There is and always has been a double standard in the world insofar as Israel is concerned. Palestinian desire for a "homeland"? Legitimate! Jewish desire for a homeland (a/k/a Zionism)? Racism! Arabs blow themselves up at Passover Seders or in pizza parlours? Self-defense. Israel kills terrorist leaders? Collective punishment. France kills over 80,000 Algerians in trying to keep Algeria from declaring its independence? Acceptable. Israel kills approximately 1,000 Lebanese in a limited war after Lebanese nationals cross the Lebanese-Israel border and kill eight soldiers while abducting two others? DISPROPORTIONATE (just ask the French, who screamed about this from Day One of the 2006 Second Lebanese War). Sudan kills at least 250,000 Christians in its south? The world frets and then forgets about it. Israel kills a fraction of that number in Arab Muslims in defending itself against terrorism? It's genocide.
The examples go on and on. There was an excellent Op-Ed in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer of all papers on the world's double standard on Israel, and it can be found here: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/349190_johnsonnline30.html, or for a British perspective, go here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article3278541.ece.
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Sentenced to death: Afghan who dared to read about women's rights
From http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/sentenced-to-death-afghan-who-dared-to-read-about-womens-rights-775972.html
A young man, a student of journalism, is sentenced to death by an Islamic court for downloading a report from the internet. The sentence is then upheld by the country's rulers. This is Afghanistan – not in Taliban times but six years after "liberation" and under the democratic rule of the West's ally Hamid Karzai.
The fate of Sayed Pervez Kambaksh has led to domestic and international protests, and deepening concern about erosion of civil liberties in Afghanistan. He was accused of blasphemy after he downloaded a report from a Farsi website which stated that Muslim fundamentalists who claimed the Koran justified the oppression of women had misrepresented the views of the prophet Mohamed.
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How you can save Pervez
Sayed Pervez Kambaksh's imminent execution is an affront to civilised values. It is not, however, a foregone conclusion. If enough international pressure is brought to bear on President Karzai's government, his sentence may yet be overturned. Add your weight to the campaign by urging the Foreign Office to demand that his life be spared. Sign our e-petition at www.independent.co.uk/petition
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