Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Hasan’s polemical take on politics, economics and foreign affairs

Friendly versus unfriendly dictators

Cameron's speech on Islam and democracy contains some glaring omissions.

By Mehdi Hasan Published 12 April 2012 12:45

Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister with David Cameron, April 2012.

Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud with David Cameron, April 2012. Photograph: MATT DUNHAM/AFP/Getty Images

Three quick responses to David Cameron's big speech on Islam and democracy in Indonesia:

1) According to Nick Watt's report in the Guardian:

Cameron will cite Muammar Gaddafi, Hosni Mubarak, the former Tunisian president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and Assad as he says: "In each case the Arab spring has shown that denying people their rights in the name of stability and security actually makes countries less stable in the end. Over time, the pressure builds up until the people take to the streets and demand their freedoms.

How can the PM keep a straight face? No mention of his friend, the King of Saudi Arabia, who is the biggest roadblock to democratic reform in the Arab world and who Cameron visited in January. No mention of his friend, the King of Bahrain, who has killed, tortured and gassed his own country's "Arab spring" protesters and who has been invited to attend the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London in June. No mention of his ally, the President of Uzbekistan, a brutal dictator who has the UK "over a barrel" and who was visited by Cameron's Defence Secretary Philip Hammond in February. When will the British government, and western governments in general, understand and recognize the obvious fact that we will have no credibility as critics of anti-western dictators until we decide to denounce and distance ourselves from pro-western dictators? When will we end our brazen double standards?

2) In his speech, according to the Guardian, Cameron condemns Islamist "extremists – some of whom are violent – and all of whom want to impose a particular and very radical, extreme version of Islamism on society to the exclusion of all others. And this total rejection of debate and democratic consent means they believe that democracy and Islam are incompatible."

Yet the Prime Minister knows perfectly well that not all Islamists reject democracy or free and fair elections. See the Ennahda party in Tunisia. See the AK party in Turkey. In fact, on a visit to Turkey in July 2010, Cameron told his counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of the Islamist AK party: "I very much admire the leadership that you have given to Turkey."

I am no fan of Islamist parties but, again, why the double standards from the PM?

3) I'm all for the British government encouraging democracy and freedom around the world but when will we realise that such values can be encouraged and promoted without the use of bombs and bullets? Intervention can be in the form of diplomacy, engagement, dialogue and trade; carrots as well as sticks. Plus, the sticks don't have to be violent either: there are sanctions, boycotts, international criminal tribunals, etc, on offer.

In fact, contrary to conventional wisdom, the empirical evidence suggests that it would be much wiser for western governments to back nonviolent, rather than violent, protests against unelected autocrats and dictators. In opposition, Cameron admitted as much: "We should accept that we cannot impose democracy at the barrel of a gun; that we cannot drop democracy from 10,000 feet - and we shouldn't try. Put crudely, that was what was wrong with the 'neo-con' approach, and why I am a liberal Conservative, not a neo Conservative."

How things change.

Tags: David Cameron Bahrain Saudi Arabia Syria Uzbekistan

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55 comments

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Thu, 2012-07-12 18:26 — MarlandSantoso

In my view Islamaphobia is a manifestation of cultural imperialism, which precisely describes what Julia Harris is. How she draws a line between moderate and militant Islam. How she calls to impose her idea's and culture into an existing culture. Its no good comparing Islam to Saudi or Iran, most Muslims would argue they have a unique interpretation of Islam heavily influenced by culture and tribalism. Lets take for example barbaric Islam and see the consensus of Polygamy - Islam allows it under strict rules. http://www.squidoo.com/best-top-load-washing-machines

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Wed, 2012-07-04 09:10 — David Otanga (not verified)

I question, in all my paper studying decades, that I have study anything as absolutely childish as your publishing. Well done. Keep it up. Honorary doctoral arriving your way soon.
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Sat, 2012-06-30 07:04 — vanliza (not verified)

Cameron's speech is making Saudis fool and the Saudis are not understanding them. They just want to make Dress Shop with Bride Dresses and also formal dress shop.

Wed, 2012-06-06 09:40 — Gherasim (not verified)

Julia Harris is undoubtedly probably the most vile person commenting right here. Each time any mention is made of Israel she is ready along with her tired aged random arguments about Israel which nobody believes.\

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Tue, 2012-04-24 14:33 — Satrander (not verified)

Julia Harris (@harris_julia) on Twitter

twitter.com/harris_julia

Block all twitter.com results

Sign up for Twitter to follow Julia Harris (@harris_julia). Anti Jihadist, Freedom fighter, Zionist, my politics are of the extreme center, cross me if you dare...

Thu, 2012-04-26 21:03 — Julia Harris

What a sad little twat you are, instead of debating me intellectually, you try to censor me and just insult me, how poor, how thick, how shameful.

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:33 — Satrander (not verified)

Julia Harris (@harris_julia) on Twitter

twitter.com/harris_julia

Block all twitter.com results

Sign up for Twitter to follow Julia Harris (@harris_julia). Anti Jihadist, Freedom fighter, Zionist, my politics are of the extreme center, cross me if you dare...

Tue, 2012-04-17 13:21 — RezaIslam (not verified)

I second Sooli statement. It seems Julia Harris is an Islamaphobe no matter how she chooses to dress it up. Like a leech she does seem to always try to bring it onto the discussion ALL THE TIME. I applaud MH on how he continues to articulate todays problems with a growing Islamaphobic commentors. In my view Islamaphobia is a manifestation of cultural imperialism, which precisley describes what Julia Harris is. How she draws a line between moderate and militant Islam. How she calls to impose her idea's and culture into an existing culture. Its no good comparing Islam to Saudi or Iran, most muslims would argue they have a unique interpretation of Islam heavily influenced by culture and tribalism. Lets take for example barbaric Islam and see the consensus of Polygamy - Islam allows it under strict rules. Secularists are so quick to condemn barbaric Islam though they do not condemn "having a mistress" enough which is so much more rampant amd accepted in society. Julia, you need to study Islam a little more before you openly criticise it, and you less hypocracy would not go amiss.

Tue, 2012-04-24 12:44 — SAMIHA (not verified)

Julia Harris is proud of her bigotry and hatred towards Muslims. She is slavishly deovted to the cause of Israel and still mistakenly believes that Israel is a democracy. The level of debate on which JH operates is notably substandard and is not realyy worthy of comment

Thu, 2012-05-03 22:39 — Julia Harris

The truth hurts, you cant deal with it.

Wed, 2012-04-18 10:08 — Julia Harris

Five Easy Steps to End 'Islamophobia'

1. Focus their indignation on Muslims committing violent acts in the name of Islam, not on non-Muslims reporting on those acts.

2. Renounce definitively, sincerely, honestly, and in deeds, not just in comforting words, not just “terrorism,” but any intention to replace the UK/ U.S. Constitution (or the constitutions of any non-Muslim state) with Sharia even by peaceful means. In line with this, clarify what is meant by their condemnations of the killing of innocent people by stating unequivocally that American and Israeli civilians are innocent people, teaching accordingly in mosques and Islamic schools, and behaving in accord with these new teachings.

3. Teach, again sincerely and honestly, in transparent and verifiable ways in mosques and Islamic schools, the imperative of Muslims coexisting peacefully as equals with non-Muslims on an indefinite basis, and act accordingly.

4. Begin comprehensive international programs in mosques all over the world to teach sincerely against the ideas of violent jihad and Islamic supremacism.

5. Actively and honestly work with Western law enforcement officials to identify and apprehend jihadists within Western Muslim communities.

If Muslims do those five things, voila! “Islamophobia” will disappear.

Mon, 2012-04-30 13:56 — R Harris (not verified)

Regarding Julia Stalin Harris on Islamophobia, much as I really don't want to enter into a conversation with a renowned bigot, I would deign to ask her how she would feel if she read a similar posting on "Five Easy Steps to end Anti-Semitism" which listed five points which put the blame wholly on people of the Jewish faith - i.e. it is their faith which arouses hatred and has nothing to do with those whose brains are so tiny that they can generalise their petty hatreds onto a whole group of people.

How dare she suggest that she knows what syllabus to set for mosques and Islamic schools, and I would again ask her whether she would accept Mrs Khadija al-Masry (invetned name) for example telling Ms Harris what Jewish schools should teach, what Jewish people should think, and how Jewish people should root out the extremists within their midst.

It's rather sad to read Ms Harris's superficial anti-Islamic rantings which are pretty much those of a sub-intellectual Melanie Philipps dumbed down to match her own the intellectual capability into a sort of Mid-Western "Hey guys, all y'all gonna have to do is this, and we won't hate ya."

Feeble, pathetic and biased.

I wonder how she feels about all those schools all over the world (paraphrase of her words) teaching Jewish supremacism, all those Rabbis muttering that a Jewish fingernail is worth a million Arabs, etc etc - for every single point which riles Ms Harris can be found (in its mirror image) among the religious and political treatises of Israel.

Go do your own dirty washing madame.

Thu, 2012-05-03 22:37 — Julia Harris

Jewish schools don't tell there Kids to hate or spout hatred against non-Muslims.

Synagogues don't have Rabbi's preaching hate and telling the congregation to hate non-Jews or Muslim, Mosques have hate preachers and is a place where hate its taught - and please don't tell me this is a tiny minority.

Your feeble attempt at making some comparison between Jews and Muslims is nonsensical, the numbers and facts don't add up. Your an Idiot, dont know what your talking about or saying, making it up.

Center for Social Cohesion: 40% of British Muslim students want Sharia

GfK NOP: 28% of British Muslims want Britain to be an Islamic state

ICM Poll: 40% of British Muslims want Sharia in the UK

Policy Exchange: 51% of British Muslims believe a woman cannot marry a non-Muslim
Only 51% believe a Muslim woman may marry without a guardian's consent

Policy Exchange: 1 in 4 Muslims in the UK have never heard of the Holocaust;
Only 34% of British Muslims believe the Holocaust ever happened.

Policy Exchange: Up to 52% of British Muslims believe a Muslim man is entitled to up to four wives

ICM Poll: 58% of British Muslims believe insulting Islam should result in criminal prosecution

2011: 16% of UK prisoners in 2010 are Muslim (Muslims comprise about 3% of the total population)

Muslims have highest claimed disability rates in the UK (24% of men, 21% of women)

Two-thirds of young British Muslims agree that 'honor' violence is acceptable.

Civitas: 1 in 3 Muslims in the UK strongly agree that a wife should be forced to obey her husband's bidding

Almost 19,000 deadly Terror attacks by Muslims in the name of Islam since 9-11.

ICM Poll: 20% of British Muslims sympathize with 7/7 bombers

About 1 in 5 Muslim students in Britain (18%) would not report a fellow Muslim planning a terror attack.

ICM Poll: 25% of British Muslims disagree that a Muslim has an obligation to report terrorists to police.

Center for Social Cohesion: One Third of British Muslim students support killing for Islam

Policy Exchange: One third of British Muslims believe anyone who leaves Islam should be killed

ICM Poll: 11% of British Muslims find violence for religious or political ends acceptable.

Tue, 2012-04-17 12:13 — RezaIslam (not verified)

Mon, 2012-04-16 17:01 — hugh markey (not verified)

Let's bc quite clear - Gaddafi had just made up with the West and Assad was looked upon quite favourably by the West just before the Arab Spring performed its jack-in-the-box surprise.
Of course a couple of the veteran faves went down much to the bemusement of the US, the UK and Euroland.
Suddenly, the Israelis play doggo and Saudi Arabia and the micro-royals become nigh on invisible to the Western media.
Fortunately Turkey takes over as the West's policeman in the Mid-East, with the Lebanon acting as an auxilary,
And talking about parliamentary shennigans, early in the Second World War the Tory parliamentary party voted against Winston Churchill's candidature for PM, preferring the King's choice Lord Halifax.
Now for Syria!!

Kaboom!

Sun, 2012-04-15 05:54 — mbrecker (not verified)

Why does Cameron promote a double standard? Power, money and self-preservation.

How much defense business does the UK do with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain? Also, Cameron's made it clear that he thinks intl. law is to be manipulated to promote your own interests (just like Obama). If innocent people get killed in demonstrations, "collateral damage". Can't be helped.

One key reason millions don't descend on 10 Downing St. and don't leave until Cameron does? Fear of "terrorism". We haven't been attacked in a while. Therefore, he must know what he's doing. So I'll vote for him again. I'll allow the govt. to monitor all of my communications. I have nothing to hide. So why worry?

If you don't like the U.K. govt. giving war criminals asylum, keep in mind that in the States, they can do whatever they want. People actually pay them money to listen to them talk. They break intl. law and they'll NEVER be prosecuted. If Blair came to the States, would Obama have him picked up for war crimes? No chance. Obama is an an attorney.

It';s almost like trying to talk about re-investigating 9/11. Robert Fisk and others try to be polite about it. But the real indirect message is shut the **** up. It's not my job to bring down the govt. Oh, right. How then do you explain Woodward and Bernstein bringing down Nixon because of Watergate?

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:09 — Satrander (not verified)

DC represents double standards par excellence. Bit by bit the mantle of we are all in this together si being stripped away. Bit by bit people are seeing through the slick salesman routine which is clearly not working any more. I wonder when DC is finally booted out of office which countries will he be an adviser to.. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain. Never!!!!

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:09 — Satrander (not verified)

DC represents double standards par excellence. Bit by bit the mantle of we are all in this together si being stripped away. Bit bu bit people are seeing through the slick salesman routine which is clearly not working any more. I wonder when DC is finally booted out of office which countries will he be an adviser to.. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain. Never!!!!

Fri, 2012-04-13 16:09 — p j wall (not verified)

I think if Flashman would of been PM in the '30s', he would`ve visited a certain country led by Herr HITLER suggesting this is a guy we can do business with!!, we all know which country that was!, don`t we?, his mates at the Daily Heil would also have supported him!!, Flashman, no doubt, would have taken all the 'Arms' businessmen with him and would of sold him Millions worth of lovely weapons!!, because, as Flashman would say "If we didn`t sell them to him, someone else would", good old Flashman, always thinks long term!!!.

Sun, 2012-04-15 03:37 — Red Rag1 (not verified)

Maybe Flashman could have a look at this when he gets back...then again, in all likelihood, he doesn't give a toss....http://redrag1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/red-rag-you-must-be-so-proud-mr-cameron.html

Sat, 2012-04-14 10:38 — Indu Pendent

Err . Wrong.

The Labour Party spinelessly went over to grovel to Hitler before the war "please dont be nasty to us. Lets be trading partners instead". Theres a famous piece of paper the Party and Hitler signed. It took a certain Tory to stand up to the bully which to this day Labour is incapable of doing e.g. the unions.

Labour does invade countries when it is told to but not without whimperingly hiding behind the yanks.

Sun, 2012-04-15 18:15 — p j wall (not verified)

Indu P
Dear me!, typical Tory!, re writing history!!, perhaps you could help Gove with the Tories education policy?, considering you`re well up on your history??, Classic.

Mon, 2012-04-16 19:24 — Indu Pendent

Its a fair cop. I've made an error.

Admiting errors. Typical Tory? Cant remember the last time I voted Tory!

Sat, 2012-04-14 17:01 — matthew fox (not verified)

Super wrong Inastew, Clement Attlee opposed the appeasement policy of Chamberlain.

When your wrong, you go all in, lol.

Sun, 2012-04-15 13:27 — Indu Pendent

Oops
Hold my hand up - yes you are right, Clement Attlee did oppose Munich. Even Indu makes school girl errors occasionally. It was Chamberlain and and not Attlee who signed the declaration.

(Matt note when I make an error I admit to it).

Sun, 2012-04-15 17:03 — matthew fox (not verified)

Don't you mean " another error " Inastew.

Yes, I am "so " right Inastew, please remember that.

It was Neville Chamberlain, not Clement Attlee, and don't you ever forget it.

If you going to turn honest Inastew, go all in, it would help so much.

Mon, 2012-04-16 19:49 — Indu Pendent

Meow.

Thats a tad rich coming from someone without a registered and verified account. Hiding something Foxy like a fictional email address perhaps?

Fri, 2012-04-13 11:39 — Juan (not verified)

On your second point you ask,

"I am no fan of Islamist parties but, again, why the double standards from the PM?"

How's that double standards? I he talked about "extremists, some of whom are violent", it means he was distinguishing between Islamic inspired parties that don't reject democracy (e.g. AKP) and the fruitcases of Jamaat-al-Islam and their ilk. Or you'd rather have him saying that "all Islamists parties are fascist extremists"?

Really, Mehdi, with friends like you, Muslims don't need enemies.

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Fri, 2012-04-13 09:35 — Des Demona (not verified)

Mehdi you need to come out of the land of rainbows and unicorns for a while and live in the real world. Cameron was referring to dictators who had been overthrown not those still in power - friendly or unfriendly. He was also referring to 'islamist extremists' believeing that islam and democracy were not compatible - you seem to ignore this and go off on a diatribe about Tunisian and Turkish political parties - neither of which (as far as I'm aware) include the 'extremists' being referred to.

Of course there are 'double standards.' You have to deal with who is in front of you. Politics is the art of the possible. You also seem to accuse the UK of promoting democracy with bombs and bullets. Such hyperbole! The reasons for war in Afghanistan and Iraq may have been very spurious but they were nothing to do with actively promoting democracy. The intervention in Libya was supported by the Arab league - would you have preferred the west did nothing?
A huge bit of cherry picking going on here.

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:03 — SAMIHA (not verified)

Your are completley ignorant about why the West intervened in Libya. You should get your facts straight. The idea of a massacre taking place was a myth. Indeed Ghadaffi's troops were already in Misurata when this massacre claim was made. Secondly Libya currently has no functioning central government. The society is in complete and utter chaos. Thousands of Libyans have been murdered. Hundreds of militias are controlling individual territories.

Thu, 2012-04-12 20:35 — Agent (not verified)

"...denying people their rights in the name of stability and security actually makes countries less stable in the end."

Does that include financial stability by any chance? after all the coalition denied us democracy by fudging a govt. mainly to placate the financial markets.

Thu, 2012-04-12 17:02 — DMyers

I'm not surprised to see uber-troll, Julia Harris as the first person to reply. Maybe instead of bleating on about Islam she would be wisest to perhaps read the article in its entirety first. But that would perhaps nagate her need to spew forth whatever venal diatribe comes to mind within the space of her having read a few sentences.

Cameron is, of course, continuing that very British tradition of hypocrisy when it comes not only to foreign policy, but to democracy itself. Anyone who thinks the UK is actually a democracy needs to go and read a few books on political theory first of all, and then have a look at the institutions in this country - and I include Cameron in this, although I doubt he'd understand even if it were spelt out for him. House of Lords? Not democracy. Religious figures in parliament by right (something which only happens in Iran and the UK as far as I can tell)? Not democracy. Hereditary Head of State? Not democracy. Big business and the City of London Corporation calling the shots? Not democracy. Go figure, Dave.

Tue, 2012-04-24 14:06 — Satrander (not verified)

Julia Harris is by far the most vile person commenting here. Whenever any mention is made of Israel she is ready with her tired old random arguments about Israel which nobody believes.

Sat, 2012-04-14 10:58 — Indu Pendent

"BAN ISLAM and make sure it is REFORMED "
... as the Labour party said when sending in the troops.

Actually, no. What they said was "BAN ISLAM and give Blair his Thatcher Falklands moment but do it without a plan so that half a million innocent people end up being killed"

Its called hypocracy.

Fri, 2012-04-13 15:50 — R Harris (not verified)

I agree - this Julia Harris woman not only expresses utterly odious ideas, but her arguments, unlike those of Mr hasan, are totally devoid of any subtlety or nuance. She appears to have a Manichean outlook on the world - a little like a shanty town version of Ms Melanie Philips and certainly lacking the cerebral abilities of said evil quasi-journalist.

Obviously Mehdi H is pointing out the inconsistencies in our current (and past) PM's remarks. It really does bear pointing out that we condemn dictators with one hand and sign big arms deals with other dictators with the other hand - that's hardly supporting the institution of Sharia law in the UK, as Ms Harris in her vile and worthless diatribe alleges.

"BAN ISLAM and make sure it is REFORMED " - reads like some half-wit attempting to emulate 1984 except that the internal logic of the pathetic slogan is flawed. Not only is a call to ban a religion one of the most stupid things I have read here, but are we supposed to ban it then reform it, or really why bother reforming it if we are going to ban it? Just hypothetical questions, of course, since Ms Harris's inane slogan must have been lifted from the weekend diary of a seven-year old with a father in the EDF.

Ever thought about trying to live with other people or beliefs Ms Harris? Ever thought that there may well be thousands of people who would like you BANNED for your paucity of intelligence.

I, for one, deeply admire Mehdi for speaking his mind, for raising points of hypocrisy in our foreign policy and for not being an incurable romantic old fashioned bigotted prat like you.

Fri, 2012-04-13 19:34 — Julia Harris

Oh what flowery and fluttery language R Harris uses's - he/she has got me over a barrel with its cerebral abilities that have sent me into a combustion of feelings not readily felt by a simpleton like me.

No the odious ideas are spewed from the Islamic hate preachers, little old me is just rightly concerned about it.

I would like to see the Islam banned in its current guise and/or a highly edited version of the Koran by Julia Harris that preaches love, tolerance, freedom and equality, unlike the current offering that has and does causes so much distress around the globe.

When you say EDF - are talking about the energy company? DOH!

You keep tongue-ing Mehdi's backside if it suits you, I prefer to cut the crap and say it like it is.

Fri, 2012-04-13 20:11 — R Harris (not verified)

Well you still didn't answer how you plan to BANN Islam and then reform it.

Sorry you don't like my flowery language petal, but it is certainly a lot more pleasant an inclusive than your thinly disguised bigotry.

As for my tongue in Mr Mehdi Hasan's backside - I'd rather do that than read your racist twaddle anyday, ya habibti.

Sat, 2012-04-14 11:44 — Julia Harris

Well you pass a law saying that it is illegal to practice Islam as an ideology in its current guise and/or mention specific verse's of violence and hatred that have been banned, a ban on any kind of mention or adherence to sharia law, a ban on the lack of freedom of expression surrounding proper criticism of Islam, and basically tell Muslims that Mohammed is a false prophet and that Islam and like most religions are bonkers - to develop there own minds outside of being led by religious leaders who use there doctrine as a form of control of the masses and to keep them in power.

I've been called alot worse, sticks and stones, I am not a racist as you would portray, I, as many other people know and think that the world would be a better place without Islam.

Mon, 2012-04-30 14:18 — R Harris (not verified)

"...you pass a law saying... and basically tell Muslims that Mohammed is a false prophet and that Islam and like most religions are bonkers"

I suggest that your next job should be foreign minister of some small dicatorial country where utterly nonsensical and odious ideas can be passed off as sanity.

I doubt, in all my newspaper reading years, that I have read anything as utterly infantile as your posting. Well done. Keep it up. Honorary doctorate coming your way soon.

Thu, 2012-04-12 17:18 — julia harris (not verified)

Sorry do I know you? You seem to be my number 1 fan. I did read the article and have commented where I wanted to, sorry if that doesn't fit with your sensibilities, though.

The world is full of hypocrisy and especially in the political arena our MP's have to restrain themselves from saying it like it is.

God I cant stand people like you, self hating, self loathing, guilt ridden fukwits who find fault in some areas so condemns the whole but it doesn't reflect the reality or the positive aspects of our democracy and society.

The left have shown us the total failure of running a country, the lack of ambition and progress, whilst the current economic climate might be due to unchecked greed it is that same greed and ambition that will take us out of it, not a return to any kind of socialism which is wicked and degrading.

Thu, 2012-04-12 16:12 — julia harris (not verified)

BAN ISLAM and make sure it is REFORMED and also separated from the running of any STATE in the world - as in you wouldn’t want a far right fascist or Nazi party in control.

Of course when people speak about Saudi or any of the Muslims countries we are all label ‘Islamaphobes’ so we have to watch what we say...The common denominator is Islam, extreme Islam as you call it is nothing new, Islam is Islam, it has always been extreme and taking about the global Jihad like its something out of character with Muslims and Islam is deceptive and doesn’t explain the minds those practice pure Islam.

The Prime minister doesn’t need to mention specific countries, he needs to talk about Islam as a totalitarian ideology and say that Islam needs to wake up to the modern world and reform. It has a diabolical record of human rights against its own people and any minority group.

What a joke of a journalist you are. The AK party is re-Islamising Turkey with growing attacks against Christians, not allowing Turkeys Greek orthodox to buy property with Iranian assassins being sent to Turkey to hit Jewish and Israeli targets are all signs of a flourishing democracy.

Meanwhile in Tunisia's "moderate" president supports jail terms for insulting Islam, Tunisia's new Islamic supremacist leader rules out normal ties with Israel and Islamic parties in Tunisia signal bigger role for Sharia – but of course you are pro sharia Mehdi, amazing how the left are in bed with the Islamists, the supposed supporters of freedom support the most oppressive ideology on the planet.