2020 (@2020@voiceofeast.net)
An American Muslim’s traumatizing experience with US government surveillance and attempted entrapment
By News Desk
An American Muslim, Malak Shalabi opens up on social media about her traumatizing experience in 2018 with an American spy, US government surveillance and attempted entrapment.
This is her harrowing story.
This is the first time I share this story publicly, because I need this documented and I am no longer afraid.
In 2018, I connected with a former classmate of mine on FB. We had taken a class in 2016 taught by a former FBI agent, who trashed Islam constantly. I was surprised to learn my classmate, “X”, was a convert. I offered to teach him Arabic, as I taught youth & converts at the time.
Our first session in October was ordinary, my friend joined us and I taught him the first few letters of the alphabet. When we walked out to the parking lot, he pointed out that he had recently gotten into an accident and the front of his car was busted.
In December, we met again, and my friend was unable to join so we were alone. He started speaking in a way I have never heard Muslims ordinarily speak. He was inflammatory and making simpleton statements on complex issues like jihad, hijrah, kuffar, and democracy as shirk.
He tried to corner me into answering absolutist questions, and brought up “sheiks” who I know were blacklisted, assassinated, & exiled for their affiliations with terrorism. He knew my background as a student of international affairs & activist, & tried to pin me on those points.
I left the meeting with a very eerie and creepy feeling, and I swore I would never see him again. X sent me content & websites that are known for terrorism propaganda. These sites are tracked. He sent me videos of a Jamaican Imam who was exiled for pledging allegiance to ISIS.
In January 2019, I told him I would not be able to complete teaching him Arabic. He said, that is fine, I actually sorted my passport issues and will be leaving this country to “FIGHT.” He said he was going to Afghanistan and ASKED IF I HAD CONNECTIONS IN PALESTINE.
I immediately told him he was severely misconstruing the scripture of Islam to fit his desires, and that he had to seek professional help. My friend, “Y”, and I referred him to a mosque where the Imam is both a psychologist and learned scholar of Islam.
We agreed to meet on Friday at the mosque, and then rescheduled to Sunday because my car had broken down. On Friday, January 25, 2019 Y and I had done a fundraiser for Syrian refugees. After cleaning up and coming home around 1 am, Y called me crying with her brother on the line.
She told me, “X ran his car into a police station. He hit a cop car and ran toward them with a knife yelling the shahada, saying he was going to kill them. He’s in jail now. He’s in jail he’s in jail he’s in jail. They’re going to get us because we know him. His life is over.”
Y and I fell asleep that night, and many other nights after that, hyperventilating, crying, plagued with guilt, fear and paranoia as to what would happen to us and our families. Wishing we could have done something. Wishing I never met him. Wishing this never happened.
We expected the FBI to knock on our door the next morning, and I immediately started scheduling appointments with attorneys. The first attorney we met with was immediately skeptical of the situation. It turned out that X got out on 100 k bail within a few days.
I started doing more research, and found his LinkedIn that listed his current employer as A SECURITY AGENCY UNDER A GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION. He started working there just when we finished our class with the former FBI teacher in 2017.
I did more digging, and found an eBook that mentioned his SPECIFIC SECURITY AGENCY by name and locality as part of a anti-terrorist network model that gathers and shares “threat information” by sending out insurgents into the Muslim community to spy on and entrap men and women.
I also then realized that the news picture of his car after ramming into the cop car looked just like his car when I first saw it in the lot. This easily could have been a staged crime photo since his car was already busted, and the cop car had no showing damage.
I found similar cases online to this one – one where an insurgent was paid to stage running into a cop car. Entrapment is the practice of law enforcement or insurgents/spies staging crimes to rope in some level of “material support”, which can include words of support alone.
Once he was out jail, X began texting me and adding me to groups asking me for WORDS OF SUPPORT. He asked for advice and guidance and support as he was “going through a rough time.” I told him to stop messaging me, and he tried to incite me by calling me a hypocrite and heretic.
Y and I started to be watched, harassed, and followed. Y had a “_ County Security” van that would park in front of her house. A woman with a laptop would snap pictures when anyone would enter or leave the house. I had tinted cars with no tabs parked outside my house.
Y was watched by another car and anonymous person at the mosque. Y saw X’s brother at the gym, and then was followed by his friend in the night. He followed her on a dark road until she called the police, and they arrested him after he admitted to following her.
My mom received text messages mentioning the mosque that X & I attended, asking for my address. I received calls ALL DAY, I heard the click of being recorded, and after I’d say a few words, would cut the line. When I’d call back the number, it would be disconnected. EVERY. TIME.
Y and I were then continuously contacted and approached by people who turned out to be related to X or sent by X, until her and I permanently left that space. We also received information that X’s friend had a “side hustle” from spying on the mosque he attended.
I am writing this because today, I refuse to be scared & paranoid. I was terrified to speak out, and only my close friends know this story. But it is my duty to share this story if it can help even one soul, or one person searching “entrapment” or “staged crime” on Twitter.
I now understand my story to be part of a systemic issue of discriminatory surveillance and targeting of the Muslim community. I hope someone, and anyone can learn from my experience.
If you are in a similar situation, immediately reach out to advocacy orgs like @theCCR @CUNY_CLEAR @MLFA for help. And lastly, thank you to @assuss for creating the film that empowered me out of isolation and fear. If you have not already, watch @BeingWatchedDOC
For those looking to learn more about the surveillance of Muslim communities (this includes the specific car example)
#MuslimUmmah #Muslims #USA
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2020 (@2020@voiceofeast.net)
How The US Tricked KSA In Establishing Military Bases Inside The Kingdom
How The US Tricked KSA In Establishing Military Bases Inside The Kingdom
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and China met in Riyadh on 21 July 1990 and established diplomatic relations for the first time through the efforts of Pakistan.
The emerging Saudi-Pakistan-China alliance gave serious anxiety to the US since they could never afford the next superpower to make inroads into the oil rich region. Saudis had already bought a small number of missiles from China in mid-1980s.
When the missiles had reached KSA, the then US President Ronald Reagan threatened the Saudis and gave three options:
“Ship the missiles back to China, dismantle them temporarily and negotiate terms for the use, or allow US monitors to be stationed at the launching site”.
To the surprise of the US, King Fahad refused all three demands.
In less than two weeks after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and China, Iraq’s President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.
Saddam’s rationale of invading Kuwait was that it was originally part of Iraq during the Ottoman Empire. Kuwait was carved out of Iraq after the British defeated the Ottomans.
Saddam was correct in his assertions as this wasn’t the first time imperialist forces carved out new territories in their geopolitical interests. For instance, Hong Kong and Taiwan were parts of China before they became independent protectorates of Britain and the US respectively.
But Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait was inadvertently providing the United States an opportunity to finally fulfil the dreams of Churchill, Roosevelt and Harold Ickes who always aspired to control the Middle East oil.
Just days after the invasion, Dick Cheney (defence secretary) and Paul Wolfowitz (under secretary of defence for policy) made plans to evict Iraqi forces. As per the plan, the US forces would assemble in Saudi Arabia for the protection of KSA followed by a plan to liberate Kuwait.
Once Dick Cheney and his team arrived in Jeddah, they shared satellite photographs with King Fahad as per which the Iraqi tanks deployed on the Saudi border were ready to invade Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis despite being the largest producer of oil did not have the military power to fight the Iraqi military. King Fahad allowed the Americans to establish bases in Saudi Arabia who did not leave for the next 13 years.
To everyone’s surprise, The Chinese Science Monitor revealed in 2002 that the satellite photographs that showed Iraqi tanks on the border of Saudi Arabia were either doctored or taken from places other than the Iraqi-Saudi border by the US.
According to Jean Heller of the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, her news organization acquired two commercial Soviet satellite images of the same area that showed the deployment of Iraqi forces. Pentagon had claimed that up-to 250,00 Iraqi troops were ready to invade Saudi Arabia.
The images the St. Petersburg Times had acquired were shown to a former analyst of Defence Intelligence Agency who specialized in desert warfare. He pointed out the US build up – jet fighters standing wing-tip to wing-tip at Saudi bases – but was surprised to see almost no signs of Iraqi forces. According to Heller:
“That [Iraqi build-up] was the whole justification for Bush sending troops in there, and it just didn’t exist….To this day, the Pentagon photographs of the Iraqi troop build-up remain classified”.
It can be concluded that the only goal of US administration in 1990-91 was to put permanent military boots on Saudi soil so they could control the energy resources of the Middle East and could counter the emerging Saudi-Pak-China alliance.
On 11 March 1992, The Washington Post covered a leak story about the new US military policy that called for military action against any nation that would attempt to challenge the leadership of the US particularly in the Middle East.
The draft called for the US to maintain a military dominance that would be capable of “deterring potential competitors from even aspiring to a larger regional or global role”.
Research by Fidato
Reference: The End of The Great Game by Hasan Sadiq
#China #Geopolitics #History #Iraq #KSA #MuslimUmmah #Muslims #SaudiArabia #USA
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2020 (@2020@voiceofeast.net)
Across All Continents Kashmiri Diaspora Organizations Condemn Annexation Of Kashmir
Across All Continents Kashmiri Diaspora Organizations Condemn Annexation Of Kashmir
By Our Special Correspondent
Washington, D.C. August 4, 2020: On August 5, 2019, the Government of India laid bare its naked ambition extant since partition in 1947 to brutally colonize the territories of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). On that date, it threw away any pretence of acknowledging the J&K’s right to self-determination as outlined by the United Nations’ Security Council and agreed to at that time by the Government of India 72 years earlier.
The events of August 5, 2019 are consistent with the ruthless occupation and suppression the people of Kashmir have suffered under the unpopular Indian rule. As is widely acknowledged and documented internationally, this brutal occupation has led to 150,000 civilian deaths, more than 8000 individuals missing or disappeared, and thousands of Kashmiri women raped. This does not even begin to account for the tens of thousands tortured, maimed, and permanently injured men, women and children by the Indian security forces during their 72-year reign of terror.
But despite this persistent and pernicious tyranny, the people of Kashmir never have nor ever will give up their right to be free. It is based on this internationally recognized, and principled stand the Kashmiri diaspora and its allies worldwide stand in solidarity with J&K’s people. We stand in support of their unyielding struggle to resist occupation and achieve their right to self-determination. We stand with them in their struggle to stop the Indian government from dehumanizing them and completing their settler-colonial project to remove them culturally, politically, and ethnically from the face of the earth.
Since, August 5, 2019, the Indian government, in order to crush any resistance to their illegal occupation, has instituted new draconian measures. First, they unilaterally removed any relics of initial recognition of their occupation by abrogating Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution, imposed a total military lockdown and complete communication blockade in anticipation of the protest and resistance these measures would inevitably cause. In a ruthless campaign they imprisoned politicians, journalists, and civil society members, to intimidate and suppress any form of dissent.
Since then, they have unleashed a well-designed imperialist plan that seeks to forever change the political nature of the Kashmir dispute through demographic changes, political manoeuvrings, and administrate machinations. These alterations to J&K’s disputed nature were recently capped by new domicile laws that would entitle people from outside of J&K to obtain domicile certificates as a first step toward granting them the right to buy land and compete for local jobs. The Indian rulers have sought to shamelessly disregard that these unilateral changes made to the UN-recognized international dispute’s status are a clear violation of International Law.
The consequences of these actions have been dire with the people of J&K being essentially forced to be locked in their homes, terrorized by the Indian military and paramilitary forces with no recourse against this oppression. According to a recent report –spanning first six months of 2020 –prepared by the J&K Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), and the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), the army action has resulted in 229 killings, including three (3) underage children and two (2) women. During the brutal Cordon and Destroy Operations (CADOs), the occupying forces have destroyed hundreds of civilian dwellings, rendering their occupants homeless. Amnesty International has reported that disappearances, torture, and rape against Kashmiri Muslims are frequent. Genocide Watch has identified the actions of the Government of India as precursor to a likely genocide of the Kashmiri people.
It is with this in mind that we appeal to all peoples of conscience and the international community to raise their voices against the brutal oppression the people of Jammu and Kashmiri are suffering under the occupying forces of the Government of India. We urge them to demand that India:
- Immediately lift the yearlong military siege, restore all internet connectivity and communications links, and release all political prisoners including underage children, journalists, and civil society members.
- Allow unfettered access to monitor and report on human rights violations by credible international bodies including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Federation for Human Rights, World Organization Against Torture (WOAT), Doctors without Borders, Physicians for Human Rights, and, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other UN thematic rapporteurs.
- Halt and rescind all laws, such as the Domicile Laws, that have been instituted to speed the demographic changes and promote the ethnic, cultural, and political cleansing of the people of Jammu and Kashmir
- Disarm and withdraw all Indian military and paramilitary personnel from the occupied territories so that all the people in Jammu &Kashmir can exercise their unfettered right of self-determination through a free and fair referendum as agreed to by both the Governments of India and Pakistan as well as the United Nations Security Council as early as 1948.
List of 56 endorsing Kashmiri diaspora organizations from five continents in an alphabetical order
- Australian Forum for Kashmir, Australia
- British Kashmiri Women and Youth Council, U.K.
- British Kashmiri Women Council. U.K.
- Daughters of Kashmir, U.K.
- Free Kashmir Organization, Germany
- Friends of Kashmir, Canada
- Friends of Kashmir, Dallas, Texas, USA
- International Kashmir Peace Forum, Spain
- Jammu and Kashmir Council on Human Rights, UK
- Jammu and Kashmir Overseas Community, Saudi Arabia
- Jammu Kashmir Forum, France
- Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Movement, U.K.
- Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, London, U.K.
- Jammu Kashmir Self Determination Movement International, UK
- Justice and Freedom party, New York, USA
- Justice For Kashmir, Los Angeles, USA
- Justice Foundation, UK
- Kashmir American Welfare Association, USA
- Kashmir Awami Society, Kuwait
- Kashmir Awareness Forum of Canada
- Kashmir Campaign Global, U.K.
- Kashmir Civitas, Middle East
- Kashmir Committee, Saudi Arabia
- Kashmir Council Europe, Brussels. Belgium
- Kashmir Council, U.K.
- Kashmir Foundation of America, Los Angeles, USA
- Kashmir Global Network, Colorado, USA
- Kashmir House, Maryland, USA
- Kashmir Humanitarian Task Force, USA
- Kashmir Institute of International Affairs, U.K.
- Kashmir International, Moscow, Russia
- Kashmir Mission USA, New York, USA
- Kashmir Overseas Solidarity Council, U.K.
- Kashmir Peace Forum, Hague, Netherlands
- Kashmir Scandinavian Council, Norway
- Kashmir Solidarity Council, Canberra, Australia
- Kashmir Solidarity Council, Chicago, USA
- Kashmir watch, Brussels. Belgium
- Kashmir Women Council, U.K.
- Kashmir Working Group, Turkey
- Kashmiri Association of South Pacific, New Zealand
- Konya for Kashmir, Konya, Turkey
- Let Kashmir Decide, U.K.
- Nida-e-Kashmir, Spain
- Sada-e-Rus, Russia
- Sonny Wattan Gilgat Baltistan USA
- South African Kashmir Action Group, South Africa
- Tehreek-e-Kashmir, Europe
- Turkish Kashmir Solidarity Society, Istanbul, Turkey
- United4Kashmir, U.K.
- United Kashmir Freedom Movement, U.K.
- Voice of Kashmir, U.K.
- World Kashmir People’s Movement, Virginia, USA
- World Kashmir Awareness Forum, Washington, DC, USA
- World Kashmir Freedom movement, UK.
- World Peace Forum, San Francisco, USA
#Geopolitics #India #IndianOccupiedKashmir #Kashmir #UN #USA
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2020 (@2020@voiceofeast.net)
Kashmir Issue: A Volcano in South Asia
Kashmir Issue: A Volcano in South Asia
On the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, the Kashmiris were not allowed to offer Eid Prayers in the Grand Mosque of Srinagar and all over Indian Occupied Kashmir. If there is calm and peace in Kashmir as asserted by Indian Premier Narendra Modi, then why ban on prayer?
The APHC General Secretary, Moulvi Bashir Ahmed Irfani, the Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Youth Social Forum Umer Adil Dar and the Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Peace Forum advocate Devender Singh Behl in their press statements expressed deep concern over the continued bloodshed of the Kashmiris by the colonial occupation of Indian forces. The ban imposed on Eid congressional prayers in mosques has unmasked the gruesome face of Indian so called secularism.
Modi in his frantic tempo is committing mistake after mistake. He has banned the study of Chinese language as an optional subject in Indian schools and colleges. It is the height of stupidity. His spite even with a language shows his idiotic mind-set. I call it the apex of deflected, deranged and degenerated mind-set.
The army chief of Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the Line of Control in Khoei Rata, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir on Eid and addressed the soldiers who are valiantly defending the sacred soil of motherland. Army Chief reiterated his unshakable stance that Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan and soon Kashmir will be the part of Pakistan.
He warned India to remain in shirts and refrain from aggression and befitting response will be given to Indian assaults. The whole nation appreciated the address of our dynamic, brave and patriotic General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Bravo: Hurrah.
The Indian Defence Minister blabbered a few days ago that the Indian army is very brave and will face valiantly the Chinese army. What a bluffing. Indian army cannot face Pakistani army, the hell it will face the Chinese army. The bravery of the Indian army can be gauged from the recently given interview of a former Indian Major General Mr. Bakhshi. He said that in 1991 skirmishes at Kargil, Pakistani army fought with great commitment, bravery and courage and thrashed out Indian Army. Indian 50 Punjab regiment was badly beaten and was intimidated. The then government hid our shameful defeat. Pakistani army made us to rub the nose. This interview is a slap on the face of Indian Defence Minister.
Kashmir is a test case for UN. Kashmir is like a volcano that can erupt any time and its eruption will destroy and devastate the fabric of the South Asia. The devilish and devious designs of Modi will turn both the countries into debris. India is a big country and needs sober and sane leadership. It needs a debonair leader. It does not need a deceitful and debilitated dullard.
I appeal to the saner Indian element to resist the policies of Modi if they want to avert the nuclear strike in the Sub-continent. Pakistan will go to any extent to save its solidarity and identity. Let us save our coming generations from the hazards of nuclear war.
The president of the USA, Donald Trump in his electioneering campaign had enthusiastically announced to mediate to resolving Kashmir issue. India claims to be the buddy of America. For the last seven decades, it was a “Maid “of America and now has become the “Mistress” of America. These coquetries of a whore will not last long. This friendship is unnatural and is based to damage China. India is very adroitly playing double game.
Why India refused the offer of Trump as an arbitrator. Simply, because India has no legal base and stand on Kashmir Issue. On the coming American election Mr. Joe Biden of Democratic Party is assessing and weighing the scales and jockeying between Indian- American and Pakistani- American vote bank. It is imperative for overseas Pakistanis to take part in the local politics of the countries they live in and fight for the cause of Pakistan and Kashmir and nullify Indian plans against Pakistan. Neither America nor any other Western country is serious about the plight of Kashmiris as it is not their cup of tea. They drink coffee and wine and we can only provide them a cup of tea. They boast on being democratic countries but support monarchies in Arab world to grind the axe. Petrol is dearer to them than human blood.
The high handedness and foolhardiness of Modi resulted in the tarnished image of India worldwide. One of its fallouts is that on July 15, 2020, much awaited signing of a high profile economic partnership agreement between the European Union and India could not materialize. Iran has also cancelled its pact on Chabahar Port with India and signed an economic pact with China. It is a way forward to opening new economic and strategic vistas between China, Iran and Pakistan. It is a happy omen for us and will strengthen our hands against India.
These two fallouts are the outcome of the hawkish policies of Modi on international front. Indian on-going border tensions with China have locked them in a military conflict in Eastern Ladakh. This is the right and ripe time that China, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and SAARC countries should unite to contain Indian expansionist designs.
The inhuman treatment of Modi with the Indian Muslims also established him a racist and religious extremist in the world community. The president of European Council Charles Michal severely criticized India and protested against the “Citizenship Amendment Act” which discriminated the legislation of the Muslims. The European Union also expressed deep concern on the Indian illegal and undemocratic step in Kashmir and voiced against the violations of human rights in Kashmir. Shamelessly, the Indian Home Minister bragged rather brayed that India will conquer the territories comprising Azad Kashmiri, Gilgat-Baltistan and Aksai Chin. This statement is a warning to Pakistan and China.
Pakistan should confront India on two fronts and like a two edged dagger pierce its pride into pieces. Its arrogance will be buried in the ditches and dykes of nonentity. First; on the diplomatic front through our embassies, we should launch a gigantic movement against India and seek the succour of our friends on diplomatic front. Second; we need to form a Block under the Leadership of China and break India as she broke Pakistan in 1971 and turned East Pakistan into Bangladesh. India is bound to disintegrate in to further two parts. Only planning is required. “Khalistan “in East Punjab for Sikhs and “Islamistan” of UP and Muslim majority areas in India. To avert the strike of nuclear war and escape from the imminent Volcano of Kashmir, it is imperative to dismember India.
#India #IndianOccupiedKashmir #Kashmir #Muslims #UN #USA
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usa-wohnmobil-guide (@usa-wohnmobil-guide@www.jansens-pott.de)
Neu auf Jansens Pott:
USA Wohnmobil Guide – Erfahrungen und Tipps
https://www.jansens-pott.de/usa-wohnmobil-guide/?mtm_campaign=mastodon
#Campen #Kanada #Reisen #Reisetipp #USA #Wohnmobil
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2020 (@2020@streetartutopia.com)
By JEKS – In Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Street Art by JEKS in Tulsa, OK.https://streetartutopia.com/2020/01/14/by-jeks-in-tulsa-oklahoma-usa/
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2019 (@2019@moviescape.blog)
Mid90s (2018)
Aktualisierung: Ich habe „Mid90s″ am 24. April 2026 zum ersten Mal mit den Kindern gesehen und eine Besprechung der Wiederholungssichtung veröffentlicht. Heute war das Wetter eher durchwachsen, weshalb wir uns abends tatsächlich einmal wieder vor dem TV eingefunden hatten. Dieses Mal aber ohne Kinder, weshalb mit "Mid90s" auch ein Film in den Player gewandert ist, den speziell ich unbedingt sehen wollte. Was Jonah Hills hochgelobter Coming-of-Age-Film letztendlich zu bieten hat, […]https://moviescape.blog/2019/08/10/mid90s-2018/
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esta-antrag (@esta-antrag@www.jansens-pott.de)
Neu oder aktualisiert auf Jansens Pott:
ESTA Antrag – Anleitung und Ausfüllhilfe
https://www.jansens-pott.de/esta-antrag/?mtm_campaign=mastodon
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unsere-top-5-fotospots-auf-reisen (@unsere-top-5-fotospots-auf-reisen@www.jansens-pott.de)
Neu auf Jansens Pott:
Unsere 5 Top Fotospots auf Reisen
https://www.jansens-pott.de/unsere-top-5-fotospots-auf-reisen/?mtm_campaign=mastodon
#Fotografie #Kambodscha #Kanada #Reisen #Schottland #Thailand #USA
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im-bierteig-frittierte-cheese-curds-mit-kohlrabidip (@im-bierteig-frittierte-cheese-curds-mit-kohlrabidip@kuechenlatein.com)
Im Bierteig frittierte Cheese Curds mit Kohlrabidip
Diesen Monat führt uns die Kulinarische Weltreise in die USA. Einige Nationalparks der USA bereisten der Inschennör und ich in grauer Kindervorzeit und stellten fest: Wer wirklich gut essen möchte, hat es als Tourist schwer, ein gutbürgerliches Restaurant bzw. Gasthaus zu finden. Für Restaurantketten aller Art wurde mit auffälligen "Billboards" geworben. Besonders in Erinnerung geblieben ist mir die Reklame für die Burger-Kette mit dem M: Visit the other "Arches of Moab" auf dem Weg […]https://kuechenlatein.com/im-bierteig-frittierte-cheese-curds-mit-kohlrabidip/
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2017 (@2017@moviescape.blog)
Vacation: Wir sind die Griswolds (2015)
Nach einer ziemlich aufregenden Arbeits- und turbulenten ersten Ferienwoche, waren am Abend alle Familienmitglieder ziemlich platt. Als die Kids gegen 20:30 Uhr im Bett waren, haben wir uns vor den Fernseher zurückgezogen und mit "Vacation: Wir sind die Griswolds" einen Film eingelegt, von dem ich mir nicht viel erwartete. Dennoch war ich neugierig, wie denn die Fortsetzung einer der beliebtesten Filmreihen der 80er Jahre heute aussieht... Eine Fortsetzung, kein Reboot Die Originale rund […]https://moviescape.blog/2017/08/04/vacation-wir-sind-die-griswolds-2015/
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2016 (@2016@salisburyai.com)
Injustice
Life and death in the courtrooms of America
It sometimes comes as a shock to people that the only country in the Americas which still has the death penalty is the USA. It is especially favoured by the southern states such as Louisiana, Texas and Florida and we have on many occasions on this blog mentioned particular cases where the wrong man is convicted of a crime or where the evidence is at best doubtful.
Our view here in the UK of the justice system in America is heavily conditioned by Hollywood films, on screen or on TV, which give a highly biased view of the real life situation. In these depictions, an innocent man or woman has been wrongfully arrested. Clean cut lawyers appear for the defendant and there is a tense meeting in the DA’s office. At some point, the defence (or defense if you’re reading this in the USA) lawyer says ‘we’re outa here’ and they all sweep out. Hearings, such as a Grand Jury happen as if by magic and subsequent court appearances take place soon after. Few episodes can go by without a lawyer saying someone’s ‘Miranda rights have been infringed’ and more people sweep out. Everyone is dedicated to securing justice with the exception of one individual (a witness, police officer or someone needed for the plot) who is found out at the end. More clean cut young people find a tiny and crucial piece of evidence and this is sufficient to set a defendant free, often in the last minute or so of the trial. The overall impression is of a system that works – albeit uncertainly at times – with the good guy getting off at the end.
If you read Clive Stafford Smith’s book Injustice * you will find that these Hollywood stories are for many in the States, fiction. Clive has spent many years in the USA helping people on death row, the majority of whom should not be there. The book is about one individual, Krishna Maharaj (pictured), who was on death row in Florida for 28 years before being released. It is a truly astonishing book with 110 pages of detailed notes and describes the dysfunctional legal system in states such a Florida.
The problem – bizarrely – is that an innocent man or woman is often more at risk that someone who is guilty. Innocent people believe, often wrongly to their cost, that they don’t have to prove anything because they are innocent. There cannot be any evidence to prove they did it because they didn’t. They also think that the justice system is unbiased and the truth will out eventually, a ‘touching faith’ as Clive describes it.
The book explores these issues in great detail. America elects its law officers and so there is great pressure to convict to prove to the electorate that you are ‘tough on crime’. Sentencing people to death is a great way to prove this. Unlike recent changes to the justice system in the UK, the defence has no right of disclosure. So the police need only present evidence allegedly proving guilt, and not reveal evidence that proves the defendant innocent. This practice was also commonplace in the UK before new rules were introduced following some high profile injustices were discovered. In Florida, because of the enormous amount of money flooding in to the state from the drug barons, corruption is rife throughout the justice system. Amazingly, the judge himself in Krishna’s trial was arrested for bribery and corruption after three days of hearings. The police are often themselves involved in the drugs trade.
So if the judge was arrested, then surely the trial should start afresh? No, because defence lawyers are paid so little and on a block fee basis, to start again is something they cannot afford, so they just ploughed on with a new judge. The quality of defence lawyers is frequently poor and they fail to cross-examine properly, call relevant witnesses or even to meet the defendant that often. The problem here is that if through incompetence or otherwise the defence lawyer does not raise the issues at trial, then appeal courts will rule matters to be ‘procedurally barred’ subsequently.
So alibis are not called, forensic evidence not challenged, police witnesses’ changes in evidence not challenged and so on and so on. The result was an innocent man narrowly escaping death row for a crime he did not commit and which was committed it was eventually discovered, by someone acting for a drug cartel. The man murdered was ‘skimming’ drug profits. Errors are so great and so frequent that justice would better be served if it was done on the basis of a coin toss. Fewer would be executed on this basis.
Clive Stafford Smith is an extraordinary lawyer but he is also a great story teller and this account of Kris Maharaj death row case is a powerful thriller beautifully told. Helena Kennedy QC [senior lawyer in the UK]
Passionate and Humane Mail on Sunday
This is a highly recommended book for anyone interested in the justice system. If you have written letters to governors and others in the States it will explain a lot. Clive Stafford Smith was the founder of Reprieve.
A story about the case in Miami Herald
*Injustice by Clive Stafford Smith, Vintage books, 2013
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, salisburyai
#000080 #CliveStaffordSmith #DeathPenalty #deathRow #Florida #KrishnaMaharaj #Reprieve #USA
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