Violence and the Ghettos in France, Thugs in Australia

Sandra and her sister grew up in the nearby Clichy-sous-Bois suburb, where the riots broke out after the accidental death of two teenage boys on Oct. 27. The violence spread across France, with young men venting deep anger about racism, unemployment and a bleak future. But not many girls have taken part, and many say they are fed up with consecutive nights of violence. Apart from poverty, feminists say the dominance of traditional cultures among families of Arab and black African origin, combined with the growing role of Islam in the suburbs, have contributed to the harsh treatment girls get there. Pressure is mounting for Muslim women to wear veils. Forced marriages that snatch them from college and career -- where they do much better than their male schoolmates -- are on the rise.

The support group "Ni Putes, Ni Soumises" ("Neither Whores nor Submissives") says the number of forced marriages has risen in recent years, with roughly 70,000 girls pressured into unwanted relationships each year in France.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09426149.htm

The New French Revolution

“There was a trial in Lille where a 13-year-old girl was gang raped by 80 men. Sometimes, it’s 80, or 50 or 10. It’s absolutely terrible,” says Bellil. “In the case of Argenteuil, it was horrible. A young woman was raped in a school. Of course, everybody knew, but they're so afraid of these young men that they prefer to close their eyes. That's the price of peace in the ghettos.

When the verdicts came down in this case, the courthouse turned into a madhouse. Eighteen teenagers were convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl over a two-month period. But what really shocked France was how the mothers of those boys reacted.

You call this justice, seven years in prison for some oral says one mother. It's the girl who should be behind bars.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/13/60minutes/main617270.shtml

Supporters of terrorists who were recently taken into custody in the anti-terrorism sweep savagely beat up a newspaper cameraman and reporter outside the Melborne Magistrates' Court 2 days back.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17204895^661,00.html