Month: February 2022

The main dictionary of standard German has altered its definition of Jew (“Jude” in German) after being castigated by the German Jewish community for a recent update of the definition that explained the word could be considered discriminatory.

The online edition of the Duden dictionary had changed the definition of Jew to include a caveat that “occasionally, the term Jew is perceived as discriminatory because of the memory of the National Socialist use of language. In these cases, formulations such as Jewish people, Jewish fellow citizens or people of the Jewish faith are usually chosen.”

But the Associated Press reported that the updated definition caused a backlash from German Jewish groups and members of the Jewish community who were livid, explaining that many Jewish people call themselves Jews and that the word itself is not offensive, contrary to the new definition.

“Even if ‘Jew’ is used pejoratively in schoolyards or only hesitantly by some people, and the Duden editors are certainly well-meaning in pointing out this context, everything should be done to avoid solidifying the term as discriminatory,” Joseph Schuster, the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, said in a statement.

Daniel Botmann, the executive director of the Central Council of Jews, emphasized the absurdity of the new definition in a Twitter post.

“Is it okay to say Jew? Yes! Please don’t say ‘Jewish fellow citizens’ or ‘people of the Jewish faith’. Just JEWS. Thank you!” he wrote.

In response to the outcry, the online dictionary definition was changed and now says: “Because of antisemitic usage in the past and present, especially during the National Socialist era, the words Jew/Jewish have been debated by the language community for decades. At the same time, the words are widely used as a matter of course and are not perceived as problematic. The Central Council of Jews in Germany, which uses the name itself, advocates its use.”

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/322395

The Ottawa mayor threatened anyone with a gas can offering material support to the truck drivers, so this is how Ottawa responded. pic.twitter.com/HQEde1KZbr

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 9, 2022

Fleeing the “Islamophobia” which the Turkish president accuses France of, hundreds of French Muslims have chosen to move to Turkey.

Thibault, a first name he chose, is 32 years old and has a full red beard. He is affable, but also a little suspicious. “The former baker from the Isère department, who converted to Islam more than seven years ago, has been living in Istanbul with his wife and two children for almost eighteen months.

Against the background of the tense situation in France regarding Islam, the couple had first settled in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Norway before seeking the Hijra: emigration to a Muslim country. “We wanted to avoid assimilation and give our children an Islamic education so that they would remain Muslims their whole lives,” Thibault explains. He and his wife first thought of Egypt and Morocco, but Turkey, which is closer to France “in terms of mentality”, was an obvious choice for them.

Today, the couple has built a new life on the Bosphorus, with their children attending a local school where, Thibault warns, “some things are a bit strange”, as secularism still plays an important role in most public schools in Turkey. But despite some administrative difficulties related to the residence permit, the 30-year-old does not regret his exile in Istanbul. Even more so when he found a cash cow six months ago: exporting goods to a mainly French and Muslim clientele. Qurans, prayer rugs, abayas, Islamic rosaries or Siwak toothpaste – that is the range of products he offers on his Instagram account. “I am so overwhelmed by demand that I can no longer fulfil all the orders, especially with Ramadan just around the corner,” he says happily.

The pro-government Turkish press organs report in numerous articles about an “exodus” of Muslims fleeing “French Islamophobia” to Turkey, but the phenomenon seems to be limited all in all. However, it is undeniable that many Muslims in France have been attracted to Turkey for several years. For example, there are at least a dozen French influencers, mostly of Maghrebi origin, who are staging their emigration to Erdogan’s country. [Zia, a 25-year-old Franco-Tunisian from Lyon whose YouTube channel is followed by over 40,000 subscribers, moved to Istanbul almost two years ago with her French-Algerian husband. In a video, she explains how to ” practice one’s lifestyle ” while avoiding falling into the idolatry of New Age spiritualities. […]Le JDD

https://www.fdesouche.com/2022/02/16/ces-musulmans-de-france-qui-sexilent-chez-erdogan-pour-fuir-lislamophobie-et-lassimilation/

In Lille, a team from the University Hospital is working to combat the scourge of “laughing gas”, which can have serious consequences for health. This gas, originally used in cooking and medicine, is now common among young people, who use it not only in the evening because of its euphoric properties. But this is not without risk …

“Poisoning is poorly recognised,” notes Guillaume Grzych. “There are not necessarily typical signs, but there can be tingling, loss of balance and, in the worst cases, irreversible paralysis. More recently, work has been done on a possible link with venous thrombosis.” The problem is that “little is known about the molecular mechanisms of nitrous oxide”. The result is that “one is likely to overlook many diagnoses” of nitrous oxide poisoning. (…)

According to Prof. Grzych, the consumption of “laughing gas” has changed. Today you hardly see the small tin cans anymore, instead they are replaced by bottles with particularly fancy packaging. “We almost don’t have young people consuming from the cans anymore, now it’s just the bottle. On some bottles you now find ‘vegan’ or ‘hallal’ logos. The industry is pushing this misappropriated consumption with aggressive marketing!” the scientist complains.

https://www.fdesouche.com/2022/02/16/paralysies-irreversibles-thromboses-une-equipe-du-chu-de-lille-travaille-sur-le-fleau-du-gaz-hilarant-pour-seduire-les-jeunes-les-industriels-emploient-desormais-des-packagings-festifs-et-y/

The Libyan imam Abu Ramadan, who preaches in a Biel mosque, is facing a trial. According to a survey by the weekly newspaper “Biel Bienne”, many practising Muslims who pray regularly in the Ar’Rahman mosque distance themselves from the controversial imam: “With his sermons, he has harmed the whole community and put all believers under general suspicion,” said one regular.

In a five-year-old report, the Libyan preacher is accused of having given hate speech against Jews, Christians and Shiites. The quote in Arabic that caused a stir read: “Oh Allah, I ask you to destroy the enemies of our religion, to destroy the Jews, the Christians, the Hindus, the Russians and the Shiites. God, I ask you to destroy them all and restore Islam to its former glory.

The Imam claimed that his Arabic quotes had been mistranslated: “I never said that. The translator is a liar,” he said. Abu Ramadan, who was charged with inciting racial hatred, is still a member of the mosque, which is housed in a former factory in the popular Madretsch district.

“We don’t have a problem, we are decent people, we don’t sell drugs,” said the imam’s son, whom lematin.ch encountered when he went to the mosque with his father last week. The two men said they wanted to go to pray ” usually, calmly”. When they arrived at the mosque, they did not want to comment further, but were rather annoyed at being photographed.

“There are two clans: Those who still support Abu Ramadan and the others who boycott him,” a Muslim told “Biel Bienne”. “He is arrogant and sometimes even aggressive,” said a practising Muslim. “A Muslim woman in charge of deradicalising young people said: “This imam serves the community and is always ready to settle disputes.”

Ar’Rahman mosque leaders said he no longer had the right to deliver sermons there. The preacher, whose civil name is Salah ben Salmen, is accused of drawing 600,000 francs in social assistance in thirteen years in Nidau without making any effort to integrate. “We can’t cut off a refugee’s social welfare, even if we condemn his statements,” explained a person in charge.

The political refugee from Libya had illegally returned to his home country several times. During the investigation, he did not cooperate with the prosecution authorities: He refused to answer questions about his income. If convicted, he faces the loss of his C permit and deportation.

Last year, journalist and Bernese MP Mohamed Hamdaoui (Le Centre) called on the Bernese government to intervene and muzzle the preacher. An investigation by “Matin Dimanche” showed at the time that Imam Abu Ramadan continued to denigrate non-Muslims and justify stonings.

MP Mohamed Hamdaoui asked: “How many more unlawful sermons can this person preach before he is prosecuted and punished?”

What Mohamed Hamdaoui proposed was the closure of the mosque attended by Nicolas Blancho, who had become president of the Islamic Central Council of Switzerland (ICCS) association. It should be noted that not only is the mosque still open, but its worst preacher is still preaching there.

What frightens moderate Muslims is that, apart from the old hands, the majority of worshippers are young illegal immigrants without papers or jobs who are easily indoctrinated. This is where Abu Ramadan came in: at the end of his sermon, he offered support in exchange for five prayers. Perhaps this was the beginning of a downward spiral that led to a supposedly humanitarian trip to Syria.

Abu Ramadan entered Switzerland in 1998 and was granted refugee status three years later. With a C permit, he is insured under the social security system (AHV). In 2017, the State Secretariat for Migration decided to “revoke the asylum of the alleged imam” and to withdraw his refugee status. The reasoning: “He has travelled to his country of origin several times and is said to possess a Libyan passport”.

In his neighbourhood, which borders a motorway, Abu Ramadan is better known as Mustafa. The imam’s lack of integration is reflected in his rudimentary French and his non-existent Swiss German, as lematin.ch was able to verify last week. He greets his neighbours with “Salam Alaykoum”. Abu Ramadan speaks in Arabic, but his four children were enrolled in French language school, which enabled them to get professional training.

https://www.lematin.ch/story/limam-controverse-frequente-toujours-sa-mosquee-337663833015 / https://lesobservateurs.ch/2022/02/16/limam-controverse-frequente-toujours-sa-mosquee/

To highlight the incredible achievements of these non-binary women and people, the Three Stripes brand is bringing to the forefront a new collective of trend-setting creatives with the Make initiative “Always Original”: a true “ongoing tribute to the ever-evolving, ubiquitous and unique expressions of originality told by marginalised personalities”.

Gathered to honour the multiple identities that have always existed as well as the unrecognised pioneers who have paved the way for a new generation of non-binary women and people, the collective consists of the following members:

Lena Waithe – actress and writer
Ellie Goldstein – Model
Nyome Nicholas-Williams – model and activist
Amani Al-Khatatbeh – Founder of MuslimGirl.com
Ericka Hart – activist and sex educator
Taqwa Bint Ali – entrepreneur
Jarí Jones – Model, activist and dancer
Naomi Otsu – graphic designer and illustrator
Isra Hersi – environmental activist

Following the launch of the inaugural Always Original product offering, each member of the collective is showcased by a separate collection of garments, accessories and footwear. Carefully designed to be more inclusive and accessible to women and non-binary individuals, the products available allow for individual expression in all its forms. Site internet Adidas (monde)

https://www.fdesouche.com/2022/02/16/pour-le-lancement-de-sa-marque-inclusive-adidas-affiche-partout-en-france-lactiviste-amani-al-khatatbeh-fondatrice-du-site-muslimgirl-com-dont-le-dernier-article-denonce-lobsession-de-la-fran/

Last year, not a single deportation to Syria took place. And this despite the fact that the deportation ban, which had been in place since 2012, expired at the beginning of the year. Initially, the then Federal Minister of the Interior, Horst Seehofer ( Christian Social Union, CSU), had announced that the non-extension of the deportation ban to Syria would make it possible to send potential terrorists, dangerous persons and serious criminals back there.

But apparently no use was made of this, as an answer of the federal government to a question by AfD member of parliament Stephan Brandner, which is in the possession of the newspaper JF, shows.

According to the answer, there were between 60 and 70 Syrians in Germany throughout the year who were officially classified as dangerous. In January 2021, for example, there were 65 Syrian dangerous persons, in June 67 and in December 69. The fact that their numbers remained relatively constant is also due to the fact that, according to the federal government, “deportations to Syria from the area of responsibility of the federal states” did not take place in 2021.

It had already become clear in the middle of last year that the end of the block on deportations had no effect and that the controversy was therefore unfounded. Already at that time, a question by Brandner had revealed that there had been no repatriations to Syria so far.

The AfD MP therefore now has all the less understanding for the fact that nothing has changed. “Throughout 2021, there were 60 to more than 70 Syrian dangerous persons in Germany every month, and 69 at the end of the year, all of whom must be considered ticking time bombs,” Brandner told the JF.

“The fact that not a single dangerous person has been deported to Syria and that we therefore have to live with the enormous and constant danger of attacks in Germany is unacceptable.” All foreign dangerous persons must be deported immediately, even if they are from Syria.

https://jungefreiheit.de/politik/deutschland/2022/trotz-ausgelaufenem-abschiebestopp-keine-rueckfuehrungen-nach-syrien/

Schoolchildren in Berlin produce positive SARS-CoV-2 test results with the drink “Capri-Sun” and thus get a few days off from school.

It has already been proven how unreliable the SARS-CoV-2 tests are. This applies to both the PCR tests and the antigen tests.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli, who mysteriously died last year, achieved worldwide fame when he had the effectiveness of the PCR tests checked. Among other things, Magufuli had samples taken from animals and fruit and tested while “disguised” as human samples. A papaya and a goat then gave positive results.

Later, the antigen tests were also “tested” by scientists and politicians in Italy and Austria by dripping various fruit juices and other drinks on them. The result: Some fruit juices, Coca-Cola and Red Bull could produce a positive test result.

Since a positive test result currently means quarantine in Germany, the unreliability of the tests is now being used by students to allow themselves a few days off from school. This is what happened in Berlin, as reported by the Berliner Morgenpost. There, students would inconspicuously dissolve one or two droplets of “Capri-Sun”, a cooldrink, into the quick test liquid and then dribble it onto the test cassette. The trick was filmed for TikTok and is considered an “open secret”.

This is possible because in Germany, due to a lack of capacity, a positive antigen test result no longer has to be confirmed by a PCR test. And as the RKI explained, a subsequent negative antigen test cannot overrule a positive one.

https://freewestmedia.com/2022/02/16/covid-positive-and-no-school-thanks-to-cooldrink/