Islam - Current Day - Courageous Female Afghan Footballers; Canada Abandons Canadians in Afghanistan; More Kidnapped Students Released in Nigeria

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‘Women remain in danger’: Female footballers dodge gunfire to flee Taliban-led Afghanistan as escape organizers slam US government

25 Aug, 2021 16:37

Female footballers have been among those evacuated from Afghanistan © Twitter / David Martinon via Reuters | 

© Morteza Nikoubazl / Reuters

Organizers have voiced their relief after a 72-hour bid to evacuate female athletes from Afghanistan succeeded – but criticized the US government and warned that others are stranded under the new Taliban regime.

Khalida Popal, who captained the Afghan team following its formation in 2007 before seeking asylum in Denmark amid threats to her life, had warned last week that terrified female sportspeople – some of whom had actively opposed the Taliban in the belief that the group would not regain power – had sent her messages and photos documenting their increasing horror.

Players and teams from the country's relatively healthy female football scene had been advised to delete their social media profiles and do anything possible to safeguard themselves after the Taliban takeover last week – and Popal has been part of a team that has worked with six countries to arrange evacuation flights for some of them.

Former Afghanistan women's team coach Haley Carter, who was part of the daring mission, explained the ordeal the evacuees faced and was unimpressed by a message from US vice-president Kamala Harris claiming that her government had been working relentlessly to save people.

"Our players narrowly avoided gunfire, were trampled, beaten by the Taliban and waded through sewer water to get through to Hamid Karzai International Airport," said Carter, accompanying her account with shocking photos showing chaotic scenes in the Afghan capital.

"They went two days with limited supplies, camped three nights to survive. The situation on the ground is dire."

Carter said the team had used an intelligence network to "co-ordinate and share real-time information" on issues such as transport gates and "potential threats".

"I still can’t believe we managed to pull the last three-to-four days off," she admitted. "I also don’t think I can ever describe these events in a manner that does them justice.

"The bravery and resilience of our players, working until exhaustion, constant communications challenges and location tracking. Nothing short of a miracle. Truly. So proud of every person on our team."

When Harris attempted to offer assurances about the response from president Joe Biden's administration, Carter asked whether she had a "mouse in her pocket" – a term used to suggest that others are being volunteered to take action they should not be responsible for leading.

"The service members who are on the ground, from all nations and all services, have been doing an incredible job managing a massively difficult and chaotic situation," she observed.

"We should all be proud of them and their commitment to helping others in this humanitarian crisis. God bless our service members giving everything they have to this mission for the sake of others’ safety and wellbeing.

"That said, senior US military leaders should be held accountable for their failure to adequately plan and prepare for this.

"The evacuation of American citizens and high value Afghans is happening solely because of the grit, professionalism, and compassion of those on the ground. God bless Marines and the Strategic Corporal."

Professional footballers' governing body FIFPRO thanked the Australian government for accepting a "large number" of female footballers and athletes from Afghanistan as part of a group of more than 75 people flown out of Kabul.

"These young women, both as athletes and activists, have been in a position of danger and, on behalf of their peers around the world, we thank the international community for coming to their aid," it added.

A little girl evacuated from Kabul walks to her room at a temporary camp in Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East. 

"We are grateful for the assistance of governments, military and human rights groups who are collaborating closely with us to evacuate women footballers and other athletes from Afghanistan.

"We are encouraged by recent developments. Our thoughts remain with all those still in danger."

Popal spoke of "sleepless nights" and "being on the call all the time answering questions", reporting that 75 players and "some family members" had left Afghanistan.

"[We were] handling media, motiving players to keep fighting and not give up even there were gunfires and they were beaten," she said. "It was tough. Teamwork. Work continues."

Popal is among a team of Fifpro lawyers and advisers who have worked with authorities in six countries, including Australia, the US and UK, to get athletes and their families on to evacuation lists and flights to safety.

"These past days have been an ugly reminder of the power the lottery of birth holds over all of us," said Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, FIFPRO's General Secretary.

"In the middle of this humanitarian crisis, I am so grateful to everybody on this unique team who helped to get the players evacuated.

"Two weeks full of genuine care, masterminding and incredible perseverance. We won’t stop here. Without representation these people can’t be saved."

The future of women's sport in Afghanistan looks bleak. "The work doesn’t end here, and we get back to it," pledged Carter.

"Many Afghan women and girls remain in danger and it’s vital to continue these efforts for as long as we can. All sporting bodies must continue the push to protect the women and girl athletes of Afghanistan."

We had ten years to get Afghan interpreters and their families out and we waited for the last 5 days. What a disgrace!

Canada's airlift mission from Kabul ends, leaving many behind

Government says it knows citizens, permanent residents and others are stranded

Catharine Tunney · CBC News · 

Posted: Aug 26, 2021 7:54 AM ET | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago

U.S. Air Force officials load passengers aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in support of

the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 24,

2021. (U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen/Handout/Reuters)

Canada's effort to airlift those fleeing Taliban rule out of Afghanistan has come to an end, says the acting chief of the defence staff.

A notice sent out this morning from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says that evacuation operations are done and "at this time, no further evacuation flights are being planned."

"The government of Canada recognizes that there are a number of people in Afghanistan, including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, their families, and applicants under programs for Afghans," said the notice sent to all on the government's list, a copy of which was obtained by CBC News.

"Until such a time that the security situation stabilizes, be mindful of the security environment and where possible, take the necessary steps to ensure your security and that of your family."

Yeah, right! Thanks a lot!

Gen. Wayne Eyre, the acting chief of the defence staff, said most of the Canadian personnel still in the country left Hamid Karzai International Airport eight hours ago, although a small contingent has stayed behind to support allies.

On Thursday, two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked Kabul's international airport, killing at least 60 Afghans,12 U.S. troops and wounding scores of others, according to Afghan and U.S. officials.

The Department of National Defence (DND) confirmed that all CAF members are safe and accounted for. 

"The situation on the ground remains dangerous and CAF personnel are taking all appropriate personal security measures," said a DND media statement.

Eyre said Canada has helped to evacuate more than 3,700 people from Kabul.

Tens of thousands of Afghans fearing persecution under the Taliban, which swept to power in recent days, have rushed to Kabul's airport hoping to escape the country.

Numbers unclear

Among those seeking to flee Afghanistan are Afghans who worked with Canadian troops during Canada's mission who now fear retribution at the hands of the Taliban.

It's unclear how many Canadians and people who applied to come to Canada remain stranded. Officials briefing reporters this morning said they received applications representing 8,000 people and that two-thirds of those applications have been processed.

But they said they don't have a tally of how many didn't make it out. They said not all of the people who applied are necessarily still in Afghanistan and many might have fled to neighbouring countries.

"Their pleas and the photos of the families in terrible situations that accompany many of them are heart-wrenching," said Eyre.

"They tear at our souls."

U.S. withdrawing Tuesday

The U.S. plans to complete the withdrawal of its forces from the country on Tuesday.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said Wednesday that Canada needed to get its crews and equipment out of the country before then.

"As the Americans draw down to meet their deadline, partner nations, including Canada, must draw down our troops, assets and aircraft ahead of the Americans," he said. "These moves are necessary for the U.S. to safely maintain control of the airport until they depart."

The White House said Thursday that since Aug. 14, it has evacuated and helped in the evacuation of about 95,700 people. Britain said on Wednesday it has evacuated more than 11,000 people from Afghanistan.

Advocacy groups, families and those on the ground have reported problems reaching officials and have criticized the government for not acting sooner.

For months, interpreters and their families appealed to Canada to bring them to safety as the Taliban tightened its control.

The Canadian military was in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. Canada ended its combat mission in 2011 but kept soldiers in the country for another three years to help train the Afghan National Security Forces.

In 2009, under the Harper government, Canada offered refuge to approximately 800 interpreters fearing for their lives in Afghanistan, but the program had restrictive criteria.

To qualify under the old program, the advisers had to demonstrate they worked for Canadian troops, diplomats or contractors for 12 consecutive months between October 2007 and July 2011.

Two-thirds of the Afghans who applied to Canada for refuge were turned away, according to figures compiled by The Canadian Press.

The Liberal government announced a new temporary program in July.

The immigration department advises those with an application in progress to contact them by email at Afghanistan@international.gc.ca or to call 1-613-321-4243.

Gunmen release some students in northern Nigeria months after kidnapping

136 students, several teachers abducted from Salihu Tanko Islamic School in May

The Associated Press · 

Posted: Aug 26, 2021 6:43 PM ET | Last Updated: 36 minutes ago

More than 100 students and several teachers were abducted from the Salihu Tanko Islamic School in May. Authorities reported Thursday that some students had been released, months after their kidnapping. (Mustapha Gimba/The Associated Press)

Gunmen have released some of the children kidnapped from a school in northern Nigeria back in May, some of whom were as young as five years old, the school's head teacher said late Thursday.

Abubakar Garba Alhassan told The Associated Press that the freed students were on their way to the state capital, Minna, but added he could not confirm the exact number freed.

Authorities have said that 136 children were abducted along with several teachers when gunmen on motorcycles attacked the Salihu Tanko Islamic School in Niger state. Other preschoolers were left behind as they could not keep pace when the gunmen hurriedly moved those abducted into the forest.

Alhassan did not provide details of their release, but parents of the students have over the past weeks struggled to raise ransoms demanded by their abductors. There was no immediate comment from police of the Niger governor's office.

The release, though, came a day after local media quoted one parent as saying six of the children had died in captivity.

More than 1,000 students have been forcibly taken from their schools during those attacks, according to an Associated Press tally of figures previously confirmed by the police. Although most of those kidnapped have been released, at least 200 are still held by their abductors.

The government has been unable to halt the spate of abductions for ransom. As a result, many schools have been forced to close due to the concerns about the kidnapping risk.

After one abduction at a university in Kaduna state earlier this year, gunmen demanded hundreds of thousands of dollars in ransom. They killed five other students to compel the students' parents to raise the money, and later released 14 others.

This is no longer an ideological struggle, it has turned into a criminal enterprise.

The Two Michaels - Trudeau's Hypocritical Stand Comes From the SNC-Lavalin Disgrace

Trudeau's rigid stand against China is not what it appears, not at all

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been languishing in a Chinese prison for a year and a half. Yesterday, Prime Minister Trudeau told them they are likely to be there for several more years, if not the rest of their lives.

The two Michaels have done nothing to deserve their incarceration; they are pawns in a political nightmare orchestrated by the USA, Canada, and China. The nightmare began when the USA requested Canada arrest Meng Wanzhou, CFO of Huawei, and the daughter of its founder. The USA has accused Meng of violating its sanctions against Iran.

Whether that is the real reason for wanting Meng is a good question. The world is moving frantically toward installing 5G systems that are slightly terrifying in their reach. The value of this system probably counts in the trillions of dollars. Having watched the way America does business these days, one has to wonder if the arrest of Meng is more about 5G than about Iran. 

At any rate, America’s request for the arrest of Meng, should probably have been rejected immediately by Canada since it had to do with American sanctions. Or does Canada have sanctions against Iran? Do American sanctions effectively mean that Canada has sanctions.  I was never so proud of a Canadian Prime Minister as I was of Jean Cretien when he told George Bush that we would not be part of Desert Storm. Desert Storm was launched on fake intel and was a completely unjustified war. 

Trudeau should have told President Trump that Canada would not assist him in using sanctions to bully other countries. I believe Chretien would have. It’s unfortunate there has never been any discussion in the Trudeau-friendly Canadian media regarding this. Trudeau owns most of the media in this country by promising them $600m if they write friendly stuff about him.

Who was the highest-level official to approve the arrest of Meng? Did it go to the AG or the PM?

Yesterday, Trudeau said he would not give in to Chinese coercion. But, it appears he gave in to American coercion in the arrest and detention of Meng. This is good policy if you are talking about a terrorist group like ISIS or the Islamic Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines. These are gangs that kidnap people for money. Giving in to them is certainly going to endanger Canadians. Though, I’m fairly certain some ransom was paid to  Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb, for the return of Canadian Robert Fowler, UN envoy to Niger.

However, China is one of the largest countries in the world, not a band of Muslim radicals. They feel totally justified in their actions for two reasons – the don’t believe Meng’s arrest was justified in the first place, and, in the second, they believe political interference in the judicial system is normal. It is in China, and they believe it is in Canada as well. And why wouldn’t they?

Canada’s extradition laws allow the Minister of Justice to intervene in the process of extradition at any time, and there is history of him doing so, though it is sparce. There is also history of the Prime Minister’s Office interfering with the judicial process, as per the SNC Lavalin affair. This was blatant interference with the Attorney General who refused to give in to the PM and got fired. 

What did she refuse to give in to? To the use of an obscure law slipped into the back pages of a huge omnibus bill that was specifically designed to give SNC Lavalin the option of buying their way out of prosecution for their extraordinary corruption. SNC Lavalin headquarters lie next to Trudeau’s riding in Montreal, and many of their top executives live in his riding. Political interference? – a complete end-around the law! New laws written to ease the burden of justice, should never be applicable to cases already before the courts; the temptation toward corruption is just too great.

So, now, why is Trudeau being so rigid with the two Michaels? It is fall-out from the SNC Lavalin affair! It gives him the opportunity to stand in front of his cottage (remember when we had a Parliament?), and pronounce every day that Canada is a nation of laws and the government will not interfere with the judicial process. As unbelievably hypocritical as that is, he seems to think that if he says it every day that eventually Canadians will believe he actually means it. This would require forgetting about one of the most disgraceful moments in Canadian politics. 

Marine Court-Martialed for Refusing to Remove Bible Verse

This is one of the most ridiculous stories I have done in awhile, well, at least since 

Johnny Depp Deep in Doggy Do Do Downunder

Monifa Sterling (Courtesy Liberty Institute)

By Todd Starnes  
FoxNews.com

A United States Marine was convicted at a court-martial for refusing to remove a Bible verse (taped) on her computer – a verse of Scripture the military determined “could easily be seen as contrary to good order and discipline.”

The plight of Lance Corporal Monifa Sterling seems unbelievable – a member of the Armed Forces criminally prosecuted for displaying a slightly altered passage of Scripture from the Old Testament: “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.”

Sterling, who represented herself at trial, was convicted February 1, 2014 in a court-martial at Camp Lejune, North Carolina after she refused to obey orders from a staff sergeant to remove the Bible verses from her desk.

She was found guilty of failing to go to her appointed place of duty, disrespect toward a superior commissioned officer, and four specifications of disobeying the lawful order of a noncommissioned officer.

As it now stands – Sterling is unemployed and looking for work. It’s a process made harder because of the bad conduct discharge from the military. Hopefully Liberty Institute will be able to restore this Christian Marine’s good name and expunge the charge.

The Christian Marine was given a bad conduct discharge and a reduction in rank from lance corporal to private. 

Both lower court and the appellate court ruled that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act did not apply to her case because displaying a Bible verse does not constitute religious exercise. 

And so, was there some other explanation for her actions? Apparently, they just decided that Monifa put the scripture on her computer to start trouble. That is one stupid ruling - make that two stupid rulings since it was ruled at two levels of court.

However, a religious liberty law firm and a high-powered, former U.S. solicitor general have taken up her case and have filed an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

“If the government can order a Marine not to display a Bible verse, they could try and order her not to get a religious tattoo, or go to church on Sunday,” said Liberty Institute attorney Michael Berry. “Restricting a Marine’s free exercise of religion is blatantly unconstitutional.” 

Sterling wised up and finally got legal counsel. Now representing her are the Liberty Institute along with former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, also a law professor at Georgetown University.

Clement most recently won a Supreme Court victory on behalf of Hobby Lobby against the Affordable Care Act.

Liberty Institute and Clement plan to argue that the appellate court should have applied the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Sterling’s case – protecting her right to post Bible verses as a form of religious exercise.

According to the appellate court’s decision, they were not convinced “that displaying religious text at a shared government workstation would be protected even in a civilian federal workplace.”

They also considered the fact that Sterling’s desk was shared by other Marines.

“The implication is clear – the junior Marine sharing the desk and the other Marines coming to the desk for assistance would be exposed to biblical quotations in the military workplace,” the court declared. “It is not hard to imagine the divisive impact to good order and discipline that may result when a service member is compelled to work at a government desk festooned with religious quotations.”

Festooned with religious quotations?

Attorney Berry points out that other Marines were allowed to decorate their desks. However, the lower courts refused to allow that evidence to be admitted. And at the time of the incident – Sterling was not sharing a desk.

“This was a conflict between her and her supervisor,” he told me. “Her supervisor clearly said she did not like the tone of the Bible verses.”

What? If I were going into battle and the person beside me quoted that scripture, even if I didn't know it was scripture, I would be grateful to have someone with such an attitude beside me. I think her supervisor needs some help.

Berry said the supervisor cursed at Sterling and ordered her to immediately remove the verses. She refused the order. The following day, she discovered the verses had been removed and thrown in the trash.

The references here are to 'verses' - plural! Were there other verses that aren't being shared with us? Because there is hardly anything offensive in the least to the verse quoted above. It doesn't include the Name of Jesus, nor even of God. What possible way could that offend anyone?

“Adding insult to injury, the government charged her with the crime of failing to obey a direct order because she did not remove the Bible verse,” Berry said.

Which is exactly what she did, and she doesn't have a leg to stand on there, except that the order was frivolous and vexatious and should never have been given in the first place.

According to court documents, the military maintains the “verbiage” – “No weapon formed against me shall prosper” could “easily been seen as contrary to good order and discipline.” How absurd! It would make a great motto for a unit going into battle. I would love to hear an explanation of how this verse could possibly be seen as contrary to good order and discipline. 

“Maintaining discipline and morale in the military work center could very well require that the work center remain relatively free of divisive or contentious issues such as personal beliefs, religion, politics, etc.” And a small strip of paper taped to a computer exceeds what you would call 'relatively free'? Does that mean that a Muslim must shave his beard?

Liberty Institute attorney Hiram Sasser told me it was outrageous “that such a small strip of paper could so frighten a drill sergeant.”

“This is a very scary time when you are not allowed to have a very small printed Bible verse in your own personal workspace because it might offend other Marines,” Sasser told me. “Our Marines are trained to deal with some of the most hostile people on the planet. I don’t think they are afraid of tiny words on a tiny piece of paper.” Yea, verily, and Amen!

The Bible verse incident happened in May 2013. A few months later she was accused of failing to wear an appropriate uniform because of a medical condition.

Berry told me he believes the military was trumping up the charge sheet “to make it look that things were worse than they were.”

As it now stands – Sterling is unemployed and looking for work. It’s a process made harder because of the bad conduct discharge from the military.

Hopefully Liberty Institute will be able to restore this Christian Marine’s good name and expunge the charge.

Anything less could jeopardize the standing of every person of faith serving in the Armed Forces. Should that happen – God help us all.

A couple more deductions from this disgraceful story:

It seems to me that everyone involved was wrong in what they did/said, from Monifa, to her superior, to the judges who tried her. Everyone over reacted to what is an absurdly frivolous situation.

Monifa, God bless her for her Christian conviction, should have obeyed the order. Her refusal resulted in the rapid and spectacular escalation of the situation, and she is paying the price now. 

I admire people who stand up for their convictions, but, at the same time a person thoroughly committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ will have yielded their rights, all of their rights, to Him. This is how things get out of control when we Christians insist on our rights. Out of control, and out of the will of God.