South Asia Tribune I Thursday 22 March 2012
NEWS
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Unarmed protesters in Palestine attacked with Bullets, Rounds & … Military Dogs
March 16, 2012 It was yet another Friday where demonstrations get brutally attacked by Israel’s military in the occupied West Bank. In today’s demonstration in Kufr Qaddoum, Israeli soldiers released military hounds to attack unarmed Palestinian protesters. One dog bit a Palestinian activist and didn’t let go of his hand for several minutes, even when the dog’s handler ordered the dog to let go. The injured Palestinian, Ahmad Shtewi, was arrested by
Israeli soldiers even when he was clearly in need of immediate medical attention. Using trained dogs to attack unarmed Palestinian demonstrators, An Israeli army dog attacks a Palestinian protester during a demonstration against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the village of Kafr Qaddum, near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, on March 16, 2012. The Israeli soldiar is not contolling the dog
British judge tells Muslim juror ‘remove your veil’ She was ordered to stand down by judge because he wouldn’t be able to see her facial expressions
A British judge barred a Muslim woman from serving on a jury in London on Monday after she refused to remove her face veil, or niqab. Judge Aidan Marron QC said he needed to see her facial expressions and could not sit on an attempted murder trial unless she removed it, the Daily Mail reported. Before the woman was about to take the oath in the case, Judge Marron said: “I wonder whether I can address the lady who is veiled. Would you prefer not to remove your veil in this particular case?” The woman, who was wearing western clothing including a fitted grey jacket according to the newspaper, replied: “Yes.” Judge Marron then said: “I entirely understand that, but in this particular case it is desirable that your face is exposed, so I’m going to invite you to stand down. I hope you understand.” The report claims that a white male member of the jury pool was then sworn in in the woman’s place after she was told to stand down. But the ruling, which was the first
of its kind, drew criticism from a Muslim UK-based rights group. “This is totally unacceptable. I really can’t understand why facial expressions could have any impact on the judge, the judgment or anyone else in a trial. It has no relevance,” Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, told the newspaper. “I’m speechless that you can exclude someone on the basis of the way that they dress … It’s very worrying that a judge is being prejudiced against women wearing a veil.” The Daily Mail notes that UK guidelines state that “veils can be worn in court although senior judges should decide on a case-bycase basis.” The incident reminded many of when a Muslim female juror in Britain in 2007 was accused listening to a hidden stereo under her headscarf. But she was cleared of a contempt of court charge when the Attorney General’s office ruled there was insufficient evidence.
Bradford West by-election Bradford West by-election hustings
A number of organisations in Bradford will be hosting a by-election hustings on Wednesday 21st March. The event is a partnership between Bradford College students’ union, University of Bradford students’ union, Bradford Muslim women’s council and JUST West Yorkshire, who are all committed to promoting
their candidate in the Bradford West by-election on 29 March. Ratna Lachman, direcor of JUST West Yorkshire, said that public hustings were critically important to promoting political accountability. Selina Ullah, Director of the Bradford Muslim Women’s Council, spoke about how the hustings would give
founder Screaming Lord Sutch in 1999. He stood in the 2010 general election against Conservative Party leader David Cameron for the seat of Witney in Oxfordshire and in March 2011 he contested the Barnsley Central by-election. In addition Bradford-born Neil Craig is to stand for the Democratic
democracy. The organisations held their first election hustings before the 2010 general election, which led to the victory of Labour incumbent Marsha Singh. But having served as an MP for 15 years, Singh has been forced to step down, citing serious health problems. His resignation has triggered a byelection, with eight candidates hoping to get the votes on March 29. Former Respect MP George Galloway is strongly considering standing for an election in Bradford. He said Time for a new start in Bradford - Vote Respect on March 29th. Bradford Liberal Democrats have selected Jeanette Sunderland to be
muslim women an opportunity to engage in the political process. The partners involved in organising the event will go ahead with the event without the Labour and Conservative Party candidates as they are committed to an open democratic process in which voters exercise their choice on the basis of issues rather than blind political party allegiances. Two more people have announced their intention to contest the vacant Bradford West seat. Alan “Howling Laud” Hope, who is leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, is to stand in the byelection later this month. Mr Hope was the party’s deputy chairman until the death of the
Nationalists, the party he cofounded. Mr Craig stood in Bradford West in the 2010 General Election and has also contested Bradford Council seats for the same party. He is a former member of the British National Party and has also stood in Council elections for the BNP. The Bradford West by-elections hustings will take place on the 21st of March, 2012 between 6.30 -8.30 pm at University of Bradford Students’ Union AMP Hall, Student Central Building, Longside Lane, Bradford BD7 1DP Participants and organisers of the event will be available for interviews between 5.30-6.30 p.m.