Month: September 2009

Pakistani Police Arrest Two Christians for Eating During Ramadan

ICC reports:

“Pakistani Police Arrest Two Christians for Eating During Ramadan”

“Washington, D.C. (September 1,2009) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on August 25, police in Pakistan arrested two Christians for eating during the Islamic fasting season of Ramadan in the city of Silanwali.”

“Gull Masih and Ashir Sohail were traveling to Lahore when their bus stopped at the Bismillah Hotel to let off passengers. After the waiter served them tea and a snack, several policemen started to question them as to why they were desecrating Ramadan by eating during the Islamic fasting season. The two Christians told the police that since they are Christians, they are not supposed to fast during Ramadan.”

“The police then threw them in a van and took them to the Silanwali police station and registered a case against them, alleging that the Christians desecrated the Islamic fasting month. Later the police transferred the Christians to the district jail in Sargodha. Now their case is pending before a court.”

“Azzaq Bhatti, the father of Gull Masih and paternal uncle of Ashir Sohail, in an interview with ICC said that, “during Lent, all Muslims eat, drink and smoke publicly and neither police nor government authorities take notice of it. And none of the Muslims are arrested for desecrating Christians’ Lent season.'”

“ICC’s Jonathan Racho said, ‘Forcing Christians to fast during the Islamic fasting month is both outrageous and a clear violation of freedom of religion. We call upon Pakistani officials to immediately release Gull and Ashir and take appropriate legal measures against police officers who detained them.'”

“Please contact the Embassy of Pakistan in your country and politely ask the Pakistani officials to immediately release Gull and Ashir.”

Pakistan Embassies:

USA:      (202) 243-6500
Canada:  (613) 238-7881
UK:         0870-005-6967

Communist China: Lawyer Tortured for Defending Falun Gong Clients

Communist China: Lawyer Tortured for Defending Falun Gong Clients
— “Yet another human rights lawyer in China has been arrested because he has chosen to defend Falun Gong practitioners’ right to freedom of belief.
— “Attorney Wang Yonghang, who is from northeast China’s harbour city Dalian, has taken the defense for several Falun Gong practitioners. He insists on upholding his profession’s code of ethics, and has refused to yield to the regime’s unofficial policy, which has mandated that there be ‘no legal defense of innocence for Falun Gong [adherents].'”

Ohio: White nationalists, conspiracy theorists join Traficant’s cause

Ohio: White nationalists, conspiracy theorists join Traficant’s cause
— “Conspiracy theorists, white nationalists and visitors to a Web site kept by a former ranking member of the Ku Klux Klan were calling on their readers to send money and shows of support to former congressman Jim Traficant during his prison sentence.”
— “Former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke’s personal Web site and blog contains calls to send contributions to Traficant’s canteen fund.”
— “Duke, president of European American Union and Rights Organization, also posted a Traficant letter that was being circulated through several Web sites. The letter, which is attributed to Traficant and says the federal government sought revenge against him, explains that people can send help to his wife at her home address, which it lists.”