Three days of DT headlines

Leading clerics urge Muslims to learn about other faiths in drive to promote harmony
Riazat Butt, The Guardian
An international appeal was launched yesterday urging Muslims around the world to learn about non-Muslims and their cultures for the sake of peaceful coexistence. The call was made in a communique issued at the end of the International Islamic Conference for Dialogue, a three-day event that brought together more than 600 influential scholars and academics.The plea, one of many in the 18-page document, aimed to encourage Muslims to reach out to people from other monotheistic faiths…

Israeli threat to attack Iran over nuclear weapons
Ian Black, The Guardian
Israel “will attack” Iran if it continues to develop nuclear weapons, one of prime minister Ehud Olmert’s deputies warned yesterday. Shaul Mofaz, a former defence minister and a contender to replace the scandal-battered Olmert, said military action would be “unavoidable” if Tehran proved able to acquire the technology to manufacture atomic bombs. Mofaz is Israel’s transport minister, but he is also a former chief of staff, privy to secret defence planning as a member of the security cabinet, and leads regular strategic talks with the US.

Church attacks Labour for betraying Christians
Ruth Gledhill, Times
The policies of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have helped to generate a spiritual, civic and economic crisis in Britain, according to an important Church of England report. Labour is failing society and lacks the vision to restore a sense of British identity, the report says in the Church’s strongest attack on the Government for decades. It accuses the Government of “deep religious illiteracy” and of having “no convincing moral direction”.

Hamza lawyer earning £1 a year in legal aid
Padraic Flanagan and Stephan Bevan, Express
A CONTROVERSIAL lawyer who has represented hook-handed Muslim cleric Abu Hamza and other terror suspects saw her firm earn almost £1million in legal aid last year. Mudassar Arani has raked in a total of £3.5million from the taxpayer over the last seven years. Figures from the Legal Services Commission show that legal aid fees collected by her firm, Arani & Co, have almost quadrupled since the financial year 2001-02.
[See also: Abu Hamza's Muslim lawyer earns £1m a year in legal aid from representing terror suspects, Daily Mail]

Fears for Turkish ruling party as court overturns headscarf law
Robert Tait, The Guardian
Turkey’s highest court yesterday overturned a politically controversial law allowing women students to wear the Muslim headscarf at university, dealing a blow to the country’s Islamist-leaning government and its chances of survival. In a decision with significant implications for Turkey’s future, the constitutional court upheld an appeal from opposition parties that the law – passed by parliament in February – posed a threat to its 85-year-old secular system.

Religious leaders condemn bombing
BBC News Online
Christian and Islamic leaders from Devon said they were “very dismayed” by the incident. “We unreservedly condemn all expressions of hatred and fear of our fellow humans, and emphasise our common humanity before God. It is essential that we all stand together against those who seek to harm the lives of any people and fragment our shared society. It is all too easy to stereotype people who are different and seek to portray them as objects to be feared rather than humans to be loved.”

Postman’s racist terror campaign
BBC News Online
A postman has admitted to planting a hoax bomb and sending hate-mail letters to leading figures, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair. Jefferson Azevedo sent letters containing white powder or Nazi slogans to various people over a four-year period, Southwark Crown Court heard. Azevedo, 45, of Langley Road, Portsmouth, admitted 19 offences and asked for another 140 to be considered. They included nine charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

It’s NOT racist to tell the truth about immigration and crime, says leading police chief (Jenny Johnston, Lying Mail)
Masked men on church roof in Treeton near Rotherham given caution (Times)
Wing and a prayer as archbishop takes to the heavens (Jonathan Brown, Independent)
Transcending Jerusalem (Mere Islam)
Bishop Gene Robinson to ‘marry’ gay partner (’Martin’ Beckford, Telegraph)
Talking to the Taliban (Nushin Arbabzadah, Guardian CiF)
Hindu state school beginning work (BBC News Online)
Water charge may close churches (BBC News Online)
The Islamification of Britain (part 756) (Islamophobia Watch)
Service for [Muslim] shopkeeper shot dead (BBC News Online)
Man who attacked imam is ‘insane’ (BBC News Online)
Netherlands: 65% support ban on large mosques (Islamophobia Watch)
BNP says call to prayer at Stoke mosque will ‘provoke neighbours’ (Islamophobia Watch)
Sentamu hammers Brown’s Labour Government (Ruth Gledhill)
Staffordshire: BNP warns against mosque call to prayer (Islam in Europe)

Bigger than usual helping of the Daily Terror today!