Lest we forget during the economic turmoil

So humans are not individuals, with inalienable rights, but mere parts of a religious whole, no matter where they reside. From the Middle East Times, via Counterterrorism Blog.

Sharia's Inroads Around the World

Pakistan recently gave in to the pressure of Islamist militants. Indeed to buy off peace, Pakistani authorities allowed the imposition of Sharia (Islamic law) in the Swat valley.

How long the cease-fire will last is anyone's guess. But in any case, Pakistan has allowed a precedent that could extend to other provinces; in fact the Swat valley is only about 100 miles away from Islamabad, the capital. But Sharia is not just making inroads in Pakistan but actually creeping in the West and in particular in Europe....

Read it all.

Oh, the irony.

'Stefani to cover up for Malaysia show'

"I wonder what she would have said if Christian groups in the U.S. had made the same request. Sharia Alert from modern, moderate Malaysia, from Reuters (thanks to all who sent this in):

THERE will be no revealing costumes at US singer Gwen Stefani's concert in Malaysia this month, a newspaper reported, after a Muslim student group demanded that the event be cancelled as being too obscene.

Although Malaysia is a moderate Muslim country with sizeable non-Muslim minorities, conservative groups often frown upon departures from strict Koranic injunctions.

Malaysian mobile phone firm Maxis Communications, which is promoting the August 21 show as part of Stefani's "Sweet Escape" tour, promised it would feature no revealing costumes, the Star newspaper said."

Almost too horrible to blog.

How multiculturalism is betraying women.

"We are all Mustafa Kemal's soldiers"

Democracy In Action: Sea of Flags in Istanbul in Giant Demonstration Against AKP

"Over a million demonstrators from all over Turkey - mostly women and young - flooded Istanbul for the giant demonstration against AKP government, against PM Erdogan and FM Abdullah Gul's presidency. It is reported that the participation in the rally at Caglayan district of Istanbul surpassed the massive rally that took place in Ankara on April 14 - which according to reports was attended by one million people. Ataturk's famous 'speech to the Turkish youth' was read and patriotic songs were sung by Turkey's famous actors and singers accompanied by a massive choir of demonstrators."

Read it all at The MEMRI blog.

"We don't want a covered woman in Ataturk's presidential palace, we want civilized, modern people there."

Turks protest Islamic-rooted government

'Another demonstration against the spread of Sharia in Turkey. This time 700,000 people participated. Apparently Turkish secularism will not go gentle into that good night.

By Benjamin Harvey for Associated Press, with thanks to all who sent this in:

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Some 700,000 Turks waving the red national flag flooded central Istanbul on Sunday to demand the resignation of the government, saying the Islamic roots of Turkey's leaders threatened to destroy the country's modern foundations.

Like the protesters — who gathered for the second large anti-government demonstration in two weeks — Turkey's powerful secular military has accused Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of tolerating radical Islamic circles.

"They want to drag Turkey to the dark ages," said 63-year-old Ahmet Yurdakul, a retired government employee who attended the protest.'

Read it all at Jihad Watch.