#United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre

[disarmamentawarenessday]

Building Capacity to Eliminate the Supply of Weapons to Terrorists in Africa and Central Asia - High-Level Briefing.

The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) will hold the High-Level Briefing on Building Capacity to Eliminate the Supply of Weapons to Terrorists in Africa and Central Asia, on the margins of the General Assembly First Committee – Disarmament and International Security. 

Watch Building Capacity to Eliminate the Supply of Weapons to Terrorists in Africa and Central Asia - High-Level Briefing!

[terrorismvictimsday]

6 Years After UNSC Resolution 2349: Examining the Implementation of Screening, Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Strategies for Persons Associated w/ Boko Haram/JAS, ISWAP & Other Terrorist Groups (2023 Counter-Terrorism Week Side-Event)

The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Executive Committee Directorate (CTED), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are organizing the side event: Six Years After UNSCR 2349: Examining the Implementation of Screening, Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Strategies for Persons Associated with Boko Haram/JAS, ISWAP and Other Terrorist Groups. Watch the panel Discussion!

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Al-Qaeda, the militant, Islamist, and terrorist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001, called upon its supporters and Muslims worldwide to carry out terror attacks in Sweden and Denmark to "take revenge" for the series of Quran-burning protests conducted in the two Nordic countries over the past few months.

Al-Qaeda Central Calls Muslims In Europe, Worldwide To Avenge Quran Burnings | MEMRI https://t.co/YwvFRTYcWb — (@SteveStalinsky) August 15, 2023

The terrorist group made these calls through the As-Sahab Media Foundation, which serves as Al-Qaeda’s official media center. The media channel released a document titled "A Statement Regarding the Assaults on the Quran and Duty of Fighting the Aggressors" on August 13th.

The three-page statement urged Muslims to conduct violent acts in Sweden, Denmark, and the rest of Europe, including killing the perpetrators of Quran burnings, burning Swedish and Danish embassies worldwide, and targeting the monarchs and diplomats of Sweden and Denmark.

"Denmark and Sweden are two small, despicable countries that amount to no more than two small spots on the world map," the statement read. "People of Islam in Sweden, Denmark, and all of Europe, the duty of revenge is placed upon you."

Aside from carrying out terrorist attacks, Al-Qaeda also urged Muslims to conduct an economic boycott against the countries involved in the Quran burnings, calling for a "battle without bloodshed or difficulty" and "silent killing" of the perpetrators.

#Denmark & #Sweden on alert! In reaction to recent Koran-burnings no less than #AlQaeda has issued call for attacks against those two nations, which terrorist-experts there advise authrties to take very seriously https://t.co/bMfqYblehX — (@EuroSavant) August 15, 2023

The statement also said that Muslims should take matters into their own hands and not rely on governments' responses from Muslim-majority countries.

"As to relying on cold responses by governments of our Islamic countries... besides them being a proof of their weakness and despicableness, they encourage [our] enemies to continue harming our sanctities," the statement said.

Tore Refslund Hamming, a senior fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization at the King’s College London, described the document by Al-Qaeda as "the most direct call from militant Islamists to carry out a terror attack against Denmark since the Mohammed crisis” in a thread on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.

The Danish intelligence service has also started monitoring the situation after the latest call for attacks by Al-Qaeda. The British government also changed its advice for travelers going to Sweden, saying it was now "very likely" that terrorist groups are planning an attack. Swedish security forces added that the terror threats against Sweden may have resulted from the Quran-burning protests in the country. However, there had been more counter-demonstrators at protests than actual protesters.

But another expert based at the King’s College London, Swedish terrorism researcher Hans Brun downplayed the threats by Al-Qaeda and said it has become obsolete because its organizational structure has been dismantled.

"This is really not anything new, but just another call to people around the world to exact revenge, and it's directed at lone actors," Brun said, adding that he did not believe Al-Qaeda was planning an attack itself.

"You could look at it as a call to action. If this was something they had organized themselves, they would not have announced it in advance like this. You should also remember that al-Qaida these days is significantly weakened," he added.

Nevertheless, Brun cautioned that the threat by Al-Qaeda might put Swedish and Danish diplomats and embassy staff working in the Middle East in danger, adding that they must take precautionary measures and avoid unnecessary engagements in the countries at risk.

Last July, the Swedish embassy in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, was burned down by protesters while the country’s security forces blocked an attempt to storm the Danish embassy.

==

The people who want you to know that "tHiS hAs nOtHiNg tO dO wItH ReLiGiOn!!," also want to tell you that if you just don't burn the quran, nobody needs to die.

It was a mistake to pander to this crap 30 years ago. Sweden and Denmark need to resist the pressure to implement Islamic blasphemy codes.

[terrormadeinqatar]

Unraveling the Financial Connections: The Al-Kuwari Clan's Alleged Ties to Terrorism

Introduction:

The Al-Kuwari clan has been implicated in allegations of financing and coordinating international terrorist cells, particularly in connection with Al-Qaeda. This blog post delves into the reported involvement of key members of the Al-Kuwari family in financing terrorist activities and their alleged connection to a controlled banking network and non-profit organizations.

The Al-Kuwari Clan's Role in Financing Terrorism: Representatives of the Al-Kuwari family, reportedly holding influential positions within Qatar's administration, are said to play a central role in financing and coordinating international terrorist cells. Despite being included in U.S. sanctions lists from 2011 to 2015, certain clan members continued to advance within the country's power structure without facing consequences.

Financial Transactions and Charitable Organizations:

The Minister of Finance of Qatar, Ali Bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, has been implicated in directing millions of dollars to 'Al-Qaeda' in Iraq and providing substantial funds to members of 'Al-Qaeda' in Syria, 'Ash-Shabaab' in Somalia, and 'Al-Qaeda' in the Arabian Peninsula through Qatar Charity, a charitable organization he is connected to.

Islamic Banking Network:

Tens of millions of dollars reportedly flowed through an affiliated network of Islamic banking linked to Ali Bin Ahmed al-Kuwari. Key financial institutions involved include Qatar National Bank, Qatar Islamic Bank, and Qatar International Islamic Bank, with intermediation through Barwa Bank and Masraf Al-Rayan.

Qatar Charity and Its Alleged Support for Terrorism:

Qatar Charity, led by Ali Bin Ahmed al-Kuwari's brother Yousef Ahmed al-Kuwari, has faced scrutiny, with the U.S. Interagency Counterterrorism Committee and the National Counterterrorism Center categorizing it as a 'Tier III (TSE) terrorist support organization.' The organization has been implicated in criminal cases initiated by victims of terrorist acts funded through the Islamic banking system.

International Connections:

The British branch of Qatar Charity, rebranded as Nectar Trust, reportedly sponsored the Emaan Islamic Center in the United Kingdom, associated with individuals linked to supporting uprisings inspired by Al-Qaeda in Iraq and Palestine, according to WikiLeaks data.

Involvement of Qatar Government Entities:

The Qatar Centre for Voluntary Activity (QCVA), operating under the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Qatar, and overseen by Abd al-Latif bin Abdullah al-Kuwari, allegedly participated in fundraising initiatives for radicals.

Individual Sanctions and Continued Involvement:

Individuals like Abd al-Latif al-Kuwari, subjected to sanctions by the United States and the United Nations in 2015 for fundraising and working as a security officer for Al-Qaeda, reportedly continued to play roles within the Qatari government even after their sanctions. This includes collaboration with Salim Hasan Khalifa Rashid Al-Kuwari, who allegedly provided financial and logistical support to Al-Qaeda.

Conclusion:

The allegations surrounding the Al-Kuwari clan's financial connections to terrorism raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of international efforts to counter terrorism financing. Further investigations and actions may be necessary to address these allegations and ensure accountability.

[mariacallous]

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, on Monday sanctioned Felix Bitzios, beneficial owner of Intellexa Consortium, and five other people and one entity associated with it, for misuse of the illegal spyware Predator, which it described as a disruptive technology and a threat to US security.

“The United States will not tolerate the reckless propagation of disruptive technologies that threatens our national security and undermines the privacy and civil liberties of our citizens,” said the Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Bradley T. Smith.

“We will continue to hold accountable those that seek to enable the proliferation of exploitative technologies, while also encouraging the responsible development of technologies that align with international standards,” he added.

Bitzios, beneficial owner of Intellexa Consortium, also acted as manager of Intellexa S.A., based in Greece, which has exported its surveillance tools to authoritarian regimes.

Andrea Nicola Constantino Hermes Gambazzi is beneficial owner of Thalestris Limited and Intellexa Limited, members of the consortium. Thalestris Limited holds the distribution rights to the Predator spyware and is the parent company to Intellexa S.A.

Merom Harpaz, an Intellexa Consortium executive, acted as a manager of Intellexa S.A.

Panagiota Karaoli is the director of multiple Intellexa Consortium entities that are controlled by or are subsidiaries of Thalestris Limited.

Artemis Artemiou (Artemiou) is the general manager and member of the board of Cytrox Holdings, a member of the Intellexa Consortium and an employee of Intellexa S.A.

All property and interests in property of the designated persons in the United States must be reported to OFAC. Any entities directly or indirectly owned by the designated persons are also blocked, OFAC said in a statement.

Financial institutions and persons that engage in transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action, it said.

Prohibited acts include providing funds, goods or services to the designated persons, or the receipt of any funds, goods, or services from them.

“Today’s action reaffirms the United States’ commitment to countering the exploitation of Americans’ sensitive data and digital authoritarianism, and aligns with a series of US Government actions to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware,” OFAC said.

In March, the US Treasury sanctioned two individuals and five companies associated with the Intellexa Spyware Consortium over “misuse of commercial surveillance tools, which increasingly present a security risk to the United States”.

Intellexa Limited and Thalestris Limited, both Ireland-based companies, and Cytrox Holdings Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Cytrox Holdings ZRT, a Hungary-based entity, all within the Intellexa Consortium, were included in the sanctions list.

OFAC also designated Tal Jonathan Dilian, founder of Intellexa Consortium, and Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou, an off-shoring specialist who has provided managerial services to the consortium, including renting office space in Greece on behalf of Intellexa S.A.

The wiretapping scandal, known as Predator Gate, or the Greek Watergate, which has occupied the Greek media since 2022, concerns the use of Predator to monitor or attempt to monitor journalists, politicians and other public figures.

Greece’s Supreme Court concluded in July that no Greek state ministry or agency had used illegal Predator spy software or any other surveillance software.

But it also said that there were grounds for “criminal prosecution … against certain legal representatives and beneficial owners of companies for criminal acts, such as the violation of the privacy of telephone communication”.

These companies, it said, violated the privacy of telephone communications of politicians, journalists and others in Greece and other countries as well. According to the court, they breached the telephone privacy of at least 116 people, among them politicians, journalists and others.

[systemtek]

New powers in the UK to seize cryptoassets used by criminals go live

Greater powers for the National Crime Agency and police to seize, freeze and destroy cryptoassets used by criminals have come into force today. Organised criminals, including drug dealers, fraudsters and terrorists, are known to increasingly use cryptoassets to launder the proceeds of crime and raise money. The NCA’s National Assessment Centre estimates that illicit crypto transactions linked to the UK are likely to have reached at least £1.2 billion in 2021, if not significantly higher. To tackle this emerging threat, the government has updated proceeds of crime and terror legislation, making it easier for UK law enforcement to effectively investigate, seize and recover illicit cryptoassets. These changes include: - Police will no longer be required to make an arrest before seizing crypto from a suspect. This will make it easier to take assets which are known to have been criminally obtained, even if sophisticated criminals are able to protect their anonymity or are based overseas - Items that could be used to give information to help an investigation, such as written passwords or memory sticks, can be seized. - Officers will be able to transfer illicit cryptoassets into an electronic wallet which is controlled by law enforcement, meaning criminals can no longer access it. - UK law enforcement will be able to destroy a crypto asset if returning it to circulation is not conducive to the public good. Privacy coins, for example, are a form of cryptocurrency that grant an extremely high degree of anonymity and are often used for money laundering. - Victims will also be able to apply for money belonging to them in a cryptoassets account to be released to them. The changes that come into force today will stop criminals from undermining the legitimate use of crypto, while also supporting the development of crypto as a potential driver of economic growth.   Home Secretary James Cleverly said: Criminals should never be able to benefit from breaking the law which is why we are making it much easier for law enforcement to stay on top of a new and developing threat. These reforms will also enhance our national security. Terrorist organisations like Daesh are known to raise funds through crypto transactions and these updated powers will enable our agencies to more easily strip them of their assets. Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said: These reforms are bad news for criminals, they send a clear message we will never let crime pay. Our agencies have already shown they have the expertise to target sophisticated criminals and deprive them of their ill-gotten gains. These new measures will help them take the fight to the next level. In January 2024, the NCA worked with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to investigate a multi-million drug enterprise which led to $150 million, in cash and crypto, being seized.   Cryptoassets were also seized in a case where three men sold counterfeit drugs on the dark web and accepted crypto as payment, amassing £750,000 in the process. They were jailed for more than 20 years between them. In a separate case, HMRC seized three non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as part of an investigation into VAT fraud, with three people arrested on suspicion of attempting to defraud the agency of £1.4 million. A small number of counter-terror investigations have also found terror groups are using crypto to raise funds. In 2021, a British man was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment after he used Bitcoin to send around £55,000 to Daesh. Adrian Searle, Director of the National Economic Crime Centre, said: Criminals are increasingly using crypto assets to conceal and move the proceeds of crime at scale and pace, pay for other criminal services and as a means to defraud victims. These new powers are very welcome and will enhance law enforcement’s ability to restrain, recover and destroy crypto assets if required. They will enable a more effective pursuit of the criminals and ultimately deny them the financial gain they crave. Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: The economic crime threat is continuously growing and evolving with criminals exploiting advances in technologies like cryptocurrency. Crypto assets are often used by criminal gangs to launder their criminal profits internationally at the touch of a button. It is vital that investigators and prosecutors have the capability and agility to keep pace with this changing nature of crime which these new measures will greatly assist our ability to restrain, freeze, or eliminate crypto assets from illegal enterprise. These powers allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to assist law enforcement in crypto forfeiture cases where our expertise can add real value. Read the full article

[blogchaindeveloper]

Cryptocurrency Regulations Around the World

Various governments, including those in the United States, China, and other regions, struggle to regulate the rapidly expanding cryptocurrency market. This thorough guide can help us better understand how various countries address the complicated world of digital currencies by navigating their present regulatory frameworks and developments. 

Understanding the regulatory environment is essential for anyone keen to study bitcoin trading and advance to the cryptocurrency expert or advisor position. Blockchain Council's cryptocurrency trading courses shine like a beacon, providing unmatched insights into digital assets and cryptocurrency trading as the need for knowledge in this industry rises.

United States 

The United States, a prominent actor in the bitcoin market, has recently seen considerable regulatory changes. In 2022, a new framework that opened the door to more stringent regulation surfaced. Market authorities like the CFTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have acquired power in this changing environment. 

Under Chairman Gary Gensler's direction, the SEC has moved aggressively toward regulation, as seen by the well-known legal action brought against Ripple. Gensler has highlighted the importance of safeguarding investors, characterizing the cryptocurrency markets as "a Wild West." The White House has also stated that it intends to deal with illicit cryptocurrency activity. It considers changing current laws and assessing the dangers of decentralized finance and non-fungible coins. 

With the Biden administration acknowledging "significant benefits" in investigating a central bank digital currency (CBDC), the possibility of a digital dollar appears to be approaching. Chairman of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell views a CBDC as a way to prevent the nation from using alternative currency. 

China 

For inheritance purposes, bitcoins are categorized as property in China. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) has banned Bitcoin mining and cryptocurrency exchanges due to worries about government funding and regulatory permission. Despite these constraints, China has been busily creating its digital yuan (e-CNY), and in 2022, it will formally launch the next stage of its CBDC pilot test program. 

Canada 

Canada proactively approaches cryptocurrency legislation. Even though they're not regarded as legal money, cryptocurrencies are liable to capital gains tax. The first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) was authorized nationwide, and cryptocurrency trading platforms must register with regulatory bodies. As money service enterprises, all cryptocurrency investment firms must register with Canada's Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC). 

United Kingdom 

Trading cryptocurrencies are considered property in the UK, and exchanges must register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). After the British Parliament's lower house recognized cryptocurrencies as regulated financial instruments and expanded the scope of existing legislation to include stablecoins, the regulatory environment became even more apparent. 

Japan 

Japan is progressive, recognizing cryptocurrency as legitimate property through the Payment Services Act (PSA). Cryptocurrency exchanges are required for anti-money laundering (AML), countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) regulations, and registering with the Financial Services Agency (FSA). The nation has been actively addressing regulatory issues, including taxation, and treats profits from cryptocurrency trading as supplemental income. 

Australia 

Australia taxes capital gains on cryptocurrencies because it considers them legal property. Exchanges must adhere to AML/CTF regulations and register with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). Prohibited trading of private coins and imposed restrictions on initial coin offerings (ICOs). 

Singapore 

Similar to the UK, Singapore considers cryptocurrencies to be property. Exchanges are licensed and governed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) by the Payment Services Act (PSA). Because long-term capital gains are tax-free, Singapore is an excellent place for cryptocurrency-related business. 

Korea 

Exchanges of cryptocurrencies and suppliers of virtual asset services in South Korea must register with the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KFIU). The nation imposed a 20% tax on digital assets; it was initially scheduled to go into effect in 2022 but was postponed until 2025. A law known as the Digital Asset Basic Act is being worked on to control the learn crypto trading industry. 

India 

India's regulations regarding cryptocurrency still need to be clarified. Although a measure to prohibit private cryptocurrency is being circulated, it has yet to be approved. India levies a 1% tax deduction at source (TDS) on cryptocurrency trades and a 30% tax on cryptocurrency investments. In late 2022, the nation started a test program using tokenized rupees. 

Brazil 

Although Brazil has not declared Bitcoin legal cash, it did enact legislation acknowledging cryptocurrencies as legitimate means of payment. The regulatory framework, the "Legal Framework for Virtual Assets," assigns responsibility for overseeing cryptocurrency exchanges to the Brazilian Central Bank. 

European Union 

Most of the European Union allows cryptocurrency, while the individual member states govern exchanges. Taxation varies by country, ranging from 0% to 50%. New regulations like the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) seek to strengthen consumer safeguards and implement licensing specifications. 

Current Worldwide Developments 

Around the world, laws are still being developed as the bitcoin business develops. Many nations are working hard to create rules and regulations to deal with the particular difficulties that come with virtual currencies. Crypto exchanges are subject to restrictions in the United States, and legislation requiring crypto service providers to obtain an operating license will soon be introduced in the European Union. Regulating cryptocurrency is happening, but it's still complex and contentious. 

In summary 

Finally, crypto advisor classes are essential for individuals keen to learn about cryptocurrency trading, as cryptocurrencies require a detailed grasp of regulatory nuances. People who want to become cryptocurrency specialists or consultants must keep up with the latest developments as governments worldwide try to find a balance between regulation and innovation.

The cryptocurrency trading courses offered by Blockchain Council are a great approach to becoming an expert in this ever-evolving industry. They convey a comprehensive understanding of cryptocurrency trading and the leading cryptocurrencies. Blockchain Council's cryptocurrency trading courses offer the necessary resources to confidently and competently navigate the complex world of cryptocurrencies, regardless of your experience level.

[thxnews]

Canada's Resilience: Honoring National War Memorial

  The Significance of the National War Memorial

On the somber ninth anniversary of the attack at the National War Memorial and on Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a poignant statement, remembering the fallen and emphasizing the unity of the nation. This attack, which occurred on October 22, 2014, left one dead and several injured, leaving an indelible mark on Canada and its people.  

Honoring the Brave

Trudeau paid tribute to Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a sentinel guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He also honored Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, who lost his life two days prior in a separate attack in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. These two brave members of the Canadian Armed Forces had unwavering dedication to their country. On this day, Canadians remember them with the deepest condolences to their families, loved ones, and colleagues.   Saluting First Responders and Heroes The Prime Minister also extended gratitude to the first responders who risked their lives to mitigate the attacks and keep Canadians safe. Furthermore, he praised the bystanders who acted selflessly in the face of danger to aid the victims. Their courage and swift action exemplified the resilience and unity that define Canada in the face of adversity.  

Timeline: Events Leading up to the Attack

October 22, 2014 - The Day That Shook Canada Nine years ago, on October 22, 2014, Canada was confronted with a tragedy that sent shockwaves across the nation. A meticulously planned act of terrorism unfolded, catching the country by surprise. The perpetrator, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, already known to Canadian authorities due to his history of criminal activity, orchestrated the attack that would change Canada forever.   The Attack: Details of the Incident An Act of Terror on Sacred Ground On that fateful morning, Zehaf-Bibeau approached the National War Memorial, armed with a lever-action rifle. The assailant shot Corporal Nathan Cirillo, who was guarding the monument, tragically losing his life in service to his country. Zehaf-Bibeau then carjacked a vehicle and rapidly advanced towards Parliament Hill, breaching security and gaining entry to the Centre Block, the heart of Canada's government. Inside Parliament, a brief firefight unfolded between the assailant and security personnel, ultimately culminating in Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers stopping Zehaf-Bibeau. Although the attack had a limited scope, it exposed vulnerabilities in Canada's security infrastructure, leading to a comprehensive review of the nation's readiness to confront such threats.  

Response and Aftermath: Canada's Reaction and Consequences

Unity in the Face of Adversity Canada's response to the attack was characterized by unity and resilience. This tragic incident served as a stark reminder that no nation is entirely immune to acts of terrorism, regardless of its reputation for peace and security. The nation united in mourning the loss of Corporal Nathan Cirillo and celebrated the bravery of those who confronted the assailant.   Countering Radicalization The attack prompted a nationwide conversation about the factors contributing to the radicalization of individuals like Zehaf-Bibeau. Consequently, the government pledged to address these root causes and work diligently towards preventing radicalization, with the aim of building a more inclusive and tolerant society.   Enhanced Security Measures Afterward, authorities implemented a series of security measures to safeguard Canadian institutions and its citizens. They increased funding for counter-terrorism efforts, which improved intelligence-sharing among security agencies and bolstered border security. New legislation enhanced the powers of law enforcement agencies in monitoring and countering potential threats. Security agencies also collaborated with communities to identify individuals at risk of radicalization and provide support to divert them from extremism. Public awareness campaigns were launched to educate Canadians about the signs of radicalization and how to report suspicious activities. The attack on the National War Memorial and Parliament Hill was a tragic event that prompted Canada to reflect on its security posture and adapt to an evolving threat landscape. It demonstrated the nation's resilience and unity in the face of adversity. Canada's response, with its focus on both security and the prevention of radicalization, serves as an example of a nation determined to maintain its commitment to peace and security while safeguarding its citizens from the threat of terrorism.   Sources: THX News, Wikipedia & The Canadian Government. Read the full article

[warningsine]

Iraq has hanged three people convicted for a 2016 bombing that killed more than 320 people in a Baghdad shopping district and was claimed by the Islamic State group, the prime minister's office said on Monday.

The bombing was one of the world's deadliest after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

At least 323 people were killed in the car bombing that sparked raging fires in Baghdad's Karrada shopping area early on July 3, 2016 as it teemed with people ahead of the Eid al-Fitr festival ending the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, during a meeting with victims' families, informed them "the rightful punishment of death sentence was carried out against three key criminals found guilty of their involvement in the terrorist bombing", his office said in a statement.

It was one of the deadliest attacks to ever hit Iraq.

Police Major General Talib Khalil Rahi said at the time that the bomber's minibus had been loaded with plastic explosives and ammonium nitrate.

The initial blast killed a limited number of people, but flames spread and trapped people inside shopping centres which lacked emergency exits, Rahi told a news conference a few days later.

The raging fires made it difficult to identify the dead.

Interior Minister Mohammed Ghabban resigned in the wake of the blast.

IS had overrun large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but by the time of the Karrada blast Iraqi forces had regained significant territory from the jihadists, who hit back against civilians in response.

Iraq's government declared victory against IS in late 2017 after a military campaign backed by a United States-led military coalition.

In October 2021 Iraq announced the arrest outside the country of the person it said was the main suspect behind the Karrada blast. Then-prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi said Ghazwan Alzawbaee was "the primary culprit" in that attack "and many others."

A government source told AFP that Alzawbaee was among those put to death.

The statement from Sudani's office, however, did not name those executed or say when they were sentenced. It said the executions were carried out Sunday night and Monday morning.

The United Nations estimated in a report in March that IS still has "5,000 to 7,000 members and supporters" across Iraq and neighbouring Syria, "roughly half of whom are fighters".

IS cells continue to target security forces and civilians in both countries but the UN report said IS had been much depleted by "sustained counter-terrorism operations" on both sides of the border.

Over several years, Iraqi courts have handed down hundreds of death sentences as well as life prison terms under the penal code for membership in "a terrorist group".

Iraqi courts also issue the death penalty for intentional homicide.

In 2022 Iraq executed more than 11 people, fewer than in the United States, and sentenced more than 41 to death, according to a report by Amnesty International.

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up November 1, 2022

Under the cut:

Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations have agreed to not plan for any ship movements in the Black Sea grain corridor on Wednesday, according to a statement from the UN Secretariat at the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul on Tuesday.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy met today with Kadri Simson, European Union commissioner for energy affairs, and told her that Russian forces have “seriously damaged” about 40% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, in particular thermal power plants and hydroelectric power plants. Because of the ongoing attacks, Ukraine has been forced to stop exporting electricity to Europe

The Russian-occupying government in the Kherson oblast has moved its administration further south to Skadovsk, said the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces.

Russian occupation authorities in southern Ukraine said Tuesday, Nov.1 that tens of thousands more people would be evacuated from the Kherson region amid Kyiv’s counter-offensive. The Russian-installed leader of Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said some 70,000 people along a 15-kilometre (10-mile) stretch of the left bank of the Dnipro river would be moved deeper into the region or to Russia.

Ukraine’s military has accused Russian-installed officials in the southern region Kherson of spreading misinformation to coerce civilians to leave the region in a forced evacuation, a war crime. In a statement on Tuesday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said, “The occupiers continue the forced displacement of civilians in the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson region. The enemy resorts to intimidation of civilians, spreading misinformation about a possible explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam,” the statement said.

“Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations have agreed to not plan for any ship movements in the Black Sea grain corridor on Wednesday, according to a statement from the UN Secretariat at the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul on Tuesday.

UN and Turkish teams on Tuesday carried out 36 inspections aboard outbound vessels, according to the statement. They attempted to inspect another two ships, but the process was cut short because of “issues related to fumigated cargo,” the statement said. The inspection reports would be shared with Ukrainian and Russian delegation, it added.

“The UN Secretariat reiterates that movements and inspections carried out after the Russian Federation suspended its participation in implementation activities at the Joint Coordination Centre is a temporary and extraordinary measure,” according to the statement.

The JCC said earlier today that three ships had left Ukrainian ports Tuesday, despite Russia’s decision to suspend its participation in the arrangement on Saturday.”-via CNN

~

“President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the European Union Commissioner for Energy Affairs Kadri Simson.

The head of state thanked the European Commissioner for his visit to Ukraine at a time when the energy infrastructure is under massive attack by missiles and drones from Russia.

Volodymyr Zelenskyi also noted the role of Kadri Simson in joining Ukraine to the European energy grid ENTSO-E. He reminded that after accession, our state began to export electricity to Europe and can act as one of the guarantors of the stability of the EU energy system.

"Unfortunately, due to the strikes of missiles and kamikaze drones by the Russian Federation on our energy system, we have suspended this process. But I am sure that we will restore everything, and in a calmer time, when the situation in our energy system will be stabilized, we will continue exporting electricity to Europe," the President of Ukraine emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelenskyi informed the European Commissioner about the consequences of energy terrorism on the part of Russia, which has already seriously damaged about 40% of the entire energy infrastructure of Ukraine, in particular thermal power plants, thermal power plants and hydroelectric power plants, as well as about the measures taken by our state to stabilize the operation of the power grid.

The interlocutors discussed further steps to ensure Ukraine's energy security. The head of state spoke in detail about Ukraine's needs for the restoration of energy infrastructure and called on the European Commission to play a coordinating role in attracting assistance from EU member states.

Volodymyr Zelensky drew attention to the expediency of creating a platform to support the Ukrainian economy, in particular the energy sector, like the Contact Group in the "Ramstein" format.

"This platform, such an "economic Ramstein", is being built and will start working. Today, the issue of energy goes hand in hand with the financial crisis and the shortage of weapons, so such a platform should be created," the Head of State is convinced.

The parties paid special attention to the further strengthening of energy sanctions against the Russian Federation. The President of Ukraine called for the introduction of price restrictions on Russian gas in addition to the price restrictions on oil, as well as to limit the supply of Russian liquefied gas to EU countries within the framework of the next sanctions package, which must be approved as soon as possible.”-via Official Website of the President of Ukraine (translated from Ukrainian)

~

“The Russian-occupying government in the Kherson oblast has moved its administration further south to Skadovsk, said the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces.

This comes as Russian authorities relocate 70,000 civilians from the left bank of the Dnipro river – one week after relocating them there from the right bank. The general staff described these tactics as “intimidation of civilian residents”.”-via The Guardian

~

“Russian occupation authorities in southern Ukraine said Tuesday, Nov.1 that tens of thousands more people would be evacuated from the Kherson region amid Kyiv’s counter-offensive.

The Russian-installed leader of Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said some 70,000 people along a 15-kilometre (10-mile) stretch of the left bank of the Dnipro river would be moved deeper into the region or to Russia.

“We have already begun this work,” he said in an interview with the Solovyov Live YouTube channel.

He said the resettlement was being carried out because of the risk of a “massive missile attack” by Ukrainian forces on a local dam.

Russia’s occupation authorities last week said that 70,000 civilians left their homes located on the right bank of the Dnipro River.

On Monday Saldo had said the latest evacuations would allow the Russian army to set up defences and repel a possible Ukrainian attack.

Kyiv’s forces are preparing for a fierce battle to retake the region’s main city Kherson and the surrounding areas on the right bank of the Dnipro River after making major gains in Ukraine’s east and south.

The city, with a pre-war population of around 288,000 people, was one of the first to fall to Moscow’s forces after President Vladimir Putin sent troops across the border in February. Retaking it would mark a major milestone for Kyiv.”-via Kyiv Post

~

“Ukraine’s military has accused Russian-installed officials in the southern region Kherson of spreading misinformation to coerce civilians to leave the region in a forced evacuation, a war crime.

In a statement on Tuesday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said, “The occupiers continue the forced displacement of civilians in the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson region.”

“The enemy resorts to intimidation of civilians, spreading misinformation about a possible explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam,” the statement said.

The Ukraine armed forces explained that the local population in Kherson has been “deprived of means of communication,” and are unable to get an accurate picture of what is really happening in the war.

Earlier in the week, Russian-installed officials announced a new evacuation from Kherson region of Ukraine, saying they are taking civilians to safety because of the risk Ukraine might use unconventional weapons.

“Due to the possibility of the use of prohibited methods of war by the Ukrainian regime, as well as information that Kyiv is preparing a massive missile strike on the Kakhovka hydroelectric station, there is an immediate danger of the Kherson region being flooded,” Vladimir Saldo, Russian-installed head of occupied Kherson province, said in a video message Monday.”-via CNN

~

“Mykolaiv oblast was hit hard last night after four Russian missiles struck the city, killing an elderly woman who had been sheltering from the bombings in her bathroom, said Vitaly Kim, the governor of Mykolaiv oblast.

The missiles partially destroyed the buildings of educational institutions and completely destroyed a two-storey building, the governor said. Private houses were damaged, and a fire broke out in a five-storey residential building.

The blast wave and debris knocked out the OSB plates at a nearby medical facility, which construction crews had put in front of the windows after a previous shelling, Kim said.”-via The Guardian

[terrorismvictimsday]

High-Level Segment - International Conference on Victims of Terrorism.

The High-Level Segment will open with remarks from the conference's organizers, the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the Kingdom of Spain as well as a call to action by victims and survivors of terrorism. Remarks from ministerial-level speakers and principals of international organizations and UN entities will follow.

Introductory Remarks: Mr. Mauro Miedico,Director, United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism

Opening Statement:

·    Statement by H.E. Mr. Salih Husain Ali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Iraq to Spain and Co-Chair of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, on behalf of H.E. Mr. Fuad Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Iraq.

 Ministerial Statements:

·       H.E. Ms. Victoria Eugenia Villaruel,Vice-President of Argentina

·       H.E. Mr. Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama

·       H.E. Mr. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

·       H.E. Ms. Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba

·       H.E Sevim Sayım Madak, Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Türkiye

·       H.E. Joan Antoni León Peso, Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice and Interior, Andorra

·       H.E. Mr. Péter Sztáray, State Secretary for Security Policy of Hungary

Heads of UN Entities:

·       Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

·       Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (via pre-recorded video)

·       Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (via live video)

 Eminent Speakers:

·       H.E. Joan Antoni León Peso, Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice and Interior, Andorra

·       H.E. Mr. Sos Avetisyan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to Spain

·       H.E. Ms. Rosemary Morris-Castico, Ambassador of Australia to Spain

·       H.E. Mr. Mohammad Sarwar Mahmood, Ambassador of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to Spain

·       H.E. Mr. Yao Jing, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Spain

·       H.E. Mr. Dinesh Patnaik, Ambassador of India to Spain

·       H.E. Mr. Zahoor Ahmed, Ambassador of Pakistan to Spain

·       H. E. Mr. Robert Krmelj, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Spain

·       H.E. Mr. Hasan Alagla, Chief, Department of Human Rights, Presidency of State Security, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

·       Ms. Alexandra Louis, Interministerial Delegate for Victim Support, France

·       Hon. Rita Superman, Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism, Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM)

·       Statement by Mr. Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism (via pre-recorded video)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Building on the momentum created by the first United Nations Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism in 2022, the United Nations International Conference on Victims of Terrorism is hosted by the Kingdom of Spain in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz on 8-9 October 2024. The conference brings together experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. It aims to foster collaboration, inspire innovative solutions, and advocate for a holistic approach to addressing the needs of victims of terrorism while striving to build more peaceful and resilient societies globally.

Related Sites and Documents

More information and latest programme

Watch the High-Level Segment - International Conference on Victims of Terrorism!

[swan-of-sunrise]

Civil War (Chapter Four)

Summary: In the aftermath of the U.N. bombing, (Y/N) receives a call from Steve and is ‘invited’ to the Joint Counter Terrorism Centre in Berlin for questioning.

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Reader

Word Count: 3k

Warnings/Disclaimers: None

A/N: I’m not too sure about this chapter, it’s all over the place and I’ve rewritten it twice so I can’t tell if it’s good or not lol thank you for reading, I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Four (Previous Chapter)

While the paramedics finished fastening the bandage around her head, (Y/N) sat in the back of the ambulance and silently watched the chaos unfolding. A fire crew was busy hosing down the still-smoldering ruins and a medical helicopter flew overhead as different government agencies began setting up their base camps on the outskirts of the caution tape. The CIA agent who’d questioned her about the incident had informed her that a large-scale bomb had gone off next to their building, injuring over seventy people and killing twelve; she’d gone on to explain to her that if not for T’Challa’s last-minute warning, many more people would’ve perished in the blast.

Poor T’Challa, (Y/N) thought to herself with a pang of sadness. His father, King T’Chaka, had been the closest person to the blast and was killed instantly. The paramedics completed their work and she thanked them before quickly getting out of their way, knowing that there were many others who still needed to be helped. Shoving her hands into the pockets of her ash-covered blazer, she walked along the edge of the crime scene towards where she’d last seen Natasha and T’Challa; different international news reporters were documenting the tragedy and as she passed by one of them, their words almost made her stop dead in her tracks.

“Officials have released a video of a suspect who they have identified as James Buchanan Barnes, the Winter Soldier. The infamous Hydra agent, linked to numerous acts of terrorism and political assassinations…”

(Y/N) continued walking, afraid that she’d be recognized if she lingered too long, and finally sat down on an empty bench near the CIA’s base camp. Once she got over the initial shock of learning the suspected identity of the bomber, she couldn’t help but feel confused; Bucky had been on the run for over two years, ever since the Battle at the Triskellion and the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D., and there hadn’t been any sign of him since. Steve and Sam had tracked down every single lead they could find but to no avail. To her, it didn’t make much sense that after all that time, the wanted man would suddenly decide to do something as massive as bomb the United Nations.

The buzzing of her cell phone in her pocket jolted her out of her thoughts; pulling it out and glancing down at the screen, her eyes widened in recognition and she was quick to answer it. “Hello?”

“Are you hurt?”

“Um…yeah, a little. My right eardrum ruptured from the noise of the blast and my lungs feel like crap, but other than that I’m okay…” She trailed off, listening as Steve let out a shaky sigh of relief. Try as she might, memories of their recent fight came to mind but she forced aside her irritation with him as she continued. “Listen Steve, I just heard about Bucky and I-”

“You’re gonna tell me the same thing Nat did: to leave it up to the Task Force and stay home.”

She blinked, taken aback by the shortness of his tone. “Well, I think she has a point about staying out of it but what I was actually going to say is that-”

“I’m the only one who can bring him in alive, (Y/N), so that’s what I’m gonna do. I just wanted to call and tell you myself so that you didn’t believe I was hiding things from you.” Steve abruptly interrupted and after a moment of tense silence, the hard edge in his voice softened a little. “Look, I’m…take care of yourself while I’m gone, okay? Don’t forget to change that bandage of yours every few hours.”

The call disconnected as (Y/N)’s head snapped up in shock and she hurriedly scanned her surroundings, but the super-soldier was nowhere to be seen. “Bastard.”

“(Y/N)!” She looked over in time to see Natasha striding over to her, her brow furrowed in worry. “(Y/N), I just got a call from Steve a few minutes ago, and-” The spy stopped herself short as she examined her assumedly-angered expression. “I take it you got one, too.”

“Yep, and I’d rather not discuss it right now if that’s okay.”

Natasha nodded. “Fine by me, hot-shot, but we should be going; our presence has been…um, requested in Berlin. At the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre, to be precise.”

Frowning, (Y/N) stood and walked alongside her. “Our? What’s all this got to do with me?” The spy gave her a pointed look and she exhaled through her nose. “Ah, yes, my ‘association’ with Steve Rogers. They’ve guessed that he’d be the first one after Bucky and since I’m his fiancé, they want to hold me for questioning.”

“Pretty much…but there’s another reason that I’ll let Tony tell you about himself when we arrive. It was his bad idea, after all.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By that point, (Y/N) was well and truly sick of flying; they’d taken the Quinjet to the Berlin-Tegel Airport, where a car had picked them up and drove them to the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre. If her head hadn’t hurt so much and she were in a better mood, she would’ve taken the time to admire all the historical landmarks they passed by. And here I thought that week we spent dealing with Ultron was exhausting, she thought with a humorless smile, getting out of the car and walking alongside Natasha as they entered the parking garage’s elevator.

“When you’re questioned by an agent, be sure to answer as honestly as possible.” (Y/N) glanced up from her dirty sneakers and met Natasha’s serious expression. “Cooperation’s the only thing that’s gonna help Steve and Sam out right now, (Y/N). Don’t let the agent get inside your head, though; make sure that you’re the one in control of the situation, just like I’ve taught you. If I know them like I think I do, they’re gonna try and get more valuable intel out of you than just Steve’s whereabouts.”

She nodded after a brief moment of hesitation and the spy’s shoulders relaxed a little. The elevator stopped at the top floor and its doors slid open to reveal two men; one was Tony Stark, dressed stylishly in a dark-grey suit with a tense smile on his face and the other was an older man with salt-and-pepper colored hair that she didn’t recognize. The stranger stepped forward and shook Natasha’s outstretched hand. “Miss Romanoff, thank you for coming in so quickly.”

“Of course,” Natasha replied before glancing over at (Y/N). “(Y/N), this is Everett Ross, Deputy Task Force Commander of the CIA. Agent Ross, this is (Y/N) (Y/L/N).”

Agent Ross smiled and shook her hand, but (Y/N) got the distinct feeling that he was studying her expression and analyzing her behaviors. “I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, Miss (Y/L/N); my niece and nephew are big fans of your novel.”

(Y/N) murmured her thanks and followed the trio as they walked down a covered sky-way, not noticing that Tony had fallen into step beside her until he quietly asked, “How’re you holdin’ up, Austen?”

“Let’s just say that I’ve had better days.” She remarked, glancing over at the billionaire with a raised brow. “Nat mentioned something about a bad idea you wanted to run by me?”

“Oh, I have a couple of ‘em, but I’ll let you get changed before I go ahead and tell you. When I heard about the bombing, I figured that you and Romanoff would need clothes so I packed some before I left the compound.”

Touched by his thoughtfulness, (Y/N) allowed him to lead her to a private bathroom and quickly changed out of her soot-covered clothing; she felt a little bit like her usual self as she emerged from the bathroom, but the comforting feeling her change of clothes had inspired soon disappeared when the billionaire ushered her into a glass-walled conference room in the middle of what she imagined was a control room.

“Sorry if it seems like we’re sitting inside a fish bowl but this is the only place where we can talk without being overheard.” Tony sat down across from her at the long table, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. “And I’m sorry about the civilian consultant thing, Austen. We all found out about it last night when Secretary Ross called to ask who’d decided to sign; he seemed crankier than usual when we told him that we didn’t know what you’d decided to do.”

(Y/N) rolled her eyes and leaned her elbow onto the table, resting her head in her hand with an exasperated sigh. “What, does Ross think that if I sign then that’ll make Steve suddenly change his mind and decide to sign too?”

“Pretty much…but truth be told, he’s not the only one.” Her brow rose in surprise as Tony sat forward in his chair, an uncharacteristically subdued expression on his face. “Look, (Y/N), none of us wants to see Rogers gone. The team needs him and we both know how much he needs the team, so…I was hoping that if you signed, you’d be able to convince him that he’d be doing the right thing by signing too. Once Rogers signs them, then Wilson and Maximoff should follow suit and we’d have our Earth’s Mightiest Heroes all back together again in no time. What do you think?”

“You make it sound so easy…and I wish it was, Tony. I really do.” She stood and walked over to the glass wall, her eyes trained on a large computer monitor that bore her fiancé’s photograph on a wanted poster. “But you and I also know that once Steve’s made up his mind about something it’s impossible to change it. I tried telling him that refusing to sign might put our future together in jeopardy, and do you know what he said?”  Turning back around, she met the billionaire’s gaze and mirthlessly smiled. “He said that he couldn’t afford to be selfish and he left it at that.” A lump formed in her throat as she blinked away her tears and shrugged. “He respects the hell out of you, Tony, so maybe you’ll have a better change at convincing him. I’ll be there when you do, but…since I haven’t decided what I’ll do yet, I honestly don’t know how much help I’ll be.”

Just as Tony opened his mouth to reply, the glass door of the conference room slid open and none other than Sharon Carter poked her head into the room. “If you’re ready, Agent Ross would like to ask you some questions.” (Y/N) stood and spared Tony a final glance before following the agent down the hall, pointedly ignoring the jealous pang in the pit of her stomach as she did. “Romanoff mentioned that you weren’t much of a coffee drinker, so I brought you some hot chocolate instead.” She looked over to see Sharon holding out a to-go cup out towards her, a hesitant but friendly sort of smile on her face. “Might help settle your nerves before your talk with Ross.”

She accepted the beverage with a murmur of thanks and took a sip as they continued down the hall; giving the agent a sideways glance, she cleared her throat before saying, “I’m sorry about your aunt, Sharon.”

“Thank you…and thank you for everything you said in your eulogy. Actually,” Sharon stopped beside the stairwell door and gestured towards it. “We don’t have much time, but do you mind if we talk for a quick sec?” (Y/N)’s brow furrowed a little but she nodded and followed her into the stairwell, watching as she leaned back against the wall and shuffled her feet. “You meant a lot to Aunt Peggy, (Y/N), but I don’t think you know just how much she appreciated you. Back before her dementia got worse, she’d call me after her visits with Rogers and we’d talk for hours; she worried about him, always telling me that he was deliberately keeping himself from embracing his new life and that there wasn’t anything she could do to help. But then you came into his life and from what she told me, it was a night and day difference; knowing that you were there for Steve, as a friend and then as something more, gave her piece of mind. She really liked you, (Y/N), and she really respected you. I just thought that you should know that.”

“Thank you, Sharon, that…that really means a lot to me.”

The agent nodded, suddenly looking a little uncomfortable. “I would’ve told you all that after the funeral but you and Steve were sort of…well, you know…arguing. I swear I wasn’t eavesdropping, it’s just that you both were kind of loud and the cathedral has crazy-good acoustics.” (Y/N) started to reply but Sharon cut her off with a firm head shake. “You’ve got nothing to apologize for, (Y/N). I’m not exactly a fan of the Accords but just between us? I think that Steve was out of line back there.” Unsure of what to say, she nodded once and took another sip of her drink as the agent looked down at her wristwatch. “C’mon, we should get going before Ross starts looking for us.”

The two of them left the stairwell and continued down the hallway to an office; Agent Ross was seated at a desk and reading through a file, looking up from his work with a friendly smile. “Thank you, Agent 13, that’ll be all.” With one last glance, Sharon turned and left them alone. “Please, take a seat.” (Y/N) sat down in the chair across from him and crossed her leg over her knee, trying her best to remain cool and collected. “Miss (Y/L/N), we have reason to believe that Captain Rogers plans on interfering with the apprehending of the Winter Soldier; can you tell me when you last spoke to your fiancé?”

“A little over three hours ago in Vienna. He called to ask if I’d been injured during the bombing and then he warned me that he was planning on bringing in Bucky himself. That’s all he said.”

Ross nodded and gestured to the bandage wrapped around her head. “And are you okay?”

“Yes, it’s only a ruptured eardrum; the bandage is just keeping the ear from becoming infected.” (Y/N) shrugged, taking another sip of her drink before setting it down on the desk. “Truth be told, I’ve had worse.”

Nodding again, the agent picked up the open file on his desk and scanned its contents. “Yeah, it seems like you have. In March of 2014, you suffered a moderate-grade concussion, GSW on your left thigh and a severe muscle contusion on the other thigh; it also says here that you even needed an emergency blood transfusion upon arrival at the hospital.” He looked back up at her with an arched brow. “Sounds like a lot for a civilian to go through.”

(Y/N) blinked in surprise. “I-it was-”

“And according to witness statements from the Avengers, the Artificial Intelligence known as Ultron targeted you last year because of your close relationship with Steve Rogers, is that correct?” Nodding, she struggled to keep her expression neutral as her fingers began reflexively tracing along her old gunshot wound. “It looks like you were just a pawn in Ultron’s plan to break the Avengers apart, and it very nearly worked.”

Her first instinct was to snap at the agent but after recalling Natasha’s earlier warning, she swallowed her frustration and gave him a fleeting smile. “The CIA certainly cares a lot about historical fiction novelists, doesn’t it?”

Ross chuckled and leaned forward in his seat. “Only the ones engaged to rogue super-soldiers, of course. Speaking of super-soldiers, can you elaborate on the nature of your fiancé’s connection to James Barnes?”

“There’s nothing much to say that hasn’t already been said; Steve and Bucky were childhood friends who fought together during World War II and when S.H.I.E.L.D. fell, Steve and Sam tried searching for Bucky but they never found him.”

Nodding, the agent reached over and moved his computer monitor to face her; on the screen was a blurry image of a man wearing dark clothing, obviously taken from grainy security camera footage. “And is this James Barnes?”

“Yes, although I’ve only seen him in person once and this photo’s a little blurry.”

“Okay, let me see if I’ve got this straight: Steve’s old pal bombs the U.N. meeting that you, his fiancée, was attending and instead of rushing to your side like any other partner would do, he decides to leave the country to apprehend Barnes himself. Does that pretty much sum things up?” (Y/N)’s jaw clenched tightly and she stared silently at the agent in front of her, who tilted his head to the side as he considered her. “You see, the CIA knows that you and Captain Rogers are close but what we don’t know is how far you’d go to protect a man who doesn’t sound like he’s got your best interests at heart.”

Before (Y/N) could finally lose her temper, another agent poked his head into the office. “I’m sorry, Agent Ross, I know you said that you didn’t want to be disturbed but this is urgent.”

“Fine, fine…”

Ross stood and followed the agent out into the hallway, leaving the office door cracked open just far enough for her to make out some of what they were saying. “Rhodes…all of them arrested…Bucharest…ETA in less than six…”

Thank goodness they’re all right, (Y/N) thought as relief washed over her, they’ll both be charged with obstruction of justice but at least they’re alive. Some of her elation disappeared as her mind drifted back to Agent Ross’ line of questioning; Natasha was right, the CIA was taking the golden opportunity to get intel on Captain America with the knowledge that what they were doing was protected under the Sokovia Accords. The thought of being manipulated and used that way infuriated her but what angered her more was that this all stemmed from Steve’s unwillingness to consider the consequences of not signing the Accords. You’re in control here, she told herself with a calming breath, just do everything Nat told you to do and you’ll be okay…

Agent Ross reentered the office and sat back down with an expectant smile on his face. “Well, now, where were we?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: This story’s a little more challenging to write than The Winter Soldier or Age of Ultron, there’s so much angst to deal with and writing these chapters really takes a lot out of me, so any likes, reblogs and comments are really appreciated ❤️

Thank you all so much for reading and commenting, you guys are truly amazing! I’ve created a Spotify playlist inspired by this series, and I’ll be updating it every time I upload a new chapter. Enjoy!

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4TsJ2TY1F2HDXhEYOfzCjY?si=f5f309da80a74a63

Chapter Five

Civil War Masterlist

Tagging: @mrs-obrien​ @lahoete​ @awkward117​ @cminr​ @natdrunk​ @momc95​ @savedbystyle​ @miraculouscloud​ @awkwardnesshabitat​ @marinettepotterandplagg​ @khuang3​ @supersouthy​ @benakenalove​ @brooke0297​ @hufflepeople​ @becausewelie​​ @outoftheregular @supreme-tantrum​ @ladydmalfoy​ @mads-weasley​ @username23345​ @crist1216​ @aesthethickks​

[othersociologist]

Policing the Quarantine

Heavy-handed policing was deployed in response to the Covid-19 outbreak in the nine tower blocks in Melbourne where residents are mainly Black, Brown and Asian. Fines have been administered more in suburbs where the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and/or migrant population is higher. But, the same logics of colonial policing used for over 200 years are also affecting other groups at a time when a policing, rather than a public-health oriented, response to the pandemic is being rolled-out by state governments with the use of fines, lockdowns, curfews, and even prison sentences against those who are seen as failing to comply with Covid orders. 

Panellists 

Roxanne Moore is a Noongar woman and human rights lawyer from Margaret River in Western Australia. She is the Executive Officer for the National Peak body on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS ). Previously, Roxanne was an Indigenous Rights Campaigner with Amnesty International Australia and Principal Advisor to Change the Record Coalition. Roxanne has worked for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, as Principal Associate to the Hon Chief Justice Wayne Martin AC QC; as a commercial litigator; and has international experience with UNHCR Jordan and New York University’s Global Justice Clinic. Roxanne studied law at the University of WA, and completed an LLM (International Legal Studies) at NYU, specialising in human rights law, as a 2013 Fulbright Western Australian Scholar. Professor 

Megan Davis is Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous and Professor of Law at UNSW. She is Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court and was recently appointed the Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law. Professor Davis currently serves as a United Nations expert with the UN Human Rights Council's Expert Mechanism on the rights of Indigenous peoples based in UN Geneva. Megan is an Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court. Professor Davis is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences. She is a member of the NSW Sentencing Council and an Australian Rugby League Commissioner. Professor Davis was Director of the Indigenous Law Centre, UNSW Law from 2006-2016. Professor Davis is formerly Chair and expert member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2011-2016). As UNPFII expert she was the focal point for UN Women and UN AIDS. During this period of UN service, Megan was the Rapporteur of the UN EGM on an Optional Protocol to the UNDRIP in 2015, the Rapporteur of the UN EGM on Combating violence against Indigenous women and girls in 2011 and the UN Rapporteur for the International EGM on Indigenous Youth in 2012. Megan has extensive experience as an international lawyer at the UN and participated in the drafting of the UNDRIP from 1999-2004 and is a former UN Fellow of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. 

Dr Vicki Sentas is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Law at UNSW. She researches processes of criminalisation and racialisation in law and policing. She teaches in criminal law, criminology and policing and coordinates the Police Powers Clinic, an experiential learning course, in partnership with Redfern Legal Centre. Her recent and current research projects examine: the effects of counter-terrorism practices on criminal justice and racialised peoples; the criminalisation of armed conflicts, self-determination and diasporas through the use of security lists; police powers and their relationship to diverse forms of regulation including pre-emption and prosecution; police accountability and criminal justice reform.

[cabiba]

Following ISIS’s demise, Islamists around the world have been forced to radically reassess their strategy against the West. Dashing the utopian hopes of its sympathisers, the fall of the Caliphate has set back the Islamist cause for decades. Just as when many Communists became disillusioned once their ideology had been implemented in the Soviet Union, ISIS’s barbarity can no longer be ignored.

True, even in 2021, some groups such as the resurgent Taliban and Boko Haram — to say nothing of the Iranian regime — remain committed to a type of Islamist militancy that includes an emphasis on violence, with all the human suffering that entails. But for the most part, jihadist militancy has proved unpopular among Muslims, often inviting a violent counter-reaction. Its promise of an Islamist dream state has lost its appeal.

Yet Islamists in the West appear to have found a possible solution that sidesteps, at least for now, the use of explicit violence. The core of this alternative strategy is to focus as much as possible on dawa.

Nearly 20 years after 9/11, Westerners still remain unfamiliar with dawa. In theory, the term simply refers to the call to Islam, a kind of invitation; Westerners would recognise it as part of a proselytising mission. In practice, however, Islamists rely on dawa as a comprehensive propaganda, PR and brainwashing system designed to make all Muslims embrace an Islamist programme while converting as many non-Muslims as possible.

Among Western analysts, dawa — which became a tool of the Muslim Brotherhood in the 20th century — has traditionally received far less attention than militant jihad, though observers have emphasised its importance in the “humanitarian” activities of Hamas.

In Unveiled, the ex-Muslim Yasmine Mohammed compellingly describes her difficult marriage to the Egyptian jihadist Essam Marzouk. Yasmine commented on the rivalry that exists between jihadists (such as her ex-husband) and ostensibly “non-violent” Islamists:

“The truth is that Essam hated the [Muslim] Brotherhood: he thought Islamists were a bunch of pansies. He was actually aligned with a more militant group in Egypt called Al Jihad, who were the Egyptian wing of Al Qaeda. Both Islamists and jihadis have the same goal — to spread Islam — but they have different methods. Islamists want to do this through passive means such as politics, immigration and childbirth.”

This important point is often lost on politicians in Western countries. For no matter what misguided retired CIA officials may claim, groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood are neither moderate organisations nor pluralist partners in civil society. Islamist groups are certainly not likely to prevent the radicalisation of young Muslims. Instead, as one observer noted more than a decade ago, “the history of the Brotherhood movement shows, in fact, that it has operated by and large not as a firewall against jihadism, but as a fertile incubator of radical ideas in a variety of locales”.

In a cynical way, Islamists achieve far more through dawa than when they confine themselves to simply blowing things up and stabbing people to death. The threat is not as obvious. Jihad and the use of violence tend to provoke an immediate response. With dawa, on the other hand, it is possible to talk about charity, spirituality and religion — and then compare it to normal religious proselytising missions. In a free society, what reasonable person would take issue with that?

But dawa is also about building networks: local, regional and international. In The Call, Krithika Varagur revealed both the enormous global scale and opaque nature of these efforts. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has channelled billions of dollars into dawa — with much of it directed into the US.

In the West, these regimes are not given much thought, nor is the Islamist infrastructure in the United States. Nonetheless, Islamism is spreading within Western institutions, and it’s largely thanks to an unlikely alliance: dawa has recognised the alluring power of “woke”, and has started to adopt the language of civil rights and multiculturalism.

Of course, this is not an entirely American phenomenon, but the energy in our progressive movement has taken this cooperation one step further. In France, by contrast, “Islamo-gauchisme” (Islamo-Leftism) is much more likely to be correctly identified as a threat to the model of universal, secular and republican citizenship. In Britain, it remains less prominent, confined to fringe politicians such as George Galloway, who believes that “the progressive movement around the world and the Muslims have the same enemies”.

Yet as historian Daniel Pipes has noted, the relationship between Islamism and extreme Leftism is nothing new. In 2007, Oskar Lafontaine, former chairman of Germany’s Social Democratic party, noted: “Islam depends on community, which places it in opposition to extreme individualism, which threatens to fail in the West. [In addition,] the devout Muslim is required to share his wealth with others. The Leftist also wants to see the strong help the weak.”

But the internal tension between “wokeism” and Islamism is never far away. Just look at Al Jazeera, which uploads documentaries about transgender rights on to its social media channel, while broadcasting sermons suggesting husbands should beat their wives on its Arabic station.

Nevertheless, the two movements do share objectives. Both are anti-West and anti-American. Both have a critical attitude towards “capitalism” based on individualism. True, the Islamists have been around for much longer. But Islamist ideologues are willing to co-operate with non-Muslim Leftists as long as it serves their purposes.

To their credit, some on the Left refuse to countenance Islamism, as they become increasingly aware of the contradiction between supporting universal human rights (including women’s rights) and the demands of Islamists. In France, for example, the centre-Left former Prime Minister Manuel Valls courageously denounced Islamo-Leftism without the least hesitation.

In the United States, however, such vocal opposition from the Left is increasingly rare. Indeed, at the 2019 Netroots Nation conference — America’s “largest annual conference for progressives” — multiple panel discussions and training sessions reflected the Islamist agenda, frequently coalescing around a critique of Israel while neglecting the toxic role played by Hamas in perpetuating the conflict. Meanwhile, Linda Sarsour, a feminist organiser and co-chair of the “Women’s March”, has made her support for Islamism more explicit: “You’ll know when you’re living under Shariah law if suddenly all your loans and credit cards become interest-free. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?”

In government, too, Islamism’s capture of progressivism has become increasingly clear. Turkey’s Islamist President Erdogan might lead one of the world’s most brutal and repressive regimes, but that hasn’t stopped Ilhan Omar, the Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota, from expressing support for him. No doubt she was inspired by Erdogan last year when he proclaimed that “social justice is in our book”, and that “Turkey is the biggest opportunity for western countries in the fight against xenophobia, Islamophobia, cultural racism and extremism”.

Erdogan, in effect, was explicitly using progressive rhetoric. It’s a move that’s since been mirrored in Iran. The Tehran Times ­— which describes itself as “a loud voice of the Islamic Revolution” — recently attacked former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for his “deep-rooted Islamophobia”. And in March, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif “lauded the determination of Islamic countries to address Islamophobia as one of the main challenges facing the Islamic Ummah [community in the West]”. Islamists, in other words, are becoming skilled at wrapping themselves in a mantle of woke words, while engaging in systematic brutality and repression within their own countries.

To this new alliance between Islamism and progressive rhetoric, there is no simple response. Dawa, by its very nature, is inherently more difficult to fight than jihad. But those who believe, as I do, in a free, open, pluralist society need to be aware of the nature and magnitude of this new challenge. After two decades of fighting Islamist terrorism, we have a new and more subtle foe to contend with. Wokeism has long been regarded as a dangerous phenomenon — but only now are we starting to see why.

[jordanianroyals]

25 February 2021: King Abdullah II delivered an address at “the Middle East and the new US administration” conference, held virtually by the Brookings Institution between 22 and 26 February.

He touched on the latest regional and international developments, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause, as well as efforts to bolster regional security and stability, counter the COVID-19 pandemic, and fight terrorism and extremism. His Majesty reaffirmed Jordan’s steadfast position on the Palestinian cause and the need to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of a two-state solution, guaranteeing the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in peace and security alongside Israel. Turning to the United States’ vital leadership role in bolstering security and stability in the region, the King lauded US President Joe Biden’s renewed commitment to international engagement. (Source: Petra) Following is the full text of His Majesty’s address:

“In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, Dear friends: Thank you for the invitation to speak today. It is my pleasure to join you again, this time virtually, at the Brookings Institution. Your Centre for Middle East Policy plays a great role in enabling US policymakers to better understand our part of the world. The United States is of course no stranger to the Middle East, and its leadership is key to regional security and stability. We are heartened by President Biden’s renewed commitment to international engagement. In these difficult times, America’s balanced voice and values are greatly needed to restore momentum to a partnership-based global system that puts the health and wellbeing of all peoples at the heart of its priorities. And the United States will always have a steady partner in Jordan. Our relationship is a friendship and a joint commitment that extends over seven decades. It is a relationship we have proudly built together, over the years. The most immediate challenge is COVID-19. This devastating pandemic has robbed our world of over 2 million precious lives, but we may be able to avoid further tragedy and high mortality rates by ensuring the equitable distribution of vaccines around the world. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind. And Jordan is doing its part. We have, once again, stepped up to the plate and included refugees in our national COVID response and vaccine distribution plan. The first refugee in the world to receive the vaccine for free was in Jordan. Even if the stories of refugees have slipped from the 24-hour news cycle, the world must be reminded that the crisis is far from over. Supporting the international agencies at the forefront of relief efforts—the World Health Organisation, the UNHCR, and UNRWA—is essential to enable them to assist vulnerable communities in averting the far-reaching implications of the pandemic on health, livelihoods, education, and food security. Old threats, though now lurking beneath the surface, also continue to haunt our world. Directing our attention and resources to countering the pandemic, has taken away from our focus on fighting terrorism and extremism. Although the battle may be won, the war is not yet over. Rising inequalities and emerging crises caused by the pandemic will fuel the recruitment efforts of ISIS, Boko Haram, Al Shabaab, and Al Qaeda. In addition to the economic and humanitarian effects of COVID, the region continues to cope with the ramifications of conflict and displacement, in countries like Syria and Yemen. We look, once again, to US leadership and cooperation with its partners in the Middle East and elsewhere, to counter these threats. My friends, When I had the pleasure of addressing your esteemed institution at the inauguration of your Centre for Middle East Policy 19 years ago, I spoke about the need to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the core issue in the Middle East. And I am sure your scholars have written countless papers about this very topic since, so you can only imagine the frustration of the people still living in the midst of this protracted conflict, unable to move forward. Occupation and peace simply cannot coexist. The Palestinian people have a right to an independent, viable, and sovereign state on the June 4th, 1967 lines, to live alongside Israel in peace and security. There is no alternative to the two-state solution, and continued unilateral steps will only kill the prospects of peace. Occupation, injustice, despair, apartheid—history has shown us there are no winners in this formula, only losers and tragedy. There is an opportunity to build on recent positive developments. We need to restore hope in the viability of peace and bring our youth closer to a future that, for so long, has been tantalisingly out of reach. And the United States’ leadership here is essential. Jordan will always be ready to play its part in any efforts to relaunch peace negotiations, and we remain committed to the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, to safeguard the city’s character. Preserving Jerusalem, as the city of faith and peace, is a responsibility that we all share. My friends, Jordan this year marks its centennial as a state. In these past 100 years, we have learned to navigate numerous regional and global crises. We have gained the spirit of resilience and confidence that moves us today. But we have also learned that ongoing injustice in our region, will continue to hold us all back. Prosperity in the Middle East and its positive dividends for the whole world cannot come to fruition without peace. It is time to turn towards conflict resolution, not management, and focus on the end goal, instead of losing ourselves in the process. We owe this to our world. So let us learn from past mistakes and take the higher path of peace.” For his part, Brookings Institution President John Allen praised His Majesty’s guidance and thoughts on Middle East peace efforts, highlighting Jordan’s role as a vital partner to the United States in the region. The Brookings Institution, founded in 1916, is seen as a highly influential think tank specialised in international public and foreign policy research, as well as global economics and development. The King was the inaugural speaker at the launch of the institution’s Centre for Middle East Policy in 2002. The conference—held with the participation of heads of state, government officials, diplomats, policy experts, researchers, and academics—is an effort to bolster international dialogue with the aim of building a deeper understanding on key regional and global issues among policy leaders in the Middle East and North Africa region and the United States.

[physiologicdeadspace]

Operation Phoenix was an operation run by the C.I.A during the Vietnam war, that has been referred to as a ‘computerised genocide’ program. The aim of Phoenix was to conduct infiltration, ‘counter-terrorism’, interrogation and assassination in order to undermine the National Liberation Front (NLF) or Vietcong and destroy its infrastructure.

It was considered less a component of ‘war’ and more a systematic method of torture, murder and genocide conducted by the United States. The strategy made a point not to target soldiers, but instead actively targeted civilians and operated under laws that allowed for the detention of ‘suspected communists’. Some of the strategies used by the United States in their regional interrogation centres were truly horrific, they included gang rape, rape with animals such as eels or snakes, rape with large foreign objects, electric shocks through wires attached to the victims genitals or tongue, suspending prisoners in the air by their arms which were tired behind their backs, and mauling by dogs.

One of the intelligence officers working at a centre described these sadistic methods, including:

The use of the insertion of the 6-inch dowel into the canal of one of my detainee’s ears, and the tapping through the brain until dead. The starvation to death (in a cage), of a Vietnamese woman who was suspected of being part of the local political education cadre in one of the local villages…The use of electronic gear such as sealed telephones attached to…both the women’s vaginas and men’s testicles [to] shock them into submission.

While the My Lai massacre was portrayed in the United States as a few rogue, evil men who deviated from the protocol, Operation Phoenix makes it clear that the massacre was not a deviation and instead was in line with the terrorist approach that the United States was taking to Vietnam, an approach that many consider genocide.