Islam4UK: bad, but not worth banning Banning groups like Islam4UK – repugnant as they undoubtedly are – is not only ineffective, but threatens our open society Inayat Bunglawala guardian.co.uk, Alan Johnson’s decision to ban al-Muhajiroun and its various incarnations (including Islam4UK) will no doubt be publicly welcomed by many of our tabloids – ironically the very same ones that have done so much in recent years to hype the activities of this minuscule group – but is banning the group really how a confident liberal democracy should be responding? To be sure, the overwhelming majority of British Muslims have been … Continue reading Banning groups like Islam4UK – repugnant as they undoubtedly are – is not only ineffective, but threatens our open society

The death of a scientist is another blow to officials charged with maintaining the secrecy of Iran’s nuclear programme Meir Javedanfar guardian.co.uk, At 10:13 am this morning, the Tehran-based Fars news agency reported that Masoud Ali Mohammadi, a prominent physics lecturer, had been killed by a “terrorist act”. According to the report, he was killed by a remote control bomb placed in a motorcycle. The bomb exploded as he left his house in the semi-upmarket Gheytariye neighborhood of Tehran. One hour and nine minutes later, at 11:22 am Tehran time, the same news agency, this time quoting Tehran’s chief prosecutor, … Continue reading Is Iran losing the intelligence war?

All God’s creatures A US company, run by atheists, is offering to take care of your pets during the second coming. But are they serious? Susan McCarthy guardian.co.uk, Suppose you were liable to be called away at a moment’s notice – for a long time – and you couldn’t take pets along. What if you suddenly got that chance to go to the Antarctic and inspect its wildlife? (Oh please, National Science Foundation.) Perhaps you hope for a last-minute berth to visit the International Space Station. Or maybe you fear arrest. In any of these cases, you won’t be able … Continue reading Atheists take money from baptist fanatics

Islam4UK to be banned, says Alan Johnson Membership of Islamist group Islam4UK and al-Muhajiroun to become criminal offence punishable by up to 10 years’ jail Alan Travis, home affairs editor guardian.co.uk, Article history Radical Muslim cleric Omar Bakri Muhammad founded al-Muhajiroun, which is to be banned, along with its offshoot Islam4UK, under a new terrorism law. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images The Islamist group Islam4UK, which planned a march through Wootton Bassett, and its “parent” organisation, al-Muhajiroun, will be banned under new legislation outlawing the “glorification” of terrorism, Alan Johnson announced today. The order, which will come into effect on Thursday, … Continue reading Islamist group Islam4UK /al-Muhajiroun membership to become criminal offence punishable by up to 10 years’ jail

The Interior Ministry’s National Crisis Management Cell has warned that the Taliban have been angered by their depiction by the media as villains, and could be out to bomb them. The bomb hoax at the building housing this newspaper, ‘Geo’ TV and other publications of the ‘Jang Group’ in Lahore Sunday night as well as at the nearby WAPDA building could be a warning of things to come. There is indeed growing evidence that the media is becoming a key target. The attack on the press club in Peshawar late last year indicates the threat is in earnest. Tougher security … Continue reading Mullahs hit between the eyes by Pakistans media

Dr Maleeha Lodhi The writer is a former envoy to the US and the UK, and a former editor of The News. Barack Obama completes his first year as president with his public approval ratings having fallen from a high of 68 per cent when he entered office to 47 per cent. Is this common to American presidents after their first 365 days in power? Does this set a trend line that will persist? Can Obama turn this situation around? The answer to the first two questions is no, not necessarily. The first year certainly sets the momentum and direction … Continue reading Obama: rhetoric vs reality

S Khalid Husain In the eyes of the world, in no other field has Pakistan achieved a pre-eminence such as it has in producing terrorists. Out of “modesty,” perhaps, no government of the day has tried to usurp “credit” for this singular achievement. All incoming governments of the country have either “invited” their predecessor governments to take the bow, or conceded the “credit” to the army. There has not been a calculated, sustained effort to crush terrorism. The present effort has come just in time. But the question is how effectively the democratic government can continue to back the army … Continue reading The parallel ‘battle’

Rahimullah Yusufzai There are lessons to be learnt from the recent suicide bombing at the secret CIA station in Afghanistan’s Khost province bordering Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region. A Jordanian medical doctor of Palestinian origin with a Turkish wife teamed up with other Arab nationals from Al Qaeda and sought the help of Pakistani, and possibly Afghan, Taliban to carry out this attack and inflict the heaviest loss to the premier US spy agency in 26 years. It showed how widespread the animosity is among Muslims against the US given its policies and explained the way Islamic militants transcending borders … Continue reading Lessons we must learn