It seems that a series of supposedly spontaneous demonstrations have broken out around the world. Reports are coming in from places as far and wide as London and Indonesia. Here are some of the pictures sent across the wireâif there are any language experts out there, I'd definitely be interested in seeing the translations of some of the banners shown here. My hunch is that, far from being spontaneous, we'd instead discover that these protests are carefully coördinated. If that's the case, the question then becomes, "By who?"
As an aside, when viewing these pictures, keep in mind:âother than in London, very few of the people pictured are likely to speak English. This means that their signs were written for them by someone who does, and that the messages on those signs are intended strictly for a Western audience. The native-language posters may differ significantly in their message, but we generally don't have any way of knowing that, as the wires only send translations along on occasion.
In any case, I'm sure that Tehran has its hand in these protests. The messages are too similar for this to be "spontaneous" protest.
Indonesian protesters hold posters of world leaders considered opposition to the U.S. during an anti-Israel demonstration outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 11, 2006. More than a hundred people in the capital of the world's most populous Muslim nation demonstrated against Israel's ongoing military campaign against Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon and demanding an end to the violence. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bangladeshi Muslim children hold anti-war placards during a demonstration against the ongoing Israeli offense in Lebanon, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, Aug. 11, 2006. They urged Israeli soldiers not to kill any children during the war. (AP Photo/ Pavel Rahman)
Bangladeshi Muslims burn an Israeli a flag during a protest in Dhaka August 11,2006, against the Israeli attacks on Lebanon. REUTERS/Rafiqur Rahman (BANGLAEDSH)
Bangladeshi Muslim boys hold anti-war placards during a demonstration against the ongoing Israeli offencs in Lebanon, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, Aug. 11, 2006. They urged Israeli soldiers not to kill any children during their attacks on Lebanon. (AP Photo/ Pavel Rahman)
Muslims [sic] members march in Dhaka August 11, 2006, to protest against the Israeli attacks on Lebanon. The black banner reads, 'Boycott Israel' , the yellow banner reads, 'Muslim World calling, Stop Islam's enemies,' REUTERS/Rafiqur Rahman (BANGLAEDSH)
Muslim children hold placards during a march to protest against the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, in Dhaka, August 11, 2006. REUTERS/Rafiqur Rahman (BANGLAEDSH)
Muslim members of the Bangladesh Progressive Party march to protest against the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, in Dhaka, August 11, 2006. REUTERS/Rafiqur Rahman (BANGLAEDSH)
Multan, Pakistan
Pakistani protesters chant anti-Israel slogans during a protest against Israel's air strikes on Lebanon, in Multan August 11, 2006. REUTERS/Asim Tanveer (PAKISTAN)
Karachi, Pakistan
Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn U.S. and Israeli flags during a protest rally to show their support with Hezbollah and condemn the ongoing Israeli air strikes against Lebanon and Palestinian territories, Friday, Aug. 11, 2006 in Karachi, Pakistan. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)
Istanbul, Turkey
Pictures of Shiite saints and a slogan that reads: 'Moses will condemn you!' are seen on an apartment building in a Shiite neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Aug. 11, 2006. Hundreds of Turkish Shiite Muslims held a demonstration to protest Israeli offensive against Lebanon and to show their support to Hezbolllah. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)
Young Turkish girls, with a Palestinian flag in their balcony, watch an anti-Israeli demonstration in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Aug. 11, 2006. Hundreds of Turkish Shiite Muslims held a demonstration following the Friday prayer to protest Israeli offensive against Lebanon and to show their support to Hezbolllah. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)
Shiite Muslim men chant slogans in support of Hezbollah next to mock coffins covered by Lebanese flags in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Aug. 11, 2006. Hundreds of Turkish Shiite Muslims held a demonstration after Friday prayer to protest the Israeli offensive against Lebanon and to show their support for Hezbolllah. Writing on the poster in top center with the picture of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on top translates to 'Treacherous zionist remember Hayber.' (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)
Shiite Muslim girls hold a poster of Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah with a verse from the Quran, Islam's holy book at the bottom in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Aug. 11, 2006, during a demonstration following the Friday prayer. Hundreds of Turkish Shiite Muslims held a demonstration to protest the Israeli offensive against Lebanon and to show their support of Hezbolllah. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)
Cairo, Egypt
Demonstrators hold up Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's picture as they chant anti-Israel and anti-American slogans at Al-Azhar mosque Friday, Aug. 11, 2006, in Cairo, Egypt. An anti-Israel demonstration began inside the mosque after speakers urged support for the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance during weekly Friday prayer sermons. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)
Protesters and plain-clothes policemen clash during a rally in support of the Palestinians and Lebanese at Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo August 11, 2006. REUTERS/Nasser Nouri (EGYPT)
Demonstrators hold up Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's picture that says beneath it 'Symbol of Arab resistance' as they chant anti-Israel and anti-American slogans at Al-Azhar mosque Friday, Aug. 11, 2006, in Cairo, Egypt. An anti-Israel demonstration began inside the mosque after speakers urged support for the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance during weekly Friday prayer sermons. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)
Nairobi, Kenya
Muslim protesters holds placards during a rally to protest against the Israeli attacks on Lebanon in Nairobi, Kenya, August 11, 2006. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya (KENYA)
Kenyan Muslims shout anti Israeli and American slogans during a protest against the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, in the coastal city of Mombasa August 11, 2006, . REUTERS/Joseph Okanga (KENYA)
(The Bush dynasty personally bombed Lebanon, don'tcha know?)
I wanted to save the best for last. This is the end result of London's current immigration policy:
London(istan), England
Protestors carry banners and placards in London as they take part in a protest march against the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon on August 5. Demonstrators were to rally in London again to protest against Britain's failure to bring about a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict.(AFP/File/Carl De Souza)
A young protester wears a 'Free Lebanon' headscarf in front of the United States Embassy in London in a protest against Israel's bombing of Lebanon, Friday, Aug 11, 2006. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
A young protester cries out in front of the United States Embassy in London in a protest against Israel's bombing of Lebanon and calling for an immediate ceasefire, Friday, Aug 11, 2006. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
(Notice the generous and coordinated use of children as models for the pro-Hezbullah message?)
A protester, wrapped in a yellow and green Hezbollah flag, cries out in front of United States Embassy in London in a protest against Israel's bombing of Lebanon and calling for an immediate ceasefire, Friday, Aug 11, 2006. The Lebanese flag is also visible while the Stars and Stripes flutters from the top of the embassy. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
Protesters cry out in front of the United States Embassy in London in a protest against Israel's bombing of Lebanon and calling for an immediate ceasefire, Friday, Aug 11, 2006. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
Tags: asim tanveer carl de souza hasan jamali joseph okanga murad sezer nasser nouri pavel rahman rafiqur rahman sang tan shakil adil thomas mukoya AFP AP REUTERS #Israel/Lebanon War 2006
Comments:
#1 Anisa 10-Nov-2006
I find your immature commentary revulting. Why do you criticize Muslims for protesting? Why do you not also criticize non-Muslims who take their children with them to protests? Britians protested BUSH heavily when he came to town & no one whined about "children being used". Why don't you whine about the Child Soldiers in Africa instead? Or whine about the Muslim children KILLED by AMerican made ammunition & AMerican made apache helicopters that are used by ISrael? As for unity, the Muslim world is tired of people like you assuming we don't have a right to be mad when Muslims are victims of violence. Do you ever post about the victims of violence in Thailand? Or the victims of violence in Chad? The victims of violence in IRaq? Many are women & children. Let us not forget Chechnya, Ethiopia, Palestine & so many other places. There is a reason that their are so many refugees fleeing war (many are Muslims minorities fleeing persecution). Many, even here in the USA, including NON-Muslims do not like how the SHRUB has handled things. His radical fundamentalist ideologies are not peaceful. They have been conquests of materials & ideological conquests for the sake of his friends in high places.
#2 Brian 10-Nov-2006
Hey idiot: The West isn't killing children, and neither is George W. Bush. If you want to see why "the children" were killed, go ask Hezbullah why they insist on *using their children as shields* instead of fighting like *real* men.
