International Politics and Economy

WotchitGeneralNews | — “At a kosher supermarket in Paris, a quick-thinking Muslim employee hides several Jewish shoppers in the basement before sneaking out to brief police on the hostage-taker upstairs. In the town of Dammartin-en-Goele, a poker-faced businessman fools a pair of gunmen into believing they’re alone in the building before being allowed to leave […]

European Union

After Paris attacks, could David Duke style Racist Parties Sweep to Power in Europe?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — Anti-immigrant sentiment and Islamophobia was already raging through Europe before the Kouashi al-Qaeda Cell targeted the staff of the magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish deli in Paris. Although President Francois Hollande insisted that the attacks had nothing to do with the religion of Islam (and rightly so), […]

Germany

Despite rising racism, European Muslims embrace democratic values

Juan Cole

EurActiv | — “For Muslims, Germany has become a home. But they see themselves being confronted by a negative image, defined by a minority of radical Islamists.” [kellinahandbasket/Flickr] A large portion of Muslims in Germany share the country’s democratic values, a Bertelsmann study shows, but unfortunately this fact is not recognised by a majority of […]

al-Qaeda

Brother of Slain Muslim Policeman: Assassins “Pretend Muslims,” Terrorists

contributors

BBC | — “The brother of the Paris policeman [Ahmed Merabet] killed by the Charlie Hebdo shooter urged people not to avenge his death with further violence and reiterated that Islam was not about “terrorism or madness”. He added: “My brother was Muslim and he was killed by people who pretend to be Muslims. They […]

Dissent

Saudis torture jailed Liberal Blogger w/ 1000 lashes for… Blogging

contributors

Human Rights Watch | (Beirut) — More Lashes Pending for Creating Liberal Website, Insulting Religious Authorities King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia should overturn the lashing and prison term for a blogger imprisoned for his views and immediately grant him a pardon. Saudi authorities lashed Raif Badawi 50 times on January 9, 2015, in front of […]

al-Qaeda

French Far Right Poised to Exploit Paris Attacks for Political Gain

contributors

By Thomas Scotto | (The Conversation) On the streets of France there is a strong public response to the murders of 12 people at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. But we do not yet know the medium to long-term consequences the attack will have on the nation’s public mood. We conducted a representative […]

al-Qaeda

Charlie Hebdo: A Clash of Extremisms, not of Civilizations

Juan Cole

By Aurelien Mondon | The Conversation | — The attack on Charlie Hebdo was an abominable tragedy. It struck the heart of one of our capitals and symbols of our democracies as terrorists attacked our freedom of the press. It is now essential to pay our respects to those who lost their lives yesterday and […]

Corruption

“Anyone but Bibi’: Israeli PM popularity slumps as 90% of his Campaign Money Comes from US

contributors

RT | — “Israel’s Prime Minister has kicked off his re-election campaign, with a well-funded operation, much of which is coming from abroad. More than 230,000 dollars has come in from various donors in the United States. It makes up almost 90% of Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election funds, most of it coming just from three American […]

art and photography

‘Cartoonists for Peace’ respond defiantly to Paris Terrorists

contributors

By A. D. McKenzie PARIS, Jan 8 2015 (IPS) – “They are cowards who react to satire by going for their Kalashnikovs.” That was how renowned French cartoonist Plantu described the killers of 10 media workers and two policemen in Paris Wednesday. Drawing for peace – a signature cartoon by Plantu One of the murdered […]