U.S. Supreme Court says federal law against organized crime does not apply to pro-life advocates
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled today that a federal law passed by Congress to combat organized crime and racketeering does not apply to pro-life advocates who protested outside of abortion clinics. The Alliance Defense Fund provided funding for the case over the last eight years and supported friend-of-the-court briefs in defense of the pro-life advocates involved in the case.
“The court’s decision today affirms that Christians and others who believe in the pro-life cause cannot have their free speech silenced by the misapplication of federal law,” said ADF Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb.
“Trying to characterize those who believe in the pro-life cause as members of organized crime was a stretch from the start,” McCaleb explained. “The court today appropriately put an end to that ridiculous claim by reaffirming the obvious intent of the federal law in question: that it applies to violence used to further robbery or extortion, not the free speech of pro-life advocates.”
In 1989, abortionists filed a complaint against various pro-life advocates, asserting that the pro-life protests violated federal laws, including the Hobbs Act and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The pro-life advocates asserted that the racketeering laws were never meant to apply–and did not apply–to their free speech activity.
In 2003, the Supreme Court agreed; however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit suggested on remand that other acts of the pro-life advocates may have constituted a violation of the law. Today, the Supreme Court again rejected the misapplication of the law, stating that the intent of Congress was only to address physical violence that furthered robbery or extortion.
“This unanimous ruling of the court is a victory for all those who wish to exercise their First Amendment rights without fear,” McCaleb said. “ADF is pleased to have been a part of supporting the legal efforts that led to today’s outcome and to ensure that the pro-life message of hope is not suppressed.”
The opinion issued in the case, Scheidler v. National Organization for Women, can be read at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/ScheidlerOpinion.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
www.telladf.org
Posted by Walt as U.S. Legal Issues at 10:16 PM EST
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The political tension in the Middle East continues to heat up as political and military forces of the world converge on the Middle East.
In a post from last November: Russian Forces Assisting Palestine Police Forces and an other post in December: Russia Equipping Iran With Anti-Missile Systems the evidence was shown that the Muslim worlds who are bent on destroying non-Muslim worlds and cultures were getting help from non-Muslim countries who have an interest in the Middle East.
The Russians who have assisted and sold weapons to the PLO are now set to assist Hamas with the same type of aid. From the Australian:
Moscow’s talk of arms supplies will cause consternation in the West, which considers Hamas a terrorist organisation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s policy looks like diplomatic suicide. But analysts say Moscow is taking the opportunity to reclaim influence in the Middle East, while being constructive in world politics.
Officials in Moscow say they will press Hamas to recognise Israel and renounce violence, and are offering military hardware in return.
The Palestinian Authority wants to buy two Mi-17 transport helicopters and 50 armoured personnel carriers, news agency Interfax has reported.
Western officials are skeptical Hamas will comply with the request to recognise Israel. But they admit Russia still offers the best hope for a breakthrough.
And Russia is already in the process of selling anti-millise system to Iran, now Red China is in the process of making a major oil deal with Iran in the development of Iran’s Yadavaran oil field.
The Washington Times reports:
China and Iran are close to settling plans to develop Iran’s Yadavaran oil field, according to published reports, in a multi-billion-dollar deal that comes as Tehran faces the prospect of sanctions over its nuclear program.
The deal is thought potentially to be worth about $100 billion.
According to Caijing, a respected financial magazine, a Chinese government delegation is due to visit Iran as early as next month to sign an agreement allowing China Petrochemical Corp., also known as Sinopec, to develop Yadavaran.
The Wall Street Journal also reported in yesterday’s editions that the two sides are trying to conclude the deal in coming weeks before potential sanctions are imposed on Iran for its nuclear ambitions. The report cited unnamed Iranian Oil Ministry officials familiar with the talks.
China, seeking oil and gas to fuel its booming economy amid stagnant production at home, has been snapping up energy resources in places as far-flung as Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Nigeria and Australia. Its investments in Iran and Sudan have prompted complaints it is undermining diplomatic efforts to bring recalcitrant regimes in line.
All of these developments could be viewed as major threats against the political stability in the Middle East and against the state of Israel
Posted by Walt as Middle East Issues, Terrorism at 12:30 AM EST
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Christian Defense Coalition applauds President Bush for his comments on the attack on the Golden Mosque, but is troubled that the President has yet to speak out against the Alabama church burnings.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 /Christian Wire Service/ — The following text is of remarks by President Bush upon arrival:
On behalf of the American people, I extend my deepest condolences to the people of Iraq for the brutal bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, one of the holiest sites in Shi’a Islam. The terrorists in Iraq have again proven that they are enemies of all faiths and of all humanity. The world must stand united against them, and steadfast behind the people of Iraq. This senseless crime is an affront to people of faith throughout the world. The United States condemns this cowardly act in the strongest possible terms.
I ask all Iraqis to exercise restraint in the wake of this tragedy, and to pursue justice in accordance with the laws and constitution of Iraq. Violence will only contribute to what the terrorists sought to achieve by this act.
The United States stands ready to do all in its power to assist the Government of Iraq to identify and bring to justice those responsible for this terrible act. And the American people pledge to work with the people of Iraq to rebuild and restore the Golden Mosque of Samarra to its former glory.
Posted by Walt as Islam at 5:45 AM EST
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Press Release From National Council of Resistance of Iran - Foreign Affairs Committee:
NCRI - Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Agency, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, said yesterday, “The nuclear fuel cycle in Natanz has been completed and uranium 235 with 3.5% enrichment is being produced. We are not willing to let go of the technology we have achieved through the efforts of our own experts and become dependent on others.”
Mullahs' Foreign Minister, Manuchehr Mottaki, who spoke at the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, said, “For us uranium enrichment is the redline, which no official in Iran can cross under any circumstances.”
Comments by Mottaki and Aghazadeh, and the failure of the Brussels and Moscow talks, prove once again that the religious, terrorist dictatorship in Iran pursues no other objectives in these negotiations except to acquire more time in order to complete its nuclear projects. Obtaining nuclear weapons is strategic to the survival of the mullahs and appeasement would only assist them to reach that goal.
The Iranian Resistance once again warns of Iranian regimes deceptive maneuvers between Europe and Moscow and calls for an immediate and comprehensive oil, technological, arms and diplomatic embargo on Tehran to deny it the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
February 22, 2006
Posted by Walt as Iran at 3:52 PM EST
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Press release from the American Defense Fund:
LANSDOWNE, Pa. — Faced with a federal lawsuit after their decision to muzzle and forcibly remove a man for reading Scripture at a public meeting, Pennsylvania borough officials have admitted their mistake and agreed to settle the case.
The council entered into a consent decree stating Michael Marcavage was “denied a full and fair opportunity to address the Borough Council.” It further noted that everyone who attends the meetings has a constitutionally protected right to address the Borough Council.
“Christians shouldn’t be treated differently than any other Americans,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joe Infranco. “Unfortunately, the Borough’s council violated this fundamental Constitutional protection by stopping Mr. Marcavage from speaking. We’re pleased that they’ve admitted their mistake and apologized to Mr. Marcavage.”
On July 21, 2004, Marcavage was told he could not read from the Bible during a Lansdowne Borough Council meeting’s open comment period. Following the council’s decision to impose a time limit and subsequently adjourn, Marcavage was forcefully removed and charged with disrupting a public meeting and disorderly conduct.
The charges were later dismissed by the Delaware County District Attorney’s office after they were determined to be without merit.
“The consent decree ensures Mr. Marcavage’s right to free speech is no longer hindered by the actions of a few,” said ADF-allied attorney Ted Hoppe, who represented Marcavage. “It guarantees all citizens have the right to address the Lansdowne Borough Council on any issue of concern without fear of retribution or arrest.”
The full text of the consent order issued in Marcavage v. Borough of Lansdowne can be viewed at http://www.telladf.org/UserDocs/Marcavage%20consent%20order.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
www.telladf.org
Posted by Walt as U.S. Legal Issues, U.S. Constitutional Issues at 3:37 PM EST
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Last week former vice president Gore gave a very anti-American speech in Saudi Arabia that bordered on treason. He charged that the U.S. had committed "terrible abuses" against Arabs after 9/11. He stated that since 9/11, Arabs living in the U.S. have been rounded up and sometimes charged with minor offenses such as over staying a visa or lack of green cards. And he said that most Americans agree with him.
After the unprecedented attack on 9/11 our country was gripped in terror not knowing what would be coming next. No wonder many Arabs with questionable overstays on visas or no green cards would be suspected.
If there were terrible abuses against the Arabs in our country, why did he not turn the evidence over to Congress for an investigation?
Apparently, his evidence of these abuses came form the same source as his part in the invention of the internet: a total lie!
His speech was completely ignored by all main- stream liberal media. According to a recent post on News Busters:
By checking with our network watchers and double-checking with Nexis, ABC, CBS, and NBC have all completely ignored Al Gore’s speech in Saudi Arabia, where he denounced the U.S. government for committing "terrible abuses" against Arabs after 9/11, and that Arabs had been "indiscriminately rounded up" and held in "unforgivable" conditions.
And Gore was not the first high profiled American to recently speak out in a tone that nears treason against the United States and its foreign policy.
Posted by Walt as Biased Media, Middle East Issues at 11:42 PM EST
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Iranian Resistance warns of Tehran regime’s concealment and deception
NCRI - According to news agencies, Seyyed-Ali Hosseini-Tash, Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, arrived in Moscow Sunday night to negotiate with Russian officials about the uranium enrichment plan on Russian soil. The day before, Tehran’s officials had insisted on enriching uranium inside Iran.
Hosseini-Tash, mullahs’ chief negotiator, told the Iranian regime’s state-run radio and television station that there was no connection between suspending enrichment in Iran and the Russian plan. He also added that regime would accept no preconditions to negotiate. Tehran’s former nuclear pointman, Hassan Rohani, speaking on the subject of Tehran-Moscow talks, said, “If they ask Iran to forego its own rights, they won’t succeed.”
Hosseini-Tash, is a Brigadier General in Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and has been one of the key officials involved in Tehran’s clandestine military nuclear program during recent years. Before the presidency of Ahmadinejad, he was the Deputy Defense Minister and in charge of the production of Weapons of Mass Destruction and specifically the nuclear weapons projects. The “Center for Preparedness on Advanced Defense Technology” operated under his direct supervision. The regime’s most senior nuclear experts such as Mohsen Fakhrizadeh work under Hosseini-Tash’s supervision. Malek-e-Ashtar Univesity, affiliated to the IRGC, and involved in WMD research, also operates under his supervision.
The Iranian Resistance warns of the mullahs’ regime deceptive maneuvers in a bid to delay international sanctions. Tehran’s blackmail and threats and the continuation and escalation of its activities are indicative of the mullahs’ ominous ambitions to acquire nuclear weapons. This necessitates the need for a complete oil, technological, arms, and diplomatic embargo against the regime. Any hesitation and delay will provide Tehran with more time, the most important thing they need to obtain nuclear arms.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
February 20, 2006
Posted by Walt as Iran at 9:01 PM EST
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Ontario passes new law; family legal arbitrations must now use Canadian law.
TORONTO – “I am so happy and very pleased to see this new law passed …now we are all treated under one law equally ”, said Ms. Homa Arjomand, Coordinator of the International Campaign Against Sharia Court in Canada.
In a press statement released from the Ministry of the Attorney General on February 15th, it stated, “Under this legislation, resolutions based on other laws and principles - including religious principles - will have no legal effect and will not be enforceable by the courts”.
Attorney General Michael Bryant said today, “when it comes to family law arbitrations in this province, there is only one law and that is Canadian law."
“Thousands of activists across Ontario worked very hard to end the injustice of faith-based arbitrations,” said Ms. Arjomand. “…but our work is not done, my concern now is to prevent religious arbitration from continuing underground and to assist women and children to get the full benefit of Canadian law when settling family legal matters”.
Community Education Targeted
Sandra Pupatello, Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues said "In addition to this legislation, we will be working to develop new community outreach and education programs so that all Ontarians have the information they need to make the best choices offered to them by Canadian law."
Community activists and counselors had raised the issue of human and legal rights education for vulnerable and isolated communities. “I am very pleased to hear the government will invest in this need and I look forward to assisting in this effort.”, added Ms. Arjomand. “Education and awareness is essential for integration and enjoyment of one law for all”.
Children are Protected
According to the press statement, the Children’s Law Reform Act (CLRA) has been amended “to ensure that violence and abuse are considered when determining the best interests of a child in the context of custody and access”. These new laws will improve the quality and the standard of children’s well being in Ontario…the world will take note, said Ms. Arjomand.
Thank You to the Activists
“Once again I want to thank all the people who worked on the campaign. This victory was the result of the hard work of thousands of activists, across Ontario, Canada and Europe who volunteered their time and skills to help bring an end to faith-based arbitration and Sharia courts in Canada,” said Ms. Arjomand, “…to each and everyone of them I want to say thank you, we did this together. This is a great achievement for the women’s rights movement.”
Sharia Law and Political Islam
“We started with a handful of supporters and grew to a coalition of over a thousand volunteers and activists…together we defeated the forces of ‘Political Islam’ in Ontario, but this is just the first step.”, added Ms. Arjomand.
“We must not rest, we must continue to fight for human rights, women’s rights, freedom of speech and the benefits of a secular society not just here but also overseas…people in other countries who live under the burdens of Sharia and Political Islam…countries such as England, India, Iran, Iraq, Netherlands and Nigeria… these people are counting on us.”
Conference in Germany - Globalization of Political Islam
The International Campaign Against Sharia Court in Canada in conjunction with the Committee Against Stoning and Women’s Liberation are hosting a conference entitled “The Globalization of Political Islam and Women’s Rights”. The conference will take place in Cologne, Germany on March 8th, 2006.
Speakers include: Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Homa Arjomand, Mina Ahadi,Christa Stolle, Maryam Namazi, Azar Majedi and Fatma Blässer
About Homa Arjomand and the Campaign
Homa Arjomand is the Coordinator of the International Campaign Against Sharia Court in Canada. She started her campaign in Toronto in October 2003 with a handful of supporters, and today it has grown to a coalition of 87 organizations from 14 countries with over a thousand activists. Homa is a Toronto based transitional counselor and was a human rights activist in Iran until she was forced to flee in 1989.
Media Contact: Ms. Homa Arjomand 416-737-9500.
Email: homawpi@sympatico.ca
Web site: http://www.nosharia.com/
Posted by Walt as Islam at 2:24 AM EST
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MEDIA ADVISORY, Feb. 17 /Christian Wire Service/ — In response to news reports today of a $1-million US bounty for killing a cartoonist who drew the Muhammad caricatures, Randall Terry releases the following:
The "Traditions of the Prophet" are the words (Hadith) and the deeds (Sunnah) of Mohammed, which are NOT in the Koran. Repeat: The "Traditions" are NOT in the Koran; they are recorded by ancient Islamic historians. Furthermore, the Koran, and the "Traditions of the Prophet" form the foundation of Islamic Law – the Shari’a.
Pakistani culture and law are squarely anchored in the Koran and the "Traditions" of Mohammed; their "Ideal" for justice is based on the life of Mohammed.
Following are:
1) Passages of the Pakistani Constitution which specifically mention the "Sunnah" (the "Traditions") of Mohammed as the foundation of law. (italics added)
2) Examples of Mohammed calling for the assassination or execution of a "comic" who satirized him in poetry of song.
Examples of "The Traditions" in Constitution from Pakistan
Preamble
Whereas sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah alone, and the authority to be exercised by the people of Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him is a sacred trust;
Wherein the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice, as enunciated by Islam, shall be fully observed;
Wherein the Muslims shall be enabled to order their lives in the individual and collective spheres in accordance with the teachings and requirements of Islam as set out in the Holy Quran and Sunnah…
Islamic Provisions
227. (1) All existing laws shall be brought in conformity with the Injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah, in this Part referred to as the Injunctions of Islam, and no law shall be enacted which is repugnant to such Injunctions.
In the following passage, we see that the secular government submits itself to the ruling of religious scholars and clerics who serve in the "Islamic Council."
230. (1) The functions of the Islamic Council shall be,
(a) to make recommendations to [Majlis- e- Shoora (Parliament)] and the Provincial Assemblies as to the ways and means of enabling and encouraging the Muslims of Pakistan to order their lives individually and collectively in all respects in accordance with the principles and concepts of Islam as enunciated in the Holy Quran and Sunnah… (More can be found at www.pakistani.org)
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Walt as Cartoon Jihad, Islam at 11:32 PM EST
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The war that has erupted over the publication of the Mohammed cartoons clearly shows the double standard invoked by the Muslim world. The anti-Semantic cartoons produced by Muslim countries in the Middle East prove to be more horrific and damaging then the Danish cartoons.
These anti-Semantic cartoons are the norm for the Arab world. And the Muslim violent demonstrations over the Danish cartoons is also the norm.
Now, the Iranian paper Hamshahri is sponsoring a contest to find the best Holocaust cartoons with the challenge that they are published in the same newspapers that the Mohammed cartoons appeared.
In a report on the cartoon wars, Spiegel Online reports:
In the end, it was the image of the Prophet Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban with a lit fuse that proved perhaps most offensive. After all, as the Web site of the Arab-European League — a group supporting the rights of Arab and Muslim communities in Europe — pointed out: "The issue for us is not about depicting the prophet or any other theological consideration. It’s about stigmatizing a whole population of more than 1 billion Muslims through portraying their symbol as being a terrorist, megalomaniac, misogynies (sic) and a psychopath. This is racist, xenophobic and calling for hatred against Muslims."
That’s a valid point. But it would have been a lot more forceful had the Web site not published a political cartoon a few days earlier depicting Anne Frank in bed with Adolf Hitler, who is looking amorously appeased. As if that wasn’t offensive enough, the illustrator throws in one of the worst crimes in recent European history by name dropping Marc Dutroux, the convicted Belgian killer infamous for kidnapping young girls, raping them and then starving them to death. Hitler is saying, "Write this one in your diary Anne!"
The Anti-Defamation League website has many examples of anti-Semantic hate cartoons from the Arab world. There has been no let up of the cartoon campaign by the Arabs since 1948.
Posted by Walt as Cartoon Jihad, General Commentary, Islam, Terrorism at 9:43 PM EST
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