Saddam Hussein lauded on 'Saddam Channel' on Iraqi television on anniversary of execution

BAGHDAD -- Turning on their TVs during a long holiday weekend, Iraqis were greeted by a familiar if unexpected face from their brutal past: Saddam Hussein.

The Iraqi dictator is lauded on a mysterious satellite channel that began broadcasting across the Arab world on Friday, the Islamic calendar's anniversary of his execution three years ago and the first day of Eid al-Adha.

No one seems to know who is bankrolling the so-called Saddam Channel, but the Iraqi government suspects it's Ba'athists, whose party he once led.

A man in Damascus, Syria, named Mohammed Jarboua claims to be its chairman.

The channel, he said, "didn't receive a penny from the Ba'athists" and is for Iraqis and other Arabs who "long for his rule."

NYPost

Markets react to Dubai World debt plan

Dubai World’s surprise request for a freeze on debt payments provided the focus for world financial markets yesterday, hitting bank stocks and the price of oil, but lifting the dollar on a day when US and most Gulf markets were closed.

With the US on holiday for Thanksgiving, the region observing Eid al Adha, and trading on the London Stock Exchange temporarily closed for technical reasons, the environment was ripe for rumour and sensation as markets eschewed risk for gold and US dollars.

The day began with credit ratings agencies downgrading several government-related companies, such as DIFC Investments and Emaar, citing questions over Government support. Gold, a traditional refuge for investors in a storm, hit a record high of nearly US$1,200 before falling back.

Dubai then issued a statement to the market clarifying that DP World, the profitable ports division of Dubai World, would be spared from a restructuring that was announced along with the debt freeze request.

The announcement regarding DP World was welcomed by markets and within the company itself. “This makes perfect sense. We have very tradeable assets and a very attractive business,” a DP World executive said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Still, markets added a premium to the cost of borrowing for Gulf companies, and the price of insuring government debt against default also rose.

European stock markets had their biggest falls in three weeks, while the MSCI index of emerging stock markets declined by one per cent.

More at the National

On Thanksgiving eve, Obama issues special message to world's Muslims on hajj

"Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to all those performing Hajj this year, and to Muslims in America and around the world who are celebrating Eid-ul-Adha.

The rituals of Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha both serve as reminders of the shared Abrahamic roots of three of the world’s major religions.

During Hajj, the world’s largest and most diverse gathering, three million Muslims from all walks of life – including thousands of American Muslims – will stand in prayer on Mount Arafat.

The following day, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and distribute food to the less fortunate to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son out of obedience to God.

This year, I am pleased that the Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with the Saudi Health Ministry to prevent and limit the spread of H1N1 during Hajj. Cooperating on combating H1N1 is one of the ways we are implementing my administration's commitment to partnership in areas of mutual interest.

On behalf of the American people, we would like to extend our greetings during this Hajj season – Eid Mubarak. "

LATimes

Australia: anti-cruelty advocates target Islamic animal sacrifice

Ben-Peter Terpstra

"Multicultural Australia" isn't what you think.

Currently, tensions are building between Islamic fundamentalists and anti-cruelty advocates with international implications. The dream of "integration" appears just that -- a dream.

In a recent demonstration of ongoing tensions, the RSPCA Australia (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) paid for a large open letter in The Weekend Australian (November 21-22, 2009) to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (p.19):

Dear Prime Minister

Eid al-Adha, the Islamic Festival of Sacrifice, starts next weekend and again, you have allowed Australian sheep to be part of it. The sheer scale of the slaughter makes this one of the worst periods of animal suffering in the Middle East. Sheep are subjected to rough handling and transport then are sacrificed in homes, on footpaths and in overcrowded abattoirs. Animals are fully conscious when they have their throats cut.

[snip]

We urge you to invest in Australia's meat-processing industry, create jobs in Australia and stop sacrificing Australian animals to this cruel trade.

A reedited letter is also available online.

American Thinker

Geneva: Fake call to prayer, mosque attacked

As it turns out, the anti-minaret vote coincides with the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.

For the second time in the past ten days, two weeks before the anti-minaret vote, the Petit-Saconnex mosque (Geneva), filed a complaint by the police.

On Saturday, Nov. 7th, the residents were woken up at 7AM by a call to prayer organized by the right-wing group Jeunes identitaires genevois (JIG). The call was made through a megaphone mounted on a car (JIG video here).

JIG chose Saturday since the Muslims organized an open day in mosques across Switzerland that day.

JIG justified their action, saying they needed to inform the people.

"We want to show that in case the initiative is rejected, we're de-facto accepting that in a few years such calls will echo in Switzerland," they told Swiss newspaper Le Matin.

This past Saturday night, the local mosque was pelted with stones. The windows, shutters, wooden door and granite dome of the entrance were broken, said the imam of the Islamic Cultural Center, Youssef Ibram. Ibram said that the police took away several kilos of stones in order to check for fingerprints and DNA.

This is the first time in 30 years that the mosque has been vandalized, the imam said.

He linked it to both the fake muezzin call and to the minaret vote initiative.

The mosque hired a security guard to guard the mosque at night.

Sources: Tribune de Genève, Romandie (French)

Thanks to Islam in Europe

NYC Muslims push to add holidays to school year

NEW YORK - Moneeb Hassan remembers having to choose between a final exam in American history or celebrating the Muslim holy day of Eid al-Adha. In the end, he chose both. Hassan, 17, is one of thousands of Muslim students in the city who must perform a balancing act between his academic and religious obligations during his holidays. But the nation's largest school district hasn't sanctioned official Muslim holidays.

"People came to this country for freedom of religion," Hassan said. "We're just asking for fair and equal treatment."

Muslim activists lobbying to add the holy days to the school calendar - which takes school off for Christmas and the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - were heartened this week by a City Council resolution supporting the observance of the two holidays - Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Read more ...

Source: AP
H/T: Weasel Zippers

Israel to free 250 Palestinian prisoners

November 30, 2008

JERUSALEM (AP) -- The Israeli government has approved the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture ahead of a Muslim festival next week.

Government spokesman Mark Regev says the release is meant to strengthen peace talks with the government of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel has been holding peace talks with Abbas for the past year, while shunning the rival Hamas militant group's government in the Gaza Strip. All prisoners set to be freed are members of Abbas' Fatah party.

Israel currently holds more than 9,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced the planned release earlier this month. On Sunday, his Cabinet formally approved the move.

A date for the release wasn't given. But it's expected to take place before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha on December 8.

Source: CNN

Switzerland: Proposal for Muslim official holidays

Markus Ries, a professor of church history at the University of Lucerne, is suggesting to give two-three days of official holidays to minorities in Switzerland, instead of some of the current holidays.

Ries was interviewed on Surseer Woche where he said that the Feast of the Assumption (Aug. 15th) is only celebrated by a small minority and for the most part is just a welcome day off in the Catholic areas. Why not give two days off for two biggest Muslim holidays, he asks, making Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha official holidays.

Ries is aware that his proposal doesn't stand a chance. He thinks his proposal had advantages for ecumenism, saying on Schweizer Radio DRS that everybody should be able to practice his religion.

Source: Islam in EuropeMarkus Ries
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