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Rejecting government hostility, people of Denmark issue welcome letter to refugees

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‘As ordinary Danes we wish to extend our sympathy and compassion to anyone fleeing war and despair’

Denmark's government attracted international criticism last month when it printed advertisements in four Lebanese papers warning refugees not to come to the European country. (Image: People Reaching Out/Facebook)

Denmark’s government attracted international criticism last month when it printed advertisements in four Lebanese papers warning refugees not to come to the European country. (Image: People Reaching Out/Facebook)

by Sarah Lazare, Common Dreams

A group of ordinary Danes has devised a creative way to directly counter—and apologize for—their government’s message of hostility towards refugees.

Denmark’s government attracted international criticism last month when it printed advertisements in four Lebanese papers warning refugees not to come to the European country by emphasizing that its laws are hostile to those fleeing war and poverty.

But in response, Danes affiliated with the group People Reaching Out on Friday launched their own advertising campaign—to welcome refugees with open arms and apologize for their government’s xenophobic and heartless message.

To differentiate its message, the campaign depicted marked-up versions of the government’s original advertisements and included a “statement from people to people” which declares: “Sorry for the hostility towards refugees expressed here. As ordinary Danes we wish to extend our sympathy and compassion to anyone fleeing war and despair.”

(Image courtesy of People Reaching Out/Facebook)

Denmark’s government is taking an increasingly hostile stance toward refugees, with slashes to services as well as the shutting down of trains and roads linked with Germany. This trend is driven by the right-wing Liberal Party, which formed a minority government in June.

However, Denmark is not alone. States across Europe are tightening their borders, cutting aid to refugees and building fences as the continent faces its greatest influx of people since World War II. The humanitarian failure of governments is accompanied by racist, anti-immigrant blow-back.

But within Denmark, public surveys—and the outraged response—indicate that the government crackdown does not reflect the will of the majority of Danish people. A Gallup Poll released last month found that 56 percent of people in Denmark want their government to increase the number of residency permits it grants to refugees. That figure is a significant boost from polling last year.

Meanwhile, ordinary people across the continent—from soccer matches in Germany to train stations in Vienna—have greeted refugees with a message of welcome.

Arab coalition accused of war crimes in Yemen

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Amnesty International seeks halt to arms transfers to coalition members, citing evidence of “unlawful air strikes”.

The Houthi stronghold of Saada has been hit hard during the conflict [File: Reuters]

The Houthi stronghold of Saada has been hit hard during the conflict [File: Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

Amnesty International has accused the Arab coalition fighting in Yemen of carrying out unlawful air strikes, some of which amount to war crimes.

The UK-based rights group on Wednesday called for the suspension of transfers of certain arms to members of the coalition, which launched an air campaign against Houthi rebels in March.

Amnesty said in a report that it had examined 13 deadly air strikes by the coalition, assembled by Saudi Arabia, that had killed about 100 civilians, including 59 children.

“This report uncovers yet more evidence of unlawful air strikes carried out by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, some of which amount to war crimes. It demonstrates in harrowing detail how crucial it is to stop arms being used to commit serious violations of this kind,” said Amnesty’s Donatella Rovera, who headed the group’s fact-finding mission to Yemen.

“The USA and other states exporting weapons to any of the parties to the Yemen conflict have a responsibility to ensure that the arms transfers they authorise are not facilitating serious violations of international humanitarian law.”

Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates are participating in the coalition.

Cluster bombs

Amnesty said its researchers had found remnants of two types of internationally banned cluster bombs as it investigated attacks on Saada, a Houthi stronghold in northeastern Yemen.

Another rights watchdog, Human Rights Watch, in August accused Saudi forces of using cluster bombs in Yemen.

The claim was then denied by a spokesman for the coalition.

Amnesty also said cases had been documented of civilians who were not directly participating in hostilities but were killed or injured while asleep or carrying out their daily activities.

It said that in at least four of the air strikes investigated, “Homes attacked were struck more than once, suggesting that they had been the intended targets despite no evidence they were being used for military purposes.”

Another Amnesty report, published in August, condemned both sides in the conflict over the killing of civilians.

Yemen’s war pits the Houthis and troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh against forces fighting on the side of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The Arab coalition is seeking to reinstate Hadi and his government.

More than 2,300 civilians have been killed in the conflict since March, the UN Human Rights office said late September.

Pro-Houthi forces have been accused of indiscriminately shelling populated areas in violation of the laws of war, killing civilians.

Russian air strikes in Syria cause ‘civilian deaths’

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At least four dead and dozens injured in attacks in Hama province and in areas bordering Idlib province, activists say.

Russia has been carrying out air strikes to support Syrian forces fighting armed groups across the country [Alexander Kots/AP]

Russia has been carrying out air strikes to support Syrian forces fighting armed groups across the country [Alexander Kots/AP]

by Al Jazeera

Civilian deaths are being reported from apparent air strikes by Russian fighter jets in the Syrian province of Hama and in areas bordering the Idlib province.

Russian forces carried out the air strikes on Wednesday morning, in addition to targeting anti-government armed groups with surface-to-surface missiles, said the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

A video of the purported raids uploaded to YouTube by activists said at least four people were killed and dozens injured, and that the death toll was expected to rise.

Al Jazeera could not independently verify the reports of the air strikes.

Meanwhile, Syrian army forces have launched a ground operation in the country’s west, reports say.

The offensive is targeting Khan Shaykhun, a town in Idlib strategically situated on a rebel-controlled route that connects Aleppo and Damascus.

The developments come at a time when Syrian fighters are targeting government forces and pro-regime units in Hama with Grad missiles, the Syrian Observatory said in a statement.

It said it has “no information about casualties” yet.

Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government, started carrying out air strikes in areas across Syria last week.

On Tuesday, Russian jets hit areas under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group in Palmyra and the northern outskirts of Aleppo.

The attacks destroyed 20 vehicles and three weapons depots in ISIL-held Palmyra, Syrian state television said, quoting a military source.

In Aleppo, Russian strikes targeted the towns of al-Bab and Deir Hafer, about 20km east of a military airport currently besieged by ISIL fighters.

Airspace violations

Against this backdrop, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday he was losing patience with Russian violations of his country’s airspace.

Russian officials, for their part, said they would welcome talks with their Turkish counterparts to avoid “misunderstandings”.

“An attack on Turkey means an attack on NATO,” Erdogan said at a Brussels news conference.

NATO has rejected Russia’s explanation that its warplanes violated the airspace of alliance member Turkey by mistake and said Russia was sending more ground troops to Syria.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary-general, said the alliance had reports of a substantial Russian military build-up in Syria, including ground troops and ships in the eastern Mediterranean.

“I will not speculate on the motives … but this does not look like an accident and we have seen two of them,” he said of the air incursions over Turkey’s border with Syria.

Stoltenberg noted that they “lasted for a long time”.

Indian woman employee files 1 mn pound case against Wipro

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The woman employee who has sued Wipro was transferred to London from Wipro’s Bengaluru headquarters in 2010. (PTI File Photo)

The woman employee who has sued Wipro was transferred to London from Wipro’s Bengaluru headquarters in 2010. (PTI File Photo)

London: An Indian woman employee at the London office of IT major Wipro has filed a 1 million pounds compensation case of sexual discrimination, unequal pay and unfair dismissal against the firm.

She alleged she was subjected to a “deeply predatory, misogynistic culture” and forced into an affair with a married boss at the Bangalore-headquartered firm’s UK division.

The 39-year-old told an employment tribunal in London this week how her boss called her “a seductive dancer from Indian mythology”.

“Women who are confident, capable and express their viewpoints are often called ’emotional’, ‘psychotic’ or ‘menopausal’. Women who supported women are called ‘lesbians’,” she said.

She claimed she was manipulated into an affair with a married senior vice-president. On one business trip to Stockholm in 2013, the 54-year-old allegedly told her the silk blouse she was wearing was “too tight” for her body type.

The India-born woman said she embarked on the affair despite finding his conversation “inane” and that he suffered on occasion from a “certain body odour”, the ‘Daily Telegraph’ reported.

The former sales and market development manager, who handled outsourcing business deals for Wipro, said she was treated like “dirty goods” after ending the affair and lodging complaints about her treatment.

She also claimed she was paid far less than male staff, earning up to 75,000 pounds per annum rather than the typical 150,000 pounds paid to male equivalents.

However, Wipro refused to comment on the lawsuit. “Wipro does not comment on its ongoing lawsuits and Wipro is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity and provides all our employees with a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment of any kind. Wipro is defending these allegations before the court,” a statement by Wipro Ltd said.

“Following an impartial inquiry, both were relieved from the services of the company after it was established beyond reasonable doubt that they had violated the stated policy,” the statement said.

“Wipro takes serious objection to the scurrilous allegations made against the company and will initiate legal action to defend itself against insidious and defamatory allegations,” it said.

“The company has built its business over the years by ensuring it adheres to the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and ethical corporate practices. Any transgression of these beliefs and policies are dealt with expeditiously and with the strictest action,” the statement said.

(Agencies)

Kerala students condemn Dadri incident; Hold beef fests in campus

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kerala-students-beef-protest

New Delhi: Students in Kerala have come up with an innovative idea to protest lynching of Akhlaq over rumors that he had consumed beef. The students staged a stir by holding beef festivals in college campuses in the state.

The event saw students sharing a hearty meal of beef curry and bread. Invitations were also extended to those present in and around the campus.

The first such event was initiated by the CPI-M’s student wing SFI and was held at Sree Kerala Varma College in Thrissur on Oct 1. However, the event later ran into trouble after the ABVP activists reached the scene.

Six students were suspended by the college management as the institution has a long-standing rule against non-veg food inside the campus – the college is managed by the Cochin Devaswom Board.

But, not to be disheartened by the turn of events the cause was taken up by students of Ernakulam’s Maharaja’s College and this time it was Congress’ student wing KSU that took the lead.

The event witnessed happy faces eating beef as a mark of protest. A bunch of girls was even seen clicking selfies with plates of beef curry in their hand.

KSU leader Mohammed Rafi said, “KSU has conducted a beef festival…it is to protest against growing fascist elements in our country.”

Referring to the killing of Akhlaq, he added that fascist elements are active not just in northern parts of the country but also in Kerala.

He also slammed the management of Thrissur’s Sree Kerala Varma College for suspending students who held a ‘secular’ beef festival.

(Agencies)

Arrest order issued against AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi

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Akbaruddin-Owaisi

Kishanganj: Controversial All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi faces arrest in connection with a case registered against him for allegedly making an inflammatory speech at an election rally here.

Following registration of an FIR against Akbaruddin on Monday at Kochadhaman Police Station in Kisanganj district, Kisanganj Superintendent of Police Rajiv Ranjan issued the arrest order against him.

Akbaruddin, younger brother of AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asauddin Owaisi, is an MLA of Telangana.

Asked about his reaction to the matter, Asauddin told reporters in Hyderabad that the matter will be tackled by the party’s legal team.

“The legal team of our party is trying to get the certified copy of FIR and it depends upon them.Whatever steps they will take accordingly…

“I don’t want to comment on what kind of language should or should not be used. 3000 people died in Gujarat and the then incumbent Chief Minister failed to do anything. Nobody can forget that,” he said.

Owaisi said as the FIR has been filed, the legal team would tackle the matter. Asked if Bihar Police would go to Hyderabad to arrest Akbaruddin or wait for his arrival at Kisanganj, the SP told PTI “These are operational details which I cannot share.”

The FIR was lodged against AIMIM leader for violation of provisions of section 144 of Crpc and under sections 153 A and 188 of IPC.

Section 153A deals with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, while section 188 deals with disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.

Akbaruddin had addressed an election meeting at Sontha Haat under Kochadhaman Assembly constituency on Sunday.

Akbaruddin had allegedly used abusive language against all MPs except his elder brother Asaduddin Owaisi. He also allegedly made provocative remarks against BJP leaders.

The AIMIM Legislator was booked in the wake of tension in the town after damage to idols in two temples were found on October 5 morning.

The SP had said that the police would probe whether damage to idols at two temples in the town was a fallout of his speech.

(PTI)

After Nayantara Sahgal, poet Ashok Vajpeyi returns Sahitya Akademi award

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Ashok Vajpeyi

New Delhi: After eminent writer Nayantara Sahgal, former Lalit Kala Akademi chairman Ashok Vajpeyi has returned the Sahitya Akademi Award to protest the “assault on right to freedom of both life and expression”.

Voicing displeasure over the Dadri lynching incident and a string of killings of rationalists, he also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continued silence on these.

“Sehgal was right. He is a very loquacious Prime Minister. Why doesn’t he tell the nation that the pluralism of this country will be defended at every cost?” Vajpeyi told PTI today.

The 74-year-old Hindi poet, essayist and literary-cultural critic disapproved of statements by senior leaders, including Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma which, he said, “belittled the “multi-cultural and multi-religious” fabric of the country.

“There are the comments made by the Culture Minister about renaming Aurangzeb road to APJ Abdul Kalam road. He says Kalam was a great nationalist despite being a Muslim.

“These kinds of statements belittle the multi-cultural and multi-religious fabric of the country….What can writers do but protest,” he said.

Yesterday, Nayantara Sahgal, the 88-year-old niece of Jawaharlal Nehru, had announced her decision to return her Sahitya Akademi award. In an open letter titled “Unmaking of India” she had referred to the Dadri lynching of a Muslim man by a mob over suspicion of eating beef, and also the killings of Kannada writer M M Kalburgi and rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare.

Sehgal had also questioned the silence of PM Narendra Modi on these incidents.

“This is in solidarity with writers and intellectuals being murdered in broad daylight…,” Vajpeyi said.

He also expressed disappointment over the failure of the Sahitya Akademi to “rise to the occasion” to protect the autonomy of writers.

“The Sahitya Akademi has failed to rise to the occasion. They have not protested against what has been happening to the writers’ autonomy. The writers’ community should rise in protest,” Vajpeyi said.

(Agencies)

Karnataka mulls scrapping cattle protection panel constituted by BJP government

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cow

Bengaluru: The State government is planning to dissolve the Goseva Ayoga or Cattle Conservation Commission constituted by the BJP regime in 2012.

The panel was set up as part of the State BJP manifesto promise made ahead of the 2009 Assembly polls for a strict ban on cow slaughter. The 16-member commission has the authority to ensure protection of cattle.

Along with the 16-member commission, the government is planning to repeal the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Prevention (Constitution of Goseva Ayoga) rules, 2012.

The rules provided that all institutions engaged in cattle welfare, including goshalas (cow shelters), have to register and subject themselves to inspections. The commission has nine official and seven non-official members. According to official sources in the Animal Husbandry Department, as soon as the Siddaramaiah government came to power, the non-official members were removed. The members challenged the decision of the government in the High Court and got a stay. The stay was recently vacated, sources said.

Sources in the government said the Animal Welfare Board was already entrusted with the task of protecting cattle and there was no need for having another separate commission. It not only meant duplication of work but also a financial burden on the State exchequer, they said.

The Cabinet is likely to take a decision on dissolving the commission and repealing the rules at its meeting on Tuesday.

The commission has been given the mandate to ensure proper management of cattle at welfare centres, provide financial assistance to them and ensure timely implementation of programmes of the State government under the various cattle development schemes.

Other functions included taking custody of agricultural cattle seized under the 1964 anti-cow slaughter legislation and entrusting them to the nearest goshala or cattle protection institution. The present dispensation, last year, had also repealed the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2012 passed during the BJP regime. The 2012 bill sought to ban the slaughter of cows and bulls. It also provided stringent punishment for violators, making the offence cognizable and non-bailable.

(Agencies)

Dadri like incidents hurt country’s image: Arun Jaitley

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arun jaitley

New York: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has condemned the lynching of a man over beef eating rumour in UP, saying such incidents hurt the country’s image.

“India is a mature society. We need to rise above these kinds of incidents because they certainly don’t give a good name as far as the country is concerned,” he told reporters here after a lecture at Columbia University yesterday.

He was responding when asked to comment on the lynching incident in Dadri which has happened at a time when the government was wooing foreign investors.

“I have also said they can amount to policy diversions in that context so it is the responsibility of every Indian in his actions or comments to stay clear of unfortunate and condemnable instances like this,” the senior BJP leader said.

A 50-year-old man was lynched and his son was critically injured by a mob in Dadri on last Monday after rumours that they had consumed beef.

(Agencies)

Nayantara Sahgal: The Unmaking of India: Why I am Returning My Sahitya Akademi Award

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File photo Nayantara Sahgal. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

File photo Nayantara Sahgal. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

by Nayantara Sahgal

In a recent lecture, India’s Vice-President, Dr. Hamid Ansari, found it necessary to remind us that India’s Constitution promises all Indians “liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship.”

The right to dissent is an integral part of this Constitutional guarantee. He found it necessary to do so because India’s culture of diversity and debate is now under vicious assault.

Rationalists who question superstition, anyone who questions any aspect of the ugly and dangerous distortion of Hinduism known as Hindutva – whether in the intellectual or artistic sphere, or whether in terms of food habits and lifestyle – are being marginalised, persecuted, or murdered.

A distinguished Kannada writer and Sahitya Akademi Award winner, M.M. Kalburgi, and two Maharashtrians, Narendra Dhabolkar and Govind Pansare, both anti-superstition activists, have all been killed by gun-toting motor-cyclists. Other dissenters have been warned they are next in line. Most recently, a village blacksmith, Mohammed Akhlaq, was dragged out of his home in Bisara village outside Delhi, and brutally lynched, on the supposed suspicionthat beef was cooked in his home.

In all these cases, justice drags its feet. The Prime Minister remains silent about this reign of terror. We must assume he dare not alienate evil-doers who support his ideology.

It is a matter of sorrow that the Sahitya Akademi remains silent. The Akademis were set up as guardians of the creative imagination, and promoters of its finest products in art and literature, music and theatre.

In protest against Kalburgi’s murder, a Hindi writer, Uday Prakash, has returned his Sahitya Akademi Award. Six Kannada writers have returned their Awards to the Kannada Sahitya Parishat.

In memory of the Indians who have been murdered, in support of all Indians who uphold the right to dissent, and of all dissenters who now live in fear and uncertainty, I am returning my Sahitya Akademi Award.

Nayantara Sahgal,
Dehra Dun, October 6, 2015

This account was first published on The Wire.

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