SHAFAQNA

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –Several dozen demonstrators led by CodePink activists were in downtown San Diego on Saturday to protest the use by the U.S. of unmanned drones to conduct surveillance and air strikes.

On a patch of public property adjacent to the carrier Midway museum, demonstrators read the names of teenage civilians purportedly killed in Yemen and Pakistan by drone air strikes.

Among the protest signs were those reading "Made locally, Killing globally" and "Drones Kill Children."

"San Diego is ground-zero for the production of these lethal weapons that are killing innocent people and making the U.S. hated around the world," said CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin, author of "Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control."

The San Diego region has more than 7,100 people employed in the production of unmanned aerial systems, including at General Atomics and Northrop Grumman.

On Friday, protesters, with a miniature drone as a prop, demonstrated in front of the La Jolla home of Neal Blue, chief executive of General Atomics.

In advance of that demonstration, General Atomics issued a statement noting that it "manufactures remotely piloted aircraft systems, which protect our troops and support national security.

"GA is honored that it can contribute in this way while at the same time recognizing the right to demonstrate."

General Atomics produces the Predator and Reaper drones that can be armed with missiles.-www.shafaqna.com/English

Source: latimes

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – Palestinian supporters demonstrated in downtown Montreal today to call for an "end to Canadian complicity" in what they say is the oppression of people in Gaza.

The protest comes on the heels of last week's decision by the United Nations General Assembly to recognize Palestine as a non-member observer state.

Demonstrators who gathered in Montreal's Phillips Square said they were showing their solidarity and support for the people of Palestine.

"It's pretty clear that Canada is complicit with the occupation of Palestine and with the blockade of Gaza," said protestor Bader Takriti.

Last week, Canada voted against the bid to upgrade Palestine's status, along with eight other countries including Israel and the United Sates. A total of 138 nations voted in favour of the bid.

People attending the demonstration said they were ashamed of Canada's position.

"I don't think it's an exaggeration to state that Canadian foreign policy on the Middle East is dictated pretty much directly from Tel Aviv," said Bruce Katz, president of Palestinian and Jewish Unity and a member of the Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine.

He said that the UN's recent decision is important because it gives Palestine the right to present a case before the international criminal court.

The case could, according to Katz, accuse Israeli politicians of war crimes concerning the Gaza region.

Katz said it would also give Palestinians the right to add the name of Stephen Harper as complicit in those crimes.- www.shfaqna.com/English

Source: CBC

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – The demonstrators, marking the Day of Struggle against Global Arrogance, have issued a resolution at the end of demonstrations, emphasizing on the role of Iran's Islamic Revolution in the shaping of the awakening movements in the region and within the US community and Europe.

According to IRIB World Service, the resolution pointed out that 13th of the Iranian month of Aban is a reminder of fateful developments in the history of Iran's Islamic Revolution, each of which unfold a new chapter in the relentless struggles of the Iranian nation against the criminal US.

The demonstrators in this resolution emphasized that national unity, and compliance with Velayat-e Faqih and the prudent guidelines of the Leader of Islamic Revolution is the reason behind the failure of the satanic conspiracies and plots of the enemies of Islamic Iran; and secures solutions to the challenges that the Islamic Revolution and the sacred Islamic system face ahead.

The resolution pinpointed that the grand Iranian nation continues to consider the US as the Great Satan and its arch enemy, while the Iranian people hail and praise the anti-arrogance movements of the world nations; and strongly condemn the heinous crimes of the White House and its allies in deployment of troops to Islamic countries and hatching plots against Lebanon and Hezbollah; the Global Arrogance support for the anti-Iran MKO terrorist outfit; and the US and its allies support for terrorist operations against the Syrian government and nation.

The demonstrators also emphasized on the need for the solidarity of Islamic Ummah, while calling on the competent international tribunals to seriously investigate the crimes of US statesmen and to punish them for their ominous and anti-human acts.

Meanwhile, during these demonstrations, the Head of Basij Mobilization Forces, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, in a speech, referred to US crimes in the course of history, while adding that these crimes continue to this day and the US involvement in incidents in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bahrain is completely evident.— www.shafaqna.com/English

Source: Irib

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — Bahraini police fired tear gas at demonstrators participating in a pro-democracy protest in the capital of Manama.

Riot police clashed with protesters as dozens of people gathered in Manama’s main street calling for the "self-determination right" as well as for increased freedoms and rights for the country’s Shiite Muslim majority.

Protesters chanted “Down, down, down Hamad!” in reference to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the head of Bahrain’s ruling monarchy.

At least seven arrests were made as hundreds of riot police were deployed in Manama, witnesses reported. After the initial protest got dispersed, demonstrators regrouped and continued their rally.

Bahrain's Ministry of Interior, meanwhile, wrote on Twitter that police stepped in to restore order after groups of “thugs” started rioting and “hurling Molotov cocktails” at law enforcers.

Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy’s Fifth fleet, continues to see almost daily demonstrations and clashes. The Shiite Muslim majority demands a bigger role in running the country controlled by al-Khalifa family, who are Sunni Muslims.

At least 50 people have died in nearly 20 months of unrest, with a 16-year-old boy becoming one of the latest victims.

Thousands of anti-government activists have been arrested, says the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. This includes human rights activist Nabeel Rajab who, after several detainments, was sentenced to three years in jail for “participation in an illegal assembly” and “calling for a march without prior notification.” His bail request was rejected on September, 10..www.shafaqna.com/English

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — Protesters in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province have held a demonstration to condemn a blasphemous anti-Islam movie produced in the United States.

The demonstrators took to the streets in the Qatif region of Eastern Province on Saturday.

They also censured all the countries that maintain ties with the US and the Israeli regime.

Outrage is growing across the Muslim world over the $5-million movie, named Innocence of Muslims, which was financed by more than 100 Zionist Jews.

Over the past few days, similar demonstrations have also been held in several other countries including Egypt, Libya, Iran, Yemen and Bahrain, and the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza Strip.

In Yemen, five anti-US protesters were killed by security forces outside the US embassy in the capital, Sana’a, during the two-day period of September 13-14.

On September 11, demonstrators in Libya attacked the US consulate building in the city of Benghazi, protesting against the movie. US Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three staff members were killed in the incident.—www.shafaqna.com/English

Source: Press TV

SHAFAQNA (Shia News Association) — BNP members have met with an angry backlash in Sunderland as they gathered to protest against the use of halal meat in Subway sandwich shops.

Party members and their anti-facist opponents faced each other across the road as they gathered on either side of St Luke's Terrace.

The Echo reported yesterday how BNP leader Nick Griffin planned a protest outside the Pallion Subway branch today against the company's use of halal meat in its sandwiches. Mr Griffin, who failed to turn up to the protest, said the use of such meat was cruel.

Union members, representatives from United Against Fascism and workers on their lunch hour came out to stand in front of the Subway store to prevent the controversial right-wing party from delivering their message.

Police lined the street preventing opposing protesters from crossing the road as they chanted through loud speakers. And eventually the rally came to an end when the police moved people from both sides on.

Sunderland Echo, 19 July 2012

See also "No-show from leader Nick Griffin at BNP demonstration in Sunderland", Sky Tyne and Wear, 19 July 2012 — www.shafaqna.com/english

SHAFAQNA (Shia News Association)— Syrians have held a demonstration in Damascus to condemn a recent terrorist attack in the capital that targeted senior officials, Press TV reports.

Demonstrators took to the streets in the capital on Wednesday, a few hours after a bomb attack on the headquarters of the National Security Bureau killed Defense Minister Dawoud Rajiha, Deputy Defense Minister Assef Shawkat, and Assistant Vice President Hassan Turkmani.

Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Sha’ar and National Security Bureau chief Hisham Bikhtiyar were also wounded in the attack.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed General Fahd al-Jassem al-Freij as the new defense minister immediately after the incident.

The terrorist Free Syrian Army (FSA) claimed responsibility for the Wednesday bombing and said the attack was the “first in a series.”

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement on Wednesday that he “strongly condemns today’s bomb attack at the National Security headquarters in Damascus which resulted in significant casualties including the death and serious injury of government officials.”

The deadly attack in Damascus was carried out on the same day when the UN Security Council was scheduled to meet and vote on a Western-backed draft resolution that proposes sanctions against Damascus under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows for sanctions ranging from economic measures to an arms embargo and could also authorize the use of military force if necessary.

However, UN diplomats said after the Wednesday bombing that the meeting was postponed to Thursday at the request of UN-Arab League envoy to Syria Kofi Annan.

Russia and China have expressed opposition to the Western-backed draft resolution.

The anti-Syria Western governments have been calling for the Syrian president to step down, but Moscow and Beijing remain strongly opposed to the Western drive to oust Assad.

The Syrian president told the German ARD television channel in an interview on July 5 that the United States is “part of the conflict” in the Arab country and that “they offer the umbrella and political support to those gangs to… destabilize Syria.”—www.shafaqna.com/english