and can’t rely on having a side-kick to replace him if he is ill or if she says he is ill.

  14. Leipzig: Asylum seekers complain that accommodation is not in city centre
    Numerous asylum seekers in Germany have rejected the Leipzig apartments they were offered because they were too far from the city center, had no elevator and did not meet their individual needs. In addition, they often made inquiries for properties that had four or more rooms.
    https://freewestmedia.com/2020/10/14/leipzig-asylum-seekers-complain-that-accommodation-is-not-in-city-centre/
    [..]

  15. Reminder that the Armenians aren’t angels. Warning, graphic video

    Khojaly Massacre – 1992 Killing of Azerbaijani Civilians by Armenians
    https://www.bestgore.com/murder/khojaly-massacre-1992-killing-azerbaijan-civilian-armenia-army/
    The Khojaly massacre was a mass killing committed against ethnic Azerbaijanis during the occupation of Khojaly on the night of February 25-26, 1992 by the Armenian armed forces with the participation of the 366th motorized infantry regiment of Russia.

    As a result of the massacre, 613 Khojaly residents, including 63 children, 106 women, 70 elderly people, were killed, 8 families were completely destroyed, 25 children lost both parents and 130 children lost one parent. 487 people, including 76 children, were wounded by enemy bullets. 1,275 people were taken prisoner. The fate of 150 captives, including 68 women and 26 children, is still unknown.

    Coverage of the Khojaly genocide in Azerbaijan is mainly associated with the name of the National Hero of Azerbaijan – Chingiz Mustafayev. The most important part of his short-term military journalism career was filming the atrocities committed in Khojaly. Some of it is included in the documentary video below.

    Seven Azerbaijanis considered national heroes took part in the defense of Khojaly. Among them, Shohrat Hasanov was killed in the battles and was posthumously awarded the Medal for Courage by the President of Azerbaijan. Allahverdi Bagirov rescued 1,003 Khojaly prisoners from Armenians in three days through Armenian Colonel Vitaly Balasyan.

    At present, the recognition of the Khojaly genocide has been identified as one of the main directions of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. Apart from Azerbaijan, Khojaly is fully recognized as a genocide by Pakistan and Sudan. Mexico, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Djibouti, Peru, Honduras, Panama, Jordan, Romania and Scotland recognize the tragedy as a parliamentary massacre. In addition, 22 US states have adopted a document recognizing Khojaly as a massacre.

    In Azerbaijan, the massacre is known as “Khojaly genocide” (Xocal? soyq?r?m?) and “Khojaly tragedy” (Xocal? faci?si).

  16. 95 irregular migrants held in eastern Turkey
    https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/95-irregular-migrants-held-in-eastern-turkey-159288

    “Ninety-five irregular migrants traveling in two buses were held in the eastern Bitlis province of Turkey, the provincial governor’s office said on Oct. 19.

    While the migrants were referred to local migration authorities, police also rounded up two people who allegedly facilitated them.

    Further information on their planned destination, or nationalities was not immediately available.

    Turkey has been a key transit point for people aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.”

  17. Turkey: 11 FETO-linked judges, prosecutors dismissed
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/july-15-coup-bid/turkey-11-feto-linked-judges-prosecutors-dismissed/2011748

    “Turkey’s Supreme Council of Judges and Public Prosecutors (HSYK) on Monday sacked 11 judges and prosecutors, as they were found to be linked with the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

    Following discussions and examination of the judges and prosecutors in question, the HSYK’s general assembly concluded that they have connections with the FETO and decided to dismiss them.

    Since the 2016 defeated coup, more than 4,500 judges and prosecutors have been expelled as part of probe into the terror group.

    FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, in which 251 people were martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

    Turkey accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.”

  18. EU extends sanctions against Daesh/ISIS, al-Qaeda
    https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/eu-extends-sanctions-against-daesh-isis-al-qaeda/2011815

    “The EU on Monday extended sanctions against Daesh/ISIS and al-Qaeda terror groups and its members until Oct. 31, 2021.

    The decision was taken in light of the ongoing terrorist threat, a EU Council statement said.

    “EU sanctions consist of a travel ban to the EU and an asset freeze for individuals, and an asset freeze for groups and entities. In addition, EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds and economic resources available to those listed,” the statement added.

    The EU’s sanctions list includes five people — two Algerian and three French nationals.

    The EU has been imposing sanctions on Daesh/ISIS and al-Qaeda, as well as individuals and organizations associated with them since 2016.

    The EU says its sanctions regime is independent but complementary to United Nations sanctions.”

  19. Sweden: Three Syrians who beat gay couple in Gothenburg convicted; one jailed while all three avoid deportation
    https://rmx.news/article/article/sweden-three-syrians-who-beat-gay-couple-in-gothenburg-convicted-one-jailed-while-all-three-avoid-deportation

    “Three Syrian migrants who beat and abused a gay couple holding hands at Gothenburg Central Station have been convicted of assault and hate crimes by Sweden’s second largest city’s district court. Despite their convictions, the three perpetrators, all of whom have prior criminal records, were not slapped with any deportation orders by the judge.

    The incident which led to the attack began on the night of April 7 when the newly arrived migrants — 21-year-old Abdel Rahman Wakaa, 21, 21-year-old Hamod Suleyman, and 23-year-old Abdullah Alaswad — shouted anti-gay obscenities at two men holding hands as they arrived at Gothenburg Central Station from Malmo, Nyheter Idag reports.

    When the couple stopped walking and turned around to address the Syrians’ behavior, the gang spared no time, and immediately began brutally assaulting the two men. CCTV surveillance cameras captured the entire attack…”

  20. German spa bans women from wearing bikinis due to ‘cultural sensitivities’, but burkinis still allowed
    https://rmx.news/article/article/german-spa-bans-women-from-wearing-bikinis-due-to-cultural-sensitivities-but-burkinis-still-allowed

    “After complaints from bathers, the Duisburg Niederrhein-Therme spa banned women from wearing revealing bikinis. As Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ) reported, some visitors felt disturbed by revealing swimwear.

    “We are a place in which many cultures meet. Liberalness is not always tolerated by all visitors,” said a spokeswoman for the Niederrhein-Therme to the WAZ, who cited “cultural sensitives” as the reason behind the ban.

    In Duisburg, which is located in the west of Germany, 43.3 percent of the population have a migrant background. In the Hamborn district, where the thermal spa is located, the proportion is 57.4 percent.

    In the future, employees will point out the ban to scantily clad women. The visitors would then have to change their swimwear, stressed the spokeswoman. String thongs do not belong in a wellness center, according to the spa representatives.

    The Alternative for Germany (AfD) parliamentary group leader in the Hessian state parliament, Robert Lambrou, told Junge Freiheit that a spokeswoman for the thermal spa had said to him that wearing burkinis was allowed. The so-called burkini is a two-piece swimwear for women that covers the entire body except for the face and hands, typically worn by Muslim women.

    The swimming pool in the spa has now put up signs referring to the ban.

    “In the interest of all guests present, we point out that inadequate swimwear (string thongs, Brazilian bikinis, etc.) are not permitted in our thermal spa,” the WAZ reported.

    The AfD has said in the past that immigration, in particular from Muslim countries, would lead to profound changes in the culture of Germany, including for what society considers acceptable for women to wear. In fact, the party even featured the issue in campaign posters.

    Most Muslims societies are known for their opposition to women wearing certain types of clothing, such as skirts or bikinis. For example, in the United Arab Emirates, bikinis are banned.

    In countries such as France, women have been harassed in majority Muslim-neighborhoods for wearing certain clothing, sparking a debate in the country about women’s rights. In the city of Strasbourg, a woman was even punched in the face for wearing a skirt last month, with a video of her injuries going viral on social media.”

  21. Timcast IRL – James O’Keefe In Studio With BREAKING Expose On Google Election Interference

  22. Debate mics will be muted to allow candidates 2 uninterrupted minutes:

    The Associated Press is reporting that the debate commission added a new rule to allow for a mute button so candidate can’t interrupt one and other.

  23. WION Dispatch: Report: France to expel 231 suspects with extremist beliefs | World News | WION News

  24. Federal Judge Allows Clinton Foundation Whistleblower Complaint To Proceed, Rules IRS ‘Abused Its Discretion’

    https://americantruthtoday.com/politics/2020/10/13/federal-judge-allows-clinton-foundation-whistleblower-complaint-to-proceed-rules-irs-abused-its-discretion/

    Note: again, this is a few days old, but greatly relevant because of the Biden financial corruption issues. Going after the Clintons for financial corruption may be a smart strategy.