The many faces of Ireland via The Irish Emigrant

Stay abreast of the global Irish community and sign up for one of these delightful e-newsletters:
1.Professional Ireland
2.The Irish Emigrant
3. Arts Ireland
4.Bookview Ireland
5.Sports Ireland

Go to the source: http://www.emigrant.ie/

World Conference on Interfaith Dialogue in Madrid

Here is some interesting reading on the World Conference on Interfaith Dialogue, which was held in Madrid (16th - 18th July 2008), Spain and hosted by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and organised by Muslim World League.

Conference objective:

http://www.world-dialogue.org/english/About%20conf.htm

Conference program:

http://www.world-dialogue.org/english/program.pdf

ICAHK: Action Alert: Stoning in Iran-Kobra Najjar faces death by stoning in Iran

THIS IS A DIRECT COPY:

Hello,
URGENT ACTION: Kobra Najjar faces death by stoning in Iran

Information from Equality Now

Equality Now is urgently concerned about Kobra Najjar, an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery who lost her final appeal for amnesty. Iranian women’s rights activists working on her case report that Kobra has exhausted all domestic legal remedies and that her execution by stoning could happen any time.

Kobra is a victim of domestic violence who was forced into prostitution by her abusive husband in order to support his heroine addiction. He was murdered by one of Kobra’s “clients” who sympathized with her plight. Kobra has already served 8 years in prison as an accessory to her husband’s murder. The man who murdered her husband also served 8 years in prison and is now free after paying blood money and undergoing 100 lashes, while Kobra faces imminent stoning to death for adultery - the prostitution her husband forced upon her.

Equality Now is also concerned about recent reports of seven other women and one man, all accused of adultery sentenced to death by stoning, whose executions are also reported to be possible at any time. In Iran, adultery is the only crime punishable by stoning.

Stoning violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Iran is a state party. The ICCPR clearly prohibits torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment. It also limits the imposition of the death penalty “only for the most serious crimes.” No criminal or other act warrants violent and inhumane punishments such as flogging and stoning. Moreover, adultery is a private act and should not incur criminal punishment. Protection from arbitrary or unlawful interference under the ICCPR has been found by the United Nations Human Rights Committee to include consensual sexual activity between adults in private.

Recommended Actions

Please write to the Iranian officials below, calling for Kobra’s immediate release, the commutation of all sentences of death by stoning and the prohibition by law of all cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments in accordance with Iran’s obligations under the ICCPR. Urge the officials also to initiate a comprehensive review of the Civil and Penal Codes of Iran to remove all provisions that discriminate and perpetuate discrimination against women, including those regarding adultery and fornication, in accordance with Iran’s own constitutional provision for equality before the law.

His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Head of the Judiciary
c/o Ministry of Justice
Park-e Shahr
Teheran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: iripr@iranjudiciary.org, irjpr@iranjudiciary.com and info@dadgostary-tehran.ir
Phone: +98 21 22741002, +98 21 22741003, +98 21 22741004, +98 21 22741005

Note: The contact information above may encounter delivery problems so please keep trying to send your message. Thank you for taking action!

Please also contact the Iranian embassy in your country. The following link may help you find the contact information: http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/Iran/Iran.html

Bahrain: Embassy of Iran in Manama
Tel: 722400, 722660
Fax: 722101

Canada: Embassy of Iran in Ottawa http://www.salamiran.org/
Tel: 613 2354726 Ext 225
Fax: 613 2325712

Denmark: Embassy of Iran in Copenhagen http://www.iran-embassy.dk
Tel: 39160071
Fax: 39160075

Finland: Embassy of Iran in Helsinki
Tel: (9) 6869240
Fax: (9) 6869241

Germany: Embassy of Iran in Frankfurt
Tel: (0) 695600070, (0) 695600730
Fax: (0) 6956000728

India: Embassy of Iran in New Delhi
Tel: (011) 3329600, (011) 3329601, (011) 3329602, (011) 3320491
Fax: (011) 3325493

Jordan: Embassy of Iran in Amman
Tel: (6) 4641281, (6) 4641282
Fax: (6) 4641383

Kenya: Embassy of Iran in Nairobi
Tel: (2) 720343, (2) 720796
Fax: (2) 713966

Lebanon: Embassy of Iran in Beirut
Tel: (1) 821224

Malaysia: Embassy of Iran in Kuala Lumpur
Tel: (3) 4514830, (3) 4514824
Fax: (3) 4562904

Norway: Embassy of Iran in Oslo http://home.eunet.no/%7Eiranamb/
Tel: 23 27 29 60
Fax: 22 55 49 19

Russia: Embassy of Iran in Moscow
Tel: (95) 9177282, (95) 9170039, (95) 9178440
Fax: (95) 2302897

Sweden: Embassy of Iran in Stockholm
Tel: (80) 7650829, (80) 7653174
Fax: (80) 7653119

Switzerland: Embassy of Iran in Berne
Tel: (31) 3510801, (31) 3510802
Fax: (31) 3515652

United Arab Emirates: Embassy of Iran in Abu Dhabi http://www.iranembassy.org.ae
Tel: (12) 4447618
Fax: (12) 4448714

United Kingdom: Embassy of Iran in London http://www.iran-embassy.org.uk/
Tel: 02072253000
Fax: 02075894440

United States: Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Washington, D.C. http://www.daftar.org/
Tel: 202 9654990
Fax: 202 9651073

Women's Action 29.1: March 2007

Please keep Equality Now updated on your efforts and send copies of any replies you receive to:
Equality Now P.O. Box 20646, Columbus Circle Station, New York NY 10023, USA
Equality Now Africa Regional Office, P.O. Box 2018, KNH 00202, Nairobi, KENYA
Equality Now P.O. Box 48822, London WC2N 6ZW, UNITED KINGDOM
info@equalitynow.org

Best Regards, International Campaign Against Honour Killings Staff We sent you this message because you have selected to receive newsletters from our site You can choose to unsubscribe from our mailings at any time by following this link If you would like further assistance, please send an email to our administrator: webmaster@stophonourkillings.com

A sadly violent weekend

Violence of a particular nature seemed to be rampant this weekend.

1.Ahmedabad, India – nearly 50 people were killed in a second wave of bomb blasts:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Ahmedabad%2C+India+and+bombings&btnG=Google+Search

2. Fatah-Hamas conflict erupts after a car bomb explopes in Gaza:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Fatah-Hamas+conflict+erupts+after+a+car+bomb+in+Gaza&btnG=Google+Search

3.Istanbul, Turkey loses over 10 of its residents after two bombs explode:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=3.%09Istanbul%2C+Turkey+loses+over+10+of+its+residents+after+two+bombs+explode&btnG=Search

4.The mostly Muslim region of Xinjiang,China’s spawns bombings across the country in protest of the Beijing Olympics:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Xinjiang+and+bombings

5.Iraq sees 4 female suicide bombers responsible for taking the lives of nearly 60 people:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Iraq+and+4+female+suicide+bombers&spell=1

My thoughts and prayers go out to all who have lost their lives, a loved one or been maimed in these campaigns of violence.

In šaʾ Allāh (إن شاء الله) this madness will end.

Warlords gang-rape 12-year-old girl, her family threatens to commit mass suicide if justice is not done

Directly from RAWA's webiste:

A 12-year old schoolgirl was gang-raped by five gunmen in Sarpul province in Northern Afghanistan.

The girl and her family asked Hamid Karzai to prosecute the rapists and take their case seriously. They threatened that if they are not provided justice, the whole family will commit mass suicide to get rid of such life. They say, the local authorities keep silence on such cases and did not act to arrest those responsible.

While crying, the rape victim told journalists that she was raped in a village called Baghabi in Sarpul province. She says five gunmen poured into their house in mid-night and after beating and abusing the family members, gang-raped her.

Ali Khan, uncle of the girl told Ariana TV that he has reported the case to the police and visited the police chief a number of times to ask for justice, but they do not pay attention to the issue and even abused and threatened him to be silent otherwise he will be jailed. He accuses the police chief to have links with the gunmen responsible for such crimes. But General Abdul Khaliq Samimi, police chief says they have arrested three people connected to the issue.

On February 18, 2008 a fourteen-year old girl named Bashira was gang-raped by three men in the same province. One of the rapists is Najibullah, the son of Haji Payinda, a member of parliament from Sar-e-Pul.

Sayed Noorullah, father of Bashira told Tolo TV on July 19, 2008 that the case against the rapist has not been followed property by the court, because the rapist is son of a member of parliament and they bribed the Forensic Medical Investigation department to show the 22-year-old rapist as being less than 18 to escape the charges based on law.

Sayed Noorullah threatened that if the rapists are not punished, he will become “a dangerous suicide bomber” and take revenge himself.

Gang-rape and sexual abuse of young girls in the Northern provinces of Afghanistan by local warlords is very common but only few cases are reported by media, because it is usually risky for the journalists who report such issues.

Category: Warlords, Women, RAWA News, Children, HR Violations - Views: 184


http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2008/07/22/warlords-gang-rape-12-year-old-girl-her-family-threatens-to-commit-mass-suicide-if-justice-is-not-done.html

GCC Euro Expo at the Olympia Two Exhibition Hall in London

Another chance to network with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE......................more about this later. But in the meantime here is the link to this two day free event in London:


http://www.gcceuroexpo.com/


Please note among many varied sectors the Expo will include:

Women in Business

Environmental Sustainability

Here is the Expo's programme:

http://gcceuroexpo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=9

Islam Expo Wrap-up

Check out their website for the wrap-up on what sounds like an awesome gathering:

http://islamexpo.com/mediacentre.php?id=10


And there are some neat photos:

http://islamexpo.com/mediacentre.php?id=7&art=6

A response from Autonomous Feminist Womyn’s Gathering

Yippee (well I am in my early 50’s)…………………………I have just heard from the organizers of Autonomous Feminist Womyn's Gathering in Vienna, and it is open to all womyn…………………………….so I will try to attend. It has been more than a decade since I have been to Austria, and I love the thought of meeting feminists with various perspectives.

By the way get in contact with the sisters in feminism if you have suggestions for a workshop.


In sisterhood always,

Debra


Here is their contact information:

Autonom-Feministisches Frauen-Lesben-Treffen
c/o Autonomes FrauenLesbenMädchenZentrum
Währinger Straße 59 / Stiege 6
A 1090 Wien
Österreich

Autonomous Feminist Womyn’s Gathering
c/o Autonomous WomenLesbianGirl’s Center
Währinger Straße 59 / Stiege 6
A 1090 Vienna
Austria

Tel/Fax: 0043 1 4085057 (answering machine)
Email:feministeurope@wolfsmutter.com
Web: feministgathering.wolfsmutter.com

President Omar Hassan al-Bashir charged with crimes against humanity

The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno-Ocampo has charged Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for orchestrating a systematic campaign of violence against the people of Sudan concentrating on the various ethnic groups in Sudan's western Darfur region.


Go to the source: http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/406.html

Autonomous Feminist Womyn’s Gathering

Join with some sisters in Feminism in Vienna to discuss sexism, racism, homophobia, the economy, fascism and patriarchy 09th – 14th April 2009 • Vienna, Austria. This gathering is for women and lesbians. It appears to be aimed towards Feminists and Lesbians of Europe, but if I find a way to legally protect myself against the abuses of US immigrations (profiling) I may attend.

Here is their contact information:

Autonom-Feministisches Frauen-Lesben-Treffen
c/o Autonomes FrauenLesbenMädchenZentrum
Währinger Straße 59 / Stiege 6
A 1090 Wien
Österreich

Autonomous Feminist Womyn’s Gathering
c/o Autonomous WomenLesbianGirl’s Center
Währinger Straße 59 / Stiege 6
A 1090 Vienna
Austria

Tel/Fax: 0043 1 4085057 (answering machine)
Email:feministeurope@wolfsmutter.com
Web: feministgathering.wolfsmutter.com

It is a pity……………………………….

“There is always going to be an overreaction to your presence whether good or bad.”

– Chris Rock on HBO’s "The Black List:Volume One" (25th August 2008)


I have decided that I don’t want to risk any further harassment, embarrassment and indignities via ISIS (under the auspice of God only knows) at the airport, so I will not cross the pond to attend Islam Expo in London; and for the time being I will curtail my international travels.

Being escorted from the exit of a plane and then questioned by ISIS about my personal life and belief system.......really is not the done thing in America.
I must say that I am confused, bewildered and vexed by the treatment that, me an American has received. The aggressive manner in which I have continually been approached was un-necessary and I think unproductive. I should feel protected by the agencies that now invoke fear in me. I don’t understand what is happening in my country, and my heart is broken.

My wanderlust that was satiated by globetrotting (such as it was) will have to be met by watching BBC news (well all things BBC), Prime Minister’s Questions, reading international papers and staying in touch with the various UK feminists groups that mean so much to me. My life of international travel for the time being is done, and perhaps that was what this was all about?

Thank you London for teaching me that I am not only an American, but a citizen of the world………………………….I will always reach out to London and I hope that London will continue to reach back to me (albeit a 4,000 mile stretch). And though I no longer feel safe encountering immigration in my country of birth I will always, always love London for its pulse, drive and complexity.

London is the gateway to the world. And the world is messy, complicated and filled with a myriad of people and ideologies that are at times downright frightening and scary…………………………………….However London has also taught me that the world is also filled with a myriad of people who don’t look or talk or think like me yet the world is a better place for their existence.

In London I have met feminists from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, North America, Asia, and Northern England and from the capital. I have met feminists who were financially destitute. I have met feminists who are wealthy and Oxford educated. In London I have met Gay and Lesbian activists, animal rights activists, children’s activists. I have met men and women fighting good, non-violent struggles for the betterment of all. In London I have met refugees with life stories that have brought tears to my eyes………………………………………..

Then there are my less socially conscious reasons for loving London. And I have to say it is so totally cool being a vegan in London…………………………………………….even a Muslim one with Catholic leanings. And who knew finding Halal, vegan food was so easy in Russell Square. Then there is the window shopping. I cannot afford to shop until I drop in London, but I can afford to board the tube with my Oyster card in hand and window shop the streets of Knightsbridge.

There is perfection on this planet and it can be found in the crowded, congested, hectic, wealthy, struggling, beautiful, dirty, pristine, historic, forward thinking, traditional, religious, secular city called London.

London you totally rock. May your citizens and protectors realize the truly special place that you are………………………………And may I again have the privilege to hear an Heathrow Airport Immigrations officer at terminal 4 (or 5) ask, "Madam what is the purpose of your trip?"

Needless to say my heart is consumed with love for London. I love you London. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Allah above knows that I love London.

Well this Negro is out.

Cheers,


Debra
American/Black/Muslim/Catholic/Feminist/Anglophile/Vegan


“There is always going to be an overreaction to your presence whether good or bad.”

– Chris Rock on HBO’s "The Black List:Volume One" (25th August 2008)