Syria

A solution for the refugees?

published by Hummus on 4 September, 2015 - 12:36
Naguib Sawiris

An Egyptian Telecoms billionaire has proposed buying a Mediterranean island to shelter refugees fleeing from Syria and other countries. 

Naguib Sawiris, who is believed to be worth $2.9billion, announced his idea on Twitter this week. 

He tweeted: “Greece or Italy sell me an island, I’ll call its independence and host the migrants and provide jobs for them building their new country.”

He added: “Crazy idea… Maybe but at least temporary until they can return to their countries??!!” 

Speaking to AFP later, he said: “Of course it’s feasible. You have dozens of islands which are deserted and could accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees.” 

Aylan Kurdi | Tears for The Little Syrian Boy

published by _Me_ on 4 September, 2015 - 00:18

Don’t turn away and hide your face,
It's not the time, it’s not the place,
Look at me, stand and stare,
Lifeless and listless do you care?
My only crime was to be born,
Three years ago in a place war torn,
My short lived life, my mother’s tears,
Hopes and dreams destroyed by fears,
And as the world turns inside out,
Back to front and full of doubt,
My picture goes around the earth,
Governments decide what we are worth,
An immigrant, or a refugee, 
Is that your eyes can see,
Human beings are we not the same,
Being used as pawns in a political game,
For now my life has ended here,
On a beach somewhere, so far so near 
Close to freedom, a promised land,

The British should not bomb Syria

published by You on 5 July, 2015 - 01:43

This may seem obvious, but the UK should stay out. SO should the rest of the "west".

There are plenty of people calling for intervention, and not only from the west. But my opinion is that we should stay out.

We don't have a good track record - recent examples and Iraq and Libya, but this goes all the way back to World War 1.

Well, I should rephrase that - we don't have a good track record for the people living there. I am sure prestige was gained and riches obtained in them all.

Another thing to remember is that when you go to war, there is always a reaction.

Western liberals fear destruction of history while ignoring human lives in Syria

published by You on 15 May, 2015 - 02:44

From

Isis reaches gates of ancient Syrian city Palmyra, stoking fears of destruction

Islamic State group fighters have advanced to the gates of ancient Palmyra on Thursday, raising fears the Syrian world heritage site could face destruction of the kind the jihadis have already wreaked in Iraq.

Isis fighters were battling Syrian troops less than two kilometres (barely a mile) from the remains of one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world, Syria’s director of antiquities said.

The comments following the story are extra fun.

The Palestinians of Yarmouk and the shameful silence when Israel is not to blame

published by You on 13 April, 2015 - 18:29

Palestinian refugees are being starved, bombed and gunned down like animals. “If you want to feed your children, you need to take your funeral shroud with you,” one told Israeli news website Ynet. “There are snipers on every street, you are not safe anywhere.”

This isn’t happening, however, in southern Lebanon, or even Gaza. And these particular Palestinians aren’t being killed or maimed by Israeli bombs and bullets.

Briton killed fighting in Syria

published by You on 4 March, 2015 - 18:26

Today there are reports about a Briton who was so enraged by events that he went to fight in Syria .

He allied himself with groups many consider to be terrorists.

However, most news reports will be sympathetic to his case for he was not Muslim.

His case will be shown more nuance than for Muslims who may return or die in Syria - who may have even been fighting against the same group!

How should the UK deal with returnees from Syria?

published by You on 7 December, 2014 - 18:55
Yusuf Sarwar was arrested and then convicted after returning from Syria

There is a story on today: a mother who cooperated with the police when she found out about her son, Yusuf Sarwar, had traveled to Syria to fight felt betrayed by his arrest and subsequent 12 years and 8 months sentence under the anti terrorism laws.

His mother Majida told the BBC she believed the sentence would discourage other Muslims from helping the police.

There is a question of how these returnees should be treated. Should they be incarcerated and seen as a problem? Surely they cannot be left alone, after coming back from carrying out "terrorist activities" abroad?

Random thoughts on Kobane, ISIS, Turkey and the Khorasan

published by You on 9 November, 2014 - 02:49

Kobane/Kobani in Syria next to the Turkish border and has for a couple of months now been under assault by SIS.

There has been immense international pressure on Turkey to intervene and when it didn't, mass accusations that it was aiding ISIS.

It has often been stated that Turkey is often a route used by westerners to get into Syria/Iraq and potentially join ISIS. Further "damning" evidence against Turkey is that potentially around 400 Turks have joined ISIS.

What is often ignored when quoting this number is that there are more suspected britons (500) of having joined ISIS that Turks (400) even though Turkey is a Muslim country and is right next to the theatre of operations.

"ن": When Muslims partake in white supremacy

published by You on 18 August, 2014 - 01:32

Someone informed me recently about an online campaign raising awareness of the plight of persecuted Christians in Iraq.

The symbol of solidarity for that was the Arabic letter n, or "ن".

On Sunday I was listening to the news and there was someone from the church on saying that the UK government has been far too quiet for far too long on the plight of Christians in Iraq.

I haven't liked what the campaign represented for the first moment. I understand that for western individuals this may seem worthy and they may focus on the non-muslim minorities. I think it is misguided for Muslims to join any such campaign

What this campaign and others do is devalue Muslim blood.

# Will the real islamic state please stand up #

published by You on 14 August, 2014 - 22:51

May I have your attention please...

May I have your attention please...

will the real Islamic state stand up.

I repeat, will the real Islamic State please stand up.

We're gonna have a problem here,

Because ISIS ain't it.

I am not speaking up here just for its oppression of Christians. I am not going to put the "noon" as a symbol of solidarity.

Nor for the plight of the Yezidis on Shinjar mountain (to protect whom Obama came running and bombed ISIS... mostly in a different location around Irbil to protect its CIA base there... Do not trust what America tells you. )

Because each of those campaigns and bandwagons belittles Muslim blood.

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