Category Archives: human rights

Pussy Riot brings protest message to Mexico, shows support for families of 43 missing students | Fusion

After the speech, several young woman jumped into the stage wearing the band’s signature neon-colored ski masks and started dancing to one of the collective’s punk rock songs.“I feel free when I can shout Ayotzinapa lives!” shouted a woman on stage, referring to the missing students who were allegedly kidnapped and murdered last year by a criminal gang in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero.Alyokhina and Zhivago later met with the Mexican branch of H.I.J.O.S., a human rights activist organization created in Argentina in 1995 by family members of those who disappeared during that country’s military dictatorship. In Mexico, H.I.J.O.S., along with other rights groups, has actively pushed for more answers from the government in the case of the missing students.

Source: Pussy Riot brings protest message to Mexico, shows support for families of 43 missing students | Fusion

The Catholic Bishops: fight terrorism without “duplicity” – Fides News Agency

Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – Time has come for the world to stand united against terrorism, and to confront the reasons of terrorism such as feelings of “oppression, hatred, bad education and fanaticism”, with no “double-standards”. These are the realistic suggestions contained in the statement issued by the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land, to express condolences before the “attacks in Beirut and Paris”, where innocent lives were again killed by a “culture of death which opposes God’s and humans’ laws”.In the statement, released by the official bodies of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and sent to Agenzia Fides, the Catholic Bishops of the Holy Land recall the urgent need to join forces of all Countries and followers of all religions against violence which hits the world within increased brutality. “Otherwise – the statement said – it will hit us sooner or later”. The Bishops of the Holy Land concluded their message by praying to the Almighty “for terror preachers, so they backtrack and regret what they do”. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 16/11/2015)

Source: The Catholic Bishops: fight terrorism without “duplicity” – Fides News Agency

Commentary: Turning our backs on migrant children isn’t solving the immigration issue | Latina Lista

Yes, let’s turn back the thousands of men, women, children and babies floating across the Mediterranean in overcrowded rafts and hiking miles and miles in the open elements, with their worldly possessions strapped to their backs, fleeing certain death and throwing themselves on the mercy and compassion of the rest of the world, because a few of them could turn out to be terrorists.That rationale makes as much sense as continuing to keep asylum-seeking Central American children and their mothers in detention facilities because…they pose a threat to U.S. society?The hard truth is those who are intent to do harm will find a way to either do it themselves or indoctrinate like-minded believers who may already live within a certain country. Yet, those who are in need of a new home or refuge, have no other recourse than to depend on their fellow human beings. That’s especially true of the children. Children are the face of the 21st Century international migration crisis. To think that it’s ok to deny them a safe future in this world is as barbaric an act as any atrocity committed by a terrorist because when these children are turned away, their days can be literally numbered.Reports have surfaced that some of the asylum-seeking Central American children who had been detained and later deported back to their home countries of El Salvador, Honduras or Guatemala were murdered after returning — the reason why they fled their native countries in the first place and asked U.S. authorities for help. Isolationism isn’t a quality of a great nation, nor is fear of what could happen. But what will happen in a country that, not only recognizes the life-threatening reasons forcing children and their families to flee their homes, but actively works to include them in their society, is a whole new generation who won’t just call their adopted country home but be among their most ardent defenders.

Source: Commentary: Turning our backs on migrant children isn’t solving the immigration issue | Latina Lista

WitnessLA.com » Blog Archive » Not in Our Name: Southern California Muslims Gather To Discuss the Terrorist Attacks…& Their Fears of Reprisal

YOUNG LOS ANGELES MUSLIMS EXPRESS SORROW, ANGER AND WORRYWhen a large and frightening terrorist attack occurs, like the attacks in Paris and in Beirut, we are all deeply shaken—and angry.For many U.S. Muslims, however, there is the additional worry that some of their fellow countrymen and women will conflate ISIS with Islam in the wake of the attacks.On Saturday night, young Muslim Americans gathered in Los Angeles at the Islamic Center of Southern California to listen to speakers on the topic, then to talk about their own anger at ISIS and their personal fears about backlash,Still earlier in the day, there was a press conference at ICSC, featuring various local Muslim luminaries, including Dr. Najeeba Syeed, an award winning Assistant Professor of Interreligious Education at the Claremont College of Theology, who is known for her skill at conflict resolution.“We are in solidarity with you. Parisians, we are in solidarity with you.” said Dr. Syeed, her voice full of emotion.Similar sentiments were express in a notice on the ICSC website calling members to the Saturday evening meeting, and to the candlelight vigil that occurred earlier. “As Muslims, we unequivocally condemn ISIS and its latest heartless, faithless act of terrorism that has killed over 120 innocent people, injured scores more and betrayed Islam’s core teachings and values, ” read the notice.

Source: WitnessLA.com » Blog Archive » Not in Our Name: Southern California Muslims Gather To Discuss the Terrorist Attacks…& Their Fears of Reprisal

United States green-lights sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia | News | DW.COM | {Insanity!}

The sale of the more than 19,000 bombs and smart bombs would help Saudi Arabia restock the armaments it has used in its operation against the Houthi militia in Yemen and air strikes against “Islamic State” positions in Syria, US officials familiar with the deal said on Monday.

Source: United States green-lights sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia | News | DW.COM | 16.11.2015

NSW police trained to shoot extremists ‘on sight’, rather than negotiate – Australian Broadcasting Corporation {OZ knows how to over-react too!}

“We would be mad to continue to say we will do nothing but contain and negotiate.”However, Mr Kaldas stressed the “shoot on sight” order would not be appropriate in all circumstances.

Source: NSW police trained to shoot extremists ‘on sight’, rather than negotiate – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Donald Trump Repeats Call to Inspect Mosques for Signs of Terrorism – First Draft. Political News, Now. – The New York Times

The suggestion of basing refugee status on religion offended President Obama on Monday. Speaking at a news conference in Turkey, he called the idea un-American.“When I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which a person who’s fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted, when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution — that’s shameful,” the president said.

Source: Donald Trump Repeats Call to Inspect Mosques for Signs of Terrorism – First Draft. Political News, Now. – The New York Times

Paris massacre: One attacker identified, rifles found in getaway car – The Hindu

The intent of the coordinated terror attacks in Paris on Friday night was clearly to deepen religious and political divisions within France, the media quoted prosecutors as saying.One of the dead terrorists had carefully placed a Syrian passport in his pocket in an obvious attempt to drive popular hostility against Syrian refugees who have been entering Europe, fleeing from the civil unrest in Syria.The attacks are believed to have been launched in retaliation for French military involvement in Syria and Iraq.‘Well-coordinated attacks’The media quoted officials as saying that the well-coordinated attacks were planned and executed by a cross-country team with links to Syria and West Asia, Belgium, Germany and France.“We must now see what measures President Hollande puts in place,” said Aurelien Mondon, an expert on French politics from the University of Bath.“Terrorism seeks to divide and unfortunately these attacks will create fertile soil for that. The media and French politicians must be very careful not to target sections who are already discriminated against.”

Source: Paris massacre: One attacker identified, rifles found in getaway car – The Hindu