Occupy Calgary oct 15 2011 Protesters speak W/ human mic - All Language
Occupy protests on Prairies draw hundreds; crowd includes seniors, children
CALGARY - Hundreds gathered in Prairie cities to speak out against a...
Occupy protests on Prairies draw hundreds; crowd includes seniors, children
CALGARY - Hundreds gathered in Prairie cities to speak out against a growing gap between rich and poor.
Among the crowd at the Occupy Calgary event were seniors, families with young children, students and even dogs.
Police estimate between 300 and 400 flooded a pedestrian avenue near shopping centre and several corporate head offices.
Adam Phillips, 26, brought along his six-month-old son, Sylas.
He says he doesn't want Sylas to grow up in a world that's run by one per cent of the population.
Protester Chad McKinley, 33, says he and his wife both work, but still have a tough time making ends meet.
McKinley says he considers himself one of the fortunate ones.
He says society was more fair during his parents' generation, and that the middle class has evaporated over the past several decades.
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Turkish PM Erdogan - What he wants ? - Arabic Sub English
Former Lebanese Minister Wiam Wahhab Threatens Turkish PM Erdogan: If "That Watermelon Seller" Occupies Even a Meter of Syrian Land,...
Former Lebanese Minister Wiam Wahhab Threatens Turkish PM Erdogan: If "That Watermelon Seller" Occupies Even a Meter of Syrian Land, 100,000 Missiles Will Fall on Turkey
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Money As Debt - Full Length Documentary - English
Money As Debt is a fast-paced and highly entertaining animated feature by artist & videographer, Paul Grignon. It explains today's magically...
Money As Debt is a fast-paced and highly entertaining animated feature by artist & videographer, Paul Grignon. It explains today's magically perverse DEBT-MONEY SYSTEM in terms that are easy to understand.
Check out his website: http://www.moneyasdebt.net/
Money is a new form of slavery, and distinguishable from the old simply by the fact that it is impersonal, there is no human relation between master and slave. Debt- government, corporate and household has reached astronomical proportions. Where does all this money come from? How could there BE that much money to lend? The answer is...there isn't. Today, MONEY IS DEBT. If there were NO DEBT there would be NO MONEY.
If this is puzzling to you, you are not alone. Very few people understand, even though all of us are affected.
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[Islam & Life] Why are Muslims represented as the BAD GUYS in...
Muslims are still being portrayed as 'the other' in western movies especially Hollywood.
The events of 9/11 brought this representation to...
Muslims are still being portrayed as 'the other' in western movies especially Hollywood.
The events of 9/11 brought this representation to its peak with the continuous negative stereotype Muslims encountered since that date.
But why should Islam as a religion and Muslims as believers be negatively represented even in entertainment production?
Many Arabs and Arab filmmakers view the portrayal of the Arab world in the West as a major obstacle to screening, publicizing, and appreciating a fundamentally vibrant Arab film culture.
In hundreds of Hollywood films Arabs and Muslims are the bad guys, and the good guys are out to eliminate them.
In this edition of the show we ask the following question: Why are Muslims represented as the 'bad guys' in western movies?
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[Big Story] Britains decade in Afghanistan - 02Nov2011 - English
Hundreds of thousands dead, many more displaced and a country brought to the brink by the mishmash policies of the west.
Marking the tenth...
Hundreds of thousands dead, many more displaced and a country brought to the brink by the mishmash policies of the west.
Marking the tenth anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan is a sobering milestone in British history.
With hundreds of British military personnel killed and many more injured, billions spent on the war-effort, the British public have rightly turned even more against this conflict.
In this edition of the show we examine Britain's role in the Afghan disaster.
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Unique art in the oceans - English
Seen from space, our Earth is bright blue in appearance.
The source of that blue is the huge mass of water covering 70% of our world.
It...
Seen from space, our Earth is bright blue in appearance.
The source of that blue is the huge mass of water covering 70% of our world.
It takes 20 hours just to cross the Pacific Ocean by plane.
However, the secrets of the oceans, so strikingly blue when seen from above, actually lie hidden within its depths.
As we dive down into these waters, which in some places can be even deeper than Mount Everest, we encounter a brightly coloured world.
And millions of life forms, all completely different to one another.
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[ENGLISH e-Book] Al-Ghadir and its Relevance to ISLAMIC UNITY by Shaheed...
Message of Thaqalayn
\"Al-Ghadir\" and its Relevance to Islamic Unity
________________________________________
Ayatullah Murtaza...
Message of Thaqalayn
\"Al-Ghadir\" and its Relevance to Islamic Unity
________________________________________
Ayatullah Murtaza Mutahhari
Translated by Mojgan Jalali
Vol. 3, No. 1 and 2 (1417 AH/1996 CE)
The distinguished book entitled \"al-Ghadir\" has raised a huge wave in the world of Islam. Islamic thinkers shed light on the book in different perspectives; in literature, history, theology, tradition, tafsir, and sociology. From the social perspective we can deal with the Islamic unity. In this review the Islamic unity has been dealt with from a social point of view.
Contemporary Muslim thinkers and reformists are of the view that unity and solidarity of Muslims are the most imperative Islamic exigencies at the present juncture when the enemies have made extensive inroads upon the Islamic community and have tried to resort to different ways and means to spread the old differences and create new ones. We are aware that Islamic unity and fraternity is the focus of attention of the Holy Legislator of Islam and is actually the major objective pursued by this Divine religion as firmed by the Qur\'an, the \"Sunnah\", and the history of Islam.
For this reason, some people have been faced with this question: Wouldn\'t the compilation and publication of a book such as \"al-Ghadir\" which deals with the oldest issue of differences among the Muslims- create a barrier in the way of the sublime and lofty objective of the Islamic unity?
To answer this question, it is necessary first to elucidate the essence of this issue, that is, the Islamic unity, and then proceed to examine the role of the magnum opus entitled \"al-Ghadir\"and its eminent compiler \'Allamah Amini in bringing about Islamic unity.
Islamic Unity
What is meant by the Islamic unity? Does it mean that one Islamic school of thought should be unanimously followed and others be set aside? Or does it mean that the commonalties of all Islamic schools of thought should be taken up and their differences be put away to make up a new denomination which is not completely the same as the previous ones? Or does it mean that Islamic unity is in no way related to the unity of the different schools of Fiqh (jurisprudence) but signifies the unity of the Muslims and the unity of the followers of different schools of Fiqh, with their different religious ideas and views, vis-a-vis the aliens?
To give an illogical and impractical meaning to the issue of the Islamic unity, the opponents of the issue have called it to be the formation of a single Madhhab, so as to defeat it in the very first step. Without doubt, by the term Islamic unity, the intellectual Islamic \'Ulama\' (scholars) do not mean that all denominations should give in to one denomination or that the commonalties should be taken up and the different views and ideas be set aside, as these are neither rational and logical nor favorable and practical. By the Islamic unity these scholars mean that all Muslims should unite in one line against their common enemies.
These scholars slate that Muslims have many things in common, which can serve as the foundations of a firm unity. All Muslims worship the One Almighty and believe in the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet (s). The Qur\'an is the Book of all Muslims and Ka\'abah is their \"qiblah\" (direction of prayer). They go to\"hajj\" pilgrimage with each other and perform the \"hajj\" rites and rituals like one another. They say the daily prayers and fast like each other. They establish families and engage in transactions like one another. They have similar ways of bringing up their children and burying their dead. Apart from minor affairs, they share similarities in all the aforementioned cases. Muslims also share one kind of world view, one common culture, and one grand, glorious, and long-standing civilization.
Unity in the world view, in culture, in the civilization, in insight and disposition, in religious beliefs, in acts of worship and prayers, in social rites and customs can well turn the Muslim into a unified nation to serve as a massive and dominant power before which the big global powers would have to bow down. This is especially true in view of the stress laid by Islam on this principle. According to the explicit wording of the Qur\'an, the Muslims are brothers, and special rights and duties link them together. So, why shouldn\'t the Muslims use all these extensive facilities accorded to them as the blessing of Islam?
This group of \'Ulama\' are of the view that there is no need for the Muslims to make any compromise on the primary or secondary principles of their religion for the sake of Islamic unity. Also it is not necessary for the Muslims to avoid engaging in discussions and reasons and writing books on primary and secondary principles about which they have differences. The only consideration for Islamic unity in this case is that the Muslims- in order to avoid the emergence or accentuation of vengeance - preserve their possession, avoid insulting and accusing each other and uttering fabrications, abandon ridiculing the logic of one another, and finally abstain from hurting one another and going beyond the borders of logic and reasoning. In fact, they should, at least, observe the limits which Islam has set forth for inviting non-Muslims to embrace it:
\"Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good exhortation, and have disputations with them in the best manner... \"(16: 125)
Some people are of the view that those schools of fiqh, such as, Shafi\'i and Hanafi which have no differences in principle should establish brotherhood and stand in one line. They believe that denominations which have differences in the principles can in no way be brothers. This group view the religious principles as an interconnected set as termed by scholars of Usul, as an interrelated and interdependent set; any damage to one principle harms all principles.
As a result, those who believe in this principle are of the view that when, for instance, the principle of \"imamah\" is damaged and victimized, unity and fraternity will bear no meaning and for this reason the Shi\'ah and the Sunnis cannot shake hands as two Muslim brothers and be in the same rank, no matter who their enemy is.
The first group answers this group by saying: \"There is no reason for us to consider the principles as an interrelated set and follow the principle of \"all or none\". Imam \'Ali (\'a) chose a very logical and reasonable approach. He left no stone unturned to retrieve his right. He used everything within his power to restore the principle of \"imamah\", but he never adhered to the motto of \"all or none\". \'Ali (\'a) did not rise up for his right, and that was not compulsory. On the contrary, it was a calculated and chosen approach. He did not fear death. Why didn\'t he rise up? There could have been nothing above martyrdom. Being killed for the cause of the Almighty was his ultimate desire. He was more intimate with martyrdom than a child is with his mother\'s breast. But in his sound calculations, Imam \'All (\'a) had reached the conclusion that under the existing conditions it was to the interest of Islam to foster collaboration and cooperation among the Muslims and give up revolt. He repeatedly stressed this point.
In one of his letters (No.62 \"Nahj al Balaghah\") to Malik al-Ashtar, he wrote the following:
\"First I pulled back my hand until I realized that a group of people converted from Islam and invited the people toward annihilating the religion of Muhammad(s). So I feared that if I did not rush to help Islam and the Muslims, I would see gaps or destruction which calamity would be far worse than the several-day-long demise of caliphate.\"
In the six-man council, after appointment of \'Uthman by \'Abdul-Rahman ibn \'Awf, \'Ali (\'a) set forth his objection as well as his readiness for collaboration as follows:\"
You well know that I am more deserving than others for caliphate. But now by Allah, so long as the affairs of the Muslims are in order and my rivals suffice with setting me aside and only I am alone subjected to oppression, I will not oppose (the move) and will give in (to it).\" (From Sermon 72, \"Nahj al- Balaghah\").
These indicate that in this issue \'Ali (\'a) condemned the principle of \"all or none\". There is no need to further elaborate the approach taken by \'Ali (\'a) toward this issue. There are ample historical proofs and reasons in this regard.
\'Allamah Amini
Now it is time to see to which group the eminent \'Allamah, Ayatullah Amini - the distinguished compiler of the \"al-Ghadir\" - belonged and how he thought. Did he approve of the unity of the Muslims only within the light of Shi\'ism? Or did he consider Islamic fraternity to be broader? Did he believe that Islam which is embraced by uttering the \"shahadatayn\" (the Muslim creed) would willy-nilly create some rights for the Muslims and that the brotherhood and fraternity set forth in the Qur\'an exists among all Muslims?
\'Allamah Amini personally considered this point - i.e. the need to elucidate his viewpoint on this subject and elaborate whether\"al-Ghadir\" has a positive or a negative role in (the establishment of) Islamic unity. In order not to be subject to abuse by his opponent - be they among the pros and cons - he has repeatedly explained and elucidated his views.
\'Allamah Amini supported Islamic unity and viewed an open mind and clear insight. On different occasions, he set forth this matter in various volumes of the \"al-Ghadir\'. Reference will be made to some of them below:
In the preface to volume I, he briefly mentions the role of \"al-Ghadir\" in the world of Islam. He states: \"And we consider all this as service to religion, sublimation of the word of the truth, and restoration of the Islamic \'ummah\' (community).\"
In volume 3 (page 77), after quoting the fabrications of Ibn Taymiyah, Alusi, and Qasimi to the effect that Shi \'ism is hostile to some of the Ahl al-Bayt (the Household of the Prophet) such as Zayd bin \'Ali bin al-Huseyn, he notes the following under the title of \"Criticism and Correction\":
\"These fabrications and accusations sow the seeds of corruption, stir hostilities among the \'ummah\',create discord among the Islamic community, divide the \'ummah\', and clash with the public interests of the Muslims.
Again in volume 3 (page 268), he quotes the accusation leveled on the Shi\'ahs by Sayyid Muhammad Rashid Rida to the effect that \"Shi\'ahs are pleased with any defeat incurred by Muslims, so much as they celebrated the victory of the Russians over the Muslims.\" Then he says:
\"These falsehoods are fabricated by persons like Sayyid Muhammad Rashid Rida. The Shi\'ahs of Iran and Iraq against whom this accusation is leveled, as well as the orientalists, tourists, envoys of Islamic countries, and those who traveled and still travel to Iran and Iraq, have no information about this trend. Shi\'ahs, without exception, respect the lives, blood, reputation, and property of the Muslims be they Shi\'ahs or Sunnis. Whenever a calamity has befallen the Islamic community anywhere, in any region, and for any sects, the Shi\'ahs have shared their sorrow. The Shi\'ahs have never been confined to the Shi\'ah world, the (concept of) Islamic brotherhood which has been set forth in the Qur\'an and the \'sunnah\'(the Prophet\'s sayings and actions), and in this respect, no discrimination has been made between the Shi\'ahs and the Sunnis.\"
Also at the close of volume 3, he criticizes several books penned by the ancients such as \"Iqd al-Farid\" by Ibn Abd al-Rabbih, \"al-Intisar\" by Abu al-Husayn Khayyat al-Mu\'tazili,\"al Farq bayn al-Firaq\" by Abu Mansur al-Baghdadi, \"al-Fasl\" by Ibn Hazm al-Andulusi, \"al-Milal wa al-Nihal\" by Muhammad ibn Abdul-Karim al-Shahristani \"Minhaj al-Sunnah\" by Ibn Taymiah and \"al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah\"by Ibn Kathir and several by the later writers such as \"Tarikh al-Umam al-Islamiyyah\" by Shaykh Muhammad Khizri, \"Fajr al Islam\" by Ahmad Amin, \"al-Jawlat fi Rubu al-Sharq al-Adna\" by Muhammad Thabit al-Mesri, \"al-Sira Bayn al-Islam wa al-Wathaniyah\" by Qasimi, and \"al- Washi\'ah\" by Musa Jarallah. Then he states the following:
\"By quoting and criticizing these books, we aim at warning and awakening the Islamic \'ummah\' (to the fact) that these books create the greatest danger for the Islamic community, they destabilize the Islamic unity and scatter the Muslim lines. In fact nothing can disrupt the ranks of the Muslims, destroy their unity, and tear their Islamic fraternity more severely than these books.\"
\'Allamah Amini, in the preface to volume 5, under title of\"Nazariyah Karimah\" on the occasion of a plaque of honor forwarded from Egypt for \"al-Ghadir\", clearly sets forth his view on this issue and leaves no room for any doubt. He remarks:
\"People are free to express views and ideas on religion. These (views and ideas) will never tear apart the bond of Islamic brotherhood to which the holy Qur\'an has referred by stating that \'surely the believers are brethren\'; even though academic discussion and theological and religious debates reach a peak. This has been the style of the predecessors, and of the \'sahaba\' and the\'tabi\'un\', at the head of them.
\"Notwithstanding all the differences that we have in the primary and secondary principles, we, the compilers and writers in nooks and corners of the world of Islam, share a common point and that is belief in the Almighty and His Prophet. A single spirit and one (form of) sentiment exists in all our bodies, and that is the spirit of Islam and the term\'ikhlas,\"
\"We, the Muslim compilers, all live under the banner of truth and carry out our duties under the guidance of the Qur\'an and the Prophetic Mission of the Holy Prophet (s). The message of all of us is \'Surely the (true) religion with Allah is Islam ... (3:18)\' and the slogan of all of us is \'There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger.\' Indeed, we are (the members of) the party of Allah and the supporters of his religion.
In the preface to volume 8, under the title of \"al-Ghadir Yowahhad al-Sufuf fil-Mila al-Islami\", \'Allamah Amini directly makes researches into the role of \"Al- Ghadir\" in (the establishment of) Islamic unity. In this discussion, this great scholar categorically rejects the accusations leveled by those who said: \'Al-Ghadir\' causes greater discord among the Muslims. He proves that, on the contrary, \"Al-Ghadir\"removes many misunderstandings and brings the Muslims closer to one another. Then he brings evidence by mentioning the confessions of the non-Shi\'i Islamic scholars. At the close, he quotes the letter of Shaykh Muhammad Saeed Dahduh written in this connection.
To avoid prolongation of this article, we will not quote and translate the entire statements of \'Allamah Amini in explaining the positive role of \"al-Ghadir\" in (establishing) Islamic unity, since what has already been mentioned sufficiently proves this fact.
The positive role of \"al-Ghadir\" is established by the facts that it firstly clarifies the proven logic of the Shi\'ahs and proves that the inclination of Muslims to Shi\'ism - notwithstanding the poisonous publicity of some people - is not due to political, ethnic, or other trends and considerations. It also verifies that a powerful logic based on the Qur\'an and the \"sunnah\" has given rise to this tendency.
Secondly, it reflects that some accusations leveled on Shi\'ism - which have made other Muslims distanced from the Shi\'ah- are totally baseless and false. Examples of these accusations are the notion that the Shi\'ites prefer the non-Muslims to the non- Shi\'i Muslims, rejoice at the defeat of non-Shi\'ite Muslims at the hands of non-Muslims, and other accusations such as the idea that instead of going to hajj pilgrimage, the Shi\'ahs go on pilgrimage to shrines of the Imams, or have particular rites in prayers and in temporary marriage.
Thirdly, it introduces to the world of Islam the eminent Commander of the faithful \'Ali (\'a) who is the most oppressed and the least praised grand Islamic personality and who could be the leader of all Muslims, as well as his pure offspring.
Other Comments on \"al-Ghadir\"
Many unbiased non-Shia Muslims interpret the \"al-Ghadir\" in the same way that has already been mentioned.
Muhammad Abdul-Ghani Hasan al-Mesri, in his foreword on\"al-Ghadir\", which has been published in the preface to volume I, second edition, states:
\"I call on the Almighty to make your limpid brook (in Arabic, \'Ghadir\' means brook) the cause of peace and cordiality between the Shia and Sunni brothers to cooperate with one another in building the Islamic \"ummah.\"
\'Adil Ghadban, the managing editor of the Egyptian magazine entitled \"al-Kitab\", said the following in the preface to volume 3:
\"This book clarifies the Shi\'ite logic. The Sunnis can correctly learn about the Shi\'i through this book. Correct recognition of the Shi\'ahs brings the views of the Shi\'ahs and the Sunnis closer, and they can make a unified rank\".
In his foreword to the \"al-Ghadir\" which was published in thepreface to volume 4, Dr. Muhammad Ghallab, professor of philosophy at the Faculty of Religious Studies al-Azhar University said:
\"I got hold of your book at a very opportune time, because right now I am busy collecting and compiling a book on the lives of the Muslims from various perspectives. Therefore, I am highly avidfor obtaining sound information about \'Imamiyah\' Shi\'ism. Your book will help me. And I will not make mistakes about the Shi\'ahs as others have\".
In this foreword published in the preface to volume 4 of the\"al-Ghadir\", Dr. \'Abdul-Rahman Kiali Halabi says the following after referring to the decline of the Muslims in the present age and the factors which can lead to the Muslims\' salvation, one of which is the sound recognition of the successor of the Holy Prophet (s):
\"The book entitled \"al-Ghadir\" and its rich content deserves to be known by every Muslim to learn how historians have been negligent and see where the truth lies. Through this means, we should compensate for the past, and by striving to foster the unity of the Muslims, we should try to gain the due rewards\".
These were the views of \'Allamah Amini about the important social issues of our age and such were his sound reflections in the world of Islam.
Peace be upon him.
Text Source: http://www.al-islam.org/mot/default.asp?url=ghadir-relevance.htm
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Egyptians protest against military rule - 19 Nov 2011 - English
Hundreds of thousands of Protesters gathered in Tahrir Square in another Friday Demonstration dubbed " saving democracy and handing over...
Hundreds of thousands of Protesters gathered in Tahrir Square in another Friday Demonstration dubbed " saving democracy and handing over power", the days demonstration comes after the army-backed government proposed a supra-constitutional document which entailed privileges to the army regarding the privacy of its budget as well as stating that the army is protector of constitutional legitimacy, a clause many felt was paving the way for the army's intervention in state affairs even after handing power to a civilian government.
A large number of Egypt's politcal forces from far left to right participated in the demonstration but the overwhelming majority belonged to islamic factions, most prominently the Muslim brotherhood who said that they will continue adding pressure on the military council till the proposed constitutional document is withdrawn and specific dates of the transition of power to a civilian government is set in place for no later than mid 2012.
Another main demand for protesters was the immediate end to military trials for civilians. over 15,000 civilians have been trailed and are currently serving time in harsh military prisons, which is what propelled activists to launch a large campaign against these military tribunals that have been repeatedly used against those who oppose the ruling military council's political decisions.
many of those in the square felt that the there was a sense of unity among protesters despite different political affiliations, they criticized the military council's performance during the transitional period which they felt was extremely poor with ordinary egyptians still feeling economic difficulties and suffering from security conditions which have not been restored to normal since police were forced to withdraw off the streets in late january.
The proposal of the Supra-Constitutional document drove out hundreds of thousands of egyptians in protest in a seen reminiscent of the early days of the revolution and they say they will not leave till the document is withdrawn and a clear timetable to the transition of power is issued.
2m:57s
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Is western media preparing the public for a war with Iran - A Simple...
http://www.presstv.ir/Program/215433.html
Western media has gradually been increasing its reporting on Iran, the same pattern of reporting that...
http://www.presstv.ir/Program/215433.html
Western media has gradually been increasing its reporting on Iran, the same pattern of reporting that was perceived during the lead up to the war on Iraq.
The media is believed to have played an important role in generating acceptance for the Iraq war, simply by calling Iraq its enemy, and by repeatedly feeding the public information and reasons for waging war against Iraq.
The biggest reason was to stop the potential threat of attack by its weapons of mass destruction; yet even now, almost a decade later, there is still no evidence that Iraq had any weapons of mass destruction at all.
23m:42s
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Speech to Basijis by Leader Ayatullah Khamenei - 28 November 2011 - ENGLISH
Supreme Leader’s Speech to Basijis
28/11/2011
The following is the full text of the speech delivered on November 28, 2011 by Ayatollah...
Supreme Leader’s Speech to Basijis
28/11/2011
The following is the full text of the speech delivered on November 28, 2011 by Ayatollah Khamenei the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution to a group of basijis from different parts of the country.
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings upon our Master, Muhammad, and upon his immaculate household, especially the one remaining with Allah on earth.
I am grateful to Allah the Exalted who gave me the opportunity to attend this glorious and excellent meeting. I would like to ask the brothers and sisters who are standing around the square to sit down so that we can have a discussion.
Today has coincided with the first day of the month of Muharram. The identity and nature of Basij are in harmony with the identity of Muharram and Ashura. Basij is proud of being a follower of the school of Ashura. Of course Ashura is the peak of self-sacrifice. The issue of Ashura and what happened to Hussein ibn Ali (a.s.) and his loyal companions have been identified in the entire history and the entire world with self-sacrifice and selfless efforts in the way of God and for a divine cause. But the issue of Ashura is not limited to this. Yes, self-sacrifice and martyrdom are the most prominent and significant aspect of Ashura, but there are also other truths in Ashura. From the beginning of the movement in Medina, the seeds of knowledge and insight were sowed: this is one of the characteristics of the event that happened on Ashura. If a people lack insight, different things will not help them improve their conditions and solve their problems. Therefore, purity, identifying the opportunities, sowing the seeds of a growing historical movement - these are among the important characteristics of Ashura. The event did not end on the noon of Ashura. In fact a movement started in history from the noon of Ashura, a movement whose scope is still widening and expanding and it will continue expanding in the future as well. Imam Hussein (a.s.) brought whatever he had into the arena in order to promote the word of God and save mankind. These are some of the characteristics that one can identify in the event that happened on Ashura.
Basij is following the same path. It is continuing the same movement. It is pursuing the same goals. It is using the same tools and means. Basij is from among the people and it was established for the sake of the people. It was established in order to further the great movement of a mujahid nation. Basij is present in defense, science, art, construction of the country, politics, culture, helping oppressed and helpless people, production, technology, furthering different affairs of the country, sports, international arenas and all righteous actions. This is the movement of Basij: a popular movement for the people, in the hearts of the people, from among the people, from among different social classes, from among women and men - young and old - from different professions. That is to say, an organization was established which was hezbollahi in the real sense of the word.
Basij is political in nature, but it is not intoxicated by political and partisan activities. Basij is a mujahid organization, but it is not without discipline. It is not radical. Basij is deeply pious and religious, but it is not rigid and superstitious. Basij is insightful, but it is not self-centered. Basij is inclusive - and I have recommended maximum inclusion - but it will not compromise principles. Basij is brave. It is the guardian of principles. Basij is a supporter of science, but it is not intoxicated with science. Basij enjoys Islamic characteristics and it is not hypocritical. Basij is involved in improving the world, but it does not have materialistic tendencies. And this is a culture.
The basiji culture includes the knowledge, methods and behaviors which can give rise to great things that guarantee the permanent Islamic movement of a nation on a straight path. This is a school of thought and it is not just an abstract concept: it has a manifestation in the real world. The movement of Basij changed the destiny of Iran and it even went beyond changing the destiny of Iran. From the first day, basijis continued their activities in different revolutionary arenas before and after the Revolution and their movement became permanent. It became a model. It went down in history in the name of the Iranian nation. Today the youth of New York and California are repeating the slogans of the people of Egypt and Tunisia. They are inspired by these nations and they do not deny this. And the youth of Egypt and Tunisia were inspired by Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad and they did not hide this. Basijis who were deployed by our magnanimous Imam (r.a.) started this inspiration in the modern world. Everybody learnt how to defeat the icons of materialistic power from our Imam\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s basijis and from our disabled war veterans, soldiers and selfless people. They learnt how to break idols in the name of God. They leant how to stand firm and how to resist.
Today the existence, movement and goals of Basij make us familiar with these truths. By relying on this culture, these teachings and this spirit, the Islamic Revolution and the revolutionary Iranian nation managed to accomplish many things which were considered impossible and this movement will continue. The hostility of the enemies cannot affect this. Of course the enemy will continue its hostility. We must not have any doubts in this regard. In fact an enemy should not be expected to behave otherwise. However, when we consider the great movement of the Iranian nation from the beginning of the Revolution to the present day, we see that there is a clear path. The Iranian nation is moving forward. It is moving towards the peak. It continues overcoming different challenges in different arenas and the enemies are forced to back down in this confrontation. With this movement, the Iranian nation will definitely achieve victory.
Today Islamic movements and uprisings are being witnessed throughout Islamic and Arab regions. This is exactly what has been expected since thirty years ago by those who were familiar with the nature of the Revolution. And in anticipation of such a thing, the enemies of the Revolution were trembling with fear for thirty years. They lived in fear of the events that have already happened today. Those who were hatching plots against the Islamic Revolution predicted such events and they happened. These events will continue and they will not stop.
Today Muslim people have risen up in the Arab region. They have become aware. They have awakened. The enemies cannot suppress them. They cannot change their path. The movement has already started and it has affected the conditions of the world. The movements that you see today in the western world - in America and in Europe - are indicative of great changes that the world will witness in the future.
We are not surprised by the response of the enemies. We are not surprised by the threats they make, the sanctions they impose and what the arrogant countries have been doing against the Islamic Republic during this time. They know that the Islamic Republic was the source of this movement. They know that it is the resistance of the Iranian nation that has managed to promote the idea in the region that it is possible to stand up against the power of the arrogant powers. The arrogant powers have always resolved their problems through intimidation. They intimidate nations and their leaders. When this technique is revealed and when nations realize that the power of the arrogant countries is superficial and not genuine, the arrogant powers will lose this weapon. And this is what has happened today. Therefore, they are angry and they pressure the Islamic Republic.
Of course they wrongly accuse the Islamic Republic of having started these movements. This is a baseless accusation. There is no need for such actions. The Islamic Republic has been inspirational because of its permanence, resistance and sincerity on this path - and the Iranian nation proved that it is sincere on this path. This inspiration is still there. Nations have awakened and they have found their path. And the enemies are continuing their hostility. Of course these hostilities create certain challenges. The Iranian nation is used to confronting such challenges. By Allah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s favor, we will overcome all the challenges that the enemies create and we will achieve victory. Allah the Exalted has pre-ordained the establishment of brilliant Islamic truths in the world and He has also pre-ordained victory for the Iranian nation and ultimately for the Islamic Ummah.
I hope Allah the Exalted will bless all our people, our basijis and all our youth and government officials with the opportunity to continue this path. Everybody should know that they are responsible in these areas. All our government officials and people should know this. The people are present in the arena. The people are completely prepared in different areas and our government officials should appreciate our people and their preparedness. Our government officials should carry out their responsibilities in the three branches of government in the best possible way so that our nation can move forward in a coherent way.
Undoubtedly these Islamic movements around the world of Islam are permanent and progressive movements. Nations are awakening one after the other. The puppets of the arrogant powers will leave the scene one after the other and by Allah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s favor, the power and glory of Islam will increase on a daily basis.
Dear God, help us be worthy of these great blessings. Make us be thankful for these great blessings. Dear God, enlighten our hearts with the light of Your love and knowledge and with the love and knowledge of your saints. Make us benefit from the prayers of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for his sake).
Greetings be upon you and Allah\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s mercy and blessings
11m:17s
25838
[18 Feb 2012] Asi said - Reforms with New Sincere People in Syria -...
From presstv -
A political analyst says the Syrian government has the legal right to target the US military and intelligence drones operating...
From presstv -
A political analyst says the Syrian government has the legal right to target the US military and intelligence drones operating over Syria, Press TV reports.
“Syria has the right to use military capability to disturb this mission and even to attack those aircraft,” said Hisham Jaber, the director of Center for Middle East Studies in an interview with Press TV on Saturday.
He made the comment after NBC News claimed earlier that the US military has dispatched a “good number” of unmanned drones for operations in Syrian airspace to monitor “the Syrian military attacks against opposition forces and civilians.”
“They [the Syrian government] can sue them [the US] before the international court,” Jaber added.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011. Hundreds of people, including many Syrian security forces, have been killed in the course of the turmoil.
Damascus blames “outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups” for the unrest, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad. The West and the Syrian opposition, however, accuse the government of killing the protesters
16m:46s
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Desecration & Death in Afghanistan - News Analysis - English -...
US soldiers urinating on dead Afghans, US soldiers posing with dead Afghans, and now the burning of Islam\\\'s holy book, the holy Qur\\\'an at...
US soldiers urinating on dead Afghans, US soldiers posing with dead Afghans, and now the burning of Islam\\\'s holy book, the holy Qur\\\'an at Bagram airbase.
Nationwide protests have erupted and Afghans are angry because their religious values have been disrespected.
Even the double apologies of the US officials, from the US commanders to the Defense secretary of the States Leon Panetta did not calm things down.
This edition of News Analysis asks: Isn\\\'t this ten years of occupation and war not enough?
24m:30s
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The Beautiful Creation Of Allah (SWT) الله أحسن...
bismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm In the name of God; The most kindly merciful
Do they not observe the birds above them, spreading their...
bismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm In the name of God; The most kindly merciful
Do they not observe the birds above them, spreading their wings and folding them in? None can uphold them except (Allah) Most Gracious:
Truly (Allah) Most Gracious: Truly it is He that watches over all things. (Surah 67, verse 19)
Do they not look at Allah's creation, (even) among (inanimate) things,- How their (very) shadows turn round, from the right and the left,
prostrating themselves to Allah, and that in the humblest manner?
(Surah 16, verse 48)
5m:12s
9036
[29 April 2012] US Drone War - News Analysis - Presstv - English
[29 April 2012] US Drone War - News Analysis - Presstv - English
Some of the mainstream media in the US are reporting it as "US relaxes drone...
[29 April 2012] US Drone War - News Analysis - Presstv - English
Some of the mainstream media in the US are reporting it as "US relaxes drone rules in Yemen." In reality, the US has approved a new authority that allows US assassination drones to fire on targets in Yemen even when their identities aren't known: it's called signature airstrikes. How could these drones, which have been described as targeted killings, not that they have hit their targets all the time, to have resulted in many civilian deaths, now fire at targets whose identities are not known? In this news analysis, we will ask our guests whether this is another way for the US to okay civilian deaths as collateral damage, and whether it is a sign to spread this to other countries in order to keep America in a perpetual state of war.
24m:9s
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15 months since the victory of the Egyptian revolution and the people...
[30 April 2012] Egypt Qualification Crisis - News Analysis - Presstv - English
15 months since the victory of the Egyptian revolution and the...
[30 April 2012] Egypt Qualification Crisis - News Analysis - Presstv - English
15 months since the victory of the Egyptian revolution and the people of this ancient country continue to take the streets to try to reach their demands. Many feel that in name there was a revolution but the remnants of the old regime continue to keep the people from reaching their goals, even via elections as some major candidates have been disqualified whereas a former Mubarak official has been qualified
24m:17s
6709
Court shown fatal US police beating video - 10May12 - All Languages
Two US police officers have been ordered to stand trial in the death of a mentally ill homeless man following a violent arrest last summer....
Two US police officers have been ordered to stand trial in the death of a mentally ill homeless man following a violent arrest last summer.
California's Orange County Superior Court Judge Walter Schwarm made the ruling after a hearing that included surveillance video of the confrontation between the officers and 37-year-old Kelly Thomas in the city of Fullerton.
Officer Manuel Ramos is charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Jay Cicinelli is charged with involuntary manslaughter and assault or battery by a public officer. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The officers confronted Thomas while responding to reports that a homeless man was looking into parked cars at a transit center.
"This is another victory, on another battle," said Thomas' father, Ron. "We're going to start a new one with the trial."
John Barnett, Ramos' attorney, said he would seek another court's review of Schwarm's ruling and did not expect his client would end up facing a jury trial.
"We're disappointed that they were held to answer but we will seek review in an appropriate manner," he told reporters after the ruling. "He believes, and he is innocent."
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said during the hearing that Ramos bullied a shirtless Thomas with his menacing remarks and aggressive stance — actions that would have led anyone to fear they were about to get beaten by police.
"Any person, any creature on this earth would have fear at that point," Rackauckas told the court during the preliminary hearing.
"You're going to fight or flee because this is an imminent threat of a serious beating by a police officer who is there with a baton and a gun and other police officers.... This is going to be a very bad deal," the prosecutor said.
Defence attorneys countered that police — who are authorised and trained to use force when necessary — viewed the incident as an encounter with a man who refused to give his name and continued to resist arrest even as multiple officers rushed to assist.
The three-day hearing was marked by repeated showing of clips from surveillance video and audio recordings of the confrontation. The footage includes scenes of officers pummelling and pinning down Thomas as he screams that he can't breathe and moans for his father until he goes silent and is taken away by medics, leaving behind a pool of blood.
Barnett, Ramos' attorney, said during the hearing that the video — which was introduced by the prosecution — shows that his client made a conditional threat during his conversation with Thomas, stating he wanted the man to start listening and following police orders, such as sitting with his legs stretched out and providing his name to officers.
"All that Kelly Thomas had to do was simply comply," Barnett said. "Officer Ramos just lifts him up, he's going to arrest him. ... Not only can he do it, he must do it. He is bound to do it."
"Officer Ramos didn't do anything that should or could kill Kelly Thomas," Barnett said, pointing out that his client is often seen on the video at the man's feet.
Prosecutors have argued that Ramos punched Thomas in the ribs, tackled him and lay on him to hold him down while Cicinelli — who arrived later on the scene — used a Taser four times on Thomas as he hollered in pain and hit him in the face eight times with the Taser.
Thomas lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital. He was taken off life support and died five days later.
The coroner's office found that Thomas died from compression of his chest that made it difficult for him to breathe and deprived his brain of oxygen, and facial injuries stemming from his confrontation with law enforcement.
In court, Schwartz, Cicinelli's attorney, challenged those findings, noting that testimony by a paramedic who treated Thomas at the scene indicates that Thomas was breathing, although with difficulty, during the confrontation.
Schwartz also defended his client's use of the Taser on Thomas, who was still struggling and resisting officers' efforts to handcuff him, and said Cicinelli only swung the Taser at Thomas' hand when the man made an effort to grab the weapon.
"To call that a crime is to effectively handcuff our police officers out in the field from dealing with any combative suspect," Schwartz said.
The hearing in a Santa Ana courtroom was marked by lengthy testimony from medical experts and graphic photos of Thomas' injuries, including multiple bruises and a bloodied eye, while he was lying on the autopsy table.
Attorneys repeatedly played portions of the grainy surveillance video, which was paired with audio from digital recorders worn by some of the officers who were present and which brought some of Thomas' supporters to tears and prompted them to leave the courtroom.
The incident last July prompted an ongoing FBI investigation to determine if Thomas' civil rights were violated, an internal probe by the city, protests by residents and an effort to recall three Fullerton councilmembers that is slated for next month's ballot.
The recall was sparked after angry residents chastised the council members for failing to take significant action regarding the incident.
1m:59s
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[20 May 2012] 64th anniversary of Nakba Day - Remember Palestine - English
[20 May 2012] 64th anniversary of Nakba Day - Remember Palestine - English
15th of May will see Palestinians commemorate the 64th anniversary of...
[20 May 2012] 64th anniversary of Nakba Day - Remember Palestine - English
15th of May will see Palestinians commemorate the 64th anniversary of Nakba Day; where over 750,000 Palestinians were ethnically cleansed and 400 Palestinian villages destroyed to form the illegal State of Israel. The same day where Palestinians will be mourning their dead, Israeli's will celebrate their Independence Day- the formation of occupied territories that were created by force and aggression to form a land with Jewish majority. Sixty-four years have passed however; Palestine is still under the illegitimate occupation of the Israelis and their supporters- Palestinians are still faced with Zionist hostilities, daily torment and anguish. The Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe) isn't over - for the Palestinians the ethnic cleansing never ended. The refugees are still barred from their homeland; Palestinians are being forced from their land to make way for Israeli settlements, and the Israeli administration have even stated that they don't want Palestinians to exceed 30% of the population of Jerusalem.
24m:53s
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[26 May 2012] US accomplice to Bahrain regime crimes - English
The Bahraini regime forces backed by troops from Saudi Arabia have once again attacked protesters in the tiny Persian Gulf littoral state....
The Bahraini regime forces backed by troops from Saudi Arabia have once again attacked protesters in the tiny Persian Gulf littoral state.
Security forces on Friday fired teargas and sound grenades at the demonstrating crowds in several towns and villages around the Bahraini capital, Manama.
Clashes then erupted between government forces and the pro-democracy protesters demanding the ouster of the Al Khalifa regime. Several people were injured during the demonstrations. The protesters also voiced their anger at the US government for its support of the Manama regime.
Anti-American sentiments are high in Bahrain after Washington announced earlier this month that it would resume arms sales to Bahrain. However, Bahraini opposition groups and activists condemned the decision, saying it could encourage further human rights violations in the Persian Gulf country.
Press TV has conducted an interview with Kamel Wazni, political analyst, to hear his opinion on this issue. The following is a rough transcription of the interview.
Press TV: First of all we are hearing slogans on the streets in Bahrain against the United States now besides those slogans that were against the regime. People it seems are now very strongly and clearly saying that they want the United States to cut its support for the Manama regime, however we are seeing that support continue.
Do you think that these slogans are going to be heard by Washington?
Wazni: Obviously they will resonate in the White House and on the streets of America because this is the voice of the people and for very long time the Americans felt they are not mentioned on the streets and the Americans know sometimes this hostility that is taking place by the Bahrainis because they continue support of the Americans for the Bahraini regime and the approval of the Americans to sell weapons and arms to the Bahraini regime despite the crackdown that is taking place by the Bahraini regime against the civilian demonstrators of the country.
I think there is voice on the streets saying anyone who sided with the criminals who are committing crimes against humanity should be condemned and today because the Bahraini authority, the Bahraini monarchy is committing crime and America being accomplice to this crime, then you see the people are voicing their sentiment and making their voice to be heard across the world.
They are not intimidated, they are not afraid. They wanted democratic system and a country, that is the basic principle of human dignity to live free in his own or her own country where will be no discrimination, no crackdown, no torture.
This is the basic principle of any human wanted to live in peace and prosperity and the Americans by siding with the Bahraini regime preventing the aspiration of the Bahraini people to make this happen so the Americans should not be shocked by what they are hearing. That is what they actually worked on by helping the Bahraini authority and if Obama is listening and Mrs. Clinton should listen to the human rights when they actually condemn the torture that is taking place by the Bahraini government.
The systematic torture that is taking [place] day after day should be heard by the American administration.
There are a lot of committees being established by the UN bodies, by even the King and they all indicated there is a huge torture and killing taking place on the streets of Bahrain. So is anybody listening?
Press TV: What you referred there to the United Nations also other human rights groups we know for instance that the UN Human Rights Council recently in Geneva started to discuss the situation in Bahrain. We know groups like Amnesty International and other human rights organizations in and outside of Bahrain have been saying they have documents and proved that these violations are taking place but does that mean that they are going to give any support to the Bahraini revolutionaries and do you think without that support on the ground the Bahraini revolution can get anywhere?
Wazni: Well obviously the public opinion on the international appeal is important but eventually the legwork has to be done by the people of Bahrain because the people of Bahrain made a pledge and they are determined to carry their own cause despite all the obstacles and all the atrocity that is committed by the Bahraini regime against the civilian in Bahrain.
But having the public support of the international community from the UN, from other bodies is actually attested to the reality that is taking place.
There is a crime taking place in Bahrain by the monarchy, by the royal family supported by the Americans and somebody has to listen but I do not think the Bahraini people are counting on the West or the Americans because they think the Americans are participant in what is taking place in Bahrain and despite all of that they have the will and the determination to carry their cause to the end.
They know the sacrifice and they are willing to take that sacrifice and we hear the leadership of the Bahraini talking, when we hear Sheikh Ghasem say this is the will of the people and they will carry their duty to bring honorable justice to Bahrain despite all the killing and torture [that] is committed by the Bahraini with the help of the Saudis.
The people will prevail in the end, will be costly process but you have to trust the people and the people will carry their duties.
6m:57s
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[01 June 2012] Complications in Egypt's presidential election - Middle...
[01 June 2012] Complications in Egypt's presidential election - Middle East Today - English
In Egypt there is growing fear among many that the...
[01 June 2012] Complications in Egypt's presidential election - Middle East Today - English
In Egypt there is growing fear among many that the unexpected results of the first round of presidential election could lead to an even more complicated situation in the run-off between Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi and former Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq.
There are also reports of money being pumped into the election process while the revolutionaries blame the military council for having purposefully disqualified significant revolutionary figures from the presidential race. In this edition of the show we discuss the complications in Egypt's presidential election with our expert guests.
25m:28s
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Ayatollah Khamenei : Islamic revolutions from Yemen to Bahrain to Egypt,...
English Voiceover (Recorded from Press TV, June 3, 2012)
Part of speech of the Leader of the Muslim Ummah, and Supreme Leader of the...
English Voiceover (Recorded from Press TV, June 3, 2012)
Part of speech of the Leader of the Muslim Ummah, and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution , Ayatullah Imam Sayyed Ali al-Khamenei(HA) on June 4, 2012
http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=contentShow&id=9483
http://english.khamenei.ir//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id...
The Islamic Revolution Leader cautioned that the west and its puppet regimes were trying to make the revolutionary nations to perceive their revolutions were useless, adding however that unlike those western claims, the political and social situation on the ground has effectively changed due to the revolutions and that greater changes were forthcoming.
Ayatollah Khamenei described Egypt as a great country with an influential nation, adding that former corrupt rulers had stolen the Egyptian nation\\\\\\\'s dignity by turning it into a strategic treasure for the usurping Israel however today the treasure has been recovered from the Zionist usurpers.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the Mubarak regime was tasked to guarantee the Israeli security even at the cost of imprisoning one and a half million people in Gaza during the 22-day Israeli war on the besieged enclave however, today, with Mubarak ousted, the Zionist regime feels naked and goes upset.
The Islamic Revolution Leader said a military hue and cry made by the Zionist authorities against Iran actually exposed their empty hands and fearful state, adding that the regime\\\\\\\'s authorities are well aware that they are now more vulnerable than ever so that any inappropriate action on their part would lash back down on themselves like thunders.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the US and other western powers, as unconditional supporters of the Zionist regime were suffering much unfavorable conditions nowadays due to their economic and social problems, adding that the crisis has become more tangible after the falling from power of several pro-US governments across Europe as well as an ever increasing hatred on the part of nations against the US.
Ayatollah Khamenei cautioned that the west seeks to transfer its own crisis to Asia and Africa, adding that a major western method to transfer its problems was to incite sectarian and religious strife in the Middle Eastern and North African revolutionary countries with a view to develop a counter-movement from inside the very revolutions.
\\\\\\\"Today, Americans have embarked on inciting sectarian and religious conflicts in the revolutionary countries by using the British experiences in such fields; all the nations and their scholars, either Shii or Sunni, must be vigilant not to advance the enemy conspiracy,\\\\\\\" Ayatollah Khamenei urged.
Ayatollah Khamenei reaffirmed however that stability will be restored to the revolutionary countries, especially Egypt and that any dictator regimes will be uprooted from the region.
Ayatollah Khamenei deplored that amid these developments the Bahraini people were suffering double innocence. \\\\\\\"The Bahraini people are simply repressed by a despotic, dictator regime only because they wish to cherish the rudiments of democracy,\\\\\\\" the Islamic Revolution Leader said.
The Islamic Revolution Leader said that all the revolutionary nations would eventually fulfill their goals only if they avoid sectarian or religious conflicts
19m:24s
35131
[01 July 2012] Barclays bank fined 290mn pounds over financial scandal -...
[01 July 2012] Barclays bank fined 290mn pounds over financial scandal - English
Barclays bank was hit with 290 million pounds in fines for a...
[01 July 2012] Barclays bank fined 290mn pounds over financial scandal - English
Barclays bank was hit with 290 million pounds in fines for a serious widespread role in trying to manipulate interest rates and the cost of borrowing. Barclays chairman Marcus Agius has resigned over the scandal and is scheduled to appear before lawmakers on the Treasury Committee on Thursday to answer their questions. In an interview to mark the fifth anniversary of Tony Blair's resignation as the British Prime Minister, he said that he would be willing to do it all again and that he had learned much in the last five years to make him a better premiere.
However, Blair has never apologized and will never face a trial for crimes he committed in Iraq. He even claims that things in Iraq are getting better and the country's economy is growing. "Some of us will never forget the hundreds of thousands of children who died under sanctions at his [Blair] hands, and the countless more who perished thereafter, again at his hands, under shot and shell," said George Galloway.
24m:39s
6811
[6 July 2012] CIA directing arms flow to gangs in Syria - English
Switzerland has decided to suspend arms shipments to the United Arab Emirates following a report that Swiss-made hand grenades are being used by...
Switzerland has decided to suspend arms shipments to the United Arab Emirates following a report that Swiss-made hand grenades are being used by armed gangs in Syria.
The measure was taken on Wednesday after the Sonntagszeitung newspaper published a photograph taken of one such device in possession of anti-Damascus forces in the town of Marea, north of Aleppo, at the end of June, AFP reported.
Preliminary inquiries into the photo showed the grenade in question was made by the Bern-based arms manufacturer RUAG, and was part of a shipment made by the company to the UAE in 2003.
The Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA) says 225,162 hand grenades were exported to the UAE, who signed an agreement not to re-export the munitions.
"As far as the FDEA is aware, the hand grenade ... originates from a RUAG shipment to the United Arab Emirates in 2003. At present there is no evidence that Swiss hand grenades have found their way to Syria; inquiries are ongoing, however," the government statement said.
The FDEA statement also said arms shipments from Switzerland to Syria stopped in April 1998, and raised doubt whether the photograph was taken in Syria after all.
Antje Baertschi, a spokeswoman for the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said as a “provisional" measure, Switzerland immediately moved to "freeze all arms export permits to the UAE."
Press TV has conducted an interview with Dr. Webster Griffin Tarpley, author & historian, to hear his opinion on this issue. The following is a transcription of the interview.
Press TV: The Swiss claim that they are surprised about this entire issue because they have a “neutral stance” when it comes to issues like Syria. Are they as innocent as they claim considering they have been providing weapons in the first place to repressive states such as the UAE?
Tarpley: I think everybody in the world with an effective intelligence service and that would emphatically include Switzerland through their banking system; they are as well informed really as anybody in the world, they know very well that the [Persian] Gulf states, these reactionary feudal absolute monarchies like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait but above all Saudi Arabia, all of them have been massively shipping weapons to the death squads that are working for NATO in Syria and this has been known now for months.
There is really no news except that Switzerland, to cover themselves, to cover themselves maybe on liability suits, have decided to cut off the air shipments to these feudal monarchies in the [Persian] Gulf.
But other than that, we have known, even the New York Times always the last to know, has confirmed that there were CIA officers who are directing traffic in southern Turkey sending these weapons to the groups that they want to receive them. I think that we could see a larger context; tomorrow there would be another one of these Orwellian ‘Friends of Syria’ conferences in Turkey, I believe, tomorrow, or is it Paris?
Anyway, the Russians and the Chinese have said that they will not go. I think Hilary Clinton, however, will be there. I believe it is in Paris. So that entire exercise will continue.
One of the things that NATO is doing is simply lying. Whenever they have a diplomatic meeting with Russia, in particular, then they come out and lie about it and the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov was asked today, are you going to call Assad and offer him asylum in Russia? And Lavrov said that is a bad joke; why don’t you ask the same question to the German Foreign Minister [Guido] Westerwelle we were standing with? Why don’t you see if Assad is going to go to Germany?
It is all really absurd. The big development of today though that I would urgently point to is NATO is now rolling up its heavy artillery and that means WikiLeaks and Julian Assange.
Sophisticated knowledgeable observers all over the world have long known since the very beginning in 2010 that WikiLeaks is a NATO-CIA conduit for various kinds of fake or real documents that are released with political aims in mind and Assange in that sense is a tool of NATO.
We are now told that there are 2.4 million cables; 400 thousand in Arabic, 70 thousand in Russia that are all embarrassing to Syria, embarrassing to the Syrian government but also embarrassing to companies that are still selling various things to Syria.
The example given is Finmeccanica, an Italian firm that has been selling radios to Assad. Also notable is that Assange and WikiLeaks have got a consortium of international press organs; they have got the Associate Press of the United States, the biggest indeed.
3m:49s
9589
[06 July 2012] Bahrain revolution still alive - English
[06 July 2012] Bahrain revolution still alive - English
The Persian Gulf Island of Bahrain has experienced near daily anti-govt. protests for more...
[06 July 2012] Bahrain revolution still alive - English
The Persian Gulf Island of Bahrain has experienced near daily anti-govt. protests for more than 16 months, but you don't hear an outcry from Western countries like the US, or the international community for that matter over the situation there, unlike their reaction to Syria. The Bahraini regime even arrested an 11 year old boy recently for taking part in demonstrations.
23m:56s
8038
CA Web Users File Class-Action Lawsuits Against Google & Yahoo Over...
California: Class action lawsuits have been filed against Google and Yahoo for intercepting and scanning e-mails from people who don't even have...
California: Class action lawsuits have been filed against Google and Yahoo for intercepting and scanning e-mails from people who don't even have accounts with these companies. The purpose of these automated scans is to find words and phrases that can be used to tailor advertising that will be of interest to the users. Google says that humans do not read the emails
3m:25s
5464
[13 July 2012] Is Islamic banking applicable in today economy - English
[13 July 2012] Is Islamic banking applicable in today economy - English
After the baking crisis of 2008 and the collapse of financial markets,...
[13 July 2012] Is Islamic banking applicable in today economy - English
After the baking crisis of 2008 and the collapse of financial markets, doubts have emerged on the capability of the modern financial model to sustain a healthy economy. With the failure of both capitalism and communism, some experts, especially in Muslim countries are looking at Islam to find an alternative model. Islam's strong prohibition of usury (Riba) in particular is seen as a new foundation for a healthy banking system and consequently a sustainable and fairer economy. Other Islamic institutions like zakat and waqf (endowments) have potential economical functions.
In recent years Islamic Banking for example, has been tried with some success in some of Muslim countries and even in Britain. British Financial Services Authority estimates the assets controlled by Islamic banks at the global level to be $200-500bn which is growing at a pace of 10-15% per year. With prospect of about 12 million Muslims living in EU, Islamic financial and economical model is a feasible solution for the future. This week's Islam and Life asks: Are the principles of Islamic banking applicable in today's economy?
24m:39s
9721
[23 July 2012] Pakistanis start fasting in Ramadan with full religious...
[23 July 2012] Pakistanis start fasting in Ramadan with full religious fervor - English
Mah-e-Siyam or Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic lunar...
[23 July 2012] Pakistanis start fasting in Ramadan with full religious fervor - English
Mah-e-Siyam or Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic lunar calendar in which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, has started in Pakistan with full religious fervor.
Across Pakistan the decorated mosques are hosting worshipers that come to refine their spiritual-body in Ramadan, the month of food-for-soul.
Giving and sharing and not forgetting those who can't bring even a single meal to the table is perhaps the first lesson Ramdan teaches us that is why charity has become an inseparable part of this month.
2m:30s
9506
[24 July 2012] Indian Muslims facing discrimination - English
[24 July 2012] Indian Muslims facing discrimination - English
It's been 64 years since India got independence but the situation of rule of law in...
[24 July 2012] Indian Muslims facing discrimination - English
It's been 64 years since India got independence but the situation of rule of law in India is not satisfactory.
Reports show in the world's largest democracy the minorities; especially Muslims are continuously being harassed, detained and even put into jails by different government agencies; in the name of terror probes and are tortured to accept the crimes they never committed and false cases are being framed against them.
2m:44s
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[24 July 2012] Abdul Jabbar Sloot: My journey to Islam - English
[24 July 2012] Abdul Jabbar Sloot: My journey to Islam - English
In this edition of the show we talk to Abdul Jabbar Sloot about his journey to...
[24 July 2012] Abdul Jabbar Sloot: My journey to Islam - English
In this edition of the show we talk to Abdul Jabbar Sloot about his journey to Islam.
He talks about his challenges and changes as a Muslim convert in Britain before and after embracing the world's fastest-growing religion.
Before converting to Islam, 42-year old Abdul was constantly seeking for a way to reach the divine. He even took part in official drug testing as a way to reach what he thought was a more spiritual state of life. However, he soon realized that this was not the right path for him.
Having grown up in a tiny English countryside village close to Cambridge, Abdul went to church every Sunday as a child and took part in all the activities held by the local Christian community. But as he grew up, he was not satisfied.
After getting married he had several hallucinations that lead him to speak with a college tutor who introduced him to a Sheikh in Tottenham. His first conversation with the Sheikh inspired him so much that he took his shahada the very next day.
A few months later his wife, too converted to Islam, after having a series of conversations with the same sheikh. The sheikh played such an important role in their decision-making process, and they feel an enormous gratitude to him for helping them on the right path towards Islam.
They now have 5 children whom they have brought up as Muslim and lead a simple and peaceful life in the English countryside. Both Abdul and his wife take great pleasure in educating their children at home, away from "mainstream" ideas and behaviors.
24m:39s
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