Archive for June 7th, 2009

The YouTube video above is from a BBC TV documentary about the issue covered in this article. It does not refer to the specific case dealt with.

Six men are on trial accused of sexual offences in Keighley and Skipton, including the “grooming” and rape of a young teenage girl.

The victim, who is now in her late teens, cannot be named for legal reasons.

A catalogue of sexual offences are alleged to have been committed against her between April 2005 and April 2007.

The defendants, who face a total of 31 charges – including rape – are Keighley men Mohammed Zackriya, 21, of Springfield Road, Abid Ali, 27, of Cark Road, Shahid Iqbal, 25, of Nightingale Street, Raj Mohammed Shabir, 32, referred to in court as Shabir Junior, of Neville Street, Mohammed Shabir, 36, referred to as Shabir Senior, of Hawk Street, and Mohammed Taj, 37, of Aireview Terrace, Skipton, The court heard many of the alleged incidents took place at Caesars Pizza takeaway shop in Newmarket Street, Skipton, which is owned by Shabir Senior. Read the rest of this entry »

Female settler makes victory gesture after the December 2008 demonstrations

In an unusual step, the [Israeli] Defense Ministry will pay a total of NIS 250,000 in compensation to 50 Palestinians whose property was damaged during the forceful evacuation of the so-called “House of Contention” in Hebron last December.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the security forces to evacuate the home whose ownership is disputed, and where several hundred settlers had congregated. In parallel with the preparations for the evacuation, right-wing activists in Hebron rioted, setting cars and homes ablaze, breaking windows and assaulting Palestinians.

Settlers call this tactic “price tag.” In response to the evacuation of illegal outposts by the authorities, they damage Palestinian property, block roads and cause disturbances, in an effort to deter the government from further decisions to evacuate outposts. Read the rest of this entry »