Freedom for Saudi writer Hamza Kashgari<http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie/2012/02/13/freedom-for-hamza-kashgari/> February 13, 2012 at 5:40 pm Maryam Namazie [image: hamza]
*On 12 February, Malaysian police deported 23 year old Saudi columnist Hamza Kashgari, who fled Saudi Arabia after making comments on Twitter claimed by some to be “insulting” to the prophet Muhammad. There have been widespread calls from Islamists for his execution; in Saudi Arabia, blasphemy is punishable by death.* *Theocratic regimes like Saudi Arabia will not tolerate the most basic freedom of thought and expression. We defend the right of everyone in the world to freely express their views, including to criticise religion. We condemn the Malaysian government for detaining Kashgari who had fled the country and handing him over to the Saudi authorities. We are also concerned to learn of reports that INTERPOL may have promulgated a Saudi government warrant for his arrest. The implications of this mean that no asylum seeker or refugee is free from persecution even after having fled.* *We demand that the Saudi authorities immediately and unconditionally release Kashgari. He has not committed any crime.* *To support the campaign, **please sign the petition*<http://www.change.org/petitions/saudi-government-interpol-and-malaysian-government-freedom-for-hamza-kashgari> *.* *Join **Free Hamza Facebook Page*<http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/217865731642049/> *.* *Lebanon - Tripoli Clashes: Keeping Conflict Alive* *Picture blog within article of recent clashes* http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/tripoli-clashes-keeping-conflict-alive --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Political Movements in Bahrain:Past, Present and Future* http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/4363/political-movements-in-bahrain _past-present-and-fu ------------------------------------------------------------- We must also put forward the hand of solidarity to the Iranian workers, students and youth who are rising up against the regime of the mullahs. In this regard, we must stand firmly against sanctions, which will only drive the Iranian people into further deprivation, unemployment and poverty while strengthening the totalitarian regime. *Western imperialism War-mongering against Iran-End imperialist aggressionand sanctions! * http://www.marxist.com/werstern-imperialism-and-war-on-iran.htm *No to economic sanctions, war threats and war!-Revolution against the Islamic regime of Iran!* http://freethoughtblogs.com/maryamnamazie /2012/02/09/no-to-economic-sanctions-war-threats-and-war-revolution-against-the- islamic-regime-of-iran/ The Latest from Iran (14 February): Watching for Protests<http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2012/2/14/the-latest-from-iran-14-february-watching-for-protests.html> http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2012/2/14/the-latest-from-iran-14- february-watching-for-protests.html *See also Iran Feature: Two Sisters Try to Reach Their Country with Pop Music<http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2012/2/14/iran-feature-two-sisters-try-to-reach-their-country-with-pop.html> The Latest from Iran (13 February): The Economic Squeeze<http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2012/2/13/the-latest-from-iran-13-february-the-economic-squeeze.html> * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * *http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3umSVSVVBo8&feature=player_embedded* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wK2QAorJf4&feature=player_embedded *Videos and updates below in Bahrain and Syria today, click on articles - Homs under heavy bombardment for 10 days nows...* *Some groupings are now saying over 7000 dead, tens of thousands imprisonedin the near 11 months of revolution against the Assad regime and 1000 dead just in the last week.* http://www.enduringamerica.com/ * Editor's Note (1349 GMT) --- because of the pace of events in Bahrain today, we have split this entry into "Bahrain Live Coverage Special: The Anniversary Protests<http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2012/2/14/bahrain-live-coverage-special-the-anniversary-protests.html>" and "Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: The Shelling of Homs Continues<http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/2012/2/14/syria-and-beyond-live-coverage-the-shelling-of-homs-continue.html> ". * Syria Opinion: Who Are the Real Opposition? (Idaf) Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 10:24 Scott Lucas in EA Middle East and Turkey, Free Syrian Army, Middle East and Iran, Syria, Syrian Comment, Syrian National Council *Syrian National Council, December 2011Syria Comment posts this evaluation<http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=13440&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Syriacomment+%28Syria+Comment%29>from " Idaf, who recently left Syria and has been working with opposition activists":* It’s a grave mistake to put all opposition in one group. Some are worse than the regime, some as bad, others are smart, savvy with a plan. Of course you only hear in the news (and sometimes though selective attention) about those pushed by the different powers (Qatar, France, Saudi, etc.) like the Syrian National Council (SNC) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA), because they best fit the agenda of the sensationalist media. Everybody willingly ignore the large activist networks on the ground and those independent and rational political opposition groups inside who are not proxies for other powers, who have a plan and working for a state after the regime is gone, not for revenge like the opposition you hear about in the media. Simplifying things by using the “Regime vs. SNC/FSA” shallow lens only helps the regime. Media, policy makers and think tanks should be educated about the richness of the opposition and how they should focus more on the real opposition, not the one shoved by the Aljazeera down the throat of Syrians (SNC) or the FSA myth that perfectly fits the agenda of regime, the Islamists, and the media, all at the same time. As someone who is in touch with all key opposition groups and the activists on the ground, I can tell you that I’m fed up with the simplified, naive views and the manipulative perception management tactics that aim to draw unrealistic picture about the conflict by conveniently framing it simply as idiot proxies and armed elements (SNC/FSA) vs. the brutal mass-murderer autocratic regime (the regime). While both description of the two groups are accurate, but there is much more to the opposition than the SNC and FSA. The amount of political opportunism, corruption, lack of vision and lack of independence in the SNC is staggering and identical to the Iraqi National Congress. The SNC is becoming less relevant by the day. The FSA is a myth, as there is no coordinated group of militants across the country, only hundreds of small militias that have nothing in common in terms of ideology, arms, political awareness or anything else for that matter. Pushing the “FSA” in the media is just a media phenomenon that fits some agendas and gives false hope to the people inside. It also fits nicely with the regime’s line. The real opposition is maturing and growing in influence inside and on the ground away from the influence of Qatar, Turkey, Saudi, France or the US. It is a matter of time before the regime gives way. Soon the SNC will be simply remembered as something like one of the many Iraqi opportunistic opposition groups that mushroomed just before the war on Iraq. The FSA myth will be debunked but the militias will continue to exist. The regime may be able to crush or maneuver its way for a while with a combination of “Souria Allah 7amiha” strikes of luck coupled with idiotic strategic mistakes from the SNC/FSA, but new more realistic, mature, civic and political powers are taking shape on the ground and will be emerging as powerful players soon. Even if the regime survives this round, there will be new rounds between an exhausted regime and new re-envigorated opposition groups. Forget the SNC and the FSA if you want to talk about the future. The simplistic media and analysts can continue to focus on them as they are sensational enough for media consumption for Syrians abroad, for Arabs and for westerners who are entertaining themselves with watching another Syrian TV series. This time it’s not باب الحارة ["The Door of the Neighborhood," a famous TV series] featuring macho conflicts of good vs. bad on MBCJazeeraand other media. The reality is happening on the ground inside (and online on closed social media networks) with brave and thoughtful groups of Syrians who are working on interim solutions for the conflict, for long term ones for a sustainable state and for justice rather than revenge. Syrians who want a solution should focus on channeling their energy towards reducing the impact of the fall of the regime rather than supporting the SNC /FSA or supporting the regime out of fear of the “FSA”, the Islamists or the militants. Everyone should stop simply forcing the Syrians to chosebetween the Regime or SNC/FSA/Islamists. These are not the only options. Far from it. They are multiple movements shaping and reshaping on weekly basis. Mostactivists are learning and maturing with time. They change their views and jump from one group to another according to events and developments. When one’s friend or family gets detained or killed, they move from peaceful to supporting violence. When you argue with those supporting violence they change their mind, etc. The movements are in constant change but you can notice the fast organic maturity. ------------------------------ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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