The act of martyrdom is often celebrated by the Iranian theocracy. Most recently, Iranian President-Elect Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad, in his second TV appearance since his election victory, spoke July 25, 2005 on Iranian Channel 1 in praise of "the art of martyrdom." The day after Ahmadi-Nejad's TV appearance, the London Arabic-language daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat published a report about his spiritual advisor, Ayatollah Mohammad Misbach Yazdi. The report advised Iranians on how to volunteer for the ...
The following are additional reactions from the Arab and Iranian press to the July 7, 2005 bombings in London. For Part I, see . For video clips on the reactions from MEMRI TV, visit http://memritv.org/clip/en/67.htm . "Expel Extremism Today" Under the title "Expel Extremism Today," Al-Arabiya TV Director-General Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed wrote: " For over 10 years now, I myself and other Arab writers have warned against the dangers of the reckless handling of the extremism that is now spreading ...
Since the passage of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559, there has been public debate in the Arab and international arenas, particularly in Lebanon, on the future of the Hizbullah organization in southern Lebanon, and on disarming it in accordance with Article 3 of the resolution, which calls for the "disbanding and disarmament of all the Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias." Forces in Lebanon are divided over whether the organization should be disarmed. Some Christian opposition members as ...
Introduction Shortly after the occupation of Iraq in April 2003, Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi emerged as a leading terrorist in that country. While a number of terrorist organizations are operating in Iraq besides the insurgency movement led by Saddam's former intelligence and loyalist groups, Al-Zarqawi's organization combines terrorist activities with an ardent anti-Shi'ite zeal designed to instigate a civil war between the Iraqi Sunnis and the Shi'ites. This paper explores Al-Zarqawi's words and ...
As the June 17, 2005 presidential elections in Iran draw near, Iran's revolutionary regime grapples with a number of problems. There is mounting public apathy as well as calls to boycott the elections – whether due to the regime's corruption and tyranny, or due to the reformists' failure to make good on their promises under outgoing President Mohammad Khatami. There are also a large number of candidates – eight in total – most of whom intone empty slogans and lack any clearly defined, effective ...
The following is the third report in a series on the issue of antisemitism in the Turkish media. 1 This phenomena is directed not only against the Jews in general, it also targets Turkey's Jewish citizens, in the form of multiple attacks on Turkey's Chief Rabbi; insults to and offensive characterization of Turkey's Jews; and accusations of disloyalty, espionage, and treason. The media frequently accuse Turkish Jews of destroying the Ottoman Empire, carrying out the 'genocide' of Armenians, ...
In a two-part interview with the Qatari daily Al-Raya, Dr. Abd Al-Hamid Al-Ansari 1 , former dean of the Faculty of Shari'a and Law at the University of Qatar, expressed his unconventional views on a variety of religious topics. The interview is unique since Dr. Al-Ansari's point of departure in his call for change in Islam isreligious and not secularist. Dr. Al-Ansari attempts to "remove the concept of sanctity" from Islamic history and from the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad so that ...
The recent assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri evoked diverse reactions in the Arab world. The claim of responsibility by the unknown Support and Jihad - Greater Syria organization in a video recording aired by Al-Jazeera TV was rejected by many. Opposition elements in Lebanon that had gained Al-Hariri's support prior to his death blamed Syria and the Lebanese government, called for the establishment of an international investigative committee, and declared February ...
Introduction 1 The courageous and often festive march of millions of Iraqis to the voting booths on January 31, in spite of threats and acts of violence and intimidation, has demonstrated the Iraqis' keen desire to turn the page on almost four decades of totalitarianism, wars, oppression and fear and to embrace freedom and democracy. The elections were a first step on what may be a long and arduous road to change – but they are nonetheless a significant first step. These were also complex ...
Introduction The approaching elections in Iraq have pitched against each other the most senior Shi'ite cleric in Iraq, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, and Osama bin Laden. Al-Sistani has called on his followers to vote en masse and decreed that those who boycott the elections are "infidels." His picture appears on election placards in most Iraqi provinces indicating his support for the elections. In a video aired on Al-Jazeera TV, in what appears to be a response to al-Sistani, Osama bin Laden ...
