Category Archives: Global Politics

Human Rights in India? No more? The marriage between a Christian and a Hindu annulled due to extremist group protest – Fides News Agency

Bhopal (Agenzia Fides) – Police in Madhya Pradesh have annulled the marriage between a young Christian and a Hindu woman, after protests by extremist groups. As Fides learns, the Christian Joseph Pawar, 20 years old, and the 19-year-old Hindu girl Ayushi Wani, got married in Bhopal, a Hindu temple, on September 28 and then fled to Gujarat. They were traced by the police of Gujarat, after the girl’s parents had filed a complaint and after several radical Hindu groups had threatened to launch a general protest.

According to one version, the girl is in love with Joseph and the two got married freely, refusing to go back to their parents. According to the Hindu activists, Joseph lured the girl and forced her to get married. They were found by the police where Joseph was escorted to ensure his safety. Police met with the families of the two separately. The local superintendent declared the nullity of the marriage, saying that Joseph is not a Hindu and in order to marry Ayushi he should have converted to Hinduism, following a procedure prescribed by the Freedom of Religion Act, the text of the law in force in the state of Madhya Pradesh. According to the law, a person who intends to convert or marry must notify it to the District Magistrate with a month in advance. The decision to annul the act, the police said, was nevertheless taken immediately to avert the danger of a mass uprising.

In a report published in recent days, more than 90 religious leaders and representatives of civil society organizations in India have asked the Indian Premier Narendra Modi to protect the rights of minorities and to take measures to stop extremist groups that create tension in the Indian society. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 06/10/2014)

via The marriage between a Christian and a Hindu annulled due to extremist group protest – Fides News Agency.

Terrorism craves an audience and we are playing into Islamic State’s hands by watching — New Internationalist

In essence, the relative success or failure of a terrorist act cannot be measured by the number of casualties inflicted, or the level of financial damage incurred, but can really only be gauged by how much attention it gets. The act needs to secure front-page headlines, airtime and iconic images.

via Terrorism craves an audience and we are playing into Islamic State’s hands by watching — New Internationalist.

Forbes trying to out Fox Fox with fear-mongering? How To Stop Ebola: Ban Air Travel From Liberia, Sierra Leone, And Guinea

{So, the next fear-mongering line will be: blockade the three stricken countries – let no one in or out and let them die or survive on their own!}

So much as I hate to admit it, Bobby Jindal is right: we need a travel ban if we want to keep the Ebola virus out of the U.S.

via How To Stop Ebola: Ban Air Travel From Liberia, Sierra Leone, And Guinea.

So, I step across the border, buy a passport from another nation and take my vacation to Miami or Dallas/Ft. Worth…

Help then improve screening there and help to end outbreak – better than trying to erect a false border in our mind.

Pakistani Taliban declare allegiance to ISIS and global jihad | News , World | THE DAILY STAR

not good – In a message marking the Muslim holy festival of Eid al-Adha, the Pakistani Taliban said they fully supported ISIS goals.

“Oh our brothers, we are proud of you in your victories. We are with you in your happiness and your sorrow,” Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said in a statement sent to Reuters by email from an unknown location.

“In these troubled days, we call for your patience and stability, especially now that all your enemies are united against you. Please put all your rivalries behind you …

“All Muslims in the world have great expectations of you … We are with you, we will provide you with Mujahideen [fighters] and with every possible support.”

The statement, released in Urdu, Pashto and Arabic, was sent after ISIS militants beheaded British aid worker Alan Henning in a video posted Friday, triggering condemnation by the British and U.S. governments.

via Pakistani Taliban declare allegiance to ISIS and global jihad | News , World | THE DAILY STAR.

Hardline Buddhists in Myanmar, Sri Lanka strike anti-Islamist pact | Reuters

{Oh great: now we’re gonna have fundamentalist “Buddhist”  terrorists and wannabe-dictators!?! This has less to do with Buddhism than ISIL has to do with Islam – and what group of organized Muslims are attacking Buddhists – zero!}

Wirathu is known for his anti-Islamic sermons, and his “969 movement” has been accused of running a hate campaign against Muslims in Myanmar, where at least 240 people have been killed since June 2012.

“Both Bodu Bala Sena and 969 movement have felt that they must now come forward to derive practical and meaningful ways to address these burning issues which cannot be left for politicians to deal with,” the agreement said.

The groups will work on building networks among Buddhist societies and pool resources to fight for the faith, it said.

Wirathu was the guest of honor at a convention of the Sri Lankan group on Sunday where it announced the plan to work together ahead of a presidential election in Sri Lanka that could be held as early as January.

“The aim is to create an international Buddhist force the way we have a Buddhist force nationally in the country,” said BBS Secretary-General Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara said about the pact struck with Wirathu’s movement.

via Hardline Buddhists in Myanmar, Sri Lanka strike anti-Islamist pact | Reuters.

Migrant deaths crossing Mediterranean top 3,000 in 2014 – BBC News

Just saying – there do not seem to be any emergency meetings being called for as in the current ebola outbreak, or pledges of millions of dollars to prevent future deaths.

More than 3,000 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In a report published on Monday, the IOM said the 3,072 deaths made Europe the most dangerous destination for “irregular” migrants.

The organisation said that some experts placed the toll three times as high.

This year’s total is more than double the previous peak in 2011, and exceeds last year’s estimate over four times.

Since January, 4,077 migrant deaths have occurred worldwide with 75% of fatalities happening in Europe.

via Migrant deaths crossing Mediterranean top 3,000 in 2014 – BBC News.

Israel bans Muslims from Ibrahimi Mosque beginning Tuesday | Maan News Agency

For the second time in less than a week, Israeli authorities will ban Muslim worshipers from entering Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque beginning Tuesday, Sept. 30 in preparation for the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur on Oct. 4.

An official at the mosque told Ma’an via email that the mosque would be completely closed to Muslim worshipers, while “Jewish settlers” would be allowed free access.

The Israeli authorities closed the mosque to Muslim worshipers last Thursday and Friday on the occasion of the Jewish New Year as well.

Restrictions on Palestinian movement across the West Bank are frequently put in place during major Jewish holidays, ostensibly for security reasons.

Hebron specifically is a frequent site of tensions due to the presence of 500 Israeli settlers in the Old City, many of whom have illegally occupied Palestinian houses and forcibly removed the original inhabitants. They are protected by thousands of Israeli forces.

In 1994, an Israeli settler opened fire on Muslim worshipers in the Ibrahimi Mosque, killing 29 and injuring more than 100 Palestinians.

More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.

via Israel bans Muslims from Ibrahimi Mosque beginning Tuesday | Maan News Agency.

Somali militants stone woman to death | Reuters

Cowards and shameful to claim their acts have anything to do with religion – it is about power and their terrorizing their own people for their benefit!

The group, which pledges loyalty to al Qaeda, has waged an armed campaign to impose its strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. Forced out of many areas of the east African country by African Union forces and the Somali army, al Shabaab is keen to show it has authority over areas it still controls.

Hundreds gathered to watch the killing of Safia Ahmed Jimale in an open field. The 33-year old mother was buried up to her shoulders and pelted with stones by masked al Shabaab fighters and local men.

via Somali militants stone woman to death | Reuters.

NYT’s David Brooks, WaPo’s Michael Gerson to Speak at Top Antigay Funding Confab | TWO Care

Recently, government-encouraged outbreaks of mob violence against LGBT persons in countries from Uganda to Russia, and draconian new anti-gay legislation in those countries too, have gained growing media notice – some of which has focused on the role American evangelicals have played in inciting such hatred.

But the American culprits are not being funded from the margins. Tens of millions (possibly evens hundreds of millions) of dollars for that project is coming from the foundations whose representatives assemble yearly at an event known as The Gathering, where multimillionaire and billionaire evangelical funders of the culture wars from the families DeVos, Coors, Prince, Maclellan, Friess, Ahmanson, and others, and heads of the mammoth National Christian Foundation – gather, dine, and strategize.

This Thursday September 25th, at the luxury Ritz Carlton hotel in Orlando, Florida, an evening series of briefings will kick off the premier funding event of the evangelical right in America, a four-day annual conference known as The Gathering. Scheduled to speak at the conference are David Brooks of the New York Times (also a National Public Radio commentator) and Michael Gerson of the Washington Post.

via NYT’s David Brooks, WaPo’s Michael Gerson to Speak at Top Antigay Funding Confab | TWO Care.

Random Punishment – Just Because They Can! Israel closes Jenin checkpoint for Jewish holiday | Maan News Agency

Random Punishment – Just Because They Can!

Israel closed the al-Jalama checkpoint on Thursday for the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana, the governor of Jenin said.

Ibrahim Ramadan told Ma’an that the closure starts Thursday and the checkpoint will be closed both ways for two days.

Ramadan said officials are trying to overturn the decision, which will affect Palestinian workers who use the checkpoint to enter Israel.

via Israel closes Jenin checkpoint for Jewish holiday | Maan News Agency.