Der WESTEN writes:

As reported, the Vietnamese woman was robbed at Hans-Böckler-Strasse by a hitherto unknown customer at her eatery Friday morning around 3:20 p.m. The robber had given a large order for drinks. While she fetched supplies from a cooler, he grabbed her purse and fled in the direction of Kluse.

Bernd Haldorn, of the Hagen district attorney’s office reports of another incident: “The woman chased the man who apparently was being waited on by two accomplices with a dark BMW in the area of the street ‘Kluse.’ One man climbed in back, another in the front passenger seat. The woman stood between the automobile and the open passenger door and spoke to the men. The the car started rolling. She climbed on the runnerboard and held on to the automobile. Then the car sped up and must have struck an obstacle with the right door.

District Attorney Bernd Haldorn is going on manslaughter to cover a crime. Clearly speaking, that means murder, “The woman fell upon the asphalt as a result of action by perpetrators and received life-threatening injuries from which she died.” The autopsy on Thursday showed that the woman suffered from basal skull fracture and serious head injury.

The murdered leaves behind a man and three children of three, seven and eleven years. Of the perpetrators was said:

The three active young criminals are presumably Southerners. They are between 20 and 30 years old. Wear short dark hair. Two men are slim and between 170 and 180 cm large. The third offender is smaller and more stocky. The driver (one of the slim ones) wore at the time of the crime a white polo shirt with blue-orange horizontal stripes. Another offender wore a purple T-shirt. Perhaps people in the traffic on Hans-Böckler-Straße might have seen Thi-Kein-Oanh Vu-Lam chasing an unknown purse robber in the direction of Kluse.

Tips regarding the criminals or the automobile are being received by the police in Iserlohn. Telephone 02371/9199-0

(Many thanks to all contributors)

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Until now, the Taliban haven’t been able to build bombs. And now, one of the new brothers is showing them how to ignite an explosive trap remotely with a cellphone. He certainly learned this in the Army. The Americans are truly known for the homemade bombs on the streetside. The German Muslim blog Ansar al Haqq can’t deny itself an Allahu Akbar:

Incarcerated US soldier converts to Islam! Allahu Akbar

The Taliban have announced that the incarcerated US soldier, Private Bowe Bergdahl, has converted to Islam and not teaches the Mujaahadin the building of bombs and other military skills.

The 24-year-old has converted to Islam and now carries the name Abdullah, a Taliban speaker said.

A Taliban commandant in Paktika, Naji Nadeem, to the Sunday Times that Bergdahl taught him how a remote ignition can be made from a mobile telephone.

Two other apostates were allegedly shot to death who had attempted to disclose the whereabouts of Mujaahadid Abdullah Bergdahl.

We pray that Brother Abdullah will stand strong and sturdy on Islam, and that he is even the first of many such converts, just as some Russian soldiers had converted and participated in the earlier Jihad.

And a hearty wish for Ramadan from us to our Muslim compatriots for this joyous announcement!

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HNA.de reports:

A procession planned for Saturday has been banned by the Marburg Mayor Egon Vaupel (SPD). In his estimation, the death of the 25-year-old is being abused by Right extremists. “Out of respect and esteem for the deceased, I have prohibited the procession,” Vaupel said. A wake was planned to proceed to a little before the Marburg pub in front of which a 25-year-old man was beaten to death back on August 14th. He died a week later as a result of serious head injuries he received in the beating.

The mourners are even being forced to remove their Website. The following is still to be found there:

The memorial procession for Samuel on Aug. 26, 2010, has been forbidden by order of the City of Marburg! We are filing suit against the ban in court, and expect that the ban will be canceled. Right now, that means that a complete prohibition stands against the Sunday evening meeting in memory of Samuel in the City of Marburg. On these grounds, we must sue against the ban so that you can remember at the scene of the crime without the police carrying proceeding against you the mourners.

Likewise, we have received an order of fines amounting to 250,000 euros so that we can no longer advertise for the wake, which is not what we are doing. We are likewise countersuing against this second order.

Even more follows…

Everything on the grounds that the “Right extremists” have presumably attempted to undertake the memorial is simply not true! — We are having to delete this memorial site under pressure by others and will do this in the coming days!

We want to thank you for your overwhelming participation!

Don’t forget Samuel, keep him in your hearts!

I am doing this, my friend — I thank you that I have been able to meet you!

You are missed! — Dear parents, we have the deepest sorrow for what has become of the memorial, and that it has gotten out of hand this way. We apologize of the bottom of our heart…

Contact:

Oberbürgermeister Egon Vaupel
Rathaus
Markt 1, 1 . Stock
35037 Marburg
Tel.: 06421/2 01 – 2 01
Fax: 06421/2 01 – 7 00
Email: oberbuergermeister@marburg-stadt.de

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Some tips sniffed out in Germany are difficult for even hardshell PI authors to believe. When a reader reported to us about a toilet only for Muslims on the Zugspitze, we thought it was a joke at first. The following excerpt from the BILD am SONNTAG newspaper from August 22, 2010 still couldn’t convince us completely:

A personal call at the Marketing Division of the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG (Bavarian Zugspitz Rail and Cable Car) created certainty: The reality has overtaken any possible satirical fantasy in Germany. Germany’s highest lying restaurant possesses a special toilet for the Devout. Their needs can be learned about on Pflege-Wiki:

After using the toilette, a Muslim often doesn’t use toilet paper, but rather cleans his private area with running water and the left hand. The left hand is considered unclean and is therefore not used for eating or greeting.

At the Zugspitze, it is hoped with the little holy place having Arab placards and a Muslim prayer room constructed directly next to it that rich Arabs will be drawn in. For what’s the oh so nice saying? “Money doesn’t stink.”

(Hat Tip: Koltschak and Bernd / Translation: Anders Denken)

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The Oberhessische Presse (OP), who indeed was the one paper to report on the violent act, albeit briefly, writes:

“It was a terrible incident. For a person to come to his death in this fashion is unbearable. My thoughts are on the loved ones of the young man,” Mayor Egon Vaupel (SPD) said Tuesday at an inquiry by the OP. According to Vaupel’s communication, whether the wake can take place will be decided on Wednesday.

When a friend of the victim who didn’t want to be called by his name, talked about it, the participants of the wake intend to meet in the Kaufpark at 12 o’clock and make their way from there along the Wehrdaer Strasse to the scene of the crime at Wehrdaer Weg. A funeral service is planned at the crime scene which is near the Bremsspur pub.

Police speaker Martin Ahlich stated that there is discussion between the Office for Public Order and the organizers regarding the progression of the wake. Details are still not clear. If the Marburg Office for Public Order has no reservations, then the police will “judge the situation and intervene with necessary measures.” It is thinkable that the wake will be accompanied by police cruisers like in a protest.

You read correctly. In the University town Marburg, the authorities “examine” whether the citizens are allowed to conduct public mourning for the victim of a violent crime. Apparently the police are afraid that the mourners could be attacked by criminals from the surroundings. How else can the consideration to accompany a wake with police cruisers be construed? Where do we live, then? You can also pose these questions to the one in charge of the situation in Marburg, Mayor Egon Vaupel (SPD, photo) at the following address:

Rathaus
Markt 1, 1 . Stock
35037 Marburg
Tel.: 06421/2 01 – 2 01
Fax: 06421/2 01 – 7 00
Email: oberbuergermeister@marburg-stadt.de

(Hat Tip: lorbas, Fritz H. / Translation: Anders Denken)

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For example, in his work “From Allah to Terror?”, he writes on page 71:

In no other culture, not to mention religion, is there found a codification for murder, robbery, slavery and forced tribute as religious duties.

In no other religion is found the sanctified legitimation of violence against those of other faiths as the will of God, as Islam has asserted it to be an integral component of its ideology codified in the Quran.

Last but not least, no other religious founder like Muhammad can be found, who by setting the example not only spread the waging of war but also the liquidation of opponents by use of contract murder.

In all of this, Hans-Peter Raddatz has brought things to a point. A few weeks ago, he held a presentation at the annual membership meeting of the Citizen Initiative Pax Europa (BPE) in Mainz after which we were able to conduct an interview with him.

Interview Part 1:

Interview Part 2:

(Text & Interview: Michael Stürzenberger / Camera & Editing: Obambi / Photos: Roland Heinrich / Translation: Anders Denken)

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The Tagesschau writes:

“When applying for employment, women with children, older people or applicants with foreign sounding names have considerably worse chances than others,” complained the leader of the Federal Antidiscrimination Bureau, Christine Lüders. She refers to a current study by the Bonn Institute for the Future of Labor (IZA-Institut zur Zukunft der Arbeit) and the University of Konstanz. This study substantiates the fact that applicants with a Turkish name are put at a disadvantage. In a field test, their chance of receiving an invitation to a second interview was up to around a quarter less than with applicants with a German name.

Lüder’s authorities, therefore, are beginning a pilot study in September on the anonymization of applicants in which five firms will participate. The objective is for businesses to decide based on the professional qualification of an applicant, whether the person will be invited to an interview or not. The cosmetic conglomerate L’Oreal and the consumer goods producer Procter & Gamble will be participating in the test run. The other three businesses will be disclosed on Wednesday.

Beginning in September, these firms will test whether anonymous applications will fetch better chances for a job for older candidates, women or foreigners. In the anonymous process, cover letters will be altered. The name and address of the applicant will not be allowed to show up in the paperwork because the former allows consideration of the background and the latter of the social status of the one interested.

Besides that, the applicant will not supply a photo with his documents nor will he supply birthday or familial position. Thus, discrimination on the basis of age or background will be hampered. People over 50 years and applicants with foreign names simply “would most often be the first ones separated from the stack,” Lüders said to the “Hamburger Abendblatt.”

The employers are against this nonsense. They presumably don’t know that Turkish offspring have the better graduating results. So, the result then is that the sorting out will take place right in the interview.

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Whether the rape of little girls forced into marriage with old geezers can be experienced in a playful way, the report makes no mention of that.

Ad hoc News writes:

The first five book titles will appear in the Fall.

Questions will be posed by “Der kleine Hassan (Little Hassan)” about the prophet Muhammad just as they are about Jesus, about the Islamic Victim Celebration (Eid al-Adha) and Christmas. In “Fayzal der Krebsfänger (Fayzal the Crab-Catcher),” a young person will learn to deal with his illness (Translator note: ‘Krebs’ is German for ‘crab’ or for ‘cancer’ thus the fun title of ‘crab-catcher’). “Mein erstes Gebetbuch” (My First Prayerbook) playfully guides by means of cheerful images into Islamic prayer ritual being accompanied by kittens that also take a try at bows. “Arabisch lernen mit Simsim” (Learning Arab with Simsim) is a teaching book for elementary pupils. Here the teaching pattern pursues new ways of imparting language for Muslim children growing up in Germany. “Das Geschenk” (The Gift) imparts the value of the word as a special gift to a young boy as given by the grandfather or prophet Muhammad.

For Salam Publishing head Ahmad Milad Karimi, who in 2009 was the first to bring the Quran poetically and true to the original text into the German, and is publisher of literature and art periodical “Kalliope”, this new form of publishing has the meaning of “pioneer work at every level,” as he stresses. The goal in this is not “to spread Islamic body of thought, “rather to support Muslims in Germany in their own religiosity and complexity.”

Christian Zell, interim head of the Pastoren city kindergarten facility in Bremen, in which “70 to 80 percent are mostly Islamic immigrant children” being cared for would “heartily welcome” it, if he had a better selection of literature geared toward children that covered Islamic celebrations and intercultural subjects. He remembers, however, when at the last Victim Celebration Turkish mothers from the Kita advisory council went around with self-authored writings from group to group in order to explain the meaning of the Muslim holidays to the children.

We find it fantastic that it is a whole-society edition that brings children closer to Islam. It is really an encouragement that Muslim parents themselves have to explain the butchery of the Victim Celebration to their children!

The publisher’s idea “is more than overdue,” said Sineb El Masrar, producer and head editor of the “Gazelle” in Berlin, the only intercultural women’s magazine for immigrants. The daughter of Moroccan immigrants has known nothing of any German children’s literature up until now dealing with life in the new cultural circle and especially with the “integration of Muslim girls.” She herself “often missed out” as well. The 29-year-old creates a great demand for the books today not only for families rather in elementary schools and kindergartens as well. As member of the German Islamic Conference (DIK), she sees an important mission in all of this as first of all to awaken interest in this literature.

Bülent Uçar, German-Turkish professor for Islamic Religious Pedagogy at the University of Osnabrück and author of the teaching book “Mein Islambuch” (My Book of Islam) developed for German elementary schools, complains that up until now there has been “only sparse materials” in tis country for the purpose of “strengthening” the coexistence of “Muslims and Christians.” The scholar welcomes the reasons of the publishing house. They take up subjects of the Islamic Conference and “meet the demands” for doing more “for the normalization of Islam” in Germany.

Milad Karimi called in a “scientific advisory council” to accompany his publishing idea. Besides Sineb El Masrar, Bülent Uçar, as well as co-publisher and Islam scholar Nora Hodeige, he was also able to get the distinguished German-Iraqi author with Christian-Aramaic roots, Rafik Schami, and the Austrian human rights advocate Alfred Zauner.

In order to first be able to bring the small production of 2000 to 3000 copies for each title to the market, Andreas Hodeige — Rombach publisher and main owner of the Salam publishing house as well as several booksellers — intends to deliver to the place “where the people are.” For this, he has put views on German and Muslim schools, mosques, Imams and kindergartens. However, not booksellers because in his experience Muslim parents only seldom visit one, since up until now there were hardly any books in German geared to children with Islamic background.

Aha! So that is the reason. Not exactly, say, because of a complete inability to speak German, or being unacquainted with reading.

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Regarding left-wing populist Gröhe, Newsticker writes:

The Union is following the advance of right-wing populist parties in Europe with great worry (Note: We would also worry about this, too!).

“We are keeping a very careful watch over what is taking place in other place in Europe,” CDU General Secretary Hermann Gröhe said to the “Saarbrücker Zeitung” newspaper. Asked about the danger of a similar development in Germany to the right of the Union, Gröhe stressed that his party must take the worries of the citizens in light of Islamist fundamentalism seriously.

“Where hate preaching occurs, where there is juxtaposition to militantism and the danger of recruiting terrorists, the rule of law has to show clear borders.” For many people the visible existence of another religion is a provocation. “However it isn’t a matter of stopping minarets, rather of the battling of hate preachers.” Also “a successful integration of the greater majority of peaceful Muslims in our country” protects against militant Islam, Gröhe said.

The “greater majority of peaceful Muslims” apparently has no problem with the hate preachers in their ranks. In any case, they don’t distance themselves from them, the don’t protest the terror attacks in the name of Allah, and they don’t demonstrate through Constitutional Protection to the people that they have totally misunderstand the Quran. For this, the CDU has made an effort carefully to distinguish Muslims from Islamists (Erdogan: “There is no moderate or non-moderate Islam. Islam is Islam and that’s it.”)

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(A momentary, partial view of status quo by Ingo Landsmann, of the periodical “Gegengift” (antidote) / Translation: Anders Denken)

But then, at the beginning of a new and more enlightened, more joyous age, millions of “people with immigrant background” streamed into this backward Germany in order to turn it into a cosmopolitan, multi-cultural, enriched country, a “diversified republic.” History must have happened this way somehow, if one is to believe the statements of German politicians. Thus, for example, Education Minister Schavan (CDU) could hardly contain herself just lately before the periodical FOCUS as she raved about the great advances in integration by foreigners, especially Turks. They are not only successful in their careers, but also intend to engage themselves in the “acceptance of responsibility for joint development of society…, changing and promoting Germany.”

In what direction this process seems to be heading, the Minister, however, said nothing of that. Moreover, she demanded a “clear recognition of cultural diversity.” Because “People of immigrant background are an inportant part of our diversified republic. They enrich our country; we need them.” As an example, she mentioned the “growing group of Turkish high performers,” whose 80,000 business owners employ 350,000 workers. For clarification, this means that 80,000 vegetable traders, döner booth and Internet café owners have provided a poorly paid position for some 4.5 family members on average.

But not only is Minister Schavan full of praise for the possibilities in the new Germany. New President Wullf, as well, announced right at the beginning of his term that he intendes to engage himself for a better togetherness of cultures, and admonished the Germans that these have to be open for collaboration with all parts of the world. In addition it is necessary to get to know other cultures better and learn to understand how to encounter these in Germany and strengthen exchange. That, as Wullf stated, is something we Germans can “already practice here among us, in our repubic, in our diversified German Republic.” It was rather difficult to find that “diversified republic” in the Constitution once again. However, apparently this Constitution wasn’t diversified enough, therefore the time is coming quickly that it will be adjusted to match the reality of politics and economy. In a completely democratic fashion, of course, with the votes of the majority in society (not the people of the nation!).

Another friend of the diversified republic, especially when it has to do with the Islamic portion, is the former Interior Ministor (and current Finance Minister) Schäuble (CDU). This one, for example, pointed out “Islam as part of Germany” at the reception of the Turkish-Islamic Union of the Organization for Religion (DITIB), according to the Islamic portal of Milli Görüs on Sept. 23, 2009. The organization (note well, not the German people; in whose names “German” politicians only still speak when it has to do with the recognition of historical guilt and the redress resulting from it) has accepted, as Schäuble so quotes, “that Muslims are an enrichment for Germany. Islamic rites such as the mutual breaking of the fast in the month of Ramadan will be looked upon positively from now on.” In such statments by a minister, it is not clear whether we’re dealing here with premature submission, simple currying of favor, the stupid gibberish of thoughtlessness, or the onset of senility. Even Schäuble’s claim before the plenary meeting of the Lutheran World Alliance in Stuttgart, Germany should put a brake on economic development, since it certainly produces no clarity there.

Also in former President Köhler (also CDU) — who at one time designated the meeting together of religions “as some kind of a foundation for hope” and stressed that he understands Islam “to be a peaceful religion at heart that is satisfied in itself” — it appears that doubt is beginning to set in from the sense of reality. Also, one might call to mind through him, as well as most of the other politicians of this country, the splendid words of the cabarettist Dieter Nuhr, who said, “If one has no idea, just hold an eating session.” Köhler’s request that discussions about Islam would have to be led out of respect might have taken example from Lower Saxony’s Social Minister Özkan (again CDU, Islamic and of Turkish descent) for its “Media Charter of Integration“. This was intended by head editors and heads of publishing houses to underscore an effect on the public, that eventually had to be cancelled because not only did the Minister President issue a cancellation of the matter, but the media also saw the necessity of producing more culturally sensible information about integration, of developing intercultural dissemination even more, and strengthening intercultural competence like they have so far, and moreover initiating and heading up even more fitting projects. It’s really sad, but it would be interesting to see how a report will appear when covering the subject in a “culturally sensible” way that (according to a press release from the Islamic religious community on February 2, 2010) “around 90 percent of those arrested that currently are inmates in Berlin detention centers,” are Muslims. Perhaps, however, it would really be in the best interests of the intercultural fuss, if the media would continue with such press releases as they have thus far — simply ignore and better yet not even mention. After all, there’s no desire of unnecessarily scaring off or putting a complete chill on a culturally sensitive public.

Another person who suffers from persistent verbal incontinence is the Integration Representative for the Federal Government, Maria Böhmer (yet again CDU). She also had something to request, namely — and it can almost be anticipated — intercultural competence! This one would better be a future subject for basic training in the Bundeswehr. Since more and more soldiers have an immigrant background, the Army is making a valuable contribution to integration. The immigrants, as Böhmer comprehensively asserts as well as naively, could “sensibly enter into various cultures, religions and environments with their language abilities.” The assumption that people would have special abilities only because they are not German by birth or descent, is just as ridiculous as asking what kind of competence Madame Böhmer actually has to have for her post of Integration Representative. Of course, complete cluelessness, overreaching chattiness and a penetratingly close xenophilia belong for sure. For example, imagine for a moment an immigrant Orthodox Serb or Russian who “very sensibly” enters into the Islamic-Pashtu culture, religion and environment, or an immigrant Sunni Afghan or Turk in perhaps a future assignment in the predominantly Christian Balkans. And just how much will the immigration experience be of use for, shall we say of a Vietnamese born in Dortmund? The answer to where the open mindedness and diversity of Germany can be defined as of its own origin should not be expected to come from traceable substance.

Open mindedness, by the way, is one of the favorite canned expressions from the Left. The most recent example is the left-wing politician Jens-Eberhard Jahn from Freiberg who not long ago suggested “the building of a representative mosque in Freiberg” as a sign of open mindedness, somewhat as a reparation for a few attacks on döner booths. This would have “sullied Freiburg’s open mindedness.” It is however questionable whether there is really any need of a mosque in Freiburg. The Lord Mayor, in any case, communicated that there were no such inquiries available.

The attacks had already been cleared up some days before. When an unemployed 26-year-old, who had already been recognized by the police as the assailant in robberies and vandalism turned himself in, and confessed in the interview that he was bothered that the foreign owners of the food vendors wouldn’t buy goods from local farmers and businesses and that they had their own deliverers. The man, however, did not have a fundamentally negative or even extreme right-wing attitude toward foreigners, according to the Chemnitz district attorney. Moreover he gave a confusing impression. The owners of the affected bistros, by the way, were Kurdish Iraqis, Indians and Vietnamese. It could not be cleared up whether the latter would come to the point of praying in the representative mosque that von Jahn asked for.

However, not only are politicians going to waste over the subject-cluster of immigration-integration-open mindedness-diversity-tolerance-Islam in frenzied conditions with accompanying and often irreversible clouding of conscience. The evidence: The Northrhine-Westphalian regional president of the German police union, Erich Rettinghaus, commanded on July 21st that Turkish police officers were to patrol together with German officers when doing their assignments in problem neighborhoods of large German cities. Since in certain townships, especially people of “immigrant background” find it unnecessary to observe the laws of their host country, and that “most of the suspects” being dealt with … “are persons of Turkish descent” is no oath of manifestation, “rather a constructive attempt by a new joint effort.” In this Rettinghuase wasn’t totally wrong, it really isn’t an oath of manifestation; it’s much more — a capitulation, an admission to one’s own incapacity to keep law and order in Germany afloat without foreign aid, even everywhere and at any time! In addition, the union official almost weepingly asked for “the causes to be investigated and to declare why German police officers often not accepted, why the societal values of this country as well as its freedom loving, democratic foundations so often run up against rejection.” Now, with the measures that Rettinghaus is asking for, he has answered his own questions. They are naïveté, ignorance, stupidity, cowardice, spinelessness, inconsistency, idle chatter, effeminacy, opportunism and general weakness, just as they meanwhile have been the rule here, and that encourages any immigrant in their flaunting, parasite-like and criminal actions. The employment of Turkish police officers on German streets, however, would have an advantage — it would make the whole dilemma of police and political incompetence considerably obvious.

Whether that will even help to bring things back into balance is doubtful because the problem doesn’t just lie with the politicians. The voters are the ones who are standing more in the way of the necessary changes. According to most current surveys, the SPD and Greens, namely, again have a governing majority for the first time since eight years, according to the Sunday question on ARD “Germany Trends” (Deutschlandtrends), and at a total of 48 percent stand above the CDU and FDP at 36 percent. The fickle attitudes of the voters that every few years switch from one party to the other because of disappointment, thereby overlooking or forgetting that all parties in changing coalitions are responsible for the ruling conditions of the time, and every vote only presents a medial pest and cholera, in this fashion resemble that English schoolgirl who at age 14 fell into the hands of various Asiatic (in Great Britain this is the current politically correct synonym in use for Muslims) bands, and was put under the influence of drugs, raped and forced into prostitution by them. The traveler indeed had multiple opportunities to escape from her tormentors, but over and over she either sought out notorious areas where she had good chances of falling into the hands of new rapists and pimps, which again was the case right away, or she was returned yet again to these types to be placed under the influence of drugs and have sex with them.

Even though one of the Muslim gangsters threatened her with a kitchen knife and forced her to turn tricks for him, she returned to him, even though police had arrested her before and brought her to a bus station so that she could return home. There was a happy ending, though. The 14-year-old was finally arrested by the police and many of her tormentors were received long-term incarceration on the basis of her statements. It is still open as to who from without would truly offer a helping hand of intervention in the case of the German girl. Ultimately, the Germans will have to help themselves. Maybe you might have the strength and will to do so?

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But fortunately, it is only a very, very small minority of the Muslims that are inclined to violence. One hopes that, in any case. Because up to this point there has been no address of solidarity by the great, peaceful majority for threatened journalists.

The Rheinische Post reports:

On the Internet, two video messages have surfaced in which those journalists have been badmouthed as liars and villified as “terrorists who in the past few days had reported about the planned building of a school for Islamist Salafists in Mönchengladbach.

One of the videos, presumably recorded in Qatar, shows in its leader of more than a minute a so-called “list of names of smear journalists,” in which editors of our newspaper are named. In connection to this, Pierre Vogel is calling for a German convert to Islam to make a public apology for “lies and distortions” in an address to be held in German and Arab.

“You — and we know your names — should be ashamed,” the 32-year-old added to the address to the journalists. His message is targeted above all to all “Muslim brothers and sisters.” (…)

In another video sequence, the EZP second in command, Sven Lau, threatened to make the alleged “smear campaign” the subject at the next Friday prayer in the Gladbach mosque.

Salafism is only a small minority inside Islam. Thus the number of violently inclined Salafists in this country is estimated to be around 200.

A PI-recommendation for Journalists of Quality who are presently sleeping not so well: Schuster, hang in there. Leave the Islam criticism preferably once again to the Islamophobes and prove your bravery in the heroic “Battle against the Right.” Then, you will once again sleep well.

(Hat Tip: Henry 9th / Translation: Anders Denken)

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In this single case, the plan of the al-Qaeda terrorists was foiled. Through the self-conscious act of the passengers, a fourth act to strike the heart of America and of the Western world was stopped.

We all sat in front of our TVs and couldn’t comprehend the world anymore. Before that, we believed in the goodness of mankind. After the end of the Cold War and the Fall of the Wall, we had hoped that we could steer in the direction of a better world. We believed that enlightenment and education, the dissemination of such great values as democracy, human rights and freedom of speech, as well as our readiness to provide aid to underdeveloped countries and peoples of the third world would ultimately contribute to all people working together for a better future. One that would be determined by reason, the positive attitudes of unique cultures toward each other, and by optimism.

In just seconds this world view fell apart. The gruesome crimes of former times were again present. A vivid and palpable as before. In this brutal way, we had to recognize that our libertarian values are neither self-evident nor are they invincible. If we intend to keep them, we must stand up and defend them.

Some of us understood this more quickly, others a little more slowly. Meanwhile, we have become many. Perhaps you aren’t totally a part of us, perhaps you are still considering and have questions. Perhaps you will come only tomorrow? or on September 11th?

We will be there.

We, the Citizens’ Initiative Pax Europa (BPE) along with various PI groups and other freedom-loving, Christian as well as humanist groups, will be holding a vigil in many of Germany’s cities in commemoration of the victims of September 11th, 2001,.

You will find us in

- Stuttgart (Rathausplatz from 2.30 p.m.)
- Düsseldorf
- Hamburg
- Koblenz
- Marburg

and in other cities. The precise locations and times will be published on the BPE website.

Please bring a white flower with you.

The Citizens’ Initiative Pax Europa e.V. currently has a membership of around 1,000. The number of the victims on September 11th was around 2,996. Thus, you can see we really need you and your white flower.

» PI v. 11.9.07: Wir gedenken der Opfer des 11. September 2001

(By Ilona / Translation: Anders Denken)

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Die WELT reports:

Near the end of the event, when one is already at tea, there falls of the mouth of a community member, “We have to go to the streets. We have to stand against this hate.” He was upset at how his mayor was treated. A nod in turn ensues.

Sauerland has brought the anger of the Germans upon himself by attempting to roll the responsibility on to others after the mishap and getting increasingly caught in lies and contradictions. However, a resignation would be bad for his pension benefits. Worst case is that he will still have to work a few years in his career as a teacher — possibly in a diversified school in Marxloh. The CDU man would prefer first hiding it the public.

For his first public appearance after the catastrophe, Sauerland sought out the mosque in Wanheimerort. After darkness set in, a break of fast in the frame of the Month of Fasting, Ramadan, took place. Around 80 people sat in the great hall. On the wall were pictures of the visit by Federal President Horst Köhler four years ago. The community is considered liberal and cosmopolitan. Here, Sauerland is among friends. The heads of the community hug him, a girl has her photograph made with him.

He has been considering for a long while what occasion might be the right one for his return to public, Sauerland said in his speech. “Interreligious dialog is a good opportunity.” Without beating around the bush, he comes to speak of the catastrophe. “We will never forget the 21 dead. I, especially, have to live with this.

The applause was cordial, however, he still wants to boost it up. For now, Ahmet Ünalan, founding head of the community, speaks. “We didn’t count on your raising the subject,” he said. He spoke of the meaning of Ramadan, of the purification of sins and of righteousness. “We should not judge prematurely, so that rage and anger cannot rule,” he said. “It is not just that everyone should be jumping on one individual right now.”

He called for applause for the mayor who met the acclamation with an unmoved face. Mehmet Yildirim, president of the Turkish Businessmen in Duisburg, explains this affection this way, “no other mayor has done so much for us as he has.” In fact, Sauerland has advocated strongly for citizens of Turkish descent. “Stand firm,” they said to him when leaving Wanheimerort.

So much warmth and humanity exists after all only by our Turkish compatriots — especially at Ramadan.

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Der Merkur reports:

Dobrindt said via the Munich Merkur (Saturday edition), “It is unreasonable to our population that subsidies should be massively increased for Turkey in times of strict austerity in Germany and in all of Europe. The so-called EU integration aid for Turkey is supposed to double to nearly one billion Euros by 2013. From 2010 to 2011 alone, it will increase around 20 percent to 781.9 million Euros,” said the General Secretary.

A country can become a member of the EU only when it has met the so-called Copenhagen Criteria (in particular, those regarding democracy and human rights). In order to meet these requirements, EU member countries grant advisory as well as financial aid. There have been official negotiations with Turkey since 2005. Back in 2001 nearly three billion in EU funds flowed to Ankara, according to Dobrindt. A further three billion Euros is to make it there by 2013. “The German taxpayer is carrying the main burden. These payments are not justified. Turkey is not ready for accession. In such deciding factors as human rights, freedom of speech or religion, Ankara has no advances to show for it.

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