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Archives for September 2015

Woman raped in moving bus in Bhopal, three held

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rape

Bhopal: Three people accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a moving bus here on Wednesday night have been arrested and a case of rape slapped against them, an official said on Friday.

Anshuman Singh, police superintendent, Bhopal (south region), told IANS that the incident occurred on Wednesday when a 35-year-old woman was travelling by the state transport bus.

The woman was left alone after fellow passengers got down at a stop. When she wanted to get down, the driver asked her to wait till the bus took an about turn from a nearby roundabout.

Meanwhile, the conductor Deepak first misbehaved with her and then sexually assaulted her. The driver Sallu and another traveller Raju allegedly helped him in carrying out the assault. They later dropped her near an income tax office and fled.

The official said, “A rape case has been filed against all the three, as the two helped conductor Deepak in committing the act. All three have been arrested and bus seized.”

(IANS)

Donald Trump: ‘We’re gonna be looking into’ How we can get rid of all the Muslims

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The racial politics of the current GOP frontrunner, warns one critic, are ‘just vague enough to be popular with enough people to earn him a serious following, but specific enough for us to know the atrocities this type of talk can lead to.’

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is being criticized for his response to a question about Muslim and their "training camps," asked during a town hall event in New Hampshire on Thursday. (Image: Screenshot)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is being criticized for his response to a question about Muslim and their “training camps,” asked during a town hall event in New Hampshire on Thursday. (Image: Screenshot)

by Jon Queally, Common Dreams

In a week that has already seen collective outrage in response to the treatment of a Muslim teenager in Texas who was handcuffed and arrested simply for bringing a homemade clock to school, the pervasiveness of Islamaphobic sentiment was on display once again overnight after Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump fielded a question in New Hampshire about what he planned to do “about getting rid of” all the nation’s Muslims.

And though no candidate can be held responsible for the statements made or questions directed at them during an open Q&A session, it is Trump’s response that has set off a firestorm of condemnation.

As the Washington Post reports:

The exchange came during a post-debate rally in Rochester, N.H., during which Trump asked the audience for questions rather than giving a speech. To kick things off, Trump pointed at a man in the audience: “Okay, this man. I like this guy.”

“We have a problem in this country, it’s called Muslims,” the man said. “We know our current president is one. You know, he’s not even an American. Birth certificate, man.”

“Right,” Trump said, then adding with a shake of his head: “We need this question? This first question.”

“But any way,” the man said. “We have training camps… where they want to kill us.”

“Uh huh,” Trump said.

“That’s my question: When can we get rid of them?” the man said.

Trump responded: “We’re going to be looking at a lot of different things. You know, a lot of people are saying that, and a lot of people are saying that bad things are happening out there. We’re going to look at that and plenty of other things.”

Watch:

In response, Kevin Drum wondered at Mother Jones whether the latest comment would be enough to damage his campaign. “If there’s any justice,” wrote Drum, “this might finally do him in.”

However, Trump has so far seen his poll numbers rise in the wake of derogatory comments made about other groups, including Mexican immigrants and women. By targeting the Muslim community, Trump is contributing to what critics see as a growing and troubling atmosphere of anti-Islamic sentiment that has taken hold of the nation in recent years. Not spoken in a vacuum, wrote journalist Glenn Greenwald of Trump’s latest comments, they follow a “continuous, sustained demonization of a small minority group” in this country that has become part of the right-wing ethos in the post-9/11 era. Such demonization, “sooner or later,” said Greenwald, has consequences.

Since Trump entered the presidential race many have brushed off his early success as flash-in-the-pan politics that result largely from his celebrity status and flamboyant (if noxious) media persona. However, other observers on these pages (here and here) have warned that beneath his bravado lurks a deeply troubling—and quite modern form—of fascism that should trouble the minds of those who care about fundamental principles of tolerance, human rights, and civil decency.

“In every way that matters, [Trump] is a fascist,” wrote Roger White, a senior research analyst for SEIU, at Common Dreams last month. “He reminds one of Mussolini—a corporatist buffoon with a huge ego and a mean streak. He is a first rate demagogue. His brand of racial politics is just vague enough to be popular with enough people to earn him a serious following, but specific enough for us to know the atrocities this type of talk can lead to.”

And, White continued, “This is not the phony so called ‘liberal’ fascism invented by the right. This is the real deal, and its popularity is growing among GOP voters right now. Republicans are standing on the edge of the abyss.”

The question is, he asked in conclusion: “Will they jump?”

Pakistani Taliban storms airbase near Peshawar

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At least 21 security officers among 43 dead in firefight after attack by fighters on military barracks and mosque.

Ambulances took about 20 wounded military personnel to hospital after Friday's attack, officials said [Reuters]

Ambulances took about 20 wounded military personnel to hospital after Friday’s attack, officials said [Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

Fighters belonging to the Pakistani Taliban have stormed an air force station near Peshawar in Pakistan’s northwest, resulting in a firefight with security forces and the deaths of at least 43 people, sources say.

ISPR, the Pakistan military’s media wing, said at least 21 security officers and five civilians working at the Badaber Air Force base died and 14 fighters were killed in Friday morning’s gun battle.

The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Taliban, claimed responsibility for the raid at the facility, located on the edge of Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

An army captain and two guards were among the dead, according to the military and a local hospital that received the bodies, and at least 10 soldiers were wounded.

It was unclear if any of the attackers got away. Details about how they managed to make their way into a mosque inside the compound walls and kill worshippers during prayers were sketchy.

Ambulances took around 20 wounded military personnel to hospital, Bilal Ahmed, a rescue official, told Reuters news agency.

Al Jazeera’s Nicole Johnston, reporting from Peshawar, said Friday’s assault was the first major attack conducted by the Pakistani Taliban since the Peshawar school massacre in December.

“Having said that, there have been warnings of a major attack to come … At the stage we don’t know if the 16 killed in the attack on the mosque are civilians or military personnel,” she said.

The assault came as the Pakistan army was carrying out a major operation against local and foreign fighters in the North Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Major-General Asim Saleem Bajwa, an army spokesman, said the attackers entered the base from different directions in a two-pronged assault – apparently one push targeted the mosque – but security forces quickly responded.

The airbase – established in the 1960s – was not functional and it was mostly being used as a residential place for the employees and officers of the air force, reports said.

Soldiers wounded

In statements posted on Twitter, Bajwa said Pakistan’s army chief, General Raheel Sharif, rushed to Peshawar to meet the security forces taking part in the clearing operation.

He said Sharif would visit a military hospital where doctors were treating wounded soldiers.

A military official at the airbase, who asked not to be identified, said the attackers opened fire on security guards as they tried to fight their way into the facility.

“All the terrorists were wearing explosives-laden jackets and were armed with hand-propelled grenades, mortars, AK-47 rifles,” the official told Reuters.

“The Quick Response Force of the Pakistan army immediately responded and killed six terrorists before they could enter.”

Mohamad Khurasani, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a statement to the media, he said the fighters gave safe exit to women and children after attacking the base.

He said the group targeted 50 security forces, but the claim could not be confirmed by government or military sources.

Shortly after the attack, a suspected US drone strike hit a home in the South Waziristan tribal region, south of Peshawar, killing at least three fighters and wounding five, according to two Pakistani security officials.

The number of attacks in Pakistan has fallen around 70 percent this year, due to a combination of a military offensive against Taliban bases along the Afghan border and government initiatives to tackle violence.

That follows a massacre at a military-run school last December that killed around 150 people, almost all of them children.

The Pakistani Taliban said it gave safe exit to women and children after attacking the airbase outside Peshawar [EPA]

West Bengal government declassifies 64 files related to Netaji

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Subhash_Chandra_Bose

Kolkata: The West Bengal government today declassified 64 files relating to Subhas Chandra Bose which might throw some light on his mysterious disappearance as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Centre should also make public its files on him.

The 64 files containing 12,744 pages were declassified in the presence of his family members who have been demanding that information on Bose, kept confidential till now, should be made public.

The files were displayed in glass cascades in Kolkata Police Museum here and they would be made accessible to the public from Monday, City Police Commissioner Surajit Kar Purakayastha said.

Of the 64 files, 55 were with Kolkata Police while another nine were with the state police.

Purakayastha handed over a DVD containing the files in digitised format to the family members of Netaji.

Chief Minister Banerjee, who visited the police museum, tweeted, “Today is a historic day. Our government has made all Netaji files public. People have a right to know about the brave son of India.”

Later, she said, “We made a beginning. The people should know the truth. Let the central government also declassify the files (on Netaji). Let good sense prevail on all of us. You cannot suppress the truth. Let truth come out.

“In 70 years, the mystery has not been solved. We did not know what happened (to Netaji). It is unfortunate. How long you can keep it under secrecy. You read the files in details,” she said.

Welcoming the declassification of the 64 files by the state government, Chandra Bose, Netaji’s grandnephew said, “It is a correct step. Now it is the duty of the central government to declassify 130 files it has with it.

(Agencies)

Avoid cow slaughter in larger interest, Ulema tells Muslims

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Beef

by Mohammed Shafeeq

Hyderabad: With the ban on beef in some states and the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha triggering a fierce debate on cow slaughter across the country, a group of Islamic scholars in southern India has appealed to Muslims to avoid sacrificing cows, bulls and bullocks in the community’s larger interest.

The scholars have advised Muslims to show pragmatism in the prevailing situation and instead opt for alternate animals permitted by the Sharia to ensure that peace is maintained and there are no impediments in their larger duty of “dawat-e-deen” of introducing Islam to non-Muslims.

Backed by all schools of thought, the group has taken up the campaign through social media, meetings, pamphlets and Friday sermons in mosques in different states of southern India.

“Our message is that Muslims should not take law in their hands but desist from sacrificing cow, bulls and bullocks for maintaining peace. This will also help in introducing Islam to others,” Syed Hussain Madani, an Islamic scholar heading the campaign, told IANS.

The scholar has suggested that the community should avoid sacrificing cows to protect life and property. People trading in cows, bulls and bullocks have been suffering loss of life and property and sometimes ending up harming others.

Madani quoted ‘Hadith’, or the sayings of Prophet Muhammad, that “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.”

Noting that the Prophet sacrificed two sheep on Eid-ul-Azha, he said: “Since the Prophet Muhammad is the best model for us, we should follow him. Sacrificing cow is allowed but it is not ‘afzal’ (preferable),” he said.

Every year, hundreds of bulls and bullocks are brought to the city for sacrifice on Eid day. Such animals are in huge demand because seven people can have share in each. At Rs.2,500 to Rs.2,800 each share, this works out more economical than Rs.6,000 to Rs.7,000 for a goat or sheep.

The scholars pointed out that sacrificing per se is not “farz” (obligation) but “sunnat” (practice of the Prophet). “Allah doesn’t burden more than one can bear. There is ample room to avoid this (sacrifice of cow) in the prevailing situation when there are legal restrictions and communal disharmony over the issue,” said Madani.

As many families take a share in such animals to distribute meat among the poor, Madani said that the poor may be helped in many other ways.

The ulema, while noting that slaughter of cow, bulls and bullocks are linked to the livelihood of a group, argue that the interest of the entire community should get priority.

“Prevention of means of ‘fasad’ (mischief) is better than the benefits we may get from certain things,” said Madani.

The scholars are also of the opinion that the misconceptions about cow slaughter and the misinformation spread by some elements affects “Dawate-e-deen” and since this is an obligatory duty of every Muslim, it should get priority over sacrificing cow, bulls or bullocks.

“Some miscreants themselves sell cows and strengthen their economy but take legal action against those who buy cows and sometimes even kill the buyers. Desisting from the sacrifice of such animals will deny them an opportunity to indulge in mischief,” added Madani.

Well-known personalities like Mohammed Abdul Raheem Qureshi, president of the Majlis-e-Tameer-e-Millat and assistant secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Moulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Moulana Aneesur Rehman Azmi of Chennai, Moulana Mufti Nassem Ahmed Ashrafi, and Moulana Mufti Mahboob Shareef Nizami are backing the initiative.

The appeal also has the backing of Muslim political leaders and legal experts. It also made reference to a suggestion by some political leaders that giving up eating of beef for a couple of years will show its impact on the economy and those opposing it will be forced to amend the legislation.

(IANS)

Infiltration bid foiled in J&K, two militants killed

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Srinagar: The Army on Friday foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Gurez sector in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, killing two militants.

“An infiltration bid has been foiled in Gurez. Two terrorists have been killed,” Defence Spokesman Lt Col N N Joshi said.

He said post midnight, the alert troops posted on guard duty along the LoC intercepted the militants while they were trying to sneak into the Valley from across the border.

“An encounter erupted and during the exchange of fire, two terrorists were killed,” Mr. Joshi said.

The spokesman said two AK-47 rifles have been recovered from the site of the encounter.

“The search operation is going on,” he said.

The identity of the militants has not been ascertained so far, the spokesman said.

(Agencies)

Pansare murder: Two more Sangh Parivar activists from Karnataka detained

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govindrao pansare

Kolhapur: Maharashtra Police have detained two people from Karnataka in connection with the killing of senior Communist leader Govind Pansare here in February, a police official said on Thursday.

“We have detained two people from Karnataka in connection with the murder and are investigating further,” Additional DGO (CID) Pune, Sanjay Kumar, who is heading a SIT for the case, told media persons here.

The suspects detained are Sushil Jadhav and Shriram Jadhav and their links with various other individuals and organizations are being probed.

The two detentions came a day after Samir V. Gaikwad, an activist of the right-wing Sanatan Sanstha was arrested from Sangli, and was remanded in police custody till September 23.

Kumar said Gaikwad was not cooperating in the investigations, while the Sanatan Sanstha has accused the police of scheming to implicate him in the Pansare killing.

Pansare was attacked on February 16 in Kolhapur when he was shot at from a close range. the 81-year-old leader died of bullet injuries four days later. His wife Uma, who was also shot and seriously injured, survived the attack.

Police raided Gaikwad’s residence in Sangli and recovered 23 mobiles, one large knife and the Sanatan Sanstha literature, while further investigations are on in other parts of the state.

A police team from Karnataka has also arrived here to question Gaikwad to ascertain a possible link between the Pansare killing and the recent murder of Kannada litterateur M. M. Kalburgi, who was shot dead outside his home in Dharwad on August 30.

Investigators are probing whether the killing of Pune rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, who was shot dead in August 2013, is also connected to the murders of Pansare and Kalburgi.

Investigations are continuing simultaneously in different parts of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.

(Agencies)

Movie Review: ‘Hero’ is totally disappointing

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hero

Banner: Salman Khan Films
Producer: Salman Khan & Subhash Ghai
Director: Nikhil Advani
Cast: Sooraj Pancholi, Athiya Shetty, Aditya Pancholi, Chetan Hansraj, Vivaan Bhatena, Sharad Kelkar, Tigmanshu Dhulia et al
Music: Amaal Mallik, Meet Bros Anjjan & Sachin – Jigar

Director Subhash Ghai, the original showman of Bollywood, has given many memorable & unforgettable classic films as a filmmaker. And one of them was the 80’s film ‘Hero’ starring Jackie Shroff & Meenakshi Sheshadri. In fact it was a picture perfect film in all aspects & respects. But this week’s ‘Hero’, starring debutantes Sooraj Pancholi (son of Aditya Pancholi) & Athiya Shetty (daughter of Suniel Shetty), a remake of the original ‘Hero’ directed by Nikhil Advani & produced by Salman Khan is one big let down in all aspects & respects.

The plotted scenario of ‘Hero’ starts off with a normal day in Mumbai, which is followed by the ‘heroic’ entry of Sooraj (Sooraj Pancholi) who is an extremely ‘large hearted’ ‘gunda’ who cannot see pains & sufferings. So, when the villainous Changezi (Chetan Hansraj) and his henchmen torture the helpless, Sooraj stages a heroic entry and beats the henchmen black & blue. Sooraj’s friends aka his ‘partners in crime’, who are dead against his large heartedness, convince him to go clubbing to celebrate. That’s when Sooraj meets the free spirited Radha (Athiya Shetty). It is in the club where Sooraj picks up a dance only in order to prove Radha that they are in no way ‘Losers’. He also lands up fighting with Radha’s ‘pile – on’ boyfriend and saves her from being dragged along with him. All of this impresses Radha very much and she almost falls in love with him instantly! On the other hand, Radha’s father (Tigmanshu Dhulia), an Inspector General of Police, is on a war path & at loggerheads against Pasha (Aditya Pancholi), who has been imprisoned for being the mastermind in the killing of a journalist. Despite repeated attempts of requests & tortures, when Pasha refuses to budge, the IG declares that he has hardcore evidence against Pasha which will nail him forever. That’s when Pasha tells his ‘protege’ Sooraj to kidnap Radha, but keep her safely. Not the one to negate his ‘Baba’s’ (as Sooraj fondly calls Pasha) words, Sooraj immediately sets into action and disguises himself as a ‘police – escort’ and kidnaps Radha and takes her to a snow clad area. As time passes by, Sooraj & Athiya fall for each other. And when Athiya comes to know about Sooraj’s background, she convinces him to reform his life using the ‘Control + Alt + Delete’ formula and ‘Enter’ into a new life.

Its very sad but true that director Nikhil Advani the great has totally butchered the film with not even one redeeming factor to lure the audiences to the cinema halls and word of mouth of publicity will drive the final nail in the box office coffin. Not only this Nikhil Advani the great has even put a dampner on the future filmic career of debutantes namely Suraj Pancholi & Athiya Shetty. In short if Subhash Ghai’s ‘Hero’ kept you hooked & mesmerised through out the film then Nikhil Advani’s ‘Hero’ leaves you cold & frustrated right from the word go. Subhash Ghai’s evergreen movie ‘Hero’ is still alive in cine goers memory but Nikhil Advani’s ever forgetful ‘Hero’ has the potential to die its natural death once you step out of the darkened auditorium.

Performance wise too there’s nothing much to be happy about as Sooraj Pancholi has an attractive screen presence topped with a great physique which girls & girlish boys would love to die for. In short Sooraj has done a great job in the action sequences. But otherwise he sleep walks through the film with one stoic expression pasted on his countenance. Athiya Shetty is one more addition to the glam gals of the tinsel town. Besides both Sooraj Pancholi & Athiya Shetty will have miles to travel in the histrionics arena to prove their worth. While the other performers act can be described in just one word like Tigmanshu Dhulia is miscast, Sharad Kelkar is decent, Aditya Pancholi is okay and last but not the least Vivan Bhatena is spell binding.

Tail Piece: Strictly recommended for die hard Salman Khan fans and even those who are a part of his fan club.

Military claims control of Burkina Faso amid unrest

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Military takes to airwaves and declares it now controls West African nation, just weeks before planned elections.

Burkina Faso was due to hold elections on October 11 that many hoped would strengthen democracy [Reuters]

Burkina Faso was due to hold elections on October 11 that many hoped would strengthen democracy [Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

The military in Burkina Faso has taken to the airwaves to declare it now controls the country, confirming that a coup has taken place – just weeks before national elections.

In the announcement aired early on Thursday on national television and radio, the statement said that the transitional government in the West African country had been dissolved.

The statement came a day after members of the elite presidential guard unit of the military arrested the transitional president and prime minister.

The communique read by Lieutenant Colonel Mamadou Bamba criticised the electoral code, which blocked members of the ex-president’s party from taking part in the October 11 elections.

Anyone who supported the ex-president’s bid to amend the
constitution so he could seek another term is also banned from running.

Bamba on Thursday announced the beginning of a “coherent, fair and equitable process” that would lead to inclusive elections. The power grab violates the country’s constitution.

Fanny Noaro, a journalist based in the capital Ouagadougou, told Al Jazeera gunfire could be heard on the streets of the city.

“There is a lot of military on the street […] there is also no information about the transitional president and prime minister and there is no information if they are dead or alive,” she said.

A Reuters witness said that soldiers had fired warning shots to disperse a crowd gathered in Independence Square to protest against an apparent seizure of power by the presidential guard. More than 100 people had gathered in the square to demand the release of the interim government, detained by the elite military unit since Wednesday.

Burkina Faso was due to hold elections on October 11 that many hoped would strengthen democracy.

Cynthia Ohayon, West Africa analyst with International Crisis Group (ICG), described the turn of events as “unsurprising”.

“It is still very unclear how this crisis will now resolve itself […] the only outcome will come through negotiation and compromise [but] I don’t see what sort of of compromise will be acceptable to both sides, considering both sides have gone all in so far,” Ohayon told Al Jazeera from Paris.

The transitional government came to power after the president for 27 years, Blaise Compaore, was toppled late last year in a public uprising.

Arrest of Muslim teen for bringing clock to school ‘inevitable byproduct of culture of fear’

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ACLU says arrest of student ‘raises serious concerns about racial profiling and the disciplinary system in Texas schools’

After taking a homemade clock to school, Irving MacArthur High student Ahmed Mohamed, 14, was taken in handcuffs to juvenile detention. Police say they may charge him with making a hoax bomb — though they acknowledge he told everyone who would listen that it’s a clock. (Photo: Vernon Bryant/Dallas News)

After taking a homemade clock to school, Irving MacArthur High student Ahmed Mohamed, 14, was taken in handcuffs to juvenile detention. Police say they may charge him with making a hoax bomb — though they acknowledge he told everyone who would listen that it’s a clock. (Photo: Vernon Bryant/Dallas News)

by Andrea Germanos, Common Dreams

A Muslim teen with dreams of becoming an engineer brought a clock he made to his Texas high school on Monday.

Then this happened: the teen, 14-year-old Ahmed Mohamed, sporting a NASA t-shirt, was arrested, handcuffed, and suspended for three days. The ACLU says the arrest has sparked questions about racial profiling.

“They arrested me and told me I committed a crime of a hoax bomb—a fake bomb,” the freshman at MacArthur High told News 8.

Mohamed showed his creation to his engineering teacher at Monday morning, according to reporting by the Dallas Morning News. “He was like, ‘That’s really nice,’” Mohamed said. “‘I would advise you not to show any other teachers.’”

The clock made a beeping sound during his English class, and when he showed it to her, that teacher said: “that looks like a bomb.” He was taken out of class during a later period by the principal and a police officer. The Dallas paper continues:

The bell rang at least twice, he said, while the officers searched his belongings and questioned his intentions. The principal threatened to expel him if he didn’t make a written statement, he said.

“They were like, ‘So you tried to make a bomb?’” Ahmed said.

“I told them no, I was trying to make a clock.”

“He said, ‘It looks like a movie bomb to me.’”

They led Ahmed into a room where four other police officers waited. He said an officer he’d never seen before leaned back in his chair and remarked: “Yup. That’s who I thought it was.”

A clearly shocked Ahmed Mohamed. (Photo: Anil Dash/Twitter)

He was taken to police headquarters where he was interrogated.  Local news NBC-DFWcontinues:

“I tried making a phone call to my father. They said, ‘You’re in the middle of an interrogation. You can’t have a phone call,'” he said. “I really don’t think it’s fair, because I brought something to school that wasn’t a threat to anyone. I didn’t do anything wrong. I just showed my teachers something and I end up being arrested later that day.”

Irving Police Chief Larry Boyd said late Wednesday morning that no charges would be filed against Mohamed, though, as WGCU reports, police seemed to be unable to believe that the student had simply brought in something he made to show his teacher.

“He would simply only tell us that it was a clock,” said police spokesman James McLellan. “He didn’t offer an explanation as to what it was for, why he created this device, why he brought it to school.”

Terri Burke, executive director of the ACLU of Texas, stated Wednesday that “Mohamed’s avoidable ordeal raises serious concerns about racial profiling and the disciplinary system in Texas schools. Instead of encouraging his curiosity, intellect and ability, the Irving ISD saw fit to throw handcuffs on a frightened 14 year-old Muslim boy wearing a NASA t-shirt and then remove him from school.

“We should not deprive our children of liberty when they haven’t broken the law, and we should not suspend them from school when they haven’t broken the rules. The State of Texas in general, and Irving ISD in particular, need to take a long, hard look at their disciplinary policies to ensure that blanket prejudices and the baseless suspicions they engender don’t deprive our students of an educational environment where their talents can thrive,” Burke continued.

Glenn Greenwald writes Thursday that the arrest was hardly an aberration, but “highly illustrative of the rotted fruit of this sustained climate of cultivated fear and demonization” that has existed since 9/11.

Greenwald goes on to describe the arrest as “the natural, inevitable byproduct of the culture of fear and demonization that has festered and been continuously inflamed for many years.”  Mohamed’s arrest was not surprising, he says: “You can’t have a government that has spent decades waging various forms of war against predominantly Muslim countries — bombing seven of them in the last six years alone — and then act surprised when a Muslim 14-year-old triggers vindictive fear and persecution because he makes a clock for school.”

Support for the teen has flooded social media, with many taking to Twitter with the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed. In addition to the support Mohamed got via Twitter from scientists, his arrest also got the attention of President Barack Obama and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, with Obama inviting the teen to bring his clock to the White House:

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