Article Archive for August 2011
Norwegian terror suspect’s manifesto attacks “cultural Marxism” and “multiculturalism”
It was supposed to be a defining moment for Norwegian terror suspect Anders Behring Breivik. He’d hoped that the first hearing into late July’s twin attacks would be televised live by the world’s media. He wanted to dress in a uniform to defend his actions as part of a bid to trigger an anti-Islamic revolution in Europe. But to his disappointment, Breivik was neither seen nor heard in court. A Norwegian judge ruled the proceedings should be held behind closed doors, siding with government prosecutors who are increasingly nervous about giving the suspect a forum to expose his radical views.
Special Report | New, growing Muslim population looking to integrate, dialogue
The first gradual and sustained migration of Muslims to the Maritimes was evident during the sixties and seventies when Canada’s immigration policy moved away from a race-based Eurocentric position to a skill-based preference. So, in those years, the individuals who were instrumental in the growth of the Islamic Association of the Maritimes (IAMP) and the construction of the first Muslim mosque in Halifax (Paul Bowlby 2000) were from Turkey, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), West Pakistan and the Republic of India.
Academic conference explores “othering” of Iranian Bahá’is
Iranian scholars, many from globally prominent universities, gathered in Toronto in July for a groundbreaking academic conference on the persecution of Iran’s Baha’is. Titled “Intellectual Othering and the Baha’i Question in Iran,” the conference examined how Iranian authorities have sought to exclude Baha’is from social, political, cultural, and intellectual life by portraying them as outsiders in their own land – a process known as “othering.”
Forging closer ties with India is priority – Canada’s trade minister
Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast, and Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) and Member of Parliament for Bramalea-Gore-Malton, met with Indo-Canadian business leaders in Mississauga, Ontario in July and discussed the Harper government’s progress to date in enhancing economic cooperation between Canada and India. “Earlier, Canadian and Indian officials held a successful meeting in Ottawa, where they worked toward a comprehensive economic partnership agreement,” said Minister Fast.
Kenney congratulates Chaldean Canadians on new Eparchy
Canada’s Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney has congratulated Chaldean Canadians on the creation of the Eparchy of Mar Addai: “On June 10, the Chaldean Patriarchal Synod, with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI, effected the canonical institution of the first new Eparchy for Chaldean Christians in Canada,” he said.
Famine in Somalia- al-Shabab Islamists ban Western aid
The humanitarian crisis in Somalia has degenerated into a famine in two regions and could get worse because respite from drought, a major cause of the crisis, which is compounded by insecurity, lack of aid and food price inflation, is unlikely until December or January 2012, the UN warned. “We still do not have all the resources for food, clean water, shelter and health services to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of Somalis in desperate need,” Mark Bowden, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, said.
China-US military ties still a work in progress
Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, paused before boarding a plane provided by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. He turned to the Chinese senior colonel who’d spent part of the afternoon escorting him around an army air base in eastern Shandong province and shook hands. “I look forward to the day when our air forces are working together,” Mullen said.
Syria adopts law to establish political parties
The Syrian government adopted a law on 24 July that it says would allow the establishment of political parties in addition to the ruling Baath party, which for decades has controlled political life in the country.
