Britain accused Argentina of “colonial-ism” in its claim to the Falkland Islands on

Wednesday, as the 30th anniversary of their con-fl ict over the British-ruled territory approaches. A day after Britain’s National Security Council discussed the Falklands’ defences, Prime Minis-ter David Cameron told parliament Britain was committed to protecting the South Atlantic is-lands and added that people there should be al-lowed to decide their own nationality.

Cameron said he was determined that the is-lands’ defences were in order and that islanders’ wishes were paramount. “We support the Falkland islanders’ right to self-determination,” he said. “What the Argentinians have been saying recently I would argue is actually far more like colonial-ism because these people want to remain British and the Argentinians want them to do something else.” Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de-scribed Britain last June as a “crass colonial power in decline” for refusing to hold talks over the is-lands, known as Las Malvinas in Spanish, and Ar-gentine offi cials were quick to hit back over Cam-eron’s remarks on Wednesday. CONTINUED ON PAGE 04

Europe lies at a crossroads as we begin 2012 with the sovereign debt crisis continuing to

fuel uncertainty about the continent’s prospects. It is all the more remarkable, therefore, that Tur-key -- as the Eastern international gateway into Europe -- continues to defy the incredibly tough economic environment. Growth of 8.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2011 made Turkey the second fastest growing economy in the world. Combined with the youngest and fastest growing population in Europe, such economic vibrancy leaves Turkey well placed to play an increasingly key role in the global marketplace. Turkey and the United King-dom have long shared a close relationship as two great trading nations and I was delighted to help strengthen these ties by hosting a State Banquet in honour of Turkish President Abdullah Gül at Guildhall last November. CONTINUED ON PAGE 09

Family drama ‘The Descendants’ and silent-era film ‘The Artist’ were the top picks at the Golden Globe Awards

Former diplomat İskit says Tehran may have plans to divide Iran in order to increase itsinfluence in the region

INTERVIEW 13

Is using Shariah law tribunals and councils an acceptable thing for British

Muslims to do? Does it confl ict with the expec-tations of being loyal to one’s country? These are just some of the sorts of questions that can be asked regarding this contentious topic.

On 16 Jan., the BBC Asian Network ran a program titled “Sharia Britain”. The mak-ers of the program conducted an investiga-

tion and found that Shariah councils and tribunals attract thousands of people every year. The Islamic Sharia Council, being the biggest Shariah institution in the UK, ap-parently deals with hundreds of cases each month. The legal powers of these tribunals and councils are technically enforced under the Arbitration Act of 1996; however, the Act restricts what these Shariah institutions can actually enforce under UK law. Despite this, there are legitimate concerns as to whether

UK law is generally being followed by these Shariah institutions, especially given the fact that their operation is largely unregulated.

There are questions to be asked as to whether the decisions of local jurists are be-ing enforced by threats and coercion on the part of the local community as opposed to through the legal channels available under the Arbitration Act. Importantly, there is an issue of discrimination against women in such councils and tribunals.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

SPREAD OF SHARIAH LAW IN UK

The assassination of Iranian nu-clear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi last Wednesday has sparked a new con-

fl ict between the US and Iran. Prior to the as-sassination, Iranian President Ahmadinejad had threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway that links a third of the world’s oil supply. The Strait of Hormuz con-nects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and is used for the transport of approximately 16 million barrels of oil each day. The Obama

administration told Iran they were crossing a “red line” and warned Iranian Supreme Lead-er Ayatollah Ali Khamenei against closing the straight. However, Iran says it is reacting to at-tempts to strangle its economy as governments around the world are being pressured to curb Iranian oil imports through sanctions. Russia, China, East Asia, India, Brazil and Latin Amer-ica are hugely important countries and regions because of their ability to act independently of the US and their impact in doing so. China is currently the largest importer of Iranian oil and adhering to the sanctions against Iran would

be detrimental to the Iranian economy.Dr Marwa Daoudy is a lecturer on leave

from the Middle East Centre at St Antony’s Col-lege, University of Oxford. She said China has “started seeking other alternatives in the Gulf if sanctions come into place.” Speaking to Weekly Zaman from New Jersey, where she currently serves as a visiting scholar at Princeton Univer-sity, Daoudy said China “does not favour sanc-tions as it sees it as infringing on the sovereignty of states. In a way, China has the power to tilt the balance.” Mohammad Marandi, associate professor and head of the North American Stud-

ies Department at the University of Tehran, dis-agrees. “China will not bow down to the US,” he told Weekly Zaman. “In fact, there are talks now that China will increase imports of Iranian oil be-cause they fear a weakened Iran will strengthen US hegemony.” But so, too, is Russia wary of a military confl ict that could ensue as a result of the sanctions. Russia is “keen on maintaining a strategic position in the region,” says Daoudy. “They both appear to resent the link between US action and what they perceive as the un-derlying objective of regime change in Iran and, more widely, the region.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 08

TAHMEENA BAX LONDON

US, IRAN LOOK TO AVOID MILITARY CONFLICT

12

South Korea and its modern capital city, Seoul

PM ACCUSES ARGENTINA OF

‘COLONIALISM’ OVER FALKLANDS

CITY OF LONDON READY TO HELP

TURKEY ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVES

Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary addresses members of the media during a protest supporting the Shariah law, in north London 31 Oct, 2009.

PH

OT

O

RE

UT

ER

S,

TA

L C

OH

EN

As yet another Iranian nuclear scientist is assassinated, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blames the US and Israel. The US threatens new sanctions and retaliation in response to Ahmadinejad’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz. Now, President

Barack Obama has stepped up his response by declaring the possibility of military action against Iran, but is it possible?

S&P downgrade hurts Sarkozy’sre-election goal

07 04

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2012 WWW.WEEKLYZAMAN.COM £1.30

LEGAL 05

ENTERTAINMENT 18

Tens of thousands took to the streets across Turkey to protest acourt ruling in the Hrant Dink murder trial

Thousand-ship flotilla in

Queen’s jubilee

HOSSEIN TURNER DURHAM

ALDERMAN DAVID WOOTTON*