Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

RFE/RL Headlines 9/27/2011 8:25:48 PM A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty RFE/RL is looking for guest bloggers, preferably writing from and about our broadcast region. If you're interested, drop us a line at webteam@rferl.org.

 

Features The Actress Who Took On The Mufti Pakistani reality TV star Veena Malik is used to improvising on stage. But even she was unprepared for the surprise guest who joined her on television recently: a religious cleric eager to criticize her career. The debate that followed made Pakistani television history. More   Following Terror Attacks, Kazakhstan Hurriedly Tightens Religious Law Kazakhstan is about to adopt a new law on religion, which stipulates strict control over the activities of religious institutions. The bill was hurriedly drafted after the country witnessed several terrorist attacks this year -- including its first known suicide bombing -- blamed on underground Islamic groups. The draft law is seen by many as Astana's response to what officials call a growing threat of religious extremism in Kazakhstan. But it has its critics. More   News Azerbaijan Accuses Armenia At UN Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has accused Armenia of "flagrant" violations of the UN Charter and disregard for the Security Council resolutions. More   Iran Bank Chiefs Ousted Over Scandal Iran's official news agencies are reporting that the head of Bank Melli Iran has resigned over a $2.6 billion fraud case that is being described as the biggest financial scam in the history of the Islamic Republic. The same reports say Mohammad Jahromi, the head of Bank Saderat, and the head of Bank Saman have also been dismissed over the scandal. More   Lavrov Cites Afghan 'Heroin Aggression' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has described the narcotics threat from Afghanistan as a "heroin aggression" aimed at Russia and Central Asia. More   Torture Dossier Posted On Lukashenka A London-based law firm has published a dossier of evidence online against Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in a bid to bring private prosecutions against him wherever he travels. More   Afghans Protest Rabbani Killing Hundreds of protesters rallied in Afghanistan's capital today to denounce the assassination of former President Burhanuddin Rabbani. More   Uzbek Minister Calls for Kyrgyz Probe In an address to the UN General Assembly, Elyor Ganiev, Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, says ethnic tensions between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz will not be resolved until there is a full investigation into last year's deadly clashes between the two sides, and the perpetrators of the bloodshed are punished. More   Eurozone Crisis Talks In Berlin Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany will do what it can to help Greece regain markets' confidence. More   From Our Bureaus Protesting Kazakh Inmates Maim Selves Inmates at an maximum-security prison in central Kazakhstan severely cut and maim themselves to protest alleged beatings and the strict regime in the notorious labor camp. More   Jailed Belarusian Activist 'On Hunger Strike' A jailed Belarusian opposition activist who says he was severely beaten by police last week is reported to have started a hunger strike. More   Journalist 'Barred From Leaving Belarus' A journalist for a top Polish daily convicted in Belarus of defaming President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says he has been barred from leaving the country. More   Jailed Belarus Opposition Leader Found A lawyer for Andrey Sannikau says the jailed former Belarusian presidential candidate is in a detention center in the eastern city of Mahileu, ending a week of uncertainty over his whereabouts. More   Iran State Media Journalists Arrested The Iranian government extends its crackdown to official media, arresting three journalists working for state media outlets, while the Revolutionary Guards announce the launch of the Basij Media Organization 'to confront the propaganda invasion by [our] enemies.' More   Russian Court Prolongs Opposition Activist's Pretrial Detention A court in the western Russian city of Smolensk has extended for a further three months the pretrial detention of an opposition activist held on drugs charges. More   Jailed Kazakh Journalist To Start Rights Activism After Release Jailed Kazakh journalist Ramazan Esergepov says he will start human rights defense activities after his scheduled release in three months. More   Eight Sentenced For Murder In Northern Tajikistan A court in northern Tajikistan has sentenced eight men for the murder of a bazaar administrator last year. More   Jailed Lawyer Of Striking Kazakh Oil Workers Loses Appeal The jailed lawyer of striking oil workers in western Kazakhstan lost her appeal today and will remain in prison. More   Transmission United Russia Party Congress -- A User's Guide Last weekend's congress of the ruling United Russia party made headlines around the world with President Dmitry Medvedev endorsing Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as the party's candidate for president in 2012. More   Smooth Operator As Kremlinologists continue to percolate over Medvedev, Kudrin, and 12 More Years, a gimlet-eyed subsection of the population is focusing instead on the question that has truly bedeviled Russian politics for over a year: Has Vladimir Putin gotten a facelift? More   Commentary The Biggest Hypocrite Of All The flowery phrases that rang out in the hall of the UN General Assembly when Iran's president spoke might as well have ended with "except in Iran." The fact of the matter is that when Ahmadinejad talks about hypocrites, he's talking about himself. More