2 Officers, 1 Worshiper Killed in Attack on Orthodox Church in Chechnya

War on Christianity - Islam storms church in Chechnya

Two officers and a worshiper were killed as armed militants attempted to storm an Orthodox church in Russia’s Chechnya. The attack was thwarted by law enforcers, who shot dead four militants.

The Church of Michael the Archangel in Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Republic of Chechnya, was attacked on Saturday by a group of gunmen, who attempted to take parishioners hostage.

A female worshiper told RIA-Novosti that the shooting outside the church began during the evening service, which was attended by around 15 people.

“One of the men rushed to block the door with a chair… we were holding the door,” the woman said, adding that shots from what she thought were pistols and machine guns were fired.

She also said that the priest’s children were playing outside when the attack began, and his wife had to rush from the church to lead them to safety.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said that two officers were killed at the church, while one worshiper also lost his life. Knives and a sawn-off shotgun were recovered from the militants after they were eliminated.

“The professionalism of the police officers guarding the church prevented more serious consequences of the attack and avoided a large number of casualties,” the Investigative Committee said on its website.

The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, also confirmed the elimination of the militants as a result of a “swift security operation.” Three of the killed militants were residents of Chechnya, while the leader of the gang was from “one of the neighboring regions,” he added. 

Kadyrov also said that "there is intelligence data that the militants received the order [to carry out the attack] from one of the Western countries."

Mufti Ismail Berdiyev, chairman of the Coordination Center of North Caucasus Muslims, has condemned the attack, which he said was aimed at destabilizing the situation in Chechnya.

“It was deliberately done during the holy month in order to destabilize the situation. It’s the month of Ramadan now. It’s the time when not only wars are forbidden, but even foul language is outlawed,” Berdiyev told TASS.

And yet, in most Islamic countries, where Christian churches are permitted, they have to be guarded by police continuously, even in Ramadan.

The attack was “yet another attempt by pseudo-Islamic extremists to pit Orthodox Christians and Muslims against each other,” said Vladimir Legoyda, head of the Synodal Information Department of the Russian Orthodox Church.

French Politicians Call for Those on National Security Watch List to be Expelled

Islamization Backlash in France

Perfect follow-up to yesterday's article on why France is such a target for terrorism. The balance between extreme liberal political correctness and national security has swung much too far to the left and must necessarily swing back hard.

Police guard the scene of a knife attack in Paris, France May 12, 2018 © Reuters/ / Reuters

In the aftermath of the Paris knife attack, French politicians are urging the authorities to kick those on the national security threat list, known as Fiche S, out of the country - even if they are there legally.

On Saturday evening, a 20-year-old man stabbed passers-by in the heart of Paris, killing one and injuring four more. The assailant, who was killed by police, was later identified by the media as a French national of Chechen origin named Khamzat Azimov.

Chechnya is Muslim, if you don't know.

He received French citizenship in 2010 and in 2016 he was reportedly put on the on the notorious Fiche S - a watch list used in France to flag individuals considered to pose a threat to national security.

The list doesn’t necessarily contain potential terrorists, it can include anyone who authorities believe represent a serious threat to the Republic, including violent protesters or hooligans. Those on the list may be put under surveillance, but not under arrest. 

Yet the name of the list has repeatedly resurfaced in the French media in connection with terrorism. Fiche S once included Amedy Coulibaly, an Islamist behind Île-de-France attacks in 2015, Chérif and Saïd Kouachi, responsible for 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre and – most recently – Redouane Lakdim who was behind the Trebes attacks in March 2018.

On Sunday, the president of the Republican party Laurent Wauquiez released a statement, calling on President Emmanuel Macron to implement necessary measures to battle terrorism. One of the suggestions was “to expel systematically those on Fiche S who don’t have French nationality.”

Mayor of the southern French town of Béziers Robert Ménard, known for his controversial statements, also called for a review of the watch list. “The problem is that we have too [many people on] the Fiche S list in France. Our intelligence services are overwhelmed by the numbers. The question is: Do we have to expel them automatically? I think so, if they are foreign citizens,” he wrote.

Macron’s presidential rival, Marine Le Pen from the anti-immigration and Euroskeptic National Front party also hit out at Elysee Palace over its poor handling of potential threats. “What is the purpose of this Fiche S if it is not used to stop these time bombs from causing damage on French soil?” she wrote.

Another of Macron’s former presidential rivals, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, also released a statement calling for those on Fiche S to be expelled from France. “And we will still listen to the same hollow speeches of inaction and powerlessness!” he lamented on Twitter, referring to French authorities’ statements on the Paris knife attack.

“Recently naturalized" and "put on Fiche S": we will have to know in what order things were done...,” noted Florian Philippot who once served as vice president of Le Pen’s National Front party before launching his own.

Is the pendulum beginning to swing back toward security at the cost of hurting someone's feelings? It has to happen; and it has to happen soon.

Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Russia Church Shooting

Chechnya's Kadyrov in denial of reality

By Sara Shayanian  

Doctors examine a man injured in an attack on a Russian church Sunday in Kizlyar Dagestan, Russia. Photo by EPA-EFE/Str

UPI -- The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility Monday for an attack that killed five at a church in the Dagestan region of Russia.

Authorities said the gunman was Khalil Khalilov and that he was a member of an IS sleeper cell.

Five people were killed in the shooting Sunday as worshipers left a traditional pre-Lent celebration in the city of Kizlyar, capital of the Republic of Dagestan.

"An unidentified bearded man ran toward the church yelling 'Allah Akba,'" Father Pavel, dean of the church, told RBC.

"When we heard the shots, we quickly closed the doors so that he couldn't get inside. He had a gun and a knife."

Several others were injured in the attack. The gunman was shot dead by police.

RBC reported that Khalilov, 22, joined the Islamic State last year and intended to target the attack on the Christian holiday.

Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, though, disputed the shooter's Islamic ties.

"One can say with certainty that the bandit and his patrons, in case he had any, do not have any direct or indirect connection to Islam," Kadyrov wrote on Telegram.

"The North Caucasus has always been a region of close cooperation and mutual understanding between Muslims and Christians. So today, it is our duty to deter assaults on our heritage that instigators and Russia's enemies may make."

Obviously, if shouting Allah Akba means he wasn't an Islamic adherent, I wonder what it does mean? Are there other religions that worship Allah? 

6k+ Unofficial Refugees in Vienna get Social Benefits - Cannot be Deported

 © Leonhard Foeger / Reuters

More than 2,000 migrants living in the Austrian capital, Vienna, cannot be deported despite falling short of being granted asylum - mainly due to the lack of proper ID documents - while still receiving monthly payments, an Austrian daily has reported.

Out of 20,000 migrants that receive social benefits in Vienna, only about two thirds either have been granted asylum or have their asylum requests under consideration, the Austrian Kurier has uncovered. The rest are residing in the Austrian capital on the so called "tolerated stay" scheme.

As of November last year, 6,165 migrants were living in Vienna and are receiving social benefits because they cannot be deported from Austria, despite not being granted official refugee status, the daily reports, describing the situation as “the sucking out effect.”

The figure, according to the publication, has been confirmed by the Interior Ministry. Authorities, however, refused to officially comment on the matter.

Some of these migrants, the publication explains, cannot be deported because an individual is either without proper ID documents or the country of origin refused to accept them. Others cannot be sent back as it would violate the 1951 Refugee Convention that sets out the responsibilities of nations that takes in refugees.

Out of that number, 2,674 individuals have already been rejected for failing to meet the country's asylum criteria. These persons mainly come from Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, in addition to those from Somalia, Nigeria and Chechnya.

As things stand, these individuals have the option of applying for a passport at their country’s embassy and then departing Austria on their own free will. However, they have no right to work in Austria, and continue to receive financial support from the Austrian state. This measure should prevent migrants from working illegally, according to authorities.

The rest, 3,491 asylum seekers, have been granted so-called "subsidiary protection", but falls short of being granted official refugee status. Under this directive, migrants cannot be deported from Austria, even if they commit a crime, as Austrian authorities fear they might face death or torture if sent home.

To stay in Austria, they have to file paperwork each year for their residence permits to be extended. However, in this instance, the government hands them basic social security payments and allows them to work in the country.

It is unclear, how many migrants, who cannot be deported from Vienna, committed any crimes, the daily reports. A local refugee policy coordinator, Peter Hacker, argued that the payout of social benefits lowers the migrant crime rate.

“Crime rate in Vienna effectively declines,” he told the Kurier daily, adding that “it is not a coincidence but a consequence of these strategic decisions.” He also said the government payments ensure that “no ghettos emerge” in Vienna, where people live without state support.

It is better to pay refugees easy money than to let them roam around city without any means of sustenance, he added.

Vienna’s challenges are compounded, however, with authorities expressing concerns about the rising number of migrants streaming in from other regions. The reason being, that Vienna pays social benefits even to migrants who are registered in other parts of Austria.

“It is not optimal that the situation is heading towards such concentration [of migrants in Vienna], the Austrian Interior Ministry said, as cited by the Kurier daily. The ministry warns of a potential rise in the crime rate and says, and citing one example, said mass scuffles in refugee shelters could become more frequent.

Currently, 25 percent of all refugees that live in Austria and who are receiving social benefits are residing in Vienna, according to the Kurier. About two thirds of those granted asylum are men.

The standard social benefit paid out is between € 205 ($219) and € 365 ($ 390) per person monthly. This means the Austrian state is spending about € 1.76 million ($ 1.88 million) per month on those 6,165 migrants in question.

Austria, which has a population of about 8.7 million people, received more than 130,000 asylum claims from people coming from the Middle East and North Africa since the summer of 2015, and took in one of the largest numbers of refugees per capita alongside Sweden.

Duterte-Style Anti-Drug Program Spreads to Chechyna

‘Shoot them dead!’ Chechen leader Kadyrov teaches security services how to deal with drug abusers

Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov at the Sochi International Investment Forum 2016. © Ramil Sitdikov / Sputnik

The head of Russia’s Chechen Republic, Ramzan (Rodrigo) Kadyrov, has likened the threat from drug addicts on the roads to that of terrorists, telling ministers that security forces must not hesitate to use lethal force to ensure public safety.

“To hell with those who violate order in the Chechen Republic, they should be shot dead. It doesn’t matter if it’s against the law… shoot them dead! Got it?.. that’s the law!” Kadyrov said at a meeting with ministers and religious leaders, according to a recording that quickly spread across the internet.

The Chechen leader apparently lost his temper after learning new information about the rate of traffic-related deaths caused by drug intoxication that has recently risen sharply. All efforts made by authorities to reduce the number of car accidents have been in vain so far.

Last year Chechnya introduced strict laws that enabled police to strip intoxicated drivers not only of their driving licenses, but of their cars as well. However, the measure failed to significantly change the situation.

Authorities in Chechnya also limited the sale of alcohol from 8:00am-10:00am. The initiative, however, turned out to have a downside as well. Following the restriction, the number of people using drugs in the form of pills instead of alcoholic beverages soared.

Recently, the Chechen leader said in a statement on Russian social network Vkontakte that terrorism would be fully eradicated in the republic – and that the next step of his policy would be a war on drugs.

“We have neutralized thousands of bandits [terrorists] that came here from dozens of countries. A set of measures helped us change the situation with drugs. According to various sources, Chechnya is one of the most successful regions in this regard,” Kadyrov wrote, however adding, that there's still no place for complacency.

Drug substances are not produced on the territory of the republic while pharmacies don’t sell mind-altering drugs, according to Kadyrov. However, the problem remains, as drugs are still smuggled into Chechnya from other Russian regions and from abroad.

    Chechnya, Russia

Chechnya Leader Kadyrov Celebrates Women’s Day in Suit of Armor

It is not at all clear what kind of statement the impish-looking Kadyrov was trying to make, but it appears to have gone-over well.

Acting head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov (center) at a gala evening dedicated to the day of Chechen women in Grozny. © Sputnik

The head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov wowed his all-female audience in Grozny by turning up to a ceremonial event dressed as a medieval warrior, complete with a rather large spear.

To celebrate Chechen Women’s Day on Sunday, he turned up to the Safiya Palace of celebrations in the capital, Grozny, wearing rather unusual attire: a suit of armor, complete with helmet and spear.

“I have said before on a number of occasions those Chechen women have lived through a number of tragedies. Now it is time that they should enjoy life and not worry about the safety of their children, loved ones and those close to them,” Kadyrov wrote on Instagram.

Hundreds of women from local dance and cultural groups from within the republic turned up to the palace to enjoy the festivities. He also praised the role of women from the former war-torn republic, which has undergone a transformation over the last few years.

  video 1:00

“It pleases us that people from Chechnya are reaching new heights in science, culture, medicine and public life,” he said. “I warmly congratulate all the women from Chechnya and wish them peace and prosperity,” the head of the Chechen Republic wrote on his Instagram feed.

Chechen Women’s Day has been celebrated on the third Sunday of September since 2009, and is held to remember the lives of 46 Chechen women who died during the war in the Caucasus.

The women were each given a bouquet of flowers to acknowledge the celebration, while the evening was rounded off with a fireworks display.


Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, Grozny, Chechnya, Russia

It was a double celebration for Kadyrov on Sunday, as he won 98 percent of the vote in elections to select the head of the Chechen Republic. He has held the position since 2007.

Chechnya has been under Russian rule (mostly) since 1921 after more than a century of almost constant fighting. Chechens are believed to be the original Caucasians.

    Chechnya, Russia

Palestinian Propaganda Machine Turning the Dutch Antisemitic

Dutch ex-PM calls visiting Netanyahu ‘war criminal’ amid anti-Israeli protests in The Hague

People demonstrate against the visit of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in The Hague, on September 6, 2016. © Bart Maat / AFP

Instead of rolling out a welcome mat for Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who kickstarted his visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday amid huge pro-Palestine protests, the Dutch should “send him right away to the International Criminal Court,” Dries Van Agt said.

Is this picture an example of the 'huge' protests? I count 8 bodies.

Ahead of Netanyahu’s two-day visit to the country, Van Agt, who served as Dutch PM from 1977 to 1982, labelled the Israeli leader a “war criminal” in an televised interview with the NPO1 national TV channel on Monday.

The 85-year old politician and activist, known for his vocal support of the Palestinian cause, defended his controversial remark by saying that Israel has been committing a crime under the Rome Statute, one of the foundations of the International Criminal Court.

“The occupation and expansion… building of settlements, of occupied territory, this is according to the Rome Statute, which is… the setup… the statute on which the international criminal court is based, in so many words, a war crime,” Agt noted in an interview, as cited by the Times of Israel.

The Rome Statute, which has been effective since July 2002, outlines four key international crimes, including crimes of aggression, war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. Military occupation falls under crimes of aggression category.

Israel signed the treaty in December 2000, but did not ratify it. In 2002, Israel along with the US “unsigned” the document blaming the court of misinterpreting the law and “inventing new crimes.” One of the primary concerns was the clause allowing Israel to be prosecuted for war crimes for “transfer of parts of the civilian population of an occupying power into occupied territory.” 

That's just absurd and shows how the UN is controlled by antisemitism. It was obviously written specifically to prosecute Israel. 

Netanyahu, who met with Dutch PM Mark Rutte and King Willem Alexander during the first day of his visit on Tuesday, should not be treated like a much-anticipated guest by the authorities, but quite on the contrary, Agt argues.

“So why should we receive someone who continues with such things, we could have sent him right away to the International Criminal Court, that would have been better.”

Van Agt has courted controversy with his bold statements in the past. In 2008, the former PM, who stood on pro-Israel positions during his time in office, confessed that he was “ashamed” of siding with Israel during his tenure. As an eye-opener for him served a ‘horrendous” story of a Palestinian student humiliated by the IDF soldiers he heard on a visit to Bethlehem in 1999. 

And he actually believed it? You can't believe anything that comes out of Palestine. They will say anything to turn the world against Israel and, unfortunately, there is no shortage of fools to believe them.

Palestinians teach kindergarten age children to hate and aspire to kill Jews. That's not a problem for you Van Agt? How many UN resolutions were issued about this extreme child abuse? Any?

It's hardly believable, a student gets humiliated while suicide bombers are blowing up Jews in restaurants, and all he can think of is the student. You need a serious 'reset' Van Agt!

"I began studying, figuring out what's going on there. I found one story after the other. Then I started thinking about the 39 United Nations resolutions begging, demanding and imploring Israel to vacate the Occupied Territories,” he said in an interview to Haaretz, adding that his sudden political U-turn made his critics think that he is not “fully in my right mind anymore”.

I have to agree with his critics. You don't think 39 resolutions against Israel is absurdly excessive? How many dozens of resolutions did the UN issue against Russia for invading Chechnya? That was an extremely violent act of aggression, it surely deserved many more UN resolutions than Israel building homes in the West Bank. So far, I've found one!

The issue here is that Israel does not consider the West Bank and Golan Heights to be occupied territory, but disputed territory captured in a war that Israel did not start or want. The West Bank was under Jordanian control, the Golan Heights under Syrian control. Both of those countries attacked Israel. Why on earth should they ever give it back to them? So they can have another go at destroying Israel?

While politicians of his own Christian-Democratic Appeal party prefer to distance themselves from Van Agt’s rhetoric, thousands of activists gathered in front of the Dutch Parliament on Tuesday to protest the arrival of the Israeli leader and show solidarity to Palestine. The protesters were waving Palestinian banners and placards reading, “Netanyahu Not Welcome.”