Arab Summer
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE PROTESTING IN EGYPT AGAIN
They’re all pissed off with Mohammed Morsi and don’t want him to be president any more
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Thousands of Egyptians have taken to the streets to demand President Mohammed Morsi’s resignation, as well as calling for early presidential elections.
Tens of thousands of people are gathering in Tahrir Square, Cairo, outside the main presidential palace to chant, “Leave! Leave!”, while other demonstrations are taking place across the country.
Protesters say that Morsi, Egypt’s first Islamist president, has focused on the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood rather than what’s best for the country, which has resulted in him failing to properly tackle economic and security problems after taking power a year ago.
His supporters are saying that Morsi was elected by the public and should therefore see out his full term in office.
So far, demonstrations in Cairo have remained relatively peaceful. However, the cities of Alexandria and Port Said saw violent clashes between protesters and police, with three people – including an American student – confirmed dead.
The protesters have vowed not to leave until Morsi steps down from office.
Steps Backwards
RUSSIA’S PARLIAMENT ARE STEPPING UP THEIR EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF HOMOPHOBIA
They just passed a new anti-gay bill that makes it illegal to disseminate gay “propaganda”
(Photo via)
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an anti-gay measure into law, effortlessly making Russia an even shittier place to live if you’re gay.
Because last year’s dramatic decision to ban gay-pride marches for 100 years didn’t quite seem draconian enough, the Kremlin have now made it illegal to distribute “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations”.
That means that hefty fines can now be imposed on anyone who tries to organise or hold a gay pride rally, or hands out information about the LGBT community to minors.
Because if young people don’t get a hold of pamphlets explaining what being gay is all about, it means that they’ll instantly stop being attracted to members of the same sex and Russia can carry on being a beacon of glistening wholesomeness.
Dubious Approaches to Human Rights
SEVEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN JAILED IN SAUDIA ARABIA FOR INCITING PROTESTS ON FACEBOOK
Because voicing your discontent online deserves five to ten years in prison
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Saudi Arabia has sentenced seven of its citizens to prison terms ranging from five to ten years for posting messages on Facebook that called for anti-government protests.
Human Rights Watch said the seven men were detained in September, held in jail for a year and a half then tried by a special tribunal set up to deal with terrorism-related cases.
So voicing your opinion on the internet now puts you somewhere on the terrorist spectrum in Saudi Arabia.
The eastern province of the country, where the men are from, has seen sporadic protests from the minority Shia community over alleged discrimination and negligence, which the Riyadh government denies.
Considering all seven men were Shia and were charged and jailed not for actually protesting, but for inciting “protests, illegal gathering and breaking allegiance with the king”, it’s safe to assume that the Riyadh government might be spinning the truth a little.
More EDL Failures
TWO EDL LEADERS WERE ARRESTED AS THEY TRIED TO WALK TO WOOLWICH
Tommy Robinson and EDL co-leader Kevin Carroll couldn’t complete their day of awkward London photo-ops
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The EDL tried and failed to march to the site of Lee Rigby’s death in Woolwich again this weekend.
EDL leader Tommy Robinson and his co-leader Kevin Carroll had planned what they called a “charity walk”, which involved them taking awkward tourist photos at London landmarks and was supposed to culminate at the Woolwich Barracks, conveniently passing by the East London Mosque.
The Met had banned the march due to fears that it would “result in serious public disorder and serious disruption to the life of the community”, and had warned that they would arrest anyone who flouted their ban.
But Tommy and Kev decided to go on their march anyway and managed to get to Aldgate East before a stranger lashed out at them and, according to the EDL’s Twitter feed, police arrested them for obstruction.
The police said attempts had been made to discuss the march with the EDL and that they’d offered two alternate routes that avoided the East London Mosque, but that – shockingly – both were declined.
Embarrassing Mistakes
TWO DIFFERENT MEN WERE ARRESTED FOR GROPING UNDERCOVER POLICEMEN IN FLORIDA
Which makes you wonder what the sunshine state’s undercover officers are doing so right
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In two completely unrelated incidents, two men were arrested in Florida for grabbing the groins of undercover police officers.
The first was 66-year-old Michael Lawrence McGrael (on the left above), who “made casual conversation” with an undercover detective, before taking him to a secluded area, asking him about “a particular type of sexual arousal” and grabbing his crotch.
Which comes off as kind of desperate, as well as landing McGrael with a battery charge, a ten day jail sentence and six months on probation.
The second, 62-year-old Alfred Thomas Carreiro (on the right above), allegedly approached an undercover detective and asked him if he’d like to have some oral sex.
The detective said he wasn’t sure – which, to be fair, is kind of misleading – before the pair walked to a secluded area and Carreiro grabbed the officer’s crotch. He was also arrested for battery.