Demonstration in Jordan in support of Syria's anti-Assad protests

May 21, 2011

Amman - Hundreds of Syrians living in Jordan staged a demonstration outside the United Nations office in Amman on Saturday, in support of protesters in Syria calling for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.

They crowd held up placards and chanted slogans against al-Assad, calling for and end to his leadership and security crackdown on protests in Syria.

Meanwhile, Jordanian media reported that the government had asked the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood movement, whose leaders have been given refuge in the country, to stop protests outside the Syrian embassy in Amman.

Jordan's King Abdullah II, who ended a visit to the United States earlier this week, has reportedly asked US President Barack Obama to give al-Assad 'a chance' to implement the reforms that protesters are demanding.

Authorities on Friday prevented hundreds of Jordanians from demonstrating near Ramtha and in support of protesters across the border in the Syrian city of Daraa.

Source: Monsters and Critics.
Link: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1640590.php/Demonstration-in-Jordan-in-support-of-Syria-s-anti-Assad-protests.

Paramount, CBS and Rubicon to Build Star Trek Resort in Jordan

Ancient Middle Eastern history and culture to mix with Star Trek®
Estimated $1 Billion+ project scheduled for 2014 opening

Amman, Jordan, May 21, 2011 - [ME NewsWire]: Rubicon Group Holding, a diversified global entertainment organization producing innovative digital animated content and location-based attractions, will design and produce The Red Sea Astrarium (TRSA), a 184-acre themed entertainment resort located in Aqaba, Jordan, which, through a license from CBS Consumer Products, will prominently feature an amazing attraction inspired by the 2009 international hit motion picture, Star Trek. The "Star Trek" attraction is being creatively developed by Paramount Recreation.

That announcement was made today by Randa S. Ayoubi, CEO of Rubicon Group Holding at the Jordanian-American Business Forum, under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in a special signing ceremony attended by business leaders from Jordan and the United States.

TRSA, which will look to the future to celebrate the heritage of the region's past civilizations, will generate employment for more than 500 high-skilled workers in the local community, with Rubicon facilitating the training for these key jobs, as well. The themed entertainment destination will serve as a model for "green energy," incorporating state-of-the-art renewable technologies throughout the facility, and hosting a "future" pavilion where businesses, students and attendees can learn about alternative energy sources ranging from solar and wind energy to greywater harvesting. The project, a milestone in the development of tourism in Jordan, will provide a progressive and entertaining "celebration" of the region's culture and heritage.

From a stunning location in the coastal town of Aqaba, TRSA features classic story telling combined with immersive entertainment experiences to bring about a world-class leisure adventure. Capturing the rich history of the surrounding area, this wondrous attraction draws from Nabatean, Babylonian, British and Roman influences to provide an incomparable adventure. With an impressive array of technologically advanced attractions, five-star accommodations, captivating theatrical productions, nighttime spectacles and unique dining and shopping, The Red Sea Astrarium offers something for everyone.

To complete the chronological spectrum with a futurist perspective, Rubicon has joined with CBS Consumer Products and Paramount Recreation to create a stunning Star Trek-themed center that will deliver a variety of multi-sensory 23rd-century experiences, culminating with a state-of-the art space-flight adventure that takes real-time immersive entertainment experiences to bold new heights. This exciting, world-class attraction will serve as the cornerstone of the TRSA sector's world of tomorrow. This will mark the iconic property's first themed entertainment venue outside the United States.

The Red Sea Astrarium is sure to become a family destination, attracting visitors from the 350 million residents across the Middle East and fun, leisure as well as thrill seekers from all over the world.

Architectural firm Callison has been engaged to work with Rubicon Group Holding and its team of visionaries, including Paramount Recreation and CBS, to master plan and create a world class destination resort.

"TRSA will be a destination showcase in an extraordinary part of Jordan," said Ms. Ayoubi. "The opportunity to lead the design on such a remarkable project and to work with such world class partners as CBS and Paramount is a dream-come-true for the entire Rubicon family. We are honored, elated, and proud to have our Themed Entertainment team in charge of moving this project forward."

"At its core, Star Trek is about bringing worlds together and about a profound hope for the future," said Liz Kalodner, EVP and General Manager of CBS Consumer Products. "We are proud to bring such a unique, interactive Star Trek property to this part of the world to be a part of Jordan's future."

Source: TrekWeb.
Link: http://trekweb.com/articles/2011/05/22/Paramount-CBS-and-Rubicon-to-Build-Star-Trek-Resort-in-Jordan.shtml.

Ancient Qur'an found in Pakistan

Sat May 21, 2011

Archeologists have discovered a manuscript of the holy Qur'an in the Pakistani city of Jhelum, which they believe dates back to 900 years ago.

According to The Siasat Daily Ghulam Akbar Malik found the 12th-century-manuscript during excavations in northeastern Pakistan.

Jhelum has yielded many archeological and historical finds, but Malik came upon the holy manuscript somewhat by chance.

"An old man gave this to me as a gift at a shelter in the hills," Malik said.

The manuscript is written on Papyrus and experts believe it was written by three calligraphers who produced the copy of the Qur'an in just over a year.

The manuscript weighs about five kilograms and consists of 1,200 pages. The handwritten text has faded in some parts due to the passage of time.

"It is the first time that I have seen such an ancient Qur'anic manuscript in such good condition," Malik said.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181059.html.

Yemenis urge end to Saleh's support

Fri May 20, 2011

Anti-regime protesters in Yemen have called on Saudi Arabia and its (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC) allies to stop supporting President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

People hold their long-time ruler responsible for the brutal killing of hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators.

“I don't think these initiatives would be effective. All the agreements by the [P]GCC from the first to the last one have been in favor of Saleh. Now we are in [a] crucial moment, the [P]GCC governments should choose between the people of Yemen and Saleh. There is no other choice,” one protester told Press TV on Friday.

“We expect the [P]GCC member states to abandon [their offer]. We will stand our ground. We believe that we will drag him out of his palace,” another protester said.

“We want the [P]GCC states and the whole world to stop supporting the criminal Saleh... we want you to support the revolution, which is in the best interest of Yemen," a protester said.

A coalition of the [P]GCC countries tried to mediate a deal for Saleh to leave power in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

Saleh who has been in power since 1978, has repeatedly said that he will stay in power until the end of his term. His current term ends in 2013.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/180827.html.

Bahrainis want detained activists freed

Fri May 20, 2011

Hundreds of Bahraini protesters have take to the streets in the Persian Gulf island, demanding the immediate release of detained anti-government activists.

Anti-regime protesters in the village of Sanabis near the capital, Manama, demanded an end to the rule of Al Khalifa dynasty.

Similar anti-regime protest rallies were also held in the village of Boori.

Meanwhile, Saudi-backed Bahraini troops rolled into Sitra and detained two teenagers.

According to witnesses, riot police and pro-government thugs also stormed the villages of Hamala, Daih and Diraz.

The Manama government has arrested hundreds of protesters, opposition activists, bloggers and doctors since the beginning of anti-regime protests in Bahrain in mid-February.

Rights groups and the families of those arrested during the government crackdown on protesters have blamed Bahraini security forces of mistreating anti-government protesters, saying they are being physically and mentally abused.

At least four detained activists have died under torture while in police custody.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have bitterly criticized the Bahraini government for its brutal crackdown on civilians.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which visits detainees in conflict situations, has been trying to see and contact those detained in Bahrain since mid-March. So far, however, Manama has refused to grant the organization permission.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/180867.html.

Saleh calls for early Yemen elections

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Yemen's president has called for early presidential elections, a day after making yet another promise to sign a deal that would end his decades-long rule.

Speaking to supporters after Friday prayers in the capital, Sanaa, Ali Abdullah Saleh said that he wanted to hold an early election to end the country's political crisis.

“We call for an early presidential election in a democratic way, in order to avoid bloodshed,” Saleh told thousands of supporters.

It is unclear whether such an election would occur under a deal mediated by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC), or if Saleh was making an alternative proposal.

A day earlier, Saleh pledged that he would sign the PGCC deal on Sunday, a spokesman said, in a move that was greeted with caution by the opposition.

The opposition has accused the embattled leader of stalling. Saleh has previously rejected the agreement on two occasions, most recently 24 hours before his latest promise to sign.

Yemen continues to reel from three months of street protests that have seen mass demonstrations by citizens and disavowals of Saleh's authority from top army commanders. Protests against Saleh's reign continued on Friday, with thousands gathering in Sanaa and Taiz.

The United States, which considers Yemen a key ally in fighting Al-Qaeda, appears to have backed away from supporting Saleh, with Barack Obama, the US president, calling on him to stand down.

(Source: Al Jazeera Agencies)

Source: Tehran Times.
Link: http://old.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=241082.

Morocco dismisses secret prison accusations

Amid mounting allegations of human rights abuses, the Moroccan government opened its intelligence offices for inspection.

By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Rabat – 20/05/11

The headquarters of Morocco's intelligence service contains no secret detention center, human rights workers and the public prosecutor concluded after inspecting the site in Temara on Wednesday (May 18th).

The move came in response to repeated allegations from opposition members and activists, who claimed that the offices of the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) were used as a clandestine prison where detainees were tortured.

"We saw no signs to suggest that this place is being used for any kind of illegal detention," said National Human Rights Council (CNDH) Secretary-General Mohamed Sebbar after the three-hour long visit.

Moulay El Hassan Eddaki, the public prosecutor at Rabat's appeal court, reiterated in a press briefing that nothing indicated that the intelligence headquarters were being used to conceal a site where human rights were violated. The site included administrative buildings comprising civil servants' offices, a management training center, sports facilities and a refectory, he said.

The DGST is not involved in the arrest or detention of suspects, but it is a place where vital information about different forms of crime such as terrorism, drugs trafficking and money laundering can be collated, the lawyer added.

"A number of terrorist projects have been thwarted thanks to information provided by the directorate," he added. "This body is working in co-ordination with other departments from our international allies. Furthermore, all states have authorities of this kind, which are intended to protect the country and its people."

Parliamentarians expressed the same opinion. Popular Movement head Mohamed Moubdiaa explained that the visit had helped to dispel "the unfounded accusations".

"Reports presented to us about this authority's activities have demonstrated the sheer scale of its work, because it has been able to thwart a number of planned terrorist attacks," he said.

Justice and Development Party (PJD) chief Lahcen Daoudi also confirmed that nothing unusual had been found during the investigation. Still, he pointed out that "the site needs to be visited from time to time".

"We don't know what might have happened in the past," Daoudi said.

The visit made by various parties to the DGST headquarters did not prove that there were not been arbitrary detentions and human rights violations in the past, according to 21-year-old student Hassan Boukhalfi. He called for setting up a parliamentary select committee to dispel all the doubts.

The visit came after law enforcement agencies quelled a May 15th rally held by the February 20 Movement in Rabat city center to protest alleged human rights violations in the kingdom.

"This isn't a secret detention site, but the administrative headquarters of the DGST," government spokesman Khalid Naciri said May 15th. "We carry out our work with the utmost transparency and honesty."

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/05/20/feature-03.