Headlines:

• 74% of French and 76% of Brits Think Islam is Not Compatible with their Way of Life
• Muslim Growth Sharpens German Islam Fear
• Thousands Convert to Islam in Dubai
• Iranian Ambassador: Only War Can Stop Us Now
• US Setting Dangerous Precedent with Drones in Pakistan, Experts say
• North Korea Issues Blunt New Threat to America

Details:

74% of French and 76% of Brits Think Islam is Not Compatible with their Way of Life:

74% of the people polled by Ipsos think that Islam is an "intolerant" religion, incompatible with the values of French society. An even more radical figure, 8 out of 10 French people think that the Muslim religion seeks "to impose its way of life on others". Fewer than one in four British voters believes Islam is compatible with the British way of life, the UK's first Muslim woman Cabinet Minister reveals. The Minister for Faith and Communities reveals stark polling conducted by YouGov which found that just 24 per cent of voters think Islam is compatible with being British, while more than half disagree. Only 23 per cent say Islam is not a threat to Western civilisation.

Muslim Growth Sharpens German Islam Fear:

The growing numbers of Muslims in Germany are sharpening stereotypes and attributes against the minority and escalating fears of Islam, a problem embedded in the social structure of the society. "For decades, woman fought for equal rights, and we have attained something. And now, women are choosing to wear headscarves," a university-educated woman from Cologne told Deutsch Welle. "I don't want that and it scares me." The opinion of the Cologne woman is shared by many Germans who see the spread of Islam as a threat to their society. Those feelings have been sharpened by a recent debate about the establishment of a central mosque in Cologne, which will be one of Europe's largest. Adding to the fears are the campaigns launched by right-wing groups, led by parties such as "Pro NRW" and "Pro Deutschland". Declaring their opposition to the mosque, the campaigns had a clear message between Islam is dangerous and there is no place for Muslims in Germany. Those sentiments appeared clearly in a new survey, carried out by the University of Bielefeld over the past ten years about different aspects of bigotry in the European country. The survey showed that the fear of Islam is relatively widespread in Germany. It found that only 19 percent of Germans believe that Islam is compatible with German culture. "That is the lowest (figure) that we found in Europe," social psychologist Andreas Zick, who led and evaluated the study, said. The survey also showed that 46 percent of Germans are afraid of the infiltration by foreigners, and around 30 percent had specific fears, for example, terrorist attacks.

Thousands Convert to Islam in Dubai:

Statistics say that Islam is the fastest growing among over 4,200 religions in the world today, with the emirate of Dubai seeing the conversion of more than 4,000 people last year. There were 4,229 in all who converted to Islam at the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities (Diaca) and the Islamic Information Centre of the Dubai government-run Dar Al Ber Society. Diaca saw the conversion of 2,322 residents from 77 different countries - 70 per cent of whom were women. Diaca director-general Hamad Al Shaibani said the department spared no effort to convey the tolerant message of Islam, develop awareness about Islamic culture, and enhance national identity. "We also pay much attention to new Muslims and provide them with an array of lectures, activities and training courses for them and their family members." Dr Al Shaibani said Diaca provided new converts with all facilities needed to help them truly embrace Islam, officially authenticate their conversion, and reply to all their queries about the teachings of the new religion. "They are also equipped with all possible publications, CDs, cassettes, and booklets on Islam in different languages."

Iranian Ambassador: Only War Can Stop Us Now:

Iranian Ambassador Hassan Danaie-Far says that the only way the United States can put a halt to Iran's nuclear program is by resorting to war, a move that would prompt the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil chokepoint. "The only remaining card on the table is war. Is it to their benefit? Is it to the benefit of the world? Is it to the benefit of the region?" Danaie-Far told AFP, adding, "What else (US President Barack) Mr. Obama can do?" The ambassador also reiterated threats made previously by Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a third of the world's oil passes, in response to any military action by the United States. "If there is some movement and action from our enemies, including US, against us, as a part of natural reaction, that may happen," said Danaie-Far, warning that under such an eventuality, "Everybody would be a loser."

US Setting Dangerous Precedent with Drones in Pakistan, Experts say:

The United States should not be proud of its use of drones in Pakistan, says Admiral Dennis C. Blair, former director of national intelligence in the first Obama administration. "The United States is a democracy, and people need to know how we use our military force, and that we use it in ways that the U.S. can be proud of," Blair told reporters Wednesday in a conference call with the Council on Foreign Relations. The admiral also pointed out that U.S. tactics and practices with respect to using drones, which often skirt the fringes of legality, will set a precedent for the inevitable time when other states, or "non-state organizations" (read: terrorist groups) obtain or develop the same technology. Micah Zenko, a fellow in the Center for Preventative Action at the Council on Foreign Relations, agreed with Blair. "There are plenty of potential near-term threats, either to the homeland or to governments, where drone strikes occur," Zenko said. "There is no discussion right now on what [effect] U.S. drone strikes today will have on emerging powers once they get drone technology."

North Korea Issues Blunt New Threat to America

A blunt and explicit threat on Thursday from North Korea that its weapons programs would "target" the United States, and that it would proceed with a third and "higher-level" nuclear test, poses a stark challenge to the Obama administration at a time when it hoped to focus its major diplomatic effort on restraining Iran's less-advanced nuclear program. A new nuclear test in defiance of the United Nations would be the first under the North's new and untested leader, Kim Jong-un, and the clearest indicator yet that he is following his autocratic father's path, pushing ahead with a nuclear weapons program that analysts say is increasingly sophisticated. The statement from the North Korean National Defence Commission was a response to the United Nations Security Council's approval this week of a resolution condemning the North's most successful rocket launching to date and tightening sanctions - a resolution that China, the North's biggest ally, voted to approve. "It's a major test for Kim Jong-un," said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea specialist at Dongguk University in Seoul. "Unlike the rocket launching in December, which the North has said was conducted because it was his father's dying wish, a nuclear test will be Kim Jong-un's decision, one for which he will be held responsible." The North appears to be making preparations for a possible nuclear test at the Punggye test site in north-eastern North Korea, near the Chinese border. Defence Secretary Leon E. Panetta told reporters on Thursday that the North Koreans "have the capability, frankly, to conduct these tests in a way that makes it very difficult to determine whether or not they are doing it."

Abu Hashim