Britannia Radio

If you are having trouble viewing this email click here.

The MEMRI Daily: August 18, 2010

The following is research published today from MEMRI’s Special Dispatch Series, the MEMRI TV Project, and the MEMRI Blogs.

NEW! MEMRI NOW PUBLISHES STRAIGHT TO YOUR MOBILE DEVICE: Now you can receive MEMRI publications straight to your cellphone, smartphone, iPod, iPad, or other mobile device – click here to visit the webpage. For more information, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/29508.htm.

*Special Dispatch Series

Special Dispatch No. 3176—Democratization and Reform in the Arab and Muslim World

What Does the Arab World Think of Facebook?

The popularity of the social networking website Facebook in the Arab world is constantly increasing. Statistics released in May 2010 by the Dubai-based company Spot On show that 15 million Arabs are Facebook users – a million more than the readers of Arabic, English, and French-language newspapers combined in the Arab world.

In the ongoing dispute over Facebook, some think that acceptance of it is inevitable despite its drawbacks; others reject it, claiming that it is counter to Islamic values.

The following are translated excerpts from articles on the issue:

Saudi Shura Council Member: Facebook Spreads Destruction and Corruption; There Are Jewish Zionist Hands Behind It

Dr. Mazen Balilah, Saudi Shura Council member and former editor of the Saudi daily Al-Madina, wrote: "If we do not direct the young people to work, to build, to renew, to invent, and to develop their capabilities and talents, they will turn to what is available to them – things that often are more harmful than beneficial. At this time, the French authorities are considering restricting the use of Facebook, following the death of a young man at a debauched party that was organized via Facebook.

To read in full, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/4540.htm.

Special Dispatch No. 3177—Turkish Media Project

Columnist in a Turkish Pro-Islamist Daily 'Zaman' Calls For Investigating Whether Turkey's Military Used Chemical Weapons Against Kurds: 'Erdoğan Should Show the Same Sensitivity To Alleged Human Rights Violations In His Own Country As He Shows Towards the Ones Carried Out By Israel'

In his August 15, 2010 column titled "My 'Biased' Attitude – Chemical Weapons Against the PKK" in the Turkish pro-Islamist daily Zaman, Orhan Kemal Cengiz first defended his decision to criticize his own country, and then went on to call for an independent commission to investigate allegations that the Turkish military had used chemical weapons to kill Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members.

He also wrote that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan must "show the same sensitivity to alleged human rights violations in his own country as he shows towards the ones carried out by Israel."

To read in full, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/4541.htm.

Special Dispatch No. 3178—Qatar/Jihad and Terrorism Studies Project

Leading Sunni Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Curses the Jews, Calls Peace a 'Joke,' States: 'What Was Taken By the Sword Will Not Be Restored By the Pen...'; 'Only Through Resistance Can We Restore Our Rights'; 'We Used To Say That We Would Struggle, Fight, And Wage Jihad...'

The following excerpts are from a sermon by leading Sunni scholar Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi, which aired on Qatar TV on May 14, 2010.

To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/2482.htm.

"This Is How Insolent the [Jews] Are, May Allah Curse Them"

Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi: "Allah has certainly heard the saying of those who said: 'Surely Allah is poor and we are rich.' This was said by the Jews, who affronted Allah. 'The Jews said: Allah’s hands are bound. May their own hands be bound, and may they be cursed for saying so.' They said: 'Allah is poor and we are rich, because He wants to borrow from us, when He says: "Who will lend Allah a goodly loan."' They say: 'We lend money to Allah, and whoever borrows money is poor, while whoever lends money is rich. We lend money to Allah, and therefore, we are rich and He is poor.' This is how insolent the [Jews] are, may Allah curse them." [...]

To read in full, visit http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/4542.htm.

*From the MEMRI Blog www.thememriblog.org/

Report: Hizbullah Leader, Lebanese PM Might Meet Soon

The Lebanese Al-Liwaa newspaper has quoted a source as saying that Lebanese Prime Minister Sa'd Hariri and Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah might meet soon.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/29497.htm.

Veteran Lebanese Journalist May Chidiac To Receive Press Freedom Hero Award

Almost five years after a car bomb nearly claimed her life, veteran Lebanese journalist May Chidiac is now being honored by the International Press Institute (IPI).

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/29505.htm.

*From the MEMRI Iran Blog www.thememriblog.org/iran

Iranian Military Official: We've Drawn Up Three Plans Of Action To Confront Any Aggression Against Iran

Iranian armed forces operations head IRGC general Ali Shadmani has said that three plans of action have been drawn up to confront any aggression made against the country.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/29471.htm.

Cartoon In Iranian Daily: Israel Controls U.S. Media

Cartoonist: Maziar Bijani

Source: Javan, Iran, August 17, 2010

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/29481.htm.

Iran To Present New Nuclear Achievements

Iranian Atomic Energy Organization director Ali Akbar Salehi has said that his country will present new nuclear achievements in the coming months.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/29479.htm.

Iranian News Agency: Iranian Deputy Joint Chief Of Staff: Nationalizing Iran's Oil Industry A Good Lesson For War Against U.S.

The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported today that Iranian Joint Chief of Staff Headquarters' Deputy for Cultural and Propagation said yesterday that the final fate of nationalizing the oil industry movement contains good lessons for the Iranian nation's current war against the U.S. and the global arrogance.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/29454.htm.

IRNA: Ahmadinejad Says Iran, Ireland Can Help Set Up New World Order

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today, in a meeting with Ireland's new Ambassador to Tehran Oliver Grogen, that the world is in dire need of new order based on justice, friendship and mutual respect, the official Iranian news agency reported.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/29452.htm.

Iran To Unveil First Long-Range Drone This Month

According to Iranian news agencies, Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi has announced Iran's plans to unveil the first domestically produced long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during Government Week, August 24-30.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/29449.htm.

*From the MEMRI Urdu-Pashtu Blog www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu

Karzai Urges Review Of U.S.'s Anti-Terror Strategy In Afghanistan

In a meeting with top U.S. officials yesterday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for a reassessment of the U.S.'s anti-terror strategy in Afghanistan, according to an Afghan news website.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/29493.htm.

Pakistani Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Tells Iranian News Agency: U.S. Seeking To Destabilize Islamic States

A senior Pakistani politician has told the Iranian news agency Fars that the U.S. plans to destabilize all Islamic countries, especially Iran and Pakistan, through promoting Western culture among the Muslim youth.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/29501.htm.

Militant Organizations Set Up Camps In Karachi To Raise Funds For Flood Victims

Outlawed militant organizations like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and its charity arm Jamaatud Dawa, Jaish-e-Muhammad and Harkat ul-Jihad al-Islami have set up camps in Karachi to raise funds for Pakistan's flood victims, according to an Indian website.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/29494.htm.

Another Fake Flood Relief Camp Set Up For Pakistani PM's Visit

Government officials in the town of Dera Ismail Khan yesterday set up a temporary floods relief camp on the visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the camp was closed down soon after Gilani ended his visit, according to a Pakistani daily.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/29490.htm.

In A Sudden Turnaround, Pakistan's ISI Says Militants – Not India – Bigger Threat

In an attempt to get international flood relief for Pakistan, the Pakistani military's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has said that homegrown terrorists have overtaken the Indian Army as the greatest threat to Pakistan's national security, according to a Pakistani daily.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/29489.htm.

Clerics Condemn Use Of Music With Call For Prayers In A Television Ad

Use of music with the symbols of Islam for business promotion in television advertisements has been condemned by some Islamic clerics from various sects in Pakistan, according to an Urdu-language daily.

To read in full, visit http://www.thememriblog.org/urdupashtu/blog_personal/en/29485.htm.