Headlines:
- Hollande: Republic Must Create Islam of France to Respond to Terror Threat
- Pakistan Foreign Office Lambastes Terror Sponsor in South Asia
- North Korea Accused of Maniacal Recklessness after Nuclear Test Triggers Earthquake
Hollande: Republic Must Create Islam of France to Respond to Terror Threat
French President Francois Hollande called for the creation of “an Islam of France” and the removal of foreign-trained extremist imams in a key speech Thursday on the challenges radical Islam poses to democracy. Addressing the debate surrounding Islam following a summer of terror attacks and burkini bans, he stressed that French secularism was not at odds with the religion. “Nothing in the idea of secularism is opposed to the practice of Islam in France, as long — and that is the vital point — as it complies with the law,” Hollande said in Paris, stressing that secularism was “not a religion of the state that stands against all other religions.” “What we need to succeed in together is the creation of an Islam of France,” Hollande said. He said that this could be achieved through the new Foundation for Islam in France, a measure announced in the wake of the terror attacks to improve relations between the state and the country’s large Muslim community, which accounts for between 7% and 9% of the population. Longtime French politician Jean-Pierre Chevènement was appointed head of the foundation last month, CNN affiliate BFM TV reported. Hollande said France also needed to create “a national association in order to obtain financing for the building of mosques and the training of imams.” “The republic cannot accept a situation where a majority of imams are trained abroad and sometimes don’t speak our language,” he said. France’s rules of secularism prohibit the use of state funds for places of worship, and there have been concerns about the radical vision of Islam practiced in some foreign-funded mosques. At least 20 Muslim places of worship have been closed due to extremism since December, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in July. Hollande said that radical Islam had created “a fake state, led by real killers. It skews the Islamic religion to spread its hatred.” France is under a state of emergency introduced after the ISIS terror attacks in Paris in November and extended following the Bastille Day terror attack in Nice.[Source: CNN]
Allah says:
وَلَن تَرْضَى عَنكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلاَ النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى اللّهِ هُوَ الْهُدَى وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءهُم بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ نَصِيرٍ
“And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion. Say, “Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the [only] guidance.” If you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allah no protector or helper.”
(Al Baqara:120)
Pakistan Foreign Office Lambastes Terror Sponsor in South Asia
In a tit-for-tat rejoinder to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tirade at the recent G20 Summit in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, the Foreign Office said on Thursday that Pakistan had suffered immensely because of a “terrorism sponsor” in its neighbourhood. “Pakistan is among the biggest victims of terrorism. We have suffered heavily because of one country in South Asia, which has a track record of continuous interference, and has been perpetrating terrorism and indulged in terror financing,” FO spokesman Nafees Zakaria said at the weekly media briefing. Much like Mr Modi, the FO spokesman avoided naming India. His reference was, however, obvious as he, while responding to a question, pointed to the confessional statement of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who had been captured by Pakistani law enforcement agencies in March. “Jadhav’s public confession makes a clear reference to that country in South Asia,” Mr Zakaria noted. “We have strong evidence and confessions to validate our claim.” PM Modi while speaking on terror financing during the last session of the G20 Summit had said: “There are some nations that use terrorism as an instrument of state policy. …Indeed one single nation in South Asia is spreading these agents of terror in countries of our region.” The Indian leader had then called for isolating and sanctioning that South Asian country. He had made a similar pitch at an informal meeting of BRICS leaders on the sidelines of G20 Summit. Intensified bickering and frequent exchange of barbs between India and Pakistan has coincided with aggravation in bilateral ties in the aftermath of eruption of protests in held Kashmir over the killing of a young militant commander, Burhan Wani, at the hands of Indian forces there. From the Indian side, Mr Modi has been leading the charge against Pakistan, whereas the response from Islamabad has been largely at the official level. Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif is the highest official from Pakistan, who has got involved in this war of words that looks to be getting nastier. [Source: Dawn]
The epicenter of state terrorism are democratic nations like America and India that spearhead the support of movements like the Baloch separatists and Afghan Taliban. These movements are opposed to the territorial integrity of Pakistan, but the Pakistani foreign office is unable to articulate a coherent argument exposing such plots.
North Korea Accused of Maniacal Recklessness after Nuclear Test Triggers Earthquake
North Korea has confirmed it has conducted its most powerful nuclear test to date, marking the 68th anniversary of its founding with a reminder to the world that it may be edging closer to developing a warhead capable of striking the US mainland. Friday morning’s test, which triggered a magnitude 5.3 earthquake, drew immediate condemnation from North Korea’s neighbours and Washington. Barack Obama, who was briefed on board Air Force One by National Security Adviser Susan Rice as he returned to the US from an Asian tour, said provocative actions by North Korea would have “serious consequences”. Japan called for an emergency meeting of the UN security council and its prime minister, Shinzo Abe, described North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme as a “grave threat” to Japan. Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, labelled North Korea a “neighbourhood outlaw” and said Tokyo was considering a new round of bilateral sanctions. China, North Korea’s traditional ally and major aid provider, voiced its “firm opposition” to the test. “We strongly urge [North Korea] to honour its commitment to denuclearisation, comply with relevant UN security council resolutions, and take action to stop the situation from deteriorating,” the foreign ministry said. The South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, denounced the test as a clear violation of security council resolutions banning the North from developing nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. Park accused Kim of “maniacal recklessness” in his pursuit of building a viable nuclear arsenal, according to her office. Friday’s test was confirmed by North Korea with state TV saying it had conducted a “nuclear warhead explosion” meant to counter what Pyongyang called US hostility. The KCNA official news agency said: “This [test] has definitely put on a higher level … DPRK’S technology of mounting nuclear warheads on ballistic rockets. [Source: The Guardian]
Surely, the only country worthy of the label “maniacal recklessness” is the US that has used nuclear weapons against Japan. North Korea fears America’s hegemony in the Asian Pacific and it is only natural for Pyongyang to acquire nukes to deter American aggression. Likewise, the Arab states should acquire nukes to offset the nuclear warheads of the Jewish entity. But the West’s nuclear apartheid policy ensures that any country seeking to oppose Western hegemony is denied nuclear arms.