Showing posts with label World Affairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Affairs. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Teen Boys Sent To Masculinity Camp In Malaysia

 

“Malaysian authorities have sent 66 Muslim schoolboys identified by teachers as effeminate to a four-day camp where they will receive counseling on masculine behavior to discourage them from being gay, an official said Tuesday.

Gay rights advocates decried the measure as a symptom of widespread homophobia in this Muslim-majority country where gay sex is illegal.

The boys between 13 and 17 years old reported Monday for what is officially being called a "self-development course" after their schoolteachers in Terengganu state identified them as students who displayed effeminate mannerisms, said Razali Daud, the state's education director.

They will undergo religious and motivational classes and physical guidance, Razali said. He declined to give further details.

The camp is meant "to guide them back to the right path in life before they reach a point of no return," Razali told The Associated Press. "Such effeminate behavior is unnatural and will affect their studies and their future."

It is the first such program in Terengganu, a conservative state. Over the years, Terengganu's officials have held programs aimed at promoting Muslim morality, such as offering free honeymoons to save the marriages of couples considering divorce.”

Source

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Freedom Flotilla Attack Videos

We have often heard that a picture is worth thousand words which is very true. What about a video then, million words.

A fleet of six naval ships Flotilla Freedom carrying aid to Gaza strip came under attack when Israeli troops raided it leaving 19 activists dead and several injured. Three Pakistani journalists including Talat Hussain(Director Aaj News) were taken captive along with many other journalists and human activists from all around the world.

There are two versions of this story, one from Israel Foreign Affairs and the other from The Free Gaza movement and people on board Flotilla Freedom.

 

The fleet was carrying aid to the area, which is under a naval blockade. Israeli troops were attacked with guns, knives and clubs when they boarded the ships after having given repeated warnings, the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs said.  During the interception of the ships, the demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs," the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs.    Guardian, UK

 

Both sides were well armed when Israeli commandoes attacked the “so-called Freedom Flotilla”. Both sides have released a blizzard of video clips as evidence that the other side was the aggressor in the conflict on Monday which left nine activists dead.   New York Times

“Without an Israeli response, which came out later in the day and seemingly proved that the soldiers acted in self-defense, the media were full of one-sided reports based on Al Jazeera,” the newspaper stated. “What Israel needs to realize is that in today’s media world, every minute counts.”  Jerusalem Post

Video Evidence By Israel against Activists

 

 

Now some excerpts from the sources who are blaming it all on Israel

Under darkness of night, Israeli commandoes dropped from a helicopter onto the Turkish passenger ship, Mavi Marmara, and began to shoot the moment their feet hit the deck. They fired directly into the crowd of civilians asleep. According to the live video from the ship, two have been killed, and 31 injured. Al-Jazeera has just confirmed the numbers. The attack has happened in international waters, 75 miles off the coast of Israel, in direct violation of international law.         The Free Gaza Movement reported on Guardian, UK

The attack must be condemned by the international community. If the attack on South Korean ship is risking economic sanction on North Korea by some of the most powerful nations, I hope they will react the same towards Israel and its cowardice attack.

This is a black day when a humanitarian initiative is being attacked and suppressed.

 Khoo Kay Peng from Malayasia on Global Voices Online

Videos of Israel Soldiers Attacking Flotilla

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]Interestingly, there was one Holocast survivor on Flotilla Freedom convoy.