Free Republic

The European Parliament yesterday passed a strong resolution with a large majority on the controversy caused by the cartoons depicting Mohammed, condemning the burning of embassies and threats to EU citizens in several Islamic countries "with maximum energy." Without naming any, the Parliament blasted several governments for "not taking measures" or "tolerating" these actions. Europarliament president Josep Borrell two weeks ago criticized the publication of the cartoons. The Parliament considered it especially serious that some governments "permitted" these attacks, considering that "in those countries the freedom of expression, speech, and assembly is habitually violated." Europarliament president Josep Borrell, a Spanish...

The European Parliament yesterday passed a resolution calling on the United States to close its detention center at its base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The vote took place after most of the Euro-MPs had left for the afternoon, and was passed by 80 votes in favor to 1 against, with one abstaining. However, the Europarliament consists of 732 members, meaning that 650 of them did not vote on the resolution. According to the text, "All the prisoners should receive treatment conforming with international humanitarian legislation, and be tried as soon as possible after a public hearing by a competent, independent,...

The Spanish Islamic council has asked prime minister Rodriguez Zapatero to promote the conversion of Cordoba cathedral, which was previously a mosque, into an ecumenical temple. The council said that the gesture "would help with the foundation of the Alliance of Civilizations," and denounced "a continued campaign of Islamophobia in some media outlets." Mansur Escudero, president of the council, thanked Zapatero for his "brave support for alliance and understanding between civilizations, which should not leave out in any way the different religions." He said that the conversion of St. Sophia's Basilica in Istanbul and Cordoba cathedral to ecumenical temples would...