Archive for the ‘Interfaith Conflicts’ Category

KRP Statement on Mosul Attacks against Christians

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 |

The Kurdistan Region Presidency (KRP) release said that it strongly rejects any insinuation that Kurdish authorities are neglecting the seriousness of attacks against the Christian community in Mosul, Iraq, which lies outside of the Kurdistan Region.

The KRP has a proven history of acknowledging the important role that Iraqi Christian groups play in the Kurdistan Region, leading many Christians to flee violence in the rest of the Iraq for the safe haven offered them in the Kurdistan Region. However, while Christians in the Kurdistan Region have enjoyed the peace and security offered to all our people, it is a fact that the city of Mosul and surrounding areas where recent attacks on Christians have taken place is a hotbed for terrorist activities. Unfortunately, terrorists in Mosul have successfully claimed victims from nearly all Iraqi social groups, including Arabs, Kurds, Yezidi Kurds, Christians, and Turkomen.
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Obama Sex Policies Ignite Pastors, Rabbis, According to The Judeo-Christian View

Monday, October 27th, 2008 |

Barack Obama’s policies on sexuality have ignited passionate response from hundreds of pastors and rabbis who are urging their peers — over 325,000 of them — to pray for Obama’s repentance and show a graphic “video sermon” so American congregations have “full disclosure and informed consent” on the senator’s plans.

The inaugural issue of The Judeo-Christian View , a “multimedia journal” for Jewish and Christian clerics signed by hundreds of the same, includes a 7-minute DVD sermon that challenges Obama’s policies on same-sex unions, integration of open gays into the U.S. military, and tax-subsidized partial birth abortion. The signatories also decry Obama’s support for teenage abortion without parental notice and his call for repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, which shields states from forced recognition of same-sex marriages originating elsewhere.
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Fox ‘24′ Producer Pulls Endorsement of Anti-Muslim Film

Sunday, October 5th, 2008 |

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group announced today that Howard Gordon, the executive producer of Fox’s drama “24,” has withdrawn his endorsement of the anti-Muslim film “Obsession” currently being distributed to some 28 million households in presidential election swing states by a shadowy non-profit organization called the Clarion Fund.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) released a statement by Gordon in which he said “After being contacted by a number of people whose opinions I respect
and after reviewing Obsession with their criticisms and concerns in mind, I have asked the film makers to remove my endorsement from the Obsession website and from any future promotional materials. While I remain committed to the film’s essential message — that the hate-mongering promoted by radical Islamism presents a real threat to western values of tolerance and pluralism — I also appreciate that the goal of co-existence and tolerance is not being served by films like Obsession.”
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US Jewish group to rally against Iranian President

Friday, September 19th, 2008 |

The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington will hold a rally at 12:15pm on Monday (Sept. 22) to protest Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who plans to speak at the UN General Assembly in New York Sept. 23. The rally will take place in Farragut Square Park (intersection
of Connecticut Ave, 17th Street and K Street NW., across from Farragut North Metro Station - “Red” line; next to Farragut West Station - “Blue” and “Orange” lines), near the United Nations Information Center.

Several guest speakers, including Sen. Ben Cardin (MD), Rep. Steven King (IA), Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, Susan Gelman, President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and Holocaust survivor Nesse Godin, will speak at the event. The Washington, D.C. rally is in solidarity with the protest demonstration that will be held at the same time in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, outside the UN building in New York.
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Christian Militants Harm Peace Efforts says West Bank Evangelist

Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 |

West Bank Evangelist Terry McIntosh draws a line in the sand between genuine Christianity and militant imposters in an upcoming message scheduled for release on Palestinian TV.

“Militants hijack religion and harm the peace process by breaking international and moral laws to the harm of innocent people including both Jews and Palestinians,” he says. “Palestinians need to know that Christians actually love them. Additionally, incitement against Yitzhak Rabin and the Oslo Peace Accord was supported by militant Christians and resulted in his murder. He was shot down, killed, by a Zionist. Similar rhetoric aimed at Jewish peacemakers today pending further negotiations over Jerusalem cannot be tolerated.”
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Nun burnt to death, churches on fire in Indian state of Orissa

Monday, August 25th, 2008 |

Gospel for Asia release reports that, at least one Gospel for Asia missionary has been attacked, churches and homes have been destroyed and Christians are fleeing for their lives in India’s Orissa state in the wake of the murder of a leading anti-Christian activist leader. A GFA correspondent has reported that as night fell Sunday on Orissa, “the roads are being blocked by felling trees, and attacks on Christians have started.” Last Christmas, during similar attacks, the anti-Christian militants also blocked off roads into the area of their attacks to hinder the arrival of government forces.

Saturday night, Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, a top leader of the VHP (World Hindu Council), was killed in an attack by 20 men, suspected of being Maoist rebels. The Maoists had earlier warned the swami to leave the area. The attack, which included gunfire and a hand grenade, also killed four other people. It took place during a religious celebration.
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Indo-American Kashmir Forum Condemns Politicization of Amarnath Land Transfer

Thursday, August 14th, 2008 |

Indo-American Kashmir Forum (IAKF) convened an emergency board meeting to discuss its position and response to the evolving Amarnath crisis in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Board reviewed the situation following the issuance and retraction of the State Government Order authorizing temporary transfer of land to build comfort facilities for Amarnath pilgrims. Over 400,000 Hindu pilgrims trek during two months of every summer to the holy Amarnath shrine, situated at over 12,000 ft. elevation in the Himalayan Mountain range in the predominantly Muslim region of Kashmir. As described in Kashmir’s historical text Rajatarangni, the centuries-old shrine forms an important part of Hindu religious heritage and culture. Over the past twelve years, hundreds of pilgrims have died from snowfall and other natural hazards as well as terrorist attacks along the route. The New York Times article dated June 28, 2008 [Land Transfer to Hindu Site Inflames Kashmir's Muslims] stated “In previous years, the pilgrims made tempting targets for militant Islamist separatists.”
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Extremists Attack John McCain as ‘Pawn of Jews’ says Anti-Defamation League

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008 |

While continuing their racist attacks against Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, white supremacists and anti-Semites have opened up a similar line of attack against his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, claiming that he is a “pawn of the Jews” and an enemy of the white race.

On extremist Internet forums monitored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Republican candidate has come under sustained attack by anti-Semites and white supremacists who portray him either as pandering to or being controlled by Jews, and as a “race traitor” for his moderate views
on immigration.
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Extremists Attack Peaceful Demonstrators in Jakarta

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 |

On June 1, at the National Monument in the central district of Jakarta, Indonesia, an event took place
that was little noticed by the world press but could have major implications for world politics and the international “War on Terror.” During a peaceful rally by dozens of organizations representing people from various religions in celebration of Pancasila, the Indonesian concept of embracing all religious beliefs in their society, the crowd was attacked by a mob of some 200 club-wielding Islamic extremists.

As a result of this attack, dozens of demonstrators were injured, some seriously injured. The attackers are considered to be members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), one of a growing number of extremist groups who are now resorting to violent means in their attempt to institute a radical form of Islam in the country to the exclusion of other religions.
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New Report Shows Saudi Ministry Textbooks Still Teach Extreme Intolerance

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 |

The Center for Religious Freedom of the Hudson Institute released a 90-page report (http://www.hudson.org/files/pdf_upload/textbooks_final_for_pdf.pdf), 2008 Update: Saudi Arabia’s Curriculum of Intolerance, with a foreword by R. James Woolsey. It was prepared in consultation with the Washington-based Institute for Gulf Affairs.

This report compares the 2007-2008 textbooks that are currently posted on the website of the Saudi Ministry of Education with those analyzed in our 2006 study, and shows that the same violent and intolerant teachings against other religious believers noted in 2006 remain in the current texts.
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Rally in Washington DC in Support of Coptic Christians in Egypt

Monday, July 14th, 2008 |

American Egyptian Coptic Christians along with activists from Egypt, the Middle East, Europe and the USA, will organize a peaceful rally on July 16, 2008. The rally will start in front of the White House at 12:00 Noon- 2:00 P.M., and will conclude in front of the Egyptian Embassy at 2:30- 3:30 P.M. The purpose of the rally is to protest recent violent attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt.

The Copts of Egypt are the largest Christian minority in the Middle East. They number about 15% of Egypt’s population of 80 millions. Not a month passes by without their churches, homes and businesses being attacked. According to a study made by Ibn Khaldoun Research Center in Cairo, over 240 major attacks against the Copts took place during the period from 1972- 2003. It is estimated that, during the last three decades, more than 4000 Copts were killed or injured. This in addition to damages directed to Coptic properties that could exceed hundreds of millions of dollars. Hundreds of Christian Coptic girls, some are minors, are abducted and forced to embrace Islam and marry Muslim men.
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IDF operation against Islamic Charity Movement in Nablus

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 |

IDF forces operated two nights ago in Nablus against institutes of The Islamic Charity Movement, operating on behalf of the Hamas terror organization under the guise of a charity organization. It operated to increase support for the movement, trained youth in the spirit of Jihad, supported families of suicide bombers and prisoners, trace and recruit terror operatives, and raise funds for terror.

The movement is disguised as a charity foundation designated solely to benefit the civilian population of Nablus, as an alternative to government establishments. However, its institutes aim at empowering the terror organizations and strengthen their grip on society, particularly in Judea and Samaria, and in encouraging terrorist attacks against Israel. The Islamic Charity Movement in Nablus is a central and powerful component of the institution.
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CAIR Urges Hate Crime Probe of Ohio Shooting

Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 |

The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) today called on law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive in the shooting of an Ohio Muslim who was critically wounded.

Media reports indicate that a Muslim business owner was shot in the abdomen while pumping gas after work in Cleveland. Just prior to the shooting, the man and his son were allegedly taunted by a group of men after they heard the father and son speak to each other in their native Uzbek language and heard the father utter an Islamic prayer in Arabic. The group of men reportedly imitated the languages in a mocking manner. The shooting was caught on a surveillance camera.
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Ahmadiyya Muslim Leader Visits US to Engage 10,000+ Followers

Friday, June 20th, 2008 |

Several thousands greeted the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community as he arrived to the US last Monday. Ten thousand more American followers are expected to converge in Harrisburg this weekend (June 20-22), starting on Friday, as His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad presides over the 60th Annual Convention of the US branch. The visit is part of his world tour in celebration of 100 years of spiritual leadership (i.e. Khilafat) in this dynamic Muslim Community. The key message of His Holiness, referred to as the ‘Khalifa,’ is to promote peace through a unified leadership in Islam.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has a worldwide membership exceeding tens of millions in over 189 countries. It was founded in 1889 by his Holiness Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, who claimed to be the spiritual second advent of Christ and the Promised Reformer awaited by the Muslims.
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US Muslims Ask Legislature to Reject Religious ‘Litmus Test’

Thursday, June 19th, 2008 |

The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-PA) today called on state legislators to reject a proposed “religious litmus test” for passage of a resolution recognizing a Muslim group’s convention.

On Wednesday, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler County) said he would vote against a resolution recognizing the 60th annual convention of the U.S. Chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community because “Muslims do not recognize Jesus Christ as God.” Rep. Metcalf’s remark initiated a debate that
effectively postponed the vote until after the convention.
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