THE PONCA CITY NEWS, MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012–PAGE 7
News Briefs
IN THIS PHOTO a man enters an art gallery in La Marsa, Tunis. The Spring of the Arts exhibit in the wealthy
Tunis suburb of La Marsa triggered June riots that left one dead and 100 injured. Many of the paintings
questioned religion’s role in society, including some clearly skewering Salafis. (AP Photo)
Tunisia: Hardline Islam
Threatens Democracy
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) —
Thousands of hardcore Muslims chant against Jews.
Youths rampage through cities
at night in protest of “blasphemous” art. A sit-in by religious
students degenerates into fist
fights and the desecration of
Tunisia’s flag.
In the birthplace of the Arab
Spring, the transition from
dictatorship to democracy has
been mostly smoother than in
neighboring countries, with
no power-hungry military or
armed militias to stifle the
process. But as a moderate
Islamist party rules with the
help of secular forces, an unexpected threat has emerged: the
increasing boldness of ultraconservative Muslims known
loosely as Salafis, who want to
turn this North African country of 10 million into a strict
Islamic state.
Tunisia’s hardcore Salafis
are estimated to number only
in the tens of thousands. But
their organized and frequent
protests against perceived
insults to Islam, especially by
artists, have rocked the country and succeeded in mobilizing disaffected and angry
youth much more effectively
than secular opposition parties.
Experts warn that an economic downturn could turn
these spasms of religioustinged rage into the new
language of the opposition.
Tunisia’s economy shrank by
2 percent last year and unem-
Man Sentenced
NEWKIRK — Nikki Andrew
Holt, 26, Ponca City, entered
a plea of no contest in Kay
County District Court to a
felony count of first degree
burglary.
In the affidavit, a woman
told police that she obtained
a protective order that was
served to Holt while he was
incarcerated at the county
jail.
On Dec. 10, 2011, she called
police and reported that Holt
kicked in her door and walked
in her residence.
The woman grabbed a handgun and told Holt to get out.
She said Holt stated “Oh my
God you have a gun,” and left
the residence.
He was sentenced to seven
years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections on that
charge with all but 90 days
suspended in the county jail.
Holt was given the same
sentence on a felony charge
of obtaining merchandise by
false pretences.
He was charged in that case
on Feb. 21, 2012.
ployment stands at 18 percent
— even higher among young
people.
“There’s no question that
unemployment aggravates the
situation,” said William Lawrence, the North Africa representative for the International
Crisis Group think tank. “They
go to Salafism because they
have nowhere better to go
socially, politically and spiritually.”
As Salafis thrive in the new
atmosphere of freedom of
expression, they are aggressively attacking the free
expression of those they see
as insulting Islam. Their main
target: artists who themselves
have used democratic upheaval to raise sharp, often provocative, questions about the
relationship between religion
and society.
Tensions that were bottled
during the regime of President
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali are
bubbling to the surface.
A film called “Neither Allah
nor Master” about secularism
by an atheist director, an animated film portraying God as
an old man that was broadcast
on TV, and most recently an art
exhibit dabbling in religious
themes have all provoked the
wrath of the Salafis.
The Spring of the Arts exhibit in the wealthy Tunis suburb
of La Marsa triggered June
riots that left one dead and 100
injured. Many of the paintings
questioned religion’s role in
society, including some clearly
skewering Salafis. There were
images of veiled women hanging from punching bags in a
boxing ring, veiled women buried in stones, and paintings of
demonic bearded faces.
The Islamist-led government
has tread carefully around
Salafi demonstrations, conscious that they themselves
were once victims of government oppression and fearful of
further radicalizing the Salafis. That has exposed the government to accusations by the
liberal and leftist opposition
that they are unable to preserve stability, or even worse
— complicity in the extremist
violence.
For Tunisian authorities,
grappling with the Salafis is
made all the harder by the fact
that they have not coalesced
into an articulate, united movement but are rather comprised
of different groups, some which
may even be under manipulation of secular remnants of
the old regime. That contrasts
with Egypt, where Salafis have
formed political parties and
participate in politics.
Salafis did not pop out of
nowhere in Tunisia after the
revolution. The movement
grew quietly under Ben Ali,
who vigorously repressed the
moderate Islamists of the now
dominant Ennahda Party, heirs
to Tunisia’s own indigenous
tradition of reformist Islam.
Under Ben Ali, imams
were appointed by the state
and religious schools closed.
Many of those alienated by the
official secular culture of the
French-speaking elite turned
to the strict Salafi Islam of the
Arabian peninsula.
“They were influenced by
the Salafi discourse coming
out of the Gulf countries and
diffused by the Salafi satellite
channels all through the 1990s,”
explained Slaheddine Jourchi,
a Tunisian writer and human
rights activist who has closely
studied Islamist movements.
“They saw the Salafi discourse
as the most pure in Islam.”
With the fall of the dictatorship, Salafis are now free to
spread their message to the
rest of the country.
One of the biggest flashpoints was Manouba University near the capital where conservative students and their
allies staged a months-long sitin protesting restrictions on
the Islamic veil and lack of
prayer halls on campus. They
fought with secular students
and in one case tore down the
national flag and replaced it
with a black one bearing the
Islamic profession of faith.
“Our movement benefits
from the new climate of freedom to get out its message and
preach to people,” said Bilal
Chaouachi, a bearded theology
student who describes himself
as a follower of Salafi Islam
and gives religion classes in
his local mosque.
Redha Belhaj, head of the
recently legalized Hizb al-Tahrir, or Liberation Party, which
calls for the restoration of the
Islamic Caliphate, said that
Ennahda betrayed the country
when it declined to enshrine
Islamic law as the basis of all
legislation in the new constitution.
Burglary
Investigation
— Ponca City Police took a
report on a vehicle burglary
in the 900 block of North Third
Street at 9:58 a.m. Saturday.
—————
Burglary
Investigation
— Ponca City Police took a
report on an auto burglary at
Third Street and Overbrook
Avenue at 10:35 a.m. Saturday.
—————
Sod and Sodding, Bermuda
and Zoysia Pre-orders. Call
580-762-2922- Keathley Nursery
547 Big Snake Road.
adv.
—————
Vandalism Reported — A car
dealership in the 3400 block
of North Fourteenth Street
reported vandalism to several
vehicles at 10:41 a.m. Saturday. Ponca City Police took a
report.
—————
Juvenile Cited — Ponca City
Police issued a citation to a
juvenile at South Avenue and
Waverly Street at 12:20 p.m.
Saturday for minor in possession of tobacco.
—————
Warrant Request —Ponca
City Police took information
for a warrant request for
assault and battery after an
assault in the 200 block of
South Twelfth Street at 12:45
p.m. Saturday.
—————
Warrant Request — A resident of the 2800 block of Temple Place reported at 1:39 p.m.
Saturday that his father stole
his computer and took it with
him to California. Ponca City
Police took information for a
warrant request.
—————
Wildcat Football season
tickets. Adults $20, reserved
seats $40, students all sports
pass $40. Student tickets good
all year. Call 580-767-8075.adv.
—————
Theft Reported — A man in
the 700 block of North Fourteenth Street reported at 2:54
p.m. Saturday that his wallet
was stolen from his vehicle
while he was moving his things
into a motel room. Ponca City
Police took a report on the
theft. The man reported Sunday that his credit card was
used at a gas pump.
—————
Domestic Assault — A man
reported at 3:04 p.m. Saturday
that his ex-wife had taken his
child and left, driving recklessly. The man followed the
woman to Hartford and Union
Street, where he assaulted
her and took the child. Ponca
City Police advised they were
doing a warrant request for
domestic assault and battery.
Man Arrested —Ponca City
Police received a call at 3:51
p.m. from a child who said his
uncle was beating on his aunt.
Officers arrested a 39-year-old
man in the 700 block of South
Fourth Street on a complaint
of domestic assault and battery in the presence of a minor
and took a report.
—————
Burglary Investigation — A
resident of the 400 block of
North Ninth Street reported
at 4:39 p.m. Saturday that
his residence was burglarized. Ponca City Police took
a report.
—————
Taco Stop will be closed for its
annual vacation from Monday,
July 9 through Tuesday, July 31.
We will re-open on Wednesday,
August 1 to continue serving you
Ponca City’s best mexican food.
Thanks for 39 great years.
adv.
—————
Trespass Warning — Ponca
City Police issued a trespass
warning and a citation to an
18-year-old man at the Lake
Ponca volleyball court at 5:51
p.m. Saturday.
—————
Fire Run — Marland Volunteer
Fire
Department
responded to a fire in the
21700 block of Eagle’s Nest
Road at 8:17 p.m. Saturday.
—————
Victim Transported — Ponca
City ambulance transported a
man from Fourth Street and
Detroit Avenue to the hospital at 8:19 p.m. Saturday after
an altercation which included a stabbing. An 18-yearold man and an 18-year-old
woman were arrested on complaints of public intoxication.
Officers established a crime
scene in the 400 block of East
Comanche Avenue which was
released at 10:14 p.m. Saturday.
—————
Man Arrested — Ponca City
Police arrested a 36-year-old
man in the 300 block of Redbird at 8:56 p.m. Saturday on
complaints of assault and battery on an officer, domestic
assault and battery, domestic
assault and battery with strangulation, resisting arrest and
obstructing an officer. Police
deployed a taser in the arrest.
—————
Man Arrested — Ponca City
Police arrested a 30-yearold man at Fifth Street and
Comanche Avenue at 9:07 p.m.
Saturday on a complaint of
public intoxication.
—————
Broken Window — Ponca
City Police took a report from
a resident in the 400 block of
South Eighth Street at 11:48
p.m. Saturday after someone
threw an item and broke a
window.
—————
Assault Reported — Ponca
City Police took a report from
a woman in the 200 block of
South Palm Street at 11:59 p.m.
Saturday who said her sister’s
ex had assaulted her. Officers
will request an assault and
battery warrant.
—————
Burglary
Investigation
— Ponca City Police took a
report on a burglary in the
2000 block of Joe at 1:21 a.m.
Sunday after the resident
reported a suspect walked
into the residence and stole
several items.
—————
Fire Run — Ponca City Fire
Department responded for a
smoke alarm investigation in
the 1500 block of Princeton
Avenue at 2:26 a.m. Sunday.
—————
Vandalism Reported — Ponca
City Police took a report on
vandalism to a motorcycle left
at the Ponca City Medical Center at 8:48 a.m. Sunday.
—————
Burglary
Investigation
— Ponca City Police took a
report on a burglary in the 800
block of South Eleventh Street
at 9:49 a.m. Sunday.
—————
Theft Reported — A resident of the 2100 block of
North Union Street reported
money stolen at 1:21 p.m. Sunday. Ponca City Police took a
report.
—————
Man Arrested — Ponca City
Police arrested a 39-year-old
man in the 1600 block of West
South Avenue at 2:49 p.m. Sunday on Kay County Sheriff’s
Office warrants for violations
of the compulsory education
act and failure to appear in
court for violation of compulsory education act.
—————
Fire Run — The Ponca City
Fire Department responded
to a grass fire in the 2000
block of Turner at 2:52 p.m.
Sunday.
—————
Vandalism Reported — Ponca
City Police took a report on
vandalism to a door in the 800
block of South Twelfth Street
at 5:55 p.m. Sunday.
—————
Man Arrested — Ponca City
Police arrested a 50-year-old
man in the 2600 block of North
Fourteenth Street at 6:08 p.m.
Sunday on a complaint of
driving under the influence
of drugs.
Honor the Legacy of EW Marland
Man Pleads Guilty
NEWKIRK — Christopher
Lee Palmer, 47, Ponca City,
entered a guilty plea in Kay
County District Court to a felony charge of unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous
substance with intent to distribute.
Palmer was arrested by
Ponca City Police on April 16.
Palmer was sentenced to
10-years in the Oklahoma
Department of Corrections
with all but 80 days in the
county jail suspended.
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By Hugh Pickens
“The Ponca City News” recently
announced that with the split of
ConocoPhillips into two companies,
the ConocoPhillips operation in
Ponca City, Oklahoma will soon be
renamed Phillips 66.
Frank Phillips, the founder of the
Phillips 66 Oil company, was a man who knew how to use his courage and initiative
and great administrative ability to create industry and wealth in Oklahoma leaving a
legacy in the oil company that bears his name that will always be a monument to his
memory.
But there is another Oklahoma oil pioneer who was equally important in developing
the oil industry and bringing prosperity and advancement to Northern Oklahoma.
That man was EW Marland.
EW Marland pioneered the use of geological techniques in the oil industry and was
years ahead of his time as an employer providing housing, loans, medical care, and
other benefits for thousands of employees who worked at his refineries and pipelines
but Marland lost everything to the powerful JP Morgan banking interests - even losing his name on the oil company that he founded in Ponca City.
It is altogether fitting and proper that Phillips 66 honor the heritage of oil development in Northern Oklahoma by recognizing Frank Phillips and EW Marland.
The executives of Phillip 66 have honored the memory of Frank Phillips by choosing
to name their new company for Phillips. We think Phillips 66 should honor the legacy
of oil pioneer EW Marland by naming their refinery in Ponca City for Marland, the
man who started the refinery and brought advancement and development to North
Central Oklahoma.
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help support alertness
and focus in children.
It would mean a great deal to the residents of Ponca City for Phillips 66 to acknowledge the history and heritage of the oil industry in Oklahoma by honoring these two
great oil pioneers, Frank Phillips and EW Marland.
Renaming the refinery the “Marland Refinery in Ponca City” will serve as
a symbol going forward of the partnership between the oil industry and the citizens
of North Central Oklahoma that honors the legacy of these two great oil pioneers.
Read more on the web at www.HonorEWMarland.com
Listen to a discussion of this issue on Dave May’s “Mayday in the Morning”
show on KLOR Wednesday morning at 7am.